continued on page 2

City gets grant for New Sheridan Trail Project Thanks to a grant from the Arapahoe County Open Space program, the City is able to create construction drawings for an extension to the Quincy Avenue Right-of-Way Trail. The grant will also help fund a study to determine the best way for pedestrians to cross Federal Boulevard on the trail. The project will include extending the trail east to Chase Park and to Clay Street, stretching to the bike path at Centennial Park, allowing safe pedestrian access for stu-dents crossing Federal Boulevard as well as access to the South Platte River and activi-ties including additional bike trails, retail establishments and recreational opportunities such as kayaking and fishing. The project, like many municipal improvements, involved multiple agencies and a lengthy planning and development process. In 2010, Sheridan was awarded a planning grant from the Tri-County Health Department under its “Communities Putting Prevention to Work” grant effort, which allowed the city to create the Sheridan Connecting Trails Plan, which specified a five-part trail system to move people on bike or on foot from the current Bear Creek Trail System along new routes via paved trails and bridges west to Centennial Park. The project also benefits the Sheridan School District by providing safe routes for students. Most recently, the city worked with the South Platte Working Group (SPWG) to iden-tify the lack of a trail connection between Federal and Centennial Park as a priority. The $50,000 Arapahoe Open Space grant is joined with $7,500 in cash and in-kind contributions from the city and other resources to comprise the total project cost of $65,800. City Manager Devin Granbery said “This grant will allow the City to continue its efforts to expand our bike and pedestrian trail system, providing safe routes between our schools and recreational amenities.” The planning grant will allow the City to create construction documents to build the trail in hopes that a construction grant can be obtained to help fund the completion of the trail.

continued on page 3

Vol. 03 No. 37 July 2014 Circulation: 2,980

July 2, 6:30 p.m. Planning Commission (if needed) Community Room

July 4 City Hall Closed in Observance of Independence Day

July 10, 6:30 p.m. Sheridan Celebrates Sheridan Rec. Center

July 11, 8 a.m. CANDO Community Room

July 14, 6 - 7 p.m. CC Work Session Community Room

July 14, 7 p.m. Regular City Council Meeting Council Chambers

July 16, 6:30 p.m. Planning Commission (if needed) Community Room

July 19, 9 a.m. Coffee with Council Panera Bread – River Point

July 28, 6 - 7 p.m. CC Work Session Community Room

July 28, 7 p.m. Regular City Council Meeting Council Chambers

July 28 After City Council SRA Meeting Council Chambers

July 28, 7 p.m. Sheridan Historical Society Community Room

Mark Your Calendar

There is plenty of food, fun, entertainment, games and a fantastic fireworks show for families and friends at this free event. A variety of food conces-sions are available in Belleview and Cornerstone parks. At about

9:30 p.m., a spectacular fireworks show is launched from the base-ball fields at Cornerstone Park. With an emphasis on a safe event for families, the laws prohibiting alcohol and personal fireworks – including sparklers — are strictly enforced. Pets are strongly discouraged. The Fourth of July Family Festival and Fireworks Show is spon-sored by the cities of Littleton and Englewood, Arapahoe County, and South Suburban Parks and Recreation, as well as Colorado Credit Union, Herbaly Exploration and Land Rover Denver. Additional financial support is provided by the City of Sheridan.

Fourth of July Family Festival and FireworksSCHEDULE OF EVENTS:Cornerstone Park (5150 S. Windermere Street)10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Colorado Journey Miniature Golf (fee charged)3 – 9 p.m. Food and Novelty Vendors (fee charged)3 – 9 p.m. Slide, Bounce Castle, Rocket Rides, Bungee Tramp (fee charged)4 – 7 p.m. Grant Street Playground6 p.m. AirLife Helicopter Landing7 – 9 p.m. Live Music by Buckstein9:30 p.m. FIREWORKS!Progress Park (5100 S. Hickory Street)7 – 11 a.m. Fishing For Fun (Awards at 11)Belleview Park (5001 S. Inca Street)10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Pirates Cove Aquatic Center open (fee charged)10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Children’s Farm ($1.75 per person)3 – 9 p.m. Food & Novelty Vendors (fee charged)

