Citizen Centennial 5-9-13
Centennial
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May 10, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourcentennialnews.com
City pot rules taking shape Year-long moratorium, ban on shops among early decisions By Deborah Grigsby
dgrigsby@ourcoloradonews.com In an effort to slow the creep of commercial pot within Centennial, city officials took a stab at shaping how it wants to deal with the budding new industry created by Colorado’s controversial Amendment 64. On May 6, Ordinance 2013-O-10 passed unanimously, enacting a year-long, citywide moratorium on commercial marijuana cultivation facilities. The new ordinance also regulates the
manner in which marijuana may be grown for personal use, prohibits the use of marijuana on city-owned or city-leased property, and prohibits marijuana enterprises from operating within the city. The moratorium will take effect Sept. 30 and, according to City Attorney Robert Widner, would only suspend the application and processing of business permits. However, council raised concerns that some businesses, which might not require a permit to locate within the city, may push the issue by saying the moratorium does not apply to them. “An example would be this new wave of vending machines that sells marijuana,� he said.
“They advocate that they don’t need a city permit since the city does not regulate the location of vending machines.� Widner said in response to that, the city added a catch-all phrase to the ordinance that states any business that does not require a permit will be prohibited. “We did that just as a place-holder,� explained Widner. Motivation for the moratorium stems from the city’s concerns that unclear issues with the state’s regulatory scheme could dump responsibility into the lap of local municipalities. Historically councilmembers, as well as Mayor Cathy Noon herself, have questioned the outright ban, favoring a lengthy
moratorium and adopting a wait-and-see approach. The 12-month moratorium buys the city time to research and formalize any plans it might have to put the issue on the ballot in 2014. Widner said the city is ahead of the curve with a strong existing medical marijuana ordinance, upon which the recreational use ordinance is directly modeled. Amendment 64 permits a locality, such as Centennial, to prohibit the operation of marijuana growing facilities, marijuana product manufacturing facilities, marijuana testing facilities or retail marijuana stores through the enactment of an ordinance.
Election overhaul advances
Republicans incensed over proposed changes By By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com
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Getting a feel for the wheel Students discover driving not just visual experience By Deborah Grigsby
dgrigsby@ourcoloradonews.com For most American teenagers, driving a car has become a rite of passage, but for Andre Jackson that passage almost didn’t happen. That’s because Jackson is legally blind. But thanks to a partnership with MasterDrive in Englewood, Jackson and 30 of his classmates at the Colorado Center for the Blind in Littleton got a chance to test their driving skills on May 2 in a customized driving class. Before getting behind the wheel, students were required to attend an hour-long class, familiarizing them with the functions of the car, the course and general safety. “What we do is, essentially, give these kids an experience they may otherwise never get,� said Spencer Pace, a driving instructor with the nationally franchised driving school. “And that’s the chance to drive a real car.� Under the careful eye of trained driving instructors, the low-vision and blind students were verbally coached through a series of driving obstacles, including a slalom course and skid recovery. “Oh man, this is great,� Jackson said with a big toothy grin.
4UVEFOUT GSPN UIF $PMPSBEP $FOUFS GPS UIF #MJOE NBEF UIFJS XBZ UISPVHI PCTUBDMFT EVSJOH B .BZ DMBTT BU UIF $FOUFOOJBM GBDJMJUZ PG .BTUFS%SJWF B OBUJPOBMMZ GSBODIJTFE ESJWJOH TDIPPM .PSF UIBO TUVEFOUT UPPL QBSU JO UIF BOOVBM FWFOU B QBSUOFSTIJQ CFUXFFO .BTUFS%SJWF BOE UIF -JUUMFUPO CBTFE DFOUFS “Now I can go pick up my date.� Pace explained that while the students were unable to see, they were very much able to feel subtle changes in the car’s movement. “For example, they pick up on things like how the car’s weight shifts from side to side during the slalom course,� he said. “So we build their confidence with a series of basic skills before taking them out to the skid pad.� The vehicles, facility and coaching staff were provided by MasterDrive. There was
no cost to CCB. “At the Colorado Center for the Blind, our students participate in a wide variety of activities,� said Brent Batron, director of youth programs. “We push our students so they’ll believe they can work and live full lives.� “Driving is something that most of us in our society take for granted,� said Mark Stolberg, Master Drive’s senior vice president of training. “Driving is not only a visual experience, as the blind drivers will discover.�
A Democrat-sponsored overhaul to how elections are conducted in Colorado passed the Senate on May 2, much to the chagrin of incensed Republicans who uniformly object to the effort. House Bill 1303 — the “Voter Access and Modernized Elections Act� — would make substantial changes to the state’s voting and registration process, primarily by allowing residents the ability to register to vote all the way up through Election Day. Also, every registered voter would receive a ballot in the mail. That includes socalled “inactive voters� — those who currently do not receive mail ballots because they did not vote in the Report previous election. The bill essentially does away with polling precincts as we know them, and instead sets up “polling centers� where any eligible voter can show up to cast a ballot. Democrats believe the bill modernizes elections and allows for greater involvement in the voting process. “At the end of the day, all we will find is that more people who are registered to vote will do so,� said Senate Majority Leader Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora. Democrats are touting this as a bipartisan piece of legislation, because the vast majority of county clerks in the state support the measure, including those who are Republican. But Republicans senators were apoplectic over the bill, which they dubbed the “Voter Fraud Act.� They argue that allowing same-day voter registration opens the door to more cheats casting ballots. “I have not talked to one clerk and recorder, except for maybe two, who think that same-day voter registration is a good thing, and that we should be allowing this huge open door for voter fraud to come to the state,� said Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch.
Capitol
Election continues on Page 12
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2-Color
2 Centennial Citizen
May 10, 2013
‘Undroppable’ creator drops by ACC Pollock shining light on education By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@ourcoloradonews.com Filmmaker Jason Pollock helped honor Arapahoe Community College’s standout students by showing them the stories of kids who are struggling to find the same success. “I think society needs to redefine what heroes are, and it’s not just rappers and athletes. I think it’s these kids,” he told the audience before showing them his documentary “Undroppable,” which earned him the ACC Foundation’s Promoting the Power of Education Award. He was the keynote speaker at the foundation’s annual scholarship luncheon on May 1, held to honor the
54 recipients. Pollock set out to highlight the importance of supporting education at all costs by letting people see into the world of the kids who need it. The film features highschoolers from across the country just simply talking, describing their lives, their heartaches, their goals, their hopes. “I want better for my daughter, so I push myself.” “Mom, why do I have to go to school if you didn’t finish?” “You can’t raise a child being a dropout.” Pollock is proud to present kids’ lives in their own words, in an unbiased and nonpartisan way. “Let’s pull on people’s heartstrings and give them a hug, not point fingers at them and slap them in the face,” he told the audience, which included community leaders, students and staff.
County presents 24 youth awards Arapahoe honors teens who overcame challenges By Tom Munds
tmunds@ourcoloradonews.com Arapahoe County commissioners honored 24 young men and women 13 to 19 years old who live or attend school in Arapahoe County and who have overcome personal obstacles to serve their family, school and community. This year’s event was held April 29 at in the Mayo Aviation hangar at Centennial Airport. Carol Dosmann, coordinator for the event, said communities throughout Arapahoe County present awards to winners in their community and nominate award winners as candidates for the county award. “This year, there were 24 nominees, all met the county’s criteria and the decision was to honor them all,” Dosmann said. “Each winner received a certificate, a blue marble star and a pen and pencil set.” She said traditionally, the county awards one $500 scholarship from the Colorado Community College System that can be used at any of the state’s community colleges. This year, Commissioner Nancy Jackson
spearheaded an effort to provide scholarships. The result was presentation of five additional scholarships, each with a value of $1,000. The $500 scholarship is to be used for the fall 2013 semester and was awarded to Omar Soto Arvizo, who attends Cherokee Trail High School in Aurora. The Arapahoe County Foundation provided five $1,000 scholarships that can be used at the college of choice for the 20132014 year. The scholarships were presented to: Aurora Central High School senior Vadessa Camack, Cherokee Trail High School senior Caitlyn Hildebrand, Heritage High School senior Tanner Hines-Hatcher, Options Pathway Alternative senior Cindy Lugo of Littleton and Colorado’s Finest Alternative High School senior Maja Sehic. The program began in 1986. For several years, the YMCA organized and took the lead for the program and the awards. In 1999, nine counties joined together to establish the Metro Mayors Commissioners Youth Association as an independent organization. The final association awards event was in 2010. Since then, Arapahoe and several other counties have continued programs to honor the achievements of special young men and women.
He praised community colleges like ACC, saying they’re vital in saving some of these kids. He noted that some freshmen aren’t prepared for college by their public-school system, so two-year colleges can help them get ready to pursue further education. “You guys are soldiers at the front of a war zone that people don’t even want to admit exists,” he said. Pollock has worked with familiar names like Ashton Kutcher, Michael Moore, Harpo Productions and Rock the Vote, and PC Magazine calls him one of the top 10 people to follow on Twitter. He first became interested in education while filming “The Youngest Candidate,” in which he chronicled the lives of four teens who were running for office. He heard things from kids along that way that scared him — apathy and hopelessness, in particular.
SO MUCH INSIDE THE CITIZEN THIS WEEK Kid stuff. An event similar to “speed dating” helped parents and baby sitters get to know each other at Nourish Family Center in Centennial. Page 5
Change wanted. An Arapahoe County couple decided not to enter a civil union, preferring to wait for full marriage equality. Page 6
Tragic loss. A local Marine was killed in Afghanistan, and the circumstances of his death are still under investigation. Page 11
Staying busy. Heritage High School senior Logan Torres is an athlete with many other interests and activities. Page 24
CORRECTION A story about the Wings of Hope charity misspelled the names of fundraiser speaker
He decided to go into the schools, sit down with a kid and a camera and just listen. Then he gave them a forum to be heard on social media, where he can continually update “Undroppable” with new voices and faces. Today he has more than 116,000 followers on Facebook, and more than 101,000 on Twitter. He says “Undroppable” is his way of not just helping education, but the economy as well. By featuring teens who have succeeded against all odds, he hopes to help others realize they can be productive members of society with some hard work and determination. Pollock said things like bullying and suicide are mitigated as kids tell their stories to each other. “The more we know about each other, the easier it is to be compassionate,” he said.
Brian Shul and former Castle Pines Mayor Maureen Shul.
Focus on area. Photographer Andy Marquez, who has opened a Littleton gallery, is staging an exhibit of local images. Page 20
Richard J. Ort, M.D.
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3-Color
Centennial Citizen 3
May 10, 2013
C City park dubbed ‘People’s Choice’ Centennial play space draws from around metro area
s, sit t lisheard ually s andBy Deborah Grigsby 0 fol-dgrigsby@ourcoloradonews.com 1,000 Centennial Center Park, the first cityf notowned and -developed public park in Cenmy astennial, has received the Denver Regional ceed-Council of Governments’ People’s Choice thersLive Work Play award. ers of The 11-acre open space was one of 10 ermi-finalists nominated for the regional award honoring those places, events and projects d sui-that support and contribute to livable comes tomunities. “The city is honored to have Cententher,nial Center Park recognized as the Live ,” heWork Play People’s Choice Award amongst the other exceptional finalists in the metro area,” said Mayor Pro Tem Stephanie Piko. “The success of Centennial’s first cityowned park has seen amazing use from people all over the metro area and truly exemplifies why Centennial is such a great place to live, work and play.” Centennial Center Park opened April 27, 2012. The city says it has seen thousands of visitors from across the Denver metro area
and hosted more than 200 private events. It also played host to the city’s Summer Olympics celebration, which honored Colorado athletes returning from the 2012 London Games. In fact, the city notes in its statement that usage of the park during its first year was so high, more than 200 additional parking spaces were required. “This place is certainly a favorite in my book,” said Andie Acree, who frequents the park with her 4-year-old son, Tyler. “The layout is great and I really like all the educational aspects; they keep us both engaged.” Many of the materials used in the park’s construction were found locally. The surface of the playground consists of a pouredin-place rubber surfacing, which is made of recycled materials that provide a safe, clean, attractive and ADA-accessible environment for children. Funding for the $5.3 million public park came from a variety of sources, including Great Outdoors Colorado; Colorado Waste Tire Program; CenCON, which is an umbrella organization of 53 homeowner organizations and civic organizations; the Centennial Rotary Club; and numerous community partners.
Children enjoy climbing on many of the interesting features located in Centennial Center Park. The Denver Regional Council of Governments has selected the 11-acre park as the winner of its People’s Choice Live Work Play award. The first park to be owned and developed by the city, Centennial Center Park was one of 10 finalists nominated for the award that honors outstanding places, events and projects that move the region’s long-range plan forward by supporting and contributing to livable communities. Photo by Deborah Grigsby
CENTENNIAL NEWS IN A HURRY Relay for Life needs volunteers
A Relay Rally, at 1 p.m. May 19 at CB & Potts at 6575 Greenwood Plaza Blvd. in Greenwood Village, aims to drum up volunteers for Relay for Life. Learn more about the Relay For Life of Centennial/ DTC and how the funds helped 565 cancer patients in Arapahoe County last year. Attendees can sign up for the June 21-22 event, which will be held at Newton Middle School, 4001 E. Arapahoe Road in Centennial. A guest speaker will discuss how the American Cancer Society is helping save more lives faster. For more information, visit www.centennialrelay.com.
Election panel has vacancies
The City of Centennial is currently accepting applications to fill openings
on its Election Commission. The Election Commission is an advisory board that assists the designated election official upon request, recommends redistricting and establishes election policies. Terms are for a three-year period. Meetings take place quarterly on the fourth Tuesday evening or on an as-needed basis at the Centennial Civic Center, 13133 E. Arapahoe Road in Centennial. Applications may be obtained online at www.centennialcolorado.com, or call 303-754-3302.
