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Contact your Commissioners |  | |
Donald Rosier
Chair
District Three
John Odom
Chair Pro Tem
District Two
Faye Griffin
District One 303-271-8525 |
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Want more news from the county? You can also subscribe to 'BCC Actions,' a newsletter that covers the happenings from your Jefferson County Board of Commissioners Hearings and Staff Briefings.
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June Library Events | |
Summer Reading Club
Have You Signed Up for Summer Reading Club? It started June 1!
If you haven't signed up for Summer Reading Club yet, make sure you head over to jeffcolibrary.org/summerreading
or stop by your local library. Kids and teens who read eight hours will be entered to win a Kindle Fire and adults have the chance to win an iPad3! Plus, we've got fun programs all summer long that are not to be missed!
Race to this Year's Rare & Novel Night
Burn up the quarter mile at the 12th Annual Rare & Novel event, Thursday, June 21 at the Bandimere Speedway. Tickets are $55 to spectate and $200 to race; all tickets include hors d'oeuvres, dinner, live entertainment by The New Classics Band, and silent and live auctions. Contact Natalie Martinez (303-403-5075) for reservations.
JCPL Supports Regional Economic Development
One of the primary goals of the Board of County Commissioners is to promote economic vitality in Jefferson County. JCPL believes it is a secret weapon in the County's economic development arsenal. Read more about how your library supports economic development in Jeffco. | |
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Golf Tournament to Benefit Head Start | |
The fifth annual Water Hole No. 2 Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, June 16 at Applewood Golf Course. Sign up early, participation is limited to only 88 players.
Registration fees will directly benefit Jefferson County Head Start. Funding will be used for educational resources and healthy eating options for children and families in need. Head Start provides preschool educational programming for children ages three to five, and resource and referral assistance to eligible families who are at 100 percent of the poverty line.
Registration is $85 which includes green fees, golf cart, range balls, breakfast burrito, prizes, two drink tickets and a steak dinner at the Water Hole No. 2 Tavern. Don't play golf? Sponsor a hole and promote your organization. Hole sponsorships are available for $50 and $100. Have fun by sitting on a keg to tee off, putting through a toilet seat, and putting with a pool cue. 6:30 a.m. check in and 7:30 a.m. shotgun start.
Registration and hole sponsorships can be dropped off or mailed to Water Hole No. 2, 4990 Ward Road, Wheat Ridge 80033 or Jefferson County Head Start, Attn: Jackie Alarid, 5150 Allison Street, Arvada 80002.
For more information or a registration form, click here or contact Jackie Alarid at 720-497-7906 or Jim Smith at 970-488-0763. |
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Jefferson County Summit on Aging June 19 | |
Join Jefferson County for the Third Annual Summit on Aging, Tuesday, June 19, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at WaterStone Community Church, 5890 South Alkire Street in Littleton.
Anyone who serves older citizens or has an interest in Jefferson County's aging population is highly encouraged to attend this summit. Come hear from national, state and local leaders about the state of affairs for seniors. Attend several informational workshops on topics such as basic needs, care giving & supportive services, heath, mental health, wellness & prevention, housing, social & civic engagement and transportation & mobility. Visit more than two dozen exhibitors showcasing resources available to seniors.
Register for the 2012 Summit on Aging by calling 303-235-6943. Registration is $35 and includes breakfast, lunch and materials for the day. Early registration ends June 12 at which time the price will go up. | |
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Award-Winning Native Plant Classes Have Openings
Want to get out into the natural areas and enjoy Colorado's blooming bounty this summer? Take one of the award-winning Native Plant Master® courses and classes that are listed below. Register soon as offerings fill quickly. If you would like to be sure to receive notices of future openings, sign up here.
Native Plant Master Course - Reynolds
Saturdays, July 14, 21, 28
Take a Native Plant Master® course at this streamside Jeffco open space park and discover Colorado wildflowers, trees and shrubs as you explore the trails over three successive Saturday mornings. | |
Land of the Bristlecone - Chief Mountain
Thursday, Aug. 9
Spend part of a day exploring the subalpine spruce-fir forest while discovering a grove of bristlecone and limber pine trees and unusual wildflowers such as pyrola, twinflower and wood nymph.
Native Plant Master Course - Level 2 - Plains Conservation Center
Fridays, Sept. 7, 14, 21
Take a Native Plant Master® course at this natural area on the High Plains south of Denver and discover fall bloomers with an emphasis on the grass and sunflower families. Pre-requisite: passed one NPM course or background in botany.
Introduction to Ecological Restoration
Thursday, Sept. 20
Spend part of a morning with a CSU faculty member learning about the art and science of ecological restoration in which native ecosystems are restored on disturbed sites. | |
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 | Susan Franklin & Aging Well Win DRCOG Award | Special Projects Administrator for
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Commissioner Donald Rosier and Susan Franklin at the DR COG awards. |
Jefferson County's Human Services Department, Susan Franklin and the "Strategic Plan for Aging Well in Jefferson County" were selected as the Bronze Winners in the 2012 Local Government Awards Program category of Planning with Vision.
