National Night Out Comes to Downtown Millburn

It was originally conceived as a neighborhood event where citizens were encouraged to turn on their porch lights and sit out on the stoop with neighbors, but National Night Out took a different tack this evening in Millburn.

As Captain Greg Weber acknowledged yesterday, Millburn does not have the kind of urban neighborhoods that National Night Out was designed to serve. Houses are far apart, lots are large, and sitting on your stoop might leave you rather isolated.

So the Millburn Police Department, for the first time ever, closed Main Street between Essex Street and Millburn Avenue for National Night Out. Millburn residents were invited to come downtown to learn about their local police and fire departments as well as the Millburn-Short Hills Volunteer First Aid Squad. The Red Cross, Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Millburn Development Alliance were also on hand. Martini Bar & Bistro provided free hot dogs and beverages for children.

Free child ID kits, including DNA identification, were distributed by the Millburn Police Department. Blood pressure checks were available from the First Aid Squad.

A firetruck, the Summit "Safety House," Moon Walk and police motorcycle rounded out the highlights.