March 17, 2016
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The music man’s final year Beloved Ralston Valley band director retiring after 36 years in Jeffco district
ST. PATRICK’S DAY Arvada celebrates the Emerald Isle. PAGE 5
By Crystal Anderson Canderson@coloradocommunitymedia.com With 76 trombones in the big parade and 110 cornets right behind, “The Music Man” Ralston Valley High School’s band director Ken Sawyer is marching his way through his final year of teaching and into retirement. “You mention Ken Sawyer, and everyone knows who he is,” said TJ Thomas, a friend and fellow teacher at Ralston Valley High School. “For all the people around him — kids, adults, everyone — he’s just a very, very caring and loving person.” For the past 36 years, Sawyer, 60, has taught band and orchestra in Jeffco schools. His love of music began the moment he picked up his first trombone, back in the sixth grade. And from that instant, he was hooked. Sawyer, the director of Ralston Valley’s latest musical, “The Music Man”, chose this production for sentimental reasons. “’The Music Man’ was my very first musical I got to conduct, and I wanted it to be the last musical to conduct,” he said. “I think I’ve played every trombone book you can get on it. “ He began his directing career teaching instrumental music at elementary schools across the district. After four years, he lost that job to budget cuts, but by luck, he says, obtained the instrumental director position for Alameda High School. “My whole thing was I wanted to be an instrumental music director,” he said. “I wanted to be a band director.” For 15 years he poured himself into music at Alameda. There, he not only taught music, but also directed and grew the band and orchestra programs, and directed the school’s musicals. In 2000, he left Alameda for a chance to be on the core team that opened Arvada’s Ralston Valley High School. It was, he said, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “The opportunity to open a new school and do music — that doesn’t come around very often,” he said. “This school is really incredible.” The teacher currently instructs 106 Music continues on Page 7
Jeffco women unite! About 150 gather for International Women’s Day By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com Women across the globe celebrated each other’s social, economic, political and cultural accomplishments on March 8 in observance of International Women’s Day. And joining in on the occasion were at least 150 Jefferson County women — and a few men — who gathered at the Fossil Trace Golf Club for a luncheon. “It’s always a great day when women come together to share ideas, business opportunities and friendships,” said Women continues on Page 14
Ralston Valley High School’s band director, Ken Sawyer, excitedly hugs his daughter and the school’s drum major, McKenna, sharing the moment where they made it to the Colorado State Semi-Finals Marching Band competition last fall. Both Sawyers will be leaving Ralston Valley at the end of this year, as Ken will retire after 36 years in the district and McKenna will graduate. Courtesy photo
Westminster councilman faces uphill race Baker admits obstacles, both from incumbent congressman and from his own party By Jeremy Johnson jjohnson@coloradocommunitymedia.com Westminster City Councilman Bruce Baker, saying he offers an “alternative to cardboard politicians,” is running on the GOP ticket against popular Congressman Ed Perlumutter in the 7th Congressional District race this November. “Elections should be Baker — not that they are — a chance to offer voters alternatives,” said Baker, a retired pharmacist who was elected to
Westminster City Council in November 2013. “A lot of times … there aren’t really any alternatives being offered. Nothing new is ever offered. But in this campaign, I intend to offer the voters true choices.” Based on past election challenges to the seat, campaigning will be no easy feat against Perlmutter, a Democrat who first served in the state Senate from 1993 to 2003. Perlmutter has represented the 7th Congressional District since 2006 and most recently won re-election to the U.S. House in 2014, when he handily defeated Republican Don Ytterberg in the general election by more than 25,000 votes. “It’s a very difficult Perlmutter mountain to climb,” Baker acknowledged. “Ed is very, very popular.” Baker, who recently stirred contro-
THE DISTRICT The 7th Congressional District includes Westminster, Northglenn, Thornton, Arvada, Golden, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge and parts of unincorporated Adams County.
versy when he called for a flat-out end to immigration, also has been unable, so far, to garner support from fellow Republicans. The Adams County Republican Party did not respond to a request for comment. But party officials in February told the Colorado Statesman, a Denverbased political publication, that Baker would have to run independently of the Republican party if he chose to run on Baker continues on Page 9
Barb Warden, webmaster of www.golden. com, walks back to her table after receiving a communicator award. The local celebration brought women from all over Jefferson County for a luncheon that took place March 8 at Fossil Trace Golf Club in Golden. Photo by Christy Steadman
BASKETBALL Ralston Valley advances to the final four of state playoff tournament. PAGE 22