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Week of November 24, 2022
JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 11
VOLUME 18 | ISSUE 23
Ralston Valley percussionist to play in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Jack Schwartz one of two Coloradans selected for Great American Marching Band BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Arvadans tuning in to this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will see a bit of local representation, as Ralston Valley High School junior Jack Schwartz was selected to play cymbals in The Macy’s Great American Marching Band. The Macy’s Great American Marching Band is made up of elite high school band members from across the country, with the final lineup selected through an audition process. Of the 189 students participating this year, only two are from Colorado. Schwartz, a percussionist, started playing with RVHS’s band when he was in 8th grade and has been an instrumental part of their drum line ever since. Kelly Watts, RVHS’s director of instrumental music, highlighted Schwartz’s passion for drumming. “I have never had a student who loves playing the drums as much as Jack,” Watts said. “If he could just come to school to play, I think he would. His love for the activity is infectious and has really helped shape our band here at RVHS. Jack pushes people to want to be their best. “He has helped lead this year’s band to their highest scoring season in almost 10 years,” Watts continued. “Band really is a family. It is a safe place where students can thrive in, Jack is just one example. I could not be more excited and prouder to have him in my band and cannot wait to see him march on Thanksgiving.” The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off on Nov. 24 at 9 a.m. on NBC.
Arvada City Council hears update on micromobilty pilot program Public works director to decide fate of e-scooters in Arvada BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Arvada’s City Council heard an update on the city’s micromobility pilot program — which concerns the use of rentable e-scooters within city limits — and generally supported extending the pilot program, which has been running since January. The Nov. 14 council meeting was a workshop; no official vote was made. City team members presented their findings of the pilot program for council discussion. The future of the program will be decided by Public Works Director Jacqueline Rhoades. The pilot program expires in January. Bird scooters has been the city’s only vendor since the pilot program began, and the company operates about 85 scooters per day in the pilot program’s service area, which is situated within one square mile around each GLine RTD stop. “If we are to move forward, I think I would like to see a larger boundary,” City Councilmember Ralston Valley percussionist Jack Schwartz poses with his snare drum.
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