Meet Your Neighbors Without Seeming Like A Crazy Person!!

Just because delivering a Jell-O mold to welcome a newcomer to the block is creepy doesn’t mean you’re destined to live a lonely, anonymous life in your neighborhood. Kit Hodge is the founder of Neighbors Project, a group dedicated to inspiring people to enjoy and improve their neighborhoods. Meeting the neighbors takes a little effort, she says, but there’s no need to resort to wobbly desserts.


Say "Hi"

Hodge calls saying hello "a lost art that needs to be brought back." Try this: Walk around your neighborhood and actually look at people, not down at the sidewalk or at your iPhone. As you pass someone, make eye contact and smile, nod, or say "Hi." Afterward, continue walking, and don’t look back. Repeat.



Spruce up your outdoor space, and spend time there

Hang out on your porch, balcony, or stoop. Put a conversation piece in front of your house: chain your bike there, or plant flowers. If you have a fence, consider taking it down, and if you’re really brave, install a bench in front of your place.



Practice common courtesies

Return your neighbors’ mail if it’s delivered to you by mistake (including a nice note wouldn’t hurt). Help strangers who need assistance with large packages, or carrying strollers up and down stairs. Open doors for others.



Hang out in your neighborhood, and shop locally

Ride your bike in the neighborhood, or take an evening stroll around the block. Patronize local businesses, and if there’s a nearby coffee shop with a bulletin board, use it—not to make friends, but to find resources nearby for things you need (and meet people while you're at it).



Get involved with your neighborhood in a formalized way

Volunteer locally, join your neighborhood or block association, organize a clean-up day for a litter-strewn area, or even run for local political office. It’s the gold-star option.



This article first appeared in The GOOD Guide to Better Neighborhoods. You can read more of the guide here.

Any Kindergarteners out there??

Discovery Primary School is urging parents to register their Kindergarteners for the fall, NOW! They need help figuring out how many kiddos are out there that plan to attend so they can plan to provide adequate staffing and supplies. If there are too many kids, space may be limited in the Full-Day program.

Remember, your child must be 5 my Aug 31st to enroll in Kindergarten this fall! :-) So if your youngster qualifies, and you plan to enroll them , do so soon!!

Tax Day Specials!

Check out these dining offers in honor of 2010 Tax Day!
(a special thanks to TheKrazyCouponLady)


Boston Market Buy 1 Individual Plate, Get One Free from April 15th-April 18th.


Cinnabon’s “Tax Day Bites!” Get 2 Free Bite Sized Cupcakes in: Cinnacake, chocolate, vanilla or carrot cake! On Thursday, April 15th from 6 pm to 8 pm at participating U.S. mall locations, Cinnabon is giving away free bite-sized portions of its new, delicious cupcakes.



Jack in the Box Free Fryday: Get a Free small fry, no purchase necessary on the day AFTER tax day: Friday, April 16th.



Taco Del Mar “Taxes Suck. Tacos Don’t” Fill in your “Taco 1099″ to get your free Taco on April 15th here.

PF Changs Tax Relief 15% off your Food Purchase on April 15th. Details here.



Starbucks: Free fresh brewed coffee on April 15th when you bring your own re-usable cup.

The Next Post is By YOU!

Do you have a story or event you'd like to share with the community? Enjoy writing? We are seeking writers for guest blogposts! Review a local restaurant, a recent movie, or your favorite TV show. Teach our readers something new, like a craft, or share a recipe. Submit a blog post to us, and we will reward you with a gift card!

New Carpet!

I know for some of you, the carpet in your entry landing has seen better days. So I am super excited to share with you that new carpet in all stairwells is coming soon! This project should be completed before the end of June.

Once installation is complete, please help us maintain it! When you vacuum inside your home, take a quick minute to vacuum your entryway as well. Please take care of your entry carpet as you would the carpet inside your home. We want your entryway to be beautifully welcoming each time you come home!

Lets cross our fingers for some beautiful weather, so this project can get started!

Help Support A Neighbor in Need!

I really wanted to shrae with all our residents about a wonderful family in our community that could use some neighborly support. The Fournier family was recently forced to face every family's worst nightmare: Amanda, age 19, was diagnosed with Leukemia last week. They are a strong family and done in head first to battle the disease with aggressive chemotherapy treatments. If you would like to offer Amanda and her family support, the Fournier's have a collection jar located in the office.

Amanda - our thoughts are with you!

Pledge To Be Green!

