A Message from Councilwoman Gilmore
From kicking off the summer with our 4th Day of Beauty to cleaning up the High Line Canal with Green Valley Ranch residents to celebrating 13 years of FAVA's Heal the Hood, the District 11 Council Office has been having an amazing time at the recent summer, community events! There are still more free and family-friendly events in July and August, so check out summer calendar below for more information, and I hope to see you there!
If you don't have out-of-town plans for the upcoming holiday, you don't want to miss the Green Valley Ranch Fireworks Spectacular at the GVR Golf Course on the night of July 4th for a free concert and great fireworks show starting at 6pm!
Also, Denver Police Department would like to remind folks that fireworks are illegal in the City and County of Denver. For any firework incident that is not an emergency, please use the Denver Fireworks Complaint line 720-913-2059 and you will be prompted with the following information:
“This is the Denver Fireworks Complaint line where you can leave a message about fireworks. If your firework complaint involves a fire, an injury requiring medical attention or an altercation please hang up and dial 9-1-1. Messages on this line will be checked regularly. At the beep, provide an address or location of the fireworks, descriptions of people involved and if you would like to sign a complaint. For police to take action on fireworks in Denver, you must be willing to sign your name to a complaint form, provide your name, telephone number and an address of the situation so that the Firework Safety Team can contact you. Officers will be dispatched as call volume permits. If you do not want to sign a complaint, the location, activity and subject information will be broadcast over the radio to officers in the area to be on the lookout for the activity. Please note, the Fourth of July is the busiest day of the year for Denver Police, and may result in wait times for police response.”
We hope you have a safe and fun 4th of July weekend! As always customer service is our top priority, so please do not hesitate to contact my office at 720-337-7711.
Kindly,
District 11 Summer Calendar
GVR Farmer's Market & Concert Series
Starts June 5th - Every Wednesday
5:00 - 7:00pm
GVR Rec Center
GVR Fireworks Spectacular
July 4th, 2019
6:00pm - 10:00pm
GVR Golf Course
FreshLo Summer Farmer's Market
Starts July 13th - Every Saturday
9:00am - 1:00pm
Former Park n Ride at Albrook & Peoria
"Move Your Butt" Senior's Olympics
July 20th, 2019
11:00am - 3:00pm
Village Place Park
Taste of Ethiopia
August 3rd, 2019
10:00am - 9:00pm
Montbello Rec Center/Amphitheater
Montbello 2020 Health Fair
August 17th, 2019
11:00am - 3:00pm
Montbello Rec Center/Amphitheater
Montbello ALIVE Festival & 5k Walk/Run
September 14th, 2019
9:30am - 4:00pm
Montbello Campus
If you would like more information on any of the above events, please give us a call at 720-337-7711 or email Melissa at Melissa.Sotelo@denvergov.org.
Highlighting Our Community
Students Interested in Aviation
DEN Academy Application Now Available
Denver International Airport (DEN) is on the search for knowledge-hungry kids interested in aviation to join the 2019 DEN Academy!
DEN Academy is an introduction to the world of aviation through interactive learning, critical thinking and team projects. Through engagement with professionals in engineering, sustainability, wildlife, the Denver Fire Department, concessions, airport infrastructure and more, students gain both an up-close look and a broader perspective of the many aspects of aviation available to them as they prepare for the future.
Who: Students entering 7th grade to 10th grade in the 2019-2020 next school year
Dates: Saturdays from July 13 to Aug. 17
Time: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location: Denver International Airport
Cost: Free
The free academy is open to students across the city of Denver. The program will begin on July 13 and will continue for five Saturdays (excluding Aug. 10), ending on Aug. 17. Light breakfast and lunch will be provided to DEN Academy students.
Applications are accepted on a first-come first-serve basis. Limited space available. To learn more and to apply, visit flydenver.com/DENacademy.
DHS Farm Stand Back
Enjoy Fresh Produce at Arie P Taylor Bldg
The Denver Botanic Gardens Farm Stand operates at our Richard T. Castro Human Services Center (1200 Federal Blvd.) and Arie P. Taylor (4685 Peoria St.) locations every Friday during the summer and early fall months, selling deeply discounted fresh, healthy vegetables and other goods grown at Chatfield Farms. The Farm Stands are open to everyone and accept cash, credit, and EBT. The Farm Stands are also LiveWell Colorado Double Up Bucks Colorado participating locations, meaning you can get 50% your purchase when you use your EBT card!
When: Every Friday from 1:00 - 3:30pm
Where: Arie P Taylor Bldg - Front Lobby
For more information on the farm stand, please visit their website here.
Community News!
Solar Energy in a Co-op
More Affordable Solar Energy for Residents
Sustainable Neighborhoods Denver is partnering with Solar United Neighbors (SUN) to bring homeowners together into a group, or co-op. SUN provides unbiased, installer-neutral support through each stage of the process of going solar.Their experienced team ensures you understand how solar works, how it can be financed, and how it can be installed on your home.
