The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners recently announced a call for volunteers to serve on numerous county boards and commissions. Applications will be accepted through July 31 for appointments that will be made in late September. Service on a county board is an effective way for citizens to provide input and make a positive impact in our community on issues ranging from pending land use cases to the allocation of open space grant funds.

Jefferson County residents interested in serving on a board or commission must fill out an online application. Certain boards require specific criteria for selection, applicants should review a board's criteria before applying.

Questions about a board or the application process? Please send an email or call Deborah Churchill, Chief of Staff, at 303-271-8502.

Take a drive in Evergreen, Conifer or Pine and you’ll easily see how the majestic views, mountain lifestyle and nearby trails continue to attract many to our area. Driving along these narrow back roads also make the area’s fire risk quickly evident. Heavily forested areas and steep terrain combined with increasingly dry conditions all contribute to high-fire risk. These factors and others make fast-moving wildfires harder to contain and require us to think in new ways about growth, development and forest health – issues not limited to Jefferson County, either.

Read about how the Jeffco Commissioners are taking a collaborative, comprehensive approach to reducing wildfire risk in Jefferson County.

Jefferson County is creating its first Climate Action Plan and is looking for the community’s help to understand climate change concerns and to prioritize climate action resources. Your voice will help inform how Jeffco can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase community resilience to climate hazards, like wildfire and flooding.

Free showers and laundry services are available at a variety of locations throughout Jefferson County every Friday. These services are available to families and individuals needing support or experiencing homelessness. As part of the shower program, participants are provided new underwear, socks, and toiletries. For those needing laundry services, detergent, bleach, and dryer sheets are available.

Two affordable properties are opening wait lists for seniors. Green Ridge Meadows in Evergreen and Canyon Gate in Golden are affordable communities for residents aged 62 and older. Foothills Regional Housing will accept preliminary applications beginning Aug. 1 during the hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visit Foothills SRH for more information.

Jefferson County Head Start is enrolling for the 2022-23 school year for NO-COST preschool. We have 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). SNAP and TANF recipients automatically qualify. Our office is open in the summer Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Apply online or call 720-497-7900.

The Delinquent Real Property Tax Statements were mailed on July 1; this is the final notice that will be sent by the Treasurer’s office this year. You can confirm that your taxes are current here. Unpaid taxes will be advertised in a local newspaper in October and sold in the tax lien sale that starts on Nov. 7; we sell the taxes, not your property. If you didn't receive a postcard or tax statement this year, it could be due to us having an incorrect address. You an update your mailing address through the Assessor's Office.

A huge thanks to the Jefferson County Elections Team, including more than 250 bipartisan election judges, for helping ensure another successful election. We had the highest turnout among the biggest counties, and, for the sixth election in a row, we still finished processing 99% of our ballots on Election Night – well ahead of our neighbors. After the election, our bipartisan board audited the results, as it does every year, and found no discrepancies between how the machines counted the ballots and how humans hand counted them. Now, it's onto the general election in November!

In June, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gave its official recommendation for all children ages 6 months and older to be vaccinated against COVID-19. On June 21, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) updated its standing orders for the state to allow medical professionals to begin vaccinating the youngest members of our population. This means COVID-19 vaccines are available and strongly recommended for all Coloradans ages six months and older.

Show your appreciation for both your health and the environment and get a chance to be rewarded for it! Summer Carbon Weight Loss Challenge is now open. For details, visit the Sustainability Commission website.

Join the Jefferson County Board of Health for their monthly meeting. Public comment for this meeting can be submitted through form or email, or you can use the form to sign up to provide comment during the live (virtual) meeting. This month, the Board of Health meeting is on Tuesday, July 19, beginning at 3:30 p.m. The agenda and dial-in information will be available on the JCPH website.

Employer Talent Development Program grant funds (ETDP) are available for employers interested in providing training to upskill current staff or avert layoffs. ETDP is focused on short-term staff training that is work-based, virtual, and/or classroom based and increases the competitiveness of the employee and employer. Applications are due July 29, learn more and apply.

Jefferson County Public Health is gathering input from organizational partners and community members on two tobacco policies, including tobacco retail licensing and expanding smoke/vapor-free protections. If you live, work or recreate in unincorporated Jefferson County, please fill out the short survey before it closes on July 31. Individuals who fill out the survey will also be eligible for an Amazon gift card drawing.

