Commerce City high schools are back in session, and like every year, high school seniors are preparing to move on to the next chapter in their academic career. With the opportunities and resources that schools in Commerce City and beyond o er, high school seniors have a chance to dress their college and scholarship applications nicely before graduation.
La Ciudad compiled a list of re-
sources and opportunities available to high school seniors to help make a possibly stressful senior year into a more productive one. Also, hear from 2022 Quality Community Foundation scholarship winner Hyungyu Kim about growing up in Commerce City and his advice for high school seniors who are taking the next step into the world.
School programs
Before diving in, make sure that you are meeting all of your graduation requirements; failing to meet those can put a hard stop on your exit. Commerce City’s two school districts, Adams 14 and 27J Schools, each o er a webpage where students can nd graduation requirements, including information on early graduation. It’s im-
portant to know that colleges and universities also have di erent requirements for admission, so make sure you are on track with your school and institution of choice.
Adams 14’s School to Work Alliance Program (SWAP)
e school district and Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, along with support from the Colorado Department of Education, have collaborated to assist young adults in the transition from school to post-secondary education or employment. SWAP provides services such as career exploration, career development, job development/ placement, and year-round community based service.
Wild cats on the November ballot
Ballot measure seeks to protect big cats from hunting, trapping
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Buddy the mountain lion peers from behind a grassy knoll at the visitors looking at him through a fence at a windy corner of the 33,000-acre Wildlife Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg this week. e facility is home to over 950 animals that have been abused and locked up in basements and cages and then displayed by callous owners looking to squeeze a pro t from the animal’s captivity.
Buddy was part of a caged exhibit in a Des Moines, Iowa shopping mall for several years until he was rescued and taken to the Sanctuary to live out his life in peace, said founder Pat Craig.
While in the mall, Buddy’s enclosure was among others that housed big cats as well as bears and more wildlife, Craig said. “It was awful, an absolute mess,” he said. “It was not a place for a wild animal like Buddy.”’
Buddy seems to appreciate his new home in the wide expanse of the sanctuary, about 25 miles east of Denver. “He can stay just around his den and enjoy the fresh air and natural environment,” Craig said. “I think he’s found his forever home here.”
Activists used the backdrop of the Wildlife Sanctuary to celebrate the placement of Ballot Issue 91 on the November ballot. e wild cats at the Sanctuary – wildcats, cougars, tigers and lions – also illustrated the need for a law to protect wild felines from trophy hunters, activists said.
School is back in session for Adams 14 and 27J Schools district, and seniors are already awaiting their exit.
PHOTO BY JACKIE RAMIREZ
BRIEFS
Adams City ‘84 alums seeking missing classmates
Adam City’s class of 1984 is scheduled to host its 40th class reunion at 5 p.m. Aug. 30 at the 30/70 Sports Bar and Grill, 18856 W. 120th Ave. in Westminster.
Organizers are trying to contact a few remaining missing graduates. If you attended ACHS with the class of 1984 or have a family member who did, please get in touch with Susan Zale Vanness (303) 513-1333 or vannessrealty@comcast.net or Tracey Snyder (303) 921-2114 tjsnyder07. ts@gmail.com
Legal self-help clinic
e Access to Justice Committee hosts a free, legal self-help clinic from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on the rst Tuesday of every month.
e program is for those without legal representation and needing help navigating through legal issues. Volunteer attorneys are available to discuss family law, civil litigation, property, and probate law. Call 303405-3298 and ask for the Legal SelfHelp Clinic at least 24 hours before.
ship with DonorsChoose, has announced $2.7 million in funding from the Governor Emergency Education Relief to help educators make purchases that support students. Teachers can receive up to $600 in supplies per classroom. To learn more about this opportunity, teachers should visit donorschoose. org and enter the code COLORADO. Teachers can submit their project requests beginning in early August, until funds are fully allocated.
Unscrambling the 2024 November ballot over breakfast
A fur ban, property taxes, school choice, the fate of mountain lions and more are topics before Colorado voters in November. e nonpartisan Common Sense Institute will highlight these issues in its 2024 ballot guide, a resource for voters that includes data, analysis and a description of the issues. A discussion costs $25 and will take place from 7:30-9 a.m. Sept. 10 at the Dome at AMG, 6295 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Greenwood Village. Link: https://tinyurl.com/mvanhk27.
‘I Voted’ design competition opens to high school students e Colorado Secretary of State’s O ce is inviting high school students to participate in its “I Voted” digital sticker competition. e winning design will be sent to voters via BallotTrax after they vote in the upcoming General Election. It will also be featured on the Secretary of State’s website, media channels, press releases and in media coverage. Sta from the Colorado Secretary of State’s O ce will also present the award during an assembly at the artist’s school. e entry deadline is Sept. 2. More information can be found at https://www.sos.state. co.us/pubs//elections/votedSticker/contest.html.
Gov. Polis highlights $2.7 million classroom investment
Gov. Jared Polis, in partner-
tive in protecting themselves from mosquitoes and illness during these warm summer months.
While the county Environmental Health Team monitors for mosquito-borne illnesses, there are steps you can take right now to keep you and your loved ones safe. ose include ensuring pet dishes are removed from patios that can hold water, making sure roof gutters are cleaned and inspected yearly, removing debris piles from outdoor areas— including buckets, barrels, children’s toys, and tire swings— and removing or changing water in birdbaths frequently.
Homeowners should also maintain swimming pools and spas with proper ltration and chlorination levels, limit watering lawn and plants to avoid water pooling and limit your time outdoors during dusk and dawn to avoid mosquitoes. If you stay outdoors during this time, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants and use mosquito repellents that contain a high percentage of DEET.
Alliance Business Assistance Center grants available e Alliance Business Assistance Center is excited to announce that 2024 business grants are now available to support your business endeavors. Sta at the center can assist residents by helping to identify grants that align with their business goals and industry, providing guidance through the application process, ensuring that they have the best chance of success and providing other valuable resources for local business. To get started, visit our website at https://businessinthornton.com/ local-business/small-business-support-programs/business- nancialassistance.
Mosquito Prevention
e Adams County Health Department wants people to be proac-
County teenagers to help develop personal and interpersonal drugresistance skills. Sessions are from 5:30 to 6;30 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 720-292-2811.
Walk with a doc
Platte Valley Medical Center’s cardiac rehab team and Walk With A Doc will host monthly walks with Dr. Christopher Cannon, an interventional cardiologist at Brighton Heart and Vascular Institute. is is a walking program for everyone interested in a healthier lifestyle. After a few minutes to learn about a current health topic from the doctor, spend the rest of the hour enjoying a healthy walk and a fun conversation. It’s a great way to get out, get active, and enjoy all the bene ts of walking.
Legal self-help clinic
e Access to Justice Committee hosts a free, legal self-help clinic from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on the rst Tuesday of every month.
CCPD Introduces Online Crime Reporting Form
e Commerce City Police Department has a new online reporting tool allowing the public to report some non-emergency crimes and receive a police report immediately without speaking to a police o cer.
Community members can now conveniently report incidents that do not require immediate o cer intervention, such as fraud, identity theft, lost property, theft/shoplifting (less than $2,000), and vandalism.
e new form is online now in English and Spanish at c3gov.com/ ReportACrime. Residents should always call 911 for emergencies.
‘Taking No Chances’
e 17th Judicial District Attorney’s O ce and e Link, a community resource and assessment center in ornton, o er free, 10week programs to families of Adams
e program is for those without legal representation and needing help navigating through legal issues. Volunteer attorneys are available to discuss family law, civil litigation, property, and probate law. Call 303405-3298 and ask for the Legal SelfHelp Clinic at least 24 hours before.
