TJ students collaborate with Southmoor homeowners to put on the 2011 Southmoor neighborhood Picnic.
Photo by Cole Stewart
On Sunday August 28, eight of TJ’s National Honor Society members gathered at Southmoor park at 9:00 a.m. to join forces with homeowners within the area to prepare and serve food at the annual neighborhood picnic.
The Southmoor picnic has been a tradition for over 20 years within the community as a way to come together and celebrate the end of the summer. The picnic welcomes its residents of the 620 homes in the Southmoor neighborhood to come, eat, and enjoy all the activities set up within the park.
The picnic started at 11:00 a.m. and ended around 1:30 p.m., and consisted of many games and activities for the residents to partake in free of charge. A blow up slide, volleyball games, a visit from the local Fire Department, live music from the band Second Bell, and a variety of food keep the Southmoor residents coming back each year.
Photo by Cole Stewart
The Southmoor picnic put on by SPEHA (Southmoor Park East Homeowners Association) is greatly supported by the local businesses around the neighborhood. Once again this year UMB Bank handed out ice cream and cookies, the Denver Police and Fire Department came to mingle with and entertain the crowd, Citywide Bank donated Bonds and grants that were handed out at the picnic, and Subway donated subs and cookies. New to the Southmoor Picnic this year, Slices—located on East Hampden across from the park—donated pizza for the event.
Photo by Cole Stewart
TJ Spartans volunteered time to attend the picnic to help grill burgers and hot dogs, serve potato salad and baked beans, to hand out plates and chips, and to help chop and prepare veggies. “I was a griller at the picnic. I enjoyed being at the picnic and cooking burgers for the Southmoor community. They really seemed to appreciate our hard work and effort,” said Junior Ty Roder.
The organizers of the event, Blair Perron and Paul Bottone, had nothing but superlative comments to make about the TJ students who helped to cater the event. “The TJ students were there with me and we were going over their duties. I let them pick their job and they all performed beyond my expectations. The grills were very hot, as the day was, and none of them were ready to quit. They stayed to clean up and we had to tell them it was OK to leave. I realize that each year is different, but I’m encouraged by this group of students. It was my pleasure to work with them. I hope to see students back next year,” said Bottone.
A ten-year member of SPEHA who helped support and organize the event, Jack Green worked with the TJ students at the picnic and had this to say about them: “The students were timely, responsible, enthusiastic and personable, along with being hardworking and conscientious. It was quite delightful to have them join us. Our neighborhood can be proud to have these great kids in the school and in the community,” said Green.
