By STEVE PRISAMENT
Staff Writer
GALLOWAY – Leave it to this community to expand the National Night Out program.
More than 4,000 people attended the event here Tuesday, Aug. 2 – breaking last year’s record by about 1,000.
“We know the theme of National Night Out is that it’s a ‘night out against crime,’ but we have expanded upon that,” Police Chief Patrick Moran said. “We believe that, especially in today’s economical downturn and governmental issues, communities need to come together to maintain and protect our hometowns. Our National Night Out promotes that.”
He commended the strong show of support from the community: from businesses, vendors and just about every public service available.
“It’s also a way that the community can learn how to obtain services or where and who to go to for problems they may be having, and how to get into certain programs,” Moran said. “It’s something that has grown every year and is expected to continue to grow.”
The chief said he wanted to thank everyone for attending and for their support.
“I want to especially thank Beth Stasuk and Galloway Community Services who pretty much coordinated the entire event,” Moran said. “They help every year, but this year they did almost everything, knowing we are limited with manpower, which was awesome. But their help is not a surprise, it’s just another example of how the Galloway Township employees continue to work and help each other for the betterment of Galloway Township and its residents.”
Stasuk, deputy director of public works, credited others for their participation.
“Businesses and vendors are calling by the end of summer to be able to participate the following year,” she said. “We’re getting maxed out on space. And people are coming earlier and earlier. The only problem is that others are still setting up. Next year we’ll start the setup earlier.”
She praised the teamwork within township units.
“There is such a collaboration between my department, the police, public works and others,” Stasuk said. “We all work as a team. There’s no other way to make it happen.”
She praised Steve Petrosh for providing inflatable bouncies for the kids to play on.
“The Melting Pot gave away 700 bags of chocolate,” Stasuk said. “Keller Williams Realty gave away 600 pretzels. Luscious Sweets gave away 400 decorator cupcakes. They put out a jar for donations with all the money going to the police department. Barista’s Coffee House gave away coffee all night. And they took donations – also all for the police.”
Deputy Mayor Don Purdy was cooking burgers with police volunteers. Councilwoman Whitney Ullman spent an hour in the dunk tank.
Every vendor had giveaways, Stasuk said.
“Most important, people could get information they needed.” she said. “The Secret Service was entering kids in a national database. There was something for everybody – from seniors to the smallest kids.”
The fire department cut apart a car in a Jaws of Life demonstration, AtlantiCare’s helicopter landed and a New Jersey Forest Fire Service helicopter demonstrated water drops on Patriot Lake.
“It was a wonderful night,” Stasuk said. “It’s a terrific family event. Promoting family unity is what I want to do. If you can hold together family units, they can avoid some of the problems that many families are facing today – drugs and so forth.”
Among the out-of-town guests were Atlantic County Sheriff Frank Balles and Undersheriff Ted Kammer and Freeholder Jim Schroeder.
Participants were 401 West, Absecon and Galloway Mothers Club, AIC for Hope, All Unlimited Wireless-Metro PCS, New Jersey American Water Company, Arc of Atlantic County, WonderWorkers, Atlantic Cape Family Support Organization, Atlantic City Electric, Atlantic County Alliance for the Prevention of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Atlantic Medical Imaging, Atlantic Prevention Resources, AtlantiCare EMS, AtlantiCare Health Engagement, Barista's Coffee House, Best Buy, Cape Bank, CASA, Cloud 9 Day Spa, Crime Stoppers, Dynamo Gymnastics, Egg Harbor Chiropractic, Federal Aviation Administration, Family Service Foster Home Program, Federal Air Marshals, First National Bank of Absecon, Galloway Cub Scouts
Galloway Lacrosse, Galloway Nutrition, Galloway Patriot, Galloway Police Department, Galloway Renegades, Galloway Township Ambulance Squad, Galloway Elks Lodge 2845, Galloway PAL, Galloway Township Public Schools, Galloway SWAT, Glazed Over, Go Green Galloway, Gourmet-Luscious and Sweet, Great Clips, Greater Galloway Girl Scouts, Galloway EOAC, Heartland Hospice, Home Hair Care, Hudson City Savings Bank, Keller Williams Atlantic Shore, Lite Rock 96.9, MOMS Rescue, National Greyhound Adoption Program, N.J. State Forest Fire Service, N.J. Transit Police, Ocean City Home Bank, Old Navy, Petrosh’s Big Top, PPAWS guide dog training, Project Porchlight, Prudential, Royal Suites Healthcare and Rehabilitation, Saladworks, Seaview Resort, Simkin’s Martial Arts, Smithville Barber Shoppe, St. Marks and All Saints Church, Superior Court of New Jersey, TD Bank, The Melting Pot, Tilton Fitness, United States Coast Guard, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 84, Vivint and Yogo Factory.
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Photos by Caitlin M. McIntyre
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