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Recycling in Parker Colorado

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Most of the HOA’s in Parker include recycling options either for free or a small fee. Here are some other options for you.

Batteries, Lightbulbs & Small electronic appliances

Batteries Plus
11355 S. Parker Road
Parker, CO 80134
303-805-5822 
Notes: Accepts rechargeable batteries and lead-acid batteries.  Call for fees and details. 

Trash Recycling

Denver Arapahoe Disposal Site (DADS)

3500 South Gun Club Rd., Aurora 80018
720.876.2620
Denver Arapahoe Disposal Site

Residential recycling:

  • Paper
  • Plastic #1-7
  • Aluminum
  • Glass

Also:

  • Electronic waste
  • Scrap metal
  • Tires
  • Wood
  • Yard waste

Sedalia Landfill

5970 US-85, Sedalia, CO 80135
720.733.8584
Sedalia Landfill Website

Has a small self-service recycle center that accepts:

  • Aluminum
  • Plastic Bottles
  • Cardboard boxes (corrugated)
  • Freon recovery on refrigerators, freezers and AC units
  • There is a charge per load

Front Range Recycling Services

720.588.0268
Front Range Recycling Services Website

Specialize in appliance recycling and take the hassle out of removing old, unwanted, and broken commercial and residential appliances and other types of scrap metal.

Community Recycling Center

701 Prairie Hawk Drive, Castle Rock, CO
Community Recycling Center Website

A volunteer organization that provides free recycling to the residents of the Town of Castle Rock and its surrounding communities.

Electronics Recycling

Best Buy

11267 S. Pikes Peak Dr, 80138
303.840.5501

Items Recycled:

  • TV and Video
  • Computers and Tablets
  • Cell phones and Radios
  • Appliances
  • Ink and Toner
  • Rechargeable batteries
  • Audio equipment
  • Music and Movies
  • Video Games and Gadgets
  • Cameras and Camcorders
  • Car Audio, Video and GPS

Additional Recycling Resources (Courtesy of Tri-County Health)

Christmas Tree Recycling in Parker allows you to not only recycle your Christmas tree but also to receive mulch to help with erosion and weeds. These perks are free to Parker residents.

If you know of other planet friendly resources we should include, please feel free to let us know.

Town of Parker Holiday Lighting Event O’Brien Parker

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Ruth Chapel Mainstreet Parker Colorado

A Town of Parker Signature Event

Celebrate the Season when Parker Lights the LIGHTS!

Bundle up and bring your family and friends to kick-off the holiday season at Parker’s Holiday Tree Lighting on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. in O’Brien Park.

2021 Mayor’s Holiday Lighting
presented by Xfinity 

O’Brien Park comes alive for the holidays! Join the Town of Parker for an enchanted evening in O’Brien Park. Gather around the Town Tree and join the Mayor and the Parker Chorale in a Sing-Along to Silent Night to kick off the event. Following Silent Night, the Mayor and Town Council will count down to the Town Tree and Grand Park Lighting. You will love the look and feel as our Town Tree lights up and the park sparkles in white elegance!

Once the park is lit up, it’s time for the fun to begin! Stroll around O’Brien Park and take in the sights of the fun holiday ice sculpture displays following a path to each of the displays.

Along the way, you are bound to run into some holiday characters all of whom will have some sort of story to tell or an activity to show you. Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be in town for this festive evening, as will Elsa and Olaf, and you may even spot the “Elf in a Tree!” While you stroll through the park, you can enjoy tasty food from holiday food vendors.

The O’Brien Park Gazebo will come to life with the sounds of the holidays as the Parker Chorale and our local high school choirs sing some of our favorite holiday carols. The Colorado School of Dance performers will showcase one of their dances on stage as well.

This evening is sure to be filled with wonderful holiday memories.

Event Timeline

5:30 p.m. Welcome by Mayor Jeff Toborg and Town Council with a sing-along to Silent Night led by the Parker Chorale, followed by the Grand Park and Town Tree Lighting and an evening of holiday fun!  

Gazebo Entertainment Lineup

  • 5:30 p.m. Parker Chorale opens the evening with Silent Night
  • 5:50 to 6 p.m. Ponderosa Choir 
  • 6:00 to 6:15 p.m. Colorado School of Dance – Nutcracker 
  • 6:20 to 6:30 p.m. Chaparral High School Choir
  • 6:35 to 6:45 p.m. Lutheran High School Choir
  • 6:50 to 7 p.m. Legend High School Choir 
  • 7 p.m. Closing remarks and drawing for 50 inch Big Screen TV 

Activities 

  • Ice holiday ice sculpture displays stationed throughout the park
  • Meet and greet with Elsa and Olaf
  • Holiday walk-around entertainment featuring magical elves, a winter wizard, a dancing holiday tree and a toy soldier, all of whom have a story to tell or an activity to show you. 
  • Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be in Town for the evening!
  • New this year….the community has the chance to decide what our amazing ice sculpture vendor will create during his live ice carving demonstration!  Keep an eye on the Town’s Facebook page (@TownofParkerCO) to vote for your favorite and then come to the event to see if your favorite won! 

Tasty Treats

  • Archies Dog House 
  • Bloom & Grow Kitchen
  • Cyndy’s Food-Lish-Us
  • Comforts of Home – soups, sandwiches, coffee and hot chocolate
  • Kettle Corn

Parking

West Victorian Drive and the O’Brien Park parking lot will be unavailable for event parking and Victorian Drive from Longs Way to Mainstreet will be closed from 3:30 p.m. through 8 p.m. Event attendees can seek other public parking opportunities throughout the Downtown area. 

Public parking is just a short walking distance from the park. Parking at Parker Town Hall, PACE Center, Discovery Park or the Schoolhouse parking lot is a great way to stroll through Downtown on your way to and from the event.  Or, you can park west of Parker road and walk through Kieffer’s Crossing, an underground tunnel that helps pedestrians avoid crossing South Parker Road. The tunnel is between Taco Bell/Long John Silver’s and Colorado State Bank and Trust. 

