By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer
Grafton – For the 11th year, Grafton residents and visitors joined thousands of communities nationwide Aug. 2 by celebrating the 33rd annual National Night Out. The event is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch and locally by the Grafton Police Department.
Designed to strengthen a partnership between police and community, the family-friendly block party is also an opportunity for residents to share their concerns with police and other town officials.
Guests of all ages gathered in and outside of the Grafton Police Headquarters. There, they explored a display of cruisers, motorcycles, fire trucks, mobile command units, a SWAT vehicle and equipment, and an ambulance. A new display this year was a DeLorean Time Machine replicated from the film “Back to the Future” with donations accepted for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Police Chief Normand A. Crepeau Jr. asked everyone to wave during a State Police helicopter flyover. A child identification program was offered by members of the Franklin Masonic Lodge in North Grafton and the Siloam Masonic Lodge in Westborough. Literature was available on topics such as crime and fire prevention, drug awareness, and health and safety issues.
Among the giveaways were bicycle helmets from Direnzo Towing & Recovery, and water bottles from the Grafton Public Library. The evening also included inflatable amusements, face painting, free pizza, hot dogs, pies, smoothie samples and other refreshments.
For information about the Grafton Police Department, visit graftonpolice.com and follow on Facebook.
Photos/Ed Karvoski Jr.
