Between the donut station, the cooler of cold drinks, and neighborhood children engaging in a tug-o-war at the Wellington Hill Block Party on July 20, there was also a memory table and an air of remembrance for neighbors who had passed on since the last block party – which was held prior to the onset of the pandemic.

The Wellington Hill Block Party in Mattapan, once a staple of this residential neighborhood that is graced with walking paths, hills, and quaint streets, returned this year. In the time since the last one, neighbors like Robert ‘Bobby’ Lightfoot, David Lopes, Turhan Shepherd, and Herbert ‘Leroy’ Riggs were lost – but were remembered with citations from state Rep. Russell Holmes, who lives nearby.

The neighborhood also came together to celebrate the recent start of repair work on the Wellington Hill Walking Path, a patchwork of 100-year-old paths that had fallen into disrepair and neglect by the city. Considered a gem of the neighborhood, and an important way to save hundreds of steps via cutting out the long street walks, neighbors announced they have organized a petition to name the walking paths after Lopes.

He had been a tireless advocate for the community, but no cause was more beloved to him than the restoration and expansion of the walking paths. In addition to the naming, a rose bush from his yard will be transplanted to a location along the route.

Lopes’s wife, Darcel, his daughter, Kai Lopes Stovell, and his grandson, Micah, were on hand for the July 20 party.

The mood of remembrance was a balanced with the fun of a summer gathering returned after several years on hiatus. DJ’s set up their equipment on porches or balconies along Wellington Hill Street, children zipped up and down the street freely on bikes, and adults gathered under shade trees to eat and socialize. Jei Christie, of the Wellington Hill Neighborhood Association, coordinated the successful return of the event.

Solo Lewis dominated the tug-o-war on Wellington Hill Street while her little brother, Classic Lewis cheered her on.

Yolanda Anderson, Narviah Anderson, and Elise Christie staffed the ice cream booth.

Jenn Brandel set up the donut station – appropriately named the ‘Treat Yourself’ booth.

Jaziel Martinez helped by staffing the ‘free book’ table.

Kwes Jones operated a lemonade stand and is shown putting the proceeds into his cash register.

Adrienne Shepherd and Darcel Lopes enjoyed the memory table, where their husbands, Turhan Shepherd and Dave Lopes, were remembered.

Ruben Austin took a break from setting up to have a cigar on the front lawn on Wellington Hill Street.

Sonia Blake cooled off in the shade and got some refreshing fruits during the block party.

Neighbors Patricia Whitehead and Aamir Mahdi enjoyed catching up at the block party.