Denver Herald Dispatch February 29, 2024

Filling seasonal gaps for availability of fresh, locally grown food

Denver’s PineMelon partners with indoor growing vendors, delivers food year-round

BY MERYL PHAIR

SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Despite Colorado’s cold winter temperatures, two shipping containers at Ullr’s Garden sprout vertical panels of lettuce, arugula and basil. Equal to ve acres of land and using 95% less water, the hydroponic system feeds the growing rows of

plants with essential nutrients from a constantly circulating water system while high e ciency LED lights supply them with all the sunshine they could need.

“With this system we can maintain the same quality and consistency 365 days a year through the rain, snow, hail and whatever the future can throw at us,” said Nick Millisor, founder and CEO of Ullr’s.

With a hyperlocal delivery zone of just ve miles in central Denver, the hydroponic garden’s mission since its launch in 2022 has been to feed the local community and promote sustainability – including pursuing net zero operations – from their small niche on South Broadway in

the Overland neighborhood.  Originally from Breckenridge, naming the garden after the Norse god of snow was an easy choice for Millisor, as Ullr’s strives to build community even in the middle of winter. In working to expand their impact while maintaining their local mission, Ullr’s recently partnered with online grocery platform PineMelon, a Denver-based organization that partners with local farmers, ranchers and producers to deliver quality products at fair prices. e garden’s romaine and butterhead lettuce, arugula and living lettuce heads are currently listed on the site’s app.

Nurses for medically fragile kids are underpaid and hard to find

BY JENNIFER BROWN THE COLORADO SUN

Nurses willing to care for medically fragile children and adults — including patients who use feeding tubes, can’t walk or speak, and rarely leave their homes — are hard to nd in Colorado.

Amid a statewide nursing shortage so dire that even state mental institutions o er $14,000 signing bonuses, the lowest-paying nursing positions are going un lled. at means many parents who have relied on “private duty nurses” for in-home care for their children and adult children are getting no help.

Colorado’s Medicaid program reimburses the agencies that employ these in-home nurses at some of the lowest rates in the nation, according to the Home Care and Hospice Association of Colorado. e rate for registered nurses in Colorado is $7.05 per hour below the national median, while the rate for licensed practical nurses is $9.04 below the median, according to the association’s analysis.  is puts Colorado in the bottom third of states and it’s why parents of children with extreme health issues are asking lawmakers for a $15 million boost in state funding. e money would raise Medicaid rates that pay nurses’ salaries.

Parents of a 7-year-old girl with a heart defect who uses a tracheostomy tube to breathe have lost three inhome nurses to better paying jobs, leaving them on their own to resuscitate their daughter with a hand-held

Nick Millisor of Ullr’s Garden tends to hydroponic lettuce sold through PineMelon.

COURTESY OF PINEMELON

SEE FRESH FOOD, P4

UCHealth sues thousands of patients, but its name is not on lawsuits

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in disputes over medical bills. “It makes it really hard for the patient to untangle.”

One of these debt collection companies working for UCHealth sued Woods-Sullivan over a bill from an emergency visit for chest pains. She tried at rst to ght in court, then eventually entered into a payment plan to settle the case.

precious thing she had left.

She handed it forward to the pawnbroker feeling sick to her stomach.

He looked at her, then at the ring, then back up at her.

“I’m going to hold onto it for a little while,” he said.

But Woods-Sullivan knew she wouldn’t be back.

She needed the money to pay o a debt to UCHealth, Colorado’s largest hospital system, one that collects more than $6 billion a year in revenue from patient care.

“We improve lives,” UCHealth touts in its mission statement.

But this same system sues thousands of its patients like WoodsSullivan every year, according to a 9News/Colorado Sun investigation done in partnership with the Colorado News Collaborative and KFF Health News.

What’s more, many of these lawsuits are shielded from public scrutiny through a system in which collection companies working with UCHealth le lawsuits in their own names. Taken together, UCHealth and these companies led 15,710 lawsuits from 2019 through 2023, UCHealth revealed in response to questions from 9News and the Colorado Sun. at is an average of 3,142 lawsuits per year, or more than eight per day.

In the last four years, virtually none of the lawsuits have been led in UCHealth’s name.

“ ey are essentially deliberately using those third-party collection agencies to obscure the fact that they are the ones suing the patients,” said Adam Fox, the deputy director of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, a consumeradvocacy group that helps patients

But when the stress of arguing with the debt collector over how much she still owed after every check was too much, she decided she wanted to be done.

She looked through her house for something she could sell.

“It was beautiful, beautiful,” she said of her ring. “But I had to do what I had to do. I was tired of getting the runaround.

“It was all I had.”

Woods-Sullivan owed UCHealth $1,634.34.

e health system, which as a nonpro t community institution is exempt from paying taxes, recorded $839 million in total pro ts last year.

In a given year, UCHealth’s network of 14 hospitals and more than 200 clinics treats almost 3 million unique patients — a number equivalent to roughly half the state’s population.

From those patients, UCHealth estimates that 99.93% of bills are resolved without involving the courts.

“Our job is to stay out of the courts,” UCHealth’s chief legal ofcer, Jacki Cooper Melmed said. “ at is the very last resort.”

Until now, no one outside UCHealth knew how many lawsuits the system had actually led, though, due to the collections practice UCHealth has adopted. e hospital system “assigns” the debt to a debt collector without relinquishing ownership of the debt. e debt collector — UCHealth currently uses two and has used a third in the past — then les the lawsuits against the patients in its own name, which is often nondescript. Credit Service Company. Collec-

Cathy Woods-Sullivan, Feb. 8 in Aurora. Woods-Sullivan sold her wedding ring at a nearby pawn shop to alleviate medical debt from hospital visits.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA SUN / THE COLORADO SUN VIA REPORT FOR AMERICA

Walkways in the University of Colorado Hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, photographed on Oct. 18, 2019. Photo by John Ingold / The Colorado Sun

UCHEALTH

tionCenter, Inc.

e debt collector gets a cut of whatever money comes from the lawsuit — Cooper Melmed did not say how much — with the rest going back to UCHealth.

Most often, no publicly available court document contains UCHealth’s name, making the system’s involvement in these suits invisible to lawmakers, to state regulators and to the public at-large.

Woods-Sullivan said she initially had no idea who was suing her.

“It was so confusing to me,” said Woods-Sullivan, who is now a plainti in a lawsuit challenging the

legality of UCHealth’s debt lawsuits.

“I spent two days trying to reach out to people ... just going through the process of trying to resolve the issue with the bill.”

e amount UCHealth collects from lawsuits is about $5 million per year, according to the health system. at represents 0.07% of the net patient revenue that UCHealth reported receiving last year.

UCHealth o cials argue the lawsuits are an unfortunate necessity in the health care business, where sometimes bills go unpaid and hospitals need money to continue operating.

“I can tell you it is a common practice,” Cooper Melmed, the chief legal o cer, said. “I don’t think UCHealth is an outlier here.”

But not all large hospital sys-

tems in Colorado choose to pursue patients this way. e secondlargest hospital system in the state, for-pro t HealthONE, says it does not sue patients over debt. AdventHealth and Banner Health, two other large nonpro t hospital systems operating in Colorado, also said they do not sue patients.

SCL Health, which is a nonpro t like UCHealth, had sued hundreds of patients in Colorado per year under its own name, according to an analysis of court records. But when the system merged with Intermountain Health in 2022, it stopped. “ is was done to better align with our mission,” Intermountain spokeswoman Sara Quale wrote in an email.

Debt collection lawsuits are among the most devastating

products of a medical debt crisis that now burdens some 100 million people in the U.S., threatening patients’ homes, their savings, even their health.

Aninvestigation by KFF Health News in 2022 found that about twothirds of hospitals across the country have policies that allow them to sue or take other legal action against patients, including garnishing wages. But in recent years, major hospital systems in other states have chosen to stop suing patients over medical debt, often following negative publicity.

One way to avoid that publicity is to sue under a debt collector’s name.

e nonpro t Pew Charitable Trusts, which has researched debt collection litigation across the

When a Realtor Violates the Code of Ethics, Clients Often Suffer. Here Are Examples.

More than once have I reminded readers that only members of the National Association of Realtors can call themselves “Realtors,” and only Realtors are bound by the Realtor Code of Ethics. Violation of the Code can subject a Realtor to discipline up to and including termination of their Realtor membership.

There are several ways that we Realtors might violate the Code without even realizing it, and since ethics complaints can be filed by clients, not just fellow Realtors, let me share with you some of the practices that constitute violations. If your agent is not a Realtor — and only half of all licensed agents are Realtors — he or she isn’t subject to the Code, but they might still be violating state or federal housing laws. See whether one or more of the following scenarios sounds like something you experienced.

ly loved my listing and needed to close because they’d be homeless once their current home closes next month/whenever. That’s a violation which I’m free to exploit by telling my seller to play hardball because of what I know. As a listing agent, it’s a violation for me to say my seller will take less than the asking price — unless I was specifically authorized to do so. The typical authorization is that I can say my seller is “motivated.” Buyers’ agents know what that means.

Misleading a seller on the true value of their home in order to get a listing is a violation of Article 1. The Colorado Real Estate Commission can also discipline you for this. The agent is obligated to advise the seller of the home’s value based on his or her professional expertise, and to advise the pitfalls of overpricing it.

Not presenting all offers received prior to closing is another Article 1 violation. A truly low-ball offer from a house flipper can be demoralizing, but you still have to present it unless you get in writing (as I’ve done once) from the seller that you’re relieved from presenting any offers below a certain price.

