Residents and former residents of Gilmore Street celebrated the 4th of July as they have since 1988 - with a block party, food, fun, laughs and lots of reminiscence. Neighbors contributed to the pot luck lunch which included homemade ice cream and root beer and exotic dishes as well as the traditional hot dog. While neighbors met neighbors, the kids' games and activities began.

Gilmore Street neighborhood would like to shout out a huge thank you to the MV Fire, Station 1, and MV Police Departments which once again were able to provided the party highlight with their visits. The children held a working fire hose, climbed and rode in the truck and talked to the the fire crew and police officers - who then accompanied the young cyclists on the "shortest Bike Parade route in the world."

For Gilmore residents the yearly gathering helps to strengthen year-long neighborliness. Several of the young adults in attendance this year were young children who lived on Gilmore Street in the early years of the 4th of July block party. The photo albums and picture boards on display tell a poignant story of the evolution of a neighborhood's annual tradition and also of the neighborhood itself.