National Night Out celebration to include parade, fireworks

Festivities will begin with a parade and end with a fireworks display.
NEW MIDDLETOWN — Officials have set the village's annual National Night Out celebration for Aug. 1.
The event has grown each year and an estimated 1,200 hot dogs were served at last year's festivities. Village officials are planning to provide more grills this time to avoid last year's long lines.
The celebration is designed to heighten awareness of crime prevention, generate support for local anti-crime efforts, strengthen neighborhood spirit and the police-community partnership and let criminals know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
Police Sgt. Ken Goist, New Middletown's police community coordinator, said residents are asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors and police Aug. 1.
Goist said the evening will start with lineup at 5:45 p.m. at Springfield High School for a parade that starts at 6:30 and proceeds to St. Paul the Apostle Church on state Route 170.
Afterward, a cookout and other activities will take place at the municipal building and adjacent Welker Park.
Some of the planned activities include a rappelling demonstration by the Youngstown Fire Department on the village water tower, a Life Flight exhibit, a raffle and music.
At 9:15 p.m. there will be a flashlight walk from the police department to the high school where B.J. Alan will present fireworks at 10 p.m.
Goist said National Night Out, which will be celebrated in more than 10,000 communities, is the nation's largest annual crime prevention event and is sponsored by National Association of Town Watch and co-sponsored locally by the New Middletown Police Department.