Register Your Neighborhood for National Night Out

According to a press release, will be hosting the City’s sixth annual “National Night Out” on August 6. 

This year will mark the 30th year of National Night Out across the United States. National Night Out is a crime prevention and preparedness event, which will involve over 15,000 communities from all 50 states. Locally, there are approximately 70 cities and counties in Washington State who participate in the event, last year Mercer Island had 28 neighborhoods participate.

National Night Out is an organized event designed to bring neighbors together to heighten crime prevention awareness, generate support for family emergency preparedness and to strengthen neighborhood spirit and community partnerships. In addition, the goal of the event is to bring families and neighbors together to meet one another, reintroduce each other and to learn the faces of neighbors and city officials.

Last year, then-MIHS junior Alex Seidel (pictured above) helped organize a National Night Out block party for the East Seattle neighborhood.

"It's been a great experience reuniting with (MIPD Emergency Preparedness) Officer Jennifer Franklin as she was my fifth grade DARE officer," she said in a story on the event last year.

From 6 to 9 p.m., residents in neighborhoods throughout Mercer Island and across the nation are asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors, police and fire, city officials and city staff. Many neighborhoods throughout Mercer Island will be hosting a variety of special events such as block parties, cookouts, visits from police, fire and city officials, flashlight walks, contests and youth activities.

For additional information and helpful links, please go to: www.mercergov.org/emergencyprep

If you would like to register your neighborhood for National Night Out please contact Mercer Island Police Officer Franklin at 206-275-7905 or email jennifer.franklin@mercergov.org and ask to be placed on the registration list.