National Night Out returns

JACKSON — An evening of family fun in the name of community safety awareness is returning, as the Jackson Police Department and the Jackson Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association No. 168 will once again host National Night Out.

From 6-9 p.m. Aug. 5, National Night Out activities will take over a portion of the parking lot at the Jackson Plaza shopping center at North County Line and Cook roads.

According to the National Night Out website, the event was created more than three decades ago by the National Association of Town Watch in an effort to “promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie, and to send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized.”

National Night Out is traditionally held on the first Tuesday of August and is celebrated in communities and at military installations around the world

In Jackson, representatives of many organizations will be on hand with information about how to become more involved in the community.

National Night Out will feature electronic child identification kits, the Jackson Police Department’s Special Response Team, Office of Emergency Management demonstrations, the Jackson Volunteer First Aid Squad, the Division of Youth and Family Services, the New Jersey State Parole Board, the Jackson Police Explorers, child seat safety inspections and a Fatal Vision impairment goggles demonstration.

Representatives of Jackson’s fire departments will be conducting live safety demonstrations.

Free hot dogs, chips and drinks will be available to all those who attend.

The Jackson PBA has contributed inflatable rides, face painting, snow cones and free bicycle raffles for all attendees.

Children will be able to play games for prizes, and drawings for prizes will go on throughout the evening, courtesy of the Jackson ShopRite.

“Everyone is invited to attend this special event to celebrate the ‘unity’ in our community,” said Jackson Police Sgt. John Convery of the Special Services Division.

Representatives of local organizations that are interested in participating in National Night Out may call Convery at 732- 833-3015 for more information.