Someone deserves a medal. I don't know who it is, and I suspect it's more than one person.
Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day. It was the loveliest day of the year so far and it was evident by noon that this was going to be a St. Patrick's Day in Westdale, the likes of which had never been seen before. The sidewalks were full of students in green and the porches filled with students in green - Sterling was green. I don't know if you had the chance to see it yourself, but it looked like the gathering place for a big parade.
Of course, by 3:00, it was a full out party. The kids were already drunk and shouting beer chants. Base was thumping, kids were stumbling, keg parties were obviously well underway. My husband and I dismissed any hope of getting the police in to get things back under control as it's only March and we didn't think they started until mid-April. We were expecting full out vomit and broken-bottle chaos.
Then the Action van drove by. And then the horse van. And I can't tell you - it felt like the cavalry was arriving (and I suppose they were). Thank you, thank you to whomever was on the ball enough to get the troops out to Westdale. By 6:00, the parties were contained to porches and by 7:00 Westdale was a pleasant, lively place again.
I'm sure you have some idea of the difference that the police presence and the Action team has made to the livability of this neighbourhood. I am quite certain that without your intervention yesterday, St. Patrick's Day in Westdale would have made it into the news, and into some hospitals, and likely into some insurance claim documents.
Thank you,
Julie Twyford, Wesdale