May 28, 2015
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VOLUME 149 | ISSUE 25 | 50¢
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GoldenTranscript.net 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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Doing the hand jive together as a class was Golden High School’s graduating seniors’ final matter of business before the commencement ceremony concluded and they officially were no longer high school students.
SENIOR CLASS JIVES ON
Golden High School 2015 graduate Sabrina Stock receives a hug from her friend, Conner Lewark, a junior at Golden High School, after the commencement ceremony on May 22 at the North Area Athletic Complex in Arvada.
Everybody has a role to play, said Golden High School faculty member Jay Shackett. And every role is important, he added, when carried out with pride. Golden High School’s graduating class of 2015 tossed their caps in the air May 22 at the North Area Athletic Complex in Arvada to celebrate the achievement of completing 12 years of schooling. Some will enter the medical field, some will become teachers, and others will enter the military, students said by raising their hands when Shackett prompted them to do so. However, before the commencement ceremony could be completed and students could go on their separate paths, there was one thing left they had to do together as a class for the final time — the hand jive. PHOTOS BY CHRISTY STEADMAN
Golden loses a legend POSTAL ADDRESS
GOLDEN TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 0746-6382)
OFFICE: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Golden Transcript is published weekly on Thursday by Mile High Newspapers, 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210, Golden, CO 80401. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT GOLDEN, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 722 Washington Ave., Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legals: Fri. 11 a.m. Classifieds: Mon. 5 p.m.
PL E ASE RECYCLE T HI S C OPY
‘Heinie’ Foss passes away at 97 years By Christy Steadman csteadman@colorado communitymedia.com
Across the street from what used to be the Foss General Store, on the southwest corner of 13th and Washington in downtown Golden, sits a statue called “Lending a Helping Hand.” The statue, which was placed on May 24, 2001, was commissioned to recognize the contributions the late Frederick A. “Heinie” Foss and his wife, Barbara, made to the community. On May 21, Golden lost a prominent community member, friend and mentor to many with Foss’ passing. He believed in the “idea of giving back to the community,” Foss’ longtime friend Joe Rillos said. “He was always there to give the community a helping hand.” Foss, born on Oct. 7, 1917, was raised in Golden and was fondly referred to as Mr. Golden for his participation in community affairs. He established and helped fund the Golden Civic Foundation, Rillos said, and served as its first president. “The direction he gave was that the money go toward to the betterment of Golden,” Rillos said. “That was his vision.” Foss served as a member of the Golden City Council, on the board of the Chamber of Commerce for 14 years, was a substantial supporter of the Christian Action Guild, past president of the Golden Kiwanis Club and a member of the Golden Masonic Lodge for more than 50 years. “He loved the people (of Golden),” said Pat Madison, a longtime member of the Golden Civic Foundation and Foss’ neighbor. Foss was business-minded, said Madison, who owns a local business called Golden Software. Foss was always willing to give support and encouragement to new business owners. “He was a mentor in the business world,” Madison said. “He had the belief that small businesses give back to the community.” The Foss General Store began as a small drug store founded in 1913 by Foss’ parents,
Frederick A. “Heinie” Foss, Oct. 7, 1917—May 21, 2015 Henry and Dorothy Foss. Henry Foss passed away in 1918, and his son eventually inherited his nickname, Heinie, said Marvin Kay, a family friend. Foss graduated from Golden High School in 1935 and was working at the family’s drug store when World War II broke out. He became a pilot in the military in 1941. While stationed at Ellington Field in Houston, Texas, with the Army Air Corps, he met his wife, Barbara, a fellow pilot with Women Airforce Service Pilots. The two married in Santa Monica, California, on Jan. 10, 1945. After the war, the couple returned to Golden. Foss studied at the Capitol College of Pharmacy in Denver, and he took over the management of the drug store, which he eventually expanded to 40,000 square feet with three floors. The Fosses also owned a ranch, which has since been developed into the Mesa Meadows subdivision, where they raised registered Polled Herefords and Arabian horses. Kay, 76, met Foss in 1955. Foss gave him the opportunity to work in the drug store while he was attending college. Kay, a former Legend continues on Page 21
District denial draws criticism Governor signs educational bills at Heritage Center By Crystal Anderson and Clarke Reader
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com and creader@colorado communitymedia.com Legislators and members of the education community gathered around an old schoolmarm’s desk in Lakewood as Gov. John Hickenlooper signed two key educational bills into law. The catch — the desk wasn’t located at any Jeffco school. “It’s another black eye for Jeffco, and a missed opportunity for our students to get a real life civics lesson,” Jeffco School Board member Lesley Dahlkemper said at the signing. “Instead, they got a lesson in politics. I think the district is being disingenuous about this as well. Last year we had two bill signings at Standley Lake they were able to arrange with finals and graduation. I find it hard to believe they can’t accommodate this.” In mid-May, the Jeffco School District was approached about hosting the governor at Lakewood High School on the morning of May 20 to sign two assessment-reducing bills, HB 15-1323 and SB 15-056, into law. However, Jeffco spokeswoman Lisa Pinto said that, due to the logistics of the end of the year and graduation, the district could not accommodate the governor and his staff with such short notice. “It was not possible to accommodate the governor, and the media and community members who wanted to watch the bill being signed first thing in the morning during this busy time,” she said. Following up with Pinto, she said the district would have been happy to coordinate an afternoon signing at a different school, as they’ve done in the past with Kendrick Lakes Elementary School, but failed to provide a reason as to why they didn’t. The signing, held inside the Old School House building at the Lakewood Heritage Center, featured comments from several of the area’s legislators and dignitaries welcoming the crowd to the center and expressing their excitement for the bills. Along with those statements, several of them, such as Hickenlooper, state Sen. Andy Kerr and Lakewood Mayor Bob Murphy, shared their confusion and dissatisfaction with the school district’s actions around the event. “With who we have sponsoring these bills that show bipartisan efforts and the fact we’ve had bill signings at schools before, it’s very disappointing the students and faculty couldn’t help us celebrate today,” said Kerr, a Jeffco teacher. “This was still a wonderful setting to do this in, and hopefully provides a basis for us to move forward and get the work of the people done and leave politics behind.” For Murphy, the issue, which the district presented as an impossible security issue, was disconcerting. “I want to clarify something — back in 2012 it was announced that Paul Ryan was going to be the vice presidential candidate and his first visit was at Lakewood High School. The police department found out about it on Friday, and the police had full security set up by Monday,” he said. “So no matter what you’re hearing, the Lakewood police can handle it.” Moving forward, the district said it has reached out to the governor’s office and are hoping to host him in August or the early fall.