More than 30 Block Parties Held for National Night Out

Pleasanton celebrated National Night Out Tuesday from about 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The event brought out residents to more than 30 block parties and gatherings. Some of the events are tied to neighborhood watch groups.

Raymond Viscaina, block captain for one group in the Laguna Oaks neighborhood, said it was important to get to know neighbors and to build connections with the police department.

"It's an opportunity for us to come together as a community," he said.

Sacco Lorenzini, a block captain near Pleasanton Meadows, said he's seen his neighborhood change in the more than 20 years he's been there. Lorenzini said he now has more neighbors with kids and that it's important for them to look out for one another. 

"it's the group that makes the community, it's not the individual," he said.

Along with law enforcement officials who were out in full force were firefighters from the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department.