Our Government / Nuestro Gobierno

White House

President Barack Obama named thirteen recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. The awards will be presented at the White House in late spring. Civil rights activist and farm workers advocate, Dolores Huerta will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Casa Blanca

El presidente Barack Obama nombró a trece destinatarios a la Medalla Presidencial de la Libertad. La Medalla de la Libertad es el más alto honor civil, presentado a individuos que han hecho contribuciones especialmente meritorias de seguridad o a los intereses nacional de los Estados Unidos, a la paz mundial, o culturales u otras actividades importantes, públicas o privadas. Los premios se entregarán en la Casa Blanca a finales de primavera. La activista de derechos civiles y defensora de los trabajadores agrícolas, Dolores Huerta será galardonada con la Medalla Presidencial de la Libertad.

Colorado’s Governor

Gov. John Hickenlooper announced he and 12 other governors sent a letter this week to the CEO’s of 19 auto companies encouraging them to manufacture vehicles that use natural gas. This letter is part of a multi-state agreement initiated last fall by Hickenlooper and Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin to promote the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel. The states participating are Colorado, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Gobernador de Colorado

El gobernador John Hickenlooper, anunció que él y otros 12 gobernadores enviaron una carta esta semana a los CEOs de 19 empresas de automóviles, alentándolos que fabriquen vehículos que utilizan gas natural. Esta carta es parte de un acuerdo multi-estatal iniciado el pasado otoño por Hickenlooper y la gobernadora de Oklahoma, Mary Fallin para promover el uso del gas natural como combustible de transporte. Los estados que participan son Colorado, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nuevo México, Ohio, Pensilvania, Texas, Utah, West Virginia y Wyoming.

Denver’s Mayor

Mayor Michael B. Hancock unveiled Denver’s Airport City Concept at the Airport Cities World Conference and Exhibition. Denver’s Airport City concept creates a master plan for developing land within the airport’s property boundaries that is not already dedicated to future runways, taxiways or for other operational purposes. Denver International Airport’s total land mass is 53 square miles, with more than 9000 acres available for the Airport City development. To learn more about Denver’s Airport City, visit: www.airportcitydenver.com.

Alcalde de Denver

El alcalde Michael B. Hancock dio a conocer el Concepto de Ciudad de Aeropuerto de Denver en la Ciudades de Aeropuerto Conferencia Mundial y Exposiciones. Concepto de Ciudad de Aeropuerto de Denver crea un plan maestro para el desarrollo de la tierra dentro de los límites de propiedad del aeropuerto que no está ya dedicadas en el futuro a las pistas, calles de rodaje o para otros fines operativos. La superficie total del Aeropuerto Internacional de Denver es de 53 millas cuadradas, con más de 9 mil hectáreas disponibles para el desarrollo Ciudad de Aeropuerto. Para obtener más información sobre la Ciudad de Aeropuerto de Denver Airport, visite: www.airportcitydenver.com.

Ferrer honored on Forever Stamp

Multi-talented actor, director, writer, musician and producer José Ferrer’s life and accomplishments were commemorated on a First-Class Forever stamp by the U.S. Postal Service as part of its Distinguished Americans stamp series. The stamps, available nationwide, can be purchased online at www.usps.com/shop, by calling 1-800-STAMP-24 or by visiting Post Offices.

Ferrer, whose career spanned the worlds of theater, film, television and music, is considered to be one of the most accomplished talents of his generation and the first Latino to win the Oscar for Best Actor. Ferrer (1912-1992) won several Tony Awards for his work on stage and performed in more than 60 movies, garnering three Academy Award nominations. Arguably his most famous role was that of Cyrano de Bergerac for which he won both a Tony Award for Best Actor (1947) and the Oscar for Best Actor (1950) for his film portrayal of the same role. He remains one of the few actors to ever win both awards for playing the same character on stage and on film.

OSMP offering volunteer opportunities

The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) is hosting several volunteer trail building projects this year, one each month from May through August. The overall purpose of these projects is to work towards conservation and sustainable access to OSMP lands. Volunteers will help build new trail and trail re-routes.

To register for these events, go to the OSMP web page at www.osmp.org. On the ribbon to the right, click “Get Involved” and then “Volunteer.” Scroll down until you see project applications listed. In order to assure yourself of a spot, register soon, as these events are filling fast.

For more information, call OSMP at 303-441-3440.

DPS hiring 75 math fellows

As part of its comprehensive effort to dramatically improve student achievement in Far Northeast Denver, Denver Public Schools is hiring 75 math fellows at seven schools to lead daily small group tutoring for students in 4th, 6th and 9th grade. The fellows will work closely with teachers at each school in an effort to ensure every student makes more than a year’s worth of growth in math during the 2012-13 school year.

To learn more about the fellowship opportunity, visit www.denvermathfellows.org.

Conamigua

El Consulado General de Guatemala en Denver Convoca a todas y cada una de las organizaciones de Guatemaltecos de esta circunscripción consular que llenen los requesitos, a participar en la elección de los Representantes Titular y Suplente de las organizacicnes de guatemaltecos, para conformar el Consejo, Asesor de CONAMIGUA.

Las organizaciones que cumplan con los requisitos de constitución y registro, de acuerdo a lo establecido en el Articulo 6 del Reglamento del Consejo Asesor de CONAMIGUA. Dichos documentos pueden encontrarse en la página www.conamigua.gob.gt deberán acudir antes o hasta el 1”0 de mayo, a las 14:30 horas, con la copia del acta de constitución, al Consulado General.

Cada organización al cumplir con los requisitos establecidos, tiene derecho segun los Articulos 6 y 1”0 del Reglamento Interno del Consejo Asesor a proponer un candidato y a emitir un aviso el día de la elección.

Electric rate plan

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved a three-year electric rate agreement for Xcel Energy that will provide significant rate savings to customers as well as rate predictability over the length of the agreement.

The PUC unanimously approved a settlement granting Xcel a $114 million increase in electric base rates spread over a three-year period. The settlement was supported by Xcel, PUC staff, the Office of Consumer Counsel, a number of medium and large electric customers, and trade groups.

Residential customers will see increases on average of $1.68 per month in 2012, $1.29 per month in 2013, and $0.73 per month in 2014, for a total of $3.70 per month, or 5.55 percent, over the three-year period.

Commercial customers will see increases of $2.48, $1.94 and $1.21 to their average monthly bills in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. Over the three years this will be an increase of $5.63, or 5.00 percent. Industrial and Transmission customers will see comparable percentage increases as well.

The settlement lowers Xcel’s allowable return on equity to 10.0 percent (from 10.5 percent), and lowers its overall return on rate base to just over 8 percent.

2012 Kaiser Permanente Colfax Marathon call for volunteers

The Kaiser Permanente Colfax Marathon is seeking volunteers.

Two-thousand volunteers are needed before, during and after the race to fill a wide variety of distinct volunteer opportunities from helping with the initial race planning, assisting with the Sports and Fitness Expo, to staffing the start/finish line.

The marathon, half-marathon and relay take place at 6 a.m. on Sunday, May 20, 2012 in Denver’s City Park. The new Urban 10 Miler starts at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. The Bellco Colfax 5K takes place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 19, also in Denver’s City Park. All volunteers will receive an official 2012 event t-shirt and race goody bags, sponsored by OrthoColorado Hospital at St. Anthony Medical Campus. To register to volunteer online, visit www.runcolfax.org, click on the “Volunteers” tab and fill out the online form.

If you have any questions about volunteering, contact Carol Hiller at CaroleyII@mindspring.com or 303-282-5073.