Transcript Golden
Golden 4/25/13
April 25, 2013
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourgoldennews.com
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 147, Issue 21
City’s sustainability celebrated Golden 2013 Sustainability Awards presented By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com What do a middle school fish tank and an industrial park construction project have in common? They both won the City of Golden’s 2013 Sustainability Awards. The awards began in 2009, and were created as a way to recognize and honor residents, businesses, community groups, and nonprofits that demonstrate out-
standing commitment to the city’s sustainability goals, according to the city website. The iSTEM program at Bell Middle School was recognized by the city for construction of an aquaponic system, using Tilapia fish in a sustainable tank ecosystem. The pilot program, designed to improve science, technology, engineering and math education, will focus on biodiversity using the aquaponic project this semester. The second award winner was Gerry Suman, owner and CEO of Electrical Technologies. He relocated his company to the Coors Industrial Park last year. Andrea Schulz, the Bell iSTEM coordinator, and Suman accepted their awards — sculpted out of old bicycle parts — at the April 18 Golden City Council meeting.
“Mr. Suman really went crazy, and made his building net zero” for energy consumption, Worsham said. Suman built his new 11,400 square foot new building out of insulated concrete foam construction. On the roof he added a 30kW solar photovoltaic system for energy. He added 20 percent more trees than required by Golden planning standards. He also added additional bike racks, and included employee shower facilities to encourage his employees to use alternate transportation. The building features a geothermal well, which cuts costs for heating and cooling. “The irony, as he points out, is that Electrical Technologies makes its profits from increases in demand for electricity,” Worsham said.
“I’m building for the future,” Suman said when interviewed at his business. “People will need energy regardless.” With the assistance of tax credits, Suman said he was able to completely pay for the extra improvements to his building in its first year of operation. Suman said he would actually like to see Golden’s construction standards get tougher and start requiring new and more efficient construction techniques. “I’d like to see any building with easily accessible ground water have a geothermal system,” Suman said. Nominations for the 2014 awards may be submitted via email to goldensustainability@cityofgolden.net, or be zmailed to City of Golden c/o Theresa Worsham, 1445 10th Street, Golden, CO 80401.
Civil unions begin May 1 County prepared with new forms By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com
More than 200 participants made the half-mile walk up to the Jefferson County Courage Garden on April 20, raising thousands for crime victims and victim advocates. Photo by Glenn Wallace
Twenty years walking the walk Victims of crime, and victim advocates gather By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com The 20th annual Jefferson County Courage Walk held April 20 drew more than 200 participants and among them were survivors of violent crime and family members of murder victims. Also participating were victim advocates volunteers, professionals, and organizations that support them. “I always like to start this with recognition of the victims. And there’s been a lot of them in this country this year,” Jefferson County Sheriff Ted Mink said at the start of the walk. Participants walked from the Jeffco POSTAL ADDRESS
district attorney’s office to the Courage Garden that is located beside the county’s courthouse and administrative building in Golden. Among the walkers were Jean and Bert Stahl, the grandparents of Heather DeWild, who was killed by her husband in Edgewater 10 years ago. Earlier this year, the husband, Daniel DeWild, was sentenced in a Jeffco court to 74 years in prison for her murder. “We wanted to honor Heather, and the other victims. Everybody here has something in common,” Jean Stahl said. “Victim advocates are absolutely on the beam about everything. They were there for us with anything we ever needed.” At the garden, County District Attorney Pete Weir addressed the crowd, asking for a moment of silence in honor of the many “community rattling events” of recent months, as well as older incidents.
The day marked the 14th anniversary of the Columbine shooting in south Jefferson County. The ceremony also included words by the Rev. Charles Adone, chaplain at St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, and Jane Pemberton, former executive director of Family Tree. Pemberton shared her personal story about getting herself and her children away from an abusive husband. “I know that many of the brave survivors here can also say that in the midst of your pain and trauma, a few kind words really can make all the difference,” Pemberton said. The event raised $3,548, which will be used to help fund victim advocacy programs in the county, and as direct monetary assistance through the district
Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a civilunions bill into law March 21 opening up a new option for same-sex couples when it goes into effect on May 1. The bill, passed by the Democrat-controlled state Legislature, is seen by gay marriage supporters as a half step to reversing a 2006 voter-approved state ban on gay marriage. While the new law might represent a major cultural shift, Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder Pam Anderson said that for her office, the change should be easily accepted. “I’m currently the president of the (state) Clerks Association. And once we knew it was going to become law, we began work on an implementation plan,” Anderson said. That implementation plan is now in full effect across the state, as each county prepares to accept the new civil union licenses beginning on Wednesday, May 1. Anderson said most of the work involves the creation of new forms, and new computer programing to accommodate the new type of license. She said the form, and the process, will be very similar to the standard marriage form. According to Department Director Susie Swain, one of the few differences between the two licenses will be that while someone under 18 can receive a marriage license with the permission of a parent or guardian, no such provision will be allowed for civil unions. In Colorado, a heterosexual couple can obtain a marriage license, self affirm their marriage, or have a common law marriage. “Once this goes into effect, a heterosexual couple could choose to get a civil union instead of a marriage license,” Swain said.
The big day
“We’re anticipating a really exciting day,” Anderson said of May 1. “What will
Walk continues on Page 13
Civil continues on Page 13
GOLDEN TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 0746-6382)
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