Denver Herald Dispatch April 4, 2024

Boxer Kenny Hill helps mentor ght Parkinson’s one jab at a time

Denver’s Tao of Boxing gym helps people combat symptoms of the disease

BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Kenny Hill was a troubled youth as he was growing up in Kansas. But one day, he met a man who turned his life around.

Butch Dillon and Hill got acquainted through the Boys & Girls Club, and the friendship grew when Dillon gave Hill an hourly gig detailing cars.

“He got me out of trouble,” Hill said of Dillon. “He inspired me to do better.”

Dillon and Hill remained close, the former serving as an adult role model and o ering advice as the latter grew up and eventually moved to Denver, earned a college degree and started a business.

In 2011, Hill was able to return the favor. Dillon had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. So Hill — a lifelong boxer who has garnered many accolades including threetime junior Olympic champion, a three-time Silver Glove champion and a Golden Glove champion — didn’t waste any time helping his friend in the best way that he knew how.

“Boxing is the No. 1 exercise that combats the movement symptoms,” Hill said.

Hill traveled to Indianapolis to get certi ed to coach people with Parkinson’s disease through a nonprofit called Rock Steady Boxing, which exists to “improve the quality of life of people with Parkinson’s disease through a non-contact, boxingbased tness curriculum.”

Volunteers scramble to help migrant families in Denver

BY JENNIFER BROWN THE COLORADO SUN

Volunteers were rescuing Venezuelan families with young children from sleeping outside as Denver has scaled back migrant services and the time people were allotted to stay in cityfunded hotel rooms expired.

e city, in response to complaints from volunteers that children were ending up outside, decided on a March afternoon to reopen a city building in Civic Center park to house migrant families with nowhere to sleep.

Denver Human Services ocials said they were rushing to reactivate the McNichols Building on Colfax Avenue, including sending sta and ordering meals.

e re-opening of the congregate shelter in a civic building meant for arts and culture was not part of the plan as the city scales down migrant services that have already cost $61 million. But Mayor Mike Jonhston and his sta have said multiple times that they would prevent kids from ending up on Denver streets.

“Nobody ever said this was going to be easy,” said Jon Ewing, spokesperson for Denver Human Services. “You are going to have families who haven’t gured it out yet. ere are a lot of factors competing against them. It’s not a problem of their own making.”

Kenny Hill, left, and Ryan Ehtessabian, who are business partners and boxers, operate a nonprofit called Movement by TOB, which o ers boxing training to people living with Parkinson’s disease and cancer.

PHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN

SEE BOXING, P2

Hill got Dillon set up with all the equipment, and every month, Hill designs a new boxing-based exercise routine for Dillon’s Parkinson’s symptoms.

“Taking instruction from Kenny (Hill) is just a joy,” Dillon said, adding that Hill is both enthusiastic and patient. “It has done wonders for living with Parkinson’s.”

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive and degenerative brain disorder that a ects a person’s muscle movement. While the disease itself is not fatal, its complications can be serious and greatly diminish quality of life. e most obvious motor, or movement, symptoms include tremors, slowing and sti ening movements.

“Half of boxing is footwork,” Hill said. is means participation in boxing can help with posture and balance. And likewise, using the arms for the punches and jabs in boxing also helps with the rigidity symptoms.

Aside from the movement symptoms that come with Parkinson’s, those living with the disease also suffer a wide range of non-movement symptoms that can include cognitive changes such as problems with attention, and mood disorders such as depression, anxiety and apathy.

Boxing can help with some of the mood disorders – particularly depression -- because it provides people living with the disease with an outing.

“It gets them out of their head for

a bit,” Hill said. “Someone is ghting the battle of their life, but they still leave here with a smile on their face.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 50%-80% of those living with Parkinson’s will eventually experience dementia as the disease progresses.

Boxing can also help with this, as the memorization work of learning a series of combination punches targets the cognitive symptoms.

“When they come in, they have doubts that they can do things, but when they walk out the door, they’re believing they can do them,” said Ryan Ehtessabian, Hill’s business partner. “It’s the little things – walking a dog or grocery shopping. ey can maintain an active lifestyle, even though they’re battling Parkinson’s symptoms.”

Tao of Boxing

Hill, 42, has been boxing since he was a young child. Being smaller in stature than the rest of the kids his age – he is 5-foot and 6-inches as an adult — Hill got bullied and picked on in school. So his dad got him involved with boxing.

“It ended up being the best thing for me,” he said.

Hill had dropped out of school as a youth, but with the mentorship he received from Dillon, he eventually moved to Colorado and pursued higher education. While in college, he obtained a job at the YMCA in downtown Denver and worked his way up, eventually founding its boxing program and becoming the program’s rst Black director. Later, he obtained a job as the boxing director of the Denver Athletic Club.

Hill, now a master trainer and box-

ing coach — who trains UFC ghters, professional boxers and amateur boxers alike — opened Tao of Boxing, 4416 E. 8th Ave. in Denver, in 2015. e gym had been o ering the Parkinson’s and cancer boxing training for a while, but was able to get the nonpro t arm, Movement by TOB — which provides boxing training for people living with Parkinson’s and cancer – o the ground in March 2021. It is governed by a ve-member board, and the nonpro t status allows Movement by TOB to accept donations so that it can provide the training for Parkinson’s and cancer patients to those who need it at low or no cost.

“I’ve been given an opportunity,” Hill said. “I have the skill set, and I want to help others. Being able to better their lives goes a long way.”

Ehtessabian, who has been with Tao of Boxing since 2018, recently moved to California and is opening a Tao of Boxing in Orange County. His grandfather had Parkinson’s disease when he died, and Ehtessabian expects Movement by TOB to be implemented in California as

well.

“Boxing brings out a level of challenge,” he said. “And the bene ts that come from that are incredible.”

Dillon couldn’t be prouder of his friend Hill, he said.

Living with Parkinson’s disease for about 13-14 years now, Dillon continues to do the boxing-based exercises that Hill designs for him about four times a week.

“Boxing is a wonderful combination of training and friendship,” Dillon said.

Hill agrees.

“It’s about giving people a path,” Hill said. “Not my path, but their path.”

To learn more about Tao of Boxing, visit taoofboxing.com. To learn more about the gym’s nonpro t arm, Movement by TOB, visit movementbytob.org.

Editor’s note: April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. To learn more about the disease, visit the Parkinson’s Foundation’s website (a national organization) at parkinson. org or the Parkinson Association of the Rockies at parkinsonrockies.org.

Kenny Hill of Denver, left, and Butch Dillon of Kansas in a 2014 photo.

COURTESY OF KENNY HILL

Ryan Ehtessabian, left, and Kenny Hill demonstrate how boxing can help alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

PHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN

EchoStar to sell Littleton DISH Network o ce

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

EchoStar Corp., which merged with DISH Network earlier this year, is planning to sell its Littleton property and then lease it back.

e property, located just west of downtown Littleton at 5701 S. Santa Fe Dr., is set to be sold for $26.75 million toCONX Corp., according to a March 11 ling with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONX Corp. is a special-purpose acquisition company founded by EchoStar and DISH founder Charlie Ergen.

New Law: Landlords Can’t Refuse to Rent to Tenants Who

A long-term “rule of thumb” has been that one shouldn’t have to spend more than 30% of their income on housing, but a legislative bill signed into law last June stipulates that landlords cannot refuse to rent to a tenant for whom their monthly rent would equal up to 50% of their income.

