Published in the July 30, 2015 edition
NORTH READING — The North Reading Community Impact Team (CIT) will be hosting its third annual National Night Out (NNO) on Tuesday, Aug. 4 at Ipswich River Park from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
National Night Out is an event focused on strengthening North Reading by encouraging neighborhoods to engage in stronger relationships with each other and with their local law enforcement partners. The goal is to heighten crime‐prevention awareness, build support and participation in local anti‐crime programs and promote safety issues and resources. Last year, over 600 people attended the town’s second NNO.
The CIT is pleased to announce that over 30 vendors have committed to the event. The vendors include: ASG Security, Burbank YMCA, Cervizzi’s Karate, Department of Children and Families, District Attorney Marion Ryan’s Office, Edward Jones, Greater River Valley Medical Reserve Corps, In Control Driving, Learning to Cope, Mystic Valley Elder Services, North Boston Comfort K9, North Suburban Tobacco Free Community Partnership, North Suburban Child and Family Resource Network, PFLAG, Red Cross, Sanborn Place, Visiting Angels and town departments.
Local town resources include Aldersgate support groups, Commission on Disabilities, Elder Services, Friends of Harold Parker, North Reading Teen Gay-Straight Alliance, North Reading Medical Emergency Response and Emergency Management, North Reading Fire Department, North Reading Police Department, Parks and Recreation Department, Recycling, NRHS Students Against Destructive Decisions, Senior Action Team, Social Services Action Team, Youth Substance Use Prevention Action Team, Youth Services and more.
Additional highlights will include benefits consulting for veterans, identify theft protection for elders and Lakeside Financial will be offering free child identification kits. Attractions include a dunk tank, bounce house, magic show and touch-a-truck. Free raffles and information on the Good Neighbor Awards will be available at the CIT table. All events, attractions and food are free thanks to National Night Out’s sponsors: Sanborn Place, Home Care and Day Services, Reading Co-operative Bank, The Savings Bank, Friends of the North Reading Counsel on Aging and Bimbo Bakery USA. Please refer to the official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/NRCommunity for updates and weather cancellations.
Seniors are encouraged to contact Mary Prenney at 978-664-5600 to schedule a ride to the event.
About National Night Out and The Community Impact Team
The National Association of Town Watch (NATW) is promoting its 32nd year with its National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 4. With local effort and sponsors, National Night Out 2014 saw over 600 attendees in North Reading. At the national level, the event typically involves 37.5 million people in 15,704 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide annually.
National Night Out 2015, is expected to be the largest ever. National Night Out, a yearlong community building campaign, is designed to: (1) heighten crime prevention awareness, (2) generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs, (3) strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships and (4) promote safety among families. Along with the traditional outside lights and front porch vigils, most cities and towns celebrate National Night Out with a variety of special citywide and neighborhood events such as block parties, cookouts, parades, festivals, visits from local officials and law enforcement, safety fairs and youth events.
“This is a night for America to stand together and promote awareness, safety and neighborhood unity,” said National Project Coordinator Matt Peskin. “National Night Out showcases the vital importance of police-community partnerships and citizen involvement in our fight for a safer nation. On NNO, we invite neighborhoods nationwide to join us and give crime a going away party.”
The North Reading Community Impact Team (CIT) is a partnership among the North Reading Police Department, North Reading Youth Services, North Reading School Department, North Reading Parks and Recreation, North Reading Fire Department, North Reading Elder Services, Parks and Recreation, Board of Health and the North Reading Board of Selectmen. The team emphasizes the use of innovative, non-traditional methods of impacting crime and the fear of crime and strives toward cooperative interaction between the community, law enforcement and town departments.
The CIT works to identify factors that have a negative impact on the quality of life for the citizens of North Reading and to implement solutions that solve the underlying problems through volunteer efforts.
