In 1980 Bertha Buchanon and neighbors met in her living room to discuss a problem vacant lot and a tavern in the Second Ward. Long before the police hosted Crime Watch we held monthly meetings in homes and churches.
In 1985 the city offered us room in the old firehouse at 81 Remsen Ave. We grew to about 80 families. Children’s clubs, holiday parties, a hotline, street cleaning, flower planting, distribution of cooperatively purchased produce through Project Share, passing out Government Commodity Foods and impassioned meetings kept us busy.
In 1989 the Police needed the space for other activities. We could not secure a new space. With telephones disconnected, files and furnishings lost, and meetings in various locations, people were confused. Attendance fell to a few core members. The club looked like it was folding.
The Library addition was being completed, and we began to meet there. In 1990 a groundswell of activity helped us form the Crime Watch Group Leaders Assn. (National Group Leaders Assn.). Strong again, we are proud to have never stopped meeting. Police and City Hall representatives visit meetings and assist with our concerns. We hope to one day own or share a building for meetings and offices.
We believe a good party is a great way to create community. Our annual National Night Out Free Barbecues are well known and our holiday events grow bigger each year. Yet, looking around we know there is still much work to be done.
Now we seek energetic and caring people to build upon these efforts. We have lost many beloved founders and members; others have moved away. We are blessed with new people coming along to help. Work and celebrate with us and make our neighborhood blossom for now and into the future!
Interested? Come to a meeting — last Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the New Brunswick Public Library meeting room. Here’s our calendar of meetings and events.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.