“TOPs”  -  TOWNWATCH on Patrol

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

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NOTICE TO ALL Townwatch MEMBERS AND Pennsbury Twp. Residents

THIS IS YOUR OFFICIAL INVITATION

To attend the

                                                               Pennsbury Townwatch

Annual Meeting

Wednesday

March 25, 7:30 P.M.

Chadds Ford winery

Guest Speaker: Trooper 1^st Class Corey Monthei, Community Service Officer, Pennsylvania State Police, Avondale Barracks

Wine tasting compliments of Chadds Ford Winery; snacks and refreshments will be served

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President’s  Corner

We all look forward to March for a variety of reasons.  But for the Townwatch Board of Directors, it also brings our Annual Meeting.  This year on March 25, 2009 – we will have the opportunity to give our members, and particularly our Patrol volunteers, a chance to say hello to one another and also to the Board members. It also gives us the chance to honor those who patrol on a regular basis. This year, we will have a special gift for our Patrol volunteers.

It has been another productive year for Pennsbury Townwatch. We have averaged two to three patrol groups per week throughout the year providing excellent coverage of our 60 miles of Township roads. With a combination of full patrols, neighborhood patrols, and standing patrols, we were very visible throughout the Township in 2008. It is quite possible that you could find a “patroller” on the highways, streets, and roads almost every day of the week. Watch out for those cars with the magnetic signs signifying “Pennsbury Townwatch”. With all of this visibility, Pennsbury Township continues to have one of the lowest crime rates in Chester County.

…Volunteers are seldom paid: not because they are worthless, but because they are PRICELESS!

--Author unknown

Sincerely,

Kevin D. Meloney

President

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Pennsbury Townwatch Website

Our website was developed in the summer of 2007, and is now been up and running for a year and a half. In 2008 approximately 20,000 visitors used the site. That’s about an average usage of 50 per day.  It not only allows the community and the world to access information about Pennsbury Townwatch itself, but also provides people with a valuable resource to tap for fun, Townwatch news, events, education, community, and emergency information. The website also includes membership and patrolling information, Townwatch history, Outreach Programs, current TOPs Newsletter, archives, and links to other informational websites including www.USA.gov for loads of information on the U.S. government, etc. It also provides a link to the Township website. Our website can be accessed at www.pennsburytownwatch.com.

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Trooper Monthei will Address Annual Pennsbury Townwatch Meeting

This year we have the honor of having the Community Service Officer of the Pennsylvania State Police from our local Avondale Barracks. Trooper Cory Monthei is a seasoned police officer in his 18^th year with the State Police. After serving as a member of the United States Marine Corps during the Gulf War, he joined the State Police in 1993. He has served in both Delaware and Chester Countries. Besides his current role, he serves as a Director of the Camp Cadet of Chester County, a State sponsored summer camp offered to boys and girls ages 11-13 who reside in Chester County. He and his wife Leigh reside in Birmingham Township and have two young daughters.

In his presentation, he will present a brief “History of the Pennsylvania State Police” and highlight the many resources available to our community. In addition, he will provide education to audience on how to better protect themselves from crime.

The Annual Meeting will again be held at the Chaddsford Winery with host Eric Miller who will provide wine tasting during the social time before the actual meeting begins.

The Townwatch Board wants to thank Eric for his hospitality again this year. Please arrive around 7:15-7:30 PM to meet Eric, the Board members, fellow patrollers, Townwatch members, and your fellow Township residents.

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Avoid ID theft: deter-detect-defend

We all receive information about securing our identification and financial records yet few individuals act until it is too late.  There are everyday things that can be done to ensure continued security.  The Federal Trade Commission has a concise pamphlet that everyone should have on his or her desk or bulletin board for quick access.  In summary we all should DETER – DETECT – DEFEND:

DETER:

DETECT:

DEFEND:

Check out the FTC website (www.ftc.gov/idtheft) to download printable pamphlet on identity theft or telephone (1-877-438-4338) and ask for a copy.

