March 31, 2016
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Fossils unearthed by highway construction Mesozoic creatures added to long list of area finds
Nicole Peavey, paleontologist for the Colorado Department of Transportation, looks at the fossils discovered by Linking Lookout excavation crews March 17. Linking Lookout is a construction project taking place near U.S. 6 and 19th Street in Golden. Photo courtesy of the City of Golden
By Christy Steadman csteadman@colorado communitymedia.com Commuters on U.S. 6 stuck in construction traffic can sometimes feel like they are fossilizing, but it turns out they’re driving past the real thing. On March 17, excavating crews on the Linking Lookout project, which is taking place near U.S. 6 and 19th Street in Golden, discovered baculite fossils, estimated to be about 70 million years old. Two
pieces were found, which are about 4 or 5 inches long. Baculites swam with the mosasaur — a giant sea lizard — and a fish called the Xiphactinus during a time when Colorado was covered in saltwater. Finding baculite fossils is an interesting discovery, said Nicole Peavey, paleontologist for the Colorado Department of Transportation, but not unexpected because they’re quite common in this area. “It’s always cool when the crews find fossils,” she said. This discovery is “like finding a really cool seashell.” The find was not significant enough to stop the construction
Rockin’ to benefit kids with cancer
Jeffco/Gilpin CASA celebrates 15 years as new volunteer training begins
By Christy Steadman csteadman@colorado communitymedia.com
Benefit continues on Page 9
Fossils continues on Page 9
Making a difference in the lives of children
Blues and rock show, gear drive coming to Buffalo Rose April 9
When Michaela Rae was 10 years old, she performed with her guitar for some children with cancer at a camp in Winter Park. It was the first performance put on by Blue Star Connection.
project. However, “we’ll definitely be keeping an eye out going forward,” Peavey said. The Golden area is known for fossil finds, said Karlyn Tilley, the city’s communications manager. “In fact, our golf course is named Fossil Trace, in part, because fossils were found there as they were creating the golf course,” Tilley said. The discoveries are “just one more thing that makes our city an incredible place.” The baculite was a cephalopod, meaning it was a squid-like creature, and it lived late in the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic Era.
By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Blues guitarist Ana Popovic will perform at 8 p.m. April 9 at the Buffalo Rose, 1119 Washington Ave., in Golden. The concert and gear drive will benefit Blue Star Connection, which is a Colorado-based nonprofit dedicated to bringing music into the lives of children and young adults who are fighting cancer and other life-challenging situations. Photo courtesy of Marco van Rooijen
BICYCLE KICKS Bike-riding can have healthy benefits for family members both young and old. Check out the story on PAGE 14.
Snowy day shuts down area By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com Significant city operations — from Denver International Airport to the Colorado School of Mines — closed on March 23. And many Goldenites also had a snow day. Golden’s City hall and administrative offices closed for the entire day, as did the Jefferson County offices. Many arts and entertainment destinations of the area also closed: the Foothills Art Center, Golden’s community center, the Colorado Railroad Museum and Colorado Mountain Club, which is headquartered at the American Mountaineering Center in Golden.
The Golden History Museums also closed for the day — the blizzard causing the history center to postpone its VIP reception for the 38-star Koenig American flag. Only personnel critical to the operations of the city, emergency crews such as fire and police departments and snowplows were working in Golden during the snow storm. “We prepared for a significant weather event,” the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) said during a 3 p.m. media conference call, “then it changed to a blizzard.” The weather forecast changed at about 4 or 5 a.m., calling for more
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) come from all different backgrounds, both in profession and personal experiences. There is no specific profile of the perfect CASA, said Leah Varnell, executive director for CASA Jeffco/Gilpin. “The only thing,” she said, “is CASAs have to be committed to children’s safety and making sure they grow up in a safe and loving permanent home.” CASA Jeffco/Gilpin celebrated its 15year anniversary in March. And although the organization has helped more than 2,500 children since 2001, only 30 to 40 percent of children in the court system received advocates. “These are our children,” Varnell said. “It’s up to all of us to take care of the children in our community.” The program is always looking for advocates. Those interested can sign up for the next training session, which begins on April 11. Or, Varnell said, there will be another one in June. In fact, CASA has three or four training opportunities each year for new volunteers. CASAs truly make a difference in the life of a child, Varnell said. “They can establish a relationship that
Snow continues on Page 7
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CASA continues on Page 5