Point Boro Holds its Second Annual Night Out

Point Borough’s Community Watch hosted its second annual National Night Out at Community Park on Tuesday night to encourage neighbors to meet and look out for each other.

Hosted in conjunction with Borough Police Chief Larry Williams, the event also introduces residents to emergency services and local resources.

“This is a chance for the community to get together as a way to work against crime," Williams said. "You get to meet your neighbors, talk and work together. We also bring together a lot of local organizations who all volunteer their time to come out. Included are the recreation department, the Ocean County Library, as well as Ocean County College.”

The Night Out featured games, arts and crafts, a big display including a bouncy house set up by the fire department, as well as free watermelon, popcorn, cotton candy and bottled water.

“All of our sponsors did a great job donating items for us. Target in Brick donated roughly 500 bottles of water for tonight,” Williams said.

According to Mary Jane Bavais, Community Watch assistant resident coordinator, who put the Night Out together, the event is geared towards bringing the community closer together.

“We want local nonprofits to do something here for the community,” Bavais said.

CJ Sabosik, Community Watch resident coordinator, added that it took the community to help put the Night Out together.

“We can’t thank the volunteers enough," she said. "From the Community Watch, to the kids that showed up today looking to help, we are grateful they are here.”

“We also want to thank our sponsors and all they donated," Sabosik added. "Because of them, everything is free, and, without donations, this event would not have happened.”

Both Bavais and Sabosik agreed that the highlights of the event were the games, a coloring contest put on by the recreation department, the D.A.R.E. car brought by Borough police and the fire department display.

“The D.A.R.E. car and fire trucks are a big hit, they will definitely be back next year,” Bavais said.

Games, crafts and the coloring contest were added this year and were a big hit with the attendees. The top 10 coloring images were put on display for all residents to see. 

As residents visited organizations' tables, they got to learn a little bit about what each one does. And when they visited the Community Watch table, they received a packet of information about their community services.

Included were contact information for Community Watch, what to look out for when describing and reporting an event and a pamphlet on how to protect yourself from fraud.

Community Watch will start planning next year's Night Out in October. For more information about the community watch, visit its website or call the police non-emergency number at 732-892-0060.

The next meeting for Community Watch is Sept. 24 at the Borough High School., where Retired Officer Farley from the County and State Drug Task Force will educate parents on the new signs to look our for with their children.