The first of four Neighborhood Summer Festivals sponsored by Mayor Edward M. Lambert, Jr. and organized and coordinated by Community Coordinator Maureen Ryan Estes, was held at Abbott Court Park in the City's South End on July 24, 2007. The Festivals began as a Neighborhood Council project and have become a corner piece of summer fun in Fall River. They provide an opportunity for neighbors to meet each other in a fun environment, as well as heart-healthy activities and good food. Human service organizations including the Fall River Police Department, the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Massachusetts, Stanley Street Treatment and Resources, South Bay Mental Health, KOOL Smiles Dentistry, Healthfirst, FSA Big friends, Little Friends, Diabetes Association, Inc., SMILES Mentoring, and Community Development Recreation provided activities for children and information for adults. Other festivals were scheduled for July 31st at Lafayette Park, August 7th Maplewood Park and August 14th at Ruggles Park. For further information about these events, contact Community Coordinator Maureen Estes at 508-324-2405. Click here to see pictures of last year's Abbott Court Festival.
 

(Top row, left) Fall River Police Officers Kelly Furtado and Mike Sweeney register Isaiah Darby for the basketball shoot-out. (Top row, right) Youth Outreach worker Mark Travis coaches Ryan Simansky as he shoots. (Top row, right) Javier Corres struggles to run the football out as far as he can while attached to the shoulder harness. (Middle row, left) Victor Rodriguez gets knocked off his perch by Noreen Stewart in the gladiator game. (Middle row, center) Four-year-old Angel Ferrer and ten-year-old Carlos Cortes enjoy the festival. (Middle row, right) Bea Dean and Keicha DeJesus of Stanley Street Treatment and Resources stand behind ten-year-old hula-hoop contest winner Delia Ferrer. (Bottom row, left) Angel Ferrer and Carlos Cortes struggle to catch a water balloon. (Bottom row, center) Suzanne Raposa of the SE MA Girl Scouts, left, joins Mike Ramos of the District Attorney's Office, right, in the water balloon tossing contest. (Bottom row, right) Steven almeida, Kahea Kaaloa and Keana Ameida enjoy some crafts at the South Bay Mental Health table.