REGIONAL NOTES
DURANGO
Narrow gauge kickoff Friday
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad kicks off its summer service with the annual Narrow Gauge Days celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the depot in Durango. The Bar D Wranglers will play at the free picnic. The railroad will unveil its historically reconstructed Silver Vista car.
The first trip to Silverton leaves at 8:15 a.m. Saturday and arrives at 11:45 a.m.. The railroad will host a complimentary continental breakfast from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Silverton depot. The Silverton Brass Band will welcome the first train to town.
For schedules, fares and other information, visit www.durangotrain.com, or call 888-TRAIN-07 (888-872-4607)
JEFFERSON COUNTY
Fire district board, bond election
The West Metro Fire Protection District will hold a special election from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today to decide two ballot questions and elect five board members.
The first ballot question seeks a 1-mill increase – which would raise property taxes about $7.92 each year per $100,000 value of a home. The second seeks authority to issue $43 million in bonds, which would be an increase of about $9.24 a year per $100,000 value of a home.
Candidates are: District 1 – James Kullhem; District 2 – Paul Koller and Rolan Romero; District 3 – Lynnda Gies and David Wiechman; District 4 – Mark Messenbaugh, Pete Roybal and Nate Marshall; District 5 – Paul Grillo, Peter Mazula and Randy McConnell.
Seats in districts 1, 2, 3 and 5 are for four-year terms and are open because of term limits. The district 4 seat is a two-year term to fill a vacancy caused by resignation.
Absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m. today.
Polling places are: Station 1, 6401 W. 14th Ave., Lakewood; Station 2, 1545 Robb St., Lakewood; Station 3, 95 Garrison St., Lakewood; Station 4, 13155 W. Alameda Ave., Lakewood; Station 5, 14055 W. 20th Ave., Golden; Station 6, 15100 W. Sixth Ave., Golden; Station 7, 6315 W. Mississippi Ave., Lakewood; Station 8, 9095 W. Jewell Ave., Lakewood; Station 9, 101 Red Rocks Business Drive, Morrison; Station 10, 3301 S. Field St., Lakewood; Station 11, 15629 W. Belleview Ave., Morrison; Station 12, 9990 W. Alamo Place, Littleton; Station 13, 12613 W. Indore Place, Littleton; Station 14, 1305 W. Chatfield Ave., Littleton; Station 15, 6220 N. Roxborough Park Road, Littleton; administration, 433 S. Allison Parkway, Lakewood.
For more information, call 303-989-4307.
ARVADA
Rec district tax hike, board vote
Voters in the North Jeffco Park and Recreation District will decide today whether to approve a mill levy increase and a $14.3 million bond issue, and will elect three new board members.
The district has proposed a 2.464 mill increase, which would generate about $2.7 million annually for operations and maintenance.
The bond issue would fund a new multigenerational east- side recreation center. If the mill levy and bond project elections are successful, property taxes would rise $28.36 a year per $100,000 home value.
Nine people are seeking three seats on the district’s board. Candidates are: Ronald Failing, Randy Greenwood, Bob Hahn, Ken Harrell, Sherri Heronema, Barbara McEahern, Susan Miller, Sharon Roybal and Jim Whitfield.
For more information, call 303-424-2739, or visit www.northjeffco.org.
AURORA
Gathering for lupus awareness
Members of the Aurora Lupus Support Group will participate in Lupus Week with a balloon release at 6:30 p.m. May 10 at Aurora’s Bicentennial Park.
The release is intended to honor those who have succumbed to lupus and to bring awareness of disease. The event will last less than an hour and is free.
The public is invited to attend the ceremony at the park at the northwest corner of South Potomac Street and East Alameda Avenue. The balloons will have names written on them and will be released at 6:45 p.m.
For more information, call Rosie Griffin at 303-750-4374.
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