To the editor,

The dedicated Coplay Town Watch members have spent nearly 19 years serving Coplay in a variety of ways.

Originally named the Coplay Crime Watch, founded in 1995, in 2004 by-laws were adopted and changed their name from the Coplay Crime Watch to the Coplay Town Watch.

Several senior citizens in reaction to the name change at that time left the CTW and created the Coplay Neighborhood Crime Watch.

The Coplay Neighborhood Crime Watch is celebrating their 10th anniversary this April, serving Coplay. They refer to themselves as "a passive group of concerned citizens" watching to report any suspicious activities in Coplay.

I applaud their ten year effort. Within the scope of their stated activities, they have done well and contributed to the well-being of our community.

The Coplay Town Watch is, debatably, the most organized and active watch group in the Lehigh Valley. The CTW annually conducts the National Night Out Against Crime for which they have received national recognition six times from the National Association of Town Watch, assists with the Coplay Police Department to hold the annual Children's Bike Derby; run the Properties of Merit Committee that recognizes well-cared for properties in Coplay; operates the Feral Cat Committee that has spayed and/or neutered nearly 100 cats since their founding thereby successfully addressing the former feral cat problems in Coplay; their members are trained on properly reporting crime; and now a new program is being introduced.

The National Association of Town Watch, the CTW's parent, has introduced a new crime awareness program, the "Dog Walker Watch." The CTW plans to implement a DWW in Coplay. If you walk your dog in Coplay the CTW wants to speak with you about assisting the DWW. Consider joining this effort with your dog. If you agree to participate in DWW you will be trained in proper town watching methods.

If you want to volunteer to be apart of the DWW or any of the committees of the CTW, please contact Bill at 610-751-2745, or Jocelyn at 610-216-6705 or email billleiner@aol.com.

Coplay continues to be a wonderful, safe place to live thanks to groups like the Coplay Town Watch and the Coplay Neighborhood Crime Watch. Combined, they have 29 years serving Coplay. May both have continued success.

Sincerely,

Bill Leiner Jr.

President

Coplay Town Watch