Denver Headlines Blog: April 2016

I came to the United States 16 years ago and McDonald's was my first job and continues to be my only job since I came here. I was a crew member at McDonald's for seven years and a manager for seven years. I've worked my way up to closing manager for owner and operators the Bucar family in Lakewood.

I'm a single mother of a 13-year-old son named Kevin and McDonald's has given me the opportunity to support my family.

Working at McDonald's ...

At the beginning flexible hours weren't as important, but after I had children, I realized how important that was. McDonald's gives me the option to work around my kids' schedules and that's one of the reasons --; along with the fact that I feel like McDonald's is FAMILY to me --; I've worked at McDonald's for so long.

In total I received the Crew Person of the Month three times during my time as a crew person for McDonald's.

In my free time ...

My 13-year-old son Kevin keeps me very busy. He's very fluent in both English and Spanish so he's proud of my progress. I like to have fun and my favorite thing is to go dancing.

The importance of education ...

When I first came to the United States, I didn't know a word of English and it made it difficult to interact with customers. I can read English well but speaking was more difficult for me. McDonald's offers all kinds of training for managers, but I was excited to learn about the "English Under the Arches" program that is free for employees.

One time about three years ago a customer told me what an outstanding manager I was, and that if I worked on my English and had more confidence I would be able to speak English even better. Through this program I have learned how to understand instructions over the phone. Before, if I had a question about something on the computer or piece of equipment I would have a crew person call the general manager. After being in a dozen "English Under the Arches" classes, I can call the general manager and understand the instructions she is giving to me because the class teaches me about specific equipment at McDonalds in English. By the end of this class I will feel comfortable having short conversations with crew and customers and I'm so excited to take it the next level.

The program has given me more opportunities to grow in this organization and have better communication with crew, customers, and her bosses. This class has motivated me to learn more English and I'm excited to further my education through McDonald's Archways to Opportunity programs.

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/My-Name-Is-Romelia-Mijares,212558

Lakewood: 'Snackable' bites key to informing residents - #lakewoodnews

For longtime Lakewood resident Kelly McCready, embracing variety is the key to communication with his city.

"I can only encourage them to use every possible way to reach people," he said. "You can't communicate with the community too much."

The city is listening.

Lakewood's leadership and city departments are looking for new ways to use familiar mediums to inform, educate and solicit input from its residents.

"Every department is doing different things," said Allison Scheck, marketing and community relations in the city's Administration and Community Relations department. "Our new council is really interested in getting a lot of resident feedback, and we're taking that very seriously."

Many members of the city council elected in November campaigned on more transparency and increased citizen engagement, and the city has been examining a variety of ways to meet these goals.

"How we spread information depends on the issue and time frame," said Kit Lammers, Lakewood's communication manager. "During the Federal Center Neighborhood discussions we had more than 400 residents who filled out an online survey for us by hosting an open house and sending out mailers."

Topics such as the stormwater utility fee and community projects also draw a lot of interest from residents, but not everyone has the time to attend public meetings, Scheck said. So when the city recently started investigating improvements to the Link Recreation Center, community resources took a different tack.

"It generally tends to be older people who attend public meetings, but we really wanted feedback from everyone we could get for the project," Scheck said. "We recorded the presentation on the project we would make at the public meeting and put it online. We ended up with more than 1,000 views on YouTube."

By simply making the information available to anyone with a computer, tablet or mobile device, the project received 180 comments, which is more than the 30 or so average.

"We'll definitely be doing this again," Scheck said. "Mixing public meetings, mailers, phone calls and social media gives us more building blocks to use."

Changing demographics also need to be considered in matters of communication. The number of senior residents in Lakewood is one of the top in Jefferson County, and that demographic is growing. At the same time, the city is drawing in more millennial families. Millennials is the name for the generation born between 1980 and the late 1990s.

The city has been hosting surveys and focus groups to learn from residents how they receive information, what works best and what can be improved.

"We're developing a relationship with residents," Lammers said. "It's been an honest question-and-answer process, and we've all been learning along the way."

Methods like mailers and brochures at recreation centers are still good ways to remind people about upcoming events, but digital use is increasing.

"Many older adults are primarily using emails," Scheck said. "We're also seeing fewer people with desktop computers --; instead they're using mobile devices like phones or tablets."

With all the information people receive on a daily basis, it's important that what the city supplies be what Scheck calls "snackable" --; something quickly read and easily accessed.

"In particular, millennials are bombarded by so many messages a day," Scheck said. "We're trying different ways to reach the rooted millennials in our community."

