®
Volume VIII, No. 3
The Internet
A Way
For
Local
Government
To
Communicate
Inventions in technology such as the Internet
have changed the way local governments
communicate with citizens for the better, making it
easier for citizens to access information they
need. The Internet has also allowed local
governments, like Greenwood Village, to discover
new ways to provide services to citizens using
new technologies.
The use of Internet technology by government
at all levels including local, state, and federal
government, is known as “e-government.”
E-government is a term that describes
government use of technology to communicate
with citizens. “Today, the vast majority of local
governments have Internet connectivity and
thousands of local governments including the
Village have a Web site,” stated Mayor Nancy
Sharpe.
For youth, the Internet is one of the most
commonly used communication tools. By
understanding what the Internet is, and how
people can use it to get information they want, it
is easier to understand why it is important that
August 2005
communities like the Village have a Web site.
When learning about the history of the Internet,
it is important to understand that the Internet has
changed the way people interact, learn, and
communicate with one another. Often people say
that we live in the “Information Age” because
Internet technology plays such an important role
in how people communicate.
Dating back to 1836, the invention of the
telegraph and the Morse Code dramatically
changed the way people communicated back
then. Without these inventions, great inventors
such as Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the
telephone in 1876, would not have been able to
create an important communication tool that helps
the Internet work daily — telephone lines.
How does the telephone help the Internet
work? Telephone lines are one type of technology
that provides a backbone of Internet connections.
The Internet is like a large family of computers
and within this large family, you find smaller
families of computers known as networks that
share information with one another.
The idea for the Internet was created in the
1960s so that universities, governments, and
research centers could share their information
from one computer to another. In the early 1970s,
the U.S. Government, began looking for ways to
link groups of computer networks together. This
(Continued on next page)
The Internet
(Continued from previous page)
became known as “Internetting” and later became
the Internet. Back then, computers were very
large and took up an entire room. At this point in
history, the Village was just forming itself as a
town. This is an important fact to keep in mind
when thinking about how technology has changed
over the years.
Often people think the Internet and the World
Wide Web are the same thing but they are
different. An easy way to remember how they are
different is to think of the Internet as a highway
and the World Wide Web is like a truck that uses
the highway to get from place to place.
So who owns the Internet? The Internet is not
owned by any company, corporation or nation. It is
a communication tool that links people like you in
65 countries to information through computers,
fiber optic cables, satellites, and phone lines.
It took many years after the invention of the
Internet before the World Wide Web (WWW) was
created in 1991. After the invention of the World
Wide Web, governments began creating Web
sites as a way to communicate important
information to citizens.
Unlike today, many residents in the Village did
not have personal computers at home or access
to the Internet and so other communication tools
such as the GV Newsletter, GV Kids, Ink!®, and
the Mayor’s Show have been used to
communicate with citizens. While some citizens
had Internet access when the World Wide Web
was invented, many citizens did not get Internet
access until the late 1990s.
The first Village Web site was created in 1997
and was a very simple site. Information on the
Web site did not change from day-to-day and the
demand by citizens to access information off the
Village Web site was not great. In 2004, high
speed Internet access became available in
Greenwood Village. This allowed the Village to
The FCC And You!
In 1934, the U.S. Congress established the
Federal Communications Commission to watch
over all communication activities in the U.S.
including the Internet. To learn more about the
role of the FCC and the history of the Internet,
log onto www.fcc.gov/cgb/kidszone/history_
internet.html.
work with telecommunication companies to make
sure that availability to the Internet is offered to all
citizens. It is a priority for us to provide an up-todate way of doing business.
E-mail is an important Internet technology and
used by the Village. E-mail was first invented in
1971, making it easier for people to communicate
by computer. Do you remember what year you
sent out your first e-mail? Queen Elizabeth sent
out her first e-mail in 1976.
E-mail is another communication tool that
citizens can use to communicate with elected
officials and staff at City Hall. The Village Web site
includes several e-mail addresses that are
connected to staff that will help get you the
information you need quickly.
