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Valdosta Street just had their 78th block party, that’s three block parties a year since 1983.

Joe F, an original OB’er (Ocean Beach Resident) moved to Mira Mesa in 1983. He recognized immediately that neighbors did not share the same free spirit or comaraderie as his fellow OB’ers. So, what did he do? Offered his neighbor across the street a beer. Well actually, he asked his neighbor if he drank beer and when Dave said yes, Joe brought over a six-pack and that’s how it started.

Although this Labor Day weekend celebration was a small gathering of 20 neighbors , Joe and his family assures me that their annual street luau draws in neighbors by the hundreds.

This glimpse into life on Valdosta street was like a trip back in time (or at least what life would be like during “CHEERS, where everyone knows your name”).  5 year-old Shonny, Joe’s granddaughter, however, bridged the time gap. She gladly offered every neighbor a drink and could remind you of anyone’s name on the block that you may have forgotten.

The story telling was endless and many featured the block’s heroic duos – the guys who started the block parties – while others highlighted ways in which the block came together.  Perhaps it’s been nearly a decade, but because the block shared the challenge, the story is still very much alive. Two teenage girls that lived on the block  were hit by a drunk driver, one of the girls received the brunt of the force and became nearly paralyzed.  The family thought that they would have to send their daughter off to a nursing facility, but instead, the neighbors of Valdosta came together to build her a handicap accessible room. They even got the city to waive the $25,000 fees to build.

“I don’t think that would have happened if we didn’t know each other.” – Joe.

Oh, and there are more stories, but we will save that for later. Add your stories below or just comment.

Once you’re done, it’s fun to create a diagram with your street and add everyone’s name and number where their house/apt is located.

Then distribute the list through email, going door to door, or during a block meeting.

Source: Joe F. (Mira Mesa Resident)

2. The chairs are arranged in a circle (or other closed figure if space is constrained; a double line is sometimes used) facing outward, with the people standing in a circle just outside of that.

3. A non-playing individual plays recorded music or a musical instrument. While the music is playing, the players in the circle walk in unison around the chairs.

4. When the music controller suddenly shuts off the music, everyone must race to sit down in one of the chairs.

5. The player who is left without a chair is eliminated from the game, and one chair is also removed to ensure that there will always be one fewer chair than there are players.

6. The music resumes and the cycle repeats until there is only one player left in the game, who is the winner.

Source: Wikipedia