Divulging confidential information, especially if it could disadvantage your client, also violates Article 1. I once had a buyer’s agent tell me that their buyer real-

Not disclosing that I have an unrepresented buyer for my listing, if asked, is a violation. If I have a variable commission (meaning that the commission paid by the seller is lower if I don’t have to pay a buyer’s agent), I must disclose that differential. I do not have to disclose the price of each offer in hand, but I get permission from my sellers to do that when there are multiple buyers.

Not following showing instructions or showing up at a time other than what was set with the showing service is a violation.

Showing your listing on a day that your MLS listing says showings are not allowed is a violation of Article 3.

Not disclosing the status of a listing, for example if the home is under contract, is also a violation of Article 3. I’ve had listing agents tell me they weren’t going to change their listing to “Pending” on the MLS until the earnest money was received or inspection objection passed. The MLS will also discipline an agent for that.

Not getting verbal agreements in writing is a violation of Article 9. I always request at least an email instruction from my client, and I create amend/extend documents when appropriate.

Solar-Powered Home With Hyatt Lake Membership

Not explaining fully any document presented to a client is a big no-no and a violation of Article 9. It’s so easy with today’s electronic documents to send them by email and say, “call if you have any questions,” but we are expected to be more pro-active than that.

Article 12 of the Code is about “truth in marketing.” Misrepresenting one’s level of success is a violation of this article. There’s a bus shelter ad I have seen for years by an agent saying he’s the top agent in our county, but I did the research, and it’s not true. That’s a violation not only of Article 12 but of real estate commission rules (as are most Code violations).

I once complained to the commission about bus benches on which an agent claimed he sells a home every 4 days. It wasn’t true, and he had to change them.

Knowingly giving inaccurate information about one’s listing is another violation of Article 12.

Inducing a client to terminate if you change brokerages is a violation of Article 16, as is soliciting a listing that is currently subject to an exclusive agreement with another broker. Another broker’s unhappy client can call you, but you can’t call them. Also, we must always ask a

person who calls us or visits our open house if they are working with an agent before offering to work with them. Failing to do so could lead to “sign crossing.”

When a listing expires without selling, the homeowner can expect to be deluged by phone calls, texts, letters, postcards and even door knocking by agents whose business model involves soliciting expired listings. When one of my listings expires, I tell the seller to be prepared for that deluge. A common error by such agents is to fail to check whether that listing is already active on the MLS with another agent or brokerage. Another error is to mistake the “withdrawn” status for the “expired” status. “Withdrawn” indicates that while the listing may be withdrawn from active status, it is still subject to a valid listing agreement. When you get such a solicitation, get the name of the agent and share it with your listing agent so he or she can at least contact that agent and tell him/her of the violation.

As I mentioned above, non-Realtors don’t have to abide by the Realtor Code of Ethics, but, as I also said, many violations of the Code are also violations of law and/ or real estate commission rules. They depend on you and me to report violations.

This & That: Other Topics Worth Taking

Propane Is Proposed for Home Backup

Note of...

framing, and heat recovery ventilation. All three 2500-SF homes were sold for about $1.4 million each before they were completed, proving the demand for such homes.

Seniors Get Roommates vs. Downsizing

A Denver Post article last week told of a non-profit which helps seniors living alone in a big house to find roommates, not just for companionship, shared expenses and mutual caregiving, but as a way to “age in place” instead of selling and finding a smaller resident or apartment.

High-end improvements and Hyatt Lake membership make this home special. At the end of a cul-de-sac, a gate on the back fence draws you to Hyatt Lake for swimming and non-gas-power boating, paddleboarding, and fishing. The seller-owned rooftop solar panels, not visible from the street, meet most or all of this home's electric needs. Although it’s a 2-story home, the primary suite is on the main floor with its own access to the 16’x16’ covered deck. Two guest bedrooms with a shared bathroom are on the top floor, and a 4th bedroom is in the walkout basement. The seller is a woodworker, and his work and attention to detailed improvements is visible throughout, such as the hanging shelves in the great room. His workshop (not included) takes up one space of the 3car garage which is heated and cooled by a mini-split unit. A Tesla charging station in the garage is included. The kitchen has special touches, too, like the quartz countertops, undercabinet lighting, Schuler brand ultra-high-end cabinets, Bosch superquiet dishwasher, LG refrigerator with a cold-saver door. The upgrades are so extensive that I urge you to look at the room-by-room details spelled out on the MLS and at JeffcoSolarHomes.com. There are also two narrated video tours for the same reason — one for the interior and one taking you on a roundtrip walk to Hyatt Lake through open space to which this home backs. Call Kathy Jonke, 303-990-7428, to see it.

An article on CustomBuilderOnline.com argues that propane is the ultimate uninterruptible energy source, and it actually makes some sense and will appeal to people worried about natural disasters disrupting the power grid. The article makes the point that having a tank of propane on your property plus a propane powered electric generator can keep you warm or cool and able to cook even if you have an all-electric home. Because propane does not degrade and can last forever in a tank (and can supply gas at even the lowest temperature), it’s the best way to make sure life goes on for you, no matter what happens with other energy sources.

Passive-Certified Homes Built in Boston

An article on ProBuilder.com reports on three certified passive-house homes built in Boston MA by Brucewood Homes. Architect Mike DelleFave says they achieve PHI-certified status by adhering to three passive house principles: air-tight construction, highperformance windows, super insulation of the building envelope, thermal bridge-free

This reminds me of how I, a bachelor at the time, justified my first Denver home purchase in 1997. I asked a male friend, Dave Garton, if he would be interested in sharing a home if I bought it. He said yes, and I bought a home with a walk-out basement. We shared the kitchen, but we each had our privacy. When I met Rita, Dave bought his own home and Rita and I bought a new house.

Links to all three of the above articles are at http://RealEstateToday.substack.com I welcome your topic suggestions!

6127 Holman St., Arvada

FRESH FOOD

Founded by tech entrepreneur Alexey Lee, PineMelon is modeled after sister company, Arbuz, which means watermelon in Russian –Kazakhstan’s most widely spoken language. With apt naming, a pinemelon is a distant cousin of the watermelon. Launched in Denver in 2022, their rst day in business they received just over 10 orders. Now, with 3,000 membership subscriptions, PineMelon o ers same-day delivery seven days a week, and delivers groceries in a roughly 30-minute radius of their 30,000-squarefoot warehouse located in Denver’s north side. With the convenience of their app, customers can select items that will be delivered in a two-hour window between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

“We connect the local marketplace to consumers,” said Emma Alanis, local partnerships lead at PineMelon. “It’s a way for people to have the farmer’s market experience of meeting their community, meeting local artisans and farmers, and then having a convenient way to continue to purchase and support those people.”

Previously a farmer herself, Alanis understands some of the unique challenges facing producers today. For every dollar spent at the grocery store, the farmer’s share is less than 15 cents as the often-complex chain of middlemen – from transportation, packing, cooling, buyers and sellers – all need to get paid.

“With PineMelon, we’re guaranteeing our farmers are going to see 85 cents of the dollar,” said Alanis. “We have a fair pricing model and a fair marketplace guarantee.”

Farmers price their products and determine what they sell, while PineMelon takes 15% for ful llment,

In addition to local products, the more than 6,000 items PineMelon o ers include conventional options from wholesalers that provide staple items year-round. Farmers have also been using the service to sell small bouquets from extra owers on their elds. All excess food is donated directly to Denver Food Rescue and the company uses sustainable packaging in the form of returnable totes, recyclable paper bags and limiting

Alanis said PineMelon is also starting to work with more local vendors growing in greenhouses and hydroponic containers that can source fresh products like chard, lettuce and kohlrabi year-round, especially during the winter months.

For a new hydroponic farm like Ullr’s Garden, Millisor said PineMelon has been a huge asset. After leaving a career in real estate in 2021 following a wave of climate disasters across the globe, Millisor was looking for a way to meaningfully contribute to the climate space. With his brother Luke Millisor and cousin Ian Randall on board, Ullr’s Garden was born.

“ ey’ve helped us get a lay of the land,” said the hydroponic farmer. “ ere is no one size ts all solution to any of this. I’m always trying to think of not necessarily how to create a perfect world but how to make small adjustments, which PineMelon is all about.”

In addition to working with the grocery delivery platform, Ullr’s sells its produce to restaurants and through its Community Supported Agriculture program. Millisor said another bene t of the delivery service is that it saves the pollution created by people driving to grocery stores.

As PineMelon has grown, it has adjusted to ll the needs of the communities it serves. After a push by customers to source halal-certi ed meat options, PineMelon partnered with a couple of ranches to make those products available. While areas like Washington Park, Capitol Hill and Central Park have been popular for grocery delivery, interest has been growing from customers outside of Boulder, so a Boulder delivery window will be opening in March.

With Colorado’s short growing season – which is just about 100 days –

“PineMelon is a way to get educated, but also to connect with different community members – from local farmers and nonpro ts – who are working to x our broken food system,” said Alanis.

PineMelon’s new slogan, Act Like A Local, is all about encouraging people to participate, volunteer and understand where the food on their plates is coming from.

To learn more about PineMelon, visit pinemelon.com. To learn more about Uller’s Garden, visit ullrsgarden.com.

Using a circulating water system, hydroponic gardens like Ullr’s Garden use 95% less water than traditional farms, and high e ciency LED lights supply them with all the sunshine they could need.

