Sally Kor and Kay Moore of Evergreen donned their finest patriotic duds for the Foothills 4th celebration.
PHOTO BY JANE REUTER
Evergreen Jazz Festival returns for 21st event
Three-day fest will feature new acts and old favorites at five community venues
BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A jazz festival renowned for its unique, intimate venues and mountain setting returns to Evergreen late this month. e 21st Evergreen Jazz Festival is July 26, 27 and 28, and features bands playing at ve venues scattered around the area.
In keeping with the festival’s goal of education and drawing new fans to jazz, the event opens with an educational concert and includes student clinics taught by festival musicians.
“Our festival is di erent,” said Jim Reiners, the event’s marketing director. “Most jazz festivals these days are held in hotels. ey don’t begin to o er the same kind of listening environment our venues do. e multivenue program we use is like a much
more traditional festival. It’s an upclose and personal atmosphere with world-class bands. I think people like that, and they love coming up to the mountains.”
Venues include the Evergreen Lake House, Evergreen Christian Church, Center Stage and the ballroom and patio at the Evergreen Elks Lodge.
Each year’s lineup features some returning favorite acts as well as a
Wild West Show
The Evergreen Jazz Festival returns late this month for its 21st event.
Boys, a Windy City group formed in 2017 that specializes in the classic jazz and dance styles of the 1920s and 30s.
While Reiner’s excited about the new groups, he said festival-goers have traditionally been happy with the event lineup.
“We have comment cards each year so patrons can tell us what they think,” he said. “ ey all want every band brought back every year, which speaks to the quality of the music.”
Reiners, now an Austin, Texas resident, helped launch the festival in 2001 when he lived in Evergreen. He worked closely with event founder Sterling Nelson, who died in 2020.
few newcomers. is year, new acts include Arkansas-based Hal Smith’s El Dorado Jazz Band. Some members of the group performed together in southern California in the 1960s.
“Hal was at our very rst festival and is just a world-class performer,” Reiners said. “ is is a new group he’s put together.”
Another is the Chicago Cellar
Volunteers are still needed to help with various aspects of the event, with free tickets awarded for the amount of time worked, Reiners said.
Tickets range from $60 to $165. e $165 three-day pass includes full admission to all events. Tickets for speci c days and times can also be purchased.
For more information and tickets, visit evergreenjazz.org.
PHOTO COURTESY EVERGREEN JAZZ FESTIVAL
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Renovation Trends Reflect Post-Pandemic Drive for Comfort, Warmth and Healthy Living
A May 30th article on Houzz.com caught my attention with the headline “7 Home Design Trends Emerging Now.” I’ll post a link to that article at RealEstateToday.substack.com
The trends which the article identified showed a rising interest in “organic” modern style and “dark and moody” interiors. They didn’t mention the pandemic, but it was on my mind as I pondered this dramatic shift in the public’s attitude toward home life. The after-effects of the pandemic and especially the lock-down period are still being felt in various ways, especially in the home design and real estate choices we each make. I’ve written in the past about how the workfrom-home mandates wreaked havoc on the commercial real estate market, especially post-pandemic, as many workers insisted on (with some employer agreement) continuing to work from home instead of returning to the office.
The biggest surge was observed in the use of search terms such as “organic modern,” whether it was for bedrooms, dining rooms or other rooms. I never thought of using the term “organic” for home design, but it seems to be close to what I’ve always called earth tones. This also tied in with the next most common search term, “dark” and “moody.”
bathroom I saw had a shower that was not separated from a standalone tub sitting on a tiled floor with a floor drain. The homeowner could have been Japanese or perhaps an American who lived there and adopted Japanese ways.
To quote from the article by Parker, “These spaces mix deep, dramatic colors and materials to create an intimate, sophisticated atmosphere with a touch of drama.” Pictures of rooms demonstrating results of those search terms are in the online article which you will want to check out.
It’s been a couple decades since the move away from white walls in new homes. Rounded wall corners are now commonplace, adding softness to walls which are now often a shade of gray.
(I enjoyed a visit to Tokyo decades ago, where I stayed in a student house with no bathing facilities. I, like others in the house, went to a neighborhood bathhouse where I squatted alongside others on a stool in front of a low faucet and washed and rinsed my body before joining others in a huge hot tub.)
Another trend cited by Parker is wellness, which is expressed in bathrooms as well as in saunas, steam showers, cold plunges, and yoga rooms. “Home spa” was a search term which jumped 34% from last year to this year.
We’ve long seen pool tables and ping pong tables in homes, but now the big thing is “game rooms.” (This reminds me that in some 1950s one-story homes with basements, I have seen more than one which had a shuffle board court laid out using colored vinyl tiles, usually covered by wall-to-wall carpeting, greatly amusing the homeowner when it came time to replace the carpeting!)
The seventh and last trend identified in the Houzz article was an interest in “kid zones.” Yes, people are still having children, and having a place for them to engage in non-smartphone games is important to many parents, as it would be for Rita and me if we were of that age. (I suppose grandparents would want a kids zone, too, but even our grandchildren are in college now!)
A second real estate impact from the lock-down period was the decision by many homeowners to relocate to homes that were further from their place of employment and/or move to a home more suited to working from home, such as with a separate home office space.
As for home design trends, how does one gauge such trends? For Mitchell Parker, the writer for Houzz, it was done by analyzing the year-over-year changes in search terms used on their website.
Are you following the 2024 presidential race? You may be interested in my political blog, which you can find at http://TalkingTurkey.substack.com
Another trend noted by Parker is reading rooms and walls of bookshelves, which may seem odd in an era noted for its switch to digital and audio books. (I myself am now hooked on audio books, following a previous addiction to ebooks, which are free from the Jeffco and other library systems.)
Japanese influences are coming into vogue, from the living room to bedroom to the garden, with green, including indoor plants like lemon grass dominating room décor. I recently toured a home which had a Japanese style bathroom. Japanese are fond of washing themselves outside the bathtub, and only going into the tub afterwards to soak. The
Development Opportunity in Westminster
The property at 9251 N. Wadsworth Boulevard offers a fantastic redevelopment opportunity in Jefferson County and City of Westminster! Formerly known as the Cheshire Cat Hospital, this 3-acre property operated as a veterinary clinic for the past 20 years and is currently zoned agricultural but is an area of focus for rezoning with both Jefferson County and the City of Westminster. The parcel is close to the Denver-Boulder Turnpike, Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, Rock Creek Medical Campus, retail, municipal government, higher education and open space. If the purchaser wishes to maintain the agricultural zoning, the property could be used for an equine boarding facility with four horses per acre. In addition to domestic animals, the agricultural zoning offers several permitted uses including telecommunications towers, farming with residence, and stables -- a full list. It is co-listed at $2,490,000 by broker associates Chuck Brown and Austin Pottorff, whose cell numbers are at right. An aerial video tour of this listing created by Austin can be seen at www.GRElistings.com.
Leisure spaces generally are also important to home buyers and home renovators. One search term which jumped by 107% year-over-year was “listening room.” Another was for a piano room or piano living room.
Big Reduction
Searches for “race car bed,” “teen lounge” and “tween bedroom” were all up year-over-year.
I found the article, which was filled with photo examples from vendors, very interesting and fun. You will too!
on Home Near Majestic Park
$798,000
The sellers designed this 5-bedroom, 4,603sq.-ft. home at 6714 Field St. in Arvada for entertaining and were the general contractor for it in 1985. Listed last month at $845,000, the price was just lowered to $798,000, which computes to only $173 per square foot! Spaces for entertaining abound both indoors and on the large wraparound deck. There's an indoor hot tub in its own room that is well ventilated to avoid moisture-related issues. Floors are a mix of carpet, oak hardwood and ceramic tile. A guest bedroom on the main floor was used by the seller as a home office and a reading room and sewing room are upstairs. This home is an early example of passive solar design. In addition to the solar thermal panels on the roof which provide hot water for the home, there are solar thermal panels built into the south wall of the great room to capture solar gain in the winter for warming the house after dark. The backyard includes a large garden area and a shed with electricity with two compartments — a storage area with a concrete floor and a south-facing area with gravel floor and windows to capture solar gain for starting plants early. There is no HOA and there’s a gate on the north side of the house for parking an RV next to the garage. Majestic View Park and its Nature Center are a short walk or bike ride to the north. Find more pictures, floor plans and a narrated video walk-through at www.ArvadaHome.info, then come to our open house on Saturday, July 20th, 11am to 1pm. Or call Kathy Jonke at 303-990-7428 to schedule a private showing.
Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com 1214 Washington Ave., Golden 80401
Broker Associates:
JIM SWANSON, 303-929-2727
CHUCK BROWN, 303-885-7855
DAVID DLUGASCH, 303-908-4835
GREG KRAFT, 720-353-1922
AUSTIN POTTORFF, 970-281-9071
, 303-868-1903 Note: All “Real Estate Today” columns are archived at www.JimSmithColumns.com.
No HOA!
Large crowd comes to Evergreen for action-packed Foothills 4th
The event featured log rolling, carnival games, baby goat yoga, live music and more
BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Evergreen’s Foothills 4th — its rst Independence Day celebration in several years — drew a large crowd from the foothills to the Front Range for a day of old-fashioned, familyfriendly fun. Log rolling, live chainsaw art demonstrations, carnival games, music and dancing, baby goat yoga and a bike parade highlighted the eight-hour event at Buchanan Park.
