2024 in rewind for Clear Creek County
BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e year comes to a close in Clear Creek County with unresolved issues spilling over into 2025 including two murder trials, a county struggling and cutting to stay a oat nancially and a town that lost several top administration roles in just weeks. Construction plans will reshape Idaho Springs and Clear Creek County lost a legendary gure who made us laugh.
Here is a look at some of the top stories covered in the Clear Creek Courant that will shape memories of 2024 and de ne early 2025.
Cash-strapped Clear Creek County cuts hours and jobs
BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Clear Creek County commissioners have been pointing to a signi cant budget shortfall for years. Now the county is cutting several full time positions and announcing a four-day work week to manage what o cials describe as “severe revenue challenges.”
After eight days of testimony and twoand-a-half days of deliberation, a Clear Creek County jury found Buen guilty of reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor, in the shooting death of 22-year-old Christian Glass. However, jurors were unable to reach a decision on the second-degree murder and o cial misconduct charges at proceedings on April 26.
A retrial for Buen is scheduled for February, with prosecutors expecting to begin jury selection early next year. e last jury pool was selected following more than 2000 jury summons sent to county residents.
Idaho Springs resident Paul Peavy is shot to death, suspect confesses and faces trial next year
During multiple interviews with in-
vestigators, Sergio Ferrer of Georgetown admitted he shot Idaho Springs resident Paul Peavey to death. Ferrer used Peavey’s 9mm handgun, according to court documents obtained by the Clear Creek Courant.
Peavey was well known to locals for his passion for breeding and raising Dobermans. Several of the puppies went missing after his murder and prosecutors say only a couple of the missing puppies were located.
Clear Creek County forced to cut hours and jobs due to budget shortfall
Commissioners have been pointing to a signi cant budget shortfall for years. Now the county is cutting several full
SEE 2024 REWIND, P6
Declining sales tax revenues and state legislative actions that have reduced property tax revenue exacerbating the county’s longer-term trend of declining property tax revenue, according to county spokesperson Megan Hiler.
Four full-time positions and four unlled positions within the county will be eliminated, according to Hiler.
“We deeply appreciate these employees’ hard work, dedication and the positive impact they have had on our organization and community,” Hiler said. “ is decision in no way re ects their job performances.”
Current employees in the positions of County Archivist, Geographic Information Systems Technician (mapping), Recreation Facilities Manager and Senior Planning Administrator will lose their jobs. Employees will maintain a full-time status working 32 hours a week and keep healthcare and other full-time bene ts, according to County Commissioner George Marlin, who said the short week for employees is in lieu of wage increases.
“Instead of giving them the raise they deserve, we’re putting them at 32 hours so we’re giving them some time back. at’s basically to defer giving them raises,” Marlin said.
Andrew Buen murder trial in death of Christian Glass ends with hung jury
A kazoo band marches in Rocky Mountain Village in Empire Nov. 16 to celebrate the life of Greg Markle.
PHOTO BY CHRIS KOEBERL
Local veterans remembered with a wreath of evergreen in Idaho Springs
Wreaths Across America brings dozens of veterans, families and high school students to Idaho Springs to remember the fallen and missing
BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Generations of service men and women and their families gathered in Idaho Springs to remember the current, past and future of the community’s local commitment to the military and its eight branches with Wreaths Across America.
Clear Creek High School students took center stage to honor the fallen at the United Center in Idaho Springs Dec. 14 to solidify the WAA message of “Remember, Honor and Teach.”
“I have some personal family relations with my great, great grandfather being in World War Two and helping to liberate Dachau (concentration camp in Germany). It makes it a little more personal,” Clear Creek High School senior and presenter Jaden Ramirez said.
For several years, local high school students have taken on the responsibility of organizing and leading the WAA e ort in Idaho Springs.
Student Government Sponsor and 22year Air Force veteran Tina Matthew said it’s encouraging to see the next generation serving the past fallen and missing because as Matthew said, “We’re only one
generation away from forgetting.”
“What if that next generation doesn’t believe in democracy, what if that next generation isn’t willing to sacri ce for our country?” Matthew asked. “It’s reminding one generation that getting to go to school is a privilege, it’s not a burden.”
One by one, veterans, relatives and future service men and women placed a ceremonial wreath on stage in honor of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Space
Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines and the list of POW/MIA.
In a moment of quiet, local resident Julie Shero was helped to the stage to lay a wreath in honor of her father, World War Two Prisoner of War First Lieutenant Ernest “Frank” Scanlon.
Members of the Clear Creek High School Golden Hour choir performed re ective renditions of the National Anthem and “Silent Night” as the audience
of nearly 100 attendees listened quietly in respect.
Bagpipe soloist Dean McConnell of ornton provided the nal soulful melody “Taps” to end the ceremony.
Although not a veteran himself, McConnell and the group Honor Flights work to serve veterans of any branch with a stated goal: “To y every able and willing Veteran to Washington D.C. to visit the monuments and memorials dedicated to their service.”
For more than 17 years McConnell said the organization has also welcomed/received each veteran coming home to Colorado at Denver International Airport for the nal time with a bagpipe eulogy.
“I think honoring our vets for giving us what this county has today is the least I can do, I didn’t serve in the military but I have the greatest respect for those that did,” McConnell said. “ ere is something that touches the soul with the bagpipes, that mourning soulfulness of them really kind of sinks in with a lot of people, so it’s a great honor by playing.”
Former ri e range instructor and military police o cer Eric Ginter placed the wreath in honor of his Marine Corps.
Current and former members of the Marine Corps are bound by a brotherhood and the motto “Semper Fi” that follows veterans through a lifetime. “It’s de nitely a brotherhood over the decades and even centuries that we have, so that’s been great,” Ginter said.
Following the ceremony, many of the participants gathered wreaths and ags and set out to a variety of local cemeteries to place them on the graves of local fallen veterans.
