Come meet your new Jefferson County Commissioner Don Rosier and new County Coroner John Graham at the elected officials' swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, January 11, 2011. The ceremony will be at 8 a.m. in Hearing Room One located at the Jefferson County Administration and Courts Facility, 100 Jefferson Parkway, Golden.

Seven county officials, three district court judges and two county court judges will take their oath of office. Of those, Commissioner-elect Donald Rosier and Coroner-elect John M. Graham will be sworn in for the first time as county officials. The others were re-elected in the 2010 election.

Those being sworn in include:                                                

· Commissioner-elect Donald Rosier

· Sheriff Ted Mink

· Assessor James Everson

· Clerk & Recorder Pam Anderson

· Treasurer Tim Kauffman

· Coroner-elect John M. Graham

· Surveyor Diana Askew

· District Court Judge Dennis Hall

· District Court Judge Philip McNulty

· District Court Judge Stephen Munsinger

· County Court Judge Susan Fisch

· County Court Judge Thomas Vance

After the ceremony a reception will immediately follow. Then at 1:30 p.m. the new Board of County Commissioners will convene its first public hearing and staff briefings of the new year.

One thing people often forget to do at the beginning of the New Year is to spend some time focusing on career accomplishments and career goals. Here is a checklist of things to do:

1. Make a list of all of your career accomplishments.

2. Make a list of career goals you still want to work toward.

3. Think about your educational goals and how additional courses or training may augment your career plans.

4. Update your resume. You never know when the perfect job may present itself and you want to be sure you have a carefully drafted document to submit.

5. Consider a new networking opportunity such as a professional association or a volunteer organization.

These easy steps will build your confidence and chart your career path for 2011. Have a great New Year.

Everyone starts somewhere. Brad Pitt moved refrigerators. Stephen King cleaned offices. Tommy Hilfiger sold pants from the trunk of his car. Wherever a person is in his or her life, in school, out of school, searching for a first job or wanting a better one, he or she has the same opportunities to be successful. Jeffco YouthWorks will show you how to get started.

All youth between the ages of 14 and 21 are invited to come learn about our no cost services at the Jeffco YouthWorks Open House on Wednesday, January 19, 2011 from 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Jefferson County Workforce Center, 3500 Illinois Street in Golden.

You can discover different types of careers that fit your specific interests and skills at this open house event and enter to win Nuggets tickets and other great prizes. Come check out the new Youth Room, a safe and supportive environment where young adults can hang out, do homework, study and use computers

Jeffco YouthWorks can help connect you with the people, educational opportunities and experiences that can help get a first job, a better job or a career. Computers, workshops, and most importantly a friendly, professional staff are available to help in making informed choices about jobs, education and careers.  Eligible youth can receive help obtaining a GED, acquiring training opportunities and finding a career that offers financial freedom.  You can also learn how to conduct an effective job search, research a career, access job listings, find a volunteer opportunity, learn about educational opportunities and much more.

Everyone starts somewhere - start  with us!  For more information and to RSVP for the Jeffco YouthWorks Open House please call 303-271-4613 or visit www.jeffcoyouthworks.org.

The Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL) and the Jefferson County Department of Human Services, Aging Well in Jefferson County Project are partnering to provide a unique training opportunity to Jefferson County senior citizens. Beginning January 2011, JCPL will bring its eTrain mobile computer training lab to local non-profit and faith-based organizations to provide seniors (age 50 and older) onsite training in basic computer and internet job and volunteer search skills. This program is being funded by a generous grant from Rose Community Foundation with a matching in-kind contribution from JCPL.

"With the rising number of older adults in our community seeking employment and volunteer opportunities, the Aging Well Project has identified a need for classes tailored to address their needs," said Susan Franklin, Project Manager, Jefferson County Human Services.  "Many older adults have been out of the job and volunteer search market for some time and lack the computer skills they need to identify and qualify for opportunities. 

"In addition, the Internet is an increasingly useful tool for helping job and volunteer seekers engage with their communities and stay socially connected," Franklin added. "JCPL's eTrain provides a unique opportunity to bring training directly to seniors throughout Jefferson County."

