Maria's Home Update #5 (14395 W. 70th Dr)

See Maria's Home Updates #1 here, #2 here, #3 here, #4 here.

Its starting to look like a home! They started the framing. It took about a week to get the first floor done. John the contractor said he hopes to have the roof trusses on by next Wednesday. I'm sure if you drive by everyday you can see the rapid progress that they are making.

Here are a few shots of the progress. The floor plan looks just about the same as the other home.The second floor has a dormer on the master bedroom for a higher ceiling. The ceilings are higher and the back of the home extends out about 4 feet further into the back yard for a bigger kitchen, family and dinning room. This also makes the 2nd floor rooms larger.

On a sad note. Some one got into Maria's yard last weekend and cut down three of her trees in the back yard. They were about a 30 foot elm tree in the north east corner of her yard. If we could keep an eye out for vandals, that would be greatly appreciated.

A Note from Peter Lovenheim

One of the books that has greatly influenced our efforts to become better neighbors has been Peter Lovenheim's "In the Neighborhood: The Search for Community on an American Street". Check it out here.

Peter heard of our neighborhood efforts here in Colorado and he wrote us a nice note. Thank you Peter!

David and Rachelle,

I love what you're doing in your neighborhood--I'm glad you found my book, "In the Neighborhood," helpful. Your neighbors are lucky to have you as a neighbor!

Best,
Peter Lovenheim

September Update - 2010

Hi again neighbors!

Can it get any more beautiful than this? Wow...this weather is amazing.

It's been a while, but we have not forgotten about you! In fact, we've been planning some ways to get together again. One almost happened but we postponed it and one is in the making.

In this edition:

1. Poker Night
2. Brunch and Bikes (Spring 2011)
3. Soup for Halloween
4. Blog Stories - pigeons and more...

1. Poker Night - Friday, September 24th – 7:00 PM, 7085 Gladiola St - Smith's House

Mark your calendars for the next night of fun; feel free to invite friends and neighbors. Most of us haven’t played much poker so don’t worry if you are inexperienced as well. More info here.

2. Brunch and Bikes - Postponed. The idea was to fix bikes for neighborhood children while enjoying some great food and amazing weather! It's still a great idea, but we'll do it in the Spring of 2011 when everyone is ready to use their bikes once again.



I spoke to John, owner of Foothills Cycling and he was ready to donate 10 gently used bikes, PTA at EL Foster Elementary where our children attend (a Title 1 dual language Spanish/English school in East Arvada) was ready to bring some of their children that needed bikes, Einstein's Bagles was ready to donate bagels, I spoke to Mark and Cynda owners of Bread Winners Catering in Old Town and they were ready to donate delicious quiche and 4-5 neighbors.


3. "Soup on Halloween" Sat-Sunday, Oct 30-31. I spoke to one of our neighbors Scott who already does this as well as the president of Maple Valley HOA (right next to Shadow Mountain) and we're looking into opening different homes for Halloween weekend and making soup - split-pea, chicken noodle, chile and my favorite Tortilla Soup, like a "Halloween progressive dinner".

4. Blog Stories - our blog has had over 400 hits in just 3 months since our park event in June 2010. I also spoke to the Arvada City Manager and our blog will be under "Community Partners" on the Arvada City Website and the Old Town website.

I personally love Donna's story about the pigeon. I've also enjoyed the progress reports Scott has been posting regarding Maria's rebuilding (house that burned down last year), read updates here.

Btw, Maria's construction site was vandalized a few days ago, someone jumped the fence and cut down one of her trees. Why? No clue.

* If you hear of any vandalism, please let us know, we'll update the blog so we all can be on the lookout and help each other.

Other Quick Updates:

*A great book you may want to pick up on neighborhoods and community is "Community: The Structure of Belonging" by Peter Block.

*If you would like to co-host our neighbor's blog and post please let me know, I don't want to hog the blog : )

*I've received emails from many of you expressing gratitude for the connections that are being made on our homes and neighborhood. Thank you.

*The other day a neighbor knocked on our door as she was walking her dog, I had never met her before but she reads our blog. She told me "your car lights are on". That saved me having to get a jump the next morning while trying to drop children off. Thank you.

Glad to be your neighbor.

Please stop by anytime,

davidT

Maria's Home Update #4 (14395 W. 70th Dr)

See Maria's Home Updatea#1 here, #2 here and #3 here.

The foundation is poured, the forms were taken off on Monday. The foundation was left to cure for the week. On Wednesday they painted the foundation with a water proof paint to seal it. On Friday they back filled in the foundation.

It may seem slow, but they are making steady progress on the rebuilding. John and Maria were talking to me last week about what the home is going to look like.

The home is going to be rock and stucco. Its going to be a two story with a dormer above the master bed room. They don't have a artist rendition quite yet, but when they do, Maria said she would share it with everyone.

"Optimism is essential to achievement and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress" Nicholas Murray Butler

until next week

Scott Stringham (14415 W. 70th Dr.)

Poker Night - Friday, Sept. 24th, 7 pm. (7085 Gladiola Ave St - Smith's)

Mark your calendars for the next night of fun; feel free to invite friends and neighbors. Most of us haven’t played much poker so don’t worry if you are inexperienced as well.

Date: September 24^th – 7:00 PM

Location: 7085 Gladiola St – Smith’s

No money (who has extra to spare these days), we have chips and it helps keep it a little more light and fun.

Bring a drink to share and we’ll have snacks.

Let me know if you can make it so I can plan accordingly.

Travis

Phone: 720-220-8311

Email: travis@SmithGroupEng.com

What Community is All About...

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Donna (7119 Gardenia Ave) lovely lady on the left and Gretchen (lovely lady on the right) wrote this email a few days ago. Both Donna and Gretchen came to our Picnic at the Park back in June 2010.

Donna said it'd be okay to post her story on our neighborhood blog.

davidT

"Dave

I'm new to dealing with computers and e mail I,m hoping you can help me get this message out to the shadow mountain neighbors.

Sunday this beautiful white pidgeon appeared in Gretchen,s yard. It has bands on both legs, we called the bird rescue and they said it was probably a racing pidgeon. it can walk around but not fly. If anyone can help they can call Gretchen or Donna.

thanks so much donna"

(not actual pigeon : )

After I got the first email, I called Donna, we chatted a bit, then I called a friend who owns racing pigeons here in the area, I think the pigeon is his. What are the chances! A few neighbors heard of Donna and Gretchen's pigeon, and they reached out to them.

Then Donna wrote...

"Hi Dave,

thank you for helping us with the bird problem. Gretchen had two calls offering help and acvice. when she opened the garage door the bird walked out, took a looka around and flew away.

It was a great to experience what a coummunity is all about,
many thanks to you!

donna"

Isn't that great! Not only is the pigeon home (we hope), but connections were made and our neighborhood became that much more a place of kindness and support.

Thank you Donna and Gretchen. We think you guys are an amazing example of what it means to be great neighbors!

davidT

Maria's Home Update #3 (14395 W. 70th Dr)

See Maria's Home Update#1 here and Update#2 here.

From Scott Stringham (Maria's next door neighbor and Lieutenant of the Arvada Fire Department):

"The foundation was poured today! They were working all week on prepping for the foundation pour. Maria stopped by to take a look at the progress. She was really excited to see what had been done so far. She was also really happy to hear about the blog, and the progress reports.

She is going to let her family in Greece know about it so they can watch the progress of the home being built. She misses all of her neighbors, and is really tired of moving.

John wanted to get the foundation poured so it could cure over the long weekend. "

Thank you Scott for the updates...

And to Maria's family in Greece: Welcome!