Barbara Dillavou has been coming to the Grace United Methodist Church in the University Hills neighborhood since the 1960s, or, to put in her words, “forever.”
Her place of worship was heavily damaged by a re in May 2023 when the outside brush was set ablaze, damaging the roof and sending a destructive amount of smoke into the main hall.
“It damaged almost everything in here,” Dillavou said. “ ey had to replace, clean all the pews and the books and everything. It was a big job, and so then they just decided at the same time to make some other improvements.”
Services were held in the fellowship hall until the repairs could be made. Since reopening in mid-October
of this year, Dillavou said it’s been “marvelous, very good to be back.”
“It was a real celebration,” she said.
e church, located at 4905 E. Yale Ave., is colloquially known as “the pumpkin church” in the neighborhood, as it hosts a large pumpkin patch each fall before Halloween.
Rev. Seth O’Kegley, who has overseen the church since July 2022, said some of the repairs included replacing ceiling panels (that was because someone had thrown a cinder block through it during repairs) as well as removing the pews after smoke had billowed in from the outside.
e total cost of repairs was about $600,000, O’Kegley said, which was partially covered by the church’s insurance. Other funding came from the church’s endowment account.
“We had a row of bushes on the side, and I’m not sure if someone was warming themselves, I don’t know, not my place to judge, but someone caught the bushes on re and it spread and caught the roof on re,” O’Kegley said. “Although we did not have re in the room, the smoke had ruined everything.”
e reverend said the carpet had to be replaced and the pews and the interior had to be deep-cleaned. Large beams also had to be replaced.
“What we had to do was take half of the roof o , y new beams in and put the roof back on,” he said. “ e damage was pretty intense for not even having re in the room. It was kind of the perfect storm of circumstances.”
According to city of Denver documents, Grace United Methodist Church was con-
structed in 1955, although O’Kegley said the main worship center was completed in the 1960s and the campus was built in “chunks.” e property has a little more than 26,000 square feet of building space.
O’Kegley said the architecture of the worship center was inspired by the story of Noah’s Ark, which can be seen in the curvature of the tall wooden ceiling in the form of the hull of a giant ship. Delays due to waiting for the insurance check to come and winter weather set the church back several months from reopening the worship center.
But once everything was ready, the church was able to not only make the area functioning again but also to build an addition to the stage and get rid of some excess closet space.
Movember mustaches bring awareness to men’s mental, physical health
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
It could be a normal mustache, a handlebar, pencil or horseshoe. Whatever the style, many men take part in growing a mustache for the monthlong campaign, Movember, as a symbol representing the importance of men’s health and reducing the stigma of seeking help.
“In many ways, men represent an underserved minority in plain sight,” said Dr. Je Morrison, a physician at Highlands Ranch UCHealth Hospital. “ at’s why I’m so passionate about Movember and drawing awareness to men’s health.”
Morrison is a men’s health specialist and urologist at UCHealth. For years, he has helped men become more comfortable with seeking medical help, and has been an advocate for Movember.
Two campaigns in November raise awareness for men’s health – No Shave November and Movember — but they are di erent. No Shave November encourages participants to raise money to be donated toward a charity of their choice. Movember is an organization that focuses on funding projects that are centered around men’s health and suicide prevention.
Men can often be reluctant to seek medical care, especially preventative care, said Morrison.
“I think we all know many men in our lives who just don’t go to the doctor,” he added.
Having been guilty of it himself at times, Morrison believes there are several reasons why a lot of men don’t go to the doctor. It might be because of their busy work and family schedules or simply procrastination, he said. But it might also be that they don’t know who to go to when a problem arises.
Morrision said he sees barriers for men to get into the healthcare system. However, it is crucial for men — especially those who are age 40 and up — to stay on top of their health by having routine wellness appointments and screenings, Morrison said.
Barbara Dillavou speaks with fellow church attendees Oct. 20 at Grace United Methodist Church in the University Hills neighborhood. PHOTO BY ERIC HEINZ
Regulators eyeing Xcel lobbying, salary costs
Regulators put curbs on investor relations and executive salaries
BY MARK JAFFE THE COLORADO SUN
Colorado utility regulators — using the mandates in a 2023 law — are looking to carve lobbying fees, trade association dues and investor relations costs from Xcel Energy rate requests. In a current gas rate case, more than $775,000 in such costs were disallowed.
e gure in the future could be a lot higher based on the Colorado Public Utilities Commission decision in October ordering Xcel Energy to remove all investor relations costs — including a portion of executive salaries — from its calculations of costs passed on to customers.
“ ere is an inherent tension between customer bene ts and investor bene ts,” said Joseph Pereira, deputy director of the Colorado O ce of the Utility Consumer Advocate, which represents residential and small commercial customers before the PUC. “Customers shouldn’t pay to boost the share price.”
In the wake of soaring utility bills in the 2022-23 winter, when the average gas bill rose 52% for residential customers of Xcel Energy’s subsidiary Public Service Company of Colorado, the legislature convened a special committee to investigate rates.
e result of that inquiry was Senate Bill 291, which aims to avoid the bill shock customers experienced. It also took aim at 15 types of expenses that should not be paid by customers, such as a portion of board of directors’ compensation, travel and entertainment expenses.
e commission is still working on setting the rules to comply with Senate Bill 291. e PUC is using interim rules for the gas rate case.
Xcel Energy was seeking a $172 million increase in gas rates. e PUC granted the company a $130 million increase, with a $15 million adjustment for depreciation expenses, raising the average monthly household bill 7.7% or $4.57 and small commercial bills by $17.49.
Colorado customers like people everywhere in the county are concerned about how high their energy bills have become,” said David Pomerantz, executive director of the nonpro t Energy and Policy Institute. “Underlying a lot of those concerns, is how politically powerful utilities are and how they are paying for that with money that’s not theirs.” 3 other states keep corporate costs from being charged to consumers
Connecticut, New Hampshire and Maine have passed laws similar to Colorado, and bills have been led in 11 other states seeking to limit lobbying and other charges, Pomerantz said.
In a recent Xcel Energy gas rate case in Minnesota, the Citizens Utility Board, a nonpro t consumer advocate, challenged the dues paid to the American Gas Association, a trade group, and the Chamber of Commerce, noting that those charges are excluded by statute in Colorado.
In a settlement agreement, Xcel Energy agreed to remove the dues from customer charges.
“Colorado is a little ahead of the game compared to other states,” Pomerantz said. “ ey and Connecticut were the
rst states to take a whack at this.”
While there is a long list of costs to be excluded, in the gas rate case, the commission honed in on four: lobbying expenses, investor relations expenses, trade association dues and attorney and consultant fees in rate cases.
Xcel Energy in its lings maintained that many investor costs are required, such as U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission lings, the provision of disclosures to current and potential investors as required by law, and listing fees, including those required by stock exchanges.
“ ese costs for the company are unavoidable costs and are by de nition prudent since they are required by law, regulation, and/or stock exchanges that give the company access to external capital,” Xcel Energy said in a ling.
e PUC, however, said that prohibition in Senate Bill 291 is “unambiguous.”
“We therefore direct Public Service to remove from its revenue requirement calculations all investor relations expenses,” the commission said.
But what that gure is and how to calculate it have yet to be determined since it will rely on computing the time spent and salaries of all employees involved in investor relations, all the way up to top executives and the CEO.
“You know, a big part of their responsibility is investor relations,” Commissioner Tom Plant said during one meeting reviewing the rate case. “It’s maximizing shareholder value. It’s maximizing return to investors.”
“And what we know from the statute is that that is not a role that the legislature has said is attributable to ratepayers,” Plant said. “But we don’t know what that line is, we don’t know where we draw that line.”
In its decision the commission said “the company shall provide a full accounting of time spent by the company’s employees, including executives, in rais-
ing capital and any other aspects of investor relations.”
e commission did remove $142,000 in investor-related expenses from the rate case.
Xcel is the top spender on lobbying in Colorado
e decision was similar regarding lobbying. Xcel Energy has consistently been the top spender on lobbying at the Colorado statehouse. In the 12 months ending in July, it spent about $297,000 on lobbying.
ose expenditures for registered lobbyists are not included in charges to customers, but under questioning from Commissioner Megan Gilman, Xcel Energy executives said there is no accounting for the company employees who spend time in lobbying activities.
“From the executive level on down, there are individuals within the organization directing, strategizing, analyzing potential proposed or enacted legislation and trying to in uence those outcomes on behalf of the company,” Gilman said. “And so, it seems to me, we’re likely missing quite a bit of information here that would be helpful and necessary to ensure compliance with 291.”
e PUC ordered Xcel Energy to update its 2023 annual report to show the portion of total compensation for company employee lobbying and to track and report those expenses for 2024 and each year through the next rate case.
Finally, the commission told the company to track employee lobbying expenses from Jan. 1, 2024, on in a separate account to determine in the next rate case whether a refund is due to customers.
