Estimated 900 attend National Night Out at Foley Field

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The Bloomfield Recreation Department presented National Night Out at Foley Field on Tuesday, Aug. 2. It was the second consecutive year the event was held at the sports facility. In the past, individual neighborhoods would throw parties and elected officials, police and fire department personnel would travel around town visiting their favorites.

Mike Sceurman, the recreation director, estimated that between 800 and 900 people came to the field for National Night Out. Water and soft drinks were donated, and Bloomfield “Summer of Fun” sponsors provided 175 pizzas. The Bloomfield Police Department Community Policing Unit were on hand, as were a number of commanders. The police defeated the Bloomfield Fire Department in a softball game, 10-4.

Joe Bataan and the Barrio Boys played salsa and the kids had several free amusements to fool with. But Sceurman thinks additional activities should be available next year.

“We’re going to try to come up with something from when the gates open to when the band comes on,” he said. “We’re looking into it.”
Mayor Michael Venezia said he did not hear of any neighborhood parties on the night of the Foley event. He also thought more activity was needed next year.

“We had a little bit of a gap that we can fill in,” he said. “I don’t have any ideas now, but it will be playful for the kids and parents where people aren’t standing around.”

National Night Out started in 1984 as a crime prevention program sponsored by the U.S. Justice Dept. Its goal is to support communication between local police departments and neighborhood crime-watch groups. According to the BPD, the township currently has 33 established neighborhood crime groups. In addition to Venezia, Councilwoman Nina Davis and councilmen Nicholas Joanow and Carlos Pomares attended.