Littleton Report

What’s InsideTop News

February/March 2014 © Copyright 2014 City of Littleton all rights reserved

ECRWSSPostal Patron

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PaidLittleton, CO

Permit No. 205

2255 West Berry Ave.Littleton, CO 80120

Virtual town hall opens (see page 3).

Tree Program offers discounted trees (see page 5).

New marketing initiative takes flight (see page 3).

Littleton City Manager Michael Penny

has selected Christopher Armstrong to be

the new chief of Littleton Fire Rescue (LFR).

Armstrong’s extensive career in the fire

service began in Miramar, Florida where he

started as a paramedic. He rose through the

ranks in Miramar Fire Rescue to his most

recent position as Deputy Chief of Opera-

tions where he was responsible for develop-

ment of a $24.8 million operating budget for

an agency of 155 career employees serving a

population of almost 125,000.

Armstrong earned a bachelor’s degree

in occupational health and safety and a

master’s degree in emergency services

management from Columbia Southern

University. He is a graduate of the John F.

Kennedy School of Government at Harvard

University and achieved the Chief Fire Of-

ficer Designation from the Center for Public

Safety Excellence. Armstrong began work

January 20.

New fire chief will set future direction for department

Penny said, “Chris Armstrong is an excit-

ing and talented leader who will bring a

fresh vision and perspective to the depart-

ment. He has a track record of innovation

that resulted in improved response times,

increased accountability, establishing short

and long-term strategic goals, and obtain-

ing millions of dollars in federal grants. He’s

got the skill set to lead LFR to a successful

future and will be a great addition to the

City of Littleton.”

Armstrong was chosen after a national

search and a selection process that includ-

ed five panels with more than 40 interview-

ers including representatives of the fire

partners, city council, citizens, metro area

fire chiefs, LFR employees, and city depart-

ment directors.

The hiring of a new chief comes with

confidence that the current partnership

structure is successful, cost effective and

provides excellent service throughout LFR’s

service area. “Chief Armstrong will soon

lead the department through a master plan

process that will serve as a blueprint for the

future of LFR and we are incredibly excited

to work on this project with Chris and our

partners,” Penny said.

LFR provides emergency response

services and life safety education to the

220,000 citizens of Littleton, the Littleton

Fire Protection District, and the Highlands

Ranch Metropolitan District. LFR Chief

John Mullin announced his retirement,

effective December 31, after a 40-year

career in the fire service, 30 of those years in

Littleton.

Littleton Fire Rescue and its partners at

the Highlands Ranch Metropolitan District

and the Littleton Fire Protection District

have big plans in 2014. The Littleton City

Council approved an agreement between

the entities and Emergency Services Con-

sulting International (ESCI), to develop a

master plan for the organization.

The partnership has been long and

productive. The Littleton Fire Protection

District contracted with the city in 1949 to

provide fire and emergency medical ser-

vices to the district’s residents (east of the

Littleton city limits in Centennial and west

of the city limits in Jefferson County). The

Highlands Ranch Metropolitan District

joined in 1988. Because of this successful

regional service model, residents receive

the highest quality of service in the most

cost-efficient manner.

“Over the last several years, a number of

studies and discussions have taken place

to explore additional partnership and con-

solidation opportunities,” said Littleton

City Manager Michael Penny. “The result

of this due diligence, the partners agree, is

that the current model is very successful

and a good fit for everyone involved. That’s

not to say there isn’t room for improve-

ment and that’s where the master plan

begins.”

ESCI will assess the department’s opera-

tions compared to industry standards and

best practices, and create a benchmark

against which options for future service

delivery can be measured. The company

will recommend a program of action for up

to 20 years into the future. The master plan

will also include standards of coverage

which focus on the deployment of fixed

and mobile resources, i.e., staffing, appa-

ratus, station location, etc. Representatives

of the department and the partners will

form a local planning team that will begin

work immediately.

City council approves agreementfor Littleton Fire Rescue master plan

LFR has joined South Metro, West Metro and the Evergreen Fire Protection District in pur-

suing a consolidated regional Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. The partners repre-

sent more than 750,000 people across three counties and 21 cities. The result will be one of

the largest regional CAD systems in Colorado. Staffing will remain within each agency. The

consolidation of the dispatch systems should result in substantial equipment and mainte-

nance cost savings for each of the entities.

LFR dispatch joins regional group

The 2013-2014 Community

Scorecard is inside!

Sign-up today at openlittleton.org

LITTLETON REPORT February/March 2014 •

The City of Littleton will be using nextdoor.com, the private social network for neighborhoods, to foster neighbor-to-neighbor and citywide communication in early 2014.

Residents will be able to create private websites for their neighborhoods where they can get to know their neighbors, ask questions, and exchange local advice and recommenda-

tions. For example, neighbors use Nextdoor to share information about neighborhood watch and safety issues, local events, school activities, upcoming garage sales, lost pets, and

much more.

Look for more information in the April/May Littleton Report and at littletongov.org.

Senior Refund Program returns for 2014

Since 1977, the Littleton City Council has annually renewed its Senior Refund Pro-

gram, providing the city’s senior residents with a refund.

The program is available to both renters and property owners. For property owners,

the refund is based on the property’s assessed valuation. Refund amounts range from

$10 to $100. For property owners whose property is in a trust, the refund is always $30.

