Clear Creek Courant December 19, 2024 by Colorado Community Media

Hundreds descend on Georgetown for annual Holiday Market

Carolers, a horse-drawn wagon and holiday decorations greeted visitors and shoppers for the weekend event

e annual Holiday Market in Georgetown brought hundreds to stroll the downtown district lled with shops and holiday spirit.

People were parking and walking more than a mile to get to this year’s market and what some called the Hallmark-like atmosphere of Georgetown for the holidays.

A big hit every year is the horse-drawn wagon from the Bell S Ranch in Hotchkiss, with owner Shane Stratton guiding Sarge and Oakely down Georgetown streets carrying smiling kids and their parents on the holiday ride.

“We live for this right here, that’s the reason we have these old horses to come and see the faces of people, the kids that

are just dying to get on the wagon and go for a ride. It just really warms my heart,” Stratton said.

e downtown shop My Lovely Company was packed with customers inside and out looking for custom organic bath and beauty products as owner Maria Hemeham worked to restock items heading out the door with customers.

“It’s beautiful, it’s whimsical. I’m very happy with the way it turned out — it’s bigger than ever before,” Hemeham said, noting she co-owns the business with her

As Georgetown experiences a mass exodus of public employees, police operations handed over to county

BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Last month, the Georgetown Board of Selectmen accepted the resignations of Town Administrator Rick Keuroglian and Town Treasurer Mary Sims, who had been in the position for 23 years. Town Clerk Jennifer Yobski quit shortly thereafter.

Meanwhile, Town Police Chief Dan Trechter, hired from Kansas in September, quit after less than two weeks on the job, according to Assistant Town Administrator Kazia Hart, who has taken on roles as Interim Clerk and Interim Treasurer. With Trechter out, Georgetown was without a police force of any kind. e town signed an Intergovernmental Agreement on Dec. 10 with the Clear Creek County Commissioners and county sheri ’s o ce to provide county deputies for Georgetown’s law enforcement.

Keuroglian walked away with $70,000, or half of his yearly salary, and three months of town-supported health care under contractual obligations, Hart conrmed following a Colorado Open Records Act request.

No departure compensation was or is to be paid to Sims, Yobski or Trechter, Hart said.

Shane Stratton guides Sarge and Oakely from Bell S Ranch down Georgetown during the Holiday Market Dec. 7.

PHOTO BY CHRIS KOEBERL

daughter.

Although tourists made up a large majority of the downtown crowd, as evidenced by out-of-state license plates from across the country, Hemeham had a message for locals.

More and more Georgetown shops offer a discount to “locals,” Hemeham said. Shoppers can get between 10-to-40% o retail prices in her shop and many others.

“Just tell us, ‘Hi we’re local’ from any surrounding counties,” she said.

In the main square of downtown, Loaves and Fishes food bank Executive Director Rachel Josselyn could be found selling paper bags of roasted Chestnuts for $5 during the chilly morning.

e $5 donation will go back into lling the shelves of the food bank, Josselyn said.

”Food has been insanely expensive lately and so most of our money has been going toward that,” she said.

Selling Chestnuts during the market is one of three big fundraisers every year for Loaves and Fishes; the others include the annual Wing Crawl and a direct marketing campaign, according to Josselyn.

e food bank distributes thousands of pounds of food every year to people in need with very few questions, Josselyn said.

“ e bottom line is people get food, there’s no requirement, people just get food,” she said.

e Query family from Parker were seen walking downtown enjoying the day in Georgetown with Kenzie carrying 2-year-old Zeke in a backpack and walking alongside his wife, Kaylah.

e family said they like to avoid Denver during the holidays and the Georgetown Market is a perfect match of small-town charm and holiday shopping.

“It’s gorgeous up here,” Kaylah said. “I feel really cozy. It feels almost like a Hallmark movie.”

Zeke just smiled and searched the street from side to side from his perch on his dad’s back.

“It’s a good family atmosphere. He (Zeke) really liked the horses down there. Horses are his favorite,” Kenzie said smiling.

Weather Observations for Georgetown, Colorado

Weather Observations for Georgetown, Colorado Week of December 2, 2024

Week of December 2, 2024

Each day at about 8 a.m. a local National Weather Service volunteer observer makes temperature and precipitation observations at the Georgetown Weather Station and wind observations at Georgetown Lake. “Max” and “Min” temperatures are from an NWS digital “Maximum/Minimum Temperature System.” “Mean daily” temperature is the calculated average of the max and min. “Total Precipitation” is inches of rainfall plus melted snow. “Snowfall” is inches of snow that accumulated. T = Trace of precipitation or snowfall. NR = Not Reported. “Peak wind gust at Georgetown Lake” is the velocity and the time of the maximum wind gust that occurred during the 24 hours preceding the observation time. Historic data are based on the period of record for which statistical data have been compiled (about 55 years within the period 1893-2023). Any weather records noted are based on a comparison of the observed value with the historical data set for that speci c date.

Day and date of observation (2024)

The Query family from Parker enjoys the Georgetown Holiday Market. PHOTOS BY CHRIS KOEBERL

Loaves and Fishes food bank in Clear Creek County sells paper bags of roasted Chestnuts for $5 during the Georgetown Holiday Market.

My Lovely Company in Georgetown was packed with customers during the Georgetown Holiday Market.

What Are the Costs of Buying or Selling a Home? Homeowners & Investors Need to Know

This is one article you’ll want to read at http://RealEstateToday.substack.com, where the buyer and seller settlement statements at right appear much larger on your computer screen. I have anonymized the actual closing statements from a property I sold for $698,000 this year which had an HOA, a seller loan to pay off, and a buyer loan to fund. This should cover most of the expenses that a buyer or seller might encounter when closing on a home sale or purchase.

We’re blessed in Colorado when it comes to the cost of buying and selling real estate. In many states, there are transfer taxes imposed by state or local jurisdictions, but not here by Colorado or in metro Denver. Also, in some states, both buyer and seller need to hire a lawyer, not just a real estate agent to complete a transaction. Long ago the State of Colorado passed a law giving licensed real estate brokers limited legal authority to explain state approved contracts, so it’s rare for a client to spend money on a lawyer. The exception is when a buyer purchases a new home, because builders have lawyers create their own contracts, and we would be practicing law without a license if we were to interpret those contracts and their provisions for our buyer.

ance renewal), but that escrow can't be credited on your closing. You’ll pay for the property taxes at closing and get a refund of your escrow balance from your lender 30 days or so after closing. On this seller’s settlement statement, the HOA dues are also pro-rated to the date of closing, and since the closing was on the 30th of August, the statement refunds two days’ worth of HOA dues, which the seller had paid on August 1st.

The biggest deductions for the seller (other than property taxes) are the real estate commissions and the title insurance policy. The purchase contract specifies whether the buyer or seller will pay for the buyer agent’s commission and the owner’s title insurance, but it is still common for the seller to pay both agents’ commissions plus the title policy, as in this case.

There are HOA fees which can also be paid by either party but are typically paid by the seller. Typically, the title company which is closing the transaction pays those fees (for status letter, documents, transfer fee, and more), so those fees are shown here as being reimbursed to the title company rather than paid to the HOA.

statement. If the buyer were paying cash, he or she would have very few expenses other than recording the deed for $10. The biggest costs associated with buying the home are related to the loan, especially if the seller has paid the buyer’s real estate agent and paid for the owner’s title policy.

