People across Pleasanton fired up their grills or got out their ice cream scoopers Tuesday night as the city took part in the 23rd annual National Night Out. The event, part of the Neighborhood Watch program, is designated as a night for neighborhoods to get together, have a block party and take a stand against crime.
“It is about going out and unifying as a community and neighborhood against crime and drugs, so it’s important for us to be part of it to support our neighborhoods and community efforts,” said Officer Penelope Tamm, who organizes the event for the police department.
This year, 24 neighborhoods in Pleasanton held National Night Out parties, with events that ranged from holding barbecues to ice cream socials to dessert potlucks. Some parties had as many as 20 or more households taking part, while others held more intimate gatherings of five or six homes, Tamm said. Officers from the Pleasanton Police Department visited every party, meeting with neighbors and sharing in the fun.
“It’s a great way for the department to interact with the community and meet with people we don’t see everyday,” Tamm said.
Police Chief Tim Neal also visited different parties around town, as well as city officials such as Mayor Hosterman, City Manager Nelson Fialho and several City Council members.
Almost 90 percent of the Pleasanton neighborhoods holding National Night Out block parties have done it in years past, Tamm said. Hacienda Mobile Park, a mobile home park for seniors lovated on Vineyard Avenue, held one of the city’s largest parties. That neighborhood consistently has a large turn-out every year, Tamm said.
Carol Zedlitz has planned a National Night Out party for her neighborhood on Gate Tree Circle for the past five years. This year, the neighbors plan on having a barbecue potluck.
“We do it because it’s a good way for our neighbors to get to know each other,” Zedlitz said.
There are also some newcomers to the party. Carrie Queen organized a National Night Out block party for her neighborhood on Harvest Road for the first time this year. Queen said she had wanted to hold a block party for some time and thought National Night Out was a good chance to finally do it.
“It’s hard to plan a block party, so when I saw the National Night Out, I thought it was a perfect opportunity to get everyone together,” said Queen.
In fact, while the goal of the night is to take a stand against crime, the biggest benefit is that neighbors get to know each other.
“It’s an opportunity for Neighborhood Watch programs to get together and another opportunity for them, if new people have moved in, to get to know them, and spend time as a neighborhood talking and socializing,” Tamm said.
