Marlborough Mesa

JANUARY 2003

Jan 10, 2003

Rash of Thefts Spur Meeting on Jan. 13

A rash of vehicle thefts has prompted a meeting to be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday Jan. 13 at the Dobson Ranch Library Community Room.

The Mesa Police Crime Prevention unit will give residents tips on preventing the theft of their cars, trucks and other vehicles, as well as handing out FREE steering wheel locks.

Neighbors can also register their vehicle in the city?’s ?“Watch Your Car?” program by bringing a current registration and driver?’s license. (See the printed copy of your newsletter that is passed out for more details on this.)



3rd Annual Toy Drive a Success

The 3rd Annual Marlborough Mesa Toy Drive came off without a hitch as residents pitched in and played around, gathering a truck full of toys for the East Valley Child Crisis Center.

The Dec. 14 event drew more than 100 people to the park on Alma School Road, where food, fun and Santa Claus helped create a festive holiday atmosphere.

Once again, neighbors from around Marlborough Mesa pitched in to create the popular event, which also featured a bouncy house for the kids and photos with our own Marlborough Mesa Santa, Bob Cingal.

Cingal, a professional mall Santa, donated his time to pose with more than 40 local children during the two-hour event.

?“Bob really loves Christmas and he really loves kids,?” Alma Jones said.

While food and fun were part of the menu, the real focus was on gathering toys for the East Valley Child Crisis Center.

?“Unfortunately, kids are abused in this world and this is one way we can make the holidays a little nicer for them,?” said Linda Murphy, a volunteer at the event. ?“The kids (at the shelter) don?’t even have a home, so just the littlest thing, like handing them a present, can really make a difference. It?’s also good for our kids to help out in the community they are raised in.?”

Dedicated neighborhood volunteers and the local Brownie troop deserve the credit for the event, with people cleaning up the park prior to the celebration, along with providing food and drink as well as logistics.

The steering committee for the annual toy drive included Sandra Fischer, Sandy Scully, Ellen Bretzke and Trish Baker, along with dozens of others working behind the scenes.

?“Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves and the food was just great,?” said Sandra Fischer. ?“The weather was great and the kids really had fun in the bouncy house.?”

The December event was also a celebration for the neighborhood, which was recognized with eight ?“Spirit of Mesa?” awards for our work as a community.



Neighbors Celebrate New Year Together

Fireworks and fun rang in the New Year at Marlborough Mesa as residents came together, closed down streets and set up great block parties for their neighbors,

Residents on Spruce, the 1000 block of Posada and near Emerson and Pecos, requested city street closure signs to close the street to traffic, allowing residents to mingle and party together.

?“We had all kinds of fun stuff,?” said Mark Ensley in reference to the Pecos block party, the 4th annual celebration for the neighbors. ?“We closed down the streets and had fires and horseshoe pits and had a great potluck dinner. It is definitely an annual thing, it?’s safe for everybody and the kids really have a ball.?”
Residents Light the Way on Spruce Ave.

Marlborough Mesa Residents on Spruce and Posada Avenues lit up the neighborhood with their annual luminary event on Dec. 22.

Neighbors lined the streets with the luminaries, which are a Southwest tradition dating back to Spanish Colonial times.

?“It was festive to see the whole street lit up with the luminaries,?” said Monette Coyle. ?“I like our neighborhood coming together at this special time of the year.?”



Volunteers Spiff Up Corner on Pecos

Marlborough Mesa residents have once again come together to improve one the primary entrances to our neighborhood at Pecos and Alma School Road.

The project, which was spearheaded by Jeannie Pratt, removed old and unsightly landscaping and weeds on the corner of Pecos and Alma School.

Aided by her husband Bruce, Jeannie arranged bids and coordinated the financing of the project, which was paid for from community funds, a raffle at the toy drive and nearby residents.

The city of Mesa provided volunteers to lay the paper and spread the rock.

?“It didn?’t end up costing that much money and now it is nice, neat and clean,?” Jeannie said.

Suzanne and Craig Weaver won the DVD/VCR raffle, donated by Cecil Duarte.



Clean Sweep Just Around the Corner

Getting ready for spring-cleaning? Marlborough Mesa and the city of Mesa want to help, but they also need your help.

Sponsors are needed to ?“host?” the dumpsters in their neighborhoods. Tentative plans call for dumpsters to be placed April 7, 14, 21 and 28. If you can help, contact Kristine or Tim Malcolm at 491-9957.

Because of budgetary concerns, the program may not be offered after April 30, 2003. Contact the Mesa City Council at 480-644-2011 and let them know how valuable and important this service is to our neighborhood and city.

Also, this would be a good time for an annual community wide garage sale before the clean sweep containers arrive. If you can volunteer to coordinate or have a particular weekend in mind, please call Alma Jones at 831-1525.



Corrections

Bob Gates is not leaving the finance committee.

Residents of Portobello held a Halloween block party highlighted by Pam Drury?’s decorated pumpkins.