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December 19, 2013
50 cents Adams County and Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 69, Issue 7 A publication of
westminsterwindow.com
Jeffco5 to begin petition drive By Amy Woodward
awoodward@ourcoloradonews.com County commissioners may not support the Jeffco5 initiative to add two members to the county board, but initiative supporters are not being dissuaded from seeking public support. After several attempts and much debate with the three-person board of county commissioners, the board still declined to voluntarily place the Jeffco5 initiative on the 2014 election ballot. Members of Jeffco5 are now organizing
for a petition drive to receive 25,000 signatures in 180 days to place the question on the ballot. The petition drive starts Jan. 8. Advocates for Jeffco5 showed up from all over the county including Lakewood and Arvada to discuss the drive during the Jeffco5 public meeting on Dec. 7. Karen Oxman, founder of Jeffco5, reported about support received from county staff for the campaign. “We’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback from the county employees who are very unhappy with the county commissioners,” Oxman said.
Designed to be nonpartisan, the initiative presented by Jeffco5 presents two possible options for voters — county districts would increase from three to five districts, and residents within each district would vote for a county commissioner from that district; or to keep the county in three districts, but residents would elect one county commissioner from each district, and elect two at-large commissioners for the whole county. According to state statue, when a population of a county is more than 70,000 it may increase the number of county com-
missioners from three to five. The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012 estimate reported 545,358 people living in Jeffco. Jeffco5 is looking for endorsements from county chambers of commerce, but the group is not actively asking for political party endorsements, as organizers would like to keep the campaign non-partisan. However, any support received from any political affiliation is welcome. “This is not going to be a well-funded
Drive continues on Page 24
Air Comm Corp makes move to Westminster
in neeD of A breAk
By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com
Larry Amman, a Paletteers member who showed his work in Art Gallery 3698 for more than two years, makes 25 percent off signs for the closing sale at the gallery. After four years, Art Gallery 3698 is closing its doors at the end of the year. Photo by Ashley Reimers
Art gallery to close Mi Vida Strings to move in By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com Painted with bright colors and catching the eye of most drivers along 72nd Avenue, Art Gallery 3698 is a staple in the south Westminster art district. Opening four years ago, the gallery has been a home to the Paletteers, a group of local artists sharing their art work and ideas with each other and the community. But keeping up an art gallery is hard work, and gallery owner and Paletteer member Shrylee Anderson needs a break. She and her husband have decided to POSTAL ADDRESS
close the gallery at the end of the year. “It’s been so much fun, and I’ve made so many great friends,” Anderson said. “But my husband is handicapped and in a wheelchair, and it takes a lot of time and energy that we need to put into the gallery, and we don’t have that time. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true.” The gallery is run by the Paletteers who rotate the responsibility. Anderson said the gallery has provided the Paletteers a place to exhibit their work, and also a place to get spend time together. She said the best part about opening the gallery is the life-long friends she’s gained, one of them being fellow Paletteer Dianna Wilson, who encouraged Anderson to open
the gallery. “Dianna had so many great ideas and really got this place started,” she said. Wilson said she will remember the wonderful years at the gallery and the close friends she’s made as well, and feels the gallery was an asset to the community. “It was a fun trip while it lasted,” Wilson said. “We just wish we would have gotten more support from the community.” Although the gallery is closing, the building will not go unutilized. Neighbor to the west, Eric Trujillo, owner of Mi Vida Strings, is buying the building and transporting the everyday operations of his full service string shop to the gallery location. He plans to renovate his current building into a community arts theater and stage called The Stage at Mi Vida Strings in February. “By moving my operations to the galPrinted on recycled lery, I’m able to expand my business to ofnewsprint. Please fer the community a place to experience recycle this copy. culturally diverse music,” Trujillo said. “There will be music and art classes, concerts and a lot of other artistic opportunities for the community.” Gallery continues on Page 24
Congressman Ed Perlmutter recently visited Air Comm Corp, ACC, a leader in the development and manufacture of state-of-the-art bleed air heaters and vapor-cycle air conditioners for turbine helicopters. In October, the business relocated from Boulder to Westminster after outgrowing its former facility. During Perlmutter’s visit, the congressman discussed the expansion and the impact the company will make on the Westminster community with ACC president Keith Steiner and vice president Richard Steiner “I very much appreciate having another aerospace company move into Westminster,” Perlmutter said. “It’s exciting to represent in congress the people and company of this industry.” According the ACC website, ACC was founded in 1987 to meet the needs of helicopter operators seeking solutions to problems commonly found in factoryinstalled environmental control systems. Today, ACC provides heating and air conditioning for a wide range of helicopters including the private sector and the United States military. “By switching to one of our air conditioners 100 pounds can be saved,” Richard said. “The air conditioner can extend the life of an aircraft.” Air continues on Page 24
Westminster mayor Herb Atchison and congressman Ed Perlmutter listen as Air Comm Corp president Keith Steiner describes the functions of an ACC helicopter air conditioner. Photo by Ahsley Reimers