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Tag: National Night Out

National Night Out draws hundreds to C-Bar-C Park

Kathy Morris, right, stands near a table set up at C-Bar-C Park on Aug. 2, for National Night Out. // M. Hazlip

By Sara Beth Williams–
Under the canopy of leafy shade trees, tucked behind the softball fields at the C-Bar-C Park picnic area off Oak Avenue, neighbors from across Citrus Heights ventured out to enjoy free food and activities at the National Night Out event on Tuesday, August 2.

The event drew over 350 attendees according to Glenn Miller, a board member with the Citrus Heights Area Seven-Eight-Nine neighborhood association, also known as CHASEN. Children and adults of all ages could be seen in attendance, with some younger attendees riding scooters and bikes, while others carried balloon swords and animals. Still others stood in line for hot dogs and snow cones.

Operations Commander Kris Frey of the Citrus Heights Police Department expressed the importance of National Night Out, saying it’s “a good opportunity for the community to get to know the law enforcement officer(s), but it’s also a great opportunity for us to meet everybody out in the community as well.”

Frey said there were eight total events scheduled Tuesday night in Citrus Heights and explained that CHPD officers and City Hall staff, including council members, the mayor and vice mayor, make it a priority to disperse themselves among all the celebrations throughout the evening.

“It’s an opportunity to get out and engage with the community, and really get to know the people that we’re serving,” said Frey.

Organizations like the Underground Clothing store, DeMattei Real Estate Team, Pet Owners Organization of Citrus Heights which maintains the C-Bar-C dog park, Kiwanis Club of Citrus Heights, a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group, and others, set up booths along the path and provided activities for kids.

Cindy De Beer, coordinator for Mothers of Preschoolers and Moms Next, said the event provides a great opportunity for their organization to meet local moms who are looking for a place to connect as moms. “[It] brings community together who don’t normally hang out together,” she said.

Many teenagers volunteered to help serve food, from both the Kiwanis Club and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Citrus Heights Ward. Jeremy Lapointe, 46, said the church always tries to find ways to do community service and estimated they brought 20 to 25 youth to volunteer at this year’s event.

“This brings the community closer together,” Lapointe said. “It gives you that feeling of closeness of family that you should have in a community.”

Miller, the CHASEN board member, called the event “wonderful,” and credited individual participants for bringing the event together. The event included a performance from the Citrus Heights Community Marching Band, as well as participation from a Cub Scout color guard at the opening of the evening’s activities.

Many local organizations also donated prizes to give away at the end of the evening’s festivities, including gift baskets and Letterman jackets

“Everybody out there, they are the heart of Citrus Heights,” Miller said, reflecting on the event and its business sponsors and participants.

National Night Out began in August of 1984 and occurs on the first Tuesday in August. The national campaign was instituted to help foster a positive sense of community and togetherness between neighbors and law enforcement.

August 5, 2022
Citrus Heights neighborhoods plan National Night Out events for Aug. 2

File photo. Neighbors and police socialize during National Night Out in Citrus Heights, on Aug. 7, 2018. // Stacey Hanks

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.

See event listing: click here

“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.

July 29, 2022
National Night Out postponed due to COVID-19

Neighbors and police socialize during National Night Out in Citrus Heights, on Aug. 7, 2018. // Stacey Hanks

Sentinel staff report–
The first Tuesday in August would normally see various neighborhood crime watch groups gathering outdoors in Citrus Heights and across the nation, but this year is anything but normal.

The latest event cancellation caused by COVID-19 is National Night Out, a night where police and neighbors join together to build community and prevent crime.

Nationally, organizers are encouraging residents to shift National Night Out gatherings to Oct. 6 — the first Tuesday in October — citing ongoing concerns with COVID-19.

In Citrus Heights, police said earlier this month that local events were “postponed.” A police spokesman did not respond to an email request sent Monday asking whether a future date will likely be rescheduled.

National Night Out began in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch and has grown to involve over 38 million people across the United States and Canada, according to organizers. The events are often hosted by neighborhood watch groups.

August 2, 2020
Citrus Heights residents, police prep for National Night Out

Police, residents in the Greenback Woods neighborhood discuss crime prevention during the 2014 National Night Out.

Updated Aug 3, 5:21 p.m.–
Police and neighborhood groups across Citrus Heights are once again preparing for participation in the August 4th National Night Out, as part of a country-wide effort to prevent crime by connecting neighbors and building local partnerships between communities and police.

Called the “nation’s night out against crime,” Sgt. Michael Wells with the Citrus Heights Police Department said the evening is one where residents “are encouraged to join with their neighbors to have a neighborhood block party, ice cream social or other outdoor event to build neighborhood spirit and unity.”

The police sergeant said building strong neighborhoods is the “first defense against crime,” stating research shows crime goes down when neighbors know and look out for each other.

This year’s 32nd annual National Night Out will feature 13 different neighborhood watch gatherings in Citrus Heights, ranging in size from 25-400 people and will include BBQ’s, potlucks, ice cream socials and a parade, according to police.

