The Aurora area was alive Tuesday night as neighbors and friends came together to participate in National Night Out — an annual event launched in 1984, to encourage citizens to spend an evening getting to know neighbors and work together to present a united front against crime, drugs, and violence.
One of the largest attendance areas Tuesday night was the Aurora Township Youth Center, which offered food, games and music, as well as a wealth of information about its resources. Director of Youth Services Scot Thurman said the center draws anywhere from 500 to 1,000 people each year during National Night Out and that the annual program has been effective “in getting the word out.”
“This has been one of the biggest sites each year for National Night Out and we are able to reach more people every year regarding our after-school programs, soccer and basketball programs and more,” Thurman said. “We also are able to tell people about what a lot of other organizations here in town do.”
Cheryl Maraffio, community coordinator for the city of Aurora, said that a total of 18 neighborhood, community center and church groups joined in the local National Night Out effort this year. She credited Aurora Police Cmdr. Kristen Ziman for spearheading the effort.
Ziman said a number of focus groups that met earlier this year helped raise interest in the community concerning National Night Out.
“The growth of this event dropped off for a while as crime always seems to cycle up and down,” Ziman said. “We had zero homicides in 2012, for example, so people might have gotten a little complacent. When people get riled up and see a lot of violence, things change. We’ve converted our efforts to neighborhoods and people realize there is strength in numbers.”
Tuesday’s beautiful evening weather seemed the perfect backdrop as people lined up to get free chicken sandwiches, run around in the youth center field, listen as the fire engine sounded its horn, and talk with members of the police department who came out to meet residents.
Aurora Police Officer David Bemer said the National Night Out event provided an opportunity “to personalize the experience with police.”
“Usually when you see an officer, there is an issue of some kind, whereas tonight people aren’t threatened and are more approachable,” he said. “We hope that the focus groups we worked with continue, and our goal is for this to be something that happens once a month, where people will get together in their neighborhood.”
City officials like Rick Guzman, assistant chief of staff for the Mayor’s Office, said he was making the rounds at city and neighborhood sites and planned to visit six of them Tuesday night.
“I’m really excited that we got nearly 20 locations this year and I’m hoping people will use this as a launching pad for forming their own neighborhood groups,” Guzman said. “We want this to not just be a once-a-year thing. We want people to get to know their neighbors and be the eyes and ears in their community. We know doing that can make a huge difference.”
Residents like Alex Cabral of Aurora described the event “as an effective and positive thing” and noted that being vigilant about your surroundings is even more important in the summer.
“People are out more since there is a lot more daylight, but that also means more people who might be harmful are also out,” Cabral said. “It’s important that people be more visible.”
Farley Bennett of Aurora said she brought her two children to the youth center and that “there were a lot of activities and things to do.”
“I feel like they have things very well covered here and even though this is our first time coming, there are a lot of things for families,” Bennett said. “I think it’s awesome the way they have things set up and they clearly are paying a lot of attention to the kids.”
Residents in Montgomery’s Foxmoor subdivision also took part in National Night Out.
“I have been coming to this for about 12 years. I think it’s good,” said Ryan Betz. “It brings awareness to the little kids. It’s good for the kids to see.”
Kathy Bueno said the neighborhood has been hosting the event at McDole Elementary School in the subdivision for years.
“When it started it was a sign-up for Neighborhood Watch, new people would move in and they would come out and meet their neighbors,” she said.
“We have been here for the past three years. It’s good community relations to see the police department today,” said Ray Dragovic, who with his wife pulled his two sons to the event in a wagon.
“It’s great for the kids – we are teaching them what we do. We don’t want them to be afraid of us,” said Sugar Grove Fire Lt. Erik Carlson at the event.
David Sharos is a freelance writer for The Beacon-News.
