Elbert County News March 28, 2024

Middle

School bus drivers are like family

Elizabeth district has opportunities for safe motorists

BY COURTNEY BAKOS SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Meet Je , a dedicated bus driver for the Elizabeth School District. His day begins before dawn, navigating the quiet streets of our community to ensure that students, like his son

and high school students file onto an Elizabeth School District bus in Spring Valley Ranch for the beginning of the 2021-22 school year. The district o ers opportunities for safe motorists to become school bus drivers.

PHOTO BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON

What did it cost homeowners to raise teacher pay?

Numbers are in following 2023 ballot question

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When homeowners review their property tax bills this year, they’ll see an increase for the Douglas County School District, which voters approved in November to increase teacher pay.

At the time voters lled out their ballots, the district estimated the cost for the $66 million mill levy override would be $200 for a $1 million home. An analysis by district ofcials shows that cost estimate was close to spot on.

For a $1 million home, the increase in property taxes for the school dis-

trict is $194 comparing 2022 to 2023.

Superintendent Erin Kane said some property owners were confused by the mechanics of school funding. While the 2023 mill levy voters approved increased property taxes, the cost of previous school district mill levy overrides dropped and that helped to o set the increase.

In addition, the district’s bonds payments fell year over year, reducing what homeowners will pay.

e net change in mills from 2022 to 2023 equals the $194 increase for a $1 million home, Kane said. A mill is equal to $1 per $1,000 of assessed home valuation.

“ e bottom line is the mills went up 2.939 mills,” she said.

Because the district’s mill levy overrides are a set dollar amount, the cost lowers over time as more

homes are built and additional homeowners are taxed and contribute.

“Each year as there are more homeowners sharing in that xed amount, the amount we’re assessing on each homeowner will reduce,” Kane said.

Chief Financial O cer Jana Schleusner said this year was unique for property tax calculations because of the big rise in assessments of home values and the response by state legislators in a special session. In January, legislators approved a reduction in the assessment rate after voters shot down Proposition HH, a similar measure on last November’s ballot.

Before the election, the district calculated cost estimates based on a 35% increase in home valuation, but home valuations ultimately rose

24% statewide.

“ ere were a lot of moving pieces with the assessed valuations that we had never seen before,” Schleusner said.

With the additional funding from taxpayers, the school district provided teachers an average 9% pay increase for the 2023-24 school year, something teachers had long fought for and that advocates said was overdue as district teachers earned less than their counterparts in neighboring districts. Starting pay for teachers is at $50,182, up from $45,209, which was the lowest in the metro area.

e district is discussing returning to voters in 2024 for a bond to build new schools and address current maintenance problems and building upkeep.

Douglas County School District Assistant Superintendent Danny Winsor and Superintendent Erin Kane advocate for the $66 million mill levy override ahead of the 2023 election. At the time, the district estimated it would cost taxpayers $200 for a $1 million home and a new analysis shows that taxes for a $1 million home went up $194 for the district.

PHOTO BY MCKENNA HARFORD

Here Are My Thoughts About the Media Coverage of the Recent NAR Settlement

It has been interesting to observe how the mainstream media has covered the recent $418-million settlement involving the National Association of Realtors (NAR). In addition to the monetary settlement (which can be paid out over a four-year period), NAR agreed to end its rule requiring the inclusion in the MLS of compensation for brokers representing buyers.

It should be obvious by now that there is little understanding of why that rule existed and how it benefitted sellers to incentivize brokers outside the listing agent’s office to show and sell their homes.

ing or showing agents on clients who never sell or never buy.

It’s not a unique concept. Cruise lines and resorts, among others, offer a commission to travel agents to get them to promote their cruises and resorts, etc. Car dealers pay auto brokers who produce a buyer who otherwise wouldn’t visit their showrooms. (That’s how I bought my 2012 Chevy Volt back when I needed help finding that brand new model. I couldn't have found the one dealer who had one in transit to Aurora without my broker’s help.)

Similarly, offering a commission to other members of the MLS is how listing agents maximize the exposure of their sellers’ homes to the buying public. That exposure is compounded by the fact that every brokerage and consumer-facing website gets its listings from the MLS.

The public and the media have long quoted 6% as the “standard” real estate commission — as have some brokerages offering 1% listing commissions, with small print saying “plus co-op commission to buyer’s agent.”

That error continues and is compounded now with the media stating that 3% is the “standard” co-op commission paid by sellers to the agents representing buyers.

Worse, some media have been reporting that NAR mandates the infamous 6% commission, which is not at all true. Neither was a 3% co-op commission ever mandated, merely that some offer (as low as zero) had to be included in every MLS listing.

A reader sent me an analysis ordered by one of the Federal Reserve branches, which really got me laughing. A page from that analysis is reproduced at right. The purpose of the study was to calculate the reduction in agent earnings and the gain in social benefit if the “standard” 6%/3% system were modified. Not factored in at all was the time spent by list-

Archive of Past Columns Is Online

My July 20, 2023, “Real Estate Today” column carried the headline, “Unlike Most Professionals, Real Estate Agents Work for Free Most of the Time.” In it I made the following observation: “As it is, the average member of the National Association of Realtors earns less than $50,000 in gross commission income per year — before accounting for car, phone, MLS fees, Realtor dues, computer hardware & software, E&O insurance, and more.”

Business doesn’t come to most agents sitting in their office. They have to make themselves known, publish community newsletters in their “geographic farm,” hold open houses that may generate no sale or new clients. Myself, instead of prospecting, I spend an equivalent percentage of my time writing this column, which I then pay to have published in 23 weekly newspapers and the Denver Post. As my favorite quote at the bottom of each ad says, I “concentrate on giving and let the getting take care of itself.”

Successful real estate agents find other ways to give to their communities and thereby earn their patronage.

Yes, on occasion I will get an easy payday — a buyer who comes to me with a specific home to buy, we make an offer and close the transaction. Bingo! But that only compensates for the great amount of work done serving other buyers and other sellers plus those members of the public who ask for advice or a home valuation and never give me the opportunity to earn a pay check. I don’t resent that at all — it’s part of my giving, knowing I will be compensated in other ways. It actually makes me happy. (Call me anytime!)

