Great Northwest Community Improvement Association, Inc.

GNWatch News, Janet Doherty, Coordinator

Sep 26, 2003

GNWATCH

By the time readers receive the October PASSAGES the Annual GNWatch Banquet will have taken place on September 24th at the Lodge at 7PM. This dinner is held in honor of the Block Captains of the GNW who toil all year in building the community in order to help Security to keep our streets FREE OF CRIME!

Its not just about a Block Party on National Night Out. Its about coming to the monthly meetings to pick up the Crime Reports compiled by Security for each of the five neighborhoods that comprise our Community. Each Block Captain then writes or composes his/her own Flyer to distribute among the families under their Watch. The Flyer is a newsletter that shares the part of the Crime Report which may pertain to that particular street or block. It may be about a rash of vandalism, dogs running loose in a certain sector, or a break-in (burglary/robbery). This duty is performed each and every month of the year by a Block Captain. In addition, many of the Block Captains hold Block Parties at times of the year other than National Night Out. For example, more than a few hold a Christmas Season Block Party when neighbors sing Carols and exchange gifts. It is ALWAYS important for neighbors to know and respect one another to keep away CRIME!

NEW BLOCK CAPTAINS are also encouraged to take the Cellular On Patrol or COP Class offered by the San Antonio SAFFE Officers. We had 7 graduates of that course this past May. They were Barbara Schneider, Erika Selvera, Bea Keammerer, Cindy Whatley, Sigrid Long, Barbara Spenrath, and Susan Black (not a Block Captain, but a very interested resident). On Monday, September 22nd at the Omni Hotel on I-10 at 6 PM, SAPD will have honored 3 GNW Block Captains for their outstanding Album exhibits submitted for judging by SAPD for National Night Out. Those Block Captains are: MaryLou and Bob Cruse, Erika Selvera and Bea Keammerer. Here in the Great Northwest we like to show how proud we are of the diligence kept by our GREAT NORTHWATCH!

Watch Meetings are always OPEN to the community. Ones does not have to be a Block Captain to attend. For October our Meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 29th at Flores Hall in the Emerald Valley Recreation area due to the Haunted House at the Silver Creek Lodge. The Meetings begin at 7:30 PM and there are always refreshments served. The speaker for the October Meeting will be GNW Parks Committee Chairman Bill McDonough. He will discuss the importance of low landscaping around our home and will also outline plans for the park in our area. Good park planning is essential for Crime Prevention, as many of our residents depend upon the parks for family recreation. Come and join us and find out for yourself!