National Night Out 2009

National Night Out may be marked in neighborhoods all over America but it was evident last night that each group has it’s own way of coming together. Each of the half-dozen groups visited by the Pocket Online last night took a slightly different approach to showing unity against crime and criminals.

The gathering of the South Pocket Homeowners Association was the largest, drawing both Mayor Kevin Johnson and Councilman Robbie Waters. More than 100 people played and ate in Marriott Park and safety was top priority. “Really what we’re trying to do is make sure that all neighbors know each other and have a spirit of camaraderie because we have a very, very successful neighborhood watch program,” explains John Caffrey, co-president of the South Pocket HOA. Caffrey says the same residents who lobbied the city to place a curfew on Marriott Park when it was built are the same one who call the police when they see someone in the park after sunset. “With the recent budget crisis people have really renewed their commitment to being involved in the safety of the neighborhood.”

Two miles away, the neighbors along Windward Way have shut down one block and set up tables in the street to share a meal. Neighborhood Watch coordinator Glenn Tilton tells the group of neighbors in front of his home, “The purpose of night out is to get people out on the street, aware of each other.” As sausages, chicken and burgers sizzle away on two grills, one neighbor hands a name tag to everyone who walks up. It’s clear Glenn and his group want to make sure everyone knows each other. There’s even talk of another street barbecue in December or January. “The worst thing that happens in our time is hiding in our houses, so today we’re out,” tells his neighbors.

Farther north at Didion Elementary School, the Northwest Pocket Neighborhood Watch is trying to educate the people in their area. After a round of root beer floats, a group of about a dozen hear a presentation about water conservation from city administrator Julie Friedman. Then two officers from the Sacramento Police Department give the group some safety tips before answering questions ranging from school safety programs and the crime rate in the Pocket area.

For Wavecrest/Waterview Way Neighborhood Watch captain Pam Suwinsay, the gathering of neighbors at the Greenhaven Neighborhood Church is all about defining community in which we live. “We get to know each other,” says Pam, “We get to know where we live. That’s important because before we started doing this thing, people who didn’t know  who were living next to them. So it forms the community spirit.” This gathering is a little different … it is built around one of the most basic forms of sharing, a potluck. “People bring food and we get together and have fun,” says Pam.

National Night Out, as it turns out, is more than a way to take a stand against crime and criminals. It’s a way to meet people. To reinforce the bonds of friendship. To show your children what ‘community’ means. To learn something about the neighborhoods in which we live. To share a smile and story over a table while breaking bread with your neighbor. Maybe we shouldn’t wait until next year to do it again.

The slideshow below includes images from several different events. If you have a picture of your National Night Out, send it to editor@inourpocket.com and we will post it here for all to see.