Too many people enter our profession under the same misconception that I have described above, that real estate is an easy career to earn lots of money. They watch TV shows about million-dollar

listings or they see me driving my Tesla and other agents driving their BMWs and Mercedes. But we are the exception.

The public’s general impression is that real estate is a high-paying career. Keep in mind that NAR membership is optional, so agents who are willing to pay roughly $500 every year to be a NAR member are most likely the ones who take the business seriously, although many members work part-time in real estate because they can’t make ends meet solely from their commission income.

The most recent survey of NAR members included the following facts regarding median gross compensation and expenses (emphasis in original:

Realtors with 16 years or more experience had a median gross income of $80,700 — down from $85,000 in 2021 — compared to Realtors with 2 years or less experience that had a median gross income of $9,600 — an increase from $8,800 in 2021.

The largest expense category for most Realtors was vehicle expenses, which [averaged] $1,710.

I have estimated that the 80/20 rule applies as much to real estate agents as it does to other professions, although I think it’s closer to 90/10. Namely, 10% of us earn 90% of the money.

(Golden Real Estate’s broker associates and I are in the 10% because we work hard and smart.)

Too often, new agents spend a year

spinning their wheels, making cold calls and spending $10,000 or more on tools of the trade only to end the year with one or no transaction, so they give up, having lost that investment and wasted a year of their professional life. It’s really sad to watch.

It takes time to get established in the real estate profession. My broker associates and I have passed that tipping point and will renew our licenses when they expire, unlike the majority of new agents.

Some real estate agents are quite upset about the part of the settlement which removes buyer agent compensation from MLS listings beginning in mid-July, assuming the court approves the settlement.

A Wall Street Journal article posted on March 20th describes how buyers are getting off the fence before the new rules take effect in July requiring them to pay their own agent. That makes sense to me; it also means that now is a good time for potential sellers to get off the fence and list their homes for sale.

How Will This Affect Buyers & Sellers?

Not having co-op commissions on the MLS will require agents to talk to each other before submitting offers, to clarify whether the seller is offering compensation to the buyer’s agent. I discuss that and the other effects of the NRA settlement in the posting of this article at http://RealEstateToday.substack.com, where you can also ask me questions.

Boulder Home Backing to Pond Is Back on Market

Over the past two decades this column has appeared in the Denver Post, and during that time I’ve written about every conceivable topic related to real estate, You can search that archive, listed by headline and downloadable with a single click at www.JimSmithColumns.com $1,250,000

This fantastic 3-bedroom, 2-bath, 2,350sq.-ft. home at 820 Racquet Lane is at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in east Boulder’s Meadow Glen neighborhood, backing to a community pond and Boulder’s outstanding biking trail network. Foothills Parkway, Baseline Road and Hwy 36 are nearby. Inside are hardwood floors throughout, a beautiful staircase with custom wrought iron railing, and lots of sunlight thanks to the open floor plan. There are two bedrooms with walk-in closets on the main level while the primary bedroom is located on the 2nd floor with a huge walk-in closet and ensuite bathroom. The kitchen features custom cherry cabinets, granite counters and a topnotch Viking refrigerator and range. There are two living rooms (main floor and upper floor) and a dedicated home office. Outside is a large and private fenced patio. The 2car garage also has a spacious attic for extra storage. Get more details and take a narrated video tour at www.GRElistings.com, then call listing agent Chuck Brown at 303885-7855 to request a private showing.

Jim Smith

Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851

Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com

1214 Washington Ave., Golden 80401

Broker Associates:

JIM SWANSON, 303-929-2727

CHUCK BROWN, 303-885-7855

DAVID DLUGASCH, 303-908-4835

GREG KRAFT, 720-353-1922

AUSTIN POTTORFF, 970-281-9071

KATHY JONKE, 303-990-7428

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

Forecasts leave legislators short of what they expected

BY BRIAN EASON

THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado budget writers may be headed back to the drawing board. Slower population growth and rising fee revenue could trigger upwards of $300 million more state taxpayer refunds than expected in the current budget year, under economic forecasts presented to the Joint Budget Committee in mid-March.

The latest forecasts leave top lawmakers well short of what they expected to be able to spend in

next year’s budget, with less than a week left to finalize the 2024-25 spending plan before it has to be submitted to the General Assembly for consideration.

Under Colorado Legislative Council Staff estimates, the budget committee could need to cut as much as $267 million in spending requests to balance the budget for next fiscal year. Even under a scenario presented by the governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting, lawmakers could face $150 million gap without major budgetbalancing maneuvers.

State economists present revenue forecasts to the legislature every three months. But the March update takes on special importance, because the estimates de-

The Colorado State Capitol Building.

PHOTO BY ERICA BREUNLIN/THE COLORADO SUN

termine how much the legislature has to work with when it adopts the annual budget, known as the long bill.

A return to normal could be even more challenging than expected — but not because of any economic turbulence.

Instead, the budget will be squeezed primarily by two seemingly minor factors.

One, U.S. Census estimates now say the state’s population grew by less than the state’s demographer had anticipated. That means the state revenue cap under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, which tracks inflation and population growth, can only increase by 5.8% this budget year rather than the 6.1% legislative forecasters were expecting.

Two, the state is now expected

to collect $185 million more in road usage fees and retail delivery charges this year than last, under the legislative staff estimates.

Taken together, the two forecast changes mean state lawmakers could have to issue larger than expected TABOR refunds to Coloradans next year, leaving the state with fewer General Fund tax dollars to spend on public services. Under the legislative staff forecast, Colorado would have a $1.8 billion TABOR surplus this budget year, while the governor’s office expects $2 billion in excess revenue. That would translate to a nearly $400 refund for the average single-filer in 2025 under the current refund formula, which is tiered based on income. This year, all single-filers received $800.

This story was printed through a news sharing agreement with The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonprofit based in Denver that covers the state.

Public invited to groundbreaking

An artist’s rendering shows the new Farmers State Bank branch coming to Kiowa. Local residents are invited for doughnuts and co ee at a groundbreaking set for 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, April 4, at the new location — 434 Comanche St., just west of the Kiowa DMV branch on the south side of Highway 86.

