Andover Glen’s Family Hawaiian Block Party a tasty hit!

By Debra Jones

We had a beautiful sunny day and some very nice neighbors who helped set everything up, which made the day a big success.  We blocked off one block of Layton Drive with barricades. Then tables were set up for food on the sidewalk in front of the Estes home. Across the street between the Laughlin’s and Stellmon’s home was a canopy with a table and chairs were set up.  Derrick Laughlin set up his Tiki Bar with music and a karaoke machine in front of the canopy, which set the stage. Several homeowners came out to enjoy good food, drink and mingle with the neighbors.

Derrick and Anne do Karaoke!

The Best Hawaiian outfit contest winner was Linda Adams, Karaoke contest winner was Ted Williams and the Best Drink contest winner was Pete O’Meara.  Each of the contest winners won a $10.00 gift card to Starbucks Coffee.  The City of Aurora donated several water saving items that we raffled off.  Fun was had by one and all.  If you missed the Block Party, we’re sorry that you did, but no worries it’ll be back next year. I personally want to thank everyone who helped. I couldn’t have done it without you! ~

A new face on the AGHA Board, and a long-term Board Member steps down…

By Randy Simpson

At the annual AGHA meeting in September, two current Board Members, Randy Simpson and Anne Stellmon were elected back onto new 3-year terms on the Board, and one new member, Carl Miller, was also elected to a 3-year term. Long-term Board member, Norm Arlt, stepped down from his Board position after serving 12 years. Norm’s presence on the Board will be greatly missed, as he added a wealth of wit, wisdom, and institutional history to each board meeting. Norm was honored at the annual meeting with the ROYAL ORDER OF THE LOYAL SOLDIER award for his years of service to the community. The award included a gift card to REI.  Norm said he is still interested in doing volunteer service for the community but looking forward to more time for his mountaineering club. On behalf of the entire neighborhood, we wish Norm all the best, and give him a sincere “Thank you!”

Also of note at the annual meeting:  4 AGHA were honored with Spiff Awards for keeping their properties looking their best. They received $25 Home Depot gift cards. The properties were:  Best Xeriscape-14205 E. Layton Dr., Best Update-4843 S. Crystal,     Best Remodel-14143 E. Layton Dr., and        Best Darn House-14324 E. Saratoga Pl.

The complete minutes from the Annual Meeting are available on the web at www.andoverglen.org. ~

Meet your AGHA Board: A profile of Debra Jones…

By Debra Jones

I am a Colorado native.  I grew up in Aurora with 1 sister, 3 brothers and a very large cat (22 lbs) named Kitty!  I met my husband Rick of 33 years through one of my brothers at his auto body shop.  The next year I graduated from Central High School, and three months later we were married.  Four years later we had a beautiful daughter Julie Ann.  We purchased our second home in Hutchinson Heights a year before our daughter was born and we lived there for 19 years.  Rick is a co-owner of a commercial plumbing company and with all of the driving he does through town, he just happened to venture through Andover Glen, which he liked very much.  We looked at 2 homes that were for sale, but they sold before we could make an offer on them.  Then the home we now live in came up for sale and 9 years later here we are.  In talking with one of our neighbors, I was asked to run on the Board.  I agreed and here I am.  While serving on the Board for three years as Social, I have planned two Holiday parties and a third one coming up soon.  I schedule and plan the Dumpster Days, Truck Shredder, Garage Sale, Ice Cream Social at the Annual Board meeting, Block Party and a dud of an Easter Egg Hunt.  I guess you can’t win them all.  I’m also a member of the Architectural Change Committee.

I have been in the Customer Service field for over 30 years and I’m currently working part time.  I also have a second part time job - watching my grandson Collin a couple days a week.  He has brought such delight to our family and everyone he meets. Another one of my loves is quilting.  Rick and I enjoy riding our motorcycles, he drives, I ride. We also like to take cruises.  We feel very fortunate to be apart of Andover Glen and have made several life long friendships.