Page 2 Sheridan News / July 2014

City of Sheridan4101 S. Federal Blvd. • Sheridan, Colorado 80110

Phone: 303-762-2200 • Fax: 303-438-3398

Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-762-2200 City Clerk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-438-3306

Sheridan Celebrates Committee . . 303-438-3321

Municipal Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-762-2204 Fire Dispatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720-913-2400 Police Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-762-2211 Neighborhood Services . . . . . . . . 303-438-3237

Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-438-3224

Reserve Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-438-3257

Police Administration . . . . . . . . . 303-438-3230

Victim’s Assistance Unit . . . . . . . 303-438-3342

Public Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-738-1098News Articles

The deadline for news articles is the 15th of the month before the next month’s issue. Please email news articles to Arlene at asagee@ci.sheridan.co.us. No endorsement of any product or service is implied or stated by its inclusion in the newsletter.

AdvertisingThe deadline for advertisements is the 15th

of the month for the next month’s issue.

To place an ad, call Colorado Lasertype, 303-979-7499.Email: getinfo@coloradolasertype.com

To find ad rates and discounts, go to www.ColoradoLasertype.com

and click on the “Advertising Rates” link.

The Sheridan News is published monthly by the City of Sheridan. Appearance of an advertisement in this publication does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement by the publisher or the City of the goods or services offered therein. The opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the individual authors and not of the City or the publisher. Neither the City, publisher nor the authors intend to provide any profes-sional service or opinion through this publication.

Council Member Ward 2Gary Howard

ghoward@ci.sheridan.co.us

Council Member Ward 3Tara Beiter-Fluhr

tbeiter-fluhr@ci.sheridan.co.us

Council Member Ward 1Bonnie Parker

bparker@ci.sheridan.co.us

Council Member Ward 3Ernie Camacho

ecamacho@ci.sheridan.co.us

Council Member Ward 2Chanele Beacham

cbeachum@ci.sheridan.co.us

Council Member Ward 1Landau de Laguna

ldelaguna@ci.sheridan.co.us

MayorDallas Hall

dhall@ci.sheridan.co.us

Residents Urged to Sign Up for Trash Service This past June, the City and Republic Services implemented a new residential trash and recycling collection program. Under State law, municipalities may contract for residential trash and recycling collection services for all single-family residences and multi-family buildings of seven or fewer units. All quali-fied properties will be charged a service fee to cover costs for the program. The fee will depend on the level of service that the property owner elects to receive. Property owners who have not done so already are encouraged to contact Republic Services at 720-590-4260 to sign up for the appropriate service level. Billing for the program will be through Republic on a quarterly basis. Under their contract with the City, Republic will exchange trash and recycling cart sizes for residents at no charge during the first three months of the service. Please contact Republic at the phone number above to arrange for any cart exchanges. Also, all customers are eligible to receive either a 64 gallon or 96 gallon recycling cart that is collected every other week on your desig-nated trash day. The recycling cart and collection are included in every service level at no additional cost. The City encourages all property owners to take advantage of this service as it can reduce trash generation and lower service costs for customers. The City’s contract with Republic Services is for five years and includes price controls that will limit increases in service costs. For the first two years of the contract, Republic may not raise the prices charged to Sheridan customers. In the third and fourth years, prices may be raised a maximum of 3 percent and must be justified through increases in the Denver-Boulder area Consumer Price Index. The fifth year of the contract is a renego-tiation year where the City Council will consider either extending the contract or sending the contract out to bid again. The first free bulk item pick-up event of the year will be held Saturday, July 12. Republic will send out a list of acceptable items for curbside pick-up. A second bulk item event will be held this Fall, as well as a yard waste collection event. Notices for those events will be sent out by Republic prior to the event. The City Council and the City Staff would like to thank our residents for their patience and cooperation as the City and Republic Services work through the implementation of this new program!

