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 National Night Out
may be on a smaller scale this year, but officials say its message will be
just as effective.
National Night Out, presented by the Lancaster Police Department and
Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department, brings together law enforcement and
families for a night of fun and crime prevention.
This year’s program will be held at Lancaster County Recreation Complex on Springdale Road on Thursday, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Informational booths from agencies across the county and law enforcement and Lancaster County EMS displays are all part
of the fun. Food is also on the menu, said Lt. Harlean
Howard of the Lancaster Police Department.
“Our focus this year is on our guest speaker and having a smaller scale will
give families a chance to enjoy the performances and take in all the information
that will be available,” Howard said. “We hope the citizens come out to
support us and support the concept of National Night Out and get more
involved in crime-fighting efforts in their neighborhoods. Everyone can play
a part in fighting crime.”
Local gospel groups like the Lancaster County Mass Choir and His Witness will
be performing, along with the Southside Steppers. Miss S.C. Crimestoppers will also be attending.
Guest speaker is Gary Direnfeld of Ontario, Canada, a published author
on child development. Direnfeld is founder and executive director of the I
Promise Program, an initiative involving a safe driving contract between
parents and teens. The free program is administered locally by Healthy
Lancaster.
Tracey Garrell, executive director of Health
Lancaster, said 11 families have signed up for the I Promise program.
National Night Out will be an excellent opportunity to get the word out about
the program. Garrell said Direnfeld’s arrival in Lancaster is timely, after
the deaths of several local teens in car crashes in 2001, and efforts here to
curb fatal crashes involving teens.
“Part of his message will be general crime and safety for National Night Out,
but he will also be talking about the I Promise Program,” Garrell
said. “I just don’t want another child to get killed. Educating families
before car crashes occur is what our priority is.”
For details about National Night Out, call Capt. Towanna
Barnes at the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department, 283-4136. For details
about the I Promise program, call Healthy Lancaster at 285-6220.
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