Colorado no longer has a fire season, but rather a “fire year” according to many experts. While Jefferson County is known for its natural beauty, the county is in danger of experiencing damaging wildfires. Did you know that some of Colorado’s most important firefighting tools are housed at Jefferson County’s own Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport? Check out this video to learn about wildfire preparedness efforts in Jeffco.

While Jefferson County is know as a great place to live, work, and play, many people don't realize the breadth of services the county provides for nearly 600,000 residents — and countless visitors. Visit the Get to Know Jeffco webpage to learn more.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office invites you to read its quarterly Law Enforcement Authority (LEA) Report. The LEA Report informs and updates the public on what is happening, what has happened, or what is affecting the JCSO during each quarter of the year. It was presented by Undersheriff Scott Eddy to the Board of County Commissioners during the April 23 hearing. This is the report for the first quarter of 2024.

Twice a year the Jefferson County Clerk & Recorder's Office provides passport processing with no appointment necessary. If you are filing for a new passport, your passport has expired by more than five years, or are getting passports for your children, this is the event for you. From 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., stop by with all of your documents, a checkbook, and your application. We will get you ready for fall and winter travel. RSVP today.

Join Jeffco Open Space on Saturday, June 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mount Falcon Park West Trailhead and help create a usable trail for visitors experiencing disabilities. Work will include a quarter mile of the Meadow Trail, giving visitors a nice loop from the main parking lot to the Walker Mansion Ruins. Volunteers will be removing obstacles from the trail and improve the cross slope of the trail. Learn more and register.

The First Judicial District will hold its next Fresh Start event on Saturday, June 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Jefferson County Administration and Courts Facility, 100 Jefferson County Parkway in Golden. People with active warrants in Jefferson or Gilpin counties in qualifying categories will have an opportunity to resolve their case without being arrested.

Jefferson County Public Library welcomed Jeffco Commissioners Andy Kerr and Lesley Dahlkemper, community members, supporters, and patrons to celebrate the grand reopening of the redesigned Evergreen Library. More than 1,000 library patrons joined the celebration and shared their excitement about the improved library, the brightness of the remodeled facility, the welcoming feel, the larger and brighter community room, and the redesigned floor plan.

National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) is a world leader in creating and providing adaptive outdoor recreation experiences. On May 1, NSCD opened its new Adaptive Program Center at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. The group, based in Winter Park, provides therapeutic recreation, competition, and adaptive sports for children and adults with disabilities. Read the full article from 9News.

Jefferson County Treasurer Jerry DiTullio closed the property tax payment drop box located on the outside of the Jefferson County Administration and Court Facility in Golden. The atrium payment drop box is still open and has been busy since the outside drop box was removed due to attempted theft. The atrium drop box is available Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Drop off documents on Saturday, June 1, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, 200 Jefferson County Parkway in Golden. There is no charge for the event.

Vehicles will be limited to three clean trash bags/bankers’ boxes of documents. Please remove binders or other non-paper contaminants, paperclips, and staples. Items with personal or private information are ideal for drop-off.

Jefferson County Head Start is now enrolling for students ages six weeks to five years old. Head Start is a Universal Preschool site with locations in Arvada and Wheat Ridge. Full-day and half-day sessions are available. Children are not required to be potty-trained. After-school care is available for working families (small fee or CCAP required for after-school care). Apply online or call 720-497-7900.

JCPL’s Summer Challenge is Where Adventure Begins. Sign up to read, complete activities, win prizes, and have fun. Participants of all ages can complete activities from June 1 through July 31. Adventure themes include Arts Adventure, Book Lover, Digital Explorer, Nature Embracer, and Pop Culture Experiences. Learn more about Summer Challenge camps, programs and contests, and how JCPL is building literacies.

Join CSU Extension for its field course season in the Native Plant Master program. Whether you're looking for an introductory one or two day course, or aiming for your Native Plant Master certificate through the three day courses, there is a program for everyone. Visit the Native Plant Master webpage to learn about the programs that are offered.

From learning turf irrigation techniques to creating eco-friendly drip systems, learn how to nurture your outdoor spaces while conserving water. Join CSU Extension to explore sustainable practices for lush gardens and vibrant perennial beds. Registration is $25. Reserve your spot and take the first step toward a greener, more efficient approach to landscaping. Questions? Email Rachel Durkan or call 303-271-6618.

Jeffco Prosperity Partners launched the Colfax Marathon Fundraiser to raise $5,000 by May 20 to create a memorable celebration for graduating seniors. Your generosity will empower students as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. Donate today and help us make this year's graduation event truly special.

Quick links to Commissioner Information:

Red Rocks Park and neighboring mountain parks are very popular. With that popularity comes traffic and congestion — the parking lots at trailheads can get crowded quickly on nice days. Many of the hundreds of thousands of people attending concerts, movies, or visiting a park for recreation, drive themselves.

Many of you may not know, although in Jefferson County, Red Rocks Park is owned by the City and County of Denver. That is why Denver City Councilman Darryl Watson and I are working together to look at public transit improvements in accessing the parks. Read the full article.

