December 18, 2015 VO LUM E 1 4 | IS S U E 7 | FREE
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Parker wants public input on future development Town-owned land east of downtown to be rezoned By Chris Michlewicz cmichlewicz@coloradocommunitymedia.com
prevent potential disasters. “This year, there are so many more remote-controlled toys and items out there — there are drones and hover boards and other items that use these lithium polymer batteries,” said Becky O’Guin, public
Officials are asking for public opinions on how to develop a 24-acre property owned by the town of Parker. The Pine Curve property, which is directly across Mainstreet from Parker Town Hall on the east end of downtown, has been the subject of discussion for years. The town originally purchased the land in 2002 with the intent of building a new police station and possibly headquarters for what was then the Parker Fire District. Then, town leaders proposed using the property to house the Parker Arts, Culture and Events Center — or PACE — but those plans also fell apart. Now the town wants to rezone the land from its designation of “Greater Downtown District — Historic Center” to “planned development,” which allows the site to be customized to the area. More than 50 people attended the first of many public open houses at the PACE Center Dec. 10 to view the rezoning proposal. After a master-plan process in 2009 that involved the public, the Town of Parker issued a request for proposal to find a private development partner, said Mary Munekata, the town’s associate planner. One of those partners, an entity that would bring a King Soopers grocery store as an anchor, is still interested. Parker is seeking to establish the development as an eastern gateway into downtown. Johnson Cobb, a Parker resident who
Battery continues on Page 7
Pine Curve continues on Page 7
A South Metro Fire Rescue firefighter watches over a lithium-ion polymer battery during a demonstration Dec. 9. Photo by Chris Michlewicz
Battery danger nothing to toy with Power sources used in drones, R/C cars can explode, cause fires, local officials say
TIPS TO PREVENT LITHIUM-ION BATTERY FIRES • Do not overcharge batteries • Do not leave them unattended while
By Chris Michlewicz cmichlewicz@coloradocommunitymedia.com South Metro Fire Rescue is warning consumers this holiday season about the danger of fires caused by lithium-ion polymer batteries, which can be found in drones, hover boards and remote-controlled toys. At the department’s joint services facility in Parker, safety officer Jason Camper demonstrated how easy it is for a lithiumion polymer battery to start a fire. An
• Use a charger recommended by manufacturer
charging
• Check batteries for outward signs of damage
• Use a fireproof container while charging
• Use adult supervision
overcharged battery was poked with a nail, and that was all it took for the battery to combust and burst into flames. South Metro Fire Rescue has responded to two recent fires ignited by the batteries. As the holidays approach, the department launched a public education campaign to
NANCY GRIPMAN: 1926-2015
Volunteer, longtime Parker resident leaves lasting legacy
By Chris Michlewicz cmichlewicz@colorado communitymedia.com Imagine a person who leaves a lasting impression on everyone she meets. That was Nancy Gripman. Gripman even impacted people she’d never met through tireless volunteering that spanned decades. And even though the world lost Gripman Dec. 1 at the age of 86, her legacy and fruits of her labor are firmly intact, carried on by the many people Gripman
rallied for whatever cause she was working on. “She would call after she knew me and would say, ‘I have a favor to ask,’” said Genese Sweeney, a close friend of Gripman’s since 1997. “I knew immediately it was going to be something for someone somewhere, and she wanted me to be involved.” That’s how most people knew Nancy Gripman — as a sweet, yet spunky woman with a heart for anyone who needed help. She was affectionately referred to as “the Energizer Bunny,” Sweeney
said. Gripman helped start the Parker Task Force food bank, was instrumental in historic-preservation projects, helped local children learn to read, and sent school supplies to the other side of the world through the Rotary Club of Parker. She also helped start a Douglas County chapter for Women Infants and Children, which assists with food and nutrition, and “endlessly collected” eyeglasses for the less-fortunate Gripman continues on Page 7
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Nancy Gripman teaches a young boy how to read in 2012. File photo