Port Jervis Police Department’s 14th National Night Out is back! After being halted for two-years due to the impact of the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, PJPD Chief William Worden said he is excited and grateful to have been able to bring NNO back to the Port Jervis community.
“We have received a lot of feedback from the public letting us know that they really missed National Night Out in 2020 and 2021 and were hoping to have it come back, and so were we,” Worden said. We can’t wait to see everyone out again tonight. The weather is really nice, and we are hoping for a good turnout for this night of community unity.”
Tonight’s event, as always, is aimed at promoting and building partnerships between police, community organizations, schools, businesses, and the entire population of the Tri-State region. There will be something for everyone, and all completely free of charge. In addition to the event activities, a personal community appeal will be made in person by the mother of a missing Port Jervis woman.
The event starts with a parade, with anyone of any age invited to join in. The parade will step off at 5:30 p.m. from Port Jervis’ Municipal Building on Hammond Street and conclude at the NNO event at Riverside Park in the Acre. Free T-shirts will be provided beginning at the 5 p.m. parade lineup, to wear in the parade.
Food and refreshments will be distributed at Riverside Park, as will free bicycles and raffle prizes. Some of the activities will include Macaroni Magic show, professional face-painting, music by DJ Rock-A-Fuller, Dragon Springs Lady Drum Dances, Broome Street Band, games and children’s recreational activities, law enforcement, fire department, and emergency services demonstrations and displays, and foods, sweet treats, games, and informational items distributed from dozens of community booths.
Worden noted that the family of a young missing Port Jervis woman, Brittany Hendershot, has also been invited to speak to the community from Riverside Park.
Crystal Hendershot, Brittany’s mother, said she has accepted the chief’s invitation and will continue to appeal to the community for help in finding her missing daughter. The very worried mom is unsure of the exact time she will speak, but believes it will be shortly after the event starts at Riverside Park. She will plead for the help of all in searching for and reporting any sighting or news of her daughter.
Brittany, age 20, gave birth to a son on Mother’s Day (May 8, 2022), left home on June 12, and has had no credible reports of having been seen or heard since July 7.
In the past thousands have turned out for NNO, a community night of unity and fun.
Worden said his department and others consider it a very important event and a chance to spend time with community partners, all aimed at safety, building unity, and improving the quality of life in the community.