Preliminary hearing set for man accused in death of Idaho Springs resident
Sergio Ferrer is accused in the August shooting death of Idaho Springs resident Paul Peavey
Paul Peavey was found shot to death on his property in Idaho Springs Aug. 24. Sergio Ferrer appeared in Clear Creek County court Dec. 16 during a brief appearance via video from jail as prosecutors and defense attorneys settled on a preliminary hearing date of Jan. 27. During multiple interviews with in-
vestigators, Sergio Ferrer of Georgetown admitted he shot Idaho Springs resident Paul Peavey to death in August. According to court documents obtained by the Clear Creek Courant, Ferrer used Peavey’s 9mm handgun in the homicide.
Ferrer is being held on·charges of rst-degree murder, felony murder and aggravated robbery in connection with Peavey’s death, according to the Clear Creek County Sheri ’s O ce.
On Aug. 25, sheri ’s deputies, the Summit County Sheri ’s O ce and Colorado Bureau of Investigation searched Ferrer’s home in Georgetown with a warrant.
Inside Ferrer’s home, investigators found a black bag containing jewelry that belonged to Peavey, a Sig Sauer
Monday- ursday.
9mm handgun, four metal detectors that belonged to Peavey and a cellphone with Paul Peavey’s name on it, according to the a davit.
Several items of clothing with “possible blood” were also seized, according to the a davit.
Investigators told Ferrer the 9mm handgun matched the weapon used to kill Peavey. Ferrer responded, “ en I took the wrong fu**ing 9mm and I’m really fu**ed,” according to the a davit.
Peavey was well known for breeding Dobermans, according to locals, who said he had a real passion for his puppies, which were missing when his body was found.
All county buildings will now be open to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through ursday, according to a statement from the county.
e Sheri ’s O ce, Emergency Medical Services, Transit and the Transfer Station will continue to operate as usual, the statement continued. Public Works will continue plowing and maintaining roads as usual, but the division’s o ce hours will be
“ ese di cult decisions were made as Clear Creek County works toward nancial stability while continuing to provide essential services to our community,” Hiler said.
Since 2015, the county has made signi cant cuts, reducing its workforce from 228 fulltime equivalents to a current sta ng of 193, according to the statement.
“We know this adjustment isn’t ideal, but we appreciate the community’s understanding and patience,” said a statement attributed to the county commissioners.
Only a couple of the missing puppies have been recovered, according to investigators.
Paul Peavey was found shot to death on his property in Idaho Springs Aug. 24. FILE PHOTO
Members of the Clear Creek High School Golden Hour choir performed reflective renditions of the National Anthem and Silent Night. PHOTO BY CHRIS KOEBERL
Small Landlords: Looking to Cash Out Due to New Pro-Tenant Laws? Here’s One Option.
Under laws enacted by the 2024 General Assembly, Colorado tenants gained many protections, both from eviction and for “habitability,” but those protections for tenants have made being a landlord trickier, more expensive, and riskier, especially for the small landlord who manages his or her own rental units.
Last week, I helped one such small landlord dispose of his rental duplex and invest the proceeds in a way that deferred his capital gains but didn’t get him into yet a new investment that carried those problems and management.
you’re able to put the entire proceeds to work generating income. If you keep doing 1031 exchanges until you die, your heirs will inherit your final holding(s) with a stepped up value and no capital gains tax liability at all.
In his case, he had to deal with a squatter who knew his protections against eviction that already existed under Colorado law and refused to leave. That experience left such a bad taste in my client’s mouth that he chose to sell instead of finding a new tenant.
I was once a commercial landlord myself and earned some great passive income from it for several years, but I vowed never to be a residential landlord. Back then, the big concern was whether your tenant might be cooking meth — a nightmare situation requiring not only eviction but very expensive mitigation before the property could be put back on the rental market or sold. I preferred being a commercial landlord, because my tenants’ offices were always open and I knew they wouldn’t trash their office, because they had customers.
These new protections for residential tenants only add to the unattractiveness of being a small landlord of residential properties.
Other changes in landlord-tenant law include the banning of occupancy limits based on familial relationships by local governments and prohibiting rent increases in excess of 10% over the prior year’s rent (defined as “rent gouging”). Local governments may still implement residential occupancy limits based on demonstrated health and safety standards, such as international building codes, fire codes, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment wastewater and water quality standards, or affordable housing program guidelines.
College towns, including Boulder and Golden, have in the past implemented occupancy limits to prevent the use of singlefamily homes by large numbers of unrelated college students. Those laws are now invalidated by state law.
In the posting of this article on my blog, http://RealEstateToday.substack.com, I’ve included a link to an article with a fuller description of those 2024 landlord-tenant laws.
Meanwhile, selling a long-held investment property can subject the seller to capital gains tax and depreciation recapture that can wipe out much of the profit from selling. A common tax strategy for deferring those taxes is to do a “like kind” exchange under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code.
By purchasing a replacement investment property (not a primary residence) with the proceeds from your relinquished property,
You may be saying, “I don’t want to own any new investment property, especially a residential rental property,” given these new laws, but I have good news for you.
“Like kind” properties are broadly interpreted by the IRS to include any real estate (except a Real Estate Investment Trust or REIT). This allows you to reinvest your funds as a passive investor in what’s known as a Delaware Statutory Trust (DST). However, a DST investment is only for accredited investors. Individual accredited investors come under two categories:
They have an individual net worth, or joint net worth with their spouse, excluding primary residence, but including home furnishings and personal automobiles, of more than $1,000,000, or
They have an individual income in excess of $200,000 or joint income with their spouse in excess of $300,000, in each of the two most recent years and have a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year.
DSTs are exploding in popularity, and with good reason. A Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) is an ownership structure that allows an investor to purchase a fractional interest in a large property or portfolio of properties. The DST is a legal entity (formed as a trust under the laws of Delaware) which holds legal title to property(ies) held in the trust.
For Federal income tax purposes, each DST investor owns a “beneficial interest” in the trust and is treated as owning an undivided fractional interest in the real estate being held by the trust. A real estate company, known as the sponsor, purchases the real estate for the DST and sells “beneficial interests” to 1031 exchange investors through broker/dealers.
The investors, as beneficiaries of the trust, receive their prorated share of the income, tax benefits, and any capital appreciation produced by the real estate. The real estate company, the sponsor of the DST, serves as the trust manager and is responsible for making the major management decisions of the trust. Some examples of the type of real estate that a DST may invest in are: Industrial, MultiFamily, Medical Office, Student Housing, Senior Housing, Retail, Storage, etc. The sponsor purchases the real estate for the DST and sells "beneficial interests" to 1031 exchange investors through broker/dealers. If you list your investment property for sale and your listing agent doesn’t tell you about DSTs, it could be because it’s an investment of your proceeds that doesn’t allow your agent to earn a commission. It could also, however, be because he or she is not familiar with DSTs. Show him or her this article!
We learned more about DSTs when Wayne Bernardo of Bernardo Asset Management, a boutique real estate securities firm in Evergreen, spoke to our broker associates and me at a recent office meeting.
One problem with doing a traditional 1031 exchange is that you must identify your replacement property within 45 days of closing on the relinquished property, and close on the replacement property within 180 days. It’s not uncommon for a 1031 exchange to fail due to missing these deadlines, leaving the seller of the relinquished property to owe the capital gains tax which he or she was intending to defer. The good news in that situation is that it takes almost no time to switch to a DST. If it’s day 45 and you know you’ll miss the deadline, there’s still time to invest in a DST. But you must identify the DST by day 45 with your Qualified Intermediary (QI).
That’s because there are always some DSTs being offered, and Wayne Bernardo can assist you in finding a DST option to complete your 1031 exchange. He proved that last week when he spoke to us on Monday, and I told him I had a closing that Friday in which the seller was facing over $500,000 in taxable capital gains which he was willing to pay to get out of his rental investment. “Can you help him,” I asked.
The answer was clearly “yes,” because at the closing on Friday, the settlement statement showed $500,000 of the sellers’ proceeds going to my client's Qualified Intermediary for a DST purchase. Wayne was able to find a few DST options for my client and my client decided to purchase one of Wayne's DST recommendations.
Instead of paying capital gains tax (and depreciation recapture) on his sale and wondering how to invest what was left, my client is investing $500,000 in a DST that will earn him an expected monthly income stream over the life of the DST. (Note: Distributions are not guaranteed.)
One of the “negatives” about DSTs is that it is not a liquid investment. You can’t pull your money out of the DST for at least 5 to 10 years, but if that is not problematic, it’s a great solution for the seller who wants to get out of an investment property without paying capital gains tax but having no further management concerns or liabilities. Wayne refers to it as “mailbox money,” because you get a
check in the mail without the headaches of being a landlord.
Note: You don’t have to invest your entire proceeds in a 1031 exchange. My client who invested $500,000 in the DST also received $153,000 in proceeds on which he will pay capital gains tax but still providing him over $100,000 in net proceeds for other purposes, such as travel. I did the same thing when I sold an office building in 2004 and didn’t reinvest the entire amount using a 1031 exchange.
For more information about DSTs, check out Wayne's website BernardoAsset.com, or call Wayne at 303-981-1387, or email him at Wayne@BernardoAsset.com Let Wayne know you saw this article, which he factchecked for accuracy prior to publication.
Of course, my broker associates and I are ready and able to help you sell your investment property. Our contact info is below.
As with any real estate investment, there are risks with investing in DSTs. Here’s how they are spelled out on Wayne’s website: Investors Do Not Hold Title: 1031 Exchange DST investors do not hold title of the property but rather own beneficial interests in the trust and the sponsor controls the management and selling of the property.
Illiquidity: A Delaware Statutory Trust interest is an illiquid alternative investment and there is no current active secondary market for selling your interest, which creates the inability to access immediate liquidity.
Potential for Property Value Loss: All real estate investments have the potential to lose value during the life of the investment.
Reduction or Elimination of Monthly Cas Flow Distributions: Like any investment in real estate, if a property unexpectedly loses tenants or sustains substantial damage, there is a potential for suspension of cash flow distributions.
No Performance Guarantee: General real estate market risks also apply to DSTs. There can be no assurance that a property will perform as projected. DSTs are subject to economic volatility, tenants not paying their rent on time, and other traditional risks of owning, operating and selling real estate.
Potential Change in Tax Law: Tax laws are subject to change, which may have a negative impact on a DST investment.
Why Are HOA Dues Being Raised So Much?
This is a question which I have been asked by readers, so I reached out to Stan Hrincevich, president of Colorado HOA Forum, who suggested some possible causes.
Many HOAs are discovering that their reserve accounts are underfunded and are increasing monthly dues in lieu of a one-time special assessment.
Insurance costs have skyrocketed, and if the HOA is responsible for more than just common elements, this could be a reason for increased dues. If the dues weren’t raised in a timely manner, the eventual increase could be even bigger.
Insurance deductibles have increased significantly, too, and if, for example, the HOA insures the community’s roofs and there’s a hail storm, your individual share of the deductible for replacing the roofs could result in
a special assessment in the tens of thousands of dollars. Ask the provider of your individual insurance policy about a rider to cover such an assessment.
Fees charged by HOA management companies and the contractors hired by them, such as for grounds maintenance and snow removal, have increased substantially.
Water charges have skyrocketed, and if the HOA provides irrigation, that could cause dues to increase.
If the HOA embarks on lawsuits and loses, this can result in a financial impact that could raise monthly dues or result in a special assessment.
If you are worried about misappropriation, ask to see the check register and bank statements of your HOA and see where the money is going.
Winter concert brings holiday songs to new Carlson Elementary School gym
More than 100 kids took to the bleachers to sing and perform for an audience of family and friends
BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e gym at the new Carlson Elementary School in Idaho Springs was lled with parents and families gathered to see the kids perform in the Winter Concert.
e entire school kicked o the concert Dec.16 with the song “Winter Again” before being sorted into groups on the gym oor by grade.
“I think it’s good for the kids and good for the community,” Jose Acevedo said watching his rst and second graders take the stage.
Carlson music instructor Alan Martin did his best to organize and keep the kids moving as it was their turn to sing, at the same time trying to quiet the groups on the oor.
e third grade class did their best performing the classic holiday song “Good King Wenceslas”.
First graders performed “A Hawaiian Christmas” and sixth graders wrapped up the concert with the song, “Fantasy On an Old French Carol.”
