January 28, 2016
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VO LU ME 71 | ISSU E 12 | 50 ¢
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A DA M S C OU N T Y & J EF F ER S ON C OU N T Y, C OLOR A D O
A publication of
WestminsterWindow.com
MAN AND BEST FRIEND
WELCOME ABOARD
The new editor for the Window, Jeremy Johnson, says hello to readers in his debut column on PAGE 10.
Florida native Kenny Sheafer finds himself right at home, weather-wise, at least, as he and his boxer, Brutus, take in an unseasonably warm winter’s day Jan. 22 in Westminster Center Park. The brief climate reprieve peaked the following day with temperatures as high as the 60s before returning to more normal winter temps by sundown Sunday. Photo by Jeremy Johnson
Parking violations get tech upgrade
A TASTE ON THE WILD SIDE
Park It Right takes new approach to enforcement, aims to treat people fairly
Parking continues on Page 2
Affordability is crucial issue for aging residents By Clarke Reader creader@coloradocommunitymedia.com
By Clarke Reader creader@coloradocommunitymedia.com Having your car towed is easily one of the most frustrating and expensive experiences a car owner can have. Joel Perri knows this firsthand, because for many years, he was the one doing the towing. “I’ve been in the industry since 1973, but got to the point where I had to sell my towing business,” he said. “What I was seeing is that parking enforcement by tow truck is brutal — there has to be a better way to treat people.” That desire led to the creation in June of Park It Right, a parking enforcement company that puts technology and empathy at the forefront. And it’s catching on. The business now has three franchise locations covering Arvada, Lakewood and the north metro Denver area. “It’s unbelievable how we’ve been received,” Perri said. “People are actually thanking us. It’s a huge change in their whole attitude.” Park It Right approaches enforcement in several unique ways. The first is bright green coloring of its vehicles and boots, which are “green to be seen,” according to Perri. This serves as a visual reminder for infractions. The revolutionary part is the Remote Release Vehicle Boot, which Perri invented as an alternative to towing. The
Seniors caught in housing crunch
An employee adds spices to sausage at Steve’s Meat Market, where hunters can bring their wild game kills for processing into delicacies such as jerky, steaks and bratwurst. For the story, turn to PAGE 12. Photo by Clarke Reader
The senior population is expected to double in the next 20 years, but many may be out of luck when it comes to finding a place to live. “The biggest challenge for this aging population is finding housing they can afford,” said state Sen. Jessie Ulibarri, DAdams County. “Most folks in the state have experienced the housing crunch. But seniors don’t have a lot of options.” Developers are focused on providing affordable housing along transportation corridors, like Lakewood’s West Rail or W Line, the Gold Line, which is coming through Arvada and the B Line, which would pass through Westminster and Adams County. These projects are all part of RTD’s FasTracks program. The Gold and B lines are part of the 41-mile Northwest Rail Line project from Denver’s Union Station to Longmont. The hope is to provide living options for those looking to make use of multimodal transportation, like at Lakewood’s West Line Flats, which had a groundbreaking on Jan. 21.
WESTMINSTER WINDOW (ISSN 1072-1576) (USPS 455-250) OFFICE: 8753 Yates Dr., Ste. 200, Westminster, CO 80031 | PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Adams and Jefferson County, Colorado, the Westminster Window is published weekly on Thursday by MetroNorth Newspapers, 8753 Yates Dr., Ste. 200, Westminster, CO 80031. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT WESTMINSTER, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 12 p.m. | Classifieds: Mon. 2 p.m. | Obits: Mon. 2 p.m. | Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m.
Housing continues on Page 9