
National Night Out draws huge crowds, giveaways, family time
August 3, 2016
Team Shore wins JSBL Title
August 12, 2016By Coleen Burnett
West Long Branch — On August 2nd, the West Long Branch Police Department held its second annual event to celebrate “National Night Out.” The occasion is meant to spotlight the positive works of your local police, fire and EMS departments and foster neighborhood goodwill.
Residents and children alike turned out to admire the police cars, fire trucks and ambulance on display, watch two K9 dogs go through their paces, and partake of free pizza and ice cream donated by local merchants.
Sgt. Michael Paolantonio helped to put the program together, and he told The Link that members of the department were equally generous with their time in order to make things happen.
“It’s all volunteer. We’re glad to do it. It gets us out there” to interact with the public.
“We’re here for the public, and I think this reinforces that,” he said. “It’s good for us to see the public, and it’s good for the public to see us.”
- Tracy Paolantonio and Joanna Skokowski, of the West Long Branch PBA Auxiliary, assist at National Night Out.
- Stacey Hindman feeds Hayden and ice creaam as Logan Cooperstein and Scott Hindman look on.
- Chloe Chambers and Elle Tucci are fine — they’re just having some fun with the First Aid Squad’s equipment.
- K9 Bia and Officer Anthony Carafa of the Allenhurst Police Department give a demonstration.
- One-year-old Evette Cattelona, Oakhurst, visits National Night Out.
- Grace Kilgour, 3, sees what it’s like in the front seat of a fire truck.
- Jackson (6) and Maxxim (3) Orlick speak with West Long Branch Explorers Valeurino Ciambroni and Ian Delehante.
- West Long Branch Police Department officers James Gomez, Michael Paolantonio, Brian Ellis and Jason Buono.
- Veronica Johnston, 4, West Long Branch, plays in a police car.
- Connor Kwitkin, 4, relaxes with the First Aid Squad at National Night Out.