The Observation Deck

We're looking for a volunteers, as Jim OB had posted in another thread, to be part of group that will have some fun, learn more about our city, and maybe even contribute towards the betterment of our city.

Anyone can participate. While Jim is the official "head honcho" of this, i"m sort of the one putting it together etc.

If you want to get in on this, all you need to do, is leave private message for me on this, or for Jim...and we'll get it going while it's still summer

What exactly is it? We're going to do a SORT of a Block Watch thing but instead of sitting at your window watching your block, we're going to wander around our city...and basically just have a good time, see what goes on around us, meet people, just be friendly, and promote not only LAKEWOOD, but promote the Observer just a bit. Hey, we ARE using it, right? ( doing it SOBER yet) and we'll see where it leads us.

If your unable to "wander" and still want to be part if this, your welcome to still join it, and you'll still be able to help out.

I understand Jim can supply us with T-shirts, tho' on that thread he mentioned GREEN ? Maybe we can find a better color, (grin) but we DO want to seen and not run over by somebody on high speed roller skates or something. Minor detail for now.

So, if you'd like to actually take part in this experiement, message or email Jim OB, or message me on here, and we'll get it going SOON.

Btw, you dont have to commit to all kinds of time here. For step 1, if you want to do this, let us know, Step 2, we'll have a meeting and get the rest of it together at that.

Mark put it nicely.

If you are a walker, walk with us other Observers in the cool evening air, or in the morning. If you bike, bike with Observer. Carry a cell phone, take some notes and meet your neighbors and make friends.

It was our thought that an engage city is a safe city.

Ken Warren, Dan Slife, tom Powell Bullock, Jan Greenfield and others have noticed that while out delivering papers it has been extremely fun and rewarding talking with neighbors on other blocks and hearing their thoughts on the city.

We all think it will be fun and interesting, but we can also provide a good service to the city by putting more eyes on the streets. Walking in groups of two or more, with a cell phone and a note pad can do amazing things.

Mark is currently heading this program, and it has been one of his dreams since day one of the Observer. I am actually pretty tied up, but will begin walking with people and biking with Tim's groups when the time comes. So for now please post here or Private Message(PM) Mark.

Together we can build the brand and keep the city safer.


.

By the way, for now, to join this little group, one has to be a member of this forum.

Aw c'mon folks..as of this post ... 88 views but no messages to volunteer?

Mark Crnolatas wrote:Aw c'mon folks..as of this post ... 88 views but no messages to volunteer?

Mark

You mean even the two that said we needed a block watch didn't sign up!

Outside Of A Small Circle Of Friends

By Phil Ochs

Look outside the window, there's a woman being grabbed
They've dragged her to the bushes and now she's being stabbed
Maybe we should call the cops and try to stop the pain
But Monopoly is so much fun, I'd hate to blow the game
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends.

Riding down the highway, yes, my back is getting stiff
Thirteen cars are piled up, they're hanging on a cliff.
Maybe we should pull them back with our towing chain
But we gotta move and we might get sued and it looks like it's gonna rain
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends.

Sweating in the ghetto with the colored and the poor
The rats have joined the babies who are sleeping on the floor
Now wouldn't it be a riot if they really blew their tops?
But they got too much already and besides we got the cops
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends.

Oh there's a dirty paper using sex to make a sale
The Supreme Court was so upset, they sent him off to jail.
Maybe we should help the fiend and take away his fine.
But we're busy reading Playboy and the Sunday New York Times
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends

Smoking marihuana is more fun than drinking beer,
But a friend of ours was captured and they gave him thirty years
Maybe we should raise our voices, ask somebody why
But demonstrations are a drag, besides we're much too high
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends

Oh look outside the window, there's a woman being grabbed
They've dragged her to the bushes and now she's being stabbed
Maybe we should call the cops and try to stop the pain
But Monopoly is so much fun, I'd hate to blow the game
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends
.

So far 1 PM ......I called and left a message on this person's answering machine..but no repy as of yet....other than that....none at all yet..

I think the green shirts may be scaring people off. Maybe instead, everyone could dress incognito and blend in.

Doug

Windmills in Lakewood? NIMBY!

Doug

You might be right, no one looks that good in bright green shirts, and maybe it sounded a tad rough and over the top.

The truth is, we have been listening to people talk about the need for security, clean parks, less bar traffic and problems. But say you are doing something pro-active and all of a sudden, silence.

What Mark and I have been talking about for a year, is a very simple, low key effort, and a healthy way to keep this city safe, informed, while rebuilding the community spirit, and more importantly community strength.

In the twelve months since starting this board I have seen many interesting topics fly past my eyes, the ones that always interest me the most are topics of community and safety. "It is not like when we knew our neighbors." "Are our kids safe?" "Sexual Offenders" "Houses looking bad" "Bars bad for neighborhoods" etc. To me these are quality of life issues that are easy to address, some are already doing it.

