National Night

Watch police demonstrations of K-9 units and emergency response teams, and meet fire and rescue workers and their trucks and equipment up-close at the 28th annual National Night Out Laurel, Tuesday, Aug. 2, from 6-9 p.m. at Granville Gude Park, on the banks of Laurel Lakes, 8300 Mulberry St. A national event held the first Tuesday of August to strengthen police-community partnerships, Laurel Police use the night as a way to meet and greet residents,...

It was Bobby Rydell who sang: "...every day's a holiday and every night is a Saturday night," and while he may have been talking about those Wildwood Days at the shore in New Jersey in his 1963 recording, the sentiment can be applied to many situations. For a teen spending the summer at the beach (Wildwood, N.J., in Bobby Rydell's case), every day is a holiday and every night is Saturday night because that's what they're apt to make of the situation. From a wider perspective, those who ponder the meanings of literature and lyrics can easily draw the broader conclusion that any situation is what you make of it. Such could be the case with events like last week's Harford County observances of the anti-crime National Night Out. This event, and others like it with themes like Take Back the Night, provide healthy and wholesome activities for children in neighborhoods where the temptation to engage in a criminal and antisocial activities, is great.

Tonight across Baltimore, neighborhoods will participate in the 20th annual National Night Out, an observance that involves turning on porch lights and spending an evening outdoors as a way to take a stand against crime. Participation will include block parties, ice cream socials and children's events in neighborhoods such as Belair-Edison, where residents on 25 blocks plan to join in the festivities. The Baltimore Police Department's Believemobile will be on Reisterstown Road near Coldspring Lane from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Free food, refreshments, a marching band, live entertainment and a moon walk for children will be available.

Communities and local enforcement officials gathered together around Carroll County on Aug. 7 night to celebrate National Night Out. Whether over pizza, hot dogs or ice cream, everyone enjoyed the evening getting to know their neighbors - and showing a unified front against crime. "I came to the park to walk and found this," said Miroslava Rosa, who was with her grandchildren, Abdielis Torres and Yareilys Santana, at Dutterer's Park in Westminster. "It's nice. " Westminster hosted five National Night Out events around the city.

The Oakland Mills community policing office will celebrate National Night Out, a national crime prevention program, at 6 p.m. Aug. 2 at the satellite police office, 5820 Stevens Forest Road, in Oakland Mills. After a kick-off at the satellite police office, which will provide food and entertainment (including McGruff, the police mascot), residents are encouraged to organize outdoor gatherings with friends and neighbors. Streets or blocks planning a celebration are asked to call Officer Mike Johnson at 410-313- 5805.

State and local police officers are urging residents of Carroll County to join their neighbors in the 11th annual "National Night Out" from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. today.When residents turn on their outside lights, lock their doors and spend the evening outdoors with friends and neighbors, they will join more than 26 million people in 8,600 communities across the United States and Canada in demonstrating solidarity against crime, drugs and violence, according to city and state police spokesmen.

DOZENS OF North Laurel residents flocked Tuesday night to Cissell Avenue to observe the 19th National Night Out against crime, sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. A barbecue of hot dogs and hamburgers, provided by the North Laurel Civic Association, was held at the home of Donna Thewes, the Howard County Police Department's North Laurel community liaison. The national program, which last year involved 33 million people in more than 9,000 communities across the United States, is designed to prevent crime, build neighborhood spirit and foster partnership between police and communities.

They ignored the blaring sirens from all directions and the police helicopters above, and cursed the drug dealers who are normally at corners nearby. The disturbing sounds and sights of East Baltimore are all too familiar to its residents, who rallied against violence and drugs last night as part of National Night Out, a program of neighborhood crime prevention. About 150 people gathered at a church parking lot in the 800 block of N. Chester St. - one of several observances across the Baltimore area - to exhibit a unified front against crime.

Turn on the porch light and get to know your neighbor.Those are some simple basics of crime prevention organizers of National Night Out in Crofton want residents to grasp tonight.Residents are encouraged to turn on the lights outside their home and come to the back yard of Crofton Town Hall between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. for crime and drug prevention tips and activities.More than 8,800 communities are expected to participate in National Night Out in the United States, Canada and on military bases abroad, according to the National Association of Town Watch, which organized the first event in 1984.

From a block party in East Baltimore with bands and games to a march through North Baltimore's troubled Pen Lucy neighborhood, communities around the city are taking part today in the National Night Out Against Crime.The event, in its 15th year, is a way people across the country can present a united front against drug dealers and other criminals who make communities dangerous. Homeowners are encouraged to turn on their outside lights to show solidarity."I'm kind of disappointed in the crime reductions," said Robert Nowlin, a community activist in the Pen Lucy neighborhood who for the past decade has spoken out about crime, even after his house was shot up by drug dealers eight years ago."

