The Jefferson County Sustainability Awards are held annually to acknowledge and celebrate environmental stewardship and sustainability efforts made by organizations, employees, students, and residents in Jefferson County. Community members are encouraged to submit nominations by April 26. Sustainability Award winners will be announced on May 16 at the Board of County Commissioners public meeting.

The Sustainability Awards are spearheaded by the Jefferson County Sustainability Commission. This commission is comprised of Jeffco residents who volunteer to help advance sustainability efforts across the county.

Remove expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications from your home to avoid them being disposed of improperly during the National Drug Take Back Day. The average American household contains four pounds of prescription and over-the-counter medications. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office will accommodate collections at three sites in the county on April 22, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

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 number one natural disaster.

Colorado's flood season runs from 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.

The First Judicial District will hold its next Fresh Start event on Saturday, May 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Jefferson County Administration and Courts Facility, 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, CO 80419.

People with low-level active warrants in Jefferson or Gilpin counties will have an opportunity to resolve their case without being arrested. Learn more about Fresh Start.

A large swath of land in Jefferson County is now officially protected to support wildlife and future outdoor recreation opportunities. The Conservation Fund, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), Jefferson County Open Space (JCOS) and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) announced on April 11 that about 2,000 acres within the Mount Tom Conservation Corridor area is now protected.

Charging your electric car in Jefferson County is about to get a little easier. The county is installing new electric vehicle charging stations at popular Jeffco parks. The initiative is possible thanks to funding from the Colorado Energy Office. The funding will support the installation of five Level-2, dual-port EV charging stations on property owned by Jefferson County.

The Jefferson County Human Services team gathered this April to plant a blue pinwheel garden in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month. One in five Colorado parents say they feel like they have no one they can turn to for day-to-day emotional support in raising children. If you are a parent or caregiver in this situation, you are not alone and there are resources to help.

Each spring, victim advocates from the First Judicial District gather for the annual Courage Walk, which coincides with National Crime Victims' Rights Week (April 23-29, 2023). National Crime Victims' Rights Week recognizes crime's devastating impact on victims and communities. The Courage Walk is a time to honor the strength and courage of the survivors we have come to know in the aftermath of crime. Visit the Victim Outreach page to learn more or register to join us in person. Registration starts at 10 a.m., the Courage Walk begins at 11 a.m.

For Jefferson County property owners who have not paid the first half of your 2022 payable 2023 property taxes, the full amount is due Monday, May 1. If you have not received this year’s property tax statement or you need to know what you paid in 2022 for income tax filing, please visit our property tax payment and records portal.

Jefferson County is embarking on an initiative to update the Comprehensive Master Plan, Community Wildfire Protection Plan, Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan’s Evacuation Annex, Transportation Master Plans, and Land Use Code.

The county wants to find a name that adequately captures the various components of this project and how they will all be updated concurrently. Four names are being considered and we want to hear from you. Thank you for your input!

The Jefferson County Business & Workforce Center is hosting a Youth Opportunity Fair on Friday, April 28 from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. to connect young people with exciting career pathways. Attendees will learn about employment opportunities including summer jobs, internships, and apprenticeships. The event is open to anyone ages 14 to 24. Connect directly with employers to discuss a variety of industries and occupations!

Join Jeffco Open Space this Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, and help make a positive impact at one of your local parks. The day will include trail maintenance, planting native species, and controlling noxious weeds in the area. We hope to see you there! Sign up to participate in the Welchester Tree Grant Park – Earth Day Volunteer Event.

Jeffcom will discuss using the 911 system and what happens when a call is made. Join the TRIAD Senior Safety program on Tuesday, April 25 at 1:30 p.m. at the District Attorney's Office, 500 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden. Questions? Call 303-271-6970.

Support local foster families and get your baseball fix at the same time! Join the Collaborative Foster Care Program (CFCP) at the Colorado Rockies game on Sunday, May 28 against the New York Mets at 1:10 p.m. The discounted tickets are just $32 and can be purchased here. All proceeds go to CFCP and will be used to support Jeffco’s foster families.

The Colfax Marathon is Denver’s biggest running weekend and it’s happening May 20-21. This year, Jeffco Human Services Foundation will be in Charity Partner village fundraising to support families in the Jeffco Prosperity Partners (JPP) program. You can show your support from the sidelines, make a donation online,or text GIVE to 720-513-1408. For additional information contact Roxy Dunaway.

Attention parents, guardians, teachers, and anyone with youth in their lives — you're invited to a free interactive workshop about effectively communicating with teens to help build trust and reduce risks associated with substance use and mental health. Learn more and register today. Workshops are sponsored by Jefferson County Communities that Care and Jefferson County Public Health's Tobacco Prevention Initiative.