More help for county vets
Local troops returning seeking federal benefits will find more help in the Arapahoe County Veterans Service Office. The Board of County Commissioners has appointed Tim Westphal as assistant county
veterans service officer — a new role created and approved in the county’s 2013 budget. Westphal is charged with helping veterans identify and file for VA benefits such as those for service-connected disabilities, pensions, burial benefits, health care and education. Arapahoe County is home to more than 50,000 veterans, 40,000 dependents and 15,000 active military members. Veterans in need of assistance should call 303-738-8045 or visit the Veterans Service Office at 1690 W. Littleton Blvd., Suite 103, Littleton.
Hearing center opens
Sound Relief Hearing Center has opened a new office in Centennial at 15450
E. Orchard Road. The center specializes in tinnitus — ringing in the ears — and offers a full range of preventative and diagnostic hearing services. With offices in Centennial and Highlands Ranch, the Sound Relief Hearing Center is a third-generation, familyowned-and-operated audiology practice that offers a full range of diagnostic and preventative hearing care services, including tinnitus testing and treatment, hearing aid screening, evaluations, hearing aid sales and rehabilitative and preventative counseling. Dr. Julie Prutsman, who leads the practice’s audiologist team with her mother Karen Swensson, founded the center. For more information, call 720-344-7600 or visit www.YourEarDoc.com.
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4 Centennial Citizen
May 10, 2013
Chamber lauds small business leaders Awards honor service, innovation of entrepreneurs By Deborah Grigsby
dgrigsby@ourcolorado news.com Three of south metro Denver’s most innovative entrepreneurs and business leaders were honored at the 28th annual Small Business Leadership Awards ceremony, hosted by the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce. More than 300 local business and civic leaders gathered at The Comedy
Works in Greenwood Village to congratulate this year’s award recipients: Footers Catering, Abby Senior Care and Jeff Wasden, owner of PROformance Apparel. Comedian and Animal Planet emergency veterinarian Kevin Fitzgerald served as emcee for the snowy May 1 event. According to chamber President and CEO John Brackney, the program, which recognizes excellence in business, innovation and leadership, attracted a record 125 nominations this year, across three categories, compared with 70 in 2012.
Jeff Wasden, owner of PROformance Apparel, accepts the 2013 Brian Vogt Community Leader of the Year Award. Named for the 6-foot-6 former chamber president, gubernatorial cabinet member, and current CEO of Denver Botanic Gardens, the award recognizes leadership abilities, plus extraordinary contributions to the chamber and the south metro community at large.
Nominees were evaluated on achievements to include leadership and management ability, innovation, financial performance, prospects for sustained business, and community involvement. “Small business is alive and well here in the south metro area,” said Marcia McGilley, executive director of the chamber’s Small Business Development Center.
Small Business of the Year
Footers Catering was honored as the chamber’s 2013 Small Business of the Year, an award that goes to companies in business for five years or more and with five to 250 employees. The company is located at 4190 Garfield St. in Denver Footers Catering was founded 1981 by Jimmy Lambatos. Now a second-generation family business, owned and operated by Lambatos’ son and daughter-inlaw, Anthony and April Lambatos, Footers takes a fresh approach to its cuisine and to the way it does business. During the award evaluation process, Footers Catering was referred to by a member of the chamber’s staff as a Harvard-like business model, turning the customer service model not only on its clients, but on its employees as well. Footers Catering distinguishes itself with on-site field kitchens to allow staff to prepare food at the event, ensuring a restaurant-quality experience. A newly designed 13,000-square-foot space helps it execute the catering for weddings, corporate events and other large social gatherings. Each year, Footers caters 600 events and feeds more than 56,000 guests.
Footers Catering was named the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year at a gala reception held May 1 at the Comedy Works in Greenwood Village. Owners April and Anthony Lombatos, along with a few employees who were in the audience, were recognized for their innovative approach to customer service and employee engagement. Photos by Deborah Grigsby
Emerging Business of the Year
The chamber selected Abby Senior Care Inc as its emerging business winner, an award given to companies with five or more employees and in business one to four years. Located in unincorporated Arapahoe County, Abby Senior Care Inc. is an encore business venture started in 2008 by Bobbie Mecalo and David Hoppe. It provides nonmedical home-care services to seniors, those recovering from surgery and people with chronic illness. Options include hourly care and 24-hour live-in assistance that allows seniors to “age in place” on their own terms. “This really got started from our experiences with family members who are very dear,” said Hoppe, who
has faced the challenges of dementia in his own family. “I just want to thank everyone for this award.” Abby Senior Care is located at 6 Inverness Court East. It has a staff of approximately 70.
Brian Vogt Community Leader of the Year
Jeff Wasden joined six others who have received the Brian Vogt Community Leader of the Year Award, named for the 6-foot-6 former chamber president, gubernatorial cabinet member, and current CEO of the Denver Botanic Gardens, whose enthusiasm for small business remains a chamber staple today. Wasden’s nomination package describes him as a diverse leader, making change at every level — as a
volunteer, a board member, and a person who influences public policy. He is a co-owner of PROformance Apparel, 6905 S. Broadway in Littleton. PROformance Apparel provides apparel and uniforms for schools, government and private business. Those eligible for the award include owners or employees of a business, as well as nonprofit and government agencies. Those honored with the Brian Vogt Award are selected on their leadership abilities and their extraordinary contributions to the chamber and the south metro community at large. “Thank you, this award really, really means a lot,” Wasden said. “Oh by the way, I’m going to Disneyland!”
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Centennial Citizen 5
May 10, 2013
Sitter mixer is ultimate play date Prospective parents, caretakers meet at ‘speed-dating’ event
Hickenlooper requested action in wake of Aurora shootings
By Deborah Grigsby
dgrigsby@ourcoloradonews.com What’s the best way to interview a bunch of baby sitters in less than an hour? At a baby sitter speed-dating event, of course. The May 4 event, a collaboration between Nourish Family Center in Centennial and UrbanSitter. com, gathered sitters and parents, each looking to interview the other for a possible job match. Based on the popular “speeddating” platform for singles, prospective baby sitters and parents looking for child care meet and get to know each other in a three-minute informal setting. “This event is a great way for parents to come in, meet a lot of different sitters and really build a pool of resources,” said Nourish owner Niki Cobb. “After attending a baby sitter-parent event, parents come away with a full list of sitters that they can call on anytime, and baby sitters leave with several new prospective families to work for.” There’s no obligation to hire a particular sitter. The sitters were selected from UrbanSitter.com, an online connection point where parents can browse, check availability, background information and even post
Mental health bill on way to governor By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com
Reagan Kempton of Littleton chats with one of eight baby sitters at special baby sitter “speeddating” event hosted by Nourish Family Center in Centennial. Prospective parents spent three minutes with each sitter in what amounts to a mini job interview. Photo by Deborah Grigsby
reviews of sitters they’ve used. “You can even book and pay for the sitter online,” said parent Shauna Petersen, who has used the service. “Also, what’s great is you can log in through Facebook and can see which of your friends already know the sitters you might be thinking about hiring.” Although parents can view each baby sitter’s basic information via online profiles on Urban Sitter’s website, many parents don’t feel comfortable hiring someone until they’ve met in person. Petersen said the site, paired with the speed-dating event, is in
itself a match and often can boost a parent’s confidence level when hiring a sitter. Professional sitter Gabby Bonner likes the concept of speed-dating with potential clients because she gets a chance to evaluate the match prior to showing up at the client’s door. Cobb said the center plans on hosting future sitter mixers on a monthly basis. The cost is $10 per family and the events fill up quickly. For more information or to register, call 303741-2550 or visit www.nourishfamilycenter.com.
HAVE A STORY IDEA? Email your ideas to Centennial Community Editor Deborah Grigsby at dgrigsby@ourcoloradonews.com or call her at 303-566-4109.
720.536.0096
A bill that will pump nearly $20 million into the creation of a statewide mental health crisis response system is on its way to the desk of Gov. John Hickenlooper. Senate Bill 266, which was a major funding priority for Hi c k e n l o o p e r this legislative session, passed the House on May 6, followNewell ing a bipartisan vote of 44-21. It had already cleared the Senate. Sen. Linda Newell, D-Littleton, called the bill “historic legislation.” “When it comes to mental health funding in Colorado, we have never funded it appropriately,” Newell said during a recent Senate debate. “I honestly believe this bill will save lives.” The bill creates a 24-hour mental health hotline system and sets up five walk-in crisis service centers around the state. Mobile and residential crisis services also would be available under the bill. The legislation also creates
a public information campaign to raise awareness of mental health services and needs. The bill directs the Department of Human Services to set up a request-for-proposal process that will lead to a coordinated mental health crisis system. The bill was the result of a call by Hickenlooper in December to revamp the state’s mental health system, an effort by the governor that was sparked by last year’s Aurora theater shootings. Bill sponsors say the legislation finally allows the state to pump money back into an underfunded mental health system, which took a big hit during the 2002 recession, said Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp, D-Arvada, a bill sponsor. “We have never been able to bring funding back up to the 2002 level,” Kraft-Tharp said. “That’s why making mental health a priority to redesign and strengthen our system is the right thing to do.” Although the bill received bipartisan support in both legislative chambers, many Republicans opposed the effort. Sen. Kevin Lundberg, RBerthoud, said the bill sets up a “statewide control system” of mental health resources, which he believes is better dealt with at the local level. “I believe it is setting up a new path for mental health management, and that is: We’re gonna do it at the state level,” Lundberg said.
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6 Centennial Citizen
May 10, 2013
Civil unions ‘not exactly golden ring’ P Couple will wait for marriage equality By Deborah Grigsby
dgrigsby@ourcoloradonews.com For Scott Strong and T.J. Sullivan, their relationship is already very real. And while some same-sex couples rushed to usher in Colorado’s Civil Union Act with midnight ceremonies, the selfdescribed “40-somethings” went quietly about their lives in suburban Aurora. “First of all, that kind of stuff is just way past our bedtime,” joked Sullivan. “And while we don’t want to take away from civil unions’ awesomeness, it’s just not something for us.” Although the new state law treats civil union partners, in nearly all respects, like married people, parties to a civil union are still denied many rights afforded by those in heterosexual marriages. For that reason, Strong and Sullivan have taken a firm stance to wait for full marriage equality at the federal level. “For example, simple things like filing a joint income tax return or receiving certain Social Security benefits are still de-
Colorado’s Civil Union Act took effect May 1, making same-sex unions legal. But while Scott Strong, left, and his partner T.J. Sullivan say the new law is a step in the right direction, they prefer to wait for total marriage equality, not just at the state level, but at the federal level, as well. Photo by Deborah Grigsby nied,” Strong said. “And then, there’s other things, like portability — a civil union here in our state doesn’t necessarily mean anything in another.”
Sullivan went on to say that while civil unions are a step in the right direction; they are “not exactly the golden ring” that many same-sex couples seek.
Civil unions are more a political com- Fo promise, according to Strong, pacifyingthere those who were not ready for same-sexinto couples to marry. othe “It’s kind of a whole messy situation,”ing. Sullivan added. “Civil unions, unlike mar- Se riages, still have to be explained.” of m He said federal laws still codify himinter and Strong as second-class, and that un-there til those laws are repealed, civil unions doBroth nothing to change it. the m Sullivan was referring 1996 Defense ofattem Marriage Act, a federal law being weighedretai by the nation’s Supreme Court. snoo DOMA, as it is known, restricts federal So marriage benefits and interstate marriageweek recognition to those in opposite-sex mar-prod riages. clud “For us, if DOMA falls, that is the great-deba er prize,” said Sullivan, who says it will— th be nice when the government catches up“wee “with our real lives.” Bu So until then, Strong and Sullivan willtatio wait. prov “In some ways I have to applaud themari state, but it doesn’t feel right to celebratethis l just yet,” Sullivan said. mitte “It’s like celebrating a victory whentees, we’re only two-thirds of the way throughmorn the race. We’ve still got a third of the way An to go.” supe tion” I dig Th legis mon trite the Lone Tree and Acres Green area and po-tos re lice said they believed a specific, unusually Th large coyote attacked most, if not all, thosehow pets. shou Dog owners also reported a large coyoteit em came unusually close to them while they walked their dogs in the Lone Tree area, and appeared unafraid of people. City officials were so concerned about the animal’s unusually brash behavior, they authorized police to kill it. The large coyote vanished before police could do so, and city spokeswoman Kristen Knoll said police can’t say the animal who killed Mimi-T is the same one. “I don’t think we’ve identified a particular coyote in this instance,” she said. “No police officer saw the coyote in this most recent incident.” Lone Tree Police encourage people to report coyote sightings by calling 720-5091399 or filling out an incident report at the city’s web site, www.cityoflonetree.com. Knoll said the city wants to know about any coyote interaction, even a sighting. “We track everything,” she said. “So that really helps us to pinpoint coyote activity to keep residents and their pets safe.” Like many Colorado communities, Lone Tree has a coyote management plan that outlines ways to resolve human-coyote conflicts. Suggestions include hazing the animals and monitoring their activity, and killing them when such action is considered necessary.