The city does use social media like Facebook and Twitter, but Nextdoor.com has been one of the most popular ways for neighbors to communicate.

The website allows residents to join and connect with neighbors, share information and discuss issues concerning other residents. It is not city owned or operated, Lammers added, but the city can post information there.

"I don't really use Facebook or anything, but I like Nextdoor.com because it gives me a sense of what's going on in the neighborhood," McCready said. "I appreciate Lakewood is using it as a way to get information out."

Residents have also taken to the "Request Lakewood" feature on the city's homepage, which allows residents to ask any question and have staff follow up.

Often, information doesn't sink in with just one exposure, so McCready hopes the city uses all its tools to reinforce information and share it with new people.

Scheck agreed.

"It's all about inclusivity," he said. "Our job is to get as many people as possible informed."

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Lakewood-Snackable-bites-key-to-informing-residents,212559

Musical about death sparks humor, solace, optimism - #lakewoodnews

Few people actually like thinking about death. But imagine when one actually is Death.

In the musical "Death Takes a Holiday," the embodiment of life's end needs a break and travels to Italy to try to understand human nature a little better.

The show made its regional premiere at the Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., April 26 and runs through May 15. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1 p.m. on Wednesday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

"In a broad sense, this is a show about love and death," said Peter Saide, who plays Death and his human alter ego, Prince Nikolai Sirki. "It's written about a very specific time in history, but the themes in the play are universal."

The time is 1921, and the reverberations of the first World War are still being felt by every person who lived through it. Death has taken on human form as a Russian prince after he spares the life of Grazia Lamberti (Kristen Hahn) and wants to understand why he did so.

"Death is experiencing everything for the first time," said director Rod A. Lansberry. "Nobody really knows this prince is actually Death, which leads to some great comic elements."

An instant attraction between Grazia and the prince leads to a whole host of new emotions for both characters.

"Death is attracted to her life force --; there's just something about her vitality," Hahn said. "For her, the prince speaks so passionately about the world and his experiences, and she is drawn to that."

The show isn't a typical musical, said Lansberry, who described it as having more of a chamber or operatic approach.

"The challenge as a director has been creating a piece that flows," he said. "Most people want to keep a distance from death, and this show needs a clear, concise way to humanize it."

The poetry of the language is beautifully translated into the show's music, Saide added, and uses all kinds of styles to tell the emotional story. Lansberry and the cast worked closely with musical director David Nehls to get everything just right.

Since discussing death is often such a taboo subject, the actors have found a tremendous amount of freedom and camaraderie in being able to talk about the subject as they work through the show.

"I've had really joyous conversations with the cast about death as a part of this," Saide said. "I think it's brave of the Arvada Center to do a piece like this that is a little left of center."

While the show doesn't answer any questions about death or what happens after, it generates a tremendous amount of solace and optimism.

"Matters of life and death are messy. They're not always black and white," Hahn said. "The show encourages making the most of our time on earth, and I think that's a very comforting message."

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.comhttp://arvadapress.com/stories/Musical-about-death-sparks-humor-solace-optimism,212555?branding=15

Wheat Ridge couple makes career change to open Golden fishing shop - #lakewoodnews

About Arbor Anglers

Husband-and-wife team, Nick and Sharyce Herman, Colorado natives who live in Wheat Ridge, opened Arbor Anglers on April 1. The shop's grand opening celebration will be May 7.

"Colorado fishing is good all year round," Nick said, "but spring is when people really start to think about it."

The grand opening celebration will include brand representatives --; including Umpqua and Patagonia --; contests, prizes, food and professional guides. Everybody is welcome to come "hang out," Sharyce Herman said.

A family business

The Hermans wanted to provide a friendly fly shop for the Golden community.

"It goes back to wanting to have a place for novice and professional fly-fishers," Nick Herman said.

Together, the Hermans have been in business management and retail for 20 years --; Nick Herman worked in software development for nine years, and Sharyce Herman still works as a merchandiser for Apple.

Nick Herman left his job in software to open Arbor Anglers. He is there full time, while Sharyce Herman spends afternoons and early evenings at the shop.

The rest of the Arbor Anglers staff consists of one other employee --; Marcelo Caiozzi, head guide and casting instructor.

However, there are a couple of honorary employees: Ben, the family dog, who is likely to greet customers, and Alexander, the Hermans' 5-month-old son.

What they do

Nick Herman has been fly fishing for 22 years, but Sharyce Herman is a beginner. It's a new hobby she enjoys. "It's kind of therapeutic for me."

The shop retails apparel and all fly fishing gear for women and men. And it also partners with 5280 Angler for events, special deals and fishing trips.

