Raleigh, NC – The Pleasant Ridge & Ramsgate Community Watch, building a safe and informed family community, participated in this year’s National Night Out, a unique crime/drug prevention event, on August 3, 2010.. NNO is designed to:
- 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 letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
Below is a recap of the evening from the perspective of the event organizer and Pleasant Ridge & Ramsgate Community Watch Secretary, Shelia Campbell.
At 6:00 pm, I realized I was not at the corner of Lawrence and Balboa like I said I would–I told the volunteers and Tabitha, our Pleasant Ridge & Ramsgate Community Watch President, I would be there. Instead, I was just loading up a U-Haul cargo van full of goodie bags, posters, trophies, decorations, and Bubba–our cell mate for the evening. That was the easy part. I was greeted at 6:30 pm with a lot of willing volunteers to unload and “upload” (sort of) all the goodie bags, door prizes, watermelons, tables, chairs, games, and Bubba. Thirty-five minutes later, we were ready to “Do it again at NNO 2010!”
We had many neighbors, Highway Patrol, the Sheriff’s Department., Raleigh Police Department (RPD), Raleigh Fire Department and Bubba enjoying the festivities. We played NNO Bingo and Francisco was one of the winners. We played Name that TV Tune with:
- Wife vs. husband–thank you Mr. & Mrs. Don and Sandra Flowers (Don won);
- Raleigh Fire Department vs. “the other guys” (RPD, Highway Patrol, the Sheriff’s Department)–the other guys won. Actually, Trooper Quiñones won for the other guys;
- Father vs. son (father won);
- Tom vs. the Highway Patrol (it was a tie, but Trooper Quiñones won);
- Francisco vs. another young man (Francisco didn’t win–actually they were a bit young to know the TV tunes, but I applaud them in their efforts for being some very willing participants).
We had the kids participate in the Kids Costume Contest (congrats to Francisco). Goodie bags were distributed. Lots of door prizes were won. Oh yes, it was a hot day and again we had lots and lots of cold water.But what was different this year there were hot dogs, cup cakes, and the camaraderie of all the fun, music, and information we received to heighten our sense of crime and safety awareness for our community watch. I consider this an honor and a privilege to coordinate this event each year and be a part of a very supportive and active neighborhood watch.
Special thanks to the Westers and the Stephensons for the use of their electricity and their yard. Our volunteers rocked! Tabitha, thanks for being so encouraging, not letting me stress out (I think I’ve got this thing down to a science now) and taking the mike to just “do ya thang!”
For all our neighbors who missed National Night Out 2010, we will have lots of pictures at our meeting on November 9. Mark your calendar for next years National Night Out, set for August 2, 2011. Remember it’s a good night to get to know your neighbors.
Tags: community, community_watch, crime_prevention, EMS, fire_department, highway patrol, neighborhoods, raleigh, RPD, sheriff, wake county