Bruce Stahlman fills Cronenberger`s District II seat

April 2007
Bruce Stahlman fills Cronenberger’s District II seat
Cronenberger
Stahlman
The Littleton City Council
selected Bruce Stahlman to fill a
vacancy on the council created
by the January 31 resignation
of District II representative Pat
Cronenberger. Stahlman will fill
the remainder of Cronenberger’s
term which expires November 6,
2007. Municipal Court Judge James
S. Kimmel administered the oath
of office to Stahlman at the regular
city council meeting
February 20. The
District II position represents the
northeast quadrant
of the city.
Eight District II
citizens applied for
the position. The
Littleton City Council met in a
special session February 19 to
interview the candidates.
Stahlman has lived in Littleton
for more than 11 years with his
wife and three sons. He earned a
master’s degree in business from
Indiana University and a bachelor’s
degree in economics and management from Albion College. He is
Wal-Mart rezoning approved,
petition signatures verified
The Littleton City Council
approved the rezoning January 30
of three parcels of land on South
Santa Fe Drive for construction of
a Wal-Mart Super Center following
12-1/2 hours of testimony over
two evenings. The 23-acres were
rezoned from R-S (Residential
Suburban Agricultural District)
to PD-C (Planned Development
Commercial). The vote was four
in favor and three against. A group opposed to the project,
Littleton Against Wal-Mart, began
circulating petitions following the
council vote, asking voters to place
a question on the ballot that would
reverse the city council’s decision.
City Clerk Julie Bower verified
March 20 that more than the
required number of signatures were
submitted for a citizen referendum.
City council directed that a resolution be prepared for consideration
at the April 3 council meeting that
would schedule an election regarding the question. An election date
of June 19 will be recommended.
a registered CPA and has worked
more than 25 years in corporate
finance. He is currently the Chief
Financial Officer for the Metropolitan Association for Retarded
Citizens.
“We are frequent users of the
many available recreational facilities
in Littleton and have appreciated
the downtown area’s redevelopment which contributes to a unique
‘small town’ community feel in the
midst of a vibrant urban setting,”
Stahlman said. “At this point in
my life, legacy issues are becoming
increasingly important to me. Serving on the Littleton City Council
is a unique opportunity to make a
positive contribution in this spirit,”
he said.
Municipal Judge James Kimmel administers the oath of office
to Bruce Stahlman at the February 20 Littleton City Council
meeting.
Details of the Wal-Mart Project
•
The developer will pay for a new traffic signal at the South Santa Fe Drive/Briarwood intersection.
•
The store will conform to the Santa Fe Design Guidelines with an architectural theme described as “rural vernacular.” The design style and materials will be similar to those of Aspen Grove with pitched roofs, board and batten
siding and earth tone hues as a color palette.
•
Major infrastructure work will capture, route, clean and release off-site and on-site drainage from the property to the
South Platte River.
•
All utilities will be placed underground.
•
Land will be dedicated for the construction of Briarwood from South Santa Fe Drive to the western edge of the site,
providing new access for the Meadowood Village Mobile Home Park.
•
The applicant expects to create 350 new jobs and generate $1.5 million dollars in sales tax revenue each year.
•
The store will be 187,000 square-feet and could include: groceries, general merchandise, a pharmacy, bank, restaurant and medical offices. Automotive uses and liquor sales will not be permitted.
•
A ten-foot screen wall designed to match the building colors and materials along with landscaping will be placed on
the west, south and north sides.
See Wal-Mart on page 2
What’s Inside
New lighting regulations to take effect. . . . . . . . . . .
Board and Commission appointments. . . . . . . . . . .
Summer Cleanup program returns. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mini Fire Academy for 8-12 year-olds . . . . . . . . . . .
Police award Medals of Valor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Littleton fleet one of 100 best. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Senior refund program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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NEWS FROM LITTLETON CITY COUNCIL
April 2007 • Page 2
WAL-MART: question headed for ballot
The City of Littleton Planning
Commission held three public
hearings on the project and ultimately approved the plan, also by
a four to three vote. The Planning
Commission is an advisory body
and its decision was not binding
upon the city council. As part of
the public hearing process, more
than 1,314 written comments of
support and 151 against the project were entered into the record.
Approximately 96 persons testified
at the hearing.
Although the zoning was
approved by the city council, the
city charter allows a process for
any ordinance to be referred to the
voters if the signatures of ten percent of registered voters within the
city are submitted within 30 days of
publication of the ordinance.
The 2005 Littleton City Council
Workshop Report identified the property as a “catalyst” parcel that is
appropriate for retail development.
It is adjacent to 20-acres of land the
city purchased in 2005 to serve as
a buffer between future development and South Platte Park. The
site was identified in 1996 by the
Open Space Task Force as a parcel
which the city should purchase to
provide better public access to the
South Platte River and serve as a
buffer. The $2.12 million dollar
purchase price was shared between
the city and South Suburban Parks
and Recreation.
Comments received by the
Colorado Division of Wildlife
stated, “…due to the small acreage
of the proposal and low availability
of undisturbed habitat adjacent
to the proposed site, impacts may
be characterized as minimal.” Bill
Woodcock, from South Suburban
Parks and Recreation District commented favorably about creating
a wetlands water quality feature
to create an improved habitat
area adjacent to the South Platte
Park. The developer has agreed
to enhance the land to improve its
environmental value.
City council makes appointments
to boards and commissions
The Littleton City Council made
appointments in March for vacancies and reappointments to the
city’s boards and commissions. The
appointments were effective April 1,
2007. These citizen committees provide input regarding the future direction of the community. Some meet
on an as-needed basis, others meet
monthly or bi-monthly. Following
is a list of the appointments:
Board of Adjustment
• Raymond Koernig, Jr. for a term
expiring March of 2008
• Michael Zastrow for a term
expiring March of 2010
• Layne Kottmeier for a term
expiring March of 2010
• Kenneth Shock as Alternate 1
for a term expiring March of
2009
• Philip Wichern as Alternate 2
for a term expiring March of
2009
Building Board Of Appeals
• Dan Flynn for a term expiring
March of 2009
• Aldora Gauthier for a term
expiring March of 2010
• Dean Rue as Altenate 1 for a
term expiring March of 2010
Fine Arts Committee
• Peter Veljkovich for a term
expiring March of 2010
• Joyce Volp for a term expiring
March of 2010
• Don Rottenbucher for a term
expiring March of 2010
Historical Preservation Board
• Christopher Forrest for a term
expiring March of 2010
• William Hopping for a term
expiring March of 2010
• Amy Reed for a term expiring
March of 2010
• Margi Clute for a term expiring
March of 2008
Housing Authority
• Libby Bortz for a term expiring
March of 2012
Library Board
• Yoonjoo Mager for a term expiring March of 2010
• Mary Hueske for a term expiring
March of 2010
• William Brierly for a term expiring March of 2010
Liquor Authority
• Anthony Gallagher for a term
expiring March of 2010
• Jim Saunders for a term expiring
March of 2010
• Jamie Driscoll as Alternate 1 for
a term expiring March of 2009
• William Bradish as Alternate 2
for a term expiring March of
2008
Museum Board
• Kelly Kordes Anton for a term
expiring March of 2010
• Kimberly Field for a term expiring March of 2010
• Rosalie Summers Bentzin for a
term expiring March of 2009
Planning Commission
• Kent Bagley for a term expiring
March of 2010
• Yolanda McAllister for a term
expiring March of 2010
• Karinne Wiebold for a term
expiring March of 2009
• Kevin Kostoff as Alternate 1 for
a term expiring March of 2010
• Craig Ciarlelli as Alternate 2 for
a term expiring March of 2008
Riverfront Authority
• LaDonna Jurgensen for a term
expiring March of 2012
• William Lajoie for a term expiring March of 2012
Tree Committee
• Susan Brown for a term expiring
March of 2010
• Doris Cruze for a term expiring
March of 2010
• Kristi Carrell-Koernig for a term
expiring March of 2009
Victim Assistance
Compensation Board
• Nancy Feldman for a term expiring March of 2010
• Linda Suttle for a term expiring
March of 2010
• Kazi Staudte for a term expiring
March of 2008
Former Littleton Council Member Susan Thornton (left) joins new Denver Botanic Gardens Executive
Director Brian Vogt (center) and Littleton Mayor Jim Taylor at the kickoff for the Original Shopping
Districts February 7 at Town Hall Arts Center. The city provided assistance organizing the group
which includes Historic Downtown Littleton, Old South Pearl Street, Old South Gaylord Street and
Olde Town Arvada restaurants and retailers.
