Spreading National Night Out Throughout the Township

The National Night Out .  In nearby towns like Carteret and Metuchen, barbeques, pool parties, and live music are as much a part of the festivities as awareness of crime and crime preventing techniques.  But in Woodbridge, the National Night Out has yet to catch on on a township-wide basis.

Runi Sriwardena of the Woodbridge Housing Authority hopes to see that change next year.

"I hope that will change soon," Sriwardena said of being the only locale in Woodbridge participating in the event, vowing to speak with Mayor John McCormac when he arrived at the event later in the evening.

Sriwardena puts together the annual National Night Out event at the Maple Tree Manor senior housing complex in Avenel, where seniors from Maple Tree as well as the Adams and Finn Towers gather for the evening to socialize, meet with members of the local police, fire, and first aid forces, and learn about personal safety and emergency tips.

The event at Maple Tree Manor, an affordable housing facility for seniors 62 years of age and older, is in it's fifth year.  "We're doing this for the seniors," said Sriwardena.  "It's about reassuring the seniors that they are safe in the hands of our police, fire, and EMS."

A variety of speakers - representing the Avenel-Colonia First Aid Squad, the Avenel Fire Department, Woodbridge Police, and other groups working to aid seniors in town - took the podium to discuss topics in fire safety, health, and emergency communication, among others.