ARLINGTON – The National Night Out Against Crime is an annual event where communities gather to get to know one another and put a stop to neighborhood crime.

“We want to be a part of interfacing with the community,” said Jim Rankin, president elect of Arlington’s Kiwanis Club. “This event is about the unification of our community.”

This year marked a small change in the annual event, which was moved from the Food Pavilion parking lot to the field adjacent to the Stillaguamish Athletic Club on 172nd Street.

“We’ve been doing this for more than five years,” said Paul Ellis, assistant to the Arlington City Administrator for capital projects. Ellis noted that the event’s location was originally set downtown, before moving to Smokey Point, and ultimately 172nd Street. “The turnout has been really good,” he said. “We like to make it a part of the Smokey Point area and this is really visible with a lot of room to expand.”

And expanding is exactly what he hopes will happen for this event, which aims to decrease crime in the communities it serves.

“This is just an opportunity for people to get out and meet their neighbors,” said Ellis. “You create a safer more livable community.” Ellis was quick to thank local civic groups including the Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions clubs, which all donated time and food for the event.

Hundreds of locals attended the event, including Donelle Noyes who has been a part of National Night Out for more than a decade. “I’ve gone every year for the past 10 years,” said Noyes, who grew up attending the Monroe Night Out Against Crime. “I was a kid and my parents brought us,” she said. “It’s fun.”

This year, the event included representatives from the Arlington School District, the Arlington Police Department, Snohomish County Parks, the Arlington Fire Department and the Department of Emergency Management.

The Department of Emergency Management offered essential tips and information for locals interested in preparing their families for emergency situations.

“We are hoping that people just take one step toward being more prepared for an unforeseen natural disaster,” said Dara Salmon of the DEM.

Also present was McGruff the Crime Dog, who offered sheriff’s badges to children.

“The main idea is to bring together communities, businesses, police departments and more to build a long-standing relationship in our communities,” said Arlington Police Cmdr. Terry Quintrall. “As society moves away from knowing their neighbors it creates an opportunity for crime to take place. It’s just really about sharing information and knowing each other. Know your neighbors.”

For more information about the National Night Out, contact the city of Arlington at 360-403-3421.