Historical Fall 2003 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Because National Night Out falls on the first Tuesday in August, it is frequently hot and sometimes oppressive on the evening of the event.
This year was no exception but that did not stop many neighbors and some dignitaries from assembling at Four Corners Park. Many new faces and new children were present as well as a solid coterie of old-timers. Katrina Stierholz collected money for food and drink tickets and hot dogs, brats, potato chips, and beer and soda were consumed by attendees. Famous faces joining Skinker DeBalivierites were Mayor Francis G. Slay, who addressed the crowd, Alderman Lyda Krewson, Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, Chief of Police Joe Mokwa, Fire Chief Sherman George, and Captain Harry Hegger, formerly of the 7th District and now chief of the Homicide Division. John Thomas and his band provided music in the jazz tradition throughout the evening. Joe Keaveny spoke to the crowd about the renaming of Four Corners.
A committee of neighbors – Shirley Polk, Ruth Johnson, Tim Schoemehl, Katrina Stierholz, and Lana Stein – had met in the spring to find a way to honor our late neighbor and friend, Greg Freeman. Quickly, a consensus was reached: Our park would be the Greg Freeman Memorial Park at Four Corners.
His wife and son thought this was something Greg would have really appreciated.
The name change was introduced in the Board of Aldermen by Ald. Krewson and Ald. Frank Williamson. Enacted by the board, it was signed into law by Mayor Slay.
A formal dedication will take place soon. Then, Lana Stein, co-editor of the Times, presented a gift certificate to Juanita Wood, who has graciously assisted in the distribution of the paper for the past year. Then, the band played on and neighbors continued to eat, drink and socialize on the hot August night. Mayor Slay remarked that the crowd certainly exemplified the diversity of our community and so it did.
Original photograph caption
Children jump rope at National Night Out. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, Fall 2003.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2003_09.pdf, printed page(s) 7; PDF page(s) 7.
