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National Night Out Aug. 4
On Tuesday, August 4th, 2009, El Cerrito residents will have the opportunity to attend fun block parties as part of National Night Out, which highlights the importance of citizen awareness and participation in preventing criminal activity. El Cerrito’s Night Out celebration promotes neighborhood spirit and helps to promote crime prevention through enhanced police-community partnerships. As in past years, members of the El Cerrito City Council, Police Department, Fire Department, and other city staff, along with the Crime Prevention Committee members, will visit each registered event to talk with residents and answer their questions. McGruff the Crime Dog and will also make a few special visits.
National Night Out is designed to:
Promote community involvement in crime and drug prevention activities
Strengthen police-community relations
Encourage neighborhood camaraderie by getting to know your neighbors
The City of El Cerrito Crime Prevention Committee, along with the Police Department, coordinates “Night Out” in El Cerrito as part of the 26th annual National Night Out. This award-winning event is designed to enhance public safety at the neighborhood and community levels. Thousands of communities nationwide take part. The El Cerrito Crime Prevention Committee wants to support community efforts in bringing together neighbors and friends in helping to make neighborhoods safer.
“The most important aspect of National Night Out is getting neighbors together! In block parties and park-based events throughout our City, neighbor will be joining neighbor in celebration of America’s Night Out Against Crime,” said Mr. Randy Calish, Chair of the Crime Prevention Committee.
In 2008, for the fifth year in a row, El Cerrito received a national award for its Night Out program from the National Association of Town Watch. The City has been actively participating in the program for the past 12 years. This year, The Crime Prevention Committee anticipates there to be approximately 22 neighborhood block parties.
The El Cerrito Crime Prevention Committee invites residents to participate in their neighborhoods. All residents are encouraged to help organize their neighborhood and celebrate this special night. "Talk with your neighbors and plan to get together as a neighborhood. Let’s make sure that we loudly and clearly tell criminals that El Cerrito is off limits and that on August 4th they need to take the night off,” said Calish.
Target Stores is the national sponsor for National Night Out. Little Caesars in El Cerrito has also, again, generously donated up to three large pizzas for each registered neighborhood party.
For more information or to learn how you can get involved, contact the El Cerrito Crime Prevention Committee at (510) 215-4414, ext. 30 or http://www.el-cerrito.org.
Run dates: 2009-07-24 - 2009-08-04
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