Friday, January 22, 2010
Keep Teens Safe on the Internet
• clear, simple, easy-to-read house rules should be posted on or near the monitor. Create your own computer rules or print the Internet safety pledge. The pledge can be signed by adults and children and should be periodically reviewed.
• look into safeguarding programs or options your online service provider might offer. These may include monitoring or filtering capabilities.
• always read a web site's privacy policy before giving any personal information. Also make sure that a web site offers a secure connection before giving credit-card information.
• web sites for children are not permitted to request personal information without a parent's permission. Talk to children about what personal information is and why you should never give it to people online.
• if children use chat or e-mail, talk to them about never meeting in person with anyone they first "met" online.
• talk to children about not responding to offensive or dangerous e-mail, chat, or other communications. Report any such communication to local law enforcement. Do not delete the offensive or dangerous e-mail; turn off the monitor, and contact local law enforcement.
• keep the computer in the family room or another open area of your home.
• get informed about computers and the Internet. Visit the resources section to find additional information on Internet safety.
• let children show you what they can do online, and visit their favorite sites.
• have children use child-friendly search engines when completing homework.
• know who children are exchanging e-mail with, and only let them use chat areas when you can supervise. NetSmartz recommends limiting chatroom access to child-friendly chat sites.
• be aware of any other computers your child may be using.
• Internet accounts should be in the parent's name with parents having the primary screenname, controlling passwords, and using blocking and/or filtering devices.
• children should not complete a profile for a service provider and children's screennames should be nondescript so as not to identify that the user is a child.
• talk to children about what to do if they see something that makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused. Show them how to turn off the monitor and emphasize that it's not their fault if they see something upsetting. Remind children to tell a trusted adult if they see something that bothers them online.
• consider using filtering or monitoring software for your computer. Filtering products that use whitelisting, which only allows a child access to a preapproved list of sites, are recommended for children in this age group. NetSmartz does not advocate using filters only; education is a key part of prevention. Visit the resources section for web sites that provide information on filtering or blocking software.
• if you suspect online "stalking" or sexual exploitation of a child, report it to your local law-enforcement agency. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) has a system for identifying online predators and child pornographers and contributing to law-enforcement investigations. It's called the CyberTipline®. Leads forwarded to the site will be acknowledged and shared with the appropriate law-enforcement agency for investigation.
More information available at
http://ping.fm/A68YK
• look into safeguarding programs or options your online service provider might offer. These may include monitoring or filtering capabilities.
• always read a web site's privacy policy before giving any personal information. Also make sure that a web site offers a secure connection before giving credit-card information.
• web sites for children are not permitted to request personal information without a parent's permission. Talk to children about what personal information is and why you should never give it to people online.
• if children use chat or e-mail, talk to them about never meeting in person with anyone they first "met" online.
• talk to children about not responding to offensive or dangerous e-mail, chat, or other communications. Report any such communication to local law enforcement. Do not delete the offensive or dangerous e-mail; turn off the monitor, and contact local law enforcement.
• keep the computer in the family room or another open area of your home.
• get informed about computers and the Internet. Visit the resources section to find additional information on Internet safety.
• let children show you what they can do online, and visit their favorite sites.
• have children use child-friendly search engines when completing homework.
• know who children are exchanging e-mail with, and only let them use chat areas when you can supervise. NetSmartz recommends limiting chatroom access to child-friendly chat sites.
• be aware of any other computers your child may be using.
• Internet accounts should be in the parent's name with parents having the primary screenname, controlling passwords, and using blocking and/or filtering devices.
• children should not complete a profile for a service provider and children's screennames should be nondescript so as not to identify that the user is a child.
• talk to children about what to do if they see something that makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused. Show them how to turn off the monitor and emphasize that it's not their fault if they see something upsetting. Remind children to tell a trusted adult if they see something that bothers them online.
• consider using filtering or monitoring software for your computer. Filtering products that use whitelisting, which only allows a child access to a preapproved list of sites, are recommended for children in this age group. NetSmartz does not advocate using filters only; education is a key part of prevention. Visit the resources section for web sites that provide information on filtering or blocking software.
• if you suspect online "stalking" or sexual exploitation of a child, report it to your local law-enforcement agency. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) has a system for identifying online predators and child pornographers and contributing to law-enforcement investigations. It's called the CyberTipline®. Leads forwarded to the site will be acknowledged and shared with the appropriate law-enforcement agency for investigation.
More information available at
http://ping.fm/A68YK
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
January Board Meeting
The January Board Meeting (monthly Board meeting are always held on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30) was one of our most exciting yet. The Board initiated Larry Rideaux of Lone Star College and Jake Welch of Target to fill two vacant Board positions.
