By SARI ZEIDLER
The North Merrick and South Merrick Community Civic Associations have joined forces to create the program, and have divided the area into 10 watch sectors - six in North Merrick and four in south Merrick.
Roughly 80 residents attended a meeting last Wednesday at the Merrick golf course off Clubhouse Road to review plans for the Neighborhood Watch, said Claudia Borecky, president of the North Merrick Community Civic Association. More than 100 people turned out for a meeting in January to begin developing plans for the Neighborhood Watch in response to a wave of robberies, burglaries, car thefts and lesser crimes throughout the Merricks in recent months.
Bob Spampinato of North Merrick was tapped as program director for areas north of Sunrise Highway, and Joshua Weiss was named director for areas south of the Sunrise.
Joe Baker, president of the South Merrick Community Civic Association, is hopeful about the program. "People are showing interest; therefore, it's going work," he said.
Borecky also took a positive outlook, emphasizing that Neighborhood Watch is a partnership between community members and the police that does not require members to put themselves in dangerous situations.
"I think the main thing we achieved is that people realize it's not a vigilante group," she said.
Interested participants can contact Borecky at (516) 972-6988 or Joe Baker at (516)978-8310. The next meeting of the civic association will be helt at the Merrick golf course clubhouse at 7 p.m.
Comments about this story? Szeidler@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
