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Community Corner

Rockstars Help Cerritos Celebrate National Night Out

Platinum Rockstars perform at Heritage Park for Cerritos' Concerts Under the stars while police and other emergency personnel educate citizens about drug and crime prevention for National Night Out.

Last night hundreds of people came out to  to enjoy a healthy dose of rock music and celebrate the 28th annual National Night Out.

Every Thursday between July 14 and September 1, the city of Cerritos hosts a free concert at Heritage Park with a different band featured each week. This time around it was all about Platinum Rockstars, who entertained attendees with a mix of classic rock songs.

Though the adults clearly enjoyed the music, by singing and dancing along with the band, the kids were distracted by other things, including a pair of inflatable jumpers. There were also numerous park staff and volunteers on hand to organize a plethora of games and activities for the children.

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National Night Out is an event celebrated in cities and communities all over the country and is centered around informing the public on anti-drug and crime policies as well as building a stronger relationship between the police and the citizens.

Along with the park staff, there were Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies from the and EMTs showing off an ambulance and police car for the kids. Even the massive sheriff's bus was on hand for the festivities.

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There was also a booth where kids could get their fingerprints taken and receive a card with their prints on it, and a CERT (Cerritos Emergency Response Team) booth where people could learn about various supplies and strategies for major emergencies like an earthquake.

The celebration also featured a classic car show.

“We've had this car show about four or five times now, for the National Day Out,” said 1964 Volkswagon owner and Cerritos resident Tim Walton. “We come [to the concerts] every Thursday.”

At the end of the long line of classic cars was a booth for the City of Cerritos' Environmental Services Division.

“The [booth] we have here tonight deals with motor oil and other automotive fluids people have so that they can know how to dispose of them properly, sometimes people don't know what to do with it, so they dump it in the trash,” said Kevin Sales.

“Most people are willing to do the right thing, if they know how to do it,” he added.

And of course, you can't have a concert in the park without some good food. Some participants flocked to Tacos Chihuahua Catering, which was on hand cooking up fresh Mexican food. Others indulged at a booth hosted by the Cerritos Gadabouts -- a senior citizen's organization -- where they were selling baked goods along with chili burgers and hot dogs. There was even a funnel cake stand that was crowded with hungry patrons waiting in line all night. 

Though many community members came out in support of National Night Out, there several others there that have become familiar faces at the summer concert series.

“This is our Thursday hangout,” said local volunteer coach Mike Singer, whose whole family comes to the concert every week along with friends.

One of those friends includes Natalie Torres, who makes the commute every Thursday night just to enjoy the live music.

“I live in Whittier, but we always go to the Cerritos events,” she said.

Though the event won't be quite as large next Thursday, you can bet that just as many people will turn out to see next week's musical guests, Undercover Band, perform on the Heritage Park stage as live music and good ol' summer fun light up the park once again.  

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