Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen student celebrates success in statewide UNC Math Contest
A student at the Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen has made it to the second round of the University of Northern Colorado’s Math Contest for the rst time in many years. e student, seventh grader Tucker Jack Martin, solved six of the ten problems, all of which were very difcult — many students across the state only got one or two problems correct. Much of Martin’s success can be attributed to months of hard work.
“Tucker has been so persistent,” said Katrina Glaser, Tucker’s math teacher and leader of the school’s MathCounts club. “ ese problems have a high failure rate, but Tucker will learn what he did wrong, say, ‘Oh, okay,’ and get right back to it. It’s very satisfying to see his hard work pay o .”
Martin also emphasized that the guidance and knowledge of his teachers was an essential part of his success. “My math tutor Mr. Short helped me and my friend over the summer, and we also have a weekly elective class of MathCounts to help us practice.”
MathCounts is a nationwide nonpro t program that aims to make math more fun than the average classroom unit. e program, alongside state contests like the one the UNC hosts annually, brings a passion for math out of students that traditional classes rarely do.
“It’s way harder and way more fun,” Martin said. “We’re not just learning math; we’re learning strategies for a bunch of di erent logical problems.”
e club prepares for these difcult contests by studying a variety of model questions provided by UNC and MathCounts in the
Morrison speed camera vandalized and out of service
SEE MATHCOUNTS, P26
Town plans to hire new ticket vendor before returning controversial device to its streets
Morrison’s speed camera was vandalized last month and is out of service, likely until early 2025, according to Town Manager Mallory Nassau. But the needed repairs aren’t the only issue keeping it o Morrison’s streets. e town plans to hire a new vendor to process the tickets, after months of revenue tracking showed the current company is taking an outsized portion
Additionally, town leaders say many people aren’t paying the $40 citation, which is also impacting total revenue
At an October town board meeting, Nassau said she anticipates Morrison will end 2024 with $134,000 in speed camera revenue — signi cantly less than town leaders had anticipated. e town contracted with Louisiana-based Emergent Enforcement Solutions for automated tra c monitoring and en-
“We expected to get some sort of revenue from it,” said Town Trustee Katie Gill. “ e vendor’s billing to the town to manage the system has been huge. It didn’t turn into very much revenue for
“I think it’s also that lots of people aren’t paying the tickets,” Gill continued. “We still have to pay the vendor to manage the process, but the revenue
Nassau said she’ll have nal numbers
Tucker Jack Martin and Katrina Glaser in front of the middle school building at the academy.
PHOTO BY TIM WEIGHART
Denver and Je erson County partner to buy critical open space parcel
Purchase creates a 4,000-acre swath of uninterrupted public land
BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e Evergreen area recently gained 167 acres of additional open space between Bergen Peak and Mount Pence, creating a total of 4,000 acres of uninterrupted public land. e $3 million Nov. 6 Elk-Bergen property acquisition also protects a vital elk migration corridor. County o cials said trails eventually will be constructed on it.
e smaller property along Colorado Highway 73 connects Denver Mountain Parks and Je erson County Open Space parcels, including Elk Meadow Park, Bergen Peak Mount Pence, the Bergen Peak State Wildlife Area, and the Arapaho National Forest.
It also helps protect the area from development. e 167-acre property was zone agricultural (A-2), which would have allowed for the creation of 10-acre lots.
Denver Mountain Parks and JCOS each paid $1.5 million for the property, which was previously privately owned by the Tibaldo family. e national nonpro t Trust for Public Land helped facilitate the purchase.
It’s the rst time JCOS and Denver coown property as tenants in common, according to the county.
“We’re thrilled not only for the relationship we have with our partners, but to know that there are still property owners
in the county who value the protection of open space,” said Je erson County Open Space director Matt Robbins. “ is property was locked in there between a couple of already preserved lands. And anyone
who’s ever traveled down the highway there has seen and knows how big that elk herd is. To create this larger range for them to migrate is really important.
“We’re so pleased these people sold it
to us,” Robbins continued.
e purchase makes it possible to create trail connections from Elk Meadow Park, through Denver Mountain Parks property and into the Arapaho National Forest. Existing two-track roads could also be used for trails and public access within the property, according to a memo from Je erson County Manager Joe Kerby.
Robbins said there’s no timeline on trail construction.
“Our intent is to evaluate the land and formalize the relationship between us and Denver,” he said. “Once that is in place, we’ll look at how we can increase trails.”
An IGA between the parties will include a cost-sharing plan for demolition and cleanup of structures on the land, and future development and management.
“Securing the Elk-Bergen property represents a signi cant win for outdoor recreation in the Denver Metro area and Colorado’s Front Range,” said Jim Petterson, Trust for Public Land’s Mountain West Region vice president. “By joining these two partners and their adjacent lands, we’re creating an unbroken natural landscape that bene ts wildlife, supports ecological resilience, and provides residents with expanded access to nature.”
e land is also home to native ora and fauna, including moose and black bears, which will also bene t from unfragmented habitat preservation.
“ e Elk-Bergen property stitches together a series of conservation lands and iconic mountain landscapes that our communities have told us are important to them,” said Shannon Dennison, Denver Mountain Parks Director.
The recently acquired 167-acre open space tract is outlined in red.
PHOTO BY JEFFERSON COUNTY OPEN SPACE
Department of Justice Objects to Key Part of the NAR Settlement as Anti-Competitive
When the National Association of Realtors (NAR) agreed on March 15th to a $415-million-dollar settlement with a class of home sellers in Missouri, there were two changes which NAR agreed to make.
The first was to remove from the nation’s MLSs all mention of commissions being shared cooperatively with buyer brokers. The second was that all buyers must sign an agreement with any broker (other than the listing agent) before showing another agent’s listing.
If a buyer were to call one of us to see a listed home, we would want to make sure they were a qualified buyer before taking the time to show them a listing, but few of us would bother with any paperwork unless and until they wanted us to compose an offer to buy that or another listing. And we universally got away with that approach.
Last week, the judge in that case was scheduled to affirm or deny that settlement, and on Sunday, Nov. 30th, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a 5-page “statement of interest” stating that, in the DOJ’s opinion, the latter provision was anti-competitive and should be struck down.
So it was a bit of a pain (and an annoyance to the buyer) when we were told that from now on we had to get any prospective buyer to sign a “showing agreement” or a “buyer agency agreement.”
provision of the settlement. And let it be said that this rule was pretty meaningless in the context of the complaint on which the NAR settlement was based, namely that listing agents shouldn’t be sharing their commission with buyer’s agents.
Regarding the other requirement of the NAR settlement outlawing commission sharing and the publishing of “cooperative” commissions on MLSs, it has had little effect here in Colorado. All that happened was that offers of compensation were rephrased on listing agreements and on contracts to buy real estate.
judge in the settlement case deny that aspect of the agreement, too? Perhaps, but one can always hope!
The Origin of the 2.8% Co-op
At press time for this column, the judge had not yet affirmed the settlement, so maybe this is old news to readers, but I wanted to share it with you in case you haven’t heard about the DOJ filing.
We Realtors had taken a grin-and-bearit attitude toward both rules, and I personally hadn’t considered what the DOJ is now espousing — namely, that when you ask a buyer to sign a representation agreement with one broker just to see a home, no matter how short the term of that agreement, you are limiting the ability of other brokers to compete for that buyer’s business.
Prior to the NAR rule, it was considered proper practice to provide a buyer with whom we interact with a “Brokerage Disclosure to Buyer” stating that they are a “Customer” and not a client, but I don’t know any brokers who actually did that.
Since the NAR settlement didn’t say what kind of agreement that should be, I created a simple “Showing Agreement” which I printed up for our broker associates and gave to them, padded, to keep in their glove compartments. Before entering a listing, they were to fill in the blanks and have the buyer sign it before entering the listing. That copy would be given to the buyer, and I suggested that our broker associates take a picture of it on their smartphone — not to print and file it, but just to keep it on their phone as a record.
The fact remains that there is no one to audit whether this form is completed, although I suppose there could be “secret shoppers” who would test agents to see if they are doing that. But, remember, this is a NAR rule, not a state law, so any audits by the Real Estate Commission would not include verifying that such forms were being completed. For that reason, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear of agents who simply ignore that NAR rule.
Regardless, it would be a relief if, following this DOJ filing, the judge in the NAR settlement case were to deny that
Now, the listing agreements still state the same total commission — 5 to 6 percent, or whatever — but instead of saying how much of that commission the listing agent will offer to an agent for the buyer, the listing agreement now says how much the seller will offer to an agent for the buyer and then says that, if that amount is indeed paid to a buyer’s agent, that percentage will be deducted from the commission paid to the listing agent. In other words, no change except in phraseology.
Why the amount the seller is offering can’t be stated on the MLS makes no sense. Would it be too much to have the
Have you ever wondered why 2.8% became the typical or standard commission offered to “cooperating brokers” who represent buyers? Here’s a history lesson. It was explained to me that, before the U.S. Department of Justice said that the Denver Board of Realtors (DBOR) was engaging in price fixing by dictating commission rates, DBOR set the listing commission at 7%, and dictated that 40% of that amount, or 2.8%, was the proper amount to be shared with agents representing buyers.
After price-fixing was outlawed, listing commissions declined, but the 2.8% co-op remained a fixture, so to speak, because sellers and their agents didn’t want buyer agents to avoid their listings in favor of listings still offering 2.8%.
Nowadays, with buyers doing their own searching online (where that co-op commission was hidden from consumers), the reluctance to offer less than 2.8% diminished and now is far less important.
My Feb. 17, 2022, column reported that the percentage of listings offering less than 2.8% had grown from 2% in 2015 to 30%.
Is Your Home Fully Prepared for Winter?
