Joshua and Sara Arthurs were happy with the calmness at their northwest Madera neighborhood, Almond Tree Estates Subdivision. To ensure it stays safe, the couple wanted to meet their neighbors, gather and learn from city and law enforcement officials in the first of three Neighborhood Watch training sessions.
So they held a block party and training session Saturday. About 90 people, of the 100 invited households, attended the festive event, which included a potluck, bounce house and a fire truck on display at Pear Tree Drive and Hazelnut Lane.
“We heard all the exciting things that Neighborhood Revitalization and the City of Madera are doing to promote community, so we wanted to join the momentum and be a part of the effort to make Madera a better place to live,” said Sara of she and her husband’s project, which was coordinated with the city.
Sue Saunders, neighborhood outreach specialist, was pleased with the turnout. “This is the 30th location within the city where we’ve had a neighborhood event and the largest turnout so far,” she said...