March 17, 2016
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A R A P A H O E C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
Library’s resources speak volumes Some go for the books, others the programs — and some just to get away By David Gilbert Special to Colorado Community Media Dr. Bill Betzner sat at a table in Englewood Public Library on a lazy Saturday afternoon, filling worn notebooks with observations on the many colleges he’s attended. Betzner has lived an eclectic life — he was stationed in Italy in the Air Force, taught music to ranchers’ kids in Montana who came to school by helicopter, and put his doctorate in holistic centrist science to use as a naturopathic doctor.
But these days, the retired 77-yearold often finds himself deep in thought beneath the library’s stained glass panels depicting Englewood history. Englewood’s 30,000-square-foot, 87,000-volume library means lots of things to its patrons, but to Betzner, it’s a haven for philosophic thought. “Have you heard of four-fold logic?” Betzner asked. “We tend toward black and white, true or false thinking. But if we disagree, you think you’re right and I’m wrong. I think I’m right and you’re wrong. But there are more than two sides: on the third, we’re both wrong. On the fourth, we’re both right. In the middle of this comes understanding, and that’s wisdom.” The old doctor’s wisdom seems fitting
for a library, where one patron may be working on a master’s thesis, another setting up their first-ever email address, while kindergartners squat on a rug for storytime. “The answer to what the library means to the community is as varied as the community itself,” said Dorothy Hargrove, the library’s director. “We meet so many people where they are.” A place to go, grow Hargrove said the library is an increasingly vital resource in a time when dispersed families and contracted civic life have reduced places for people to go beyond work and home. Library continues on Page 7
Dr. Bill Betzner, a retired naturopathic doctor, studies at the Englewood Public Library on March 5. Photo by David Gilbert
WHAT’S INSIDE
From Littleton to the world: Local stages were the springboard for larger fame for three women . See Page 4
Rylee Munoz sings the song “The Climb” as she competes in the March 13 Night of Stars Talent Competition State Finals. Munoz was a firstplace winner at the Englewood Night of Stars competition. She competed in the third- to fifth-grade group at the state competition and she won first place in that group’s vocal category. Photo by Tom Munds
Talent shines at Night of Stars
Four Englewood performers win their talent categories By Tom Munds tmunds@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Four of the seven Englewood-area performers who earned spots in the March 13 Night of Stars talent competition state finals won their categories in their age groups. Rylee Munoz won the vocal category in the third- through fifth-grade group, Andrew Jung won the instrumental music category in the sixth- through eighthgrade group, Andrew’s sister Hannah Jung
won the instrumental music category in the ninth- through 12th-grade group, and Kaitlyn Tejero won the vocal category in the ninth- through 12th-grade group. Friends, family members and fellow competitors raised the roof with cheers and applause for the 34 acts who took part in the Night of Stars state finals, which were held on the stage of Colorado’s Finest High School of Choice auditorium in Englewood. “This is the 10th anniversary of the competition, and since we started the event and hosted the first one here in Englewood, we felt it would be right to have the 10th anniversary competition here,” said Tara Micheli, Englewood’s member of the event committee. “We have 34 acts here tonight,
and all of them are the first-place winners from local talent competitions held by the recreation departments in Northglenn, Lakewood, Englewood and Brighton/Commerce City.” Micheli has worked with the competition since it started 10 years ago. “The first year we only had a few entries and all entries were vocals,” she said. “There is a lot more variety of talent among the entries today. Also the caliber of competition has really improved, and it seems the performers are more professional and more competitive. We were pleased when other recreation centers joined us in hosting local talent shows, and we were able to Talent continues on Page 7
ENGLEWOOD HERALD (ISSN 1058-7837) (USPS 176-680) OFFICE: 2550 S. Main St., Littleton, CO 80120 | PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Englewood, Colorado, the Englewood Herald is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 2550 S. Main St., Littleton, CO 80120. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT LITTLETON, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 5 p.m. | Classifieds: Tue. 8 a.m. | Obits: Tue. 11 a.m. | Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m.
Technology: Tablets offer benefits, challenges for learning. See Page 16
Baseball: Englewood Pirates open season with a pair of wins. See Page 28