1-Color
April 24, 2014
50 cents Adams County and Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 69, Issue 24 A publication of
westminsterwindow.com
Not the typical 5K New race to guarantee dirty competition By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ coloradocommunitymedia.com
Former schoolhouse to house museum By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ coloradocommunitymedia.com What was once the Pleasant DeSpain Sr. Schoolhouse at 7200 Lowell Blvd., has now been transformed into the Westminster History Center. And after weeks of planning, organizing and gathering historical documents, the center is opening to the public. The community is invited to a grand opening event, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, to explore the city’s historical past through tours of the center, oral storytelling and the first of many exhibits to come called Going to School in Westminster. “We hope people come see the newest addition to the city,” said Amy Newman, History continues on Page 15
Amy Newman, director of the Westminster History Center, pulls a historical Westminster Journal from some shelving in the new Westminster History Center. On April 26, the center at 7200 Lowell Boulevard will open to the public during a grand opening celebration featuring tours, oral storytelling and refreshments. Photo by Ashley Reimers
Growing in popularity, obstacle mud runs offer participants the opportunity to challenge themselves physically and mentally. Now, residents in Westminster and surrounding areas will have the same chance to get down and dirty during the inaugural Hard as Nails Obstacle Mud Race on May 10. The 5K race will start out at the Westin Westminster Hotel and will challenge participants to run, jump, crawl and pull themselves through a series of obstacles testing the endurance, strength and tenacity of people young and old. The mud race is sponsored by Colorado Wilderness Rides and Guides, the city of Westminster and the Westin Westminster Hotel. Joshua Baruch, founder of Colorado Wilderness Rides and Guides, said organizing the race was somewhat of an evolution over a year-and-a-half period. He had the idea to bring the type of adventures, like team building and physical challenges, he does in his guides business to a public capacity. He partnered up with the Westin and the city and from there the Hard as Nails Obstacle Mud Race was born. “The city of Westminster has done a tremendous job of acquiring land and open space, so this event will showcase the great amenities of the city,” he said. “The real goal is to make this a regional draw for people all over the state and even the country.” For people who’ve never done an obstacle mud race before, Baruch said they can expect to be physically challenged, but also experience camaraderie among other participants in the race because some of the obstacles require help from others. And if one obstacle seems too difficult, Baruch said people have the choice to skip obstacles if desired. But everyone involved will be part of supporting Westminster nonprofit Growing Home, which provides homeless prevention services, parenting and children’s programming, a food pantry and other 5k continues on Page 15
Residents work to change poultry, bee law By Ashley Reimers areimers@ coloradocommunitymedia.com Westminster resident Rachel Vezina is on a mission to change a city ordinance to allow for backyard chickens, ducks and bees. The horticulture student recently acquired 300 petition signatures in support of allowing Westminster residents to raise these animals and maintain honeybee
hives in residential zones. She then took her signatures to the April 14 city council meeting to plead her case on the importance of urban agriculture and sustainability. “With Westminster focusing on sustainability, recycling and being green, I think that we could also add urban agriculture as one of those focuses,” she said. “I know there are numerous citizens who believe they have the right to have poultry produce
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of their own.” Currently the ordinance does not allow livestock in residential zones, which includes chickens, ducks and bees. And although it’s illegal, Vezina and her boyfriend Clinton Gale have raised both animals in their 2-acre backyard in the past. Vezina said because of the law, she and Gale have been fined for having the animals, but she’s never had any complaints from neighbors about the animals. “No one has even come to our house and complained about the chicken or the ducks,” she said. “We’re trying to live a sustainable life and with the huge popularity of urban agriculture, I don’t see why having these animals should be illegal.” Others in the community agree. Shirley Perrault spoke in support of the ordinance change during the council meeting and said she believes having chickens in the back yard is a good thing because they provide nutritional eggs and help clean yards by eating insects. Robert Newton, a bee keeper, is also in support of the change. He’s hoping to bring back his bee hive.
“I had two hives for a year-and-a-half and when I pulled them out, my neighbors were outraged because they loved them so much,” he told the city council. “There is a quite a benefit to raising bees and hopefully we can do something.” At this point, city council will have to discuss a possible change in the ordinance before any action is taken. Councilman Bob Briggs said the issue will first need to be addressed during a study session to decide the next steps, followed by discussion during a city council meeting, which will also allow for public comment for and against the issue. Briggs is in support of the change to allow for chickens, ducks and bees in residential areas. He said Westminster’s historical background is agriculture. “I support giving people a choice. We make no restrictions on cats and dogs, so I don’t think we ought to make restrictions on chickens, bees and ducks,” he said. “Not everyone is going to want those animals, but those who do deserve the choice.”