San Lorenzo Valley residents will have a chance to meet neighbors and law-enforcement officers face-to-face to talk about issues in their town on Tuesday night.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office will attend National Night Out events in Felton, Ben Lomond and Boulder Creek to help connect neighbors with each other.
The celebrations will feature events for kids and adults, food and a relaxed atmosphere for honest discussion.
This year’s parties will mark a departure from the past, when the Sheriff’s Office hosted a single National Night Out. In making this change, the Sheriff’s Office hopes to get back to the program’s roots, said San Lorenzo Valley Sgt. John Hebermehl.
Historically, NNO aimed to strengthen police-community partnerships and bring neighbors together in support of anticrime programs, according to the Sheriff’s Office. With only one event for the entire north portion of the county —Held in Felton each year — SLV residents were previously unable to make connections with neighbors or develop strong partnerships. The event instead focused on the role of the Sheriff’s Office in each community, but was far from the original intention, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“We want to show support for individual communities,” said Hebermehl, “not have a law enforcement open house.”
With NNO events in each town in the valley that are supported, rather than hosted, by the Sheriff’s Office, Hebermehl expects residents of the Valley to create tighter-knit neighbors and network to fight crime.
Each National Night Out event is free to attendees. For information: 461-7400
At a glance:
National Night Out
Felton: 6 to 8 p.m., SLV Sheriff’s Service Center, 6059 Highway 9
Ben Lomond: 6 to 8 p.m., Ben Lomond Park, 9525 Mill Street
Boulder Creek: 5 to 8 p.m., corner of Pine and Forrest streets
