With the end of the year rapidly approaching I can't help but reflect on the effort of the vast array of individuals and groups that have helped create the wonderful sense of community within the Town.  While I can't possibly thank everyone, I would like to highlight a few.

As in years past, the members of the Town's advisory committees have spent countless hours working on a multitude of items ranging from historic preservation to open space protection to enhancing park amenities and more.  I believe it is safe to say that without their efforts many of the Town's most important goals would never come to fruition. These committees work closely with the Town Board and staff toward the common goal of ensuring a very special community to live in now and for the future.

I continue to be astonished by the parents and others that volunteer on behalf of our community's children.  So many make time in their busy schedules to help coach and organize team activities, others help out with after-school programs, tutoring, scouting, and fundraisers for school programs and events.  I can think of no other community that supports so many opportunities for children through volunteer effort. These dedicated volunteers model the conduct I believe our youth will carry with them and pass on as they grow up and become parents themselves.

A special thanks to those volunteers who work with non-profit organizations in the region.  While too many to name, we all benefit from the time you take to serve meals to those in need, work  on improving a trail system, picking up trash along a road or highway, or simply helping out your neighbor by raking up leaves or shoveling snow.  

I would be remiss if I didn't offer my personal thanks to the Town Manager and Town staff for all of their hard work throughout the year.  It is throughout their efforts that the Town's operations continue to perform at such a high level.

By Paula Lewis

As a resident of the Town of Superior, you will see a coyote from time to time.  Coyotes are seen in our open spaces and even in our residential areas at all times of day.  Coyotes are curious, playful, and adaptable creatures.  They are beneficial predators that provide many free ecosystem services, including helping to keep rodent populations in check.

Coyote Behavior and Ecology:

What you may not know is that even in fragmented and urbanized landscapes, coyotes play an integral role in their environment by helping to maintain healthy ecosystems and species diversity.  They become more vocal and active during mating season (January-February), more territorial when rearing their pups (April-August), and start to disperse from their family members in the Fall (September-November). 

Coyotes feed on a wide variety of mammals, insects, vegetables and fruit, though rodents and rabbits are most often their main food source. They have the unique ability to survive and even thrive on whatever food is available. This adaptive trait allows them to adjust to human populated communities.

How to Live with Coyotes:

The Town of Superior encourages residents to remove items from their property that attract wildlife such as dog/cat food, water sources, bird feeders; fallen fruit from trees.  These actions will lessen coyote interactions with humans and their pets. When conflicts do occur between people and coyotes, the root cause is often unintentional (or intentional) feeding of coyotes and other wildlife.  

Coyotes may prey on cats and small dogs that are left outside of the home unattended.  To prevent these unfortunate situations, cats and dogs should be protected, and not allowed to roam (keep cats indoors and walk dogs on leashes when recreating in open space).  Besides keeping an eye on pets and removing obvious food sources, keeping yards free of overgrown bushes, trees, tall grasses, and maintaining a clean, well manicured garden will help deter coyotes from wanting to make your backyard their new home.

Simple solutions that can help:

• Keep cats indoors
• Walk your dog on a leash
• Supervise pets when they go out in the backyard
• Don't leave pet food (or water) outside
• Secure garbage cans and compost piles
• Pick up fallen fruit from your fruit trees (coyotes love fruit!)
• Keep bird feeders clean of fallen bird seed (which also attracts rodents)
• Reduce hiding and denning areas around homes by keeping a clean yard and neighborhood

Hazing is also a proactive way to keep coyotes at bay. If a coyote is in your backyard or you see one in the neighborhood, practice the following hazing techniques such as: waving arms and yelling in an authoritative voice, banging pots and pans, throwing rocks, sticks, and tennis balls toward the coyote(s). It is important to haze the coyote until he/she leaves the area. You are essentially removing the "welcome mat"!  

It is CRITICAL that every person take responsibility to keep coyotes wild and wary of humans!  Our goal is to keep humans and pets safe so that everyone can appreciate coyotes from a distance.

Click on the Hot Deals button below and see what the Superior Chamber of Commerce members are offering to you.  You can visit the website at anytime, www.superiorchamber.com, to see what businesses are Superior Chamber members and also the most current deals being offered.  We encourage you to use the businesses that support our community. 

Wednesday, December 7

6:30-7:30 pm

Rocky Mountain Tunes for Rocky Mountain Kids

Rocky Mountain Music will perform some totally hip, fun, down-home family mountain tunes.

Saturday, December 10

11:00 am-12:30 pm

Colorado Weather, From the Mountains to the Prairies by Colorado Mountain Club

Learn how to observe and investigate Colorado's weather; find clues about weather; and experiment with static electricity using a Van de Graff generator.

With Thanksgiving behind us the landscape is twinkling with Christmas lights.  Now is a great time before the holiday bustle is in full swing to review some key personal and home safety topics. 

As ice begins to form on the lakes and streams in the next month, please keep your pets on leash and remind children to stay off the ice. Take time to prepare your vehicle for winter driving conditions and slow down when the roads are wet or icy.   Dress children warmly for outdoor play and watch the news for the wind chill factor.  Keep pets indoors during extreme weather conditions.

Keep your home safe from fire and water damage by taking some preventative steps now.  Candles should not be left unattended.  Outlets should not be overloaded.  Outdoor hoses should be drained and unattached from the house every time they are used in the winter.  Houses should be kept above 55 degrees and cabinet doors with plumbing inside left open during extreme cold to prevent freezing and broken pipes.  If you are going on vacation have a trusted neighbor or friend check on your home.  If you are using the fireplace be sure your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are functioning properly.  Have your furnace checked by a trained technician.