National Night Out returns to Niwot

Ever want to see the inside of an emergency vehicle, check out a fire engine pumper or watch K-9 officers and their human handlers strut their stuff? Maybe you'd also enjoy free hot dogs and hamburgers, a free bike inspection from Niwot Wheelworks and rollicking music from the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band?

If so, bring the family to the outdoor National Night Out (NNO) event from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 3 on Murray Street in downtown Niwot.

Sponsored by the Niwot Community Association in partnership with the Boulder County Sheriff's Department, the event offers a chance for community members to mingle with both first responders and their neighbors.

"We have quite a number of first responder groups planning to be at the events," said Boulder County Sheriff's Deputy Robert Philbrick. "I think people will be very interested in seeing everything that will be happening and meeting their first responders."

The Boulder County Sheriff's K-9 Unit is set to provide demonstrations and hands-on activity, Philbrick said. The Boulder County Sheriff's SWAT team will have some equipment to show, including its negotiation operations trailer, and Mountain View Fire Protection District will have a fire engine pumper truck at the Niwot event.

The Longmont Emergency Unit, which provides search and rescue services along with accident and fire response, is expected to have two units at the NNO event. Attendees also will be able to meet Boulder County animal control officers, and a Colorado State Patrol officer and patrol car also will be on hand, he added. In addition, a School Resource Officer is expected to be in attendance.

Also available will be representatives from some "less flashy, but extremely important groups," Philbrick said. Members of the Boulder County Sheriff's Co-Responders team will be on hand to talk about their behavioral health work as they respond as a team with deputies. The program is in its second year of funding from a five-year grant.

Volunteers from the Sheriff's Victim's Assistance and Restorative Justice programs also will be available to talk about their important work, Philbrick said. And the Friends of Boulder County Sheriff K-9 Association, a nonprofit group that raises funds for obtaining, training and providing medical care and memorials for both active and retired K-9, will be on hand to talk about their efforts.

While meeting first responders of all kinds, NNO attendees can enjoy a free meal. The hot dogs and hamburgers will be grilled up by sheriff's department volunteers, and Farmers Insurance and Blessings Day Spa, both in Niwot, will provide root beer. The Rotary Club of Niwot will offer bottled water. Target is supplying ice cream treats and the Co-Responders group will provide popsicles, Philbrick said.

Niwot Wheel Works will offer free bicycle inspections, and the Niwot Community Semi -Marching Free Grange Band will entertain the crowd with tunes appropriate to the event, including Danger Zone, Hold On I'm Coming, Hang On Sloopy, Light My Fire, and Stayin' Alive.

"We usually see a pretty decent crowd and we are hoping for no rain," Philbrick added.

Event parking will be available in the new parking area next to the railroad tracks along Murray Street. Murray Street will be closed, but parking can be accessed using 4th or 5th Avenues.