Citizen CENTENNIAL 2.8.13
Centennial
Arapahoe County, Colorado • Volume 12, Issue 12
A
s Valentine’s Day approaches, it’s appropriate to reflect on some of the many great loves throughout the ages. Cleopatra and Mark Antony; Romeo and Juliet; Scarlett and Rhett — each following their hearts against the odds. Now, add to that list five endearing Centennial couples that, collectively, have been married for more than 280 years. Challenging the odds, as well as statistics indicating more than one in three marriages end in divorce, these Holly Creek Retirement Community residents offer some practical and humorous advice for keeping it together for so many years.
PHOTOS BY DEBORAH GRIGSBY
Bill and Marily Keebler will celebrate 61 years together on June 7. The couple credits their strong faith, a lot of “stick-toit-iveness” and “knowing when to pick a fight and when to let things simmer.”
You can’t hurry love
Centennial residents Jack and Jana Vente have been married for more than 60 years. The couple immigrated to Canada from the Netherlands in 1952, eventually making the United States their home. They say one of the secrets to an enduring relationship is good cooking and to never take an argument too seriously.
February 8, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourcentennialnews.com
City again is ranked as safest Centennial’s crime numbers best in state, 41st in the nation Staff report For the eighth consecutive year, Centennial has been named the safest city in Colorado, among those with a population of more than 75,000. It ranks 41st out of 432 cities of that size nationwide, according to the publication City Crime Rankings 20122013: Crime in Metropolitan America, published by CQ Press. The number is down from previous years. CQ Press ranked Centennial 23rd among 400 cities in its 2010-2011 report, and 16th among 400 in its 2011-2012 report. “This eight-year accomplishment as the safest city in Colorado is truly remarkable. It reflects the Noon dedication of the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office to keep the city safe, year after year,” said Mayor Cathy Noon. “This is a great accomplishment and privilege for all who live, work and play in Centennial.” Other Colorado cities and their rankings include Arvada at 59; Longmont, 73; Fort Collins, 116; Boulder, 120; Westminster, 147; Greeley, 173; Thornton, 175; Aurora, 235; Lakewood, 259; Colorado Springs, 278; Denver, 328; and Pueblo, 354. The crime-rate rankings of the cities and metropolitan areas are calculated using six crime categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft. These categories have been used for determining city crime rate ratings since 1999. The rankings include all cities of at least 75,000 residents that reported crime data to the FBI in these categories. City Crime Rankings is one of five annual reference books published by CQ Press that analyze and rank states and cities in various categories.
Doty doing double duty Commissioner still serves as clerk and recorder By Deborah Grigsby
dgrigsby@ourcoloradonews.com
Ben and Betsy Casillas joke they are in an “arranged” marriage. An apartment complex maintenance man played matchmaker with the two, eventually setting them on course for a marriage that has lasted 36 years to date. They say their secret is not to rush into a relationship and to always give each other space. “Being joined at the hip” is not always a good thing.
Married for 64 “very happy years,” Fred and Beverly Rein have weathered many storms and agree that good communication is the key to a lasting relationship. The Colorado natives said that was a hard lesson they learned in 1980 when Fred accidentally directed Beverly’s snowmobile over a cliff.
If you ask Tom Lindblom how long he’s been married to his lovely bride Alice, he’s quick to quip “about 400 years.” And if you ask Alice why they have stayed together so long, she points to her “good disposition.” Married for 63 years, both agree the best bet for keeping it together so long is hands-down, “a king-sized bed.”
While a mysterious letter that halted the appointment of her replacement continues to raise eyebrows, Nancy Doty is stuck doing double duty, still serving as Arapahoe County clerk and recorder after being sworn in as District 1 county commissioner. Doty, who was sworn in as commissioner on Jan. 8, has yet to tender her resignation as clerk and recorder, but plans to do so prior to the appointment of a replacement, according to county spokeswoman Andrea Rasizer. Doty continues on Page 7
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