New lighting regulations go into effect in January 2008
New regulations to help eliminate unnecessary glare and light
spillover will go into effect in
January, 2008. The new outdoor
lighting requirements will help preserve the nighttime environment
by reducing light pollution, glare,
and light trespass onto neighboring property. The ordinance was
adopted by city council January
7, 2003, and allowed a five-year
period for all commercial, industrial and residential properties to
conform to the new code. That
five-year period comes to a close in
just nine months. At the time the
regulation was adopted, commercial property owners were mailed
a copy of the ordinance. Articles
also appeared in the Littleton Report.
All new development since 2003
complies with the regulations. The
main points are:
1. Fully-shielded fixtures are
required for all uses when a
lamp, rated at more than 2,000
lumens initial output, is used.
These fixtures reduce light
projecting above the horizontal
plane into the night sky and
onto neighboring property.
This requirement also reduces
glare commonly associated
with fixtures that are not fully
shielded. All single-family,
duplex and tri-plex properties
are allowed 6,000 lumens per
lot, and should not be affected
by these regulations. Light
bulbs have different lumen
output which is included on the
packaging for the bulb. Four
floodlights at 1,500 lumens
would equal the allowed 6,000
lumens. At 1,500 lumens, the
floodlight does not need to be
fully shielded.
2. There is a maximum amount of
lumens allowed on commercial,
industrial and multi-family (with
four or more units) properties.
This allows enough lumens to
meet industry standards for
safety, while providing a cut-off
point to prevent excess lighting.
3. Car dealerships and gas station
canopies within the city are
included. Car dealerships can
define 30 percent of their site
as display area and illuminate
that area up to 35 foot-candles
(maximum) while limiting light
trespass and using fully shielded
fixtures. Gas station canopies
are specifically addressed by
requiring fully shielded (flat
lens) fixtures and placing a maximum illumination level allowed
underneath the canopy.
4. The ordinance has an exemption for decorative light fixtures
similar to the “Sternberg” lights
located around the city. The
ordinance allows decorative
fixtures with a maximum lamp
output of 6,000 lumens.
5. There are some exemptions
from the lighting regulations,
including lighting for flagpoles,
monuments and outdoor recreation facilities, such as ball
fields.
For more information contact
Kevin Wrede, senior planner, at
303-795-3748.
Downtown Littleton’s Bega Park proposed as Historic Landmark
The one-acre park that anchors
the east end of Main and Alamo
Streets, known as Bega Park, is
regarded by many as an icon. It is
an outstanding jewel of shade trees
and landscaping that has provided a
unique entrance into historic downtown Littleton since 1895.
Bega Park has had several names
in its 110-year history. For many
years it was known as Rio Grande
Park, because the city leased it from
the Rio Grande Railroad for $1 per
year. Bega Park became the official
name in 1973 in honor of the first
sister city relationship between
Australia and the U.S. Each of the
countries’ flags are flown on national
recognition days.
In its early years, the park
included a children’s playground.
Later, the city’s first log school
house was moved to the park before
finding a permanent home at the
Littleton Historical Museum, and
the Santa Fe Depot was at the park
before relocating to Powers Avenue
for use as a fine arts gallery. More
recently, the park has served as a
focal point for events between Australia and the U.S. and is a key venue
for Western Welcome Week activities. The park is managed by South
Suburban Parks and Recreation.
Designation of the park as a
historic landmark will ensure this
special place of serenity and historic
significance is permanently preserved. The city council is expected
to consider the designation in
April.
Orientation scheduled for interested city council candidates
Have you ever wondered what
a day in the life of a city council member is like? What are a
city council member’s duties and
responsibilities? What forms are
required of citizens interested in
running for a city council seat? If
these questions have crossed your
mind, attend an orientation session
on Wednesday, April 25 at 7 p.m. in
the community room of the Littleton Center to find out more.
The City of Littleton will have
a municipal election on November 6 where voters will cast their
votes for four city council seats
(Districts II and IV, one two-year
at-large seat, and one four-year
at-large seat). Council members
and city staff will help prospective
candidates understand more about
the role of city council in local
government management.
The Littleton Center is located
at 2255 West Ber r y Avenue.
Refreshments will be served. For
more information about the election or the orientation, call 303795-3753.
LITTLETON HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Adventures in History returns to
the Littleton Historical Museum
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, taking care of livestock, cooking and completing
19th century craft projects.
Adventures in History is a week-long program, and daily sessions run
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The program will be offered during the weeks of
June 11-15, July 9-13, and August 6-10. Registration is open to students
who are entering the fourth, fifth, or sixth grade in the fall. Cost for
the program is $90 per child. Registration is limited to 20 children per
week, and is open only to City of Littleton residents and members of
the Friends of the Littleton Library and Museum. Preference will be
given to applicants that have not previously participated in Adventures
in History.
The Littleton Historical Museum will accept hand-delivered registration forms from April 9 through May 7. All other registrations must be
postmarked by May 7. Please include a copy of a parent or guardian’s
valid driver’s license along with a completed registration form. All applications will be entered into a drawing and participants will be randomly
chosen. Participants accepted to the program will be informed by May
15. For more information call 303-795-3950.
April 2007 • Page 3
Adventures in History Registration Form
Are you a member of the Friends of the Littleton Library and Museum?
❏ yes ❏ no
Has your child participated in Adventures in History in the past?
❏ yes ❏ no
Youth’s Name:____________________________________________ Grade (in Fall):__________
School:________________________________________________________________________
Name of Parent/Guardian:__________________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________________________________________
City/State/ZIP:___________________________________________________________________
Phone #:_______________________________________________________________________
Select weeks of June 11-15, July 9-13, or August 6-10.
Week of choice:_________________________
2nd choice___________________________
Mail the completed registration and proof of City of Littleton residency postmarked by May 7 to:
Littleton Historical Museum • 6028 S. Gallup St. • Littleton, CO 80120 • Information: 303-795-3950
Paper Cuts: the Art of Contemporary Paper, among upcoming events at the museum
Thursday, April 5
7 p.m. First Thursday Lecture
by Floramae McCarron-Cates,
associate curator drawings,
prints and graphic design at the
Cooper-Hewitt National Design
Museum, Smithsonian Institution. McCarron-Cates will speak
on the Saga of the American
West in Prints. Tickets are $5
for general public; $4 for Friends
of the Littleton Library and
Museum (FOLM) members and
are available at the front desk.
Saturday, April 7
7 p.m. Jazz appreciation
lecture and concert by Loren
Schoenberg and Friends.
Schoenberg is the executive
director of the Jazz Museum in
Harlem and is a leading jazz historian, advocate and performer
who has won two Grammys and
serves on the faculty of Julliard’s
Institute for Jazz Concert. Free
concert, no tickets required.
Wednesday, April 11
7 p.m. Sally Perisho Fine
Arts Committee lecture.
From Pompeii to Picasso,
Understanding Art Part
II on Three Dimensional
Art. Utilizing important
and recognized works in
the history of art, Perisho’s
slide lecture stimulates thought
about art past and present by
providing a broad overview of
the history of art. Tickets are $3
each, no limit and are available at
the front desk.
Thursday, May 3
7 p.m. First Thursday Lecture, Hope Diamond: The Legendary History of a
Cursed Gem by
Richard Kurin.
Dr. Kurin is
the director
of the Smithsonian Center
for Folk Life
and Cultural
Heritage. Tickets
are $5 for general public;
$4 for FOLM members.