Boards/commissions’ openings
Commerce City has openings for several boards and commissions, including the city’s cultural council, the housing authority, and the Derby Review Board.
Visit https://www.c3gov.com/ Home/Components/Form/Form /70316b05422c448492c51da0f0e0 fd86/ to sign up.
Help for vets
Quali ed Listeners, a veteran and family resource hub serving northern Colorado and southern Wyoming, has many power chairs, scooters, and electric wheelchairs available.
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As the Real Estate Market Shifts, We’re in Uncharted Territory Thanks to NAR Settlement
Sunday was the deadline for one very significant change in the practice of real estate, as the result of a March 15th settlement between the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and a group of Missouri home sellers who claimed that the sharing of listing agent’s commission with the buyer’s agent was somehow a violation of anti-price fixing laws and just plain “unfair.”
Although I, along with most Realtors (and, in fact, NAR), disagreed, the parties agreed to a settlement in which MLSs may no longer display how much a buyer’s agent will earn if he brings a buyer to the table.
Real Estate, we’re not so worried.
Below is a picture of the yard sign that in front of the solar-powered listing featured at the bottom of the page. Do you notice anything new about it? Yes, it has a sign rider telling both buyers and their agents that the seller will pay a 2.5% commission to an agent who represents the buyer of this home.
The brochure in the brochure box has that same information. You could say that “nothing has really changed,” and you’d be almost right. What has changed is that we are not “splitting” our listing commission with the buyer’s agent. Ra-
ther, the seller has agreed (at my suggestion) to incentivize agents to bring their buyer, knowing that their client will not have to pay him, because the seller will.
The sellers who sued to end the practice of commission splitting will finally recognize that compensating the agent who represents their buyer is a practical way to sell a home. They had hoped that buyers would now have to pay for their own professional representation, but if, as I expect, the vast majority of home sellers agree to compete with each other for the buyer’s business, which home do you think the buyer will offer to buy?
That’s how I see these coming weeks
and months shaking out. Some sellers will say, “Hey, I don’t have to offer compensation,” and a few may succeed with that strategy. But one thing is for sure: the universe of potential buyers will be smaller, because a significant percentage of buyers can’t afford to pay for representation on top of the other fees I listed in last week’s column.
I do expect that many buyers will feel they should only deal with listing agents directly, but when they see our sign rider, they may do the right thing for themselves, which is to have a professional working in their best interest instead of the seller’s. Stay tuned!
MLS Now Has Fields for Audio & Video Recording
That change took place at midnight last Thursday and many real estate professionals are concerned about how it will affect them personally. At Golden
Do You Know or Care Where Your Realtor Stands Politically?
Real estate is not the only profession where the “rule” is never to talk politics or religion. I agree about religion, but in today’s divisive political climate, I feel differently about revealing my political leanings, which are liberal. As a seller, I would not be comfortable hiring an agent who was a Trump fan. Someone else may prefer hiring a fan of Trump.
Recently, a Denver agent referred a Golden seller to me. When I told him that his home would be advertised next to my weekly real estate column, he said, “I don’t read newspapers anymore because they’re all fake news.”
Okay, we’re not a fit — and that’s okay with me.
Archive of Past Columns Is Online
Over the past two decades, this column has appeared in local weeklies and the Denver Post, and during that time I’ve written about every conceivable topic related to real estate. You can find and search that archive online at www.JimSmithColumns.com
New: Solar-Powered Green Mountain Home
$795,000
The seller of this 3-bedroom/2½-bath home at 14038 W. Amherst Ave. provided this springtime picture of their crabapple tree in bloom. Not visible from the front is the seller-owned 5.98-kW solar array which reduces the Xcel monthly electric bill to under $10 year-round. The oversized garage has an extra 5'x18' workshop/storage area with natural light. The workbench, shop light and pegboards are all included. There’s another workshop area in the unfinished basement, plus a 10'x11' wood laminate dance floor! The cul-de-sac location makes this home a quiet place to enjoy life with friendly neighbors. The 8'x25' composite deck off the eat-in kitchen is half-covered, with stairs down to the backyard with its lush grass, garden beds and linden tree. The other half of the deck is shaded by the house itself in late afternoon. The 6'x8' front porch is also covered. Visit www.JeffcoSolarHomes.com to view a narrated video walk-through and drone video, plus magazine-quality photos and floor plans. The seller replaced the windows on the first floor and most of the second floor with high-end Marvin windows. The windows are energy efficient double-paned windows with aluminum clad wood frames. The frames are powder-coated white, requiring no routine maintenance. Come to the open house Saturday, 11-1, or call broker associate Kathy Jonke at 303-990-7428 to see it. Note: Seller offers 2.5% buyer broker compensation.
With surveillance systems becoming more and more common in American homes, buyers can never be sure that what they say to each other and their agent during a showing isn’t being monitored remotely by the seller.
Personally, I advise my buyers to assume that everything they say is being heard by the seller and to monitor their conversation accordingly. There are any number of things a buyer could say while
touring a home that would disadvantage them when it comes to negotiating a contract or inspection issues.
REcolorado, Denver’s MLS, now has fields for indicating whether there is audio and/or video recording inside and/or outside the listing, but buyers should not count on privacy if those fields are not checked. I recently sold a home where the fields weren’t checked but cameras (and Alexa) were definitely present.
Just Listed: 20-Acre Apple & Peach Orchard
Our former broker associate, Kim Taylor, is now an independent broker in Cedaredge and just listed this interesting agricultural property nearby. With 4.8 shares of surface creek water, the meticulously managed fruit is thriving again this year, and there is a leased rental house that was recently remodeled. The orchard contains blocks of apples and peaches and has been a successful producer for over 20 years. The property also has a 1500 sq. ft. cooler with loading dock, a tractor barn with electric, and two 30-amp electric and water hook ups for RVs. Located in the county, this agricultural property sits literally on the edge of Cedaredge city limits, only 1/2 mile from town center. Property taxes run less than $500/year. Come take a closer look! The Cedaredge area is a great location for the outdoor enthusiasts! Just 20 minutes away is the Grand Mesa, the largest flat top mesa in the country with over 300 lakes for fishing, lots of space for camping, hiking and biking, miles of groomed Nordic ski trails, Powderhorn Ski Resort, snowshoeing, and miles of snowmobiling — not to mention that the Gunnison River is only 15 minutes south, and the greater area is Colorado wine country, with an airport just 45 minutes away! Seller also has 10 more acres with blocks of apples, peaches and grapes that would make a great addition to this property. Learn more at www.OrchardCityHome.info, then call Kim at 303-304-6678 to arrange a visit.
$850,000
The secret to mastering finance
Esther Castillo-Lerma shares her insights
BY ROSSANA LONGO BETTER ROSSANA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e idea of homeownership has long been a cornerstone of the American Dream, a symbol of success, stability and prosperity. But as with many things in life, the path to homeownership isn’t always easy. It is full of opportunities and challenges that require nancial wisdom and careful planning.
On June 30, Esther Castillo-Le-
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rma, a nancial empowerment advocate and mortgage adviser who specializes in loans for the Latino community, hosted a summit packed with resources and information to help the community achieve homeownership. Castillo-Lerma continues to o er free workshops to the community. ey take place on Sept. 7 and 8 in English and Spanish, respectively. You can nd more information here.
e interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Colorado Community Media e idea of homeownership is deeply tied to the American Dream. In your experience, what are some of the most common nancial mistakes people make when preparing to buy a home, and how can they avoid falling into those traps?
Esther Castillo-Lerma one talks about nancial matters, whether buying a house or making a nancial plan, what I always see is that most people are in a hurry to make decisions. eir credit is not ready; perhaps they do not have the required savings, and that delays the plan. And then people’s spirits go down because they don’t take the time required to prepare.
e other aspect is the lack of knowledge, where they say I’m going to apply to buy a house, but they haven’t seen estimates because they don’t know how the system works. So that also harms people and reveals that they do not know how to handle money.
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e best way to avoid all that is to prepare and to do it slowly. I recommend waiting at least three to six months before buying a house or making a drastic change.
CCM: Could you explain the role of nancial education in the homebuying process and why it is so important to start learning early to understand how to manage money intelligently?
Castillo-Lerma: e basic thing is to see how much you earn and how much you spend. at is the most basic thing because many times, one is not aware that one is spending more than one earns. I recommend that people take their three-month bank statements and go line by line to see what their necessary expenses are and what is for convenience.
I have to buy school supplies for my child. at is an expense that is required, but it is not every month. So, make a list of that and really see where you are spending, because many times we don’t realize what we spend on.
e second part is insurance and coverage, which is required by law. ird, talk to an expert because it is very common in our culture not to go to an expert but to go to a friend. You have to go to a person who has a degree.
CCM: Aside from the things you’ve already mentioned, what unique challenges do Latinos face when trying to buy a home?
Castillo-Lerma: One of the obstacles is the lack of knowledge of how the system works.
It is di erent, here in this country, little paper speaks. Everything is on paper. e word does not have
much value. It does not exist if you do not have a document containing what we are talking about.
So that is super important because sometimes they say. ”I don’t establish credit.” at is one of the other important points because here everything is managed by credit. What the bank or banks are seeing is going to be the risk, how much risk they are going to take with this person and who can assure me that this person pays well.
And that’s how it is, credit works. We need the person to have, I would say, three to ve lines of credit established for two or more years. With a good payment history, that is where one can compete and get more bene ts. I mean, you have the opportunity to buy something more expensive, perhaps, but with better interest, because you already have proof through these other ve companies that you are ne with the payments.
How credit works is one of the big questions in a workshop on how to manage budgets and credit. We can do a free credit check. Everyone can access it at Experian.com. And there you can access your credit report and review it at least once a year to check what is happening.
CCM: In your experience, what are the biggest challenges for new homeowners? Speci cally, once a person reaches the American Dream of buying a house, an immense door opens for other opportunities.
Castillo-Lerma: Because you have already established yourself in this society, in this community, in this country, you have already planted roots.
Many more things happen from
there. e doors open more with opportunities, for example, to grow your credit because you’re hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt now.
Now you have, I believe, the obligation to participate in the community. is is my home and this is my community, my neighborhood. I should participate in di erent events, get involved in politics, sometimes in the same community where you live. It is important that your voice, your complaints, the bene ts and the problems that exist within your community are known. ere is also the obligation to say I am going to protect what I have. Many people who have, for example, an ITIN number, buy a house and say “I did it and it is great.” at’s a cause for celebration, but don’t just leave your house without protecting it; you need to have nancial power of attorney. (It’s) the most essential thing because you never know what is going to happen: you lose your job, you have battles with legal documentation. You have to have someone in charge so that that property is not lost, because the bank is waiting for your payment every month. e month that it is not there, they come and — well, not physically — knock on your door and say if you don’t pay within 30, 60, 90 days, we will take your house, because you did not comply with the contract. at’s where I go back to the little piece of paper that says here, you signed this, here are the terms, and that’s what’s going to happen and you have to protect yourself.
Esther Castillo-Lerma is dedicated to igniting positive change in communities through financial literacy.
PHOTO BY ROSSANA LONGO BETTER
FINANCE
CCM: Could you talk about the opportunity that people have once they buy a house and get older and can use that same debt to stay in the house? If you can explain that, because that is one of the things that I see, according to the reports I have done, older people su er a lot because they do not know those options.
Castillo-Lerma: is is called the reverse mortgage. It is a spectacular tool.
People who are wealthy use it as a tool in their retirement years. And you say, well, those people then have millions of dollars accessible, and we who don’t have that, don’t use it, not even for pro t.
So a reverse mortgage is exactly what it says: in a normal mortgage you are paying every month you live, you pay, you live, you pay. In a reverse mortgage you live, you don’t pay. What is happening with the payment? It accumulates on the balance sheet. So, you start with a loan of $150,000, the next month it is $151,000. And the next, it’s
$152,000. e balance accumulates over time.
Now, how is this going to bene t you in the long run? When you are 62 or older, you can qualify, depending on how much you owe on the property and what your age is, to be able to not make the payments, but continue living in the house for the rest of your life. You must live six months of the year in this property as your primary residence. So it is a spectacular tool because you eliminate your payments.
Since right now the interest (on a 30-year loan) is a little high in the market, and then in ve or 10 years we could re nance it. Don’t take a shorter term. Extend another 30 years to make the lower payment. When you are 60 or 70 years old, you might still have 10 years left and you don’t have the ability to work. So that’s where reverse mortgage can be very useful because you no longer have to pay.
CCM: Give us an eagle view of the properties in Commerce City, Globeville/Elyria-Swansea, or Reunion. What facilities are there for Latinos to access a ordable properties and the American Dream? How do you see this constantly
growing area?
Castillo-Lerma: e problem that we are seeing right now in Colorado is that prices will increase everywhere, especially in the Denver metropolitan area. It has also a ected Commerce City to Globeville, and what Reunion is in itself is already higher in price.
Now old Commerce City, which is not Reunion, that’s where the cheapest prices are going to be compared to Reunion. And since it’s a newer area, county taxes are higher there than compared to old Commerce City. So, old Commerce City and what Globeville/ Elyria-Swansea are actually the areas where you are going to nd the cheapest properties in the metro area.
CCM: How can people nd out more about these types of opportunities and services aimed at Latinos since we normally earn less, have two or three jobs, or have ITIN numbers? How can people connect with opportunities for them?
who are looking for resources in a ordable housing. People who are looking for housing that can be more economical.
Obviously, you can contact me. What they can also do is look to other nonpro ts for options. ere are people, as a lender, or real estate people who do have knowledge of these programs. ere are others who do not have the knowledge because they do not specialize or do not look for that option for clients. So that’s where I recommend knowing what you want and then looking for the answers. If the person you talk to doesn’t give you that answer, look for someone else. You have to dig and this door won’t open, I’m going to look for another one or I’m looking for the window,
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This story has been edited to fit the space.
BY JUSTIN GEORGE THE COLORADO SUN
People convicted of felonies who have served their entire sentences can vote in Colorado. So can people on probation and parole.
ose convicted of felonies who are imprisoned or con ned to detention as part of their sentence
Castillo-Lerma: One of the best options is to go directly to a government entity, to county councilors.
ey’re usually going to be able to give you the entire list of all the programs and the contacts for people
To read the full discussion between Rossana Longo Better and Esther Castillo-Lerma, go to https://coloradocommunitymedia.com/2024/08/15/ entrevista-finance-esther-castillolerma/ online.
Felons who complete their sentences can vote in Colorado
cannot vote. ey regain their voting eligibility after they have completed their “full term of imprisonment,” according to the Colorado Secretary of State.
