Denver Parks & Recreation and Winter Park Resort are proud to announce the opening of the Ruby Hill Rail Yard for another exciting season! The Ruby Hill Rail Yard -- a man-made snow terrain park for skiers and snowboarders -- is expected to stay open for a six week season thanks to the efforts of snowmaking equipment and cool conditions over the last month. Snowboard and ski fanatics will be stoked to discover seven different rails of varying configurations and skill levels, and novices will appreciate the designated learning area.

While most resorts require a long drive and thick wallet, the Ruby Hill Railyard is conveniently located in Denver's own backyard and FREE to all. Thankfully, the recent cold and snowy weather has made the conditions perfect for a day on the hill, so get out there as soon as possible to take advantage of Denver's own powder-packed Ruby Hill!

Open daily from 5:00am to 11:00pm for as long as conditions will allow snow-making.

Free ski and snowboard rentals for kids 8 to 17 while supplies last:

Fridays:             3:00 pm - 8:00pm
Saturdays:        11:00 am - 7:00pm
Sundays:          11:00 am - 5:00pm

Parents are required to fill out an equipment rental release and waiver. Click here for more information.

Denver Police Department District 3 and 4 Citizens' Police Academy

Ever wanted to know what it takes to be an officer in the Denver Police Department? Want to learn more about Denver Police policies, procedures, and laws? Now is your chance to sign up for the Denver Police Department Citizens' Police Academy to get first-hand insight on what it takes to keep our communities safe and secure. The Academy will meet 10 times throughout the year, and participants will learn about:

Officer safety
Internal affairs investigations
Domestic violence
Traffic laws and demonstrations in arrest control techniques (ACT)
Defensive emergency vehicle operation (DEVOC)

For more information, and registration instructions, click here.

Colorado Bike Summit - February 10 - 11, Downtown Denver
Are you interested in seeing better bike policy in Colorado? Do you believe cycling also has an economic impact on our state? Want to talk more about job creation, tourism growth, transportation planning, mountain bike trails, land preservation, and investments in health and the environment? This event is for you!

Hosted by Bicycle Colorado the summit will bring together advocates, industry leaders, on- and off-road recreational cyclists, commuters, elected officials, and staff from across the state. The keynote speakers are Governor John Hickenlooper and Andy Clarke from the League of American Bicyclists.

Visit Bicycle Colorado for a complete agenda and additional information.

Love is in the Air at the Denver Clerk & Recorder's Office on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is one of the city's most popular days for sweethearts to tie the knot, and the cupids at the Denver Clerk & Recorder's Office plan to make it sweet for couples who come in on Friday, February 14 for a marriage or civil union license.

The office will be decorated in a Valentine theme including the "Sweetheart Bistro" (known on other days as the Clerk and Recorder conference room), featuring refreshments and gifts for couples, and an opportunity to have their pictures taken in front of a romantic backdrop. Herbie the Love Judge (retired Denver County Judge Herbert Galchinsky) and several other Denver judges, including a bilingual judge, are expected to be on hand to accommodate couples who want to get hitched right on the spot.

Local businesses and Denver city agencies have once again shown the Valentine's Day spirit by donating a variety of gifts for the couples. Mayor Michael B. Hancock is expected to drop by to preside over a wedding or civil union. And for a honeymoon to be remembered for a lifetime, Southwest Airlines will be giving away a pair of airline tickets to one lucky couple.

Couples now have the option of starting the marriage license or civil union license application process online at www.DenverClerkandRecorder.org.

The Office of the Clerk and Recorder is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with licenses issued up to 4:30 p.m. It is located just inside the Court Place entrance to the Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building, 201 W. Colfax Ave., in downtown Denver.

"Meet Your Perfect Match" in time for Valentine's Day - at the Denver Municipal Animal Shelter

After your romantic trip to the Denver Clerk and Recorders Office, you'll also want to adopt a sweet pup or kitten to share in your new love. Thankfully, on February 15^thand 16^th, the Denver Municipal Animal Shelter (DMAS) will play match-maker between potential adopters and their future furry family-members. DMAS will be open on February 15^th and 16^th from 10:00a.m. to 3:00p.m., and will be offering "sweetheart" deals on adoption fees: $85 for dogs, $50 for cats, and $10 for small animals. Trying to find a companion for an existing pet? Bring your pet along (just make sure they are vaccinated) and let them help you choose a new friend.

