The Sunnyhills Neighborhood Association (SNA) held their first in-person annual Halloween party after a two year gap due to COVID-19, SNA President Allysson McDonald said. The party was held, as it has been traditionally, in Augustine Neighborhood Park.
The restrictions placed due to COVID-19 caused the Sunnyhills Halloween party of 2020 to be held online, McDonald said. However, with the lack of attendants during the online year, the party of 2021 was officially canceled, she added
SNA plans many other events to bring the community together and provide an experience for all ages which are mostly held in the Albert Augustine Jr. Memorial Park of Sunnyhills, McDonald explained.
“It’s our goal to foster a community to bring people together… it’s a good way for people in the neighborhood to come out, enjoy the park, enjoy doing things with their kids, and have a community experience here in their backyard,” McDonald said.
The association also gives the chance for MHS students to earn community service hours by helping set up the event. Students helped out by loading pumpkins into trucks, serving food and drinks, and doing face paint for many of the kids.
“Without the kids doing community service here today and also last Friday helping us prep, I don’t think I could have done all this,” McDonald said.
When asked if she thought the party brought the community together, MHS senior Ohanah Buquing said, “Definitely, in terms of bringing kids from different elementary schools together, to try to talk and engage and especially express themselves in their costumes.”
With events like this comes a need for safety, which is why the City of Milpitas Fire Department chose to sponsor the event this year. Fire trucks were parked on the pavement and personnel in attendance to make sure everyone was safe. There was even a booth that had more resources and information on how to keep yourself and others safe during earthquakes and fires
“People don’t realize how short staffed the emergency response system will be when a catastrophic event hits … it really puts the onus of responsibility on every individual that lives in the community,” Milpitas Fire Department Emergency Management Coordinator Toni Charlop said.
The diverse age ranges of attendants solidified the community-building accomplished by the Halloween party. Many of the attendants were elementary schoolers and parents but there were also MHS students.
When asked about why it is important for neighborhood associations to plan events like the SNA Halloween party, Charlop said, “I think it brings a sense of community to the neighborhood that we don’t really have anymore. I grew up in Milpitas a long time ago and you knew your neighbors and played at your neighbors houses… I think it is great for neighborhoods to get together and do this sort of thing.”