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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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BCC Actions
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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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July Library News | |
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There's Still Tons of Summer Reading Club Fun to be Had!
It's not too late to sign up for Jefferson County Public Library's (JCPL) Summer Reading Club! There are fun programs happening this month with plenty of time to get in eight hours of reading, earning kids and teens a free book and the chance to win a Kindle Fire! Adults who get their eight hours in could win an iPad3!
Special thanks to Brown & Tedstrom, Inc., EduCyber, Larkin & Associates, LLC, and the Wheat Ridge Optimists for providing these great prizes.
Wheat Ridge Reads
The Wheat Ridge Cultural Commission is launching a new citywide program, Wheat Ridge Reads, a citywide book club. 3MPH: The Adventures of One Woman's Walk Around the World, by local author Polly Letofsky, has been selected as this year's book. Author visits and book discussion groups are planned this fall. More info.
Beat the Heat Cost-Effectively with Energy Monitors for Check Out
Worried about the cost of air-conditioning this summer? Check out JCPL's energy meters, offered in partnership with Xcel Energy. Power Check energy meters measure the voltage, electricity cost and electric consumption of common household appliances. Each meter kit comes with overview information and instructions in English and Spanish, and you can use them to help reduce energy costs and consumption.
New Trustees
Please welcome the two newest members of the Library Board of Trustees. John Bodnar, Arvada, and Julia Hill-Nichols, South Jeffco, were recently appointed to serve through March 2015. More info.
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Meeting Room Rental is the Cat's Meow at Foothills Animal Shelter
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Need an offsite meeting space for work, a club meeting or other get together? Consider Foothills Animal Shelter's community room. Not only is it a great space, but the fee will support the care of the nearly 10,000 orphaned animals who come through the facility's door each year. Wi-Fi, a new state-of-the-art projector, tables and chairs are also included.
Fees range from $100-$200 depending upon the length of time you rent the space. Restrooms are just outside of the room next to a soda machine. Most importantly, if the meeting is during normal business hours of the Shelter, people can walk through the adoption areas to get their fur fix. Better yet, you can book a tour for your group at the same
time you reserve the room.
Interested? Visit www.FoothillsAnimalShelter.org
or call 720-407-5230 for details.
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Latest Native Plant Classes Openings
Want to get out into the open spaces and enjoy Colorado's blooming bounty this summer? Take an award-winning Native Plant Master® course or indoor class taught by a CSU Extension expert.
See classes with openings below and 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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Jeffco Sheriff's Smart911 System Offers Enhanced Emergency Response
by Jacki Kelley, Jeffco Sheriff's Office Public Information Director | |
Sheriff Ted Mink announced that his office has implemented Smart911 to enhance delivery of 911 emergency services for  citizens in Jefferson County. Currently, when 911 dispatchers receive a call, only a phone number and minimal levels of location data are displayed. With Smart911, citizens can create a secure Safety Profile online consisting of additional data about themselves and family members. The data is automatically displayed to 911 call takers during emergency calls, resulting in much greater efficiency and effectiveness during a crisis situation.
"This service provides far richer information than is currently available and will give the call taker a more complete understanding of the situation at hand," Jefferson County Sheriff Ted Mink said. "The arrival of Smart911 demonstrates our commitment to provide the community with the highest level of service possible."
Smart911 is a nationwide service that is entirely private, secure and free of charge to citizens. Paid for by the Jefferson County 911 Authority Board, citizens can create a safety profile at www.Smart911.com, by entering vital data they want made available about themselves and family members, their residences and even pets. This can include data on medical conditions, disabilities and/or special needs, children's photos, home addresses of cell phone callers, floor plans and other pertinent information. Smart911 delivers this information automatically to dispatchers, who then enable responders to be more effective because they have access to critical health and logistics information before arriving at the scene of an emergency.
