THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 25, 1995 TAG: 9507250278
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARA STANLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
Children have written on the wall at Tower Mall in Portsmouth.
Some just left their names. Others had a message for criminals:
``Crack down on drugs,'' one wrote. ``Crime pays when you get caught'' and ``Let's make Portsmouth a better place, here and everywhere,'' others said.
Anyone with an anti-crime message is encouraged to sign the wall, about 9 feet tall, 40 feet wide and covered with five white sheets. It's just one of the myriad things people in Hampton Roads are doing to celebrate National Night Out 1995, an event designed to generate support for local anti-crime programs.
The official National Night Out is Aug. 1, but localities can set their own dates for anti-crime activities.
``The idea is to teach children crime prevention,'' said Gaile Bishop, a Portsmouth coordinator of National Night Out. While sitting at a table strewn with crime-prevention pamphlets, Bishop asked passers-by to pick up markers and sign on.
Her 11-year-old granddaughter, Christina Gallop, added a message: ``Two wrongs don't make a right.''
``We're trying to get 50,000 signatures,'' about half of Portsmouth's population, she said. The names now on the wall haven't been counted.
Just as in Portsmouth, other local National Night Out organizers are getting a head start on the 12th annual event. On that night, organizers and police ask people to turn porch lights on and to go outside to send the message to criminals that they are not welcome.
But in South Hampton Roads, city and neighborhood organizers have planned parades, block parties, picnics and carnivals this week and through the weekend. McGruff the Crime Dog, famous for his motto, ``Take a bite out of crime,'' will make appearances at many of the events along with police and community leaders.
``I'm just tired of crime,'' said Lisa Al-Saigh, 30, Chesapeake's National Night Out coordinator. She said about 15 or 16 block parties are planned so people can meet their neighbors.
``If you have interest in your neighbors. . . . you know who's supposed to be in your neighborhood,'' Al-Saigh said.
In Virginia Beach, Lisa Santos, 30, has organized a parade around Lynnhaven Mall that is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday. Local crime-watch groups, law-enforcement agencies, city officials and community organizations will take part in a walk around the mall's parking lot, she said.
``I just think it's a good cause,'' Santos said. ``Basically it's to let the criminals know that we're not going to take it.''
In Norfolk, there will be a picnic and softball game from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Lakewood Park, said Officer Ed Rockefeller, a Norfolk coordinator. Also pony rides, a petting zoo and a dunking tank are scheduled, he said.
``Let people know that you are fighting crime'' by taking part, Rockefeller said.
Nothing is planned in Suffolk, said police spokesman Mike Simpkins. ILLUSTRATION: CHRISTOPHER REDDICK
Staff
A wall at Tower Mall in Portsmouth displays anti-crime messages
written by citizens in support of National Night Out.
For more information on National Night Out 1995 events, call:
Chesapeake:
482-5566
Norfolk:
664-6901
Portsmouth:
558-2824
Virginia Beach:
479-0032
Suffolk:
No events are planned
by CNB