Now that our warm autumn is giving way to the cold spells of winter, have you done everything you should to prepare for cold weather?
Frozen pipes should be your number one concern, given the damage burst pipes can cause. Are your outdoor hose bibs the kind that resist freezing? They’re easy enough to install. They work because the valve itself is deep within the unit so that it benefits from the warmth within your house.
Does the caulking around your windows need refreshing? Leakage around windows is a major source of lost heat.
ommend annual cleaning and servicing of HVAC systems.
If you have a wood-burning fireplace, when was the chimney last cleaned? Chimney fires are all too common.
Tree trimming is expensive, but should be considered, given the increase in hurricane-force winds due to climate change. Is there a tree that could fall on your home? Consider removing it, or at least trimming threatening branches.
This is a good time to test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and maybe install fresh batteries.
$750,000
Condos in this building at 722 Washington Avenue (called Washington Station) are in great demand because of its location right in downtown Golden. This new listing is for Unit 201, which has a great corner location directly above the unit’s deeded parking spot. Moreover, the stairs to the parking garage are right next to the door to this unit. (There’s also an elevator, of course.) This is a mixed use building, with commercial units, including the Golden Bike Shop, on the main ground floor. The unit itself features an open floor plan, with slab granite countertops and cherry cabinets with handles, and an island with breakfast bar to complement the dining area. At left is the view from the 5.5’x11.3’ balcony outside the living room. That view is also from both bedrooms. The bathrooms and kitchen have ceramic tile floors, and the rest of the unit has carpeting in like new condition. There’s a 7’-deep storage room and laundry closet with vinyl flooring. Take a narrated video tour at GoldenCondo.info, then come to the open house this Saturday, 11am to 1pm.
There’s so much to love about this home at 7085 W. 32nd Pl.! For starters, it’s a handyman’s delight with an oversized 2-car garage that is heated and has 200 Amps of power, including two 240-Volt circuits! Also, one of the basement bedrooms has been converted into a sound studio with professional soundproofing such that neighbors and the people upstairs wouldn’t be aware of it! Altogether, including that studio with its ensuite bathroom, this home has five bedrooms and three full bathrooms. And it has a full-size bar with bar stools next to that studio in the basement that
Check your dryer vent for built-up lint, a major cause of house fires.
Change the filter in your forced-air furnace to improve its efficiency. I rec-
Clean your gutters so water doesn’t collect, freeze and back up on your roof. We have vendors to recommend for each of these tasks under the “Resources” tab at www.GoldenRealEstate.com
Golden Real Estate’s Broker Associates
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Big Price Reduction on Brick Ranch in Wheat Ridge
Just Listed: 2-BR Condo in Downtown Golden
Fire district unification moving forward as Elk Creek board approves critical motion
Dissenting board member plans to appeal decision as Elk Creek, Inter-Canyon and North Fork move toward merger
BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Conifer’s three re districts cleared their last major hurdle toward unication Nov. 21. In an often emotional, standing-room-only hearing, the Elk Creek Fire Board approved a motion that allows the Inter-Canyon, North Fork and Elk Creek re protection districts to become one agency. Most of the audience members reacted to the 4-to-1 vote with vigorous applause.
“ is is another historic moment in our district’s history,” said Elk Creek Fire Chief Jacob Ware, calling the board’s action “a courageous decision.” “People in this district deserve the best possible service. You’re going to set us up for the future as a sustainable agency.”
Fire service is a vital service in Colorado’s foothills communities, where the threat of wild re is never far from many residents’ minds. Je erson County ranks No. 1 in Colorado for high and extreme wild re risk areas, and Evergreen and Conifer are among the highest risk within the county. Call volume at the area’s re agencies is on the rise, and the volunteer ranks are thinning.
Elk Creek, Inter-Canyon and North Fork re protection districts all serve
di erent areas of Conifer and have tried for years to merge. Voters narrowly defeated a November 2023 consolidation ballot issue that sparked still-lingering controversy and acrimony within the Elk Creek district.
In September, chiefs of the three districts said they would instead pursue uni cation, which doesn’t require a public vote or a mill levy increase. According to state statute, all three agencies would instead adopt the lowest mill levy among them — North Fork’s 12 mills. Elk Creek’s mill levy currently stands at 12.5, and Inter-Canyon’s at about 13.6.
Elk Creek was the last board among the three to vote for uni cation during its Nov. 21 meeting, by approving a motion to exclude itself from its own boundaries. at allows North Fork to include it in their district. Inter-Canyon recently approved its own exclusion and will also be included in North Fork.
Elk Creek was the only district in which the proposal proved controversial.
Board member Chuck Newby, who also opposed consolidation, voted against the motion. He said he and his supporters plan to appeal the board’s decision, as they believe it subverts the will of the district’s voters and violates Colorado statutes.
While a few people also testi ed against the proposal or suggested taking more time, most of those who spoke support the idea.
Denver re ghter and Conifer resident Nathan Hamm said the issue is about more than call response times.
SEE UNIFICATION, P5
Board president Greg Pixley announces the unification vote has passed. The decision was greeted with applause from most members of the standing-room-only crowd.
PHOTO BY JANE REUTER
“It’s very much about these men and women on that board that go to work every day,” he said, pointing to a photo display of re ghters in the Elk Creek station. “ ey have to do a lot more today than they did 30 years ago. ey can’t do their job as individual departments right now. ey’re crying for help. It hurts my heart to think a community would not stand behind what they want.”
Among the few opponents, Neil Whitehead III said uni cation overrides the voters’ 2023 decision and eliminates political opposition. He said the issue should be put back on the ballot, adding the change will mean bigger local government and could dilute emergency services for Elk Creek residents. Elk Creek has more residents and an overall higher proper valuation than the other two districts.
“What is going on here is clearly unconstitutional,” he said. “If uni cation does come to pass, when the inevitable mill levy appears on the ballot, you the board are risking loss of that ballot issue because of your brutish treatment of the voters in this matter tonight.”
Melissa Winefeldt, whose husband is an Elk Creek re ghter, spoke for unication. She pointed to a third-party study that said combining the re districts was the most scally responsible and e cient way to handle increasing demands.
“Complaints from the other side include concerns about increased taxes, strained resources in Elk Creek’s district, and now that the re districts are somehow denying democracy and going against the will of the people,” she said. “Not one time has any of the opposition ever produced evidence, pointed to speci c rules or laws, or
ever been able to su ciently back up any of these statements.
“Now that board member and his group threaten to sue the district for legally attempting to serve our community better,” she continued. “How is that a good use of our tax dollars? at is a threat to the health, safety and well-being of our residents.”
Long-time resident and former reghter David Long, whose family helped build the original Elk Creek Fire building in 1948, testi ed in favor of uni cation.
“I have in the past been against con-
solidation,” he said. “But I listen to what’s going on. I think I’ve changed my mind. I think this would be good for our community.”
Newby cited several reasons for his “no” vote.
“ e situation does undermine our local democracy and it has created division among the community and this board,” he said. “It didn’t have to be this way.”
He also said North Fork’s promised 12mill levy for the uni ed district could actually be set at about 12.9 mills — higher than Elk Creek’s current 12.5 mills. He cit-
ed a ballot initiative that allows some districts to annually adjust their mill levy to o set property tax revenue losses tied to the Gallagher Amendment. Because Elk Creek residents wouldn’t be able to vote on that change, Newby said the proposal is illegal.
North Fork Fire Chief Curt Rogers said while the district has the authority to adjust mill levies, the change Newby suggests won’t happen.
“Our board at our Nov. 20 meeting voted that it’ll be set at 12 (in 2025),” he said. “ ey can re-evaluate that in future years. But there is a cap to that.”
Board president Greg Pixley, who typically only votes on issues in a tie, said he was breaking that tradition for the inclusion vote. He also delivered an impassioned speech, during which he continuously stared at Newby.
“Seven years ago, I swore to this community I was going to do everything I could to provide the safest re department I could for this community,” he said. “ at’s the reason I joined this payless position where I sit and work 40 hours a week as a volunteer.
“I’m going to plead with my fellow directors to vote in favor of this uni cation to increase the safety of our ne community and these three re protection districts, to ensure … we can do what is best not to lose this entire community to some huge re.”
A Je erson County District Court judge must now sign o on the uni cation, which would then take e ect in January 2025. Conifer re chiefs said there is precedent for the process, and they expect the judge will approve it by the year’s end. e combined agencies will be rebranded as the Conifer Fire Protection District. e chiefs say uni cation will allow the Conifer district to add six paid re ghters, among other improvements.
Elk Creek Fire Public Information O cer Bethany Urban puts a supportive hand on Fire Chief Jacob Ware’s shoulder as the board casts its 4-to-1 vote for unification. The decision followed often emotional testimony from residents, board members, firefighters and Chief Ware. PHOTO BY JANE REUTER
at year’s end.
e camera, which was parked on a trailer on Bear Creek Avenue at Morrison’s east entrance, was vandalized Oct. 25, and is being repaired. e town said it has no suspects.
e camera began generating automatic citations May 8 and has been controversial — for those who get tickets, but also among the town’s business owners and some town trustees. And that controversy has centered not only on the brisk pace at which it issued tickets, but on a location that clocked drivers as they were leaving Morrison. e site was at the end of the town’s 25 mph zone and within view of a 40 mph sign in Je erson County.
e camera was set to issue citations to those traveling 10 mph or more over the town’s 25 mph speed limit.
Morrison Holiday Bar owner Dave Killingsworth, who called the speed camera the town’s “orange ATM,” suggested the town move the device to instead monitor the speed of drivers coming into Morrison.
“If you do put it back, put it on the other side of the street,” he said. Let people know what to expect, instead of giving them the nger on the way out.”
