The weather Tuesday for National Night Out was a blessing.
So said Community Service Officer Liz Ries of the Ripon Police Department during the family-friendly event at the Ripon Community Center.
“It’s the best during my 18 years plus (at NNO),” she added.
Ries is one of the organizers for NNO in Ripon.
Temperatures for this time of the year were, uncharacteristically, a comfortable low 80s.
At Woodbridge at Del Webb, Char and George Raymond were among the group that sat comfortably outdoors in their lawn chairs underneath a shaded park area not too from from the baseball field.
“We all live around the circle,” said Char, who is running for an open seat on the Del Webb board.
The circle consists of the streets around the Del Webb Community Center. Specifically, River Berry Drive, Morning Brook Drive, and Americana Street.
They greeted and spent some time with Captain Nick Haas and two of his Manteca firefighters, who were making their first stop of National Night Out.
Del Webb had several block parties for NNO. It was a time for neighbors to hang out, share stories, or just get together.
“Each street has a block captain,” said Char Raymond, indicating the person in charge of organizing the block parties in the 55 and better active community,
NNO, according to the Manteca Police Department – via social media – is “a chance to meet your neighbors, say hello to first responders, and enjoy the summer night that makes Manteca feel like home.”
Ripon first responders, meanwhile, were recognized with a Certificate of Recognition for NNO from Supervisor Robert Rickman of Fifth District.
His Chief of Staff Scott Tyrrell was on hand to present the Certificates of Recognition to Police Chief Daniel Sauer, Ripon Consolidated Fire Chief Eric De Hart, and members of their respective team.
The Ripon NNO was once again free to those in attendance. For that, Ries credits the 50 plus donors for that making possible.
That meant free hot dogs, drinks, cotton candy, and raffle prizes along with more bounce houses for youngsters to enjoy.
Along the way, community members had a chance to meet their local firefighters, paramedics, and police – one main objectives for NNO.
