Despite stormy weather and a last-minute venue change from the Iacona Playground to the Hyde Park Municipal Building, an estimated 100 Hyde Park residents gathered on the late afternoon of Aug. 3 to celebrate National Night Out. Attendees enjoyed music, pizza, treats, free giveaways, and the chance to recognize the ongoing partnership between the community and local police. The event also honored Scott Batey for his work as president of the Hyde Park Board of Trade (HPBOT), which has, since 1901, promoted the Hyde Park business and professional community.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that supports police-community partnerships and neighborhood fellowship to make safer places to live. Also present to welcome the crowd were Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Police Commissioner Michael Cox, City Councilors Enrique J. Pepén, Ruthzee Louijeune, and Erin Murphy, and Rep. Rob Consalvo.

The community meeting room was filled with information tables, candy, merch, pizza, and do it-yourself-slime (for the kids, ostensibly) while music blasted from speakers on the stage. Organizations represented included the YMCA, Stacy’s Joy Incorporated, One Step Beyond Martial Arts Training Center, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Jury Commissioner Court System, on hand to educate folks on what it is to become a jury. Three Catholic parishes offered candy, trinkets, and cozies.The County District Attorney's Office table offered tote bags, stress balls, and bubble makers. The Children's Advocacy Center of Suffolk County and the Credit Union for First Responders also offered information on their services.

“We coordinate the first responder teams when there is a report of child abuse in Suffolk County, specifically when it is a report of child sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, or exploitation,” said Erica Chepulis, training program manager at Children's Advocacy Center of Suffolk County. The center has forensic interviewers and multidisciplinary team coordinators, a mental health team, an exploitation response team, a nurse, and a pediatric sexual assault nurse examiner onsite. Their website is www.suffolkcac.org.

The YMCA will celebrate 175th years in existence with a party at City Hall Plaza planned on August 23. “It’s open to the public,” said Morgan Golden, Senior Program Director for the Y. “We’re promoting a road race on Nov. 8.”

In attendance was Jocelyn Moehringer who said it was her fourth National Night Out with her son. “Since he was about a year old, I've made it a point that we go to these and make sure that he has a positive interaction with police because he's autistic and non-verbal. And as a parent, I'm extremely concerned that he could have a negative interaction with police.” Her son enjoyed many of the activities.

The One Step Beyond martial arts school was also present. Lex Rivera’s son has been attending the school’s classes for over two years – and he’s four-and-a-half years old now. It’s his first Night Out. “It's cool. It's a great thing for the community,” said Rivera. “So now we've had pizza already … we did slime, that was pretty cool. The slime, that was great for the kids.” One Step Beyond owner, Erin Smith, was on hand with some students demonstrating the techniques that they've learned. “They're breaking two or three boards. And then for our beginners, I'm teaching everybody who comes by, adults and kids alike, how to break with a simple hammer fist trick.”

This reporter followed her instructions and was able to break one board with her fist, the first time.

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Host Boston Police Department Captain Joseph Boyle of District E-18, said, “It’s our way to thank the community for working with us throughout the year and helping solve problems, improve quality of life, prevent violent crime – all these things in the neighborhood. I think it's a nice day for us to thank people.”

Boyle praised the community, and said it wouldn’t have happened without them.

“People are great. The neighborhood’s great… and this event, you're mostly wanting to connect with the neighborhood and kind of thank them.”

Scott Batey said, “I'm accepting this [honor] on behalf of the HPBOT that I have run for many years and along with the co-president of Hyde Park Main Street. But this honor is actually going to the Board of Trade,” as the Community Group Award. Batey looked around the room and knew a lot of people there. “Well, I live around the corner. This is my neighborhood.” He encouraged any HP business owners to join.

Mayor Wu invited her fellow elected officials on to the stage. “We have a busy night all across the city, so all of my colleagues have graciously said we're going to keep it to mingling more than everyone giving an individual speech. But I wanted you to see who they are and that they're here. We're very grateful for them. Thank you for making Boston who we are.”

Police Commissioner Michael Cox, added, “National night in, national night out, national night wherever. Here we are in community, here's our community showing up.”