end of day Dec. 31.
So long to the shop atop the mountain
BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Over the decades, the gift shop and café at the Bu alo Bill Museum & Gravesite has been a haven for tourists and locals alike. It was a quiet spot to relax and re ect, to sip co ee or hot chocolate while enjoying the views of Denver and the nearby foothills. It was a welcome relief for those who desperately needed some food or indoor bathrooms. It was also a fun spot to grab souvenirs so visitors could fondly remember their trip to Lookout Mountain.
It was, ultimately, a place of memories — good and bad, big and small, signi cant and eeting.
Now, that haven is closed inde nitely.
e Pahaska Tepee building, which housed the gift shop and café, closed at end of day Dec. 31. It was built in 1921 and has been run by the same family of concessionaires since 1956.
Denver Mountain Parks, which owns the site, plans to assess Pahaska Tepee’s condition and explore future programming op-
portunities for it.
Denver Parks & Recreation o cials have not said what those opportunities might be or when the building will reopen, whether on an interim basis or a permanent one, but encouraged people to check its website for updates.
In the meantime, the museum and gravesite will remain open with its usual hours.
Bill Carle and his nephew Dustin Day said their family has been running the Bu alo Bill Museum gift shop for ve generations, since Carle’s grandma answered Denver Mountain Parks’ request for proposals in 1956. By 2024, their family members had met about 80,000 people a year from all over the world. As Carle said, he and his family are leaving Lookout Mountain “with great memories but a bad feeling.”
Carle and Day said their family — the H.W. Stewart Company — wanted to continue its partnership with Denver Mountain Parks. However, the agency decided not to renew the agreement into 2025.
Day said the family would’ve been open to “an opportunity to adapt, overcome or step aside,” but there “wasn’t even a conversation” as Denver Mountain Parks seemed to make the decision unilaterally.
Now, Day and Carle said, they felt like they were letting the locals and the tourists down. ey expected Dec. 31 was going to be a di cult and busy day, with Carle adding, “I’ve had a wonderful life on Lookout Mountain. … It’s hard to leave.”
A place of memories e H.W. Stewart Company has been concessionaires at major Colorado sites since 1893, when it started operations atop Pike’s Peak. After that, it served as concessionaires for several public sites like Echo Lake Lodge, as well as private operations in Grand Lake and Estes Park.
For decades, Carle and Day said, Lookout Mountain served as a central location for family gatherings like Easter egg hunts and anksgiving dinners.
Denver to Pueblo in 11 minutes?
Hyperloop tests start soon
BY SUE MCMILLIN THE COLORADO SUN
Imagine slipping into a sleek capsule at a train-like station in Pueblo and arriving in Denver 11 minutes later. Regardless of the weather.
at’s the vision that drives Swisspod Technologies as it works to complete a one-mile, full-scale hyperloop test track on the grounds of the former Pueblo Army Depot in southeastern Colorado.
In November, Swisspod unveiled 25 steel tubes atop concrete pillars stretching across 218 yards of prairie. You could look through the tunnel-like structure from one end to another. Seemingly, pretty basic stu .
But they are the rst pieces of an elliptical test track for an intriguing, futuristic mode of high-speed transportation in which capsules carrying cargo or people would levitate through vacuum tubes.
“As fast as a plane and as convenient as a train,” Swisspod CEO Denis Tudor said as onlookers peered at or clambered into the empty tubes.
While enthusiasm for hyperloop technology fueled a decade ago by design competitions sponsored by Elon Musk and SpaceX has cooled signi cantly, Tudor and his company are unabashedly forging ahead. He expects to begin testing at the Pueblo track in late 2025.
e 43-acre hyperloop testing facility is part of another dream too: the conversion of the former Pueblo Depot into a sprawling complex of businesses and industry to provide jobs in Pueblo County.
“Swisspod’s hyperloop test track falls right into our research and development plans,” said Chris Bolt, vice president and chief operating o cer for PuebloPlex, the redevelopment authority for the former Army post.
On Dec. 30, customers browse the merchandise inside the Bu alo Bill Museum gift shop. The Pahaska Tepee building, where the gift shop and cafe are, was set to close indefinitely at
PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN
Colorado minimum wage rises 39 cents with New Year
Outside handful of cities, state rate is now $14.81
BY KIARA DEMARE CPR NEWS
Colorado’s minimum wage increased by 39 cents an hour starting on Jan. 1. at brings it to $14.81 an hour for jobs that don’t receive tips and $11.79 for those that do.
Colorado’s minimum wage rises annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). is year’s increase comes to 2.7% or about $811 more annually for a fulltime worker and means Colorado’s wage is now more than double the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.
A handful of Colorado cities and counties have chosen to raise their minimum wages even higher, and the hourly rates in those places will increase even more than the statewide one.
Proponents of the local minimum wage argue that it acknowledges that cost of living can vary a lot between communities.
“It actually adjusts the minimum wage really for what is happening in Denver, the place where those workers are working and living, rather than based on what’s happening at the national level or even the regional level,” said Markus Schneider, an associate professor of economics at the University of Denver.
Denver’s minimum wage increased from $18.29 to $18.81, the highest in the state.
Business groups warn that the rising wage can be hard for some employers to absorb, year after year.
“Small businesses in Colorado are facing mounting challenges,” Carly West, the Denver Metro Chamber’s Vice President of Government A airs, said in a statement to CPR. “Adding a minimum wage increase to this mix, especially for laborintensive businesses with slim margins, raises serious concerns.”
West noted that more than 200 restaurants closed in Denver last year. “A stark reminder,” she wrote, “of the pressures small businesses face as they work to keep their doors open.”
e city sets its minimum wage increases based on the Denver-AuroraLakewood CPI, which determines costs in the metropolitan area by looking at the average change in the price of goods and services.
But is the minimum wage correctly keeping up?
According to the Colorado Fiscal Institute, a liberal economic think tank, the answer is no.
Sophie Mariman, a labor policy analyst at CFI, argues that even though the wage now rises with in ation, it still doesn’t allow workers to truly support themselves
reframing what is economic prosperity in Colorado and is it more than just this index that keeps us up with in ation?” said Mariman. “Where did the bar start and what’s been happening in the context over the last few decades of wage stagnation, skyrocketing cost of living, skyrocketing cost of housing in Colorado? In ation isn’t necessarily the right measure for a living wage.”
Mariman points to Boulder for example, which has one of the highest minimums in the state, and also an extremely high cost of living. According to the self su ciency wage tool crafted by the liberal Colorado Center on Law and Policy, a single person would need to earn $23.09 an hour to make ends meet, a far cry from the city’s $15.57 minimum wage next year.
Colorado’s minimum wage has long been set to increase with in ation, but it started rising by leaps and bounds under a ballot measure approved by voters in 2016. at policy brought the minimum up to $12 an hour by 2020.
In 2019, state lawmakers voted to let cities and counties set their wages even higher than the state oor, something a handful have done.
As the minimum wage increases, many wonder how it a ects local businesses.
A meta study of minimum wage research since 1992 found that raising the
less education, as employers nd ways to get their work done with fewer people on their payroll.
Closer to home, a researcher for the business-oriented Common Sense Institute looked at proposals to raise the minimum wage in a number of Boulder County communities and concluded that, for every person pulled out of poverty in the next 15 years, the wage increases would cost between four and 12 jobs.
However, when it comes to small businesses in particular, a 2023 study from researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, found that minimum wage increases didn’t reduce how many people those businesses employ overall. e researchers also noted that higher wages should help with employment retention, saving business owners in the long run. Mariman from CFI also argues that, the more people make, the more they’re able to contribute to the local economy, eventually putting more money back into the pockets of businesses.
“After raising its wage, Denver saw higher job growth, higher earnings, and higher sales tax revenues,” Mariman said. “ ese increased wages help boost local spending, especially on food and drink outside of the home.” is story is from CPR News, a nonpro t public broadcaster serving Colorado.
tle VI Program page (recommended) or denver.com with “Proposed Title
RTD’s current Title VI program started in 2022 and runs through mid-2025. e agency’s updated program will be in e ect from mid-2025 to 2028. e public is encouraged to visit the Program page to learn more about the proposed updates and contribute feedback through the end of January.
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Statistics Confirm That the Seller’s Market Evaporated by the End of 2024
Now that 2024 has ended, we can see quite clearly that the seller’s market created during the Covid pandemic is now a thing of the past. December was a particularly slow month in a year that saw a great increase in the number of active listings, but little or no corresponding increase in sales, plus some other negative metrics, as shown in the charts at right.
As always, I derive these statistics from REcolorado, the Denver MLS, within a 25-mile radius of downtown Denver instead of using the multicounty “metro Denver” stats reported by the Denver Metro Association of Realtors.
that there were now more homebuyers than homes for sale, which fostered competition and drove home prices to unforeseen levels. From the start of the pandemic in March 2020 until the Federal Reserve began hiking rates in March 2022, home prices grew 37%, per Case-Shiller.
The most obvious indicator of a slowing market is how many listings expire without selling, and that number reached nearly 3,000 in December, about triple the figures for the first two Decembers of the pandemic, 2020 and 2021.
“In late 2022, home sales activity came to an abrupt halt when mortgage rates climbed from about 3% to above 7% in a matter of months. Buyers are still facing higher mortgage rates than they've seen in recent memory – on top of that, home prices are still staying stubbornly high after the pandemic housing boom. For many, especially first-time homebuyers who lack tappable equity, monthly mortgage payments have become too expensive at these new interest rates.
