Elbert County News May 30, 2024

Eagle’s Nest Ranch narrows focus

Equine ministry will limit services to only military members, emergency responders, their families

BY NICKY QUINBY

SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Suzy Stan ll, founder and executive director of Elizabeth-area nonpro t Eagle’s Nest Ranch, is excited to share about upcoming changes for the faith-based equine ministry. “ e big change coming up is that we are sharpening our focus to serve the military and rst responders and their families exclusively,” she said. On May 15, during National Police Week and during Military Appreciation Month, Eagle’s Nest Ranch announced on their Facebook page that their new mission was to “be a ministry that concentrates on serving those who serve us.” From now on, Stan ll said, the ranch will provide support to military personnel, veterans, law enforcement, re ghters and their families exclusively. e organization will be discontinuing their existing Soaring Program, which was described on its GuideStar charity pro le as a program that “serves non-military individuals or families who may be struggling with

personal horse Brave also “works” at Eagle’s

Read more about Brave’s story at eaglesnestranch.org/brave.

Brave only has one eye and was

from

Suzy Stanfill’s

Nest Ranch.

rescued

a kill pen.

PHOTO BY NICKY QUINBY

Parker mayor endorses former mayor for Congress in vacancy election

Lopez among four candidates seeking interim gig to fill former U.S. Rep. Ken Buck’s House seat

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Greg Lopez, a former mayor for the Town of Parker, is among four candidates running for the U.S. House District 4 Vacancy Election on June 25. He has just received an endorsement from close to home – Parker’s current mayor, Je Toborg.

“It’s time to bring some of the Parker hometown common sense to Washington,” Toborg said in his endorsement. “Greg Lopez is the right man to serve our community in Congress through the end of the year.” e special election will appear on ballots alongside primaries for the District 4 seat. While candidates in the primaries, like Republicans Lauren Boebert and Deborah Flora, are seeking to take the seat after the November election, the special election covers the interim, a situation caused when former U.S. Rep. Ken Buck unexpectedly retired. e other candidates on the ballot

Falling through the Cracks

for the special election include Frank Atwood of the Approval Voting Party, Hannah Goodman of Libertarian Party and Trisha Eloise Calvarese of the Democratic Party. Of the candidates, only Calvarese is also on a primary ballot.

Lopez became Parker’s third mayor at the age of 27 during a growth period in the 1990’s. In a statement, Toborg said he is honored to endorse Lopez as he helped create a successful path for the town.

Lopez, who describes himself as a “principal-holder GOP candidate,” said in a statement that he is looking forward to working closely with Toborg and wants to ensure that Parker “is a safe place to live, work, play and pray.”

Following Buck’s resignation in March, Lopez was selected by a Republican committee to run in the 4th District special election.

Other Republicans who sought out the nomination were state Sen. Ted Harvey, former congressional

sta er Chris Phelen, Floyd Trujillo, state Reps. Richard Holtorf and Mike Lynch, former 2nd Congressional District nominee Peter Yu and state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg.  Democrats running in the primary include John Padora Jr., Isaac “Ike” McCorkle and Calvarese.  Since becoming a U.S. House District 4 Vacancy Election candidate, Lopez has also received endorsements from Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Congressmen Doug Lamborn and Jim Jordan, Home Majority Leader Steve Scalise and the Colorado Republican Party.  Lopez is not running in the primary election which will be held in November.

Calvarese, who was selected as the Democratic candidate in the special election, has received endorsements from those such as state Rep. Leslie Herod, Former Commissioner of Agriculture John Stulp, U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen and Attorney General Phil Weiser.

Parker Mayor Je Toborg was the keynote speaker for the 2024 State of the Town Business Breakfast and Impact Awards hosted by the Rotary Club of Parker Foundation. Toborg spoke about public safety, economic development and future plans for the town.

PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

Former Parker Mayor Greg Lopez is the Republican nominee in the special election to replace Ken Buck, who left his seat vacant in the 4th Congressional District. COURTESY GREG LOPEZ CAMPAIGN

Will You Be Among

the

Among those states which actually have four seasons, Colorado enjoys the best and longest season for outdoor living. When I lived here in my childhood, I recall that the Denver Post had “Climate Capital of the World” as its page one slogan. Denver’s climate was what drove me to return to Colorado as an adult We still enjoy a year-round climate which is least impacted by climate change, with fewer or no hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, and other natural disasters.

Homeowners Focusing on Enhancing Outdoor Living in 2024?

home with a fully tricked-out backyard, and I know my buyers do too. It’s a definite selling point and sets any home apart from its competition.

So, it makes sense that Coloradans want to do more outdoor living. I’m finding more and more homes with outdoor kitchens and living spaces, and these are big selling points for any single-family listing.

Above right is a graphic from a 2023 article by the International Casual Furnishings Association which carried the following headline: “In 2023, Americans Will Spend Their Money on Lighting, Rugs, Umbrellas and Other Accessories to Spruce Up Their Backyards, Decks and Patios.”

I must say that I light up when I see a

The article was based on a survey which showed increased interest in backyard amenities by American homeowners. The statistics are in the graphic. In the article reporting on the survey, it was stated that “After two years of pandemic living that motivated many residents to invest in improving the spaces around their homes, there is significant interest in continuing to upgrade their outdoor living setting.” Their website, icfanet.org/news/2023_trend_report, promotes various products to enhance outdoor living, including outdoor bars, a canopied daybed, umbrellas, rugs, swivel rockers, artwork, pottery, pillows and more.

As I write this, there are 67 active REcolorado listings within 20 miles of downtown Denver which include an outdoor kitchen in their public remarks. There are 35 more beyond that 20-mile radius. Send me an email at the address below if you’d like me to share those

The Practice of Real Estate Won’t Change All That Much

The now-famous NAR Settlement of March 15th is now 2½ months in the past long enough for multiple people and “experts” to weigh in on how the practice of real estate will change.

I have attended several events which were touted as answering that question but literally did nothing of the kind. I believe that I have a better understanding of how it will all change as the implementation date of August 17th approaches.

Until then, nothing at all is changing. I just listed a couple homes which will advertise a co-op (buyer’s agent) commission of 2.5%, which is rather typical. There are still listings on the MLS showing 2.8% co-op commissions, and some showing 2.0% co-op, but all of us realize that it’s important to offer a coop if we want our listings to sell.

After Aug. 17th, it will be strictly forbidden for the MLS and websites which get their listings from the MLS Zillow, and every brokerage website, including our own to even hint at a co-op commission. The penalty for doing so is loss of MLS access, which is a career-ending penalty.

Most people think that buyers and agents will have to call each listing agent before showing a home to find out if a co-op is being offered and what the

listings with you, and I’d be happy to arrange a showing. Even if you don’t buy one of those listings, it could give you ideas as to how you might improve your own outdoor living space.

We live in the best place on planet Earth in my opinion, and we want to live life to the fullest, right? Why limit ourselves to wonderful indoor living spaces, when we can also enjoy the the great environment that is outside our walls?

My broker associates and I are here to help you in any way that suits you.

The research for the above chart was conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of the American Home Furnishings Alliance and International Casual Furnishings Association among 1,000 nationally representative U.S. adults ages 18 and older between January 27-31, 2023.

Guest Article on April’s Real Estate Statistics

By MEGAN ALLER, First American Title

We are seeing a notable shift in the residential market, particularly within the attached property sector. This has been influenced by several key factors that have emerged in recent months.

Key Market Trends for April 2024

:

¨ Active inventory has risen significantly, with a 31% increase in units for sale. New listings also saw a 14% uptick.

percentage or dollar amount will be. I watched one video presentation by a local brokerage which suggested that the amount of co-op could vary depending on the listing agent’s opinion of the professionalism of the buyer’s agent, offering 1% to one agent but 2% to another a terrible, likely illegal idea.

Not one person I read or listened to mentioned the printed brochure for a listing. It can easily state in print if a coop commission is offered and what the percentage or dollar amount is. This is no different than those for-sale-byowner listings which say “Co-op Paid.”

My practice will be to write listing agreements with 2.5 to 2.8 percent commissions, but with an additional provision authorizing me to promote on brochures, in this ad, and on listing websites (not connected to the MLS) a 2.0 to 2.8 percent co-op commission. I’m sure any seller will agree to that provision, because failure to do so would mean far fewer showings and offers.

Next Tuesday the Colorado Real Estate Commission will be presented by their Forms Committee with some minor changes to the purchase contract and listing contracts (for both buyers and sellers). I will attend that meeting and write about those changes the following week.

Underwriters are increasingly scrutinizing the financial health of Homeowners Associations (HOAs) due to new lending guidelines. This has led to a rise in HOA dues and special assessments, largely driven by significant increases in master insurance policy costs. For example, some sellers have experienced HOA dues rising from around $300 to over $800. In another instance, an HOA is planning a special assessment of $3,600 annually for the next five years to stabilize their finances. Additionally, many condo communities have let their FHA approvals lapse, complicating the purchase process for first-time and lower entry buyers.

