Liberty’s National Night Out festivities draw community

LIBERTY -- While Liberty's America250 celebration was forced to be postponed in July, one trustee noted that things ended up turning out great for them regardless.

"We got a lot more people this way -- they get to see two things at once, and we got a beautiful night, and we've got a lot of great displays," said trustee Arnie Clebone. "People coming for one thing, we get to introduce them to something else they normally wouldn't see."

Clebone was just one of thousands of residents at the township's National Night Out, which also included its America250 celebration, at the Liberty Local School District complex.

National Night Out takes place on the first Tuesday of August each year and encourages residents to spend time with their neighbors, meet local law enforcement and participate in community-building activities. The event aims to promote strong police and community partnerships to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live and work.

Sharon Wathen, one of the Liberty Township Heritage Tour's organizers, said their event was originally planned for mid-July with an optional indoor location, but the police department expressed concern that they couldn't be called out if inclement weather hit as severe storms were in the forecast.

"We wouldn't have been here otherwise -- our church (Church Hill United Methodist) has a booth over there, so it's a nice combination, and I'm glad we got a gorgeous night tonight," Wathen said. "The weather's beautiful -- anything you can do to highlight any of these organizations is worthwhile."

Wathen said they did lose two acts by moving the event to Tuesday, noting a live band had another commitment and a yoga instructor couldn't attend.

"There were things that were supposed to be on the 18th, and just being at the park, to me, is a plus in Churchill Park," Wathen said. "It's a lovely venue -- not that this isn't OK, but it's the school, whereas the park is a totally different venue."

"I think you'll have more kids today because of the focus on the school and the relationship with the police department, and there might have been more senior citizens at the park. However, some senior citizens will find this easier to walk because it's even (ground)."

Alan Banner provided his family's history as a display to attendees, explaining that his ancestor, Squire William A. Bard, settled in the township in 1817 -- and Banner lives on that same property on Crew Hood Road.

"I'm finding more of my ancestors were here in Liberty, very early, and the coal mines that were a big part of Liberty's growth, one of the narrow line railroads went up through our farm," Banner said. "We used it to get from the front of the farm to the back of the farm."

Banner, who said he's explored his family's roots for the past six months in preparation for the event, showed maps displaying where the first residents settled and their names, and a map where major coal mines and churches were.

"There were nine one-room school houses in Liberty before 1873, when they did a unified school, roughly where Handel's is today," Banner said.

Police Chief Ray Buhala said National Night Out is growing more each year, adding that he "couldn't be happier" with the community's response.

"We extended the offer and said, rather than have a fireworks display less than a week apart and expecting people to try to get out on two separate occasions, why not marry the two together, and have everybody come out and enjoy it," Buhala said.

With Tuesday's event marking his first one as his department's leader, Buhala said it gives him the opportunity and free time to engage with the community and their partners, pointing out the Mahoning County Crisis Response Team's $300,000 BearCat tactical armored vehicle that was on display for children to explore.

Alan Friedkin, a resident since the late 1970s, expressed his shock at the attendance.

"I'm just in awe of the amount of people that have shown up for it -- we've been in Liberty since 1978, and this is really, really a great event," Friedkin said. "It's just nice to see all the people out on a beautiful night."