The first Tuesday of August – Aug. 1 – will be observed in Escalon and across the country as National Night Out and sign-ups are being taken now for residents that want to host a neighborhood gathering.

“We usually get up to eight or nine,” said Escalon Police Department Community Services Officer Sara Cardoso. “It runs from approximately 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., people can sign up at City Hall.”

The idea of National Night Out is to have residents join in with their community’s fire, police, ambulance and city personnel in a united front to ‘take back the night’ against crime. It is a chance for the community to celebrate with barbecues, potlucks, ice cream socials and more, with the local event also featuring a caravan of officials moving from gathering to gathering throughout the city during the evening.

Organizers said the event helps promote police-community partnerships and is a good way for residents to interact with their emergency services personnel in a fun, informal way as opposed to during a crisis.

Fire trucks, police cars, ambulances, all make their way to each of the scheduled neighborhood events, spending a short amount of time at each one. Tours of the emergency apparatus are offered to youngsters and there are always some special giveaway items for the kids as well.

Ideally, said Cardoso, officials would like sign-ups by Monday, July 24; call the police department at 691-7301 for assistance in planning a National Night Out gathering.