Coyote kills Lone Tree dog Pet owner says predator huge, brave, fearless By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com
Coyotes are suspected of killing three dogs in Lone Tree so far in 2013. File photo
A coyote struck again in Lone Tree recently, snatching and killing a small dog near Sweetwater Park. The most recent victim, a bichon frise/ shih tzu mix named Mimi-T, reportedly slipped out of the door of a Lodge at Willow Creek apartment and into a gully near the park about 12:40 p.m. April 28. Mimi-T’s owner, Jeanne Trosch, said a coyote so large it resembled a wolf snatched the dog, according to the report. Trosch started screaming and chasing the coyote, “praying he would drop her,” she said. “He started shaking her as he was running. Once he went down into the creek area, I knew she was gone forever. I turned around and started crying.” Trosch described the coyote as huge and fearless. “We’ve seen them before and normally, they’re pretty scrawny and afraid,” she said. “This one is really brave. He walks back and forth by our apartment. What’s frightening is there are little kids who play out there. I just wish they could catch him.” Mimi-T is the third dog killed by a coyote in Lone Tree so far this year. In spring 2012, six dogs were killed in
State gets closer to taxing Web sales Measure portrayed as move toward fairness By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com Colorado is a step closer to being able to collect Internet sales taxes, following a vote in the state Senate on May 6. House Bill 1295 readies the state for the federal Marketplace Fairness Act, which would allow states to tax Internet sales, providing Congress passes the legislation. Internet retailers like Amazon.com would pay taxes to a central collection point. Retailers would pay the taxes directly to the state, which would then funnel revenues to local governments, under the state bill. Representatives for local businesses testified at legislative committee hearings that it’s unfair that online retailers are not required to collect sales taxes. “This is about fairness to our tax system, making sure that the brick and mortar stores don’t have a disadvantage to the online remote sellers,” said House Speaker Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, a bill sponsor. Ferrandino noted that mega-retailers
like Amazon.com and Walmart support the legislation. The bill expects to pump more than $73 million into the state’s general fund in its first year of implementation, providing Congress acts. Congress needs to pass the Marketplace Fairness Act in order for states like Colorado to collect taxes from out-of-state retailers. That’s because the Supreme Court has ruled that states cannot force retailers to pay taxes if they do not have an actual physical presence in the state, unless Congress gives the OK. Out-of-state retailers with fewer than $1 million in annual sales would be exempt from the federal act. The state bill passed the Senate on a 2114 vote, after having previously passed the House on a 37-23 vote. Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, accidentally voted for the bill when it was in the House last month. He said in a recent conversation that he meant to vote against the legislation. “No consumer is going to pick up and move because their state taxes Internet sales,” McNulty said. “But you may see a shift in where businesses locate their businesses because of tax increases.”
7
Centennial Citizen 7
May 10, 2013
’ Pot debate finally lives up to billing
com- For much of the legislative session, fyingthere was one thought that would enter e-sexinto my mind, perhaps more than any other: This marijuana stuff is pretty borion,”ing. mar- Seriously. For a drug that’s capable of making everyday experiences pretty himinteresting for a whole lot of people out un-there — and can make those old Allman ns doBrothers vinyls sound even sweeter — for the most part, covering the Legislature’s se ofattempts to regulate the newly legalized ghedretail pot industry had been quite the snooze fest. deral So, thank goodness for the last few riageweeks of the legislative session, which mar-produced a slew of pot activity — including some profound philosophical reat-debates over the regulation of the drug will— that managed to put the “Wee!” back in s up“weed.” But things surrounding the implemenwilltation of Amendment 64 — the voter-approved measure that legalizes recreational d themarijuana use — sure did start out slow bratethis legislative session. There were committees after committees after commitwhentees, many of which started at 7:30 in the oughmorning. Ugh! way And from those hearings emerged super-exciting terms like “vertical integration”; “excise tax”; “egress”; “ingress.” But, I digress. Thankfully, the last couple of weeks of legislative pot talk made up for all of the months of boring regulatory language, trite marijuana puns and over-used Cheed po-tos references. ually Thoroughly entertaining debates over hosehow to tax the drug and where people should be allowed to congregate to smoke oyoteit emerged at sessions’ end. they , and
And the political lines over those issues became about as blurred as highway lines might appear to a stoner on his way home from a String Cheese Incident show at Red Rocks. “It’s been all over the place,” said Rep. Jonathan Singer, D-Longmont, in a recent interview. Singer was the sponsor of House Bill 1318, which puts in place an Amendment 64 taxation model. Singer said it was “refreshing” to see that debates over marijuana knew no political boundaries. “Ninety percent of the folks here have this really open mind about it, like, `So, what do you think?’,” Singer said. “And my answer is, `I don’t know, what do you think?’ And were figuring it out together.” Breaking news: Republicans don’t like taxes. And they, like many people, don’t like drugs. So what was fascinating to observe over the last couple of weeks of the session was members of the Grand Old Party arguing in favor of lowering tax rates on retail marijuana sales. Their argument was sound — they didn’t want the drug taxed too high, out of fear that the black market would benefit. But the irony is that the end result of lowering taxes on marijuana makes it cheaper for people to buy drugs! That
irony was not lost on Singer. “The traditional conservative argument for less taxes kind of steps in the way for the traditional conservative argument for less drugs. So, how do we balance that?” Singer said. “Same thing on the progressive side. There’s people on that side worried about social factors of drug addiction and the social factors of incarcerating people because of drugs. “It’s a little off kilter.” You can say that again. Case in point was a fascinating debate in the Senate over whether the state should allow the existence of marijuana clubs, where people could have a common place to enjoy the drug, like “Cheers” for pot smokers. Wouldn’t you like to get away? This issue sure made for some strange political bedfellows. Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, joined forces with Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, to propose an amendment to one of the marijuana regulation bills, that would have treated marijuana clubs like cigar bars — only they wouldn’t be allowed to actually buy the drugs there, just smoke them. Sen. Vicki Marble, R-Fort Collins, argued in favor of Steadman’s amendment — which, now that I think about it, could very well be the first time that a Colorado legislative reporter has ever written that sentence. Awesome! “The last thing you want them to do is to hang out in a back alley and smoke it,” Marble said on the Senate floor recently. Democratic Sens. Cheri Jahn of Wheat Ridge and Gail Schwartz of Snowmass opposed the pot club amendment, along with Sen. Larry Crower, a Republican from Alamosa. “Kool-Aid is legal, but do we need
a place to drink Kool-Aid?” Crowder quipped during a recent Senate debate. “If you want to go to a party that has it, then go ahead and smoke it.” See what I mean? Pretty cool, eh? “The political lines are blurred, in some sense, in the Republican caucus (on this issue),” said Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, in a recent interview. “This topic cuts across party lines and philosophic lines that are really complex.” By the time this column hits Colorado Community Media’s papers, the General Assembly should have already wrapped up work on the implementation of Amendment 64 regulations. Jahn said she’s learned a lot about marijuana over the course of the session. “I know more about this than I thought I ever wanted to know,” Jahn told me. “Who would’ve thought? However, if you really look back at over the last five or 10 years, you could really see it’s been moving this way and the attitudes in Colorado and through the country have really changed.” That may be true. But legislators like Gardner — who opposed Amendment 64 — would just as soon be talking about something else. “I’ve heard more marijuana testimony than I have on any other subject in the General Assembly,” Gardner said. “That is astounding to me. I never thought it was something that was a good use of our time, but we have no choice.” Vic Vela is the legislative reporter for Colorado Community Media. Email Vic at: vvela@ourcoloradonews.com. Also, follow Vic’s legislative updates on Twitter: @ VicVela1
bout WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK? they Want to know what clubs, art exhibits, meetings and cultural events are happening in your area and the areas around you? Visit our website at www.ourcoloradonews.com/calendar. oyote and olice -T is
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8-Opinion
8 Centennial Citizen
May 10, 2013
OPINIONS / YOURS AND OURS
W Rail opening shines green light for region By about 5 p.m. April 27, the line of people at the Jefferson County Government Center light-rail station in Golden no longer extended over the hillside toward the foothills. The moment seemed to round out a monumental weekend for RTD that featured two days of free rides on the newly opened W Rail light-rail line. We witnessed an enthusiastic launch for a project that came in eight months ahead of schedule, and we later reported that RTD estimated 35,000 riders rode the rail on that Saturday. We went for a ride as well and were impressed with the 35-minute trip from Golden to Union Station. The train mostly travels a track line that has existed for a century — so as expected, homes, buildings and business properties are nestled by the track. And interspersed
OUR VIEW
with the old is new development. Yes, times have changed. Interestingly, it has been more than one economic downturn since “smart growth� and “infill� development were common terms in these parts. But we remember the concepts and are pleased to consider the impact of the W Rail in offering another mass transit option and infill redevelopment. Increased mass transit is welcome in many ways, not just for redevelopment but for quality of life — consider Jefferson
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
How much do you care about light rail expansion? Depending on light-rail funding, plans are for a second east line station in Lone Tree to be done by 2015 and a Highlands Ranch stop, once said to be completed by 2016, to be finished at some point prior to
2042. On the heels of RTD’s west line opening, CCM stopped by the Mineral Station in Littleton and the Lincoln Station in Lone Tree to ask riders if southern expansion was important to them.
“I’m sure I’d find a reason to use it, but I guess I wouldn’t know the difference until it came. I don’t see any use for it at this point.� — Tia Manship, Littleton
“Not too much for me. I live in Parker, so coming into Lincoln is really not that big of a deal. It takes five minutes for me to get here.� — Nicole Laurie, Parker
“It’s pretty important. I think the light rail should go all the way to Castle Rock. There are a lot of people that live out this way and this is the end spot.� — Robert Johnson, Highlands Ranch
“I think it’d be a good thing. It’d get more traffic off the highway, people would use less gas, and nerves would be less frayed from sitting in traffic.� — Joe Breyer, Kiowa
You have reached customer disservice “This is customer service, how can I irritate you today?� When have I heard that before? All the time. Just this morning, as a matter of fact. I tried to enroll in a vision plan online. Instead I went into Pan’s labyrinth and couldn’t get out. So I phoned and reached something called customer service. First I had to recite my name and numbers to an automated receptionist, and then a live receptionist greeted me and asked me for my name and numbers. She told me that I was not registered. I had the registration confirmation email in front of me. I re-registered and called again. I was asked for my ID number and I gave it to her. She said, “There should be five zeroes in front of the number.� I said, “There aren’t.� She said, “I’m just telling you that there should be.� I said goodbye, and tried to log in again, and was denied, because I wasn’t registered. I called my bank and asked them to block auto-pays to the insurer. They did. I called the insurer and canceled, and then wrote management and used some leftover words from a DMV experience. Back to customer service. If a human being answers, I weep. Usually I have to answer a recording, and then repeat the answers to Betweena. At least half the time, I can’t understand the customer service representative. Good idea. Put the inarticulate in point-of-contact positions. “Say what?� becomes my redundancy. They seem to like to remove any spacing between words. “ThismessagemayberecordedfortrainingpurposeshowcanIhelpyoutMrCraig?� I’ll say, “Please start by slowing down. I’m a little hard of hearing. I have a vegetable stuck in my good ear.�
Sometimes I don’t recognize the language. It’s some kind of English. I don’t always catch on, though, to which kind. I’m not Professor Higgins. They talk too fast, they’re inarticulate, and they speak in off-English. It’s a good, cost-saving tactic. Who wants to call customer service anymore? Between calls, I forget how much I dislike asking for help from some of these outfits. But at least once a week I need help or a clarification. My vision plan experience is tops this year for being the bottom. I’d like to tell you their name. I’d like them to lose business. But I’ll let them do that for themselves. Not only that, you might have a great experience with them. Have you ever noticed online reviews that are night and day? “Worst restaurant ever� is right next to “Fabulous dining experience.� “We still don’t know what that was in the soup� is right next to “Exquisite medallions of quail.� At least posted reviews are available. Before the Internet it was all word of mouth. We had to ask our friends what was put in the soup. Craig Marshall Smith is an artist, educator and Highlands Ranch resident. He can be reached at craigmarshallsmith@comcast. net
County, which sports one of the oldest populations in the state, with about 13.1 percent over 65 years of age, while the state average is 11.3 percent. The corridor’s 11 new W Rail stations — including the Federal Center and Red Rocks Community College — are important stops, sure to be energized day in and day out. The idea to schedule “parties� — in other words activities and booths — at each stop along the 12.1-mile route was a good way to introduce the personalities of the stops and their adjacent neighborhoods to the region. And the new line extends east to existing light-rail stops at Auraria West for Metropolitan State University, the Pepsi Center, Sports Authority Field and finally Union Station. We heartily welcome this line that extends straight west, a little different from
the more north-and-south-oriented existing Denver metro rail corridors. Locally, some business development folks said the project has put Jefferson County on a more even playing field. The business community is primed to tap opportunities to develop the corridor and attract workers — after all, the corridor was on the drawing board before FasTracks was approved. And from a more regional point of view, we know the impact of the entire plan will increase as each additional corridor is completed and the FasTracks plan — which is admired internationally — comes to fruition. Sure, FasTracks has had its cost issues and completion issues — particularly with the North Metro Rail Line — but for now we can enjoy the freshly energized corridor between Golden and downtown Denver.
Better yet, knock ’em alive I am sure that most of you, if not all of you, are all familiar with the statement, “Knock ‘em dead.� It is usually given as a well-wish or send-off for someone about to give a performance or a speech. Many years ago a good friend of mine, Bryan Flanagan, changed it a little so that it was more encouraging, and he enthusiastically says it this way, “Knock ‘em alive!� The cool thing is that it has become more than just a well-wish or inspirational encouraging send-off, Bryan uses it many times as we say our goodbyes. Many of you who know me personally or through this column are aware that I have stolen Bryan’s line on more than one occasion. OK, maybe not stolen, but certainly borrowed. I just love the thought about leaving a person or an audience more inspired and motivated than they were before we spent our time together. I want to knock ‘em alive! There have been many times in my life where I was either dragging bottom or feeling low. Or maybe I was stuck or stalled, hitting a plateau and needed someone to come along and knock me alive. And I have to tell you that it felt and feels incredible when it happens. Have you ever thought about it? Have you thought about what a person or group might feel like when you leave their presence? Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could have that kind of impact on a person, group, or situation? I mean it’s truly wonderful, especially when someone, anyone, brightens our day or leaves a positive impact that changes our moment, our hour, our day or even our week or month just by some gesture, kind word, or smile. They knock us alive. The sentence is so obvious for a speaker or performer, no one really wants to knock their audience out, do they? No, we want
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them alive, responsive, cheering, and laughing or crying, or maybe even laughing so hard they are crying. In every situation we are looking for that spark, that reaction. And I think that is why I believe the way Bryan Flanagan changed the phrase is such a fitting and powerful way to say goodbye and not just to be used before someone goes on stage. Just imagine how much better each and every goodbye would be if we left one another with, “Knock ‘em alive� after every encounter. This is one of those simple things that we can all do that doesn’t require us to be a motivational speaker, performer, or coach. We can just change one little thing that we do, add one tiny yet powerful statement to our communications, and we can make such a positive impact in our families, with our friends, in the community and who knows, maybe just maybe knocking ‘em alive here in Colorado could lead to someone having an impact in other states and around the world. You just never know the power and reach that words can have. I would love to hear all about how you plan to knock ‘em alive at gotonorton@ gmail.com, and as we all make that effort it will certainly be a better than good week. Michael Norton, a resident of Highlands Ranch, is the former president of the Zig Ziglar organization and CEO and founder of www.candogo.com
Colorado Community Media Phone 303-566-4100 t 'BY
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9
Benefits of fracking require regulation
Over the past few years, “fracking” has gone from a term used largely within ist- the oil and gas industry to one used and y, understood by soccer moms, farmers and the citizens across our nation. It is a word that more often invokes either hopes for economic boom and long-term energy security or to fear of inevitable contamination and envidor ronmental disaster. As with most imporridortant issues in our public dialogue, the truth acks lies somewhere in between. Fracking — short for “hydraulic fraciew, turing” — is a process used in oil and gas extraction. In fracking, millions of gallons or of water, sand and chemicals are injected — at high pressure into underground formames tions to blast them open and increase the flow of fossil fuels. The injected fluids can es include a variety of chemicals, including with known carcinogens and endocrine disrupw tors. As this process is used more extenridor sively, concern has grown in communities er. around Colorado and across the country, and a significant debate has developed over its use. In any thorough discussion of fracking, we must acknowledge the reality that natural gas is a significant economic driver — particularly in Colorado. It creates jobs and economic growth while providing us cleaner-burning fuel. It is also an abundant domestic resource, which we can use as a bridge fuel while incorporating renewable energy sources like wind, solar and hydro into a comprehensive energy policy for the United States. In promoting the benefits of this cleaner domestic fuel, however, we must not gloss over the real environmental issues that exist. Any policy developed to support hingfracking must ensure the health and safety on of our citizens. tion. While Colorado begins to reap the y such bye e
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Centennial Citizen 9
May 10, 2013
rewards of natural gas, we’ve also heard anecdotal evidence of water contaminated by fracking fluid and in one instance, reports of an emergency room nurse who nearly died after treating a worker splashed with the fluid. Reports have emerged around the country of residents, homeowners and workers becoming ill after fracking operations began in their communities. While these are still anecdotal, government officials, medical professionals and citizens need to know with certainty what chemicals are being used at which well — both to evaluate risk ahead of time and to treat any contamination after the fact. Requiring public disclosure of the chemicals used in fracking is a reasonable step towards protecting communities and ensuring oil and gas extraction is conducted safely and responsibly. Eighteen states, including Colorado, have recently put in place state-level regulations requiring voluntary disclosure of fracking chemicals. Of these states, 11 rely on FracFocus, a website designed for voluntary disclosure by oil and gas companies. FracFocus was created to provide valuable information, on a voluntary basis, to landowners and concerned citizens about the chemicals used in specific wells. But the limits of applying a voluntary disclosure framework to a diverse
set of state regulations and requirements raise questions about the effectiveness of FracFocus. Just last week, the Harvard Law School Environmental Law Program’s Policy Initiative released a report raising significant questions about states’ reliance on FracFocus. The Harvard study concluded that “relying on FracFocus as a de facto regulatory practice is premature and does not serve the interests of the public.” In addition to calling the website “impenetrable” for users to navigate, the report found that the FracFocus program was not effective for three primary reasons. It has not been shown to provide timely notifications when companies disclose, so states are unable to determine reporting compliance; its one-size-fits-all format creates obstacles that prevent effective compliance by oil and gas companies; and it enables companies to claim “trade secret” status for certain chemicals on an inconsistent and unsubstantiated basis. The report also concluded that because of myriad ways FracFocus is ineffective, it sends a strong signal to industry that compliance and accurate reporting are simply not important. Whether it’s the mom concerned about the impact of fracking near her family’s home, the regulator trying to ensure community compliance, or the emergency room doctor trying to determine how to treat an injured worker, the study makes clear that FracFocus is failing to provide the disclosure its users need. In fact, Colorado was actually one of only two states to demand requirements of FracFocus, and those conditions have not been met. I’m concerned about the direction chemical disclosure is heading because I’ve been working on these issues since
2005, after a whistleblower from the EPA in the Colorado office came forward with concerns that potential threats to public health had been ignored in an important report on fracking. After researching the issue and working with several experts in the field, I first introduced my FRAC Act (the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act) to establish common-sense safeguards that ensure the benefits of natural gas do not come at the expense of our health and safety. I plan to reintroduce this bill in the coming weeks. One of the key components of the FRAC Act is to create a federal regulatory framework for disclosure of the chemicals used in fracking. Doing so would remove the patchwork of different state regulations that the industry currently has to try and comply with, and would set up a consistent and effective system of mandatory disclosure, rather than depend upon a tool — FracFocus — that is not designed for the task. As a member of the Congressional Natural Gas Caucus I believe this legislation would enhance our efforts to promote the responsible development of natural gas. Natural gas is an important economic driver for our nation and for our state in particular. As we witness America’s natural gas boom, the Harvard study underscores that a reasonable, common-sense framework of regulations at the federal level can help us safeguard our health and our environment, without standing in the way of the economic and energy benefits fracking can provide us all. U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette serves Colorado’s 1st District, which includes Denver, Englewood, Columbine Valley and Bow Mar.
One-party rule could backfire for Democrats
One of the first lessons taught in sixth-grade civics is that of “checks and hat balances.” Enshrined in the Constitution be a and universally approved of (at least in ach. theory), the division of power between the t we legislative, executive and judicial branches nt prevents any one party from being able to ake gather too much power in its hands and with use it to sweep all opposition aside. And, o while it has become fashionable to grouse m about “political gridlock,” gridlock, when me- you get down to it, is simply another way of nd talking about checks and balances. the The just-concluded meeting of the Colorado General Assembly provides an ou object lesson about the bad things that @ happen when one party holds all the levers ort it of power under the golden dome. And it ek. offers a clue as to how the state might work its way out of its current predicament. s g der
It all began on election night of 2012 when Coloradans learned that voters had left Democrats firmly in control of the state House, Senate and governor’s office under the leadership of John Hickenlooper. Convinced that they had been handed a mandate by the electorate, it didn’t take long for Democrats to start jamming bills down the throats of Republicans who
Attitude of thankfulness is gift we give ourselves “Everything is a gift. The degree to which we are awake to this truth is a measure of our gratefulness, and gratefulness is a measure of our aliveness.” I read that David Stendl-Rast quote to a group of hospice colleagues to close our meeting with an inspirational thought. It was a simple reminder to be grateful with a gentle challenge. Is “everything” really a gift? My mind was lazy in grappling with that question until a little later the same day, when the news appeared about the Boston Marathon bombing. It has been a little over a year since I have written a column for this paper. I was working on a book and had to devote all my writing energy to getting it done, so I put the column on hold. It’s nice to be back, but what a year it was. There was the Aurora theater shooting, the Colorado Springs fire and the Sandy Hook elementary massacre. Is “everything” really a gift? These tragic events, all impacting innocent and unguarded people, evoke strong emotion. Shock, sadness, fear and grief are the norm. Sorrow washed over me when I realized, a couple weeks after Aurora, that in addition to the deaths, paralyzing wounds hurt people that they will suffer with as long as they live. After the Bos-
ton Marathon bombing, I was angry. Not thankful. That thought seemed preposterous and wrong. It was not appropriate for me to be thankful for an event where others were suffering. “Everything is a gift”? Really? For whom? But, in my own way and in my own place, I tried to be thankful, not for the event but for some things that happened within it. I was thankful for the skilled surgeons and fabulous hospitals that provided trauma care that treated wounds and saved lives. I was thankful for first responders and citizens who ran to the smoke in acts of selfless compassion that were greater than the pathetic acts that injured and killed in attempts to destroy and terrorize. Hettinger continues on Page 25
could do little more than protest, long and loud, that their constituents were being run over roughshod by the majority. During debates that often raged into the wee hours of the morning, Republicans fought extremist proposals on everything from gun rights, sex education for elementary-age school kids, radical environmental measures that raised utility bills with negligible environmental benefits, and job-killing regulations on the oil and gas industry that even the governor opposed. Sprinkled in were bills granting political favors to the union bosses who are the paymasters of the Democratic party, such as costly union preferences for state contracts and unemployment benefits to striking workers. My Republican colleagues and I won few of the policy debates that were heard under the golden dome since mid-January.
And, in reality, those debates had been settled months earlier in the November elections. In short, the Democratic ponies (or donkeys, if you will) were feeling their oats. And running hard. But the dust is a long way from settled on the 2013 meeting of the Colorado General Assembly. What looked good on paper may not work out so well in the real world. Some of these bills I have described may be vetoed by the governor by the time you read this. But if Democrats have badly overshot the mark, they may find that they have been shown the door by voters when the sun comes up on November 5, 2014, the day after the next election. State Rep. Spencer Swalm serves House District 37, which includes Centennial.
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10-Color
10 Centennial Citizen
May 10, 2013
Bill requires reporting of elder abuse Measure on way to becoming law
‘This demographic is as important to protect as it is with child abuse.’
By Vic Vela
Rep. Sue Schafer, D-Wheat Ridge
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com A bill that would mandate elder abuse reporting in Colorado is finally on its way to becoming law. Senate Bill 111 requires individuals in certain professional fields to report known or suspected cases of abuse involving people age 70 or older. The bill passed the House May 1 on a 56-8 vote, after it had previously breezed through the Senate. Rep. Sue Schafer, D-Wheat Ridge, a House sponsor of the bill, said the legislation is “over 20 years” in the making. “It’s failed several times, but we’ve final-
ly got it right,” Schafer said during a recent House debate. “This demographic is as important to protect as it is with child abuse.” Schafer said the issue is of particular importance to Jefferson County, which has the highest numbers of seniors in the state. Fellow Jefferson County lawmaker, Sen. Evie Hudak, D-Westminster, carried the bill in the Senate. Those deemed as “mandatory reporters” include professionals in health care, finance, social work and law enforcement.
Those who fail to properly report cases of physical, mental, financial or sexual abuse within 24 hours could face a misdemeanor penalty. Investigations of elder abuse cases in Colorado have increased by an average of 2 percent every year. During the 2011-2012 fiscal year, about 11,000 elder abuse cases were filed in the state, with more than 4,700 of them requiring a law enforcement investigation, according to information from the General
Assembly’s Legislative Council. Several previous attempts at passing similar legislation had failed, primarily because the money needed to support the effort wasn’t there. That’s not the case this year, with $5 million in funding for the measure having been appropriated into next year’s budget. Rep. Amy Stephens, R-Monument, also a bill sponsor, reminded her colleagues that Colorado is one of only three states that doesn’t have a mandatory elder abuse reporting law. “That’s pretty pathetic and the time is now,” Stephens said during a recent House debate. “Financial abuse of seniors has become a huge issue. This is really, really critical.” Gov. John Hickenlooper is scheduled to sign the bill at the Seniors’ Resource Center in Wheat Ridge on May 16, according to Schafer.
Crash kills Littleton police officer Aurora collision claims man’s life Staff report A Littleton police officer was killed in a traffic accident in Aurora on May 6. Officer Kevin Denner was off-duty and riding his personal motorcycle when the accident occurred about 11:30 a.m. at the intersection of Belleview Avenue and DeGaulle Street. A police press release says the Littleton Police Department, city council and all city employees are mourning the loss of a fellow employee and friend. “Kevin was a gentle giant who cared for his community and his family,” said Deputy Mark Edson of the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, who once worked with Denner at LPD. “Another tragic loss in the LPD family.” Aurora police say Denner was riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle westbound on Belleview when the driver of a Toyota traveling eastbound turned left onto northbound DeGaulle. Police believe the driver failed to yield the right of way to Denner, and Denner struck the passenger side of the Toyota. Denner died at the scene. The adult male driver of the Toyota, who has not yet been identified, was uninjured. Excessive speed is not suspected, but
the driver of the Toyota is suspected of “some level of intoxication,” according to police. The Aurora Traffic Section is reconstructing the accident and gathering evidence. “We believe the driver of the Toyota caused the acDenner cident by failing to yield the right of way when making a left turn,” the Aurora Police Department said in a statement. “Depending on the results of the chemical test, appropriate charges will be filed. We believe that the motorcycle rider was wearing a helmet but that it was knocked from his head during the accident.” The intersection was closed for about three hours while traffic officers conducted the on-scene investigation. Denner is survived by his father, his wife and two children, ages 8 and 9. A memorial fund will be established for Denner’s family. Details about the fund will be released as more information is available. Edson reminds everyone to always look twice for motorcycles, especially now that the weather is warming up. He also knew Robert Pattie, who died on April 14. Police say Pattie hit a vehicle driven by a 16-year-old male who turned in front of his motorcycle on Santa Fe Drive at the light into Aspen Grove.