So let’s look at the seller’s settlement statement first. Not all the debits on this statement are considered the cost of selling. For example, the property taxes for the current year, pro-rated to the date of sale, are not a cost of selling. Since property taxes are paid in arrears (not due until April of the following year), you’re always going to find that pro-ration of property taxes on the settlement statement. If selling in December, that’s almost an entire year’s tax bill. In January through April, if your taxes haven’t been paid, you will find the full year’s taxes plus a portion of the current year’s taxes deducted from your proceeds.

If you have a mortgage, your lender has probably been charging you each month to escrow for next year’s tax bill (and insur-

In addition to paying off the seller’s loan, based on payoff numbers the title company obtains directly from the lender, the closer will deduct a few extra days of interest to cover the time it takes to get the payoff to the lender. If that’s an overcharge, the seller will get a check for the surplus from the title company within a few weeks.

The title company will also escrow a few hundred dollars to pay the final water and sewer bill (unless water is included in the HOA dues), and will refund the excess after they pay the final water/sewer bill. This is the only utility which the title company pays and transfers on your behalf, because an unpaid water/sewer bill would result in a lien against the property, and the title company’s job is to assure the buyer that they are getting the home clear of any liens.

Now let’s look at the buyer’s settlement

Moving, Even Locally, Can Cost You a Lot

At Golden Real Estate, we like to save you money wherever we can. For example, we have a handyman who can help you get your home ready to show or fix inspection issues at a client-only rate of $30/hour.

We also have a box truck which you can use prior to, during and after closing, not just for moving to your new home, but making those dump runs or runs to Goodwill for donating all that stuff you accumulated over the years!

packing material, including bubble wrap, so don’t buy any of those items yourself.

We’ve been offering the use of this truck since 2004. In fact, this is our second truck. It’s hard to estimate how much money this perk has saved both our buyers and sellers, but it must be several hundred thousands of dollars.

We also provide free moving boxes and

We also make the truck available free to non-profits and local organizations, such as Family Promise and BGoldN, which uses it to pick up food from Food Bank of the Rockies for their Golden food pantry.

Those loan costs are large and varied, as is detailed in the buyer’s settlement statement above. There’s the origination fee, from which the loan officer is paid. There is also the cost of appraising the home (in this case paid prior to closing), underwriting, credit report, flood certification, and a couple other lesser fees.

The buyer’s lender wants to be sure the home is insured, so you see that debit on the last line of the buyer’s settlement. (A cash buyer might choose not to insure.)

Not only does the buyer have to pay all those expenses, the buyer is charged for a title policy that covers the lender for the amount of the loan ($500 in this case) and a loan closing fee ($450). The lender will probably want to escrow for property taxes and insurance and will require a deposit for both those expenses that will vary depending on when in the calendar year the clos-

Each year, the FHA raises the limits on its federally guaranteed loans. The limits are based on the median sale price of homes in each county.

Because the Denver metro area’s median home price was calculated by FHA at $710,000, the loan limit for single-family homes was raised to $816,500 this year. That is the loan limit, not the purchase price, although FHA only requires a 3.5% down payment.

The loan limit for a duplex/2-family home was raised to $1,045,250. For a three-family home it was raised to $1,263,500, and for a four-plex, it was raised to $1,570,200.

Boulder County’s limits in each category are slightly higher, starting at $856,750 for a single-family home.

In the country’s lowest-cost counties, the loan limit is $498,257 for a single-family home, and in the highest-cost areas (Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands), the limit is $1,724,725, rising to $3,317,400 for a 4unit property. (Whether 1-unit or 4-units, the borrower has to live in the subject property.)

ing takes place. In this case the buyer is being debited for 3 months of insurance coverage and 5 months of property taxes. There is one big credit which the buyer receives from the seller. The funds which were deducted from the seller’s proceeds for the current year’s property taxes are credited to the buyer, not paid to the county. That’s because the buyer will paying the current year’s entire property tax bill when it becomes due. You see that credit — almost $3,000 — near the top of the above settlement statement.

There could also be a concession for repairs that the seller agreed to in the inspection resolution, although not in this case. Sometimes that concession takes the form of a price reduction, which does not appear as a line on the settlement statement.

Notice that the closing services (notary) fee of $360 is shared 50/50 in this case, as is commonly done, $180 for each party. As mentioned above, visit our blog for more readable copies of those documents and more discussion of transaction costs.

Non-FHA (“conventional”) loan limits are slightly lower for 2024. In most areas, the conforming conventional loan is limited to $766,550. Alaska, Hawaii and high-cost areas have a conforming conventional loan limit of $1,149,825 for a single-family home. FHA loans are attractive because they only require a 580 credit score (as low as 500 with a 10% down payment), and your debt-toincome ratio only needs to be below 57%.

The biggest negative of FHA loans is that they require a mortgage insurance premium (MIP) of 1.75% at closing, plus an annual premium which varies based on your loan-tovalue ratio. MIP is for the life of the loan, unless your downpayment is at least 10%, and remains in effect no matter how low the loan-to-value ratio falls (i.e., how much your equity increases). If your down payment was 10% or higher, the MIP goes away after 11 years. Otherwise, most 15- or 30-year FHA mortgages should be refinanced once the owner can qualify for a conventional loan, hopefully at a better interest rate, to get rid of the MIP.

Sims told the Courant she left without so much as an exit interview.

“It became an unhappy, unhealthy place to be,” Sims said about the job she loved for decades. Sims declined to go into speci cs as to why she stepped down.

e people in these top town positions all decided to leave in a span of just a couple of weeks in November, but no one is publicly saying why. In an e ort to nd answers, the Courant sent an email to all six members of the Board of Selectmen and Police Judge Lynette Kelsey.

Amanda Cooper from Ward 1 in Georgetown is the only member who responded, saying there’s very little she can reveal. “I’m just trying to avoid commenting on a personnel matter that wouldn’t be ethical for me to comment on,” Cooper said in the email.

When asked about the $70,000 payout to Keuroglian, Cooper responded, “I respect that the board has legal obligations that have to be ful lled and, again, we wish Rick the best. We are focused on a path moving forward.”

Several messages to Keuroglian’s cell phone went unanswered.

Although she didn’t respond to the Courant’s initial invitation for an interview, the Courant caught up with Kelsey during the Georgetown Christmas Market on Dec. 7.

“Unfortunately, it’s very closely tied to personnel issues that I can’t give lots of details on; you know sometimes you get those perfect storm kinds of waves,” Kelsey said when asked why so many people in key positions left all at once. “You just have to deal with it but I can’t comment on any of the reasons for them leaving.”

Kelsey did say the town is currently negotiating a contract with a potential new town administrator and is working to ll the town clerk and treasurer positions.

Other than that, she o ered little information for Georgetown residents.

“ ere isn’t a simple answer to that and I really can’t give any comment, I wish I could. We’re doing the best we can,” Kelsey said.

Clear Creek County Sheri ’s takes over Georgetown law enforcement’s for a price

Interim Police Chief Jon Gaskins was the sole representative of the Georgetown Police Department for much of 2024, follow-

ing former Marshal Randy Williams stepping down in March, according to town records.

