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Week of February 24, 2022
JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
JeffcoTranscript.com
VOLUME 38 | ISSUE 31
Wheat Ridge High hosts live downlink with Space Station Second time school has participated in the program BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Former NASA Astronaut Lee “Bru” Archambault speaks to students at the International Space Station PHOTOS BY BOB WOOLEY Downlink event.
Around 200 students from Wheat Ridge High School participated in a live, NASA Education Downlink event with Astronaut Raja Chari from the International Space Station. The Feb. 18 event was the second time since 2016 that Wheat Ridge High School has been selected for the program. U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter wrote a letter of support to bring this event to the school. During the Downlink, students’ pre-recorded questions for Commander Chari were answered live from the International Space Station. Those questions ranged from Com-
Astronaut Raja Chari answers questions from Wheat Ridge High students from the International Space Station.
mander Chari’s experience in space to his motivation behind becoming an astronaut and how he trained for the mission. Perlmutter has been a vocal advocate for the U.S. Space Program, a return to the moon and ultimately seeing U.S. astronauts reach Mars. SEE SPACE, P5
Casa Bonita Art Show opens to huge crowd Creativity and kitsch reign supreme at NEXT Gallery BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Opening night at NEXT Gallery’s Casa Bonita Art Show, “Mi Casa Es Su Casa,” was a rollicking, good time for those unbothered by a throng of bodies packed into a rather tight space. Art lovers and hipsters of all ages came to have a drink, share a laugh, take a selfie and check out pieces created by artists across the country.
This is the fifth year for the gallery show, featuring works inspired by the iconic Mexican restaurant that has carved out a place in pop culture history. Bobby Nathan won an award for his space themed “CASA,”— think NASA, installation. His friends, Jess Bergeman and Eileen O’Brien, called the show a special event for the community, while giving a special shoutout to Andrew Novick, a well-known Casa Bonita booster who rallied to save the pink palace before its recent purchase by South Park creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone. SEE ART, P3
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 20
Inside the Casa Bonita Art Show at Lakewood’s NEXT Gallery.
PHOTO BY BOB WOOLEY
VAN LIFE
With four wheels and a view, let it roll P14