To be honest we stumbled into it, though Ken Warren knew it, and all of us know deep in our hearts how to address it. Get off the chair, walk away from the TV and computer, and walk our streets, talk to our neighbors, take an active part in the streets of Lakewood. Not only is it fascinating, it is healthy and fun.

Many nights after a Bela session, at 11, or 12 Ken will turn to me, and others still hanging on and say, "Let's go check out Birdtown, Waterbury, or wherever." Begrudgingly we give in to peer pressure and think, "Let's humor the man." and off we go. What always follows is fun, and a real eye opener.

Walking the city streets, and engaging the residents is great fun and always gives me hope. The city is never as bad as some think, now is the time to take a pro-active stance to keep it that way.

If we do it know, we can stop many of the problems that can happen, if we do not take simple easy fun steps to nip it in the bud. While Mark looks to form "Lakewood's Guardian Angels" I sign up to make them Lakewood's Ambassadors. But to be honest, it has to to fall in between.

Right now "crime" is not a problem, this is the time to take preventative measures, and this is where the green shirts help, like the blue shirts that appeared last month downtown.

If criminals know Lakewood residents are pro-active in watching out streets, it makes Lakewood a less likely target for crime. If criminals think, every walking is more than willing to call the LPD, then they are less likely to mess around here.

But again the best part is it is healthy, fun, informative and gives us the rare chance to learn more about Lakewood, our neighbors, and each other.

FWIW

Maybe I should clarify for everyone's sake, exactly what I envision so there is no misunderstanding.

I really do not subscribe to a "Guardian Angel's" type thing at all. I believe that concept doesn't belong in Lakewood, and it's down right dangerous.

What I do subscribe to, is a "moving block watch". Not more than that, really.
The only thing that might have conveyed "more" to Jim OB, or anyone that might mis-understand what I'm trying to convey. ) and let me say, that apparantly I'M the one that might not be succinct at all times) ....

is a group that does exactly as Jim OB outlined. The only difference is, from forming groups like this in the past, I found that by using radios of some sort, in my case we gathered some monies together and used business band radios, so we had a private channel just for our own use...we could then have the "watchers" keep track of each other, and also more or less organize where the "watchers" would be going.

This way, there wouldn't be 10 in one area, and none in another.

We DO NOT have to take this little Lakewood project even THAT far.
OK?

We can just wander at leisure, and get to know our city better.
The idea is.... having eyes and ears out among our city, who are willing to make a cell phone call to the police if necessary. No more than that.

Let me repeat so it's perfectly clear. Eyes and ears among our city, but NO more than that.

We can enjoy talking to other people that live in our city. We can spread the good word about our city, and promote our city. We can report if we see something we KNOW is wrong, to the proper authorities, but other than that....we don't do anything else.

So, in a nutshell, what we're proposing is a "WATCH" group. A block watch group that moves around, is the best way I can think of defining it.

If your in a block watch do you do more than WATCH? No, of course not.
That is exactly what this is, but it moves around. A moving block watch.

If this sounds like something you'd like to be involved in, then your welcome to private message me, and we'll go from there.

By the way....The wearing of a T-shirt isn't really the point here. The point is to be an active part of our city..and helping our own city STAY the nice way it is right this very moment. So, if it's a t-shirt that's in the way of
participating..then let's talk about it, rather than just write whole concept off as "naaa, it's no good".

Watch groups like this have been in existance for decades all over the U.S. and most are extremely successful and enjoyed by the citizens of the communities, so this isn't anything new at all.
Probably the most famous one is R.E.A.C.T., which is a little more than we need to do here, but it's the oldest and most organized.

If you google R.E.A.C.T., you'll see how much they've done, but let me be clear on this.

THIS project is NOT intended to be a "REACT" group necessarily. It's just an EYES and EARS, and SOME FUN enjoying meeting and talking to our neighbors all around our community.

I think it sounds like a great idea. If I had more freetime I would've liked to participate. Actually if I had more freetime I would have loved to participate more in the Observer in general.

Actually honestly, if I had more time I'd just like to learn more about the city I live in lol.

Ok so I think the general theme here is I need more time.

We can enjoy talking to other people that live in our city. We can spread the good word about our city, and promote our city. We can report if we see something we KNOW is wrong, to the proper authorities, but other than that....we don't do anything else.

Hey, guys, I'm already doing this! It is a great deal of fun to take time for people - at the store, at the park, during summer gatherings. How would any organized effort be different?

Do we file reports or something? Don't say "paper work"! This might really scare people off!

Ellen

Ellen Malonis wrote:

We can enjoy talking to other people that live in our city. We can spread the good word about our city, and promote our city. We can report if we see something we KNOW is wrong, to the proper authorities, but other than that....we don't do anything else.

