Annual event fosters good will with law enforcement and other safety personnel.
At the La Cañada NNO event last year, Isabel Arya, 9, tried on some of the Montrose Search and Rescue garb. NNO events are being held throughout the foothill community on Aug. 7.
By Mary O’KEEFE
Once again it is time for residents to take to the streets in a show of solidarity with local law enforcement, fire departments, city and county officials and their community with National Night Out.
On Aug. 7, agencies and community members around Crescenta Valley will join with over 37 million people in 15,325 communities throughout the 50 U.S. states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide as a signal of solidarity against those who would perpetrate crime in the area.
The event will be recognized at various locations by both Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department/Crescenta Valley Station and Glendale Police Department.
“We will be at the Ralphs market parking [in the 2600 block of Foothill Boulevard] lot from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.,” said Dep. Jorge Valdivia. “We are inviting the community to come out and meet L.A. County Sheriffs, California Highway Patrol, L.A. County Fire Department and [local organizations].”
Valdivia added the purpose of the event is to let criminals know that neighbors are “sticking together” in the fight against crime.
“We want [residents] to get involved,” he said. “It is a team effort.”
One of the key goals of the night is to get community members comfortable with officials so they will contact them with issues including any suspicious activity observed in their neighborhood.
“They (community members) are our eyes and ears in the neighborhoods,” said Glendale Officer Joe Allen.
Glendale has several neighborhood activities as opposed to one central meeting place. Each area will celebrate NNO in different ways.
“They are as big and as small as the [neighborhood] wants it to be,” said GPD Sgt. John Gilkerson.
A lot of the events are sponsored by the local Neighborhood Watch organizations.
This year, as in years past, the Sycamore Woods Neighborhood Watch group will be meeting at the Twelve Oaks Lodge from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Twelve Oaks is a Glendale based “be.Group,” a non-profit organization that provides quality housing, health and support services to over 5,200 older adults across the state.
The event is a way for neighbors to get to know each other, stated organizer Trissie Badger.
NNO is not just for residents but for businesses, too. The Sycamore Woods group invites any businesses to join them and to get to know the area residents.
Glendale’s NNO participation has grown over the years, from 44 neighborhood events to 50 planned as of Wednesday.
“And if anyone else would like to join [or add another location], they can give us a call and we will coach them through it,” Gilkerson said.
For information on Glendale National Night Out, go to http:glendalenno.com or call (818) 548-4015.
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