By LINDA KELLETT

C-S-E News Staff

ST. JOHNSVILLE — In an effort to raise money for future community policing initiatives — including activities for St. Johnsville children and adults alike — members of the local committee this week addressed their potential involvement in the upcoming October Fest here.

While planning is in preliminary stages for the two-day chamber-sponsored event, slated to be held Friday, Oct. 5, and Saturday, Oct. 6, Community Policing Initiative committee members sought and received permission from the St. Johnsville Youth Center Board of Directors Tuesday night to use the facilities during the day on Saturday, Oct. 6.

Proposed activities there could include a dance with a local band, a dunking booth, games and the like.

The activities also correspond with Homecoming Weekend at the school. Among weekend highlights there are boys’ and girls’ soccer games on fields at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park Friday night.

St. Johnsville Chamber of Commerce President Margaret DiGiacomo on Tuesday night said chamber-sponsored activities that weekend will include a bounce house, village-wide garage sales and ribbon cuttings for the village’s newest businesses: Cosmo’s Bar on Main Street and Judy King Insurance at the corner of Bridge and Main streets. Both ceremonies will take place Saturday morning between 10:30 and 11 a.m.

Residents interested in taking part in the garage sales must get permits from the village clerk, she said.

Terry Potoczny, who represented the fire department, said firefighters would also host a meet-and-greet at the fire station.

Additional events are still in planning stages, DiGiacomo added.

Among projects that members of the Community Policing Initiative hope to launch in coming weeks and months include the distribution of Halloween safety bags to village children and the distribution of bicycle helmets to youths 14 and under as part of a school safety program.

St. Johnsville Police Chief Diana Callen said that she has received a gift card from Wal-Mart for the purchase of some helmets.

Additionally, in order to help the state Sheriff’s Association with their Yellow Dot Program, members of the committee also hope to raise money to send emergency contact forms to village residents. Once filled out, the sunshine-yellow forms can be stowed in a vehicle’s glove compartment for use in an accident. A small yellow sticker affixed to the rear window alerts officials to look for the documents.

Anyone wishing to donate toward any of these initiatives is asked to contact Callen at the St. Johnsville Police Department on Washington Street. The phone number there is (518) 568-2141.

The next meeting of the St. Johnsville Community Policing Initiative will be held on Monday, Oct. 8 (Columbus Day) at 6 p.m. at the Community House. The public is invited to attend.