Communities throughout East County will be participating in a national event on Aug. 1 when law enforcement and first responders gather for barbecues with citizens.
National Night Out is an annual “community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live,” according to the National Night Out website.
In Montesano, residents can attend a barbecue at 6 p.m. at Fleet Park where the police and fire departments will be on hand to discuss safety and awareness.
“It gets people in contact with police and firefighters,” said Montesano Police Chief Brett Vance. “It gets people talking about crime in the city and neighborhoods and it gets people more comfortable with meeting officers.”
Thriftway is donating ice cream for the event, and Vance said Kiwanis will have hot dogs.
Last year, the city organized with neighborhoods to put together block parties, but Vance said gathering in the park has been popular in the past.
Residents who would like to host block parties with their neighbors can contact the Montesano Police Department at (360) 249-1031 to sign up.
Grays Harbor Fire District 2 also is planning barbecues at the Central Park and Brady fire stations. Both will be held 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Brady fire station will have a barbecue with hamburgers and hot dogs, but in teaming with the Brady Bottoms Neighborhood Watch and Winkleman Road Neighborhood Watch groups, pot luck dishes will be available.
“It’ll be more than just hamburgers, hot dogs and chips,” said Brady Station Fire Captain Larry Willis.
In addition to food, both the Brady and Central Park stations will have activities for children.
“It’s about getting to know the neighbors more and getting more familiar with your neighbors. And it’s about getting a good rapport with different neighbors,” Willis said. “That’s how the neighborhood watch got going three years ago, and people became a lot more aware of what’s happening in the neighborhood.”
The Brady Station had some 100 people at its National Night Out event last year.
The Central Park Station had hosted about 200 people last year.
“It was a steady trickle coming in, but at one point we did have close to 200 people at once,” said Eric Barge, a volunteer firefighter EMT. “Our parking lot was pretty dang full.”
The Central Park Station will have a “fireman’s obstalce course” with water knockdown targets for children.
“Everybody has a good time,” Barge said. “They get to meet neighbors they haven’t got to meet before. They get to ask questions to the Sheriff and joining the neighborhood watch in their area. They all seem to have a great old time of it.”
All of the National Night Out events in East County are free.
Elma will not be holding a National Night Out event this year but hopes to hold one next year.