Hey, guys, I'm already doing this! It is a great deal of fun to take time for people - at the store, at the park, during summer gatherings. How would any organized effort be different?

Do we file reports or something? Don't say "paper work"! This might really scare people off!

Ellen

Ellen

No reports. Just getting like minded people on the street walking, talking, etc. (Was that you cruising up Riverside?). A great chance to start connecting dots on the streets.

Many of us are doing it, now we just are looking to kick it up a notch, and be a little more proactive. Let the area know we are tough on crime, before it gets tough on us.

Mark and I have been kicking this around for some time. Almost a year ago, he was worried the bars would get out of control. At the time the board was thick with rowdy behavior. While Mark worked the logistics, I worked the bar owners and found them very receptive to helping residents. None of them wanted any incidents and none wanted to anger residents. The bars never exploded, and the idea faded, but Mark never gave up on it, and I kept thinking of ways to make it work.

Recently there was a couple small incidents that would have been possibly curtailed if there was a proactive block watch. Nothing serious, but Mark and I started to compare notes again, and started thinking summer, walking, fun, security.

I have had very informal talks with the Law Department, and Lakewood Police. They both think it is a good idea, and could really benefit from residents putting eyes on the street. BUT the devil is in the details. So we are trying to establish guidelines that make it work for everyone.

In my simple mind, the equation always falls back to: Safe Clean Fun for the city and for projects as well.

Ideas and where they are at:

Small groups, never less than two, at least one cell phone, that walk, bike or ride.

What makes this interesting is if you combine this with things going on on this board or in the city. Dog Park(walk your dog while Observing), Book Club (talk and walk), Global Board (walk and talk politics), Economic Development (Walk and talk ED), Religion (No better way to celebrate, than walking).

Now a shameless plug. Delivering papers. Before I started this project I would come home, and turn on the tube, the PlayStation, or work on cars. My house was my kingdom, I was very comfortable. I knew almost no one in my neighborhood. Then I started delivering papers, now I know everyone. I know the good people, the new neighbors, the gardeners, the old couple 5 doors down, and even the new Indian family three blocks away, and of course the punks, and the people that do not quite get it.

In return I have relearned my neighborhood and community. Where at first I wondered, as do many "old Lakewoodites." Now it gives me hope. It allows me to be very upbeat about Lakewood, now and in the future.

I think we would all have to agree, it is far better to take pro-active fun walks now. Then almost any alternative.

In another thread Janet asks, "Why should I, we pay for it in taxes..." While this is certainly true, does it hurt to get pro-active and help? Lakewood right now has an incredible chance, to prove the pundits wrong, and it is not that hard. Actually it is a lot of fun, and it will secure out future for decades, no matter what happens.

"Safe Clean Fun"

"Working together, in the open, is the key of a good community."


.

Ellen makes a good point. My family walks the streets of Lakewood every day. Many different places, many different times, with neighbors and without.

We would be happy to join anyone else provided they like puppies (if I am going to walk the pupster gets to so he can be nice and healthy too!), but because this walking the streets was nothing new to me, I felt no impulse to respond.

My understanding of a block watch is something a bit more structured and specific to the area that you are in - which helps when you are on vacation, ill, etc. An extended network of neighbors that have each others' phone numbers, that know when someone is out of town, that know all of the kids that 'belong' and all of the adults that 'belong' to that neighborhood. I dont know if that is completely accurate - but it has always been my understanding...

And unless we 'patrol' the same specific area every day we would not likely know those things about the people living on the streets where we are walking. (haha - some people might even call on us for being suspicious ).

So, I would be happy to walk with any dog liking person, or have anyone join us when we walk, but I still hope to see a non-roving block watch as well.

As a sidebar - there is NO street in Lakewood that I dont feel comfortable walking down - with others or by myself. That's pretty impressive if you think about it!

Peace,
~Charyn

Charyn Varkonyi wrote:...My understanding of a block watch is something a bit more structured and specific to the area that you are in - which helps when you are on vacation, ill, etc. An extended network of neighbors that have each others' phone numbers, that know when someone is out of town, that know all of the kids that 'belong' and all of the adults that 'belong' to that neighborhood. I dont know if that is completely accurate - but it has always been my understanding...

...As a sidebar - there is NO street in Lakewood that I dont feel comfortable walking down - with others or by myself. That's pretty impressive if you think about it!

Peace,
~Charyn

Charyn

You have nailed it.

The Block Watch Program is exactly as you desicribed it "block" watch. A safe house where kids can run to. A place to check on edlery, etc.

On the flip side we have CERT a program from Homeland Security.

What Mark had convinced me of was:
1) A way to work with bar owners.
2) Putting more eyes on the streets, in an organized manor.