For information on Smart911 and Rave Mobile Safety, go to www.ravemobilesafety.com. |
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Visions of Continuous Connections:
Jeffco Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Adopted
by Will Kerns, Jeffco Transportation and Engineering | |
 After a lengthy public involvement process, an updated Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan has been adopted by the county. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan will guide Jefferson County in developing a network of on- and off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities that connect municipalities and neighboring counties.
The first bicycle and pedestrian plan for Jefferson County was introduced in the 1995 Countywide Transportation Plan and generally included sidewalks along arterials and trails along major drainage ways. The adopted Jefferson County Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan consists of two maps: one for the bicycle plan and one for the pedestrian plan.
In creating the plan, staff incorporated public and agency feedback to make realistic regional recommendations with the hopes of fostering a bicycle and pedestrian network that is continuous and consistent across boundaries in cities, towns and unincorporated areas. The plan shows a long-term vision for the county and represents significant future investments.
The plan was formally adopted by the Jefferson County Planning Commission on June 13, 2012 and represents the final adopted versions. Both plan maps can be found at www.jeffco.us/bike-plan. |
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No-Cost Preschool Program Open for Enrollment
by Mallory Hyatt, Jeffco Human Services |
 Every child deserves an education. In today's economy more families are struggling to make ends meet and are worried about how they will send their children to school. Jefferson County Head Start is here to help.
With educational programming available for children ages three to five, this no-cost program is open for enrollment for the 2012-2013 school year. Come to an open house on Wednesday, July 11 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. or Thursday, Aug. 2 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at 5150 Allison Street in Arvada.
Services available at the open houses will include:
- Dental screenings
- Information on food assistance and Medicaid
- Aspen Family Services and Child Care Innovations will have information on child care assistance options
- Arvada fire department and the Sheriff's department will be there with emergency vehicles
- Jeffco Public Libraries will have story time
- St. Anthony's hospital will be doing car seat safety checks
- Carin' Clinic will be open for well child checks (uninsured and Medicaid only)
- CSU extension will be having a nutrition activity
- Jefferson Center for Mental Health will be available to provide information and answer questions
- A model classroom will be open
- Applications will be available for new families
- Teachers and the Head Start staff will be on hand to answer questions and Family Support Workers will be available to assist in the application process
Jefferson County Head Start is a no cost, comprehensive child-focused and family-centered preschool program. Head Start offers a range of individualized services in the areas of education, early childhood development, medical, dental, mental health, nutrition, family support, and parent education and training is provided to eligible families who are at the 100 percent poverty level.
Locations:
Arvada Head Start, 5150 Allison Street
Wheat Ridge Head Start, 12725 West 42nd Avenue
For more information, please contact Michelle Kalkwarf, 720-497-7908. |
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Peer Educators to Help Families Eat Better for Less
by Jackie Paone, Director of CSU Exentension |
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Julie Mendoza |
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Erika Lopez |
Jefferson County and Colorado State University Extension recently hired Erika Lopez and Julie Mendoza as peer educators for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed). They are joining Araceli Sanchez, SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator, and Bridgid McDonnell, Nutrition Program Supervisor.
Lopez and Mendoza recently received extensive training at Colorado State University and will be responsible for conducting community classes in nutrition, food safety,stretching food dollars and the importance of physical activity.
"The material we will be teaching is easy to understand and will have everything people need to know to be healthy and make changes in their lives," says Lopez.
"With our new classes, we will be able to show participants how to save money, prepare healthy meals on a busy schedule, and pass healthy eating tips along to their families," says Mendoza.
"By teaching participants how to teach their young children to eat healthy, parents can help prevent
heart disease in the next generation," said Mendoza.
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Araceli Sanchez |
The classes are free to those who qualify. Throughout the lessons, participants will receive food thermometers, water bottles, measuring cups and spoons, grocery lists, and cookbooks filled with low-cost, easy-to-prepare nutritious recipes.
For more information call Brigid McDonnell at (303) 271-6635, or stop by the Jefferson County CSU Extension Office at 15200 West Sixth Avenue, Golden, CO. |
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July Public Health Updates
by Nancy Braden, Jeffco Public Health | |
Summertime health risks and how to prevent them provided by Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH).
