LANSING, Ill. (August 4, 2022) – The first Tuesday of every August, police departments throughout the nation host National Night Out events in an effort to improve police and community relations for crime prevention. The Lansing Police Department, with the help of several volunteers and the donations of local sponsors, hosted their own special National Night Out event at Fox Pointe.
“Why are we here tonight?” Lansing Police Chief Al Phillips asked the crowd. “The big reason we are here is to bring our community together. National Night Out against crime is about working together with our community and our police department to try and reduce crime, but be closer as a community. We want you guys to get to know us, and we need to get to know you. We listen to what you have to say — and this is a great event for us to be out here — to listen, and implement the things that are going to make our community better.”
The family-oriented event included free food and drink and a variety of activities and entertainment: face painting, a dunk tank, a sledgehammer bell game, two bouncy inflatables, a children’s train, a bubble-making station, a professional magic act, a K-9 demonstration, and a free raffle with prizes for adults and children alike.
Jennifer Yos grew up on Walter Street in Lansing with nine siblings. She attended St. Ann’s School and T.F. South, and she earned a BA in the Teaching of English from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and a MS in Education: Curriculum and Instruction from the University of St. Francis, Joliet. For 34 years she taught English, as well as Creative Writing and Drama, at Lincoln-Way High School. She dabbled in freelance journalism for the Joliet Herald News Living section. Now retired, Jennifer appreciates the opportunity to write for The Lansing Journal and is uplifted by the variety of positive people she has already met who are making a difference in Lansing.