By Sara Beth Williams–
Every year on the first Tuesday in August, thousands of neighborhoods across the country come together for National Night Out, in an effort to fight crime and build safer communities.
This year in Citrus Heights, on Tuesday Aug. 2, the Citrus Heights Area Seven Eight Nine (CHASEN) neighborhood association will be holding a National Night Out event at C-Bar-C Park Picnic Area, at 8275 Oak Ave.
The event will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and promises free barbecue food and desserts, games and kids activities. It is sponsored by both CHASEN and Sunrise Ranch Neighborhood Association Area 6, but is open to all residents.
“We have been supporting it for many years,” said CHASEN board member Glenn Miller, regarding the annual night out. “It’s a time to bring families and the community together to honor and celebrate the first responders.”
Police confirmed that eight other locations have registered with the local police department to host National Night Out festivities this year in Citrus Heights.
According to the official National Night Out website, natw.org, the annual event is a community building campaign to help foster positive relationships between law enforcement and community members in a safe environment, and also serves to triumph over the culture of isolation.
Although police are involved each year with National Night Out activities, Lt. Chad Morris said in an email to The Sentinel that Citrus Heights police are available to community groups throughout the year.
“We greatly value our relationships with our community groups and are always striving to improve communication and grow community engagement,” he said, also encouraging residents to participate with their respective neighborhood associations.
“Residents that get together to meet about community concerns and share information benefit greatly from these interactions,” said Morris. “As a result, not only do these associations foster a sense of community and belonging, but we believe they also result in safer more engaged community.”
National Night Out was introduced in August, 1984. The first National Night Out involved 2.5 million neighbors across 400 communities in 23 states. Now, neighborhoods across all 50 states, U.S. territories and military bases host block parties, festivals, cookouts and other community events with visits from emergency personnel. Neighborhood watch groups and associations can register their neighborhood event at natw.org.
By Sara Beth Williams--
Every year on the first Tuesday in August, thousands of neighborhoods across the country come together for National Night Out, in an effort to fight crime and build safer communities.
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