It was Mark that at a meeting noticed how enjoyable, kicking it face to face with other Observers were. Why not, get like minded people together, get some exercise, and help where we can.

Right now I can put fingers on many little groups that are overlapping efforts, or could use more help.

I have a sneaking suspecion that the vandals that cleaned the train tracks, might be convinced to put on their masks and clean a park or empty lot. Child safety being the big issue.

I think that the new bike adovcacy group, might be able to put eyes on the street and check out the walkers.

I bet we could get the new police scanner club to call walkers or bikers if eyes were needed.

I have a feeling that members of MaMa and DaDa might be convinced to offer beverages, bathroom, food and seats for any of these groups.

Two big problems as I see it.
1) many people dulpicating efforts which waste time and energy.
2) Time Bank, the biggest problem we all have is the amount we can donate.

The secret is "aligning" these efforts, while affording them the "vision" to see how it all fits together.


"Working together, in the open, is the key of a good community."

Quoting Jim,
Two big problems as I see it.
1) many people dulpicating efforts which waste time and energy.
2) Time Bank, the biggest problem we all have is the amount we can donate.

Ok.This is what I was trying to convey in our talks, but as talks go, some things get missed or mis-interpreted.

I've formed these groups, MANY of them, in the past around Cleveland, and other burbs. The "but how do we..." and such has been worked out many years before I came along by groups such as REACT, and others like it nationwide.

While having my business, we did this and charged for the service. I also formed MANY, as a favor to some of my clients just for good-will sake.

These type of details are already answered. While I'd rather not be typing all day, I can say this for this moment.

To "coordinate" all of these, so we're NOT duplicating efforts and walking or driving in circles getting lost or confused, is MY job. 25 yrs of keeping things like this working FAIRLY smooth.. is something I do well.

This is why communications helps alot. If there is a central phone number or better yet, a central radio to call the "supervisor" in this case me.....we're NOT turning into a wierdo group......all it IS......is a way to KEEP THINGS from turning into mass confusion.

It keeps things nice, relaxing and fun.

Example: Jim and Ken are out wandering Birdtown.
Kate and Jeff decide to walk around too...and go to Madison Park. That's ok, but how would Kate and Jeff know if Dave and Doug were out and about in Madison Park, too but the other end, and no one is around the West End of Lkwd?

See my point? We're not being radicals here. If we had communications, everyone could call in to "Central" or some other name.... Doggy Pound if you like, it doesn't matter .....and I would tell you all over the radio..so you ALL would hear......Kate...how about you and Jeff head over to the West end .

Now Jim and Ken knows where Kate and Jeff are. I know where everyone is. Since John, and Linda up the block were heading out too....we don't want 20 people on Clarence.....and none anywhere else.


See? It's NOT a matter of being like those people on the southern Border of the U.S.

This is just having some fun, getting out, relaxing ...BUT not duplicating efforts, bumping into each other and to the rest of the city....looking like a a reject group kicked out of the Boy or Girl Scouts.

Now.....WE DO NOT have to get TOOO technologically involved.. ..its just a matter of doing things smoothly.

Since for now I have to be home more than out...PLUS I have the experience in keeping groups of humans from turning into an ant-colony....

I can help keep things going smoothly by being that "Observer Central" ....and also offer advice when needed.

I have the proper training, and experience in doing so...especially in KEEPING YOU out of trouble...by offering some advice...

Example: Kate and Jim see a fire. They cell phone 911 and report it.

Jim wants to do a story on it, but I, over the radio, remind him and Kate to back off.....let the Fire Dept do their thing.... but to take notes and take down license plates of the car that had the sign on it saying "fire-starter" on the side........since the Police and maybe the Fire Dept MIGHT want to ask them questions, on what they saw.....later on. I would also have the plate number, in case Jim accidently used his note paper to draw a picture of a bunny rabbit to show little Johnny.
Of course Im exaggerating but you get the point..right?

SEE? That isn't a lot of paper work but it's things like that, especially in a group such as this..that can run smoother by organizing it JUST A BIT at first.

AGAIN ....IM NOT ADVOCATING some sort of militant wierdo group. Please understand that.

I AM advocating something FUN, ENJOYABLE and MAYBE ....maybe just helpful ...in the long run.

***** POINT (jumps up and down and waives arms) ... ...Does it need to be THIS organized in the Beginning???? NOOOOOOOOOOO it doesn't . ...so plz dont grab onto that as the ONLY way to do it.
Does it help things go smoother and therefore more fun. Yeah it does...if we can get some kind of radios too.

We would need some donations of radios and montly repeater rental from some KIND sand GENEROUS individual(s)



*** Major Point ****
Let's just get it going...and have it be a GREAT and FUN part of OUR being part of our city..and ok ...CHA CHING...we pass a few papers out and
talk up the L.O too ....


SEE ? ... It's not so "heavy " as you all might have thought.