Uptown Westerville is a Place for National Night Out

United We Stand: Tuesday, August 4th is the 26th Annual National Night Out.

What is National Night Out? National Night Out is a night for neighbors, friends, businesses, civic groups, and communities to take a stand together against crime.

This crime/drug abuse awareness and prevention event is sponsored nationally by the National Association of Town Watch, Target, and local law enforcement.

In 2008, 15,000 communities, including Westerville, participated -- that's 37,000,000 people! (That's right, 37 million!!)

What does National Night Out accomplish?

• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
• Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs;
• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
• Send a message to criminals (there are more of us!!) letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Want to get involved? Great! Here are some ideas... turn your porch light and security lights on (this would be a good time each year to fix or add to your outdoor security lighting), front porch vigils, block parties, neighbor get-togethers, cook-outs, flashlight walks, talk with local police, launch a neighborhood watch, and youth events.

For more information on National Night Out, visit the NNO2009 website (click here).

If you'd like to get more involved here in Westerville, contact Westerville Crime Prevention Specialist, Carrie Ryan at carrie.ryan@westerville.org or call 901.6490.

If you are planning on a National Night Out block party, the city does have a permit system. So, Carrie advises:

If you plan to block off any streets for National Night Out, the form needs to be completed as soon as possible, it takes about 2 weeks to go through the process. So with 3 weeks out, please get the form in soon. You can drop it off to Amy Taylor at 21 S. State St. (second floor, right off the elevator), e-mail it to amy.taylor@westerville.org or fax it to 901-6401.

Click here to access the city's party permit form online.

Carrie also advises, "Please indicate if you would like a visit from the Fire Dept. The Fire Dept. gets pretty busy with requests that night, so it's first come first serve. You may request a visit and they will do the best they can, but they also come in order so it is possible they might not be able to attend."

Whether you plan a block party, turn on your porch light, or reach out to a neighbor. United We Stand on August 4th for National Night Out!

Photo of McGruff courtesy of City of Westerville.