Refunds for renters range from $10 to $30. Applicants must have been 65 years of age or

older on or before December 31, 2013 and resided within the city limits of Littleton for

the entire year of 2013.

Applicants must complete both sides of the form and attach their paid property tax

receipt and a copy of their driver’s license or identification card.

Forms will be mailed in March to those who have previously received a refund.

Those who did not send in paperwork from last year may not automatically be

mailed a form this year. They will need to request it or pick it up from the finance de-

partment.

Newly-eligible residents can obtain forms and information from the City of Littleton

Finance Department, 2255 West Berry Avenue, or by calling 303-795-3764.

All paperwork must be turned in by 5 p.m. October 31. Mountain lion sighted near high schoolOn December 17 there was a mountain lion sighting in a greenbelt near Heritage

High School. While mountain lion sightings are rare, remember these safety tips:

• When walking or hiking in mountain lion country,

go in groups and make plenty of noise to reduce the

chances of surprising a lion. A sturdy walking stick is a

good idea; it can be used to ward off a lion. Make sure

children are close and within sight at all times. Talk

with children about lions and teach them what to do if

they meet one.

• Do not approach a lion, especially one that is feeding

or with kittens. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a

confrontation. Give them a way to escape.

• Stay calm if you encounter a lion. Talk calmly yet

firmly to it. Move slowly.

• If it can be done safely, stop or back away slowly. Running may stimulate a lion’s

instinct to chase and attack. Face the lion and stand upright.

• Try to appear larger. Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you’re wearing one.

Protect small children by picking them up so they won’t panic and run.

• If the lion behaves aggressively, throw stones or branches without turning away

from it. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly. Convince the lion you are not

prey and that you may in fact be a danger to it.

• Fight back if a lion attacks. Lions have been driven away by prey that fights back.

People have fought back succesfully with rocks, sticks, caps, jackets, garden tools

and their bare hands. Remain standing or try to get back up!

For more information and to view a short video visit http://bit.ly/1ihCNld.

Pay sales and use tax online

The City of Littleton is making it faster and easier to file

sales tax and also providing a new opportunity for business-

es to promote themselves. The city is asking all taxpayers to

complete a new Business and Sales Tax Application. Once

the information is updated, the business can choose to be

listed in the Littleton Business Directory. The form can be

accessed at http://bit.ly/1dgsQoC.

The finance department is also expanding sales and use

tax filing options utilizing an E-Government website that allows 24-hour access and

payment via credit card or electronic check. The online filing system can be found at:

https://stax.littletongov.org/.

A letter has been mailed to taxpayers announcing these two programs. It includes

instructions.

On September 12, 2013, Littleton Fire Rescue (LFR) received a request from the Long-

mont Fire Department for aid to help rescue residents trapped by the catastrophic flood-

ing of the St. Vrain River. LFR’s Water Rescue Team responded with its specialized rescue

equipment, including the Zodiac raft, scuba gear, exposure suits, and medical supplies.

The newest Littleton! show, Coloradoans Helping Coloradoans, tells the story of a Long-

mont neighborhood whose residents were rescued from roofs and flooded garages by

the LFR team. Longmont photographer Michael Martens was there with his camera and

captured the swiftly-rising water, the floating debris, and the dramatic evacuation of his

family, neighbors, their pets, and even a pony.

The Littleton! show plays daily at 6 a.m., 12 noon and 5 p.m. on Littleton's channel 8 and

can be seen on the city's YouTube channel LittletonGov.

Photo by Michael Martens

Littleton City Council regular meetings and study

sessions have a new start time. Effective immediately,

all meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. Council will gener-

ally conclude all meetings by 10 p.m. unless a majority of

council vote to continue past that time.

City council meetings to start earlier


Peggy ColeAt Large

[email protected]

Bruce StahlmanAt Large

[email protected]

Randy SteinDistrict I

[email protected]

Jerry ValdesDistrict II

[email protected]

Phil CernanecMayor–District III

[email protected]

Bruce BeckmanMayor Pro Tem–At [email protected]

303-347-9141

Debbie BrinkmanDistrict IV

[email protected]

Littleton City Council

As I look ahead into 2014, I reflect on 2013 with a sense

of pride in all that was accomplished. But as a famous

song of the 70s stated, “you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!”

City council has been refining its goals and objectives.

While it would be impossible to anticipate every oppor-

tunity that may come our way, this document provides

clear direction to staff to pursue initiatives that support

council’s goals.

Later in January (not at press time), the long process

to update the city’s Comprehensive Plan was voted on

by council. In late November, the planning board unani-

mously approved the plan which concluded an extensive

public engagement process that began in the spring of

2012. More than 600 people shared their thoughts on in-

spirelittleton.org generating 553 ideas and 866 comments.

Five traditional public planning forums were also held

to gather feedback from citizens. Staff and the planning

board visited with hundreds of citizens at five outreach

events and solicited additional comments via email and

social media. The responsibility for updating the Compre-

hensive Plan falls on the planning board with assistance

from the staff, and on behalf of the city council, I want to

thank them for their diligence in accomplishing this task.

