National Night Out set for this Tuesday
By Nick Hiltunen
Published in News on August 3, 2009 1:46 PM
The annual National Night Out festival, which aims to encourage residents to "take back their streets," will feature free music, displays and children's games Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. in Herman Park.
The theme of this year's event echoes that of last year: "Give neighborhood crime and drugs a going-away party."
Cpl. Marissa Davis of the Goldsboro Police Department said she expects a good turnout for the 26th annual event.
"It's going to be a very good time for neighborhoods to get out and meet one another," Ms. Davis said. "It's also a good opportunity for (police) to show that we're not just about arresting people, we're about bettering our community."
The keynote speaker will be Daryl M. Woodard, the executive director of Smart Choices for Youth Inc.
Woodard, who also played a role in the N.C. Governor's Office One-On-One Volunteer program, begins speaking at 6 p.m.
Crowds in the past have numbered in the thousands as neighborhoods throughout Wayne County and the city of Goldsboro gather in Herman Park.
Visitors will be able to see law enforcement displays, other information booths and enjoy free refreshments.
National Night Out, which is administered by the non-profit National Association of Town Watch, promotes four goals, Ms. Davis said.
The program tries to "heighten awareness of crime and drug prevention, to generation support for anti-crime efforts, to strengthen neighborhood spirit, and to send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back."
For more information, call Cpl. Davis, at 580-4238, or Cpl. Robbie Jones, 580-4256.