EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE: The Cul-de-sac Crew

HAMPSTEAD, NC (WWAY) — Technology is a wonderful thing but let’s be honest, it has faded a past time that many of us remember vividly.  The simple sounds of kids playing…outside.  Our Extraordinary Person of the Week helped create what could be called “The Cul-de-sac Crew”.

Glenda Heidsick first brought the activity to our attention.  “They play sports and organize themselves to do things outside the house instead of inside,” she told Daniel Seamans.  “We support each other,” she added, “the parents support each other, the kids support each other, it’s nice to live in a neighborhood where kindness is taught throughout the neighborhood. It’s very heartwarming.”

Glenda directed us just down the block where we meet 11 year old Josephine Rodriguez.

“I just try to get everyone outside and we all get together,” Josephine said, “every single day. We just play outside all the time.”

All the time. After school and on the weekend. It’s now a neighborhood routine. A routine that began in large part with Josephine.

“Some of them didn’t want to come outside all the time,” Josephine said, “but once we started playing a lot of games, everyone liked it and kept coming back outside.”

It’s kinda reminiscent of a simpler time.

“It’s a great thing that they’re not on their gadgets,” Josephine’s mother Amanda said.  “They’re not on their computer, not on their cell phone, they are out hear playing and I think that is a good thing.”

A picture perfect crew complete with a dad who doubles as their hotdog hero.

“It makes me feel very proud, Juan Carlos said of his daughter.  “She’s out here exercising every day for the most part and all her little friends come to play with her, that’s definitely something that is good overall.”

Juan Carlos has fired up the grill for the crew to keep the energy up.

By the way, this Topsail Middle schooler is a straight ‘A’ student.

She’s a homerun.  She’s a touchdown. She’s a goal.   However you want to score it, Josephine Rodriguez and everyone who takes part in this Cul-de-sac Crew….you are Extraordinary!

Keep it up, y’all!

If you have an extraordinary idea, lemme know about him or her or all of them!  Email me at dseamans@wwaytv3.com.