The next step the planning board is challenged to accom-

plish is to revise specific neighborhood plans: Centennial,

Heritage, Ketring Park, Progress Park, South, Sterne Park

and TrailMark. So stay tuned because we’ll be coming

soon to a neighborhood near you!

In late November, the city council, as provided by the

charter, voted unanimously to select me as mayor for the

next two years. I am deeply honored by their confidence

and want to also congratulate Bruce Beckman for his se-

lection as Mayor Pro Tem. I cannot say enough about the

leadership Debbie Brinkman exhibited during her tenure

as mayor. All of us owe her a debt of gratitude for the many

initiatives she spearheaded during her time in the seat. I

hope to build on the many successes she enjoyed. Please

contact me at any time if you have an idea, a comment,

and yes, a complaint about city programs and services. In

the meantime, enjoy a healthy and prosperous new year!

Message from Mayor Phil Cernanec

The communications department staff increased its emphasis on citizen engage-

ment, marketing, public information and special events in 2013. The staff wrapped up

the year with a number of significant accomplishments that support three of city coun-

cil’s goals and objectives.

1. Fostering community spirit

• Developed a brand, logo, tag line, core values, and key message: “Littleton is a

friendly community that exudes a small town atmosphere and boasts a superior

quality of life. Littleton provides residents, business owners and visitors a vibrant

historic downtown, top-ranked schools and an open, active trail system.”

• Developed a Marketing Plan that makes specific recommendations to activate

the brand and key messaging statewide in order to: “Attract new residents to

Littleton, encourage visitors to spend money in Littleton, and engage businesses

to operate in Littleton.” The plan is available on the city’s web site at littletongov.

org/communications.

2. Working with community partners to increase

the number of events which draw citizens and visitors

as well as focusing on improving the quality of existing

events

• Facilitated the first Littleton Criterium bicycle

race in Downtown Littleton.

• Convened a Marketing Partner committee com-

prised of representatives of more than a dozen

public and private entities to enhance relation-

ships among agencies, explore cooperative

marketing of events and find gaps in the kinds of

events that would be successful in Littleton.

• Recruited a Marketing and Event Manager to implement new events in Littleton:

Little Garten (beer garden), Elf Crawl, and the Little Jam; and promote month-

long event themes for existing events: Cider Days and Twinkle Days.

3. Improve ways to disseminate information to citizens (e.g., utilize technology to

provide greater and timelier access to governmental information).

• Installed a new and greatly improved Cupola Cam, one of the most visited fea-

tures on the city’s website.

• Assisted in the development of a new business-focused website, go2littleton.com,

which includes a business directory and information for existing businesses and

those who want to locate in Littleton.

• Concluded the Inspire Littleton project to receive citizen input on the Compre-

hensive Plan and started the Open Littleton site to encourage engagement on an

expanded number of city-wide topics.

• Launched Littleton eConnect to allow customized email alerts concerning city

events, breaking news and city council meetings and agendas.

More details will be forthcoming on the new events and opportunities to engage with

the city.

New marketing initiatives take flight

Littleton Criterium

Inspire Littleton

was a resounding

success in engag-

ing citizens to share

their ideas on the

update of the Comprehensive Plan. While Inspire Littleton

wound to a close on January 31, Open Littleton made its

debut on February 1.

Open Littleton, powered by Peak Democracy, is a

feature-rich online engagement service designed to help

government agencies and their communities identify and

explore broad public interests and increase trust in govern-

ment. While Inspire Littleton was focused on the Compre-

hensive Plan, Open Littleton will cover topics covering a

range of issues in the community. Citizens can weigh in on

redevelopment, police and fire, streets, as well as a variety

of policy issues facing council.

Peak Democracy is the largest online engagement pro-

vider for government with more than 1,200 forums with

more than 160,000 constituents worldwide.

Virtual town hall opens

Sign-up today at openlittleton.org


LFR and LPD respond to high school shooting

On December 13, first responders from Littleton Fire Rescue

(LFR) and South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) quickly realized

that a reported structure fire at Arapahoe High School

(AHS) was a far more serious and dangerous situation.

Minutes before their arrival, Engine 15 and Medic 15 were

instructed by the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office (ACSO)

to stand by. An active shooter was roaming the halls of

the high school and one victim was reportedly shot. At the

request of an ACSO Officer, LFR crews entered an unsecured

area of the school and quickly removed a female victim who had

suffered a serious gunshot wound. The victim, Claire Davis, was transported to a

trauma center. Tragically she died from her injuries December 21.

A total of nine engines and aerial apparatus from LFR and SMFR, the Tactical EMS

(TEMS) unit, and the Littleton Police Department SWAT team responded to the inci-

dent. After making entry into the school, the TEMS unit assisted the SWAT team with

breaching locked doors during the room to room search for victims and perpetrators.

LFR credits the Blue Card Command Certification Program for helping its personnel

communicate despite the difficult conditions on scene. Blue Card is a state-of-the-art

training and certification system that teaches company and command officers how

to standardize local incident operations across their organization. According to the

medical branch supervisor, “communication was better than could be expected and

everyone involved in the response was speaking the same language.”

City of Littleton employees and the city council express their deepest condolences

to the family and friends of Claire Davis and everyone affected by this unspeakable

tragedy.