Lenders are also wary of mixed-use commercial/condo communities, viewing the financial burden placed on commercial spaces as a riskier proposition. Consequently, we are seeing a marked shift from condos to single-family detached units. Buyers who might have considered a $500,000 condo with a $1,000 monthly HOA bill are finding better value in singlefamily homes priced around $700,000, offering a more sound investment.

¨ Demand, as measured by pending transactions, decreased by 6.6%, although closed transactions increased by 14% month-over-month.

¨ Months of inventory increased to 2.5 months, reflecting a lagging indicator based on March's contracts.

¨ Attached residential home prices have dropped from last month due to rising inventory and decreased demand. However, prices are still up 1.1% to 2.5% compared to last year.

¨ While multiple offers are less frequent and less intense compared to 20202022, March saw 28.8% of attached units selling over asking price, with an average overage of 2.0%. Many of these homes included concessions to buy down interest rates.

¨ The average days on market decreased to 35 days, with the median days on market dropping to 12 days.

¨ 41.9% of homes were under contract within 7 days, up 3.6% from last month. Homes under contract within this timeframe received an average of 100.5% of their original list price.

Colorado high school grads share wisdom, are cautious about the future

BY MCKENNA HARFORD, ELISABETH SLAY AND NINA JOSS COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

e Class of 2024 has seen its fair share of challenges. eir freshman year coincided with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. And, as they graduated, generative arti cial intelligence is all the rage, promising to disrupt and change many industries in ways not yet fully understood.

So, what’s on the minds of these students? e rising costs of living and navigating the transition into young adulthood, to name two.

Our newsroom collected grains of wisdom from graduating seniors in schools across the south metro area. We sent surveys to students in the Douglas County School District, Littleton Public Schools, Cherry Creek School District and Englewood Schools.

We got back more than 45 responses to our queries meant to gauge students’ thoughts as they nd their way, wanting to know about the challenges and opportunities that await them.

Overwhelmingly, graduates said they are thankful to their schools and teachers for helping them discover their passions and build futures around them. Some are bound for college, others military service or the pathway to training and certication in a trade.

A driving force in their decision making, students often cited the ever-escalating costs of paying for college, including student loans, weighing them against their potential earnings in career elds.  ey also had a few words of parting advice for incoming freshman, which is the Class of 2028. For instance, Alice Hale, who is graduating from the Options Secondary Program in Littleton Public Schools, walks away with the kind of worldly advice it can take some folks a lifetime to learn.

“Be yourself,” she said. “No one can tell you who/what you are! When a bridge falls, we rebuild it.”

Here are the thoughts of the Class

The Class of 2024

of 2024 – graduates’ re ections on their high school experience and plans for the future.

Finding their Passion

One common theme that emerged from our surveys of seniors is how important dedicated and thoughtful teachers are to them. e students expressed gratitude and said teachers gave them the con dence in themselves and their abilities to learn new things and grow in the process.

Maanasi Gowda, of Mountain Vista High School in Highlands Ranch, said her teachers encouraged her dream of starting a nonpro t to provide legal assistance to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Before that, Gowda, a Boettcher scholar, is bound for the University of Denver, on the path to study law.

“I had lots of great teachers and counselors along the way that worked with me outside of school to foster and grow my interests in certain areas of my life that I am very thankful for,” Gowda said. “ ey

supported me when I needed it and provided every opportunity for me to grow and be who I am.”

More schools are moving away from overemphasizing college, and pointing students to other options. Students say the growing variety of classes, extracurricular activities and job programs helped them nd their interests and strengths.

Clara Gri th, of Ponderosa High School in Parker, said she always knew she wanted to be an engineer. So, she took classes that helped her get a jumpstart on her plan. Now, Gri th is headed to Montana State University to study mechanical engineering.

“I chose to be a mechanical engineer because I am very interested in machinery and, speci cally, motorized vehicles, and it is a very versatile degree to get, as well as my goal within my career is to bridge the communication gap between trade workers and engineers,” Gri th said. “I took a lot of shop classes, such as welding and woodshop, so that when I develop a design, I would know how to build it as well.”

certi cation to operate forklifts.  ose opportunities and support led Davila to Arapahoe Community College, where, this fall, he will study biology with a goal of becoming a wildlife biologist or zoologist.

“I always knew I loved animals and plants and the study of life or how organisms could thrive,” Davila said.

“Tending to plants and manning the nursery has taught me well in the matters of how these di erent plants associate themselves with what kinds of soil, mulch, or substrate they grow in.”

Mady Newton, who attended Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village, is planning to join the U.S. Air Force after graduation. She said the certi ed nurse aide program at the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus helped her get her certi cation, leading her to a great medical

Cade Kaminski, Arapahoe High School COURTESY PHOTOS

Vinny Anderson, Littleton High School

13-16, 2024

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GRADUATES

job in the military.

Some students, like Cade Kaminski from Arapahoe High School in Littleton, said advanced placement classes helped prepare them for college classes. Oswaldo Sanchez, from Options Secondary Program, said his education gave him “a foundation to start o with,” and made him more open-minded.

Luke Riegel, who is graduating from Heritage High School in Littleton, said his education gave him the valuable opportunity to learn from failure.

“Heritage gave me a place to learn from my mistakes, and be nurtured by fantastic teachers and peers so that I don’t make the same mistakes in the future, and so that I can be a better leader and learner in the future,” he said.

Cost of Education

College tuition costs have been consistently rising for decades, with the Education Data Initiative nding that tuition for four-year universities has gone up 9% between 2010 and 2022.

While Colorado passed a law this session to help ease the costs of higher education for some families, students are still calculating the potential of being in debt into their decisionmaking.

Davila chose Arapahoe Community College in part because of its lower tuition, but said even though it is more a ordable that other colleges in universities, it will be di cult. Figuring in his concerns are other bills, like rent and car payments.

“A potential challenge I see for myself in the future is keeping up with tuition costs,” he said.

For Cody Craven, of underRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, enlisting in the U.S. Army was the best choice for him to continue school while reducing the nancial strains of college.

“I have taken into consideration expenses and schooling when considering what to do with my future,”

Craven said. “I believe that the military will teach me great life skills and they will pay for it.”

And, many others in the Class of 2024 are looking for every opportunity they can to reduce their higher education bills.

Stella Pasquale from Colorado’s Finest High School of Choice in Englewood plans to pursue the Ascent Program at the Metropolitan State University of Denver in criminal justice and criminology.

e Ascent Program, which is offered to juniors and seniors, is federal funding that provides students with the opportunity to either complete their rst year of college at no cost or complete a fth year of high school.

“I decided to do the Ascent Program because it’s the best option

for me nancially to be able to pursue the major I want at a four year school,” Pasquale said. “ is next step will grant me free tuition for my full rst year of college.” is program o ers Pasquale and other students the opportunity to pursue higher education without going into debt within their rst year out of high school, something Pasquale is thankful for.

Students at non-traditional schools, like local community colleges and Metro, are able to stay in the metro area, closer to family and support systems as they launch their futures to help further reduce costs.

Data from the Education Data Initiative shows that in 2023 the average cost for students living on a public

four-year campus at an in-state institution was about $26,027 per year. Out-of-state students paid $27,091 per year and private, nonpro t university students are paying $55,840 per year.

Fellow Colorado’s Finest High School of Choice-Ascent Program member Nazira Garrett is planning to attend Arapahoe Community College for her rst two years before transferring to Colorado State University, a strategy that will save money. Garrett will study psychology and neuroscience.

ough the senior is looking forward to pursuing a degree and thankful to be in the program, Gar-

Oswaldo Sanchez, Options Secondary Program COURTESY PHOTO

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EAGLE’S NEST

the invisible wounds of life by providing interactive sessions with horses.”

Stan ll said people in the military and rst responder professions often give of themselves rst, sacri cing their own time and well-being for others. Eagle’s Nest Ranch wants to provide a safe place for them to nd refuge, adjust and reconnect with the equine therapy o ered at the ranch.

Stan ll said the organization relies on God’s help and intervention to heal people who are depressed, traumatized or brokenhearted. “When they are looking for resources,” Stan ll shared, “we want to be an option.”

Eagle’s Nest Ranch o ers 90-minute long individual or group sessions. Sessions are somewhat personalized but always begin with chores. Stan ll says there’s a bene t to manual labor and being active. After working alongside someone, it’s time to engage with horses.

Interacting with horses can be therapeutic for a number of reasons. A 2015 report suggested equine therapy could help boost self-awareness and personal insight, promote mindfulness, ease feelings of anxiety, fear or stress, and relieve other emotional distress, including feelings of depression.

Eagle’s Nest Ranch is home to eight horses and one donkey. “Because they’re prey animals, horses have a strong sense to evaluate when they might be in danger,” Stan ll said. She explained that horses re ect back a person’s behavior and emotions and respond authentically.

“ ey don’t care where you come from, what clothes you’re wearing, or what you’ve been through,” Stan ll said. Horses want to be in a community and if someone proves themselves safe and trustworthy, they will be allowed into the herd. rough these interactions with horses, people can gain a better understanding of themselves and how they interact with others.

