December 12, 2013
50 cents Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 148, Issue 2
A publication of
goldentranscript.net
Olde Golden Christmas Parade
A great day of giving Colorado Gives Day encourages online giving By Crystal Anderson
canderson@ourcoloradonews.com
Santa and Mrs. Claus wave to the crowd during the first Olde Golden Christmas Parade on Nov. 30. Mr. and Mrs. Claus were accompanied by a tiny reindeer; 20 month old grandson, Jakobee.
Paul Kvasnovsky balances himself as he rides a reproduction Penny Farthing or high wheel bicycle. Paige Stewart left, and Hannah Coutts, right, take a ride on the back of an old Ford Mustang, for downtown’s mercantile the Silver Horse. The mustang was driven by Silver Horse owner, Jonathan Beggs, with his wife Wendy sitting as passenger.
The traditional Olde Golden Christmas Parade began its annual display of everything Christmas and much more on Saturday, Nov. 30. The event, sponsored by the Golden Chamber of Commerce and organized by volunteer extraordinaire Carol Ann Bowles, featured Santa Claus, the abominable snowman and Elvis. Residents who missed the first parade have plenty of opportunities to witness one of Golden’s most revered holiday events, with more parades scheduled for Saturdays Dec. 7, 14 and 21.
PHOTOS BY AMY WOODWARD
Eakins sentenced to community corrections Restitution expected to be paid while serving 10 years By Amy Woodward
awoodward@ourcoloradonews.com Judith Eakins, 54, of Wheat Ridge, received a 10-year sentence to community corrections on Dec. 2 in relation to her embezzlement of $160,341 at Golden High School, where she worked as the school’s financial secretary. The sentence will run concurrently with a separate theft charge for which Eakins is currently serving a six-year probation sentence, after she stole her elderly mother’s Social Security and pension checks totaling about $30,000. Eakins’
mother, Dorothy Morvay, 92, suffered from advanced dementia and died in March. While employed at GHS, Eakins stole money from ticket sales for school activities and formal functions at Golden High School, including homecoming, prom and football games from the years 2009 to 2012. EakEakins ins also took a $3,500 donation from a GHS football coach while inappropriately using the school’s credit card. Restitution will be paid to Jeffco schools first in the amount of $57,167, with the remaining $103,174 going to Travelers Insurance.
POSTAL ADDRESS
Golden High School Principal Brian Controy made a statement during Eakins’ sentencing hearing, addressing Eakins as “Judy” and stating she had betrayed the trust of GHS staff, students and the community. “The betrayal that we feel as a staff, as parents, as a community cannot be fixed,” Conroy said. “It will take years for us to understand why you did it; it will take even longer to overcome what you have done.” “I take full responsibility for what I did,” Eakins said. “I’m not a terrible person, I really just want to try to do the right thing.” When the judge asked Eakins what she spent the money on, Eakins said she couldn’t remember all the items she bought and just “did stuff” with the money. “I really couldn’t even tell you, I have nothing to
show for it,” she said. According to an affidavit, Eakins allegedly spent the stolen money on a Motorola tablet, a tent and many DVD’s for a home movie collection reportedly worth $10,000. Money was also spent on dinner parties and on her son. “You have violated some of the most undeserving victims,” said Jeffco District Court Judge Tamara Russell. Russell said she didn’t know how Eakins could stand in front of her and say she’s not a terrible person when she stole from her ailing mother and children. If Eakins violates any of the terms that are part of her community-corrections sentence, the remainder of the 10-year sentence will immediately be served in a Colorado Department of Corrections prison.
The Christmas holiday is a time when people are encouraged to help others, and this holiday season more than 30,000 people are giving back — in a big way. Residents across the state participated Dec. 10 in the fourth annual Colorado Gives Day, a statewide, philanthropic effort to promote charitable giving through online resources. “It’s really great to see our supporters being a part of this event locally as well as be a part of a much bigger picture with nonprofits across the state,” said Rebecca Hansen, development director at the Jefferson Center for Mental Health. The event, founded in 2010 by Arvadabased Community First Foundation, has raised more than $36 million for Colorado nonprofits, and organizers predict it will continue to grow. “It’s crazy and exciting,” said Dana Rinderknecht, director of online giving at Community First Foundation. “Nonprofits have always embraced it, and they take it and run with it the way that best fits them. It’s really the nonprofits that have made it a success, and the donors? Can’t go anywhere without them.” This year, more than 1,400 nonprofits statewide participated in the event, including 18 Arvada nonprofits. Around Arvada, businesses including the Arvada Beer Company and Braun Taphaus and Grille hosted events for Colorado Gives Day. They offered discounts and promoted making contributions to area nonprofits, including the Ralston House and the Jefferson Center for Mental Health. “I believe it’s the responsibility as a business owner to add value to your community and really extend yourself out there,” said Kelly Floyd, owner and general manager of the Arvada Beer Company. “Colorado Gives Day gives a visibility into these nonprofits and makes you aware there are people out there willing to help you.” To be a registered in the nonprofit database for the event, organizations must be serving or headquartered in Colorado, registered and in good standing with the secretary of state, have $50,000 in annual revenue or $25,000 in assets, and have been operating at least one year. While focused on nonprofits, Colorado Gives Day helps build connections and stronger communities throughout the state, Rinderknecht said. “Colorado Gives Day is a great event to connect donors with the nonprofits in their community,” she said. “Having a strong nonprofit community makes stronger nonprofits doing amazing work in our community.” Donations are still being accepted through cogives.org. All major credit cards and e-checks are accepted.
GOLDEN TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 0746-6382)
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