Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Lakeland PTA Information
Lakeland Elementary School PTA would like to cordially invite you to an adults only "Enchanted Evening", October 17th to be held @ historic Hillwood on the Davies Plantation. The evening will include a delectable Italian dinner, delicious desserts, live piano music for your dining pleasure and a live auction! Follow this link to find out more and purchase your tickets: http://www.lakelandpta.com/currentnews.html
Friday, September 19, 2008
Neighborhood Watchers
Neighborhood Watchers,
Well, our Citywatch article "VSS: Shoot First, Ask Questions Later" (copied below) spurred a few other articles in media outlets in recent weeks. Click on the links below to review two TV news stories produced by Tealy Devereaux of Fox 13 and the third by David Healy of the Commercial Appeal:
"Homeowner Fights Crime with Cameras"http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=A3686928446BAA3FAD54DB09EAE5A054?contentId=7304136&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1
"Wi-Fi Helps Protect Lakeland"http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=D521503E8781935FAEFBC1C9CF9162AD?contentId=7423035&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1
"Cameras Keeping an Eye on Neighborhoods"http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/aug/24/keeping-an-eye-on-02/
Also of interest in today's (9/18/08) paper:http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/sep/18/mpd-device-will-scan-cars-plates/
From 9/16/08: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/sep/16/cops-look-to-widen-video-eye-on-crime/
More on the Wi-Fi Access in Lakeland:http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/sep/14/lakeland-park-goers-gain-internet-access/
A few questions for you:
1. How important is crime and safety to you as a resident of Lakeland?
2. What should the City of Lakeland be doing to protect our community from crime?
3. How much would you be willing to invest (if at all) in video surveillance of your property?
I'm interested in your answers. Please feel free to post them back to the message board (by replying to the entire group). Let's get some healthy discussion going here, shall we?
-Brian
Citywatch Article for COLASubmitted 7/25/08 VSS: Shoot First, Ask Questions LaterBy Brian S. Haines Have you ever seen the photo of the post-Katrina ad-hoc neighborhood watch group bearing the spray-painted slogan “Drunks with guns – U Loot, We Shoot”? In it 13 men casually pose sporting derisive “Go ahead, make my day” expressions as they brandish their varied high-powered armaments. With their residences in the background, they send the message to would-be criminals that reckless (and possibly intoxicated) vigilante neighbors would take delight in framing criminals in their sites in order to protect their families. While I respect our right to bear arms (and salute the courage of the 10-year-old girl who recently attacked the armed assailant holding her mother at gunpoint in their Cordova garage) I am not advocating militant neighborhood watch efforts. No, the shooting I am talking about is with cameras.
For the past several years, I have been researching video surveillance systems (VSS’s) and ways to implement them in the context of making our neighborhoods and city more safe and secure. I have had many lively discussions with neighbors both for and against the implementation of a VSS in Woodbridge and in the city limits of Lakeland. Furthermore, I installed a VSS in my home and have subsequently solved several mysteries through collaboration with neighbors and law enforcement. In addition, we have been able to not only provide physical descriptions of criminals but actual photos of their vehicles. In one valiant day for Woodbridge neighborhood watchers, we worked together to lead to two arrests in our area while equipping the “jump drives” of Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies with the data to help them pursue a third. If you are interested in the pros and cons of making our neighborhoods more safe with VSS technology, join in on the discussion through our Online Message Board here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lakelandcola/ Alternately, sign up by searching for the “LakelandCOLA” group on Yahoo.com or by sending me an e-mail at BHaines@mac.com.Please remember that we are participating in National Night Out on Tuesday, October 7th this year in order to save the heat for the criminals. For more information on NNO, visit here: http://www.nationaltownwatch.org/nno/Start a Neighborhood Watch Group--Together, we outnumber the criminals!
Well, our Citywatch article "VSS: Shoot First, Ask Questions Later" (copied below) spurred a few other articles in media outlets in recent weeks. Click on the links below to review two TV news stories produced by Tealy Devereaux of Fox 13 and the third by David Healy of the Commercial Appeal:
"Homeowner Fights Crime with Cameras"http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=A3686928446BAA3FAD54DB09EAE5A054?contentId=7304136&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1
"Wi-Fi Helps Protect Lakeland"http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=D521503E8781935FAEFBC1C9CF9162AD?contentId=7423035&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1
"Cameras Keeping an Eye on Neighborhoods"http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/aug/24/keeping-an-eye-on-02/
Also of interest in today's (9/18/08) paper:http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/sep/18/mpd-device-will-scan-cars-plates/
From 9/16/08: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/sep/16/cops-look-to-widen-video-eye-on-crime/
More on the Wi-Fi Access in Lakeland:http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/sep/14/lakeland-park-goers-gain-internet-access/
A few questions for you:
1. How important is crime and safety to you as a resident of Lakeland?
2. What should the City of Lakeland be doing to protect our community from crime?
3. How much would you be willing to invest (if at all) in video surveillance of your property?
I'm interested in your answers. Please feel free to post them back to the message board (by replying to the entire group). Let's get some healthy discussion going here, shall we?