The National Council for Credit Counseling (www,nfcc.org) says, “The general rule of thumb is that housing costs should be no more than 30% of your gross income This includes rent or mortgage payments; homeowner association fees; and utilities like gas, electricity, water, and internet.”

to the refused tenant.

EchoStar Corp. plans to lease the property back for an initial term of 10 years with a base rent of $228,500 per month during the rst year, with that rate to increase 2% annually, according to the ling. ere will be two ve-year renewal options.

e parties anticipate the transaction will close in the second quarter of this year.

EchoStar’s 2023 year-end nancial results showed an approximately 8.6% decrease in total revenue compared to 2022, and DISH Network, a wholly-owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corp., has laid o more than 700 Colorado employees since November.

Are ‘Rent-Burdened’

The bill in question, SB23-184, is titled “Protections for Residential Tenants.” It states that “A landlord may not require a prospective tenant to have an annual income that exceeds 200% of the annual cost of rent.” That’s another way of saying 50% of one’s annual income. And that figure does not include utilities in that 50%.

A violation is also an unfair housing practice subject to enforcement by private persons, the attorney general, and the Colorado Civil Rights Division. A violation carries an initial penalty of $50 payable to the applicant, and failure to cure (i.e., accept the tenant’s application) carries a $2,500 penalty, again paid

This new law not only has small landlords upset, it also has some tenant advocates upset. They point out that HUD doesn’t allow renters to be “rent burdened” over 30%. HUD says on its website that the 30% rule is “meant to protect low-income households from extreme rental costs. High housing costs and high prices for basic necessities place a greater burden on poor households living in metropolitan areas. Measures of affordability should be reassessed to ensure that policymakers are decreasing rental burdens for poor households.”

Public housing authorities nationwide are prohibited from charging more than 30% of a tenant’s income for rent under federal fair housing laws.

Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver bases mortgage payments on 30% of the homeowner’s annual salary at time of applying for a Habitat home and does not increase the payment if and when the homeowner’s income increases.

On its website, HUD acknowledges contrary opinions about the 30% rule, noting that 30% of a $500,000 income leaves sufficient funds for other household costs, whereas 30% of a $20,000 annual income does not.

Rather than measuring affordability using a rent-to-income ratio, Michael Stone of the University of Massachusetts Boston recommends a residual income approach, which measures cost burden by calculating the money a family has left for housing after other expenditures such as food, clothing, and medical costs are taken into account.

SB23-184 has other landlord-tenant provisions. It prohibits charging more

than twice the monthly rent for a security deposit, and it allows an existing tenant subject to an eviction action, irrespective of the percentage of income paid in rent, to assert as an affirmative defense that the landlord violated fair housing laws by evicting him/her.

I have no opinion about whether SB23-184 was a good idea. There will probably be more debate about it in coming months. What’s your opinion?

Houzz Report Shows Increase in Home Renovation Spending

With sellers and buyers both sitting on the fence more than usual, thanks to increased mortgage rates, it’s not surprising that both are investing in improvements of their current home, and that’s reflected in this year’s home renovation trends report from Houzz.com.

Here are some of the key findings in their 2024 report published last week based on 32,615 website users, including 17,713 home renovators, who participated in a survey regarding their 2023 spending.

The median amount spent on renovation in 2023 was up 60% from 2020 to $24,000. The median spend in the 90th percentile was up 77% to $150,000.

In just one year, the percentage who financed their project using credit cards surged 9 percentage points to 38%.

Distressed Commercial Real Estate Loans a Red

It’s no secret that commercial real estate has been in trouble with the shift to at-home work following the pandemic’s abatement. The vacancy rates in office buildings is still too high for some landlords to meet their financial obligations.

The numbers behind that trend were released last week by Bloomberg, which wrote about stressed collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) which bundle debt that would be considered too speculative for conventional mortgage-backed securities (MBOs). You may recall that MBOs full of sub-

prime loans were central to the collapse of the housing market in 2008, triggering the “great recession.”

Below is a chart published by Bloom-

Distressed

Flag for Residential?

berg, which wrote: “In just the last seven months, the share of troubled assets held by these niche products surged four-fold — rising by one measure to more than 7.4%. For the hardest hit, delinquency rates are in the double digits. That’s left major players in the $80 billion market rushing to rework loans while short sellers ramp up attacks on publicly-traded issuers.”

Many leveraged properties can’t be sold for what they owe their lenders.

We proudly provide free use of this moving truck to our sellers and buyers, along with free moving boxes, bubble wrap and packing paper.

Non-profits and community organizations also put lots of free miles on it!

Gen Xers edged out Baby Boomers, as they did last year, with a median spend of $25,000 vs. $24,000. When it came to big projects, the top 10% of Gen X renovators had a median spend of $180,000 compared to $131,000 for Baby Boomers.

The most commonly renovated room continued to be the kitchen, followed by guest bathroom, primary bathroom and living room — 29, 27, 25 and 21 percent respectively. The median kitchen project cost $24,000 (up 20% over 2022), and median bath project cost $15,000 (up 15% over 2022).

Archive of Past Columns Is Online

Over the past two decades this column has appeared in the Denver Post, and during that time I’ve written about every conceivable topic related to real estate, You can search that archive, listed by headline and downloadable with a single click, at www.JimSmithColumns.com

“Concentrate on giving and the getting will take care of itself.” —Anonymous

Commercial Real Estate CLOs

DISH Network is a Colorado-based satellite television provider.

SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE

HELPING

e city is in the process of decreasing the number of hotels it has used to house migrants to three from seven, closing about one each week for four weeks. e third one closed as a city shelter in March.  And after a pause on hotel room time limits, the city is sticking to the policy of allowing adults to stay 14 days in city-funded hotel rooms while families have 42 days.

e number of migrants in cityfunded hotel rooms is now about 940, down from more than 4,500 in January. Hundreds of families have left hotels in the past month, and many have moved into apartments

with nancial help from nonpro ts.  Multiple families were stranded throughout Denver as they had to vacate hotel rooms.

e families sat in hotel lobbies, hoping that nonpro ts or Denver Human Services outreach workers would tell them where they could go. Hours passed, and the families began to panic, in some cases sending requests for help on Facebook pages created by grassroots volunteers.

Lydia Flynn runs a Facebook group to help migrants in northeastern Denver. She had 40 followers when she started it in October. Now, she has 1,400.

Flynn found a volunteer to pick up two of the families in di erent hotels, then drive them and their belongings to a McDonald’s, where

she met them and bought them dinner.

“We are talking about 9 p.m.,” she said. “It’s late. It’s cold. ese kids haven’t eaten.”

One family includes a 7-year-old and a pregnant woman. e other is a couple with a 3-year-old, and the father was just released from the hospital and his leg has an infection, Flynn said.

With no help from nonpro ts or the city, Flynn ended up paying for two hotel rooms. “I am eating spaghetti for the rest of the week,” she said. Flynn was advised by one local organization to take the families to an encampment, but she refused.

“I am not putting a pregnant mom in a tent,” she said. “I’m not putting kids in a tent.”

e only bright spot is that the families became fast friends and are now hoping to nd an apartment or a basement to rent together. What they want most are work permits, so they can legally nd jobs in Denver, Flynn said.

