First responders meet community at Lincoln Borough’s Night Out
The event was held early this year to make it easier for families to attend.
Lincoln Borough’s third annual Night Out was held Friday evening to recognize the area’s first responders — focusing on police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie and local safety awareness.
Lincoln Borough police Officer Jonathan Miles holds his 2-year-old daughter, Evelyn, during Friday’s National Night Out at the Lincoln Borough Municipal Complex. Jeff Helsel / Mon Valley Independent
National Night Out, which is Aug. 4, celebrates the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement, and many Mon Valley communities come together during this night with games, food and booths staffed by law enforcement.
Lincoln Borough wanted to select a different night that would provide easier access for families, and so they could book food trucks and activities, according to organizer and borough Secretary Chrissy Pudleiner.
“The first two years they did it in August, and we just found that with school and everything, we just wanted to do it the weekend before,” she said.
Sheriff Woody from “Toy Story”, representing Nuttall Public Safety Equipment, greets Evelyn Miles, 2, daughter of Lincoln Borough police Officer Jonathan Miles, during Lincoln Borough’s National Night Out on Friday at the Lincoln Borough Municipal Complex. Jeff Helsel / MVI
Firefighters and police departments from surrounding areas were invited to the event, including Liberty, Port Vue, Glassport, McKeesport, Clairton, White Oak, Versailles and Elizabeth Township.
Tammy Firda, a member of Lincoln Borough council for the past 26 years, said she started the event following the 2018 Christmas Eve fire at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works.
Firda said it’s hard to do a parade around Lincoln Borough, so they decided to have the event at Breznay Ballfield and Bellbridge Playground/Pavilion, located at 45 Abes Way.
“We’re the best kept secret in the Mon Valley,” she said. “Elizabeth Township is the anchor, Lincoln Borough is
Christopher Bobak, EMT, left, and Ashley Graeff, paramedic, both with SouthEast Regional EMS, pose at the organization’s display during Lincoln Borough’s National Night Out on Friday at the Lincoln Borough Municipal Complex. Southeast Regional EMS was among the public safety agencies and community organizations participating in the annual event. Jeff Helsel / MVI
the best kept secret. It is a beautiful town.”
The event featured several games, face painting, a bouncy house, a train ride and more activities for kids to enjoy. Several food trucks were also there, including Joe & Di’s Cravings, Beedles Ice Cream, Big Black Grill and the Roaming Bean.
Other booths included representatives from PA American Water, as well as representatives from Sen. Nick Pisciottano’s office and Rep. Dan Goughnour’s office.
Eric Baker, assistant chief of Lincoln Borough’s fire department, brought dogs from the department’s K9 search and rescue team.
Several baskets that were raffled were supposed to be for their car show, but the event was rained out. Baker
From left, Lincoln Borough Detective Tabitha Wolfe, Pennsylvania State Constable Joe Turcan and SouthEast Regional EMS paramedic Ashley Graeff pose for a photo during Lincoln Borough’s National Night Out on Friday at the Lincoln Borough Municipal Complex. Jeff Helsel / MVI
said they wanted to show the community what they offer, adding that the event is fun every year.
EMT Christopher Bobak of SouthEast Regional EMS said they were giving out information items to the community. They also had equipment on display for people to look at, and Bobak said they do CPR classes monthly.
“We haven’t been to this (Night Out) specifically,” said Ashley Graeff, a paramedic with SouthEast Regional EMS. “We are just creating a presence and showing our face in the community — showing them what we actually do. We don’t always take people to the hospital.”
Lincoln Borough’s police department was also at the
Lincoln Borough Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company K-9 handler Dasha Dudjak walks Helix, left, and Jezero during Lincoln Borough’s National Night Out on Friday at the Lincoln Borough Municipal Complex. Jeff Helsel / MVI
event, hosting a raffle of children’s bikes that were donated by Moses Electrical.
Police Chief Rich Buehrle grew up in the area, and he said it’s a great event that they are fortunate to be able to do with limited funding.
Firda added that the police force is fully equipped to be a full-time department, but they don’t have the money for pensions, so they employ two full-time officers and the rest are part-time.
“We aren’t sure year to year how often we are able to do this stuff,” Buehrle said, “so it’s a great way for us to get the community together for the police to be able to engage with the community in a good aspect, but also at the same time, we have got a bunch of guys from other communities for us to get to know each other, and build a rapport.”
Buehrle added that he loves being able to have positive engagement with the community, to give back to kids and to meet with residents outside of crisis situations.
“It’s that community-oriented policing where we can actually just walk around and talk to people, and just have everyday, normal conversations,” Buehrle said. “It’s nice to get the thanks as far as ‘Thank you for your service,’ but it’s nice for us at the same time because you get to talk to them on a different level.”
“I am very proud of our police department,” Firda said. “They are a proactive, not reactive type of department because of the type of community we are, and you would be surprised by all the hard work and effort (they put in). They put in the work, they really do, and they are just amazing. They deserve to be celebrated for all the hard work and effort.”