-Brian
Citywatch Article for COLASubmitted 7/25/08 VSS: Shoot First, Ask Questions LaterBy Brian S. Haines Have you ever seen the photo of the post-Katrina ad-hoc neighborhood watch group bearing the spray-painted slogan “Drunks with guns – U Loot, We Shoot”? In it 13 men casually pose sporting derisive “Go ahead, make my day” expressions as they brandish their varied high-powered armaments. With their residences in the background, they send the message to would-be criminals that reckless (and possibly intoxicated) vigilante neighbors would take delight in framing criminals in their sites in order to protect their families. While I respect our right to bear arms (and salute the courage of the 10-year-old girl who recently attacked the armed assailant holding her mother at gunpoint in their Cordova garage) I am not advocating militant neighborhood watch efforts. No, the shooting I am talking about is with cameras.
For the past several years, I have been researching video surveillance systems (VSS’s) and ways to implement them in the context of making our neighborhoods and city more safe and secure. I have had many lively discussions with neighbors both for and against the implementation of a VSS in Woodbridge and in the city limits of Lakeland. Furthermore, I installed a VSS in my home and have subsequently solved several mysteries through collaboration with neighbors and law enforcement. In addition, we have been able to not only provide physical descriptions of criminals but actual photos of their vehicles. In one valiant day for Woodbridge neighborhood watchers, we worked together to lead to two arrests in our area while equipping the “jump drives” of Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies with the data to help them pursue a third. If you are interested in the pros and cons of making our neighborhoods more safe with VSS technology, join in on the discussion through our Online Message Board here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lakelandcola/ Alternately, sign up by searching for the “LakelandCOLA” group on Yahoo.com or by sending me an e-mail at BHaines@mac.com.Please remember that we are participating in National Night Out on Tuesday, October 7th this year in order to save the heat for the criminals. For more information on NNO, visit here: http://www.nationaltownwatch.org/nno/Start a Neighborhood Watch Group--Together, we outnumber the criminals!
Monday, September 8, 2008
From the Commerical Appeal.... more to come.
Lakeland nixes golf course plan
Votes against forming committee, cites need for more detailed proposal
By David Healy
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Lakeland's idea to buy Stonebridge Golf Course just got shanked in the deep rough.
Lakeland commissioners voted 3-2 on Thursday against forming a committee to purchase the golf course.
Those in favor of buying the course -- part of the city's golf course committee -- were instructed to come back to the commission with a more detailed plan. Commissioners wanted to know how the city would operate the course and how the committee members knew the course would not be a financial liability to the city.
Built in 1973, Stonebridge is owned by Chicago-based LinksCorp LLC., which put the 18-hole course on the market for $3.6 million in 2007. The city first expressed interest in buying the course last year.
Commissioner Randy Nicholson was the most vocal critic of the proposal Thursday. He had a number of problems with the idea and believed the company owning the course was trying to play the city for a sucker. Linkscorp LLC took the course off the market earlier this year, but apparently the company is still willing to sell to the city.
"I think they think this city will do what most governments will do. We won't crunch the numbers and won't do what we need to do," Nicholson said. "They think we will just look at the idealistic thing of saying, 'Yes, it will be great to have a golf course.'"
Nicholson said the city has many more priorities ahead of buying a golf course.
Vice Mayor Mark Hartz and commissioner Gerrit Verschuur also voted against the resolution.
Commissioner Clark Plunk and Mayor Scott Carmichael voted in favor of forming the purchase committee.
Plunk, a member of the golf course committee, said he won't stop pushing for Lakeland to buy the course. Plunk said if the city fixes up Stonebridge, it would be a sure money-maker.
"We don't have anywhere citizens can go and be together," Plunk said.
-- David Healy: 529-5880
Votes against forming committee, cites need for more detailed proposal
By David Healy
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Lakeland's idea to buy Stonebridge Golf Course just got shanked in the deep rough.
Lakeland commissioners voted 3-2 on Thursday against forming a committee to purchase the golf course.
Those in favor of buying the course -- part of the city's golf course committee -- were instructed to come back to the commission with a more detailed plan. Commissioners wanted to know how the city would operate the course and how the committee members knew the course would not be a financial liability to the city.
Built in 1973, Stonebridge is owned by Chicago-based LinksCorp LLC., which put the 18-hole course on the market for $3.6 million in 2007. The city first expressed interest in buying the course last year.
Commissioner Randy Nicholson was the most vocal critic of the proposal Thursday. He had a number of problems with the idea and believed the company owning the course was trying to play the city for a sucker. Linkscorp LLC took the course off the market earlier this year, but apparently the company is still willing to sell to the city.
"I think they think this city will do what most governments will do. We won't crunch the numbers and won't do what we need to do," Nicholson said. "They think we will just look at the idealistic thing of saying, 'Yes, it will be great to have a golf course.'"
Nicholson said the city has many more priorities ahead of buying a golf course.
Vice Mayor Mark Hartz and commissioner Gerrit Verschuur also voted against the resolution.
Commissioner Clark Plunk and Mayor Scott Carmichael voted in favor of forming the purchase committee.
Plunk, a member of the golf course committee, said he won't stop pushing for Lakeland to buy the course. Plunk said if the city fixes up Stonebridge, it would be a sure money-maker.
"We don't have anywhere citizens can go and be together," Plunk said.
-- David Healy: 529-5880
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