An edition of the Littleton Independent
WEEK OF MAY 16, 2024
VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 24
$2
Biz owners optimistic about sale of Southgate Shopping Center BY RACHEL LORENZ SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
haviors, which showed stark changes in recent months, such as selfinjuring moments and meltdowns.
Maria Venalonzo momentarily stepped away from her bustling kitchen and the growing line of customers queuing up to place their orders. She had a quick comment about the sale of Southgate Shopping Center, home to her restaurant, Venalonzo’s Tacos. “I’m happy,” she said. “I like it.” Several other tenants of Centennial strip mall echoed her sentiment following the announcement of the $7.73-million deal. They said they had already been contacted by email, phone or in person, by Arapahoe RHSW LLC, the new locallybased owner. Built in 1980, the single-story buildings currently house 13 tenants, including a dry cleaner, a
SEE FAMILIES, P4
SEE SOUTHGATE, P12
Hunter Yarbrough, 11, laughs with his father, Kevin Yarbrough, who says Hunter is “a happy kid” and “larger than life.” COURTESY OF KEVIN YARBROUGH
Autistic children and their families recovering after alleged assaults on Littleton school bus
BY ELISABETH SLAY ESLAY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
“Loving,” “happy” and “larger than life” are words three parents
use when they describe their autistic sons. The boys are non-speaking and use devices or other methods to communicate, including their be-
VOICES: 14 | LIFE: 16 | CALENDAR: 19
CENTENNIALCITIZEN.NET • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
PLAIN PLATES
What’s behind Colorado’s undecorated license plates? P16