The 2007 Edition of National Night Out Neighborhood Festival Presented by the Target Corporation on Ogden Avenue was a complete success. Nearly 300 folks braved the 100 degree heat to come together to give crime a going away party. The majority of the attendees were residents in or surrounding the watch area.

     Others included numerous elected officials, candidates, and local leaders. Those include Columbus City Council members Andy Ginther, Hearcel Craig, Priscilla Tyson, and Kevin Boyce, Ohio Statehouse Legislators Ted Celeste and Steve Stivers, former County Commissioner and FOP President Dewey Stokes, Columbus City Council candidate Paul Bingle, Columbus Board of Education candidate Mike Wiles, and Hilltop Area Commissioners Gary Baker, Dave Horn, Michael Cole, and Dru Bagley. Also very special guest Stinger from the Columbus Blue Jackets attended.

     There were numerous activities at this year’s event. COSI Columbus did experiments involving space travel, WBNS provided music and games, and the Ohio Heat All-Stars pepped the revelers with their cheerleading. The Columbus Zoo came with their animals as well.

     Target provided food, door prizes, and games; and the block watch sponsored karaoke.

     Many residents participated in a Know Your Neighbor game to be eligible for prizes and to better know their neighbors.

     National Night Out is a nationwide event that invites residents to stand with community leaders and local police to give crime a going away party. This is year 24 for the event that has over 10,000 participating communities. The National Association of Town Watch sponsors the nationwide event.

     The block watch would like to think all of the following sponsors for their support of the block watch and the Hilltop in its attempt at creating a unified and safe neighborhood.

 

Target Corporation

Columbus Zoo

WBNS 97.1

Columbus Division of Fire

Columbus Division of Police

COSI Columbus

Ohio Heat All-Stars

7UP Bottling Company

Majic Hair Salon

Paul Peterson Company

Columbus Recreation and Park Department

Gary Baker for the Board

Columbus Messenger

John Hickey

Dr. Scott Gosselin

Marilyn Alvoid

Hilltop Business Association

 

Our block watch looks forward to 2008’s event. If you would like to be involved in next year’s event, let this block watch know. More details will be posted in the spring of 2008.