Neighborhood Announcements for June 2013

Dear University Park Neighbor,

Calling all Volunteers – Please Help!

Do you have about 2 hours a week or month that you can help your neighborhood keep its great name? The UPCC is ALL volunteers, and we can only do it with your help. Our open positions are:
*UpWords Newsletter Editor – 5x/year
*Sidewalks
*Events (4th of July parade, sing & sleigh –etc.)
*INC Representative http://www.denverinc.org
*Monthly emails
If you can help in any way please contact Jennifer Schmidt at [email protected] or visit https://upcc.us/support/volunteer/

Our next General Meeting is Wednesday October 2nd, 2013 at University Park Elementary School.

There is a meet and greet with refreshments & eyeglass cleaning from 6:30-7 hosted by Peepers Optical
cut and paste to learn more –  http://www.peepersoptical.net
The General Meeting is from 7-8pm.

Agenda Items:

  • UPCC updates
  • UPark Elementary School Updates
  • Prairie Park Updates
  • Harvard Gulch Improvement Initiative
  • Samantha Padilla Scheitler of the Denver Auditor’s Office:  What is the Denver Auditor’s Office All About with Q&A
  • Neil Alderson, Executive Director of the Schlessman YMCA: Updates on expansion plans
  • Pat Cashen, UPCC Zoning Chair: Zoning and Status of 2400 S University Block
  • Comments and Questions

University Park United Methodist Church Events for the local community:

*Evanston Center Open House located in the building at Evanston and Lafayette on 9/26
*Mental Health Emergency Training on 10/5
*Blessing of the Animals at UPUMC courtyard on 10/6
*Southeast Denver CROP Hunger Walk in the UP neighborhood beginning and ending at the UPUMC location on 10/ 13
*Electronic Recycling by Metech in the UPUMC parking lot on 10/19

Join Governor John Hickenlooper & Mayor Michael B. Hancock
for COLORADO REMEMBERS 9/11 on September 11th:  LOOKING AT THE FUTURE OF NATIONAL SECURITY
TO RESERVE YOUR COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS: CLICK HERE & FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS

Colorado International School hosts an informative Tea Party frequently. The new series for 2013-2014 is available on there website at: http://www.coloradointernationalschool.com
Colorado International School
4100 E. Iliff Avenue

NOTIFICATION OF DENVER REVISED MUNICIPAL CODE, CHAPTER 59 TEXT AMENDMENT PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC HEARING

(This amendment will clarify how certain zoning rules apply when lands with Former Chapter 59 zoning are mapped next to “protected (residential zone) districts” under the Denver Zoning Code.)

The link to the draft of the proposed ordinance has been updated:
http://www.denvergov.org/Portals/646/documents/Planning%20Board/2013/DRMC-59-2%20Amd_StaffReport_forPB.pdf

On October 1st, the health insurance marketplaces for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will go into effect, helping to bring access to quality, affordable health care for Americans. Here in Colorado, our state’s new online health marketplace, Connect for Health Colorado, will enable individuals and small businesses to shop for, compare, and purchase health insurance that meets their needs. There will be 4 town hall meetings, please feel free to cut and paste the email below.

Space is limited so they ask that attendees RSVP by emailing [email protected] or by calling 303-844-4988.

DU Hockey single game tickets go on sale September 6th at 9am – find tickets at: http://www.denverpioneers.com

The University of Denver community has a new way to keep up with DU news.
The University of Denver Magazine website: www.du.edu/magazine

The UPCC Board is also appreciative to all the neighbors and neighborhood businesses that make it possible each year for UPCC to provide you with the Purple Pages. Please patronize these local businesses and let them know you saw their advertisement in the Purple Pages. Also, Stay Tuned – A current Purple Pages is in production and should be at your door by the end of September.

Sprout City Farms is a non-profit organization seeking to build resiliency in Denver neighborhoods by increasing access to healthy, locally produced food.
If you can see the value of food access and education in your neighborhood, and know of an organization that might be able to host a farm (school, hospital, shelter, long-term care facility, etc.), they ask you to please share the link below with them.
http://sproutcityfarms.org/rfp/

Mayor Michael B. Hancock, his Cabinet and department heads are coming together for their quarterly neighborhood Cabinet meeting.
Hear a first-hand account of what is happening in your community and around the city. Following the meeting, all attendees will have the unique opportunity to engage in a one-on-one dialogue with the Mayor and his leadership team. Cabinet in the Community will be held at Teller Elementary School located at 1150 Garfield St. Denver, 80206 on Saturday September 7, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. with free continental breakfast!
For questions or to request that a specific municipal issue be addressed at this meeting, email or call [email protected], 720-865-9044

Denver Parks has asked if Grow Local Colorado would like the same park beds as we have this year.  That is a testament to the hours you have put in at Observatory.  If Parks’ staff isn’t happy with how a garden looks all summer long, they pull it from the list.  So thank you for making Grow Local look good.  We know we can’t do this without you.  Are you willing to help again next year?
https://upcc.us/about/parks/observatory-park-community-garden/

September school events at University Park Elementary

  • SEPTEMBER 6 Farmers’ Market – crops from the School Garden
  • SEPTEMER 6 Band Night
  • SEPTEMBER 9 Fundraiser – eat at Slotted Spoon and mention UPark School
  • SEPTEMBER 22 Fun Run and Mom’preneur Marketplace
  • OCTOBER 9 Wear Orange & walk to school for unity week

For more school events or to make a tax-deductible donation for the apple campaign: http://www.uparkelementary.org

Thank you for your time in our first ever neighborhood survey regarding the proposed zoning changes on the 2400 block of South University – please see the results on our website at:  https://upcc.us

September14th is Star Gazing Night at Chamberlin Observatory, and on the lawn.  Info on all Astronomical opportunities is at www.denverastro.org.

If you are interested in learning more about Elm Leaf Beetle Disease, refer to Colorado State University’s excellent explanation of the Elm-Leaf Beetle at: www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05521.html.

Coyote Alert!  If you see or have trouble with coyotes please notify [email protected].

To Help with the Prairie Park Project please contact Diana Helper, [email protected] or
Jennifer Engleby, [email protected]

The UPCC will soon be posting the survey results of the 2400 S University block re-zoning on our own website. Stay tuned at upcc.us

The board of directors of the UPCC wants to recognize the exceptional service of Dana Strand O’Connor who has served in various capacities on the board, the last of which was President since May of 2011. A partial, but not inclusive list includes building an attractive and valuable website, establishing this very email list, increasing residents participation, and increasing volunteer dues. You will be missed Dana!

On September 3rd, 2013 Jennifer Schmidt was unanimously voted in to fulfill the unexpired term of Dana O’Connor in accordance with the Bylaws of UPCC adopted on October 19, 2005.

Thank you to both of these wonderful women for their commitment to our neighborhood.

This past spring, University Park lost two long time neighbors and beloved members of the University Park Community Council. Mary Myers passed away April 20 and David Seymour passed away May 13. University Park will long remember the great work accomplished by both of these people who tirelessly devoted their spirit and energy to making this a better community. There will be more to read on these lovely people in your next issue of the UPWords.

*Around the corner is the Schlessman Y Annual Halloween Party on Friday, October 25th from 5:30pm-7:00pm.  They will have games, crafts, a haunted maze, trunk-or-treat and more!  This event is free for members and the community. For more info: http://www.denverymca.org/university-hills

The University Park Community Council, (UPCC) mission is to promote and enhance the quality of life in the University Park Neighborhood. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Traci Samaras, on behalf of the entire UPCC Board
https://upcc.us

To donate visit https://upcc.us/support.