City Community Night highlighted by pavilion dedication in Ray White Park

[October 09, 2015]   LINCOLN - On Thursday, October 8, city of Lincoln employees hosted Community Night at Ray White Park with food and fun for families.

Children could climb on a police Humvee and the heavy equipment used by the Streets and Alley department, sit behind the wheel of a police squad car and city dump truck, play putt putt golf, do a bag toss, get their faces painted, make beaded jewelry, participate in a hula hoop competition, or shoot water from the fire hose at the fire department's "Squirt House."

Making sure no one needed to go away hungry, the Lincoln Police Department provided grilled hot dogs, chips, and soda and the city clerk's office provided an array of desserts.

The evening also provided a chance to visit with various city employees, Mayor Marty Neitzel and various members of the city council.

Dedication of pavilion

The Community Night also included a dedication of the picnic pavilion recently built by Together for Lincoln. Together for Lincoln coordinator Norm Newhouse thanked all the volunteers who helped build the pavilion and assemble eight new picnic tables.

Mayor Neitzel thanked those who worked with Together for Lincoln for all the projects they completed over the past several years. She stated that she was impressed by how many people came to the Community Night and thanked the Lincoln Police Department, City Clerk's Office, Fire Department, the Streets and Alley Department, the Building and Safety Department, and the Water Treatment Department. Neitzel said on behalf of the city employees that they, "Want to familiarize ourselves with the people of Lincoln. We want you to give us ideas to make this town the best it can be."

Steve Poirot, pastor of Lincoln Bible Church dedicated the pavilion, noting that it will be used for weekly ministry by members of His Hands Outreach. He gave a devotional based on John 3:16, reminding everyone that Jesus died to pay for all of our sins, and said we should remember that Jesus came as a servant. Poirot closed by praying for the pavilion and dedicating it to the Lord.

[Angela Reiners]