Taken by Nadine Mikell, Secretary. Typed up by Maryann, who apologizes to Nadine for anything she couldn't read.

Call to order. The meeting was called to order at 11:07 a.m. on Maryann Townsel's front porch by the President. Mrs. Effie Bates opened with a prayer and a reminder to the young men present to take off their hats.

Present (19): Maryann Townsel, Marsha Washington, Nadine Mikell, Lillie Seay, Effie Bates, Arnold Connors, Frank Staub, Virginia Stanfield, George Byrne, Melva Chavez, Craig Clouser, Darryl Flowers, Janet Castro, Christian Ledford, Elizabeth Lloyd, Adam Slagle, and three young people who came for the doughnuts and stayed: Stacie, Kara and Joseph.

Minutes of the August 14 meeting were read and approved. (Motion: Frank Staub. Second: Melva Chavez.)

Treasurer's report (Lillie Seay):

Report accepted. Mrs. Seay reminded everyone that nine households still owe 1999 dues and that she knows which nine.

OLD BUSINESS

1. Block party wrap-up. 120 back-to-school bags were given out on August 21, and we ran out of folders at the end, so next year we buy more folders. Thanks to Darryl Flowers for the grill and the music, to Janet Castro for the double-dutch contest, to Marsha Washington and her sister for the potato salad, and to Stacie, Kara and Joseph for stuffing all 120 bags on the Thursday before. Darryl said he'd do it again next year if somebody else brings the charcoal. Craig Clouser volunteered to bring the charcoal.

2. Garden report. Mr. Connors reported that the tomatoes are about done, the collards will be good until a hard frost, and the peppers "are showing off." The watering can that went missing in August was returned to his porch with no explanation. He would like everyone to know he knows who it was. Thanks to Elizabeth Lloyd for weeding every Sunday this summer.

3. Vacant houses. The city boarded up the yellow house at the end of the block and the two-family across from the garden in August. Three houses on the block are still open. Maryann called the city again on September 7 and has a complaint number for each. Adam Slagle reported that he closed on the brick house next to his mother's in July and is fixing it up himself, one room at a time. The meeting gave him a round of applause. He said to hold off until it has a furnace.

4. Yard of the Month. September goes to Mrs. Effie Bates for her mums. Mrs. Bates said she was honored and that Frank Staub could come pick up the sign from her yard in October himself.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Angels' Night, October 29-31. Craig Clouser has agreed to be our patrol captain again. He will register our patrol with the precinct's community relations office and pick up the window signs for the cars. We need two cars on each shift, three shifts a night, three nights. That's 36 seats. As of today 13 are filled, and some of those are the same people twice. Sign-ups at the October meeting, by e-mail, or on Craig's porch. Marsha will make a flyer reminding every house to keep porch lights on from dusk to dawn all three nights, and to clear old furniture, leaves and trash off porches and out of yards. The rules are on the Angels' Night page.

2. Street light. The light at the corner by the garden has been out since August. Christian Ledford will report it again to the city.

3. Halloween. Same as every year: porch light on means you're giving out candy, porch light off means you're not, but on Angels' Night everybody's porch light is on, so please have some candy anyway. Children trick-or-treat with an adult, on our block and the two next to it, done by dark.

4. Snow shoveling. Virginia Stanfield asked about the snow list for this winter. Nadine will make a list of seniors who want their walks shoveled and young people who want to earn $5 a walk. Joseph signed up on the spot. So did George Byrne, who is 72, and was told no.

Next meeting: Saturday, October 9, 11:00 a.m., in the church basement. Please bring a canned good for the church pantry.

Adjourned at 12:22 p.m. (Motion: Arnold Connors, who wanted to get back to his chair. Second: everybody.)

Respectfully submitted,
Nadine Mikell, Secretary