2013 Issue 4 - Bonnie Brae

Volume 2013, Issue 4
2013 Bonnie Brae Picnic Draws Record Crowd
But who’s counting...
Our Neighborhood
is everything it’s
cracked up to be …
unfortunately
By Steven J. Weiner
BBNA Sidewalk Rehab
Program Announced
Deteriorating neighborhood sidewalks
and related trip hazards have been a concern to the BBNA Board for many years.
The Board believes that by joining together, homeowners can repair their sidewalks and benefit from the “economies of
scale” of a group purchase. “Our sidewalks have lasted 70 years, but due to
aging and often tree roots, it’s time that
we address this problem for safety, homeowner liability and neighborhood image
concerns” was the Board’s unanimous
opinion as it approved a motion to organize a voluntary program for the benefit of
our homeowners.
In researching this proposition, the
Board has learned that sidewalk repair,
a homeowner responsibility, can normally cost about $250 per 5’ x 5’ section ($10/SF), often with a per house
minimum. However, several contractors have acknowledged that through
multiple homeowner participation, the
cost can be reduced by as much as 30%
depending on work volume. In terms
of volume, an informal survey conducted by neighborhood volunteers
found that 223 homes have trip hazards
that exceed the City’s ordinance (3/4”
vertical separation at joint) and 87
homes have hazard that are greater than
2”.
The Board also has the enthusiastic
support of the City. Thanks to the efforts of Councilman Charlie Brown, the
City will assist homeowners and contractors alike not only by providing
construction technical support, but also
through waiving the $50 per home permit fee! “Bonnie Brae’s program will
serve as a model for neighborhoods
throughout the City for restoring safe
(Continued on page 3)
What is the Problem?
Defective sidewalks present a trip
hazard to our residents and guests.
Denver City Code defines a sidewalk
as defective if there is a vertical separation of more than 3/4” (City Code
12.16.020).
Currently there are 223 homes in
Bonnie Brae that have sidewalks that
exceed this limit. There are 87 homes
that exceed 2” of separation. Many
homes have multiple defects. Overall
our neighborhood has a total of 342
defective sidewalks.
If you have a sidewalk that is defective, we urge you to take advantage of
our Rehab Program. Read on.
Bonnie Brae Neighborhood
Association
Board of Directors & Steering
Committee:
President
Lynn Crist
303-887-0630
lynncrist@comcast.net
Vice-President
Evan Anderman
evan@evananderman.com
Treasurer
Barbara Drews
303-733-1995
2014 Bonnie Brae Board Meetings
February 19
May 21
August 20
November 19
Annual Picnic and
Neighborhood Meeting
Sun. September 7th
Secretary
Renee Arrington
reneearrington@mindspring.com
Newsletter Editor
Mike Slattery
303-722-6856
mslats64@aol.com
Technology Director
David Anderson
dwanders@NetWin.com
Zoning & Variances
Greg VanBuskirk
303-753-1485
Hard to imagine but it’s true. BBWG
has met on the 3rd Saturday of every
month since Jan 2007! What a successful neighborhood endeavor this has become. The parties are well attended, the
wine is great, the food even better. And
it goes without saying; we enjoy our
neighbors and each other very much.
Many long lasting friendships have been
made.
Past President
Mary Broere
If you are new to the neighborhood or
new to the group, don’t be shy! Come
make new friends and enjoy the spirit of
Bonnie Brae.
What makes these parties such a success of course is you. However, more
importantly: the format. People volunteer
and take turns hosting. The host purchases the wine and provides paper plates,
utensils, napkins, water and plastic cups
for those who forget their wine glass.
Attendees bring their own wine glass,
money to reimburse the host for the wine
and a dish to share. Keep in mind, only
wine-drinkers reimburse. If you do not
drink wine, do not contribute to the cost
of the wine; feel free to bring your own
beverage. The reimbursement is typically
$12 - $15 per wine-drinker.
What is the magic formula? Easy to
host and everyone contributes. Furthermore, people in Bonnie Brae love to
showcase their cooking skills. This is
why year eight is on the horizon.
Please contact Wendy Lesko at
wendylesko@msn.com or (303) 860.7075
to get on the evite list.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
Curb & Gutter Hotline.................. (720) 913-4574
To report any problems with the curbs and gutters
within the Denver corporate limits
Dead Animal Pickup..................... (720) 865-6900
Bonnie Brae Neighborhood Association
www.bonniebraeneighborhood.org
City of Denver ..................................................311
www.denvergov.org
Denver Water................................ (303) 628-6000
www.denverwater.org
Noise Control................................ (720) 865-5452
Call for violation of noise ordinance, including
construction noise
EMERGENCY................................................911
BBNA logo designed by
Victoria Eubanks Design
Newsletter Submittals:
We encourage you to participate in
supplying items of interest to the
community for this publication. You must
have material for inclusion in the next
edition of the newsletter, to our editor by
Feb 1, 2014.
