While many towns in North Hudson throw shindigs for National Night Out, Guttenberg has its own tradition. Safe Kids Day was started more than 10 years ago as a way to educate kids and families about different resources available to them, let them meet the police and firemen and other public servants around town, and generally have a good time.
“We started this years and years and years ago. Night Out came along later on and we don’t participate in that because we do this,” said Mayor Gerald Drasheff. “It’s got a safety theme, but one of our main reasons for doing it is most of the kids in this town don’t get to spend a week down the shore. This is your weekend at the boardwalk. It works out great.”
Boulevard East was blocked off between 68th and 71st Streets for the event, which took place from noon to 5 p.m on Saturday, Sept. 19. Games for kids dominated the street, along with food stalls and some local vendors. By 1 p.m. the expanse was already packed with residents, neighbors, and guests.
“It’s probably the most expensive single event that we run,” said Drasheff. “But in the scheme of things, if this whole event costs us like $20,000, it’s a lot. Kids get a big kick out of it.”
That was clear from all the children running around having a ball, many of them wearing plastic fireman’s helmets.
“My kids have been pumped for this all week,” said Corey Copeland, a resident for three years who attends each year with his two kids, ages 3 and 2. His wife picked up a flyer at the library a few weeks ago. “Every day since then they’re asking: ‘Is the fair tomorrow? Is the fair tomorrow?’
“One of our main reasons for doing it is most of the kids in this town don’t get to spend a week down the shore. This is your weekend at the boardwalk.” –Mayor Gerald Drasheff
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This year for the first time Beau was able to climb up and participate in all the bouncy house rides and slides, so that became a new focus. “And then of course the cotton candy,” said dad. “That’s a big deal.”
A vehicle showcase
“Wow!” Andreus Charles, 2, couldn’t stop repeating the word as he walked among the emergency vehicles parked at the north end of the street. “He’s so excited,” said his mom, Weehawken resident Marie Charles, watching him run his hands over the bright red fire truck. “He’s read about it. Now he gets to see it live and in person.”
For Marie the event offered more than just an opportunity for Andreus to have fun. “I’m meeting neighbors I didn’t even know,” she said. “I’ve been in Weehawken seven years and I’ve never even met half these people. This is really great.”
Raymond Vega was out in Superstorm Sandy delivering food to shelters as part of the Red Cross disaster team. On Safe Kids Day, he was out at a table loaded with information on storms, power outages, shelters, and more. Nearby, Elias Guzman, a caseworker from the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (formerly DYFS, the Division of Youth and Family Services) handed out pamphlets on safety, child abuse, single parenting, talking with teens, and other topics.
“We provide protection and we provide permanency and stability for the children,” he said of the agency. “A number of people have grabbed some pamphlets on foster care and becoming foster parents, which is a good thing. Hudson County really needs foster parents, especially for teenagers.”
For the young kids, though, the event was all about the games, the food, and the fun. Lt. Numargo Vasquez and EMT Joseph Burns showed off Weehawken’s all-terrain ambulance, used on occasions when a regular ambulance was infeasible, like concerts and events.
Meanwhile Det. Tori Carter and Officer Jose Gonzalez from the Hudson County Sheriff’s Department invited kids to sit in their car, flash the lights, and talk over the loudspeaker. “We’re taking pictures with them, deputizing them with stickers,” said Gonzalez.
“It’s a good experience for them,” added Carter.
Exposure for local businesses
Lauren Garcia is a dispatcher in town and her dad’s a police officer. But she wasn’t attending in an official capacity. She was selling mini-cupcakes and cannoli under her Sweetly Unexpected brand.
“I like to call it a boutique bakery,” said the North Bergen resident, who is currently waiting for her nurse’s license. “Everything is homemade. I have about 72 different flavors and not only do I do cupcakes, I do wedding cakes and birthday cakes and dessert tables.”
“Nurses and sweets, a great combination,” said her friend and “assistant,” Melissa Novo, also studying to be a nurse.
Dogs were well represented at the event, with people bringing their pampered pooches for a day in the sun. Hounds on the Hudson had a booth advertising their 10,000-square-foot doggie day care, boarding, and grooming facility on 68th Street in town.
Nick Valencia and Allan Bezama, the piano and guitar teachers at Park Arts & Music Center, played music throughout the afternoon at the center’s table.
“We opened up last November and we’re mainly a music school but I’m trying to integrate the arts into it,” said Katherine Moreno, the new owner. Previously a music teacher at the facility, then known as the School of Music, she took over when the former owner moved to Florida.
“We teach one-on-one for basically all instruments,” she said. “I’m doing arts and crafts classes with kids now twice a week. Eventually I hope to hold them for adults as well but I just want to take one step at a time.”
Safe Kids Day was largely organized by Police Secretary Delores Loppe and Former Police Chief Joel Magenheimer. Flyers went out to residents and all the kids at school.
“The kids enjoy it,” said Jackie Sanchez, watching her three kids play in a bouncy house. “The boys are more into jumping and playing and all that stuff. That makes their day. The girls like just mingling around. Most parents, we like the information.”
“I get dragged to this every year,” said a smiling Vicky Perez, accompanied by Lia and Jade Fuentes, ages 11 and 9. “They love it.”
So what’s the kids’ favorite part of the day? “Everything!” said a beaming Lia.
Art Schwartz may be reached at arts@hudsonreporter.com.