-— Devin Granbery, City Manager

Sheridan High School Graduates 67 Students Sheridan High School held graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2014 on Thursday, May 29 at Colorado Heights University, 3001 S. Federal Blvd. The 67 graduates have committed to a variety of colleges and universities including The University of Colorado-Boulder, Colorado State University, The University of Northern Colorado, Metropolitan State University, The University of Colorado-Denver, Regis University, Colorado Mesa University, Adams State University, Johnson & Wales University (Rhode Island), Doane College, Northeastern Junior College, Lamar Community College, Rocky Mountain College, Morningside College and Langston University. In all, the students have earned more than $160,000 in schol-arships.

— Mark Stevens

July 2014 / Sheridan News Page 3

Snow On Its Way, continued from front page

2014 Sheridan Celebrates Parade Marshall, continued from page 2

Did you ever dream of being a star? Now’s your chance! The 2014 Sheridan Celebrates event will highlight the 25th anniversary with the theme “Sheridan Celebrates the Silver Screen” on Saturday, September 27. Not only are the parade entrants, entertainers, vendors and volunteers encouraged to act the part, so are you. Whether you are a Star Wars action fan, the Disney princess romantic type, western cowboy flick devotee, or an old-time movie buff, pick a beloved character and come in costume. We’ll be ready for you at the state-of-the art digital photo booth on the front porch of City Hall, 4101 S. Federal Blvd., from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. You and your friends can pose, tap and snap a photo that will be instantly uploaded to the Sheridan Celebrates Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SheridanCelebrates. You can also have the photo emailed to your inbox for sharing later with family and friends. But the fun doesn’t stop there. FREE inflatables will be

back this year includ-ing a Toy Story bounce house and a Chaotic Kingdom Obstacle Course. Some new organizations will be in attendance to share live animals with you and educate you about their critters. Rocky Mountain Wildlife, a wolf res-cue organization, will spark your interest and increase your under-standing regarding how to live safely with wild-life. Nature Educators, an all-volunteer educa-tional wildlife organiza-tion focusing on raptors and reptiles, will be on hand to inform anyone and everyone concern-ing the importance of birds of prey. They may also present reptiles and insects to inspire audiences to become excited to discover facts about wildlife by interacting with these creatures. Many of your favorite entrants will be returning to the “Sheridan Celebrates the Silver Screen” parade which will follow along a similar route as in 2013. Parade staging will take place in an area on the Fort Logan Mental Health Center Campus and proceed north on Lowell Blvd. to Milan Ave. then continue east to Federal Blvd., progress south on Federal to Oxford Ave., then west on Oxford to the Sheridan High School parking lot at 3201 W. Oxford Ave. Don’t miss the Colorado Clowns, the Lakewood Riding Club and the Buffalo Bill Saddle Club, the VFW Color Guard, Ms. Colorado Senior America, plus your preferred local talents from the Sheridan Schools. The afternoon would not be complete without some tasty treats, cold beverages and a kick-start to your holiday shopping, so mark the date, save your pennies, and come out and enjoy all the fun and family-friendly activities at “Sheridan Celebrates the Silver Screen,” on Saturday, Sept. 27. And don’t forget your costume! If you have questions, suggestions or ideas regarding the 2014 Sheridan Celebrates Parade and Festival, post them on the Sheridan Celebrates Facebook page www.facebook.com/SheridanCelebrates or call the hotline at 303-438-3321.

— Jean Ray, Sheridan Celebrates Event Coordinator

Act the Part for “Sheridan Celebrates the Silver Screen”

Sheridan Library Closes, New Library Will Open Later This Summer The Sheridan Library, 3201 W. Oxford Ave., closed on June 21, to prepare for the upcoming move to the new facil-ity currently under construction at 3425 W. Oxford Ave. The new Sheridan Library is expected to open for the community later this summer. Starting June 23, from 9-11 a.m., on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, the mobile Library on Wheels vehi-cle will offer library services including limited materials for check out, available holds, laptop computers, Summer Reading program information and storytimes (Tuesdays at 9 a.m.). The Library on Wheels will be located in the parking lot of the new library location at 3425 W. Oxford Ave., and will be available until the new facility opens with the exception of the week of July 28 for scheduled vehicle maintenance. Sheridan community members and library patrons are encouraged to sign up for a special e-blast at arapahoelibrar-ies.org/Sheridan-update that will be sent on occasion with updates on the new library’s progress. For more information, visit arapahoelibraries.org/Sheridan-update, or call 303-LIBRARY (303-542-7279).

