YARMOUTH, N.S. – Concern is being expressed over the increasing amount of senseless vandalism that is happening in the town of Yarmouth.
“We have had almost a ridiculous amount of vandalism in the last little while,” Yarmouth town councillor Wade Cleveland, interim chair of the Communities in Bloom Committee, reported to council at its July meeting. “It's like a burst of it has happened.”
He circulated photos that show town property such as garbage and recycling receptacles being smashed, broken or strewn about; graffiti tags being left on town property and buildings; signs having graffiti sprayed on them; flower pots being broken; windows being spray painted on and more. Even new basketball backboards that were recently installed at the outdoor court at Central School have been vandalized. The fountain in Frost Park was damaged last fall. Trees have also been broken in the town.
“We’ve had vehicles go down the sidewalk knocking the trees down as they go,” he said. “It’s just gotten to a point where it needs to be addressed.”
While some individual acts of vandalism may appear minor, collectively they all add up. It was noted it is costly to have to make repairs to, and/or to replace, damaged property.
Town staff has reached out to the RCMP, asking members to keep an out for vandals. Yarmouth Town RCMP Staff Sergeant Michel Lacroix says the detachment is investigating the rash of vandalism that has been taking place.
“A few suspects have been identified and we’re working on that,” he says, adding the public can help by reporting suspicious activity to the RCMP.
“If people see something that looks suspicious they can call us,” he says. “It doesn’t have to be a 911 call, but they can call us and for sure we’ll make a patrol.”
But, he said, often this activity happens when no one is around so it’s hard to catch perpetrators in the act. And more often than not it is youth carrying out the damage, he says.
“Every town has the same issues,” he says. “But it’s only a minority that is involved in these activities and we need to deal with that.”
ON ANOTHER NOTE....BEST FOOT FORWARD
Meanwhile, when it comes to the town, another message is being sent out to residents. The judges from the Communities in Bloom program are arriving in Yarmouth on July 19 to tour the area between then and July 21 and residents and businesses are encouraged to tidy up their properties. The judges will be touring the town and looking for clean streets, properties, beautiful gardens, parks and public areas. They'll also be introduced to the heritage of the area and learn about the festivals and evens that take place.
“They judge many different things but it's the look of the community, the spirit of the community,” said Cleveland, who said one of the judges who had been here last year was here previously and was impressed by the changes they had seen. With Yarmouth gearing up to host the National Communities in Bloom Symposium next year it would be nice to have a good showing leading into that, Cleveland said.
