Our Government/Nuestro Gobierno

White House

Documents that will soon be available to the public, document an assassination plot against President Obama and Gen. David Petraeus reports the Washington Post. The letters written by Osama bin Laden were seized along with other informative items about al Qaeda during the Navy SEAL night raid that lead to bin Laden’s death last May. A senior administration official downplayed the seriousness of the plot saying it was only in its early stages of development.

Casa Blanca

Documentos que pronto estarán a disposición del público, documentan un plan de asesinato contra el presidente Obama y el general David Petraeus reportó el Washington Post. Las cartas escritas por Osama bin Laden, fueron capturadas junto con otros elementos informativos acerca de Al Qaeda durante la redada nocturna de los Navy SEALs que llevó a la muerte a bin Laden el mayo pasado. Un alto funcionario del gobierno restó importancia a la gravedad del plan diciendo que estaba en sus primeras etapas de desarrollo.

Colorado’s Governor

Gov. John Hickenlooper announced that the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles has a new computerized check-in system designed to cut wait times for Coloradans at driver license offices. Wait Less lets residents schedule appointments on the Internet. Once they arrive at the DMV office, there will be a check-in kiosk station that reduces lines and allows multiple customers to check-in. The DMV has introduced Wait Less at its Lakewood office at 1881 Pierce St. By the end of 2012, DMV plans to roll out the service to 11 other offices in Aurora, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver North East, Fort Collins, Golden, Greeley, Littleton, Longmont, Northglenn and Parker.

Gobernador de Colorado

El gobernador, John Hickenlooper, anunció que la División de Vehículos Motorizados de Colorado tiene un nuevo sistema computarizado diseñado para reducir los tiempos de espera para los residentes de Colorado en las oficinas de licencias de conducir. Wait Less permite a los residentes programar citas en Internet. Una vez que llegan a la oficina del DMV (por sus siglas en inglés), habrá una revisión en la estación de quiosco que reduce las líneas y permite a los clientes múltiples que se registren. El DMV ha introducido Wait Less en su oficina de Lakewood en el 1881 Pierce St. A finales de 2012, el DMV planea lanzar el servicio a 11 otras oficinas en Aurora, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver North East, Fort Collins, Golden, Greeley, Littleton, Longmont, Northglenn y Parker.

Denver’s Mayor

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and the President and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Denver, Guillermo “Bill” Vidal, attended the White House Business Council and Business Forward in Washington D.C.

Alcalde de Denver

El alcalde de Denver Michael Hancock y el presidente y CEO de la Cámara de Comercio Hispana de Denver del área metropolitana de Denver, Guillermo “Bill” Vidal, asistieron al White House Business Council and Business Forward en Washington DC.

“Animales”

Museo de las Americas is proud to present the 2012 summer camp program, “Animales.” Students will have the opportunity to discover the wild world of animals through this multidisciplinary summer arts camp.

For three consecutive weeks, participants will immerse themselves in visual arts, dance, music and theater classes to better understand the bond between animals, humans and the environment. Each class is conducted by a trained teacher who is committed to advancing the students’ understanding of animals through arts integration techniques and cultural competencies.

Dates: June 25-July 13; July 4: no Camp and July 13: Final Performance. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., snack provided. K through 6th grade. Scholarships available to DPS students on a first-come, first serve basis.

Contact Christina Gese, Education Director at workshops@museo.org, 303-571-4401, ext. 28, or in person at 861 Santa Fe Drive. Registration deadline May 1.

Daniels Fund grants

Programs enhancing educational opportunities for youth and those providing services for the homeless and disadvantaged were among the major recipients of $7 million in grants to nonprofit organizations announced this past week by the Daniels Fund.

Major grant recipients include: Catholic Charities and Community Services; Denver Police Activities League; Family Star; Gold Crown; Jewish Family Service of Colorado; Karis Community; Metro Denver Lemonade Day; Mile High Ministries; Qualistar Early Learning; Rocky Mountain Microfinance Institute; Sims-Fayola International Academy; Stand for Children; Salvation Army Intermountain Division; and many others.

The Daniels Fund will award a projected $33 million in grants to nonprofits in 2012. Funding areas include: Aging, Alcoholism & Substance Abuse, Amateur Sports, Disabilities, Early Childhood Education, K-12 Education Reform, Ethics & Integrity in Education, Homeless & Disadvantaged, and Youth Development.

Visit www.DanielsFund.org for more information.

DSF to award $5 million next year

As the April 1 deadline approaches for Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) scholarships, high school seniors are working with counselors and advisors to complete and submit their application as well as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Since its launch in 2007, DSF has awarded more than $13.3 million in scholarships to 2,638 DPS graduates, and it plans to award another $5 million to graduates next year alone. As of fall 2011, 80 percent of all DSF Scholars are either still enrolled in college or have completed their program. Thousands of students receive support for college enrollment, FAFSA and college scholarship applications via Future Centers, which are located in DPS high schools and operated by the Denver Scholarship Foundation. Future Centers have served 25,000 DPS students since 2007, inspiring and assisting them on their journey toward college.

About 78 percent of DSF scholars will be among the first generation in their family to graduate from college. The need-based DSF Scholarships are available to qualifying students who have attended a DPS high school for four years.

Community Advisory Council

Denver Parks and Recreation’s Central Park Recreation Center is now accepting applications for their Community Advisory Council through April 30.

Advisory Council members act as advocates within the community and work with staff to support programs and operations at the recreation center. A member will live in a neighborhood close to the recreation center including but not limited to Montbello, Northeast Park Hill, North Park Hill, South Park Hill, East Colfax or Stapleton or attend the recreation center. They will commit to attending monthly meetings at the recreation center as well as occasional special events and meetings as needed. Memberships terms expire annually and can be renewed at the discretion of the center supervisor.

If you or someone you know are interested in learning more and applying visit www.denvergov.org/parksandrecreation or call Central Park Recreation Center at 720-865-0750. Submit completed applications to centralparkrec@denvergov.org or drop off or mail to 9651 E Martin Luther King Blvd. Denver, CO 80238.

Denver Zoo previews Toyota Elephant Passage

Denver Media toured Denver Zoo’s Clayton F. Freiheit Elephant House inside the Toyota Elephant Passage exhibit, last week. The behind the scenes tour gave attendees their first look at new Asian bull elephants Groucho and Bodhi. Guests also got the chance to learn about the exhibit’s sustainability methods, including gasification technology.

Opening to the public June 1, Toyota Elephant Passage’s expansive complex will allow visitors to explore and discover the rich history of animals in Asian culture, their complicated relationship with humans and the efforts Denver Zoo and its colleagues undertake to protect their future. Guests will be immersed in Asian wildlife and culture through multi-sensory experiences providing greater awareness and understanding of the role we all must play in protecting wildlife for future generations. In addition to elephants, the exhibit will be home to other Asian species, including rhinos, tapirs, small clawed otters, fishing cats and flying foxes.