Serving Lakewood, Wheat Ridge and beyond
WEEK OF MARCH 27, 2025
VOLUME 41 | ISSUE 34
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‘Is there a plan?’ Residents seek answers from reps Coloradans’ anxieties boil over at Bennet town hall in Golden A ‘GOLDEN TICKET’ FOR STUDENTS P7
BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A Jeffco Public Schools alum, Conner grew up in the Pomona area, where he first learned to play cello before picking up the double bass in college. His passion for music led him to earn a degree in music education from the University of Colorado College of Music. But the defining moment in his journey came in high school during a pit orchestra rehearsal for a musical. “I remember thinking, ‘If I go to college for anything but music, I won’t get to do this again,’” he said. “I always knew I wanted to teach, and that moment confirmed it.” Three years into his teaching career, Conner has already left an impression on hundreds of students. Juggling four schools daily, he teaches orchestra at all levels, which he said is a rarity in Jeffco.
Coloradans’ passion, worries and frustrations came to a head at a March 19 town hall meeting, as they asked U.S. Senator Michael Bennet what they can do to fight President Donald Trump’s decisions. Almost 1,000 people packed the main auditorium on the Colorado School of Mines campus to ask Bennet, D-Colorado, and U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, for a shared town hall event. Bennet hosted others in Greeley and Colorado Springs the same week. While discussion was mostly civil and orderly, about a half-dozen people were escorted out of the auditorium for talking over other attendees and the elected officials. They protested Bennet approving Trump cabinet picks and ongoing violence against Palestinians, among other items. Attendees — who came from as far away as Louisville and Parker — expressed concerns about federal funding freezes, proposed cuts to critical government services, forthcoming tariffs, wide-scale layoffs of federal employees and more. “Is there a plan?” Denver-area teacher Amanda Arlington asked. “… I feel like you’re talking pretty. It’s frustrating that it just doesn’t seem like there’s a plan.” Bennet and Pettersen encouraged Coloradans — especially federal employees who have been laid off — to share their stories. They told everyone to attend future town hall meetings, contact their local officials on both sides of the aisle, and keep fighting. “(This is) a moment that’s calling all of us to recommit ourselves to our democracy and to our society,” Bennet said. Even though Democrats are the minority in both the House and Senate, Pettersen said, “Just because we’re not in power doesn’t mean we’re powerless. … It’s on all of us.”
SEE EDUCATOR, P4
SEE TOWN HALL, P16
WINDOW Hitting the right note
COLORADO CREATIVES SWEAT FUTURE OF ARTS FUNDING P12
WESTMINSTER
Sam Conner teaching orchestra students at Dunstan Middle School to clap along during an early part of a lesPHOTO BY SUZIE GLASSMAN son.
Jeffco educator wins Outstanding Young Music Educator of the Year
A SPORTS MEDICINE STRATEGY FOR HER
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2025
MINSTER VOTE NOW
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
just inspires me to continue to do really good stuff with my students.”
Three years into his music education career, Sam Conner is orchestrating something special in Jeffco Public Schools. As a dedicated strings teacher, he moves between six schools in the Green Mountain area, bringing music education to students from elementary through high school. His passion and dedication recently earned him the Outstanding Young Music Educator of the Year award from the Colorado Music Educators Association, a recognition voted on by fellow music teachers across the state. “I was walking into a professional development session when I checked my email and saw the news,” Conner said. “I thought, ‘Oh wow, that’s cool!’” But the recognition meant more than just an exciting email. “To me, getting that award is not only kind of like validation of what I do, but it’s also other teachers saying, ‘Wow, what you’re doing is really good in the classroom,’” Conner said. “It
A lifelong love of music
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March 1st - April 15th
VOICES: 10 | LIFE: 12 | CALENDAR: 15 | SPORTS: 18
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