Newark Community Day set Sept. 18

3:46 p.m., Sept. 14, 2005--The 34th annual Newark Community Day will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 18, with performances and activities taking place on The Green, the corner of Main and Academy streets and in the Newark Shopping Center.

To aid Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, Newark has pledged $5,000 to the American Red Cross and will be accepting cash contributions during Community Day. The city also has adopted Pascagoula, Miss., as a sister city and will earmark specific disaster relief actions to help the citizens of that community.

U.S. Rep. Michael N. Castle (Delaware) has joined forces with the Food Bank of Delaware, the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross to kick off “Hunger Drive 2005” to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

A special table will be set up next to Castle’s information table on The Green to collect donations for the hunger drive, and a truck for taking donated items to the Delaware Food Bank will be parked on the north side of Wolf Hall, near Delaware Avenue.

Appropriate items for donation include bottled water, hand-held snacks (such as granola and energy bars, breakfast bars, beef jerky), peanut butter, canned meals (such as hearty soups, stews, chili and pasta), plates, bowls, cups and utensils, bleach, disinfecting household cleaning items and diapers.

UD-related activities will be held at various locations on The Green.

Delaware Avenue on The Green:

John Lennon Bus, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 1:30-5 p.m.;
UD Jazz Ensemble, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.;
Appearance by members of the UD Fightin’ Blue Hens men’s basketball team, 10:30 a.m.-noon; and
Appearance by members of the Fightin’ Blue Hens women’s basketball team, noon-1:30 p.m.

Near Main Street on The Green:

UD Community Music School, 10:45-11:15 a.m.; and
Delaware Steel, 1-1:30 p.m.

Other UD groups planning to participate at various times and locations on The Green include Baker’s Dozen, Department of Physical Therapy Clinic, Department of Nursing, Animal Sciences, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Orthodox Christian Fellowship, Delaware Water Resources Agency and the UD Ice Arenas. Newark's Town and Gown Committee also will have a table.

Other activities

Besides showcasing UD personalities, groups and activities, Newark Community Day also provides a chance for visitors to get to know the city’s businesses, government, civic associations, nonprofit organizations, ethnic groups, artisans and politicians.

Scheduled activities include a harvest festival, bazaar, flea market filled with attic treasures and surprises, as well as a food court with an ethnic favor. Also available are scarecrow making, mini-moto racing, face painting, fine art, homemade crafts and two stages for bands and demonstrations.

Newark Parks and Recreation Department coordinates Newark Community Day in cooperation with UD, Christina School District and the Downtown Newark Partnership. Sponsors include the Daimler Chrysler Newark Assembly Plant (which will be displaying a new model Dodge Durango), Rohm and Haas, Delaware Chiropractic and BJ’s Wholesale Club.

For more information, call the Newark Parks and Recreation Department at (302) 366-7060.

Editor’s note: Rain date is Sunday, Sept. 25. In case of inclement weather, call (302) 366-7147 for cancellation information.

Article by Jerry Rhodes
Photo by Duane Perry

E-mail this article

To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here.