Fort Lupton Press November 21, 2024

FLOWERS FOR VETERANS

Adams County Veterans Memorial gets weekend-long decoration P6

Caraveo concedes 8th Congressional District race

BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Democratic incumbent Yadira Caraveo on Sunday conceded to Republican Gabe Evans in the hardfought race for Colorado’s 8th Congressional District.

e two had ran nearly neck-and-neck since voting began Tuesday night with Caraveo holding a narrow

lead heading into the weekend.

Evans pulled ahead after votes started trickling in from conservative Weld County, which is part of the far- ung 8th District. It was created in 2022 and Caraveo won the seat with just more than 1,632 votes over her Republican opponent that year.

As of 3:20 p.m. Sunday, Evans leads Caraveo by 2,596

votes. e Associated Press said that 92% of votes in the district, which includes parts of Weld, Larimer and Adams, counties have been counted. e race has not been ofcially called by the AP.  But Caraveo conceded, saying she looks forward to returning to Washington D.C. to nish out her term, according to a statement posted by Channel9 News.

“It’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve the people of Colorado’s 8th district. I came to Congress to get things done and have spent the last two years working to nd common ground and bipartisan solutions to the most pressing issues facing our community,” Caraveo said in a statement from her campaign.

Polis o ers slimmer state budget for 2025-26

Governor’s proposed Colorado budget cuts personnel funding to prepare for tighter spending

BY LINDSEY TOOMER COLORADO NEWSLINE

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has released his 2025-2026 state budget proposal, which prepares for tighter spending given decreasing in ation this year.  Colorado’s budget growth is tied to ination and population growth under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. While in ation peaked around 8% in 2022 and hit 5% last year, an in ation rate of 2.5% in 2024 means the state’s budget increase this year is smaller than in the last two years.

“A lot of what we did this budget is we really tried to drive government efciency everywhere and anywhere we could nd it,” Polis said. “We challenged our agencies, we went out and we found things that we could cut to make government more e cient.”

e budget proposal comes out to over $46 billion with about $17.8 billion for the general fund. General fund dollars are slightly lower than in last year’s proposal. e proposal maintains a 15% general fund reserve.

Polis proposed a 1% cut for state personnel services across the board, though he would combine the two budget lines personnel funding comes from to give departments more exibility on where they will make those cuts. e proposal would also adjust various task forces and commissions whose work can be delegated elsewhere.

Pinnacol Assurance, the state’s workers compensation insurer of last resort, would be privatized under Polis’ proposal.

For K-12 school funding, Polis proposed implementing 10% of the new schoolnance formula the Legislature adopted in the spring, extending the rollout of that program across seven years instead of six while still avoiding the budget stabilization factor — the amount of money the state owes schools based on a formula but chooses to spend on other priorities. e budget also calls for per-pupil funding as opposed to the current system, which bases funding on average enrollment over a few years. Polis called this “sensible, long overdue changes.”

Adams County housing proponents lick their wounds

Voters

drub Measure 1A, county looks for another plan

BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Adams County o cials are recalibrating their e orts to build more a ordable homes for working families after voters solidly rejected a measure aimed at doing just that.

Voters rejected Ballot Issue 1A by a 70%-to-29% margin at the polls Nov. 5. e measure would have generated $22.2 million annually through a 0.15% sales tax increase to create 6,000 more a ordable housing units over 20 years. Proponents say the new funds would not only boost new construction of homes but also improve existing homes. e new tax was billed as a “small investment” of just 15 cents on a $100 purchase to expand housing options for “hardworking folks so we can bring down the cost of living,” according to Rocky Mountain Partnership, a group that advocates for educational attainment for children.

Late results show Adams 14 questions pulling ahead

Adams County Commission chair Emma Pinter said housing advocates will come back with other ideas to create more a ordable housing stock in the county.

“I am sad to see that 1A did not prevail on the ballot,” Pinter said in an email. “Our Board has worked diligently to improve access to a ordable housing in Adams County and in Colorado.   e cost of housing continues to be a signi cant challenge.  We will regroup with Maiker Housing who brought 1A forward, we hope to build a plan with them for future solutions.”

Tough year for tax measures

Denver voters last Tuesday also rejected a similar measure, which would have raised the local sales tax by 5 cents for every $10 spent in a bid to dramatically expand the city’s a ordable housing stock, according to the Colorado Sun.

Proposed by Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and referred to voters by the Denver City Council, Ballot Issue 2R would have raised an estimated $100 million a year, the largest ever expansion of a local government a ordable housing program in Colorado’s history, according to the Sun.

Adams County’s public housing authority - Maiker Housing Partners –pointed to a Denver Regional Council Of Governments estimate that says Adams will be the fastest growing county in Colorado over the next 20 years, in both population and employment.

e estimated average hourly wage of renters in Adams County is $16.92. At this wage, the average full-time worker can a ord $880 in rent, according to Maiker.

Meanwhile, the average fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Adams County is $1,508. At least 35% of Adams County households do not earn enough to a ord a two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent, according to Maiker Housing Partners.

Maiker said that if IA failed, the home de cit in Adams County is expected to grow from currently 10,000 to 30,000 by 2050.

Lisandra Gonzales, CEO of Rocky Mountain Partnership, said she could not pin down precisely why voters rejected Measure 1A. But she noted that it was a tough year overall to pass a tax measure.

“ is was evident across the state, especially with housing-related measures and, in many cases, education funding,” Gonzales said. “It’s clear there’s a huge need for a ordable housing in Adams County, but the timing and the broader political climate certainly played a role in shaping voter sentiments.”

