– Photos by Bobbie Toner

Somerville’s 9th Annual National Night Out” (NNO)  is a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW).  The  event took place  August 7, at Foss Park.

Last year’s National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 34 million people participated in National Night Out 2011.

National Night Out is designed to

•Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness,

•Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs,

•Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, and

•Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.