The Internet is a great invention and we enjoy
many benefits using the Internet on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, the Internet can also be a
dangerous place, especially for youth. Keeping
youth safe on the Internet is a high priority for the
Village. It is common for youth to come across
harmful information when surfing the Internet. The
Village encourages parents to get involved and
make sure they know how their children are using
the Internet. Read the Internet safety tips to learn
more about how to keep yourself safe when
surfing the Web.
Like many communities, with an increase in
population and greater demand for services by
citizens, the Village Web site has become a more
popular way to educate citizens about our
services. The Village Web site that was created in
1997 became outdated, so the Village introduced
a newly designed Web site in May of this year. To
learn more, read the Local Government story on
the next page.
Today, citizens can access more information
than ever before about the Village 24 hours a day,
seven days a week. Mayor Sharpe stated, “City
Council wants to especially encourage youth to
use the Village Web site to help educate youth
about services available to them such as fun
recreational opportunities.”
What is next for the Internet and local
government? More and more local governments
are using e-government to develop ways to better
communicate with citizens using the Internet. The
next step for local governments is to make Web
sites more interactive on the Internet. As the
Internet
Safety Tips
For Youth
For youth, the Internet is a
wonderful place to play games, find
movie reviews, sports, and look up fun
Web sites. Online safety is important in
making sure that your time online is
educational and fun.
Source: Online Safety Tips were
adapted from SafeKids.Com.
Internet changes, the Village will continue to make
sure that the Village Web site is a useful
communication tool for citizens to use.
In the United States, there are five main
Web page endings. These are intended to tell
you where the information you are looking at:
comes from: “.edu” for educational institutions,
“.gov” for government agencies, “.org” for
non-profit organizations, “.com” for commercial
or business sites, and “.net” for network
providers.
Greenwood Village uses .com instead of
.gov because it is a more familiar ending.
In countries outside the United States, the
Web addresses end with the country’s
abbreviation, such as “.uk,” which means that
the Web site comes from the United Kingdom.
1. Talk with your parents and set up rules for
going online. Together decide upon the time
of day that you can be online, the length of
time you can be online and appropriate
areas for you to visit.
2. Be careful not to give out personal
information such as your address, telephone
number, or the name and location of your
school without your parents’ permission.
3. Never upload pictures of yourself on the
Internet or to people whom you do not
personally know.
4. Tell your parents right away if you come
across any information that makes you feel
uncomfortable.
5. Never agree to get together with someone
you “meet” online without first checking with
your parents. If your parents agree to the
meeting, be sure that it is in a public place
and bring your mother or father along.
6. Never send a person your picture or
anything else without first checking with your
parents.
7. Do not respond to any messages that are
mean or in any way make you feel
uncomfortable. It is not your fault if you get a
message like that and if you do, you should
tell your parents right away so the service
provider can be contacted.
For more information about online safety or
other safety issues, please call the Greenwood
Village Police Department at 303-773-2525.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
It’s A Greenwood Village Kind Of Day!
Village Launches New Web Site
The Internet has
become one of the
most popular ways
for finding news
and events,
playing games,
watching movies
and listening to
music. Because
the Mayor and City
Council believe
that
communicating
with citizens is a
high priority in the
Village, the Web
site plays a very
important role in
communicating.
Information on the Web site is not only
educational, but also a reflection of the quality of
life that citizens enjoy every day.
Because more and more citizens are using the
Internet instead of traveling to City Hall to get the
information they need, the Village launched a new
Web site on the Internet in May. Approximately
50,000 visitors have accessed the site since it
was launched.
Providing quality service is a team effort and
employees from all of the different service areas,
including the City Manager’s Office, Police Depart-
ment, Community Development, Financial, Administrative Services, Public Works, and Parks, Trails
and Recreation, play a part in making sure that
the best information is available to the community.
Creating the new Web site was a very big job
and a team of employees met for several months
to listen to ideas and share thoughts about what
the new Web site should look like. The team
brainstormed ideas on how to make the new Web
site special for everyone to visit. Choosing a good
design and selecting colors was an important part
of the development process.
