BY BETH VELLIQUETTE

bvelliquette@heraldsun.com; 918-1042

CHAPEL HILL -- Rameses, the one that walks on two legs and has a big, horn-tipped head, threw a football, tossed a huge flying disc and hugged bunches of kids Wednesday evening at the annual Night Out.

The anti-crime event at the Hargraves Center included a short walk around the neighborhood followed by a block party that included music, games and free food.

Night Out events are normally designed as a symbolic way for residents of a neighborhood to take back the streets from criminals, but the event at Hargraves also was designed to bring permanent residents, who are primarily black and have lived in the neighborhood for years, and temporary residents, who are primarily UNC students, together.

Many people believe the Northside neighborhood has made many positive changes over the years, through a combination of hard work by the residents and police initiatives.

"The neighborhood is great," said Nate Davis, the Hargraves Center supervisor, who has watched several generations grow up in the neighborhood.

"I think one of the reasons was to get more involvement from the Police Department and the residents living in the community," Davis said.

Chapel Hill Police Chief Brian Curran lived in Northside back in the 1980s, he said.

"This area was a pretty tough neighborhood," he said. "It's been in transition for a long time, but we're getting more families with kids moving in."

And there are more university students than there used to be, he said.

Some see that as a good thing, while others aren't so sure.

Sister Rashii Purefoy has lived in Northside since 1959.

"I've seen a lot of families that had homes when I came here that have lost their homes, and they've put students in their homes, and they're not very well cared for," she said.

Crime in the neighborhood has gone down, but Purefoy, who teaches dance at the Hargraves Center, would like to see the students keep their homes neat and clean.

"We want the yards and things kept up," she said. "If you're coming into the neighborhood, you need to be with us."

A few students who live in the neighborhood did show up to meet their neighbors.

Aaron Manning, a UNC senior, and some of his fraternity brothers from Delta Sigma Phi walked through the neighborhood with the other residents, then threw a flying disc with some of the kids, who ran around in long white T-shirts that were given out at the event.

The fraternity heard about the event in an e-mail from a UNC dean, Manning said. Since Manning lives on Stinson Street in Northside, he decided to come.

"Myself and about four of the brothers are out here to show spirit for the community," he said as they stood in line for burgers and hot dogs. "We've just been playing with the kids. That's been fun."

Aaron Shah, who lives in the neighborhood, attended the event with his three young sons. His 4-year-old twins, Ahmad and Aaron, were intrigued with all the gear that Assistant Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue was wearing, and they asked him what seemed like 1,000 questions.

Shah thanked Blue for spending time with his boys.

"It's a way for us to bond," he said of the event. "It's awesome. It's great to see all these smiles. It's incredible."