Foothills 4th was coordinated jointly by the Evergreen Park & Recreation District and the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce.
With an already solid line-up of attractions, the weather added the perfect touch to the day. Temperatures in Evergreen hovered in the ‘70s, inspiring some people to start dancing as early as 1 p.m.
e Chris King band kicked o a series of four bands that kept music going until the festivities ended at 8 p.m.
Cooler temps and ample kids’ activities drew people from beyond Evergreen.
“Golden just doesn’t do as much
on the 4th as they used to, so we came up here,” said Lindsay Blaun, whose 9-year-old son Westley hit the plate hard enough to sound the bell on the ring-the-bell carnival game.
“We did the bike parade and everything here. is is neat.”
Steven Wainio brought his twin boys from Lakewood up for the day and was happy to see lots of games
2024 High Altitude Gar den Tour
for kids.
“It’s keeping them well entertained,” he said, watching the boys play a life-sized version of Connect 4.
e logrolling event, set up in a large, portable pool, drew plenty of spectators and participants.
EPRD lifeguard omas Misiewicz got the event going, balancing on the red-and-yellow plastic log.
“It’s tons of fun,” he said. “I have a background in sur ng, and this is like connecting the dots.”
In another corner, three chainsaw artists carved huge sculptures that were o ered for sponsorship. Each will remain in a local park.
Fort Collins artist Matt Ounsworth, who carved an eagle in ight, said he did most of the work on his sculpture on July 3 so he could avoid the stress and enjoy the holiday.
“I think chainsaw’s the only thing I’m good at – chainsaws and drawing,” he said. “I love it. And I put a lot of e ort into it because I feel it’s a privilege to do this.”
Evergreen Chamber President Nancy Judge said Foothills 4th will be back in 2025.
“It was apparent that adding features like the wood carving showcase, baby goat yoga, log rolling competition and kids’ bike parade gave this festival such a hometown feel and highlighted simple pleasures,” she said. “We look forward to continuing this event next year and will continue to add features to make this a one-of-kind experience.”
EPRD lifeguard Thomas Misiewicz of Evergreen gives the log roll a try during the Foothills 4th. PHOTO BY JANE REUTER
Morrison welcomes Mallory Nassau as new town manager
BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
With a nearly audible sigh of relief, the town of Morrison’s board and lead staff welcomed its new town manager during its July 2 meeting. Mallory Nassau, who most recently served as administrator in Grand County, Utah, was sworn in and attended her first meeting.
She replaces former longtime town manager Kara Winters, who walked out of a February board meeting after a contentious discussion about proposed employee compensation increases and did not return to her job.
Town staff worked together to fill the gaps in the workload during the past six months, and several board members and staff expressed gratitude for the team effort. They gave particular praise to town clerk Ariana Neverdahl — who assumed most of Winters’ duties after her departure — and deputy town “It was a team effort,” Mayor Chris ful Mallory is here, but we’re very
thankful for all the things you both did. You were at the steering wheel, Ariana, and we greatly appreciate it. There was a lot put on you. And Courtney, also with you. (What you did) made everybody’s lives easier, even though it was hard. I’m proud of our team and our town.”
Neverdahl also expressed gratitude.
“Thank you, mayor, for your help and support the last few months, and all the board and department heads,” she said.
Wolfe also credited the town’s department heads for picking up slack during the six-month period.
“There were a lot of questions and concerns, but also a lot of teamwork and people that stepped up,” he said. “You did extra, above and beyond, and we appreciate it.”
Nassau said she’s looking forward to digging into her new role.
“I’m super excited,” she said. “You guys have an amazing staff. They’re going to make this a lot easier.”
New Morrison Town Manager Mallory Nassau is sworn in during the town board’s July 2 meeting by Town Clerk Ariana Neverdahl. COURTESY TOWN OF MORRISON
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Bu alo Park Road sidewalk under construction
Future walkway will connect Wilmot Elementary School to Evergreen Library
BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Construction has begun on a longawaited sidewalk that will extend from Wilmot Elementary to the Evergreen Library. e sidewalk, originally proposed by the Evergreen Legacy Fund and funded by community donations and grants, will be built in phases as money becomes available.
e section currently underway will extend from Wilmot Elementary School to near Evergreen High School, providing a dedicated sidewalk along the curvy, narrow Bu alo Park Road.
“We’re really excited about it,” said Wilmot Elementary Principal Stephany Fritz. “I think it’s a part of Evergreen that can be walkable. To have the sidewalk to make it extra-safe is just great.
“We have a number of families that walk over from Greenwood (neighborhood), so it’s going to be safer for them,” she continued. “We also have some kiddos that are mobility challenged, and we need to be able to get them to the high school because it’s our evacuation site if something should happen at Wilmot. is is a step in the right direction.”
e busy stretch of road is the main access to Wilmot, the high school and Wulf Recreation Center. It’s also the main route for those heading to the popular Alderfer/ ree Sisters East trailhead.
To make the road even safer, new crosswalks will also be installed in several places.
ere is no timeline yet for the next phase of sidewalk construction.
“A lot of that depends on when the grants come through,” said EFL executive director Linda Kirkpatrick. “If we aren’t successful in getting a grant for the second phase, it might be delayed a year.”
e idea for the sidewalk rst came up six years ago during ELF community meetings. It was among 17 Evergreen-area projects approved by Je erson County in 2020.
Because Evergreen is not incorporated, ELF was created to craft ideas and apply for grants to fund them, which are funneled through the Evergreen Local Improvement District. e ELID
was formed and is overseen by Je erson County.
e ELID serves as a much-needed funding mechanism to bring Evergreen’s desired improvements to life.
“ e legacy fund hires a grant writer and we go after grants,” Kirkpatrick said. “ ose must be payable to municipal governments.”
ELF can’t ful ll that role, but the ELID can. While the county governs the district, ELF funds it.
ELF also provides seed money for its projects, which comes from a voluntary 1 percent donation on some Evergreen services and businesses, and direct donations. For the rst phase of sidewalk construction, ELF provided a
20% match — or $67,000. A grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation is helping to fund the remainder of the project.
Following this model, the Evergreen Legacy Fund has successfully funded a long list of projects that both beautify the community and make it safer — with many more to come.
“In the absence of a local government, we have to do things ourselves,” Kirkpatrick said. “We have developed a very good working relationship with Je erson County, based on mutual respect.”
For a full list of projects and more information about the Evergreen Legacy Fund, visit its website.
Crews work July 9 on the new sidewalk near Wilmot Elementary.
PHOTOS BY LINDA KIRKPATRICK
Work is under way on a sidewalk that will eventually extend from Wilmot Elementary to the Evergreen Library.
BY STAVROS KORONEOS
Hide and creep PINE JUNCTION – According to Tenant, when Landlord came by that morning to collect the rent and inspect the premises, she’d slammed the door in his face. Tenant said she slammed the door in his face because her dog “was running loose in the house” and she didn’t want it to get outside. She said Landlord refused to accept that explanation and spoke roughly to her through the closed door. According to Landlord, since Tenant had once fallen into arrears it had become his custom to collect her rent in person. Landlord said he liked to inspect the premises every rent day because Tenant is “secretive and evasive” and he believes she’s keeping a falcon inside the home against the terms of her lease. Tenant said Landlord sometimes watches the house from the street, which “creeps me out.” Landlord said Tenant “hides things from me” and he’s merely looking out for his nancial interests. Deputies suggested that a friendly meeting between Landlord and Tenant to
clarify the precise terms of the lease agreement might improve relations. If it didn’t, the o cers advised, maybe a less-friendly meeting with the county’s civil services section would.
Time is money
EVERGREEN – Late for an appointment, she raced up and down the grocery store aisles, bu aloed her way through checkout, and backed out of her parking space with conviction. Rushing toward the exit, she rst noted an “older white male” pulling his Kia Sorento into her abruptly vacant parking spot, and then noted that her wallet didn’t make it into her car with her. Circling back, she was relieved to nd her wallet on the ground next to the unoccupied Sorento, but enraged to discover “money missing” from it. Schedule notwithstanding, she called JCSO, telling the responding deputy she suspected Sorento of pillaging the pocketbook. Advised that suspicions are not evidence, and now even later for her appointment, she dropped the matter altogether and made a mad dash for her meeting.
Cat scat fever
EVERGREEN – Finding cat poop in his mail receptacle, Dusty assumed that his least-favorite neighbor, Lucky, was responsible for the package because he owned a cat. eir relationship was not improved when Lucky called Je co Animal Control to complain about Dusty’s barking dog. On the afternoon of May 28, Dusty walked over to Lucky’s to deliver a stern verbal lashing about the mess in the mailbox. Hearing the hullabaloo, a third neighbor, Ned, came outside sporting a pistol on his hip and suggested that Dusty hit the trail. Pretty much everybody called the cops, and, after determining that Ned’s piece was properly permitted, o cers told all parties they should consider themselves mutually trespassed from each other’s property.
