Littleton independent 0703

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JULY 3, 2014 VO LUME 1 25 | IS S UE 49 | 7 5 ¢

A R A P A H O E C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O

LittletonIndependent.net

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A publication of

Analysts: Beauprez has a shot, a long one Hickenlooper perceived as early favorite, but could be vulnerable By Vic Vela

vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Charles Whitley (publisher of ArtScape Colorado and a friend): “To be an artist is like doing a tap dance on a tightrope between the head, the heart and the hands …”

Political observers think that Republican primary voters were wise to avoid picking a polarizing conservative to match up against Gov. John Hickenlooper in the fall, but can the party’s candidate take back the governor’s mansion for the GOP? That question will be answered in November, after voters cast ballots in a race that pits the Democratic Hickenlooper against former Congressman Bob Beauprez. Republicans haven’t won a governor’s race in Colorado since Bill Owens was Beauprez re-elected in 2002 — and Owens was the first Republican to hold the governor’s seat since John David Vanderhoof left office in 1975. So, can Beauprez — who lost a 2006 governor’s race to Bill Ritter by 15 points — reclaim the seat for the Hickenlooper GOP? “The answer at this juncture has to be yes,” said Norman Provizer, a longtime political science professor at Metro State University of Denver. “Hickenlooper has a lot of positive things going for him. At the same time, is he in an invulnerable position? No. It’s going to be a race.” While Beauprez may have a chance to win, the political consensus is that he is the underdog in the race. “It’s still a long shot but it’s not an impossible shot to beat John Hickenlooper,” said Eric Sondermann, an independent political analyst. “But (Beauprez) forces Hickenlooper to wage an intense campaign. Whereas, if it was Tom Tancredo as the nominee, he could have just phoned it in.” Tancredo — who is also a former congressman and failed gubernatorial candidate — finished second in the primary. He was seen by many analysts as too polarizing of a candidate to win a general election, especially given his views on immigration, which could have scared off Latino voters. “From the Republican Party — dare I stay establishment — there was a real concern over Tancredo,” Provizer said. “He was viewed as a threat by many major Republican players ... as a loose cannon that would have negative effects on other Republican candidates in state races.” But how better off Republicans are with Beauprez as their candidate? Beauprez won’t be facing the political headwinds this time around that he was dealing with in 2006 — a brutal year for Republicans across the country. Republicans are hopeful that this year’s midterm elections will create a national wave that will help their party’s state candidates. But Sondermann said that Beauprez needs more than just a Republican wave in order to win. He’ll need mistakes on the part of Hickenlooper. Not only that, Beauprez will need to “persuade people that he can actually win this thing, in order for people to invest money and energy in this race,” Sondermann said.

Plash continues on Page 10

Beauprez continues on Page 10

Actress Jennifer Lynne Jorgenson encounters some “bad guys” on her way to rescue her “husband” during a scene filmed in Littleton on June 28. Photo by Jennifer Smith

City caught in `Inner Dimension’ Production company filming sci-fi thriller in south metro area By Jennifer Smith

jsmith@coloradocommunitymedia.com

POSTAL ADDRESS

LITTLETON INDEPENDENT

There were lights. There were cameras. There was action. But that’s about all Harlow Park has in common with Hollywood. Galloping Metal Productions visited Littleton on June 28 to film part of its upcoming web series, “Inner Dimension.” According to the show’s website, it’s part sci-fi, part thriller, part paranormal, “tying the real world to a new world that goes far beyond mankind’s comprehension.” Heading up the production team are Castle Rock residents Kasha and Troy Fauscett. She is an actress trying out her directing wings, and he wrote the script. They say it’s a tale of good versus evil, of universal balance. The crew has filmed in locations all over the state for the last 10 months, from Proof NiteClub in Denver to a Lakewood nail salon to a Highlands Ranch neighborhood.

“We’re just so excited to bring film and production to Colorado,” said Kasha Fauscett. “It’s an incredible, beautiful place to film. There’s so much sunshine.” It’s also returning to its film-friendly ways of yesteryear, when such movies as “True Grit,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “Vanishing Point” “The Shining,” and “Sleeper” were produced here. For a while other states outpaced Colorado with legislation promoting the industry, but state Sen. Linda Newell, D-Littleton, successfully passed a law in 2012 to help catch up. “This is exactly what we need to continue doing in our state, inspiring creatives to further our innovation and culture,” said Newell, noting that the creative sector is the fifth-largest industry in Colorado. The Fauscetts stress that all of their talent was hired locally, from extras on up to themselves — about 50 in all, they estimate. They actually spent part of the day filming at the Littleton home of their make-up artist, Lisa Henke, near Harlow Park at Belleview Avenue and Lowell Boulevard. Dimension continues on Page 10

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A legal newspaper of general circulation in Englewood, Colorado, the Littleton Independent is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Littleton Independent 7315 S. Revere Pkwy., Ste. 603 Centennial, CO 80112 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US

P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY

Playful ‘Plash’ placed in park Artwork is designed to interact with light By Sonya Ellingboe and Jennifer Smith Staff writers

The South Suburban Public Art Committee welcomed its most recent commissioned acquisition, “Plash,” on June 27 at Little’s Creek Park, near the intersection of Broadway and Sterne Parkway. Committee chair Joyce Volpe introduced other committee members and the artists, Jean and Tom Latke of Pueblo, at the site. Created from brilliantly colored glass, stainless steel and concrete, “Plash” is positioned to catch the sun and bright light and play games with them. The Latkas explained that “Plash” is the sound of a drop hitting water. They spoke of their start as ceramists and their transition into working with glass. “We found the pottery equipment also works for glass. Thirtyfive years of making pots is enough. And glass is very sexy,” Tom Latka said. He had earlier told committee member

Nationally recognized artists Tom and Jean Latka talk about “Plash,” a sculpture created from glass, concrete and steel, installed near the pond’s edge at Little’s Creek Park in Littleton. Photo by Sonya Ellingboe


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