By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
This year the National Night Out community parties were personal.
Edna Cress, along with her sister Elsie Fisher and Ella Myers, put on the block party for the area around Warren and Wiley Streets in Bucyrus. Mini marshmallows, cheese puffs and chalk outlines covered Wiley Street Tuesday evening, a testament to the safe fun Cress, Fisher and Myers put on for the children in their block.
“The important thing is the neighborhood kids know where to go to be safe. And this is a safe house,” Cress said, gesturing behind her. “I have a lot of grandchildren; between me and my sister and everybody, there like ten of us already with grandchildren, so most of them are family here. They all live within the block. I have a sister-in-law that lives around the other block. So everybody needs to know that this is a good place to go.”
Cress was confident they got the message across that her block would take a stance against the drugs pervading the city.
Fisher agreed with her sister. She said National Night Out and its message of it being “America’s Night Out Against Crime” was very personal for her. She admitted that the city’s drug issue had hit very close to home for her. But she was happy with what National Night Out is attempting to do for the communities.
“It’s awesome,” she said.
The message was similar across town. First Baptist, Father’s Heart Healing Center, Bucyrus United Methodist Church and St. Paul’s joined together to put on a big block party on Woodlawn Avenue. Vacation bible school has been going on this week for the churches and they took the theme “Kingdom” to a whole new level for National Night Out. Games recreating javelin throwing and building castles were put on for the children.
Judy Dalrymple had been in charge of one of the games for the night.
“Bringing the churches together is a big part of it,” she said. She added that the National Night Out event also brings the community together while allowing the churches to get out there to spread their message.
“I think that a strong community dispels people thinking they can come in and overrun the community,” said Karolyn Rebon, another volunteer. “We want to take it further. People in our community need to know there’s support.”
Additional photos form the National Night Out block parties can be found on our Photos page.