PHOTO BY MERYL PHAIR

Latino environmental activist takes his work to a new position with Denver

Longtime environmental activist Victor Galván will now help shape policy for the City of Denver

BY JULIO SANDOVAL ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS

Although the state of Colorado is known for its beautiful natural spaces, it also has one of the most polluted Zip codes in the country. e majority Latino community of Commerce City, in northeast Denver, has dealt with the fallout from factories and pollution in their backyards and Victor Galván, an activist from the area, has made it his life’s work to advocate for change.

“I helped build relationships between community organizations where we align on values and can do policy work together to move the narrative and solutions for Latino community,” Galván said of his previous work as an activist.

Galván joined the Denver Mayor’s O ce of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency in January after more than a decade advocating for Latinos in the environmental movement.

Awareness of the links between people’s everyday lives and the environment, he said, is necessary in places such as Commerce City where pollution deeply a ects the health of the community.

“We have seen in north Denver

children who have bloody noses, have to go to the doctor more often for headaches and an increase in asthma in the population,” Galván said..

Within his new role, Galván said he hopes to bring in the voices of Latinos into a ecting policy change.

“Unfortunately, those who are changing the laws and policies are rich, white and are not seeing the same problems that we are exposed to,” Galván said.

”Every day people are working to pass policies that tackle these issues. But the moment that our voices are at the table, solutions are created without us in mind. And so some of those solutions, although they’re wellmeaning and in good spirit, there’s a part missing, and sometimes there’s actually negative rami cations and outcomes for our community, even though they’re trying to do good.”

But he said that Latino communities already participate in climate justice, even if they don’t see it that way, by conserving water and polluting less. Galván said that people with lower incomes also typically have a lower impact on climate and on emissions.

“ e one thing that I would say for Latinos on climate justice and environmental justice that is so important to our future and in this work is that we have to internalize that we are environmental activists, that we are climate change activists, Because we are at the center of this issue our voice needs to be at the table. We are the people that can come up with the solutions,” he said.

Longtime environmental activist Victor Galván will now help shape policy for the City of Denver. JULIO SANDOVAL, ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS

oxygen bag after a seizure. One nurse commented as she left that she could make more money caring for inmates in jail than kids in their homes, the girl’s father told lawmakers during a budget hearing this month.

A mother of an 11-year-old boy with a rare neurological disorder has had to do CPR on her own child.

Galia Spychalska wheeled the boy to the state Capitol this month to ask for help. “ e pediatric home health nursing shortage was very, very alive before COVID and the pandemic but now it’s really bad,” said Spychalska, who is among the parents who were trained as nurses and are reimbursed by Medicaid to care for their children. “We are in crisis. We haven’t had a wage increase in more than ve years.”

And Amy Wiedeman, mother of a 13-year-old boy who is medically fragile and nonverbal, has been unable to hire a night nurse for ve years. She works full time as a city planner for Centennial, then takes care of her son, who is fed through a tube in his stomach and has daily seizures, in the night.

“I am working two full-time jobs, 120 to 140 hours a week,” she said. “It’s very di cult to be in that situation.

“ e reimbursement rates are not adequate at all, not adequate for home health care workers to make

ends meet and attempt to live in the state of Colorado. ere’s an enormous amount of work that caregivers do,” Wiedeman said. “ ey’re working alone. ey are working with fragile patients. ey are incredibly important to families that have medically fragile people in their lives.”

e families testi ed during the Joint Budget Committee’s annual hearing in which anyone in the public can o er lawmakers their thoughts on state spending priorities. e public hearing is a deviation from the hours and hours of testimony the legislative committee hears all year from state agencies making budget requests.

e Home Care and Hospice Association, representing agencies around the state that hire private duty nurses and set their salaries based on the state’s Medicaid reimbursement rate, wants Colorado to add an additional $15 million to the state budget for private duty nursing. at’s on top of the $137 million proposed for the program next year.

e requested boost — totaling $30 million with the federal match — would be equivalent to about a $20 per hour increase in the reimbursement rate for private duty nursing.

“It’s a really tough budget and the state is going to have to make some really tough decisions,” said Eliza Schultz, the association’s lobbyist.

“We think this should be a huge priority. It is $15 million and we know that’s a huge ask, but the bene ts to the community are going to be so great.”

e association estimates that almost half of the cost would be o set by reducing the number of medically fragile people who are kept in hospitals, also at the expense of Medicaid, because they do not have someone to care for them at home.

Gov. Jared Polis’ budget request for the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, which includes the Medicaid division, called for a 1% rate increase for private duty nursing and other Medicaid providers. But citing health care worker shortages, the Joint Budget Committee in January gave preliminary approval to a 2.5% across-the-board increase for Medicaid providers instead.

e Home Care Association wants a 38%-52% increase above Colorado’s current hourly rates.

e Joint Budget Committee has months of work left before making its nal budget recommendations for next scal year, which begins July 1.

e ve-member committee has not yet made a decision on the request.

Other states have increased private duty nursing rates in recent years by 10%-20% while Colorado rates were raised 3% last year. Some states, including Texas and Arizona, have used federal coronavirus aid to raise pay for in-home nurses.

Colorado Medicaid’s reimbursement rates for private duty nursing are $52.53 per hour for RNs and $39.69 per hour for LPNs. e rate paid to agencies must also cover administrative costs and recruiting costs, cutting into nurses’ hourly

wage. Pay for private duty nursing varies, but job postings in Colorado o er about $30 per hour and families say their nurses are paid as low as $25. Colorado’s minimum wage is $14.12 per hour.

Statewide, 932 people received private duty nursing services last year.

State Medicaid o cials countered that Colorado has a “very robust” private duty nursing bene t. e department is conducting a rate analysis and plans to provide information on Colorado’s rate methodology in comparison to other states.

MGA Homecare, which hires and places private duty nurses in Colorado and several other states, said the agency has not been able to hire enough nurses in Colorado to meet requests from families.

“It’s a constant struggle,” said Erica Drury, director of policy and legislation for the company. Some families have resorted to long-term care in facilities instead, she said.

“A private duty nurse is a part of the family and part of their daily lives,” she said. “For families that do have one, it’s so much more than typical care. It’s a really skilled level of care. We call their bedrooms mini ICUs.”

Parents’ requests for state help are the latest in a long road of frustration with the state Medicaid program, including families who said they were wrongfully denied services last year. is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.

Former Japanese internment camp joins national park system

BY EMMA VANDENEINDE KUNC

Amache, a former Japanese internment camp in far southeastern Colorado, is now o cially part of the national park system.

e site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994, and later named a National Historic Landmark in 2006. President Joe Biden signed the Amache National Historic Site Act in 2022, pushing the site even further to national park status.

But the land still had to be transferred by the town of Granada before it could be o cial. Without that piece, no federal funding could be put into the site.

“As a nation, we must face the wrongs of our past in order to build a more just and equitable future,” said Deb Haaland, the Secretary of the Interior, in a press release. “Today’s establishment of the Amache National Historic Site will help preserve and honor this important and painful chapter in our nation’s story for future generations.”

Before becoming part of the National Park system, a local history teacher— John Hopper—recruited some of his high school students to create a museum for the site and collect heirlooms from survivors to display.

“I think without them, there would not be Amache as a national park,” Carlene Tinker, an Amache survivor, said. “I really feel that way.”

Many survivors like Tinker have fought for greater recognition of the site for their whole lives. She was three years old when she was forced to live at the camp.

“My rst reaction was nally, okay, nally,” she said. “It’s a very proud mo-

who endured the incarceration experience, and that nally their story is being told.

At its peak, Amache — also known as the Granada Relocation Center — housed more than 7,000 Japanese-Americans during the 1940s. ey were forced to live behind barbed wire in poorly-insulated rooms. is was one of ten other Japanese internment camps that existed during World War II, with some being located in the Mountain West.

Mitch Homma’s grandparents and their kids were also imprisoned at the camp. He wishes more of his relatives were alive to see this historical moment.

“My dad’s older sister just passed away,” he said. “She was hoping she was gonna be around and see it come to fruition and stu . But, you know, we got it done.”

e camp served meals that were different than what they were used to — eggs, potatoes and hot dogs, to name a few. Homma’s dad died at the camp after not eating the food. He re ected on what

“I think he would have been totally surprised,” he said. “ e one statement he said back then was, ‘ ey didn’t care about us in 1942, and I don’t think enough people care about us now,” he said, getting emotional. “And now it’s happening and, you know, it’s pretty special.”

Some survivors, like Gary Ono, are happy that younger people are taking an interest in the park before he and many others pass away.

“I just turned 84 last week, so I know that I feel my mortality,” he said. “As we all pass on, we just hope that our history will continue. So just having Amache as a National Park Service site will help to preserve and keep telling the story.”

Amache is open to the public now, and will start to undergo some improvements of transforming the signage and working on the roads. ere will be an o cial ribbon cutting ceremony on May 17th. is story runs via e Associated Press’ Storyshare, of which Colorado Community Media is a member.

Colorado planning aid for schools enrolling migrant students

BY JASON GONZALES CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Colorado lawmakers on the powerful Joint Budget Committee want to provide some nancial assistance to schools grappling with educating an in ux of migrant students this year.

e idea from state Rep. Emily Sirota, a Denver Democrat who sits on the committee, would allocate up to $24 million, to be split among school districts that have enrolled newly arrived students after the October cuto date that determines districts’ per-pupil funding. But the funding would be far less than what the state provides to educate a student.

e budget committee, which plays a major role in how the state spends its money, voted unanimously earlier this month to draft a bill allocating the funds.

Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, an Arvada Democrat and vice chair of the committee, said she plans to co-sponsor the bill once it’s ready. e bill has not yet been introduced.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Gov. Jared Polis said he’s working with the legislature on a proposal to provide additional funding for school districts that have new arrivals after the October count date.

e state annually adjusts districts’ education funding up or down during the legislative session based on each district’s student enrollment on Oct. 1. But the surge in migrant students since the o cial count has overwhelmed many

districts and prompted calls from school leaders for more aid to teach recent arrivals.

Sirota said while the state doesn’t have an exact tally, she’s heard estimates of up to 8,000 new student arrivals statewide since October. Some schools have needed to increase class sizes and have a greater need for services that help English learners, she said.

“ is crisis is being felt across our cities, counties, and the state,” she said.

e state money would be a one-time infusion for districts. Joint Budget Committee members have said they want to ensure school districts wouldn’t need to apply for the money, but instead would have to provide the state with a tally of eligible students.

How much money districts would get likely will depend on whether the committee decides to allocate the full $24 million Sirota has proposed and how many newly arrived students have enrolled statewide since the October count.

e $24 million sum is not a calculation of how much it costs to fully educate the migrant students in Colorado. Rather, it is money the state would otherwise put in its savings account for education.

Increasing local tax revenue means the state needs to spend $24 million less on schools this year than anticipated.

e proposed bill would reallocate those funds, but committee members have said they want to also nd other funding sources.

e extra money would help districts,

but it would be less than the $11,319 per student, on average, they get for students who are enrolled during the October count.

Sirota said funding is tight this year, especially when there are many competing budget priorities. But the extra funding would help districts bearing the brunt of the costs.

“I want to help our districts better absorb the costs that they are incurring with so many new students who are new to the country that they have taken on since October,” she said.

States across the country have seen a spike in recent migrant arrivals. e Denver area has dealt with the brunt of those arrivals.

In Denver Public Schools, migrant student enrollment has ballooned by more than 3,200 of these young people since the start of the school year. Many arrived after the October count that determined state per-student funding sent by the state.

e impact has also been uneven within the district. New students are concentrated in about two dozen of Denver’s schools.

But schools and cities across the metro area and state are reporting more students arriving every day, either from families moving to nd work or recently coming to the state. e in ux has caused nancial shortfalls and pushback from some communities.

Chalkbeat is a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.

The reconstructed Block 12H at the Amache site. As stated on the informational sign, there were 29 blocks at the Amache site, and each block had up to 13 barrack buildings that were divided into 6 rooms each.

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Displaced SeaQuest creatures find new homes at zoo and aquarium in Denver

BY CHRISTY STEADMAN AND NINA JOSS CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e Denver Zoo and Downtown Aquarium Denver are now home to more animals in the wake of the closure of SeaQuest Littleton earlier this month.

“We’re fortunate to have the space, resources and animal health and care expertise to provide the best possible care for these animals,” Bert Vescolani, the Denver Zoo’s president and CEO, said in a news release, “and (the zoo is) happy we could assist in this coordinated e ort to give them a great new home.”

e “animals are getting acquainted with their new habitats” and “will be viewable to guests and members soon,” the zoo said. e animals, including a keel-billed toucan, red-necked wallabies, African pancake tortoises, a New Guinea blue-tongued skink and many others, are being monitored and evaluated at the zoo’s Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Animal Hospital and its Tropical Discovery.

SeaQuest is a national aquarium business that allows visitors to interact with its aquatic and nonaquatic animals. People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, also known as PETA, has criticized the company for several years.

SeaQuest Littleton, in unincorporated Je erson County, was one of eight company locations in the U.S. e Littleton venue had received multiple local citations and complaints.

Colorado Community Media reported that SeaQuest Littleton’s Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife license was suspended in 2019. At that time, the aquarium was required to remove roughly two dozen species of sh, birds and mammals that fall under CPW’s de nition of wildlife, totaling roughly 200 animals. e aquarium replaced the removed animals with others that didn’t fall under the CPW licensing umbrella.

Following the suspension, SeaQuest did not apply for a license, a CPW spokesperson told Colorado Community Media in a story reporting on the aquarium’s recent closure. As a result, SeaQuest Littleton had not held a CPW license since 2019.

Several recent inspection reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showed non-compliant issues at the aquarium. Examples include inadequate handling or control of animals during public interactions, unsupervised public interaction with animals, enclosure disrepair, animal injuries, insu cient sanitation and failure to document medication delivery.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE DENVER ZOO

Red-necked wallabies are two animals being cared for at the Denver Zoo following SeaQuest Littleton’s recent closure. SEE SEAQUEST, P11

Lakewood’s Stone Shop Jewelers Supply has unique stones, antique metalsmith tools

BY ELISABETH SLAY ESLAY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Opal, variscite, tourmaline, amethyst and other colorful rocks line the counters and cases of the Stone Shop Jewelers Supply in Lakewood.  O the main space is what its owner dubs the Mini Metalsmith Museum and Library. It is a room lled to the brim with ring mandrels, hammers, jeweler’s loupes, literature and other tools of the trade. Many are decades old.

Tucked beyond the counter is a little window similar to that of a fast food restaurant, and inside, visitors will see Courtney Koster, an “old soul and creative tinker,” working on a pair of earrings.

Koster, who opened the store on West Colfax Avenue about 14 years ago, describes it as a “tool, supply and rock shop.”

“We like to really service the jewelry industry and the little mom-andpop shops to even the out-of-town gem show clientele,” Koster said.

Koster is a third-generation Lakewood local and she said her favorite aspect of the business is the rocks.

“It blows my mind knowing, especially the rocks and fossils, this is

‘Creative tinker’

20, 60, 100 million years old,” Koster said. “And how that was created and we cut them. at’s pretty cool.”

Additionally, the “tool junky” is quite fond of the gadgets and gizmos used to create jewelry.

“I think it’s just neat and how they’re designed and you pick them up and use them,” Koster said. She enjoys the hand eye coordination she’s developed using these tools.

Along with stones, Koster has a vast collection of antique tools which she began collecting and curated into a museum.

“We have the Mini Metalsmithing Museum and Library and we’ve got a bunch of the old tools from the last 100 plus years,” Koster said. e oldest one in her collection is a 1910 rolling mill from Ti any & Co.

“It’s probably my best known tool,” Koster said. “ e rolling mill is for attening metal or also making wire. You can take a chunk of metal and start rolling it out.”

Koster’s passion for jewelry making began after she unked out of band at Wheat Ridge High School. Koster said she needed another elective and found jewelry making.

“I didn’t like painting and I don’t like ceramics, but metal-working and stones were really cool so I took a class there,” Koster said.  ree and half years later, Koster fell in love with the craft and decided to make it her passion and profession.

Courtney Koster cranks the gears on her rolling mill from 1910, which is one of many items she keeps in her Mini Metalsmith Museum.

PHOTO BY ELISABETH SLAY SEE JEWELRY, P17

Confident courage driven by abundant resilience

Recurrent cycles of failure often drain our reservoir of courage. But cultivating gritty resilience, the ability to rebound after defeat, makes all the di erence. When we know our worth remains unchanged, condence strengthens. And con dent courage steps forward boldly, determined to learn from failure rather than retreat in shame.

Two weeks ago, this column visited what it means to be consistently con dent and courageous. Last week we tackled the bene ts of living with an abundance mentality as opposed to one of scarcity. Now, we let’s talk about the type con dent courage that is driven by abundant resilience.

ing our missteps. We a rm that within and around us lies power to press on. Resilience believes better timing is coming. Resilience believes that for every no that a salesperson receives, there is a yes just around the

Today’s leadership often wrestles with the lack of resilience of their younger team members. e rst hints of a struggle or a project that is too di cult seems to shut people down. e younger sales professional who cannot deal with rejection is chipping away at the character and foundation of grittiness and resilience that had made their company famous and successful. is is a societal issue just as much as it is a corporate problem.

Resilience is built through small daily choices to show up again after setbacks. We reframe failures as lessons that equip us for next victory. We silence cruel inner voices taunt-

As resilient condence grows through repeatedly getting back up, courage is ignited. We no longer fear the failure itself but rather squandering the growth opportunity it presents. Courage says, “ ough I may stumble again, I know it will strengthen me, so I will keep pursuing my purpose.”

e courage fueled by resilience also drives innovation. In genius lies countless bad ideas. But the resilient genius tries new combinations while learning from each. ey fail small and move quickly to succeed bigger. Con dent they’ll eventually win, they persevere until the breakthrough.

Of course, acknowledging real suffering matters deeply. Some defeats deliver blows that do require grieving. Resilience is not dismissing agony but insisting present pain will not have the nal say. Light still ickers in the darkness if we have eyes to

see.

When con dent courage is driven by gritty, hard-won resilience, we become unstoppable forces for good. Failures remain inevitable but can no longer chain us. We rise stronger, bolder and wiser.

Life often delivers unexpected blows that tempt us to retreat in selfpity. But adopting an abundance mentality while embracing opportunities in life despite real limitations empowers relentless resilience. Believing we already have more than enough forti es us to endure seasons of scarcity and keep pursuing purpose.

Resilience is the ability to rebound after adversity, to bend but not break. Resilient people grieve loss genuinely while insisting present turmoil will not dictate the future. Progress may require a circuitous route, but they keep marching forward.

Abundance thinking provides the mental framework and spiritual strength to persevere. Despite current shortfalls, it recalls times of surplus, remembering that seasons change. Abundance acknowledges “enough” looks di erent across life’s terrain. Where abundant resilience abounds, hope is instilled.

An abundance mentality also combats victim mindsets that paralyze resilience. Scarcity thinking xates on how life has damaged us. But abundance declares we possess

everything needed, however hidden or dormant, to recover and thrive again. It empowers personal responsibility amid hardship, it fuels resilience.

