As you know, SABA survives and thrives on the generosity of neighbors who volunteer their time and energy. These volunteers have created and continued our many local traditions. Without them, our neighborhood would not be the wonderful place to live that it is. Unfortunately, over the past year, we have lost a number of important volunteers and we are need of finding their replacements. These positions include:

President
Civic Council Liaison
Newsletter Coordinator (and someone to arrange the layout for printing)
Block Captains
Event coordinators and volunteers
We might also me losing our Treasurer

SABA publishes a newsletter about the events and activities of the civic association and neighborhood. This newsletter is distributed to every household in the community twice a year. Usually this occurs in the fall and spring. Last year we did not write a newsletter in time for distribution in the fall, Therefore, we are trying to write and distribute one this winter.

The content of the newsletter typically includes a review of some recent SABA events, plans for upcoming events, updates on community projects, a list of officers and key volunteers, and information for contacting and donating to SABA. Other articles or submissions are welcome.

The next monthly SABA meeting will be this Wednesday night, Jan 13 at 7:30 to 9:00. We will meet at the house at Normandy Park. I will not be available to attend this meeting but I encourage all officers and neighbors to attend to discuss our current issues and events, especially since no one was able to attend the December meeting so progress was not made on them.

The agenda for the meeting is:

1. Update on Winter newsletter

2. Volunteers needed:
- Civic Council Liaison. Bill Davis had served in this position for several years
- Block Captains
- Newsletter coordinator
- Event coordinators

3. Update on plans to paint Normandy Park house

4. Memorial to Bill Davis for Normandy Park:
- Tree and bench
- Donations can be sent to SABA with "Bill Davis Memorial" on the memo line of the check

5. Discuss possibly applying for grant for the park through Fiskars company grant program. Info available at http://www.projectorangethumb.com/.

Hi everyone,

This Saturday, our neighborhood judges will be out taking a look at all the house decorations. They will select the 3 best decorated houses in the neighborhood. If you are interested in helping with the judging, please contact me.

This Sunday evening, 12/20, is the night for this year's Luminaria Night. We have luminaria bags and candles available for purchase. A set of 10 bags and 10 candles is only $5 and create a beautiful glow for your house. The sets are available at Diane Wilder's house at 807 Aubrey. There is a chest on her front porch so you do not need to call ahead. Simply leave a check for $5 made out to SABA in the envelope in the chest when you pick up your supplies.

Also, the Luminaria Night Celebration is this Sunday at Normandy Park from 5:00 to 7:30. Please come join your neighbors for a little holiday cheer, caroling, and more luminaria as we celebrate the season and the winter solstice. Please contact me if you are interested in volunteering for this event. We will announce the winners of the House Decoration Contest at the Luminaria Night Celebration

Hope to see you there as we all enjoy our neighborhood-wide celebration of light on one of the shortest days of the year.

Bill Gardner
SABA Volunteer Coordinator
wingardner AT earthlink.net

I just completed an upgrade of the SABA website to Drupal version 6. Most of the upgrade went well, and I wanted to give a brief list of major changes:

- I updated the voting system. Users can now vote on posts right from the front page, as well as comments made on posts.

- I blocked about 400 spammers who signed up here. If I accidentally blocked your account (you won't be able to log in if I did), please contact us and let us know what your account name is, and I'll fix it.

- I added better captchas around the site, to try and keep spammers from registering.

- Many many "under the hood" fixes, which should make the site faster and more responsive.

Enjoy!

-- Doug

(posting for my friend Em) Barbara Felicetti, 606 Woodcrest Ave

Ming! Beautiful, sweet, playful young female black cat looking for a home.

Here's a photo:

Meet Ming! Ming is a long, lean beautiful black female cat, with a little tuft of white hair on her chest, and striking yellow eyes. She is sweet and enjoys being around people, and also doing her own thing. She loves to chase balls and run around, but her favorite toy is a feathered bird called Showgull. She likes to sleep in a comfy green cat bed and loves her cathouses. Ming enjoys the company of people and likes to sit on laps and be pet and make lots of biscuits (a cute way to describe kneading).

Everyone is invited to a mini craft fair at 818 Aubrey Avenue to kickstart your holiday shopping. Items available will include (but are not limited to) handmade jewelry, jams and jellies, stamped tile coasters, various cappuccino and tea drink mixes, sets of stamped cards, mixes for dips & spreads, stamped napkins, soaps, and more. You will also be able to "order" stamped projects (sets of cards, coasters, napkins, candles, etc.) that will be available before Christmas. This craft fair is co-hosted by Melanie Brown and Jan Mulberger.

If you have any questions feel free to call Melanie at 610.896.7730. Hope to see you there!

It is with a heavy heart that I share this news with you. Many of you know Bill Davis from his very active participation in SABA. He and his family have been very involved in and committed to our community for many years. His mother was active in the Ardmore Manor Civic Association, the predecessor to SABA. Bill has served as SABA's liaison to the Haverford Township Civic Council for many years. The Civic Council is the organization that brings together all the civic associations from across the township. The issues, concerns, and goals for each neighborhood are merged into an overall vision for our township wide community. Bill has been an invaluable source of ideas, compassion, enthusiasm, and action.

The township will be picking up/vacuuming leaves in our neighborhood on Wed Nov 4. The second pick-up will be Mon/Tues Nov 23 and 24.