Looking out for one another

City safety officials have been very receptive to the
neighborhood association.

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

WARREN — Rain on a parade won’t stop Debbie A. Lovas from bringing back values to deter crime.

Heavy rains Sunday resulted in 11 of 25 expected groups taking part in the parade hosted by the North West Neighborhood Association Inc., said Lovas, the coordinator and chairperson for the group.

Mayor Michael O’Brien and State Sen. Capri Cafaro, D-32, showed up for Warren’s first National Night Out.

The event started with a parade that ended at Perkins Park. About 300 people took part in the activities that included raising funds for charity.

Lovas said she had contacted other block watch programs, but they declined to participate.

National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness.

Last September, she was baby-sitting her two very young grandchildren and took them for a stroll. She noticed a car was following her.

When she stopped at a stop sign, “I looked to my right and he was getting out of his car naked.”

And on a second stroll, she added, “someone approached me and offered to sell me drugs.”

That’s when she began to do research and formed the neighborhood association.

Making a difference

Having residents watch for criminal activity has one effect on criminals.

“They go elsewhere,” she said.

The city’s safety officials have been very receptive to the program, she said. Two firefighters and a police officer were given awards during Sunday’s activities.

Taking part in the program has benefits besides preventing crime, she said. People get to know other people, “and may even make new friends and meet new neighbors,” Lovas said.

Knowing your friends and neighbors is a return to the way neighborhoods used to be, she added.

The block watch will continue its programs. A motorcycle run to raise funds was canceled because of the rain. It will be reset for sometime in September.

And other groups are also out to help stop crime. The Vienna Township Neighborhood Watch will have its “Evening of Fun, Food and Entertainment” starting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Bicentennial Gazebo.

wilkinson@vindy.com