Tuesday, May 22
Opening of traveling exhibition: Paper Cuts: the Art of
Contemporary Paper, a traveling exhibit which will remain
through June 20 in the Fine Arts
Gallery.
Paper is a contradictory
material. At once transient
and enduring, delicate and
strong, it can act as a filter
or as a barrier. There is
virtually no limit to what
paper can do and how it
can be manipulated. Because it
is generally inexpensive and easy
to find, it invites exploration and
experimentation and is therefore
an ideal medium for artistic
expression.
Paper making and paper-
based art have experienced a
resurgence in popularity over
the past 20 years. Artists use
paper in innovative and exciting ways, sometimes combining
traditional techniques with
non-traditional materials
and processes to create
everything from utilitarian objects, such as handmade stationery, to fine art
sculptures.
The exhibition consists
of 40 objects made with paper
by approximately 25 American
artists.
The museum’s summer
concert series starts June 6.
GENERAL NEWS
Littleton Immigrant Integration Initiative encourages citizenship
Volunteers with the Littleton
Immigrant Integration Initiative
are helping immigrants become
new Americans. More than 40
Littleton citizens have volunteered
to help immigrants study for
their naturalization exam, and 19
immigrant/mentor pairs are currently studying at Bemis Public
Library. This one-on-one mentoring program is so successful that
the federal Office of Citizenship,
the agency charged with conducting citizenship examinations, calls
Littleton the national model. In
fact, in a first-time-ever event, that
agency will administer the oath of
office to immigrants in the program, as a group, at the library.
The Initiative, which is funded
by a grant from The Colorado
Trust, is seeing a dramatic increase
in the numbers of immigrants and
refugees contacting the One-Stop
Information Center at Bemis
Library. In addition, Englishas-a-Second-Language classes at
Bemis, which are co-sponsored by
the Initiative and Littleton Public
Schools, are filled to capacity, and
the CareVan, which is sponsored
by ACS Community LIFT and
uses volunteer doctors and nurses
to provide basic health care for
the uninsured, sees upward of
30 people each Monday evening
at the library.
On March 24, the Initiative
sponsored a free health education
event focused on diabetes and
healthy eating. Information nights
for immigrant parents will be held
April 18 and 25 at Littleton High
School, and an International Day
celebration will be held April 12
at Arapahoe Community College
(ACC) from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. with
food, artifacts, music and dancing
from 20 countries. Other planned
activities include a fall Resource
Fair, and a number of events in
cooperation with ACC’s Diversity
Council.
Numerous volunteer opportunities are available to help newcomers to the community. For
example, the Initiative’s “Friends”
mentoring program connects
immigrants and long-term residents to learn about each others’
cultures. Other opportunities
include volunteering at the OneStop Information Center, assisting with health workshops, “talking English” with immigrants
who are learning the language,
and interpreting or translating (if
you have special language skills).
To learn more about the Initiative, visit www.ConnectingImmigrants.org, or contact Alejandra
Harguth, one-stop information
center coordinator, at 303-7953961, or Daiga Keller, health
and wellness coordinator, at 720891-3273.
For more information call 303-795-3744 or 303-795-3831.
KEEP LITTLETON
BEAUTIFUL!
T
he “Keep Littleton Beautiful” summer
cleanup program will begin taking calls
May 21; call 303-795-3744 to schedule an
appointment for a crew to come to your home
and haul away your unwanted items! The city
will continue to schedule pickups until all time
slots are full, so call early to assure a pickup
time. The program ends in early August.
T
he city will pick up items such as old appliances, used tires (four per household),
discarded furniture, refrigerators, stoves,
dishwashers, and other hard to dispose of
objects that your regular trash hauler will not
accept. Tree branches will be accepted as long
as they are cut into four-foot lengths.
LITTLETON FIRE RESCUE
April 2007 • Page 4
Portrait honoring Captain Tom Rybolt donated to Station 13
Education Outreach programs successful
Donna Rybolt, wife of deceased
Littleton Fire Rescue (LFR) Captain Tom Rybolt, donated a portrait
of Tom to Fire Station 13 March
12. Captain Rybolt died of a heart
attack on July 31, 2006. Station 13
was Tom’s station for several years.
“Tom lives on in every one of us.
Those he worked with, those he
trained, and those who were at the
end of his practical jokes,” said
LFR Operations Chief Roland
Seno during the presentation.
The portrait was originally a black
and white photograph that was
done as a promotional ad for the
Gates Rubber Company. Rybolt’s
children enlisted artist Rob Wood
to recreate the portrait as a color
impression piece. A reprint was
given to the captain of Fire Station 13 where it will forever be
displayed as a tribute to one of
Littleton’s finest.
Littleton Fire Rescue (LFR) personnel do more than respond to
fires, accidents, and illnesses. They also spend a lot of time on prevention through Life Safety Education tours, special events and classes.
A total of 33,000 people took advantage of these programs in 2006!
2006 RESULTS
Station tours
108
Apparatus tours
172
Life safety education classes
Hazard House classes
22 (2600 people)
Characterization programs
10 (3,655 people)
Fire extinguisher training
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 a graduation ceremony. “The Mini-Fire Academy
is an excellent opportunity for kids
to experience what it would be like
to be a firefighter, while learning
important safety messages,” said
Katie Moore, life safety educator
for LFR.
LFR is providing two sessions
of the Mini Fire Academy and
enrollment for both sessions is
now open. The first session runs
from June 25-28, and the second
session is July 16-19. Class is
from 9 a.m. until noon each day.
Space is limited to 25 students per
session.
Parents will be responsible
for transporting their children to
either Fire Station 18 in Highlands
Ranch or the Metro Fire Training Center in Littleton each of
the four days. Children will be
asked to bring their bicycles and
appropriate safety gear to class
one day.
You can enroll by calling Moore
at 303-795-3833.
Littleton Fire Rescue studying new lifesaving device
Littleton
Fire Rescue
(LFR) is conducting a threemonth study of
the Revivant AutoPulse. It is a batteryoperated device that produces artificial circulation by the timed constriction of a band that surrounds
the chest. The current standard of
artificial circulation is Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), the
skill of manually compressing the
chest at the breastbone. Numerous studies have identified that
accomplishing the ideal standard
for artificial circulation is difficult
while performing CPR in the field.
The skill is exhausting, difficult
to do while moving patients, and
there are numerous risks to the
rescuers such as riding unbelted
in an emergent ambulance.
The device was put into
operation at Fire Station 11 and
operated by the crews on Medic
11. It was first used November
7, 2006, and has been used multiple times since. The device has
operated as advertised and along
with the changes to the cardiac
arrest protocols implemented in
2006, the results are encouraging.
While the numbers at present
are too small to draw definitive
conclusions, Emergency Medical
Service Captain Guy Bull says, “In
every case that capnometry values
(exhaled carbon dioxide gas) were
captured, there is clear evidence
that the Auto Pulse produces good
circulation and resulting perfusion. The values are as good as
manual CPR performed by expert
crews.”
LFR Paramedic Mark Moran
said, “I have used this machine
three times and have become a
true believer. If used in conjunction with the new two minute CPR
protocol, I am sure we will see a
huge surge in our return of spontaneous circulation cases.”
Survival from cardiac arrest
is low, about five percent nationwide, even with quick response
and well trained rescue crews.
LFR responds to approximately
100 cardiac arrests per year, and
last year there were seven “walk
away” cardiac arrest saves.
CPAP system being used by Littleton Fire Rescue
The Boussignac Continuous Positive Airway
Pressure (CPAP)
system provides
an important treatment option to the
most critical respiratory distress
patients. These devices are a new
treatment that has never been
available in the field setting before.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure treats almost every form of
shortness of breath by expanding the lungs and forcing more
oxygen in. The Boussignac design
is inexpensive, safe, easy to train
on, and quick to implement. The
patient feels the improvement
instantly which greatly improves
the management of these difficult
cases. While administering this
therapy, paramedics are able to
add a breathing treatment such
as albuterol and monitor exhaled
carbon dioxide gas.