BY YESENIA ROBLES CHALKBEAT

e latest election results posted by Adams County on Nov. 9 and 10 showed that two tax measures for the Adams 14 school district have pulled ahead, despite earlier results showing both measures failing.

e votes for and against 4A and 4B had narrowed Friday to nearly a dead heat when more than 30,000 ballots were left to be counted, according to uno cial election results and Adams County o cials.

A $10 million mill levy override to raise teacher pay was failing by a single vote. And a $113.9 million bond question to build a new school was failing by 124 votes.

By Saturday night’s last update, the mill levy override was ahead by 225 votes and the bond was ahead by 90.

On Wednesday, when the vote spread was wider, the district had released a statement saying leaders were disappointed in the outcome but found solace because the measures were only about 300 votes short of passing.

“While we were hopeful for the passage of these measures to support facility improvements and teacher salaries, we respect the outcome and will continue to seek ways to address the district’s critical needs,” said Superintendent Karla Loria in the released statement. “ e fact that we were just shy of 300 votes on both measures shows that the community is beginning to rebuild trust in the District. is is a clear sign that we’re moving in the right direction and working toward uniting our community for the bene t of our students.”

e district has previously struggled to increase local funding. Voters haven’t approved a tax measure in more than 10 years. For about as long, Adams 14 has struggled to increase student achievement on state tests but did successfully rally against state orders for reorganization which could have dissolved the district. Still, Adams 14 has one of the highest rates of students choosing to enroll in other school districts. It is also home to many low-income families that may be

RACE

more wary of raising taxes. If approved, Adams County’s 4A and 4B ballot questions would cost Adams 14 homeowners approximately $6.52 a month per $100,000 of home value. For a home valued at $400,000, that would be about $26.08 per month.

Measure 4A is the district’s request for a mill levy override to produce about $10 million per year to help pay for salary increases for teachers and classi ed sta .

Measure 4B is the district’s bond request to raise $113.9 million that the district wants to use to build a new middle school to house seventh and eighth graders from Kearney Middle School and Adams City Middle school. e district is planning to merge the schools but would like to build a new building instead of having to make costly repairs on one of the schools.

e district estimates it will take $77 million out of the $113.9 million bond request to build the new school building. at’s nearly as much as this year’s total general fund budget for the district, which is just over $99 million.

If approved, the rest of the bond money would help pay for security upgrades, HVAC system upgrades, and other maintenance as well as new furniture for classrooms.

e last time the district asked voters for a tax measure was in 2014 and 2013, and the measures failed both years.

e district enrolled about 5,484 students last school year. A majority of students come from low-income families, and about half of students are learning English as a new language.

Adams 14 has been the focus of state accountability measures for several years as it has struggled to raise student achievement enough to earn higher state ratings. But State Board members have stopped escalating state orders and are putting more trust in the district’s plans for improvement.

Reprinted with permission from Chalkbeat, a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.

“I would like to thank my family, sta , volunteers, and supporters who believed in this campaign and the vision we set out to achieve. Together, we built a diverse, people-powered campaign that brought

together a coalition of Democrats, Republicans, and una liated voters. While this isn’t the outcome we had hoped for, the work is not over. I look forward to returning to Washington to nish out this term and will continue to be an independent voice for the people of this district.” e race was considered pivotal as Republicans and Democrats try to hold majorities in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Adams County voters turned down a ballot question asking for a sales tax to build affordable housing by a 70% to 29% margin.

If Buyers & Sellers Were ‘on the Fence’ Awaiting Election Results, Where Are They Now?

The conventional wisdom a month ago was that buyers and sellers were holding off of their plans, waiting to see who won the presidential election. But that wasn’t entirely true. In fact, the number of closings this October were higher than last October, and the number of sellers who put their homes on the market was markedly higher than the prior two Octobers.

Nevertheless, the numbers for all three of the Octobers that occurred after the 2022 spike in interest rates pale in comparison to the statistics for the three prior Octobers, when interest rates were low. Here are the stats from REcolorado for the 20-mile radius of downtown Denver:

to move after the election, 36% said they are considering a move to another country, and 26% are thinking about moving to another state. This was a national survey, so perhaps those considering a move to another state live in one of the 13 states which severely restrict or ban abortions.

Even dispelling that conventional wisdom, however, we can’t deny that there were some jitters about this year’s election which were putting a damper on some members of the public acting on their desires to buy or sell real estate.

In fact, the election may have spurred some buyers and sellers to start making plans who had no thoughts of moving if the election went “their way.”

Enter Redfin, which commissioned an Ipsos survey to find out how the election results impacted the real estate market. The results are worth sharing.

The survey was done on the Thursday and Friday after the election and reached 1,005 U.S. residents — 416 Republicans and 381 Democrats, 486 men and 509 women, and 302 people aged 1834, 347 people aged 35-54, and 356 people aged 55+. 553 respondents were homeowners and 330 were renters; 427 reported earning under $50,000, 379 earn between $50,000 and $100,000, and 199 earn over $100,000. The survey responses are summarized in the chart at right.

Here are some highlights from the survey which you may find interesting, as I did:

Of the 22% of respondents who replied that they are more likely

Since Colorado is not one of those states which restrict abortion — and in fact just passed a constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights — the survey suggests that we may see an influx of people moving here for that reason. A separate survey commissioned by Redfin found that 27% of U.S. residents would be hesitant to live in an area where most residents don’t share their political views.

Reminiscent of 2016, Google searches about leaving the country spiked following Donald Trump’s victory.

Here are the percentage increases for searches “moving to…” these countries:

New Zealand—up 7,600 percent

Germany—up 4,200 percent.

Netherlands—up 3,233 percent.

Ireland—up 2,400 percent.

Norway—up 1,150 percent.

Australia—up 1,150 percent

Portugal—up 1,100 percent

Also, more general searches for “Moving to Europe” surged by 1,566 percent. Searches for “Moving to English-Speaking Countries” surged by 1,328 percent.