The ratio of closed price to listing price is another key indicator of a seller’s market. It peaked at 106.1% in April 2022, but has been as low as 92.0% since then.
The median sold price has leveled off but is still higher this December than all previous Decembers. It’s just that sellers are still overpricing their homes when they first put them on the market, producing that lower ratio.
The median time on market stayed well below 10 days throughout the pandemic, but has risen steadily since the fall of 2022 and is at its highest level in recent history now — 39 days. The average days on market is at 56 days. This compares to 30 days and 47 days respectively a year ago.
A big factor in the real estate market is always the cost of mortgage loans. At right is a graphic from USNews that charts the impact of interest rates on home prices from 1987 to present. Here’s that website’s interpretation of the chart:
“The housing market is in a mortgage rate stalemate: Homebuyers are priced out, and homeowners are reluctant to sell and trade in their low mortgage rates.”
So what should we expect in 2025?
Whenever there’s a market slowdown, it produces pent-up demand later on. And I foresee that pent-up demand expressing itself this month and this year in a more balanced market. The big increase is inventory shows that sellers are accepting that interest rates
“With mortgage rates at 3% or even lower, more homebuyers could afford to enter the market in the early 2020s. Home sales activity picked up, but housing inventory was insufficient to keep up with demand. Decades of housing underproduction in the U.S. meant
will stay at present levels, so they are no longer waiting for them to go down before sacrificing their current low interest rate loan to purchase a replacement home. Likewise, I see buyers accepting current interest rates as the “new normal” and getting off the fence.
Open House at 2-BR Condo in Downtown Golden
Nearly one-quarter of Americans say local and national politics highly influence their decision about where to live, according to a recent survey from Realtor.com. In some age groups, that percentage is even higher.
“With both local and national politicians making decisions that impact daily life, both socially and fiscally, it makes sense that many would prefer to live in areas where the politics align with their own beliefs,” according to Danielle Hale, Realtor.com’s chief economist.
Many of the respondents to a Realtor.com survey said their political views do not align with those of their neighbors, and 17% have considered moving for that reason.
That percentage was 28% for the millennial generation, who are also the most likely –at 33% - to report that their decisions about where to live are highly influenced by national politics. Among Gen Z respondents, 25% say politics influence their decisions, and among Gen X, it’s 21%. Only 16% of baby boomers felt that way.
Now a company called Oyssey has entered the home search business with an app that includes all the usual criteria plus neighbor-
hood politics — even block-by-block. Calling Oyssey an “app” minimizes the company’s intention, which is to replace Zillow as the go-to real estate search engine by providing more information about listings — including neighborhood politics. Currently, the app is sold to individual real estate brokers who can invite individual buyers to access it. It’s strictly a buyer’s tool, and brokers will still be using their current MLS for listing homes for sale. The idea is that Oyssey would replace buyer tools, such as email alerts, built into the MLS, and that the buyer agency agreements now required by the NAR settlement would be built into its functionality.
Ultimately, the company wants to partner with the nation’s MLSs to have their app be an included feature of that MLS instead of something brokers need to purchase on the side.
The app was introduced last month in south Florida and some New York cities, but should be available elsewhere, including Colorado, by the end of March 2025.
I am the first Colorado broker to have signed up for it when it comes to our market.
Condos in this building at 722 Washington Avenue (called Washington Station) are in great demand because of its location right in downtown Golden. This listing is Unit 201, which has a great corner location directly above the unit’s deeded parking spot. Moreover, the stairs to the parking garage are right next to the door to this unit. (There’s also an elevator.) This is a mixed use building, with commercial units on the main floor. The unit itself features an open floor plan, with slab granite countertops and cherry cabinets with handles, and an island with breakfast bar to complement the dining area. There’s a balcony outside the living room. It an all windows have mountain view. The bathrooms and kitchen have ceramic tile floors, and the rest of the unit has carpeting in like-new condition. There’s a 7’deep storage room and laundry closet with vinyl flooring. Take a narrated video tour at www.GoldenCondo.info, then come to the open house this Saturday, 11am to 1pm. Or call Kathy Jonke at 303-990-7428 to request a private showing.
$650,000
Originally listed for $750,000, the price is now $100,000 less! There’s so much to love about this home at 7085 W. 32nd Pl.! For starters, it’s a handyman’s delight with an oversized 2-car garage that is heated and has 200 Amps of power, including two 240-Volt circuits! Also, one of the basement bedrooms has been converted into a sound studio with professional soundproofing such that neighbors and the people upstairs wouldn’t be aware of it! Altogether, including that studio with its ensuite bathroom, this home has five bedrooms and three full bathrooms. And it has a full-size bar with bar stools next to that studio in the basement that is to die for. Under the new state law, the basement could be adapted into a 2-bedroom/1-bathroom accessory dwelling unit (ADU) to provide extra income for the owner. To fully appreciate this impressive home, which has been owned and lovingly maintained by the seller for 43 years, take the narrated video tour at www.GRElistings.com, then come to the open house this Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Or call Kathy at 303-990-7428.
NOTE: All prior “Real Estate Today” columns are archived at www.JimSmithColumns.com.
Jim Smith
Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851
Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com 1214 Washington Ave., Golden 80401 Broker Associates: JIM SWANSON, 303-929-2727
BROWN, 303-885-7855
Big Price Reduction on Brick Ranch in Wheat Ridge New App Adds Neighborhood Politics to
HYPERLOOP
Swisspod’s vision
Tudor was 25 years old when he began working on hyperloop technology in 2015. A student at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), he co-founded the rLoop and EPFLoop teams that competed in the Space X Hyperloop Pod competitions that ran from 2015 to 2019.
e teams won awards for best design (2016), best innovation (2017), best engineering (2018), and third place for speed (2018). e EPFLoop team also took third place overall in 2018 and 2019.
e competitions ended but in 2019 Tudor and fellow engineer Cyril Dénéréaz incorporated Swisspod Technologies with the goal of making hyperloop transportation a reality.
Two years later they were building a one-quarter scale test loop in Lausanne in cooperation with EPFL and the School of Engineering and Management Vaud, a branch of the University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland.
at same year, Swisspod announced a partnership with Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (now MxV Rail) to build the full-scale test track at the PuebloPlex.
e rst steel tubes were installed in October 2023.
Meanwhile, various tests began at the Lausanne track in 2022, and the capsule prototype was completed in 2023.
In June 2024, it completed the longestever hyperloop test trial, sending its autonomous capsule 11.8 kilometers (about 7 miles) along the test track in Lausanne. e capsule reached speeds of about 25 mph.
A key di erence between Swisspod’s e ort and other hyperloop developers is that the infrastructure is cheaper to build because nearly all of the electri cation and controls are in the pods rather than the track, Tudor explained at the Pueblo track unveiling.
He estimated that a fully electri ed rail system costs about $100 million per mile, whereas the Swisspod concept would cost $12 million to $15 million per mile. e rail itself would contain only vacuum pumps and some sensors; the rest of the controls will be on the pod, which can be manufactured as needed.
“We took the electri cation o the rail — which is where the cost of high-speed rail is — and put it on the pod,” said Sotiris Pagdadis, a Swisspod board member and director who spoke at the Pueblo event.
He and other investors and board members touted the moxie of the engineering team that is working to transform transportation.
“Four years ago a bunch of crazy scientists and engineers had the vision to set up two test sites,” Pagdadis said.
“ ey had the audacity to believe they could do something that hadn’t been done.”
Andy Jesik, head of infrastructure for the company at PuebloPlex, said nearly everything at the test track is built in Colorado. e large steel tubes are built in Denver by H&L Pipe and Steel, for example.
e test track is elevated atop concrete columns, but the track could also be underground, he said. Either way, the system is immune to weather conditions for operations.
While the land where the test track is being constructed east of Pueblo is wide open and weather for construction is generally good, Jesik noted that building on a former Army facility came with some hazards.
“When we started soil testing we had to watch a video on unexploded ordnance,” he said with a chuckle. “ at’s when I knew this was going to be an interesting project.”
But so far one of the biggest challenges has been getting the rails into the tube and aligning them, he said.
When completed, the mile-long track will be the largest hyperloop test track in the world and the second-large vacuum chamber in the United States, Swisspod head of marketing Madalina Stoicescu said in an email.
Hyperloop activity wanes
Elsewhere, there is less enthusiasm for the so-called fth mode of transportation (after cars, trains, planes and boats), especially since the ballyhooed Hyperloop One shut down a year ago.
Started in 2013 as Hyperloop Technologies by Silicon Valley investor Shervin Pishevar, the company underwent numerous transformations and name changes as its engineers developed technology. It became Virgin Hyperloop after entering into a partnership with Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, then reverted back to Hyperloop One in 2022 after Branson pulled his company out of the endeavor, according to the BBC. e company shifted its focus to cargo instead of people and investment dwindled. It also endured scandal, with directors accused of embezzlement and sexual misconduct, the BBC reported. It shut down completely in December 2023.
Other startups around the world continue to pursue the technology, and India and China are particularly interested. Swisspod has a memorandum of understanding to operate in India and to collaborate with TuTr Hyperloop at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Stoicescu said.
In September, Hardt Hyperloop announced that it has successfully tested a levitation vehicle at its European Hyperloop Center in the Netherlands, e Associated Press reported.