Xcel Energy also argued that in addition to lobbying and political activities the American Gas Association provides educational and professional activities and that part of its dues to the trade group should be allowed. e commission rejected the argument and the full $503,000 in dues was removed.
Xcel did not comment for this story, but provided a statement it made about the commission’s rulemaking to enact Senate Bill 291 noting that “the vast majority of expenses the law required be excluded from rates has historically been excluded from Xcel Energy Colorado customer rates.” e cost of attorneys and consultants have long been paid for by customers in rate cases. “Such expenses are a legitimate cost of providing utility service,” the commission said.
Xcel Energy sought $1.6 million in legal and consulting fees to be put into rates. e PUC sta in a ling said that was an improvement over the $2.2 million the company requested in its 2022 gas rate case, but the sta recommended a $1.3 million cap on expenses.
e company spent $260,000 on consultants and the commission split that cost between the company and customers with each responsible for half, leaving Xcel Energy able to recover $1.47 million in costs.
While these are small-dollar battles in a $171 million rate case, Pereira, the utility consumer advocate, said they are important in changing the dynamics in the legislature and at the PUC.
“Maybe Xcel decides it doesn’t want to pay for 10 people lobbying,” he said. “Maybe it changes how they approach a rate case.”
When it becomes clear how much Xcel Energy is spending stockholders may also have a say. “ ere are monetary savings for customers but also a quanti able way for shareholders to decide if they want to pay for those activities,” Pereira said.
“SB-291 has to be the most in uential customer-focused bill we’ve seen in a decade or more,” Pereira said.
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.
Colorado utility regulators are considering exempting Xcel Energy’s lobbying fees, trade association dues and investor relations costs from future rate requests.
Reflections on Writing & Publishing My 1,000th ‘Real Estate Today’ Column
Because journalism was my first profession, writing a column about real estate seemed an obvious way to make myself known when I entered the real estate industry in 2003. The first column I published as a paid advertisement was on July 30, 2003, and I estimate that I have published at least 1,000 columns since then — 52 columns per year for most of the last 21 years. And every one was written by me, on a new topic each week.
have never written a column which embarrassed me due to something I wrote. (I still show each column to my wife, Rita, and to my broker associates before sending it for publication.)
From the beginning, I saw this column as “my own continuing education program,” because I had to study each topic before I could write knowledgeably about it. At first, that meant showing the first draft to my managing broker at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, to make sure I had my facts right. Even now, I will often send a first draft to another broker who has expertise I don’t in the topic I chose to write about that week.
You can see the topics of those columns going back to July 2003 at www.JimSmithColumns.com
The links on those original columns don’t all work, but you can at least see the headlines.
cal homeowner, with letters and postcards saying, “I have a buyer for your home” — which may or may not be the truth. I much prefer to spend those hours being of service to the general public, studying every aspect of real estate that I can think of where I myself would like to know more, and then sharing it with you.
tation where the seller mentioned a particular issue of concern to them. “I wrote about that a few years ago,” I said, whereupon the seller opened a manila folder in which that old column was on the top of the pile.
As a result, I can honestly say that I
I don’t know of any real estate agents anywhere in the country who have taken this approach to promoting themselves, but that may be due to the fact that the vast majority of people in any profession other than the writing professions have trouble expressing themselves in writing — and it’s a big commitment of time. If I weren’t writing this column, I’d probably have to spend hours every day or week prospecting — making cold calls or knocking on doors soliciting sellers and buyers. I might have been one of those agents who bombards you, the typi-
We Learned Firsthand About Vacant Land Scams
The Colorado Association of Realtors (CAR) issued a warning last month about scammers trying to sell vacant land that they don’t own in Douglas County, adding that it may be happening in other counties.
One of our broker associates found himself caught up in just such a scam even before that alert was issued. Here is how the scam unfolded and was discovered, so that the property owner and buyer were not victimized.
Via our website, we received an inquiry about listing a parcel of land in Coal Creek Canyon, so I referred the lead to a broker associate who lives nearby. He quickly got a signed listing for the property at $100,000, and I advertised the parcel in that week’s ad. He put a for-sale sign on the parcel and a neighbor quickly snapped it up, going under contract for it below full price.
The scammer said he was in a cancer isolation ward and didn’t have an ID with him. He needed to close quickly so he could pay his medical expenses.
The folks at First Integrity Title, which received the contract for processing, got suspicious because of no ID and sent a FedEx letter to the real owner of the property at his home in Maryland. The owner immediately called our broker associate, incensed that his property was being sold without his knowledge or involvement.
If the title company had not taken that action, it is possible that the transaction might have gone to closing based on forged IDs from the scammer, and the proceeds of the sale would have been wired according to the scammer’s directions.
The sale would ultimately have been voided, but the buyer would have lost his money. The seller would not have suffered loss.
In its October alert, CAR provided some guidance on how to recognize a vacant land scam in the making:
“In these cases, the scammer tries to list vacant land with no mortgage. He wants to sell it at below market prices for a quick sale. The scammer makes it clear there can be no in person communications, and that all communications are to be done by text or email. The scammer tells the real estate agent one of several stories about why he is out of town. He insists on a remote, no-contact closing, typically using a “local” notary of his choosing. He will not accept a local notary selected by the title company.
“The scammer has presented fraudulent driver’s licenses and fraudulent passports as identification. He uses spoofed phone numbers and untraceable email addresses.”
No such scam should be successful so long as the title company does what First Integrity Title did, which was to contact the registered owner of the land to verify the transaction.
In listing any property for sale, it’s a good practice for the listing agent to have the title company run an “ownership and encumbrance” report, which identifies the owner.
Then, using an app called Forewarn, which is only available to licensed real estate agents, we can find the phone number(s) of the registered owner and call them to verify that they are indeed who is talking to us.
BTW, once the seller knew we were not scamming him and had foiled the scam attempt, he said he might list his land with us!
Golden Real Estate’s Broker Associates
Licensed in 2000
Chuck Brown
303-885-7855
Joined us in 2014 Licensed in 2000
be misled by our name. Our agents have listed homes throughout the Denver Metro area and helped clients buy homes and other real estate all over Colorado!
When I ran for political office in 1981, I did exactly the same thing. Before announcing my candidacy I spent several months investigating every aspect of municipal government, speaking to civil servants in each agency and learning everything I could about policing, criminal justice and corrections as well as welfare, housing and economic development. When I announced my campaign, I released a 16-page tabloid spelling out my program for “saving” my city. I referred to it as “the power of the well-printed word.” It helped that I owned a typesetting business at the time, so I knew how to make what I printed look professional.
That effort wasn’t as successful, however, because I was running against seasoned politicians with political clubhouses behind them, not competing with fellow professionals, most of whom had a lot more experience than me but couldn’t demonstrate that experience or knowledge as well as a seasoned journalist like myself.
My training in journalism came from writing and editing my prep school and college newspapers but most especially from winning a summer internship in 1968 at The Washington Post I really love the practice of real estate and the reputation I have built with my readers. I love getting emails and phone calls asking my advice or reacting to something I have written. And when you call me about selling or buying a home, I love to know that the call was based on the trust and reputation I have built over two decades (or less) from my writings. Often, when I go on a listing appointment, I find that the seller has a folder containing clippings of my columns. I love to tell the story of one listing presen-
My first year in this business, I attended a retreat hosted by one of the preeminent real estate coaches. Following that event, I hired that coach’s firm briefly, but the focus was on memorizing scripts and “time blocking” several hours per days for cold-calling. I couldn’t do it.
It just wasn’t my style. I have never memorized a script and never made a cold call — in fact, never prospected at all. This column is what made that approach possible. The hours I could spend prospecting are so much better spent writing and publishing this column.
At first I wrote monthly, then biweekly, and within a couple years I was able to write this column every week. At first I bought a page in a little Golden newspaper because I couldn’t afford the Golden Transcript. When the Denver Post introduced the regionalized “YourHub” section, I jumped on it, limited to the Jefferson County editions.
Then came the Golden Transcript and three other Jeffco papers. When over 20 metro area weeklies were combined under the non-profit ownership of Colorado Community Media, I expanded to include my ad in all of them. That was after I had already expanded to be in all the local editions of YourHub.
A couple months ago, I signed a contract with the Denver Gazette, a digitalonly newspaper with a large readership. And, of course, I am also online, with over 1,300 email subscribers to our blog at http://RealEstateToday.substack.com For me as a journalist, there is no greater pleasure and satisfaction than what I get from having my writings broadcast so thoroughly around this metro area that I call home. Thank you for letting me take this week off from writing about another real estate topic to share my story with you.
