Rainbows, roller disco and wedding vows

Council keeps tobacco issues local Municipal Court to hear minors’ tobacco violations

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Fort Lupton teens caught possessing cigarettes or buying them will face local court, councilors agreed June 6.

Councilors agreed to move violations by those younger than 18 years from the Weld County Courts to the city’s own municipal court. e vote came as a part of their consent agenda, where councilors vote on several items at once.

Adams County host second annual Pride celebration at Riverdale Regional Park

BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As eight couples gathered below the stage, waiting to say their nuptial vows, o ciant Stella Diver said it was nearly enough to make a drag queen cry.

“ e only reason they chose me to do this is because my heart is made of ice,” Diver said at Adams County’s rst Marriagepalooza mass wedding event. “But looking at everyone right now, I’m starting to get a little misty.”

But speaking to the crowd at Adams County’s Riverdale Regional Park gathered for Adams County’s second annual Pride celebration, the Denver-based drag performer said it was much more than just emotional. It was important.

“Even now, the love we share for each other is questioned and considered an act of rebellion,” Diver said. “Pride is our moment, our month, to show the world how proud we are of the love we have for each other. And it does not stop with this weekend. e step you are taking today to cement your love for each other allows Pride to live on every day.”

And then Diver led the 16 people in their vows — moving forward into a great commitment of their love, promising to keep their partner’s heart safe and asking them to love their partners as much as they love themselves.

And with that, Diver declared them married.

It was an experiment this year, Adams County Clerk Josh Zygielbaum said. He plans to bring the event back next year, bigger and even better.

“It was not as large as I wanted it to be, but it’s our rst year doing it,”

Councilors rst discussed the matter at their May 16 meeting. At that meeting, Municipal Court Administrator Jeanelle Andersen said the city did not have a local ordinance pertaining to minors in possession of tobacco. Under those circumstances, people cited for possession of tobacco were prosecuted under state law which required them to be heard at Weld County District Court. Andersen told councilors that the move was meant to keep local violators from having to face county court and more serious consequences. Other cities with similar ordinances can issue summons requiring 24 hours of community services and educational classes and require destroying tobacco products and vape pens.

SEE TOBACCO, P3

Community Development open house e open house features a tour this model concept space that is conveniently located on Highway 52.

Fort Lupton’s Community Development department will host an open house from 9-11 a.m. June 13 at their o ce, 200 Dexter St.

With plenty of parking and a new customer service counter, the Community Development O ce o ers a variety of services including Planning, Economic Development and Building Permits.

Independence Day celebration July 1 e city will host it’s Independence Day celebration on Saturday July 1 featuring food, games, live music and fun. e event features a Pancake Breakfast, Resource Fair, Kids Zone, Tractor Rides, Slip-nSlide, Zip Line and much much more! Learn more online at https:// www.fortluptonco.gov/471/Independence-Day-Celebration

Signing up for Citywide yard sale e city’s annual Citywide Yard Sale is on July 7 & 8.

If residents are interested in hosting a yard sale at your property and would like to be included on the City map for the event, they should submit their informationd by June 26 online at https://forms.gle/zx52bfmjXCks37NP9

Event maps will be available online at https://www.fortluptonco. gov/556/Citywide-Yard-Sale, in the Fort Lupton Press and shared on social media.

Farm to Market tickets on sale e Foundation’s biennial fundraising campaign will bene t women’s health services to help women connect with the care they need throughout their adult years and to support area women who do not always prioritize their own health needs. e foundation hopes to raise $500,000 in the campaign cycle. ey conduct multiple fundraising e orts annually with Farm to Table as the largest event. Farm to Table will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 17 on the hospital campus. Platte Valley Medical Center’s Chef Mike Anderson uses produce donated by area farmers to create a gourmet meal for about 450 guests. e event garners so much support that it often sells out long before the date. is year, Muñoz reserved a block of tickets that are available to the public for $75 each. ey are available at https://ftt2023. cbo.io.

Tickets for Farm to Table, a fundraising event for the Platte Valley Medical Foundation scheduled for Aug. 17 or on sale now.

Sports camps open registrations

Registration for Skyhawks sum- mer sports camps in Fort Lupton is open now. Register at skyhawks.fun/fortlupton. e program is o ering camps for basketball, ag football, pickleball, soccer and volleyball for kids six years old through -12 and minicamp for kids four-to-six-years old that combines baseball, basketball and soccer.

Skyhawks provides a noncompetitive environment to teach sports to kids ages 4 to 14. Our goal is to give each child a positive introduction into sports and ensure they walk away with a smile on their face wanting to learn more. Since 1979, Skyhawks has taught over two million boys and girls life skills through sports.

State youth council needs members e Colorado legislature’s nonpartisan Colorado Youth Advisory Council has openings for new members across the state for the 2023-25 term. e Youth Advisory Council is a statewide organization dedicated to youth-led civic service learning. Youth members lead policy committees that analyze issues and policies that impact youth across Colorado. Policy work can include making recommendations about current policies or advocating for new ones. Council members conduct research, write problem/solution statements, meet with subject matter experts, build relationships with legislators, and seek feedback from their peers and communities. e Colorado Legislature created the youth advisory council in 2008 to give Colorado’s youth ages 14-19 a voice in lawmaking. Youth council members work each summer to propose policy ideas to a committee of legislators. Each summer, students present policy proposals to legislators. During the last two years, several policies the youth council identi ed became law, including increased crisis services, higher education programs for fostered youth, educational standards and e orts to prevent eating disorders.

Applications are due June 19. State organizers plan to host an informational session for applicants at 6 p.m. June 14. Find info at www. coyac.org/apply.

South Platte Historical Society is hosting summer at one-room school Children can have fun experiencing pioneer living at the South Platte Historical Society’s one room school house, 2001 Historic Parkway in Fort Lupton. e second session is under and session three begins June 19.

Go to www.spvhs and click Annual Events, Independent School for Flyer and Registration Form or contact LaVon lwatson@spvhs.org to call 720-273-3609

Donation time e Fort Lupton Food & Clothing Bank is asking for donations of canned fruits and nuts, varieties of dry pasta and pasta dinners, peanut butter and canned meat such as tuna (including the pouches).

Other potential donations could include chicken, Vienna sausages, spam and salmon. e bank also needs personal items, such as toiletries and baby needs.

Drop o donations at the food and clothing bank’s back door, 421 Denver Ave., weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Call 303-8571096.

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. is 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 talk.