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OutReach “Welcome Packet” Program Extends The Contributions of Townwatch

The main activity of Pennsbury Townwatch is to patrol the streets and roads of our Community to help to ensure the safety and security of the residents.  However, we sponsor other activities that fit this charter through the Outreach program. For example, one activity is to provide Welcome Packets to new residents. Administered by Sandy Desirey, the Welcome Packet program provides an overview publication about the township that includes a map and information guide. The mailings also include recent newsletters from the Township and Townwatch. We also include information on the Land Trust and Township Park offerings. Emergency information includes a letter from the Longwood Fire Department and Pennsbury Emergency Management as well as the Chester County 911 Program.  We also include some brochures of interest such as Longwood Gardens, Chadds Ford Winery and Pennsbury Inn. We hope this Outreach endeavor helps new residents with helpful and needed information and makes them feel like they are part of the Pennsbury Township Community. In 2008, only 15 Packets were distributed, indicative of the slowdown in the real estate market.

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Townwatch Will Again offer “55-Alive” Defensive driving class in 2009

Due to the popularity of the “55-Alive” Class in 2007, Townwatch will bring the course back to Pennsbury Township this coming November. Produced by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and conducted throughout the country in two half-day sessions, 55 Alive teaches preventive measures to use when driving that saves lives. Eight hours of classroom instruction help attendees to refine existing skills and develop safe, defensive driving techniques. We believe so strongly in the individual and community benefits that come from this course that Townwatch will subsidize the tuition for the course. The next session will be offered November 14 and 21, 2009 at the Township Building on Route 1. Certificates issued to attendees are good for three years. PA law requires insurance companies to give a 5% discount for drivers 55 and older who successfully complete the course.  In the last several years, over 65 residents have been educated by our “55 Alive” classes.

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Townwatch conducted CPR Program

In Fall, 2008 as part of our Outreach Program, Pennsbury Townwatch sponsored a half-day CPR course. Fifteen Township residents took advantage of this program and now are fully accredited to administer life-saving CPR procedures. The Townwatch Board of Directors voted to subsidize the course that helps to promote safety and security in our Township.

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Reminder -- renew your membership

Once a year we ask for your support through your membership renewal. For a mere $7.50 for an individual membership, or $10 for a family or business, you can help Townwatch to continue its program of providing patrols and other activities to maintain your safety, security and peace-of-mind. Funds are used for road signs, patrol signs, window stickers, TOPs Newsletter, promotional activities and other related items. Use the form at the end of this issue of TOPs. Make your check payable to Pennsbury Townwatch and mail it to: Pennsbury Townwatch Inc., 702 West Baltimore Pike, Chaddsford, PA 19317.   Note that all donations are tax-deductible.

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“Townwatch Community” Road Signs

We are sure that you have all seen our road signs indicating Pennsbury is a Townwatch community.

There are over 60 of these signs throughout the Township – one at each road leading into the Township, and others at the entrances to subdivisions and major roadways.  These are placed, and maintained, through the generous efforts of Pennsbury Township’s Road Master Dave Allen’s Road Department; we believe them to be a significant deterrent to mischief or criminal activity, along with our patrol activities.

Should you notice a sign that is missing, defaced or obscured by weeds or bushes, please either contact Dave Allen of the Pennsbury Twp. Road Crew (610-388-9180) or leave a message on the Townwatch phone (610-388-0785).

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Crime Reports in Pennsbury Township

Each month at our Board of Directors Meeting, we review police statistics in order to assess any unusual criminal activities in our Township. If there are any suspicious activities, we increase our patrolling efforts in that particular area. For 2008, here are the monthly averages for some of the various categories monitored:

Burglary = 1

Theft = 2

Criminal Mischief/Suspicious person/vehicle = 2

False Alarms = 10

Traffic Accidents/Assist Motorist etc. = 11

Animals/Debris in Roadway = 3

Police Information/911 hang-ups = 5

Again, false alarms were one of the biggest “time wasters” of our State Police. For each false alarm, an officer is taken off of his/her patrol to check out the alarm call. Residents who do have an usually large number of false alarms can be assessed a fine for their negligence. So, please ensure that your alarm system is operating correctly and make sure that you set it properly so that it doesn’t inadvertently go off.

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

IS IT VISIBLE FROM THE STREET?

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. You can purchase large reflective house numbers from local hardware stores. Place them on your lawn in a prominent location visible from the street.

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