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Looking ahead to the 2013-14 boys basketball season

Five story lines lines to watch for as the 2013-14 boys basketball season gets under way:

THE ONLY ONE. Chatfield, like Columbine, is dealing with its own mass turnover on the roster, especially in the starting lineup. Andrew St. Germain is the lone returning starter for the Chargers, who went 23-2 a season ago and reached the Sweet 16 for the 5A state tournament before being ousted by Legend. Chatfield will get tested early, starting Dec. 7 against fellow 5A state qualifier Arapahoe.

Two restaurants close doors

Littleton diners have two fewer choices when it comes to eating out around town. 

Champps restaurant, in the Aspen Grove Shopping Center, and Hops Grill and Brewery, on West Bowles Avenue near Wadsworth Boulevard, have closed. 

Champps, a national chain that had been based in Littleton until a few years ago, closed all three of its Colorado locations last month. The Aspen Grove restaurant opened in 2002. 

Balancing outdoor recreational needs with wildlife preservation

Getting outdoors in wide-open spaces can have health benefits for people. However, converting wild, unspoiled lands into recreational venues for humans can have a questionable impact on wildlife 

Finding a balance between outdoor recreational needs and wildlife protection was a focus of the PLAN Jeffco conference on Nov. 16 in Golden.

“Can wildlife survive in these areas humans tend to develop?” Dr. Mat Allredge, wildlife researcher with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, asked during his presentation. “Will all wildlife be tolerated?”

Mesmerizing melodies

In a handbell choir, the musicians use their hands, mallets and bodies to modify sounds from the single-note instruments, creating a rich tapestry of sounds. 

2013-14 ice hockey capsule previews

CHATFIELD CHARGERS
Head coach: Mark Glombecki
Assistant coaches: Steve McLeod, Shawn Rafferty
Conference: Foothills
2012-13 record: 8-11-1
Players to watch: Tyler Seltenreich, Sr., forward; Brian Vits, Sr., forward; Nick Dawkins, Sr., forward; Alec Thompson, Jr., forward; Brett Thompson, Jr., defenseman; Stuart Shanley, Jr., defenseman; Cody Trujillo, Jr., goalie
Key loss: Bryce Kuschel

Jefferson County commissioners finalize 2014 budget

Jeffco has finalized its 2014 budget, but the county commissioners warned the future fiscal outlook is grim and that cuts could be on the horizon in 2015 and beyond.

The commissioners voted 2-1 vote to approve a $350.5 million operating budget for 2014. The spending plan includes a 1.5-mill increase in the county’s property-tax levy and a 3 percent merit increase for county employees. 

Lighting the night in Littleton

Story and Photograph by Chancey Bush  

As the sun set behind the mountains, darkness settled over downtown Littleton — but not for long. More than 1 million twinkling lights illuminated the trees and the glowing smiles of eager youngsters waiting for an early glimpse of Santa Claus.

The holiday spirit swept over Littleton as thousands gathered downtown on Friday night for the 30th annual Candlelight Walk and Tree Lighting tradition. 

2013-14 girls basketball capsule previews

CHATFIELD LADY CHARGERS
Head coach: Mike Deutsch
Assistant coach: Paul Quinlan
2012-13 record: 11-14
2012-13 recap: Chatfield reached the 5A state tournament after ending the regular season on a six-game winning streak. That, however, is something of an unfortunate trademark, Deutsch said, because that means the Lady Chargers were 5-13 before the streak. Chatfield’s defensive pressure helped its offense get in sync late in the season.

Making forever homes

As 16-month-old Aislynne stood on the courtroom table in front of Jeffco Judge Ann Gail Meinster on Nov. 21, her soon-to-be mother, Jena, straightened the young girl’s new dress. 

Everyone in the courtroom laughed as Aislynne danced on the table, clapping her tiny hands to an unheard rhythm. 

“Well, let’s make her yours officially,” Meinster told Jena through laughter. 

Baskets of joy for Thanksgiving

It takes more than just the will to help and the desire to give to feed thousands of people. 

It also takes an assembly line that would have made Henry Ford proud. 

Inside the small gym at South Jeffco’s Abiding Hope Lutheran Church on Nov. 22, 100 volunteers, many of them children, lined up along two banks of tables set up between hundreds of pallets of food. 

Eileen Schoenberger, a member of the church, shouted  instructions before the assembly line got moving.