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July 2020 - Posts

Game on!
Game reviews by Brandon, Elizabeth, Kristin, and Stacy 

Hello everyone! We hope you’ll enjoy these recommendations. These are games we all found soothing for stressful and difficult times. These games cost money and/or require consoles, so they’re for more serious gamers than our last free game review. We hope you enjoy them! 

Today's theme
Relaxing games to help you de-stress.

Game One

Journey 

A $19.99 game on the Playstation Store 

Journey

Get ready for this one, because this is my favorite piece of media of all time. That includes books, movies, shows, and other games. Some games are made to put us against each other. You must beat your opponent! Long have we been tasked in video games to look out for only ourselves, and to beat our games as fast as possible. What if a company decided to oppose these ideals? How about a game that is created for the sake of helping one another, and to journey together as a team, and not to fight against each other as enemies? Let the game be the journey itself, let the game be the reward, not just the finality of it, and enrich the whole experience. ThatGameCompany reached for the stars with this goal and have succeeded reached true ascension, as players who play the fantastic PSN title “Journey” will discover.

In Journey you awake a stranger, cloaked in red. The Controls are simple, yet somehow refined and feel natural, almost as if they were an extension of your body. You guide the camera with the gyroscope in your controller and you move forward with the left analog stick. The circle button acts a little chirp or call that changes tone depending on how hard and fast you press the button. The use for this is not made immediately known, but it is revealed very soon. You walk up a slight cliff, to see a massive mountain. This mountain is both tremendous in size, and intimidating. “What awaits me up there, and will I like what I discover?” It is shortly after you discover your scarf. Glyphs are scattered around the game and if you find them you will increase the length of your scarf, allowing you to fly for short durations of time with the X button.

These gameplay mechanics, while great on their own, take a backseat to the gorgeous environment of the game. This game’s setting is a character in itself. Waterfalls of golden sand cascade behind you as the game suddenly transitions into 2D seamlessly showing you the warm backdrop of the sun from afar. Did I just name an old dream of yours? That will happen to you, as Journey is a game that you do not stop thinking about when you put the controller down. This is thanks to the multiplayer and the effect it will have on you,

The Multiplayer of Journey is Unique in two amazing and innovative ways. The first being that, the guy on the screen with you, he’s your friend, and by the end of the game, you will do anything possible to make sure they finish their journey with you. I honestly do believe that if more individuals play this game, they will find peace with themselves and perhaps find a deeper appreciation for the loved ones in their lives. Feelings are warm and close, and never rude or obtuse thanks to the second innovative factor of Journey.

You cannot converse with your fellow player in any language you may have learned throughout your life. Yes, the game strips usernames away (until after the credits) and gives you only the option of chirping to communicate with the other player. After playing this game at least over 25 times, it seems that the Journey members are starting to form their own language as I find myself having a easier time understanding my new friends every time I play.

ThatGameCompany have created their masterpiece. They have not created a game, but an experience. Ever since finishing Journey I have found a new appreciation for the ones I hold dear to me in my life, and I think every day about how I want to live my Journey and who I want to accompany me on my Journey. Give this game a shot, as I guarantee you will watch the ending of this game unfold and find yourself feeling something very different from your usual video game; at peace.    -Brandon
Game 2
Fez
A $10 game (give or take) available for purchase on the Playstation Store, Xbox via the Microsoft store, Windows and Mac via Steam.
Fez

Fez follows the story of player-character Gomez after he is mysteriously gifted a red fez and watches as  his cozy 2D way of life is ripped apart by a tear in the fabric of space and time, revealing to him a previously unknown 3rd dimension. Now you with your mystical red fez must explore this new 3D world with the goal of restoring the universe by collecting shards of cube fragments. Released in 2012 by indie game companies Trapdoor and Polytron Corporation, this is a game that has remained very dear to me for it’s bright and memorable aesthetics, it’s unique gameplay mechanics, and it’s overall unforgettable experience!

A “stop and smell the roses” type of game that is less focused on plot and instead promotes  relaxed exploration and puzzle solving. Fez encourages it’s players to explore each world to its fullest by offering a unique rotation mechanic that moves the player’s camera around the seemingly 2D plane, often revealing new pathways and exposing access to previously inaccessible platforms and items. To further promote relaxed exploration, Fez has no enemies, no bosses, or even hard consequences – when the player dies, typically by falling, they are respawned and able to continue the level freely. 

