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Susan Buser, Webster City, is excited about the night of Aug. 3. That's the night that has been proclaimed as National Night Out set aside by the National Association of Town Watch. Buser said it's a great chance to get to know those who live around you.

"I credit Kathy Getting and my front porch for the neighborhood block party taking place at the top of the Bank Street bridge next week," she said.

Buser said Getting, director of the PowerUp YOUth program in Webster City, set out a challenge with her article in the recent "City Scene" publication, distributed by the city of Webster City.

"She said, 'Wouldn't this be a great place to live if we all made an attempt to connect with those living around us?' "

Buser said she had lived in other communities that recognized the NNO, and her block had celebrated the event.

"Neighborhoods celebrate throughout the nation once a year on the same night with displays of outdoor light and front porch vigils, block parties, cookouts, neighborhood walks and visits by the police and sheriff's departments," she said. "And I said why not here, too?"

More than 15,000 communities across the country take part in the NNO as a way to promote police and community partnerships, crime and drug prevention and neighborhood camaraderie.

Buser said she encouraged other areas of the community to join in and host gatherings as well.

"I was amazed at the reactions when I knocked on my neighbor's doors and handed them a sheet entitled 'Let's Have a?Block Party,'" she said. Buser said she had mixed reactions. She gave her neighbors a detailed explanation flyer.

"People I'd never met commented what a great idea it was, or 'sure, I'll come,' "she said.

Buser said she would like to see the old-fashioned block party resurrected. She added that Police Chief Brian Hughes is a big supporter of the the NNO. Buser said those organizing block parties or neighborhood gatherings, can call the nonemergency police phone number, 832-9166, to request an officer to stop by the party.

"He will be prepared to tell you about the latest programs - such as Crime Stoppers, Neighborhood Watch and TipSoft," she said. "Our police are hired to help keep us safe and in turn, we must do more to help them enhance our quality of life here."

Buser said a flyer she used to organize her block party is available, along with party ideas at www.powerupyouth.wordpress.com by typing in the word "block" in the RSS option. The form will also be available at the front window of the police department, she said.

For more information on the National Night Out, call Buser at 832-9834, or Getting at 832-5432, ext. 1411.

Contact Anne Blankenship at editor@freemanjournal.net or call 832-4350.