New Ulm to celebrate National Night Out

By MARTHA KRIENKE

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Mr. Roger's signature question, "Won't you be my neighbor?" is now directed to the citizens of New Ulm and area communities.

On Aug. 4, New Ulm's eighth annual National Night Out (NNO) will begin at 6 p.m. at German Park. Activities are planned to "promote community health and well being," said event coordinator Vicki Sieve.

Maiden Voyage, a trio performing an eclectic blend of music, will provide musical entertainment. Participants may visit booths from area organizations and watch demonstrations by the New Ulm Gymnastics Club and the New Ulm Police Department's police dog. United Way will talk about their Day of Caring, and the American Cancer Society will present information about the Relay for Life.

D.A.R.E.'s mascot Mr. McGruff will be in costume to greet kids, and every child will be given a prize for participating in NNO.

Sieve encourages people to come and have supper at the park. The New Ulm Area Sportsman Association will be selling hotdogs and brats. Habitat for Humanity will be giving away ice cream, and Dominoes will be selling pizza. Relay for Life will be selling popcorn.

The winner of the Good Neighbor Award will be announced, as well as a new award for the Good Citizen presented by the New Ulm Police Department.

Last year's Good Neighbor winners Dick and Marilyn Hudson were honored for helping their 94-year-old neighbor. Hope Diamonds presented them with a clock with an engraved plate saying, "National Night Out Good Neighbor Award." They also received gift certificates to area restaurants.

Marilyn said NNO is a "nice way to make a neighborhood closer. We're very fortunate. Our neighborhood is very friendly."

Sieve said each year they receive about a dozen nominations of people looking out for others and working to build a close-knit neighborhood.

The national event will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 5, in cities across the country. New Ulm has made it into a two-part event by organizing a larger community event on Monday and neighborhood picnics on Tuesday. Sieve estimates that 70 neighborhoods will gather in New Ulm and surrounding communities this year for picnics to get to know each other and teach children where safe places are and who they can call if they need help.