No one would have believed prior to Sept. 14 of 2008 that a hurricane would affect our region, and certainly not on the scale we saw. Since then, we’ve had two major storms that have left our region without electricity.

Through the efforts of the city’s Neighborhood Block Watch, we were able to quickly identify residents dependent upon electricity to power their medical equipment and provide generators, set up emergency shelters and provide food and clean water for those in need.

Public safety is key. Through community partnership with the Charlestown Police Department, the Neighborhood Block Watch has made Charlestown a safer place to live and raise a family, where neighbors help neighbors and keep crime low.

Through the Neighborhood Block Watch Program, our residents get to interact with law-enforcement officials and learn how they can safeguard their children, families, homes and neighborhoods against crime.