Centennial Citizen 0424

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April 24, 2015 VOLU M E 1 4 | I S SUE 22

CentennialCitizen.net A R A P A H O E C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O

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City celebrates ‘great performances’

Centennial Mayor Cathy Noon watches a video presentation that highlighted 2014 as the year of great performances. The video was part of Noon’s speech for the 11th annual State of the City address, which took place April 16 at the Embassy Suites in Centennial. Photos by Christy Steadman

The Boulder Flash Mob, in white with arms in the air, surprised guests during Centennial’s State of the City with a quick dance routine. Centennial Mayor Cathy Noon wanted to lighten the mood of the event, and introduced 2014 as the year of great performances.

BY THE NUMBERS

By Christy Steadman | csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.comXXXX Centennial enjoyed a “year of great performances” in 2014. That was the theme of the 11th annual State of the City address, which drew hundreds of people April 16 to the Embassy Suites in Centennial. “From the spectacular community events the city hosted,

National and local recognition in 2014 Some highlights: The city ranked as the 13th best place to live in America by Money Magazine and was rated 26th among the 50 best places to live by USA Today. Centennial Center Park was named best playground in 5280’s “Top of the Town” issue.

106,114 — Population of

… ribbon cuttings and ground breakings of wonderful local businesses, to the city and our park receiving national recognition,” Centennial Mayor Cathy Noon said, “this was the year we got to enjoy seeing years of hard work come together, creating the year of great performances.”

A thriving economy

Successful economic development, and superb public safety were highlighted. “Homes are selling quickly, and record-high building permits show strong remodeling and construction activity. The city remains debt free, continues to see an increase in sales tax revenues, maintains a high credit rating and prides itself on doing economic development differently,” Noon said. “Public safety is something of great importance to all of us. Centennial remains as one of the safest cities in Colorado with a population of more than 75,000. Thank you to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office. Our three fire districts do not disappoint either—they continue to keep us all safe and do brave, outstanding work.”

the City of Centennial

29.4

square miles — Land area of Centennial

29,837 — Number of

2015: The year of innovation Centennial is one of 14 worldwide cities awarded a Bloomberg Foundation Innovation Grant. The city has the lowest population of all that received the grant, which includes Boston, Los Angeles and Seattle, and the Israeli cities of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Additionally, Centennial became one of the 32 inaugural American cities joining together to in the National Broadband Initiative. “While 2014 was undoubtedly a year of great performances,” Noon said, “2015 is all about thinking outside of the box, being innovative, doing things differently and better.”

people who visited Centennial Center Park in 2014

$7.05 million — Dollar

amount allocated to the street rehabilitation program

$100,000 — Tax

exemption approved by city council in 2014 to businesses for the city’s share of the Business Personal Property Tax

Superintendent says he planned earlier exit Arapahoe High tragedy kept him at district an extra year By Jennifer Smith

jsmith@coloradocommunitymedia.com Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series looking at the legacy of Littleton Public Schools Superintendent Scott Murphy, who will retire in June. Next week: Murphy reflects on a long career in education. When Scott Murphy announced last October — just 10 months after the tragedy at Arapahoe High School — that he would be retiring at the end of this school year, he knew people would question the timing. Murphy He has a very emphatic answer for those people. “I didn’t leave because of Arapahoe, I stayed because of Arapahoe,” he said. “Like the captain of a ship, even though you’re in a hurricane or a storm, they need to know they can count on you to help get them back to port with the confidence and knowledge of a sailor. You don’t look at your crew and say, `I’m abandoning the ship.’ I

could not do that. Anybody who knows me, knows that.” Murphy, 62, told the board in October that he had intended to retire at the end of last school year. His grandfather died at 56; his father at 64. His wife retired 18 months ago. “She’s been waiting for me, and I’d like to spend some quality time with her,” he said. Murphy wants people to know why he sums up his career with a quote from TS Eliot: “We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” It’s because, he says, of a life-changing event that happened when he was a young man, behind the wheel of the car in a fatal accident. “My girlfriend was in the car, and she died next to me on a gurney,” he said, struggling with tears. “I learned about struggles as a young person, trying to make sense out of loss, out of death. The wound was open and very painful at the time. Over time, the wound heals, but the scar doesn’t ever leave you. And it’s not all bad. It reminds you of the event. It’s something I can give back to others who need it.” It’s an experience that led him to study Murphy continues on Page 9

Arapahoe High School students Ethan Anderson, Elise Albeck and Laura Friedrich took the top three spots in this year’s Littleton Optimists essay contest. Courtesy photo

Arapahoe High kids sweep Optimists’ essay contest Junior advances to district competition Staff report Marlys Ferrill must be doing something right, because all three winners of this year’s Littleton Optimist essay contest are juniors in her language-arts class at Arapahoe High School.

“Optimism Should Be a Priority” was this year’s theme. First-place winner Ethan Anderson nailed it in his essay, which he read for members, family and guests at the club’s April 1 meeting at Littleton United Methodist Church. “It is knowing that staying positive through the trials of life can result in great happiness,” wrote Anderson, adding that Essays continues on Page 9


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