By The TimesLedger
National Night Out, a citywide annual event designed to promote community activities as a way to fight crime and keep neighborhoods safe, is back in Queens and the borough’s police precincts have planned a variety of festivities.
The Aug. 7 program gives officers and residents in each precinct the chance to mingle. The public is encouraged to attend, and events are expected to be held rain or shine.
National Night Out events are listed below by precinct.
• the 102nd Precinct in Richmond Hill plans to host two events in separate locations, including Smoky Oval Park at 127th Street and 95th Avenue and Jamaica Avenue between 122nd and 124th streets.
The 2001 National Night Out in the western Queens precinct includes a barbecue and visits from the New York Police Department’s Canine Unit, Emergency Services Unit, the Mounted Unit and the Motorcycle police. For more information call the precinct at 805-3215.
• the 103rd Precinct in Jamaica has teamed up with the Jamaica Service Program for Older Adults for National Night Out.
Held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Rufus King Park at Jamaica Avenue and 153rd Street, events will feature speakers, giveaways, food, information and community groups. For more information call John Everett at 657-6630.
• the 104th Precinct in Ridgewood will host free rides and food and is sponsoring the event with the local YMCA. Festivities will take place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Catalpa Avenue, between Fresh Pond Road and Shaler Avenue.
Free kids’ rides, food and crime prevention information will be available. For more information call the precinct at 386-3004.
• the 105th Precinct, Queens Village, will join Nassau County’s 5th Precinct, the state police and MTA police for a “backyard picnic” at Belmont Park from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The park is at Hempstead Avenue and the Cross Island Parkway, Gate 5.
The night will include food, a disc jockey, free VIN etching, the NYPD Mounted Unit, information, a playground area for children, child seat safety checks and information on low-cost health insurance.
• the 106th Precinct in South Ozone Park is planning a fun community evening at Nicholas Demutiis Park at Liberty Avenue and 101st Street at 7 p.m.
The park was named for Officer Nicholas Demutiis, who was killed on the corner in 1994.
Several NYPD units will attend, including the Canine Unit, the Mounted Unit and the Emergency Services Unit. Other city agencies will also be represented, including the Fire and Parks departments.
Local groups will perform dance and musical routines and free fingerprinting and crime prevention programs will be available, including VIN etching and bike registration. Residents can also sign up for a free NYPD home security survey.
For more information call P.O. Edward Trentini at 845-2228.
• the 107th Precinct was expected to join state Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn (D-Flushing), City Councilman Morton Povman (D-Forest Hills) the 107th Precinct Council and the Flushing Association for a Better Community for this year’s National Night Out events.
The events will be held in the parking lot of the Electchester Shopping Center, intersection of Jewel Avenue and Parsons Boulevard, from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Activities will include face painting, ice cream, a concert by the 17-piece Virgil Scott Swing Band, crime prevention information and fingerprinting.
Residents are also encouraged to bring flashlights for a walk around the neighborhood. For more information call Michael Simanowitz at 463-1942.
• the 108th Precinct in Long Island City was slated to host its activities from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Woodside Avenue, between 59th and 61st streets.
The evening will feature clowns, face painting, Spanish and Irish folk dancers, a disc jockey, a volleyball game between officers and the public, and free-throw shooting as well as information on health insurance and crime prevention.
For more information call the precinct at 784-5420.
• the 109th Precinct in Flushing was scheduled to hold its National Night Out festivities at PS 20 at 142-30 Barclay Ave. at 5 p.m.
The activities will include exhibits and a variety of displays on crime prevention information as well as information from other groups. For more information call the precinct at 321-2269 or 321-2270.
• the 111th Precinct in Bayside was due to hold its National Night Out events at the Douglaston Plaza Shopping Center, Long Island Expressway and Douglaston Parkway, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Merchants in the shopping center played a big role in this year’s activities, helping to sponsor events that include VIN etchings, bike registrations, and other crime prevention programs.
Prizes and coupons from Modell’s Sporting Goods will be available as well as $1 movie passes for the Douglaston United Artists Movie Theater and free Kids Meals from Burger King. For more information call the precinct at 279-5295.
• the 112th Precinct in Forest Hills was slated to hold its 2001 festivities at MacDonald Park at Queens and Yellowstone boulevards from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The night will feature fingerprinting, free food, music, and arts and crafts and sporting events for children. Raffle prizes will also be given.
In case of rain, the 112th event was expected to move to the Forest Hills Jewish Center at 106-06 Queens Blvd.
For more information call the precinct at 520-9311.
• the 113th Precinct in Jamaica was planning to join the 113th Precinct. Community Council, Habitat for Humanity and Friends of Baisley Pond Park for National Night Out from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The event will be held at Baisley Pond Park at Rockaway and Baisley boulevards and will feature free food, live entertainment and a disc jockey as well as crime prevention information.
For more information call the precinct at 712-7733.
• the 114th Precinct in Astoria was scheduled to hold its National Night Out activities at Shore Boulevard, near the World War I monument in Astoria Park from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Fingerprinting and children’s rides will be a part of the evening and a variety of groups will present crime prevention information.
For more information call the precinct at 626-9311.
