The Fanwood community came out in large numbers tonight to meet and mingle with their police, fire and EMS responders during the 2023 National Night Out at LaGrande Park.
Founded in 1984 in suburban Philadelphia as a local town watch “night out against crime,” the National Night Out is now a nationwide community outreach by police and first responders designed to strengthen the bonds with the people they serve. To that end, the Fanwood Police Department, Fire Department and Rescue Squad hosted a celebration of free fun, food and contests. Highlights included the annual Dunk-A-Cop dunk tank featuring perennial good sport Sgt. Dan Piccola; a whipped cream eating contest assisted by rescue squad members; K9 demonstration by Sgt. Anthony Gialanella of the County Sheriff’s Department with his bomb-sniffing dog Leo; face painting; tours of fire and rescue apparatus including blood pressure screenings; giveaways by officers from the Department of Corrections; bounce house and giant slide; free hot dogs, pizza, popcorn and beverages.
Corrections officers offered epic giveaways
Fanwood Rescue Squad with burgeoning new membership
Sgt. Anthony Gialanella of the Union County Sheriffs Dept and his bomb sniffing dog Leo
Fanwoodians Hudson, 2 and Oliver, 4
Non stop hot dogs
Amelia, 8, gets face painted
Sgt. Dan Piccola in the dunk tank
The Cieslak family of Fanwood tours Ladder 1
Families of all sizes packed the park, one of the largest crowds in the event’s history according to observers. Local officials attending included Borough Council members Jeff Banks, Gina Berry and Erin McElroy Barker and Police Director Mike Bramhall along with volunteers from the fire department and rescue squad and many police officers who assisted with events, giveaways and food.
