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Newsletter Article Repository

The neighborhood newsletter is a wonderful community resource. Many volunteer editors of these micro-newspapers have asked for a repository for articles that would be pertinent for cross-neighborhood use. To donate an article, please e-mail the text to: [Under Construction]. Please note that once donated, your article becomes the property of the entire community.

Internet connects neighbors, solves crime,

While the era of electronic communication puts people behind computer monitors rather than on the front porch, neighbors have found a way to use the internet to create a virtual community that rivals the old-fashioned grapevine as a method of sharing information. Many of the neighborhoods in Durham and Partners Against Crime for each district have Yahoo! groups that allow residents to post messages to keep each other informed about community concerns and events and conduct healthy debate on issues affecting the neighborhood.

Recent messages on the Colonial Village Yahoo! group warned residents about attacks on two elderly women in our adjoining neighborhood, Northgate Park . The sharing of information contributed to the rapid apprehension of the suspect in the two crimes.

Sergeant Dale Gunter of the Durham Police frequently posts messages on the neighborhood list-servs. Sergeant Gunter, whose mantra is “Be alert…the world needs more lerts,” recently commented on the power of the Yahoo! groups. “A nice lady in the Northgate Park area saw a fellow acting strange. She knows her neighbors...and she knew he wasn’t one. He was carrying a big box...doing his best to avoid her stare. She did what I encourage everyone to do. She called 911. The officers came and the spoke to man, identified him...seized the property as it had questionable origin. By itself, it might have been nothing...but it turned out that someone had broken into a home nearby on Glendale . Guess what? Mr. Strange Fellow had property that was later reported stolen from that location. He is also the suspect in the Shenandoah incident. You’ll find his photo posted on the PAC list-serv and several others. One citizen making a difference...taking the time to look a little closer...picking up the phone and calling 911...posting it on the list-serv. One bit of information...a piece of the puzzle. Encourage your neighbors to sign up and sign on!”