‘Ville Participates in National Night Out

Millersville University has been invited to participate in another National Night Out this year. The annual event will take place on Aug 6. from 6 to 8 p.m. Activities will be held at the Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home and the Borough Municipal Building. The event is hosted by Millersville's Civil Service Commission. The Millersville University Police Department has participated in the event in past years.

This year, MUPD will rotate between two events, one taking place at Leisure Lanes in Lancaster and the other at the Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home and the Borough Municipal Building.

Millersville Borough and Manor police departments, first responders, and the Blue Rock Fire Rescue department will also be on hand. National Night Out serves as a casual environment for the community, including Millersville University. Campus police will provide information about their department and child identity kits for families with small children. Dr. Aaron Haines, a professor of biology at MU, and Millersville students will lead an activity on owl pellet dissection. The students were honored earlier this year for their presentation on owl pellets.

Other activities include games, food trucks, animals from Acorn Acres, giveaways and tours of the Millersville Borough police department, firetrucks and ambulances.

"I am most excited for our newer officers to engage with our local community members and some of our students who attend," says Pete Anders, MU Police Chief. "We have a very good relationship as a department with the Borough and our surrounding communities. Our communities are safer when we work together and collectively look out for each other."

Officer Ivan Gonzalez and MUPD'sK-9,Brooks, a golden retriever and trauma dog, will make appearances in Millersville Borough and at Leisure Lanes.

Anders says the event has an informal feel, allowing officers and town residents to interact casually. The police officers also note how nice it is to interact with each other outside of their demanding workdays.

"It is a nice opportunity for officers to catch up with peers from other departments and officers within our own departments who work different shifts," says Anders.

There are currently 32 participants managing booths and activities. Melissa Ostrowski, chair of the Civil Service Commission in Millersville, encourages all residents to attend. No registration or tickets are required, and all members of the community are welcome.