For the fifth year in a row, Central Avenue Business Improvement District and the St. John's Lutheran Church partnered to bring the National Night Out event to Robin Street, extending the invitation for neighbors to meet neighbors and enjoy a crime-free night. This year, the First Unitarian Church also joined the party.
Paul Rees-Rohrbacher, pastor at St. John's Church says the event is an important one because it promotes community togetherness. "It enables us to speak with our neighbors," says Rees-Rohrbacher. "It's also just good for neighbor to meet neighbor. A lot of times, we get a little bit isolated."
"We do it for the sense of community," says Lindsey Garney for the Central Avenue BID. "It's good for the kids to have something fun to do."
This year's event offered lots to do, including jump rope and bean bag toss games, as well as a visit from Mayor Jerry Jennings. No slouch in the food department either, the Central Avenue BID ordered and served 224 slices of pizza, and participants also polished off numerous homemade desserts furnished by the church, and seven gallons of ice cream courtesy of Stewart's.
"It was good," says Garney. "I noticed more kids this year, and they stayed for the duration, which is always fun."
"The children had a great time. The adults had a great time!" says Rees-Rohrbacher.
National Night Out is a nationwide campaign against street crime. It was established in 1983, and is celebrated every year in August.