Within 48 hours of putting this
device in service, LFR crews used
the CPAP device to treat a 77 yearold with a sudden onset of severe
shortness of breath. The patient
responded to the treatment and
was in improved condition upon
arrival at the hospital 20 minutes
later.
While the device itself is very
easy to use, the biggest challenge
is trying to calm the patient down
and coach him/her on how to use
it. Usually, the last thing someone
who is having difficulty breathing
wants is a mask secured to their
face. Once the mask is in place,
rapid improvement in respiration
and ventilation is usually observed.
From October 15, 2006 to the end
of February 2007, LFR paramedics used the new device on 17
patients.
7 (200 people)
Safety trailer events/classes
18 (1,595 people)
LFR serves the citizens of the City of Littleton, the Highlands
Ranch Metro District and the Littleton Fire Protection District.
This area covers approximately 80-square-miles and nearly 250,000
people.
Class topics include: general fire safety, 9-1-1 education, getting
ready to be in charge, kitchen safety, summer safety, bike safety, senior
safety, teen driving, juvenile fire setter education and much more. For
further information, call 303-795-3800.
LFR water rescue team dives into safety
LFR’s Mini Fire Academy returning for 2007
When you ask a child what
he or she wants to be when they
grow up, a common response is “a
firefighter.” To give kids a glimpse
of what that would be like and to
teach safety, Littleton Fire Rescue
(LFR) is offering the Kids’ Mini
Fire Academy for the 6th consecutive summer.
The academy is a four-day
event for children 8-12 years-old
living within the Littleton Fire
Rescue coverage area. The cost
is $10 per child. The Academy
includes hands-on activities about
fire safety, bike safety, using 9-
196 (10,110 people)
spread the message of water safety.
As summer approaches, look for
Stewie in a location near you, and
remember these important water
safety messages:
Littleton Fire Rescue’s Water
Rescue Team is on board to teach
citizens about the importance
of water safety. Members of
the team will go into elementary
school classrooms this spring with
“Stewie the Duck” to help students learn key water safety messages. Stewie the Duck is featured
in a picture book as well as a musical cd featuring safety songs. The
Water Rescue Team will also partner with local libraries, recreation
centers, and Chatfield State Park to
• Children should always be
closely supervised by an adult
when in or near water.
• Teach children to swim at an
early age.
• Personal Flotation Devices
(PFDs) should always be worn
when boating. Life jackets
float, you don’t!
• Never dive into a river, lake or
ocean.
LITTLETON HOUSING AUTHORITY
LHA receives high marks after inspections
The Department of Housing
and Urban Development Real
Estate Assessment Center (REAC)
conducted physical inspections on
all three Littleton Housing Authority public housing developments
January 31-February 1, 2007. Five
areas were assessed during the
inspection namely site, common
areas, building systems, building
exteriors and units.
Bradley House, located at 5844
South Datura Street, received 100
percent. This marks the second
100 percent at Bradley House. No
physical observations were noted
during the inspection. A total of 20
out of 71 units were inspected.
Family public housing is divided
into two developments. One development received 100 percent and
the other received a 99.9 percent.
A total of 31 out of 71 units were
inspected.
Dan Burnham, executive director, stated, “Our goal is always high
marks as we receive bonus dollars
in our Capital Fund Program for
scores over 90. What makes these
scores exceptional is that our buildings are 30 years-old and on scattered sites. Our maintenance staff
work long and hard making sure the
homes and apartments are kept in
exceptional condition, which has
definitely attributed to our success
with REAC.”
Housing rehab loan program available now
The Littleton Housing Authority Rehab Program has immediate
funds available for home renovation needed to bring a home up
to current housing standards and
codes. Loans are available at six
percent and can be tailor-made to
fit a budget. In some cases, partial
or full grants may be available.
The maximum loan is $25,000.
Homeowners must meet income
guidelines to be eligible for the
program.
Examples of renovation
include, but are not limited to,
energy conservation including
new furnaces, siding or windows,
electrical or plumbing upgrades,
roof replacement, gutters, cement
repair, and bathroom accessibility.
Kimberly Kingston, rehab
coordinator, is available to meet
with homeowners to determine
their needs, provide guidance,
and offer suggestions. For more
information about the Littleton
Housing Authority Rehab Program, to receive an application or
to schedule an appointment, call
303-991-5301.
LITTLETON POLICE DEPARTMENT
April 2007 • Page 5
Citizen requests for service climbing
T he Littleton
Police Department
(LPD) continues to
see citizen requests
for its ser vices
increase. When a
citizen calls the police
and requests an officer response,
a “call for service” (CFS) number
is assigned. These numbers are
tracked, giving the department the
ability to analyze the data. The
data analysis allows LPD to gather
information regarding CFSs.
In 2002, there were 31,694
requests by citizens for police
response. By 2006, that number
had increased to 34,429, representing a nearly nine percent increase.
Add to this the yearly average of
27,088 officer initiated calls, and it
is clear that LPD stays busy. (Officer initiated calls are calls where the
officer sees something or someone
suspicious and investigates).
Another more positive trend
witnessed by LPD is a decrease in
what are known as “Part 1 crimes.”
Part 1 crimes, as defined by the
FBI, include homicide, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, theft, motor
vehicle theft, and arson. Part 1
crimes in Littleton dropped from
a five-year high in 2005 of 1,847 to
a low of 1,539 in 2006.
What does all this mean? It
means that despite an increase in
call load, in sometimes very adverse
conditions, the community, in
many ways, is safer today than it
has ever been.
Littleton Police Department holds awards luncheon
Greg Bohlen
On February 28, the Littleton
Police Department (LPD) held its
annual awards luncheon. More
than 100 awards were given to
both sworn and civilian employees. The awards ranged from unit
citations and commendations to
the Medal of Valor. The Medal
of Valor is one that is awarded
to officers who have been in a
situation that presents an extreme
risk to their lives. Additionally,
a Purple Heart was awarded to
an officer who sustained a serious injury while performing his
duties.
At the awards luncheon, Ser-
John Jones
geant Greg Bohlen and former
Littleton Officer Chet Neal (who
is now a Denver Police Officer)
were each awarded the Medal of
Valor for their acts during the
Columbine High School tragedy
in 1999. It was a recent change
in the awards policy of the police
department that allowed them to
receive this high and distinctive
honor. Also retroactively, Officer
John Jones was awarded a Purple
Heart for sustaining a serious,
career threatening shoulder injury
while trying to break up a bar
fight. He has since made a full
recovery and is back working the
James Fountain
street in the patrol division. Officer James Fountain was awarded
the Medal of Valor as well, for his
response to, and handling of, an
armed man at a bar.
Police officers are placed at
risk every day, and are regularly
called upon to perform tasks that
nobody else is willing or equipped
to do. However, they regularly
step above the call of duty and
perfor m in an extraordinary
manner. The LPD makes every
effort to recognize those employees that do something extra for
the community and those they
serve.
Construction begins on new police holding cells
Several years ago, the Littleton
Police Department decommissioned its holding cells. Recognizing that having functional prisoner
holding and processing facilities is
imperative for community and officer safety,
the police department
moved the renovation
of the area to the top of
its priority list. Last year,
during the 2007 budget
process, City Manager
Jim Woods requested
city council approval
to move forward with
the renovations and city
council agreed.
After assessing the
department’s needs and the limitations of the area that was available
for renovation, several members
of the department went to other
agencies and looked at variations
of cells and processing areas.
Building jails is a highly specialized construction process. The city
chose Sierra Steel, which has done
a number of projects throughout Colorado, to do the project.
Demolition of the existing area
began in February. The project is
scheduled to be completed in May
of 2007. The reconstruction job
is an extensive one, involving a
complete demolition of the existing area, new plumbing, electrical,
and reconstruction of the cells
using modular, concrete filled
steel walls.
Ultimately, there will be three
holding cells, with a room available
for the processing of DUI arrests.
One of these cells which will be
located in the DUI processing
room, will allow for sight
and sound separation of
juvenile detainees, as is
required by federal law.
