The first Tuesday of August, August 1, will be National Night Out, the evening when neighborhoods all across the country come outside for fun gatherings to “claim their space” and begin networking to fight crime. All it takes to make it happen is one or two people on a block or in a small area to take the initiative, determine a place, and invite their neighbors to join in a pot-luck dinner party. It helps to have a list of a few things people can bring – entrees, desserts, salads, tables, place settings, chairs – so that all are accommodated. Most importantly, develop or update a list of those in your neighborhood so you get to know your neighbors and how to contact them in case of an emergency. This is a super way to begin a Neighborhood Watch Group on your block, which is a key crime prevention program that benefits everyone. And if you coordinate your NNO gathering with the Sheriff’s Office, they can arrange to have an officer visit your gathering and provide some great crime prevention and safety tips. Our contact at the SSD is our crime prevention specialist Alexis Yeager at ayeager@sacsheriff.com.