National Night Out Across the Southern Tier

8/7/2012 (Updated 11:25:17 PM)

Tuesday was a beautiful evening for meeting neighbors and fighting crime as part of National Night Out.

National Night Out events are held throughout the country in more than 15,000 communities. 

The event is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness and generate support local anti-crime efforts.
 
It gives an opportunity for communities to strengthen spirit and police-community partnerships while sending a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. In the Southern Tier, communities celebrated in a unique way.

In the Town of Maine, folks enjoyed a live band, food like hot dogs, and got to meet "Mac", the police dog, up close.

The big attraction was the smoke house, which lets kids learn hands-on how to escape from a burning house while their parents watch on a video screen.

Vestal celebrated with their 15th annual Cruise-In and Cook-Out event. 

Car lovers were invited out to check out the classics or show their own.  The Vestal Fire and Police Departments were there to provide child safety seat inspections, child ID kits and other safety and crime prevention information.

Binghamton had seven different events throughout the city.

Endicott used the occasion to create awareness of their neighborhood watch program with a bake sale and prizes for the kids.