Littleton Police solve several major cases in 2013

Plea Agreements Accepted in Homicide Case: Two of the

three suspects accepted plea agreements for their involve-

ment in the homicide case where two were shot, one fatally,

on Fox Street in October of 2012. One defendant pled guilty

to Murder in the 2nd Degree and Crime of Violence-Use of

Weapon. The second suspect pled guilty to numerous charges,

including Reckless Endangerment, earlier in the year. The plea

agreements were the direct result of an exceptional investiga-

tion by the Littleton Police Department Investigations Divi-

sion and the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

Conviction in Gas Express Assault Case: In 2013, Nicholas Zapata was sentenced

to 21 years in prison for Attempted Homicide at the Littleton Gas Express, 1009 West

Littleton Boulevard. The assault occurred on June 10, 2012, at the gas station when

Zapata and Jose Murillo entered the store and attempted to assault the clerk. It was later

learned, during the investigation, that one of the suspects and the clerk were known to

each other.

Plea Agreement Accepted in Another Homicide Case: Theodore Puente pled guilty

to Murder in the Second Degree and other charges in the death of a man at 5995 South

Sycamore Street. Walter Zucchetti was found dead in his apartment on August 13, 2012.

An exhaustive investigation by Littleton Police Department Detectives lead to the arrest

of Theodore Puente for the crime. Sentencing for Puente is set for February 2014.

Citizen Academy classes begin in March

Have you ever been interested in finding

out just what goes on inside the police de-

partment? Have you ever wanted to know

why and how the police do what they do?

If so, join the Littleton Police Department’s

Citizen Academy. The spring 2014 session

is set to start on March 6. The session

runs 11 weeks, and meets every Thursday

night from 6-9:30 p.m. “Sometimes we

go past 9:30,” said academy coordinator

Commander Trent Cooper, “because the

participants are having such a good time,

they don’t want to go home.” The classes are different every week, and cover topics that

range from gangs and drugs to traffic stops to crime scene investigation and everything

in between. The classes are taught by members of the police department, with differ-

ent officers teaching each topic, so participants get to meet a variety of officers from

the department. Part of the curriculum also involves going on ride-alongs with officers

during their regular patrol shift, and discussing the experience with other classmates.

Dinner and beverages are provided to the participants. Those who live, work or go to

school in the city are invited to apply. High school students who might be interested in

a career in law enforcement are especially encouraged to participate. Don’t wait, the

application deadline is February 22. It can be found on the police department’s web

page at littletonpolice.org (click on the “Programs” link). Call Commander Trent Cooper

at 303-795-3848 with any questions.

Commander Paul Creadon (center) is pictured with Police Chief Doug Ste-

phens (left) and City Manager Michael Penny (right) at his retirement reception

January 8. Creadon began working as a police officer in 1975 after serving his

country in the United States Marine Corps. He worked in every area of the de-

partment, including SWAT, investigations, and patrol during his career.

Additionally, Officer Marty Keilman retired at the end of December. Keilman

was originally hired as a dispatcher in 1978 and became a police officer in 1979.

He left to work with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office for a year, then returned

to the Littleton Police Department in 2001 to finish his career with a total of 34

years of dedicated service.

Two long-time LPD employees retire

Littleton Adventist Hospital partnered with Littleton Fire Rescue (LFR) to offer

an eight-hour resiliency training program for those in the new recruit academy.

LFR is the first fire department in Colorado to offer this training. Only one other

department in the United States (Mesa Fire and Medical) offered this to its newest

firefighters and medical teams.

Firefighters and first responders face continuous exposure to traumatic events,

which can lead to compassion fatigue, or the gradual lessening of compassion over

time. Tragic consequences of continuous exposure to traumatic events on those

who have dedicated themselves to the service of others are well-documented. First

responders are twice as likely to die from suicide than to die in the line of duty and

also have a life expectancy 15 years less than the general population.

Offering resiliency training to new fire recruits as part of their academy experi-

ence provides prospective firefighters and emergency medical technicians the

skills needed to better adapt and cope with reactions to traumatic events. By prac-

ticing the skills learned during this training, fire recruits can have more satisfying,

healthy and productive lives, both professionally and personally.

The resiliency training was taught by firefighter/paramedic, lead instructor and

program co-developer Phil Callahan, PhD., a nationally-recognized innovator in

this field.

Hospital and LFR teach resiliency training

Littleton Police partner for recruit training

Intergovernmental Agreements are commonly developed in local government to deliver

improved services in a cost-efficient manner. One such successful example was recently

approved by the Littleton City Council for police recruit training.

The Littleton Police Department (LPD) is partnering with the Jefferson County Sher-

iff’s Office and the Lakewood Police Department. The two agencies operate a combined

regional academy to train police recruits. LPD has sent its police recruits to the acad-

emy since 2010 where they receive 840 hours of training at a cost to the city of $4,500 per

recruit. The city realizes both long and short-term savings. The regional academy’s initial

fee saves the LPD an average of $1,850 per recruit as compared to other police academies.

Additionally, the number of training hours provided by the academy is exceptionally

high–100 hours more than similar academies.

The regional academy provides a number of certifications required of all police officers:

standard field sobriety testing, taser, firearms, driving, and arrest control. This relieves the

LPD from future costs associated with these trainings.

After successfully completing the academy, the recruits enter the field training program

where they work under the watchful eye of experienced LPD officers for 14 weeks.


