Ballot measure seeks to protect big cats from hunting, trapping
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Buddy the mountain lion peers from behind a grassy knoll at the visitors looking at him through a fence at a windy corner of the 33,000-acre Wildlife Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg this week. e facility is home to over 950 animals that have been abused and locked up in basements and cages and then displayed by callous owners looking to squeeze a pro t from the animal’s captivity.
Buddy was part of a caged exhibit in a Des Moines, Iowa shopping mall for several years until he was rescued and taken to the Sanctuary to live out his life in peace, said founder Pat Craig.
While in the mall, Buddy’s enclosure was among others that housed big cats as well as bears and more wildlife, Craig said. “It was awful, an absolute mess,” he said. “It was not a place for a wild animal like Buddy.”’
Buddy seems to appreciate his new home in the wide expanse of the sanctuary, about 25 miles east of Denver. “He can stay just around his den and enjoy the fresh air and natural environment,” Craig said. “I think he’s found his forever home here.”
Activists used the backdrop of the Wildlife Sanctuary to celebrate the placement of Ballot Issue 91 on the November ballot. e wild cats at the Sanctuary – wildcats, cougars, tigers and lions –also illustrated the need for a law to protect wild felines from trophy hunters, activists said.
WILD CATS, P6
POLICE GEAR AT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT Community
NOTES
Traveling tea room a comfort for grieiving grandmother
BY CARL KNAUF SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
July 2019 was Lisa Beltezore’s favorite month with her grandson, Alastor Avery.
A bittersweet layo gave her the uncertainty of a professional future but also the free time to play and bond with the family’s newest addition.
One month later, Alastor passed away.
“It was amazing to spend all that time with him, not knowing we were going to lose him,” Beltezore said as a choke interrupts the cadence of her memories.
“ ere are a lot of questions in your mind that you go through,” she said. “I couldn’t function for a good couple of years.”
Beltezore wears three charms around her neck as a constant reminder of her grandson. She ddles with them as her knuckles brush over the goosebumps on her collar that rise every time she mentions his name. A silver “A” and a little teapot dangle on both sides of a beautiful blue gem that matches the sparkling hue of her late grandson’s eyes.
Alastor is the inspiration behind Beltezore’s mobile tea room, Grammie’s Little Teapot.
A busy mind
e idea for the business was brewed after one of Alastor’s wellness checks indicated that he was short and stout when it came to percentiles. Beltezore shared that his stature became a warmhearted anecdote between grandmother and grandbaby. She would sing “I’m A Little Teapot” to him whenever he was upset. He had a handle on her heart as his giggles would jet through his smile. en the unthinkable occurred: Alastor was 7 months old when he died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
And then, after one of many re ective evenings, her business mind took over.
Grammie’s Little Teapot was born with the intention to provide comfort
A cup of tea for community
for all in need, including herself and the rest of Alastor’s family. Beltezore decided she could brand and sell tea “in his honor.”
“I developed an online presence, brought in some private labels, and I decided … I’m going to take this and help other people that are grieving,” she explained.
Grammie’s Little Teapot is operated by Beltezore and her partner in business and life, Caroline Shengle.
e couple has a history of developing products and businesses together, once o ering a pet product that garnered both local and national attention.
eir mobile tearoom is run out of a trailer they designed and built-out themselves. Beltezore and Shengle will park and lay down the ramp at various locations and farmer’s markets around Colorado, o ering a full tea bar and a variety of teas and accessories for customers to peruse and purchase, as well as a heartwarming story if curiosity is piqued.
“I love to tell (Alastor’s) story and reach out to people. ere’s been countless people that have said, `I lost a baby too’,” Beltezore explained. According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), the cause of SIDS or sudden unexpected infant death is still unknown, but it is a term used to describe the sudden death of a baby less than a year of age.
e CDC reports that there is about 3,400 deaths each year in the United States in which SIDS is determined the cause. Accidental su ocation and strangulation in bed fall within this category, as well, accounting for 27% of related deaths as of 2020.
“In the beginning, I didn’t want to know about anybody else’s pain or su ering. Nothing else mattered,” Beltezore shared. “Today, I’ve been able to turn that corner, get over that hump where I can look at other babies, I can hear about other’s story, they can tell me about their loss, because I can empathize with them and relate.”
e tearoom has o ered some sort of relief through commemoration, connotation and community. e space is cozy and inviting as customers can nd products hanging on the walls of the tearoom along with a picture of Alastor.
Grammie’s Little teapot o ers a variety of loose-leaf teas and accessories. ey carry chai, black, green, white and herbal blends, along with gift and comfort items.
Tea has been used in its natural from for warmth and comfort, but there are a range of blends that tend to speci c needs found in body and mind. Beltezore harnessed the healing power of tea by coining “ e 7 Stages of Tea”, which correspond with the seven stages of grief: shock and denial, pain and guilt, anger and bargaining, depression, upward turn, reconstruction, and acceptance and hope.
“What I nd is that a lot of moms that have lost their children … they weren’t allowed to talk about it, or they were encouraged to shove it under the rug,” Beltezore said. “ ey give me a hug, and they’re like, ` ank you for allowing me to share my story.’” rough memory and meaning comes support, which is strong not only in the loyal tea community, but through grief itself. Grammie’s Little Teapot not only supports and o ers yearly donations to the American SIDS Institute, but also partners with the local community.
A bittersweet blend
Knot Forgotten is conveniently located on the main strip of Brighton, Colorado, tucked among a cluster of other local businesses. Not only do these local Brighton owners know each other, when one enters the other’s business, they also partake in uid conversation - the kind of chatter that is found between people who know each other well.
Owner and operator Tarynn Stewart has a background in woodworking and furniture restoration and, as a mother of six children, she started Knot Forgotten as a creative channel to not only continue her passion but form a space to showcase the local community. e business o ers a plethora of gifts and specialty items, most crafted in Colorado, and also hosts occasional events inside the shop - which include the presence of Grammie’s Little Teapot.
“ e fact that we connected was pretty amazing because it was total happenstance,” Beltezore said.
Beltezore has formed a strong relationship with Stewart, and not just through Stewart’s devotion to local vendors. ey share another bond through grief.
The interior of the Lisa Beltezore’s traveling tea room Grammies Little Teapot.
PHOTO BY CARL KNAUF
As the Real Estate Market Shifts, We’re in Uncharted Territory Thanks to NAR Settlement
Sunday was the deadline for one very significant change in the practice of real estate, as the result of a March 15th settlement between the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and a group of Missouri home sellers who claimed that the sharing of listing agent’s commission with the buyer’s agent was somehow a violation of anti-price fixing laws and just plain “unfair.”
Although I, along with most Realtors (and, in fact, NAR), disagreed, the parties agreed to a settlement in which MLSs may no longer display how much a buyer’s agent will earn if he brings a buyer to the table.
Real Estate, we’re not so worried. Below is a picture of the yard sign that in front of the solar-powered listing featured at the bottom of the page. Do you notice anything new about it? Yes, it has a sign rider telling both buyers and their agents that the seller will pay a 2.5% commission to an agent who represents the buyer of this home.
The brochure in the brochure box has that same information. You could say that “nothing has really changed,” and you’d be almost right. What has changed is that we are not “splitting” our listing commission with the buyer’s agent. Ra-
ther, the seller has agreed (at my suggestion) to incentivize agents to bring their buyer, knowing that their client will not have to pay him, because the seller will. The sellers who sued to end the practice of commission splitting will finally recognize that compensating the agent who represents their buyer is a practical way to sell a home. They had hoped that buyers would now have to pay for their own professional representation, but if, as I expect, the vast majority of home sellers agree to compete with each other for the buyer’s business, which home do you think the buyer will offer to buy?
That’s how I see these coming weeks
and months shaking out. Some sellers will say, “Hey, I don’t have to offer compensation,” and a few may succeed with that strategy. But one thing is for sure: the universe of potential buyers will be smaller, because a significant percentage of buyers can’t afford to pay for representation on top of the other fees I listed in last week’s column.
I do expect that many buyers will feel they should only deal with listing agents directly, but when they see our sign rider, they may do the right thing for themselves, which is to have a professional working in their best interest instead of the seller’s. Stay tuned!
MLS Now Has Fields for Audio & Video Recording
That change took place at midnight last Thursday and many real estate professionals are concerned about how it will affect them personally. At Golden
Do You Know or Care Where Your Realtor Stands Politically?
Real estate is not the only profession where the “rule” is never to talk politics or religion. I agree about religion, but in today’s divisive political climate, I feel differently about revealing my political leanings, which are liberal. As a seller, I would not be comfortable hiring an agent who was a Trump fan. Someone else may prefer hiring a fan of Trump.
Recently, a Denver agent referred a Golden seller to me. When I told him that his home would be advertised next to my weekly real estate column, he said, “I don’t read newspapers anymore because they’re all fake news.”
Okay, we’re not a fit — and that’s okay with me.
Archive of Past Columns Is Online
Over the past two decades, this column has appeared in local weeklies and the Denver Post, and during that time I’ve written about every conceivable topic related to real estate. You can find and search that archive online at www.JimSmithColumns.com
New: Solar-Powered Green Mountain Home
$795,000
The seller of this 3-bedroom/2½-bath home at 14038 W. Amherst Ave. provided this springtime picture of their crabapple tree in bloom. Not visible from the front is the seller-owned 5.98-kW solar array which reduces the Xcel monthly electric bill to under $10 year-round. The oversized garage has an extra 5'x18' workshop/storage area with natural light. The workbench, shop light and pegboards are all included. There’s another workshop area in the unfinished basement, plus a 10'x11' wood laminate dance floor! The cul-de-sac location makes this home a quiet place to enjoy life with friendly neighbors. The 8'x25' composite deck off the eat-in kitchen is half-covered, with stairs down to the backyard with its lush grass, garden beds and linden tree. The other half of the deck is shaded by the house itself in late afternoon. The 6'x8' front porch is also covered. Visit www.JeffcoSolarHomes.com to view a narrated video walk-through and drone video, plus magazine-quality photos and floor plans. The seller replaced the windows on the first floor and most of the second floor with high-end Marvin windows. The windows are energy efficient double-paned windows with aluminum clad wood frames. The frames are powder-coated white, requiring no routine maintenance. Come to the open house Saturday, 11-1, or call broker associate Kathy Jonke at 303-990-7428 to see it. Note: Seller offers 2.5% buyer broker compensation.
With surveillance systems becoming more and more common in American homes, buyers can never be sure that what they say to each other and their agent during a showing isn’t being monitored remotely by the seller.
Personally, I advise my buyers to assume that everything they say is being heard by the seller and to monitor their conversation accordingly. There are any number of things a buyer could say while
touring a home that would disadvantage them when it comes to negotiating a contract or inspection issues.
REcolorado, Denver’s MLS, now has fields for indicating whether there is audio and/or video recording inside and/or outside the listing, but buyers should not count on privacy if those fields are not checked. I recently sold a home where the fields weren’t checked but cameras (and Alexa) were definitely present.
Just Listed: 20-Acre Apple & Peach Orchard
Our former broker associate, Kim Taylor, is now an independent broker in Cedaredge and just listed this interesting agricultural property nearby. With 4.8 shares of surface creek water, the meticulously managed fruit is thriving again this year, and there is a leased rental house that was recently remodeled. The orchard contains blocks of apples and peaches and has been a successful producer for over 20 years. The property also has a 1500 sq. ft. cooler with loading dock, a tractor barn with electric, and two 30-amp electric and water hook ups for RVs. Located in the county, this agricultural property sits literally on the edge of Cedaredge city limits, only 1/2 mile from town center. Property taxes run less than $500/year. Come take a closer look! The Cedaredge area is a great location for the outdoor enthusiasts! Just 20 minutes away is the Grand Mesa, the largest flat top mesa in the country with over 300 lakes for fishing, lots of space for camping, hiking and biking, miles of groomed Nordic ski trails, Powderhorn Ski Resort, snowshoeing, and miles of snowmobiling — not to mention that the Gunnison River is only 15 minutes south, and the greater area is Colorado wine country, with an airport just 45 minutes away! Seller also has 10 more acres with blocks of apples, peaches and grapes that would make a great addition to this property. Learn more at www.OrchardCityHome.info, then call Kim at 303-304-6678 to arrange a visit.
$850,000
Fort Lupton marks National Night Out
BY BELEN WARD
Fort Lupton celebrated its rst responders Aug. 6 with its National Night Out celebration at the city’s Koshio Park. e event featured barbecue, bounce houses and plenty to do. e block party features a cookout and safety demonstrations, and the kids can tour the re trucks, police cars, and equipment.
National Night Out is a campaign that brings police o cers, re ghter and other city employees together with the community to build relationships with law enforcement that keep our neighborhoods safe.
National Night Out, started in 1984, is celebrated across all fty states and military bases, according to National Night Out.org.
Fort Lupton O cer Buttry is showing and educating a family about bulletproof vests Aug. 6 at Fort Lupton’s Koshio Park during the city’s 2024 National Night Out celebration.
Kids play with the Fort Lupton Fire Department’s remote controlled toy truck Aug. 6 during
Fort Lupton Police O cer Goddard serves hamburgers to a line full of Fort Lupton residents Aug. 6 at Koshio Park during National Night Out. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JUAN ARELLANO/FORT LUPTON
Body of Keenesburg man found a day after a car crash
BY BELEN WARD
BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Weld County Sheri ’s Department deputies found the dead body of a Keenesburg man a day after the August 10 car crash that allegedly killed him, following a day’s search of the area.
e deceased body of Carlos Retana, 18, was found August 11 around 5 p.m. at Weld County Road 59 and Weld County 10. at’s about a mile north along Weld County Road 59 from the accident that allegedly killed him, according to an August
13 news release.
According to the Sheri ’s Department, Retana crashed into a fence on August 10 at 12:44 a.m. According to o cials, the Weld County Sheri ’s O ce responded to the singletra c accident at Weld County Road 59 and Weld County Road 8. Retana was not in the car when the deputy arrived to investigate.
Retana was reported missing to the Sheri ’s o ce from his home in Keenesburg later that afternoon. According to o cials, that report came in at 3:45 p.m. on August 10.
Police returned and began searching the area around County Roads 59 and 8 at 6:47 p.m. and used a drone equipped with wide-angle and infrared lenses to help them.
e Weld County Coroner was called to the scene the following day and identi ed a body found about a mile north – at County Roads 59 and 10 – as belonging to Retana. e coroner’s department is working to determine the cause of death and is conducting toxicology testing.
According to the release, the Sheri ’s o ce was criticized online be-
cause police didn’t deploy police dogs to help in the search. But according to the o cials, the crash scene area was already contaminated by human odors from the several individuals searching for Retana, making it hard for the police dogs to pick up his scent.
