Andover Glen’s Family Hawaiian Block Party!

By Debra Jones

Were getting ready for the Block Party and we hope you are too!  The location is easy – follow Dillon Street or Layton Drive until you run into the barricades.

We will be offering Hawaiian wings and grilled pineapple, soda pop and bottled water. We are unable to offer alcoholic beverages, but you are allowed to bring your own.  We would like to ask the homeowners with odd house numbers to bring your favorite finger food and the homeowners with even numbers to bring your favorite dessert.  We will have tables set up for the food.  Paper plates, silverware and napkins will be provided.  Don’t forget to bring your chairs and ware your favorite Hawaiian shirt, dress or grass skirt!!

We will have a best drink contest, karaoke contest and the best Hawaiian outfit contest.  If you would like to enter the best drink contest, you will need to bring all of your substances to make the drink.  Your drink can be made with alcohol or non-alcoholic substance. The winners of each contest will receive a

$10.00 gift card.

So come spend a few hours meeting your neighbors. Enjoy tasty food and drinks and have a little fun with the contests.You do not need to bring a food dish or dress Hawaiian to come to the party.  If you have any questions or concerns, please call Debra at 303-690-9459 or e-mail me at debsew79@msn.com. ~

“Time to Spiff up the Glen”

By Fred and Ethel Mallard

We are amazed by all the pounding of nails, brushing of paint, planting and mulching going on in our neighborhood.  AG looks as inviting as ever which is why we continue to return here in the spring to raise another family.   This year we had 11 ducklings and want to thank the Brantley’s for a lovely nesting spot and the Stellmon’s for the use of their pond for our spa retreat.  If you want to see our kids at play, stop by the pond just to the west of Parker Rd. at Temple, we’re there till late fall. We have recommended to the AG Board that all your efforts be rewarded once again with the Spiff Awards at the Annual Homeowner’s Meeting in September.  They have decided to honor the winners with a $25 gift certificate and homes will be judged in the following categories:

Spiffin’ up the Glen, continued on page 2

Spiffin’ up the Glen, continued from page 1

Plan on having your home improvement and landscaping projects approved and completed by August 31, 2008.  Judging will be done by the AGHA Board members the first week of September, 2008.  More than 30 Architectural/Landscaping Change Requests have been submitted and approved since last fall which is a positive indicator that your homeowners take great pride in their homes and neighborhood.

Maintaining 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. Last years winners included the homes of the Adams, Englestead’s, Johnson’s, Keating’s and Williams. We hope you are a winner this year! ~

Meet your AG Board: A profile of Board Member Anne Stellmon

Larry, my husband of 39 years, and I landed in Andover Glen in March 1995 after spending 20+ years roaming the world courtesy of the USAF.  We have lived in exotic places like Valdosta, GA, Manhattan KS, Las Vegas NV and Upper Heyford, United Kingdom but there’s no place like home.  I grew up in Aurora and am a product of Kenton Elementary School, Aurora Central HS (I served three times as an Aurora City Councilman for Student Day in Government) and CU Boulder. Our youngest son Eric (31, single and very eligible) graduated from Smoky Hill HS and Mines now resides in Albuquerque NM.  Scott, our oldest, is married to Kandice and they live in San Mateo CA.

My resume includes working for the Cherry Creek School District as a secretary at Laredo Middle School for too many years. Currently, I am doing what I love and love what I am doing as a docent at the Denver Art Museum.  I have been associated with the DAM for five years, specializing in the Western Art Collection.  I am always available to give my friends and neighbors in AG a private tour!

If I’m not at the DAM, you might see me biking around Cherry Creek State Park or looking for my golf game; this old dog is trying to learn a new trick.  Bringing good things to women through MaryKay cosmetics is also a part-time endeavor of mine.

Since living in AG, Larry and I have spent time on Norm Arlt’s Mulch Brigade, being hosts for the AG Holiday party and the AG Common Grounds monthly coffee.  While serving on the Board for three years as Secretary, I have also been a member of the Architectural Change Committee, helped with the Spiff Awards and am currently the chairperson for the Covenant Review Committee.