Contact Us For more information, please email Special Events & Sponsorship Coordinator Brooke Spain or call 303.805.3253.

Parker’s Holiday Events

Art in the Park O’Brien Park Parker CO 2021

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Art in the Park sponsored by the Parker Artists Guild is back for 2021

August 28 from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm

August 29 from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm.

O’Brien Park
Parker & Mainstreet
Parker CO, 80134

Admission is FREE!

art in Parker

Many art forms will be represented including:

  • painting in a wide variety of media,
  • drawing,
  • pastels,
  • pottery,
  • jewelry,
  • photography,
  • woodworking,
  • glass,
  • sculpture and more.

This is a family-friendly event with things for the kids to do including a face painting booth (for a small charge)  and a children’s art station where kids can create their own art projects. There will also be music and food.

The art show is sponsored by the Parker Artists Guild (PAG), a registered 501c(3) non-profit organization

PAG was formed in 2001 and has grown to about 200 members this year. The mission of the Parker Artist Guild is to advance the development of fine arts in the community. To accomplish this the Guild offers instructional demonstrations, workshops, and opportunities to promote all forms of fine art.

PAG sponsors a variety of art education workshops, exhibits, events, and scholarships. PAG members are from Parker, Castle Rock, Aurora, Highlands Ranch, Douglas and Elbert Counties and the south metro area. Membership is open to all media artists.

The art show is sponsored by the Parker Artists Guild (PAG) of Parker. PAG membership includes artists from Parker, Castle Rock, Aurora, Highlands Ranch, Douglas and Elbert County and the south metro area.

Membership is open to all media. PAG was formed in 2001 and has grown to about 200 members this year. Our mission is to promote the visual arts and raise awareness of local artists in the community. PAG sponsors a variety of art education workshops, exhibits, culture events and Kid’s Kulture. For more information about PAG and Art in the Park visit www.ParkerArtistsGuild.com.

For more information about the event and the Parker Artists Guild, please visit www.parkerartistsguild.com

Parker Library Updates 2021

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DCL summer camps help kids make up for lost social, learning time

Summer camp is the perfect place for kids to be kids, especially after the last year of evolving school schedules and modified activities. Douglas County Libraries is excited to offer an array of in-person summer camps for kids ages 4-11 at Camp DCL, June 7-August 6. Kids can connect with peers, have fun, and expand their skills and knowledge through interactive, hands-on activities, with precautions in place for health and safety.

“It’s been a year of back and forth for our kids, shuffling between in-person and remote learning and missing friends and activities that help them thrive,” said Kristen Kallio, Special Events Supervisor at DCL. “We’re excited about our Camp DCL options this summer, and we want every camper to have a great experience.”

DCL’s summer camps are available at six locations—Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Parker, and Roxborough. Registration for the weeklong camps is open at DCL.org/camp-dcl. There are also a few spots remaining for DCL’s spring break camps in Lone Tree and Parker, March 15-19.

At DCL, campers can explore cooking, coding, robotics, art, engineering, science, and LEGO adventures. Some of the summer camps offered include:

  • Rollercoaster Science Camp
  • Kinderbots Robotics Camp
  • Mission to Mars and Adventures in Space Science Camps
  • We Love Pets! and There’s No Place Like Space! Art Camps
  • Castles, Kingdoms & Wizards and Basics of Minecraft LEGO Camps
  • High-Flying Catapults Engineering Camp
  • Kids’ Cooking Network and Cameras, Cooks & Kids Film Camps
  • Gaming With Scratch Coding Camp
  • And many others

Visit DCL.org/camp-dcl for the full list of summer camps as well as spring break camp openings.

Parents can choose from half-day camps or full-day camps (at select DCL locations, at a 10% discount). All camps are facilitated by subject matter experts and are supported by trained DCL staff and volunteers.

DCL adheres to all state and local health department guidelines for operations and events.

While Camp DCL is budget-friendly for families, scholarships may be available from the Douglas County Libraries Foundation for qualified campers.

To register for Camp DCL or to learn more about the camps and scholarship opportunities, visit DCL.org/camp-dcl.

Douglas County Libraries elevates our community by inspiring a love of reading, discovery and connection.

Library’s HistoryGeo launch aids genealogical and local history research

The Archives & Local History department at Douglas County Libraries (DCL) is excited to launch HistoryGeo, an interactive database for mapping land patent recipients, Douglas County historic sites, and other resources that can aid genealogical and local history research. HistoryGeo is conveniently available to customers remotely as well as from any DCL location with the use of a library card.

Through HistoryGeo, users can search by surnames, geographical features, place names, or latitude and longitude. Search results are displayed on interactive maps with modern street overlays, and results are linked to Bureau of Land Management records, Google maps, and DCL Archives & Local History materials. A growing list of local history markers are available to aid research into Douglas County historical sites.

Visit DCL.org/research/all-databases to connect to this unique and free resource.

For more information, call DCL’s Archives & Local History department at (303) 688-7730 or email localhistory@dclibraries.org.

Douglas County Libraries elevates our community by inspiring a love of reading, discovery and connection.

All Douglas County Libraries locations are open and operating under state and local health department guidelines for operations and events.

Masks are required at all times in the library, and we recommend that customers wash hands frequently, especially after handling materials and/or touching surfaces. Disposable masks are available for customers.

All in-person public events and space reservations remain unavailable at this time. Our digital library remains open, and there are many virtual family and community resources available to you, as well as virtual events.

LIBRARY OPERATIONS

Hours

Modified services are available at all DCL locations during our current operating hours:

  • Monday-Thursday, 9AM-7PM
  • Friday-Saturday, 9AM-5PM
  • Sunday, 12-5PM
  • Louviers only: Tuesday, 3-7PM & Saturday 9AM-12PM

Archives & Local History services are available by appointment only; call (303) 688-7730.

