January 14, 2016
Voluntary Contribution
VOLUME 92 | ISSUE 22
PROGRAM
See ad inside for details LakewoodSentinel.com J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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ON THE COURT Alameda’s Angel Bernard gets off a shot during the Jan. 8 league game against Englewood. The on-target accounted for two of Bernard’s four points but, despite a determined Alameda effort, Englewood won, 36-20. For more about the game, and all Lakewood prep sports, turn to PAGE 20. Photo by Tom Munds
Talks Students poised for HVAC careers end over federal land From left: Ken Boettcher, Rob Moreno and Russell Diedrich. Boettcher and Diedrich both graduated from the Red Rocks Community College Read2 Work program, and were hired at Moreno’s Simple Home Energy Solutions. Courtesy of Joan Smith
Red Rocks Community College offers program for industry that is in need of workers By Clarke Reader creader@coloradocommunitymedia.com
After years in social work, Ken Boettcher wanted a change in career. He was looking for something with more immediate results. Something he could point to as an accomplishment at the end of the day. He found it working with HVAC. “I wish I had known about this industry
from the start,” Boettcher said. “I would’ve jumped right into it.” Boettcher took advantage of the Red Rocks Community College program training workers to fill the spots vacated by an aging workforce in the HVAC industry, which stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. “Everyone in the workforce is aging out,” said Joan Smith, executive director of Red Rocks Community College’s Rocky Mountain Education Center. “It’s really a perfect storm — high schools have really gone away from the technical fields. There are jobs in fields like plumbing, construction and HVAC
TO LEARN MORE
For more information on the Ready2 Work Academy email Ed.hegwood@rrcc. edu, call 303-914-6202 or visit www.rmecosha. com and click the Energy Efficiency tab.
HVAC continues on Page 17
Lakewood legislators prep for session Elected officials list their top priorities for the year By Clarke Reader creader@coloradocommunitymedia.com In preparation for the Jan. 13 start of the state legislative session, Lakewood’s legislators spent the summer and fall listening to constituents about which issues they consider most important this year. Top issues, the said, include education, transportation and the budget. “I hear a lot about education in my district, specifically in regards to testing and education standards,” said Cheri Jahn, Senator in District 20. “We did address some of this last year, but I am sure education and testing will be a topic again this session. Citizens in my district are always interested in our budget and the processes we go through, especially like the year we are about to enter when there will need to be large cuts.”
As a teacher, Sen. Andy Kerr in District 22 hears a lot about the shortfalls and problems in the state’s education system, and this year will be no different. “Education and education funding are huge for people,” he said. “Some of the happenings in Jeffco schools last fall really brought these issues to the forefront. Everyone in the community said schools are an important part of quality of life and affect everything, including property values.” In his last legislative session, Rep. Max Tyler (D-District 23) wants to accomplish some important goals the year. “Budget issues are big, and at our town hall a lot of people are grumpy about TABOR, because the economy is doing well,” he said. “But we still don’t have enough funding for schools. We have a really good group that comes to our monthly town halls, and that’s where I get a lot of my ideas.” Although Colorado hears mostly positive news on the economic front,
LAWMAKERS GO IN DEPTH To read more about what area and local legislators expect as they head into the 2016 session, turn to PAGE 5.
families and businesses are still struggling. Brittany Pettersen, House representative from District 28, wants to see more work done for these families. “Too many people feel left behind by our recovery and continue to struggle with the increased costs of living,” she said. “I hear often about the burdens and high costs small businesses face, the inability to save for retirement and the rising costs of a post-secondary education.” The four legislators shared hopes and goals for the session. Some have been edited for space. Check out the full versions on www.lakewoodsentinel.com.
City will not move forward on Federal Center Station Neighborhood By Clarke Reader creader@coloradocommunitymedia.com Negotiations between the City of Lakewood and the federal government over the 59 acres of federally owned land for a proposed Federal Center Station Neighborhood have ended. City manager Kathy Hodgson made the announcement on Jan. 6. According to Hodgson’s memorandum, “By letter dated November 17, 2015, the federal government imposed a requirement that City Council take final action on the proposed agreement no later than January 22 or the federal government would end negotiations with Lakewood. The letter also notified the city that the federal government had initiated a reappraisal of the property that could change the terms of the proposed agreement.” Lakewood had been considering entering into an agreement with the government to receive the 59 acres in exchange for building a new laboratory for the Federal Center. “I think the process staff put together was a good solution to the problem,” said Ward 2 councilman Scott Koop. “I’m kind of disappointed the project may have died, but we Land continues on Page 17