"We're very passionate about fly-fishing," Sharyce Herman said, "and we wanted to share that with the community."

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.comhttp://goldentranscript.net/stories/Wheat-Ridge-couple-makes-career-change-to-open-Golden-fishing-shop,212552?branding=15

Police identify suspect in incident that injured agents - #lakewoodnews

Detectives identify suspect in incident that injured agentsLakewood detectives identified Brandon Besson, 28, as being responsible for injuring two police officers on the afternoon on April 22 in connection to a traffic stop in the area of West 14th Avenue and Lamar Street.

At about 4:21 p.m., after Lakewood officers made the traffic stop, Besson attempted to drive away, dragging an officer a short distance, police said. The officer was injured. Besson then abandoned the vehicle and ran into a building in the area of West 14th Avenue and Sualsbury Street.

While Besson was inside the building, it caught fire and he fled from the building. Besson then led officers on a foot chase before being caught and taken into custody. A second officer received minor injuries while tackling Besson and taking him into custody. Both officers were treated for minor bruises and scrapes at a local hospital before being released later that evening. No one was injured in the fire, which is being investigated along with Besson's other charges.

Besson was booked on suspicion of numerous charges, including attempted first-degree murder, second-degree assault on a police officer, arson, burglary, vehicular eluding and improper turn. Besson also had four outstanding warrants for his arrest, three of which were felony warrants, police said.

Officer involved shooting on April 26At about 9:20 p.m. on April 26, Lakewood Police Agents reported locating a stolen vehicle in the parking lot of a motel at 480 Wadsworth Blvd. Initially there was no driver in the vehicle.

According to police, as the agents watched the vehicle, a man approached it. When agents attempted to contact the man he ran. While pursuing the man he fired shots at the agents. They returned fire, hitting the man, who was later pronounced dead on scene.An unidentified female who was a passenger in the vehicle was also taken into custody for questioning.

The Jefferson County Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) continues to investigate the shooting, which is standard practice in all police involved shootings. The CIRT team, commonly referred to as the "Shoot Team" is made up of investigators from many law enforcement agencies in the First Judicial District. The CIRT team will submit a final report to the Jefferson County District Attorney for final review.

There were no injuries to any of the agents or citizens who were on scene.

The identity of the suspect has not been confirmed and will be released after the Jefferson County Coroner's Office has positively identified him and notified his relatives.

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Brandon-Besson-identified-in-officer-injury,212547

Belmar Hyatt celebrates opening - #lakewoodnews

The Hyatt House in Belmar held its official grand opening on April 20, and community leaders and Belmar supporters turned out for the event. "We couldn't be prouder to have this hotel here," said Ward 1 Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem Ramey Johnson. Mark Falcone, CEO and founder of Continuum Partners development, spoke at the event as well. He said the hotel was only made possible by being in Belmar.

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Belmar-Hyatt-celebrates-opening,212546

Earth Day, the Lakewood way - #lakewoodnews

Lakewood celebrated Earth Day with a variety of events on April 22 and 23 at different locations throughout the city. The events highlighted the importance of volunteers in cleaning up the community, and events at Green Mountain High School and Bear Lake Park showed the impact of partnerships in protecting the environment.

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Earth-Day-the-Lakewood-way,212520

Knotty Girls, good times - #lakewoodnews

When 3 p.m. rolls around on Wednesdays at Atria Park of Applewood Senior Living, it's time for the Knotty Girls to get to work.

For more than a year around a dozen or so Atria residents gather in one of the home's meeting places and chat as they tie fleece blankets for patients at Children's Hospital.

"These blankets go to children who really need them," said resident Peggie Notarianni. "These blankets are especially for them, and they own them, so they can do whatever they want with them. They can drag them through the mud if they want to."

The Knotty Girls, so named by Peggy Windecker, was started as a for residents to have a social way to give back to the community, according to Pete Watson, engage life director at Atria. Participants range in age from 80 to 96-years-old, and come from a variety of backgrounds, but all have common interests --; staying engaged and helping others.

"In early March we took 136 blankets to Children's Hospital to donate them in person," Watson said. "It really hits home when you hear firsthand the stories about helping kids in times of trouble."

The blankets are made by taking two separate fleece blankets and Watson and his assistant cut all the edges into strips. They then bring the blankets to the Knotty Girls, who tie the blankets together. Designs completely vary, from floral and bright colors for girls to sports for boys.

As the participants work, they tell stories from their past, comment on the blanket designs, and just enjoy each other's company.

"My favorite part is just getting together with everyone," said Edith Domenico.