— Michelle Cingrani, Communications SpecialistArapahoe Library District

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Page 4 Sheridan News / July 2014

Lakewood Riding Club honors the fallen sol-dier Photo: Jean Ray

On May 16, Sheridan school district held its first District-Wide Parent Recognition Potluck. Parents from all district schools were recognized with certificates and plaques for their consistent attendance to the regular monthly parent meetings. Also, some parents were recognized for their involvement in committees such as the District Advisory and Accountability Committee, DAAC. The event was well attended by over 60 parents and commu-nity members. A special guest, Mrs. Patsy Roybal, spoke to the group inciting parents to get involved in their children’s educa-tion as well as their daily activities and interests. Sheridan Clinic representatives Dora Arellano and Yubiri Arismendi were also recognized for their loyal attendance to the parent meetings in all schools and the valuable information they’ve provided through the school year on topics such as Sheridan Clinic’s services and the Obama Care-Health Reform. “The certificates and plaques were only a small token of our appreciation for what these parents do to support our district and the students we serve,” commented Erica García, Director of Language, Culture and Equity. This event celebrated all parents involved in the monthly meetings held at each individual school. The Family Liaisons who organize and lead these meetings are: Lina Gomez (Sheridan H.S.), Carla Granados (Sheridan M.S. and Alice Terry E.), Alma Arreola (Fort Logan E.) and Jorgelina Karner (Early Childhood Center). These liaisons bring different discussions and informational presentations of interest to the community such as: Tobacco Prevention, Families First, Interfaith, Sheridan Public Library, IC parent portal/School Websites, School and Community Safety (SPD), to list a few. “The Parent Empowerment meetings are a way to let parents have a voice in what’s happening in the schools and provide them with information that they would like to learn to help their students be successful. Each month the parents tell me what they would like to learn for the following month. When I first started meeting with parents they wanted to know how to calcu-late a G.P.A. We have progressed to financial aid, the difference between grants, loans and scholarships, and the significance of ACT scores. When we have issues in the school, parents bring insight into what the issue is and how to solve it,” said Michele Kelley, Sheridan High School Principal.

District-Wide Parent Recognition Potluck Dinner

Sheridan’s Manny Marquez Named “Coach of the Year” In Frontier League Boy’s Baseball Manny Marquez, Sheridan’s Varsity Baseball Coach, has been honored by the Frontier League as “Coach of the Year,” for his dedication and skill in guiding the Rams to the state play-offs. Manny’s players, who view him as more than a coach, describe him as a “friend, father-figure, big brother, teacher, and role-model.” Assistant baseball coach Rick Contreras states that he “was not surprised,” at Manny’s Coach of the Year Award, noting that Manny “highly earned it.” Currently coaching Sheridan Girls Softball, Manny and assistant coaches Annette Green, a Sheridan teacher, and Rick Contreras, are molding their team into a force to be reckoned with. Rams team members include Crystal Baca, #20; Azhane Bufford, #11; Monica Cardoza, #8; Alexis Contreras, #15; Nicci Dahnke, #16; Lupita Gandarilla, #22; Justice Hendrix, #2; Karely Hernandez, #12; Sarah Howell, #7; Lanette Leamons, #19; Sierra Leamons, #17; Irie Marguez, #6; Alexis Martinez, #21, Angelique Mayness, #4; Marissa Peterson, #18; Savannah Riel, #10, Sierra Riel, #19; Marisela Rosales, #5; Kassandra Salinas, #1, and Jayla Sierra, #0. Team Managers are Daniel Rayo and Joseph Cordova. Starters include Lynnette Leamons, pitcher; Alexis Contreras, catcher; Monica Cardoza, first base; Angelique Mayness, third base, Justice Hendricks, shortstop; Alicia Cordova, right field; Kayla Martinez, centerfield; and Nicci Dahnke, left field.

