Spend a 'Night Out' in Brockport

Brockport hopes their participation in the National Night Out will become an annual event.

Brockport Police Sergeant Mark Cuzzupoli said that the event has been going on nationwide for about 20 years. "The event was designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness and generate support for and participation in local anti-crime programs," he said.

While this is Brockport's first year of participation, they have a full slate of activities scheduled for August 5. Fire and ambulance personnel will be on hand and a fire extinguisher demonstration will be performed. Fingerprinting and child identification kits will be handed out. "The kits come with instructions on how to take prints, record physical descriptions of the child along with identifying marks and the kits guide parents on how to summarize medical information," Cuzzupoli explained.

Mayor Josephine Matela will be on hand, along with Police Chief Dan Varrenti, to serve hot dogs, ice cream and sodas. "This is the first time the village has participated in the National Night Out and I am absolutely so impressed with the police department and Sergeant Cuzzupoli and the way he has coordinated this," she said, "I hope everyone will take advantage of information being given out that night. This is for the community to come together."

Representatives from the village's neighborhood watch teams, Explorers, police, fire, ambulance and SPARTAC members will be on hand to talk with participants at the night's event. "This will help to strengthen neighborhood spirit and helps introduce people to one another … it helps build trust," he said.

Cuzzupoli said the village hopes to build on the event each year and make it larger. Donations have been received from the police department's Stetson Club and Ryan's Big M. Glow lights will be given to the children when the event wraps up with a glow light march that will begin at Clark Street and end up at the police department. "We will be giving tours of the jail if people are interested," he said.

"We're hoping for a good turn out and we invite everyone to come and participate," Cuzzupoli said.

The "Night Out" kicks off at 7 p.m. and ends following the glow light march.