With storm behind them, neighbors ready to party

Several homes along North Harvard Avenue in Villa Park flooded on Aug. 23 after two waves of severe storms rolled into much of northern Illinois.

More than 1,500 trees in Villa Park in were downed or damaged.

One homeowner along North Harvard lost a car under fallen branches.

At nearby North School, violent winds damaged the roof.

Meanwhile, a downed pine tree wiped out electrical power lines.

Still, residents on the 500 block of North Harvard are going ahead with their annual block party. The event is scheduled for 3 p.m. today.

Villa Park police and firefighters -- two groups that took the lead in delivering services during a time of need -- are among the invited guests to the block party.

Police officer Marc Bregman said he plans to attend.

In fact, Bregman said having the party date fall after the storm couldn't have been scheduled better.

"It's pre-planned, obviously. But the timing is great," said Bregman, who coordinates the village's neighborhood watch programs.

While the group hosting today's block party isn't part of that program, Bregman said, "it underlines the premise that neighbors who are close and whose kids know each other tend to have less crime than other areas."

And neighbors supporting neighbors, Bregman said, is what he witnessed in the wake of the Aug. 23 storms.

"Closely after the storm, people where having outdoor barbecues and parties," he said. "It didn't seem to faze them.

"Even without electricity at home, the storm hasn't pulled people apart," Bregman added. "If anything, it fuels them to get together."