No future information will be provided because it is an active, ongoing investigation. For more details or to provide information, email Public_information@co.weld.co.us and contact information: call 970400-2802.
Weld adds stop signs at four intersections
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Four Weld County intersections – in Fort Lupton and near Kersey, Firestone – will get new stop signs to help improve the safety of drivers, according to an Aug. 12 Weld County new release.
ose roads include Fort Lupton’s Paden Avenue in the Peaceful Acres subdivision, just south of Fort Lup-
ton High School, which will get new stop signs at two intersections, according to Weld County.
e Paden Avenue intersection at South Park Avenue will get two stop signs designed to stop north and
southbound tra c along South Park Avenue. e intersection of Paden Avenue and McKinley Avenue will receive one stop sign to stop westbound Paden Street tra c as it enters McKinley Avenue.
WILD CATS
If passed, the initiative would ban recreational trophy hunting and commercial fur trapping of wild cats. Speci cally, voters will be asked to declare that “any trophy hunting of mountain lions, bobcats or lynx is inhumane, serves no socially acceptable or ecologically bene cial purpose, and fails to further public safety,,” according to proponents.
Cats Aren’t Trophies, the group pushing the ban, said the proposed law only targets trophy shooting and wildlife trapping. It allows for the killing of any animal that is a danger to people, pets or farm and ranch animals.
Volunteers across the state started gathering the signatures for a petition to get the initiative on the ballot in March, said Samantha Miller, Cats Aren’t Trophies campaign manager. e group submitted 147,529 valid signatures, more than the 124,238 needed for a place on the ballot, she said.
In late July, the state certi ed the ballot question, she said. Most people who were approached for a signature had no idea Colorado allowed hunters to usually pay $8,000 to use packs of eight hunting dogs to tree and then run down a mountain lion so a hunter could shoot it and take the animal’s head for decoration and fur for a coat, Miller said.
In some cases, bobcats are caught in leg traps where they can remain for several days before a trapper comes onto them, and either shoots them or chokes them to death, Miller said.
“Colorado voters now have a
“If anything, sport hunting only makes con ict worse by disproportionately removing older males and creating a vacuum that is lled by younger, inexperienced males who are more prone to con ict with humans and domesticated animals,” Pardo said.
Foes favor science-based management
Opponents of Prop 91 say that mountain lion hunting is important and that the hunting ban is bad for science-based wildlife management in Colorado, Bryan Jones of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, recently told the Colorado Sun.
“We will certainly talk about ballotbox wildlife initiatives and how they can be a negative for wildlife management in Colorado,” Jones told the Sun. He said he expects the opposition campaign will include the challenges that followed the introduction of wolves to the Western Slope this year.
chance to halt this inhumane and needless killing of mountain lions and bobcats for their heads and beautiful fur coats,” she said.
Trophy hunters often hire professional guides who use pack dogs for a “guaranteed kill,” Craig said. ey shoot between 500 and 600 mountain lions during a four-month season in Colorado. Of the 501 mountain lions killed for trophies and recreation last season alone, nearly half - 47% - were female and not one was reportedly in con ict with humans, Cats Aren’t Trophies o cials said.
Females often leave their kittens in a den for several days to nd food. When they are killed by trophy hunters, the kittens are often left to die because no one is there to care for them,
Craig said.
“Trophy hunters go into the wilderness and shoot lions for fun yet want to claim they are targeting ‘problem’ lions. at is ction,” Craig said. “ at’s like saying they are going to solve crime by shooting into a crowd.”
Big game hunters, veterinarians and wildlife biologists also spoke at the Sanctuary last week, decrying trophy hunting as cruel and unnecessary.
“As a wildlife biologist, I can tell you that the science is clear that sport hunting of mountain lions is an ineffective means of mitigating humanlion con ict,” said Mickey Pardo, who specializes in animal behavior and applied wildlife ecology, in a news release.
Craig said the opposition to the measure is led by an “extremist group of hunters.”
Trophy hunters have decimated the lion population in Africa which has led antelopes and other hooved mammals the lions traditionally feed on, to explode in population.
“It’s led to an unhealthy environment with a huge population of animals starving to death,” he said.
Eying Craig and the group of reporters last week were African lions Cheddar and Tsylia, a brother and sister, who came to the Sanctuary from a zoo in war-torn Ukraine. Cheddar padded up and down the wide fence and kept an eye on the interlopers.
“He seems pretty content,” Craig said of Cheddar. “At least here he is safe.”
Aims o ering debt-free higher education program
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Aims Community College is launching a program that will help Coloradoans with tuition-free higher education, according to a news release on August 13.
e program is called Aims Tuition Promise. According to o cials, it helps pay for tuition costs for Colorado residents whose adjusted gross income is below $50,000.
“At Aims Community College, we steadfastly believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue higher education,” said Marilyn Schock, chair of the Aims Board of Trustees. “With the Aims Tuition Promise, we are making a powerful
statement: nancial barriers should not prevent Colorado residents from achieving their educational and career goals.”
According to o cials, the Aims Tuition Promise can be used for fall and spring semesters for each academic year. e Aims semesters will be paid with tuition, which includes federal, state, and institutional aid and scholarships.
Colorado residents are eligible and those who want to take part must complete a Federal Student Aid FAFSA application and students receiving Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow bene ts must complete a CASFA application, or Colorado Application for State Financial Aid.
Students also must be enrolled in six or more credits that count toward a program of study, must be seeking a degree or certi cate and must be in a good, satisfactory academic progress status as de ned by the Ofce of Financial Aid’s satisfactory academic progress policy. e program is not available to students who already have a prior Bachelor’s degree.
According to o cials, the required documentation must be submitted and completed for veri cation and aid packaging.
“ ere are a lot of people who just don’t know the opportunities Aims has for them,” said Chris Peterson, Executive Director of Financial Aid. “People can a ord their education,
and Aims is committed to helping them better their lives.”
Dr. Larry Pakowski said Aims already has some of the lowest tuition in Colorado for in-state students. Only nine percent of students leave Aims with student loan debt.
“ is is the latest way that we’re showing that we’re all in,” said Dr. Larry Pakowski, Vice President of Student Engagement, Inclusion & Success. “For any student that wants to come to Aims, we’ll do what we can to remove the nancial barriers to their success.”
Enrollment begins on August 26. To start the process, visit aims.co/ apply or stop by the Welcome Center, 4901 W 20th Street, on the Greeley Campus.
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Phone: 303-566-4100
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BRIEFS
Brighton opens Eye for Art at City Hall
e City of Brighton Eye for Art program’s three-month show runs until Oct. 15 at Brighton City Hall, located at 500 S. 4th Avenue.
e Summer Showcase is an opentheme show and artwork may include oil, acrylic, watercolors, graphite drawings, photography, fused glass, pottery, computer painting, mixed media, jewelry, glass and sculptures.
For more information, please visit the
Eye for Art web page, or contact David Gallegos, Arts and Culture Coordinator, at dgallegos@brightonco.gov, or 303-6552176.
City of Brighton’s sixth annual Touch-a-Truck Aug. 24
e City of Brighton will be bringing out its heavy machinery for the sixth annual Touch-A-Truck event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. aug. 24 in the parking lot of Brighton City Hall, 500 S. 4th Ave.
Kids of all ages will get the opportunity to go behind the wheel, climb and explore vehicles of all sizes, and meet the people who operate them. Police cars, re trucks, Flight for Life (landing at 11 a.m.; subject to availability), tractors, snowplows, loaders and much more will be at the event. Kids in attendance will get to help decorate one of the city’s snowplows with paint. is year’s Touch-A-Truck will also feature Brighton’s Bike Rodeo. Children will be guided through a safety course to learn important skills for safe bike riding.m ere will also be a drawing for giveaways. Limited parking will be available at City Hall.
‘I Voted’ design competition opens to high school students
e Colorado Secretary of State’s O ce is inviting high school students to participate in its “I Voted” digital sticker competition. e winning design will be sent to voters via BallotTrax after they vote in the upcoming General Election. It will also be featured on the Secretary of State’s website, media channels, press releases and in media coverage. Sta from the Colorado Secretary of State’s O ce will also present the award during an assembly at the artist’s school. e entry deadline is Sept. 2. More information can be found at https://www. sos.state.co.us/pubs//elections/votedSticker/contest.html.
Gov. Polis highlights $2.7 million classroom investment
Gov. Jared Polis, in partnership with DonorsChoose, has announced $2.7 million in funding from the Governor Emergency Education Relief to help educators make purchases that support students. Teachers can receive up to $600 in supplies per classroom. To learn more about this opportunity, teachers should visit donorschoose.org and enter the code COLORADO. Teachers can submit their project requests beginning in early August, until funds are fully allocated.
Unscrambling the 2024 November ballot over breakfast
A fur ban, property taxes, school choice, the fate of mountain lions and more are topics before Colorado voters in November. e nonpartisan Common Sense Institute will highlight these issues in its 2024 ballot guide, a resource for voters that includes data, analysis and a description of the issues. A discussion costs $25 and will take place from 7:30-9 a.m. Sept. 10 at the Dome at AMG, 6295 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Greenwood Village. Link: https://tinyurl.com/mvanhk27.
Crematorium addition nixed by Adams Commissioners
Commissioners voted 5-0
that crematorium operation has no place in proposed Welby Plan
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e Adams County Commissioners Tuesday unanimously decided a funeral home crematorium is not a welcome addition to a largely industrial area that has long tried to change into homes, retail stores and community uses.
By a 5-0 vote, the commissioners turned down a request from A Better Place Funeral & Cremation Services, 7261 Washington St., to obtain a conditional use permit to add a crematorium at the rear of the business.
Commissioners agreed with county planners - and the county planning board - that although the area surrounding the business is largely encircled by warehouses and other industrial sites, a crematorium does not t with the Welby Plan.
e county envisioned a mixed-use development around South Welby that includes the funeral home. Plans call for o ces, indoor warehousing and technology-related uses, along with supporting retail and communi-
ty facilities, according to a sta report prepared for the commissioners.
e Welby Plan also encourages residential opportunities near the area’s primary transit corridors, including I-270, I-76 and Washington Street.
“ is (the crematorium) could impact future development on the surrounding properties due to potential fumes or visual impacts associated with the conditional use,” the sta report states.
Compatibility, air concerns
Commissioner Eva Henry said incompatibility and worries over air quality problems generated by the crematorium, was enough to sway her to block the conditional use permit.
“ is is not the vision we have for that community,” Henry said.
Owner Jennifer Connell told the commissioners that the crematorium was needed because her clients have to wait two three weeks to receive the ashes of departed loved ones from one of the area’s three existing crematoriums.
“Two weeks before someone can get their ashes…may not be a big deal to some,” Connell said. “But is a big deal for a lot of other people.”
Connell – who has operated at the site since 2018 – said she admits she and her employees work in a business that everyone wants to avoid using.
“It’s a taboo…no one wants to talk
about,” Connell said. “But it’s a needed business.”
Many of her customers are lowincome mourners who cannot a ord most funeral home services. ey turn to her because she provides affordable and digni ed help in a time of need, she said.
Connell said she is on track this year to handle an unprecedented 1,200 cases, with almost 20 percent coming from Social Service referrals. e business also contributes to food and toy drives for local families and causes, she said.
“We have a moral and ethical responsibility to care for this community, both in life and death,” Connell told the commissioners. e crematorium, she added, “can give people peace of mind, so their loved one is not carted around the city.”
Connell and supporters of the crematorium assured the commissioners that all measures would be taken to keep tight environmental controls over the facility’s operations. ey noted that emissions from vehicles driving along the main roads near the business are producing most of the toxic air.
Compassionate service cited
Some supporters also wept about the compassionate services o ered by Connell and her sta .
“Jennifer works for those families that don’t have a lot of money…many
are working paycheck-to-paycheck,” Westminster Pastor David Baca told the commissioners. “I just don’t understand why something like this would not be approved.”
Some long-time residents, however, said the crematorium would mar what many have envisioned for the Welby corridor.
“ e concept of adding crematoriums in our area just doesn’t t,” said resident Norma Frank.
A Better Place Funeral & Cremation Services was denied a conditional use permit for a crematorium by the Adams County Commission.
PHOTO BY MONTE WHALEY
Colorado once again breaks tourism records
when 71.3 million visitors spent $18.6 billion in Colorado.
BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN
e Colorado tourism industry is still on a tear. Since 2010 — minus the global meltdown in travel during the pandemic years — Colorado has hosted record numbers of visitors leaving record-setting amounts of cash in their wake.
A total of 93.3 million travelers in Colorado spent $28.3 billion in 2023. Both those numbers are all-time highs. For reference, that compares with what was then a record in 2014,
ere are more travelers spending more in Colorado than ever before, according to Longwoods International, a visitor research rm that began tallying the impacts of U.S. tourism in the 1980s. Colorado was the rst state to engage Longwoods to survey visitors in 1986.
“It’s great to keep it moving in the right direction,” said Tim Wolfe, the head of the Colorado Tourism Ofce.
Longwoods’ 82-page 2023 report identi es travelers who came to Colorado after seeing an ad campaign or promotional materials promoting the state as a vacation destination. e Colorado Tourism O ce spends
$12.7 million a year on media advertising, with $11 million of that directed toward the state’s 12-year-old “Come To Life” campaign and the remaining spent on the o ce’s “Do Colorado Right” ads, which this year, for example, focused on how to stay safe in Colorado with messages that promote life vests around the state’s lakes and re safety when camping.
In 2023, travelers responding to marketing booked an estimated 21.6 million overnight trips in Colorado, down 4% from the previous year, while travelers staying with friends and family stayed 14.8 million nights in 2023, a new high, up 14% from 2022.
Overnight visitors spent $22.9 billion, while an estimated 53.8 day-
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tripping visitors in 2023 — a record number of people taking day trips to or within the state — spent $5.5 billion, which was nearly evenly split between in-state residents and outof-state visitors.
About 5 million of those overnight trips were booked by vacationers coming to Colorado to explore the outdoors. About 2.7 million overnight trips were from people in Colorado for special events and 1.1 million visited resorts. e 2023
Longwood reports show about 2 million overnight trips involved people staying in cities and 1.3 million overnight trips were for people visiting Colorado’s casinos.
TOURISM
An economic review of tourism in Colorado by Dean Runyan and Associates, which also has been studying the state’s tourism travelers for decades, showed visitor spending of more than $28 billion employed 188,000 workers in 2023, up 5% — or 9,450 jobs — from 2022. And those workers earned $9.9 billion in 2023, up 13% from the previous year. State and local tax revenue paid by tourists grew to $1.8 billion in 2023, generating the equivalent of $800 for every Colorado household.
