Pubdate: Sun, 03 Aug 2003 Source: Star-Ledger (NJ) Copyright: 2003 Newark Morning Ledger Co Contact: http://www.nj.com/starledger/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/424 COUNTY TOWNS SPEND NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME Towns throughout Morris County will observe National Night Out Against Crime by holding community gatherings and other events this week. Now in its 20th year, the national program is designed to encourage residents to interact with each other and with local police, and discuss ways to prevent crimes and drug use. Residents are asked to keep their exterior lights on during the evening hours. Among the scheduled events are these: Butler, Kinnelon and Bloomingdale The three boroughs are teaming up for a National Night Out event at Butler police headquarters and Butler Park. The festivities will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday and go on until 10 p.m. The sponsor for this year's Night Out in Butler is Butler Power & Light. Music will be supplied by WGHT Radio, 1500-AM, and the Bloomingdale Cornet Band. Also on hand will be a representative from the K-9 unit from the Morris County Sheriff's Office. The Butler Fire Prevention Bureau will hand out carbon monoxide detectors and there will be various other public safety items given away, such as flashlights, night lights, litter bags and smoke alarms. There also will be free food, drinks and ice cream. For more information, call (973) 838-4100. Hanover For the 20th annual Night Out on Tuesday, the Hanover Township Police Department is inviting residents to an open house and free barbecue. There will be demonstrations of many of the department's community policing, safety devices and programs, plus games for kids and an artist applying temporary tattoos. There will be raffles for gifts that were donated, and tours will be given of the state-of-the-art police headquarters. For further information, call (973) 428-2512 or (973) 428-2516. Jefferson Twp. Local police are sponsoring a National Night Out program from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday. The department is hosting events in Lake Shawnee at the first beach, on East Shawnee Trail, for Lake Hopatcong residents, and in White Rock Lake on White Rock Boulevard for Oak Ridge residents. Township fire officials will participate and have firefighting equipment on display. Cookouts with hot dogs, soda and chips, as well as activities for kids, are planned. The event is designed primarily to heighten awareness of crime and drug prevention, and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police- community relations. All township residents are encouraged to attend and turn on outside lights in support of the event. For more information call (973) 208-3628. Madison The Madison Police Department is inviting Neighborhood Watch groups and all residents to step outside from 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday to talk about neighborhood crime issues. The aim is to stop crime before it gets to these neighborhoods. Police expect about 11 block parties or cookouts in various local neighborhoods. They will get visits at various times from the K-9 unit of the Morris County Sheriff's Office, the Chatham Police Department's motorcycle unit, the Madison Police Department and a bomb disposal team from Picatinny Arsenal. The Madison Police Department urges all residents to participate by lighting up their homes in a show against crime and drugs. For additional information, call (973) 593-3003. Montville From 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, many neighborhoods in Montville will host special events, including block parties, cook-outs, visits from the police, flashlight walks and ice cream socials. Neighborhoods planning to participate in the event should call Patrolman Robert Blasi or Patrolman William Johnson at (973) 257-4115. Morris County As the last event of Family Fun Fest, the Morris County Park Commission is hosting its National Night Out event Tuesday at Mennen Sports Arena. The event will last from 4 to 9 p.m., with a concert from 7 to 9 p.m. by the retro rock and disco group The Party Dolls. The event will include exhibits of community policing, a park police child identification program, a fire awareness trailer, the park police mounted unit and representation by the county prosecutor's office and municipal police departments. Police from Parsippany, Long Hill, Mendham, Rockaway Township, Morris Township and Morristown will participate. There will be free hot dogs and soda -- as long as they last -- and free public skating from 4 to 6 p.m. For more information, call (973) 326-7600. Randolph As part of National Night Out, Randolph is holding a community event as opposed to past efforts to visit neighborhood watch groups around the town. On Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. in Freedom Park on Millbrook Avenue, Randolph police will host an event that will showcase police cars, firetrucks and ambulances. Jack Trebour Ford is donating child identification kit, Commerce Bank is giving out popcorn and prizes, and Staples also has donated prizes for the event. There will be an appearance by McGruff the Crime Dog, while a disc jockey and band will provide music. The night is designed to promote crime prevention. People can meet the mayor and other town and law enforcement officials. The event, organized by officers Scott Arentowicz and Michelle Campbell, is free of charge and will be held rain or shine. For more information, call (973) 989-7037. Rockaway Borough The Rockaway Police Department is asking residents to spend Tuesday evening outside. From 6 to 9 p.m. that day, police want all borough residents to lock their doors, turn on their lights, and join law enforcement for a special event at Firemen's Field on Beach Street. Borough residents are invited to join police and more than 40 local and county organizations. The event is free and will include food, clowns, face painters, balloons, a moon walk, a dunk-tank, distribution of child identification kits and various other giveaways. For more information, call (973) 627-1314. Washington Twp. The Washington Township Police will host their National Night Out event at Long Valley Rock Spring Park on East Springtown Road. The event will run from 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday. Activities include a moon walk, firetruck rides, games for kids, disc jockey/karaoke entertainment and a skateboarding demonstration with ramps and jumps. There also will be military equipment on display and a demonstration by the K-9 unit of the Morris County Sheriff's Office. Food will be free. Treats include hot dogs, hamburgers, corn on the cob, watermelon, ice cream, ice pops, candy, popcorn and soda. All rides and games also will free. For more information, call (908) 876-3232. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens