"We Love Esperanza Estates" Green Valley, Arizona 85614

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Information for Homeowners

Periodico de Esperanza
Homeowners Newsletter
May 28, 2002

Board Activities
By Dave Lantz

   At the meeting of May 20, the Board accepted the resignation of Clay Crawford. Clay will be spending a good share of the year in Idaho. He thus joins Herb Graffweg as a winter-resident/former Board member. Herb resigned at the March meeting. We shall miss both members and their many contributions for the betterment of Esperanza Estates. Each has volunteered to contribute his time and talent during his residency here and we will no doubt accept their offers of help on special projects.

  Dick Zindrick was appointed by the Board to fill out the unexpired portion of Herb's term (until the annual meeting of January 2003). He will serve as back-up to Tom Cooke on Common Area Maintenance.

  As a major item of business, the Board voted to proceed with renovation of the tennis court at a cost of approximately $5,000.

Paint, Etc.
By Dave Lantz

  We don't usually direct homeowners choices but we do endorse the use of Dunn-Edwards brand paint for outdoor use. Their paints were used originally and seem to demonstrate excellent color retention, even after twenty years or so.

  Dunn-Edwards provides weekly delivery to Green Valley with a discount for EEHOA residents. Our account is with the Speedway address of Dunn-Edwards, phone 327-6011. One access code for our special price is Herb Graffweg's telephone number, viz., 625-3019. However, we encourage you to refer directly to their account Number 068830000, as Herb's telephone number may eventually change.

(Webmaster's note: The account number above is correct. The number in the printed Periodico was missing an "8." I called the store for more information. The cost of a gallon of paint to residents of Esperanza Estates who use the above number is $19.19. They will deliver the paint to you on Wednesday, and sometimes on Thursday. They take credit cards over the phone when you order.)

  You may wish to patch or dress up the discoloration where roof drains have splashed and stained at ground level. You should scrub the area (dirt and fungus) using TSP or moderately strong Clorox. Use a brush with fiber, not metal bristles, to avoid scaling the stucco coat on the concrete block.

Bees
By Dave Lantz

  We have observed one football-sized swarm in the courtyard of one home. The owners were absent at the time. After two days, the swarm moved on. The bees here are assumed to be Africanized and aggressive so use caution if it is necessary to approach the swarm. If they establish a home on your property, it would be wise to call a professional exterminator.

Hospitality Committee
By Phyllis Johnson, Chair

  The linkages proposed by committee activist Melodye Cooke between the Newcomers packets and the Neighborhood Watch reported in the April edition of the Periodico continue to be implemented. (See Neighborhood Watch report in this issue.) Committee leadership is keeping an eye on summer comings and goings, on weather realities, on continuing volunteer upgrades of our common areas at pool and park sites.

  We welcome ideas for a committee sponsored summer party, perhaps at the pool site. But always we cheer private gatherings that foster bonding in the neighborhoods or with visiting families. Call 399-9003 or 399-0501 to secure use of facilities, as well as tables, etc., stored in the Shed at the tennis court. In the meantime, long-range plans are in the making for a welcome-back party for our winter residents, in the fall!

Neighborhood Watch Committee
By Melodye Cooke, Chair

  Thanks to Marilyn Harland, member of the Hospitality Committee for launching this security program as a separate committee. Almost all volunteer captains/assistants are recorded for the 27 zones in the data base and filed with SAV. However, Marilyn has taken on a new "life style" and turned over the committee to me. I assure the Association that I am committed to the second phase of the Watch structure, that is, to foster a working relationship between the volunteer captains with back-up assistants and their respective zone neighbors.

  As a first step, I will work with the resources of the Hospitality Committee to deliver Newcomer packets to the respective block captains who will in turn deliver the packet to the respective newcomer. Further, I will facilitate the planning of the new sub-committee to insure the updatirg of resident emergency medical records.

  NOTE: Should any Esperanza Estates resident presently have a question about his or her zone set-up, contact anyone of the following "linkages": Melodye Cooke, Chair; Board sponsor Sheila Bennen; or Hospitality Committee support, Phyllis Johnson.