I was originally drawn to this game by it’s pixelated game design and chill electronica music, but stayed for it’s compelling world and calming atmosphere! The protagonist is a small marshmallow man with a bright red fez – his minimal design allows for maximum engagement with the worlds which are ultimately the real draw towards a game like Fez. Each world vibes similarly with one another – they are easy on the eyes with soft colors and reflect the same upwards gameplay movement. However, each world is unique both in looks and experience, while following the same foundational structure: ultimately each it’s own large puzzle comprised of four different 2D planes that connect and respond with one another as you travel up through the world! 

I highly recommended this game upon it’s release nearly a decade ago and I continue to highly recommend it to this day! It’s such a favorable experience and well executed game, definitely worth the time and commitment. - Stacy  

Game 3
Fe
A $20 game available on Switch, PS4, XBox and PC.
Fe

Fe is an exploration-based open world adventure starring a spiky little forest creature who can sing to other forest animals to learn their powers. The world has a dark and blocky aesthetic that works for it, casting things in stark shadow and light and highlighting spaces with splashes of vivid colors. It’s relaxing and not particularly linear, challenging you with some moderate puzzle-solving and lots of climbing and exploring. The sounds are immersive—the music comes and goes for emphasis, similar to Breath of the Wild, but the game is typically filled with deep chimes or strings, animal calls, rushing water, and rustling trees. It’s very soothing to play. 

As you progress, you quickly gain new powers that give you an incredible freedom to explore right off the bat. Unlike many platformers, you get a glide ability fairly early and much of the game design is based on using it. There’s no combat in Fe, but there are stealth sections which can be a bit tense. There aren’t heavy penalties for failure, though, and dying merely sets you back to an earlier physical location as a checkpoint. If you ever get stuck, you can call a bird to show you where to go next. 

Overall, Fe is a very relaxing and rewarding game to play. The frustrations are minimal, every secret can be discovered without a guide, and it’s hard to ever get completely stuck. It’s a shame that the coolest power is only unlocked after there are no more objectives, but it’s definitely a reward worth earning. Fe also has one section in particular that makes the game worth buying all by itself. I won’t spoil it, but between the visuals, the challenge, and the swelling music, it was full of the same awe-inspiring wonder I experienced playing Shadow of the Colossus for the first time. I definitely recommend it.    -Kristin
Game 4
Everything
Available on PS4, Switch, and Steam for PC and Mac [here]

everything

Sometimes, you just want to do absolutely nothing. A game with goals? Exhausting. TV and a plot? No thanks. Sometimes, you just want to float around in a polygon world while listening to calm music and the drone of a philosophy lecture. Don’t worry! When you really, really need to relax, the game Everything can help. 

In the game Everything, you can be, well, everything: a pig, a planet, a twig, a tree, and everything in between. You can talk to everything, too. Try listening to a narcissistic dragonfly or a con artist blade of grass (“come on! I’ll give you 1%! Okay, 2%!”). One pinecone in my game lamented that it couldn’t whistle, while a horse informed me it was mad at the sun and would stay mad until the weather changed.
Mostly, though, you just roll around: getting smaller or bigger, switching between species and things as the mood strikes. Sometimes you sing, and nearby creatures sing with you; sometimes, you join a crowd, or leave a crowd, or dance. I left some raspberries whirling in circles around my screen for a bit, adding a new one every so often until the whole screen was covered in fruit. You can even leave the game on autoplay and come back to wonder why you’re suddenly two rattlesnakes exploring the desert.

There’s an encyclopedia to fill out, but that’s not really the point. I’m not sure what the point is: that philosophy lecture, probably, but I’m tuning that out. I’m too busy dancing. - Elizabeth
Tell us what you think!

What are your comfort food games? Did you buddy up and explore the vast world of Journey or enjoy a few hours being everything and anything in Everything? Let us know in the comments!
Posted by [email protected]  On Jul 31, 2020 at 1:55 PM
  
Fantastical Reimaginings

Fantastical Reimaginings: Rapunzel
by Nicole S.
 