Borrowing, Holds & Fines

Standard borrowing timelines and fines on late returns apply. Materials Request and Interlibrary Loan (ILL) are available. Learn more about fines, fees and borrowing.

Book Drops & Donations

All DCL book drops are open and accepting returns of checked-out items. Book donations are important to us. Due to current restrictions and fewer volunteers to process donations, we’ve implemented some temporary changes. Book donations are accepted on a limited basis at our Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, and Parker locations during the times listed below. We are currently accepting donations of only two 18”x14”x12” boxes or less per household.

  • Castle Rock: Wednesdays, 3-7PM
  • Highlands Ranch: Saturdays, 10AM-2PM
  • Lone Tree: Mondays, 10AM-2PM
  • Parker: Thursdays, 10AM-2PM

Storytime, Events & Playscapes

In-person Storytimes and other library events remain unavailable.Virtual Storytime will continue with Storytime fun and activities each weekday at 10:30AM. Library staff will lead songs, rhymes, reading and fingerplays to keep nurturing those all-important emerging reading skills. Virtual Storytime also is available through Storyblocks, a project of Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLEL).Playscapes and other interactive features at all libraries remain closed, including Little Letters Post Office at Castle Pines, The Market at Highlands Ranch, Playful Pets at Lone Tree, the Dino Wall at Parker, and Mission Control at Roxborough.

Spaces

Meeting rooms are available for public use at 50% of room capacity, not to exceed 100 people. Study rooms are available by reservation only. Drop-in use of empty meeting and study rooms is not permitted. Other personal gatherings are limited to 10 people.Contact Event & Hospitality Services at (303) 688-7605 for guidelines specific to DCL meeting rooms.

LIBRARY SERVICES

Park & Pick-Up Holds Service

Pick-Up Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9AM-5PM & Sunday, 12-5PM.Use our curbside service to pick up holds at your preferred DCL location*, following these instructions. Book Club Express kits may also be picked up using this service:

  1. Look for the flag denoting parking spaces set aside for this service. Note that the service location in our parking lots has changed, and there may be a longer wait for delivery to your car. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
  2. If all marked spots are full, please wait in your car for a space to become available. We will work as quickly as possible to serve you, but there may be a wait during busy times. Please be prepared.
  3. Keep your phone handy. Once you are parked in a numbered space, call or text the number on the sign with the required information.
  4. Health regulations prevent us from touching your vehicle. Please be prepared to open and close your own trunk for delivery of held items.

*Not available at Louviers.

Our Digital Library is Open

Our digital library is always open—and it’s been enhanced to accommodate more digital checkouts (now up to 12 borrows per month) and less wait time (decreased ratio of holds to copies, now just 3:1). You may Skip the Line on OverDrive and through the Libby app for instant checkout of items, similar to Your Lucky Day items in our branches. And you’ll see that familiar shamrock.Access a variety of digital library perks, from crafting classes to online learning and more.Check out DCL Connect for a digital world of Family & Community resources.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Protect Yourself & Others

Masks are required at all times in the library, and we recommend that customers wash hands frequently, especially after handling materials and/or touching surfaces. Disposable masks are available for customers.Hand sanitizer stations are set up at library entrances, public service desks, cash-handling points, and other heavily used areas.

Safety Precautions & Protocols

Enhanced in-library cleaning and disinfecting procedures are ongoing using EPA-registered disinfectants. Common areas; hard surfaces such as stair rails, door handles, and elevator buttons; reserved rooms; and restrooms are cleaned at least four times a day. Hard flooring is thoroughly cleaned once each day. The Holds section in each library closes for 15 minutes at the top of each hour to allow social distancing for DCL staff as they shelve. In-library modifications facilitate social distancing. Tables and individual seating are spaced at least 6 feet apart. Plexiglass partitions are in place at public service desks. Increased signage throughout all libraries encourages social distancing and hand hygiene. Protocols and systems are in place to increase air circulation in library buildings.

Our Digital Library is Open

  • Our digital library is always open—and it’s been enhanced to accommodate more digital checkouts (now up to 12 borrows per month) and less wait time (decreased ratio of holds to copies, now just 3:1).
  • You may Skip the Line on OverDrive and through the Libby app for instant checkout of items, similar to Your Lucky Day items in our branches. And you’ll see that familiar shamrock.
  • You may also access a variety of digital library perks, from audio-guided workouts, to crafting classes, to online learning and more.
  • Those who do not currently have a DCL library card can get instant access to our digital collection with a digital library card through OverDrive’s Instant Digital Card and Hoopla’s Engage.
  • Virtual Storytime is available through Storyblocks, a project of Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLEL).
  • Access to PebbleGo K-3 databases is free at www.pebblego.com, providing expertly leveled text and navigation for beginning researchers. Sign in using the username engaged and password learning.
  • Access to Capstone interactive e-books for older kids is also free at www.mycapstonelibrary.com. Sign in using the username continue and password reading.

Douglas County Libraries are closed due to Covid-19

Douglas County Libraries (DCL) has been closely monitoring information from local, state and federal authorities about the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its impact on our communities. At this time, we have made the difficult but necessary decision to close all of our libraries until further notice, in addition to canceling, postponing and/or rescheduling all public events and space reservations.

We are so grateful to be part of a community that loves and supports its libraries. And while we take great pride in being open to all and being a place where you can explore, learn, gather and celebrate, we also want to ensure that our staff and community remain safe and well.