Tudor noted that the technologies being pursued could have multiple applications, including in space exploration and high-speed rail, and the concepts have been around for a long time.
Although there has been some government interest — and investment — many, including in Colorado, are waiting for hyperloop to further develop. Colorado Department of Transportation Director Shoshana Lew said at a 2019 conference that CDOT was focused on available technologies.
“We are excited to see any new technology being researched, but for our projects that are on the horizon for the near term, such as mountain rail from Denver to Craig, we are envisioning the use of available technologies,” CDOT spokesperson Tim Hoover said this month.
Southern Colorado connection
O cials in southern Colorado are a bit more excited about hyperloop and the test track under construction at PuebloPlex.
Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham attended the unveiling of the rst sections of the test track and said it will bring attention to the city and the developing PuebloPlex.
It’s exciting to see “the reuse of the chemical depot site in a new way,” she said.
Bolt, the COO of PuebloPlex, said it is great to have cutting-edge technology companies as a part of the complex.
e rst 5,000 acres of PuebloPlex was transferred in July from the Army to the redevelopment authority. Eventually, the full 23,000 acres of the depot, which in its history stored and maintained missiles and other ordnance, including 780,000 mustard agent- lled munitions, will be available for redevelopment.
PuebloPlex is working with the Army and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on the ongoing cleanup of the grounds as it recruits businesses to locate there.
MxV rail moved its railroad research and development operations in 2022 from the federal Transportation Technology
Center just north of PuebloPlex. MxV is a subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads.
e company spent $60 million over three years to repurpose facilities and build test tracks at PuebloPlex, MvX CEO and President Kari Gonzales, a Pueblo native, said. e company has about 250 employees, mostly in southern Colorado. It is the anchor tenant at PuebloPlex and has classrooms and meeting space, along with a cafeteria. MxV o ers courses on such things as alternative fuels and for rst responders who might be called to a derailment or re.
PuebloPlex also is home to manufacturer Cooper and Turner, which makes anchor bolt assemblies for wind turbine foundations.
And all of the secure igloos that once housed chemical weapons are leased for storage of such valuables as classic cars and artwork, Bolt said.
He noted that PuebloPlex is “just getting started” and he’s excited to see what it will become.
“We evaluate each prospect as they contact us and do our due diligence,” he said. “We’re open to talk to any prospect and then determine if they’re a good t. ere’s a lot of opportunity out here so we want to make sure we see the big picture for years to come.”
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.
PHOTO BY MIKE SWEENEY
Carle, who’s lived on-site at Pahaska Tepee for 30 years, recalled several happy memories there, as well as stressful ones like shoveling several feet snow o the roof during the historic 2003 storm. However, he and his family members weren’t the only ones who had fond memories of Pahaska Tepee.
ornton couple Josh Martinez and Makayla Arellano sat in the café Dec. 30, drinking hot chocolate and enjoying the views. ey said they were recreating what they did on the second-ever date two years ago.
e two have returned to the museum and gift shop several times to reconnect, saying it had become a special place for them and brought back that feeling from when they rst started dating.
Arellano added how the sta members have been so sweet every time they’ve visited, and Martinez said the gift shop and café had a “homey and welcoming” feel, like a grandparent’s house.
Plus, they said, it has the best hot chocolate.
Golden sisters Margot Plummer and Mary Meyers said they’ve been visiting the museum and gift shop every few years since 1948. ey’ve enjoyed the views and things they’ve bought there over the decades.
Plummer recalled one friend who loved the bison chili the café served so much, she made frequent trips up the mountain to eat it.
While plenty of longtime fans stopped by Dec. 30 to bid Pahaska Tepee farewell, others were newcomers.
Savanna Newland had traveled from Florida to visit relatives, and they made a trip up Lookout Mountain together. New-
land had found some honey to buy, saying the gift shop “seems so cute” and was sad to hear it was closing.
Likewise, Arvada’s Jon Dunkle was in the café, drinking co ee and enjoying the view.
He said he was killing time while carshopping, and decided to nally visit the Bu alo Bill Museum & Gravesite after hearing about it for so many years. He didn’t realize the gift shop was closing, but bought himself a half-priced hat for
the summer.
He said of visiting the site: “We’re lucky to live in a spot where you can still nd new stu .”
What’s next?
Starting Jan. 1, Denver Parks & Recreation would be evaluating Pahaska Tepee. e 104-year-old building requires a thorough conditions assessment, spokesperson Holly Batchelder stated via email Dec. 30, as Denver o cials also evaluate
“operational changes that reduce pressure on (the building’s) mechanical systems.”
She continued: “ e closure will facilitate historic preservation e orts and exploration of future programming opportunities that celebrate the diverse heritage associated with Bu alo Bill’s Wild West. Interim uses within the Pahaska Tepee building and surrounding site may be implemented depending on the condition and limitations of the space.”
As Lookout Mountain was the H.W. Stewart Company’s last concessionaire agreement, Carle and Day said they and their family members’ sole focus would be their private shops in Grand Lake and Estes Park.
Carle and Day were both frustrated Denver o cials were closing Pahaska Tepee with no formative plan for its future. ey were worried it would end up like Echo Lake Lodge, where their family also had a concessionaire agreement that Denver Mountain Parks ended in October 2022.
Since then, the lodge has been closed. In April 2024, Denver Mountain Parks told CBS News Colorado it initially planned to reopen the lodge by 2026 — its 100th anniversary — but wasn’t sure how feasible that would be.
Carle and Day described how, when facilities like that close, it’s di cult to reopen them and retake that spot in people’s consciousness. As they summarized: “Out of sight, out of mind.”
Whatever the future holds for Pahaska Tepee, or the Bu alo Bill Museum & Gravesite in general, Carle and Day thanked everyone they’ve met from Golden, Denver and beyond — whether they were visitors or employees.
“It’s been a treat,” Day said. Carle added: “ is is what we do. … is is the greatest business you can be in.”
On Dec. 30, concessionaires Dustin Day, left, and Bill Carle mark their family’s second-to-last day operating the Bu alo Bill Museum gift shop atop Lookout Mountain. Several generations of their family have run the shop since Carle’s grandma first won the bid to do so in 1956.
PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN
BY JACQUI SOMEN
Berkeley resident builds electric vehicle in his garage
SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Gray Carstens, a junior at CU Denver studying electrical engineering, is looking to add a spark to his contributions to reducing greenhouse gases.
“If we want to change the world, we’re just going to have to do it ourselves,” said Carstens, a Berkeley neighborhood resident who has been building an electric vehicle in his garage.
“ e fact of the matter is that after about ve years of owning an electric vehicle, it’s net-zero in terms of emissions output,” he added, “and zero-emissions cars are an important step to addressing climate change.”
Even as it is often said that the actions of an individual may not make a signicant e ect, they do add up, especially when it comes to electric vehicle use. In a six-year study, researchers at the University of Southern California discovered that with more electric vehicle adoption came lower air-pollution levels and fewer asthma-related emergency room visits.
Denver is no stranger to the e ects of emissions. According to the Colorado School of Public Health, the combination of industry and how the city sits at the base of the mountains subject Denver residents to inversions. is phenomenon holds ozone pollution over the city, making air quality less than ideal. While Denver is a long way from the notorious “brown cloud” of the 1980s, it was ranked the sixth-worst city in the nation for ozone pollution by the American Lung Association in 2024. Zero-emission cars are among the ALA’s
recommendations for improving air quality.
Carstens took this advice one step further and said that people need a collective change in how they think about purchasing vehicles.
“People need to become more comfortable with owning things with an intention of sustainability,” he said. “We need to shift our mentality to say, ‘I’m buying this because it’s going to last me 30 years.’”
e bene ts of electric vehicles have been on the forefront of sustainability conversations for decades. Carstens was inspired to explore electric car building by his stepfather, Je , who told him about “Who Killed the Electric Car,” a 2006 documentary that explains the troublesome history of the electric car’s battle for corporate adoption. He channeled that inspiration into building an electric gokart when he was 13 years old.
With a background that includes not only a middle-school project but also working at an automotive performance shop and formal education in electrical engineering, Carstens had what it takes to build an electric vehicle. All he needed was the perfect subject.
After more than a year of searching, he found a 1988 Toyota truck, the owner of which had begun to transform it into an electric vehicle but abandoned the project. Carstens bought the truck from a man in Blackhawk alongside an electric motor and some components to operate the motor, but nothing was put together. It took Carstens and Je ve hours to get the truck down the mountain after a series of at tires. But eventually, they got it back to Berkeley and got to work.
Over the next 18 months, Carstens took apart every component of the engine and put it back together. Recently, Carstens took on the nal, most challenging step — building out the electric battery pack. Today, the truck is driveable, and his next task is to nd out how to make it street-legal. Carstens has already procured the next car for his project, a 1989 Toyota Cressida.
Not everyone has the skills and resources to build their own electric vehicle like Carstens, but widespread electric vehicle adoption is not out of reach for many Denver residents, and Coloradans are increasingly making the transition.
e Colorado Automobile Dealers Association’s third-quarter outlook reports that 21.9% of vehicle registrations in the third quarter of 2024 were electric vehicles. e Tesla Model Y and the Nissan Leaf both fell into the top 10 cars in Colorado through September. Carstens said he isn’t sure exactly what he will do with his electric vehiclebuilding skills and electrical engineering degree, but he knows that electric vehicles are his future. While he acknowledges that electric vehicles may not be the be-all-end-all solution to reducing emissions, “electric vehicles are a shift toward the right direction,” he said.
