On Tuesday evening, August 1st, local neighborhoods in parts of East Nashville used a recreation area and ballpark in Old Hickory to demonstrate their unity to combat crime in the streets during just one of thousands of activities during National Night Out Against Crime (www.natw.org/).

Just "clowning around" till I get real serious......

A few of Nashville's SWAT team.

A tactical approach to stopping crime!

Sonic was just one of the many businesses supporting the Old Hickory, Lakewood and Rayon City Night Out

A vehicle that makes tracks - the Nashville SWAT Mobile.

Supporting solidarity against crime, this club means business.

These hot rods are cool!

Don't let the suit fool you. We are serious!

Just one of the neighborhood associations attending - - neighbors in unity creating stronger communities.

National Night Out Against Crime has been extraordinarily successful to promote involvement in crime and drug prevention activities; strengthen police-community relations, and encourage neighborhood camaraderie as part of the fight for safer streets. Since 1984, "National Night Out�America's Night Out Against Crime" has grown to involve over 30 million people from more than 9,000 communities.

In Nashville, The Mayor's Office of Neighborhoods (www.nashville.gov/nightout/index.htm) provides strong support to Nashville's Neighborhood Watches, Neighborhood Associations and Community Organizations. Other cities in Tennessee actively support the annual event, as well. Officials in Chattanooga and Murfreesboro provided a platform for Night Out.

"I look forward to joining with association leaders throughout Chattanooga to emphasize the strong relationship that is being built between the city and our neighborhoods�which are the very bedrock of a healthy community," said Mayor Ron Littlefield of Chattanooga. HUD Neighborhood Network Centers held Night Out events throughout Tennessee in Knoxville, Murfreesboro and Nashville. One such celebration included residents from Somalia, Egypt, and other various nationalities.

Most impressive was an event held in Old Hickory at Hayes Field. The event was spearheaded by Night Out Neighborhood Leader, Phyllis Talley, who worked with local police departments, community organizations, Old Hickory Village, Lakewood and Rayon City residents, and businesses to produce one of the grandest scenes around.

"You could tell this celebration was very well supported by local business. Just look at the number of vendors, volunteers and community-spirited organizations attending, said Nashville Operations Analyst, Terry Livingston - antique cars, motorcycle clubs, three police departments, a hot-air balloon, the Nashville Police Department's Swat Team and helicopter, rides for kids and food and more���If you didn't make it this year, you got to try this one next year for sure."

This local mix of small towns and businesses within Davidson County showed solidarity for the cause. Several police departments were represented. As in the past, when support is shown to local police, they know that people are behind them and that they care about their neighborhoods and residents. Some 400 people attended the Old Hickory event even with the 95-plus degree temperatures. Even more families attended at dusk.

The Nashville Office of HUD provided literature from HUD's Policy Development and Research Site (www.huduser.org) about crime studies, crime statistics, and the latest techniques/tools that are being used to identify, rectify and fight it, including the latest computer mapping software programs. New information was provided from the National Sheriffs' Association (www.sheriffs.org/home.shtml), USACOPS.COM (www.usacops.com), Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (www.police.nashville.org), and other enforcement sites.

Cities, communities and neighborhoods are on the lookout - not only for criminals, but also for grants and funding to stop crime. That's why the federal government created sites to search for grants such as FIRSTGOV.GOV or Grants.gov. Anyone can go to these sites and look for all kinds of grants - part of the federal government and the President's E-Government Initiatives. HUD provided the latest E-Government sites at the Old Hickory Night Out.

"People are still catching up on the federal government's ".GOV" sites," said Livingston. "They are so consumed with everyday sites they use for banking, paying bills or the sites they use at work, they sometimes don't know how informative and in-depth federal agency sites have become. Many think the federal government uses .COM sites."

This was one of the biggest and most successful events in Metro Nashville, but now the work begins - the work of keeping the neighborhood watch's active; coordinating with police departments, city officials and Crime Stopper organizations; being active with neighborhood organizations; partnering with business, and targeting grants and funds. When a community sticks together, the neighborhood is tight - the people feel safer, and it's a fact that criminals don't want to be there!