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Man found victims through social media By Rhonda Moore
rmoore@ourcoloradonews.com An Aurora man was convicted in an Arapahoe County court for several counts of sexual assault on a child in a case launched by Elbert County social services. Matthew George, 32, was convicted April 26 in a case that involved a 14-year-old Aurora girl and a 12-year-old Centennial girl, according to the office of 18th Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler. According to the district attorney’s office, George began interacting with the victims in the spring of 2011 on social media websites, including IMVU.com and Mocospace. On the IMVU.com site, one of the victims created an avatar, which she used to communicate with George. In the initial case, George arranged meetings and had sex with the victim in her home multiple times. In the case of the second victim, George met her at a cemetery and drove her to an elementary school,
where he had sexual contact with her. His crimes were discovered during an investigation by Elbert County social services, Brauchler says. Brauchler has established a special victims unit to inGeorge vestigate similar crimes. “My job is to help protect the most vulnerable members of our community, including our sons and daughters, from those who would target them for molestation. They must be removed from our community,” Brauchler said. “In this particular case, Matthew George’s perverse plan to lure and then rape children in these places that were supposed to be safe havens is one of the most disturbing patterns of abuse I have encountered in a criminal case.” George was convicted of three counts of sexual assault on a child as a pattern of abuse, two counts of sexual assault on a child and two counts of enticement. Sentencing is set for 1:30 p.m. July 1 before Judge Kurt Horton in Division 204. George faces up to four years to life in prison.
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11-Color
Centennial Citizen 11
May 10, 2013
e Names added to law
enforcement memorial
ssing arily t the e this r the into
Recognition given to five who died also gues on duty in 2012 tates
buse
By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com
me is ouse Five names were added to the Colhas orado Law Enforcement Memorial on eally the morning of May 3. The ceremony was attended by ed to nearly 300 family, friends and fellow Cenlaw enforcement officers of the five ng to officers who all died in the line of duty in 2012. Those honored included Englewood Police Detective Jeremy Bitner, Denver Police Officer Celina Hollis, Colorado Springs Police Officer Matthew Tyner, Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office Captain Leide William DeFusco, and Lakewood Police Agent James Jeffery Davies. Family members of the fallen officers were given seats at the front of the ceremony. Several could be seen placing flowers at the base of the memorial, after the ceremony.
An additional 10 names were added, based on historic research. The historic inclusions had death dates ranging from 1873 to 1966. In total, 250 names are now written on the memoBitner rial. James H. Davis, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Safety conducted the ceremony, held by the memorial, located in front of the Colorado State Patrol headquarters in Golden. Davis said that it was hard for him to speak about the sacrifices made by those who died in the line of duty, defending the citizens of Colorado. “But this memorial is our duty, to serve and protect their memory,� Davis said. Davis added that the sacrifices of the surviving family members should also be remembered. The captains of the Denver, Colorado Springs, Lakewood and Englewood Police Departments, as well as Pueblo’s Sheriff all placed wreaths at the base of the memorial, in honor of the officers who died under their command.
The ceremony included the singing of the national anthem, Lakewood Police Department Honor Guard provided a 21-gun salute, and at the end a flock of white doves was released. Bitner died May 28, 2012, when he got out of his vehicle during a traffic stop and was struck by a hit-and-run driver. Bitner, a Centennial resident, left behind a wife and two young children. Conner Donohue, 21, has pleaded guilty to four felony charges and a misdemeanor charge in connection with the incident that cost Bitner his life and injured the motorist that Bitner had pulled over. Donohue pleaded guilty on Feb. 22 to vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury, leaving the scene of an accident causing death, and driving under the influence. He is scheduled for sentencing May 31. The collision that killed Bitner took place on Broadway, just north of the Littleton border. Donohue allegedly sped away from the scene but was stopped about three miles south by Littleton police.
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Marine dog handler killed in Afghanistan Cpl. David Sonka, 23, attended Chaparral By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@ourcoloradonews. com
Friends and family members are mourning the loss of a U.S. Marine from Parker who was killed in Afghanistan. Cpl. David M. Sonka, a dog handler with the 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, died May 4 while conducting combat operations in Farah province in Afghanistan. The 23-yearold was based out of Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Maj. Jeff Landis, a public affairs officer for the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, said a dignified transfer of Sonka’s remains took place May 7. Sonka’s friends tentatively scheduled a candlelight vigil called “Tribute for a Hero� at Chaparral High School con-May 12. Plans are still being finalized. On a Facebook page dedicated scov-to the event, Sonka’s wife, Torey, extiga-pressed her gratitude for the outpourocialing of support from the community, says.saying she is “devastated� but “inshedcredibly thankful� for messages from o in-well-wishers. She said her husband . “deserves the highest honor.� otect The circumstances of Sonka’s comhters, mom our parverse hese e haterns minal
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another Marine were training Afghan soldiers when one of them turned on the Americans and shot them during a patrol. The statement could not be independently verified. Sonka joined the Marine Corps in August 2008 and graduated from recruit training in November 2008. He attended military police school in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Upon graduation, Sonka attended the Military Working Dog Handler Basic Course at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. From July 2009 to March 2012, he was assigned to III Marine Expeditionary Force K9 Section at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif., and deployed in support of OpFAMILY FEED # 3 # eration Enduring Freedom. Two Racks Ribs Sonka, who was born in Aurora, " ! FAMILY FEED $ was then assigned to the Marine Spe$ with this SAVE 11 # 3 Whole BBQ Chicken " Two WITH Racks THISRibs COUPON cial Operations Combat Support Bat " Coupon 1Whole Pint Baked Beans talion, Marine Special Operations BBQ Chicken with this ONLY Support Group at Camp Lejeune. $ .73 Coupon 1 Pint Pint Baked Cole Slaw Beans Save 22 " While there, he completed a special .73 " 22 .45 Pint Cole Save $$45 61 Pieces GarlicSlaw Toast Reg. operations training course, and Multi " $ .45 6 Pieces Garlic Toast Reg. 45 Purpose Canine Course Phase I and ONLY Phase II. He then was attached to 2nd MONDAY -- TUESDAY -- WEDNESDAY -- THURSDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY ONLY Valid thru Thursday, 09/01/11 Limit 3 Feeds Marine Special Operations Battalion 0335 S. Rd.Parker •• 09/01/11 Limit 3 Feeds Valid thru Thursday, 0335 S. Parker Parker Rd. Parker 05/16/13 as a multi-purpose canine handler. 10335 rd !Parker Parker ! 303-805-9742 Sonka’s personal decorations in10335S.S.Parker Parker Rd. • 303-805-9742 clude a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and a Combat HH ColoNwsBigDeal#1.indd 1 7/22/12 10:13 PM Action Ribbon. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
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12 Centennial Citizen
May 10, 2013
Stoned-driving limit passes Legislature 23 Community papers & websites. 400,000 readers.
Governor expected to sign measure into law By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com It’s been a long and winding road, but the Colorado General Assembly has finally passed a driving-stoned standard for motorists. The measure — which is expected to be signed into law by Gov. John Hickenlooper — establishes a marijuana blood standard by which it is illegal to get behind the wheel. “Smoke and walk. Smoke and take the bus. Smoke and grab a cab. Smoke and call a friend. Smoke and ride a horse. Smoke and take the light rail,” said Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, a bill sponsor, during a recent Senate debate. “Just don’t smoke and drive. Your life and every other citizen’s life on the highway is at risk. The bill passed the Senate May 7 on a 23-12 vote, after it had previously cleared the House by an even wider margin. The bill limits drivers to five nano-
Election Continued from Page 1
Harvey also blamed Democrats for “cramming” through such a major bill, with just a handful of days left in the legislative session. At one point during an April 30 debate, Harvey requested that the entire 120-page-plus bill be read aloud in its entirety, which took about two and a half hours to get through. Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, said that the bill would allow anyone to register to vote the day of an elec-
grams per milliliter of blood for active THC, marijuana’s psychoactive ingredient. But that limit would be known as a “permissible inference” standard by which a person is considered to be under the influence of the drug. However, a defendant can rebut in court whether he or she was actually impaired. That’s different from a strict “per se” standard, such as the 0.08 percent blood-alcohol concentration used to prosecute drunken drivers. Opposition to the bill knew no party lines. Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, voted no on the legislation, arguing that there are laws already on the books that make it illegal for people to drive while impaired. “What’s the problem we’re trying to solve here?” Steadman said. And Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, cautioned that a driving-stoned limit could lead to “too many false positives,” due to residual amounts of the drug being in the bloodstream of a person who regularly smokes the drug, but may not have been stoned behind the wheel at the time of arrest. “We should not be convicting peo-
ple who are not guilty of driving while impaired,” Lundberg said. Sen. Andy Kerr, D-Lakewood, had voted no on setting stoned-driving limits in the past, but voted yes on this “reasonable” piece of legislation, this time around. “With all of the lines we have to draw here at the Capitol … I think we have to draw a line at some point (on driving stoned),” Kerr said. Members of the Capitol press corps dubbed the effort the “zombie bill” because it continued to surface at the legislature, in spite of having suffered multiple deaths. The bill had failed four times in previous years — and it even suffered two separate deaths before it finally passed this session. The original bill passed the House, but failed in a Senate committee. A driving-stoned standard was then tacked on in the form of an amendment to an Amendment 64 regulation bill, before it was stripped from that legislation by a separate committee. The bill’s House sponsors were House Minority Leader Mark Waller, R-Colorado Springs, and Rep. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora.
tion, “with virtually no identification.” Colorado law does not require a photo ID or social security number to register to vote, and voters can use a utility bill to show proof of residency. Lundberg said that using a utility bill to register to vote on the day of an election is “a cruel joke” that sets itself up for the possibility of fraud. “You’re already winning the elections,” said Senate Minority Leader Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs. “Do you need to steal them, too?” Democrats point to safeguards in the bill that they say would help protect against fraud, such as the use of a real-time voter file access system that would determine who is eligible to
vote and those who have already cast a ballot. Sen. Jessie Ulibarri, D-Commerce City, said that Senate Republicans are using “bogeyman” politics to argue against the bill. “We are not doing something out of the norm,” Ulibarri said. “We are updating our standards for the 21st century.” The bill passed the Senate on a 2015 party-line vote. The bill had previously passed the House, also without any Republican votes. It was re-passed by the House for concurrence of minor Senate amendments on May 3, and now heads to Gov. John Hickenlooper’s desk for his signature.
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Centennial Citizen 13
May 10, 2013
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14 Centennial Citizen
May 10, 2013
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Centennial Citizen 15
May 10, 2013
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NOW HIRING POLICE OFFICERS The City of Black Hawk is now hiring POLICE OFFICER I. Hiring Range: $53,959 - $62,052 DOQ/E. Unbelievable benefit package and exceptional opportunity to serve in Colorado’s premiere gaming community located 18 miles west of Golden. The City supports its employees and appreciates great service! If you are interested in serving a unique historical city and enjoy working with diverse populations visit www.cityofblackhawk.org for application documents and more information on the Black Hawk Police Department. Requirements: High School Diploma or GED, valid Colorado driver’s license with a safe driving record and at least 21 years of age. Candidates who submitted applications within the past 6 months will not be considered for this position vacancy. To be considered for this limited opportunity, a completed City application, Police Background Questionnaire and copies of certifications must be received by the closing date, Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 4:00 P.M., MDST, Attention: Employee Services, City of Black Hawk, P.O. Box 68, Black Hawk, CO 80422, or by fax to 303-582-0848. Application documents may be obtained from www.cityofblackhawk.org. Please note that we are not able to accept e-mailed applications at this time. EOE.
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The City of Black Hawk is now hiring an Administrative Assistant, Public Works Department, City of Black Hawk. Hiring Range is $49,369 - $56,774 DOQ/E. Position performs a variety of complex, highly responsible and confidential administrative support duties. The ideal candidate will be a well organized self-starter with the ability to multi-task and possess strong written and oral communication and customer service skills. Requires high school diploma or GED; four years responsible administrative support experience; must be at least 18 years of age with a valid Colorado driver’s license and a safe driving record. If you are interested in serving a unique historical city visit www.cityofblackhawk.org for City application and more information on the City of Black Hawk. To be considered for this opportunity, please submit cover letter, resume, and completed City application to Employee Services, City of Black Hawk, P.O. Box 68, Black Hawk, CO 80422, or by fax to 303582-0848. Applications will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. Friday, May 17th. The City of Black Hawk conducts extensive background investigations, drug and skills tests as a condition of employment. Please note that we are no longer accepting e-mailed application documents. EOE.
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16 Centennial Citizen
May 10, 2013
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May 10, 2013
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South MetroLIFE 20-Life-BW
20 Centennial Citizen May 10, 2013
Manning mangles music “Not What It Seems,” a photo taken in Trailmark by Andy Marquez, is an example of the photographer’s work around the area.
Photographer focuses nearby By Sonya Ellingboe
sellingboe@ourcolorado news.com Chatfield State Park, Red Rocks, Trailmark, Roxborough State Park, Deer Creek Canyon and Frisco — most near to photographer Andy Marquez’s home in Roxborough — offered beautiful subjects for him. That’s especially true early in the morning, as the light begins to come up, highlighting natural forms, and the sky glows pink. In that special light, a clump of grass or small shrub is lovely to look at. Artists and photographers may get a new perspective on looking at the world just outside the front door. Former Littleton businessman Marquez has returned to downtown Littleton after a stay in Denver’s Museum Dis-
“Having a Meltdown” by Andy Marquez was taken in Frisco. trict and has opened a gallery in Suite 206 at 2329 W. Main Street in the Littletown Building
(the historic I.W. Hunt Building, which was once an auto showroom, when Main Street was
auto transportation-focused, with numerous sales and repair businesses). A new exhibit of these local images, “Winter’s Farewell Serenade,” will be open May 17 (5-8 p.m.); May 18 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) Marquez said someone will be in the lobby of the building to ensure admittance at those times. He is holding workshops for photographers, which include a field trip plus a one-on-one two-hour session on composition, light, shadow and reflection. His experience in world travel photography, as well as in capturing wildlife and natural images locally, will influence his presentation. On May 13, the field trip location is Roxborough Park, and in June it’s Downtown Denver. For information, call 303-7976040 or see andymarquez.com.
