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16
Bakersfield Life
July 2012
Dear Editor, In the southeast area of greater Bakersfield, there is a unique program that benefits the lives of its residents. The South Oswell Neighborhood Watch is comprised of independent volunteers. It offers safety meetings, as well as an anti-litter and graffiti removal program. The organization was formally organized in September 2009, by founder and director David Collins, but had its conception in the spring of 2006, when Mr. Collins moved into the Tyner Ranch neighborhood. The neighborhood watch is associated with the Bakersfield Police Department’s Neighborhood Watch program and the City of Bakersfield’s Keep Bakersfield Clean Committee with whom they have signed a contract to provide a minimum of at least one major cleanup every three months. In addition to the quarterly litter service, they patrol the area between four to six times per week to remove or report unsightly trash and graffiti. As an additional benefit to their members, the organization provides an email system, which sends regular messages to update members on abatement progress, crimes reported in the neighborhood, pending events and urgent or emergency alerts. As of May, the cleanup totals for The South Oswell Neighborhood Watch are as follows: 453.57 volunteer hours, 660 bags of litter picked up, 572 pieces of graffiti removed, 216 graffiti pieces reported to the city, 34 neighborhood watch meetings, 184 e-alerts, 43 thank-you letters handed out, 32 flash cleanups, 11 major cleanups and 142 weeks of cleanup coverage for the South Oswell community. — Dee Collins Dear Editor, I just read Lisa Kimble’s recent Miss Manners column in Bakersfield Life, and I think it (commencement behavior) is a much needed topic to address. In fact, Lisa has done a great job on the information she includes on each subject I have read. People in today’s society need better behavior. I am also impressed with her approach and delivery of the information. You’re doing great work, Lisa. Keep it up. Have a great one! — Phyllis Reischman
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