Theoretically, such sentiment could spur real estate activity, but I’m not

Our Highlands Ranch & Lone Tree Specialist

Greg Kraft - 720-353-1922

Email: Greg@GoldenRealEstate.com

A native of Chicago, Greg passed the Illinois Bar and CPA exams in 1974, but moved to Avon CO in 1982, where he owned and operated a property & rental management company and developed, built and sold townhomes until 2001. That’s when he moved to Highlands Ranch with his wife, Lynne, who has been a community manager there. As a result, Greg is very aware of current issues and home values in the area. He recently listed and sold a home in Lone Tree.

aware of any Americans who acted on such Google searches in 2016, and I don’t expect to see many now. I know that Rita and I have no plans to leave the country. Moves based on reproductive freedom, however, I think will occur — including by gynecologists, as has already been reported.

Some other observations from the Redfin-Ipsos survey included the following:

Of the respondents who said they are more likely to move post-election, 17% said the results of the election have made them more likely to consider buying a new home. 12% said the results have made them more likely to consider selling their current home. Roughly the same share (13%) are now more likely to rent a home.

In a September Ipsos survey also commissioned by Redfin, 23% of would-be first-time home buyers said they were waiting until after the election, wanting to

Of those surveyed, 22% say they'll consider moving now that the election is over. Among them, 36% are considering relocating to another country, while 26% are thinking about moving to a different state

see what the winning candidate might do to increase the availability of affordable housing. Given that Kamala Harris had promised $25,000 down payment grants to first-time homebuyers, it makes sense that they would wait to see if she won instead of buying a home using today’s more modest incentives. Maybe those buyers will indeed get off the fence now that she lost and Donald Trump made no such promise.

Call Wendy Renee, our in-house loan officer, if you’d like to know about the already existing programs for first-time homebuyers. Her cell number is below.

Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving’ Is Great, But Too Expensive

When Elon Musk first introduced it, I was skeptical of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software (FSD) ever working in a way that I would find safe and effective. Others must be skeptical, too, because Tesla recently enabled a free 45-day trial of the software in suitably equipped cars, including my 2023 Tesla Model Y. My free trial expires on Nov. 24th.

Having bad-mouthed FSD in the past, I owe it to Tesla and my readers to share my favorable impression of it after putting many miles on my Model Y using FSD, including a road trip to Las Vegas.

In town, I was impressed that the car slows down for speed bumps and dips. How does it know they are there?

With the earlier Autosteer software, my Teslas were dependent on recognizing painted lane markings and would not cross a solid line, but FSD has no problem crossing solid lines when it is safe to do so — for example, giving a wide berth to a bicyclist by crossing the double yellow line, but only when no cars are coming in the opposite direction.

I was impressed at how it handled construction zones. Picture a construction zone with 2½ lanes of a 3-lane interstate closed off with traffic cones. My Tesla simply straddled the solid line between the cones and the edge of the pavement.

I never thought the software would be good at roundabouts, but it is perfect. It slows down (as it does on any curve) and assesses whether another car is remaining in the roundabout and whether a car to the left is entering the roundabout.

And here’s one area where the software is indeed safer than most humans: it assesses cars that are approaching from a road or driveway. If it looks like the vehicle might not stop or yield, the Tesla slows down to make sure. This wide perception alone could eliminate T-bone col-

lisions with cars running red lights. If I’m in the right lane and it sees a car entering the highway, it shifts to the left lane, assuming there’s an opening. Otherwise it slows down to let the car merge, assuming the spacing is right. It also does well merging from the on-ramp. It responds to other cars’ turn signals, slowing to allow them to merge. It would also move to the left when it spotted a stopped vehicle in the breakdown lane. It recognizes pedestrians and how they are moving, such as toward a crosswalk. At night on an unlit street, it saw a pedestrian in dark clothing that I didn’t see. I also love the display of surrounding traffic, bicycles and curbs on the screen. In slow traffic, it stops to let a pedestrian cross the street. At stop signs, it knows when it can turn left or right onto a busy arterial, or I can press the accelerator to make a bolder entry than it wanted.

FSD’s full name is now “Full SelfDriving (Supervised.)” A camera mounted above the rear view mirror monitors the driver. If you are not looking straight ahead, it alerts you to “Pay Attention to the Road.” This replaces earlier Autosteer software which required you to apply slight turning pressure to the steering wheel every so often to prove you’re there. Somehow, driving at night when the cabin is pitch dark, the camera still knows when I’m not looking ahead.

When the car detects bad weather it warns that FSD is “degraded,” and it will require the driver to take over when it can’t trust itself to make good decisions.

I’d pay for this improved FSD if it were more affordable, but $99/month or the $8,000 purchase price is simply too high. I’ll let the free trial lapse.

I have more to say, and screenshots are included, on the posting of this article at http://RealEstateToday.substack.com

Aims Community Theater opens with “Lysistrata”

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A classic Greek comedy that considers unity, resilience and power comes to the Ed Beaty Hall eater on Aims Community College’s Greeley campus beginning Nov. 14.

“We’re thrilled to present ‘Lysistrata,’ a timeless and bold Greek comedy that resonates with today’s conversations about unity, resilience, the power of community, and the strength of women,” said Aims eater Director and Instructor Benjamin Kessler.

e play’s main character is Lysistrata, who gathers the women of Greece to end the Peloponnesian War. ey plan to withhold intimacy from their husbands until they agree to make peace. According to the theater group, the play is hysterical and comical, with sharp satire.

But the production scene is set in a 1990s New York loft similar to the sitcom “Friends,” a modern scene for the ancient satire that was rst performed in 411 BCE. e scenes are displayed using video and projection. is ACT performance and

BY BELEN WARD

Weld County residents hoping to clear out their junk before the New Year will get a break from the Department of Public Health and Environment.