“It’s pretty awesome to see him get up there, I’m just a proud grandma,” Arnetta Vickery said about her grandchild in the 4th grade.
e large auditorium space allowed for plenty of bleacher seating for friends and families who enthusiastically applauded for each song.
Father of a fourth grader Jay Nelson said the holiday atmosphere and music took him back in time.
“It reminded me of when I was young and it’s good to see all the cheers in the kids,” Nelson said.
After the nal bow from all the students, Martin released them to parents and friends creating a wave of kids rushing into the audience where hugs, smiles and lots of congratulations were waiting for them.
Mount Evans brings love
Carlson Elementary students perform their Winter Concert in Idaho Springs Dec. 16.
Carlson Elementary music teacher Alan
Carlson Elementary students rush to family and friends following the Winter Concert.
The new Carlson Elementary School gym provided plenty of space for students and families at the Winter Concert.
Finding cold weather shelter for homeless
BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
During cold weather in the Denver region, people without homes may struggle to nd a safe, warm place to go — and that can be a matter of life and death.
Unhoused Coloradans face the risk of hypothermia, a sometimes-deadly condition caused by exposure to cold temperatures. Staying outside also can cause frostbite, a freezing of body tissues that can lead to amputation.
e nonpro t Severe Weather Shelter Network, a program that kept people warm in a large swath of the Denver metro area, recently shut down permanently.
But several programs in Adams, Arapahoe, Denver and Je erson counties, and beyond, o er shelter.
Here’s a look at where you may be able to nd a warm place amid cold weather.
Clear Creek County
Generally, Clear Creek County considers opening warming centers or emergency shelters when forecasts predict more than 2 feet of snow accumulation, or snowfall rates exceeding 1 inch per hour for consecutive hours, said Megan Hiler, spokesperson for the county.
“ is threshold is weather dependent, and plans may change if conditions worsen,” Hiler said in late November.
Potential sheltering sites are spread around the county, according to Hiler.
“We have several pre-identi ed sites that have agreed to partner with the county in case of emergency sheltering needs,” Hiler said. “ ey are strategically located in our higher-density population areas and include Idaho Springs, George-
town and Empire.”
Should an emergency shelter need to be opened, messaging will be pushed through county, sheri ’s o ce and state channels, Hiler said.
Evergreen
e EChO Shelter in the Evergreen area is an overnight-only shelter open each night from 6:15 p.m. to 7 a.m. from October to late April, said Tim Clancy, the shelter manager.
All shelter guests must rst be registered by an EChO case worker at the EChO ofce. To make an appointment to register, call 303-670-1796.
Shelter guests are welcomed with services such as dinner, shower, laundry, and a quiet, safe place to sleep, and in the morning, they are provided a breakfast and a sack lunch to go, according to Clancy.
All EChO shelter guests meet with a case worker for further needs, he added.
When EChO is closed, people needing shelter should call the sheri non-emergency line at 303-277-0211, according to Clancy.
See more information at tinyurl.com/ EChOshelter.
Adams and Broomfield counties
In a large part of the north metro area, the Severe Weather Activation Program, or SWAP, provides hotel vouchers to the unhoused.
e program generally activates when temperatures reach 32 degrees and wet, or 20 degrees and dry, according to the website for Brighton-based organization Almost Home.
People with documented ties to Broom-
eld or Adams County may qualify for the program. See the website at almosthomeonline.org/swap or call 303-659-6199 for more information.
O cials in Adams also o er transportation to help people reach a safe destination.
“Adams County believes that transportation should not be a barrier to lifesaving shelter. We o er bus passes and no-cost Lyft rides through our municipal and nonpro t navigators to help low-income community members access necessary resources,” said Nikki Kimbleton, a spokesperson for Adams County. “For those who need transportation to stay with friends or family in another community, we can purchase bus, plane or train tickets to reunite folks with friends, family and housing.”
e public can email PovertyReduction@adcogov.org for more information on long-distance travel.
Thornton
When temperatures drop below 32 degrees for daytime highs and below 20 degrees for nighttime lows, ornton opens a “warming center” at the Margaret Carpenter Recreation Center at 11151 Colorado Blvd. — near 112th Avenue — according to the city.
When active, the warming center is open from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Friday and from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, according to Gary Hobbs, deputy chief of administration with ornton Fire Department.
“ is program does not o er services such as warm meals, showers, bunk rooms, storage for belonging, etc., that are typically provided by emergency
shelters,” Hobbs wrote in a statement. “If a community member requires longerterm emergency sheltering, sta will work to nd a sheltering solution. Typically, this includes relocating the person(s) to a shelter in another jurisdiction or working to acquire a SWAP voucher.”
Anyone in need of a place to warm up can drop in without an appointment anytime the warming center is operational, Hobbs said.
Westminster
Westminster activates a cold-weather shelter when weather is projected to be zero degrees or sustained wind chill below zero degrees for six hours or more, said Andy Le, a spokesperson for the city. e shelter will stay open for at least 48 hours, Le said.
e city converts e MAC recreation center — at 3295 W. 72nd Ave., a short walk west of Federal Boulevard — into a temporary shelter.
You can call ahead of time to check availability at 303-426-4310, according to the city.
Hotel vouchers are also part of the local strategy for addressing homelessness.
“Our Homeless Navigator program helps distribute hotel vouchers provided by Je co and Adams County for people experiencing homelessness,” Le said. “Westminster provides additional vouchers when the weather drops below 10 (degrees) to provide additional support for our most vulnerable population.”
Northglenn
ere are not any city-managed cold-
SEE SHELTER, P7
LOAVES FISHES
2024 REWIND
Commissioners say a 32-hour work week is compensation for lack of raises.
Legendary Clear Creek resident Greg Markle still gives residents a laugh after his passing in 2024
Greg Markle founded KYGT or “ e Goat,” radio station as locals know it in Clear Creek County. It continues to broadcast music, local sporting events, interview shows and community news. More than 100 locals attended the funeral where Markle insisted on a kazoo band “so everybody walks out with a goddamn smile.”
Markle was also commended by the county commission for serving as a local surveyor for more than 30 years.
Idaho Springs plans for major redevelopment starting in 2025
A mobility hub, parking garage and vehicle roundabout are some of the changes outlined by city and business leaders and a Business and Community Promotions Board.
