Sentinel Lakewood
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 89, Issue 47
July 4, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourlakewoodnews.com
Vote on tax hike taking shape Organizers plan ballot question on school funding By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com The tax initiative tied to funding of a major overhaul of Colorado’s school finance formula has been determined, and the campaign that’s behind it now has a name. Now, the real work for organizers begins: Getting signatures for a ballot proposal and, ultimately, trying to sell voters on the
need for supporting about $950 million in new taxes that will be used to reshape how schools are funded. A committee that is calling itself Colorado Commits to Kids announced last week that they Report will work to put a two-tiered income tax increase on the ballot this fall. The tax initiative, which will impact higher wage earners more, will support the funding needed to enact Senate Bill 213, a major rewrite of the School Finance Act.
Capitol
The act, which was passed by the Legislature earlier this year, would create full-day kindergarten, provide preschool for at-risk children, and would put more money into needs-based programs for special education students and children who are learning English. The legislation also aims to increase perpupil funding for school districts across the state that supporters say would be done in a more equitable fashion than the current system allows. “We are eager to have a vigorous debate when the campaign begins in earnest,” said Curtis Hubbard, on behalf of Colorado Commits to Kids. “We’ve worked almost two years on this, trying to support the right
measure. We think we’ve hit on the right system.” Right now, Colorado’s current income tax rate is a flat 4.63 percent, regardless of income level. The initiative will ask voters to approve an addition 0.37 percent in taxes on income earners who make up to $75,000 a year, bringing their tax rates up to five percent. Residents making more than $75,000 a year would pay 5 percent on their first $75,000 of taxable income, and a rate of 5.9 percent on income above that amount. Republican legislators opposed Senate Bill 213 during the recent legislative session Schools continues on Page 18
Fireworks a no go in city New ordinance adds sky lanterns to list By Clarke Reader
creader@ourcoloradonews.com
The members of Rockley Music’s first “Broadway Your Way” camp. Students learned about monologues, make-up, and worked on their own songs. Courtesy photo
Getting to Broadway, your way Rockley offers new performing arts summer camp By Clarke Reader
creader@ourcoloradonews.com Broadway may be all the way in New York City, but Rockley Music Center has found a way to bring it a lot closer to home for teens. The music center, 8555 W. Colfax Ave., is hosting “Broadway Your Way,” a performing arts camp July 15-26. Interested performers have until July 14 to sign up for the camp, which costs $299. The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, culminating in a final performance in which the students get a chance to show what they’ve learned. “I’m a huge believer in dreaming big, and
Details WHAT: “Broadway Your Way” performing arts camp WHERE: Rockley Music Center 8555 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood
WHEN: July 15-26 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily
COST: $299 INFORMATION: 303-233-4444 or www.rockleymusic.com
‘I’m a huge believer in dreaming big, and Rockley was able to give me the resources I needed to make this camp.’ Scott Merchant, director of the program Rockley was able to give me the resources I needed to make this camp,” said Scott Merchant, director of the program. “I wanted to set up a camp for young people in way that speaks their language.” The July dates are the second session for the camp — the first was from June 10 through 21 — and Merchant and his teaching partners, Terra Salazar and Melissa Santana, are thrilled for the next session to start. While attending the camp students will learn a variety of facets of a Broadway performance, from stage fighting and makeup to stage movement and monologue methods. Students will also receive private voice lessons. Merchant said that each experience will be tailored to the performer, and the areas they would like to really work on. No previous experience is required to sign up, either. Liane Rockley, who owns the shop with her husband Tobin, said that the camp’s target age group is between 13 and 17 years
old. “At that age it can be hard to find your identity and really thrive,” she said. “Here everyone can feel like they’re part of the group, and they’re in a safe environment to try some of these things.” Giving these young performers a sense of self is one of the major goals of what Rockley and Merchant are trying to accomplish with the camp. “After the first group’s final performance, we had so many parents raving about the program, and how grateful they were that we were providing this to the community,” Rockley said. For Merchant, “Broadway Your Way” is a chance not only to learn a great deal about music and art, but a way for each performer to find their own way to shine. “We want to empower them to be unapologetically themselves,” he said. For more information, and to sign up, call 303-233-4444 or visit www.rockleymusic.com.
Just in time for Independence Day, Lakewood is reminding residents that no fireworks of any kind are legal in the city. The ban includes sparklers, Roman candles, smoke bombs and — after the June 24 City Council meeting — sky lanterns as well. “Everything is illegal here, and that’s been the case for several years now,” said Lakewood Police public information officer Steve Davis. “Fireworks are illegal to sell, buy and use in the city.” According to Kit Lammers, communications manager with the city, sky lanterns are essentially small hot-air balloons made out of paper, with an opening at the bottom where a small fire is suspended. He said the lanterns pose a significant fire danger because there is no controlling where they will float off to and land. Davis said enforcement of the fireworks ban used to be based on calls to the police department, but now the city puts extra officers out on the days leading up to July Fourth and on the actual holiday; their sole assignment is to enforce the ban. “We also have volunteers from civilians who are out on the street and report any firework usage to us so we can respond properly,” Davis said. Anyone caught with fireworks will have them confiscated and be issued a summons to Lakewood municipal courts, where they will be issued a fine. Davies said the fine is about $300, but could be as high as $1,000. Lakewood has been working hard to decrease the risk of fire in the city. During the same June 24 City Council meeting at which sky lanterns were added to the fireworks list, the council passed an ordinance requiring that notification about any fire bans be put on the city’s website and at any park or public venues. The council also passed an ordinance that allowed for fire bans and restrictions to be implemented not only in city parks, but citywide. There are two stages of restriction, and Lammers said the city worked with West Metro on the ordinances. “When you look around the state and see how dry everything is, then everyone should be prudent about the danger,” Davis said. For more information, go online to www. lakewood.org/fireworks.
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