Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 4 · column 1 of 3 · from the scan, no model involved
No loitering
Action was taken this week to curb the growing problem of loitering around the Post Office and Trinity Church parking lot in Washington.
For many years, youngsters have congregated in that area to talk, ride their bicycles and skateboards, and socialize.
But according to numerous complaints, the problem this time is different. The group is older, and their conduct has grown increasingly outrageous. Women walking to the Post Office have been subjected to sexual innuendo, and customers of The Inn at Little Washington have been treated to insulting remarks as they walked from their cars to the restaurant.
It is unfortunate that the property owners in that area had to resort to the service of trespass notices against the individuals responsible, but apparently repeated requests to the loiterers to curb their behavior failed to get any results.
We understand that young people in this area are often at a loss for places to go and things to do.
But that is no excuse for conduct which offends the sensibilities of other people who live here. There is no good reason why residents should be kept awake at night by loud talk, blaring music and raucous behavior.
And visitors to the town’s businesses, whether they be shops or restaurants, have the right to walk the streets without being subjected to taunts and insults.
By all accounts, most of the abuse is directed at visitors rather than residents. We suppose the offenders feel comfortable in that anonymity, realizing that their victims don’t know them, or their families.
We wonder how they would feel if they, their mother or their sister, were subjected to the same type of behavior when they visited another town? What would they think of that town, and its residents?
We suspect they wouldn’t like it one bit.
Washington’s residents and visitors don’t think much of it either — and it’s past time for those responsible to clean “up their acts.
96.1%