16 neighborhoods celebrate National Night Out

By Nancy Reardon
MethuenLife Writer

National Night Out, held the first Tuesday in August, is an annual nationwide community event that helps promote community policing and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.
Under the direction of Police Sgt. Kevin Dzioba and the Community Policing Division, 16 neighborhoods held block parties from 6-8pm. Every block party had a visit from both Methuen Police and Fire departments who brought along several costumed characters. Each party had its own spin on the night featuring cookouts, pizza parties or potluck dinners. The Hidden Road party even had its own concert, featuring the band Gravity Men with Gravity Girl! LuAnne Bonanno of Pleasant Valley Gardens on Merrimack Street held a potluck dinner, serving over 50 neighbors.

: Cousins Vander Crow, 5; Skylar Traverso, 13; Natalia, 10; and Luciana Moreau, 8; Bella Traverso, 10; and Mason Crow, 8, attended the pot luck at Pleasant Valley Gardens along with Police Explorers and Parking Officer Jeff Rubino. ML photos by Nancy Reardon

: Three Bandits in the same neighborhood! Anna Maria Getman and her 6-year-old Doodle, Paula Constanza with her Cockapoo and Jeff Beauregard with his 12-week-old Mini Doodle – all named Bandit.

: Ray and Kay DiFiore host a block party at their home on Rebecca Way for all their neighbors with plenty of food to feed everyone.

: Ray and Kay DiFiore stop for a moment to pose with McGruff the Crime dog and Chase the Police Dog from Paw Patrol.

: Dylan Agudelo, 3, was all smiles as Marshal the Fire dog from Paw Patrol and Firefighter Mike Bodenrader greet him.

: Madison and Winston Greco enjoyed meeting Chase and McGruff. Winston even wore his police officer uniform.

: The band Gravity Men featuring Gravity Girl had neighbors on Hidden Road dancing in the streets with their own concert. Over 100 neighbors came out to enjoy the night. Chief Scott McNamara and members of the Police Department joined in the neighborhood photo.

: The Methuen Housing Authority held its block party in their Community Room and had a visit from Chase the police dog as well as McGruff along with some of the Methuen Police Explorers.

: Four-year-old Jack Faretra (held by mom Jennifer) gives McGruff a nose bop at the Orchard Street block party.

: LuAnne Bonanno of Pleasant Valley Gardens stands with Parking Enforcement Officer Jeff Rubino, Mrs. Essex County Laurie Burns and some of the guests who attended the farm’s pot luck dinner.

: Tenney School Supervising Principal Mary Beth Donovan-Grassi visited the Methuen Arlington Neighborhood block party where she was pleased to run into students Anthony Veras, Jean Martino and Abrin Sosa.

: McGruff the Crime Dog visited the Methuen Arlington Neighborhood and was warmly greeted by Tamara Berrio, 8, with a big hug.

: Amel Reyes, 11, and her 2-year-old twin brothers Adair and Nahel joined Methuen Fire Department firefighters Capt. Matt Tulley, Todd Nicolosi and Cooper Brown at the block party on Orchard Street.