April 10, 2014 Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 9, Issue 45 A publication of
arvadapress.com
Zenzinger on Discovery Tour Senator converses with local leaders, businesses and constituents By Crystal Anderson
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com Sen. Rachel Zenzinger embarked on her first District Discovery Tour, Saturday, April 5, as an opportunity to engage with and learn more about the businesses in her district. The senator stopped by five area businesses to meet with the owners, discussing triumphs and challenges and discover what is changing and how she should focus her work at the capitol.
”I really wanted an opportunity to listen to the business community to figure out what opportunities are important to them and what I should work on down at the capital,” Zenzinger said. Sen. Zenzinger represents Senate District 19, covering Arvada and Jefferson County within Westminster. She currently serves on the Senate Education Committee and the Senate Local Government Committee. During her tour, Zenzinger met with proprietors from 40 Weight Coffee, The Journey: Brain Injury Community Services, Jack’s Bar and Grill, Hi Country Wire and Telephone, and La Patisserie Bakery throughout the day, taking tours of their organizations,
listening to their concerns and providing feedback about what work is being done in the Senate to addressing their concerns. ”I’ve seen, in the past, our state representatives and senators be very helpful, pushing policy that was very meaningful and helpful with people in the brain injury community,” Cheryl Catsoulis, director of The Journey, said. To learn more about the concerns of the businesses, Zenzinger said she came not just to listen, but to ask questions so she could learn what was going on, how business is changing, and what she could do to help. For proprietors like Catsoulis, Tour continues on Page 10
Sen. Zenzinger smiles while taking notes as Cheryl Catsoulis, director of The Journey Brain Injury Community Services, explains her business. Photos by Crystal Anderson
State firefighting fleet cleared for takeoff Oswaldo Baca caught the wind as he ran around the Stenger Soccer Fields, flying his blue, United States Navy plane during the festival.
Plan would set aside $21 million to purchase or contract planes, helicopters By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Go fly a kite
One way or another, the state will soon free up money to get an unfunded aerial firefighting fleet off the ground. The governor’s office and legislative leaders are on board with a spending plan that would set aside $21 million to purchase or contract planes and helicopters that are equipped to fight fires. The money was approved through an amendment to the annual state budget that was debated in the Senate on April 3. Gov. John Hickenlooper’s office and lawmakers will have to get creative to find where in the budget the fleet funding will be secured. But all sides agree that this will happen this year — much to excitement of the legislator who has been instrumental in driving the creation of the Colorado Firefighting Air Corps. “Quite frankly, this is the most important legislation of my life,” said Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction. The funding behind King’s effort comes on the heels of a much-anticipated state fire report that was released last week. The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control found that the state lacks resources in key firefighting areas, including a lack of aerial firefighting capabilities. “Colorado does not have the ability to deliver appropriate aviation resources in a timely fashion to support local suppression response to small fires while they are still small,” states the report, which was authored by CDFPC Director Paul Cooke. The report was mandated through last year’s passage of a bill — sponsored by King and Sen. Cheri Jahn, D-Wheat Ridge
The 12th Annual Arvada Kite Festival saw thousands of kite-flying enthusiasts, residents and children soaring kites of all colors, shapes and sizes, Sunday, April 6. Held at Stenger Soccer Complex, 11200 W. 58th Ave., the festival incorporated areas for small, large, recreational and demonstrative kite flyers as well as giant gerbil ball rides; bol kite races; performances by the Jeffco Brass Ensemble and the Mile High Band; numerous food and business vendors; and an interactive kids-zone of child-friendly activities.
Fleet continues on Page 10
PhotoS by CryStAl AnderSon
While flying her ladybug kite, Cayden Westland, smiles as she watches her kite fly higher and higher. Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.