Riding for a brawl
DEER CREEK CANYON – Not for the rst time, and certainly not for the last, deputies were summoned to South Deer Creek Road on May 27 to mediate a dispute between a bicyclist and a homeowner. e way the bicyclist told it, he’d no
sooner stopped in the homeowner’s driveway to “ x my shoe” when the homeowner stormed outside breathing re and demanding that the bicyclist get o his property or face unpleasant consequences. e way the homeowner told it, his young daughters had alerted him to a stranger relieving himself in their yard, and he’d gone outside to evict the tinkling trespasser. e way a third party’s video footage of the showdown told it, the homeowner had, indeed, behaved abusively, but the bicyclist had had ample opportunity to get o the man’s property when instructed to do so and simply wouldn’t. Since the bicyclist had consciously provoked much of the abuse he was complaining about, deputies cleared the case “in the interest of justice.”
Sheri ’s Calls is intended as a humorous take on some of the incident call records of the Je erson County Sheri ’s O ce for the mountain communities. Names and identifying details have been changed, including the writer’s name, which is a pseudonym. All individuals are innocent until proven guilty.
VOICES
Vote for democrats to support everyone, not just the wealthy
As we approach the 2024 election, it is important to understand the true economic situation and how we got here. anks in part to Trump’s tax cuts, billionaires paid less in taxes than the working class for the rst time in history. While billionaires and corporations bene ted, middle-class families fell behind as a result of Trump’s failed policies. Trump’s tax cuts had a catastrophic impact on the national de cit, ballooning our national debt and steering it to hit historic highs relative to our economy.
The Biden Administration and Colorado Democrats have delivered results Colorado Democrats, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are continuing to create millions of new jobs, lowering costs and building the economy from the bottom up and the middle out:
U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen fought for $1,954,103 in federal funding for Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
U.S. Rep. Jason Crow fought for $21,294,509 for Congressional District 6, including funding for the Aurora Community Mental Health Center, e Roots- A Community Hub for Newcomers in Colorado, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Library Improvements Project.
U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, Sen. John Hickenlooper and Sen. Michael Bennet secured over $9.3 million
FROM THE LEFT
Intolerable acts
Ein Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to support wild re resilience work and fuels management projects.
very July 4, America celebrates Independence Day commemorating the Second Continental Congress’ ratication of the Declaration of Independence. By this radical action, the thirteen colonies declared they were no longer subjects of England and King George III.
FROM THE RIGHT
Outside groups estimate that the In ation Reduction Act has helped create over 3,500 good-paying clean energy jobs in Colorado in the one year since the law was signed. 15 million Americans saved an average of $800 on health insurance in 2023 thanks to President Biden’s landmark In ation Reduction Act.
Kathryn Wallace
Coloradans are saving money on prescription drugs thanks to President Biden’s work to cap the cost of insulin at $35 per month for seniors. Companies have invested over $3 billion in Colorado for manufacturing and clean energy investments. Coloradans are saving $140.4 million on energy costs thanks to home energy rebates. Colorado has received $1.3 billion to help bring affordable and reliable internet access to families across the state.
Democrats up and down the ballot deserve your vote in the fall so we can continue to support ALL the people who live in Je co and Colorado, not just the wealthy.
Kathryn Wallace is the Chair of the Je erson County Democratic Party.
is decision arose over several years from about 1765 until 1776, during which time the King and English Parliament passed ve “Intolerable Acts”. e Sugar Act reduced a previous tax on molasses but added heightened enforcement through increased naval presence.
e Stamp Act taxed documents and paper goods to raise funds for British soldiers stationed in the Colonies. e Currency Act denied the colonists the use of locally issued paper currency, mandating the use of the Pound Sterling, which made already issued Continental currency almost worthless. e Townshend Acts created a host of taxes on items like paper, glass and tea. Finally, the Quartering Act demanded that colonists house British soldiers in their homes.
ese tyrannical actions from England were so intolerable that 40%-50% of the colonists agreed that America should become an independent nation. us began the American War of Independence with victory in September of 1783.
Why review this history? Because today, in the U.S., Colorado, and Jefferson County we are seeing many intolerable conditions. Mass illegal immigration, sanctioned by the Biden Administration, has been fully embraced by Gov. Jaren Polis and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. Colorado is a sanctuary state and Denver is a sanctuary city with free services for immigrants paid for by us local taxpayers.
Taxation is increasing at an alarming rate as those in our government demonstrate no regard for its impact on income earners. “Fees,” like the Hospital Provider Fee, are actually additional taxes hidden through other names. In Je erson County and at the State level, politicians are doing all they can to eliminate the taxpayer protection we
have enjoyed since 1992 – TABOR, the Taxpayers Bill of Rights. is action will increase property and income taxes, while seeking to redistribute money from those who pay taxes to those who don’t. Regulations are destroying many small businesses. Denver has a mandatory minimum wage with annual adjustments for in ation. Of course, the recipients of these wages like this idea but small businesses are struggling to keep up with these rising costs. It’s estimated that nearly 10,000 fast food jobs have been lost in California due to a $20 per hour minimum wage. It’s likely that the minimum wage increase will reduce government income as many jobs are lost and earners aren’t paying taxes. Finally, de cit spending is killing our economy and causing continued rising in ation. Locally, everything we buy costs more than ever. For example, food prices are up 25% since 2020 and gasoline prices are as much as 85% higher depending on where you live. e U.S. is adding $1 trillion to the national debt every 100 days. Clearly, this is not sustainable.
Are we experiencing our own “Intolerable Acts”? Should a new citizen revolution be expected? Perhaps what we really need is for elected o cials to stop acting like British tyrants. Perhaps we, the people electing these o cials, need to vote for people who will eliminate these intolerable actions. We have the opportunity to begin this process on Nov. 5, 2024.
Don Ytterberg is a former fourtime chair of the Je co Republicans and former two-time Vice Chair of the Colorado Republican Party. He has been a candidate for the Colorado Senate and the U.S. House. He and his wife Kim have been residents of Je erson County since 1987 where he has been a business owner since 1990.
Don Ytterberg
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
The evolution of Evergreen Fire/ Rescue
Evergreen Fire/Rescue recently completed a new Master Plan. is plan will be used as a guide for the future as we continue to adapt to meet our community’s changing needs. We thank all the community members who assisted in the development of this Master Plan and look forward to continuing to improve our service to our community.
e highest priority recommendation, from the third-party consultants who developed the Master Plan, has EFR on a path for a signi cant change. at priority is improving response times by staing stations with re ghters. Our volunteer re ghters have done an amazing job over the past 76 years responding from home to emergencies. Our increasing population, our aging population, and a growing emergency call volume have brought us to a point where we need to improve our service further by having apparatus response times in line with national re department standards. On June 18, the EFPD Board of Directors approved hiring our rst paid re ghters to accomplish this very important component to emergency response.
tion, preparedness, education, and emergency response. e rst line in our Vision Statement: Recognize change in our community and respond accordingly. Please know, the funding required to accomplish sta ng Station 2 is in our existing budget.
Growing from a single re station to the eight stations we have today required signi cant planning and community support. Other signi cant changes EFR has initiated to help our community have included:
Hiring re ghters also follows our Mission Statement and Vision Statement. Our Mission Statement: Protect life, property and the environment through preven-
ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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• Email your letter to kfiore@coloradocommunitymedia.com. Do not send via postal mail. Put the words “letter to the editor” in the email subject line.
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Station 1 built in 1965 Station 2 built in 1978 Station 3 built in 1983 EFR and the volunteer Evergreen Ambulance Service consolidating and hiring full time medical responders in 1986 Transitioning from a District Manager and a Volunteer Fire Chief to a paid Fire Chief in the early 2000s Constructing Stations 5, 6, 7 and 8, a new administration and maintenance building in the early 2000s. Community Paramedicine in 2017 County-wide consolidated dispatch center in 2018 Wildland Fire division in 2020 e next evolution of EFR will be the addition of paid re ghters sta ng Station 2 initially. ey will respond to calls along with our dedicated volunteer re ghters who will continue their neighborhood response which is a key component to serving our community.
Mike Weege, Evergreen Fire/Rescue Fire Chief
about a candidate’s opponent. Letters advocating for or against a political candidate or ballot issue will not be published within 12 days of an election.
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HIGHLANDS RANCH NATIVE MAKES TEAM USA ROWING SQUAD
from Colorado to the Olympics
BY JOHN RENFROW
Even while playing multiple sports at Mountain Vista High School, Jessica oennes never saw herself as a stellar athlete; much less an Olympian. But a decade later, that’s exactly what she is after qualifying for Team USA as a rower on the women’s pair team. It’s not her rst time qualifying, either.
oennes spoke with Colorado Community Media on the Fourth of July before hopping on a plane to Paris for the Summer Olympics.
“As I have been told many times in my career,
there is no better way to celebrate the Fourth of July than by practicing my craft for the United States,” oennes said.
So rather than hot dogs and reworks, oennes enjoyed multiple weightlifting sessions, in-thewater practice runs, yoga, working online, packing and more.
It’s her return to the big stage after the Tokyo Games in 2020, where she was a bow seat in the women’s eight group of rowers. at squad nished fourth in that event.
