Like many, I was stunned Friday (July 6) to learn that a man was shot and killed in cold blood in the North View section of Clarksburg. Unlike many who may be reading this blog, it was personal – damn personal.

 

As many of you know and others do not, I’m from Clarksburg. I spent the first 31 years of my life living in the North View section of that city. Because of that, and because of the fact the shooting took place near the bakery in North View, I’m not only familiar with that section of the neighborhood, it’s a place I’m still going to as I’m entrenched firmly in middle age.

 

It’s on that corner I and dozens of others park our cars and head to the bakery after Sunday morning church services. Good folks, by the dozens, show up to get fresh hot bread and a pepperoni roll or six. Individuals of different faiths congregate after congregation for a little goodwill with their neighbors, outsiders and anyone else that happens to find their way into line, whether they go to church or not.

 

This type of generous interaction is the North View I know and remember. It is the North View of my youth, which isn’t unlike the place many of you reading this grew up or many places in Bridgeport today.

 

For me, North View has been an emotional sanctuary. It is a place where almost all of my childhood memories come from and a place where I created friendships that last to this day. The area where the July 7 murder took place is about 15 blocks from my home. Despite that distance, it was a place where for half of my sophomore year in high school I caught the school bus to Liberty High School. It is a place that I passed either on foot or on bicycle hundreds of times as a kid.

 

Distance was never an issue to our parents growing up in North View. They knew that there were too many good folks – most they had never met – that would be keeping an eye out for any kid no matter whether they were common to that section of North View or not. With an unofficial neighborhood patrol, most parents let their children go well beyond yelling distance and only had to know roughly where you were going to be; and that was well before the time when mobile phones even existed, let alone had GPS systems in them.

 

North View was a place of good times. I still speak fondly of it to this day and even take part in an annual Labor Day reunion at North View Park where those from far away return and those who never left re-acquaint. Folks that have gone away never forget North View, primarily because they don’t want to.

 

Now, I’m not so sure if those living in that section of this Harrison County city will try to wipe their memories of this little community out of their minds. While murders happen everywhere, including Bridgeport, this appears to be a cold-blooded shooting with a foothold in drugs.

 

You see, somewhere in the past 15 years and maybe even a little earlier than that, North View  went from tranquil community to a rural gangster’s paradise. Certainly not to the level as glorified on the big screen or in the big city, but the manner in which things have went from total peace to a somewhat uneasy form of chaos  is something that should keep all of us in all of our respective neighborhoods on guard.

 

While others may differ, I believe North View is suffering from a changing of the guard. The old guard that had lived there for decades, often times inheriting their homes from their own family, is dying off. Many of the younger children often have no vested interest in the community and have sold off the property or turned it into rental housing. What has resulted, in my eyes, is a new wave of residents with many of them having zero ownership to what the community represents. I can't vouch for landlords since I don't know a single one of them, but too often - and once is too often - the only ID required in a background check involves the face of a dead president looking at them on a piece of currency. Add to that a new wave of drug dealers, drug addicts and the associated problems that come with it and you have a situation ripe for what transpired on that corner in recent days.

 

After about 600-plus words you may be wondering what this has to do with Bridgeport. Well, nothing and everything.

 

While the demographics between North View and Bridgeport probably don’t mirror one another, let me assure you the quality of life, the camaraderie between neighbors and overall caring of property was for years something everyone was proud of. That’s something any neighborhood with any quality of living has as a common denominator. In North View, where my brother still lives, it’s going the other way.

 

And let me be very clear for those who don’t think something like this is impossible of happening in a section of Bridgeport - you’re kidding yourself.

 

Drugs are here. They have been for years. With Bridgeport sitting at the intersection of Interstate 79 and U.S. Route 50, it’s also sitting on an intersection on the national drug highway. Couple Bridgeport’s convenient location for drug dealers with issues involving prescription drugs, dope and the insanely disgusting new craze involving bath salts that almost every community has and I hope you understand why I draw a parallel of concern and that you do, too.

 

Again, if you don’t think drugs are here, you’re kidding yourself. It’s been almost four years since I last did an interview with the local drug task force. At that time, the official I talked with confirmed there were three crack houses in the city limits and four individuals who were utilizing the city’s hotel system for drug distribution.

