August 7, 2015 VO LUM E 1 4 | IS S U E 37 | FREE
Festival Guide Inside CentennialCitizen.net A publication of
A R A P A H O E C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
Fiber-optic plan moves to Phase II City chooses consultant for design of initiative By Taryn Walker
twalker@colorado communitymedia.com
OneRepublic performs in the parking lot of Park Meadows mall in Lone Tree as part of a launch-event promotion for the new Windows 10 operating system. The Microsoft Store gave out 1,500 free passes for the July 31 event. Photo by Sean Healey
Windows 10 launch a festive event OneRepublic gives concert in lot outside Park Meadows By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinando@colorado communitymedia.com The July 29 launch of the new Windows 10 operating system took on some star glitter when the Microsoft Store at Park Meadows mall in Lone Tree gave out 1,500 free passes to a OneRepublic concert in the mall parking lot. In addition to the July 31 concert by the popular band, the store hosted numerous demonstrations of the product and gave away free food and prizes. “We’re just trying to get everyone to upgrade their world,” said Jessica Oleis, Microsoft community development specialist, referencing the product’s slogan. The Lone Tree store wasn’t the only one to host a star-studded event. The Santa Clara, California, store hosted NBA Finals MVP and Golden State Warriors forward Windows continues on Page 9
Windows 10 brings back some features from previous versions such as the start button on the bottom left-hand corner of the screen and the ability to switch between multiple desktops. Photo by Mike DiFerdinando
As the city of Centennial moves forward with its Fiber Optic Initiative, Magellan Advisors has been chosen to create a design plan for the second phase. What is the city doing? What makes fiber optic so important? District 4 City Council member C.J. Whelan, who’s a part of the city’s fiber steering advisory board, weighed in to clear things up. “Basically, fiber optic is a 21st-century way of linking communication networks,” he said. “The fiber-optic cable is a specialized cable of glass that carries pulses of light which contain information. Think of what we have now as a little garden hose. You’re only able to push so much through it. With fiber, it’s like pushing Internet connections through a giant water pipe instead.” In short, the initiative aims to provide better, more efficient Internet service. The project could open up competition among more providers, thus leading to lower costs for residents and businesses. Whelan said the advantage of utilizing fiber-optic cables, as opposed to the copper cables primarily used today, is that fiber-optic cables have much more capacity. Centennial is in the midst of a longterm project to provide more fiber-optic cable and has created an advisory board made up of city council members Whelan, District 4 colleague Stephanie Piko and Ken Lucas of District 3 to look at the initiative more in-depth. However, decisions will still be left up to the entire council. “We want to be able to best provide services for citizens and business and continue to make our city a great place to live and work,” Whelan said. “What it all boils down to is, no one knows what the next great app is. We’re all watching — if you can tell me what we’ll be doing in next five years as far as technology, that’d be great. We’re really trying to be ahead of the curve.” Now, the fiber-optic cables are mainly used to send signals to traffic lights, Plan continues on Page 9
Candidates take aim at seats on city council
So far, six hopefuls have stated their intentions
By Taryn Walker
twalker@colorado communitymedia.com
So far, six candidates have announced their runs for Centennial City Council. Petitioning started Aug. 4 and runs through Aug. 24, and each candidate will need 50 signatures by registered voters within his or her district to gain a spot on the ballot in November, according to Allison Wittern, public information manager for the city. Petition forms are available in the city clerk’s office, 13133 E. Arapahoe Road, and must be returned to the clerk no later than 5 p.m. Aug. 24.
The city has two council members for each of its four districts, and the terms are staggered so that each district has one seat up for election every two years. This year, Vorry Moon in District 1 and Keith Gardner in District 2 are term-limited and will be replaced; Sharon Kellogg and Bonnie Percefull are seeking the District 1 seat, and Carrie Penaloza is so far unopposed in District 2. District 3’s Ken Lucas and District 4’s Stephanie Piko are both seeking re-election; Brian E. Olson is seeking the District 3 seat, and so far Piko is unopposed. Mayor Cathy Noon, meanwhile, is serving her second term, which won’t expire until January 2018. Among other qualifications, candidates for council must have their primary residence in their district for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the
election and must not be an employee of the city. For more information on the election process in the city, visit www.centennialco.gov/City-Clerk/election-information. aspx. The following is a brief introduction to five of the six unofficial candidates for council. Olson was not available for comment about his District 3 candidacy.
District 1 Sharon Kellogg
Sharon Kellogg has been a Colorado resident for 13 years and a Centennial resident for six years. She’s a professor of education at Metropolitan State University of Denver and is single with two grown children. She holds a doctoral degree in organizational leadership and has served on a local HOA board of directors for five years, she said,
but has never run for city council. “I like doing that stuff; I understand the process and Percefull know how it Kellogg works,” she said. “Now, I’m looking for a bigger challenge.”
Bonnie Percefull
Percefull attended Bear Creek High School and has been the owner of Bonnie Percefull Publishing for 20 years. She is single and has two grown children. Percefull is making her first run for city council, Council continues on Page 9