While our physical libraries are closed:

  • Our digital library is always open—and it’s been enhanced to accommodate more digital checkouts (now up to 12 borrows per month) and less wait time (decreased ratio of holds to copies, now just 3:1). Check out e-books; audiobooks; downloadable magazines; movies, TV and kids videos; and music. 
  • You may Skip the Line on OverDrive and through the Libby app for instant checkout of items, similar to Your Lucky Day items in our branches. And you’ll see that familiar shamrock. 
  • You may also access a variety of digital library perks, from audio-guided workouts, to crafting classes, to online learning and more. 
  • Those who do not currently have a DCL library card can get instant access to our digital collection with a digital library card through OverDrive’s Instant Digital Card and Hoopla’s Engage. 
  • Virtual Storytime is available through Storyblocks, a project of Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLEL). 
  • Access to PebbleGo K-3 databases is free at www.pebblego.com, providing expertly leveled text and navigation for beginning researchers. Sign in using the username engaged and password learning. 
  • Access to Capstone interactive e-books for older kids is also free at www.mycapstonelibrary.com. Sign in using the username continue and password reading.

What else you should know:

  • We will waive fines and/or extend due dates on physical items checked out.
  • Book donations will not be accepted during the closure.
  • Prospector and Interlibrary Loan will be unavailable as most other library systems are also closed.
  • All DCL book drops are closed. Hold onto your library materials. No current checkouts will come due, and no fines will accrue during the closure.
  • Current holds in our system will not expire.
  • Materials Request and Book Club Express kits will be unavailable. Current items/kits that are checked out will not come due or accrue fines during the closure. Groups with kits reserved during the closure can arrange for a different borrowing period by emailing bce@dclibraries.org.
  • We have increased cleaning and disinfection throughout our libraries, which will continue until we are advised that COVID-19 is no longer a potential threat.

As the situation surrounding COVID-19 changes, we will continue to communicate with you via email and will post ongoing updates to our Community Safety Notice online and through our social media channels. To check the status of rescheduled events, please see our online Events Calendar.

The closure of our libraries is based on guidance from health officials about limiting gatherings and employing social distancing. For more information, visit the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment or call (303) 389-1687.

We’re doing all we can to ensure the safety and health of DCL staff and our community. Thank you for your support and understanding as we navigate this situation together. Stay safe. We wish you and your loved ones good health.

Warm regards,
Douglas County Libraries

New Year, New Ways to Use Your Library

Douglas County Libraries Introduces Aaptiv Audio-Guided Workouts

The new year brings new active workout options for Douglas County Libraries cardholders. Through Douglas County Libraries’ new partnership with Aaptiv, the #1 audio-based fitness app on the Apple App Store, cardholders can now access trainer-led, music-driven audio workouts for free. Douglas County Libraries is currently the only library in the nation to offer Aaptiv.

Patrons look to public libraries to meet a variety of needs, including entertainment and informational fulfillment. With Aaptiv, Douglas County Libraries gives patrons one more way to use their library, especially at a time when resolutions are made to save money and get fit.

“Douglas County Libraries is about giving the community free access to premium products and services that enhance their lives,” said Collection Development Librarian Andrea Wyant. “The county is full of active people who have access to some of the most beautiful outdoor surroundings in the nation, as well as top-notch rec centers and fitness clubs. This 100-percent audio product complements all of that.”

Aaptiv provides audio fitness classes, guided by expert trainers, that let people make the most of their workouts—at home, the gym, or outdoors. Membership provides unlimited access to more than 2,500 workouts in 13 categories, including running, strength, boxing, yoga, indoor cycling, cardio machines, and meditation.

Every class features inspiring music by well-known artists, so members can move to the music they love. Programs help members prepare for races from 5K to marathon, improve strength or flexibility, lose weight, or reduce stress, while powerful filters let them find perfect workouts by trainer, duration, music genre, or intensity.

Wyant said she was looking to add a fitness app to the library’s digital collection and liked the ratings and reviews Aaptiv received. After trying out the product herself, she reached out to the company. “They were really responsive to our needs as a library, like authentication with library cards,” she said.

Douglas County Libraries cardholders get unlimited access to Aaptiv for three months, for free. Subscriptions are limited.

To learn more or to get started with Aaptiv, visit DCL.org/library-perks or call 303-791-7323.

Douglas County Libraries elevates our community by inspiring a love of reading, discovery, and connection.

Parker Library Event Calendar

Parker Library Events Currently CLOSED

Parker Storytime

Monday – Friday

  • 9:30 a.m. Baby
  • 10:15 a.m. Toddler
  • 11:15 a.m. Preschool

Saturday

  • 10:15 a.m. All Ages

Reading to Dogs Builds Confidence and Self-Esteem

Volunteers and their trained therapy dogs give budding and struggling readers an opportunity to read out loud without the stress of being judged.

Register for a specific appointment time at one of the libraries listed below.

James H. LaRue Library in Highlands Ranch
Second Saturday of each month beginning at 12pm
Fourth Tuesday of each month beginning at 3:45pm

Parker Library
Fourth Wednesday of each month beginning at 4:00pm
Second Thursday of each month beginning at 4:00pm

Philip S. Miller Library in Castle Rock
First and Third Wednesdays of each month beginning at 4pm
Fourth Tuesday of each month beginning at 4pm

Roxborough Library
Second Tuesday of each month beginning at 4:30pm
Fourth Saturday of each month beginning at 10:30am

 Click here to reserve a meeting room at the Parker Library

Parker Chess Club

  • PRIMARY AGE GROUP: All Ages
  • GENRE: Games
  • TIME OF DAY: Evening
  • DAY & TIME: Thursdays, 7-9PM
  • Friendly drop-in competition for all ages and abilities.NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Adult Coloring Groups in Colorado

Have you heard? Adult coloring books are all the rage! Month after month, adult coloring books are topping Amazon’s bestseller lists and more and more adults are finding their zen in between the lines of a coloring page. If you are already a Colorist check out the latest adult coloring books, supplies and tips here at ColoringBookAddict.com. Need more info about supplies to buy or tips and tricks? Check out the Coloring Book Addicts site.  So far this event has attracted guys and gals from 19 – 89 so grab your book and head over to make some new friends.

Unfortunately, the Parker Library has stopped hosting the coloring group but the links below will help you find a new one.

If you live outside the Parker area, check this list from Cleverpedia to see the coloring group nearest you.

Movie & A Martini Lineup CU South – Christmas Vacation 2019

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MOVIE & A MARTINI

Movie and a Martini

CU South Denver / aka Wildlife Experience continues their popular movie nights dubbed Movie & a Martini. We have attended several of these events and even if it’s a movie you’ve seen on tv a million times, it’s way more fun when it’s on the huge screen.  You are treated to a great cocktail hour with 2 tickets each and Appetizers & Dinner. You are then ushered past a large display of popcorn boxes free for the taking to the Imax theater to watch the movie.

Please join with your friends for an evening of fun at Movie and a Martini!

Guests enjoy two drinks, hors-d’oeuvres, popcorn, access to the museum exhibits and the feature presentation all included in the $45 ticket price, $35 for designated drivers. There are trivia and prizes before the movie and special presentations throughout the year.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Chevy Chase and company are back in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Take a break from your frenzied holiday preparations to enjoy the chaos of Clark Griswold and family. Don that festive sweater or dress up like Cousin Eddie and join this adults-only roller coaster of a Christmas ride. This modern classic keeps you laughing and fills your holiday with cheer.
Enjoy an all-inclusive night out!

ADMISSION INCLUDES:

  • Your choice of two specialty drinks (holiday-themed cocktails, house wine or domestic beer)
  • Appetizers and dinner
  • Popcorn
  • “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” on the Giant Screen!

FEATURED MENU:

Chopped Caesar Salad
With croutons and parmesan cheese

Smoked Baron of Beef
with roasted potato & winter vegetable hash
A mix of heirloom potatoes, Brussel sprouts, carrots, and caramelized onions, served with a rosemary demi

White Cheddar Mac & Cheese Station
Toppings include crispy bacon, green onions, and fried jalapeños

Mini Pretzel Bites
With chili con queso dip

Movie Theater Popcorn with specialty seasonings

CHRISTMAS VACATION EVENT DETAILS

CU South Denver

Sunday, December 8
Sunday, December 15 (SOLD OUT)
Appetizers – 5:30 p.m.
Feature Presentation – 7 p.m.

BUY TICKETS

10035 S Peoria St, Parker, CO 80134
303-315-9444

CU South Denver has a no-refund, no-exchange policy. All sales are final. Refunds are given only in the event that CU South Denver cancels a program.ID’s are required and will be checked at the door. Children of any age are not permitted at this event. Thank you for your cooperation

PRICES:
General Admission$45
Designated Driver$35
AGE RESTRICTION:

21+

Milk & Cookies with Santa

Lost and Found Pets in Colorado

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Lost and found cats in colorado
Lost your cat?

Lost & Found Pets in Parker Colorado

We have an amazing community of pet lovers in Parker and by following these guidelines you have an EXCELLENT chance of getting your furry family member back home safe & sound. Call the Parker PD non-emergency number 303-841-9800 to report either a lost or found pet. The Parker police will hold pets for a short time, post them on their social media and if they aren’t picked up by the end of the day take them to the Buddy Center in Castle Rock, part of the Denver Dumb Friends League. Next tag the Missing Mutt Detectives on Facebook. This team of ladies is expertly equipped to help you find your pet.

Lost and Found Dogs & Cats in Colorado

Have you lost a pet? Found a Pet?

Don’t know where to start? Head to this Facebook page that’s open to everyone and will provide a free and powerful way to locate your lost family pet.

Join the Lost & Found Pets in Colorado Page on Facebook here.

SIX THINGS TO DO RIGHT AWAY!

Act fast!  Colorado shelters are, by law, only required to keep lost pets for 5 days. (If overcrowded.. some keep them for less)

SIX WAYS TO HELP YOU GET YOUR PET HOME IN COLORADO!: Whether you have lost a pet or found one, there are high tech & low tech tasks you should do right away

helping lost pets
  1. HelpingLostPets.com  Click this link and fill out the form. This puts your pet in a nationwide database and map, provides you with a flyer for printing to post in your neighborhood (old school still works!) and one to share online. Colorado Lost & Found pets will be emailed with that information and will post it to the Facebook page, added to the appropriate album. It will go out through both HeLP & the CO L&F Twitter feed. The posters also have a QR code.
  2. File a report with the Humane Society/Local Shelter. Some shelters allow this to be done online, but YOU should also go to the shelter. The shelters will often keep a list of animals not for public view. It also gives you a chance to go through their found/lost reports that are not usually online. Contact veterinary clinics in your area. Use their “Lost and Found” bulletin boards.  

Other Colorado Rescues by City
City and State Roads (deceased animals): This will vary by city and county. Check with your shelter for how your area handles deceased pets.

2. ONLINE! On Facebook, watch for your post yourself in your Colorado Lost & Found Pets Album post. Use that SAME file every time you share all over Facebook! This is SO IMPORTANT! The more that one image gets “liked and shared” the more powerful it is. Put that poster on YOUR facebook page.. Your friends might not know you are missing your dog.. Change your top banner & Profile photo to your LOST PET Photo!! Have more photos? add them in the comments of your pets album post.  RESPOND to people’s questions and follow up on ALL leads ASAP
Check & register with www.fidofinder.com – www.petharbor.com & Helping Lost Pets. (If you didn’t do this in step 1)

Fido Finder has a $5 fee to upload a photo of your pet which makes your ad much more effective.

ADD YOURSELF TO THE PETHARBOR EMAIL LIST: CHECK AREA SHELTER by going to Petharbor.com  Pet harbor will allow you to search at shelters within a 200-mile radius of your zip code. You can request to get a notification on new pets coming in.

(They also offer a service to send out postcard flyers to a certain zip code for a fee)

3. CRAIGSLIST! This is a place a lot of people go to when a pet is lost/found.

Craigslist can be tricky when looking for or post a lost or found pet

WHEN POSTING: Be clear if you have FOUND a dog. Post in Lost and Found OR in Pets, or both. Include a picture. We know there is concern about someone claiming a dog that is not theirs but leaving a picture out makes it tough for the people who are sincerely trying to find their pet. There are other ways to confirm ownership.