Please submit all material to:
Michael Slattery
988 Bonnie Brae Blvd
Denver, CO 80209
mslats64@aol.com
Ask Bonnie & Brae:
BonnieandBrae@aol.com
Fire Dept (district 3)................... (303) 698-4921
Neighborhood Inspection Services
Complaint Line ............................. (720) 865-3200
Police ............................................ (720) 913-2000
Recycling ...................................... (720) 865-6805
RTD / Bus & Light Rail ............... (303) 299-6000
Councilman Charlie Brown.......... (720) 337-6666
http://www.denvergov.org/CouncilDistrict6
Speeding Enforcement.................. (720) 865-6905
Animal Control............................. (303) 698-0076
Cats and Dogs must be vaccinated and licensed.
Call to report barking or vicious dogs, dog at large.
No snakes, poisonous reptiles, pit bulls, or livestock. Leash laws enforced.
Snow Removal.............................. (720) 865-6855
Better Business Bureau ................ (303) 758-2100
Street Sweeping ............................ (720) 865-6855
Cable TV Complaints................... (720) 913-8888
City Attorney ................................ (720) 865-8600
Trash Pickup ................................. (720) 865-6900
To find information on scheduled pick-ups or largeitem pickup
Clerk & Recorder ......................... (720) 865-8400
Zoning Permits ............................. (720) 865-3200
Crime Stoppers Hotline ................ (720) 913-7867
2
Street Maintenance ....................... (720) 865-6855
To report potholes, damaged streets or alleys,
inoperable traffic signals, etc.
2013
Bonnie Brae Picnic
Sponsors
Food Donations:
Bank of the West
2 cases of pop and 1 case of water
Bonnie Brae Ice-cream
2 tubs of great ice-cream
Bonnie Brae Tavern
10 Extra-Large Gourmet pizzas
Saucy Noodle
Bread sticks and sauce
King Soopers
$25.00 gift certificate for the cake!
Grill Donation:
Kory Boere, Excess Mojo
(Internet Solutions)
Barb Melvin “Settle Me In”
(Moving/unpacking Business)
Donated and cooked on the grill used at the
picnic!
Gift Donations:
Bank of the West
Stuffed Teddy Bear
Bonnie Brae Conoco Service & Alignment
4 wheel Rotate & Align ($50 value)
Campus Lounge
2 steak dinners
Charlie Brown, Councilman
A selection of vegetables grown in his own
garden.
Kirk Anderson at City Wine
A lovely bottle of wine and a $10 gift card
Denver Vein Center
BBNA Sidewalk
Rehab Program
(Continued from page 1)
sidewalks with the support and cooperation of city staff,” said Charlie at a recent
meeting.
How It Will Work
 The Board will notify homeowners
directly to make everyone aware of
this opportunity. This letter will
contain information on construction
scheduling for next Spring, standard
contracting documents, and homeowner and contractor responsibilities.
 Two licensed contractors have been
tentatively identified for this program. Each will be assigned
neighborhood blocks based on
homeowner participation.
 Participating homeowners will contract directly with the contractor.
The Board will organize and coordinate the program but does not have
the authority or means to be a party
to contracts.
 In order to provide group pricing,
contractors will require that all work
$250 Gift Certificate for service
Katherine’s Bakery
Two $25 Gift Certificates
The Little Flower Market
$25 Gift Certificate
Il Vicino
Three $25 Gift Certificate
Merci
$10 gift certificate
Salon Raspanti
Gift Certificate for a man’s haircut
The Saucy Noodle
Large pizza and 2 salads ($35 value)
Seven 30 South
$100 Gift Certificate
Let’s show our appreciation to
our merchants by giving them
our continued loyalty
and business!
3
on an assigned block be conducted
at the same time. This means contracting and permitting must be
completed in a timely manner.
 The City will assist the homeowner
and contractor by confirming construction specifications and intended
sidewalk sections to be replaced,
and providing inspection oversight.
 Each homeowner will get an individual permit, however, the fee will
be waived
By organizing this voluntary program,
the Board feels it is being proactive in
helping homeowners resolve neighborhood safety hazards and enhance
neighborhood infrastructure.
