A Look At A Day In The
Life Of Bloomsburg
Block Party
The Block Party
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Bloomsburg University students have for decades
historically hosted an unsanctioned day long
outdoor festival that has traditionally taken place on
the last Saturday of April. This year however a
change has been made to host this even on April
18th, 2009, one week earlier in order to avoid the
downtown Bloomsburg Renaissance Fair.
Hundreds of Alumni, students and other area
university student’s from all over the east cost will
visit and party through the weekend, generally in
the areas of Lightstreet Road, Fetterman Avenue,
East Street, Chestnut Avenue, Iron Street, and
nearby college housing areas.
Regulated Social Gathering Ordinance
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Anyone who intends
on having an outdoor
congregation of
persons for social
interaction where
alcoholic beverages
are served or
consumed and which
is attended at any one
time by more than 150
persons, regardless of
age is required to
obtain a permit from
the town of
Bloomsburg.
Enforcement of the Ordinance
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Any person violating the Ordinance shall, upon conviction in a
summary proceeding, be sentenced to pay a fine not to exceed
$600.00 to the Town of Bloomsburg, along with costs of prosecution,
or to be imprisoned for not more than ten days or both.
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The Police Department of the Town of Bloomsburg shall have the
authority to disperse persons, upon notice, who attend a Regulated
Social Gathering for which no permit has been obtained. Failure to
disperse shall be a violation of the Ordinance.
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Nothing in the Ordinance shall limit the Town of Bloomsburg from
filing an action in equity to enjoin a Regulated Social Gathering held
in violation of this Ordinance nor limit the Police Department from
making arrests for violation of the laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania and the ordinances of the Town of Bloomsburg.
Permits Distributed
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These are the five
locations where
Social Gathering
Permits were given
out for Block Party
2009.
Bloomsburg Police
Departments Mission
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Our mission is to Protect Life
and Property, to Serve the
Public with Integrity and
Professionalism and to
achieve an Atmosphere of
Mutual Respect and
Cooperation with All
Citizens. Since 1997 the
police have provide a highly
visible and professional
presence with the intent of
preserving law and order
during the weekend events.
Preventative Measures
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The Bloomsburg Police Department is the primary law
enforcement agency providing 24 hour-7 day a week, law
enforcement services to the citizens of the Town of Bloomsburg,
Columbia County, Pennsylvania. This year for Block Party the
Pennsylvania State Police assisted the Bloomsburg Police with
Uniformed Troopers, Vice, Aviation, the Mounted Unit and Liquor
Control Enforcement Officers helped assist in undercover alcohol
efforts. Area municipal police and other law enforcement agencies,
Columbia Montour SWAT, Columbia County Drug Task Force,
Columbia County Adult Probation and the Columbia County Sheriff
also assisted Bloomsburg Police pursuant to Title 42, Section 8953
of the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers Mutual Aid statutes.
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It is projected through this significant effort that injury and property
damage during the event are prevented or reduced.
At what price?
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The costs of Block Party for
2009 exceeded $18,000 for
municipal officers, state police
costs absorbed by state
police, mounted unit, vice,
uniformed troopers and LCE.
However money is not the
only thing lost during this
party. The town gives up its
streets, cleanliness, safety,
and sometimes even its
property.
Liter
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Trash is definitely an issue for
Block Party. Even with all the effort
that the town puts into get
dumpsters and trash dispensers,
garbage is still a problem. As
quoted from Norman Mael of the
Press Enterprise, “Did you walk
the streets of Bloomsburg on
Sunday? It was a shameful mess
of broken glass and empty cans
and bottles.”
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With thousands of students, and
even more beer containers, trash
is certainly an issue.
Battling The Trash
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To help with this problem
the Bloomsburg Police
sent out this letter to the
students of Bloomsburg
University asking them for
their help to clean up the
garbage that would pile up
from the weekend.
Because of this letter
some students did help
with the clean up.