— S. Chris Hyland Calderon

July 2014 / Sheridan News Page 5

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Sheridan Health Services Outreach Enrollment Specialists Dora Arellano and Ubiri Arismundi were honored at the Sheridan School District’s final Spanish Speaking Parents’ meet-ing for their outstanding contributions in aiding Sheridan students and families obtain medical insurance. Hired in October 2013 by the Sheridan Clinic as the first ever Enrollment Specialists, Dora and “Ubi” charted their own course within the community, reaching out to families at Parent Teacher Conferences and Parent Meetings at Alice Terry, Fort Logan, and Sheridan Middle and High Schools. Recognized for providing support to parents in the district, Dora and Ubi also worked with the SOAR program at Sheridan, ensuring that SOAR students received the necessary help in obtaining medical coverage. SOAR Social Worker Valerie Krieg states, “Dora and Ubi are great. They have provided tremendous services to SOAR.” Representing the Sheridan Health Clinic at community activities such as the High School Resource Fair, Dora and Ubi have enrolled more than 500 people for health insurance, including some outside the Sheridan community. Word of their advocacy and competence in negotiating the healthcare system has spread to many programs in the Denver Metropolitan Area, including food banks, Centro San Juan Diego, the Archdiocese of Denver, and many more. Most recently, Dora offered outreach services to Mission Sheridan participants, many of whom acknowledged that they had had no idea how to begin enrollment for health insurance until her visit. At their May 2014 meeting, the Sheridan Health Services Board expressed great pride in the outreach performed by Dora

Sheridan Health Services Outreach Workers Honored at School District Ceremonyand Ubi, when word of their community award and statistics on their enrollments were presented by Phil Thompson, Sheridan Health Services Finance Director. Board members agreed that Dora and Ubi personify the clinic’s mission to serve the commu-nity. Dora and Ubi define their roles as “a calling, not a job,” and state they felt great “passion” for their outreach work from the onset. Both are bi-lingual and bi-cultural, both possess excellent “people skills” and both bring a unique combination of experi-ence and education to the outreach positions. Summing up their philosophy, they state, “We care. That’s why we do this.”

— S. Chris Hyland Calderon

Summer Lunch Program at Sheridan High School Breakfast and lunch will be served free every day for all children 18 years and younger through the Summer Food Service Program. The program began at Sheridan High School on Wednesday, June 4 and runs through Friday, Aug. 1. Breakfast will be served from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The program will be closed on Friday, July 4. You do not have to be in summer school or be a resident of Sheridan to participate. Adults may also purchase breakfast ($1.50) and lunch ($3.50). Sheridan High School is located at 3201 W. Oxford Ave.

Page 6 Sheridan News / July 2014

Claim Your Fame on Lower Bear Creek Whether you walk, bike, wade or tube along Lower Bear Creek, you have an opportunity to star in a film that’s in produc-tion this summer. Green Mountain High School student videog-raphers have teamed up with Groundwork Denver to produce a short and powerful video about the Creek and its water quality. This project is the first in a series of strategies developed by the Lower Bear Creek Steering Committee. The goal is to pro-mote the use of Lower Bear Creek and engage people in actively protecting urban waters. Do you live near Bear Creek? How do you use it? What wild-life do you see? What human activity influences your enjoyment of the Creek? How do you protect urban waters? Your thoughts may be included in this eye-opening production about Lower Bear Creek. Green Mountain High School students Cody Korsmeyer,

continued on page 7

Phoenix Chu and James Grebb took their cameras and walked along Sheridan’s section of Bear Creek in June. The water was running fast and high, a result of the previous day’s steady rains. Side channels typically dry during summer months were brim-ming with water. This introductory walk raised many questions: Why is the water brown? Does the color tell you how clean or dirty the water is? How does planting cattails along the Creek keep water cleaner? If people don’t pick up after their dogs, how does that affect the water? What happens to trash and oil on streets and in parking lots when it rains? Are there any fish in Lower Bear Creek? How will young people be affected in the future by water quality today? What can I do to protect urban waters? As videographers trained to capture the most interesting angles of a story, the students’ questions will set the stage for the

full video. In their initial pitch for the project, Grebb said, “We want this video to show real people talking to a real audience”. The first part of the project will accomplish just that. Residents in Sheridan, Denver and Lakewood will be interviewed for the film, as well as water quality experts. Places and features to film along the Creek will be informed by community interviews. What do you think is important for people in your community to see and know about Lower Bear Creek? We want to hear about your experiences on

Lower Bear Creek! If you would like to be con-sidered for an interview for inclusion in the film,

please contact Groundwork Denver Program Manager, Rachel Hansgen at rachel@groundworkdenver.org or 303-455-5600. We hope to hear from you soon and we’ll see you on the Creek.

