Get Ready For Some Serious Spring Cleaning in the Glen!

By Debra Jones  

Though our winter (for the most part!) as been overall pretty mild, we’re all anxious to get outside, enjoy the outdoors again, and do some spring cleaning. In that spirit, there are two annual events here in Andover Glen that you’ll want to take note of: our neighborhood garage sale and first “Dumpster Days” weekend of the year.

Garage Sale Weekend: May 29 & 30^th

The Andover Glen Garage Sale will be Friday, May 29^th and Saturday, May 30^th. We moved the date to correspond with Woodgate’s Garage Sale.  The Board decided last year to change the date so that it will bring more shoppers into our Garage Sale, as Woodgate has many more homes, and their shoppers always spill over into our neighborhood anyway. Additionally, this will mean only one weekend of extra traffic through our neighborhood. The Garage Sale will be well advertised, so be ready for those early shoppers.  I have noticed in the past years that people start coming around as early as 7:00 a.m.  If you have any questions, suggestions or concerns, please contact me at debsew79@msn.com.

Dumpster Days: June 6^th & 7th

The first of our Dumpster Days weekends will be on the weekend following the Garage Sale.  A large 40ft roll-off dumpster will be available on Saturday & Sunday, June 6^th and 7^th , near AG Park. This dumpster is for real junk and general debris from around your yard and house. Just a few friendly reminders, if you have any large tree branches or bushes, please cut them down to smaller pieces.  The following items are not allowed in the dumpster:

* no toxic wastes like old paint & oil

* no batteries

* no old tires

* no electronic waste like televisions & old, computers, etc.

If you have any of these items, please wait for the City of Aurora Household Chemical Roundup in September or a special e-waste recycling day held by the city each year.

If you have good, useable items left over from the Garage Sale, please donate those items to your favorite charity. If you have donations that you would like picked up from your home.  You can call to schedule a pick-up from the Vietnam Veterans of America 1-(800)-775-VETS (8387) and/or ARC (303) 238-5263.

Also, please remember that once the dumpster is full –IT’S FULL!  If we overfill it, the waste management company will not take it. If we overfill it, we all pay for another dumpster!  The dumpster is for Andover Glen homeowners only, paid for by your Association Dues.  Thanks again for everyone’s efforts so we can keep offering this service to our community.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at debsew79@msn.com. ~

Community Garden Update

By Lynn Walton  

An organizational meeting was held on March 25^th, to further plans and general rules for the new community garden being established at Andover Glen Park. During the meeting, issues such as the use of organic techniques vs pesticides, signage, and irrigation were discussed. A work day was also set for the construction of small fence (recently approved by the Architectural review committee) to surround and protect the garden. All of us “green thumbs” who are spearheading this new community garden venture are excited and anxious for the warmer weather so we can get out and begin planting! If you have any questions about the Community Garden, or might like to get involved with your own plot in the future, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Lynn Walton, at: lwalton80015@comcast.net~

Xeriscape Grant Project Moving Along

By Randy Simpson

The Xeriscape grant project (approximately $30,000, as awarded by the City) continues to move forward. This last month has been spent with paperwork and other behind the scenes issues. Real visible work should begin later this month (weather permitting), and by late spring to early summer, Andover Glen should have a beautiful new xeriscape area along Parker Road that we can all take pride in, and save water in the process! The best thing is—it didn’t cost our neighborhood a dime! We’ll keep you posted here in the Gazette as things keep progressing on this exciting project. ~

We’re Still Looking for You!

By Randy Simpson

Your Andover Glen Board continues to have an opening available due to Barb Powell moving earlier this year. If you’d like to contribute to your neighborhood in a meaningful way, please speak with any of the current or past board members about the responsibilities and duties. The board meets once a month (and the board meetings are usually kept efficiently short and on task!). If this sounds like it may interest you, then we’re looking for you! ~

Fence Along Parker Road gets a Makeover

By Randy Simpson

The old wooden fence along Parker Road has seen a lot of weathering over the years, and it now needs some real TLC. Recently, a section was newly stained by our resident handyman Norm Arlt. Though recently retired from the AG Board after over a decade of service, Norm continues to give back to his neighborhood every week through a variety of volunteer grounds maintenance activities and staining the fence along Parker Road is just one those. He has undoubtedly saved you and me many tens of thousands of dollars over the years. One can’t help but continue to be amazed by his dedication to Andover Glen. Thanks again Norm! ~

Norm Arlt’s volunteer activities have saved Andover Glen $3,655,842 (just kidding, but it’s a still a big number!)

