COUNTY JOINS NATIONAL EVENT TO PREVENT CRIME, DRUG USE

Residents across the county are joining Neighborhood National Night Out
events Tuesday, celebrating efforts to give crime and drugs a going-away party.

For more than 20 years, National Night Out has encouraged people to
participate in planned neighborhood events in a show of solidarity against
crime. The activities also seek to increase participation in anti-crime
measures, such as neighborhood watch groups.

This year Capitola, Watsonville, Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley police
departments and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office are sponsoring events.

Capitola police will be at the Capitola Mall noon to 4 p.m. showing off
fire trucks, the K-9 unit and the bomb squad. The festivities will move to
Jade Street Park at 5 p.m. for a barbecue and last until 8 p.m.

At the barbecue, residents can enjoy a hot dog or hamburger while children
play carnival games or jump in the bounce house.

Scotts Valley police officers will help out at the Capitola events.

In Watsonville, neighborhood groups are throwing 10 block parties.
Watsonville police officers will visit the sites to make sure everything is
safe and will ask residents if they need any help in preventing particular
crimes.

Target is giving away gift certificates at the block parties and Applebees
is donating 160 hamburger patties to the Freedom Mobile Home Park.

"The whole purpose of the event is to have the neighbors come out and meet
one another and have fun," said Christian Miranda, a community organizer
for the city's Neighborhood Services Division.

At Watsonville's Mesa Verde Park, 790 Green Valley Road, the event will
feature a DJ, jump house, pinatas, animal balloons and food 6 to 8:30 p.m.

At the Sheriff's South County Service Center, 790 Green Valley Road, there
will be a bicycle safety obstacle course and free raffle for kids 8 to 13
years old. Children will hone their bike skills and learn the essentials of
riding safely. A bike rodeo and raffle will be held at 4:30 p.m., and
requires a parents signature to participate. Prizes will be awarded. To
volunteer, call 763-4420 or 423-6231.

Santa Cruz police are holding a 6 to 8 p.m. event at Albertsons, 911 Soquel
Ave. Residents are asked to lock their doors, turn on their outside lights
and spend the evening outside with neighbors and police.

Neighborhoods throughout the city are hosting block parties, cookouts,
parades, visits with police, flashlight walks, contests, youth activities
and anticrime rallies.

Saff writer Tom Ragan contributed to this report.