Athmar Park

Around the Neighborhood

May 14, 2006

NEIGHBORHOOD STARS

Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation (INC) is a coalition of neighborhood organizations from all across the City working together to try to solve city-wide issues affecting neighborhoods and promote information/solution sharing between neighborhoods. Each year, INC sponsors a dinner for the presidents of all these neighborhood organizations to thank them for their hard work on behalf of Denver residents (many of whom will never know about the efforts that make their lives better). At this annual dinner, INC awards a select few whose volunteer work has gone above and beyond. These award-winners are nominated by a wide variety of organizations and individuals, including neighborhood organizations, members of City Council, and more.

This year, two different neighborhood organizations nominated APNA?’s own Carol e. Campbell, Rick Taylor, and Karen Cuthbertson for their work assembling, updating, and distributing the Landlord Training Manual to every landlord with property in Athmar Park and for making it available to everyone via the APNA website. Carol researched resources/ materials and found that the Denver Police had a great Manual that they had modified based on a successful program in Portland, Oregon. This manual is chock full of information for landlords on screening tenants, maintaining rental property, and for evicting problem tenants. Rick developed a list of landlords in Athmar Park and Karen digitized the manual and updated old legal forms. All 287 Athmar Park landlords received either a CD or a hardcopy version of the Manual.

In addition, APNA nominated Duane Kuta, Rishel Middle School facility for his dedication and implementation of such high standards for groundskeeping and building maintenance. The shrubs and lawns are meticulously groomed and kept free of litter, and the hallways are clean and neat. It's also a great example for the students about what a superior work ethic looks like.

Congratulations to our Neighborhood Stars!

SAINT ROSE OF LIMA SCHOOL RECEIVES DANIELS FUND GRANT TO EXPAND THE SCHOOL

Saint Rose of Lima Grade School announced on 12/12/05 that it has received a $200,000 Daniels Fund grant to support its capital campaign to build a preschool, library, and gymnasium addition to the current school building.
Saint Rose of Lima School is a K-8th grade Catholic school that is celebrating its 50th year of operation in West Denver. Its enrollment has grown this year to 162 students.

?“The grant will enable our building project to begin,?” said Jeannie Courchene, principal of the school for the past seven years. ?“We are grateful to the Daniels Fund and to all our generous funders.?”

The Daniels Fund operates the Daniels College Prep and Scholarship Program and the Daniels Fund Grants Program in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Utah.

Father Jerry Rohr, pastor of Saint Rose of Lima Parish, noted, ?“The families of our parish have all contributed to this effort to build a better school for the children of this community, as have many other individuals and foundations who recognize that quality education will make all the difference in the lives of the children we serve.?”

For more information about Saint Rose of Lima School, call 303-733-5806, or visit their website, www.strosedenver.org.

ILLEGAL SIGN POSTINGS

You have probably noticed the influx of those ?“handmade?” signs strapped to street signs and stuck in lawns (aeration, rent-to-own, etc.). They are not only an unsightly blight; they are flatly illegal. Please report the location of these signs to Neighborhood Inspections (720-865-3200) or ?– better yet ?– cut them down and throw them away!

GRAFFITI

APNA cannot stress enough that the quick removal of graffiti is the most effective deterrent to recurrence. Please do NOT accept this type vandalism in our neighborhood. The City has a FREE graffiti removal program (see the graffiti removal assistance form on page 2). A simple telephone call or online report will unleash a crew of abatement specialists to remove the painted tag; usually within 72 hours. You can report graffiti anonymously 24 hours per day, but PLEASE REPORT IT ?– WHETHER ON STREET SIGNS, FENCES, RETAINING WALLS, BUILDINGS, or DUMPSTERS. If you can take 2 minutes to report graffiti and get it removed, the graffiti vandals will look elsewhere to post their ?“ads?”.

Call 720-865-STOP or report online at www.denvergov.org/denverpartners againstgraffiti.

FREE/LOW-COST TREES AVAILABLE TO ATHMAR PARK RESIDENTS

Did you know that you can get low-cost ($20) or *free* street trees to plant near the street on your property? The Park People?’s Denver Digs Trees program takes requests for trees through March 1st. Call 303-722-6262 or visit www.theparkpeople.org to reserve a tree and get more information.

Trees will be distributed on Saturday, April 22nd. For Athmar Park, the closest distribution center is the Ruby Hill site at W. Jewell & Osage (on the south side of the park).

The Park People also need volunteers to certify possible tree sites and to help distribute forms. APNA needs volunteers to help plant trees for Athmar Park residents who are unable to plant the trees themselves. Contact any Board member to help out.