“ e day you are released from detention or incarceration is the day your eligibility to register to vote is restored,” the o ce stated on its website.
thebrightonblade.com
Defendants facing criminal charges in jail who are pretrial detainees or out on bond awaiting trial can vote. In May 2024, the General Assembly passed a law requiring county clerks to work with county sheri s to allow voting in jail for at least one day, give detainees information on voting eligibility and provide them with instructions on
how they can verify or change voter registration. 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. e Colorado Sun partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-size fact-checks of trending claims.
Brighton: 75 S. 13th Avenue Obituaries, Arrangements and Resources Online at taborfuneralhome.com
Katherine “Kay” Lovato March 8, 1944 - July 3, 2024
Katherine Louise (Ho ) Lovato was born to Richard Ho and Sarah (Plunkett) Ho Wagoner of Casper, Wyoming, and grew up there. She attended Willard Elementary School and Dean Morgan Junior High School, graduating from Natron County High School with many of her primary classmates. She especially loved her high school years and was quite popular: elected secretary-treasurer of her senior class and crowned queen of the Eclat dance club. She was active in Pep Club, Future Secretaries, espians, and swam on the synchronized swim team. Kay remained life long friends with several of her classmates.
were married for 52 years and together traveled to China, Peru, Ecuador and Argentina, and throughout Europe. eir favorite was Mexico and for several years they spent winters in Puerta Vallarta and later in Arizona. Phil passed in 2018 and Kay continued to travel with friends and family, returning to Puerta Vallarta for anksgiving 2023 for a nal visit.
She volunteered for several years with the 9News Health Fair, learned Spanish, and actively attended Senior Center outings. She enjoyed greeting neighbors and dogs as they passed her well kept townhome on the corner of the neighborhood.
She met the love of her life, Phil Lovato, in California, where she moved to attend college for a year and then worked as a key punch operator at Lockheed Missiles and Space Company. ey adopted their son Rick there and then moved to Colorado. Phil’s job took them brie y to Maryland, but they settled in Colorado and were happiest living with a view of the mountains. ey
Kay is survived by her brother Ken (Mary Ann) Ho of Casper, WY, and her son Rick and his family of Erie, CO: wife Toni, sons Alan and Reagan, and her great granddaughter Kinsley. She is greatly missed by family, friends and neighbors. Please take a moment to remember how Kay touched your life as we say goodbye to our mother, grandmother, sister and friend.
LOVATO
BALLOT
If passed, the initiative would ban recreational trophy hunting and commercial fur trapping of wild cats. Speci cally, voters will be asked to declare that “any trophy hunting of mountain lions, bobcats or lynx is inhumane, serves no socially acceptable or ecologically bene cial purpose, and fails to further public safety,,” according to proponents.
Cats Aren’t Trophies, the group pushing the ban, said the proposed law only targets trophy shooting and wildlife trapping. It allows for the
killing of any animal that is a danger to people, pets or farm and ranch animals.
Volunteers across the state started gathering the signatures for a petition to get the initiative on the ballot in March, said Samantha Miller, Cats Aren’t Trophies campaign manager. e group submitted 147,529 valid signatures, more than the 124,238 needed for a place on the ballot, she said.
In late July, the state certi ed the ballot question, she said. Most people who were approached for a signature had no idea Colorado allowed hunters to usually pay $8,000 to use packs of eight hunting dogs to tree and then run down a mountain
lion so a hunter could shoot it and take the animal’s head for decoration and fur for a coat, Miller said.
In some cases, bobcats are caught in leg traps where they can remain for several days before a trapper comes onto them, and either shoots them or chokes them to death, Miller
“Colorado voters now have a chance to halt this inhumane and needless killing of mountain lions and bobcats for their heads and beautiful fur coats,” she said.
Trophy hunters often hire professional guides who use pack dogs for a “guaranteed kill,” Craig said. ey shoot between 500 and 600 mountain lions during a four-month season in Colorado. Of the 501 mountain lions killed for trophies and recreation last season alone, nearly half - 47% - were female and not one was reportedly in con ict with humans, Cats Aren’t Trophies o cials said.
Females often leave their kittens in a den for several days to nd food. When they are killed by trophy hunters, the kittens are often left to die because no one is there to care for them, Craig said.
“Trophy hunters go into the wilderness and shoot lions for fun yet want to claim they are targeting ‘problem’ lions. at is ction,” Craig said. “ at’s like saying they are going to solve crime by shooting into a crowd.”
Big game hunters, veterinarians and wildlife biologists also spoke at the Sanctuary last week, decrying trophy hunting as cruel and unnecessary.
“As a wildlife biologist, I can tell you that the science is clear that sport hunting of mountain lions is an ine ective means of mitigating human-lion con ict,” said Mickey Pardo, who specializes in animal be-
havior and applied wildlife ecology, in a news release.
“If anything, sport hunting only makes con ict worse by disproportionately removing older males and creating a vacuum that is lled by younger, inexperienced males who are more prone to con ict with humans and domesticated animals,” Pardo said.
Foes favor science-based management
Opponents of Prop 91 say that mountain lion hunting is important and that the hunting ban is bad for science-based wildlife management in Colorado, Bryan Jones of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, recently told the Colorado Sun.
“We will certainly talk about ballotbox wildlife initiatives and how they can be a negative for wildlife management in Colorado,” Jones told the Sun. He said he expects the opposition campaign will include the challenges that followed the introduction of wolves to the Western Slope this year.
Craig said the opposition to the measure is led by an “extremist group of hunters.”
Trophy hunters have decimated the lion population in Africa which has led antelopes and other hooved mammals the lions traditionally feed on, to explode in population.
“It’s led to an unhealthy environment with a huge population of animals starving to death,” he said.
Eying Craig and the group of reporters last week were African lions Cheddar and Tsylia, a brother and sister, who came to the Sanctuary from a zoo in war-torn Ukraine. Cheddar padded up and down the wide fence and kept an eye on the interlopers.
“He seems pretty content,” Craig said of Cheddar. “At least here he is safe.”
Cheddar the African lion keeps a watchful eye on interlopers Aug. 9 at the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg. The sanctuary hosted a celebration of a November ballot issue that seeks to put a ban on sport hunting of mountain lions and other Colorado wild cats.
PHOTO BY MONTE WHALEY
A ranger found a mountain lion in a cottonwood tree in Garden of the Gods about 6 a.m. April 29, 2023. The adult mountain lion stayed in the tree all day, feet from unsuspecting hikers on Ute Trail and climbers in the Snake Pits, a popular bouldering section of the park, likely after feasting on a deer.
PHOTO BY CODY BEAR SUTTON / SPECIAL TO THE COLORADO SUN
Crematorium addition nixed by Adams Commissioners
Commissioners voted 5-0 that crematorium operation has no place in proposed Welby Plan
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e Adams County Commissioners Tuesday unanimously decided a funeral home crematorium is not a welcome addition to a largely industrial area that has long tried to change into homes, retail stores and community uses.
By a 5-0 vote, the commissioners turned down a request from A Better Place Funeral & Cremation Services, 7261 Washington St., to obtain a conditional use permit to add a crematorium at the rear of the business.
Commissioners agreed with county planners - and the county planning board - that although the area surrounding the business is largely encircled by warehouses and other industrial sites, a crematorium does not t with the Welby Plan.
area’s primary transit corridors, including I-270, I-76 and Washington Street.
“ is (the crematorium) could impact future development on the surrounding properties due to potential fumes or visual impacts associated with the conditional use,” the sta report states.
