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August 13, 2020
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
LittletonIndependent.net
VOLUME 75 | ISSUE 42
Equine event is special for school for the blind In 1st outing since February, students meet mounted unit BY DAVID GILBERT DGILBERT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
In their first outing in months, students and staff from Littleton’s Colorado Center for the Blind got in touch with their equestrian side on Aug. 3, grooming horses from the Arapahoe County Sheriff ’s Mounted Patrol at Sterne Park. “It’s really calming,” said Derek Roberts, a student at the renowned school that teaches blind people skills in self-reliance, as he ran his fingertips along the back of Ruthie, a 22-year-old mare. “I try to be a calm person myself. I’d like to think we’re making a connection.” The visit from the Sheriff ’s Mounted Patrol was the center’s first outing since Feburary, said Dan Burke, the center’s spokesperson. Normally, summers at the Center for the Blind would be filled with activities like whitewater rafting and rock climbing, he said, but amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, a lot of programs are on hold. Summer camps for teens are on hiatus, as are classes for seniors. SEE EQUINE, P2
How to find assistance with food, housing, personal needs and more BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Eliza Portugal pets Love Bug, a miniature therapy horse.
PHOTO BY DAVID GILBERT
Littleton OKs largest grants to businesses, nonprofits City earmarks big federal bucks to soften impact of virus BY DAVID GILBERT DGILBERT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Littleton city government is prepared to make its largest outlay yet
COVID-19 resources: Where to turn for help
of federal money to assist businesses and organizations impacted by the novel coronavirus. City council approved the allocation of more than a half-million dollars in grant money to businesses and nonprofits at its Aug. 4 meeting, earmarking $375,000 to assist struggling businesses, plus $200,000 to help nonprofits. The funds come from more than $4.4 million in federal money al-
located to the city via Arapahoe County, which is distributing income from the federal CARES Act to municipalities. The grants will come directly out of the city’s general fund, said City Manager Mark Relph, and city officials will submit invoices to the county for reimbursement. The move comes after the city sent SEE GRANTS, P14
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | SPORTS: PAGE 16
PERIODICAL
CLIMBING FOR A CAUSE
A University of Denver student summits peaks to help the homeless P12
Maybe you’ve lost your family’s child care. Maybe you barely broke even this month. Maybe you’re on the verge of having to fend for yourself on the street. Maybe you’re a business owner, fighting to keep your doors open for your workers. Or maybe you’re an older adult, isolated and unsure of where to turn for help picking up groceries or your prescriptions. The coronavirus pandemic has been raging through Colorado for five months, but there are still people, nonprofits, government programs and other information that can help you make it through. Their services range from job training and job-search assistance to free, confidential support for mental health and substance-use concerns. We’ve compiled a list of programs that can help. For all of the website links for the programs mentioned below, go online to tinyurl.com/COVID19-help. Rent, mortgage assistance, eviction help A program to help Coloradans make their rent and mortgage payments launched in mid-July. SEE HELP, P4