It’s not often that you can buy a duplex where one side is empty and the other side is rented and contributing $1,500 per month to your mortgage costs! That’s the situation with this well-built and well-maintained brick duplex at 12613 W. 8th Ave. in that quiet neighborhood next to Welchester Tree Grant Park called Foothills View Estate. The two sides of this duplex are mirror images of each other and identical in terms of updating, including newer bath fixtures, doublepane windows, and new garage doors. (The two 1-car garages are accessed from an alley.) The vacant half is the one with a 12’x30’ wood deck, from which you can see the foothills to the west. Welchester Tree Grant Park is just a block away, with nature trails, including to the adjoining Welchester Elementary School. A narrated video tour of both sides of this duplex can be viewed at www.GoldenDuplex.online, along with interior photos of the vacant unit. The rented unit is not available to see until you’re under contract, but it is identical in condition to the vacant unit, as you’ll see on the video tour. Open Saturday, Nov. 16th, 11am to 1pm
Belcaro Place rezoning proposal delayed until January
Proposed five-story building campus on hold for now
BY NATALIE KERR SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
A proposal to rezone the property at 3801 E. Florida Ave.—currently the site of the Belcaro Place o ce building—for mixed use was delayed until Jan. 27 at the applicant’s behest during Denver City Council’s meeting on Oct. 13. e reclassi cation, if successful, would allow developers to construct several buildings up to ve stories tall for business and residential use at the site.
Residents living near the intersection of Florida Avenue and Jackson Street have kept close watch on the progress of the rezoning application, voicing fears of swarming tra c and slashed green space, even submitting an unsuccessful protest petition against the rezoning in September.
In particular, residents have submitted comments objecting to the rezoning based on concerns that continuing to commercialize the area would dramatically increase tra c, parking congestion, noise and air pollution.
“ ere are days we cannot even park in front of our house due to the commercial property across the street,” one resident wrote to the Denver City Council on May 14. “Now if it becomes a bunch of 5 story residential units lined up across the street with multiple driveways, with visitors and limited street parking, we will be in an even more di cult situation.”
e area is already limited on greens-
pace and tree canopy, and residents are hesitant about any project that would compromise what greenspace there is.
Having areas to enjoy nice weather or walk their pets is important, neighbors wrote, and without it, they could lose the natural bu er between residential homes and commercial businesses.
Residents raised concerns that these cumulative impacts would degrade quality of life in their neighborhood and reduce property values in the area.
“We value this natural area very highly,” a resident wrote to the council on May 9. “It is a wonderful place to walk and escape from city life. If we lose this area, then its beauty will be replaced by large buildings, tra c and the accompanying noise.”
e city council is accounting for these
concerns when considering the rezoning application, according to communications director for Community Planning & Development Ryan Hu . All comments and information in the rezoning application are compared against the criteria in the Denver Zoning Code to evaluate their appropriateness.
Sidewalk and forestry requirements include a 5-foot sidewalk and an 8-foot amenity zone, preserving roughly 15 feet of green space, according to application documents. But this greenspace zone could be widened based on measurements of how much ground cover the existing trees need to thrive.
SEE YOURSELF ON STAGE
Part of the city ordinance that explains the job of the city forester explicitly rejects the mass removal of trees along Jackson Street, and as the trees along Jackson Street are partially on public property and partially on private property, speci c permits would need to be approved for each tree removal.
Permit requests for the removal of healthy, valuable trees will often be denied, according to Chapter 57 of Denver’s municipal code.
ere are no speci cations for managing tra c in the rezoning application, but both the city and the property owner have noted assumptions that the rezoning would inherently reduce tra c along the street by creating a community corridor that encourages walking, biking and public transportation use, rather than car travel.
However, the application does make speci c mention that any development at the site should create a “distinct edge” that bu ers the existing residential neighborhood from the community corridor.
ese urban design concepts are aligned with Denver’s long term development goals outlined in guiding documents like Blueprint Denver and the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Notably, this project advances Denver’s goal of increasing urban density with in ll projects. Although in ll can reduce sprawl, it has also been associated with tra c congestion, pollution and less green space.
“ e proposed (zoning) district improves the allowed mix of uses, the allowed building forms and building form standards and landscaping standards to enable more walkable, sustainable and predictable development as set forth in Blueprint Denver,” Hu said.
e land parcel was purchased by a F6F, a private investment group, from a California private capital investment company in 2017 for $20 million. e application lists Montana lawyer Vincent Reiger as the property owner, with Colorado architect David Budrow and owner of Wellshire Management Vaughn Regensburger as representatives.
All three representatives were unavailable for comment.
F6F also owns the Colorado Club ofce building at 4155 E. Jewell Ave., a mile away from Belcaro Place.
Until January 2025, the project seems to be at a standstill, though favorable comments from the city of Denver indicate it is likely to be approved next year. Despite the city’s view, residents appear skeptical of the development bringing any bene t to their communities.
“I am tired of out of town companies buying land and building just for pro t,” a resident wrote to the council on May 15. “I have lived in this area 50 plus years. Leave our neighborhood alone.”
MY SPIRIT REJOICES
JACOBS, ORGANIST
Performing a selection of Magnificat settings for the beginning of Advent has proven popular with our audiences. This year, to honor the 100th anniversary of the death of Sir Charles Villiers Stanford – the father of Anglican sacred music – his half-dozen most iconic settings of the Magnificat will be presented along with other Advent-themed works as a prelude to the Holiday Season. English organist Simon Jacobs joins us for this concert. Generously sponsored by Robert Bartalot, in memory of Sally Bartalot.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 7:30 PM
Photo
This rendering shows a possible redevelopment of the Belcaro Place structure at 3801 E. Florida Ave.
Scientists want your help to digitize historic data on bees
BY RACHEL COHEN
MOUNTAIN WEST NEWS BUREAU
Within aisles of cabinets at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Museum of Natural History collections are rows upon rows of wooden display boxes with glass tops. Each box holds dozens to hundreds of bee specimens.
Leafcutter bees with blades on their teeth. Round-bodied Western bumblebees. Metallic green sweat bees.
Details about each specimen, like the species name, who found it, where and when, are pinned down under each bee. Put together, it’s a treasure trove of data about the crucial pollinators. e problem is that it’s analog, on tiny slips of paper, sometimes handwritten in cursive.
Now, scientists are pushing to get that information out of the museum cabinets and onto computers. at’s because there’s currently a lack of information about populations of many bee species.
“If we get that data, and we can rebuild those distributions, we can look for how they’re changing over time which could inform something so basic as whether or not we should be concerned that they’re declining,” said Adrian Carper, an entomology curator at the museum.
To digitize their bee collections, researchers at 13 institutions, including CU
“We’ve just got a few touch-ups left,” O’Kegley said. “We try to recreate the
Noah’s Ark look, both in reference to God protecting Noah and the family, but also the Ark of the Covenant that held and protected the word of god.”
O’Kegley said there may have been deeper meaning in the disaster that nearly destroyed the worship center, as the
Methodist faith calls its followers to “a life that is kind of dispersed,” to love and serve people anywhere.
“ e church is not just a building by any means,” he said. “It’s the people, and that was a rmed in our re because we had to move to the other side of the building. Hav-
Boulder, the University of Nevada, Reno, and Arizona State University, formed the “Big Bee Bonanza.”
Volunteer citizen scientists can visit an online platform calledNotes from Nature, which gives visitors specimens to transcribe. In dropdown menus and text boxes, the platform asks you to write down the words on labels next to zoomed-in images of bees.
For example, the note by one mining bee says it was collected near Carbondale, Colo., in 1982. When you’re done with one bee, Notes from Nature prompts you to enter data for another one, like a computer game.
“I nd myself having to set alarms because I can’t ever stop doing this —- it’s so much fun,” said Virginia Scott, the collections manager.
e team at CU Boulder is hoping to get notes from 50,000 bee specimens transcribed by 2025.
“Participating in this project is one of the biggest ways you can help in bee conservation because it gets that data to the conservationists who need it,” Carver said.
e Mountain West News Bureau is a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, KUNC in Colorado and KANW in New Mexico.
ing a home is very important and this room has been our home … to gather, to worship, to marry people, to bury people. We do all the pastoral functions in this room, but then we’re inspired and we’re changed here to go out … and really love the world in the way that Christ calls us to.”
A bee visits a group of late-summer flowers Aug. 29 outside Colorado School of Mines’ Volk Gymnasium.
PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN
“How can we work to kind of make it a little easier for these guys to get in, and be the catalysts that get these guys the help that they need,” said Morrison. One way has been o ering telehealth visits. But Morrison also wants to continue to educate men about risk factors.
Knowing the risk factors
Research over the last couple of decades indicates that women live longer than men. More recently, research by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and UC San Francisco found that the di erence between how long men and women live increased in the U.S. Movember focuses on the importance of getting screened for chronic conditions such as prostate, testicular and colorectal cancer.
“Chronic, serious health conditions — they’re very prevalent,” said Morrison.
According to the American Cancer Society, other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the U.S. While it generally grows slowly, about one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Additionally, it is more likely to develop in men at an average age of 67.
