Neighborly Stories Mark Town Watch's 25 Years

Members of the Mt. Airy community gathered in a neighbor’s living room on Tuesday for the monthly town watch meeting, except this time was special.

“We’re not celebrating 25 years,” said Mt. Airy-Nippon-Bryan-Creshiem Town Watch President Steve Stroiman.  “We’re marking 25 years.”

What started as a group of upset neighbors after a break-in in May, 1988, has since grown into a block by block family. 

The town watch does that—it watches the town, but the organization does more than that.

They put out a newsletter; they have community speakers.

They shovel snow.

“There was a man living on the street who needed dialysis,” said Dave Kutzik.  “One year, we had a really heavy snowstorm, and cars couldn’t get up and down the street.”

Kutzik added, “One of the neighbors had a Humvee, and she volunteered to let it be used to take this man to his dialysis.”

“So, 26 people went out into the street and started shoveling so this man could make his appointment,” Kutzik said.  “That’s the kind of neighborhood we have.”

One neighbor told a story on Tuesday.  He and his wife had left for vacation, but in all the commotion they accidently left a bag and a suitcase on the curb.

Neighbors called each other, asking each other what happened.

Eventually, the bags were identified and stored at a neighbor’s house.

“The strength of this organization is the strength of our personal interactions,” Stroiman said.  “We’ve all helped each other in ways beyond how neighbors help each other.”

“Cooperation is part of the neighborhood,” Kutzik said. 

He then went on to name every co-op he’s belonged to since moving to Mt. Airy-everything from a babysitting co-op to Weaver’s Way.

“The town watch doesn’t make the neighborhood what it is,” Stroiman said.  “The neighbors do.”

Stroiman added, “The strong commitment to one another makes the neighborhood what it is.”