Community Support

Community Watch Stewards

Much has been written about the Corona Virus, COVID-19, the Pandemic – the worst the world has seen since 1917/1918. We have read about the suffering, the depredation, the lost jobs, the staggering economy, the empty school rooms and so much more.

All of it is true and all of it is sad. And yet a vaccine, make that two and growing in number, are now available and proving effective. The work force continues albeit in a different forum although ZOOM put an end to attending meetings in one’s bathrobe. Wearing masks and social distancing are the way of the land and adherence to is growing. So perhaps there is a bright spot, perhaps there is a Santa Claus and perhaps some good things continue to happen.

There was much ado last year when the border was closed between the United States and Canada. Some grumbled, some thundered and most accepted it for what it was, an attempt by the governments to keep their people safe. This year there are attempts to work out an acceptable solution allowing access to the 1000 Islands Region from both sides. 

The concerns and complaints registered last year ranged from economic losses incurred by local merchants to property damage sustained by actual maintenance from fallen trees, broken windows, rodent invasion; routine maintenance on houses, boats and docks and deferred maintenance on closed and boarded cottages, docks, and open boathouses. Buildings on many of the islands are more than 100 years old and require on going and tender care. Some of the islands stand in isolation, remote from other groups of islands. 

The common thread that alleviated these concerns for many last year was the knowledge that someone was checking their island, boathouse and dock. Someone was traveling by, stopping, getting off the boat and walking the island and around the cottage, looking into the boathouse, checking the outer buildings and the dock. Someone, either a neighbor, a friend, a relative or a caretaker took the time to check and to reassure. 

When TIA was first formed, there was a Neighborhood Watch program in place and at one time a $100.00 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person trespassing and causing damage.

In those days Neighborhood Watch was geared more to the off season. Last summer it surfaced again, and TIA christened its informal birth as Community Watch. We are lucky to have our river community who pulled together, stepped up, and cared enough to reassure those not allowed to be there that all was well and that a major surprise did not await them.

Now TIA is proposing Community Watch as a renewed and integral part of its Community Support Pillar. We are asking for volunteers to take on the responsibility of checking on their neighbor in need whether next door, another island or farther up or down the river. It does not require much time and it does not cost anything, but it is a good deed, and it strengthens fellowship in our community. It’s a big territory to cover but with your help and your eyes Community Watch can be a reality.