Set Out the Traffic Cones and Fire Up the Grills: It's National Night Out in Los Altos

It's National Night Out. Do you know who your neighbors are?

Often, in American life today, the answer is "sort of," if not flat-out "no."

In ten neighborhoods in Los Altos, neighbors are stepping into the cul-de-sacs and and the streets to break bread and get to know one another and local police officers.

"It's our sixth year and it's great," said Officer Paco Vergara who is the chief liaison with neighborhood block groups. "We stop by and socialize and get to know people.

Vergara will be assigning 10-15 officers among ten neighborhoods.

They include: North Avalon Drive, Lockhart Lane, San Domingo Way, University Avenue, Valencia Drive, Golden Way, Montclaire Elementary School (Highlands neighborhood), Montclaire Court and Toyon Farm. Some individual people plan to have house parties, Vergara said.

Andy Wong, who has organized the Highlands potluck picnic, held at Montclaire school says the turnout each year is big.

The flyer for the Highlands neighborhood gathering lists crime prevention as a good reason to join the neighborhoo's Yahoo group, but also for simple things like meeting families with kids of similar ages for possible play dates, exchange information about babysitters, borrowing or lending tools, and promoting one's business.

Plus, it dangles the appearance of a police car for kids to get close to.

National Night out, however, is mostly about the crime prevention, which its website contends is simple and effective strategy.

• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships;
• Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs;
• Make neighborhoods visibly get organized as a deterrent to criminal activity
• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;