WHEN SEARCHING: Some people will post “LOST DOG” when they FOUND a lost dog. The breeds can be wrong — we have seen a cattle dog listed as an American Bulldog before. They can also leave very vague posts– e.g. “ I found a dog-call to describe” Same with cats.. you might not even know what “kind” of alley cat you own which is why I wrote this post: Guide to Alley Cats / Mixed Breeds by Color

NOTE: There have been some cases where dogs have been found being rehomed on Craigslist, so please keep an eye on all areas of Craigslist.

4. MICROCHIP! If you have found a pet…Has it Scanned for a Microchip at the local vet, shelter or Petsmart? If you have lost your pet, contact the chip company as they can often send out the alert (there might be a fee).

There are a few companies that do this. The most common is HomeAgain http://public.homeagain.com My favorite service is Petlink. They email me every quarter to remind me to update my information and it was a small one-time fee. www.petlink.net Not sure if your pet’s chip is registered? Enter the number here to check: http://www.petmicrochiplookup.org/

Some good insight from someone who lost their pet: “One problem we had that we didn’t know we had: Home Again never put our contact information in their system. When I called to alert them that we had a missing dog, they couldn’t help. I didn’t have the ID number. Check to see that the chip is registered! And make certain the second point of contact has the ID number.” Your Vet can check your chip for you to make sure it’s got the correct information on it.

5. FLYER FLYERS AND MORE FLYERS!!!!! OLD SCHOOL!

MOST Important!!! Post Flyers. Big Flyers. Let people know you are missing your pet. Unfortunately, some people will not call the Humane Society, and may not actively look for you, but if they see a flyer they may think twice about keeping your pet. Additionally, if one person in the family has decided to keep your pet, but someone else sees the sign they might act on getting your pet back. ( Remember, you got flyers in step #1)

Print Color Flyers with LARGE Letters a great Photo and your phone number. Make them easy to read! People will be driving by so if they can’t tell what it is then it’s not going to help you. Put the flyers in a sheet protector upside down and tape the bottom shut with duct tape. That way if Colorado weather happens, your posters won’t be soaked.

How to sign up for emergency notifications in Parker

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code red emergency system for parker co

Life can change with just a moment’s notice, so it’s important for emergency response personnel to be able to connect with residents during an emergency. Changes in technology are allowing governments to do so in more ways than ever before.

In an effort to take advantage of new technology and to continue to ensure accurate crisis communication with residents, the Parker Police Department and all other Douglas County agencies have transitioned to a new mass notification system called CodeRED.

Sign up for CodeRED Emergency Service

CodeRed is a high-speed telephone emergency notification system that allows public safety personnel to send messages directly to residents – whether they are home or away – during an emergency. It uses geo-tracking to target specific areas with prerecorded phone messages, emails or texts.

Some Douglas County residents may have been signed up for a previous system that all jurisdictions within the County used; including the Town of Parker. County and municipal agencies are no longer using that system. Though contact information will be transferred to the new system, it is suggested all residents sign up for the new system to ensure they are included in this important effort. Business owners are also encouraged to register their contact information.

The Douglas County Emergency Telephone Service Authority decided earlier this year to go with a different notification provider. After requesting proposals from a variety of providers, CodeRED rose to the top. The authority, which is funded by a monthly 70 cent phone surcharge on all cell phones and landlines within the County, will pay for the system.

Like the former system, CodeRED alerts may be implemented in situations such as police activity in the area, an Amber Alert, wildfires or other emergency incidents. However, the system does not include weather alerts. The Parker Police Department encourages residents to stay tuned to weather radios and local media for information during severe weather.

In order for CodeRED to perform at its best, it needs an accurate database of contact information, associated with addresses. That’s why the public’s help is needed. To ensure your information is included in this database, you must sign up.

Registering is free online at http://NotifyDouglasCounty.org

Required information includes First and last name, street address (no P.O. Boxes), city, state, ZIP code and primary phone number. Data will be kept confidential.

Residents can also sign up using cell phone numbers and emails because dispatch centers can also use CodeRED to send messages via text message or email. Signing up allows residents to set their contact preferences. Should residents move, they will need to register again with the new address.

You can also download the app to your iPhone or Droid Smart Phone and either register for a new account or log in to the one you currently have using this QR code.Code Red QR Code

CodeRED will alert people of incidents in their area. The Parker Police Department also uses its Facebook and Twitter accounts to keep the public updated on events, issues and emergencies. Visit facebook.com/ParkerPoliceDepartment and follow us on Twitter @ParkerPolice.

Recognizing CodeRED messages: CodeRED messages will have caller ID No. 866-419-5000 and the name “Emergency Comm.” We recommend programming the number into your cell phone as a new contact using the name “CodeRED Emergency,” so that you can call the number to hear the message again if you need to.

The system does not include weather alerts. Douglas County and its municipalities encourage residents to stay tuned to weather radios and local media or use one of the many local news station apps for information during severe weather.

NWS alerts are now automatically being sent to all cellular phone subscribers during any severe weather conditions that occur within the county of the cellular subscriber. Douglas County does not have any control over those alerts and unfortunately, the NWS alerts are not an opt-in/opt-out service so the only way that you will not receive those alerts is a setting on your cellular phone.

How reliable is this system?
According to national averages, emergency notification systems connect with users 70 percent of the time. CodeRED has been tested in the County, and reports are showing it connects an average of 85 percent of the time. Cell tower connections and technology issues impact these statistics.

If you have specific questions for the Parker Police Department please call Ofc. Dawn Cashman at 303.805.6527 or email at dcashman@parkeronline.org

how to set up your reverse 911

With the onset of smartphones, iPads and PDA’s and the rising cost of everything have promoted many residents to get rid of their landline telephones. Those are the phone numbers that are registered in the Reverse 911 database so what shout we do now?

