Arvada Press 0330

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MARCH 30, 2017

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spring 2017

JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

ARVADA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MAN AND WOMAN OF THE YEAR

Woman of the year: Rebel Rodriguez

Man of the Year: Bill Orchard

BY SHANNA FORTIER SFORTIER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

BY SHANNA FORTIER SFORTIER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When Rebel Rodriguez started attending The Rising Church in Olde Town Arvada, she wanted to serve the community. So, she got involved with the church’s food bank. A short time later, she ended up running it. Today, The Rising’s food bank serves about 8,000 people a year with much of the volunteer work coming from the local homeless community. Rodriguez’s work with the food bank and the homeless has earned her the recognition of the 2017 Arvada Chamber Woman of the Year. “She works behind the scenes for no recognition or reward and does something that’s vitally needed in the community,” said Steve Camins, chair of the award selection committee. Rodriguez, a full-time volunteer, said she was blindsided by the award. “It was a surprise,” Rodriguez said. “But I am excited about it and I am humbled by it because I know there are probably several other woman ahead of me that do more. Sometimes I think that I don’t do anything super spectacular, so it is humbling and honoring.” But The Rising Church Pastor Steve Byers said their food bank and homeless ministry would not be what it is today without Rodriguez. “She helped make us aware of the homeless issue,” Byers said. “And it’s amazing what has developed here.” Rodriguez first met the local homeless men when she was walking her dog in an Olde Town park. She stopped and said, “hello.” A short time later, she started volunteering at the food pantry and she invited the homeless men to help her. “We’re we are almost five years later and they’re still helping out,” Rodriguez said.

Bill Orchard is someone you can always call for help. Best known around Arvada for his work with the community garden and the park committee, he is the recipient of the 2017 Arvada Chamber Man of the Year award. “I think it’s wonderful,” said Brenda Berg, special events coordinator for the City of Arvada, after hearing of Orchard’s award. “He puts himself out to the city and he’s so involved. If you’re looking for a volunteer, Bill is always a good one to call. He has so much energy and enthusiasm.” Orchard moved to Arvada in 1977 and became involved with the Arvada Community Garden a few years later. “He takes care of it and helps other members and teaches them a lot about gardening,” said Steve Camins, chair of the award selection committee. “He has done a lot of work in general for the garden club.” In the 1990s, Orchard got involved with a bicycle group and that is when former city councilmember Shelley Cook first noticed his commitment to the community. “I noticed Bill before I ever met

SEE RODRIGUEZ, P19

Rebel Rodriguez is the 2017 Arvada Chamber Woman of the Year. SHANNA FORTIER

IMAGE AWARD WINNERS: DOT AND RANGER MILLER Dot Miller became involved in Arvada as a business owner and chamber member in 2006. She was an event planner for the chamber as well as Historic Old Town Arvada’s Gold Strike Festival. From 2008 to 2013, she was the executive director of the Arvada chamber. She, along with Bob Dyer and Ereka O’Hara, founded the Arvada Vitality Alliance supporting Arvada charitable and cultural organizations. Miller has also served as a board member of the Arvada Colts semi-pro baseball team, The Business Education Alliance, Ralston House and received a Denver Business Journal’s “Denver Under 40” award in 2010. Ranger Miller founded and has helped launch the Blues & BBQ Music and Art Festival, raising over $172,000 for Habitat for Humanity for the past 19 years and planning for the 20th edition this year. He is also an instructor for the Jeffco Business Education Alliance.

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IF YOU GO WHAT: 66th Arvada Chamber Annual Awards Luncheon WHEN: 11:30 a.m. April 5 WHERE: Arvada Center Events, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada COST: $45 a person; $450 table sponsorship; $30 for past recipients CONTACT: arvadachamber.org

Bill Orchard is the 2017 Arvada Chamber Man of the Year. SHANNA FORTIER him,” Cook said. “I kept spotting community notices about bike tours through Arvada and they weren’t from an Arvada group. It SEE ORCHARD, P19

IMAGE AWARD WINNER: RON SLINGER Ron Slinger, as executive director of the Red Rocks Community College Foundation, was responsible for the fund raising that resulted in the college’s new addition. Although that was his job, getting the college built in the first place was a community project spearheaded by the Arvada Chamber. Slinger has also served the chamber as an active board member. Slinger also serves on the Arvada Economic Development Corporation board, the Arvada Kiwanis board, the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth board and the Arvada Visitors Association board.

THE BOTTOM LINE

‘These kids are up against offenders who have planned how to hurt them. Kids often have no way of protecting themselves. It’s important for us, as adults, to protect them.’ Don Moseley | Executive director of Ralston House | P6 INSIDE

VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 23 | SPORTS: PAGE 25

ArvadaPress.com

VOLUME 12 | ISSUE 44


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