Catch-all Corner: Santa Cop, candy cane hunt, drought plan, new board members, library, holiday events, nonprofits, elves
What's happening around town
Photo by JACQUELINE BRANDWAYN on Unsplash
Lafayette Police Department's Santa Cop Program
From the city website:
Lafayette Police Department's Santa Cop Program coordinates holiday gift donations for families in need in our community. The program relies largely on donations. If you would like to help support this program, we appreciate new toys (appropriate for ages 2-12) or monetary donations.
Donations are accepted year-round, but toy collection boxes are placed in City facilities (Lafayette Police Department, Public Library, and Bob Burger Recreation Center) during the month of November. Monetary donations (cash, check, or credit card) can also be accepted at the police department during normal business hours. If you wish to mail a donation, our address is 451 N. 111th St. Please make checks payable to the "City of Lafayette."
Donations for the 2024 program need to be received by Dec. 13. Donations received after Dec. 13 will go toward next year's program.
Thank you very much for your generosity if you are able to support this program.
From the city website:
Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt - Dec. 13 6-7:30
Bring your flashlight to the Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt outside the Bob L. Burger Recreation Center in the City Park fields. Find hidden candy canes and some sneaky elves for prizes! Afterward, warm up with hot cocoa and cookies, plus photos with Santa.
Wrap up your evening by joining us poolside for an ornament race in the lazy river. Will your ornament win?
Pre-registration is required for the ornament race.
APPOINTMENTS TO LAFAYETTE’S BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
In August, I reported on big changes to the city’s method of recruiting for boards, commissions, and committees. Instead of ongoing messaging there will now be two open houses a year with the main one in August and an open application period about a month long. Staff reports that the open house in August had 30 attendees. At their November 19th meeting the council made the following appointments.
DROUGHT RESPONSE PLAN IN THE WORKS
STAFF MEMO FROM THE COUNCIL’S NOVEMBER 19TH MEETING
Contract / Intera / Integrated Water Conservation and Drought Response Plan
Background Information
Lafayette is initiating an update of its 2018 Water Efficiency Plan and 2001 Water Shortage Management Plan. Intera has prepared many Water Conservation Plans and Drought Response Plans for other water providers and is uniquely qualified to complete this project.
In addition, the principal consultant has helped develop statewide conservation and drought response planning guidance documents utilized in developing these plans.
There are benefits in developing a combined Integrated Water Conservation and Drought Plan (Plan) that meets State requirements and guidelines. Benefits include cost efficiencies, succinct messaging between “normal” and shortage years, and other collaborative outcomes accompanying a more holistic planning approach.
The objectives in developing this Plan include:
• Working with Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to develop the first State approved integrated water conservation and drought plan that meets CWCB guidelines and serves as a useful model to other water providers interested in acombined plan.
• Preparing the City for droughts and water shortages of different intensities and durations while addressing the uncertainty of climate change.
• Developing a plan that sufficiently meets the plan objectives while also establishing a foundational platform to inform future water-related planning efforts.
• Leveraging regional partnerships and available resources to optimize water efficiency, drought mitigation, and drought response opportunities.
• Identifying multi-pronged benefits associated with drought mitigation, drought response, and water efficiency such as climate resiliency, watershed health, community benefits, etc.
The Plan development will include data collection and analysis, multiple workshops with a cross-departmental team, coordination with Northern Water and CWCB, as well as outreach to neighboring communities. This comprehensive process will ensure that the plan is informed by input from the community and decision-makers. Following the review process, the Plan will be presented to City Council for approval consideration as well as the CWCB.
This will be the first Integrated Water Conservation and Drought Plan to be approved by the State. The City is applying for a CWCB Water Plan Grant to support the development of this plan. Grants will be awarded in March. If successful, the City will utilize funding to offset a portion of the costs
MENTAL HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 2025 GRANT FUNDING
In 2021 voters approved a .01% sales tax for mental health and human services. In 2023 a short-term committee of residents was formed by our city administrator to assist with the annual allocation of the funds. Due to its success, earlier this year Administrator Doelling asked the city council to formalize the Mental Health & Human Services Advisory Committee as a regular city committee.
This year the city received $1.6 million in requests from 45 eligible organizations. The committee recommended that $650,000 be distributed to 18 groups.
Interested in the criteria used? It’s available online.
If you would like to know more about the groups that applied and the funding requests you can find charts with all that info in the council packet beginning on page 364.
HOLIDAY DINNER AND CONCERT AT THE SENIOR CENTER
Location: Lafayette Senior Center
Dec. 20 | noon-2pm
Resident $10 / Nonresident $12
From the library newsletter:
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE
Book Sale Dec. 6-15
Stop by the Library during regular hours to buy books of all genres, DVDs, gently used puzzles, children's games and small gift items such as candles, note cards, and soaps. Most items are under $4! Join us on Sunday, Dec. 15 for a special fill-a-bag sale!
