Acalanes Valley & Ridge Neighborhood celebrates in sweet style
Submitted by Sue Keeley
Dreyer's party crowd Photo submitted
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream...and that's exactly how almost 100 residents of Acalanes Valley & Ridge Neighborhood celebrated. Cups and cones of Mango Tango, Take the Cake, French Silk and, of course, vanilla bean and chocolate were enjoyed by young and old. This award-from Dreyer's Ice Cream Neighborhood Salute-was the cherry on top of safety improvements on Stanley Boulevard and recognition of this fabulous neighborhood. New residents as well as some people who grew up as children in the neighborhood and shared great memories came to the gathering.
"Caring. Connected. Compassionate. Family and community centered. Those words aptly describe our neighborhood...where we are proud to say we are not just neighbors but friends too," was part of the essay submitted to Dreyer's by 25-year resident Sue Keeley.
"My wife and I with our three boys were delighted to spend the summer's eve in the company of our neighbors," said Dave Roth. "We moved in two years ago and walking home in the twilight hours we talked about how great it would be to make a neighborhood get together like this a regular habit. We are grateful for new sidewalks and friendly neighbors!"
The neighborhood has spent much of the past year working with the city to install sidewalks and add traffic calming features to Stanley Boulevard. It's not unusual to see as many as 25 children walking to school along this busy street as well as many other residents and pooches. The recently installed sidewalk has made life safer for everyone.
Tatia MacKinnon, a resident of the neighborhood, said that as she walked down Stanley to the party it was heartwarming to see people coming out of their houses all along the way. "Everyone was talking about what a great way this was to celebrate our neighborhood."
"Caring. Connected. Compassionate. Family and community centered. Those words aptly describe our neighborhood...where we are proud to say we are not just neighbors but friends too," was part of the essay submitted to Dreyer's by 25-year resident Sue Keeley. 
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA