Week of September 8, 2022
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
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VOLUME 156 | ISSUE 38
Golden resident celebrates 100th birthday Jefferson County Public School Teachers, staff face uncertainty as consolidation decision looms BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
On Aug, 31, residents of Canyon Gate Apartments celebrated the 100th birthday of Toni Velardi.
Friends, relatives admire a century of love BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The residents of Canyon Gate Apartments in Golden know when Antonette (Toni) Velardi is cooking. The scents of garlic and oregano float down the halls as she whips up whatever Italian recipe is on the table for the day — be it pizza, pasta or something involving eggplant. Lucky for her neighbors, Velardi
always shares. She treasures them and consistently offers homemade pastries, visits outside on summer afternoons and walks to the Golden farmer’s market. Velardi is a cook, a social butterfly, a live music lover and a nature enthusiast. And on top of all that, Velardi is 100 years old. On Aug. 31, dozens of friends and relatives gathered in an event space at Canyon Gate, a subsidized senior apartment building, to celebrate an entire century of Velardi’s presence in this world. “She is a favorite amongst all resi-
PHOTO BY NINA JOSS
dents there,” said Vickie Meehan, the centenarian’s private caregiver who planned the celebration with Velardi’s daughter. “She gives so much, and it’s just amazing how much she adds to the community.” “She adds a ray of light here,” said Jeanie Maurer, the sister of one of Velardi’s closest friends. “She never has an unkind word to say about anyone.” Similar admirations and appreciations of Velardi’s kindness were reiterated by countless loved ones at the gathering, some of whom had
As the Jefferson County Public School Board mulls Superintendent Tracy Dorland’s recommendation to close 16 elementary schools in the district, 422 full-time staff members — including 188 classroom teachers — face uncertainty about their job prospects within the district after the 2022-2023 school year. The board will vote on Dorland’s recommendation on Nov. 10. If the recommendation is passed, the 16 schools would close at the conclusion of the 2022-2023 school year. The district is working with its associations — the Jefferson County Educators Association and the Jeffco Education Support Professionals Association — to help staff members navigate employment opportunities. The district has about 3,600 classroom teachers and currently has 410 job openings — 103 of which are teacher positions; 89 JCEA positions and 14 pre-school positions — but is anticipating an increased staffing need if the consolidation plan comes to fruition, according to Jeffco Public Schools Communications Executive Director Kimberly Eloe. Eloe said that the hiring process for staff members displaced by the
SEE CELEBRATE, P2
SEE CONSOLIDATE, P4
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INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19 | SPORTS: PAGE 36
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