1st Tree 2nd TreeFirst ChoiceAlternate Choice

3rd Tree 4th TreeFirst ChoiceAlternate Choice

Enclose check and make payable to City of Littleton: $30 per bare root tree$50 per B&B tree

Total # of trees ordered:________ (Attach additional sheet if more than four ordered).

Send application and check to:

Return by March 21

Tree Program/City of Littleton2255 West Berry AvenueLittleton, CO 80120

qI can help pick up and deliver trees in my neighborhood on April 19

qI can help plant trees for others

qI am requesting help planting my tree(s)

Call 303-795-3766 with any questions.

2014 TREE PROGRAM ORDER FORM

Comments/suggested species for future programs:_______________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Name: Home Phone:Work Phone:

Address:

Tree Species/Botanical Name

Size/Price Notes Mature

HeightMature Spread

Fall Color

Large Shade TreesSkyline HoneylocustGleditsia triacanthos inermis “Skycole”

7-8' whip bare root/$30 thornless, podless 40-50' 30-40' bright

yellow

Bur OakQuercus macrocarpa

1" Cal.B&B/$50

long lived, rugged, hardy 50-60' 40-50' yellow/

brown

Swamp White Oak Quercus bicolor

1" Cal. B&B/$50 long lived, adaptable 50-70' 40-50' yellow/

brown

HackberryCeltis occidentalis

1" Cal. B&B/$50

corky bark, adaptable 50-60' 40-50' yellow

Turkish FilbertCorylus colurna

1" Cal. B&B/$50 edible ½" nuts in fall 35-50' 20-30' yellow/

purple

Kentucky CoffeetreeGymnocladus dioicus

1" Cal. B&B/$50

white flowers, seedpods 40-60' 30-40' yellow/

brown

Small Ornamental TreesHedge Maple Acer campestre

1-1¼" Cal.bare root/$30

oval shape,glossy leaves 20-30' 20-30' yellow/

brown

Hot Wings Tatarian Maple Acer tataricum “GarAnn”

1-1¼" Cal. bare root/$30

red samaras in summer 20-30' 20-25' red/orange/

yellow

Pacific Sunset Maple Acer truncatum x Acer platanoides

5-7' whip bare root/$30

dark greenglossy leaves 25-30' 20-25' red/orange/

yellow

Eastern RedbudCercis canadensis

1" Cal. B&B/$50

early dark pink flowers 15-20' 15-18' yellow

Chanticleer PearPyrus calleryana “Chanticleer”

1" Cal. B&B/$50

white flowers, glossy leaves 25-35' 12-15' purple/red

China Snow Tree Lilac Syringa pekinensis “Morton”

6-8' bare root/$30

creamy white flowers-June 15-20' 12-15' yellow

Tree descriptions and photographs are available on the city’s website at littletongov.org.

Littleton’s popular tree planting program returns for 2014Participants must make arrangements to pick up

and plant their own trees and are responsible for all

maintenance, pruning and watering. The trees must be

picked up Saturday, April 19 between 8 a.m. and noon

at the Littleton Service Center at 1800 West Belleview

Avenue. Detailed tree planting instructions will be

provided. Volunteers will plant trees for those who are

physically unable.

Interested citizens should fill out the application and

return it with a check payable to the City of Littleton.

The trees are available on a first-come, first-served

basis with a March 21 application deadline. After this

deadline call to check on tree availability. Call 303-795-

3766 for more information.

The City of Littleton continues its annual tree plant-

ing program with 12 species of trees available. The Tree

Program is intended to encourage tree planting, spe-

cies diversity and water conservation and is open to all

property owners in the city. On Saturday, April 19, the

city’s tree committee will distribute 160 trees. Program

participants pay $30 for bare root trees and $50 for

“Balled & Burlapped” (B&B) trees. These trees must be

planted within the Littleton city limits.

All newly planted trees require regular watering,

applied in all seasons, for three to four years after

planting. Most of the trees offered are considered low

or low-moderate water-demand trees which require

minimal supplemental watering once established.

Tree photos and descriptions are available on the city

website at littletongov.org/trees.

Five types of trees will be provided in bare root form.

Bare root trees are light and easy to handle but require

immediate planting. The remaining seven species

of trees are B&B, with root balls weighing 50 to 100

pounds. All of the trees will initially be five to 12 feet in

height, with initial trunk calipers and mature sizes as

indicated on the order form. They may be planted in

the public right-of-way or on private property in the

city, with an initial limit of six trees per single-family

residential property. School PTOs, businesses and

homeowners associations are encouraged to purchase

larger quantities.

Kentucky Coffeetree Bur Oak Eastern Redbud

The Buck Recreation Center welcomes

Jeff Scroggins & Colorado for a bluegrass

concert.

Grab some friends and enjoy fantastic

bluegrass tunes, Saturday, February 22

at 7 p.m. at the Buck Center. Jeff Scrog-

gins & Colorado is a high energy, high

mountain “bluegrass

explosion,” featuring the

amazing banjo playing

of Scroggins. His fiery

style and lightning fast

licks have earned him

numerous awards in

his career, including the

prestigious National

Bluegrass Banjo Cham-

pionship; and dozens of

state, regional and local

banjo contests. Open to

ages 12 to adult. The cost is $10/$8 resi-

dent. Reservations suggested. Tickets can

be ordered online at sspr.org or purchase

at the Buck front desk. Tickets will also

be available at the door. Call 303-730-

4612 for more information. There will be

plenty of free parking.

