On Sat., Aug. 23 our neighborhood hosted its annual block party. Every summer, as tradition, we have this event on the last Saturday before the kids go back to school and once again I am pleased to say it was a great time for all who attended.

Neighbors, old and new, got a chance to get reconnected. We watched our kids swim, play in the jumper/slide, enjoy homemade snow cones, have face painting, participate in balloon tosses and jello eating contests, all while enjoying beautiful weather while we listened and danced to music played by our favorite D.J.

We even had a raffle for some fabulous prizes, where our neighborhood once again raised money for the Moorpark Food Pantry.

I would like to thank the following retailers for their generous contributions for our raffle: The Med Spa, Sunset Terrace, Moorpark Party Shop, Target, The Grinder, Vons, Ralphs, West Coast Pizza, Underwood Farm, Round Table Pizza, Lalos, McDonalds, Panda Fresh, It's a Grind, Baja Fresh, NT Nail Spa, Miami Tan, Subway, Wagon Tails, and Milan Nail Spa.

I would also like to thank the following people for helping make our party the memorable evening it was. As the block party coordinator, I have to say our event would not have been as smoothly run and successful, without the following friends and neighbors dedicated time and help.

Many thanks go out to Mike Marsh at Goldcoast Management, Fire Station 40, our awesome D.J. Sobeck Banuelos, the fabulous face painter Camiel Eastin, my husband Carl Schloetel, the Clark family, the Krieger family, the Krebs family, the Barry family, the Norris family, the Oxford family, the Mirza family, the Marrache family and the Valdez family.

I truly love my neighborhood and community and after living here 11 years I think no matter what you believe in, regarding keeping Moorpark a wonderful family community where people feel lucky to be a part of—whether it's having a positive outlook on things, getting involved in something that will benefit our city, joining a club or organization, volunteering, or just being kind to your neighbor—we can all make a difference. Stacy Schloetel Moorpark