Debra Jones & grandson Collin David

“Common Grounds” Coffee Club

 & Cookie Exchange on November 21st

It wouldn’t be the Holiday Season without a spectacular selection of cookies to share with family and friends.  Since the last Friday of  November is the day after Thanksgiving, Debra Jones will host the Common Ground Coffee Club and Cookie Exchange on November 21^st.  To RSVP call ML Hanson at 303-627-4044 or Debra at 303-690-9459. 

2008 Holiday Party on Saturday, December 13th…

By Debra Jones

After last years Holiday Party, I have had many requests to offer another Progressive Holiday Party this year.  For those who missed last year’s party, folks started out the evening for cocktails at one home, and “progressed” through the evening to dinner at another home, and then ending with desserts and refreshments at another home.  This event requires six homeowners to host the evening events.  If you would like to host one of the events or if you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me at 303-690-9450 or email me at debsew79@msn.com. ~

Keep those gutters and downspouts flowing this year…

Submitted by Donna Foerster, GRI

Keller Williams Action Realty, LLC

This article was written by John Riha, Move, Inc.

Gutters and downspouts work hard to protect your house from moisture damage.  If gutter leak or downspouts are clogged, water can spill out and accumulate near foundations, soaking the soil and causing foundation walls to settle.  In worst-case scenarios, moisture-laden soil presses in on basement walls, causing bulging and cracking.  Water can even be forced inside by means of hydrostatic pressure.  Keeping gutters and downspouts in good condition requires regular maintenance.  It is recommended that homeowners do this chore twice a each year – in spring and in the fall.

Steps to clean your gutters

Repairing gutters

Install new hangers to hold gutters firmly in place.  Typically, gutters are attached with straps, hangers or long nails inserted through metal collars – a system called “spikes and ferrules.”

Don’t bother replacing straps, re-nailing old spikes or adding new spikes.  Because you must pry up roofing materials to replace straps, it’s easier to make repairs using individual gutter hangers with self-tapping screws, available at home improvement centers.  Also replace spikes with gutter screws and matching ferrules.

Fix leaks

Fix leaks at seams with silicone sealer.  Although patch kits are available for repairing rust holes in steel gutters, the patches will prove to be only temporary.

Replacing gutters

If you need to replace your gutter, steel gutters generally perform better than aluminum or vinyl.  Aluminum gutters move too much during weather changes.  The expansion and contraction causes nails and screws to loosen up.  Also, vinyl comes in 10-foot lengths, meaning there are lots of seams to be sealed. Both steel and aluminum can be installed without intermittent seams, and the best steel gutters feature baked-on enamel finished with 40-year warranties.

A safety tip

Remember that gutter maintenance often means working on a ladder.  As you work, make safety a priority.  Make sure your ladder is firmly planted, and don’t stretch to make repairs. ~

Launch a fun fall season at the City of Aurora “Jack-O-Launch”

By Randy Simpson

Have you ever seen a pumpkin sailing hundreds of feet through the air, launched by strange group of individuals manning an even stranger looking contraption? If you haven’t, and would like to, don’t miss this years City of Aurora Jack-O-Launch to be held on Saturday, October 11^th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Delaney Farm, just north of Alameda Avenue and Chambers Road. This fun and wild event will also feature great food, hayrack rides, a pumpkin patch, scarecrow making, a petting zoo, the musical group “Opie Gone Bad,” and a whole heck of a lot more. This has become a premiere event in the Metro Area, and is definitely a Fall Event you don’t want to miss. Parking is very limited at Delaney Farm, so a free and convenient shuttle service will be available from the Aurora Town Center mall center (formerly the Aurora Mall). So mark you calendar for Saturday, October 11^th, and make a date to have FUN!

If you have an ad you’d like to place in the Gazette or even an informative article, please contact Randy Simpson at rgatess@yahoo.com

Special Safety Tip: One of our neighbor’s dogs was recently sickened by bones that were tossed over the fence into their backyard. While this may or may not have been done maliciously, for health, diet, and safety concerns, please be sure to check with your neighbors before feeding their pets any sort of treat.