VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 27
WEEK OF JUNE 1, 2023
FREE
Toborg touts town’s accomplishments in annual address BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Daughter died in 2020 from fentanyl poisoning
The PACE Center was filled with people as Mayor Jeff Toborg on May 23 delivered an address during the 14th annual State of the Town co-hosted by the Town of Parker and Rotary Club of Parker. “The state of our town is growing with incredible families who are choosing to live, work and learn,” Toborg said. Among the business owners and sponsors in attendance were state Rep. Anthony Hartsook, R-Douglas County, Douglas County Commissioners, representatives from the Parker Police, the Water and Sanitation District, Parker Chamber of Commerce, members of the U.S. Marine Corps and others. Jeremy Hubbard, a Fox31 News anchor, was master of ceremonies.
BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
When Patti Lujan sees butterflies, she thinks of her daughter, Lauren, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 18. A senior at Littleton High School at the time, Lauren died from fentanyl poisoning after taking a counterfeit Percocet she got through the social media app Snapchat. As Lujan continues to cope with the loss of her daughter, she has now joined a legal fight against Snapchat, which she believes is partly responsible for her daughter’s death. She is among nine families nationwide participating in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Social Media Victims Law Center against Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat. “I know she would want me to do this. She’d want me to get involved in this lawsuit and fight, and so I’m doing it,” Lujan said.
Impact Awards
With service and volunteerism at the forefront, the Parker Rotary Club puts “service above self.” For the 12th year, two members of the community received Impact Awards that recognize an individual or group who made a significant impact on the quality of life in Parker and the surrounding area. “The criteria is simply that they must serve either in an employment situation or as a volunteer monitoring, being part of and excelling in the service above self,” said club member Dan O’Neill, in presenting the awards. “These people have taken it one step further.” Although he was not there, one recipient was Bob Baker, the fire chief from the South Metro Fire Rescue district. “Bob Baker has taken that department to a level of professionalism that goes above and beyond just being a fire chief in a metropolitan area,” said O’Neill. The South Metro Fire District has been awarded an ISO Class 1 Designation by the Insurance Services Organization. In addition, through social media and a website, Baker has directed a social presence, helping to make the district one of the most well followed. The second recipient was longtime community volunteer and rotarian, Kam Breitenbach. Not only known as
SEE LAWSUIT, P6
Littleton High School student Lauren Lujan, 18, passed away in 2020 from fentanyl poisoning.
VOICES: 12 | LIFE: 14 | CALENDAR: 17 | SPORTS: 22
COURTESY OF PATTI LUJAN
SEE MAYOR, P10
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