EVENTS


The Littleton

Boulevard/

South Broadway

King Soopers

project is now

underway. The

store will be

closed until early in 2015 as Dillon Companies, owner

of King Soopers, undertakes the demolition of the

existing building and construction of a 78,000 square-

foot store on the same site. All of the businesses in

the south pad building, (Green Care Cleaners, Tiffany

Nails, Yogomojo, Great Clips, Kids and Family Den-

tistry, Fred Loya Insurance, H&R Block, The UPS Store,

Subway, and Mattress Firm) and in the north pad

building, (Starbucks, Lotus Jewelers, and Papa Mur-

phy’s), will remain open during construction. Citizens

are encouraged to continue to shop and patronize

these businesses during the project.

The new, larger grocery store will include a drive-up

pharmacy, and substantial landscaping, access and

parking improvements.

Businesses open during King Soopers construction

After almost ten years of service, the original, beloved web site sensation, Cupola Cam, has been retired. But wait!

There is a new, improved Cupola Cam to take its place on the city’s web site.

Cupola Cam is a live-stream video web camera mounted on the roof of the Littleton Municipal Courthouse at the

base of its iconic cupola. Visitors take turns controlling the camera using a drop-down menu with about 20 pre-set

views of Downtown Littleton and the surrounding area.

The original Cupola Cam debuted in March 2004 on the city’s web site and became an instant, international hit.

People from all over the world came to the site to view the live video stream of Downtown Littleton and other local

landmarks. The camera became a popular way to connect with far-away friends and relatives before the age of Skype

and FaceTime.

The new Cupola Cam II features an image four times larger than the original, plus a brighter and sharper picture. See

for yourself. Visit Cupola Cam II at littletongov.org/cupolacam.

The view from Cupola Cam!

Time to recycle that

holiday fryer oil!Now that the holidays are over, residents may be asking

what to do with used turkey fryer oil. Instead of throwing

it in the garbage, try recycling it. There are a number of

companies that are happy to take old fryer oil and con-

vert it into fuel, animal feedstock or a number of other

useful consumer products. The website Earth911.com

identifies a couple of local companies that will take old

oil for no cost, just drop it off at their location. Two of the

local companies are:

Environment Planet Recycling Inc.

5171 Emerson Street

Denver, CO 80216

303-783-7040

Great West BioFuels

5380 North Franklin Street

Denver, CO 80216

303-294-0026

Don’t dump it down the drain! This could lead to all

sorts of problems for the sewer service and the collec-

tion system. Grease clings to pipe walls and can result in

massive clogs. In extreme cases these clogs can result in

blockages to the sanitary sewer lines and sanitary sewer

overflows.

South Metro Housing Options (SMHO) closed on

the Powers Circle Apartments project on July 30, 2013.

Construction began in early August and units are now

being completed. The buildings are located at 123,

163 and 183 West Powers Circle. A total of 69 apart-

ments will be renovated.

The renovation includes new kitchens, bathrooms,

window coverings, flooring, and interior common

area upgrades. Apartments range in size from studio

to three-bedroom units.

The renovation was financed utilizing the Low

Income Housing Tax Credit program. SMHO part-

nered with Michel Associates, who provided partial

funding for the project. The program provides for

private funding for affordable housing opportunities

in the community. Tax credits are issued through the

Colorado Housing and Finance Authority.

The first 27 units have been completed and resi-

dents started moving into the buildings in mid-Janu-

ary. Total renovation is anticipated to be completed

by mid-March.While the apartments are not feder-

ally-subsidized, rents are below market. Residents

must meet minimum and not exceed maximum in-

come limits in order to qualify for the program. The

current income limits range from $27,250 to $57,900

depending on family size. Rents range from $542 to

$954, including all utilities except electricity.

A management office has been set up at 183 West

Powers. The phone number for more information is

303-927-7846. Applications are also being accepted

at the SMHO Administration Office located at 5745

South Bannock Street. For more information call

303-794-9608.

South Metro Housing Options renovating Powers Circle apartments

At its January 7 meeting, city council approved the

following liaison appointments to various boards and

committees:

Board Liaisons:

Library Board – Bruce Stahlman

Museum Board – Jerry Valdes

Fine Arts Board – Bruce Beckman

Other Appointments:

C-470 Coalition – Bruce Beckman

C-470 Western Coalition – Bruce Beckman

Council appoints board and committee liaisonsHighline Canal Working Group – Bruce Beckman

Urban Drainage and Flood Control District Board – Debbie

Brinkman

Littleton Fire Rescue Partners – Bruce Stahlman

South Platte Working Group – Debbie Brinkman and

Randy Stein

Denver Regional Council of Governments Board – primary,

Phil Cernanec; alternate, Randy Stein

Metro Vision Issues Committee – Phil Cernanec

Metro Mayors Caucus – Phil Cernanec

Play Ball!

Registration for adult spring sports leagues is now

underway! Call 303-483-7030, or sign up at sspr.org.

Calling All Campers!

