Louise Soller-Mihlek celebrates her birthday April 2 with a parade, burritos and dinosaurs. (HOPE E. TREMBLAY/THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
WESTFIELD – The sound of honking horns on Bates Street started around 10 a.m. April 2 and continued throughout the day.
Rather than consider it a nuisance, residents of the street welcomed the horns because they were in honor of a very special birthday.
Louise Suller-Mihlek celebrated her fourth birthday Thursday in unusual fashion; with beeps and waves, a giant blow-up dragon on her lawn, and a house filled with dinosaur décor.
Louise’s parents, Jill and Sarah Suller-Mihlek, tried to make the best of the day while observing stay at home orders during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We were going to have a big party at Amelia Children’s Museum, but of course that was canceled,” said Jill Suller-Mihlek. “But we wanted to make her day special.”
Louise’s grandmother “called in some favors” and members of the city fire and police departments drove by, honking and waving to the birthday girl.
“She loves dinosaurs, so the house is decorated inside with all the dinosaurs that would have been at her party and we brought out or dragon Christmas decoration,” said Jill Suller-Mihlek.
Louise said the dilophosaurus is her favorite dinosaur because “it has wings on its head and shoots venom.”
Banners and other decorations adorned the front porch and Louise waved at well-wishers from the sidewalk where a sign was posted asking for Happy Birthday Honks. The day was topped off with dinner from Two Rivers Burrito – which Louise calls the “Bean Store” – and a dinosaur shaped cake.
“It’s not the birthday we planned, but it’s very special,” Jill Suller-Mihlek said.
