Making Good Neighbors

Various Chatham neighborhood clubs are always trying to make people here feel welcome. Each has a different way of achieving that goal.

The clubs organize activities and events and provide ways for neighbors to meet and get to know one another. They provide people an opportunity to meet close neighbors whom they may not have had a chance to get to know. Each club also coordinates community service projects to serve local neighbors in need.

They hold a variety of events, from poker and bingo nights to dinner parties and children's programs. They also hold events that surround Christmas, Easter and Halloween.

The largest of these clubs is the Chatham Newcomers & Neighbors Club, which isn't just for newcomers. This club welcomes all residents in both the borough and township. Some people have recently joined that have lived in Chatham for years, and use the club as a way to give back to the community.

"[It] is a great way to meet people," said member Susan Kiernan. "They have something for everyone. I got to know lots of people, learn more about the town, and made several good friends from being a member."

Other organizations are targeted to specific areas of town so events and activities can be held within walking distance of neighboring residents. This provides a way for people to get together on a more social level outside of school activities, where children attend the same school and parents more readily recognize familiar faces.

The Rolling Hill Association is one such club. Its members live between Lafayette Avenue and the Fairmount Country Club.

"A community organization like the RHA is important because it provides an opportunity for individuals to create a close network of friends," said club Vice President Lisa Cohn, who also writes the club's newsletter.

The Wickham Woods Neighborhood Association has been around for 14 years and has about 120 members. According to its Web site, it "is much more than just a collection of winding streets and lovely houses."

That's true, according to member Pam Polemini.

"You can call anyone at any time," she said. "I think that the association has helped strengthen the bond between neighbors."

Chatham Twig is another club. It's based near Fairmount Avenue along Huron Drive and Van Houton Avenue, which is commonly called "the Highlands area."

It makes annual donations to Overlook Hospital in Summit and collects money for those through neighborhood gatherings and events such as its annual summer block party, its Christmas luminaria and its spring party.

This year, the spring party alone raised over $1,200 for the hospital. 

"It's the best part of our neighborhood," said co-President Jen Ritter.

Got a neighborhood club you want to tell us about? Let us know in the comments section or by emailing the author.