Weld County residents can receive a free voucher letting them drop o large items such as mattresses, yard waste and leftover construction debris at the Front

production are works by Aims students, alumni, and community members.

e play’s theme, which has an ancient

history twist, pits the power of women against the lure of war and the story’s message focuses on unity in the face

of war’s human costs. Due to mature themes, Lysistrata is intended for adult audiences.

“ is production showcases the incredible talent of our students and the collaborative spirit that de nes ACT,” Kessler said. “It’s more than just a play; it’s an experience that invites re ection and connection.” ACT is partnering with Sexual Assault Victim Advocate (SAVA) and A Woman’s Place to highlight resources available in Weld County.

e cast and director will host a postshow talkback session after the Nov. 15 and 17 performances, which will dive into the insights into the play’s themes and the group’s production choices.

e play will be performed from Nov. 14-17 at the Ed Beaty Hall eater on the Aims Community College Greeley Campus, 5203 W. 20th Street. Show times are at 7 p.m. Nov. 14, 15 and 16 with 1 p.m. matinees on Nov. 16 and 17.

Tickets are limited and cost $10 each. Visit aims.co/lysistrata for more information and to purchase tickets. Allo Fiber and NoCo Elevator Inspections are sponsors for ACT 2024-2025.

Weld County o ers free large items disposal

Range Erie Land ll, 1830 Weld County Road 5, Erie.

e public health department has a limited number of vouchers for residents for the program that’s set to end on Dec. 31.

Each Weld County household quali es for one free voucher to the Front Range Erie Land ll. According to the o cial, each voucher allows one level load in a truck with bed rails or one trailer weigh-

ing up to a ton.

Residents must pay additional charges at the time of disposal if the truckload exceeds its voucher limit. Register on the Weld County Household Hazardous page at weld.gov/go/hhw to receive a voucher.

Once registered, the vouchers can be picked up at one of Weld County Household Hazardous locations during operating hours. O ces are located at 5500 Highway 52 in Dacono and 1311 N. 17th

Avenue, Greeley. e Dacono location is open every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. e Greeley location is open every Tuesday, ursday, and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For details about acceptable items, drop-o hours and other land ll questions, visit www.frontrangeland ll.com or call (303) 637-9431. For information about the program or to sign up for a voucher, visit weld.gov/go/hhw.

The cast of Aims College production of “Lysistrata” rehearse. The show opens Nov. 14.

Man convicted in 2022 Quality Inn murder

Jurors sentenced Ricardo Perales-Cordero to life in prison without possibility of parole

BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A deadly shooting at a Brighton motel in 2022 led to the conviction this week of a 33-year-old man who was sentenced to life in prison for rst-degree murder.

An Adams County jury took less than two hours to convict Ricardo Perales-Cordero after a multi-week trial, District Attorney Brian Mason said Nov. 12. Perales-Cordero killed the victim after she attempted to end her relationship with him, Mason said.

“ is defendant, rather than let the victim return to her children, murdered her in cold blood in a Brighton hotel,” said Mason in a news release.

“It is heartbreaking to see another incident of domestic violence take the life of a mother, who now leaves behind her children and family. I am grateful to the Brighton Police Department for their work on this case, to my team for their e ective prosecution, and to the jury for their willingness to sit through this

lengthy trial and to deliver a just verdict,” Mason said.

In March 2022, the victim in the case separated from her partner of 12 years and met Perales-Cordero online. e defendant and the victim engaged in a long-distance relationship as Perales-Cordero lived in Houston, Texas. A few days before the homicide, the victim attempted to end the relationship with the defendant, according to the news release.

Several days later, Perales-Cordero traveled to Brighton from Houston and on October 19, 2022, the victim and Perales-Cordero met at the Quality Inn along Brighton Road in Brighton. Employees at the hotel heard an argument and then two gunshots, the news release states.

Witnesses said they saw PeralesCordero hurriedly leave the hotel and take o in his vehicle. When they entered the hotel room, they found the victim dead on the bed with a large gunshot wound to the head.

Perales-Cordero was later apprehended in Trinidad, Colorado. e defendant admitted to shooting the victim but said she asked him to do so as part of a suicide pact since the two could not be together, according to the news release.

Jurors convicted Perales-Cordero of rst-degree murder and sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole, Mason said.

Adams County’s Operation Freebird returns Nov. 23

e Adams County Sheri ’s Department’s annual Turkey giveaway is set for Nov. 23 this year and it includes much more than just a frozen bird.

e anksgiving giveaway returns from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 23 at Mountain States Toyota, 201 W. 70th Ave. in Denver. ere is no registration needed, so residents just need to show up and collect their food.

Operation Freebird is an annual event that began in 2004 designed to provide all the makings for a anksgiving meal, from the bird to the rolls to the cranberries to the pie. No pro ts or income are generated by this event.

e sheri ’s o ce, the Adams County Sheri ’s Foundation and more than 40 local non-

pro t agencies and other community partners also help provide a range of services to the needy in the North Metropolitan area.

Boxes of food are available while the supplies last and residents must be on hand to get food items. e giveaway also includes all the xings for a anksgiving meal, courtesy of Food Bank of the Rockies.

ose attending will have the opportunity to receive free health screenings, dental screenings, vaccinations, mental health services, and information from various other Adams County programs for employment assistance, childcare programs, and more.

County services also include help for job seekers and housing support among other things. is event served approximately 800 families in 2023.

STAFF REPORT

Kaiser Permanente sta ers donned turkey hats as they gave away health care information and goodies at Adams County’s Operation Freebird IN 2021. FILE PHOTO

Flowers and snow at Adams County memorial

Veterans

Advisory

group

encourages residents to honor vets with flowers

BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Buckets of di erently colored carnations sat waiting all weekend at the entrance of Adams County’s Veterans Memorial at Riverdale Regional Park for residents to stop by and pay their Veterans Day respect.