New/Former Owners
By Sheila Bennen

Walter and Eileen Stremme / Ken Herb 747 W. Circulo Napa
Michael Hanson / Evan Earthfield 1160 Calle Excelso

"The Case of the Missing Backslashes"
By Rod Pearson

  The last issue of the Periodico contained an article about a website I created featuring Esperanza Estates. Unfortunately, the web address was incorrect. The correct URL is:

http://www.members.cox.net/esperanzaestates/index.html

  The earlier published address did not have the backslashes (/), and even though most browsers will not require you to type in "www" or "index.html", it is included just in case your browser does require the full URL.

  You can also access the website by going to at least one search engine, Alta Vista (http://www.altavista.com), and typing in "esperanza estates" in quotes. Other search engines may also list it in the future.

  The mistake was mine. The URL was printed exactly the way I typed it and I apologize for any inconveniences anyone may have incurred in trying unsuccessfully to access the site. As penance for my mistake, I promise that more web content will appear soon.

Periodico via Website, E-mail, or Mail
By Charl Petry

  For those of you who will be away for the summer months, tthe website described above will include the Periodico minus addresses and phone numbers of EEHOA members. If you would like to have the full text (text only) Periodico sent to you via e-mail, please send your name, Esperanza street address, and e-mail address to: esperanzanews@cs.com . Also indicate if you would like to have home delivery suspended or not.

   Please note: Sandi Marsh, who will be taking care of this e-mail service will not open attachments; so if you send your e-mail address with attachment, background or otherwise, your address will not be received. If you would like a printed copy of the Periodico mailed to your summer address, please provide self-addressed, stamped envelopes to cover the months you will be away (the Periodico is not published in July or August). Give these to Charl Petry, 1106 Circulo Del Norte. If you have any questions, phone either Sandi at 399-2632 or Charl Petry at 648-2541.

Fall Garage Sale
By Mary Zindrick and Bev Brow

  If you have household items for which you have no current use, we would be glad to accept them as a donation to our cause. No need to store your donations through the summer - just call one of the following for a pick-up:

Mary or Dick Zindrick 393-7499
Joan Zebroski 399-1053
Melodye or Tom Cooke 399-0455
Sheila Bennen 399-0501

Thank you from the VEE Team (Volunteers of Esperanza Estates).

Cox Cable Matter
By Tom Cooke

  This is one that won't seem to go away. Complaints are still being received about the work done by Cox Cable when they replaced the cable system in Esperanza Estates last year. The type of things involved are cable left lying on the surface of the ground, gravel disturbed and not replaced, cable stands left open or askew, etc. If you have an unresolved complaint, or have observed Cox work that is substandard, or hazardous, please call Tom Cooke at 399-0455. An effort is being made to finally resolve this situation with Cox.

Volunteers
By Tom Cooke, Chair

  The long promised ( and hoped for ) pavers have been completely installed adjacent to the shuffleboard courts, and they look great. They turn a useless area into a superb spot for a gathering, within close proximity of the ramada, the pool, and the restrooms.

  As funds are available to the Volunteers in the future, umbrellas will be purchased for use with the previously acquired wrought iron table and chair sets, which will provide shade for daytime use. At the completion of the paver project, a short ceremony was held for a "blessing of the bricks", the Rev.(?) Eric EIlingson presiding. Awards were also made to Lance Ewing and Vince Brow for extraordinary efforts in conjunction with the overall project.

	The rock planters in the wash area adjacent to the new pavers have been filled and planted with appropriate flora, and a water drip system installed to keep them healthy.
A new bench has been purchased and donated by Tom and Melodye Cooke for use in the new desert garden area, to be known as "Sunset Park." Funds for an additional bench have been donated by Renee Marcus. As we will need additional benches, your donations will be appreciated, so give any volunteer a call if you can help.
	Eric and Jane EIIingson have purchased a new larger fountain which has been placed in Sunset Park. The previous fountain has been relocated to a place just outside the swimming pool entrance. A picnic table has been moved from the pool area to Mesquite Park, where it will sit next to the Nature Trail under development
Ron Keilbart has completed building us another bridge, for use crossing a wash in the Park. This will facilitate use of the nature trail.
	Volunteer Paul Rowland has built an excellent new set of steps from the sidewalk to the Trail in Bridge Park. The former stairs were narrow and slippery; the new ones wide and sturdy.
Preliminary work has begun on the cactus garden, to be located in Mt. View Park. A $200 donation from Don and Joan White has helped greatly in getting this project started. We have located a local cactus expert, who has agreed to provide us with technical advice without charge.
	The overall plan calls for the planting of a wide variety of interesting cacti, with name plates giving the scientific and common names of each. The first fifteen different varieties have been planted, many of which are multiple-month flowering types, which should add some nice color to the park. Stop by and take a look, and let us know what you think. Eventually, this will be a most interesting corner of our subdivision.   We can use more donations to keep this project moving forward. If you can help, please call Sheila Bennen at 399-0501. Our thanks is given to Don and Joan White for taking such good care of the Park area.