Gray Carstens and the electric battery he used to convert an old Toyota truck. PHOTO BY JACQUI SOMEN
Free agriculture teaching kit available for classrooms
STAFF REPORT
Students across Colorado have the opportunity to learn about the profound impact that agricultural gure Dr. John Matsushima has had on modern farming and ranching practices through the book, “Cattle, Corn and Courage.” Colorado Agriculture in the
Classroom’s annual literacy project is o ering classrooms statewide a free kit lled with interactive activities and corresponding educational resources to teach students about Colorado agriculture.
For 2025, two class kits will be available — one for elementarylevel students and one for middle
and high school students. e kits will include a variety of interactive activities, including beef-tasting experience and lesson in beef nutrition; a whole dent corn and steam- aked corn sensory activity; a corn seed germination experiment; access to videos and a virtual eld trip to History Colorado Center in Denver.
Legislators hear concerns over open meetings law
Current standard lets lawmakers keep their discussions secret
BY SARA WILSON COLORADO NEWSLINE
Government transparency advocates expressed their frustration with recent changes made to Colorado’s open meetings law during a public hearing on Dec. 30, though there is no guarantee the law will get amended again.
e Colorado General Assembly approved the change last March in an attempt to update the open meetings law for a world with email, cell phones and text messages, which did not exist when voters adopted the law in 1972. Sponsors and supporters also said the changes allow legislators to brainstorm and have informal conversations.
Colorado Foundation for Agriculture is a nonpro t and serves prekindergarten through 12th grade formal and informal education across Colorado. For details about the di erent kits available, visit colorado.agclassroom.org/teaching/literacy. Deadline to sign up is Jan. 20 or until kit requests are maxed out.
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Critics, however, contend that the update allows for secret policy negotiations that fall outside of formal votes and committee hearings. is could deprive members of the public, they argue, of a meaningful view of how policies are formulated and instead allow public access only to formal votes without substantive discussion.
“As a watchdog, it’s important for the press to also have access to the work that you do — not just the public votes, but understanding how you reach your decisions. We’re concerned that (Senate Bill 24-157) weakens that ability and makes it easier for those discussions to happen in private,” Kevin Dale, the executive editor of Colorado Public Radio News, told legislative leaders on Monday.
e opportunity for public testimony before the end of 2024 was a requirement in the law.
e Legislative Council has the power to consider changes on an annual basis until 2026.
e original law de nes an open meeting, which requires a notice and ability for public observation, as a gathering between at least two lawmakers to discuss public business. e update, which applies only to the General Assembly and not local public bodies such as city councils, rede nes public business as “introduced legislation” or “proposed legislation” prepared by the O ce of Legislative Legal Services and under discussion by
a quorum of a committee and excludes “matters that are by nature interpersonal, administrative, or logistical or that concern personnel, planning, process, training, or operations.” Previously, the law de ned public business as the formation of public policy. at new de nition was the basis for the exclusion of reporters from Democratic caucus meetings over the summer that went over the possibility of a special summer session on property taxes. ere was no introduced legislation at the time of the caucus meetings.
“It was startling and disturbing to hear that journalists and the public were excluded from caucus meetings before the August special session on property taxes using the new de nition of public business. Caucus members were given copies of the tax proposal during meetings, but leaders told the Colorado Sun there really wasn’t a policy conversation,” said Je Roberts, the executive director of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition.
House Speaker Julie McCluskie, a Dillon Democrat, said that the August meetings had substantial conversation about the campaigns for and against a pair of property tax measures that were on the November ballot. e risk of those measures was the impetus for the special session, but the campaigns were not identi ed as
public business.
Since then, McCluskie said House Democrats started posting notices for meetings that could contain policy discussion even if there are not introduced bills involved.
Both Dale and Roberts, as well as Colorado Press Association CEO Tim Regan-Porter, want to see all caucus meetings subject to the open meeting law.
“Until such a change is made, we urge all caucuses to voluntarily adopt this standard as a matter of good faith and accountability,” Regan-Porter said.
It is possible that the Legislature will consider bills next session to address the open meeting issue.
“I do believe that we need to continue to move forward in guring out how to — openly, before the people — craft the best policy possible,” Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, a Monument Republican, said. Lundeen voted against the bill this year. “We need to nd out how to do the public’s business in front of the public in a way that still preserves the fact that creating legislation is very relational.”
e General Assembly reconvened on Jan. 8.
is story is from Colorado Newsline. Used by permission. For more, and to support the news organization, visit coloradonewsline.com.
AG Weiser declares for 2026 governor’s race
As Coloradans returned from the New Year’s holiday, the state’s top elected lawyer announced a major resolution: to run for governor in 2026.
Democrat Phil Weiser is midway through his second term as attorney general. Over his six years in o ce he made a name for himself ghting the rst Trump administration in court, as well as suing opioid manufacturers and social media companies.
Attorney general is Weiser’s rst elected o ce. He previously served as dean of the University of Colorado law school. He also held posts in the Obama administration, including deputy assistant attorney general in the anti-trust division and as an advisor to the national economic council.
With Gov. Jared Polis term limited, political watchers expect a long list of Democrats to enter the race to replace him.
e left-leaning group Healthier Colorado, and right-leaning Magellan Strategies recently surveyed 630 Democratic and una liated voters on four of the potential primary candidates.
Twenty percent of those polled said they’d support congressman Joe Neguse in a theoretical Democratic primary, 16% went for Secretary of State Jena Griswold, 11% for former Interior Secretary and U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar and 8% for Weiser.
On the Republican side, state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, and outgoing 4th Congressional District Rep. Greg Lopez, who was selected to ll out the last few months of Ken Buck’s term, are potential contenders.
Other than Weiser, none of those potential contenders has yet con rmed they’re interested in the o ce.
is story is from CPR News, a nonpro t public broadcaster serving Colorado. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org.
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The Colorado state Capitol, pictured in 2023. FILE PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD
BY MEGAN VERLEE CPR NEWS
Thu 1/16
Ploom (Denver): PP Presents:
Ploom w/ Tarantula Bill + Chroma Lips | Lost Lake - Jan 16
@ 8pm
Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver
Tarantula Bill
@ 8pm
Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver
Man Cub @ 8pm
Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver
Luci @ Church Nightclub
@ 9pm
Live @ The Rose - Colorado Cowboy Gathering- Kickin' It Off Matinee Performance @ 12pm / $25
Buffalo Rose, 1119 Washington Av‐enue, Golden. information@buf falorose.net
Wild Love Tigress: Album Release Show @ 7pm
Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver
Jono Zalay: Rotating Tap @ Landlocked Ales @ 8pm
The Church, 1160 Lincoln St, Denver
Death By Dub
@ 9pm
Ophelia's Electric Soapbox, 1215 20th St, Den‐ver
Fri 1/17
Live @ The Rose - Colorado Cowboy Gathering- Evening Performance
@ 6:30pm / $25
Buffalo Rose, 1119 Washington Avenue, Golden. information@buffalorose.net
Party Iconic
@ 8pm
Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver
Dechen Hawk
@ 9pm
BurnDown Denver, 476 S Broadway, Denver
Polysanto @ 8pm
LandLocked Ales, 3225 S Wadsworth Blvd, Lakewood
Bellakeo - 2000's Reggaeton Night21+ @ 9pm / $15-$25 Summit, Denver
Sat 1/18
The Warrior Poet @ 5pm Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Den‐ver
Emily Barnes @ 5pm Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver
Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver
Meeks @ 9pm Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver
Sun 1/19
Kevin James Doyle: After Endgame @ 7pm
Chaos Bloom Theater, 70 S Broadway, Denver
kalos @ 7pm
Swallow Hill Music, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver
Mon 1/20
Lana del Rabies @ 7pm Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver
Tue 1/21
Lyle the Crocodile: Theatre for Young Audiences @ 9am / $19
Jan 21st - Feb 28th
Arvada Center for the Arts and Human‐ities, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada. mturner@arvadacenter.org
Continental League Honor Music Festival @ 7pm
Boettcher Concert Hall, 1400 Curtis Street, Den‐ver
Wed 1/22
Back to the Future - The Musical
@ 7:30pm
Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre, 1400 Curtis Street, Denver
Jesus Christ Taxi Driver @ 8pm
Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place, Denver
glaive @ 8pm
Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave, Denver
Elsa y Elmar @ 7pm Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Den‐ver
Bad Bad Hats @ 7pm Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver
BY ANN SCHIMKE CHALKBEAT
Nine Colorado education stories to watch in 2025
For Colorado schools, 2024 was a year of big changes in funding, continued concerns about declining enrollment even amid the arrival of thousands of new immigrant students, and the growing popularity of a free preschool program that faces big legal challenges. Here are some of the issues we’re watching in 2025.
How might Trump’s immigration policies a ect migrant students?
In 2024, at least 85 Colorado school districts enrolled more than 8,000 migrant students combined. Many came from Venezuela and other South American countries. State lawmakers sent districts an additional $24 million to help serve new students who arrived mid-year. Migrant students boosted enrollment in districts where there had been declines, including Denver. Teachers scrambled to support them, both academically and with basic needs like housing. Some of those e orts were beautiful. Others were hard. And some were both.
“ e bright spots are the growth of our kids and our community,” Valdez Elementary Principal Jessica Buckley told Chalkbeat in February. “ e challenge is resources.”
