Howell Residents Come Together For National Night Out

At the Chick-fil-A parking lot on Route 9 Monday night, residents of Howell and the surrounding towns got the chance to see some of their emergency services close up while taking part in a nationwide event. 

The township's own version of National Night Out included face painting, as well as giving residents a chance to get an up close view of equipment from the police, fire and emergency management departments.

One of the people responsible for the event is Sergeant Chris Hill of the Howell Police Department. Hill said in the few years that the event has been held it has been helpful in many ways. "Our goal is to let those people who don't want to abide by the law know that we're taking our town back," he said. "It lets the criminals know and those people trying to push drugs and gangs and any kind of violence or anything that takes our kids away from positive behavior that we're doing everything we can to keep them on the right side."

Hill said that another goal of the night is to show residents, especially the younger ones, that the first responders of the town are approachable and not people to be afraid of. "Unfortunately people only call the police department when there's a problem," he said. "When they see this they know we're here for other reasons."

With several thousand people expected to come out on the night, there were plenty of new residents who were getting their first real introduction to the township's services on Monday. Lisa and Joe LaRosa have only lived in town for six months but were glad to see a program like this one being held. "We happened to be driving around and the kids saw all that's going on," Lisa said of the face painting stations and and moon bounces. "I wanted to see what's going on and this is a way to learn." Joe said he was glad that his children had fun getting up close and personal with the fire trucks. 

Longtime resident Paul Boisvert said he was glad his children could not only see the equipment pieces used by the emergency services, but also learn about them firsthand. "I wanted him to come and check out a police car so he's not afraid," he said of his four-year-old son. "It's one thing when your son or daughter sees the police car. It's another when one of the police officers takes five minutes to sit them in the back of the car, show them the back of the car and make it clear that should be the only time they're in the back of the car."

In addition to the first responders, there was also a strong showing from the township's administration. That included Township Manager Helene Schlegel, recreation director Davide Fuoco and several members of the township council.

Councilman William Gotto who is also a volunteer firefighter in the town said he was glad to be a part of the night. "Anytime you can get the first responder people out, the people who touch the community to get them to see the community it's good," he said. 

Gotto said it was community events similar to National Night Out that that got him interested in being a firefighter. "I was a little kid even when I was growing up to see the big red fire truck," he said. "I'm a little numb to it now, but when I saw them bringing in the truck it's the first thing I went to."

Fellow councilman Robert Nicastro said he first got the idea to bring the event to the township when he served on the recreation advisory committee. "I approached the other members about the idea of the town participating in this national event because the town was not previously participating," he said. 

As a former member of the New York Police Department, Nicastro said he has seen the support the township gives to its first responders. "I thought this would a great night to bring the community together and show what National Night Out was designed to do, which is to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, continue to generate support and participation for local anti-crime efforts, and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police community partnership."

Whether it was face painting, or seeing the K-9 unit from the police department or just enjoying the summer weather, a good time was had by all at what is becoming a growing tradition in the town.