Underage alcohol use, particularly binge drinking, leads to risky sexual behavior, use of other drugs, alcohol poisoning or violence. Fortunately, youth-collected data show less than one in six Jeffco teens binge drink. Teens report that their peers who drink heavily are often coping with trauma, major stressors or other challenges. Make sure you are talking to your teen about alcohol. Open-ended questions are a good place to start: What would you consider to be too much to drink? Why do people your age drink?

Rates of many sexually transmitted infections, including HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV), are on the rise in Colorado. The best way you can protect yourself and your loved ones is to know your status. JCPH provides HIV/HCV testing at our clinic every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at no cost to clients, and neither identification nor insurance is required. JCPH is also providing $10 incentives for each HIV test, and additional incentives may be available for HCV testing.

As a county commissioner, I work to listen to as many people as possible and go to where they are. Government can be intimidating to many people as they may feel there isn’t an easy, comfortable way to be heard, and they sometimes won’t let us know what their needs are.

Communication goes both ways - while listening is essential, so is keeping the community informed about what the county is doing and being able to explain why what is happening is of value. Read about what Commissioner Kraft-Tharp has learned in her first 18 months in office.

Quick links to Commissioner Information:

Jefferson County’s Business & Workforce Center’s Employment Navigation Center can connect you with free computer training. The program offers 13 different computer assessments and trainings to choose from like Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook. Easy-to-follow video tutorials are available and accessible via any internet connected computer. You can also receive one-on-one support from Employment Navigation Center team members in person at the Laramie Building at 3500 Illinois St in Golden, via email, or over the phone at 303-271-4755.

If you receive Food Assistance, EBT cards can be skimmed or cloned and anyone can access your benefits. You can keep your EBT cards safe by changing your PIN often or freezing your EBT card to stop new purchases and PIN changes. Learn more about how to stay safe.

Regis University is partnering with Jefferson County Business & Workforce Center to provide low-to-no cost training leading to an Undergraduate Certificate in Full Stack Web Development. This opportunity is available to job seekers who have the aptitude and ability to complete this training and enter a mid-to-high level occupation in Web Development. Get more details here.

RUN Program supports Reskilling, Upskilling, and Next-skilling workers who have been economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Focus is placed on providing short-term training to obtain an industry-recognized certificate or credential. Job seekers interested in attending short-term training to help obtain employment or advancement in careers can contact Jefferson County Business & Workforce Center.

Join Jefferson Center on Thursday, Aug. 25 for Soirée at Sunset in Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park, featuring Chris Daniels and the Kings. All proceeds from the concert help fund the critical services provided by Jefferson Center. Bring a blanket, pack a picnic dinner, and we’ll provide the beer, wine, and soft drinks. Buy special early bird priced tickets now.

Enjoy a round of golf with other Jeffco professionals with a little bit of friendly competition on Friday, Sept. 23 at the Homestead Golf Course. Early bird prices available until Aug. 6 for both two player packs and foursomes. More information can be found here.

This iconic Cider Days feature has become such a big hit, that it’s been given its very own day. Tickets are on sale now for Colorado’s largest hard cider tasting event. Purchase tickets for tastings on Aug. 20 at 11:30 a.m. or 4 p.m. at Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park.

Enjoy the Shakespeare in Clement Park FREE production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Grant Family Amphitheater. Shows begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 29; Saturday, July 30; Friday, Aug. 5; and Saturday, Aug. 6. View all of the event details.

Take your family out to the ol’ ball game with vintage pricing, uniforms, and snacks! For just $4 come watch Team Lakewood take on the Colorado Vintage Baseball Association. The game is Saturday, July 30 at 1 p.m. at Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park. Want to join the team – sign up now for just $10.

Jeffco Human Services Foundation will host the Inaugural Partnership in Prosperity Award Ceremony on Sept. 1 from 5:30- 8:30 p.m. at Red Rocks Community College. The Foundation will present two community members with the Partnership in Prosperity Award and the Prosperity Award. The program will feature entertainment by Hazel Miller and Red Rocks theater students. Hors d'oeuvres and cocktails will be served. Register today as limited tickets are available, Check out the silent auction items.

The Arvada Economic Development Association (AEDA) and Manufacturer’s Edge have collaborated to offer a new Business Health Assessment to support Arvada businesses. The assessment intends to explore business identity as well as target opportunities for improvement. This is a no-cost assessment and AEDA encourages all Arvada businesses to take advantage of this opportunity.