While Flynn was helping those two families, a city outreach worker was working late into the evening to nd temporary shelter for seven other families.

e city occasionally uses the McNichols Building as an emergency shelter for the chronically homeless population, including last week when Denver received about a foot of snow. e city also used the building as a shelter when it cleaned up a giant migrant en-

SEE HELPING, P5

HELPING

campment near Speer Boulevard and Zuni Street in January, o ering people in tents to hop on buses for a ride to the congregate shelter.  In late March, city outreach workers were trying to move about 50-60 people out of a migrant encampment in a parking lot at Elitch Gardens. Tents are lined up in the shadow of a roller coaster, and the amusement park is scheduled to open in April.

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.

An encampment filled with migrants lines a sidewalk at Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park on March 21, 2024. City outreach workers are trying to move the camp before the amusement park opens next month.

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

Leaders envision future of Arapahoe Community College

State system seeks input for new strategic plan

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Armed with sticky notes and markers, a group of people gathered in a large room at Arapahoe Community College.

Over the course of the evening, the attendees were asked to share what they think the college is doing well and what it could do better.

It was the third stop of a statewide listening tour led by the Colorado Community College System, which is seeking input as it develops a new strategic plan.

During the conversation at ACC, attendees shared a desire for more collaboration among colleges and highlighted the exible scheduling and personal support that ACC o ers its students. Attendees dis-

Heidi Taylor, a member of the Arapahoe Community College Foundation Board of Directors, shares her ideas with the group at the listening tour meeting on March 19. Jill Hawley from Gary Community Ventures listens.

PHOTO BY NINA JOSS

ACC is a magnet for students from Littleton and beyond. Almost half of its student body in fall 2022 resided in Douglas County, the most recent data available from the college’s institutional research report.

And over 26% of its students that semester lived in neighboring Arapahoe County. Another 12% were from Je erson County and other students even attended the school from as far away as Denver, Elbert, Adams, El Paso, Weld, Boulder and Park counties.

CCCS’s team, along with facilitators hired for the event, met with students and employees during the day on March 18. In the evening, they broke out the sticky notes and pens for ACC’s community partners.

Attendees included industry partners that run apprenticeship programs, as well as representatives from local nonpro ts, schools and workforce programs. Several ACC and CCCS board members and sta and a Littleton resident also attended.

Several industry partners said they were happy with ACC’s willingness to create programs and collaborations based on what industry partners want.

Jaime Pearson from CommonSpirit Health Mountain Region said ACC sta was instrumental in developing the company’s Medical Assistant apprenticeship program, which helped ll the healthcare group’s need for people in that role.

“ ey took the lead at that time, based on what we were needing as employers,” she said.

Todd Lambert, superintendent at Littleton Public Schools, said he hears many stories from parents who say the college helped their children navigate obstacles, challenges and unique circumstances.

“ ere’s a thread there for us that we hear coming back through, which is … Man, are they appreciative that someone took an interest in their kids,” he said.

Several attendees also spoke highly of the college’s exible scheduling, which makes it possible for students to take classes on top of full-time jobs and/or parenting responsibilities. e college also got praise for helping students in need.

“ is school cares about its students enough to have scholarships and get grants to provide scholarships,” Patrick Holwell from Arapahoe/Douglas Works Workforce Center said. “If the kids are hungry, they have a food bank. is is huge,

cutting edge, of being on the forefront,” she said. “It feels, in the way you read it, as kind of the same and sort of responsive — as opposed to pushing, leading, cutting edge, forward.”

ACC President Stephanie Fujii said the listening session is valuable not only for the overall system, but for the college.

“(We) appreciate your involvement, your engagement, your expertise and your willingness to come and share,” she said.

e CCCS listening tour will continue through the end of April, visiting each community college in the system.

A publication of

because life gets in the way sometimes of your education.”

When discussing how the CCCS could improve its operations and service, creating more system-wide programming was a common theme. Every community college in the state has different resources and o ers di erent programs, several industry partners said. In some cases, this makes it challenging for them to partner with the right programs, because they may be physically far away.

Stephen Shepard from the Denver Metro Building Owners and Managers Association suggested using virtual tools to share curriculum between and across the colleges.

“I think there’s this economy of scale that can happen if the curriculum at the 13 community colleges is the ‘curriculum of community college’ — and no matter which one is your home base, you can plug in to some of these to make it

a more robust experience,” he said.

Holwell said this type of collaboration across the colleges would especially bene t students in rural communities, who often have to leave their areas to nd speci c educational programs.

Julie Beggs, the vice president of economic mobility and workforce innovation at ACC, said this type of crosscollege collaboration would require adjustments innancial models to incentivize it.

CCCS board member Karen McNeil-Miller agreed. “ e nancial model and budgeting and planning model would have to completely change,” she said.

For example, if several students from Pueblo Community College took a class virtually at ACC, Pueblo would get the revenue from the student’s tuition, but ACC would carry the cost of the instructor.

Regarding economic mobility, Sasha Easton from Arapahoe/Douglas Works

Workforce Center said it’s important to ensure those who are on public assistance at ACC are aware of the “cli e ect,” which is the sudden decrease in public bene ts that can occur with an increase in earnings, as de ned by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

“ ere’s a lot of tools available … but just so we’re not setting the students up for failure as they embark on a new career pathway,” she said.

Jill Hawley, Vice President of Philanthropy at a philanthropy organization called Gary Community Ventures, said the strategic plan should mention innovation. e draft guiding principles for the CCCS strategic plan focus on economic mobility, education for all, the colleges being a “partner of choice,” the “power of 13” colleges and empowered talent.

“When you read those ve principles, it misses this idea of innovation, of

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Laura Reinhold, a member of the Arapahoe Community College Foundation Board of Directors, writes her ideas on a sticky note at the listening tour meeting on March 19.

PHOTO BY NINA JOSS

Littleton Public Schools Superintendent Todd Lambert shares ideas with a small group, including Arapahoe Community College Foundation Board of Directors member Heidi Taylor, at the listening tour meeting on March 19.

PHOTO BY NINA JOSS

In a world seemingly driven by self-interest and personal gain, one might wonder: Is altruism still alive? Has the essence of sel essness faded away amidst the chaos of modern society? ese questions loom large, prompting us to re ect on the nature of human kindness and compassion in an era often characterized by individualism, the need for instant grati cation, and personal and professional competition.

Altruism, at its core, is the act of sel essly helping others without expecting anything in return. It’s a fundamental aspect of human nature that has been celebrated and debated throughout history. From ancient philosophical teachings to modern psychological studies, the concept of altruism has fascinated thinkers and scholars alike.

However, in today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, the prevalence of altruism seems to be increasingly questioned. Skeptics argue that self-interest and personal gain drive much of human behavior, overshadowing acts of genuine kindness and compassion. Indeed, with the rise of social media and the glori cation of material wealth, altruism can sometimes feel like a quaint relic of the past, overshadowed by a culture of narcissism and self-promotion.

Yet, despite these challenges, examples of altruism continue to emerge, o ering glimpses of hope and inspiration. From individuals donating their time and resources to volunteer organizations work-

ing tirelessly to uplift marginalized communities, acts of altruism are still woven into the fabric of our society, albeit often overshadowed by more sensationalized news stories.

