A National Night Out celebration at A.K. Bissell Park this month will feature free food, family-friendly activities for children and adults, and crime prevention presentations and information.
The National Night Out is from 3-7 p.m. Saturday, October 11, at A.K. Bissell Park near the Oak Ridge Civic Center. The community is invited.
The Oak Ridge Police Community Resource Office and the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program will host the 2014 National Night Out celebration, a crime prevention program promoted by National Association of Town Watch. This year marks the 31st anniversary of this community-police partnership, a press release said.
Magician Danny Whitson will perform feats of magic during the celebration. Festivities will also include Oak Ridge Police K-9 demonstrations, the Mobile Meth Lab exhibit, safety and health exhibits, Oak Ridge Electric Department bucket rides, drug abuse prevention information, Doug LaVerne on steel drums, music, and games. Child fingerprinting and bike registration will be offered. In case of rain, the celebration will move into the Civic Center.
National Night Out is designed to heighten awareness of crime prevention and drug prevention, to generate support for local anti-crime programs, and to strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, the press release said.
“The event also sends a message to criminals, letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back,” the release said.
Besides the Police Department and Neighborhood Watch, those supporting the festivities will be Volunteers in Police Services, alumni of the Citizens Police Academy, and graduates of the Junior Police Academy. Neighborhood Watch Block Captain Emilee Smith and Oak Ridge Police Community Resource Officer Brandan Sharp are coordinating the event.
Sponsors and contributors include Noble Metals, Papa Murphy’s Pizza, Coca Cola, Comfort Inn, Double Tree Hotel, McArthur Animal Hospital, J&M Butcher Shop, Chuck’s Car Care, Farm Bureau Insurance, Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, Baskin Robbins, Food City, Hot Bagel Company, Kroger, United Grocery Outlet, Rocky Top Market, Starbucks, Ridge Package Store, Karen Eidson, Emilee and Rick Smith, Keepin’ It Clean Car Detailing, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Advance Auto Parts, Knoxville Ice Bears, Wonderworks, Walmart, and several Oak Ridge neighborhoods.
Through the Neighborhood Watch Program, groups of neighbors organize and partner with the Police Department to report suspicious activity and keep watch on neighbors’ homes, helping police to reduce crime, and keep neighborhoods safe, the release said. The program helps neighbors improve the quality of life in their communities.
J. Brad Stephenson says
Bring your family to join our celebration of community at A.K. Bisselll Park on Saturday, October 11 (3 – 7 pm). As of Thursday, October 2, the following organizations and activities are registered to participate in National Night Out.
ADT
Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP)
Anderson County Neighborhood Watch Program
Austin’s Tennessee Firearms School
Baskin-Robbins
Boy Scouts of America
Central Baptist Church
Christian Academy of Oak Ridge
Coca-Cola
Danny Whitson Magic Show
Doug LaVerne and Steel Drums
Gold’s Gym
Habitat for Humanity
Highland View Neighborhood
Keep Anderson County Beautiful
Kern Memorial United Methodist Church
Kroger
Lifehouse Church
National Fitness
National Martial Arts
Not in Our Town
Oak Ridge Electric Dept
Oak Ridge Fire Dept
Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program
Oak Ridge Police Dept (ORPD) Crime Analysis
Oak Ridge Power Squadron
ORPD Citizens Police Academy
ORPD Junior Police Academy
ORPD K9 Demonstrations
ORPD Motorcycle Demonstrations
ORPD Project Lifesaver
ORPD Volunteers in Police Services (VIPS)
Pet Parade
Progressive Martial Arts
S&R Insurance
Shelter Animals Rescue Group (SARG)
Sinister Chaos Haunted Attraction
Stand in the Gap Coalition
Tennessee Methamphetamine & Pharmaceutical Task Force
U.S. Army
U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Cellular