If you would like to participate in this
voluntary program, either sign up on the
Bonnie
Brae
website
(bonniebraeneighborhood.org), respond
to the letter that will be distributed in
January, or email mslats64@aol.com.
This does not obligate you in any way
to follow through with the work, but
gives the Board an idea of how many
participants we will have so we get the
best pricing from the concrete contractor.
MONEY MATTERS
Short-term vs. Longterm Investments:
What's the Difference
At various times, many people may
feel frustrated by the performance of
their investments. For example, they
expect growth, and they don’t get it —
or they think the value of their investment won’t fluctuate much, but it does.
However, some of this frustration
might be alleviated if investors were
more familiar with the nature of their
investment vehicles. Specifically, it’s
important to keep in mind the difference between long-term and short-term
investments.
What defines long-term and shortterm investments? Long-term investments are those vehicles that you intend to hold for more than one year —
in fact, you generally intend to hold
them for several years. On the other
hand, you usually hold short-term investments for one year or less.
You can find several key distinctions
between short-term and long-term vehicles. Here are a few to consider:
 They carry different expectations.
When you purchase an investment
that you intend to keep for many
years, you may be expecting the
investment to increase in value so
that you can eventually sell it for a
profit. In addition, you may be looking for the investment to provide
income. When you purchase a shortterm vehicle, you are generally not
expecting much in the way of a return or an increase in value. Typically, you purchase short-term investments for the relatively greater
degree of principal protection they
are designed to provide.
 They meet different needs at different times of life. You will have
different investment needs at different times of your life. When you’re
young, and just starting out in your
career, you may require a mix of
long- and short-term investments.
You might need the short-term ones
to help pay for a down payment on a
home, while the long-term ones
could be used to
help build resources for your
retirement. But
later in life, when
you’re either closing in on retirement, or you’re
already retired, you
may have much
less need for longterm vehicles, with
a corresponding
increase in your
need for short-term
investments.
 They can satisfy different goals. If
you purchase investments that you
intend to hold for the long term, you
probably have a long-term goal in
mind — such as building resources to
help pay for a comfortable retirement
or leaving a legacy. On the other hand,
a short-term investment would be more
appropriate if you know that you will
need a certain amount of money at a
certain time — perhaps to purchase a
car or to fund a vacation.
 They carry different risks. All investments carry some type of risk. One of
the biggest risks associated with longterm investments is volatility, the fluctuations in the financial markets that
can cause investments to lose value.
On the other hand, short-term investment vehicles may be subject to purchasing power risk — the risk that
your investment’s return will not keep
up with inflation.
As an investor, you’ll probably need a
mix of long-term and short-term vehicles. By knowing the differences between these two categories, you should
have a good idea of what to expect from
your investments — and this knowledge
can help you make those choices that are
right for you.
This article was written by Edward
Jones for use by Todd Young, your local
Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
of Cherry Creek , Inc.
Dave Craven
Broker Associate
Office: (303) 320-1556
Direct: (303) 331-4513
Fax: (303) 320-1249
You are the smart reader!
Jean Day Maschinot
You are reading the electronic newsletter
which contains additional pictures from
our neighborhood picnic. You can always find the eNewsletter on our
neighborhood association website.
2326 E. Exposition Ave.
Denver, CO 80209
(303) 722-8855
jean@bonniebraetravel.com
4
740 S. University Blvd.
303.777.2262 Fax 303.777.7335
5
Bonnie Brae
Neighborhood
Association
Annual Picnic
2013
6
7
8
Bonnie Brae
Neighborhood
Association
Annual Picnic
2013
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N ancySanford
AN INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO
Denver: 303-584-0614
Vail: 970-476-7773
nancysanford@ nancysanford.com
www.nancysanford.com
This space intentionally left blank
But we would prefer not! Do you have something interesting you
would like to share with the neighborhood? Send your article,
pictures, snippet of interesting information to mslats64@aol.com
and we will include in the next issue.
- Ed.
10
REAL ESTATE
By Susan DiLiberti
Readying your home
for the winter
months!
Furnace Inspection
 If you have not had a recent furnace
inspection by a licensed HVAC firm,
do so now.
 Stock up on furnace filters and
change them monthly.
 Bleed valves in hot water radiators
by opening them slightly, when water appears, close them.
 Do not store flammable materials
near your furnace or hot water
heater.
Fireplace
 Call a chimney sweep to clean and
inspect your chimney – an oftenoverlooked item.
Exterior, doors and windows
 Walk the exterior of your home and
check for cracks and exposed entry
points around pipes, seal them with
caulk or expandable foam insulation
– check with your Ace or Home Depot stores for best solutions.
