City Folk Make Friends With Their Neighbors Preparing for Y2K

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Some of the group's first projects were to create a phone directory of people living on the street and to distribute a survey to find out about residents' chronic illnesses and other special needs.

Then the residents divided up the task of researching Y2K. Some questioned public utilities about their contingency plans. Others spoke with city officials. The residents of Catherine Street maintained a presence at city Y2K hearings by sending a delegate from their group.

Fred Lane recalls serving as the voice of his neighbors during a public utility meeting about Y2K. 'I had probably a half-dozen questions the group wanted me to ask, and then at the next meeting of course I reported back on what [the utility representatives] had said.'

The neighbors also share information based on their individual areas of expertise. Lane, a computer consultant, has spoken about Y2K's potential effects on personal computers. Watts, a plumber, will soon be teaching his neighbors how to drain their water pipes.

A quiet, residential street, Catherine Street is located seven blocks from Burlington's Main Street. Burlington, on Lake Champlain, is Vermont's largest city, with approximately 30,000 residents. The residents have found that preparing for Y2K has brought them together in more ways than one. 'What happens usually,' said Lane, 'is people will bring up other neighborhood issues [at the meetings].' A new city composting plan, the proposal to build a supermarket, ideas to reduce the speed of traffic cruising down Catherine Street are all issues the neighborhood group has discussed over supper.

Lane said the mild crisis posed by Y2K has led to better neighbor relations and created a social group that very well may continue to meet after Jan. 1. 'I think this is taking on a life of its own,' he said. 'At the end of each meeting, there's a real effort by us to find another time to get together.'

As for Catherine Street's Y2K readiness, Haggart said, 'We're all prepared for a couple days of something. Maybe just celebrating.'

Lane said he and his wife are having a celebratory brunch on New Year's Day, and the whole street is invited.

Contacts: Beth Haggart, Upper Catherine Street Neighbors Y2K Group, Burlington, Vt., 802-660-2764. Lanny Watts, Upper Catherine Street Neighbors Y2K Group, Burlington, Vt., 802-862-3392. Fred Lane, Upper Catherine Street Neighbors Y2K Group, Burlington, Vt., 802-862-3392.

COPYRIGHT 1999 The American News Service, 289 Fox Farm Road, Brattleboro , VT 05301. For further information, please call 1-800-654-NEWS or e-mail info@americannews.com.

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