Rapunzel

Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your golden hair! Do you remember the story of Rapunzel? A beautiful girl trapped in a tower with nothing to do but tame her long, long, LONG golden locks? Some of you may have watched the Disney story of Rapunzel in the movie “Tangled”. Did you know the original tale of Rapunzel was much darker than its Disney counterpart? And there were no frying pans in the original? “Frying pans – who knew right?!?”  
History
Like many of the darker fairy tales, the tale of Rapunzel was published by the Brothers Grimm in 1812. They adapted the story of Rapunzel from Friedrich Schulz, which he had published in 1790. However, all these versions were inspired and adapted from the 1698 fairy tale “Persinette” by Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de La Force. 

Rapunzel

The Original
 
The original story of Rapunzel starts with a lonely couple who are desperate for a child of their very own. The couple finally gets their wish and while pregnant, the wife experiences weird cravings and longs for the Rapunzel (type of greens) that grows in their neighbor’s walled garden. She refuses to eat anything else and starts to wither away. The husband finally steals away to the garden and steals the Rapunzel to make a salad for his wife. She eats it but isn’t fully satisfied and asks her husband for more. When the husband attempts to sneak into his neighbor’s garden a second time, his neighbor, who happens to be a sorceress, catches him and accuses him of thievery! The husband begs and pleads with the sorceress who in returns lets him take more of the Rapunzel on one condition: when the baby is born the sorceress gets to claim her. The husband agrees. The wife gives birth to a baby girl who is given to the sorceress and named after the greens, Rapunzel. As Rapunzel and her golden hair grows, she is locked up in a tower with no stairs, no doors and only one window. One day a prince hears her singing and learns how to visit her by using the same chant the sorceress does to have Rapunzel let down her hair to climb. The prince visits Rapunzel many times and they fall in love and he asks her to marry him. As they hatch a plan to escape Rapunzel discovers she is pregnant. The sorceress is furious when she finds out and proceeds to cut Rapunzel’s long hair and banish her into the wilderness. The prince comes back and climbs Rapunzel’s hair only to discover the sorceress has tricked him. After she tells him Rapunzel will never be seen again he leaps/falls from the tower landing in a thorn bush that scratches his eyes and blind him. For many years he wanders the country yearning for his lost love until he eventually finds Rapunzel with twins, a boy and girl. Upon seeing her prince, she cries tears of joy on his face, restoring his vision. He takes Rapunzel and their kids to his kingdom to live happily ever after. 
Rapunzel Retellings
So, how much has this classic fairy tale changed over the years? Are the retellings similar or impossibly different? Find out more about similar tales below!

***
Rapunzel
 
Disney’s “Tangled”
Available on Hoopla

A more recent retelling of this fairy tale is from Disney in the movie “Tangled”. In this story a queen is pregnant and is starting to die due to sickness. There is a legend of a golden flower somewhere on their kingdom’s island that has said to have healing powers. However, many years before a sorceress discovered the flower first and uses its powers to stay young and beautiful. Eventually the golden flower is discovered by the king’s guards and brought to the queen. She is healed and gives birth to a golden haired baby girl they name Rapunzel. One night the sorceress breaks into the kingdom and steals the baby girl. She hides Rapunzel away in a tower in the middle of the woods and uses the power of the golden flower through Rapunzel’s hair to stay young and beautiful by singing a chant while brushing her hair. As Rapunzel grows up she longs to see the world outside her tower but her mother strictly forbids it. By now, Rapunzel’s hair has grown and grown and her mother uses it to come and go from the tower. One day a thief, Flynn Rider, happens upon the tower while escaping the royal guards for stealing a crown. Rapunzel and Flynn strike a bargain – Flynn will show Rapunzel the world and Rapunzel will give back the crown he stole. Rapunzel explores the kingdom and learns about the traditions of the lanterns the kingdom does in honor of their lost princess. In this version, Rapunzel is a lost princess and her love interest is a thief, not a prince. 

