HARDWARE BAR

            It's a given.. every Friday and Saturday night ..

                     Fights at or around the HARDWARE BAR.

I cringe. Our poor police come rushing to the scene. I worry about them.

 I also worry about someone getting shot.

 Well, it almost happened on Saturday morning.”  Shots fired”  2:15 a.m. in the Parkade .

 Now let me tell you that parkade is packed on a weekend night. And some jerk is just shooting!

 Thank God no one was hurt. It was a miracle because I am sure it was packed with people leaving the bar.

 Thank you to the police, the witnesses and the residents of Provincial Towers  ( God bless those poor folks for putting up with this night after night )  .  

The shooter was caught.

http://www.wnep.com/news/countybycounty/wnep-wb-shots-fired,0,3140435.story

Enough is enough with this bar.

Night after night there are fights and property being destroyed.

 Windows broken, bottles and vomit everywhere.   And let’s not forget the idiots who pull the fire alarms in the parkade every Friday and Saturday. Real funny.. our firefighters have to go out for this nonsense.

 This bar promotes excessive drinking. I have seen the patrons coming out. It is quite an experience.

It is a “ BACHELOR PARTY” atmosphere.

Our police respond and some have gotten hurt.

http://www.timesleader.com/news/Report__W-B_cop_assaulted_03-16-2009.html

 And when they do get hurt, I am sure the taxpayers will foot the bill.  And in the meantime 911 is holding calls from all over the city because our police are too busy with the drunks to tend to the taxpayers .

Who benefits from this bar? Not the surrounding businesses. They are closed. And not even the parkade. There are no fees after 8 p.m.

I am all for having fun.. and bars have been in downtown forever but nothing like this.

It is a nuisance bar. Period. 

Identifying Nuisance Bars

Although there may be numerous ways to identify a nuisance bar, the most common avenues are through:

• Police reports
• Pa Liquor Control Board and Pa Liquor Control Enforcement citations
• City Code violations
• Citizen complaints

911 has the ability to check the call logs and see how many times the police have been called to this place.  I think it would really be an eye-opener. 

West Chester had the right idea..

Bar with hard first year shuts its doors

Permanent residents of this neighborhood have long complained about the rowdy, drunken behavior some of their student neighbors exhibit.

Shortly after the Hardware Bar opened, the proprietor started papering South Walnut Street with advertisements for cheap drinks and for what some residents regarded as trashy events.

One flier advertised $3 Long Island Iced Teas. Another advertised an event called "Bras Across Walnut Street," a Haiti benefit. Many of its fliers noted patrons had to be "18 to party, 21 to drink."

Residents said they believed the Hardware Bar's marketing strategy encouraged underage drinking and belligerent drunkenness. In January, their complaints prompted state Liquor Control Enforcement to conduct an investigation.

http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2010/04/03/news/srv0000007948761.txt?viewmode=2

http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2010/04/03/news/srv0000007948761.txt

It is my humble opinion that this is NOT the kind of bar we need in the heart of our city. It is sleazy and crude.

What is a public nuisance bar?

A “public nuisance bar” is one with illegal or unreasonable conditions or activities that interfere with public rights or prevents law-abiding members of the community from living in peace. Examples of such conditions or activities include:

• Prostitution
• Gambling
• Vandalism
• Drug Usage
• Drug Dealing
• Guns/Weapons
• Shootings
• Homicides
• Service to Visibly Intoxicated Persons
• Minors
• Trash
• Noise
• Urinating / Vomiting
• Fighting

 

So I got an idea..

I can’t watch another young person
die from a drug overdose.

It is heartbreaking.

Abuse of prescription drugs to get high has become increasingly prevalent among teens and young adults.  While heroin is probably the # 1 killer, prescription drugs come in a close second.                                                                   

Prescription painkillers — which kill thousands of Americans a year — has become a largely unrecognized epidemic, experts say. In fact, prescription drugs cause most of the more than 26,000 fatal overdoses each year, says Leonard Paulozzi of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Where are they getting them?

 Well, the answer is they are buying them off of people who doctor shop and get the prescriptions for the sole purpose of selling them. They are prescription drug dealers.

 Plain and simple.  

People go to several doctors every month for various reasons and get a prescription of narcotics from each doctor. They then go to different drug stores and get the prescriptions filled. Then they sell them for anywhere from 10 to 20 dollars a pill ! 

So I got an idea..

Why can’t there be some kind of Data Base in the state that can alert either the doctor or the pharmacy that this person has received several prescriptions of narcotics?

