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The residents of Washington Street in Troy will gather on Saturday to learn what is necessary to organize a neighborhood watch in their area of town.

The meeting is scheduled for 12:30 until 2 p.m. Saturday at Washington Street Park.

Glenda Kelly said all residents of Washington Street are invited and encouraged to attend.

“Recently, we have had a couple of break-ins in our neighborhood,” Kelly said. “We have a good number of older residents as well as residents that work. There’s a lot traffic coming in and out. of our street. All of us need to come together and get to know each other and that will better ensure the safety of Washington Street.”

Kelly said a man’s home is his castle, so to speak. “Your home should be your safe place,” she said. “And, you should be able to go out and in the yard, enjoy the outdoors and visit with your friends and neighbors. That is the kind of neighborhood we should all have the opportunity to enjoy.”

Kelly said her concern is for the integrity of the Washington Street neighborhood.  A neighborhood watch would help ensure that integrity.

Michael O’Hara of the Troy Police Department will be the guest speaker at Saturday’s meeting of Washington Street residents.

O’Hara will provide information on how to organize a neighborhood watch and how doing so would benefit the residents of Washington Street.

“We have also invited Wanda Moultry, who is our District 5 Troy City Council member and Robert Jones, District 1 council member and Sharon McSwain District 1 council member elect. One side of Washington Street is District 1 and the other side is District 5 so we would like to have input from both council members.”

Kelly said Pike County Commissioner Homer Wright, is also invited. Washington Street is in Wright’s district.

“All residents that care about Washington Street and want to make it a safer place to live are encouraged to come to Washington Street Park at noon on Saturday,” Kelly said. “If we build a community of neighbors, we will all be better off.”