To learn more visit: www.DenverGov.org/AnimalCare, call (303) 698-0076, or stop by the state-of-the-art shelter at 1241 West Bayaud Avenue.

Recycle 2 More Pounds a Week

While recycling in Denver has been increasing steadily for the past decade, our overall recycling rate is only 14 percent. In comparison, the Colorado recycling rate is 26 percent and the national average is 34 percent. If everyone in Denver who recycles could recycle 2 more pounds a week in 2014 we could significantly increase recycling.

Recycling 2 More Pounds a Week Is Simple!

If you recycled three more glass bottles and one more newspaper you would recycle 2 more pounds. Or, four small cardboard boxes and a six pack of aluminum cans could also give you 2 more pounds. You can mix and match any way you want, just make sure you are keeping all of your recyclables out of the trash.

Ways to Help You Recycle More

Know What Can Be Recycled. Denver Recycles has added a number of acceptable items over the last couple of years, so make sure you are recycling all that you can. Check out the most recent recycling guidelines at DenverGov.org/DenverRecycles and make sure you are putting all those recyclables in your purple cart.

Look Beyond the Kitchen. Most people do a great job of getting all of the aluminum foil and cans, plastic milk jugs, and food and beverage cartons from the kitchen into their recycling cart, but getting items from other parts of the house, especially from bathrooms, can be a bit more challenging. Make sure you are recycling things like empty toilet paper rolls, empty tissue boxes, and empty shampoo and mouthwash bottles. Consider putting a recycling bin in more rooms of your home.

Bring Your Recyclables Home. When you are out and about, running errands or having fun, don't throw recyclables like cans or bottles away! Bring them home to recycle in your purple recycling cart. Consider keeping a bag dedicated for recyclables in your car.

Talk About Recycling. Encourage your friends and neighbors to sign up for recycling and challenge them to recycle all they can! Denver makes it easy to recycle but often it is the personal connection that makes someone an avid recycler.

Upsize Your Cart. If you are consistently overfilling your cart please call 311 to upsize your recycling cart. If you already have a 95-gallon cart you can ask for a second cart so that you never have to dispose of recyclable items in the trash because you run out of room in your recycling cart. There is no fee for this service.

Denver Recycles needs your help to get the "good stuff" out of your trash and into your purple recycling carts! About 75% of what Denver residents throw away can easily be recycled or composted.

Community Forester 2014 Workshops

Calling all green thumbs! It's time, once again, to sign up for Community Forester training through The Park People and Denver Parks and Recreation. This popular workshop series offers volunteers both knowledge and skills training in tree biology, planting, pruning, identification and more. Registration is open through February 27, 2014. Classes begin March 1, 2014. Those interested should register at www.TheParkPeople.org.

Community Foresters serve a vital role in their communities by leading and participating in tree distribution and planting events, canvassing neighborhoods for new tree planting opportunities, conducting tree health checks, pruning young trees, and serving as tree advocates.

Community Forester volunteers participate in activities with The Park People and the Denver

Forestry Office, and meet lots of wonderful people who share their passion to protect Denver's urban canopy and environment.

Manufacturing Expo and Job Fair - February 13^th

The Denver Office of Economic Development (OED) is hosting a Manufacturing Expo and Job Fair on Thursday, February 13, as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the regional climate for manufacturing and build a better workforce to meet employers' growing needs.

The free event will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the McNichols Civic Center Building, 144 W. Colfax. It is open to the public, although the first 90 minutes of the job fair is reserved for veterans only, with other job-seekers welcome after noon.

