Canyon Courier January 23, 2025 by Colorado Community Media

Evergreen celebrates its sesquicentennial

Year of events will feature monthly gatherings, commemorative beer, clothing and other events

When former Je erson County Commissioner Dwight Wilmot rst came to Evergreen in 1875, he was struck by its natural beauty. at same year, he asked the fed-

eral government to put a post o ce in the community, requesting they name it “Evergreen” after the trees he so loved.

Because Evergreen is not incorporated, that occasion — the rst in which the name “Evergreen” was used — marks the community’s o cial beginning, according to Historic Je co. And that makes this year Evergreen’s 150th anniversary.

To honor its sesquicentennial, the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce has lined up a year’s worth of events, including a monthly gathering called “Sacred Spaces” that takes a closer look at the community’s most treasured places and assets, and a July 3 Night in the Park that will shine a spotlight

on historical organizations and speakers.

“It’s something worth celebrating,” said chamber president Nancy Judge. “In addition to Evergreen, Colorado as a state will celebrate its sesquicentennial next year. In addition to that, we’ve got a lot of organizations within our community that are celebrating anniversaries — organizations that help make up the fabric of what our community is today.”

e Evergreen Players marks its 75th year in 2025, the Hiwan Homestead Museum its 50th and the Center for the Arts Evergreen its 50th.

Morrison eateries ask for help with parking issues

Trustees give mixed response, though new spots have been proposed

ree Morrison restauranteurs who recently asked the town board for help with parking in the historic town didn’t get the reaction they wanted. One town trustee suggested improving their restaurant’s offerings is a better way to draw customers than adding parking.

“Make your restaurants destinations where the food’s good and people want to eat there,” Trustee Paul Sutton said during the board’s Jan. 7 meeting. “ ey have threes on Yelp. I come and eat at these restaurants once a year and I think, ‘God, why did I do that?’ It’s terrible. Make better food.”

Parking has long been a hot topic in Morrison, but it’s not a subject on which the town board and its business people agree. Some business owners and managers say there aren’t enough spaces, and that the paid parking system implemented in 2021 — and tickets generated through it — are taking a toll on their bottom line. At the same time, board members and some residents say there’s more than enough parking in Morrison.

O ering a partial resolution to the issue, local property owner Ross Bradley said his company plans to add as many as 30 new paid parking spots on the main

Evergreen celebrates its sesquicentennial in 2025 with a year of events.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EVERGREEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Bear Creek Avenue is often lined with cars on a summer day.

PARKING

street, and town leaders said they’ll look into re-opening the now-closed alley parking north of Bear Creek Avenue.

e owners of the Morrison Inn, Tony Rigatoni’s and the Rooftop Tavern and the Morrison Holiday Bar asked the board for help during its Jan. 7 meeting; all said their revenues are down.

Paid parking ‘a disaster’

“I think the paid parking has been a disaster for the businesses,” said Butch Luedtke, the Morrison Inn’s owner. “We’ve had the worst year we’ve had in 44 years. It could well be a year from now, you

ANNIVERSARY

The July 3 event, set at Buchanan Park, will feature organizations with historical ties including the Evergreen Mountain Area Historical Society, Bear Creek cemetery, the Jefferson County Historical Commission, Evergreen Fire and the Evergreen Rodeo. Individuals with long ties to the community will also speak that night about life in early Evergreen. The evening will end with a hot air balloon glow.

Other organizations are welcome to participate in A Night at the Park, Judge said.

“We’re casting the net as wide and far as possible to anyone who feels

won’t have to worry about parking anymore. I hope you’ll do an evaluation on lost revenue from sales tax versus the dollars you’ve gotten from parking.”

Morrison’s sales tax revenue dropped from about $2.4 million in 2023 to $1.9 million in 2024. Some of that could be attributed to the mid-October closing of Café Prague, a popular downtown Czech food restaurant.

During that same time, the town took in $249,000 in parking revenue.

“Look at your sales tax revenue; our sales are down and that is a fact,” said Reza Ardehali, who owns Tony Rigatoni’s and the Rooftop Tavern. “I agree 100% with Butch on parking. When your customer comes in to pick up a to-go pizza and has a $50 parking ticket, he thinks Reza had something to do with it.

they have part of the history of Evergreen – an individual, business or organization,” Judge said.

In addition to the monthly and July 3 events, a commemorative beer will be on tap at some local spots and events.

The chamber has ordered merchandise sporting a new logo with mountains, elk, streams, a lake and trees that will be available at the chamber office, Evergreen Clothing and Mercantile, and community events. A commemorative coin will soon be available, with proceeds from its sale supporting the area’s historical places that most need extra care.

Here’s a listing of the Sacred Spaces events. Details are still coming. Each event, with full details, will be included in the Canyon Courier’s print “Happenings” calendar throughout 2025.

“Your revenues from parking were well over a quarter of a million. You bought that money in for a purpose. But I don’t think you took a serious look at what it does to us.”

Morrison started its paid parking program in 2021 after hearing from downtown Morrison owners who said their customers can’t nd places to park. e board said then it hoped paid parking would promote turnover on the spaces.

Morrison Holiday Bar owner Dave Killingsworth said the paid parking has done just that, and while he spoke in favor of it, he believes the town needs more parking. Killingsworth, who speaks about that need at nearly every town board meeting, reiterated that belief at the Jan. 7 meeting. He also asked the town to consider converting the Jones lot, an undeveloped

SESQUICENTENNIAL EVENTS IN EVERGREEN

All events run from noon to 2 p.m. unless indicated otherwise.

March 1: Spotlighting North Evergreen/ Anderson Family/Evergreen Fire/Rescue

Hosted by Jennee Hancock and Pete Anderson at the EFR administration building, 1801 Bergen Parkway, Evergreen

April 5: Spotlighting Downtown Evergreen

Hosted by John Steinle at sites including Evergreen Gallery and Highland Haven

May 3: Spotlighting Dedisse Park and Evergreen Lake

Hosted by Elaine Hayden & John Ellis at the Evergreen warming hut

June 7: Spotlighting Bear Creek Cemetery

property on the town’s west side, into a free parking area.

“We need butts in the chairs to survive,” Killingsworth said. “ e paid parking helps get butts in the seats for me because it turns the seats. But the number of parking spots is well below what’s needed. ere are enough seats going empty that it’s a ecting all of us.

“Costs are going up,” he continued. “Minimum wage is going up. We’re down here eating hardtack all the time.”

Trustee Krista Nash suggested the Jones lot idea is worth exploring.

“All three of these businesses have been running for 40-some years,” she said. “When they take the time to come and say we’re su ering … can we not noodle

Hosted by Elaine Hayden and Rose Smith at Bear Creek Cemetery, 26624 N Turkey Creek Road, Evergreen

July 3: Night at the Park at Buchanan Park

32003 Ellingwood Trail, Evergreen

July 19: Spotlighting Congregation Beth Evergreen and the Open Sky Amphitheater

Hosted by Jamie Arnold and Sarah Hess

Aug. 2: Spotlighting Hiwan Homestead Museum and e Grove

Sept. 6: Spotlighting Church of the Trans guration/Labyrinth/Center Stage/Lariat Lodge

Hosted by Tom Scripps and Tara Emch with a walking tour starting at the church parking lot, 27640 CO-74, Evergreen

Oct. 4: Spotlighting Bu alo Park School/Wilmot House/Native Plants

Hosted by John Steinle and Jennee Hancock at Wilmot Elementary School, 5124 S. Hatch Drive, Evergreen

Morrison’s

COURTESY PHOTO

Expect a Lot of Talk About Making Homes Fire-Resistant.

The whole world has watched in horror as wind-driven fires have ravaged Southern California, According to available data, approximately one-third of the U.S. population lives within two miles of the WildlandUrban Interface (WUI), meaning roughly 100 million Americans are situated in areas at risk of wildfires due to their proximity to wildlands. That’s 45 million residences that could be destroyed quickly, given the “perfect storm” of high winds, low humidity and dry vegetation.

It was that combination that destroyed over 1,000 homes in Boulder County three years ago.

sealed is essential when fire breaks out. The windows should be closed, of course, but keep in mind that if the windows have vinyl framing, it could melt, allowing the window to fall out. Aluminum framing melts at 1100º F, so metal or fire-rated wood framing is best. You could even install fire shutters or roll-down steel shutters, allowing you to keep your current vinyl windows.

Here’s My Contribution.

My Previous Columns on This Topic (posted at www.JimSmithColumns.com)

Sept. 14, 2023 — I Found Only One Marshall Fire Home Being Rebuilt With Fire Resistance in Mind

Jan. 5, 2023 — Revisiting Lessons Learned from the Marshall Fire a Year Later

Just like then, we are beginning to see pictures of homes that didn’t burn in the middle of neighborhoods where every other house was burned to the ground. Below is one such picture taken by the architect who built it, Greg Chasen. There was even a car parked on the property line that burned so hot that the aluminum from the car melted, flowing in a stream toward the sidewalk. A video link with this article on our blog, http://RealEstateToday.substack.com, includes Chasen explaining how he designed the home to survive just such a fire.

Embers will land on your roof, so a metal roof is best. There are some attractive stone-coated steel roofs that resemble wood shakes or composition shingles.

If you have a vented attic, you can install screens with 1/16-inch mesh that will keep 99% of embers out of your home.

The most important factor in keeping a fire out of a house is eliminating wind-driven embers from entering the attic. Most homes have ventilated attics, with soffit vents to let air in and roof vents to let the air out. In the above house, there is no attic and therefore no vents.

In my Oct. 13, 2022, column (see box above right), I wrote about two homes in Superior that didn’t burn because they had “conditioned” attics with no openings for ventilation. Instead of blown-in insulation resting on the attic floor, the ceilings of the attics (the underside of the roof) in both homes were insulated with closed-cell foam — in other words, attics were conditioned (heated and cooled) like the rest of the house. Because most fires spread through windblown embers, keeping a home completely

Some building codes now require fire sprinklers, but sprinklers probably wouldn’t be in your unconditioned attic. If a fire enters your attic, the PVC pipes in the attic for delivering water to your top floor sprinkler heads would likely melt before the sprinklers activate, which would be too late anyway.

If you have flammable roofing, you might install sprinkler heads on your roof ridges to keep the roof wet during an ember storm, but don’t bother doing that if you haven’t made your attic ember-proof!

Wood decks, wood fences and vegetation that touches your house will receive windblown embers and, after burning next to your house for a while, will ignite your home, so consider replacing or eliminating the deck, installing steel fencing, and eliminating all vegetation within five feet of your home, especially juniper bushes, which make great kindling for starting a house fire.

If you’ll be replacing your windows, having the outer pane be tempered glass makes it much more resistant to breakage from heat, and pay attention to the window frames, as I mentioned above.

If building a new home, adobe walls are best, because “dirt doesn’t burn.” In my Sept. 14, 2023, column I reported on a Marshall

Oct. 13, 2022 — Homes That Survived the Marshall Fire Were More Airtight and Had Conditioned Attics

Jan. 20, 2022 — Here Are More Examples of Concrete Construction and Fire-Resistant Roofing

Jan. 13, 2022 — Homes Built of Concrete Garner Increased Interest in Wake of Marshall Fire

Jan. 6, 2022 — Last Week’s Fire Disaster Is a Wake-up Call for Building More FireResistant Homes

Fire rebuild made from “Ecoblox,” a product of Lisa Morey’s startup, Colorado Earth

Here is a picture of homeowners Matteo Rebeschini and Melanie Glover at the factory where the Ecoblox for their home were being manufactured. Ecoblox also have a smaller carbon footprint than traditional bricks, because they are not fired, but merely compressed.

Building with dirt has a long and proven track record dating back 10,000 years, and is clearly the most proven material for building a fire-resistant home. Learn more at www.ColoradoEarth.com Their factory is near Brighton. Lisa built 25 homes in New Zealand before returning to the United States and co-authoring a book on the subject, Adobe Homes for All Climates

China and New Zealand are leaders, it appears, in the resurgence of this building technique. Read more at www.earthhomes.co.nz.

The reason for using bricks instead of its predecessor technology, rammed earth, is that it can be reinforced with steel rods and concrete to make the structure earthquake resistant, not just fireresistant.

Of necessity, this article only begins to deal with hardening an existing home or building a fire-resistant home. In researching this topic, I discovered a website www.WildfirePrepared.org, which has an amazingly thorough checklist of actions to take which result in the awarding of a “Wildfire Prepared Home” or “Wildfire Prepared Home Plus” certificate which is recognized by insurers in Oregon and California, but not yet in other states. Nevertheless, it is a terrific menu of actions you could take to make your Colorado home fire-resistant. I have put a link to it with this article at http:// RealEstateToday.substack.com

PBS Show to Feature Local Net Zero Home

This coming Saturday, January 25th, Rocky Mountain PBS will broadcast another episode of “Heart of a Building,” this time featuring John Avenson’s amazing net zero home in Westminster. It will air at 5:00, between “This Old House” and “Weekend NewsHour.”

neer, has continued to enhance the home’s performance as each new technology, such as coldweather heat pumps, was introduced.

John’s home was built by SERI (Solar Energy Research Institute), the former name of NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) as a demonstration project of passive solar design, with the limited active solar technology available at that time.

Since, then, John, a re-tired Bell Labs engi-

You’ll be impressed at how far John has gone to have his home be an educational installation which he keeps open to the public. It has been on multiple green home tours. Look for the half-hour program at 5:00 pm this coming Saturday on both Channel 6 and Channel 12. The series is a production of Rocky Mountain PBS, but it will air nationally on all PBS stations at a later date.

PARKING

some potential solutions to test this theory of whether it helps them or not?”

But other trustees and the town manager said making the lot usable would take signi cant time and money, and some said the lot is too far west of the business district to be viable.

Former town board member and Morrison resident Katie Gill said her own informal survey shows the town has ample parking.

“Even on the busiest days in the summer, when there was a 45-minute long wait to get a table at e Cow (restaurant), there were always at least 30 spots available at the school, and usually 10 to 20 free spots along Union,” she said.

Gill was referring to the parking lot at Red Rocks Elementary School, at which free parking is available when school is not in session.

Some solutions in the works

Bradley, whose company owns the now-vacant Morrison Carworks property on Bear Creek Avenue, said they have submitted options to the town for redeveloping the land into a paid parking lot with 12 to 30 spots.

Additionally, the board said it will nd out if it can re-open several parking spots in the alley that extends behind the Morrison Inn to the Morrison Car-

works building. It was recently designated a re lane, eliminating the use of about eight parking spaces. However, Luedtke said even without parking, the alley is too narrow for a re truck to maneuver, rendering the re lane designation a moot point.

While Sutton said he believes both Bradley’s and the alley parking are good solutions, he isn’t in favor of adding more parking or eliminating paid parking.

“I’m happy to help them with some of these things,” he said, referring to the Carworks and alley parking. “But I’m done with this conversation. ere’s lots of parking in town. And the paid (parking) was a solution to them coming and saying we want turnover. So far I think it’s been good.

“ e reason we have good business here is this is a nice place to be. We keep putting up parking we got nothing but a parking lot. It’s a Joni Mitchell song.”

But Ardehali said the issues with the town’s businesses go beyond parking. He sees an overall lack of investment from the town in its businesses.

“It’s embarrassing for me as a restaurant owner; we have not one Christmas light in town,” he said. “Look at Golden, Arvada (at the holidays), it’s beautiful; because those towns really believe and invest in them. We don’t feel that you care about us. I believe you should think twice about it before you have more closed windows and gaps in the landscape.”

A parking employee checks a parking kiosk in downtown Morrison on a quiet December morning.

PHOTO BY JANE REUTER

Dr Je is alive

Rumors of the Conifer veterinarian and Animal Planet star’s demise are greatly exaggerated

BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A year ago, an international website published a story saying veterinarian Dr. Je Young had died. at single false story still resonates at Conifer’s Planned Pethood, the animal hospital owned by the former star of Animal Planet’s long-running “Rocky Mountain Vet.”

Young is now on his fourth round with cancer, but very much alive and with a still very intact sense of humor.

“People send us sympathy cards with checks, so I’ll call them and say, ‘I’m still alive,’” he said. “And I’ll o er to send the check back.”

No one has taken him up on that o er. “ ey’re so happy and relieved he’s OK; they don’t care about the money they sent,” said Steve LuKanic, Planned Pethood’s marketing and communications director.

Young, 69, was rst diagnosed with lung cancer in 2013, and had a portion of his lung removed, eliminating the cancer. In 2016, during a routine exam, doctors discovered he had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a diagnosis he revealed on an episode of “Rocky Mountain Vet.” It went into remission after treatment. But in early 2023, he was diagnosed with lung cancer again. It is now in remission.

“ is is my fourth cancer,” he said. “It’s stage 4 lung cancer, and I will die. My goal is to have this facility be nancially soluble so it can go on long after I’m gone.”

Young is not taking time to think much about his diagnosis but is instead planning future renovations and expansions of Planned Pethood. During a recent tour of the facility, he barely paused to address

adding, “from the cancer but also from standing doing so many surgeries.”

e rumors of his death have taken a toll on the veterinary clinic. People who once supported it with donations and thought he had died stopped doing so.

“It does hurt us nancially; people think I’m not around and it’s going to go defunct,” he said.

But that’s not going to happen, he said. His wife, fellow veterinarian Petra Micko-

said. “She’s going to run an even tighter ship than I do.”

“Rocky Mountain Vet” launched in 2015. During its 8-year-run on Animal Planet, it was the network’s most-watched program, drawing 1.7 million viewers each week.

Dr. Je Young in his surgery room at Planned Pethood. Young is planning an addition and other renovations to the Conifer facility.

PHOTO BY JANE REUTER

Conifer animal shelter expected to move to Planned Pethood site

BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Intermountain Humane Society closed Dec. 21, but veterinarian Dr. Je Young said its closure is temporary. He plans to move the Pine animal shelter to Conifer Crossings, where it will share space with his Planned Pethood clinic, reopening in fall 2025.

IMHS and Planned Pethood operate as one nonpro t.

Young, who was for eight years the central gure on Animal Planet’s “Rocky Mountain Vet,” said the change will be an improvement for animals and people alike.

“IMHS is not leaving the community; we’re moving it 10 minutes away,” he said. “I’m excited about moving it down here. It’s going to be better and more e cient.

“I really do think we’re going to better serve Conifer, Evergreen, Pine and all those communities by having the facility attached here,” he added.

Young plans to add an addition to the current Planned Pethood building that will have heated oors and six indoor/ outdoor dog runs, and to convert part of the upper oor of the Planned Pethood building into a cat shelter, ideally with an enclosed outdoor area that will give cats access to fresh air during the day.

“I never wanted a big humane society, and I don’t think the mountain community needs it,” he said. “If you have a smaller number of animals but in better psychological and physical health, you’ll adopt more. My goal is to adopt 600 to 1,200 animals a year. I really want to do it right with the cats. I’m going to make this a destination point for people looking for

cool, really healthy cats.”

Selling the current IMHS property will nance the addition and construction, he said.

Young moved his practice from Wheat Ridge to Conifer in 2023, redesigning the former Scooter’s Smokehouse and Grill building at 11825 U.S. 285 into a veterinary hospital and training center for other veterinarians. Along with the practice, he and his wife, veterinarian Petra Mickova, also moved to Conifer.

But Young said running IMHS and its a liated Second Change rift Store has been challenging.

“It was horribly mismanaged for quite a few years before I took it over,” he said. “ e thrift store was part of the issue. We were bringing in about $30,000, not even enough to pay an employee, and (people)

were only seeing animals by appointment.

“It’s also a second property for us, so you have two of everything — insurance, etc. We decided to move it so that we’re all under one building,” he added.

Young hopes the tra c at Planned Pethood will translate to more adoptions and said hospital sta can help if shelter volunteers have scheduling con icts. Because veterinary students live upstairs at Planned Pethood, they are on hand 24/7 if an after-hours emergency arises at the shelter.

He remains committed to his passion of providing a ordable vet care and ensuring pets are spayed and neutered. It’s a unique business model in a country in which private equity rms are rapidly buying independent veterinary clinics,

contributing to fast-rising costs. In fact, a recent New York Times article said the price of veterinary care has increased more than 60 percent over the past decade, outpacing in ation.

“I don’t think any animal should be put to sleep just because it was born,” he said. “Our most expensive surgery goes for $2,500; that’s the max. I deal with a lot of elderly people on xed incomes. ey’re getting $5,000 and $10,000 quotes everywhere else.

“We’re on a sliding scale. I’ve done cardiac surgery for $100 on a puppy for a single mom with a little boy. He sent a card thanking me; that was reward enough.”

Young’s ultimate goal is to open lowcost clinics in every state, but that idea comes with a large price tag.

“If I had the money, that’s what I’d do,” he said. “It would not be hard to provide good medicine to every animal in this country.

“ e vast majority of animals are in households where people want them, and they provide so much for us psychologically.”

Despite the trend toward corporate clinic ownership, Young sees many reasons for optimism. Pet euthanasia rates have dropped dramatically in the past few decades, he said, and more newly graduated veterinarians are balking at working for corporate-owned clinics.

He hopes his model will inspire others.

“We do it because we believe in what we do,” he said. “It gets a little depressing from time to time when you can’t quite meet your bills. But I think this is one of the best-out tted facilities in the state of Colorado. We do the best we can, and we work with as many people as we can.”

A preliminary drawing of what the IMHS addition to Planned Pethood will look like. COURTESY OF PLANNED PETHOOD

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Ice racing returns to Georgetown Lake

Frigid temperatures in the mountains mean the ice on Georgetown Lake is thick enough for ice racing

BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On a recent Saturday morning in Clear Creek County, I-70 west ski tra c again inched its way forward to the slopes.

Along the way, frustrated and impatient drivers and passengers passed Georgetown Lake where — for at least a while — there was a show to listen to and watch.

e whine and roar of highperformance engines taking life could be heard from the interstate and snow and ice ew high in the air as a frozen Georgetown Lake became a race track.

“Driving on I-70, you see these cars on the ice driving later-

ally and you start hearing the revs and stu , it’s pretty sick, so we wanted to check it out ourselves,” omas Clingner of orton said, standing on the frozen lake with friends.

e weekend racing events are scheduled through the start of March this year. e events are organized by local group Our Gang, which has an agreement with Georgetown to hold the races on the lake and well over a dozen sponsors to support the non-pro t group, according to the group.

Our Gang members track individual and group racing records by the day, year and generation, according to records.

is is the club’s 48th year of racing vehicles on the icy lake, and as always, the cold wind whipping the air didn’t deter competitors, families and spectators from showing up early to unload cars and equipment for a day of competition on Jan. 11.

e course is outlined by orange cones which complete at least two full circles on the east end of the lake and exit from the

course into a “parking” area for drivers on deck.

One brave soul stands between the two competitive vehicles and drops a black ag to set drivers free to step on the accelerator and unleash the power of their one-of-a-kind machines.

Once underway, some of the fastest vehicles roostertail ice from the lake as steel studded tires grip, crawl and tear from the lake surface making tight 360-degree turns without wavering from the course.

e track is outlined in a way that the two vehicles are never side-by-side so any risk of collision is minimalized from the look of live races, according to organizers.

As far as why these racers commit such time, training, e ort and money into their vehicles to perform expertly on ice, there was one common answer: “Because it’s fun!”

“When you tell someone, ‘Well I drive a car on the ice,’ a lot of people don’t really understand or they think it’s dangerous and once you get into the details, you

know how thick the ice is and all that then you realize it’s all organized and safe,” ice racer Donny Cryer said.

What starts with an interest sparks an idea. An idea turns into a reality, and that realization will keep driving you forward to be faster and sharper year after year, summarized ice racer Josh Tenge, who was entering his 12th year racing with Our Gang.

“It snowballed into what it’s become, it (the car) was a daily driver at one point and year after year you add more stu and take more stu out and you end up crossing a line you can’t go back over,” Tenge said behind the wheel with shoulder harnesses locking him to the driver’s seat.

“Once we put a roll cage in there was kind of no turning back.”

e ice races are held on Georgetown Lake starting at 9:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday through March 2.

People are welcome to watch for free. Organizers just ask that spectators respect a few rules and don’t park on the lake.

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Ice racer Donny Cryer carves a frozen Georgetown Lake Jan.11.

Ice racing returns to Georgetown Lake as Our Gang club continues decades of competition on Georgetown Lake.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KOEBERL

Our Gang club members begin the group’s 48th year of racing vehicles on an icy Georgetown Lake.

Three friends from Thornton watched ice racing on Georgetown Lake Jan. 11.

Steel studded tires grip, crawl and tear from the icy surface of Georgetown Lake.

Ice racer Josh Tenge enters his 12th year racing with Our Gang on Georgetown Lake.

‘Community,

Golden Walks group helping Je co residents stay physically, socially active

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Wednesdays are for walking.

Every week, a group of Jefferson County residents meet at Clear Creek Canyon Park’s Gateway Trailhead and spend about 90 minutes walking along the creek — either up the canyon past Tunnel 1 or down into Golden.

As they walk, they chat about all sorts of things, stopping occasionally to admire the area’s flora, fauna and views. Each person walks at their own pace and goes as far as they want to, but the group overall tries to get in about 2 miles.

As Lakewood’s Linda Schmidt summarized, the group is centered on “community, outdoors, exercise.”

This is the informal Golden Walks group, formerly Walk2Connect, which was started by Golden’s Betty and Harold Payte several years ago.

Arvada’s Carolyn Rowe took over the group from the Paytes in 2020, keeping Golden Walks going through word-ofmouth and a group text thread.

The group meets at 9 a.m. every Wednesday unless there’s inclement weather or the path is icy, Rowe said. It used to meet at the Golden Welcome Center, but parking downtown became too complicated this summer with the new paid-parking restrictions, she said. So, the group has started meeting at the Gateway Trailhead on the southwest corner of Highway 58 and U.S. Highway 6.

Participation is free and open to everyone. Rowe said people are welcome to join every week or only on occasion.

As of its Jan. 15 outing, Golden Walks regular members are mostly women and mostly retirees. However, they hail from all over Jeffco, not just Golden.

The group also has at least one mem-

outdoors, exercise’

ber who treks in from Denver County.

Sarah Schott, who lives in Denver’s Westwood area, said she used to hike in the mountains frequently. However, as she’s not able to hike at the level she used to, she said the Golden Walks group has been a good middle ground — almost literally — between the mountains and walking around Denver.

Even though the group meets in the same spot every week, between the time of year, the weather and other factors, Schott said “every day is different.”

Rowe said one highlight about walking through Clear Creek Canyon is the abundance of flora and fauna. On its weekly walks, the group has seen bighorn sheep, a marmot and all sorts of birds. On Jan. 15, the eagle-eyed members spotted two separate herds of deer high up on the hills.

Plus, Rowe continued, several members have expertise in birds and botany and are always willing to share their knowledge with the group.

Golden’s Marcia Hodges, 81, said

daily walks are an excellent way to stay healthy. Along with two other exercise groups, Hodges loves the weekly walks with her friends, saying it helps her stay active and social.

“I’m bound and determined to stay healthy,” she said. “ … I wouldn’t miss (Golden Walks) unless I had to.”

Schmidt and Sylvia McGee, who’s also from Lakewood, each joined when the Paytes were still leading the group. They said the group mostly did loops along the Clear Creek trail between U.S. Highway 6 and Washington Avenue, occasionally going a little farther east or west depending on the day. It was a good outlet to have during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the group still met occasionally, Schmidt and McGee said.

Overall, they described how much they appreciated a chance to exercise, be outdoors, and build community.

Anyone who’s interested in joining a future Golden Walks outing can meet the group at 9 a.m. Wednesdays at the Gateway Trailhead.

On Jan. 15, the Golden Walks group heads down from the Gateway Trailhead to the main trail in Clear Creek Canyon Park. Golden’s Betty and Harold Payte started the informal walking group almost 10 years ago. PHOTOS BY CORINNE WESTEMAN

Golden Walks members Sylvia McGee, left, and Linda Schmidt watch a herd of deer grazing along the Goltra Fire burn scar while walking through Clear Creek Canyon Park Jan. 15. The Golden Walks members enjoy spotting all sorts of ﬂora and fauna on their weekly walks.

Golden Walks members group stop for a photo along the Grant Terry Bridge Jan. 15 in Clear Creek Canyon Park. Barring inclement weather, the group meets at 9 a.m. every Wednesday at the park’s Gateway Trailhead.

BY STAVROS KORONEOS

The boor next door SOUTH JEFFCO – e Hat elds and McCoys live directly across the street from each other. e two clans have been feuding for as long as either can remember, and both of their cabins bristle with surveillance cameras. ing is, Ma Hat eld’s call to JCSO wasn’t to complain about a McCoy, but was instead to point the willow-switch of blame at Old Man Barker, a dedicated McCoy supporter who lives a few doors up the gulch. Ma Hat eld told deputies that she and Junior Hat eld were in the front yard when Barker, who’d clearly been pulling on a jug since dawn’s early light, stopped his pickup truck on the street in front of their house and started hollering, “Why are you (frittering) with my neighbor?” and ranting about the Hat elds’ many personal and public failings. Apparently “sick of all the neighborhood strife,” Ma Hat eld waited until Barker got tuckered and went home and then paid him a call with a recording iPhone in her pocket. Right on cue, Barker started wildly and profanely raving about what a polecat Junior Hat eld is, and how Junior throws cigarette butts out of his car window, and how Ma should send Junior over

to his house so he can set him straight, and how if Junior ever comes over to his house he’ll “hit him in the face with a two-by-four.” As deputies were busy getting Ma Hat eld’s side of the story, Barker was clearly visible – and audible – lurching about his front yard “shouting and waving his arms uncontrollably.” Deputies were just heading over to the Barker place when JCSO dispatch informed them that Barker was on the phone complaining that the peace ofcers “refusing to talk to him.” Sitting down to talk to him, deputies advised Barker that he was just a whisker away from drunk-driving, false reporting, harassment and disorderly conduct charges. Old Man Barker apologized and promised to “stay inside and watch TV.”

Son of The Boor Next Door

SOUTH JEFFCO – Junior Hat eld called JCSO to report that somebody shot at him with a BB gun. Responding deputies noted that Junior’s eyes were watery, his speech was blurred and his complaint was going to be some time in the telling. e day before, Junior drawled, he’d been loa ng on the front porch when his sainted mother, Ma Hat eld, got into a shouting match with one of the neighbors. Which neighbor wasn’t really important, Ju-

nior assured the o cers, since the Hateld household is embroiled in “ongoing feuds with most of the neighbors in the area.” Either way, that particular neighbor had been complaining to Ma Hat eld about Junior’s “poor behavior,” and when Ma Hat eld ran out of excuses for her son’s troublesome conduct she simply spun on her heel and started marching back toward Hat eld country. Apparently not nished, the neighbor followed after her, still energetically listing Junior’s short-comings, which was when Junior got up from his chair, retrieved a .45-caliber pistol from inside the cabin and stationed himself in the driveway “to protect my mother.” e neighbor departed without trying to shoot Junior with a BB gun, because Junior was still getting to that part of the story. is morning, Junior rambled on, he’d observed another neighbor, Stinky Scruggs, “on the sidewalk across the street” and had wandered over “to see what he was doing.” Turned out Stinky hadn’t been doing much of anything, but had taken advantage of Junior’s curiosity to say he “didn’t appreciate” Junior “getting a gun” in response to a purely verbal neighborhood disagreement. “ at’s not how we handle problems where I’m from,” Stinky had said, and then returned a lawn mower he’d acquired from the Hat elds, explain-

ing to Junior that he “wanted to distance himself” from the entire Hat eld line. Perhaps fearing that Junior’s focus was slipping, deputies asked when he thought he might be within shootingdistance of the BB gun incident. Junior said he’d been sitting in his accustomed place on the porch that evening when he heard something that sounded like a BB hitting the other side of his house. And while he hadn’t seen anybody toting a BB gun around the neighborhood and there was no visible damage to the Hat eld cabin, he did see somebody moving around inside the Scruggs place and gured he’d better report the matter. O cers told Junior the BB-gun case was a non-starter, that he’d be stupendously well advised to leave the .45 in the house from now on, and that if even one of the neighbors decides to le a complaint about his gun-brandishing behavior of the previous evening he’ll very likely nd himself in a bitter feud with the county.

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.

Born for this

SWORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

everal years ago we purchased an Alexa and I discovered the joy of creating playlists. I know I am a bit behind the times when it comes to this, but I have fun making di erent lists. One of my music playlists is called “Re ection.” It consists of songs that remind me to consider the incredible choices I have in my life. I have become a strong believer in the idea that what plays in our heads — be it music, conversation, or television shows — sets the tone for how we perceive the world. It was with this idea in mind that I created the Re ection playlist; I wanted a way to ll my mind with encouragement, possibility, and joy. is playlist serves as one of my best reminders of that goal.

One of the songs on the list is “Born for is” by e Score. is song is an anthem for the band, expressing their belief that they were destined to write music and share it with others. I included this song in my playlist because it reminds me to focus on what I see as my life’s purpose, my “Born for is.”

Understanding our purpose in life is incredibly important, especially during dicult times. When we grasp our purpose and shift our focus to recognizing our in uence on the world and striving to make a di erence, our struggles tend to fade into the background. De ning our world is essential, but whether our world consists of ve, 50, 500 or even 5 million people, the size doesn’t matter; what truly counts is our focus on purpose.

I am currently working to re ne my understanding of my “Born for is.” Here is what I have so far:

I nd purpose in creating space for shared experiences, life’s stories, encouraging and learning from one another. Walking this path and opening the eyes of others to the joy of collective learning is my “Born for is.” When my focus is rmly on this purpose, my struggles with multiple sclerosis fade into the background. I don’t see walking or using my right arm as a struggle; on the contrary, I perceive incredible opportunities and absolute joy in doing things for others.

I hope that this week, you take time to reect on how you make the world a better place and nd the opportunity to articulate your own “Born for is.” Moreover, I encourage you to focus on that purpose and take steps toward achieving your goals. By doing so, you will witness your struggles diminish behind the bright light of your purpose. Know your purpose and your struggles will fade into the background.

I hope my words inspire you, and that you will share them with those who need encouragement. ank you to everyone who has shared their stories with me so far; I truly enjoy hearing how you nd valuable insights in these columns and use them to uplift those around you. is week, I would especially love to hear about what you see as your life’s purpose. You can contact me 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.

VOICES

Congrats to these young Evergreen ﬁddlers

After erce winds whipped re out of brush-covered hills on Jan. 7, entire Los Angeles neighborhoods burned down. Within a few days, over 12,000 homes and businesses had been destroyed as ames ringed the city. And it’s not over yet.

e photos of smoldering neighborhoods and distraught residents are horri c and shocking. Could they also presage the kind of wild re that might overtake Durango, a town of about 20,000 in southwestern Colorado?

It’s a question worth asking. Local re experts say Los Angeles and Durango are similar in topography. Durango doesn’t experience the hurricane-force Santa Ana winds that pushed the LA res, but it does often have sustained winds of 30 mph and gusts over 40 mph, which can vault burning embers great distances.

Perhaps more importantly, the big city and the town share the same pattern of development.

Angelenos have long coveted proximity to wooded canyons for their homes. Durango residents crave the same access to nature, pushing housing into canyons. In both places, million-dollar homes have been built among ammable trees.

