West End Ready for Block Party
Fifth annual event set for Saturday

NORRISTOWN — Designed as a "newly reorganized, centralized" event the Fifth Annual West End Community Block Party will take place Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m., at the intersection of Haws Avenue and Marxhall Street, Norristown.

Sponsored by the churches of the West End, the block party is provided for the neighborhood as a fun-filled, summer afternoon.

The ringing of the church bells at All Saint's Episcopal, Haws Avenue United Methodist, and St. Francis Roman Catholic Churches, along with the playing of bagpipes by the Irish Thunder Bagpipers, will signal the start of the party at 1 p.m.

The front steps of Haws Avenue Methodist church will be decorated with signs and banners from each of the sponsoring churches and the steps of Calvary Baptist Church, across the street, will be the stage for entertainment of all types including music, choirs, batons, and representatives of Eagleville Tae Kwon Do.

The Shiloh Church Choir will perform at 1:30 and Star Attraction Baton Twirlers at 2 p.m. The Grace Lutheran Church Choir will sign at 2:30 and Eagleville Tae Kwon Do will entertain at 3 p.m. More entertainment will be furnished by Dennis Clemson & Co. at 3:30 and by the Mount Zion AME Men's Choir at 4 p.m.

Then at 4:30 p.m., there will be a drawing for a bicycle, sponsored by Grace Lutheran Church, followed by an Open Mike Talent Show, for which participants may sign up throughout the day.

Norristown Mayor Ted LeBlanc has volunteered to sit for a dunking in the popular Dunk Tank and more volunteers are needed who are willing to take a dip. The cost for trying to send a volunteer into the tank is $1 for four balls.
This year the public will have a new opportunity to cool down in the "MISTery of the Rain Room."

The room, a walk-through tent, gives a fine misting – such as lettuce receives in the Produce department – and lowers the air temperature by about 40 degrees. The Rain Room price is $1 per person for the day, with hands stamped to enable re-admission.

John Cassidy of Mont Clare, holder of the Guinness Book of World Records title as the world's fastest balloon sculptor, will again be on hand to create his works of art, which will be distributed free of charge.

There will also be games, crafts, a health and safety fair supported by the local police, a fire and rescue team, and food prepared by each sponsoring church.

The menu features hot dogs, kielbasa and kraut, sloppy joes, tomato pie, vegetable pie, zeps, soft pretzels, water ice and lots of baked goods. Radio Station WOGL's Pink Cadillac is expected to make an appearance.

Residents of the surrounding area are encouraged to consider having porch sales during the time of the block party, and a few of the participating churches will present flea market tables.

The block party is not a fund-raising activity for any of the churches providing activities.

The combined churched have voted to make a joint donation from any proceeds realized to InterFaith, an organization housed at Central Presbyterian Church which provides food and money for heating fuel to needy families in Norristown.

Participating churches are: All Saints' Episcopal, Calvary Baptist, Central Presbyterian, Christ Church, United Church of Christ, Grace Lutheran, Haws Avenue United Methodist, St. Francis Roman Catholic, and Shiloh Missionary Baptist