Another common cancer in men is colorectal cancer. It is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men in the U.S., and diagnosis rates have been increasing in those younger than 55.
While not as common as other cancers, testicular cancer a ects about one in every 250 males, developing in young and middle-aged men.
As a male fertility care and men’s sexual health physician, Morrison said some
sexual dysfunction issues that some men experience could be big, independent factors for developing something more serious, like cardiovascular diseases.
For example, Morrision said if a man su ered from impotence, they have a 44% increased risk of being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease and about a
60% increased risk of having a heart at-
Although common, Morrison added that men’s fertility and dysfunction issues can also have “devastating psychological rami cations for both the patient
“ ose are big motivators that bring men into the doctor,” said Morrison. “ at gives me a chance to meet these guys, look at their needs that brought them in and try to usher them into the healthcare system and be stewards of
Movember also aims to spread awareness of how serious mental health issues
According to Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, which retrieves national statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S., and rates are about four times higher in
Whatever the issue may be, Morrison is passionate about opening up conversations about men’s health.
“When something unexpected happens, it’s all the more reason why it’s important to just try to make it more accessible and break down these barriers to help men get in to see a healthcare provider,” said Morrison. “And to reduce the stigma of mental health issues that so many su er from.”
Chronic absenteeism rates di er sharply across metro-area school districts
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Around 1 in 4 Colorado students miss critical time in the classroom, according to data from the Colorado Department of Education. Chronic absenteeism, de ned as missing more than 10% of school days or around 18 days per year, puts students at greater risk for academic failure, poverty and dropping out of high school, according to Attendance Works, an organization working to reduce chronic absenteeism.
A newly-mandated reporting system required by a 2022 law reveals the issue isn’t just about the number of absences. Rather, it’s about who is missing: students from low-income families, students of color, multilingual learners and those with special needs are the most a ected, facing barriers that go beyond the classroom and into systemic issues like poverty, housing instability and lack of transportation.
At 27.7%, the statewide chronic absenteeism has been dropping since it peaked at 35.5% during the 2021-2022 school year. Yet, rates vary widely across districts and demographics show how some districts struggle with absences far more than others.
“In our statewide data, we see race and ethnicity gaps, but we also see gaps in multilingual learners, students with disabilities and homeless students who qualify for homeless services,” said Johann Liljengren, director of the dropout prevention and student re-engagement o ce in the Colorado Department of Education.
Acknowledging a dire need to address the issue, Colorado’s education leaders joined with 13 other states in a commitment to cut chronic absenteeism by 50% over ve years. Among metroarea districts, Denver, Douglas, Englewood and Je erson County have joined the state’s challenge.
Data reveals disparities across districts and demographics
While all groups of students experience some level of chronic absenteeism, those districts whose minority and low-income students make up a larger portion of the total population have rates far higher than the state average.
In Adams 14, where the absenteeism rate is close to 50%, nearly nine out of 10 students qualify for free or reduced lunch, meaning their family’s income falls below the federal poverty threshold.
Similar trends hold true for Adams 12 and Denver Public Schools, whose absenteeism rates also far exceed the state average. In Adams 12, 47% of their students experience economic hardship. In Denver, it’s 65%.
At around 25%, Cherry Creek, Je co and Elizabeth school districts have lower absenteeism rates than the state average. ey also have fewer percentages of
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“If kids know we miss them, they’re less likely to opt out. Building those personal relationships with kids and having adults who genuinely care about them makes a significant di erence.”
Kim LeBlanc-Esparza, deputy superintendent of Je co Public Schools
non-white and low-income students than the state as a whole.
Douglas County has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate, but the district also has the lowest percentage of minority and lowincome students at 32% and 18%, respectively.
Understanding the causes e reasons behind chronic absenteeism are complex and often deeply rooted in students’ broader social and economic conditions. Carl Felton, a policy analyst with EdTrust, emphasized that poverty remains one of the strongest predictors of chronic absenteeism, with low-income students two to three times more likely to miss school consistently. “ ese are high-need populations,” Felton explained, adding that for many of these students, absenteeism re ects obstacles like unstable housing, limited access to transportation and lack of healthcare.
e COVID-19 pandemic ex-
acerbated these challenges. For many students, school closures meant the loss of a stable environment, access to meals and vital social interaction. As schools reopened, disengagement became a barrier for students accustomed to an extended absence from formal learning.
Felton noted that this break in routine and support made it difcult for students to readjust to school life.
Liljengren agreed.
“For some students, school was a place where they felt supported and cared for. After a year or more away, they’ve struggled to return to that structure,” he said.
Finding solutions
When it comes to nding a solution, Liljengren and Felton agree that understanding the unique challenges and barriers these speci c student populations face is crucial to developing targeted strategies to improve attendance.
While there is no one-size- ts-all
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answer, Felton emphasized it’s crucial to start by engaging families.
“All these folks have di erent stories and varying needs, which is why we promote family engagement as one of the top priorities and strategies to address chronic absenteeism,” Felton said. “We can make a lot of assumptions and throw money at programs shown to be e ective through evidence-based data, but we may end up spending money on a program when what we really need is a school bus or to hire a person to conduct home visits.”
He also said that research has shown punitive measures, like truancy court or anything that puts more of a burden on families, break trust with school leaders and make families and students less likely to engage and work on solving the problem.
By shifting away from punitive discipline measures and towards restorative approaches, Felton explained schools can build stronger relationships with students and families, address underlying issues and keep students engaged in the learning process.
Liljengren said the state is focused on providing resources to districts, families and community partners through its “Every School Day Matters” attendance campaign.
e goal is for schools and communities to work together in a holistic, family-centered way to address the complex, multifaceted factors contributing to chronic absenteeism, especially for the most vulnerable student populations.
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Colorado has committed to cutting chronic absenteeism by 50% over five years, leading district leaders to consider new ways to engage families in attendance. SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE
Overcoming life’s obstacles and objections
Success often hinges on our ability to identify and overcome obstacles and objections in life and business. e line between the two can sometimes be blurred for many of us. However, understanding the di erence is essential to overcoming barriers in selling and achieving goals. When discussing objections, we’re usually focused on external resistance: reasons someone might say “no” to a product, service, or idea. Obstacles, on the other hand, are often deeperrooted barriers that stand in the way of progress. ough they may appear di erently, addressing them usually demands similar skills, like empathy, creativity, and a relentless drive to nd solutions. Take sales, for example. Salespeople regularly encounter both objections and obstacles. An objection might sound like, “ e price is too high,” “We’re happy with our current vendor,” or “ e timing isn’t right.” ese are the immediate, surfacelevel reasons a prospect might hesitate. ey’re often rooted in issues like cost concerns, lack of perceived urgency, or trust de cits. Objections can feel like brick walls, but they tell a salesperson where to provide more value, build trust, or reframe the conversation.
Obstacles, in contrast, are often the unseen structural challenges that prevent a decision altogether. Budget limitations, a team’s inability to reach consensus, or organizational overload can all be obstacles. A buying committee that struggles to agree on priorities, a customer overloaded with competing projects, or the realities of an uncertain economic climate are all obstacles that can stall or derail even the most compelling o er. At their core, objections and obstacles share common roots: no want, no time, no money, no need, and no trust. If prospects don’t honestly want the product or service, they’ll inevitably voice objections. If time or budget is scarce, the or-
Colorado is helping lead in the clean energy space, especially as the state ranks seventh nationally in the share of clean power percentages. It takes investment and community commitment, especially in our rural parts of Colorado, to help us reach our goals. As part of USDA Rural Development, we are deeply committed to supporting our rural partners and ensuring that communities across Colorado have access to the resources they need to thrive.
Five Colorado electrical cooperatives across the state plan to get there with the support of federal grants to make the transition to a clean energy economy with Tri-State’s $2.5 billion award recently announced on Oct. 25. e ve statewide
VOICES
ganization may not see a way to address the need. And overcoming objections becomes nearly impossible when trust is missing, whether in the product, the salesperson, or the company.
Consider a family discussion over a major decision, like where to go on vacation, buying a new car, or even contemplating a move. Just as in sales, these conversations often come back to the same core reasons for resistance: no want, no time, no budget, no need, and no trust. A lack of alignment or perceived need can create an obstacle, while objections around cost or timing can hold things up. It’s the same in our careers or personal lives. e obstacles we face can often be attributed to not truly wanting something enough, lacking resources, or feeling uncertain. When we encounter obstacles in our lives, whether physical, mental, or spiritual, the same approach applies. We
must ask ourselves: “What’s standing in my way?” And, more importantly, “Why am I allowing it to?” Overcoming these internal obstacles often requires the same determination that a salesperson uses to address objections. It involves identifying the root of resistance, determining what help we need, and committing to tackle these roadblocks with discipline and purpose.
Sometimes, the obstacles we face are self-imposed, born from a fear of failure, or unwilling to let go of comfort. Other times, they’re rooted in external circumstances beyond our control. In either case, overcoming them requires a willingness to act and an openness to seeking help.
