Showing posts with label block watch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label block watch. Show all posts

35th annual 177th Street Block Party takes time to celebrate organizer's 90th birthday

Saturday, September 30, 2023

177th Street Neighbors. Organizer Nancy Phillips is center, wearing a bright yellow boa

Shoreline's 177th Street Block Party held its 35th annual event which "promotes safety and community building."

This event is organized by Nancy Phillips, with help from Dave and Peggy Geddes, along with many other 177th street neighbors.

Guys n grills
There were 85 tickets sold with more than 85 neighbors, family members and friends in attendance for the September 10, 2023 event.

A boisterous game
Block committee chair Nancy Phillips turns 90 this December and the neighborhood wanted to sing an early 'happy birthday Nancy' while everyone was all together.

Here's a brief video of the moment: IMG_2889.MOV

Opportunities for conversation
There were boisterous games, a lot of food, and time for conversations with neighbors.

We invite you to join us in celebrating the success of our 177th Street annual summer block party in Nancy's 90th year who has led our community for 35+ years.

--Lori Joubert


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Build a Talent Bank for your neighborhood

Thursday, July 23, 2020



From the City of Shoreline

During emergencies (like a pandemic or an earthquake) sometimes the people you will rely on most live right in your neighborhood. In the last few months, you may have gotten to know your neighbors better than you did before. 

On many Shoreline blocks, neighbors have reached out to help each other, offering to pick up groceries or check with people who live alone. They have helped build resilient neighborhoods, ones that can survive, adapt, and thrive in the face of change.

In years past, on the second Tuesday in August, Shoreline neighbors have come together to celebrate National Night Out. It is a time to block off streets, share food, and get to know each other better. Unfortunately, this year we won’t be able to do that. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t still work to build resilient neighborhoods.

To help neighborhoods become more resilient, we have created a Talent Bank Worksheet Template available at shorelinewa.gov/NNO. Work with your neighbors to create a talent bank to inventory your block’s combined skills and resources. 

  • Is someone in your neighborhood a medical professional? 
  • Is someone tech savvy or good with power tools? 
  • Are there any CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) members on your block? 
  • Are there people that can speak multiple languages that could help with interpretation or translations? 

Continuing to maintain social distance, talk with your neighbors when you see them outside. Or, if you have contact information, invite them to join the talent bank. Not all your neighbors may want to share personal information or be involved. Please respect their choice.

The City supports building deeper connections at the neighborhood level to create a safer, more responsive community.

Once information is shared, make copies of the completed worksheet so every household can have one. These lists are confidential. They should not be distributed to anyone other than those who have agreed to participate.

More Information



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Block Watch Captains meeting held in Lake Forest Park

Saturday, November 5, 2016

LFP Block Watch Captains gather for a
semi-annual meeting with police

Text and photos by Jerry Pickard

On Wednesday, November 2, 2016, Lake Forest Park Police Chief Steve Sutton and Captain Paul Armbrust held the semi-annual Block Watch Captain's Resource Meeting at LFP's City Hall.

The group was briefed on crime trends and prevention measures for Lake Forest Park.

Captain Paul Armbrust and Chief Steve Sutton
Current Crime Trends: Residential Burglaries were highlighted with maps showing locations and consistencies noting that most residential burglaries were committed by non-residents. They explained methods the bad guys use to select victims, means of entry, and recommendations on how to avoid becoming a victim.

Mail and package theft: It's that time again! Christmas is a-comin' and the thieves are out. Have UPS and other services require signatures for deliveries, or deliver to the back door so that packages are not visible from the street. Entry Cameras are helpful in deterring thieves.

Capt. Armbrust explains the Pace Car program

Safe Street Project: Active speed limit signs will be going up that are capable of recording traffic patterns during times of day and night, speeders, and what speeds they are traveling through the neighborhoods.

Pace Car Project: A program that signs up residents to set an example for other drivers by driving the speed limit, stopping for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crossings, and sharing the road with all users, including bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.

Pace car drivers give themselves enough travel time so as to not sacrifice safety or courtesy, devote full attention to driving, and avoid distractions such as cell phones. They will display the NEIGHBORHOOD PACE CAR decal on their vehicle, and encourage others to make LFP more livable.

Are You Ready For Winter? How to ensure you are prepared for power outages and have emergency supplies to last several days when winter storms arrive and knock out power.

If you are interested in starting a block watch on your street, contact the police department for information. 206-364-8216.



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Block watch meeting at City Hall

Sunday, November 16, 2014

On Tuesday, November 18, from 7pm-8:30pm, the Lake Forest Park police department will be hosting a Block Watch Captain’s Resource meeting at City Hall at Town Center. They anticipate discussing the following:

1-     How to build and sustain a viable block watch group

2-     Season Crime Trends (what do we need to do as the holidays approach)

3-     Emergency Management Minute

4-     Block Watch Captain’s ID Badges

There will be refreshments.

It is the hope of the LFP Police to reinvigorate their block watch effort, continue to build on their real-time communication strategy, and to reduce crime making the City of Lake Forest Park one of the safest communities in the Puget Sound region to live.

For more information about all of the strategies, check out the 2014 Operation Plan.

