November 19, 2021
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
ParkerChronicle.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19 | SPORTS: PAGE 30
VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 51
SPECIAL REPORT
Update on Parker economy at chamber breakfast Mayor, deputy town administrator presented BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The Colorado Center for the Blind in Littleton.
PHOTO BY DAVID GILBERT
They came seeking confidence; they left traumatized Sexual abuses were kept quiet for decades at the world-renowned Colorado Center for the Blind, former students and employees allege BY DAVID GILBERT DAVID@COLORADOSUN.COM
More than a dozen previously unreported instances of sexual misconduct and abuse spanning at least two decades at the Colorado Center for the Blind in Littleton have surfaced during an internal
investigation of the school’s parent organization. Among the offenses were the alleged sexual assault of a 13-yearold girl by a summer youth camp counselor in 2001, of which police have no record; a teacher accused SEE BLIND, P6
MERGER FOR LOCAL CREDIT UNION
Dougco-based Canvas has deal with W. Slope firm P5
ABOUT THIS SPECIAL REPORT This project is a collaboration of Colorado Community Media, publisher of this newspaper, and The Colorado Sun. The Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.
Several leaders and economic analysts from the Parker area gave updates on the state of the local economy during a breakfast event hosted by the Parker Chamber of Commerce Nov. 12. The event, held at the PACE Center, brought about 85 people from the business community together. During their presentations, Deputy Town Administrator Bo Martinez and Mayor Jeff Toborg spoke about the economic future of Parker. Both said they’re looking to diversify the town’s business portfolio with multiple new types of businesses. “We want to get in those businesses that do daytime jobs, that have living wages and good economies,” Toborg said. He added that the town is also putting an emphasis on business retention. “We’re going to come talk to you about what it means to be a business in Parker, what you need from the town, and then I and Bo are going to take that back to the town council,” Toborg said. During his presentation, Martinez — who has been on the job for about 10 months — provided a snapshot of the Parker economy: SEE CHAMBER, P12
ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
Colorado residents discuss what makes them thankful
P16