TOPs Fall-Winter 2005

“TOPs” - TOWNWATCH on Patrol

Welcome to “TOPs”, Pennsbury Townwatch’s member newsletter. Townwatch can be reached at 610-388-0785.

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President’s Corner

Where to start a President’s Corner reflection on Townwatch? Where better than at the beginning – with you, our members. You are not only our sustenance, but you present our greatest challenge as well. We, your Board of Directors, couldn’t ask for more.

Over 530 households in Pennsbury are members of Townwatch – more than 1/3 of the families in this great community! I’ll bet that’s as high a percentage as any municipality in the country.

But it’s a humbling statistic as well, because it provides not only the funds needed to support our direct operations (patrol equipment, road signs, and printing and mailing expense), but also a sufficiency to financially contribute to those who provide security to all of us – the Avondale Barracks of the State Police and the Longwood Fire Company.

This year, because of your generosity, the Board has now decided to explore a possible annual award to a graduating student of the UCF School District, with its recipient chosen on the basis of Pennsbury volunteerism, or possibly the future academic pursuit of a career in law enforcement or other elated public service.

When this moves from the exploratory stage to a reality, we’ll let you know. In the meantime, our thanks for both your support and your challenge!

Where to end this piece? That’s easy. Please look out for your neighbors. Look after them, as you would like them to look after you.

That’s what community is about!

Jim Sears

President, Pennsbury Townwatch

Stored ICE—Could save your life!

Law enforcement officials across the U.S. are urging people to store the word ICE (In Case of Emergency) in their mobile phone address books followed by the telephone number of the person to contact In Case of Emergency. In a given situation, emergency responders and hospital staff will be able to find out who your next of kin are and be able to contact them. For more than one contact name, type ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 and so on.

The campaign—which was launched earlier this year in Britain—has taken off in the wake of the London bombings. It is the brainchild of a British paramedic who found that most people don’t carry emergency contact cards but carry cell telephones. ICE is catching on in the United States. Emergency management officials are supporting the concept and reporting that it helps everyone from families to the State Police. Paramedic offices nationwide are now being advised to search for ICE in the contact’s list on cell telephones of people they are treating.

The ICE acronym allows emergency officials to quickly access the right names from a cell phone address book. It can save valuable time, since many people identify family members only by name in their cell phone, making them indistinguishable from other entries.

There are some pitfalls in the system—someone besides an emergency responder could call an ICE contact from a lost or stolen phone. And many cell phone users use password protect. Also cell phones might be damaged during a disaster or accident. That’s why people should also keep a card of emergency contacts in their purse or wallet.

However, since inputting ICE is free and relatively easy, most emergency responders agree—it’s worth the effort.

Entering ICE on a cell phone is an especially good idea for

children or teenagers who may not have a driver’s license or photo identification.

ICE Advice:

Follow these hints to get the best out of ICE:

	Make sure the person whose name and number you are giving has agreed to be your ICE contact.
	Make sure your ICE contact has a list of people they should contact on your behalf—including your place of work.
	Make sure your ICE person’s number is one that’s easy to contact; for example, a home number could be useless in an emergency if the person works full time.
	Make sure your ICE partner knows about any medical conditions that could affect your emergency treatment—for example, allergies or current medication.
	Make sure if you are under 18, your ICE partner is a parent or guardian authorized to make decisions on your behalf—for example if you need a life or death operation.

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Townwatch Donates New Pennsbury Township building signs

If you stop by the Pennsbury Township Building give a glance to the sparkling new sign in front of the building. The old dilapidated sign was replaced by a nominal gift from Pennsbury Townwatch, in thanks for the many years that Townwatch has used the Building for its monthly meetings and an occasional Annual Meeting. A nice letter from the Board of Supervisors to Townwatch was received by Jim Sears, our President, acknowledging this welcomed gift. Now a person visiting the Township Building will know where the front of the building is!

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Townwatch 2006 annual meeting Alert

In order to make it more convenient for our members, Townwatch will change its Annual Meeting from the traditional Tuesday night to Saturday morning, March 23, 2006, from 10:30-11:30 AM in the Pennsbury Township Building. The meeting will be informal and a small brunch will be served during the meeting. As usual, an interesting speaker with a subject pertaining to our resident’s safety and welfare will be featured. So, mark you calendar for this yearly event.

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TOWNWATCH PATROLS KEEP PRANKSTERS AT BAY

This year’s Mischief Night was well under control with additional Townwatch patrollers on the scene in previous “hot spots”. Thanks to those patrollers who did “extra duty”.

