‘National Night Out’ Against Crime

Citizens, law enforcement agencies, community groups, businesses and local officials across the nation will join forces this evening to celebrate the “27th Annual National Night Out,” sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW). 15,000 communities with more than 36 million people will have block parties, cookouts, ice cream socials, parades, and other events to promote crime prevention.
President of NATW, Matt Peskin says this event was designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, generate support and participation in local anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, and send a message to criminals that neighborhoods across the USA are organized and fighting back. He says it has been very successful at bringing neighborhoods together and causing interactions between citizens and policemen. He says neighborhoods that are detached from one another are more vulnerable to criminals, whereas those who communicate tend to have safer communities.
In addition to the National Night out Campaign is "Project 365." It has been a unique component for 15 years. Peskin says this evening, communities across the nation will announce a target problem in their area such as graffiti, robbery or drugs. Over the next 365 days they will attempt to fix the problem, and by next year’s National Night Out, they will hopefully announce that the problem has been solved.
For more information, visit NATW’s website.

Local Festivals:
Bellevue: 7-9 p.m., 58 N. Euclid Ave.
East Liberty: 6-8 p.m., 5601 Penn Ave.
East Pittsburgh: 6:30 p.m. Aug. 17, East Pittsburgh Community Center, Bessemer Ave.
Hill District: 6-9 p.m., 400 block of Dinwiddie Street.
North Side: 5-7 p.m., Allegheny Commons East, 255 E. Ohio St.
Ohio Township: 5:30-8:30 p.m., Mt. Nebo Target, Camp Horne Road.
Penn Hills: 6-8:30 p.m., in front of the Bill Snyder residence, 8956 Eastwood Road.