April/May 2014

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Top News

What’s Inside

Coffee with Council debuts and Neighborhood Meetings return (see page 2)

Conversation at new virtual town hall continues (see page 2)

Micro-breweries, distilleries and wineries allowed (see page 2)

Sign-up today at openlittleton.org

Littleton Invests For Tomorrow

The Littleton City Council showed its support February 25 for utilizing urban renewal for economic revitalization in a joint meeting with the members of Littleton Invests For Tomorrow (LIFT, formerly the Riverfront Authority). The Littleton City Council and LIFT authority members met with a panel of development experts in a study session to discuss how local governments help create thriving community spaces through thoughtful urban renewal. “We didn’t just unlock the door, we swung it open!” said Council Member Debbie Brinkman. “We made a giant step towards the future economic vitality of Littleton. Taking this initiative will ensure we maintain a competitive presence in the region and a dynamic city to live, work and play,” she said. “I’ve heard from my constituents that we need to look at all options when it comes to improving this already great city,” said Mayor Phil Cernanec. “Colorado’s urban renewal statute provides tools that are being used successfully by more than 45 cities and towns across the state to incentivize community investment and development.” The panel of experts included public

financing expert Samuel Sharp from D. A. Davidson, developers Amy Cara of East West Partners and Chris Waggett from D4 Urban, and Anne Ricker from Ricker Cunningham, a local expert in urban renewal. Sharp discussed a variety of financing tools available to cities, while Cara and Waggett presented lessons learned from redevelopment projects in Denver’s Union Station neighborhood and the Denver Design District. Ricker provided insight into the concept of urban renewal and the manner in which the city might go about maximizing tools provided by state statute. “The end goal of urban renewal is to eliminate conditions that impair the sound growth of a municipality and create an environment that is attractive to investment,” said Ricker. “The tools lay out a very prescribed and linear process in which all stakeholder voices are heard.” Benefits of urban renewal include: support for historic preservation, establishment of an environment that fosters growth in new businesses, elimination of hazards and conditions that undermine the integrity and safety of the community, support for property values, and encouraging upgraded infrastructure to enable future growth. Urban renewal allows increased tax revenues that are reinvested locally. “The topic of urban renewal is new to some, so it is natural to have questions and concerns about some of the available tools such as eminent domain and condemnation,” said LIFT Chair Jim Taylor. “Experts agree these practices are exceptionally rare in Colorado.” See LIFT on page 2

City council adopts new Citywide Plan the plan to city council. City council held a public hearing and voted to adopt the plan with a few changes. The Progress Park neighborhood and Broadway corridor will be high priorities. Two new corridors were added, Mineral Avenue and County Line Road. Plans for both new corridors were listed as medium priority. The planning board wrote the following paragraph as a summary of its collective perception of Littleton and its hopes for the city’s future: “Littleton must rebel against becoming suburbia. We are the kind of place where people with talent are attracted to live. We have a unique identity, sense of place, and a flavor unto ourselves. We want our city to always be something elegant. It is naturally beautiful with ample outdoor recreation. We are a community that values the beauty of a diverse, free-thinking, intelligent people, willing to work together to resolve complex issues. We strongly support our arts, athletics, schools, and our heritage. Littleton has an entrepreneurial spirit that wishes to be none other than ourselves. We have a positive outlook for our future. Littleton is the kind of place you rarely find, and we appreciate how special that is.” To see the Citywide Plan and get more information on the upcoming small-area planning process, visit the Community Development Department page on the city’s website at littletongov.org.

The Broadway corridor has been added as a high priority in the newly updated Citywide Plan.

The Littleton City Council adopted the Citywide Plan January 14 as an amendment to the comprehensive plan. It is the city’s primary long-range planning document and contains policy-level directives for guiding the community’s future. Later plans will provide more detailed direction for how the city’s evolution will proceed. The planning board and city council will focus on revising existing plans and developing new plans for small areas including neighborhoods, identified activity areas, and transportation corridors. All small area plans will be consistent with and help implement the Citywide Plan. The culmination of an extensive public outreach process, the Citywide Plan was inspired by the people of Littleton and written by the city’s planning board. The board listened to citizens, analyzed information, debated how best to respond, met with city council, drafted the plan, solicited public comments, edited the plan in response to those comments, and then edited again. The planning board held a series of public hearings on the draft plan and, on November 25, 2013, voted to recommend

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Littleton, CO Permit No. 205

