K-9 demonstrations, bike rides part of the fun at District 14 open house

K-9 unit officer Michael Calabro educates children with police dog Ziggy, 10. Ziggy is due to retire this year. ZARA TZANEV

With barbecue, music, giveaways, pony ride and face painting, Allston-Brighton families were having a fun time with the Boston Police Department and the officers of District 14 at the open house and bicycle safety day last Saturday at 301 Washington St., Brighton.

“It’s a way to give back to the community,” said Amy McKenna, 31, police officer and one of the organizers of the event.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino came to the open house to show his support to the community and the police of Boston, saying he’s a big fan of bicycle and that it’s important to educate young people to wear helmet.

“This event is about the community working with the police,” Menino said. “Everyone working together makes it a great city to live.”

The open house was a way police officers hoped to build the community and get people together to socialize through the event, according to Frank Hughes, community service officer, who was one of the organizers.

Radio Disney was invited to the open house to offer various games for the kids, topics that included safety, recycling and recognition of Disney songs. The kids were rewarded with prizes such as tattoo stickers.

“It’s a great way to get to know information about safety,” said Kelly Stevens, 27, promotion coordinator for Radio Disney.

However, bicycle safety should be practiced rather than just talked about, so the police invited Allston-Brighton Bikes to lead the kids onto a safe bike ride. Chris Ditunno at the A-B Bikes led six kids on their bikes to ride around a block near the police station. They were protected with a police car in front and another behind the expedition.

Another thing that impressed the neighbors was how K-9 officers trained their police dogs. Officers used different words to give commands to the dogs. Officer Scott O’Brien brought his German shepherd, Zyggy, to demonstrate how a police dog would attack a suspect by biting without letting go.

“These dogs only bite bad people,” said K-9 Officer Michael Calabro, who acted the role of a baddie in the show. He got bruises because of the pressure of Zyggy’s bite, assuring the kids of their safety, “but I don’t see bad people around. So we’re all set, right?”

“Absolutely brilliant,” said Mary Phelan, a Brighton housewife, who came here with her three kids and her husband. “Kids love it. I really enjoyed the K-9 show, and kids love the pony ride and the face painting.”

In its third year, the open house gave Allston-Brighton neighbors an opportunity to get together with their families and the community.

“They have done a way much better job this year,” said Charlie Cryts, who came to the event with his two adopted kids, Kelly and Billy. “There are more people this year.”

“It’s important to have community events like this,” said Linda Sleeper, a lifelong Brighton resident, who came here with her husband, Ray, and their granddaughter, Cassie, 4, who enjoyed the pony ride very much.

The open house not only ended with a raffle for an iPod, four tickets to Boston College sport games and a children’s bike, but also with flowers or butterflies on kids’ faces and smiles by the adults.

“We need more days like this,” said Kim Smith, who is a crossing guard for six years. “If we have more like this, the community would be even stronger.”

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