Children flock to see the the Coast Guard helicopter at Indian Head Park's National Night Out. (Photos by Carol McGowan)
Indian Head Park calls their first National Night Out a Success
By Carol McGowan
The Village of Indian Head Park jumped on the bandwagon last week with others in the area to take part in National Night Out 2023.
National Night Out, also known as America’s Night Out Against Crime, takes place on the first Tuesday in August.
It’s an annual nationwide event that’s meant to bring communities out to meet with law enforcement in their area to build partnerships between police and their community.
The goal is to support one another to in turn, support each other and work together to fight crime and promote safety.
The event was first held in the United States in suburban Philadelphia in 1984, and since then, towns big and small across the country have been joining in.
In Indian Head Park, the first ever there, and 40th NNO was held at Blackhawk Park.
“This was the first year participating in this unique crime prevention campaign funded partly by community partnerships. Those who assisted are to be recognized for their leadership in this annual event,” said Indian Head Park Police Officer Rob Verber, who was in charge of the inaugural campaign.
“The aim is to develop and build police-community partnerships, strengthen neighborhood spirit, and build a safer community,” said Verber.
Activities this year at the park included a business fair, refreshments, giveaways, entertainment, and much more. Many business groups and organizations participated in the Business Fair.
More than 20 tables were set up for the business fair.There were refreshments, music, face-painting, giveaways, and raffles in the business fair from 5-8 p.m.
There was an Antique Model A Ford display by the Salt Creek Model A Ford Club, Touch-A-Truck, a kids obstacle challenge, Dave diNaso’s Traveling World of Reptiles, and K9 and Kare 9 dogs for the community to see and pet.
There was plenty of excitement when not one, but two helicopters landed in the park. The first one, belonging to the Coast Guard started circling after 6 p.m. to land and was a big hit for all to see when it touched down.
Beginning at dusk, Walt Disney Pictures “Zootopia” was shown in the park in kids and adults got comfortable on their chairs and blankets with free popcorn and snow cones while they lasted.
In Burbank, police said, “Thank you for another successful National Night Out! We could not have done it without the support of the personnel from our Fire Department, Park District, City Hall, and all our volunteers.
“A special thank you to the businesses and sponsors who helped make our event, please feel free to tag yourselves and post photos of the event. We hope to see you all next year.”
Brookfield Country Financial Rep Kyle Huppe donated $1,500 to make the National Night Out possible.
“We’re fortunate to live in such a wonderful place and we have local police, firefighters and other first responders to thank for that,” said Huppe, who also is a director for the Brookfield Chamber of Commerce. “The last several years following the pandemic have demonstrated the importance of public gatherings to the fabric of small towns and communities. That’s why I’m pleased along with others to promote ‘National Night Out’ and all the positive focus it brings to those who give so much to our community.”
“We look forward to National Night Out every year,” said Interim Summit Police Chief Mel Ortiz. “It allows us to interact with our community on a more personal and relaxed manner.”
The family-focused event included food, giveaways and a K9 demonstration from the department’s newest member, K9 Bryan. There was also a bounce house and dunk tank where kids could play and have fun.
“The interaction with kids is what is most crucial to me,” Ortiz said. “I want kids to look at our officers as someone they can go to if they are in need of assistance, to get away from the fear that some parents instill by telling them that if they don’t begave the police will take them away. The youth of our community need to know that we are always here for them.”
2 Comments
Local News
Red Stars fall to Spirit for third loss in past four matches
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent After enjoying one of their best starts in franchise history, the Chicago Red Stars have slid to the middle of the NWSL standings, with the latest setback being a 4-2 loss to Washington at SeatGeek Stadium. The Stars (3-3-1) entered this week having dropped three of their past four…
Red Stars take aim at NWSL attendance record with Wrigley game
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Chicago Red Stars are thinking big when it comes to their upcoming game at Wrigley Field. The team is taking aim at the NWSL record for single-game attendance when it hosts Bay FC at the historic home of the Chicago Cubs on June 8. The record is held…
IHSA announces boys volleyball postseason assignments
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Last year, the area sent a pair of boys volleyball teams to state as Lyons finished runner-up to champion Glenbard South and Brother Rice lost in the quarterfinals. This year, both could face each other in the sectional finals. The Lions picked up the second seed and the Crusaders…
Badminton players from Reavis and Lyons going to state
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Reavis singles player Dania Amjad finished third in the Bolingbrook Sectional on May 2 to qualify for the IHSA state tournament. The Lyons doubles team of Simone Brown and Mia Graziano finished fourth in the York Sectional to qualify for state. The state finals are May 10-11 at DeKalb…
Brother Rice, Sandburg sending boats to bass fishing state tourney
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Brother Rice is sending two boats to the IHSA state bass fishing tournament. The Crusaders had first- and third-place finishes at the Des Plaines River Big Basin Marina Sectional on May 2. Sandwiched in between the Brother Rice boats was a group from Sandburg in second place. The Crusaders’…
Lions Club District 1A Helen Keller race draws big field
