Performing block magic
on Vista

By Elizabeth Stieber
Times Staff Writer

The 4300 block of Vista St. is getting VIP treatment these days.
A group of neighbors who call themselves the Vista Improvement Program, or VIP, are on a mission to keep their Holmesburg block tidy.
Their mission is stated clearly on the fliers they distribute to fellow neighbors: Please take pride in our neighborhood.
Every Saturday morning, more than a dozen residents on the block, including children, grab cleaning tools and take to the street.
Together, they sweep the sidewalks and street, remove the weeds from the cracks in the cement and clean up anything else that might otherwise tarnish their little section of the Northeast.
"It brings people closer together," said John Grumell. "Hopefully, people will take pride on the outside and the inside."
The group started the weekly cleanup more than a month ago under the leadership of Grumell, whom neighbors call their unofficial block captain.
Grumell has lived in the area his entire life and, like his neighbors, does not want to see his block unkempt.
The residents got the brooms and trash bags from state Rep. Mike McGeehan’s (D-173rd dist.) district office.
About half the block participates, while another quarter of the street pitches in a few bucks for the hard-working kids.
On May 7, the first Saturday in three weeks that was not rained out, the group was out in full force.
It only takes them about an hour to perform their tidying tasks.
"Actually, it’s a fun day," said Shirley Hettinger. "I met neighbors I didn’t know I had. I was pleasantly surprised."
The cleanup program has deterred the youngsters on the block from littering and made them vocal supporters of keeping a neat street.
Hettinger’s son Jimmy had a message for smokers who litter on his block.
"Stop flinging cigarette butts," the 12-year-old said. "It gets annoying."
He and his brother Christian, 9, collected 836 discarded filters on their block that Saturday.
The children pitched in with as much fervor as the adults; some, like 6-year-old Walter McDebitt, wore gloves and goggles while he swept up the trash.
"I like doing it," said Josette Montoya, 10. "It’s good for the environment."
"We have to take pride in our neighborhood," said Andrew Pardo, 13.
Eventually, the neighbors said they would like to block off the street some time in July to remove all the trash they can’t get when cars are parked there and to let the kids play in the street uninterrupted for the day.
Said neighbor Ernie Tauscher: "Hopefully, this carries on to other blocks." ••
Reporter Elizabeth Stieber can be reached at 215-354-3036 or estieber@phillynews.com