FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
July 10, 2017
RE:9th Annual Santa Cruz Neighbors’ City-wide Block Parties 2017 Are Scheduled for September 24th;
Now Accepting Applications for BLOCK PARTIES in the City of Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz Neighbors, Inc. is encouraging the residents of Santa Cruz to participate in the 9th annual Santa Cruz Neighbors’ City-wide Block Parties, to be held Sunday, September 24th anytime from noon to 8 pm.Participation fromthe City of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Police Department, Fire Department and other City Departments along with UC Santa Cruz are planning to visit the Neighbors.
The Santa Cruz Neighbors’ Night Out program is pleased to announce that we are accepting names of party sponsors for this year’s Santa Cruz Neighbors’ Night Out, an event celebrating our community. We are asking for neighbors, Block Leaders, Neighborhood Watch Liaisons, apartment/condo complex leaders, mobile home park neighbors and/or block captains to be a “Party Sponsors”. Fill out the application and plan the block party with your neighbors.
The event seeks to unite neighbors one block at a time, by creating an opportunity for all neighbors to participate in a block party, barbecue, ice cream social, potluck,sharing games and music. One of the goals of Santa Cruz Neighbors Block Party is to reduce the potential for conflicts by promoting familiarity and open communication among neighbors. Also brings neighbors together for Neighborhood Watch safety reasons or to resolve something they want to change. These activities will give neighbors an opportunity to introduce themselves, exchange phone numbers and emails for neighborhood watch lists or plan future neighborhood events and communication. A neighborhood that communicates is a safer and healthier neighborhood.
The event is timed to enable neighborhoods to include new or returning UC Santa Cruz students in the festivities. The first Santa Cruz Neighbors Night Out event in 2009 had 31 neighborhood block parties participating. Last year over 50 neighborhoods participated all on the same day. Aiming for 100 in the future!
Personal Comments from Neighbors when there have been Block Parties past years:
*Santa Cruz Neighbors made it very easy to plan and get together with our neighbors. Thank you!
It has really helped with our communication in our neighborhood to know who my neighbors are.
Our neighbors have now been able to work together to have a safer street free of problems.
Great event, community builder. We moved into the neighborhood and many neighbors pass by, wave, etc, after the block party, neighbors stop and talk, now we know their names!
Please visit our website for more information
Deadline to sign up for Block Party is September 14th!
PRESS CONTACT:
Deborah Elston, Santa Cruz Neighbors
Santa Cruz Neighbors is a citywide 501c3 non-profit since 2001that helps a network of neighborhoods to partner with, local government, educational institutions, and local businesses, and non-profits dedicated to safer neighborhoods, a Community oriented government and provides a neighborhood voice for the residents of Santa Cruz.
More on Page 2
Party Notes:
Santa Cruz Neighbors takes care of the permitting process, logistics with the City and barricadesprovided.
We request that the block parties take place in a common area (in the street) to create a more welcoming feel and to make it easy to find the event for those who may be unfamiliar with the neighborhood. The City has certain requirements such as set up on one side of the street. These requirements will be sent to every Block sponsor.
Be sure to invite everyone on your block. We encourage you to extend a personal invitation to those who may be new to the block.
To accommodate individual neighborhood schedules, we are asking each block to select the best time for their block to have a party any time between Noon-8 p.m.
Look on under Gallery Tab for last years pictures and ideas.
Please sign up to be a Party Sponsor by September 14th.
If you sign up early you will be able to request special guests such as Police and Fire Department staff, and other guests. Guests will be by first request basis. We cannot guarantee that they will be able to attend due to unforeseen circumstances or Calls for Service.