***
 Cress

“Cress” by Marissa Meyer
Available on Hoopla as a digital audiobook

This is the third book in the Lunar Chronicles series. Cress has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with net screens as her only company. Thanks to this she has become an amazing hacker and is forced to work for Queen Levana. Her orders though are to track down Cinder and her accomplices. Cress has an opportunity at her freedom but it comes at a high cost. This story is a continuation of Cinder a cyborg mechanic we learn about the first book of the Lunar Chronicles, “Cinder”. Each book focuses on a different fairy tale character with whom Cinder comes into contact. 

***

 Bitter Greens

“Bitter Greens” by Kate Forsyth
Available on Hoopla as a digital audiobook

French novelist Charlotte-Rose de la Force has been banished from the court of Versailles by the Sun King, Louis XIV, after a series of scandalous love affairs. At the convent, she is comforted by an old nun, Sœur Seraphina, who tells her the tale of a young girl who, a hundred years earlier, is sold by her parents for a handful of bitter greens. After Margherita's father steals parsley from the walled garden of the courtesan Selena Leonelli, he is threatened with having both hands cut off, unless he and his wife relinquish their precious little girl. Selena is the famous red-haired muse of the artist Tiziano, first painted by him in 1512 and still inspiring him at the time of his death. She is at the center of Renaissance life in Venice, a world of beauty and danger, seduction and betrayal, love and superstition. Locked away in a tower, Margherita sings in the hope that someone will hear her. One day, a young man does.
Inspired by Charlotte’s writings that first penned Rapunzel, this retelling weaves historical fiction, fairy tales and romance into one story. The story features narratives from each of the three leading females in the story: Charlotte, Margherita and Selena.

***

Now that you know the real story check out these and other Rapunzel retellings on Hoopla!
o “The Golden Braid” by Melanie Dickerson
“My Name is Rapunzel” by K.C. Hilton
o “Reign of Shadows” by Sophie Jordan
o “Towering” by Alex Flinn
o “Golden Curse” by M. Lynn

“Go. Live your dream.”- Tangled

Picture credits: Disney, Trina Schart Hyman, Hoopla

Posted by [email protected]  On Jul 31, 2020 at 11:54 AM
  
Create & DIY for adults

Harry Potter Wands
with Ollivanders and Head Mistress Julie

Swish and flick! Take a behind-the-scenes trip to Ollivanders and learn how to make your own wand!

Posted by [email protected]  On Jul 29, 2020 at 12:54 PM
  
UPDATE: After positively identifying the male responsible for shooting two other protesters on Interstate 225, we now have a signed arrest warrant for the shooter. The arrest warrant was applied for through the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office. After the warrant application was accepted by the District Attorney's Office, a judge signed the arrest warrant based on the facts and probable cause provided.

The male has been positively identified as Samuel Young (07/08/1997). His warrant was for four (4) counts of Attempted Homicide. Samuel Young is the person of interest previously released.

Samuel Young has just been taken into custody by Aurora Police. A booking photo will be available at a later time.

We are still urging anyone with pictures or videos that show the actions of the Jeep driver, prior to driving through the group of protesters, to reach out to Metro Denver Crime Stoppers. We also need any eyewitnesses of this incident to contact Sgt. Jeff Longnecker of the Major Crimes/Homicide Unit for an interview. The Aurora Police Department continues to investigate other incidents of violence during the protest march on the highway.
 

Officer Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Aurora Police Department
720.432.5095

Information Previously Released July 27

(July 27th, 2020) UPDATE: Thank you to everyone who submitted their tips. We have positively identified this male. 

We will not be releasing his identity at this time but are hopeful to have additional information later today.


Officer Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Aurora Police Department
720.432.5095


Information Previous Released July 26

(July 26th, 2020) UPDATE: Through pictures provide to us from a witness, this male is considered a person of interest in the shooting of two people on Interstate 225.

We are seeking any information regarding this males identity. 

If you recognize this male, or have any information about his actions yesterday, please contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867).

Picture 1PIC 2



































Officer Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Aurora Police Department
720.432.5095


Information Previously Released July 26th

(July 26, 2020) On July 25, 2020, at approximately 6:35 P.M., protesters began to walk northbound on Interstate 225 from East Alameda Parkway.

