City promotes Neighborhood Nights

At Monday's regular meeting, Cape Girardeau's city council and Mayor Jay Knudtson will officially designate October as Neighborhood Nights month.

The main point is for Cape Girardeau residents "to get to know their neighbors," said Heather Brooks, assistant to the city manager. She's coordinating the effort.

Vision 2020 and the City of Cape Girardeau co-sponsor Neighborhood Nights. They define neighborhoods as "a street, a few houses or even an apartment building."

The city is giving free starter kits to residents. Each folder includes tips on hosting block parties or other gatherings, from nature walks to service projects. The kit also includes coupons, fill-in-the-blank invitations and sheets to record names and addresses of neighbors who attend, as well as a Neighborhood Watch booklet.

Brooks said residents who plan ahead can register for a police car or fire engine to visit their events.

"As long as there are no crimes or fires, we'll send them," she said. Since the city started Neighborhood Nights four years ago, she said, the fire engine visits have been hugely popular with children.

Brooks said the month-long event happened almost by accident.

The city originally wanted to join the National Night Out movement, "but it kept falling on election night," she said.

She said city officials chose October for Neighborhood Nights so residents could schedule around other activities. It doesn't have to be a nighttime event, she said.

Brooks said the city hopes to see a record number of registrations, as well as photos from previous years' parties.

For details, call Brooks at 334-1212 or pick up a starter packet at city hall, 401 Independence St..

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127