🍁 Douglas County residents who prefer not to leave fallen leaves in their yards can properly dispose of them and other yard waste at the Fall Leaf Collection site, in an initiative designed to keep waste out of landfills and prevent storm drain blockages.

🎃 Parker is officially in the Halloween spirit! From a Halloween dance party at the rec center to singing along to the iconic “Rocky Horror Picture Show” movie, there’s no shortage of spooky fun this October.👻

The ninth annual Elbert County’s Sheriff’s Office Back the Badge drew a sellout crowd to Messer Arena and Events Center near Kiowa. 

🍹🍺🍷 Sip in Centennial is back on Oct. 26 from 1–5 p.m. at Centennial Center Park. Guests 21 and older can enjoy tastings from Colorado distilleries, breweries and wineries — including favorites like Idlewild Spirits.

Whether it’s creating a cozy autumn feeling or reigning in the holiday season, community and professional orchestras will be putting on enchanting performances all across Douglas County.  Take a look at some of the upcoming performances here:

Arvadans have the chance to complete a community-focused puzzle —  and vie for the chance to win an ice cream party — when they stop into Power Cone before Dec. 18 and pick up a scroll, which will be the start of their puzzle quest. 🧩 🍦 Learn more.

The Ralston Valley Coalition hosted all six Arvada City Council candidates at a forum on Sept. 29 at the Depot at Five Parks, where the candidates weighed in on a slew of topics ranging from development to governmental transparency to infrastructure.

Principal Josh Miller and school counselor Jane Steiner were nationally recognized this fall when their school, Cherokee Trail Elementary School, was named a Recognized ASCA Model Program certified school by the American School Counselor Association.

Nearly 10 years after her cancer diagnosis, 17-year-old Makenna Rodolph from Golden unveiled a mural she made out of Legos at Children’s Hospital Colorado South Campus in Highlands Ranch — sharing her message of hope and strength.

Brian Chacon, a tow truck driver from Castle Rock, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple felony charges, including motor vehicle theft, forgery and operating a chop shop.

Residents in Parker will have another option for grocery shopping as the town’s first Whole Foods Market opens this fall. The new 43,000-square-foot store is anticipated to open on Thursday, Oct. 9, just in time to shop for holiday meals and desserts.

Landis Scott Albers, 32, has been identified as the man shot to death by Sheridan police on Sept. 25 when he allegedly threatened people along a bike path with a machete and would not stop advancing on officers who responded to the scene.

For the first time, the Highlands Ranch Community Association is putting on a Holiday Banner Decorations Contest with a goal of spreading the youthful cheer of the holiday season. Details:

As the Rotary Club of Highlands Ranch celebrates 40 years of service, members are reflecting on the friendships that have been created and projects that have been completed.

🍁 The Littleton Harvest Festival is set to return on October 11, giving Littletonians a day of historic autumnal fun. Click the link for details:

Four of the seven seats on the Douglas County School District Board of Education are up for election this November. In District E, Candidates Clark Callahan and Deborah (Dede) Kramer are looking to fill current president Christy Williams’ seat.

This month, Little Raven Elementary School students got a big surprise as they gathered to build bikes with Littleton Police Department officers for the Beesley Bike Build. After the bikes were built, the students got to take them home.

The city of Arvada is one step closer to replacing its aging water infrastructure, as the city council unanimously approved the purchase of a 25-acre plot of land located at 6809 State Highway 93 for $5.7 million at the Sept. 16 city council meeting.

A transgender man and his wife were beaten outside an Olde Town bar, but police say "there is currently no credible evidence" that the attack was bias-motivated.

Join us for BJC Aviation Night Out at Sano’s Italian Kitchen—an evening of food, community, and connection with the RMMA aviation family. Thursday, Sept 25 • 3:00–8:30 PM 9008 W 88th Ave, Westminster Sano’s will donate 10% of all proceeds to Global Thrift (Good Foundation)!