SEJ on its way: Central city park to host festival Saturday, August 16.

The S. Ellen Jones Park is playing host to its first ever neighborhood festival this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with free food, music, fun activities for the kiddos, and health screenings for those of us not quite up to the 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Booths will be scattered throughout the park at 600 E. 11th Street and on 13th Street between Elm and Oak Streets.



A map for your convenience:



With numerous worthwhile renovation activities happening in the downtown business district, it's easy to overlook non-commercial interests within the larger revitalization scheme. Our local entrepreneurs certainly deserve their share of credit but it's the business of people that ultimately decides a city's lot.

And when it comes to people, I'm challenged to present a better example of a good friend, neighbor, and community builder than Ted Fulmore, the principal organizer of the SEJ festival. Whether it's historic preservation, modernist architecture, low-income housing, or simply getting together for a good time, Ted's just flat out been as solid a citizen as one could hope for.

Though he's far too gracious to not share the credit with those who've helped transform his wish to reality, this festival was his idea and he's done the work necessary to make it a good day for everyone in his and surrounding neighborhoods.

I'd like to personally thank the many volunteers and organizations who've helped. I'd also like to suggest that everybody else thank Ted, for Saturday and every day that he puts his considerable skills to work for us.