Celebration Supports Community

Good Neighbor Day is Downingtown’s annual Fourth of July event

Downingtown held its 37th annual Good Neighbor Day celebration at Kerr Park on Saturday. The event featured a combination of foot races, a rubber duck race, canoe race, and a bike decorating contest.

Good Neighbor Day is Downingtown’s annual Fourth of July celebration, and for that reason most events have a patriotic, red, white and blue theme. The first event was the flag and prayer ceremony held at 6:40 a.m. At 8 a.m, the “run for life” race series started, which included a 5K, 10K, and 15K.

Second Wind Timing provided chips and timed the participants. The first 5K male finisher was Billy Caldwell with an overall time of 16:03, and an average pace of 5:09 per mile. The first 5K female finisher was Jennifer Panetta with an overall time of 18:30 and an average pace of 5:57 per mile.

For the 10K race, Matt Herring finished first with an overall time of 33:23, while Emma Slattery finished first for the women in 38:42.

Scott Burns finished the 15K

race in 56:29, and Theresa Griffin was top finisher for the women in 1:11:40.

One participant, Dennis Tate, said “I enjoy the race, I enjoy the community. It’s nice to see all the neighbors come together and support the community.” This year, the races and walk attracted roughly 1,400 participants.

One group, however, ran to raise awareness for veterans suffering from mental illness. Markus Ismael, Al Yusko, and Chris Mazzoli, ran the 15K race tak- ing turns holding an American flag and wearing a 20-pound backpack. Each turn lasted half a mile. Ismael is former Air Force, and acted as his group’s spokesperson.

He said they ran “to raise awareness that 22 veterans commit suicide every day. If anyone you know is having a rough patch, let them know there is no shame in reaching out for help.”

In addition to the foot races, Good Neighbor Day featured a bike decorating contest, canoe race, and rubber duck race.

For the bike race, children decorated their bikes in red, white, and blue. Prior to the rubber duck race, participants purchased a duck for $2. Then, staff members take the collection of ducks and dump them into the river next to Kerr Park.

“It’s always fun to come and see. It’s a popular thing at Good Neighbor Day,” stated Jay Byerly, one the race’s participants.

The Downingtown Veteran’s Memorial Fund was present to ask for donations to include more veterans on the Downingtown Area Veterans Me- morial. According to the sign at the organization’s tent, “95 newly discovered names need to be added to the World War I and World War II memorial walls.”

The Downingtown Police Department handed out free bicycle helmets to children. Staff members handed out frisbees and candy as well.

Aside from races and events, Good Neighbor Day included carnival rides, a live band, and a large collection of vendors selling food or promoting their own businesses. All proceeds from the event went to local emergency services.

“I enjoy the race, I enjoy the community. It’s nice to see all the neighbors come together and support the community.”

— Dennis Tate

ADAM FARENCE — DAILY LOCAL NEWS Markus Ismael, Al Yusko, and Chris Mazzoli took turns holding the American flag and wearing a twenty pound backpack during the 15K race at Good Neighbor Day.

ADAM FARENCE — DAILY LOCAL NEWS Hundreds of rubber ducks were dumped into the Brandywine this year.