Indian Market and Powwow returns Fort restaurant hosts annual event By Sonya Ellingboe
sellingboe@ourcoloradonews.com When the Tesoro Cultural Center’s 13th Annual Indian Market and Powwow opens on May 18 and 19 at The Fort, local potter Padponee of Elizabeth, who is of Kickapoo/ Potawatomi heritage, will be among the exhibiting American Indian artists. The colorful event places the Indian artists inside the spacious Fort restaurant and fills the grounds with dancers from many tribes, who compete in the Powwow for cash prizes and honors, as well as performing traditional dances. In recognition of Armed Forces Day, an American Indian veteran is honored each year. In 2013, honors will go to six young
IF YOU GO The historic Fort restaurant is located at 19192 Highway 8, Morrison. Hours for the Market: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the Indian Market and Powwow is $5, adults/$3 students with ID/seniors and children free. Food and beverages are available for purchase. For information, call 303-839-1671 or visit tesoroculturalcenter.org.
female veterans. The Sister Nations Color Guard is composed of young women from various tribal nations, brought together in friendship, according to Carolyn Doran, the Fort’s program director. Artists participating include: Virginia Yazzie Ballenger, Gallup N.M., Navajo, who designs traditional clothing; Al Chandler Good Strike, Hays, Mont., Gros Ventre, who will bring hides, parfleches and drums; Joe and La Jenne Chavez, Santo Domingo Pueblo, Santo Domingo and Santo Domingo/Seminole, who create jewelry and beadwork; and Linda Lucero Frequa, Jemez Pueblo, Jemez, who makes pottery storyteller figures. Others will bring quillwork, paintings, sculptures and more, and will demonstrate their techniques and sell their art to local collectors. More than 50 intertribal dancers and drum groups in traditional clothing and regalia will fill the grounds. They will share their heritage, beginning with a Gourd Dance each day at 10 a.m. and a Grand Entry at noon both days, when all the dancers parade in to a drumbeat. On May 18, the Sister Nations Color Guards and all veterans will be honored and on May 19, Indian graduates will be recognized. Dance competitions will range from men’s and women’s Golden Age, through
We can only hope he keeps his day job, but Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning diverted from the playbook and took the stage with country-western singer Luke Bryan during the April 27 Celebration of Caring Gala in Indianapolis, which benefits that city’s Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital. Manning, who played 14 seasons as the Indianapolis Colts quarterback, attended the event to show support for the hospital that bears his name. And although Manning looked far less comfortable on the stage than he does on the gridiron, he was a good sport by joining Bryan, this year’s Academy of Country Awards entertainer of the year, in a “rendition” of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” and Waylon Jennings’ “Luckenbach, Texas.” Check out the melodically challenged Manning’s duet at: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=NSG7FeGxRwY.
Judicial notice
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor dined at Benny’s Restaurant and Tequila Bar (nice choice!) in Capitol Hill on May 1. Sotomayor was in town to attend the opening ceremony of the new Ralph L. Carr Justice Center downtown on May 2.
Get happy
USA Today has come up with its top 10 list of happy hours at high-end restaurant chains across the country. Many of the top 10-ers have outposts in the metro area, with McCormick & Schmick’s at No. 1. Check out the entire list at www. usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2013/03/09/the-best-happy-hourdeals-nationwide/1974659/.
Think pink
Adam Vance, Elway’s Cherry Creek sommelier, needs your help choosing pink wines to put on the summer menu. Join Adam on the Elway’s patio to taste and evaluate more than 30 rose wines from France, Spain, Austria, California, Italy and Greece that are under consideration for a Conti summer rose flight on the Elway’s wine list. The event, from 6 to 8 p.m. May 29, Is costs $35 per person including tax and tip. Chef Tyler Wiard also will prepare light Chuc wellhors d’oeuvres to enjoy during the sip soiree. For reservations, call Lara at 303- think into 399-7616. Denv
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Train drives gala’s engine
Sister Nations Color Guard will be honored at the 2013 Tesoro Indian Market Courtesy photo Northern and Southern Traditional, Boy’s and Girl’s Fancy Dance and Tiny Tots (6 and under). Native storytelling, educational exhibits, face painting, Hawkquest and other activities will fill the two days.
A group that deserves the limelight on Baby B stage, Train, headlined NightShine, a benefit for Denver Health Foundation on April Denv 27 at the National Western Events Center. oper After the presentations and recognitionsdova wife, were over — including the 2013 Denver first Health Stars award-winners James Q. Crowe (Level 3 CEO) and Pamela Crowe — worl Train lead singer Pat Monahan engineered at St. Ba the popular band through hits such as “Calling All Angels,” “Drops of Jupiter (Tell at 8.3 sured Me)” and fan favorite “Drive By.” Cong But this was no ordinary, roped-off, Al don’t-block-the-aisles affair; rather Monahan encouraged a stampede of gowned Elwa gals who didn’t hesitate to swarm the stage. Tyler Jenn No doubt the best concert at a gala that their I’ve ever seen. Parker continues on Page 2118. T
21
Centennial Citizen 21
May 10, 2013
Macro photographer will speak to club
tour: 865 S. Gilpin; 911 S. Williams; 924 S. Race; 1024 S. Race; 1076 S. Vine.
Trees spark imagination
Artist Gina Barry Harris, whose joyous paintings are exhibited at Highlands Ranch Library, 9292 Ridgeline Parkway, has incorporated wood as the background for her colorful paintings of trees. Open during library hours.
Plant sale returns
Terry Meiger will present a program on macro photography for the May 14 meeting of the Englewood Camera Club. The club meets at the Greenwood Village Town Center, 6060 S. Quebec St., Greenwood Village, at 6:30 p.m. (Doors open at 6 p.m.) He will also be judge for the monthly photo contest held after the program. His presentation will include technical ideas, types of equipment, set up and processing techniques. Guests are always welcome. Englewoodcameraclub.net.
Serengeti is talk topic
“Serengeti: the Eternal Beginning” is photographer Boyd Norton’s title for his talk at Bemis Library at 7 p.m. May 14. He is the author of over 16 books about this ecosystem, and copies will be available for sale and signing. Bemis is at 6014 S. Datura St., Littleton. Admission is free. 303-795-3961.
Author showcase set
Ten local authors will appear to present their new books from 2 to 4 p.m. May 19 at the Parker Library, 18051 Crossroads Drive. Thirteen-year-old Shewli Ghosh of Highlands Ranch, who swam the San Francisco Bay three times, wrote a book: “Under the Shimmering Light,” about her open
The 2013 Spring Plant Sale will offer increased inventories from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 10 and 11 at the York Street Gardens at Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver. Bring a wagon to carry plants away. Admission to the sale is free and proceeds benefit the Gardens. Botanicgardens.org.
Viennese music
Macro shot of a flicker feather by Terry Mieger, who will speak to the Englewood Camera Club in Greenwood Village on May 14. Courtesy photo sea swim. Others, with an assortment of titles for children and adults: Lee Croissant, Thomas R. Wilson, Becky Clark, Stephanie Blake, Lee Mosel, David L. McElwain, Jordyn Redwood, Lee McQueen, Shannon Baker.
Singing of America
“A Celebration of American Song” is the theme or the Parker Chorale’s May 11 concert at 7:30 p.m. at PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker. Songs from “The Great American Songbook” are promised. 303-805-6800.
Tour distinctive homes
The Annual Wash Park Home Tour will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 11. Five homes on the east side of Washington Park will be featured, varying from historic renovation to contemporary new builds. Proceeds help homeless students at Steele Elementary School. Tickets ($20) can be purchased in advance at: washparkhometour.org, from Steele Elementary students or on the day of the tour ($25) at Steele Elementary, 320 S. Marion Parkway, or at the Home Tour Street Fair in the 900 block of South Williams Street, at any house on the
“A Night in Old Vienna” is the Littleton Symphony’s theme for its May 17 concert at 7:30 p.m. at Littleton United Methodist Church, 5894 S. Datura St., Littleton. Selections from Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus” will be performed by Emily Sinclair, Kristem Kamna, Anna Englander and Christian Sanders. Tickets: $15/$12, free under 21. Available at: littletonsymphony.org; Gorsett Violin Shop, 8100 S. Quebec St., B206, Centennial; at the door. Information: 303-933-6824.
Genealogists gather
“Recollections of a Genealogist’s Daughter” and “What the Arapahoe Library District Has to Offer Genealogists” will be librarian Pamela Bagby’s topics at 1 p.m. May 14 for the Columbine Genealogical and Historical Society meeting at Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, 6400 S. University Blvd., Centennial. Guests welcome.
Bird day is for the moms Audubon Nature Center stages event on May 12 By Sonya Ellingboe
sellingboe@ourcoloradonews.com “Give the gift of seeing songbirds up-close as they migrate through the South Platte River corridor” says the invitation from the Audubon Nature Center. Drop in between 9 and 11 a.m. May 12. (Reservations required.) Local moms who are interested in nature can enjoy “a light continental breakfast and a leisurely spring hike to our bird-banding station,” it continues. Birds have tiny bands placed on their legs so they can be tracked, contributing to a national count of each species as ornithologists try to understand which ones are diminishing in numbers and which are holding steady as their habitats change. The beautifully located center at the south end of Chatfield State Park is dedicated, as is the national Audubon So-
Parker Continued from Page 20
I spotted music man Chuck Morris in the well-heeled crowd. I’m thinking he “steered” Train into making tracks to the Denver event.
Baby steps
Bob Bonner, the Denver-based director of operations for Richard Sandoval Restaurants, and his wife, Marj, welcomed their first child, Oliver, into the world at 6:49 p.m. April 28 at St. Joseph Hospital. Baby “Ollie” weighed in at 8.3 pounds and measured 19.5 inches long. Congrats to the new family! Also on the baby boom, Elway’s executive chef Tyler Wiard and his wife, Jennifer, are expecting their second child on July 18. They knew ahead of
time that their first — who’s now 2 years old — would be a girl, but the couple opted to have the second child’s gender kept as a surprise. Congrats ahead of time to them!
Broncos’ Decker visits school
Swanson Elementary School in Arvada got a special visitor — Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker — as a reward for the school’s wellness program. Decker visited the school on April 19 as part of the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, founded by the National Football League and the National Dairy Council. Fuel Up to Play 60 is geared to help kids and schools support health and wellness. Swanson fourthgrade teacher Valerie Cordova sponsored the after-school wellness club, which is in its third year. Decker’s visit was a reward for the program’s success. Principal Carla Endsley
ciety, to protecting birds and habitat and educating adults and children. It has trails, a garden of native plants, classrooms and devoted volunteers. The center offers programs; classes, including Little Fledglings; a preschool nature hour; and organized hikes and outings, traveling near and far. Tours include the Highlands Ranch Backcountry, Castlewood Canyon, Yellowstone, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and others. Upcoming is the Audubon Society of Greater Denver Birdathon, a major fundraiser for the organization: Teams are formed and members get pledges from supporters for a given amount per bird spotted in a particular 24-hour period in May at a favorite birding spot. (Pledges are taxdeductible.) Children and families are encouraged to participate. For information about these and other programs, including summer camps, visit denveraudubon.org or call 303-973-9530.
A yellow warbler arrives at Audubon Nature Center. Courtesy photo by Dick Vogel
says student behavior also has improved because of the wellness program. Endsley says the club is run by students and they set a variety of healthy initiatives for students throughout the year and provide announcements about eating healthy and exercising each day. Cordova was chosen as FUTP60’s Teacher Advisor of the Year.
Golf fair set for girls
Parents and girls, ages 5-17, are invited to the Golf Fair from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on
Saturday, May 11 at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora. Peter “King of Clubs” Longo will be featured in a trick-shot exhibition from 12:15-1 p.m. The free event also will include family golf instruction, education on the rules of golf and etiquette, lunch and nutrition information, fitness activities, a photo with the Solheim Cup, crafts and games. This event is sponsored by GolfTEC, Colorado Section PGA, Girl Power
Golf, Titleist, CWGA, CGA, Tracey Lynn, TaylorMade, Experience Golf, LPGAUSGA Girls Golf, LPGA, Rocky Mountain Sunscreen, Sassy Golf and The First Tee of Green Valley Ranch. The Solheim Cup, a competition between the best American and European female golfers, will be played August 13-18 at Colorado Golf Club in Parker. For more information and tickets to the Solheim Cup, visit www.solheimcu-
pusa.com. Penny Parker’s “Mile High Life” column gives insights into the best events, restaurants, businesses, parties and people throughout the metro area. Parker also writes for Blacktie-Colorado.com. You can subscribe and read her columns (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) at www.pennyparker.blacktie-colorado. com. She can be reached at parkerp1953@gmail.com or at 303-619-5209.
AIRLINES ARE HIRING
800-481-8612
22
22 Centennial Citizen
May 10, 2013
A harsh look at family business Arvada Center’s latest addresses change, greed and the ties that bind By Clarke Reader
creader@ourcoloradonews.com Family dynamics, entitlement and changing times. These are just a few of the themes tackled in Horton Foote’s darkly comic “Dividing the Estate,” which makes its regional premiere at the Arvada Center’s, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Black Box Theater. The play runs through May 26, with performances at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday, 1 p.m. on Wednesday and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. “The key is to find the balance between the comic and the human,” said director A. Lee Massaro. “I’m calling it a dramedy because it takes a look at death and how it affects people, and the greed that comes from trying to get what you need.” The story takes place in Texas in 1987 and focuses on the Gordons - a family that used to have considerable wealth, but now finds themselves facing a finanical crisis. The family’s matriach Stella is committed to not dividing up the only real asset the family has left - the 100-year-old family estate. Her three children - Mary Jo, Lucille and Lewis - have other ideas, and try to convince their mother to change her mind. All manner of sibling rivalries and old resentments arise as each family member vies for their own piece. “The children aren’t necessarily being greedy in the sense that they want as much as they can have,” Massaro said. “They’re really trying to get enough so they can get what they need, and maintain their lifestyles.” The family is also dealing with the changing world around them, including a wave of commercialization and spread of strip malls and retail shops. Massaro said a lot of the joy in directing this show comes from Foote’s writing style, and his familiarity with the region. “He has a great ear for the part of Texas he’s writing about, and it’s based on stories he’d heard,” she said. “You get a sense that the people are real.” In the first production of the play in 1989 Foote’s daughter Hallie played Mary Jo, and
From left, daughters Mary Jo (Sharon Kay White) and Lucille (Rachel Fowler) try to convince family matriarch Stella Gordon (Anne Oberbroeckling) to sell their property in “Dividing the Estate.” Photo courtesy of Arvada Center in that spirit Massaro’s 16-year-old daughter Ella Tieze is playing Lewis’ girlfriend Irene Ratliff in this production. “She (Irene) is kind of a harbinger of the new world the family is dealing with,” Tieze said. “She’s from the new generation and a different class, and king of goes against the family’s principals.” Tieze said working on the character who is quite important, despite her limited stage time - has been a great challenge for her, and a way to learn about what makes a compelling character. Working with her daughter has been an interesting experience, Massaro said, because it allows both to see each other in a different light. “As a parent I’m not sure that children always get to really see their parents do what they do, but she’s getting the chance to see me work here,” Massaro said.
