Crafts, Sword Fights, Giant Chess Sets Delight Kids at 19th Pct. National Night Out
The National Night Out Against Crime in the 19th Pct. drew city council speaker Julie Menin, NYS Assembly member Rebecca Seawright and most importantly dozens of delighted kids and their parents and caregivers.
| 06 Aug 2026 | 04:32
Deputy Inspector Noreen E. Lazarus, the commanding officer of the 19th Pct., was drafted into community relations duties when she helped a distraught youngster find her caregiver during a National Night Out Against Crime inside St. Catherine’s Park on Aug. 4. (
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Lindsey Peers, owner of the Craft Store, had her three children helping youngsters make refrigerator magnets with the slogan “I ♡ NYPD.” (
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Officer Avinello stands guard as kids get to sit in the driver’s seat on an NYPD cruiser. (
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Assembly member Rebecca Seawright (second from left) is flanked by 19th Pct. community affairs officer Brian Larkin (left) as she presents a proclamation to deputy inspector Noreen Lazarus for her work as the commanding officer of the 19th Pct. Community Council president Nick Viest (far right) joins in. (
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Michael Naughton was enjoying his day off from his duties as a police officer in Brooklyn to bring his two daughters to National Night Out to Fight Crime for the 19th Pct. at St. Catherine’s Park on the UES. (
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Xavier, who said his age was “five and three quarters” jabs at a staffer from the Sheridan Fencing Academy. He said he plays soccer every day but he rated his first jousting experience as “good.” (
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Stella gives a serious expression as she sits in the driver’s seat of police cruiser. (
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A two-year-old girl strike up a friendship with a 13-month-old on the giant chess board. (
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The bubble machine, brought to the event by Courtyard by Marriott ,was a popular draw throughout the event at the 19th Precinct’s National Night Out Against Crime (
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The longest line of the day was at the Starbucks booth until someone from the Community Council announced that there were no more juices available. (
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A pint-sized 13-month-girl sat on the game board of a giant chess set where the rooks, kings and queens were nearly the same size as the toddler.
”It’s so nice for the little ones,” said Fabrienne, the toddler’s mom who only landed in NYC from Switzerland three years ago and was attending her first ever National Night Out Against Crime that the 19th Precinct was staging on August 4 inside St. Catherine’s Park on First Avenue between East 67th and 68th Streets.
It wasn’t long before her daughter was making a new friend with the daughter of MacKenzie Naughton. Her husband Michael Naughton is actually a cop in Brooklyn and was off duty as a cop but on duty as a parent, holding his eleven-month-old daughter while the older daughter played on the chess board. “It’s my day off, I worked last night,” he said by way of explaining how he was drawing dad duties instead of attending the National Night Out in his own precinct.
”It’s a great day for the kids,” he said, “There’s a lot of kids in this neighborhood and they’re loving it.”
Politicians who drop in are always careful to not draw the spot light away from the primary intent of the 43rd annual Night Out Against Crime where celebrations and community relations efforts were underway in every precinct in the city.
City Council speaker Julie Menin stopped by briefly and NYS Assembly member Rebecca Seawright presented a proclamation honoring the precint’s commanding officer Noreen Lazarus, a deputy inspector who is continued the downward progress started by her predecessor, inspector Neil Zuber. Lazarus took over the C.O. post 11 months ago. “Crime statistics are heading in the right direction for the fall,” Lazarus told Our Town. Indeed, total crime incidents year-to-date were down 17.2 percent through the weekend of Aug. 2 although rape and car thefts were unfortunately on the rise.
Thomas an 11-year-old and his nine year old sister Stella were visiting with their aunt Tania Prado, the chief of staff of the Downtown Alliance, the city’s largest business improvement district in the city. While Prado works downtwon, she’s a long time upper east side resident. “I’ve been to these [National Night Out] many times and it’s always a great night,” adding, “This was the park my kids played in growing up.”
Thomas said he did 31 push-ups as part of a test at the FBI booth. “I like all the events and all the stations,” he said. His sister, who had just hopped out of the front seat of the squad car said it was nice but added, “I wanted to do the siren.”
“We’re here every year,” said Jason Sheridan, who opened the Sheridan Fencing Academy in Yorkville nearly 20 years ago. Staffers using rubberized swords were teaching youngsters some of the footwork involved in sword fighting thrusts and jabs. “It’s a great way to show kids new sports,” he said. A rookie swordfighter named Xavier said he was “5 and three quarters,” and rated his first lesson as “good.”
Lindsey Peers, who runs the Craft Studio on 1675 Third Ave. was assisted by her own three kids, six-year-old Luke, nine-year-old Vivi and eleven-year-old Elle as they helped other youngsters make refrigerator magnets with the sign “I ♡ NYPD.” “They’re great helpers,” Peers said.
“As a small business owner, I like supporting the NYPD any way I can,” said Peers, capturing the vibe of the dozens of vendors who turned out for the day.
A big perennial draw is the chance to sit in the driver’s seat of an NYPD cruiser.
One of the longest lines of the day was for the Starbucks booth. At first the long line on a hot summer evening was surprising, until one of the members of the precinct’s community council made an announcement. “Starbucks is out of juices, but they still have coffee.” The line quickly dwindled but by then the sun was setting and there was plenty more to do.
”It’s a great day for the kids. There’s a lot of kids in this neighborhood and they’re loving it.” Police Office Michael Naughton