Townwatch Winter Vacation Tips

As the heart of winter draws nearer, some of us are tempted to head to a somewhat warmer climate to get away from it all. However, don’t forget to take the proper precautions to protect your home and valuables during your absence by observing a few simple rules:

	Make sure that somebody plows your driveway and shovels your walks after a snowstorm; nothing is more obvious of an unoccupied home than to have unplowed driveway days on end.
	Inexpensive automatic timers on lamps, radio, and television sets do wonders to look like somebody is at home.
	Ask a neighbor to park their car in your driveway from time-to-time in different places and to keep an eye on your property.
	Don’t forget to have mail and newspaper delivery stopped or have them picked up by a friend or neighbor. If it piles up, a sure sign that you are gone.
	Don’t discuss your plans in public places. Alert neighbors not to reveal to strangers that you are away.
	Arrange for a neighbor or friend to use your garbage cans or trashcans and place them at the curb during your normal pickup day.
	Be extra cautious and make sure all doors and windows (especially basement ones) are locked, even if it takes a few extra minutes. Equip doors and windows with deadbolts.
	Put your small-sized valuables in your safe or in your safe deposit box at your bank or, in fact, any place you feel won’t be discovered.

Simply, make your house looked as “lived in” as possible. Taking these simple steps will make your home a far less tempting target for a burglary.

Before you go, it may be a good time to update (or create) your home inventory. Take photos or make video of items, and list descriptions and serial numbers. If your home is burglarized, having a detailed inventory can help identify stolen items and make insurance claims easier to file. Made sure things like TV’s, VCR’s, stereo equipment, cameras, sports equipment, jewelry, silver, computers, home office equipment, and power tools are on the list. Don’t forget to leave a telephone number with a neighbor, relative, close friend or the police where you can be reached in an emergency.

Camp cadet—a program we can all support

As you are aware, Pennsbury Townwatch works very closely with the State Police as an extended set of “Eyes and Ears”. We do our best to support their efforts in improving the security and safety of our Township residents and their programs to educate residents and youth about law enforcement activities. Camp Cadet is a very worthwhile program started by our local PA State Police whose officers donate their time to serve as counselors and instructors. The program is a unique weeklong summer program for Chester County boys and girls, ages 11 to 13, to give a better understanding of law enforcement activities while living in an atmosphere similar to a State Police training academy. Emphasis is placed on self-discipline, building self-esteem and confidence through teamwork and making new friends.

Campers participate in a wide variety of instructional activities each day. They learn about firearm safety, radar, fingerprinting, forensics, drug prevention, water safety, rescue operations, personal conflict resolution but the program also devotes ample time to recreational activities such as swimming, boating, fishing, basketball and other games.

Camp Cadet is free to Pennsbury Township youth and all expenses are paid by donations obtained from various community organizations, private citizens and other Criminal Justice System agencies. Applications for youths interested in the program for the August, 2006 Camp Cadet are now being accepted. Forms can be obtained by contacting Trooper Matthew Carr, PA State Police, telephone 484-340-3241.

Pennsbury Townwatch heartedly endorses the Camp Cadet program and asks you to do the same. Tax-deductible donations to the Camp Cadet Program for Chester County can be made to Camp Cadet of Chester County, c/o PA State Police, 1818 W. Strasburg Road, Coatesville, PA 19320.

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Townwatch conducts CPR Program

Based on a resident survey conducted early this year, a number of Community awareness seminar programs have been jointly sponsored by Townwatch. In September, a CPR course was sponsored by Townwatch. Nineteen Township residents took advantage of this program and now are fully accredited to administer life-saving CPR procedures.

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If We Can’t Find You, We Can’t help you!

If you have been a frequent reader of TOPs, you are probably aware of our campaign to educate the public about the importance of having a proper 9-1-1 address. Having a clearly readable address is one of the more important visible things you can do to ensure your own safety and well-being. How so? If the Longwood Fire Company or the State Police cannot find your home in record time, those few minutes could be a matter of life or death in case of a real emergency. During our Township patrols, many of our patrollers have noted the absence of property numbers that are clearly visible from the streets or roads that we are patrolling. Think of a fire engine or police car racing down your street after dark trying to locate your home.

As a Community Service, the Longwood Fire Company provides large Reflective Address Markers that are highly visible day or night. With fade-resistant reflective material on both sides and pre-drilled holes, the signs can be provided in a horizontal or vertical mounting. To make it easy for you, on the next page, we have provided an order form that can be mailed, FAXed or delivered to the Longwood Fire Company. The signs cost $15 each and if you don’t have a mailbox pole or post, the Fire Department will sell you one for only $5.

Pennsbury Townwatch is so enthusiastic about this program, we will even pay for the Reflective Address marker signs for the first 20 residents who currently do not have signage posted on their property. Just purchase the signs (order form follows on next page), and provide a $15 receipt from the Longwood Fire Company. Mail it to: Townwatch, Pennsbury Township Building, 702 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, PA 19317. Don’t forget to provide your mailing address.

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9-1-1 Address -- DO YOU KNOW YOURS?

IS IT VISIBLE FROM THE STREET?

TOTAL** = $______

Fall/winter 2005– Issue No. 9

HORIZONTAL: __________ NUMBER OF SIGNS: @ $15 EACH = $

Fall/winter 2005– Issue No. 9

HORIZONTAL: __________________ NUMBER OF SIGNS: ______________ @ $15 EACH = $______

TOTAL** = $______

HORIZONTAL: __________ NUMBER OF SIGNS: @ $15 EACH = $