6 minute read
FREE LIBRARY
“We wanted to create a space for people to pause and enjoy the green belt that we’re on and the bike path is on,” she said. “Especially through covid, it was a way that I felt like we could put wellness out in the world with something as healthy as reading that creates a mindful, peaceful experience, but also gets them outside and active.”
Monson said the library quickly became self-sustaining once it opened and has since become a xture in the community.
“People often comment to thank us or leave notes,” she said. “It’s like an identity of our family, which we love.”
On top of being a way to build community, little free libraries improve access to literature. Unite for Literacy, a publishing company that tracks book deserts, estimates only a third of Colorado homes have more than 100 books.
Amber DeBerry, Director of Community Engagement for Douglas County Libraries, said improving access to reading materials, whether that’s books, magazines, journals or comics, is important because reading bene ts everyone.
“If you have access to books prior to the age of ve, your success rates in school drastically increase,” DeBerry said. “For people who don’t have the opportunity or ability to purchase books, libraries are an incredible community asset.”
In Dianne Shantz’s neighborhood in Adams County, she noticed there weren’t nearly as many little free libraries as more a uent areas of Denver, so Shantz built one in 2021.
Shantz used a thrifted co ee table and an old kitchen counter with a repurposed replace door to create a weatherproof library and food pantry near her community’s shared mailbox, which provides steady foot tra c.
“I’m proud to say (the library) is self-sustaining because it shows that there was a need there, and that’s true of the pantry too,” she said.
Shantz said she enjoys having opportunities to share her love of reading and tries to stock the library with books she knows her visitors will read.
“Being new to the neighborhood, it’s given me a chance to meet my neighbors,” she said. “A lot of Hispanic people live in the area, so I try to include Spanish books. One lady likes Danielle Steel, so I put those in when I can.”
For Kate Garland, a graduate of Castle View High School in Castle Rock, building a little free library was a way to memorialize her friend and fellow student Brooke Adams, who died in April.
Garland met Adams through the school book club she started and they bonded over reading.
“Brooke and I both loved the ‘ e Summer I Turned Pretty’ series by Jenny Han and somebody donated the entire set so we made sure that those were in there,” Garland said. “Some of Brooke’s other friends also picked booked they thought she would like.”
When Adams died, Garland worked with Adams’ family, school o cials, the school’s Technology Students Association and book club members to build the library and host a book drive to ll it. Materials for the library were donated by the local Ace Hardware and community members donated more than 1,000 books during the drive.
“ e community support around it and the continuing book donations have been really rewarding for me and the book club and the TSA members who helped,” she said.
As Garland heads to Arapahoe Community College, the stewardship of the library will pass on to other students in the book club.
“We wanted to make sure it would keep going, even after I’m gone,” she said.
To nd these little free libraries and more, go to littlefreelibrary.org.
Local painter Valorie Snyder is juror for Depot show
BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Littleton Fine Arts Guild members called on skilled local painter
Art Gallery, 2069 W. Powers Ave. in downtown Littleton.
“Connections,” a mixed media painting by S. Williams, was Snyder’s choice for Best of Show. “ e painting is a winner on several levels: the use of light, contrast, the illusion of depth and perspective. e use of subtle colors in the notes in the foreground lead your eye through the seemingly random clusters of people … on the bus ... one solitary gure in black. Is everyone (wearing masks?) I can’t quite tell … is painting is masterfully done, weaving a story as the viewer is drawn in.”
Fine Arts Guild members meet and plan a yearlong list of exhibits for the Depot and for the Stanton Gallery at Town Hall Arts Center. ey also exhibit works at several local venues, with a particular member overseeing each location and others helping with hanging each show. Next at the Depot will be the Best of Colorado, opening on Aug. 8 and running through Sept. 10. It is open to non-members and is an annual Western Welcome Week event.
Also featured this summer will be a Bega Park Art Show on Aug. 12, with many members setting up tents and exhibiting art outside under the green trees. (A most pleasant way for art lovers to spend a day!) e clothing is loosely rendered with soft colors that set o the details in this man’s face and dress ... Where is he from? What is the story
“Well Aged” by Brian Ser is Snyder’s choice for second place in the “Being Human” exhibit. She noted that “watercolor is a particularly di cult medium for portraiture.