Business travel to Colorado still waiting for a rebound
Business travel has yet to rebound
following the pandemic, with Colorado logging 3 million overnight trips from those travelers. at’s up slightly from 2022, but well below more than 25 years of annual business tra c to the state reaching more than 4 million overnight trips.
e Colorado Tourism O ce recently distributed $4.8 million in Tourism Recovery Marketing Grants to seven regions of the state through the federal Economic Development Administration. About half of that went to Front Range communities that have been slow to rebound from the pandemic declines, especially with business travelers.
But the grants to communities in metro Denver, the northern Front Range and around Colorado Springs were not necessarily focused on rebuilding business tra c, which has seen a decline as part of an overall
business shift toward remote work and online meetings.
“I wonder if there would be a huge return on investment trying to bring business travel back,” Wolfe said. “So now we are seeing people thinking about how they can replace that business traveler, maybe by boosting leisure travel.”
e largest expenditure for visitors to Colorado is lodging, accounting for $6.2 billion in spending, followed by transportation, dining, recreation and retail. Spending in those four categories climbed in 2023.
e average cost per person for an overnight trip to Colorado was $580, up from $550 in 2022. Daytrippers spend about $101 per person.
Colorado ski resorts reported about 14 million skier visits in the 2023-24 ski season. While Longwoods counts yearly tra c and re-
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sorts count seasonal visitors, the discrepancy between these tallies indicates the size of the daytripping skier market, with Colorado residents heading up to ski for the day accounting for the vast majority of skier visits. ( e Colorado resort industry does not release demographic information about its skier tra c.)
Longwoods reported that about 13% of overnight visitors booked their trips through short-term rental web platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo. at is up from 10% in 2022. e Runyan economic analysis shows 2023 visitors spending $15 billion on hotels and motels across the state and $2.5 billion on short-term rental homes. at compares to $14.6 billion spent on hotels and motels in 2022 and $2.3 billion on short-term vacation rentals.
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VOICES
A tribute to our Olympic heroes
As I re ect on the achievements of our Olympic athletes, past and present, I am overwhelmed with pride and admiration. Becoming an Olympian is one of the most challenging and rewarding paths one can take. It demands physical prowess and an immense amount of courage, commitment, and dedication. Our athletes have demonstrated these qualities in abundance, and their accomplishments on the world stage are a testament to their hard work and perseverance.
e road to the Olympics is paved with long hours of training, the relentless grind, and the inevitable spilling of blood, sweat, and tears. Each athlete’s journey is unique, yet they share a common thread of sacri ce and determination. ey wake up before dawn, often pushing their bodies to the limit, driven by a dream few can truly understand. e courage to pursue this dream is astounding, knowing that the path is fraught with obstacles and that the margin for error is razor-thin. However, it is not just the physical challenges that make the journey remarkable. e mental fortitude required to maintain focus, stay motivated, and overcome setbacks is equally impressive. Our athletes have faced numerous trials, from injuries and disappointments to the pressure of global competition. Yet, they persevere, driven by an unyielding desire to excel and represent their country with honor. e world witnesses something extraordinary when these athletes nally step onto the Olympic stage. e grace, speed, strength, agility, accuracy, beau-
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Vote to support big cats
ty, and endurance they display captivate our attention like nothing else. Watching them perform is a spectacle of human achievement and a celebration of the human spirit. eir performances inspire us, reminding us of the limitless potential within each of us.
I am incredibly proud of every athlete representing our country at the Olympics. Whether they have brought home medals or not, their e orts and achievements are nothing short of magni cent. e work ethic, e ort, and grittiness they exhibit, their natural gifts, and the skills they have honed over years of training are truly awe-inspiring.
Consider the swimmer who spends countless hours in the pool, perfecting each stroke, or the gymnast who pushes the boundaries of what the human body can do with grace and precision. ink of the runner who trains tirelessly to shave fractions of a second o their time, or the weightlifter who combines raw power with impeccable technique. Each of these athletes embodies the essence of what it means to strive for excellence.
Our Olympic athletes are more than competitors; they are ambassadors of hope and determination. ey remind us that we can achieve greatness with hard work, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of our dreams. ey show us that setbacks are merely setups for comebacks and that true success is
measured not just by medals but by the journey and the e ort invested along the way.
eir achievements extend beyond the con nes of the sports arena. ey inspire future generations to dream big, to push their limits, and to believe in themselves. Young athletes look up to these Olympians, seeing in them the possibility of turning their own dreams into reality. is ripple e ect of inspiration is perhaps one of the greatest legacies our Olympians leave behind.
As I salute our Olympic athletes, I also recognize the support systems that have helped them along the way. Coaches, families, friends, and communities play a crucial role in an athlete’s journey, providing the encouragement and support needed to reach the pinnacle of their sport. eir contributions are invaluable and deserve recognition alongside the athletes themselves.
Again, I am profoundly proud of our Olympic athletes, both past and pres-
I support a citizen-led ballot initiative to end sport hunting of mountain lions and trapping of bobcats. is ballot measure ends mountain lion hunting as a form of “wildliferelated recreational opportunity” per state statute, leaving Colorado Parks and Wildlife at 100% capacity to continue managing predators that pose any threat to humans, pets or livestock.
CPW is neutral on this initiative. It’s not a policymaking body and enforces laws that our Legislature or voters responsibly and legally pass.
e fact that 188,000 citizens signed the petition is a testament to how reasonable and responsible this measure is for Colorado. Using dogs to chase down native wildlife and baiting bobcats to sell their fur are unacceptable and unsporting acts against wildlife conservation principles.
I am a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and I believe in science, and the best science shows that lion sport hunters are creating con ict. ey target the largest, established males, opening the door to subadults that are the ones shown to go after pets, as they are ill-equipped to take down an elk many more times their size.
Mountain lions maintain the balance of nature, reducing dangerous car crashes with deer and elk. Lions
ent. eir courage, commitment, dedication, and resilience are qualities that we can all aspire to emulate. ey have given us moments of joy, pride, and inspiration; we are forever grateful for that. Whether they have stood on the podium or not, they have all achieved something extraordinary by competing at the highest level. To each and every one of them, I say: well done, and I salute you all. Your legacy is one of excellence; you have made your country proud.
I would love to hear your praise for our athletes at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can all come together to stand with our athletes who honorably represent us, it really will be a better than good life.
Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.
target diseased animals su ering from Chronic Wasting Disease (a brain-wasting disorder infecting our herds at record pace), and prevent its spread, which biologists say is a threat to the future of deer and elk hunting in Colorado.
Coloradans who want to protect our natural resources, including wildlife, support CATs, because Cats Aren’t Trophies.
Carol Monaco, Brighton
WINNING
Our Family Helping Your Family
Westminster Council cautious of airport runo letter
Councilor wants Je co to help identify water problems from RMMA
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Westminster City Councilors this week nixed sending a letter penned by a fellow councilor to Je erson County Commissioners asking for cooperation in detecting and containing contaminants allegedly streaming from Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport into local water supplies.
e letter from Councilor Amber Hott asks the commissioners to engage with the council in a “strategy of detection and containment of contaminates from RMMA.”
Hott, in her letter, notes the rapid expansion of the airport and that it lies about two nautical miles uphill from Standley Lake.
e lake is the primary water source for the nearly 300,000 residents of Westminster, ornton and Northglenn, Hott said.
“I believe it is the responsibility of the City Council to protect this precious resource,” Hott said.
She said she met with new airport director Erick Dahl and Je erson County Development and Transportation Director Abel Montoya. e three said that proactively dealing with potential water contamination from the airport was the best method of protecting downstream water consumers.
“Mr. Dahl, Mr. Montoya and Councilor Hott agreed that methods of contaminant detection and containment at the site, rather than nding and removing them from water as it
is delivered to thousands of residents, made the most sense,” Hott’s letter states.
‘Work with our partners’
Other Westminster councilors this week declined to sign the letter. Most said the letter should be reviewed by city sta members who could determine the vulnerability of the city’s water supply.
e letter could then be amended before it is sent to the commissioners, they said. Councilors also said the airport director should talk to the entire council about airport concerns.
“…As a majority we want to work with our partners,” said Councilor David DeMott, who told Hott, “I fully support what you are trying to get at.”
“I still would like us to meet with new airport director and address our concerns,” DeMott said. “We have a very capable sta , and I would like to understand the sta ’s point of view.”
Hott said she was disappointed in the council’s reaction to her letter.
“It was just a simple request on how (o cials) plan on detecting a potential contamination and what kind of containment would be put in place,” Hott said.
Hott, in her letter, pointed to several potential contaminants from airport activities, including PFAS chemicals from re ghting activities, leaks from fuel tanks and leaching from runways contaminated with leaded aviation gas and other petroleum products, especially for the crosswind runway that is fast deteriorating.
Her letter also notes the potential contaminants from a plane painting operations and lead contamination from the exhaust of piston engine aircraft ying over Standley Lake. ere is no indication when the council will take up the issue of water contamination from RMMA.
Katherine “Kay” Lovato March 8, 1944 - July 3, 2024
Katherine Louise (Ho ) Lovato was born to Richard Ho and Sarah (Plunkett) Ho Wagoner of Casper, Wyoming, and grew up there. She attended Willard Elementary School and Dean Morgan Junior High School, graduating from Natron County High School with many of her primary classmates. She especially loved her high school years and was quite popular: elected secretary-treasurer of her senior class and crowned queen of the Eclat dance club. She was active in Pep Club, Future Secretaries, espians, and swam on the synchronized swim team. Kay remained life long friends
were married for 52 years and together traveled to China, Peru, Ecuador and Argentina, and throughout Europe. eir favorite was Mexico and for several years they spent winters in Puerta Vallarta and later in Arizona. Phil passed in 2018 and Kay continued to travel with friends and family, returning to Puerta Vallarta for anksgiving 2023 for a nal visit.
She met the love of her life, Phil Lovato, in California, where she moved to attend college for a year and then worked as a key punch operator at Lockheed Missiles and Space Company. ey adopted their son Rick there and then moved to Colorado. Phil’s job took them brie y to Maryland, but they settled in Colorado and were happiest living with a view of the mountains. ey
She volunteered for several years with the 9News Health Fair, learned Spanish, and actively attended Senior Center outings. She enjoyed greeting neighbors and dogs as they passed her well kept townhome on the corner of the neighborhood.
In Loving
Kay is survived by her brother Ken (Mary Ann) Ho of Casper, WY, and her son Rick and his family of Erie, CO: wife Toni, sons Alan and Reagan, and her great granddaughter Kinsley. She is greatly missed by family, friends and neighbors. Please take a moment to remember how Kay touched your life as we say goodbye to our mother, grandmother, sister and friend.
CUP OF TEA
Beltezore said Stewart had reached out to her and asked if she would like to have her tea available at Knot Forgotten. After Stewart visited Grammie’s Little Teapot’s website and read Alastor’s story, she realized there was a deeper connection.
In March 2021, Stewart gave birth to her son, Elijah, at 21 weeks. He was stillborn.
“ at seemed like a magical force that kind of brought us together, in that sense, because she didn’t know, and here we are with similar stories of building a business around our loss and trying to … really build and support our community through our common struggles.”
ese are the connections that help drive support throughout various groups.
Steeped in support
One group located in Denver, Angel Eyes is a nonpro t that o ers grief support to families impacted by unexpected deaths of infants or toddlers under the age of 12 months, including pregnancy loss. e organization’s services include individual, peer and group counseling for adults and children.
Angel Eyes is able to provide its bereavement counseling and support at no cost for families in need through grants, gracious donations and sponsorships earned during its various annual events.
“A lot of families can’t pay for the counseling, so that’s where we come in,” said Laura Crowley, executive director of Angel Eyes. “And it doesn’t have to be low-income families that use our services.”
Crowley explained that Angel Eyes is there when individuals and families are desperate for counseling and obstacles such as nances and low availability a ect booking therapy. e sta is great at adjusting schedules in order to be there for people when it is needed the most.
Angel Eyes is sta ed with a trained social worker and counselor equipped to assist in the path of recovery for grieving families who have su ered the trauma of a devastating loss. Yet, professional guidance is not the only quali cation for support, some sta members, like Crowley, know rsthand what it is like to lose a child. Crowley lost her daughter, Terrah, to SIDS in 1994 and was contacted by then e Colorado SIDS Program immediately. She has been involved with the organization ever since, which is now Angel Eyes.
“I call it a grief journey because you never really reach the end,” Crowley
said about her experience with tragedy. “I still cannot say my daughter’s name. I’ve tried in the past, and I can’t. I just get choked up and I can’t say it.”
Angel Eyes aims to bring awareness to unexpected child deaths with annual events such as its Angel Walk, Suds for SIDS, Claws For A Cause and On e Wings of Angels motorcycle poker run. ough through a tragic connotation, these occasions connect individuals and families in need and, with the help of the many volunteers who donate their time and energy, promote the notion that grief can be combatted. Partnering with businesses such as Grammie’s Little Teapot strengthens this connection and community.
“I wanted to get the community involved,” Crowley said. “We hope that they’re going to continue to support.”
Angel Eyes recently announced that its services will be expanding out of state, opening a second support center in Ohio.
Everyone handles grief in a di erent way, but when tragedy is shared, it can connect people when in desperate need, and no one has to do it alone.
Connecting communities
Finding these connections with the public is important to Beltezore and Shengle - it’s therapeutic in a sense.
ough Grammie’s Little Teapot is a business and needs to operate as such, Beltezore explained that it is vital to remain “grounded to the community roots and to help other people and keep bringing us back to why we started.”
She simply asked, “When people are grieving, how can you help somebody?”
ough Beltezore admits she was originally not a tea enthusiast, she is transparent with her a cionado customer base that enters the trailer to explore.
“ is truly was about our baby grandson being short and stout,” Beltezore said. “I tell people if they come in and they’re really knowledgeable … I take any suggestions and ideas of teas that we should carry and di erent herbs that help with things.” Help comes in many forms, from advice about comforting tea to comfortable support for grief. Help serves as a stable foundation for any loyal community.
Grammie’s Little Teapot is spreading their story and support throughout Colorado. ey can be found frequenting the Louisville, Orchard and Evergreen Farmer’s Market during the season.
Visit grammieslitteteapot.com or follow them on Instagram @grammies_little_teapot to nd out where they will be next.
THE POWER OF MUSIC
Arvada nonprofit aims to create bridges through collaboration, exploration and fun for kids in the metro area
BY JANE REUTER
JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Studies on music’s bene ts repeatedly show its positive impact to mental and physical health. Research also shows it can build bridges.
