National Night Out Lady Lake 2016, a public awareness and safety event, brought out many area residents and thirty-five children went home with new bikes. Held at Home Depot, the event, part of the National Night Out program, is meant to raise safety awareness and put a face on area police officers, firefighters and area businesses.
“It gets people out mingling with us and the area businesses,” said Lady Lake Police Chief Chris McKinstry. “Through this and other public events we develop personal relationships. A lot of these kids know me as Chief Chris.”
Sumter County Sheriff’s office, Wildwood and Fruitland Park police departments and Villages public safety all participated. “We invited all the surrounding towns and the Villages,” said McKinstry. “Usually when people see us they are in trouble. There has been a crime or their house is on fire. These events allow us to get to know each other when it is not an emergency.”
“By far the most fun part of the event is giving away the bikes,” added McKinstry. Thirty five bikes ranging from toddler tricycles all the way to bikes appropriate for teenagers were given away.
This is the fourth year for this event and the beautiful weather and the stepped up advertising brought a lot more people to the event this year. McDonald’s and Home Depot and Target gave out cookies, apples, hot dogs and popcorn.
Participating in a small obstacle course on a bike provided each child a bike helmet to keep. The helmets are provided through a grant by the state of Florida to promote safe bike riding.
The Villages Community Development Districts Community Watch was on hand to make people more aware of what they do. The Villages is divided into 12 patrol areas plus the three squares and all are patrolled 24/7. “It started as a neighborhood watch on the north side, and people patrolled in golf carts,” said Division Chief Bill Elliott. “Our mission is the same, to be the eyes and ears of the community, but now the patrol covers 40 square miles.”
Orange Blossom Gardens Lions Club Clown Doris ‘Rain Bo’ Turlo singlehandedly painted the children’s faces and vendors provided games until the moment arrived that all the children had been waiting for, the bike give away. McKinstry called numbers and thirty five bikes briskly left the tent. The little kids seemed a little dazed when they got their bikes; the older children were more outspoken in their enthusiasm. Carver middle school student Kendal Dieleman was ‘surprised’ and excited, saying “This is the first time I have won something.” The last few bikes were given out and another successful National Night Out Lady Lake came to a close.