The ladies work for about an hour or so during their time together, and usually get around three or four blankets finished. And what keeps them going is thinking about where the blankets will be going.

"I just picture the little kids holding them," said Wilma Land. "I picture them playing with the knots we tied before going to sleep."

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.comhttp://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Knotty-Girls-good-times,212521?branding=15

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

City begins fund drive

from Valley Courier - News http://www.alamosanews.com/V2_news_articles.php

Perez arrested for murder

from Valley Courier - News http://www.alamosanews.com/V2_news_articles.php

Bills on life sentences for juveniles moving through Legislature - #lakewoodnews

For Sen. Cheri Jahn, the motivation is clear: To bring Colorado in line with a U.S. Supreme Court decision that makes it unconstitutional to sentence juveniles to life without parole and to allow for judicial discretion relating to circumstances behind the behavior of juveniles accused of murder.

But for First Judicial District Attorney Pete Weir and his fellow district attorneys, the two Senate bills, SB 180 and SB 181, proposed by Jahn, D-Wheat Ridge, and Sen. Laura Woods, R-Arvada, undercut the power of the courts and give short shrift to victims.

"It's frustrating when legislation is being proposed that dismisses what victims go through," Weir said. "It's incumbent upon district attorneys to speak up and say this is what our communities want."

SB 180 concerns a step-down program for juveniles who have been prosecuted as adults that would teach them life skills and reintegration into the community. The bill would allow some offenders to go through this program and then be considered for early parole.

SB 181 would stop life without parole sentences for juveniles. Only inmates who were convicted of felony murder or who were complicit in the murder may qualify for a sentence of 30 to 50 years.

The Senate Judiciary Committee passed both bills on a 3-2 vote on April 20. The package of the two bills goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee due to a fiscal note on SB 180.

"Because of strict state laws, judges had no discretion to consider things like circumstances when they were handing down these sentences," Jahn said. "It's not a matter of if these are awful crimes or not --; they are --; or if these individuals should be punished --; they should. It's about when does punishment go too far?"

Amendments were added to SB 181saying judges must consider the inmate's age at the time of the crime, and whether or not he or she can be rehabilitated. The impact of crime on the victims also must be considered. Another amendment to SB 180 makes offenders who were convicted of a sex crime ineligible for resentencing consideration.

Colorado has 48 juveniles who have been given life sentences without parole.

Weir and his colleagues strongly oppose the bills, saying they put the suffering of offenders over that of victims.

"District attorneys were not consulted during the creation of this legislation," Weir said. "I believe they give inordinate benefits to murders."

Life-without-parole sentences for juveniles have been an issue of concern for Jahn since 2003. She said she was encouraged by the 2012 U.S. Supreme Court case of Miller v. Alabama, which said sentencing juveniles to life without parole was unconstitutional.

This year, theU.S. Supreme Court determined the unconstitutionality to be retroactive, which means the 48 juveniles in Colorado are eligible to have their cases reviewed. But Colorado has no process in place to do so.

Colorado eliminated life sentences for juveniles in 2006, and instead allows juveniles to be eligible for parole after serving 40 years.

"We are fine with the situation as is, but this bill (181) could mean offenders get off sooner than 40 years because of time earned," Weir said. "These individuals are some of the worst of the worst and have committed heinous, cruel, vicious murders."

For Jahn, besides bringing the state in line with the Supreme Court ruling, SB 181 allows judges to consider circumstances behind a juvenile's behavior. This might include developmental maturity, upbringing and involvement in the crime.

"I agree that some of these offenders should never see the light of day again, but we have a moral obligation to have the full picture," she said. "There are some who have gotten college degrees and been stellar inmates, even though they have no hope of parole. This bill doesn't say they would receive parole, but that they deserve a second look."

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Bills-on-life-sentences-for-juveniles-moving-through-Legislature,212304

Jeffco ethics celebrated from tile to tail - #lakewoodnews

When the name of his business was announced, president Steve Barrow urged his employees from Cody Flooring & Tile to stand up and savor the applause.

"What a humbling experience," said Barrow of the award received for conducting business in an ethical manner.

The Rotary Club of Golden and the Golden and West Chambers of Commerce honored Cody Flooring & Tile and the nonprofit Foothills Animal Shelter with its prestigious Ethics in Business awards at its April 22 luncheon. The 11th annual awards were held at Sheraton Denver West Hotel in Lakewood.

There's always a lot of press about the negative news, said Brian Richy, vice president of the Rotary Club of Golden. "We don't hear about the good things."

