| Article Posted Courtesy of the Carroll County Times:
By Carrie Ann Knauer, Neighborhoods correspondentpublished:
July 25, 2014
For the eighth consecutive year, the town of New Windsor will host an event for National Night Out, "America's Night Out Against Crime." This year's event will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. August 5 at the New Windsor fire company carnival grounds. "It's supposed to symbolize the community coming together, to say 'hey, we don't want to put up with crime, we want to have a united front,'" said Cpl. Mark Tausen, community deputy for the town of New Windsor from the Carroll County Sheriff's Office.
The event was started nationally in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch, according to the organization's website. It began with a campaign to keep your porch lights turned on as a sign of unity on the first Tuesday of August, but over the years, evolved to become more of an interactive community event to bring neighbors out of their houses and meeting together.
New Windsor Councilman Kevin Null said the town appreciates that collaborative aspect, and tries to make the event have an upbeat, carnival-like atmosphere. "It's an opportunity for the different areas of the town to get together and see what's going on and get some information," he said. In addition to town residents meeting each other, they can meet representatives from a wide range of public safety and public service organizations from the community, Null said.
Tausen said some of this year's participating agencies include the K9, crime scene, auxiliary and crime prevention units of the Carroll County Sheriff's Office; Maryland State Police; Carroll County State's Attorney's Office; Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, Westminster Office; Family and Children's Services; Carroll County Health Department; Access Carroll; Rape Crisis Intervention Service of Carroll County and more. "I've got the Humane Society [of Carroll County] coming again this year, because I thought that was important," Tausen said. "Every year we get a lot of people in this area who have animal issues." Null said that the event is designed to be kid-friendly, with a deejay playing music, a moonbounce available, and glow sticks for the kids.
Tausen said National Night Out is a good opportunity for children to meet the police in a neutral situation, where they can see that they don't need to be afraid of the police."We let the kids come into the car and have some demonstrations, like the K-9s, or the SWAT team," he said. "It gives them a chance to see us and get to know us a little bit."
The New Windsor Lions Club also donates hot dogs and drinks, which are served free to those attending, and Target, a national sponsor for the event, donates gift cards for giveaways, Null said.
Adults can get tips about crime prevention, Tausen said, and reminded that whenever they see something suspicious going on, to call and report it. The more that people address the problems they see, the more likely it is that the problems will be resolved or go away, he said.
"The bad guys are going to know 'we're not wanted there, we better go somewhere else,'" Tausen said.
The carnival grounds are off Water Street in New Windsor. There is no charge for National Night Out activities and attractions. For more information, call Town Hall at 410-635-6575.
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