Got kids? South Suburban has more than 200 day

and week-long summer camps available in a variety

of themes, including nature, art, sports, performing

arts and more! Camps can enrich a child’s summer

experience, and help them develop friendships and

new skills. Register online beginning February 15 at

sspr.org, or call 303-347-5999.

South Suburban’s Super Sunday Fun Run 5K

Exercise before loading up on snacks during the

big game on Sunday, February 2. Meet at Platte

River Bar & Grill, 5995 South Santa Fe Drive. The run

begins at 10 a.m. Advance and same-day registration

is available, $25 pre-race; $30 race day. Register at

RunningGuru.com/Event/SuperSunday.

South Suburban Seeks Nominations for Board of

Director Positions

Self-nominations and acceptance forms due

February 28.

Three board of directors positions are up for elec-

tion. Qualified members of the community may

apply. Read more at sspr.org.

South Suburban Parks and Recreation


GENERAL PROGRAMS

Free Tax Assistance–through April 12

IRS-trained volunteers will be available Thursdays

from 5:30-8 p.m. and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

for taxpayers who cannot afford professional assis-

tance. No pre-registration is required. The AARP will

provide tax preparation help for low and middle-in-

come seniors ages 60 and over Mondays and Tuesdays

from 9:15 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Appointments are required

for AARP assistance and can be made by calling 303-

734-8200 and leaving a message.

Learn a Foreign Language

The library has a new subscription to Rocket Lan-

guages, an award-winning online site that lets partici-

pants learn a language at their own pace. To access

Rocket Languages, go to bemis.ent.sirsi.net and click

on “Library Databases and Recommended Websites.”

Dramatic Performance on the Life of Malcolm X–

February 4, 7 p.m.

A living history performance on the extraordinary

life of Malcolm X, portrayed by Charles Everett Pace.

Created Equal Film Discussion Series–February 5 and

March 5, 7 p.m.

See historic film clips and join a discussion group on

America’s civil rights struggles. Discussions will be held

the first Wednesday of each month from February 5

through May 7. View the film that will be discussed on

the Sunday prior to the meeting.

February 5: The Abolitionists with special guest

Charles Everett Pace, a historian and one of the

country’s leading historical performers. View the film

February 2 at 2 p.m.

March 5: Slavery by Another Name with special guest

Helen Kearney, a quilt historian who conducts pro-

grams on the role quilts played in the everyday life of

slaves during the Civil War era. View the film March 2

at 2 p.m.

America’s Vanishing Wild Horses–February 12, 7 p.m.

See stunning images and hear stories of horses in the

wild with photographer Carol Walker.

Musical Moments in Sophie’s Place–February 15, 2 p.m.

Classic love songs with a twist, featuring pianist Nick

Busheff and vocalist Nancy Stohlman.

Saturday Movie Matinee–February 22, 2 p.m.

Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks.

clown Connie Elstun will combine science and history

to teach kids how to create hands-on, science-based

magic. Registration required beginning March 10.

Movie Matinee–March 26, 2 p.m.

Cloudy with a Chance of

Meatballs 2 picks up where the

first film left off. For ages three

and up. Rated PG, running time

95 minutes. Registration required

beginning March 10.

Hello Earth Puppet Show–March

28, 2 p.m.

For all ages. Puppeteer Patti

Smithsonian uses cartoon-like

shadow puppets which are pro-

jected to a height of eight feet! In

“Hello Earth,” a kid from outer

space wants to visit earth to play

basketball, but his mother won’t let

him until earth gets cleaned up. So the alien child alters

familiar fairy tales in a most hilarious way to learn how

to protect the planet.

TEEN PROGRAMS

Spark a Reaction Photography Contest

Submit an original photo that expresses the theme

“Spark a Reaction” by March 17. The winning photog-

raphers from two age groups, middle school and high

school, will win a $25 gift certificate to a store of their

choice. The photos will be published on a summer

reading program bookmark and featured on posters

displayed on the Teen Deck.

Tricky Tuesdays–February

Looking for something fun and free to do? Stop by

the Teen Deck Tuesday afternoons from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

during February for a tricky Tuesday challenge. Create

some cool optical illusions, resurrect a dead “chicken”

(ok, it’s really a towel pretending to be a dead chicken),

make a fork float, and learn a magic trick or two.

Teen Tech Week: Geek Out @ Your Library–March 9-15

Drop in to the Teen Deck during the week to check

out the cool new technology for teens to experiment

with:

Cubelets (magnetic robots that snap together to cre-

ate robots with various functions) March 10, 2:30-4:30

p.m.

Makey Makey Board (turn everyday objects into a

computer keyboard) March 11, 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Snap Circuits (basic electronics projects) March 13,

2:30-4:30 p.m.

On March 12, 5-9 p.m., all three will be available.

Electronic Paint–March 15, 2 p.m.

Electronic paint is just like regular paint, except that

it conducts electricity! Learn basic concepts about

electricity and circuits, and create a cool robot card that

has a blinking LED light. Registration is required for

this program, contact Teen Librarian Mark Decker at

[email protected] beginning February 15.

Streetcars of Denver–February 24, 2 p.m.

Join local historian Kevin Pharris for an examination

of the predecessor of today’s light rail system. When it

was removed in 1950, the Denver area had one of the

largest streetcar systems in the nation.

