Published August 13. 2026 02:45PM
National Night Out started on Aug. 7, 1984, created by Matt Peskin to build police and community partnerships.
Since then all emergency personnel have been included in the annual events. The first event involved 2.5 million neighbors across 400 communities in 23 states.
Currently, all 50 states, as well as U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide, participate in National Night Out.
The Northern Lehigh National Night Out was presented by the Slatington Lions Club at the Skeet Club in Slatington. There was a basket raffle, games, hamburgers, hot dogs, demonstration of automated external defibrillators, and stickers and bracelets were given out for the kids.
“I want to thank the Lions Club for sponsoring our National Night Out for the first time,” Mayor Jeralyn Schoch said in opening the event. “They have done a great job. We are grateful for our fire department for being volunteers who answer the hard calls (and) the community for their continued support.”
Schoch added that the police department and Northern Valley Emergency Medical Services also shared their time to tell people “what they do in the jobs daily.”
Above: Members of the Slatington Lions Club hosted National Night Out last week in the borough. From left are Stephanie Retamar, Michael Retamar, Mayor Jeralyn Schoch, Slatington Borough Council President Ryan Mayberry, Carol Bartholomew and Martin Clark.
Left: Medic Albert Black, left, with Northern Valley since 2010, and EMT Kayla Keller, who has served since 2012.
Slatington Police Department includes, from left, Sgt. Deron Dorward, Officer Aaron Radtke, Officer Kevin Torres, Mayor Jeralyn Schoch, Officer Michael Concilio, Police Chief William Borst, Officer Matthew Hutchins and Officer Amanda Segarra. PATRICIA INGLES/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
Volunteer Lisa Fisher, who helped to create the basket raffle, poses for a photo with a cutout of the iconic fireman statue.