January 15, 2015 VOLU M E 31 | I SS UE 29 | 5 0 ¢
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Hickenlooper seeks help for unemployed Initiative aims to help those who have been without a job for at least 26 weeks By Ivan Moreno Associated Press
Sherry Kim, first place finalist in the 56th annual Jefferson Symphony Orchestra International Young Artists Competition, gave an extraordinary performance of Rachmaninoff ’s Concerto No. 1, Op. 1 in F minor on Saturday, Jan. 10. Her accompanist, Oskar Yao, not pictured, is a graduate student of Yoheved Kaplinsky at the Julliard School. Photo by Amy Woodward
A competition con brio International Young Artists Competition crowns winner By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com
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Outstanding performances abounded from some of the nation’s most talented young pianists at the 56th annual Jefferson Symphony Orchestra International Young Artists Competition on Saturday, Jan. 10. Twelve finalists were selected to compete for the top three spots in the evening’s recital Saturday including first place for a performance soloist in a fundraising and a chance to play with the Jefferson Symphony Orchestra. “As a musician, this is the high point of the year,” said Steve Dreher, flutist, and committee member for the international young artist competition. “These kids are just amazing.” Sherry Kim, 22, who studies at the Manhattan School of Music, took first place with a spirited performance of Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 1, Op. 1
PERFORMANCES SHERRY KIM will be playing in a fundraising reception at the Rockley Music Center, 8555 W. Colfax Ave., in Lakewood on Saturday, March 21 at 7 p.m. She will play with the Jefferson Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, March 22 at 3 p.m. at the Green Center on the Colorado School of Mines campus at 924 16th Street in Golden. For tickets, call 303-278-4237 or go to www.jeffsymphony.org. in F minor. “I really wanted the chance to play with an orchestra because it’s really just an amazing piece and this Rachmaninoff concerto is very underplayed,” Kim said. “I think with competitions it’s all an education experience — it’s another performance opportunity even though you are getting judged but then you really come out with a greater result in the end,” she said. “These competitions are helping us become better performers whether we win or not.” For the final performance of the evening, finalists played all three parts of their selected concertos Competition continues on Page 9
WHEAT RIDGE TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 1089-9197)
OFFICE: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401
Stricter fees planned for sex offenders
PHONE: 303-566-4100
By Hugh Johnson
A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Wheat Ridge 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.
Wheat Ridge City Council will look at issuing municipal court summons for sex offenders who fail to pay registration fees, the city has lost in excess of a $1,000 in revenue annually in unpaid fees, according to a staff report. Sex offenders are required to pay a $75 initial fee and an annual fee of $25. However, due to a provision in House Bill 11-1278 that changes the pursuit of outstanding fees from a criminal process to a civil process, the city has been unable to collect. What’s worse is that state law requires law enforcement agencies to report sex offender registrations to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation within three business days of registration. That renders the city unable to hold off on registering the offender if they fail to pay. It would also be perilous to the community to do so. Taking a cue from Brighton, which increased its compliance to “effectively” 100 percent according to staff report, city officials requested council consider issuing a summons for failing to pay registration fees. According to a staff report, Wheat Ridge had 67 initial registrations in 2012. At $75 per registration, the money the city received should have totaled $5,025 but $1,015 has not been paid — roughly 20 percent. City staff reports that just two of the $25
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annual registrations were not paid in 2012. In 2013, the city had 49 initial registrations for what should have been $3,675 but came up $1,135 short. District Three Councilman Tim Fitzgerald raised concerns that through the process, the city could end up issues warrants for arrest over $25 fees, a situation similar to the controversy surrounding pay or serve warrants. In 2013, another publication ran a story detailing cities that imposed jail time for people unable to pay fees. Wheat Ridge was highlighted for its use of pay or serve warrants. Police Chief Dan Brennan said any warrants issued for those with outstanding fees would be for “failure to appear,” and a judge would assess the defendant’s ability to pay and create a payment plan instead of just jailing the person. For Chief Brennan, the heart of the issue is holding offenders accountable for the funds it takes to keep the Wheat Ridge community safe. “The question is whether or not it’s important to our community that we have a process that holds sex offenders accountable for the costs that are associated with the process that’s required to register them,” Brennan said. The fee revenue is used to offset time and labor costs required to register offenders. The issues will be brought to council at a future meeting.
Gov. John Hickenlooper’s administration wants to help people who have been unemployed at least 26 weeks find jobs with a $3 million initiative aimed at connecting them with interested employers. Hickenlooper on Jan. 8 announced the plan, which will utilize a new website to connect Colorado employers with workers. The $3 million comes from the federal government, with the state kicking in $100,000 for the website. The federal funding will go for job or interview training, counseling and internships for the long-term unemployed. According to the state Department of Labor and Employment, nearly 50,000 people in Colorado have been unemployed for at least 26 weeks, which is defined as long-term unemployment. “It does change the way you go about your day. It changes how you relate with your family, your friends,” Hickenlooper. “It changes what you see in the mirror, some of the old confidence and things you took for granted isn’t the same.” Overall, the job outlook for the state has improved. Colorado’s unemployment rate is 4.1 percent. But state officials say there is a stigma associated with being out of work long term, presenting a challenge for job seekers. In some cases, the jobs that they once held no longer exist or they have been unable to keep up with the skills they need in their field, said Ellen Golombek, the executive director of the state labor department. “Many of these long-term unemployed are highly qualified. Their skills just don’t match the jobs that are currently open,” Golombek said. Participating in the initiative is voluntary for employers. But state officials say they’ll have an incentive to hire workers who just need training to brush up on their skills. “We have a pool of employers who are constantly willing to step up, sometimes just because it’s the right thing to do,’’ said Fiona Arnold, the executive director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. “In this case, it’s because it’s not only the right thing to do, but they’re hurting for employees, too.”
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper speaks to members of the media during a Jan. 8 news conference describing a workforce initiative that his administration says will increase hiring in Colorado. The $3 million program is intended to work with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, and the Colorado Dept. of Labor and Employment to assist the state’s long-term unemployed in getting back to work. Associated Press