Quick links to Commissioner Information:

Each year the Jeffco Commissioners meet with local leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). Last year, LDS leaders asked the commissioners about the needs in the community. The commissioners mentioned monthly meetings with area food pantries and their reports of bare shelves. Within weeks, two semi-trucks drove through a spring blizzard from Utah to deliver food to Colorado. Read the full article.

On March 29, the Jeffco Board of Commissioners hosted a telephone town hall recapping projects in 2022 and initiatives in 2023. The audio recording is available here.

On the recording:

Rattlesnakes happen, but luckily there are ways to prevent a bite. When hiking in rattlesnake habitat, always leash pets, wear close-toed shoes, keep one earbud out, and be aware of your surroundings.

Remember to report human-wildlife interactions in Jeffco Open Space parks and watch this video for more information about rattlesnakes.

More than half of Colorado residents live in the wildland-urban interface and are at some risk of being affected by wildfire. Prepare in advance by reviewing The Home Ignition Zone: A guide to preparing your home for wildfire and creating defensible space. The wildland-urban interface is a big part of the Jeffco landscape. Preparation in advance of Red Flag Warnings or High Wind Warnings is crucial.

If you get health coverage through Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program), eligibility is reviewed annually. Some members will be automatically renewed based on the most recent information already on file with the state. Other members will need to go through the renewal process. Help the process go smoothly by ensuring your contact information in PEAK is current.

Sulfur cinquefoil is a herbaceous perennial that regrows from a root crown every spring. This List B species has palm-shaped (palmate) leaves with 5 to 9 toothed leaflets. Flowering occurs May-July.

Plants can reach three feet tall but usually are less than two feet tall. They can last more than 10 years, some as long as 20 years.

This member of the Rose family was introduced from Eurasia. Learn more here.

Storm sewer systems are designed to carry runoff from rain and snowmelt and discharge it directly to the drainage way. Materials that are dumped or inadvertently washed into our storm sewer system can pollute our creeks and rivers. An illicit discharge occurs when an activity results in an unauthorized substance entering our storm sewer system. Learn more about illicit discharges.

Bike to Work Day is June 28. Register your organization so that employees and commuters can start pledging to ride as a part of your organization. For each rider to credit their employer, the organization must have signed up for the Business Challenge. Then, when commuters pledge to ride, they can select their employer in the Business Challenge dropdown. This helps you gain recognition as a top employer in your size category. You can also register as an individual.

Your Money at Work is Lakewood’s project updating you on how your tax dollars have been put to work in the city’s outdoor green spaces. Each month, you can participate in the photo contest of Lakewood park projects featured for the month. Submit a photo to be entered in a drawing for prizes. April's featured projects are the Bear Creek Trail improvements and the Sculpture Walk.

Wheat Ridge City Council accepted the Wheat Ridge Race and Equity Task Force recommendations that were presented at a recent meeting. The city is looking forward to continuing the work of being an inclusive and responsive community.

Join Foothills Park & Recreation District on May 13 for Hops in the Park beer festival. What better place to try out new breweries and beers than at scenic Clement Park. Hops in the Park is a festival for ages 21 and up, featuring unlimited beer sampling, food trucks, vendors selling beer related swag, community booths, yard games and entertainment. Buy your tickets here.

Tickets are on sale as of 10 a.m. on April 20 for the Sounds Exciting! summer concerts hosted in the outdoor amphitheater at Heritage Lakewood. Concerts are offered every Wednesday night June 21-July 26. Advance tickets are available for $8. Season tickets are $40 and include six shows for the price of five. Purchase your tickets here.

The City of Wheat Ridge invites residents to participate in an important survey to help prioritize capital improvement projects voters have asked council to address. After years of gathering resident feedback on what capital improvement projects are important, the city wants to know which ones should be top priority. Provide your input on the next slate of projects.

Join Apex Park and Recreation District for an amazing Jeffco Pride Prom – Out at the Museum collaboration. This is an exceptional student experience, and this event will elevate our LGBTQ+ and allies through solidarity and fun. Scholarships are available by request. You can register here or contact Vee for more information.

Jet back to the days of MTV and Cabbage Patch dolls at a FREE retro summer kickoff event, starting at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 3 at the outdoor amphitheater at Heritage Lakewood. Enjoy the beer garden and food trucks while rockin’ out to iconic 80s tunes performed by Ronnie Raygun and the Big Eighties. Stick around for an outdoor screening of "Back to the Future" at 9 p.m.

Wheat Ridge Parks & Recreation is now hiring Lifeguards, Sun Camp Recreation Leaders and Parks Maintenance positions for the summer.