Westsider Westsider 10-11-2013
North Jeffco
North Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 12, Issue 40
Election: Candidates respond to questions. See Page 8
POSTAL PATRON
October 11,2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
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Lao to rebuild Buddhist temple Plans revealed at community meeting on Oct. 2 By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com
From left, Jessica Ridgeway’s aunt Rebecca Ridgeway, her mother Sarah Ridgeway, her grandmother Christine Ridgeway, Westminster mayor Nancy McNally and Westminster Police Chief Lee Birk cut the ribbon during the dedication ceremony of the Jessica Ridgeway Memorial Park on Saturday, Oct. 5, in Westminster. Photos by Ashley Reimers
Park dedicated to Ridgeway
Family, community come together to honor Jessica By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com
W
ith the sun shining bright and children laughing, the community of Westminster and the Ridgeway family celebrated the dedication of the Jessica Ridgeway Memorial Park on Saturday, Oct. 5, the one-year anniversary of Jessica’s disappearance. Hundreds of people wearing purple, Jessica’s favorite color, came together to honor the life of Jessica and her legacy, which will be remembered by a park created and built in the 10-year-old’s name and memory. On Oct. 5, 2012, Jessica was kidnapped and later killed by Austin Sigg, 18, who recently pleaded guilty to charges including first-degree murder and kidnapping. Her disappearance sparked a massive search with hundreds of community volFrom left, Jessica Ridgeway’s aunt Rebecca Ridgeway and Jessica’s mother Sarunteers and 75 law enforcement agencies working around the clock to bring Jessica home. Days later her remains were ah Ridgeway hold hands during an opening prayer at the dedication ceremony found in an open space area and in the crawl space of Sigg’s of the Jessica Ridgeway Memorial Park on Saturday, Oct. 5, in Westminster. home. One member of law enforcement particularly invested in the case was Westminster Police Chief Lee Birk, who dedicat- public. Its design is a reflection of Jessica, including the color ed many hours for the past year to achieve justice for Jessica. purple and a teeter-totter resembling a giant green dragonfly, During the dedication ceremony he held back tears describ- an insect she was studying for a project at school before she ing how Jessica’s life has taught the community to died. There is also a large butterfly sculpture love and care more, and although he had never met at the front of the park, which according to Jessica, himself and several other law enforcement former classmate Layla Iverson it’s a perfect would agree that they were profoundly touched by fit because Jessica was fascinated by butterJessica and came to feel as though she was their flies. own daughter. Although Jessica’s mother Sarah Ridgeway “Jessica brought out what is good and right in didn’t speak during the ceremony, Jessica’s people in our community. This park is part of Jesgrandmother, Christine Ridgeway did. She sica’s legacy, but what it really signifies is the lesencouraged all of Jessica’s classmates in the sons Jessica taught us,” he said. “She taught us that crowd to run along, and play in the beautiful family is important, we all should be better neighnew park because “Jessica would not want bors and community members and we all should you here mourning her.” She thanked the care and love more because life is short and these community for their support, even though things are what are most important.” many didn’t even know the Ridgeway family. Westminster Mayor Nancy McNally spoke “I see people who helped create a park full about the strength of the Ridgeway family and how of Jessica’s smiles and love,” she said. “What I through them, the community is able to mend. She don’t see is a place that is a reminder of what said the Ridgeway family has been a rock for the happened to Jessica, but a place of fun. My community, but also reminded the family that the heart is filled with joy because Jessica’s laughcommunity can also be their supporting rock. ter will be echoing here forever, so thank you.” “To Sarah, Rebecca and the rest of the Ridgeway The official ceremony ended with the refamily, as you have moments if you question if you lease of 10 balloons by the Ridgeway family are alone, I hope you look out right now out and in honor of Jessica’s 10 years of life, but the take a snapshot that can come to you just by shutPolice Chief celebration of her was just beginning. As balting your eyes and remember that this community loons floated up to the sky, youngsters ran to Lee Birk the playground with smiles on their faces and stands behind you and made possible the Jessica Ridgeway Memorial Park,” McNally said. energy in their shoes, jumping, swinging and For months work has been done on the park, climbing, enjoying a park that will always be a which was formerly known as Chelsea Park, at 10765 Moore reminder of a little girl who loved her family, the color purple, St., by many volunteers and city staff and is now open to the butterflies and animals.
‘We all should care and love more because life is short and these things are what are most important.’
A devastating fire destroyed the Lao Buddhist Temple of Colorado in Westminster in December 2011. And now, the Lao community is beginning the process of rebuilding their temple, a place that not only serves as a gathering building for their Theravada Buddhist religion practices, but also a place to sustain their culture. Since then, the Laotian community has been gathering in a large tent on the property at 10685 Dover St. and on Oct. 2, the Laotian community hosted a community meeting inviting neighbors to view the proposed plans for the redevelopment of the Lao Buddhist Temple. Westminster city planner Patty McCartney said the meeting is just the beginning stage of planning process to construct a new temple. She said the plan is still in review process and eventually will move forward to the planning commission and then city council. The plans include two buildings, a small 30-foot by 30-foot building to be used by the monks and a second larger building, 90-foot by 90-foot, which will be the temple. The property is about 4.5 acres total and according to Tom Pong, project director of the rebuilding team, the new temple will have a capacity of about 300350 people. “This site and temple means so much to our entire Lao community and has been the center point for us to continue with our peaceful Theravada Buddhist religion practices, shelter for our entire community to gather and sustain our culture and a place for refuge for those in need of help,” Pong said. “It is open to all who are interested in learning more about our rich culture and peaceful religious meditation practice.” Pong said securing all of the financing for the redevelopment will be challenging, but seeing the white tent every day and knowing some elderly members of the Lao Buddhist community are waiting to see the redevelopment come to life are great sources of motivation. “We have terminally ill members who want to see this erected,” he said. “That is very motivating for our community. And we have faith and trust in each other that it will happen.” For more information or to donate to the Lao Buddhist Temple in Westminster, visit www.watlaodenver.net.
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