Boswell Crime Watch meeting canceled

By PATRICK BUCHNOWSKI
The Tribune-Democrat

BOSWELL July 09, 2008 11:06 pm

— A handful of residents gathered on the steps of the Boswell Borough municipal building to tackle the problem of drugs, vandalism and speeding in town.
But Wednesday evening’s ballyhooed Community Crime Watch meeting was canceled when council members and state police failed to show.
A half-dozen residents and a couple of reporters arrived, waited nearly an hour and left.
“Council wants to take back their community and they don’t even show,” resident Debbie Divalentone said.
The group took a reporter on a tour of Main Street, where jagged glass at the former Boswell Video store was all that was left of the front window after a man was pushed through the pane the night before.
The vacant building is a haven for drugs users, resident Barb Whipkey said.
“That’s where they smoke crack,” she said.
Trooper John Matchik said he left messages weeks ago with council President Mary Ann DeLuca and Mayor Matt Ash that the meeting was tentatively rescheduled for July 28.
Ash said he was aware of the date change but council inadvertently failed to notify residents.
Matchik said state police are committed to aiding residents in starting a community watch.
“Our goal is to ensure that we take the necessary steps to have the neighborhood watch program in place at the request of concerned citizens,” he said.