IMAGE COURTESY OF FARMERS STATE BANK

750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110

DRIVERS

A publication of Jeffrey Jr., reach school safely and on time.

Phone: 303-566-4100

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A legal newspaper of general circulation in Elizabeth, Colorado, the Elbert County News is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110.

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Jeff’s routine is a well-oiled machine, beginning with a thorough pre-trip inspection of his bus before beginning his route. “I live on the route I drive, so my oldest son, Jeffrey Jr. gets to ride with me.”

Jeff’s bus route is not just a job; it’s a connection to his community. “I love driving through my town and seeing places I normally wouldn’t see or have a reason to go to.”

For those intrigued by the prospect of joining, employment opportunities are available for bus drivers. Additional drivers are needed to cover current routes and plan for future ones. With guaranteed morning and afternoon shifts, drivers like Jeff clock in 20 hours a week. Additional hours are available for drivers who are interested.

“There are opportunities to be a trip driver, which allows for driving field trips during the day, in between morning and afternoon routes,” says Jeff, who regularly drives for field

trips. “Nighttime driving for sporting events are also an option. Even weekend and overnight trips. You could also drive during the summer for Kids Club, which both elementary schools in the district offer.”

You do not need any experience prior to applying, as extensive paid training is provided through the Elizabeth School District. A commercial driver’s license (CDL) Class B with air brake, passenger and school bus endorsement is required and covered through the training program upon hire. A clean driving record is also a must, and each successful applicant will also need to pass a background check.

Under the guidance of experienced trainers, candidates undergo rigorous preparation for their CDL Class B license, ensuring safety and proficiency behind the wheel. “I am the lead trainer for the district, and I’ll do everything I can to assist folks in passing the CDL test,” says Jeff, who also trains staff on pre-trip checks, how to perform student stops, railroad crossings, emergency pull-offs and skills tests.

As Jeff reflects on his bus routes and various trips he’s taken as a bus driver for the Elizabeth School Dis -

trict, he recalls countless memorable excursions he’s taken. From transporting students on their first field trips to witnessing the excitement of cheering fans at a football game under the night sky, Jeff enjoys his time behind the wheel. “My favorite trip so far was taking the Elizabeth Police Department Explorers on a nighttime tour of the Capitol. As a driver, I get to go where the group goes for free. I also got front row seats to the away football games!”

Beyond these destinations, it is the camaraderie he shares with his coworkers and supervisors that really enrich his experience. The transportation team enjoys team building events like the Road-eo, an annual event put on by the Colorado State Pupil Transportation Association (CSPTA). The Road-eo is essentially a fun skills competition for school bus drivers throughout the state. Districts who do well at the state meet Road-eo could advance to the National Road-eo. Fun events such as this one help to make the transportation staff feel like family.

Those who are interested in applying or learning more information are encouraged to look online at elizabethschooldistrict.org/bus.

Leaders envision future of Arapahoe Community College

State system seeks input for new strategic plan

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

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

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

It was the third stop of a statewide listening tour led by the Colorado Community College System, which

is seeking input as it develops a new strategic plan.

During the conversation at ACC, attendees shared a desire for more collaboration among colleges and highlighted the exible scheduling and personal support that ACC o ers its students. Attendees discussed current nancial models and ways to strengthen cross-college collaboration through virtual programs.

CCCS Executive Vice Chancellor Diane Du y said the system’s board created the tour to get in touch with those who will be most a ected by future plans.

“How can we be responsive and develop strategies and goals and measures if we don’t listen to what

learners are saying, what employers are saying?” she said. “So this is like a goldmine to us.”

CCCS oversees the state’s 13 community colleges, including ACC. It is governed by a state-appointed board and serves an estimated 115,000 students annually through its colleges and programs, according to its website.

e system’s ten-year strategic plan comes to an end in 2025 and the system is looking at its next era.

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

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

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

Attendees included industry partners that run apprenticeship programs, as well as representatives

SEE ACC, P18

Xcel plus deputies equals controversy

explains why department provided help to utility’s surveyors

BY NICKY QUINBY

SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

As of March 13, Xcel Energy still hadn’t submitted a formal application to Elbert County for its proposed Power Pathway, which would run new transmission lines through the county — but that hasn’t stopped the utility from actively surveying land in eastern Elbert County.

Recently, surveyors subcontracted by Xcel have been visiting and surveying private property accompanied by Elbert County sheri ’s deputies. is was the rst discussion item at the Elbert County commissioners’ meeting on March 13.

Commissioner Chris Richardson read a short letter to help frame the discussion from Elbert County resident Roger Schulz. e letter read: “Xcel has been sending survey crews out to properties along their preferred route accompanied by an o -duty, uniformed Elbert County sheri ’s deputy in a county patrol car. When questioned, the deputy admitted the sheri ’s department was being paid by Xcel to provide security and that if any property owners created a problem he would handcu them and call for an onduty o cer to arrest them and yet Xcel has not submitted an applica-

tion to the county. I’m opposed to this violation of our rights.”

Elbert County Attorney Bart Greer spoke about the relevant state statute for surveyors regarding boundary surveys on private property. Greer referenced Colorado statute 18-4-515, which he said “allows for a licensed land surveyor to do surveys on private land with regard to boundary evidence and guring out where boundaries are for a particular property.”

To be compliant with the statute, Xcel must send out notices at least 14 days prior to the proposed boundary survey. Greer stated that surveys beyond boundary lines are not speci cally provided for within the statute. After receiving notice, a landowner could contact the party conducting a survey and negotiate a time and date more convenient for them. Even without receipt acknowledgement, surveyors have the right to enter the land 14 days after a notice is sent.

Sheri explains stance

Elbert County Sheri Tim Norton was on hand to personally address community concerns and explain the presence of sheri ’s deputies.

e Elbert County Sheri ’s O ce provided security at an Xcel community meeting at the Elbert County Fairgrounds and has been asked by Xcel to provide security for surveyors on two di erent occasions. It isn’t uncommon for sheri ’s departments, at their discretion, to provide

additional law enforcement services as requested by private businesses, public agencies and individuals for a set fee.

