WEEK OF JANUARY 2, 2025
VOLUME 136 | ISSUE 22
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Local leaders share their goals for 2025 Littleton officials cite gratitude, less chocolate BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
As the new year kicks off, local leaders are looking forward to advancing new projects, continuing initiatives and serving the community in strengthened ways. From education to government to the business community, leaders from across the city shared their New Year’s resolutions with he Littleton Independent. Showing gratitude in the nonprofit sector
The City of Centennial is working with South Suburban and Trails Park and Recreation District to offer Christmas tree and string light recycling this season. “Thanks to the incredible efforts of our residents and volunteers last year, we
Bebe Kleninman is the CEO of Doctor’s Care, a healthcare nonprofit focused on improving health access for low-income individuals in the south metro Denver area. This year, she centered her resolution on gratitude. “As someone that runs a nonprofit charity and sits on the boards of several nonprofits, I continue to be grateful, impressed and appreciative of the generosity of our neighbors,” she said. “I hope I say thank you enough, and if not, my resolution for 2025 is to say thank you more often.” Also in the nonprofit community, Integrated Family Community Services Development Director Todd McPherson said he wants to “grow in how IFCS can serve the community and be a leader in providing resources for the unhoused and homeless community in the south metro Denver communities.” Integrated Family Community Services provides a food market, financial assistance, school supplies, holiday grocery boxes and recreation center vouchers to community members in need. Susan Thornton, a co-chair of the nonprofit Immigrant Pathways Colorado, said her goal for 2025 is to educate the community about her organization’s self-development grant program for immigrants who are in the country legally and have very low income. “The grants help them improve life for their families and make them feel more a part of the community,” Thornton said. Julie Hall works with Change the Trend, a group focused on lessening the impact of homelessness in Englewood, Littleton
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A worker puts a Christmas tree into a woodchipper as part of the South Suburban Parks and Recreation tree recycling program. COURTESY OF SOUTH SUBURBAN PARKS AND RECREATION
Second life for Christmas trees Free recycling is offered around Arapahoe County BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Once your Christmas festivities are over, your tree can have a second life through one of several tree recycling programs in Arapahoe County. Littleton/Englewood
South Suburban Parks and Recreation is partnering with the City of Littleton to offer free tree recycling at Corner-
stone Park at 5150 S. Windermere St. in Englewood, which is at the corner of West Belleview Avenue and South Windermere Street. People can drop off their trees from sunrise to sunset between Dec. 26 and Jan. 10. All decorations — including lights, ornaments, garland and tinsel — must be removed from trees. Trees must not be attached to a stand and they cannot be in plastic bags. Artificial trees will not be accepted. “Most trash and waste removal companies do not accept Christmas trees, so residents are encouraged to take advantage of this free program,” South
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Suburban said on its website. South Suburban puts the trees through woodchippers and uses the mulch in shrub beds and tree wells throughout the district, spokesperson Becky Grubb said. Centennial
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