Other similarities include lax regulations that fail to dissuade wildland builders. en there’s the question of storing enough water and having sufcient water pressure to ght blazes. Los Angeles ran out of water fast because attacks on simultaneous res quickly drew down supplies.

Durango uses around four million gallons daily and has two weeks of storage in its Terminal Reservoir. But if the city ran a dozen or more high- ow hydrants, water pressure would plummet in days. Here’s a suggestion: Prioritize building the $11-million-dollar, 36-inch proposed water line from Lake Nighthorse, a nearby reservoir, to

Los Angeles ﬁres a wake-up call for the West

WRITERS ON THE RANGE

the city system, boosting raw water storage to four months. Durango has a history of large wild res. In 2002, the 73,000acre Missionary Ridge Fire torched 46 structures. e town suffered another blow in 2018 when wildre ringed the town, burning 54,130 acres.

Randy Black, Durango Fire Protection District Fire Chief, is quick to point out that not one structure was lost in 2018, thanks to a coordinated e ort by local and state crews. “We got lucky,” he said. “If the June 2018 re happened later in the season, resources wouldn’t have been available.” Also key were carefully forged relationships among regional re ghting resources, Black said, along with extensive planning.

One hundred eighty employees and volunteers sta the Durango Fire District, which covers both the city and a 325-square-mile swath of the county. Black said they focus on what he calls the most important aspect of reghting—mitigation meant to keep wildland res from starting in the rst place.

at means working to create re breaks between wildlands and urban areas and removing fuels within the urban core. e town participates by thinning wooded areas on its perimeter, and federal agencies manage both thinning and controlled burns.

“If you don’t do the re mitigation, you run the risk of whole neighborhoods catching on re,” Black said.

Another similarity between Los Angeles and Durango is that both share di culty in getting re insurance. Some insurers have pulled out of California entirely, and when the Durango Fire District built its new in-town

rehouse last year, Black said, no one would insure the structure at rst. Colorado insurance companies had just weathered 10 years of property losses to wildland re, and they were loath to take chances.

Colorado’s new, state-backed Fair Plan o ers a last resort for home insurance, but it’s bare-bones coverage of homes worth up to $750,000. With building costs in Durango now estimated to be $500 to $700 per square foot, losing a 2,000-square-foot home to wild re means rebuilding a much smaller house.

I’ve talked to many wildland re experts about how towns can ght these multiple, destructive blazes. eir suggestions boil down to three basics:

First, make building requirements stringent for any home proposed in wildlands.

Second, get residents involved. e Durango Fire District o ers homeowners free assessments of re risk, and it also advises the creation of three zones around a house: Remove anything ammable within ve feet, include a turnaround big enough for re vehicles, and allow only widely spaced trees and mown grass out to 100 feet.

A third step is “hardening” existing structures with reproof building materials. Black, who built his own house, said he chose cement siding and a metal roof.

If homeowners take these steps, say insurers, they stand a better chance of keeping their insurance policies. 24 people have lost their lives in the Los Angeles res as of January 12. eir deaths are a wakeup call to everyone living in the West — especially Durango.

Dave Marston is the publisher of Writers on the Range, writersontherange. org, an independent nonpro t dedicated to lively discussion about the West. He lives in Durango, Colorado.

Jim Roome

Charlotte Lindenbach from Evergreen, Colorado, playing her ﬁddle in the Colorado Fiddler Championships. She placed 3rd in the ﬁnal round.

PHOTOS BY BELEN WARD

James Lindenbach from Evergreen, Colorado, playing his ﬁddle in the Colorado Fiddler Championships. He placed 2nd in the contest.

UPCOMING

“Sisters of Swing: e Story of the Andrew Sisters”: rough Feb. 2, Center Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, Evergreen. Presented by Ovation West Performing Arts and Vintage eatre. Featuring over 20 hit songs and offering a unique perspective into the women as human beings. Tickets atwww.ovationwest.org/sisters-of-swing

“ e Cottage”: 7:30 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 23, Stage Door eatre, 25797 Conifer Rd, Conifer. Hilarious farce set in the 1920s English countryside. Tickets at stagedoortheatre.org

Chill Out Winterfest: All day starting at 8 a.m. Feb. 1, Evergreen Lake, 29612 Upper Bear Creek Road, Evergreen. Ice bike race, mushies cup, amazing race, teen skate. evergreenchamber.org

Valentine Partner Yoga & Wine: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6, Evergreen Lake House, 29612 Upper Bear Creek Road, Evergreen. Register at evergreenrecreation.com

“Sounds of Silents:” 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6, Center Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, Evergreen. Piano prodigy Patrick Lee performs original scores to classic silent lms. ovationwest.org.

Ziegler, Miranda.Ziegler@je co.k12. co.us

Mt Evans Home Health Care & Hospice’sWinter WonderGala:5:30 p.m. Feb. 28, Mount Vernon Canyon Club, 24933 Club House Circle, Golden. Dinner, live and silent auction, live music and dancing. events@mtevans. org

Sacred Spaces: Monthly events honoring Evergreen’s Sesquicentennial: Noon-2p.m. March 1, Evergreen Fire/Rescue, 1602 Bergen Parkway, Evergreen. Spotlighting North Evergreen, the Anderson Family and EFR with hosts Jennee Hancock and Pete Anderson

ONGOING

“Denim & Diamonds” country western dance and fundraiser: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7, e Wild Game, 1204 Bergen Parkway, Evergreen. Abundant appetizers, cash bar, free line dance lesson at 6:20 p.m. Tickets $45 at rotarydenimanddiamonds.org. Funds support Evergreen Rotary.

EPRD senior excursions: Snowcat ride at Breckenridge: Noon, Feb. 7. 90-minute tour with sledding and a stop at a historic hut. Register at evergreenrecreation.com.

Sips & Chocolate: 5-7 p.m. Feb. 8, at participating downtown Evergreen businesses.

Tom’s Elton Tribute: 7 p.m. February 8, Center Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, Evergreen. Elton John tribute band. tomseltontribute.com

Evergreen Ice Melt tickets available through March 17: $3 each with discounts for multiple purchases. Purchase tickets or nd local businesses selling tickets at evergreenicemelt. com. Proceeds bene t local organizations and nonpro ts.

Public ice skating & lessons: Evergreen Lake, 29612 Upper Bear Creek Road, Evergreen. Season and punch passes available. evergreenrecreation. com.

Wild Aware is actively recruiting volunteers for their Last Friday Coffee. e monthly event is at 9 a.m., the last Friday morning of every month through fall. Evergreen Bread and Cocktail Lounge, 1260 Bergen Pkwy, Evergreen, CO 80439.

Jock Bartley ‘Call on Me’ bene t concert: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13, Center Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, Evergreen. Proceeds bene t Resilience1220, Wooden Hawk Foundation and Ovation West Performing Arts. Tickets at ovationwest.org.

Adult Pickup Pond Hockey: 5 to 7 p.m. every ursday through Feb. 13, 29612 Upper Bear Creek Road, Evergreen. Helmets mandatory and provided by the participants. Other protective equipment is strongly recommended. evergreenrecreation. com.

MindFest: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 22, Our Lady of the Pines, 9444 Eagle Cli Road, Conifer. Speakers, resources and activities on mental wellness.