Compatibility, air concerns
Commissioner Eva Henry said incompatibility and worries over air quality problems generated by the crematorium, was enough to sway her to block the conditional use permit.
“ is is not the vision we have for that community,” Henry said.
Owner Jennifer Connell told the commissioners that the crematorium was needed because her clients
in a business that everyone wants to avoid using.
“It’s a taboo…no one wants to talk about,” Connell said. “But it’s a needed business.”
Many of her customers are lowincome mourners who cannot afford most funeral home services.
ey turn to her because she provides a ordable and digni ed help in a time of need, she said.
Connell said she is on track this year to handle an unprecedented 1,200 cases, with almost 20 percent coming from Social Service referrals. e business also contributes to food and toy drives for local families and causes, she said.
“We have a moral and ethical responsibility to care for this community, both in life and death,” Connell told the commissioners.
e crematorium, she added, “can give people peace of mind, so their loved one is not carted around the
Connell and supporters of the sioners that all measures would be taken to keep tight environmental tions. ey noted that emissions from vehicles driving along the main roads near the business are producing most of the toxic air.
Compassionate service cited
Some supporters also wept about the compassionate services o ered by Connell and her sta .
“Jennifer works for those families that don’t have a lot of money… many are working paycheck-topaycheck,” Westminster Pastor David Baca told the commissioners. “I just don’t understand why something like this would not be approved.”
Some long-time residents, however, said the crematorium would mar what many have envisioned for the Welby corridor.
“ e concept of adding crematoriums in our area just doesn’t t,” said resident Norma Frank.
A Better Place Funeral & Cremation Services was denied a conditional use permit for a crematorium by the Adams County Commission.
PHOTO BY MONTE WHALEY
PLOTTING
ose eligible to be part of SWAP must be between the ages of 1524, have mild to moderate needs in employment, and live within the boundaries of Adams 14. For those in school, they must have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504.
Adams 14 Education Foundation Scholarship
To help high school seniors planning higher education, the Adams 14 Education Foundation awards scholarships to graduating seniors for the institution of their choice, whether it is a vocational school, community college, or four-year university. is program has scholarships from one to four years.
To be eligible, students must attend Adams City High School or Lester Arnold High School, have a GPA of 2.75 or higher, have community service and/or student involvement, and nancial eligibility.
Scholarship application deadlines are in the Spring of 2025, so talk to your counselor to prepare your application, which will include essays, letters of recommendation, school transcripts, FAFSA reports, and parental income information. Email lori.young@adams14.org if you have questions.
27J Riverdale Ridge High School scholarship page
One of 27J Schools’ four high schools, Riverdale Ridge, o ers a webpage listing scholarship opportunities available across the state. Riverdale Ridge also navigates students to their college and career readiness portal, Naviance, for a list of scholarships that are updated
regularly. is is a great place to start, as you will nd many links to di erent applications and, at the bottom, the high school even o ers tips for scholarship searching, such as to only sign up for one to two scholarship websites, you should never have to pay for a scholarship, and to set up a secondary email address to avoid potential ads and spam mail you may receive from these websites.
Programs at di erent colleges
Some colleges and universities offer opportunities for students to get ahead in their college career before the school semester starts in the fall. While summer programs at colleges and universities sound exciting and a convenient way to get ahead, it is important to know that some may be costly and have competitive applications. If you’re enrolling into a summer or fall program, it is important to know that this is a huge time commitment outside of school, so approach with caution.
e University of Colorado-Denver o ers four di erent pre-college programs in the summer, in subjects such as architecture, biomedical engineering, cybersecurity and arts and media. Some of these summer programs may already be full, but sign up for a waitlist if it is available.
e University of Colorado-Boulder has the High School Access program, where students age 16 and over are eligible to enroll in college courses with permission of a parent/guardian and high school ofcials. Students who wish to take classes during Fall 2024 can still apply until Sept. 6. Talk to your counselor right away if you are interested in order to make sure you meet all the requirements.
e University of Denver also offers a High School Early Experience
for high school juniors and seniors. While the fall deadline has passed, there are still opportunities for winter, spring and summer quarters in which all applications and materials must be submitted at least one month prior to the quarter you wish to enroll in. e GPA requirement for the Early Experience is 3.5 or higher and you must rank in the top 15% of your class. ere is an application fee of $65 and if admitted, a half-tuition scholarship is available. Many of these programs have their own deadlines, fees and application requirements, so search for the one that best ts your career aspirations, budget and schedule. If none are your cup of tea, feel free to look online! Simply search “college opportunities for high school students,” and you will nd a list of results, even for out-of-state schools. Just make sure they are o cial school websites to avoid misinformation and scams.
Youth opportunities in Commerce City Commerce City o ers a variety of ways for the youth to be involved in local government and o ers scholarships.
Scholarships
La Ciudad wrote about the Quality Community Foundation scholarship in May, and the application opens in late 2024 for the QCF along with the Curt Holland Police Scholarship. e QCF scholarship is open to residents of Commerce City who are pursuing their rst undergraduate degree or technical certi cation. e Holland scholarship is for children or minor dependents of current Commerce City Police Department employees, and you don’t have to live in Commerce City. Contact Melissa Sumner at msumner@c3gov.com if you have questions.
Youth Commission
If you’re looking to boost your community involvement, consider Commerce City’s Youth Commission. e group advises city council on matters related to youth, works with Parks, Recreation and Golf on future activities, works on professional development, and promotes team bonding. is commission meets on the rst and third ursdays of every month and welcomes students age 13-19 to serve as mentors. Commissioners serve for three years, and with four current vacancies, this is a good way to earn volunteer credit.
Youth Programs
Are you interested in a career in law enforcement? Commerce City o ers the Explorer Program for people age 14-21 to get an inside look into law enforcement through volunteer work, community participation events, training and the police ride-along program.
To be considered for the Explorer Program, applicants must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher, be of good standing in school and the community and have no felonies. A background check and oral interview are part of the application process. Contact Acting Sergeant Nick Lombardi at nlombardi@c3gov.com if you have questions.
A former high school senior’s advice: Hyungyu Kim
While the senior year can be scary, it can be survived. Hyungyu Kim, 20, was born in South Korea, came to Denver when he was 4 and then moved to Commerce City in the fth grade. He attended Eagle Ridge Academy in Brighton, and went through the hardships of senior year in 2021-2022 to gure out what he would do next.
Aims o ering debt-free higher education program
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Aims Community College is launching a program that will help Coloradoans with tuition-free higher education, according to a news release on August 13. e program is called Aims Tuition Promise. According to ocials, it helps pay for tuition costs for Colorado residents whose adjusted gross income is below $50,000.
“At Aims Community College, we steadfastly believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue higher education,” said Marilyn Schock, chair of the Aims Board of Trustees. “With the Aims Tuition Promise, we are making a powerful statement: nancial barriers should not prevent Colorado residents from achieving their educational and career goals.”
PLOTTING
Kim’s advice on choosing a career or a major, or, in general, things that require more personal re ection, is to not say no to opportunities.
“If you’re presented with an opportunity at school — to volunteer, to work or something — just say yes,” he said. “First try it out and then maybe you’ll nd something you like.”
Kim is currently at Colorado College studying neuroscience on a pre-med track. is path came after Kim saw an email from Ameri-
According to o cials, the Aims Tuition Promise can be used for fall and spring semesters for each academic year. e Aims semesters will be paid with tuition, which includes federal, state, and institutional aid and scholarships.
