San Marcos resident Alex Banbury introduces his son Xavier, age 8, to San Marcos Mayor Daniel Guerrero and SMPD Chief Howard Williams during a National Night Out party at the CM Allen Homes neighborhood. PHOTO by TREY HATT.

Twenty neighborhood groups hosted block parties and mingled with city officials and first responders Oct. 4 to celebrate National Night Out.

Police, firefighters and emergency medical technicians visited block parties as elected officials and city staff met with citizens and talked about neighborhood concerns.

“National Night Out gives our citizens a chance to meet first responders at neighborhood block parties and develop good relationships with them beyond emergency situations,” said San Marcos Mayor Daniel Guerrero. “It also allows the City Council to visit with our citizens and learn first-hand about their concerns and community needs.”

SMPD community services officers estimate 600 to 700 people participated in the event.

San Marcos neighborhood parties were held at the Hills of Hays, Wellington Apartments, Stone Brook, Willow Creek, C.M. Allen Homes, Blanco Vista, Chapultepec Homes, Allenwood Homes, Savannah Club, Heritage Neighborhood, Oak Heights-Ridgeway-Hughson Heights, Sierra Circle, Castle Forest-Franklin Square-Pierce Court, Springtown Villas, Victory Gardens, Country Oaks Apartment, and Westover Mobile Home Park.

National Night Out is a program organized by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), a non-profit organization dedicated to the development crime and drug prevention programs.

Since 1981, NATW’s network of information, assistance and affiliation has been serving hundreds of member-groups from throughout North America. As a national group member of the Crime Prevention Coalition, NATW supports the “McGruff – Take a Bite Out of Crime” campaign. NATW’s center of information, programs and technical assistance works with law enforcement and civilian leaders to keep volunteers interested, involved and motivated.

For more information about National Night Out and other community-based crime prevention initiatives, contact Danny Arredondo, SMPD crime prevention officer, at (512) 754-2270.

Children at a National Night Out party at C.M. Allen Homes receive junior fire helmets and badges from San Marcos firefighters. The scene was repeated elsewhere in San Marcos Tuesday night. PHOTO by TREY HATT.