WEEK OF JULY 3, 2025
VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 30
FREE
South Metro Fire provides tips on fireworks disposal BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Victorian Peaks, Parker’s Landmark Business Center, 11020 Pikes Peak Drive, houses multiple businesses, including locally owned businesses. PHOTO BY HALEY LENA
Parker Chamber event to focus on survival of small businesses Current and prospective business owners invited to the July 10 gathering BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Whether you are looking to start a new business or are continuing to build on the success of your current business, the Parker Chamber of Commerce is inviting small, locally owned businesses to join the inaugural Parker Chamber Symposium on July 10. “We wanted to dedicate the first Parker Chamber Symposium to the theme of small business survival,” said T.J. Sullivan, Parker Chamber of Commerce CEO
and president. While the chamber may not know the exact number of small and locally owned businesses within Parker, there are various businesses ranging from diners and coffee shops to home improvement companies and bookstores. Having recently reached 500 member businesses in late June, the Parker Chamber of Commerce aims to support and promote businesses to create a healthy and thriving community. Over time, the town has continued to grow, bringing significant residential and commercial growth with it. This includes the upcoming luxury apartment and retail development along Mainstreet in downtown Parker and the ongoing Looking Glass development in the southern portion of the town. There will also be new employment op-
VOICES: 10 | LIFE: 14 | CALENDAR: 17 | PUZZLES: 19
Lighting fireworks can be an exciting part of celebrating the Fourth of July, however, it comes with some serious hazards. “It’s a fun time,” said Brain Willie, lead communications specialist with South Metro Fire Rescue. “But we also know that it’s very dangerous … with the hot weather we’ve had and everything is so dry.” Willie said that the fire district sees a large increase in calls in the days leading up to the holiday and on July 4. Last year, South Metro Fire Rescue reported that the department responded to 45 fires between 6 p.m. and midnight on July 4. The post on social media stated that most of the fires involved grass or mulch, and most were caused by fireworks. Additionally, during that time, two people were injured in separate firework accidents, the fire district reported. Some fireworks — such as sparklers, fountains and ground spinners — are permitted in Douglas County. These can be purchased at local firework stands, which fire marshals from the fire district check to ensure that what is being sold is within regulation. However, illegal fireworks — which are fireworks that leave the ground or explode — do get set off across Douglas County, according to the fire district. Proper disposal
portunities with the expansion of AdventHealth Parker hospital, the addition of Safran Defense & Space Inc. and Chicken N Pickle event space, and the upcoming data center development. With this growth, the chamber wanted to help smaller businesses and startups learn how they can compete for their share of the market. “We wanted to go on the offense to preserve the ability for residents to successfully start and own small businesses here,” Sullivan said. Current and prospective business owners will have the chance to hear from Ashvinal Patel, the executive director of the Aurora South-Metro Small Business Development Center, which is a nationally accredited program.
South Metro Fire Rescue is offering some tips to properly dispose of fireworks in order to avoid fires or accidents. The first step is to let the firework sit for some time after it has gone out. Once it is cooled, it should be placed in a metal or steel bucket of water for at least 12 to 24 hours. This is to ensure that all the materials are fully saturated and there is no longer any exposure to flames, Willie said. From there, put the soaked fireworks in a trash container that is non-combustible. These include metal or steel cans, which can be bought at home improvement stores. “In Highlands Ranch, all our trash containers, pretty much, are all plastic,” said Willie. “So those are all very combustible and catch fire.” Willie said that many homeowners place their trash containers on the side of their house, either directly against their house or against a wood fence, which could lead to the house and/or fence catching fire. “We’ve had a couple incidents of that,” said Willie. “That’s why we really want to just stress to put those fire-
SEE SYMPOSIUM, P12
SEE FIREWORKS, P6
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