Orchard Valley at Cherry Creek Park

OV VOICE Fall 2002

Oct 21, 2002

THE ORCHARD VALLEY VOICE
Fall 2002 THE LATEST NEWS

Published Four Times Annually by the Orchard Valley HOA Executive Board for Orchard Valley Homeowners


ACCOLADES

We all thank the POOL PARTY Committee, JEROME GILMER, JANET HORVATH, KAREN EASTWOOD, ROBERT BERGLUND, and SHIRLEY MITCHELL, for their very successful event on the 3rd of August. JOY BERGLUND, DARRELL EASTWOOD, and KIRSTEN EASTWOOD helped set up. PHIL and JACKIE CHIPOURAS and NANCY MAIERHOFER helped clean up.

DEE PALLASCH, owner of La Groceria across Parker Road south of Orchard, catered the dinner and gave us a complimentary discount which we all appreciate. Everyone seemed to like the food.

If anyone can give the serial numbers on a 6-pack of Honey Brown left at the Pool Party, we might have some left to return. Also, a wheeled cooler was left. Any claimants?

PHIL HENDERSON cleaned up the entry to Orchard Valley by picking up litter along Parker Road. We need to do this at least quarterly. Any volunteers?

LYNN LUHNOW and DON and CAROL LABROT planted climbing roses along the fence at ?“our?” entrance to the Park. More plantings are forthcoming and we need volunteers.

SAM JOHNSON and DEVIN GILMER stained our mailbox posts.

BE CAREFUL WITH THOSE STRING GRASS TRIMMERS! SOME MAILBOX POSTS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY CUT AND THEIR LIVES SHORTENED.


ANY SPILLED STAIN FROM THE STAINING PROJECT CAN BE REMOVED FROM CONCRETE WITH MINERAL SPIRITS AND A WIRE BRUSH.

Cooperation and helpfulness are hallmarks of our great neighborhood. Keep the volunteerism going!


LOOKIN?’ GOOD

KAREN EASTWOOD and LYNN LUHNOW have spent hours and hours combing our Covenants and Architectural Guidelines for inconsistencies, unreasonableness, and superfluosness. Their suggestions will be presented to Orchard Valley homeowners for review and approval.


WATCH OUT

ANDY MAIERHOFER is working on a very slow County Neighborhood Watch program. He and AMIR STEPHEN, an Arapahoe County Deputy Sheriff, have divided Orchard Valley into 15 ?“blocks,?” each of which needs a Block Captain. Call ANDY if you would like your stripes. Also, if any Orchard Valley homeowner would like a list of OV owners, their addresses and phone numbers, ask ANDY. This list is for Orchard Valley use only, and most numbers are on the No Call List.

Speaking of slow counties, we also are trying to get the time for the green and left turn arrows out of Orchard Valley lengthened. With the increasing traffic from the apartments, it?’s not uncommon during busy hours to wait through 3 light changes. If you would support the longer time please call ANDY.


MOUTH OFF

Do you want to have a say about next year?’s neighborhood projects? Do you mind if WE RAISE THE HOMEOWNERS?’ FEES without your input? If your answers are ?“yes,?” come to our Fall Homeowners?’ Association meeting next month. We will discuss neighborhood priorities for the budget and bring residents up to date on our investigations involving gating and security. The meeting is at Valley Country Club Tuesday, September 24, at 7:30 p.m. You should have received a letter from KAREN EASTWOOD explaining the meeting and a map to Valley Country Club. If not, give KAREN a call.


PRUNES

PHIL CHIPOURAS, Architectural Review Committee, reminds us that sticking trees and bushes into the ground isn?’t the last thing we need to do. Now that some of our vegetation is 4 years old, pruning is in order to maintain healthy plants and good-looking landscapes. Go to Colorado State University?’s Cooperative Extension at http://www.ext.colostate.edu/, AnswerLink, Gardening and Home Horticulture, Pruning, etc. - Search away!


DRYING UP

Now that some of us have allowed our lawns to go partially dormant to conserve our precious water, some of our neighbors have commented that the street gutters are rarely dry! In fact, some evenings the flow into the storm drains sounds like running streams. It may be soothing to the ear and help us sleep, but it?’s not helping our water situation. Please adjust your sprinklers, water when evaporation is the least (early mornings), and limit the watering time. Next year we expect mandatory restrictions.


CHILD LABOR

With all the young children in Orchard Valley, several mothers have asked about babysitters. If you would like to baby sit or perform other jobs such as pet or house sitting, lawn mowing, or snow shoveling, please contact KAREN at 303.693.8095. Call also if you would like these services. The list below may not be complete.

ETHAN MORGAN, age 15 ?– babysitting, lawn mowing, pet sitting, household chores. 303.690.2083.

LEO ROCKWELL, age 14 ?– babysitting, house sitting, snow shoveling, household labor. 720.581.2038.

SAM JOHNSON, age 12 ?– babysitting, pet sitting, household chores. 303.617.1300.

