By Erin Beck
Organizers are planning a block party for Shinnston High School and Lincoln High School alumni. “So it’s going to be the Spartans and the Cougars,” said Dave Minor, one of the organizers. Last year, the first block party was held for attendees of the since-closed Shinnston High School. While attendees were former students, they didn’t have to graduate from the school. “And it worked out famously,” said Steve Glass, one of the organizers. “I was very pleasantly surprised because I really had no idea.”
Glass, Minor, and Jim Scudere, all Shinnston High School 1968 graduates, came up with the idea last year. This year, like last year’s event, is hosted by the Class of 1968, the City of Shinnston, and Casey’s Family Restaurant. “So we wanted to pull people together, and kind of just have a fun time, informal,” Glass said. “A lot of people were saying ‘Can we do this again?’ We need to do this again.” The event will be held Aug. 19 on The Green Space next to Casey’s. Organizers are planning to start around 2 p.m. and hold the event until approximately 11 p.m. All classes are welcome.
Glass said he hopes attendees will also check out Shinnston businesses, including those recently opened. Last year wasn’t “elbow to elbow,” he said, so he hopes to see even more attend. “Our goal is to fill up the streets of Shinnston,” he said. There were estimates that about 300 people attended last year.
“People loved it,” Minor said, adding that he hopes the event is repeated each year. “Hopefully it’ll be big.” They hope to hold it on the third Friday of each August. Last year brought older and younger graduates together. “That’s what made it so nice,” Minor said. Some were local and some traveled. Classes mingled, caught up and chatted. Some played cornhole. Entertainment had not been finalized at the time of the interviews, except Eddie Davisson had agreed to perform.
Attendees should bring their own tents and food and drinks. There may be corporate sponsors. This year is also welcome to alumni and former students who didn’t graduate from the school.
