Neighbourhood Watch rallies community

News — 15 December 2010

Neighbourhood Watch Block Captains and Watch Members gather to discuss the success of the program. From left: Bryon Durance, Cy Lobreau, Crystal Kuznak-Hayashi, Michelle May, Yvonne Fishwick, Carlos Raposo, Heather Korzinski, Erna Sweet-Gilmour. Photo by Ally Dunham

The Dryden Neighbourhood Watch committee is seeing huge success among the community. With almost 300 homes signed up for the program, and 14 block captains committed, Dryden is destined to be a safer place.

The program was reinstated in September, following a ten-year hiatus. Michelle May and Constable Paul Howarth, Community Services Officer for the Dryden Police Service, are working together to have the majority of the community aware of the program, and educating homeowners.

At a recent meeting, block captains reported that the community has been very receptive and willing to participate, with one captain having a 100 per cent success rate for signing up neighbours to be part of the program.

The Neighbourhood Watch program has already led to one police investigation, with a block captain viewing a stranger attempting to gain access to a neighbour’s garage.

“Having the sign in the window is a deterrent in itself,” says Howarth. “It’s about neighbours looking after neighbours, getting to know your neighbours. But we’ve always stressed, being a helpful neighbour, not a nosey neighbour is the key to make this program work.”

The Neighbourhood Watch letter states, “When private citizens take a positive responsibility in the community to watch over their own and neighbour’s property, crime and other suspicious activity is impacted and reduced, which empowers our community to prevent more active crimes in our neighbourhoods.”

Some are under the impression that this program is the same as the Block Parent program, although this is not the case. The Neighbourhood Watch program is about watching out for your neighbours, and keeping your community safe. It is not about people coming to your door to have a safe refuge.

For more information or to sign up, please contact Michelle May at drydennhw@gmail.com or call the Dryden Police Service at 223-3281.

By Ally Dunham

Related News

GALLERY: 2012 DHS Track And Field Invitational

Students from local elementary schools and regional high school gathered at Dryden High School for the 2nd annual DHS Track and Field Invitational. Results to be posted at a later ...

Peter Kanutski

Kanutski – Peter, who passed away May 11, 2009. You are never far away from our thoughts. The pain continues. – Lovingly remembered by Doreen and family

Hittin’ the trails at the Dryden Ski Club

Jill Wilkinson and her daughter Ruby, tucked cosily into a ski-mounted sled, set off on the Dryden Ski Club’s Nordic trail system to enjoy the outdoors in temperatures that ranged ...

OBSERVER POLL: Should the city sell DMTS?

EDITORIAL Is it none of your business? So this week’s hot-button poll issue was a bit of a stunt on our part. Continually touted as a local taxpayer asset, I’ve always had a ...

Sheila Isabel Sinclair

In loving memory of Sheila Isabel Sinclair, age 87 years, who died in the Dryden Regional Health Centre on Thursday, May 28th following a lengthy illness. Born in Midland, Ontario, she ...

Eagles qualify for NorWOSSA championships

The DHS?Eagles’ badminton teams hosted area high schools for the NorWOSSA qualifiers on April 14. Teams finishing in the top three in each division moved on to the NorWOSSA championships in ...

SCPN Celebrates 2nd Anniversary On Saturday, February 19th, Second Chance Pet Network celebrated our 2nd year in operation. It's been a great learning curve since day 1, and will continue to ...

Track team smashes school records

The DHS Track and Field Team made its mark at the NWOSSAA Regional Track and Field Championships, last week. The team more than doubled its point total of 2010 and ...

Pain at the pumps

Travellers may soon need an extra suitcase in order to hold their gas money. With most gas stations in Dryden currently at $1.229 and some as high as $1.289, residents are ...

Plugging away at community mosaic project

Local artists Marilyn Raposo (left) Jeannie Cutts (centre, seated) and Willene Moffatt (blurred) work diligently to complete the eight mosaic panels that will comprise the Pieces Of Dryden Centennial Art ...