(Fanwood, NJ) – A large turnout of Fanwood families came out for the Borough’s annual National Night Out celebration on a beautiful summer night Tuesday at LaGrande Park. National Night Out is an annual community building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie – to make our neighborhood a safer and more caring place to live. It provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. The event ran from 5:30 to 8 pm.

Fanwood Rescue Squad members prepares whip cream plates for kids competing in the eating contest.

These kids gulp the whip cream in the National Night Out whip cream eating contest.

The event featured DJ Mr. Socks playing music throughout the evening, tours of the Fanwood Rescue Squad ambulance and Fire Engine and police cars and a Union County K-9, as well as inflatable rides and a bounce house, a whipped cream eating contest and a Dunk a Cop tank with Sgt. Dan Piccola in the tank. Raffle tickets were also sold with prizes awarded. An added feature this year was pictures with members of the National Guard and sitting in the driver’s seat of one of their vehicles.

DJ Mr. Socks provided the music throughout the evening.

Pizza and hot dogs, courtesy of Nick’s Pizza, Fabio’s Bistro and the Cranford Movie Theater, were served to hungry kids and adults alike. The Recreation Department’s Summer Movies in the Park followed with the showing of Minecraft Movie at dusk.

A Fanwood firefighter grills hot dogs for the hungry National Night Out crowd.

Mayor Colleen Mahr was joined by Borough Council members Gina Berry, Patricia Walsh, Erin McElroy Barker, and Anthony Carter along with Recreation Commissions Venessa White and Mike Lowenthal in greeting families throughout National Night Out.

Mayor Colleen Mahr with Councilwomen Patricia Walsh, Gina Berry and Erin McElroy Barker and Councilman Anthony Carter.
Fire Chief John Piccola, Councilwoman Gina Berry, Stare Assemblywoman Linda Carter, Councilwoman Patricia Walsh, Councilwoman Erin McElroy Barker, DPW’s Donnovan Garrett, and Fanwood Police Administrative Assistant Adrianne Relford.
Members of the National Guard were available for pictures.
Police Capt. Dan Kranz and Councilman Anthony Carter.
Recreation Commissioner Michael Lowenthal and Councilwoman Gina Berry with a family.
This woman grabs a slice of pizza.
Prevention Links had a table at National Night Out.
Fanwood Rescue Squad members prepares whip cream plates for kids competing in the eating contest.
Councilwoman Anthony Carter, State Assemblywoman Linda Carter, Councilwoman Patricia Walsh, and Recreation Commissioner Mike Lowenthal.
Families enjoying Fanwood’s National Night Out.
Former councilwoman Francine Glaser was spotted at National Night Out.
Father and son, Tom Kranz and Police Captain Dan Kranz.
Sitting in the cab of the Fanwood Fire Engine is always popular with kids.
Venessa White was on hand at the Girls on the run table. She is also a Fanwood Recreation Commissioner.