Night Out seen as way to connect neighbors, promote safety

Published 10:37 pm Sunday, August 1, 2010

Families can take home balloon animals, have their faces painted and fill their bellies — as well as learn lessons in crime prevention — during the 27th annual National Night Out on Tuesday.

The two biggest local events are the Everett celebration in the Top Foods parking lot and a county-wide celebration at McCollum Park.

Everett police expect about 3,500 people to come enjoy the free food and activities, Crime Prevention Officer Eddie Golden said. Along with the fun, he hopes they take home a message about crime prevention, safety and neighborhood cohesion.

The event will include community partners such as McClain Insurance Services, Goodbye Graffiti and all branches of the military. Each sponsor will offer a family fun activity related to crime prevention, as well as fliers and freebies. In the past, activities have included a safety-minded sticker-making contest and sanctioned graffiti walls.

“We mix fun with education, and it’s a good time,” Golden said.

Police strive to provide realistic and practical advice at the event, he said. Each year, they update their presentations to address local crime trends such as identity theft and new scams.

Kids also will be allowed to climb around on a semitruck provided by Ron May Towing &Recovery, while tow trucks showcase recovered stolen cars. The idea is to show people just how much thieves tear up the cars they take and encourage them to invest in theft-prevention devices, owner Jim Zelmer said.

Meanwhile, the county expects about 2,000 people at its Night Out event. More than 30 local businesses, law enforcement agencies and community groups are participating, County Parks Director Tom Teigen said Tuesday.

The county event will focus on making families comfortable with police and fire personnel. For example, they will learn how to report crimes and what to do in floods and earthquakes.

Most importantly, Teigen wants people to learn that first responders are there to help — not hurt.

“That’s a critical message for kids to hear,” he said.

The event also will feature firetrucks on display, as well as chance to see police dogs used to detect drugs and investigate arsons. Weather permitting, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s helicopter will swoop in for a visit.

While they learn, participants can munch on free hot dogs, popcorn and snow cones.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Teigen said. “For kids and adults, it’s a pretty impressive show of what’s available and what’s out there.”

A few miles away at the South Everett Neighborhood Center, crime and safety information will be available in English, Spanish and Russian.

Activities will include a barbecue, T-shirt tie-dyeing and a bouncy house for kids, as well as a tie-in to the center’s canned food drive and “Get Ready For School” back-to-school drive.

To learn about safety, the center will have an activity where participants get their “safety passport” stamped at booths they visit.

This is the center’s 10th year participating in Night Out, program coordinator Juanita Clifford said. She purposely chooses activities that transcend language and cultural boundaries.

“When you’re together in a fun atmosphere, you can create a positive neighborhood spirit,” she said.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.

National Night Out

Arlington: 6 to 8 p.m., 238 N. Olympic Ave.

County-wide: 5 to 9 p.m., McCollum Pioneer Park, 600 128th St. SE, Everett.

Edmonds: City celebrated July 27

Everett: 5 to 8 p.m., Top Foods parking lot, 1605 SE Everett Mall Way.

Gold Bar: Parade 6:30 to 9 p.m., starts at Gold Bar Family Grocer and ends at Gold Bar Elementary School.

Marysville: 6 to 8 p.m., Tulalip Amphitheatre.

Monroe: 6 to 9 p.m., Lake Tye Park, 14964 Fryelands Blvd.

Mountlake Terrace: 6 to 9 p.m., Evergreen Playfield, 22289 56th Ave. W.

Mukilteo: 4 to 7 p.m., Mukilteo YMCA, 10601 47th Place W.

Lake Stevens: 5 to 9 p.m., Main Street and North Cove Park.

Lynnwood: 5 p.m. to dusk, at more than 30 neighborhood block parties.

Snohomish: 4 to 7 p.m., Averill Park, 400 Second St.