MEETING & GREETING
Lansdale: 5-year-old’s pitch gives police chief a dunking Montgomery Township: Fire trucks are a hit with the kids
LANSDALE >> Five-year-old Rylee Levonski of Lansdale held the neon yellow ball in her hand, sized up her target — a metal circle just a few feet away — then took a step closer, followed by a few more.
From just outside pointblank range, she reared back and tossed it. The ball bounced off the center of the circle with a clang, dumping Lansdale Police Chief Mike Trail into the dunk tank at the department’s National Night Out festivities on Tuesday night.
“She was so excited to see if she could dunk him,” said Rylee’s mom Teresa Levonski.
As Teresa spoke, Rylee hugged her father Trevor, who was holding his threeyear-old son Dylan and pushing a stroller with one-year-old Haley inside. Teresa said she found out about the Night Out festivities by following the police department’s Facebook page, and said the family had already had a busy night.
“We saw a lot: they went to the bounce houses, they had some hot dogs, the kids loved the flyover, they were intrigued by that one,” she said.
That flyover was a lowaltitude flyby by a Philadelphia Police Department helicopter, just as the festivities got underway at 7 p.m. After Rylee dunked the police chief, the fam
"This is a great event for our community, to have the residents come down and meet first responders face-to-face."
— Lansdale Police Chief Mike Trail
ily was headed back to the bounce house, and both parents said their son Dylan especially enjoyed his first up-close encounters with police patrol cars and firetrucks.
“He’s obsessed with what he calls ‘Woo-woos.’ Any type of siren that goes off, he just loves it,” Trevor said.
On the opposite side of the parking lot outside Lansdale’s police station, four-year-old Owen Souder pushed buttons on a remote control nearly as large as he is, steering a Robotexmodel SWAT robot overseen by Montgomery County SWAT — Central Region SWAT operator, and Lansdale Detective, Joe Gary.
“He does say he wants to be a police officer ... but then again, he is still only four, so there is still time yet,” said Owen’s mom Jennifer Souder.
Before his turn in the dunk tank, Trail said the night out events were a chance for his officers and community members to meet in a friendly setting, and thanked the fellow law enforcement agencies, including the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety, District Attorney, and state Attorney General’s office, who manned stands and tables.
“This is a great event for our community, to have the residents come down and meet first responders faceto-face,” Trail said.
Outside agencies were present at the event, including domestic violence shelter Laurel House, mental health agency Merakey, the Volunteer Medical Service Corps, Fairmount Fire Company and State Rep. Steve Malagari, all of whom Trail said he hoped residents would meet and great.
“They’re the ambassadors to the community. My job, as chief, is just to remove barriers for them, so they can come out here and engage the community, and provide the best level of service they can do at the end of the day. They’re the real superheroes,” Trail said.
A few miles away, at the Water Tower Square Shopping Center in Montgomery Township, dozens of local businesses, Scout troops, businesses and nonprofits offered snacks, swag and samples of their services.
District Judge Andrea Duffy shared information about upcoming events for her Drug Addiction Resource Alliance including plans for public seminars in Souderton on Oct. 15 and in Lansdale on Nov. 19.
Visitors like Kristin McGinley watched her fiveyear-old son River and his two-year-old brother Quinn take turns behind the wheel, and then in the rear seat, of a Montgomery Township Police Department SUV.
“We’ve lived in the neighborhood for almost five years, and this is our first time here. My husband is busy tonight, so I thought I’d get them out of the house,” Kristin said.
Just across the way, seven-year-old Cameron Holland and his five-yearold brother Sebastian checked out the middle cab of a Fire Department of Montgomery Township firetruck as their mom Julie watched.
“We were looking at the big water bottle — it was like a big jug thingy. I think it’s for them to drink, because the fires are so hot,” Cameron said.
Both Cameron and Sebastian said they had seen firefighters before, during a visit to their class at Montgomery Elementary School, and were more excited about their free goodie bags from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office and a local U.S. Marine recruiting station.
“We’re from Australia, and I was trying to explain to them, we don’t have Marines in Australia, they’re part of the Navy,” Julie said.
As she spoke, her sons eyed their next stop, and Cameron shared his words of advice: “Stay hydrated, kids.”
Once the sun set and skies turned dark, neighbors Molly Kremer and Charlotte Kenefic posed for photos at the wheel of another FDMT firetruck, then talked about the large steering wheel and buttons they saw inside, while Molly’s mom Monica Kremer took photos.
“My neighbor drove by and told me, and then I had her run over to her house and get (Charlotte) too, and said ‘Let’s go,’” Monica said. “We’re all residents of the township, so I guess they work for us. We’re happy to pay it, for such a great town.”