National Night Out events to be held this week and next

First responders in local communities will participate in the National Night Out events this week and next.

The National Night Out campaign, launched in Philadelphia in 1984, focuses on fostering positive relationships between residents and first responders — including firefighters and police officers. The movement has spread throughout the country, and Southwestern Pennsylvania is no exception.

Here are some of the Westmoreland County communities participating:

• Allegheny Township — 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 6 at Northmoreland Park, 280 Markle Road. Residents can meet local first responders, connect with community resources and learn about drug prevention and anti-crime efforts.

• Delmont — 5:30 p.m. Aug. 5 at the Delmont Borough building and library parking lot, 77 Greensburg St. Attendees can tour the police department, meet Mutual Aid ambulance staff and the borough’s new police dog and learn about equipment from state police and the borough’s public works department. Free pizza, Kona Ice and live entertainment by local musician Cliff Jobe will be provided.

• Hempfield — 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 7 at Hempfield Park, 220 Forbes Trail Road. There will be food, raffles, student activities, live performances and a fireworks show to conclude the event.

• Ligonier — 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 5 in the Lot A parking lot across from the Ligonier Valley YMCA, located at 110 W. Church St. Ladder truck rides, police dog demonstrations and a SWAT presentation will be given. A basket raffle, dunk tank, bounce obstacle course and free pizza, hot dogs and popcorn will be offered.

• Monessen — 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 12 at Monessen High School, 1245 State Road. Attendees will be able to interact with local police officers, firefighters and EMTs. Kids prizes, basket raffles, food trucks, games and free ice cream will be provided.

• Mon Valley — 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 5 at DiVirgilio Sports Complex, 100 Recreation Drive, Rostraver. Police officers, firefighters and EMTs from municipalities throughout the Mon Valley will attend. Local businesses and organizations will also be present. There will be free food and beverages, raffle baskets, kids prizes and activities and a 50/50 raffle. A fireworks display will take place at 9 p.m.

• Murrysville — 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 5 by the Murrysville Municipal Building, 4200 Sardis Road. Police, public works, fire and EMS personnel will attend. Stat MedEvac will land a helicopter at the event at 7 p.m. There will also be food trucks by Bull River Taco, Smokey Meats BBQ, Hibachi Lou and Cutie Pie Cupcakes.

In the Alle-Kiski Valley, two National Night Out celebrations are scheduled this week:

• West Leechburg — 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 5 at the fireman’s recreation hall pavilion and grounds, 1116 Gosser St. There will be food trucks, a meet-and-greet with members of the Allegheny Township Department, a petting zoo, 50-50 and children’s activities. Entertainment will be the Kiski Valley Community Band and Brad Kerezsturi. The event is sponsored by the borough Crime Watch.

• Northmoreland Park, Allegheny Township — 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 6 at Pavilion 8. Rain or shine. There will be local businesses, representatives from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Police Academy, entertainment, food, local police departments, first responders and children’s activities. Sponsored by CSAY Westmoreland and the Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission Inc.

TribLive staff member Carol Pinto-Smith contributed.