Dental Implants Near Littleton, CO

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Enjoy Maintenance-free Grounds and Outdoor Amenities at Wind Crest

Before Mary "Jeannie" and Ralph "Moe" Trail moved to Wind Crest, an Erickson Senior Living community in Highlands Ranch, Colo., they lived on a farm just outside Kansas City, Kans.

So, it should come as no surprise that they were eager to begin exploring the scenic grounds of Wind Crest's 84-acre campus as soon as they settled into their two-bedroom, two-bath residence.

"Now, we walk all over the community. We take short walks and long walks," says Jeannie. "There's a pond, and last summer, a mother duck raised seven ducklings. We would walk there every day to watch and see how they were doing, and that was fun!"

She adds, "We also walk along the High Line Canal, and there are a lot of birds, so we birdwatch. We've seen several owls grow up, and there are also raptors, red-tailed hawks, and so many others. In the winter, there are ducks on the pond. It's beautiful."

Green is good

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In fact, a growing body of research supports the fact that spending time outdoors results in improved health in older adults--a real benefit for Jeannie, Moe, and their neighbors.

"Being outside has a huge positive impact on your physical, emotional, and mental health," says Associate Executive Director Ashley Cable. "At Wind Crest, we strive to offer a wide range of outdoor activities so residents can connect with their neighbors and soak up the sunshine."

"Just being outside has always revived me mentally," Jeannie says. "When I taught school, I loved having recess duty to get outside for 15 minutes. On our farm, we were used to a lot of space, and walking around here gives us the chance to access that amount of land again!"

Fun in the sun

With a goal of walking five miles each day, Jeannie and Moe note that their favorite fresh air activity is strolling along campus walkways. But the couple participates in many other outdoor endeavors as well.

Together, they tend to a patch in the community garden. "We grow vegetables that we like to eat in season," says Jeannie.

They also enjoy attending the annual summer concert series held at the outdoor amphitheater on campus. "It's fantastic! They have incredible bands that play concerts throughout the summer. The residents running it look for bands that engage the audience so that they are excited to get up and dance," says Jeannie.

"We don't miss it!" adds Moe.

Wind Crest also offers outdoor exercises classes, such as yoga and tai chi, and some groups even stage tournaments for bocce, horseshoes, and cornhole outside.

"Our pickleball courts are very popular," adds Cable, "as are the putting greens and disc golf."

Environmental stewards

To preserve and protect the community they are proud to call home, residents work with staff members on several environmental initiatives.

"Our Sustainability Committee works with the Resident Advisory Council to give us ideas for how we can have more green efforts at Wind Crest," says Cable. "As a result, we have a pollinator garden with walking paths that has become a kind of outdoor retreat space. There's also a Veterans' Memorial as well as a Legacy Garden, with memorial bricks and benches. They are all nice places for reflection, meditation, and walking."

She adds, "Residents have also led recycling efforts throughout the years. They partner with their neighbors, their building, and their neighborhood to have drives throughout the year."

Wind Crest has also invested in its outdoor amenities over the years to enhance residents' vibrant lifestyle. For example, the dog park, Cable notes, was upgraded in 2023 to include new shading structures, a bigger entrance for dogs, and new benches.

Dining alfresco

Another popular activity at Wind Crest is outdoor dining at two of the community's restaurants.

"Carter's and Windows have outdoor patios," says Cable. "We also host an outdoor Summer Barbecue Series, where there's a weekly barbecue on different patios throughout the community."

"Whenever we can dine outside, we do," says Jeannie, both at campus restaurants and on their own patio.

They also appreciate the opportunity to socialize with their neighbors--whether at dinner, during activities, or as they are out and about in the community.

"The people here are so interesting! They've always got something to talk about," says Moe.

These robust outdoor amenities are just one of the reasons to consider a move. Request more information today!

By Michele Wojciechowski

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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LITTLETON, Colo. — Littleton's treasured network of trails for pedestrians and cyclists will see a big change next year.

Near the spot where the Lee Gulch and High Line Canal Trails meet, the path quickly goes from tranquil to traffic. Pedestrians and cyclists have to detour off the trail to cross South Broadway at Jamison Avenue, a busy intersection that also includes Littleton Adventist Hospital.

Starting this spring, Broadway will shift to only one lane of traffic in both directions in that area. Those lane shifts are expected to last about six months, according to the City of Littleton.

The city is working to replace a failing culvert underneath the street, part of a roughly $9 million project.

"In June of ’23, we had significant rain events and had a few sinkholes throughout the city," said Sarah White, water resources manager for the City of Littleton. "I haven't slept well since this first sinkhole started. So it's going to be pretty important to get this done."

The city also decided if it's going to dig a 30-foot trench below Broadway — and work around numerous electric, fiber, water and gas lines — it's going to add more than just a concrete pipe for safe water flow.

"To be able to get something that big through, it's kind of a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said White. "So [we're] taking the most of the opportunity."

The city now plans to build an underpass below Broadway to allow trail users to cruise through and bypass the busy intersection. The plan is to include lighting and make the underpass ADA-compliant.

"I would love to cross Broadway without crossing Broadway," said Cynthia Schallenmuller, who frequently rides her bike on the trail. "The struggle is the distracted drivers. People that are not aware of bicycles. So it's nice to know that there [will be] a place where I can ride, and I can get from this side of Broadway to the other side and I don't have to deal with the traffic."

White said Arapahoe County Open Spaces and South Suburban Parks and Recreation are contributing a total of roughly $3 million toward the project.

"Part of the project delays is just trying to figure out how to fund it all," she said, adding that the city is "almost there."

The city hopes work can start within the next month or so, but also said there will be two weeks of advanced notice given to drivers ahead of the lane closures.

The underpass and trail updates are expected to be ready in about a year, White said.

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Littleton Brewing Company launched last week, but that’s not news to anyone in the neighborhood or most beer nerds. Colorado’s newest brewery debuted with 5,500 Instagram fans and a line down the block one hour before the doors opened.

The brewery opened with a 15-barrel system, a small canning line and even a taxidermied mascot — Action Jack the American porcupine.

Troy and Ray Beer (son and father, respectively, and yes, their real names) own the brewery. They bought the building, a former automotive garage, three years ago and used their construction experience to help build out the facility. In addition to a spacious interior with long tables, there is a front patio with large firepits, and a rooftop patio with a second bar and great mountain views.

The grand opening was on Saturday, March 15, and half of the cooler was already sold out by Tuesday. The food was also sold out, and the owners gave the kitchen staff a day off after four busy 15-hour days in the wood-fired pizza kitchen that also produces burgers and other pub fare.

Assistant brewer Billy Willits refers to the expansive two-story space as a German-style beer hall, not an American brewery taproom.

Willits moved back to the Denver area to work at Littleton Brewing after several years at Outer Range in Frisco. He works under brewmaster Wayne Waananen, a veteran brewer and brewery consultant who came out of retirement to craft recipes for the new brewery. Waananen has worked at Rockyard, Sandlot, Station 26 and other Colorado breweries. He is best known for helping create Station 26’s beloved Juicy Banger and assisting with the original Blue Moon witbier. The latter inspired the Half Moon beer on tap at Littleton Brewing Co.

The brewery specializes in lagers made with local ingredients. The brewery launched with a traditional lager and a German Bock lager on tap, as well as two hazy IPAs, a Czech pilsner and a pale ale.

Another creative wheat beer has also made a splash, according to beer hall co-manager Sofia Beer, wife of Troy Beer. She said the lemongrass wheat has been a bestseller so far, and she expects it to be their flagship. The brew has a soft mouthfeel and very balanced flavor, with a hint of the lemongrass many foodies would recognize from Thai curries.

