By Mark Gardinier, MNI, Inc. Treasurer
It’s a new year and time, again, for our annual membership drive for Mayfair Neighbors, Inc.
A convenient return envelope is enclosed in this issue of the Mayfair Mirror. Your response to our membership requests last year was an unprecedented success and we thank you for your help with Mayfair Neighbors, Inc. in achieving our 2009 goals.
As in previous years, your membership dollars help produce and distribute the Mayfair Mirror, are the main support for our website www.mayfairdenver.org and neighborhood events such as the annual egg hunt and concert in the park. Our fundraising efforts also enable us to contribute to Palmer, our neighborhood elementary school. We are planning the addition of several new neighborhood activities this year that will also need your membership dollars to help us produce. We are looking at a neighborhood garage sale, 4th of July bike parade and dog pageant, a neighborhood shredding event that may also include electronics recycling.
We realize that times are tight right now but we look to be able to add these services as a benefit specifically to your paid membership. Our membership needs to be broad based and spread throughout the neighborhood. For those who have been faithful members over the past years, THANK YOU. Please talk to your neighbors and express the benefits of membership and what Mayfair Neighbors, Inc. does throughout the year to improve and enhance our life in our neighborhood.
An Eye on City Cuts
As the city looks for ways to cut the budget, they are always looking for items that they deem to be expendable. One of those is the Denver Municipal Band. This would be unfortunate. They are the longest operating municipal band in the country whose support has survived the Great Depression and numerous other economic downturns. Our annual gift to the Denver Municipal Band along with those from other neighborhood organizations should illustrate to the City that we are committed to supporting the band and that they should be as well.
Please return your membership envelope when you receive this issue of the Mayfair Mirror, we cannot work without your help. Mayfair Neighbors is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Consult your income tax professional regarding the deductibility of your membership dollars and cash gifts.
Mayfair Neighbor’s annual donation drive for the Denver’s Children Home made the holidays brighter for these kids thanks to the generosity of the great neighbors here in Mayfair. With collection spots at Nicholson Cleaners, Fairfax Hardware, and Mayfair Liquor, residents donated two and a half large boxes full of personal hygiene supplies, toys and gifts for the kids at Denver’s Children Home. In addition, a coupled donated $200 anonymously.
The Mayfair Board thanks ALL the residents who took the time to stop by and spread a bit of cheer this season, and to the three businesses who accepted donations.
Mayfair Says Goodbye to A Great Neighbor
The Board and neighborhood residents are saddened to share that Dr. Carter Ballinger, a 30-year Mayfair resident, passed away in late January after a long and fulfilling life. He is survived by his wife Doris, five adult children, and five grandchildren. Professionally, Dr. Ballinger was Professor of Anesthesia at the University of Utah and the University of Colorado School of Medicine. One joy of his life was “to keep in touch” with doctors he taught and trained to specialize in anesthesia. Carter was one of Mayfair’s biggest advocates, serving on the board, and was a regular attendee at the general meetings. He will be greatly missed.
Once again Mayfair has lost a beautiful flower in our garden of life. With the passing of Margaret Howlin, known to all as Peggy.
Peggy was a surgical nurse who worked even through her own cancer and chemo because she loved helping people. She held many positions at Christ the King Catholic Church, from president of the Altar and Rosary Society, and leader of Holy Scripture at Mass, to helping flip burgers at the Parish picnic. Her ready smile, that throaty laugh, along with her grey, pixie cut hair and those twinkling blue eyes, made her someone you wanted to be around just for the sheer joy of life she radiated.
Peggy will be missed by so many, but as I told her when visiting her in the hospice, “Remember to look down on us and send the rain to keep Mayfair green.” She loved her yard and flowers and was really looking forward to helping with our Mayfair Garden Tour in June this year she’ll have the best view ever!
Miss you already, “Peg of our hearts”!
By Leslie Madsen
The U.S. Constitution mandates the census to be completed every ten years, and the U.S. Census Bureau has hired about 4,000 local employees to work part-time (five or six weeks). With more than $400 billion at stake for cities and states across the nation based on their census count, it is important for everyone to take ten minutes to fill out a form that contains less than a dozen questions.
At the same time, residents need to be on guard against potential scam artists that go door-to-door and impersonate census workers to obtain personal information from unsuspecting residents.
BE AWARE:
Census workers WILL ASK the following information:
Also note that that the Census is not conducted online or via email so BEWARE of websites or emails that request information on behalf of the Census. To learn more about identity theft, protecting your personal information and other related scams, call AARP ElderWatch at 1-800-222-4444 or visit the Colorado Attorney General’s website.
By Lynn Gregory
Just yesterday I noticed one brave hyacinth bulb starting to poke its head out through the ground, a gentle reminder that spring will be here before we know it. With that in mind we are now organizing for the Mayfair Cottage Garden Tour that will take place this year on Saturday, June 12th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s event will start on Holly Street between 8th and 12th with an amazing variety of gardens that our neighbors have dedicated many joyous hours creating.
Last year’s event was unfortunately cancelled due to a very wet spring, but this year we are optimistically planning for a perfect spring followed by a beautiful summer’s day with our gardens at their peak!
If you have not attended our garden tour, please mark your calendar now and spread the word to family and friends. It makes for a wonderful day, walking thru Mayfair, exploring the gardens, and getting a chance to meet and visit with their wonderful hosts.
Volunteers are needed to help and if you might be interested in working a three hour shift or helping in any other way, please let us know. Many of our volunteers are coming back for their third garden tour they have had such fun. Come join them — it is a terrific way to meet your Mayfair neighbors and visitors and increase pride in our extraordinary neighborhood.
We also are looking for sponsors that can contribute either financially or perhaps with printing, signage, etc. Every dollar that we can make beyond expenses goes right back into our neighborhood. Let’s make this year’s Mayfair Cottage Garden Tour the most beautiful and profitable one yet!
To volunteer, include your garden on the tour, or sponsor the event, please contact Lynn Gregory at chelgarden@aol.com, or at 303.321.5645.
Download the Spring issue! (4.5 MB PDF file).