In August, the Selectmen chose Daniel Trechter of Manhattan, Kansas, to lead the department as police marshal.

Gaskins said he took that opportunity to step down from the police department and has since taken a job with the Clear Creek County District Attorney’s o ce.

During the turmoil, Gaskins took to social media to express his frustrations about the process.

“ ere are many nuances that factor into the safety and security of a community and maintaining an e ective police

department is but one,” Gaskins wrote on Facebook. “ is Board has attempted and failed to establish a functioning police department, with an exorbitant amount of money wasted in the process.” is frustration was furthered by the fact that Trechter inexplicably quit as police chief less than two weeks after starting, according to Gaskins.

Neither Cooper nor Kelsey would say why Trechter quit so quickly. Gaskins said he was aware of Trechter’s rapid resignation but said he did not know speci cally the circumstances surrounding it.

On Dec. 10, Clear Creek County Commissioners and the county sheri ’s o ce signed an Intergovernmental Agreement with Georgetown to provide county deputies for town law enforcement.

Under the agreement, the initial level of service patrols will be three days a week for a total of 18 hours per week. e town will pay the overtime rate for deputies on patrol of between $55 to $60 per hour. Sex o ender registrations will be billed at $100 per registration, according to the agreement. e county sheri ’s o ce will provide

Georgetown Town Hall.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KOEBERL

EXODUS

equipment, personnel and vehicles associated with the services and will invoice the town on a monthly basis, according to the agreement.

Although the IGA had not yet been signed by county commissioners, at least three sheri deputies were noted in attendance during the Christmas Market in Georgetown Dec. 7 patrolling the streets and taking pictures with some of the children who were fascinated with the uniform and black cowboy hats they were wearing.

“We felt it was the right thing to do to get our deputies out there and support the town of Georgetown during probably their most important two weekends of the year,” Clear Creek County Sheri Matt Harris said.

e agreement is scheduled to terminate on May 1, 2025, with the parties reviewing the contract in February.

e deal with the town will also supersede the mutual aid agreement with the county because according to the IGA document, (Georgetown) “is technically no longer in operation since the town’s police department has no o cers and cannot meet its obligations (for mutual aid).”

Harris said many of the decisions about the future of law enforcement in Georgetown will be made by the town board. He added that the town will not be ignored by deputies under his watch.

“ e residents of Georgetown deserve to feel safe in their community, to know there’s some law enforcement in their community, it is the right thing to do and that’s why we’re going to do it,” Harris said.

Several Georgetown residents the Courant spoke with during the recent Holiday Market said they don’t understand why there are so many questions and so few answers from town leaders.

Sims said the entire ordeal is one she’s anxious to put in the past.

“I love this town. I’ve lived here a long time, I’ve made a life, I’ve raised my kids here,” Sims said. “ e job just wasn’t productive, wasn’t healthy any longer.”

Georgetown Police Chief Jon Gaskins.

Veteran news innovator to helm CCM

Brooke Warner brings vast experience in digital transformation

Brooke Warner, a veteran news industry innovator who has guided legacy organizations toward a more resilient future, has joined Colorado Community Media as its executive director.

In this role, Warner will lead CCM’s continued transformation into a sustainable community news business. She comes to CCM with extensive experience in digital media, organizational transformation and revenue growth.

“We’re thrilled to have Brooke Warner

take the helm at Colorado Community Media,” said Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro, CEO and co-founder of the National Trust for Local News. “She brings a passion for our mission along with deep experience in digital media, leading transformational change, and diversifying revenue. Our organization will bene t from her leadership as it works to create a sustainable future for community news in Colorado.”

Prior to joining CCM, Brooke served as

general manager at Swift Communications in Nevada, where she managed a portfolio of 25 local media brands. She also was vice president of Draper Digital Media and WBOC-TV in Maryland, where she launched the rst interactive division at one of the state’s largest television stations.

“I’m thrilled to join Colorado Community Media. It has been my mission to help local news companies grow and thrive to meet the needs of readers, advertisers, and communities,” Warner said. “With the support of the National Trust, I’m excited to lead CCM’s continued development into a sustainable community news business for Colorado.”

e National Trust for Local News started in Colorado in 2021 with the acquisi-

tion of Colorado Community Media, the primary source of local news for communities across the Denver metro area. Over the last two years, the National Trust has unveiled a comprehensive overhaul of CCM’s websites and digital news products, and expanded its news o erings to serve growing bilingual audiences in greater Denver.

e Trust also just announced the launch of the Trust Press to print CCM’s newspapers and o er commercial printing services for news organizations and other clients throughout the region. Warner will oversee those operations, as well. Warner’s position replaces the publisher role recently vacated by Linda Carpio Shapley, who is now CCM’s director of Editorial and Audience Engagement.

We’d like to know about events or activities of interest to the community. Visit www.clearcreekcourant.com/calendar/ and post your event online for free. Email ckoeberl@coloradocommunitymedia. com to get items in the newspaper. Items will appear in

UPCOMING

Hops and Holly: 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. Saturday Dec. 21 Cabin Creek Brewing 409 6th St., Georgetown.

Ice Drifting Round 1: 8:30 a.m. Friday Jan. 17 Georgetown Lake. Colorado Drift School https://www.coloradodriftschool.com/ice-drifting.

Adult Dodgeball Tournament: 5-8 p,m, Friday Jan. 24 Clear Creek Metropolitan Recreation District. Registration

$100 contact Jessi a jsteele@ccmrd.com,

Pond Hockey Tournament: Saturday Feb. 22, Georgetown Lake Cabin Creek Brewing Registration Fee: $350 per team prior to January 10th. Team Size: 3v3 format with a max of 5 players per team. Information: jenn@ccmrd.com.

ONGOING

Colorado Department of Transportation I-70 Sunglare Closure:I-70 Eastbound at Floyd Hill will now be closed from sunrise to approximately 8:30 a.m. on sunny mornings. Detours will be in place.

Clear Creek Democrats: 5-7 p.m. ‘ irsty 3rd ursday’ Vintage Moose, 12 16th Ave. in Idaho Springs. Non-alcohol-

ic options and snacks are provided.

CASA of the Continental Divide seeks volunteers:CASACD promotes and protects the best interests of abused and neglected children involved in court proceedings through the advocacy e orts of trained CASA volunteers. Be the di erence and advocate for the youth in our community. e o ce can be reached at 970-513-9390.

Test sirens scheduled: In an e ort to notify people in the town of Georgetown of potential ooding due to the unlikely event of a dam failure at Xcel Energy’s Cabin Creek or Georgetown hydroelectric plants, sirens will be tested the rst Wednesday of every month.

3400 Stanley Road, or you can email captains@clearcreekems.com and CCEMS will come to you to make the trade. Clear Creek EMS also o ers fallrisk assessments by bringing someone from the re department to make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly. To request a visit, ll out the form at clearcreekcounty. us/1388/Community-Outreach.

Blue Spruce Habitat volunteers needed: Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteers. A variety of opportunities and exible schedules are available on new construction sites as well as for exterior minor home repairs. No previous construction experience needed. Contact volunteer@ bluesprucehabitat.org for information.

