WESTSIDER 1.3.13
North Jeffco
Westsider
North Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 11, Issue 52
January 4, 2013 A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
Lawmakers gear up for session By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews. com The election is over and now the real work begins for Colorado’s legislators. Some are veterans in their position, and some are representing their constituents for the first time. House District 35 Rep. Cherylin Peniston is beginning her last two-year term this year. She’s been representing the Westminster area for the last six years, so she knows her way around the state Capitol. For this upcoming legislative session, she is focusing on early childhood education, tanning limits for minors and expansion of
the Family and Medical Leave Act. She said she plans to bring up the legislation on the Early Childhood Readiness Commission, which was established through House Bill 09-1343. “The Early Childhood Readiness Commission is a legislative body that is involved with what is happening in the state in early childhood education and health care,” she said. “I was carrying out that bill to continue it on and it got lost in the political cross fire. So I am working with Sen. Evie Hudak to get that put in place.” Last session Peniston’s tanning bill, HB 1170, was postponed indefinitely. Peniston is bringing it back again for the upcoming session.
The bill notifies parents of their child’s use of commercial artificial tanning devices by requiring parents to sign a permission form listing the potential risks and to stay on-site with a minor less than 14 years old. The last bill Peniston is working on is the expansion of the definition of who can use the Family and Medical Leave Act. She said the bill would allow for more people to be considered in using FMLA, like domestic partners, grandchildren and grandparents. “This will go along with the civil union bill that will definitely be passed this session,” she said. “This bill would take care of those other important family members.”
Sen. Jessie Ulibarri, who represents District 21, is new to the legislative floor, but is ready to bring the wants and needs of his constituents in Westminster to the state level. He said the legislation he is sponsoring this year reflects the concerns he heard from the community members on their porches and in front of their homes during his campaign trail. He is focusing on stewardship of taxpayer resources, financial security and community trust with law enforcement. He said he is working on a bill to save Colorado millions of dollars be determining a better way to pay for the required hospitalization and inpatient treatment
for the inmate population. “Other states, including Alabama, Washington and Louisiana, have adopted similar policies and have witnessed tens of millions of dollars in savings for their taxpayers,” he said. This year Ulibarri will be working with the Office of Economic Development and International Trade to encourage the growth of the advanced manufacturing industry in Colorado. He said jobs are needed in Colorado that support working families and the local economy. “I’ll be sponsoring legislation that ensures individuals that have faced financial adversity during Lawmakers continues on Page 7
Criss Seal, national training chef for HuHot Mongolian Grill, left, gets flames going on a Mongolian grill as other chefs prepare dishes for customers at the new restaurant in the Orchard Town Center in Westminster, Thursday, Dec. 27. Photo by Andy Carpenean
New restaurant takes stir-fry to the next level By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com When dining at HuHot Mongolian Grill in Westminster, it’s more than just a meal, it’s an experience. The new restaurant opened on Dec. 23 in the Orchard Town Center and is offering a spin on Asian stir-fry. “HuHot allows people to create their own meal just the way they like it,” said HuHot Top Tier Colorado president Jay Warwick. “People can make it as healthy as possible if they want, and they can eat as much as they want.” To start off the HuHot experience, guests create their own custom stir-fry meal with as many vegetables, noodles, meats and sauces as desired. Once the creation is complete, the bowl is handed off to a grill chef who stir-fries the meal right in front of them. As an all-you-can-eat restaurant, guests can create as many stir-fry bowls as
‘The key words for us are fun, healthy, different and unique. It’s an experience and a conversation piece.’ HuHot President Jay Warwick
they want. “The key words for us are fun, healthy, different and unique. It’s an experience and a conversation piece,” Warwick said. “It’s a fun place to eat because not only do you get to create your own meal just the way you like it, hot, sweet or salty, you get to watch people cook it and engage with the chefs.” Manager Greg Thomas has been working in HuHot restaurants for 10 years. He said the simplicity of the HuHot model and the atmosphere is what sets the
restaurant apart. “It’s very simple and there is so much movement and so much going on to observe. It’s great for kids and families and even for first dates,” Thomas said. “People can actually care their food and see exactly what goes into the food. It’s very simple and if you like vegetables, this is the place.” HuHot Mongolian Grill also partners with Home Front Cares, a nonprofit organization that provides responsive emergency financial aid and other support to
Colorado service members, veterans and military families. Warwick said every Monday a portion of the sales are donated to Home Front Cares and once a year a full day’s sales are donated. “The average grant is about $1,000,” he said. “The money helps out with everything from rent to grocery money to car payments. It’s such a good cause and it fun to have the opportunity to be involved with that.” HuHot also offers appetizers, desserts, beer and wine. It is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for lunch and 4 p.m. to close for dinner every day and in the Orchard Town Center, 14697 Delaware St. in Westminster. For more information, visit www.huhot.com.
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