Adams County Commission-

er Chaz Tedesco, a member of the county’s Veterans Advisory Commision, said the the weekend-long memorial was the idea of Adams County sta . e county placed buckets full of carnations, a di erent color for each branch of the U.S. military, at the entrance of the memorial on Friday.

Residents were encouraged to visit the memorial and place a ower somewhere on the site in honor of a veteran.

“We hope they’re going to place them in the cracks of the memorial wall and just ll it,” Tedesco said.

Tedesco and other members of the commission were at the memorial early Nov. 8, placing the rst round of owers.

Riverdale Parks Superinten-

JOIN THE FORT LUPTON PUBLIC & SCHOOL LIBRARY FOR

dent Adams Ingalls said county sta will be on hand all weekend, clearing snow from around the memorial and making sure the owers stay stocked.

e memorial is a replica of the USS Colorado that juts into Mann-Nyholt Lake. It’s part of the Adams County Fairgrounds along Henderson Road.

Members of the Adams County Veterans Advisory Commission say some words before placing flowers around the county’s Veterans Memorial at Riverdale Regional Park Nov. 8. The county kept flowers stocked throughout the weekend at the memorial for residents to place flowers in honor of Veterans Day. Members are, from the left, Brad Bohling, David Bigelow, Chas Tedesco, Terry Young and Luke Orander.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT TAYLOR

Adams County Veterans Advisory Commission member Luke Orander places a yellow carnation in front of the memorial wall at the Adams County Veterans Memorial at Riverdale Regional Park Nov. 8.

Sharing stories of challenges overcome

Brighton author leads inspiring anthology

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Brighton author Andrea Lende and her 30 collaborators began working on their new project detailing how people of faith survive di cult times long before 2024’s tumultuous hurricane and tornado season. ey didn’t know that hurricanes and tornadoes would ravage the country or that two of the authors would see their lives changed by the Helene and Milton hurricanes.

“We watched them as they walked through these storms. One of the authors is still o ering support to the areas completely devasted by Helene. e other is safely back home in Indiana,” Lende said. “We have yet to see the full e ect of these hurricanes and the tornadoes that ravaged Oklahoma. We can only hope Strength in the Storm can be a lifeline to some who have lost so much.”

“Strength in the Storm: Real Stories, Real Women, Real Faith” is the title of their new project, one that aims to inspire readers by demonstrating their resilience and faith. eir book, full of stories of people navigating di cult times, was published Oct. 29 and is available on Amazon as well as some Brighton bookstores. e group has also created a short podcast series introducing each author and their backgrounds.

Challenging storms e project has been a signi cant personal and professional achievement for

the contributors, earning them the bestselling author title on Amazon.

“Each story is a testament to the beauty that emerges from brokenness, showing that God’s love is an anchor even in the most relentless storms. ese pages invite readers into intimate, raw, and uplifting journeys from pain to peace, from fear to unshakable Faith,” Lende said.

“For anyone feeling the weight of life’s burdens, these stories will remind you that you’re never alone—and that every bend in the road can lead to an extraordinary beginning.”

Lende works as a Christian speaker and coach. Her work brought her into contact with many women who were interested in writing books to tell their stories.

“ e ladies who are speakers had a story idea. ey all have gone through the storm of life challenges and come out the other side, but they don’t have the time to sit down and write a whole book,” Lende said.

“ ese ladies approached me individually, saying they wanted to do a collaboration collection, similar to the “Chicken Soup” books and write short stories. “

Lende said the book far exceeded their expectations. Each of the 30 ladies wrote a short story about something that they had experienced, from medical crises to the loss of a parent, a child or a spouse. Others talked about surviving sexual abuse, addiction or di cult medical diagnoses.

“ ere’s every story imaginable in this book; they have come out on the other side with God’s help and strength,” she said. “ ey now can share stories with so many others and in their speaking events, and it’s a collection that has blown our minds in terms of all of us getting together and sharing.”

Each story is told in the writer’s own words.

“We walk through life with trials, diculties, and mountains to climb and see how these women have dealt with their stories,” she said.

Lende said the hope is that we can reach one person who needs a lifeline to hang on one more day. ey want her to know there’s a reason to carry on.

“We don’t know what the end is for our stories, but these women have all ended up with magni cent lives and a joy and a hope that they can share with other people,” Lende said. “We hope for that one person she’ll be able to receive that inspiration and message; even as grim, as di cult, as tough as it is right now, there’s a tomorrow, and we come out the other side strong and resilient to see these women perseverance on what’s on the other side of di culty.”

Podcast bios

Lende said they also have a podcast that introduces the book. It’s a short-run podcast with four episodes, about 10 minutes each that introduce each author and their bio on Spotify.

It’s also available for download directly at https://feeds.transistor.fm/strength-inthe-storm-real-stories-real-women-realfaith

“It was such a blessing, and some of these ladies hadn’t written a book yet, (and) there are 11 out of 30 that have written a book,” Lende said. “We were able to give them the gift of authorship and the gift of (being) a best-selling author, sharing a title.” e book is by authors Andrea Lende, LaCinda Halls, Lindsay Tedder, Stephanie Weber, Pam Mitchael, Jackie Hayden, Sandra Jones, Suzanne Stines, Julie Napp,

and Macki Smith.

“We hope to o er a lifeline to many barely hanging on. We hope to inspire the one who needs to be lifted up. And we hope to instill greater faith in the one person who is a bit shaky right now,” Lende said.

“We have come through our storms by God’s strength, not our own. And he has richly blessed us as we relied on him. We hope to instill a more robust faith as people read the words that will walk them down the roads we’ve walked and not only survived but thrived. “ Strength in the Storm is sold at Brighton Knot Forgotten, Shades of Divine online, Barnes and Noble.com, Walmart.com and on Amazon.

Andrea Lende is publishing a book on life challenges in collaboration with 30 women.

PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

The power of setting standards and following through

Accountability is a topic often discussed but seldom fully appreciated. e alignment between expectations and accountability forms the backbone of e ective relationships and progress in personal and professional settings. Setting expectations without inspection is not enough. In the words of management experts, “You must inspect what you expect.” But what does that mean in practice?

In any setting where goals are shared, whether it’s a workplace, a sports team, or even a personal goal like tness, the expectation of results needs more than verbal agreement. It requires active commitment from everyone involved, which is only as strong as the system of accountability supporting it.

won’t inch at di cult conversations. ey arrive early, have the plan in mind, and won’t let you walk out the door until every last rep is completed. Accountability partners are invaluable because they don’t settle for mediocrity.

Over the years, I’ve had workout partners who failed to keep me accountable. ey wanted to be liked more than they wanted to push me. When I was tired or unmotivated, they didn’t challenge me, allowing me to slack o instead.

Many people team up with workout partners to make exercise more enjoyable, build camaraderie, and stay motivated. However, there’s a distinct di erence between a workout partner and an accountability partner. A workout partner meets you at the gym, perhaps someone who will do the same sets and reps as you, share in the work, and celebrate with you afterward. ey can be great for mutual encouragement and motivation. But there’s a drawback: workout partners might go easy on you, particularly friends who want you to like them. ey might encourage you to miss or skip that last set.

Now, an accountability partner is an entirely di erent type of support. is person knows your goals as well as you do and is there to accompany you and ensure you meet or exceed your expectations. ey won’t accept excuses and

The great American poet Maya Angelou once proclaimed, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the rst time.” It’s a powerful, incisive statement. It cuts through the fog of dissemination, obfuscation and doublespeak. Maya’s maxim is generally quoted in context of an individual person, but it can be applied more broadly to a group, region or country.

e dust is settling from the 2024 elections, and the post-mortems keep rolling in. For the most part, the experts’ analyses are like everything else seen in hindsight: 20/20, 20/30, or even 20/200 for the willfully blind.

One of my favorite “Star Trek” TV episodes is “Journey to Babel” in which the Enterprise is charged with transporting Federation ambassadors to a conference. After an ambassador is murdered, Mr. Spock states the assassination isn’t logical. e Andorian ambassador, whose race is very passionate, educates Spock about such acts: ey’re not acts of reason but of passion, he says. e motives lie not in the mind, but in the heart.

e Andorian’s point is well taken and can be applied across the spectrum of human action from murder and suicide, as I noted in “Suicide: A Personal Re ection,” to voting.

After one too many half-hearted sessions, I had to confront one of my workout partners. It was a tough conversation. He admitted that he wasn’t comfortable challenging others or holding them accountable. Realizing this, I moved on to someone who could be rm with me and wouldn’t hesitate to call me out when I wasn’t giving my best. A real accountability partner understands that sometimes you need tough love, someone who isn’t afraid to push you, even if it’s uncomfortable.

Whether in the gym or business, holding people accountable is about investing in the results you want to achieve. It’s not always easy, and it’s not always comfortable. But when we commit to inspecting what we expect, we create a culture of follow-through and achievement. An accountability structure means putting systems in place to monitor progress, adjusting as needed, and o er-

ing support that is both encouraging and uncompromising.

In personal tness, as in business, accountability partners ensure that what you set out to do is achieved. ey transform the workout from a casual commitment into a structured journey toward real, measurable progress. When we set expectations but don’t check in on them, we’re e ectively saying they don’t matter. Accountability takes what we expect and turns it into action, creating a disciplined pathway that leads to results. e lesson here is clear: if you’re serious about reaching your goals, align yourself with accountability partners who won’t just go through the motions. Choose people who can inspect, push,

An expression of values

and remind you of your potential. In the end, accountability is less about pleasing and more about pushing you to be your best. And that’s where the real transformation happens.

I would love to hear your accountability story at gotonorton@gmail.com. And when we can get comfortable being pushed harder to achieve our goals and dreams, it really will be a better-thangood 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.

A myth persists among voters about why they choose certain candidates and support or oppose ballot initiatives. ey cling to the delusion their decisions are purely rational, based objectively on studied candidates and issues. While there’s truth in that, ultimately voters make choices based upon their feelings, which re ect their values. Given that, one can conclude the person or issue a voter supports is a testament to that voter’s personal values. Like the old saw that says you are what you eat, you are who and what you vote for.

It’s been that way since ancient Greece, but the outcome of the 2024 presidential race is particularly revealing: It clearly shows the ssure between two American value systems has exploded into a chasm. Which makes me grateful to be a Coloradan.

Like our nation’s history, Colorado’s is blotched with horri c stains like the Sand Creek Massacre. But Coloradans today broadly recognize — don’t deny — past wrongs and strive to rectify them. We take proactive measures to protect

the vulnerable, like inscribing into the state constitution a woman’s fundamental right to decide what’s in her best health interests. One of our strengths by and large is we aren’t wedded to religious dogma or under the spell of an ideology. And we don’t live in dreaded fear of e Other. Heck, we even tolerate Texans during ski season although I give them a wide berth when on the slopes. Looking across the American political landscape and seeing what citizens of other states decided, I shudder, primarily because of how it re ects their ethos. It’s a reminder, though, about why we have it good in Colorado, where ideas like censorship, book banning, and allowing women to die or be irreparably harmed because of legalized religious prescriptions and proscriptions are anathema.

