The Rockville Community Alliance (RCA) presents “National Night Out”, on Tuesday, August 5^th at Talcott Park, in Rockville.  This annual free event fills Talcott Park with food, entertainment, demonstrations, balloons, prizes and most importantly, community-spirit.  There will be lots of activities planned to keep families entertained! Plenty of food and drink will be supplied by our generous sponsors.

Also, at 6: P.M., there will be a special ceremony to thank all of the organizations, businesses and sponsors of this extraordinary event.  Local and State dignitaries have been invited to “say a few words” and speak on the importance of community-building.

MANY LOCAL NON-PROFITS AND COMMUNITY-MINDED BUSINESSES WILL BE SHOWCASED AT THE EVENT. Approximately  30 displays this year!

They include;

Hidden Dragon Karate
Rockville Bank
Rockville Downtown Assoc. (RDA)
Town of Vernon - Dept. of Social Services
Town of Vernon - Parks & Recreation Dept.
Vernon Youth Services Bureau (VYSB)
St. Bartholomew's Church 
EASTCONN -Vernon Head Start
Vernon Bicentennial Committee
Hockanum Valley Community Council (HVCC)
Vernon Community Network (VCN)
Gene Pitney Commemorative Committee (GPCC)
"The Rock" Youth Ministry from Rockville Church of the Nazarene
Spare Time Bowling
KidSafe CT
Cornerstone Foundation
Rockville United Methodist Church
First New England Federal Credit Union
American Diabetes
Union Congregational Church
       Bev's Corner
       Become Part of the Solution
       Jacob's Well - A Christian Coffeehouse
       Senegal Mission Team
Vernon Community Health Services
Christ's Co-Mission International
US Army
CT Golf Land and Games
Ron-a-Roll
Hartford Wolf*Pack
Dollar Tree @ Tri-City Plaza
Rockville Community Alliance (RCA)

 

ENTERTAINMENT ON VERNON’S SHOWMOBILE

            Music by 95-South, Bryan Flint, Magician, Hidden Dragon Karate demonstration

The event is underwritten by:

The Vernon police Dept.

Union Congregational Church

Maneeley's Catering and Conference Center

Drs. Shapiro & Marmer

95 South Band

McDonald's/Walsh Enterprises

Scranton Motors

High Grade Gas Service of Stafford Springs

Pepsi

Target

US Army

   

There will additional activities such as basketball sponsored by the Vernon Parks & Recreation Dept., Sidewalk Chalk art, Face-painting, Fire Trucks and McGruff the Crime Dog ® , HOT 93.7, The Hartford Wolf*Pack. Outdoor bowling by Spare Time Lanes

For more information about “National Night Out” please contact NNO Chairperson Mike Hescock @ 454-4448 or 875-1044.

Go to the 2008 NNO webpage to see our constantly being updated list of sponsors. www.rockvillect.com and click on the NNO logo.

In 2007, National Night Out involved 35.4 million people in 11,310 communities from all 50 states. For more information about the national direction of NNO, please go to their website at  www.nationalnightout.org

 National Night Out, a year-long community building campaign, is designed to “strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.“ The NATW consists of over 11,000 participating communities and has listed participation of more than 34 million since 1981. In 1984, the organization began its National Night Out event, held on the first Tuesday in August to promote its anti-crime message throughout the United States.  This event traditionally boasts strong support and participation from local law enforcement and others concerned with the safety of their community.  We adopt no specific political or other affiliation, but rather encourage all to come together in the spirit of a safe and peaceful community.

---

 Background info on the Rockville Community Alliance (RCA)

The mission of the “Rockville Community Alliance” is to improve and preserve the greater Rockville area of Vernon through the cooperative efforts of residents, the Town of Vernon, and other stake holders, including but not limited to: businesses, property owners, religious organizations, cultural services, and non-profit organizations.

The Rockville Community Alliance is a neighborhood organization that  was re-established when Officer Chuck Hicking was selected as Community Policing Officer on 12/3/05.

He made the initial contact with residents in the area and invited then to the first meeting on March 1, 2006. Since then the group has met monthly at the Florence Mill Apartments Community Room. The group’s first priority was to develop a dialogue directly with the police officers, local government agencies and area residents.

At each monthly meeting, residents are invited to discuss their cares and concerns with the Vernon Police Department.  It has provided a good forum where the officers can learn what’s important to the neighborhood residents, and the public has learned more about the role and responsibilities of the police department.  The cooperative sharing has created a better working relationship along the lines of how the public and the police can work together better for the common good with the mission of improving Rockville’s neighborhoods.

When residents have asked Officer Hicking to look into their concerns, he has always come back to the next meeting with answers and solutions. At each regular meeting, residents are apprised of the upcoming events and have been given instruction as to what role citizens can play in order to make the community a better place to live. There have also been guest speakers such as Marina Rodriguez from the Vernon Town Planner’s Office.

In order to provide specific attention to the various neighborhoods in Rockville, the area has been mapped out into different neighborhood parcels with each having an elected Block Captain.  Residents are encouraged to meet with their Block Captains so that their specific concerns can be addressed. If you would like to contact your local Block Watch Captain, feel free to call 875-1044 or RCA @ or e-mail to RCA@RockvilleCT.com

A Board of Directors were elected, and by-laws were completed in early 2007.  The group has successfully organized itself into a cohesive group and will soon be publishing it’s work plans to improved the local neighborhoods.

Officers for the RCA are as follows;
President - Bryan Flint
Vice President - Rosemarie Mezrioui
Treasurer - Kathy Bidwell
Recording Sec’y – Catherine Zeder
Communications/PR Officer-Bryan Flint

Block Watch Captains include;
Ray Hany
Mike Hescock
Len Zbyk
Catherine Zeder