January Newsletter
CABERNET HIGHLANDS NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
NEWSLETTER DATED January 16, 2024
Our calendar has been set for 2024. The dates and locations are as follow:
January 16, 2024
March 13, 2024
May 8, 2024
July 10, 2024
September 11, 2024
November 13, 2024
Meetings are held at Raley’s Community Room at 6:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing all of you at our bi-monthly meetings in the New Year.
Present were: Pat Shea, Billie Shea, Jo Ellen Curtis, Michael Sproehnle, Bonnie Weber, and Linda Curry
Many thanks to the people who donated money to assist with the purchase of Neighborhood Watch signs, Squarespace, and other supplies to assist with the Watch mission. Donations in 2023 exceeded $675 dollars. Many of our members also paid to join the National Neighborhood Watch Program, but as of yet, we still need 4 more members to join in order to make the application.
Pat Shea pointed out that Reno is one of the highest crime cities in the country. The 2020 crime rate in Reno, NV is 314 (City-Data.com crime index), which is 1.2 times greater than the U.S. average. It was higher than in 89.0% U.S. cities. And even though we feel safer in our neighborhood, he suggested we always be mindful of possible threats to our safety and property. Read more: https://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Reno-Nevada.html
Pat suggested a safer way to protect your belongings is to tag them with your personal info or other identifiable marks. Insurance companies use to offer engraving tools to clients. Photographing your belongings is another way of easy identification should they be stolen.
Currently, the Reno Police Department and the City of Reno do not have an active program for Neighborhood Watch. Our goal is to reach out to Reno Police and the City Council to encourage these agencies to join the National Sheriff’s Association in order to sponsor more Neighborhood Watch programs in our community. Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam is very supportive of the community Neighborhood Watch and employs a full time manager to support the over 90 Neighborhood Watch programs in Washoe County.
Membership would mean training resources would be available to Neighborhoods who participate by providing classes and other materials. We would ask our neighbors to encourage their City Councilperson and Mayor to be more proactive in supporting these programs within the city. You can go online to send them an email or call Mayor Hilary Schieve at 775 334 2001 or Councilperson Meghan Ebert 775 334 2015 to request funding the Reno Police Department to provide support to our citizens.
A discussion was held on how to increase interest in Neighborhood Watch in Cabernet Highlands. Michael Sproehnle suggested that we should really promote social media opportunities. He will be working with Pat Shea to build a stronger social media presence that could be expanded to other neighborhoods to support building Neighborhood Watch programs throughout Reno.
Goals for 2024 are to continue to support and educate Cabernet Highland Neighbors in ways to develop their own support structure in the neighbors close to them. The goal is to have groups of 4 or 5 homes. If your neighbors are watching out for each other the risk of crime is greatly reduced.
Look for updates on our project to build a Social Media Community.
Stay safe everyone
Pat Shea
Pat100shea@gmail.com
775 721 6742