2255 West Berry Ave. Littleton, CO 80120

ECRWSS Postal Patron

April/May 2014 • Page 2

LITTLETON REPORT

LIFT: city council to explore “thoughtful urban renewal” “Colorado’s urban renewal law – including the condemnation and eminent domain provisions – is considered among the most restrictive in the country,” said Ricker. “The city council adopts all urban renewal plans and will OpenLittleton.org is the city’s new online forum for residents to discuss and comment on issues important to the Littleton community and city government. City officials regularly post information and questions regarding a topic or issue under consideration. The resulting comments will be shared with city council and staff for consideration in the decision-making process. Five topics/questions have already been posted to the site and viewed by hundreds of people. Topics have included retail marijuana sales, roundabouts, accessory dwelling units, e-book and audio books available from Bemis Library, and the city’s recent involvement with Nextdoor.com. Topics will generally remain open on

set the policy on whether these tools are available.” Ricker said that in rare occurrences where this power is exercised, urban renewal authorities must pay at least fair market value, relocation costs and compensation to the owner for any negative impacts associated with the move or relocation. LIFT is proceeding with next steps to energize the urban renewal authority that include hiring staff, establishing policies and procedures and setting up day-to-day operations. LIFT will commence condition surveys this spring along with a series of public information sessions for anyone interested in how LIFT will act on guidance provided by the city’s recently-adopted Comprehensive Plan.

Anne Ricker from Ricker Cunningham, addressed the Littleton City Council about the benefits of urban renewal and ways the city might maximize tools provided by state statute.

the site for about a month, depending on activity. Once closed, topics will still be viewable, but no additional comments will be taken. OpenLittleton.org is another tool the city uses to gather citizen input. Sign up at OpenLittleton.org and let your opinions to be heard.

City achieves milestone with LiveWell Campaign The City of Littleton has achieved yet another milestone in the LiveWell Colorado HEAL Cities & Towns Campaign. The first municipality to join the campaign, the city successfully implemented policies in three of the campaign’s focus areas aimed at improving access to healthy foods and physical activity, making Littleton the first to move up a level within the campaign – from a designation of “Active” to “Fit.” To move to the next level in the campaign, the city implemented the following policies: • Supported the new King Soopers which will provide citizens with access to healthy food. • Increased funding for sidewalk repairs and improvements, which provides additional access to active commuting and recreation. • Implemented a policy encouraging employees to serve healthy food and beverages at meetings, trainings and city events, and provides suggestions for healthy options. • Adopted the COMPLAN which states, “Make the healthy choice the easy choice.” “Citizen health has always been a focus for Littleton government,” said Deputy City Manager Mike Braaten. “Our participation in the LiveWell Colorado HEAL Cities & Towns Campaign has been a great way for us to focus on finding even more ways to provide healthy options for our citizens.”

South Platte Working Group releases visioning document There would be no South Platte Park, Carson Nature Center, or Mary Carter Greenway without the South Platte River. Residents are so fortunate to have a river meandering through the community. As such, everyone has a responsibility to protect and preserve this river corridor today, tomorrow and for future generations. The good news is this work is happening now. Convened in 2006 by Arapahoe County, the South Platte Working Group (SPWG) is comprised of 21 local jurisdictions and agencies that have contributed more than $25 million (drawn from the voter-approved Arapahoe County Open Space Tax) for projects that preserve and protect the river corridor, enhance the quality of life in Arapahoe County and improve the natural, economic and recreational features of the South Platte River. As part of the continuing stewardship, the SPWG has released a visioning document outlining future recreational, access, and economic development possibilities for the South Platte River where it runs through Arapahoe County. This report is the result of a nine-month visioning process and a stakeholder charette. The report provides a detailed look at what has been done, what can be done, and 11 identified “quick wins” or projects that can be pursued immediately to improve the experience along the South Platte through Arapahoe County. Working collaboratively over the last nine years, the SPWG has acquired 50 acres of open

space, built six new bike/pedestrian bridges, and added six trailheads and 3.2 miles of new trail. The work to protect, enhance, restore and improve this popular and well-loved river corridor continues with this report. Highlights of the report include continued efforts to restore the health of the river, opportunities to create more access to the river and features along the trails, and incorporating recreation, commerce and nature throughout the corridor in unique and creative ways. Members of the SPWG are very proud of the completed projects and are anxious to begin the next phase. They thank the public for its continued support and welcome comments, insights and ideas. The South Platte Working Group members are: Arapahoe County, Arapahoe County Open Space and Trails Advisory Board, City of Littleton, City of Englewood, City of Sheridan, Town of Columbine Valley, South Metro Land Conservancy, South Suburban Parks and Recreation, South Suburban Park Foundation, and the Trust for Public Land. Partners and stakeholder agencies include: Colorado Water Conservation Board, Great Outdoors Colorado, Trout Unlimited, Urban Drainage and Flood Control District and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. To view the report visit littletongov.org/visionreport.

April/May 2014 • Page 3

LITTLETON REPORT

Condition of Littleton’s streets to be analyzed with high-tech vehicles The City of Littleton is conducting a pavement condition analysis of its entire street system with the help of Infrastructure Management Systems (IMS). This spring, IMS will drive the city streets in its specialized automated data collection vehicles (pictured above) to complete a full surface and subsurface analysis. The three primary tests to be performed include: 1. The Laser Road Surface Test will collect data to determine the surface distresses of the pavement such as cracks, potholes and delamination by using lasers for a direct measurement, and video for a subjective estimate and quality con-

trol. This data will be continuously recorded in 100-foot intervals and paired with GPS data into a database that will accurately determine the location of the distresses. Data can then be mapped using Google Earth or the city’s Geographical Information System and then to an asset management program. 2. Ground penetrating radar will collect data to determine the condition of the base (ground) underneath the pavement as well as any voids that might have been created by running water. These voids generally manifest themselves as sink holes or large potholes. 3. Deflection testing is a nondestructive physical test that is a fast and efficient way to analyze the structural condition of any existing pavement. The machine “thumps” the pavement with a weight to determine how much it deflects (in millimeters), indicating how well the pavement and the base (ground) behave as a system, and how strong they are. When testing is complete, IMS will work with the city’s engineers to analyze the data, prioritize the streets for rehabilitation and determine the best and most cost effective street rehabilitation options.

Amended ordinance to allow micro-breweries, distilleries and wineries Brewing, wine making and

a presence in cities along Colorado’s Front Range. These micro industries mean new

liquor distillation are big business! In 2014, it’s estimated that

consumers and new sales tax revenue. Recognizing the new economic opportunity, many cities have revised their code to

revenue for beer will be $27.8

attract these businesses. In late 2013, the Littleton City Council amended an ordinance

billion, wine at $16.7 billion and

to allow micro-breweries, distilleries and wineries in certain zone districts in the city.

distilled liquors at $8.8 billion

The amendment also includes an allowance for a tasting/retail sales room in certain

dollars. For some time now,

areas.

micro-breweries and micro-

The city has already been contacted by micro-brewers and micro-distillers who are

wineries have been popping up

interested in sites in Littleton now that they have more choices for locations. This is

in urban areas. Most recently,

another step toward increasing economic vitality in the community.

micro-distilleries are becoming

Littleton City Council

Bruce Beckman Mayor Pro Tem–At Large

Debbie Brinkman District IV

Phil Cernanec Mayor–District III

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 720-254-6097 303-347-9141 303-797-3427

Peggy Cole At Large

[email protected] 303-795-9552

Bruce Stahlman At Large

[email protected] 720-987-7955

Randy Stein District I

[email protected] 303-794-1266

Jerry Valdes District II

[email protected] 303-794-6475

April/May 2014 • Page 4

LITTLETON REPORT

Infamous Wolhurst property subject of Littleton History Moments

Littleton City Manager Michael Penny was recently spotlighted by ICMA, the International City/County Management Association. The organization’s mission is to create excellence in local governance by developing and fostering professional management to build better communities. Below is an excerpt from the article. To read the complete article, visit the City Manager’s page at littletongov.org.

M

ichael Penny is the city manager of Littleton, Colorado, a vibrant and unique community located about 10 miles south of Denver. With a population of 42,000, Littleton is primarily residential, but without the suburban feel that typically accompanies a city so close to a metropolitan area. The core of the community is made up of homes, churches, schools, parks, and open spaces. Another aspect of Littleton’s charm is the walkable Main Street Historic District, full of eclectic businesses and devoid of any chains (the Main Street Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998). The City of Littleton has roughly 450 employees, a large figure due to the fact that Littleton’s fire and medic personnel also serve surrounding communities, including an additional 180,000 citizens. Penny, the first outside manager in 30 years, describes Littleton as having a “loving, community feel,” and a “special, unique spirit.” Since becoming the city manager in October 2011, Penny has revamped the economic development focus of Littleton from a conservative approach to one that reaches out to businesses, landowners, developers, and other key stakeholders to ensure progress. Former Littleton Mayor Debbie Brinkman said, “Changing the way things have been done for decades is not easy. Michael’s leadership skills, knowledge, experience, and stubbornness have complemented his efforts. The results can be seen in our successes.”

Photo credit: Western History/Geneaology Department, Denver Public Library

The manor house on the Wolhurst property burned to the ground March 29, 1976, leaving behind an illustrious past with ties to organized crime and the Hope Diamond. Originally owned by U.S. Senator Edward Wolcott, the property hosted the likes of then Governor Teddy Roosevelt, President William Howard Taft, Rowan and Martin (of LaughIn fame) and many others. Was the estate cursed by the Hope Diamond? What became of the daring gangsters who raided the estate’s casino and escaped with $150,000 in loot? Find out by watching the program on Channel 8 at various times throughout the week or see it immediately on Littleton’s YouTube channel LittletonGov.

Littletongov.org honored nationally for outstanding digital communication

Adventures in History returns

Littleton’s web site was recently honored by the Association of Marketing and Communication

Adventures in History offers children interested in history the opportunity to experience life in the South Platte Valley in the 19th century. Participants learn about the life of a typical farm family in 1860s and 1890s Colorado through a variety of hands-on activities carried out on the museum’s two living history farms. In past years, children have enjoyed blacksmithing, crafts, cooking, and games. Adventures in History is a week-long program. Daily sessions run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The program will be offered during the weeks of June 9-13, July 14-18, and August 4-8. Registration is open to any student entering the fourth, fifth, or sixth grade in the fall; however preference is given to residents within the city limits of Littleton, and members of the Friends of the Littleton Library and Museum. Preference is also given to applicants that have not previously participated in Adventures in History. The Littleton Museum will accept hand-delivered registration forms from April 1-27 at 5 p.m. Registrations received through the U.S. Postal Service must be postmarked by April 24. All applications will be entered into a drawing and participants will be randomly chosen. Participation is limited to 20 children per week and the cost for the program is $150 per child. Do not include payment with the registration form; payment will be accepted after participants are chosen. Applicants accepted to the program will be informed by May 15. For more information call 303-795-3950.

Professionals with an AVA Gold Award for its “creative convergence of digital arts, technology and information.” The AVA Digital Awards are an international competition that recognizes excellence by creative professionals who are responsible for the concept, design and production of digital communication. “We have received a lot of positive feedback from the community about the ease in which web site visitors can find the information they seek and that’s really important to us,” said Kelli Narde, director of communications for Littleton. The city’s newly-redesigned and rebuilt site was launched in January 2013.

The B.I.G. Day coming soon Be Involved, Give Day is April 26 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. To celebrate the day, the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce (SMDCC) will host a trail clean-up on the Big Dry Creek Trail. Lunch will follow at the SMDCC. Last year more than 150 volunteers collected multiple truckloads of debris found within the Big Dry Creek Trail corridor. Bicycles, shopping carts, rugs and more were collected and if feasible, recycled. The foundation wants to double the number of volunteers this year. Meet at the Progress Park shelter or Carson Nature Center.

Adventures in History Registration Form

For more information or to register visit sspf.org.

Which camp are you applying for? Mark first and second choice with a (1) and (2): June 9-13______ July 14-18______

August 4-8______

Are you a member of the Friends of the Littleton Library and Museum?

Y/N

Has your child participated in Adventures in History in the past?

Y / N



Complete entire form and print clearly. Use a separate form for each child. Child’s Name____________________________________________________________

Get your sewer/storm bill electronically Did you know that the City of Littleton now offers a paperless option for receiving sewer/storm drainage bills? Sign up to receive bills via email through the city’s new eNotification system. To get started, simply call the city and request a personalized code to receive bills and

Child’s Age __________________________ Grade level (in Fall)___________________

other important updates in your email inbox. No more bills being lost in the mail or

Name of Parent /Guardian__________________________________________________

misplaced.

Address_________________________________________________________________

If you didn’t get a chance to sign up last year there is still time before bills go out in mid-June. Sign up at any time. The city’s utility phone number is 303-795-3772.

City/State/Zip____________________________________________________________ Home Phone__________________________Cell Phone__________________________ Email___________________________________________________________________ Is it okay to contact you by email?

Y / N

Non-profit funding applications available During the annual budget process, the Littleton City Council considers requests

Registration must be postmarked by April 24 or hand delivered by April 27 at 5 p.m.

from local non-profit organizations to help fund their programs and services. Prefer-

Mail forms to: Littleton Museum • c/o Adventures in History • 6028 S. Gallup St. • Littleton, CO 80120

ence is given to those organizations whose activities benefit Littleton residents. The

For more information call 303-795-3950

submission deadline is July 1; only electronic submissions will be accepted. Additional information and the application are available at littletongov.org/nonprofitfunding.

April/May 2014 • Page 5

LITTLETON REPORT

EVENTS Hudson Gardens concert schedule coming in April The Hudson Gardens’ 2014 summer concert schedule will be released April 14.

Littleton Museum Concert Series highlighted by nationally-known Face

The schedule will feature a variety of exciting, national acts, some playing in Littleton for the first time. Tickets will go on sale to members April 21 at altitudetickets.com. General public tickets go on sale April 28. Firefall at Hudson Gardens, 2013

Stay tuned and find out more about the concerts schedule at hudsongardens.org.

On June 18 at 7 p.m., the Friends of the Littleton Library and Museum Summer Concert Series welcomes Face. Face is an all-vocal rock band from Boulder that has been thrilling audiences for over a decade. Named the 2013 “Best Local Band” by Denver A-List Awards, the band regularly performs for sold-out audiences in classic venues such as the Paramount Theatre, Soiled Dove Underground, Boulder Theatre, and recently competed on the hit NBC series The Sing Off. Critics and fans both locally and nationwide describe Face as, “nothing short of spectacular,” “a six-voice bomb blast,” and “among the top ten singing groups in the country.” Also performing in June at the free concert series on the museum’s front lawn are: June 4–Denver District & Pipe Band Dust off your old concert t-shirts and show ’em off at the Rockin’ on the River 5k Run/Walk on the Mary Carter Greenway Sunday, April 13 at 9 a.m. Think big hair, cool shirts and air guitars! Pre- and post-race music and entertainment provided by local band Watertower. The course will start and end in front of the Hudson Gardens Event Center, 6115 South Santa Fe Drive. Pre-register at RunningGuru.com/Event/Rockin. Race day registration is also available.

June 11–Michael Friedman Jazz Quintet (pictured right) June 25–Lois Lane and The Super Cowboy Band The remaining schedule for the Littleton Museum summer concert series will be published in the June Littleton Report. Call 303-795-3950 for more information.

Kids 13 years and younger can enjoy hunting for eggs throughout two 18-hole mini golf courses at Colorado Journey in Cornerstone Park, 5150 South Windermere Street. The egg hunt is Friday, April 18 beginning at 6 p.m. Bring a flashlight to find eggs, and a basket to collect them . The first hunt begins at 6 p.m. for children ages five and younger; 7 p.m. for ages 6-9 years; and 8 p.m. for ages 10-13. No registration necessary. The fee is $3 per child. For more information call 303-734-1083.

Rent museum facilities for your event The Littleton Museum is offering some of the facility’s most popular spaces to the public for rental. The museum’s conference room, lecture hall, classrooms, and front entryway are available to rent by public and private groups at very reasonable rates. Currently, rentals are limited to business hours (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) while the museum staff fine-tune the process and make infrastructure improvements. Eventually rental availability will be expanded to include evenings and weekends. For information about rates and rental guidelines, contact the museum staff at 303-795-3950.

ARC’s Epic Spring Cleaning Take the things you don’t need any more to the fifth annual Epic Spring Cleaning Event, Saturday, May 17 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (rain or shine) at Aspen Grove Lifestyle Center, 7301 South Santa Fe Drive. The Cities of Littleton, Englewood, and Sheridan; and South Suburban Parks and Recreation, are partnering with the ARC Thrift Stores and Inter-Faith Community Services to help unclutter your life. Bring gently used clothing, household items and furniture to the site and receive a tax donation slip in return. Small electronics will be accepted but no paint, motor oil or chemicals. Food and toiletries are in great demand and will also be collected. If you’d like to volunteer at the event, contact Ethan Raczka at 720-879-2416.

LITTLETON REPORT

Grant leads to park for Euclid neighborhood Last year Littleton Public Schools partnered with the City of Littleton for the Great Outdoors Colorado inaugural School Play Yard Initiative to create a new playground at Euclid Middle School. The playground is designed to help improve the health and wellness of students, families, and the community. The ultimate aim of the new playground is to create an outdoor gathering/classroom space and enticing playground equipment that promotes more outdoor physical activity and learning. Natural landscape boulders with grasses will line the path on the south side of the school for seating, gathering, and outdoor classroom use. The playground equipment is a 24 foot-high structure where children have the opportunity to be creative in their play environment. Ropes and nets offer balance, swinging, movement and flexibility. Three low element attachments to the main structure will invite play and navigation for all. Enhancing these areas will have a positive impact on the school and the surrounding community. Construction will begin May 27 and is expected to be completed in mid-August.

Before

April/May 2014 • Page 6

Mini Fire Academy returning Many children dream of becoming a firefighter when they grow up. To give kids a glimpse of what life as a firefighter is like and to teach them about safety and injury prevention, Littleton Fire Rescue (LFR) is offering the Kids’ Mini Fire Academy. The academy is a four-day event for children ages 8-12 years. The academy includes hands-on activities about fire safety, bike safety, using 9-1-1, basic first aid, the life of a firefighter and much more. The final day of class is celebrated with a tour of a fire engine, operating a real fire hose and playing games that will help participants understand some of the requirements necessary to become a firefighter. LFR is offering two sessions of the Mini Fire Academy and enrollment is now open. The first session runs from June 16–19, and the second session is July 14–17. Class is from 9 a.m. until noon each day. The cost is $40 per child for those living within LFR’s jurisdiction, and $50 for those outside. Space is limited to 25 students per session. To enroll and for more information, contact Katie Morris, life safety educator at [email protected] or 303-795-3833.

Get rid of that junk! Have you started your spring cleaning and don’t know what to do with all the stuff you’ve discov-

After

ered? The City of Littleton’s popular “Keep Littleton Beautiful” Summer Cleanup & Recycle Program

Emergency Operations Plan updated to include today’s hazards Littleton’s Emergency Planning Division, directed by volunteer staff from fire, police, public works, and the communications department, recently updated Littleton’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). The plan describes how the city will function and coordinate with other jurisdictions in the event of an emergency. “The city’s EOP had not been updated in the last eight years, although hazards to the metro area have changed,” said Captain Jim Olsen, Littleton Fire Rescue’s emergency manager. “The new document addresses threats such as pandemic flu, cyber attacks, wildland fires, and more. It also outlines the legal responsibilities and roles of multiple jurisdictions during an emergency.” The update is a compilation of the prior plan, “best-practices” from other jurisdictions’ EOPs, FEMA templates and recommendations, and State of Colorado recommendations. It was vetted by all of the Littleton department directors and their input was included in the final version. “The new plan is much more of a living document which can be easily updated as conditions and policies change,” said Olsen. “Thankfully, the city has rarely had to use the EOP. However, the revised EOP is a document that should be more easily scalable and used in various situations.” Littleton’s Emergency Operations Plan is available at littletongov.org/emergency.

will begin taking calls May 21. Call 303-795-3744 to schedule an appointment for a crew to come to your home and haul it all away! The city will continue to schedule pickups until all time slots are full, so call early to assure a pickup time. The program ends the first part of August. The city will pick up items such as old appliances, used tires (four per household), discarded furniture, refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, electronics, computers and other hard-to-dispose-of objects that the regular trash haulers will not accept. For more information call Senior Code Specialist Rebecca Thompson at 303-795-3831.

Board and commission appointments Each year, the city council is impressed by the talent and enthusiasm of those applying for authorities, boards and commissions. Recent appointments and terms: Board of Adjustment Becky Provo–2016 Alternate 1 Andrew Rottman–2017 Alternate 2 Stacey Brady–2017 Building Board of Appeals Dean Rue–2017 James Boone–2015 Justin Hay–2017

Licensing Authority Bill Bradish–2017 Robin Peterson–2017 Peter Webb–2017 Museum Board Amy Fischer–2017 Alys Novak–2017 Cary Cooprider–2017 Planning Board Karina Elrod–2017 RC Myles–2017 Election Commission John Hershey–2018

Historic Preservation Board Margi Clute–2017 Pam Grove–2017 Alternate 1 Michael Price–2017 Alternate 2 Sharon Gaare–2016

Fine Arts Board Denise Weed–2017 Kate Eckel–2017 Joan Barton-Evans–2016 Sue Hinkin–2016

Library Board Lisa Ohlgren–2017 Cathy Schwartz–2017

South Metro Housing Options Stew Meagher–2019 Kyle Henderson–2019

The Littleton Police Department has a new addition in the form of a four-legged canine officer named Koda. Koda is a German Shepard/Belgian Melanoise mix and will be handled by Officer John Jones. Koda was purchased with money from a generous donation by a member of the Littleton Police Citizen Academy Alumni Association.

Eleven in LPD promoted On February 21, 11 Littleton Police Department members were promoted. They are: Commander Hal Mandler, Sergeant Rob Eich, Sergeant Brian Rauzi, Corporal Shawn Carlson, Division Chief Kim Ferber, Corporal John Strong, Commander Jim Werder, Sergeant Dave Scott, Division Chief Gene Enley, and Corporal Jim Hanna.

LITTLETON REPORT

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS Lego Club–April 5 and May 3, 2-2:45 and 3-3:45 p.m. April 5 is a day especially for siblings in grades K-8 to work on a project together. Legos are provided, do not bring them from home unless you wish to donate them. Registration required. Happy building! One Book 4 Colorado–April 7 through 21 One Book 4 Colorado is a statewide effort to provide every four-year-old in Colorado with a copy of the same book, helping to instill a love of reading in youngsters. Stop by the Children’s Room and request a copy between April 7 and 21. Early Literacy Fun Night @ Bemis Without the Kids– April 9, 7 p.m. Enhance your child’s early literacy skills with music. Join us for “make and take” instruments and resources to find your own singing voice. Registration required. Brewing Up a Storm–April 21, 4 p.m. A professional naturalist from EcoAdventures will help experiment with the components of weather to explore the cause and effect of meteorological changes in Colorado. Kids will brew up a thunderstorm, complete with hailstones, lightning and thunder, and will also create a tornado and microburst. Registration required beginning April 7 for grades K-5. It-“Tea” Bit-“Tea” Party–May 10, 2 p.m. Tiny crafts, tiny tea sandwiches, tiny tales and huge fun will be had by all at the annual tea party just for girls and a significant woman in their lives. Dress in tea-party best. Registration is required beginning April 26 for grades K-5. Fizz, Boom, READ! Summer Reading Program–May 27 through July 31 Beginning May 27, infants through children entering fifth grade may pick up a reading record to track summer reading progress and collect prizes along the way, including a free book to keep! The weekly schedule includes entertainers, activities, puppet shows,

TEEN PROGRAMS Teen Tech on the Teen Deck–through April Experiment with some cool technology: Cubelets, Makey Makey Boards, and Snap Circuits. Items available on the Teen Deck most afternoons from 2:30-4:30 and Wednesday evenings from 5-9 p.m. Teen Movie Club–April 5 and May 3, noon. Teen Gaming–April 17 and May 15, 3:30 p.m. Duct Tape Creations–April 19, 2 p.m. Learn how to make cool stuff out of duct tape! All materials provided. Registration required. Teen Advisory Group– April 25 and May 23, 3:30 p.m. Summer Film School–Applications Available May 5 Held at the Binning Family Foundation, 1269 West Littleton Boulevard from June 3 through July 24. Work in a group to learn professional movie-making techniques. For grades 7-12. $100 fee, some scholarships available. Each movie will be shown to the public at a World Premiere Red Carpet Event at the Alamo Drafthouse August 6. Spark a Reaction! Summer Reading Program–May 27 through July 31 Registration begins May 27. There will be a number of events happening throughout the summer. All participants who complete the program receive a free book, and numerous prizes are awarded throughout the program.

GENERAL PROGRAMS Bemis Adds Hoopla Digital Music Thousands of music albums are now available online and on mobile devices through Hoopla Digital. All you need is a valid Bemis Library card. Register for an account by visiting hoopladigital.com or using the hoopla app on an iOS or Android mobile device. Musical Moments in Sophie’s Place–April 5, 2 p.m. Dynamix, an outstanding vocal ensemble of 12 teens ages 13-17, will give an energetic performance of doo-wop and pop.

crafts and story times. Visit to find out more!

Senior Book Group–April 7 and May 5, 2 p.m.

CHAPTERS… A New Kids Book Club–May 30, 2 p.m.

National Library Week–April 13-19 The theme for the week is Lives Change @ Your Library. Stop by and write a few comments or suggestions about the library’s services and collections; children can color historical drawings. This program is for all ages and each participant will receive their choice of a chocolate pencil or a plush screen cleaner.

Join CHAPTERS, a book club for summer reading which will meet one time each month in May, June and July. Join the meeting in May to pick up the first book, enjoy snacks, lively discussion, and great fun, to kick off the new summer book club for kids entering grades 3-5. Registration required beginning May 16.

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Imagineering with Walt Disney–April 15, 7 p.m. Visit with entrepreneur Walt Disney, as portrayed by professional Actor David Skipper. Senior Wii Bowling–April 17 and May 15, 2 p.m. Evening Book Group–April 21 and May 19, 7 p.m. A Million Steps–April 22, 7 p.m. Author Kurt Koontz gives a photographic tour of his month-long adventure walking 500 miles from village to village in Spain along a route that pilgrims have followed since medieval times. Saturday Movie Matinee–April 26, 2 p.m. Walt Disney and the author of the Mary Poppins books are the focus of the recent popular film, Saving Mr. Banks. Heroes, Villains, Dames and Disasters–April 28, 2 p.m. Former Rocky Mountain News editor Michael Madigan shares stories and photos from the history of the newspaper. Musical Moments in Sophie’s Place–May 3, 2 p.m. Music from the brass band era by The Highline Silver Cornet Band. Created Equal Film Series–May 4, 2 p.m. Freedom Riders tells the terrifying story of a time when civil rights volunteers riding a bus into the deep south risked being jailed, beaten or killed. Discover Who You Are Through Family History Research–May 8, 7 p.m. Professional genealogist Deena Coutant will give a fascinating lesson on how to dig into your roots. Cheyenne War, Indian Raids on the Roads to Denver– May 13, 7 p.m. Conflicts between Native Americans and white settlers will be the topic of a presentation by author and historian Jeff Broome. Saturday Movie Matinee–May 17, 2 p.m. The Book Thief, the inspirational story of a spirited and courageous young girl who transforms the lives of everyone around her in World War II Germany. Meet Me at the Motel–May 19, 2 p.m. Hear an entertaining account of the history behind the 80 motels that once lined Santa Fe Drive from Lyle Miller, outreach specialist from History Colorado. Literary Elements, Summer Reading Program–May 27 through July 31 Stop by the information desk any time during the summer to register and receive a gift. Scholastic Family Book Fair–May 28-June 4 A large selection of award-winning and popular books for children and teens will be available for purchase. Proceeds will benefit the library.

LITTLETON REPORT

April/May 2014 • Page 8

COMMUNITY BUSINESS REVIEW SPOTLIGHT:

Rocky Mountain Bottled Water Bruegger’s Bagels

In 2012 Arizona franchisee Shawn Carter and his son Ben purchased the existing Denver area Bruegger’s Bagels locations from the previous franchisee. Last month Ben opened the first new Bruegger’s location in the Denver area in the Shops at Riverbend located at 5350 South Santa Fe Drive (entrance off South Prince Street), bringing the total number of these bakeries to 300 with locations in 26 states. Carrying on the Bruegger’s 30-year tradition, friendly staff bake fresh, authentic New York-style bagels in small batches all day long, first kettle boiling and then baking them in a stone hearth oven for a soft, chewy inside with a crispy shell outside. Along with the freshest of bagels the shop offers a wide variety of breakfast (any time of day!) or lunch items, including more than 20 kinds of bagels and a grand assortment of 100 percent, madein-Vermont cream cheese flavors. In addition to great food, the store has a full espresso bar, offers free Wi-Fi, and features an outdoor patio that seats 28 on nice days.

The Rocky Mountain Bottled Water Company is proud to be celebrating its 25th anniversary April 15. Located at 7502 South Grant Street, the company was founded in 1988 in the garage of Ray and Linda Zinsmaster. In 1989 they brought Littleton resident Rob Schmitt into the business as their partner and general manager. Today this former home-based business has 30 employees and utilizes 20,000 square-feet of facilities in Littleton along with a depot in Northern Colorado. It serves more than 4,000 customers (commercial, industrial and residential) from all over the Front Range and has three primary business segments: bottled water delivery service, a full line of water filtration and water-softening systems, and fastgrowing office coffee and refreshment services. A mainstay of the company’s growth is its commitment to customer service. There are no long-term contracts to sign, same day service is available and local service reps actually answer the phones! And because it is an independent company, it is able to be flexible and provide more options to its clients, large or small. For more information call 303-734-1111 or visit them at rmbw.com.

La Vaca Meat Company Barbecue season is right around the corner! Get outstanding primo steaks or steak burgers to grill at La Vaca Meat Company, 2480 West Main Street. Beef advisor Parker Mosley recently opened the specialty beef meat market where he provides USDA Prime grade steaks and only the best advice as to how to cook them. Parker’s family has roots deeply planted in Colorado’s farming and cattle-ranching industries. Beef has been his family’s way of life for generations, and they are proud to offer the best-tasting, locallysourced steaks possible. All are USDA Prime, and the USDA All Natural steaks have been aged a full 40 days for a combination of maximum flavor and maximum tenderness that provides for the best eating experience available. And for a special gift to send to someone, La Vaca ships its beef across the country through its website lavacameat.com.

Established in 1996, Extra Innings first opened in Boston, Massachusetts and was quickly recognized as a premiere indoor baseball and softball organization. The company franchised and now has training centers and locker rooms across the United States. Brian and Amy Richie opened Extra Innings Littleton (EIL) in 2011 at 8257 Southpark Circle, Unit B. The 12,000 square-foot facility features the highest ceiling in town along with seven multi-use tunnels for hitting, pitching, fielding and catching. In addition, there is a fully stocked pro shop filled to meet any baseball or softball need. The Richies and their staff are dedicated to fulfilling the needs of all players no matter their age or ability. Instructors are knowledgeable and are excellent teachers who stress the importance of having fun while playing. More importantly they work to instill self-confidence in these athletes. Extra Innings wants players to be able to play to the best of their ability and love what they are doing. For more information visit EIL at extrainnings-littleton.com or call 303-795-9872.