It's Hot Outside! Protect Yourself, Family and Pets
 Infants and young children are sensitive to the effects of extreme heat, and must rely on other people to keep them cool and hydrated.
- Never leave infants or children in a parked car. Nor should pets be left in parked cars. They can suffer heat related illness too.
- Dress infants and children in loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Seek medical care immediately if your child has symptoms of heat-related illness.
- Drink plenty of water
Splish. Splash. Practice Healthy Swimming Behaviors
JCPH encourages healthy swimming behaviors to reduce the risk of recreational water illnesses (RWI), which are illnesses that are spread by swallowing, breathing or having contact with contaminated water from swimming pools, spas, lakes, rivers or oceans. RWIs can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including gastrointestinal, skin, respiratory, neurological and wound infections. The most commonly reported RWI is diarrhea. Diarrheal illnesses can be caused by germs such as Crptosporidium, Giradia, Shigella, norovirus and E. coli.
Practice healthy swimming behaviors:
- Refrain from swimming when ill, especially if you have diarrhea.
- Avoid swallowing pool water or even getting in your mouth.
- Shower before swimming and wash hands after using bathroom or changing diapers. Change diapers in bathroom and not at poolside or near water.
JCPH performs routine inspections of year round public and semi-public pools/spas. Follow-up inspections are performed as needed. JCPH also offers a two-day course is designed to prepare individuals in the basic knowledge, techniques and skills of pool-spa operations.
For more information about Recreational Water Illness Prevention and Healthy Swimming, contact Leslie Frank, Environmental Health Specialist at 303-271-5776. Information can also be found on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website.
Safe Sex
JCPH Family Planning Program provides comprehensive contraceptive services to Jefferson County residents. Services include education, counseling, medical examination, treatment and birth control methods for men and women.
Reproductive health and birth control (family planning) services are available at the Arvada and Lakewood clinic locations. Services are provided on a sliding fee scale and to people with Medicaid. No one is denied services due to the inability to pay. In addition to providing birth control pills and condoms to prevent unintended pregnancies, the department offers alternatives through long acting birth control methods.
Remember, some activities are definitely high risk for HIV, STD and hepatitis infection. Protect yourself and your partner, wear a condom and get tested! For appointments in Lakewood: 303-239-7078 or in Arvada: 303-275-7500.
Sun Safety
 At 93 million miles away . . . . You could Miss the Warning Label! Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. Learn more and protect yourself on CDC's website, from available handouts or from skin cancer in Colorado information.
Do You Know the 4 D's of West Nile Virus Prevention?
The best way to protect yourself, your family and your community from mosquito bites, is to follow the four D's:
DRAIN: Drain or empty standing water around your home and neighborhood, since that is where mosquitoes lay their eggs.
DUSK/DAWN: Take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing during evening and early morning (dusk and dawn) or consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times when mosquitoes are most active.
DRESS: Dress in long sleeves and pants during dusk and dawn or in areas where mosquitoes are active. Wearing light-colored clothing may also help prevent being bitten.
DEET, Picariden or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus: Wear insect repellant containing either DEET, Picariden or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- Follow label instructions
- Apply repellants to exposed skin and/or clothing.
- Never use repellants over cuts, wounds or irritated skin
- If using DEET, choose the concentration that best fits the amount of time spent outside.
- 25 percent DEET lasts up to five hours
- Five percent lasts 45-90 minutes
- Use a concentration of 30 percent or less for children
- DEET should not be used on children less than six months of age. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children less than three years of age.
Produce & Health Fair
 JCPH Nutrition Services has organized produce and health fairs again this year for low-income residents and seniors who may not otherwise have access to fresh fruits and vegetables. While there are no income or residential requirements to participate, organizers trust that their goal of providing nourishment and education to low-income residents will be respected and supported.
- 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. |
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