 Hello everyone, I am Charmaine Clark, Program Manager of the City of Columbia Community Development Department. Hello everyone, I am Assistant Chief Folsom with the Columbia Fire Department. The Outcoming National Night Out kickoff event will be Thursday, July 27th from 5.30 to 8.30. At the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. At this kickoff, you can inspect different exhibitors from different local government agencies as well as city departments. You can also inspect food, fun and games and interacting with the Police Department, Fire Department and other departments throughout the City of Columbia. There will also be a lot of displays at this kickoff. As he stated, the Columbia Fire Department will have their fire trucks. The Police Department will have some of their equipment out there as well as community development. Well, community development is very instrumental in getting a lot of the neighborhood leaders involved as well as our collaborative efforts with Columbia Council of Neighborhoods who will also be participating by displaying their tables as an exhibitor as well as giving out up to $50 grants for neighborhoods that's going to be participating in the actual National Night Out. The Fire Department plays an important role in the National Night Out just like any other agency. We partner with all the other agencies such as the Police Department to provide avenues and safe things that we can do for our communities. It's not just about the Police Department protecting the citizens and their neighborhoods. It's also about us supplying educational do's and don'ts for our citizens at the same time. It's a crime prevention event, which is very important. It is plaguing some parts of our community today. So this is to bring awareness for our citizens as well as our local government agencies. As well as to reduce crime, to promote transparency and to provide a place where we can come together as one. Because we all want to. So let's all be a part of the fabric of this great city and come out and support the pre-kickoff of the National Night Out at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.