Pictures were
selected that best
display a
“Greenwood Village
Kind of Day”
including
landscapes, flowers,
the rural areas, the
business areas, the
parks, and most
important of all
pictures of citizens.
One of the areas
that we are most
proud of on the site
is the flash entry
GV Kids, Ink!® is available online at
movie. The movie is
www.greenwoodvillage.com
narrated by the
original soundtrack,
“Greenwood Village
Kind of Day,” written
and performed by
Village staff. The
movie is a creative
introduction to
welcome visitors to
the Web site.
Understanding that
everyone does not
have access to a high
speed Internet
connection, the Village
has provided the
option to skip the
introduction and enter
the Web site
immediately.
To visit the Village
Web site type in www.greenwood village.com on
pictures of citizens, flowers, and special events.
your computer. When you first visit the Web site
The Government Services section highlights
the Village Homepage will appear on your
the departments that service the Village.
computer screen. A Homepage is like a front door Resources is the place where you can find forms,
to City Hall except the information exists on the
calendars, links to other sites, and much more. If
Internet.
you ever need historical information about the
Once you enter the Web site you have several
Village, visit the About Us section, where you will
options that link to more information about the
find stories about what the Village was like dating
Village such as: About Us, Living In The Village, back to the 1850s.
Business Life, Leisure Time, Government
You can access the Web site 24 hours a day, 7
Services, and Resources. These titles were
days a week. Remember, as you journey through
selected because they will help guide any user to
the Web site, we encourage you to think about
information within the Web site.
any other information that you think we may be
By clicking on one of these links you uncover
able to provide. We welcome your ideas and
more information about services in the Village. As suggestions. Please feel free to e-mail us at
you explore the new Web site you will notice
[email protected].
Web Site Of The Month!
www.greenwoodvillage.com
About Us Living In The Village Business Life Leisure Time Government Services Resources
Make sure your parents know when you visit the Internet.
Fun Activity
Test your navigation skills on the new Village Web site.
Look for these 10 informational items on the Web site, write your answers below and e-mail
your answers to [email protected] or bring your answers to the City Manager’s
office and receive a prize. Make sure to include your name and address with your answers.
1. First click on the Government Services link,
then click on Mayor and City Council.
Who is your City Council representative?
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Now click on District Map.
Find where you live on the District Map.
What Council District do you live in?
6. Click on the Business Life Link.
What is the name of the link that you use
to find the names of the two fire districts
that service the Village?
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
7. Pretend you are going to be visiting
the Village on vacation.
Using the Leisure Time link,
click on Where to Stay.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
2. If you want to send Mayor Nancy Sharpe
an e-mail, what address would you send
the e-mail to?
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
3. Using the Government Services link,
click on Parks, Trails and Recreation
and using more links find the address
for Silo Park and write it below.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
___________________________________
4. What was the Village population in 2004?
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
5. If you want to find the name and address of
your school what two links do you need to
click on in order to find this information?
First click on
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
and then click on
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Search for a hotel and write down the name
of the hotel you would stay at and why.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
8. You want to know the location
of the nearest library to your home.
Go to the Resources link and click on
the Arapahoe Library District link.
Search the Arapahoe Library District site
to find the location of the nearest library to
your home and write the name of it below.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
9. The Web site has information about
upcoming events and meetings.
Using the Calendar link,
how many City Council meetings
are on the August schedule?
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
10. When you first enter the Web site,
you should hear a song playing,
what is the name of the song?
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Senior Recreation Aides Learn The Value Of Providing
Fun Recreation Opportunities In The Village
While some youth travel with
their families during the
summer months, Jeff Brown
and Ryan Biegen are spending
another fun-filled summer of
employment with the Village.
After deciding that they needed
to earn some extra spending
money and save a little for
college, Jeff and Ryan decided
to return to the Village for the
summer as Senior Recreation
Aides for the Parks, Trails and
Recreation Department.
“Recreation Aides provide
support to the Recreation
Division by helping with the
youth and adult programs,
cultural art activities, and
special events such as Greenwood Village Day,” said Cathy
Pate, Recreation Manager.
