Block party brings out families

James Marshall, 4, is a perfect fit in an excavator bucket at the touch-a-truck event at Brookfield Branch Library’s block party on June 22.

As 5-year-old Keegan Simeon waved a wand and created a plethora of soap bubbles, 3-year-old Aidan Martell danced through them, alternately catching them and popping them.

Amanda Murphy wanted to bring back the fun of Brookfield Summerfest by holding a block party that stretched from the Brookfield Branch Library – which she manages – up Grove Street to Brookfield United Methodist Church and the township green. It appears she succeeded.

“It’s awesome,” Noelle Martell, Aidan’s mom, said at the June 22 event. “He (Aidan) loves it.”

Aidan liked the touch-a-truck, which featured a police car, an ambulance, several fire trucks, a couple of big rigs, a tractor and an excavator, and making a bigfoot puppet in the library, said Martell, of Brookfield.

“He loved it all, really,” she said.

Keegan Simeon, 5, makes a soap bubble with Aidan Martell, 3.

The party also included a craft show at the church, a car show on the green, food vendors, booths from community groups, music, a magic show and balloon animals.

“This is definitely nice for the kids to be out for the day,” said Crysta Shardy of Brookfield, as her husband, Gerorge helped their kids, John, 8; Lillian, 5; and Jacob, 3, make bigfoot puppets.

There were lots of family groups who came out, such as Kelly Marshall of Masury, and her kids Ben. 10; Esther, 9; and James, 4.

“They’ve loving it,” she said as the kids climbed into the excavator – and James into the bucket.

Marshall said she appreciated that there was a local event to take the kids to. The kids didn’t seem to mind the heat on this very hot day, and eagerly jumped into the stream of a fire hose.

George Shardy works with kids, Jacob, left; Lillian and John to make bigfoot puppets

Two-year-old Max Fuhry was “very excited” about the trucks, said his mom, Rachel, of Vienna. They came with Rosie, 6; Anna, 4; Jo, 1; and dad, Marty. Rachel Fuhry said she would like the block party to become an annual event.

“We’re planning already,” Murphy said. “We want to do this next year; at least, that’s the goal. I’d love for this to be an annual event.”

The library had more than 300 people pass through its doors, and that doesn’t necessarily take into account everyone who participated in other events, Murphy said.

“I think it went really well,” she said. “There are some things we know for next year to adjust. We’ve had a great turnout. Everybody’s saying they had a great time. I’ve heard nothing but great things.”

Murphy benefited from having planning help from the township, police department, Masury-Brookfield Women’s Club, the church and the Brookfield Rotary Club. She thanked them and the businesses that brought out trucks and otherwise participated.

“It’s truly a community event, and that’s what I wanted,” Murphy said.