Volume 31 • Number 41 • September 5, 2013
www.villagerpublishing.com
303-773-8313 • Published every Thursday
What’s Inside Page 2
Kent Denver School opens inspirational new learning facility
Page 29
Fine Arts Foundation Debutantes honored at Announcement Reception
Page 30
Warriors beat out Eagles for Brookridge Trophy
Don’t Miss:
Simplified locates • Selling global HQ in Greenwood Village Page 3 commissioner: If it’s • Securities too good to be true, it is Page 18 ‘Bacon, Bands and Beer’ • comes to Littleton
Page 23
Index
Page 5..................................Opinion Pages 6-8.............................. Politics Page 8............................ Classifieds Pages 11-21........................Fleurish Pages 22-23..............................digs Pages 24-28..........................Legals
TheVillagerNewspaper @VillagerDenver
The 13th annual First American State Bank Fitness Festival will be held on Saturday, Sept. 7, beginning at 7:30 a.m. at Crescent Park in Greenwood Village (Belleview and DTC Boulevard). The Festival includes a timed 5K walk/run and 1K fitness walk, food samplings from some of the top restaurants in the area, entertainment and silent auction. All proceeds from the event fund the Community Asset Project, a partner with the Cherry Creek School District’s Wellness Office. Over the past 12 years, the Festival has raised nearly $900,000 to support CAP in its efforts to foster and develop positive assets to benefit the physical and emotional health of students. Studies have demonstrated that promoting these assets in young people serves as a deterrent to negative behavior such as alcohol, other drug use and violent behavior. This year, the event committee selected for festival grand marshals six of Cherry Creek School District’s most accomplished high school coaches, including Monte Thelen, Cherokee Trail head football coach; Mike Brookhart, Cherry Creek boys’ head basketball coach; Tanya Bond, Eaglecrest girls’ head volleyball coach; Josh Ulitzky, Grandview girls’ head basketball coach; Becky Grasser, Overland girls’ poms head coach; and Kersten Mullan, Smoky Hill boys’ soccer head coach. “We are thrilled to be able to honor these outstanding educators,” said Chairwoman Lyn Schaffer. “They each serve as positive role
models to the children they lead, and we couldn’t think of any better way to bring our message of health and fitness to the community.” Registeronlineatwww.fasbfitness festival.com. Entry fees are $15 for children 17 and younger and seniors 60+ prior to Race day and $25 on Race day; $30 for adults prior to race day, and rise to $40 for those registering at the event. A special family 4-pack is available for $80, and includes registrations for two adults and two children ($110 Race day). All registrants will receive a 2013 FASB Fitness Festival T-shirt,
as well as admittance into the post party featuring food (included in the ticket price), live entertainment, a silent auction and giveaways. Should participants wish to partake in the after party food sampling only, the entry fee is $10 prior to the event and $15 at the door. The Festival was created in 2000 by Jay and Kristina Davidson, owners of First American State Bank, as a way to support the community. They were committed to the idea that a healthy lifestyle is beneficial for the body and the soul, prepares kids to maximize their skills and
Arapahoe County bans pot businesses Ordinance applies to unincorporated areas
By Peter Jones Arapahoe County has become the latest local government to prohibit the introduction of recreational marijuana establishments. Last week, the Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to ban such businesses as retail stores and grow operations in unincorporated areas. Arapahoe has joined neighboring Douglas County in imposing a permanent prohibition while such Arapahoe cities as Centennial, Littleton and Aurora have so far [My constituents said] if you ban businesses, the sale becomes illegal and forces it underground and we have the same problem we’re trying to prevent. - Arapahoe County Commissioner Nancy Jackson
adopted temporary bans while their respective city councils consider their options. Board Chair Rod Bockenfeld, R-Centennial, says the issue came down to the potential social impacts of allowing marijuana businesses to proliferate in the limited unincorporated areas viable for retail. “I could picture going down Parker Road in Four Square Mile and having marijuana shops on both sides of the road. I don’t think that necessarily attracts the right culture,” he said. The authority for local governments to ban recreational-marijuana businesses comes from Amendment 64, the same voter-approved initiative that legalized limited recreational-marijuana use in Colorado last year. As Bockenfeld emphasizes, although 54 percent of county voters approved state-level decriminalization, in doing so they also gave local governments the authority to decide whether facilitating busi-
nesses should be allowed to operate within their communities. “That’s all we’re doing,” he said. “[Voters] have their access. They voted it in. They can still use limited marijuana in Arapahoe County. It appears that Denver is into that market. It appears that Aurora, which is almost 50 percent of our population, may be into that market. That’s their decision to be had.” Bockenfeld said he based his vote on “cultural” concerns after hearing virtually nothing from constituents prior to the Aug. 27 public hearing, at which no one on either side was there to advocate to the board. In contrast, Commissioner Nancy Jackson, D-Aurora, who cast the sole dissenting vote, said she reached her “difficult decision” after actively reaching out to constituents and finding that a significant majority – even among residents living near Four Square Mile – supported marijuana businesses. “They all said, ‘Yes, why would
academic potential, and a leads to a productive future. At the suggestion of the Cherry Creek School District, they partnered with Community Asset Project, a nonprofit established to support the activities of the district’s Wellness Office. The Festival is now the primary source of funding for CAP, which provides and supports a broad range of programs to foster healthy behavior that students would not otherwise receive. For more information or to register for the event, visit www.fasb fitnessfestival.com.
I could picture going down Parker Road in Four Square Mile and having marijuana shops on both sides of the road. I don’t think that necessarily attracts the right culture. - Arapahoe County Commissioner Rod Bockenfeld you even question it?’ I was getting a lot of pushback in that way,” Jackson said. “They would say if you ban businesses, the sale becomes illegal and forces it underground and we have the same problem we’re trying to prevent. I actually reached out and asked people.” Although the ban is permanent, Bockenfeld points out that the policy could later be amended. “There’s nothing that says Arapahoe County can’t change its position later if after all the smoke clears,” he said with a laugh. Although Amendment 64 legalized marijuana at the state level, all marijuana use remains illegal under the Federal Controlled Substances Act.