Eagle’s Nest Ranch also supports local law enforcement and re ghter communities with their First Responder Buckaroo Days during the summer, for rst responders and their families. is year will mark the eighth year for the program. Last year well over a hundred people attended and enjoyed crafts, games, hayrides and a devotional. Dates for this year’s Buckaroo Days will be announced shortly.

Stan ll didn’t realize she could combine two of her greatest passions — horses and ministry — until someone gave her the book “Hope Rising” by Kim Meeder. Meeder and her husband founded Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in Bend, Oregon and “Hope Rising” chronicles stories of healing from their

own equine ministry. Stan ll opened Eagle’s Nest Ranch in 2014 and they’ve been located in Elizabeth for six years. Part of her inspiration comes from personal tragedy. Stan ll’s own mother died by suicide when Stan ll was 23, and this event informs her desire to help others avoid the same feelings of hopelessness. “Satan wants people to give up and become ine ective or to give up on life,” she said. “We want them to know the truth about what God says. No matter how dark the day is, there is always some hope.”

Stan ll has also served as a missionary in Peru and Colombia. After coming to Colorado in 2001, she worked at a nonpro t agency helping families in crisis and volunteered at a local horse rescue. “God called me to ministry and to help people,” she said.

Eagle’s Nest Ranch will celebrate their 10th anniversary this year on Aug. 23. Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch founder and author Kim Meeder is expected to come help commemorate the event.

To provide free services, Eagle’s Nest Ranch always appreciates sponsors for their ministry, or for speci c events like the Buckaroo Days and the upcoming 10th anniversary celebration.

For more information on donating, upcoming events, or the Kingdom Cowgirl Volunteer Program, visit eaglesnestranch.org, email info@eaglesnestranch.org or call 720655-6924.

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Hike for Hope at Red Rocks June 2

BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Red Rocks will play host to the sixth annual Hike for Hope, a fundraiser for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, at 8:45 a.m. June 2. Hikers will leave on the 1.7mile moderate hike from the Red Rocks Trading Post, 17900 Trading Post Road.

In addition to the hike, AFSP sta and volunteers will be on hand with information and snacks. Participants can also paint inspirational messages at a rock-painting station.   Participation is free, and organizers said fundraising is optional but greatly appreciated.

“ e idea is to spend a day out-

side, enjoying nature and a hike while increasing awareness about mental health and suicide prevention in Colorado,” said Michael Barber, Colorado area AFSP director. “Nature, sunshine and exercise have all been shown to help with mental health. And events like this are what help us fund our mission — which is to save lives and bring hope to those a ected by suicide.

“We recommend people sign up ahead of time, and then a fundraising page is built for you. You can easily text or email that link to people or put it on social media.”

Mental health and suicide prevention can be tough subjects, Barber acknowledged.

about, or this problem is going to continue,” he said. “ is hike is about building hope that it’s ok not to be ok, to talk with other people and reach out for help when we

Barber, who lost a grandparent to suicide, said the AFSP’s mission is “near and dear to my heart.”

For more information, visit the Denver Metro Hike for Hope.

The sixth annual Hike for Hope fundraiser for suicide prevention will be held at Red Rocks June 2.

rett said she is nervous about being nancially stable throughout college.

“I am currently thinking about how I will a ord my education and the move to Fort Collins,” Garrett said.

“I also worry if I will have enough support to get through my college education.”

e average student borrower spends roughly 20 years paying o their loans, per the Education Data Initiative.

Vinny Anderson, who is graduating from Littleton High School, said nancial aid was a factor in his plans to major in psychology at Stanford University.

“It was important for me to decide on a school that was o ering me good nancial aid, coming from a low-income background,” he said. “Additionally, I wanted to choose a school that would o er me strong connections and networking opportunities.

Other seniors, like Erin Altenhofen from Englewood High School, are taking advantage of scholarships to help them through their higher education journey. Altenhofen is a recipient of the Daniels Fund Scholarship, which covers full tuition to a four-year university in certain states, including Colorado.

Altenhofen plans to attend the University of Colorado in Boulder in the fall to study biomedical engineering.

GRADUATES THE POWER TO SHORTEN SHOWER.

“I worked with my post secondary advisor and teachers and have always been interested in creating and assisting with curing medical diseases,” Altenhofen said. “I received the Daniels Fund Scholarship which is an amazing opportunity for me.”

Advice to the next generation

As they pursue their passions and gure out their pathways to careers, many seniors had advice for the incoming freshman class.

Altenhofen believes freshmen should enjoy their moments in high school and in particular at Engle-

wood High School, “ nd the good in being at a small school.”

“I spent a lot of time wishing I was at a bigger school, but only recently came to realize how much better it is to be in a smaller school,” Altenhofen said. “I would also tell them to join as many clubs and sports as you can, because though it may take a lot of time, it is such a great opportunity to make friends and nd spaces where you can thrive.”

Jayce Prante from Englewood High School said freshmen should “challenge themselves and make the best of their high school career.”

“ ey should do their best to get good grades and put themselves out there,” Prante said.

Dashiell Fahnestock at Englewood High School, has plans to attend the University of Puget Sound. Fahnestock said freshmen should keep their options open.

“Experiment with several di erent options regardless of whether or not you think they will work out, and be nice to people,” Fahnestock said. “It’ll make your subsequent high school years easier.”

For Kate Mullin, from Grandview High School, her biggest advice to early high school students is to savor the moment.

“ ere are a lot of times during high school where the homework is hard, classmates aren’t the best to be around, and you’re over everything,” she said. “But despite all of those negatives, there can be so many positives because high school is what you choose to make it. Find your people and nd what makes you happy … Make your memories count, because high school goes by in the blink of an eye.”

Nazira Garrett, Colorado’s Finest High School of Choice

COURTESY PHOTO

Meeting people where they are

In every aspect of life, whether personal or professional, the ability to connect with others on their level is invaluable. It’s a simple concept, yet profoundly transformative: Meet people where they are. is approach not only fosters understanding and empathy but also builds the foundation for trust and cooperation. Consider the example of bringing a rescue puppy into a new home. Often, these animals are skittish or fearful, possibly due to past traumas or unfamiliarity with their new environment. When a puppy hides under a table, its behavior is a natural response to fear. e most e ective way to build trust with this new member of the family is to physically get down on their level. By lying on the ground and showing vulnerability, you communicate in a language that the puppy understands, that you are not a threat, but a protector. is simple act can make a signi cant di erence in how quickly the puppy adapts and begins to trust its new environment.

Similarly, when a young child, perhaps an infant, meets a relative like a grandfather for the rst time, there might be initial shyness or reluctance. If the grandfather sits on the oor and engages with the child using their toys, he demonstrates that he is willing to enter the child’s world. is approach breaks down barriers and creates a connection that respects the child’s current developmental stage. is principle is equally critical in the workplace, particularly in leadership roles. Consider a corporate executive who spends most of their time in a corner o ce, removed from the day-to-day operations of other departments. To

truly understand and lead e ectively, it’s crucial for this executive to occasionally leave the comfort of the executive suite and spend time in the warehouse, the lab, or the marketing department. Such actions show a commitment to understanding the challenges and successes of di erent parts of the organization from a ground-level perspective.

Perhaps nowhere is this approach more critical than in sales. Salespeople are the bridge between a company and its customers, and an executive can learn a great deal by joining them in the eld. Meeting with prospects and existing customers o ers rsthand insight into the market’s response to the company’s o erings, competitive challenges, and the e ectiveness of sales strategies. is direct feedback is invaluable for re ning approaches and staying aligned with market needs.

e philosophy of meeting people where they are extends beyond direct interactions. It in uences corporate culture and impacts customer relations. For instance, companies that design products or services with a keen understanding of their users’ needs are more likely to succeed.

e bene ts of this approach are manifold. In personal settings, it deepens relationships and creates a safe space for growth and acceptance. In professional environments, it enhances leadership e ectiveness, promotes a more engaged workforce, and leads to better business outcomes through a deeper understanding of operational realities and market dynamics.

Ultimately, whether it’s a scared puppy, a cautious child, or a diverse workforce, taking the time to understand and engage with others at their level not only enriches these interactions but also drives success across various aspects of

Find your creative outlet at Denver Fringe Festival

TCOMING ATTRACTIONS

he performing arts often have a reputation as only taking place in rare ed spaces, where only certain people have access to them. e whole idea of the Denver Fringe Festival is to burst that bubble and show that creativity can happen anywhere.