Norton clari ed the process is the same for anyone seeking extra se-

curity, “whether it’s Xcel, the Stampede, any event in the county … they would like security, they contact me.” After Norton is contacted by an

A map from the Xcel Energy website shows a proposed route for Colorado’s Power Pathway tranmission lines through Elbert County. IMAGE FROM XCEL ENERGY WEBSITE

Sheri

employer, they jointly discuss details — how many deputies, location, duration, etc. e job is a voluntary assignment deputies can sign up for.

Norton went on to say “I don’t think it is appropriate for the sheri ’s o ce to support or promote the private entity of Xcel. However, I can’t ignore the fact that somebody’s coming to me asking me for security for their protection and their safety. I think it’s my duty as sheri to anybody who comes to me and asks for security or protection in a matter no matter what it is, I think it’s my duty to step up and make sure that legally that I can perform those duties to help that person or persons out.”

After speaking at the March 13 meeting of the Elbert County commissioners, Sheri Tim Norton, seated at right, was invited to sit with the commissioners to listen to public discussion regarding Xcel surveyors being accompanied by o -duty deputies.

SCREENSHOT FROM ELBERT COUNTY WEBSITE

Norton told the surveyor, “We are there to keep the peace, peace only. We’re not there to agree with you or disagree with you. I live out east and I know the frustration that all these people have, I would too … but it’s my job to keep the peace, to make sure nobody gets hurt, and protect people’s rights.”

Many county residents stepped up to comment and seek clari cation. Comment was controlled and concise, but it was clear many residents were frustrated.

Kiowa resident Don Gray spoke to an Elbert County sheri ’s deputy personally on one of these occasions. Gray said he understands that the sheri ’s o ce can provide protection but does not appreciate the impression that the sheri ’s department is supporting Xcel in any way whatsoever.

“He comes down the driveway and he’s transporting the surveyors,” Gray said. “ at seems wrong to me.

at seems like that the sheri ’s department is supporting Xcel in this endeavor. If he’s hired by them, that doesn’t mean he gives them transportation. My property personal, the

surveyors, I made them walk everywhere, they weren’t even allowed to park in my driveway. I made them walk. ey wanna play the game that they’re playing, using the statutory survey against us, then I’m gonna make it as di cult as I can for them to do that.”

Gray added that the sheri ’s deputy was “very cordial” and, when asked, the deputy told Gray “that if I overreacted that he would handcu me and call for an on-duty o cer to come take me. I was just asking him the question of what would happen because he was o -duty.”

‘Intimidation’ alleged Elbert County resident Eric Jiblits said he’s a strong proponent of law

SEE

enforcement but is against police state tactics. He feels “intimidation is being used by Xcel subcontractors to intimidate our citizens.” Jiblits believes the sheri ’s job is to “actually protect and keep peaceful for the citizens, not private contractors.”

Calhan-area resident Mark Kanipe says he still has not received notication from Xcel about surveyors on his property. And yet, on March 4, there were two vehicles at his front gate and a sheri ’s deputy. e deputy told Kanipe that Xcel employees had every right to be on his land. By that time, the surveyors were already three-quarters of the way down his fence line. Kanipe, ex-law enforcement himself, went to the Elbert County Sheri ’s O ce in an attempt to le trespassing charges but felt his concerns weren’t taken seriously.

Brad Ray, who lives near Kanipe, said he was also one of the people contacted by the sheri ’s deputy on the day of the survey. “If that person is going to serve as an escort to these people,” he said, “I should have been noti ed before those people were ever on my property, wandering around. Because if he’s there to enforce, basically provide muscle for Xcel Energy, I dang well should have been noti ed. Because somebody could have very easily been hurt in that situation …”

Ray was also frustrated that it wasn’t immediately clear the deputy was o -duty. “ e fact that he presented himself without notifying to me that he was o -duty is a form of intimidation because I am assuming I am dealing with a county entity and actual law enforcement. And that this is a sanctioned, going-to-happen event.”

Sheri o ers to talk more

At the close of discussion, Norton

responded to citizens and o ered to answer questions or engage in further discussion as needed. He reiterated that the deputy’s duty from him was to keep the peace and said the deputy “took it upon himself” to try to make contact with the homeowners involved and make sure they were aware so there were no surprises.

“ e sheri ’s o ce is not supporting Xcel, I can promise you that, I’m not supporting it, my people aren’t supporting it, I’m there just to keep the peace. I don’t want anybody to get hurt, I don’t want any issues that could come down in litigation at a later time.”

Commissioner Richardson clari ed that even though the statute doesn’t require proof of receipt, perhaps Elbert County could create policy ensuring proof of receipt is made before the county sends anyone out. “I’m a little concerned that we did, because of the way this was done, and I think it was being done with all the best intention, that we potentially stripped citizens of an opportunity for a day in court and perhaps clari cation of the statute through the courts,” he said.

At the meeting, Richardson reiterated that Xcel had not yet submitted a formal application to the county and added that a proposed bill that would

take siting for transmission and green energy production out of the hands of local governments has not been introduced yet.

Richardson was referring to proposed state legislation that would “ensure local governments can’t derail the state’s ambitious plans to transition to carbon-free energy sources like wind and solar.” An early version of the bill describes setting up a standardized process for local governments considering renewable energy projects and would limit potential rules to restrict the development of wind and solar farms. For example, the bill would ban cities or counties from requiring more than 150 feet of space between occupied buildings and solar energy facilities.

e Elbert County Environmental Alliance, a local organization opposed to the Xcel Power Pathway, is sponsoring a petition against the proposed legislation. For more information, visit www.ecealliance.org.

To listen or watch the County Commissioners meeting from Mar. 13 in its entirety, as well as other archived meetings visit tinyurl.com/45b9pefy.

To speak with the Elbert County Sheri ’s Department, contact 303621-2027 or visit elbertcounty-co. gov/181/Sheri s-O ce.

Good advice for your golden years

YFINANCIAL STRATEGIES

our nancial future should not be left to fate. Many pre-retirees may think that the stock market will control their standard of living in retirement. at would create a signi cant level of uncertainty, perhaps causing you to be too cautious or try to overcompensate for volatility.

