Orinda kicked National Night Out up a notch this year. In the week preceding the annual event, the Orinda Police Department decided to build some interest in the competition with the Moraga-Orinda Fire District. On a sneak visit to Station 45, OPD fired water balloons at MOFD, who responded in kind with three-inch fire hoses. But it was all in good fun, as was the competition on the evening of Aug. 4, when the two groups of first responders engaged in a friendly competition on the lawn of Orinda Community Park.

    From 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. OPD served up free hotdogs with chips and drinks, while visitors could explore informational booths from service organizations like CERT and Firewise, or explore police and fire vehicles, including the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Bear Cat, an armored rescue vehicle. Contra Costa Farmers Markets offered information as well as delicious strawberries and photo opportunities to pose as a fruit or vegetable. 

    Orinda’s Parks & Rec department was soliciting information on the design of the Community Park Play Area Replacement. For those who wish to see the options and weigh in on their preferences, there is a survey available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2BW5WS6.

    There was an informal relay race on the lawn, with competitors bursting through a breach door training tool and facing an obstacle course to display their power and flexibility.  The tiny step section tripped up some contestants, but they were up and running again in seconds.  They wove through course obstacles, and finished with an extended version of a three-legged race where the whole team was connected at the ankles for the final leg back to the starting point.

    As in past years, children had the opportunity to dunk the chief. Throwing a ball, if they hit the release button Chief Anthony Rossi was dropped into a dunk tank. This year it seemed like a record number of strong-armed children hit the spot, and Rossi went down numerous times.  At least it was a warm, sunny evening. The chief came up smiling though, encouraging the children to do their worst. 

    OPD deemed the evening a great success and said they are looking forward to doing it again next year. National Night Out is over 40 years old and is celebrated in all 50 states across the country as well as U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide.