June 4, 2015
VOLU ME 31 | ISSU E 49 | 50 ¢
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Hey, it’s Arvada Trails Day! New trail and vegetable and flower garden to be dedicated By Crystal Anderson
Canderson@colorado communitymedia.com Travel down a gray gravel path, through long grasses and along the trails at Majestic View Nature Center. Pass by a shining lake and listen to the birds sing. Pause to witness the bees pollinate flower to flower and watch as neighboring horses chomp and graze. All this and more can be enjoyed during the 14th annual Arvada Trails Day event, Saturday, June 6. “Arvada has great trails,” said Karen Miller, executive director of the Majestic View Nature Center, 7030 Garrison St. “This is a great fit for us, and as we’re building more trails I think it’s important to highlight Arvada’s trails.” Beginning at 8:30 a.m., residents can jump in on the event, join two guided trail walks or bike rides from the center to Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge, located just east of Kipling Street on West 80th Avenue, and back. Following the walks and bike rides, the event offers a variety of interactive and sustainable outdoor living, animal and educational vendors at the center, with a
The Cattail Trail, one of several to be traveled during Trails Day, winds around the wetland area of the nature center property. Photo by Crystal Anderson few live animal presentations done at the Two Ponds Refuge. From the presentation of raptors by HawkQuest to learning the basic wilderness survival skills, Trails Day is an active and educational event highlighting the joys and necessities of outdoor living. “We want to give people more ideas around getting outside,” said Angela Borland, an organizer with the event and environmental education specialist. The event will also dedicate the center’s new trail and the Pioneer Farmsteader’s urban vegetable and flower garden. Free frozen yogurt, hot dogs and other treats will be served for all to enjoy.
“This gives them (residents) an opportunity to get out and know their neighbors and the community,” said Alvin Maes, an Arvada Festival Commission member. “It also lets people know that the Majestic View Nature Center is here.” Trails Day is a national event, and Arvada’s version celebrates the more than 150 miles of walking trails sprinkled throughout the city. It is a joint project between the Arvada Festival Commission, the city’s parks committee, Majestic View Nature Center and what Miller calls the two nature jewels of the city — the Majestic View area and Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge.
POSTAL ADDRESS
Despite the rain, district supporters from across the Front Range gathered at the Jefferson County Education Association’s summer of action kickoff event. Photo by Crystal Anderson
WHEAT RIDGE TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 1089-9197)
OFFICE: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 PHONE: 303-566-4100 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. 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
Teachers Union hosts Summer of Action rally Jeffco teachers prepping for potential strike By Crystal Anderson
Canderson@colorado communitymedia.com Despite the pouring rain and blustery wind, more than 500 teachers, students and Jeffco supporters gathered at Clement Park for the Jefferson County Education Association’s Summer of Action kickoff rally. “Neither rain nor wind nor clouds will keep this community from taking back our schools,” said speaker and Columbine High School teacher Paula Reed. The May 29 event featured speakers from JCEA, district support staff, recent graduates and parents, all encouraging those in attendance to get involved with the union, and help spread the word about what is happening on the Jef-
fco Board of Education and with the school district. “I’m standing up and I’m asking you to stand up with me,” said Ashlyn Maher, a recent Chatfield High School graduate. Along with the speeches, the union asked those in attendance to text “SUFAS” to 95402, to show their support and stay up to date with union happenings, community walks, and district news. The relationship between the school board and the teachers union has deteriorated rapidly since a new board majority was elected in late 2013. Since then, board opponents have cited a lack of transparency, accountability, and respect from the majority as the cause behind teacher sick-outs, student protests, a failed 2014 teacher compensation negotiation, and a lawsuit. “I hope that Jeffco can stop doing what’s happening at DougCo — it’s not good for kids,” said Laura Eloe, a teach-
er at Thunderidge High School in Douglas County whose children attend Jeffco schools. “We love our school, we’re at Normandy, and I’m here to support my teachers.” Currently the union is in talks with the district, negotiating a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. However, while the union says it continues to negotiate in good faith, it is also preparing its members for a possible strike, and sent out Strike FAQs on May 21 to all members. During the rally the speakers encouraged supporters to be active this summer, taking part in union events, spreading the word about the board’s actions, the impending election and repeatedly — to stand up against the board and stand up for students. “You’re amazing, you’re incredible, you’re going to do it — you’re going to take back our schools,” Reed said, as the audience chanted “Take back our schools!”
Jeffco marijuana discussed at hasty meeting County moratorium to end Jan. 1 By Christy Steadman csteadman@colorado communitymedia.com
Jefferson County commissioners discussed marijuana at a quickly-scheduled meeting May 29. No decisions on marijuana policy were made at the meeting, as its purpose was to provide guidance to staff for zoning concerning the operation of marijuana establishments in unincorporated Jefferson County. Amendment 64 of the Colorado State Constitution authorizes recreational use of marijuana, including the operation facilities for cultivation, manufacturing, testing and retail sales. However, the amendment allows counties to regulate the industry, including prohibition of any of the four operations. The county’s moratorium, which prohibits commercial marijuana operations in unincorporated Jefferson County, ends Jan. 1. If the prohibition is lifted, cultivation, manufacturing and testing could be permitted in industrial zones, and marijuana retail could be permitted in commercial zones. Until then, commissioners can decide whether or not to allow marijuana operations in the unincorporated areas of the county. It was unclear at press time when the commissioners might make that decision. The county’s options concerning marijuana were described as a la carte at the meeting. For example, unincorporated Jeffco could allow the manufacturing or testing of marijuana products, but not the sale. In addition, if marijuana operations are allowed, regulation and restriction decisions for marijuana-related business locations must be made. The least restrictive would allow for use by right, and highest level would include requiring special use permits. Other authorizations specific to the operations facilities could include capping the number of facilities and/or licensing procedures. Though Jan. 1 is months away, county staff said that work on a permanent marijuana zoning ordinance needed to begin quickly. Through June, staff will research potential impacts, negative and positive, of lifting the prohibition. In July and August, staff will begin drafting marijuana-specific language to amend the existing zoning regulation. Public notification of the amendments will begin late September. The board of county commissioners will have the first reading of the amended zoning ordinance at the Oct. 27 county commissioners regular meeting. The public hearing is scheduled for Nov. 17. County commissioner Libby Szabo suggested that no matter the outcome, everything should be implemented slowly. “We’re learning new things every day that nobody thought of before on how marijuana is affecting our state,” she said.