This years National Night Out 2009 Poster Contest was a great success.  With this years' theme "Street Safe Boston" we recieved over 400 posters and we had 15 schools participating.  We also incorporated an essay component to this years contest and those who submitted were asked to articulate what Street Safe Boston meant to them.  The essays were thoughfully written and demonstrated how important safety and security is to young people.  The winning posters will be displayed at City Hall throughout the next two months and the winners will be invited to an award reception at Boston Police Headquarters on July 31st from 10am-noon.  Winners will be contacted soon.  We thank all participants! 

Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) infection have been identified in the United States and internationally. As of Wednesday, April 29, two cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Massachusetts; there are no confirmed cases in Boston. The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is working closely with state and federal health officials to increase surveillance and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Swine influenza (swine flu) is flu virus in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu; however, human infection can happen. Symptoms are similar to regular flu and include sudden fever, cough, muscle aches, headache, chills, and general weakness. Some people have also had diarrhea and vomiting. These symptoms can range from mild to severe.

Residents can take steps to protect themselves.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue every time you cough or sneeze. Then throw the used tissue in a waste basket. If you don't have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your upper sleeve.

Clean your hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. You can also use alcohol-based hand cleaner.

Do not go to work or school if sick. Stay home when you are sick. It is recommended that you stay at home for 7 days after you first get sick or for 24 hours after your symptoms have gone away, whichever is longer.

Try to limit contact with others to keep from getting them sick.

Information and Resources

For more information about swine flu and what the Commission is recommending, please read our our Swine Flu Fact Sheet <http://www.bphc.org/programs/Fact%20Sheets/CDC/Infectious%20Diseases/SwineFlu_FS_English_2009.pdf> and Frequently Asked Questions <http://www.bphc.org/programs/Fact%20Sheets/CDC/Infectious%20Diseases/SwineFluFAQ_FS_English_2009.pdf>. These documents are available in multiple languages in the right column of this page. Resources for health care providers, such as posters, are located at the bottom of this page. Residents can also follow us on Twitter <http://twitter.com/BosPublicHealth> and Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boston-MA/Boston-Public-Health-Commission/47308341278>. Multilingual videos are available on our YouTube channel <http://www.youtube.com/BostonPublicHealth>.

The World Health Organization <http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html> (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control <http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/> (CDC) are frequently updating their websites with swine flu information and guidance. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health <http://publichealth.blog.state.ma.us/> (MDPH) provides statewide updates, including a blog and podcasts.

Carolyn MacNeil

Director

Neighborhood Watch Unit

Boston Police Department

20 Vine Street

Boston, MA. 02129

Dear Neighborhood Watch Group Leader,

 

I am writing on behalf of Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea J. Cabral. Sheriff Cabral who is the 30th High Sheriff of Suffolk County and is currently serving a six-year term to which she was elected in September 2004.

 

Sheriff Cabral has made a commitment to the citizens of Suffolk County that the Sheriff’s Department will be an active community partner. Although we are not first responders such as the Boston Police and Fire Departments, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department does have an active role in public safety. Since last year, our staff has visited with over ninety community-based groups and organizations across the neighborhoods of Suffolk County introducing programs we run and our role in public safety.

 

I would ask that your neighborhood watch group allow our staff to introduce the Sheriff’s Department during an upcoming meeting. Please contact me at 617.961.6672 so that I may work with you to schedule a convenient time for one of our staff members to attend.

 

I would like to thank you in advance for the opportunity to attend a meeting and for all the hard work being done by your members to help make Suffolk County a better place to live.

 

Sincerely,

 

Edward Geary, Jr.

Deputy Director

Communications and External Affairs

Suffolk County Jail

Tel:  617.961.6672

Fax: 617.961.6750
E-mail: egeary@scsdma.org

Good Morning,

On behalf of the Neighborhood Watch Unit, and in conjunction with the Boston Public Health Commission, I want to invite you to join us this Saturday, March 28th for a kickoff event to "Walk and Watch". What better way to join your neighbors, get some exercise and look at what's going on in your neighborhoods. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to call our office at 617-343-4345! Hope to see some of you then!

Regards,

 Carolyn

Please read the following attachment flyer for more information! Thank You!

