The community-led project works to fill gaps in the city’s evolving cycling infrastructure
BY MERYL PHAIR
Washington Park’s East Florida Avenue is marked by “sharrows,” white bikes accompanied by two arrow lines painted on the pavement along routes shared by motorists and cyclists. While these routes might be a breeze for an experienced two-wheel commuter, for someone new to biking, using the mode of transportation to meet a friend or a kid biking to nearby Merrill Middle School, navigating
cars on shared bike routes can be a stressful and unsafe experience.
“ ere are studies that have been done where getting passed by a car raises your blood pressure,” said Avi Stopper as he crossed the street on his bike. As if on cue, a Rivian whizzed by. Continuing down the street, Stopper said there is a signi cant population of people in the Denver area who would utilize cycling as a mode of transportation if they weren’t deterred by speeding cars and buses.
To reach those folks, the founder of Bike Streets has led the charge on establishing a 500-mile Low-Stress Denver Bike Map that has been used a million times since 2018. Relying on a network of 45 “neighborhood captains” these cycling enthusiasts use local knowledge of neighborhoods to build out a network of quiet streets. is June, a Bike Streets
app was launched where users can plug destinations into a map that yields “low-stress” routes around the city.
Rather than taking Stopper down East Florida Avenue, the Bike Streets app directs him down Josephine and then Iowa. Blue lines on the app indicate quieter streets, broken up occasionally by red lines for major intersections where users may want to hop o their bikes and walk.
“ e idea behind Bike Streets is that we can as a community become organized to ride the same streets and make it possible for even more people to ride bikes wherever they want to,” Stopper said. “Nothing is worse than sitting in tra c and nothing is better than being active, outside and seeing di erent neighborhoods.”
Road to top of Mount Blue Sky closed until 2026
Uppermost section of Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway will not reopen until Memorial Day 2026
BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e highest paved road in North America, Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway, closed Sept. 3 to all travel to the peak including motorized, biking and most hiking as road repairs continue until Memorial Day 2026, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
e byway, also known as CO Hwy 5, closed from the Forest Service gate near Highway 103 in Clear Creek County through the project area, above Summit Lake, USFS representatives said.
USFS plans to repair the damaged roadway from the Summit Lake over ow parking lot to the rst switchback past Summit Lake.
Danille Perrone from Toronto, Canada stood at the peak of Mount Blue Sky with friends on Aug. 23 in 40-degree temperatures with a cold wind blowing strong across the peak as she gazed at the view from 14,264 feet with Summit Lake below.
“It’s raw and fresh, it’s God’s country,” Perrone said.
e USFS said its goal is to “improve public safety while reducing ongoing impacts to the fragile alpine ecosystem and restore the natural hydraulic processes through the area.”
The city of Denver has worked to create more biking infrastructure, with a plan to add more than 230 miles of new bike lanes.
PHOTO BY MERYL PHAIR
Our newsroom wins 14 state press awards
BY COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA STAFF
Colorado Community Media’s “Long Way Home” series, a deep dive that unraveled the whys and hows of the escalating housing crisis across the Front Range, took home top honors during state press awards.
e 14-story, newsroom-wide effort was named Best Public Service Project in Class 6 of the Colorado Press Association awards. Earlier this year, the series won rst place for General Reporting, Series or Package at the esteemed Top of the Rockies Excellence in Journalism, hosted by the Colorado chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
In all, the newsroom received 14 awards, eight of them for rst place, during the Colorado Press Association awards, a friendly competition held among newsrooms of all sizes from around the state.
e newsroom’s “Long Way Home” series interviewed ordinary Coloradans about how the rising costs of housing impacts their lives. e series identi ed barriers many younger residents and people of color face as they pursue homeownership and explored potential solutions. Every reporter in the newsroom contributed to the series by interviewing dozens of local residents, elected leaders and experts. It was led by Editor in Chief Michael de Yoanna with West Metro Editor Kristen Fiore, North Metro Editor Scott Taylor, former South Metro Editor elma Grimes and former Digital Editor Deborah Grigsby. It also relied on assistance from editors Scott Gilbert and Christy Steadman as well as initial contributions from former chief editor Lisa Schlichtman.
Clear Creek Courant Reporter Chris Koeberl won rst place in the
Best Series or Sustained Coverage category for his aggressive reporting on criminal justice proceedings for deputies charged in the death of Christian Glass.
Koeberl also took home rst place honors for his coverage of the renaming of the iconic Mount Evans to Mount Blue Sky.
Reporters Nina Joss and McKenna Harford won rst place in the Best Political Reporting category for “Shades of Red” in the Douglas County News-Press, looking at divergent views among south metro area Republicans regarding how to present a uni ed front to voters.
Senior Reporter Ellis Arnold joined with Harford and Joss for a rst place honor in Best Social Justice or Equity Reporting for their stories about Douglas County PrideFest in 2023, including protests and reactions surrounding it.
Highlands Ranch Herald Reporter
Haley Lena won rst place for Best News Story for her reporting on a tra c death and a mother’s determination to honor her son.
Former Northglenn- ornton Sentinel Reporter Luke Zarzecki won rst place for Best Agricultural Story for his “Unfruitful” reporting, which examined how supermarket locations and transportations can contribute to neighborhood food deserts.
Page Designer Ben Wiebesiek received a rst place Best Page Design award for “Max out your chill.”
North Metro Bureau Editor Scott Taylor and Zarzecki were honored with a second place in Best Politics Reporting for their coverage of political candidates who alleged they were the victims of a harassment campaign by a local resident.
Reporter Belen Ward won second place for Best Social Justice or Eq-
uity Reporting for her feature on a Brighton trucker o ering sanctuary and hope to Indigenous women.
Golden Transcript Reporter Corinne Westeman also took home a second-place award in the Sports or Sports Event category for “Role Players: Orediggers work behind the scenes to elevate football team’s performance.”
Lillian Fuglei, who has reported part time for the Arvada Press, won second place for Best News Story for reporting on the One Small Step program that is working to address homelessness.
Page Designer Leah Neu won second place for Best Cover Design for “Century of Sound” in the Washington Park Pro le.
Former Je co Transcript Reporter Jo Davis won second place in the Crime and Public Safety Reporting category for her story about animal control o cers with the Je erson County Sheri ’s O ce aiding Hawaii after res.
In May, Colorado Community Media’s newsroom received 10 additional honors for its journalism at the regional Top of the Rockies contest.
CCM publisher to lead state press group
BY ELISABETH SLAY ESLAY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Colorado Community Media
Publisher Linda Carpio Shapley was named the current president of the Colorado Press Association at the organization’s 2024 conference.
“It feels like such a tremendous honor,” Carpio Shapley said. “One of the things that they have listed in the convention manual is all of the presidents that have served and … I am so honored that I get an opportunity to be considered among them.”
Carpio Shapley feels “very proud” to be the next leader of the CPA and said she “feels history” around her which inspires her to “want to continue to do good things” for the organization and journalism.
Carpio Shapley began her tenure as publisher of Colorado Community Media in August 2021. She has worked for a number of Colorado newspapers, including the Collegian at Colorado State University and her hometown paper the Greeley Tribune.
Carpio Shapley also worked at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Kan-
sas City Star before heading to e Denver Post, where she went from copy editor and designer to managing editor in her 21-year tenure. She also led a political team at Colorado Politics prior to becoming the CCM publisher.
e Colorado Press Association serves the state’s news media outlets. Shapley was unanimously approved.
“Along with upholding the good work of past presidents, in the everchanging media landscape, CPA evolves to champion media rights, press freedoms and professional development across the state,” the organization said.
Carpio Shapley said the CPA faces challenges similar to what the industry itself faces, including an outdated revenue model, “the good ght against misinformation” and the need for more journalists.
“Colorado Press Association is wanting to do what it can to be supportive in that way, but Colorado Press Association also has those same challenges of just trying to do it on a bigger scale,” she said. With around 160 newsrooms in the Colorado Press Association, Carpio
Shapley said it can be di cult to serve everyone’s needs.
“ ey go from one-person newsrooms … to news organizations like e Denver Post,” she said. “So how do you serve them both when they have so many di erent issues?”
Carpio Shapley said while it’s challenging to help with these issues, she and the CPA need to be aware of these problems and work together to support the Colorado journalism community.
“I’m lucky enough to have a board that is really supportive in trying to help me to do that work and I just want to keep moving forward,” she said.
e CPA is actively trying to get public policy in the Colorado legislature to allow for more public support for informing communities.
“To me that’s one of the things that I want to continue to advocate for, and I want to make sure that everybody who is a member of CPA has an opportunity to reach out to me and learn about me and know that I am committed to this ght,” Carpio Shapley said. Additionally, Carpio Shapley said she hopes to help the masses see
the “public good” of journalism.
“We want to make sure that we’re doing good work and we need to make sure the public understands the great work that we’re doing,” she said.
A few members of Colorado Community Media’s newsroom at the Colorado Press Association awards in late August. The newsroom won 14 awards and Colorado Community Media Publisher Linda Shapley (center, in glasses) was named president of the press association.
Colorado Community Media Publisher Linda Shapley has been named president of the Colorado Press Association. She is pictured with association CEO Tim Regan-Porter. COURTESY BRITTANY WINKFIELD
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What Knowledge and Skills Should You Expect Your Real Estate Agent to Have?
Some people would say that real estate agents are overpaid, but that varies greatly with the agent. If your agent doesn’t know what he’s doing, he could cost you money, and he should pay you!
It’s all about experience, commitment, fidelity to the client, and a multitude of trainings and skills.
Some skills are “hard” skills, such as how to set up searches on the MLS or write a contract, but even those hard-skill tasks typically require “soft skills” which can come from experience but just as importantly from an intention to be of service to client over self.
ence of Zillow, but we consult other software and nearby sales of comparable homes when doing our “Comparative Market Analysis.” Myself, I consult Realist (an MLS app), Realtor Property Resource (available only to Realtors), and ATTOM, a commercially available property valuation tool.
Knowing the value of a home is only the starting point. We need to assess the real estate market in that neighborhood, paying close attention to existing listings. It’s important that the pricing of other listings helps to sell your home, rather than the pricing of your home helps to sell theirs.
with matching search criteria. Not all listing agents know how to find and use that list of agents whose clients have received an alert about their listing.
have in real estate. Needless to say, they are not taught in real estate school or measured in the licensing exams!
Of course, representing sellers and representing buyers calls for different skills and knowledge, although there are some overlapping skills and knowledge.
When representing sellers, the most important skill is that of coming to agreement on the most effective listing price. To the seller, who has probably been watching neighborhood sales, there may be a price point which is appropriate based on relative condition and location, but it may not be the most effective price for going to market.
I’m not just talking about whether the market is rising or falling. And I’m not talking about what the home would appraise for. The most effective price is the one that will draw immediate interest from multiple buyers. Buyers invariably look at Zillow’s “Zestimate” and will decide whether your home is overpriced or underpriced based on what Zillow says — sad but true! Nevertheless, it’s important to know.
We professionals recognize the influ-
However, the market is unpredictable. If the seller and his or her agent agree on a price but the home attracts few or no showings and no offers within a week, then the market is telling you that it’s overpriced, assuming the home was put on the MLS and had other reasonable promotion, such as the kind we provide with this ad. The price should be reduced within a week or 10 days. Don’t wait until the listing gets “stale.”
Most agents and buyers are familiar with the concept of MLS alerts. A buyer’s search criteria are entered into the appropriate search fields on the MLS, and when a new listing matches that buyer’s search criteria, he or she receives a computer-generated email alert from the MLS about it.
For example, the listing below, which is deep in the mountains, 120 miles from Denver, had 97 buyers who received an email alert about it when it went on the MLS. Last week’s featured listing in Lone Tree triggered 230 alerts to buyers
Has Your Time Come to Enjoy Mountain Life?
This 3-bedroom, 2-bath home at 48 Lang Street is in Twin Lakes, halfway between Leadville and Buena Vista at the foot of Independence Pass. It could be your escape from the Front Range rat race! This is a year-round mountain home, solar-powered, with a hightech greenhouse with “earth battery” for near year-round veggies! Enjoy the quiet mountain life of Twin Lakes Village (population 23). In summer, enjoy the drive over Independence Pass to Aspen. In winter, drive over Fremont Pass to Copper Mountain. Escape those I-70 traffic jams, too! Closer to home, enjoy hiking the Colorado Trail, which passes through town. This home was built in 2000 with all the modern conveniences, yet you're in a historic and charming mountain town. Thanks to high-speed CenturyLink internet, some of the residents have city jobs but work from home. If you’ve been hankering for a slower lifestyle, this mountain home may be your escape. Visit this listing’s website at www.TwinLakesHome.info to take a narrated video walk through of this home and see lots of photos, then come see it on Saturday, September 7th, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. NOTE: Seller offers 2.8% commission to buyer’s broker.
Price Reduced to $712,000
(MLS alerts, by the way, are a big reason why no seller should consider trying to sell his or her home off-MLS.)
What agents need to know (and exploit) is that every time there’s a price reduction, it triggers a new alert with the tag “Price Reduced.” That’s a powerful marketing tool, another reason to lower the price quickly and regularly, reminding buyers that this home is still available and matches their search criteria.
Because it’s important for sellers and their listing agent to keep current on the MLS activity near their listing, I have made a practice of setting up an MLS alert around each of my listings and sending it to both my sellers and myself.
