NAP- Neighborhood Alliance of Pawtucket

Pawtucket Nite Out - 2011 an August event

Bike Decorating new for 2009 and 2010 with past Nite Out fun

BIKE DECORATING CONTEST   OPEN TO CHILDREN OF ALL AGES!
How about those Bike Decorations
Children are encouraged to decorate their bike and march in the
Pawtucket Nite Out Parade. There is no charge for participation.

Children must register no later than Saturday, September 5 so that we can have enough materials to decorate the bikes.

Awards will be given to the most original bike, most beautiful bike, most patriotic bike, most green bike, best theme bike, most tricked out bike …

Please contact bike coordinator Alex at East Side Eden 401-726-2700 or email at eastsideeden@cox.net or check the website www.eastsideeden.com for more information.

Children are to report with their bikes to Tolman High School – Gamm Theatre parking area at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6. The Pawtucket Nite Out Parade kicks off at 4:00 p.m. from Tolman High School to the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center along with the Pawtucket Police and Pawtucket Fire. Entertainment, food and vendors.
Contact Arthur at 369-1918 NAP – Neighborhood Alliance of Pawtucket at kingarthur02940@yahoo.com and www.neighborhoodlink.com/pawtucket/NAP for more information.


08/02/2007
'Pawtucket's Nite Out' aims to build a stronger and safer community
By: JON BAKER , Times Staff Writer

PAWTUCKET - Though they're only 10, school pals Neshondra Smith and Jenice Martin have decided no one is too young to become "civic-minded."
"I'm here because this is a fun thing to do," said Smith, a sixth-grader-to-be at Cunningham Elementary School. "You get to meet a whole lot of new and interesting people in the city."
Stated Martin, about to enter the fifth grade at Cunningham: "I think this is about making your community good, not bad. It's cool."
The good news is Smith and Martin seem to be following the lead of longtime friends Mercedes Torres and Romana Ramos - to be kind, several years their elder.
Both tandems, all hailing from the city, took part in what many believed to be the seventh annual "Pawtucket's Nite Out." Simply put, it's a local version of a national event that provides a community the opportunity to meet with and discover job details of the community's police and fire departments, along with other agencies, in a family-oriented, fun-filled atmosphere.
In the parking lot adjacent to the Pawtucket Police Department and behind historic Slater Mill on Wednesday night, about 300 citizens from the city and neighboring Central Falls gathered - with Police Chief George Kelley III and Mayor James E. Doyle heading the list of dignitaries - to celebrate a fight against crime.
Many had different reasons for attending the fete, again assembled by Arthur Plitt, the president of Pawtucket's Nite Out Committee and the Oak Hill Neighborhood Association.
While youngsters had a ball at face-painting booths and sipping frozen lemonades, older residents checked out tables designed to inform the public about the Rhode Island National Guard, Red Cross and other state and city organizations.
Neither Torres nor Ramos have missed one of these events. They claimed attending this particular "party" was of utmost importance, given the recent suspect killings involving police last week.
"It's all about building understanding and cooperation with the police and fire departments," stated Torres, veteran principal of the Lillian Feinstein Sackett Elementary School in Providence. "I think
Chief Kelley is the best. Since he started in 1999, he's been excellent at keeping community events intact. If there's one thing about him, he's all about culture and diversity. He's passionate and very involved with the community he serves. It doesn't matter what culture or religion a person comes from.
"He's the first police chief that I've known who really cares, who truly bridges the gaps between all members of the community."


Before leading a short parade from the back parking lot of Tolman High to Slater Mill, along with Maj. Paul King and Capt. Lance Trafford, Kelley admitted he loved what he saw.
"It seems like every year, we get more people out here," the chief stated. "This gives the people a chance to meet with officers face-to-face, put faces with the names. I also think it brings everyone together for a common cause."
Offered Mayor Doyle, referring to two recent incidents involving the use of deadly force by Pawtucket officers: "Sometimes timing is very important, and this is a perfect time for these (officers) to be seen. It's critical. After what happened with those two shootings, it's important to get the police department, the fire department and other city agencies out to mingle. People here have the chance to view some of the services we provide."
The crowd was treated to a demonstration of a "busjacking," and how the city's SWAT team would respond. During the simulated incident, Sgt. Mike Newman played the role of an assailant who entered a school bus filled with "students" and terrorized all.
Suddenly, a member of the team lit up a "mini-bomb," referred to as a "flash-bang," which caused virtually the entire assemblage to flinch and scream in fear.
In milliseconds, a SWAT crew hustled onto the bus and climbed each other outside the vehicle windows to aim firearms at the perpetrator. Immediately after, Newman trudged off the bus in handcuffs, and the audience offered wild applause.
"The flash-bang is meant to disorient anyone on the bus, specifically the assailant, before anyone regains their senses," stated Sgt. Edmund St. Pierre.
Added fellow Sgt. Mike Cute, the team's tactical commander: "We only used nine of the 24 guys we have on the special response unit."
When told about the onlookers' response, he laughed, "They jumped? That's good. That means we were successful at building up the drama. What we were trying to do was demonstrate some of the capabilities of this team, and it's important they know what how we would approach this kind of situation. It's all about keeping people safe."
Torres said that it's important for the city's residents to understand the important service that the police provide. "I took a class at the police citizens' academy about four years ago to learn about how the police operates, and it really opened my eyes," Torres noted. "What happened then, and what's happening here, is the public is learning that the police have a huge responsibility to make sure everyone in the city remains safe.
"They put themselves in danger every day, though some may not believe it," she added. "The way I look at it, if they had been involved, as a police officer, in such an incident (as last week's incidents), then they can say something about what's going on in Pawtucket. Without the law in place, we're in trouble with the criminals walking the streets."
Said Ramos, the president of the Cape Verdean American Community Development Center on High Street, and also a matron at and translator for the police department: "I'm not here out of necessity. I moved here from Cape Verde as a teenager in 1975, and I love this city. I love the people. The flavor of the many nationalities here is special, the diversity of it all.
"Believe it or not, despite the things that have happened in Pawtucket recently, I still say there is a peacefulness to the city," she added. "There's a togetherness that makes you feel secure. It's very family-oriented."
Neshondra Smith had a similar take.
"My mom always says that a good community is a strong community, and I believe her," she said with a grin.

