Grill’s on for OWN’s annual picnic at Bancroft Park Aug. 1
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The Organization of Westside Neighbors (OWN) welcomes citizens to all its get-togethers, and once a year it feeds them.
The grill will be on again for this year's Westside Neighbors Picnic, free and open to the public, Sunday, Aug. 1 in Bancroft Park from 1 to 3 p.m. Volunteers with OWN, the city-recognized advocacy group for the older Westside, will barbecue hotdogs and bratwursts and set out side dishes and beverages that have mostly been donated by local businesses. Returning entertainment will include old-time music by Floyd Frame's Midland Brass Band (which debuted at the picnic last year). Up to 400 people typically attend the event. “People can meet fellow Westsiders and see what's going on,” said Travers Jordan, the OWN board member who's organizing the picnic. He also suggested that people who are mailed the quarterly OWN newsletter, the Westside Story, should bring the coupon from the most recent issue to ensure a place near the front of the food line. Although the Westside Community Center at 1628 W. Bijou St. is now run by a limited liability corporation of Woodmen Valley Chapel instead of by City Parks, it will support the picnic as in past years, providing a “bounce house” and games for children. Center director Dick Siever also invited Westsiders to drop by the center's informational table during the picnic. “We really see it as an opportunity to listen to folks and get their ideas,” Siever said. “We'd like to know what they'd like to have happen at the center.” Details about other informational tables, as well as appearance commitments by local government, school and/or non-profit representatives, were still being finalized this week, according to Jordan and OWN President Welling Clark. Westside Pioneer article |