Now, look at the picture for the listing below. Before changing the price on the MLS, I changed the primary MLS picture to one that included the day and time of the open house so those buyers receiving the “price reduced” alert know about the open house, which is not mentioned in the alert itself. After the open house, I’ll remove the photo with that information. That’s an example of another skill (in this case, a practice) that a good agent might have.
Some sellers dismiss open houses as a tool for agents to generate leads, not sell that house, which is admittedly rare. It does happen, however. Indeed, all three of my most recent closed listings sold to buyers who came to the open house. Note: It’s important to enter open house dates and times on the MLS. They are populated to Zillow and hundreds of other websites, and doing so draws far more visitors nowadays than the “open house” signs we put in the ground.
According to Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies, “Soft skills are as almost as important as hard skills, In fact, they often define success more than expertise does.” Communication, active listening, social cues, negotiation, patience and tactfulness are cited as the most crucial soft skills to
When representing buyers, many of those same skills, practices and knowledge come into play for the good real estate agent. Once a buyer decides to make an offer on a listing, I use the same tools to determine its value and what my buyer should offer, paying attention to the sale of comparable homes.
I also look at the listing history of the property — days on market, price reductions, previous contracts that fell, and prior MLS listings by this or another agent. I have an app that can tell me about the seller, including what other homes they have purchased or sold. I can also evaluate the level of experience and therefore skill of the listing agent.
On ShowingTime, I can see whether there are other showings scheduled or whether the listing is sitting on the market. I also call the listing agent to see if they have other contracts expected or in hand. If a previous contract has fallen, I can ask the circumstances.
I ask whether the seller has a preferred closing date or other things that would make them happy. (Furniture to sell? Post-closing occupancy needed?)
I also ask where the seller is moving to. If they’re moving locally, I can mention that our moving truck is available free to them, along with free moving boxes and packing materials. If I learn that a bidding war is possible and they are moving locally, I might include free labor and gas along with the free truck in my buyer’s contract. I may also insert an escalation clause under additional provisions, indicating that the buyer will beat any competing offer.
Lastly, there’s a new question I need to ask: Is the seller willing to pay my commission? They probably are, and I need to enter that percentage in Sec. 29 of the contract and discuss with my client adjusting the commission in our own agreement to reduce or eliminate what that client pays out of pocket for my professional representation.
Jim Smith
Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851
Golden Real Estate lists and sells residential properties across the Denver metro area.
ROUTES
e Bike Streets app o ers special features like weekly challenges and surprise adventure, a wheel of fortune randomizer that selects a unique bikeable activity. Open to all ages and abilities, Bike Streets also hosts monthly group bike rides and runs the Bike Streets Club o ering ra es, workshops and merch. eir goal is to get thousands of people to ride to destinations all over Denver until the city constructs more protected bike lanes. Currently on the app about 4,800 miles have been logged by users this summer, a growing number users can see in the top left corner.
“ e city to their credit has built a lot of biking infrastructure but often it doesn’t work for the average cycler,” Stopper said. “ ere’s not enough, and they’re working on it, but it’s a 10, 20-year project to make a complete network. What we’re doing is trying to ll in the gaps based on the world as it exists today.” Denver has built 137 miles of new bike infrastructure in the last ve years and has announced plans to install 230 new miles of bikeways, many on busy arterial roads, as part of their 20-year vision for developing a network of accessible bikeways. A recently published map shows the type and location of bike lanes the city hopes to roll out over the next two decades, providing an opportunity for the public to make comments and suggestions.
Proposed changes include installing protected bike lanes on Speer Boulevard, Leetsdale Drive, Park Avenue, West Evans Avenue, South Monaco Street Parkway, Quebec Street, 17th and 18th Avenues, 13th and 14th Avenues and Colorado Boulevard. By placing permanent structures like concrete blocks on
these protected lanes, the routes would help accommodate more cyclists on the road and enable bikers to travel longer distances.
“ is core network of high volume streets should be wide enough for people to pass, should be direct and generally speaking, protected and separated,” said June Churchill, the 2024 Bike Mayor of the Denver Bicycle Lobby, an advocacy group working to make Denver a more bikable city. While the map focuses on major throughways, Churchill said it’s comprehensive throughout the city. “ e intention is to make it possible for anyone in Denver to get where they need to go,” she said.
e working plan also builds o existing infrastructure, with plans to extend bikeways in some areas such as lengthening the protected bike lane on Broadway, one of the city’s well-traveled routes; changing some bikeways such as converting the painted bike lane on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard into a protected bike lane; and installing safety measures like bike signals and crossing lights. is would help current connectivity issues as many neighborhood bikeways end without safe or easy ways to cross high-tra c roads.
In addition to improving safety for bikers, the city is also tackling improving safety for drivers, particularly on arterial roadways and intersections where accidents are more highly concentrated.
“We think a lot about who we are designing these routes for,” said Churchill. “It’s the parents with kids, the risk-averse and the cautiously optimistic about biking in the city. Safety along with time are the key factors in making decisions around transportation.”
Changes to major roadways could mean fewer parking spaces for cars or slower travel time, to which Churchill notes slower cars are safer cars. Balancing parking for residents and businesses has been a signi -
cant challenge in bikeway infrastructure such as a plan in 2020 to install a protected bike lane on Washington and Clarkson streets which was quickly shot down by residents due to the loss of parking spaces.
Despite challenges, the bene ts of increasing biking infrastructure in cities extend beyond a safer transportation environment. Protected bike lanes and neighborhood bikeways can create more green infrastructure throughout the city by reclaiming roadway space. Replacing car trips with biking helps ght climate change by reducing a major source of carbon pollution, another way Bike Streets is seeking to create change from within communities.
“We have been taught to think that bike commuting is biking to work and we have missed the opportunity on all of these other trips,” Stopper said.
Denver’s Map of Safe & Slow Streets with Bikeways is currently open to community feedback. Visit denvergov.com or contact the program at denvermovesbikes@gmail. com or 720-865-9378.
Bike Streets hosts free group rides to get community members on the streets and excited about cycling. Ride the RiNo
Sept. 8, 5 to 7 p.m.
Meets at 2945 Larimer Street
Something Inspirational in NW Denver with Bike Streets and the Library
Sept. 14, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Woodbury Branch Library
Free Rockies Game and Slow Roll
Sept. 17, 5:45 to 10 p.m.
Cheesman Park Pavilion
North Denver Community Ride with The Field Academy and Bike Streets Sept. 21, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Prodigy Co eehouse, Globeville Visit bikestreets.com for a full schedule of events.
A group ride organized by Bike Streets meets up for a spin around the Washington Park neighborhood.
PHOTO COURTESY OF AVI STOPPER
Who benefits from Denver’s public art?
BY JACQUI SOMEN SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
As you drive throughout Denver, you may notice some stunning art pieces displayed outside residences and in public spaces. Not just garden gnomes and wind chimes, but large-scale pieces created by reputable artists. What does it take for these pieces to come to life?
It turns out that most of the metro area’s public art installations are highly intentional, part of a phenomenon often guided by developers to transform public spaces into areas of vibrant community activity, something they call “placemaking.”
Placemaking is about more than just beautifying a neighborhood.
A 2018 study funded by Americans for the Arts Public Art Network
Council, “Why Public Art Matters,” detailed bene ts such as activating imagination, encouraging learning, engaging social interaction and acting “as a catalyst for community generation or regeneration.” Studies also point to public art’s ability to increase property values.
e bene ts of public art are so compelling that some local governments now require it in large-scale developments, considering art a cultural amenity that contributes to communities and economies. For example, according to the website for the new development Aurora Highlands, more than 20 art installations will be placed in the area’s Hogan Park, with several sculptures and murals already installed.
e colorful muraled walls and activated alleyways of RiNo must be noted in a conversation about public art and community in Denver.
e neighborhood’s revitalization seemingly hinged entirely on giant, colorful murals. Unfortunately, this type of development doesn’t come without its downsides. Growth spurred by investment can drive up prices, often displacing long-standing businesses and marginalized communities. Perhaps in response to these concerns, many developers now turn to local artists to help keep communities involved as the neighborhood evolves.
Babe Walls, an organization founded by local artist Alexandrea Pangburn, coordinated a mural festival in collaboration with property owners Christina and Mike Eisenstein in which 12 buildings across a community in Westminster were painted.
Mural festivals, an international phenomenon in which artists ock to a neighborhood and paint murals over a few days, “help bring a sense of vibrancy and life to a particular area, whether that is a couple square blocks or over the course of an entire city,” Pangburn said.
“ e festival scenario is where there can be a sense of greater community because you’re not only involving the artists, but also the community and the installations
and creating more hype and business around the event,” Pangburn added.
Public art projects also bene t artists. Pangburn started Babe Walls as a way to highlight local, female, and nonbinary artists who weren’t getting as many opportunities as their male counterparts.
Public art proposals face so much rejection that an entire exhibit dedicated to the topic, I Regret to Inform You…Rejected Public Art, is currently on display in Arvada. And according to “Why Public Art Matters,” public art also “brings artists and their creative vision into the civic decision-making process,” allowing artists to participate in decision-making during city planning. Sometimes individual residents display public art on their private property. David omson, a vice president of private client services at Kairoi Residential, has worked with local artists on a variety of development projects, including e Edison in RiNo. omson brought an original piece, “INhabit,” to the front yard of his University Park home. e sculpture, by Joshua Wiener, features three large stones, signifying omson and his two sons, created from materials pulled from Boulder Canyon. What began as an art installation went on to become a memorial for omson’s son, who died in a car crash in 2020, not far from where the stones had been pulled.
While beautiful, omson detailed an arduous process of obtaining permits and protecting the sculptures from theft. ere were also signi cant costs associated with commissioning a large art piece from an accomplished artist. ese aspects likely make installation art at this level prohibitive for most people.
Regardless of who pays for it, the bene ts of public art can be farreaching. When created in collaboration with the community, public art can enhance the neighborhood experience for residents, visitors, businesses, developers and artists
Mural art adorns walls and streets in Denver’s RiNo Art District. PHOTO BY JACQUI SOMEN
“INhabit” by Joshua Wiener, in front of David Thomson’s University Park home. The sculpture’s plaque reads, in part, “Community is a reflection of our shared experience.” COURTESY OF DAVID THOMSON
Platteville parents pleased with daughter’s recovery from abdominal surgery
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Expectant parents anticipate the 20-week ultrasound scan to get a better look at their baby, and that was the case for Amanda Sullivan and Roy Mendez of Platteville. e 20-week pregnancy scan, about halfway through the pregnancy, can allow parents to see their baby’s face, hands and legs. ey might catch a glimpse of the baby sucking their thumb or their beating heart.
But doctors use the scans to check on the baby’s health and pre-natal development, looking for things such as the growth of the brain, the bones or the kidneys.
In Sullivan’s case, the scan of her unborn daughter Emilia showed a mismatch in her small intestine, one that would need to be corrected with surgery right after she was born.
“I didn’t induce labor; we wanted to keep Emilia in my belly as long as we could and had more frequent doctor visits to ensure Emilia wasn’t under any stress,” Sullivan said.
Emilia, now seven months old, was born just before New Year 2024 with a congenital condition called Jejunal Atresia. is rare but serious condition has meant several surgeries over the child’s young life and more can be expected.
Children’s Hospital Fetal Care Center surgeon Dr. Jonathan HillsDunlap said there were two underlying issues with Emilia’s gastrointestinal system.
“One was that the intestine wasn’t connected correctly, and the other was that her downstream intestine had formed an abnormal con guration that puts her at risk for lifethreatening problems in the future as a result of that con guration,” he said.
Connecting a highway to a one lane road
Sullivan went in for one of the more frequent scans just before Christmas and it showed Emilia’s belly was swollen, with uid unable to pass through her intestine. By Dec. 26, Sullivan began having contractions and Emilia was born two day later, premature at 33 weeks and weighing just four pounds and 15 ounces.
Doctors didn’t waste any time, scheduling her rst surgery just three days later. Dr. Hills-Dunlap said there was a signi cant size mismatch between the ends of the intestine that he needed to sew together.
Big surgery for a tiny baby
“My job as a surgeon is to connect the two blind ends of the intestine back together, but sometimes the upstream blind pouch is much bigger than the downstream blind end; we call it a mismatch,” Hills-Dunlap said. “You can think about it as though I’m connecting a 10-lane highway to a one-lane highway and hoping that there won’t be too bad
of a tra c jam. at’s exactly what Emilia has, a 10-to-1 size mismatch. at’s how much bigger her upstream intestine was compared to her downstream intestine.”
It’s a di cult, delicate procedure, the surgeon said. e surgery took seven hours.
“(Operating on) a baby with intestines that small is like reattaching two pieces of angel hair pasta,” Hills-Dunlap said of the surgery. “I used a surgical telescope to magnify the operation done through an incision over the belly, and she recovered beautifully from that operation.”
Procedures ongoing
At seven months old, Emilia is on a speci c protein-sensitive formula and breastfed diet and is doing well but having some trouble vomiting. at led to another procedure in August.
Hills-Dunlap worked with gastroenterologist Dr. Robert Kramer to put an endoscope – a special camera – down into Emilia’s stomach and then into the rst part of her small intestine to the site of her rst surgery, Hills-Dunlap said.
“He then puts a special expanding balloon across this connection and in ates it,” he said. “What we’re trying to accomplish here with Emilia is to expand the connection in order to make the passage wider. erefore, we hope she can continue eating and growing and avoid any more major surgeries for as long as possible.”
She may need to have the procedure again as she grows, he said. Hills-Dunlap said Emilia takes her nutrition orally. She’s growing appropriately and Emilia is a happy and healthy baby. eir only challenge is that her intestinal connection narrows back down to that one-lane road every few months.
