By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Families got together to get to know each other, play games, and eat good food on a pristine summer evening, as block parties throughout the city popped up for the annual National Night Out.
Improving upon last year’s numbers, twenty neighborhoods had their roads blocked off as people enjoyed each other’s company in a cook out type atmosphere.
On Woodlawn Ave. the Bucyrus Neighborhood Churches had lots of food, games, and even a puppet show to entertain guests swinging through. Karolyn Rebon explained that their celebration of National Night Out was in conjunction with another of the Bucyrus Neighborhood Churches activities.
“National Night Out, for us, is an extension of our Vacation Bible School,” Rebon said. “There are nine churches working together this year to do the Bible school and on National Night Out we take Bible school to the streets.”
“We have free hot dogs and cotton candy and snow cones. Everything is free, the kids play games, they get tickets, candy and little stickers, and then (with the tickets) they can go buy prizes. We have Star Wars trivia for the adults, and a puppet show,” Rebon added.
Starting the National Night Out for her church, Sue Stander explained how the Bucyrus Neighborhood Churches’ National Night Out festivities began.
“We started just doing a community gathering, seeing who are neighbors are, because we feel that the church isn’t the actual building, but the neighborhood,” Stander said. “Now we are up to nine churches, sometimes 10 that make up the neighborhood churches.”
Just down the road on South East Street their block party was in full swing. Organized by Veronica Vandayburg and Anne Hartman, the South East Block party featured cornhole and a potluck.
Vandayburg explained the happenings at her neighborhood block party.
“We have a lot of good food, and some corn hole going on and some visiting with the neighbors,” Vandayburg said.
Vandayburg recalled her favorite aspect of National Night Out.
“I think just socializing with the neighbors in a relaxed atmosphere it is something we only get to do on this night,” Vandayburg said.
“We are always looking forward to doing it and enjoy seeing our neighbors, and I think the children are enjoying playing the games. We are enjoying a potluck-style meal, and we have really great weather today,” Hartman added.
Celebrating their second year in participating in the National Night Out on Mansfield St. was the Sk8 Factory. Put together by Andy and Tenia Thoroughman, Andy explained how the Sk8 Factory was celebrating National Night Out.
“We have free dancing, free cornhole, free food, music, and tours of the building, and we have a discount on skating at $4 special tonight from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.” Andy said.
“This is really fun, we enjoy doing this,” Andy added.
In its 32nd year, over 16,000 communities took part in this year’s National Night Out throughout the nation.
Related content: 2016 National Night Out