‘Stronger together’

Matt Peskin began volunteering for the Lower Merion Community Watch program just outside of Philadelphia in the late ’70s, patrolling his neighborhood with other residents and editing the group’s newsletter.

While looking for story ideas, he reached out to other town watches in the area, and realized hundreds of the local groups existed with no shared platform to connect, according to the National Association of Town Watch, founded by Peskin in 1981.

Besides providing support and resources to town watch programs, Peskin and association leaders decided to launch the first National Night Out in 1984 to encourage connections between neighbors and their local police across the country. Some 2.5 million people in more than 400 towns and cities in 23 states joined in the simple concept of turning on porch lights and sitting outside.

Since then, the annual National Night Out – observed on the first Tuesday in August – has drawn some 20 million participants attending block parties, festivals, parades and cookouts.

“We’re proud to host the largest National Night Out celebration in South Jersey,” claimed township Police Chief Pat Gurcsik of an event that lasted about three hours.

Long lines of cars lined up in both directions on Hurfville-Cross Keys Road to get into Washington Lake Park for the free, family friendly event. Families with strollers, teenagers and young adults walked the long path to carnival-like stage grounds that featured a huge hot-air balloon and a ferris wheel.

“We’re proud to host this signature event each year to connect with the community we serve,” Gurcsik noted. “National Night Out builds trust, fosters partnerships and reminds us all we’re stronger together.”

Among Night Out highlights for children and adults alike were demonstrations featuring police K-9s Vino, Ajax, Red and Rip. Guests also enjoyed drenching officers and township officials in a dunk tank.

Free hot dogs and cold water were offered and children got to Touch-a-Truck with fire engines, EMS ambulances and police vehicles. A petting zoo and free pony rides were on hand, as well as inflatable water slides and bounce houses lined up in a colorful row behind the ferris wheel.

There were more than 100 vendors and information booths set up on the fairgrounds, where Washington Township Rotary Club members Erna Totoro, Phyllis Palo, Randee Davidson Lenny DiFiore, Tyler Lamers and Vicky Binetti distributed information and talked to people about the club’s yearly service projects.

Representing Gloucester County’s Department of Health and Human Services were Robert Munson and Carmen Trifiletti, who provided information on mental-health issues and substance abuse disorder. Local churches explained their own services.