In Honor of Earth Day on April 22nd, we are encouraging our residents to be green! I got to have some crafty fun and make this pledge board in the office! It is pretty simple. Drop by the office, and grab a leaf. Write down something easy you pledge to do to "Go Green."

For example, I filled out my own leaf stating I would support local agriculture by buying into an organic crop share. This is something I'm SUPER excited about! I can't wait until it starts June 1st!

My wonderful husband (who helped me with this late night art project) also added a leaf. He pledged to use a reusable water bottle instead of buying bottled water.

What are you going to pledge to do? Come check out the board for yourself, and don't forget to fill one out for your pledge! As a gift for sharing your idea, take home a reusable water bottle. It's our simple way of saying thanks for caring!!

Submitting Maintenance Requests Online

Did you know you can submit a maintenance request online through our website?
Here's easy step by step instructions:

1. Go to http://www.autumnvillage.net/
2. Click on "Resident" button
3. Click on "Maintenance Request Form"
4. Fill out the form, and click send!

How incredibly easy is that!? It is the perfect solution to those "Oh yeah!" moments that hit you at odd hours. You know the ones...you are relaxing on the couch watching your evening TV show and realize you've been meaning to call and have someone look at your flickering kitchen light. But now that you remember, the office is already closed! This will only take you a minute to jump online and send us a request!

Next time you have a maintenance request, try it out!

Congratulations to Lavada!

Our wonderful resident, Lavada was the winner of our March Early Bird Drawing!

 Lavada took home a basket stuffed full of goodies!

 Thank you, Lavada, for paying your rent on time! 

Would you like to win April's prize? Make sure you pay your rent on time, and you'll automatically be entered into our next drawing for another fabulous prize!

Congratulations to Our February Early Bird Winner!

Congratulations Jim! For paying his rent on time, Jim received a $50 Safeway Gift Card! :)

Pay your rent on time for March, and maybe you can win too!!

We LOVE Coffee!!

Alright residents, I've finally found the solution to my office coffee dilema. I've invested in Keurig Brewing Machine. Now you can join me for a cup of coffee, and I can guarentee your coffee with be fresh and piping hot no matter what time of day you stop by!




Boy am I excited for this summer as well....the machine brews iced coffee! I think I'll be hosting a Barista day, where you can stop by for a flavored iced latte. YUM!



So stop by sometime soon and grab a cup of coffee to go...or stop in and visit with me for a few minutes! I always look forward to seeing a friendly face! :)

EARLY BIRDS GET THE WORM!

Did you know if you pay rent before 5:00 on the 5th of the month, you will automatically be entered in our Early Bird drawing? Pay rent on time and get rewarded! What is better than that? Watch for an update on February's winner!!

A few Reminders....

We all want to live in a clean and safe community. Please help us!

1. Be a responsible pet owner. Pick up and properly dispose of pet waste in the closest trash receptacle.

2. Please do not litter or leave trash bags on the ground in front of the dumpsters.

3. Unwanted junk mail should be disposed of in the trash receptacle, not left at the mailbox stations.

4. Do not leave any personal belongings on the lawn or in the flower beds. It can and will be disposed of by our landscaping or maintenance staff.

5. Don't forget that city regulations and your rental agreement require you to have your pet on a leash at all times!

6. Plus, did you know you can save a stamp and make your monthly Conservice payment to our office? Just drop it off with your rent. Don't forget to make it out to Autumn Village if you are sending it our way!

Valentine's Day Goodies!!

On Friday, February 12th, Don't forget to stop by the office anytime during business hours. We want a chance to spoil you a bit! ;-)

Love Where You Live!

Let the upcoming holiday inspire you! There are lots of ways to get more involved with our community!

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, and it is a great way to remind us that love is in the air. Yes, we love our family, we love our pets, we love that specials someone in our lives. But don't forget to love the community of which you are a part. Here are a few quick tips on how to get involved with your community!!

1. Become a fan of Autumn Village on Facebook.    Autumn Village on Facebook!
2. Follow our Community Blog, here!
3. Keep your eye on our community calendar, and attend our next community event!

Need Cash in the New Year?

Have you heard about our Resident Referral Program?

It's a great way for you to earn some extra cash this year! Simply tell your friends about Autumn Village. When they come in and tour, make sure they mention they heard about the community from YOU. When they move in, you get a neighbor you know! Then, contact us and fill out a W-9 to receive $100 check for referring a friend!

Who wouldn't want to get paid for choosing their own neighbors??