NNO is back

August 3 is the 38th annual National Night Out (NNO). According to Jim Uszler, President of the Sun City Neighborhood Watch and one of the coordinators of the event, “It’s the 19th time Sun City has celebrated National Night Out.”

According to the National Night Out website, “National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer.”

Tom Fitzpatrick, a Sun City National Night Out committee member, reports that “The 2020 National Night Out was sidelined due to the Covid-19 restrictions. As an alternative the Neighborhood Watch committee sponsored a Lights and Sirens Parade to honor Huntley’s First Responders.”

Fire trucks and police vehicles received cheers and thanks as they paraded on the streets of Sun City.

National Night Out has grown from 400 communities with 2.5 million neighbors in 23 states to more than 16,000 communities with 38 million residents in all 50 states participating in this year’s National Night Out.

The Sun City National Night Out committee members are:

— Jim Uszler – President Sun City Neighborhood Watch
— Jim Saletta – Vice-President Sun City Neighborhood Watch
— Tom Fitzpatrick – Treasurer Sun City Neighborhood Watch
— Fred Dryden – NNO Volunteer Sun City Neighborhood Watch
— Debbie Liberatore – NNO Volunteer
— Bunny McGahan – Recorder Sun City Neighborhood Watch
— Ursula Stevenson – NNO Committee/Sun City Modifications and Compliance

This year’s Sun City celebration will begin at 2:45pm at Eakin Field with the Sun City Marine Corp detachment presenting the colors. Fred Joob will sing the National Anthem.

This will be followed with a 7-inning softball game between the Huntley Police and Fire Departments. Uszler reports that “the Police Department won the game trophy in 2015, 2016 and 2018. The Fire Department won the game Trophy in 2017 and 2019.” No game was played in 2020.

Fitzpatrick reports that “free Cracker Jack packages will be available, one per person, while supplies last.” And, “thanks to Sheldon Clark of Edward Jones, free water will also be available.”

Kona Ice will be selling frozen treats at Eakin Field from 2:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

The National Night Out will be running a cash raffle as a fund raiser to support the NNO activities and the Neighborhood Watch council.

“Heartland Bank has been a major supporter of National Night Out and Neighborhood Watch” added Fitzpatrick. “Michael Salvetti, the Bank Manager, has been most helpful.”

The National Night Out committee has asked the Village to allow parking on the south side of Sun City Blvd during the festivities.

Food Trucks will be participating as part of this year’s events. Dogs a la Cart and Del Toro Street Tacos will have food for purchase at Fountain View near the amphitheater prior to the end of the softball game.

“The Huntley High School Jazz Combo will be performing at the Fountain View Amphitheater from 5-6 p.m.” added Fitzpatrick. “The raffle winners will also be announced at the amphitheater.”

The Knights of Columbus Council #11666 from St. Mary Catholic Church will be providing complimentary frozen ice treats at the amphitheater during the concert.

Fitzpatrick estimated that “The day’s events are expected to come to an end around 6 p.m.”

The Sun City Neighborhood Watch Council hosts the Sun City National Night Out. Neighborhood Watch was started in Sun City in 2002 by the then CAM which was then under the auspices of the builder.

According to Uszler, “As of today, 33 neighborhoods are certified in Neighborhood Watch.” He continued, “and at least three more neighborhoods are working on certification.”

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