National Night Out, a police-sponsored community gathering held Aug. 1 at towns and cities all over the U.S., was a big hit on a perfect Tuesday evening on the campus of Salisbury Elementary School, along Gaskill Avenue.

Salisbury Township Police Department Chief Donald Sabo was effusive in his description of the event. “It’s a perfect night and an ideal location for our annual Night Out event. It’s so good to be able to interact with so many of our township residents,” he said.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign promoting police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.

The countrywide NNO program was introduced in Pennsylvania in 1984 and now boasts a participation of 38 million neighbors in 17,000 U.S. communities.

In years past, the local event was held on the grounds of Salisbury Middle School, along Devonshire Road, in the western portion of the township.

“With extensive renovations going on at the middle school over the summer, we looked to Salisbury Elementary School’s campus for this year’s gathering,” Salisbury officers Chris Casey and Kevin Kress, the event’s principal organizers, said.

Anecdotal comments among many of those attending endorsed the change of venue. Sabo estimated this year’s event drew more neighbors than previous years.

The attendees seemed to be all smiles as they enjoyed free food and drinks, games, bounce equipment, face painting, musical entertainment, a basket raffle, a 50/50 drawing and police and fire vehicles on display.

The prize baskets, which were extensive, were donated by local businesses and residents, with proceeds of the raffle and the 50/50 drawing helping to cover expenses for the event.