Week of December 22, 2022
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An edition of the Littleton Independent A publication of
VOLUME 22 | ISSUE 5
Colorado lawmakers address Centennial Airport concerns FAA pushed to attend meetings BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
insecurity across the metro area. “Our focus is fresh food, which a lot of food markets, food banks are not able to provide,” McPherson said. “Dairy, whole grains, produce, protein, protein alternatives depending on people’s diets… We’re more than just the cans and the boxes of food.” According to Hunger Free Colorado, about 1 in 3 Coloradans lack reliable access to nutritious foods. If IFCS is not able to secure enough funding before the new year, it will be required to limit market visits to once a month for families and individuals who use its services, according to a press release from IFCS.
U.S. Rep. Jason Crow and U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper have asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address concerns pertaining to Centennial Airport. On Dec. 14, the three lawmakers signed a letter to FAA’s Acting Administrator Billy Nolen, requesting the administration engage with the community more and in a “good faith discussion on revisiting changes made by the FAA to the air traffic pattern,” the letter states. Centennial Airport, located at 7565 S. Peoria St., is a general aviation airport. According to the FAA, it is one of the 25 busiest airports in the U.S. and averages 1,000 takeoffs and landings per day. Some residents have been demanding action be taken at the airport to address safety concerns and reduce air traffic and noise, even forming a group, “Quiet Skies Over Arapahoe County.” The group has a website, bit.ly/quietskies. In an interview with Colorado Community Media on Thursday, Crow said there were a number of residents who contacted his office, expressing concerns about the airport. “A letter is one of the mechanisms
SEE FOOD BANK, P10
SEE AIRPORT, P6
Santa traded his sled for skates recently as South Suburban Parks and Recreation District hosted him for a day of skating PHOTO BY THELMA GRIMES and fun at the Family Sports complex in Centennial.
Inflation, high demand challenge local food bank Community support needed BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
When S.T. became a single mother in March 2022, she found herself in a place of need. Thanks to an Englewood-based nonprofit organization called Integrated Family Community Services (IFCS), she was able to find assistance to help her pay one month of rent and feed her 5-year-old son as she worked to get back on her feet. But as the country’s economic condition worsens, IFCS is facing potential limitations in the services
it provides. With a higher demand than ever, the effects of inflation and the discontinuation of grants that supported their work during the pandemic, IFCS is turning to the community for support. “We’re all about really stepping out in faith, in trust, and hoping that the community kind of backfills or stands in the gap with us,” Director of Development Todd McPherson said. Challenges
The organization offers financial assistance, school supplies, holiday grocery boxes and recreation center vouchers for families and individuals in need. But of all its services, IFCS is best known for its food market, which aims to combat food
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 22
FORCED TO FLEE
Asylum-seeker charts a path in the Denver suburbs P14