By Leanna Lehman
Fallon's National Night Out, held annually on the first Tuesday night in August, was celebrated at Fox Peak Cinema last week and enjoyed a great turnout. Organized by Fallon Paiute Shoshone Victim Services, several first-responder agencies were on hand to visit with local children and families to share what they do and foster greater community relations.
NNO is an annual community-building campaign that promotes and enhances the relationship between neighbors, law enforcement, and other agencies while bringing back a true sense of community. The event was designed to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances and is celebrated nationwide. Millions of neighbors participate in National Night Out in all fifty states, U.S. territories, and military bases worldwide on the first Tuesday in August (with Texas and a few select areas celebrating on the first Tuesday in October). The block party style event is celebrated differently in each community. Still, it often includes festivals, parades, cookouts, and other events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, exhibits, and more.
On the heels of the global pandemic that changed the world and all that occurred during that time, an uncommon strain was placed on the largely trust-based relationship between law enforcement and the community. Rebuilding and strengthening that relationship helps communities feel protected and invested in local law enforcement agencies.
NNO is helping do just that. Fallon's event allowed local families to interact with law enforcement and other first responders like EMTs, firefighters, and Search and Rescue. As well as agencies that support area residents like FPST Victim Services, which works with victims of violence, and Nevada Urban Indians who work to enhance the well-being of Native Americans and other underserved communities through health care, social services, cultural awareness, and education. Also on hand was NAS Fallon Fleet and Family Support Center, which provides relocation assistance, new parent support, deployment services, clinical counseling, financial management counseling, family employment services, family advocacy, and transition assistance programs.
Hot dogs were grilled, faces were painted, balloon animals were crafted, and a bounce house/slip and slide kept children of all ages entertained between visits with the various agencies. Behind most of the hard work in organizing the event were FPST Victim Services advocate Kari Gonzalez and program director Beth Brazzanovich, who wanted to give a special shout-out to Cheryl, manager of the Fallon Maverik, who made possible the donation of 17 cases of bottled water for the National Night Out 2023 Event. They would also like to thank all the participating agencies: FPST Tribal Police, Nevada Urban Indians, Banner Churchill Hospital EMTs, Navy Fed Fire and Ambulance from NAS Fallon, the Lovelock Colony Police with K-9 officer in training, Maverik, the Fallon Police Department, Churchill County Sheriff's Office, Churchill County Search and Rescue, Nevada Highway Patrol, and NAS Fallon Fleet and Family Services.
This year's event was the second annual NNO celebration and promises to bring even more participation and fun next year.
For more photos, check out the NNO Facebook Post for 8.8.23
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