Page 49 - July 2017 Newsletter

and bring back the community feel,” he said.
Another cookout is planned in July as part of the lead- up to National Night Out in August, and Verta hopes these events will drive residents to get to participate in their community and even start hosting their own similar gath-
erings.
The month of June was busy with activities for residents
of all ages:
• Officers in the 9th District particated in a peace walk
on June 12 at Edens Place Nature Center. More than 200 children and 40 adults walked for about 20 min- utes and were led in prayer, Verta said. The Brook- field Zoo brought animals for a petting zoo, he said. “[The crowd] covered about a block and a half of the city,” Verta said.
• On June 24, about 50 Chicago officers participated in the 2017 Chicago Dragon Boat Race for Literacy. Of- ficer Penny Szeto said the 9th district has been a part of the boat races for 17 years. Chicago officers usually compete against city firefighters and state police in the dragon boat races before moving on, Szeto said. CPD failed to win its first race this year. “Last year, we won one,” Szeto said. “This year, we didn’t. But it was a lot of fun.”
• Summer campers at Davis Square Park got a chance to be up close with Chicago police vehicles and mounted patrol units during a Touch-a-Truck event on June 30.
• Officers also took seniors to the Brookfield Zoo and sev- eral residents to a White Sox game throughout during June as part of community engagement efforts. d
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JULY 2017 49