Funding for the downtown projects will include a variety of State and Federal grants, according to Mayor Chuck Harmon, who said the city has already received $2.4 million in funds from the form of a Rebuilding America’s Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity Planning Grant.
Questions still remain after exodus of top leadership in Georgetown 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.
Clear Creek County hires Sheri Matt Harris Harris promised change in the way the sheri ’s department does business in the county following the shooting death of Christian Glass. e Courant held Harris accountable for his promises in the rst 100 days in o ce.
Andrew Buen walks into his July 8 motions hearing in the Christian Glass murder trial in Clear Creek County. PHOTOS BY CHRIS KOEBERL
Clear Creek County Sheri Matthew Harris holds “Co ee with a Cop” at the Frothy Cup in Idaho Springs on Jan. 22.
Georgetown Town Hall
KYGT radio pioneer Greg Markle.
Map of proposed changes and locations in downtown Idaho Springs.
SHELTER
weather shelters in Northglenn, said Diana Wilson, spokesperson for the city.
But the Crisis Response Unit, or CRU, is available by appointment or during open ofce hours from 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays at the Northglenn Justice Center’s west door entrance at 50 Community Center Drive — east of Huron Street and 112th Avenue. CRU o ers some services and resources. See tinyurl.com/CrisisResponseUnitNorthglenn.
Transportation and shelter passes are available on a limited basis, Wilson said. Call 720-822-0558 or see the link above for more information.
Commerce City
Commerce City operates two emergency shelters when conditions warrant, said Kristen Knoll, a spokesperson who provided information for the city.
e city’s two shelter locations are the Eagle Pointe Recreation Center at 6060 Parkway Drive — near U.S. Highway 85 and 60th Avenue — and the Bison Ridge Recreation Center at 13905 E. 112th Ave., near state Highway 2, according to Knoll.
Each location has capacity for up to 30 beds and o ers kitchen and sanitary facilities, Knoll said.
is capability is intended to meet the shortterm — no more than three nights or four days — needs of up to 30 residents per location in the event of various emergency situations, Knoll said.
“Once the location, timing and capacity have been determined, Community WellBeing division sta and Police Department sta will contact known people experiencing homelessness and assist with transportation, if needed,” Knoll said.
e following criteria trigger activation of at least one shelter, Knoll said. e same criteria will be used to activate an overnight shelter if one of the below scenarios occur between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.:
• Anticipated cold below 10 degrees
• Wind chill below zero
• Winds or blizzard conditions
• “72/48/24/12-hour alerts” and warning from the National Weather Service.
At least one of the criteria needs to be met — or anticipated — for shelter to be activated, Knoll said.
Brighton
e City of Brighton does not have a standing cold-weather shelter program, said Jared Putnam, a spokesperson for the city
“Almost Home is the only such program in Brighton,” Putnam said.
See the website at almosthomeonline.org/ swap or call 303-659-6199 for more information.
Fort Lupton
Fort Lupton pointed to a handful of resources.
“At this time, we do not have any designated cold weather or warming shelters under the city’s operation,” said Juan Arellano, a spokesperson for the city.
e city encouraged people to reach out to Hope at Miracle House in Fort Lupton, Almost Home, or United Way of Weld County, or call 2-1-1 for listed sheltering services that may be nearby.
Hope at Miracle House describes itself as a year-round emergency shelter assisting families that are experiencing homelessness in south Weld County. For more information, call 720-676-9697, see hopeatmiraclehouse. org or email programdirector0236@gmail. com.
Lakewood
Lakewood’s homelessness navigation center at 8000 W. Colfax Ave. — a short walk west of Wadsworth Boulevard — serves as the city’s
severe-weather shelter.
When the shelter is open, it operates from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. the next morning, said Stacie Oulton, spokesperson for Lakewood.
ose needing shelter do not need to arrive until the 7 p.m. opening, Oulton said.
“No registrations or referrals are required for shelter services that are available to adults, and service animals/pets may be accommodated if they do not disrupt the comfort or safety of other guests,” Oulton said.
“Once the shelter is open and has reached capacity, the contractor may coordinate transportation to other locations,” Oulton added.
e city will consult the National Weather Service for two thresholds that may activate the shelter: when overnight low temperatures are forecast to be 32 degrees or lower and arrive with active, accumulating snowfall; or overnight low temperatures are forecast to be 20 degrees or lower with or without active snowfall, Oulton said.
“Lakewood retains the discretion to activate or not activate outside of these thresholds, but decisions generally are based on these weather conditions,” Oulton said.
For a countywide view of resources, see Jefferson County’s Heading Home webpage at headinghomeje co.com/get-help.
Arvada
e Rising/Mission Arvada will be open when temperatures fall below 20 degrees and/ or 6 inches of snow falls from November to the end of March, Colorado Community Media has previously reported.
e Rising church sits at 7500 W. 57th Ave.
See more about shelter in Je erson County at tinyurl.com/Je coShelterUpdate.
Wheat Ridge
ere are no programs o ering cold-weather shelter in Wheat Ridge for people experiencing homelessness, but the city participates in a “countywide sheltering model,” said Amanda Harrison, spokesperson for Wheat Ridge.
“Je erson County Public Health determines shelter activation based on a centrally located National Weather Service station and will alert all concerned parties in the region, including the homeless navigator at Wheat Ridge,” Harrison said. e “best way to stay up to date is to subscribe for email updates about activations.”
e public can subscribe to the Heading Home newsletter at headinghomeje co.com, Harrison said.
Wheat Ridge navigators give their clients — and anyone else seeking shelter — bus tickets, Harrison said.
Englewood-Littleton-Sheridan area
Homelessness Awareness and Action Task Force, or HAAT Force, and Movement 5280 will be the primary overnight shelters for the Tri-Cities area, according to the City of Englewood.
HAAT Force is to serve as the main shelter, with Movement 5280 serving as an over ow shelter, according to the city.
ey activate under the following conditions, according to the city:
• e shelter is activated on severe-weather nights from Oct. 1 through April 30 when temperatures are expected to reach 20 degrees or below with no active moisture, or 32 degrees or below with active moisture.