— Rachel Hansgen, Groundwork Denver

Mission Sheridan Serves Area Youth With an all-volunteer staff, the Mission Sheridan Youth Group is open to all students in the community between the ages of 12 and 18. Created four months ago at the request of Sheridan Municipal Judge James Kimmel, Mission Sheridan affords personal mentoring, decision-making skills, social support, trust-building, dinner, and a healthy dose of old-fashioned fun. The group meets weekly, on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 8 pm in the Valley View Community Church Gymnasium at 4390 S. Lowell Blvd.

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July 2014 / Sheridan News Page 7

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always welcomed back as participants or mentors. Anna, a recent Littleton high-school graduate who is college bound, has mentored regularly for Mission Sheridan, and states, “Even if we make a slight change in the lives of just a couple of students, I will have done my job to the best of my ability.” Manny, a Sheridan High School graduate who is a personal banker at Wells Fargo, and Jose, also a past Sheridan graduate who is training to be a nurse-midwife at the University of Colorado School of Nursing, have provided mentoring services to Mission Sheridan, particularly to Spanish-speaking group members. Elizabeth and Dwight Holmes, Sheridan residents and long-time foster and adoptive parents, have found themselves drawn to the Mission Sheridan youth, who often open up and share their current problems, and seek advice and counsel. Elizabeth, a longtime child advocate, has established networks with school personnel, public defenders, and other community professionals on behalf of Mission Sheridan youth. Cindy Tanner, Sheridan Victim Advocate Co-Coordinator and Mission Sheridan mentor, sees Jeff Kane’s dream and his vision.

Pastor Mark Testroet, a retired USAF chaplain and part-time evidence technician at the Sheridan Police Department, immedi-ately stepped up to volunteer his church to house the youth group as well as provide supportive services. “We, as a church have been looking for a long time for a way to have a positive impact on the city of Sheridan. Churches are often perceived as asking “What can the community do for us?” We, as a church, ask, “What can we do for the community?” We need to be here at Mission Sheridan to fulfill roles as good men and women. We want the students to know that we will back them up and believe in them. As a church, we believe that people can change and overcome all challenges and obstacles. Working with Mission Sheridan allows us to practice this belief.” Cody Ferguson, Mission Sheridan Director, has a special affinity for area youth, having spent much of his adolescence here. He is candid about his own troubled past, and gives credit to various mentors who believed in him. A charismatic, ath-letic, “larger than life” figure, Cody coaches year round sports, is active in his church, works full time to support his wife and three sons, and finds time to serve as the fulcrum around which Mission Sheridan revolves. He states, ‘I know this is where I’m supposed to be and what I’m supposed to be doing.” Cody’s wife, Dawn, is instrumental in handling the Mission Sheridan paperwork. Mentors for Mission Sheridan are multi-ethnic, several are bi-lingual, and all practice various religious creeds. What they have in common is a commitment to Sheridan youth and a calling to spend consistent volunteer time reaching out and bonding. Mentors often state that they “get as much or more from the students as we give to them.” Mentors have aided Mission Sheridan students in addressing alcohol and drug problems, school attendance and grade challenges, and working out family relationships. Since its inception on February 18, 2014, Mission Sheridan has graduated 12 court-ordered youths, including stu-dents from Sheridan, Littleton, and Denver. All youth are wel-come and many participate on a volunteer basis. Graduates are

Mission Sheridan Serves Area Youth, continued from page 6

Mission Sheridan Director Cody Ferguson combines fun with life lessons with a young participant and Mentor Clayton

Holmes looks on.

