March 31, 2016
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ArvadaPress.com J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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Man and Woman of the Year
Arvada chamber honors Jean and Jim Scharfenberg with highest honor for service to others By Crystal Anderson canderson@coloradocommunitymedia.com For those who know Jim and Jean Scharfenberg, one word seems to describe them best: Selfless. “They have an intense and ongoing commitment to improving this community and the lives of those who live here,” Robin Dodich wrote recently, nominating the couple for the Arvada Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Man and Woman of the Year, which they will receive April 6. Jean’s response: “Oh, what a surprise, what a surprise. We’re not deserving.” But their nominators would disagree. Over the past 20 years, and some would say even before that, the couple has given their time, energy and available resources to dozens of Arvada nonprofits, schools and parks — together. “We like to keep busy,” Jim said. “We really like to spend time together, and we absolutely depend on each other,” Jean said. “So we do it all together.” Currently, the two are volunteering with 11 organizations around the city, including two they started — the Trees Across Arvada and the Backpack-A-Roo programs. These programs, while vastly different, target key areas of the community in which the Scharfenbergs saw a need — the environment and nourishing of children. That dedication to service is what defines them, community leaders say. “Through our involvement in the Arvada community, we’ve each had positive interacts with Jean and Jim, and we couldn’t think of a more deserving couple,” Jill and Ken Fellman, Arvada residents active within Jeffco schools and the food bank, wrote in their nominating letter. “They continue to demonstrate their care and support of the Arvada community. We know that if the Scharfenbergs are asked to help, they will be all in.” The Scharfenbergs’ two programs have seen expansive growth and support since their inceptions. Trees Across Arvada, now 13 years old, provides inexpensive, shade trees to residents, companies and government organizations. The couple works with nurseries to obtain low-cost trees to help people landscape yards, parks and open spaces, which beautifies the city and promotes environmental awareness. The Backpack-A-Roo program, formerly known as the Arvada Community Food Bank’s Backpack program, provides a weekend pack of food for nearly 1,700 elementary school students in the Arvada and Wheat
For their deep commitment to serving others, Jim and Jean Scharfenberg, longtime Arvada residents and volunteers, are being honored April 6 as the 2015 Man and Woman of the Year by the Arvada Chamber of Commerce. Courtesy photo
Honor continues on Page 8
Fossils unearthed by highway construction Nicole Peavey, paleontologist for the Colorado Department of Transportation, looks at the fossils discovered by Linking Lookout excavation crews March 17. Linking Lookout is a construction project taking place near U.S. 6 and 19th Street in Golden. Photo courtesy of the City of Golden
Mesozoic creatures added to long list of area finds By Christy Steadman csteadman@colorado communitymedia.com Commuters on U.S. 6 stuck in construction traffic can sometimes feel like they are fossilizing, but it turns out they’re driving past the real thing. On March 17, excavating crews on the Linking Lookout project, which is taking place near U.S. 6 and 19th Street in
Golden, discovered baculite fossils, estimated to be about 70 million years old. Two pieces were found, which are about 4 or 5 inches long. Baculites swam with the mosasaur — a giant sea lizard — and a fish called the Xiphactinus during a time when Colorado was covered in saltwater. Finding baculite fossils is an interesting discovery, said Fossils continues on Page 19
BICYCLE KICKS
Bike-riding can have healthy benefits for family members both young and old. Check out the story on PAGE 12.