Join Mayor Hancock, Councilman Nevitt, and your neighbors TONIGHT at Ruby Hill from 5:00 to 8:30 for the FREE "Playing for Change" concert benefit the future site of Levitt Pavilion Denver.

Before the performance, audience members of all ages are invited to participate in a drum circle open to all, no experience required! The first 250 people at the drum circle (which begins at 5pm) will receive a FREE Remo Sound ShapeTM (a mini-drum that is perfect for children of all ages) to take home, generously provided by tour sponsor Remo Inc., one of the world's leading drum companies. You're also welcome to bring your own. And, no experience is necessary! The Drum Circle will be led by Jon Crowder of Peak Rhythms (www.peakrhythms.com).

There will be food vendors on site, as well as a lively on-stage interview with members of the Playing For Change band, who will share their insights into the band's world movement for peace through music and the artists' inspiring personal journeys.

The inaugural Levitt National Tour will feature critically acclaimed World music sensation Playing For Change. Co-founded in 2005 by GRAMMY-winning producer Mark Johnson and Whitney Kroenke, Playing For Change is dedicated to positive social change through the universal language of music. Comprised of musicians hailing from six countries, representing four continents, the Playing For Change sound is a fusion of global influences.

Playing For Change began with a small film crew and a mobile recording studio. Its breakthrough moment came in 2009, when its video of musicians performing the song "Stand by Me" went viral. In it, musicians separated by thousands of miles across the world were united through the shared experience of creating music. The video became an instant YouTube sensation, and to date, it's been viewed 60 million times. It was the first of many "Songs Around the World" posted on YouTube by Playing For Change that have attracted viewers in the millions.

Playing For Change recordings feature the talents of hundreds of artists including U2's Bono, Keb Mo' and Manu Chao, among others. The band has appeared in concert and on recordings with such celebrated artists as Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal, Patti Smith and Vusi Mahlasela. Playing For Change has performed at legendary venues and festivals in Europe, the U.S. and Canada, Japan, Latin America and Africa.

Join Civic Center Conservancy for an Independence Eve Fireworks Celebration - July 3

There's more fun events this first week of July. After the Levitt Pavilion Denver "Playing for Change" event, head across town the next day to enjoy a fun, safe, and LEGAL fireworks display and concert at "Independence Eve at Civic Center Park" on July 3^rd at 8:00pm. The fireworks show and concert is produced by the Civic Center Conservancy and Colorado Symphony, and is FREE for all ages. For more information, click here.

Denver Police and Denver Firefighters Warn About Illegal Fireworks
Home fireworks are illegal in Denver. That includes possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling and use of fireworks - all prohibited. But home fireworks are easily available just outside the city limits. A lot of people in Denver either don't know about the law or just don't respect it. Fireworks enforcement teams will begin dramatically elevating enforcement in Denver neighborhoods, with special attention on areas known to be problematic. This year, eight patrol teams (one more than in 2013) will be out every night between June 27^th and July 5^th. Violators can incur fines up to $999.00 or 6 months in jail.

Protecting Your Pets on July 4

The festivities and fireworks can be fun for us humans on July 4^th, but it can be overwhelming for our furry friends. Fireworks can cause a state of panic and anxiety to animals because the loud noises are sporadic but intense. During this 4^th of July holiday, please take precautions to keep your pet safe and secure during fireworks:

Resist the urge to take your pet to fireworks displays.
Do not leave your pet in the car. With only hot air to breathe inside a car, your pet can suffer serious health effects-even death-in a few short minutes. Partially opened windows do not provide sufficient air, but they do provide an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.
Keep your pets indoors at home in a sheltered, quiet area. Some animals can become destructive when frightened, so be sure that you've removed any items that your pet could destroy or that would be harmful to your pet if chewed. Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep him company while you're attending Fourth of July picnics, parades, and other celebrations.
If you know that your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises like thunder, consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for ways to help alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she will experience during fireworks displays.
Never leave pets outside unattended, even in a fenced yard or on a chain. In their fear, pets who normally wouldn't leave the yard may escape and become lost, or become entangled in their chain, risking injury or death.

Make sure your pets are wearing identification tags so that if they do become lost, they can be returned promptly. Animals found running at-large should be taken to the local animal shelter, where they will have the best chance of being reunited with their owners.