One great feature of the
new prisoner processing
area will be the addition of
an AFIS station. AFIS is
an Automated Fingerprint
Identification System that
will allow instant access
to a nationwide fingerprint database. When this
project is complete, the
Littleton Police Department will
have, within the footprint of the
old processing area, a prisoner
processing and holding area that
will contribute greatly to the safety
of the community and police
officers.
Cops to host junior police academy
The Littleton Police Department (LPD) and Arapahoe Community College will sponsor a Junior
Police Academy from June 25-29,
2007. The academy accepts students
of middle school age (6th thru 8th
grades).
Students will learn self defense
and arrest control, firearms safety,
evidence collection, SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) and
other topics of instruction. All
topics are “hands on” activities
and are designed to teach students
the skills of the law enforcement
profession.
On the last day of the academy,
students will receive a certificate,
class photo and LPD patch. Family
and friends are invited to the graduation ceremony and will have the
opportunity to view vehicles and
equipment used by LPD.
Class size is limited.
For additional information,
contact the Academy Coordinator,
Officer Joe Ward at 303-795-3743.
LPD announces online accident reporting
To make the reporting of minor
auto accidents easier and more
convenient, the Littleton Police
Department (LPD) is referring
citizens to an online accident
reporting system. As of March
15, the LPD stopped taking overthe-counter accident reports on a
walk-in basis. Now, when a driver
has been involved in an accident
in the City of Littleton, they can
go to https://crash.state.co.us
within 30 days to file an accident
report. This method may be used
if the drivers have been directed
by a law enforcement official to
file a “Counter Report” or if an
“Accident Alert” was in effect at
the time of the accident. Criteria
for using the website to file a report,
as required by the Colorado State
Patrol, is as follows:
• No fatality or injury requiring
medical attention was sustained
by any person(s) involved in the
accident, and;
• The accident is not an alleged
hit and run, and;
• The accident does not involve
damage to any public property
other than wildlife, and;
• No drivers involved in the accident are suspected of driving
under the influence of alcohol
or drugs, or have insurance or
driver’s license violations.
The report can be filed using
any computer with Internet access.
If the citizen does not have a home
computer, most local libraries have
free Internet access.
CALEA accreditation completed
The Littleton Police Department
(LPD) is now fully accredited, becoming the smallest of only ten police
agencies in Colorado to receive the
prestigious designation.
For several years, the LPD worked
to become nationally accredited by
the Commission for the Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies
(CALEA), an organization comprised
of police executives from around
the country. CALEA has more than
400 standards that law enforcement
agencies must adhere to in order to
become nationally accredited. In
December, 2005, the LPD achieved
conditional accreditation. This meant
the LPD was accredited in all areas
except one: evidence handling and
storage, due to the lack of sufficient
storage and processing space. Over
the next year, the LPD brought that
area up to standard with a new computer system (to make the handling
of evidence more efficient), improved
procedures, and better space management, including external, alarmed,
secure, storage areas. An inspection
by CALEA in November 2006 was
met with approval.
On March 17, members of
the LPD, including Interim Chief
Bruce Beckman, went to the national
CALEA conference, where a report
was presented to a hearing committee
showing proof of compliance.
GENERAL NEWS
awards and
recognition
April 2007 • Page 6
Littleton named top 100 best fleets in North America
Kudos from GLYI to Littleton Fire Rescue
Greater Littleton Youth Initiative (GLYI) members presented
Littleton Fire Rescue firefighters with a plaque of appreciation at
their fourth annual appreciation dinner. Firefighters were honored
for teaming up with LPS middle school instructors to co-teach the
LifeSkills Training (LST) Blueprint Program, an alcohol/substance
abuse prevention/social skill building program. The GLYI is a large
community collaboration with members representing municipalities, education, law enforcement, recreation, business, neighbors
and parents.
LST is one of six nationally recognized Blueprint Programs
that the GLYI has implemented/and or supported in the Littleton community since its formation in 1999 following the tragedy
at Columbine High School. Firefighters were instrumental with
program implementation in 2001 with 18 initial volunteers. Today,
approximately six volunteers remain. Firefighters have volunteered
weekly since the program’s inception.
South Platte Park offering
a variety of spring activities
OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAM JAMBOREE!
Come by the Open House at the Carson Nature Center and visit with staff
and contractors. Meet instructors and trip leaders, learn more about the
fun adventures offered from sailing, canoeing, and kayaking, to horseback
riding, hiking and more. Refreshments and door prizes!
Apr 14 • Sa • 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. • Fee: FREE!
FAMILY PROGRAMS
Skip the movies and have a WILD adventure together. All ages welcome.
Fee each class: $9 adults, $7 youth* ($6 adults, $6 youth* district rate).
Family rates each class: $25 ($17 district rate) for family members with
same last name or address
HIKES
SIGNS OF SPRING
Discover open space as it bursts into spring time
splendor–migrating birds, budding plants and early
flowers.
#672761 • Apr 21 • Sa • 2-3:30 p.m.
EVENING BIRD WALK
Join a naturalist to practice your birding skills looking for songbirds in the
forest. Ages 10* to adult.
#675261 May 17 • Th • 5:30-8 p.m.
Fee: $9 adults, $7 youth* ($6 adults, $5 youth* district rate)
BEGINNING BIRDING SKILLS
Practice using field guides, binoculars and observing
birds to get started in this easy hobby. Ages 10* to adult.
#675251• May 10 • Th • 5:30-8 p.m.
Fee: $9 adults, $7 youth* ($6 adults, $5 youth district rate)
MORE BIRDING SKILLS
Build your skills or add to previous experience with
a discussion and hike focused on using behavior,
calls and field marks to identify birds. Ages 10*
to adult.
#675271 May 24 • Th • 5:30-8 p.m.
Fee: $9 adults, $7 youth* ($6 adults, $5 youth* district rate)
HIKES
AWESOME ANTS
Bring those ant-loving kids to watch hives in action.
#672771 May 19 • Sa • 2-3:30 p.m.
FRIDAY NIGHT CAMPFIRES
Roast marshmallows, enjoy naturalist entertainment and delight in a flickering campfire right in the heart of Littleton! All ages.
#672981 Constellations • May 25 • F • 8:30-10 p.m.
HOMESCHOOL SCIENCE DAY
Discover Plants
Homeschoolers take advantage of time scheduled for kids to experience
naturalist-guided programs that usually require larger classroom numbers.
Visit www.sspr.org for curriculum and logistics. Focus will be for grades
K-4.
#672321
May 29 Tu
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
#672331
May 29 Tu
1-3 p.m.
Fee: $4 ($3 district rate)
All programs meet at the Solar House classroom next to the Carson Nature
Center at 3000 W. Carson Drive, Littleton, CO 80120 (north of Mineral,
west of Santa Fe) in the park. For more information call 303-730-1022
or visit www.sspr.org.
*Youth 16 and under must be accompanied by a registered adult.
Fleet Equipment Magazine has
named the City of Littleton Fleet
Division one of the 100 Best Fleets
in North America.
A panel of experts with 100
years combined experience put
together the 12 criteria for the
award. These criteria are considered the drivers of excellence in
any fleet operation. The judges
were from Laird Consulting in
Houston, Fleet Counselor Services
in Phoenix and the 100 Best Fleets
Corp. in San Francisco.
The seven employees in Littleton’s Fleet Division are responsible
for the acquisition, maintenance
and repair of more than 300 vehicles, including 21-ton fire engines,
snow plows, dump trucks, police
cars and passenger vehicles as well
as management of a fuel facility.
Littleton’s fleet has been at the
forefront of the “green” movement. Delivery is expected in
April of three 2007 Ford Escape
hybrid vehicles. These cars are
half electric/half gas, clean burning and have improved mileage
over conventional vehicles. They
will be used by code and parking
enforcement employees as well as
the engineering division. While
hybrids are more expensive than
non-hybrids, the federal govern-
ment provides nearly $1,000 in tax
incentives for their purchase.
