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February 12, 2015 VOLU M E 70 | I S S UE 1 4 | 5 0 ¢
WestminsterWindow.com
A D A M S C O U N T Y A N D J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O A publication of
Floral shop prepares for a blur of a holiday By Ashley Reimers
areimers@colorado communitymedia.com As Valentine’s Day approaches, Cherrie Silverman, owner of Cherry Blossoms Full Service Florist in Westminster, begins assembling over 5,5000 roses into beautiful floral arrangements. She admits the Feb. 14 holiday is usually a blur, an experience she’s handled for over 30 years. “Valentine’s Day is insane. I opened my shop in 1981, so I’ve had my fair share,” she said. “I don’t want one bad leaf leaving the store, but on Valentine’s Day you can’t control everything. I really try to be organized, but it’s just so crazy.”
Cherrie Silverman, owner of Cherry Blossoms
With Valentine’s Day falling on a Saturday, Silverman said she’ll see more walkins, rather than deliveries. And to accommodate the orders, she and her staff begin arranging the flowers at the start of the week, storing them in the cooler until the holiday. In order to get through Valentine’s Day, Silverman relies on her high level of organization and years of experience as a florist. She achieved her Master Florist Certification in 1988 and became an accredited instructor of Sogetsu Ikebana, Japanese Flower Arranging, in 1989. She was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers, AIFD, in 2000, and later inducted into the American Academy of Floriculture, AAF, in 2004. It’s been her ability to adapt to change and her meticulous eye that plays the biggest part in her success, she said. “I’ve changed many routes along the way, and I’m willing to do that to keep my business going, and the fact that I work my butt off,” she said. “But it’s also my sense of meticulousness, which can’t be taught to someone. You just have to have it.” While prepping for Valentine’s Day, Silverman is also preparing for the opening of her second store at the new St. Anthony North Health Campus at 144th Avenue and
Cherrie Silverman ordered 5,500 roses for the upcoming Valentine’s Day holiday. Photos by Ashley Reimers I-25 in Westminster. Cherry Blossoms will be the floral and gift shop at the campus, which opens on March 3. “Being in a hospital is a slam dunk,” she said. “I’m so excited, and the people over at St. Anthony’s have been so accommodating and wonderful.”
Cherry Blossoms, at 9975 Wadsworth Pkwy Ste F, is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and is closed on Sundays. For more information, visit www.cherryblossomsflorist.com or call 303-422-5650.
Art project brings community together Mural slated for garden at health campus By Ashley Reimers
areimers@colorado communitymedia.com
POSTAL ADDRESS
WESTMINSTER WINDOW
(ISSN 1072-1576) (USPS 455-250)
More than 200 residents in the north metro are coming together to complete a community mural to be installed at the St. Anthony North Health Campus in Westminster, which opens on March 3. The mural will be displayed in the community garden at the health campus, which will also offer walking paths, a fruit orchard, a gathering space and a space for the public to grow their own fruits and vegetables, Carole Peet, St. Anthony North
Health Campus CEO, said the permanent installation of the art piece is a great addition to the community garden. “The community art project is allowing us to involve a broad crosssection of our neighbors in the new St. Anthony North Health Campus. This diverse group of people represents the individuals who will be our partners in health, wellness and healing,” she said. “The mural is a lasting tribute to the community artists and organizations who created it.” St. Anthony North partnered with nine community organizations — Shaw Heights Middle School, Holy Art continues on Page 12
Brighton business couple honored
OFFICE: 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031
Bob and Joanna Sakata inducted into Colorado Business Hall of Fame
PHONE: 303-566-4100
By Lou Ellen Bromley
A legal newspaper of general circulation in Adams County, Colorado, the Westminster Window is published weekly on Thursday by MetroNorth Newspapers, 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210, Westminster, CO 80031. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT WESTMINSTER, 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 SO CIAL WITH US
bromleyclan@hotmail.com Brighton residents Bob and Joanna Sakata were honored at the 2015 Colorado Business Hall if Fame banquet Jan. 29. The couple were joined by six other inductees in the 2015 Hall of Fame. Bob and his wife, Joanna, have been married for 60 years and Bob has been farming in the
Brighton area for more than 65 years and now owns more than 3,000 acres of land in both Adams County and Weld County. They have raised vegetables including cabbage, onions, bean and sweet corn. Sakata corn is found in both King Soopers and Safeway stores every fall. Born on April 25th 1926 in San Jose Calif., Bob and his family moved to Brighton in December of 1944 after being held in an internment camp in Utah during World War II. When Bob was released from the camp he came to Colorado to work for Bill Schluter, who eventually sold Bob and his family 40 acres of land to start his farm.
Sakata Farm’s is one of the most successful agricultural companies in Colorado, employing more than 200 people during the year with 70 permanent employees. In 1999, Bob and Joanna were also included in the Colorado Agricultural Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony for the Colorado Business Hall of Fame was held at the Hyatt Regency Denver Convention Center in a blacktie event honoring outstanding business in the state. Also inducted were Pat Bowlen, H. Brown Cannon, Brown W. Cannon, George R. Cannnon, Klause Obermeyer and Thomas A. Petrie.
Fracking ban could result in compensation Oil, gas task force offers glimpse of recommendations By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com P L EA S E R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
Artist Barry Rose conducts a workshop at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Westminster as part of a community art project that will eventually install a mural at the St. Anthony North Health Campus made up of ceramic tiles designed and glazed by residents in the north metro area. Photo by Ashley Reimers
A number of members of the state House of Representatives are supporting a proposed fracking bill
that will require compensation to royalty owners for the value of lost revenue not received due to local governments that elect to implement a hydraulic fracturing ban. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Perry Buck, R-Windsor, awaits its hearing in the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, but has accumulated co-sponsorships by 17 other Republican representatives.
“Government cannot take your property without just compensation,” Buck said of her bill. It’s the first piece of legislation related to fracking to come from the General Assembly this session. Most lawmakers are waiting for recommendations from the governor’s oil and gas task force, which was Ban continues on Page 12
LOCAL CO-SPONSORS FOR HB-1119 The bill would require local governments that bans hydraulic fracturing compensate oil and gas royalty owners: Patrick Neville, R-Highlands Ranch Jack Tate, R-Centennial Kim Ransom, R-Acres Green Kathleen Conti, R-Littleton