Killingsworth also said his revenues are down, as are those of many other business owners.
Some business owners have complained that Morrison’s parking ticket and speed enforcement are taking a toll on their sales.
“I think the combination of parking and putting in the (camera) on the way out of town, in a spot where people see
son, having dinner, coming out and having a yellow (parking) ticket on their car and then getting a speeding ticket could be attributed to some of the revenue depreciation. We need to look at that.”
Gill believes the camera should be moved to northbound Colorado Highway 8, monitoring drivers coming into town from U.S. Highway 285.
“We do need some speed patrol,” she said. “But I agree it spent too much time at that location targeting people leaving town.”
Trustee Paul Sutton said he’d also like
Morrison.
Morrison Police Chief Bill Vinelli said it was slowing drivers. e camera averaged 750 citations a day in its rst several months of operation, a number that had dropped to just over 300 by fall.
Vinelli, who oversaw installation of the camera and reported its activity to the town board monthly, is on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.
“Once people realize that if you speed, you get a ticket, we won’t have the number of speeding tickets we have now,” Sutton said, adding he is less concerned
Morrison’s speed camera warns drivers leaving town to slow down on Oct. 8. The camera was vandalized about two weeks later. The white sign in the background marks the transition from a 25 to
about its impact on local businesses than deterring speeders. “Public safety is more important to me than restaurants.”
Morrison has a long-held reputation as a speed trap that relies on tickets to bolster its revenues, but town leaders said that is a misnomer.
Trustees defended the paid parking and enforcement, saying it was designed to help businesses by ensuring parking spaces turn over.
“ ere are several smaller businesses who wanted the parking,” Gill said. “ eir revenue went up because they had parking available for their customers instead of employees of large businesses taking over parking.”
40 mph speed zone.
PHOTO BY JANE REUTER
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.
UPCOMING
Salvation Army bell ringers needed in Evergreen: Now through Dec. 24 at WalMart, Nov. 25-Dec. 31 at King Soopers, Dec. 9-24 at Safeway. Register at registertoring.com
Hiwan Museum holiday open house: 4-6:30 p.m. Dec. 13. Entertainment, light refreshments, guided house tours . 28473 Meadow Drive, Evergreen. Sponsored by the Evergreen Mountain Area Historical Society.
EPRD senior excursion Christkindl Market:4 p.m. Dec 13. Departing from Buchanan Park Recreation Center and Rocky Mountain Village Estates. Register by Nov. 29. evergreenrecreation.com.
Winterfest 2024: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 14. Artisan gift market and holiday festival. Center for the Arts Evergreen, 31880 Rocky Village Drive, Evergreen. evergreenarts.org
EPRD senior excursion Hudson Gardens: 4:30 p.m. Dec. 14. Departing from Buchanan Park Recreation Center and Rocky Mountain Village Estates. Register by Nov. 29. evergreenrecreation.com.
Pet Pictures with Santa: Noon-2 p.m. Dec. 14 at Aspen Park Vet Hospital, 25871 Duran Ave, Conifer, & 12-3 p.m. Dec. 15, Saturday, 12-2 p.m. at e ResqRanch, 25871 Duran Ave, Conifer. RSVP 303-8383771 or Help@AspenParkVet.com
Seniors4Wellness Cookie Exchange & Craft Fair: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 20, Christ the King Church, 4291 Evergreen Parkway, Evergreen. seniors4wellness.org.
“It’s a Wonderful Life,” Evergreen Players theater production: 7 p.m. Dec. 20, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 21, 2 p.m. Dec. 22, Center Stage eatre, 27608 Fireweed Drive, Evergreen. Tickets at evergreenplayers.org.
9th annual Conifer Christmas concert: 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 21. Stage Door eatre, 25797 Conifer Road, Conifer. Music of the early 19th century, stories of Old West Christmas celebrations. Featuring Norman Hughes and Dennis Swiftdeer Page. Ticket sales support Mountain Resource Center, Conifer Historical Society, and StageDoor eatre. Tickets at stagedoortheatre.org.
EPRD senior excursion Denver Zoo or Botanic Gardens: 4:30 p.m. Dec. 21. Departing from Buchanan Park Recreation Center and Rocky Mountain Village Estates. Register by Nov. 29. evergreenrecreation.com.
Evergreen Chamber Orchestra - Colorado Mountain Holiday Concerts: 3 and 6 p.m. Dec. 21, Evergreen Lutheran Church, 5980 County Hwy 73, Evergreen. Fun and festive family event featuring a 3 p.m. Santa visit. Tickets at evergreenchamberorch.org
Ice Fest: Dec. 31, Evergreen Lake, 29612 Upper Bear Creek Road, Evergreen. Ice skating, skate rentals, hockey, broomball, ice carving demonstration, mobile recreation trailer games, repits, DJ. evergreenrecreation.com.
will hold its annual Pets & Family Photos with Santa from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 7 at
BUSINESS INQUIRIES For advertiser or vendor questions, please email our business department at accounting@ coloradocommunitymedia.com
Columnists & Guest Commentaries
Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Courier. We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.
Email letters to kfiore@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Deadline Tues. for the following week’s paper.
Canyon Courier (USPS 88940)
A legal newspaper of general circulation in Evergreen, Colorado, Canyon Courier is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 3540 Evergreen Parkway, Evergreen, CO 80439.
PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID AT Evergreen and additional mailing o ces.
POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Canyon Courier, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110
Evergreen Ball: 8 p.m. to midnight, Dec. 31, Evergreen Lake House, 29612 Upper Bear Creek Road, Evergreen. Featuring the Michael C Experience band, catered hors d’oeuvres, desserts, photo booth, cash bar. Limited tickets at evergreenrecreation.com.
New Year’s Day Lake Plunge: 10 a.m. to noon, Jan. 1, Evergreen Lake, 29612 Upper Bear Creek Road, Evergreen. $50 participa-
Conifer’s annual Christmas concert is at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 21. at the Stage Door Theatre. COURTESY PHOTO
tion fee. No fee for spectators. VIP parking at lake, $25. Register at a4aevergreen.org
2025 Evergreen Pond Hockey Championship: 7 a.m. playtime, Jan. 25 and 26, Evergreen Lake, 29612 Upper Bear Creek Road. evergreenrecreation.com
CORRECTIONS
Colorado Trust for Local News asks readers to make us aware of mistakes we may have made.
Email linda@cotln.org if you notice a possible error you would like us to take a look at.
EAPL
Chow Down
AMY JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY
HAPPENINGS
ONGOING
Evergreen Sustainability Alliance is participating in Colorado Gives Day from now through December 10th. Donate today at www.coloradogives.org/organization/ evergreensustainabilityalliance.
Soldier Bags Project 2024: Tallgrass Spa accepting travel-sized toiletries and other donations at e Wild Game, 1204 Bergen Pkwy, Evergreen, for annual veterans backpack project. Information at tallgrassspa. com
Conifer Chamber of Commerce member meeting: 7:30 a.m. on second ursdays, Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church, 9444 Eagle Cli Road, Conifer. Free for members, $10 for non-members.
Evergreen Nature Center Weekly Preschool Adventures Program: 9 a.m. every ursday, 27640 Hwy 74, Evergreen. Free & no registration required. Programs designed for children ages 2-5 years old. All children must have an adult in attendance. Dress to explore the outdoors. evergreenaudubon.org
Evergreen Nature Center Monthly Family Program: 11 a.m. every last Saturday, 27640 Hwy 74, Evergreen. December’s program is Hibernation Station. 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 communities. Email evergreenpost2001@gmail.com
Evergreen Camera Club: Meets every second Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Evergreen Fire/Rescue auditorium, 1802 Bergen Parkway, 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. Information at evergreenarearepublicanclub.org
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 post-holiday volunteers:To help with our holiday tree and block styrofoam recycling event Jan. 4 and Jan 11. Collecting trees and block styrofoam to keep them out of the land ll and support ESA. Contact Wendy at 720-536-0069 or email info@sustainevergreen.org.
Evergreen Sustainability Alliance’s “Let’s Embrace Zero Food Waste” program needs volunteers: Program in local schools and food banks. Volunteers needed for a couple hours. Call 720-536-0069 or email info@sustainevergreen.org for more information.
Evergreen Nature Center: 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.
e Bear Creek Cemetery Association board of directors volunteers needed: Members needed to help with operations of the local cemetery on Highway 74, Evergreen. Contact board president, evergreenbearcreekcemetery@gmail.com
Blue Spruce Habitat volunteers needed: Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteers. A variety of opportunities and exible schedules are available on new construction sites as well as for exterior minor home repairs. No previous construction experience needed. Contact volunteer@ bluesprucehabitat.org for information.
EChO needs volunteers: e Evergreen Christian Outreach ReSale Store and food pantry need volunteers. Proceeds from the EChO ReSale Store support the food pantry and programs and services provided by EChO. Many volunteer options available. For more information, call Mary at 720673-4369 or email mary@evergreenchristianoutreach.org.
LGBTQ+ teen book club: Resilience1220 is o ering an LGBTQ+ teen book club that meets from 4-6 p.m. the fourth Monday at the Resilience1220 o ce next to the Buchanan Park Recreation Center. For more information and to register, visit R1220.org.
ESA EverGREEN Re ll Station: EverGREEN Re ll Station (re ll your laundry detergent, lotions, soaps and more. We have many sustainable products available). e Re ll Station is open Wednes-
days and Fridays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and the second Saturday of each month from 1-4 p.m. in the Habitat Restore, 1232 Bergen Parkway.
Support After Suicide Loss: A safe place to share and learn after losing a loved one to suicide. is group meets every fourth Wednesday of the month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. via Zoom or in person at the Resilience1220 o ce. For ages 14 and up. Suggested donation for this group is $15. Register at resilience1220.org/groups.
