Marlborough Mesa

DECEMBER 1999

Feb 16, 2003

RESIDENTS SPRUCE UP NEIGHBORHOOD
By Andrew Long
A Tribune Writer
(This article appeared in The Tribune Wed., Dec. 1, 999

Residents in Mesa are proving you don't need a homeowners association to keep a neighborhood looking good.

One recent morning, neighbors in the area of Alma School and Guadalupe roads, known as Marlborough Mesa, banded together and painted a quarter-mile section of fence surrounding their community.

By using recycled paint donated by the city and a lot of elbow grease, the residents covered the blank concrete wall running down Alma School Road.

"We don't need a homeowners association," said Alma Jones, a neighborhood activist who organized the event. "The city's code compliance office does a good enough job."

Jones spearheaded the project by getting the city to donate 105 gallons of free paint it had accumulated from various hazardous waste collection days the city sponsors.

Mixing the hodge-podge of paint to a consistent color (light tan) proved to be a minor problem, until Jones contacted ICI Dulux, a paint store on Country Club Road, whose employees offered to mix the paint for free.


Many of the neighbors who helped with the project said they choose to live and stay in this area because of the close-knit community it is.

"I know most of my neighbors by first name," said Joey Hedger as he wielded a brush on the wall. Hedger said when he first moved to the area fours years ago from California he didn't have a lawn mower. One day he came home and his neighbor had mowed his lawn for him.

Mark Cefalu, a resident of 12 years, said, "People get out of the house here; they get out from behind the wall."


MERRY CHRISTMAS ......
Merry Christmas-PRIDE Grant is approved!

We have been APPROVED as of TODAY for the PRIDE Grant! We will get $2,000 of the $2,500 needed for ONE sign. We have to "work" together to raise the other $500 -- whether by
"donations" ... say $5-25 per family or having a neighborhood garage sale with a certain percentage going toward the rest of one sign. At that time we can re-apply for another grant for the next sign. We have a total of 3 signs needed for this development.

Let me hear your ideas on HOW we want to "earn" or "pay" for the $500. The entire development has 469 homes -- so that would be very little per household if we just want to "contribute" something. There will be a bank account set up for just this purpose. I have not done that yet, but plan on that tomorrow. A letter could be sent out to ALL residents in our area, so that everyone would be aware of the remainder needed, as many do not have the internet and are not "connected". Give me your thoughts -- there is a discussion going on in the "Talk About It" area of our homepage.

Looks like our "Marlborough" is getting what we have all worked for so hard. HURRAY!!!

Happy Holidays to you and yours,
Alma
Marlborough Website Coordinator
480-831-1525
602-321-1139
jnajones@cybertrails.com