Of course, positive thinking alone cannot erase real su ering or constraints. But abundance provides perspective that setbacks are often setups for greater impact. With this long-view lens, we turn stumbling blocks into steppingstones. Our trajectory trends upward even while sometimes moving sideways.

Abundance thinking combined with bold faith and courageous action transforms us from victims into victors. We become forces for revival, equipped to lead others from dormancy to destiny.

In a world where many focus on the barriers to success and the negative forces of life that seem to surround them, there are many who look for the opportunity amid the challenge. Which one are you? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@ gmail.com, and when we can live our lives with con dent courage driven by abundant resilience, it really will be a better than good life.

Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

Why tax breaks for data centers? They’re coming anyway

Data centers have been proliferating across the United States and world. With our Facebook accounts, Google searches, and perhaps dabbling in cryptocurrency, we’re all consumers. But should Colorado dangle tax breaks to attract them?

On Feb. 29 a state legislative committee is scheduled to hear a proposal to do just that: SB24-085 would waive state sales and use taxes for up to three data centers a year between 2026 and 2034. ey would have to create a minimum of $100 million in assessed valuation and generate at least 25 fulltime jobs to be eligible. ey would also have to create at least three megawatts of new demand for electricity.

Citing experiences of other states, critics see many downsides to data centers even without subsidies. ey could cause rates of Xcel Energy or other electrical utilities to in ate even more rapidly. Water demands of data centers for cooling pose other questions.

Could this bill actually make it more di cult for Colorado to meet its economy-wide decarbonization goals? In New York and Montana, coal plants scheduled for retirement have been brought back to deliver electricity needed by data centers.

e bill proposes to make the state’s O ce of Economic Development the judge of who gets tax breaks. Water use and energy e ciency would be criteria for evaluating candidates but

the bill o ers no speci cs. It also suggests rural communities could bene t, but offers no mechanism to achieve that.

“Colorado is falling below the curve in terms of attracting more digital infrastructure assets,” the bill says. “ e state must incentivize the development of these projects.”

Mark Gabriel, chief executive of United Power, an electrical cooperative serving 110,000 meters along the fast industrializing I-76 corridor, disputes that contention.

“ e state is NOT having problems attracting data centers,” he said in an e-mail. “In the case of United Power we are working with several who are attracted due to our rates, location and willingness to meet their deadlines. It could be valuable for rural and remote locations, but even then the attractiveness of Colorado is a determining factor.”

In other words, why the free ride?

Colorado has abundant wind and solar to satisfy increased demand. But, as the Economist noted in January in a deeply reported story, “renewable energy and data centres are far from a perfect match.”

Data centers operated by Amazon, Microsoft, and other giant operators

mostly need electricity on a 24/7 basis. Utilities with decarbonization goals more ambitious than the state-mandated levels already are working overtime to try to gure out new strategies such as through demand-side management programs.

Long-term storage remains the holy grail in decarbonization. Solutions may be innovated here in Colorado. Nothing is a sure bet.

Others argue for nuclear energy, but they have been awfully shy about acknowledging the consistent cost overruns in trial projects involving new nuclear technology. Plus, we still haven’t gured out what to do with the waste. It’s a can we just kick down the road.

Geothermal, the “heat beneath our feet” that Gov. Jared Polis promoted when chair of the Western Governors Association, has potential to produce around-the-clock electricity. A company has reported head-turning numbers from its deep drilling in Nevada. In Colorado, the heat is deeper beneath our feet.

Burning methane, also called natural gas, is what we do now. Xcel and other utilities plan more such plants to meet peak demands. We also have a handful of gas plants designed for baseload generation. But to build more gas plants will cause us to step back from our decarbonization goals. Carbon capture and sequestration? Maybe, but this provokes still other questions.

Virginia has the nation’s largest con-

centration of data centers, a place just west of Washington D.C. called “Data Center Alley.” Dominion, the utility serving much of this demand, has said it wants to back away from the state’s decarbonization goal because it can’t meet the growing demand for electricity if it doesn’t.

John Gavan spent 25 years in the software industry, working in both Colorado Springs and Washington D.C. and earning seven patents along the way. He got to know data centers very well. In recent years, he helped formulate energy policies, rst as a director of Delta-Montrose Electric Association, then during a four-year term on the Public Utilities Commission.

“ is is absolutely the worst thing for Colorado,” says Gavan. “It could cause us to not only miss our 2030 grid decarbonization goals but also to negatively impact our already over-stressed ratepayers.”

At his o ce along I-76, United’s Gabriel says that instead of incentives, legislators could perhaps help by requiring data centers to work with utilities on load control and management.

Colorado needs to think about data centers, because they will come. is proposal to dangle subsidies should go into the trash can.

Allen Best publishes Big Pivots, an ejournal that uses data centers in tracking the energy and water transitions in Colorado. See bigpivots.com.

Allen Best

Life is busy. ere aren’t enough hours in the day, yet we feel the need to do it all.

But do we have to?

In the three years since we found our small business, TULA – which is an app-based personal assistant service – we’ve learned why people need to ask for help and how we can support our amazing clients.

is list is by no means everyone’s Top 10, but we would guess it might feel pretty relatable to many.

1. ere just isn’t enough time in the day to do it all. We’re starting with the obvious here. But beyond that, what if we reframed it to realize we don’t actually have to do it all, and that asking for help is OK.

one, but especially for families and working parents. Don’t compare what’s on your list, or how much you get done, to others. Instead, focus on crossing things o that serve you the most, look for opportunities to outsource others and eliminate or cross o the things that don’t serve you.

Ask for help already

3. Dividing up TO-DOs can be stressful and overwhelming in a partnership. If you haven’t already checked out Eve Rodsky’s “Fair Play,” we highly recommend you do so. She has created tools and systems to foster communication, active partnering and mental load management.

4. Doing it all with no partner levels up the stress and can be overwhelming. We’re looking at you, single parents and primary caregivers. Give yourself grace, take inventory of what you can actually accomplish, prioritize what matters most,

ning, scheduling appointments, nding a handyman, etc. Do these things ever really get checked o ? Outsource whatever you can and move on.

6. If we do manage to nd ways to do all of the things on our list, it can come with a signi cant risk of burnout, resentment and mental overload that is simply not sustainable. Pay attention to those feelings creeping in and take note.

– you should outsource.

9. Because you can! And you shouldn’t feel guilty. It doesn’t mean you have to pay for help either. Ask a friend, swap time – swap doing the things you like better and vice versa.

10. Shifting your mindset to realize that doing less actually means doing more – more of what matters, more of what lights you up, more of what serves the life you aim to have. Realizing this is an absolute game changer and that realization is both empowering and freeing.

Sometimes we just do not want to spend time doing the things on our TO-DO list that are a real drag, and that is OK. Laundry, meal plan-

SEAQUEST

A company statement on Facebook did not say speci cally why SeaQuest Littleton closed, but said it will continue its operations in “states that support (its) interactive business model.”

e Denver Zoo has taken in about

130 SeaQuest animals. Some of the rehomed creatures are new species to the zoo.

“We have a number of rescued animals living here at the zoo and take the responsibility of bringing in these animals very seriously,” Vescolani said in the news release.

e Denver Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is home to about 3,000 animals.

7. Allowing our lists to drive our priorities means we will often miss out on doing the things we love, need and want to do. Kiddo activities, family time, and the one we often sacri ce the most: self-care. Exercise, meditation, creative outlets, passion projects, rest – all these things support us as we support others. It is so important to keep those things on the list.

8. Your time is worth the most, and that’s simple math, really. If what you’d pay to outsource something on your list outweighs the value of your time – in both dollars and relief

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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• Submit your letter by 5 p.m. on Wednesday in order to have it considered for publication in the following week’s

Asking for help is the ultimate life hack – a ex of your con dence to know what you can and can’t do, self-care while you care for so many others. So, start shifting your mindset away from that feeling of having to do it all, say goodbye to the guilt and lean into what matters most.

Megan Trask and Cody Galloway are Denver residents and co-founders of TULA Life Balanced. Learn more about their business at tulabalanced. com.

newspaper.

• Letters must be no longer than 400 words.

• Letters should be exclusively submitted to Colorado Community Media and should not be submitted to other outlets or previously posted on websites or social media. Submitted letters become the property of CCM and should not be republished elsewhere.

Megan Trask and Cody Galloway

This New Guinea blue-tongued skink adapts to its new home at the Denver Zoo after it was displaced from SeaQuest Littleton’s recent closure.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DENVER ZOO

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As winter’s cold permeates throughout Colorado, folks may nd themselves craving the warm comfort of soup.

Luckily for those of us in the Denver metro area, local eateries are serving up delicious bowls of soups from around the world right here in the Centennial State. From Mexican Pozole to Polish Orgórkowa, here are seven cozy soups made by small businesses that can take you on a culinary journey without ever leaving town.

Pho Khang — Centennial — 20 Pho Varieties (Vietnamese Soup)

8283 S Akron St. Suite 140, Centennial, CO 80112 | (303)-792-2200 | skiplinow.com/shop/Hgs5lGL-3/site

Open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday

Pho Khang Manager Henri Ly said the secret to his restaurant’s pho — served alongside Banh Mi and other Vietnamese staples at the family-owned eatery — is using fresh ingredients and going slow.

“We do not use powder at all,” Ly said. “We use all beef bone and slow simmer for 16 hours. We have six pots in the back. at’s what we’re known for — the broth. It’s a family-owned business; everyone that works here is mom, dad, aunt, grandma.”