Colorado residents are eligible and those who want to take part must complete a Federal Student Aid FAFSA application and students receiving Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow bene ts must complete a CASFA application, or Colorado Application for State Financial Aid.
Students also must be enrolled in six or more credits that count toward a program of study, must be seeking a degree or certi cate and must be in a good, satisfactory academic progress status as de ned by the O ce of Financial Aid’s satisfactory academic progress policy.
Corps for a volunteer opportunity at a hospital. After taking it on, Kim decided that he wanted to pursue pre-med.
“You can achieve things, no matter your circumstance or wherever you’re from. ere are opportunities and people willing to help you,” Kim said.
Before stepping into college, Kim went through the college application process twice. After Kim graduated from high school, he took a “gap year” before college to gure out what he wanted to do and save up money to a ord college.
“I’m very familiar with the process, so a piece of advice that I would give is to get really close with
e program is not available to students who already have a prior Bachelor’s degree.
According to o cials, the required documentation must be submitted and completed for verication and aid packaging.
“ ere are a lot of people who just don’t know the opportunities Aims has for them,” said Chris Peterson, Executive Director of Financial Aid. “People can a ord their education, and Aims is committed to helping them better their lives.”
Dr. Larry Pakowski said Aims already has some of the lowest tuition in Colorado for in-state students. Only nine percent of students leave Aims with student loan debt.
“ is is the latest way that we’re showing that we’re all in,” said Dr. Larry Pakowski, Vice President of Student Engagement, Inclusion & Success. “For any student that
your school counselor,” Kim said. “ ey can help you with nding schools and writing letters of recommendation, which are huge. e second advice that I can give is to focus a lot on the essays and (try) to gure out what activities meant the most to you, and how that portrays the image that you want to give o to the college — an image that’s authentic to you.”
As one of the 2022 winners of the QCF scholarship, Kim wrote about the meaning of his name and what it was like to have his name growing up. Hyungyu means “star in the darkness,” and Kim used its meaning as a guide for how he wanted to approach his studies and further his education, to be able to become
wants to come to Aims, we’ll do what we can to remove the nancial barriers to their success.”
Enrollment begins on August 26. To start the process, visit aims.co/ apply or stop by the Welcome Center, 4901 W 20th Street, on the Greeley Campus.
like a star for other people.
“Focus on writing about yourself, but also how you’re going to use that scholarship to bene t others in the community,” Kim said. “Because at the end of the day, a scholarship is not just to give you money so that you can enjoy it, it’s going to be the start of you impacting a bigger community and giving back.”
Kim will continue studying at college this upcoming fall semester and is excited to get back into the rhythm that he has set for himself in dealing with his studies.
“Don’t say no to yourself before admissions can say no to you,” Kim said. “Never give up on hope, and eventually you’ll nd the right path for you.”
Aims Community College will o er tuiton free classes for Colorado students that meet certain criteria. FILE PHOTO
Car enthusiasts talk about illegal street racing after Bandimere’s closure
BY VICTORIA CALTON
SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
It’s Saturday night on southbound Interstate 25 near Castle Rock.
Cars rip through the lanes as drivers build adrenaline for a midnight car meet. A light blue Audi cuts diagonally from the right lane into the far left one. Two white Type R Hondas tail the Audi so close that all three of their taillights merge into a single stream. At about 9 p.m., the cars pull into abandoned parking lots and ll them with the sounds of grumbling engines and spooling turbochargers. ere, car enthusiasts socialize about what is hidden under the hood and who they want to roll race in Mexico.
Police roll through the lot, ashing their red and blue lights to signal the high risks of speeding in the streets. ese night scene car enthusiasts, for the most part, shrug it o and make their way back onto the streets, pushing their modi ed cars to the limit. Money, pride and winning fuel their passion to race.
Colorado State Trooper Cody Crowder said the streets are the wrong place for these gatherings.
“Speed is still among the top contributing factors to fatal crashes within our state,” Crowder said. “We have also noticed a rise in rearmsrelated charges associated with the street racers, including multiple shootings occurring during these races and roadway closures.”
After police o cers arrive, these enthusiasts quickly roll out to a new meet-up location, launching their vehicles from the on ramp back onto I-25. Some chase after each other through pockets in tra c. Others block the lanes by ashing their hazards. Once the highway ahead appears clear, the street racers send a signal ashing their hazards or honking their horns three times. Within seconds, they’re o — foot to the oor, feeling the force of being
Heat on the streets
slammed into their seat. e night car scene in the Front Range is growing in popularity as the number of drag strips within the metro area drops to zero. Many people who love the rush of speeding down a quarter-mile straight lane used to take their cars to Bandimere Speedway in Morrison.
But following Bandimere Speedway’s 65th anniversary in 2023, the family announced the track’s closure, creating a void for racers who called the track home and the police o cers who used to encourage street races to take their cars to the track. Last October, Bandimere Speedway hosted its nal Test and Tune event. Supercars, muscle cars, European and Japanese imports, professional dragsters and even family sedans completed their last passes at Bandimere’s under Mountain.
Police records from the Report Illegal Colorado Street Racing website — which is run by six city and district attorney’s o ces, six county sheri ’s o ces and 26 police departments in Colorado, including the Colorado State Patrol and the Colorado Information Analysis Center — show that statewide, from Oct. 1 to Dec.
31, there were 325 complaints from Colorado residents alleging illegal street racing.
at’s 73 less than the year before, in 2022, when 398 complaints were led about street racing. Although the overall reports of street racing in Colorado decreased, the number of reports in cities connected to the winding stretch of I-25, including Castle Rock and Colorado Springs, saw an increase.
Legacy of Thunder Mountain
In 1958, John Bandimere Sr. purchased land in Morrison, where he and his family planned to carve a drag strip out of the side of a mountain. For 65 years, the strip was lled with smiling spectators as they watched ashy muscle cars, colorful funny cars, unique imports and stockbody family sedans and SUVs line up in the eight staging lanes preparing to race their vehicles.
Car enthusiasts could not get enough of shrieking tires, burning rubber and the echo of roaring engines bouncing o the mountain rivaling the sound of thunder.
“We would go almost every weekend because it’s so cheap and super,
super fun,” said Caden Ellerington, director of the CU Car Club in Boulder. “It’s fun because (I) can bring whatever car I drive to school and go racing.”
Most members of the CU Car Club are current students and alumni of the University of Colorado Boulder, but the club is open to all car enthusiasts who want a fun, safe place to enjoy car culture. Despite the name, CU Car Club, the group is not a liated with the University of Colorado.
Ellerington grew up in a car family that restored classic cars and motorcycles, went on trips o -roading their vehicles and racing their daily drivers and sports cars at Bandimere. Last summer, Ellerington started inviting members of the CU Car Club to Test and Tune Nights at the speedway to share the excitement of racing at the track before its closure. His biggest regret was not going to the track sooner and more frequently before the announcement.
“I think that the reason why street racing is so popular is because we’re all cheap,” Ellerington said. “We don’t have any money.”
Nightlife car enthusiasts are parked at their first car meet location before engaging in a night of street racing in “Mexico” earlier this year.
PHOTO BY VICTORIA CALTON / CU NEWS CORPS
ere are other drag strips in Colorado, but none are close to the metro area. Pueblo Motorsports Park and Julesburg Dragstrip are a long haul away. e money for gas to get to PMP, and another charge on racing fuel, can cost about $114, including racer entry fees, putting it out of reach for many metro-area drivers.
Nightlife: Colorado car culture
Lamborghini Huracans and Dark Horse Mustangs are rare. at’s because most street racers pick low pro le vehicles with a supercharger that is easy to tune.