Is altruism still alive? WINNING that

Research in psychology and neuroscience suggests that humans are inherently wired for empathy and cooperation. Studies have shown that acts of kindness trigger the release of oxytocin, a hormone associated with bonding and trust, suggesting that altruism may be deeply ingrained in our evolutionary biology. Experiments like the famous “prisoner’s dilemma” demonstrate that cooperation and mutual bene t often prevail over sel shness in social interactions.

However, the landscape of altruism has undoubtedly evolved in response to the challenges of the modern world. In an age when global crises like climate change and social inequality loom large, altruism is increasingly being rede ned on a larger scale. Movements advocating for environmental conservation, human rights, and social justice are fueled by the collective e orts of individuals united by a shared sense of altruistic purpose.

Technology has transformed the way we practice altruism, enabling us to connect with and support causes on a global scale. Crowdfunding platforms allow individuals

to contribute to charitable projects and disaster relief e orts with the click of a button, democratizing philanthropy and empowering ordinary people to make a di erence. Yet, for altruism to thrive in the 21st century, it must contend with formidable obstacles, including cynicism and apathy.

e commodi cation of altruism, where acts of kindness are often exploited for personal gain or corporate branding, risks diluting its genuine essence. In an age where virtue signaling and performative activism abound, discerning genuine altruism from mere token gestures can be a daunting task.

However, despite these challenges, the spirit of altruism endures, fueled

by the innate human desire to connect, empathize, and uplift one another. Whether it’s the neighbor who volunteers at a local food bank, the activist ghting for social change, or the stranger who o ers a helping hand in times of need, acts of altruism remind us of the power of compassion to transcend barriers and unite us in our shared humanity. So, is altruism still alive in a selfcentric world? e answer lies not in grand gestures or lofty ideals but in the everyday kindnesses that dene our interactions and shape our communities. While the forces of individualism and self-interest may sometimes seem overwhelming,

SEE NORTON, P9

Black bears: From hibernation to hungry encounters

As black bears rouse from their winter hibernation, typically in April, a pivotal phase unfolds, marked by their gradual awakening and the necessity to kickstart their metabolism. During this period, bears actively seek tender new vegetation emerging in spring, gradually shifting their diet to include grasses and other greenery—vital for revitalizing their systems. As the season progresses, the forest becomes abundant with young and vulnerable wildlife, o ering an additional source of nourishment for these omnivores.

is sets the stage for heightened bear activity as they navigate their surroundings in search of sustenance, impacting both natural habitats and human settlements. Understanding and addressing this phase in the bear’s annual cycle is crucial for e ective wildlife management and con ict prevention.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife shoulders the responsibility of managing black bears. In 2023 alone, CPW district wildlife managers, also known as wildlife o cers, responded to over 3,500 bear-related calls and complaints, underscoring the signi cance of wildlife management in

their responsibilities. With well over 100 wildlife districts in Colorado, the substantial time dedicated to bear and lion management becomes evident. Bear-related issues, ranging from trash and bird feeders to livestock depredations, car break-ins, and dwelling or garage break-ins, including attacks, are often rooted in the food sources that attract bears. Addressing these underlying causes becomes imperative.

Renowned for their intelligence and perpetual hunger, bears encounter challenges nding food as they emerge from hibernation, initially targeting tender vegetation and subsequently transitioning to hunting young wildlife such as deer fawns and elk calves.

In times of abundant natural forage, bears are less likely to turn to arti cial food sources. However, during food shortages, bears become more creative, venturing into human settlements for calories. Requiring 20,000 calories a day to survive winter, bears are driven to highcalorie locations, such as houses, alleys, and trash dumps, despite the increased risks.

e root cause of bear issues lies in human behavior rather than the bears themselves. Failure to

diligently clean up attractants, like trash cans and hummingbird feeders, exacerbates the problem. Seemingly innocent actions, such as leaving these items out overnight, can quickly escalate, turning a bear into a potential threat that breaks into cars and homes, posing risks to human safety. Most bear attacks are traced back to trash or attractants left out by individuals neglecting responsible practices.

Contrary to misconceptions, CPW values bears, and the di cult decision to relocate or euthanize “problem” bears arises from human actions. CPW wildlife o cers are dedicated to protecting the public and managing wildlife. Unfortunately, the necessity of euthanizing bears stems from learned behaviors caused by human actions. Addressing this complex issue requires public cooperation to nd viable solutions.

CPW grapples with two main challenges in addressing bear con icts: inadequate reporting of con icts and the public’s reluctance to heed CPW employees’ advice. Often, people only report bear con icts when it’s too late for preventive measures. Proactive public engagement is crucial to informing CPW about poten-

tial issues, such as problematic trash, before bear behavior escalates. Cooperation and understanding are essential for reducing con icts with bears and nding long-term solutions to this complex issue.

If you would like to get in touch with your local Wildlife O cer regarding wildlife violations, habitat projects, educational program opportunities, or other wildlife concerns and incidents, contact CPW’s Northeast Region Service Center during normal business hours at 303-291-7227.

If you would like to report a wildlife incident and it is outside of normal business hours, please contact Colorado State Patrol’s Non-Emergency Dispatch at 303-239-4501 or *CSP (*277), and a Wildlife O cer will be in touch.

If you would like to report a wildlife violation, on record or anonymously, please contact Colorado Operation Game ief at 1-877-COLO-OGT (1-877-265-6648).

Contributors to this column included Wildlife O cers Jacob Sonberg, Scott Murdoch and Philip Sorensen; Area Wildlife Managers Mark Lamb and Matt Martinez; and CPW NE Region PIO Kara Van Hoose.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Help the Washington Park Early Learning Center relocate

Washington Park Early Learning Center has been an educational landmark of the Wash Park community for over 50 years, serving its youngest neighbors from down the street and others throughout the Denver area. WPELC is a welcoming, community-based cooperative preschool that thrives on relationships, connection and a play-based model of education. Recently, WPELC was informed that it will need to relocate due to the sale of the property that has housed the school for the last 10 years.

Currently located at 400 S. Williams St., WPELC is in its nal

NORTON

the resilience of the human spirit and the inherent goodness within each of us o er hope for a future where altruism continues to thrive, illuminating the path towards a more compassionate world.

school year at Wash Park United Church of Christ. A new property to house the school has been identi ed in Platt Park, but it comes with its own challenges. e new space requires signi cant updates and must comply with a myriad of complicated code and licensing requirements to provide a safe and appropriate school environment. With this comes excessive costs that a small, nonpro t cooperative will struggle to meet.

Mandatory relocation is a signi cant challenge and has understandably created anxiety and concern among parents of current students who have come to love and rely on the support of WPELC. As our neighborhood continues

would it look like if we actually lived out that spirit of helpfulness? I would love to hear your story or thoughts on altruism at gotonorton@gmail. com and when we can simply help others without expecting anything in return, it really will be a better than good life.

to see change and growth, this positive evolution is also coupled with the loss of business and community trademarks. WPELC was founded by a group of parents in 1973 who wanted to share in the joy of early childhood education, develop a support network of likeminded individuals and keep the neighborhood feeling like just that: a neighborhood.

In order for WPELC to successfully move and open its doors to future generations of preschoolers, we are seeking monetary support from the same community that has continually wrapped its arms around us during di cult times of transition. Donations can be made by visiting Washington Park Early

Learning Center’s Colorado Gives page at the following website: https://www.coloradogives.org/ story/QJVY5G.