In Denver, OED has formed an Advanced Manufacturing Advisory Council to address these workforce deficits as well as pursue collaborative projects with partners such as the Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Alliance, the Colorado Association of Manufacturing and Technology, and the Rocky Mountain Tooling and Machining Association. Among other initiatives, the council is developing outreach to educate teens and young adults about the opportunities for careers in manufacturing.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are currently 379 manufacturing establishments in the City and County of Denver that employ nearly 8,000 workers. The average annual earnings per manufacturing job in Colorado is $74,786.

Employers in the manufacturing industry and other training/education providers who are interested in booth space at the Expo are encouraged to contact Tony Anderson, Business Services supervisor, at 720-865-5572 or Tony.Anderson@DenverGov.org. Job seekers interested in attending the Expo must create a profile at ConnectingColorado.com and pre-register at ManufacturingPublic.Eventbrite.com.

Eat, Drink & Be Merry - Denver Restaurant Week

One of our favorite (and most gluttonous) weeks is before us! Starting February 22, Denver's annual Restaurant Week will once again take place to highlight the local culinary scene with a wide variety of participating restaurants. During this week-long foodie affair, restaurateurs offer an exclusive menu that showcases their best dishes for the fixed price of $60 for two, or $30 for one (not including tax or gratuity).

Visit www.DenverRestaurantWeek.com to see a complete list of participating restaurants. New restaurants and menus are being added daily, so check back for more great Denver Restaurant Week options. Reservations are already filling up, so make yours today! Restaurant Week will also take place August 23-29, 2014.

Protect Your Pets From Coyotes

Coyote breeding season has arrived and will last through mid March. Look out! As the weather gets colder and food gets scarcer, coyotes become more territorial in anticipation of breeding and protecting their pups. Coyotes are ambush predators who typically hunt by themselves, putting small outdoor pets at risk. Coyotes avoid contact with people so the best way to protect your pet is to keep them close to you, preferably inside, especially after dark.

If you see a coyote don't run away. Make eye contact and act like the biggest, meanest person ever seen before aggressively chasing the coyote away. The more people harass or "haze" a coyote the more it will avoid people. Visit www.DenverGov.org/Wildlife or call a wildlife ecologist at 303-455-0785 for additional information.

311: There's an App for That!

Reporting code violations and asking questions has never been easier. If you haven't checked out the City's 311 mobile app yet, then be sure to download it for quick and easy on- the-go access to city information and services. Available for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, and Android devices, the 311 mobile app can be used to request assistance from Denver's 311 Help Center, track the outcome of a request, recognize the location of a complaint with GPS technology, upload photos of a problem, and transmit inquiries on a wide range of topics. To learn more and download the app, visit the 311 website here.

Don't have a fancy touch device? 311 has something for you too: an upgraded online help system to make it easier to request services and access general information with your mobile phone or computer. Go to www.DenverGov.org/311 and check out the following:

Recycling and trash pickup schedules
Motor vehicle registration and renewal requirements
Business licensing requirements
Graffiti removal

Unwanted Phone Books? Opt Out!

Want to free up space in your recycle container? Opt out of home phone book delivery. Conserve energy, prevent pollution, and let go of the guilt that comes with chucking a brand new book into the purple bin, by contacting the following Colorado phone book publishers:

Dex: 1-866-606-9339 or www.DexKnows.com/Green

Yellow Book: 1-800-929-3556

Verizon: 1-800-888-8448

Others: www.YellowPagesOptOut.com

Free Junk Appliance Collection

Did you know that Denver residents serviced by Solid Waste Management can schedule FREE pick-up of their junk appliances? The City contracts with EcoProjex to allow Denver residents to recycle metal appliances and ensure that Freon gas from refrigerated appliances are handled in a environmentally safe and responsible manner.

To schedule a collection appointment call 1-800-479-4159 or visit www.ecoprojex.com/denver-pick-up

Appliances eligible for collection include:

Refrigerators
Freezers
Air conditioners
Washers & dryers
Stoves/Ovens
Hot water heaters
Furnaces
Dishwashers
Microwave ovens

Once you have your appointment you will need to set your appliance out by 7 a.m. in the same location that you set out your trash. For safety reasons, please remove refrigerator doors or duct tape them shut before setting them out for collection.

February Calendar Link

Click here to visit the District 7 website

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