By Chris Frost EAGLE TIMES NEWS EDITOR
CLAREMONT — Pleasant Street came alive Tuesday night, August 1, as the city’s National Night Out (NNO) celebration brought the community and law enforcement together.
The celebration, sponsored by the Claremont Police Department, Claremont Parks & Recreation and the Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce, featured carnival games and prizes, music, free food, Touch-a-Truck and lots of fun.
Benjamin Orcutt and Jessica Paterson were having a good time with Orcutt trying out the snowmobile while Paterson enjoyed some pizza, which she said was fantastic.
“I’m down here to support Kiwanis. I am a member of the Kiwanis Organization,” Paterson said. “I love everything the Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce does for us.”
Dad Adam Orcutt said Benjamin loved the event and he wanted to bring him out and enjoy it.
“I wanted him to meet all the police officers who take care of the town,” Adam said. “I was born and raised in Claremont. It’s a small town and you get to know everybody.”
Officer Michael Gilboy was operating the balloon station for the Claremont Police Department with his partner ACERT (Adverse Childhood Experience Response Team) Coordinator Stephanie Durkee.
“It’s always good to interact with the community and the youth,” Gilboy said. “It’s good to see all the smiling faces.”
School Resource Officer Crystal Simonds traveled with Comfort Dog Sullivan (Sully). The pair enjoyed interacting with families.
“Sully goes into schools with me and interacts with kids all day,” Simonds said. “He also does a lot of work with the Child Advocacy Center (coordinating multidisciplinary responses to child maltreatment allegations). Sully’s passion is being here for the kids.”
Elliot Treadway and his mom, Miranda Dicus, were all smiles as Treadway aimed at the dunk tank. “I love these events are how they are good for kids,” Dicus said. “The goal tonight is to tire Elliot out.”
Alexis Ford enjoyed chasing her nephew Treadway around Pleasant St. “This evening, I’m going to be hanging out with my nephew and enjoy some nice weather since it rained multiple times this week,” Ford said. “I love the french fries with ketchup.”
Claremont Opera House Board Secretary Dana McGrath helped Kids make custom bookmarks of any rainbow design they liked. “We also have a display of our upcoming shows the next two Fridays. We have Fairy Tale Theater with the Impacts Theater Program. The next shows coming up are Hansel and Gretal on August 4 and 11.”
McGrath said the Opera House’s largest fundraiser, “Grilling for Good,” is coming up Saturday, August 19, in partnership with the Claremont Soup Kitchen.
“We have three amateur local cooks who bring their grills and compete with a basket of secret ingredients,” she said. “It’s reminiscent of the show, Chopped, on Food Network.” For more information, visit cohnh.org.
West Central Behavioral Health and YouthCAN Prevention Coordinator Scott Blewitt loves seeing the community celebrate National Night Out.
“Youth CAN is about prevention, specifically in the communities of Newport and Claremont,” he said. “We’re keeping our youth away from alcohol and marijuana by education and positive experiences.”
Blewitt wants to intercede with Kids before they’re referred and in recovery. “We educate about the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol and provide them with positive opportunities,” he said.
Turning Points Network Prevention Educator Jen Gallagher spoke to people about bullying and relationship abuse.
“We help anyone in Sullivan County that experiences relationship abuse, like stalking, sex trafficking and sexual assault,” she said. “I brought some of our books for kids up to grade 3, including ‘Hands are Not for Hitting’ and ‘Words are Not for Hurting.’ We have healthy relationships programming throughout the schools.” For more info, visit turningpointsnetwork.org.
Eddie Tucker loved the food. “It’s good,” he said. “I live in Worchester, Massachusetts, and it’s much more quiet here. I graduated here.”
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