“Our approach is arts for all,” said Ann Sabbah, executive director of the annual event. “We look for all types of performers in all kinds of genres to take part and we strive to keep the price point at a very a ordable level.”

e Denver Fringe Festival is back for its fth year, running from ursday, June 6, through Sunday, June 9, across 20 venues and locations, mostly concentrated in the RiNo and Five Points neighborhoods. is year’s event features more than 60 original shows, the bulk of which cost only $15. And 70 percent of all ticket sales go right back to the performers. Some of the shows audiences can

explore include: King Penny Radio: An Improvised 1940s Radio Show; Raw Groove, which features dance and live musical performances that take audiences on an Afrofuturistic journey through various movements and sounds of the Black diaspora; and Cirque du Cinéma, which combines burlesque, aerial, dance and camp nostalgia.

ere are also a couple of new features this year for attendees to check out.

e rst is the FringeART show, which is visual arts focused and will be on display through June 21 at Ironton Distillery, 3636 Chestnut Place. e other new feature is the Fringe Free-For-All, a locally-driven program bringing free performances to various streets and spaces in the neighborhoods. ese performances will include circus arts, magic and illusion, immersive experiences and more.

“One of the most fun parts of the festival is the variety of venues audiences will get to experience,” Sabbah said. “Some performances are in more traditional theaters and art

Radio: Show; dance that Afrofuturistic movements diaspora; comand feacheck show, and 21 Chestnut the locally-driven performances the performances iland the audiSabare art

galleries, but you’ll also be able to visit everywhere from comedy clubs to event rooms at a brewery and even a video studio. is all makes for a much more intimate and immersive experience.”

e festival is also family friendly, with the free KidsFringe event, which features two original shows for kids, various forms of puppetry, a puppet meet and greet, and more.

ere’s no right way to approach an event like the Fringe Festival. Sabbah recommends people do some exploring and maybe try something new and that way a person can see what catches their interest.

“ is is a true community event that allows people to participate in intimate and immediate performances that are very original and creative,” she said. “It’s a new take on what the performing arts can be and it can be really energizing.”

For full details and more, visit https://denverfringe.org/.

Get Your Summer on at Thorntonfest

e City of ornton is welcoming summer with orntonfest, an event that brings together everything from music and entertainment to activities for pets and children as well. e event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 1 at Carpenter Park Fields, 108th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard.

Some of the live musicians slated to perform include the Guardians Band and Boogie Machine, and there will also be a car show, axe throwing and a 120-foot-long Ninja Warrior course. e festival also includes a Pet Fest and a Kid Zone. Full details are available at https://www.thorntonco.gov.

PACE Center Throws Prom for Adults

It’s prom season, but high schoolers don’t have to be the only ones

NORTON

life. By adopting this mindset, we can transform potential con icts into opportunities for collaboration and growth, making our worlds, both small and large, a little better for everyone involved.

How did this land with you? As always, I would love to hear your story

enjoying it. e Parker Arts, Culture & Events (PACE) Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., is giving adults a chance to have their own prom fun while raising money for a good cause.

e Neon Nights: Adult Prom Fundraiser will be held at the Center’s Event Room from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, June 1. According to provided information, the “ultra-illuminated dance party features wow-worthy décor, a glow-in-the-dark makeup station with tattoos and jewelry, photo op vignettes and a non-stop mix of your pop favorites.”

Tickets will get attendees an assortment of treats and two drink tickets, with all the funds supporting free community events. Visit https:// parkerarts.org/event/neon-nightsadult-prom-fundraiser/ for information and tickets.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Outside Festival at Civic Center Park

Denver doesn’t really have a signature music festival, but that could be changing with the rst Outside Festival, which is taking over Civic Center Park, Broadway and Colfax Avenue in Denver, on Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2. e event is a celebration of all things outdoors and is driven by a partnership between Outside Interactive Inc, e State of Colorado’s Outdoor Recreation O ce and Visit Denver.

e festival will feature a diverse group of musicians, like undercat, Lettuce, Say She She, Fleet Foxes, Andrew Bird and e Heavy Heavy, as well as Colorado bands that will perform throughout the weekend.

In addition to the music, attendees can check out lms, the latest in outdoor gear and a range of other outdoor-focused events like a climbing wall and more. All the details and tickets can be found at https://festival.outsideonline.com/.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.

at gotonorton@gmail.com and when we can remember to meet people where they are to nd that common ground, regardless of our role or level, it really will be a better than good life.

Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

SETTING THE STAGE

Colorado-born actress brings immersive one-woman show to Denver Fringe Festival

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Lauren Hance will perform her one-woman award-winning comedy show “Holy O” at the 2024 Denver Fringe Festival on June 6, 7 and 9.

“ e Denver Fringe Festival does a fantastic job,” Hance said. “I have a lot of family and friends who live in the Denver area. So, it was a nice combination to be able to take my show to a place where a lot of people that I know can come and see it.”

Director and developer Amelia Peterson described the show as a cross between “Fleabag” and “ e Vagina Monologues.”

“It’s for audiences who are up for something playful, heartwarming, and experimental,” Peterson said.

In “Holy O,” Hance plays Vera in a solo comedy performance in which the audience becomes part of the play directly from their seats. e main character, Vera, contemplates becoming a nun but can’t let go of her vibrators.

“ e onset of rapturous prayers complicates her situation, leading the audience to assume the role of an advice-giving saint,” Hance said.

“As Vera’s story unfolds, it intertwines with choose-your-ownadventure stories that explore the connection of body, spirit and sexuality,” Hance continued. “Along the way, the audience helps Vera make some of the biggest decisions of her life, starting with what shirt to wear.”

Hance was born and raised at the Air Force Academy in Colorado

Springs but now lives in Houston. As a little girl, Hance said she already had the personality to be an entertainer.

“When I was a little girl, my mom would put me in the grocery cart. She said I babbled before I even talked,” Hance said.

Hance said her mother decided she had to do something with her since she was very entertaining and thought she would put her play. So, in elementary school, she joined the school play and YMCA.

“It was the best thing ever. I love it. It was what I wanted to do since I was a little girl,” she said.

Hance studied theater at Abilene Christian University in West Texas and started as an actress. She graduated with a degree in Directing.

“Like many performers, you go out into the world and try to get into act-

ing. When I was in Texas, it was hard to make a complete living as an actor, no matter where you live,” Hance said.

“ ey have a great auxiliary campus in Houston with a good arts and culture program. I also liked many teachers who were interested in lm and all forms of art,” she continued.

Hance also has a master’s degree in theology, arts, and culture from Fuller eological Seminary. She said that “Holy O” was part of her thesis project.

“Now, I take it on the road to di erent festivals,” Hance said.

Hance travels coast to coast, producing, being a playwright and directing theater. She also hosts and produces a podcast, “What is Fringe?”

FESTIVAL

Hance said Peterson helped her develop and direct “Holy O.” She spent her career working with playwrights and presenting at festivals, such as the Kennedy Center’s Page to Stage Festival and the New York International Fringe Festival.

“I’m also working now with Cathy Lam-Patrie, a co-director. She is helping me with some more acting because Amelia has been a part of this show, but my show is self-producing, and she is taking a pause to work on some other projects in Knoxville,” Hance said.

Hance said Cathy Lam-Patrie is an internationally recognized producer from Hong Kong who is devoted to advancing justice-focused work. In 2023, she received the Edinburgh Fringe First Award for “A Funeral for My Friend Who Is Still Alive.”

“Amelia is all groovy about me getting assistance because we’re all in it for the betterment of the piece. We had long conversations about the development process,” Hance said. “We sent me o to do my work with festivals.”

In addition to several other awards, “Holy O” received a “Best of Fringe” award from DC eatre Arts and was described by reviewer Ari Rogers as “a deeply moving, uniquely intimate, and spiritual exploration of sexuality.”

“It was exciting to receive these awards. is is probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done artistically because it’s self-produced, and I’m the writer and the performer,” Hance said.

Hance said that on the business side, she does all the work, sending out press releases and learning how to do that process, advertising and getting people to the show.

“It’s been one of the hardest things I’ve done but also one of the best things that I’ve ever done,” she said. “I’ve grown so much, and my ability to believe in myself, who I am and what I can do, and how I can impact the world.”

Hance said she is very relational, and her show is very relational. e audience gets very involved, which excites her.

“I love connecting with people and

creating space for them to feel the experience. It feels good when other people recognize my work and really believe what I’m doing. And it’s nice when other people say they believe in what I’m doing,” Hance said.

“Denver has a vibrant art scene. It’s inspiring to come to a city that supports the arts, and the Fringe Festival is received well. I’m particular about where I go because it costs a lot of time and money to take a show somewhere and the place that is going and want it to be successful within the art scene and the festival,” Hance continued.

Hance’s “Holy O” performances during the Denver Fringe Festival will be at Big Up Studios, 3410 Blake St., Denver, CO 80205.

“Holy O” showtimes are at 8 p.m. ursday, June 6, 9:30 p.m. Friday, June 7, and 5:30 p.m. Sunday, June 9.  Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at https://denverfringe.org/ shows/holy-o/. For more information about the show, go to theholyoplay.com.

The Denver Fringe Festival

Now in its fth year running, this

year’s Denver Fringe Festival boasts more than 150 performances, including 60 original productions that include theater, dance, circus, comedy, cabaret and more. e four-day festival, which takes place June 6-9, will take place in roughly 20 venues, primarily located in Denver’s RiNo and Five Points, and a satellite location in Aurora.

