Sheriff Lippa invites all Caroline communities to get involved next year
By Ed Simmons, Jr.
cpreporter@lcs.net
Two of Caroline's sturdiest volunteers, Bill Green, 83, and Vic Matiak, 72, were hard at work grilling hamburgers and hot dogs for the National Night Out at the Community Services Building Tuesday evening, with sheriff's deputies, firefighters and rescue personnel on hand to meet and mingle with the public. "You can't sit down. You gotta watch it," Green said over his grill, charcoal smoke hazing around him. The same can be said for citizens and their law enforcement.
Sheriff Tony Lippa emphasized that the yearly National Night Out event, across the nation, boosts community security by activating the eyes and ears of the public, and building an alliance with law enforcement. Problems like vandalism, burglary and drug trafficking can be avoided with public participation. Said one retired deputy, Clyde Davenport, National Night Out sends a signal to criminals that the community belongs to the law-abiding. "Get out there and socialize with your neighbors," he said. "Keep those porch lights turned on."
While the Community Services Building gathering was underway, across the county at Ladysmith Village a large crowd turned out as well to meet their deputies and enjoy a cookout. Said organizer Mark Ferro, "It's an excellent opportunity for bringing the community together so they can meet local law enforcement." The Ladysmith folks met the sheriff, Major Scott Moser, and other deputies, and residents signed up for Neighborhood Watch and obtained brochures on topics from identity theft to domestic violence. This is the fourth year Ladysmith Village has participated, the event growing from 50 residents the first year to about 200 this year, Ferro said.
Sheriff Lippa is inviting other localities to organize their own National Night Out next year. He's encouraging the Town of Bowling Green, Dawn, Port Royal, Lake Caroline, Upper Caroline, Belmont and Pendleton to join in next year and urges their representatives to contact him at the Sheriff's Office at 633-1123. He's there to help, he said. Communities provide the gathering place, find donors to provide the food and publicize the event with fliers. Target at Massaponax was a big donor to the Ladysmith Village event, the sheriff said. "Please notify your Caroline County Sheriff’s Office if you would like us to assist you with organizing this event in your community," Lippa said on the Sheriff's Office website, www.carolinesheriff.org.
The next National Night Out is Tuesday evening, August 2, 2011.