Toluca Lake joined more than 16,500 communities across the U.S. to celebrate the 36th National Night Out on August 6. This annual event strengthens local spirit by bringing residents and law enforcement together, with the goal of making our neighborhoods safer and more caring places to live. Organized by the Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council and located in the Chase Bank parking lot on Riverside Drive, Toluca Lake’s festivities encouraged neighbors to mingle with first responders from the Los Angeles police and fire departments, local businesses and civic organizations including the Burbank–Toluca Lake Neighborhood Watch, the Toluca Lake Homeowners Association, the Toluca Lake Tennis & Fitness Club, the Toluca Lake Garden Club and Toluca Lake Magazine.
Attendees enjoyed tacos from MC Fresh Kitchen sponsored by the Toluca Lake Chamber of Commerce, hot dogs from Patys Restaurant (with Toluca Lake’s new LAPD Senior Lead Officer Kurtis Delbar manning the grill), chips and other supplies courtesy of Hampar Properties, coffee drinks provided by Strong Realty, hourly free raffles for Trader Joe’s gift cards, and live music from local voice actor Debi Derryberry’s band Honey Pig and rock group RAMEKEGA. Elected officials were also on hand to address the crowd about the gathering’s significance.
“It’s great when neighbors get to know one another and care for each other, because when they get to know each other, they start looking out for one another,” Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian said, explaining that those connections can help promote mental health and counteract crime and violence. “It’s incumbent on all of us, as participants in our community, to look out for one another.”
City Councilmember David Ryu echoed that sentiment, noting that neighbors are “your first line of defense” when it comes to crime, natural disasters and other issues. “This is your night,” he continued. “This is what National Night Out is about: taking back your community and getting to know your LAPD officers and local volunteers. Safety begins by knowing your neighborhood and your police officers so you can be protected.”