National Night Out in Rostraver brings community together

The annual event promotes closer relationships between first responders and the public.

Hundreds of Mon Valley residents gathered under sunny skies with local first responders for Tuesday’s Mon Valley National Night Out in Rostraver Township.

Pennsylvania State Police Sgt. Carrie Neidigh, mounted on Dickson, and Cpl. Jeffrey Johns, mounted on Cicero, participate in Mon Valley Night Out as April Groff of Eighty Four introduces baby Mason to Dickson. Jeff Helsel / MVI photo

Rostraver Police Chief Scott Sokol was delighted by the turnout for the annual event at the DiVirgilio Sports Complex in Rostraver.

“Well, most importantly, we’re thankful for the beautiful weather. I’m thankful for all the people behind it,” he said. “There’s a lot of people behind the scenes that have come together to pull this off and make it so successful.”

Mon Valley Night Out coincides with National Night Out, which typically takes place on the first Tuesday of August to promote police and community partnerships. More than 200 communities throughout Pennsylvania participate in National Night Out.

Rostraver Township Fire Department Capt. Adam Dancho operates the department’s tower ladder as it provides a view of the crowd and booths at the event. Jeff Helsel / MVI photo

Dozens of police departments, fire departments and EMS services were represented Tuesday. Dozens of organizations also participated, giving out information and free goodies to attendees.

The Pennsylvania State Police brought their horse-mounted unit, which could be seen elegantly walking throughout the event.

The state police also brought helicopters for attendees to watch fly over the event and then land so kids could check them out up close.

The event also featured food vendors and organizations

Southwest Regional police Chief Keith Williams hands out treats to children attending Mon Valley Night Out, hosted by the Rostraver Township Police Department, on Tuesday at the John DiVirgilio Sports Complex in Rostraver Township. Jeff Helsel / MVI photo

hosted games for attendees to win prizes, such as spinning a prize wheel and a miniature basketball hoop game.

Sam Schneider, one of Big Black Grill’s employees, stated that she and the rest of her family support first responders in the Mon Valley. Schneider acknowledged the sacrifice first responders make to provide emergency assistance in times of need. When National Night Out needs a food vendor, Schneider and her family never shy away from taking the opportunity to serve and give back to the Mon Valley’s first responders.

“We love being here for that. And we want to show that we support them as much as they go out of their way to support us,” she said. “When we need them, of course.”

Adam Stump, 10, of Rostraver Township sits in the driver’s seat of a Rostraver Township fire truck during Mon Valley Night Out. Jeff Helsel / MVI photo

Schneider extended her appreciation to those who do work overseas and in the military, especially veterans. Her grandfather had served many years in the military before becoming a retired veteran. He passed away three years ago, but Schneider still remembers details from the stories he would tell her.

“He jumped out of planes, so he did all the fun stuff. I just…I can’t say it enough how much we appreciate everybody out here,” she said. “The ones that put on those uniforms that don’t have to. They are not forced to do it, but they do it for us. For the kids, for everyone. I appreciate that so much.”

From left, Rostraver Township police Officer Skyler Helzel explains the event’s digital check-in system to student volunteers William Dinh, Mailey Hayes and Abby Nicolls. Jeff Helsel / MVI photo

Deb Keefer, co-chair of the upcoming Belle Vernon Rotary Club Regatta on the Yough, stated that the Rotary club always supports its first responders.

“You know, we feel like we need them in our community, so we have to support them,” she said.

Shawn Champlin, administrator for the Mon Valley Off-Road Vehicle Emergency Response Team, stated that he appreciated the support from others, as well as reassuring his continued support for first responders through the Mon Valley OVERT’s services. The team is dispatched out of Lock No. 4 and serves Washington County.

Shown is a view looking down the Rostraver Township Fire Department’s extended tower ladder during Mon Valley National Night Out on Tuesday at the John DiVirgilio Sports Complex in Rostraver Township. See more photos on A4. Jeff Helsel / Mon Valley Independent

“We help with all kinds of off-road emergencies. That’s recovery and, basically, you name it and we’ll be there to help out,” he said. “And we have been a supporter of our 1st responders since day one. So, we thank everybody for all their service and everything they do.”

Jaci Brice, community traffic safety project coordinator for Highway Safety Network, stated that traffic safety and roadside emergencies are connected through needing first responders to handle emergencies. Highway Safety Network promotes all forms of traffic safety discussions, from car seats to older drivers.

Brice added that the organization’s most recent campaign is geared toward making others aware of the space and respect first responders need to control emergencies and manage communities. One of the ways she is getting the message across is through collaborating with her fiancé’s family-ran automotive business Hoods Up Quick Lube. Hoods Up had its race car at its booth, hoping to attract more people to their cause.

“One of the big things that I’m promoting here is slow down, move over, because that’s firsthand with first responders. So, seeing first responders on the road, either helping with crashes or, you know, enforcing traffic safety laws, we should respect the space and stuff.”

Cody Koteles, one of Hoods Up’s owners, expressed his support for his fiancé’s organization, stating that she and her brother both volunteered for the Donora Fire Co.

“She also volunteered at the fire department, so it’s great to see a lot of her responders, and we can’t thank them enough for all they do.”

Tamalynn Bachetti, marketing coordinator for Valley 1st Community Federal Credit Union, explained how first responders and credit unions work together to give back and better the community by referencing the credit union’s origins back to Mon Valley steelworkers in 1935. “We are literally forged from the steel in the Mon Valley, and community is just our number one thing. We are so embedded with the community and our members that we can only hope to continue to give back as we grow because that’s what we do as we’re not for profits. So when we are profitable, we give that right back into the people that support us,” she said.

Markus Smith, a recently- hired driver for Bujanowski Towing in North Charleroi, stated that it was his first time attending National Night Out as a booth volunteer. Bujanowski Towing has been serving the Mon Valley since 1955.

“We are there within 15 minutes whenever we get a call from either the police station or anybody in the Mon Valley,” he said. “We get anything off the road, we can open roadways as fast as possible and as safely as possible.”

As he summed up the success of another National Night Out, Sokol credited his family for their help and support.

“I have to give a special shout out to my family. My wife and children, for the past two days, it’s been around the clock out here helping out, and it takes a good family to be successful in life, too,” he said.

The festivities concluded with a fireworks display provided by Vinoski Winery.

Photos by MVI Staff Photographer Jeff Helsel

See more photos in our online gallery at www.monvalleyindependent.com