Have we nally thrown in the towel on our democratic experiment? Ben Franklin said we’d have a republic as long as we could keep it, and I’m wondering whether we’ve reached that point. e 2024 election unequivocally exposes who we are, regionally and nationally. We’re no longer one. Like during the Civil War, we’re two, di erentiated and separated by disparate value systems. We’re no longer an indivisible union, but instead the Bifurcated States of America.   Can we come back together and agree

on fundamental Americanisms like liberty and justice for all, freedom of thought and expression, and not allowing government to play God like it does in Iran? Can we reunite and march anew toward that more perfect union? We did once, so I suspect we can do it again. But even if so, it’ll likely be a protracted slog, and I’ll probably age out of life before that comes to pass.

When I was coming of age in western Pennsylvania, two John Denver songs— “Rocky Mountain High” and “I Guess He’d Rather Be in Colorado”—especially captivated me. I didn’t know then why the desire to live in Colorado took root, but it got clearer as the years passed. Like so many, I found an embracing home here and have lived a ful lling and adventurous life. In addition to hiking and skiing, I’ve found my “peeps.”

But there’s more. I’ve learned the difference between my life there and the one here was and continues to be more than about lifestyle: It’s about the different cultures’ ethos — their guiding principles and values — and never have those been more distinctly and starkly expressed.

Jerry Fabyanic is the author of “Sisyphus Wins” and “Food for ought: Essays on Mind and Spirit.” He lives in Georgetown.

How to support your community and get civically engaged

BY CPR NEWS

At this time of year, you may be asking yourself, “How can I make a positive impact?”

Whether the 2024 election or the spirit of the holiday season has inspired you, there are many ways you can get involved in your community and help shape its future.

We spoke to Evan Weissman, founder of Warm Cookies of the Revolution, to share some ideas. e nonpro t uses art and creativity to make challenging issues more accessible through events, videos and other formats.

Identify what you’re working for or against Weissman said the rst step to creating positive change is deciding where and how to focus your energy. What do you want topreventorobstruct? What do you want to protect or construct?

“You want to be defensive about the things that you don’t like, that you want to be [in community] with other people to try to stop,” Weissman said. “ at could be volunteering with organizations that are going to be defending things that the federal government is most likely going to be attacking” he explained, listing issues such as immigration and LGBTQ rights.

Our Family Helping Your Family

BILLINGER

There are numerous ways to help in the community, including joining food collection e orts such as the Fort Lupton Food and Clothing Bank.

Weissman also encouraged people to think, “What are the constructive things that I want to be involved with civically?” is could be mentoring a student, leading a skillshare, or engaging in other actions that promote justice and equality.

Traditional approaches to civic engagement

If you’re feeling inspired to create civic change, Weissman said, there are a few ways to go about it.  You can take a typical approach, such as calling your representatives or attending city or

Nina Lorene Billinger May 28, 1938 ~ November 5, 2024

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Nina Billinger, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend. Nina was born on May 28, 1938 to Pete John Trabucco and Helen May McDowell. Nina passed away on November 5, 2024.

Nina was raised in the close-knit community of Florence, Colorado and attended Florence High School before continuing her education at Pueblo Junior College.

She married Gerald Billinger, and together they shared a deep and lasting love that carried them through 47 years of marriage. Known for her strength and dedication, Nina spent much of her career as a branch manager in consumer lending before ultimately transitioning to serve as a Revenue O cer for the State of Arizona—a role that she embraced with commitment and pride.

Nina was a woman of many passions and talents. She had a love for cooking and could often be found in the kitchen preparing delicious meals for her family. She adored traveling, dancing, and playing music, lling her life and those around her with energy and joy. A card game with Nina was

town council meetings. Or, you can automate feedback to your representatives by subscribing to Issue Voter.

Issue Voter allows you to sign up for alerts based on your location and the topics you care about, regardless of political afliation. Once you create an account, Weissman explained, you’ll get a message like, “Hey, this vote is coming up about military. Here’s what the proponents are saying, here’s what the objectors are saying.” en, you can simply click a button in the message and Issue Voter will

always lively, as her quick wit and competitive spirit made for unforgettable evenings!

Following the passing of her husband, Jerry, Nina found companionship and love once again with Robert Corscadden, whom she married in 2010. Together, they created new memories and cherished every moment shared.

Nina is survived by her devoted sister, Joann Graham, children, Deborah (Brian) Betz, Pamela (Kenneth) Quillen, and Je rey Billinger (Hector Beleche), who will carry forward her legacy of love and resilience. Her light lives on through her four grandchildren, Jonathan, Melony, Ian, and Emmy and 8 great-grandchildren.

In her nal years, Nina bravely faced the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease at Hyland Hills Senior Living in Westminster, Colorado. Her strength, grace, and vibrant spirit touched everyone she met, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, and resilience.

Nina will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Her memory will be a guiding light in the lives of those she loved, and her spirit will live on in the countless hearts she touched.

send an automated email with your name and information to the appropriate representative, articulating your support for, or opposition to, the measure.

Creative approaches to civic engagement

Disinterested in, or unable to, engage in traditional approaches like writing your representative or attending a public meeting? You’re not alone. ese approaches “can be hard for a lot of people,” Weissman admitted. “[Public meetings] are challenging because they’re often not held at good times. ey maybe don’t have all languages represented … they might not have childcare.”

Plus, taking action “with other people is pretty key,” Weissman emphasized. at’s something you don’t get from making a call or writing a letter.

“Even if you’re someone who’s shy or introverted,” Weissman said, “I still think that things don’t feel as challenging and impossible when you can do them together.”

