National Night Out helps connects community to first responders

Photos by Natalie Baron: Caspian Villegas of Medina high-fives the Safety Pup during National Night Out on Tuesday evening in Medina.

By Natalie Baron, Orleans Hub intern

MEDINA – On Tuesday, Medina hosted National Night Out for the third time. At NNO, visitors were encouraged to meet law enforcement, first responders and representatives from community organizations. Several hundred people attended the event at Clifford Wise Intermediate School on Gwinn Street.

Sidney from Medina poses with an emptied food trailer. He was one of the Boy Scouts, along with volunteers, who served hot dogs, chips, and water bottles to residents for free.

The dunk tank was, once again, a slam dunk with guests of all ages.

Law enforcement officers take off for Battle of the Belts. Participants entered a vehicle, buckled seat belts and threw their hands onto the car’s ceiling to indicate they had finished. They did so a couple of times, switching seats. Due to law enforcement’s hefty vests, they scored 5th with a time of 52.54. In 4th place was team Fire Red at 52.34, in 3rd was Froot Loops at 46.79, in 2nd was first responders, Ridgeway Water Rats, at 43.62, and in 1st was National Night Out volunteers at 43.07.

Braxton Hart, 5, of Medina hoses down fires in a prop building with some help from a Medina firefighter.

The County of Orleans Department of Mental Health brought free snacks and a fishing game to NNO. Pictured, from left: Patricia Urquhart, Melinda Rhim, Patrice Beadle, and Director of Mental Health Danielle Figura.

Melinda Rhim cheers on Audrey Pierce while she catches a fish. Noa Pierce watches the exchange. Medina Mental Health’s fish had positive words on them, including Happy, Excited, Smart, Love, Kind, and Brave.

Evelyn Strickland, 7, of Medina gets her face painted at the Pathstone stand. Face painting was open to all ages.

Cassandra Kinne smiles as she has her caricature done by Murray Mann.

The stand of the Medina Railroad Museum featured a game called Boxcar Brainiacs. Participants answered historical or strange train-related questions and threw balls into cups. Winners received water bottles. Renee Hemby, the events coordinator at the Medina Railroad Museum, ran the event for the museum.

One Church members pose with their stand. Their Vacation Bible school will be open to pre-k through grade 5 and will run from August 11-13 from 6-8:30 p.m.

Patrick Holman, a magician, performs a ball trick and other magical acts.

MJ Roman, 4, rides his bike as Alyssa Andrews, 9, cheers him on. Medina PD set up the bicycle rodeo again this year, allowing kids to test their bike skills.

Zach Blount wipes water away after being dunked in by Charlotte Pierce.