Spell,” in soft pastels by Stacy Roberts. “Movement is the compositional tool that drew me into this piece,” Snyder said. “Primarily a complementary color scheme, this painting is a colorful mix of blues and oranges, with added colors to keep it interesting ...”
Best use of the theme, “Being Human: e Human Condition” is created of leather, berglass and metal by Pam Schmidt. Snyder advises the viewer to “look closely to read the text that is written around the gure. is sculpture summarizes the theme of the show.” e bright red Depot Art Gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays , with lots of free parking, free admission and more art in an old caboose placed next to it. Volunteer Fine Arts Guild members operate this charming gallery and are happy to talk about the artwork on display-and to help with sales!
Honorable Mentions were awarded to four artists: “Little Stinker” by Teresa Malone is “an engaging classic portrait in oils”; “Faith and Hope,” glass by Sally Vander Camp; “Being of One Mind,” photograph by Carl Paulson; and “Meditation,” a digital print by Jacqueline Shuler.
What could be better than an original work of art for a recent graduate or a soon to be married friend?
Thu 8/03
Sat 8/05
Denver Broncos @ 9am
Centura Health Training Center, 13655 E. Broncos Pkwy., Englewood
Lions on the Links Golf Tournament (LHS Athletics Fundraiser Event) @ 1pm / $175
Arrowhead Golf Course, 10850 Sundown Trail, Littleton. mtoner@ lps.k12.co.us
Cooking with Elle @ 3pm
Aug 3rd - Aug 31st
Heather Gardens Clubhouse, 2888 S. Heather Gardens Way, Aurora
Douglas County Bulls, Broncs and Bares - Rough Stock
PRCA Rodeo
@ 6pm / $5-$30
Douglas County Fairgrounds, 500 Fairgrounds Dr, Castle Rock
Fri 8/04
The King Stan Band in Paradise
@ 6pm
Paradise Tavern, 9239 Park Mead‐ows Dr, Lone Tree
Madeline Hawthorne Music: Bands in the Beer Garden @ Breckenridge Brewery
Littleton @ 3pm Breckenridge Brewery, 2920 Brewery Ln, Littleton
Featured Featured
Tunisia: The Canyons Concert @ 5:30pm
The Canyons (Info Center), 1415 Westbridge Dr, Castle Pines
Sun 8/06
Korey Foss: Rock Candy Sunday Funday @ 12pm Wide Open Saloon, 5607 US-85, Sedalia
Uncle Kracker @ 5:30pm
Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Greenwood Village
Wed 8/09
Vamonos Pest/Mobro:
Vamonos Pest plays Brewabil‐ity to celebrate Englewood
H.S. Class of 1983 Reunion @ 4:30pm
Brewability Lab, 3445 S Broadway, Englewood
Visible Planets @ 6pm
Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver
6 Million Dollar Band: Private Event @ 6:30pm
Cherry Hills Village Community Develop‐ment, 2450 E Quincy Ave, Englewood
Sean Kelly Of The Samples: TBA @ 7pm TBA, Parker
Deb Seymour Music: House Concert- Littleton, CO @ 1pm
House Concert - Littleton, CO, Lit‐tleton
DJ Rockstar Aaron: Forbidden
Bingo - Tailgate Tavern & Grill @ 7pm
Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Mainstreet, Parker
Mon 8/07
Advanced Double-Handed Sailing Camp | Week 10 @ 8am / $467
Aug 7th - Aug 11th
Cherry Creek Reservoir, 4800 S Dayton St, Greenwood Village. 303-757-7718
ZZ Top @ 5:30pm
Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Greenwood Village
Anne Luna: The Hard Road Trio in Highlands Ranch @ 3pm House Concert, Highlands Ranch
Ladies Night @ 5pm / $10 Stampede, 2430 South Havana, Aurora
Thu 8/10
Chris Janson with special guest Shane Pro�tt @ 6pm / $50-$70
The Amphitheater at Philip S. Miller Park, 1375 W Plum Creek Pkwy, Castle Rock