Pho Khang also serves lobster pho and vegetarian varieties, along with over a dozen other pho options.

Mi Tierra Caliente — Arvada — Pozole (Michoacán style pork and hominy stew)

5350 W 64th Ave., Arvada, CO 80003 | (720)-968-4634

|

Mitierracaliente.net

Open 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday

Mi Tierra Caliente owner Ayax Silva said Pozole is a centuries-old soup that’s been made in his native Michoacán, Mexico for hundreds of years.

“It’s a soup that’s been made in Mexico for centuries by the native people,” Silva said. “Tamales were also made by Mexican natives before the Spaniards came to Mexico. A lot of the traditional dishes have been served in Mexico for centuries.

“Every region of the country gives these dishes their own touch, and it changes from family to family,” Silva continued. “With Pozole there are di erent kinds; red Pozole — which we serve — there’s also white, cream, chicken Pozole. We use dried chili guajillo, made with pork and white hominy in Michoacán style. We serve it with radishes, cabbages, lime and pork chunks.”

Silva said Pozole is such a tradition in some Mexican states that restaurants serving it only operate on ursdays and going to eat the dish is a family activity. Luckily for those of us in the Denver metro area,Mi Tierra Caliente serves Pozole every day.

Croc Soup Company — Golden — Broccoli Gruyere Soup 16950 W Colfax Ave., Golden, CO 80401 | (303)-2162566 | crocsoupcompanymenu.com

Open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday (Closed weekends)

While broccoli and cheese soups — especially broccoli cheddar — abound in the metro area, Croc Coup Company takes that idea up a notch with its broccoli gruyere soup. Made from scratch with fresh ingredients, this soup is sure to keep you warm through the chilly foothill winters.

In Westminster, Polish Restaurant Cracovia serves Orgórkowa — pickle soup — made from scratch. COURTESY OF CRACOVIA

Pho Khang, a Vietnamese restaurant in Centennial, has 20 varieties of Pho, including this lobster special Pho. COURTESY OF PHO KHANG

Mi Tierra Caliente serves up authentic Michoacán-style Pozole every day in Arvada. COURTESY OF MI TIERRA CALIENTE

WARM THE HEART

FROM PAGE 12

African Grill and Bar — Lakewood — Palm Nut Soup 955 S Kipling Parkway, Lakewood, CO 80226 | (303)-985-4497 |

Africangrilllakewood.com

11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday (Closed Sunday)

African Grill and Bar in Lakewood o ers a sampling of African cuisine spanning the entire continent, according to owners Sylvester and eodora Osei-fordwuo. e restaurant features over a dozen soup varieties including palm nut soup, which originates in west Africa.

“Palm nut soup, also known as banga soup, is made out of the fruit from the palm tree plus other vegetables like onions, ginger and tomatoes added to it preparation,” eodora said.

Damascus Grill — Littleton — Lentil Soup

1399 W Littleton Blvd., Littleton, CO 80120 | (303)-797-6666 |

facebook.com/DamascusGrillLittleton

Open 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, ursday, Friday, Saturday; 11:30-7:40 p.m. Wednesday; 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sunday

Damascus Grill’s lentil soup has a avor that literally can’t be found anywhere else in the area. A family recipe, most of the spices used in the soup are imported directly from the Middle East.

e soup calls for all fresh ingredients and is made fresh every morning, taking about three hours to prepare.

e sta at Damascus said they were not at liberty to share which spices go into the lentil soup, calling them a “secret ingredient.”

Pierogies Factory — Wheat Ridge, Littleton — Rosol (Polish Chicken Noodle Soup)

3795 Wadsworth Blvd., Wheat Ridge, CO, 80133 | (303)-425-7421

7961 South Broadway, Littleton, CO 80122 | (303)-797-3649 |

pierogiesfactory.com

Both Locations: Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday – Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

While the local favorite might be better known for their pierogies, kielbasa or schnitzel, the Polish eatery also serves up Rosol; a Polish chicken noodle soup served with egg noodles. Rosol is de ned by its clear broth and is served at both Pierogies Factory locations, in Wheat Ridge and Littleton.

Cracovia — Westminster — Zupa Orgórkowa 8121 W 94th Ave., Westminster, CO 80021 | (303)-484-9388 |

Cracoviarestaurant.com

4 p.m.-9 p.m. Monday through ursday; 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday through Sunday

Polish restaurant Cracovia’s pickle soup — or Zupa Orgórkowa — is a family recipe from owners Maria and Lester Rodzen’s home kitchen. Head Chef Jutta Dellert says Orgórkowa is “Everyone’s favorite” in the winter months and that to her knowledge, Cracovia is the only restaurant around that sells the traditional Polish soup.

“We use homemade pickles and we grind them,” Dellert said. “We sauté carrots, parsnip, leeks, onions and celery, and add that to a vegetable broth with pickled, avored with vegeta; a polish spice. en we add heavy cream.”

Dellert says the soup — along with everything else at Cracovia — is made from scratch.

“Nobody cooks from scratch anymore, but that’s what we do here,” Dellert said. “We do sauerkraut from scratch, all out sauces and everything. at’s what I love about this restaurant. It takes me four hours to make the goulash.”

Orgórkowa takes about an hour and a half to two hours to prepare, Dellert said — but that’s mostly thanks to chopping the vegetables.

The beef bone pho at Pho Khang.

COURTESY PHO KHANG

Palm Nut Soup from African Grill and Bar. COURTESY AFRICAN GRILL AND BAR

450 skiers, boarders to shred moguls to help families

e 25th Jane-A- on — March 1-2 — is expected to involve about 450 skiers and snowboarders and will likely raise more than $340,000. e March 1 Jane-A- on Corporate Day includes 27 company teams — some with as many as 50 members — gathering for team-building ski descents while raising money for Invest In Kids.

“We really think the Jane-A- on couldn’t be a more authentic Colorado type event,” Hilty said.

e Nurse-Family Partnership pairing nurses with low-income momsto-be for two years remains Invest In Kids’ agship program. e Denver-based nonpro t has added new programs as its budget has grown to more than $5 million a year, serving more than 14,000 children, parents and caregivers last year.

e group’s Incredible Years program works with preschoolers, teach-

ers and parents to develop social and emotional skills. e Child First program created in 2020 connects mental health clinicians with children and parents in 25 counties in their homes to help deal with chronic stress and trauma.

All the programs are evidencebased, with scienti c research proving the e ectiveness of clinical work that starts with pregnant rst-time moms and works with children through age 5. Invest In Kids partners with communities to do the training and advocacy work while helping to facilitate funding from county, regional and state sources.

“Invest In Kids helps to bridge the gap between academic research and replicating into real work … so local families get to bene t from the best academic research,” said Lisa Hill, who has been with Invest In Kids since 2001, serving as executive director for the past 15 years.

Hilty said he helped found the group after “seeing too many kids in the juvenile justice system” and thinking there should be a better way to reach kids early in life.

“To our core we really believe that every Colorado kid deserves to get o to a right start and we really see these programs achieving that,” he said.  e Jane-A- on has evolved into an event with less of a focus on hammering the state’s largest collection of thigh-crushing bump runs. Most participants — each promising to raise at least $175, which enrolls one student in e Incredible Years program for a year — simply ski for fun, skipping the hustle of skiing 16 long bump runs from bell-to-bell. Although there is a group of veterans, including Hilty, who rush through all 16 of the Jane’s bump elds.

“We have a lot of second-generation participants now too,” said Hilty, remembering a kid who spun 40 laps on the beginner-friendly Galloping Goose lift at a recent Jane-A- on. “We continue to make the event more and more accessible. It’s just so fun.”

is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.

Since 2000, the Jane-A-Thon fundraiser for Invest In Kids has raised more than $2.4 million with 4,678 participants skiing the bumps at Winter Park’s Mary Jane. The oldest ski fundraiser in Colorado celebrates its 25th year at Mary Jane on March 1-2.

COURTESY PHOTO

powered by

Thu 3/07

Fri 3/08

Natalie Prauser @ 5:30pm

Brightenstar at Rolling Hills CC @ 6pm The Club at Rolling Hills, 15707 W 26th Ave, Golden

Ari Shaf�r @ 7:30pm Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St, Denver

Dave Matthews Tribute Band @ 8pm Cervantes Other Side, 2637 Welton Street, Denver

Sat 3/09

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Goosetown Station, 514 9th St, Golden

The Wendy Woo Band @ 7pm Little Bear Live, 28075 CO-74, Evergreen

Featured Featured

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Featured

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Black Market Translation: Punketry! @ 6:30pm

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The Milk Blossoms @ 8pm Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

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Sun 3/10

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The Reveille @ 8pm Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

Dharius @ 7pm

Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver

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Mehro @ 7pm / $18

CHADZILLA MUSIC: Bright Star the Musical @ 7pm Denver School Of The Arts, 7111 Montview Blvd, Denver

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Me Like Bees

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Night Lovell @ 8pm Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, 2637 Welton St, Denver

Charter school at Centennial Airport won’t be renewed

Colorado Skies Academy seeking new authorizer to bid to stay open

BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Colorado Skies Academy, an aerospace-focused charter school at Centennial Airport, faces an uncertain future after Cherry Creek Schools voted to not renew its contract.

In making the decision, the district’s board raised concerns about the charter school’s viability, citing issues such as declining student enrollment and budget de cits. e school district has also conducted annual evaluations of Colorado Skies Academy and said the school had below-average ratings three years in a row.

“We have real concerns about Colorado Skies Academy, particularly around their nancial performance and budget,” said Anne Egan, a board member, at a recent meeting. “ e numbers are much the same as last year, and we’re concerned the school won’t even be nancially viable through the end of this school year.

