Community Blog

Residents,

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Online, that is.  Now you can view our community newsletter online via our resident portal.  But wait, it gets better.  You can also log on and pay your rent or submit a maintenance request!

We at Madison Park understand that you get busy, which is why we have created the portal; so you can do everything without leaving your home.  Now you will have everything you need all in one place.

We are so happy to have you as residents and are constantly looking for ways to make things even quicker and more convenient.  We hope you enjoy using this new system!

To access the resident portal, click here.

We’ve all got goals, right? But what sets a person who is successful at achieving them apart from a person who is unsuccessful at it? Lots of things.  Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen of TheAdventurousWriter.com examines this and offers several tips for setting and achieving personal goals, starting with how to actually formulate them.  After all, how can you reach a goal if you don’t know in detail what that goal is?

Laurie describes the process for setting realistic goals in an acronym – SMART:

1. Make the goal Specific.  Rather than saying you’re going to, for example, get a new job at some point, why not say that in 6 months you will have secured a job in __ industry, making x number of dollars? This gives you something to work towards.
2. Be sure that it is Measurable.  How will you know if you’ve reached your goal if you can’t measure progress towards it? In the case of the example above, you could say that you intend on putting out 10 applications this month.  At the end of the month, you will definitively know if you have accomplished this.
3. Your goal should be Attainable.  Don’t say that you’re going to go on 20 interviews this week when you know that you can’t control how many you will be invited in for.  Instead, keep in mind what you CAN control and set your goal around that.
4. Be Realistic.  Don’t expect that after a week you will have a new job and be making $25,000 more than you were in your last position.  I guess it could happen, but is it likely?
5. Make sure the goal is Timely.  Create a timeline.  That way you don’t feel like you’re wandering aimlessly with the goal in the back of your mind for another day.  If you have a particular time in mind, put it out there and work towards accomplishing everything you want to accomplish within the time constraints.

What is your formula for goal setting success, Madison Park?

Residents, we are so glad to have you here with us.  We know that you chose Madison Park as your home for a reason, and we would love to hear about it.  What positive things would you say about us to friends who are looking for an apartment? Take a look at the poll below.  If you would like to answer differently than what we have listed, feel free to write in the comments section!

When was the last time you attended a concert that really got your heart pumping? Tomorrow might just be your day.  The Goo Goo Dolls will be performing at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, and if you’re a fan you should definitely be there! There are still tickets available, so hop online and secure yours today.

Morrison isn’t right around the corner, but it’s well worth the drive to see the talented group of guys behind hits like “Iris,” “Long Way Down,” and “Slide.” In addition to their 27 singles, they have 9 studio albums, 3 compilation albums, and 5 EPs under their belt.   That’s a pretty impressive run for any band over the course of their careers, but the Dolls still aren’t done rocking.  Their latest album, “Something for the Rest of Us,” is set to be released on August 31.

Here is a video of the band performing “Iris” in case you need a little reminder of one of the hits that made them famous:

Goo Goo Dolls – Iris

Madison Park residents, will you be attending this concert?

Have you been to Papa Mazzotti’s lately? Located on the southeast corner of 104th and Colorado Blvd., just 5 miles from home, this is one of the best places to go for fresh homemade Italian cuisine, just like mama (or papa!) used to make.

If you have a chance to get out to their restaurant, you will not be disappointed.  However, if you feel like staying in, you can always put together a delicious Italian meal of your own.  Here is a recipe for chicken parmesan, courtesy of Tyler Florence at the Food Network:

Tyler Florence’s Chicken Parmesan

Eating healthy when you’re at work can be quite a task, especially if you’re the kind of person who likes to eat at your desk.  You’re on the go constantly and maybe you barely have time to eat at all, let alone think about the contents of your meals.  Maybe you eat out a lot to entertain clients.  Regardless of your situation, there are some things you can do to make your life easier when it comes to getting and staying healthy:

1. Carry a lunch bag: This way you can bring perishable items like meats without worrying about whether they will go bad if you do not have a refrigerator you can use.  Insulated bags are great, and you can definitely find one that fits your style.
2. Pack a snack: Or two or three.  Steer clear of the vending machine and you will save calories and money!
3. Kill two birds with one stone: Pack your lunch while you’re cooking dinner.  That’s one less trip to the kitchen and, as an added perk, you won’t have to worry about it in the morning.
4. Consult a dietitian: He or she may be able to suggest some great-tasting lunch options that fit in with your nutrition goals.

For more nutrition tips, visit Reader’s Digest online and give us some of your own suggestions here!

