SAFETY NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH (NW) CORNER By Fay Wood, NW Chief This month’s article is going to feature an excellent article written by one of our Senior Advisors, Vera Schwartz. A former member of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office staff, her thoughts truly encompass what Neighborhood Watch is all about! Neighborhood Watch is a community program where neighbors work together, stay aware of their surroundings, and report suspicious activity to the police to prevent crime and make their area safer, essentially being "eyes and ears" for each other and law enforcement. It's about building community spirit and using common sense to watch out for each other and report anything unusual, often with signs posted to deter criminals. In a nutshell: • Neighbors watching out for neighbors: People look out for each other's homes and property. • Alertness: Residents learn to spot and report suspicious activity to the police. • Partnership with Police: It's a collaboration between citizens and law enforcement to reduce crime. • Deters Crime: Signs let potential criminals know the area is alert. Think of it like a neighborhood "security team" where everyone is a volunteer, and instead of uniforms, they use their eyes and ears, reporting to the police instead of making arrests themselves. Neighborhood Watch is a community program where neighbors team up with law enforcement to prevent crime by being the "eyes and ears" for their area, learning to spot and report suspicious activity, improving home security, and working together to make their str eets safer and more connected. It's about looking out for each other and reducing opportunities for crime, making the community feel more secure. 22 A neighborhood watch program is a group of people living in the same area who want to make their neighborhood safer by working together and in conjunction with local law enforcement to reduce crime and improve their quality of life. Neighborhood watch groups have regular meetings to plan how they will accomplish their specific goals and leaders with assigned responsibilities. Neighborhood watch is homeland security at the most local level. It is an opportunity to volunteer and work towards increasing the safety and security of our homes and our homeland. Neighborhood watch empowers citizens and communities to become active in emergency preparedness, as well as the fight against crime and community disasters. Neighborhood Watch is a community-driven crime prevention program designed to reduce the opportunity for crime to occur through the active participation of citizens. They are made aware of the importance of communicating and getting to know each other and given crime prevention training and tips. Community members only serve as the extra “eyes and ears” and should report their observations of suspicious activities to their local police. I want to personally thank Vera for the outstanding job she continues to do in helping keep our Lake Ashton Community safe! Well done! - Your Lake Ashton Neighborhood Watch Team PEDESTRIAN SAFETY All vehicles, including golf carts, must obey all stop signs and the 20 mph speed limit throughout Lake Ashton. Drivers, please keep an eye out for pedestrians at all times. Obeying the posted speed limit and traffic signs can help avert a potential tragedy. When walking or bicycling, especially at night or in the early morning, remember to "Be Safe and Be Seen: Make Yourself Visible to Drivers.” • Wear bright/light colored clothing and reflective materials • Carry a flashlight • Cross in well-lit areas • Stand clear of buses, hedges, parked cars or other obstacles before crossing
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