Clear Creek EMS/Evergreen Fire Rescue Launch Mugs for Rugs Campaign: Bring an old throw rug and you’ll leave with a bright green mug! You can bring them to Station 1A in Dumont,

Resilience1220 counseling: Young people 12 to 20 can get free counsel-

SEE CURRENTS, P7

Brooke Warner

Scrooge hits di erent at Miners Alley

Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” is largely responsible for so much of what Christmas looks like in modern times. ere have been so many interpretations of the story on screen and stage and for Miners Alley Playhouse, it’s all about nding the right balance of humor and heart.

“ is is our fth year doing the show with mostly the same cast and crew and this year we’ve made the show even more Christmasy,” said Len Matheo, Miners Alley artistic director. “We’ve adjusted the script a bit and tightened it and made it funnier. ere’s more of a wink in this version — even as it gets serious, at any moment, something funny is going to happen.”

“A Christmas Carol” runs at Miners Alley, 1100 Miners Alley in Golden, through Sunday, Dec. 29. Performances are at 7:30 Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Beloved actor Jim Hunt is back to play Scrooge, and he’s joined by a familiar and much-loved cast of actors, including Lisa DeCaro, Jason Maxwell, Josh Hartwell, Koi Matheo and Meredith Young, who have become a kind of family over ve productions of Hartwell’s delightful adaptation.

“ is is e ectively the fth Christmas we’ve spent together and it goes through the whole holiday season,” Hunt said. “We really are a family and it’s just magical that we’re here again. Seems so unlikely it would happen, but it is.”

is is the rst time Miners Alley has staged “A Christmas Carol” in its new space and the larger theater allows everybody both in front and behind the curtain to go bigger and better. As Matheo said, there’s more room to create “theater magic.”

“One of the biggest changes is sound design, but we also have some great projections, costumes and more,” he said. “ e magic is much bigger than it has ever been because everybody has taken it to the next

CURRENTS

ing through an Evergreen-based organization called Resilience1220. Composed of licensed therapists, Resilience1220 serves individuals and groups in the foothills including Clear Creek County. ey also facilitate school and community groups to build life skills in wellness and resilience among youth. For more information or to schedule a counseling session, visit R1220.org, email Resilience1220@gmail. com or call 720-282-1164.

Dental clinics: Cleanings, X-rays, dentures, tooth extractions and more. Most insurances are accepted including Medicaid. Sliding scale/ low-cost options are also available. No appointment necessary. is is a mobile dentist that comes once a month. Call program manager Lauralee at 720-205-4449 for questions.

Clear Creek Rotary 2000 meetings: Clear Creek Rotary 2000 meets at 7:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Marion’s of the Rockies. 2805 Colorado Blvd., Idaho Springs. For more information, email loe er806@comcast.net.

Support after suicide loss: A safe place to share and learn after losing a loved one to suicide. is group meets every fourth Wednesday of the month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. via Zoom or in person at the Resilience1220 o ce. For ages 14 and up. Suggested donation for this group is $15. Register at resilience1220.org/groups.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

level.”

Ascend to a higher artistic place at Walker Fine Arts

Everybody leveling up also includes Hunt, who has found new layers to Scrooge. Both Hunt and Matheo see a particular resonance this year in the character, a man who picks money over love and family only to realize he is full of regret and searching for a fresh start.

All the theater magic the cast and crew have summoned up is in service to a story that still has the power to move people more than 100 years after it was written.

“ ere are very few stories people want to hear every Christmas, but this is de nitely one,” Hunt said. “ ere’s something about this version and the changes that have been made that makes it more than a story you don’t mind hearing every year. It’s something you want to hear again.”

For more information and tickets, visit https://minersalley.com/shows/a-christmas-carol-2024/.

Eva Noblezada celebrates Christmas at Lone Tree

Music is a great way to celebrate the season and the Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., is hosting a special performance by Broadway star Eva Noblezada. e performance will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 20.

Noblezada is currently playing Daisy in “ e Great Gatsby” on Broadway and has received a Grammy Award and a Tony Award nomination for her portrayal of Eurydice in the musical “Hadestown.” She’s also received a Tony nomination for the title role of “Miss Saigon.” Attendees can expect a mix of classical holiday tunes and contemporary tracks.

Get details and tickets at www.lonetreeartscenter.org/whats-on/eva-noblezadaholiday.

Winter is a time when many people focus on tranquility and fostering connections with friends and family. at’s what makes Walker Fine Arts, 300 W. 11th Ave., No. A, in Denver, newest exhibit, “Ascension,” such a great show for the end of 2024.

It runs through Saturday, Jan. 11, and features the work of Gail Folwell, Elaine Coombs, Bryan Leister, Laura Guese and Julie Maren. Each artist created ethereal installations, surreal landscapes and celestial skyscapes that encourage visitors to take a break from the bustle of life and re ect on moments of peace.

For more information on the seasonallyperfect show, visit www.walker neart.com/ ascension.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Annie Booth Trio at Dazzle

If you’re a long-time reader of this column, then you know there’s only one concert I can recommend the week of Christmas: the Annie Booth Trio at Dazzle Denver, 1080 14th St., performing the best Christmas music — Vince Guaraldi’s soundtrack to “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

e annual performances begin on Monday, Dec. 16 and run through Tuesday, Dec. 24. Booth will be joined by bandmates bassist Patrick McDevitt and drummer Alejandro Castaño and jazz vocalists Jenna McLean, Marion Powers, Kathryn Radakovich and Bailey Hinkley Grogan. Tickets and information can be found at www.dazzledenver.com/#/events.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.

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BUSINESS INQUIRIES

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Storytime with Miss Honeybun: Storytime with Miss Honeybun is at 11:15 a.m. Tuesdays at the Idaho Springs Public Library and at 11:15 a.m. ursdays at the John Tomay Memorial Library in Georgetown.

Sensitive collection: Resilience1220 strives to inform and support highly sensitive people to live healthy and empowered lives. It meets the third Wednesday of each month from 6-7 p.m. and is o ered via Zoom or in person at the Resilience1220 o ce. Register at resilience1220.org/groups

Public Health o ering sexual health and family planning: Clear Creek County Public Health is now o ering Sexual Health and Planning Services at the Health and Wellness Center in Idaho Springs. Public Health o ers counseling, emergency contraception, pregnancy testing, STI and HIV screenings, basic infertility services and birth control options and referrals. ese services are con dential. Public Health can also now bill Medicaid and most private insurance. However, if you do not have insurance, fees are based on a sliding scale — and no one will be turned away if they are unable to pay.

Clear Creek County Lookout Alert: e CodeRED alerts have been replaced by the Lookout Alert. Residents can sign up for emergency alerts county-wide by signing up at www.lookoutalert.co. e new site replaces CodeRED following the switch to Je Com911 for emergency dispatch earlier this year.

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One of the most encouraging things we can do is laugh, so I hope you enjoy this story.

Let me preface by saying that I would love to say my wife, Beth, was my partner in this so that I could change the title to “ e Roomes versus the Christmas Trees” but unfortunately, I am the only constant in the stories and therefore must claim this debacle as my own. My unintended battle with Christmas trees began innocently enough in 1991. As December neared, Beth and I moved into our rst house in Englewood. e house, built in 1900, had wonderful architectural designs with a cherrywood entry, archways and French doors. We loved it.