Sensitive Collection: Resilience1220 strives to inform and support highly sensitive people to live healthy and empowered lives. It meets the third Wednesday of each month from 6-7 p.m. via Zoom. Register at resilience1220.org/groups.
Caregiver support group: Mount Evans Home Health Care & Hospice o ers a monthly group to provide emotional support services for caregivers helping ill, disabled or elderly loved ones. An in-person support group meets Wednesdays from noon to 1:30 p.m. at 3081 Bergen Peak Road, Evergreen. For more information, visit mtevans.org/services/emotional-support/.
Parkinson’s disease support group: A Parkinson’s disease support group meets the rst Friday of the month from 1-3 p.m. at Evergreen Christian Church, 27772 Iris Drive, Evergreen. For more information, email esears@parkinsonrockies.org.
Mountain Foothills Rotary meetings: Mountain Foothills Rotary meets at 6 p.m. Wednesdays both in person at Mount Vernon Canyon Club, 24933 Club House Circle, Genesee, and via Zoom. Information at 346-248-7799.
LISTEN LIVE: Click the “Listen Live” button
Conifer Podcast Presents a repeat of our monthly Chamber Chat Wednesday, Dec. 11th at 5 pm
Presenting news and information from our local area Chambers of Commerce about our holiday events in the US 285 Corridor
Chow Down Pet Supplies AppreciationCustomer Day
and EAPL’s Pets’ & Family Photos with Santa WHERE? Chow Down Pet Supplies 1260 Bergen Pkwy Evergreen, CO 80439 WHEN? Sat. Dec. 7th 10am – 2pm WHAT? Santa Photos are an EAPL fundraiser - just $20 for photos! HUGE Silent Auction
Pet Vendor Representatives - LOTS of samples! PLUS…enjoy YUMMY free FOOD CATERED BY CATCUS JACK'S Saloon & Grill, Evergreen, CO
Clear Creek High School students craft custom skis and boards for one-of-a-kind ride
The students learned tradecraft skills in the logistics and art of making their own skis and boards
e sound of bandsaws, routers and sanding machines resonated and punctured the air in a classroom at Clear Creek High School in Evergreen as students joked while peeling resin-coated protective fabric from a freshly manufactured snowboard.
You will never nd another board identical to the one 11th grade student Johannathan Scott designed and crafted, starting with thin plywood stock available at the ski and bike classroom at the Clear Creek High School.
“It’s really a surreal kind of feeling when you get to make something that you’re going to use. It’s almost like building a bike from scratch, it’s just a really good feeling,” Scott said during class Nov. 18. e art of creating a board or ski is dependent on the individual creating it; thick or thin tails and tips, shaping and tapering you create your custom ride with graphics you’ve designed, Scott said.
“You have control of every aspect, like your style of riding… I built mine for just going downhill really fast basically,” he said.
At the center of the classroom is instructor and guide, Outdoor Rec and
Tech Instructor Ben Shay with the Clear Creek school district.
“It gives kids an outlet to do creative work with their hands and bring something to fruition. I like to tell the story, ‘Kids used to go home and give their mom a wooden spoon they made in wood shop.’ Now they get to show up with their own pair of skis or snowboard,”
Shay said. ere is a uniqueness to this county many locals take in stride, however, the culture of embracing and teaching lessons of the outdoors and our gift of this backyard is active, according to Shay.
“I think Clear Creek County has an abundance of opportunities for kids to get outdoors, what kids lack is the re-
sources or the education to do it and so this course is a stepping stone towards those skills,” Shay said.
High school freshman Archie Neu’s board design is an image of a Victorianera sailing ship.
It’s nearly ready for the slopes and when asked, “Why the ship design?” Neu simply responded, “Because I could.”
“People are going to ask what brand it is and I’m going to say, ‘Oh, I made it,’ and they’re going to be like, ‘What?’” Neu continued. “I thought it would be unique and cool and I think it turned out pretty well.”
e ski and bike program at the high school and middle school in Evergreen is also recognized as a leader in providing future manufacturers and designers in the industry, according to Shay.
So much so, the ski and bike program was recently recognized with a $20,000 grant from Shift Events to the Clear Creek Schools Foundation that will provide future funding for students in the school district and establish the Sean Wood Education Fund in recognition of the former Clear Creek County commissioner.
“Being able to get out on my own board is going to be so cool,” Scott said.
e wide-open eyes and smiles students have opening a gift to themselves built with craftsmanship and care is what matters, Shay said.
“When you boil it down, it’s all a lot of simple skills that transfer to a lot of other industries. ey learn a lot of the woodworking skills here that they would in a wood shop but then they get something that they actually get to strap on their feet, go to Snowdodgers, ride the hill and say, ‘Look I made this,’” Shay concluded.
11th grade student Johannathan Scott works on his snowboard in the ski shop of Clear Creek high school Nov. 18.
PHOTO BY CHRIS KOEBERL
Ifondly recall the tour I took of Hearst’s Castle on the California coast. I hadn’t planned on it, but when I saw how the woman at the welcome center, after I told her I had just watched “Citizen Kane,” hu ed about how the movie was NOT a fair representation of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst’ life, I couldn’t resist. I have to admit I was not disappointed. e tour was quite interesting. I entered the hallowed bedrooms where the rich and famous slept, gazed at magni cent works of art and statuary and learned that Hearst nally resorted to cutting o David Niven from the bar. Apparently he was a lush.
However, the most striking part of the tour for me came at the end when we were herded into Hearst’s lm room where he would do private, rst-run showings of Hollywood lms. Our guide stated Hearst invited and entertained a wide breadth of stars and artists. All were welcome except one.
“Who do you think it was?” he asked o handedly.
Stirred from my reverie, I clicked around on my heels and without hesitation said, “John Steinbeck.”
I was both right and delighted not
After a trip along the coast of Lake Michigan, I became intrigued by lighthouses and spent some time learning about these amazing torches. ey have existed for centuries; the Egyptians created the rst lighthouse 2,300 years ago. ey come in di erent shapes and sizes and can be seen in stunning places. Lighthouses must be nearly indestructible, give direction to the voyager, and protect vessels from unseen dangers lurking just below the water’s surface. e three most important parts of a lighthouse are the type of light used to attract attention, the location of the lighthouse protecting ships from danger, and the foundation upon which the structure is built. As I read more about these buildings, I thought about how, in our sometimes complicated and downright confusing world, we as human beings need lighthouses, something or someone to give us direction and protection from unseen
The winter of our discontent
JERRY FABYANIC
Columnist
because I knew that factoid but because it wasn’t hard to surmise. Steinbeck was brutally cutting toward the mega-rich, especially Hearst, and Hearst hated him passionately.
It’s not hard to imagine why: Steinbeck ripped away the veneer Hearst and many of the uber-wealthy of that time cloaked themselves with and hid behind. In so doing, he exposed not only them but also us in our complicity by venerating them and allowing them to get away with pretty much anything they want. He laid bare the corruption in their souls and the proclivity for it in ours. For then as it is now, it was about strength and success, success de ned by wealth, power and status.
If you’re looking for adventure or romance in a novel or getting lost in a whodunit, John Steinbeck is not your author. But if you dare take a peek into an unsettling side of the human soul, he’s your guide. And there’s no place better to start with than “ e Winter of Our Discon-
tent.”
As he watches the drama unfold he’s the center of, it slowly dawns on Ethan Allen Hawley, the story’s protagonist, that strength and success are seemingly above reproach, above morality and criticism. He wonders though if there is a “check in men” that “stops or punishes” but concludes there isn’t and that the only punishment meted out in that moral universe is for failure.
It’s a pathetic ethical and moral code, but it is quintessentially American, encoded in the American ethos by Hearst and his uber-wealthy contemporaries, the so-called Titans of Industry. Success at all cost or else you’re red. And not only literally, but guratively in your private life because it’ll be well known that you’re a loser.
Wanting to be careful with a spoiler alert for those who haven’t read the novel, I won’t provide the context of the following. But I hope if you read or reread the book, you’ll take your time, slowread, and highlight the exchange Ethan has toward the end of the story.
After surveying the ruin that has transpired, Ethan wryly observes what’s covered up, for the perps and their solicitous followers and acolytes, doesn’t exist.
Lighthouses in our lives
Hide it, ignore it, talk over or away from it, and poof, it’s gone, it never happened. Ethan is disgusted and deeply shaken by the rot, the moral dissoluteness that solidi ed in those around him, including the ones he loves most. But he’s more unnerved by how he, after the seed was planted, allowed it to fester and grow within himself. Alluding to the biblical admonition about the wages of sin, Ethan plaintively asks, “Has sin gone on strike for a wage raise?” Sin being the unethical, immoral, unbridled pursuit of success, power and status.
While reconnecting with his Moral North Star, Ethan remembers that in the end, all anyone has and leaves as a legacy is their integrity, dignity and reputation, which, as Ben Franklin reminded us, is like glass: easily cracked and never well mended.
Despaired, Ethan must decide what to do about his moral quandary. What action does he take? Read the book in this, the winter of our discontent, and thou shalt knowest the answer.
Jerry Fabyanic is the author of “Sisyphus Wins” and “Food for ought: Essays on Mind and Spirit.” He lives in Georgetown.
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
dangers. ree questions helped me wrap my head around the idea of lighthouses in our lives.
What light shines for you in a way that you will never miss? Is it family, friends, mornings? Is it the promise of health or maybe just the comfort of knowing things will work out?
Whatever the light, it must catch your attention no matter how di cult the situation or how big the storm.
