Shady Side will play host to the 16th annual National Night Out event on Tuesday, with free food and drinks, live bands, the Maryland State Police helicopter, dignitaries, luminaries and community residents.
The National Association of Town Watch "night out" for citizens in communities that participated in neighborhood watch programs 26 years ago.
The point was to reclaim neighborhoods from gangs, drug dealers and other criminals after dark. The hope was that if enough decent citizens came out, the crooks would be the ones staying indoors.
Fast forward to 2008, when NATW registered 15,000 communities from all 50 states, plus military bases worldwide. In total, over 37 million people participated in last year's National Night Out.
They're hoping for similar numbers in 2009.
In Anne Arundel County, Annapolis has an event at City Dock, and in south county, residents of Shady Side boasted a turnout last year of over 500 people. That's impressive since the 2000 U.S. Census puts the community's population at just over 5,500.
Mohan Grover, known to locals as "the unofficial mayor of Shady Side," and owner of Renno's Market on Shady Side Road began hosting the event in 1993. He had a couple of helpers from the community, namely Kathleen Thompson and Debra Mackell.
The three served together on the Churchton-Shady Side Planning Action Committee, and kept in touch even after their group's work was completed.
Now Grover and his two accomplices count on a number of churches, businesses and community leaders to assist them in keeping theevent going.
"Most of the churches around here provide volunteers," Grover said.
The evening typically starts off with the Maryland State Police helicopter landing at 5 p.m. In addition, local fire, police and EMT show up with their vehicles and in uniform to mingle with community residents.
Over the years, the planners have also enlisted the county departments of health and aging to have booths as well.
"It is a community event - we like people to know each other, to mingle with the police department, to know about crime and to reinforce community policing," Grover said.
"It is a day of fun for everybody, brings people together and they get to know each other - these are the qualities of a good community," he said.
While this year's donations fell a little flat, owing to the sluggish economy, Grover said he is prepared to help make up the difference so that everyone can come out, enjoy a meal and have fun with their family.
The night also includes awards. This year there will be an award for the volunteers of the Lula G. Scott Community Center, the location of Shady Side's National Night Out. The center is one of the "Rosenwald Schools."
In 1912, Julius Rosenwald, then-president of Sears, Roebuck and Company, was approached by Booker T. Washington to help provide educational assistance to African Americans in the south - many of whom were excluded from a public school education. The Lula G. Scott facility was one of over 5,300 schools in 15 states that Rosenwald helped build.
As schools became integrated, the buildings often fell into disrepair, and Lula G. Scott was no exception.
Grover said that he wanted to give the volunteers an award because not only have they always let the National Night Out use the facility, but the volunteers were instrumental in putting the building back together. "It was in very bad shape a few years back," Grover said.
They hosted fundraisers and dinners and eventually got the building restored. In 2003, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and in 2004, it was rededicated by county officials upon the completion of its restoration.
The organizers also will give an award named after Tuskegee Airman Leroy Battle, an author and Congressional Gold Medal of Honor recipient, who lives in south county. The Leroy Battle Award is given to a local community member who has gone above and beyond on behalf of the south county community.
"It is in honor of Mr. Battle, and he gives the award - if it isn't too hot out," Grover said.
Finally, local Boy Scouts who typically clean up after the event also are receiving an award. "When the Scouts clean up you don't have any evidence that 600 people ate here," Grover said.
There will be prizes and activities for the children and a raffle for a new bicycle. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Owensville Primary Care Clinic. Tickets for the raffle are available at the Owensville Clinic in West River and at Renno's Market in Shady Side. They cost $1 each or six tickets for $5.
Music will be provided by the Shady Side Sour Notes, a band led by Shady Side local Bruce Blevins. The band's genre is a mix of bluegrass, country and gospel. "We've been playing this event for about seven years. It's great for the people to come out, they get a lot to eat and of course to meet with the police in the community," Blevins said.
Community representatives including Chief of Police James Teare Sr. and others plan to attend along with local firemen, police officers, EMTs, church leaders and business owners.
This year's event starts at 6 p.m. at the Lula G. Scott Community Center, 6243 Shady Side Road, Shady Side. It's free and should be fun for the entire family.
Mitchelle Stephenson is a freelance writer living in Edgewater.
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