Number of Arrests
Arrests During Block Party Weekend
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Violations
Underage
Traffic Warnings
Open Container
Disorderly Conduct
Traffic
Criminal Arrests
Public Drunkenness
DUI
Criminal Mischief
Scattering Rubbish
Noise Ordinance
DRE Evaluations
Arrests During Block Party Weekend
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Underage Alcohol Violations: 48
Traffic Warnings: 42
Open Container Violations: 21
Disorderly Conduct: 17
Traffic: 12
Criminal Arrests: 10
Public Drunkenness: 9
DUI: 3
Criminal Mischief: 1
Scattering Rubbish: 1
Noise Ordinance Violation: 1
DRE Evaluations: 1
Injuries That Occurred In 2009
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Numerous people
received cuts from
glass/bottles, nothing
from the ER that was
substantial though.
One officer from Scott
Twp injured his knee
during a scuffle with a
person involved in a
fight on East Street.
Non-Alcohol Events Held In
Bloomsburg During Block Party
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Students could go out to
places like the Grill and Chill
that was held by
Honeysuckle Student
Apartments. They had food,
a DJ, a Pie eating contest,
and a few other things for
students to do in a safe
environment. This offers kids
an alternative to going out
and drinking, which some
students clam is the only
thing to do.
Ways Bloomsburg Police Are Staying
Proactive With Block Party
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Here Bloomsburg allowed
venders to come in and
serve food to all the
participants of Block Party.
Serving food offers a way for
people to slow down from
the drinking, and offers the
body some nutrition and a
way to absorbed some of the
alcohol to help prevent over
intoxication. This also keeps
people full and happy.
Safety Letter to Students
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Here the Bloomsburg
Police went door to door in
the areas with the highest
concentration of students,
residents and locations
where students gather, and
provided them with this
letter on recommended
safety guidelines. If
students did not receive
this letter at their door
personally, they received
this letter through the mail,
or email.
Information Session
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This is a Block Party
Information sheet that
informed students, faculty,
community members, and
the media of a scheduled
meeting where they could
talk to board members and
ask them questions about
the guidelines and
procedures that would be
expected at Block Party.
Information Session Details To
The Board Members
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This is a letter that was
sent out to the board
members who would be
attending the information
session, listing a few
details about the day.
What To Expect
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34343343
This is another letter
that was sent out to the
board members letting
them know what to
expect of the
information session.
Other Agencies Who Assisted Or
Contributed To Helping With Block
Party
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Code EnforcementConducted safety and
fire inspections
Bloomsburg Fire DeptStayed on stand by and
foamed down the
dumpsters the night
before
Fire Police
Other Agencies Who Assisted Or
Contributed To Helping With Block
Party
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On-call Magistrate Judge
On call District Attorney
Adult Probation
Prison
Columbia County SheriffFor prisoner Transport
911 CenterAdditional Staff
Other Agencies Who Assisted Or
Contributed To Helping With Block
Party
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North Central Highway Safety
Town Public WorksClean up and garbage bags
Recycling CenterAdditional pick ups
Refuse HaulersEmpty dumpsters to prepare
for the trash generated by the
party
PENNDOTMessage Boards along roads
Other Agencies Who Assisted Or
Contributed To Helping With Block
Party
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Bloomsburg Hospital and
Greater Columbia MedicalFor injuries and alcohol
overdoses
Pennsylvania Liquor StoreTo prepare for the amount of
kids
Bloomsburg Greek Life and
Students
Landlords or Property
OwnersAsked to be visible
State Police Unites That Assisted
With Block Party
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State Police
Uniformed Troopers
State Police Mounted
Unit
State Police Vice
State Police
Motorcycle Unit
State Police liquor
Enforcement
Costs For The Additional
Assistance
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It is unknown how much money is
spent in addition to the $18,000
already spent for Block Party, for the
assistance and contributions that these
agencies provide.
Questions or Comments
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If you have any questions or
comments please feel free to contact
the Bloomsburg Chief of Police, Leo
Sokoloski, at (570) 784- 6779.