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SWEET 16 FOR THE APEX CENTER
Homeless camps along Clear Creek Trail cleared Law enforcement offers services in connection with relocation effort By Shanna Fortier sfortier@coloradocommunitymedia.com
The Apex Center celebrated its 16th year in Arvada with a variety of customer appreciation activities, including cake on Sept. 22. Read more about the party, and the latest on the recreation district’s future plans on PAGE 4. Photo by Shanna Fortier
‘She skated to live and lived to skate’ Apex Center honors Yvonne Dowlen, a lifelong skater who inspired many By Shanna Fortier sfortier@coloradocommunitymedia.com When Yvonne Dowlen was in the room, there was a spark of happiness that came with her. As a lifelong ice skater, she inspired many at the Apex Ice Arena in Arvada as well as on the national stage. In May, Dowlen — a Lakewood resident — passed away at the age 90. She died where she lived: on the ice. “She skated to live and lived to skate,” said Bret Dowlen, Yvonne’s son. Many Apex Center staff, participants and ice arena spectators fondly remember Dowlen and continue to be inspired by her story. To honor her, the center held a public skate session dedicated to her memory on Sept. 21. The skate was combined with the center’s annual superhero skate. “We decided to combine it with Yvonne’s memorial skate because she is our superhero and so many of us knew her and skated with her,” said Patti Snyder, skating director at Apex. “She is really a superhero for everybody that’s in this rink. She’s touched so many lives here.” For Dowlen, slowing down was not an option. “I’m not too old to move,” she was often heard saying. She pursued her love of skating for nearly 80 years, starting at age 13. Highlights included a stint with the Ice Capades and many national awards — including second place at the Senior Skating Championships last year. Just over six months ago, Dowlen Dowlen continues on Page 5
Trash and debris were all that was left at a Clear Creek Trail site after more than a dozen homeless people — who had been living along a stretch of trail just north of I-76 between Arvada and Wheat Ridge — were relocated last month by a multi-agency partnership providing support and housing resources. “Denver has done some similar cleanups, and over the past year some the homeless people moved out of Denver and into Jeffco,” said Jenny Fulton, spokeswoman for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. “When we realized this was becoming an issue, we tried to find a way to get them help and not just kick them out of where they’ve been living.” The cleanup came in response to citizen complaints of an increasing homeless population along the trail as well as increased criminal activity, Fulton said. The sheriff’s office was joined by the Arvada Police Department, Wheat Ridge Police Department, Colorado Department of Transportation and other human services agencies for the operation. Jeffco met with partner agencies to identify available support and housing resources and to determine how best to provide those resources to those living in homeless camps along Clear Creek Trail between Sheridan Boulevard in Arvada and Johnson Park, 4084 Wadsworth Blvd., in Wheat Ridge. Rather than transport the individuals to each agency for assistance, it was decided to bring aid to them, Fulton said. The agencies established a command post that included representatives from human services, mental health, veterans assistance, public libraries and other social service and medical agencies, in addition to law enforcement. Services included housing assistance, transportation, hygiene help, mental health assistance and resource information. Law enforcement personnel escorted service providers to the various homeless camps. Any homeless were either provided a ride back to the command post to receive services, and medical attention if necessary, or services were brought to them on site. The sheriff’s office gave advance notification to those living along the trail of the Homeless continues on Page 9
RANKED TEAMS CLASH Pomona faces off with Valor Christian on the football field on PAGE 26.
Yvonne Dowlen devoted her time to helping other on the ice. Courtesy photo