Northline Park Advisory Council gears up for Annual Fall Festival

After seven months of preparation, the Houston Police Department’s Northline Park Storefront and civic club members are ready to host the 16th annual fall festival, on September 29, rain or shine.

The Fall Festival will offer a variety of fun activities, crafts and informational booths. The festival takes place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Fonville Middle School, 728 East Little York.

According to Paula Parshall, President of the Northline Park Advisory Council, the Northline Park Storefront was the first one to be established in the city over sixteen years ago. The community is in partnership with the City of Houston to provide for the needs of the storefront officers.

Proceeds from previous Fall Festivals provided new carpeting when the storefront moved to its Little York location and purchased bicycles for the officers to use while patrolling the community, as well as computers, a fax machine, tables, cameras, and office supplies.

This year the goal is to raise funds to build a shower for the officers’ locker room and to purchase a badly needed computer. Funds are also needed to purchase smoked turkeys for Thanksgiving baskets and Christmas toys for needy children.
Northline Park Storefront’s Sgt. Bill Wehr said that more than 3,000 people are expected to attend this year’s Festival. The community has always been very supportive of the Fall Festival and the storefront and has provided well for its’s needs.
Sgt. Wehr added that the community benefits from having a storefront in many ways. For example, storefront officers are readily accessible to area residents giving them the opportunity to discuss on-going area problems and concerns that they have. Furthermore, the HPD storefront is able to secure the involvement of other city departments such as neighborhood protection, solid waste, animal control, and narcotics. The officers are committed to making the community a better place to live and work.

The Northline Park Storefront serves an area bounded by Canino Road to the North Loop, 610 to the South, 1-45 on the west and West Hardy on the east.

HISD North District Superintendent Erasmo S. Teran said the festival provides an opportunity for school principals and teachers to get to know the civic club members and help raise money to better meet the needs of the community. Furthermore, it is another opportunity for students to show off their talents and get ready for competitions.

The festival will feature a barbecue dinner catered by Mikeska Bar-B-Q & Catering and served in Fonville’s cafeteria. The cost is $6 and each ticket will give the buyer a chance to win a recliner from Gallery Furniture; a Bar-B-Q Grill from Sears Service Center; or $100 cash from Kemp Construction. Tickets can be purchased from all civic club members, school representatives, and at display tables at area banks and grocery stores. Volunteers will deliver meals to area businesses placing orders for 10 or more. The Master of Ceremonies will introduce guests in a presentation at 11:45 a.m.

Dignitaries that will be attending the Fall Festival are Congressman Gene Green, Senator Mario Gallegos, and Representative Kevin Bailey. Representing the City of Houston will be Council Members Orlando Sanchez, Chris Bell, Gordan Quan, Gabriel Vasquez, and Carol Mims Galloway along with police officials Chief C.O. Bradford, Captain J.A. Lampignano and Lieutenant F. L. Guidry. Superintendent Erasmo S. Teran, Dr. San Juanita Garza, and Board Members Karla Cisneros and Kevin H. Hoffman will represent HISD.

The festival activities include the tug-of-war between officers and fire fighters. The North District schools will provide marching bands, cheerleaders, drill teams, and choirs to entertain the festivalgoers. The children will enjoy the train rides, moonwalks, face painting, a dunking booth, clowns, and a variety of fun games.

For ticket or information, please call Dr. San Juanita Garza at 713-696-7650, 713-694-3087, or the storefront 281-272-4250.