September 2006

Up for discussion: Making good neighbors

Davis neighbors are invited to get to know each other at Davis Neighbors' Night Out on Oct. 6. From left to right are Anne Brunette of the city, third-year student Adrienne Cheung and Michelle Johnston of Health Education and Promotion on campus. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

You’re making a cake and realize you need just one more egg. What to do? Call a good neighbor, of course.

As students move back to town for the new academic year, they have a fun opportunity to start building those kind of quality relationships with their off-campus neighbors on Davis Neighbors’ Night Out on Friday, Oct. 6.

The evening is being organized by UC Davis, the Associated Students of UC Davis and the city of Davis to help neighbors meet and build good relationships. A National Night Out was held in August, but Davis residents felt that it was important to wait until UC Davis students returned to hold the event.

Michelle Johnston, health promotion supervisor at the Cowell Student Health Center on campus, says promoting neighborly relationships has become increasingly important as students rent more houses in the community.

"It's a waste of resources for police to come and ask a neighbor to turn down the stereo," Johnston says. "When you know the neighbors better, situations can often be approached more directly, with more positive results."

Many events already organized

The city is asking neighborhood associations, Neighborhood Watch captains, apartment complexes, homeowner associations and residents to set up an activity. Different neighborhoods may hold an ice cream social, a potluck dinner or barbecue, a dessert party or cookie exchange. Already, more than 30 events are listed at the event Web site.

Anne Brunette, the community partnership coordinator for the city of Davis, says parents can be instrumental in encouraging their students to get involved. Students can even sponsor the event in their neighborhood.

"If you have open lines of communication from the very beginning, students and residents can have better relations," Brunette says. "Those relationships also provide extra security for students away from home."

The city is offering to hand deliver or mail invitations where events are scheduled, and Nugget Markets is donating brownie mixes to encourage people to share dessert with a new neighbor. The Davis Chamber of Commerce and Davis Downtown Business Association are raffling off goodies at various community events.

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