It’s unclear how President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of increased immigration enforcement — and potential mass deportations — will impact migrant students, their families, and the schools that serve them. Some Colorado school district leaders are already preparing: e
Colorado Association of School Boards recently invited a Nebraska superintendent who had experienced an immigration raid to talk to state leaders about his experience. His advice?
“Be prepared,” former Superintendent Steve Joel told Colorado school o cials.
“Your community, your parents, your leaders, your state, they’ll appreciate you for it.”
Appeals court could decide Colorado’s Catholic preschool case
A federal appeals court could decide in 2025 whether religious schools in Colorado’s state-funded preschool program have to abide by non-discrimination rules protecting LGBTQ children and families.
at’s the issue at the heart of a lawsuit brought by two Denver-area Catholic parishes that run preschools. e Catholic preschools wanted to join the state preschool program, but didn’t want to admit LGBTQ children or children from LGBTQ families. e lawsuit is one of several cases involving the state’s universal preschool program.
A lower court judge largely ruled against the Catholic parishes in June, but they’re now appealing. Experts say the case, which pits religious liberty against LGBTQ rights, could wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Colorado faces budget challenges that could impact education
In November, Gov. Jared Polis released a proposed budget that showed the state could have less revenue during a time when its nancial obligations for pro-
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grams like Medicaid have gone up. Recent revenue projections have improved, but the state is still facing a budget hole. Polis’ budget calls for cuts, including a big change to how the state doles out funding to school districts based on student enrollment and scaling back a new funding formula passed last year. (More on that new formula below.) Meanwhile, Polis’ budget calls for higher education to get a modest $12.1 million increase.
Lawmakers on the powerful Joint Budget Committee have the most say in crafting the budget. ey will have plenty to sort through in the coming months.
How much is adequate education funding in Colorado?
Colorado lawmakers approved a brand new funding formula last year — the rst major revamp since 1993. However, the formula didn’t say whether the new funding levels were enough.
So how much money do school districts need to adequately teach students?
Colorado commissioned two “adequacy studies” to understand the answer. ose studies are due at the beginning of the year.
Colorado could require more emphasis on climate science
In recent months, numerous Colorado high school students have told the State Board of Education they’ve learned little or nothing about climate change during their K-12 careers.
In December, the board took a preliminary step to address those concerns by asking education department o cials to recommend changes to the state science
standards that would put more emphasis on climate science.
e science standards — basically a big list of knowledge and skills Colorado students should have in various areas — are due to be revised in 2025.
e state’s current science standards reference climate change in middle school and high school, but not elementary school. If the standards change, teachers will have to adapt their lessons over the next few years to match the standards.
School closures will prompt decisions about vacant buildings
Seven Denver schools will close in the spring of 2025, and three more schools will partially close, due to declining enrollment in Colorado’s largest school district. at decision was controversial, and a parent group has led a lawsuit to try to stop it.
e Je co and Aurora school districts have also closed schools recently because of declining enrollment, and Douglas County School District is expected to do the same in 2025.
e school closures will leave districts grappling with another big question: what to do with the vacant buildings. Denver has promised not to sell any schools and to consult with the community on future uses. Meanwhile, Je co is in the midst of several sales that could be nalized next year, and Aurora is still deciding what to do with at least one building.
&
A positive outlook for the new year
It’s no secret that the world has seen its fair share of chaos and confusion in recent times. With constant upheaval, many of us have become conditioned to approach life with a sense of cynicism, keeping our guard up as a natural self-defense mechanism. It’s an understandable response when life throws curveballs, it’s easier to expect the worst and shield ourselves from disappointment.
But what if we chose a di erent approach?
Imagine if, instead of defaulting to skepticism or negativity, we intentionally shifted our initial reactions to focus on the positive. What if we looked for potential and opportunity rather than questioning, challenging, or seeking out aws? is isn’t about ignoring reality or pretending problems don’t exist. It’s about approaching life with trust, abundance, and optimism.
The glass is always refillable
WINNING
are met with harsh criticism, not because they lack merit but because the people evaluating them have experienced change fatigue. e skepticism isn’t rooted in the offering itself but in an emotional exhaustion from adapting to constant ux.
But what if we approached these situations di erently? What if, instead of immediately looking for what’s wrong, we asked, “What’s possible?” is shift in perspective opens the door to creativity, collaboration, and innovation. It helps us see potential solutions rather than dwelling on the problems.
The courage to be vulnerable
We’ve all heard the debate: Is the glass half full or half empty? Some argue that it’s neither, it’s simply re llable. is perspective is powerful because it reminds us that our outlook isn’t static. We can choose how we see the world and, more importantly, how we respond to it.
Choosing to see the glass as re llable requires vulnerability. It asks us to trust again, even when past experiences have left us burned. It means embracing a mindset of abundance, where we believe that goodness and opportunity are not nite resources but are available to us if we’re willing to look for them.
From scarcity to opportunity e shift from negativity to positivity starts with reframing how we perceive change and challenges. Too often, new products, services, or initiatives
Changing our outlook requires courage. Positivity is not about naivete, it’s about being brave enough to hope, trust, and believe in the possibility of good outcomes. It means lowering our defenses and embracing the idea that not every change or new idea will hurt us. is vulnerability doesn’t make us weak; it makes us resilient. When we choose to trust, we free ourselves from the fear and scarcity that cloud our judgment and limit our potential. Positivity doesn’t guarantee success but fosters the environment needed to grow, learn, and thrive.
A resolution for the new year
As we enter this new year, let’s set a simple yet powerful goal: to adopt a positive outlook. is isn’t about pretending everything is perfect; it’s about choosing to see the good, even in imperfect circumstances.
The Dream of the 90s is alive at History Colorado Center
IHere are a few ways to start:
Pause before reacting: When faced with change or challenges, take a moment to look for the potential before responding. Ask yourself, “What’s the opportunity here?”
Celebrate wins, big and small: Acknowledge progress, even if it’s incremental. Positivity grows when we focus on achievements rather than shortcomings.
Practice gratitude: Regularly re ect on what you’re thankful for. Gratitude shifts our focus away from scarcity and toward abundance.
Encourage others: Be a voice of support for those around you. Positivity is contagious, and encouraging others helps create a culture of optimism.
Finding the good in the world
Choosing positivity doesn’t mean ignoring the bad; it means not letting it de ne us. It’s about recognizing the goodness, opportunities, and potential that coexist with the challenges. Focusing on the good makes us more likely to nd solutions, build stronger connections, and live a more ful lling life.
As you enter this new year, challenge yourself to see the glass not as half empty or half full but as endlessly re llable. Look for the good, embrace opportunities, and trust in the possibility of positive outcomes. I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@ gmail.com and when we live a life viewed through the lens of positivity, it is a life lled with potential, a resolution worth keeping, and one that will make it 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.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
t’s a bit jarring to see the decade of your childhood featured as an exhibit in a history museum, but once I visited History Colorado’s “ e 90s: Last Decade Before the Future,” it became clear why this decade went under the microscope. It was a critical time when so much of our current reality was kicked-o .
“ e 1990s were a pivotal bridge decade between our analog past and digital future,” said Jeremy Morton, exhibition developer and historian at History Colorado. “So often when we look at history, we’re looking back 50, a hundred or a thousand years. ese events are perceived as having more importance, but we wanted to use this exhibit to validate people’s experiences of living through more recent life-changing history.” “ e 90s: Last Decade Before the Future,” runs at the History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway in Denver. It will be on display through Oct. 26.
According to provided information, the exhibit takes guests through the “technological revolutions, landmark moments, and rapid social, cultural, economic and political changes that planted the seeds for the 21st century.” Some of the events explored include the rise of the 24-hour news station, cellphones and the internet, and the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Each year gets its own deep dive and guests can also learn more about a range of themes, including fashion, lm, sports and video games.
To help visitors connect with the stories being told, the exhibit features objects from History Colorado’s archives and loaned from museums, libraries and private collectors across the country. Some highlights include a piece of the Berlin Wall, items from the Clintons’ time in the White House and the costumes from lms like “Ghost” and “Saving Private Ryan.”
e 90s were also the decade where Denver and the Front Range started to become a big player in the country, and that is reected through the new sports teams that made the city home, and the burgeoning growth of Denver as a whole. Jerseys from John Elway and Patrick Roy help paint a picture of that development.
Connections are made throughout the exhibit to the challenging times we nd ourselves in currently and Morton hopes visitors come away feeling more resilient about the future.
“When visiting the exhibit, people will be reminded of the barrage of life changing events that happened during the 90s, events we survived and came out stronger after,” he said. “We hope this will inspire people to face the present and future by demonstrating what we’ve already lived through.”
Find more information at www.historycolorado.org/exhibit/the-90s.
Clarke Reader
Mayor by night, wine expert by day
Tips from Littleton’s Kyle Schlachter to boost your wine game this year
BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e world of wine can be intimidating. From guessing what to serve with a let mignon to struggling through an incomprehensible wine list at a fancy restaurant, it can seem like there is a large barrier to entry.
But if you want to impress your friends at dinner parties this year, fear not — Littleton Mayor Kyle Schlachter has answers to help you.
Although many know him only as the man in the center of the dais, Schlachter is also a wine professional. In his day job as the executive director for the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board, Schlachter works to promote and develop the state’s wine industry, largely through marketing and research.
To help those who want to up their wine game this year, Schlachter broke it down to the basics.
