July 30, 2015 VO LUM E 1 1 | IS S UE 9
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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Arvada mom and Wheat Ridge teacher Sarah Lambert stands at 38th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard waving cars in to sign the final spots of the Jeffco United for Action recall petition. Photo by Crystal Anderson
Beer enthusiasts stop by Grand Lakes Brewing Company for a quick sample of their brews and to talk about Grand Lakes’ second location in Olde Town Arvada with owner Karen Wood. Photos by Crystal Anderson
First Arvada beer fest successfully helps service clubs Arvada On Tap draws crowds, some critiques By Crystal Anderson
canderson@coloradocommunitymedia.com
A
rvada’s first beer and barbecue festival — which raised thousands of dollars for many of its service clubs — flowed into the city with success and room for fermentation. “It’s a cool event with a great atmosphere, but they just need to figure out their tweaks,” said Leslie Alberts, Arvada resident and a patron at Arvada On Tap, held July 25 at Ralston Park. About 6,000 people flocked to the park at 11200 Ralston Road for the festival, sampling from more than 20 craft breweries and enjoying savory barbecue. With the scent of smoked meat floating in the hot summer air, and lines streaming from each brewery tent, co-founder Gretchen Sherlock described this first year as an overwhelming success. “It’s absolutely exceeded our expectations,” Sherlock said. “There’re lines at every ticket booth and there have been since we opened — we got mobbed from the east and the west.” From milk stouts to Scharzweiss’, India Pale Lagers and Cream Ales, beer lovers had their choice of spoils. Along with beer tents, patrons perused artisan vendors, ate craft barbecue and listened to live music. Resident Chris Phillips enjoyed the event, but said she’d like to see more of a festival atmosphere. “It was close, I live in Arvada, and there was beer and barbecue,” she said. “Overall, it’s a cool event — Oh, yeah, I’d come back as long as they change their pricing and add more things for kids.” The event hosted more than 50 home brewers, 26 barbecue teams, one New Mexico and 19 Colorado breweries. To try the beers, patrons paid a $5 donation and $2 for a three-ounce sampler, with a full beer costing $6. Money raised from the event supports Arvada’s Rotary clubs, the Jefferson Kiwanis and Arvada Vitality Alliance. A final amount was not yet available by press time Monday. “There’s enough breweries here we can make a festival and make this fun,” said Chris Hill, brewer at Arvada’s Odyssey Beerwerks. “You can always learn a lot and, hopefully, we — being the brewers — will give constructive criticism and it’ll be even better next year.” For breweries like Upslope Brewery, the festival was a great way to enter Arvada’s emerging market. But the cost, said representative Kyle Krebsbach, was a little pricey. Beer continues on Page 9
With 20 breweries present, beer lovers had their choice of delectable pours. Here, volunteers pour sample, 3-ounce glasses of Kokopelli Beer Company’s Elk Brown Ale.
Produced by AC Golden, Colorado Native features a variation of an IPA, the India Pale Lager.
Jeffco school board recall petitions ready to go County clerk must first validate the more than 25,000 signatures By Crystal Anderson
canderson@coloradocommunitymedia.com The organization behind the recall effort of the Jeffco School Board’s three majority members said it had collected more than 30,000 signatures for each of the three petitions — twice the required 15,000 valid voter signatures needed to place them on the November ballot. But the signatures must first be validated by the Jefferson County Clerk of Court. The recall group said it planned to turn in the petitions to the clerk’s office July 28. The clerk then has 15 business days to review and validate the signatures, with a 15-calendar day protest term following. The petitions may then be placed on the November ballot. At that time, anyone wishing to run for the seats of board President Ken Witt, John Newkirk and Julie Williams must seek 50 signatures to also be placed on the ballot. In emails to Colorado Community Media, Newkirk and Witt said priorities have been to put decision-making in the hands of parents and principals, recognize effective educators while improving accountability, ensure equitable funding for all students, improve fiscal management, and more, all with the goal of improving academic achievement. “Such priorities ... form the basis of my decisions while serving on the board,” Newkirk said. “The union-supported recall effort gives voters the opportunity to agree or disagree with these priorities. If the community prefers the old approach, I will accept their decision.” Said Witt: “Jeffco students deserve better than the old status quo —they deserve a great education.” Williams could not be reached for comment by press time Monday. Jeffco United for Action surpassed its intended signature goal of 25,000 per petition at a protest-recall petition signing event on July 22 along a 19-mile stretch of Wadsworth Boulevard. At each major intersection, groups varying in numbers from two to 20 held placards that urged community members to sign petitions. “We’ve had just over 1,000 parents carrying petitions for two weeks,” Lynea Hansen, media contact for Jeffco United for Action, said while counting signatures July 25. “I think we’ve seen an overwhelming voice from the community asking for this recall to be on the November ballot.” Parents and teachers are upset about the school board majority’s actions regarding the hiring of Superintendent Dan McMinimee, board attorney Brad Miller and what they say is an overwhelming increase in teacher turnover Petitions continues on Page 9