After being forced to cancel last year’s National Night Out festivities because of storms, Franklin Park and McCandless police are hopeful Mother Nature will cooperate this year.

The history of National Night Out started in 1981 as a community-building event to promote police-community relationships. It is celebrated every year across the U.S. on the first Tuesday of August, according to natw.org.

Both communities are planning special activities Aug. 5 to mark the event.

Franklin Park

A bench dedicated to Franklin Park’s first police chief will be unveiled during the borough’s National Night Out celebration, slated for 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 5 on the grounds of the police department along West Ingomar Road.

Joseph Hotnich, an officer who served in the 1960s when Franklin Park transitioned into a borough, will be honored with the bench dedicated by his daughter and longtime Franklin Park resident, Theresa Scott, said Franklin Park police Chief Aron Leach.

The bench is set up outside the entrance to the police station.

“In 1963, when the township transitioned into a borough and the need for structured leadership became clear, it was Joseph Hotnich who stepped into that historic role as our very first chief of police,” Leach said.

The borough was Franklin Township at that time, Leach noted.

“Though his time as chief was tragically short, serving only until his passing in 1966, his impact was profound and lasting. During those formative years, Chief Hotnich laid the groundwork for the police department we know today — a department committed to integrity, professionalism and community service,” Leach said.

In addition to the bench dedication, activities will include a touch-a-truck display featuring Franklin Park’s police and fire vehicles, as well as a visit from the McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority.

McCandless

McCandless plans to introduce the town’s new K-9, Leroy, and his handler, Officer Shawn Davis, to the community during its National Night Out celebration.

The festivities will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 5 at Town Hall, 9955 Grubbs Road.

This is the fifth year that McCandless police have hosted the event.

“McCandless’ National Night Out will also feature the North Hills Special Response Team’s MRAP vehicle. The event will also feature a LifeFlight helicopter landing, a bike rodeo, and a variety of food trucks,” said John Bojarski, spokesperson for McCandless.

There also will be giveaways, children’s activities, DJ-led entertainment and a variety of raffles, the latter benefiting the McCandless K-9 program.

“Thanks to a generous donation from Giant Eagle, the department will be raffling off four Pittsburgh Pirates tickets (with seats located behind home plate) for the Aug. 19 game at PNC Park. Community members can earn a free raffle ticket by donating new school supplies, which can be dropped off at the North Hills Community Outreach booth during the event,” Bojarski said.

Also on hand for McCandless’ event will be Allegheny County’s mounted horses and local emergency services.

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