‘Spiritual war’ set for neighborhood

By Joe Pinchot
Herald Staff Writer

The anti-drug coalition ERASE started recruiting troops Monday in what the Rev. Ralph Newell pledged would be “spiritual warfare” as the organization tries to clean up a four-block area in Farrell.

ERASE, which stands for Endorse Resistance of All Substance Abuse Everywhere, met at New and Living Way Church of the Apostolic Faith and invited residents of the area to suggest activities for the holy war.

“We’re not solving the problem tonight,” said Rev. Newell, pastor of Jesus’ Church — Faith Christian Center Ministries, Farrell. “We’re trying to collect data.”

The coalition, made of up members of community service organizations, clergy, city officials and residents, is concentrating on the blocks bordered by Fruit Avenue, Idaho Street, Federal Street and Hamilton Avenue.

“We are out to do a positive thing in our neighborhood,” said Jacqueline Glenn of 925 Hamilton Ave., whose desire to clean up her neighborhood was adopted by ERASE. “When you do a positive thing you make a difference.”

Ms. Glenn’s suggestion was to try to increase security in the area with more lighting. ERASE members walked the area last week and based on that visit, Susan Leach suggested cleaning up broken glass.

“We’ve got to make it safe for the kids to know it is OK to go out there without getting hurt,” she said.

Olive Brown of ERASE said the State Regional Correctional Facility, Findley Township, has pledged to allow prisoners to help on a cleanup day.

Mayor William Morocco added that once the area is cleaned up, residents must look after it and schedule more cleanup days so it never again gets as bad as it is now.

Other residents asked for crackdowns on loitering, more playground supervision, sidewalk repairs, installation of public trash bins, planting gardens, removal of abandoned cars, a crackdown on music that emanates from cars at house-rattling volume and better enforcement of the curfew and dog ordinances.

Lawrence Owns, who plans to open a delicatessen at 901 Hamilton, said play areas need to be set up for older and younger kids, with the areas separate from each other. He also suggested organized sports teams that pit neighborhoods against each other in friendly competition. While some residents asked for demolition of vacant buildings, others thought some of those buildings could be saved and made available for sale.

Mr. Newell noted that many of the homes in the area are not owner-occupied and suggested that ERASE could pressure landlords to do a better job of maintaining their properties. Mr. Newell said ERASE would discuss the ideas and come back with a plan of addressing concerns at a future public meeting.

Ms. Glenn said ERASE wants to form a neighborhood association to carry out activities identified by residents. Organizers praised the 40 or so people who attended and asked them to follow through with the plan.

“We have to take an active part,” she said. “We can’t expect anyone to do it for us. We really have to want to clean it up, fix it up.”

ERASE is holding a workshop with Mark P. Yanick, director of training and technical assistance with Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Mercer County Housing Authority Community Center, 211 Federal St., Farrell. Information: Ms. Brown, 981-3856.

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