News Article

Night Out observances abound

Dayton Northwest Weed and Seed Participating

Northwest Weed and Seed at Canaan Community Center, 1306 Salem Ave. – DAYTON — Summer Swinford, out recently to spend a warm evening at Burkhardt Recreation Center with her daughter Chyanne, 6, and the family's energetic boxer Caesar, has some thoughts on how to crack down on crime.
She's looking forward to Tuesday's National Night Out, which includes a stop at the center, 215 Burkhardt Ave., at 7:15 p.m. by Mayor Rhine McLin and other top city officials in what they call a caravan.
"The police are doing what they can do," said Swinford, 31. "It's the parents and society who could do better."
For another thing, she said, litter and graffiti are making too many eyesores in her neighborhood and need cleaning up.
There's too much drug dealing and prostitution infesting the nearby streets, Swinford said, and too many would-be customers tooling around soliciting prostitutes.
She said she wants her pre-teen kids — two girls and a boy — to have a childhood.
In many ways, she has a lot in common with Melvin Hall, 57, who has lived in the 1300 block of North Main Street for about three years.
Watching from behind police tape as homicide detectives investigated the Thursday night, July 31, slaying of businessman Markelle Roston, Hall had some thoughts.
He said he supports National Night Out.
"We need a neighborhood watch and we need to make the neighborhood aware," he said. "The police can only do so much. We need to take the neighborhood back."
Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl, who frequently stresses the importance of community involvement in crime-fighting, said everyone can play a part in the citywide event.
The Dayton caravan, which will include police, also plans to visit the Phoenix Project in Fairview Park, 900 McCleary Ave.; Northwest Weed and Seed at Canaan Community Center, 1306 Salem Ave.; Residence Park on Second Street and Elmhurst Road; and the East End Community Center, 624 Xenia Ave.
"I personally invite all members of the Dayton community to stop by any of these sites on Tuesday evening to meet us and your neighbors," said Biehl, who will participating in his first National Night Out as head of the Dayton police force.
"I also want to encourage everyone to turn on their porch lights and spend an evening outside with their family, friends, neighbors and the police to support what has become a national symbol of solidarity against crime and drugs on National Night Out."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7407 or sbennish@DaytonDaily
News.com.
National Night Out
Here's a sampling of area events celebrating National Night Out on Tuesday. Call your local police or sheriff's office if your community isn't listed.
Beavercreek: 6 to 9 p.m. at Lofino Park. Music, custom and classic cruise-in, bicycle giveaways, fingerprinting, face painting, free gun locks.
Centerville: 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Stubbs Park Amphitheater. Music, food, McGruff the Crime Dog, "Mystery Night" games, law enforcement vehicle displays, prizes, free reflectors.
Dayton: City officials' caravan, 5:25 to 6:05 p.m. at Phoenix Project in Fairview Park, 900 McCleary Ave.; 6:10 to 6:30 p.m. at Northwest Weed and Seed at Canaan Community Center, 1306 Salem Ave.;
6:40 to 7 p.m. at Residence Park on Second Street and Elmhurst Road; 7:15 to 7:35 p.m. at Burkhardt Rec Center, 215 Burkhardt Ave.; 7:45 to 8:05 p.m. at East End Community Center, 624 Xenia Ave.
Dayton: Wright View Neighborhood Association WVNA Beach Party (August Meeting), 7 p.m. at St. Mark's Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 720 Burkhardt Ave.
Miami Twp: 6 to 10 p.m. Neighborhoods offering block parties with visits from police officers, city officials and McGruff crime dog.
Springboro and Clearcreek Twp.: 5 to 9 p.m. at Patricia Allyn Park. Food, pony rides, train rides, K-9 demonstrations.
West Carrollton: 6 to 8 p.m. at Wilson Park Pool. Careflight helicopter landing with mock emergency run, hot dogs and lemonade, McGruff crime dog, vehicle displays, home safety presentations, free bike helmets.

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