Middle School Career Fair: Feb. 25, Evergreen Middle School, 2059 S Hiwan Dr, Evergreen. Including Evergreen Middle, Dunstan, Bell, and West Je schools. Community members interested in showcasing their careers or companies welcome.Contact Miranda

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 4 p.m. Feb. 19, then monthly (March - October) on the 4th Tuesday at 7 p.m., Evergreen Church of the Trans guration, Douglas Hall, 27640 Hwy 74, Evergreen. Serving all military Veterans in the foothills. 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.

PL8 POPULARITY

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMUNITYMEDIA.COM

If you feel like you’ve noticed more license plates with custom messages while driving on Colorado’s roads, you’re probably not alone. Numbers from state o cials reveal that those personalized plates are indeed becoming more popular.

Requests for custom plates in 2024 nearly tripled the number of requests from just six years earlier, with particu-

larly big gains in the past two years.

When asked whether the state Division of Motor Vehicles has any theories as to why personalized plates have become more common, spokesperson Jennifer Giambi said: “ e DMV cannot speculate why these have become more popular over the years.”

But while the reasons may not be clear, the trend appears strong. And the large jump in requests for custom plates since 2023 coincided with the introduction of Colorado’s retro black, blue and red

plates, three designs you’ve also probably seen out and about.

If you’re looking to customize your own plates with a word or message, it’s not necessarily as simple as walking into a county o ce and requesting the funny reference you joked about with your friends.

For one thing, the application is seven pages long. What’s more, messages that are deemed “o ensive to the general public” can be denied, according to Colorado’s application document.

You also must explain the meaning of the custom message you request — and if your explanation is too vague, the request will be rejected, the document says.

Here’s a look at the rise in popularity of custom plates, some messages that the state has rejected and how to apply if you’re thinking of personalizing your ride.

Personalized plate numbers up

Here’s the yearly number of personalized license plate requests — and how many o cials approved or rejected — in Colorado for each year going back to 2018, according to the state DMV.

( e state DMV was only able to provide information from 2018 onward because of a systems upgrade implemented that year, Giambi said.)

• 2018 — Approved requests: 25,818; rejected requests: 2,548; total: 28,366

• 2019 — Approved: 22,535; rejected: 437; total: 22,972

• 2020 — Approved: 19,291; rejected: 328; total: 19,619

• 2021 — Approved: 23,821; rejected: 419; total: 24,240

• 2022 — Approved: 38,054; rejected: 201; total: 38,255

• *2023 — Approved: 62,356; rejected 175; total: 62,531

• 2024 — Approved: 80,044; rejected 270; total: 80,314

What about that asterisk in 2023? It’s to point out that it was the rst year of Colorado o ering its retro black, blue and red plates, according to the state DMV. ose plates have roots in the past,

and the once-discontinued designs raise money for people with disabilities.

“ e rst blue-and-white plate was issued in 1914,” the state DMV said in a statement, adding: “ e rst year the allred background with white letters was issued was 1925.”

Colorado’s popular new black plate is modeled after a 1945 design, predating the state’s rst plate design with mountains by about 15 years, according to the state DMV.

For more information on the red, blue and black plates and the disability support funding, see Colorado Community Media’s previous story at tinyurl.com/ ColoradoPlates.

Rejected proposals

While many requests gain approval each year, plenty get rejected for being “foul, lewd or rude,” the state DMV said in a news release.

O cials may refuse to issue any combination of letters or numbers that “carry connotations o ensive to good taste and decency” or duplicate any other license plate, the application document says, citing state law.

“ e DMV also follows the guidance laid out by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, which states that unacceptable license plates include: profanity, derogatory reference

to a group based on age, race, nationality, ethnicity, gender, or religion; reference to illegal substances or criminal acts; sexual terms, intimate body parts, and bodily functions or uids; and references to acts of violence,” Giambi said.

Some rejected requests for license plate con gurations include “GYATTT,” “GTJIGGY” and “OMGWTF,” which appear on the o ensive-omit list, which the DMV uses to automatically reject most “foul, lewd or rude” requests, the division said in the 2024 news release.

See that list at tinyurl.com/LicensePlateReject.

How to get personalized license plates

If you’re looking to get a personalized plate of your own, get ready to explain your choice.

“Every entry requires an explanation,” Giambi said. “An entry can be rejected if no meaning is supplied.”

Here’s a look at some other criteria for custom plates:

• Only seven characters are allowed — six for motorcycles — including blank spaces, dashes and periods.

• e minimum amounts of characters allowed are ve for plates with numbers only and two for any other plate (all letters or combinations of letters and numbers).

• Spaces, dashes and periods count as a character. However, they do not change the con guration. For example, if “ABC” is taken, then “A B C,” “A-B-C,” and “A.B.C.” are also taken.

• Special symbols like !, #, $, %, * and so on are not allowed.

To be approved, requested customizations in Colorado don’t necessarily have to be original, according to the state DMV.

“A con guration can generally be reissued to either the same or a di erent individual as long as it has expired for more than 13 months,” Giambi said. It usually takes three days or less for a request for custom license plates to be rejected or approved in Colorado, but on occasion, it can take up to a week, Giambi said. e state makes the calls on which requests get approved.

“Personalized plates are a state-run program, and other than processing the transaction itself, the counties are not involved in the decision-making process,” Giambi said.

Custom plates carry a one-time personalization fee of $60 upon their initial registration and are an additional $25 upon renewal each year after, and other taxes and fees may apply, Giambi said.

For more information on custom license plates, see dmv.colorado.gov/ license-plates or call 303-205-5600.

BERGEN PARK CHURCH

Bergen Park Church is a group of regular people who strive to improve ourselves and our community by studying the Bible and sharing our lives with each other. On Sunday mornings you can expect contemporary live music, Children’s Ministry that seeks to love and care for your kids, teaching from the Bible, and a community of real people who are imperfect, but seek to honor God in their lives. We hope to welcome you soon to either our 9:00AM or 10:30AM Sunday service.

Search Bergen Park Church on YouTube for Livestream service at 9:00am 31919 Rocky Village Dr. 303-674-5484 info@bergenparkchurch.org / www.BergenParkChurch.org

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH SERVICES

28244 Harebell Lane

Sunday Service & Sunday School: 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

CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION EPISCOPAL

In-Church: Sunday Communion Quiet Service 8:00 am & with Music 10:15 am 10:15 am only Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86017266569

In-Meadow: 2nd Sunday of the month at 9:30 a.m. --June through September— 27640 Highway 74 – ¼ mile east of downtown Evergreen at the Historic Bell Tower www.transﬁgurationevergreen.org

CONGREGATION BETH EVERGREEN (SYNAGOGUE)

Reconstructionist Synagogue

Rabbi Jamie Arnold www.BethEvergreen.org / (303) 670-4294 2981 Bergen Peak Drive (behind Life Care)

DEER PARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

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!

WORSHIP DIRECTORY

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 John Graham 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

Garage and Estate Sales

Estate Sales

11608 Apache Tr., Conifer, Jan. 24-25, Jan.31-Feb.1, Feb. 7-8, 10 am - 4 pm. Furniture, Antiques, Fishing/Hunting Items, Tools and much more!

