In the right direction // Three-year-old Tristian Levere of Henrico County directs the attention of Richmond Police Office Monica Fecht on Tuesday to a spot at Pollard Park during National Night Out festivities. The youngster built his own connection with the officer at the event to strengthen neighborhoods, reduce crime and build connections. Please see more photos, A2.

Cityscape // Gardening is a popular summer pastime in Richmond. Here, Monica Burton prepares to add new flowers to the plantings at her home in the 1900 block of Bainbridge Street in the Paradise Place neighborhood in South Side.

Cityscape // Ms. Burton, who said she suffers from chronic health issues, calls working in the garden “my therapy.” She finds peace when her hands are planting, weeding or working the soil.

National Night Out // Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham, right, and Mayor Levar M. Stoney arrive at Pollard Park in North Side on Tuesday evening for National Night Out, the effort to unify law enforcement and residents in communities across the nation.

National Night Out // People across the city came together with police officers and emergency medical personnel at block parties, cookouts and other neighborhood activities. Below, Richmond Police Officer Juan Tejeda hugs McGruff the Crime Dog, who was a hit with youngsters at the North Side event.

Sun-baked cornfield in Eastern Henrico

The RVA Latino experience // Curator Wanda Hernandez, left, talks about a new exhibit, “Nuestras Historias: Latinos in Richmond,” at The Valentine in Downtown during a Free Family Day celebration last Saturday. The exhibit shares the story of Richmond’s Latino population of approximately 100,000 through interviews, objects and images. The celebration featured the music of Bio Ritmo.

The RVA Latino experience//Judy Lynn Edwards and Kevin LaMarr Jones of Richmond take the floor and party to the beat during the day’s festivities.