CLAY WALDRON, age 14 ?– babysitting, household chores. 303.766.2329.

TYLER GROVES, age 14 ?– babysitting, household labor. 303.400.6004.


HI TECH

Reminder - Send MICHAEL and DIANE MARKS, MiDiMarks@aol.com , your e-mail addresses. Then we can transmit timely information, and even this newsletter, more expediently.


PINEY CREEK

Again, homeowners on the south side of Maplewood Drive are encouraged to remove the support wires on the pine trees behind their homes. The trees have enlarged to the point where the wires are strangling growth. It would be a good idea to remove stakes too. Also, homeowners may discard any leftover sprinkler pipe initially used to get the trees established.


SNAKES ALIVE

We have had several sightings of ?“GIANT SNAKES!!?” within Orchard Valley. ?“COULD THEY BE RATTLESNAKES??” The ones that ANDY MAIERHOFER, an amateur naturalist, and veterinarian in his past life, has heard about are nonvenomous bullsnakes, Pituophis melanoleucus sayi for you Latin scholars. These are yellowish, cream-colored, or beige, with dark brown or black blotches down the back and along the sides. A dark line or broader mask extends across the head from the angles of the jaws to the eyes. They can grow to 6 feet, but most here are up to 3-4 feet. When approached by humans or dogs, initially they act menacing, hissing, striking, and even rapidly shaking their tails, which in dry leaves can mimic their more dangerous cousins. When carefully handled, most will become gentle as the photo above shows. Their diet is mainly rodents, some birds, toads, and smaller reptiles (snakes and lizards). Bullsnakes usually hunt by day, but during the heat of summer they come out during the cooler evenings and nights. It has been said that rattlesnakes will avoid areas frequented by bullsnakes. That would be a good thing! ANDY dislikes seeing snakes harmed and will help you relocate any found closer to your house than you would like. If relocated, though, you might expect more mice and voles.


GOING BATTY

Because of our adjacency to Cherry Creek State Park, we might be more likely than many to find dead or dying bats. If you find such a bat you are advised not to touch it. Probably only about 1% of all bats have rabies, but a high percentage of dead or dying bats have the disease. Contact the Tri-County Health Department (303.220.9200) if you have questions about bats and/or rabies.


MOUTHS OF BABES

ELLA May 24, 2002, to PHIL and DEBBIE WYERS

JOSEPH DOMINICK July 14, 2001, to LUELLA and TERRY D?’ANGELO.

Luella points out there aren?’t many baby girls around. RYANNE DOHERTY and ELLA WYERS are the only two known to this editor.

For your new or omitted contribution, contact ANDY to be included in the next issue.


PARTY ANIMALS

Our next big event is Orchard Valley?’s first annual OKTOBERFEST. (This is in lieu of the BLOCK PARTY previously planned for September.) OKTOBERFEST will be on Saturday, October 19, from 3:00 to 7:00 pm at the pool parking lot and grassy areas. We plan to have a disc jockey or recorded music, chili cook-off, pie eating contest, pumpkin carving contest, buffalo chip throwing (just kidding), games and an Astrojump for the kids. Contact STACY BARNES at 303.690.3161 or LAURA HINKSTON at 720.870.3300 if you would like to help with this event.

The CHRISTMAS PARTY is scheduled for December 6th. Anyone interested in hosting please contact STEPHANIE PIKO.

The CHILDREN?’S CHRISTMAS PARTY is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, December 15th.


_________________________


EXECUTIVE BOARD, OVHOA

Contact any Board member with comments, suggestions, or requests.

KAREN EASTWOOD, President
303.693.8095, KDEastwood@msn.com

JEROME GILMER, Vice President 303.627.1703, Jerome@gilmermusic.com

STEPHANIE PIKO, Secretary
303.690.3899, StephPiko@yahoo.com

CRYSTAL FRENCH, Treasurer
303.693.7666, CrystalLFrench@msn.com

ANDY MAIERHOFER, Director and Editor of the Orchard Valley VOICE
303.617.3334, AskAndy@att.net


WE MAY HAVE VACANCIES ON THE BOARD IN JANUARY. PLEASE CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING FOR THESE POSITIONS


LEAF ME ALONE

Have your trees?’ and other plants?’ leaves dried up on the margins? The Aurora Forestry Administration informed ANDY that this phenomenon is a protective measure during times of hot weather and drought. The plants ?“pull back?” their resources at the expense of leaf margins to save their vital parts, much as animals pull back their blood supplies to vital organs at the expense of ears and toes when exposed to freezing temperatures. Maple trees, including our Norway maples at Orchard Valley?’s entrance, are especially prone to leaf scorch. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1733.html

Aurora Forestry says the trees will probably be all right depending on the precipitation the rest of the year, but some root watering at the drip lines couldn?’t hurt. KAREN is looking into getting this done.


REMINDER

Attend the Orchard Valley Homeowners?’ Meeting September 24. We want your input! See page 2 for details.