National Night Out Grows in El Dorado County to Include Great Entertainment in Most Communities

The "29th Annual National Night Out" (NNO), a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch.  Last year's National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 37 million people participated in National Night Out 2012.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT is designed to:

•     Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
•     Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
•     Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
•     Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Along with the traditional display of outdoor lights and front porch vigils, cities, towns and neighborhoods 'celebrate' NNO with a variety of events and activities such as:

•     block parties,
•     cookouts,
•     visits from local police and sheriff departments,
•     parades, exhibits,
•     flashlight walks,
•     contests, and
•     youth programs.

In Pollock Pines & Camino the place to be on Tuesday, Aug. 7th from 4:30 – 8:30 for National Night Out is Pollock Pines where not only the Jackson Steel Band will be entertaining the expected crowd of over 400, but so will the dancers from our favorite sports team from Sacramento.  Having won a national award for its event, Sierra Safety, last year, the festival is even bigger this year with multiple bounce houses, over 50 vendors, 55 raffles valued at up to $200, and games, crafts, and activities for kids of all ages.   The VIP FLAG CEREMONY will begin at 7 pm featuring many of our federal, state and local legislators.  A very special Welcome Home, Troops booth will honor all veterans, past and current.   Free health services will also be provided.  Food, fun, facts, and freebies!  All of this to say thank you to our law enforcement and fire fighting agencies, as well as all of our health and wellness service providers.  FREE!   

Staged again at Pinewood Elementary School on Pine Street, the fun begins on Aug. 7 at 4:30 p.m. and officially ends at 8:30 p.m., but after, an outdoor movie will be shown — sort of like a drive-in, but in this case, it's a "walk-in," and free.

New this year to National Night Out is entertainment provided by the fabulous Jackson Steel Band, many more free health services, a larger classic car show and many more vendors supplying food, fun, facts and freebies.

Also new this year, we are hyper-proud to announce a veteran's "Welcome Home, Troops" venue. If you are a veteran, or have a family member or friend who is a veteran, spread the word that we want them to come and be celebrated. We are also requesting that you send copies of pictures of your veterans so that we can complete our Wall of Veteran Fame. It will be used to sign our gratitude to all that our troops have done to help keep us safe. It will be housed in the Veteran's Building in Placerville after the event. We are also pleased to announce that in the Jackson Steel Band is the 2012 Veteran Volunteer of the Year, Gary Campbell.

Admission is free. Park at the Community Church and ride the school bus over. Only service animals are permitted to attend this event. If you have a blue handicapped plate and desire to park at the school, you need to call and make reservations so that the CERT people will direct you inside the school parking lot.

For more information, call Jeanne Harper (530) 613-1332.



In Cameron Park the place to be is Burke Junction. Tuesday, August 7th Burke Junction and the SS/CP Chamber of Commerce will host the first Annual National Night Out in Cameron Park. This event is supported by the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department, Fire departments, the Cameron Park CSD and numerous local businesses in the area.

In addition to the many community businesses that will take part in this family oriented evening, included will also be the El Dorado County Sheriff’s K-9 unit, the El Dorado Sheriff’s Armored Car/SWAT team, Search and Rescue demos and our local Rescue Fire Department with their Historic Fire truck.

You can also take a ride on the BUJU Line Train which brings a smile to those of all ages. There will be food and drinks for everyone.

There is no charge for this event. Local businesses that wish to be a part of National Night Out can still come out and get a space. For further information please contact Linda Hopkins or Paula Springer at the Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce at (530) 677-8000 or Paula Springer at (530) 957-3311 or (530) 677-5282 or e-mail paula@burkejunction.com



In Placerville the place to be is at Mother Lode Rehabilitation Enterprises (MORE), 399 Placerville Drive at 5 p.m.  The Placerville Police Department invites the community to join its National Night Out (NNO) festivities throughout Placerville this coming Tuesday evening, Aug. 7. The kick-off ceremony will be at Mother Lode Rehabilitation Enterprises (MORE), 399 Placerville Drive at 5 p.m.

This year Placerville celebrates the 29th anniversary of NNO, America’s crime and drug prevention event with 21 different venues, including four venues open to the public. The city has received national recognition for its NNO programs, including being ranked No. in the USA for its population category — the highest placement in California for 2011.

