Join us on Tuesday, October 23rd for our final meeting of the year!

We have two featured topics this month:

• Package theft prevention
• Resources available to us from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

During the holiday season, package thieves up their game to a higher level. We will discuss some techniques and available services that you can utilize to thwart package thefts and seasonal crimes of opportunity. Bring your ideas to share!

In addition, Laura Jenkins, Community Engagement Coordinator will talk to us about the various resources available from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. These include Neighborhood Matching Fund grants and the Community Resource Hub!

As this last meeting of the year gets underway, we’ll begin with introductions; a few announcements; and an in-depth update from SW Precinct leadership, Captain Pierre Davis about recent crime and safety issues.

Here’s the detailed agenda.

Meeting schedule (Come early, stay late!)
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2018, 6:30-8 PM

At the SW Police Precinct, 2300 SW Webster Street (at Delridge Ave SW, next to Home Depot)

6:00-6:30              Arrive early for light snacks, socialize and network with each other while we set up the room.

6:30-7:00              Introductions, announcements. Updates from SW Precinct.

7:00-7:20             Package Theft prevention discussion – bring solutions and ideas!

7:20-8:00            Laura Jenkins, Community Engagement Coordinator from Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.

8:00-8:30              Feel free to stay after the meeting to continue your discussions.

Everyone is welcome, even if you aren’t a Block Watch Captain! RSVP appreciated, but not necessary to attend.

We hope you can join us!

Deb and Karen

Deborah Greer and Karen Berge
West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network (WSBWCN)

Our monthly meetings resume on Tuesday, September 25th! Join us!

Our featured topic this month is Mental Health First Aid. We hope you can be there! 

Most of us are familiar with or have attended First Aid classes to learn CPR, how to respond to someone experiencing a heart attack or identify signs of a stroke. As well, many of us are aware of the newer First Aid courses offered locally such as Stop the Bleed, and Disaster Response First Aid.

But, did you know that there is also a worldwide movement to train the public in Mental Health First Aid?

Our guest speaker will be Sue Wyder, King County Mental Health First Aid Coordinator and Valley Cities Mental Health Program Manager. Please join us to learn more about Mental Health First Aid and King County’s new free 8-hour certified course on this topic.

How can learning Mental Health First Aid help you help someone? Why is it important? Statistics suggest that you are more likely to encounter someone in emotional or mental crisis than someone having a heart attack. It’s especially important to recognize the signs that someone close to you — family, friends, co-workers, neighbors — may be in crisis, and to learn and understand Mental Health First Aid techniques so you can help them and others who may be in need.

As this first fall meeting gets underway, we’ll also have introductions; a few announcements; and an in-depth update from SW Precinct leadership, Captain Pierre Davis on recent crime and safety issues.

Here’s the detailed agenda.

Meeting schedule (Come early, stay late!)
Tuesday, September 25th, 2018, 6:30-8 PM

At the SW Police Precinct, 2300 SW Webster Street (at Delridge Ave SW, next to Home Depot)

6:00-6:30              Arrive early for light snacks, socialize and network with each other while we set up the room.

6:30-7:10              Introductions, announcements. Updates from SW Precinct.

7:10-8:00              Mental Health First Aid Presentation by Sue Wyder.

8:00-8:30              Feel free to stay after the meeting to continue your discussions.

Everyone is welcome, even if you aren’t a Block Watch Captain! RSVP appreciated, but not necessary to attend.

We hope you can join us!

Deb and Karen

Deborah Greer and Karen Berge
West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network (WSBWCN)

Follow-up from our June 26th meeting!

As our “Summer Hiatus” begins, we want to take a moment to thank those of you who joined us for last night’s meeting!

Our meeting guests included SW Precinct Commander Captain Pierre Davis (left), retiring Operations Lieutenant Ron Smith (center), and his replacement Lieutenant Steve Strand (right).

Crime  Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner and  Precinct Liaison Attorney Joe Everett were also in attendance.

West Seattle Blog’s coverage of the meeting includes video of Lt. Ron Smith’s parting remarks, as well as other meeting highlights.

We hope you have a wonderful summer!

Deb and Karen

Deborah Greer and Karen Berge
West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network (WSBWCN)

You won’t want to miss our June 26th meeting! Why?

As most of you know, we take a “Summer Hiatus” in July and August — so our meeting on Tuesday, June 26th is our last one prior to this year’s Night Out events. We hope you can make it! 

We’ll hear a comprehensive update about West Seattle “hot spots” and trends from Precinct Commander, Captain Pierre Davis…and about how SPD plans to address them.

Soon-to-retire Operations Lieutenant Ron Smith will be there. Come to say goodbye and wish him well!

