National Night Out goal: Crime prevention
Published 12:01 am Monday, August 1, 2011
Mayors, police officers and firefighters will be out and about Tuesday night to mingle with their neighbors.
This year marks the 28th Annual National Night Out, an event that promotes communities working together to prevent crime. Celebration
s are planned around Snohomish County. Many feature free food, fun activities and safety-themed giveaways, along with tours of police and fire rigs.
National Night Out helps people in the public eye connect with those around them, Arlington city spokeswoman Kristin Banfield said.
In a smaller city, police, fire and public works all work together on emergencies such as burst water pipes, she said. People who come out Tuesday night can learn how public safety works behind the scenes.
One of the best parts of the night is watching children — and adults — climb behind the wheel of a police car, Banfield said.
“Oh, their whole face lights up,” she said. “Their whole world changes, it seems like, with just that 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute in that car.”
Lynnwood, like some cities, is focusing on local block parties instead of a citywide event, police spokeswoman Shannon Sessions said.
Lynnwood staffers, including police officers and firefighters, will tour block parties around town, Sessions said. They usually end up meeting around 2,500 people, mostly parents and children.
They take notes, bringing back concerns and suggestions they hear while handing out goodies and munching treats, she said.
People are encouraged to turn on their porch lights, lock their doors and head out to chat, she said. Knowing your neighbors is a big part of crime prevention.
Those relationships also come in handy for emergencies such as snowstorms and power outages, she said.
“The more they know about the people that live around them, the more they can help each other,” she said.
Monroe has one of the biggest National Night Out events in the area, police spokeswoman Debbie Willis said. They see up to 2,000 people come out every year.
Monroe will have five bouncy houses, face-painting, a dunk tank and 50 community booths with giveaways and safety information, Willis said. City Council members took the night off to attend.
“It is a great event, we will all be there,” she said.
A spike in burglaries in the Getchell area has peaked interest in crime prevention this year, said George Schlosser, a local business owner who’s hosted the event the last few years. They expect about 60 people and suspect they have one of the biggest block parties around.
Event organizers are expecting a local politician, a sheriff’s deputy and Getchell firefighters to come out, he said. They invited President Barack Obama, but a representative said he couldn’t make it.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com
Night Out
Some cities have a central event, others focus on individual block parties, and some do both. For information on block parties, contact your local police department or block watch group. Not all cities submitted information.
County-wide: 5 to 8 p.m., McCollum Pioneer Park, 600 128th St. SE, Everett
Arlington: 5 to 8 p.m., Food Pavilion parking lot, corner of 172nd St NE and Smokey Point Boulevard
Bothell: 6 to 9 p.m., Bothell Police Station, 18410 101st Ave. NE
Brier: 6 to 9 p.m., Brier City Park, 2903 228th Street S.
Edmonds: Held last week
Everett: Individual block parties
Getchell area: 6 p.m., K9 Korral, 9612 115th Ave. NE, Lake Stevens
Gold Bar and Sultan: parade starts at 6:30 p.m. from 10th Street and Lewis Avenue W, following Lewis to Gold Bar Elementary for other activities.
Lake Stevens: 5 to 9 p.m., Main Street and North Cove Park
Lynnwood: Individual block parties
Marysville: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Comeford Park, 514 Delta Ave.
Mill Creek: Joining county-wide event.
Monroe: 6 p.m., Lake Tye Park, 14964 Fryelands Blvd.
Mountlake Terrace: 6 to 9 p.m., Evergreen Playfield, 22205 56th Ave. W.
Mukilteo: 4 to 8 p.m., Mukilteo Family YMCA, 10601 47th Place W.
Snohomish: Individual block parties
