June 13, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourarvadanews.com
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 9, Issue 3
Gun law affects domestic abusers
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Restrictions received no GOP support in Legislature By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com Domestic violence offenders will find it more difficult to own or transfer guns under a bill that was signed into law by Gov. John Hickenlooper on June 5. Senate Bill 197 places greater gun restrictions on people who either are convicted in cases involving domestic violence, or those who have been served with a court-issued protection order. Prior to the bill being signed, Colorado law had already prohibited domestic violence offenders from having guns. The new law puts in place a system by which state courts ensure that offenders relinquish their weapons. Sen. Evie Hudak, D-Westminster, a bill sponsor, said an incident from about 20 years ago motivated her to carry the bill. A former Report teacher, Hudak said that a student of hers was shot to death by an exboyfriend, who had a restraining order against him. “I’ve wanted this to happen for a very long time,” Hudak said. “I think a lot of women and children will be safer because of this.” Under the new law, persons who have received court-imposed protection orders must relinquish any firearms and ammunition in their possession for the duration of the court order. The same rules will apply to persons convicted of domestic violence cases. They can then either sell or transfer their weapons to a licensed gun dealer or to someone who has successfully completed a gun background check. The weapon may also be given to a law enforcement agency for storage. Before transferring a gun back to the offender, a firearms dealer or local law enforcement agency will be required to request a background check from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, to ensure that the person can lawfully possess the weapon. The bill was part of a package of Democrat-sponsored gun-control bills that passed the Legislature and have been signed into law by Hickenlooper this year. Republican lawmakers unanimously opposed the bill. Hudak’s sponsorship of the legislation, along with her votes on other gun bills, led to a recall petition effort being waged against her. That effort recently was suspended by recall organizers.
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Elizabeth Balicki, 4, left, decorates a flower cookie with the help of Rheinlander Bakery employee Miranda Guettlein during the bakery’s 50th anniversary celebration June 9. The celebration, “Bake Out Hunger,” was June 6 -9 and included a variety of events and half of the sales from the weekend were donated to the Arvada Community Food Bank. Photo by Sara Van Cleve
Residents open gates for Garden Tour Six personal gardens, Rose Roots featured by Arvada Historical Society By Sara Van Cleve
svancleve@ourcoloradonews. com The Arvada Historical Society is hosting the third annual Garden Tour from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 22. The Historical Society hosted its first Garden Tour in 2011 and has raised nearly $3,500 since then through the event. Funds raised from this year’s event will go toward planting a small garden in front of the recently-finished tree sculpture of Clemency McIlvoy outside of the McIlvoy House, 7307 Grandview Ave. — the Historical Society’s home. The sculpture was carved by local wood sculptor David Mitchell. This year, residents can get a look at some of the city’s nicest gardens and yards from 54th to 84th Avenues and from Alkire to Marshall Streets. Each garden has its own unique features and style — from xeriscaping to water features, from rose gardens to fairy gardens. Residents can visit six personal gardens and Rose Roots Community Garden, 84th and Alkire. “I came to the tour last year and it was a lot of fun,” said Linda Finfrock, whose garden
Georgia Pittman has a blast digging in and helping her parents plant their family garden plot. Photo courtesy of Marble Jones is featured in the tour this year. “It’s fun to see the different things people do with different
spaces. You can get ideas for your yard that you’d never think of and see different plants.”
Finfrock’s garden features a variety of flowers, an outdoor kitchen, a water feature, a fairy garden and a variety of unique, “upcycled” plant holders and garden decorations, such as an old tricycle and a brass trumpet used as planters. Another garden on the tour — that of Pam Easton — is more like several gardens combined into one. Her large garden surrounds her 1915 house that she has lived in since 1978. From fruit trees and metal sculptures in the front to a dry bed garden with statues in the back, Easton’s garden has a bit of everything, including the second oldest tree in Arvada. “My rule is, if it wants to grow, I let it,” Easton said of her vast combination of plants. Easton and her granddaughter, Bria, built a fairy garden hidden away in the greenery. Bria will be at the garden on June 22 to tell tour-goers the story of the fairies, Easton said. The garden also has 12 sitting areas, each showcasing a different view of the garden, a small creek running through it and a fish pond. The Arvada Historical Society will also be selling birdhouses at Easton’s garden, 6700 W. 54th Ave. The garden tour will also feature four other residents’ gardens, all offering different features — such as Garden continues on Page 26