The award was presented through the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Local Government Awards Program on May 2. Congratulations to Susan and all involved in making this program successful.
To learn more, visit the Strategic Plan for Aging Well in Jefferson County web page. |
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Reynolds Park Ready for Renovation
by Thea Rock, Communications Manager, Jeffco Open Space |  Immediately following the Memorial Day Holiday, construction on a new restroom and trailhead facility at Reynolds Park in southern Jefferson County was underway. The Park is located on Foxton Road approximately 5.5 miles south of Highway 285 and provides for trail-based hiking and equestrian uses as well as walk-in tent camping by permit. Camping and trail use will continue to be available, however parking may be limited. Please watch for all signs regarding parking, roads and safety.
The restroom and trailhead work will require a temporary reroute of Foxton Road through the Park's main parking lot for installation of drainage structures under the roadway. A full closure of the main parking lot and trailhead will begin June 6 and continue through Sept. 1. Demolition of the existing restroom will occur in early June with a temporary facility provided in the secondary parking lot used by campground guests.
Construction will have impacts to guest parking and trail use however the disruption will result in a new and improved restroom, safety improvements to the trail crossing Foxton Road and organized parking.
To learn more about Reynolds Park, a Jefferson County Open Space facility, visit www.jeffco.us/parks. |
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Welcome Home Gardens for Military Families
by Jackie Paone, Director of CSU Exentension |  CSU Extension is looking for military families to receive free seeds for Welcome Home Gardens.
Welcome Home Gardens for Colorado's Military will begin spouting up all over the state thanks to Burpee Seed Company who is furnishing garden sets of seeds for Welcome Home Gardens. This program is a collaborative effort with Balfour Beatty Housing contractor at Fort Carson, Burpee Seed Company and Colorado State University Extension Operation: Military Kids (OMK).
One thousand seed sets arrived at the office of Shauna Woods, CSU OMK Director, located in the Jefferson County extension office, who immediately started distributing seeds to military families to grow "Welcome Home Gardens." Shauna states, "The seeds are met with tremendous enthusiasm and reminiscent of the Victory Gardens planted at the end of WWII. This is a wonderful activity for families to work, play and heal together. We are proud to be part of this awesome project!"
The garden idea was master-minded by Miryana Navarro-Monzo, friend of Burpee Chairman and CEO George Ball, to partner with USDA's National Program for Military Child and Youth Division and the 4-H in 20 university extension programs to help distribute seed packets to 150,000 military families across the country during the next two springs. Other partners include the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, veterans organizations such as Able Forces, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Farmer Veteran Coalition, Veterans Green Jobs plus The American Heart Association.
The goal is to provide a set of 10 seed packets to 150,000 families along with detailed growing instructions as well as recipe suggestions. The retail value of the seed packets is approximately $25, but Mr. Ball estimates the resulting harvest would be valued at approximately $1,500. An extra benefit for the often separated service member is getting reconnected with family. Burpee wants the families to reap psychological and physical benefits of gardening together.
Military families (active, retired, National Guard, reserve) who would like their seeds may contact Shauna Woods at shauna.woods@colostate.edu. |
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World Elder Abuse Awareness Day June 15
by Mallory Hyatt, Jeffco Human Services | Each year, hundreds of thousands of older persons are abused, neglected, and exploited but it's estimated that only about one in five of these crimes are ever discovered. World Elder Abuse Day is an opportunity for Jefferson County to acknowledge the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue and take action to raise awareness and prevent abuse.
Jefferson County Human Services' Aging and Adult Services works hard to promote stability and independence by providing financial and medical assistance to elderly and disabled adults. Through the Aging Well in Jefferson County Project, the Summit on Aging, and the Aging Well in Jefferson County Report & Strategic Plans, Jefferson County is a community leader in elder abuse education, awareness and prevention.
Help honor elder abuse awareness by wearing purple (the color for Adult Protection), on Friday, June 15, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. |
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Jefferson County Celebrates Father's Day
by Mallory Hyatt, Jeffco Human Services |  June 17 is Father's Day, a day dedicated to celebrating fathers and their importance in children's lives. Jefferson County Department of Human Services' Responsible Fatherhood Program understands the importance of a father's role not only on Father's Day, but every single day. Plans are in place to connect some of the dads served with special opportunities to celebrate Father's Day with their children.
June 2 was an opportunity for dads and their children to enjoy the 2012 Community Care Ring Event, a collaboration of various sponsors including Jefferson County Human Services, for an afternoon of activities at Jefferson High School. Events included amateur youth boxing bouts, graffiti walls, a bouncy house, face painting, a Cleo Parker Robinson dance showcase, and live music featuring national and local youth singers, rappers, dancers and entertainers. Proceeds benefited youth in Foster Care.
