July 15, 2004

STREET SCENEMt. Forest Drive

Living on Mt. Forest Drive, according to most of its residents, is like living in a classic, old-time neighborhood. Complete with annual Fourth of July block parties and neighbors borrowing eggs and cups of sugar from one another.

“This street really has old-time values with a lot of new things mixed in. With people moving in with little children, things change, but the values remain the same,” says Ruth Zimmer, who has lived on Mt. Forest Drive for 15 years.

Mt. Forest is a long street, with about 30 houses. Bernice, an 83-year-old original owner on the street, is known by her neighbors as the “Ambassadress” of Mt. Forest Drive.

“When we first moved in and my husband was outside painting, Bernice brought him a refreshment and told him, ‘You are going to love living here, and your children will be very happy,’” says Zimmer. “When my children were young, she would come outside and tell them to come over for some homemade ice cream, she’s a wonderful lady.”

Bernice Dayal has lived on the street for 35 years. She and her husband Yogi have been involved in the block parties from the beginning, over 30 years ago.

“My husband sets up everything. We hold the planning party each year. There were probably 25 people in attendance this year. It’s nice because people want to be involved, which makes it a nice place to live,” says Dayal.

The street’s Fourth of July block party consists of just about every fun event that could happen. It all begins with a pancake breakfast. The children are encouraged to decorate the street with decorations that are stored in a neighbor’s garage. There is a softball game, a water fight, a parade, a swim in the Zimmer’s pool and games for children and adults. The piñata and the limbo are amongst the favorites. It all ends with happy hour for adults, a potluck barbecue and a small fireworks display.

“My kids aren’t really interested in the games anymore,” says Zimmer. “I believe both of them went to happy hour this year though.”

Dayal enjoys the range of ages on the street, between the young couples with young children, all the way up to the grandparents with visiting grandchildren. “Having the younger people around makes it a lot of fun,” she says.

“We all know that we can go to anyone with a problem, even if it’s midnight,” says Dayal. “No one would hesitate to help.”

She also says that there are about 10 original owners on the street, and the house they moved into had been lived in for 14 months before they moved in.

According to Zimmer and Dayal, there aren’t too many problems in living on the street, no loud dogs or neglected trash bins. “The only person to speed in this neighborhood would probably be my 19-year-old son,” says Zimmer. “And the neighbors wouldn’t hesitate to tell him to slow down.”

Zimmer says she really doesn’t plan on ever moving away from the street, unless there was a job opportunity elsewhere. “It would be very hard to leave Mt. Forest Drive,” she says.

—By Miranda Schultz