Based on the solid turnout at Tamaqua's National Night Out event Tuesday, it's evident the heart of the community and its volunteers beats loud and proud.

An informal unveiling of the first fiberglass heart as part of the Tamaqua Has Heart Campaign offered further proof of that, as children decorated the white, three-dimensional heart with their individual handprints.Held in the center of the community, at Depot Square Park and the area surrounding the Tamaqua Train Station, the event brought the community and law enforcement together in an attempt to make the community safer, according to Leona Rega, Tamaqua Arts Center & Safety Initiative Coordinator."It's been a good day. The rain held out," Rega said. "We scaled it back to make it the grass roots event it was designed to be."However, Rega said the event wouldn't be successful without the assistance of many."We're grateful for the support that's given to us by many groups and donors, and very appreciative to the community who comes out and enjoys these events," Rega said. "It makes you feel good about where you live."There was also a Kids Karnival, sponsored by the Tamaqua Salvation Army at the North Railroad Street parking lot; music and entertainment provided by Original Sounds Entertainment DJs, Brad and Kathy Murphy; and free gifts like hot dogs, drinks, flashlights, glow sticks, stress balls, snow cones, popcorn, kids, tattoos, freeze-pops, balloons offered by various community groups. The event concluded with a fireworks display.Adam Bachert of Tamaqua appeared to have worn himself out from tap-dancing."It went pretty good," said Adam, 11. "It starts tiring you out."But for children such as Mystic Repsher of Hazleton, the fiberglass heart at Depot Square Park was clearly the main attraction."I put my hand on the sculpture," said Mystic, 12, as she looked at her blue-colored hands. "It looks pretty cool."The heart will be placed on permanent display in the borough as a symbol of how the community works together, and is the result of the Dear Tamaqua project.Eleven 3-D fiberglass heart sculptures will be purchased for this installation, as local businesses, community organizations and residents will be given the opportunity to sponsor a heart by choosing from a variety of sponsorship package levels.In October, artist applications will be opened, and artists can submit sketches of their design.A kickoff event will be held where sponsors can come and view all the applicants' sketches, followed a week later with a formal judging panel choosing the 10 artists by the end of January 2017.Artists will have about four months to complete their heart. Installation throughout town will take place before Memorial Day weekend 2017.The hearts will remain on display throughout town until mid-September. A closing gala will take place at the end of September 2017, where the hearts will be sold at auction, with 25 percent of the gross profit being given back to the artist.Once the hearts are purchased, it will be at the discretion of the buyer where the heart will be installed or kept permanently.First celebrated in 1984, National Night Out was started to increase awareness about community police programs, such as drug prevention, town watch, neighborhood watch and other anti-crime efforts.Today, more than 38 million people across the United States and Canada participate in the annual event, concentrating on crime prevention awareness, strengthening community-police relations, generating support for local anti-crime programs and sending a message to criminals that law-abiding citizens are determined to take back their communities.