Around 7:00 P.M. Aurora Police observed, from a media helicopter, a Jeep that was traveling northbound on I-225 heading towards the protesters. The Jeep then drives into the crowd. While the Jeep was being driven through the crowd, multiple shots were fired by a protester. At this time it is unknown if multiple people fired their weapons, or if it was just one individual. Also, there have been no reported injuries reported to us about anyone being hit by this vehicle.

Two people were struck by gunfire. One adult male was shot in the leg and had to be transported to the hospital by ambulance. Another adult male was shot in the head, only causing a graze wound. He was transported to the hospital by a private vehicle.

The Jeep continued northbound on I-225, eventually exiting the interstate at East 6th Avenue. The driver pulled over at E. 6th Ave and Billings Street when he located officers who were investigating a separate, unrelated crash at that location. The driver was positively identified, questioned, and the Jeep was impounded for evidentiary purposes.

During preliminary interviews with the Jeep driver, he advised officers that while on I-225, his vehicle began to be surrounded by protesters who were yelling and striking his vehicle. He also claims that a white pickup truck struck the front of his vehicle. He claims that the reason that he drove towards the protesters is because he was scared and trying to get away.

Detectives are in contact with the shooting victims who might have captured pictures or videos of the incident. One of the victims remains hospitalized with his injuries.

We are seeking the public’s assistance. We need any pictures, videos, or eyewitness accounts that show the events leading up to the Jeep driving into the crowd. Those can be submitted to Denver Metro Crime Stoppers.

We are also seeking pictures, videos, and eyewitnesses who observed the shooting. We are actively working to identify the shooter(s) responsible for shooting into a crowd and injuring two people. Those tips can also be submitted to Denver Metro Crime Stoppers.

The Aurora Police Department Major Crimes Unit spent time today at the incident scene investigating and searching for evidence. This investigation temporarily closed the lanes of northbound I-225 and we thank motorists for their patience today. The event organizers have not yet reached out to detectives, therefore this is the reason we are seeking the public's assistance. If anyone has information to share, tipsters who contact Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.

Once all of the evidence is gathered, this case will be presented to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office for criminal culpability.

Please see the following statement from Chief Wilson:
“I not only find great concern with someone making the decision to drive their vehicle toward protesters on the interstate but that someone in the protester group opened fire, recklessly shooting two people.

We will be working with our District Attorney to discuss appropriate charges for the driver as well as working tirelessly to identify the shooter(s) on the interstate.

Any witnesses are urged to report what they saw to Denver Metro Crime Stoppers.”


Officer Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Aurora Police Department
720.432.5095
Posted by [email protected]  On Jul 27, 2020 at 10:28 PM
  
Read It!

Family Book Club
with Tess

 The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards

"The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles" - Part 3 (Chapters 1-8 + Epilogue)
- What is your favorite creature that the Potters and Professor meet in Whangdoodleland?
- Were you afraid they would never make it to the castle?
- Were you surprised that the Prock finally allowed them to meet the Whangdoodle?
- What did you think of the Whangdoodle?
- Did you think the Professor's experiment would work?
- How did you like the ending? 
- How did you like the book overall?

Activity: Create your own Whangdoodle creature and send me a picture at [email protected]!


August Family Book Club

August's book is "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia, a work of historical fiction and the winner of the Newbery Medal Winner & Corretta Scott King Award Winner in 2011.

One Crazy Summer

Summary:
In the summer of 1968, after traveling from Oakland, California to spend a month with the mother they barely know, Delphine and her two younger sisters arrive to a cold welcome as they discover that their mother, a dedicated poet, is resentful of their intrusion and wants them to attend a nearby Black Panther summer camp.

The reading schedule will be posted on Monday, Aug. 3. Be sure to get a copy! Call the Tallyn's Reach Library at 303.627.3050 or visit in person for a physical copy. It is also available as an audiobook via RBDigital Audiobooks and as an eBook via Overdrive (Libby) and HooplaDigital. Access all three digital platforms with your library card.
Posted by [email protected]  On Jul 27, 2020 at 1:15 PM
  
Making Magic

Harry Potter-Inspired Spell Books
by Julie S.