The parade will kick off at the intersection of Indian River Drive and Clay Basket Drive and will continue on a three-quarter mile loop through nearby neighborhood streets, according to Greenback Wood Neighborhood Watch Community Coordinator Susan Jenkins. The volunteer coordinator said her neighborhood event and parade is set to begin at 7:30 p.m., and will feature various police vehicles, balloons, dogs, kids in wagons and free ice cream from a sponsored ice cream truck.

Jenkins said she was motivated to form a watch group seven years ago, after a drive-by shooting occurred in her neighborhood. After the incident, she started passing out fliers door-to-door in order to put together an “email tree” for regular communication among her neighbors.

Now, she sends out emails to over 200 residents in her neighborhood, updating them on crime trends, police alerts, local events and prevention tips. She said she now feels safer, and residents are more aware of how to respond to suspicious activity and help look out for one another.

Sgt. Wells said those interested in forming a neighborhood watch group can find several brochures on the police department’s web page, or may contact Larissa Wasilevsky, the Department’s neighborhood watch coordinator, at lwasilevsky@citrusheights.net.

Members of the Citrus Heights city council, police staff, and Police Chief Christopher Boyd will also be making appearances at the various Tuesday-night neighborhood events, according to Sgt. Wells.

[Find a local event: National Night Out event list for Citrus Heights]

Not wanting to miss out on the night’s activities, the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District announced in a news release that it is taking a proactive effort to be involved in National Night Out this year, offering free lotion, spray and towelette repellent to neighborhood groups participating in the night’s events.

“We know many people will be outside for this event and we want to remind the public that personal protection against mosquitoes is critical in the prevention of West Nile virus,” said District Manager Gary Goodman.

As of August 3, a total of 42 mosquito samples and 27 dead birds have tested positive for West Nile virus in Sacramento County this year, according to Goodman.

[Also on The Sentinel: Citrus Heights police roll out new 2015 patrol SUVs ]

National Night Out began in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch, and now involves over 37 million people in more than 16,000 communities across America and Canada, according to organizers.
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July 29, 2015
Neighbors, Police Celebrate National Night Out Across Citrus Heights

With ice cream socials, picnics, barbecues and more, 16 different neighborhoods across Citrus Heights participated in the 31st annual National Night Out yesterday, as part of a country-wide effort to prevent crime by connecting neighbors and building local partnerships between communities and police.

Residents from the Greenback Wood Neighborhood Watch group connect with Citrus Heights police officers during National Night Out, Tuesday.

Beginning as early as 4 p.m. and continuing well-after dark, residents around the city gathered outside their homes and on quiet neighborhood streets to get to know one another and do their part in preventing crime in their area.

Citrus Heights police officers made an effort to show up at each event around the city, seeing the night as a way to increase trust, build strong communities and reduce crime, according to Officer Anthony Boehle, who was out participating in a small parade in the Greenback Wood area.

“I really do think it helps,” said Greenback Wood Neighborhood Watch Community Coordinator Susan Jenkins, whose group celebrates National Night Out each year with a three-quarter mile joint parade of local police and residents.

The volunteer coordinator said she was motivated to form a watch group six years ago, after a drive-by shooting occurred in her neighborhood. After the incident, she started passing out fliers door-to-door in order to put together an “email tree” for regular communication among her neighbors.

Now, she sends out emails to over 200 residents in her neighborhood, updating them on crime trends, police alerts, local events and prevention tips. She said she now feels safer, and residents are more aware of how to respond to suspicious activity and help look out for one another.

“All I’m doing is sending out an email,” said Jenkins, emphasizing how simple she felt is was to start a watch group. “How hard is that?”

Over in the Park Oaks West neighborhood, organizer Kitty Tulga hosts an annual potluck and said she helped start her watch group several years ago with three other “block captains.” Although the threat of rain Tuesday night kept some inside, Tulga said she’s noticed a growing turnout each year, and appreciates the support of local police as well as city council members, who she said make an effort to drop by each year.

Back at the Greenback Wood celebration, Officer Scott Farnsworth shared some crime prevention tips, advising residents to have good outdoor lighting and avoid planting dense shrubs and trees around doorways, since criminals prefer breaking into homes where neighbors can’t easily see what’s going on at the doorstep.

The 17-year veteran officer also recommended not keeping garage door openers in cars, explaining that thieves have been able to gain easy access to valuables in a garage after breaking into car parked outside a home. He also advised keeping garage doors shut even when close by, citing examples of thefts occurring when residents leave a door up while doing yard work behind the house.

“Use your neighbor,” Officer Farnsworth added, highlighting the night’s purpose and emphasizing that police might not be able to provide help on scene as quickly as a neighbor can. “It’s all about partnership in the community — they need to be our eyes and ears when we’re not around.”

National Night Out began in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch, and now involves over 37.8 million people in 16,124 communities across America and Canada, according to organizers.

Officers with the Citrus Heights Police Department were out making connections with residents, Tuesday night.

Citrus Heights police officers lead a National Night Out parade down Indian River Drive.

August 6, 2014