Now she and her partner, Azja Czajkowski, pair up for the U.S. as a smaller unit going for the gold after winning the pair at the 2024 U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Team Trials in April.
oennes and Czajkowski will compete against the world’s best rowing pairs later this month. But oennes’ journey to the top of her sport is unique; she had never rowed in her life until walk-
ing on to the University of Washington’s team in 2015. at’s about as late a start as possible.
And she wasn’t exactly counting up o ers from colleges, she said.
“I was probably one of the least talented athletes in all of the incredible number of people that came out of Mountain Vista,” oennes said. “And I don’t say that humbly; I say that as a fact. I had the privilege of playing on a volleyball team where, I think, 12 out of 13 women went to a Division I school to play volleyball. I had a basketball team where I was the varsity benchwarmer. I just wasn’t quite in my body yet. I really was scrappy, though.” at scrappiness took her to the world stage again. For more on her journey and focus going into Paris, check out the brief Q&A with oennes on the next page.
Jessica Thoennes’ path
Highlands Ranch native Jessica Thoennes (left) and her partner Azja Czajkowski pose for a photo after winning the pair at the 2024 U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Team Trials in April. The two rowers’
TEAM USA
To watch oennes in action, tune in on Sunday, July 28 at 2:30 a.m. MT on NBC or Peacock. For those without TV or streaming access, follow @womenintheboat on Instagram for updates, schedules and more. e full Olympics schedule can be found at www.olympics.com/en/paris-2024/schedule.
Colorado Community Media: How did you
become an Olympian and Division I athlete if you weren’t as good as the other girls on your Mountain Vista teams?
oennes:I was scrappy, determined and I outworked everybody else. ose were my characteristics in high school. I knew I wasn’t the biggest, I knew I wasn’t the fastest and I knew I wasn’t the strongest. So I had to be able to outwork, out-hustle and be willing to go just another inch to just make the team, which really helped when I went to college as a walk-on. I had never rowed before.
CCM: How did you get into rowing in college?
oennes:I had no idea what I was getting myself into. One of my characteristics is I say, ‘Well, how hard can it actually be?’ So I said to myself, ‘I’ll do it for a year. How hard could it be?’ And it turns out I was really bad. It was really hard. And I was like, “Well, I’ve really gotten myself up this creek without a paddle, so I better gure this out.’ It took me about two years to come around and gure things out. By the time I hit my junior year, I was like, ‘Oh, this is fantastic. I love this. is is incredible.’ So, I’ve always been scrappy. I’ve never been the No. 1. But I had a lot of try. I’m a bit of a stubborn creature and I just keep working at things.
CCM: What was your reaction to learning you made the Olympics again?
oennes: at was one of the best moments where, for a little bit, I was wondering if the three-and-a-half, four years that I’ve worked … You have all those thoughts that go through your head like, ‘Is this going to pay o ? Is this going to work?’ And in those moments, you can’t really think about that. But as soon as the buzzer went o , I was so elated because it was just a con rmation of, ‘Yeah, I do this really well and I have been doing this really well.’
CCM: How do you balance that elation with the quick turnaround of getting to work for Paris?
oennes: I think I did it a little bit better than I did last time. One, it comes with experience. But I think I just knew that if we wanted to really have a big impact on the pair eld, like Azja and I were both hoping, we needed to take a few days and celebrate, take a rest. en get right back to work.
CCM: What’s a typical day for you when you’re preparing for the Olympics?
oennes:I’m up every day super early. Out of the house by 6 o’clock. We do one practice in the morning, and that’s about two and a half hours; three once you get all your warmup stu in. Get o the water. I work in addition to rowing, so I’ll hop online for an hour or two to kind of decompress for practice and get some work sorted. en hop back in the boat or cross-train for an afternoon session. en I’ve been doing a ton of yoga. We are religious weightlifters. We are in the gym, at minimum twice a day, but usually three times a day.
CCM: As a pair, you’re relying on a partner heavily, but what are one or two things you feel you need to polish ahead of the Olympics?
oennes: Every pair has its own unique dynamic in what you need to do. As the stroke seat, something that I really needed to solidify in these past couple of months has been providing a rhythm that is followable and fast. at’s something that we have been working on super diligently. at falls a little heavier on my shoulders, but Azja certainly contributes in that aspect. She’s got all the power back there. She’s hauling me around a lot of the time. Speci cally, I’ve really been working on my catch entry, which is the dynamic portion of rowing you can never be too good at. As your blade enters the water, you have to be patient to let it go all the way in and not jump on it before you’re fully buried. So my focus has been rhythm and catches.
Jessica Thoennes (middle) shares a moment with her fellow rowers between competitions. As one of the members of the pair team, Thoennes said her success comes from doing her part but also relying on her partner to match her energy and rhythm. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROW2K
Azja Czajkowski (left) and Jessica Thoennes share a moment of relief in the boat. The duo won the pair at the 2024 U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Team Trials in April, which qualified them for the Summer Olympics in Paris this month.
Judge dismisses universal preschool lawsuit brought by Colorado school districts
BY ANN SCHIMKE CHALKBEAT COLORADO
A Denver district court judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by several Colorado school districts over the state’s universal preschool program, ruling that the plainti s don’t have legal grounds to sue.
In his 20-page ruling, Judge Jon J. Olafson concluded that the six school districts, two education groups, a cooperative education services board, and two families that sued the state last year had not suffered any “injury” covered by state or federal law. e districts, groups, and families had argued that the universal preschool program administration was harming students with disabilities, in addition to other claims.
e decision is a win for the state and for Gov. Jared Polis, who spearheaded the popular free preschool program, which launched last summer after a rushed and rocky planning process. It comes a month after a partial victory for the state in another universal preschool lawsuit —
one brought by Catholic preschools who don’t want to enroll children from LGBTQ families. ( e Catholic preschools plan to appeal.)
Melissa Gibson, deputy executive director of the Colorado Association of School Executives, one of the plainti s in the case, said in a statement Wednesday, “We are disappointed by the court’s decision, but we will continue our focus on doing everything possible to advocate for resolution to the issues impacting students and families in the [universal preschool] system.”
She said ling the lawsuit was “a last resort,” and that the plainti s will continue to work with the state to push for solutions and transparency.
In addition to Gibson’s group, the plainti s include the Consortium of Directors of Special Education, Centennial Board of Cooperative Educational Services, two families, and the six school districts: Brighton-based 27J, Cherry Creek, Harrison, Mapleton, Platte Valley, and Westminster. ey led the lawsuit against the state last summer, claiming its administration of the universal preschool program was harming chil-
dren with disabilities and breaking nancial promises to families and school districts. In response, the state asked the court to dismiss the suit. Olafson held a hearing on that motion at the end of April.
Olafson acknowledged that the school district plainti s had faced “headaches” in adapting to the new universal preschool system, but said “these growing pains are not legally
He also said that some of the plainti s’ concerns would be better addressed through legislative or administrative means, rather than
During the 2023-24 school year, about 39,000 4-year-olds received tuition-free preschool through Colorado’s universal preschool program — representing 62% of children in that age group in the state. Enrollment is expected to be even higher next year.
is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with Chalkbeat Colorado, a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.
A Denver judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by Colorado school districts and other groups over the state’s universal preschool program.
PHOTO BY JIMENA PECK / CHALKBEAT
HAPPENINGS
We’d like to know about events or activities of interest to the community. Visit www.canyoncourier. com/calendar/ and post your event online for free. Email jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com to get items in the newspaper. Items will appear in print on a space-available basis.
THURSDAY
Evergreen Chamber Co ee & Connections: 8 a.m. July 18, Parkside Cafe, 1338 Co Rd 65, Evergreen.
Raining Cats & Dogs Fundraiser: 4 p.m. July 18, Cactus Jack’s Saloon, 4651 County Road 73, Evergreen. Bu ett, silent auction. Tickets $25. Bene tting Evergreen Animal Protective League. eapl.com
FRIDAY
Seniors4Wellness Friday Cafe, 11:30 a.m., July 19, Christ the King Church, 4291 Evergreen Pkwy, Evergreen.
SATURDAY
Evergreen Audubon bird walk to Pine Valley Ranch Park: 7 a.m. to noon, July 20, Pine Valley Ranch Park, 30400 Crystal Lake Rd, Pine. All ages and abilities welcome! Registration required. Reg/Info at evergreenaudubon.org.
Evergreen Garden Tour: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 20, Evergreen Fire/ Rescue Training Center, 1802 Bergen Parkway, Evergreen. Including silent auction and plant sale. Tickets at EvergreenGardenClub.org.
CAE’s 44th annual Summerfest: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 20 & 21, Buchanan Park, 32003 Ellingwood Trail, Evergreen. Live music, artists booths, food trucks and spirits vendors, children’s activities. $5 at the door, 10 and under free. Hosted by the Center for the Arts Evergreen.
evergreenarts.org.
WEDNESDAY
Seniors4Wellness Bingo & Games: 12:30 p.m. July 24, Bergen Park Church, 31919 Rocky Village Dr, Evergreen.
EPRD summer concert series: 4:45 to 8 p.m. July 24, Evergreen Lake, 29612 Upper Bear Creek Road, Evergreen. Featuring Alaaithia Rooke, Kailani & Paris and e Tyler Phillips Show.
