Pretty in two shades of pink is Anna Apacheco, age 4, and her mother, Jenypher Apacheco, Nashua residents waiting their turn at a Fitness Challenge running race that entailed sprinting, lifting, winding through pylons, and returning to a police officer holding a tape at the finishing line. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

The attractions of Nashua’s National Night Out included the display of this Nashua Fire Department’s Ladder 1 fire truck by Pvt. Tom Newman, on the scene for the Nashua Fire and Rescue Department. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

“National Night Out has been a great event with the community enjoying this beautiful park, every year,” said Ashley Caste, a longtime Groundsman II with the Department of Public Works Parks Department.

Caste said she performs the mowing, bandshell readiness, wading pool upkeep and facilities management at the park.

Officer Jim Turcotte of the Nashua Police joined her in attendance, stationed inside a blue tent, where he introduced the department’s comfort dog, K9 “Ellie.” The Chocolate Lab was a furry magnet, well petted.

Ellie’s specialty is tracking and evidence recovery. Her favorite game is “Hide and Seek.” She likes chicken and apples.

Julia Montney, age 6, a Nashua athlete who is especially adept at soccer and gymnastics, kicks a soccer ball directly into the target at an inflatable play station well populated by participants at Nashua's National Night Out. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

Nearby, Officers Josh Arruda, Tim Donahue and Derek Ibell displayed a compact, high-tech, black drone whose remote-controlled commands can order it to rise high into the air as a useful tool for detection of someone lost in the woods, for surveying a crash scene, for assisting in providing overhead views of building fires and many other tasks.

Some of the spaces near the park’s entry road were occupied by Nashua Police patrol cars, Nashua Fire’s Ladder 1 fire truck, emergency rescue ambulances, police motorcycles and a state-of-the-art mobile command center, all on display, sometimes with lights and sirens ablaze.

One area was occupied by a Hazardous Device Unit Robot reaching its mechanical arm skyward and performing other maneuvers under the control of Officer Zachary “Zach” Keller, who explained that the robot is useful in identifying suspicious packages, moving questionable items to an X-Ray machine, or safely detonating or destroying suspicious containers.

Greeley Park accommodated more than a dozen booths whose attendants offered information on various community projects and programs. Represented there was the Nashua Library, the Elks Club Lodge No. 720, Elks Riders 720 motorcycle group, The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office, representatives from Catholic Medical Center (CMC) and many more.

A diversion along the front of the park was an attraction manned by Officer Benjamin “Ben” Stusse, Nashua’s designated Police Athletic League (PAL) Officer, who encouraged fitness in potential athletes by teaching them to lift some iron kettle bells of escalating weights, small, medium and larger.

A short wait in line led to a Fitness Challenge sprint for Anna Apacheco, 4-years old, who maneuvered an obstacle course of sprints, weight lifting, running through pylons and racing to a finish line indicated here by Officer Gabriel Reyes. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

Free food for attendees was gifted by the Nashua Police Department. Guests with paper tickets given away at a booth manned by police staffers were well used at Augusta’s Chicken on The Road, Carla’s Coffee, The Eatery, Soel Sistas, and others.

A heartfelt message of thanks went out online from the Nashua Police Department, along with some special acknowledgements to supporters.

“Thank you to everyone who joined us for another amazing Nashua Night Out!”

“A special thank-you to all the vendors and sponsors who generously donated, and to the Nash Casino and the Nashua Police Patrolmen’s Association for their generous donations and support in helping make the event such a success.”

“We would also like to thank the Nashua Fire Department and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for joining us and helping make the evening so memorable.”

Fran Grady, right, who was on hand at National Night Out with her husband, Bill Grady, to represent Nashua Elks Lodge No. 720, greets the Rourke Family and the Rakesh Family at the festivities.  Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

“We are grateful to all of our community partners and everyone who came out to celebrate with us, for your support and participation made this year’s National Night Out one to remember.”

Nashua’s National Night Out included puffy inflatables, a soccer kicking game, ring toss and other amusements that surely were enjoyed by a big contingent of attendees.

The event was a casual get-together that gave the public a chance to become better acquainted with local police officers, fire department personnel, civic organizations and a Golden Lab K9 named, “Ellie,” — all in one night.

More information on National Night Out is available online at natw.org.

Some of the event's hundreds of attendees smile and say, "Cheese," before ordering cheeseburgers, hot dogs, ice cream, fried chicken and other treats provided free at Nashua's National Night Out. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

National Night Out provided an opportunity for attendees to learn from these demonstrators, from left, Officer Josh Arruda, Officer Tim Donahue and Officer Derek Ibell, the value of drones that often are used for scanning an area so police officers can safely enter, for an overhead view of SWAT operations, for aerial searching of someone lost, and for many more tasks remotely monitored.  Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

The attractions of Nashua's National Night Out included the display of this Nashua Fire Department's Ladder 1 fire truck by Pvt. Tom Newman, on the scene for the Nashua Fire and Rescue Department. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

National Night Out in Nashua included visits by dozens of children to a blue tent manned by Officer Jon Turcotte, who introduced the police department's comfort dog, his K9 dog, "Ellie," a Golden Lab adept at tracking, evidence recovery and playing Hide & Seek. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

A fitness exercise, conducted by Nashua Police Athletic League (PAL) Officer Bennet "Ben" Stusse, is mastered here by Eloise Kennedy, age 9, who is learning from him how to lift an iron kettlebell, a device used in many gyms for weight training. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

The intricate mechanics of a Hazardous Device Unit Robot whose components are explained here by Officer Zachary "Zach" Keller to Sudais Duran, of Merrimack, who learns the robot is often used to identify suspicious packages, move suspicious items safely to an X-Ray machine or safely detonate or destroy suspicious items. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON