14 minute read
LOCAL
DA Academy
The 17th Juidicial District Attorney’s Offi ce is offering a free, eight-week program to explain the workings of the offi ce and the criminal justice system.
It starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, at the DA’s offi ce, 1000 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton. The registration deadline is Friday, Dec. 1. Info? Email chopper@da17.state.co.us.
ONGOING
Walk with a doc
Platte Valley Medical Center’s cardiac rehab team and Walk With A Doc will host monthly walks with Dr. Christopher Cannon, an interventional cardiologist at Brighton Heart and Vascular Institute.
This is a walking program for everyone interested in taking steps for a healthier lifestyle. After a few minutes to learn about a current health topic from the doctor, spend the rest of the hour enjoying a healthy walk and fun conversation. It’s a great way to get out, get active and enjoy all the benefi ts that come from walking.
Boards/commissions’ openings
Commerce City has openings for several of its boards and commissions, including the city’s cultural council, the housing authority and the Derby review board. aVisit https://www.c3gov.com/ Home/Components/Form/For m/70316b05422c448492c51da0f0e0 fd86/ to sign up.
Legal self-help clinic
The Access to Justice Committee hosts a free, legal self-help clinic from 2 to 3:30 p.m. the fi rst Tuesday of every month.
The program is for those who don’t have legal representation and need help navigating through legal issues.
Volunteer attorneys are available to discuss such topics as family law, civil litigation, property and probate law. Call 303405-3298 and ask for the Legal Self-Help Clinic at least 24 hours in advance.
Help for vets
Qualifi ed Listeners, a veteran and family resource hub serving northern Colorado and southern Wyoming, has a number of power chairs, power scooters and electric wheelchairs available.
To fi nd the closest facility to you visit www.va.gov/fi nd-locations.
Qualifi ed Listeners also need volunteers to drive veterans to and from appointments, run errands for veterans who cannot get out, handyman services, help administer veteran and family resource guide inventory in local libraries and veterans to
COVID-19 testing
Here’s where you can receive a test for COVID-19:
Brighton Advanced Urgent Care, 2801 Purcell St. Call 303659-9700 or visit https://advurgent.com/locations/brighton/
Brighton Salud, 1860 Egbert St. Testing is available on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Visit https://www.saludclinic. org/covid-testing
Fort Lupton Salud, 1115 Second St. Testing is available on Tuesday and Thursday. Call 303-697-2583 or visit https:// www.saludclinic.org/covidtesting online.
Mental health
Community Reach Center offers in-person intake assessments from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays at the Brighton Learning and Resource Campus, 1850 E. Egbert St. in Brighton. Call Community Reach Center at 303-853-3500.
For walk-in intake, bring an ID and insurance information. For those who would prefer to complete the intake forms and schedule an appointment, the intake forms are available online at www.communityreachcenter.org. There will be a short screening for fl u-like symptoms before the entrance to the center to ensure safety and wellness for everyone.
Anyone feeling unsafe or suicidal should call Colorado Crisis Services at 1-844-4938255, text 38255, or visit the Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) Center at 2551 W. 84th Ave., Westminster.
Warm Line up and running
Community Reach Center is offering a Warm Line (303280-6602) for those who want to talk to mental-health professionals about anxiety, lack of sleep and strained relationships, among other topics. The professionals can facilitate referrals to other programs for assistance.
A press statement said the line is not for crisis intervention.
Those feeling unsafe or suicidal should call Colorado Crisis Services (1-844-493-8255) or text 38255 or visit the Behavioral Urgent Care Center, 2551 W. 84th Ave., Westminster.
Also, the center’s COVID-19 Heroes Program is set up to assist healthcare workers during the pandemic. Those who live or work in Adams County can receive up to six free counseling sessions. Use the Warm Line for support and free counseling.
Brighton’s community intake location is at 1850 E. Egbert St., on the second fl oor. It’s open from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays.
Pieces of art will be shown at sites across the city
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Four new sculptures were unveiled at Carmichael Park as part of the 2022-2023 City of Brighton’s Eye 4 Art Sculpture on loan project program to expand the public art in the city.
The artists’ sculptures selected were “Bobcat “by Jan Rosetta, “Rainbow Point” Jodie Bliss, “Sun To Moon Rotation,” Mary Angers, and “Side by Each” Charlotte Zink.
Their sculptures will be on display for one year.
Brighton’s Eye 4 Art committee selects the sculptures and the artists receives a $500 honorarium when their sculpture is placed. One sculpture is also selected as the Brighton’s Choice piece, earning a $1,000 award and a chance to be purchased by the public or the city.
The Sculpture on Loan Project kicked off in 2015 through the Eye 4 Art program, installing two pieces.
Since the program started, it has installed ten sculptures throughout the city with grants from the Scientifi c Cultural Facilities District, the City of Brighton Lodging Tax, and the City of Brighton, according to offi cials.
Several volunteers and city departments have also contributed to the program, including the Brighton Parks and Recreation Department, the Eye 4 Art Committee, the Brighton Public Arts Committee, the Brighton Cultural Arts Commission, and the Offi ce of Arts and Culture.
Jan Rosetta of Loveland created the Bobcat sculpture, which was selected and purchased by the city as Brighton’s Choice.
“I’m excited, the City of Brighton has actually purchased the Bobcat for their permanent collection but I don’t know where it will be displayed after the original one-year display is up,” Rosetta said.
Rosetta grew up in Maryland and lived in California before moving to Colorado in 1992. She graduated with an art degree from the University of Delaware and also studied art at the Art Center of Design in Los Angeles.
“I had a 23-year career in graphic design before changing to sculpture. I have been a fulltime sculptor now for 30 years,” she said.
Rosetta went from a graphic designer to sculpting, having never studied sculpture, but she naturally developed a feel for the art as a child, carving animals out of soap. Her husband Mel helped her carve wood signs that she designed as part of her graphic design work.
Rosetta said back when she started, most of her work came from designing hand-drawn logos and packaging for clients from her San Francisco. After computers were and graphic design software became popular, she had a hard time competing.
“I discovered bronze casting when I did a portrait for a painter friend to trade for a large painting. After entering a few shows and winning awards with my fi rst bronze animal sculpture, I realized that there was a career change for me there and was thrilled to be creating in 3-D again,” Rosetta said.
Rosetta said she enjoyed the creative challenges of graphic design and meeting the client’s visual needs professionally.
“I was ready to create art that spoke to my passion. I discovered that if I do work that pleases me, others will like it as well,” Rosetta said.
Rosetta’s inspiration to sculpt wildlife, especially cats, is her love for animals, the beauty deserving of respect, and the sentient of animals having feelings, showing awareness and responsiveness.
“My sculpting style evolved naturally from my background in graphic design, reducing extraneous detail to bring out the essence of form and motion,” Rosetta said.
Side by Each
Another artist on display, Charlotte Link, is from Berthoud and grew up in New Orleans. Link’s sculpture is “Side by Each”.
She came to Colorado in 1987 to study art and art education at Colorado University at Boulder. Link and her husband, Ben, live and work as a team creating metals in a 125-year-old home in the heart of the old town of Berthoud.
“I’ve enjoyed experimenting with many mediums over the years, always sketching, painting, paper making, clay and for the past 24 years, collaborating with my husband and partner Ben, creating with metals,” Link said.
Link said inspiration comes from nature, and second is humans with their funky, beautiful glory. She also loves architecture, Art Nouveau, and Picasso growing up.
“Teaching art pre-internet with stacks of books we’d check out of the local library, sharing art images with our students was always great fun. Years of pouring over children’s books’ illustrations, while teaching my own two children to read, was an amazing gift,” she said.
Link started metal work with Ben in 1998 and he learned welding at Ecocyle in Longmont.
She and Ben created Holiday gifts for fun with steel cutouts, and it took off with shows, galleries, and open studio tours.
“We have been blessed with loyal patrons over the years. Being a full-time artist has allowed me to raise my children and be in control of our schedules; it has been a truly inspiring, busy and challenging endeavor,” Link said.
Link said they share designs with custom works and work on commission which has kept them ready for anything and learning something new, keeping it fresh and broadening skill sets.
What inspired Link to sculpt Side by Each, which is made of steel and outdoor sculpture clay, was a friend.
“A dear friend from Canada taught me this expression, when you order your two eggs- side by each- face the sky,” Link said. “ I like my eggs sunny side up, and I love this expression. It implies way beyond our breakfast. Individuals connected, living together, side by each, it’s something for us to strive for.”
Link said she was excited her sculpture was selected to engage and inspire the beautiful community of Brighton with its unique whimsical energy.
“I added just the right forms and color to compliment and celebrate the existing architecture and landscape,” she said.
