Block Watch Groups Host Night Out Parties

Thu., Aug. 3, 2000

By Trinity Hartman trinityh@spokesman.com

The residents of Birch Tree Manor mobile home park gathered Tuesday night to celebrate the annual National Night Out.

They were joined by politicians who seemed drawn to the elderly voters and food.

The potluck spread across two tables and was heavy on desserts. Nobody complained. Sliced fruit, peach crisp, strawberry shortcake, cherry cheesecake and raspberry tort filled a pool table.

A second table had more of the same.

Both Spokane County Commissioner Phil Harris and commissioner candidate Sylvia Riddle attended the Night Out and promised support for both the elderly voters gathered there and community-oriented policing.

Sprinkled around the Spokane Valley, more than a dozen Block Watch groups hosted parties Tuesday. There are 835 active Block Watch groups in Spokane County.

The National Night Out is designed to heighten crime-prevention awareness. It draws people out to meet their neighbors and talk to members of the Sheriff’s Office, who were out in full force. Neighbors in the 13600 block of East 30th Avenue sat in a circle in the back yard of Larry d’Wolfe. Sheriff’s Deputy Ken Dodge answered questions on topics ranging from whether motor scooters are legal (yes, but not on roadways) to what can be done to protect homes.

Many members of the Sheriff’s Community Oriented Policing Effort were party-hopping Tuesday, spreading the word about SCOPE and enjoying the food.

Central Valley SCOPE member Lynda Fralich started the evening at the Birch Tree Manor.

She said they would eat plenty of food before the night was over.

“We have nine Block Watch parties to go to tonight and that’s just Central Valley. It’s really a lot of fun,” she said.

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