Water is a scare resource, and it’s a great time to think about ways to make using water in your home more efficient. Quick, effective options include installing a low-flow shower head, washing your clothes with the “quick cycle” using cold water, and installing high-efficiency rotary head sprinklers instead of the standard fixed spray head nozzles. Find more water saving tips.

Jefferson County Public Library offers innovative programs that allow Jeffco residents to check out and take home Wi-Fi hotspots and Wi-Fi enabled Chromebooks (in partnership with Jeffco's Business and Workforce Center). Hotspots can be checked out for seven days; Chromebooks for 60 days. Laptops can be reserved and used in the Arvada, Belmar, Columbine, Golden, Edgewater, Evergreen, and Lakewood libraries.

Jefferson County Business & Workforce Center, Arvada Chamber of Commerce, and Jeffco Public Schools have come together to host Grow Jeffco: Work-Based Learning (WBL) Workshops. This collaborative effort is aimed to empower local businesses with the knowledge and tools to implement WBL and learn how it can be a strategic investment in workforce development and business growth.

Many people think they are not in danger of flooding if they don't live near a stream or creek. Unfortunately, this is not true. Flooding is the nation's No. 1 natural disaster. Colorado's flood season runs May through October and includes both snowmelt and thunderstorm flooding. Snowmelt floods result from the melting of the winter snowpack in the high mountain areas which becomes spring runoff.

Simms Street is currently closed to through traffic from 112th Avenue to State Highway 128. This closure is estimated to be in place until fall 2024. Once completed, the project will result in a new three-lane roadway, enhanced streetscape, and additional intersection capacity at Highway 128 and Eldorado Boulevard, which will intersect at the northern edge of the project.

Supporting local never tasted so good! Taste of the West will be held June 6 from 5-8 p.m. at the Foothills Fieldhouse. General admission tickets and discounted group 10-packs are available and make a great employee or client appreciation experience. VIP tickets are available while supplies last and include early entry, exclusive snacks and drinks, chair massages, and more.

After seeing crime levels spike during the pandemic, especially in 2021, the Wheat Ridge Police Department is proud to report crime levels have dropped significantly during the past two years and are closer to levels seen in 2018 and 2019. Since 2021, overall crime in Wheat Ridge is down 26%.

For a mid-week escape to an idyllic hillside with sweeping mountain views and dramatic sunsets, local brews, hip food vendor fare, and community members of every age and background, there is nothing quite like an outdoor summer concert at Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park.

Come hang out in the park with Foothills Park & Recreation District for our free Concerts in Clement Park, Thursday nights at 7 p.m., June 6 through Aug. 8 (no concert July 4). Find the band lineup and event details on the Concerts in Clement Park webpage.

Water you think about this? (See what we did there?) Outdoor pools are set to open on May 25, and we could not be more excited. Get ready to jump into the Apex Center Splash Pad, Fitzmorris Outdoor Pool, Lake Arbor Outdoor Pool, and Secrest Outdoor Pool for a summer full of fun. Visit the Apex website for more information.

The regular season runs May 25 through Aug. 8, and the extended season runs Aug.17 through Sept. 2 (weekends only). Learn more about pool pass rates, schedules, and more. The Anderson Pool is located at 4355 Field St. in Wheat Ridge.

Summer events are underway at Bear Creek Lake Park. Never been camping? Sign up for “Let’s Go Camping” to get tips from outdoor experts. Love animals and nature? Join a campfire program hosted by our park naturalists on Saturdays throughout the summer. Want more? Compete in the fishing tournament, learn archery techniques, volunteer to fix trails, or swim or paddleboard.

Jeffco Public Schools' Student Leadership Board (JSLB) is made up of a diverse group of high school students representing every high school in Jeffco. JSLB recently hosted the inaugural Jeffco Student Leadership Conference, which offered a full day of engaging leadership experiences for more than 130 high school students from across the district. The conference included a keynote speaker and breakout sessions led by Jeffco staff and community partners.

Join the City of Wheat Ridge and Jefferson Center for a Mental Health and Wellness Series this summer at Prospect Park (44th Avenue and Robb Street). Learn more and register for the series.

Volunteering with children in the court system is a profoundly impactful and rewarding experience. As a dedicated volunteer, you play a crucial role in providing support and advocacy for children who find themselves entangled in the legal process. Find out how to get involved with CASA of Jefferson & Gilpin Counties.

Celebrate the vast variety of art offered throughout the city during Inspire Arts Lakewood. The event encompasses free and low-cost arts and culture experiences hosted from May 25 to June 30 at more than 20 galleries, cultural centers, shops, and other art venues in Lakewood. Come enjoy the Colorado summer at the creative organizations and events in Lakewood.

Applewood Villages Sustainable Neighborhoods (AVSN) is hosting a “Yard-Sale-Apalooza" on June 7-9. The objective of Yard-Sale-Apalooza is to engage the maximum amount of shopper interest to assist AVSN residents with selling items that might otherwise go to the trash OR in buying secondhand items that might otherwise be bought new. Learn more about the event.