Throughout the Yakima Valley and across the nation, communities will be throwing a “going away party for crime” during the annual National Night Out on Tuesday, August 7th. In addition to numerous neighborhood block parties, several organizations and businesses will be sponsoring National Night Out events.
As a result, the August 7th Yakima City Council regular meeting will be held on Monday, August 6th at 6:00 pm at Yakima City Hall so Council members can attend National Night Out events that evening.
“We want residents to be able to get to know their neighbors,” said Assistant Mayor Dulce Gutierrez, who chairs the Yakima City Council’s Public Safety Committee. “There’s something about sitting down together, sharing a meal, that helps people get acquainted.”
The Yakima Police Department will kick off next Tuesday’s activities from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm at Starbucks, 5906 Summitview Avenue. City leaders will be on hand to meet the public and take a stand together against crime. Gutierrez, Councilmember Jason White, Assistant City Manager Ana Cortez, and Police Chief Dominic Rizzi are among those planning to attend the Starbucks event next Tuesday afternoon.
The Yakima Police Department also can provide information for residents who want to form their own National Night Out block party. Contact Community Services Officers Amy Hayes or Nikki Sandino at 575-6197 for more information, or reach them via e-mail at ypdcs@yakimawa.gov.
The Yakima Housing Authority is planning two National Night Out events, one on August 7th in Toppenish and another in Yakima on Wednesday, August 8th. The public is invited to both.
The Housing Authority’s August 8th National Night Out event in Yakima will be from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Astria Regional Medical Center, 110 South 9th Avenue. It will include free food, beverages, snow cones, desserts, and entertainment. In addition, more than 40 vendors will be on hand offering free games and prizes. Free raffle prizes will be available, as well.
More than 2,300 people attended the Yakima Housing Authority’s two National Night Out events last year.
For more information about the Yakima Housing Authority’s National Night Out activities contact Becky Mares at 453-3106, ext. 119, or at becky.mares@yakimahousing.org,
National Night Out began in 1984. In its first year, about 400 communities participated in National Night Out activities. The 35th annual version of the event this year is expected to include more than 16,000 cities and towns and an estimated 38 million people.
Visit https://natw.org/ for more information about National Night Out.