Littleton independent 1017

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Littleton 10-17-2013

October 17, 2013 75 cents

Arapahoe County, Colorado • Volume 125, Issue 13

A Colorado Community Media Publication

ourlittletonnews.com

Candidates tackle questions at forum Discussion eyes city’s future, financial stability By Jennifer Smith

jsmith@ourcoloradonews.com The League of Women Voters noted the 2013 Littleton City Council election will feature an “all-male” slate on the “all-mail” ballot. At-large candidates Bruce Beckman and Bruce Stahlman, the incumbents, and challengers James Dean and John Watson met

in an LWV forum at Bemis Library Oct. 9 to face questions from community members, less than a week before ballots will go out in the mail. They were joined by District 1 candidate Randy Stein and District 3 incumbent Phil Cernanec, both running unopposed. Although the topics ranged from retail marijuana to government transparency, most of the discussion surrounded growth, development and economic stability. Asked about the recent upswing in interest from apartment developers, most candidates said each project should be judged Forum continues on Page 14

City council candidates, from left, Randy Stein, Phil Cernanec, Bruce Beckman, James Dean, Bruce Stahlman and John Watson take part in a forum at Littleton’s Bemis Library Oct. 9. Photo by Jennifer Smith

Controversy lingers over Willowcroft Brouhaha left bad taste as Columbine Valley eyes fate of Tuck property By Jennifer Smith

jsmith@ourcoloradonews.com

inke’s insurance would cover you learning to juggle a razorsharp butcher knife?” emcee Paul Burillo asked Drake before handing him some tennis balls. Drake didn’t actually juggle those, either. Littleton’s oddest talent show happened in a tent in the parking lot at Reinke Bros. Halloween and Costume Store,

With the Willowcroft controversy still swirling through the Town of Columbine Valley, Mayor Gale Christy wants residents to separate that issue from another that will soon face the community. “The petition calling for a referendum vote on the Willowcroft rezoning and plan, if it indeed goes to election in Columbine Valley, should be voted on with factual knowledge and actual conditions, not on rumor or misleading information,” he said. On the other side of town from Willowcroft sits the 103-acre Tuck property. It’s currently being scoped out by developers, and town clerk JD McCrumb expects a proposal to be on the table sometime next year. Citizens pushing to overturn the board of trustee’s recent decision on Willowcroft fear it sets a precedent for higher densities that could affect what’s allowed on Tuck. “If they acted in this way on this project, when it clearly runs counter to the guidelines of the master plan, what reason is there to think that they will not do the same for every other future development in our town, such as (the Tuck farm)?” said Brian Macauley, who headed up the petition drive that now requires the trustees to revisit their decision, which was set to happen Oct. 15. “The residents need to send a clear message to the trustees that this will not be allowed. The trustees must respect the long-term vision of our town.” But Christy notes the two sites are in

Follies continues on Page 13

Willowcroft continues on Page 14

For a kid who said he was scared of heights, Louie Rogers, 10, helped Becca Smith put on quite a performance at Littleton’s 2013 Pumpkin Follies and Goat Show on Oct. 11. Photo by Jennifer Smith

Local talent gets wacky in follies Comics, singer, circus performers strut stuff By Jennifer Smith

jsmith@ourcoloradonews. com We’d like to assure the attendees of the Pumpkin Follies and Goat Show Oct. 11 that it was not just some bizarre dream, it really happened.

There really was a talking Mona Lisa, complete with picture frame and Adam’s apple. Captain Kirk did indeed walk through the crowd seeking Mr. Spock. Perhaps you dined on Devils on Horseback. The voices of Joan Rivers, Shrek and Donkey, Miss Piggy and the Pillsbury Dough Boy actually emanated from a man who looked more like Larry the Cable Guy than any of those char-

POSTAL ADDRESS

acters. There really were two little pygmy goats chomping on hay and whatever else they could get their teeth on. Greg Reinke really did tell you to put a plastic cup on your head, then proceed to blast it off by smacking the bottom of a trash can filled up with fog. However, Dave Drake did not actually learn to juggle knives as his birthday surprise. “You really think Greg Re-

LITTLETON INDEPENDENT (ISSN 1058-7837) (USPS 315-780) OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Englewood, Colorado, the Littleton Independent is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display advertising: Thurs. 11 a.m. Legal advertising: Thurs. 11 a.m. Classified advertising: Mon. 12 p.m.

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