Residents Stand Up to Crime, Violence at National Night Out

County legislators, police officers and townspeople were among the hundreds who came out to Cow Meadow Park in Freeport Tuesday evening to stand up against crime and drugs in local communities.

Nassau County legislators Dave Denenberg, D-Merrick, Joe Scannell, D-Baldwin, and Kevan Abrahams, D-Hempstead, along with Freeport officials hosted the 28th Annual National Night Out with the help of local businesses and volunteers.

There were games for children to play and prizes to be won, but the purpose of the evening was the message that was sent to everyone in attendance: crime and drugs will not be tolerated in Nassau County communities; the event on Tuesday proved there were plenty of individuals who are willing to stand up for the just cause.

"This is the day we say we take back our streets from the criminals and those that exist that want to do harm to our people," Abrahams said. "Today's event ensures that this night, over any other night, where people will be safe, and we're speaking out in volumes to ensure our communities will be protected."

Denenberg added, "I just want to remind people that each and every day it's important, obviously, to take back our communities."

Sponsors for the evening's festivities set up booths for people to check out; numerous booths handed out free goodies and information to the people in attendance. The New York Islanders had a few employees in attendance, along with the Islanders mascot, Sparky.

There was food donated by Applebee's in Bellmore, which fed a few hundred people on the night, all at no price to local residents. The prime sponsor for the evening was the Bethpage Federal Credit Union, which donated $1,000 to make the event possible.

The Community Wellness Council of the Bellmores and Merricks set up a booth to provide people with vital information on living a better everyday life and had a game for children to play as well.

"Our goal is to help promote prevention of drugs and alcohol and to keep kids healthy," Executive Director Fran Licausi said. "We're giving away some giveaways, but our main purpose here is to hand out flyers and to help them all be aware of drugs and alcohol."

The Nassau County Police Department's community affairs unit also had a booth for people to obtain information from, with two officers handing out pamphlets and other information. The police department wanted people know that they were safe in their communities, especially on this night.

"This is part of being in the community," Officer Dolores Sharpe said. "Setting up and taking a firm stand along with residents in the community against crime, against violence.

"The purpose of the stand, the booth, the table, the handouts, the giveaways is just a way for us to, one day out of the entire year, come together and know that this is a safe haven, and know that no one is going to stand for violence."

The people in attendance on Tuesday got the message loud and clear.

"National Night Out is an unbelievably special night," Scannell said. "We take back our villages, we take back our districts, and we want to let people know, in a fun way, that you can also participate and do things in our districts."

Another edition of National Night Out, hosted by legislator Norma Gonsalves, R-East Meadow, took place Tuesday evening in East Meadow.