Similarly, some obstacles may not be real limitations but a test of our commitment. Are we truly serious about our goals? Do we need to negotiate with our-
selves to nd the discipline and courage to overcome what holds us back?
Whether overcoming objections or obstacles, the goal remains to remove what stands in the way of success, growth, and ful llment. By cultivating resilience, seeking support, and staying dedicated to our purpose, we clear the path toward becoming the best versions of ourselves. What are the biggest obstacles holding you back? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can identify what they are and develop a solid plan to overcome them, 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.
Clean energy support brightens future of state
Colorado coops include CORE Electric Cooperative, Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, United Power and Yampa Valley Electric Association.
ese historic investments in renewable energy are a testament to the commitment to our communities. By fostering clean energy solutions through the New ERA program, we are not only creating sustainable economic opportunities but also ensuring that our rural
areas remain resilient and forward looking. Together with our local partners, we are building a stronger, greener future for generations to come.
Wind and solar providing over onethird of Colorado’s electricity is helping us make signi cant strides in the clean energy sector. e state’s clean energy capacity, currently at approximately 7,000 MW, is set to grow signi cantly by 2030. Current capacity is enough to power 2.5 million homes.
Clean energy in Colorado has grown by way of nearly $14 billion of capital investment with utility-scale solar, storage and wind projects and a robust manufacturing sector. Colorado’s 12 operating clean energy manufacturing facilities
have created jobs throughout the state, helping increase the number of Coloradans working in the utility-scale sector to more than 15,750. ese utility-scale clean energy jobs span from development and operations to manufacturing and construction roles.
Let’s keep supporting this important work to build up local economies and strengthen our state as we create smart, sustainable cities. Investing in Colorado with these resources is a solid step forward as we keep leading the way.
is guest column was written by Crestina M. Martinez, the Denver-based Colorado state director for U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.
Finding Denver’s Chinatown
When Leyuan Li, assistant professor at the University of Colorado Denver College of Architecture and Planning, rst came to Denver in 2023, he was surprised to discover the city had no Chinatown. He decided to do some research on the story of Chinatown, which led to the creation of a research course focused on this seldomtold part of the city’s history.
“ e course was called ‘Suppressed Interior’, and over the course of four months, we looked into the special problem of Denver’s Chinatown and the reason it declined and its residents were displaced,” Li said. “Not only did we look at its past, but as designers and architects, we envisioned a future for Chinatown in Denver.”
e work Li and his students did is a crucial part of the History Colorado Center’s, 1200 Broadway in Denver, new exhibition, “Where is Denver’s Chinatown? Stories Remembered, Reclaimed and Reimagined.” e exhibit was created in collaboration with Colorado Asian Paci c United (CAPU) and is on display through Aug. 9, 2025.
“ is is an exhibit we’ve wanted to do for a long time and really came about because of Li’s class,” said Dr. Josie ChangOrder, school programs manager and co-developer of the exhibition. “Working with the students and other members of the community who could share what the area was like, we were able to put together this exhibit.”
According to information provided by History Colorado, Denver’s Chinatown was once located in the Lower Downtown (LoDo) area and was a ourishing home for its residents. It survived the Anti-Chi-
COMING ATTRACTIONS
nese Riot of 1880, but eventually dispersed as a result of widespread anti-Chinese racism and the passage of national laws that restricted immigration and opportunities for Chinese na-
Where is Denver’s Chinatown? uses historic personal family photographs and objects, artifacts from the museum’s collection, a portrayal of a typical home, and artistic reimaginings of the neighborhood done by Li’s students.
“I was in charge of the historic model, which required a lot of research. e area wasn’t well-documented because it was an immigrant neighborhood where people of color lived,” said Molly Rose Merkert, a student in the Dana Crawford Preservation Program. “We were able to use the Sanborn Fire Insurance Map and use that to give us an idea about what the topography looked like and recreated the space as best we could.”
e exhibit isn’t solely focused on the past—it also looks ahead at what reconstituting Denver’s Chinatown would mean for the city and its residents. Students were encouraged to be creative and forward-thinking on this part of the project.
“For me, there’s not only physical construction to consider, but conceptual,” Li said. “It has to be a site of convergence, of cultural cohesion, where people can form a particular cultural identity. at’s an important part of guiding people towards
new ways to imagine Chinatown.” e aim of the exhibit is that people learn more about an underrepresented piece of Denver’s history, according to Chang-Order, but also that they come away thinking about the future.
And for people like Merkert, it’s an opportunity to nd a sense of home.
“I never felt like I belonged in Denver, but knowing it had one of the largest Chinatowns in the west helped me feel like I belong here,” she said. “We have been here and have been here for a while.”
For more information, visit https:// www.historycolorado.org/exhibit/denvers-chinatown.
Explore Narnia with Ballet Ariel this holiday season
Ballet Ariel is kicking o the holiday season with the return of “ e Lion, e Witch and the Wardrobe” ballet, based on C.S. Lewis’ beloved children’s story. e ballet comes to the Lakewood Cultural Center, 480 S. Allison Parkway, from Friday, Nov. 22 through Sunday, the 24th. Performances are at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. It will also take the stage at the Parsons eatre at the Northglenn Recreation Center, 1 E. Memorial Parkway, on Saturday, Dec. 28 and Sunday, Dec. 29. Performances are at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Information and tickets are available at http://balletariel.org/the-lion-the-witchand-the-wardrobe/.
The Playground Ensemble bridges the gap between the ‘Body/Mind’ e Playground Ensemble is exploring
the body-mind connection through music in its latest performance. e “Body/ Mind” concert will be held at the MSU School of Music, Kalamath Building, 800 Kalamath St. in Denver, at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 17.
e Playground Ensemble is a group of professional musicians, composers, educators and fans dedicated to keeping chamber music as a dynamic art form. is concert focuses on exploring the vulnerabilities, limits and joys of the human experience.
Get tickets at www.playgroundensemble.org.
Clarke’s Concert of
the Week — Billie Eilish at Ball Arena
When Billie Eilish rst arrived on the music scene in 2015, she blew so many listeners away with her unique approach to pop music and her sharply drawn lyrics. In the ensuing years she’s continued to level up and this year’s album, “Hit Me Hard and Soft” may well be her strongest release yet. She can still do pop bangers like “Lunch,” but “Birds of a Feather” is the real show-stopper for me.
In support of the album, Eilish will be spending Tuesday, Nov. 19 and Wednesday, Nov. 20 at Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle in Denver. Both shows start at 7 p.m.
Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com/billie-eilish-tickets/artist/2257710.
Clarke Reader is an arts and culture columnist. He can be reached at Clarke. Reader@hotmail.com.
Enjoy a unique boutique holiday shopping experience while supporting the community and local businesses!
Clarke Reader
National trend impacting area fire agencies, blood supply, food pantries, senior services
BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
When Evergreen Fire/Rescue welcomed its rst six paid re ghters last month, it was hailed as progress for the district’s residents, with the anticipation of faster response times from sta ed re stations. But it was also a sharp turn away from a long-standing tradition: e all-volunteer model it had used for 76 years.
While the area’s aging population, climate change and life in a place ranked in the top 10 nationally for catastrophic wild re were factors in the hiring decision, the decline in volunteerism also played into it.
It’s a trend impacting organizations of all kinds. Volunteering in the United States is at an all-time low, according to IVolunteer International, even as the need for most of the services such agencies supply is increasing. e fallout is far from minor, ranging from such potentially critical issues as delays in re agency response times to a shortage in the national blood supply.
On a societal level, experts say it may be a symptom of, or a factor in, increasing social isolation and political division.
“Volunteers meet critical community needs, and volunteering has the power to heal our societies by creating empathy and equity,” said Jennifer Siranelo, CEO of Points of Light, an international nonpro t dedicated to volunteerism. “It’s imperative that we work together to reverse the downward trend in volunteering.”
While the pandemic exacerbated the issue, it was not the cause. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the volunteer rate in the United States has been steadily declining for more than a decade.
Charitable giving is also down in the U.S., a fact attributed to economic uncertainty, stock market volatility and an increase in smaller and single-parent families.
Volunteering has historically been led by college graduates, married people and parents. But today’s younger generations are strained not just for time but money, and are more likely to not only work several jobs but share housing to make ends meet, according to the Center for the Study of the Individual and Society. at leaves them with little discretionary time. e issue has hit the re service hard. e number of volunteer re ghters has declined for the last three decades, hitting a record low in 2020, according to the National Fire Protection Association. During that same time period, the U.S. population — and demands for emergency services —grew. Among smaller re districts, the average age of a volunteer re ghter is going up, with fewer younger people throwing their hats into the volunteer ring.
Not long ago, Evergreen Fire/Rescue Chief Mike Weege said EFR turned prospective volunteers away.