“When the anastomosis (the surgical connection) narrows down, we need to open it back up again, but we hope her body will continue to accommodate to this slight abnormality over time,” he said. “She may need more dilation procedures, and potentially another major operation in the future to surgically revise the connection.”
But he’s pleased with how she’s doing.
“ e fact that she’s now over seven months old, is taking all of her nutrition by mouth, and is growing and thriving otherwise is an amazing outcome for her and her family,” he said.
“ ese patients - in cases like this – there’s no textbook answer to it. We do the best we can with the available technology and expertise we have with tremendous – advanced endoscopy. Many others worldwide are not able to do using highly specialized techniques. We do it safely and successfully here at Children’s Hospital Colorado—it’s tremendous. ,” he said.
Hills-Dunlap said this family and patients like Emilia are why people like him enter this eld.
“It’s gratifying to help patients and the most vulnerable. is is a small baby that can’t eat; she can’t survive it,” he said. “(It’s) extremely rewarding to help patients, to give Emilia the ability to eat and grow and be happy and healthy.”
Hills-Dunlap, who has a slightly older child than Emilia, a ectionately calls Emilia “his girl,” Sullivan said.
“Amanda knows we have a way to go with Emilia, but she will tackle every challenge, and we are thrilled with how well she is doing,” HillsDunlap said. “She holds a special place in my heart.”
LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com
MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Columnists & Guest Commentaries Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Independent. We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone. Email letters to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com Deadline
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Emilia was born premature at 33 weeks on Dec. 28, weighing four pounds and 15 ounces.
PHOTO BY AMANDA SULLIVAN
Traveling the highway to the summit recently made apparent the need for repairs. Cars, SUVs and pickup trucks crawled up the last section of roadway between 10-15 miles an hour over and across large potholes.
e road itself, barely wide enough to accommodate two vehicles heading up or down, heaved with massive dips in the asphalt that required smaller vehicles to crawl up and down the buckled road at a snail’s pace.
As you approach the summit you’re enveloped by the high clouds that appear like fog, until you break through and realize you’re above the wisping white and gray clouds.
Once you’ve arrived at the summit and exited the vehicle you’re in a completely di erent environment than you left at the start of the journey to the top of one of Colorado’s 14ers.
e outside temperature is below 40 degrees and strong blasts of cold winds whip across the summit and blast those who decide to complete the journey to the peak with a short hike to the top.
e rocky path to the top leads hikers through at least four switchbacks to the peak where a brass plate embedded in the rocks marks the summit and elevation; it was placed there in 1955.
Once on top, the view above the clouds goes for miles, notably with Pikes Peak to the south and Mount Bierstadt to the west.
As Perrone put it, “You’re on top of the world.”
Formerly known as Mount Evans, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names voted 15-1 on Sept. 15, 2023
in favor of the change to Mount Blue Sky.
e name change followed years of lobbying and petitions by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma to disassociate the mountain from its original namesake territorial governor John Evans.
According to historical references, Evans authorized what’s known as the Sand Creek Massacre.
On a November morning in 1864, U.S. Army Col. John Chivington and elements of the Colorado Infantry Regiment of Volunteers and Regiment of Colorado Cavalry Volunteers launched an attack on Arapaho and Cheyenne civilians where they camped about 180 miles southeast of Denver. Over the course of eight hours, the troops slaughtered some 230 people, many of them women, children and elderly, according to the National Park Service.
e new name for the mountain comes from the Blue Sky Ceremony, a ceremony for all living things, including “men, women, children, plants, earth, water, life,” Chester Whiteman of the Southern Cheyenne tribe said in 2023.
Nonetheless, the iconic Mount Blue Sky will return to nature, away from tourists and local tra c, for at least the next year and a half. A couple of mountain goats resting at the peak did not seem phased by the upcoming changes to their natural environment.
Tourists from across the country at the peak said they were disappointed with the closure, including one couple from Raytown, Missouri who said the trip to Mount Blue Sky is part of a yearly tradition to experience the top of a Colorado 14er and escape the humidity of Missouri. However, the most common sentiment was, “If it’s to repair the road for safety, then that’s what it is, you have to keep it safe,” Perrone said.
Mount Blue Sky summit on Aug. 23.
PHOTOS BY CHRIS KOEBERL
A mountain goat at the peak of Mount Blue Sky.
Suicide: A personal reflection
From time to time, we’re shaken by the news that someone we personally knew or knew about took their own life. In moments like that, we’re often taken unawares, stunned and bewildered by the revelation. It makes us wonder, question why it happened and why we missed clues they were at extreme personal risk. at’s particularly true when the person who died by suicide is young or never exhibited suicidal tendencies.
A primary reason we’re blindsided is that the idea of suicide ranks near the bottom of our conversational topics. Suicide more than causes consternation; it invokes an intense mental, emotional and moral discomfort. at is, until it’s someone within our inner circle or community.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2021 suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death in the U.S., the second among individuals between 10-14 and 25-34, and the third among individuals between 1524. It was striking to learn in 2023 there were nearly twice as many suicides (48,183) as there were homicides (26,031). But which makes the headlines and leads the nightly news?
It’s been four years since my friend ended his life. For months afterward, I felt completely distraught. My grief and anger were driving me into a depressive state. What had been theoretical about the stages of grief became reality. I con ded in very few as I worked to project a semblance of balance and not to wear my emotions on my sleeve, even with close friends. In time, I was able to articulate in a more coherent way my overwhelming sadness and the anger I felt toward the forces and people that drove him down. Writing about it and sharing my thoughts in a public forum, however, presented a bigger challenge. I’m now able to and in so doing, I hope to do justice to my friend and to the broader topic.
As I watched my grandson prepare for kindergarten, I couldn’t help but think about the millions of families going through the same experience. It made me re ect on the journey of any new beginning, whether starting school, a new job, or a new role. Last week, in “ e Joy Found in Continuous Learning,” we celebrated the ful llment of lifelong growth. is week, let’s delve deeper into how our mindset evolves from the rst day of a new experience through critical learning phases, leading to con dence and mastery as we enter our second year. e rst day of any new endeavor is a whirlwind of emotions. Excitement and nervous anticipation mix as we step into an unfamiliar environment. We’re organizing ourselves,
JERRY FABYANIC
In “ e Myth of Sisyphus,” Albert Camus asserts suicide is the only serious philosophical problem. ose who commit suicide, he says, have concluded life is no longer worth living. at not only seems obvious, it begs the question of why certain people decide to throw away their most precious gift, one that we instinctively protect and defend. I surmise Camus doesn’t provide a substantive answer for a simple reason: ere’s no one answer. Broadly, the reasons range from shaming and social exclusion to mental illness and in amed anger. But speci cally, they equal the number who commit suicide. In the end, no suicide is inexplicable. ere’s a reason behind each. And a person who was loved and cherished. Still, what Camus posits is worth consideration because it gets to the fundamental question about the meaning and purpose of life. He prompts the reader to consider why, if someone concludes their life no longer has meaning or purpose and/or is lled with irreconcilable pain, they should hang on to it. e answer lies, he suggests, not in the mind where we make rational choices but in the silence of the heart. I interpret that to mean that suicide, even though ultimately an act of will, is generally not borne out of reason but out of emotion. Readers of Edgar Allan Poe, Joseph Conrad and kindred authors who explored the depth of the human soul know that is something great writers have delved into over the ages.
When I got the news of my friend’s death, I was stunned and shaken, but I wasn’t surprised. Even during the time he was getting professional help and taking prescribed meds, I had “talked him o the ledge” several times. During
meeting new peers, and encountering instructors or leadership for the rst time. e day is lled with potential and possibilities but also uncertainty. We want to make a good impression and prove ourselves, yet there’s a nagging question: “Am I ready for this?” Fast-forward three months, and the initial rush begins to settle. We’ve gotten to know our peers and understand the expectations before us. However, doubts can start to creep in. e novelty has worn o , and the reality of our challenges sets in. We might question our abilities, unsure whether we’re
one episode, I sat with him while he talked with a support person at a suicide crisis center. For a couple of days after, I stayed on suicide watch. He pulled through, like he had each of the preceding times, but it further enhanced my sense of foreboding that at some point he would end his life.
Despite the front my friend projected as a charming, social and intelligent man who had it together, I knew full well of his inner turmoil. He had shared with me heartbreaking stories, speaking plaintively about the calumny and shame rained down upon him because of his sexual orientation, something I identi ed with having experienced similar. e opprobrium exacerbated the sensitivity he felt because of other aspects of his nature, like his repressed artistic talent and his heightened sensitivity to light, color and sound that con icted with what had been drilled into him about masculinity.
Shaming is among the worst of human tortures. Ironically, those who should feel ashamed about their behavior often never feel it because they don’t give a rat’s behind about what others think of them. However, for those who internalize shaming and don’t have the inner strength to turn it back on those who maliciously dole it out, it can be lethal.
As noted earlier, having been shamed is not the only reason someone takes their life, but there is a thread running through every suicide: su ering. In Buddhist belief, su ering arises from desire and attachment. However, some desires and attachments are not only not injurious to a person, they are necessary for their sound physical, mental and emotional health.
ey’re called people, and not just people broadly, but nonjudgmental people who are loving, supportive, inviting, embracing and accepting.
When one is rejected, marginalized, belittled, shamed or unac-
truly up to the task. Yet, despite these doubts, we remain eager to learn and motivated to improve.
By the nine-month mark, something remarkable happens. e cumulative e ects of all we’ve learned manifest in tangible ways. We’ve absorbed new knowledge, honed our skills, and faced numerous challenges, many of which we’ve overcome. Our con dence has grown, not just because we’ve learned more but because we’ve seen evidence of our progress. We believe in ourselves more deeply, realizing that we can learn, adapt, grow, and perform at a higher level than we initially thought possible.
As we enter year two, the transformation is profound. We no longer approach our tasks with the tentative steps of a newcomer. Instead, we
SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, thus a perfect time to increase your awareness of and get yourself more educated about the telltale signs of suicide. You can easily find resources online, including the National Alliance on Mental Health — https:// www.nami.org/ — and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/.
cepted, especially in their youth, they grow increasingly vulnerable and at risk. ey can become reclusive and embittered and disillusioned, and when that happens, their su ering metastasizes. Even if they survive the treacherous mineelds they’re forced to negotiate and make it to adulthood, even to late adulthood like my friend, they still can conclude, as Camus states, life is not worth living. And much too often after they reach that conclusion and end their lives, the world wonders why before it quickly averts its gaze and moves on. It’s been ten years since the great actor Robin Williams took his life. e news of it stunned the world. How could such a gifted actor and comedian get to that point? What drove him to it? I don’t know and won’t speculate, but I suspect that beneath that joke-cracking facade lay a soul in anguish. Robin donned many masks in the range of roles he played, but the cover for his inner pain was his most powerful performance. Like with my friend, it makes me wonder about how many others mask their true anguish behind a pleasant, have-it-all-together, even mirthful persona. As one PSA reminds us, the more you know. It might help you intervene with someone you cherish before it’s too late.
Jerry Fabyanic is the author of “Sisyphus Wins” and “Food for ought: Essays on Mind and Spirit.” He lives in Georgetown.
hit the ground running, armed with a solid foundation of knowledge and a strong belief in our capabilities. Our con dence now drives our actions. We tackle new challenges with conviction, and our performance re ects the hard-earned experience of the previous year. Our attitude is empowering; we know we’ve grown signi cantly, fueling our desire to continue learning and evolving. is journey from the rst day to the start of the second year is a testament to the power of continuous learning and perseverance. It highlights the natural progression from uncertainty to con dence, showing how, with time and e ort, we can transform our initial nervousness into a deep-seated belief in our abilities.
Columnist
DMNS hosts world premiere of climate change documentary
We’re all learning what it means living with climate change and the ways we can still make a di erence. It doesn’t just involve science, but also artists and creatives, an idea that is explored in the lm, “MELT — e Memory of Ice.” e movie is making its world premiere at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s, 2001 Colorado Blvd., In nity eater e premiere event, presented in conjunction with the 9th annual Digerati Experimental Media Festival, will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Sat-
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COMING ATTRACTIONS
urday, Sept. 14. e lm, made by local lmmaker Betsey Biggs, Ph.D, is described by provided information as “a minimalist cinematic song cycle for singers, electronic music, and lm, a personal reckoning with the earth’s body changing, melting, and spilling as global warming melts our ice caps and threatens winter.” After
the screening there will be a discussion with Richard Nunn, assistant curator and database manager of the National Ice Core Laboratory. For more information and tickets, visit www.dmns.org.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Fred Again.. at Ball Arena
Electronic music can be hit or miss for a lot of people. But London’s Fred Again.. has distinguished himself in the genre by his uncanny ability to work with anyone and his tendency to weave a kind of a narrative in his music, all while making
NORTON
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FROM PAGE 10
Learning doesn’t just equip us with new skills; it builds our con dence, shapes our mindset, and prepares us for greater challenges.
As we embrace each new learning phase, it’s important to remember that feeling unsure at the start is normal. But with dedication and a commitment to growth, we can turn that uncertainty into a powerful force for success. e con dence we build along the way becomes the foundation for future learning and achievement, ensuring that each new experience is approached with greater conviction
tracks that just bang. He’s constantly experimenting, and the results are often gorgeous.
In support of his new album, “ten days,” he’s coming to Colorado for the rst time and playing two nights at Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle in Denver—8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11 and ursday, Sept. 12.
