Sharon Woods Civic Association and Beechcroft Lions Club members are hoping a show of strength for the local observance of National Night Out will show a thing or two to criminals who might target the area:

You better watch out, because we're watching out for you.

"It signals to criminals: beware," said Pat Wood, Block Watch coordinator for Sharon Woods.

The Aug. 4 gathering will be held in the parking lot of the Church of the Good Shepherd, 6176 Sharon Woods Blvd., from 7 to 9 p.m.

This will be the 26th year for National Night Out, a crime and drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. Last year's observance, according to the sponsoring organization's Web site, took place in more than 15,000 communities in all 50 states as well as U.S. territories, Canada and military bases around the world.

More than 37 million people were estimated to have taken part in National Night Out 2008.

Merely a good showing of Sharon Woods residents would make Pat Wood happy.

"It's really kind of geared toward national crime prevention, so it's just to make the community aware, down on the street level, get people out of their homes, turn their porch lights on," Wood said.

To her knowledge, this will be the third time the Sharon Woods Civic Association and Beechcroft Lions have partnered to put on the event. The Block Watch program for Sharon Woods was formed roughly five years ago, Wood added.

Last year's event involved more street-by-street picnics, rather than seeking to gather participants together in one place, the Block Watch coordinator recalled. This year is intended to be more of a community meeting, with a goal of recruiting more residents into the Block Watch effort.

"We're trying to promote community-police relationships, partnerships," she said.

"I want to sign up more people to be Block Watch captains, as well," Wood added.

Activities planned for what Beechcroft Lions representative Roger D. Heckel called "an evening of fun and fellowship" for the 1,700 residents of Sharon Woods include a drive-in movie, duck pond and old-fashioned popcorn machine sponsored by the service club; an information booth for the Church of the Good Shepherd; and information booths for both the Sharon Woods Civic Association and Sharon Woods Block Watch program.

Wood has lined up speakers from the Columbus police and fire departments. Victoria McKelvey, a dispatcher with the police department, will explain what people dialing 911 can expect, why they are asked certain questions and the kinds of information they should be ready to provide.

"She'll talk about the importance of getting that information to them and what happens to that information once they do get it," Wood said.

Detective David Samuel of the police department's robbery division is expected to go over basics such as keeping doors locked.

"He'll just remind people that robbers sitting on your streets are looking out for this and that," Wood said.

Officer Scott Clinger, community liaison officer for the 18th Precinct, also is scheduled to be on hand.

kparks@thisweeknews.com