Arvada Press 4/25/13
April 25, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourarvadanews.com
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 8, Issue 48
Civil unions begin
Clippers raise money Effort raises $8,000 to fight cancer
Arvada District 4 Councilman Bob Dyer had his head shaved in support of Epic Experience on April 19 at the D Note in Olde Town Arvada.
County prepared with new forms By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com
Arvada Chamber of Commerce President Dot Wright talks to Lexiss Browning, 6, son of Evergreen Chamber President Lin Browning, as he has his head shaved by D’Ametri’s salon staff April 19 at the D Note. The Brownings attended the Epic Experience fundraiser to support the nonprofit and Lexiss decided to shave his head during the event. Lexiss raised $525 from the crowd of attendees so he could shave his head in support of the organization. Photos by Sara Van Cleve
By Sara Van Cleve
svancleve@ourcoloradonews.com
L
ocal leaders and residents participated in an epic experience of their own Friday, April 19, in support of a local nonprofit that provides outdoor adventures for cancer patients and survivors. Arvada Chamber of Commerce President Dot Wright hosted a fundraiser that included hair clippers April 19 at the D Note, 7519 Grandview Ave., in support of Epic Experience. Epic Experience is a nonprofit that offers weeklong adventure camps in the Rocky Mountains about three and half hours west of Denver to adult cancer patients and survivors. During the fundraiser, Wright, District 4 Councilman Bob Dyer, members of the blues band and the evening’s entertainment the Duke Street Kings and other residents collected donations to shave their heads. The fundraiser raised about $8,000 for the nonprofit. Carl Craig with Environmental Resource Associates donated $500 to be able to be the person who shaved Wright’s locks. “I wanted to bring awareness to Epic Experience,” Wright said. “It’s a great organization that does great things for people battling cancer … when a chick shaves her head it gets a lot of attention and catches people’s eye.” Wright said everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer. Her father died of lung cancer when he was 41 and she was 19, and an aunt and several friends of her friends have been di-
‘When a chick shaves her head it gets a lot of attention and catches people’s eye.’ Dot Wright, Chamber of Commerce president agnosed with the disease. “Epic Experience takes survivors on weeklong adventures and gives them hope and something to look forward to at no cost,” Wright said. Lexiss Browning, 6, also had his head shaved. He went to the fundraiser with his mother, Lin Browning, the president of the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce, and decided while they were there he wanted to shave his head, too. Browning set a goal of raising $525 from attendees before he shaved his head, and within a half hour, that goal was met. D’Ametri’s Hair Salon, 7601 Grandview Ave., provided stylists to give Wright, Browning and others their buzzcuts. “Dot is incredible for doing this,” said Epic Experience co-founder and Arvada resident Nancy Ferro. “To join the chamber and have her say she’s going to do this for us is amazing. We rely on the generosity of people.” Epic Experience was founded by Ferro and Abby Staible. Ferro’s son Michael, 28, is a five-year
survivor of testicular cancer and went on a similar trip for young cancer survivors. “We saw an amazing response with him when he came back,” Ferro said. “A lot of organizations do outdoor adventure therapy, but we don’t like to use that word. We call it Make-a-Wish for adults.” During the camps, cancer patients and survivors and their caregivers go on a week-long adventure that includes activities such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, yoga, horseback riding, hiking and more. This summer’s camps will feature whitewater kayaking. During the camps, about 15 survivors go to a dude ranch and participate in outdoor adventures. The camps already have waiting lists. “Really what we see is a bringing together,” Ferro said. “We have people who are two-year and five-year survivors and people in the middle of treatment. What we see is, especially with some done with active treatment, is it’s not over. They’re dealing with the aftereffects … they’re trying to find a new normal.” The trips bring together complete strangers, but they immediately open up to each other, Ferro said. “We’ll take them on the river and most people haven’t done it before, some have, but it gives them a new fun challenge and by the end of the week, cancer might a little of the discussion, but it’s more of `I can’t believe I just did that.’” Ferro said the easiest way for people to support Epic Experience is through donating, which can be done at their website, www.EpicExperience.org. The organization is always looking for volunteers.
Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a civil-unions bill into law March 21 opening up a new option for same-sex couples when it goes into effect May 1. The bill, passed by the Democratcontrolled state Legislature, is seen by gay marriage supporters as a half step to reversing a 2006 voter-approved state ban on gay marriage. While the new law might represent a major cultural shift, Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder Pam Anderson said that for her office, the change should be easily accepted. “I’m currently the president of the (state) Clerks Association. And once we knew it was going to become law, we began work on an implementation plan,” Anderson said. That implementation plan is now in full effect across the state, as each county prepares to accept the new civil union licenses beginning on Wednesday, May 1. Anderson said most of the work involves the creation of new forms, and new computer programing to accommodate the new type of license. She said the form, and the process, will be very similar to the standard marriage form. According to Department Director Susie Swain, one of the few differences between the two licenses will be that while someone under 18 can receive a marriage license with the permission of a parent or guardian, no such provision will be allowed for civil unions. In Colorado, a heterosexual couple can obtain a marriage license, self affirm their marriage, or have a common law marriage. “Once this goes into effect, a heterosexual couple could choose to get a civil union instead of a marriage license,” Swain said.
The big day
“We’re anticipating a really exciting day,” Anderson said of May 1. “What will be historic and special is this will be the first day for civil unions in Colorado, and we’ll be prepared for that.” The county Clerk and Recorder’s office in Golden will be open and able to issue the new civil union licenses. To receive the license, both parties have to be present, have proof of ID, Social Security Numbers, not be married to anyone else, and have $30 in cash or check. “It’s a pretty simple form,” Swain said. Swain estimated that once a couple reaches the clerk’s counter, it should only take 15 minutes to receive the license. “You can take it home with you. The license is good within 35 days. Or you can use it right away,” Swain said. Once the license is used to finalize a union, it can be handed or mailed back to the county, which will record the couple’s new legal status to the state. Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.