If your street does not yet have a block watch and you are interested in starting one, this is a good place to start. Or to develop a Block Watch program in your neighborhood, contact the Lake Forest Park Police Department at 206-364-8216.


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LFP Block Watch Captains meet Tuesday Nov 18

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

The Lake Forest Park Block Watch Captain’s Resource meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday, November 18 from 7pm-8:30pm at City Hall.

Police Chief Steve Sutton says, "If you have an established block watch group, or if you are still working on developing one – please join us. We want to make your effort low key, low pressure!"

During the meeting, several of the block watch captains will present 5-10 minutes each on how they have made their block successful. Officer Parrish will be on hand to discuss seasonal crime trends as we approach the holidays.

Then, there will be a discussion of CERT and future plans to train Citizens on how to react during emergencies …. during the “emergency management minute.” Finally, police will be taking your photograph for Block Watch Captain’s ID badges that you will be able to display when meeting with neighbors that may be skeptical of your effort.

All this, and snacks!

 If you plan to attend, let Chief Sutton know.


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Compassionate block watches in Lake Forest Park

Monday, August 5, 2013

Anne Stadler
By Anne Stadler

In 2012, Lake Forest Park affirmed the Charter for Compassion, a ten year program encouraging compassionate acts citywide. Many of us who live here already engage, on an individual level, in activities intended to improve the lives of others.  Imagine how great our impact could be if we came together and focused our energy!

Are we a compassionate block watch circle? Of course, we are!  Are we… the MOST compassionate neighborhood in Lake Forest Park? Well, in a manner of speaking, them’s fightin’ words! Let’s get together – in the spirit of fun and goodness – to show our stuff in the Compassion Games Sept. 11 – 21. We can hold a food drive, clean graffiti, help a neighbor, pick up litter – we decide. We can work together or individually.  All that really matters is that we help!

How do we keep score? It’s easy. All we need to do is record our helpful acts on the Compassion Games website, during the week of Sept. 11—21. After doing any act of compassion, just access the  Compassion Games website. Click on the Compassion Map in the title bar, and follow the simple instructions to submit a report. At the end of the week we’ll see which neighborhood racked up the most points.

Join in September 11- 21. Make a difference to someone else and help Lake Forest Park become the most compassionate city in the Compassion Games! That list now includes Stockholm, Sweden, and Gurgaon, India as well as New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Nashville, Seattle, Louisville, Kentucky and MORE.


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Night out with the neighbors

Friday, August 10, 2012

One table at the large Wallingford Ave block watch party

By Diane Hettrick

The Night Out Against Crime block parties were all organized on the same idea - if neighbors know each other and know what is normal on the street, they will know when something doesn't seem right and call the police to check it out.

But the block watch parties were all different. Some seemed like a gathering of friends - neighbors who already knew each other and were enjoying the party. Others had 'getting to know you' conversations. I overheard phrases like "Now, which house is yours?" "Are those your children?" "Where do you pick up your mail?"

Some had fabulous food, others kept it simple with hot dogs and hamburgers.

Lisa Haynes of Blue Star with the Shoreline Bicycle patrol

Then there was the out and out party at Blue Star Construction, located on N 200th at the head of Echo Lake. They win the prize for the most number of extroverts, most apparently employees - but everyone was welcome. City staff, city council, Jazz Walk organizers, Shoreline Police, everybody showed up at Blue Star - except the fire department. "Where are they?" said Lisa, We had a fire truck here last year!"

Blue Star has only a driveway onto N 200th, but a view of most of Echo Lake Park and a sweeping view of Echo Lake.

Amara, the youngest block watcher, with mom Kelly Fackler
at the Burke Avenue Block Watch

When organizing block watches, police say, you don't have to follow the formal street block. Consider the line of sight from each house. If you have a section where five or six backyards meet, have a block watch with those homes, even if they are on four different streets. Belong to more than one block watch - one for your front yard, one for your back yard. Have a block watch for your apartment building, or one floor of condos. The point is to watch out for each other and prevent or stop crime before it happens.


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Prevent crime - form a block watch in time for National Night Out

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Updated 7-24-2012 11:43pm
Neighbors get to know each other over dinner in the street
at a Shoreline block watch potluck
Photo by Diane Hettrick

By the time you find out there is crime on your street, it may be too late to protect yourself. "The best offense is a good defense" and the best defense you can have is your neighbors. Retired police captain, current police consultant, and Shoreline Police volunteer Steve Robinson provides this information about block watches.


By Steven H. Robinson


The City of Shoreline and Shoreline Police provide many services related to crime prevention and information about what crimes are reported in your neighborhood.

You may not even know if this is a problem where you live. The Shoreline Police has some tools for you to determine the level of property crimes and other types of crimes in your neighborhood. They also provide the opportunities for neighborhoods to form Block Watches.

An organized and active Block Watch group is the single most important feature that will help you reduce crime in your neighborhood. A Block Watch is formed by a group of neighbors who are interested in mutual protection against burglary and other neighborhood crime. These neighbors agree to watch out for one another's homes and report unusual incidents to the police.

