1-Color
May 29, 2014 Adams County, Colorado | Volume 6, Issue 22 A publication of
brightonbanner.com
New laws Class acts: School celebrates address child care costs By Lou Ellen Bromley
The eighth-grade continuation ceremony was held at Vikan Middle School Thursday afternoon to recognize the students leaving middle school and advancing into High school. Principal Trina Norris-Buck spoke to the large audience of family, friends, teachers and students telling them “To remember the three “B’s,” to always Be Safe, by not letting anyone keep you from being who you are, to Be Strong, always be true to yourself and to Be Smart, to always continue to learn as much as you can in your life.” Norris-Buck said she was very proud of all of the eighth-grade students for all they have accomplished in the three years she has known them. Eighth-grade student Madai Menindez spoke to the audience about the memories and friendships she and other students have made in the last three years, and that they all need to make an effort to maintain those friendships even if they are in different High Schools. She also thanked the principal and all the teachers and staff for everything they have done to help her in her three years at Vikan. Ms. Menindez spoke of her plans to attend college after high school and to apply to medical school. Eighth-grade student Dejarenay Prospero also addressed the audience
Legislation closes loop hole that had prevented some low-income families from receiving assistance By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Principal Trina Norris-Buck and Assistant Principal Sam Ortega giving award to Cinthia Hernandez.Photo by Lou Ellen Bromley thanking Principal Norris-Buck and the teachers stating how she will miss them next year. School counselor Debbie Cutler announced the names of each student as Principal Norris-Buck and Assistant Principal Sam Ortega passed out the certificates of continuation. They also recognized the students that had a 4.0 grade point average for the entire
eighth grade: Domminick Addison, Anabel Elizalde, Jordan Horiuchi, Jenna Maxwell, Maclai Menindez, Avery Nelson, Jonathan Roman, and Megan Sanchez. Students who had a grade point average of 4.0 for the entire three years of middle school at Vikan were Ruth Gutierriez, Josie Pomrenke, and Ashlee Minne.
Starting point for scenery New trailhead for South Platte Trail opens up By Lou Ellen Bromley
Chris Ness showing the new wood shavings being used to hold seeds in the new landscapedt railhead Photos by Lou Ellen Bromley AdamsC ounty Parks crew members Grant Kennedy, Danny Jachetta and Serenity MartinQuintana spreading the wood shavings on new grass seeds
Adams County Parks department are putting the finishing touches on the South Platte Trail system, completing their part of the trails development. Adams County Parks Department employee Chris Ness said, “We are finishing up the trailhead here at 136th and should be able to open it to the public in about 2 days.” The city of Brighton will take up the development of the trail from 136th north to Veterans Park. With the excep-
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‘We are very proud to say that we have done all the work ‘in house’ without having to hire any outside contractors, saving the county money.’ Chris Ness
tion of a mile of trail at 104th, which they are currently working on, Adams County Parks department has completed a continuous trail from 136th south all the way to Golden. Ness said “We are very proud to say that we have done all the work ‘in house’ without having to hire any outside contractors, saving the county money.” The Adams county crew was putting the finishing touches on the landscaping Thursday afternoon, hoping to get it finished before the rain started. Ness and his crew were planting grass seed and placing special wood shavings, instead of straw, on top of the seeds to hold them
in place. This also helps hold water, keeping the seed moist and prevents run off from the rain. This type of wood shavings is designed to stay in place and not blow away unlike wheat straw, and is made of wood from the beetle killed pine trees. Ness said there are 10 parking spaces and one handicapped parking space available at this trailhead for people using the trail for hiking, walking or biking. The trailhead at 136th ties into trails currently running along the Platte River and offers a picture-perfect way to see local wildlife and enjoy the outdoors.
Three bills that became law last week aim to alleviate the high cost of child care in Colorado. The laws, signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper on May 22, address a number of financial areas and are a response to Colorado being the fifth least affordable state for child care. A key piece of the package creates child care tax credits for families that make less than $25,000 a year. The new credit — which is capped at $1,000 per family per year — is available to those who do not qualify for existing child care tax credits that are tied to federal returns. “It’s a lot of money when you’re only making $25,000 a year and trying to Report pay for child care,” said Rep. Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, a bill sponsor. The bill fixes a loophole that disqualifies many low-income families from receiving a tax credit that was set up by the state in 1996. The child care tax credit that the new law replaces applied to families that earn less than $60,000 a year. But that credit was tied to federal income taxes, which doesn’t apply to many low-income families because their earnings are sometimes too low to even have to file federal taxes. Pettersen also co-sponsored a bill with Sen. Jeanne Nicholson, D-Black Hawk, that addresses cases when families receive pay increases at work that disqualifies them for continuing to receive child care assistance — a significant financial issue for families that has been dubbed the “cliff effect.” The legislation sets up grant funding for the Cliff Effect Pilot Program, which allows families to phase out of assistance they receive through the Colorado Childcare Assistance Program, whenever they receive higher pay through their jobs. “This bill helps parents seek jobs, promotions and pay raises without worrying about suddenly losing the assistance that helps them afford child care and be reliable employees,” Nicholson said through an emailed statement. “This will eliminate a hurdle, or disincentive, for families working towards financial security.” Nicholson also co-sponsored a third piece of the child care affordability package. That legislation creates a reimbursement program that lowers child care center payments for low-income families and recognizes child care centers that perform at a high level. Pettersen said the bills should mitigate child care costs for people who could use help the most. “We have some of the most expensive child care in the nation and this is one of the big barriers that families face,” she said.
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