Children who participate in group music activities exhibit more cooperation than kids who don’t, according to the journal “Evolution and Human Behavior.” Furthermore, researchers found children who regularly play music, sing and dance together can more easily empathize with others.
at’s something today’s world needs more of, believes ornton resident Dustin Olde, and that he hopes his music school can foster. A lifelong musician, Olde runs Colorado AMP (After-school Music Program), a low-cost, nonpro t kids’ music school in Arvada. e three-year-old business draws students from the heart of Denver and throughout the suburbs. “Kids can take music lessons online anytime,” he said. “ e whole point is we want them in-person, working together. We’re trying to get people to get along. at’s where we as a society are struggling. How can we all get along and understand each other? e music is just the gateway, the language by which they communicate.”
His students’ words suggest Olde is having an impact.
“When I thought of music before, I really thought more about, this note is A or B,” said Westminster’s Cullan Wright, 13, who’d played French horn in his school band before enrolling at Colorado AMP. “Now I understand it’s more about chords, how di erent things meld together.
“Before when I was playing, I was only thinking about my part,” he continued. “I would use someone else as a cue to come in. But for the most part, I wasn’t listening to other kids.”
Olde also discovered the power of music while playing with his peers. As a teen at Littleton High School,
he experienced bene ts that went far beyond music’s immediate psychological rewards.
“At 15, I formed a band with some friends; that was a huge piece of what got me through high school,” Olde said. “ ose were my best friends, and the band was a fundamental part of my self-esteem. It gave me the con dence I needed to get through high school.”
ose bonds went so deep that 35 years later, Olde is still playing with one of his high school bandmates in the group Trouble Bound. e band recently played at Evergreen’s Aug. 3 Mountain Music Fest.
Olde was a college music major and early in his career, worked with at-risk kids as an AmeriCorps teacher. at experience sparked his interest in a music school open to children from families of all income levels.
“We were teaching anger and con ict management skills to kids,” said Olde, a father of two. “I learned that the time when kids get in the most trouble is between when school ends and when Mom and Dad get home from work. at’s the time I want kids to be doing something positive.”
Colorado AMP is designed for children ages 10 to 15 who love music. Skill level or family income is
not a factor. e school o ers sliding scale fees and full scholarships. Drawing kids from di erent backgrounds is key to ful lling Olde’s mission.
“My vision has always been that we’d have a kid from Sterling who likes country and one from Aurora who likes hip hop,” he said. “In real life, the two would never meet. But here, they hear one another’s music and play together. You start to understand somebody else’s perspective.
“It’s not hugely di erent from School of Rock,” he continued. “But our goal is to get to those kids who can’t a ord School of Rock.”
While Colorado AMP was intended to be primarily an after-school program and o ers individual lessons, specialty workshops and after-school programs, its summer music camps generate the highest turnout.
During the camps, kids practice in small groups for two weeks and then do a live performance. Students can choose to play guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboards or sing. Olde typically contracts with teachers to instruct the summer programs.
Broomfield’s Davis Maurney, 11, focuses during an end-of-camp performance at Colorado AMP. PHOTO BY LINDA MAURNEY
MUSIC
Westminster parent Kerstin Wright’s two sons have gone to Colorado AMP’s summer camp for two years running.
“I was a little skeptical when we went the rst time that by the end of two weeks we’d be attending a concert with them playing these instruments,” she said. “My kids had never had any experience with playing a bass guitar, an electric guitar or drum set. I was astonished. It was such a huge fun surprise to see them up on stage that rst time.”
Not only did her sons learn to play the instruments, they created a band name and logo, and produced a promotional video.
“ ey just had some very cool and di erent experiences they’d never had anywhere else,” Wright said. “ ey met some new kids, and some really awesome adults who have a passion for music and kids. at was also a win.”
Cullan Wright said it’s changed the way he listens to music.
“Whenever I’m listening to a song now, I can hear the piano part or the bass part,” he said. “I really do appreciate how much time they have to put into everything.”
Eleven-year-old Cooper Wright also saw his musical world expand after the summer camps.
“It’s opened up some more music genres,” he said. “(Before) it was kinda like whatever is on for me. I knew about bands like Nirvana and Green Day. But once we played a Nirvana song, I really got into it. Now I think I listen for more genres than just whatever.”
Cooper played both drums and guitar during his two Colorado AMP summer camps.
“ ey’re really good at simplifying things to make it kid-friendly,” he said. “I like the other kids there, and just getting to play and learn new instruments is pretty fun.”
It’s been fun for their mother, too, who said she now hears them talking in the car in great detail about a song playing on the stereo.
“So much of what kids do nowadays is screenbased; I feel like they don’t get a lot of opportunity to get creative,” she said. “For me, it’s important to create those opportunities that are meaningful and interesting to them.”
Broom eld’s Linda Maurney and her son and daughter had a similar experience. Son Davis, 11, has done the summer music camp for three years. Davis already owned a guitar but before Colorado AMP, he said he barely touched it.
“Now I’ve learned new things and it’s more fun to play guitar,” he said. “It really helped me practice.”
Davis said his favorite moment at each camp is the nal performance.
“It’s fun to play on a stage,” he said. “You come together as a band, and it’s fun to see how you sound.”
Linda Maurney said she’s watched her children’s musical con dence grow with each camp experience.
“My son’s talking about starting his own band,” she
LEARN MORE ABOUT COLORADO AMP
Address: 8141 N I-70 Frontage Road, Unit 7B, Arvada, CO 80002.
You can apply for camps and classes or make a donation online.
said. “He brought two of his friends to camp, and now they do it together. ey’re engaged with other kids, for a common purpose. ey’re listening to and reading music, trying to gure it out. You can almost see that their brains are more activated.”
So far this summer, about 60 students have participated in Colorado AMP’s summer camps. While this basic formula’s been a winner, Olde is experimenting with alternative ideas, too. Earlier this year, the school hosted a Taylor Swift workshop, a four-Saturday program in which students learned and performed three Swift hits.
As the program has evolved, so too have its participants.
“ is year I had a student who was missing a hand,” Olde said. “In that same camp, I had a kid with a speech disability. We’ve had kids with autism. …I think a lot of kids on the spectrum gravitate toward music. ey can nd their voice through it. So that’s been cool.”
For Olde, the best moment of any program comes at the end — when students take everything they’ve learned and showcase it to friends and family.
“ at last day of camp when they do their performance is my favorite,” he said. “We try to have as polished a performance as we can. at sometimes means we as teachers are in there playing with them. We want them to think, ‘Whoa, this sounds really good.’ ey feel so proud of themselves. Everything’s worth it for that day.”
Students rehearse at Colorado AMP during a summer music camp. They include Julian Luby from Wheatridge on piano, Anya Beneski (wearing glasses) from Wheatridge on vocals, Molly Roman from Lakewood on vocals, Isaac Press from Lakewood on bass, and Khalil Foster from Arvada on guitar.
Cooper Wright and Davis Maurney show o their Colorado AMP IDs during a recent summer camp. COURTESY PHOTO
PHOTO BY JANE REUTER
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Colorado is helping the endangered toads make a comeback
BY JENNIFER BROWN THE COLORADO SUN
Colorado wildlife o cials are celebrating some long-awaited good news — the mountain toads are making tadpoles!
For seven years, biologists have been toting tadpoles to high-elevation bogs and ponds in a massive e ort to save the inch-long boreal toad. And for the rst time at a mountain wetland above Pitkin, they’ve discovered that those transplanted toads are making their own babies in the wild.
“It’s a really big deal,” native aquatic species biologist Daniel Cammack said in a Colorado Parks and Wildlife news release.
Boreal toads, which live in wetlands around 11,500 feet and spend their winters buried under multiple feet of snow, have been dying o at a rapid pace across the Rocky Mountain states. A fungus that infects the toad’s skin with a cluster of spores, then bursts and spreads through the water to other toads, is to blame.
Colorado biologists have been trying to stop the fungus by dipping the tiny toads in a wash nicknamed “purple rain” and have been taking new tadpoles from a hatching center in Alamosa and dropping them in wild ponds.
is summer, when Cammack went to check on his transplanted toads above Pitkin, northeast of Gunnison, he found they were re-
producing, a discovery that Colorado Parks and Wildlife called “potentially game-changing.”
Cammack’s team has been bringing tadpoles to the wetland since 2018, which is about the length of time it takes for a female toad to reach reproductive age.
e state wildlife agency has stocked about 20,000 tadpoles at the Pitkin bog, most of which began as eggs that were collected from the backcountry and raised to tadpoles at the Native Aquatic Species Restoration Facility in Alamosa. In 2022, biologists threw in 570 tadpoles from the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance.
Before the relocation e orts, there were no boreal toads at the Pitkin bog.
“Everyone who has been involved in this project has poured their heart and soul into it,” Cammack said, calling it a “really special day.”
Now, biologists will watch to see if the tadpoles turn into toadlets and then into adult toads. It will become only the second place in Colorado where transplanted toads have had tadpoles that grew into toads. e rst is near Cameron Pass, outside of Fort Collins.
Boreal toads are the only highelevation toad in the Rocky Mountains and are an endangered species in Colorado. ey live at elevations from 7,500 to 12,000 feet, just below treeline, and hibernate beneath the snow for six to eight months of the year. Researchers say that when the toads are stressed, they release a secretion that smells similar to peanut butter.
e toads were once abundant, even sitting under Buena Vista lamp posts at night in the 1960s to feast on insects that swarmed to the light, according to historical articles
NINA
reviewed by CPW. en the fungus came, killing o thousands of the tiny creatures in the 1980s and 1990s.
e fungus — Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis— is blamed for the death of amphibians all over the world, including in Australia, Asia and South America. Aquatic biologists say the toads lived in Colorado before humans and are an important part of the high-elevation ecosystem, where they eat bugs and serve as food for snakes, birds and weasels.
In Colorado, some transplanted tadpoles have received antifungal bacterial baths before they are packed into plastic bags and released into mountain bogs and ponds. e wash is called “purple rain” because of its lavender tint.
In one project, University of Colorado researchers injected boreal toads with either a spot of pink or green dye, visible through amphibian skin when they held a toad up to the sunlight. Green-spotted toads
got the antifungal bath, while pinkspotted ones did not. en they tried to capture the toads the following summer, searching for them in a pond above Buena Vista, to see whether they were infected with the deadly fungus.
A “Boreal Toad Recovery Team,” which includes biologists from Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, has been working to save the toads for 20 years.
“ e boreal toad is a truly unique and resilient amphibian,” said Cammack, calling the discovery of the new tadpoles a monumental day in his career. “We are up at 11,500 feet, at timberline practically. ey gut out big winters covered by multiple feet of snow and experience only three to four months of warm growing season.”
is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.
A yearling boreal toad gets a shower after being found in an alpine wetland above Buena Vista in 2019.
PHOTO BY
RIGGIO/SPECIAL TO THE COLORADO SUN
Car enthusiasts talk about illegal street racing after Bandimere’s closure
BY VICTORIA CALTON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
It’s Saturday night on southbound Interstate 25 near Castle Rock. Cars rip through the lanes as drivers build adrenaline for a midnight car meet. A light blue Audi cuts diagonally from the right lane into the far left one. Two white Type R Hondas tail the Audi so close that all three of their taillights merge into a single stream. At about 9 p.m., the cars pull into abandoned parking lots and ll them with the sounds of grumbling engines and spooling turbochargers. ere, car enthusiasts socialize about what is hidden under the hood and who they want to roll race in Mexico.
Police roll through the lot, ashing their red and blue lights to signal the high risks of speeding in the streets. ese night scene car enthusiasts, for the most part, shrug it o and make their way back onto the streets, pushing their modi ed cars to the limit.
Heat on the streets
Money, pride and winning fuel their passion to race.
Colorado State Trooper Cody Crowder said the streets are the wrong place for these gatherings.
“Speed is still among the top contributing factors to fatal crashes within our state,” Crowder said. “We have also noticed a rise in rearms-related charges associated with the street racers, including multiple shootings occurring during these races and roadway closures.”
After police o cers arrive, these enthusiasts quickly roll out to a new meet-up location, launching their vehicles from the on ramp back onto I-25. Some chase after each other through pockets in tra c. Others block the lanes by ashing their hazards. Once the highway ahead appears clear, the street racers send a signal ashing their hazards or honking their horns three times. Within seconds, they’re o — foot to the oor, feeling the force of being slammed into their seat.
e night car scene in the Front Range is growing in popularity as the number of drag strips within the metro area drops to zero. Many people who love the rush of speeding down a quartermile straight lane used to take their cars to Bandimere Speedway in Morrison.
But following Bandimere Speedway’s 65th anniversary in 2023, the family announced the track’s closure, creating a void for racers who called the track home and the police o cers who used to encourage street races to take their cars to the track. Last October, Bandimere Speedway hosted its nal Test and Tune event. Supercars, muscle cars, European and Japanese imports, professional dragsters and even family sedans completed their last passes at Bandimere’s under Mountain.
Police records from the Report Illegal Colorado Street Racing website — which is run by six city and district attorney’s o ces, six county sheri ’s o ces and 26 police departments in Colorado, including the Colorado State Patrol and the Colorado Information Analysis Center — show that statewide, from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, there were 325 complaints from Colorado residents alleging illegal street racing. at’s 73 less than the year before, in 2022, when 398 complaints were led about street racing. Although the overall reports of street racing in Colorado decreased, the number of reports in cities connected to the winding stretch of I-25, including Castle Rock and Colorado Springs, saw an increase.
Legacy of Thunder Mountain
In 1958, John Bandimere Sr. purchased land in Morrison, where he and his family planned to carve a drag strip out of the side of a mountain. For 65 years, the strip was lled with smil-
ing spectators as they watched ashy muscle cars, colorful funny cars, unique imports and stockbody family sedans and SUVs line up in the eight staging lanes preparing to race their vehicles.
Car enthusiasts could not get enough of shrieking tires, burning rubber and the echo of roaring engines bouncing o the mountain rivaling the sound of thunder.
“We would go almost every weekend because it’s so cheap and super, super fun,” said Caden Ellerington, director of the CU Car Club in Boulder. “It’s fun because (I) can bring whatever car I drive to school and go racing.”
Most members of the CU Car Club are current students and alumni of the University of Colorado Boulder, but the club is open to all car enthusiasts who want a fun, safe place to enjoy car culture. Despite the name, CU Car Club, the group is not a liated with the University of Colorado.
Ellerington grew up in a car family that restored classic cars and motorcycles, went on trips o -roading their vehicles and racing their daily drivers and sports cars at Bandimere. Last summer, Ellerington started inviting members of the CU Car Club to Test and Tune Nights at the speedway to share the excitement of racing at the track before its closure. His biggest regret was not going to the track sooner and more frequently before the announcement.
Nightlife car enthusiasts are parked at their first car meet location before engaging in a night of street racing in “Mexico” earlier this year.