Can you hear the chanting in the crowd? “Broncos! Broncos! Broncos!” It’s almost that time again.  That’s right; football season is upon us! With the guys currently in training camp, it’s only a matter of days before we can see them out on the field.  Preseason starts on Sunday, so it’s time to get excited!

Here’s hoping that this year we can make it all the way to the playoffs.  The only way to know is to watch! If your schedule prohibits you from checking out a game live, you can always watch it on CBS 4 or listen on 850 AM.

If you’d like to keep tabs on the boys this season, make sure you check out their schedule on the Broncos website.  Here is a listing of games happening throughout August and September:

Preseason

August 15: Broncos at Cincinnati

August 21: Broncos vs. Detroit

August 29: Broncos vs. Pittsburgh

September 2: Broncos at Minnesota

Regular Season

September 12: Broncos at Jacksonville

September 19: Broncos vs. Seattle

September 26: Broncos vs. Indianapolis

Let’s go BRONCOS!

Are you ready to rock? Toby Keith is ready to deliver on Friday, August 13 with a concert at Comfort Dental Amphitheatre.  This country star has been no stranger to the charts, with 14 well-performing albums.  He has garnered major respect in the country music industry, receiving multiple American Music Awards and Academy of Country Music Awards for his videos, albums, and overall performances.

Some of Toby’s most recognizable hits (although they’ve all gotten impressive air play) are “I Wanna Talk About Me,” “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” and “How Do You Like Me Now?!” He has 20 #1 hits under his belt, and 7 of his albums snagged the top spot on the charts.

Chances are that if you are at all tuned in to country music, you have not only heard of Toby Keith, but know many of his hits by heart.  Just in case you need to get your Toby fix before the concert, here is a video of him singing “I Wanna Talk About Me“:

Have you been to Cinebarre lately? If not, this weekend is the perfect time.  There are lots of great movies out there and even more hit theaters today.  Voted YS Best of the West for 2009, Cinebarre has lots of distinguishing features.  One is its pre-show.

Unlike most theaters, who show 15 minutes of previews leading up to the feature film, Cinebarre gives unknown filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their work for movie audiences to see prior to the start of the main picture.  While this is obviously a great incentive for aspiring filmmakers, it is also a big plus for patrons who are tired of sitting through so many coming attractions for movies that won’t be released for months.  If you are interested in submitting your work to Cinebarre Short Films, click the link to the left.

Here is a heads up on what you will see showing at Cinebarre this weekend:

The Other Guys: 11:05am, 1:45, 4:35, 7:25, 10:20

Twelve: 11:20am, 1:55, 4:40, 7:40, 10:30

Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore: 10:45am, 1:25, 4:10, 7:05, 9:40

Charlie St. Cloud: 10:40am, 1:15, 4:15, 7:00, 9:35

Salt: 11:15am, 1:50, 4:25, 7:35, 10:15

Inception: 12:30pm, 3:55, 7:15, 10:35

Despicable Me: 10:50am, 1:20, 4:05, 7:10, 9:50

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse: 1:30pm, 7:20

Grown Ups: 10:55am, 4:20, 10:10

It’s time to jazz things up, Madison Park, and what better way is there to do that than with the City Park Jazz Summer Concert Series? The free series is winding down, with the last performance taking place this Sunday, August 8th.  To wrap up a great summer, they have a fantastic band to finish it off – Tuxedo Junction!

For those of you who haven’t heard of them, this talented act pays tribute to the 1940s with an authentic USO show and a program featuring the music of Duke Ellington, the Andrews Sisters, Glenn Miller, and Frank Sinatra.

You can pack a picnic dinner and pull up a blanket or folding chair, or you can purchase food at the venue if you’d like.  Either way, you are in for a relaxing evening and a musical treat.  The concert will go on regardless of the weather forecast, so you may want to bring rain gear with you just in case!

*Performances will take place at the Bandstand by City Park Pavilion on Ferril Lake, in City Park.

Help out the elderly by volunteering to help paint a house! On Saturday, August 7 at 8 am, participate in the Brothers Redevelopment Paint-A-Thon – an event dedicated to helping seniors in the local area.

The Paint-A-Thon was created in 1978, and the goal is to assist elderly homeowners who need their homes painted but can’t afford to have it done professionally.  Volunteers get together and form painting teams to help out.  The best part is that those seniors don’t have to worry about payment.  They will get their houses painted for free!

You can volunteer to serve on August 7 and August 14, and August 21 is set as an alternative if it rains on either of those days.  Volunteers will paint between the hours of 8 am – 4:30 pm.

For further information on this event, contact Melissa Johnson at Keep Thornton Beautiful by calling 303-889-9827.  You can also visit Brothers Redevelopment online.

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