What is your lighthouse protecting you from hitting? Are your dangers discouragement, fear, anger, disappointment, or does something else present a greater peril? Knowing the dangers you are avoiding lets you know your light-
Twenty plus years ago in Michigan, and Evergreen today
e El Rancho Colorado building is not the rst historical landmark Jack Buchanan has aimed to “develop.” Back in his home state of Michigan, in 2002 he proposed to demolish the architecturally important, mid-century Grand Rapids City Hall and Kent County Administration buildings, anchors of the downtown urban renewalera Vandenberg Center.
Buchanan proposed a 24-story, 400-room hotel that would have dominated the space and dwarfed almost everything around it. e plan involved convincing the city and county to relocate from their long-time central location, convenient to other civic services and the general population, to new buildings Buchanan would build elsewhere. e agreement would entail the developer borrowing tax-exempt, while the City would make payments to the developer at commercial rates for 30 years. e Grand Rapids Business Journal documented the evolution of the proposal over several months. Characteristically, plans were continually evolving and Buchanan provided few concrete details. Rather than becoming clearer, the number of potential scenarios and estimated costs multiplied.
By October 2002, City o cials were skeptical of the terms, the time frame, thenancial risk entailed, legal constraints, and the developer’s ability to follow through
house is in the right spot. e goal of your lighthouse is to catch your attention when you venture too close to the rocks that can hamper your journey.
What is the foundation upon which your lighthouse is built? Is it faith? Is it family? Is it friends? Or is it some combination of all of these and a few other things? ere are all sorts of stories of lighthouses failing. ere is even a top 10 list of most endangered lighthouses published by MapQuest Travel. Most lighthouses that fail do so because of issues with the foundation. As the ground under the lighthouse erodes the structure cannot stand. It is only with a strong base that the lighthouse accomplishes its goal.
At rst glance, it may seem strange for a column about encouragement to suggest you think about lighthouses, but in introspection, we sometimes nd the greatest treasures. Taking time to think about this idea allows you to celebrate the supports
and protections surrounding you. It also allows you to look for ways to create the type of support you need if it is not there. If you take time to think about this idea of a lighthouse, I would love to hear about the supports surrounding you. As always, I hope that you will nd inspiration in my words and share those words of encouragement with those who need it. I would love to hear from you as you nd helpful morsels in these columns and as you nd ways to encourage those around you. I can be contacted at jim. roome@gmail.com.
Jim Roome lives in Arvada with his wife Beth. He spent 34 years in public education. Lessons learned from the one two punch of being diagnosed with MS shortly before his best friend was diagnosed with terminal cancer led him into a new pursuit as a freelance writer and speaker. He uses his life experiences and love of stories to inspire, educate and encourage local, national and international audiences.
at no cost to taxpayers. A City o cial was quoted in the Grand Rapids Business Journal saying, “beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this is a bad deal.” e option to purchase City Hall was allowed to expire in October 2003.
Today, the buildings have undergone a major renovation of their HVAC system. e public space they face, Calder Plaza, is being renovated as well. e complex, which includes well known public art installations, remains open, public, utilizedand appreciated. is brush with destruction remains a footnote in the city’s history, now so irrelevant that it requires digging to nd any reference to the story. Most recently (10 years ago), the Grand Rapids Press (mLive.com) noted that it was “an idea that died on the vine and even sparked a small movement of modernist architecture defenders.”
Buchanan himself no longer poses a threat to Grand Rapids’ heritage, largely because now he is here in Evergreen where he poses a threat to ours. e Buchanans’ petition to support replacing El Rancho with a sprawling QuikTrip truck stop now has 135 signatures at the time of writing this letter. e community’s petition to QuikTrip to oppose the truck stop and support keeping El Rancho has more than 10 times that number, and counting.
Kathryn Mauz, Evergreen & El Rancho
Jim Roome
Let’s scrap the stigma of mental illness
Even though 1 in 5 Americans is estimated to su er from mental health illness, talk about mental health in the rural West remains muted. I’d like to talk about it this anksgiving season because I’m grateful I got the help I needed after a long-fought problem: I’m bipolar and I’m being treated for it. I didn’t start out bipolar. I was 24 when my behavior took a dive. At rst, I chalked it up to my job in New York where I was buying and selling stocks all day. I became manic and anxious, prone to periods of depression laced with sleepless anxiety.
During a period of ramped-up mental anguish, I jumped out of a moving car. It was going fast, over 30 miles per hour. I was with friends when someone made a joke at my expense, and rather than re back a witty response. I thought, “I’m going to explode.”
I opened the door and jumped. Ten seconds later I was hobbling down a dark suburban street. Sure, I was bloody, gravel lodged in my hands, but I was relieved to be out of that car.
Running from problems became my life’s work. It was that or suddenly erupting in anger, seeming without notice. But for years I dodged seeing a psychiatrist, consulting a therapist instead. I’d grown up in a rural Western community and seeking psychiatric help seemed impossible.
When I nally sought out a psychiatrist 15 years later, he asked tough questions. What were the most erratic things I’d done? Jumping out of a moving car ranked rst on the list. Had I ever been hospitalized for my behavior? No, nothing that severe. He took notes, then gave me his diagnosis: I was bipolar. I rmly resisted that conclusion.
Skeptically, he o ered anti-depressant medication. “Typically, a bipolar person will have a poor reaction,” he said. I had seven bad reactions to seven anti-depressants. I nally gave up.
“I’m not saying I’m bipolar,” I said. “But if I were, what medication would you prescribe?”
“I’d prescribe an anti-psychotic,” he said.
At that point, the continuing anguish of my daily life outweighed my fear of being diagnosed as mentally ill. “I’m ready,” I said.
Sure enough, the medication was effective and life changed. I slept soundly and could readily work. I experienced calm. I married, had a child and eased into what passes for normal life. But I never talked to people about being bipolar, about the medication that made life worth living. I bought life insurance and
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WRITERS ON THE RANGE
went through a medical exam. Afterward, the agent said I could get a much better rate without an antipsychotic in my daily regimen.
I paid the higher rate for what I called my “bipolar tax.”
In 2022, my family and I moved from New York to the town of Durango, Colorado. I called psychiatrists in the area and explained I was looking to start treatment locally.
One doctor quickly texted me back and asked me to text my medications.
“Whoa!” he texted, “I don’t treat bipolar patients.” e next psychiatrist rejected me also.
I tried to wean o medication, but the old hamster wheel of anxious thoughts spun faster and faster. In western Colorado, it took nding a telehealth doctor who would prescribe the medication that allowed me to function.
I also got to know my neighbor John Truitt, who is, among other things, on the autism spectrum and happy to chat about it. Sensing a kindred spirit, I began, “ is is a big secret.”
His reaction to my confession was surprising: “Big deal, you’re bipolar,” he said. “You’re what’s called 2E for twice exceptional.” at meant I was “neurodiverse” and gifted, he said.
My gift had once been turning the chaos of nancial markets into pro table trades, something I can’t do now while medicated, but I’m ne with that.
Since that day, I’ve told more people about my diagnosis and subsequent learning curve. is spring, I gave a commencement speech at the private Heron School for Twice-Exceptional Students in Moab, Utah, sharing with parents, teachers and students my bumpy ride with mental illness.
Looking at the audience, I saw understanding and acceptance.
Because so many of us live with it, mental illness needs to be acknowledged, treated and talked about. I could have saved so much time, energy and pain by seeking the right kind of help earlier. How much healthier we would be if we treated mental illness the way we treat any other illness — with openness and compassion.
Dave Marston is the publisher of Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonpro t dedicated to spurring lively conversation about Western issues. He lives in Durango, Colorado.
• Letters should be exclusively submitted to Colorado Community Media and should not submitted to other outlets or previously posted on websites or social media. Submitted letters become the property of CCM and should not be republished elsewhere.
• Letters advocating for a political candidate should focus on that candidate’s qualifications for o ce. We cannot publish letters that contain unverified negative information 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.
• Publication of any given letter is at our discretion. Letters are published as space is available.
Richard Boice Esser, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully at his home in Evergreen, CO on November 16th, 2024, at the age of 78, surrounded by his family. He was born on August 9th, 1946, in Bronxville, NY, to Mr. and Mrs. Pratt Boice Esser. He was a 1964 graduate of e Choate School, a 1968 graduate of e University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, a 1970 MBA graduate of University of Denver, and a life-long member of Phi Kappa Sigma.
On April 19th, 1986, Richard married the love of his life, Julia Alden Keough, in Frisco, CO. ey later moved to Evergreen where together, they shared 38 years of love, laughter, and adventure. He had a 30 year career in mining, starting as a day laborer underground at the Climax Mine, in Leadville, CO. He continued to work in the mining industry at the Henderson Mine, AMAX Gold, and as a Corporate O cer and Chief Labor Negotiator for AMAX Mining world wide. Upon retirement, he was an on-site H. R. Consultant for the Minera Antamina in Peru, S.A, for several years. Along-side his career, he served as a Municipal Court Judge in Breckenridge, Colorado, and was an early investor in Breckenridge Brewery.
Outside of his professional life, Dickie was a “glass half full” kinda guy. He was the man everyone
wanted as a friend, and he was a great friend to many. He loved Old Dillon Inn softball, gol ng, tennis, skiing, backpacking, and traveling with friends and family all over the world. He had a great sense of adventure and desire to live in the moment. He seized every opportunity that came his way and never worried too much about the details, as long as everyone was having fun!
Some of his greatest joys came from raising his three kids, being the cheerleader to their every sporting event, enjoying all that Colorado has to o er, and championing his alma mater: the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. His legacy will carry on forever, reminding us to take full advantage of every moment, and to ll your life with friends and memories. e man had no regrets.
