Poster contest winners announced at Maine Township’s NNO

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Maine Township elected officials Trustee Kimberly Jones, Assessor Susan Moylan Krey, Trustee Susan Sweeney, and Trustee David A. Carrabotta, Esq. are pictured here with poster contest winners at Maine Township's 2019 National Night Out.

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Township Clerk Peter Gialamas who has chaired NNO for the past seven years in Maine Township takes a moment to dance with the Barefoot Hawaiian Dancers who entertained at the event this year.

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Denise Jajko, Maine Township bookkeeper, and Susan Kelly Sweeney, Trustee, at the Lobster Game at Maine Township's National Night Out.

Crowds that attended Maine Township’s National Night Out Against Crime (NNO) Tuesday, Aug. 6 had the opportunity to enjoy Barefoot Hawaiian Dancers as well as a wide array of displays and information tables featuring all major Maine Township departments and other local organizations including Nicor Gas and 7-11 Stores who were new this year.

A highlight of the evening was the announcement of winners of the poster contest based on this year’s theme “Crime...Report It, Don't Support It” which was open to grammar school age children who live in or attend school in Maine Township. Winners are 1st Grade, Loredana Popovici, Washington; 2nd Grade Sara Muradi, Apollo; 3rd Grade, Aahil Hussain, Mark Twain; 4th Grade, Rayan Hussain, Mark Twain; 5th Grade, Kayla Datoy, Apollo; 6th Grade, Isabella Merza, Gemini; 7th Grade, Amal Hamad, Gemini. Three honorable mentions were also awarded. They are Maryel Castillo, Gemini; Diya Trivedi, Melzer; and Amreen Tejani, Nelson.

Those who attended also had the chance to enjoy a bounce house, games for kids with prizes, face painting and a balloon artist. Prior to the flashlight walk through the neighborhood surrounding Dee Park, all children received free glow sticks and frozen treats. The walk concluded the event and was meant to show a community/police united stand against neighborhood crime.

“We were gratified to see the great resident turnout at this community building event,” said Township Clerk Peter Gialamas who chaired the event for the past seven years in Maine Township. “While it is designed to promote family fun and neighborhood unity, NNO also gave us the chance to educate residents on crime prevention and safety,” he said. “Many thanks to the Cook County Sherriff’s Police and local first responders for participating with search dogs, armored vehicles, emergency aid vehicles, police cars and much more.”

As one of the oldest celebrations of the National Night Out Against Crime which was introduced nationally in 1984, the local event is sponsored by Maine Township, Neighborhood Watch, Cook County Sheriff’s Police, Golf Maine Park District, the Golf Maine Fire Department, and other community businesses and organizations. National Night Out is called America’s Night Out Against Crime and has grown from 2.5 million participants in its first year to over 30 million in 10,000+ communities and in unincorporated areas such as Maine Township.

For photos of the event and more information about Maine Township services and programs, visit www.mainetown.com.