National Night Out is on the move for two Carroll County communities this year - Westminster and Eldersburg. The event, which brings citizens and members of local law enforcement agencies together, promises fun, food and entertainment on Tuesday, Aug. 7. "It's a night for everybody to get together," said Ellen Dix, president of the Freedom Area Citizen's Council and organizer for the Eldersburg-area National Night Out. "It's totally free....

Diane Stephan has attended the National Night Out ceremonies at PNC Bank's parking lot in Westminster the last few years for one reason - her grandson. "My grandson enjoys it," said Stephan, opening a bag filled with candy. "It's like Halloween. He won a gift card from Target. " Celebrated around the nation for the last 28 years, National Night Out festivities revolve around local law enforcement and communities coming together in a fun setting. In Westminster, there were five different communities celebrating on a pleasant warm Aug. 2 evening.

Muriel Praileau was camped out on a folding chair behind a card table Tuesday night, eating potato chips and greeting everyone who passed. "Where do I know you from?," the formidable president of the Evergreen Protective Association called out to a boy walking in front of her booth with a skateboard under his arm. The boy, startled, stopped and turned to her: "Lanvale. " "You done grown up on me," said Praileau, recognition spreading across her face. "That's what's happened.

What started as one page of events and participants three years ago is now 14 pages and growing, say organizers of Eldersburg's National Night Out, schedule for Aug. 2 at Carrolltown Center. And while that means a lot more work and budgeting, the members of Freedom Area Citizens' Council couldn't be more excited. "We thought about it and decided it would be a good thing to do," said Ellen Dix, president of FACC, of the decision to hold the first National Night Out three years ago. "There was a time we only did political issues," she said, "but our motto is to educate and advocate, and this falls under that.

Anne Arundel County and Annapolis will mark the 28th annual National Night Out, an anti-crime neighborhood program, with free events Tuesday night. All events include children's activities and refreshments. National Night Out Against Crime is aimed at promoting safety, strengthening a sense of community and fostering neighborhood relationships with police by enjoying time outdoors with neighbors and learning about crime prevention. Participants traditionally keep a front or porch light on. Community events include civic groups and law enforcement agencies, although individual neighborhoods and blocks may hold smaller gatherings, officials said.

Watch police demonstrations of K-9 units and emergency response teams, and meet fire and rescue workers and their trucks and equipment up-close at the 28th annual National Night Out Laurel, Tuesday, Aug. 2, from 6-9 p.m. at Granville Gude Park, on the banks of Laurel Lakes, 8300 Mulberry St. A national event held the first Tuesday of August to strengthen police-community partnerships, Laurel Police use the night as a way to meet and greet residents,...

Baltimore police and neighborhood leaders set up a party in a troubled east side park yesterday and invited residents to a crime-free night out as part of a symbolic takeover of city streets overwhelmed by urban crime.For a day, Shuter Street Park in the 1700 block of Ashland Ave. became a showcase with laughing children and adults, marching bands and colorful booths lining the street instead of the usual gathering of junkies and drug dealers."We're hoping to bring the community out. Folks have been behind closed doors for too long," said police Maj. Odis L. Sistrunk, Eastern District commander.

Baltimore's neighborhoods celebrated National Night Out Against Crime and promised that the eyes of law-abiding citizens would be trained diligently on criminals.The annual event, now in its 15th year, drew crowds to a dozen corners in the city.Police officers -- from the beat patrolman to the chief -- arrived at various Night Out parties by horse, squad car and bicycle, promising better protection and asking for help from the people they protect.The 700 block of McKewin Ave. in Waverly was filled with the sound of hip-hop music and the scent of grilling hot dogs as some 150 residents gathered for a block party.

The amplified music cranked up in the parking lot of the Whiskey Bottom Shopping Center in North Laurel at 5:40 p.m. Tuesday with a loud rendition of the theme from the "Cops" television show, which was very appropriate for the largest of Howard County's 30 National Night Out gatherings. Howard County police cars blocked off the center of the large parking lot. The county's huge mobile command center truck, antennae fully extended, sat behind a 1957 Chevy outfitted to resemble a county police car from that bygone era. Blue-shirted county police officers, bolstered by Maryland State Police, county sheriff's deputies and a man costumed as McGruff the Crime Dog, were everywhere.

At Matthew A. Henson Elementary School in West Baltimore, officers from the Western District were grilling hot dogs, passing out sodas and announcing raffle winners for new bicycles and backpacks. The Coppin Heights-Rosemount neighborhood was just one of many across the state and country to hold events Tuesday in conjunction with the 27th annual National Night Out. Many communities and law enforcement agencies held cookouts, games and raffles to raise awareness of crime. "This is a way for us to curb the violence, to bridge the gap between the community and the police," said Deputy Major Clifton McWhite.