He is survived by his wife, Julia Esser, daughters Lauren Agee and Megan Esser, son Henry Esser, and two grandchildren, Jaxon and Cali Agee. Richard’s legacy will live on through his family, his friends, and the many lives he touched with his kindness, sense of humor and wisdom.
In lieu of owers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association- Colorado Chapter at 455 N. Sherman St., #500, Denver, CO 80203. www.Alz.org/CO.
Dave Marston
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Educators Je Kagan and Paige Doughty are a married children’s musical duo in Colorado who have performed together for 20 years. ey focus on teaching science in English and Spanish through music and theater at summer camps and educational school assemblies.
“To see the joy on their faces and the connections they make through their bodies and minds when dancing and singing about these complex subjects” is what makes it all worth it, Doughty said.
“I love creating something at home or sitting by a stream, a song, or an entire performance piece and then seeing how a large group of three to eight-year-olds responds to that when we present it,” Kagan added.
Doughty was not born in Colorado but considers it her home.
“It was the rst place that felt like home to me,” Doughty said. “I’ve been here a long time. I can’t claim I’m a native, but it feels like home.”
Doughty has undergraduate degrees in English Literature and French Language.
“When I was teaching middle school and high school, I realized I wanted to teach experientially about the is-
sues happening in the world around us,” Doughty said. “So I went back to school and I got a degree in Environmental Education.”
While pursuing that degree, Doughty met Kagan, who was inspired into the line of study after teaching residential environmental education at a camp for middle school students on the East Coast.
“Once a week, the entire sixth-grade class would come to a camp in the Adirondacks, which would be their curriculum for the week,” Kagan said. “I just fell in love with both the content and all the creative ways that teachers were using the natural world to get these kids excited about science and nature.”
After Doughty and Kagan completed their environmental education, they ended up in Boulder where they started leading programs through the City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks.
“We started doing those programs to get families outdoors to enjoy music. rough those programs, I started writing songs about the actual ecology of the places we were sitting in, and now we have seven albums,” Kagan said.
Kagan and Doughty made these programs their fulltime work in 2011.
Paige Doughty and Je Kagan are environmental science educators.
SCIENCE
When the duo performs, they sing and perform theatrically about science and nature while Kagan plays the guitar.
Doughty said they started adding the Spanish language to their music and theater science programs in
the last ve years and are trying to add more Spanish every time they perform.
“It’s important to us to be inclusive, and it feels exciting to use another language involved in our educational act,” Doughty said.
Doughty said they are called for performances at events mainly in the front range, but all over Colorado.
“In our 20-year history, we’ve been to many places. … Since we had our kids, we have stuck a little bit closer to
home and love traveling for work when we can and reaching more people with our live performances,” Doughty said.
e couple also has a YouTube channel and music available to stream.
Doughty said they teach kindergarten through fth grade, and babies and toddlers come to their shows, too.
“With fth graders, especially in the upper grades, I see them letting loose, nding themselves in the joy of their movement, and presenting it as their learning. It feels right we tend to deprive our kids so much these days, and we expect them to grow up so fast,” Doughty said.
Doughty said that occasionally over the years, she received feedback from people who said they wouldn’t bring the fth graders to their assembly because it was too babyish for them.
“I said they’re the ones that need it much more than the kindergarteners,” Doughty said.
e duo works as a nonpro t, so they do a lot of fundraising to support their programming and o er as much as they can for free to audiences, Doughty added.
“ ere’s so much work we must do in the background to plan the shows, rehearse, write and produce the music. It feels delightful, and it’s worth it,” Doughty said.
“It’s uplifting. It feels like we are ultimately doing what we are called to do, and the kids are having a great time, especially in a school context, that they’re getting to move their bodies and learn about these subject matters in a fun and artistic way,” Kagan added. “It’s what I want to do until my hair is entirely gray.”
For more information about Je and Paige, visit www.je andpaige.org. To see their performances, visit www.youtube.com/je andpaige.
Paige Doughty and Je Kagan dress in di erent nature and animal costumes.
BY STAVROS KORONEOS
Identity crisis
CONIFER – For reasons not detailed in her JCSO report, she really wanted an “EVO helicopter helmet” and was thrilled to nd one for sale on Facebook Marketplace. After negotiating for a while with “Robert” on Facebook Messenger, she decided he was a “standup guy” and con dently wired a big pile of money into the Surprise, Arizona, bank account of “Robert’s” wife, “Kaija,” which funds, her bank told her, ended up in a bank account in Minnesota. “Robert” didn’t send the helmet, of course, or accept any more of her communications. JCSO deputies looking into the matter were able to locate Robert in Surprise, Arizona, who was surprised indeed to learn that “Robert” was im amming in his name and with his banking information. Robert immediately contacted his local police department and his bank, not necessarily in that order, and deputies forwarded their end of the case to JCSO’s fraud unit.
Admission accomplished SOUTH JEFFCO – e garbage man
said he’d been going about his good and necessary o ce when a nasty young punk mooned him. Deputies asked the garbage man to de ne “mooned.” e garbage man said the young punk “pulled down his pants and showed me his (aft) cheeks.” e garbage man was sure he’d done nothing to provoke the visual assault and was “upset by it” and “wanted to press charges.” O cers located a young punk who neatly t the garbage man’s description of his optical assailant and asked him if he’d mooned anybody lately. e young punk at rst denied the deed, then reluctantly copped to the crime. “It was dumb,” the young punk said. “I’m embarrassed about it.” Deputies issued the young punk a ticket for disorderly conduct. “How am I getting a summons when I didn’t do anything wrong?” objected the young punk. e o cers pointed out that mooning a garbage man is wrong, and that he’d just admitted to doing it. “I admitted to it just because I wanted you guys to go away,” the young punk sulked. e o cers went away.
Bad trip
EVERGREEN – Hiding in the bushes outside of her house in the early
“A
NOW – DEC 29
WOLF THEATRE
morning hours of Sep. 24, and not at all dressed for the weather, a frantic Mary Jane “used the touch tones of her phone to communicate that she was in danger and not free to talk.” Arriving deputies rst put a thoroughly chilled Mary Jane in the back of a patrol car to warm up, and then asked her to describe the nature of her emergency. Lying abed but not yet asleep, Mary Jane sobbed, she’d heard her roommates elsewhere in the house plotting to kill her. She couldn’t recall speci cs, but she de nitely caught ominous phrases like “we need to do it before she wakes up” and “there’s plenty of time left to kill her,” menacing remarks that sent her straight out the bedroom window. For their part, Mary Jane’s roommates seemed confused to nd JCSO at the door until o cers told them they were investigating death threats to Mary Jane, at which point light bulbs appeared above all of their heads and “everything seemed to make sense.” As 911 records will attest, Mary Jane has a history of “smoking weed and hallucinating that everybody in the house is trying to kill her,” and then “climbing out the window.” Finally convincing Mary Jane that no murderous plot was
afoot, deputies left through the door.
The creative process
EVERGREEN – Tipped to a shirtless man observed on the night of Sep. 26 to have been sitting alone by the road for at least a couple of hours, deputies swung by to nd Bruce reclined as described beside a half-empty vodka bottle and a pair of nunchucks. Deputies asked Bruce why he was hanging out in the street half-dressed in the middle of the night. Bruce said he’s a “YouTuber” and was “creating content.” Deputies asked why he was hanging out with nunchucks. “I use them in my YouTube content,” Bruce explained. ey asked him to rate his level of drunkenness on a scale of 1 to 10. “Six” he said, or maybe “25.” Deputies cited Bruce for possession of nunchucks and public intoxication.
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.
A Christmas Carol
By Charles Dickens
Adapted by Richard Hellesen Music by David de Berry
Directed by Anthony Powell
Holiday season highlights rising food insecurity in Je erson County
dents experienced food insecurity in 2023, meaning they couldn’t a ord enough food over the year.
Rising costs, fewer grocery options and the phase-out of pandemic relief bene ts have made things more challenging for families trying to make ends meet, explained Willow Cozzens, strategic initiatives coordinator for Je erson County’s Food and Communities Program.
While many families look forward to traditional holiday meals, several food pantries have been forced to cancel turkey distributions due to resource shortages this year.
“ is is a signi cant blow for families who rely on these programs for culturally signicant holiday foods,” Cozzens said. “So folks are relying on other means, like other pantries that may have long lines, making it difcult for folks to access food.”
Local e orts to combat food insecurity
Je erson County Public Health is doing its part to help, working behind the scenes to support food pantries and local farms while tackling the issue at a systems level. rough initiatives like the Food In Communities Project, the county collaborates with regional partners to strengthen food systems through policy changes, grant funding and community partnerships.
Cozzens said her team also works to increase security and food systems resilience throughout the region through policy systems and environmental change and grant programs that support organizations on the ground.
“We support food pantries, encourage local food production and work with farmers to improve access to no-cost food,” she said. “By bolstering these organizations, we ensure they can sustain operations and reach
Local farmers also play a pivotal role in the food system. e county is home to at least 46 local farms participating in no-cost food programs, but Cozzens said they face mounting nancial pressures, including rising land costs and operating expenses.
Cozzens noted that JCPH advocates for policy changes to make farming more affordable while connecting farmers with resources to sustain their operations.
“ ere’s a growing demand for local food in Je erson County,” she said. “It’s vital that we support our farmers and ensure access to fresh, local produce for residents.”
Vulnerable populations and year-round needs
Among the county’s most vulnerable populations are children and the elderly. While food insecurity becomes more visible during the holidays, it remains a year-round issue.
“ e holiday season often draws attention to the problem, but the need for support persists throughout the year,” Cozzens said.
Challenges like limited access to nearby grocery stores, especially in rural areas, exacerbate the issue. Cozzens also noted that factors like the potential merger of Kroger and Albertsons and a lack of federal bene t acceptance at certain stores could further impact food a ordability and accessibility.