Before you head to Hogwarts to start the school year, you'll need your spell books! Add a little magic to your notebooks with this Harry Potter-themed DIY!
Supplies
- Composition Notebook (or other notebook with cardboard cover)
- Paint
- Paint Brushes
- Pencil

Posted by [email protected]  On Jul 27, 2020 at 12:40 PM
  
Read It!

**Video may contain spoilers**
Join APL staff each week for a discussion of some of their current reads! Each week they will discuss a book from a different genre. Join the discussion live on at Facebook.com/AuroraLibrary each Friday at 1 p.m. (MST) and leave your thoughts in the comments below!



The next discussion will be at 1 p.m. on July 31, 2020 on our Facebook page and will feature "FantasticLand" by Mike Bockoven (available instantly on hoopladigital.com).
Posted by [email protected]  On Jul 26, 2020 at 8:50 AM
  
Read It!

Review of "The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher" by Andrzej Sapkowski
by Nicole S.

Hello again! Like I said before I have been participating in a virtual book club with some of my friends from Wisconsin which has been incredibly enjoyable for me to be able to read other books I normally wouldn’t choose for myself and learning more about my friends’ reading tastes.  

After reading two different suspenseful thrillers in a row we decided to dive into the fantasy genre with our next pick - “The Last Wish: Introducing The Witcher” by Andrzej Sapkowski. For those who don’t know this book is actually one of two collections of short stories that paves the way for the Witcher Saga novels surrounding the main character Geralt of Rivia.  

The Last Wish

This book was originially published in Polish in 1993 with an English translation later in 2007. This book contains six short stories which sheds a little light on Geralt’s many adventures. Having been injured in a battle and while resting at a temple, he is experiencing flashbacks from certain time’s in his life.  

These short stories have been adapted to video games, film and a recent television series on Netflix starring Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia.  

The character Geralt of Rivia, one of the few remaining witchers on the Continent, is a traveling monster slayer for hire, mutated and trained from an early age to slay deadly beasts. This puts the series of the Witcher in the fantasy genre. “Fantasy is defined as a form of literary genre in which a plot cannot occur in the real world. Its plot usually involves witchcraft or magic, taking place on an undiscovered planet of an unknown world. Its overall theme and setting involve a combination of technology, architecture, and language, which sometimes resemble European medieval ages. The most interesting thing about fantasies is that their plot involves witches, sorcerers, mythical and animal creatures talking like humans, and other things that never happen in real life (https://literarydevices.net/fantasy/)”  

For those starting this book who haven’t read or watched any of its adaptations could make getting through the names and places a little difficult. One of the big reasons I wanted to start reading the Witcher novels was due to the first season of the “Witcher” on Netflix. I enjoy reading and watching anything fantasy and the different characters portrayed throughout the show were amazing. My favorite being Geralt of Rivia. Being trained to be a monster hunter from such an early age, Geralt is seen as both highly respected and highly feared. He has a gruff and cold demeanor towards everyone he meets yet at the same time he has a strict moral code when it comes to the monsters he hunts and kills. He is a very complex character and I thought that the books would give more of an insight to how he thinks because it is hard to portray someone’s inner conscience on the screen.  

It is recommended to start with “The Last Wish” and even the other short story collection “Sword of Destiny” before diving into first of the “Witcher” novels, “Blood of Elves”. The reason behind this is because the first book in the series precedes the events that occur during the two short story collections. You follow Geralt of Rivia on his quests while meeting some key characters along the way.  

If you do end up enjoying the short story collections then continue on and immerse yourself in Geralt’s journey through all six of the Witcher books! Check out the series from APL here.

Once you finish those and need to have more high fantasy novels check out “The Red Knight” by Miles Cameron or ‘”Assassin’s Apprentice” by Robin Hobb

Check back for my next review of the next book club pick - “Ink and Bone” by Rachel Caine.  
Posted by [email protected]  On Jul 24, 2020 at 4:57 PM
  

WHAT:  Protest Event
WHEN:  Saturday July 25, 2020
WHERE:  15001 East Alameda Parkway
                  
AURORA, Colorado -
 Having a peaceful demonstration is most meaningful when everyone chooses to be respectful, law-abiding, and civil.  It’s equally important to realize everyone has a right to lawfully assemble, and Colorado law prohibits disrupting a lawful assembly.  The goal with this advisory is to provide helpful information for those planning on attending the protest at the Aurora Police Department (APD) Headquarters Saturday July 25, 2020.