Pledge to Keep Your Pets Safe from the Heat with My Dog is Cool
Is your pet cool this summer? With blistering hot summer temperatures around the corner, the Denver Animal Shelter is joining a national campaign to help raise awareness of the hazards of leaving pets in hot vehicles. The "My Dog is Cool" program helps educate pet owners about the danger of leaving pets in hot vehicles during the summer, and what steps to take if you encounter an animal left in a hot vehicle. These steps include:

Note the make/model of the vehicle, license plate number and its specific location. Note a description of the dog(s), and the condition of the dog(s), especially if any signs of distress are observed. Also note the time.
Call the local animal control agency, police or 911.
Some locations, such as malls, amusement parks or casinos, will have on-site security that may be able to take action.
Ask clerks at nearby stores/venues to make announcements using the vehicle's make/model to locate the dog's owner.
If possible, return to the vehicle to monitor the dog's condition and help responding authorities locate the vehicle.

Signs an animal is in distress include:

Excessive panting
Excessive drooling
Increased heart rate
Trouble breathing
Disorientation, stumbling or poor coordination
Diarrhea or vomiting
Collapse or loss of consciousness
Seizure
Respiratory arrest

Dogs with short noses, such as pugs, are more easily prone to heat illness; as are dogs with thick coats, such as Siberian huskies and Pomeranians.

You can take the My Dog is Cool Pledge by clicking here and sharing the pledge with others. Keep you and your dog cool this summer!

Beat the Heat by Taking a Dip in one of Denver's 29 Pools!
Dogs aren't the only ones that need to stay cool. So do you! Nothing beats the heat of summer more than taking a dip (or a splash) at one of Denver's 29 pools throughout the City. Thanks to the MY Denver Card, your kids can get FREE access to any one of Denver's great pools throughout the entire summer. Also check out the membership options for adults by clicking here. Now's the time to break out the sunscreen and floaties so you and your family can enjoy everything great about Denver's pools! Click here to beat the heat and find your neighborhood pool.

Denver Golf Offers Lessons for Adults and Kids

Not much of a water person? How about learning to play golf so you can hit the links on these beautiful summer days? Check out Denver Golf's lessons for adults throughout the summer to enjoy some of Denver's finest golf courses in the region. Click here for more details and the full schedule.

Kids also have a great opportunity to start their golf career early with the "First Tee of Denver" - a program with over 80 different classes at six golf locations that will give your kids the fundamentals and skills that will last a lifetime. Click here to view the entire schedule and descriptions of all of the First Tee of Denver classes.

Denver Park Rangers Teach Youth How to Fish this Summer

You know the saying, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime"? Well, change "feed" to "have fun", and this summer Denver Park Rangers are doing exactly that. Denver Park Rangers will be at lakes in parks around the city teaching youth and families how to fish. These events are all free and open to the public and youth will receive a free fishing pole while supplies last. To find out more please visit www.denvergov.org/parks and click on 'Park Rangers' to see a complete list of events. Please email Randi.clark@denvergov.org with any questions.

"Transit Oriented Denver" Charts a Course for City's Rail Stations

Mayor Hancock and Community Planning and Development Executive Director Brad Buchanan announced the release of a new plan that will kick-start transit oriented development (TOD) improvements in station areas across the city to help make Denver healthier, more livable and better connected.

Denver is the fastest-growing city in the West, the #1 city for Millennials, and has an aging population seeking opportunities to downsize. At the same time that our regional transit system is expanding, people are driving less, bike infrastructure is growing, and more people are living in cities. These trends, along with the rebounding economy, mean that Denver is primed for more transit-oriented development around our rail stations.

Denver's rail stations are not one-size-fits-all. The innovative new plan puts each station on its own track for success by identifying what is needed to improve its existing character, improve connectivity and enable transit-oriented development. Nearly all of the station areas have the potential to better serve Denver residents in various ways such as more complete housing and retail services, or better connections to surrounding neighborhoods with sidewalks, bike lanes or pedestrian bridges. The development that occurs around these stations is critical to delivering a more complete network of walkable urban places, increasing accessibility to transit and making housing choices more affordable. Learn more at www.DenverGov.org/TOD.

Save the Date: South Pearl Bike Corral Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony, July 17

Join Councilman Nevitt, the South Pearl Merchants Association, and Denver Public Works for a ribbon-cutting ceremony of Denver's first on-street bike corrals on July 17^th at 3:30pm. A partnership between Council District 7, South Pearl Merchants, and Denver Public Works, the on-street bike corrals are the first of their kind in the City of Denver. The corrals provide on-street bike parking for up to 12 bikes in the space of 1 automobile. More details will be announced in a separate email blast.

Denver Bike Maps Available Online and at Denver Recreation Centers

If you're a bicyclist and can only have one map of Denver, this is the one to get. It's easy to read, covers the area from Commerce City to Cherry Creek State Park, and even includes a bicycle route to the airport! Plus, it's printed on durable water-proof stuff, so it can hold up against the elements as well as you do. It also has an enlarged map of downtown, a list of local bike laws, and safety tips. Download the PDF here. You can also get a print copy from many Denver Recreation Centers or the BikeDenver office at 16^th and Wynkoop.