In addition to “Holy O,” some other highlights include “King Penny Radio,” an improvised 1940’s radio show complete with costumes and old-timey piano music; “Disko Boy,” a family-friendly drag show featuring Hans L’Adida; and “Raw Groove: Life of the Party,” which will take audience members on an Afrofuturistic journey with dance and live musical performances.

“To be able to produce a show and have the right exposure is hard to come by,” said Constance Harris with Raw Groove. “With the network that Denver Fringe has in place with venues and audiences, it cuts out some of the obstacles and allows artists to produce what they want.”

Harris, who is also known by her stage name Connie Love, is partici-

pating in the festival for the rst time this year.

Even more to look forward to this year are additional experiences such as “On e Fringes,” which is a visual art exhibit that will be on display through June 21 at Ironton Distillery in Denver; and Fringe Free-For-All, which will consist of a variety of performances in free-entry venues and street performances.

“We’re really manifesting our goal of making the arts accessible to all,” said Ann Sabbah, executive director of the Denver Fringe Festival, in a press release. “ e elements we’re adding this year allow us to support more independent artists, collaborate within the community and share live performance art with more people. We’re ve years in and the re for Fringe is burning bright.”

e Denver Fringe Festival is known for providing “unjuried, uncensored and unconventional art” to all. ose wanting a more family-friendly experience can attend KidsFringe, which o ers two free shows catered for an audience of kids and families.

PHOTO AT LEFT: In Lauren Hance’s one-woman show “Holy O,” her character Vera is asleep on stage as the audience enters the theater. Each audience member is given four gold pipe cleaners and instructions on how to make their own “saintly” orb.

PHOTO BY RAY KUGLAR

In a sudden realization in “Holy O,” Vera proclaims that she wants to keep her clothes and wonders why she prays for people.

PHOTO BY AMELIA PETERSON

The Colorado legislative primaries to watch this election year

BY SANDRA FISH THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado’s legislative session is over, and for many lawmakers that means the 2024 campaign season has begun.

Seven state Senate and 18 state House primaries will take place June 25. In many districts, whoever wins the primary will also win in November, because the voters there skew heavily toward one party or the other.

Seven incumbents are being challenged in primary contests. Two of the most progressive House Democrats face more moderate opponents, while two GOP state Senators face challenges from their right.  Here’s a look at the contests worth paying close attention to:

Five House incumbents face challengers

Among the 18 primaries for state House, one Republican and four Democratic incumbents face challengers.

ose contests re ect the deep ideological di erences in each caucus. And the results of each of the primaries are likely to decide the general election.

e most closely watched House primary will be in House District 6 in

Denver, where Rep. Elisabeth Epps, a criminal justice activist who is backed by the Democratic Socialists of America and is one of the most liberal members of the legislature, faces attorney Sean Camacho.

e House speaker reprimanded Epps in January for her conduct during a November special session, and she didn’t attend House oor work in person for the rst 45 days of the lawmaking term this year. Epps has

Ace Paving & Sealcoating

the support of many progressives for her work on criminal justice reform and unsuccessful e orts to restrict access to guns, but she also frequently votes against her party. Camacho is a former Republican who ran unsuccessfully for the seat in 2022, failing to make the primary ballot. He’s been endorsed by a number of prominent Democrats, including Attorney General Phil Weiser, House Majority Leader

Monica Duran and Senate President Steve Fenberg. His website espouses typically liberal Democratic policy positions, including support for rent stabilization, state investment in renewable energy and expanding the state’s pre-K program to provide more access to low-income families. Epps raised about $16,000 between Jan. 1 and May 1, and ended

Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer speaks as state legislators and educators celebrate historic education funding for schools on Feb. 29, 2024, at the Colorado Capitol.

PHOTO OLIVIA SUN/THE COLORADO SUN VIA REPORT FOR AMERICA

SEE PRIMARY, P20

Thu 5/30

Free Youth Football Skills Camp

@ 4:30pm / Free

Valor Athletic Stadium, Fields, and Courts, 3775 Grace Blvd, Highlands Ranch. 303471-3000

Henry Cho

@ 6:30pm

Sat 6/01

Warbird Invasion @ 8am / $12.95

Jun 1st - Jun 22nd

Comedy Works South, 5345 Land‐mark Pl, Greenwood Village

Fri 5/31

Jordan Yewey

@ 5pm

2 Penguins Tap and Grill, 13065 E Briarwood Ave, Centennial

Whitey Morgan

@ 7pm

Gothic Theatre, Englewood

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

SCFD Free Day At Exploration Of Flight @ 8am

Jun 1st - Jun 21st

Exploration of Flight (Centennial Airport), 13005 Wings Way, Englewood. info@ wingsmuseum.org

Wake Up and Live - A Bob Marley

Tribute @ 3pm

Breckenridge Brewery, 2920 Brewery Ln, Littleton

Bad CO - Colorado's Tribute to Bad Company @ 4pm

Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park (formerly Lakewood Heritage Center), 801 S Yarrow St, Lakewood

Sun 6/02

Havana Street Pride @ 11am / Free Stampede, Aurora

Mon 6/03

Soccer Camp K-2 @ 7:30am / $199

Jun 3rd - Jun 7th

Valor Athletic Stadium, Fields, and Courts, 3775 Grace Blvd, Highlands Ranch. 303471-3000

Modern Swing Mondays 2024 @ 6pm / $10

Stampede, Aurora

Explorer Camp K-1st #HR060324-1WDC

@ 8am / $699

Jun 3rd - Jun 7th

CO - Highlands Ranch, Connec‐tions Church, 2121 Dad Clark Drive, Littleton. 720-249-2412

Wed 6/05

After Midnight Jazz Band: Littleton Museum Summer Concert @ 5:30pm Littleton Museum, 6028 S Gallup St, Lit‐tleton

Allan Rayman: The All Allan Tour

@ 7pm

Thu 6/06

Crazy Dave, Bass Guitarist: Resonance | Tailgate Tavern @ 5pm

Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Mainstreet, Parker

Jubilingo Live at Clement Park @ 6pm

Clement Park, Littleton

Eric Golden @ 6pm

Discovery Park, 20115 Mainstreet, Parker

Mercy Music @ 6pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Strung Out @ 6pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Michael Palascak @ 7pm

Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

Strung Out @ 7pm

Gothic Theatre, Englewood

Ignite @ 7pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

powered by

PRIMARY

the period with $47,529. Camacho raised $58,000 during the rst four months of the year and had $65,000 in his campaign’s account May 1 after spending $54,500 during the same period.

e other top House primaries:

• Rep. Tim Hernández, a former Denver Public Schools teacher, faces former federal immigration judge Cecelia Espenoza in House District 4 after defeating her in a vacancy committee election last year. Like Epps, he’s a Democratic socialist and was criticized for his social media posts and appearance at a rally in the wake of the Hamas attack on Israel in October. But he successfully led an e ort to get House approval for a ban on so-called assault weapons, though it died in the Senate. Espenoza has angered some in her district because an anti-trans activist held a fundraiser for her, although her website expresses support for the LGBTQIA community. She’s considered a more moderate candidate than Hernández.

• Rep. Junie Joseph faces educator Tina Mueh in Boulder’s House District 10. Joseph boasts endorsements from Gov. Jared Polis and several House members, while Mueh has endorsements from several current and former Boulder politicians. Some have endorsed both candidates.

• Rep. Julia Marvin faces Jacqueline “Jacque” Phillips in Adams

County’s House District 31 after defeating Phillips in a vacancy committee bid earlier this year. Both formerly served on ornton City Council. Phillips has signi cantly outraised Marvin this far.

• Republican Rep. Mary Brad eld faces two challengers in House District 21 in Colorado Springs: former educator Jan Koester and businessman Bill Garlington. Brad eld has outraised and outspent both of them after petitioning on to the ballot.

e most expensive state House primary thus far is in House District 30, where a pair of Democrats are battling in the Je erson County district. Lakewood City Councilwoman Rebekah Stewart had raised $112,000 through May 1 and had $78,000 in her campaign’s account.

Health care activist Kyra deGruy Kennedy raised nearly $86,000 and had about $34,000 left. e two are vying to replace Rep. Chris deGruy Kennedy, who is term-limited and married to Kyra deGruy Kennedy.

Two GOP senators face challengers, Dems vie for open seats

Republican Sens. Larry Liston of Colorado Springs and Barbara Kirkmeyer of Brighton face primary challengers this year, but both have major nancial advantages over their opponents.

e races are interesting because they highlight internal GOP strife as the party tears itself apart over conservative purity tests.

In Senate District 10, Liston faces Rex Tonkins, husband of El Paso County GOP chairwoman Vickie Tonkins, and David Stiver, a busi-

ness owner tried unsuccessfully to make the primary ballot in the district in 2020. Both Tonkins and Stiver were nominated via the district’s GOP nominating assembly, while Liston gathered signatures to make the ballot.

In Senate District 23, Kirkmeyer, a member of the Joint Budget Committee, faces construction project manager Natalie Abshier of Mead, who ran unsuccessfully in 2021 for the St. Vrain Valley School Board. Kirkmeyer had more than $65,000 in the bank May 1, while Abshier had $100.