Free Speech is Important: The APD values citizens’ free speech rights.  Freedom of Speech includes a variety of expressive words, printed words, and expressive conduct. However, there are limits. For example, “Fighting Words,” or words that are inherently likely to provoke a violent reaction or a breach of the peace through retaliation, are not protected by the First Amendment.  Additionally, criminal conduct, such as theft and destruction of another’s property or physical assault of another person, and trespassing is not protected by the First Amendment.  We ask for the public’s help in ensuring that the event remains a place for free speech and lawful activity.

To Get Information Day-Of:  APD will be using Twitter for messaging to the public and media. To receive those messages please follow us on Twitter at the @AuroraPD profile.

If You See Something, Say Something: We ask members of the public, to constantly be aware of their surroundings, and immediately report any safety concerns. You can do so by calling dispatch at 303-627-3100. At any time during the event, if there is a life-threatening emergency, please call 911. Otherwise, the non-emergency number is 303-627-3100 for police and fire assistance.  Some police reports can be filed online at any time by clicking HERE

Facilities:  All buildings on the Aurora Municipal Center Campus will be closed to the public on July 25th, 2020. Attendees should plan accordingly for simple first aid needs, weather, hydration, and food.

Excessive Noise:  Please be advised the use of using bullhorns, noisemakers, and like devices cause actual physical pain, or bodily injury, to attendees, which is unlawful.

Safety and Officer Conduct:  Our officers are there to ensure the safety of those attending the event. If an officer contacts you, please remain cordial and comply with any orders the officer may have given you.  If you have concerns, questions or compliments you can relay that information to www.AuroraPolice.com. To ensure everyone’s safety the following additional regulations will be in effect:

Sticks poles, pipes, bats or similar objects will not be permitted. 

  • Sticks being used as supports for signs, posters, banners or flags may only be permitted under all of the following conditions:
    • They are attached and remain attached to a sign, poster, banner or flag at all times.
    • They are made of wood. No metal, PVC, glass, or other material allowed for sign supports.
    • They are 40" or less in length.
    • They are blunt on each end. No sharp supports are allowed.

Violation of these rules will be grounds to deny access or removal from the protest area, and refusal to leave will be a violation of Aurora Municipal Code (AMC) 94-71, Trespass

Drones: The publics use of Drones are not permitted at this event. 

Accident Alert and Priority Dispatch: During this event APD will be on accident alert and priority dispatch protocol from noon until the event is over due to limited police resources. If you are involved in an accident during this time that involve any of the following:

·         Injuries

·         Hit-and-Run

·         DUI involving alcohol and/or drugs

·         One or more vehicles are not drivable

·         One driver does not have proof of insurance

Please call 303-627-3100 for an officer to respond. All other traffic accidents should be filed online by clicking HERE or you can respond to the APD headquarters lobby located at 15001 East Alameda Parkway with all involved drivers the following day to complete the accident report. 

Priority dispatch means APD will only respond to in-progress calls where life is in danger, and all other calls for service will potentially have significantly extended wait times for a response.  We understand this is frustrating, but we appreciate your patience.

Dispersal Orders: As a last resort, APD may have to give dispersal orders to the crowd and will do so in both English and Spanish. This will only occur when there is a clear and present danger of immediate threat to safety. 

Please follow all orders immediately and peacefully while evacuating the area. If a dispersal order is given, all attendees will be given directions on a safe route to leave the area. 

Media:  The media can use the below phone number and email address for incident response inquiries, and interview requests:
720-432-5095
[email protected]

Our number one priority is ensuring the safety of those attending the event and our officers. The Aurora Police Department respects and upholds the constitutional rights of our community including the right to express and exercise free speech.  We will continue to balance these rights with the protection of property, safety and life.  We appreciate the community’s partnership in this regard and encourage everyone to remain peaceful and civil.

Agent Faith Goodrich
Public Information Officer
Aurora Police Department
720.432.5095

Posted by [email protected]  On Jul 24, 2020 at 3:33 PM
  

Fantastical Reimaginings

Fantastical Reimaginings: Alice in Wonderland
by Nicole S.

