The public is invited to join the Collier County Sheriff’s Office for free, family-friendly events Tuesday and Thursday.
The events are part of CCSO’s month-long celebration to promote community safety.
“Celebrating Safe Communities” is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime efforts; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.
Throughout October CCSO is celebrating the fight against crime by hosting events and activities that bring neighborhoods, communities, businesses, and law enforcement together. Festivities include cookouts, refreshments, pony rides, bounce houses, face painting and rock wall climbing.
All of the events are free and open to the public.
Here’s a look at Celebrating Safe Communities events to be held around Collier County this week:
TUESDAY, OCT. 22
North Naples: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lock-Up Self Storage, 1025 Piper Blvd. Festivities will include a CCSO K-9 Unit demonstration, CCSO motorcycle demonstration, North Naples Fire Department safety demonstration, and the Mobile Crime Scene Lab. There will also be a bounce house and rock-wall climbing for kids and food from area restaurants including CiCi’s Pizza, Mangino’s Pizzeria and Fred’s Diner.
THURSDAY, OCT. 24
Golden Gate: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Parkway. This event will feature demonstrations by SWAT and the Bomb Squad, the Golden Gate fire safety house and fire truck, and a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission airboat and alligator. Representatives from Collier County Code Enforcement, Drug Free Collier, Youth Haven, and the Women’s Shelter of Naples will be on hand. Activities will include face painting, rock-wall climbing, pony rides, a dunk tank, and a bounce house. Hot dogs, lemonade and sno cones will be served.
Everglades: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The CCSO Crime Prevention tent will be set up on Smallwood Drive near Demere Lane. There will be brochures and fliers with safety information, giveaways and refreshments.
East Naples: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at East Naples Community Park, 3500 Thomasson Drive. CCSO deputies will be joined by representatives from Drug Free Collier, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Collier County Code Enforcement, Bayshore Community Redevelopment Agency, and Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. There also will be face painting, temporary tattoos, and refreshments.
Golden Gate Estates: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Florida Forest Service office at 710 Randall Blvd. CCSO deputies will be joined by troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol who will bring their vehicle rollover simulator. Representatives from the Big Corkscrew Fire Department and Collier County Code Enforcement will also be on hand. Local locksmiths and gun safety experts will also be on hand. The event will also feature a presentation by deputies on marijuana grow houses. Smokey Bear will be there. CCSO all-terrain vehicles will be on display and information on ATV safety. Hot dogs and refreshments will be served.
Immokalee: 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Crestview Park Apartments, 715 Crestview Drive. Crime Prevention deputies and McGruff the Crime Dog will be on hand to talk to parents and youngsters about Neighborhood Watch, stranger danger and gun safety. Deputies will host a bicycle safety course and offer pedestrian safety tips. Food and refreshments will be provided.