UPCOMING
Evergreen Jazz Festival: July 26, 27 & 28. Five venues with free shuttle between them. Tickets and information at evergreenjazz.org
Elevation Celebration: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., July 27 & 28, 25997 Conifer Rd., Conifer. Live music, craft fair, food and drink, kids activities. elevationcelebration.goconifer.com
12th Annual Conifer Elevation Run/ Walk: 7 a.m. July 27. Featuring a 10K, USATF 5K, and 2 Mile Fun Run. 10K at 7:30 a.m., West Jefferson Elementary, 26501 Barkley Rd, Conifer.
Pickleball tournament fundraiser for Resilience 1220: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 27, Marshdale Park, 6979 S Ocelot Trail, Evergreen. To sponsor or play, go to resilience1220.org.
Evergreen Chamber Co ee & Connections: 8 a.m. July 30, Java Groove, 28186 CO-74, Evergreen.
Evergreen EverCLEAN parks clean-up: 1-3 p.m. July 30, Evergreen Lake House, 29612 Upper Bear Creek Rd. Evergreen.EPRD Park Ops and community volunteers pick up trash, stir mulch, clear SEE HAPPENINGS, P14
REVERSE MORTGAGES MADE EASY
HAPPENINGS
debris and more. EPRD will provide needed supplies. evergreenrecreation.com
Evergreen Lutheran Church Grove Sale: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 3, 5980 County Hwy 73, Evergreen. Donate gently used items & shop for inexpensive household goods, clothing, books, furniture, crafts, & more. Donations can be dropped o 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 29 through July 31 at Evergreen Lutheran Church. No large appliances, tube televisions, computers, tires, mattresses or entertainment centers .For more information or to volunteer call 303-674-4654.
Dam Ducky Derby: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 3, downtown Evergreen. downtownevergreen.com
Mountain Music Fest: Noon to 9 p.m. Aug. 3, Buchanan Park, 32003 Ellingwood Trail, Evergreen. Tickets at mountainmusicfest.org
Evergreen Chamber August breakfast: 7:30 a.m.Aug. 7, Fountain Barbecue, 30790 Stagecoach Blvd., Evergreen.
EPRD summer concert series: 4-8 p.m. Aug. 7, Buchanan Park, 32003 Ellingwood Trail, Evergreen. Featuring Mac & the Fac, Reece Maveric and Living Room Band.
CAE summer concert series “Rooster Blackspur”: 7 p.m. Aug. 9, 31880 Rocky Village Dr., Evergreen.
Tickets $25. evergreenarts.org.
Downtown Evergreen mural dedication: 5 p.m. August 14, Century Link building, east end of Evergreen’s main street (Hwy 74).
EPiC (Evergreen Players Improv Comedy): 7:30 p.m. Aug. 23 & 24, Center Stage eatre, 27608 Fireweed Drive, Evergreen. evergreenplayers.org.
58th annual Evergreen Fine Arts Festival: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 24 & 25. Buchanan Fields 32003 Ellingwood Trail, Evergreen. evergreenneartsfestival.com
Buchanan Park Family Movie Night “Barbie”: 6 to 11 p.m. Aug. 30, Buchanan Park Field, 32003 Ellingwood Trail, Evergreen. evergreenrecreation.com
Evergreen’s 24th annual Alternative Gift Fair: Applications due Sept. 1 for the Nov. 9-10 event at Evergreen Lutheran Church. Motto is “Buy Once, Gift Twice” with all proceeds returned to vendor charities selling products at event.
Interested vendors seeking a booth to sell wares that support their nonpro ts must have 501(c)3 status and need to provide IRS qualifying information. Email: alternativegiftfair2021@gmail.com for an application packet or to volunteer for the fair.
ONGOING
Evergreen Farmers Market: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday, Hiwan Heritage Park, 28473 Meadow Dr, Ev-
ergreen.
Growing Out West Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ursdays through Labor Day. Cactus Jack’s, 4651 County Hwy 73, Evergreen.
Evergreen Cars & Co ee: 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday through Aug. 31, 3639 Evergreen Parkway, Evergreen.
Wild Aware volunteer watch program at Evergreen Lake:Fridays 4 pm, to dusk, Saturdays & Sundays 9 am to dusk. Volunteers guide visitors during elk calving season to give protective cows space to avoid negative interactions. wildaware.org.
Evergreen Audubon Weekly Preschool Adventures Program: 9 to 10 a.m. every ursday starting May 16, 27640 Hwy 74, Evergreen. Free & no registration required. Bring your 2-5 year-old to the Nature Center each week for nature exploration. All children must have an adult in attendance. Dress to explore the outdoors. More info at evergreenaudubon.org.
Evergreen Nature Center Monthly Family Program: 11 a.m. to noon, every last Saturday, 27640 Hwy 74, Evergreen. Monthly topics could include native wild owers and seed bombs, dissecting owl pellets, live animal encounters, and more. evergreenaudubon.org
e American Legion Evergreen Post 2001: Meets every fourth Tuesday at 7 p.m., Evergreen Church of the Trans guration, 27640 Highway 74, Evergreen. Serving all military veterans in the foothills commu-
nities. Email evergreenpost2001@ gmail.com
Evergreen Camera Club: Meets every second Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Evergreen Fire/Rescue auditorium, 1802 Bergen Pkwy, Evergreen. Club is for people who share a passion for all photography, from beginners to professionals. Attend in person or via ZOOM.
Evergreen Area Republican Club: e Evergreen Area Republican Club meets at 6 p.m. the rst Wednesday of the month at the Evergreen Fire/ Rescue Administration Building, 1802 Bergen Parkway.
Mountain Area Democrats: Mountain Area Democrats meet at 9 a.m. the fourth Saturday of the month January through April at the United Methodist Church of Evergreen, 3757 Ponderosa Drive, Evergreen. For more information, e-mail MountainAreaDems@gmail.com.
Evergreen Sustainability Alliance is looking for volunteers: Evergreen Sustainability Alliance’s “Let’s Embrace Zero Food Waste” program in local schools and food banks needs volunteers. Volunteers are needed for a couple hours. Call 720-536-0069 or email info@sustainevergreen.org for more information.
Evergreen Nature Center: e Evergreen Nature Center is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays next to Church of the Trans guration. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.EvergreenAudubon.org.
Much of Colorado could be pushed into drought by late summer
BY SHANNON MULLANE THE COLORADO SUN
Colorado has seen an average water year so far, but looking ahead, climate experts say much of the state could fall into drought conditions and struggle to nd relief.
Colorado’s very average snowpack has o cially melted away from all 115 federal snow monitoring stations in the state, as of this week. Reservoir levels are at 94%, just slightly below average, while precipitation was at exactly 100% of the 30-year median, according to a recent Water Conditions Monitoring Committee meeting.
Heat, however, has been on the rise. Even summer showers may not be enough to combat its e ects, or to keep the state away from drought.
“Really the entire state is at risk of
developing drought this summer,” Assistant State Climatologist Becky Bolinger told listeners during the meeting. “A strong monsoon would be really helpful. It would limit that risk of worsening drought, particularly over the Four Corners. … For now, it’s looking like that is not as likely, and that it’s going to be a pretty rough summer.”
Climate experts track precipitation, temperature, soil moisture and other factors year-round to gauge water supplies and storage for farmers, city utility managers, reservoir operators and residents around the state.
is year’s outlook has some of those water users looking out for impacts to sh populations, recreation opportunities, irrigation supplies and wild res.
“Without much rain, wild re will
de nitely be a pretty serious concern,” said Adrian Bergere, executive director of the San Miguel Watershed Coalition in southwestern Colorado.
e period from October 2023 through May ranked in the top 10 warmest time periods across a signi cant majority of the state when compared with a 129-year historical record, Bolinger said.
Areas of southeastern Colorado, like Lamar and La Junta, have already reported 20 or more days over 90 degrees. e Front Range has already had 10-15 days over 90 degrees. Most of the country is also likely to be hotter than usual for the rest of the summer, she said.
at’s quite the switch after last year, which started out with coolerthan-average months, Bolinger said.
e hotter temperatures are likely
to continue for the rest of the summer. Western Colorado and the Four Corners area have a 70%-80% chance of above-average temperatures — a very high degree of condence, Bolinger said.
Colorado’s stream and river levels are receding after a normal runo year, and incoming precipitation will be increasingly helpful for water users in the late summer and early fall. Although the state has seen average precipitation so far, there’s a 40%-50% chance rainfall will tumble below normal levels for July through September.
Some areas, like Fort Collins and Burlington, have seen less-thanaverage rainfall so far. Even with some rain in the near-term forecast for early July, it will be hard for these
areas to end the water year, which closes Sept. 30, at the average level, Bolinger said.
e combination of hot and dry weather could make it harder for areas of the state that are already experiencing drought conditions to recover, and it could mean that more areas fall into drought, she said.
About 16% of the state is experiencing drought conditions. at is vastly better than in late 2020 and early 2021, when the entire state was in drought and over 20% was in the most severe drought category. At that level, agricultural and recreational economic losses are large, reservoirs are low, large res can develop and mandatory water restrictions are often implemented, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
In the Upper Rio Grande River Basin, aquatic biologist Estevan Vigil is keeping an eye on the water temperatures and water levels on the Rio Grande and Conejos rivers for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Brown trout and rainbow trout ourish when water is about 50 degrees but struggle when it rises above 70 degrees. At that level, their immune systems become stressed, and catch-and-release shing can lead to higher sh mortality.
