October 29, 2015
ENTER TO WIN
VO LU ME 32 | ISSU E 18 | 50 ¢
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Store closing signs are displayed at businesses at Heritage Square while merchants search for a place to relocate. Many of the businesses have been a part of the community for many years, merchants said, and shop owners are sad to see Heritage Square going away. The amusement park and eatery still plan to reopen in the spring. Photo by Christy Steadman
So long to Heritage Square businesses Commercial portion of tourist attraction shuttered By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com Heritage Square is closing. It doesn’t come as a surprise to the long-time merchants, but as they try to find a new home,
many reminisce about the time spent there. “We can relocate,” said Dean Maus, owner of the square’s haunted house Spider Mansion, “but you can’t replace that Victorian village.” Initially called Magic Mountain, the tourist attraction that would later be called Heritage Square opened in 1960. Martin Marietta, Heritage Square’s
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By Crystal Anderson canderson@coloradocommunitymedia.com
(ISSN 1089-9197)
OFFICE: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 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, Unit 210, Golden, CO 80401. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT GOLDEN, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 722 Washington Ave., Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legals: Fri. 11 a.m. Classifieds: Mon. 5 p.m.
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Heritage continues on Page 11
Jeffco schools recall candidates outraise incumbents High cost of election ‘disheartening,’ one candidate says
WHEAT RIDGE TRANSCRIPT
property owner, has not been renewing the leases of the square’s commercial tenants. This month the square’s alpine slide also closed down, after its lease was not renewed, after 37 years of operation. Born and raised in the Denver area, Maus is most upset that the historic aspect
The recall organizer-backed, five-member ‘clean slate’ has raised almost $200,000 in the Jeffco school board race, compared to two of the three incumbents’ approximate $6,500, according to the most recent Colorado Secretary of State campaign finance report. “We have been at this for a long time and have been working very hard,” said slate member Ali Lasell, candidate for District 3 who has the largest contributions. “It is a reflection of the tremendous amount of supporters I have, and the people who have confidence in me as a candidate.” Candidates running for the recall election were required to file campaign finance reports Oct. 20 with the secretary of state’s office. The candidates for the two open seats in districts 3 and 4 filed their reports on Oct. 13. According to the Colorado Secretary of State reports, the slate members have raised the following amounts: Ali Lasell, $48,155.50; Ron Mitchell, $46, 076.50; Susan Harmon, $34,764.50; Amanda Stevens $34,568; and Brad Rupert, $33,406.50. The board majority has raised the following: Ken Witt, $5,740; and Julie Williams, $725. John Newkirk did not have to file until Oct. 27 because of a clerical error in the secretary of state’s office, legislative director Tim Griesmer said. These totals do not reflect third-party money being spent to try to influence voters. Mitchell, who said the high cost of the election is disheartening, received contributions from a variety of sources including the Jefferson County Education Association Small Donor
ONLINE: Go to the Arvada Press website arvadapress.com for election results the night of Nov. 3.
“It makes me sad. I don’t feel good about the amount of money that we’re spending on this election … I wish we could take this money ... and build a playground in a schoolyard or something.” Ron Mitchell, Jeffco school board candidate
Committee, which gave $9,000. Other notable contributors were former Jeffco superintendent Cindy Stevenson and former Jeffco school board member Hereford Percy, who donated $2,000 and $500, respectively. All three also contributed similar amounts to Harmon’s and Rupert’s campaigns. “I’m being honest here, it makes me sad,” Mitchell said. “I don’t feel good about the amount of money that we’re spending on this election … I wish we could take this money that I’m spending on the campaign and build Recall continues on Page 5
Full STEAM ahead Wheat Ridge STEM adds arts component By Clarke Reader creader@coloradocommunitymedia.com
When Wheat Ridge High School launched its STEM program last year, 16 students joined what would STEM GALA become by The STEM program year’s end is partnering with an awardthe Wheat Ridge winning Foundation to throw team studyits first STEM Gala ing science, next year, from 6 to technology, 10 p.m. on Saturengineering day, April 9, at the and mathStonebrook Manor ematics. in Thornton. In year two, the Plans are still being program worked on, but the now includes gala is expected to more than 40 include exhibits, students, a auctions, a variety of new artistic cars on display and component food. and national The event still recognition. needs sponBut sors, and anyone instrucinterested should tor Chuck contact instructor Sprague still Chuck Sprague at sees all of clspragu@jeffco.k12. this as the co.us. first steps in developing the school’s program. “We’re teaching design for the computer, and how to assemble and manufacture what we’re creating,” he said. “We’ve always had a little architecture, but we’re seeing more interest. And now we’re offering a STEAM class, which seemed like a natural way to grow the school’s engineering program.” The STEAM class (the “A” is for arts) is taught by Andy Yutzy, and marries the two seemingly disparate disciplines in a creative project for students. “We’re making a sculpture inspired by (former football player) Freddie Steinmark that is going to be around 10 feet tall and set up at Lutheran Hospital,” said junior Amy Leasure. “STEM work is a big part of where we are in the process, and it’s crucial we incorporate it properly as we work on our designs.” The program’s architectural program, which is still growing, is receiving assistance from Denver’s Martin/ Martin architecture firm this semester. Designers are giving students feedback and advice on their work. Sprague wants students to capitalize on their first-place car design from last year’s Shell Eco-Marathon. So the class will now be working on two hydrogen fuel cell cars. One, as with last year’s, will be in the prototype category, but the team also is designing a car for the urban concept category, which means it needs to be street ready with everything from doors to windshield wipers. One big leg up for students this year is the addition of a large CNC four-axis milling machine, which will allow students to stay in-house for nearly all of the cars’ mill work. Steam continues on Page 18