National Night Out rescheduled
National Night Out has been rescheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Monessen City Park walking track, located on Grand Boulevard in Monessen.
The event is free and open to the public.
The event had originally been scheduled for Sept. 27, but was postponed due to heavy rainstorms that evening.
National Night Out is sponsored by the Mon Valley Opioid Coalition, City of Monessen, Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission, Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission and Fayette County Drug and Alcohol Commission.
The night’s festivities will begin with a parade – held in conjunction with Monessen’s Halloween parade – which will begin at the intersection of Grand and Parente boulevards and proceed to the city’s walking track. Participants in National Night Out will join the children in the annual parade.
Children from all Mon Valley communities are asked to participate.
The main events for National Night Out will begin immediately after the parade concludes. Participants will give out candy at their respective booths. Children attending will be given cards, which they can get marked at the booths and can be used to enter a silent auction for a chance to win a bicycle.
In conjunction with Red Ribbon Week, red ribbons provided by the Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission will be given out by members of the Monessen Communities That Care Youth Council.
DJ Galiffa will provide music. Local churches will sell food items, including ethnic specialties.
Colleen Hughes, executive director of the Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission, co-chairs the commission with Monessen Police Chief Jim Smith. Rostraver Township, Charleroi and Donora police are also represented.
Formed to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic in the area, the Mon Valley Opioid Coalition has been meeting since November. The coalition also includes members of the faith-based community, representatives from Belle Vernon Area and Monessen high schools, prevention providers, members of the recovery community, treatments providers and pharmacists.
Any group that would like to participate in the parade or National Night Out can call Sarah at 724-542-4508 ext. 4356.