“It’s not just turning your carburetor and putting the bolt-on (aftermarket performance parts) that you bought in a magazine anymore. It’s a lot of going through the computer,” said Ellerington.
With many modern vehicles, modifying your car to increase horsepower is a plug and play process. Data mapping is done through tuning companies that have crafted speci c programs to train a car’s electronic control unit into producing the most power with or without the installation of performance parts.
“I’m so intrigued by them and just their intelligence, and their knowledge as technology has changed,” said John “Sporty” Bandimere III, a professional drag racer and executive team member at Bandimere Speedway.
For example, a blacked-out Cadillac street raced fellow enthusiasts a quarter mile at a time from Colorado Springs to a new meet location closer to the Denver area. e car was quick from a rolling start, but if needed, it could blend into tra c even quicker when passing speed traps on the highway.
“ e adrenaline for me… just trying to get that adrenaline rush again,” said Raymond J., a night scene car enthusiast who drives a 2014 Chevrolet SS. “Racing is like one of the closest things to it.”
Younger car enthusiasts who experiment with the night scene gravitate towards German or Japanese imports because of the speed, they’re easy to work on and quick on the street. Many of the enthusi-
asts wished to remain anonymous, but were willing to go by their nicknames.
“Rest in peace Bandimere, we need another race track, a better one,” said D Boost.
Some street racers preferred Street Car Takeover events at Bandimere Speedway where they could do what’s called roll racing, rather than begin from a dead stop as seen in traditional drag racing. PMP and Pikes Peak International Raceway host roll racing events, but many street racers prefer a nearby highway rather than traveling to Pueblo or Fountain for a few passes at a crowded track.
“If you’re doing it on the highway, in Mexico, you’re doing it at like 60 miles an hour, and then somebody counts down to three… you’re basically going like 60 to 160, so it’s a little bit of an adrenaline rush,” Raymond said.
Raymond described how the culture has changed as more enthusiasts are interested in producing the most horsepower possible in their vehicles, rather than racing or joining nightlife activities for the thrill of it. Winning and making money o the nightlife has become more of a regular practice than when Ray-
mond rst got into the night scene.
“ ere’s more of a stigma around that, especially with street racing... People are idiots and cars are dangerous,” Ellerington said. “ ere’s de nitely a di erence between the day-time (car meets) and the nighttime ones.”
Day scene: Colorado car culture e Bandimere family cared about fostering a community-driven track where spectators and drivers could enjoy the speed in a controlled and safe environment. e Bandimeres hosted programs to educate young drivers about the dangers of being behind the wheel, as well as providing them with a track where they can reach high speeds in the manner of seconds.
“ e automobile is the most deadly weapon you can own,” Sporty Bandimere said.
Rather than trying to outlaw racing or bog down the youth with hefty nes, the Bandimere family worked to provide the public with a place to race and enjoy the car scene. Take it to the Track: Test and Tune Nights, with the assistance of the Colorado State Patrol, created a space for the public to race.
Debbie Bandimere, the Nitro Knockouts crew chief, found it bene cial to host these weekly Wednesday night race days so people would not take their need for speed to the streets.
“We got ahold of the Colorado State Patrol and said, ‘hey do you want to partner with us, and we can create this Take it to the Track program … where we can try and keep the kids o the street,’” she said.
Colorado State Troopers were provided with $5 o coupons for Test and Tune Nights at Bandimere Speedway to give to teens who were stopped because of speeding. State Troopers promoted a safe and controlled environment where people, especially youth, could race their cars rather than having to pay hefty nes for speeding on the highway.
“I’m extremely hopeful they will open again. I think Colorado needs that, especially, the metro area really needs a drag strip,” Ellerington said. is story was created by students at the University of Colorado-Boulder’s News Corps. Colorado Community Media participated in the process that helped bring this story to light.
John Bandimere Jr., of Bandimere Speedway, prepares for a meeting in April.
PHOTO BY JANE THOMPSON
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Legals
City and County
Public Notice
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLANNING COMMISSION COMMERCE CITY, COLORADO
Notice is hereby given that this public hearing will be conducted on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Commerce City Civic Center, 7887 East 60th Avenue. The Planning Commission will consider:
PUDA23-0005: The Commerce City Urban Renewal Authority is requesting approval of The Mile High Greyhound Park PUD Zone Document- Amendment 2, to modify standards for commercial uses within planning area B. The subject property is approximately 15.37 and located between Elm Street and Highway 2 and between East 62nd Avenue and East 64th Avenue.
Z-792-05-24: Farnsworth Group is requesting approval of the One Buckley PUD Zone Document, to amend the existing Cutler Property- Commercial PUD Zone Document, to allow residential uses. The subject property is approximately 31.8 acres located at the northeast corner of East 120th Avenue and Buckley Road.
Economic Development Strategic Plan: Adoption of the first multi-year Economic Development Strategic Plan
Advance registration for virtual testimony/ public input is required. Additional information and instructions to register for testimony can be found in the published agenda at https://commerce.legistar. com and at https://www.c3gov.com/PC or by contacting staff at 303-289-8137 or nberry@c3gov.com. Notificatcion de un Proyecto de Desarrollo potencial cerca de su propiedad. Para servicios de traduccion en espanol, llame a Kimberly Adame 303-227-8818.
The application is on file with the Department of Community Development.
Planning Commission Chairman
Legal Notice No. CCX1398
First Publication: August 22, 2024
Last Publication: August 22, 2024
Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express
Bids and Settlements
Public Notice
WINDLER PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY
Neighborhood C & F Streetlights
Sealed Bids will be received by Windler Public Improvement Authority, hereinafter referred to as OWNER, at the office of the Authority Engineer, Merrick & Company, 5970 Greenwood Plaza Boulevard, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, until 11:00 AM local time on September 6, 2024, for:
Neighborhood C & F Streetlights
This Contract provides for the construction of the following: Furnish and install streetlights for Neighborhood C (southeast corner of Denali Street and 55th Ave) and Neighborhood F (southeast corner of Denali Street and 53rd Ave) which is comprised of approximately 11,000 LF of conduit, 48 streetlights, 78 pedestrian lights, and 17 meter pedestals for Neighborhood C and approximately 4,900 LF of conduit, 20 streetlights, 21 pedestrian lights, and 7 meter pedestals for Neighborhood F.
Copies of the Bidding Documents may be requested from the Windler Public Improvement Authority, at the email of the Authority Engineer, barney.fix@ merrick.com, beginning August 8, 2024. NO PAYMENT REQUIRED
Bidders must be licensed Contractors in the State of Colorado.
Bids will be received providing unit price for items; however, the price given will be on a maximum not-to-exceed amount, as described in the Bidding Documents.
The Work is expected to be commenced within sixty (60) days after the Date of Contract.
Bid Security in the amount of five percent (5%) of the total Bid Price must accompany each Bid in the form specified in the Instructions to Bidders.
The Successful Bidder will be required to furnish a Performance Bond, Labor and Material Payment Bond guaranteeing faithful performance and warranty bond for two-years after Substantial Completion, and the payment of all bills and obligations arising from the performance of the Contract.
The OWNER reserves the right to award the contract by sections, to reject any or all Bids, and to waive any informalities and irregularities therein.
For further information, please contact Barney Fix at Merrick & Company at 303-751-0741.