Co-ops take advantage of the group’s bulk-purchasing power to get discounted pricing and a quality installation. Co-op volunteers choose an installer on behalf of the entire group through an open and competitive bidding process. The selected installer provides everyone in the group with a personalized proposal for their consideration.
Visit the Denver Solar Co-op page to find out more. Better yet, join us for the official launch next Tuesday, July 9th at the Carla Madison Recreation Center.
When: Tuesday, July 9th from 6:00 - 8:00pm
Where: Carla Madison Recreation Center
2401 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
Details: Join us to celebrate the launch of the Denver Solar Co-op! Solar United Neighbors helps homeowners join together, go solar, and fight for their energy rights. Light hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be provided. RSVP here. The event includes a press conference at 5:30pm and there will be media present, so please come dressed in yellow if possible.
Public Works Street Paving
Upcoming Street Maintenance & Closures
Summer street maintenance and repairs are underway and this includes any construction, paving, and other major projects. Please check out Public Works website for all current road closures and current and upcoming street maintenance projects.
Denver Water Lead Reduction
Lead Education & Outreach Program Begins
Denver Water is kicking off a lead education and outreach program this summer to make continued progress in reducing exposure risks in the community.
The water delivered to homes and businesses in Denver is lead-free, but lead can get into water as it moves through lead-containing household plumbing and service lines that are owned by the customer and are not part of Denver Water’s system.
Denver Water is proposing an alternative, holistic approach that directly tackles the biggest issue, customer-owned lead service lines, at its source by accelerating the removal of those lines through a Lead Reduction Program.
The proposed program has multiple components, which include:
- Increasing the pH level, which reduces the corrosivity of the water.
- Providing at-home water filters for all customers in Denver Water’s service area with a suspected lead service line, free of charge.
- Replacing the estimated 50,000 to 90,000 lead service lines with copper lines in Denver Water’s service area at no charge to the customer over the next 15 years.
Community members are encouraged to come learn more and speak directly to Denver Water team members at a variety of events this summer. The project website will have an updated calendar of activities.
Additional resources:
- If you are a customer concerned about lead in your drinking water, you can request a free water quality test for lead from Denver Water: Form
- If you suspect your home has lead in the piping, there are a few immediate steps you can take to minimize exposure:
- Use a filter certified for lead removal for drinking and cooking.
- Use only cold water for drinking, cooking and making baby formula. Remember, boiling water does not remove lead from water and hot water often contains higher levels of lead than cold water.
- If water has not been used in the home for a few hours, such as first thing in the morning or when getting home from work, run the kitchen or any bathroom faucet for 5 minutes (remember to capture the water and reuse it!). You also can run the dishwasher, take a shower or do a load of laundry to help flush water in your internal plumbing before drinking or cooking.
- Replace the filter cartridge according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Regularly clean your faucet’s screen (also known as an aerator). View step-by-step instructions here.
To learn more call 303-893-2444 or email lead@denverwater.org or visit denverwater.org/Lead. Click on the image above to see full flyer.
Denver City News
New Dept. Going to the Voters!
Denver Transportation & Infrastructure Dept
City Council signed off on referring the Mayor's proposal to create a new Department of Transportation and Infrastructure to Denver voters this November.
Under the proposal, the new department would focus on the planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of the city’s transportation networks, including better articulating the responsibility of the department to build-out complete multi-modal systems and networks, including bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure; as well as enabling the department to take a more proactive approach to mass transportation service delivery, and allow the city to invest in local transit services to supplement those provided regionally by RTD.
Parks & Open Space Sales Tax
Plan Approved by City Council
City Council also approved the five-year funding plan for the Parks and Open Space Sales Tax that is dedicated to the improvement and expansion of Denver’s parks and recreation system. The goal is for every Denver resident to live within a 10-minute walk to a park, and with this strategy in place, we’re ready to move forward – especially in neighborhoods that don’t have equitable access to a quality park.
DPD 5 Safety News
Summer Safety Tips
Be aware of your surroundings when out and about. Many cell phone thefts start out with someone asking to borrow a phone because of an emergency. If you are in a position to help, offer to make the call for them but do not let anyone take physical possession of your phone. Other thefts of cell phones and purses are often ‘snatch and grab’ strong-arm type robberies/ where an individual will walk up behind you or run past you and snatch your property from your hand before running off.
Be attentive of your surroundings when walking or jogging alone. Be cognizant of blocking your hearing with headphones and always immediately look behind you when passing someone. Various companies manufacture ‘bone conduction’ and other types of headphones that don’t obstruct hearing as much as traditional headphones.
People who carry purses or bags should be careful not to leave them unattended in shopping carts. Thieves will peruse aisles looking for potential victims who are distracted by items on shelves or reading ingredients. The same goes for fueling up at the gas station; if you leave your purse on the front seat, make sure the passenger side doors are locked.
Neighborhood Watch Needs You!
