National Night Out Doubles As Family Night Out

Thousands of Paramus residents of all ages made their way to the green lawns and parking lot of Paramus Library Tuesday for the annual National Night Out.

While Paramus police, fire, and ambulance members allowed children to try on uniforms and get up close and personal with safety equipment and vehicles, Mayor Richard LaBarbiera viewed the event as a family event coupled with entertainment.

"It's a great night for Paramus. Every year National Night Out grows more and more," said LaBarbiera. "The attendance this year has to be greater than any other year I can recall. Before the night is over, between National Night Out and the [Terrific Tuesday] Concert, they'll be a couple thousand people coming through here."

Councilwoman Maria Elena Bellinger said the event is a great way for the community to come together. 

"We don't have a center in town, but with events like this, kids come out, I'm running into people I graduated with, people I grew up with, and my kids are with their friends. There's nothing better than this."    

Children and adults did their best to make foul shots wearing goggles designed to simulate driving under the influence, while others threw their best fast balls at a target, as a member of the Paramus Police department read off their speeds from a radar gun. 

For Capt. Brian Goggia, National Night Out is an opportunity to make contacts and connections with the community.

"We're human beings too. You can speak to an officer," said Goggia who encourages children and adults to overcome their fear of law enforcement. "Rather than telling kids, 'they’re going to arrest you,' no we're not, we're here to serve you."  

Lt. John Scully likened National Night Out to a town picnic.

"You have a lot of private entities who have donated time and funds towards giveaways to reward the residents of Paramus for their loyalty," said Scully.

Paramus based associations such as the Paramus Custodial Maintenance Association also made donations by giving away 866 blue tote bags packed with thousands of school supplies such as pencils, pencil cases, rulers, and book markers just weeks before children go back to school.

"Its about supporting the community and the kids," said Joseph Bosticco, president of the association. 

Catherine Eng, head of the Paramus branch library at Midland Avenue, kept children busy with craft activities including personalized door hangars, caterpillar book markers, Mexican flowers, face painting and tattooing.   

Some residents took advantage of hotdogs and hamburgers fresh off the grill, others satisfied their sugary cravings with brightly-colored cotton candy.

National Night Out was introduced first introduced in 1984 by The National Association of Town Watch (NATW), a nonprofit, crime prevention organization. According to their website, the NATW is dedicated to the development, growth and maintenance of organized crime and drug prevention programs nationwide.  

For Paramus resident and Bergen County Freeholder John Driscoll, it was all about coming together. 

"At the end of the day, Paramus might be big, but after a night like this, it shows how close we really are," said Driscoll. "It’s a night, like in every town, where we take back the streets."

After National Night Out, many stayed for the Terrific Tuesday concert, featuring The Hitmen, made up of three original members of the world reknown Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons vocal group.

Paramus Patch will have more on the concert in a future article.