South Platte Independent 0806

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August 6, 2020

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

SouthPlatteIndependent.net

VOLUME 75 | ISSUE 41

INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | SPORTS: PAGE 16

City voters could rule on recreational marijuana Citizen initiative seeks to allow Littleton dispensaries to add retail Former Littleton Mayor Phil Cernanec, left, gives Bonnie Douglas a “trishaw” ride through Hudson Gardens on July 28. Cernanec helped found Littleton’s chapter of Cycling Without Age, which takes seniors on rides around town.

BY DAVID GILBERT DGILBERT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM DAVID GILBERT

sume normal five-day weeks on Aug. 24, grades 6 through 12 will begin on a “hybrid” schedule, with students in class in small groups on alternating days interspersed with online learning days, district Superintendent Brian Ewert announced at the July 30 school board meeting.

Littleton voters could decide this fall whether to overturn the city’s ban on recreational marijuana sales, if a citizen initiative makes it onto the ballot. If voters approve it, the citizen initiative would permit the city’s three medical marijuana dispensaries to begin selling to anyone over age 21 without the need for a doctor’s recommendation. City council would have the ability to regulate the stores’ hours and whether additional recreational stores would be permitted. The petition was spearheaded by a group called Residents for a Stronger Littleton LLC, led by Stanislav Zislis, the cofounder of Silver Stem Fine Cannabis. Silver Stem has seven locations in Colorado — including one in Littleton — and one in Oregon. The group’s other leader is Scott Embree, co-owner of Ascend Cannabis Company, which operates a medical dispensary on Santa Fe Drive and has four other locations in Colorado. Because the group is organized as an LLC instead of a campaign committee, it is not required to disclose lists of donors. The group submitted a certified petition with more that 7,000 signatures to the city in late July, and needs

SEE SCHOOLS, P2

SEE MARIJUANA, P4

On ‘trishaw’ rides, seniors find freedom from isolation Cycling Without Age offers elderly break from boredom, wind in their hair BY DAVID GILBERT DGILBERT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Like many senior-community residents in the age of COVID-19, Bonnie

Douglas endures a lot of boredom and loneliness. With seniors at heightened risk from the novel coronavirus, senior facilities have curtailed social activities, restricted visitors and canceled communal meals. But thanks to a growing group of volunteers and an odd-looking bicycle, Douglas, 80, is one of many Littleton seniors finding joy and respite out on the city’s trails.

As often as she can, Douglas signs up for bike rides through Cycling Without Age. The group, founded in Denmark in 2012, takes seniors on rides aboard “trishaws” -- specialized bikes with a love seat-like bench on the front, powered by a rider assisted by an electric motor. Douglas said she loves gliding along the Mary Carter Greenway, SEE SENIORS, P14

Schools set reopening plan amid doubts, fears Littleton Public Schools picks Aug. 24 date, but teachers are wary, decision matrix is tight BY DAVID GILBERT DGILBERT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Littleton Public Schools is moving ahead with plans to resume in-

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person classes at the end of August, though numerous teachers pleaded with the school board to reconsider. While current plans call for kindergarten through fifth grade to re-

FROM SWAN DIVES TO FIGURE EIGHTS

Denver’s Smith Lake once was a yearround resort P12