Promoting the businesses and organizations that "do the right thing day in and day out" is a way to be a reminder to all of us, he said.

"We continue to feel promoting everything that is good in our business community is worthwhile," Richy said.

The community submitted nominations through February. Colorado School of Mines ethics students judged and selected the 2016 winners.

"This is really a big honor for us," said Jennifer Strickland, Foothills Animal Shelter's executive director. "We certainly take our mission very seriously."

The shelter helps 9,500 hundred animals each year. Last year, 94 percent of them were saved, she said.

"We feel obligated to serve the animals --; and the people who love them --; in the best way possible," Strickland said.

Barrow started Cody Flooring & Tile out of his garage in 1996. Still located in Golden, most of the work the company does is commercial projects such as medical centers, grocery stores, schools, department stores and restaurants. However, the company also works on some home projects.

The company prides itself on giving back to the community. It did work at Columbine High School after the April 20, 1999, school shooting tragedy, the local VFW in Golden and the Chanda Plan Foundation, which strives to improve the quality of life for people with physical disabilities.

"We feel that contributing materials and labor, versus donating money, is something we can participate in," Barrow said in the acceptance video shown at the luncheon. "And it's amazing that actually gives back to each one of us."

The installers are the face of the company, Barrow said. "We would not have grown to where we're at without the great installers. Every single one of them shares that value and that pride in what they do."

Keynote speaker was Dr. Douglas Jackson, president/CEO of Project C.U.R.E., a nonprofit organization that provides donated medical supplies and equipment to developing countries around the world.

He spoke about the relationship between a passionate purpose and ethics, for which he received a standing ovation.

"To be truly happy," Jackson said, are "those who seek and find ways to help other people."

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Jeffco-ethics-celebrated-from-tile-to-tail,212267

Arvada school has lead scare - #lakewoodnews

Three hundred and fifteen children are back at school after a faucet tested positive for elevated levels of lead at Arvada's Jeffco Head Start building. After staff at the Head Start building, at 5150 Allison St., noticed discoloration in the water from a non-classroom faucet, they took a water sample and sent it to the county health department for testing. The results came back on April 13, showing elevated levels of lead. As a precaution, Jefferson County, which runs the program for children ages 3 to 5, closed the school for the remainder of the week while additional testing was done.The program resumed on April 18, and students and staff have been given bottles of water for drinking, cooking and washing."I immediately reached out to my team and others to determine next steps - knowing that the most important thing for me was the safety of the children and my staff," said Gayle Perryman, executive director of Jeffco Head Start.Perryman and her staff say they hurried to contact the children's parents."We felt it was vitally important that our families were given all the information we knew too, and hear it from us first," Perryman said.Water from that first faucet has now tested under the federal limit,according to county tests. But Arvada and thecountyconducted dozens of additional tests throughout the school and found three additional sites with elevated lead levels in non-teaching areas. The Environmental Protection Agency warns the public there is no known safe level for lead, but has established an "action level," mandating action be taken if water samples indicate more than 15 parts per billion of lead. High sample tests trigger requirements for officials to tell communities when levels are unsafe and additional testing is needed. The EPA guidelines say further changes to piping or water quality might also be needed.The initial faucet test at the Head Start program found lead at 180 parts per billion. The secondary water tests found elevated lead levels in an office room drinking fountain (34.5 ppb), a conference room (186 ppb) and a boiler room (132 ppb water supply and 1,710 ppb off an expansion tank). The areas not frequented by children."With the swift additional testing ... we were able to quickly determine that everywhere in the building where children would drink the water, that water was and is safe," Perryman said.After the school tested positive for elevated levels, Arvada performed tests at pipelines at six neighboring schools -- Lawrence Elementary, Arvada K8, Secrest, Jefferson County Head Start, Two Roads Charter School and Foster Elementary. All tests showed lead levels under the EPA threshold. "Arvada's water is safe," Arvada spokeswoman Maria Vanderkolk said last week. "There is no lead in the main water lines." According to the city's water utility department, Arvada works to maintain pH levels in its water supply so that it won't become corrosive, minimizing the amount of lead from pipes and connections that could contaminate the water supply.At this time, neither the City of Arvada nor Jefferson County know the exact source of the lead. Additional tests have been ordered to identify the source. The city said older buildings may be at a higher risk for lead because of older pipes and pipe solder.No remediation plan has been determined yet for the Allison Street building, county spokeswoman Kate McIntire said. "We continue to work with the City of Arvada to determine the source of the contamination and extent of the problem."