 Weather stripping around doors helps
to prevent the entry of cold air. Also,
caulk windows with an exterior caulk
as needed.
Roof, Gutters and Downspouts
 Adding extra insulation – especially
in the older homes – will not only
save energy, it keeps warm air from
seeping into the attic.
 Replace worn roof shingles and tiles
-Contact your local, reputable roofer
for a full inspection and recommendation of repairs to extend the
life of your roof.
 Clean out the gutters and clear
debris from the downspouts – especially important.
 Make sure your downspouts are
minimum of SIX feet away from
your home – PROTECT your
foundation!
Foundation
 Rake away all debris from the base
of your home – this deters infestations by bugs and animals.
 Seal up entry points to keep small
animals from entering your home –
to stay warm!
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
 Law requires a smoke and carbon
monoxide detector within 15 feet
of every sleeping area. One on
each floor, in addition to the
above, is recommended. Read
manufacturers installation instructions carefully
 Test existing detectors to make
sure they are operating, change
those batteries!
Plumbing especially in the older homes
 Locate and label your main water
shut off – important in a water
emergency!
 Drain all the garden hoses and
blow out the sprinklers.
 Insulate exposed plumbing pipe.
 Drain air condition pipes and if
your AC has water shut off valve,
turn it off – or call your HVAC
professional for a service appointment.
 If you go on a vacation – leave the
heat on to at least 55 degrees and
turn off the water supply to your
11
Thank You!
Our appreciation to Susan DiLiberti,
with The Kentwood Company who is
sponsoring the delivery
of our newsletter.
Susan M. DiLiberti
Broker Associate
44 Cook St., 9th Floor
Denver, CO 80206
Phone: 303.331.1400
Fax: 303.393.1400
Direct: 303.336.0332
Cell: 303.946.4530
susan@realestatesusan.com
washing machine – hoses are known
to burst.
Have a safe and wonderful holiday season.
Selling real estate for 25+ years, and
a Broker with The Kentwood Company,
Susan DiLiberti, her husband Michael
Martin and daughter Lauren (who attends Cory) happily reside on Columbine Street.
ALLEY ART
Bonnie Brae is pleased to introduce its
newest group: The Bonnie Brae Moms
Club.
We are a group of fun, energetic
(sometimes totally exhausted) working
and stay-at-home moms who live in the
Bonnie Brae/Cory Merrill areas with children of all ages.
We support each other through playgroups and outings (with and without our
kids) and other fun activities throughout
the year.
Whether you're a stay-at-home mom or
a working professional, we welcome you
to join us for all of our fun activities.
Please see www.bonniebraemoms.com.
It’s sweeping the alleys!
IT’S CONTAGIOUS!
by Wendy Lesko
Congratulations to Mary Beth and
Tony Church for spreading the
word. Bonnie Brae Alley Art crossed
the tracks to our southern neighbors in
Cory Merrill. Mary Beth and Tony discovered BBAA while walking in the
library alley with their grandsons. Two
very talented people, Tony paints and
Mary Beth is a fabric artist and singer,
could not decide on a subject for their
mosaic.
Inspired during a trip in Italy and their
religious beliefs, Francis of the Alley
was conceived. By embracing the spirit
and mission of alley art, this piece meets
and exceeds expectations ever dreamt
possible for BBAA. Meeting neighbors,
recycling otherwise unused materials,
encouraging people to keep their alleys
clean. The list goes on. The unveiling
party was held on the day of the
feast. Wine and food was shared. To
top it off, Friar Michael Olaughlin from
the Byzantine Catholic Church at Arizona and Elizabeth blessed the artwork. Francis is a few garages south of
Mississippi between Clayton and Elizabeth.
Think big. How many mosaic artworks can we put in our alleys? Francis
is number 28. How many more people
can enjoy the artwork and experience the
camaraderie? The possibilities are endless. Consider what inspires you and
make your alley art.
Please let me know how I can help.
Wendy Lesko
Calico International is looking for host families to open their
hearts & homes to International Students, providing a room, and
inviting the student to become a part of your family. Offering a
loving family environment, you share your everyday lives with
the student and help them adjust to American lifestyle, culture,
and language. Hosting an international student is an exciting
adventure and has many benefits including:
 Providing extra income for a family
 Meeting someone from a different culture & sharing life
experiences
 Enriching your home life
 Learning about the cultures, traditions and customs of another country!
 Making International friendships that last a lifetime!
