GALLERY: Northfield Night to Unite brings out the neighbors – Southernminn.com

Early rains threatened to dampen spirits Tuesday evening, but the skies cleared in time for Northfield Night to Unite neighborhood parties to go off as planned.

By Tuesday, there were 43 neighborhoods signed up for the event, which represented a record for Northfield and more than double last years total. Night to Unite is celebrated statewide, as neighborhoods within communities get together for potlucks and activities, generally joined by area law enforcement and emergency service personnel.

Northfield Police Department Chief Monte Nelson was thrilled with the turnout this year.

The number of parties we got this year is just fantastic. We had a challenge of getting our officers out to all the parties, but thats a great challenge to have, he said. Every party has its own complexion. It was retired people down in Estate Lane, and then I came up here in the Viking Terrace area and I met lots of kids and parents and grandparents.

The idea behind Night to Unite is to forge relationships between community members and with local leaders.

These are the type of events, whether formal or informal, that we value as a city, because it makes for better communities and neighborhoods, he said. This also gives us that opportunity where we get to have some questions asked of us that maybe residents dont normally get the opportunity to ask.

Organizers of the Northfield Night to Unite this year were intentional in getting some of the citys Latino-populated neighborhoods involved. Maelynn Rosas, of Growing up Healthy, was active in making that happen.

I think tonight was important in our community just because of the sort of environment and tension recently. I think its important to show that our police officers in Northfield are safe and that we can count on them, she said.

Gloria Quintero, 71, is a resident of the Jefferson Square neighborhood in Northfield. She was excited to see the Night to Unite gathering in her own backyard this year, and she even traveled with Growing Up Healthy representative Laura Tiano to a few other block parties.

Its very important that we learn from each other, about each other, she said. I like these events, because, for example, the police and the mayor (Rhonda Pownell) are interested in us. Thats very important.

Reach Reporter Philip Weyhe at 507-333-3132 or follow him on Twitter @nfnphilweyhe.

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GALLERY: Northfield Night to Unite brings out the neighbors - Southernminn.com