Taxpayers who make a qualifying monetary contribution to promote child care in Colorado may claim an income tax credit of 50% of the total qualifying contribution. To learn more, visit https:// tax.colorado.gov/sites/tax/ les/ Income%2035.pdf.

For additional information on the school’s relocation and how to support it, contact director Kristi Franko at kristi@wpelc.org.

e Washington Park Early Learning CenterRelocation Committee: Kristi Franko, Kelly Strong and Lisa Hollerbach

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. FROM PAGE 8

What if we all asked ourselves one simple question each day, “How can I help someone or be a di erence maker today?” And then, what

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spring can be a great time to cleanse and declutter your spaces — both physical and mental — and set yourself up for a great season ahead.

Clean space, happy mind

Local cleaning service provider

Lindsay Buck said her team sees an increase in demand in the springtime. She owns Bucket & Shine, which provides one-time and recurring cleaning services to homes in the northwest Denver metro area.

“We de nitely see an uptick in the one-time deep cleanings” in the spring, she said.

Buck said she thinks people want their houses clean after they’ve been “cooped up” inside them all winter. She said having a clean home can also improve mental health, which people might desire as the new season begins.

“A clean space equals a happy mind,” she said. “When you walk into a room that’s all cluttered … it makes you feel a little bit overwhelmed, closed-in, anxious.”

A writer from the 19th century, Susan Fenimore Cooper, agreed about this freshening bene t of “the great spring house cleaning.”

In her 1850 novel “Rural Hours,” she described the spring cleaning process, which some researchers say was common in those days to rid homes of dust and grime from a long winter. Wood and coal-burning stoves were common, which left layers of lth to be cleaned come spring.

“Topsy-turvy is the order of the day,” Cooper wrote, describing curtains and carpets hanging out of doors, beds in the hallway, chairs upside down and the ceiling “in possession of the white-wash brush.”

But despite calling house cleaning one of “the necessary evils of life,” Cooper highlighted its mental reward.

“It must be confessed, however, that after the great turmoil is over — when the week, or fortnight, or three weeks of scrubbing, scouring, drenching are passed, there is a moment of delightful repose in a family,” she wrote. “ ere is a refreshing consciousness that all is sweet and clean from garret to cellar; there is a purity in the neighborhood.”

Cooper’s experience is backed by experts, like Dr. Jaya Kumar, the chief medical o cer at Swedish Medical Center, who says cleaning can have a positive impact on one’s mental health.

Local experts explain physical, mental and emotional benefits of cleaning as springtime arrives

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As the sun comes out and plants begin to bloom, springtime brings symbols of rebirth and a fresh start. For many, this means opening the windows and getting to work dusting, scrubbing, wiping and vacuuming their homes.

With ties to several cultural and religious traditions, spring cleaning provides an opportunity for people to cleanse and declutter.

In Jewish custom, families clean

their homes to eliminate any remnants of leavened bread, or chametz, to prepare for Passover. Ancient Catholic tradition dedicates the three days after Palm Sunday to a comprehensive home cleaning in preparation for Easter.

Deep cleaning the house is a tradition leading up to the Lunar New Year, sometimes known as the Spring Festival in China, to sweep out disease and bad luck before the new year.

And, in the weeks leading up to the Persian or Iranian New Year,

Nowruz — which falls on the spring equinox — families practice a deepcleaning tradition called kh netak n . Translated to English, the practice is called “shaking the house” and involves more than just physical bene ts.

“Just as one cleans one’s place of residence from dirt and debris, one should also clean the inner self from all impurities to prepare for a better life in the New Year,” journalist Leila Imeni wrote in Iran Daily.

In the eyes of health and cleaning experts,

Kumar said some studies have shown that having a clean space can help reduce anxiety and stress, improve concentration and make people sleep better.

“For some people, the act of cleaning helps them destress,” she added. “It’s like a focused work — when doing something, it helps them destress and let go of other thoughts.”

Health and cleanliness

Kumar said cleaning also provides physical health bene ts, especially in the spring.

“You’ve accumulated dust, mold, mildew and dander all over your house because you haven’t ventilated much — everything is closed during winter,” she said. “All of that kind of piles up and causes allergies,

Several cleaning products sold at Refillary.

PHOTO COURTESY OF REFILLARY

asthma and respiratory problems, and that process of cleaning would help with some of that.”

Having a lot of clutter in the house can also create opportunities for accidents, Kumar said, so picking up and organizing one’s home can keep it safer.

“We, at the hospital, really see a lot of elderly falls,” she said. “I can’t tell you enough how important it is to have your house decluttered when you have elderly (individuals) around.”

Kumar said the trauma center at Swedish Medical Center receives many older patients su ering hip fractures from trip-induced falls. Reducing clutter also reduces opportunities for kids to ingest or choke on objects, she said.

Beyond eliminating dust and clutter, Kumar said cleaning is important to maintain a germ-free environment.

“Just having those high-touch surface areas clean by wiping away (germs) will be helpful,” she said, especially with the u, RSV and COVID going around.

e cleaning process also requires movement, which can be good exercise and boost endorphins, Kumar said.

“If you are doing rigorous cleaning, like mopping, vacuuming — even if you do it for 30 minutes, you’ve burnt around 100 calories,” she said.

When cleaning, Kumar said it is important to be careful about what products a person uses. Some cleaning agents can cause nose and throat irritation or respiratory problems, she said.

People can check the safety of products on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “Safer Choice” website, she said. Also, it’s important to ventilate while cleaning.

Some shops, like Re llary in Parker, center their business around providing clean products that are non-carcinogenic and not bad for the planet. Adrienne Grolbert started the low-waste, re ll company in 2022, where she sells household and cosmetic

“Our take on cleaning is that it shouldn’t be bad for you, or for your house or for the planet,” she said. “All of our household cleansers and our laundry detergents, dish soaps and everything else you need to keep a tidy home fall into that. ey don’t have nasty ingredients, they’re not going to cause you cancer, they’re not going to kill the sh.”

Grolbert sells many cleaners, including single-ingredient cleaners like vinegar, baking soda and citric acid, in customizable quantities so people can re ll containers to reduce the use of plastic. She also sells reusable cleaning tools to replace single-use sponges and paper towels.

Cleaning the mind and heart

Beyond physical cleaning, some say springtime o ers an opportunity for re ection and self-care.

JaLisa Williams, a social worker, clinician and Metro State University of Denver professor, said a lot of people notice that their homes get messier when there is a lot on their minds. is shows how our internal experience can be replicated in our external environments, she said.

e spring re ects the start of the new year in many cultures, Williams said, including communities that follow the astrological calendar. As the new year begins, it’s a good time to re ect on and cleanse mental and emotional spaces, she said.

“We’re going into this new year, but you still have a lot of old mental and emotional baggage,” she said. “So, how do you actually create a full balance, so you can come in actually clean and ready to enter the new year and to be lled with other things?”

Williams recommends rest as one way to “clean” the internal space.

“If our brains are always going, our bodies are always trying to go, we are unable to actually tap into what is happening in our internal space,” she said.

Mindfulness practices like yoga, meditation tai chi and walking are also great ways to empty the mind and cultivate inner peace to approach change and hardship, she said.

“I think self-care has been a hot topic concept for the last few years, and I think (we’ve) wrapped it up into facials and vacation,” she said. “But in reality, that self-care is very deep work. When we are thinking about how can we integrate mindfulness, it’s because we’re trying to create this sense of peace or empowerment, so then we can actually navigate the things that are pressuring us.”

