Twenty-two communities from one end of St. Mary’s County to the other participated in the 29th Annual National Night Out. The events varied from community to community with small gatherings of neighbors for food and conversation to larger events with games, music and visits from fire departments and rescue squads. At each event a deputy was on hand to interact with the community and answer questions.

The Bay Net this year visited three communities in the far flung Mechanicsville postal area: Country Lakes, Persimmon Hills and St. Joseph’s Community Center. Pictures from those NNO events are included in the attached slide show.

At sprawling Country Lakes, members of the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad joined residents at the community pavilion. Their apparatus were available for viewing along with a Maryland State Police cruiser. The county’s volunteer recruitment coordinator Bill Smith was available to answer question from young prospective volunteer recruits.

Games such as musical chairs and sack races were held and several vendors were on hand, including SMECO and St. Mary’s Crime Solvers. Officers of the Country Lakes Citizens Association were introduced and door prizes handed out. And of course there were plenty of hot dogs, cakes and cookies, and soda and water for everyone. National Night Out Coordinator Corporal Angela Delozier was on hand for this event and participated in several of the games.

At Persimmon Hills families gathered around on lawn chairs or sat on the ground to eat barbeque sandwiches, shrimp pasta and ice cream. It was a chance for everyone in the large-lot subdivision to get to know each other. An appearance from the Mechanicsville VFD was expected later in the evening.

 In contrast to the outside events, community members gathered inside the air-conditioned St. Joseph Community Center for food, games and giveaways.

Sheriff Timothy Cameron, Corporal Delozier, and the California Target are proud to announce the winners of this year’s National Night Out “Community Challenges.”

As announced live and drawn by T-Bone and Heather on 98.3 Star FM at 7:10 a.m., August 8, 2012; Community Challenge winners are:

Target gift card winning numbers are as follows: 040658, 040669 and 040644

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