Crime Prevention Coordinator, Jennifer Danner will also be there with LOTS AND LOTS of safety-related informational materials that you can pick up to give to your neighbors on Night Out!

We don’t have a presentation on a specific topic this month, so we’ll have ample time for questions and discussion. Bring your questions and Block Watch-related issues! Let’s talk about tangible steps that we can take to make our neighborhoods safer this summer.

Here’s the detailed agenda.

Meeting schedule (Come early, stay late!)
Tuesday, June 26, 2018, 6:30-8 PM

At the SW Police Precinct, 2300 SW Webster Street (at Delridge Ave SW, next to Home Depot)

6:00-6:30              Arrive early for light snacks, socialize and network with each other while we set up the room. Pick up materials for your Night Out events!

6:30-7:15              Introductions, announcements. Updates from SW Precinct.

7:15-8:00              Open forum to discuss and share Block Watch-related issues.

8:00-8:30              Feel free to stay after the meeting to continue your discussions.

Everyone is welcome, even if you aren’t a Block Watch Captain! RSVP appreciated, but not necessary to attend.

We hope you can join us!

Deb and Karen

Deborah Greer and Karen Berge
West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network (WSBWCN)

Oops! Here’s our very tardy meeting agenda!

What can I say? Mea culpa.

Our monthly meeting is TOMORROW, Tuesday, May 22^nd at 6:30 PM — we hope that you can join us…and that (most) 4th Tuesdays are penciled in on your calendar!

We’ll have an in-depth update from Captain Pierre Davis on issues and activity within the SW Precinct. Bring your questions for him.

As well, we’ll also have time for open discussion, as opposed to a presentation. This is our chance to discuss top-of-mind Block Watch-related issues, continue discussion on topics raised in earlier meetings, ask for advice on neighborhood-specific problems and share your advice and knowledge.

Here’s the detailed agenda.

Meeting schedule (Come early, stay late!)
Tuesday, May 22nd, 2018, 6:30-8 PM

At the SW Police Precinct, 2300 SW Webster Street (at Delridge Ave SW, next to Home Depot)

6:00-6:30              Arrive early for light snacks, socialize and network with each other while we set up the room!
6:30-7:15              Introductions, announcements. Update from SW Precinct.

7:15-8:00              Open forum to discuss and share Block Watch-related issues.

8:00-8:30              Feel free to stay after the meeting to continue your discussions.

Hope to see you there!  Everyone is welcome, even if you aren’t a Block Watch Captain! RSVP appreciated, but not necessary to attend.

 

We hope you can join us!

Deb and Karen

Deborah Greer and Karen Berge
West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network (WSBWCN)

[Updated, June 24th] As the June meeting fast approaches, I realize that I neglected to follow up after this meeting to include this coverage from the West Seattle Blog.

Where will you BEE on Saturday, May 19th?

We plan to BEE at the 6th Annual West Seattle Bee Festival!

This favorite event takes place at High Point Commons Park and inside Neighborhood House, (6400 Sylvan Way SW, Seattle, WA 98126). Look for us at the Vendor Fair, between 11 AM and 2 PM, on the street that borders the west edge of the park, Lanham Place SW.

Make a “beeline” to our West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network booth to learn more about our org, pick up informational materials, ask questions or just say hi! We have some free gun safety locks available this year (while supplies last).

This is also a great opportunity to meet Community Police Team officers from the SW Precinct and see the mobile precinct. Other great community organizations that provide resources to our community, such as West Seattle Be Prepared, will be there as well.

We want West Seattle to “bee-come” even more connected and networked than it already is. We can all help with that effort by meeting and learning from each other!

“Bee-low” is the West Seattle Bee Festival informational flyer with additional details.

Would you recognize signs of human trafficking?

If not, or if you’re concerned, please join us to learn more on Tuesday, April 24th, at our monthly meeting!

Yes, human trafficking does happen here. Though this topic has been in the news recently, many of the details and the scope of the problem might surprise you.

Our guest speaker will be Claudia Lawrence, Community Director of the organization Seattle Against Slavery. She will educate us on the extent of the human trafficking problem in the United States and in King County. You’ll learn to recognize the signs of human trafficking, especially the types of crimes happening in this area. By recognizing possible victims and reporting your tips, you can help law enforcement potentially save lives. She’ll also talk about local and national resources that you should know about.

Everyone has a role to play in combating human trafficking. Please come learn about what we as community members can do to help make things better!

As always, we’ll also have an update from SW Precinct Commander, Captain Pierre Davis.

Here’s the detailed agenda.

Meeting schedule (Come early, stay late!)

Tuesday, April 24th, 2018

We meet from 6:30-8 PM in the community meeting room at the SW Police Precinct, 2300 SW Webster Street (at Delridge Ave SW, next to Home Depot).