The eTrain is an innovative mobile computer training lab with eight computer work stations and a trained instructor on board. Under this program, the eTrain will offer two-hour classes in Basic Computer and Internet Job and Volunteer Search Skills.

"We hope to partner with local community groups and faith-based organizations to reach out to seniors who may benefit from this training," said Cindy Phillips, Online and Outreach Manager, JCPL. "We want to make sure we reach as many people as possible in the next six months."

Any organization serving seniors is eligible to schedule one or more onsite training sessions. For additional details or to schedule a training session, please contact Stacy McKenzie, 303-275-6236.

Foothills Animal Shelter, one of metro Denver's largest animal shelters, has fantastic dogs, cats and other wonderful animals such as rabbits and hamsters that are up for adoption.

Studies have shown that owning a pet can greatly reduce everyday stress and increases overall well-being. Why not support your local animal shelter and receive some unconditional love by adopting a furry companion?

Go to www.FoothillsAnimalShelter.org to view all adoptable pets.

FLUFF'S STORY

Howdy! I'm FLUFF! I am a female Domestic Long Hair and there is a very good reason for my name: I am one cute, huge ball of furry love. Although I love my friends at Foothills Animal Shelter (I have been here for more than 300 days), I am ready for my forever home. I am affectionate and social, use my litter box really well, but would prefer a life-long home without dogs and children under the age of 5. Please come visit me! It will be love at first fluffy sight! My Pet ID Number is 74826. My adoption fee includes my spay, a free vet visit, vaccinations and a microchip.

The 2011 schedule is now available for the Business Education Series Training (BEST). It is a partnership of Jefferson County municipal and non-profit business specialists providing high-quality education seminars and training sessions to the region's business community. These sessions are relevant, diverse and affordable for the purpose of encouraging successful growth in a challenging business climate.  

The education seminars and training sessions are geared toward any sized business or profession. Topics for the 2011 series include health care, social media, green and renewable energy, business resource fair and more.  The first in the series, "The New Health Care Bill - What Business Owners NEED TO KNOW," will be held Thursday, January 20, 2011 from 7:30-9 a.m. for $15 at Wheat Ridge City Hall, 7500 W 29th Avenue in Wheat Ridge. To get more information, a complete list of 2011 workshops or to register, visit the BEST home page at www.jeffcobrc.org/BusinessEducation/.

"Not only are the programs well thought out, but the quality is ensured by hand selecting professional speakers. In addition, the programs range from no cost to $25 -- a tremendous savings to our businesses -- considering comparable programs can cost hundreds of dollars to attend," says Priscilla Bohl, Business Services Manager, Jefferson County Workforce Center.

If you're looking for a program for your HOA, civic club, PTA/PTO, town meeting or other community group, Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL) can help you out.

JCPL now has a team of volunteer speakers available to update community organizations on Jefferson County library services. They can also provide information on free resources to help your business, community organization, constituents, students and/or family.

To request a speaker and schedule a presentation, contact the Jefferson County Public Library Speakers Bureau coordinator, Janell Kerski, at 303-985-2455 or jdkerski@earthlink.net.

On December 22, the Foothills Animal Shelter sent some holiday cheer to Laradon, a school and training facility serving people with developmental disabilities. Laradon has been volunteering custodial crews five days a week for nearly three months at Foothills Animal Shelter. To recognize its contribution, Foothills Animal Shelter visited its facility with Santa Claus as the driver of the Shelter's Mobile Unit (a large recreational vehicle covered with animals that is used for low-cost clinics and community mobile adoptions). Elves, dogs and other critters were in tow as well.

"We are very grateful for all of the hard work Laradon has generously provided to us. It has been a tremendous help to our staff with the recent move into a new and much larger 30,000 square-foot facility. It helps our dedicated staff focus on the animal care duties for the hundreds of homeless pets we care for at any given time," says Foothills Animal Shelter's Executive Director, Heather Cameron.  

Golden Deputy Director of Laradon adds, "We greatly appreciate the partnership that Laradon has been able to develop with Foothills Animal Shelter. By having our participants volunteer with the Shelter, they have been able to gain work experience and learn the importance of a job well done. In this day and age with agencies' budgets being so tight, it is wonderful we can work together for the greater good of both of our missions and those we serve."