The Jefferson County Responsible Fatherhood group meets every Saturday at Jefferson High School. Ray Washington, Jefferson County Responsible Fatherhood Program Coordinator, says, "If you are working with fathers in need of support and mentoring, this is an ideal opportunity to introduce them to our Responsible Fatherhood Program and services." Participants will be given an opportunity to join the President's Fatherhood Pledge and commit to "Being There" for their kids.
Also underway this month is a class for dads currently serving a term in the Jefferson County Work Release Program. The instructor, Matt Reide, is integrating victim empathy, accountability and understanding the impact fathers' choices have in their children's lives and to raise awareness of the important role that fathers have in emotionally and financially supporting their children. Fathers will leave this class with a plan of action to begin improving their relationship with their children. The class is a collaboration between Child Support Services, the Jefferson County Sheriff's office, and 1st Judicial District Probation.
Jefferson County's Responsible Fatherhood Program holds activities, events, classes and trainings all year long. For more information, contact Ray Washington at 303-271-4654 or visit the Fatherhood Program web page. |
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Service Dog Memorial Dedication at Foothills Animal Shelter
by Jennifer Stickland, Foothills Animal Shelter | |
 Foothills Animal Shelter, a true resource for the pet community, hosted an unveiling ceremony on June 12 of a bronze service dog memorial. This large original sculpture of a German Shepherd honors service dogs and their contributions to mankind.
This joint project has been two years in the making between the Rotary Club of Golden and the Boy Scout Eagle Project of 15-year-old Grady Guziak Jensen (from Troop 130, Golden).
Additionally, four local service dog stories will be showcased on permanent story boards surrounding the sculpture. These four stories will educate the community about the wide spectrum of service dog work in the areas of law enforcement/arson, therapy, guide and search and rescue. |
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June Public Health Updates
by Nancy Braden, Jeffco Public Health | | The Weight of the Nation
Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) encourages residents to watch the HBO documentary, "The Weight of the Nation." The four-hour, four-part documentary gives the nation's obesity crisis a face and sounds an alarm that is difficult to ignore. Obesity affects 36 percent of American adults and 17 percent of American children and leads to multiple negative health consequences. "To win," says the series' subtitle, "we have to lose."
It is time to put knowledge into action.
Injury Facts Hurt . . . Colorado had the 17th Highest Rate of Injury Deaths in U.S.
"The Facts Hurt: A State-by-State Injury Prevention Policy Report" recently released by the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), highlights injuries as a major public health problem in the United States and concludes that millions of injuries could be prevented each year if more states adopted additional research-based injury prevention policies, and if programs were fully implemented and enforced. According to the report, injuries - including those caused by accidents and violence -- are the third-leading cause of death nationally - and they are the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of one and 44. One person dies from an injury every three minutes. Every year, injuries lead to $406 billion in lifetime costs for medical care and lost productivity.
Injury Prevention is a Colorado Winnable Battle. JCPH's Injury Prevention Program works with partners at the state and local levels on a variety of injury prevention initiatives, including safe driving, safe sleep and fall prevention.
JCPH Produce & Health Fair
 JCPH Nutrition Services has organized three produce and health fairs again this year for low-income residents and seniors who may not otherwise have access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Now in its fifth year, the produce fairs encourage residents to make eating fresh produce a priority and promote a healthy lifestyle.
- Where: Healing Waters Family Center, 6475 West 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge CO 80214
- When: Fridays - July 13 and Aug.10
- Time: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Each adult will receive a bag of FREE fruits & vegetables. No income or residential requirements to participate. To volunteer, donate produce,
or for more information call 303-239-7126
Property Owners Take Charge
 West Nile Virus (WNV) season is here and with the mosquitoes, comes the need for property owners to provide mosquito monitoring and control activities on their property. In past years, standing water on properties throughout the county was evaluated by a mosquito control contractor hired through JCPH and water was treated if mosquito larvae were found. Due to budget constraints, as of 2011, JCPH no longer provides this service. Eliminating standing water is the most effective way to stop mosquito breeding. If the water cannot be eliminated, the installation of an aerator to keep the water flowing is the next best step.
BBQ's and Outdoor Fun . . . Leave Food borne Illness off the Menu this Summer
Eating outdoors can be a fun. It also presents its own set of dangers. JCPH reminds residents of the importance of proper food handling and preparation to avoid food borne illness.
HIV Testing Day is June 27
 June 27, 2012 is National HIV Testing Day. Across the country, public health partners will be encouraging people to take the test and take control. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 be tested for HIV at least once, as part of their routine health care. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 21 percent of HIV-positive people don't know they are infected and may be transmitting HIV without knowing it.
In Jefferson County, residents are encouraged to get tested and to learn more about HIV and the current status of the AIDS epidemic.
To learn more call 303-239-7036. For JCPH HIV counseling and testing appointments, call 303-275-7555 (Arvada) or 303-239-7078 (Lakewood). |
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