The Catskill Chronicle

FALLSBURG, NY (August 22, 2012) – For the past seven years the Town of Fallsburg has been providing a special summer evening for its youth and families as part of the National Night Out Against Crime Program (NNO). Throughout the past year Fallsburg Communities That Care, the Fallsburg Police Department, and the Recovery Center in Monticello planned this event.

Included in the celebration were a barbecue, games for the children, talks from Judge Mark Meddaugh, Police Chief Simmie Williams and hometown native, career woman and mother Amanda Ward, exhibit booths manned by public service agencies, entertainment, and an overall commitment for young people to pledge to live the next year crime free, drug free, and to make good decisions.

One part of the evening honored the life and memory of young Dylan Smith, who drowned earlier this summer.

Caridad Wilkerson and Felita Hackett had mobilized the Town of Fallsburg community in a fundraising campaign to help pay for expenses for Dylan’s family right after his passing. The women made and distributed certificates of appreciation for “selfless service” during the evening to recognize more than forty children as young as three years old for their efforts.

Wilkerson and Hackett had also purchased a six-foot blooming apple tree to plant in the area of Ingber Park that now holds eighteen trees to memorialize the memories of other Fallsburg children and family members.

The tree planted in memory of Dylan “Lebron” Smith will soon be joined by a plaque with his name.

In the group photo are: front row l-r: Zachari Smith, Amari Gibbs, Caridad Wilkerson, Cashmere Gibbs (also in photo bottom right – the youngest person in the group), Brandon Blakney, Shamique Williams, and Isadora Wilkerson; middle row l-r: Wendi Smith from Zakarin’s, Armani Harris, Kaitlyn Simms, Renee Hinton holding certificate for her grandson Denzel Hinton, Supreme Faison, Joshua Begbie, Mya Gray, Diavian Smith, Cyana DaCosta, Siyata Hackett. Chevanrise Robinson (Dylan Smith’s mother); and back row l-r: Fallsburg Police Chief Simmie Williams, Amanda Ward, Family Court Judge Mark Meddaugh, Nyasia Hackett, Amistad Hackett, Fallsburg Communities that Care President Charles Davis, Pastor Norman Graves.