Cultivating a community you care about — and leaning on it — is another way to clean your inner self, Williams said.

“Are these people bringing out the best in me? Am I bringing out the best in them?” she said.

In some cases, cultivating a “clean” community for a person could mean having hard conversations, letting relationships go or showing appreciation, Williams added.

For those who choose to clean their homes this spring, Williams said to take it space by space, room by room, be gentle with yourself and lean on community members for support if needed.

A bathtub in a home, before (left) and after (right) being cleaned by sta from Bucket & Shine.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BUCKET & SHINE

o ers household cleaners and other products for customers to refill their own containers.

COURTESY OF REFILLARY

A sparkling kitchen after Bucket & Shine employees finished cleaning it.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BUCKET & SHINE

RTD schedule interruptions arriving late May

BY JOE CARABELLO

SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

RTD announced schedule changes that will be e ective as of May 26. e changes are in the proposal stage, and will be nalized following the next meeting that concerns its Downtown Reconstruction Project.  is project will provide upgrades to ve aging light rail intersections in downtown Denver – the Central Business District – and other maintenance needs in the metro-wide service areas. RTD initiated light rail service in central Denver 30 years ago, when it launched the L-line in 1994.

Other than suspending service on light rail line L through September 2024, service interruptions should be minimal. e L-line serves the Central Business District and terminates at 30th and Downing. Bus route 43 is an alternative to this light rail route. Light rail lines D and H also service the Central Business District and will be rerouted to Union Station.

ese interruptions will be o set by the temporary return of the Free Metro Ride, shuttling downtown passengers on 18th and 19th streets. is service is popular with riders from the east side of town traveling to Coors Field. e frequency will vary, depending on detour impacts. e Free Mall Ride, running from Union Station to Civic Center, will change from its current 4-5 minute frequency to 10 minutes.

According to its website, RTD’s upcoming Downtown Reconstruction Project is expected to increase reliability, improve on-time performance, address seasonal school adjustments and accommodate the downtown rail reconstruction project. is is Phase 1, and additional phases will occur in 2025.

Popular bus lines 0, which serves Broadway; 15, which serves East Colfax Avenue; 12, which serves Downing Street; and 24, which serves University Boulevard, should experience only minor disruptions. Seasonal ‘school tripper’ performance will be consistent with recent

summers, primarily a ecting routes 12 and 24.

Light rail riders from southeast Denver will experience reduced speeds and frequencies on the Eline during peak periods. Service intervals will be increased from 15-minute intervals to 30-minute intervals from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through ursday, and 60-minute intervals from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Ridership on the Eline decreased by 18.8% year-overyear from 2022 to 2023. D-line riders from the Broadway & I-25 station to the Central Business District should experience only minor disruptions.

“As tra c continues to worsen across the Denver metro area, RTD makes changes … to provide the most productive and e cient transit system,” states RTD on its web-

site. ese changes are initiated by analyzing tra c patterns, ridership trends, economic factors, operational resources and community feedback. RTD implements service changes three times a year.

RTD addresses equity issues affecting vulnerable populations, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Limitations of the resources available, operator equity and the ability to repair equipment are variables in uencing the scope and timeliness of proposed changes.

e Zero Fare for Youth under the age of 19 will stay in place until August 2024. Young riders need either a student ID or a driver’s license.

To provide feedback or for more information, riders can call 303-2992004 or send email to change@rtddenver.com. You can also sign up for Service Alerts via text message or email in RTD’s app.

RTD’s 15L bus heads through Denver eastbound on Colfax Avenue approaching Josephine Street on its way to the Aurora Metro Center. PHOTOS BY JOE CARABELLO

RTD’s 15L bus, which serves Colfax Avenue, makes its way eastbound near Denver East High School.

Thu 4/04

Rotating Tap Comedy @ Someplace Else Brewery @ 6pm

Marielle Kraft @ 6pm The Schoolhouse Theater, 19650 Main Street, Parker

Bent Barley Brewing CompanyPiney Creek, 15416 E Orchard Rd, Centennial

Art: Visual Perspectives 101 for Drawing (8-13yrs) @ 10pm

Apr 4th - Apr 18th

PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker

Fri 4/05

Cory Pearman Music @ 5pm

Jay_Martin @ 6pm Monolith Brewing, 1290 S Broadway, Den‐ver

Featured

Marty O'Reilly @ 7pm Swallow Hill, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver

The Suicide Machines @ 7pm Gothic Theatre, Englewood

Spinster w/ Marty O'Reilly @ 7pm

Swallow Hill Music Association, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver

Sun 4/07

Three Creeks Half Marathon @ 7am / $65-$110 4800 S. Dayton St., Englewood

Eric Golden

@ 5pm

Jordan Yewey @ 7pm Sinners & Saints, 221 Perry St, Castle Rock

Dirty Loops @ 7pm Gothic Theatre, Englewood

Dirty Loops @ 7pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Mon 4/08

Featured

Sat 4/06

The Pint Room, 2620 W Belleview Ave, Littleton

White Rose Motor Oil @ 8pm The Englewood Tavern, 4386 S Broadway, Englewood Breakfast Fly-In @ 8am / $12.95

Exploration Of Flight, 13005 Wings Way, Englewood. info@ wingsmuseum.org

Modern Swing Mondays 2024 @ 6pm / $10 Stampede, Aurora

Wed 4/10

DJ Rockstar Aaron: Forbidden Bingo Wednesdays - 'Bout Time Pub & Grub @ 7pm

Bout Time Pub & Grub, 3580 S Platte River Dr A, Sheridan

The Pint Room, 2620 W Belleview Ave, Littleton

Thu 4/11

TV Broken 3rd Eye Open: Denver CO, TV Broken ft Katie Skene @ 7pm Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

YS: Co-Ed Volleyball Camp 13-14 @ College View @ 10pm Apr 11th - May 2nd College View Recreation Center, 2525 S. Decatur St., Denver. 720-913-0654

YS: Co-Ed Soccer 5-6 @ Athmar @ 11pm Apr 11th - May 4th

Denver Parks and Recreation (ATH), 2680 W Mexico Ave., Denver. 720-913-0654

YS: Co-Ed Soccer 9-10 @ Harvard Gulch @ 11pm Apr 11th - May 4th

Denver Parks and Recreation (HVG), 550 E Iliff Ave., Denver. 720-913-0654

YS: Co-Ed Volleyball Camp 15-17 @ College View @ 11pm Apr 11th - May 2nd College View Recreation Center, 2525 S. Decatur St., Denver. 720-913-0654

Calendar information is provided by event organiz‐ers. All events are subject to change or cancella‐tion. This publication is not responsible for the ac‐curacy of the information contained in this calendar.