Disney's Alice in Wonderland
 
"Curiouser and curiouser!" How many of you had always wanted to fall down a rabbit hole and visit Wonderland yourself? I know I have! Alice in Wonderland has been a favorite story of mine and my infatuation with it grows as I get older. Do you know about where the original story came from? 

History
The story of Alice in "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland" was published in 1865 by Lewis Carroll, also known as Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. It is said that this story was inspired by the stories Charles told to the daughters of a close family friend on a boat outing. Alice Liddell, her sisters, their father, the scholar Henry Liddell, and Charles are all inspirations for some of the characters in the Alice in Wonderland story. To this day it is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre. It has never gone out of print and has been translated into 97 languages. 

Alice in Wonderland

The Original
The story starts with a bored and drowsy seven-year old Alice sitting on the riverbank with her sister. She starts to daydream and notices a white rabbit with a pocket watch run past her. She follows the rabbit down the rabbit hole into Wonderland. The novel has twelve chapters each with Alice’s journey into Wonderland which includes creating a pool of tears, advice from a blue caterpillar, a very mad tea party and of course the Queen of Hearts playing croquet. 

Alice in Wonderland Retellings
So, how much has this classic fairy tale changed over the years? Are the retellings similar or impossibly different? Find out more about similar tales below!

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Disney's Alice in Wonderland 
Disney’s "Alice in Wonderland"
Available on Hoopla

Disney’s "Alice In Wonderland" takes the story written by Lewis Carroll and visually lets us take a closer look into Wonderland. The story follows fairly similar to the original story minus some of Carroll’s chapters that involve minor characters, such as the Mock Turtle and the dormouse, and a trial that Alice attends due to being accused of stealing Queen’s tarts. 
Disney went on to create a live action version of both "Alice in Wonderland" and "Alice Through the Looking Glass", both works by Lewis Carroll. These versions however have Alice revisiting “Underland”, as a nineteen year old girl who believes that she had only dreamt of visiting Underland when she was girl. 

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 Splintered by AG Howard
"Splintered" by A.G. Howard
Available on Hoopla

Splintered follows the story of Alyssa Gardner who is a descendant of Alice Liddell, the inspiration for the stories of Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Alyssa has a deep dark secret; she can hear insects and flowers talking. Her mother is locked up in a mental hospital for having this as well. In fact all of the women in the family are cursed with this so called gift. When Alyssa meets a beautiful and mysterious stranger who tells her Wonderland is a real place and going there will help her break her family’s curse she has a decision to make: Save her family from this curse or be destined to go mad like her mother? 
This tells parts of the original story of Alice but in a great twist. In this book Alyssa has to go back to Wonderland and “fix” all the mistakes that the original Alice made. This is one of my favorite series because I enjoy Howard’s imaginative and vivid description of Wonderland and using the inspiration of the original tale but spinning it in her own unique way.

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Alice in Zombieland
"Alice in Zombieland" by Gena Showalter
Available on Hoopla

In "Alice in Zombieland", Alice Bell has lived under one strict rule from her father: Don’t leave the house at night because of the “monsters.” On Alice’s 16th birthday, her and her family are attacked by zombies on the way home from her sister’s dance recital. Sadly, only Alice survives - and zombies are real?!? While living with her grandparents, Alice is consumed by guilt and decides to avenge her family. In order to survive she must trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has a secret of his own.
This story includes some references to the original story of Alice but for the most part it is an entirely new story all on its own. 

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If you would like to continue your journey through Wonderland, check out these other Alice in Wonderland retellings available on Hoopla!
o "Heartless" by Marissa Meyer
"Death Of The Mad Hatter" by Sarah J. Pepper, Deb Lebakken, Heather Banta, Emily DeHaan
"After Alice" by Gregory Maguire
"Reagan Through The Looking Glass" by Allyson Lindt
o "A Blade So Black" by L.L. McKinney

"We're all mad here." - Cheshire Cat

Picture credits: Disney, Bantom Classics, Hoopla


Posted by [email protected]  On Jul 24, 2020 at 3:30 PM
  
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