• Temperature and moisture must be projected for three hours or more during the overnight hours from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Moisture is de ned as predicted rain or snowfall. It may not include previously fallen moisture remaining on the ground.
Clients can call the hotline — 720-483-7864 — daily at 9 a.m. to get the weather determination, according to the city.
If open, registered clients must call to reserve their spot between 10 a.m. and noon, or until full, for shelter that night. Reservations for unregistered clients “begin from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.” only if rooms are still available, according to the city.
e hotline will be transferred to Movement 5280, which will respond to requests for shelter from 2-5 p.m., according to the city.
Movement 5280 will open the doors for shelter at 6 p.m., and doors will be closed for the night at 9 p.m., according to the city.
HAAT Force sits at 4300 S. Lincoln St., o Quincy Avenue near Broadway, in Englewood. Movement 5280 is located at 3190 S. Grant St., o Eastman Avenue a short walk east of Broadway, also in Englewood.
For more information on the two shelter programs, see Colorado Community Media’s earlier coverage at coloradocommunitymedia.com/2024/11/15/severe-weather-shelters.
For warming center information for Littleton and Sheridan, see tricitieshomeless.com/ need-help.
Centennial
Generally, there are no shelters in Centennial, according to Allison Wittern, a spokesperson for the city.
“However, we’ve recently created a resource brochure that we give to various organizations and those unhoused,” Wittern said. at can be found at centennialco.gov/ homelessness.
Aurora
e Aurora Day Resource Center is available for shelter amid severe life-threatening weather. e center is located at 13387 E. 19th Place and serves as an overnight shelter for adults 18 years or older on a rst-come, rstserved basis, according to the City of Aurora. e center can accommodate close to 200 people per night and is managed by Advance. During cold-weather activation, no one will be turned away, according to Advance’s website.
To receive alerts about cold-weather activations at the center, text “Advance” to 38276. e center sits a few blocks north of Colfax Avenue and a couple blocks west of Interstate 225 — north of Children’s Hospital.
Call 303-343-7808 or 303-341-9160 for more information. Sta at the center will provide referrals to families for family-designated shelters, such as Comitis Crisis Center.
At Aurora Day Resource Center, overnight cold-weather sheltering starts at 5 p.m., and there is not a cuto time for when people need to show up in order to get shelter for the night, according to Matt Brown, who served as a spokesperson for the city when Colorado Community Media reached out.
At the center, the threshold of weather conditions that trigger the cold-weather shelter to open is 20 degrees and below, or cold and precipitating, Brown said.
e center will be providing a cold-weather shelter program through the end of the year, and the city is looking at alternatives for sheltering in the new year, Brown said.
“If there is an alternative cold-weather sheltering option, the ADRC will no longer operate as an emergency cold-weather shelter but will still operate day services. No matter the outcome, emergency cold-weather sheltering will be provided,” Brown said.
Denver
During the cold-weather months, Denver shelters generally see more people coming indoors and often provide over ow capacity to help meet the need, according to the city.
“We really encourage people in need of shelter to go to Denver’s ‘front door’ shelter access points,” which expand capacity for cold weather, said Derek Woodbury, a spokesperson for the Denver Department of Housing Stability.
ose “front door” shelters include:
• Denver Rescue Mission Lawrence Street Community Center at 2222 Lawrence St. in the downtown area for individual men
• Samaritan House at 2301 Lawrence St. in the downtown area for individual women
• And Urban Peak at 1630 S. Acoma St. for
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“ese are times that try men’s soul.” So wrote omas Paine in e American Crisis on Dec.19, 1776. Six days later on Christmas night, General George Washington led his Continental Army command across the ice-choked Delaware River for a surprise attack on Hessian mercenaries who were carousing in their warm barracks in Trenton, New Jersey. It was a military stroke of genius, one that gave the struggling nascent independence movement hope.
A year to the day after Paine published his pamphlet, Washington and his 12,000 troops hunkered down for a challenging winter at Valley Forge where many went without proper footwear and warm clothing and about 2,000 died from dysentery and more. Yet they persevered.
e Continental Army for the most part consisted of everyday men — backwoodsmen, farmers, craftsmen — with little or no military training. But they understood that history had called upon them to ght for something greater than themselves: freedom. And not just at the national level, but at the personal.
On this Christmas 248 years later, it’s timely to recall what Washington and the men and women fought and died for in the American Revolution. Like standing and removing one’s cap during the sing-
IVOICES
Resolve and resiliency, American-style
JERRY FABYANIC
ing of “ e Star-Spangled Banner,” taking a few moments to re ect upon Washington’s feat should be requisite for every American on Christmas Day. For far too many take for granted the freedom the millions since Washington fought and many died for.
From the outset, the Founders knew personal rights and liberties would need to be endlessly defended not just from abroad but from within. Unlike many Americans today, they knew their history. ey also understood the “will to power,” as Friedrich Nietzsche called it a century later in “ us Spake Zarathustra,” runs deep within the soul of men, and if it isn’t harnessed and redirected toward noble, unsel sh pursuits, bad things happen at the hands of the unprincipled and unscrupulous. History had clearly shown that. But some grow weary of the struggle and decide their and their fellow citizens’ rights and liberties aren’t worth defending despite Ben Franklin’s admonition that “ ose who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safe-
What brightens you?
grew up in a family where stories were a nightly part of our meals. My father, a great storyteller, came from a family of nine, seven boys and two girls. His baseball team-sized family gave him a huge volume of tales to share on seemingly endless topics. While my father told many stories around the dinner table, there were moments when the storytelling would come from my mom. Mom had tales of her father’s work as a traveling salesperson, her time in high school and many “neighborhood” stories. When Mom told us her favorite story, her face would light up and she would talk about dancing. In that story, she did not spend much time talking about speci c performances, her attempts to make every child born into the extended family a dancer, or even her time learning from and eventually teaching for Colorado Ballet founders Lillian Covillo and Freidann Parker. What she talked about was her love of motion. She would explain that as a teenager her favorite game was to walk quickly through a crowd of people without touching any of them but coming within a few inches of every person she passed. She would describe feeling the air as she passed individuals, appreciating the uidity of her motion and the fact that so many people were gathered, allowing her to play her game.