No problem, it’s actually very easy to set up the Reverse 911 system to alert you by email, cell phone or text message to you and other family members in the case of any kind of an emergency.

You simply go to your local county or sheriff’s office website and it allows you to add your home address, your business address and then many forms of contact including your home phone, cell phone, text message and email. The service also lets you rank by order of preference so they contact you first at your most used source of communication. Residents can edit their profiles at any time.

Other Reverse 911 ideas

  • Elderly Parents: Go and set this system up for them and put yourselves as alternate contact points as well.
  • House or Pet Sitters: You can also have your house or dog sitters number added when you are away on vacation to give you peace of mind as well and simply remember to remove them when you come home
  • Kids just leaving the nest? How about setting it up for them as well and including yourself on the contact list.
  • Vacation: Add a neighbor or nearby relative that knows you are going and can get a hold of you on the road.

The Reverse 911 system is designed to alert residents about fires, floods, toxic environmental issues and other emergencies using the Everbridge Aware™ mass notification system. Not only will you get the alert but it will also tell you what you should do in each circumstance, evacuate, remain in your home or help to locate a missing child.

You can sign up for Reverse 911 calls in most counties in Colorado and Across the United States. Below are some Denver Metro links and search on either your county or sheriff’s office website in your area.

 

Parker’s Holiday Carriage Rides cancelled for 2018

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holiday carriage rides on Mainstreet Parker colorado

Holiday Carriage Rides in Historic Downtown Parker have been cancelled

I just saw this sad news on NextDoor and followed through to the announcement on the Town of Parker Website.

To continue to provide our community with free and low-cost events, while balancing necessary budget reductions, the Town has had to take an in-depth look at our event lineup and make some hard choices. While we know the Holiday Carriage Rides are a favorite community tradition, they serve the lowest number of participants and have the highest per patron cost (about $9 per person per ride) within our event lineup. In order to meet budgetary constraints, and also retain the Town’s signature events that serve a broader portion of our community, we made the difficult decision to cancel the 2018 Holiday Carriage Rides.

Residents rose quite a fuss on NextDoor so the Town of Parker has responded with this Q & A

Parker Holiday Carriage Rides Q&A

Residents raised many questions and concerns regarding the cancellation of the Holiday Carriage Rides. This Q&A provides more information regarding the program, its management and the reasoning to cancel the Holiday Carriage Rides this year.

Why did Parker cancel the Holiday Carriage Rides?
To continue to provide our community with free and low-cost events, while balancing necessary budget reductions, the Town has had to take an in-depth look at our event lineup and make some hard choices. While we know the Holiday Carriage Rides are a favorite community tradition, they serve the lowest number of participants and have the highest per patron cost within our event lineup. In order to meet budgetary constraints, and also retain the Town’s signature events that serve a broader portion of our community, we made the difficult decision to cancel the 2018 Holiday Carriage Rides. This decision was not made lightly and there were many discussions between staff, the Town Administrator’s office and Town Council regarding the continuation of this program. This reduction, along with many other reductions to the 2018 Town budget, was approved by Town Council at the July 16, 2018 Town Council meeting during a public hearing.

How many Parker community members does the cancellation of this program affect?
Since the Holiday Carriage Rides were open to anyone, there was no way of restricting the rides to only Parker residents. However, if every rider was a Parker citizen (2,000 riders) in a Town of 52,000 citizens, then the percentage of community members affected would be less than 4 percent of our population.

How much did it save the Town to cancel the Carriage Ride Program?
The 2017 Holiday Carriage Rides and entertainment at the Discovery Park Ride Station cost $17,350. The 2018 program was budgeted to cost approximately $18,000, based on discussions with vendors. These costs don’t account for staff time for pre, the day of and post-event needs, which were high due to the amount of time this program takes to coordinate. This program also relied on a large group of volunteers and required increased Police presence and patrol during the event.

Can’t the Town offset the event cost with additional sponsorships?
In 2017, five sponsorship opportunities were available and all of them were sold, which offset $6,000 of the event costs. After sponsorship was accounted for, the Town subsidized $11,720 or $5.86 per person per ride. Our Special Events and Sponsorship Coordinator spends a great deal of time working with our great local business community and is always looking to bring new sponsors on board. However, since the Holiday Carriage Rides have much lower attendance than our other larger-scale Town events, they don’t draw as much sponsor interest as they don’t provide as much return on investment (mainly a banner displayed on the wagon/carriage for marketing purposes) for our local business community.

While the Town would have likely been able to sell out 2018 Carriage Ride sponsorship at $6,000, due to the factors mentioned above it was difficult to offer additional sponsorship opportunities and/or raise the price of existing sponsorships. With a limited-scope event with smaller attendance, we don’t have the flexibility to provide sponsors with additional promotional opportunities without adding more elements or additional vehicles to the event, which costs the Town additional money.

Even though we made the decision to cancel the 2018 Carriage Rides, the businesses that had committed to sponsoring the 2018 event stayed on board and agreed to put their sponsorship dollars toward other Town events, which further offset the cost of our remaining Town events.  Any businesses interested in sponsoring Town events are encouraged to reach out to Brooke Spain at the Town of Parker for more information or visitwww.ParkerOnline.org/Sponsorship.

Did the Town consider charging for the Holiday Carriage Rides?
The Town did discuss charging for the Holiday Carriage Rides to offset the high per person cost. In order to sell tickets, the Town would have needed to use a paid ticketing system that offered more options than the free Sign-Up Genius system we previously used. For the Town to make enough money to fully offset event costs (including event sponsorship and accounting for the per person ticketing fees charged), we would have needed to charge approximately $10 per ticket, which we felt would cause further community frustration and price many families out of participating in the event.