As the holidays approached, my brother-in-law Ed suggested that we go with his family into the foothills to cut down a Christmas tree. Beth and I were excited about the idea and the chance to take our 10-month-old Katie for an adventure. As we drove, we realized we had no saw or tape measure, but decided it was OK. We had an ax, Ed had a saw, and who really needs a tape measure for a Christmas tree?

While wandering through the trees, we realized we had no idea how high our ceilings were in our new home. We decided that a house built in 1900 must have 10-foot ceilings. We found the perfect tree. It appeared to be just under 10 feet tall but there was no way to know for sure. We cut it down with Ed’s help, placed it on top of our car, tied it down and headed back to Englewood. e sun was going down as we returned to the house, put Katie inside and started to bring in the tree. Once the tree was wedged in the entryway, partway inside and partway outside, we discovered

Jim versus the Christmas trees

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

we had 8-foot ceilings and needed a saw.

We did not yet know the neighbors, Ed’s saw was two hours away and I was not willing to go knock on a stranger’s door and say “Hi, I’m Jim, your new neighbor and I have no saw,” let alone, “I have a tree wedged in my front doorway.” So, we called my sister and her husband, and about 20 minutes later they were there with a saw. Turns out, three feet of tree is a lot of tree. After removing the extra height, we set up the tree in our living room. Beth took the extra branches, soaked them in the bathtub for a couple of days and made gorgeous displays for our front hallway, stairwell, living room, tables... e adventure ended happily, but after that, Beth’s enthusiasm for tree hunting had diminished.

In 1994, our second daughter Carly was born and by 1997, Christmas tree hunting had become a daddy-daughter adventure. We would go to a tree farm, search the lot for the perfect tree, cut it down, take it to the checkout station where they tied it to the car and then head home to show Beth our accomplishment. I did in fact know the height of our ceilings by then.

We switched from the practice of going to a tree farm when we moved to Colorado Springs, so the daddy-daughter Christmas tree adventure stayed in town. I loaded the girls in the car and we headed to a Christmas tree lot ve miles from the house. We wandered the lot, found the perfect tree, and paid for it. is time the tree lot employee did not help me

tie the tree on the car. ey pointed at a box of twine and left me to my own devices. I had no idea how to tie a knot that would keep something attached to the roof of a car, because I had, in fact, never done that alone before. Undeterred, I started the task and felt accomplished as I jumped in the car and started to drive us home.

Partway home we veered from the city street onto an on-ramp that would put us on I-25. e evening was beautiful, there were little bits of snow falling and few people out on the roads as I drove the car onto the ramp and began to curve with the road. Partway through the curve I watched in horror as the tree slid o the roof, twirling as it passed the front window and hood, and shot o the car. Our spinning bundle of Christmas joy came to rest on the on-ramp next to the barrier. I looked around and realized the streets were empty. I jumped out of the car, grabbed the tree, and in what felt like one uid motion, threw it on top of the car, climbed in the vehicle, rolled down my window, grabbed hold of the tree and twine still attached to it, and very slowly drove home, clutching twine and tree. I was thankful I had gloves. e next year when it was time for our daddy-daughter adventure, we headed back to that same Christmas tree lot and found a great tree. I was determined to see the tree stay on the car roof so I put the girls in the car, rolled down the windows, and began passing the twine through the windows to the girls who, in their booster seats, would hand it to me on the other side of the car. Feeling con dent the tree would not move, I nished the job and stood admiring my work. Twenty feet of twine and some ingenuity defeated anything that tree could throw at me.

Once I stopped admiring my work and pulled on the door handle, I realized I had tied the doors shut with my children inside the car! Ultimately, I decided to go with it. I climbed through the window, shimmied into the driver seat, and rolled up the windows. Imagine my dismay when the tree lot attendant required me to climb out again to pay. We drove home. e tree never moved.

Once home and not wanting to admit to Beth another tree fail, I climbed out the car window, raced into the garage, found scissors, cut the tree free from the rope, and was helping the girls out of the car when Beth stepped outside to see the fruit of our victorious adventure. Of course, the rst thing the girls told her was that Daddy had tied himself out of the car.

For reasons that should be completely obvious, we now have an arti cial Christmas tree. It is safer, but the daddydaughter adventures, the contests with the Christmas trees, and the decades of smiles about the adventures will be with us forever.

I hope you will nd joy in this story. I would love to hear about your holiday traditions, adventures and misadventures. ank you to all who have shared stories with me so far. I can be contacted at jim.roome@gmail.com.

Jim Roome lives in Arvada with his wife Beth. He spent 34 years in public education. Lessons learned from the one two punch of being diagnosed with MS shortly before his best friend was diagnosed with terminal cancer led him into a new pursuit as a freelance writer and speaker. He uses his life experiences and love of stories to inspire, educate and encourage local, national and international audiences.

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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Jim Roome

Cold weather brings heart risks

Winter can play havoc with health

BY SUZIE GLASSMAN

SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When snow blankets the streets around the Denver metro area, it’s not just roads that become treacherous — your heart might be at risk too. e combination of cold temperatures, reduced physical activity and sudden strenuous tasks can create a “perfect recipe” for heart attacks, according to Dr. Akhil Reddy, an interventional and structural cardiologist with HCA HealthONE in Denver.

Many might assume the cold itself is the problem, but Reddy clari ed that it’s not so much the temperature as it is the activity people undertake in the cold.

“ e more common scenario is people shoveling snow and exerting themselves and having an active myocardial infarction, or heart attack,” he explained.

According to the AHA, intense physical e ort combined with cold temperatures forces the heart to work overtime. Blood vessels constrict in the cold, causing blood pressure to rise.

When paired with the sudden cardiovascular demand of activities like shoveling snow, this can trigger heart attacks, especially in people with pre-existing risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes.

Physical exertion in cold weather can be deceptively dangerous

Shoveling snow may look like a mundane household task, but research shows it’s a workout that rivals intense cardio.

“Shoveling a little snow o your sidewalk may not seem like hard work,” said Barry Franklin, the lead author of the American Heart Association’s 2020 scienti c statement regarding exercise-related

acute cardiovascular events. “However, the strain of heavy snow shoveling may be as or even more demanding on the heart than taking a treadmill stress test, according to research we’ve conducted.”

“ e movements of snow shoveling are very taxing and demanding on your body and can cause signi cant increases in your heart rate and blood pressure,” Franklin told the AHA. “Combined with the fact that the exposure to cold air can constrict blood vessels throughout the body, you’re asking your heart to do a lot more work in conditions that are diminishing the heart’s ability to function at its best.”

According to Reddy, the danger lies in the sudden increase in demand on the cardiovascular system, particularly for people who are not regularly active. e heart, especially one that hasn’t been consistently active, is not ready for sudden, intense exertion.

“When it’s cold outside, you’re more sedentary,” Reddy said. “You just don’t have the ability to understand your own limitations. It’s like asking a Toyota Camry to race on a NASCAR track. You’re not going to do well,” he said.

Reddy emphasized that even those who don’t have symptoms of heart disease should consider getting a stress test before starting new, intense physical activities.

