It was like a bunch of worker bees making honey. Police, fire and emergency personnel, city employees, business representatives and civic club members worked away. They set up tents, tables and displays, carried and set up food items and drinks, filled tubs with ice, prepared the stage, games and activities, did sound checks, distributed tickets and – even slipped into cow costumes – all to host an amazing National Night Out. The 10^th annual Bridgeport event drew approximately 1,800 people, a bigger crowd that in recent years past, said Police Chief John Walker.

 

The line of folks into the city pool stretched clear to Virginia Avenue as residents patiently waited entrance into the totally free event, an event orchestrated several years ago and which takes place all over the U.S. The idea behind it is to familiarize citizens, particularly children, with law enforcers and to establish good relationships.

 

That certainly happened Tuesday night. Walker said that this year there was more interaction with law enforcement, fire and emergency personnel, as well as heightened interest in K9 demonstrations and displays like the department’s ladder truck and mobile command unit.  

 

And the icing on the cake was free swimming, music by Lauren Starkey and friends, giveaways of TVs, video game systems and other big ticket items and likely the biggest draw of all – free popular foods. By the end of the three-hour event, 1,000 Chick-fil-A sandwiches, 400 Dippin’ Dots ice cream cups, 500 Della’s Deli hot-dogs, five cases of Utz potato chips and 125 Little Caesar pizzas were gone. That’s not to mention Icees, kettle corn, bottled water and Coke products, as well as Wendy’s specialty drinks and other items. Supported and assisted by the Associated Businesses of Bridgeport, food and drink vendors were set up in the back lawn of the Benedum Civic Center. The fun spilled over into the areas that border the pool. Games, toys, novelties and face painting booths were busy all evening as kids and adults splashed in the pool, jumped off the diving boards, slid down the pool slide and frequented the sprayground.

 

But the sweetest thing about National Night Out, as Chief Walker mentioned, was the interaction between people. Not only were they talking with host law enforcers, but they were also visiting with each other and with local business representatives. While working one of the booths, I found folks to be quite considerate, appreciative and setting good examples for children who accompanied them.

 

I watched children play with musical instruments brought by a music therapy vendor. The kids took turns and shared. At the face painting tables, they excitedly chose their design from the display and patiently awaited their turn and were just thrilled with the outcome.

 

On behalf of the city, including police, fire and EMS departments, I think it’s safe to say organizers of the 10^th annual National Night Out were also thrilled with the outcome.  

 

Whether you were one of those worker bees, or one of the nearly 2,000 folks who turned out to support the event, you are part of the reason our city was named the most successful and happiest city in West Virginia. That honor was named by Zippia.com based on a community survey taken from 2010-2014. Bridgeport was the only city in NCWV to make the top 10. See the list HERE.

 

According to a story posted by WDTV, one active resident attributes that, in part, to our city’s very strong sense of community.

 

..”So when somebody’s doing something, people really come out for it and people know each other’s families, said Athena Freedlander of the Bridgeport Farmers Market Board of Directors. “They know each other because their kids grew up together. And they keep that. They keep that sense of togetherness and it’s like you’re all in this together – and I think that’s really important.”

 

I so agree. 

 

Julie Perine can be reached at 304-848-7200, julie@connect-bridgeport.com or follow @JuliePerine on Twitter. More "It's Happening" HERE. 

 

Editor's Note: Cover photo by Ben Queen Photography.