PHOTO BY VICTORIA CALTON / CU NEWS CORPS
STREETS
“I think that the reason why street racing is so popular is because we’re all cheap,” Ellerington said. “We don’t have any money.”
ere are other drag strips in Colorado, but none are close to the metro area. Pueblo Motorsports Park and Julesburg Dragstrip are a long haul away. e money for gas to get to PMP, and another charge on racing fuel, can cost about $114, including racer entry fees, putting it out of reach for many metro-area drivers.
Nightlife: Colorado car culture
Lamborghini Huracans and Dark Horse Mustangs are rare. at’s because most street racers pick low prole vehicles with a supercharger that is easy to tune.
“It’s not just turning your carburetor and putting the bolt-on (aftermarket performance parts) that you bought in a magazine anymore. It’s a lot of going through the computer,” said Ellerington.
With many modern vehicles, modifying your car to increase horsepower is a plug and play process. Data mapping is done through tuning companies that have crafted speci c programs to train a car’s electronic control unit into producing the most power with or without the installation of performance parts.
“I’m so intrigued by them and just their intelligence, and their knowledge as technology has changed,” said John “Sporty” Bandimere III, a professional drag racer and executive team member at Bandimere Speedway.
For example, a blacked-out Cadillac street raced fellow enthusiasts a quarter mile at a time from Colorado Springs to a new meet location closer to the Denver area. e car was quick from a rolling start, but if needed, it could blend into tra c even quicker when passing speed traps on the highway.
“ e adrenaline for me… just trying to get that adrenaline rush again,” said Raymond J., a night scene car enthusiast who drives a 2014 Chevrolet SS. “Racing is like one of the closest things to it.”
Younger car enthusiasts who experiment with the night scene gravitate towards German or Japanese imports because of the speed, they’re easy to work on and quick on the street. Many
of the enthusiasts wished to remain anonymous, but were willing to go by their nicknames.
“Rest in peace Bandimere, we need another race track, a better one,” said D Boost.
Some street racers preferred Street Car Takeover events at Bandimere Speedway where they could do what’s called roll racing, rather than begin from a dead stop as seen in traditional drag racing. PMP and Pikes Peak International Raceway host roll racing events, but many street racers prefer a nearby highway rather than traveling to Pueblo or Fountain for a few passes at a crowded track.
“If you’re doing it on the highway, in Mexico, you’re doing it at like 60 miles an hour, and then somebody counts down to three… you’re basically going like 60 to 160, so it’s a little bit of an adrenaline rush,” Raymond said.
Raymond described how the culture has changed as more enthusiasts are interested in producing the most horsepower possible in their vehicles, rather than racing or joining nightlife activities for the thrill of it. Winning and making money o the nightlife has become more of a regular practice than when Raymond rst got into the night scene.
“ ere’s more of a stigma around that, especially with street racing...People are idiots and cars are dangerous,” Ellerington said. “ ere’s de nitely a di erence between the day-time (car meets) and the nighttime ones.”
Day scene: Colorado car culture
e Bandimere family cared about fostering a community-driven track where spectators and drivers could enjoy the speed in a controlled and safe environment. e Bandimeres hosted programs to educate young drivers about the dangers of being behind the wheel, as well as providing them with a track where they can reach high speeds in the manner of seconds.
“ e automobile is the most deadly weapon you can own,” Sporty Bandimere said.
Rather than trying to outlaw racing or bog down the youth with hefty nes, the Bandimere family worked to provide the public with a place to race and enjoy the car scene. Take it to the Track: Test and Tune Nights, with the assistance of the Colorado State Patrol, created a space for the public to race.
Debbie Bandimere, the Nitro Knockouts crew chief, found it bene cial to host these weekly Wednesday night
race days so people would not take their need for speed to the streets.
“We got ahold of the Colorado State Patrol and said, ‘hey do you want to partner with us, and we can create this Take it to the Track program … where we can try and keep the kids o the street,’” she said.
Colorado State Troopers were provided with $5 o coupons for Test and Tune Nights at Bandimere Speedway to give to teens who were stopped because of speeding. State Troopers pro-
moted a safe and controlled environment where people, especially youth, could race their cars rather than having to pay hefty nes for speeding on the highway.
“I’m extremely hopeful they will open again. I think Colorado needs that, especially, the metro area really needs a drag strip,” Ellerington said. is story was created by students at the University of Colorado-Boulder’s News Corps. Colorado Community Media participated in the process that helped bring this story to light.
John Bandimere Jr., of Bandimere Speedway, prepares for a meeting in April.
PHOTO BY JANE THOMPSON
‘Don’t be
daunted’: Why climbing in Colorado is for everyone
Expert tips on where to start, breaking misconceptions and more
BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Perhaps a more captivating piece of evidence that humans truly descended from apes is our natural inclination to climb. We see something big and we want to conquer it, stand on top of it and say that we did. From ascending neighborhood trees as children to summiting mountains when searching for ourselves in our 20s, something about reaching the top is awe-inspiring.
A big misconception about rock climbing, according to a local expert, is that it’s much more di cult than hiking — not everyone can do it, or it’s too hard, requires experience, etc. But Golden Mountain Guides founder and owner Ben Coryell said that is “totally false.”
Coryell also is a chief guide; something he’s been passionate about since he opened the company’s doors in 2016.
“Everybody comes into climbing with a preconceived notion with what they’ve seen recently with Net ix movies, like the Alex Honnold movie (‘Free Solo’) or some of the older Hollywood ones like ‘Cli hanger’ with Stallone or “ e Eiger Sanction.’” Coryell said. “And it’s really a beginnerfriendly activity. ere are routes that can be catered towards any skill no matter where you’re at as an absolute beginner to have been climbing for 30 years.”
He describes Golden Mountain Guides as a “holistic mountain guiding company.” at means guided hiking, mountaineering, rock climbing, ice climbing, backcountry ski tours and more. ere are also classes for beginner climbers, self-rescue classes, wilderness rst-aid and avalanche education.
After working in the business along the Front Range for years, Coryell
said he was fed up with bad business ethics and not following proper legal and safety procedures through other companies. His wife encouraged him to go out on his own.
“So, I picked up one permit and I picked up a small insurance premium, and the rst six months of being open I took out 192 di erent trips myself. ree trips to the mountains a day,” he said. “I pretty quickly hired somebody after that. You could say I underestimated the current market need for it. It’s just been pretty steady growth since then.”
Now it’s a steady in ux of people wanting more of the outdoors. Coryell said roughly 30% of his customers are rst-time climbers or hikers. e other 70% are people focused on learning or getting better, whether they’re breaking ground on previously daunting or di cult routes or taking an avalanche safety class.
But climbing intimidates people, Coryell said. ey build it up in their head and feel it’s more intimidating than it has to be.
“I think there are misconceptions about how strong you have to be to do it. It’s de nitely not an arm activity;
it can be if you do it the wrong way. But it’s all legs. So I think people come into it with kind of this misconceived notion of what it really is,” he said. “It can be mentally challenging, physically challenging, emotionally challenging … but I think that’s our job as professional guides to help mitigate some of those struggles that people are inherently going to face when rock climbing.”
It’s also a very niche sport that people might not be exposed to as often as hiking or jogging. But with familiarity comes comfort, he said.
It’s also very expensive, which can be a barrier to entry for some people, like with skiing or snowboarding.
“Climbing equipment is expensive, to say the least. But it’s expensive for a reason because our life is worth every penny of it,” Coryell said. “For people who are rst starting out, it can feel overwhelming. It can feel daunting. And it does get easier as we start to learn more about how to move our body, about how to trust the gear, about how to build anchors and tie knots. So, it does get easier.”
From rock climbing to ice climbing, Golden Mountain Guides provides an opportunity for firsttime climbers to get their feet wet in the sport safely. Guided climbs range from beginner to advanced and everything in between.
PHOTO COURTESY OF GOLDEN MOUNTAIN GUIDES
CLIMBING
Coryell believes climbing is for everyone. It’s one of the more human things you can do, he said, and it’s a unique way to experience nature and learn about oneself.
“I think that climbing is the vehicle for equity,” he said. “ e climbing community is very open. We’re all very vulnerable when we’re out there. Everybody ts together within kind of the tribe of the climbing culture. People are very encouraging and very open. Overall, it’s a very welcoming community.”
For more from Coryell, read the brief Q&A below.
Colorado Community Media: On guided climbs, do you take
beginners to easier mountains to climb or just easier routes on those mountains?
Coryell:North Table Mountain just out the window here is kind of the classic example. It’s one big solid cli band and there’s routes ranging from beginner all the way up to advanced, all next to one another. at being said, our job as professional guides is to read the room and see where people are at. Oftentimes we don’t follow what the guidebook says. We kind of tell the guidebook where the routes are because we have the technical skills and the knowledge to be able to facilitate that.
CCM: What’s an example of needing to abandon the guidebook in favor of your expertise?
Coryell:For example, oftentimes ‘beginner climbs’ aren’t truly beginner climbs. ey might be a little
bit too hard for folks. With all of our guides, we undergo rigorous training so that we can look at that piece of terrain and put them on something even easier than the easiest thing that the guidebook says. Because nobody wants to feel defeated … Climbing should be fun and you should feel successful at the end of the day.
CCM: Aside from the packing list you provide, what should people bring to a guided rock climbing outing?
Coryell: I think the big thing folks should show up with is a willingness to learn, a willingness to be vulnerable because climbing makes us inherently vulnerable. We’re not programmed as humans to be hanging on the side of a cli . In terms of gear, we can provide all that for folks. In terms of personal gear or personal kit,
just the willingness to learn how to take care of yourself in the outdoors in a medium you might not have ever been in. When we climb, we tend to exert a little bit more mental energy. So oftentimes having little creature comforts, like chocolate bars or a thermos full of warm tea, can help to recharge the mental batteries.
CCM: Should people start climbing indoors before tackling mountains?
Coryell: It just boils down to the person. When I rst started climbing, we didn’t have gyms. I think we had like two in the entire state of Colorado. And we just learned outside. at’s just what we did. I think the bene t of learning outside is that it really puts things into perspective with your entire look at climbing, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually … and it’s just more fun.
1. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the Parthenon located?
TRIVIA
Answers
2. TELEVISION: What game are the younger characters in “Stranger ings” playing at the start of the series?
3. MOVIES: Who was the rst African American actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor?
4. LITERATURE: What is oo powder used for in the “Harry Potter” book series?
5. U.S. CITIES: Which U.S. city’s nickname is Beantown?
6. AD SLOGANS: Which ride-share company’s slogan is “Move the way you want”?
7. ART: Which artist painted a work titled “ e Potato Eaters”?
8. MUSIC: Who wrote the song “God Bless America”?
9. HISTORY: Who became U.S. president after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated?
10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: Which animal can hold its breath for up to ve minutes underwater?
1. Athens, Greece.
2. Dungeons & Dragons
3. Sidney Poitier, “Lilies of the Field.”
4. Rapid transportation.
5. Boston.
6. Uber.
7. Vincent van Gogh.
8. Irving Berlin.
9. Andrew Johnson.
10. Hippopotamus.
(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
FLASHBACK
1. Which group released “Come a Little Bit Closer”?
2. Who released “Saturday Night”?
3. Which Dave Clark Five song pushed the Beatles o the top of the U.K. charts when it came out?
4. Name the group that released “Forever by Your Side.”
5. Name the song that contains this lyric: “Hello, I don’t even know your name, but I’m hoping all the same, is is more than just a simple hello.”
Answers
1. Jay and the Americans, in 1964. e “Jay” in this case was the second one, formerly known as David Blatt until he changed his name to Jay Black. He joined the group when the original “Jay” left the group.
2. e Scottish group Bay City Rollers in 1975. It was their rst U.S. chart topper. e song debuted via satellite link on “Saturday Night Live.”
3. “Glad All Over,” in 1964. Except for the Beatles, the DC5, as
they were called, was in the rst wave in the British invasion, which included groups such as the Rolling Stones and the Bee Gees.
4. e Manhattans, in 1983.
5. “ e Last Time I Felt Like is,” 1978, from the lm “Same Time, Next Year” starring Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn. e theme song was performed by Johnny Mathis and Jane Olivor.
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Legals
City and County
Public Notice
Brighton Housing Authority
Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)
Notice of Waiting List Opening
Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at 8:30 AM
– Thursday, September 5, 2024, at 5:00pm –Applications will be available online only at www. brightonhousingauthority.org. Applications will not be available for in-person pickup at BHA offices.
All accepted online entries will be held in a pool and drawings will be conducted throughout 2025 for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program by Brighton Housing Authority for the 2025 calendar year. The names drawn will be eligible to apply for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. Applicants will be notified by mail and will receive instructions to complete the application and eligibility process. Cards not selected for the 2024 calendar year and all previous years will be destroyed.
The Brighton Housing Authority (BHA) administers approximately 255 Vouchers. The number of units BHA can subsidize is determined by Congressional funding. With a voucher, a family is able to select a home in the private rental market and if the family chooses to move, the assistance is transferable. The selected home must be inspected by BHA to ensure the housing unit meets Housing Quality Standards prior to the Lease Agreement and on an annual or biannual basis. In addition, BHA annually reviews the tenant’s income and family composition for program eligibility and rent calculations.
If you are a disabled individual and require Reasonable Accommodation, please contact 303.655.2160.
Legal Notice No. BSB3296
First Publication: August 22, 2024 Last Publication: September 5, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Metropolitan Districts
Public Notice
NOTICE OF INTENT TO UNDERTAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 32-1-207(3)(b)
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, pursuant to § 32-1-207(3)(b), C.R.S., the Board of Directors of the Brighton Crossing Metropolitan District No. 4 (the “District”) intends to undertake certain actions pertaining to the issuance of its Limited Tax (Convertible to Unlimited Tax) General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2024 (the “Refunding Bonds”) as described herein.
The District, formerly known as Bromley Park Metropolitan District No. 4, was organized under a Consolidated Service Plan approved in September 1984 (the “Service Plan”) by the Adams County Board of County Commissioners. Electoral authorization was obtained for the organization of the District, as well as initial debt and taxing authorization, on November 8, 1994. Thereafter, additional debt and taxing authorization was obtained on June 4, 1985, November 4, 1997, and November 7, 2000.
The Refunding Bonds are being issued to refund the District’s Limited Tax (Convertible to Unlimited Tax) General Obligation Bonds, Series 2017A (“Series 2017A Bonds”), its Subordinate Limited Tax General Obligation Bonds, Series 2017B (“Series 2017B Bonds”) and its Junior Lien
Limited Tax General Obligation Bonds, Series 2017C (“Series 2017C Bonds” collectively with the Series 2017A Bonds and the Series 2017B Bonds, the “Refunded Bonds”) at a significant savings to its taxpayers. It is anticipated that the Refunding Bonds will mature no later than 2054, will be secured by a fully funded reserve fund or equivalent and will not be secured by any capitalized interest. The Refunding Bonds will be secured by a District mill levy of 50 mills, subject to currently available, as well as future adjustments, for changes in state property tax policy, which such mill levy cap will be released once the principal balance of the Refunding Bonds is equal to or less than 50% of the District’s assessed valuation. Pursuant to Colorado law, the Refunding Bonds are authorized for the purpose of reducing the net effective interest rate of the obligations refunded by the Refunded Bonds.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that, pursuant to and in accordance with § 32-1-207(3), C.R.S., any action to enjoin the activities proposed to be taken in this notice must be brought within forty-five (45) days from publication of this notice, or on or prior to October 5, 2024.