Kirkmeyer is among the most inuential Republicans at the state Capitol, often working closely with Democrats to craft the annual state budget. She was a key negotiator in the property tax relief bill negotiated in the nal days of the legislative session. But she has also been a consistent critic of Polis, using her role on the budget panel to highlight what she views as excessive spending and administrative bloat. ere is no Democratic candidate in Senate District 23, nor any unafliated or third-party candidates. at means whoever wins the Republican primary will be the de facto winner in November. ree Democratic Senate primaries feature current House members:

• State Rep. Judy Amabile faces education consultant Jovita Schi er in the heavily Democratic Senate District 18 in Boulder, where Senate President Steve Fenberg is term-limited.

• State Rep. Lindsey Daugherty faces Westminster City Council-

man Obi Ezeadi in Senate District 19. Sen. Rachel Zenzinger of Arvada is term-limited in the Je erson County district, which leans toward Democrats by an estimated 9 percentage points.

• State Rep. Mike Weissman faces attorney Idris Keith in Senate District 28, a Democratic stronghold based in Aurora where Sen. Rhonda Fields is term-limited.

Other legislative primaries to watch

• State Rep. Lisa Frizell faces technology executive Timothy Arvidson in the Republican primary in Senate District 2 in Douglas County. e district is rmly Republican and it’s currently represented by term-limited Republican Sen. Jim Smallwood.

• Youth minister Bill Jack, who lost to Frizell in the 2022 primary, faces Castle Rock Town Council Member Max Brooks in the GOP primary in House District 45 in Douglas County.

• Former school administrator Lori Garcia Sander faces Weld County Councilman Trent Leisy for the Republican nomination in House District 65. State Rep. Mike Lynch is leaving the seat to run in the 4th Congressional District race. Leisy was originally running to represent the 4th District, too, but opted to seek the state House seat instead.

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.

Fentanyl deaths continue to rise in Colorado

The DEA has a new approach to combat the problem in the Rocky Mountain region

BY ERNESTO CABRAL

COLORADO SUN

Fentanyl-related overdose deaths hit a new high in 2023 as law enforcement seized record amounts of the synthetic opioid, o cial data shows.

At least 1,089 people died from fentanyl poisoning last year, up 18.4% from 920 the year before, according to preliminary data released by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.   A surge that started ve years ago

has continued, with the number of fentanyl-related deaths increasing more than 900% from the 102 recorded in 2018, data from the health department’s Center for Health and Environmental Data shows.

Denver recorded more deaths in 2023 than any other county with 321, compared with Adams (136), Arapahoe (133), Je erson (124) and El Paso (116).

e health department anticipates releasing nal data in June.

So far this year, 141 fatalities have been reported to the CDPHE, however the data is typically lagging by at least three months. Denver again leads with 37 deaths from fentanyl.  e Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s records tell a similar story about Colorado. In 2023, 1,187 fatalities were registered pro-

BATHROOM REMODELING DONE RIGHT

6/01/24.

THE

As many as 7 in 10 counterfeit pills tested in 2023 contained a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl, or roughly the amount that fits on the tips of a pencil, national DEA laboratory testing showed. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN FIELD

visionally in the “other synthetic narcotics” category, which mainly comprises fentanyl. Unlike the state agency, the CDC said it does not have an exact number of fentanyl deaths.

e numbers for 2023 mark a 22.2% rise from the previous year and a 785% surge since 2018, according to the CDC database.

“We are facing more than just an opioid crisis in the U.S”, said Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health. “Stimulants like methamphetamine, which is more prevalent in use in the Western U.S., are now increasingly being

contaminated or used together with fentanyl.”

As fentanyl deaths in Colorado soared, the Drug Enforcement Administration seizures of the drug here also spiked. In 2023, the agency con scated a record 2.61 million pills in Colorado, up from 1.9 million in 2022 and 565,200 in 2021. is year, the DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division is on pace to beat those numbers, after seizing 1.4 million pills, between January and March, more than half of the amount seized last year.

News of the rising death toll comes days after the DEA announced a new strategy to combat fentanyl in the Rocky Mountain region. Earlier this month around 200 money service businesses and nancial institutions that aid in sending money to people in other countries were asked to cooperate in an investiga-

tion into the cash owing to support the illicit opioid market.  e probe, called Operation “Cash Out,” was launched in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana by the DEA, IRS and the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafcking Area, the DEA said in a news release.

U.S. authorities say fentanyl constitutes a multi-billion-dollar enterprise for Mexican cartels such as Sinaloa and Jalisco, which operate near the U.S. border.

“ e only thing they care about is their money. is interagency operation intends to target the networks and seize their assets through building stronger relationships with the private sector nancial community,” said David Olesky, acting special agent in charge for DEA’s Rocky Mountain Field Division, in the release.

In recent years, new legislation, o cial investigations and initiatives from families and schools have emerged to prevent and combat the rising number of fentanyl-related deaths in Colorado, a bill signed into law on April 22 making it legal for students and sta at public and charter schools to carry and administer opioid overdose reversal drugs such as naloxone.

“ e Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is committed to doing all we can to prevent drug overdoses, and one of our current strategies is to increase access to naloxone,” said the state agency in a statement.  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.

5 Coloradans advance to final qualifying for U.S. Open

BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

It’ll be a master-versus-apprentice situation for Littleton’s Jason Preeo and Englewood’s Jake Staiano; both are among ve Coloradans who advanced out of the U.S. Open local qualifying round at Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins on April 30.

Preeo has coached Staiano since Staiano was a golfer at Valor Christian High School, and both tied with 69 at Collindale to advance to thenal qualifying round. Aurora’s Derek Fribbs also scored 69 for a three-way tie for rst.

“We’ve battled it out in the past,” said Staiano, a 2015 Eagles alum. “Whenever I see [Preeo’s] name in local qualifying rounds, I always know there’s probably one less spot than you’re looking for. He’s gotten through so many years. It was kind of funny to talk to him after the round.”

After the rst-place tie between Preeo, Staiano and Fribbs, AJ Ott from Fort Collins and Connor Jones from Denver tied for fourth with 71 to round out the ve advancing.

“I’ve actually taught Jake for probably eight or nine years when he was in high school and college, so I’m super familiar with his game and everything he’s doing,” Preeo said between lessons at Metagolf Learning Center in Englewood. “And I knew Derek from coaching kids on his team when he was at CU, and AJ as well. So, you can see the depth of the eld and it was one of the stronger ones that I’ve seen a while. It’s a matter of keeping your head down, keeping going and posting the best score you can.”

e ve Coloradans will have a chance to continue their path to this year’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in North Carolina from June 13-16. Final qualifying takes place at 13 sites throughout the

U.S. on May 20 and June 3. e times and locations are still being nalized.

Preeo said he isn’t so sure that his rivalry with Staiano can be described as “master versus apprentice” anymore.

“No, he’s better,” Preeo said, laughing. “ ere was a time I would say I could still beat him, but he would have been a high school kid. But he’s better.”

Staiano would love to beat Preeo as much as Preeo would like to beat Staiano. But Preeo said he never expects to win against these guys now. But at the same time, he’s still there for a reason and can give them trouble.

“I’ve had enough tournament experience over the years that you just kind of go into compete mode and make the right decisions. You get the savvy old vet version of me instead of these young guys that can just hit it miles and do everything else so great,” Preeo said.

It’s Staiano’s rst time breaking through, and he’s determined to replicate the recent success of great golfers in Colorado.

“It’s just kind of something that gives me that opportunity to get there. Jason’s got there (before) but I haven’t got there before. I missed by one two years ago. But I’m excited to get back at it and hopefully get through this year,” Staiano said.

“Obviously, with Wyndham Clark doing his thing and a couple of other guys, it kind of pushes you and gives you something to strive for,” Staiano added. “Hopefully, I’m kind of doing what Wyndham is doing here in the next couple of years. at’s the main goal. Colorado has produced some great athletes, it’s pretty fun to see.”

To stay updated on nal qualifying round locations and times, visit www. usopen.com/.

Elizabeth Fire gets federal grant

Money goes to new breathing devices

BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

e Elizabeth Fire Department and the Rattlesnake, Agate and Big Sandy Fire Protection Districts were recently awarded a grant totaling $875,976, and Elizabeth Fire used its share to replace the department’s aging self-contained breathing apparatus.

e Assistance to Fire ghters Grant is a federal grant through the Department of Homeland Security.

Kara Gerczynski, division chief of re prevention and administration for Elizabeth Fire, said the “primary goal of the Assistance to Fire ghters

Grant (AFG) is to meet the re ghting and emergency response needs of re departments and non-a liated emergency medical service organizations.”

Since 2001, AFG has helped reghters and other rst responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from re and related hazards.

Gerczynski said the department applies annually for grants, but the process is very competitive nationally and they’ve only been awarded a few.

e self-contained breathing apparatus that Elizabeth Fire replaced consists of devices that provide breathable air in environments with

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low oxygen, smoke, dangerous gases and other airborne contaminants.

