National Night Out Recap and Thank You

As your neighborhood public safety chair, I wish to extend a huge and heartfelt thank you to all the folks who gave us yet another successful community get-together. Yeah, I know it was hot and humid – it’s August in Atlanta – but at least we did not have a pop-up rainstorm. Thank goodness, because we did not have a rain plan!

Thanx to all the volunteers who came forward with their time and sweat, our two event chairs – Michelle Reid and Eleanor Barrineau – for their meticulous planning, and our sponsors. Whole Foods donated a wonderful dinner, CVS Pharmacy donated supplies, Virginia Highland Church loaned their tables and chairs, Eclectic Music provided musical entertainment, and the Garrison After-school Program arranged kids’ activities.

Too bad the Station # 19 firemen could not have stayed longer – but duty called. APD Zone 6 was well represented with visitors including Major Propes and Lt. Shaw. The one sad note was the retirement announcement from Inspector Ruby Naylor – our Zone 6 crime prevention officer. Her smiling face and dedication to her job will be sorely missed here in Zone 6, but we wish her well in her life after retirement.

The end result of this August 4th event was that a lot of neighbors got to meet each other, reinforcing my basic theory of crime prevention which is that folks who know each other tend to look out for each other. We are our own first-line defense against crime and that was very evident on Arcadia Street Tuesday evening.

Pictorial recaps are at http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/metro/atlanta/atlanta-nightout-crime-photos/ and from our own John Becker at http://virginiahighlandnationalnightout.shutterfly.com