Block Watch Sign
Community Organizer on Channel 19 Our own Community Organizer, Denise Lorek, was on Channel 19 News talking about the power of block clubs and cameras in reducing burglaries. If you know Denise, you know this is one of her passions. She firmly believes in the power of Block Watches. If you would like to see this video, go to the Northeast Shores Blog website at www.northeastshores.org/blog and click on the link to Community Organizer on Channel 19. As if that’s not enough eyes watching the neighborhood, Denise has applied to Neighborhood Connections for a grant to supply video cameras in the homes of the residents in that area. If the grant is approved, residents will be able to request cameras from the E.185th St. Block Watch on a first come, first served basis. All you have to do is look at the success of the E.185th St. Block Watch to know that Block Watches work. This block watch meeting draws approximately 65 or more people to each meeting. The E.185th St. Block Watch has an email blast list of over 130 people on it and their mailing list has over 150 on it. That makes the official count of members at over 280 people! That’s a lot of people watching the neighborhood. Due to the success of the E.185th St. Block Watch, Denise has been given the task of starting a block watch of the same caliber for the E.156th St. area. The E. 156th St Block Club has just finished their training with Officer Sam Anderson from the City of Cleveland Community Policing Department. Their graduation present for completing three months of training was Block Watch signs on their streets and Certificates of Completion for their homes. Since they have graduated from the Officer Sam School of Block Watching they, can now officially call themselves a Block Watch. Congratulations to those members who completed the program.
If you are interested in joining a Block Watch, come to a meeting and sign in. That’s all it takes. The E.185th St. Block Watch meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 6:00 pm at the Lithuanian Hall 877 E.185th St. The E.156th St. Block Watch meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 6:30 pm at the Arts Collinwood Community Center 397 E.156th St. Special thanks to Ruta Degutis from the Lithuanian Hall and Sarah Gyorki from the Arts Collinwood Community Center for hosting these meetings at their facilities. If you would like information on starting a Block Watch in your neighborhood, call Denise at 216-481-7660
