FORT LUPTON PRESS S E RV I N G T H E C O M M U N I T Y S I N C E 19 0 6
VOLUME 120
WEEK OF JANUARY 12, 2023
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 , 2020
VOLUME 117
THE SEASON FOR SHARING
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ISSUE 2
Fort Lupton honors coach Amato’s legacy
ISSUE 48
BY JUAN ARELLANO SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
When people talk about Fort Lupton High School Bluedevils basketball there is one name that comes to mind, Joseph Lee Amato. For 47 years he was a coach, mentor, role-mode, and father figure for middle- and high-school students in Fort Lupton until he and his wife, Sandra Jean Amato, passed in May. That is why members of the community, including former players and families, gathered at the highschool gymnasium in a foundation game in honor of Coach Amato against Erie High School Jan. 3. “Like I told the boys. I know it feels bad when you take a loss playing a basketball game, but this was not J.J. Ament, president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, says Colorado is on a good track to attracting business, about a basketball game,” said Jim PHOTO BY LUKE ZARZECKI Roedel, Fort Lupton High School but can do more to put itself in a better position. boys basketball head coach, who played under Coach Amato and coached with him for 14 years. “This was about honoring a legacy of a man that dedicated his life to XcelEnergy President Robert portance of transportation for the Bluedevil basketball and this comKennedy laid out the road map for region, as well as the state. Public munity.” his company to reduce its fossil fuel transit plays a huge role in connectThe evening of remembrance emissions. ing the state, and also in keeping it started with the JV squads for Erie By 2050, the company plans competitive: public transit reduces and Fort Lupton playing a fast-paced to have zero carbon emissions air pollution, and low air pollution game in which the Tigers were through renewable energy sources means better economic opportunialways on top and didn’t look back. and net-zero gas services. By that ties. Following that game, Roedel led time, Kennedy said hopes are high Denver International Airport also an emotional ceremony where he BY LUKE ZARZECKI for all cars to run on clean enerplays a huge role, he said. talked about Amato’s legacy on and LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM gy. That’s because their plan hopes “It’s really, really important that off the court. He called former playone out of five cars will be electric we have the ability to connect,” ers onto the court and retired the No. Climate, transportation and hous- by 2030, and all cars will be electric Ament said. 45 jersey in Amato’s honor; that was ing all dominated the presentation by 2050. According to Ament, DIA stands the number he wore in his playing at the 14th Legislative Breakfast on Making that affordable is key. as the third busiest airport in the years. His jersey, the only one in Fort Jan. 5 in Broomfield. “Charging electric vehicles during country and is the second largest Lupton High School history that has The event included seven speakour offering will cost the equivalent domestic network of airlines that been retired, was presented to the ers ranging from Governor Jared of $1 per gallon of gas,” he said. flies nonstop to other airports. family. Polis to State Senator Faith Winter. The plan will result in a reduction That’s important to attract work“I was not expecting that, I didn’t The event, hosted at Broomfields of five million tons of carbon emisers. Ament explained with increases know what they were going to do. Aloft Hotel, was sponsored by sions by 2030 per year. in remote working, those workers Hearing that they were going to Every year before Thanksgiving, and theto Fort Lupton Food and Bankhis provide the local transit advocacy group First United Methodist Church in Fort Lupton will want come to Colorado forClothingretire jersey community is special because members with food boxes. This will be the program’s 10th consecutive year. Above, Joe Hubert, left China Garcia and Sue Hubert with Change 4 Change, Community Solutions. The group Connecting through transit various reasons, one of them beobviously there are none that are refocuses transportation Ament, president and tired from Fort Lupton. Them doing anotheron organization thatissues helps in with theJ.J.food drive. See more onCEO Page 2. ing outdoor recreation. To cater to the northern Metro Denver subof the Denver Metro Chamber of SEE LEGISLATORS, P4 SEE AMATO, P7 urbs. Commerce, emphasized the im-
Climate, housing, transportation on deck for 2023 Transit-centered group hosts legislators and leaders to discuss coming year
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