An edition of the Littleton Independent
WEEK OF JULY 6, 2023
VOLUME 22 | ISSUE 33
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Storm season — the good, bad and ugly Getting too much of a good thing BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Day website. Stations offering breakfast and biking resources were scattered throughout the metro Denver area, including at the Arapahoe Road Trailhead in Centennial, which is located along the Cherry Creek Regional Trail. The bike station was hosted by Arapahoe County Open Spaces in partnership with the City of Centennial, Denver South and the Giant of Centennial bike shop, according to the county’s website.
When it provides vibrant green grass, supports the growth of native wildflowers and feeds our reservoirs, there is beauty in rain. But it also comes with a dark side as storms can wreak havoc and damage homes, vehicles and roadways. This spring, parts of the Denver metro area saw record breaking amounts of rain along with a longer and more consistent rain pattern. “It’s almost biblical in nature,” said Bryan Weimer, Arapahoe County director of public works and development. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Douglas, Arapahoe and Jefferson counties have seen rainfall above average. Over the past 129 years, Douglas County saw its fourth wettest May on record with 3.63 inches above normal, making it the 13th wettest year on record. Arapahoe County saw its fifth wettest May with 3.29 inches of rain above normal and Jefferson County saw its 7th wettest May with 2.28 inches of rain above normal. While some may have loved the gloomy days, listening to the sound of rain falling, for others, it posed an ongoing issue as well as citizen safety.
SEE BIKE, P4
SEE RAIN, P9
Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Deputy Adam Nardi, who serves as a school resource officer, was joined by therapy dog Riley for a visit COURTESY OF CITY OF CENTENNIAL to the Arapahoe Road Trailhead bike station on June 28.
Bike to Work Day celebration highlights value of cycling BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Under the summer morning sun, commuters across Colorado ditched their cars and opted to ride their bikes for Bike to Work Day. A cycling enthusiast herself, Dawn Small, communication strategist for the City of Centennial, said she looks forward to the day all year. But instead of just biking to work, Small spent the morning with a group of city and Arapahoe County representatives waiting at a bike
station at the Arapahoe Road Trailhead to greet cyclists. “The whole concept is really to encourage everyone to just try it out and … check out the different modes of transportation that are alternatives to driving,” Small said. “It’s just a great opportunity to get out.” Bike to Work Day is an annual event organized by Way to Go, a program of the Denver Regional Council of Governments, in partnership with seven regional transportation management associations, according to the Bike to Work
VOICES: 12 | LIFE: 14 | CALENDAR: 17
CENTENNIALCITIZEN.NET • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Landmark 20th
July 28, 29 & 30
Evergreen Jazz Festival Big Talent! Small Venues! Great Setting!
Dancers Welcome!
Free Parking!
EvergreenJazz.org 303-697-5467