The city’s fleet has been using
bio-diesel fuel for more than 18
months. A 20 percent mixture
(B20) is used most of the time,
but it is reduced to a ten percent
mixture (B10) in the winter. A
rebate is received from the federal
government for each gallon of biodiesel used, making the cost almost
equal to that of petroleum-based
diesel fuel.
In addition, the City of Littleton Fleet Division is looking to
develop an E85 fueling facility.
The city has issued Requests For
Proposal’s for the construction of
fuel tank and dispensing equipment
for the city’s “flex fuel” vehicles.
The Fleet Division hopes to take
advantage of federal and state tax
credits for the installation of this
equipment, along with funding
from the Governor’s Office of
Energy Management and Colorado
Corn. Littleton’s Fleet Division is
anticipating selling E85 to other
local government agencies.
E-85 is a blend of 85 percent
ethanol and 15 percent unleaded
gasoline. The city owns 30 of these
vehicles, primarily the Littleton
Police Department’s Tahoe’s. The
fuel is a renewable energy source
and is produced primarily from
corn. E85 is very clean burning
and has a high octane content so
engines perform very well on it.
The Fleet Division is also participating in a grant with the Environmental Protection Agency
through the Regional Air Quality
Council. This $40,000 grant will
allow the retrofitting of 15 older
diesel engines with devices that
help reduce the output of harmful
emissions.
Criteria for the 100 Best Fleets
Award included: promoting everincreasing levels of productivity
and operational effectiveness, promoting pride in the industry and
providing national recognition,
and encouraging more individuals
to consider fleet operations as a
career choice.
The selections were based on
applications, site visits, peer reviews
and other national recognitions.
The judges looked for honest
assessments of situations at hand
and work toward improvement in
the areas that can be controlled in
fleet operations.
The emphasis was on measuring where the fleet began and where
it aspired to go. The battle cry of all
100 fleets was continuous improvement and ongoing education.
CAC drafts set of goals for comprehensive plan
The 23-member Littleton 2030
Citizen Advisory Committee
(CAC) has been meeting since
March, 2006. Appointed by the
planning commission to help
update the city’s comprehensive
plan, the CAC spent its first eight
months gathering and absorbing
information about the community,
community issues, and potential
trends. The CAC and planning
commission have spent the last
four months focusing on developing a set of goals and policies
that reflect that information and
address the community issues.
The draft set of goals and
policies developed by the CAC
and planning commission respond
to the issues identified in a series
of five public meetings that were
co-sponsored by the CAC and
planning commission. As part of
the first four of those meetings,
the public categorized issues as
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, recognizing that
issues may have either positive or
negative implications. At the fifth
public meeting, the public participated in a visioning exercise in
which they identified areas that are
currently experiencing significant
change or may at some time in the
future undergo significant change,
areas in which they anticipate
only minimal change, and areas
and corridors that have or in the
future may have a significant concentration of retail, cultural, or
recreational activity.
To provide additional background information that could be
used in the discussions of how
to address the identified issues,
the CAC and planning commission have co-sponsored three
public information sessions. At
these sessions, experts provided
background on real estate trends;
residential and commercial development strategies and processes;
the Denver Regional Council of
Governments (DRCOG) and
its regional planning efforts; the
programs, facilities, and plans of
the South Suburban Parks and
Recreation District; annexation
procedures; and the demographic
study and enrollment forecast for
Littleton Public Schools.
The CAC and planning commission will present the draft
goals and policies at their sixth
public meeting, which is tentatively
scheduled for April 12, starting at
7 p.m. in the city council chamber. Everyone interested in the
future of Littleton is encouraged
to attend.
Confirmation of that date,
time, and location and additional
information about the CAC, the
planning process, the draft products, and future meetings can be
found on the city’s website, www.
littletongov.org under the heading
Littleton 2030 or by emailing or
calling the city’s Long Range Planner, Dennis Swain, at dswain@
littletongov.org or 303-795-3755.
BEMIS PUBLIC LIBRARY
April 2007 • Page 7
Dr. Colorado, Tom Noel to lecture at Bemis Public Library
Musical Moments in Sophie’s Place
Relax with a smoothie or glass of lemonade
while listening to music in Sophie’s Place. Monthly
performances feature a variety of musical talent
from Littleton and the Denver metro area. On
April 14 from 2-3 p.m., celebrate Jazz Appreciation
Month with the Julie Quartet, featuring jazz guitar,
bass, mandolin and vocalist Julie Gussaroff. The
group’s music is a mix of different swing styles from
Bob Wills to Duke Ellington. On May 16 from 2-3
p.m., enjoy a lively performance of polka favorites
with the Tom Allan Grengs Polka Band. Guitarist and
singer Gregg Green entertains with popular songs
of the seventies on June 11 from 2-3 p.m.
Celebrate National Library Week
Bemis is joining libraries around the country
in celebrating National Library Week from April
15-21. The theme for the week is “Come Together
@ Your Library.” Adults can stop by the library and
write a paragraph about a favorite book and receive
a free book of their choice or a “magic bean” seed,
which, when planted, will grow with a special message from the library! Children may draw a picture
instead. This program is for all ages.
Tales of the South Platte River
with Dr. Colorado, Tom Noel
Well-known Colorado historian Tom Noel will
inform and entertain with historical tales of the
South Platte River April 25 at 7 p.m. Noel will trace
the Platte’s history from the time of the Indians
and fur traders to the gold rush days and the river’s
current renaissance. Settlements that developed
along the South Platte River, particularly Littleton,
will also be featured in the presentation. The Platte
was once described by Mark Twain as a “miserable
excuse for a river,” but is now a place of beauty and
recreation, enjoyed by many people in Colorado.
Copies of Noel’s recent books will be available for
purchase and signing.
Do You Own a Valuable Book?
Is there a rare book in your home that may
be a collector’s item? Robert Topp owner of the
Hermitage Antiquarian Bookshop in Cherry Creek,
will talk about determining the value of books May
8 at 7 p.m. Topp has many years of experience in
evaluating collectible books and he will give some
tips on the art of collecting as well as tell about book
treasures he has discovered. Bring a rare book and
Topp will do a quick appraisal at the program.
Genealogy Research Night
Interested in your family tree? Get help with
using the library’s extensive genealogy collection
May 11 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Assistance with using
online genealogy databases will be provided. This
event is sponsored by the Columbine Genealogical
and Historical Society.
Beauty on a Budget
Save money but still look fabulous! Image
consultant and beauty expert Patti Duncan will
give tips and advice on purchasing great makeup
products without hurting your checking account
May 12 from 2-3 p.m. Duncan has researched
products available at local drugstores versus
expensive department store cosmetics and
she has found that there are many inexpensive
products that provide excellent results. She also
will recommend a few household items that are
good to use for skincare.
Movie Event: a Night at the Museum
See the popular film A Night at the Museum
on the library’s big screen May 19 from 2-4 p.m.
When Larry Daley, a divorced father who can’t
seem to keep a job for more than a week applies
for a job at the Museum of Natural History, he
succeeds in getting a position as a night guard.
A seemingly easy job turns out to be a wild
ride, however, when he finds that an ancient
curse causes the “inhabitants” of the museum’s
exhibits to come to life each night. If the war
between the tiny models in the diorama room,
the mischievous monkey who keeps stealing
his keys, and a Tyrannosaurus Rex who wants
to play isn’t enough trouble, Larry discovers a
deviously clever plot to rob the museum and
frame him as the thief. The film stars Ben Stiller,
Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Rooney.
A Woman’s Life in Ancient Egypt
The role of women in ancient Egyptian
society is often a surprise since they enjoyed far
more rights and privileges than in other lands,
modern as well as ancient. Ted Snook, an educator from the Egyptian Study Society, will give
some insight into the lives of Egyptian women
June 5 at 7 p.m. Women in ancient Egyptian
society were allowed to own property, testify in
court and operate businesses. Snook will talk
about the everyday life of an Egyptian woman,
including home responsibilities, raising children,
intimate relationships, entertaining and more.
Typical food served in the ancient Egyptian
culture will be available for sampling.
