‘Night Out’ kickoff set
Published 7:35 pm Saturday, June 25, 2016
Tate Everett checks out a goat at the petting zoo at the Chuckatuck National Night Out celebration last year. Thousands of people from all over the city joined in their neighborhoods for the annual crime-fighting event.
Suffolk’s National Night Out celebration is coming up on Aug. 2, and communities that plan to participate can sign up and get a free National Night Out banner at the community kickoff on Tuesday.
The crime-fighting event is meant to encourage citizens to take ownership of their communities, to forge connections with their neighbors and to partner with local law enforcement to make neighborhoods safe, as well as to present a united front against criminals.
In Suffolk, thousands participate at dozens of sites across the city every year. Most of the parties are in neighborhood parks and at local businesses and include food, entertainment, children’s activities, community resource information and visits from local law enforcement and elected officials.
Suffolk has ranked in the top five in its population group for the last 10 straight years. It was also named first in its population group three times.
National Night Out celebrations nationwide are judged based on a video and notebook of documents related to the event that are submitted after the event. In addition, community judges compare the neighborhood-level celebrations and award certificates after the event, as well.
The National Association of Town Watch produces the annual event, which enjoys participation by more than 37.8 million people in all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canada and U.S. military bases worldwide.
Tuesday’s event will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. in City Council chambers at City Hall, 442 W. Washington St. Groups will be able to sign up to be officially included in this year’s festivities. The first 25 communities to sign up will receive a free banner for their neighborhood.
This year’s Project 365, a year-long focus, is “Working Together to Take a Bite out of Grime.” Building on the momentum of last year’s “Working Together to Take a Bite out of Crime,” this year’s theme will increase awareness of Adopt-A-Spot and Adopt-A-Street Litter Prevention Programs and other community cleanup efforts to keep communities clean and deter crime.
For more information, visit www.suffolknno.com or call 514-4104.
