National Night Out: An October success story
Published 12:27 am Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Children enjoy playing on one of the inflatables available at Franklin’s National Night Out event Tuesday, Oct. 3, at Armory Drive Recreational Park. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Franklin City School Board members LaChanda E. Parker, Ward 3’s representative, and Vice Chair Cristina Boone, Ward 4’s representative, smile for a photo as they explore the National Night Out event at Armory Drive Recreational Park. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Representing the law firm of Randall & Bruch PC in a booth at Franklin’s National Night Out event are, from left, Rocco Columbus, Kristen Elders, Jack T. Randall, Heather Randall and Heather Velvin. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Tommy Potter and Dottie Harcum pause for a photo Tuesday, Oct. 3, at the National Night Out event in Franklin. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Gathering for a family photo at the National Night Out event in Franklin are, from left, front row, Blair Francis, Briggs Francis; middle, Berkley Francis; back row, Franklin Chief of Emergency Services Vernie Francis III and Holly Francis. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Southampton County Sheriff Josh A. Wyche Sr. and Southampton County Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric A. Cooke participate in the National Night Out event Tuesday, Oct. 3, in Franklin. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Representing Southampton County Public Schools at Franklin’s National Night Out event is Dr. MeChelle Blunt, center, who is the coordinator of school accountability and improvement for SCPS. She is joined in this photo by Sharron Runion, left, and Bryan Carter. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
About to enter the National Night Out event Tuesday, Oct. 3, in Franklin are Cat Matta and Karl T. Heck. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Representing Zeno Wellness Group at the National Night Out event in Franklin are, from left, Lesia Boone-Johnson, Stephanie Barkster, Talis Wilkins and James Anderson. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
At the National Night Out event, Carlena Scott, left, and MeChelle Blunt promote the Suffolk, Virginia, chapter of The Links Inc., a nonprofit organization that performs community service in Western Tidewater. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
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The city of Franklin successfully moved its annual National Night Out event from the summer to the fall this year, drawing a strong crowd to Armory Drive Recreational Park on Tuesday, Oct. 3.
As noted at natw.org, National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. Neighborhoods and localities host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and various other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, exhibits and more.
Franklin’s NNO event, which ran from 4-7 p.m., was coordinated by the Franklin Police Department, with multiple city departments participating and helping.
“Going into our National Night Out event, I was a bit worried about attendance due to moving from August to October,” FPD Chief Steve Patterson stated in a Friday, Oct. 6, interview. “At the conclusion I was very excited about the attendance, the partnership with vendors and the amount of city departments and public safety partners that joined us.”
He said organizers were estimating that 500 people attended the event.
Franklin City Manager Amanda C. Jarratt expressed similar excitement Monday, Oct. 9, with how NNO proceeded.
“The city of Franklin is thrilled with the attendance at the recent National Night Out event,” she stated. “We are thankful to all of the agencies and community members that supported our efforts. Moving the event to October allowed for much more enjoyable temperatures and greater participation. We are grateful for the relationships that are grown and fostered through events such as this.”
Patterson confirmed that the FPD plans to continue holding the event in October in the future due to the cooler temperatures.
