AMHERST — With performances of the “Happy Birthday” song, handmade signs and balloons displayed on lawns, residents in an Amherst neighborhood on Sunday afternoon made sure a girl felt special as she turned 4.
After a birthday party for Sophie, the daughter of Lynnette Arnold and Patrick Hall, was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, residents who live in the Crow Hill section of town stepped up to recognize her as she rode her bicycle, accompanied her parents, along High, Taylor, Gray and Mattoon streets.
“Amazing” is how Arnold described the outpouring of love that those in the neighborhood gave her daughter. “I almost cried a couple of times.”
Hall said he also had tears in his eyes and thanked the many neighbors for being so inspiring.
“It’s people at their best,” Hall said. “It’s moving.”
The couple, recognizing that they couldn’t have a gathering to celebrate Sophie’s birthday, put out an appeal to the group email that is generally used to stage an annual potluck and other events. At least a dozen neighbors responded, with most having been cooped up in their homes as they practice social distancing.
“It’s quite a nice way to connect in spite of what’s going on in the world,” said Carlie Tartakov, who placed a sign in her yard to acknowledge Sophie’s birthday.
Standing on a street corner, Todd Tripp played the accordion as his wife, Susan Waite, honked a clown horn and tapped on a drum, getting several others to join in for a version of “Happy Birthday.”
Waite said it was nice to have something to take her mind off the world’s problems.
“This is good,” Waite said, “better for us than it is for Sophie.”
A second musical performance, with people playing the violin, flute and other instruments, came from a nearby porch.
Sherrill Harbison said she was excited to participate in the event, leaving a gift for Sophie at the end of her sidewalk.
“Especially when the singing ‘Happy Birthday’ idea came up — I think it’s a great idea,” Harbison said.
“It’s a great neighborhood,” said Susan Morrello, who had a sign wishing Sophie a happy birthday with the number 4 written in silver. “It was a nice thing that they could reach out with the request.”
For Sophie, the most memorable part of the jaunt through the neighborhood was the clown horn. “I liked the honking thing,” she said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