I’ve heard nothing but raves about his performances, so get your tickets at www.axs.com.
Clarke Reader is an arts and culture columnist. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.
and a stronger belief in what we can accomplish. e speed of learning comes on the heels of learning agility. It’s not about how fast we learn a new skill but how quickly we adapt and apply what we’ve learned to achieve results. I’d love to hear your stories of moving through the learning journey at gotonorton@gmail.com. When we grow incrementally in our e ort, attitude, and skill, 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.
Clarke Reader
BY ALEX K.W. SCHULTZ SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
They came, from near and far, to behold the spectacle.
Men and women, boys and girls, young and old — tens of thousands of them.
Buses shuttled them in and out of swanky Castle Pines Village, nonstop, for four days straight. Signs o local highways and roads warned of heavy tra c and delays. An economic impact of $30 million was expected for the area. A purse of $20 million was up for grabs for the ones swinging the clubs.
At long last, more than two years after PGA o cials said it was coming, it was here — the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock.
Some of the 150,000 spectators expected to show up over the four-day tournament from Aug. 22-25 were rabid golf fans. Others just wanted to be there, to see the Jack Nicklaus-designed course, to hear the “oohs” and “ahhs” of the crowd ripple through the Ponderosa pines, to catch a glimpse of some of the game’s biggest stars — stars like Scottie Sche er, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Justin omas.
Attendees couldn’t be blamed for their excitement. After all, the last time the BMW was played in Colorado was a decade ago, when Billy Horschel hoisted the trophy at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village.
e last time a professional golf tournament was played at Castle Pines? at was nearly two decades ago, in 2006 (Castle Pines hosted the now-defunct e International Tournament from 1986 to 2006).
So, yes, Coloradans were beyond thrilled to have professional golf back in their backyard once again.
“It’s pretty cool that they’re all here in Colorado,” 14-year-old Vivian Halaby, a Cherry Creek High School student, said of the 50 golfers vying for the $3.6 million rst-place prize. “It’s neat to see famous people come and go through here.”
Vivian’s brother, 12-year-old Tripp Halaby, was busy trying to get some of those famous people’s autographs. He’d already gotten McIlroy, Tony Finau and Ludvig Aberg, among several others, to pen his oversized golf ball, but the youngster didn’t plan to stop signature-hunting anytime soon.
“It’s life-changing,” Tripp, who attends West Middle School in Greenwood Village, said of his experience at the tournament.
Tripp called himself a “big Nick Dunlap fan” but said he couldn’t help but root for the local kid. at would be last year’s U.S. Open champion and 2012 Valor High School graduate Wyndham Clark, the 30-year-old making his Colorado homecoming.
Clark found himself in 22nd place after the rst day but made things interesting after shooting a 4-under and 3-under the next two days, putting him in a tie for fth entering the fourth and nal round.
e “Valor Grad Wins PGA Tournament in Return to Home State” headlines weren’t meant to be, however, as Clark carded a 2-over on the last day to nish in a nine-way tie for 13th place at 5-under overall. Clark still fetched a $344,111 payout for his e orts.
“It’s been amazing. Denver showed out great,” Clark said at the post-tournament press conference. “I had tons of support. It was all in all an amazing week with all the support and friends coming out and all the love I felt.”
SEE PARADISE, P13
PARADISE
One of the more exciting moments for Clark came on the last day on hole No. 10, where he boomed his drive, stuck his approach shot and rolled in a 24-footer for birdie, bringing the hundreds of fans surrounding the green to their feet.
Not far away from the green where Clark had just buried his birdie was Mignon Stetman, who lives right o the 10th fairway.
“We love it. We’ve had a blast,” Stetman said of watching all the people, including the golf pros, walk within a stone’s throw of her home every day. “I think (the fans) are as much in awe as we are.” e retired hotel sales director said she was pulling for Horschel because he, like her, graduated from the University of Florida. Horschel nished in a tie for 22nd place.
Meanwhile, Stetman said her husband, Greg, was hoping either 44-year-old Adam Scott or Keegan Bradley would win.
Now a seven-time PGA Tour champion, Bradley did win in the end, fending o fellow American Sam Burns, the Swede Aberg and South Australia’s Scott, who all nished one shot behind the winner.
Up by the 18th green, as Bradley and Scott, partnered on the last day, made their way in from the fairway for their last putts, fans crammed in tight, craning their necks and holding up their phones, trying to savor the tournament’s nal moments.
“It was incredible,” Parker resident Coleman Harris, who was sitting nearby, said of the day and the tournament. “I go to the Waste Management Phoenix Open in Arizona every year. is was just so much better. I loved it. It was awesome.”
Now, the collective hope is that it won’t be another 10 years before professional golf is back in Colorado.
PHOTO ON PAGE 13:
Fans surround the 18th green at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock on Aug. 25 during the BMW Championship golf tournament. Roughly 150,000 spectators were expected to show up over the fourday tournament.
PHOTO ON PAGE 12: Spectators cheer as Wyndham Clark, a 2012 Valor High School graduate, sinks a long birdie putt at the BMW Championship golf tournament on Aug. 25 at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock. Clark finished in a nine-way tie for 13th place.
PHOTOS BY ALEX K.W. SCHULTZ
Wyndham Clark, a 2012 Valor High School graduate, tees o at the BMW Championship golf tournament on Aug. 25 at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock. Clark finished in a nine-way tie for 13th place.
Thu 9/12
Layton Giordani (18+ Event) @ 9pm The Church Nightclub, 1160 Lincoln Street, Denver
Sat 9/14
Neil Z at the Chart House @ 4pm Chart House, 25908 Genesee Trail Rd, Golden
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.
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LLB Investments LLC will submit an application to the Colorado Division of Housing (DOH). The purpose of this application is to request $1,610,000 to develop 23 homes for purchase at 4801 W 10th Avenue, Denver Colorado 80204. The request of funding from DOH is to benefit persons with low and moderate incomes by increasing the availability of affordable housing in Villa Park .It is not the intent to cause displacement from any existing housing; however, if persons are displaced from their existing residences reasonable housing alternatives shall be offered.
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Legal Notice No. DHD 3257
First Publication: September 5, 2024
Last Publication: September 5, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Misc. Private Legals
Public Notice
JUVENILE COURT, COUNTY OF DENVER STATE OF COLORADO
520 West Colfax Avenue, Room 125 Denver, CO 80204
UPON THE PETITION OF:
JEWEL LYNNETTE SHEFFIELD, For the Adoption of a Child Case Number: 24JA30012 Division: 2H
TO: BAPTISTE CLEMONS, Respondent
Pursuant to § 19-5-208, C.R.S., you are hereby notified that the above-named Petitioner has filed in this Court a verified Petition seeking to adopt a child.