“If you haven’t exercised in a while, that’s a reason to see a doctor and ask, ‘Is my heart OK to do this?’” he said.

The role of hypothermia in heart health

While heart attacks from exertion are the most common winter concern, Reddy also discussed the dangers of hypothermia, which occurs when the body’s core temperature drops.

He explained that prolonged exposure to cold weather, particularly if someone is

Gerald (Jerry) Scanlon

November 5, 1946 - December 8, 2024

Gerald (Jerry) Scanlon passed away on December 8. 2024 from complications from cancer. He was born at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Denver on November 5, 1946.

Jerry spent his early years in Boulder, attending Fairview High before moving to Europe where he attended the American School of Paris, France and Leysin American School in Switzerland. Jerry went on to get his BA at Metropolitan State College of Denver and Master’s Degrees in Communication at Regis University in Denver. His great joy was teaching communication, public speaking, poetry and English at Colorado Mountain College, Red Rocks Community College and Aims Community College. He worked in the Hospitality industry in the Netherlands and Ireland and was stationed in Germany as a medic during his Army days.

Jerry will be remembered for his quick wit, outgoing personality, humor, and intellectual curiosity. A Renaissance man he was passionate about art, music, painting, poetry and was a playwright and author. He loved y shing and golf.

Nieces and nephews Jessica (Jason) Spracher, Eric (Mariko) Viertel, Michael (Leslie) Detamore, Matthew Detamore (Kristina Robbins), Sarah (Andrew) Pilger, Stephen Carr, Kara Carr, preceded in death Joseph Carr

Also survived by great nieces and nephews, Mackayla, Andy and Nicholas Pilger, Leyna and Mina Viertel, Austin and Autumn Detamore and Olivia Robbins.

e family would like to thank St Anthony’s ICU Lakewood, Mount Evans Hospice and special caregiver/friends Kimberly Reynolds, Shannon Savocchi and Fred English He was also great friends with special cousins Ann Woodley Scott and Sydney-Ann Scanlon-Davis.

He was loved beyond measure and will be deeply missed.

Memorial Mass at St Paul’s Catholic Church December 21 at 10:00 am followed by refreshments at the Parish Hall at 11:00. 1632 Colorado Boulevard Idaho Springs, Colorado.

A Golden resident clears their front walkway during a recent snowstorm.

Survived by sisters Lynne Scanlon, Arvada CO, Cindy Janke Eagle River AK, Julie (Pat) Shero Everett WA and Deidre Scanlon, Idaho Springs CO.

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

While the holiday season marks a time to relax with family and friends, the lead-up to the moment can often feel chaotic and overwhelming, and nding time to get and wrap gifts can be di cult.

However, there are businesses around the Denver metro area that provide gift-wrapping services to those who are overwhelmed by the holiday hustle and bustle.

“People shouldn’t feel like they have to do it all,” said Megan Trask, co-founder and CEO of TULA Life Balanced. “It’s more important to enjoy the season than to feel stressed or burdened by all the things that come with the holiday to-do list.”

TULA Life Balanced is an on-demand personal and family assistance platform that operates similarly to companies like Uber. TULA matches clients with an assistant to complete tasks ranging from grocery shopping and laundryto meal prep.

Having a to-do list to complete when people get home from a regular job can be overwhelming, and Trask said TULA aims to give busy people and their families a little more time in their days to do what matters most to them.

“(It’s) to create a way that people could ask for help without feeling kind of guilty about it,” Trask said.

While the assistants — who are fully vetted — are available year-round, Trask said the business sees about a 30% to 40% increase in services starting in October to mid-January.

During the holiday season, TULA Life Balanced can source gifts, wrap them and deliver them. Also, based on certain preferences, the company can create a list for the client to be able to quickly make purchases.

e clients pay for the materials, whether they provide wrapping materials or the assistants stop at a store to pick up supplies.

Although she is the co-founder of the business, Trask loves to wrap gifts and said she is more than happy to take gift-wrapping requests.

“It’s kind of like a nice break to just wrap somebody else’s gift beautifully,” Trask said. “What better gift to give than somebody getting the gift of time back?”

Always looking for ways to be creative, Kammy Witulski, a Highlands Ranch resident, also loves gift wrapping for others and started her home business, Wrap Paper Scissors, about a decade ago.

Witulski used to be an area manager for a high-end retail company in which one of the services provided was gift wrapping. After she had her daughter, Witulski felt she needed to take a few years o .

One of Witulski’s friends from her retail job had reached out to Witulski because she no longer had the ability to wrap the gifts herself. Witulski told the woman she would wrap gifts for her. While the two chatted, one thing led to another, and the idea of the

“It just started as a holiday type of job,” said Witulski. “It’s built up and now we operate year round — but the bulk of our business still comes from the Christ-

Witulski o ers several types of services. People can call, make an appointment and tell Witulski what they would like to see, such as certain colors or styles. ere is also no charge for canceling an

From the paper to the tag, Witulski provides all the supplies and will even remove price tags. However, people can also bring their own supplies. In those cases, the client will only be charged for the actual service.

Witulski does a majority of the wrapping herself as she said it brings her joy to meet people and help others during the holiday season. Nonetheless, Witulski has a team of four to ve people she can call when she needs help with big requests like corporate events or

Kammy Witulski, the owner of Wrap Paper Scissors, wraps around 2,000 gifts a year for customers who need help wrapping gifts.

From the paper to the ribbons to the tags, Kammy Witulski of Wrap Paper Scissors provides all the supplies, however, people can also bring their own materials.

One of the most important things when it comes to gift wrapping is to not leave the task to the last minute.

PRESENTS

Gift wrapping tips and tricks

For those who have time to wrap gifts or enjoy the task, Trask and Witulski have some helpful tips.

e rst one is to invest in quality supplies like sharp scissors and thicker-grade wrapping paper.

“While you are saving money on the less expensive paper and scissors, the time that it takes you to correct the tearing or sometimes needing to rewrap is where you end up spending more time and more money,” Witulski said.

While searching for wrapping paper online can be good due to the variety of patterns and colors, Witulski said it’s important to pay attention to the dimensions of

Gift wrapping experts recommend investing in quality supplies, which includes sharp scissors and thicker grade paper.

the wrapping paper. e dimensions for a standard roll of paper can di er depending on the brand type and type of paper.

Trask agrees that measuring before wrapping is the foundation to beautiful gift wrapping. Once the paper is picked out, measure straight lines before cutting the paper to ensure a clean look. It’s also helpful to have all of the supplies in one place instead of making multiple trips to stores as you are wrapping.

One of the most important tips from Trask and Witulski is to not leave gift wrapping to the last minute and to take 10 to 15 minutes to wrap gifts as you purchase them. And don’t forget about those gifts you’ve been hiding in the closet, attic or under the bed.

“ at’s much easier to do than to try to block out like three, four hours on Christmas when you’re already trying to clean your house, cook for company or maybe you’re having a party,” Witulski said.

To learn more about their services, visit TULA Life Balanced at tulabalanced.com and Wrap Paper Scissors at wrappaperscissors.com.

