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Lodi police cancel National Night Out
Residents may still have block parties
By Layla Bohm
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
It's been a 25-year tradition in Lodi: Hundreds, or more likely thousands, of people gather for National Night Out block parties. Neighbors mingle, swap stories, eat food and eagerly wait for police officers and firefighters to visit.
But budget cuts mean the Lodi Police Department is canceling this year's event, though residents may still hold their own parties.
That means children won't be climbing on fire engines, adults won't be passing on concerns about their neighborhoods and officers won't be giving out goodies to the kids and crime statistics to the adults.
Rather than lay off police officers, the Police Department has frozen most vacant positions, meaning that 15 positions aren't filled, Capt. Gary Benincasa said.
"That breaks my heart to hear it," said Theresa Bettenhausen, who previously helped coordinate a block party and was hoping to get one started this year in her own neighborhood.
For the full story, please see Tuesday's News-Sentinel.
First published: Monday, June 22, 2009

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