Respectfully filed with the Court on this 22nd day of August, 2024.
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON
Attorneys at Law
Legal Notice No. BSB3300
First Publication: August 22, 2024
Last Publication: August 22, 2024
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Bids and Settlements
Public Notice
Adams County Communications Center Authority 7321 Birch Street, Commerce City, CO 80022 (303) 289-2235 • www.adcom911.org
Request For Proposals (RFP) For Professional Design and Construction Administration Services
The Adams County Communications Center Authority, a political subdivision of the State of Colorado (“ADCOM”), invites proposals from qualified architectural firms (“Firm(s)”) to perform professional design and construction administration services in connection with the renovation of ADCOM’s operations facility located at 7321 Birch Street, Commerce City, CO 80022 (“Project”). This is a public works project.
I. Introduction
ADCOM wishes to hire a qualified architectural Firm to perform the following services, which are more specifically described in Section III (Scope of Services) set forth below: (1) critically evaluate the existing facility and ADCOM’s space and use requirements, including configuration of communications consoles and associated communications equipment (“Renovation Area”); (2) prepare preliminary conceptual plans, drawings, specifications, and other documents that set forth a comprehensive plan for meeting ADCOM’s requirements for the Renovation Area; (3) prepare construction ready drawings, specifications, and other documents necessary for a general contractor to perform the Project (“Construction Work”); and, (4) perform construction administration services to ensure the Construction Work is properly performed (collectively, the “Services”).
II. Phased Project
ADCOM may, in its sole discretion, separate the Project into two phases to accommodate the timing of ADCOM’s funding. Phase 1 will encompass the Project Evaluation Services set forth in Section III(1) below. Phase 1 will proceed when a Firm has been selected and the parties
have executed a mutually acceptable Design Services Agreement (See, Section VII below). Phase 2 will encompass the balance of the Services for the Project described in Sections III(2) through (9) below. If ADCOM chooses to separate the Project into two phases, there will be a delay between completion of Phase 1 and commencement of Phase 2. The selected Firm must accommodate the delay without increasing the costs for its Services.
III. Scope of Services
The successful Firm must be willing to work as a partner with ADCOM to complete the Project within the available budget, seeking sensible cost efficiency where it exists. The successful Firm shall perform the following design and construction administration services:
1. Project Evaluation. Critically evaluate the facility, the Renovation Area, and the proposed Project, and recommend to ADCOM a comprehensive plan for the Construction Work to be performed, which shall include:
a. Preliminary conceptual plans, drawings, specifications, and other documents that set forth a comprehensive plan for meeting ADCOM’s requirements for the Renovation Area;
b. A schedule, in a form acceptable to ADCOM, showing the estimated time required for each major component of the Construction Work; and, c. An estimate of the total cost of the completed Construction Work, by components.
2. Specifications Development. Upon ADCOM’s approval of the proposed comprehensive plan, and ADCOM’s authorization to commence Phase 2 of the Project, the Firm shall create complete and detailed construction ready plans, drawings, specifications, and other documents (collectively, the “Specifications”) necessary and appropriate for a general contractor hired by ADCOM to satisfactorily perform the Construction Work. The Specifications, and all other documents prepared or submitted by the Firm, shall conform to applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, resolution, and codes related to the Construction Work (collectively, Applicable Law”).
3. Approvals and Permits. The Firm shall assist ADCOM or the general contractor in obtaining all approvals and permits required by Applicable Law for performance of the Construction Work.
4. Construction Administration. The Firm shall perform the construction administration services generally provided for the size and nature of this Project. Such services will include inspecting the Construction Work at appropriate intervals during the course of the Project to ascertain the progress and quality of the portion of the Work completed and to determine if the Construction Work is being performed in conformance with the Specifications and the terms of the Design Services Agreement. The Firm must keep ADCOM informed about the progress and quality of the Construction Work completed at each stage of the Project. The Firm, as ADCOM’s representative, shall have sole responsibility for requiring the general contractor to perform the Construction Work in accordance with terms of the Design Services Agreement and the Specifications, and, in performing the duties incident to such responsibility, the Firm shall issue to the general contractor such directives and impose such restrictions as may be required to obtain reasonable and proper compliance by the general contractor with the terms of the Design Services Agreement and the Specifications; provided, that the Firm shall not be required to exercise any actual control over employees of the general contractor or its subcontractors. The Firm shall work with the general contractor and ADCOM to resolve any construction issues that may arise. The Firm shall approve pay applications and assist in developing change orders, as necessary. The Firm will not be responsible for the general contractor’s construction means, methods, or techniques.
5. Changes to Specifications. If, after the Design Services Agreement has been approved by ADCOM, it is determined that a change(s) in the Specifications is necessary or desirable, the Firm shall prepare and submit to ADCOM and the general contractor all necessary details in connection with such change(s). Upon ADCOM’s approval of the change(s), the proposed change(s) shall be submitted by the Firm to ADCOM in the form of an amendment to the Design Services Agreement.
6. General Contractor Bid Process. To extent requested, assist with the general contractor bid process, including analysis of bids received. Assist with the preparation of bid documents, as requested.
7. Design Services Agreement. To the extent requested, assist ADCOM and its legal counsel in drafting and negotiating the Design Services Agreement, and any amendments.
8. Progress Reports and Attendance at Meetings. Provide periodic progress reports to and, if requested, attend meetings with ADCOM representatives or the Board.
IV. Submission Requirements
Proposals may be submitted by email, by U.S. mail, or by hand delivery. All proposals must be received by ADCOM by 5:00 p.m. (MST) on September 20, 2024 (“Submission Deadline”) at ADCOM’s administrative offices at 7321 Birch Street, Commerce City, CO 80022. Email proposals shall be emailed to Executive Director Joel Estes at jestes@adcom911.org. The “Subject” line of the email shall state: “Confidential - Design Professional Proposal.”
Hand delivered or mailed proposals shall be hand delivered or mailed to the attention of Executive Director Joel Estes at 7321 Birch Street, Commerce City, CO 80022. The proposal shall be in a sealed opaque envelope that states:
Attention: Executive Director Joel Estes Design Professional Proposal CONFIDENTIAL - DO NOT OPEN
Telephone or facsimile proposals will not be accepted, and any proposal received after the Submission Deadline will not be considered.
A Firm electing to submit a proposal by email is recommended to confirm receipt by calling Executive Director Joel Estes at 303-227-7119. ADCOM will not search for emailed proposals that are not delivered or are delivered to “spam” or “junk” folders. Firms responding to this RFP do so solely at their own expense.
All questions about this RFP must be received no later than 5:00 pm (MST) on September 6, 2024 (“Question Deadline”). Questions shall be submitted to Executive Director Joel Estes at 7321 Birch Street, Commerce City, CO 80022 or by email to Executive Director Joel Estes at jestes@adcom911.org. Questions submitted after the Question Deadline, or that are submitted by telephone or facsimile, will not be considered.
The proposal and all supporting documentation shall become the property of ADCOM and will constitute a public record, unless at the time of submitting a proposal a Firm specifically identifies the portion(s) of the proposal that contains proprietary information or trade secrets, which portion(s) shall be segregated from the other portions of the proposal, so as to allow disclosure of the non-confidential portion(s) of the proposal in accordance with applicable law.
ADCOM has the right to waive any irregularities or informalities, to request additional information from a Firm, and to negotiate terms that may vary from this RFP. ADCOM has the right to reject any and all proposals or to select the proposal it deems to be in ADCOM’s best interests.
V. Required Qualifications
The following information must be provided in the
proposal in the order stated:
a. Firm Information. Provide the Firm name, address, telephone number(s) and email address(es) of the contact person(s).
b. Basic Qualifications. Provide basic information on the Firm’s size, history, personnel, special expertise, and portfolio. Individual resumes, awards, associations, and so forth may be included.
c. Special Qualifications. List each individual who is expected to perform any portion of the Services. Describe who will perform the various tasks, the amount of their involvement and responsibilities, and give their qualifications, including number of years of experience, registrations, licenses, education, their specific skills, and their involvement with other similar projects, if any.
d. Approach to Project and Services. Discuss why your Firm is best qualified to perform the Services. Discuss how your Firm will approach the various aspects of this Project. In particular, discuss how the Firm will balance ADCOM’s requirements with the available space and budget impact;
e. Past Performance. Provide a list of similar projects the Firm has been involved with during the past five years. For each of the projects listed, provide projected and actual completion dates, and the Firm’s estimated construction cost and the final construction cost for each project. Provide information regarding the Firm’s experience with cost estimating. Provide references for each project.
f. Examples of Work. Pictures, design examples, or other materials of similar projects performed by the Firm within the last five years should be included. The Firm should identify the members of the Firm who worked on each project.
g. Consulting Firms. If the Firm anticipates contracting with other consultants to perform any aspect of the Services, for each such consultant, provide the information requested in subparagraphs a. through f., above.
h. Workload. Provide a description of the projects the Firm currently has or expects to have over the next 18 months.
i. References. Provide three references from recent experience. Include contact name, project description, telephone number(s) and email address(es).
j. Why should ADCOM Choose the Firm? Provide a narrative summary of why ADCOM should select the Firm to provide the Services.
VI. Cost of Services
Provide a detailed statement of how the Firm expects to be compensated for the Services. ADCOM will accept either fixed cost submissions or submissions that contain a billing structure with a fixed cost ceiling.
VII. Design Services Agreement
ADCOM’s acceptance of a Proposal is conditioned on the parties executing a modified AIA B101 (2017) Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Architect, which incorporates by reference a modified AIA A201 General Conditions of the Contract for Construction. If the parties are unable to reach agreement on the form and content of the foregoing documents within 30 calendar days of ADCOM’s conditional acceptance of the Firm’s proposal, ADCOM may, in its sole discretion, terminate the negotiations and commence negotiations with another Firm(s) that submitted a proposal, commence a new RFP process, or take such other action as ADCOM deems appropriate in its sole discretion.
Legal Notice No. BSB3298
First Publication: August 22, 2024
Last Publication: August 22, 2024
Public Notices
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Summons and Sheriff Sale
Public Notice
DISTRICT COURT, PARK COUNTY, COLORADO P.O. Box 190
300 Fourth Street Fairplay, CO 80440
Plaintiff:
Hartshorn Law Office, LLC, and Mayflower Capital Company Profit Sharing Plan, as Assignee and Judgment Creditor,
v.
Defendant: Jessie R. Petersen.
Case No. 2019CV30060
Div: B
SHERIFF’S COMBINED NOTICE OF SALE AND RIGHTS TO CURE AND REDEEM
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
RE:Sheriff’s Sale of Real Property pursuant to a Judgment entered on March 4, 2020 in the original amount of $31,635.76 in favor of Hartshorn Law Office, LLC against Jessie R. Petersen, a Transcript of Judgment recorded on March 9, 2020 as Reception No. 2020000086098 of the real property records of Adams County, Colorado and a Writ of Execution from the Park County District Court, Colorado, issued on April 10, 2024, in favor of Mayflower Capital Company Profit Sharing Plan, as Assignee of Hartshorn Law Office, LLC, directing the Adams County Sheriff to satisfy the Judgment plus interest and costs by levy and execution, and pursuant to and C.R.S. § 38-38-101 et seq.
The principal and interest due and owing on the Judgment as of April 15, 2024, is as follows:
Principal: $31,635.76 Interest (18% per annum) 1503 days x 15.60 =$23,446.80
Total $55,082.56
This is to advise you that a Sheriff’s Sale proceeding has been commenced through the office of the undersigned Sheriff pursuant to abovereferenced documents. PLEASE BE ADVISED THE LIEN BEING FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN ON THE FOLLOWING REAL PROPERTY, legally described as follows:
Lot 14 and the West ½ of vacated right of way adjacent to said Lot, Block 1, Sun Ray Subdivision, County of Adams, State of Colorado, also commonly known as 7291 East 75th Place, Commerce City, CO 80022 (“Real Property”)
THE REAL PROPERTY TO BE SOLD AND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS NOT ALL THE PROPERTY THAT IS CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE JUDGMENT.
NOTICE OF SALE
Notice is hereby given, that I will at 9:00A.M on September 26, 2024 in the office of the Adams County Sheriff, Civil Division, 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, CO 80601, the Sheriff shall sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the Real Property described above, and all interest of the Judgment Debtors in the Real Property, for the purpose of paying the Judgment amount entered herein, and will deliver to the purchasers a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.
First Publication: August 1, 2024
Last Publication: August 29, 2024
Name of Publication: Brighton Standard Blade NOTICE OF RIGHTS
YOU MAY HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE REAL PROPERTY BEING FORECLOSED OR HAVE CERTAIN RIGHTS OR SUFFER CERTAIN LIABILITIES PURSUANT TO COLORADO STATUTES AS A RESULT OF SAID SHERIFF’S SALE. YOU MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO REDEEM SAID REAL PROPERTY OR YOU MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO CURE A DEFAULT OF THE JUDGMENT BEING FORECLOSED. A COPY OF THE STATUTES WHICH MAY AFFECT YOUR RIGHTS ARE ATTACHED HERETO.
A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE PURSUANT TO C.R.S. § 38-38-104 SHALL BE FILED WITH THE SHERIFF AT LEAST FIFTEEN (15) CALENDAR DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRST SCHEDULED DATE OF SALE OR ANY DATE TO WHICH THE SALE IS CONTINUED.
IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED.
A NOTICE OF INTENT TO REDEEM FILED PURSUANT TO C.R.S. § 38-38-302 SHALL BE FILED WITH THE SHERIFF NO LATER THAN EIGHT BUSINESS (8) DAYS AFTER THE SALE.
The name, address and telephone number of the attorney representing holder of the Judgment is:
Harvey L. Kramer, Esq., Registration No. 31239 Kramer Law LLC 3731 Buffalo Lane Montrose, CO 81403 (303) 282-4342
Email: hkramer@kramlaw.com
Attached hereto are copies of certain Colorado Statutes that may vitally affect your property rights in relation to this proceeding. Said proceeding may result in the loss of property in which you have an interest and may create a personal debt against you. You may wish to seek the advice of your own private attorney concerning your rights in relation to this foreclosure proceeding.