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.comhttp://arvadapress.com/stories/Arvada-school-has-lead-scare,212268?branding=15

Talented twins are wonders in water - #lakewoodnews

Laurel and Griffin Eiber are in a swimming pool most of the year, except maybe for a few trips to the ski slopes.The twins are juniors at Arapahoe High School and are among the state's top swimmers.But which twin is the better swimmer?"Griffin is faster," Laurel said. "He's a boy. But when you compare the competition, we're the same."Griffin agreed and so does Mike Richmond, the Arapahoe boys and girls swimming coach.Laurel finished third in this winter's 5A state championships in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles. She broke the Centennial League 50-yard freestyle record held by Olympian Amy Van Dyken-Rouen of Cherry Creek and is the school record holder in the 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly and is part of Arapahoe's record 200 medley and 400 free relay teams.Griffin, the Warriors' record holder in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle events, has the state's best times this spring of 21.12 seconds in the 50 free and 46.02 in the 100 freestyle. At last spring's state meet, he was second in the 200 free and sixth in the 100."Laurel and Griffin are similar in many ways athletically," Richmond said. "Both are extraordinarily talented, similarly dedicated and committed student-athletes."From a lighter perspective, Griffin's weakness is getting in the water to warm up, while Laurel has been averse to including vegetables in her diet."It's good to know I'm not the only person who dislikes vegetables.McCaffrey comment a winnerValor Christian graduate Christian McCaffrey, last season's Heisman Trophy runner-up as a Stanford sophomore running back, was honored at the April 19 Colorado Sports Hall of Fame banquet as the Amateur Athlete of the Year.And he came up with one of the best responses of those who were honored."It's nice to put on a suit and tie and actually win an award," he said.64-team basketball tournament rejectedThe Colorado High School Activities Association's Legislative Council has spoken again.Besides passing a new bylaw to stiffen the dishonest practices and outlining penalties in the transfer processes for false and incorrect information during its session April 21, the council also rejected a proposed 64-team Class 5A and 4A basketball tournament.Both 5A and 4A will have 48-team brackets for the state tournament. It will be the same number of qualifiers for 5A but an increase from 32 teams for the 4A field.For Ponderosa, a 4A team playing basketball in the 5A Continental League, the Mustangs were in favor of the expanded 4A tournament bracket."We were in favor of either the 64 or 48, but what we didn't want is to have it remain at 32," said Ponderosa Athletic Director Tim Ottmann. "We're in a unique situation being in the Continental League and trying to qualify out of that league. We don't get a lot of wins and it hurts us to qualify for the 4A tournament. This will give us a lot better opportunity."Pugh won't play for VistaMallory Pugh, a senior at Mountain Vista and a member of the U.S. women's soccer team, confirmed that she will not play for the Golden Eagles this spring because of Team USA commitments.In January, the 17-year-old became the youngest female player to compete for the U.S. national team during an Olympic-qualifying tournament. She was a member of the 20-player U.S. team but the roster needs to be trimmed to 18 for the upcoming Rio Olympic Games.Team USA will play Japan in a pre-Olympic match June 2 at Dick's Sporting Goods Stadium in Commerce City. That game is sold out.New playing surfaces in Highlands RanchNew synthetic turf will be installed at Shea Stadium and ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch this summer."We have all our turf fields on a cycle," said Douglas County School District Athletic Director Derek Chaney. "It's Shea's turn to get that done, along with ThunderRidge. Those are the two capital projects we have this summer. Shea is definitely due for new turf."It will cost $676,000 to have Sprinturf LLC install the artificial turf on both fields, and the Highlands Ranch Metro District will assist the school district with the expense."We're sharing the cost of the turf," Chaney said. "We have an (intergovernmental agreement). We use it 60 percent of the time and they use it 40 percent of the time. So we're paying 60 percent and they are paying 40 percent."Jim Benton is a sports writer for Colorado Community Media. He has been covering sports in the Denver area since 1968. He can be reached at jbenton@coloradocommunitymedia.com or at 303-566-4083.

