Pubdate: Thu, 25 Dec 2008 Source: Florida Today (Melbourne, FL) Copyright: 2008 Florida Today Contact: http://www.floridatoday.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/532 Author: Susanne Cervenka NEIGHBORS ALL DECKED OUT TO COMBAT CRIME Sick Of Illicit Activities, Community Shows It Cares Via Holiday Lights Carl Gerhart knows some people refer to his street as "Stinkin' Lincoln" and consider it a place to find drugs or prostitutes. But Gerhart and a band of neighbors want to send Melbourne a message that they are turning around their East Lincoln Avenue community. And they're spelling it out in Christmas lights. "We want to change that persona," said Gerhart, who has lived on this street for five years. "We want people to know that we do care and this is a great place to live." Neighbors along about a three-block stretch of East Lincoln Avenue decided to decorate for the holiday. It's the first time Gerhart remembers the street doing so. The decorations aren't over the top: a Santa here, a snowman there and strings of Christmas lights sprinkled everywhere. The street looks like almost any other in the county. That's the point, residents say. Holiday decorations are common in neighborhoods free of crime. "People don't put lights on a crack house," said Erik Germain, who decorated his home for the first time since moving in three years ago. The work that inspired the holiday cheer started months ago. Tired of seeing drug and prostitution deals in front of their homes, East Lincoln Avenue residents came together in July to form a community watch. With the support of City Hall and police, residents have shut down five drug houses. Melbourne Councilwoman Kathy Meehan, whose district includes Lincoln Avenue, said it is great to see neighbors come together. "Anything we can do for prevention, I'm all for it," she said. Then came the idea to decorate. About 10 homes of the three dozen in the 600 to the 800 block of East Lincoln Avenue have decorated this year. Patti Walsh, who lives on Lincoln Avenue with her husband, Germain, said she anticipates her neighborhood will be the next area to bloom in historic downtown Melbourne."I think it's worth fighting for," she said. - --- MAP posted-by: Doug