Trouble Viewing?

2011 Citizen Input Meetings

Don't miss the last in a series of three Citizen Input Meetings. 

Thursday, Oct. 20 

Peak Community and Wellness Center

6612 South Ward Street, Littleton

7 - 8:30 p.m.

The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners will present the latest on county issues and then want to hear comments and questions from citizens.

Dinner & History Nov. 18

Join the Jefferson County Historical Commission on November 18, 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. to celebrate Jefferson County's 150th anniversary. The dinner will be at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 15200 West 6th Avenue and parking will be free.

The evening will include a guest speaker, President Thomas Jefferson, and also a presentation of hall of fame inductees, former State Senator Norma Anderson and the 1861 settlers George and Sarah Church.

Tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be available at the event. To get your tickets now click here or visit www.blacktie-colorado.com and click on the calendar tab.

For more information, visit www.historicjeffco.org or contact Ernie Witucki at 720-323-8458. To learn how to become one of the event sponsors, contact Bob Briggs at 303-981-4141.

Happenings at Foothills Animal Shelter

It's Dogtober Fest!

In celebration of the national campaign, Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, Foothills Animal Shelter will be hosting Dogtober Fest for the entire month of October. Adoption specials and giveaways will be offered during the entire month.

De"tails": 

• $25 off all dog adoptions NOTE: All adoptions include the spay/neuter, vaccinations (excluding rabies), microchip and health check.
• A free rabies certificate will be included (valued at $15) to be redeemed during one of the Shelter's upcoming clinics.
• A $10 off coupon on the Shelter's six-week dog training session will also be offered.
• A pet-themed goody bag will also be given to all dog adopters.

Please visit www.FoothillsAnimalShelter.org
for additional information.

Low-Cost Vaccine, Microchip and Dog Licensing Clinics

Foothills Animal Shelter, located at 580 McIntyre Street, offers weekly onsite clinics from 3 - 4 p.m. In addition, many clinics are also held offsite in the community. Low-cost vaccines, microchips and dog licenses are conducted at these clinics. No appointment is necessary.

The next offsite clinic will be on Oct. 22, 2 - 4 p.m. at 4800 West 92nd Avenue in Westminster.

October is Head Start Awareness Month, a time to highlight the great services Head Start provides children and families. Jefferson County Head Start is a child-focused and family-centered preschool program which provides a range of individualized, wrap-around services in areas of education, early childhood development, medical, dental, mental health, nutrition, family support, and parent involvement.   

With educational programming available for children ages three to five, this no-cost program is available to families who are at 100 percent of poverty level; however, other families may qualify.  

To learn more about Head Start, watch a video by clicking here. For more information, please contact Michelle Kalkwarf at mkalkwar@jeffco.us   

or 720-497-7908. 

Commissioner Donald Rosier Takes on New Duties

Jeffco South Substation Opening In November

This November, Jefferson County is moving two of its offices into one location. The new south substation, at 11139 Bradford Road in Littleton, will house the Sheriff's Office South Precinct and a Clerk & Recorder's Motor Vehicle Office.

Moving dates are subject to change, but currently, the Sheriff's Office South Precinct, at 8100 Shaffer Parkway, is scheduled to move on Friday, Nov. 11. It will be fully operational at the new building on Nov. 14.

The Clerk & Recorder's Motor Vehicle Office, currently located at 6004 South Kipling Parkway, will be closed on Friday, Nov. 18 and will reopen in its new offices on Monday, Nov 21. The other four Motor Vehicle offices will be open for business on Nov 18. For information on the nearest location, visit www.jeffco.us/mv.

The moves will allow the county to consolidate these two services into one facility saving on rental costs.

Did you know that you can apply for a passport with Jefferson County? The Jefferson County Clerk & Recorder's Office is a designated Passport Acceptance Facility for the U.S. Department of State.

U.S. citizens planning to travel internationally may apply for their passports Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Admin & Courts Facility, Suite 2560, 100 Jefferson County Parkway in Golden. Passport photos can also be done at the Clerk & Recorder's office for $5. 

No appointment is needed and there are no long lines. However, it is advised to call ahead to get all the important details specific to your travel plans and passport needs.

For more information on passport services, click here or call 303-271-8167. For locations and services of the Clerk & Recorder's Office, visit www.jeffco.us/cr.

