A national night
on the town

By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer

Many communities throughout Philadelphia turn out every year for the National Night Out anti-crime and anti-drug gatherings hosted by their neighborhood Town Watch groups.
But few, if any, are a focal point for the region like the Fox Chase Town Watch’s event has become over the last dozen years.
Fox Chase’s 13th annual shindig — which is equal parts block party, carnival and public service project — will highlight National Night Out activities in the Northeast on Tuesday, Aug. 5. It will be held at Fox Chase School, Rhawn and Halstead streets, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
More than 50 businesses, non-profit organizations, public agencies and community groups will entertain, inform, feed and refresh an expected crowd of more than 3,000 visitors.
Former Phillie Dickie Noles will sign autographs. Northeast native Timmy Kelly will sing the national anthem. Police and fire department units will demonstrate their unique lifesaving skills. Radio station B101 will keep the school parking lot filled with music.
Most importantly, however, regular folks will get to show one another and the not-so-nice members of the community that there is no room for crime or drugs in the neighborhood.
"It’s to show that you care and you support the Town Watch and police," said John Duffy, the Fox Chase Town Watch vice president and primary event organizer. "And by the same token, you can have a water ice and meet your neighbor."
A special purpose this year will be to raise money for the family of slain Philadelphia police Sgt. Steven Liczbinski, whose family still lives in nearby Burholme and are members of St. Cecilia Church in Fox Chase. The Town Watch hopes to present the family with a check in September.
The Fox Chase event hasn’t gotten so big over the years on the strength of its high-minded mission alone, Duffy explained. Other groups have hosted their own events for as long or longer, but remained relatively modest in size, catering perhaps to a few dozen or several hundred as opposed to thousands.
Some groups choose to keep it smaller in scope, perhaps reflecting their smaller coverage areas.
Organizers of the Fox Chase event, however, decided long ago to try to offer as many attractions to as many people as possible, thinking that in the midst of all the fun and giveaways they’d be able to get their message out to a larger audience.
"Our first year, maybe five hundred to six hundred people showed up, and we had maybe ten tables of neighborhood businesses," Duffy said. "Then if five or six hundred people show up and have a good time, they’re going to tell people and the next year you get twelve hundred."
The support of businesses has grown proportionately. Some, like the 7-Eleven at Burholme and Oxford avenues, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Jeanes Hospital, Fox Chase Lock and Key and Sally’s Flowers, Holiday Market and Quig’s Pizza, have been involved virtually since the beginning. Others, like Target, are newer to the fold but equally vital.
There always seem to be a few new arrivals, too. This year, Three Sisters Café, Girl Scouts, the Philadelphia Water Department, the Department of Street’s recycling unit, Penn Maid Yogurt and Citizens Bank of Huntingdon Valley have come aboard.
For each, the publicity is great. In exchange, each offers a unique contribution to the event, many in the form of freebies. Visitors can stroll the parking lot and find free soft drinks, yogurt, water ice, soft pretzels and some more unique treats. One year, Conroy Catering distributed chocolate-covered strawberries fondue-style.
Word has spread far and wide about the fun. Last year, folks from places like Cheltenham Village, Elkins Park, Huntingdon Valley, Jenkintown, Bryn Athyn, Willow Grove and Horsham joined folks from throughout the Northeast, according to Duffy.
"We never thought it was going to be this big," he said. "We knew it would be neighborhood people, like a local sporting event. But it’s grown into this huge thing, and it’s all positive. We’re fortunate to be in an area where people care."
Over the years, political candidates have also taken great notice of the turnout. Mayoral hopefuls from Ed Rendell and John Street to Sam Katz and Michael Nutter have all stumped at the event, as have congressional candidates, hopeful state legislators and those running for prominent city offices.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Seamus McCaffery made the rounds when running for the high court last year, although the longtime Bustleton resident was an annual participant long before then.
Nutter, District Attorney Lynne Abraham and Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey are all more than welcome to attend this year, Duffy said.
A best-case scenario for the Town Watch will be to break even on the event and to recruit a handful of new members. A lot of folks think that joining the group takes a lot of time, but it’s really not that bad.
"We have a sign-up list at our table," Duffy said. "It’s very important. We only ask for two hours a month." ••
Visit www.foxchasetownwatch.org or leave a message at 215-694-6666 for information about the Fox Chase National Night Out.
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@phillynews.com