The best thing about the City bike map is that it shows you all of the City's recommended street routes for bicyclists. Get one today and check out all of Denver's great new striped bike lanes!

Denver's Fourth Annual Denver County Fair

Are you a fan of homemade jam? Do you long to eat a fried pickle? Want to enter a hot dog eating contest? Win a blue ribbon? You don't have to go all the way out to the country. Instead, check out the fourth annual "Denver County Fair," Aug 1^st - August 3rd at Denver's very own National Western Stockshow Complex, at 4655 Humboldt street. The fair features 17 different pavilions, each with its own theme including:

4H
Animal
Arts
Buy Local
Craft
Denver History
Farm & Garden
Fashion
Geek
Green
Holistic
Kids
Kitchen
Patio
Sports

Fun for everyone is guaranteed. Click here for ticket information.

Sick of Graffiti? Join the Denver "Brush Off" Community Challenge

Tired of seeing graffiti your neighborhood? Become part of a movement to keep our communities graffiti-free. The "Brush Off" program asks folks to adopt a frequently vandalized spot in their neighborhood and pledge to keep it clean. The program provides paint and supplies; the community provides elbow grease and commitment. Take the pledge today!

Denver Urban Renewal Authority Home Repair Program

Have you been putting off critical home repairs? This summer, take the steps necessary to preserve your house and protect your home. For more than 35 years, the Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) has provided low- or zero-interest loans to qualifying low- and moderate- income Denver homeowners for needed home improvements and emergency home repairs. Qualifying repairs include: roofing, furnace, plumbing, water heater & sewer line repair/replacement, exterior/interior painting, windows, & doors, kitchen & bathroom repairs, electrical, sidewalks & driveways, insulation, and handicap accessibility. Loans are processed on a first come, first qualified basis, and funds are limited. For more information, including loan guidelines, contact DURA at 303-534-3872.

Denver Urban Renewal Authority Tips for Homeowners on Maintaining Solid Foundations

Home ownership is a great investment, but it is one that takes regular attention to make sure that it retains value. While many owners focus on the most visible parts of the home, one of the most important is often invisible: the foundation.

All houses settle to some degree, but extreme ground shifting or water damage can cause real problems. In particular, a damaged foundation can create serious safety issues, so it is critical not to ignore warning signs.

Here are a few things to keep an eye out for:

Cracks in the sheetrock around the house
Doors and windows that become difficult to open and close
Cracks in the floors, walls or ceilings
Walls that lean or bulge in the middle
Leaking faucets or cracked pipes
Sloping or sagging floors

If any of these issues is noticeable, seek professional help before more damage occurs or someone gets hurt. However, if you're in good shape, then here are a couple of things that you can do to stay that way:

Maintain your Sump Pump: Just like wood, concrete can be damaged by water. Most home foundations are made of concrete, and it is important to make sure that they are waterproofed below grade when laid. From there, it's just an issue of removing pooling water, and a sump pump is the best way to do that.

Gutters: Gutters are a simple and affordable means to collect and redirect water away from your foundation. Make sure that the gutter downspouts on your home have extensions at the bottom to move water away from the foundation and into the yard. Ideally, extensions should be about 5 feet long. Affordable, quality brands can be purchased at hardware and supply stores. Additionally, homeowners should clean their gutters at least once a year to prevent clogging and damage.

Four Great Recycling Tips for the Summer Months

Recycling in Denver this summer is easy and free! Here are a four different ways you can save money, reduce the waste from your home and maximize the use of free recycling services offered through Denver Recycles:

Free Compost Classes: Take a free two-hour class and learn how you can get your backyard composting pile kick-started, then apply your knowledge and your garden will thank you!Backyard composting is a fun way to reduce the amount of yard waste you throw away and improve your lawn at the same time. In partnership with Denver Urban Gardens, Denver Recycles offers "Learn to Compost" classes through October at the Denver Compost Demonstration Site (13^th and Colorado). To review the class schedule and register for a class, visit dug.org/compost or call 303-292-9900.

Free Appliance Recycling: Recycle your unwanted household appliances by scheduling a free pick up through Denver Recycles.Discarded appliances not only take up a lot of space in the landfill, they are also completely recyclable! All Denver residents serviced by Solid Waste Management are eligible for free appliance recycling collection service. By scheduling your collection through Denver Recycles you ensure that all metals are recycled and Freon gases from refrigerated appliances are handled in an environmentally safe manner. To schedule a pick-up, visit DenverGov.org/DenverRecycles or call call 1-800-479-4159.

Free Recycling at Parks: If your travels take you to Washington Park, Cheeseman Park or City Park this summer take the opportunity to recycle your materials in one of the new large purple recycling containers.Denver Recycles is partnering with Denver Parks & Recreation to pilot this recycling program in three parks. Recycle your cans, plastic bottles and containers, cardboard, paper and other items. Remember,plastic bags, pet waste, Styrofoam, food or trash are not recyclable and should not be placed in these containers.

