BRUN's Prediction: A Super 2009!

Join BRUN Today!
- BRUN is an opportunity to raise and vote on important issues that affect your neighborhood
- BRUN promotes communication among residents, merchants, and citizens of our diverse neighborhood
- BRUN plans and implements community events
- BRUN is a great way to meet your neighbors and chat about a common interest…the Berkeley-Regis Neighborhood!

You are invited to the BRUN meetings, which will include various formats. We will have informational meetings on neighborhood issues as necessary, annual business meetings, and social events on a quarterly basis. We will do our best to keep things interesting and pertinent to the BRUN area. We are looking for neighborhood locations (free if possible), to have membership meetings that hold at least 30-40 people. If you know of possible locations, please let us know at info@berkeleyregisneighbors.org. Be a part of this new non-profit neighborhood organization working for good! Everyone is welcome and we look forward to seeing you there!

Suggested donations for dues are $15/year for a household, and $7.50/year for a senior membership. 

Download and print a membership application here, or send a check, made payable to Berkeley Regis United Neighbors, Inc., to: BRUN, P.O. Box 12351 , Denver, Colorado 80212-12351.

For more information, contact BRUN at info@berkeleyregisneighbors.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Don't miss the BRUN quarterly Neighbors Night Out on Tuesday, June 9 @ Tastes Winebar & Bistro (4267 Tennyson).  Social hour 6-7pm and meeting from 7-8:30pm. Drink specials and great food available!  Come and enjoy some time out and renew your membership if you're due.

Is there a local or city issue that you'd like information on? Email us and we'll add it to our list of issues to cover at the upcoming membership meeting. info@berkeleyregisneighbors.org

Denver Announces FREE Home Improvement Permits!
For a limited time, June 1 - 15, 2009, Denver is issuing FREE construction permits to homeowners and licensed contractors making qualified home improvements or repairs to existing one and two family dwellings, which can increase the value of the home.
The HOME RENOVATION BONANZA is offered in order to encourage the improvement of existing 1 and 2 family homes, raise property value and encourage homeowners to stay in existing homes.
A variety of home improvements are covered by the Home Renovation Bonanza, including:

Basic Interior Remodel of existing 1 or 2 Family Dwelling (existing Kitchen, Bath or Bedroom)
Basement Remodel of existing 1 or 2 Family Dwelling
Residential 1 or 2 Family Roof Covering Repair or Replacement
Wall Insulation
Replacement of water heaters
Change out central heating and air
Residential Photo Voltaic Systems
Stucco or siding home exteriors
To qualify for a FREE HOME RENOVATION BONANZA permit, the following conditions apply:

Projects in 1 and 2 family dwellings (Subject to International Residential Code) only
No new dwellings
No additions, garages, or accessory structures
Over-the-counter Quick Permits and/or 1 and 2 family walk-through plan review process only.
Permit shall be issued on the day of application
All permitted work shall be finished, inspected and approved within 180 days of permit issue
Any re-inspection fees shall apply
Permits will be issued from Downtown office only (201 W. Colfax Ave)
For more info see: Denver Building Dept.

New Zoning Code Draft is here!
We wanted to be sure you have the information on the upcoming public meetings for the new zoning code.  The dates have been set as follows:
       Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 6:00-9:00 p.m.  @ Scheitler Recreation Center , 5031 W. 46th Avenue
       Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 6:00-9:00 p.m., Location TBD.  Please refer to our website for location once it's been established, as well as our August 2009 newsletter.

District specific maps are supposed to be up on the new code Denver website: www.newcodedenver.org
We are pleased to present the New Code Draft #1.  It is published for community review under "Rezoning Denver" at:  www.newcodedenver.org
The Draft is a complete document containing the full range of neighborhood contexts, zone districts, building forms and allowable uses. It also includes all draft zoning procedures and definitions. It is a significant reformat and reorganization from the current zoning code.

Harkness Heights Neighborhood Association Announces Community Picnic
If you live in Harkness Heights, the Annual Harkness Heights Summer Picnic will be Sunday, August 2nd from 4 - 8 pm (or until it starts raining, whichever comes first).  Tom Haver, neighbor extraordinaire, has ONCE AGAIN offered to host the picnic in his beautiful yard at 4203 Julian Street.  Thank you, Tom!  So save the date and start testing those dessert recipes!
The lovely and talented Carolyn Tyler has offered to take over the Picnic Committee Chairperson role from Bill Rickman, Chair Emeritus.  Carolyn is looking for volunteers!  Please contact her at 303-455-8702 or Sistabelle68@yahoo.com if you'd like to volunteer to help with the picnic.  It's a fun and easy way to get involved with the neighborhood and meet some great neighbors at the same time!