Merchandise

Health & Beauty

Dental insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400+ procedures. Real dental insurance - not just a discount plan. Get your free Information Kit with details! 1-855-526-1060 www.dental50plus.com/ads #6258

Medical

Attention oxygen therapy users! Discover oxygen therapy that moves with you with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. Free information kit. 1-866-4779045

ESTATE & RENTAL

Miscellaneous

Consumer Cellular - same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No longterm contract, no hidden fees free activation. All plans feature unlimited talk & text, starting at just $20/mo. Call 1-877-751-0866

Become a published author We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author`s guide 1-877-7294998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ ads

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PUBLIC NOTICES

Legals

Bids

ders, pavement markings, new valley inlet and culvert, construction stormwater management, survey, and traffic control.

Add Alternate #1 – Road signage installations along approximately 9.2 miles of Fall River Road.

Bids are requested for the following Contract: RC 25-01 Agreement Between Owner and Contractor for Construction Contract (Stipulated Price)

Obtaining the Bidding Documents Information and Bidding Documents for the Project can be found at the following designated website: https://www.clearcreekcounty.us/bids.aspx

Prospective Bidders must register as a plan holder via email to receive a link to the Prospective Bidder Submittal Folder, Project Construction Plans and Specifications, and invitations to the mandatory pre-bid meeting and bid opening: Email scanada@clearcreekcounty.us;

subject line RC 25-01 RFB.

Prospective Bidders are urged to sign up to receive a text message or email when new Bidding Documents are periodically uploaded to the designated website such as addenda, reports, and other information relevant to submitting a Bid for the Project by clicking “Sign up” at the top of the webpage.

All official notifications, addenda, and other Bidding Documents will be offered only through the designated website and the Prospective Bidder Submittal Folder. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for Bidding Documents, including addenda, if any, obtained from sources other than the designated website or Prospective Bidder Submittal Folder.

Mandatory Pre-bid Conference

A mandatory pre-bid conference for the Project will be held on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at 12:00 PM via Zoom. Bids will not be accepted from Bidders that do not attend the mandatory pre-bid conference.

Instructions to Bidders

For all further requirements regarding bid submittal, qualifications, procedures, and contract award, refer to the Instructions to Bidders that are included in the Bidding Documents.

This Advertisement is issued by: George Marlin, Chair Board of County Commissioners

Legal Notice No. CAN 1777

First Publication: January 9, 2025

Last Publication: January 30, 2025 Publisher: Canyon Courier Public Notice NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT JEFFERSON COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO

Pursuant to C.R.S. Section 38-26-107, notice is hereby given that on the 4th day of February 2025 final settlement will be made by the County of Jefferson, State of Colorado to: SILVA CONSTRUCTION INC. 154 CISNE CIR. BRIGHTON CO. 80601 hereinafter called the “Contractor”, for and on account of the construction contract for The Removal and Replacement of Concrete project in Jefferson County, CO.

1. Any person, co-partnership, association or corporation who has an unpaid claim against the said project, for or on account of the furnishing of labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender or other supplies used or consumed by such Contractor or any of said work, may at any time up to and including said time of such final settlement, file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim.

2. All such claims shall be filed with Heather Frizzell, Director of Finance Jefferson County

Colorado, 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden CO 80419-4560.

3. Failure on the part of a creditor to file such statement prior to such final settlement will relieve the County of Jefferson, State of Colorado, from any and all liability for such claim.

County of Jefferson, State of Colorado Andy Kerr, Chairman Board of County Commissioners

Legal Notice No. CAN 1781

First Publication: January 16, 2025

Last Publication: January 23, 2025

Publisher: Canyon Courier Public Notice

NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT JEFFERSON COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO

Pursuant to C.R.S. Section 38-26-107, notice is hereby given that on the 11th day of February 2025 final settlement will be made by the County of Jefferson, State of Colorado to: FBS LLC.

5306 S. BANNOCK ST. UNIT 2 LITTLETON CO. 80120

hereinafter called the “Contractor”, for and on account of the construction contract for Airfield Electrical Vault Improvements project in Jefferson County, CO.

2. All such claims shall be filed with Heather Frizzell, Director of Finance Jefferson County Colorado, 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden CO 80419-4560.

3. Failure on the part of a creditor to file such statement prior to such final settlement will relieve the County of Jefferson, State of Colorado, from any and all liability for such claim.

County of Jefferson, State of Colorado Andy Kerr, Chairman Board of County Commissioners

Legal Notice No. CAN 1792

First Publication: January 23, 2025

Last Publication: January 30, 2025 Publisher: Canyon Courier Public Notice

NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT

JEFFERSON COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO

Pursuant to C.R.S. Section 38-26-107, notice is hereby given that on the 4th day of February 2025 final settlement will be made by the County of Jefferson, State of Colorado to:

COLORADO MOISTURE CONTROL INC.

3108 E. 50th Ave Denver Co. 80216

hereinafter called the “Contractor”, for and on account of the construction contract for Detention Center Roof Deck Replacement project in Jefferson County, CO.

2. All such claims shall be filed with Heather Frizzell, Director of Finance Jefferson County Colorado, 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden CO 80419-4560.

3. Failure on the part of a creditor to file such statement prior to such final settlement will relieve the County of Jefferson, State of Colorado, from any and all liability for such claim.

County of Jefferson, State of Colorado Andy Kerr, Chairman Board of County Commissioners

Legal Notice No. CAN 1780

First Publication: January 16, 2025

Last Publication: January 23, 2025

Publisher: Canyon Courier Public Notice

NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT

JEFFERSON COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO

Pursuant to C.R.S. Section 38-26-107, notice is hereby given that on the 11th day of February 2025 final settlement will be made by the County of Jefferson, State of Colorado to: KONE INC. PO BOX 102425

PASADENA CA. 91189

hereinafter called the “Contractor”, for and on account of the construction contract for The 2024 Elevator Modernization project in Jefferson County, CO.

unpaid on account of such claim.

2. All such claims shall be filed with Heather Frizzell, Director of Finance Jefferson County Colorado, 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden CO 80419-4560.

3. Failure on the part of a creditor to file such statement prior to such final settlement will relieve the County of Jefferson, State of Colorado, from any and all liability for such claim.

County of Jefferson, State of Colorado Andy Kerr, Chairman Board of County Commissioners

Legal Notice No. CAN 1793

First Publication: January 23, 2025

Last Publication: January 30, 2025

Publisher: Canyon Courier

Notice to Creditors

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Virginia Karpovich, Deceased Case Number: 25PR30011

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Jefferson County, Colorado, May 23, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.

Noreen Iliff, Personal Representative

Our club has more than 100 members from all walks of life. We like to have fun and we organize social functions throughout the year.

• We meet once a week on Fridays at 7:00 a.m. for breakfast. There is no meeting commitment – attend as many or as few as you like.

• Our meetings, events, location details and speaker schedules can be found at EvergreenRotary.org, along with details about our local and international committees and projects.

• Our membership is open to all people of all ages and all backgrounds. More info at EvergreenRotary.org

The Evergreen Design Center: One Historic Location… Eight Unique Design Stores The EDC showrooms o er everything for your home: furniture, interior design services, kitchen and bath cabinetry, hand-knotted rugs, original art, lighting, custom framing, landscaping and home accessories. Customers will receive expert advice combined with friendly, knowledgeable service.