If you are interested, please email: hostfamily@calicoculture.com
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Thank You
Bonnie Brae!
A very big thank you to everyone in Bonnie Brae for assisting
our daughter with her Cory Elementary 5th grade service project this year. She chose the Dumb Friends League. Her mission was to collect money and donated items from their Wish
List. A rousing applause for Bonnie Brae’s love of furry creatures! She raised over $200.00 and as you can see by the photo,
collected many, many items for the Wish List from our generous neighborhood!
Susan DiLiberti
New Dog
Sitters Section
We are starting a new section in the BBNA Newsletter listing
people that provide dog walking and care services. If you are
interested in participating please send your contact information to mslats64@aol.com.
Include the services you provide (walking, dog-sitting, dog
CPR certified, etc.) along with your e-mail and phone number.
KinderKarry
RECYCLING
Holds all of y our little ones ski equipment,
including the skis or snow board...which
easily attach to the side of the bag.
·P ack it, grab it and head to the base lodge
·C omes in lime green or royal blue
Recycle Your Turkey Fryer
Oil Into Biofuel
The City & County of Denver is
encouraging residents to avoid pouring
used cooking oil down the drain, and
instead recycle it. When fats, oils and
grease go down the drain, it soon cools
off and then hardens inside pipes. This
can lead to blocked drainpipes resulting in sewage (wastewater) backing up
into homes, lawns or streets. Sewage
blockage is not only a serious health
and environmental issue, but it also can
be very costly to have fixed.
Don’t pour oil or grease of any kind
down storm drains either.
Storm
drains connect directly to the nearest
body of water without treatment - be it
a neighborhood creek, or the South
Platte River. Pouring oil down a storm
drain is equally as bad as pouring it
directly into a lake, creek, or river.
Residents can recycle their used
cooking oil by bringing it to GreatWest
BioFuels Recycling Drop Off Center
free of charge. GreatWest will be open
THE KID’S SKI BAG PARENT S A ND
GRA NDPARENTS NEED
·A lso check out our kid’s safety ski vest.
U sed by ski schools at Vail, Beaver C reek,
A -Basin, Telluride, S unlight, P urgatory,
D eer Valley, S quaw V alley and other
leading resorts around the w orld.
Regularly $49.95
Pre-Season Sale Price
$40.00
Family and Friends
Discount Code:
KIND20
on the Friday and Saturday
following
Thanksgiving from 10
AM to 4 PM and will
accept peanut, vegetable, soy bean, canola
Randy Burklund
& Head Mogul of Kinderlift
and corn oil for recy- Owner
1021 S. Columbine Street
cling. The used cookDenver, CO
randy@kinderlift.com
ing oil will then be
303.898.2242
www.kinderlift.com
turned into new biodiesel fuel. Residents
should let cooking oil cool down and (Normal hours, Mon. – Fri., 10 AM to 4
then collect and seal the liquid in tem- PM)
perature safe and leak proof containers.
For more information go to GreatWest
The GreatWest BioFuels Recycling Drop BioFuels.
Off Center is located at:
For information on other used cooking
5380 Franklin Street
oil recyclers in the Denver area, search
Denver, CO 80216
the Recycling Directory under "Oils Phone: 303-294-0026.
Cooking & Vegetable."
Call on arrival for assistance.
13
each issue. What is going on with that?
Are you getting censored or something?
Honey I Shrunk Your Column
Dear Bonnie and Brae
It seems that your section in the newsletter is getting smaller and smaller
Brae Responds
I really don't think that you know what
you are talking about. Our column is
very popular and nobody would ever
Monique Hansen
303-963-6049
Don’t Miss a
Thing!
Are you getting all
of the BBNA Newsletter?
Laura Genty
303-408-3589
laura_genty@yahoo.com
Daniela Masur
303-744-8745
dcmasur@q.com
Maggie Anderman
303-887-5501 (c)
303-744-3168 (h).
maggie@evananderman.com
Red Cross Babysitting Course
The electronic newsletter contains additional content and
pictures. You can
receive the eNewsletter by e-mail or
from our neighborhood association
website. If you
would like the newsletter emailed to
you, you can sign up
by sending your email address to
mslats64@aol.com.
14
Rebekah Krieg
303-919-6558 (c)
rebekahlovesblitz@yahoo.com
Anna Sablik
303-590-8558
igetufit@gmail.com
First Aid and CPR certified
Lizzy Howard and Lucy Sobel
Operation Babysitting
720-545-6302
elizahoward0@gmail.com
Red Cross Certified
If you would like to be included please
send your contact information to
mslats64@aol.com.