March 3, 2016
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Programs support homeless students Number of homeless is growing, experts say, caused in part by lack of affordable housing By Crystal Anderson Canderson@coloradocommunitymedia.com For Preston Jenkins, 12, watching his mom teeter on the edge of homelessness left him anxious. “I did not like seeing my mom stressed out about it all,” he said. And “I was stressed out because we had to move and be homeless.” Preston held on to happy thoughts — “when we get out of here and get our new place, I will have a new start and new friends” — to help him feel better. That anxiety, along with tiredness, lack of focus and social skills are key factors affecting the more than 2,800 homeless students in Jefferson County schools, Jeffco district experts say. But the district’s Community & Family Connections department, a team that helps connect students andfamiliess with resources to lessen the impact of homelessness, works hard to relieve those burdens. “Children are little human beings, so they sense the stress their parents are under, and that can spill over to life just like for anybody,” said Susan Kimes-Demboski, the family engagement liaison at Golden’s Pleasant View Elementary. For Preston’s mother, Lakewood resident Beth Thomas, who became homeless about two years ago after being unable to keep up with rising rents and experienc-
IRISH TRADITIONS Culture and food from the Emerald Isle are spotlighted on PAGE 12.
New Arvada school funding up for approval Milani Gooley and big brother Preston Jenkins grin for the camera. The duo recently moved into an apartment in Lakewood with their mother, Beth Thomas, after a period of homelessness. Photos by Courtesy photo
THE MANY LOOKS OF HOMELESSNESS Homelessness can look much different than the stereotypical cardboard box in an alleyway. Here is a list of conditions that also fall under the definition. A person is considered homeless if he or she: • Shares housing because of a loss of housing or economic hardship •Lives in hotels or motels, trailer parks or campgrounds •Lives in shelters or transitional housing
•Is abandoned in hospitals •Is awaiting foster care placement •Has nighttime residence not ordinarily used for accommodations •Lives in cars, abandoned buildings, public settings and/or public spaces •Is a migratory child • Is an unaccompanied youth not in custody of a parent or guardian. — Source: U.S. Department of Education
Students continues on Page 22
4-H tree-mendous sale on tap
By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com Flowers and trees improve the natural beauty of landscape, but they can do even more than that.
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The tree seedlings for this year’s Jeffco 4-H Tree-mendous Sale are grown by the Colorado State Forest Service Nursery to promote conservation practices in the state’s rural and urban landscapes. These tree’s conservation efforts include rural windbreaks, wildlife habitat and conservation for pollinators. For example, shade trees can reduce air conditioning needs, and flowers support the pollinators important to agricultural production. Planting more drought-tolerant species can reduce the use of water, and planting insect and disease-resistant species may avoid widespread tree loss and the need for expensive chemical treatment.
It’s an economical way to reforest your property.”
– Curtis Utley, Horticulture agent for Colorado State University Extension
Orders may be placed through April 8, and plants will be ready for pick up April 28-30 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 15200 W. 6th Ave. Frontage Road, in Golden. People may place orders at www.4htrees.org or by calling 303-271-6620 for an information brochure and order form to mail in. People must pre-order, and it is recommended to do so early, as certain species sell out every year. Both online and in the brochure, people will have access to brief descriptions and prices of the more than 40 species available. Plants are grown from both seed and cuttings, and are available in several quantities, containers and sizes. The sale has been going on since 1975. People tend to like it for its economics, said Curtis Utley, the horticulture agent for the Colorado State University Extension in Jefferson County. “It’s an economical way to reforest your property,” he said. Plus, Utley added, many of the plants available are native to Colorado. The Jefferson County 4-H puts the sale on as one of its projects. It gets a percentage of the commission, which supports other 4-H activities. Anybody who can plant trees on their property is welcome to purchase plants from the sale, said Master Gardner Duane Davidson, but the purpose is to provide a resource for people to promote conservation efforts. “The philosophy,” Davidson said, “is to assist in tending to the environment — and improving it as much as possible.”
Staff Report
On March 3, the Jeffco Board of Education will discuss and decide whether or not to use Certificates of Participation to fund a K-8 School in Arvada’s Candelas neighborhood, and finish the renovations at Sierra Elementary School. The board is set to discuss the increased costs of the projects due to inflation. The Candelas project is now estimated at $31 million, and Sierra at $18 million. The school area, known as the Northwest Corridor, is experiencing an economic and population boom within the Candelas, Five Parks, West Woods and Leyden Rock housing developments. Student enrollment is rising exponentially in a number of area schools: West Woods and Meiklejohn Elementary schools, and Ralston Valley and Standley Lake high schools are nearing or surpassing student capacity. Projections show the area may need an additional 8,000 seats over the next seven years. Along with Northwest Arvada, Lakewood is also expecting more students — the Solterra development, specifically, plans to add 3,000 housing units in coming years. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Jefferson County Education Center, 1829 Denver West Drive, with a study session. This topic is in the discussion agenda, which will take place later in the evening. To view the proposals ahead of Thursday’s meeting, For more information about the board meeting, go to www.boarddocs.com/co/
COOKING UP AN IDEA IN ARVADA This year’s Leadership Arvada class has a vision for a project that could benefit nonprofits across the city and beyond. Read about it on PAGE 5.