National Night Out being observed in Schuylkill County communities

Jul. 31—National Night Out, a community-building campaign in coordination with local police departments, will be observed Tuesday in locations throughout the county.

The annual event "promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live," according to the campaign's website.

Coaldale

Community organizations will be on hand from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Coaldale Volunteer Fire Company on High Street.

According to Steve Teeno, a member of Coaldale Community Crime Watch, one of the event's organizers, Crime Watch will be offering free hot dogs and drinks, while supplies last, along with beverages from Hope & Coffee, of Tamaqua.

Coaldale CHOSE will also be on hand with additional food and beverage sales, Teeno said.

In addition to fire apparatus, kids can enjoy a balloon sculptor, a local magician, John Bonner, a free book from the Panther Valley Book Buggy and a "possible" appearance from McGruff the Crime Dog.

Teeno said local groups will also be on hand, including New Roots Recovery support group; St. Luke's Health Network physical therapy; the Nolan Ritchie staying afloat foundation; and the Coaldale United Methodist Church.

At the event, Crime Watch will be presenting the police department with "guardian angel" devices, which contain LED lights that will help keep officers visible at night.

Teeno said that this is the borough's sixth year for National Night Out and that Crime Watch, which helps educate the community by bringing awareness to issues such as cybersecurity and elder abuse, is seeking volunteers. More information is available on the group's Facebook page.

Frackville

A free community event will run from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Frackville Community Pool & Memorial Park, according to the Frackville Recreation Board's Facebook page. Events are sponsored by the board, the Frackville Police Department and the Frackville Borough Council.

Many local organizations will be on-hand, according to the post, including the Englewood Friendship Fire Company, Frackville Good Will Hose Company and Altamont-Frackville Fire Company, with firetrucks on display.

The Frackville Rotary will be handing out sunglasses and sunscreen; Frackville Elks will hand out drug prevention tips; the Frackville Free Public Library will provide activities and a reading program for kids; and the Frackville Community Ambulance will have handouts and offer ambulance tours.

In addition, kids can enjoy free Huggie drinks, a bounce house, police coloring books provided by the department and a free swim at the community pool. The Englewood company will also be serving hot dogs, according to the post.

Girardville

Festivities will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Rangers Hose Company, 6 E. Ogden St., in Girardville.

Participants can take a tour of the company's fire apparatus, meet "Sparky the Fire Dog," check out a Girardville Police Department vehicle, see what it is like to be a first responder and learn how to perform CPR, according to an event flyer.

Orwigsburg

Festivities will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. in Centre Square, at the parking lot of M&T Bank, according to Orwigsburg police Patrolman Bobby Bechtel.

Events will kick off with a police car parade, featuring McGruff the Crime Dog and Smoky Bear. There will also be a presentation from the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Afterward, patrons can enjoy free food, music provided by a DJ and a dunk tank, where hurlers can attempt to soak Bechtel. There will also be a bounce house and free ice cream for kids.

Pottsville

Events will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. at the JFK Recreation Complex in Pottsville.

According to an event flyer, participants are invited to take photos with McGruff the Crime Dog and local police officers; see demonstrations of a surveillance drone; visit the K-9 unit from the Department of Corrections; and get free face painting.

Free cotton candy, provided by the Pottsville Recreation Commission, will be distributed. The first 200 participants will also receive a free hot dog and drink, courtesy of Giant Food store in Cressona, according to the flyer.

In addition, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board will be on hand, distributing materials on PLCB programs, including Know When, an award-winning campaign that helps parents talk to their children about underage drinking.

PLCB Bureau of Alcohol Education staff will offer material for children and provide informational brochures about alcohol-related issues, according to an event release.

The bureau will participate in National Night Out events across the state this year, reaching thousands of young people, parents and community leaders, and spreading a message against underage and dangerous drinking.

National Night Out, "America's Night Out Against Crime," began in 1984 as an effort to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie and to send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

National Night Out is held annually on the first Tuesday of August. The campaign expects more than 38 million people in about 17,000 communities in all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian communities and on military bases worldwide to participate this year.