Millions of Americans across the country will focus their attention on community safety tonight during National Night Out.

        In Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, the 19th annual event will be celebrated by many local police and fire departments. Many of the activities 1/2ndash 3/4 including wreath laying and candlelight vigils 1/2ndash 3/4 will be dedicated to the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

        “There's a lot of people out there who wanted to do something after Sept. 11,” said Matt Peskin, a National Night Out coordinator. “It made them realize that not just their neighborhoods but their country is vulnerable.”

        The night of food, music and the opportunity to meet neighborhood police officers is expected to draw a crowd of 33 million people in 9,700 communities nationally. The event was organized as a way for communities and officers to make a public statement against neighborhood crime.

        “We believe its gives people a more heads-up on what the police departments and what the fire departments stand for and what they do,” said Janelle Haney, a dispatcher at Forest Park Police Department.

        The department is marking its 13th year of participating in the national program.

        Local activities include:

        At Ach-Hughes Park in Avondale from 1 to 7 p.m., entertainment includes water activities androck-climbing wall

        At Shedwell Park in South Fairmount from 6 to 8 p.m., marchers from Fighting Against Crack Trafficking will be teaching chants and the mounted unit and bicycle patrol will be in attendance for a hotdog cookout.

        In Kentucky, Edgewood's Night Out will be celebrated Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Freedom Park so people can attend today's events as well, said Officer Shawn Kleier. Activities include a puppet show and a display of the emergency and specialized rescue equipment.

        “This is a kind of night that has a safety theme and is a chance for people to get out and get involved in their own communities,” Mr. Peskin said.

If you go

        • Winton Woods High School, 1231 W. Kemper Road in Forest Park, 6 to 10 p.m.

        • Parking lot at the monastery, 1055 St. Paul Place, Mount Adams, 6 to 9 p.m.

        • Arts Consortium, 1515 Linn St., 5 to 9 p.m.

        • Ault Park, Mount Lookout, 6 to 9 p.m.

        • Shedwell Park, Queen City and Grand avenues, South Fairmount, 6 to 8 p.m.

        • Ach-Hughes Park, Forest Avenue and Reading Road, Avondale, 1 to 7 p.m.

        • 2300 McMicken Ave., University Heights, 6 to 9 p.m.

        • Winton Commons Park, 634 Hand Ave., 6 to 9 p.m.

        • College Hill Community Center, 5545 Belmont Ave., 6 to 9 p.m.

        • Oak Ridge Lodge in Mt. Airy Forest, 5075 Colerain Ave., 6 to 9 p.m.

        • Ice cream socials in Paddock Hills at 1210 Westminster Drive, 1101 Clearbrook Drive, 1284 Paddock Hills Drive, 919 Egan Hills Drive and 4507 Sunny Slope Terrace, from 6 to 9 p.m.

        • On Wednesday, a 6 to 9 p.m. event will be held at Freedom Park, Edgewood.

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