Betty Daniel, Les Daniel and Lucie Dowe attend a block party in Oak Village North. Photo by Don Bommer

Community spirit was alive and well Tuesday evening as an estimated 550 Bulverde residents attended 10 separate block parties in Oak Village North, Bulverde Estates, Windmill Ranch and Oakland Estates in observance of Texas National Night Out.

Patty Kohlenberg, a block party host in Bulverde Estates said, “My neighbor hosted the party last year, so I decided I would host this year’s get together.”

Ev and Kettin Tercilla, who have lived in Bulverde Estates for three years, also hosted a party for the event.

Ev Tercilla summed up his reason for hosting this year by saying, “Everyone should do his share.”

Oak Village North block party hosts Ken and Mary Treanor drew a big crowd from the neighborhood.

Mary remembered a neighbor’s purse being stolen several years ago and how upset the lady was.

“Instead of complaining, you have to do something about it, so I decided to host a block party this year,” she said.

Bob and Robin Boyd hosted a party in their Oak Village North neighborhood where Bob is chairman of the Neighborhood Watch program.

Retired School Superin-tendent Sandy Hancock, also a resident of Oak Village North, gave her reason for hosting this year.

“I always wanted to host a block party for National Night Out so this year I did,” she said.

The events in Oakland Estates and Windmill Ranch were well attended with Oakland Estates having more than 100 neighbors in attendance.

The first National Night Out was held 25 years ago when 400 communities in 23 states participated. Last year, communities in all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canada, and military bases participated with over 35 million people in attendance. Over 12,000 communities were expected to take part this year.

The National Night Out coordinators designated Oct. as National Night Out on a trial basis for the state of Texas only and may consider additional southern states in the future. The rest of the country held National Night Out on Aug. 5 of this year.

There is no better crime prevention tool than the watchful eyes of you and your neighbors, officials said.

Bulverde Police Investiga-tor Steve Simpson said, “The quicker we can deal with the situation the better.”

Bulverde Police Chief Joe Hamilton and his department organized the event and attended the local block parties to offer Crime Prevention Tips and answer questions.

The Bulverde Area Volunteer Fire Department and the Bulverde/Spring Branch EMS visited the neighborhoods and attended block parties as well.