Light Up the Night

It's time once again for the event that neighbors love and criminals hate.

It's the National Night Out, created by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) a nonprofit crime-prevention organization that works in cooperation with thousands of crime watch groups and law enforcement agencies throughout the country. The event was introduced in 1984, the brainchild of NATW executive director Matt A. Peskin. In an effort to heighten awareness and strengthen participation in local anti-crime efforts, Peskin felt that a high-profile crime prevention event was needed nationally. That first year, 400 communities in 23 states participated in National Night Out. Last year 36.7 million people in 14,625 communities from all 50 states took part, along with participants in U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide.

While the traditional 'lights on' and front porch vigils remain a part of the event, activities have expanded considerably over the years to include block parties, cookouts, parades, visits from police, festivals, neighborhood walks, safety fairs, contests, rallies and meetings.

In our area, several communities are holding such festivities, all on different days.

- The Jermyn Borough Neighborhood Crime Watch will hold its second annual National Night Out celebration Saturday, July 31, at the Artesian Fire Co. picnic grounds, 20 Maple St., Jermyn. Children"s activities will start at 2 p.m. The parade will start at 5 p.m. followed by food, basket raffles and other activities at the picnic grounds.

- In Throop, the annual Night Out will be held Sunday, Aug. 1. Festivities will kick off at 7 p.m. with a parade that follows the cow flop parade route, ending at Washington Street Park, Washington and Loftus streets. At the park there will be saftey demonstrations, food, rides, music, a Tazer demonstarion and fireworks.

- Dunmore's National Night Out program will be held Thursday, Aug. 5, starting with a 6 p.m. parade that begins and ends at Dunmore High School, 300 W. Warren St. After the parade there will be a festival on the school grounds featuring informational booths, and free refreshments.

- The Blakely/Peckville Neighborhood Crime Watch will hold its Night Out event Friday, Aug. 6, beginning with a parade 7 p.m. from the Blakely Hose Co. No. 2 to Mellow Park. where there will be activities and refreshments.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for communities nationwide to promote police-community partnerships, crime prevention and neighborhood camaraderie," Peskin said. "While the one night is certainly not an answer to crime, drugs and violence, National Night Out does represent the kind of spirit, energy and determination that is helping to make many neighborhoods safer places throughout the year. It is a night to celebrate safety and crime prevention successes - and to expand and strengthen programs for the next 364 days."

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