A clear blue sky and bright sunshine welcomed scores of area residents to the Briggs Chaney Day celebration Saturday afternoon, the first such event aimed at unifying the often disjointed community.
Due to the high number of insular apartment buildings and rental communities in the area, many Briggs Chaney residents lack the cohesive neighborhood feel enjoyed in other areas of Montgomery County, said Marva Deskins, chair of the East County Citizens Advisory Board. By bringing local businesses and residents together for a common event each year, community leaders hope to instill a sense of Briggs Chaney pride in the area, she said.
"The whole idea behind Briggs Chaney Day was to create a community cohesiveness," she said. "If you feel like you know your neighbors, you feel like you're part of your community, you're more likely to report suspicious activity and crime; keeping the area safe."
Local food vendors and craft displays dotted the parking lot of the East County Community Center, while excited children ran back and forth between hands-on tours of county police and fire vehicles, face-painting booths and a colorful moonbounce. Adults mostly chatted amongst themselves, perusing craft displays and seeking out fresh produce from the nearby Briggs Chaney Farmer's Market, all against a lively backdrop of live music.
Public safety has been a concern for many Briggs Chaney residents, said event organizer Lucretia Bartley, a longtime area resident who grew tired of seeing events like Burtonsville Day and Colesville Day while the Briggs Chaney neighborhood seemed to be most known for its comparatively higher crime rate.
The Silver Spring police district logged the most calls for service out of all of the department's six policing districts last year, with a majority of those calls being made in the Briggs Chaney area, according to 2010 year-end statistics from the Montgomery County Police Department.
"We've been getting a lot of bad press lately, so one of my goals was to make a more positive picture of the area," Bartley said. "Tears were just running down my face to see all the people coming out today."
With the proceeds from sales of vendor spots and donations from participating local businesses — including the Rita's Ice in nearby Burtonsville and the Percontee, Inc. construction company — Bartley hopes to fund a computer center in the nearby East County Community Center.
"Then, when the school system gets started again, we're going to try to get a teen summit going that will meet each month in the community center to discuss teen issues and the problems they're facing," Bartley said, adding that she hopes such outreach will encourage positive behavior in young adults, rather than allowing them to turn to crime and misbehavior.
For business owners, both local and from the larger Montgomery County area, the event was an opportunity to meet directly with residents.
For Irene Rwetsiba, who owns the Afrika Pizzazz crafts store in Germantown, Briggs Chaney Day was a great chance to publicize her unique products to the residents.
"We're located in Germantown but I have family and friends who live out here so I wanted to take part in [Briggs Chaney Day]," she said in between selling necklaces and other hand-made jewelry to curious passers-by. "It's really about coming together and promoting multiculturalism in Montgomery County, and so far we've been doing great."
Ruth Campbell, who is from New York visiting family in Maryland, said she was surprised to hear crime was a problem in the community, given the vibrancy of Briggs Chaney Day.
"I'm falling in love with Maryland," she said with a smile.
Campbell was jogging by the community center Saturday morning when she was handed a flier about Briggs Chaney Day. A few hours later, she and her daughter, Briggs Chaney resident Coco Freeman, decided to stop by.
"And I'm so glad we did; it's not quite as big as what I'm used to but I'm getting so much more attention from the different vendors; it's a lot of fun," Campbell said.
jarias@gazette.net
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