An Affidavit of Abandonment has been filed alleging that you have abandoned the child for a period of one year or more and have failed without cause to provide reasonable support for the child for one year or more.
You are further notified that an Adoption hearing is set on October 30, 2024, at 10:00 am in the court location identified above.
You are further notified that if you fail to appear at said hearing, the Court may terminate your parental rights and grant the adoption as sought by the Petitioner.
Legal Notice No. DHD 3261
First Publication: September 5, 2024
Last Publication: October 3, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
TO: JULIA M ARMSTRONG : 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 County, 1437 Bannock, Room 256, Denver, CO 80202 in Case 2019CV33943 entitled: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. v. JULIA M. ARMSTRONG $401.51 garnished at USAA Federal Savings Bank, 10750 McDermott Fwy, San Antonio, TX 78288.
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Last Publication: September 26, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Notice to Creditors
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Cheryl Ann Baker, aka Cheryl A. Baker, aka Cheryl Baker, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR030935
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 January 5, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Candi Baker, Personal Representative c/o Pearman Law Firm 4195 Wadsworth Blvd Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
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First Publication: September 5, 2024
Last Publication: September 19, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
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Estate of CHARLES ALLEN DUBREE, AKA CHARLES DUBREE, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR30594
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 December 29, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Jonathan P. Shultz, Atty for Personal Representative 19751 E Mainstreet, Suite 200 Parker, CO 80138
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First Publication: August 29, 2024
Last Publication: September 12, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
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Estate of Jackie Wayne Zobrist, a/k/a Jackie W. Zobrist, a/k/a Jackie Zobrist, a/k/a Jack Wayne Zobrist, a/k/a Jack W. Zobrist, a/k/a Jack Zobrist, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR030878
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 December 23, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Colorado Estate Planning Law Center
Personal Representative 6870 W. 52nd Avenue, Suite 103 Arvada, Colorado 80002
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Estate of Keith Anthony Norris, Deceased Case Number: 2024 PR 030854
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the on or before January 6, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Anna L. Burr, Esq.
Attorney to the Personal Representative
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Last Publication: September 19, 2024
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Estate of Teruo Okuno, a/k/a Ted Okuno, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR030690
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before Monday, December 23, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Candace Okuno, Personal Representative
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First Publication: August 22, 2024
Last Publication: September 5, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Lloyd Leonard Rich, a/k/a Lloyd L. Rich, a/k/a Lloyd Rich, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR30754
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 December 123, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
The Estate of Lloyd L. Rich
Carol Ann Waugh, Personal Representative
2030 East 11th Avenue, Apt 1208 Denver, CO 80206
Legal Notice No. DHD 3240
First Publication: August 22, 2024
Last Publication: September 5, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Carlene Tidwell, Deceased
Public Notices
Case Number: 24PR45
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 November 8, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Deidra R. Batts
Personal Representative
5090 Worshester Street Denver, Colorado 80239
Legal Notice No. DHD 3245
First Publication: August 29, 2024
Last Publication: September 12, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of LINDA RITA KELL, a/k/a LINDA R. KELL, a/k/a LINDA KELL, a/k/a L. A. KELL, a/k/a L. KELL, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR30915
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, December 30, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Renate Tomsic,
Personal Representative 2128 Dodd Street Blaine, WA 98230
Legal Notice No. DHD 3266
First Publication: August 29, 2024
Last Publication: September 12, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Thomas Brown Welborn, Deceased
Case Number: 2024PR030830
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 December 23, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Dated August 13, 2024
/s/ Cory M. Curtis
Cory M. Curtis, #40549
Attorney to the Personal Representative
CURTIS LAW FIRM, LLC
10333 E Dry Creek Rd, Suite 210 Englewood, CO 80112
720-263-4600
Legal Notice No. DHD 3245
First Publication: August 22, 2024
Last Publication: September 5, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Pamela Z. Varga, aka Pamela Ann Zajak Varga, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR30899
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Probate Court for the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before December 31, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Elliott Francis Zajak Varga, Personal Representative
Patrick R. Thiessen (40185) Frie, Arndt, Danborn & Thiessen P.C. 7400 Wadsworth Blvd., #201 Arvada, Colorado 80003
303/420-1234
Attorney for Personal Representative
Legal Notice No. DHD 3241
First Publication: August 22, 2024
Last Publication: September 5, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Thomas E. Cirkal, a/k/a Thomas Elmer Cirkal, a/k/a Thomas Cirkal, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR30956
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado, on or before January 5, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Susan T. Cirkal, Personal Representative 2871 S. Sidney Court Denver, CO 80231
Legal Notice No. DHD 3258
First Publication: September 5, 2024 Last Publication: September 19, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Christina L. Kerscher, a/k/a Christina Longfellow Kerscher, J. Christina Kerscher, and Christina Kerscher, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR30891
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to:
Denver Probate Court
City and County of Denver, Colorado 1437 Bannock Street, #230 Denver, CO 80202
on or before December 23, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
David K. Kerscher
Personal Representative
c/o Law Office of Byron K. Hammond, LLC
4500 Cherry Creek Drive South, Suite 960 Denver, CO 80246
Legal Notice No. DHD 3250
First Publication: August 22, 2024
Last Publication: September 5, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS PURSUANT TO § 15-12-801, C.R.S.
Estate of Patricia Agnes Higgins Green, aka Pat Green , Deceased Denver County Case Number 24PR30822
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, CO on or before December 31, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Jody Duvall, counsel for Personal Representative, Alice E. Green Coan, Payton & Payne, LLC 103 W. Mountain Ave., Suite 200 Fort Collins, CO 80524
Legal Notice No. DHD 3251
First Publication: August 29, 2024
Last Publication: September 12, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of PATRICK VERNE MCBRIDE, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR030986
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 January 5, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Kip Bernice McBride, Personal Representative c/o Solem, Woodward & McKinley P.C. 750 W. Hampden Ave, Suite 505 Englewood, Colorado 80110
Legal Notice No. DHD 3260
First Publication: September 5, 2024
Last Publication: September 19, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Gigi Stone Hooker, a/k/a Gigi S. Hooker, Deceased Case Number 2024PR030914
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Probate Court of the City & County of Denver, Colorado or on or before Monday, December 23, 2024, or the claims may be
forever barred.
Tracey A. Hooker, Personal Representative 414 S. Gaylord St. Denver, CO 80209
Legal Notice No. DHD 3248
First Publication: August 22, 2024
Last Publication: September 5, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Timothy Roy Canfield, a/k/a Timothy R. Canfield, a/k/a Timothy Canfield, a/k/a Tim Canfield, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR30970
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado, on or before January 6, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
M. Cris Brown, Personal Representative 570 10th Ave NE, Naples, FL 34120 and
M. Cris Brown, Personal Representative PO Box 92, Fair Haven, NY 13064
Legal Notice No. DHD 3256
First Publication: September 5, 2024 Last Publication: September 19, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
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