December 3, 2015
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EnglewoodHerald.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
Seat belts on buses explored Federal agency recommends safety restraints for children By Tom Munds tmunds@coloradocommunitymedia.com
This 35-foot tree is the centerpiece of Englewood’s holiday decorations but the city has also placed lights on trees surrounding it as well as trees lining Englewood Parkway to the east. Photo by Tom Munds
Tree shines as a holiday treat City’s Christmas centerpiece is lit with help from children
By Tom Munds tmunds@coloradocommunitymedia.com A crowd gathered Nov. 23 and counted down from 10 — and when they reached zero, Mayor Joe Jefferson and a group of children threw the switch, turning on the lights on Englewood’s towering metal Christmas tree. The 35-foot structure located on the east end of the civic center circular drive
is the centerpiece for the city’s holiday decoration. The Leyba family came to watch the tree lighting. “The boys are very excited to see the lights turned on,” Dorothy Leyba said. “We come down here when it is warm so the boys can play around the fountain. When they saw the tree, they asked if it grew from seeds planted in the fountain.” In preparation for the lighting ceremony, crews had decorated the trees surrounding the circular drive and along Englewood Parkway, and they installed
red globes on the streetlights along the same stretch of the parkway. Dave Henderson, deputy public works director, said it took crews about a month to install the strings of lights on about 50 trees. He said they used 3,200 strings of lights which, if hooked end to end, would stretch about five miles. The main 35-foot “tree” is made of five frame sections that are stacked atop each other. The parts for each frame section are connected and then clamps are bolted in place, creating a solid
An Englewood School Board discussion about how to better keep track of students on buses moved on to a discussion about seat belts on school buses. Dave Henderson, district director of operations and maintenance, said the issue concerns the safety of students in case a bus rolls over. He said without seat belts, there is nothing to hold students in their seats, and he noted that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently issued a strong recommendation that seat belts be installed in school buses nationwide. “The administration suggested installation but hasn’t mandated it be done. But that could be the case in the future,” Dave Henderson, director of district operations and maintenance, told the board in a November meeting. “We have looked into it and the estimate is it would cost between $7,000 and $10,000 per bus to install the belts.” Henderson was asked if, belts were installed, would students use them. “I don’t think that is an issue,” he said. “Students have been using seat belts almost from birth so I don’t think use will be a problem.” The proposal is to install three seat belts per seat in Englewood’s nine full-size school buses. That is because the rules say elementary students can sit three to a
Christmas continues on Page 5
Buses continues on Page 5
Craft fair among plethora of activities Chili cook-off, blood drive also held at middle school
By Tom Munds tmunds@coloradocommunitymedia.com Judging by the crowds it appeared a lot of people were interested in the activities going on Nov. 21 at Englewood Middle School. The school gymnasium was transformed into a bazaar for the annual Englewood High School Craft Fair; Englewood Unleashed held its chili cook-off; and, at the same time, a large van from Bonfils Blood Center was parked near the middle school door as the Englewood High School Chapter of the National Honor Society held a blood drive.
Those who signed up to donate blood waited inside the school to be called to the van. One young man wearing an Englewood High School letter jacket was playing a game on his phone while two young ladies seated nearby were talking about an upcoming shopping trip. The sponsor said they had 53 slots and hoped to fill them all. The annual craft fair attracted a big crowd to the gym as conversations between potential customers and vendors replaced the normal sounds of athletic competition. A short distance from the door, a dozen chili cook-off entries filled the air with enticing aromas. There was red chili, green chili and a freestyle category that included white chili made with chicken Craft continues on Page 5
A volunteer serves a sample of an entry in the Englewood Unleashed Chili Cookoff. The cookoff was part of the Nov. 21 Englewood Craft Fair. Photo by Tom Munds
ENGLEWOOD HERALD (ISSN 1058-7837) (USPS 176-680) OFFICE: 2550 W. Main St., Littleton, CO 80120 | PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Englewood, Colorado, the Englewood Herald is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 2550 W. Main St., Littleton, CO 80120. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT LITTLETON, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 5 p.m. | Classifieds: Tue. 8 a.m. | Obits: Tue. 11 a.m. | Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m.