“Recruitment numbers continue to decline, and without adding a signi cant number of new students or a large nancial donation, the school will run out of cash,” Egan added.  ree leaders of the charter school, which serves about 100 students in sixth through eighth grade, asked the district to reconsider and pushed back against the allegations.

“I think it’s unconscionable and, quite honestly, unethical that you would take action against a school that you haven’t even stepped foot in,” said Tommy Bryan, chair of Colorado Skies Academy’s Board of Directors. “To me, that’s not dedication to excellence. To me, that’s laziness. It’s mismanagement on your part.”

No parents spoke in support of Colorado Skies Academy at the meeting. Rather, two parents said their children had negative experiences at the school.

With the board’s decision to not renew, the current contract between the school district and the charter school will end on June 21.

In a statement, Colorado Skies Academy School Director Christa Coryell said the school’s board of directors is drafting a request to be released from the current authorizer, which is the Cherry Creek School District, to allow the school to transfer the charter to another authorizer.

According to the Colorado Department of Education, only school districts can authorize a charter school except for two scenarios — when the school district does not have exclusive chartering authority, or when the school district grants permission to the charter school to seek authorization through the Colorado Charter School Institute.

“Our priority will always be the well-being and education of our learners, and we will do everything in our power to keep the school open and continue providing them with the exceptional educational experience they deserve,” Coryell said in the statement. “We remain con dent in the future of Colorado Skies Academy and our ability to

overcome any challenges that come our way.”

A complicated past

Colorado Skies Academy faced challenges in the months before it opened in 2019.

e Cherry Creek School District halted the charter school’s application late in 2018 because it said the school did not provide enough documents indicating prospective students’ intent to enroll. But that decision was reversed by the Colorado State Board of Education in early 2019.

e middle school, located on the grounds of the Wings Over the Rockies Exploration of Flight campus at Centennial Airport, opened in August 2019 with hopes of inspiring careers in the aerospace industry, according to its website.

e Cherry Creek School District had a four-year contract with the school — set from July 2019 to June 2023 — that granted Colorado Skies Academy the authority to operate a

charter school within the district.

When the charter school submitted an application to the district to renew the contract, the Cherry Creek school board raised “signi cant concerns” it had about the school’s viability, according to the

Ultimately, the school district decided to extend the contract for one year, through June 20, 2024. According to the contract, the district set conditions that the charter school needed to “substantially” comply with in order to request an additional contract extension.

ese conditions were not met, according to the school district. In its resolution to not renew the contract, the district said Colorado Skies Academy lacks su cient funds to cover core expenditures — like sta salaries — without an in ux of funds from fundraising or grants.

Colorado Skies Academy also did not meet enrollment projections for the 2023-24 school year, with 105 students enrolled as of Feb. 1, according to the district. e school has had “consistently declining enrollment over time,” the district said in the resolution, adding that “sustained enrollment is critical as it drives funding.”

Coryell said that when the school district gave only a one-year contract extension in 2023, it was “seemingly a death sentence,” noting it is di cult to get teachers to commit to a school when they believe there is little job security, given the chance that the school may close.

“It also provides problems in recruiting students since families are concerned the school might not be there after one year,” Coryell said. “CSA (Colorado Skies Academy) received direct feedback from families that declined their acceptance letters stating that they weren’t coming to the school because there was no assurance that their children would be able to complete all their middle school years at CSA.”

Meredith Motley, an administrator for Colorado Skies Academy, said that just 45% of the school’s students come from within the Cherry Creek School District. Of the remaining student population, Motley said 35% come from Douglas County, 7% are from Adams County, 7% are from Littleton schools and 6% come from other districts in the state.

Colorado Skies Academy School Director Christa Coryell spoke at the Feb. 12 Cherry Creek School District Board of Education meeting.

PHOTO BY TAYLER SHAW

JEWELRY

FROM

Koster began working at an established jewelry supply business her senior year and stayed for about seven years and worked at another business before opening the Stone Stop. Koster loves being her own boss but

does feel owning a business pulls her in “di erent directions.”

“At the end of the day, it’s all your stu and you get to deal with people and it’s cool to see (how) they use some products they bought from me,” Koster said.

Stone Stop is in its fourteenth year of operation and though the amount of customers has ebbed and owed, Koster said her shop is one of the only

Several cabochons, cut stones, sit on the counter at Stone Stop Jewelers Supply waiting to be turned into a unique piece of jewelry. PHOTOS BY ELISABETH SLAY

few of its kind.

“We’re about the only ones left doing this type of supply and old school rock shop,” Koster said. “A lot of them in a generational thing have either all passed on or retired. So, no one else has really made another store like ours.”

ough rare, Koster said Stone Shop doesn’t have a monopoly on the market but it’s unique in that it provides

supplies in person when most people buy tools and rocks online.

Koster said she has always been interested in working with her hands as she was invested in the technical work her father and grandfather did.

Owner of Stone Stop Jewelers Supply Courtney Koster works at her bench in her shop located at 8539 W. Colfax Ave in Lakewood.

Help Wanted

model dev., & busin. integr. Identify & exec. creative appr. to eval. energy infrastr. benefits & costs as well as risks & risk mitigat. F/T. Offered sal. range of $150,000 - $180,000/yr. Standard company benefits. Position based in Denver, CO. Telecommut. perm. up to 3 days/wk. For complete details or to apply, send resume to

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Ref. JobID: 7390130.

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Tony Medaris tony.medaris@empower.com

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Please call Alan Davis at 303-378-7537 or alandavis@levelengineering.com

PUBLIC NOTICES

303-566-4123

LLC

Legals

Summons and Sheriff Sale

Public Notice DISTRICT COURT, DENVER COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO

Denver County District Court 1437 Bannock St Denver, CO 80202

Plaintiff: TOWNE SQUARE LOFTS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, a Colorado nonprofit corporation v.

Defendants: JOHN BANAHOSKI; STATE OF COLORADO - DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

Attorneys for Plaintiff:

Orten Cavanagh Holmes & Hunt, LLC

Hal R. Kyles, #23891

1445 Market Street, Suite 350 Denver, CO 80202

Phone Number: (720) 221-9780

Matter ID #2299.0012

Case No.: 2023CV033230 Division: 424

SUMMONS [BY PUBLICATION]

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS:

You are hereby summoned and required to appear and defend against the claims of the complaint filed with the court in this action, by filing with the clerk of this court an answer or other response. You are required to file your answer or other response within 35 days after the service of this Summons upon you. Service of this summons shall be complete on the day of the last publication. A copy of the complaint may be obtained from the clerk of the court.

If you fail to file your answer or other response to the complaint in writing within 35 days after the date of the last publication, judgment by default may be rendered against you by the court for the relief demanded in the complaint without further notice.

This is an action of foreclosure pursuant to Rule 105, C.R.C.P. to the real property situate in Denver, Colorado more particularly described as Condominium Unit 213, TOWNE SQUARE LOFTS, City and County of Denver, State of Colorado.

Dated: February 6, 2024.

ORTEN CAVANAGH HOLMES & HUNT,

By:/s/ Hal R. Kyles

Hal R. Kyles, #23891

This Summons is issued pursuant to Rule 4(g), Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure.

Legal Notice No. DHD 272

First Publication: February 15, 2024

Last Publication: March 14, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Misc. Private Legals

Public Notice

TO: ASHLEY GONZALES:

You are notified that you have 10 days after publication for this notice of levy to file your claim of exemption with the District Court of DENVER, 1437 Bannock, Room 256 Denver, CO 80202, in Case 2022CV032514 entitled: URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD MILE HIGH, LLC, d/b/a VESTY PARK, d/b/a LARAMAR, f/d/a THE OVERLOOK @ MILE HIGH vs. ASHLEY GONZALES, a/k/a ASHLEY JUSNITA GONZALES, a/k/a ASHLEY J. GONZALES, a/k/a ASHLEY L. GONZALES $589.12 garnished at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 9000 E. Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO 80010.

Legal Notice No. DHD113

First Publication: February 15, 2024

Last Publication: March 14, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

SYNOPSIS OF ANNUAL STATEMENT FOR PUBLICATION

Required pursuant to §10-3-109(1), C.R.S FOR YEAR 2023

FAILURE TO FILE THIS FORM BY MARCH 1 WILL RESULT IN PENALTIES PURSUANT TO §10-3-109(3), C.R.S.:

If any annual report or statement from any entity regulated by the Division of Insurance is not filed by the date specified by law or by rules and regulations of the commissioner, the commissioner may assess a penalty of up to one hundred dollars per day for each day after the date an annual statement or report is due from any such entity.

Corporate Name: Securian Casualty Company

NAIC Number: 10054

Address: 400 Robert Street North St. Paul, MN 55101-2098

Assets: $644,417,933

Liabilities: $430,588,905

Capital and Surplus/Policyholder Surplus: $213,829,028

DIVISION OF INSURANCE CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

THIS IS TO CERTIFY that the Securian Casualty Company , organized under the laws of Mi nnesota, subject to its Articles of Incorporation or other fundamental organizational documents and in consideration of its compliance with the laws of Colorado, is hereby licensed to transact business as a Property & Casualty insurance company, as provided by the Insurance Laws of Colorado, as amended, so long as the insurer continues to conform to the authority granted by its Certificate and its corporate articles, or its Certificate is otherwise revoked, canceled or suspended.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the official seal of my office to be affixed at the City and County of Denver this first day of February 2024.