What if the Town cut back on the number of carriages/wagons?
While cutting back on the number of carriages/wagons would help reduce the budget, it would be offset by a reduction in the number of event sponsorships the Town could sell. It would also further impact the existing problem of demand outpacing the number of tickets that could be provided for this event. One of the biggest complaints that we receive about this event is that the ride seats/tickets filled up so fast that the majority of the population was left feeling they weren’t able to participate. As the program stood, less than 4 percent of Parker residents had an opportunity to participate in this event. By reducing the amount of vehicles, you further limit who can participate.

Would you allow an interested carriage vendor to come in and coordinate Holiday Carriage Rides?
Yes, the Town would entertain this option if a carriage vendor was interested in applying for a Community Event Permit to put on this event and adhere to all permit requirements. If you know of a vendor that is interested in coordinating this service to the community, please have them contact Brooke Spain atbspain@parkeronline.org or 303.805.3253.

Can another organization take on the event organization and cost? 
This program was originally started by the Downtown Development Council (now Downtown Business Alliance) and then taken on by the Chamber of Commerce. The Town of Parker took over the planning and expense of this program in 2013, when event organizers decided it was not economically feasible to continue the program. The Town would welcome another organization to assume the planning and funding of the Holiday Carriage Rides to carry on this tradition. A 501(c)3 organization may be a great fit for this program. If an organization or business is interested in providing this program to our community, they are welcome to apply for a community event permit through the Town at http://parkeronline.org/130/Community-Event-Permits.

What about accepting donations or crowd funding? 
As a government entity, the Town cannot rely on donations that may or may not cover the expenses nor is it a best practice to crowd fund for expenses that are a contractual obligation to pay. We must be fiscally responsible and know we have the money to spend before we can spend it. The Town can accept donations, but must collect all money before a signed contract and Town Council must accept the donation (gift) by resolution.  The Town cannot enter into a contract anticipating funds/donations will be received.

How has the Town sought vendors for the Carriage Rides program in previous years?
To contact potential vendors, the Town of Parker issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the 2017 Holiday Carriage Rides. This RFP was sent out to 15 different carriage vendors, posted on the Nationwide and Rocky Mountain Region Bid Net, and posted on the Town’s website on Feb. 2, 2017. We held the RFP process open for one month, held an informational meeting regarding the process, and called all 15 vendors to make sure they received the RFP. The Town encouraged vendors to not only review the RFP, but also to propose additional options if the contract choices offered by the Town did not work for their needs. In the RFP, we offered multiple contract options, ranging from the Town paying the full cost of the rides, to a system where the Town paid a partial amount of the overall cost with the vendor charging a nominal fee for rides, to a vendor providing the rides independently and collecting full payment. Out of the 15 vendors that were researched from the greater Denver Metro area, zero attended the informal informational meeting and zero submitted a proposal. Once the RFP process was closed and there was no interest from the available carriage companies, staff then reached back out to all 15 vendors, and of the eight vendors who responded to that contact, five stated they were not interested in participating and three vendors gave bids. None of the companies were interested in taking on the program independently. This was partly due to the large scope (five vehicles) we were requesting but also the lack of guaranteed revenue versus the large amount of work the program would require.

a favorite holiday site in Parker. Ruth Chapel all dress up for the Christmas Holidays in 2010

There are other Holiday Events for you including the Mayor’s Tree Lighting & the Christmas Parade.

Memorial Day Observance Parker Colorado

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May 27, 2019 – Memorial Day Observance

Parker Cemetery

10375 S Parker Rd
Parker, CO 80138
10:00 a.m.
Join the Parker community in honoring Veterans at the annual Memorial Day Veterans’ Service of Remembrance.

Memorial Day Veterans’ Service of Remembrance

Monday, May 27, 2019

Join the Parker community in honoring Veterans at the annual Memorial Day Veterans’ Service of Remembrance.

Ponderosa Valley Funeral Services and J.S. Parker Cemetery invite you to share and participate in this Memorial Day Ceremony honoring our beloved Veterans.

  • F-16 Aircraft Flyover – Colorado Air National Guard
  • Presentation of US Flag to Honor Guard – Harley Owners’ Group Douglas County CO Chapter
  • Patriotic Songs performed by the Parker Chorale
  • Knights of Columbus – Parker American Legion, – Parker Veterans of Foreign War
  • Presentation of Colors and Raising of the US Flag
  • Welcome-The Honorable Mike Waid, Mayor of Parker
  • Inspirational Message- Christopher Petty, Brigadier Gen. (Ret.)
  • Special Message – Col. George Brauchler, Colorado Army National Guard,
  • District Attorney 18th Judicial District
  • Reading of Veterans’ Names
  • 21 Gun Salute, TAPS and Folding of the Flag

Please Bring your own chair and/or umbrella
Inclement weather will cancel Event (Call 303.841.2405)
The Google Map is a little wonky… look below for the map
 It is on the West side of Parker Road just south of the shopping center on the North West corner of Parker Rd. and Mainstreet

Parker Colorado cemetery location

Community Garage Sales Parker CO 2019

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Christmas Tree Recycling Parker Colorado 2011-2012

Spring is here and you know what that means! Garage sale season is once again upon us.

Local community yard sale dates.

PARKER COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE DATES 2019

  • June 14 – 15 2019 Stroh Ranch Community Sale
  • June Stepping Stone Mainstreet and Chambers
  • JuneHeirloom Community Garage Sale
  • June Idyllwilde
  • June Stonegate
  • June Canterberry Crossing
  • June Hidden River I II & III
  • June Preston Hills
  • June Auburn Hills
  • June Regency
  • June Newlin Gulch
  • June Ridgegate

You can also feel free to post notices on the Parker Community Facebook page here. www.facebook.com/parkercolorado

Please remember to take your signs down after the sale to keep the Town of Parker Sign Folks happy!

Parker resident can also join and post your items on the VarageSale Online Yard Sale Click here to join.