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Upcoming Neighborhood Watch Events 

 

 

-- Wednesday, FEBRUARY  22nd, 2012, 7pm @ Bella Trae clubhouse -- Osceola Sheriff Talk; Unit Security

 

-- Saturday, March 3rd, 2012 -- Osceola Sheriff Community Appreciation Day Meeting/Field Trip...probable 8-9 am BREAKFAST style meeting, then car pool to Sheriff's building.

 

-- Wednesday, April 4th, 2012, 5:30 pm Fire Safety talk, fire extinguisher and other demonstration with FIRE TRUCKS in clubhouse parking lot, 5:30pm start.

 

To the BellaTrae Community:
 
This web page introduction is to briefly familiarize the community with our Neighborhood Watch, to introduce it, and to update you on some of our initiatives to date and moving forward.  

 

   Firstly as per the National Sheriff's Association website of Neighborhood Watch  http://www.usaonwatch.org/:

 NWA FAQ
 
Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and best-known crime prevention concepts in North America. In the late 1960s, an increase in crime heightened the need for a crime prevention initiative focused on residential areas and involving local citizens. The National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) responded, creating the National Neighborhood Watch Program in 1972 to assist citizens and law enforcement

  For your information, fifteen of your highly responsible and community-minded neighbors have signed on as the trail-blazing first wave of Neighborhood Watch BLOCK CAPTAINS thus far, and they are presented below, along with their contact information. 

 

What is a BLOCK CAPTAIN?
 
The block captain’s responsibilities may include:

• Acting as liaison between block residents and the coordinator.

• Establishing a “telephone chain” by compiling and distributing a current list of names, addresses, and telephone numbers of block participants.
• Visiting and inviting new residents to join; notifying them of meetings and training sessions.
• Establishing an “Operation Identification” program.
• Contacting each neighbor as often as possible to discuss possible crime problems, needs for assistance

 

In our community of over 700 units at final build-out however, and with a recommended density of one block captain per every 10 to 15 units, we can certainly accept MORE volunteers. In particular, if you are in Ventura buildings 2, 3, 4, and 5, those are our most important areas for additional Block Captains.  However, we WELCOME and ENCOURAGE participation by all, from every corner of the community!
 
In the meantime, I present to you the FOUNDING Block Captains of the Bella Trae at Champions Gate Neighborhood Watch Association, along with the local areas in the community that they will primarily be watching (which will change over time and become increasingly efficient as our Neighborhood Watch participation grows):

 

 The Ventura:

 Stephanie and Lee Dawson
1353 Venezia #105
Building 2
407-201-0393
sdawson@quality-one.com

Coverage Zone: Buildings 1&2

 

James Holmes
Captain of the Ventura Block Captains
8306 Portofino Dr.
Building 3
407-580-1415
james.holmes@live.com

Coverage Zone: Buildings 3&4

Grant Bannen
8252 Civita Dr.
Building 6
321-388-6390
grant.bannen@comcast.net
Coverage Zone:  Buildings 5&6

Frank Parisi
8304 Portofino
Building 3
708-207-8339
parisif@prodigy.net
Coverage Zone:  Buildings 3&4

Sandra Scofield
8304 Portofino #402
Building 3
407-396-9741
sanera@comcast.net
Coverage Zone: Buildings 3&4
The Promenades:

Karen Caropelo (and mascot Maddie)  
Captain of the Promenades Block Captains
8348 Quimby Circle
Building 26 407-230-6020
karencaropelo@gmail.com
Coverage Zone:  Buildings 25-28 

Joerg Heyer
1250 Grady Lane
Building 33
407-397-9899
jorg.heyer@starwoodvo.com
Coverage Zone:  Building 32

Dennis & Caren Schimmel
1298 Grady Lane
Building 31
321-401-4311
dennis.schimmel@yahoo.com
Coverage Zone: Building 31-32

Dennis Smeltz
8320 Foster Drive
Building 29
407-375-7054
dentyne1@comcast.net
Coverage Zone:  Buildings 29&30