Wash those Fruits and Vegetables   

While food safety investigators and public health professionals work to uncover the exact source of the recent multistate listeria outbreak, consumers are reminded of just how complicated food safety can be. The listeria outbreak was traced back to cantaloupes at Jensen Farms in Colorado, but how they got tainted may never be uncovered. One thing is certain, our food can be contaminated in many different ways before it actually reaches our plate. Food safety experts advise that while careful washing of fruits and vegetables may not prevent all incidents of foodborne illness, it can certainly help and should become common practice for everyone.    

Consumers should store perishable produce in the refrigerator at 40 degrees or below. In addition to choosing produce that is not bruised or damaged and keeping pre-cut items-such as bags of lettuce or fruit slices-refrigerated, consumers are advised to follow these recommendations from the Federal Food, Drug and Safety Administration (FDA):

• Wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap before and after preparing fresh produce.
• Cut away any damaged or bruised areas before preparing or eating.
• Gently rub produce while holding under plain running water. There's no need to use soap or a produce wash.
• Wash produce BEFORE you cut or peel it, so dirt and bacteria aren't transferred from the knife onto the fruit or vegetable.
• Use a clean vegetable brush to scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers.
• Dry produce with a clean cloth or paper towel to further reduce bacteria that may be present.
• Throw away the outermost leaves of a head of lettuce or cabbage.

For more information on food safety, click here. 

Get Your Flu Shot

The best way to prevent seasonal  influenza or the "flu" is to get a flu vaccination each fall.   

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. In an effort to better protect the public, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending all children six months of age and older receive an annual influenza vaccine. Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) provides flu shots, for children six months and older and adults through age 64, by appointment only at its Arvada and Lakewood locations during regularly scheduled immunization clinics. JCPH flu shots are $25 for adults and $14.50 for children and JCPH cannot bill Medicare. Please call 303-232-6301 for an appointment.

For more information on the flu, click on one of the below links. 

• Know What to do About the Flu 
• The Colorado Influenza and Pneumococcal Alert Coalition -  online flu shot clinic locator
• Why Flu Vaccination Matters: Personal Stories from Families Affected by Flu - CDC Video

Night, Night . . . Putting Baby to Sleep Safely

JCPH reminds parents and caregivers of the importance of putting babies to sleep safely. That means creating a safe sleep zone that is not a shared space. Research shows that bed sharing (falling asleep with your baby) can be unsafe and that adult beds are not safe for sleeping babies. Nor is it safe to sleep in a chair or couch with your infant. Soft bedding, pillows, blankets, quilts and other people increase the risks of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome. Anyone in charge of putting an infant to bed is advised to follow these safe sleep recommendations and create a safe sleep zone:  

• Always place your baby on its back for sleep.
• Use a firm mattress covered with only a tight fitting crib sheet.
• Use a wearable blanket or other type sleep wear instead of a blanket to keep your baby warm and safe.
• Never use soft or pillow like bumpers, wedges and positioners in your baby's sleep area
• Click here to see what a safe sleep environment looks like.

For more information on safe sleeping practices contact JCPH Community Outreach Nurse at wzieker@co.jefferson.co.us

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month . . . Early Detection Saves Lives

JCPH's Cancer Control Program (funded partially by the Women's Wellness Connection) offers low-cost clinical breast exams, mammograms, pelvic exams and pap tests to women with limited income and limited or no insurance. To qualify for JCPH's low cost cancer screenings women must: 

• Not be on Medicaid.
• Not have health insurance which will pay for a mammogram.
• Have not had a mammogram or pap test in the past year.
• Meet certain financial criteria (determined when appointment is being scheduled).
• Be 40 years of age or older (women under age 40 may be eligible for low cost pap smears and mammograms if needed through our Family Planning Program and Komen funding).

Call 303-239-7078 to schedule an appointment at the Arvada or Lakewood clinic. For more information about breast and cervical cancers or to see if you qualify, please call the JCPH Nurse Case Manager/Patient Navigator at 303-239-7044.

In Colorado, exciting things are happening!

Governor John Hickenlooper has formally proclaimed October 24 Food Day in Colorado, which is a nationwide campaign to change the way Americans eat and think about food. Food Day encourages people around the country to sponsor or participate in activities that encourage Americans to "eat real" and support healthy, affordable food grown in a sustainable, humane way.  

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver Urban Gardens, Denver Sustainable Food Policy Council, and the Department of Health and Human Services are hosting a marquee Food Day event on Monday Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. It will be at the Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York Street in Denver, and this will be a FREE admission day at gardens.

For information about Food Day at the Denver Botanic Gardens, go to www.botanicgardens.org.