City of Salamanca to host ‘Night Out’ event Tuesday

SALAMANCA — The City of Salamanca is hosting “Salamanca Night Out” at Jefferson Street Park on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. Residents and visitors are invited to the free, community event intended to strengthen community connections. The evening will feature a variety of activities for all ages, including chalk art, a kids zone, bounce houses, a picnic in the park, live music by Pie Time Entertainment and more. Representatives from the city’s Police Department and Fire Department will be on site throughout the event, allowing residents to meet local first responders, ask questions and build stronger community relationships in a fun, family-friendly environment. Residents are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy an evening of music, food, activities and community fellowship. Complimentary hot dogs, chips, freeze pops, drinks and grab bags for children will be available while supplies last. Whether families are coming to meet their local police officers and firefighters, spend time with neighbors, or simply enjoy a fun summer evening with their family, Salamanca Night Out will offer something for everyone. Jolene Longley, Community Engagement & Operations Coordinator, said the event is designed to bring the community together for an evening of family fun, while providing an opportunity to meet members of the Salamanca Police Department and Salamanca Fire Department in a relaxed, welcoming setting. Longley said the idea for Salamanca Night Out was discussed during a recent Common Council meeting as a way to create an event focused on community engagement and positive interaction with local first responders. During that discussion, it was noted that the Salamanca Exchange Club had hosted similar community events in the past, inspiring the city to organize a new gathering centered on bringing neighbors together. The Salamanca Exchange Club was a volunteer service organization that served the community through programs and projects. Mayor Sandra Magiera, who was a member of the club, said they did a lot of community activities, and one was the National Night Out, which hasn’t been done in Salamanca in quite a few years. “When someone mentioned that the Exchange Club had organized events like this years ago, we thought it was a great idea to bring that concept back,” the mayor said. “Salamanca Night Out is an opportunity for residents to enjoy time with family and neighbors while getting to know the police officers and firefighters who serve our community. We hope this event helps strengthen those relationships and reminds everyone what makes Salamanca such a special place to call home.” Salamanca’s Night Out is being held in conjunction with the “National Night Out,” which takes place annually across the U.S. on the first Tuesday in August. This year, 17,000 communities across the nation are participating in this year’s campaign. Salamanca is among the 108 cities in New York State that will be taking part in this national community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships. The National Association of Town Watch (NATW) is the non-profit organization behind National Night Out. According to NATW, the annual event was introduced in August 1984 through an already established network of law enforcement agencies, neighborhood watch groups, civic groups, state and regional crime prevention associations, and volunteers across the nation. The first annual National Night Out involved 2.5 million neighbors across 400 communities in 23 states. Questions about the event can be directed to Longley by calling (716) 945-4620.