 

Although that may have changed since my sabbatical from journalism,if it did chances are best that it only changed in location. To think that the drugs have just gone away is to think with a closed mind and to view things with tunnel vision. In other words, our citizenry has to stay vigilant, work with law enforcement and understand that things – unfortunately – take time to alleviate. The time between reporting potential drug dealing from areas and the time something is actually done often is way too long for many folks to be comfortable with That’s not law enforcement’s fault, but it’s the system in which our men and women in uniform have to work. And for anyone that doesn’t think those folks want the streets rid of drugs, once again, you’re kidding yourself.

 

Let me be clear that this isn’t a bashing of my old neighborhood. I jokingly say “I’m North View for Life,” and, when I think about it, that’s not a joke. Now, though, I know that my neighborhood has fell victim to leaches and other scum that took advantage of trusting, caring people that had set up homes in a community for decades. My old neighborhood can certainly turn things around, but the horse is out of the barn and getting it back in will be much more difficult than had the horse only needed to be calmed down inside it.

 

Bridgeport can avoid that. How? I don't have a definitive answer. I can only say to stay vigilant. Do whatever you can to make sure your memories of your neighborhood are as positive as mine.

 

I moved into an apartment in North View in 2002. I liked the neighborhood, because it reminded me of where my grandparents lived (Mather, PA), and where I spent a lot of my summers and weekends during school (we lived 15 minutes from them). I loved that everyone knew each other and watched out for one another. Plus, my husband lived right down the road from me. In 2004, I bought a house in North View down from Smitty's Pizza. I had wonderful neighbors, and I knew it was a place I would want to raise my kids. That was until 2009, after I had my twins. There were people moving into the neighborhood that I had never seen. I told my husband, if we were to let our boys play outside, we would have to fence-in our backyard w/vinyl fencing and be out with our boys while they played outside. We knew we could never let them ride their bikes to the park by themselves, or do the things that my husband did growing up in North View. We ended up selling our home and moving to Bridgeport. I know drugs can happen anywhere, and Jeff is right, just because you live in Bridgeport doesn't mean your safe from drugs. I'm aware of who comes in and out of our neighborhood and keep a close eye not only on our children, but our neighbors children, because you never know. We need to protect our communities, neighborhoods, our children, and our neighbors' children. We need to watch out for one another so that the future generations everywhere, i.e., Bridgeport, Clarksburg, North View, etc., can grow up in safe neighborhoods and make childhood memories that last a lifetime.

Posted by Julie Minnocci
Jul. 16, 2012 at 7:06 PM EST

My side and back yard became a photographer's temporary haven on Fri. July 6th as they took pictures of the crime scene Jeff speaks of, they were not allowed to cross the yellow taped off section that read "POLICE DO NOT CROSS". That was my and my neighbor's backyard, and we have the devastating experience everyday to share the same corner with these thugs and be on alert at all times. While my neighbor is more prepared for them, I feel uncomfortable to take the trash out. That is NOT how I choose to live life ! NorthView can be confusing to a normal person who is not familiar with it in the daytime, but in the dark and being on mind altering drugs one must feel like they are in a maze at least that is how I credit the young female who was trying to break my screen door down on a Friday evening just 2 weeks after the bust at Rosebud Plaza. She was persistent as I was speaking to her through 2 doors and then she gave up, now after knowing the facts, I have come to terms with she was trying to find the apartment where the shooting took place. The state needs to stop enabling people to live off the system forever, this is a big problem in this area especially, they sell drugs to make up the loss of income that they do not receive because they do not want to work, it is time for the system to do an overhaul, get rid of the life supported welfare recipients and maybe then our streets can be what they should be . There should also be a county wide renter's list made available to all landlords. Bad renters should be submitted by former landlords so that the next landlord knows to not allow these people to rent their properties and maybe once they can not get a cheap place they will vacate our city. I feel this is not an out of control situation YET, but if we sit as ducks it will be.

Posted by Mindy golden
Jul. 16, 2012 at 3:29 AM EST

I also have been watching the same thing happen to Stealy and the Park Blvd. area, as I spent a lot of time there growing up and knew every single person that lived there....friends or strangers, but you still knew who lived where.