“With this grant,” Gerczynski said, “we are able to totally replace our aging SCBA equipment, which was nearing end of life and not compliant with national standards.”

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Each department is responsible for a 10% funding match for the equipment. EFD also received additional monies that they used to purchase batteries and chargers for the breathing apparatus.

Elizabeth Fire Chief T.J. Steck states “It was a great opportunity for our Elbert County Fire Departments to collaborate. is grant funding allows us to keep our re ghters safe with little nancial impact to our citizens.”

EFD also partnered with an agency called Firehouse Grants, rehousegrants.com, to help secure funding. According to their website, Firehouse Grants specializes in preparing grant applications for re departments, EMS departments and other public safety agencies.

For more information on the Elizabeth Fire Protection District, visit elizabethfpd.colorado.gov.

For more information about the Assistance to Fire ghters grant, visit fema.gov/grants/preparedness/ re ghters.

SCBA tanks stacked up at the Elizabeth Fire Station. The department received the gear in December of last year. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ELIZABETH FIRE DEPARTMENT

An Elizabeth firefighter wearing the new SCBA gear.

The cost of gas is about to spike in Colorado

EPA is forcing the state to switch to reformulated gas as ground-level ozone hits ‘severe’ during the summer

BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN

Keep an eye on gas prices in the next few weeks, Colorado, and you can watch a major policy battle play out between an extremely irritated Gov. Jared Polis and o cials enforcing the federal Clean Air Act.  Colorado has a big problem with toxic ground-level ozone in the nine-county northern Front Range area that the Environmental Protection Agency has declared in “severe” violation of Clean Air Act ozone limits. When an area hits “severe,” the Clean Air Act requires all gas stations in that area to begin selling “reformulated” gas during the summer ozone season, beginning June 1.

Reformulated gas, according to the EPA, can cut back on ozone-causing emissions because it’s denser and doesn’t evaporate as quickly in hot weather. Polis argues it will shoot Colorado gas prices up by 50 cents a gallon or more. But the EPA says its studies show the impact is only a few cents.

What’s the reality? Let’s pop the hood and take a look.

Are Colorado gas prices already going up?

Yes, but.

e EPA says reformulated gas has already made its way to the pumps because of the timing of gas distribution. Colorado did have the fastest week-over-week price increase in the nation, a 16-cent jump, and is now at $3.35 a gallon.

Perspective: at’s exactly what the price was a year ago on the same day. Ten years ago at this time, says AAA Colorado’s Skyler McKinley, Front Range gas was $3.47. e current national average is $3.59.

“For several weeks, we’ve had some of the cheapest gas in the

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FREE to the public

GAS PRICES

country,” McKinley said. “I suspect prices will creep up to the national average as reformulated gas lters into the system.”

Having said that, McKinley added he does not think reformulated gas will be responsible for spikes of 70 cents to a dollar this summer. So many factors can alter the price of gas from a nickel to a dollar, from hurricanes disrupting supply, to the helicopter-crash death of the Iranian president destabilizing Middle East prices, to an incident at Suncor, the only re nery in Colorado.

“You really can’t pull just one thing out,” McKinley said.

What did the Polis and EPA studies show would happen?

Polis and his sta have strenuously objected to the EPA imposing reformulated gas on Colorado, even though the EPA says the Clean Air Act doesn’t give the agency any choice. Polis says the state is doing many other things to cut into the ozone problem and consumers should not be penalized this way.

e Polis sta ran a number of scenarios for gas prices this summer, and said supply interruptions or other problems producing and delivering reformulated gas could mean 50-cent jumps attributable to the EPA decision. e EPA has cited its own studies of reformulated gas in many markets — currently about 25% of the U.S. population is required to buy reformulated gas to combat ozone in other cities — and results show only about a 3 cent per gallon increase.

e EPA says Colorado’s studies included a far broader range of scenarios, some of which the federal agency does not see as likely. EPA o cials also note that other gasoline distributors have requested permits to add new infrastructure in Colorado that can handle both traditional gasoline and the reformulated version, and they will bring in supplies from out of state to compete with Suncor and hold prices down.

Did we ask the EPA for a break?

Yes, the governor has formally asked regional and national EPA ofcials to issue a waiver for the northern Front Range, delaying the requirement of reformulated gasoline by weeks or a year or more.

“I’m very upset,” Polis told a Colorado Sun audience at the 2024 legislative session wrapup online.  Polis argues consumer behavior will overwhelm any projected bene ts of the cleaner gas. “Very unfortunate consequences, including the fact that people will simply drive a little further to get much lower-cost gas. You can go north of Fort Collins, you can go to Greeley, go to Colorado Springs,” Polis said. e extra miles will negate the reformulation gains, he said.

e EPA responds that current gasoline demand remains historically soft. Gas consumption in Colorado is still below 2016 levels, the EPA said. Colorado’s population has grown, but fewer people are commuting every day of every work week, and more electric cars in the overall state car market also cut into demand.

Why is reformulated gas better?

e EPA describes a barrel of oil as a “bucket of hydrocarbons” that are re ned and split up into components ranging from very heavy waxes and lubricants, to gasoline and kerosene, to lighter-than-air gases. In summer months, normally-re ned gasoline evaporates quicker at all stages of the process, from re ning to storage to distribution to refueling to driving. Each step can put ozonecausing emissions into the air.

Reformulated gasoline is made with all the same equipment, but is denser and less likely to evaporate, the EPA says. e cuts to ozone emissions may not be huge, but the EPA and many environmental groups note that in the di cult battle against ozone, every part per billion trimmed can make a di erence. In recent years local o cials have implemented restrictions on items as obscure as lawn and garden equipment, which contribute a small but controllable few parts per billion of ozone.

What will happen next?

“ e Clean Air Act does not allow the EPA to grant a waiver just on cost for reformulated gasoline,” said Region 8 EPA spokesperson Taylor Gillespie. “ ere has to be a supply issue.”

e EPA says it is holding Colorado’s waiver request “open” for now, and will revisit the request if there’s an emergency or a big supply chain interruption that meets the criteria. e decision can be ipped quickly — within 24 hours of an incident or supply shock, the EPA said.

Air breathers — all of us, in other words — might want to keep their eyes on the bigger prize. e reason all of this is happening with gasoline is because the Front Range produces too much toxic ozone that contributes to higher asthma rates, heart issues and other health problems.

e number of ozone alert days where we’re warned to change our behavior to stay safe has jumped sharply in recent years. e Front Range experienced its rst alert this season on May 6.

e EPA’s ozone limits could get even tighter, as scientists learn more about ozone dangers. Colorado leaders negotiated a package of ozoneghting measures in this year’s legislature, but they also watered down the strongest recommendations from environmental groups. State regulators were criticized for approving an ozone improvement plan that they acknowledged would not meet EPA demands.

In other words, the nal price of reformulated gas was not an overnight decision. Is there room in the tank for more debate?

Fill ‘er up.

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.

Evergreen woman to ride for cancer awareness

Mother who lost daughter to neuroendocrine tumors will raise funds to better educate doctors on uncommon condition

BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On June 8, Evergreen resident Gil Schaenzle will push o on a onemonth, 1,000-mile bicycle ride to raise awareness of an uncommon form of cancer — one that took her 20-year-old daughter’s life.

Anna Rose died from neuroendocrine cancer in 2017, after doctors initially misdiagnosed her with several other conditions.

Funds raised from Schaenzle’s ride will go toward educating doctors about neuroendocrine tumors, to buy time and better treatment for other patients and families.

“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve cried over the years, seeing another person I know with NET cancer pass away,” Schaenzle said. “I feel like there’s just so much more to be done to keep getting more awareness of this out there.”

Over 90% of NET patients are incorrectly diagnosed and treated for the wrong disease, according to the Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Network, which said NET has low priority for medical research because it was traditionally considered rare — a fact that is changing as diagnoses climb. Schaenzle said doctors she’s spoken to said they spent about 45 minutes on it during medical school, a fact she wants to change.

“It’s the most misdiagnosed cancer in the world,” Schaenzle said. “It takes patients ve to seven years on average to get a diagnosis. But if you catch it early and you’re low grade, you can have a pretty wonderful life. If you’re getting the right treatment and nutrition, and the right plan, you can actually die of some-

& EQUIPMENT

thing else.”

toric water canals from Cincinnati to Washington, D.C., ending on the steps of Congress. ere, she plans to meet with U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a NET patient who’s been supportive of her campaign. She also hopes for media coverage to further spread her message.

fectly healthy athlete” when she started experiencing numbness in her legs while running, then passing out playing volleyball or running. After months of worsening illness and misdiagnosis, a Denver endocrinologist diagnosed her with NET.

“She was smart, beautiful, with kindness oozing from every pore when she started having these seemingly unconnected symptoms,” her mother said. “She had a very bright future. She was in her rst year of college at Colorado Mesa University when she was diagnosed. She was in chemo on her 21st birthday, when most kids are out having a good time. She passed shortly after.”