PHOTOS BY HALEY LENA

SPORTS

Clear Creek basketball teams struggle in early 2024-25 season

BY JOHN RENFROW

Clear Creek High School’s basketball teams are once again struggling to open their seasons, and it was apparent in dominant victories for Arrupe Jesuit against the Golddiggers on Dec. 10 in north Denver.

e Generals — both girls and boys teams — put on a show for the home crowd with back-to-back lopsided wins over Clear Creek to improve the teams’ winning records.

Girls basketball

Last year, Arrupe Jesuit girls basketball nished 11-13 overall but 5-0 in the 4A Frontier League. Clear Creek only won two games, nishing 2-17 and 1-9 in the 3A/2A/1A Mile High League.

e night’s rst game showed a strong discrepancy between the two squads. It got away from the Golddiggers early as the Generals jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the rst quarter, forcing a timeout. Turnovers plagued Clear Creek as the players struggled to get open and catch passes from teammates.

e rst quarter ended 15-3 in favor of Arrupe Jesuit. e game only snowballed

from there and the Golddiggers found themselves in a 24-7 hole at halftime.

“It’s going good. It’s a young team barely getting going, but it’s going good,” said Arrupe Jesuit Head Coach Tommy Gurule.

“I’ve got a lot of freshmen and sophomores. Four seniors. But they talk well and work hard even though we’ve only had maybe six practices. I’m proud of my girls.” e third quarter was an explosion of o ense for Arrupe Jesuit and the game got ugly. Going into the fourth, the score was 45-9. e Golddiggers couldn’t score for the rest of the game and the nal score was 63-9. e Generals improved to 2-1 while Creek fell to 0-4.

Senior guards Gisela Benevides and Riley Delfeld led the Generals on the score sheet. e duo e ortlessly kept getting to the lane and nding easy ways to score. Benevides nished with 17 points and Delfeld had 18, scoring almost all layups. Freshman Jaylah Valdivia had 10 points including two free throws.

“ ere’s no reason that we don’t win our league again this year. It would be the third year in a row,” Gurule said.

A positive for Clear Creek was senior

Clear Creek’s Zephyrus Schuessler guards Mario Cabrera of Arrupe Jesuit on an inbound play on Dec. 10.

PHOTOS BY JOHN RENFROW

Clear Creek boys basketball has started the 2024-25 season 0-4, but Head Coach David Schuessler feels the team could stack wins if the players limit their turnovers. Arrupe Jesuit beat the Golddiggers 65-32 on Dec. 10 in Denver.

BASKETBALL

guard Elizabeth Rooney, who hustled well for a couple of blocks on defense and scored six of the Golddiggers’ nine points.

Sophomore Mckenna Clark had two points and junior Zoe Carreon hit a free throw. It’s a tough start to the young season, but Head Coach Rebecca McCarthy said it’s about enjoying the small victories.

“Our team is getting better each and every game,” McCarthy said, a cross country and track coach at Clear Creek who stepped up to coach girls basketball this season. “Tonight was not our best game we’ve played as a team. is was the lowest-scoring game we kept an opponent to, so I told the ladies just small victories is what we’re after right now. Eventually, our small victories will lead to huge gains.” McCarthy said by the end of the season the team will be much better and more competitive, but an 0-4 start is tough to swallow.

She highlighted the leadership of Rooney and Carreon, who are the captains of the Golddiggers this season.

“ ey’re our vocal girls. ey’re the ones that work on keeping the girls calm and collected. ey’re also our most wellseasoned girls,” McCarthy said. “ ose two and (junior Jaylin VanVoorst, they help round out our team and keep them going, keep the energy and plays moving. But we’re also a very young, green team. I have a couple of freshmen. I have one girl who’s never played basketball in her life. But they’re doing awesome and improving every game.” e Golddiggers only have eight players on the roster also. But McCarthy is excited to see what the squad can achieve as the

season evolves.

Boys basketball

e boys’ matchup was a bit more competitive even if the scoreboard didn’t showcase it. Last season, Clear Creek had its best year since the shortened 2020-21 season during the COVID-10 pandemic when the team nished 8-6.

Last year, the Golddiggers nished 1010 and 6-5 in the 3A/2A/1A Mile High League. Arrupe Jesuit nished 9-14 and 3-3 in the 4A Frontier League in 2023-24.

Similar to the girls’ contest, Arrupe Jesuit jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the rst quarter. e Generals brought intensity on the court that the bench reciprocated to uster the Golddiggers early. e rst quarter ended 19-3.

e Generals then exploded to a 31-3 lead with 4:41 in the second quarter, forcing another Golddiggers timeout. e second quarter nished 42-11 Arrupe Jesuit before Clear Creek nally settled into the game in the second half.

Clear Creek Head Coach Rebecca McCarthy tries to inspire her Golddigger team on Dec. 10 in a 63-9 loss against Arrupe Jesuit.

PHOTO BY JOHN RENFROW

Arrupe Jesuit enjoyed a urry of 3-pointers that ran the score up early and continued into the third and fourth quarters.

“We’ve done a really good job this season moving the ball and looking for our shooters,” said Generals Head Coach Ryan Anderson. “We work with the guys a lot to keep the ball moving and look to turn a good shot into a great shot.”

e clear star of Arrupe Jesuit’s squad was Manual Loya, a sharpshooting freshman who led the Generals with 25 points including ve triples. Junior Louie Garcia hit three 3-pointers for nine points and sophomore wing Alex Asher had eight points.

Arrupe Jesuit had 10 players score in the game to win 65-32. e Generals improved to 2-0 while the Golddiggers fell to 0-4.

Clear Creek rebounded well in the rst half but failed to hit the same shots the Generals enjoyed on the other side. e game felt closer than the blowout score would suggest.

“We didn’t shoot well,” said Head Coach David Schuessler, who returned to coach the Golddiggers this season after 15 years as the athletic director and 17 years as the previous head coach until he retired in 2012. “We’ve got some kids that, quite frankly, should be on JV. We don’t have any seniors. e speed of the game is something they’re getting used to.” Clear Creek doesn’t have a JV team, so of the nine players on the squad, a few have come from playing eighth-grade basketball to varsity basketball in a year. at’s unusual but is the situation for the Golddiggers, Schuessler said. “ at’s a huge jump, but that’s where we’re at,” he said. “But it’s a two-year project, basically, because we get everybody back next year. One of the things we talked about and really worked on in practice was rebounding so I was very encouraged by that.”

Junior Zephyrus Schuessler had 22 of the Golddiggers’ 32 points. He’ll need to be a consistent scorer for the team to have success this season. But he’s not the only one they’ll need to rely on.

“Donovan Miller is a junior guard who has the ability to score,” Coach Schuessler said. “It didn’t go down for him tonight as much but he knocked down a couple of shots in the second half which is encouraging. He’s a guy we’re going to need to have score by the time we get into late January and February. We need him being in double gures, and he can do that.”

Reducing the turnovers is the numberone goal going forward, he said. If the Golddiggers can do that, they just may be able to stack some wins and turn the young season around.

To keep up with Clear Creek and Arrupe Jesuit basketball teams, including upcoming games and updated records, search the teams at MaxPreps.com.

TRIVIA

1. GEOGRAPHY: What is the northernmost capital city in the world?

2. U.S. STATES: Which state is the driest?

3. MOVIES: In the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” what is the name of the angel who saves George Bailey?