The Mandalay:

Mandalay Section 1:

Gregg Rainone
Neighborhood Watch Coordinator
Mandalay Section 1 Block Captain
8350 Riverdale Lane
Building 21
407-396-1673
Grainone@aol.com
Coverage Zone:  Buildings 19-24

 

Bill Kieran
8357 Riverdale
Building 22
804-370-9897
bgkieran@yahoo.com
Coverage Zone:  Buildings 20-24

 

Phil Montalvo
8310 Riverdale
Building 18
217-496-1747
phil.montalvo@gmail.com
Coverage Zone: Buildings 15-19

 

 

 

 

  Mandalay Section 2:

 

 

Larry Arsenaidis
1384 Gilford Point Lane
Building 51
larry.arseniadis@gmail.com
Coverage Zone:  Buildings 51&52

 

Harold Newball
1300 Gilford Point Lane
Building 51
docnew@hotmail.com
Coverage Zone: Building 54

Mandalay Section 3

Edmund (Ned) Czohara
1417 Lisbon Ct
Building 58
docnew@hotmail.com
Coverage Zone: Building 58-60

Dave Heggenbarth
1413 Milledge Lane
Building 63
shopthepig@centurytel.net
Coverage Zone: Building 61-66

Karen Walencis
1402 LIsbon
Building 60
Karen.walencis@remx.com
804-244-2044
Coverage Zone: Buildings 60-62

So, what are we actually doing?  

ACCOMPLISHMENTS and INITIATIVES to date and since inception:

 

-- Successful resolution of one "problem tenant" situation in one of our subdivisions.  

 

-- Comprehensive Community Security review ongoing, in with upcoming HOA turnovers.

 

-- "Operation Identification" for personal property presented to the community.

 

-- Promotion of Community Safety awareness thru regular topic meetings, including: Unit Security, Community Security and Safety, Fire Safety

 

 

 

The unofficail catch phrase of Neighborhood Watch is -- KNOW THY NEIGHBOR -- is a great bottom line to the The Bella Trae at Champions Gate Neighborhood Watch  web page-- because that IS the underlying principal of having a neighborhood watch in the first place. 

 

Anonymity, and neighbors who don't know one another in a constructive community spirit, are the ally of criminals, crime, unsafe living, and lower property values.  On the other hand, when criminal elements KNOW that a community is well secured, and that the residents know one another and look out for one another - well, that's just not the easiest place for the criminal element to do their thing -- so down the road they will go in many cases -- leaving us with a safer, more desirable, and more valuable community to live in.

 

And so it is in the spirit of KNOW THY BLOCK CAPTAINS, that we have informed you, our fellow residents that The Bella Trae at Champions Gate Neighborhood Watch is up and actively and vigorously running. We look forward to seeing you having an enjoyable and informative time at one of our functions soon - or to even "joining up" as a Bella Trae Block Captain!

Sincerely yours,

Gregg Rainone

 

Neighborhood Watch Coordinator

Bella Trae at Champions Gate
8350 Riverdale Lane
Champions Gate, FL 33896
mobile: (407) 619-5511
home/office: (407) 396-1673
email: GRainone@aol.com

    

 

Additional Helpful Links:

 

-- Fire safety link/article

 http://www.yourcsd.com/safety/apartment.html

 

-- Community and Unit security article

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/reho/reho_006.cfm 

 

R.A.C.E to P.A.S.S.!

 R.A.C.E. stands for: Rescue anyone in danger, Activate the fire alarm, Contain the fire by shutting a door, and Extinguish the fire.

The second acronym was in line with the advertised purpose of the night, P.A.S.S., the basic directions of using a fire extinguisher. P.A.S.S. directs students to Pull the pin, Aim the nozzle, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep the spray at the base of the fire.

 

http://www.albanystudentpress.org/news/students-r-a-c-e-to-fire-safety-1.781683

 

Vacation Checklist: 

http://www.usaonwatch.org/assets/publications/VacationChecklist.pdf