If the borrower believes that a lender or servicer has violated the requirements for a single point of contact in section 38-38-103.1 or the prohibition on dual tracking in section 38-38-103.2, the borrower may file a complaint with the Colorado attorney general, the CFPB, or both, but the filing of a complaint will not stop the foreclosure process.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or CFPB
P.O. Box 2900
Clinton, Iowa 52733-2900
Telephone: 855-411-2372
Fax: 855-237-2392
Colorado Attorney General Consumer Protection Section
Ralph L. Carr Judicial Building 1300 Broadway, 7th Floor Denver, CO 80203
Telephone: 800-222-4444
Fax: 720-508-6040
Intent to cure or redeem, as provided by the aforementioned laws, must be physically delivered to the Office of the Adams County Sheriff, Civil Division, 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, CO 80601 or via U.S. Mail to Adams County Sheriff Civil Division, 4430 South Adams County Parkway, 1st Floor, Suite W5400, Brighton, CO 80601.
THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED MAY BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE
Dated: July 8, 2024.
Gene R. Claps, Sheriff Adams County, Colorado
By: Kathy Grosshans Deputy Sheriff
Statutes attached: C.R.S. §§ 38-37-108, 38-38103, 38-38-104, 38-38-301, 38-38-302, 38-38304, 38-38-305, and 38-38-306, as amended.
Legal Notice No. BSB3260
First Publication: August 1, 2024
Last Publication: August 29, 2024
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Misc. Private Legals
Public Notice
BEFORE THE ENERGY AND CARBON MANAGEMENT COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
IN THE MATTER OF THE PROMULGATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF FIELD RULES TO GOVERN OPERATIONS FOR THE NIOBRARA, FORT HAYS, CODELL, AND CARLILE, FORMATIONS, WATTENBERG FIELD, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO
CAUSE NO. 407
DOCKET NO. 240600159
TYPE: POOLING
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
TO THE following interested parties: the Estate of Leslie Orr McWilliam, deceased
You are hereby summoned and may appear and respond to the Application filed with the Commission in this docket. Pursuant to C.R.S. §§ 34-60101 – 130, Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. (Operator No. 10459) (“Applicant”), filed an Application for an order to pool all oil and gas interests on belowdescribed lands (“Application Lands”):
Township 1 South, Range 66 West, 6th P.M.
Section 26: All
Section 27: All
Section 34: All Section 35: All
The Commission scheduled this matter for hearing on:
Date: October 9, 2024 Time: 9:00 a.m.
Place: Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission The Chancery Building 1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 801 Denver, Colorado 80203
To oppose the Application, you must file a written petition with the Commission pursuant to Commission Rule 507. You must file your protest on or before September 9, 2024. Please see Commission Rule 507 at https://ecmc.state.co.us/#/ home, under “Regulation,” then select “Rules.” Please note that, under Commission Rule 510.l, the deadline for petitions may only be continued for good cause, even if the hearing is continued beyond the date that is stated above. Pursuant to Commission Rule 507, if you do not file a proper petition, the Hearing Officer will not know that you wish to formally participate in this matter and the date and time of the hearing may change without additional notice to you. Parties wishing to file a petition must register online at https://oitco.hylandcloud.com/DNRCOGExternalAccess/Account/Login.aspx and select “Request Access to Site.” Please refer to our “eFiling Users Guidebook” at https://ecmc.state.co.us/ documents/reg/Hearings/External_Efiling_System_Handbook_December_2021_Final.pdf for more information. Under Commission Rule 508, if no petition is filed, the Application may be approved administratively without a formal hearing.
If you file a petition, you must be able to participate in a prehearing conference during the week of September 9, 2024, if a prehearing conference is requested by the Applicant or by any person who has filed a petition.
If you fail to file a timely petition, the Commission may enter an order affecting your interests in the Application Lands without further notice. This matter may be continued to a future Commission hearing date, but that does not change your petition deadline. A copy of the Application may be obtained from the Commission’s eFiling system or Applicant’s attorney.
ENERGY AND CARBON MANAGEMENT COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
By Elias Thomas, Commission Secretary
Dated: August 12, 2024
Energy & Carbon Management Commission
1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 801
Denver, Colorado 80203
Website: https://ecmc.state.co.us/#/home
Phone: (303) 894-2100
Fax: (303) 894-2109
Attorney for Applicant: Jillian Fulcher
Ryan McKee
Beatty & Wozniak, P.C.
1675 Broadway, Suite 600
Denver, CO 80202
303-407-4499
jflulcher@bwenergylaw.com rmckee@bwenergylaw.com
Legal Notice No. BSB3293
First Publication: August 22, 2024
Last Publication: September 19, 2024
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Public Notice BEFORE THE ENERGY AND CARBON MANAGEMENT COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
IN THE MATTER OF THE PROMULGATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF FIELD RULES TO GOVERN OPERATIONS FOR THE NIOBRARA FORMATION, DJ HORIZONTAL NIOBRARA FIELD, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO
CAUSE NO. 535
DOCKET NO. 240800181
TYPE: POOLING
NOTICE OF HEARING
Crestone Peak Resources Operating LLC (Operator No. 10633) (“Applicant”) filed an Application with the Commission for an order to pool all oil and gas (“mineral”) interests in lands identified below. This Notice was sent to you because the Applicant believes you may own mineral interests that will be pooled if the Commission approves the Application. Pooling is the consolidation and combining of mineral interests so that all mineral interest owners receive payment for their just and equitable share of produced oil and gas. For more information about the Commission’s pooling process, please see a brochure on the Commission’s website here:
DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION OF HEARING (Subject to change)
The assigned Hearing Officer will hold a hearing on the above-referenced docket number at the following date, time, and location:
Date:October 30, 2024
Time:9 a.m.
Location: Virtual Hearing with Remote Access via Zoom
To participate, navigate to https://ecmc.state.co.us/#/home and locate the Zoom meeting link on the left side of the webpage Energy and Carbon Management Commission The Chancery Building 1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 801 Denver, CO 80203
PETITIONS
DEADLINE FOR PETITIONS BY AFFECTED
PERSONS: September 30, 2024
Any interested party who wishes to participate formally must file a written petition with the Commission no later than the deadline provided above. Please see Commission Rule 507 at https://ecmc. state.co.us/#/home, under “Regulation,” then select “Rules.” Please note that, under Commission Rule 510.l, the deadline for petitions may only be continued for good cause, even if the hearing is continued beyond the date that is stated above. Pursuant to Commission Rule 507, if you do not file a proper petition, the Hearing Officer will not know that you wish to formally participate in this matter and the date and time of the hearing may change without additional notice to you. Parties wishing to file a petition must register online at https://oitco.hylandcloud.com/DNRCOGExternalAccess/Account/Login.aspx and select “Request Access to Site.” Please refer to the ECMC “eFiling Users Guidebook” at https://ecmc.state. co.us/documents/reg/Hearings/External_EfilingSystemGuidebook_2023_FINAL.pdf for more information. Under Commission Rule 508, if no petition is filed, the Application may be approved administratively without a formal hearing.
Any interested party who files a petition must be able to participate in a prehearing conference during the week of September 30, 2024, if a prehearing conference is requested by the Applicant or by any person who has filed a petition.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For more information, you may review the Ap-
plication, which was sent to you with this Notice. You may also contact the Applicant at the phone number or email address listed below.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if any party requires special accommodations as a result of a disability for this hearing, please contact Margaret Humecki before the hearing at DNR_ECMC_Hearings_Unit@state.co.us, and arrangements will be made.
ENERGY AND CARBON MANAGEMENT COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO By Elias J. Thomas, Commission Secretary
Dated: August 9, 2024
Applicant: Crestone Peak Resources Operating LLC Attorneys for Applicant Jillian Fulcher Ryan McKee
Notice is hereby given that the personal property described below will be sold to the highest bidder on August 30, 2024 at or after 10:00AM, at Southwest Mobile Storage, 9595 Brighton Rd. Henderson, CO 80640 Phn: 866.503.0668
Property of: ADAMO HOMES
Last known address: 4833 FRONT STREET UNIT B #301 CASTLE ROCK,CO 80104
Property in Unit: 40-840076-2; 40-112443-6; 40-521446-7; 40-109848-2
First Publication: August 15, 2024 Last Publication: August 22, 2024
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before December 9, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Daniel J. Wagner
Personal Representative 2531 Comanche Creek Drive Brighton, CO 80601
Legal Notice No. BSB3273
Public Notices
First Publication: August 8, 2024
Last Publication: August 22, 2024
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Stephen Sheridan Thomas, Deceased Case Number: 2024 PR 148
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before December 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
David W. Thomas
Personal Representative
126 West Portland St. Unit 2 Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Legal Notice No. BSB3280
First Publication: August 15, 2024
Last Publication: August 29, 2024
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Steven Richard Williams, a.k.a. Steven R. Williams, a.k.a. Steven Williams, a.k.a. Steve R. Williams, a.k.a. Steve Williams, Deceased Case Number: 2024 PR 30543
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before December 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Michael J. Williams, Personal Representative 14531 Avery Way Keenesburg, CO 80643
Legal Notice No. BSB3285
First Publication: August 15, 2024
Last Publication: August 29, 2024
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of BETTY J. WHITE, aka BETTY JANE WHITE, aka BETTY WHITE, Deceased Case Number: 2024 PR 30469
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before December 9, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Cheryl L. Marts & Michael S. White Personal Representative 4912 Dartford Pl. Granite Bay, CA 95746
Legal Notice No. BSB3270
First Publication: August 8, 2024
Last Publication: August 22, 2024
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of JERRY CALVIN BARNETT
a/k/a JERRY C. BARNETT
a/k/a JERRY BARNETT , Deceased Case Number: 2024 PR 030232
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before December 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Christopher S. Bell
Personal Representative
c/o Miller & Law, P.C.
1900 W. Littleton Boulevard Littleton, CO 80120
Legal Notice No. BSB3281
First Publication: August 15, 2024
Last Publication: August 29, 2024
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate John Vernon Shelton aka John V. Shelton, Deceased Case Number: 2024 PR 30534
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before December 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Counsel for Personal Representative, Dalla Hammond, P.C. 15016 Elizabeth Street, Thornton, CO 80602
Legal Notice No. BSB3290
First Publication: August 15, 2024
Last Publication: August 29, 2024
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Katherine Louise Meuser, a/k/a Katherine L. Meuser, a/k/a Katherine Meuser , Deceased Case Number: 2024 PR 30571
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before December 16, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Patrick R. Thiessen
Attorney for Personal Representative Wade Williams FRIE ARNDT DANBORN & THIESSEN, P.C.
7400 Wadsworth Blvd., Suite 201 Arvada, CO 80003
Legal Notice No. BSB3282
First Publication: August 15, 2024
Last Publication: August 29, 2024
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Gary Richard Smith, A/K/A Gary R Smith. A/K/A GR Smith, Deceased Case Number: 2024 PR 140
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before December 8, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Betty M. Smith
Personal Representative
57474 E 42nd Ct Strasburg, CO 80136
Legal Notice No. BSB3250
First Publication: August 8, 2024
Last Publication: August 22, 2024
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Roberta K. McFarland, Deceased Case Number: 2024 PR 30394
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before December 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Robin K. Niles-Gosser
Personal Representative
c/o Arnold and Associates, PC 4610 S. Ulster St. Ste 150 Denver, CO 80237
Legal Notice No. BSB3283
First Publication: August 15, 2024
Last Publication: August 29, 2024
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Legal Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Mary Ellen Hansen, a/k/a Mary E. Hansen, a/k/a Mary Hansen, Deceased Case Number 2024PR30548
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before December
8, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred. Rabea Taylor, Attorney for Personal Representative Carrie Jo Farmer 24 South Weber Street, Suite 205
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903
Legal Notice No. BSB3269
First Publication: August 8, 2024
Last Publication: August 22, 2024
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Children Services
(Adoption/Guardian/Other)
Public Notice
DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO
Court Address: 1100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, CO 80601
Children: Azlyn Lapenna, Xylin Lapenna
Respondents: Cierra Lapenna, Jerin Fritchell, John Doe
Special Respondent: Terra Jack Case Number: 22JV30103
Div: D
ORDER OF ADVISEMENT
NOTICE TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENTS,: John Doe
YOU ARE HEREBY ADVISED that the Petitioner, has filed a Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship which now exists between you and the above-named child(ren);
YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that the Motion has been set for hearing in Division D of the District Court in and for the County of Adams, Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, Colorado, on the 4th day of September, 2024, at 9:30 am and on the 5th day of September, 2024, at 9:30 am, at which time the Petitioner must prove by clear and convincing evidence that: 1) That the child(ren) was adjudicated dependent or neglected; 2) That an appropriate treatment plan has not reasonably been complied with by the parent or has not been successful; 3) That the parents are unfit; 4) That the conduct or condition of the parent or parents is unlikely to change within a reasonable time; no less drastic alternative to termination exists, and 6) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.
OR 1) That the child(ren) has been abandoned by parent or parents in that the parent or parents have surrendered physical custody for a period of six months and during this period have not manifested to the child(ren), the court or to the person having physical custody a firm intention to assume or obtain physical custody or to make permanent legal arrangements for the care of the child(ren); and 2) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parentchild legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.
OR 1) That the child(ren) has been abandoned by parent or parents in that the identity of the parent of the child is unknown and has been unknown for three months or more and that reasonable efforts to identify and locate the parent in accordance with section 19-3-603 have failed; and 2) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.
If a grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, or sister of the child is requesting guardianship or legal custody of the child such request must be filed within twenty days of the filing of this motion.
YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that you have the right to have legal counsel represent you in all matters connected with the Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship. If you cannot afford to pay the fees of legal counsel, you are advised that the Court will appoint legal counsel to represent you at no cost to you upon your request and upon your showing of an inability to pay.
If you have any questions concerning the foregoing advisement, you should immediately contact either your legal counsel or the Court.
Done and signed on: August 13, 2024.
BY THE COURT:
District Court Judge/Magistrate
Legal Notice No. BSB3299
First Publication: August 22, 2024
Last Publication: August 22, 2024
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Public Notice
DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO
Court Address: 1100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, CO 80601
NOTICE TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENTS,: Chanel Trudell and John Doe
YOU ARE HEREBY ADVISED that the Petitioner, has filed a Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship which now exists between you and the above-named child(ren);
YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that the Motion has been set for hearing in Division S of the District Court in and for the County of Adams, Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, Colorado, on the 3rd day of October, 2024, at 10:00 am, at which time the Petitioner must prove by clear and convincing evidence that: 1) That the child(ren) was adjudicated dependent or neglected; 2) That an appropriate treatment plan has not reasonably been complied with by the parent or has not been successful; 3) That the parents are unfit; 4) That the conduct or condition of the parent or parents is unlikely to change within a reasonable time; no less drastic alternative to termination exists, and 6) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.