The best place to promote your events online and in print. Visit us @ https://littletonindependent.net/calendar powered by

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Abandoned Vehicles

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1HD1GDL15PY305726

2) 1952 Chevy Pickup (brown) 5KPD875

3) 2011 INTERNATIONAL DURASTAR (white) 1HTMMAAL2BH317497

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

Legal Notice No. DHD2065

First Publication: April 4, 2024

Last Publication: April 4, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Notice to Creditors

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Irene N. Heider, a/k/a Irene Nannette Heider, a/k/a Irene Heider, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR30193

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, July 22, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

RICHARD P. HEIDER

Personal Representative

3255 S. Saint Paul Street Denver, CO 80210

Legal Notice No. DHD2053

First Publication: March 21, 2024

Last Publication: April 4, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Priscilla Atencio-Sanders, Deceased

Case Number : 2024PR30305

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 August 5, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

R. Scott Fitzke,

Attorney for Personal Representatives

4 W. Dry Creek Circle, Ste 100 Littleton, CO 80120

Legal Notice No. DHD2068

First Publication: April 4, 2024

Last Publication: April 18, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

In the Matter of the Estate of: ROBERT THOMAS CHISHOLM, aka ROBERT T. CHISHOLM, aka BOB CHISHOLM, Deceased

Case Number: 2024-PR-30140

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Denver County, Colorado on or before Monday, July 29, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Dated this 18th day of March, 2024.

BRIAN CHISHOLM

Personal Representative to the Estate 1660 Willow Street Denver, CO 80220

Phone: (303)514-1137

Legal Notice No. DHD 2058

First Publication: March 28, 2024

Last Publication: April 11, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Scott Glenn Zoller, Deceased

Case Number: 2024PR30176

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 August 5, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Amy Zoller, Personal Representative 1464 Willow Court Goshen, IN 46528

Legal Notice No. DHD2069

First Publication: April 4, 2024

Last Publication: April 18, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Clarence B. Williams, a/k/a Clarence Buford Williams, Deceased

Case Number 2024 PR 30263

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, July 29, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Paul A. Williams, Personal Representative

C/O Joyner & Fewson, P.C. 3100 Arapahoe Ave. Ste. 410 Boulder, CO 80303

Legal Notice No. DHD2060

First Publication: March 28, 2024

Last Publication: April 11, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Martha Rebecca Espinoza, a/k/a Martha Rebbeca Espinoza, a/k/a Martha R. Espinoza, a/k/a Martha Espinoza, a/k/a Martha Rebecca Garcia, a/k/a Martha R. Garcia, a/k/a Martha Garcia, a/k/a Martha Rebecca Chavez, a/k/a Martha R. Chavez, a/k/a Martha Chavez, Deceased Case Number: 24PR30139

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 21, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Shirley A. Anaya, Personal Representative

c/o Rutherford Law Center 8795 Ralston Road, #115, Arvada, CO 80002

Legal Notice No. DHD2047

First Publication: March 21, 2024

Last Publication: April 4, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

JOHN A. LUND, aka JOHN ALAN LUND, aka JOHN LUND, aka JACK LUND, Deceased

Case Number: 2024PR30276

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 22, 2024 (date)*, or the claims may be forever barred.

Cheryl Penny, Personal Representative 4540 E. 24th Street Casper, Wyoming 82609

Legal Notice No. DHD2050

First Publication: March 21, 2024

Last Publication: April 4, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

Notice of Distribution of Funds:

In the Matter of Mohamed Nasreldin Mohamed Denver Probate Court Case No. 2024 PR30110

A hearing is scheduled for June 3, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. in the Denver District Courthouse located at 1437 Bannock Street, Room 230, Denver, Colorado 80202

Legal Notice No. DHD2066

First Publication: April 4, 2024

Last Publication: May 2, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Maureen H. Beekman, a/k/a Maureen Beekman, Deceased

Case Number: 2024PR30233

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 & County of Denver, Colorado or on or before Monday, July 29, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Douglas H. Beekman, Jr. Personal Representatve 1200 Humboldt St., #1204 Denver, CO 80218

Legal Notice No. DHD 2057

First Publication: March 28, 2024

Last Publication: April 11, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Michael Calascione, Deceased

Case Number: 2024PR030268

All persons having claims against the

Public Notices

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 21, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Name of Person Giving Notice:

Timothy Michael Calascione, Personal Representative

c/o Katherine Fontenot, Esq., Attorney for Personal Representative Robinson & Henry PC 7555 E Hampden Ave, #600 Denver, CO 80231

Legal Notice No. DHD2052

First Publication: March 21, 2024

Last Publication: April 4, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of ALVINO RICHARD GALLEGOS, JR.

Deceased

Case Number 2024 PR 30225

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 28, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Nicole R. Gallegos, Personal Representative

4787 Cody Street Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

Legal Notice No. DHD2062

First Publication: March 28, 2024

Last Publication: April 11, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Jason Michael Friedlander, a/k/a Jason Friedlander, a/k/a Jason M. Friedlander, Deceased

Case Number: 2023PR31645

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, July 29, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Robert Friedlander, Personal Representative

31787 Buffalo Park Road Evergreen, CO 80439

Legal Notice No. DHD2056

First Publication: March 28, 2024

Last Publication: April 11, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver County Probate Court, 1437 Bannock Street, Suite 230, Denver, Colorado 80202

on or before Monday, July 29, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

DeAnn Joy Eison, Personal Representative

11616 Shaffer Place, Unit S-102 Littleton, Colorado 80127 303-237-5020

Legal Notice No. DHD2063

First Publication: March 28, 2024

Last Publication: April 11, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Antonio Felipe Salazar, a/k/a Tony Phillip Salazar, a/k/a Tony P. Salazar, a/k/a Tony Salazar, Deceased

Case Number: 2024 PR 30040

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, August 5, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

John G. Salazar

Personal Representative

1526 S. Sherman St. Denver, CO 80210

Legal Notice No. DHD2071

First Publication: April 4, 2024

Last Publication: April 18, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Bruce Edward Longo, a/k/a Bruce E. Longo, a/k/a Bruce Longo, Deceased

Case Number: 2023 PR 31603

Estate of Donna Mae Hoger Steele, a/k/a Donna H. Steele, a/k/a Donna M. Steele, a/k/a Donna Mae H. Steele, a/k/a Donna M. Hoger Steele, a/k/a Donna M. H. Steele, a/k/a Donna Steele, Deceased. Case Number: 2024 PR 30218

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court, 1437 Bannock Street, Room 230, Denver, Colorado 80202. on or before August 6, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Dustin Parsons, Personal Representative

11616 Shaffer Place, Unit S-102 Littleton, Colorado 80127 303-237-5020

Legal Notice No. DHD2072

First Publication: April 4, 2024

Last Publication: April 18, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of RONALD J. WOODS, Deceased Case Number: 24PR30172

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, August 5, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Arthur Cabral Personal Representative c/o 6060 Greenwood Plaza Blvd #200 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Legal Notice No. DHD2067

First Publication: April 4, 2024

Last Publication: April 18, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of CHARLES PATRICK SZYMCZAK, a/k/a CHARLES P. SZYMCZAK, a/k/a CHARLES SZYMCZAK, DeceasedCase Number: 2023PR31341

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 21, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Mary Lynn Brinks, Personal Representative 1983 South Washington Street Denver, CO 80210

Legal Notice No. DHD2049

First Publication: March 21, 2024

Last Publication: April 4, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Gregg Pooley, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR30204

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, July 29, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Douglas Pooley, Personal Representative

8199 S. Madison Way Centennial, CO 80122

Legal Notice No. DHD 2061

First Publication: March 28, 2024

Last Publication: April 11, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatchv

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Charles Lee Whiton, De-

ceased

Case Number: 2024PR84

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 29, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Shannon Whiton, Personal Representative

718 Washington Ave N, Ste. 612 Minneapolis, MN 5540

Legal Notice No. DHD2059

First Publication: March 28, 2024

Last Publication: April 11, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of: Claire Ludlam Pitko, a/k/a Claire L. Pitko, a/k/a Claire Pitko, a/k/a Claire Natalie Ludlam, Deceased

Case Number: 2024PR30210

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 21, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Rose Mary Zapor, Esq.