Common Area Maintenance Committee
By Tom Cooke, Chair

  Our common areas are continuing to improve. Basic care of the areas has pretty well been handled, giving the landscapers time to do more "fine tuning." A lot of tree trimming has been accomplished in some of our larger areas in which the trees have not been touched in years. This is most notable in Bridge Park, where all the Mesquites along the northern border have been nicely pruned. Some additional work on the large shrubs in that vicinity will be scheduled in the near future. The Mesquite and Palo Verde trees in our parks all look quite nice.

   We are getting numerous requests for common area regraveling, which we hope to be able to pretty well complete later this year. This program is initially handled with specially allocated funds, which are nearing depletion presently, but which hopefully will be replenished later in the year as the budget works itself out. In the past, unused funds in other accounts have been reallocated for gravel once it is determined they are available.

  Our common area palm trees are looking pretty ragged. Some attribute this to the ongoing drought; others to the snap of cold weather we had this past winter. The current plan is to have them trimmed during the next few months. We have a few weeds around, but not many. The combination of AAA's weed spray program and the drought has keep them pretty well in check so far.

  The additional common area signs for "Mesquite Park," "Wishing Well Park", "Mt. View Park," and "Whigham Wash" have been completed and are in place, courtesy of Herb Graffweg. The signs look very nice. Reports are that we may need to add the word "Private," below these signs, as the general public is already looking longingly at these sites, apparently believing they are public domain. Please contact Tom Cooke at 399-0455 if you have or observe problems in the common areas, and we will tend to them as promptly as possible.

Palm Tree Trimming
By Tom Cooke, Chair

   If you have palm trees on your property that need a trim, perhaps the best time to have them cut would be when the Association has its trimmers here. The trimming company that we use gives our private tree owners a special rate. Last year this was $32 per tree - the lowest of several bids we received. This assumes the tree has had maintenance in the not too distant past, and is not an exotic variety requiring special handling. We don't know if we will get this same rate this year, but will negotiate for it. As the Association has about fifty trees, we have some bargaining power.

  The Association does not have a firm date to have its trees trimmed, but anticipates this will occur over the summer months. If you have trees that you would like to have trimmed at the same time, please contact Tom Cooke at 399-0455, and your name will be put on the list. The trimmers will expect cash payment at the time services are rendered. We have been very satisfied with the work done by our trimmers in the past, and believe you will be as well if you avail yourselves of their services.

Historical Perspective 2000
Phyllis Johnson

  There has been more "drama" in the life of Lois Blacker than her low-keyed graciousness suggests! "We blew, blew them up, blew them in, whatever the silos." Lois was referring to what brought her and her husband from Denver to Tucson in l984: a contract with Empire Blasting to demolish the seventeen Titan II missile silos around Tucson, the 18th in Green Valley to be preserved as an historical monument.

  The next year, having sold their Denver home--including (are you ready?) "an antique shop" in the basement--Lois and Mike moved into one of the models on Excelso. They were attracted by the "architecture'; and Mike, also a builder, trusted the "construction."

  She spoke bravely of her husband's short-lived enjoyment in Esperanza Estates: "He died in '93. . . . Yes, she has "many beautiful memories here." But Lois had already been volunteering in the community: appointed treasurer to the Board in '90; she and her husband delivered Meals on Wheels from the Casa Community Center.

  Lois believes heartily in the need for volunteers organized in committees to support Board policy. ". . . we can't go to the board for everything . . . our committees have to function." So no surprise that she was "a mover and shaker" with Audrey Ware and others in the early "Beautification Committee" encouraged by Clay Crawford; which then morphed into NEET to plan formally for the enhancement of our common areas; which settled into the current VEE (Volunteers of Esperanza Estates) where she serves as treasurer in fund-raising. Go Lois!