I did some research and found this :

STATE PRESCRIPTION DRUG MONITORING PROGRAMS

According to the National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws (NAMSDL), a PDMP is a statewide electronic database which collects designated data on substances dispensed in the state. The PDMP is housed by a specified statewide regulatory, administrative or law enforcement agency. The housing agency distributes data from the database to individuals who are authorized under state law to receive the information for purposes of their profession.

http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/faq/rx_monitor.htm

O.K.. but what does it mean and how does it work ?   I plan to find out.

It says it is “designed to identify and deter or prevent drug abuse and diversion.”

If anyone knows how this works (or doesn’t work).. Please let me know.

Did you hear about the Carjacking?

 Not too many people did…I heard it on the scanner then waited for it to be in the papers.. but it wasn’t. 
                        Too bad ,seems like it was pretty important.

Channel 16 did report this on November 22:

“Police in Kingston are investigating a report of a carjacking that happened early Monday morning.
Investigators said a man pulled into a gas station at the corner of South Wyoming Avenue and Northampton Street before realizing it was closed. He got into his car to leave when another vehicle pulled in front of him. Police said two men wearing dark ski masks got out and one put a gun to the victim's head and ordered him out of the car.
The second man got into the victim's four-door white Hyundai and drove away, leaving the owner behind. He was not hurt.”

Then on November 23 they reported this :

“A reported carjacking that happened in Kingston didn't really happen in Kingston.
That's the word Tuesday from detectives who investigated the case.
On Monday someone said they had their car stolen by people with guns.
The victim said it happened at Wyoming Avenue and Northampton Street, but Tuesday Kingston police said it happened in the Back Mountain under another jurisdiction.
State police are now investigating the case.”

Well, wherever it happened .. it was bad.

The Department of Justice reports that approximately 49,000 carjacking cases occur each year in the United States.

Golden opportunities: what do carjackers look for?

Intersections controlled by stop lights or signs.

Garages and parking lots for mass transit, shopping malls, and grocery stores.

Self-serve gas stations and car washes.

ATMs (automated teller machines).

Residential driveways and streets as people get into and out of cars.

Highway exit and entry ramps, or anyplace else that drivers slow down or stop.

Reduce Your Risk

Getting In

Walk with purpose and stay alert.

Approach your car with the key in hand. Look around and inside the car before getting in.

Be wary of people asking for directions or handing out fliers.

Trust your instincts - if something makes you feel uneasy, get into the car quickly, lock the doors, and drive away. 

On the Road

Keep your doors locked and windows rolled up (at least part-way, if it's hot and you don't have air conditioning), no matter how short the distance or how safe the neighborhood.

When you're coming to a stop, leave enough room to maneuver around other cars, especially if you sense trouble and need to get away.

Drive in the center lane to make it harder for would-be carjackers to approach the car.

Avoid driving alone. Go with someone whenever possible, especially at night.

Don't stop to assist a stranger whose car is broken down. Help instead by driving to the nearest phone and calling police to help.

Getting Out

Park in well-lighted areas, near sidewalks or walkways. Avoid parking near dumpsters, woods, large vans or trucks, or anything else that limits your visibility.

Never leave valuables in plain view, even if the car is locked.

Put them in the trunk or out of sight.

Try to park in a garage with an attendant. Leave only the ignition key, with no identification.

Even if you're rushed, look around before you get out and stay alert to the surroundings.

If It Happens to You...

If the carjacker threatens you with a gun or other weapon, give up your car. Don't argue. Your life is worth more than a car.

Get away from the area as quickly as possible.

Try to remember what the carjacker looked like - sex, race, age, hair and eye color, special features, clothes.

Report the crime immediately to the police.

                                           *************************************

I got a call from one of our Crime Watch members who lives in an apartment telling me she is always smelling a skunk in the hallway.

 She was told me that her friend said it was probably marijuana!

 What ?…  I thought.  Well low and behold there is >>>>

“Skunk Pot-A particularly powerful hybrid of cannabis plants, with a strong pungent smell. Used as a basis for cross breeding with other varieties or grown for its own qualities.”

http://www.cannabisheaven.co.uk/skunk.html

And you can even buy the seeds online !

                                                                **********************

This article caught my eye.  

 "Take A Walk With History"- It was in a local magazine telling people what a

great place the Olmstead Trail is ! 

http://independentnepa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=654&Itemid=&ed=19

 Wow. that is not what I seen. It is dirty and dangerous.

 People should not be unaware of the conditions of this place
 if they plan on walking it.

The beat goes on…

News from From “ Scanner Addict”

Thanksgiving night- multiple car breakins at movies 14 parkade.

Thanksgiving Eve – Major fight at Hardware Bar.

Burglary- Marlboro Ave.   

30 bags a day !

We teach our kids to NOT TALK TO STRANGERS..

But it is getting so that we as adults must think

twice before we talk to strangers also.

We should certainly not let them into our homes.