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.comhttp://douglascountynewspress.net/stories/Talented-twins-are-wonders-in-water,212218?branding=15

Remains positively identified as Rust

from Valley Courier - News http://www.alamosanews.com/V2_news_articles.php

Well rules affect everyone

from Valley Courier - News http://www.alamosanews.com/V2_news_articles.php

Monday, April 25, 2016

HistoriCorps volunteers complete a project at Golden's Boettcher Mansion - #lakewoodnews

Participating on a volunteer project pleases Bobby Joe Evans, who lives in a small town called Fruita on the Western Slope. Preston Niesen of Lakewood is interested in woodworking. And Paul Swanson of Evergreen likes working with his hands.All of them, as well as the other HistoriCorps volunteers, believe the preservation of historic structures is important."It's critical that we save the craftsmanship of those who came before us," said Sue Landreth, a resident of Scottsdale, Arizona.HistoriCorps is a nonprofit organization based in Denver that coordinates with forest services and organizes volunteers to work on historic structures across the U.S.This group of five volunteers, plus a crew leader and project manager, gathered at Boettcher Mansion on Lookout Mountain in Golden April 19-22 to rebuild an arbor.Although the arbor, which was deteriorating, is about 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide, "it's a pretty small project for us," crew leader Jeremy Spates said.A typical project consists of week-long sessions in which the volunteers camp on site. At Boettcher Mansion, volunteers drove in each of the 4 days.Landreth traveled through the recent snowstorm to work at the mansion."It was 80 (degrees) when I left Scottsdale," she said. "It was a bit of a change."But she didn't mind.Before retiring in August, she started researching "things to do" and found HistoriCorps on Facebook. Boettcher Mansion is her first project. The organization intrigued her so much she recruited her daughter, Brandi, who will be driving in from Chicago, to join her for the next project at Rourke Ranch in the Comanche National Grasslands near La Junta in southeastern Colorado.Evans volunteered on four projects last year. Boettcher Mansion was his first this year. He is excited to go to Northern California in June for a three-week project in Sierra City.Niesen has been doing carpentry work for about 20 years -- everything from roofs to furniture."Preserving history is important for our grandchildren," he said.Swanson agreed, but added that meeting and learning from other volunteers is a big part of the fun."It's wonderful to take people who have never handled a saw or other type of tool, and show them that they can do it," said Bob Fulton, the project supervisor. Fulton, now a resident of Westcliffe, a small town at the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountains in southern Colorado, used to live on Lookout Mountain. So the Boettcher Mansion project was especially important to him.Susan Mickey has only lived in Lakewood for seven months. She lived in Dillon for seven years, but returned to her hometown in Massachusetts for awhile before coming back."But now I'm here for good," she said. "Colorado has so much beauty."Mickey found HistoriCorps through research on the Internet before returning to Colorado. She couldn't wait to start a project."I've seen places get lost -- torn down -- and I've seen them get saved," she said. "Saved is much better."

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/HistoriCorps-volunteers-complete-a-project-at-Goldens-Boettcher-Mansion,212193

By campfire light - #lakewoodnews

A few years ago, Jeff Fujiki, 34, was introduced to a 26-foot recreational vehicle -- it was almost love at first sight."I wouldn't be into camping without my wife's grandparents," he said of the couple who sold him his RV. "But I have to say, buying a camper was the best thing I ever did."Camping is nature's way of telling people to relax, recharge their batteries and forget about the complexity of the world for a while.And residents and travelers from across the world trek to the Front Range and the state's national forests to backpack, pitch a tent or park an RV up against the scenic rivers, creeks and canyons of the Rocky Mountains."It's a magical world, like 'Lord of the Rings' style -- scorned earth that's black and rocky, but once you get into it, it's green, lush and beautiful," said Jesse Greaves Smith, adventure executive with Golden's Colorado Adventure Point, an education facility owned by the Boy Scouts of America Denver Area Council.So sit back and roast a marshmallow over the fire.Dispersed car campingThis form of camping, often referred to as tent camping, is where one drives to a campsite, campground or national forest to camp. In Colorado, national forests and campgrounds are popular for this style of camping, said Stephanie Fritz, an Arvada mom and avid camper.For her and her family of five, taking a two- to three-night trip into the mountains is their escape. Each summer, they take several camping trips to various spots around the state, such as Estes Park, Nederland, Rocky Mountain National Park, and the Idaho Springs and Fairplay areas."We like to sort of not be around people, that feeling of being in nowhere," Fritz said. "Everybody has a part -- there's packing, unpacking, learning how to pop up a tent, cooking and cleaning ... When you're out in a national forest it's a different skill set."For those starting out, she advises taking time to plan each trip: Pick out an ideal location as well as a backup option, research fire restrictions and drought concerns, make sure you have necessary equipment and clothing for all types of weather, and plan out meals."It's choosing to be homeless for a weekend," Fritz said, laughing. "It simplifies things because you don't have all the stuff around you."BackpackingOthers, like Greaves Smith, love to backpack into a wilderness area to camp. Taking with them only necessary supplies, shelter, clothing and food, this style of camping offers adventurers a place to be one with the nature around you."I like that it's simple, less stuff to worry about," he said. "Anything that comes up on the trip you use exactly what you have with you to solve it. And there's a beautiful simplicity in all of it."For him, camping provides advantages such as the exposure to nature and an increased awareness for the world. His favorite camping spots in Colorado are along Scott Gomer Creek and Lost Creek, which open from a forest into a scenic valley."Camping is a way to get to know yourself by getting to know nature -- it's why it helps kids be calmer and better at school when you don't have the distractions of life," said Greaves Smith, who also hosts Boy Scouts camping trips.For this style, planning is its own skill set, he said. Campers should become familiar with the weather and plants around the area, know how to set up a safe campsite, understand the difference between camping in wet and dry seasons, and ensure they leave no trace behind."It you're going to hike in the woods, then take care of the environment," he said. "For me, it's more meaningful if you are out there taking care of the world than just hiking in the woods lost, essentially."RV camping"We get to take our home with us," said Fujiki, an Arvada resident who likes to RV camp with his wife around the country.RV camping is popular with those who enjoy the comforts of home and the beauty of nature. Vehicles range in size and amenities, allowing campers to find one that fits their lifestyle and needs."We still have our bedroom, our hot shower, a kitchen, and that allows us to save a lot of money," he said. "It allows us to get out and see the parks, go on weekend trips to do it all and be relatively affordable."Driving the 26-foot RV to different spots in California, Arizona, Nebraska and his favorite, Colorado, and events such as the motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, is one of his favorite and most affordable things to do. Specifically, the family camps for a week every summer at Pueblo Reservoir.Being organized and using a little common sense is the best approach to ensuring a great trip, he said.And in Colorado, he said, there's nothing better to do."There is so much to do in Colorado," Fujiki said. "There are so many great places to camp whether it's in an RV or in a tent. There is so much to see ... I think everyone should really just get out and explore to see what Colorado has to offer."