Building Stronger Communities
Community members can partner with District 5 Police to create a well coordinated effort to revitalize Neighborhood Watch in our neighborhoods. At the core of this effort, we are building stronger communities so that we can drive crime out of our neighborhoods.
Block Communicator responsibilities include:
- Increasing communication among neighbors
- Providing their block with the latest safety and crime reduction tips and
- Emphasizing the critical need of having neighbors call 911 if there is any suspicious activity in their area.
If you would like to become a Block Communicator or attend meetings/trainings or just learn more, please contact Jeanette at Jeannette.Dominguez@denvergov.org
July Office Hours
Join Councilwoman Gilmore to discuss community concerns, questions and visions. See below for this month of District 11 Office Hours.
Upcoming Office Hours
Green Valley Ranch
When: Saturday, July 13th @ 10:00am - 12:00pm
Where: Green Valley Ranch Library
4856 Andes Ct, Denver, CO 80249
Montbello
When: Thursday, July 25th @ 10:00am - 12:00pm
Where: District 11 Council Office
Arie P Taylor Building
4685 Peoria St, Suite 215, Denver 80239
District 11 July Events
The Language School Offers Free Language Exchanges
When:
Café con conversación (Coffee with conversation)
Fridays 10 AM - 12 PM
The Language Exchange! ¡El Intercambio De Idiomas!
Sundays 4 - 6 PM
Where: The Language School
4730 Oakland St, Suite 200, Denver CO
Details: For Café con conversación - coffee and doughnuts will be served. This will be a great way to meet your neighbors, make new friends, and practice the language that you are learning! For The Language Exchange! - this is a potluck style party, so please bring something to eat or drink. Please RSVP here.
Get Off Your Buns Lunch Bunch
When: Friday July 13th at 11:30am
Where: Departs from GVR Metro District Office
18650 E 45th Ave, Denver CO 80249
Details: Come and join the “Get Off Your Buns” Lunch Bunch to a new and exciting restaurant every month! To see the restaurant or view more details click here.
July Community Meetings
Montbello Organizing Committee Meetings
Transportation Taskforce Meeting
When: TBD Contact montbelloorganizing@gmail.com
Retail and Economic Development Taskforce Meeting
When: TBD Contact montbelloorganizing@gmail.com
Where: United Church of Montbello
Beautification Meeting
When: TBD Contact montbelloorganizing@gmail.com
Northern Coalition Corridor
When: Tuesday, July 2nd from 6:30 - 7:30pm
Where: Montbello Public Library
12955 Albrook Dr, Denver, CO 80239
Far Northeast Neighbors Community Meeting
When: Wednesday, July 10th @ 6:30pm
Where: Montbello Rec Center
15555 E 53rd Ave, Denver CO 80239
Green Valley Ranch HOA Meeting
When: Monday, July 15th @ 6:00pm
Where: GVR Metropolitan District Office
18650 E 45th Ave, Denver CO 80249
Green Valley Ranch Citizen's Advisory Board
When: Monday, July 17th @ 6:00pm
Where: GVR Metropolitan District Office
18650 E 45th Ave, Denver CO 80249
District 11 Library Events
The library recently switched to an online Event Calendar and now in one link you can get all the events at your local library or libraries!
MONTBELLO
For all Montbello Library events click here.
The Summer of Adventure
Join Today - It's Free!
The Denver Public Library (DPL) kicks off its annual Summer of Adventure program, helping to improve children’s literacy and learning skills through activities, entertainment and incentives all summer long. The free program runs May 31–Aug. 10 at all 26 Denver Public Library locations.
Literacy studies show that children who do not read during the summer demonstrate a significant loss in reading skills, while students who read just five to six books throughout the summer months perform better the following school year. The library’s Summer of Adventure program gives youth and their families fun ways to incorporate reading and learning activities into summer family time to help avoid summer learning loss, a problem that affects kids of all ages and income levels.
“Summer is the perfect time for adventure and we’re excited to help Denver kids read, learn and grow all summer long,” said Program Coordinator Yanira Durarte. “The Summer of Adventure program offers a flexible environment for youth to personalize their own learning during the summer months. We’ve lined up fantastic opportunities, including reading programs, music programs, a maker challenge and social activities that help children birth through 12th grade make the most of their summer.”
About the program
The Summer of Adventure program provides free activities, suggestions for summer reading, technology camps and a maker challenge for kids ages birth through 12th grade. Participants can map their own adventure by selecting activities that encourage them to read, make or explore. Prizes are awarded for registering and completing 12 activities; prizes include books, journals and more. Youth can also win family passes to various cultural institutions through weekly drawings.
Important dates:
Program: May 31– Aug. 10
Last Day to Register: Saturday, July 27
Last Day for Prizes: Saturday, Aug. 10
Cost:
All programs of the Denver Public Library including Summer of Adventure are free and open to the public. While the library encourages everyone to sign up for a library card, one is not required to participate.
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