If stream levels fall below 50% of the norm, and if temperatures rise above 70 degrees, Vigil may implement voluntary or emergency shing closures.
looking good during the water conditions meeting. Colorado Springs Utilities reservoirs were at 85% of their capacity, and Denver Water’s reservoirs were 97% full.
e lack of monsoons would heighten concerns over wild re risk or lead to a shorter rafting season for boaters, Bergere said. Less-thanaverage rainfall could also leave sections of the river dry as water gets pulled for other uses, like irrigation and municipal supplies.
Water users in the San Miguel River Basin know how to endure uctuating supplies, Bergere said.
“ ere is a slightly increased risk for drier extremes in the southern part of the state, which really means there would be a low likelihood that any drought that worsens or develops in the summer is not going to see relief through the fall,” Bolinger said.
“In the (San Luis Valley) since 2019, we’ve probably done it twice,” Vigil said. “I’m anticipating having to do it this year.”
A strong monsoon season would help keep rivers owing and shing access open, he said.
Several city water managers said their reservoir storage supplies were
“What we’re looking at there is not amazing, but it’s something we’re pretty used to down here,” he said. “Without much rain, wild re will de nitely be a pretty serious concern.”
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 vibrant tradition with a dark history
24th annual Colorado Dragon Boat Festival to take place at Sloan’s Lake on July 27-28
BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON
SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
As the legend goes, an ancient Chinese poet and court o cial named Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River in protest of the corrupt imperial government. Onlookers from the nearby village rushed into the river with their boats to retrieve Qu Yuan’s body, violently thrashing at sh with their paddles along the way to prevent them from eating his quickly decaying esh. is is said to be the origin of the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, and ultimately the dragon boat race.
Historically, the Dragon Boat Festival takes place on the fth day of the fth lunar month, a traditionally unlucky time of the year. According to the Smithsonian Institute, the festival incorporates several traditions that work to rid people of misfortune during this time. Parents, for example, give their children ve threads of colored silk to carry around with them during the Dragon Boat Festival. e threads are meant to keep negative spirits at bay.
To honor this Chinese tradition, communities all over the world hold
A girl meets a flying Chinese dragon. COURTESY OF COLORADO DRAGON BOAT
Dragon Boat Festivals, incorporating food, arts and sports, all in celebration of Chinese history and culture. Denver’s Sloan’s Lake Park is home to the United States’ largest Dragon Boat Festival, attracting nearly 200,000 attendees in recent years. e Colorado Dragon Boat Festival debuted in 2001 with the mission of building bridges of awareness, knowledge and understanding between the diverse Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Paci c Islander (AANHPI) communities in Colorado and the general public through cultural education, leadership development and athletic competition. e 2024 Colorado Dragon Boat Festival will take place on the north side of Sloan’s Lake Park on July 2728. In addition to the much-anticipated dragon boat races, the festival will include an Asian Marketplace where vendors and artists will be selling wares, two Taste of Asia food
courts, and a stage for live music. It will also feature live art demos, eye dotting ceremony, a performing arts stage, water zorbs and a dragonland kids play area.
“Our festival stands out because we are not just about Dragon Boat races. We are an arts and culture festival that also highlights and promotes the ancient sport of Dragon Boating. On land, we feature three stages with over 60 performances from community organizations, including Taiko drumming, Indian dance, and K-pop battles,” said Sara Moore, executive director of Colorado Dragon Boat, a non-pro t established in 2001. ose involved with Colorado Dragon Boat believe that AANHPI representation is crucial, especially in Colorado. e AANHPI umbrella encompasses more than 40 di erent ethnicities and cultures.
“In Colorado, only about 4% of the population identi es as AANHPI, highlighting the need for our communities to unite to be seen and heard,” said Moore. “ is is precisely why Colorado Dragon Boat, the nonpro t that hosts the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, was established.”
Moore added that the three founders – Ding Wen Hsu, Howie Solow and John Chin – recognized the necessity of bringing diverse AANHPI communities together to celebrate a collective impact.
“ e Colorado Dragon Boat Festival not only unites our AANHPI communities in a safe and fun environment to celebrate and promote
our remarkable contributions and achievements, but also invites the general public to join us in celebration,” Moore said. “Although we are an AANHPI festival, many attendees come from other marginalized and underrepresented communities. We strive to create a safe space for everyone to celebrate art and culture.”
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a signi cant increase in anti-Asian sentiment and hate, making the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival even more vital in the postpandemic era.
“It is heartwarming to see so many Coloradans and others support our community after such a challenging time. In 2023, over 200,000 attendees joined our two-day event, demonstrating Coloradans’ strong desire to support and uplift diversity and culture. We are a staple in Colorado history, as well as one of the largest events in Denver year after year,” Moore said.
Moore added that planning for the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is a year-round endeavor, and sta and volunteers are always introducing new and exciting elements to keep the festival fresh and relevant each year.
“For our sta , this event is a passion project that inspires them daily,” Moore said. “However, the festival would not be possible without the hundreds of community volunteers who devote their time and energy to ensuring a safe and enjoyable event each year.”
State urges families to schedule vaccines as measles cases rise
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Colorado public health o cials are encouraging families to ensure their children are current on their vaccines this summer, especially those required by school and childcare facilities, including measles, whooping cough, mumps, polio and varicella (chickenpox).
“Keeping our kids healthy at school starts with getting them vaccinated,” Dr. Ned Calonge, chief medical ofcer at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said in a statement.
“Summer break is a great time to schedule check-ups and make sure your child’s immunizations are up to date. is simple step helps keep them healthy and allows them to focus on learning and having fun in school.
“With recent measles outbreaks in the United States and around the world, it’s more important than ever to ensure all students are caught up on childhood vaccines,” Calonge continued.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. has already seen more than twice as many measles cases in the rst half of 2024 than in all of 2023.
Measles appears as a rash and can cause life-long hearing loss and brain damage. Up to 20% of those infected will need to be treated in a hospital, and severe cases can lead to respiratory failure and death. e CDC recommends the MMR vaccine as the best way to prevent becoming infected.
Data published by the CDPHE shows that for the 2023-2024 school year, nearly 93% of the state’s pre-K through grade 12 students were fully vaccinated against measles. Yet, because measles spreads so quickly, Immunization Branch chief at CDPHE Heather Roth said 95% of the population needs to be immunized to achieve herd immunity.
“While there hasn’t been a case of measles in Colorado this year, that doesn’t mean the risk isn’t there,” Roth said. “Measles can live in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area, so someone traveling either to or from Colorado could expose others, leaving unvac-
public health o cials are
cinated adults and children at risk.”
Roth noted that some school districts and schools have far lower immunization rates than the state average, which is concerning. She speculated the lower rates within speci c communities are less about vaccine hesitation and more about lack of access to regular healthcare or health insurance.
Vaccine compliance rates also dropped after the COVID outbreak as many families missed preventive healthcare appointments or well visits.
“ e good news is that many children are eligible for free or low-cost vaccines. To nd a provider near you, visit COVax4Kids.org,” Roth said. “We encourage you to make an appointment now rather than waiting for school to start when it can take longer to get in.”
e Colorado School & Child Care Immunization Data dashboard allows individuals to search immunization rates for required vaccines by school district, school or location.
Colorado
encouraging families to ensure their children are current on their vaccines this summer. STOCK IMAGE
Aurora’s Paul Toth poses with him dog, Snoop, pose for a photo on a recent hike. Toth said he is torn but if he had to choose, he’d go with the Epic Pass.
Ikon or Epic Pass? We asked 13 locals for their opinion
JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
ough we just eclipsed the Fourth of July, it’s smart to start thinking about gearing up for the winter season again. Colorado is the ultimate outdoor playground for skiing and snowboarding, but the options can be overwhelming, especially if you’re just getting into the sport(s).
Aside from hitting the backcountry, you’ll likely need to visit one of roughly 40 prominent resorts seasoned throughout the Rocky Mountains. It’s no secret they can get pricey, with day passes topping a couple hundred dollars.
at’s why most powder-crazy Coloradans purchase an Ikon or an Epic Pass. Depending on the option you choose, the pass can provide access to dozens of resorts not just in Colorado, but worldwide.
Instead of waiting for temperatures to drop, many slopeheads believe summer is the best time to load up on used gear and secure season passes. Other than price, several factors might determine which pass you favor.
So, we asked eight locals for their
“When I was in college in Colorado Springs, me and all my friends got the Epic Pass because there was a great college discount with access to lots of great mountains. However, since moving to Denver I’ve been on Ikon and believe it is the better of the two passes. If I leave early enough on the weekend, I can get to Winter Park in just over an hour and avoid the I-70 Eisenhower Tunnel tra c. Epic does not o er any mountains this close. Despite its proximity, Winter Park has also become one of my favorite mountains from a pure snowboarding perspective, with highly variable terrain perfect for any group I might take there. While I do get FOMO for not having access to Breckenridge, Vail or Telluride through the Epic Pass, these mountains are all further than Winter Park and give o a more bougie, rich, tourist vibe that doesn’t appeal to me. Additionally, I am from Los Angeles and my home resort is Mammoth Mountain. Given that Mammoth is on the Ikon Pass, it is very convenient to be able to go home for the holidays and use the
same pass I use in Colorado. Ikon also has great mountains all over the world. I am already planning a trip to Japan this winter to ski at Niseko.”