Yes, there are always circumstances out of your control, such as interest rates, market cycles, Social Security, taxes, and job loss to name a few. Part of building a prudent retirement plan is understanding those things are not predictable and instead focusing on what you do have control over.

SEE KUMMER, P15

Older adults invited to CALF program

Brooke Fox, CEO, will share the history of the Colorado Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) and the Lowell Ranch, which was originally homesteaded in 1877, during the Seniors’ Council of Douglas County meeting on ursday, April 4. e meeting will be at Lowell Ranch south of downtown Castle Rock and will run from 10-11:30 a.m. It is free and open to the public.

CALF’s Lowell Ranch is a working educational ranch hosting a vibrant array of agriculturally oriented programs. For example, elementary school teachers schedule eld trips so students can enjoy the outdoors and learn where food comes

from. Twice yearly, the ranch is open to the public for spring and autumn celebrations that include tours, agricultural activities and products, tractor rides and more.

Brooke will provide a presentation and, weather permitting, a tour of the ranch on April 4. She may introduce animals being raised by CALF Kids — 4-H or FFA members who care for livestock at CALF. e ranch boasts a modern greenhouse, a creek, barns, gardens, enclosed beehive and plenty of open space.

“We cannot successfully implement our programs without our amazing group of volunteers. Vol-

unteers help with everything from teaching visiting students to planting and caring for our produce gardens. ey help with events and care for livestock,” says Brooke. “We encourage our senior friends to look into joining our wonderful group of volunteers.”

For information and the location of CALF in Castle Rock go to thecalf. org.

Seniors’ Council of Douglas County aims to educate, involve, and advocate for older adults. For additional information call 303-6637681 or email dcseniorlife@douglas. com.us. Updates are available at www.douglas.co.us — search for Seniors’ Council. Our motto is Living Well/Aging Well!

Brooke Fox, CEO of Colorado Agricultural Leadership foundation, will speak April 4 at Lowell Ranch. COURTESY PHOTO

Making the Parker community accessible for all

The Town of Parker o ers a wide variety of services and amenities for a diverse population of residents. Our community includes a number of individuals with a physical disability (5.4% according to the 2022 Census Bureau update), and it is important that we continue making progress toward providing equal access and opportunities for all of our citizens to take advantage of the same programs, services and activities.

e Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted in 1990, is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. Title II of the ADA speci cally applies to state and local government agencies, including Parker. is includes making things like facilities, public transportation systems, recreation opportunities, social services, courts, voting and town meetings accessible for all.

In 2023, the town engaged with a consulting rm, Mile High Accessibility Consultants (MHAC), to conduct an ADA audit and draft an ADA transition plan based on their ndings. e intent of this self-evaluation was to review Parker’s entire public program, including all facilities on public property; to identify any potential obstacles; and to remove these barriers for our residents and visitors.

With MHAC’s help, the town performed a comprehensive evaluation to determine the extent of which individuals with disabilities may be restricted in access to our community.

Ideally you have control over when you retire, how much you were able to save, how to invest and how much to spend. And you have the choice to choose a nancial advisor, a duciary to help navigate those unpredictable things in life. Yet, according to a recent study, only 29% of Americans work with a nancial adviser.¹

Choosing a nancial adviser is a major life decision that can determine your nancial trajectory for years to come. e value of working with a nancial adviser varies by person and advisers are legally pro-

e ADA audit and transition plan is signi cant in that it establishes our ongoing commitment to the development and maintenance of policies, programs and facilities that include all citizens. Findings from these e orts will help guide the planning and implementation of necessary modi cations over the next decade.

Public input is crucial for the selfevaluation and transition plan process. e initial draft of the Town’s ADA audit and transition plan was recently completed, and we are looking for feedback from all citizens, including those who have a vested interest in ensuring Parker is accessible.

e town invites you to participate in a survey focused on both Parker’s current state of accessibility, as well as our draft ADA transition plan. is survey is expected to be open throughout the month of April; results will be shared publicly and included in the town’s nal transition plan set to be nalized later this year.

To provide feedback about accessibility in Parker and the town’s draft ADA transition plan, and to learn more information about our e orts in this area, please visit LetsTalkParker.org/ADAPlan.

Je Toborg is the mayor of Parker.

hibited from promising returns, but research suggests people who work with a nancial adviser feel more at ease about their nances and could end up with more money to spend in retirement.2

A recent Vanguard study found that, on average, investors could earn more on their investments under the care of an adviser compared to self-management over a period of 25 years.3

Building a strategy should not be only about returns though. Look at tax savings, estate planning, risk management and other solutions that can save you over time. Perhaps the best advice may actually be to seek good advice. But how do

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

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

And, in the weeks leading up to the Persian or Iranian New Year, Nowruz — which falls on the spring equinox — families practice a deep-cleaning tradition called kh ne-tak n . Translated to English, the practice is called “shaking the house” and involves more than just physical bene ts.

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

In the eyes of health and cleaning experts, spring can be a great time to cleanse and declutter your spaces — both physical and mental — and set yourself up for a great season ahead.

Clean space, happy mind

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

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

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

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

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

SPRING CLEANING YOUR HOME, HEALTH AND HEART

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

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As the sun comes out and plants begin to bloom, springtime brings symbols of rebirth and a fresh start. For many, this means opening the windows

and getting to work dusting, scrubbing, wiping and vacuuming their homes.

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

In Jewish custom, families clean their homes

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

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

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

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

Several cleaning products sold at Refillary.

PHOTO COURTESY OF REFILLARY

SPRING CLEANING

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

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

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

Health and cleanliness

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

“Our take on cleaning is that it shouldn’t be bad for you, or for your house or for the planet,” she said. “All of our household cleansers and our laundry detergents, dish soaps and everything else you need to keep a tidy home fall into that.

ey don’t have nasty ingredients, they’re not going to cause you cancer, they’re not going to kill the sh.”

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

Cleaning the mind and heart

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Are these people bringing out the best in me?

Am I bringing out the best in them?” she said.

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

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

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF BUCKET & SHINE

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF REFILLARY

A sparkling kitchen after Bucket & Shine employees finished cleaning it. PHOTO COURTESY OF BUCKET & SHINE

from local nonpro ts, schools and workforce programs. Several ACC and CCCS board members and sta and a Littleton resident also attended.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I think there’s this economy of scale that can happen if the curriculum at the 13 community colleges is the ‘curriculum of community college’ — and

no matter which one is your home base, you can plug in to some of these to make it a more robust experience,” he said.

