Crime & Safety

Neighbors Come Together for National Night Out 2013

Collingswood's finest put on a mini-May Fair on a Tuesday night in August, to the delight of young and old.

Scores of volunteers, community groups and business owners stood together with their police, first responders and neighbors in Collingswood to celebrate the 30th anniversary of National Night Out.

Building on a strong inaugural foundation in 2012, the borough threw a miniature May Fair at the corner of Collings and Atlantic Avenues on Tuesday, complete with a deejay, fitness demonstrations, snacks and giveaways.

Area K-9 and bomb disposal specialists chatted with church volunteers and their children. Carnival games lined the public works garage, where Bike Share members were turning their wrenches.

Collingswood's secret weapon, volunteerism, was well on display, but many organizers credited the leadership of Collingswood Cpl. Tom Hartshaw in putting the pieces together.

With a smile that chased the rain away, he made his way through the crowd, on a golf cart and on foot, happy to be the engineer of such a good time.

But that's the point of National Night Out: to remind people of the power of relationships. To remind them that working together and celebrating together creates a more tightly bonded community.

Mutual respect and neighborly consideration are powerful crime deterrents—especially when the men and women who work to keep Collingswood safe throw such a fine party.

Did you take any great pictures at National Night Out? Share them on our Facebook page.


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