Cranberry welcomes return of celebration
CRANBERRY TWP — Adults and children alike waved, screamed and sometimes held their ears as fire trucks and ambulances made their way through the Cranberry Commons parking lot Tuesday with sirens wailing.
The hoopla was all part National Night Out, an event aimed at letting the community meet first responders in a friendly, relaxed setting. The township has hosted such events in the past, with large crowds jamming Haine School Road as the parade — the event's centerpiece — crept by.
But not lately.
After more than a decade without a celebration of this sort in Cranberry, employees at the Target store there approached local first responders about bringing the event back. By all accounts Tuesday, the return was well-received.
On hand were units from Cranberry fire, police and EMS and the Evans City Area, Adams Area and Harmony fire districts. The crowd made its way from truck to truck, with many children climbing into the cabs to ring the fire bell or make believe they were responding to a call.
One such truck was a 1928 model that the Cranberry department purchased in 1959. It was the department's first truck, and was in use until 1967, when its engine blew.
James Cole, who served with the department for nearly 40 years, said the truck was put back into working condition in 1980. He's kept it in pristine shape ever since, showing it off at events around the region.Across the parking lot, children took a tour through the township's fire safety trailer, learning about fire hazards in and around the home. Others danced and played games with the fire department's mascot. According to Andrew Blair, Target assistant store manager, store officials were happy to see a large turnout Tuesday, and to see the community come out to meet and honor their first responders.“Hopefully this is something we can continue every year,” he said.