Tieze said that she finds her mother inspiring, and has a lot of respect for her, both as an artists and a strong woman, after seeing all the work she does. “It’s been really interesting to come from school straight here, because it’s a different environment, but I learn just as much here, so it’s just as valuable,” Tieze said. The family element that goes on behind the scenes mirrors what’s happening on stage. “There are so many generations in the show, that there’s really something for every age here,” Massaro said. Tieze added that part of the play’s draw lies in its relatability. “This is a show about something that everyone can or will one day relate to,” she said. “It’s a family that can be nasty and dysfuncitonal, but the audience is going to recognize each character within their own family.”
IF YOU GO WHAT: “Dividing the Estate” WHERE: Arvada Center 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada
WHEN: Through May 26 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday 1 p.m. on Wednesday 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday
COST: $48-$38 INFORMATION: 720-898-7200 or www.
arvadacenter.org
For tickets and more information, call 720-898-7200 or visit www.arvadacenter. org.
Annual music fest brings good times to Civic Green Park Two-day gathering offers variety of approaches By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@ourcolorado news.com When the Highlands Ranch Music Arts Festival was initiated in 2006, the idea was to show off some of the area’s community bands and let people know
they still existed. With average annual draws approaching 2,000 music-lovers, the Highlands Ranch Concert Band — the group behind it all — can consider its mission accomplished. “For a small community band, that’s pretty good,” said Kelly Messall, who is in her fourth year as president of the band, a nonprofit organization that depends on festival proceeds to help purchase music
and pay for top-notch conductors. The two-day festival marks its eighth year at Civic Green Park. Organizers have a slew of jazz, swing, folk and new age musicians lined up for May 18, and a steady diet of concert, wind and symphonic bands ready to take the stage May 19. “We have some new groups joining us, including a couple new jazz bands on Saturday that have never played with us before,” said Messall, who in addition to her role as president has played clarinet in the band for 10 years. Saturday acts perform from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m.
and include the Rootin’ Tootin’ Dixieland Band, Mile High Wind Machine, Blue 88’s, Bob’s Big Band, ThunderRidge High School Jazz Band, William and the Romantics, Sampson’s Gulch Jazz Band and the HRCB’s own Swing Shift closing out the night. Sunday acts take the stage from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. and feature the Colorado VFW Band, Over the Hill Band, John Philip Sousa Band of Colorado, Denver Concert Band, Thornton Community Band, Golden Eagle Concert Band and the HRCB. Between 50 and 60 vendors are expected to offer a variety of refreshments,
O’Neill goes ape
Horton Foote plays through May 26 at the Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada. Directed by A. Lee Massaro. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays; 1 p.m. Wednesdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets: arvadacenter.org, 720-898-7200.
arts and crafts, including hands-on activities such as face-painting and a chance for festival-goers ages 3 and up to create their own fused-glass art. The event is free and the band’s proceeds will be made from vendor sales from its own food booth as well as from space leased out to other vendors. Civic Green Park is located at 9370 Ridgeline Boulevard in Highlands Ranch. For more information on the festival and performance times, visit www.hrmafestival.org. Sponsoring this year’s festival is the Highlands Ranch Metro District, the Scientific and Cultural Fa-
cilities District, A Great American Print Shop, Glen W. Hagen P.C. and Colorado Community Media. For information on future concerts or how to join the Highlands Ranch Concert Band, visit www. hrconcertband.org or contact Messall at 303-6834102. The Highlands Ranch Concert Band is made up of volunteer professional, amateur and high school musicians who provide entertainment throughout the year and promote an educational experience for musicians and the community through music, arts, entertainment and cultural opportunities.
CURTAIN TIME
“The Hairy Ape,” by Eugene O’Neill (1922) is presented in a new bilingual translation and interpretation by the LIDA Project at work | space at The Laundry, 2701 Lawrence St., Denver. Featuring Lorenzo Sarinana, directed by Brian Freeland. Tickets: $15, lida. org, 720-221-3821, email: tickets@lida.org.
Regional Foote premiere
“Dividing the Estate” by
Guenevere arrives
“Camelot” by Lerner and Lowe plays through May 25 at Colorado Actors Theatre, Pacific Event Center, 1330
Main St., Longmont (new address). Performances: 7:30 p.m. May 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 and 6 p.m. May 12. Tickets: $15. 303-775-4343, 303-995-7109 pacificeventcenter.com/3/online_payment.htm.
Age of Aquarius
“Hair” plays May 17 through June 16 at Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Littleton. Directed by Nick Sugar. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays,
Fridays, Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: 303-7942787 ext. 5.
Family memories
“Memory of Water” by Shelagh Stevenson plays through May 26 at Miners Alley Playhouse, 1224 Washington, Golden. Directed by John Arp. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays; 6 p.m. Sundays and 2 p.m. only on May 26. Tickets: $19 to $29.50, 303935-3044, minersalley.com.
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23
Centennial Citizen 23
May 10, 2013
Play eyes altercation amid sophistication ‘God of Carnage’ on stage at Curious Theatre
IF YOU GO “God of Carnage� by Yasmina Reza plays through June 8 at Curious Theatre, 1080 Acoma St., Denver. Performances: 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $18 to $44, 303-623-0524, curioustheatre.org. Talkbacks with the cast follow all performances.
By Sonya Ellingboe
sellingboe@ourcoloradonews. com The set onstage at Curious Theatre for “God of Carnage� speaks to the entering audience of sophisticated refinement in the Novak home. A bouquet of precisely arranged white tulips stands out behind the white mid-century modern couch and chairs, and a glass coffee table holds a stack of art books. Tall brick wall panels alternate with dark spaces. What will transpire in this sleek, tidy setting? Two sets of parents meet to discuss a playground disagreement between their 11-year-old sons: Why did it happen and what are the possible consequences? It seems that Benjamin Raleigh hit Henry Novack in the mouth with a stick, breaking a couple of teeth, when Henry refused to let him join his gang. In the course of 90 minutes, these four civilized New Yorkers melt down in highly individual-
Castle Rock
Dee Covington and Karen Slack disagree in “God of Carnage� at Curious Theatre. Courtesy photo by Michael Ensminger ized and hilarious ways. Veronica Novack (Dee Covington) is an art lover, writer and activist, while mild-mannered busi-
Highlands Ranch
nessman Michael Novack (Erik Sandvold) sells household goods. Alan Rahleigh (Timothy McCracken) is an aggressive corporate law-
Littleton
yer who continually interrupts the conversation to answer his phone and bark instructions regarding a questionable pharmaceutical
Parker
product. His wife, chic Annette (Karen Slack) is a wealth manager — with a supremely watchable face! What on earth is she thinking? The boys actually seem to be of secondary interest to this quartet as they interact through a few hours, shifting alliances, playing off each other, making and defending outrageous statements. Yet, each one seems very much alone, ultimately. Yasmina Reza’s satiric slant shines in this wonderfully written script, translated from the French by British playwright Christopher Hampton. Director Chip Walton has cast the play perfectly and provided a really organized ongoing mess to delight his audience, as words — and an occasional object — fly. What more could a theater lover ask of an evening? Don’t miss this one.
Parker
Parker
First United Methodist Church 1200 South Street Castle Rock, CO 80104 303.688.3047 www.fumccr.org
Services:
Saturday 5:30pm Sunday 8am, 9:15am, 10:30am Sunday School 9:15am Little Blessings Day Care www.littleblessingspdo.com
CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING Affiliated with United Church of Religious Science
Sunday Services 10 a.m. Castle Rock Recreation Center 2301 Woodlands Blvd, Castle Rock www.OurCenterforSpiritualLiving.org 720-851-0265
anch e up onal, hool ovide An Evangelical hout Presbyterian Church e an e for Sunday Worship 10:30 comusic, 4825 North Crowfoot Valley Rd. and $BTUMF 3PDL t DBOZPOTDD PSH
303-663-5751
Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.
Open and Welcoming
Welcome Home!
Sunday Worship
Weaving Truth and Relevance into Relationships and Life:
Sunday School 9:00 & 10:30 am
worship Time 10:30AM sundays
8:00 am Chapel Service 9:00 & 10:30 am
www.st-andrew-umc.com 303-794-2683 Preschool: 303-794-0510 9203 S. University Blvd. Highlands Ranch, 80126
Abiding Word Lutheran Church 8391 S. Burnley Ct., Highlands Ranch
(Next to RTD lot @470 & University)
Worship Services Sundays at 9:00am
303-791-3315
9:00am Spiritual Formation Classes for all Ages 90 east orchard road littleton co
303 798 6387 www.gracepointcc.us
First Presbyterian Church of Littleton
pastor@awlc.org www.awlc.org
Sunday Worship
8:45 am & 10:30 am
EDUCATION Sunday 9:15am
Joyful Mission Preschool 303-841-3770 7051 East Parker Hills Ct. t Parker, CO 303-841-3739 www.joylutheran-parker.org
9030 MILLER ROAD PARKER, CO 80138 303ďšş841ďšş2125 www.pepc.org Pastor David Fisher Parker
Community Church of Religious Science Sunday services held in the historic Ruth Memorial Chapel at the Parker Mainstreet Center
...19650 E. Mainstreet, Parker 80138
Fellowship & Worship: 9:00 am Sunday School: 10:45 am 5755 Valley Hi Drive Parker, CO 303-941-0668
www.SpiritofHopeLCMC.org
New Thought...Ancient Wisdom Sunday Service
& Children’s Church 10:00 a.m.
Visit our website for details of classes & upcoming events.
P.O. Box 2945—Parker CO 80134-2945
Sunday
GRACE PRESBYTERIAN
You are invited to worship with us:
Sundays at 9:00 & 10:45 am
Sunday Worship 8:00 & 10:45 a.m.
Grace is on the NE Corner of Santa Fe Dr. & Highlands Ranch Pkwy. (Across from Murdochs)
Trinity Lutheran School & ELC (Ages 3-5, Grades K-8)
303-798-8485
www.tlcas.org
Connect – Grow – Serve
SUNDAY 8:00 & 10:3Oam
303.805.9890
www.gracecolorado.com
303-841-4660
Parker evangelical Presbyterian church
SATURDAY 5:30pm
www.P a r k e r C C R S.org
Alongside One Another On Life’s Journey
Lutheran Church & School
www.parkerbiblechurch.org
SERVICES:
’
A Contemporary Christian Choir Camp June 3-7 – Grades 1-8 M – F: 9am–12pm – Free of Charge – sueeby@gracepointcc.us
A place for you
Trinity
4391 E Mainstreet, Parker, Colorado 80134 Church Office – (303) 841-3836
LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA
Rockin Out for Jesus
“Loving God - Making A Difference�
Franktown
Sunday Worship: 10:45AM & 6PM Bible Study: 9:30AM Children, Young People & Adults
Joy
8:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m.
1609 W. Littleton Blvd. t XXX GQDM PSH
To advertise your place of worship in this section, call 303-566-4091 or email kearhart@ourcoloradonews.com.
CentennialSPORTS 24-Sports-Color
24 The Citizen May 10, 2013
Heritage senior’s life is whirlwind Torres balances athletics with many other activities By Tom Munds
tmunds@ourcoloradonews.com Heritage High School senior Logan Torres now focuses on her efforts as a sprinter for the Eagles track team, but she still finds time to take voice lessons, model, prepare for pageants, ride her horse and develop her competitive figure skating talents. At the April 27 Liberty Bell Invitational, Torres ran the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash and was a member of the Eagles relay teams. In addition, she sang the national anthem a cappella. “I got started running track in middle school, decided to try it in high school, and I found running track is one of those addictive things that, once you get started, you can’t quit,” she said. “As for my music, I have been taking vocal lessons since I was a little girl. Originally I was going to be a theater major at School of the Arts. I transferred to Heritage, I joined the track team and I kept my music. I like to sing, and my favorite music to sing is classical works, a lot of Broadway songs and I love to sing opera.” Competing in pageants began as a child, she said. Torres said when she was little, she watched her cousin compete in pageants and told her mother she wanted to do it too. “I did quite a few pageants, I did pretty well and it was fun. Finally, last year, I won the Miss Colorado High School Teen title. That is one of those amazing, surreal feeling I can’t put into words,” she said. “As state winner, I went to nationals to represent our Colorado. Nationals were amazing and a little overwhelming. The event was held in Texas and that was good because we have family there and I had a lot of support.” She said this summer she’ll compete for the National American Miss Colorado Teen
Senior Logan Torres goes through track practice at Heritage High School. The sprinter also is a singer, figure skater, equestrian and pageant winner. Photo by Tom Munds title. She said hopefully that will earn her scholarships. She said her participation in pageants opened the door for her to begin modeling for a couple agencies. Torres said there is a month before her next pageants, so she should have time to prepare for it. However, she also has a long list of other activities to keep her busy, which will include spending a lot of time with her horse. “I have ridden and trained horses since I was little and I love it,” she said. “I own my own horse, an Arab-quarter horse cross. She is a line-back dun. She
is not old or far enough in her training to compete yet. But my baby is getting older and better trained, so competition is in the near future.” She said she is thinking about cross country competition because her horse is full of energy and she is very strong. “Riding is my alternative outlet,” Torres said. “I love running, but when you ride, you have a set of legs that aren’t yours and they are so strong. My horse and I have a special bond. I have raised her since she was a foal and she is like an extension of me.”
