Manor Area First ‘National Night Out’ Successful

by Jonathan Weaver

More than 100 people were thought to have attended Ford City Borough and Manor Township’s first National Night Out event in Ford City Memorial Park last night.

From 6-8PM, local residents were welcomed by Manor Area Crime Watch and local emergency services to eat hot dogs and cookies, play games and listen to music by DJ Steve Hefner.

Ford City Police Sgt. John Atherton – who brainstormed the idea following an act of vandalism in the park during the Spring - researched that there are more than 37 million people across the United States that took part in National Night Out events last night. He said it started when neighbors turned on their porch lights to deter crime.

He said it was the first National Night Out in Ford City or Manor Township.

“We had a nice turnout, a steady flow of people throughout the evening,” Sgt. Atherton said.

Police officers from Manor Township, Ford City Borough, East Franklin Township, the Armstrong County Sheriff’s Department and the Pennsylvania State Police all attended.

Social service representatives from HAVIN, the Armstrong Indiana Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission, Ford City Public Library and Guardian Protection Services spread in-front of the gazebo and offered childrens activities

Guardian Protection Life Safety Consultant Brian Schlagel volunteered to attend the event after receiving a call from Crime Watch Administrator Bill McMaster – whom he called a great advocate for the community.

“I really enjoy coming out and doing things like this, meeting new people to get the word out of what we can do and be helpful as much as we can,” Schlagel said. “This is a beautiful area – it’s a beautiful community.”

Drug and Alcohol Commission Prevention Specialists Alison Schulmeister and Briana Hozak – who both work in Shelocta and live near Indiana – gave out information to parents as well as popcorn bags to children. They were asked by Sgt. Atherton to attend.

“We have a strong connection with the police force, so we work hand-in-hand with them,” Schulmeister said. “We’re glad to support them.”

Volunteer firefighters from Ford City and Manor Township also gave rides to children in their apparatus.

Grace Charney – who also volunteered to coordinate games recently at the Ford City Summerfest during the Fourth of July weekend – helped children fish in an inflatable duck pond for different prizes, such as stickers, bowling certificates and stuffed animals.

Five-year-old Brandee Vanhorn and her 18-month-old brother, Justice, took turns fishing for the different prizes. Mother, Joann, said Justice has his own rubber ducks at home and has lots of practice.

Manor Township Supervisor Pat Fabian as well as Ford City Borough Council Members Kathy Bartuccio, Jerry Miklos and Vicki Schaub also attended the evening’s activities.

Schaub said she is a big advocate of local crime watch activities. She hopes more community activities are held in the future.

Parking along 4th Avenue between 9th Street and 8th Street was prohibited from 5-9PM to allow for set-up, tear-down and the actual event.

Crime Watch Vice-President Sandy Hutchison and Ford City Mayor Marc Mantini commended volunteers for organizing the event in under a month’s time.

“It’s good to have public input, because they help solve crime just as the police do,” Mayor Mantini said. “We need good citizens to speak out and be vigilant.”

Crime Watch President Dean Hutchison thought the event was good visibility and outreach to get more local residents involved in the local crime watch. He saw many members and non-members at the National Night Out.

The next crime watch meeting will be held at 7PM Monday at the Manor Township fire hall.

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