During the sale, the Friends welcome donations of fiction or nonfiction in good condition, DVDs, gift items, and puzzles with all parts!
COLORADO GIVES DAY: Now - Dec. 10
This year marks a significant milestone for the Lafayette Public Library as we celebrate 100 years of Library service in Lafayette. Our centennial is a testament to the enduring value of American public libraries. Over the years we have evolved and adapted to meet the changing needs of our diverse community, offering resources, programs, and services that empower individuals of all ages and backgrounds through free access to the transformative power of knowledge and information.
Now more than ever, libraries serve as a vital hub of learning, creativity, and community engagement providing access to information, technology, and entertainment--resources that are essential for personal growth and lifelong learning.
To supplement the public support the Library receives as a department of the City of Lafayette, we also rely upon private support and donations through the Friends of the Lafayette Library Foundation. We invite you to honor our library’s long history of service and support our mission of:
Access for All
Community Building
Adaptation & Innovation
Intellectual Freedom, Privacy & Confidentiality
Literacy & Lifelong Learning
You can also support the Lafayette Public Library today through a tax-deductible financial gift to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Friends of the Lafayette Library Foundation for Colorado Gives Day.
Now through Dec. 10, every donation you make will be boosted with a $1M+ Incentive Fund, made possible by Colorado Gives Foundation and FirstBank. Each nonprofit will receive a share of the fund based on their percentage of the total raised. Plus, if you set up a new monthly donation, Colorado Gives Foundation will match your first monthly donation up to $100 and up to $250,000 in total across all organizations! This is a fantastic opportunity to double your impact and support our efforts to continue to provide a wide range of services and programs that benefit our entire community.
How to Get Started:
Visit our Colorado Gives Day donation page.
Choose the option for monthly giving.
Your donation will be matched automatically.
Once you’ve made your gift, don’t forget to inspire others to join the cause by sharing why you are donating. Tag us on social media at @LafLibraryCO and use the hashtag #ColoradoGivesDay to share your story.
Thank you for your support!
With gratitude,
Melissa Hisel, Library Director
SPOT THE ELF
Now through Dec. 31 stop by the Library and try to find Jolly the Elf enjoying a Vox book! Grab a booklet at participating Spot the Elf locations (we have a stack!) to join the fun. Spot Jolly and at least 15 of his friends around Lafayette now through New Year's Eve to be entered into a prize drawing!
Vox books are a brand of Read-Along Books that pair print materials with audio narration, allowing users to read and listen simultaneously. They offer an enhanced reading experience and improve literacy and comprehension for early readers and persons with print-reading disabilities. Check out Read-Along-Books and other unique Library resources at lafayetteco.gov/LibraryofThings
MORE ELVES TO SPOT
I snagged this info from the Lafayette Old Town Association’s Facebook page, take a look to find a pic of the elf hiding in each business. Pick up a booklet, find 16 elves and drop it off at the Bob Burger Rec Center to enter for prizes.
Starting Tuesday, November 19, Spot the Elf is Back again for 2024! We have some new elves hiding in new businesses! Participating businesses include: Baseline Shoe Repair, Button Rock Bakery Complete Family Dentistry, Day Day Up Tea , East Simpson Coffee Company eeats & sweets First Interstate Bank, Jimano's Pizza, Lafayette Eye Associates, Lafayette History Museum, Lafayette Public Library, Lafayette Senior Services, Little Herbal Apothecary Morrell Printing Solutions, Mudslingers Pottery Studio , Nok's Donuts , OTIS Craft Collective pARTiculars, Silver Peak Studio, Sister Carmen Thrift Store The Collective, The Lafayette Flea, The Read Queen Bookstore & Cafe Vintrey, and WOW! Children's Museum
LAFAYETTE HISTORY MUSEUM HOLIDAY PARTY
AND COLORADO GIVES DAY
108 E Simpson
from the museum’s newsletter
Join us on Saturday, December 14 from 10am-1pm for our Holiday Party!
Hosted in partnership with the Museum of Food and Culture, we will have activities for kids of all ages, fun holiday treats, and tours of the museum.
Looking for a special Christmas gift or a unique seasonal decoration? Make a recipe tea towel! We'll have recipes available to use, or you can bring your own.
To add some festive cheer to your home, craft a popcorn-and-cranberry string! Learn about the history of these historical decorations and make one to take home.
COLORADO GIVES DAY FOR THE MUSEUM
Want to offer more support? Awesome!
Thank you, Karen. Do you happen to have any new updates about the King Soopers vacancy? I seem to recall Kroger was negotiating with a tenant, but any announcements were forthcoming.