Boyceville hosts village’s inaugural National Night Out celebration
By Cara L. Dempski
BOYCEVILLE — Citizens of Boyceville were able to meet and interact with members of the Boyceville Police and Fire Departments as part of the village’s first National Night Out celebration.
The celebration was held the evening of August 2, 2016 in Pafko Park. Representatives of the Boyceville Community Ambulance Service and Community Action Club were also at the event.
Residents of the community were able to meet new neighbors, connect with old neighbors and friends, and interact with the first responders serving the community. Fire chief Brian Marlette said that the event came together very quickly. “We just decided to do this two weeks ago,” he stated, “so we really had little time to prepare. It’s turned out nicely, though,” he finished.
Brandee Farrell of Boyceville said that she and her family were there for something different to do. They were surprised by the size of the crowd, numbering approximately 100 people 45 minutes into the celebration, but shared that it was nice to see so many community members coming together for the event.
Police chief Greg Lamkin said that he was glad to have an opportunity to meet and speak with members of the surrounding community. “It’s nice to be able to meet people in a non-confrontational way and get to know them,” he stated. Marlette agreed with this, saying “in an emergency, it’s always easier if you’ve already met the person helping you.”
The National Association of Town Watch established National Night Out in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the United States Department of Justice. The first National Night Out was held in Philadelphia in August 1985 as a way for neighborhoods to combat crime. The intent behind the event was for community members to celebrate ways they could control events in their communities.
The concept grew from one celebration in Philadelphia in1985 to thousands of celebrations across the country each year. Most states hold National Night Out festivities annually on the first Tuesday in August.
The event has become a way for community members to interact positively with first responders in the years since its inception. “Given what’s happened with police in the last few months, we want to be seen as positively as we can,” said Lamkin. Brandee Farrell said that she was happy to have a chance to let her children interact with the service providers in the area. “You’ll never know when you need them,” she said.