OR 1) That the child(ren) has been abandoned by parent or parents in that the parent or parents have surrendered physical custody for a period of six months and during this period have not manifested to the child(ren), the court or to the person having physical custody a firm intention to assume or obtain physical custody or to make permanent legal arrangements for the care of the child(ren); and 2) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parentchild legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.
OR 1) That the child(ren) has been abandoned by parent or parents in that the identity of the parent of the child is unknown and has been unknown for three months or more and that reasonable efforts to identify and locate the parent in accordance with section 19-3-603 have failed; and 2) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.
If a grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, or sister of the child is requesting guardianship or legal custody of the child such request must be filed within twenty days of the filing of this motion.
YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that you have the right to have legal counsel represent you in all matters connected with the Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship. If you cannot afford to pay the fees of legal counsel, you are advised that the Court will appoint legal counsel to represent you at no cost to you upon your request and upon your showing of an inability to pay.
If you have any questions concerning the foregoing advisement, you should immediately contact either your legal counsel or the Court.
Done and signed on: August 12, 2024
ADOPT AN ORDINANCE APPROVING SPECIAL DISTRICT POLICY AND REPEALING AND REPLACING IN ITS ENTIRETY CHAPTER 19 OF THE FORT LUPTON MUNICIPAL CODE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT LUPTON, COLORADO:
INTRODUCED, READ, AND PASSED ON FIRST READING, AND ORDERED PUBLISHED this 16th day of July, 2024.
PUBLISHED in the Fort Lupton Press the 25th day of July, 2024.
FINALLY READ BY TITLE ONLY, PASSED AND ORDERED PUBLISHED BY TITLE ONLY this 6th day of August, 2024.
PUBLISHED BY TITLE ONLY the 22nd day of August, 2024.
EFFECTIVE (after publication) the 21st day of September, 2024.
CITY OF FORT LUPTON, COLORADO
Zo Hubbard, Mayor ATTEST:
Maricela Peña, City Clerk
Approved as to form: Andy Ausmus, City Attorney
Legal Notice No. FLP1084
First Publication: August 22, 2024 Last Publication: August 22, 2024 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press
Public Notice
CITY OF FORT LUPTON NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Notice is hereby given that the City of Fort Lupton is in receipt of an application for an Annexation referred to as the Silver Linings Annexation, located 10750 County Road 24 ½ in Fort Lupton, Colorado, pursuant to the City of Fort Lupton Municipal Code Notice Requirements.
The public hearings are to be held before the Planning Commission on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at 6:00 P.M., and before the City Council on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at 6:00 P.M. or as soon as possible thereafter.
The public hearings shall be held at the Fort Lupton City Hall, 130 S. McKinley Avenue in Fort Lupton, Colorado. In the event that the City Hall is closed at the time of the hearings, the public hearings will be held remotely, accessible to the public by phone and internet. Information on how to attend the hearings will be provided in the agenda as posted on the City’s website, www.fortluptonco.gov.
Further information is available through the City Planning and Building Department at (720) 928-4003.
ALL INTERESTED PERSONS MAY ATTEND. LEGAL DESCRIPTION
Annexation No. 1
Colorado joins Purple Star School Program for military families
Legislation aims to support spouses of high-risk workers
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
With kids heading back to school, a new Colorado law aims to support students in military families. e state now joins dozens of states in implementing the Purple Star School Program.
Highlands Ranch state Rep. Bob Marshall was the prime sponsor of the House Bill. House Bill 24-1076 establishes the program in K-12 public schools in an e ort to assist military children with the transitions and deployments involving their parents.
“ ese little ones (bills), they’re little, but they’re extremely important to the small group that is impacted by it,” Marshall, a Democrat, said. e bill had bipartisan support. Its Senate sponsor was Bob Gardner, a Republican who represents El Paso and Teller counties.
A public school can qualify by showing a strong commitment to militaryconnected students and their families through resources and support that helps mitigate the “academic and so-
cial-emotional challenges they may face” due to parent deployment, frequent moves and new schools.
Marshall, who served as a Marine, said he knows personally the challenges that reclocating has on families.
According to the Military State Policy Source, other gaps the program addresses include overlaps in curriculum, course-placement disruption and di ering school district graduation requirements.
“Children of military families are especially vulnerable to the changes that come with moving schools, making new friends and joining extracurricular activities mid-season,” Marshall said in a statement.
Over 40 states across the country have received Purple Star School designation. With a large military presence in Colorado – almost 40,000 active duty service members according to the Military State Policy Source – Marshall said Colorado should be included..
“It just made no sense that we didn’t have it,” said Marshall.
To qualify for the designation, schools must recognize military service and civic responsibility, as well as:
• Designate a school sta member as a military liaison
• Maintain an accessible web page
Public Notices
TOWNSHIP 2 NORTH, RANGE 67 WEST OF THE 6TH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, COUNTY OF WELD, STATE OF COLORADO, BEING A PART OF LOT B, RECORDED EXEMPTION NO.
1311-2-4-RE2788, AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:
BASIS OF BEARINGS: CONSIDERING THE NORTH LINE OF THE WEST 1/2 OF THE SOUTHEAST 1/4 OF SECTION 2, TOWNSHIP 2 NORTH, RANGE 67 WEST OF THE 6TH P.M., MONUMENTED WITH A NO. 5 REBAR AND 2” ALUMINUM CAP MARKED LS 25937 - 1995 AT BOTH ENDS OF THE LINE, AS BEARING NORTH 89°34’00” EAST, WITH ALL BEARINGS SHOWN HEREON RELATIVE THERETO.
BEGINNING AT CENTER-EAST 1/16 CORNER OF SAID SECTION 2, BEING A FOUND NO. 5 REBAR AND 2” ALUMINUM CAP MARKED LS 25937 – 1995;
THENCE SOUTH 0°23’05” EAST, ALONG THE EAST LINE OF THE WEST 1/2 OF THE SOUTHEAST 1/4 OF SECTION 2, A DISTANCE OF 30.00 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING;
THENCE CONTINUING ALONG SAID EAST LINE SOUTH 0°23’05” EAST A DISTANCE OF 2010.53 FEET;
THENCE DEPARTING THE EAST LINE OF THE WEST 1/2 OF THE SOUTHEAST 1/4 OF SAID SECTION 2, SOUTH 89°48’15” WEST A DISTANCE OF 610.00 FEET;
THENCE SOUTH 0°23’05” EAST A DISTANCE OF 553.00 FEET TO A POINT ON THE NORTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF WELD COUNTY ROAD 24;
THENCE ALONG SAID NORTH LINE, SOUTH 89°48’15” WEST A DISTANCE OF 686.13 FEET TO A POINT ON THE WESTERLY LINE OF THE WEST 1/2 OF THE SOUTHEAST 1/4 OF SAID SECTION 2;
THENCE ALONG SAID WEST LINE OF THE SOUTHEAST 1/4 OF SECTION 2, NORTH 0°45’15” WEST A DISTANCE OF 1252.40 FEET; THENCE DEPARTING SAID WEST LINE, NORTH 89°34’00” EAST, A DISTANCE OF 675.00 FEET;
THENCE NORTH 0°45’15” WEST A DISTANCE OF 409.79 FEET; THENCE NORTH 89°34’00” EAST A DISTANCE OF 556.85 FEET; THENCE NORTH 0°23’05” WEST A DISTANCE OF 601.00 FEET; THENCE NORTH 20°42’49” WEST, A DISTANCE OF 314.50 FEET;
THENCE NORTH 89°34’00” EAST A DIS -
TANCE OF 184.26 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING.
on the public school websites with resources for military-connected students and their families
• Maintain student-led transition programs
• O er professional development opportunities for educators and sta relating to students.
Whether it’s publishing a resolution on the school’s website, partnering with a local military installation for volunteer opportunities, showing community-family engagement through student-driven clubs or celebrating families in April and November, the schools must implement one of the initiatives.
e bill was also sponsored by Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora who says the law could strengthen communities and Sen. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora..
“Military families make big sacrices to support service members and their communities, and it’s critical that we support them as well,” Fields said in a statement. “ is new law will uplift kids in military families by making sure they get the support they need to thrive in school.”
Legislation to support families of high-risk workers
Another new state law aims to support families of rst responders and state employees with high-risk jobs. Previously, surviving spouses of
CONTAINING 37.561 ACRES.
Annexation No. 2
A PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATED IN THE WEST 1/2 OF THE SOUTHEAST 1/4 OF SECTION 2, TOWNSHIP 2 NORTH, RANGE 67 WEST OF THE 6TH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, COUNTY OF WELD, STATE OF COLORADO, BEING A PART OF LOT B, RECORDED EXEMPTION NO.
1311-2-4-RE2788, AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:
BASIS OF BEARINGS: CONSIDERING THE NORTH LINE OF THE WEST 1/2 OF THE SOUTHEAST 1/4 OF SECTION 2, TOWNSHIP 2 NORTH, RANGE 67 WEST OF THE 6TH P.M., MONUMENTED WITH A NO. 5 REBAR AND 2” ALUMINUM CAP MARKED LS 25937 - 1995 AT BOTH ENDS OF THE LINE, AS BEARING NORTH 89°34’00” EAST, WITH ALL BEARINGS SHOWN HEREON RELATIVE THERETO.
COMMENCING AT CENTER-EAST 1/16
CORNER OF SAID SECTION 2, BEING A FOUND NO. 5 REBAR AND 2” ALUMINUM CAP MARKED LS 25937 – 1995;
THENCE SOUTH 80°15’07” WEST, A DISTANCE OF 185.35 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING OF THE PARCEL; THENCE SOUTH
rst responders could be eligible to receive lifelong workers’ compensation death bene ts if their spouse was killed on the job, but that right was forfeited if they remarried.
Sponsored by Reps. Sheila Lieder, D-Littleton, Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud and Sen. Perry Will, R-New Castle, HB24-1139, also known as Death Bene t for State Employee Surviving Spouses, ensures surviving spouses bene ts will not change, even if they remarry.
is includes spouses of state troopers, Colorado Bureau of Investigation o cers, correction o cers, community parole o cers, state reghters, port of entry o cers, Parks and Wildlife o cers and Colorado Department of Transportation safety and maintenance workers.
Co-sponsor of the bill, Sen. Tony Exum, Sr., D-Colorado, who served as a re ghter for over 35 years, said he understands the di culties spouses of lost employees go through following the passing of their loved one.
“Death bene ts are critical for them during their times of need,” said Exum. “ e current remarriage penalty forces a surviving spouse to relive the trauma of their loss and prevents them from moving forward with their lives. With this law, widows can choose to remarry without sacri cing nancial security.”
89°34’00” WEST A DISTANCE OF 453.37 FEET;
THENCE SOUTH 0°45’15” EAST A DISTANCE OF 896.01 FEET; THENCE NORTH 89°34’00” EAST A DISTANCE OF 556.85 FEET; THENCE NORTH 0°23’05” WEST A DISTANCE OF 601.00 FEET;
THENCE NORTH 20°42’49” WEST, A DISTANCE OF 314.50 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING.
CONTAINING 11.144 ACRES.
Legal Notice No. FLP1080
First Publication: August 8, 2024
Last Publication: August 29, 2024
Publisher: Fort Lupton Press
Public Notice
CITY OF FORT LUPTON NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Notice is hereby given that the City of Fort Lupton is in receipt of an application for an Annexation referred to as the Lancaster Crossing Annexation located north and adjacent to 14th St. and west and adjacent to WCR 31 in Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to the City of Fort Lupton Municipal Code Notice Requirements.
The public hearings are to be held before the
Planning Commission on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at 6:00 P.M., and before the City Council on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at 6:00 P.M. or as soon as possible thereafter.
The public hearings shall be held at the Fort Lupton City Hall, 130 S. McKinley Avenue in Fort Lupton, Colorado. In the event that the City Hall is closed at the time of the hearings, the public hearings will be held remotely, accessible to the public by phone and internet. Information on how to attend the hearings will be provided in the agenda as posted on the City’s website, www.fortluptonco.gov.
Further information is available through the City Planning and Building Department at (720) 928-4003.
ALL INTERESTED PERSONS MAY ATTEND. LEGAL DESCRIPTION
NORTHEAST QUARTER (NE1/4) OF SECTION THIRTY-THREE (33), TOWNSHIP TWO NORTH (T.2N.), RANGE SIXTY-SIX WEST (R.66W.) OF THE SIXTH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN (6TH
BY TAMARA CHUANG
THE COLORADO SUN
Colorado counted fewer start-ups this year
A 21.7% dip in folks ling to start a business in Colorado during the second quarter was largely attributed to the end of a program more than a year ago that reduced ling fees to $1, according to the latest quarterly data from the Colorado Secretary of State’s O ce.
“It was the sharpest decrease yearover-year in the state (that) we’ve been tracking since 2005. at’s both in percentage terms and absolute numbers,” said Brian Lewandowski, executive director of University of Colorado’s Business Research Division, which analyzed the data for the Secretary of State’s O ce.
New business lings reached a second-quarter high last year at 54,940. e fee returned to $50 in June 2023 and now, one year later, lings dropped to 43,029 for the quarter. at’s still above prior years, including years before the pandemic.
Lewandowski called it “a normalization of activity because of that somewhat anomalous growth we experienced with that fee reduction a year ago,” he said during a recent news conference.
e new-business decline, however, coincided with a higher number of companies delinquent in renewals or ling proper documents. e number of delinquencies is up by almost 91,000 from a year ago. Overall though, the state has more companies
in good standing to 963,373, up 17,500 from a year ago.
“Colorado businesses are staying in business,” Secretary of State Jena Griswold said. But, she added, “ e cost of renewing a business just went up and that is because the state legislature two years ago passed increased reimbursements for county elections without funding it from the general fund.” at means her o ce has to come up with extra funding, so it’s tapping business registration fees to support the reimbursements, the o ce said. Filing fees for a company’s periodic reports are $25. It’d been at $10 since 2006. e quarterly report also pointed to positive data in a weaker economy. While Colorado’s job growth has slowed from last year, the number of
new jobs added is up 1.4% through June and ranked near the middle of all U.S. states for job growth. e number of job openings for every unemployed Coloradan is no longer two per unemployed worker, but dropped to 1.4. However, that’s better than the national ratio of 1.2 openings per unemployed worker. Colorado’s GDP also improved 2.3% between fourth quarter 2023 to rst quarter this year, ranking the state 18th nationwide.
But some other nancial data is concerning, said Richard Wobbekind, faculty director of CU’s Leeds School of Business who works with Lewandowski. It’s about consumer spending slowing and their rising debt.
