Teams consisting of Rocklin City Council members, city staff, fire fighters and police will be visiting neighborhood gatherings citywide as residents celebrate “National Night Out” tonight.

With at least 25 such celebrations scheduled, the teams expect to visit four or five each, said City Manager Carlos Urrutia.

“It’s a good opportunity to go out and hear comments and questions from the community,” Urrutia said, adding, “And it’s a good opportunity for neighbors to interact with each other.”

Part of a nation-wide movement sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, National Night Out is intended 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.

Now in it’s 25th year, National Night Out is held on the first Tuesday in August.

All Rocklin Neighborhood Watch groups were encouraged to participate, however, other resident groups have scheduled events as well.

Chelcie Richardson with the Woodcreek Townhomes said the 137-unit complex would be celebrating with a band and a barbeque.

“We’ve had a big turnover in the last year. This is a good way for residents, especially children, to get to know each other,” she said.

Rocklin Mayor Brett Storey is looking forward to the event, saying, “It’s kind of fun.”

“We get to hear from the community. We are here to talk and to listen,” he said.

For the full story, see this week’s edition of The Placer Herald.