Andover Glen is a lovely neighborhood that is aging gracefully due to the high level of commitment to our community by our residents.  Challenges facing our community include water conservation, economic conditions that affect our budget, neighborhood and home preservation, safety and security for our residents. We have come to expect wise, prudent and steady leadership from our Board of Directors and I am confident that with the continued support of our residents the Board will guide us thoughtfully through these challenges. It gives me great pleasure to work and play among friends and colleagues, all of whom I call my neighbors. ~

Common Grounds Coffee Club offers and Uncommonly Neighborly time…

The Common Grounds Coffee Club meets around the Glen monthly and offers a great chance to relax and enjoy pleasant conversation and share some laughs with your neighbors. It meets next on August 29^th at Peg Brantley’s at 10 a.m. Please RSVP to ML Hanson at MLHanson-consultant@comcast.net. Hope to see you there!

Common Grounds Coffee Club in July, celebrated Susan Stracy’s Birthday.

Community Gardening is a win-win activity

By Derrick Laughlin

Are you tired of paying for the evering increasing cost of water to keep our common area lawns in Andover Glen a light green and brown and never getting any benefit from that expenditure? Well how about staking your claim or plot in a Community Garden?

The following is information courtesy of the Municipal Research and Services Center in Washington regarding Community Gardens, their benefits both for the community as a whole and for a given family/plot owner. http://www.mrsc.org/Subjects/Parks/comgarden.aspx#About

Community gardens can assist in promoting healthy communities and providing food for your home at an eventual decreased economic cost.  The gardens and those who participate in community gardening contribute to the preservation of our common areas and create sustainable uses of the space. Community gardens can also strengthen community bonds and create recreational and therapeutic opportunities for a community. They also promote environmental awareness and provide community education. Talk about reducing your carbon footprint! Needless to say, there is a wealth of information about community gardens to sift through. The question is whether this community would be interested in establishing a garden habitat. Please visit: http://www.communitygarden.org.au/start/making.html to educate yourself on the pros, cons and commitment needed for such a garden. I would welcome your input on the topic, good or bad as to your interest for a plot, what you might lend to the Glen regarding your gardening expertise and what additional benefits you may see in this type of program.

I would encourage you to research this topic starting with the link above or visit one of these gardens right here in Denver. Please email myself or Anne Stellmon with your comments at cusleuth@comcast.net or astellmon@yahoo.com. Break out your hoes and spades! ~

Special Feature Article:

What’s Hot & What’s Not in Bathroom Design

Submitted by Donna Foerster, GRI

Keller Williams Action Realty, LLC

Knowing what’s in and what’s out in bathroom design is important for homeowners deciding just where to spend their makeover dollars, “explained Celebrity Interior Designer Will Smith.  “I suggest they look at four key areas: the mirror, paint, hardware and lighting. 

Bathroom Mirror

What’s Out: Unframed mirrors are a thing of the past. What’s In:  A frame completes the mirror and gives a bathroom a finished, updated look

Paint

What’s Out:  Paint is never out.  It is a tried and true way to make a big impact with little cost.  Colors do change though: you’ll want to stay away from mauves and pinks. What’s In:  Create a spa-like setting with paints in beige and pale tones. 

Hardware What’s Out:  Mismatched hardware gives the room an uncoordinated feel.  Brass finishes also add to a dated look. What’s In: Choose brushed nickel, pewter, antique or oil rubbed bronze finished that coordinate with the lighting and fixtures

Lighting

What’s Out: Take down that bright Hollywood lighting that casts a harsh light. What’s In:  Go with a fixture that adds beauty and soft lighting with shades of sconces. 

“You don’t need to do a full scale renovation to get the look of an updated bath,” added Smith.  “Some strategic and cost-effective changes can go a long way to giving you the look you desire.”

This article was published on July 14, 2008 in Realty Times Real Estate News and Advice, it is written by Peter L. Mosca

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