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Vernon children learn survival skills at PAL Safety Town

| 05 Aug 2016 | 03:50
    The children are shown lined up to share what they have learned with family members in the audience.
    The children are shown lined up to share what they have learned with family members in the audience.
    After Det. Sgt. Jason Haw handed each student their graduation papers, each child had the chance to share"High Fives" with McGruff the Crime Dog and then each of the officers representing the Vernon Township Police Department and the New Jersey State Park Police.
    After Det. Sgt. Jason Haw handed each student their graduation papers, each child had the chance to share"High Fives" with McGruff the Crime Dog and then each of the officers representing the Vernon Township Police Department and the New Jersey State Park Police.
    The kids especially enjoyed skits performed by "Officer Phil" and ventriloquist Mike McDade as they reviewed the safety rules.
    The kids especially enjoyed skits performed by "Officer Phil" and ventriloquist Mike McDade as they reviewed the safety rules.
    The children are shown lined up to share what they have learned with family members in the audience.
    The children are shown lined up to share what they have learned with family members in the audience.
    A $5,600 grant from State Farm Insurance was presented to the Vernon PAL. From left are teacher Lisa Haw, Det. Sgt. Jason Haw, Chief Randy Mills, Ptl. Matt Hackett, Sgt. David Dehardt, PAL assistant director Jeanne Buffalino, Lt. Keith Kimkowski, and State Farm employees Jen Young and Tom Ziegenbalg.
    A $5,600 grant from State Farm Insurance was presented to the Vernon PAL. From left are teacher Lisa Haw, Det. Sgt. Jason Haw, Chief Randy Mills, Ptl. Matt Hackett, Sgt. David Dehardt, PAL assistant director Jeanne Buffalino, Lt. Keith Kimkowski, and State Farm employees Jen Young and Tom Ziegenbalg.

VERNON — After a weeklong series of lessons, 46 Vernon children graduated from the PAL Safety Town program during ceremonies held at the Vernon Police Athletic League gymnasium.
The Friday morning ceremonies were well attended as were the classes, which saw a nearly 50 percent increase in enrolment from the previous year.
In addition to the teachers, 13 teen helpers volunteered as assistants in the program, which was funded by a $5,600 grant from State Farm Insurance The grant went to pay for the program and purchase new supplies for the Safety Town program.
During the week the topics covers included bicycle safety, school bus safety, fire safety, gun safety, bear safety, stranger danger, water safety and child assault prevention.
Additional information about the Vernon PAL and its various programs can be found at www.vernonpal.com or by calling their office at 973-764-9514.
— Photos by Chris Wyman