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February 5, 2015 VO LUME 1 26 | IS S UE 2 8 | 7 5 ¢
A R A P A H O E C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
LittletonIndependent.net
A publication of
WHAT’S INSIDE
Are you satisfied?: A survey reveals what your neighbors are saying about life in Arapahoe County. See Page 2
Telling their stories: Some World War II-era veterans take part in a project documenting their experiences. See Page 12
Nothing but net: Find out how local high school teams are doing on the hardwood. See Pages 20 and 23
U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, left, joined Littleton Mayor Phil Cernanec to visit with recent immigrants and community volunteers at Bemis Library in Littleton on Jan. 29. Photo by Jennifer Smith
Coffman tours resources at library Littleton visit provides look at immigration, senior programs Staff report POSTAL ADDRESS
U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman spent some time in Littleton on Jan. 29 to visit Bemis Library, in particular the Littleton Immigrant Resources Center and the new Aging Well Resource Center. The Aurora Republican visited with students
in the beginning English class, conversing with some of them in Spanish. He complimented Mariela Cahow and Kay Wilmesher, the programs’ supervisors, on their work, and Littleton Mayor Phil Cernanec filled him in on the naturalization ceremonies hosted by the center each year. Coffman represents the 6th Congressional District, which includes Littleton, Centennial, Highlands Ranch and Aurora, among other areas. The Littleton Immigrant Resources Center offers English classes, help navigating the path to citizenship, one-on-one mentoring by volunteers
and other resources. Attorneys can charge upward of $500 an hour for the same services LIRC offers on a sliding scale. The Aging Well Resource Center opened last October. It helps seniors find resources in the areas like food assistance, health and medical care, insurance, transportation, family caregiving, employment, veterans’ benefits, education, utilities and volunteering. It hosts a free activity once a month with refreshments, games and prizes. For more information on either program, call the library at 303-795-3961.
LPS safety panel begins to drill down LITTLETON INDEPENDENT (ISSN 1058-7837) (USPS 315-780) OFFICE: 7315 S. Revere Pkwy., Ste. 603 Centennial, CO 80112 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: Littleton Independent 7315 S. Revere Pkwy., Ste. 603 Centennial, CO 80112 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US
P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
Group plans half-day workshop at end of month By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@coloradocommunitymedia.com Members of the Littleton Public Schools Safety and Mental Health Advisory Committee began to lay out their priorities on Jan. 28. After hearing during their last meeting from Guy Grace, LPS director of security and emergency planning, the committee’s focus was on security issues. “It takes a community to keep the schools safe,” Grace told the 30 or so members of the committee, formed to tackle questions raised in the aftermath of the 2013 Arapahoe High School shooting. The members — culled from educators, elected officials, mental-health professionals, students and the community at large — will spend the next six months looking for gaps in systems already in place. Emerging themes include whether student resource officers are being used to their fullest capacity, how to stay current on best practices, proactive vs. reactive approaches, and whether and how to engage students. Robert Reichardt, who lost a bid for a seat on the school board last November, expressed frustration with the process, and wants to hear from more students than just the three on the committee. “I feel like I’m supposed to be making recommendations on the safety of our students, and I don’t know what the problems are,” he said.
Littleton City Councilmember Bruce Stahlman ponders priorities during a meeting of the Littleton Public Schools Safety and Mental Health Advisory Committee on Jan. 28. Photo by Jennifer Smith But some mothers in the group weren’t comfortable with the idea, and moderator Annette Fante, senior consultant at Panasonic Education Foundation, reined him in. “I don’t think you’re ready to start advocating and weighing pros and cons,” she said. The group also spent some time hearing about mental health to prepare to drill down on that topic. “You really can’t talk about safety if you don’t talk about mental health,” said Melissa Cooper, director of special education and student support services. Connie Bouwman, deputy superintendent,
said the district’s mental-health team is a diverse group committed to collaboration and communication. “I personally believe that 80 to 85 percent of our parents and interested community members don’t really know very much about the services we offer, because they haven’t needed them,” said Bouwman. “We tend to know about the needs of our own child.” The group will meet again on Feb. 11 in preparation for a half-day workshop on Feb. 28. It ultimately will make its final recommendations to the board of education before Superintendent Scott Murphy retires in June.