Posted by Charles Moon
Jul. 14, 2012 at 5:17 PM EST

I was born and raised in North View. I have lived here all my life. I still live in North View, teach at North View Elementary School and attend Saint James Catholic Church. I guess you could say that North View is "in my blood!" It is still a great place to live. There are many rental housing units that bring in some drug dealers and other "undesireables." North View represents many older neighborhoods in our city, state, and country. The Clarksburg Police Department is renewing the "Neighborhood Watch" program once again. A meeting for the North View Neighborhood Watch is set for Thursday, July 19th at 7:30 PM at Saint James Parish Center on the corner of Goff Ave. and N. 21st St. If you live in North View or have relatives or friends living there, please consider attending to keep our neighborhood safe!

Posted by Michael Spatafore
Jul. 14, 2012 at 2:39 PM EST

I think the problem comes from rental housing. Just like Stealey, "homeplaces" are not big enough or nice enough for the "Younger" generation. Houses are being rented and the people renting them have no connection to the area so they don't care. They would not do this if they lived beside their Mom, Dad, neices, nephews. Whenever there is a drug bust in North View none of the people involved grew up there. Sorry to be crude but the saying "Don't pee in your Cheerios" seems to be exactly what is going on. They move away-to NV-so they are not contaminating their home neighborhoods. Breaks my heart-love it there & still have alot of family living there. Older people that may have a lot of prescription meds have to be esp careful. No more leaving doors unlocked! Grow up & go back to your own neighborhoods.

Posted by Kim Floyd
Jul. 14, 2012 at 12:35 PM EST

I was on vacation when I heard this news. I still have family in NV, so these drug/gang issues greatly concern me. I don't know what needs to be done, other than these bums being turned in (like mentioned before) by anyone that sees any sketchy activity. Jeff hit the nail on the head when talking about growing up in the 'View. As a child, I cannot think of a better place to have had the privelage to grow up in. It was, and still is in many ways, home to me. There was never a worry by my folks when I spent 8-10 hours a day at The Park (which offered up the premiere basketball pickup games in the county on a nightly basis). Everyone knew everyone, and it was just safe. Now, with the drugs and gangs, it's seemingly turning in to a war zone. It's a shame. A crying shame. The friendships I made and still have to this day, and the all the good times I had in the 'View are to numerous to count. I can only hope my sons have just a bit of that "fun" growing up here in our neighborhood. I hope and pray our local law enforcement is able to eventually win this colossal battle with all these drug/gun welding, out of town dirtbags. North View 4 LIFE!

Posted by John Minnocci
Jul. 14, 2012 at 11:48 AM EST

What has happened in North View, not just with the recent murder but it's overall decline over the last several years, is very sad. I also grew up in North View and carry the same fond memories of my childhood there. After being gone for 10 years, I was excited when my wife and I purchased a home just two blocks from the home I grew up in. My interest and draw to this neighborhood was based upon my experience there and the thought of my children enjoying the same North View I did. Unfortunately, it is not the same place, not by a long shot. Just like Jeff, I ran throughout NV as a kid and loved every minute of it. My kids don't have that privilege. I only allow them to play in our yard where I can keep a close eye on them. And the park that I spent most of my childhood in, "my park", they have spent very little time there because if I'm not there with them I just don't feel comfortable, not even a little. Now, I realize that our entire world has changed since I ran "The View", but that doesn't make it any easier...and it shouldn't. Mr. Toquinto is wise to write this blog for the Bridgeport Community. Take heed of what he says. Protect your community, what you have at present is special but it won't last forever if you don't guard it. Know your neighbors, watch your street, don't just turn the other way when you see something strange going on. Deal with it, don't just let it happen. If you do, it will be you sharing in the sadness with Jeff and I. And you will be making plans to leave the neighborhood you once loved...just as I am now.

Posted by Danny Knight
Jul. 14, 2012 at 11:08 AM EST

As a lifelong resident of North View, only living in Cali for 7 years, and moving back again recently, I can say that Im frustrated with the drug situation in MY neighborhood. The place that I grew up, where my mother used to yell for me to finally come in at night after playing outside all day and not worrying about a thing. We all stuck together. We were all family. I will do all I can to bring NV back to what it was, if even close to it. The North View for Life and North View Vigilantes groups on Facebook are a great place to start if you suspect any dealings going on in your section of North View. Report it, say something, you will remain anonymous forever. If we dont step up together as a neighborhood and do something about this, consider yourself just as guilty as those selling the drugs to our youth.

Posted by Curtis Marozzi
Jul. 14, 2012 at 10:34 AM EST

Where Are All Of Our Rivalries Going?

by John Antonik

From Prom Gallery Olivia Hrko and date