South Norwood Flats Celebrated as a “Vandalism Oasis”-September 2, 1977

Strong Community Pride and Family Ties

While public property vandalism costs Norwood nearly $100,000 annually and has driven town officials to consider drastic security measures like alarms, guard dogs, and high-intensity lighting, one neighborhood stands in stark contrast. In South Norwood—frequently called “The Flats” due to its dense concentration of three-family homes—police officials report that vandalism is so virtually nonexistent that it is “not worth recording.”

The Flats: Strong Community Ties Versus Uptown Vandalism

According to Police Chief James Curran, Norwood’s schools worst hit by vandalism include Junior High North, Cleveland, Willett, Prescott, and Callahan. None of these facilities are located in South Norwood. In contrast, Balch Elementary School principal Andrew Ciarletta, who has served at the school for seven years, reports only 10 to 12 broken windows per year, three or four of which are accidental hits from children playing sports.

Observers attribute this rarity to deep-seated community cohesion, family structure, and mutual accountability. “Basically, people here are concerned about the kids and the community, and I am very proud of that,” Ciarletta said. Security committee chairman and Selectman Martin J. Lydon agreed, noting that residents in The Flats “just seem to know where their kids are and they seem to care about their community.”

Similarly, K-9 security guard Edward Silva and Juvenile Officer Domenic J. Fruci noted that Junior High South on Washington Street experiences virtually none of the loitering and property damage plaguing other campuses. They credit this stability to heavy community use of the school’s athletic fields and pool well into the evening, alongside a watchful neighborhood culture where residents take care of their own. Eleanor Brylinsky, a Highview Street resident and crossing guard at Junior High South, echoed this sentiment, stating that while the area contends with other issues like traffic speeding and local bar concerns, local youth enjoy strong community backing.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger