By Lori BODNAR, Mary O’KEEFE and Ruth SOWBY

National Night Out at the Briggs Avenue station of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Dept. (LASD)/Crescenta Valley was attended by a variety of law enforcement and community organizations. There was a lot for kids to do including a water balloon toss that helped keep kids cool during the hot summer night.

LASD Deputy Chun, organizer of the event, said the night went well and he was happy with the turnout.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) was at the event in force with representatives of its fire department – HAZMAT engine and crew – and police department and JPL outreach with science information – and stickers for kids.

They were among the organizations that lined the station’s parking lot. The CV Station staff/deputies served up free hot dogs, chips and drinks. There were also plenty of giveaways including candy, bubbles and stickers.

In Tujunga at Little Landers Park hundreds of people gathered to meet first responders, listen to music by the band Power Play, eat hot dogs and watermelon, enjoy games and art activities, and visit information booths. Little Landers Park is located next to Bolton Hall, a community center built in 1913 that was declared a Los Angeles Historical Monument (number 2) in 1962. Bolton Hall now serves as a museum to showcase local history and artifacts, operated by the Little Landers Historical Society.

Nina Royal has been organizing the National Night Out event in Tujunga for 34 years.

“The event is a way for the community to come together and recognize that the first responders are part of the community,” said Royal. “We started preparing for the National Night Out in January. We don’t allow vendors; people aren’t selling. If it is a community service organization or is community-related, then they can be here. Last year we had around 600 people; I think we have more this year. We give out tickets for the free food, which also helps us know how many people are in attendance. The Elks are cooking the hot dogs.”

Local Elks members grilled up over 750 hot dogs and cut fresh slices from 20 huge watermelons. Debora Angulo and Maurice Campbell were among the Elks volunteers.

         Local firefighters and police officers attended the event, including 16 cadets, ages 13-17, from the LAPD-Foothill Station. The cadets offered blue ribbon pins to community members who wanted to show their support for local law enforcement.

NNO was family-friendly with plenty of activities including live music, face painting, balloon animals, arts and crafts, leatherworking key chains, and games. Kids especially enjoyed getting their pictures taken on a police motorcycle or inside a police car, inside a fire truck cab or up high on the tiller fire truck with the ladder controls.
        

“It is rewarding to be a police officer,” said Officer Esther Esperanza. “For me, there are no restrictions as long as you have the training. It is wonderful, I love it. It is my first time at National Night Out. I’ve served six years on the police force. I like serving in the community and meeting people, hearing them out.”

Community member Annelise Lucas said, “I liked all the kid activities … and that the event is catered towards families, that we are able to meet neighbors and first responders.”

Among the information booths were the search and rescue team in Los Angeles, Artists for a Better World, the American Legion, McGroarty Arts Center and Arts and Education Nation, which sponsored the children’s games and art activities.

Ale Wood, chief marketing officer of Arts & Education Nation, said, “We want art to be accessible so everyone can attend at an affordable price. Everyone can be an artist. Mercedes, the owner of our non-profit, is doing leather key chains.”

The McGroarty Arts Center, located at 7570 McGroarty Terrace in Tujunga, had a booth informing the community about some of its upcoming events, including its Burgers, Brews and Blues with the LaRue Sounds band on Aug. 17, The Art of Stand-Up Comedy, a two-day workshop held on Aug. 20 and 27, and Jewelry Making on Aug. 23.

American Legion Post 377 also had a community booth. John Seward, who served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, said, “We are a group of veterans and we have a booth here to recruit people to join the American Legion. We finished the upstairs in the [AL] building with a ballroom floor, so people can dance. It has a stage and sound system.”

The Bolton Hall Museum was open for the public to explore. The museum is open on Saturday and Sundays from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. The current exhibit “Touchstones” shows how Arroyo stone shaped Tujunga.

NNO organizers made an appeal for volunteers to serve on the Community Police Advisory Board (CPAB), which meets once a month. The CPAB meetings, held on the second Thursday of the month, are open to the public.

The star players at NNO in Glendale’s Nibley Park were Glendale’s finest –police officers and firefighters. Leading the pack was Glendale’s top cop Chief Manny Cid.   

“National Night Out is one of the more important events to connect with our own community on in informal basis. We hear about concerns,” said the chief.  

The Rossmoyne/Mountain Homeowners Assoc. hosted NNO at Nibley Park. Board President Lorna Vartanian wanted to make sure there was something for everyone; free ice cream fit the bill on the warm night. Tickets picked at random gave winners dinners at neighborhood favorites such as Fish King. Popular gift certificates were the Disney Jungle Cruise and Once Upon a Time bookstore in Montrose. Face painting was a big draw for the kids and even some adults.  

Glendale residents Karena Sifuentes and her 2-year-old daughter Celine regularly come to Nibley Park. This time was a happy surprise to discover all the National Night Out activities taking place. (Celine liked her free fire helmet the best.)

Sparr Heights’ NNO, organized by resident Ron Scott, featured cotton candy (a favorite with kids) and a Kona Ice truck to keep attendees cool. Several members of the Glendale Police Dept. were on hand to further cement their relationships with Sparr Heights residents.

Photos by Lori BODNAR, John GILBERT, Charly SHELTON, Ron SCOTT and Ruth SOWBY