The “Bobcat” by Rosetta, was purchased by the City of Brighton. PHOTOS BY BELEN WARD
For more information about the program, contact David Gallegos, Arts and Culture Coordinator, at dgallegos@brightonco.gov or 303655-2176.
FROM
FAMILY DENTISTRY
JACLYNN SPENCER D.D.S. 30 South 20th Ave., Suite D, Brighton 303-659-3062
FROM PAGE 1
of Leak Detection and Repair inspections.
As well, there will be a water quality testing program to anyone with an available water source within a half mile of the radius of the location and the fl uids used will be PFAS-free.
The development is also required to keep the city informed of relevant information through notifi cation and reporting that would not otherwise be required. An annual review, evaluation, and update of the Cumulative Impacts Plan will also be provided.
Civitas will remove fi ve wells, ten tanks, fi ve gas meter stations, fi ve separators and four miles of pipeline.
For fi nancial reimbursements, $220,000 will go towards emergency equipment and training, $100,000 towards the cost of road and infrastructure impacts, and up to $175,000 to verify ongoing compliance with the heightened standards of the agreement.
Kulmann’s questions
Kulmann, who is also an oil and gas engineer, peppered the applicant with over seven questions.
She asked whether or not the wells will be fi lled if the project wasn’t approved. The operator said they wouldn’t be.
Kulmann asked for the company to post their website and phone number for concerned residents to contact them for concerns. They agreed.
She also asked if they plan to use recycled fracking water, and they said no.
At the Oct. 24 planning session, Kulmann also asked for electric fracks, and she asked for it again on Nov. 29. The operator said they are evaluating the technology.
She also asked when the operations plan to begin. Once the process is approved and goes through the application process, they expect summer of 2023 with production starting a year after, company reps said.
For ozone awareness, she asked what their plan is for nonattainment days, and the applicant said it’s a judgment call based on the day’s situation and will come down to the fi nal hour.
Health and safety
City Councilor Kathy Henson asked if the staff had any concerns for health and safety. Wahab said city staff looks at code requirements for guidance.
“We believe this operator agreement is the best path forward,” he said.
Lisa McKenzie, associate professor at Colorado School of Public Health, said in an interview that 60 epidemiological studies around oil and gas across the United States have been consistent in showing that people living nearest to oil and gas are more likely to have children with adverse birth outcomes, such as low birth weights and premature births.
The studies also show that children with congenital heart defects are more likely to be living near oil and gas wells. The same goes for asthma.
Stargate Charter School sits about 1.5 miles south of the development and Little Lights Christian Early Learning Center is about .5 miles south.
Stargate Executive Director of Academics Kate Sivarajah said the school has no comment on the site. Arlene Masterson, owner of Little Lights Christian Early Learning Center, did not respond to requests for comment.
Within a half mile of the site, there are 56 parcels and of those parcels, 35 are believed to have residential uses. The rest are primarily commercial.
“We know that the total evolved organic compounds coming out (of fracking wells) together have been associated with respiratory symptoms. We also know that people living around oil and gas in other places have complained of things like upper respiratory symptoms, skin rashes, bloody noses and things like that,” she said.
In an interview, Jeffrey L. Collett, a professor at Colorado State University’s school of engineering, explained with fracking comes air pollution.
He pointed to a few of the specifi c emissions: methane, fi ne particles, nitrogen oxide, benzene and a wide range of volatile organic compounds.
Collett said those living close to the development should be most concerned with benzene.
The pollutant comes from wildfi res, fueling stations and oil and gas developments. He said it’s a carcinogen and the effects are felt from decades of exposure. Lew said the site will be active for 20-30 years.
Scientists found living, working or going to school within 2,000 feet of sites emitting benzene leads to health risks. Beyond 2,000 feet is currently under investigation by scientists.
The other chemicals emitted, like methane and nitrogen oxide, affect the broader community. He said methane contributes to global warming substantially more than carbon dioxide. Nitrogen oxide reacts in the atmosphere and leads to hazy days.
Both City Councilors Julia Marvin and Henson both voted no on the proposal due to health concerns.
“I have a lot of concerns for the health and safety of our residents with this time of operation that’s going in,” Marvin said.
In addition to health reasons, Henson noted that with Thornton being a growing city, that space could be used for something else.
“I have grave concerns about health and safety, ramifi cations, the location, it’s in proximity to schools and businesses, housing,” Henson said.
A JOYOUS & OPULENT RE-TELLING OF A TIMELESS HOLIDAY CLASSIC!
NOW – DEC 24 • WOLF THEATRE