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.comhttp://arvadapress.com/stories/By-campfire-light,212175?branding=15

Eagles girls finish 20th in track meet - #lakewoodnews

Members of the Faith Christian girls track team defied the stiff competition as they finished 20th in the field of 40 teams at the Liberty Bell Invitational Track meet.

Many members of the boys team had personal best performances but none finished high enough in an event to earn team points.

"A lot of kids out here today brag about their kids and I am bragging about our kids too," Eagles Coach Mike Black said as he timed one of the relay teams. "These are special, special kids. They are as much fun to coach and be around as any coach could wish to have on a team."

Lutheran was among about 40 teams, including a couple teams from Wyoming that entered the Liberty Bell two-day meet.

Competition began April 23. On that day, preliminary races to narrow the field in many track events were held to determine the top eight athletes who advance to the next day's finals.

Preliminary races were necessary in events like the 100-meter dash that drew almost 70 entries.

While the races were going on, finals were held in a number of the field events finals going on.

The finals for the track events and the finals for remainder of the field events were held on April 23.

In most track event, the top eight performers advance to the finals.

Team points are earned in the finals.

The winner of an event earns 10 team points and the eighth place finisher earns one team point.

However, several timed final races were held, including some of the relays. The top finishers were the individuals or relay teams posting the event's best times.

The Eagles are a small team with 17 girls and 23 boys on the roster, the coach said.

"We try to cover all events so many of our athletes compete in both track and field events," he said. "In girls competition, our girls are ranked 1, 2 and 3 in Class 3A in both the long and the triple jump. Those same athletes help make up our entries in sprints, hurdles and relays."

The best Eagle performance came in the girls 300-meter hurdles as Sarah Yokum finished second.

In the triple jump Sohpia Baldwin finished fifth and teammate Jessica Blahnik finished sixth.

The two athletes joined forces with Brook Sorenson and Payton Walter for the Eagles 4X 200-meter relay team that finished 15th.

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.comhttp://arvadapress.com/stories/Eagles-girls-finish-20th-in-track-meet,212168?branding=15

Clarke's album of the week - #lakewoodnews

: Sturgill Simpson's "A Sailor's Guide to Earth," released on Atlantic records.

: Country is too small a genre to contain Simpson, and on his third album be breaks free to add soul and funk layers to that astounding voice. The album is structured as a letter to his son, and features foot-stomping horn lines and some of Simpson's warmest lyrics. There's no telling where he'll sail to next.

"In Bloom"

There will be nights that go on forever

Like you're long-lost at sea

Never to be found

Just know in your heart

That we're always together

- from "All Around You"

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.comhttp://goldentranscript.net/stories/Clarkes-album-of-the-week,212172?branding=15