In addition to track, the talented athlete is also a competitive figure skater. “I like skating, and competitive figure skating requires a lot of the same talents as pageant competition,” she said. “Competing in figure skating and in pageants require you be athletic, present your program while maintaining your smile and your poise at all times.” As she wraps up her high school career, she said she is an A-B student and has taken a lot of advance placement tests, with plans to enroll in the University of Colorado at Boulder in the fall.
Warriors lose tough diamond battle in extra inning Mullen wins game, but Arapahoe still in line for playoff berth By Tom Munds
tmunds@ourcoloradonews.com Dominating pitching, coupled with diving catches and heads-up defensive plays by both teams, eventually culminated in Mullen’s 2-1, extra-inning win over Arapahoe in April 30 Centennial League baseball action. The Warriors had an overall 11-6 record and a league mark of 8-4 following the April 30 game, which gave them a firm hold on third place in the league. They wrap up the regular season with two home games, May 2 against league leading Cherry Creek and a May 4 game against fourth-place Cherokee Trail. But there will be little time to relax as the Warriors will be seeded on the 32-team state district playoff bracket, with the first games scheduled to be played May 11. The top eight teams move to the double-elimination regional playoff May 17 and 18, with the Class 5A championship being decided May 24 and 25 at Denver’s All-City Stadium. “It has been a bit of an up-and-down season, like most of the league teams, and I
Andrei Williams slides safely into third base with a triple in the April 30 game against Mullen. Williams scored for Arapahoe but Mullen won the game 2-1 in eight innings. Photo by Tom Munds think a lot of that is due to the lack of practice time and the chance to play games because of the weather,” Warrior Coach Luke Muller said after the Mullen game. “It is always a major challenge when our players are not being able to work against good-caliber, live pitching. Our run production has been down, but otherwise we have played well. Our pitchers are throwing strikes and our defense has been solid. Then when we
hit the ball, we have been hitting it well and winning games.” He said the Mullen game was tough and immediately gave credit to Mustangs pitcher Nick Dipaola, who went the distance and limited Arapahoe to five hits. “He competed, threw strikes and got our guys out,” the coach said. “Our guys competed too, trying to time their swings. But we just didn’t get the bat on the ball for the
hits when we needed them to score runs.” Arapahoe got solid pitching from starter Corey Nevers, who gave up six hits but didn’t give up an earned run. He struck out three. The coach said he wasn’t surprised by the junior’s performance, because pitching has been a strong point all season. “We lose some of our starters on defense to graduation, but I think we’ll still be a good team next season,” he said. “We also have good junior pitchers and we do have good depth on the varsity. Plus we have a solid junior varsity. So, I expect some of those young players will challenge for varsity spots next season.” The April 30 Arapahoe-Mullen game was a classic pitchers’ duel, with Nevers on the mound for Arapahoe and Dipaola pitching for the Mustangs. Mullen scored first in the bottom of the third inning, pushing an unearned run across the plate, and Arapahoe tied it up in the top of the fourth inning. The Warriors’ only run of the game came when Ted Ramerez tripled and scored on an infield ground ball by Jason Bendell, who had the game’s only RBI and collected a pair of hits later in the contest. Both teams mounted scoring opportunities that didn’t pan out until the bottom of the eighth, when Mullen won the game on an RBI single by Robert Mitchell.
THE IRV & JOE SHOW M–F 1p–3p
LISTEN ONLINE www.milehighsports.com
Irv Brown and Joe Williams are the longest-running sports talk tandem in the history of Denver radio. For more than 28 years, Irv Brown and Joe Williams have teamed to bring sports talk to fans in Denver. That tradition continues on Mile High Sports Radio.
25-Color
Centennial Citizen 25
May 10, 2013
Beyond sausage and pepperoni
d
Bonanno brings signature style to the suburbs By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com It took Ian Scott three months and innumerable pieces of dough to perfect the Bonanno Brothers’ thin-crust pizza toss. “I practiced on a wet dish towel at home,” said Scott, who works at the recently opened pizzeria in The Vistas at Park Meadows. Creating the ideal crust for restaurateur Frank Bonanno’s pizzas is no small feat. “It can go from perfect dough to disaster easily,” said Joey Sabatini, who works with Scott at the Lone Tree restaurant. “Pizza is an amazing food. It’s simplistic but versatile.” Bonanno capitalizes on that versatility. “I’d like to think we have some pretty innovative toppings,” he said, “like the combination of flavors on the Lobster Fra Diavolo.” Those include lobster, tomatoes, chiles and ricotta cheese. A sunny-side-up fried egg is the centerpiece of the Carbonara Pancetta pizza, which service manager Amy Rapisarda de-
scribed as reminiscent of bacon and eggs. Each pizza is just 12 inches wide and designed not as a full meal, but to encourage sharing and sampling among groups of customers. Many tables start with a plate of house-cured meats and house-made cheeses, then move on to an appetizer like albacore tuna tartare and finally to pizza, Rapisarda said. Ahi tuna, cured salmon, octopus, wines and cocktails on tap and a wood-fired oven imported from Florence, Italy, offer further proof Bonanno’s is anything but a typical pizzeria. Bonanno thinks his singular menu is a good fit for Park Meadows, which aims for a blend of high-quality tenants that are either unique to the south suburbs or the region. “As soon as I saw The Vistas at Park Meadows, I knew it would be a perfect community to open Bonanno Brothers,” he said. “It’s stunning.” The restaurateur already owns nine Denver restaurants, including Mizuna, Luca D’Italia and Osteria Marco, with Lone Tree his first venture south. “This is kind of a little cousin to Osteria Marco,” Rapisarda said. “The idea is to bring quality food to the suburbs. We already have customers in this area. Now they don’t have to make the drive downtown.”
THINGS TO DO
May 12
SUNDAY ON the Streets, an outdoor market, is open hletefrom 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the second Sunday of the month from May to October at the Cherry Knolls Shopping Center, University gureBoulevard and Arapahoe Road, Centennial. Call 720-985-8580 nts asor email robin.loughran@gmail.com for a vendor application or mpet-more information. quire while se atMay 14 GENEALOGY PROGRAMS. The board of directors for areer, the Columbine Genealogical & Historical Society will meet akenat 9:30 a.m. May 14, and the regular business meeting and preplanssentation is at 1 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, 6400 do atS. University Blvd., Centennial. The program is “Recollections of a Genealogist’s Daughter” and “What the Arapahoe Library District has to Offer Genealogists” by Pamela Bagby, Reference Librarian for the Arapahoe Library District. For information, visit www.ColumbineGenealogy.com.
g
May 14, 21, 28
FAMILY CAREGIVER workshops. Are you caring ns.” for an aging parent or relative with Alzheimer’s disease. Find start-out about what causes dementia and the signs to watch for a s butfree Alzheimer’s family caregiver workshops from 6:30-7:30 k outp.m. Tuesdays in May at Home Instead Senior Care, 2095 S. Pontiac Way, Denver. Call 303-389-5700; RSVP by the Friday d bybefore the workshop you want to attend. hing
enseMay 18 be aFUN RUN. High Plains Elementary School plans its third alsoannual fun run, a rae that features both a 5K and 1-mile course havefollowed by a post-run festival with music, snacks and fun. haveThe 5K starts at 8:30 a.m. and the 1-mile starts at 9 a.m. at me ofthe school, 6100 S. Fulton St., Englewood. Register at http://
highplainsfunrun.org by May 6. Registration includes a T-shirt, goody bag and the post-race festival. Visit http://highplainsfunrun.org/.
May 21
BOOK FAIR. The Columbine Genealogical & Historical Society plans a book fair (11:30 a.m. ), luncheon (noon) and program (1 p.m.) May 21 at Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, 6400 S. University Blvd., Centennial. The program is a panel discussion and presentation on “Tips on Trips for Genealogy.” For information, visit www.ColumbineGenealogy.com.
June 5, June 19, July 10, July 24, Aug. 7, Aug. 21
SUMMER CONCERTS. The Streets at SouthGlenn’s summer concert series runs from June 5 to Aug. 21, with concerts lasting from 6:30-8 p.m. in Commons Park. The concerts are free. The lineup: June 5, Message in a Bottle, a Police tribute band. June 19, Dr. Kool and the Disco Fever Divas. July 10, Fourever Fab, a Beatles tribute band. July 24, The Juke-Box Boys, a sock-hop band. Aug. 7, The Long Run, an Eagles tribute band. Aug. 21, Margarita Brothers Band.
Through June 21; July 19-20
QUILT ENTRIES. Firehouse Quilts is looking for quilt entries for its eighth annual quilt show to support its mission of helping children in crisis in Colorado. Early bird entries submitted by May 17 are taken at a discounted entry fee ($15). Otherwise, the fee is $18 per item, and the final deadline is June 21. This year’s show has a special theme, Patriotic, along with 13 other categories. The show is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 19-20 at the Douglas County Events Center in Castle Rock. All forms and instructions are available at www.firehousequilts. org; click on the Quilt Show link at the top.
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f the Continued from Page 9 run up in I was thankful that there was law enforcement that restored order, brought bad cameguys to account for their hideous crimes on anand did it with professionalism, justice and whoorder. pair It was an effort for me to be grateful because I preferred to spend my energy tuni-with vindictive words and wishes. I felt m ofanger and despised the act but, stimulated e onby the quote, I made a conscious attempt to express thanks. There were significant parts of the event that also deserved attention. When I expressed thanks for them, I was engaged in a more complete way that made me feel, not comfortable nor happy, but more alive. In the Holy Scriptures it is written, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). They do not tell us, “be thankful for all circumstances.” There is a lot in life I do not think I will ever be thankful for — diseases that I have observed in my hospice care, accidents, natural and man-made disasters that take lives and possessions that force dramatic
change on people who are just trying to get through another day, economic bad decisions, bankruptcy, etc. But when I make the effort to be thankful, I will be more alive, so in every event I will extend the effort. If the Scripture says to do it, it must be the right thing and I trust there will be a benefit too. A grateful attitude “opens the heart and rewires the brain,” according to a Psychology Today article. When churches in our town remind us to be grateful, they are cultivating healthy emotional and spiritual living. If we as individuals and as a country do the hard work of being grateful when bad things happen, and if that makes us healthier and more alive, I wonder if those who want to destroy would soon discover their methodology is failing. Thankfulness is not the complete answer, but it is something I can do and, at the very least, it makes a difference in me when I express thanks to God, and that is a gift. Dan Hettinger is director of pastoral services at Hospice of Saint John and president of The Jakin Group, a ministry of encouragement, especially to Christian workers. You can email him at dhettinger @hospiceofsaintjohn.org.
Denver’s Ian Scott checks on a pizza in the oven at Bonanno Brothers Pizzeria, newly open in the Vistas at Park Meadows. Photo by Jane Reuter WHAT'S HAPPENING NEAR YOU? Want to know what news is happening in your area and the areas around you? Visit our website at www.ourcoloradonews.com.
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Boston Marathoner goes ‘one more mile’ Leg cramps kept teacher away from finish-line devastation By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@ourcoloradonews.com During any other marathon, Bev Holtzer might have been crossing the finish line with a time of four hours, ten minutes. But six miles into this year’s Boston Marathon, her quads cramped up and slowed her down. That twist of fate might have saved her life. Holtzer, a fourth-grade teacher at Gold Rush Elementary School in Parker, had just crossed the 25-mile marker when the homemade explosives detonated, killing three and injuring more than 200 others on April 15. “I just saw runners turning around and running towards all of us, saying `the race is canceled,’” she said. She found out from a spectator that explosions were reported along the course up ahead. It was 45 minutes later that Holtzer was able to borrow someone’s phone to send a text message to let her husband and daughter know she was OK. They were in the crowd and, if not for her slower-than-normal pace, would have been near the finish line four hours and nine minutes after the start of the race, when the
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Bev Holtzer, a fourth-grade teacher at Gold Rush Elementary, finished the final mile of the Boston Marathon at the school April 25 with help from faculty and students. Courtesy bombs went off. Outside of the heartbreak and fear triggered by the terrorist attack, Holtzer was disheartened by the fact that she was less than one mile away from completing the Boston Marathon in her first attempt. The 58-year-old felt robbed of the glory of finishing the storied race and scribbled a defiant, refuse-to-give-up message on a pair of
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napkins during the flight home to Colorado. Holtzer was greeted by hugs and tears upon her return to Gold Rush Elementary. And soon, a plan was devised by her students and the faculty to help her accomplish the unachieved goal. They staged the “One More Mile” event April 25 and ran alongside the beloved teacher as she completed the final mile of her journey. Holtzer
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was humbled by the gesture, which she says reflects the Gold Rush community’s supportive nature. “I thought it would just be the fourthgrade classes out there. Well, I walked out and there is the whole school chanting my name,” she said. “They had cow bells, posters, they were cheering. I got a little tearyeyed.” She still has a “nagging” desire to participate in the Boston Marathon next year to take care of some unfinished business. No matter how great the pain, Holtzer was able to complete all nine of her previous marathons. Organizers are still trying to decide whether to give the go-ahead for the 2014 Boston Marathon. The Gold Rush event in her honor, however, was gratifying and served as a lesson in perseverance for the kids. It also taught them to support others in a time of need. “I was really relieved crossing the finish line. I felt it was such a positive stamp on something that was so negative a week before,” she said. “It shows the kids that a goal might not always end how we want, but there’s always a plan B.” Holtzer has reflected on her turn of fortune in the form of atypical leg cramps. She is not a religious person, but considers herself spiritual and believes “there is a reason why that happened.”
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