“Recreation Aides play an
important role by teaching fair
play, encouraging sportsmanship, labor at special events,
serving food, taking pictures,
Ryan Biegen teaches how to
throw a Frisbee during Olympic Day at Fun in the Sun.
and a lot of fun. “It is a pretty
and working carnival booths.”
cool job to be able to help
Finding a job is not always
people have fun, especially little
easy, but the Village provides
kids at the Fun In the Sun
opportunities for youth who are
program,” added Ryan.
at least 14 years old to work in
Jeff recently graduated from
recreation and have some fun.
Regis High School and plans to
Each year approximately 15
attend Gonzaga University in
youth are selected to work partWashington in the fall where he
time with the Village during the
will study education. “I usually
summer months. Jeff believes
run into kids from programs,
working as a Recreation Aide
like Fun In the Sun, at the
gives you an opportunity, “to be
supermarket or my neighboryourself and explore new
hood pool because they recogexperiences, but recreation has
nize me and they come up and
to be something you like to do.”
say hi.”
Jeff and Ryan have worked
As Senior Recreation Aides,
for the Village for over four
Jeff and Ryan are not only role
years and agree that they have
models for youth in the
learned several life skills. “As a
community, but also for the
Senior Recreation Aide, you
other Recreation Aides who are
get to take the lead on
just starting out as they both
programs and help out the firstonce did.
time Recreation Aides so you
Looking for a first job can
have to be able to be a leader,”
seem scary, but remember the
said Ryan.
Village is committed to
Jeff believes learning life
providing youth with
skills is an important part of
opportunities to grow and
working in recreation. “I was
develop into active members of
pretty shy when I first got a
the community. You can learn
Recreation Aide position, but I
more about summer Recreation
have really learned to
Aide employment opportunities
communicate better and I have
by calling the Department of
enjoyed getting to know the
Parks, Trails and Recreation at
people in the community,”
303-486-5773.
stated Jeff.
Ryan will be a
sophomore at
Colorado State
University in the fall
where he is studying
math. While he is
not sure what he will
do with his degree
once he graduates,
Ryan believes that
without a doubt that
being a Senior
Recreation Aide has
been a great
learning experience Jeff Brown on Luau Day at Fun in the Sun.
ATTENTION
PARENTS:
kids’
Curtis Arts & Humanities Center
2349 East Orchard Road,
Greenwood Village, Colorado
Reservations Required
303-797-1779
Drawing
(Ages 9 and up)
Ages 9-12 must show samples
Learn the basics, the
technical aspects and the fun
trends of drawing!
Classes will include drawing
from nature, structural drawing
and shading.
Bring a sketch pad, kneaded
eraser, art gum or pink pearl
eraser, ruler, sanding block,
paper towels and 2B thick lead
pencils.
Dates: Friday, Aug. 5, 12, 19,
26
Time: 4 to 6 p.m.
Cost: $40
Instructor: Rick Brogan
No
child
16 and
under
will be
allowed
to
leave
the
Curtis
Arts &
Humanities
Center
without
the parent
being
present
or having
provided
written
permission
for the
child to
leave
with
another
adult.
orkshops
FREE: Movin’…Groovin’…
A movement and expression
workshop for the physically
challenged (in conjunction with
the “Transcending Barriers”
exhibit).
Date: Monday, August 22
Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Instructor: Darlene Handler
Dance Fever
(Ages 11 to 17)
Dance with instructor Gina
Oldenburg and learn traditional
dance styles and share your
newest dance moves with
others.
We’ll incorporate your steps
with music to create a new
dance performance.
Date: Saturday, August 20
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: $15
GV K I D S , I N K !
®
An official publication of the City of Greenwood Village
Providing kids with information, activities, events, classes, recipes, and much more!
The GV KIDS, INK!® Newsletter would like to hear from you with
comments, suggestions, and information to share with other kids.
For additional information, please contact
Heather Geyer, Management Specialist, at 303-486-5746;
e-mail [email protected]; or write to GV KIDS, INK!® Newsletter,
6060 South Quebec Street, Greenwood Village, CO 80111.