By Jennifer Kohlhepp, Managing Editor
National Night Out is supposed to be about crime and drug prevention, but for many it is more about connecting with neighbors and friends and having a good time.
But that was fine with the Cranbury Township Police Department Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 68, which sponsored the annual event in Village Park Tuesday night.
Children and adults ate lots of hot dogs and hamburgers prepared by Cranbury police officers. Visitors also enjoyed ice cream and cotton candy for dessert.
Resident Leif Kaiser, 11, helped the Cranbury First Aid Squad set up so they could interact with visitors young and old throughout the evening before he darted off to visit with friends.
“I’m helping out and chilling,” he said. “I came out to eat ice cream and chill with my friends.”
“The children come out to enjoy themselves but they also get a little awareness,” Cranbury First Aid Squad member Joe Buonavolonta said.
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), firemen and police use the night out to teach kids that they are friends.
“We are a community organization and we want to be involved in community events. We also want to have a good time,” Cranbury First Aid Squad Chief Mike Kervan said.
Billed as “America’s night out against crime,” National Night Out was created by the National Association of Town Watch in 1984, according to its website, www.natw.org. The event, which is held on the first Tuesday in August, aims to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, foster police-community partnerships and encourage neighborhood camaraderie.
About 400 communities in 23 states took part in the first National Night Out event. This year, more than 37.8 million neighbors across 16,124 communities participated in the United States and Canada, and on military bases worldwide, according to www.natw.org.
Officer Mike Cipriano, who has organized the Cranbury event for the past three years, said “It’s important because we have 17 officers but not everyone is out in town all of the time so this is a great way to come out and meet us.”
Several local business owners and businesses sponsored the event, he said, including George Nikidias, owner of Teddy’s Restaurant in Cranbury, Italian Touch Pizzeria in Cranbury, Gil and Bert’s Ice Cream in Cranbury, George’s Garage and Towing in Cranbury, and Fired Up Events.
Officer Cipriano also said the head of the grill that evening was Cranbury Township Police Department Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 68’s senior member Giuseppi Dechiara.
DJ Reggie had kids of all ages dancing all night. Other children frolicked on the playground or played basketball, while others still made a beeline for the inflatable slide.
A few children wandered over to the fire engine, where they could climb up into the cab or try on the firefighters’ turnout gear — the special pants, jackets and helmets they wear to fires — with the help of the volunteer firefighters.
Mayor James “Jay” Taylor, who was there enjoying the night out with his family, said, “The police work hard throughout the year and it’s wonderful for them to do this and build community relations. For them to unite everyone together— from the business association to the first aid workers — all to give back to the residents is fantastic.”
