Message to the Community Has Grown with Tosa's Night Out

From humble beginnings 17 years ago, Tosa's Night Out has long since grown into one of the city's premier celebrations, routinely drawing as many as 5,000 people.

But what continues to grow each year, including this one, is the message. Next Tuesday's version of Tosa's Night Out will develop the theme of community safety far beyond what the envisioned nearly two decades ago.

"It started off very small, with a couple hundred people, and it's grown very popular," said Police Sgt. Paul Leist. "We officially register about 3,000 for the flashlight walk, and depending on the weather, about 2,000 more show up. And everyone is welcome, whether you're registered or not. You just don't get the T-shirt and other goodies.

"It's also expanded from, 'Hey, lock your doors,' to become a wide-open look at community wellness.

"From the policing point of view, the main goal is still community crime prevention, but we've just opened it up to a lot more ways of looking at what makes a safe and healthy community. We're celebrating existing partnerships and developing new ones.

"We brought in health professionals and the , and the private sector targeting hardening your house. We have brought in programs for seniors' safety and wellbeing, and for children's health education.

"The ring is getting bigger."

Leist said, though, that while the Police Department and co-organizers Wauwatosa Neighborhood Watch Committee have gone beyond crime prevention and put up a big tent for community wellness, they realized a need to set limits.

"It was getting to be something of a circus atmosphere," Leist said, "and we were afraid the message was going to get lost. We've actually turned away some exhibitors who just wanted to be part of a big event, but we had to say, 'Yeah, but what does it have to do with safety and health?' We couldn't let it become a free-for-all."

Hospital, college on board again

In keeping with the theme of community health, Froedtert Hospital and the have teamed up to provide the lead sponsorship of Tosa's Night Out for the second year in a row.

Froedtert signed on to its first sponsorship 14 years ago, but as the health and wellness message grew, so did it's interest in helping.

"We provide funding, of course," said Froedtert spokeswoman Kathy Sieja, "but we have a large educational presence there as well. We'll have experts in stroke and spinal cord injuries and emergency medical care personnel.

"We also do the goggles that you can put on that simulate being drunk. Sounds funny, but what we ask you to think about is, 'Would you really be able to drive safely if the world looked like this to you?'"

Froedtert also sponsors Tosa's Independence Day fireworks, the Rotary Pavilion in Hart Park and the Tosa Tonight concert series.

"We do all these things because we're a part of this community and we want it to be a safer, a more cohesive community. You get that if people go out and do things together."

Siega said that the hospital and college have had some discussions with the about bringing an element of nutritional health to Tosa's Night Out in the future.

Schedule of events

All Tosa's Night Out events start and finish in Hart Park, 7300 Chestnut St.

Major event highlights include:

• Family Activities at Hart Park from 4 to 8 p.m.

• Tosa Tonight Concert Series beginning at 5:30 p.m.

• Family Flashlight Walk Against Crime at 8 p.m.

• Bartolotta’s Fireworks Display at 9:30 p.m.

The main event of Tosa's Night Out 2011 will be the traditional Family Flashlight Walk. The 1.5-mile walk will wind along Honey Creek Parkway and through the scenic Wauwatosa Village area.

A children’s activity area sponsored by the American Transmission Co. will include free inflatable rides. There will be free Kid ID fingerprinting, the popular coloring contest, the CP Railroad Kidde Train and more.

Live music with the Tosa Tonight Concert Series will feature The Eric Nofsinger Band.

Family-priced food and refreshments, safety displays and vendor exhibits will be located throughout the park, including many inside the Muellner Building.

A Bartolotta’s Fireworks display sponsored by will round out the evening.

Registering for the walk gets participants a commemorative T-shirt, sponsored checkpoint items along the walk route and more. The nominal registration fee is $8 for the first person, $6 for the second, $4 for the third, $2 for the fourth, with a fifth family member free. Each participant will receive their official T-shirt at the time of registration.  

The main registration point is the Little Read Book Store at 7603 W. State St. during regular store hours. Registration will also be available on the day of the event (while supplies last). Because the official registrations routinely sell out, early registration is recommended.

You may also visit www.tosasnightout.org to find alternate registration points, to volunteer, and to keep up to date on all other Tosa's Night Out happenings.