As many of us know, one of Boston's famous traditions is the St. Patrick's Day Parade in South Boston. This parade is held every year the Sunday before St. Patrick's Day. Due to increasing public drinking and problems, the Boston Police are cracking down on problems via a technologically savy approach. Police personell are utilizing the internet tool "Twitter" to monitor the days events. If you are attending the event, please be curtious and respectful to the residents of South Boston and follow all typical rules and regulations of the City of Boston.

The following is an except from the article:

"A crime-blotter blog. E-mail alerts. Anonymous tips via text message. Now comes the next high-tech weapon for the Boston Police Department: A sergeant in the emergency dispatch center has been experimenting with Twitter, the micro-blogging tool that facilitates group conversations in 140-character bulletins to subscribers via computers and cellphones."

Read Mentioned Article here:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/03/12/police_to_alert_public_with_twitter_dispatches/?s_campaign=8315

           May 8, 2009 SUBMISSION DEADLINE

 What: The 21st Annual National Night Out Poster Contest run by the Neighborhood Watch Unit of the Boston Police Department.

 

For whom: All children between the ages of 5 and 18 enrolled in any school, community center, library, before and after school program, or any adult coordinated youth activity program/group in the City of Boston are eligible.

 

Theme: "Street Safe Boston."The theme of the 2009 Boston Police Neighborhood Watch Unit’s poster contest is “Street Safe Boston”. Each artist is to show how their school, neighborhood and/or everyday life represents a safe Boston. The 12 contestants will be selected as winners will be awarded a gift card and invited to meet Mayor Menino and Police Commissioner Davis at the Boston Police Headquarters in Roxbury. A Grand Prize Winner will be revealed and honored with a pizza party for their Art class.

 

Prizes: Three Winners will be selected from four grade categories: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. Art work will be judged on quality, theme, originality and message the Artist is conveying. Notification is made to students and teachers during the school year. All entries will be judged and the put on display. Show your Boston pride by entering! We look forward to viewing your work!

 

Poster Suggestions: Any drawing or painting materials or combination thereof (crayon, paint, pencil, etc.) on paper. Collages of magazines or newsprint are not permitted. Bold colors are encouraged. Posters may be submitted on either a 11"x17” or 12"x18" sheet of paper. Also, artists should attach to backa one page essay or poem which entrants will describe how crime prevention and neighborhood watch participation can effect their environment.

 

Deadline: Friday, May 8, 2009, 3:00 P.M. Mail/deliver to The Neighborhood Watch Unit at 20 Vine Street, Charlestown, MA 02129

 

Important: Posters must be accompanied by a completed entry form securely attached to the back of posters. (If entry form is unavailable, simply provide student's name, complete address, telephone, school, grade, teacher's or adult coordinator's name and summer telephone number on a page attached to the back of the poster).

  

 

Register today by visiting or calling

Neighborhood Watch Unit, Boston Police Department

www.BostonCrimeWatch.com

617-343-4345

We’ve been excited to share with you a recent article in The Boston Globe. The article, titled “Cleaning up crime in Lowell”, is an analysis of the Broken Windows Theory. The Broken Windows Theory was first introduced in 1982 by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling in an article titled “Broken Windows”. The theory states that the neglect of a simple repair, such as a window, can lead to a cycle of deterioration which affects not only the home with the broken window, but the whole neighborhood. One broken window can lead to further vandalism, trash, home vacancy, and eventually crime.

 

Although some may judge this theory as being pessimistic and drastic, the positive message of it is that with simple attention to detail, pride and care, crime can easily be prevented. This article uses the City of Lowell to exemplify the positive changes which can occur in a short period of time.

 

Please click on the link below to read the article:

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2009/02/13/cleaning_up_crime_in_lowell/

 

 

It is with a deep sense of sadness that we announce the passing away of Chris Hayes, the original founder and director of the Neighborhood Crime Watch Unit. Chris' contributions to the City of Boston cannot be underscored. He brought a sense of humility and compassion to what he did and he cared very deeply for the residents and neighborhoods of this great city. He truly believed in the concept of "knowing thy neighbor" just as community policing was starting to take root. That attention and consideration is the hallmark of what we continue to do to this day. Our thanks to Chris Hayes for making this a better city for all!

Please view this link from the Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2009/01/27/christopher_hayes_76_founded_crime_watch_program/

At the Neighborhood Watch Unit, our philosophy is that a clean neighborhood is a safe neighborhood. When residents and neighbors take the time to address small issues such as picking up trash and cleaning grafitti, it goes a long way in detering crime because it shows a collective concern. The same can be said about shoveling snow.