Michael Conway

Commissioner of Insurance

Legal Notice No. DHD284

First Publication: February 29, 2024

Last Publication: March 21, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Storage Liens/Vehicle Titles

Public Notice

Dodge Ram Pickup Black 1C6RR7MT8DS566418

2)2005 Jeep Cherokee Silver 1J8HR58235C614454

3)1994 Chevy Pickup Black 2GCEK19K5R1209276

4)1994 Ford white 1FMDU34X7RUE06325

TKO Towing LLC 2810 W 62nd Ave Denver, CO 80221 (303)520-2404

Legal Notice No. DHD283

First Publication: February 29, 2024

Last Publication: February 29, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

Broncos Towing, 303-722-3555 ( Office ) will be applying for title to the following vehicles, Abandoned.

1)1984 boat & trailer blue & white 218059

2)1975 pop up camper white 921628

Legal Notice No. DHD401

First Publication: February 22, 2024

Last Publication: March 14, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Notice to Creditors

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Ann F. Andersen, Deceased

Case Number: 2024 PR 031040

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before July 10, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Todd Mackintosh PO Box 200782 Denver, Colorado 80220

Legal Notice No. DHD285

First Publication: February 29, 2024

Last Publication: March 14, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Victor Maurice King, Deceased

Case Number: 2024 PR 000196

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before June 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Beckie Lyn Trujillo

Personal Representative

c/o Pearman Law Firm 4195 Wadsworth Blvd Wheat Ridge CO 80033

Legal Notice No. DHD276

First Publication: February 15, 2024

Last Publication: February 29, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Public Notices

Estate of Benita Marie Guzman, a.k.a. Benita M. Guzman, Deceased

Case Number: 2024 PR 30047

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before June 21, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Douglas Guzman

Personal Representative

3238 Arapahoe Street Denver, CO 80205

Legal Notice No. DHD273

First Publication: February 15, 2024

Last Publication: February 29, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of HELEN BONSON HOPKINS, a/k/a HELEN B. HOPKINS, a/k/a HELEN HOPKINS, Deceased

Case Number: 2023PR31485

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before Monday, June 24, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Renee Murray, Personal Representative

1243 South Williams Street Denver, CO 80210

Legal Notice No. DHD278

First Publication: February 22, 2024

Last Publication: March 7, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Shayla Abood, a/k/a Shayla Cohen Abood and Shayla C. Abood, Deceased

Case Number: 2024 PR 30029

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before June 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Alonit Katzman, Personal Representative

c/o Law Office of Byron K. Hammond, LLC

4500 Cherry Creek Drive South Suite 960 Denver, CO 80246

Legal Notice No. DHD271

First Publication: February 15, 2024

Last Publication: February 29, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

VIVIAN L. MONTAGUE, aka VIVIAN LAVONNE MONTAGUE, Deceased

Case Number: 2024PR30087

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before June 22, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

David E. Montague, Personal Representative 2808 S. Lowell Blvd. Denver, CO 80236

Legal Notice No. DHD280

First Publication: February 22, 2024

Last Publication: March 7, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Kalim Shawn Yaqub, a/k/a Kalim S. Yaqub, a/k/a Kalim Yaqub, Deceased

Case Number: 2024PR30094

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before Monday, June 24, 2024 or the claims may be forever barred.

Parveen Payara, Personal Representative

c/o Arlene S. Barringer, Esq. Glatstein & O’Brien, LLP 2696 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 350 Denver, Colorado 80222

Legal Notice No. DHD279

First Publication: February 22, 2024

Last Publication: March 7, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Anthony Joseph Gagliardi, Deceased

Case Number 2023PR483

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before June 29, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Frederick “Rick” Gagliardi, Personal Representative of the estate of Anthony Joseph Gagliardi

c/o Atty Megan Jury Robinson & Henry PC 7555 E Hampden Ave #600 Denver, CO 80231

Legal Notice No. DHD2070

First Publication: February 29, 2024

Last Publication: March 14, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of JAMES ELDON DICK

aka JAMES E. DICK

aka JAMES DICK, Deceased

Case Number: 2024 PR 30019

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before June 17, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

NADYA VECCHIET-LAMBERT, ESQ.

On behalf of Dan J. Halvorson, Personal Representative 6855 South Havana Street, Suite #370 Centennial, CO 80112 (303) 734-7131

Legal Notice No. DHD275

First Publication: February 15, 2024

Last Publication: February 29, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of ROBERT E. DELINE a/k/a ROBERT EDWIN DELINE, Deceased

Case Number: 2024 PR 30031

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before June 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

THOMAS C. DELINE, co-Personal Representative 25 S. Ivy Street Denver, CO 80224

ROBERT H. DELINE, co-Personal Representative 5701 E. 6th Ave Pkwy Denver, CO 80220

Legal Notice No. DHD274

First Publication: February 15, 2024

Last Publication: February 29, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Larry L. Boroff, a/k/a Larry Boroff and Larry Boroff Jr., Deceased

Case Number: 2024 PR 30060

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before June 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Saconna Blair

Personal Representative

c/o Law Office of Byron K. Hammond, LLC

4500 Cherry Creek Drive South

Suite 960 Denver, CO 80246

Legal Notice No. DHD270

First Publication: February 15, 2024

Last Publication: February 29, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of MARION J. TONGISH, aka MARION JOHN TONGISH, Deceased

Case Number: 2024 PR 30063

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before June 22, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Baysore & Christian Fiduciary Services, LLC

Personal Representative

7000 E Belleview Ave, Suite 150 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Legal Notice No. DHD282

First Publication: February 22, 2024

Last Publication: March 7, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Timothy P. Watson, a/k/a Timothy Patton Watson, a/k/a Timothy Watson, a/k/a Tim P. Watson, a/k/a Tim Patton Watson, a/k/a Tim Watson, Deceased

Case Number: 2024 PR 31583

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before June 22, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Elizabeth W. Duggan

Personal Representative

217 W. Hill Street Decatur, GA 30030

Legal Notice No. DHD281

First Publication: February 22, 2024

Last Publication: March 7, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Justin Hughes Rush, Deceased

Case Number: 2024PR30005

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before July 1, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Charles William Carroll

Public Notices

Personal Representative

c/o Weikel Law Firm LLC

1901 West Littleton Boulevard, Suite 208 Littleton CO 80120

Legal Notice No. DHD 2090

First Publication: February 29, 2024

Last Publication: March 14, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Eugene Vignerot, Deceased Case Number 2024PR30102

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before Monday, June 24, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Tamra A. Palmer

Attorney to the Personal Representative

c/o 6060 Greenwood Plaza Blvd #200 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Legal Notice No. DHD 277

First Publication: February 22, 2024

Last Publication: March 7, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of LURO JEAN HALE, aka LURO J. HALE, aka LURO HALE, Deceased

Case Number: 2023PR31398

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before June 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Jacobus L. Dietvorst

Personal Representative

c/o Nicole Andrzejewski

5347 S. Valentia Way, Ste. 335 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Legal Notice No. DHD 1030

First Publication: February 15, 2024

Last Publication: February 29, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of DALE GRANT, aka DALE ROBERT GRANT, aka DALE R. GRANT, aka D. ROBERT GRANT, aka D.R. GRANT, aka D. GRANT, Deceased

Case Number: 23PR698

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before Monday, June 17, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Kellie Adam of CS Advocare, Inc. Personal Representative

7500 E Arapahoe Rd., Suite# 101 Centennial, Colorado 80112

Legal Notice No. DHD 730

First Publication: February 15, 2024

Last Publication: February 29, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Virginia R. Abblett, Deceased

Case Number: 2023 PR 31487

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before July 1, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Don E. Watson, Attorney for Kathleen Beatty, Personal Representative

5753 S. Prince St., #637 Littleton, CO 80120

Legal Notice No. DHD3010

First Publication: February 29, 2024

Last Publication: March 14, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Dorothy Frances Lott, Deceased

Case Number: 2023 PR 31604

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before June 8, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Robyn Casias

Personal Representative

4738 S Ward Way Morrison, Colorado, 80465

Legal Notice No. DHD266

First Publication: February 8, 2024

Last Publication: February 22, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of CRAIG ANTHONY GLADEAU, aka CRAIG A. GLADEAU, aka CRAIG GLADEAU, Deceased

Case Number: 2024 PR 30036

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before June 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Anna Gladeau Eshbaugh and Troy Lee Williams

Co-Personal Representatives

c/o 3i Law, LLC

2000 S. Colorado Blvd. Tower 1, Suite 10000 Denver, CO 80222

Legal Notice No. DHD269

First Publication: February 15, 2024

Last Publication: February 29, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Maureen Shelton McGuire, a/k/a Maureen S. McGuire, a/k/a Maureen Alyce Shelton, Deceased

Case Number: 2024PR30001

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before Monday, June 17, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Sean T. McGuire, Personal Representa tive Davis Schilken, PC 7887 E. Belleview Ave., Suite 820 Denver, CO 80111

Legal Notice No. DHD 1001

First Publication: February 15, 2024

Last Publication: February 29, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Christopher Robert Guiver, AKA Christopher R. Guiver, AKA Christopher Guiver, AKA Chris Guiver, Deceased Case Number: 2024 PR 30084

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to pres ent them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before June 17, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Philip Todd Guiver

Personal Representative 7277 Independence Street Littleton, CO 80128

Legal Notice No. DHD268

First Publication: February 15, 2024

Last Publication: February 29, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Teresa Rushton, Deceased Case Number: 23PR666

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to pres ent them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before June 25th, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Michelle McDaniel, Personal Representative 1833 Williams St Apt 107

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