Why are wines di erent colors?
When you look at a bottle of wine from the U.S., it often lists one or several words — like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir or Chardonnay, Schlachter said. ese words, which most wine drinkers are familiar with, are the names of di erent kinds of grapes.
“ ey all have slightly di erent characteristics with the size of the grapes, the sizes of the bunches — are they real big bunches or small bunches? e skin — do they have thick skin or light skin?” Schlachter said. “It’s those characteristics that then get passed on into the wine.”
Schlachter said you can think of these di erent kinds of grapes — called cultivars — like dog breeds. e wine grapes are part of the species Vitis vinifera, just like how domestic dogs are Canis lupus familiaris. Within the species, there are di erent dog breeds — like masti s and golden retrievers — just as there are different grape cultivars, like Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc.
Wine grapes are di erent from the grapes people eat as a snack, Schlachter said. Although many people think red wine comes from red grapes and white wine comes from green grapes, this is not entirely accurate. Almost all wine grapes have “yellowish, clearish esh and juice” if you peel the skins o , Schlachter said. Red wine is made when skins and seeds of red grapes are crushed and fermented
READER
Parson builds an artistic altar to the earth
Local artist Charles Parson is well known for the thought and craft he brings to all his projects, and his latest exhibit, “Altars to the Earth,” beautifully explores his love for the Eastern High Plains.
On display at the Parker Arts, Culture & Events Center (PACE), 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., through Sunday, Feb. 23, the show features site-observation drawings, sculptures and dimensional pieces that “merge abstract geometry with represen-
with the juice, whereas white wine does not include the skin and seeds.
“ at pigment leaks out when you crush them all together and mix them up,” Schlachter said. “ at’s where it gets the color. at’s why you can make white wine from red grapes if you don’t let the skin get in contact with the juice that you crush.”
For example, Schlachter said, three main grape varieties are used to make Champagne, and two of them are red grapes. e skins and seeds are not included in the process, so the well-known sparkling wine is white or light yellow in color.
Rosé wines can be made a few di erent ways, Schlachter said. One of the more traditional ways is to use red grapes and include the skins just a little bit, so the wine picks up a small amount of color.
Orange wine is made when the greenish-yellow skins of white grapes are involved in the fermentation process, Schlachter said.
How do you choose which wine to serve with a meal?
When it comes to wine pairing, Schlachter has very simple advice.
“ e number one rule, I would say, is drink what you like — or at least have options for people to drink what they like,” he said.
Typically, the guideline is to drink red wine with red meat and white wine with sh, vegetables or white meat, Schlachter said. e whole point of pairing is to create an experience where both the food and wine taste better when you have them together. But there is no reason to limit yourself to these rules,
tational imagery,” inspired by Parson’s pein air studies in the region, according to provided information.
e gallery is open during PACE Center box o ce hours. For more information, visit https://parkerarts.org/event/ art-exhibit-charles-parson-altars-to-theearth/.
Raices Brewing o ers bilingual laughs
What better way to start out the new year than with some laughs? And Raices Brewing Co., 2060 W. Colfax Ave. in Denver, o ers hilarity for both English and Spanish speakers at its Raices Comedia: Open Mic event, which happens every third Wednesday
Schlachter said.
“It doesn’t mean that you can’t have a white wine with steak,” he said. “If you don’t like red wine, don’t force yourself to drink something that you don’t like.”
He also said it’s good to explore new kinds of wine, especially when hosting.
“If you’re going to have your family over, don’t just have one bottle,” he said. “Get two or three. Have a white, a red and a rosé, or a white, a red and a sparkling open, so people can try di erent things and explore and just have fun.”
How does region make a di erence in a wine?
Beyond kinds and colors, trying wine from di erent regions can bring out new avors, Schlachter said.
“It all comes down to the place where the grapes are grown — how the soils, and the sun and the proximity to water a ects it,” Schlachter said.
e way that a region’s unique climate, soils and terrain a ect the taste of wine is called “terroir,” as de ned by the wine education company Wine Folly.
“What’s in a bottle of wine re ects that
of the month at 6:30 p.m.
Sign up for the free bilingual event goes live at 6:30 p.m. and the comedy kicks-o at 7 p.m. e show is available to audiences of all ages and will also feature the brewery’s delicious drafts and beverages and a rotating food truck. Find more information at https://www. raicesbrewing.com/calendar.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Rod Wave’s Last Lap Tour at Ball Arena Rod Wave is an interesting voice in the rap landscape. e Florida-born performer often taps into the same trap subject matter and lyricism as some of his peers, but delivers it with the sonic styl-
uniqueness,” Schlachter said. “ at’s why you can taste a Merlot from France, a Merlot from Argentina, a Merlot from California, and they all taste similar, but di erent — because it’s based on the different soils, the di erent weather.”
Schlachter said Colorado’s environment and high elevation makes it a unique wine-growing atmosphere. He said there are more than 160 wineries in the state, with most of the vineyards in the Palisade area.
“We’re one of the highest grape-growing regions in the world,” he said. “ at’s unique, because we’re very dry. Humidity is very low here, so the grape growers don’t spray pesticides nearly as much here in Colorado.”
Whether you are hosting a dinner party or visiting your local winery this winter, Schlachter said the most important thing to remember is to drink what you like.
“If it tastes good to you, that’s the important thing,” he said. “ at’s what wine is for — it’s to compliment food, and it’s something that should taste good and it’s something that you should enjoy.”
ings of an R&B star. He’s become known as a pioneer of “trap soul,” and his heartsick anthems of love and loss have catapulted him to musical stardom. Wave will be bringing his Last Lap Tour to Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle in Denver, at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13. He’ll be joined by other popular rappers, Moneybagg Yo, Toosii and Lil Poppa, for an evening of great music from a promising group of performers. Tickets and information can be found at www.ticketmaster.com.
Clarke Reader is an arts and culture columnist. He can be reached at Clarke. Reader@hotmail.com.
Red wine is made when the skins and seeds of red, purple or black grapes are crushed and fermented with the grape juice.
SHUTTERSTOCK
Mayor Kyle Schlachter holds a glass of sparkling wine at the Littleton State of the City event in 2024. COURTESY CITY OF LITTLETON
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
new kind of social scene is quietly brewing in the Denver metro area, one that’s less about the buzz of alcohol and more about the calm of connection. Across the city’s vibrant neighborhoods, kava bars are emerging as popular alternatives to traditional bar scenes.
O ering a range of holistic, non-alcoholic beverages, calming atmospheres and a focus on plant-based medicinal drinks, these venues are rede ning what it means to “go out” in Denver’s metro area.
Once a niche concept relegated to tropical destinations like south Florida, where they are widely popular, kava bars are now nding their place in Colorado’s social landscape.
Rooted in the ancient South Paci c tradition of drinking kava for relaxation and social bonding, these bars have become gathering spaces for those seeking refuge from alcohol-infused spaces.
Central to this experience is the tradition of saying
“Bula” before drinking kava. Derived from Fijian culture, “Bula” is more than just a toast. It’s a wish for good health, happiness and a long life.
Many kava bars also o er wellness-centric community spaces, often featuring activities like yoga, meditation sessions and social events, link bingo or trivia, providing new ways for people to connect without the haze of alcohol.
e appeal of alcohol-free spaces is clear. As health consciousness grows, particularly among millennials and Gen Z, so does the demand for spaces that promote relaxation, self-care and authentic connection.
For some, it’s about living a “sober curious” lifestyle; for others, it’s a preference for experiences that prioritize well-being over intoxication. Whatever the reason, the rise of these venues signals a shift in the social habits of Denver area residents, o ering fresh options for those looking to unwind without the side e ects of a hangover.
The Karma House — Lakewood’s spiritual hub
Just past the entrance of the Karma House in Lake-
wood sits several cozy couches ahead of a long bar busy with patrons sipping kava, herbal teas or plantbased beverages like kratom or other adaptogenic drinks believed to help the body resist stress. e space is warm, friendly and packed with the sounds of social chatter, even in the middle of the afternoon.
With a “zero tolerance” policy for alcohol and illegal substances, e Karma House identi es as a welcoming alcohol-free space vs. a sober bar. is distinction re ects its focus on o ering natural, mood-altering beverages like kava and kratom, which, according to research, promote relaxation, focus and pain relief.
“It’s de nitely not a sober bar,” said Deonna Lupola, who is one of the Karma House’s three owners, adding that their goal is to maintain a safe, transparent space for patrons seeking a calm, mindful, alcohol-free experience.
“A lot of people that come here are in recovery. ey’re looking for an alternative place to hang out and get the bar atmosphere without the booze,” she said.
Kava is a plant-based drink made from the roots of the Piper methysticum plant, which is native to the South Pacific islands. SHUTTERSTOCK
CONNECTION
“I’ve been coming here since 2021, and it’s become a vital part of my support system,” said Tanner O’Leary, a frequent patron who is six years sober. “ e community here is like no other. Everyone’s looking out for each other. It’s a place where I’ve found real connections and friendships.”
Operating as a nonpro t, Lupola said the Karma House uses revenue from its beverage sales to support community events, wellness programming and fundraising initiatives. It hosts daily activities like yoga, Reiki and cultural workshops. Lupola said the owners also prioritize harm reduction and education, o ering patrons guidance on the safe use of plant-based substances. Its “Harm Reduction Hive” teaches customers how to identify and navigate risky situations, empowering them to make informed choices.
