Neighbors strengthen bonds with first responders at McKeesport’s Night Out
A hot summer night greeted those attending National Night Out at the Fawcett Plan.
Temperatures hovered around 88 degrees a little after 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Fawcett Plan of McKeesport for the annual National Night Out.
Hosted by the Fawcett Plan Task Force, McKeesport Alliance Church and Mayor Tom Maglicco, familiar and new faces gathered for food, games, DJ Pastor Nick’s music tent and more.
It takes a lot of determined people to put the event on every year, said Melissa Ernst from the Fawcett Plan Task Force. One of the women who helps was on vacation, and another, Chris Andiorio “doesn’t even live here anymore” but still assisted with the family friendly outing. “It’s a nice way to meet your neighbors,” she said.
Three of those new neighbors were Dan and Julia Richards, who walked around with their four-anda- half-month-old daughter Iliana.
“I saw it advertised and we decided to stop by,” said Dan Richards. “It looks like a nice event.”
National Night Out is an annual, nationwide community- building campaign designed to foster positive relationships between residents and local law enforcement, aiming to make communities safer, more caring places to live. McKeesport has hosted a National Night Out event every year since its inception in 1984, except for the COVID year of 2020.
McKeesport Alliance Church, now in its 104th year, continues to host the all-ages outing. Two years ago festivities were cut short due to rain, but last year’s event was much like this year — sunny and warm.
Maglicco said that there aren’t many activities like this in McKeesport, and this was the city’s only one last night. “Larry Bridges in the 6th Ward has two or three events like this on Ridge Street,” he said. One is scheduled around Halloween. “It doesn’t have to be on this day.”
Maglicco, who his observing his first National Night Out as Mayor, said he’s actively entertaining ideas from any community group interested in having National Night Out or similar events. He attended with his family, including son Giovanni who kept his father busy at the inflatable slide.
Police Chief Josh Alfer made his way around the church parking lot, including where Capt. Fran Angert held down the merchandise table that had a lot of mementos like stickers, key chains and cup holders for local children. They were also raffling off a dye cast car. “We want the young people to remember the police for good things,” he said.
Angert is a veteran of the National Night Out events. He has worked Fawcett Plan and was active when Haler Heights had one, he said.
State Rep. Dan Goughnour, D-McKeesport, had a unique take on the evening. A former longtime McKeesport police officer, Goughnour was visiting for the first time as an elected official. “Any day you can get together in a positive way with the community is a good thing,” he said. “Especially when you are interacting with kids. We should have more of these.”
Blaine Hill Catering was back with hot dogs and French fries with cheese sauce. Greg “Droopy” Musisko said a few years ago his group served 250 hot dogs and had to make a supermarket run before the night was over. He guessed they would be giving away 200 this year.