— Kyle Warner, Denver - LoHi
“Ikon is the move. Fewer options but fewer crowds. Plus, you get seven days at Arapahoe Basin and Aspen, and you get seven days at a lot of cool resorts. So if you plan to travel, you could hit Big Sky (Montana), Jackson Hole (Wyoming), Deer Valley (Utah), Taos (New Mexico), Sun Valley (Idaho), etc. One winter I did a trip to Big Sky and that alone made getting the pass worth it because day passes are so expensive.”
— Catherine Dodge, Wheat Ridge
“I most enjoy the people I’ve met while skiing Ikon mountains. ey always have great vibes and made the skiing even more enjoyable than the world-class mountains. e tailgating at Arapahoe Basin is unmatched and hard to nd a better group of mountain-loving people.”
— Alex Greene, Littleton
“I have the Ikon Pass and prefer it because of the mountains in Colorado as I nd them to be less touristy. I also enjoy being able to go to certain mountains on Ikon when I go home back east.”
— Isabelle Risse, Denver - Sloan’s Lake
Epic
“When deciding between Ikon and Epic it’s been tough in the past. However lately Epic has been our pass of choice although we have both. ere are more Epic options on the pass and mountains like Keystone have been a bit less crowded with great conditions.
Epic was also gracious enough to let us take advantage of early season pricing when we thought our passes were on auto-renew and they were not. Ikon would not allow us to get the same price. We had to pay midseason pricing.”
— Justin Scott, Georgetown
“When I rst moved to Denver, we went with Epic because those were the resorts that had more recognizable names. After two years we switched to Ikon. is year we’ll be going back to Epic. If you’re coming from Denver, Epic has more resorts within driving distance, but it also draws out bigger tourism crowds.
Ikon
Kyle Warner, of Denver, poses for a photo on one of the many resorts provided by the Ikon Pass in Colorado.
COURTESY PHOTOS
PASSES
In my opinion, I think it’s because those names like Vail, Breckenridge, and Crested Butte are more recognizable. I felt more limited with Ikon but crowds are better and the resorts were well worth only having two or three nearby for day trips. Some years I feel like the higher price tag with Ikon is worth it, and some years I want to hit the Epic resorts for the better scenery and deal with the crowds. If I had to pick just one, I’d probably grumble for a whole week and then decide on Epic.”
— Paul Toth, Aurora
“Grew up riding Epic mountains and they’re still my favorite places to go. Vibes are better, runs are wider, less moguls, less ice. What snowboarder wants to spend their day on moguls and ice? Bought Ikon last year to see what the hype was about and wasn’t super happy with it.”
— Sarah Samuel, Denver - Capitol Hill
“Ultimately, I chose the Epic Pass as it was what the majority of my friends purchased. I’m a big fan of the Epic Pass because I liked being able to go to Keystone and Breckenridge for the day. It also was a great excuse to travel to Park City and get some skiing in. I have a few friends who ski Vail exclusively, so it’s nice to be able to go there for a few days too.”
— Annie Strongwater, DenverWest Colfax
“We’re lucky to have tons of nearby options on both passes here in Denver. I did Epic for the rst two years when I rst moved out here because, as a Navy guy, the price on Epic couldn’t be beat. When I got out of the military, I gave Ikon a try and I fell in love with Winter Park. I’ve yet to have a single bad day at Winter Park early season, late season, or heavy powder. I could loop Panoramic all day and being able to bail on I-70 early on the trip can’t be understated. I’ve gone back this to Epic resorts this year to save money since im getting fewer days in with a oneyear-old at home. ey are great as well but you have to get far from the base and stay away from that area because Keystone, Breckenridge and Vail are painful to navigate the learner and family crowds causing astronomical lift lines on the front sides. I am looking forward to seeing those legendary back bowls at Vail again.”
— Chaz DeSio, Aurora
“Honestly, whatever is cheaper, which is Epic. I got Winter Park this year only because I can take the train and it’s cheaper than Ikon. I love to ski but I don’t need access to that many mountains.”
— Dana Itah, Denver - Sloan’s Lake
Both
“I have both Ikon and Epic Pass as it gives me the exibility to go to any mountain I want and not be restricted on where and when I can go.”
— Aileen Mendez, Denver - LoHi
“I have both. I think Ikon is better for day trips and then I have Epic for trips to Vail.”
— Ryan Larkin, Denver - Highlands
Neither
“Haven’t bought a pass before, but considering one for next season. Most likely Epic, but it’s dependent on which route friends are going.”
— Matt Fitzpatrick, Denver - LoHi
Sarah Samuel from Cap Hill poses with a friend at one of the resorts o ered with the Epic Pass.
COURTESY PHOTO
BERGEN PARK CHURCH
Bergen Park Church is a group of regular people who strive to improve ourselves and our community by studying the Bible and sharing our lives with each other. On Sunday mornings you can expect contemporary live music, Children’s Ministry that seeks to love and care for your kids, teaching from the Bible, and a community of real people who are imperfect, but seek to honor God in their lives. We hope to welcome you soon to either our 9:00AM or 10:30AM Sunday service.
Search Bergen Park Church on YouTube for Livestream service at 9:00am 31919 Rocky Village Dr. 303-674-5484 info@bergenparkchurch.org / www.BergenParkChurch.org
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH SERVICES
28244 Harebell Lane
Sunday Service & Sunday School 10am Wednesday Evening 7:00pm, Zoom options available
Contact: clerk@christianscienceevergreen.com for ZOOM link Reading Room 4602 Pletner Lane, Unit 2E, Evergreen OPEN TUE-SAT 12PM - 3PM
CHURCH OF THE HILLS PRESBYTERIAN (USA)
Serving the mountain community from the heart of Evergreen Worship 10:00 a.m.
Reverend Richard Aylor
O ce Hours: Tu-Thur 9:00 - 4:00; Fri 9:00 - noon Bu alo Park Road and Hwy 73 www.churchofthehills.com
WORSHIP DIRECTORY
CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION EPISCOPAL
In-Church: Sunday Communion Quiet Service 8:00 am & with Music 10:15 am 10:15 am only Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86017266569
In-Meadow: 2nd Sunday of the month at 9:30 a.m. --June through September— 27640 Highway 74 – ¼ mile east of downtown Evergreen at the Historic Bell Tower www.transfigurationevergreen.org
CONGREGATION BETH EVERGREEN (SYNAGOGUE)
Reconstructionist Synagogue
Rabbi Jamie Arnold www.BethEvergreen.org / (303) 670-4294 2981 Bergen Peak Drive (behind Life Care)
DEER PARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Pastor Joyce Snapp, Sunday Worship 10 AM
Located one mile west of Pine Junction just o Rt. 285 966 Rim Rock Road, Bailey (303) 838-6759
All are welcome to our open/inclusive congregation!
EVERGREEN LUTHERAN CHURCH 5980 Highway 73 + 303-674-4654
Rev. Terry Schjang
Join us for worship in person or on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/EvergreenLutheranChurch Sunday Worship held at 9am. www.evergreenlutheran.org + All Are Welcome!
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY CHURCH – EPC 1036 El Rancho Rd, Evergreen – (303) 526-9287 www.lomcc.org – o ce@lomcc.org Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m., with communion every Sunday “Real Church In An UnReal World”
A community empowered by the Holy Spirit which seeks authentic relationships with God and others to share the good news of Jesus with Evergreen, the Front Range and the world. Come as you are, all are welcome!
PLATTE CANYON COMMUNITY CHURCH
Located: 4954 County Road 64 in Bailey. O ce hours MWF 8am-1pm 303-838-4409, Worship & Children’s Church at 10am Small group studies for all ages at 9am
Transitional Pastor: Mark Chadwick Youth Pastor: Jay Vonesh
Other activities: Youth groups, Men’s/Women’s ministries, Bible studies, VBS, MOPS, Cub/Boy Scouts.
ROCKLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH
“Connecting all generations to Jesus”
Please check our website, www.Rockland.church, for updated service times ¼ mile north of I-70 at exit 254 17 S Mt. Vernon Country Club Rd., Golden, CO 80401 303-526-0668
SHEPHERD OF THE ROCKIES LUTHERAN CHURCH
Missouri Synod. 106 Rosalie Road, Bailey, CO 303-838-2161 Pastor Pete Scheele Sunday Worship Service; 9 a.m., Fellowship Time; 10:15 a.m., Sunday School & Bible Class; 10:45 a.m. www.shepherdoftherockies.org
CAREERS
MARKETPLACE CAREERS
CITY OF CENTRAL
Senior Fleet Mechanic
City of Central FTE Salary
range from $53,364 - $72,041 DOQ/E
Requirements: Any combination of experience and training equivalent to graduation from High School, and four years of experience in automotive or related eld. Must possess a valid Colorado driver’s license with safe driving record, a Commercial B Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one within three months of hire, and a CDL medical card. Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certi cation is preferred. Under general supervision, the position performs a wide variety of complex semi-skilled and skilled mechanic work. Diagnoses, repairs, and performs preventive maintenance on all City vehicles and equipment. Works cooperatively with teammates to ensure City goals and objectives are ful lled. e City provides a comprehensive bene t package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance coverage. 100% of the employee’s premiums are paid by the City and approximately 98% of dependent premiums are paid by the City. Paid vacation and sick leave, 401(a) and 457b employer retirement contributions; een paid holidays annually. City paid Long Term Disability and Life Insurance.