Hey, How About Some Coffee With Your Neighbors!

By M. L. Hanson

Each month, the Andover Glen coffee club, affectionately known as “Common Grounds”, meets at one of the homes in the neighborhood. It’s a great time for conversation, laughter, and building and strengthening friendships. Everyone is welcome—and we especially love to see new faces! As you can see in the pictures below, these are well attended events, by both women & men.

Common Grounds coffee club is a great opportunity to meet new friends!

Common Grounds coffee club is always held on the last Friday of the month at 10 a.m. Here is the schedule of homes where the club will meet for the next several months.  Please check your Andover Glen directory for the addresses.

Common Grounds Coffee Club Schedule

(meets the last Friday of the Month)

April – Zabinski-Hanson

May - Straceys

June – Stellmons

July – Jones

August – Meltons

I hope you can attend at some of these events. For more information, email me, ML Hanson, at MLHanson-consultant@comcast.net. Hope to see you there!

Are You Getting Itchy?

By Royal Shields, ACC Chairman

Editors note: This is a repeat from last month, but the message is important

Itching to start your spring improvement chores? With the weather turning nicer, one does get that “feeling” to get some stuff done. Of course, it’s only April but the feeling comes and goes, doesn’t it?

Nonetheless, when you DO think about those items which have been on your mind, remember the steps you must take:

* Think about exactly what you want to do;

* If it’s a design project, sketch it out on paper;

* If it requires materials, write them down;

* If it happens to be outside of your backyard fence and/or something to do with the exterior of your structure including, but not limited to, painting (even if it’s the SAME COLOR), shingles, fencing (even re-staining), landscaping (including removal of some stuff you already have);

PLEASE REMEMBER to go to our website (andoverglen.org) and go to forms, click on ACC form, fill it out with sketches, if necessary, samples, colors, etc., and submit them to the committee chairman and we will discuss it and get and answer, yea or nay, to you as quickly as possible.

Should you have any questions regarding the steps necessary to proceed with any improvements, please call me, Royal Shields, ACC Chairman, 303-617-1307 and/or deliver said ACC form to my house at 4804 S. Crystal Street (simply slip it under the front mat) but make sure you call and let me know it’s there.

Have a great remainder of the spring season and thanks for reading this reminder! (again!) ~

Get ready for the fourth year of the Colorado Colfax Marathon. Runners, walkers and volunteers wanted!

Sat., May 16 - Kids Marathon Milers 10 a.m.

Sun., May 17 - Full and Half Marathon and Five-Person Marathon Relay: 6 a.m.

Wheelchair Participants: 5:55 a.m.

The Colorado Colfax Marathon is an exciting event initiated by the cities of Aurora, Denver and Lakewood to shine a positive spotlight on Colfax Avenue, support economic revitalization along the corridor, and foster youth fitness. The marathon is a great opportunity for all three cities to share in an event that literally links all three cities.

The city of Aurora is proud to have the Half-Marathon course, which typically attracts the most participants, run almost ntirely through Aurora. Net proceeds from sponsors and race registrations go to support the marathon organization and its community and charitable efforts.  There are race day opportunities for wheel chair participants and runners and walkers of all abilities.

The five-person marathon team relay has segments as short as 3.1 miles. Relay and half-marathon participants may walk the course in lieu of running. There is also a non-competitive one-mile fun run/walk, the Kids Marathon Mile, open to children in kindergarten through 8th grade who have pre-registered for the event.

In addition, the Marathon needs over 2,000 people to help plan, manage, and staff all that goes into this great community event. For race registration and volunteer sign-up information, go to: www.coloradocolfaxmarathon.org.

We are always looking for informative and interesting articles for the Gazette. If you have one you’d like to share,  please contact Randy Simpson at rgatess@yahoo.com

It's spring fever.  That is what the name of it is.  And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!                                               ~Mark Twain