Legal Notice No. CCX1389
First Publication: August 8, 2024
Last Publication: August 22, 2024
Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express
Non-Consecutive Publications
Public Notice WINDLER PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY
48th Ave Landscaping
Sealed Bids will be received by Windler Public Improvement Authority, hereinafter referred to as OWNER, at the office of the Authority Engineer, Merrick & Company, 5970 Greenwood Plaza Boulevard, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, until 10:00 AM local time on August 29, 2024 for:
48th Ave Landscaping
This Contract provides for the construction of the following: Approximately 1/3 mile of landscaping along W. 48th Avenue from E-470 to N. Tibet Rd. The project includes plantings, ground covers, site furnishings, and irrigation.
Copies of the Bidding Documents may be requested from the Windler Public Improvement Authority, at the email of the Authority Engineer, barney.fix@ merrick.com, beginning August 15, 2024. NO PAYMENT REQUIRED.
Bidders must be licensed Contractors in the State of Colorado.
Bids will be received providing unit price for items; however, the price given will be on a maximum not-to-exceed amount, as described in the Bidding Documents.
The Work is expected to be commenced within sixty (60) days after the Date of Contract.
Bid Security in the amount of five percent (5%) of the total Bid Price must accompany each Bid in the form specified in the Instructions to Bidders.
The Successful Bidder will be required to furnish a Performance Bond, Labor and Material Payment Bond guaranteeing faithful performance and warranty bond for two-years after Substantial Completion, and the payment of all bills and obligations arising from the performance of the Contract.
The OWNER reserves the right to award
the contract by sections, to reject any or all Bids, and to waive any informalities and irregularities therein.
For further information, please contact Barney Fix at Merrick & Company at 303-751-0741.
Legal Notice No. CCX1396
First Publication: August 15, 2024
Last Publication: August 22, 2024
Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express
Public Notice
WINDLER PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY
WINDLER - 1881 Park – Bridge
Sealed Bids will be received by Windler Public Improvement Authority, hereinafter referred to as OWNER, at the office of the Authority Engineer, Merrick & Company, 5970 Greenwood Plaza Boulevard, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, until 10:00 AM local time on September 6, 2024, for:
WINDLER - 1881 Park – Bridge
This Contract provides for the construction of the following: Primary pedestrian bridge connection between the north and south sides of 1881 park, providing linkage above Tributary T Drainage Channel.
Copies of the Bidding Documents may be requested from the Windler Public Improvement Authority, at the email of the Authority Engineer, barney.fix@ merrick.com, beginning August 8, 2024. NO PAYMENT REQUIRED.
Bidders must be licensed Contractors in the State of Colorado.
Bids will be received providing unit price for items; however, the price given will be on a maximum not-to-exceed amount, as described in the Bidding Documents.
The Work is expected to be commenced within sixty (60) days after the Date of Contract.
Bid Security in the amount of five percent (5%) of the total Bid Price must accompany each Bid in the form specified in the Instructions to Bidders.
The Successful Bidder will be required to furnish a Performance Bond, Labor and Material Payment Bond guaranteeing faithful performance and warranty bond for three-years after Substantial Completion, and the payment of all bills and obligations arising from the performance of the Contract.
Public Notices
The OWNER reserves the right to award the contract by sections, to reject any or all Bids, and to waive any informalities and irregularities therein.
For further information, please contact Barney Fix at Merrick & Company at 303-751-0741.
Legal Notice No. CCX1388
First Publication: August 8, 2024
Last Publication: August 22, 2024
Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express
Non-Consecutive Publications
Public Notice
WINDLER PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY
45th Place Landscaping
Sealed Bids will be received by Windler Public Improvement Authority, hereinafter referred to as OWNER, at the office of the Authority Engineer, Merrick & Company, 5970 Greenwood Plaza Boulevard, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, until 10:00 AM local time on September 20, 2024 for:
45th Place Landscaping
This Contract provides for the construction of the following: Approximately 1/3 mile of landscaping along E. 45th Place from Tibet Rd to Wenatchee St. The project includes plantings, ground covers, and irrigation.
Copies of the Bidding Documents may be requested from the Windler Public Improvement Authority, at the email of the Authority Engineer, barney.fix@ merrick.com, beginning August 22, 2024. NO PAYMENT REQUIRED.
Bidders must be licensed Contractors in the State of Colorado.
Bids will be received providing unit price for items; however, the price given will be on a maximum not-to-exceed amount, as described in the Bidding Documents.
The Work is expected to be commenced within sixty (60) days after the Date of Contract.
Bid Security in the amount of five percent (5%) of the total Bid Price must accompany each Bid in the form specified in the Instructions to Bidders.
The Successful Bidder will be required to furnish a Performance Bond, Labor and Material Payment Bond guaranteeing faithful performance and warranty bond for two-years after Substantial Completion, and the payment of all bills and obligations arising from the performance of the Contract.
The OWNER reserves the right to award the contract by sections, to reject any or all Bids, and to waive any informalities and irregularities therein.
For further information, please contact Barney Fix at Merrick & Company at
303-751-0741.
Legal Notice No. CCX1400
First Publication: August 22, 2024
Last Publication: September 5, 2024
Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express
Non-Consecutive Publications
Notice to Creditors
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Gerald Lester Corning, Deceased
Case Number: 2024 PR 269
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before December 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Tamara Glasby
Personal Representative
7000 Pierce St. Arvada, CO 80003
Legal Notice No. CCX1391
First Publication: August 15, 2024
Last Publication: August 29, 2024
Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Virginia Darlene Vogl, Deceased Case Number: 24PR030234
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before December 23, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Steven G. York, Esq.
Dworkin, Chambers, Williams, York, Benson & Evans, P.C.
3900 E. Mexico Ave., Ste. 820 Denver, CO 80210
Legal Notice No. CCX 4102
First Publication: August 15, 2024
Last Publication: August 29, 2024
Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of William Philip Benning, Sr., Deceased Case Number: 2024 PR 235
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before December 22, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Natalie Benning Walker
Personal Representative
3770 S Genoa Cir Unit B Aurora CO 80013
Legal Notice No. CCX1399
First Publication: August 22, 2024
Last Publication: September 5, 2024
Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of RANDALL T. LOPEZ, Deceased Case Number 2024 PR 30370
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before October 30, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Adrian Lee Lopez, Personal Representative 5610 E. 66th Avenue
Commerce City, CO 80022
Legal Notice No. CCX 1386
First Publication: August 8, 2024
Last Publication: August 22, 2024
Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of FORREST L. BREWER, Deceased Case Number: 2024 PR 30468
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before December 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Maria Theresa B. Lopez, #26837
Attorney for Robert F. Brewer, Personal Representative 501 S. Cherry St. - #1100 Denver, CO 80246
Legal Notice No. CCX1394
First Publication: August 15, 2024
Last Publication: August 29, 2024
Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Ronald Charles Boggs, a/k/a Ronald C. Boggs and Ronald Boggs, Deceased Case Number: 2024 PR 30434
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before December 8, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Howard Boggs
Personal Representative c/o Law Office of Byron K. Hammond, LLC
4500 Cherry Creek Drive South Suite 960 Denver, CO 80246
Legal Notice No. CCX1387
First Publication: August 8, 2024
Last Publication: August 22, 2024
Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of John S. Burrus, a/k/a John Stephen Burrus, a/k/a Steve Burrus,, Deceased Case Number: 2024 PR 30556
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before December 27, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
David M. Haynes Haynes & Haynes, LLC 900 Arapahoe Avenue Boulder, Colorado 80302
Legal Notice No. CCX1397
First Publication: August 22, 2024
Last Publication: September 5, 2024
Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express ###
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