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April 11, 2014 Douglas County, Colorado | Volume 12, Issue 24 A publication of
parkerchronicle.net
Buzz builds for CU campus Parker Mayor Mike Waid gets his pink and purple hair buzzed by Tiffany Grizzle during the Shave the Mayor event April 5 at the PACE Center. The event raised more than $17,000 for pediatric cancer research. Photos by Chris Michlewicz
Cold heads, warm hearts
Baldness prevails at mayor’s shaving event By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz @coloradocommunitymedia.com Smiles and laughs came at a feverish “PACE” during the second annual “Shave the Mayor” charity event. Organized by Parker Mayor Mike Waid and benefitting the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, “Shave the Mayor” raised more than $17,000 for pediatric cancer research. Two dozen women, children and men volunteered their time and their hair for the cause April 5 at the Parker Arts, Culture and Events Center. The sounds of happiness rose above the buzz of the electric razors, while clumps of hair hit the floor and cameras flashed. Waid, who colored his hair pink and purple days before the event to raise an extra $500, announced the names of the shavees to raucous applause. He briefly drew the crowd’s attention to Haven Anderson, a bubbly Parker 4-year-old who is in remission after receiving cancer treatments two years ago. Chaparral High School had its own head-shaving event in her honor. The shaving kicked off with Debbie Allison, who moved from Parker to Kittredge six months ago, and Amanda Benson, a friend of Allison’s from Wheat Ridge. The women joyously participated in their first head-shaving event, donating their hair to Locks of Love and raising $800 combined. Allison took part in honor of a young girl named Delila, who is currently undergoing treatment, and her aunt, who died from acute myeloid leukemia one year ago. “Seeing what she went through, I can’t imagine a child going through that,” Allison said. When asked what it’s like to go bald for the first time, she said it “feels fantastic.” Benson, 27, described it as “liberating.” They both hope people ask them about their close crops because it will help to raise more awareness. Seated next to Allison and Benson was Jack Meyers, a 12-year-old from
University to offer classes at Wildlife Experience this fall By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz @coloradocommunitymedia.com Anticipation is building for the fall opening of a University of Colorado campus at The Wildlife Experience. A well-attended welcoming reception at the Parker museum April 3 kicked off the beginning of what’s being billed as a symbiotic partnership. Business professionals will have a place close to home to continue their education, and employers will gain easier access to resources and a growing pool of highly-educated workers. Dave Liniger, founder of the wildlife art and natural history museum, said he never imagined The Wildlife Experience would host university-level classes. “This is a tremendous opportunity to fully utilize the facility,” said Liniger, who also created real estate giant RE/MAX with his wife, Gail, in the early 1970s. More than 7,400 square-feet of exhibit space on the second floor of The Wildlife Experience will be turned into classroom space and nearly 4,000 square-feet in the basement will house a simulation lab for nursing students. Fields of study were selected based on the industries most represented in the residential populations and office buildings of Douglas and Arapahoe counties. The College of Engineering and Applied Science is opening with a partially-formed collection of classes, including software engineering, computer Campus continues on Page 9
Former Parker resident Debbie Allison gets her first glimpse of friend Amanda Benson while the two get their heads shaved April 5. Allison is getting her hair cut by Brittany Greenlee of Hair Color Xperts. Parker who gave up his spiky blue hair and raised $125. He had friends participate in similar events and figured it was his turn to contribute. “I like helping people,” he said. “I’m in the kindness campaign at Sagewood (Middle School) so I thought since it’s helping kids with cancer, it would be nice.” There was no shortage of involvement by kids and teens. The youngest was Ben Manning, 6, who got his first haircut by someone other than his mom. He wore a slightly-worried look but remained brave while a stylist lopped off his long hair. “He’s not a big fan of haircuts,” his mother said. Troy Milligan, of Parker, was left only with bangs shaped like a turn-of-theCentury mustache, twisted by a stylist for good measure. Shortly after, Lou Hutchison chuckled uncontrollably as a stylist took off some parts of his hair, but left tufts elsewhere. There were a few late entries, includ-
Debbie Allison shows off a lighter, more aerodynamic look at the Shave the Mayor fundraiser for St. Baldrick’s on April 5. Allison and her friend Amanda Benson raised a combined $800 by shaving their heads. ing a Parker police officer and former mayor David Casiano. He held hands with Valerie Holden and town councilwoman Debbie Lewis as stylists donated by Hair Color Xperts and Roosters Men’s Grooming Center went to work.
Bruce Benson, president of the University of Colorado, speaks to those who gathered for a reception celebrating CU’s arrival at The Wildlife Experience. The satellite campus will open this fall and offer six areas of study. Photo by Chris Michlewicz
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