Musical Moments in Sophie’s Place–

March 8, 2 p.m.

The Celtic duo Gobs O’ Phun will en-

tertain with traditional Irish melodies

and humor.

Ward Lucas: A Career in Investigative

Journalism–March 11, 7 p.m.

Television journalist Ward Lucas will

share stories of his exciting 40-year

career in investigative journalism.

Jonathan Edwards and the American

Revolution We Forget–March 18, 7

p.m.

Visit with one of America’s greatest intellectuals, as

portrayed by Jack Van Ens. Edwards was a well-known

theologian during the early 18th century and a leading

force in several spiritual revivals.

Saturday Movie Matinee–March 22, 2 p.m.

See the highly-acclaimed film, Gravity.

From Birth to Burial, Headwear from 14

Cultures–March 24, 2 p.m.

Hear a fascinating presentation by Dr. Beverly Chico

on life-cycle customs from Asian, Middle Eastern and

European cultures, represented by various types of hats

and headwear. Chico will bring many actual examples

of the headwear for audience members to view.

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

Ready, Set, BUILD–February 1 and March 1, 2 p.m.

Join the new Lego Club for kids in grades K-5. Lego

Club will meet the first Saturday of each month. Legos

will be provided. Registration required.

Valentine Fun–February 8, 2 p.m.

Get ready for Valentine’s Day with an hour of crafts,

games and sweet treats for kids in grades 1-5. Registra-

tion required.

A Seusstacular Show–February 23, 3 p.m.

A program for all ages. Get a head start on celebrat-

ing Read Across America Day and the birthday of Dr.

Seuss. Join the fun as Denise Gard transforms herself

and acts out several Dr. Seuss tales, including Gertrude

McFuzz and Horton Hatches the Egg.

McTeggart Irish Dancers–March 16, 3 p.m.

McTeggart, a Premier Irish Dance Academy, will

present a show that features colorful costumed dancers

accompanied by rousing traditional Irish music.

How to Freak Out Your Mom and Fool Your Dad at the

Dinner Table–March 25, 2 p.m.

A program for grades 3-5. Professional magician and


Brickyard BBQ

Monday through Saturday Marc Anthony is smoking pork, beef brisket, chicken, hot links, and ribs for his authentic Kansas City style barbeque at his Brickyard BBQ restaurant. Located in the Oakbrook Shopping Center at 311 East County Line Road, the relaxed atmosphere of the family- friendly place (don’t forget to sign the wall!) along with the fantastic smell of BBQ invite all who enter to relax and stay awhile. Traditional “go along with BBQ” sides—baked beans, cole slaw, potato salad, sweet kernel corn and steak fries—and an array of soft drinks and lemonade are available to accompany the sandwiches (on homemade buns!), ribs, combo platters, and “Burnt Ends” (the ends of meat where all the seasoning has found a home). Party packages for pickup and catering services for up to 500 guests are also available from the Brickyard BBQ. Menus for both can be found on its website at brickyardbbq.com.

COMMUNITYBUSINESS

REVIEW

SPOTLIGHT:

Urban SophisticatsRachel Diller recently opened the first

cat-only grooming facility in the state, Urban Sophisticats, at 7288 South Rapp Street. Owner of The Poodle Shop in the Woodlawn Shopping Center since 2004, Diller also groomed cats there. Barking dogs

did not contribute favorably to the enjoyment of the grooming experience

for her feline customers. As time went on, she decided the cats deserved their own

place removed from the distraction of dogs.Diller was trained by the National Cat Groomers Institute of America, Inc. and holds a Certified Feline Master Groomer certification.

More information is available at urbansophisticats.net or 303-730-2102.

Quality Mitsubishi

In October of 1993, the then three-year old Quality Mitsubishi dealership moved just blocks south of its original location at 4950 South Broadway in Englewood to its present location in Littleton at 6130 South Broadway. Owned by Henry Block (pictured), who is also the general manager, the dealership has the highest-ranked Mitsubishi ASE Master Technicians in the state, with one of only two Master Elite technicians.

Active in the community and surrounding areas, the

dealership has sponsored various high schools and charities including Mount Saint Vincent Home and the Wounded

Warrior Project. In addition, it has sponsored

and supplied vehicles to numerous Colorado Rockies

baseball players and Denver Broncos players and coaches over the years.

For more information visit qualitymitsubishi.com.

Rice Bistro & Sushi

Daniel and Michael Wong (pictured) opened the Rice Bistro & Sushi restaurant in the Aspen Grove Shopping Center (7301 South Santa Fe Drive) in the fall of 2013. Located on the west side of the center, the welcoming bright and airy space, which also has a full bar, includes a glassed-in room that can be reserved for lunch or dinner parties or meetings.

First-time customers should be forewarned that it will take an extra five minutes to explore the extensive lunch and dinner menus as they feature a wide array of Pan-Asian dishes from classic favorites to newer popular offerings. These include appetizers, soups and salads, meat,

vegetable, chicken and seafood dishes; sushi and rolls; fried rice and noodle dishes and desserts—something for everyone. In addition there is an extensive listing of more than 100 wines as well as a variety of martinis and specialty drinks. The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday through Saturday. Call the restaurant at 720-638-5149.

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