“We’d get roughly 30 applying and have (volunteer re ghter) academies of 25,” he said. “Eight to 10 years ago, we start-
Volunteers meet critical community needs, and volunteering has the power to heal our societies by creating empathy and equity.”
Jennifer Siranelo, CEO of Points of Light
ed getting far fewer people who could commit the time to do it. Our academies would only be six people, and we had to combine them with Genesee, Foothills and Indian Hills ( re districts).
“Today, both parents working is the norm, and people are working longer hours,” he continued. “I think people’s lives are far too busy for the amount of time and motivation it takes to volunteer for a dangerous activity.”
Nearby Elk Creek Fire is facing the same challenges, which Chief Jacob Ware attributes in part to the foothills’ shifting population.
“ e demographics have changed a lot here,” he said. “Historically, volunteer re departments were made up a lot of blue-collar, often self-employed people — people who had the ability to break away from their jobs in the middle of the day to answer a re call.”
With the escalating cost of housing in the mountains, fewer of those people can a ord to live in Conifer. And those that do are pressed for time.
“You have to hustle to live in the mountains,” Ware said. “Between work, family and everything else, the time you have to volunteer is dwindling.”
Vitalant, which has 10 Colorado blood donation centers and is the primary blood provider for over 95% of Colorado’s hospitals, is seeing far fewer donors than in the past. Vitalant declared an emergency blood shortage in 2024, and it’s not the rst time the nonpro t blood services provider has done so.
“Overall, the number of people donating with Vitalant has dropped about 20% since before the pandemic, while patients’ needs remain strong,” said Brooke Way, Vitalant’s communications manager. “If there’s a shortage and we don’t have the available blood, that’s when hospitals and doctors have to make those impossible choices of whether to postpone a surgery that’s been scheduled, so a trauma (victim) can get that unit. at’s what we try to avoid.”
It’s left local and national organizations scrambling for solutions, and pondering creative new ideas to revitalize volunteering.
“We’ve tried everything under the sun to recruit new volunteers; we just had another meeting about it,” said Kevin Andrezejewski, executive director of BGOLDN, which runs a food pantry and other community food programs. “ ere’s been a huge shift in the demographic here. e younger population doesn’t either have the time or interest in volunteering.”
COVER PHOTO: Volunteer firefighters from Evergreen and Elk Creek fire departments climb onto the roof of a house on fire earlier this year.
LEFT: Teri Crawford, visiting from Virginia, helps her daughter Kimberly Buxton of Golden while volunteering at the BGOLDN food pantry. PHOTO BY JANE REUTER
RIGHT: Centennial resident Joseph Lothringer recently donated his 70th gallon of blood at Vitalant’s Parker donation center. “It’s an act of gratitude,” he said. “Emotionally, it’s a very satisfying feeling.”
VOLUNTEERS
at’s particularly challenging because the need for BGOLDN’s programs is growing. Demand for its home delivery program, available to people who need supplies from the food pantry but don’t have transportation, has doubled in the last 18 months. But BGOLDN doesn’t have enough drivers to bring food to those homes or pick up food donations from area grocery stores.
“We have more volunteer shifts to ll,” Andrezejewski said. “We don’t want to decrease the number of families we support, and we could grow the program. But with the shortage of volunteers, we have to hold back on expanding it too much.”
A Little Help provides services to seniors throughout the metro area, northern Colorado and Grand Junction that can make the di erence between individuals moving to assisted living or staying in their homes. During the pandemic, the Denver-based nonpro t saw a surge in volunteers. But as life returned to normal, that help faded away.
“A lot of our open requests from seniors are going unful lled,” said Jake Dresden, A Little Help’s metro Denver director. “Rides to the doctor, the bank, the grocery store, tech support requests, companionship requests … we’re not at a healthy level of volunteers to meet those.
“We always feel the sweet spot for us is at least 2-to-1 volunteers to older adult members. And we are not at that number,” Dresden continued. “ e last six months, we’ve been running 2-to-1 members to volunteers. at’s not a recipe for success.”
Not only do seniors often physically need help with such chores and tasks, volunteer assistance can make a critical nancial di erence for them.
“ e big broad piece is helping them stay in their homes,” Dresden said. “A lot of our members are living on very xed incomes. e thought of paying a landscaping crew to rake leaves, or getting an Uber to go to the doctor, that’s money they don’t have budgeted.”
Because Colorado is a popular state for retirees, Dresden doesn’t see the demand for services easing.
A Little Help sends a weekly email to its volunteers and has made volunteering as exible as possible. Volunteers choose the task they want to do and when they’d like to do it. Still, the list of un lled requests hasn’t grown shorter.
“We’re trying all sorts of di erent methodologies to bring new volunteers on, but we’re having to start waiting lists for certain areas and services,” Dresden said.
Solutions
e problem is clear, but solutions are less so. Yet, people across the country are working to nd them, and with good reason.
Volunteering is good for us, on an individual and larger societal level. Research shows links between volunteering and improved physical health, cognitive function, elevated mood, increased social interactions, decreased loneliness and even increased mortality, according to the Stanford Center on Longevity. On a more global scale, volunteerism contributes to social cohesion, community well-being and the economy. e Generosity Commission, made up of experts across the philanthropic sec-
tor, is dedicated to increasing civic participation. It’s spent the last three years studying the country’s decline in charitable giving and volunteering and mapping a plan to reverse it.
ose include getting public gures to talk about how they bene t from giving and volunteering, reaching out to younger generations and reinforcing the role of businesses in encouraging employee giving. IVolunteer International suggests o ering virtual volunteering options like tutoring, nonpro t tech support or online advocacy as a way to match volunteering opportunities with the shift to remote work and lifestyles.
Evergreen Fire/Rescue is redesigning its volunteer program, using a system of points and small-dollar rewards that allows volunteers exibility in how and when they respond.
“We need to meet people where they are, to allow people to do what they can do versus forcing them to t into our box,” Weege said. “If you want to just do wildland ( res), if you want to just do EMS, there’s a place for you here. So you don’t have to do all the training. We’ve brought in quite a few people by doing that.”
Denver-based Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, which builds trails and improves habitat statewide, said it’s changed its o erings to try to meet its volunteers’ abilities.
“We’re getting more one-o (volunteer stints) than people who’ll come out multiple times a year now,” said VOC’s marketing manager Kim Gagnon. “So we’re trying to broaden the type of work we offer folks. Some people can volunteer on a fourteener with no problem. And some people feel that reward from a threehour harvest in a garden in downtown Denver. ese are interesting trends, and
we’re just trying to problem-solve as we go.”
Vitalant has o ered donor giveaways like the chance to win $5,000 prepaid gift cards, and more recently a $5,000 Halloween jackpot. As the shift to remote work has decreased donations from business blood drives, Vitalant’s now encouraging schools to host blood drives. ose who volunteer regularly see the bene ts clearly.
Conifer resident Peyton omas, who launched the nonpro t Speakers for Africa to help Ugandan schoolchildren, said the work not only broadens his perspective about other cultures, but gives him a fresh outlook on his own life.
“When I start complaining about Wi-Fi speed or my food taking too long to get to me, I think, ‘I need to go back to Uganda and regroup,’ because they know what is real,” he said. “Life is a help-others program. I’m convinced getting outside of ourselves sand helping others is what we’re supposed to do.”
Joseph Lothringer recently donated his 70th gallon of blood at Vitalant’s Parker donation center. He’s enjoyed a lifetime of good health and said donating is a way to share some of that with those who haven’t been as lucky.
“It’s an act of gratitude,” said the 68-year-old Centennial resident. “I won the physiological lottery. I think of people that are ghting for their lives against cancer. To give them a shot of platelets, to use my health to help people that didn’t win the lottery, that’s the least I can do. Emotionally, it’s a very satisfying feeling.” It took Lothringer 40 years of regular donations to reach 70 gallons, and he’s not done yet.
“Absolutely, I’m going to keep doing it,” he said. “My goal now is 100 gallons.”
COURTESY OF EVERGREEN FIRE/RESCUE
COURTESY OF VITALANT
Latinos di ered from national trends on Dem support
BY ROSSANA LONGO-BETTER
LA CIUDAD
Latino voters in Colorado leaned heavily Democratic in the 2024 election, showing distinct di erences from national Latino voting trends, according to new data from the Colorado Latino Exit Poll presented by Voces Unidas and BSP Research.
Colorado’s Latino electorate played a decisive role in the election, backing Democratic candidates for federal o ces by a 2-to-1 margin. Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic congressional candidates received the support of 67% of Latino voters, helping Harris secure Colorado’s 10 electoral votes.
Despite national predictions of a potential Republican shift, Colorado’s Latino voters remained committed to Democratic values, driven by economic concerns, healthcare access and reproductive rights, according to Dr. Gabe Sanchez of BSP Research.
