National Night Out aimed at community safety

By MaryHelen Swanson and Barbara Brown
Many people came to the local parks last Thursday, mostly out of curiosity, to find out what National Night Out is all about.
Sponsors and volunteers of the first-ever event in Harris, North Branch and Stacy are heralding it as a success.
About 33 million people participated in National Night Out events in 2002, according to North Branch Mayor Gloria Karsky, who addressed the crowd in Central Park during the opening moments of the communitywide event.
And thatís a far piece from the 400 communities that participated in National Night Out in its beginning.
Karsky reminded those in attendance that the night was an opportunity to get to know each other, to meet neighbors and to learn about crime prevention and neighborhood strategies.
She encouraged attendees to visit the police table to get information on forming Neighborhood Watch groups.
Her comments were echoed by North Branch Police Chief Jules Zimmer who said it is such a good thing for neighbors to get to know each other and to watch out for each other.
Her comments were echoed by North Branch Police Chief Jules Zimmer who said it is such a good thing for neighbors to get to know each other and to watch out for each other.
He said it would be good to get back to the ìfront porchî days when neighbors met and looked out for each other.
In North Branch, resident Jeanne Walz talked briefly on the benefits of Neighborhood Watch groups, which residents learned more about from Chisago County Sheriffís Office representatives in each city.
She and her husband Bob had started the first such group in North Branch several years ago when they moved here.
Walz said itís easy to get a group started. She said her neighbors really watch out for each other, like when people go on vacation.
Organizations like Children FIRST, Special Olympics, Community Education, the North Branch Area Chamber of Commerce, Fairview Lakes Regional Medical Center and education groups gave out information or hosted hands-on displays and games.
One event organizer, Community Educationís Jeanne Leland, said she was impressed with turn-out. ìNow that people know what itís about, hopefully even more will come out next year,î she said.

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