Citizen Centennial 6-21-13
Centennial
Arapahoe County, Colorado • Volume 12, Issue 31
June 21, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourcentennialnews.com
School district considers bond election Money would be used for maintenance, infrastructure By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@ourcoloradonews.com If you live within the borders of Littleton Public Schools, you should have recently found in your mail a survey asking if you think the district should take an $80 million
bond issue to the voters in November. “We’re not looking at doing anything particularly fancy other than trying to maintain a safe learning environment,” said Superintendent Scott Murphy. He said the time is right to take advantage of low interest rates for what amounts to refinancing a Murphy mortgage — not a tax increase, he stresses. LPS has historically put a bond issue on the ballot every seven to 10
years; it’s been 11 since the last one. With the average age of the buildings around 50 years, there’s a lot of work to be done. Murphy said the school board will likely decide later this summer whether to go forward. If so, and if the bond issue passes, the money would strictly be used for building maintenance and basic infrastructure such as roofs, sewer lines, gym floors, furnaces and electrical systems. “These are the public’s assets,” he said. “It’s our job to take care of them the best we can.” If it doesn’t pass, Murphy said the district
will just keep reacting to emergencies, as it has done throughout the economic downturn. “We can’t close another school,” he said. “It just wouldn’t be fair.” Murphy stresses that a proposed statewide $1.1 billion tax increase for education — planned to be on the ballot this fall — has absolutely nothing to do with this local question, and that it does nothing to address capital improvements. “Whether people say yes or no to the LPS continues on Page 13
Open-burn ban impacts Centennial
Rockin’ the StReetS
Sheriff takes action due to ‘extreme’ conditions Staff report
Bluzinators front man Doug Root busts out a rendition of “Just a Gigolo” at the Armed Forces Fun Day on June 15 at The Streets at SouthGlenn. The free event was hosted by CIMCO Cares to thank military personnel and their families. There was food, face painting, beverages and music. Although rumors of a surprise visit by country music crooners Tim McGraw and Faith Hill helped draw a crowd of more than 300, the superstar duo did not appear. Photo by Deborah Grigsby
Used-bike program picks up speed Project ReCycle able to expand in new space By Deborah Grigsby
exceptionS to BURn Ban
dgrigsby@ourcoloradonews.com As Alberto Stapleton walks across the floor of an empty warehouse, his tall, sturdy frame seems to disappear in the vast space. “This is a long ways from the eight storage units we used to have to work out of in Littleton,” said Stapleton. He serves as executive director of Project Recycle, a charity organization founded in 2008 that repairs donated bicycles and puts them in the hands of those less fortunate. Stapleton said the space, donated by the private developer who owns the building, has added momentum and reach to the group’s mission. “We were actually surprised when we pulled all the bikes out of storage and set them up,” he said. “We had no idea how many we had because they were all stuffed into these public storage units, but now, we see how much more we have to give.” The group moved into the space at 13796 Compark Blvd. in unincorporated Douglas County in October. Stapleton said the extra breathing room has fostered the addition of nine new bicycle repair stations, and the creation of a new resale shop
Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson has issued a ban on all open fires and open burning in Centennial, unincorporated Arapahoe County and Cherry Creek State Park. The ban, effective June 13, will remain in effect until further notice. In a statement from the sheriff’s office, Robinson says existing conditions “present an extreme danger for the possibility of wildfire and large wildland fires.” The ban covers open fires or open burning. Banned activities include: the use of fireworks; any outdoor fires, including but not limited to campfires, fires in permanent fire pits or fire grates within developed camp and picnic grounds or recreation sites, charcoal-fueled fires, warming fires, fires in outdoor wood-burning stoves, the prescribed burning of fence lines or agricultural land, burning on wildlands, and any trash or debris fires. The ban is enforced as an ordinance violation that, upon conviction, packs a $500 fine for the first offense, $750 for a second offense, and $1,000 for third and subsequent offenses. For more information, contact the sheriff at 720-874-4165.
• Fires contained within liquid-fueled or gas stoves, fireplaces and wood-burning stoves/fireplaces within habitable buildings. • Propane/LP/natural gas-fueled barbecue grills used for cooking or warming food, which do not produce or emit sparks or embers when used. • Charcoal-fueled grills and pits used for cooking or warming food, which do not produce or emit sparks or embers when used. • Propane/LP/natural gas-fueled fire pits that do not produce or emit sparks or embers when used. • Fires set by any federal, state, or local officer, or member of a fire protection district in the performance of an official duty.
Alberto “AJ” Stapleton stands among more than 1,000 donated bicycles at Project ReCycle’s new location at 13796 Compark Blvd. in unincorporated Douglas County. A Texas developer donated the 21,000-square-foot space where the charity now houses its repair shop, inventory and resale shop called “The Kick Stand.” Photo by Deborah Grigsby called The Kick Stand. While Project Recycle accepts bike donations of all makes, models and condition, some are not always a good for kids or the average rider, according to Stapleton. Higher-end bikes, such as those with specialized frames or those that may have
• Public fireworks displays supervised by appropriate firefighting/public safety personnel and supported by adequate equipment assigned to be on the scene of such permitted public displays.
a higher resale value, are sold, and the proceeds go back into Project Recycle. But Stapleton said the new space is just the beginning of bigger things to come. Bike continues on Page 13
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