Patrons can also attend “Self-Care Sundays” and
TOP PHOTO: Patrons at That’s Kava in Englewood enjoy a relaxed hangout where they can socialize, work or play games.
BOTTOM: “Bula” (pronounced boo-lah) is a Fijian word meaning “life” or “to live” and is often used as a toast, similar to “cheers” in Western cultures. PHOTOS BY
other wellness events o ering practical tools for daily life.
“ e idea is that you have the best tools to succeed each and every day, no matter what obstacles come your way,” Lupola said.
That’s Kava — Englewood’s plant-based social scene e atmosphere at at’s Kava in Englewood reects its open-minded philosophy. With a tropical motif re ective of kava bars popular in Florida, its brightly painted walls invoke a party vibe meant to welcome people who might initially come in looking for a “regular bar” experience but are curious enough to stay.
Owner Ryan Gieski is quick to state that his place isn’t as recovery-focused as others.
“I don’t care what you do on the weekends, as long as you’re chill when you walk in,” Gieski said. is philosophy ensures that everyone, from those in recovery to those just seeking a new experience, feels at ease in the space.
at’s Kava is designed to be a true social space, not just a beverage counter. As one visitor explained,
“ is place feels like a social hangout. You might see bingo or trivia once a week, but most nights, it’s just a space to chill, work on a laptop or have a conversation.”
Gieski’s place emphasizes conscious consumption, focusing on education and transparency. Sta are well-versed in the properties of kava, kratom and other botanicals, and they actively educate customers on how to make informed decisions.
New patrons are often walked through the di erent types of beverages and their e ects.
“I’m big on education,” Gieski said. “Our bartenders go through days of training to ensure they understand the products they’re serving and how to best help serve our customers.”
e beverage menu is larger than most, featuring not just traditional kava and kratom but also teas and kratom alternatives like velvet bean. Gieski believes the range of o erings showcases the di erent properties of each drink while accommodating diverse preferences.
He is proud that customers can try unique blends incorporating natural spices like turmeric, ginger and black pepper for added health bene ts and improved taste. Gieski also regularly tests his products to ensure they’re free from contamination.
“We tested all commercially available kava in the market and 78% of it came back contaminated,” he said. As a result, he continues to test all of the products he buys and urges consumers to buy from only reputable sources.
at’s Kava isn’t a nonpro t, but Gieski said he doesn’t take a paycheck, and customers regularly raise money for friends and community members in need.
Why are kava bars becoming the new social haven?
Gieski and Lupola believe their establishments o er a sense of community and connection that can be hard to nd in traditional bars.
When Lupola quit drinking, she discovered how much she disliked being around people who were. “ en I found Kava bars,” she said. “And I stopped wanting to go out and party. It was a natural transition.”
Gieski said while there are around seven or eight kava bars in the Denver area, he expects that number to grow exponentially in the coming years.
What’s driving this shift? According to a 2022 report by the Food Institute, the rise of non-alcoholic alternatives re ects broader social trends around reducing alcohol intake and cites improving mental health as the main reason adults are limiting their consumption.
With their focus on mindful consumption and meaningful interactions, kava bars o er a clear solution for those wanting to socialize without the booze.
e market shows no sign of slowing down, either. e global demand for kava root extract is expected to grow from $1.4 billion in 2023 to $4.6 billion by 2031, according to market research. Analysts attribute part of the increased interest to a greater concentration on mental health and wellbeing.
So, whether you’re raising a cup of kava, served in a traditional coconut shell, with old friends or sharing stories with new ones, many say there’s no better way to end the night than with a communal wish for well-being.
Bula!
What is Kava?
Kava is a plant-based drink made from the roots of the Piper methysticum plant, which is native to the South Paci c islands. Traditionally consumed in ceremonial and social gatherings, kava holds signi cant cultural importance in places like Fiji, Vanuatu and Tonga. e drink has a long history of being used to promote relaxation, ease anxiety and foster social bonding.
e active compounds in kava, known as kavalactones, are responsible for its calming e ects. Unlike alcohol, which impairs cognitive function, kava induces a state of relaxation and mental clarity without a ecting alertness. is unique e ect makes it an appealing choice for those seeking a mindful way to relax or socialize. Kava is legal in Colorado and is not classi ed as a controlled substance at the federal or state level, but you must be 21 or older to consume it.
Kava doesn’t come without risks. According to the Cleveland Clinic, kava works similarly to alcohol and some anxiety and Parkinson’s medications, and it can be dangerous to combine them. Some components of kava are also known to be toxic to the liver.
Talk to a healthcare provider before trying kava or any other plant-based medicinal drink.
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Legals
City and County
Public Notice
January 9, 2025
NOTICE TO MORTGAGEES IN THE PARK MAYFAIR CONDOMINIUMS COMMUNITY
Notice is hereby given to all mortgagees within the Park Mayfair Condominiums community in the City and County of Denver, Colorado, that the Park Mayfair Condominium Association, Inc. is seeking mortgagee approval of a proposed Amended and Restated Condominium Declaration for Park Mayfair Condominiums (the “Proposed Amendment”). The Proposed Amendment can be obtained at the following address: Altitude Community Law P.C., 555 Zang St., Ste. 100, Lakewood, CO 80228. Failure of any mortgagee to deliver a negative response to the Park Mayfair Condominium Association, Inc., c/o Altitude Community Law P.C., 555 Zang St., Ste. 100, Lakewood, CO 80228, within 60 days shall be deemed consent on behalf of the mortgagee.
Legal Notice No. DHD 3413
First Publication: January 9, 2025
Last Publication: January 9, 2025
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
PUBLIC NOTICE
Date: December 30, 2024
Holders of first mortgages (as shown on the recorded deeds of trust or assignments in the Denver County records) on Units in the Southmoor Racket Club are hereby advised that Association is proposing an Amended and Restated Condominium Declaration for Southmoor Racket Club (“Proposed Amendment”) amending the Condominium Declaration for Southmoor Racket Club, recorded on June 29, 1971 in Book 344, at Page 412, as amended by the Amendment to the Condominium Declaration for Southmoor Racket Club recorded on July 16, 2012 at Reception No. 2012092692 in the records of the Denver County Clerk and Recorder (collectively, “Original Declaration”). This notice has been sent by certified mail to first mortgagees along with a consent form and a copy of the Proposed Amendment. A copy of the Proposed Amendment and consent form can be obtained by contacting attorney Lauren Holmes, 1445 Market Street, Suite 350, Denver, CO 80202, (720)221-9784.
Legal Notice No. DHD 3410
First Publication: January 9, 2025
Last Publication: January 16, 2025
Published in Denver Herald-Dispatch.
Summons and Sheriff Sale
Public Notice
District Court Denver County, Colorado
1437 Bannock Street, Room 256
Denver, CO 80202
Telephone: (303) 606-2300
Plaintiff(s)/Petitioner(s): CONSUMERS CREDIT UNION v. Defendant(s)/Respondent(s): SEDRA NICHOL FREDRICK
Attorney: Deanne R. Stodden, Messner Reeves, LLP 1550 Wewatta St., Suite 710
Denver, CO 80202
Phone Number: (303) 623-1800
FAX Number: (303) 623-0552
E-mail: dstodden@messner.com
Atty. Reg. #: 33214
Case Number: 24CV32503: Div. 280
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANT(S):
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 [petition] without further notice.
This is an action: to obtain an Order of Possession and Writ of Assistance directing the Denver County Sheriff' to take possession of the 2017 Infinity Q50 identified as VIN Number JN1EV7AR2HM832721a.
Dated: November 26, 2024
/s/ Deanne R. Stodden
Attorney for Plaintiff(s)/Petitioner(s)
Legal Notice No. DHD 3378
First Publication: December 12, 2024
Last Publication: January 9, 2025
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Misc. Private Legals
Public Notice
SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL)
VIN SOCIAL CORPORATION, a Denver company; SARA MOLL, an individual, and DOES 1-50, inclusive.
YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: (LO ESTA DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): FOUNDERS FIRST CAPITAL PARTNERS, INC.
NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.
You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ se/fhe/p), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.
There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/se/fhe/p), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court's lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case.
iA VISO! Lo han demandado. Si no re-
sponde dentro de 30 dias, la carte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su version. Lea la informacion a continuacion.
Tiene 30 DIAS DE CALENDAR/O despues de que le entreguen esta citacion y papeles lega/es para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta carte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefonica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en Formato legal coffecto si desea que procesen su caso en la carte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la carte y mas informacion en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de /eyes de su condado o en la carte que le quede mas cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentacion, pida al secretario de la carte que le de un formulario de exenci6n de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podra quitar su sue/do, dinero y bienes sin mas advertencia.
Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remision a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posib/e que cumpla con /os requisitos para obtener servicios /ega/ es gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniendose en contacto con la carte o el co/egio de abogados locales. A VISO: Por fey, la carte tiene derecho a rec/amar las cuotas y /os costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sabre cualquier recuperacion de $10,000 omas de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesion de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la carte antes de que la carte pueda desechar el caso.
