National Night Out in Manteca Tuesday consisted of over 40 registered block parties.

About half of those were held in the active adult community of Woodbridge by Del Webb.

Steven Durflinger and his neighbors happily got together with a curbside setup in the 2400 block of Ashbridge Lane. “We call ourselves ‘the hood,’” he jokingly said.

The NNO block parties and gatherings were held throughout the area to promote partnerships between police and community members in an effort to make neighborhoods safer and more caring places to live.

Durflinger welcomed Manteca Fire Chief David Marques and Executive Assistant Aimee Rubio – with so many NNO block parties, Rubio noted that police, fire, and other city staff and officials were divvied up to cover as many as possible – to his neighborhood event.

In Lathrop, the families of Michelle Anderson and Tony Martin have one of the longest running block parties come this time of year.

“I would say we’ve been doing this for over 30 years,” said Martin.

Added Anderson: “We’re the only two original owners left (on the Mingo Way block).”

NNO represented fellowship with neighbors. “This is the one time of the year that we can all get together,” Anderson said.

City of Lathrop police and dignitaries along with Lathrop-Manteca Fire District made stops at the various gatherings in town.

In Ripon, Police Chief Ed Ormonde worked the grill, barbecuing up to 800 hotdogs at the annual city-wide gathering at the Ripon Community Center.

The hotdogs, chips, water, popcorn, and shaved ice were free to those in attendance thanks to generosity donors.

Local police and fire brought the emergency vehicles for display, thrilling the youngsters – they also enjoyed the fun activities such as a dunk tank and some bounce houses.

Inside the community center were interactive Virtual Realty Police Simulators along face paintings and games.

Police noted that the various events and activities were selected in an attempt to engage the many different members that make up the community.

The goal is to bring neighbors together in a casual setting to get to know each other better which in turn encourages many to be more aware of their neighborhoods to help prevent criminal activities form taking place.