Blawnox native Christa Coban touted the borough’s first-ever National Night Out as an event with a simple goal — to have people mingle with their heroes, she said.
The event, hosted Aug. 3 by the Best of Blawnox group at the borough’s Community Park, was transformed with fire engines, police cruisers and ambulances, in an effort to bolster community relations.
“It’s a nice way to get people to socialize and interact with emergency workers,” Coban said.
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign through the National Association of Town Watch. Started near Philadelphia in the 1980s, it has grown to include 38 million people in 16,000 communities across the country.
“I like things like this so the kids can see that firefighters are friendly,” Blawnox fire Captain Rick Lee said. “We put all this gear on and we’re loud so it’s good to see us in a controlled environment.”
Several members of the Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company were on hand to show off the engine and water rescue truck. Other emergency services included Parkview EMS and Blawnox police.
“Kids usually like sitting in the engine,” junior fire member Colin Stephens said. “It’s a big piece.”
The event featured other highlights for the dozens of attendees. The Blawnox Community Garden sponsored several tables with free produce. Visitors couldn’t miss it, as members Mounika and Mourya Gangula dressed as a carrot and pea pod to attract people to the giveaway that included beans, kale and squash.
“It’s fun and we’re easily noticeable like this,” Mounika said. “When people see us, they stop and ask about the garden so that’s what we want, to raise awareness.”
Event leaders also organized a pup walk through town, starting at Lewis Avenue and ending at the park. About 30 people participated in parading their furry friends down the main street.
When they arrived, both the human walkers and the dogs were treated to ice cream cups, courtesy of Baskin-Robbins.
Dana Schulte, who lives nearby in O’Hara, brought her three dogs, Milly, Harley and Thor, who each lapped up ice cream distributed by Mayor Tony Gross.
“I think it’s fun that they allowed dogs to be part of it,” Schulte said.
