Dundalk Plans to Take Back the Night with Food, Fun and Games

Community leaders across Greater Dundalk are busy putting the finishing touches on National Night Out celebrations set for Tuesday.

"We're going to have McGruff the Crime Dog and Scales and Tales," Shirley Gregory said Monday of St. Helena's celebration. "And Baltimore city has chosen us as their host site so that's pretty cool."

Scales and Tales is a live animal demonstration presented by the Maryland Department of Natural resources

As the host site, Baltimore police officials will be at the St. Helena event from 6 to 9 p.m., instead of just spending a few minutes before darting of to another event, Gregory said.

The police department is also providing hot dogs and hamburgers.

"We always buy those every year, so with the police department paying for them this year, we realized we had some extra money," Gregory said.

The extra money was used to buy door prizes, which include DVD movies and one lucky person will win a portable DVD player.

In addition to hot dogs and hamburgers, the St. Helena block party will also provide cotton candy and watermelon and games and activities for children.

Eastfield-Stanbrook residents are encouraged to gather at Stansbury park for the community's annual National Night Out gathering that will include a cookout and Baltimore County Fir Department Engine 57 on display.

The North Point Civic Association will hold an ice cream social at Battle Grove Park and the Turner Station community will gather at Avondale and Rayme roads for a cookout.

National Night Out, an initiative of the National Association of Town Watch, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this summer, according to its website. Started in 1984, the event is traditionally held the first Tuesday in August.

In 1984, 2.5 million Americans took part in National Night Out activities held in 400 communities in 23 states, according to the organization's website.

The effort now involves more than 37 million people in 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide.

The trademark symbol of the effort is the turning on of porch lights in participating communities.

National Night Out Events in Greater Dundalk/North Point Precinct 12:

St. Helena Community, 6 – 9 p.m.
St. Helena Community Center, 6509 Colgate Avenue
Cookout, games, activities, door prizes

Millers Island Community Association, 6 – 9 p.m.
Tot lot at Millers Island Road and Baylight Avenue
Cookout

Turners Station Park and Recreation and Conservation 6 – 8 p.m.
Turner Station Park, Avondale and Rayme Roads
Cookout

Eastfield-Stanbrook Civic Association, 6 – 8 p.m.
Stansbury Park at Denbury and Moorgate Roads
Cookout and Baltimore County Fire Department’s Engine 57

Old Inverness Community Association, 6 – 8 p.m.
Inverness Community Park, Bayside Drive
Cookout

North Point Civic Association, 6 – 8 p.m.
Battle Grove Park, 7715 Battle Grove Road
Ice cream social

Dun-Logan/Old Dundalk, 6- 8 p.m.
Heritage Park near Trading Place
Cookout

Sollers Point Community Center, 6 – 8 p.m.
323 Sollers Point Road
Baltimore County Fire Department’s Engine 6 on display; Baltimore County Recreation and Parks will provide handouts.

Event listing source: Baltimore County Police Department