THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 31, 1996 TAG: 9607300141
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JO-ANN CLEGG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 54 lines
Since Virginia Beach first celebrated National Night Out in 1990, neighbors have come together to grill burgers, decorate bicycles and wagons, organize parades, bring in the clowns and even stage mock funerals to show support for the basic right of all citizens to feel safe in their neighborhoods.
This year, they'll take a slightly different approach.
The Virginia Beach Crime Prevention Unit is inviting all citizens to bring their own picnic baskets and join neighbors from across the city in a kick-off celebration at Mount Trashmore Park from 4 to 9 Sunday.
The highlight of the event will be a 6:30 p.m. presentation of Shakespeare's rollicking comedy, ``A Midsummer Night's Dream.'' The performance is one of more than a dozen being presented around the city during August by the Virginia Beach Summer Shakes troupe.
``We'll have a lot of other things going on, too,'' said Lisa Santos, volunteer co-chair of the event. Representatives from the Police Department's Mounted Patrol and Bicycle Unit will be on hand, as will Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services, SPSA and Virginia Power personnel and equipment.
Navy units from Oceana and Little Creek will have displays. So will a variety of public and private agencies interested in crime prevention. For those interested in pure fun, there will be a Moon Walk and a Velcro Stick.
``I think you can figure out what that one is from the name,'' Santos said. ``The kids love it.''
While fun is the order of the day for Sunday's event, the reason for the program is a bit more serious.
``The goal of National Night Out is to promote police-community partnerships, crime and drug awareness, safety and neighborhood unity,'' said Master Police Officer Jeff Eaton of the Crime Prevention Unit.
It is sponsored nationwide by the National Association of Town Watch and co-sponsored locally by the Virginia Beach Police Department, Virginia Beach Crime Prevention Steering Committee, the Virginia Beach Sheriffs Department and several local businesses including GEICO, Harris Teeter, Onyx Electronic Systems Contractors, Lowe's and Virginia Beach Dodge.
In addition to Sunday's kick-off, at least one Virginia Beach neighborhood is planning an observation for the traditional first Tuesday evening in August.
Residents of L & J Gardens, which held one of the first local National Night Out celebrations in 1990, will start the evening with a prayer at the intersection of Norwich Avenue and Maywood Boulevard at 7:30, then march through the Bayside neighborhood carrying flashlights, banners and posters.
At the end of the march, residents will conduct a brief burial ceremony, symbolizing the death of crime and drug abuse. They also will have a chance to sign a giant community pledge supporting police-community partnerships, crime and drug prevention, safety and neighborhood unity.
L & J Civic League president Audrey Mills said the evening will end as it began. After refreshments are served on the lawn of Roberta Bazemore's home at the end of the parade route, the group will close the evening with another prayer. This one will be for unity. by CNB