Nassau, Suffolk gear up for National Night Out

By Craig Schneidercraig.schneider@newsday.comAugust 7, 2018

Long Islanders will commemorate National Night Out Tuesday with a cavalcade of community cookouts, crime prevention programs and outdoor concerts to highlight the event meant to build safety awareness and relations between police and residents.

Police and public officials stressed that the event, which began in 1984 with people turning on their porch lights and sitting in front of their homes, has grown into a full-blown community gathering.

For example, at Allen Park in Farmingdale, officials are planning an outdoor concert as part of their Music Under the Stars program. At Veterans Memorial Park in East Meadow, activities will include giveaways, child safety programs and a candlelight vigil.

The Suffolk County Police Department said the annual community-building events will feature food, entertainment, prizes and giveaways.

Suffolk County police officials said on their Facebook page that the event is an effort to "make our neighborhoods a safer place to live."

"The Suffolk County Police Department is committed to maintaining strong relationships with our residents because in order for our officers to continue to do their jobs effectively, we must have the community’s trust. Events such as National Night Out are special opportunities for us to build these relationships even further and learn more about our communities. We want our residents to continue to have faith in the great work that the Suffolk County Police Department does, and look forward to participating in tomorrow night’s festivities throughout the County," said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart.

Crime prevention remains a central theme of the evening, which has come to involve millions of people in thousands of communities across the nation. The event has historically been held on the first Tuesday of August.

Officials said they hope National Night Out will help reinforce with young people the importance of trusting law enforcement officials.

The first National Night Out involved 2.5 million neighbors across 400 communities in 23 states, according to the event's website. However, the event soon grew to a celebration beyond front porch vigils.

Neighborhoods across the nation began to host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and various other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel and exhibits.

Today, 38 million neighbors in 16,000 communities across the nation take part in National Night Out, according to the website.

National Night Out Schedule

NASSAU COUNTY

COW MEADOW PARK, 5 to 8 p.m.; 701 S. Main St., Freeport; Free food, entertainment.

1st Pct. — UNIONDALE FIRE DEPT. — Van Ness Fire House, 154 Uniondale Ave., Uniondale, Family fun evening, giveaways, crime prevention awareness and Shed the Meds program, 6 to 8:30 p.m. .

BALDWIN PARK — 3232 So. Grand Ave., Baldwin. Legislator Debra Mule will be participating in the event, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

1st & 3rd Pct. — VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK — East Meadow & Prospect avenues, East Meadow. Child safety and the R.E.A.C.H. program, and will end with a candlelight vigil, 7 to 9 p.m.

2nd Pct. N. — BROADWAY MALL — Hicksville, in parking lot next to Panera Bread. Legis. Rose Marie Walker, Laura Schaefer, Arnold Drucker and Joshua Lafazan will participate and have secured a band. The event will be sponsored by the Broadway Mall with a plan to host a barbecue and provide giveaways, 6 to 8 p.m.

2nd Pct. S. — ALLEN PARK — 45 Motor Pkwy., Farmingdale. Partnered with the Town of Oyster Bay in conjunction with a planned outdoor concert as part of their Music Under the Stars program, 7 to 9:30 p.m.

3rd Pct. S. — MARTIN “BUNKY” REID PARK — Broadway Ave, Westbury. This New Cassel/Westbury event starts with a parade that will assemble at the Salvation Army, 992 Prospect Ave. at 5 p.m. and begin to march at 5:30 p.m. The parade will proceed west on Prospect Ave., turn left onto southbound Swalm Street, continue across Broadway and enter the park. At the conclusion of the parade there will be a fair at the park beginning at 6 p.m. Legislator Siela Bynoe and the Town of North Hempstead officials are participating in the event, 5 to 8:30 p.m.

KELLEHER FIELD — Williston Park. A Children’s Ride for a Safer Williston Park Parade assembles at Broad and Amherst Streets and begins at 7 p.m. The parade concludes at Kelleher Field where a block captain’s meeting of the Williston Park Neighborhood Watch will take place at 7:30 p.m., followed by NNO festivities. Williston Park Mayor Paul Ehrbar will participate in the event, 7 to 9 p.m.

3rd Pct. N. — JONATHAN L. IELPI FIREFIGHTERS PARK — Grace Avenue, Great Neck Plaza. The event takes place during the Music in the Park festival in the village’s busy downtown district. Legis. Ellen Birnbaum and Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celendar will be participating in the event, 6 to 9:30 p.m.

4th Pct. — CEDARHURST PARK — located at Cedarhurst and Summit avenues, Cedarhurst. Crime prevention literature will be distributed. Sen. Todd Kaminsky and Town of Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen have been invited, 6 to 10 p.m.

5th Pct. — GREEN ACRES MALL — Valley Stream, east side of mall in parking lot behind Kohl’s department store, 6 to 9 p.m. This event is partnered with Green Acres Mall management, Target and Applebee’s. Entertainment, food and activities are planned.

DUTCH BROADWAY PARK — 2161 Dutch Broadway, Elmont, 6 to 9 p.m.

7th Pct. — CEDAR CREEK PARK — 3340 Merrick Rd., Seaford. This crime prevention event is being held before Family Movie Night, which will begin in the park at dusk. An information booth will be set up where safety tips and other material will be distributed. Legis. Steven Rhoads and James Kennedy have been invited to participate as well as Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

SUFFOLK COUNTY

1st Precinct — Wyandanch Park, 4 to 8 p.m.

2nd Precinct — Manor Field Park, 5 to 8 p.m.

3rd Precinct — Brentwood High School, 5 p.m. (movie at 8 p.m.)

4th Precinct — Target, Commack, 4 to 8 p.m.

5th Precinct — Martha Avenue Park, Bellport, 6 to 9:30 p.m.

6th Precinct — Centereach Pool Complex, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

7th Precinct — William Floyd High School, 5 to 8 p.m.

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