Ultra Investing with Options
Learn the strategies that investors are using
to make profits in the world of options June
25 at 6:30 p.m. Paul Mladjenovic, a nationally-known seminar leader and author, will
show how to use options on stocks, indexes,
gold, oil and other commodities. With these
investments, you can make a small fortune
overnight, or if you’re not careful, lose one.
Mladjenovic has students and clients that
have turned $2,000 into $100,000 in under six
months. He will show how to minimize risks
and maximize gains. Learn safe strategies with
call and put options, speculate with as little as
$500, use options for either quick gains or a
steady income, and learn to use resources and
web sites to help track the markets and gain the
valuable information needed to succeed. Mladjenovic is the author of The Unofficial Guide to
Picking Stocks and Stock Investing for Dummies, and
has appeared on Bloomberg TV and CNBC,
and has been quoted in Nation’s Business, the
New York Times, and Barron’s.
Wrapped Up in Reading–May 29 is the start date for the 2007 Adult Summer Reading Program, Wrapped
Up in Reading. It will be the summer to get “wrapped up” in the allure of ancient Egypt. Register at the
information desk and receive a commemorative bookmark. It’s easy, just fill out a drawing slip for every
book you read or listen to. Also, participating in certain library activities will make you eligible for the
drawings held weekly and for the grand prize. Prizes include books, gift certificates to Sophie’s Place and
other Littleton merchants, trinkets reminiscent of ancient Egypt, and more. Wrapped up in Reading will
run through July 31.
New Downloadable Audiobook and Movie
Collections
Library patrons now have access to more
than 1,500 audiobooks through NetLibrary’s
downloadable eAudiobook collection. Audio
versions of bestsellers, book club favorites and
classic fiction titles can be downloaded to a
personal computer night or day. Also included in
the collection are Pimsleur language instruction
courses for 39 different languages. Titles may be
checked out online for three weeks. NetLibrary
eAudiobooks can be downloaded or played on
any home desktop, laptop or portable device
supporting Windows Media Player version 9 and
above. Note that iPods are not compatible with
this service. Downloadable movies, primarily
documentaries, are also available on the NetLibrary site. To access the online audiobook and
movie collections, go to bemis.sirsi.net and click
on “NetLibrary Downloads.”
Computer Classes
The following free computer classes will be
offered in the computer training lab on the lower
level of the library. Call 303-795-3961 to register
for a class, or stop by the reference desk.
Learn Internet Explorer: 9-10:30 a.m.
June 9
How to Search on the Internet: 9-10:30 a.m.
April 7, May 12 and June 13
How to Search in the Library: 9-10:30 a.m.
May 9
Introduction to Windows: 9-10:30 a.m.
April 11 and June 2
Introduction to Microsoft Word: 9-10:30 a.m.
April 21
Computer Comfort: 9-10:30 a.m. May 5
Email Basics: 9-10:30 a.m. April 14
Monday Evening Book
Discussion Group
If you enjoy talking about books, join the
Evening Book Group that meets the third Monday
at 7 p.m. The following books will be discussed in
upcoming sessions:
April 16: The Crazed by Ha Jin. Set during the
Tiananmen Square uprising of 1989, this novel
unites a prominent Chinese university professor
who suffers a brain injury and Jien Wen, a favorite
student and future son-in-law who becomes his
caretaker.
May 15: Part of the Furniture by Mary Wesley. A
lonely 17-year-old girl caught up in the London blitz
meets a man who dies. She searches out his family
home and finds contentment and love.
June 18: Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by
Dai Sijie. During the Chinese Cultural Revolution,
two boys are sent to the country for re-education.
Their lives take an unexpected turn when they meet
the beautiful daughter of a local tailor and stumble
upon forbidden works of Western literature.
continued on page 8...
GENERAL NEWS
Spring runoff brings increased flood danger for 2007
As the snow from winter melts
and signals the start of spring,
it also signals the start of flood
season. The flood season in Colorado generally runs from about
mid-April to mid-September.
Mountain snowpack is above
normal in the South Platte River
watershed, so an extended period
of spring runoff or higher flows
might occur along the Front Range.
In Littleton, however, there is little
threat to private property from
flooding on the river itself. A flood
along the South Platte River would
either be contained within the limits
of Littleton’s South Platte Park,
or the river channel through the
northern half of the city.
Flood severity is measured
in terms of probability. A 100year frequency has a one percent
chance of occurring in any given
year. Smaller floods have a higher
probability of occurring than larger
floods.
In Littleton, the cause of flooding is almost exclusively the result
of rapid runoff of water from
intense spring or summer rainstorms. There are numerous tributaries to the river such as Little’s
Creek, Slaughterhouse Gulch, Big
Dry Creek and others which have
potential to overflow their banks
and flood private property. Areas
subject to this type of flooding
from a 100-year frequency flood
have been designated as floodplains,
which have restrictions on building
or other land use activities that
might cause a threat to health or
safety. Some of the relatively older
sections of the city were developed
prior to designation of floodplains.
In these areas, houses, apartment
buildings, and businesses could be
flooded by one of these tributary
streams. Even properties not in a
floodplain could experience water
damage from poor site grading,
street overflows, or inadequately
sized storm drains.
Littleton participates in the
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which makes flood
insurance available to all property
owners. In 2006, Littleton was
recertified as a Class 7 community.
This rating makes flood insurance
premiums available at a 15 percent
discount to properties within the
floodplain, or a five percent discount to all others. To obtain flood
insurance, one should contact their
property insurance carrier. There
is a 30-day period after a policy is
written, before coverage becomes
effective.
For information about whether
a property might be within a floodplain, or for other information on
Littleton’s floodplain management
program, contact the Public Services Department.
Senior Refund Program returns for 2007
Since 1977, the Littleton City
Council has annually renewed its
Senior Refund Program, 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, 2006 and
resided within the city limits of
Littleton for the entire year of
2006.
Forms will be mailed in March
to those who have previously
received a refund.
Additional forms and information can be obtained from the City
of Littleton Finance Office, 2255
West Berry Avenue, or by calling
303-795-3764. The deadline for
filing is October 31, 2007.
City Council Workshop Report available
The 2007 City Council Workshop Report can now be accessed at www.
littletongov.org, or printed copies can be obtained at the Littleton Center, 2255
West Berry Avenue. For additional information call 303-795-3720.
BEMIS LIBRARY CONTINUED...
April 2007 • Page 8
Bemis Knitting Group
Knitters of all ages are invited to
the knitting group that meets Fridays at
2 p.m. in Sophie’s Place. Beginners can
learn skills such as casting on, knitting,
pearling, and casting off, while experienced knitters can get project ideas and
provide hints and tips for the rest of the
group. The group is working on creating mittens, scarves and hats for senior
library users in Bemis’ sister libraries in
Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.
April 23: A Child with Many Names.
Hear the story of the Orphan Trains,
which brought thousands of children
from orphanages to live with families
on farms throughout the Midwest
during the late 19th and early 20th
centuries.
SENIOR PROGRAMS
Senior Book Club
The senior book club meets the
first Monday of each month at 2 p.m.
Upcoming books:
June 25: The film Stargate starring
Kurt Russell. A scholar of ancient languages and hieroglyphics is recruited to
help the military penetrate the mystery
of a stone gateway which leads to
another universe.
May 7: Balzac and the Little Chinese
Seamstress by Dai Sijie.
May 28: Adventures in Hawaii. Photographer Ron Ruhoff presents a
photo-musical tour of the beautiful
Hawaiian landscape.
June 4: Ahab’s Wife: Or, the Star
Gazer by Sena Jeter Naslunch. This
book chronicles the life of Una Spenser
from daughter to lighthouse inhabitant
to whaler to wife, mother and friend.
Afternoon Art
All senior art and craft programs
begin at 2 p.m. the third Tuesday
of the month. Learn how to make
Marbleized Paper April 17, Scratch
Art May 15, and Etched Mirrors
June 19.