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

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

CCCS board member Karen McNeilMiller agreed.

“ e nancial model and budgeting and planning model would have to completely change,” she said.

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

Regarding economic mobility, Sasha Easton from Arapahoe/Douglas Works Workforce Center said it’s important to ensure those who are on public assistance at ACC are aware of the “cli e ect,” which is the sudden decrease in public bene ts that can occur with an increase in earnings, as de ned by the

National Conference of State Legislatures.

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

Jill Hawley, Vice President of Philanthropy at a philanthropy organization called Gary Community Ventures, said the strategic plan should mention innovation.

e draft guiding principles for the CCCS strategic plan focus on economic mobility, education for all, the colleges being a “partner of choice,” the “power of 13” colleges and empowered talent.

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

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

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

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

Thu 3/28

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Teague Starbuck

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Fri 3/29

Wed 4/03

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Brewability Lab, 3445 S Broad‐way, Englewood

Rotating Tap Comedy @ Coal Mine Ave Brewing @ 6pm

Coal Mine Ave Brewing Company, 9719 W Coal Mine Ave unit a, Littleton

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Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St, Lone Tree

Western Sky Bar & Taproom, 4361 S BROADWAY, Englewood. west ernskybarco@gmail.com

Aaron Shust @ 6pm The Rock, 4881 Cherokee Dr, Castle Rock

Vamonos Pest/Mobro: Vamonos Pest at Wide Open Saloon @ 6pm Wide Open Saloon, 5607 US-85, Sedalia

Ninety Percent 90s @ 7pm

Western Sky Bar & Taproom, 4361 S Broadway, Englewood

Sat 3/30

Navy Showcase + “Top Gun: Maverick” Movie & Speaker @ 7:30am / $20

Mark Masters Comedy: Carmen Lynch - Castle Rock Comedy Show - Spotlight Theater @ 6pm

Spotlight Theater, 680 Atchison Way Suite 100, Castle Rock

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Alex Hooper

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Parker Arts, Culture & Events Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker

Dirty Side Down Band: Dirty Side Down @ Q's Pub @ 7pm

��s Pub and Grill, 10133 W Chat�eld Ave, Littleton

Mon 4/01

ARTS: Pottery - Hand Building @ Harvard Gulch @ 9pm

Apr 1st - Apr 22nd

Harvard Gulch Recreation Center, 550 E. Iliff Ave., Denver. 720-913-0654

Tue 4/02

Queensrÿche: The Origins Tour @ 5pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

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

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

ARTS: Throw-a-thon @ Harvard Gulch @ 10pm

Harvard Gulch Recreation Center, 550 E. Iliff Ave., Denver. 720-913-0654

Thu 4/04

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

Caffeine and Chrome – Classic Cars and Coffee at Gateway Classic Cars of Denver @ 8am

Gateway Classic Cars of Denver, 14150 Grasslands Drive, Englewood. marketing @gatewayclassiccars.com, 618-271-3000

@ 6pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Humbird

@ 7pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Rotating Tap Comedy @ Someplace Else Brewery @ 6pm

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

Battle of the Bands @ 6pm / $25 Stampede, Aurora

ADR: Special Olympics Track & Field @ 11:15pm

Apr 4th - Jun 6th

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

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

powered

Indigo De Souza

Spirit coach and volunteer Virginia Lorbeer dies

Coaches, o cials remember beloved local legend

BY STEVE SMITH SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

A well-known gure in the Colorado high school coaching and volunteer ranks has passed away after an illness. Virginia Lorbeer, who helped spirit become a sanctioned sport in the 1990s, was 82.

Lorbeer coached the rst 5A state championship squad at Montbello High School when the meet was for cheerleading only. e Colorado High School Activities Association said through her e orts, spirit became sanctioned in 1991, the same year that Standley Lake High School won the state poms title. She was the coach for the Gators at the time. Peers took to social media with words of praise and thanks as news of Lorbeer’s passing on March 15

spread.

One said, “She was a coach who epitomized what it means to be a coach. Not just of her own team, but of everyone she met. She was so thoughtful, encouraging, and steadfast. She met everyone with kindness and that beaming smile.”

She was born May 31, 1941, in Denver, to Earl C. and Alice L. (Schlemeyer) Lorbeer. She earned a bachelor of science degree in education and English from Fort Hays State in Kansas in 1963 and a master of arts in secondary school administration from the University of Colorado in 1973. Lorbeer did post-grad work at the University of Northern Colorado from 1977 to 1979.

Teaching, coaching in her DNA

Lorbeer was a teacher of business education and a sponsor of the school pep club and cheerleaders at Manual High School from 1964 to 1981. She moved over to Montbello High School, where she taught business education and was the director of student activities for the school.

She also spent time as a passenger relations agent for Trans World Airways at the old Stapleton Airport. According

Canon City Re-

Lorbeer

COURTESY PHOTO

LORBEER

cord, Lorbeer’s name adorns a coaching scholarship handed out at the state spirit tournament each year. e scholarship honors a spirit coach “whose dedication to their program and support of school and community sets them apart from others in the sport,” the Record reported in 2022.

She was on the board of the Colorado High School Coaches Association, which inducted her into its hall of fame shortly before Lorbeer died. She received the organization’s Don DesCombes Award for distinguished service in 2022. e Colorado High School Activities Association inducted her into its hall of fame in 2000.

Helping where help was needed

Volunteering was part of Lor-

beer’s history with CHSAA as well. She volunteered at the state basketball tournament from 1973 until last year. She was in charge of the volunteers who ran the statistics program.

“She rotated games among the (stat) teams,” said veteran basketball and football o cial Mike Contreraz. “If you worked the seminals one year, you worked the title game the next year. I enjoyed working for and working with her.”

Rick Hergenreder, a retired veteran basketball o cial in Colorado, worked with Lorbeer at the state high-school basketball tournament – “close to 30 years,” he said.

