1
September 25, 2014 VOLU M E 6 | I SS UE 39 | 5 0 ¢
BrightonBanner.com A D A M S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
Bully prevention campaign highlighted in council meeting By Lou Ellen Bromley bromleyclan@hotmail.com Brighton City Council passed a resolution Tuesday to recognize and support the efforts of Brighton Kiwanis Club, Brighton’s Police Department, school districts 27J and Adams 14, and other organizations and businesses to help educate and provide resources to stop bullying within our schools. These organizations are sponsoring a Predator A.W.A.R.E. Fair at the Old City Hall building on 4th Avenue and Bridge Street, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. Admission is free. Amanda Griffin, president of Brighton’s Kiwanis Club told city council members that this is the second year they have helped to bring this problem to light by having this fair. It was estimated that 160,000 students skip school every day in the United States to avoid be-
ing bullied. Everyone is encouraged to attend fair to learn what resources are available to them and how they can be empowered and inspired to take a stand against bullying. September is National Preparedness Month, and city council passed a resolution to encourage Brighton business and residents to develop an emergency plan for their homes, business and families in case of a natural disaster or any other type of emergency that could occur. A list is available to anyone who would like to know what type of things that should be included in a kit to have ready in case of an emergency. Brighton residents are encouraged to go to Ready.gov and on Listo.gov to find instructions and lists of items needed in an emergency. Saturday, Sept. 27, will be the 21st year celebration of National Public Lands Day and Brighton city coun-
cil members are asking residents to help in celebrating and recognizing this day, by going out and exploring the local parks, trails, wildlife areas and other public lands in the area. Council members also voted on a resolution in support of school district 27J’s November school bond election. Council members all stated the amount of growth in the Brighton, Thornton and Commerce City area has brought about the need for more schools to be built to provide room for incoming students in the district and the need to improve existing schools to accommodate the growing district. Superintendent Chris Fiedler and Chief Operations Officer Terry Lucero were on hand at the meeting to explain the needs of the school district and how each school within 27J will benefit if the bond is passed in November.
Biden urges strength to stop domestic violence Vice president speaks at agency in Denver By Vic Vela POSTAL ADDRESS
BRIGHTON BANNER (USPS 290)
OFFICE: 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Adams County, Colorado, the Brighton Banner is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210, Westminster, CO 80031. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT BRIGHTON, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US
P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
Prairie View High School cross country runner Morgan Taylor racing at Denver North Sept. 15 this season. Courtesy photo
Running
with a competitive
heart
Prairie View’s Morgan Taylor loves her cross-country team
vvela@colorado communitymedia.com
By Michelle Boyer
Vice President Joe Biden came to Denver on Sept. 19 to urge men to stand up against domestic violence, saying that men have “an absolute obligation to intervene when you see violence taking place.” “That’s manhood,” the vice president said. “That’s being a man.” Biden gave his passionate remarks prior to taking part in a round-table discussion on domestic violence at a Safehouse Denver office on Capitol Hill. The organization provides services and shelter for battered women. Biden’s trip marks the 20th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, which he spearheaded as a U.S. senator. Biden recalled some pushback at the time of the legislation, saying that some used to consider domestic violence “a family matter.” The vice president thanked the press for covering that effort 20 years ago, saying the media was “the reason why we’ve been able to put a face on domestic violence.” Biden’s remarks came just a couple of hours after National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell apologized to fans for his handling of recent incidents involving domestic violence among league stars. “I would respectfully suggest to you had what has gone on in the NFL in the last four weeks been reported in 1984, I doubt very much it would get the coverage it’s getting now,” Biden said, in a nod to the changing cultural attitudes toward domestic violence. Biden was flanked by Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and domestic-violence advocates and survivors. Hancock — whose sister was shot 12 years as part of ongoing domestic violence suffered at the hands of her boyfriend — praised Biden’s work on the issue. The mayor also touted the soon-to-be built Rose Andom Center — named after a domestic violence survivor who sat next to the vice president — which will serve as a “one-stop shop” for domestic-violence victims to receive care and services. The cen-
Prairie View High School junior Morgan Taylor runs cross-country to race. “I’m competitive, and racing is pure competition,” she said. “It’s more raw and powerful than other sports.” She started running cross-country last year and ran her best time then of 20:38 for a 5K race. In middle school she ran track, but the school didn’t offer cross-country. Sixth grade was when she ran her first distance race in track. “My season so far has been good, but I have a lot to improve on before leagues and regionals,” she said. “My times haven’t been where I want them to be, but we’ve had a busy racing schedule lately and has calmed down now, so I can focus on improving my time. Though it sounds cliché, the team has been working very hard to improve our scores and to adapt to our new racing strategy.” One of Taylor’s goals this season is to qualify for state. During her offseason she competes in track. “I do track, and I actually don’t run at all,” she said. “I wished I did though.” In the triple jump she jumps 33 feet, 2 inches, the high jump 4 feet 10 inches and long jump 16 feet and 7 inches. “Track and cross-country are kind of opposing forces for me,” she said. “Running distance and jumping don’t go together well, but I can’t give either of them up.” Her favorite thing about cross-country is her team. “We get along, we are all close friends, even outside of cross country,” Taylor said. “My least favorite thing is the energy it takes to put in the mileage I need is very tiring and I notice my fatigue increase with the amount of racing and training we have to do.” This season Taylor is the first varsity runner on the girls’ side. She received the Golden Hawk Award (PVHS version of the MVP award) at the team’s second race of the season. “Morgan is a great athlete,” Coach Nathan Shaver said. “In track, she concentrates on jumping. She’s a little-found combination of great endurance and fast twitch muscle. She has great jumps and terrific speed, but also has a great stride and running form for distance.”
Mkboyer8@gmail.com
Domestic violence victim and advocate Rose Andom wipes away a tear as Vice President Joe Biden talks about domestic violence during a Sept. 19 visit to a women’s safehouse in Denver. Photo by Vic Vela ter will have on-site police, magistrates and child and pet care services. “Our goal here today is to shed light on the issue of domestic violence in our community,” Hancock said. Biden reminded the audience that violence isn’t unique to certain groups of people. He said that gays and lesbians are also victims, as are undocumented immigrant women, who may fear deportation by going to the police to report abuse. And Biden urged college students to step up whenever a violent act against a woman seems imminent. “Turning away when you see a fraternity brother take an obviously, completely, thoroughly drunk young woman and head to his room, you have a moral obligation — you are a coward if you do not stop him,” Biden said. Biden’s visit was also meant to call attention to a newly launched White House campaign that calls attention to domestic violence. The campaign, called “It’s on Us,” asks every man in America to sign an online pledge to intervene in incidents involving domestic violence. Biden said one of the ways the society “wins” the fight against domestic violence is when men realize that certain actions are never acceptable. “(We win) when every young man in America knows there is not a single circumstance that exists that justifies any man in this room or this nation raising a hand to a woman, other than in self-defense,” he said.