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| National Night Out comes to Patterson for first time |
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| Written by Maddy Houk / Patterson Irrigator | |
| Saturday, 02 August 2008 | |
For the past five years, the little town of Grayson has been the only berg on the West Side to celebrate National Night Out.  Pi Photo File This year, Patterson plans to get in on the celebration. On Tuesday night, folks here and across the county will get together to support law enforcement, police and community relationships and strengthen neighborhoods against crime and drugs. The 25th annual event takes place through the National Association of Town Watch, which works to build better and safer neighborhoods using community involvement. Many neighborhoods countywide celebrate with block parties. Albertina Reynoso of the West Side Community Alliance, one of the sponsoring organizations in Patterson, said the local Youth Development Committee wanted to bring gang awareness to the public and help local youth. “We invite the community to get together, meet law enforcement and take a stand against crime,” Reynoso said. Patterson families are invited to the stadium, where the local Lions Club will provide free hot dogs to the first 400 people who attend. KAT Country 103 radio will be on hand, playing music. The Center for Human Services, of which Westside Community Alliance is a part, will provide glow sticks for kids while a Modesto Nuts mascot visits with the families. Various local businesses and organizations also donated money for the event. Kids can get their faces painted or have fun in the bounce house. There will be plenty of information tables to visit, or folks can watch the sumo wrestlers. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department helicopter will also fly over the event, and Patterson Police officers will give a K-9 dog demonstration. Over in Grayson, folks will have plenty of entertainment, such as break dancers, folkloric dancers and clowns. Little ones can also enjoy a bounce house, and a disc jockey will provide music. Grayson’s National Night Out, sponsored by Grayson Community District Board and Grayson Neighborhood Watch, will have a number of participating organizations present. The County Sheriff’s Department helicopter and trooper will be landing behind the community center, while the Westley-El-Solyo Fire Department volunteers will bring a fire truck and Patterson District Ambulance Company will have an ambulance for folks to tour. In the past, law enforcement agencies have recognized Grayson as one of the most well organized events in the county, because there’s plenty to do for children and adults. One of the organizers, Helen Pulido, said a team of people work on the event for about six months to get everything organized. “National Night Out is good for the community,” Pulido said. “It keeps us together and lets us know that we’re keeping an eye out for each other.” Cub Scouts from Pack 79, Girl Scouts, Modesto Junior College, Young at Heart Exercise Program, Center for Human Services, Stanislaus County Police Activities League and STARS program volunteers will participate. Patterson sponsors include Center for Human Services, West Side Community Alliance, and the Weed and Seed Program, which includes Gang Resistance Education and Training Camp and Walk to School Safe Events. Meanwhile, Reynoso invites local residents to attend the Tuesday event. “It’s the opportunity for the community of Patterson to be involved in building healthier and safer neighborhoods,” she said. To reach Maddy Houk at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail her at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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