City of Berwyn Sets the Stage for the 28th Annual National Night Out Event

BERWYN, Ill., July 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The City of Berwyn, Berwyn Police Department, and Berwyn Fire Department are pleased to announce the 28th Annual National Night Out event on Tuesday, August 2, 2011. National Night Out is Berwyn's marquee event in its effort to enhance awareness around public safety issues and to strengthen partnerships between law enforcement and the community. To reinforce these goals, Berwyn will bridge the gap at the federal level by featuring demonstrations and representatives from the U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and military and veterans groups representing the US Army, US Air Force, and US Marine Corps. The U.S. Marshals, the country's oldest federal law enforcement agency, will provide representatives from the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. The exhibits will include tactical breaching equipment and a tactical weapons system. The military will have interactive exhibits including a "Humvee" vehicle, miniature jet plane, climbing wall, chin-up bar, and dog tag machines.

Now in its 28th year, National Night Out is shared by over thirty seven million people in over fifteen thousand different communities across North America. A huge success locally, Berwyn produced the top ranking National Night Out event in the State of Illinois and the 10th in the nation last year. With an attendance reaching over 7,000 participants, the event benefits not only Berwyn residents but also the expected visitors from the greater Cook County area, bringing neighbors and communities together to reduce crime, drugs and violence.

National Night Out will take place at Morton West High School at 2400 Home Avenue in Berwyn, IL. The 2011 event will have a showing of full force from Berwyn's Police and Fire departments as well as local law enforcement from Bellwood, Brookfield Zoo, Cicero, Cook County, Harwood Heights, LaGrange, Lemont, McCook, North Riverside, Oak Park, Stickney, and Westchester. Other featured exhibitors include the Cook County Bomb Squad, Emergency Service Disaster Agency (ESDA), an appearance by the cast of the Chicago-based reality TV series Wrecked – Life in the Crash Lane, and antique police vehicles. Interactive demonstrations include a "live burn" being extinguished and a fire extinguisher safety presentation, a Bike Rodeo with free helmets given to the first 400 participants, and an Illinois Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) processing display. Additionally, participants can enjoy food, music from Heartless, singing of the national anthem by Julia Rose Melone who won America's Got Talent Chicago, fireworks, and a Kid's Zone featuring air slides, children's games, baseball radar speed pitching, and a Chicago Fire interactive soccer display.

The schedule of specific demonstrations and entertainment is as follows:

5:00 p.m.: Gates Open; Heartless begins musical set at the stage and plays continuously

6:30 p.m.: "Live Burn" Fire Safety and Sprinkler Demonstration at the fire department booth

7:15 p.m.: Fire Extinguisher Demonstration at the fire department booth

8:15 p.m.: Meet Mayor Robert Lovero at the stage

8:45 p.m.: National Anthem and Closing of the Colors with all military units at the stage

9:00 p.m.: Fireworks on the football field

Berwyn's National Night Out would not be possible without the generous support of its event sponsors, including Target Broadview, Berwyn Kia, World's Largest Laundromat, Berwyn Recreation Department, Berwyn Park District, North Berwyn Park District, AA Rental Company, Berwyn Main Street, Buona Beef, Wayne Parthun on behalf of the Combined Veterans of Berwyn, Nicor, and Turano Bakery.

Additional information on the City of Berwyn's National Night Out event can be obtained through the City of Berwyn at www.berwyn-il.gov or by calling (708) 788-8100. Fans can also follow the event at facebook.com/BerwynNNO to keep up-to-date with new exhibitors and other event details!

CONTACT: Anthony Griffin, +1-708-788-8100, [email protected]

SOURCE The City of Berwyn