Rake, Reuse, & Recycle: 2011 Denver "LeafDrop" Program
 Tidy up your yard, keep the streets clean, reduce greenhouse gases, and create valuable compost when you drop off your leaves at any of the following locations:

Saturdays:        Nov. 5, 12, & 19, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
                        Denver Solid Waste Transfer Station, 7301 E. Jewell Ave.

Sundays:          Nov. 7, 13, & 20, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
                        South High School, Louisiana Ave. & Franklin St.
                        John F. Kennedy High School, Newland St. & Brown Pl.

Weekdays:        Oct. 3 through Dec. 2, except holidays, 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
                        Denver Solid Waste Transfer Station, 7301 E. Jewell Ave.
                        Havana Nursery, 7301 E. Jewell Ave.
                       
Weekday "LeafDrops" must be in tied or secured bags but weekend "LeafDrops" can be left untied. Click here for a list of citywide locations and other useful information. Remember, you can reclaim your leaves as compost at next spring's "Treecycle Mulch Giveaway" & "LeafDrop Compost Sale."

Volunteers Needed for Washington Park's "Putting the Beds to Bed"
 Washington Park is bursting with beautiful gardens and getting them ready for winter is a big job. Denver Parks & Rec can't do it alone and needs your help with the following tasks:

Removing annual flowers
Dragging tarps
Loading plants into trucks
Over-turning soil and digging dirt

To find out more and to sign up, email DPRVolunteers@DenverGov.org or call 720-913-0330.

Tired of Waiting in Line at the DMV? Try Renewing Online!
 Does the thought of going to the DMV make you groan? Here are some time-saving tips for updating motor vehicle titles, registrations, temporary permits, and license plates.
 

To avoid waiting in line, renew your registration online at: www.Colorado.gov/RenewPlates. Do this at least 2 weeks before the expiration date.

 

For forms and vehicle title & registration regulations, visit: www.Colorado.gov/Revenue/DMV.

To ensure you have the proper information and documents for your vehicle, visit: www.DenverGov.org/MotorVehicle.

If an office visit is necessary, avoid the busiest times: the first and last 2 days of the month, and the day before and after a holiday. Wait times are typically 1-2 hours! Click here for more information on branch locations & hours.

Runners Alert: Washington Park Running Trail Improvements Underway
If you run in Washington Park, your workout routine may come with a few new obstacles. Phase I of the new trail construction began in mid-September and should be complete by October 31. Detours are marked. Click here for more information on the first phase of projects to implement the recently adopted Washington Park Master Plan.

Celebrate "Adopt-A-Dog From A Shelter" Month - Right Downtown!
 Adopt your new best friend or get your existing pet licensed right at the Wellington Webb Building downtown (201 W. Colfax Ave). The Denver Animal Shelter is holding pet adoption events at the Webb Building from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the following Fridays:

October 7
October 14
October 21

As part of "Adopt-A-Dog From A Shelter" month, adoption fees will be reduced to $85 for the month of October. Adoption packages include the adoption fee, spay/neuter costs, vaccinations, and a one year pet license. Additionally, if you need to license your cat or dog, or renew a license for an existing pet, you can take advantage of the Denver Animal Shelter's newest option: a Lifetime License. For a $150 you can license your pet for life. Click here for more details.

By adopting your next pet from the Denver Animal Shelter, you help not only that animal, but also a city service that returns lost pets, monitors animal safety, and assists stray and abandoned animals city-wide. Visit www.DenverGov.org/AnimalCare for more information. Better yet, come visit the shelter - they are located at 1241 W. Bayaud Ave., right off of I-25 and Alameda!

Denver Water to Increase Rates in 2012
 Beginning in January 2012, Denver Water rates will increase by 5.5 percent, which averages out to about $19 more per year ($1.62 a month) for residential customers. Why is this increase necessary? What will it pay for? Denver Water owns and maintains more than 3,000 miles of distribution pipe - enough to stretch from Los Angeles to New York - as well as 12 reservoirs, 22 pump stations and 4 treatment plants. In 2011, Denver Water reprioritized and delayed projects, and implemented additional efficiency measures, but the cost of maintaining this vast and critical infrastructure continues to rise. Contrary to what many people think, Denver Water is funded through rates and new tap fees, not taxes. The increase will pay for funding capital projects and ongoing rehabilitation and replacement of infrastructure which is badly needed. Much of the water distribution system dates back to post-World War II installation. For a complete list of improvement projects and more information contact www.DenverWater.org or call Joe Sloan, Community Relations Specialist, at 303-628-6320.

Rock'n'Roll Denver Marathon & Half Marathon - Sunday, October 9

Denver is, once again, ready to rock and run with the second Annual Rock'n'Roll Marathon & Half Marathon. The race is expected to draw over 15,000 runners and will feature live entertainment along every mile of the scenic course. Runners will start at Civic Center Park and run past many of Denver's major landmarks and parks including: the Denver Public Library, Denver Art Museum, Larimer Square, the Pepsi Center, Union Station, Coors Field, as well as City, Cheesman, and Washington Parks. For a complete course map and list of road closures click here.