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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2003-12-31, Page 6S-Tt$E HURON EXPOSITOR, DECEMBER 31, 2003 Seaforth Lions club may try to establish, for fourth attempt, community policing • committee By Sara Campbell Expositor Staff In a fourth attempt, a local service club may be trying again to get a community policing committee operating in Seaforth. The Seaforth Lions Club have invited Huron OPP Const. Dave Gillan to their next meeting in January to gather information on coordinating a community policing committee. "We're just hoping to give our members information about community policing and looking at whether they would be interested in starting a committee," said Cathy Elliott, president of the Seaforth Lions Club. Gillan said this is the fourth time he has been invited to Seaforth to help coordinate a community policing committee — twice by the municipality and last year by the Seaforth BIA (Business Improvement Association). "Many people are too busy that they don't want to be part of a committee or they need a cause or a reason to get involved in community policing," he said. "I have helped start successful community policing groups in Vanastra, Brussels _and Ethel. And, I believe we can make this happen we LOWER MONTHLY PAYMENTS 1st & 2nd Mortgages $25,000. - $190.80/mth $50,000. - $381.61 /mth $100,000. - $763.21/mth Call 1-866-667-5643 Far -Mor Mortgage Funding Mortgages Bought, Sold Seaforth." Elliott said two years ago, she and her husband, Doug, were the only two members of the public to attend a community policing meeting at the Seaforth town hall. At the BIA last year, she said about 10 people attended but there was not enough interest to get a committee established. "Many of our members are business owners or would just like to do something for the community so I think we may be able to get a community policing committee started," she said. "If we can get interest from the public, then we can help lead the committee or host the meeting." ' Gillan said a community policing committee will help make the police more aware of some issues in the community that the OPP should know about. "We're looking for feedback people, if they notice something going on that their not comfortable with," he said. Elliott said the idea of community policing is to get the word out on the street that everyone is watching for crime. He added a community policing committee could involve forming a Citizens on Patrol (COP) group, in which community members would patrol the town at odd hours, to create more public awareness of crime. "It could just mean carrying your cell phone on your walk every night so you can call the police if you have to," he said. "It's community members protecting their community." When It Comes To Protecting Your Assets.... Turn to the Professionals at GRAY INSURANCE BROKERS INC. ALLAN - R Specializing in in I TIEMAN • Farm - Commercial - Auto - Property 5 MAIN STREET, SOUTH SEAFORTH, ON (519)527-2500 Open Monday to Friday 8:30 am. - 5:Q0 p.m. - OR by appolnment lr needed Ito an blim. News Two communities kept safe, active thanks to efforts of policing committees By Sara Campbell Expositor Staff Community policing committees are being recognized for helping to keep two area villages safe and active. "In a small rural hamlet it may seem difficult to get a community policing program started but people need to realize how powerful their voices are," said Andrea Hruska, of the Ethel community policing committee. "We are a collection of people that tries to get together each month to discuss the concerns in our community," said Robin Dunbar, of the Brussels community policing committee. Both community policing members praised Huron OPP Const. Dave Gillan for helping to establish the committees. "The OPP are our resource but the committee is citizen originated," said Dunbar. Hruska said Gillan told her that OPP calls of vandalism and youth crimes in the Ethel area have dropped since the community policing began two years ago. "The OPP do feel it's getting better and looking better too,' she said. The community policing committee was established in Ethel because of concerns with the OPP but also youth in the village, said Hruska. She added that the youth had a lack of respect for do," said Hruska. "Some people have adults, police and their Dunbar said the Brussels difficulty voicing their community and they were community policing concerns to the OPP, but feeling bored committee together as a group, we can because of Quoted has had a help to carry those concerns the lack of number of from community members activities in'it'$ veryy o u t h to OPP," said Hruska. their town. involved Separately, Brussels and "It's very important to with the Ethel committees hold a important to group but meeting each month to have the have the m o s t discuss with community policing members are members their concerns or committee policing adults. situations that they believe involved with committee "One of our should be addressed to the youth and objectives is OPP, said Dunbar. have the involved with to get all "A lot of people will not police with a g e s call the police because of the youth," youth and have i n v o I v e d fears that it will come back she said. the police with w i t h to them," he said. "The "Youth will community group allows people a think, 'Hey, the youth,'-- policing," he chance to discuss the these guys are said. situation with others, see pretty cool', Andrea Hruska, D u n b a r whether the police should and we have eoruRih►P said the be called then or to monitor the police eomtpittNme�tirig f o r m e r the situation." there to say Township of Dunbar said Brussels also `We're not just here to ride Grey belonged to North has a Citizens on Patrol you, we want to help you Huron community policing (COP) committee, in which become something' and prior to amalgamation and community members would that's what helps our afterwards, Brussels patrol the town at odd community." decided to have their own hours, to create more public Hruska said the group. awareness of crime. committee and Ethel The committee now has He said the committees residents planned "pro- more than a dozen active keep records of activities or active events" to keep members. situations being monitored youth away from crime, He said the Brussels to pass information on to such as a minor baseball committee fundraises the police. program, minor hockey through community events "It tells the police that with an outdoor ice rink, and activities to pay for this could be improved or road hockey games and advertisements through gives them an idea of winter events including newspapers, television and what's happening in the Snowfest. flyers about the community community whether it's "It's not just one youth policing meetings and speeding, lottery or loud vandalizing. It's usually a plans. parties coming from these group and that shows that Hruska added that both area regularly," he said. youth can have strong Brussels and Ethel hold "It also helps to make the leadership skills. And, if meetings together, whether public more aware of you turn that leadership as a regular committee what's happening in the around for the good then meeting or for OPP community and helps to who knows what they can presentations. change their attitudes." United Way still trying to meet goals for Huron's fundraising campaign By Tim Cumming and Matt Shuffle You can help 13 different area charitable agencies every pay cheque, according to the Huron United Way. The Huron United Way is urging local residents to help all these causes simply by agreeing to have a donation — large or small — deducted from each pay at work. The umbrella fundraising organization wants individuals and businesses to sign onto the easy payroll deduction plan before the end of December to meet its fundraising goals. The United Way raised funds for 13 area organizations that include Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Epilepsy and programs such as a women's shelter, second -stage housing, counselling, Hospice, Palliative Care and caregiver respite as well as United Way. programs that benefit "They can concentrate seniors and those with on what they do best and physical or developmental that's provide programs disabilities. and services to the The work community," she said. "So, of the Huron it it takes that worry away United Way from them because they allows don't have to be fundraisers to fundraising continuously." fundraise and Donations that are lets the deducted each pay cheque charitable are also efficient for the agencies to fundraising organization, concentrate Northey said, because on the donors get a single tax - delivery of deductible receipt for tax services, said Melodie purposes at one time. Northey, Executive "It means that we don't Director of Huron have to have as many Quoted The need is definitely there,'= lNebdie Northey. Huron United Way executive director credit itiit ll 'it'll \\-()1•1(1 rlc:ir \t►11 volunteers doing all the data entry ... as we have to do when we have individual donations," she said. A donation of not more than a cup of coffee a week can add up by the end of the year, she said. Those who arc 'already donating through payroll deduction are asked to consider increasing their donations where possible. Those who are self- employed or do not receive a pay cheque from a participating business are encouraged to make individual donations to Huron United Way and support fun. There are about six •ages sking to be added 1tc" tide Huron United Way program but the umbrella charitable fundraising organization says it must first ensure the needs of the existing agencies are met before more are added. Only two thirds of the requested funds were raised last year but the United Way hopes that this year - through an increase in payroll deductions - the needs of the 13 member agencies will be met. "The need is definitely there," said Northey.