With a shortage of cash in the city’s coffers, there won’t be a National Night Out in Hollister this year. But for the third consecutive year, county and state agencies will hold one in San Juan Bautista on Aug. 3
The event is intended to bolster local agencies’ relationships with citizens while sending an anti-crime message to kids. Agencies throughout the country hold the event around the end of July or early August each year.
The San Benito County Sheriff’s Department is organizing the San Juan gathering, along with help from the California State Parks and other police and rescue agencies. It will take place from 5 p.m. until dusk at the State Historic Park Plaza at the Mission San Juan Bautista.
Sheriff’s Lt. Pat Turturici said they welcome people from all surrounding communities and he expects nearly 200 residents to attend. There will be food and drinks, two inflated jump houses, a demonstration involving the department’s K-9 dog, a Cal Star helicopter and a dunk tank, along with other demonstrations.
Turturici said the event is for everyone, but geared toward kids.
“It’s just a night out where we can meet the community, the citizens of San Benito County,” he said.
The central purpose of National Night Out is to increase crime and drug awareness. The Hollister Police Department, ending a seven-year tradition, won’t hold an event this year. The department is short-staffed and Hollister faces millions of dollars in deficits in the coming years.
For more information call the Sheriff’s Department at 636-4080.
