Jay Dockendorf Photo
The Kelly girls of Orchard Street (pictured) played ring toss, others broke out in spontaneous dance, and a grown man squeezed his first-ever stuffed animal prize, as Dixwell neighbors gathered for a night of crime-preventing fun.
It was an evening of dancing, games, Target swag, and pizza on Goffe Street as community members gathered at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple to celebrate National Night Out. The celebration was one of seven across town Tuesday, aiming to prevent crime and strengthen neighborhood ties with police.
“I come to [National Nights Out] all the time, because it’s fun and it gets the children out,” said Darlene Kelly, who stood watching her daughters play. The event, which was sponsored by Target of Milford and Orange, offered activities for kids of all ages.
Participants included Yale researcher Clinton Robinson of the Yale Child Study Center. He was there spreading the word about a different community meeting, one for grandparents at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Wexler/Grant School. The talk is called “The Effect of Violence on Children And How Grandparents Can Help the Situation” and is open to the public.
Kids from the Nation Drill Squad and Drum Corps danced in unison. Earlier they spontaneously broke out into dance when a favorite hip-hop song came on the loudspeakers.
If there was a color to the event, it was red. Many people in attendance wore a fire engine red Target employee t‑shirt. (The Goffe Street fire station, incidentally, was open for tours across the street, although New Haven fire engines are, of course, white.) Everyone received a gift bag of Target pencils, crayons, and a notebook. Calculators were given away to whomever wanted one.
Tuesday marked the National Night Out program’s 27th year, according to Jocelyn Hudson-Brown, who coordinated the event along with Lorena Moore-Turner. She said 37 million people in 15,000 cities were simultaneously participating.
Doug Bethea (at right in photo) and his fellow members of the Prince Hall Masonic Temple were presented with a proclamation from the mayor and governor stating that August 3rd was National Night Out Day. A few moments later, Bethea won a stuffed animal in the raffle. He sprinted from inside the Temple to claim his prize, lucky ticket raised high.
“I’ve never won anything in my life!” he yelled, clutching the animal to his face, and sending the children into rapturous laughter.
The lodge has always been a refuge for African American children. It was the first school for black children in America, according to a historical plaque.