Arvada Press 1023

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October 23, 2014 VOLU M E 1 0 | I SS UE 21

ArvadaPress.com J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O

A publication of

Charter school in the wings Proposed charter focuses on STEAM education

DETAILS

By Crystal Anderson

canderson@colorado communitymedia.com Increasing innovative educational opportunities will create the technology leaders of tomorrow. The Alexandria School of Innovation, a proposed charter school, is seeking to locate in Jefferson County. “What makes us unique is our focus on science, technology, engineering and then we’ve added the arts component and math,” said Alexandria Founder, Judy Branberg. “What we’re doing is really cutting-edge science education.” A Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math, or STEAM school, the program will offer 350 students a chance to study

WHAT: Parent and community interest meetings WHEN AND WHERE: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 27, Golden Library, 1019 10th St., Golden 6:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 29, Lakewood Library, 10200 W. 20th Ave., Lakewood 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Thursday Oct. 30, The Ridge Rec Center, Elk Mountain Room, 6613 S. Ward Rd., Littleton 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 3, Evergreen Library, 5000 County 73, Evergreen.

more than 15 different laboratory programs; take part in a one-on-one mentorship program with industry leaders; 9-12 entrepreneurship programs and “The importance of these STEM charter schools cannot be overemphasized,” said Cindy Williams, former vice president of solutions and innovation at Newmont

Mining Company and a member of the board of governors for STEM education. Focusing on a the STEAM model, Alexandria students will study a variety of subjects in `incubators’ or lab subjects rooted in math and computer science, humanities, foreign language, fine arts, physical education and science and technology. Split into eight periods, the curriculum encourages students to develop both logic and creative skills, foster an authentic culture, learn communication and collaboration skills; work in a context of systems on real community problems and situations; and learn to manage change. “In these programs (experiential learning) we take kids out to the front lines of industry, and the front lines of leading university research,” Williams said. “We have them actually do projects and sit down and work with people in those environments, so they can see how excited a chemical engineer is about what they do and the kind

Back in town

Ralston Valley grad stars in independent short By Crystal Anderson

canderson@colorado communitymedia.com

P

erforming for audiences is easy, but in his first interview in his hometown, actor Adam Celentano appeared both humble and just a bit nervous. While traveling the independent film festival circuit, Celentano, a rockabilly-clad man with familyinspired boxer tattoos, popped by Global Goods and Coffee Shop to talk about his work on Mark Kirkland’s silent short film “The Moving Picture Co. 1914” and his blossoming career in filmmaking. “With a production like this, you take out sound and you take out color, throwing that in today’s world and seeing it work, and hoping it catches the heart of somebody is nice,” Celentano said, “because that’s hard, knowing you’re making something that’s drastically different.” Born in El Paso, Texas, Celentano and his family moved to Arvada when he was young, where he was thrust into the theatrical world. Growing up, Celentano was involved with all aspects of theater, participating in productions at Ralston Valley High School, acting in shows at Olde Town’s Festival Playhouse and performing stand up comedy at The D’Note and Denver’s Comedy Works. “Growing up in a creative family really helped me flourish and not be afraid to get gross, that’s what it takes for an actor I’ve seen, you have to get gross,” he said. “There’s a magic in changing who you are, a euphoria of putting yourself in one’s shoes and knowing that’s not you. You’re still you as that character.” Following graduation in 2010, Celentano moved to Los Angeles to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA). After a semester studying studio acting, Celentano caught a break, and was cast as Jimmy Curry, one of the lead roles in a revival rendition of “The Rainmaker” for the Sierra Repertory Theatre in Northern California. “I was very fortunate,” he said. “It was really great to be a part of that

of difference that person can make with their job.” Currently geared towards high school students, if approved, the school will become a K-12 school, taking students in from all backgrounds and across Jeffco and neighboring counties. Proposed before the board on Oct. 2, the school’s proposed board is seeking letters of intent from community members and parents who support their mission. Currently, the program has more than 200 letters, and is hoping to receive 200 more before the board’s vote on Nov. 6. “For the sake of Colorado business and the Colorado economy, we’ve got to get more kids excited about STEM and educated in STEM,” Williams said. “I think the charter school has been shown to be a very good avenue to do that.” For more information on the Alexandria School of Innovation, visit www.alexandriak12.org/.

Roundtable discusses action on construction defects Jefferson, Adams county mayors show support during roundtable event By Crystal Anderson canderson@colorado communitymedia.com

Adam Celentano stands in front of his former haunt, Olde Town’s Festival Playhouse. Photo by Crystal Anderson … It’s been a couple years, and I’ve tried to hustle … I was very lucky.” Following “Rainmaker,” in 2011, Celantano moved to New York City, where he continued to study method acting, and began working behind the scenes at the New Amsterdam Theater. During his work at the theater, he learned about the business of Broadway. His passion for acting thrived doing theater work, but soared on film. “This is where I knew I was starting to break into film,” he said of his work on “Noah,” a feature film directed by Darren Aronofsky. “I was doing more extra work here (New York City) … I’ve always loved film and wanted to do that as my major

acting start.” Over the course of four years, Celentano, 22, has worked on an array of projects throughout the television, theater and film industries. He’s done featured extra work for TV shows, “SMASH” and “Over Under” and independent films, “Growing Up and Other Lies” and “Kilimanjaro”. Along with extra work, he’s stared in independent films, “Spin It Til You’re Numb,” by Colorado Director Emmerson Steinberg and “The Tragical History of Sam Swope,” by PJ O’Brien. Town continues on Page 7

In a recent mayoral roundtable, sponsored by the Arvada Chamber of Commerce, several Front Range mayors showed support for actions taken in Lakewood to improve the state’s Construction Defects Law. “We haven’t had a condominium or batch of homes like that built in Lakewood since 2006,” said Lakewood Mayor, Bob Murphy. “It’s become to easy to take these projects to court and for that reason these projects are not being built. We passed an ordinance the other night that has a three-pronged consumer protection strategy … I think it’s very simple, and it’s going to be extremely successful for us as a community of leaders.” The ordinance, passed in a 7-4 vote by the Lakewood City Council, Oct. 13, addresses homebuilders’ litigation concerns. The resolution makes it more difficult for homeowner associations to file lawsuits against developers regarding constructional defects, and gives those developers a preliminary opportunity to repair those problems. “We have projects that are on the table where we could be building,” said Herb Atchison, City of Westminster, “owner-occupied housing or where residents could stay there, an open property, that under the current laws we have to deal with they will not build them.” “This is an economic development impact to us by not having this capability today, and it’s not any one municipality — it’s statewide,” Atchison said. Atchinson, along with mayors from Arvada, Broomfield, Golden and Northglenn, showed their support for the ordinance, stating this step paves the way for action in this discussion. “That’s going to be part of the battle of this discussion,” said Marc Williams, mayor for the City of Arvada. “Is this an issue of statewide concern we can do that the (state) legislature needs to deal with or for those of us who are home-ruled cities can we address it?”


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