Neighborhood Watch and Relationships Today

Over the past six month residents have been gathering to reclaim neighborhoods lost
in a sea of anonymity.

"It's all over that way," Cardinal Edmund Szoka, a retired Detroit archibshop said when I asked
him if he would consider sharing his wisdom and experience on how to reclaim neighborliness, and, the love of God and neighbor right where we live and are planted.

Lack of porches and attached garages seem to keep residents from coming up face to face the way neighbors were where I grew up on Arcola Street near Lynch Road and Van Dyke on Detroit's east side.

Often, when walking the dog someone will pass with eyes reflecting downward.

"Good morning," I shout, with a response from one out of a few contacts.

Officer Cherrie Mascarello who heads the Neighborhood Watch program of St. Claire Shores, MI., is one of a kind. Her assertive, deliberative and enduring presence to the community has
nurtured and created streets with communities of block captains and co-capatins who meet quarterly or more to converse about the 'hoods' and the effectiveness of Neighborhood Watch.

In fact, one neighbor noticed an unusual amount of traffic next door, Mascarello shared at a meeting of ICUN (Inclusive Communities Uniting Neighbors - Eye See You) and, called to police, suspecting drug dealing. That proved true.

Mascarello told the crowd in the St. Clair Shores Library recently that "you have to be our ears and eyes since the police can't be everywhere." How true.

Some want to enhance the quality of life in neighborliness in St. Clair Shores, Roseville, and,
Harrison Township, such as Fire Chief Mike Lopez, Jack Pelligrino, among others who
want to stir up Neighborhood Watch with the Macomb Sheriff's Department, and a Mt. Clemens, MI., sargeant who is the point person.

Harrison Township neighbors want Neighborhood Watch in their community soon. Home invasions have hit during the daytime hours recently.

Ways and opportunities to create conversation need to take shape in forms of block parties,
street garage sales, pool parties, and, more. Churches, community organizations, mosques, Neighborhood Watch, temples, families, and teens can take charge to set a gathering now.

People want and need to talk about what seems to me is the loss of neighborliness. St. Clair Shores and Roseville. MI., seem to be model examples of improving the quality of life in this town. Grass roots leaders emerged and are establishing living eyes and ears on numerous streets serving with signage with an eye that sees you, imagine that!

They know how to build relationships and reclaim the neighborhood. Anyone else
interested in a conversation in a Dearborn, Madison Heights, Royal Oak, Clinto Township, or, Detroit neighborhood street, for example?

How about you standing up to serve as a block captain while other simply sit?

Contact http://www.meetup.com/Roseville-Neighborhood-Watch-Group, or call me at
Sacred Heart Church in Roseville at 586 777 9116 please.

Stand up!