By Tracy Dang
Katy Times Managing Editor
Katy area law enforcement agencies, neighborhood organizations and community groups are hosting block parties and area activities to celebrate National Night Out next Tuesday.
According to the National Association of Town Watch, National Night Out was 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.
The Katy Police Department is hosting an event Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. until dark at the Katy City Park. Activities will include a tour of a LifeFlight helicopter, face painting, moonwalks and a chance to take photos and get autographs from two Houston Texans cheerleaders.
Parents will also have an opportunity to make child identification cards for their children.
“Parents can carry the card around, and in the event of a child coming up missing, we can upload the photo onto a server and any law enforcement agency in the United States – it doesn’t matter if you’re on vacation – can get access to the information,” said Sgt. Jack Feild.
“We’ll take finger prints of the thumbs and index fingers on both hands, a mug shot and profile shot, parent or guardian information and three emergency contact numbers. There will also be a place on there to list medical conditions.”
Several neighborhoods in the Katy and west Houston areas of Harris County are also participating in the effort.
“As of last week, 15 neighborhoods had registered their National Night Out events with the (Harris County) Sheriff’s Office Community Services Bureau,” HCSO District IV media liaison office Diann Johnson said.
“Deputies from various divisions including Crime Prevention, Storefront, K-9 and Mounted Division will attend these events. Some of the gatherings are small and impromptu while others planned well in advance and include food, games and live entertainment.”
Two of the county’s biggest events are those occurring in the Westlake Forest and Westlake Place subdivisions, both on North Fry Road.
Westlake Forest is featuring an ambulance, HCSO deputies, Westlake volunteer firefighters, games and food starting at 6 p.m.
Westlake Place is having barbecue, activities, crime safety information, as well as members of Westlake Volunteer Fire Department, HCSO Mounted Patrol and neighborhood crime watch groups beginning at 6 p.m.
As of Tuesday morning, 10 neighborhoods have signed up to participate with the Fort Bend Sheriff’s Office.
LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch will have FBSO officials and Willow Fork firefighters there from 6-9 p.m. to talk to residents about identity theft, hurricane prevention information and other safety concerns.
Other activities will include face painting, fingerprinting child ID kits, music and food.
The Firethorne community will also host an event although it will be held Saturday from 2-5 p.m.
“We’re having a helicopter from LifeFlight and some of our sheriff’s officials out there,” FBSO deputy Gerard Argao said. “We’ll have SWAT, fire trucks and tables for vendors who are participating.
“The Firethorne neighborhood watch safety committee is wanting to start up their neighborhood watch program, and they’re doing this in order to promote it.”
Area NNO activities (updated as received):
• Seven Meadows: Avalon/Seven Meadows Neighborhood Watch Team organized in Spring 2008. The team has worked hard to raise awareness, generate support, strengthen neighborhood spirit and finally send a message to criminals that they are not welcome in their neighborhood. The NW Team hopes to rally each of the 27 sections of the subdivision to host individual block parties to celebrate the 26th Annual Texas Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 6-8 p.m. (times vary per block party). At this time 15 block parties all over Seven Meadows are planned. Some are just a block or street and some cover an entire section. The NW team has grown but still needs block captains for some of the streets in the subdivision. Lorraine Rabuse serves as team membership coordinator for the NW team.
•Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia will make his rounds Tuesday evening, visiting various neighborhood National Night Out events throughout the county. He schedule is as follows:
-5:30 p.m. Summerwood Subdivision – 16136 Hunters Lake Way at Timberforest
-6:05 p.m. Woodforest Subdivision – 13439 Woodforest at Uvalde
-6:40 p.m. Wortham Subdivision – 10911 Wortham Boulevard
-7:15 p.m. Katy Area (TBD)
•Those who have registered with the FBSO are:
-Brazos Garden
-Summerfield Estates
-Orchard Lakes
-Chelsea Harbor
-Cinco Ranch @ La Centerra
-Sugarfield
-New Territory
-Sienna Plantation
-Greatwood
-Bridlewood Estates
-Colony Lake Estates in Stafford
-Firethorne Community
-Westheimer Lakes
-Seven Meadows and Avalon
-Sugar Grove
-Dove Country