Residents eager to make a di erence can support local food pantries through donations or volunteer work. JCPH’s website provides resources for individuals looking to get involved or nd assistance.
“With the right support, we can make strides toward reducing food insecurity and creating a stronger, more resilient community.”
For more information or to get involved, visit JCPH’s Food and Communities website.
One in 13 Je erson County residents faced food insecurity in 2023.
FILE PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN
By Jason Harris of Foothills Kitchen & Bath
It’s widely accepted in the scientific community that Thag Urk’s greatest invention occurred one million years ago when he rubbed two sticks together to create fire. What’s lesser known is there isn’t consensus on why it’s such a magnificent achievement.
Was it because it produced more heat than sleeping next to curled up bears? Or because food evolved from sushi to flambéed? Sure, all important milestones, but hear me out, because I posit that there is a direct line between fire and indoor lighting. And while we might have more moths now, there are far less stubbed toes.
The most common lighting in our homes is ambient, a word whose Latin origin meant “going round,” though we tend to think of it today as something in the background, such as sound, heat or light. Any fixtures that cast light over the bulk of the room fit this category. Your grandparents’ bulb with a pull string in the middle of the room was ambient; chandeliers, sconces, cans or track lighting are ambient; floor or table lamps also belong.
With endless materials, whether man-made or au natural, lighting fixtures can provide architectural statements that are limited only by the imagination of designers: chandeliers that look like jellyfish, a driftwood table lamp, sconces repurposed from hubcaps. But what if American Express hasn’t been kind enough to add another digit to your credit line, how do you enhance your room without spiking your heart aflutter?
Take advantage of technology, because today‘s LED lighting is amazing and increasingly affordable. LED stands for “Light Emitting Diode”; electricity passes through a microchip and creates light via electrolu-
minescence. With no filaments to break, they, uh, claim to last thousands of hours and not produce heat. I’ll buy the low heat, but apparently my “thousand” is higher than theirs.
In the past, we’d buy bulbs based on wattage, whereas now we have to retrain ourselves with LED‘s to think in Kelvins and lumens. Kelvin refers to the color temperature of light, and runs from red to purple; the lower end is considered warm, while the higher Kelvins are cool. Maybe your preference is daylight — 5000-6000 K — but how bright do you want it? That’s where lumens come in, because as the lumens increase, the light becomes more intense or brighter.
But back to setting the mood. Clients constantly request more fixtures throughout a room, and our weapons of choice are thin profile retrofit LED’s. Initially, they came at specific Kelvins, then they were selectable prior to installation, before finally evolving to being adjustable on your phone. You can choose daylight for cleaning, then scale back to cool colors for entertaining, or party with red and green for Christmas or orange and purple at Halloween.
That’s more fun than one person deserves, so we’ll gloss over accent lighting — those that are directed toward specific architectural elements — to discuss the heavy lifting that gets done. Task lighting illuminates areas where projects are performed, such as over countertops or computers or reading. The most common example would be undercabinet lighting, but pendant lights above an island or directional mini-spots attached to the headboard are others.
We’re a kitchen and bath store, after all, so let’s talk about design ideas for kitchen lighting: Place under-
cabinet lights at the front of the cabinets; this not only directs the lights to the middle of your counters, it also decreases shadowing in your backsplash; that said, for a corner cabinet, place the light more toward the middle or add a second light, else the corner will seem darker. You’ll want either slim profile lights, or you’ll need light rail molding, but be aware light can bleed through the gap between the rail and the frame.
Consider glass shelves with puck lighting for cabinets with glass doors. Install motion detectors that turn on lights when doors or drawers are opened. Toe kick lighting is gorgeous. Tape lighting is less expensive, but projects a dotted reflection on your counters. My friend always referred to hidden wires as proper wire hygiene; with good planning, you can keep the wires behind the drywall before the backsplash is installed.
This isn’t lighting, but have you ever seen a beautiful backsplash that was marred by bad cuts in the tile to make room for electrical outlets? That’s a thing of the past as you can now have custom length, hard-wired power strips installed beneath the back of the cabinets. Dimmer switches are now touch sensitive for boomers; or wireless for millennials and Gen Z.
Whoops, must finish...article...but it’s suddenly... getting dark....daaarrk inside my eyezzzz....
Je co clerk spent $4K on get-out-the-vote billboard
Amanda Gonzalez, a Democrat, is rumored to be interested in running to be Colorado secretary of state in 2026
BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN
Je erson County Clerk Amanda Gonzalez’s o ce spent $7,200 on a get-out-thevote campaign in the lead-up to the November election that included a billboard with an advertisement that prominently featured her picture and name.
Gonzalez’s o ce said the campaign, launched in mid-October, also included social media posts, community events and yer distribution. e billboard alone cost $4,000.
e o ce said it found before launching the campaign that ads featuring Gonzalez, a Democrat, were high performing, citing a June report from the consulting rm Recap Communications. Gonzalez’s spokeswoman said those ndings reinforced national guidance and research showing that local o cials are the most trusted messengers for election information and ads featuring human faces are the most e ective.
e social media posts her o ce made also used likenesses of Je erson County Commissioners Lesley Dahlkemper and Tracy Kraft- arp, both Democrats.
Commissioner Andy Kerr, another Democrat and the county’s third commissioner, was on the ballot running for reelection this year, and therefore did not
It likely would have been illegal for Kerr to appear in the ads. A law the legislature passed in 2023 prohibits Colorado election o cials from using state or federal money to pay for advertisements that prominently feature a person who is a declared candidate for federal, state or local o ce. at provision in the law was added in response to ads ghting election misinformation run in 2022 by Democratic Secretary of State Jena Griswold’s o ce that prominently featured her as she was running for a second term. Her predecessor, Republican Wayne Williams, who was running at the time to be the Colorado Springs mayor, also appeared in the ad.
Gonzalez isn’t a declared candidate for any o ce, but she is rumored to be interested in running for secretary of state in 2026.
Democratic state Sens. Steve Fenberg, Je Bridges and Jessie Danielson also are in the mix, as is Gonzalez’s predecessor, former Je erson County Clerk George Stern, another Democrat.
“I have been honored to receive encouragement from colleagues, county clerks and many allies to run for secretary of state,” Danielson told e Sun this week. “I am strongly considering running because we need to protect our democracy from political extremists and special interests determined to undo our work.”
Bridges and Fenberg con rmed their interest in the position when asked this week by e Sun.
Stern told Colorado Politics this week that “it’s more important than ever that we have people with election administration experience serving as secretaries of state throughout the country.”
Gonzalez declined to talk about her in-
terest in running for secretary of state. But in a written statement, she defended the billboard as part of her o ce’s get-outthe-vote e orts.
“It has always been my goal to ensure that every eligible voter is able to cast their vote and have it counted, because I believe our democracy is stronger when everyone participates,” Gonzalez said. e o ce argued the campaign was aimed at helping boost early turnout, which saves the county money by mitigating logistical challenges that would have required additional sta ng.
“By encouraging early voting, we saved taxpayer dollars and posted results faster,” Gonzalez said.
But the billboard featuring her image and name didn’t encourage early voting. It simply said: “By mail, by drop box, or in-person: Vote by November 5.”
Sarah McAfee, a spokeswoman for Gonzalez, said the Je erson County Clerk and Recorder’s O ce nds “that telling voters speci cally to vote early can create questions about why … however, simply reminding them of the deadline spurs action to get it done.”
McA ee said early voting in Je erson County helped elections o cials there complete 98.5% of ballot counting on election night. Just 18% of mail ballots cast in the county this year were cast on election day, down from 40% in 2023, 28% in 2022 and 32% in 2021.
More than 350,000 ballots were cast in Je erson County this year.
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.
When you want to experience a steak
Omaha Steaks.
A billboard in Je erson County encouraging people to vote featuring a photo of Clerk Amanda Gonzalez. COURTEY PHOTO
7 practical tips from a behavioral scientist to navigate family conversations post-election
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Navigating political debates during the holidays can feel like walking a tightrope: one wrong step, and you’re in a heated argument instead of enjoying the pumpkin pie. Whether it’s a well-meaning relative dropping a divisive comment or a spirited family member pressing you for your stance, these moments can quickly escalate.
Denver-based behavioral scientist Susanna Park, Ph.D., shared practical advice for navigating these tricky conversations without losing your cool — or your relationships. Here are her top tips, drawn from her expertise and personal experience.
1. Know your goal
Before diving into any political discussion, Park advises asking yourself a critical question: What’s my goal?
HOLIDAY
DEBATE
“Is it to actually change the other person’s mind, or is it to just be able to speak your thoughts and feel heard?” she asked. If you know the likelihood of changing minds is slim, adjust your expectations.
“ e way you talk to them is going to change…because you know it’s not going to happen,” she continued. Reframing your goal can prevent conversations from spiraling into heated debates where both people ght to win.
Pro Tip: If validation is your goal, frame the conversation with open-ended questions to encourage dialogue, not debate. If you sense things heating up, redirect to common interests or shared values.
2. Recognize your limits
It’s okay to step away if the conversation becomes too overwhelming.
“You’re not losing an argument,” Park said. Instead, you’re saving yourself unnecessary stress and prioritizing quality family time. Remember, you’re allowed to decide how you want to spend your evening. Peacefully enjoying dessert beats a shouting match any day.
Pro Tip: Have an exit strategy ready. For instance, excuse yourself to grab a drink or o er to help in the kitchen when tensions rise. Physical distance can also give you
BERGEN PARK CHURCH
3. Set boundaries
Sometimes, the best approach is to set clear limits upfront. A mutual agreement to leave politics at the door can help maintain harmony. If some feel strongly about discussing it, they can nd other outlets while respecting the collective agreement at the gathering.