I loved the story partly for the vision it created of Mom as a teenager, but more for the absolute passion you could feel in the words she shared. When she told this story, you gained an insight into the way she viewed the world. You understood that she saw things di erently than others. at the daily mundane physical tasks most people muddled through were, in her mind, a dance; a beautiful dance to be appreciated.
ty.” ey become willing to compromise and agreeable to watered-down versions of their inalienable rights that in their essence become like junk jewelry and cheap goods bought at dollar stores.
Paine took to task such people, calling them “the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot” who “shrink from the service of their country.”
“What we obtain too cheap,” he wrote, “we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated.”
When the head winds blow at gale force 24/7, it can try one’s soul. When that happens, the danger of falling into one of two extremes—denying reality and insisting everything will be all right or shrugging one’s shoulders and plaintively asking, “What’s the use?”—arises.
Brad Stulberg, a mental health authority, suggests an alternative in a New York Times essay: wise hope and action. By not looking at the anti-freedom forces through rose-colored lenses and by not giving into futility, he says a person is better able to “muster the strength, courage and resolve” to keep their focus on what they can control. e challenge for the individual then is identifying what is
in their power and deciding on how to act on it.
In “Man’s Search for Meaning,” Viktor Frankl, a psychologist and Holocaust survivor, posits the most critical elements the prisoners and victims of the Nazis’ death camps needed for survival were resolve and resiliency. In short, never giving up. Just like Washington and his army.
ough circumstances were bleak that Christmas in 1776, Washington and his troops didn’t buckle. Like the fty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence who pledged their Lives, their Fortunes and their sacred Honor, they remained steeled in their resolve and resiliency. I seriously wonder how many today could claim likewise with a straight face.
History shows freedom-loving Americans are not a compliant but a feisty people. ey don’t cave when confronted by anti-freedom forces. ey stand strong and resolute because deep within their soul, they know it’s like omas Paine said: “For though the ame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire.”
Jerry Fabyanic is the author of “Sisyphus Wins” and “Food for ought: Essays on Mind and Spirit.” He lives in Georgetown.
e joy in Mom’s face is still fresh in my mind even though it has been more than 35 years since I last heard her share the story. is memory will never fade for me.
We all need things in our lives that ll us with such joy that it is re ected on our faces whether we are engaging in the activity or telling the story of it. We need things that color our vision, helping us to see the beauty that surrounds us.
Take time this week to think about the things that are so exciting to you that they light your face when you mention them.
During struggles, unmitigated joy is a tonic that will help each one of us.
If you would be willing to share, I would love to know what creates joy for you, I can be contacted at jim.roome@gmail.com .
As always, I hope that you will nd inspiration in my words and share those words of encouragement with those who need it. ank you to all who have shared stories with me so far, I love hearing from you as you nd helpful morsels in these columns and nd ways to encourage those around you.
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.
Columnist
Columnist Jim Roome’s mother always brightened when she talked about dancing. What makes you feel brighter? PHOTO COURTESY OF JIM ROOME
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
Jim Roome
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
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 is $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
Idaho Springs Lions Club meetings: 7:30 am every rst and third ursdays of the month at Marions of the Rockies, 2805 Colorado Blvd, Idaho Springs. Come join us and help to serve our community. For information – www. islions.org, email info@isLions.org or call 720-608-1140.
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.
sites as well as for exterior minor home repairs. No previous construction experience needed. Contact volunteer@bluesprucehabitat.org for information.
Resilience1220 counseling: Young people 12 to 20 can get free counseling 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.
Clear Creek Democrats:5-7 p.m. ‘ irsty 3rd ursday’ Vintage Moose, 12 16th Ave in Idaho Springs. Non-alcoholic 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 970-5139390.
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.
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.
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, 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
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.
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 offering 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 JeffCom911 for emergency dispatch earlier this year.
BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Every artist, crafter or hobbyist needs a collection of supplies, materials and equipment to accompany their creative passion.
A few stores around Denver seek to help creatives both build their collection and rehome it, if necessary. e Craft Box in Wheat Ridge, and ReCreative in downtown Denver, are both dedicated used art supplies stores that accept donations for resale – essentially thrift stores for artists.
“We’ve had kilns, massive oor looms, pottery wheels, everything down to the individual buttons,” ReCreative Programs Director Kelly Eigenberger said about the store’s inventory.
Eigenberger, who is also a clay artist, said her main goal at ReCreative is to help make art more accessible, especially when it comes to cost. Eigenberger said she knows and relates to the nancial squeeze working artists face, between studio rentals, equipment and marketing their creations.
“I love getting to hook it up for people who I see working really hard and creating access on the retail side of art,” she said. “I mean, the cost of rubber stamps is criminal.”
In addition to the reuse store, ReCreative is a nonpro t that houses artist studios, a membership-based woodshop and an art gallery. e store also o ers classes, ranging from watercolor painting to sewing to kintsugi, a Japanese technique for repairing pottery with gold.
Eigenberger said a community has built up around ReCreative, with a loop of customers becoming featured artists in the gallery or instructors of classes, creating loyal shoppers and connections for donations.
“It means a lot to have friendly neighbors and the support that comes from our people,” Eigenberger said.
Another of ReCreative’s missions is to throw away as little as possible. As of December, the store had diverted 28,000 pounds of supplies from land lls in 2024. Donations are accepted by appointment, which can be made online.
Eigenberger said donating supplies has the dual bene ts of being more environmentally friendly and helping other artists.
“I think that we’re all inclined to collect in one way or another,” Eigenberger said. “But as we collect and lose interest, there’s a lot of guilt about it, so being able to con rm for people that what I’m taking will be used by someone is important.”
Similar to ReCreative, e Craft Box is part used sup-
ply store and part haven for artists, providing space for a variety of art groups and clubs, like Quilts of Valor and the Aspen Leaf Button Collectors.
Liz Boxler, the owner of e Craft Box, said her goal is to create a community space through thrifty crafting.
“Our purpose is twofold, of course, to nd homes for all this crafty stu , but also to work with local charities that need or want things that are handmade,” Boxler said.