Free Residential Recycling: Of course, Denver residents can always recycle at home in their purple carts. In 2013, 71% of eligible Denver households had recycling services. While this number is high, it still means that nearly 30% of eligible households in Denver are not recycling at home! If you live in a single family home or multi-family home with 7 or less units, you can get free recycling. If you already have service, please let your neighbors know that they can get free recycling too. Remember, you do not need to own your home to sign-up for service.

To take advantage of any or all of these FREE recycling opportunities offered by Denver, call 311 (720-913-1311) or visit DenverGov.org/DenverRecycles.

Sign up for Electronic Service Reminders and Never Forget Collection Day Again

Have you ever lost track of your recycling or trash collection days? Do you ever have trouble remembering your large item pick-up schedule? Now remembering your recycling and trash collection days is easier than ever for Denver residents. Solid Waste Management/Denver Recycles has upgraded the electronic reminder service capabilities and now residents can quickly look up their service schedules, sign-up for service reminders, or download a free trash and recycling phone app. Sign-up today for one of the convenient reminder options!

Denver Recycles now offers 3 easy ways to get a reminder:

1) By Email: Select whether you want to receive emails the day before collection or day of collection, as well as the time of the day you want to be sent the email.

2) By Phone: Select whether you want to receive calls the day before collection or day of collection, as well as the time of the day (must be between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.) to receive the call.

3) By Calendar updates:Choose this option to import your unique service calendars into iCal, Outlook, or Google calendars. For residents that want to print out copies, a downloadable service calendar is also available.

Get the Free Denver Trash and Recycling Phone App: The "Denver Trash and Recycling" phone app is now available for free on both iTunes and Google Play. Please take a moment to download the free app and you will never forget your trash or recycling day again. The phone app sends reminders directly to your Smartphone and allows you to quickly look up your service calendar at any time as well as identify which week your large items will be collected.

To sign up for the trash, recycling, and large item pick-up service reminders visit the "Recycling Reminder" web page at DenverGov.org/DenverRecycles or call 311 (720-913-1311).

Learn how to "Grasscycle" to Keep Your Lawn, and Environment Healthy

Do your part for the environment and commit to "Grasscycling" this summer. It's easy! Instead of bagging and throwing away your grass clippings, leave them on the lawn (or ask your lawn service to do so). "Grasscycling" is the natural way to recycle grass clippings and provide your lawn with the valuable nutrients and water it needs. Leaving clippings on the lawn helps water conservation efforts as well. Click here to learn more about all the great benefits of Grasscycling.

Bring More Pollinators to Your Garden

Denver Parks and Recreation's Natural Areas program wants to help you attract more pollinators to your garden at home. About 75 percent of flowering plants rely on pollinators, such as bees, birds and butterflies. Now that summer is here, there's no better time to add plants and flowers to your garden that will help attract these important visitors. Attracting them into your garden not only adds lots of movement, it also adds beauty and color.

One of the most attractive pollinators is the monarch butterfly and milkweed is an important host plant and food source for the caterpillars. Butterfly Weed, Showy Milkweed and Common Milkweed are all types of plants that will increase your chances of having butterfly visitors this summer.

Some other favorite flowers of pollinators are Cosmos, Zinnias, Bee Balm, Butterfly Bush and Asters. To learn more about native flowers and their benefits, follow Denver Parks and Recreation on Facebook and Twitter and look out for the #DPRNatAreas "Flower Friday" posts.

Rosedale Harvard Gulch Neighborhood Association Garden Tours
The Rosedale Harvard Gulch Neighborhood Association (RHGNA)is seeking volunteers to open their gardens for the second annual Harvard Gulch Neighborhood Garden Tour. If you have a veggie and/or flower garden you are willing to show, please contact Bev Cox at 303-778-1018. The garden tour is scheduled for Saturday July 12th from 10:00am until 3:00pm. The tour will happen only if seven or more neighborhood folks are willing to open their gardens for viewing. Please consider sharing your garden with neighbors. It is a great opportunity to show off your hard work, meet folks who live in the neighborhood and share your passion for gardens.

Follow Councilman Nevitt on Social Media

Are you plugged in and regularly "Tweet" on Twitter or "Like" on Facebook? You're in luck! Councilman Nevitt has emerged from the stone age and joined the brave new world of social media. Now you can find him on Twitter and Facebook. Follow the Councilman on Twitter at @CNevittLucky7, and find him on Facebook here. Be on the look-out for Lucky District 7 updates and information from our new social media platforms!

July Calendar Link

Click here to visit the District 7 website

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