A report this week in the Times Leader:

WILKES-BARRE – Police reported the following:  Frances Gorski of St. Clair Street reported that two women stopped at her home and talked to her as if they knew her. Police said the two were able to enter the home and remove approximately $2,700 from an upstairs lock box Monday afternoon.

Sure we would all like to be helpful…

             but we must be cautious.

Look at what happened to the good Samarians who stopped to help people who supposedly had car problems on the interstate.

 They were robbed.

The drug problem is out of control.. and the addicts are desperate.

Just look at the fellow that robbed 2 local businesses last month.

HE WAS USING 3O BAGS OF HEROIN A DAY !

Ten Dollar bags

  Please … do not keep your valuable or sentimental

                                    jewelry in your jewelry box !

    That is one of the first places a thief will look.

Hide valuable jewelry, money or other expensive items in unlikely locations or it can end up here !

Reports from Clipboard at Police Station

11/08- 11/14

Park and Lock-  Theft from motor vehicle – cell phone

Park and Lock-  Theft from motor vehicle – cash

18 S. Main- Theft from motor vehicle – purse

Park and Lock- Smashed window

Madison St.- Shots fired into porch

200 block of S. Grant-  Theft from motor vehicle –gun

159 S. Penn Ave.- Theft from motor vehicle –wallet

S.Main and South- Theft from motor vehicle –Ipod

295 N. Washington- Theft from motor vehicle –GPS and laptop

243 Kidder – copper pipes

360 E. South- Theft from motor vehicle –GPS

309 Parrish- windows in home smashed

32 Sullivan- copper pipes

224 Noble Lane- Burglary- jewelry and purse

Jackson St.- Smashed window on car

West River – robbery- 4 males with guns

166 Brader Drive- Theft from motor vehicle

401 Coal - Theft from motor vehicle- purse

430 New Grove- - window in home smashed

39 Oregon st.- Burglary- 400.00 dollars

Holy Redeemer school- Many cars broken into

7 West Ross- Theft from motor vehicle-Ipod and sun glasses

R. 122 S. Main- Theft from motor vehicle

Sherman Hills High rise- several car windows shot out.

From “ Scanner Addict”

11/18-2:42PM - Franklin Street, by St Stephens church, purse snatching.

11/16-2:19PM - 48 Academy street, break in to residence

11/13-9:37PM - 143 Madison street, they heard shots fired, went outside and seen bullet holes in siding of house.

11/13-9:11PM - Parking lot central off of South Main street, vehicle broken into.

11/12-8:18PM - Movies 14 parking garage, windows smashed out of 6 cars

Means, Motive and Opportunity

Come and join us at Wilkes- Barre Crime Watch Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=302138957499

Means, Motive

and Opportunity

These are the three elements needed to

commit a crime.

Crime prevention is by definition:  “The anticipation, the recognition, and the appraisal of a crime risk and the initiation of action

 to remove or reduce it."

In order for a crime to be committed their must be 3 factors; the desire to commit the crime, the ability to commit the crime and the

 opportunity to commit the crime.

 All 3 factors must be present in order for a crime to be committed.

 If one of the 3 factors is eliminated then you have prevented a crime from happening. As a citizen of a community the only factor that can be

controlled is opportunity.

If you take away a criminals OPPORTUNITY to commit a crime you

 have just prevented a crime !

Holiday Crime Prevention Tips

             Tis the season…

                          and crime increases !

       Be ALERT and AWARE of your surroundings.

        Pay attention to who is around you & what activities are happening. Don't leave the safety of a building or your vehicle until you have ensured all is secure & safe.

       Trust your instincts; if you feel uncomfortable with a place or person(s), get away.

       Park in a well-lit area. /remember to lock your vehicle!!

       Minimize the number of valuables left in your vehicle and keep valuables, electronics (including cell phones and DVDs), gifts and other "theft attractors" out of sight.

       Protect your purse or wallet and clean out any unnecessary items before leaving home. Don't carry large amounts of cash or extra credit cards. Carry only those cards that you will need to use that day.

        Keep a master list of all cards so if your wallet is stolen, they can be reported promptly to the appropriate banking facility.

                                  

             Shop with a buddy ; there is safety in numbers.

         Role-play with children about what should happen in the event you are separated.

       Have your keys out and ready when you return to your vehicle.

       Only make online purchases from trusted, secure websites. Look for "https" in the web address to verify security.

Carry your purse close to you, with the opening or flap towards your body. Never leave a purse unattended in a shopping cart.

Don't announce your new high-dollar purchases after the holidays. Break down the boxes of TVs, stereos, computers, etc. and turn them inside out before putting them in the trash.

After the holidays:

 

       Pay close attention to bills and report any unauthorized charges.

       Photograph and record the serial numbers of new items and add them to your inventory.