Spread the loveBy Kelly White The damp weather from overnight rain did not deter more than 100 people on Sunday morning from getting some exercise. The 14th annual District 1A Helen Keller 5k Fun Run/Walk proudly took place along at Harold L. Richard’s High School, 10601 Central Ave., Oak Lawn. “This is a really great…
Man charged with child abduction in Stickney Township
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A Chicago man was charged last week with child abduction and luring of a minor after Cook County Sheriff’s Police detectives found he attempted to lure a minor into his vehicle, said Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart. According to police, about 4:43 p.m. on Monday, April 22, officers responded…
Rose Zubik, Woman’s Club veteran, installed as 3rd District president
Spread the love Rose Zubik, of Palos Heights, the new president of the 3rd District General Federation of Women’s Clubs-Illinois, lights a candle during the installation ceremony held April 27 at Fox’s Restaurant in Orland Park. Heather Linehan, the outgoing president, is beside her.By Dermot Connolly A longtime member of the Palos Heights Woman’s Club…
Shots fired in Chicago Ridge Commons parking lot
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Shots were fired Wednesday night in the parking lot at Chicago Ridge Commons mall. Police said they received reports of the shooting about 9:45 p.m. No injuries were reported. Multiple witnesses told police four men were walking through the parking lot from the XSport Fitness area. They approached two vehicles…
Billions of cicadas get ready to raise a racket
Spread the loveBy Kelly White If you haven’t heard the buzz yet, you will soon. With 2024 marking a big year for periodical cicadas in Illinois, billions of the red-eyed buggers will soon be making an appearance. Periodical cicada broods XIII and XIX will be emerging throughout much of the state at the same time.…
Neighbors
For Many Illinoisans in Flood-Prone Areas, Buyouts Are the Only Way Out
By Laura Stewart, Illinois Answers Project April 23, 2024 DIETERICH, Ill. – Every day, Berdeena Leturno checks her email for an update on when the state of Illinois will finally pay her $80,000. It’s been over two months since she signed the paperwork to sell her flood-damaged home as part of a buyout program, and…
Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending
By PETER HANCOCK & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would put more controls on certain kinds of high-cost loans to small businesses cleared the Illinois Senate Thursday. Senate Bill 2234, known as the Small Business Financial Transparency Act, targets a relatively new kind of nontraditional lender in the credit…
Stateville may close as early as September under Pritzker’s prison plan
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Stateville Correctional Center could close as early as September under a plan laid out by Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration on Friday. Top officials with the Illinois Department of Corrections testified in front of a key panel of state lawmakers. The 12 members on the General Assembly’s…
Labor-backed bill banning ‘captive audience’ meetings awaits House action
By ALEX ABBEDUTO Capitol News Illinois abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With two weeks left before the General Assembly’s spring session is set to adjourn, negotiations continue on a labor union-backed initiative that would allow Illinoisans to skip religious and political work meetings without reprimand. Dubbed the “Worker Freedom of Speech Act,” Senate Bill 3649 advanced out…
House gives OK to new state agency focused on early childhood programs
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House gave final passage Thursday to a bill establishing a new cabinet-level state agency whose mission will be to provide a kind of one-stop shop for services focusing on early childhood development and education. By the time it’s fully operational in 2026, the new…
ANALYSIS: ‘Significant enough’ opposition to Pritzker’s revenue plan leads to call for cuts
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com When Gov. JB Pritzker proposed his budget for the upcoming fiscal year in February, he sought authority from lawmakers to raise more than $1 billion in revenue through various changes to the state tax code. Among other things, he sought to raise $526 million through extending an expiring…
State officials offer last goodbye to former Thompson Center as renovations begin
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State officials kicked off the private renovation of the building which once served as the state government’s Chicago headquarters. The James R. Thompson Center, as it was known under state ownership, was sold in 2022 to a development firm that is renovating the building for its…
Public officials seek greater oversight of prescription drug middlemen
By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com As state lawmakers hold hearings targeting the role of pharmacy benefit managers – an influential arm in how the health insurance industry prices prescription drugs – multiple state agencies are considering how to better regulate the industry. Often referred to as pharmaceutical “middlemen,” PBMs act as third-party intermediaries…
Thousands of youths at risk of losing access to after-school programs
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Advocates for community-based after-school programs say as many as 40,000 youths statewide could lose access to tutoring services, recreation and other extracurricular activities this summer unless Illinois lawmakers approve an infusion of funds to keep them going. “The time is now for legislators to act to…
Lawsuit alleges sexual abuse was rampant in state-run juvenile detention centers
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Rampant sexual abuse occurred unchecked for decades at Illinois’ juvenile detention centers, a new lawsuit filed on behalf of 95 former detainees alleges, citing hundreds of incidents over more than two decades. The plaintiffs were boys between 12 and 17 years old when the alleged abuse occurred and…
[…] Source […]
[…] Story continues […]