Community events planned

Neighborhoods, community organizations, youth groups, apartment complexes, trailer parks, and businesses throughout Spokane are invited to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide Tuesday evening for the 22nd annual National Night Out Against Crime.

Spokane was honored for the fifth year in a row as a national award winner for its outstanding participation in this community program.

On Tuesday evening, residents in neighborhoods throughout Spokane are encouraged to spend the evening outside with neighbors, police and other community service providers.

Neighbors will be hosting a variety of special events, including block parties, neighborhood parades, backyard cookouts, ice cream socials, community walks, contests and other imaginative public anti-crime statements.

To host an NNO event, call or stop by your local COPS substation. You will be asked for the host’s name, address, phone number, what type of event will be hosted and how many people are expected.

If you want a visitor, such as a COPS volunteer, Block Watch coordinator, neighborhood resource officer, police officer, city officials, Fire Department or the Crime Dog McGruff to drop by your party, let them know when you register.

Events include:

•A kickoff rally will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday at Riverfront Park. Crime prevention information will be offered, as will Operation Family ID, Night Out Late Party registration and more.

•The Bemiss Neighborhood Council will be hosting Stroll to Hays Park at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday as part of the National Night Out Against Crime. The neighborhood council will provide free popcorn and juice. The evening shows support for National Night Out Against Crime and offers a relaxing time at the park. For more information, call Donna Fagan 483-9377.

•The Logan Neighborhood and Gonzaga University community will get together from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in the GU Administration Building parking lot in the 500 block of East Sharp. The event will help form relationships between the Logan community, Gonzaga University, off-campus students, Spokane Police Department, U.S. Army and Spokane COPS to create a neighborhood network to find ways to prevent crime.

For the kids, there will be an Army helicopter, police cars, information and cake.