6:00-6:30             Arrive early for light snacks; socialize with each other while we set up!

6:30-7:00             Introductions, announcements. Update from SW Precinct.

7:00-8:00             Seattle Against Slavery, Community Director, Claudia Lawrence.

8:00-8:30             Feel free to stay after the meeting to continue your discussions.

Everyone is welcome, even if you aren’t a Block Watch Captain!  RSVP is appreciated, but not necessary to attend.  You can contact us at wsblockwatchnet@gmail.com.

We hope you can join us!

Deb and Karen

Deborah Greer and Karen Berge
West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network (WSBWCN)

Follow-up from our meeting on opioid use…

Thanks to all of you who attended and participated in our January monthly meeting!

We extend special thanks to our guest speakers from the Seattle Chapter of Not One More — President, Ed Petersen; Kim Chilcott; Addie Batchelder; Leigh Swanson, and Kelli Vogel — for their informative, thoughtful, and very moving presentation about opioid addiction and how it has impacted them.

 

Ed Petersen (foreground) and other members of Not One More listen as Addie Batchelder speaks about the loss of her brother, Thad Batchelder

 

As well, SW Precinct Commander, Captain Pierre Davis briefed us on crime trends and recent statistics for our area. Laura Jenkins, the new Community Engagement Coordinator from Department of Neighborhoods, introduced herself and talked briefly about grant opportunities and Neighbor Day activities.

West Seattle Blog has coverage of the meeting here.

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 27th, from 6:30 to 8 PM. Will post the agenda as that date gets closer. We hope to see you then!

Updated 1/25/18, 8:30 PM: Here’s a link to one of the videos that Ed Peterson showed us during the meeting. Here’s another video that he sent that wasn’t shown. Both provide insights into this issue – please take a look!

Has opioid use touched you? Do you recognize the signs?

Join us this Tuesday, January 23rd for our first meeting of 2018!

We’ve all heard that there is an opioid epidemic, but do we know enough about it to help bring about change?

We will have a panel of guests from the Seattle Chapter of Not One More to provide us with information and answer our questions. Each has a personal story of how this epidemic has touched them or a family member. Several members live in West Seattle.

How bad is this epidemic in our community?  Who is most likely to abuse opioids? Learn the signs of an opioid overdose, and what to do if you see it happen. Come hear about local resources that are available.

As always, we’ll also have an update from SW Precinct Commander, Captain Pierre Davis.

Here’s the detailed agenda.

Meeting schedule (Come early, stay late!)

Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018

We meet from 6:30-8 PM in the community meeting room at the SW Police Precinct, 2300 SW Webster Street (at Delridge Ave SW, next to Home Depot).

6:00-6:30             Arrive early for light snacks; socialize with each other while we set up!

6:30-7:00              Introductions, announcements. Update from SW Precinct.

7:00-8:00              Panel discussion with President, Ed Petersen and members of Not One More.

8:00-8:30              Feel free to stay after the meeting to continue your discussions.

Everyone is welcome, even if you aren’t a Block Watch Captain!  RSVP is appreciated, but not necessary to attend.  You can contact us at wsblockwatchnet@gmail.com.

We hope you can join us!

Deb and Karen

Deborah Greer and Karen Berge
West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network (WSBWCN)

Join us on October 24th – our guest speaker will be CM Lisa Herbold!

As we noted earlier, our final monthly meeting for this year will be this Tuesday, October 24th. We hope you can join us from 6:30-8 PM in our usual meeting room at the SW Police Precinct, 2300 SW Webster Street (at Delridge Ave SW, next to Home Depot).

We are excited to have Seattle City Councilmember, Lisa Herbold as our guest. She represents District 1, West Seattle and South Park. This is a great opportunity to hear her thoughts and concerns about crime and safety here, as well as ask her questions.

As always, we’ll also have an update from SW Precinct Commander, Captain Pierre Davis.

Here’s the detailed agenda.

Meeting schedule (Come early, stay late!)

Tuesday, October 24th, 2017, 6:30-8 PM

At the SW Police Precinct, 2300 SW Webster Street (at Delridge Ave SW, next to Home Depot)

6:00-6:30             Arrive early for light snacks; socialize with each other while we set up!

6:30-7:00              Introductions, announcements. Update from SW Precinct.

7:00-8:00              District 1, Councilmember Lisa Herbold – Crime and safety discussion.

8:00-8:30              Feel free to stay after the meeting to continue your discussions.

Everyone is welcome, even if you aren’t a Block Watch Captain!  RSVP is appreciated, but not necessary to attend.  You can contact us at wsblockwatchnet@gmail.com.

We hope you can join us!

Deb and Karen

Deborah Greer and Karen Berge
West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network (WSBWCN)