About Me

My photo
Nazareth, Pa., United States

Wednesday, August 07, 2013

Nat'l Night Out Draws 500 in Bethlehem Township

Brayden Erker, age 8, is recruited by Bethlehem Tp Volunteer Firefighters
It was more than free hot dogs, pizza and great weather that drew a crowd of over 500 to Bethlehem Township's 30th Annual Night Out on August 8. When else do you get to try the sirens on police cruisers and firetrucks? Kids of all ages love that. Firefighters gave lessons on using fire extinguishers. Moms and dads put out gasoline fires while their kids tried on the fire helmets. A 100' tower ladder was fully extended, perched above the crowd. Firemen that looked more like trapeze artists dangled dangerously. Even higher, a PennSTAR helicopter slowly circled and then finally descended onto a field by the community center. Once the blades had stopped, kids rushed forward for a closer inspection.

BTVFC Ass't Fire Chief Ron Ford asks this youngster if he knows the number to 911
Of course, the big star was Castro, a Belgian Malinois police dog assigned to work with K-9 Officer Dan Barsnica. (You can see him in the video below).

Playing the bad guy, Comm'r Paul Weiss never stood a chance with Castro 
Castro had Commissioner Paul Weiss on the ground in a split second after Weiss fired a fake gun and tried to run off. Weiss should recover in the next month or so. Castro was wagging his tail as he tore at Weiss' protective suit. The canine cop was apparently in a good mood.

This event was made possible by the efforts of Tony Stevens, an Investigator in Bethlehem Township's police department. Area businesses and restaurants donated the food.
Investigator Tony Stevens, with Chief Dan Panacost,, was the only person in a crowd of 500 wearing a tie
Mosquitoes stayed away from Night Out out of professional courtesy to some local politicians looking for votes. One of these was a smiling NorCo Council Council VP Peg Ferraro, who came down from Bushkill Township, bringing pens for everyone. She told everyone to have fun.

Before facing Castro, Paul Weiss was granted a moment with Peg Ferraro 
She only had to say it once.

Rich Gould, R.N., is a flight nurse with PennSTAR. 

Just one day before this Night Out, PennSTAR responded to the tragedy in Ross Tp.
Lisa Baatz learns how to extinguish a gasoline fire.


Paul Weiss v. Casto: I think Castro must have voted for Russin. 
(I love the audio of the little girl in this video).

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Were Ferraro's Republican running mates there? They are running all over the place bothering people with their brochures. They push them into peoples faces at picnics while they are eating.

When they leave the folks say they wouldn't vote for rude and pushy people like that.

BTVFC said...

Thanks from everyone at BTVFC for the nice post, Bernie.

Bernie O'Hare said...

You guys were great!

Bernie O'Hare said...

" the folks say they wouldn't vote for rude and pushy people like that."

Speaking of rude, who are you?