The public venues include MORE, Placerville City Park/Aquatics Center, Main Library and the Mountain Democrat parking lot. Attendees will be able to meet and talk with Placerville police officers and city staff as well as Placerville City Council members and other local government officials. Search and Rescue and County Fire will be just two of the 20 different agencies and organizations who will all be rotating to the different events and venues during the evening.

The public venues will be offering a free hot dog barbecue, giveaways and public safety information. National Night Out is funded in part by national sponsor, Target, and food and drinks are provided by local sponsor, Savemart.

The Police Department expects over one-third of the 10,000 residents within the city will come out into their neighborhoods to meet their area police officers and get to know their neighbors.

“We hope many more citizens throughout the county will enjoy our public events. When residents know and watch out for each other and they know their local law enforcement and local government, we can collectively create an atmosphere that is hostile to crime and criminals and safe for kids and families,” said Police Chief George Nielsen. “We hope you will all come out and enjoy the evening and ‘Give Neighborhood Crime and Drugs a Going Away Party.’ ”



In Greenwood the place to be is at the Greenwood Schoolhouse, between Greenwood Road and Highway 193.  Sponsored by the Greenwood Civic Organization, Divide Ready By 5 and Drug Free Divide, National Night Out will take place Tuesday, Aug. 7 at the Greenwood Schoolhouse, between Greenwood Road and Highway 193.

It’s part of the 29th annual National Night Out celebration, a crime and drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. The annual event is held the first Tuesday of August.

The event will run from 5 to 8 p.m. and is free.

Gail McGonigle, a member of the Greenwood Civic Organization, said the planning for National Night Out started in February.

“We wanted to pull our community together,” McGonigle said. “This seemed a good way to make more people be aware of the police and fire services, and to present our local non-profit organizations, plus health and county services. Those services aren’t so visible at this end of El Dorado County.”

McGonigle is looking forward to Greenwood’s National Night Out party.

First, there will be lots of hot dogs, watermelon, chips, water and sodas that have been donated by Mar Val Supermarket.

Vendors scheduled to appear are: Cool Fitness, the Garden Club, Health Auxiliary, radio station KFOK 95.1 FM, the Divide Rotary, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Sheriff’s Team of Active Retirees, and crime scene investigators from the El Dorado County Sheriffs Department.

A treat for dog owners and lovers is the California Department Fish and Game is planning to bring one of its K-9 units to Greenwood, McGonigle said.

The Georgetown Fire and the Garden Valley Fire departments are each scheduled to bring out their fire trucks to the event, noted McGonigle.

Another treat for pet owners will be a booth managed by Hartsong Ranch, a sanctuary for disabled animals. Anyone who stops by their booth will be educated about healthy lifestyles and healthy diets for animals to avoid being placed in situations such as the animals that are housed at the ranch.

Booths for health services for people are also scheduled, as well as a table for a local pharmacist, an attorney and a couple of nurses who will have information on blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, McGonigle said.

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park will offer gold panning.

More than 20 prizes have been donated for the raffle that is scheduled to take place. Some of the prizes are farm fresh eggs, a hula hoop, a Christmas tree from Greenwood Christmas Tree Farm, a visit from Santa Claus for a Christmas party, a gym membership to Cool Fitness, a basket of tea items from High Tea Basket, a fire ring and a certified public account who will do a 2012 tax return.

Also scheduled to be raffled off is a painting from local artist Joyce Bennett, a free round of golf and lunch for two people at the Rancho Solano Golf Course in Fairfield, and lessons from a local musician.

The Greenwood Senior Center is going to hold a “Wii bowling” demonstration. McGonigle explained that it is a computerized game designed for seniors or people who have limited mobile abilities.

“It engages the mind as well as the body and it’s a lot of fun,” said McGonigle.

From the moment McGonigle and the local Greenwood area groups started planning the event it has been “exciting.”

“We are not following anyone’s pattern,” McGonigle said. “We went to the (National Night Out) Website and just looked what the others are doing.”

For more information contact McGonigle at 530-885-6790 or e-mail gmcgonigle1@yahoo.com