It’s Spiffin’ Time Again in the Glen…

By Anne Stellmon

As Fred and Ethel Mallard made their final barrel roll of the season over Andover Glen, they had their sights set on bountiful gardens, bucolic landscapes and bedecked homes.  “Ethel, the Glen is a jewel of a neighborhood, the perfect setting for raising our family,” said Fred.  “Look at those humans pushing wheelbarrows, moving mulch, planting flowers, hammering and sawing away.  They love their homes and neighborhood as much as we do,” replied Ethel.

To emphasize Fred and Ethel’s view of the Glen, “Spiff Awards” will once again be presented at the Annual Homeowner’s Meeting in September.  This year categories will include:  Best Use of Color, Best Use of Xeriscape, Best Landscaping, Best Architectural Improvement, Best Overall and Darn Nice House.  $25 garden center gift certificates will be awarded to the category winners plus the Darn Nice House winner will also receive a $25 dining gift certificate. 

Plan on having your home improvement and landscaping projects approved and completed by August 31, 2007 because judging will be done by the AGHA Board members the first week of September, 2007.  More than 25 Architectural/Landscaping Change Requests have been submitted and approved since last fall which is a positive indicator that our homeowners take great pride in their homes and neighborhood.

Maintaining our lawns and gardens is a challenge due to watering restrictions and the increased cost of water but Andover Glen residents always find a way to respond to that challenge. Andover Glen is aging gracefully thanks to the efforts of homeowners who have replaced roofs, windows, fences, paint and concrete.  Congratulations to previous winners who have met the challenge and enhanced not only their own property but the overall quality of life in the Glen.  Previous Spiff Award winners include the homes of the Adams, Brantley’s, Estes, Freeh’s, Harrington’s, Johnson’s, Keating’s, Miller’s, Shields and Stracy’s. ~ 

Your Association Needs You!

There will be no less than 5 vacancies coming up on the AG Board this fall! If you’ve ever thought about serving your neighborhood, this would be a great year to take the plunge! Contact any current Board Member for more details.

Special Feature Article:

Bright Ideas for Your Bathroom:

10 great lighting tips

By Donna Foerster, GRI

Keller Williams Action Realty, LLC

The glorious new tub, the beautiful new fixtures, and the sleek countertops always get top billing in the bathroom remodel.  But don’t forget one of the players most worthy of the spotlight - - the lighting.

Lighting designers say a mix of different lighting types is essential in the bathroom to help blend all the bathrooms elements and create a unified look.

Unlike other rooms of the house, the bathroom is crammed with an assortment of materials and finishes - - wall tile, floor tile, faucet hardware, towel bars, wallpaper and paint, all in a space often smaller than 100 square feet.

There are three general types of lighting: general lighting provides overall illumination; task lighting provides light for a specific task, like reading, homework, and computer work; and accent lighting puts the spotlight on a piece of art, plants, or other favorite possession.

Lighting experts suggest you focus on all the elements of the bathroom, including:

And if you’re afraid you might overdo the lighting, don’t be.  You can never have too much light in the bathroom.  It’s easy to install a dimmer control to reduce the amount of light to create a mood. ~

Coyote sightings increase

From the City of Aurora

Coyotes have long served an important role in Colorado ecosystems by controlling populations of mice, voles, snakes, insects, and more, but it can sometimes be scary to see one near your home. Recently, residents living close to some of Aurora’s parks, trails, golf courses, and open space areas have reported an increase in sightings.

A coyote’s behavior is shaped by its natural instinct and by human opportunity created in its environment. If you see a coyote, there is no need for alarm. Coyotes rarely attack humans. The best way to avoid negative contacts with coyotes is to keep local coyotes wild. NEVER feed a coyote, either intentionally or by leaving dog food on your porch. A fed coyote is an aggressive one.

If you live near or adjacent to a park, trail, golf course, or natural area:

If by chance you are approached by a coyote:

If you see or suspect someone is feeding a coyote immediately contact Parks and Open Space staff at 303-326-8948. Remember – the key to coexisting is to respect the wildness of wildlife. ~

City Maintains Sex Offender Registry

From the City of Aurora

Recently, a number of residents have received advertisements at their home stating that a sex offender has moved into the area and instructing them to visit a website for more information, often resulting in a fee to the resident.

As a public safety measure, the city of Aurora maintains a free sex offender registration on its website. The site includes information on individuals required to register as a sex offender, who have listed an Aurora address as their place of residence and who are in compliance with the sex offender registration law. Sex offenders that have not complied with the registration requirements are not listed on this site. This information is available at no cost to the public.

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Sex Offenders…continued from page 3

Residents can access the site by logging on to www.auroragov.org, then clicking on Departments, then Police, and then Registered Sex Offender. Residents can then enter their

address, generating a map that identifies the

locations of registered sex offenders in the area. By clicking on the identified locations, residents have access to pertinent information on the sex offender, including photographs, addresses and offenses.

The Aurora Police Department Sex Offender Registry includes only those persons who have been required by law to register and who are in compliance with the sex offender registration laws. Residents should not rely solely on the sex offender registry as a safeguard against perpetrators of sexual assault in their communities.

A printed version of the list of the city of Aurora’s Registered Sex Offenders by contacting the Aurora Police Records Section at (303) 739-6308. There is a fee for the printed copy. ~

If you have an ad or notice you’d like to place in the Gazette under the Neighbor to Neighbor section, please contact Randy Simpson at rgatess@yahoo.com