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Page 8 Sheridan News / July 2014

Soar Academy Graduates 19 at SHS Ceremonies Proud family members and friends crowd-ed the Sheridan High School Auditorium on May 28 to cheer the 19 SOAR Academy graduates for the 2014 academic year. Noting that SOAR students often face multiple challenges in their lives, SOAR Principal Michael Granderson described the graduates as exemplifying “the spirit of hope.” In his address, Mr. Granderson also commented that, “although tradition and ceremony are important, nothing is more important than relationships.” SOAR staff members described their belief in doing whatever it takes to ensure that their students succeed. A high note of the ceremony was graduate Victor Severino Jr.’s solo, “I Believe I Can Fly.” “Soaring” and “Flight” were the themes of the program, and each graduate has firm future plans. With the graduation announce-ment describing SOAR as requiring “360 Degrees of Excellence,” the graduates chose as their statement, “I believe I can SOAR to my highest level of academic achievement… and rise above the seeming impossibilities of life…to become all that I can be, at ALL times! Named 2014’s “Outstanding Graduate” Jeremias Aranda will be enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps, while Brittani Loepp will enlist in the U.S. Army. Other graduates plan to attend area colleges and vocational schools, and married graduate Cinthia Del

Real will continue to care for her 1-year old son, Miguel, while she pursues her future. Student speakers Brittani Loepp, Tiffany Lucero, and Maleah Velarde voiced their pride in being SOAR gradu-ates, and Leonardo Lopez thanked his mother and other members of his support team. Superintendent Michael Clough and Sheridan School Board members distributed diplomas and congratulated the 19 graduates: Rene Alarcon, Jeremias Aranda, Alexi Chaney, Cinthia Del Real, Carlos Garcia, Feliz Jaime, Brittani Loepp, Leonardo Lopez, Tiffany Lucero, Wendy Marquez, Anthony Maynes, Jr., Adriana Morales, Lexi Morales, Hanaboyo Ochalla, Beth Policihio, Steven Ross, Victor Severino, Jr., Michael Stone, and Maleah Velarde.

— S. Chris Hyland CalderonPatrons explore their creative side at the Creativity Lab

at the Sheridan Rec Center.

South Suburban Parks and Rec Sheridan July Events South Suburban’s Sheridan Recreation Center is helping curb hunger this sum-mer by providing free breakfasts, Mon. – Fri., from 9 -10 am and free lunches from 12 -1 pm for those 18 years old and under through Aug. 1. Breakfast is served inside the recreation center, while lunch is served in the adjacent Sheridan Community Park. The program is sponsored by Lunchbox Express. Sheridan Recreation Center also has partnered with a local community group to host a food bank within the facility. Registration is required for access to the food bank. The food bank is open on Thursdays, with registration from 3:30 -6:30 pm; and shopping from 4:30 -7pm. For more information about the food bank please call Stephanie at 303-948-8394 or Karen at 720-290-1360. Sheridan Recreation center offers weight training, cardiovascular equip-ment, yoga, martial art classes, basketball, racquetball, a Creativity Lab and Pickleball. Pickleball now is available every weekday; Mon/Wed/Fri 9 a.m.-12 noon for recreational play, Tuesday 10 a.m.- noon. for competitive play, and Thursday, 10 a.m.- noon for beginners. For more information call 303-761-2241 or visit online,www.sspr.org. Sheridan Recreation Center is located at 3325 W. Oxford Ave. The Creativity Lab at Sheridan Recreation Center is a great place to hang out with friends and create a variety of art, including sculptures, collages, cards and more. Everything is there, and whatever you create is yours to take home! Summer Creativity Lab Hours: Mon/Thurs., 1-7 p.m. Tue/Wed., 1-5 p.m. Closed Fridays Join us at Sheridan Recreation Center for Family Art Night in the Creativity Lab on Fri., July 18, 6-7:30 p.m.. Have a creative time with your family painting rocks of different sizes to look like animals or mythical creatures to be placed in your garden. Register online at www.sspr.org., or call 303-761-2241.

— Jamie DeBartolomeis, Marketing SpecialistSouth Suburban Parks and Recreation