Highland Farmers Market opening Saturday, June 6th, 2009!
The Highland Farmers Market will run every Saturday from June 6th - October 31st from 9am-1pm on Boulder Street between 15th and 16th (just west of downtown Denver). The market will feature local produce, ready to eat food, jams, salsas, breads and more!
I look forward to hearing from you and hope you're as excited about your new neighborhood farmers market as we are!
Highland Farmers Market
Saturday, June 6th - October 31st
9am-1pm
1500 block of Boulder Street, Denver (in front of Lola, Vita and Shangri-La)
www.denverhighland.org
www.hobnobevents.com
Denver Parks and Recreation announces its 2009 Movies in the Parks Series
DENVER, CO - April 20, 2009 - Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic goodies for a fun-filled night watching a movie in one of Denver's beautiful urban parks. The Denver Parks and Recreation department is hosting its fourth season of Movies in the Parks.  There are ten family-friendly movies scheduled all summer long to encourage people to get out, enjoy their parks and the beautiful summer weather in Colorado.
With inflatable screens over 24 ft wide, coupled with a high quality sound systems, the movie viewing experience is one-of-a-kind. Each movie will include free popcorn, snow cones and cotton candy. Other concessions will also be available for purchase. 
Sponsors of the 2009 Movies in the Park are Denver Community Credit Union, Downtown Denver Business Improvement District and Denver Botanic Gardens. 
Friday, June 12, Skyline Park Babe, G
Friday, June 19, Cheesman Park, The Princess Bride, PG
Friday, June 26, Skyline Park, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, PG
Saturday, July 11, Skyline Park, Spiderman, PG-13
Friday, July 17, Fred Thomas Park, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, PG
Saturday, July 18, Skyline Park, Iron Giant, PG
Friday, July 31, Barnum, Kung Fu Panda, PG
Saturday, August 1, Skyline Park, Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, G
Friday, August 7, Cheesman Park, Jurassic Park, PG-13
Saturday, August 8, Skyline Park, The Wizard of Oz, G

Use only what you need with Denver Water's summer watering rules
Denver Water's Summer Water Use rules begin May 1 and continue until Oct. 1. Watering your lawn two days a week should be sufficient most of the summer. If needed, water a third day during extreme heat or dry periods. If your lawn looks healthy, try watering two minutes less per zone - it won't notice the difference.

There are no assigned watering days
Never water more than three days a week
Watering is not allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Visit denverwater.org for other rules and exceptions to watering rules (such as vegetable gardens)
This summer Denver Water will continue to enforce its watering rules. If you see water waste in one of Denver's parks, call 3-1-1. To report waste elsewhere, call Denver Water at 303-628-6343.

Denver Water's Conservation & Xeriscape Web page has tips, rebates, irrigation calculators and many more tools for saving water outdoors, including suggested watering times

34th Annual Used Book Sale Buy Books at Bargain Prices
During Denver Public Library's Outdoor Tent Sale
-- June 12 - June 14, 2009 --
Mark your calendar for the Denver Public Library's three-day book sale this June!  The Used Book Sale will run Friday, June 12 - Sunday, June 14, and will be held on the north lawn of Denver Central Library located at 10 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy. (80204).   More than 80,000 books will be available, including children's books, non-fiction and fiction books, along with CDs, DVDs and books on tape. The fund-raiser is an event of the Denver Public Library Friends Foundation.
 
Buyers' Bargains
·         Hardbound Books:  $2
·         Paperback Books:  50 cents
·         Better Books are priced individually and often include new and collectible books.
·         Teachers receive a special 25 percent discount.
 
Sale Schedule
Public Sale Hours are as follows:
·         Friday, June 12, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
·         Saturday, June 13, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
·         Sunday, June 14 - 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
 
Also on Sunday, is the Great Book Giveaway from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. This one-hour event is open to teachers and non-profit organizations with valid identification. All materials are free during the Great Book Giveaway.
 
Books are collected year-round from generous donors and de-accessioned materials from the Denver Public Library. The Library is accepting donations of books in good condition and donations are tax-deductible. For books donations details, contact Hannah Miles at HMiles@denverlibrary.org or call 720-865-2045.

Event Archive:

Annual Membership Meeting: Jan. 22

We had a great turnout for our annual membership meeting at the Oriental on Jan. 22. Ten new board members were elected to join the remaining 7 board members.  During the open forum, residents and other members of the community brought up ideas for the neighborhood, including:
- an upcomning piano concert event at Metro State
- starting a community gardening program (www.eatwhereulive.com)
- using the Partnership for Sustainability for renewal energy improvements in the area
- and Representative K. Jerry Frangas reminded us to call or send him ideas for new bills that we think are important for NW Denver (303)866-2954
E-Mail: kjerry.frangas.house@state.co.us

If you haven't yet, please renew your membership for 2009.  We would like to get everyone on a January renewal cycle.

We hope everyone in the neighborhood joins us is making BRUN the best neighborhood organization in the Denver area.  Stay tuned for our 2009 events!

We need BRUN members (and non members!) to help with the following events:

- BRUN needs help inviting neighbors to events.  We do this by email, website and flyering targeted blocks every meeting.  We need neighbors like YOU to help! (You pick how many blocks and when you do them).

To volunteer to help, please email us at info@berkeleyregisneighbors.org.