January 7, 2016
A publication of
VOLU ME 71 | ISSU E 9 | 50 ¢
A DA M S C OU N T Y & J EF F ERS ON C OU N T Y, C OLOR A D O
WestminsterWindow.com
‘We want nothing but good for our country’ Islamic center reaches out to educate, connect with surrounding community By Corrie Sahling csahling@coloradocommunitymedia.com
ShemsAdeen Ben-Masud, leader of the Metropolitan Denver North Islamic Center, displays 13 letters that were sent to the center from the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado. The letters all contain words of faith, love and encouragement. Photo by Corrie Sahling
Imam ShemsAdeen Ben-Masud, the leader of the Metropolitan Denver North Islamic Center, gestures to 13 letters on colorful paper scattered across the table in his office. They are from the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado and they are filled with words of encouragement and support. “I stand by you and know the goodness in your heart,” one read. “We are all one human family,” another said. “I wish you only peace, love and happiness.” Said Ben-Masud: “We are so lucky to have community members like this.”
LOCAL ELKS OFFER UP HOLIDAY HELP
The Islamic center has been a part of Northglenn’s community since 1999. Then, it took up the space of one office, but as the community has grown, so has the center — it now occupies the entire building at 11141 Irma Drive. About 500 members, most of whom live in the Northglenn and Thornton areas, attend the center, which offers a place for prayer and religious growth, youth services and classes, and a community gathering space. The center, said Northglenn Mayor Joyce Downing,“has been a good neighbor and is welcome in the community of Northglenn.” Ben-Masud, whose title as imam means leader of prayer and community, likens the center to any typical community center. But amid recent terrorist attacks conducted in the name of Islam, a global Center continues on Page 20
Wadsworth fire leaves one missing, two injured Several local businesses displaced by blaze By Crystal Anderson canderson@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Area Elks, with the help of monetary donations from the Golden Elks, serve breakfast and lunch to homeless veterans on Nov. 19 at the National Guard Armory in Denver. Pictured from left: Christine Wares, chairman of the Stand Down for the Elks from Northglenn Elks Lodge; Dana Priola and Shirley Priola from Westminster Elks Lodge; Malcolm Freeberg from Denver Elks Lodge; and Rich and Sandy Stolte from Greeley Lodge. They stand with a cook at the Kokopelli Brew Company in Westminster. Photo courtesy of Wayne Rogers, Golden Elks
Substance abuse counselor John Alan Rutter remains missing after a midmorning Jan. 2 fire at a commercial office building at 6475 Wadsworth Blvd. in Arvada, said Tannis Jahn, office manager and counselor for Creative Treatment Services, the substance abuse clinic where Rutter works. “I know that he was there because we were working together,” Jahn said in a Jan. 4 press conference at the nearby business, Sportline. Arvada Fire Department confirmed that Rutter remains missing and that his last known location was in the building, public information officer Jill McGranhan said. “It’s heartbreaking,” Jahn said. “It’s heartbreaking. All the memories of what people have gone through there — it was hard to stand there for five hours and watch them go up in flames.” Arvada Fire Department is still investigating the cause of the fire, which began in the Scenic Heights Professional Building off of 64th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, Deputy Fire Marshal Deanna Harrington said.
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Fire continues on Page 19