Littleton Brewing Company is at 1201 West Littleton Blvd., and opens daily at 11 a.m.

Nestled in Littleton’s Woodlawn Shopping Center, the recently-opened Fresh Market & Community Kitchen provides a new grocery option in the community. The grocery store offers a diverse selection of products, ranging from organic and traditional produce to Asian spices and Middle Eastern delicacies, alongside a variety of other international items.

Fresh Market & Community Kitchen officially opened its doors about a month ago and has transformed the space once occupied by a Family Dollar store. The grocery business is owned and operated by Husain Abdulla, his family and other employees.

“Including part-time and full-time employees, we have 25 people who work here. Well, 27 if you count my two daughters, who are 5 and 4 years old,” Abdulla said.

The idea for the store was born out of necessity. After attending an event in downtown Littleton, Abdulla’s wife wanted to pick up groceries on the way home. She wanted to find a nearby halal market or a store that carries foods that cater to Islamic dietary values. Discovering that the closest halal market is in Denver, Abdulla saw an opportunity.

“I was already looking for a space to open a project,” he said. “So then it just hit me and I said hold on, why not here? I drove around (this area) and saw a good population here.”

During the King Soopers strikes in February, Abdulla said his store had a soft opening.

“People said they were glad we’re open,” Abdulla said.

Organic and traditional fruits and vegetables are housed at the front of the store near the registers. Walking down the aisles filled with Arabic teas, local honey jars and African treats, a shopper would find the meat market at the back of the store, which offers fresh beef, lamb, goat and chicken.

In addition to filling the gap for access to halal foods, Abdulla was motivated by the rising demand for affordable organic produce. With the support of his family and financial assistance from the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, Abdulla’s vision for selling healthy and various foods began taking shape.

Abdulla said that although he’s focusing on the Littleton store, he hopes to eventually open more stores around the Denver metro area, particularly in the communities where he has noticed ethnic food deserts.

While the main floor of the Littleton store is stocked with an eclectic mix of items — everything from Boulder Canyon chips to graffiti eggplant to Lebanese cheese — Abdulla envisions that even more developments are on the horizon.

He hopes to utilize the store’s basement as a community hub where English classes and resumé workshops can be held. It’s part of Abdulla’s mission to give back to the community. Fresh Market & Community Kitchen is also a participating business in Littleton’s Open Rewards Program where customers can earn rewards for shopping locally.

“I know there is no way I can compete with the King Soopers or the Sprouts of the world — the huge companies,” Abdulla said. “But where I can exceed over (them) is personal customer service. I’m not a franchise, I’m a locally, family-owned business.”

The store will soon launch its bakery and deli that will serve Mediterranean, Indian, Pakistani and Asian food selections.

Isabel GuzmanReporter

isabel@cotln.org

Isabel began reporting as an intern at Colorado Community Media in 2024, covering the Centennial area. She has returned to cover Littleton and is passionate about telling the stories of her local community.... More by Isabel Guzman

LITTLETON, Mass. — A Littleton utilities company was informed that a notorious group of Chinese hackers had compromised them.

In 2023, the FBI alerted Littleton Electric, Light, and Water Departments (LELWD) that their company was one of many to be attacked by Volt Typhoon, a state-sponsored hacking group from the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

LEWLD went to work immediately, acting with federal partners Evolab Technology Solutions and Dragos to locate the individuals who compromised the system and lock down their network.

Prior to the attack, LEWLD had already taken steps to bolster their cybersecurity before enacting help from Dragos and Evolab. Dragos released a case study with more information on how the company assisted LEWLD in attacking their threat.

No customer data had been compromised, and LEWLD’s operations went unimpacted.

Nick Lawler, General Manger of LEWLD, stated, “We currently still work with our Federal partners and IT/OT experts to ensure the integrity of our network, and that we continue to provide safe, reliable electricity to the communities that we serve.”

Boston 25 News reached out to the FBI for comment, in which they declined to give one.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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