by David DeMullé
All across the nation, National Night Out was honoring our first responders, fire department and police who offer their lives to keep us safe. Sunland-Tujunga and Sun Valley were no exception; people from both communities came out to meet LAPD officers and firefighters from LAFD Stations 77 and 24.
Organizers for both communities were competing to see who could have the best food and Stonehurst NNO won. With more than 350 people attending the Stonehurst event, the food was particularly good as the Phil Tabbi family dished out three kinds of meat and there were tables and tables of deserts and salads for everybody’s taste. At the S-T NNO, the regular fare of hot dogs was supplemented by strips of steak and chicken BBQed and provided by Arnie Abramyian owner of Munchies Smoke Shop and Coffee and Cruise.
At past NNOs, communities would install blue lights on their front porches to show support. That tradition has diminished as more and more people have taken to just attending the neighborhood events and chowing down with old and new friends. What was really fun to see was the amount of people like Sonia Tatulian and the Felipe Fuentes field office staff who went to both.
Everyone had fun and there was literally something for everyone. Even the kids had their faces painted at the S-T NNO where a variety of beef and hot dogs were cooked by retired LAPD Sergeant Egger and community activist Arnie Abramyian. There were over 100 people there enjoying the music and talking with friends and neighbors.
Members of the STNC had tables with information and sat expectantly waiting for someone to talk with them. As the evening went on, the cool air and music drew the people together into a familylike atmosphere.