[slideshow_deploy id=’899′]
BY HILLARY VIDERS
SPECIAL TO NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
On Sept. 27, Tenafly held its annual Community Night Out street fair, and what a night it was!
Hundreds of Tenafly residents and visitors strolled along Riveredge Road, where over 50 exhibitors and vendors had tables and booths.
Tenafly Night Out is organized by the Tenafly Police Department, so the police station was the hub of all the excitement. Many officers were on hand greeting people, befriending scores of children and grilling up franks.
Amidst the panorama of activities, food was free and plentiful. In addition to the barbecue provided by the Tenafly Police, the Tenafly Elks served over 200 franks, and several local restaurants stir fried and cooked their tasty specialties.
Throughout the evening, music abounded, as dance troupes from Nunnbetter Dance Academy and bands from School of Rock owned the stage with dazzling performances. Youngsters of all ages from Triumph Tae Kwon Do studio did demonstrations of their martial arts moves.
In addition to the police department, other major components of the Tenafly Community Night Out were the Tenafly Volunteer Fire Department, Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Bergen County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad Unit. All the officials spoke with the public about their work. The medics allowed children to sit in their ambulance and the firefighters performed a dramatic demo of vehicle extrication.
There were numerous activities for children, such as face painting, shooting a basketball with a giant clown on stilts, and show-and-tell animal presentations—one featuring a giant king snake!—by Alex Braunstein, an environmental educator from the Tenafly Nature Center.
Many organizations gave out free novelty items along with their information. Representatives were on hand from the Tenafly Elks, Rotary Club, The Community Chest, Tenafly Chemical and Alcohol Prevention (CAP), Tenafly Nature Center, the Tenakill Swim Club, and many more groups.
Mayor Peter Rustin was delighted with the huge turnout.
“This is a wonderful family event that brings our community together every year,” he said.
Photos by Hillary Viders