“She was always very organized and ready to go and one of the last to leave,” Hergenreder said. “I also worked with her at the state track meet. She worked the gate checking in athletics and always had a smile for all those who came through.”

For her volunteer e orts, CHSAA presented Lorbeer with its Distin-

guished Service Award in 1995.

“She was very concerned that the individual did the job right,” Contreraz said. He and Lorbeer worked the state tournament for close to 30 years. “She didn’t come down hard. She pointed out the concern and encouraged you not to make the same mistake.”

Not just a figure, but a friend

Outside the world of poms, volunteer work and cheerleading, she was a friend.

“From the rst day I met you, I felt like I had been in your life as long as I can remember,” said Skyview High School girls basketball coach Chris Kemm. “Your support, your genuine being, and genuine love and support. I will miss all the cards and notes you leave behind every event, and your constant support that only a coach knows how to give.”

“She was a very kind, very caring person,” Contreraz said. “She was an easy person to talk to, and it was

easy to get to like her. She had a soft voice. You had to strain your ears to hear her.”

Funeral services are pending through Keithley Funeral Homes and Crematory-Brock’s Chapel in Hays.

“You fought so valiantly to be there for everyone, and there is no telling how far your reach went,” Kemm said. “Heaven needed a new coach to coach the coaches. And boy, heaven got the best one.”

“She volunteered at CHSAA for many state championships,” Hergenreder said. “She seemed to have endless energy with everything she did. I will miss seeing her this year at track.”

“She was more concerned that you did everything right for your bene t,” Contreraz said. “If you did it right and worked hard, it was for you. It was the only way you were going to be successful. She had a big heart, and she cared about you. at’s what she wanted.”

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Autos for Sale

1946 FORD

Project car and parts. $2,000 or best offer. Call for appointment 303-423-8814

Rentals

Commercial Property/Rent

Office or Commercial Space for Rent

Two Offices ~ Available Immediately

Great Location and Prices!

NEW CONSTRUCTION!

• One month FREE with the signing of a new one-year lease!!

• 1,000 sq. ft office. $2,500 per month.

• Be the 1st to rent one of these great spaces!

Offices are located next to:

Cleary Building Corp: 755 Crossroads Circle, Elizabeth, Colorado

Contact 303-660-0420 or 800-373-5550

Home for Sale

We have a rare fully remolded property with rare fully permitted Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU) near the west highlights. The property is 95% completed to allow for customization. The property has an amazing open space kitchen with a large master bed room, large walk in closet and wow en-suite bathroom.

The property is superb for entertaining with a large deck and breakfast nook. The larger master bedroom has skylights so you can see the stars at night. The kitchen is a must see with the best thing about the property being the open space kitchen and amazing floor plan.

The property is 1,560 square feet with a completely separate 560 sq. foot ADU with 2 car garage and space for RV parking--the unit has solar.

The property is an outstanding family home, all on one level, if financing is required the payment can be offset by renting out the Main Unit or ADU -and live in the other -- to offset the monthly payment. The short term rental (STR) market is always thriving in the central Colorado area with so many individuals and families that want to come to Colorado for an adventure and see the myriad of attractions Red Rocks Parks, Garden of the Gods, Buffalo overlook, The Air Force Academy, Estes Park or of course to check out our great skiing, food and and beer. If you decide to take advantage of the STR market we will list the property on Air BNB and or VRBO for no charge and run the rental for 90 days at no charge and hand over to you turnkey.

We offer partial owner financing with a 720 FICO score, or higher, and at least $25K in savings IE Retirement Plan. The home has solar so there will limited power bills and for the young buyer we are offering a 2-1 buydown.

Any buyer who does not take the 2-1 buydown and does give a full price offer, can instead get a custom package for $20,000.00. The upgrades could include and of these: Private garden, class 4 roof, custom front porch, hottub, man cave in the garage or custom tile and paint throughout the home, RV parking or off street parking for the ADU.

Come check out our open houses which are 1) Happy Hour Open Houses Fridays 4-6PM and every Sat and Sunday in March from 10AM to 2PM. 4360 Marshall St, Wheat Ridge CO 80033. alandavis@levelengineering.com

you get a good adviser?

Here are some guidelines to think about:

• Consider choosing a fiduciary, one who is ethically bound to act in your best interest and must disclose any conflicts of interest.

• Meet with more than one adviser to learn differences, areas of

expertise or the best personality fit for you and your family. This should be a lifelong relationship, so those things count in both good and difficult times.

• Consider working with an independent adviser who has no other agenda other than to serve you.

• Always ask about experience, education, and certifications. For example, an advisor who has studied and earned the Certified Financial Planner mark has met

specific education, experience and ethical standards required by the CFP Board of Practice Standards annually.

Now the hard part. Be openminded to your advisor’s recommendations. They likely have access to tools and resources to help design complex portfolios over multiple market cycles. It is important to collaborate and express your wishes but also be willing to accept good advice and stick to your plan over time.

There will always be things out of your control. Seeking good advice may help you navigate those uncertainties throughout your golden years.

1. smartasset March,2024

2. Planning & Progress, Northwestern Mutual 2022

3. Vanguard: Putting a Value on your Value

Patricia Kummer is a Certified Financial Planner and is a director for Mariner Wealth Advisors.

at 106 Brickhouse Road, Stillwater, NY 12170;

YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate's Court, Saratoga County, 30 McMaster Street, Building 3, Ballston Spa, NY, on April 10, 2024, at 10:00 o'clock in the forenoon of that day, why a decree should not be made in the estate of Beverly J. Hagadorn, lately domiciled at 115 Brickhouse Road, Stillwater, NY 12170, admitting to probate a Will dated April 27, 2016, a copy of which is attached, as the Will of Beverly J. Hagadorn, deceased, relating to real and personal property, and directing that Letters Testamentary issue to: Lorrie Hagadorn. Attested and Sealed, Hon. Jonathan G. Schopf Surrogate

Dated, February 15, 2024

/s/ Lisa M. Hastings, Chief Clerk. Attorney for Petition:

Margaret E. Gilmartin T

Telephone #: 518-888-6750

Elbert County Legals

Address of Attorney: 29 Spa Drive, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866. This citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not required to appear.

