Volume 31 • Number 30 • June 20, 2013
What’s Inside Page 2
New Walmart Neighborhood Market opens in Littleton
Page 4
Cynthia Coffman announces run for attorney general
Page 31
Denver Water serious about saving water
Don’t Miss:
Village weighs • Greenwood Village Greens water tap solutions
Page 7
• Page 8 selects student High Line • CHV Canal video winners
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A Relay for Life – for real Cancer fundraiser has personal connection for local man
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By Peter Jones hen Jesse LaNunziata attends Relay for Life of Centennial this weekend, the decidedly fun-filled cancer benefit will mean much more than a run through the park. “I do get very emotional about it,” the 32-year-old brain-cancer survivor said. “It makes me proud to be a part of a team that’s helping.” Last year, LaNunziata was a runner on an actual team that completed in the 13-hour overnight relay event in support of the American Cancer Society. This year, the Centennial Public Works contractor is part of the organizational team that is putting the entire event together. “It’s a fantastic event because it brings awareness and raises money,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun. There’s going to be live music and tons of people just hanging out having a good time.” The fundraiser on the track and field at Newton Middle School is one of more than 5,000 Relay for Life all-night events that are held across the United States every year. “It’s been described as a slumber party with your entire commu-
Cancer survivors take a lap at last year’s Relay for Life of Centennial. The annual event kicks off again this Friday, June 21, and continues for 13 hours. Photo courtesy of American Cancer Society
nity,” said Amanda Doubet, a local spokeswoman for the American Cancer Society. “Teams of friends, family or co-workers get together and set up camp. Somebody from each team should be walking the track throughout the entire event.” Centennial’s event kicks off the summer – literally – on the summer solstice of Friday, June 21, at 6 p.m. The relay takes its final lap the next morning around 7 a.m. In between will be a range of live music, enter-
Littleton hires new city attorney
Page 27
Index
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tainment, food and more as Centennial stages one of its largest annual fundraisers. Although team registration has been open for months, Doubet says walk-in registrations will be welcome on Friday afternoon. For LaNunziata, the decision to get involved was highly personal. At age 15, he was sent to a Pennsylvania hospital after his mother became concerned about his weight – or lack thereof. “Within five minutes, they told me I had brain cancer,” he said. “It was a bit dramatic at 15 years old.” The teenager underwent almost immediate surgery to remove the cancer before enduring three months of grueling radiation treatments. “After 12 weeks, they told me I was cured. I basically cried for four hours and then got on the phone and called everyone I knew. Luckily, the
Relay for Life of Centennial June 21-22 Newton Middle School 4001 E. Arapahoe Road www.centennialrelay.com
tumor shrunk and it went into remission, and ever since then I haven’t had any problems,” LaNunziata said. That’s not to say the cancer survivor has had no lingering aftereffects. The brain surgery caused optical nerve damage, which triggered double vision. He has also had to undergo hormone-replacement surgery and treatments for related diabetes. Relay for Life is designed to help people like LaNunziata. The American Cancer Society uses the funds to invest in groundbreaking research in every type of cancer and to provide free information and services to cancer patients and caregivers. For more information, visit www.relayforlife.org.
Cherry Hills takes stance on marijuana use, bans retail shops
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By Jan Wondra n the second and final reading of an amendment to its municipal code addressing personal use and regulation of marijuana and marijuana accessories, the Cherry Hills Village City Council unanimously agreed to ban any retail sales of marijuana or marijuana accessories and to proceed with a slightly amended version of Council Bill 4, Series 2013. City Council reviewed and approved the bill on first reading at its Feb. 19 meeting. Council delayed the final read of its municipal code to await the Colorado legislature’s official definition of the words “openly and publicly” as written in Amendment 64, regarding what constitutes personal use. The amendment, which was approved by Colorado voters in the November 2012 election, legalized the personal possession and use of one ounce or less of marijuana. While other municipalities forged ahead, Cherry Hills maintained a quiet approach, wishing to comply with state law, while aware that it flies in the face of the federal law, which makes possession and consumption of any amount of marijuana illegal.
The wording of the Cherry Hills Village bill also addresses the hot topic of retail shops, which by state law, could sell one ounce or less of marijuana, as well as accessories to consume marijuana. “While we conform to Amendment 64, without the Colorado General Assembly weighing in on the definition of what is ‘open and public’ consumption,” said City Attorney Linda Michow, “we have adjusted our original definition from consumption that is ‘perceptible’ to ‘observable.’ We may need to come back to this at some point, once there is a state definition of what ‘open and public’ means and if it is on public property or in view. Once they designate an official definition, we can open this discussion again.” Mayor Pro Tem Russell Stewart said, “At this point, I see open and public as in the public, and openly is where someone can see you. Is eating brownies publicly different from smoking?” Police Chief Michelle Tovrea said, “Our municipal police department needs some direction. Clarity is needed, so that officers know how to respond to calls.”
While Council Bill 4 addresses retail marijuana sales, the issue of marijuana clubs is not considered an issue because the Village has little retail business within its borders. “I’m not in favor of addressing something that doesn’t exist here,” said Stewart. City Council will take up the matter of regulating home cultivation, which raises the issues of fire hazards from high electrical use, in a later bill.
Municipal zoning public hearing and passage
The June 4 City Council meeting included a public hearing on adjustments of Cherry Hills Village minimum zoning requirements. The bill clarifies that the city does not interpret or implement private covenants or deed restrictions as part of enforcing the city’s zoning standards. While a private contract or covenant might specify a standard higher than the city enforces, for building materials or site space, the bill clarifies that it is not the City of Cherry Hills Village’s job to enforce those standards that exceed its own. Following the short public
hearing, where no public comments were made, the bill was unanimously passed by City Council.
Municipal ordinance violation fees
City Council dealt for the second and final time with Council Bill 9, unanimously passing the measure, which adjusts the city’s maximum municipal fines to match the levels now allowed by Colorado state law, which moved form a maximum of $1,000 to $2,650. The new state law, which from now on will peg the maximum allowable municipal fine levels to the Consumer Price Index, is intended to allow greater flexibility for municipal judges to deal with growing problems like overweight truck limits and providing of alcohol to underage minors. Questions did arise over exactly how many fines might go up. At this point, Cherry Hills municipal court has levied few fines at the old $1,000 maximum. “This new freedom might mean that our court might begin to levy fines for serious offense at the old maximum levels,” said Mayor Doug Tisdale.