Staff Report

The countdown is on!

National Night Out 2005 is just days away, and Suffolk is once again ready to put on an award winning celebration.

Warm up the grills, pack up the kids, turn on your porch lights and get set to give crime in Suffolk a going away party!

On Aug. 2, citizens of Suffolk are being invited to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the &uot;22nd Annual National Night Out&uot; crime and drug prevention event.

National Night Out, which is sponsored by The National Association of Town Watch (NATW), will involve more than 34 million people across the country.

Tuesday

will be a night that citizens across America can send a powerful message about neighborhood unity, awareness, safety and police-community partnerships.

Residents in neighborhoods across the nation are asked to lock their doors, turn on porch lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors and police.

Suffolk’s National Night Out events have received National Award Recognition in Category 3 (population 30,000 to 99,999) over the last several years, and with active community involvement, Suffolk hopes to achieve this honor once again this year.

The theme chosen by committee members is to unite, or &uot;bridge the gap&uot;, between two very important groups in the city-senior citizens and youth, according to National Night Out planners.

Throughout the summer various beautification projects for local seniors performed by area youth, Suffolk Police Department Officers and committee partners have taken place, in addition to car washes and other events, including the Senior Citizens’ Police Academy and an information tent at last Friday’s TGIF Concert.

Ben Jones, &uot;Crazy Cooter&uot; of the original television series &uot;Dukes of Hazzard&uot;, took time out from singing with &uot;Cooter’s Garage Band&uot; to pose with Officers Karl Adams and John Cooke of the Suffolk Police Department with this year’s official banner.

&uot;Crime’s Going Away Party&uot; will kick off on Tuesday, August 2nd at 5:30 pm at the Constant’s Wharf Park located behind the Hilton Garden Inn.

The public is invited to join local dignitaries, public safety and law enforcement officials, as well as concerned seniors, youth and business partners as they embark on a motorcade to tour neighborhoods across Suffolk.

Participating communities include:

Holland, Hall Place, Olde Towne, Kingsboro at Coulburn Park, Kempton, Pughsville, Whaleyville, Colan-der-Bishop, John F. Kennedy Athletic Field, Wilson Pines, Chorey Park, Parker-Riddick, East Suffolk, Lake Kennedy, Hoffler, Woodlake, South Suffolk – Pleasant Hill and Mary Estes Park, and Huntersville.

Events range from ice cream socials, flashlight walks, block parties, fish fries and cook-outs, to live music and street dances.

Citizens are urged to make plans now to head out to one of these participating neighborhoods-or hold their own impromptu celebrations.