Afternoon Programs
Join the monthly programs geared
toward seniors. All programs start at 2
p.m. and include:
TEEN PROGRAMS
Bemis Anime Team (BAT)
Held the second Tuesday each
month at 3:30 p.m.
GENERAL NEWS
SSPR centers to host blood screenings
South Suburban Parks and
Recreation is hosting comprehensive blood screenings conducted
by the University of Colorado
Hospital from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at the
following recreation centers:
• Lone Tree, 10249 Ridgegate
Cir., 303-708-3514, Tue., April
17
• Goodson, 6315 S. University
Blvd., 303-483-7082, Wed.,
April 18
• Buck, 2004 W. Powers Ave.,
303-730-4610, Thur., April 19
This high quality, laboratory
screening with rapid turnaround
of results consists of 30 tests,
including a lipid profile. Test
results will be sent directly to your
home. Supplemental tests can be
requested for an additional cost.
Participants must be at least 18
years-old and 12 hours of fasting
is recommended before blood is
drawn. The fee is $35 per person.
For other South Suburban wellness activities visit www.sspr.org.
“First Job” program returning this summer
The City of Littleton will hire 12 teens 14-16 years-old for their “first job.”
The teenagers will work outside performing grounds maintenance; sweeping,
weeding, planting, mulching, and trash removal. They will also learn how to
fill out a job application, how to do well in an interview, how to write a resume,
and take a civics test. The teens must be Littleton residents. The work lasts
four weeks, each session has six kids, and the sessions are from June through
August. Applications will be taken in early May, either in person or from our
web site. Interviews will be conducted at the end of the month. If you have
questions about the program call Tim Weaver at 303-795-3834.
April 10: Moon Phase
May 8: Trinity Blood: Chapter 1
June: No session
Dance Dance Revolution (DDR)
Learn and practice DDR April 19
and May 17 at 3:30 p.m. No program
in June.
Teen Advisory Council
Teens discuss future programming
and activities offered by the library
the second and fourth Friday of the
month at 3:30 p.m. On April 13 and
27, discussion topics will be Star Wars
and the Summer Reading Program. On
May 11 and 25, the Summer Reading
Program and other programming ideas.
And June 8 and 22, Harry Potter Week
activities and open discussion.
Drop-in Programs
The last Wednesday of the month
at 3:30 p.m.
April 25: Altered books. Participants will cut, paste and color a used
book to make an altered book.
May and June: No sessions.
Teen Literature Day
Teen Literature Day is April 19.
Any teen, from fifth grade up, will be
given a free book just for visiting the
library.
Teen Fishing Program
During the spring and summer,
teens will be instructed on many
aspects of fishing. Two library programs will be offered and teens that
attend these programs can choose to
be added to a fishing call list. Several
afternoon fishing trips will be planned
for Ketring Park and those on the call
list will be notified. These fishing trips
will be planned a day or two prior to
going to the lake (to observe weather
patterns).
April 27: Rod and Reel Tune-Up,
4 p.m. Bring your rod and reel to be
oiled and the line checked for the
upcoming fishing season, and sign up
for the call list.
May 25: Practice Casting, 4 p.m.
Practice casting through and around
objects set near the library, and sign up
for the call list.
June: Fishing trips will be planned
and those on the call list notified.
Red Cross Babysitting Course
An eight-hour program that provides teens 11 years and older with the
skills required to become a certified
babysitter. Classes will be scheduled in
June and July based on room availability
and teen surveys. Check at the library
bulletin board near the front entrance
or contact Anthony LaCombe at the
library, 303-795-3961, for updated
information.
Summer Reading Program
Registration begins May 29 and will
continue throughout the summer until
the program’s conclusion July 31. This
summer’s theme is “Wrapped Up in
Reading,” focusing on ancient Egypt.
More details forthcoming in the next
Littleton Report.
Summer Film School
Teen participants will create a
short film with the Binning Family
Foundation, and the film subject will
be loosely tied to the Summer Reading Program theme “Wrapped Up in
Reading.” Registration will be done at
the library and the film school will be
held at the Binning Family Foundation
at 1269 W. Littleton Blvd. Contact the
library for further details regarding
registration.
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS
Bookmark Contest For Grades K-5
The theme for the 2007 children’s
summer reading program is “Get a Clue
@ Your Library” and we need your help
in designing a bookmark to promote it.
Entry forms may be picked up at the
children’s desk beginning March 24 and
must be returned by April 21. Think
about what the word “clue” means to
you and create a picture on the official
entry form. One winner will be chosen
from the following three categories:
grades K-1, 2-3, and 4-5. Each winning
bookmark will be printed in color for
distribution to the public.
National Library Week
Come Together @ Bemis Public
Library to celebrate National Library
Week from April 15-21. This week-long
celebration recognizes the contributions of libraries and library workers
in communities nationwide. Attend a
program, grow a magic bean, decorate
a special sign highlighting a favorite
book, test your skills at guessing, grab a
new bookmark, and be sure to enter the
bookmark contest by April 21.
April 21: Celebrate International
Children’s Day! “In a world so big,
discover that our differences are small.”
From 2-4:30 p.m., children in grades
2-5 and their parents are invited to
have fun learning about two beautiful
countries, Australia and Bulgaria. Why
did we choose these two countries?
Come and find out! We will write
to our friends in Bulgaria, do crafts,
learn songs, win prizes, and most of
all, enjoy time with our friends. Call to
register, 303-795-3961.
May 5: Flowers and Finery! The
library’s annual Mother/Daughter
Tea Party starts at 2 p.m. Fragrant
flowers, fancy dresses and delicious
tea lure moms and daughters to a
delightful party. Young ladies in
grades one and up and their mothers
are invited to a proper tea, with treats,
a story and special craft. Dress up festive and fine to celebrate spring. Space
is limited, call 303-795-3961 to make a
reservation beginning April 14.
Get A Clue @ Your Library!
The summer reading program
begins May 29 for children from birth
to those entering fifth grade in the
fall. A summer of reading, mysteries, puzzles and clues awaits! Read
all about it in the next edition of the
Littleton Report.
Paws to Read
Presented in cooperation with
R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) and Denver Pet Partners,
children in grades 1-5 can practice
reading with a special doggie pal.
Space is limited, so call the library
to register for a 20-minute spot
between 10 a.m. and noon April 21
and May 19.
NOTE: The weekly story time
sessions listed below will end April 27
and resume June 5.
Story Box
For ages infant through 36 months
on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 9:30
and 10:30 a.m. A 30-minute session for
children and a caring adult to introduce
the joy of rhythm, rhyme and reading.
Space is limited; free tickets are available one week in advance.
Story Time
Story Time is for children ages
three through kindergarten Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and
Fridays at 10:30 a.m. Thirty minutes
of stories, songs, and activities, with
a puppet show the first week of the
month. No tickets or registration
required.
For additional information about
Bemis Public Library or any library
programs call 303-795-3961.
Littleton City Council
Doug Clark
303-798-3594
At Large
Amy Conklin
303-795-5925
At Large
Bruce Stahlman
303-734-8313
District II
Mayor Pro Tem Rebecca Kast
303-730-2639
District IV
City Council Accommodations
The public is invited to attend all regular meetings or study sessions of the Littleton
City Council or any city board, commission or public program.
Please call 303-795-3857 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting or program if you will
need special assistance or any reasonable accommodation in order to be in attendance
at or participate in any such meeting or program.
For any additional information concerning the city’s compliance with the Americans
With Disabilities Act, please call 303-795-3857.
Additional city government information can now be accessed via the Internet at www.
littletongov.org.
Tom Mulvey
303-730-7369
District III
John Ostermiller
303-798-9665
At Large
Mayor Jim Taylor
303-795-6161
District I
Littleton Report credits
The Littleton Report is published bi-monthly by the city manager’s office,
2255 West Berry Avenue, Littleton, CO 80165, and sent to all postal patrons.
Jim Woods
City Manager
Kelli Narde
Director of Communications
Cecile Bugh
Executive Secretary
Phil Cortese
Deputy City Manager
Chris Harguth
Public Relations Specialist
Cathy Weaver
Webmaster