If you fail to appear it will be assumed you do not object to the relief requested. You have a right to have an attorney appear for you.

Legal Notice No. 205114

First Publication: March 7, 2024

Last Publication: March 28, 2024

Publisher: Elbert County News

Notice to Creditors

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Edwin Weidmann, Deceased

Case Number : 2024PR30008

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Elbert County, Colorado on or before July 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Tracy L. Weidmann, Personal Representative c/o Gubbels Law Office, P.C. 103 4th Street, Suite 120 Castle Rock, CO 80104

Legal Notice No. 205118

First Publication: March 14, 2024

Last Publication: March 28, 2024

Publisher: Elbert County News

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Rosemary A. Rodgers, Deceased

Case Number 2024 PR 030012

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Elbert County, Colorado on or before August 9, 2024, or the claims may

James T. Anest #16727

Attorney to the Personal Representative 19751 E. Mainstreet, Suite 365 Parker CO 80138

Legal Notice No. 205124

First Publication: March 21, 2024

Last Publication: April 4, 2024

Publisher: Elbert County News

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Leslie Sylverne Stratton, aka Leslie S. Stratton, aka Leslie Stratton, aka L. S. Stratton, Deceased

Case Number 2024PR30009

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Elbert County, Colorado on or before Monday, July 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

John F. Cook, LLC

Attorney to the Personal Representative, 12101 East Second Avenue Suite, 102 Aurora, Colorado 80010; Phone Number: 303-363-6200

Email: cookjohnf1@qwestoffice.net

Selina M. Kliest, Personal Representative 2607 Bundy Williams Rd Marshville, NC 28103

Legal Notice No. 205117

First Publication: March 14, 2024

Last Publication: March 28, 2024

Publisher: Elbert County News

Name Changes

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on February 26, 2024

that a Petition for a Change of Name of a minor child has been filed with the Elbert County Court.

The Petition requests that the name of Jarrett Dirscherl Kirgan be changed to Jarrett Dylan Kirgan Case No.: 2024C14

Palmer L. Boyette

By: County Court Judge

Legal Notice No. 205116

First Publication: March 14, 2024

Last Publication: March 28, 2024

Publisher: Elbert County News

Child Find

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHILD FIND

East Central BOCES and/or its member districts would like to locate all 3 through 21 year olds, who may have a disability.

The Colorado Department of Education maintains a comprehensive child identification system consistent with Part B of IDEA and ensures that each Local Education Agency (LEA), in collaboration with a variety of community resources, assumes the leadership role in establishing and maintaining a process in their community for the purpose of locating, identifying and evaluating all children, 3 through 21 years, who may have a disability and may be eligible for special education services under Part B of IDEA.

If you have any concerns about your child’s

growth in -

• Speech/Language Development

• Learning

• Vision and/or Hearing

• Social and/or Emotional Development

• Physical Motor Development

Ages 3 through 5 year-old concerns should be directed to the following:

• Cheyenne County (Cheyenne Wells and Kit Carson Schools)

• Lincoln County (Genoa-Hugo School)

• Yuma County (Idalia & Liberty Schools)

• Kit Carson County (Bethune, Stratton, Arriba-Flagler & Hi-Plains Schools)

• Arapahoe County (Byers, Deer Trail, Strasburg & Bennett Schools)

• Washington County (Arickaree & Woodlin Schools)

• Adams County (Bennett, Strasburg, Byers and Deer Trail Schools)

• Lincoln County (Limon & Karval Schools)

• Elbert County (Agate & Kiowa Schools)

• Kit Carson County (Burlington Schools)

Please contact: Stacey Brown, Child Find Coordinator - (719) 775-2342, ext. 133

All 5 through 21 year-old concerns should be directed to the local school district administrator, special education teacher, East Central BOCES (719) 775-2342, ext. 101.

The East Central BOCES member schools are: Bennett, Strasburg, Byers, Deer Trail, Agate, Woodlin, Arickaree, Limon, Genoa-Hugo, Karval, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Cheyenne Wells, ArribaFlagler, Hi-Plains, Stratton, Bethune, Burlington, Liberty, and Idalia.

References: IDEA, Part B, Section 300.125

ECEA CCR 301-8 2220-R-4.01-4.04(4)

East Central BOCES Comprehensive Plan Section III Process of Identifying

Legal Notice No. 205125

First Publication: March 28, 2024

Last Publication: April 4, 2024

Publisher: Elbert County News ###

Citizens of Elbert County, I would like to take a moment to thank all of my supporters who have reached out to me and who have been helping. As we move closer to the Assembly process, I am very hopeful that we will be successful and obtain the votes necessary to be on the ballot.

If you are a delegate, I humbly ask for your support on March 30th. As stated in previous public meetings, I am for keeping Elbert County rural with very controlled growth.

Our water supply is of great concern. This affects not only our day to day quality of life, it also affects our cattle ranches. Our beef is the largest industry in Elbert County.

We are loosing millions of dollars in tax revenue annually to our neighbors. We need to capture a large portion of that. We must encourage people to shop and buy in Elbert county, not Douglas, Arapaho and El Paso counties. Even if we collected 10% of that, it would help us with our road and bridge, and our public safety department’s.

Keeping Elbert County safe is also a priority for me. As a former and retired police chief, I worked through fast growth and saw the impacts it can have on communities if it is not controlled and planned out properly. The impacts to roadways, fire service and law enforcement just to name a few are vital in this process.

A lot of our citizens are seniors, we must plan accordingly and provide adequate services for them. Many depend on these types of services to survive month to month.

Last but not least, we must find a way to educate our young adults and high school seniors a trade. There has been a lot of discussion on the possibility of a trade school in Elbert County. We must also support organizations like our FFA which I am a proud lifetime member.

I am also a lifetime member of the NRA and I will never support any regulations or laws that will infringe upon our constitutional rights as firearm owners!

I have over 40 years of experience in both public safety and the private sector. I have managed multi million dollar budgets and been successful at obtaining federal grants to off set impacts to our citizens.

I have worked many disasters in my career and I have seen people at their worst times.

I am a successful and proven leader, with your help, we can continue to keep Elbert County rural and a safe place to live.

I sincerely thank you for your time and support. It’s our county and our future, together we can protect