Apply now: A detailed job description can be found on the City’s website centralcity.colorado.gov
Quali ed applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to the Finance/Human Resources Director at arobbins@ cityofcentral.co or mail to P.O. Box 249 Central City, CO 80427. e position is open until 7/21/2024. EOE.
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Miscellaneous
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AVOCET COMMUNICATIONS COMPANYProfessional & Technical Services (Other)6,507.70 CORRECTIONAL PSYCHOLOGY ASSOC Miscellaneous Contract Services18,333.00
General Fund TABOR Revenue Grants Total 24,840.70
EXPLORE INFORMATION SERVICES LLCConsultant
Fund Total 3,219.51
SERCOM Equipment Maintenance1,052.80
T MOBILE Telephone Services 459.00
TRINITY SCS INC Safety Supplies 544.10
TRISTAR INSURANCE GROUPWorkers Compensation Self-Insured Claims22,478.18
UNUM
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FLOCK GROUP INC Software as a Services (SaaS) 12,000.00
GRANITE TELECOMMUNICATIONS LLC Telephone Services 211.20
KEN CARYL RANCH WATER Water, Irrigation,
Jefferson County Warrants
All
https://www.clearcreekcounty.us/bids.aspx
The RFB may be downloaded from the designated website. The designated website will be updated periodically with addenda and other information relevant to submitting a Bid for the Project. Plans and specifications will be made available to Prospective Bidders who register as described above.
Instructions to Bidders
For all further requirements regarding bid submittal, qualifications, procedures, and contract award, refer to the Instructions to Bidders that are included in the Bidding Documents.
This Advertisement is issued by: George Marlin, Chair Board of County Commissioners
Legal Notice No. CAN 1612
First Publication: July 18, 2024
Last Publication: July 18, 2024
Publisher: Canyon Courier
Public Notice
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS CLEAR CREEK COUNTY CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, COLORADO
General Notice
The
and Bidding Documents for the Project can be found at the following designated website:
Clear Creek County (Owner) is requesting Bids for the construction of the following Project:
Steep-Slope Improvements for Fall River Road RC 24-03
All bids must be received as follows no later than Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 2:00 PM local time:
• Upload an electronic copy to an online submittal folder assigned to each Prospective Bidder that registers with the County; •Register as a Prospective Bidder via: Email: scanada@clearcreekcounty.us, Subject line: RFB RC 24-03
The Project includes the following Work:
Rockfall scaling of approximately 500 LF by 30-foot-high steep slope along the north side of Fall River Road between Rainbow Road and Cumberland Gulch Road.
Obtaining the Bidding Documents
Information and Bidding Documents for the Project can be found at the following designated website: https://www.clearcreekcounty.us/bids.aspx
The RFB may be downloaded from the designated website. The designated website will be updated periodically with addenda and other information relevant to submitting a Bid for the Project. Plans and specifications will be made available to Prospective Bidders who register as described above.
Instructions to Bidders.
For all further requirements regarding bid submittal, qualifications, procedures, and contract award, refer to the Instructions to Bidders that are included in the Bidding Documents.
This Advertisement is issued by: George Marlin, Chair Board of County Commissioners
Legal Notice No. CAN923
First Publication: July 18, 2024
Last Publication: July 18, 2024 Publisher: Canyon Courier
Public Notice
MORRISON BOARD OF TRUSTEES NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, of a public hearing by the Morrison Board of Trustees on the following date, time, and place:
Tuesday, August 6, 2024
Commencing at 6:00 p.m.
Morrison Town Hall 110 Stone Street Morrison, CO 80465
The purpose of the public hearing is to take public testimony and determine whether the Subject Property, as described in Resolution No. 202406, meets the applicable requirements of Section 30 of Article II of the Colorado Constitution and C.R.S. § 31-12-104 and C.R.S. §31-12-105 and is eligible for annexation to the Town of Morrison and to consider action by the Morrison Board of Trustees on a zoning application filed by Copart to amend the Town of Morrison Official Zoning Map to establish zoning of PD - Planned Development and adopt an Overall Development Plan to allow a vehicle auction center on the Subject Property.
A copy of the application is available for inspection at the Town offices, 321 Highway 8, Morrison, Colorado, during normal business hours and is posted on the Town Website at www.morrisonco. us/. Interested parties are encouraged to attend the public hearings and make their opinions known. Written comments may be submitted to the Commission and the Board of Trustees at 321 Highway 8, Morrison, CO 80465, any time before the meeting or before the hearing. For further
call 303-697-8749 or visit https://www.morrisonco.us/.
GIVEN THIS 10th DAY OF JULY, 2024
Ariana Neverdahl, Town Clerk
Legal Notice No. CAN 1613
First Publication: July 18, 2024 Last Publication: July 18, 2024 Publisher: Canyon Courier
of
tition for a Change of Name of an Adult has been filed with the Jefferson County Court.
The Petition requests that the name of Briana Adeline Ingermann be changed to Ibeya Adeline Allf Case No.: 24C844
/s/ Stephanie Kemprowski Clerk of Court / Deputy Clerk
Legal Notice No. CAN 1611
First Publication: July 18, 2024
Last Publication: July 18, 2024
Publisher: Canyon Courier ###
This summer, take simple steps for be er air
It’s another hot, sunny, bluesky day in Denver. The air is still and looks clear! Despite the beautiful day, you may feel irritation in your throat or a tightness in your chest while out walking the dog, at the park, riding your bike, or on an afternoon run. Your asthma may also be acting up.
This is likely the impact of ground-level ozone: the Front Range’s most pressing air quality problem each summer. We can’t see or smell it, but this pollutant accumulates the most on hot and sunny blue-sky days, reaching its highest levels in the afternoons and evenings.
While ozone serves an important purpose high up in the atmosphere — protecting us from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation — at ground level, high concentrations of ozone are unhealthy. Ozone makes it difficult to breathe, increases our susceptibility to respiratory infections, and exacerbates respiratory ailments such as asthma.
High ozone levels affect all of us. Even if you are healthy, ozone can impact the cells in your lungs during and after exposure, like
sunburn, and repeated exposure over time can lead to reduced lung function. The people at higher risk of exposure or more sensitive to this air pollution include the elderly, those with respiratory conditions, outdoor workers, outdoor athletes, and especially children, whose lungs are still developing.
Where does this air pollution come from? Ground-level ozone is not directly emitted from any source. It forms in the air when two chemicals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), react in the sunshine and heat of summer days. These chemicals are called ozone precursors, and they are released into the air from emissions made by our gaspowered vehicles, gas-powered lawn equipment, and oil and gas production across the Front Range.
Both colorless and odorless, ozone is different than wildfire smoke, tiny particulate matter called PM2.5 or PM10, and the visible Denver “brown cloud” of years past. However, ozone can combine with other air quality issues, and is sometimes referred to as “smog.”
errands, or taking the bus or the light rail to get where you need to go. Don’t forget: youth ride for free on RTD! For shorter distances, leave the car at home and walk, ride a scooter, or your bike or e-bike.
Fuel up your car after 5 p.m. to avoid releasing emissions during the heat of the day. Skip idling your car: instead, roll down the windows and turn off the engine while waiting in parking lots or lines. Consider a low- or zeroemissions vehicle, like an electric vehicle (EV), when it’s time to purchase a new vehicle.
While air quality in the region has greatly improved in the past half century, ozone remains a pressing issue to our health and environment. But as our gas-powered vehicles and gas-powered lawn equipment contribute to its formation, we all have the power to reduce ground-level ozone in the Front Range each summer!
First, sign up for ozone alerts. Visit SimpleStepsBetterAir.org to sign up for emails or text “BetterAirCO” to 21000 to receive air quality alerts on your phone. When the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) forecasts a high ozone day, the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) will send you a timely text or email to let you know.
On high ozone days, protect your health by avoiding outdoor exercise or heavy exertion between noon and 8 p.m. Still want to get outside? Plan ahead and spend time outside in the morning, or later in the evening, when ozone levels will be lower.
Second, reduce your emissions! Take some Simple Steps for Better Air: Skip two car trips per week by carpooling, combining
Mow the lawn after 5 p.m. if you still use gas-powered equipment. Even better, upgrade your old gas lawn mower, trimmer, or leaf blower to a new electric one with a 30% state discount at participating retailers this year!
And if your job can be done remotely, work from home at least one day a week and eliminate your commute altogether.
Taking these timely, simple steps in the summer improves our Front Range air quality, our health, and our ability to enjoy the outdoors! Visit SimpleStepsBetterAir.org for more information about how to reduce your ozone impact this summer and help your community breathe easier.
