The Barton Hills Neighborhood Association Neighborhood Watch program was featured in a front page story in the Austin American-Statesman today, complete with a color photo of Neighborhood Watch chairman John Luther and several volunteers. The story recognizes the efforts of the Neighborhood Watch program in our community and points out the significant reduction in several categories of crime since its inception.

You can check out the story at the Statesman site online or view this PDF version if the online version has been archived.

Program: Neighborhood Watch: Why, What and How
August 24, 7:00 to 8:30 PM
St. Marks Church (see map)
(Corner of Barton Skyway and Barton Hills Drive)

The Barton Hills Neighborhood Watch Program will be conducting a general orientation and training session at St. Marks Church on Tuesday, August 24th from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. All Barton Hills, Zilker and Barton Oaks residents interested in learning how to make our neighborhoods a crime free community are invited to attend this important meeting.

Basic orientation to the program will be provided so that you can become a valuable part of the solution to reducing criminal activity in our neighborhood. Current Neighborhood Watch volunteers are also encouraged to attend to enhance and refresh your observation skills, home safety awareness, and to meet other volunteers and share knowledge. Representatives from the Austin Police Department will be on hand to assist in the information and training segments and to answer your individual questions concerning crime prevention.

Crime may be a problem, but we are the solution. Together we can and will make criminal activity in Barton Hills, Zilker and Barton Oaks a very risky business.

I hope to see you on the 24th.

John Luther, Chair
BHNA Neighborhood Watch Program

John Luther, who heads up our Neighborhood Watch, and Kimberly White Erlinger (immediate past president of BHNA) were both featured on a KVUE news story last night about the success of our  associations’ Neighborhood Watch program in reducing crime in Barton Hills. Check it out and be sure to pass along your thanks to all of the great folks who volunteer their time to patrol our neighborhood to keep it safe.

The second Neighborhood Watch meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 9 at St. Mark’s Church. The meeting will begin at 7:00 PM and should last about one hour.

We invite all Barton Hills and Zilker residents to attend. We also hope you will share this invitation with your neighbors who may not be receiving information via the listserve as we will be sharing information to help reduce criminal activity within our neighborhood and we would like all residents to attend.

The general agenda for the meeting will consist of the following topics:

• Orientation to Neighborhood Watch; what it is and what it is not.
• Meeting your neighbors who share a common interest and concern or the safety and well being of our neighborhood.
• How working with adjacent neighborhoods in crime prevention programs makes us all more secure.
• Information about techniques for observation and reporting of suspicious persons or vehicles.
• Question and answers related to home security; things you can do yourself at low cost.

Our last Neighborhood Watch meeting was very popular with over 80 people attending. The February 9 meeting is in response to requests for additional information on crime and safety within our neighborhoods.

Come and bring a neighbor. Be part of the solution. You will be amazed at what neighbors looking out for neighbors can do.

I Hope To See You There,
John Luther, Chair
BHNA Neighborhood Watch Program

Concerned about the uptick in crime in our neighborhood? Wondering how you can make your home and community a little safer? Then please join us for a neighborhood watch/crime fighting meeting on Tuesday, January 5th at 7 pm at St. Mark’s Church (corner of Barton Hills Drive and Barton Skyway).

This meeting will be packed with excellent information about Neighborhood Watch and how you can help reduce criminal activity in our neighborhood. Learn about:

• volunteer neighborhood patrols 
• tips on making your home more secure for under $5
• having an Austin Police officer evaluate your home for increased protection

Austin Police Officers and neighborhood watch volunteers will be there to respond to specific concerns.

Please come and DO invite a neighbor who isn’t on this list. See you then! The meeting will only take about an hour.

For more information on the Neighborhood Watch Program or to become a volunteer contact the amazing John Luther (he’s like our own neighborhood superhero) at jluther@austin.rr.com.

Warmly,

Wendy Papasan
President, Barton Hills Neighborhood Assn.
(512) 297-9431
wpapasan@kw.com