Shoveling is a vigorous work out which everyone can agree is tedious. It falls into the category of requirements in order to maintain a healthy neighborhood. With that being said, we want all residents to know that shoveling stairs and sidewalks in front of your home or residence is NOT optional. Per order of a 2007 ordinance, any resident who does not shovel their sidewalk/walkways/stairs will be fined with a ticket. Please read the following ordinace at length for all specifications regarding specifications.

http://www.cityofboston.gov/snow/pdfs/Bos_Snow_Ordi.pdf

Remember to shovel a width of 42 inches, so that wheelchairs and strollers will be able to pass easily. There is also a time limit, therefore watch weather forecasts and monitor the conditions.

If there is a senior citizen on your street or someone who is physically incapable of shoveling, talk among your neighbors to see if you could schedule shifts. This is an oppurtunity to interact within a neighborhood and talk about what is going on. This helps to strengthen and unify your community!

Expect more snow to come, since it's only January!

 

From Monday, December 22nd to Monday, December 29th, the Neighborhood Watch Unit will be on vacation. Our voicemail and email will be checked daily. If you should need assistance, call your local district and ask to speak with the Community Service Office. As always, in the case of an emergency, dial 9-1-1.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Neighborhood Watch Unit!

 

As many of you know, the Neighborhood Watch Unit has moved from the Boston Police Headquarters in Roxbury to District A-15 in Charlestown. We are located on 20 Vine Street, which is accessible via public transportation (Orange Line to Sullivan Square, 93 Bus). We are thrilled with our new facility, which includes a spacious community room that can be reserved in advance for meetings.

 

Here our some pictures of District A-15 in Charlestown. Besides housing the NCU, A-15 is home to Recruit Investigations, the Fugitive Unit, Community Disorders Unit and Crime Stoppers. As always, contact us at 617-343-4345 with any questions or concerns.

 

 

Dear Neighborhood Watch Members,

 

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support and hard work over the past year. What each and all of you do is so vital to the health and safety of your neighborhood and the City of Boston. I’ve enjoyed meeting many of you and learning more about the tremendous impact that Neighborhood Watch Groups have in their community. Now more than ever, as the country goes through a very tumultuous time, and everyone is forced to do more with less; your participation is a key element to the strength of this city. Remember to reach out to your neighbors and call us with any questions or concerns. Especially remember to call 9-1-1 to report anything at all suspicious. Again, our thanks go out to you and, let’s not lose the momentum as we look towards next year. May all of you have a safe and happy holiday season. I look forward to seeing and hearing from all of you in 2009.

 

With Best Wishes,

 

Carolyn MacNeil

Director, Neighborhood Watch Unit

HAPPY HOLIDAYS The holidays are a special and joyous time of year. It is also a time when individuals need to be alert to the possibility of crime. The Boston Police Department encourages individuals to take simple precautions to ensure a happy and safe holiday. The hustle and bustle of the holiday season can easily create a distraction for people. However during this festive time, it is important to pay special attention to the things going on around you. The holiday season is considered peak season for burglars, pickpockets and shoplifters. Don’t let the spirit of giving lull you into giving burglars and pickpockets a chance to dampen your holiday spirit. Thieves love the holidays as much as everyone else, especially because it’s an opportune time for crime.   more »

The Boston Police Neighborhood Watch Unit has moved to 20 Vine Street in Charlestown, MA. Our location is in the newly opened District A15, on the Corner of Vine and Chelsea streets.

Our telephone number has NOT changed. You can still contact us at 617-343-4345 and 617-343-4779.

Directions: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

Today is my last day serving the people of Boston in the capacity of Program Coordinator here in the Neighborhood Crime Watch Unit at Boston Police.   more »

It is with a profound sense of enthusiasm and gratitude that I introduce myself as the newly appointed Director of the Neighborhood Crime Watch Unit of the Boston Police Department. I firmly believe that the residents of this wonderful city have the power to change neighborhoods, block by block, and make it a safer place to live.    more »

Click more to see details   more »

Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the Boston School Committee and Superintendent Carol R. Johnson announced today that the Boston Public Schools (BPS) will host the first-ever Back-to-School Jamboree on Saturday, August 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on City Hall Plaza.   more »

Boston's National Night Out Celebration at the Franklin Park Zoo was a huge success. In total 12,318 people attended the event. We truly did demonstrate "The Power of Neighbors."   more »