LEWISTOWN - The 10th annual National Night Out was held Tuesday evening at Rec Park in Lewistown. The National Night Out observance is designed to help foster safe neighborhoods and promote positive relationships between the community and local law enforcement.
The event was sponsored locally by the Lewistown Police Department, Mifflin County Communities that Care, Downtown Lewistown Inc., and community watch organizers throughout the borough.
Volunteers from the community watch organizations assisted in various activities making the night a success. Some assisted in helping children register their bicycles so that in the event it is stolen, it could be identified more easily. Also the bikes were being checked for safety.
Article Photos
Sentinel photo by BRADLEY KREITZER
Officer David Vallimont, right, of the Lewistown Police Department fingerprints Owen Paige, 7, of Lewistown for a Child ID Kit Tuesday evening at the annual National Night Out event at Rec Park in Lewistown.
Other members of the community watch groups were responsible for cooking or leading children's activities such as face painting. Members of the Keystone State Muscle Cars group showed up with their various hot rods to show support for the goals of the National Night Out observance. G-Man Entertainment provided music for the evening.
Representatives from the Abuse Network were also available to discuss effective disciplining, online safety, child sexual abuse prevention, and what parents should know about bullying. Children were invited to participate in a finger painting activity called "Hands are not for hurting."
Three area fire companies - City Hook and Ladder, Brooklyn Hose Co. and United Fire and Rescue - were at the event with fire trucks for the children to tour. Every child had the opportunity to handle the equipment and also receive a lesson in fire safety. Firefighters talked to them about fire prevention, what they should do in the event of a fire and signs they should look for. Fame EMS was also represented with volunteers providing snow cones for everyone and tours of the ambulance.
Lewistown and Granville Township police were on hand throughout the evening. Some helped fingerprint children for their identification cards. Parents receive these cards which also have a place for a photo and important information regarding the child. Police advise parents to have the identification cards updated each year because they can be very helpful in the event a child is lost or missing.
Lewistown Police Department Chief William Herkert noted how important it is for members of the community to come out and meet the officers and develop a trusting relationship with them.
"The best way to make our community safer is through everyone working together. The Mifflin County Community Watch groups and events like this give residents a chance to take back their streets," Herkert said.
One way that members of the community can work with the police department is through the community watch groups. This provides an opportunity for you to report suspicious activity and keep your family and other families safe. Those involved are also able to get important alerts. For more information visit mifflincountywatch.org or call vice president, Colby Guyer at 248-1519.