My Backyard in 2007

Dawn Goff reported a great time for all and her picture of our future Chow Down Spike's Hot Dog Winners tells the whole story-

2009- September 6th 4pm...3pm Bike Decorating added for 2009

BIKE DECORATING CONTEST

Sunday, September 6th

OPEN TO CHILDREN OF ALL AGES!

Children are encouraged to decorate their bike and march in the
Pawtucket Nite Out Parade. There is no charge for participation.

Children must register no later than Saturday, September 5 so that we can have enough materials to decorate the bikes.

Awards will be given to the most original bike, most beautiful bike, most patriotic bike, most green bike, best theme bike, most tricked out bike …

Please contact bike coordinator Alex at East Side Eden 401-726-2700 or email at eastsideeden@cox.net or check the website www.eastsideeden.com for more information.

Children are to report with their bikes to Tolman High School – Gamm Theatre parking area at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6. The Pawtucket Nite Out Parade kicks off at 4:00 p.m. from Tolman High School to the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center along with the Pawtucket Police and Pawtucket Fire. Entertainment, food and vendors.
Contact Arthur at 369-1918 NAP – Neighborhood Alliance of Pawtucket at kingarthur02940@yahoo.com and www.neighborhoodlink.com/pawtucket/NAP for more information.


PAWTUCKET NITE OUT is designed to:
Heighten crime & drug prevention awareness; & participation in anticrime programs;
Strengthen organized neighborhood spirit and fire-police-community partnerships
Share low cost and free fun from rockwall climbing to kareoke for the community with a parade for all to participate.
Share the artistic talents of all people especially kids with bike decorations
Add the political process with a recreation of an olde political torchlite parade
Register voters and enlighten voters on the process and information pre-primary
Bring awareness to the community of helping agencies and supports.
Your ideas to enhance the program on September 6th at 4pm.
Also be a part of the 10th annual Pawtucket Arts Festival

This was done by the Summit Neighbors in Prov...should we do this as well?

Neighbors of XYZ Crime Watch Survey
The residents living
in the XYZ neighborhood of RI are in the process of forming a
“Neighbors of XYZ Crime Watch”.
This survey outlines the different levels of participation needed for the crime watch, and also
serves as a tool to gather information about what concerns residents of the neighborhood have
about crime in this area. Surveys can also be emailed to Arthur @ kingarthur02940@yahoo.com
Crime Watch Roles
Block Captain (highest level of participation)

Hosts a Neighborhood Watch Meeting

Visits homes, apartments, and businesses in her/his designated block area announcing the meeting
and encouraging others to participate.

Organizes activities on her/his block and assigns volunteers to assist with activities.

Acts as the “Block” base station captain where neighbors can pick up their volunteer assignments

Distributes crime prevention materials to neighbors on the block

Provides copies of meeting materials, schedules for volunteers, information on special events, etc.

Is familiar with Citizen observer and helps sign up neighbors and promote the program.
______ I am interested in being a Block Captain
Block Watcher (mid-level participation, bi-weekly involvement)

Acts as eyes and ears for their neighbors and reports suspicious activities

Is familiar with the crime prevention materials provided and helps distribute them as necessary

Cooperates and assists the Block Captain

Participates in promoting Citizens Observer

Rotates on the Crime Watch “patrol” if such a patrol is needed.
______ I am interested in being a Block Watcher
Other Volunteer (lower level of participation, approximately once a month)

Helps with fundraising and special events

Participates in any Crime Watch communications (i.e. emergency tree phone, Citizen Observer)

Recruits new volunteers into the program

Is familiar with the Crime Watch prevention materials
______ I am interested in being a volunteer at this level
Name ___________________________________Contact number ________________
Address_______________________________________Email __________________
Question: What do you think are the “crime” issues in the Hope (Summit) neighborhood,
please check any that apply, but circle the one issue that stands out the most?
___Property vandalism ___Break-ins ___Car Theft ___Disorderly conduct
Other: (please specify)_____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

Email us
kingarthur02940@yahoo.com

Links

Alex and East Side Eden