‘Night Out’ block parties more popular than ever

EVERETT — Perhaps it is a sign of the times.

A year ago, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office created a way for neighborhoods to request a deputy to visit their block parties for National Night Out, an annual event each August.

There were two submissions.

This year, the sheriff’s office received 23.

“We are going to try to get a deputy, reserve deputy or a volunteer to all of them,” sheriff’s spokeswoman Shari Ireton said.

Interest in National Night Out has grown over the years across the county and the country.

It began in 1984 with 400 communities in 23 states. Today, it draws 37 million in more than 15,000 communities from each state.

National Night Out is an effort to heighten awareness of crime, generate support for anti-crime efforts, strengthen neighborhoods, build relationships between police and communities, and send a message to crooks that neighbors are getting organized and looking out for one another.

Some cities and towns have one large event. Others have block parties.

In Snohomish, for instance, three neighborhoods are hosting events this year.

Police Chief John Flood likes the smaller gatherings.

“Our message can be specific to each neighborhood we visit,” Flood said. “When it is a central one, it has to be more of a generic message.”

His department can cater crime statistics to certain blocks and parts of town. In Snohomish, officers typically are joined by firefighters from Snohomish County Fire District 4.

In Lynnwood, more than 30 block parties are planned.

“We visit every single party,” city spokeswoman Julie Moore said. “It’s a great community night.”

Visits can include police, firefighters, public works employees, city executives and others.

Many of the larger events include music, police dog demonstrations and free food.

Mukilteo, for instance, will include a Velcro Wall, a dunk tank, a chance to learn CPR or give blood, and pet micro-chipping.

In Darrington, popcorn is planned at nightfall when the movie “The Sandlot” will be shown on a giant inflatable screen in the Old School Park. There also will be snow cones and other foods, a bouncy house, old-fashioned carnival, 75 free backpacks filled with supplies and other entertainment.

Wyonne Perrault, director of North Counties Family Services, said the event is popular and well received.

“It creates a sense of community and tradition,” she said.

Here is a list of events, all set for Tuesday evening.

Arlington: 5 to 8 p.m., neighborhood block parties, including one at Haller Park, 1100 West Ave.

Bothell: 5:30 p.m., neighborhood block parties.

Brier: 6 p.m., Brier Park, 2903 228th St. SW.

Darrington: 6 p.m., Old School Park, 1026 Alvord St.

Edmonds: Neighborhood block parties.

Everett: Neighborhood block parties. To learn more, go to http://bit.ly/1Slj6hE.

Gold Bar: 6:30 to 9 p.m., Gold Bar Elementary School, 419 Lewis Ave.

Granite Falls: 4 to 8 p.m., 100 block of N. Granite Avenue.

Lake Stevens: 5 to 8:30 p.m., across from Jay’s Market , downtown Main Street.