Week of November 24, 2022
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DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
ParkerChronicle.net
Commissioners highlight ARPA designations
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | CALENDAR: PAGE 9
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 52
Planet gets a break at Parker store
State of the County event held in Lone Tree BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
In honor of the multi-generational impacts of public services to Douglas County, the annual State of the County address focused on the 20 years of partnership and the commissioners distribution of federal funds. Douglas County Commissioners George Teal, Abe Laydon and Lora Thomas came together to speak about the intentions of the county’s $68.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds, or ARPA, during the Nov. 16 event. Teal said the ARPA funding decisions were based on five investment principles focused on ensuring a legacy benefit, responding to immediate needs, being forward-looking, integrating board core priorities, avoiding duplication and leverage partnerships. “These investment areas were informed by consultations with stakeholders, citizen in business community engagement, including live town meetings,” said Thomas. Based on the investment principles, Douglas County has seven priority investment areas where ARPA funds will be distributed. The largest investment is in water and wastewater with $35.7 million in allocated funds. As wildfires are one of the biggest threats in Douglas County, public safety was the first priority listed by the three commissioners who took SEE ARPA, P3
Refillary has soap bars, shaving bars, shampoo bars, and conditioner bars in a variety of scents.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF REFILLARY
Refillary minimizes waste as it sells household, personal-care products BY RACHEL LORENZ SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
The owner of a new store featuring planet-friendly goods admits she’s not a perfect eco-warrior, and she doesn’t think you have to be either. Adrienne Grolbert said she’s notorious for forgetting her reusable shopping bags and either juggling an armful of groceries back to her car or taking a single-use plastic SEE REFILLARY, P6
LINDY HOP
Learn the dance in Denver
P12
Adrienne Grolbert owns Refillary, a low-waste refill store, in Parker.
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