The City’s 23rd Annual National Night Out was a fantastic block party as over 1,000 attendees gathered in perfect weather at Evergreen Playfield Complex to enjoy an evening of fun activities, free food and festival atmosphere with friends and neighbors.
This year’s “Night Out” featured an array of entertainment including Caricature Artist Steve Hartley (aka Muggshotz), DJ RT Music, Smokey Bear with U.S. Forest Service, Balloon Artist Sara Chastain from Puget Sound Balloons, Face Painting by Girl Scout Troop #43738, Bouncy Houses, and MTYAA Batting Cage. Visitors were invited to get to know city staff at informational booths and explore various public safety vehicles.
Fun dance performances by Mountlake Terrace Dance Programs entertained the crowd. Mountlake Terrace Police Commander Pat Lowe and Code Enforcement Officer Mike Padgett spoke about how residents and businesses can make our community safer by keeping things clean and tidy, locking doors of homes and vehicles, and not inviting criminals to steal things by leaving them unattended or visible. Commander Lowe related “the Broken Window Theory” of how visible signs of crime and disorder invite crime, so we can all do our part to discourage it in our community.
Commander Lowe said the city will initiate Project 365, a yearlong emphasis for the community to work together to make the city a safe place to live and work with a focus on the Town Center neighborhood this year. Officer Padgett encouraged residents to work with Code Enforcement to clean up the city and “don’t forget if you see something, say something.”
Parks Superintendent Ken Courtmanch recognized many volunteer projects over the past year and Mayor Pro Tem Doug McCardle presented a certificate of appreciation to Kory Rigler of VETOGA who initiated a three-day clean up event at Veterans Memorial Park. Kory’s grandfather, Sam Hanson, was Mayor of Mountlake Terrace from 1964-67.
For the second year in a row, the Cascade Bicycle Club held a Bike Rodeo on the tennis court parking lot on 224th Street and provided 75 free bike helmets and bicycle lessons for children. There were a number of Police, Fire, Public Works and other public safety vehicles on hand shined up and ready to explore.
“This event is really a special night for people to enjoy a totally cost-free experience to interact with the city and our community partners for fun and information,” said Community Relations Director Virginia Olsen. “I cannot stress enough how much we appreciate Premera Blue Cross, our principal sponsor, and all the businesses and sponsors who provide funding, food and supplies to make this event possible.”
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