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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | APRIL 2017 31 Neighborhood Watch Steering Committees ALL residents are automatic members! Someone was overheard saying, "That Neighborhood Watch meeting sounds interesting, but I'm not a member. Can I go to it?" The answer of course, is YES! Because you live in Four Seasons Beaumont you are automatically a member of Neighborhood Watch. The group has a Steering Committee that plans and oversees the monthly general meetings. They also select and train Block Captains, so necessary to the organization. "Being a Block Captain can be fun!" said Judy Irving. The first thing Block Captains do is to introduce themselves to their neighbors. This often involves being asked in for coffee, or to "see what we've done to the place." Block Captains then will invite their neighbors to fill out an information sheet to be used in case of emergency. One of the questions asks, "Do you have pets, a dog or cat?" In case of emergency, we want our pets taken care of too. Residents will also be given an emergency call number sheet that reminds us that after calling 911 for emergencies, there are other times when you may need to notify police using a non-emergency number. We should also call the Lodge office to report something suspicious in our neighborhoods. Then your Block Captain can alert the rest of your area or street if needed. Suspicious People and City Codes Officer Kelly McCarthy of Beaumont Code Enforcement, spoke at the Neighborhood Watch General Meeting on March 8. Her topic involved the enforcement of Beaumont City Codes, for example: mosquitos breeding in stagnant green pools; illegal sign posting; cars parked on streets leaking oil; graffiti, and illegal shooting. She also said that bobcats with babies can't be scared away and that bird feeders attract rats and mice. The panhandler issue came up again and in addition to not giving panhandlers money - ("Panhandlers make more money than I do," she said and giving them things is often a waste). "I must clean up after them when they move on, and I find new items, blankets, clothes, and piles of garbage left behind." The illegal shooting topic prompted a lively discussion about posted shooting signs and residents hearing shots fired. Beaumont Police Officer Josh Gilbraith, who also spoke that morning said that he would look into the shooting incidents. Gilbraith spoke about identifying suspicious people. It really helps us in the solving of crime to get an accurate identification, he said. To demonstrate how inaccurate observers' descriptions of suspicious people are, he had an associate walk in with him and leave the room. He then asked the residents to identify the man. Many conflicting responses were given. His suggestions were to note two or three things, take a mental picture of a person or a car. If able, a phone camera picture even better. He also gave tips on self-defense including the use of keys, flashlights, stun guns and pepper spray. Important information: Code Enforcement, (951) 377-1797; Neighborhood Watch Meeting, April 8, contact Anita Worthen at (951) 769-9858. ~ Andrea Henderson Self-defense demonstration Thank you to the speakers and guests at our March meeting

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