LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Lamorindans Celebrate National Night Out


From left, Officer Anthony Craig, Sergeant Brian South, Officer Will Davis, Officer Randy Pacheco, Acting Chief Jon King, Corporal Angela Likos and Officer Mike Dreyfuss Photo Cathy Dausman

It was neighbor meet neighbor one hot August night as 12 groups across Lamorinda took to their yards and streets welcoming police, fire and civic visitors Aug. 2 for National Night Out.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign designed to strengthen partnerships between first responders and communities and make neighborhoods safer. Eight Orinda neighborhoods gathered for annual NNO events, said Orinda NNO coordinator Patti Young. It was the third year of NNO participation for the city but the ninth year Orinda held "night out" celebrations, she said.

"People seemed to be pretty excited about it," Young said, adding she thought that Lamorinda Community Emergency Response Team publicity helped boost the attendance numbers. Moraga hosted NNO events in four neighborhoods; a fifth neighborhood held its event the preceding Sunday. Lafayette hosted one NNO event. Many neighborhoods offered hors d'oeuvres or dessert finger food during their NNO event; some swapped excess garden produce. Police and fire vehicles arrived with flashing lights and delighted children of all ages.

NNO was established in 1984; it currently boasts participation in more than 16,000 communities from all 50 states. NNO is a presentation of the National Association of Town Watch with local sponsorship by the Moraga Citizen's Corps Council, the Orinda Citizen's Corps Council and the Lafayette Emergency Preparedness Commission.

To prepare a NNO celebration for your neighborhood next summer go to https://natw.org/about.