Update on Xeriscape Grant from the City

By Quink Arlt  

As mentioned in last month’s Gazette, our community was one of two in the City of Aurora to be the recipient of a significant xeriscape grant. The next step after being awarded the grant money from the city was to help create a design plan for our xeriscape area along Parker Road. Anne Stellmon and I met with the xeriscape designer for 3 hours on February 21st at the Aurora Water Department. A formal design has been drawn up, including a listing of all the plants. The design area starts with the area south of the entrance and extends north along Parker to the 3 pine trees about half way along our property line. There are plenty of trees, shrubs and colorful plants and even a "breeze" sidewalk on our design wish list.

Example of a typical xeriscape project—

ours should be even nicer!

The water department will do a final review of the design, and send it out for bids with different landscape companies. The goal is to have the project completed by the end of Spring. Remember, this is a complete all-inclusive grant—meaning materials AND labor. A best guess estimate on the value to our neighborhood is somewhere around $30,000+.  I would like to give A Big THANK YOU to Derrick Laughlin, Carl Miller and Anne Stellmon who attended meetings with the City of Aurora water department that were required in order for Andover Glen to apply for the grant award. You’ll probably see crews beginning to work on this project in the next few months, and I will keep you updated on the status of this wonderful and exciting addition to our neighborhood as it progresses this spring. ~

Andover Glen Garden Gets Underway

By Lynn Walton  

Punxsutawney Phil may still be in hiding but around here, spring has sprung!  And with that, a flurry of activity is already shaping the AG Community Garden. We now have eight families who will soon be rolling up their sleeves to plant lettuces, carrots, beans, flowers and a sundry of other crops.  Ten garden plots (just south of the tennis court) have been staked and most gardeners have claimed their small piece of heaven. 

“Community Garden” continues on Page 2

“Community Garden” from page 1

Each plot is 10 feet by 6 feet with

paths in between each garden.  And don’t forget the communal bed where we will plant pumpkins and squashes.  (Anyone up for a fall cider harvest festival?)

The board tentatively approved a simple fee structure for each plot renter--$35 per year with a $25 one-time deposit—and these monies will go toward water for the garden.  All other costs associated with getting the garden up and running will be borne by the plot owners.  Fencing, materials for raised beds, basic drip irrigation supplies and other costs will be discussed at the next garden meeting.

But even if you don’t want a plot, you can still be involved in the community garden.  ML Hanson offered to provide instruction on canning and freezing food so that we can enjoy our garden all year long.  Someone else said they would help organize a farmers market just for Andover Glen.  And didn’t I hear mention of an AG Cookbook?  Residents of Andover Glen sure do dream big!

We still have two plots left –get ‘em while they last—but if you just want to know what’s going on with the garden, give us your email and we will keep you in the loop.  Contact Lynn Walton with comments or to get AG garden emails at: lwalton80015@comcast.net~

Meet Your AG Board: Dick Moore, Treasurer

My wife, my father and I have lived in Andover Glen since December, 2003. I am a self-employed Certified Public Accountant with a small tax business, I am naturally concerned with the economics of our community along with the fact that it is my belief that a homeowner should donate some amount of time to his/her community.  From 1999 through 2001, I was on the Piney Creek Village HOA Board.  Early in my CPA career, during the 1970’s, the firm I worked with had many HOA clients giving me a background in HOA accounting procedures.

I have been an Aurora advocate since I moved to Aurora in 1982, only missing the four years that we lived in Piney Creek Village.  We moved there to put our two daughters through Smoky Hill High School.  They graduated and we immediately moved back to Aurora selecting Andover Glen as our new residence.

I serve and have served on many Boards and functions involved with the City of Aurora, including:

CABC-Citizens of Aurora Budget Committee

City of Aurora Blue Ribbon Panel

City of Aurora Police New Hire Pension Plan

City of Aurora Police Victim Witness Advocacy Board

Northern Aurora Business Association

City Council member, Molly Markert Campaign Treasurer

I have known Andover Glen Residents, John Gross and Bob Meyer before our family moved into the neighborhood going back into the 1980’s and 1990’s. I’ve also played golf with former resident Mitch Powell going back many years. I am pleased to serve on the AG Board as Treasurer, and look forward to meeting many more of my fellow AG residents as the years go by. ~

Dick Moore and his great smile

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.

The Men of Common Grounds

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)

March – Urquharts

April – Zabinski-Hanson

May - Straceys

June – Stellmons

July – Jones

August – Meltons

I sincerely hope you can attend at least one (and hopefully all!) of these events. Every neighborhood can seem so much friendlier when you feel like you know someone on every block, and by attending the Andover Glen Common Grounds coffee club—you will! If you have any questions about the club, please feel free to email me, ML Hanson, at MLHanson-consultant@comcast.net. Hope to see you there!

Are You Getting Itchy?

By Royal Shields, ACC Chairman

Itching to start your spring improvement chores? With the weather so nice during the past 2 weeks or so, one does get that “feeling” to get some stuff done. Of course, it’s only March 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 winter season and thanks for reading this reminder! ~

Special Alert: Economic Downturn Brings out the Scam Artists

Police in the Denver Metro Area, including Aurora, are reporting an increase in the number of scam artists and identity thieves operating in the area. They use whatever personal information they can about their victims to gain access and trust and eventually to bank accounts. It is always a good idea to guard your personal information, but experts are warning to now more than ever adequately shred your personal documents before discarding them and never give your personal information to anyone you don’t personally know, and even then, only if they have a reason to need it. Forewarned is forearmed!~

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

There is currently one vacant position on the Andover Glen Board. If you would like to give a little time back to your community, please contact any current AG Board member for more information.