Summer block parties and meeting neighbors is a summer tradition on Mercer Island, and Mercer Island High School junior Alex Seidel will be one of more than two-dozen local neighborhoods hosting a "National Night Out" on Aug. 7.
According to a press release, local residents co-hosted twenty-eight Mercer Island National Night Out block parties in 2011 as part of a national movement to promote safety.
Seidel, a 16-year-old resident of the East Seattle neighborhood, has volunteered to co-host a large party in her neighborhood after attending the events for year.
"It's been a great experience reuniting with (MIPD Emergency Preparedness) Officer Jennifer Franklin as she was my fifth grade DARE officer," she said.
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.
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.
If you would like to register your neighborhood for National Night Out, contact MIPD Officer Franklin at 206-275-7905 or email jennifer.franklin@mercergov.org and ask to be placed on the registration list. For additional information and helpful links, visit the city's Emergency Preparedness webpage.
Note: You are invited to send pictures of National Night Out events in Mercer Island to us at mercerisland@patch.com.
