Southside Neighborhood Association
The Derrick
By JUDITH O. ETZEL
(As reported in The Derrick)
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
South Side group's lead project moving ahead
"Safe Houses" will allow children and adult in danger to go to a safe place to call police."
There are projects in the works for the South Side Association, an
organization formed in June to make city neighborhoods "safer,
friendlier and more caring places to live."
About 50 people attended the organization's third meeting on
Tuesday at the First Free Methodist Church in the city's East End.
The turnout, said association president Tami Brock, was "terrific"
and indicates there is widespread interest in the campaign to reduce
crime and reinvigorate neighborhoods. It has also already reaped
benefits.
"At least two drug dealers in our neighborhood are in the process
of moving," said Brock. "They don't want to be where people are
watching."
The association's lead project, the creation of a Safe House
campaign, is moving ahead, said Leah Gesing, an association member.
Applications are being accepted for residents interested in designating
their homes as "safe houses," which will be identified by a large green
placard bearing a logo and "Safe House" lettering.
"It allows children and adults who are in danger to go to a safe
place and call police," Gesing said. Applications to participate are
available and interviews will be scheduled with residents who wish to
participate. A training session is tentatively set for Sept. 10. A $2
contribution will be accepted for each application and all proceeds
will go toward the project.
Jennifer Moon, an association member, said the group is working to
establish a Neighborhood Crime Watch program. Efforts are underway to
compile a manual, train block captains and schedule a speaker to
outline the program.
A block party for young people will be held soon, said Bonnie
Schoeppner of the association. The goal is two-fold, she said, and
focuses on providing a place "for them to have fun and also share
suggestions and ideas as to how they can contribute" to their community.
"We are going to lose them if we adults can't start to actively
connect with young people,"
Schoeppner said. "We need some adults who have a passion for youth to
help with this. It is a golden opportunity to connect to our youth."
Another neighborhood greet-and-walk will be held this fall to
provide opportunities for residents to meet each other. The first
stroll, held Aug. 21, was successful, Brock said, in that it reflected
the association's mission of making neighborhoods safer and friendlier.
Ed Yard, Oil City code enforcement officer and the guest speaker, outlined the animal control ordinances in the city.
After the meeting, Brock said she is encouraged that interest in
the association is coming from all neighborhoods on the South Side.
"We need more people from the West End, though. This is an entire
community, the entire South Side and Central Avenue doesn't divide the
town," Brock said. "We're all suffering from the same maladies."
Please contact us at:
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16301or email us
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