Serving Lakewood, Wheat Ridge and beyond
WEEK OF JANUARY 16, 2025
VOLUME 41 | ISSUE 24
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Lakewood knitting club warms hearts and heads with hats for the homeless BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
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Jeffco school board members, John DeStefano, Frank DeAngelis and Tracy Dorland meet to discuss the aftermath of the investigation into the disPHOTO BY SUZIE GLASSMAN trict’s former Chief of Schools.
Jeffco school board grapples with fallout from chief of schools investigation amid grief and shock BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The Jefferson County School Board convened a special meeting on Jan. 7 to address the aftermath of the investigation into and apparent suicide of former Chief of Schools David Weiss, who was accused of possessing child pornography by the Jefferson County Sheriff ’s Office. Board member Paula Reed opened the meeting by explaining that the need to meet face-to-face had become undeniable in the wake of the crisis. “It was becoming clear that we needed some time to meet face-to-face,” Reed said. “We wanted to have time to make a timely and unified response. It’s been impossible to do that given the constraints we’ve had.”
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Reed emphasized the importance of transparency, saying the meeting was held publicly to demonstrate the board’s commitment to addressing the situation and fostering trust within the community. Board President Mary Parker echoed these sentiments, sharing how the crisis had weighed on her both personally and professionally. “First of all, I am so happy that we are together and we are public-facing,” Parker said. “The biggest frustration I’ve had in the last few weeks is that, as board president, I felt a great responsibility to be a voice for the board... I wanted very much for our community members to know that the board is paying attention. We care about it. We take it seriously.” Parker explained how constraints on
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VOICES: 10 | LIFE: 12 | CALENDAR: 15 | SPORTS: 17
On a chilly Monday morning, a group of seniors gather in a cozy common room at Sky Active’s Lakewood Estates, knitting needles clinking and looms turning as they work tirelessly on their latest creations. The room hums with quiet determination and friendly chatter as colorful balls of yarn are transformed into warm caps, each carrying the love and care of its maker. Led by Deanna Evans, a Denver native who spent much of her life following her husband’s Air Force career, the group of knitters meets weekly to craft hats, share stories and make a tangible difference in the lives of those less fortunate. “We decided on making caps because if we really work at it, a cap can be made in about eight hours,” Evans said. “It’s something we can finish quickly, and it makes a real impact.” The hats are part of care packages distributed by Father Ralph Mollica, a retired minister who has supported the group since its inception. “There are so many homeless people out there,” Mollica said. “Each bag includes a hat, a bottle of water, a toothbrush kit, socks, hand warmers and a small snack. The recipients are always so grateful.” Mollica carries the packages in his car, handing out two or three daily to those in need. Over the past year, the group has produced more than 130 hats, with more than half of those made by group leader Evans.
communication left her unable to provide even a basic response to the public. “The most basic, simple sentence — ‘the board takes this seriously, we are shocked, we will communicate with law enforcement, and we will get to the bottom of it’ — was not possible to get out as a board because I couldn’t do it on my own,” Parker said. Processing grief, shock and criticism
Yarn, community and creativity
For many board members, the crisis has been a deeply personal and emotional experience, compounded by accusations from some in the community who have accused the board of not prioritizing children’s safety.
The group relies entirely on donated yarn, which they creatively transform into hats of all sizes and colors. Evans proudly displayed a blackand-white cap made by combining two threads, noting how the variation in yarn keeps the work interesting.
SEE FALLOUT, P6
SEE KNITTING, P7
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