Attorney to the Personal Representative 7475 W. 5th Ave Ste 202 Lakewood, CO 80226

Legal Notice No. DHD2054

First Publication: March 21, 2024

Last Publication: April 4, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

In the Matter of the Estate of: RONALD EUGENE CRAMER, aka RONALD E. CRAMER, aka RONALD CRAMER, aka RON CRAMER, Deceased

Case Number: 2023-PR-31504

All persons having claims against the Above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Denver County, Colorado on or before Monday, July 22, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Dated this11th day of March, 2024.

NANCY LEE BAKER-CRAMER

Personal Representative to the Estate 1245 S. Wolff Street Denver, CO 80219

Phone: (720) 987-8244

Legal Notice No. DHD2051

First Publication: March 21, 2024

Last Publication: April 4, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Castle Rock mom thankful after nearly losing son

A rare heart condition surprised doctors, family

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Megan Strothmann knew her pregnancy was di erent, but she never imagined her son would be diagnosed with a rare heart condition before he was born.

Megan was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which led her to see a specialist and have more ultrasounds than normal. At a growth scan last July, doctors noticed the baby’s heart rate was extremely low.

“ e fetal medicine doctor basically said, ‘Do not go home. I want you

to go straight to the Colorado Children’s Hospital,’” said Meghan.

On her way, she called her husband, Derek, and told him to meet her there with their kids. Once there, a cardiologist at the Colorado Fetal Care Center at Children’s Hospital con rmed the baby, who is now named Grayson, had heart block.

“Heart block is an interruption in the ow of electricity through the heart,” said Dr. Dustin Nash, a cardiologist. “ e upper chamber of the heart is usually in charge of how fast the heart beats. It looks like there was a blockage of that signal.”

In his case, his heart rate was 50-60 beats per minute, said Nash, which is much lower than the average 100180 beats per minute for a fetus at that stage. His heart wasn’t beating

Public Notices

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Janey Richard Wyatt, Deceased

Case Number 2023PR700

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Denver County, Colorado on or before Monday, August 5, or the claims may be forever barred.

Victor Wyatt, Personal Representative

c/o Timothy J. Parks 1999 Broadway, Suite 1400 Denver, CO 80202

frequently enough to get enough blood to all his organs.

At Children’s Hospital Colorado, Nash said they only see about ve to 10 children have heart block each year. And, that includes cases not only in Colorado, but also from nearby states – Montana, Wyoming, parts of Nebraska and New Mexico.

A common reason for heart block is that antibodies in the mother’s blood attacks the fetus’ conduction system. Or it can be due to an autoimmune reaction between the mother and the fetus’ developing heart.

However, Grayson’s was more uncommon. He had a rare genetic change that resulted in the condition.

“Grayson’s heart block in many ways is acting sort of like an iPhone

cable that only charges when you hold it at a certain angle,” said Nash.

Megan was immediately admitted to the Colorado Fetal Care Center and was scheduled to have a C-section on July 19, two months before Grayson’s due date.

As an electrophysiologist explained to the family that Grayson would need a pacemaker after he was born. Along the way, the family felt confusion and fear, but they regained some con dence after meeting a multidisciplinary team at the hospital.

“ ey were hopeful, but also preparing us for the worst because we didn’t know what he was going to be like,” said Megan.

Legal Notice No. DHD 2064

First Publication: April 4, 2024

Last Publication: April 18, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of: BARBARA ARMENDARIZ, a/k/a BARBARA ANNE ARMENDARIZ, a/k/a BARBARA A. ARMENDARIZ, a/k/a B. ARMENDARIZ, Deceased

Case Number: 2024PR30312

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, August 5, 2024, or the

claims may be forever barred.

Lynn Maedel, Personal Representative c/o M. Carl Glatstein, Esq. Glatstein & O’Brien, LLP 2696 S. Colorado Blvd., Ste 350 Denver, Colorado 80222

Legal Notice No. DHD2070

First Publication: April 4, 2024

Last Publication: April 18, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Wilhelmina G. Goldsborough, aka Wilhelmina Goldsborough, and Willy Goldsborough, Deceased

Case Number: 2024PR30170

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, July 22, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Roland P. Middelraad

Personal Representative

6590 E. Bethany Place

Denver, Colorado 80224

Legal Notice No. DHD2048

First Publication: March 21, 2024

Last Publication: April 4, 2024

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch ###

Denver Herald Dispatch April 4, 2024 * 3

THANKFUL

e medication given to Grayson through the uterus brought his heart rate up, allowing the C-section to be canceled.

A few days later, Derek was taking the kids home after celebrating their eldest daughter’s birthday when Megan’s lab work showed she was developing preeclampsia and the baby needed to be taken out.

“ ey wanted to do this before the preeclampsia got any worse,” said Megan. “Because that would have caused me to go to the adult campus next door and then all of the team members for him would not have been there.”

Just as physicians were called, so was Derek. As the Strothmanns entered the operating room, they were greeted by the multidisciplinary team of 30 specialists.

“My initial thought in that moment was, ‘ ey’ve thought of everything,’” said Megan. “ ere’s no way that my baby can’t make it.”

Grayson was given two doses of heart medication to increase his heart rate and allow doctors to avoid a procedure that would have meant placing a pacemaker in the baby before the birth.

As the doctor delivered the 4.5-pound baby, a small cry was heard, providing relief to the Strothmanns. However, a moment later, Derek said Grayson wasn’t breathing and for more than a minute, the team administered life-saving CPR.

“I don’t know who had to do that to a little ve pound baby, but somebody did and I will forever be thankful for them for saving his life,” said Megan.

Grayson’s lungs were too weak to put in the pacemaker that night. Yet in the days after his birth, Grayson’s heart was beating around 154 beats per minute. No one could answer why.

As Grayson turned ve days old, his heart rate began to decrease. So, he underwent a pacemaker surgery.

“ at was genuinely the longest three hours of both my husband’s and I’s life,” said Megan.

While most pacemakers are made for adults, Nash helped coordinate the use of a speci c pacemaker for small infants, the Pediatric IPG. If at any time the conduction in the heart

isn’t happening, the pacemaker kicks in.

After the procedure, the Strothmanns saw a glimmer of hope as they got to hold their son for the rst time since he’d been born.

“He was just like a little superhero to us,” said Megan.

After multiple blood transfusions, a few setbacks and 38 days in the hospital, the Strothmanns took Grayson home. Approaching his rst birthday, he “is eating like a champ” and has become a people person.

“He is a happy boy,” said Megan. “He is so fun and his brother and sister just adore him.”

Grayson Strothmann was born on July 22, 2023, with an uncommon heart condition. Nearly a year later, his parents describe him as “a happy boy” and “their little superhero.” PHOTO COURTESY OF MEGAN STROTHMANN

Megan Strothmann was admitted to the Colorado Fetal Care Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado in July 2023 where she underwent a c-section two months before her son’s due date. After being born, Grayson had to have a pacemaker put in to help his heart condition.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MEGAN STROTHMANN