“ ere is something to be said about permitting yourself to not engage,” Park said. “Others in the community are with you and doing that work as well. Just because you’re not engaging in that one moment with your family doesn’t mean that you’re a bad person or that the situation will change for better or worse.”
Pro Tip: Frame the boundary as a shared goal to keep the event positive. For example, say, “Let’s make this about catching up and celebrating, not debating politics.”
4. Find common ground
Park emphasized the value of connecting with family members on shared interests outside of politics.
“If you care about animals, nd people who care about animals,” she said. Whether volunteering at a shelter or attending a local event, community work can bridge divides and bring people together.
Pro Tip: Suggest activities that focus on shared values. Whether it’s a food drive, local park cleanup or holiday decorating, working toward a common goal can
strengthen bonds despite di ering views.
5. Take care of yourself
Self-awareness is key, from managing social media algorithms to recognizing physical signs of stress.
Emotions are just information for us to then take in and tell us what the next steps are,” Park said.
Recognize physical signs of anxiety, like a racing heart or shallow breathing and step back if needed.
Park also advised that we don’t have to scroll through everything the algorithm shows us.
“I think it’s really important for people to recognize that they have the power to change how they feel about social media – how they feel going into it and coming out of it.”
And don’t underestimate the basics: “Get sleep,” she urges. e holiday chaos, compounded with election fatigue, means self-care is more critical than ever.
Pro Tip: Balance your media diet. Follow uplifting or educational accounts alongside news, and take regular social media breaks to reset your mindset.
6. Embrace the long game
Park said to remember that meaningful change and understanding take time, so there’s no need to resolve deep political divides in a single conversation over a holiday meal. Advocacy and change are marathons, not sprints.
Park likened activism to the airplane oxygen mask rule: take care of yourself rst. “If you’re feeling burnt out and fatigued, then your capacity is decreasing,” she said. Step back when needed and trust others in the community to carry the torch.
“It’s OK to take that moment. It may feel sel sh, but it’s really not,” Park said.
Pro Tip: Instead of diving into arguments, focus on small, impactful actions that align with your values, like sharing a thoughtful article, asking open-ended questions or simply listening. ese quieter approaches can build bridges without overwhelming yourself or others.
7. Practice empathy and kindness
At the end of the day, the holidays are about connection. “ ere’s a need for more empathy and grace for each other,” Park said. You don’t have to ignore the world’s challenges, but facing them together with kindness can make all the difference.
Pro Tip: Use humor to defuse tension. Sometimes, a light-hearted comment can help everyone remember what matters most: your connection, not your con icts. With these strategies, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the post-election holiday season with grace and sanity intact.
“ e holidays are rough for a lot of people,” Park said. “So just be kind.”
WORSHIP DIRECTORY
CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION EPISCOPAL
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: 10 a.m. Wednesday evening: 7p.m: (Zoom only Nov.1st-Mar. 31st.) Visit: www.christianscienceevergreen.com for more information and ZOOM link Reading Room: 4602 Plettner Lane 303-674-5296 OPEN: TUES-SAT 12 p.m.-3 p.m.
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
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
Reverend Dr. Knut Heim, pastor, Sunday Worship 10 AM Located one mile west of Pine Junction just o Rt. 285 966 Rim Rock Road, Bailey (303) 838-6759 deerparkumc.org
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
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF EVERGREEN Rev. Sarah Clark • 303.674.4810 • www.evergreenumc.org 3757 Ponderosa Dr. across Hwy 74 from Safeway in Evergreen Join us in person every Sunday at 10:00am for worship “Open Hearts, Open Doors, Open Minds”
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PUBLIC NOTICES
Notice is hereby given that a public hearing to adopt updates to the Clear Creek County Primary and Secondary Road System has been set by the Clear Creek Board of County Commissioners to be held on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 , at the Clear Creek County Courthouse, 405 Argentine Street, Georgetown, Colorado, where and when all interested parties may appear and comment upon the proposal.
Or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: (669) 900-6833 or (346) 248-7799 or (301) 715-8592 or (312) 626-6799 or (929) 205-6099 or (253) 215-8782
Webinar ID: 167 562 1155
Or iPhone one-tap: US: (669) 900-6833, 167562115# or (346) 248-7799, 167562115#
A list of the proposed updates can be viewed at https://co-clearcreekcounty2.civicplus. com/1280/County-Road-List-Map or at the Clear Creek County Courthouse, 405 Argentine Street, Georgetown, Colorado.
George Marlin, Chair Board of County Commissioners
Legal Notice No. CAN 1740
First Publication: December 5, 2024
Last Publication: December 12, 2024
Publisher: Canyon Courier
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TOWN OF MORRISON 2024 AMENDED BUDGET
The Board of Trustees of the Town of Morrison will hold a Public Hearing for the purpose of receiving public comment on an amendment to the 2024 Budget. The Hearing will be held on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 6:00 p.m at the Morrison Town Hall, 110 Stone Street.
The 2024 Amended Budget is available to the public for inspection on the Town of Morrison website at town.morrison.co.us. Any interested elector may file objections or comments in writing about the amended 2024 Budget any time prior to adoption by the Board of Trustees. For more information please contact the Town Clerk at 303-697-8749.
Ariana Neverdahl, Town Clerk
Legal Notice No. CAN 1735
First Publication: December 5, 2024
Last Publication: December 5 2024
Publisher: Canyon Courier
Metro Districts
Budget Hearings
Public Notice
HIDDEN VALLEY WATER DISTRICT NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED BUDGET
Notice is hereby given that a proposed budget has been submitted to Hidden Valley Water District for the ensuing year of 2025. That a copy of such proposed budget has been filed at the office of Simonson & Associates, Inc., 32045 Castle Court, Evergreen, Colorado, where same is open for public inspection during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.,
Monday through Friday. That such proposed budget will be considered at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors to be held via Zoom using meeting ID 461 381 5754, passcode 6743379 on Friday, December 6, 2024, at 5:30 p.m.
Any interested elector within such Hidden Valley Water District may inspect the proposed budget and file or register any objections thereto at any time prior to the final adoption of the budget.
Dated: December 5, 2024
HIDDEN VALLEY WATER DISTRICT
/s/ Judith Simonson, District Manager
Legal Notice No. CAN 1749
First Publication: December 5, 2024
Last Publication: December 5, 2024
Publisher: Canyon Courier
Public Notice
Jefferson Conservation District, Board of Supervisors will hold a hearing on December 12, 2024, at 4:30 PM via video conference
The hearing is to Amend the District’s 2024 Budget and to Adopt the proposed 2025 Budget. The proposed 2025 Budget is available for review by contacting the District via email at jcd@jeffersoncd.com. An elector of the District may file an objection to the proposed budget
at any time prior to adoption of the budget.
Please email jcd@jeffersoncd.com to attend.
Legal Notice No. CAN 1742
First Publication: December 5, 2024
Last Publication: December 5, 2024
Publisher: Canyon Courier
Public Notice
SOUTH EVERGREEN WATER DISTRICT NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED BUDGET
Notice is hereby given that a proposed budget has been submitted to South Evergreen Water District for the ensuing year of 2025. That a copy of such proposed budget has been filed at the office of Simonson & Associates, Inc., 32045 Castle Court, Evergreen, Colorado, where same is open for public inspection during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. That such proposed budget will be considered at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors to be held in person at the offices of Simonson & Associates at 32045 Castle Court, Suite 103, Evergreen, CO 80439 on Monday, December 9, 2024, at 12:00 p.m.
Any interested elector within such South Evergreen Water District may inspect the proposed budget and file or register any objections thereto at any time prior to the final adoption of the budget.
Dated: November 27, 2024
SOUTH EVERGREEN WATER DISTRICT /s/ Judith Simonson, District Manager
Legal Notice No. CAN 1747
First Publication: December 5, 2024
Last Publication: December 5, 2024
Publisher: Canyon Courier
Public Notice
NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN in accordance with the notice provisions contained in 38-26107, C.R.S., the CLEAR CREEK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS has established Tuesday, December 17th, 2024, 8:30 am, at the Board of County Commissioners hearing room, located at 405 Argentine Street, George-
town, Colorado, as the date, time and place of final settlement with Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. for Clear Creek County Road & Bridge Department’s Project RC 24-01 Pavement Rehab for Upper Bear Creek Road, County of Clear Creek, State of Colorado. Any person, co-partnership, association of persons, company or corporation that has
not been paid by the contractor or subcontractor, at any time up to and including the time of final settlement for work contracted to be done, may file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim with the Clear Creek Board of County Commissioners, Clear Creek County, P O Box 2000, 405 Argentine Street, Georgetown, Colorado, 80444-2000. Failure to file such verified statement or claim prior to final settlement will release the County and its employees and agents from any and all liability for such claim and for making final payment to said contractor.
George Marlin, Chair Board of County Commissioners
Legal
MATHCOUNTS
months leading up to competitions. And while Martin will continue to study the UNC’s material at home before the second round of the contest in March, Glaser’s team is also preparing for their MathCounts competition in February. “ e MathCounts competition is a bit more varied in testing,” Glaser said, “ ere’s a sudden death countdown round on the individual level, but then there’s also a team round. Last year, Tucker and Ryder were on a team, and with the brain power on that team, they were just so excited to work together.” e MathCounts competition has multiple rounds, and Glaser hopes to get her team to the state level this year.
With more contests coming soon, Martin and Glaser are both looking forward to expanding the program at their school and improving their team’s performances in competitions that much more.
Katrina Glaser’s MathCounts club taking their most recent test. The club meets every Thursday after school.
