WESTMINSTER WINDOW 2.14.13 February 14, 2013
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
Adams County and Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 68, Issue 17
Energy roundup clusters in town Solar conference brings together industry leaders By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com
Toni Easterfeathers applies her makeup prior to participating in the Adams 12 Five Star Schools Indian Education Pow Wow Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Educational Support Center in Thornton. Photos by Andy Carpenean
Preserving culture, traditions Families celebrate at pow wow By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com
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t was event filled with culture and education during the Adams 12 Five Star Schools Indian Education Pow Wow on Saturday. The fourth annual pow wow commemorated and honored the tradition and culture of the district’s American Indian community, while also giving students the opportunity to think about their future with the addition of a college fair. The American Indian Parent Advisory Committee, AIPAC, sponsors the pow wow every year. Felicia Alvarez, AIPAC member and pow wow coordinator, said the pow wow is an opportunity for native American students and families in the district to come together to celebrate their culture. “The pow wow allows us to present our
Tehya Myhre is held by her niece Elise Phillips during the Adams 12 Five Star Schools Indian Education Pow Wow Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Educational Support Center in Thornton. cultures and traditions in the right way with
others in our district,” she said. “We are trying to have cultural activities for our native students in the district, but also bringing our community to the rest of the districts so that all the students and families can see our cultural aspects.” Alvarez has been an AIPAC member for six years. She said it’s important to be involved in her native American community to keep her culture alive in her life and her children’s lives. “We want to pass our culture down to our children because it’s really important to have that cultural connection,” she said. “It’s sometimes hard to keep that connection today, so being in AIPAC is really helpful.” The pow wow featured a gourd dance, which is a southern tribal ceremonial dance, a men’s society dance, grass dancers, fancy dancers, traditional native American food and the college fair. “The best part about the pow wow is seeing all of our tribes together,” Alvarez said. “We are all different, but we are all one big community.”
Gunman tackled by customer at Walmart, arrested Staff Report A verbal disturbance at a Westminster Walmart led to the arrest of a man now facing felony and misdemeanor charges. Cassidy Rhoads, 33, is being held at the Jefferson County Jail on charges of felony menacing, possession of a weapon by a previous offender, unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon,
reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct, after attempting to pull a hand gun at a customer on Feb. 8 at the Walmart store at 9499 Rhoads Sheridan Blvd. Around midnight, Rhoads began shouting and causing a disturbance in the parking lot of the store, according to police re-
ports. A customer asked Rhoads to stop being so vulgar, which further upset Rhoads and led to a verbal argument between the two. Rhoads reached for a handgun in his pants, but was tackled by another customer in the parking lot. Investigator Trevor Materasso said several customers and store employees pinned Rhoads on the ground until police arrived, while a Walmart lossprevention employee held the
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gun until it could be given to officers. “During the struggle Mr. Rhoads hit his head on the pavement and was knocked unconscious,” Materasso said. “He was transported to a local hospital by the Westminster Fire Department. Mr. Rhoads is prohibited from possessing firearms due to his criminal history.” Police believe drugs may be a contributing factor to Rhoads’ behavior. Materasso said residents should use caution when confronting individuals that are upset or causing a disturbance. “By confronting these individuals you potentially become a focus of their anger and put yourself in a position to be seriously injured,” he said. “We prefer you call 911 when someone is causing a disturbance.”
Representatives of the Colorado solar industry packed the Westin Westminster last week during Solar Power Colorado, the state’s largest business to business solar conference and expo. This year’s three-day event, Feb. 4-6, was sponsored by Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association, COSEIA. The theme was “The Path to a Million Solar Roofs,” based on a campaign focused on a strategic approach to reaching the equivalent of a million solar roofs in Colorado by 2030 through solar projects of all sizes, from utility-scale to commercial residential. “This event brings together some 400 solar businesses in Colorado,” said COSEIA executive director Neal Lurie. “It’s an opportunity for people in the industry to come together and identify more job opportunities, more opportunities to grow within the industry and an opportunity to discuss innovative ways to drive down solar costs to consumers.” The conference featured a kick-off reception with former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, then two full days of solar presentations and programs from some of the top leaders in the industry. Those who attended also had the opportunity to check out the latest solar technology and equipment in the exhibit hall. Lurie said the reason for the million solar roofs campaign is to have a platform to discuss, in a relatable way to the general public, the fact that the solar industry is growing. “People can relate to what it looks like to see a solar roof,” he said. “With today’s lower solar costs, it’s providing tremendous opportunities for people to save money on their electricity bills.” Lurie said what’s great about solar energy is that people can predict what their energy bill will look like each month. He said with solar power, business are able to plan their budget accordingly when it comes to their utility bills, which is a great benefit. “Solar is entirely predictable,” he said. “It removes the economic risks that families and businesses have in terms of their utility bills.” Lurie said the goal of the conference was to lay the foundation for “The Path to a Million Solar Roofs.” He said some ways to achieve this goal is to work with cities and counties to be to help them become more solar-friendly and also work with policy makes to remove some of the policy barriers that can make it more difficult for consumers to go solar. “It’s also really important to be involved in public outreach and connect with those who want to go solar,” he said. “We are also working to re-enforce the importance of building strategic partnership with like-minded organizations.” For more information on COSEIA or Solar Power Colorado, visit www.coseia. org.