“If there was any movement since 2020, it actually leaned toward Democrats, which is di erent from the national narrative,” Sanchez said.
e Colorado Latino Exit Poll, with a sample of 600 voters and a margin of error of +/-4%, was conducted from Oct. 24 to Election Day, Nov. 5. e survey provides a unique glimpse into Colorado’s distinct Latino electorate, with support for Democrats sustained by ongoing concerns about economic stability, healthcare access, and personal freedoms.
“ e national conversation focused heavily on Latinos shifting toward Trump, but in Colorado, we’re seeing di erent dynamics,” Sanchez said. “Colorado’s Latino electorate isn’t aligning with those national shifts — they have a distinct set of priorities.”
e poll also highlighted a consistent interest in bipartisan solutions among Colorado’s Latino voters.
“Regardless of which party holds power, Latino voters are looking for leaders who will tackle in ation, a ordable housing and job opportunities,” said Alex Sanchez, CEO of Voces Unidas.
Strong support across demographics
While Latinas showed slightly higher support for Harris at 69% compared to 64% among Latino men, Sanchez noted that this 5% gap was much narrower than seen in other parts of the country. Harris’s strongest support came from Latino voters over 50, at 77%, with younger Latinos under 30 also showing strong support at 66%. Voters in the 30-49 age group showed lower support at 60%, a variation Sanchez attributed to income disparities within that age bracket.
Sanchez explained that one key reason for this preference is the perception that Democrats are better suited to address Latino priorities.
“Latinos in Colorado overwhelmingly see Democrats as better on issues like reproductive rights, healthcare and the economy,” he said. e survey indicated that 58% of Colorado Latinos trust Democrats to protect reproductive rights, and over 45% believe Democrats are better
positioned to address economic concerns, including in ation and housing. Sanchez emphasized that Colorado’s Latino voters re ected unique trends, with Harris’s campaign drawing robust support across gender, age, and socioeconomic demographics.
Economic issues emerged as a leading priority for Latino voters in Colorado, with in ation and the cost of living ranking as the top concerns. Improving wages, income, and a ordable housing followed closely, all of which Sanchez described as recurring themes from previous election cycles. “Four of the top ve issues for Latinos in Colorado are centered around the economy and nancial security,” Sanchez said.
El Comercio de Colorado hosted “Voz y Voto” at Raices Brewing on Oct. 16 to help voters learn more about the issues for the November election.
PHOTO BY LINDA CARPIO SHAPLEY
Thu 11/21
Savvy Senior Seminar
@ 1pm
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Old 121 Brewhouse, 1057 S Wadsworth Blvd #60, Lakewood
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Electric Kif @ 3pm Little Bear Live, 28075 CO-74, Ever‐green
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Red Rocks Amphitheatre Entrance 1, 17601 17621 W Alameda Pkwy, Morri‐son
Tue 11/26
Clear Creek Discover Days (Tuesday) @ 9am / Free Golden History Museum & Park, 923 10th St, Golden. 303-278-3557
Mothica @ 8pm Meow Wolf Denver Convergence Station, Den‐ver
Wed 11/27
Fabric sampler class (7-13yo) - Nov @ 2pm Wulf Recreation Center, 5300 S Olive Road, Evergreen. 720-880-1000
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DISTRICT COURT, DENVER COUNTY, COLORADO
1437 Bannock St., Ste 256 Denver, CO 80202
Plaintiff: Sylvia A. Vigil, an Individual; v.
Defendants: Allen K. Vigil, an Individual; Donna K. Vigil aka Donna Ulibarri, an Individual; Claudia C. Olmedo, an Individual; Claude S. Vigil aka Claude S. Vigil III, an Individual; and Irene Torres, an Individual
Attorneys for Plaintiff, Sylvia A. Vigil
Sandra M. Sigler, #44522
Kayla R. Nelson, #46242
Sigler & Nelson LLC
390 Union Blvd., Ste. 580 Lakewood, CO 80228
Phone: (303) 444-3025
Fax: (866) 421-2093
E-mail: Sandra@SiglerLawCO.com
E-mail: Kayla@SiglerLawCO.com
Case Number: 2024CV32621
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANT: ALLEN K. VIGIL
You are hereby summoned and required to appear and defend against the claims of the complaint [petition] filed with the court in this action, by filing with the clerk of this court an answer or other response. You are required to file your answer or other response within 35 days after the service of this summons upon you. Service of this summons shall be complete on the day of the last publication. A copy of the complaint [petition] may be obtained from the clerk of the court.
If you fail to file your answer or other response to the complaint [petition] in writing within 35 days after the date of the last publication, judgment by default may be rendered against you by the court for the relief demanded in the complaint without further notice.
This is an action for partition concerning the real property situated in the City and County of Denver, State of Colorado, and legally described as:
ALL THAT PARCEL OF LAND IN DEN-
VER COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO, AS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 2696, PAGE 534, ID# 0506106018000, BEING KNOWN AND DESIGNATED AS:
LOT 37-38, BLOCK 2, WEST COLFAX.
MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1453 QUITMAN ST, DENVER, CO 80204.
BY FEE SIMPLE DEED FROM SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AS SET FORTH IN BOOK 2696 PAGE 534
DATED 04/14/1982 AND RECORDED 11/22/1982, DENVER COUNTY RECORDS, STATE OF COLORADO.
also known and numbered as: 1453 Quitman St., Denver, Colorado 80204.
Dated: October 3, 2024
Sandra M. Sigler, #44522
Attorney for Plaintiff
Legal Notice No. DHD 3301
First Publication: October 17, 2024
Last Publication: November 14, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Notice to Creditors
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of John Fitts Maragon, also known as John F. Maragon, also known as John Maragon, also known as Jay Maragon, Deceased
Case Number: 2024PR31252
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 March 14, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Cheryl McEachran
Personal Representative 455 Steele Street Denver, CO 80206
Legal Notice No. DHD 3341
First Publication: November 14, 2024
Last Publication: November 28, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of JOHN A. LOGAN, a/k/a JOHN ANDREW LOGAN, a/k/a JOHN LOGAN, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR31137
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the co-personal representatives or to the Denver Probate Court of Denver County, Colorado on or before February 28, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Kelly A. Logan, Co-Personal Representative
Kjirsten M. Logan, Co-Personal Representative c/o Michael J. Bland, Esq. Harrison LLP 210 University Blvd., Suite 340 Denver, CO 80206
Legal Notice No. DHD 3307
First Publication: October 31, 2024
Last Publication: November 14, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Jeannie Zuk, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR31194
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 February 28, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Michael Avina, Personal Representative c/o Baker Law Group, LLC 8301 E. Prentice Ave., Suite 405 Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Legal Notice No. DHD 3329
First Publication: October 31, 2024
Last Publication: November 14, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Diana Cross, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR031029
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 February 28, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Dee Ann Sundstrom
Personal Representative 2011 N. Ogden St. Denver, CO 80205
Legal Notice No. DHD 3320
First Publication: October 31, 2024
Last Publication: November 14, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of DARLENE G. SILVER, a/k/a
DARLENE GROUSSMAN SILVER, DARLENE SUE SILVER, DARLENE S. SILVER, AND DARLENE SILVER, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR31106
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 March 1, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Gary Pashel, Personal Representative 2801 East Cedar Avenue Denver, CO 80209
Legal Notice No. DHD 3321
First Publication: October 31, 2024 Last Publication: November 14, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Peter C. Bulkeley, also known as Peter Clough Bulkeley, and Peter Bulkeley, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR31168
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 March 7, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Edith M. Conklin, Personal Representative c/o Krista K. Look, Esq. Katz, Look, & Onorato 1120 Lincoln St., Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80203
Legal Notice No. DHD 3335
First Publication: November 7, 2024
Last Publication: November 21, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Paul Dominic Oser, a/k/a Paul D. Oser, a/k/a Paul Oser, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR31215
Public Notices
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 March 7, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Harry Gordon Brooks II
Personal Representative
790 N. Washington Street, Unit 801 Denver, CO 80203
Legal Notice No. DHD 3334
First Publication: November 7, 2024
Last Publication: November 21, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Richard Lee Conklin, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR31211
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 March 14, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Brenda Conklin, Personal Representative
c/o Carleton H. Hutchins
1999 Broadway, Suite 1400 Denver, CO 80202
Legal Notice No. DHD 3345
First Publication: November 14, 2024
Last Publication: November 28, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Yvonne Bennett , Deceased Case Number 2024PR31230
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 March 8, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Teresa Locke, Attorney for Personal Representative PO Box 621
Longmont, CO 80502
Legal Notice No. DHD 3339
First Publication: November 7, 2024
Last Publication: November 21, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Michael Bruce Fleming, a/k/a Michael B. Fleming, a/k/a Michael Fleming, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR31199
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 March 7, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
John A. Fleming, Personal Representative
c/o M. Carl Glatstein, Esq. Glatstein & O'Brien, LLP 2696 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 350 Denver, Colorado 80222
Legal Notice No. DHD 3336
First Publication: November 7, 2024
Last Publication: November 21, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Gene Seth Goldenberg, aka Gene S. Goldenberg, aka Gene Goldenberg, Deceased Case Number 2024PR30924
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 02/28/2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
James McQuade
Attorney to the Personal Representative 12737 E. Euclid Drive Centennial, Co 80111
