THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 2, 1996 TAG: 9607310143
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JANIE BRYANT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 69 lines
COME TUESDAY, PORCHES will light up and a long motorcade of cars will make its way through the city for the 13th annual National Night Out in Portsmouth.
The symbolic event is one of many being held all over the country in an effort to let criminals know residents are taking back their streets.
In case anyone doesn't get it, Portsmouth plans to spell it out.
Master Police Officer Leon B. Whitehurst plans to group a peace-loving multitude into the words ``Portsmouth National Night Out'' so a professional photographer can fly over the Tower Mall parking lot to capture the crime-fighting picture.
The Portsmouth Police Department is using its Reverse 911 system to call every household in the city to try to get about 1,000 people to this year's event.
So grab a flashlight.
If time permits, the crowd shot will be taken in daylight and again at night with participants using flashlights to beam the message up.
Each year Portsmouth ranks in the top 30 for cities its size in nationwide competition of National Night Out activities, Whitehurst said.
The city will enter the competition again this year. But Whitehurst said ``we just want to get our people to participate and become involved in crime prevention and use it every day.''
Whitehurst said he is seeing a difference in Portsmouth neighborhoods already.
``People are involved,'' Whitehurst said. ``People are looking out for one another, and I see a partnership between communities and the police department.''
Joseph Wright, longtime coordinator of the Cavalier Manor neighborhood watch, said his organization has picked up several new members this year.
He attributes the increase to both the Million Man March and Portsmouth's Crime Summit.
``Attendance picked up right after each affair,'' he said.
His neighborhood watch will be among more than 50 expected to join Tuesday's parade of crime-fighters.
The motorcade begins at 5 p.m. in two locations - at 404 Viking St. in Cavalier Manor and in the parking lot of the NSU-ODU Center (formerly Cradock High School) on George Washington Highway.
The two motorcades link up at Rodman Avenue and Turnpike Road, and continue downtown and through other neighborhoods, ending at Tower Mall.
Entertainment - including singing and dancing, and other activities - will be held inside the mall from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
A National Night Out headquarters and displays already have been been set up at the mall. The centers will be manned by both police officers and civilians through Aug. 6. Residents can visit the mall to register bicycles, get anti-auto theft stickers for their cars or obtain other crime prevention information.
For more information, call Crime Prevention at 558-2824. MEMO: OTHER CELEBRATIONS
In addition to the National Night Out observance, other community
celebrations have been planned:
The Cavalier Manor neighborhood watch will hold its annual picnic,
with free hot dogs and hamburgers, from noon until about 4 p.m. Saturday
at the neighborhood recreation center, 404 Viking St.
City officials and state legislators have been invited to a citywide
picnic at noon Sunday at Portsmouth City Park. There will be free hot
dogs and hamburgers.
Jeffry Wilson Homes will hold a ``Goodbye Party for Crime and Drugs''
from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday. City officials and representatives of the fire
and police departments have been invited. There will be free hot dogs,
a disc jockey, a clown and face painting. by CNB