Lake Forest Park Summertime Reflections: National Night Out

Neighbors were grateful for the air conditioning as well
as the potluck feast at the Kassover's home

Text and Photos by Donna Hawkey

August National Night Out is a favorite for many Lake Forest Park residents with 37 neighborhood get-togethers taking place on Tuesday, August 7, 2018.

Ken and Philippa Kassover host National Night Out at their home which sits on old Circle Drive but is now named 47th Ave.

 
Neighbors that have lived on this same street for over forty years recall the old name fondly and say they “wish we could change it back to Circle Drive.”

National Night Out host and Lake Forest Park City Council Member Phillippa Kassover chatting with neighbors.

Host Ken Kassover, right

New neighbors were warmly welcomed and some apologized for either their loud barking dogs or for building development noise taking place.

Getting to know something about the people who live on your street is empowering and especially in a time of need or emergency. These neighbors have a list called “Circle Drive Need” just in case of one.

 

Looks like the dog is enjoying the dinner, too.

Ken Kassover also reminded his neighbors about Crime Watch which is a service sponsored free by the LFP Police Department. Ken volunteers for Crime Watch and says that vacation house checking can be accessed by any property owner living in the City of LFP.

Captain Paul Armbrust of the LFP Police Department says that partnering on National Night Out helps make “Lake Forest Park one of the safest cities in the Puget Sound region. With the resident’s eyes and ears, it is an incredible force multiplier partnership with the police. Neighbors that know each other can work together very effectively when necessary.”

Photo Courtesy of Lake Forest Park Police Department

Over 37 National Neighborhood Night Out events were held throughout Lake Forest Park.

The police have a call to action. “If you see something, say something, and this will help us to continue to drive down crime in this great City,” says Captain Armbrust.

The police have always been an encouraging partner in National Night Out which began in 1984 with neighbors just turning on their porch lights and sitting in front of their houses.

According to the National Night Out website, "The first annual event involved 2.5 million neighbors across 400 communities. Today, 38 million neighbors in 16,000 communities across the nation take part in National Night Out which has transformed into many different types of community gatherings."

Information about scheduling a neighborhood Night Out Against Crime in LFP here.

Capt. Armbrust and two young neighbors
Photo courtesy of Lake Forest Park Police Department

This type of relationship building creates trust between residents and the police as everyone gains better understanding of the community and its needs.