4. LITERATURE: Which American novelist also wrote under the pen name Edgar Box?

5. SCIENCE: What is the process called in which plants lose water through their leaves?

6. HISTORY: What was the name of the international group that was supposed to keep the peace after World War I?

7. TELEVISION: Which TV sitcom featured a holiday episode titled “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas”?

8. ASTRONOMY: What is it called when a group of stars forms a pattern?

9. MUSIC: What is the top-selling holiday song of all time?

10. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: How many years are in a millennium?

Answers

1. Reykjavik, Iceland.

2. Nevada, with an average of 10 inches of rain a year.

3. Clarence Odbody.

4. Gore Vidal.

5. Transpiration.

6. e League of Nations.

7. “Community.”

8. Constellation.

9. “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby.

10. 1,000.

FLASHBACK

1. “You’re the One at I Want” was used in which musical lm?

2. Name the all-girl group that released “I Met Him on a Sunday.”

3. Which artist released “ e Wanderer”?

4. Who released “People Got to Be Free”?

5. Name the song that contains this lyric: “Sometimes the love rhymes that ll that afternoon, Lose all their meaning with the rising moon.”

Answers 1. “Grease,” in 1978. e duet was performed by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. e song hadn’t been used in the stage version of the musical and was written especially for the lm. More recently the song was used in the superhero lm “Deadpool & Wolverine.”

2. e Shirelles, in 1958. e four friends formed a group and wrote the song before performing in their high school talent show.

3. Dion, in 1961. He recorded the song as a b-side single, but it became the more popular of the two songs.

4. e Rascals, in 1968.

5. “Do You Wanna Make Love,” by Peter McCann, in 1977. McCann was well known as a songwriter, producing chart-topping music for a long list of artists across the genres, including pop and country, and was active for decades lobbying for the rights of songwriters.

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Town of Silver Plume

KNOWN AS FOLLOWS:

THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

AREA THREE OF THE 1998 COUNTY LAND ANNEXATION, TO A POINT THAT IS DUE NORTH OF THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THAT PARCEL OF LAND CONSISTING OF A PORTION OF THE MARTIN LODE, U.S. SURVEY NO. 6377, AS DESCRIBED IN DEED RECORDED IN BOOK 499, PAGE 579, SAID POINT BEING THE TRUE POINT OF BEGINNING; THENCE SOUTH TO THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF SAID PARCEL; THENCE EASTERLY ALONG THE NORTH BOUNDARY OF SAID PARCEL TO THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF SAID PARCEL; THENCE DUE NORTH TO A POINT ON THE NORTH BOUNDARY LINE OF AREA THREE OF THE 1998 COUNTY LAND ANNEXATION; THENCE WESTERLY ALONG SAID BOUNDARY LINE TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING, COUNTY OF CLEAR CREEK, STATE OF COLORADO.

PARCEL A: THAT PORTION OF THE MARTIN LODE MINING CLAIM, U.S. MINERAL SURVEY NO. 6377, MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT A POINT N. 78 0 E., 684 FEET FROM CORNER NO. 1 OF SAID MARTIN LODE; THENCE N. 78 0 E., IIO FEET; THENCE N.120 W., 150 FEET; THENCE S. 78 0 W., 110 FEET; THENCE S. 12 0 E., 150 FEET TO THE THE 6TH P.M., DESRIBED AS FOLLOWS: COMMENCING AT CORNER NO. 1 OF THE MARTIN LODE MINING CLAIM, U.S. MINERAL SURV EY NO. 6377, ALSO KNOWN AS IDAHO SPRINGS TOWNSITE CORNER NO. 41; THENCE NORTHWEST ALONG LINE 41-40 OF SAID TOWNSITE TO CORNER NO. 40 OF THE IDAHO SPRINGS TOWNSITE;

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, 01/23/2025, at The Clear Creek County Public Trustee’s Office, 405 Argentine Street, Georgetown, Colorado, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication11/28/2024 Last Publication12/26/2024 Name of Publication The Clear Creek Courant

IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: Ilene Dell’Acqua #31755 McCarthy & Holthus, LLP 7700 E. Arapahoe Road, Suite 230, Centennial, CO 80112 (877) 369-6122 Attorney File # CO-24-997013-LL

The Attorney above is acting as a debt

HEART HEALTH

wet or underdressed, can lead to dangerous changes in heart rhythm.

“Hypothermia can lead to bradyarrhythmias, a condition where the heart beats too slowly,” he said. “You can end up passing out or having a cardiac arrest.”

How to recognize the warning signs of a heart attack

Recognizing heart attack symptoms early can mean the di erence between life and death. Reddy noted that while most people know to watch for chest pain or tingling in the left arm, symptoms for women and people with diabetes can be more subtle.

Reddy stressed that symptoms that appear during physical exertion — rather than at rest — should not be ignored.

“Peak exercise bringing about any sort

of symptom, to me, is an ominous sign,” he said. “ is can include shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain. If you’re noticing activities you normally do without symptoms are now causing shortness of breath or other symptoms, that’s your red ag to seek care.”

e AHA agrees, noting that women often experience heart attack symptoms di erently than men. Instead of classic chest pain, women may feel fatigue, nausea, or back and jaw pain. People with diabetes may also have “silent” heart attacks without obvious chest pain.

Reddy highlighted the importance of listening to your body during exercise.

“If you’re shoveling snow and you feel o , that’s not the time to push through,” he said.

6 ways to protect your heart this winter

With cold weather here for the next few months, you can take proactive steps to safeguard your heart health. Here’s advice from Reddy and the AHA on how to

stay safe:

1. Stay active year-round: e best way to avoid cold-weather heart strain is to maintain regular physical activity throughout the year. “Try to be active at home, like going up and down stairs, doing jumping jacks or using an indoor bike,” Reddy suggested. Keeping the heart conditioned prevents it from being “shocked” by sudden, intense activity like snow shoveling.

2. Get a stress test before new exercise: If you plan to start a new activity like running, CrossFit or even shoveling snow, consider a stress test. is step is particularly important for people with risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of heart disease.

3. Dress warmly to avoid hypothermia: Protect yourself from extreme cold by wearing layered clothing, gloves and hats. e AHA emphasizes that keeping your head and extremities covered prevents heat loss. Stay dry if you’re planning outdoor activities since wet clothing increases the risk of hypothermia.

4. Know your limits when shoveling snow: Break up snow shoveling into smaller sessions, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. e AHA recommends using a smaller shovel to avoid lifting heavy loads of snow, which reduces strain on the heart. Take frequent breaks and stay hydrated.

5. Schedule annual health checkups: “If you’re over 40, you should be getting yearly checkups,” Reddy advised. A physical exam can detect heart murmurs, a potential sign of valve disease and identify other cardiac risk factors. If a doctor hears a murmur, they may recommend an echocardiogram or further testing.

6. Recognize heart attack symptoms: Watch for classic heart attack signs, but don’t overlook subtle symptoms like nausea, lightheadedness or back pain. Women may experience heart attacks di erently from men. If symptoms occur during physical exertion — even if they seem mild — seek medical attention immediately.

LEAP ayuda a los residentes elegibles de Colorado a pagar una parte de sus gastos de calefacciòn de invierno.