July 18, 2008 — Maine Township encourages residents to plan on attending its annual National Night Out Against Crime (NNO). The event will be held Tuesday, August 5 from 7-9 PM at Dee Park, 9229 Emerson, in unincorporated Maine Township. The NNO event promotes crime prevention, police-community partnerships and neighborhood unity.

The event is sponsored by Maine Township, the Cook County Sheriff's Department, Golf Maine Park District and North Maine Fire Department. This year's theme is "Ways to Keep Your Neighborhood Safe." Susan Moylan Krey, Maine Township Trustee, is the event coordinator. The emcee for the event is Paula Kurland from Golf Maine Park District.

Children from Maine Township are also invited to enter a poster contest. The most creative poster drawing, featuring the theme, will win an MP3 player. Runners up will receive U.S. Savings Bonds donated by Liberty Bank for Savings and Parkway Bank. Applications and instructions are available at Maine Township Town Hall, 1700 Ballard Rd., Park Ridge.

In addition, there will be a guest speaker, demonstrations, exhibits, entertainment, games, raffles and prizes for children. The evening ends with a flash light walk through the neighborhood with Cook County Sheriff's Police.

The theme for the night's presentation is "Making the Right Choice." The speaker will be Jason Cowin of the Chicago Police Department. Cowin grew up on Dee Road across from the park. He went to Stevenson Elementary, Gemini Jr. High and Maine East High School. Cowin has been a Chicago Police Officer for eight years and works on a "West Side Gang Unit."

"The National Night Out program is a wonderful event for our residents of Maine Township," Supervisor Carol Teschky said. "This year should have an even greater impact, due to having a former resident address them as an accomplished police officer. We expect a nice turnout."

There will also be entertainment, a dance routine from the Township's own Richard Lyon and Michelle Biondo, and demonstrations from the Cook County Sheriff's Police. There will also be information tables set up by the Township, the Sheriff's Police, North Maine Fire Department, Neighborhood Watch, EMA, and local officials.

Anyone interested in volunteering to help the event should contact Krey by calling 847-297-2510.

Press Release