Athmar Park

Around the Neighborhood

Nov 06, 2005

NEW SCHOOL SIGNS
Goldrick Elementary: Goldrick?’s PTA funded the new sign in front of the building at 1050 S. Zuni (at W. Mississippi). It was installed to inform parents and community members of events going on in the school, such as Parent/Teacher Conferences, vacations, and/holidays. Goldrick Student Council members are in charge of changing the items for each month. Once again, thank you, Goldrick PTA!

Rishel Middle School: The Rishel "Rangler" sign was delivered in the spring of 2005. The student council worked to ensure that Rishel would have a proud symbol to represent Rishel?’s learning community.

Mr. Stephen Nye, former music teacher at Rishel, led the drive to promote this emblem of school pride. Although he has retired from Rishel, his leadership and never-ending focus on school pride stands.

For over three years, student council led the charge to raise money. They worked in determined fashion to build funds for the marquis. The school hopes that this addition will present a special message about Rishel.

PLANNING OFFICE STAFF CHANGES
The Planning Office staff has been re-organized to streamline planning review for development interests. There are now only two neighborhood planners for the whole city. Contact Tom Best at 720-865-2934 for questions about developments south of Alameda. Contact Dennis Swain at 720-865-2930 for developments north of Alameda.

DAY OF IMPACT HELPS AP
On Saturday, October 22nd, volunteers from Metro Volunteers and residents from Athmar Park met to clean up a neighborhood eyesore; the alley between Federal Blvd and Eliot Street. Keep Denver Beautiful, a program of Denver's Solid Waste Management, and Metro Volunteers sponsored the event. Katie Sullivan coordinated the Metro Volunteer effort, while Karen Cuthbertson, APNA President, coordinated the Athmar Park volunteer effort.

The clean-up teams painted out dumpster graffiti and raked up and removed trash in the alleys. A couple of welcome (and unexpected) events occurred while we were working. The first happened when a neighborhood resident walking down the alley was so appreciative of our efforts that he joined us to rake trash for awhile, and the other was when a homeowner saw what we were doing and was so embarrassed that we were collecting trash off his property that he started cleaning; vowing to keep his alley frontage clean from now on.

APNA extends its thanks to Katie and the other Metro Volunteer and to Athmar Park residents Debi Drewes and RJ Franklin for their efforts. It was a very successful day. I hope that all Athmar Park residents take heed of the property owner who realized that he was responsible for the property outside his fence bordering the alley and become active guardians of their respective alleys. It's a small effort that results in a large return.

CONGRATULATIONS IN ORDER!
Congratulations to... William & Hazel Campbell, neighbors in the 600 block of S. Clay, who celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary in 2005!

Congratulations to... Athmar's 2005 Pee Wee Division Pal Redskins who are unbeaten their division (7-0) and in the play-off for the PeeWee Super Bowl!

16 Haley Abeyta, 18 Mathew Abeyta, 10 Estfan Acosta, 96 Leroy Barajas, 27 Daniel Delgado, 49 Joseph Delgado, 1 Shawn Delgado, 14 Angelo Derrera, 15 Juan Dominguez, 33 Brandon Duran, 44 Estrada DeMarcos, 35 Nicholas Federico, 13 Hipolito Garcia, 17 Justin Gonzales, 9 Judah Herrera, 7 Troy Juarez, 37 Isaiah Lopez, 48 Elijah Laconte, 58 David Lapointe, 26 Rudy Meastas, 22 Gabriel Madrid, 60 Amado Manzanares, 28 Terrel Marshall, 27 Bobby John Rivera, 24 Joseph Rodriguez, 21 Danny Villa! Their dedicated coaches are Adrian Delgado, Carl Aragon, Joseph Delgado, Larry Lopez, and Rudy Maestas.

FREE RADON TESTING
AP is one of ten target neighborhoods participating in a radon-testing grant currently being conducted by Environmental Health. Radon is a naturally occurring gas that causes severe health impacts. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Because radon can?’t be seen, smelled, or tasted it is important to have your home tested. The test is free. Call Tiffany Brown at 720-865-5362.

SPAY NEUTER RESOURCES
Bob Zaragoza, animal lover and neighborhood activist, asks that we please help control our cat population. ?“Please spay or neuter your cats. It is so sad to see hungry or starving cats roaming the alleys.?” Two resources that Bob recommends as having reasonable prices:
--HARRISON MEMORIAL ANIMAL HOSPITAL
--191 YUMA ST.
--TELEPHONE: 303-722-2100

--PLANNED PETHOOD PLUS
--1041 GALAPAGO ST.
--TELEPHONE: 303-595-3561

S. DALE VAGRANT PROBLEM
Neighbors trying to eliminate negative impacts caused by vagrants hanging out around the Dollar Store and Labor Express at S. Dale and W. Alameda continue to work with DPD towards a solution. APNA is asking for more effective patrol efforts -- vagrants hide in the alley when the patrol cars come by -- and APNA is asking for further efforts to encourage the Dollar Store a more active role in the solution by calling the police when they see loiterers. Neighbors are rightfully fed up with their alley being used as a bathroom and are concerned about safety issues due to having their comings and going monitored by vagrants.

ILLEGAL PEDDLERS
Grateful neighbors report that enforcement efforts by Environmental Health inspectors and DPD have had a major impact on decreasing the number of illegal peddlers in our neighborhood. One relieved neighbor says she occasionally still sees one or two vendors at Huston Lake Park, but sometimes goes days without seeing even one vendor in the park!

There is one area that we know of that continues to have a peddler problem-- in the 300 block of S. Teem-- in the 300 block of S. Tejon between Rishel and Valverde, around 2:30pm, peddlers unload multiple stolen grocery carts from a white van and sell food to the school children from the stolen carts.

(CAPTION FOR PHOTO: Top: William & Hazel Campbell. Bottom: 2005 Pee Wee Division Pal Redskins.)