Since 1974, many residents have been actively and successfully working to reduce burglary in their neighborhoods. The many hundreds of Neighborhood Block Watch Groups have worked together to prevent the increasing crimes of burglary, auto theft and prowls and vandalism.

Knowing where and what types of crimes occur in your neighborhood can help your crime prevention efforts. Shoreline Police provide monthly crime maps indicating the most common property crimes in Shoreline.

Also included in the maps are incidents of robbery (crimes against persons). The maps are created by the Centralized Crime Analysis Research, Planning and Information Services Unit of the King County Sheriff’s Office. Click on this link to download them or visit one of the Shoreline Police Neighborhood Centers or main station to pick up a paper copy.


Block Watches and home security


For more information click on the links below: 
Contact the neighborhood officers for help getting started:
  • Officer Greg McKinney, 521 NE 165th St., Shoreline, WA 98155, 206-363-8424
  • Officer Leona Obstler, 624 NW Richmond Beach Rd., Shoreline, WA 98177, 206-546-3636

Do you want to find out where the crime in your neighborhood is? 


This information is also available through a new partnership between Shoreline Police, the King County Sheriff’s Office, and CrimeReports®, creators of the National Crime Map, at the Crime Reports website.

Shoreline Police agree that this service provides reliable, timely information and can assist in keeping the public informed about what is going on in the community. They encourage the community to use the information to help in crime prevention efforts in their neighborhoods.

The crime map is accessible 24 hours a day via the website and even lets local citizens sign up for free customizable email alerts. There is no cost to Shoreline residents for this service.

You can access your local crime map and sign up for daily, weekly, or monthly email crime alerts here. Map information is available for Lake Forest Park and Kenmore as well as Shoreline.

In Lake Forest Park, contact the police department for block watch information. Information links from Lake Forest Park Police: 

Tuesday, August 7, is National Night Out Against Crime - a perfect opportunity to gather your neighbors for a potluck dinner and information about forming a block watch on your street.


Contact your police department for assistance.



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National Night Out Against Crime is Tuesday, August 2

Monday, June 13, 2011

Shoreline Fire visit a Night Out party in 2010
National Night Out Against Crime is designed to generate participation in Block Watch and other crime prevention programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and watching out for each other.

The City of Shoreline supports residents organizing a National Night Out event in their neighborhood and wants to make it easy.

A right-of-way permit is required if you want to request a street closure for a Block Watch party or National Night Out event. The permit is free for events sponsored by formal neighborhood associations. Contact Shoreline Permit Services at (206) 801-2500 regarding Right-of-Way Special Event Permit requirements or download a National Night Out/Block Party permit application. When you apply for a permit you will receive:
  • A free National Night Out tablecloth (while supplies last).
  • An event packet with basic information about Block Watch, emergency readiness and neighborhood associations.
  • Visits from a representative of Shoreline Police, Shoreline Fire or Emergency Management (availability dependent on emergency calls).
Neighbors get to know each other at 2010 party
Events that don't require a street closure can register too, and organizers will receive an event packet and visits from City staff, police or fire. 


To register, call or email Shoreline Neighborhoods Coordinator Nora Smith at 206-801-2253.

Need ideas or more help? See “Create a Block Party” under Resources on the Neighborhoods page.



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Block watches celebrate Night Out Against Crime

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Block watch groups all around Lake Forest Park and Shoreline celebrated the annual Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday evening, August 3, by taking back the streets - for dinner.

The 185th and Burke block watches in the Echo Lake neighborhood of Shoreline celebrate together, under the leadership of Jeanne Monger and Bob Tanac.

Neighbors gathered for a leisurely potluck dinner set up in a neighbor's driveway, and ate at tables set up in the middle of the street.

Shoreline Fire visited with an engine and gave tours to the children. Pictured left to right are firefighters Gabe DeBay, Nate Bess, and Mark Foster.

Visiting politicians are a tradition at neighborhood gatherings. Pictured are State Representatives Ruth Kagi and Maralyn Chase.

Night Out saw the changing of the guard at this event, as long-time block watch captain Bob Tanac turned over the leadership to Kelley Fackler.

Residents who are interested in setting up a neighborhood block watch can contact the police department for information and assistance.

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Night out against crime, Tuesday, August 3

Sunday, August 1, 2010


Formal and informal Block Watches all over Shoreline and Lake Forest Park will be holding block parties on the evening of Tuesday, August 3 for the annual Night Out Against Crime. The parties are an opportunity for neighbors to get to know each other a little better. Neighbors who know each other are usually more pro-active about questioning the presence of strangers on the street and on their neighbors' property.

Lake Forest Park residents can still register their parties with the City and block off their street. If you are interested in hosting or organizing a party in your own neighborhood, contact Karen Howell, National Night Out Coordinator, for help in planning your event. 206-364-8216 x 547, Fax:206-361-8156, or email.

The registration form, special event permit to block off the street, as well as flyer and invitation templates are available on the city webpage.

Police Officers will be available to attend events upon request.

In Shoreline, it is too late to get a permit to block off the street, but parties can still be held on private property. Nora Smith, Neighborhood Coordinator, will help anyone with planning. She can be contacted at 206-801-2253 or email.

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