NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

Committee Chair:
Tom Shea
Phone: (803) 239-7331
Email: watch@historicelmwoodpark.org


Members:
John Gibson
Peter Korper

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT - August 7, 2007

Despite the record setting heat, neighbors of all ages in Elmwood Park came together to help celebrate America’s night out against crime. National Night Out is an annual event designed to strengthen neighborhoods through police-community partnerships. Beyond building crime- and drug-prevention awareness, the event is also the perfect opportunity to get to know your neighbors even better.

To liven up the evening, the Elmwood Park Neighborhood Association organized a street party with music from two bands, plenty of food and refreshments, and special visits from some of Columbia’s finest. The night was kicked off with a surprise visit from Mayor Bob Coble and City Council members Tameika Isaac-Devine and Daniel Rickenmann who encouraged all involved to continue building the community spirit that makes Elmwood Park special. Then, kids of all ages were treated by a drop-in from Columbia Fire Department’s Ladder Truck #7 of Station 7, 2600 Main Street. The Columbia Police Department’s D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) pick-up truck and mounted patrol were also present, reinforcing the police-community partnership prevalent in the neighborhood. To highlight the safety and security message of the evening, the SC Office of the State Fire Marshal distributed fire prevention literature and a dozen smoke alarms to lucky residents during the event.

According to Peter Korper, chairman of the very active Neighborhood Watch Committee, “We were very excited to see the tremendous turn-out of neighbors for this event. Effective crime prevention in our community takes the awareness and participation of everyone, and it is events like National Night Out that help build that spirit.” The Neighborhood Watch Committee also thanks Protection24 Security Systems for co-sponsoring the evening and providing balloons for the kids, Domino’s pizza and refreshments for all to enjoy. All involved feel that the event definitely met the goal of strengthening the community in its fight against crime.