(07/28/09) -  The 26th Annual National Night Out (NNO), a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 4, 2009.

Involved since 1984, Akron last year Akron had nine sites with 10 different activities.  This year will have a dozen locations.  Included are new sites in east and southeast Akron, Cascade Village, northwest Akron and West Hill. (The full list is attached as a PDF)

At 6:30 PM, a special “Healing” event sponsored by the Akron PeaceMakers will take place at Firestone Park Community Center to promote peace in that neighborhood and to pray for the Marshall family attacked on June 27 on Girard Street.

Most sites will feature music, games and free food.  All will provide information on safety, health and other issues of concern. City of Akron anti-crime signs will be available at all sites as well as Block Watch sign-up and information.

Last year's National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from more than 10,000 communities and all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide.  In all, more than 35 million people participated in NNO 2008.