When donated supplies aren’t t for resale, Boxler, who is also a quilter, will sometimes use them to create goods for people in need. For example, Boxler has made dget quilts for people with Alzheimer’s, crochet pouches for catheter bags and reusable grocery bags for the food pantry.
Boxler has found that there are more supplies that could be reused than she will ever be able to manage, but she tries to do what she can. is year, the store has diverted 1.4 tons of fabric, books, rubber stamps and other craft supplies from land lls.
Boxler estimates that since she opened the store in 2012, that amount is more than 9 tons and 260,000 items. Most of her donations come from estates and
people who are moving, Boxler said. e store accepts donations by appointment, which can be made online.
“ ey’re de-stashing, is what we call it when people are moving, or they’re downsizing, or they just realize they’re gonna have to live to be 150 years old to do all these projects,” she said.
Luckily, there are also plenty of people eager to nd new purposes for the various beads, frames, yarn, fabric, paints and endless other materials stocked at e Craft Box.
Not only is it a cheaper way to maintain a collection of supplies, Boxler said used supplies are also popular with people wanting to test a new hobby.
“People can try out new crafts much easier,” Boxler said. “If somebody wanted to try quilting but fabric is so expensive, this is a way they can do that without investing a lot upfront. And then if they like it, they can expand on that.”
Boxler said one of the best things about the store is that there’s something for everyone and every skill level.
Kelly Eigenberger, the programs director at ReCreative, said the store’s mission is twofold: to help divert supplies from landfills and to make art more financially accessible. ReCreative also houses an art gallery, studio space and a membershipbased woodshop.
ReCreative is fueled by donations, which Eigenberger said mostly come from estate sales and people who are moving or downsizing. In 2024, the store accepted more than 28,000 pounds of materials.
PHOTOS BY MCKENNA HARFORD
youth ages 15-20.
Denver’s cold-weather program also provides extra shelter at the Stone Creek shelter — the former Best Western hotel — at 4595 N. Quebec St. and at city facilities located at 2601 W. 7th Ave., and 375 S. Zuni St. e Quebec Street location is just north of Interstate 70.
Families in need of shelter should call e Salvation Army Connection Center at 303295-3366, according to the city.
According to the city, Denver opens the extra shelter when capacity is exceeded in the existing homeless shelter system and one of the below criteria is met:
• Forecasted overnight low temperature of 25 degrees or below or
• Two inches or more of snow are forecasted for Denver; existing snow accumulation will also be taken into account, and activation will depend on amount and city’s ability to clear snow from roads, sidewalks, and bus stops; or
• A cold weather advisory, extreme cold
watch, or extreme cold warning is issued for Denver by the National Weather Service.
Denver’s threshold for opening emer-
gency cold-weather shelter for the homeless used to be when temperatures fall to 20 degrees, but as of October this year, the city
raised the threshold to 25 degrees, Woodbury said.
Still, the city prefers that people make the “front door” locations their rst stop rather than going straight to the Quebec, Zuni and 7th Avenue locations, according to Woodbury.
“We strongly recommend that individuals go direct to ‘front door’ shelters during these conditions, where connections — and transportation if needed — is provided to available beds in our shelter system,” Woodbury said.
For more information, see the city’s shelter webpage at tinyurl.com/DenverColdWeatherShelter.
Douglas County
Douglas County runs its Homeless Engagement, Assistance and Resource Team, or HEART, to help address homelessness. For any available resources, call 303-6607301.
To complete an online referral form, see tinyurl.com/HEARTreferralDouglas.
Check via the links to webpages or phone numbers throughout the story for any updated information. is list of resources is not necessarily exhaustive.
People walk through snowfall in November near Union Station in Denver. PHOTO BY
Call
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about how short-term rentals might impact housing stock, as well as concerns relating to parking, increased noise and trash; and
WHEREAS, the Board desires to ensure that regulation of short-term rentals within the community addresses and balances the benefits and burdens on the local community relating to those rentals; and
WHEREAS, the Board further desires to track, manage, and enforce violations of this Ordinance to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public; and
WHEREAS, this Ordinance supersedes any prior ordinance, resolution or decision by the Board concerning regulation of short-term rentals and other matters addressed herein; and
WHEREAS, the Board finds such rules and regulations are reasonable and necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare for both residents of and visitors to Clear Creek County.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of County Commissioners of Clear Creek County, Colorado, as follows: Section 1. General.
1.1. Definitions. Where words or term are not defined, such words or terms shall have ordinarily accepted interpretations as the context implies.
a. GOOD NEIGHBOR GUIDELINES: A living document promulgated by the Planning and Building Services Department that sets forth various recommended and/or required practices for STR License holders and their renters, and that is required to be provided by STR License holders to their renters upon booking.
b. DEFENSIBLE SPACE: Area around a structure where fuels and vegetation are treated, cleared, or reduced to slow the spread of wildfire towards the structure in conformance with the Clear Creek County Building Code and the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Factsheet “Creating Wildfire-Defensible Zone no. 6.302,” both of which may be amended from time to time.
c. SHORT TERM RENTAL (“STR”): The nightly or weekly rental of dwellings, dwelling units, mobile homes or rooms, excluding hotels/motels and bed and breakfast establishments, for less than 30 consecutive days, including but not limited to: sin-
gle-family dwellings, duplexes, multi-family dwellings, townhomes, condominiums, time shares, or similar dwellings. Other structures, such as but not limited to, yurts, tents and other tent-type
1.2. Purpose. The purpose of this Ordinance is to: a. Designate a department of Clear Creek County Government to process applications for licenses for STRs in unincorporated Clear Creek County and to provide the structure by which such entity will process and review applications.
b. Establish comprehensive licensing regulations to
e. REVIEW AUTHORITY: The Clear Creek County Planning and Building Services Department is
the “STR Regulations”). The Planning and Building Services Department shall be authorized to promulgate all reasonable administrative rules and procedures necessary to the operation and enforcement of the STR Regulations.
f. VACATION RENTAL SERVICE: Defined by C.R.S. § 30-15-401(s) as “a
LEAP ayuda a los residentes elegibles de Colorado a pagar una parte de sus gastos de calefacciòn de invierno.