Legal Notice No. DHD 3327
First Publication: October 31, 2024
Last Publication: November 14, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Dale R. Belitz, a/k/a Dale Raymond Belitz, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR31189
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 March 14, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
David F. Steinhoff
Attorney to the Personal Representative 750 West Hampden Avenue, Suite 505 Englewood, Colorado 80110
Legal Notice No. DHD 3340
First Publication: November 7, 2024
Last Publication: November 21, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Donald L. Sturm, a/k/a Donald Lawrence Sturm, a/k/a Donald Sturm, a/k/a Don Sturm, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR031016
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 March 14, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Person Giving Notice: Susan M. Sturm 3033 East First Avenue, Suite 300 Denver, CO 80206
Legal Notice No. DHD 3342
First Publication: November 14, 2024
Last Publication: November 28, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of OLIVIA O. FARMER, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR31200
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 March 1, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
R. Michael Jackson, Attorney to the Personal Representative 355 S. Teller Street, Suite 200 Lakewood, CO 80226
Legal Notice No. DHD 3324
First Publication: October 31, 2024
Last Publication: November 14, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of MARGARET N. DILLON, a/k/a MARGARET NAGEL DILLON, and MARGARET DILLON, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR30967
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 March 10, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Tarquin Dillon Alexander 3633 Bellfield Way, Studio City, CA 91604
Legal Notice No. DHD 3323
First Publication: November 7, 2024
Last Publication: November 14, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Alan Leslie Williams, also known Alan L. Williams, also known as Alan Williams, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR031219
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to pres-
ent them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before March 14, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Diane H. Williams, Personal Representative c/o Illumine Legal LLC 8055 East Tufts Avenue, Suite 1350 Denver, Colorado 80237
Legal Notice No. DHD 3343
First Publication: November 14, 2024 Last Publication: November 28, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Warren F. Morrow, a/k/a Warren Forsling Morrow, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR31225
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 March 7, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Michael M. Morrow, Personal Representative c/o Colton Craft, Esq. Davis Schilken, PC 4582 S. Ulster St. Ste. #103 Denver, CO 80237
Legal Notice No. DHD 3337
First Publication: November 7, 2024 Last Publication: November 21, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Pubic Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Houston L. Terry, Deceased Case Number 2024 PR 31095
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 March 9, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Don E. Watson, Attorney for Todd Terry, Personal Representative Reg. No. 12967
5753 S. Prince St., #637 Littleton, CO 80120
Legal Notice No. DHD 3333 First Publication: November 7, 2024 Last Publication: November 21, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of CAROLYN HAMBIDGE, a/k/a CAROLYN BATES, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR31149
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or
Reproductive rights had a mix of support and resistance
Reproductive rights also played a signi cant role in Colorado’s Latino vote. Amendment 79, which enshrines the right to abortion in the state constitution, garnered 68% support among Latino voters, surpassing even Harris’s support numbers.
Sanchez highlighted that reproductive rights, along with immigration reform, drew Latino voters toward Democratic candidates. In fact, 78% of Latino voters supported measures to protect access to abortion, viewing it as integral to community health and autonomy. at support was relatively high even among Colorado’s Latino men, the poll showed, narrowing the gap between their attitudes and those of Latina women.
“Latino voters in Colorado are vocal about protecting reproductive rights and are clear in their support for policies that secure healthcare access,” Sanchez said. Sanchez’s data also delved into the motivations driving Latinos to the polls. For Harris voters, 82% cited positive sup-
ABSENT
District leaders also recognize their role in ensuring kids want to attend school.
“When kids are excited about what they’re learning, they go to school, so part of it is connecting and saying, ‘how do we make the educational experience really engaging, fun, exciting and relevant to them,’” said Kim LeBlanc-Esparza, deputy superintendent of Je co Public Schools.
She said it’s also about personalizing
port for her platform, with the remainder viewing their vote as opposition to Trump. Conversely, 86% of Trump’s Latino supporters expressed a rmative support, with 14% voting in opposition to Harris. is breakdown, Sanchez noted, re ects an engaged electorate committed to issues rather than purely party lines.
Beyond candidate preference, Latino voters were motivated by a desire to inuence issues they cared deeply about, with 34% identifying “standing up for issues that matter” as their primary motivation for voting. “Latino voters are not simply ‘swing voters’; they are engaged participants shaping the future of Colorado through their commitment to economic and social justice,” Sanchez explained.
Information sources and political engagement
Latino voters in Colorado predominantly turned to digital platforms for election information, with 52% citing social media and 52% using national news sources. Local news and personal networks also played signi cant roles, with 45% relying on state and local media and 33% consulting family and friends. Engagement in this election went be-
the school experience for each student.
“If kids know we miss them, they’re less likely to opt out. Building those personal relationships with kids and having adults who genuinely care about them makes a signi cant di erence,” LeBlanc-Esparza said.
e data shows Je co’s strategies are working. e district went from a chronic absenteeism rate of 37.8% in 20212022 to 25.3% in 2023-2024.
Felton acknowledged Colorado’s progress and noted that no amount of improvement is insigni cant.
“Even a 1% decrease or reduction in chronic absenteeism adds up to 100 or more students,” he said.
Public Notices
to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before March 3, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Jonathan Michael Hambidge, Personal Representative
c/o Carl H. Hutchins, Esq. Hutchins & Associates LLC
1999 Broadway, Suite 1400 Denver, Colorado 80202
Legal Notice No. DHD 3326
First Publication: October 31, 2024
Last Publication: November 14, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Mary Louise Bradley, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR499
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or
yond voting. Nearly half of the Latino respondents reported encouraging others in their communities to vote, highlighting the self-mobilization within Colorado’s Latino electorate.
“ is community is proactive about mobilization,” Sanchez noted, “often stepping in where party outreach is lacking.”
The Colorado di erence
Sanchez closed the presentation by underscoring the unique nature of Colorado’s Latino electorate. While national trends suggest a closer split between the parties on issues like the economy and border security, Latino voters in Colorado showed a stronger alignment with Democrats on most issues. In total, 52% of Latino voters believed Democrats would best address their top concerns, compared to 26% for Republicans.
Colorado’s Latino community remains diverse, with distinct priorities based on economic class, age, and even language, as those who took the survey in Spanish were more likely to support Harris. Sanchez emphasized that understanding this voting bloc requires a nuanced approach. “Latino voters are not a monolith,” he said, “and their choices in Colorado re ect the varied experiences and
priorities across this community.” e Colorado Latino Exit Poll is part of the Colorado Latino Agenda, an initiative by Voces Unidas de las Montañas, COLOR, and BSP Research, which provides vital insights into the motivations and values shaping Colorado’s Latino electorate.
By partnering with BSP Research, Sanchez said Voces Unidas aimed to create a poll that truly re ects Colorado’s Latino population, including rural voices often missed in standard polling.
“Most polls focus on urban centers like Denver, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins, missing out on rural Latinos. is is why we prioritized large-sample polling — to give a voice to all corners of the state, especially those rural communities that are frequently overlooked,” he said.
He concluded by noting that this initiative marks a signi cant step forward for Colorado, o ering an unprecedented longitudinal study of Latino preferences and priorities across multiple election cycles.
“While no poll is perfect, this project provides a foundation for understanding trends over time, and it’s something Colorado has never seen at this scale,” Sanchez added.
to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before February 28, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Lynda Leigh Berryman, Co-Personal Representative 3226 E. Easter Place Centennial, Colorado 80122 /or/
Lissa L. Albertson, Co-Personal Representative 26768 Twin Ponds Road Clovis, California 93619
Legal Notice No. DHD 3325
First Publication: October 31, 2024
Last Publication: November 14, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of GEORGIA L. LONG, aka GEORGIA LOUISE LONG, and as GEORGIA LONG, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR31193
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 March 6, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Joseph K. Long, Co-Personal Representative 9267 N. Surrey Dr. Castle Rock, CO 80108
Timothy P. Long, Co-Personal Representative 7615 W. 9th Ave. Lakewood, CO 80215
Legal Notice No. DHD 3328
First Publication: October 31, 2024
Last Publication: November 14, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Case Number: 2024PR031206
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 March 14, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Joe Yeaman, Personal Representative 828 Humboldt Street_
Denver, Colorado 80209
Legal Notice No. DHD 3338
First Publication: November 7, 2024
Last Publication: November 21, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Estate of Nancy E. Yeaman, aka Nancy Elizabeth Yeaman, aka Nancy Yeaman, aka Nancy E. Reeves, aka Nancy Elizabeth Reeves, and Nancy Reeves, Deceased