In 2017, Schaenzle did her rst event to raise awareness about NET. en a long-distance runner, she did half marathons through all the national parks in the contiguous United States.

While her knees are telling her not to run such distances again, she’s not done yet. is time, Schaenzle will spread her mes-

sage on wheels. at’s not the only change she’s experienced in the

gle breath, but I have learned how to look at my grief di erently, how to sit with it and accept it,” she said. “ is time, I feel this is about other NET patients. is is about the ones who are still here, who aren’t getting the right treatment and need a diagnosis.”

Anna Rose’s father and Schaenzle’s husband Fred will drive a van that will accompany her on her journey.

She knows from her 2017 run that such e orts get results. at garnered her an appearance on the Today show.

“I’ve had people say, ‘If I hadn’t seen you on the Today show, I would never have known I had NET cancer. But I knew when I saw you that’s what I had, and I got the right diagnoses and I’m being treated,’” she said.

It’s the best use of her time Schaenzle knows.

“When Anna Rose was sick, I prayed every day he would give it to me; I was ne with going,” she said. “And that didn’t happen. But since then I have prayed every day to please take my brokenness and use it to help other people. It’s so important we don’t look down the cesspool of grief and never come back again.”

For information or to make a donation, go to thehealingnet.org.

Evergreen’s Gil Schaenzle will set o June 8 on a 1,000-mile bike ride to raise awareness of a rare cancer known as neuroendocrine tumors. She lost her daughter Anna Rose to NETs cancer in 2017. COURTESY PHOTO

LOCALS EYE OLYMPIC SPLASH

Area high school swimmers headline the roster of Coloradans qualified for U.S. Olympic trials

BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Between slews of di erent strokes, roughly 320,000 competitive swimmers across America come up for air unsure of their placings as they compete against other swimmers and themselves.

e athletes can only hope with bated breath that their score is Olympic-worthy when they breach for the nal time. Only about 800 will make it.

Just seven swimmers registered to Colorado clubs emerged victorious, o cially qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Indianapolis on June 15-23. Two are high schoolers from the Denver metro area.

Douglas County High School’s

Mila Nikanorov and Cherry Creek High School’s Charlotte Wilson headline the group. Both (recently graduated) seniors are rst-team all-state Colorado swimmers and multiple Class 5A state champions. Both also swam club for Highlands Ranch Athletics.

“Ever since I was 13, it was something that I wanted to do. It was a big goal,” Nikanorov, an Ohio State commit, said. “I had smaller goals to keep track of the progress and not make it seem unreachable. I really pride myself in knowing that I stuck with something for at least four years. I got my rst trials cut when I was 17.”

To qualify for the trials, athletes must post a qualifying time standard. e necessary qualifying times to earn a

trip to Indianapolis are at www. usaswimming.org/.

Because of the registry process for the team trials, athletes may have been born in Colorado but are currently training elsewhere, so they won’t be on this list. Here is the list of registered Coloradans who quali ed, according to USA Swimming:

Mila Nikanorov (age 18 from Douglas County); Charlotte Wilkson (age 17 from Cherry Creek); Madi Mintenko (age 16 from Colorado Springs); Joshua Corn (age 19 from Morrison); Gavin Keogh (age 16 from Erie); Ben Sampson (age 21 from Arvada); Morgan Lukinac (age 20 from Boulder).

Nikanorov recently swam the second-fastest time in Colorado history in the 500-meter freestyle at the high school state competition (4:42.49), just missing Olympian

Missy Franklin’s record by 0.77 seconds. Her time is currently the fastest high school time in the 500-meter freestyle in the country this year, and the second-fastest time in state meet history in all classi cations.

Wilson led Cherry Creek to its fourth straight 5A title and is a twotime individual state champion. Her time of 52.90 in the 100-meter backstroke is the third-fastest time in state meet history among all classi cations.

“It was something I had on my goal list for this year,” Wilson, a University of Virginia commit, said. “I had been trying to qualify for a year and a half since the times came out for quali cations because I’ve been super close for a while.” e multi-year commitment to this goal doesn’t stop now.

Mila Nikanorov recently swam the second-fastest time in Colorado history in the 500-meter freestyle at the high school state competition (4:42.49), just missing Olympian Missy Franklin’s record by 0.77 seconds. She will swim for Ohio State University this fall.

SPLASH

Both Wilson and Nikanorov are determined to display their best showings in Indy this summer but are relishing the accomplishment of just getting there.

“I’m just going to have fun with it. I’m already there,” Nikanorov said. “I’m just going to enjoy myself with the experience of going to the biggest meet in the country. I’ve been working on mental skills, just keeping myself calm especially knowing I’m going to be competing at such a high level with very fantastic swimmers as well.”

Positive self-talk is a tool swimmers rely on in what is arguably the most mental sport of them all, Nikanorov said.

It can be easy to get into a negative mindset during di cult sets, so utilizing one or two positive afrmations is more powerful than one might think.

feel coming from Colorado helps

“You have to race fast people to go fast times,” she said. “Having that group of fast swimmers in Colorado, especially people doing distance, which is what I do, really helps me. e competitive aspect of racing people in the state has helped me improve. I’ve practiced with some people from other (Colorado) teams which has been challenging but helpful to see what I can do to improve my training.”

Of the 800 at the trials, a max of 52 (26 men and 26 women) can make the Olympic Team.

Even if Wilson and Nikanorov don’t continue their path to Paris this summer, the locals are excited about the learning opportunity, picking the brains of the best swimmers in the nation this summer.

“Swimming is a really big mental game,” Wilson said. “You can be perfectly physically ready to swim super fast, but any mental doubt or mental hiccup is probably the biggest aspect of not falling short of your goals. For me, the biggest thing is being mentally ready and prepared to swim as fast as I can.”

But mental fortitude can only take you so far, especially once you reach the “top of the top of the top”,

as Wilson put it. Team trials can be the best place to learn and soak up skills from the best in the country, whether you make the Olympic cut or not, Wilson said.

e two Division I swimmers both

“I’m just so excited to swim with the greatest ever,” Wilson said. “I think it’s every swimmer’s goal when they’re little: ‘Wow, I want to make the Olympics.’ I’m just so excited to start training in college and to try and push my limits of what I think is possible for myself.”

For more information, including purchasing tickets for the U.S. Team Trials in Indianapolis, visit www.usaswimming.org/.

Mila Nikanorov takes a beat between races. The 18-year-old from Douglas County currently holds the fastest high school time in the 500-meter freestyle in the country, and the second-fastest time in Colorado meet history in all classifications.

COURTESY PHOTO

Ben Sampson, a former Ralston Valley swimmer from Arvada, swims for Colorado Mesa University above. Sampson, 21, is the oldest Coloradan from the state at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Indianapolis from June 15-23.

COURTESY PHOTO

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Rabid bat found in Englewood, two people being treated

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A bat in Englewood has tested positive for rabies, bringing the state to a total number of ve rabies cases so far this year, according to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment.

Two people were exposed to the bat, which was found in the area near Quincy Avenue and Santa Fe Drive, according to a press release from Arapahoe County on May 22. ey have both begun treatment to prevent infection and illness, the release says.

“Rabies infection is a highly dangerous, and potentially fatal, disease transmitted primarily through scratches, bites or salvia exposure from a rabid animal,” the city of Englewood said in a Facebook post.

“Any mammal can be infected, but local primary carriers are bats and skunks.”

e disease primarily a ects the central nervous system, leading to severe brain disease and death if medical care is not received before symptoms start, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

been bats.

If you, a family member or a pet has come into direct contact with a bat, especially if it was near Quincy Avenue and Santa Fe Drive, Arapahoe County Public Health recommends immediately reaching out to a health care provider and Arapahoe County Public Health at 303-7344379 to evaluate risk and any need for treatment.

“It’s important to take possible exposure to rabies seriously, even if it doesn’t seem like a big deal,” Melissa Adair, county communicable disease epidemiology manager, said in a press release. “For example, if you have a bat in your home, it can be di cult to even know if you’ve been bitten, as bat bites are tiny, often painless and can happen quickly while you’re trying to catch the animal or are asleep.”

Rabies is usually fatal in humans once symptoms appear, and preventative treatment can be administered soon after exposure, the state health department says.

In 2023, there were over 50 cases of rabid animals in Colorado, with

one in Arapahoe County, according to the health department. Of those cases, 47 were in bats. is year, rabid animals have also been found in Boulder, El Paso and Larimer counties. All of the infected animals found so far in 2024 have

e state health department recommends that people stay away from wild animals and vaccinate their dogs, cats, pet ferrets and mammalian livestock against rabies. If a person comes into contact with a bat or is bitten, they should report the animal to the county health department and call their doctor immediately.

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inspection.

Formal adoption of the proposed budget will be considered at the regular meeting of the Board of Education, at the Wilcox Administration Building, Castle Rock, Colorado on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Any person paying school taxes in said district may either at such

Bats, like this one, and skunks are the primary carriers of rabies in Colorado.

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