Photos courtesy of block party participants via Terry Herkner
Residents met and mingled at gatherings around the community as part of the third annual Neighbor2Neighbor Block Party on May 19, organized by the Toluca Lake Homeowners Association (TLHOA) and Toluca Lake Neighborhood Watch.
The tradition was started in 2022 by Terry Herkner from the TLHOA and Robyn Allyn from the Neighborhood Watch. “Emerging from the pandemic, the concept was to re-energize and re-engage our community after having been stuck inside behind Zoom screens,” Herkner says. “We thought it would be fun to have block parties throughout Toluca Lake, same day, same time, to create synergy.”
Each block’s respective Neighborhood Watch captain joined forces with TLHOA members and neighbors to plan the type of event they wanted, whether a wine and cheese party, barbecue or ice cream social. Festivities were held both north and south of Riverside Drive, ranging from Cahuenga to Clybourn and beyond, including at Priscilla’s Coffee. Each celebration offered information about the Neighborhood Watch and TLHOA, whose recently formed partnership aims to strengthen the organizations’ positive impact on the community and their mutual relationship with the LAPD.
Herkner says the primary goal is to encourage residents to get to know their neighbors. “What better way than a party where we can meet one another, exchange phone numbers, have a bite, share a laugh?” she asks. “Communication is key. We are all safer when we know and talk to each other!”
For information about the Neighborhood Watch, contact Steve Hampar (steve@hamparproperties.com) or Robyn Allyn (robynallyn3@gmail.com). To join the TLHOA, contact Terry Herkner (membership@tlhoa.org).