Wheatridge transcript 0710

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July 10, 2014 VOLU M E 31 | I SS UE 2 | 5 0 ¢

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More than just concerts Performances in the Park taps into variety By Clarke Reader

creader@colorado communitymedia.com

The Genesee bison herd had a record breaking year with 20 calves being born instead of the average of 16 to 18. Photo by Hannah Burlingame

Banner year for bison Genesee herd enjoys record number of calves By Hannah Burlingame

hannah.burlingame@wartburg.edu

POSTAL ADDRESS

Roughly 100 years ago, two bison bulls from Yellowstone Park and a few bison cows owned by the City and County of Denver were brought to Genesee Park. Today, the descendants of this original herd of bison still reside at Genesee Park and had a record number of calves born this season. Each year the average number of bison calves is 16 to 18. This year there are 20 calves and Marty Homola, Genesee bison herd caretaker, said it is most likely due to a new bull that was brought in a few years ago. “He must have been a good bull,” Homola, said. The first calf of the season

was born in December 2013, which is a rare. Calves are usually not born that early, according to Homola. Roughly a month ago is when the last calf was born. Able to be seen west of Golden around mile marker 254 on Interstate 70, the herd of 26 adults and 20 calves is not always visible because they roam freely on 750 acres in the park. Buffalo Herd Overlook gives visitors another opportunity to see the bison, and Homola said there might be a couple more overlooks in the works to make it easier for people to see the bison. Even though it is called Buffalo Herd Overlook, there is no difference between bison and buffalo. Bison is the scientific name while buffalo is the nickname the English gave the animal in the 1600s when they first saw them. “I still call them buffalo. It just doesn’t sound right out here in the west to call them bison,” Homola said. The bison herd, which is owned by the city and county of Denver, were brought to the park to educate people as well as to allow visitors to see the bison in their natural habitat. “They are a pretty popular attraction within our mountain parks along I-70 here. We have skiers and tourists and visitors that are coming down I-70, and the first thing they see are the bison,” Homola said.

Teens address drug use

WHEAT RIDGE TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 1089-9197)

It’s one thing to go to a concert where the performer is familiar and the audience knows exactly what to expect — it’s quite another when an audience gets to experience a new sound for the first time. That’s the energy that Wheat Ridge offers during its summer Performances in the Park series, which offers a diverse array of performers for both children and adults. The free performances are held at Anderson Park, 4355 Field St., Wednesdays through Aug. 6. Children’s performances are 10-10:45 a.m. and family performances are 6:30-8 p.m. “We try to provide a variety for our residents — it’s not just concerts, but performances,” said Racel Wysuph, recreation program supervisor with the city. “It’s great that we have the chance to provide a fun community event for all ages.” On July 16, the children performance will be Black Hands, a drum rhythm group and the family performance will be Mariachi de Las Americans, traditional music from Mexico. On July 23, the children performance will be Rabbits on Vacation, a comedy magic show, and the family performance will be the Michael Friedman Jazz Quintet. On July 30, the children performance will be Sue Schnitzer, interactive music for children sing-along and the family performance will be The Bluegrass Patriots. The closing performances on Aug. 6 will be Yo Mamas & Papas, a musical performance for children and local favorite Hot Tomatoes, a big band swing band. Ron Gehauf, a member of the Wheat Ridge Cultural Commission and president of the Colorado Folk Arts Council said that since the city has been hosting this series for several years, getting new performers is something they take very seriously. “We want to challenge our audience with different styles and sounds so that is the goal when preparing every year,” he said. “We take a look at previous years’ lineups and the reaction from the audience to

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Park continues on Page 5

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PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Wheat Ridge Transcript is published weekly on Thursday by Mile High Newspapers, 722 Washington Ave, Suite 210, Golden, CO 804033. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT GOLDEN, COLORADO. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Wheat Ridge Transcript 722 Washington Ave, Suite 210 Golden, CO 80403 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US

PLE ASE RECYCLE T HIS C OPY

ABOVE: The Teen Action Council for the 2014-2015 school year includes 24 high school students from across Colorado who are determined to live a drug-free life. RIGHT: Bekah Anderson of Golden has joined the Teen Action Council for the 2014-2015 school year to help spread the word about the dangers of drug abuse through outreach efforts to her peers Courtesy photos

Rise Above Colorado expands campaign from its acclaimed meth project By Amy Woodward

awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com High school students across Colorado are seeing the negative impacts of drug abuse among their peers. One local Golden student, Bekah Anderson, 16, is determined to make a positive impact on her peers to live a drug free life and reach out to those that are in need of living a more sober life. “It’s a lot bigger problem than people actually seem to think,” Anderson said. “I have personally known people who have abused drugs and I’ve seen how it’s negatively impacted their lives, it destroys them, it destroys their family.”

WHAT: PERFORMANCES in the Park summer series WHERE: ANDERSON Park 4355 FIELD St., Wheat Ridge WHEN: WEDNESDAY through Aug. 6

Anderson is the newest member to the Teen Action Council for the 2014-2015 school year through Rise Above Colorado, a statewide drug prevention organization that has brought considerable attention to teen drug use in the state. She joins 23 other teens on the council who were picked from across the state to take part in community and school outreach activities to educate teens about the dangers of drug use. “I’m in a unique position on this council so that I can more easily impact and help people and teach awareness because I am a student to them,” Anderson said. “It’s a lot easier for teens to listen to another a teen than a teen to listen to an adult.” State statistics on drug use provides a startling insight into a growing problem among teens. In a 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Colorado ranked as the second worst state of pain pill

CHILDREN’S PERFORMANCE - 10 to 10:45 a.m. FAMILY PERFORMANCE - 6:30 to 8 p.m. JULY 16 - Black Hands, a drum rhythm group MARIACHI DE Las Americans, traditional music from

Mexico

JULY 23 - Rabbits on Vacation, a comedy magic show MICHAEL FRIEDMAN Jazz Quintet JULY 30 - Sue Schnitzer, interactive music for children sing-along THE BLUEGRASS Patriots AUG. 6 - Yo Mamas & Papas, a musical performance for

children

HOT TOMATOES, a big band swing band COST: FREE INFORMATION: WWW.CI.WHEATRIDGE.CO.US

Drug Free continues on Page 5


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