WEEK OF JUNE 5, 2025
VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 14
FREE
Schools’ summer lunches underway Program serves 10 locations across Douglas County and Aurora to help families BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
and enhance the attractiveness and viability of existing neighborhoods” through land use and streetscape enhancements, such as benches and public art. “Even though we’re starting the process for a public art plan, it’s just something that’s been pretty top of mind,” Chandler said. Currently, the city allocates some funding for public art,
According to multiple reports, including the U.S. News & World Report, Douglas County is one of the wealthiest counties in the state. But that doesn’t mean that food insecurity doesn’t exist in the county. Food insecurity, which occurs when a household cannot access enough food and essential resources, can exist for various reasons, making it easy for it to be hidden in large communities. Feeding America, a national nonprofit organization, states that food insecurity exists in every county throughout the nation, and Colorado. According to the nonprofit’s most recent data, more than 9,000 children are food insecure in Douglas County. With a population of approximately 340 million people, nearly 22% of Douglas County is under the age of 18, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Additionally, there are more than 62,000 students attending a school in the Douglas County School District. Regardless of the varying levels of food insecurity in Douglas County, there are various local resources available, such as food pantries and assistance programs through SECOR Cares, Help & Hope Center and WIC. There are also state programs like the Summer Food Service Program. For the third year in a row, the Douglas County School District is offering nutritious meals through its Summer Lunch Program to students whose families may struggle to afford enough food. The program provides free lunches to children and teens, ages 18 and younger, Monday through Friday. The lunches are provided through the district’s nutrition services department, which is made up of food and nutrition professionals who also serve breakfast, lunch and snacks at various schools in the district. The Summer Lunch Program was made possible after Colorado voters approved a statewide program in the November 2022 election. Each meal is typically served with fresh fruit, vegetables and milk. The menu can be found at dcsd.nutrislice. com/menus-eula, but menu items may change based on product availability. A recent social media post made by the school district’s nutrition services department states that no sign up is needed. However, children must be
SEE PUBLIC ART, P14
SEE LUNCHES, P8
A series of blue sculptures outside of the Lone Tree Arts Center.
PHOTO BY HALEY LENA
Lone Tree survey asks public about art Outreach to residents runs through June 15 BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Whether it is a painted mural on the pedestrian bridge wall, musical performances at the Lone Tree Arts Center or the tall dancing sculpture on Commons Street, art has always been a part of the City
of Lone Tree’s growth over the past 30 years. In addition to amplifying the city’s beauty, the city is looking to expand the definition of what art is by learning what public art means to others and how it can be used throughout the city. “People just realize that when you have public art, it elevates a community, and that’s what we want to do,” said Leigh Chandler, executive director of the Lone Tree Arts
Center who is helping advise the city’s art expansion. Chandler added that she believes art thrives in the city because the residents place a priority on culture. Earlier this year, city council approved a new comprehensive code which calls for public art. Therefore, staff began to create the city’s first public art master plan. The latest comprehensive code states that one of the city’s objectives is to “protect
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