The room was alive with enthusiasim for the work we have ahead of us. Mr. Rideaux is working to develop the new Lone Star campus at W. Little York and T.C. Jester. This campus will focus on providing basic college and GED preparation classes as well as a cirriculum helpful to small business owners.
Mr. Welch is the head of asset protection for Target and will be working with us to draw corporate security personnel to our regular security meetings (held on the second Tuesday of each month at 9:30) so that we can further our security network into the business community and make the area more secure for everyone.
The room was alive with enthusiasim for the work we have ahead of us. Mr. Rideaux is working to develop the new Lone Star campus at W. Little York and T.C. Jester. This campus will focus on providing basic college and GED preparation classes as well as a cirriculum helpful to small business owners.
Mr. Welch is the head of asset protection for Target and will be working with us to draw corporate security personnel to our regular security meetings (held on the second Tuesday of each month at 9:30) so that we can further our security network into the business community and make the area more secure for everyone.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
December Patrol Stats for NNWMD
Each month Precinct 1 Constables patrol the NNWMD District to make contact with business owners and community members. Below are the numerical results for their efforts. Beside each activity are three sets of numbers. The first is the results of our Weed & Seed officer, paid for by the Weed & Seed grant, patroling the 4 square mile Weed & Seed site. The second is the results of a two day anti-crime initiative on December 17 & 18 focused on the Antoine Corridor. The third is the results of 7 constables patrolling a 16 square mile area during the entire month.
Activity - W & S - 17-18 - NNWMD
Business Contacts – 29 – 41 - 379
Property Checks – 123 – 42 - 255
Citizen Assists – 29 – 3 - 51
Disturbances – 4 – 0 - 5
Assist OLEA – 54 – 16 - 45
Susp. Person/Vehicle – 31 – 12 - 49
Traffic Citations – 53 – 123 - 151
Traffic Violations – 89 – 171 - 199
Misdemeanor Arrests – 24 – 35 - 52
Felony Arrests – 2 – 0 - 1
Reports – 25 – 21 - 44
Total On-View Calls – 3 00 – 464 - 1253
Total Miles Patrolled – 1157 – 1501 - 6435
Activity - W & S - 17-18 - NNWMD
Business Contacts – 29 – 41 - 379
Property Checks – 123 – 42 - 255
Citizen Assists – 29 – 3 - 51
Disturbances – 4 – 0 - 5
Assist OLEA – 54 – 16 - 45
Susp. Person/Vehicle – 31 – 12 - 49
Traffic Citations – 53 – 123 - 151
Traffic Violations – 89 – 171 - 199
Misdemeanor Arrests – 24 – 35 - 52
Felony Arrests – 2 – 0 - 1
Reports – 25 – 21 - 44
Total On-View Calls – 3 00 – 464 - 1253
Total Miles Patrolled – 1157 – 1501 - 6435
Friday, January 8, 2010
New Bus Service a Possibility for NNWMD
The staff at the Near Northwest Management District has been pondering whether or not increasing transportation in the area would be worthwhile or not. We believe that it would solve a number of problems in the area and have begun to talks with area bus companies to see if the idea is feasible.
We know that a lack of transportation is an issue in the area. A large number of area residents either own unreliable cars or don't own them at all or, particularly if gas goes up to $4 a gallon, can't afford to operate them. We also have a large aging population who could benefit from bus service.
Currently, we are meeting with several transportation companies to explore the feasibility of having a local circulator bus in our area. We believe that a route designed to pick up residents from apartments and neighborhoods in and around the Weed & Seed site and transport them to area businesses and attractions including the Library, Metro stops and Park & Ride, shopping, restaurants and entertainment venues along 290 and local grocery stores would benefit both residents and businesses and help to our community to thrive.
We would love to hear your ideas for ways to improve our community.
We know that a lack of transportation is an issue in the area. A large number of area residents either own unreliable cars or don't own them at all or, particularly if gas goes up to $4 a gallon, can't afford to operate them. We also have a large aging population who could benefit from bus service.
Currently, we are meeting with several transportation companies to explore the feasibility of having a local circulator bus in our area. We believe that a route designed to pick up residents from apartments and neighborhoods in and around the Weed & Seed site and transport them to area businesses and attractions including the Library, Metro stops and Park & Ride, shopping, restaurants and entertainment venues along 290 and local grocery stores would benefit both residents and businesses and help to our community to thrive.
We would love to hear your ideas for ways to improve our community.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
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