By Jackie Medford
“Friends are like flowers, beautiful flowers, friends are like flowers in the garden of life.”
Lawns and gardens and flower beds are working overtime to make our Mayfair neighborhood our perfect garden of life. But a few weeks ago Jersey Street lost its most “colorful rose” when Thelma Wood passed away. She had lived on our block since 1969 and when we moved here in 1971, she was the first neighbor to welcome us with her wonderful apple cake. She also was the one to give our son his first paying job at age 10 —shoveling snow.
She gathered neighbors at Christmas to celebrate (and eat her famous fudge) and when her dining room got too small, we moved the party to a neighbor’s house. Then last Christmas we advanced down the street to Delaney’s basement and over 30 neighbors sat down table set with beautiful linen and china and the best food and conversation ever.
Her ninetieth birthday last year was celebrated at her sister-in-law’s home in Highlands Ranch. Friends and relatives from all the way back east in Delaware came to celebrate. It was the biggest and best party ever. Then this year, on June 26, on what would have been her 91st birthday, we all celebrated her life at her memorial service.
Jersey Street will miss her a lot, but when we heard a rumor that her beloved grandson, Peter, might be moving in while he goes to college in Denver, we took heart, and know that he will be spoiled by all the good cooks on our block!
So life goes on, new “flowers” show up, and we are all grateful for the love and caring of our wonderful neighbor, Thelma Wood as a new generation of her family continues on Jersey Street.
Today, if you have a neighbor like Thelma on your block, and you maybe haven’t told them, or showed them how much they are appreciated, do it, and do it now. Tonight, go see them, take them a little treat, or just give them a hug. Even a phone call works wonders. You’ll be rewarded by becoming a flower in the Mayfair Garden of Life.
Make a lasting difference in the life of a child and our community. Palmer teachers welcome volunteer help, especially in reading and math classrooms. Small-group tutoring opportunities are available both during school hours and after school. No experience necessary and training is provided. If you have other skills that might be of use, please let us know. If you are interested or have questions, please contact Jessica Nguyen at jessica.aman@hotmail.com or 303-956-4170.
Gardeners at Mayfair Park
Denver Parks and Recreation needs volunteers to adopt the Mayfair Park flowerbeds through October 24, 2009. The program enables civic groups, individuals and businesses to help keep their park and community beautiful and litter free. Training, tools and materials will be provided. Contact Tina Romero with Denver Parks and Recreation at tina.romero@denvergov.org, at 303-806-9083.
Naturalists & Stewards: Bluff Lake Nature Center
The nature center, located on the eastern edge of Stapleton along Sand Creek, is a unique native habitat, urban wildlife refuge and outdoor classroom, and is visited each year by thousands of school children and others each year. Volunteer opportunities include naturalists to be leaders in the youth science program, and site stewards to lend a hand and make the habitat healthy for our wild friends. No experience necessary. Contact Kristin Libberton at 303-344-1282 or visit www.BluffLakeNatureCenter.org for more information.
On July 25, neighbors on the 1300 block of Fairfax Street gathered for a summer block party hosted by Christine and Kirk Pokrandt. With plenty to eat and drink, long-time residents met new families, reminisced about past gatherings, and talked about plans for future get-togethers. For this block of Mayfair, gatherings like this are a tradition. A block picture album records the comings and goings of families taken at gatherings like this for more than 25 years!
The Fredericks of Fairfax: Carolyn, son Braden, and J.J.
2010 challenge
While the summer of 2009 is fading, Mayfair Neighbors, Inc. wants to encourage—and challenge—ALL blocks to hold block parties of their own in 2010. Exact details of the challenge will be communicated well before then, but start thinking now how you can host a gathering to get to know the people next door or at the end of the block. Start recruiting volunteers now. It’s fun, it’s friendly, and downright neighborly! Let’s make Mayfair Denver’s model neighborhood for the friendliest in town.
P.S. With many fine days ahead in September and October, it’s not too late to host a block party yet this year.
Taken from www.ehow.com
Go here for the detailed suggestions from ehow.com
Stop, look, and look again. Yes, it’s that time of year again when we delight in partaking of the greater outdoors with man’s (or woman’s) best friend, and other companions — Spot and Fluffy.
Often, these outdoor experiences may not be as delightful as we would like when some of our neighbors have neglected to do what is right by their fellow neighbors — not pick up after their pet. This causes neighbors to curse, whine, and cast disrespectful comments toward those that have neglected the ‘good neighbor’ policy of curbing their pets.
Please, let us all be kind and thoughtful to one another by picking up after those delightful furry friends of ours, and allow one and all to continue to enjoy our walks in our parks (and sidewalks) without having to treat the excursion like navigating through a mine field.
If you forget yours, plastic bags will be available at the Lyle Manor on Leyden Street. Kind souls have also placed a stash or two at the two parks (Mayfair and Lindsley) enjoyed by Mayfair residents.
One parting thought: Mayfair Neighbors’ annual Concert in the Park will be held on August 22 at 7:00 p.m. at Mayfair Park. Please plan to attend, and remember---watch your step!
— Dr. Percy Lyle, 1060 Leyden Street, 303-399-5587
By Mike Nelson
Is there such a thing as a breakfast that’s worth waiting an hour for? At Snooze A.M. Eatery, the answer is a resounding YES!
I guarantee you haven’t had a pancake like the ones they serve at Snooze. We’ve tried almost all of them, including the “Cinnamon Roll” pancake, that isn’t on the menu but can be had, if you ask nicely and they have the ingredients on hand. My personal favorite is the “Colorado Peach Ginger” pancakes, which are buttermilk pancakes with Palisade Peaches, candied ginger, vanilla cream sauce, streusel & ginger butter. In addition to the world’s best pancakes, they serve an amazing array of hollandaise-topped dishes, tasty breakfast sandwiches, breakfast burritos and tacos, a corned beef hash that puts others to shame, and omelets made to order.
Keep in mind, that this isn’t “fast food.” Your meal at Snooze is a hand-made creation that is designed to be savored. If you’re in a big hurry, you won’t fully appreciate the Snooze experience. To keep you busy while you wait, they offer coffee, water and sidewalk chalk. Once seated, your servers will be cheerful and attentive. They also serve “breakfast cocktails” for those who chose to indulge in that manner.
In addition to serving heavenly food, Snooze also strives for sustainability in their operations. They buy carbon offsets for their water and energy use, recycle and compost everything possible, use recycled and chlorine-free paper products, and don’t send your leftovers home in those nasty Styrofoam containers that most other restaurants do.
Stop by and welcome them to the neighborhood. You’ll be very glad you did. Expect lines on the weekends (I’m not kidding about the hour wait), but during the week you should be able to be seated right away – or close to it, anyway.
Snooze: 700 N.Colorado Blvd. 303.297.0700. Open every day 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Breakfast all day, lunch from 11 a.m. Check out their website: www.snoozeeatery.com for more information.
