(July 27, 2017) Fostering positive community relations with local police departments is the goal behind National Night Out on Aug. 1.
Celebrations are scheduled in Ocean City, Berlin, Pocomoke and Snow Hill as part of a national event held each year on the first Tuesday in August.
Ocean City will hold a trio of community events scattered throughout the resort.
Police Public Affairs Specialist Lindsay Richard said officers would be on hand at Fiesta Park on 141st Street in the Caine Woods neighborhood, in Montego Bay at the end of Harbour Drive and in Gullway Villas off Bayshore Drive near 28th Street, from 6-8 p.m.
“All the neighborhoods have their own block party,” she said.
Residents at each location can enjoy a K-9 unit demonstration, Richard said.
“We get direct feedback from people who live in the neighborhoods year round,” she said. “It’s a chance to talk with officers and a great opportunity for us to interact with locals.”
Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing said festivities would take place from 4-7 p.m. in Henry Park on Flower Street. In addition to free food and drinks, carriage rides will be offered at no cost, while kids and adults will have the opportunity to engage with police, fire, EMS and social service agencies.
“The Berlin Area Ministries United (BAMU) will handle food for us,” he said. “Lots of kids get engaged with us and we do it in a family atmosphere.”
In addition to providing sustenance, BAMU will also liven up the event with music from its worship band.
Downing stressed the importance of establishing community partnerships to produce events like National Night Out.
“The community partnerships try to reinforce the link we have with the community,” he said. “Lots of local people come together to make this work and each year we end up with new partners.”
The Pocomoke Police Department will hold its National Night Out event from 5-8 p.m. in Cypress Park.
Gayle Waters, executive assistant to Pocomoke Police Chief William Harden, is in charge of organizing this year’s event.
“We’ll have a bunch of activities and games for kids,” she said. “DJ Straight Up (from Pocomoke) will perform.”
Burgers, fries, soft drinks and snow cones will be provided for free, Waters said. Other highlights include a bouncy house for children and assorted vendors with information for families and kids.
“The Delmarva Discovery Center will have some live animals,” she said.
Despite celebrating National Night Out for more than 20 years in Pocomoke, Waters said there would be some new wrinkles next week.
“This year we’re having a dance contest for the youth,” she said.
To keep the competition fair, Waters said the children would be divided into two age groups, from 6-10 and 10-16 years old.
“The youth in the community are what’s most important [because] they’re our future,” she said. “[We want to] teach kids where they can go if they need help.”
Snow Hill will hold its National Night Out from 5-8 p.m. in Byrd Park.
Regana Fontaine, administrative aide to Police Chief Tom Davis, said residents could enjoy free burgers, hot dogs and soft drinks, all while grooving to the beats provided by DJ Wiz.
“The Snow Hill ROTC will present the flag to start the ceremony,” she said. “The Worcester County Health Department will have a display on hand and the Worcester County Recreation Department will be on hand for physical activities.”
With offerings including kickball and ring toss, among others, Fontaine said the event is intended to feel like a neighborhood party.
“DNR will be on hand and Assateague State Park will also be coming,” she said.
National Night Out was launched in 1984 through the pioneering efforts of the National Association of Town Watch and founder Matt Peskin.
Peskin formed the Town Watch group three years prior, after spending time volunteering for a community watch program sponsored by the Lower Merion Police Department, in the western suburbs of Philadelphia.
According to the National Night Out website the inaugural event in 1984 drew more than two million participants from about 400 communities in 23 states.
The groundswell of support for the event has grown to include more than 38 million neighbors from roughly 16,000 communities nationwide.
Celebrations are scheduled in Ocean City, Berlin, Pocomoke and Snow Hill as part of a national event held each year on the first Tuesday in August.
Ocean City will hold a trio of community events scattered throughout the resort.
Police Public Affairs Specialist Lindsay Richard said officers would be on hand at Fiesta Park on 141st Street in the Caine Woods neighborhood, in Montego Bay at the end of Harbour Drive and in Gullway Villas off Bayshore Drive near 28th Street, from 6-8 p.m.
“All the neighborhoods have their own block party,” she said.
Residents at each location can enjoy a K-9 unit demonstration, Richard said.
“We get direct feedback from people who live in the neighborhoods year round,” she said. “It’s a chance to talk with officers and a great opportunity for us to interact with locals.”
Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing said festivities would take place from 4-7 p.m. in Henry Park on Flower Street. In addition to free food and drinks, carriage rides will be offered at no cost, while kids and adults will have the opportunity to engage with police, fire, EMS and social service agencies.
“The Berlin Area Ministries United (BAMU) will handle food for us,” he said. “Lots of kids get engaged with us and we do it in a family atmosphere.”
In addition to providing sustenance, BAMU will also liven up the event with music from its worship band.
Downing stressed the importance of establishing community partnerships to produce events like National Night Out.
“The community partnerships try to reinforce the link we have with the community,” he said. “Lots of local people come together to make this work and each year we end up with new partners.”
The Pocomoke Police Department will hold its National Night Out event from 5-8 p.m. in Cypress Park.
Gayle Waters, executive assistant to Pocomoke Police Chief William Harden, is in charge of organizing this year’s event.
“We’ll have a bunch of activities and games for kids,” she said. “DJ Straight Up (from Pocomoke) will perform.”
Burgers, fries, soft drinks and snow cones will be provided for free, Waters said. Other highlights include a bouncy house for children and assorted vendors with information for families and kids.
“The Delmarva Discovery Center will have some live animals,” she said.
Despite celebrating National Night Out for more than 20 years in Pocomoke, Waters said there would be some new wrinkles next week.
“This year we’re having a dance contest for the youth,” she said.
To keep the competition fair, Waters said the children would be divided into two age groups, from 6-10 and 10-16 years old.
“The youth in the community are what’s most important [because] they’re our future,” she said. “[We want to] teach kids where they can go if they need help.”
Snow Hill will hold its National Night Out from 5-8 p.m. in Byrd Park.
Regana Fontaine, administrative aide to Police Chief Tom Davis, said residents could enjoy free burgers, hot dogs and soft drinks, all while grooving to the beats provided by DJ Wiz.
“The Snow Hill ROTC will present the flag to start the ceremony,” she said. “The Worcester County Health Department will have a display on hand and the Worcester County Recreation Department will be on hand for physical activities.”
With offerings including kickball and ring toss, among others, Fontaine said the event is intended to feel like a neighborhood party.
“DNR will be on hand and Assateague State Park will also be coming,” she said.
National Night Out was launched in 1984 through the pioneering efforts of the National Association of Town Watch and founder Matt Peskin.
Peskin formed the Town Watch group three years prior, after spending time volunteering for a community watch program sponsored by the Lower Merion Police Department, in the western suburbs of Philadelphia.
According to the National Night Out website the inaugural event in 1984 drew more than two million participants from about 400 communities in 23 states.
The groundswell of support for the event has grown to include more than 38 million neighbors from roughly 16,000 communities nationwide.