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EL amps up for third annual National Night Out

Police Officer Joe Barone said the National Night Out will try to bring a MedVac or Life Star helicopter to the event again this year, depending on its availability. Pictured is the rescue helicopter that was displayed at last year's event. Reminder Publications submitted photo
By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



EAST LONGMEADOW Susan Grimaldi has a big goal she'd like to achieve she wants to see the town's National Night Out celebration become larger than Holyoke's.

She said the only reason Holyoke's numbers are bigger right now is because they bring in celebrities like Bill Cosby.

The National Night Out, now in its third year in East Longmeadow, is an evening for the community to become more knowledgeable about police-community partnerships, neighborhood safety awareness and what makes East Longmeadow the special community that is, according to a release from Grimaldi.

"We want to give people the heartbeat of East Longmeadow," Grimaldi told Reminder Publications. "It's a big town but it's small enough for people to know each other. [The Night Out] gives everybody a chance to enjoy one good night out and to learn about their community. You'll get answers to questions you never knew you had."

What started as an event to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness and generate support for and participation in local anti-crime efforts has become an evening for East Longmeadow residents to learn about all the various groups who work in their town. This year's visitors include the police and fire departments, the Massachusetts Environmental Police, the Council on Aging, the Post Office, the Rotary Club, the Lions Club, the UNICO Club, the Garden Club, the Historic Norcross House directors, the Meadows Lodge, Rock 102 WAQY and more.

"This lets people know what people in the community do," Grimaldi explained. "It lets people know what's going on."

Nothing is being sold during the National Night Out all the groups will be giving away free information and items and free snacks will also be available.

In addition to the information being provided, Tony Bordoni from Bodyworks Unlimited will also be putting on a car show for the event. Custom hot rods, classics, muscle cars and "stuff you don't usually see" will be on display, according to Bordoni.

"We'll be bringing like 25 to 30 cars," Bordoni said. The show will include the 1934 cherry red Ford that Bodyworks Unlimited displayed in the Fourth of July parade this year.

Bordoni said he thinks the car show will attract more people to the Night Out because it presents something desirable for both people without kids and those with young kids.

Police Officer Joe Barone, one of the organizers of the event, said he is expecting more people to attend this year's National Night Out. He is also pleased so many organizations in town have agreed to be a part of it.

"Every organization we've talked to has said they're more than willing to participate," Barone said. "I think our night is going to be successful. We've been working hard to put it together."

Any non-profit or service group in town wishing to participate should contact Barone or Officer Stu Strohman at 525-5440 or Susan or Al Grimaldi at 525-3188.

Help make East Longmeadow's National Night Out bigger than Holyoke's come to the East Longmeadow High School's athletic field the evening of Aug. 5.

To learn more about the local event, visit www.eastlongmeadowweather.org, and to learn more about the National Night Out, visit www.nationalnightout.org.