The name and address of the court is:
(El nombre y direccion de la corte es): Superior Court of California for the County of San Diego, Hall of Justice, 330 W. Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101
CASE NUMBER: (Numero de/ Caso): 24CU010319C
The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiffs attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la direccion y
Public Notices
el numero de telefono def abogado def demandante, o def demandante que no tiene abogado , es):
Hillery M. Stones, Trails Law Group, 2870 5th Ave., Suite 201, San Diego, CA 92103. 619.738.4441
Date: (Fecha) 10/04/2024
Clerk of the Superior Court
By B. Ramierez ,
Deputy Clerk (Secretario)
Legal Notice No. DHD 3393
First Publication: December 19, 2024
Last Publication: January 9, 2025
Publisher: Colorado Community Media
Notice to Creditors
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Roberto Yslas, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR031385
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court, Denver County, Colorado on or before May 9, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Roberto Yslas, Jr.
Personal Representative
c/o Douglas A. Turner, P.C. 602 Park Point Drive, Suite 240 Golden, CO 80401
Legal Notice No. DHD 3418
First Publication: January 9, 2025
Last Publication: January 23, 2025
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of William Henry Johnson, Jr., aka William H. Johnson, Jr., aka William Johnson, Jr. Deceased
Case Number: 2024PR31132
A ll per s ons 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 May 2, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Gretchen Denise Graves
Personal Representative
Ashlee E. Dunham (54798)
FRIE, ARNDT, DANBORN & THIESSEN P.C.
7400 Wadsworth Blvd, Ste. 201 Arvada, CO 80003
Phone Number: 303-420-1234
Attorney for Gretchen Denise Graves
Personal Representative
Legal Notice No. DHD 3406
First Publication: January 2, 2025
Last Publication: January 16, 2025
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of JONATHAN MICHAEL ELLIS, Deceased
Case Number: 2024PR31413
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 May 2, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Anthony Caselli, Personal Representative 2237 West 30th Avenue
Denver, CO 80211
Legal Notice No. DHD 3409
First Publication: January 2, 2025
Last Publication: January 16, 2025
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Louise Ray Myers, Deceased
Case Number: 2024PR031379
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or tothe Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before April 26, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Anne Blevins Mazza
Personal Representative 875 West End Ave, Apt 6E New York, NY 10025
Legal Notice No. DHD 3403
First Publication: December 26, 2024
Last Publication: January 9, 2025
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Steven Able Musman, also known as Steven Abel Musman, Steven A. Musman, Steven Musman, and Steve Musman, Deceased Case Number 2024PR031151
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to Scott Abram Musman c/o Hedberg Law Firm, LLC, 5944 S. Kipling Parkway, Suite 200, Littleton, CO 80127; or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before April 25, 2025 or the claims may be forever barred.
Scott Abram Musman,
Personal Representative c/o Hedberg Law Firm, LLC
Brian Hedberg
Attorney for Scott Abram Musman 5944 S. Kipling Parkway, Suite 200 Littleton, CO 80127
Legal Notice No. DHD 3400
First Publication: December 26, 2024
Last Publication: January 9, 2025
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of NORMA J COFFELT, a/k/a NORMA JEAN COFFELT, a/k/a NORMA COFFELT, a/k/a NORMA J HOLMSTROM, a/k/a NORMA JEAN HOLMSTROM, a/k/a NORMA HOLMSTROM , Deceased Case Number: 2024PR31365
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado, on or before May 9, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Dalila Ponce Orozco
Personal Representative 101 E. 88th Ave. Apt. B111 Thornton, CO 80229
Legal Notice No. DHD 3411
First Publication: January 9, 2025
Last Publication: January 23, 2025
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Robert James Perri, a/k/a Robert J. Perri, a/k/a Robert Perri, a/k/a Bob Perri, Deceased Case Number 2024PR31391
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, located at 1437 Bannock Street, #230, Denver, Colorado 80202, on or before May 2, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Whitney Shea Bakarich, Personal Representative c/o Joe D. Kinlaw, II, Esq. Folkestad Fazekas Barrick & Patoile, P.C. 18 South Wilcox Street, Suite 200 Castle Rock, Colorado 80104
Legal Notice No. DHD 3408
First Publication: January 2, 2025
Last Publication: January 16, 2025
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Eileen Marilyn Forkner, a/k/a Eileen M. Forkner, a/k/a Eileen Forkner, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR31344
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 April 28, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Stuart S. Sargent, Esq.
Attorney to the Personal Representative Hinds and Hinds
8490 E. Crescent Pkwy., Ste. 395 Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Legal Notice No. DHD 3396
First Publication: December 26, 2024
Last Publication: January 9, 2025 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Margaret Lucille St. Peter, a/k/a Margaret L. St. Peter, a/k/a Margaret St. Peter, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR031474
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 May 9, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Martin St. Peter
Personal Representative 3179 N. 150th Drive
Goodyear, AZ 85395
Legal Notice No. DHD 3416
First Publication: January 9, 2025 Last Publication: January 23, 2025 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Jon A. Bell, a/k/a Jon Andrew Bell, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR31134
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 May 2, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Baysore & Christian Fiduciary Services, LLC -- Karen Miller 7000 E. Belleview Ave-STE 150 Greenwood Village. CO 80111
Legal Notice No. DHD 3407
First Publication: January 2, 2025 Last Publication: January 16, 2025 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Bessie G. Nasious, aka Bessie Nasious, Deceased Case Number: 24PR31111
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 April 26, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Sue A. Kokinos Attorney to the
STORIES
Low-income families face child care hardship
Many Colorado families who qualify for state child care subsidies could be out of luck next year. at’s because the program is facing a funding shortfall and state o cials expect most counties to institute subsidy waitlists or freezes by June.
ese measures won’t cut o families who currently receive subsidies. But it will limit the number of new families who can join.
So far, at least seven counties have already instituted a subsidy waitlist or a freeze: Adams, Boulder, Douglas, El Paso, Gunnison, Je erson, and Larimer.
Some communities that have passed lodging taxes or tapped other local funding may be able to ll the gap created by subsidy waitlists or freezes. But that will
be a partial x at best.
Future of DACA teachers unclear as Trump takes over
During his rst administration, Trump tried to end a program that protects undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children, a group known as Dreamers, from deportation. But his e ort to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program stalled in the courts.
Now, there are signs Trump has had a change of heart. In a Dec. 8 interview on Meet the Press, when asked if he wants to let the so-called Dreamers stay in the country, he said, “I do … I think we can work with the Democrats and work something out.”
But given his promise of mass deportations and his past vacillation on whether Dreamers deserve protection, some immigrants rights groups are skeptical.
Colorado has about 12,000 DACA recipients and some are public school teachers.
Public Notices
Personal Representative
6834 S. University Blvd, #510 Centennial, CO 80122
Legal Notice No. DHD 3401
First Publication: December 26, 2024
Last Publication: January 9, 2025
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Ann Scherschel, a/k/a Ann Grepo Scherschel, Deceased
Case Number: 2024 PR 31505
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 April 28, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Pamela A. Kaufman
Personal Representative
3576 Peruvian Torch Drive Loveland, CO 80 537
Legal Notice No. DHD 3397
First Publication: January 2, 2025
Last Publication: January 16, 2025
Publisher: Denver Herald Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Edward J. Palent, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR31370
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 May 15, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Shelli Bischoff, Personal Representative 7752 E. 4th Ave Unit 3B Denver, CO 80230
Legal Notice No. DHD 3412
First Publication: January 9, 2025
Last Publication: January 23, 2025
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Beatrice A. Georgopulos, aka Beatrice Ann Georgopulos, Deceased
Case Number: 2024PR31374
All representative persons or having to claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver
Colorado’s career and college readiness programs hit crossroads
In 2022, Colorado lawmakers commissioned a report on how to improve postsecondary and workforce readiness. Released in late 2023, it o ered 13 recommendations for streamlining a fragmented system of state programs meant to prepare students for college and careers.
State lawmakers then commissioned a study, released this month, that called
for big changes, including bringing the disparate programs under one roof. e report also recommended either ending or reworking a popular fth-year high school program called ASCENT. Jason Gonzales and Melanie Asmar contributed to this article.
Reprinted with permission from Chalkbeat, a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.
Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 9, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Kristi Radosevich, Attorney to the Personal Representative PO Box 2708 Elizabeth, CO 80107
Legal Notice No. DHD 3417
First Publication: January 9, 2025
Last Publication: January 23, 2025
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
DENVER PROBATE COURT, STATE OF COLORADO 1437 Bannock Street, Room 230 Denver, Colorado 80202
In the Matter of the Estate of: LEONARD EARL BROOKS JR. Deceased.
Attorney for Donna Brooks: R. Eric Solem, Atty Reg.# 6464 SOLEM, WOODWARD AND McKINLEY, P.C.
750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 505 Englewood, Colorado 80110
Phone Number: 303-761-4900
FAX Number: 303-761-2989
E-mail: eric@solemlaw.com
Case Number: 2024PR031510
NOTICE OF HEARING BY PUBLICATION PURSUANT TO § 15-10-401, C.R.S.
To: Derek Brooks Last Known Address, if any: Denver, Colorado
A hearing on the Petition For Adjudication Of Intestacy And Formal Appointment Of Personal Representative (title of pleading) for (brief description of relief requested) the appointment of Catherine Colombo as Personal Representative of Arelene Padilla’s Estate.
will be held at the following time and location or at a later date to which the hearing may be continued:
Date: January 23, 2025 Time: 8:00AM Address: 1437 Bannock Street, Room 230, Denver, Colorado 80202
The hearing will take approximately 30 minutes.
Legal Notice No. DHD 3398 First Publication: December 26, 2024 Last Publication: January 9, 2025 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