As a part of Warm Cookies programming, residents of Aurora can also take advantage of a $500 stipend to host a civic party, and residents of Silverthorne and Leadville can participate in cross-cultural community gath-

erings in the coming months.  Here’s a list of accessible –and fun – ways to collaborate with others and create positive change in your community:

- Create a civically-minded book or craft club

- Lead a mutual aid fundraiser

- Start a community fridge or food pantry

- Lead a winter clothing or holiday toy drive

- Donate blood

- Start an identity-based discussion or activity group

- Create and distribute care packages to people experiencing homelessness

- Volunteer at a local animal shelter or foster animals at home

- Mentor a student

- O er community yoga, meditation, tai chi or breathwork

- Lead a clean-up for a park, riverbank, or other public space

- Volunteer as a conversationalist to help someone learn a new language

- Donate money or other resources to a cause you believe in Do you have other ideas for civic / community engagement? Email us at linda@cotln.org. is story is from CPR News, a nonpro t public broadcaster serving Colorado. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr. org.

allieventcenter.com

COOKING IN THE CLOUDS

Air pressure, humidity and temperature di erences have important impacts on everyday cooking at mountain altitudes

BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

For well-versed mountain locals cooking at high altitudes of 7,500 feet and above, cooking things longer, adding additional water to recipes or subtracting certain ingredients is almost second nature. For others, it can be confusing, frustrating and disastrous.

ere is science behind it all, and according to Colorado State University experts, changes that in uence “cooking at altitude” start at just 3,000 feet above sea level.

Inside the Terra Building at Colorado State University Spur in Denver, the Ardent Mills Teaching and Culinary Center provides a complete modern industrial and commercial-sized kitchen and laboratory.

e Spur campus includes the Vida (health) and Hydro (water) educational buildings as well, but it’s easy to spot the Terra (cooking) building; it’s the one with the big green avocado-shaped window.

Once inside, you can see the kitchen surrounded by glass walls and gleaming stainless steel tables and shelves. Massive 10-burner industrial gas stoves and ovens to match line the walls along with a collection of cooking utensils that would be

the envy of amateur cooks everywhere. is is one of Culinary Dietitian Bailey Carr’s o ces.

Carr received her Bachelor’s degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from Ohio State University and a degree in Culinary Arts from the Auguste Esco er School in Boulder.

Now, she is the forward face of the nutritional and cooking education classes o ered at Spur.

Carr said she creates recipes that turn into menus which she can teach to kids, adults and families. Her goal is to eliminate the fear of cooking while cooking together.

However, enjoying the cooking process coincides with successful cooking, Carr said. Knowing how and what ingredients to adjust and understanding the temperature and air pressure di erences at various altitudes is critical to success.   ere are only a couple of environmental factors that a ect high-altitude cooking — air pressure and humidity — but the implications of these two conditions on cooking are exponential, according to cooking science.

Published by CSU, “A Guide to High Elevation Food Preparation” breaks down the numbers at which changes are initiated. It is even referenced by the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service in its high-altitude cooking material.

The basic fundamentals: Lower air pressure at altitude

Air pressure decreases as altitudes increase. In other words, the blanket of air above us is lighter, according to meteorological science.

“We are at a higher elevation, which means we have less air pressure, which really informs all of the nuances of cooking. It’s the main reason we have to adjust everything we do at altitude to achieve proper results,” Carr said.

at means many things take longer to cook, especially in water, because the boiling point of water drops with every foot of elevation, illustrated by this boiling point chart provided by CSU:

• Sea Level: 212 degrees

• 2,000 feet: 208 degrees

• 5,000 feet: 203 degrees

• 7,500 feet: 198 degrees

• 10,000 feet: 194 degrees

No matter how high the cooking temperature is, water cannot exceed its own boiling point. Even if the heat is turned up, the water will simply boil away faster and whatever you are cooking will dry out faster, according to the USDA.

For instance, a “three-minute egg” will likely take ve minutes at 5,000 feet because it’s cooking at a lower temperature.

Speci c dishes such as rice require approximately 15-20% more water and extended cook time due to the lower temperature of the boiling water, and the rice should be covered to retain the moisture, according to Carr.

A chemical reaction known as gelatinization between the water and the starch in the rice requires a certain temperature, which is made more di cult by the lower boiling point at altitude, Carr said.

Meats such as chicken or beef can require up to 15% more time to cook and dry out faster due to low humidity above 5,000 feet, according to food studies.

Cookies are especially challenging in the mountains as a balance between liquids and our must be maintained..

e high volume of sugar and fat in most cookie recipes can cause cookies to sprawl on the baking sheet. e sugar and fat are considered liquids as they liquify with heat, Carr said, suggesting a reduction in the use of baking powder or soda and fat/sugar in the recipe.

Carr suggests increasing the amount of our in the recipe and the baking temperature by approximately 25 degrees.

Slow cookers are also a ected at altitude because the contents will simmer at a lower temperature making it more di cult for the food to reach safe temperatures for bacteria to be destroyed, according to the USDA.

Gas burner on industrial stove at CSU Spur campus in Denver.

Avocado shaped window at Terra building in CSU Spur campus in Denver.

Edelweiss Pastry Shop at 1520 Miner St. in Idaho Springs. PHOTOS BY CHRIS KOEBERL

COOKING

e USDA suggests cooking food at a temperature of at least 200 degrees for the rst hour of cooking to ensure any bacteria is destroyed.   Most bread machines will o er tips and settings for high-elevation baking, but there are a couple of things to keep in mind, Carr said.

Typically you want to decrease yeast by a ¼ to ½ teaspoon for each 2 ½ teaspoon package called for in the recipe. Add one to two tablespoons of additional liquid per cup of our, but too much liquid could cause issues during the mixing cycle, according to Carr.

Even above 3,000 feet, cakes can be a challenge. Decreased air pressure can lead to “excessive rising,” causing the cake to fall, according to researchers.

When leavening (allowing the mixture to rise), researchers suggest reducing baking powder or soda by as much as 50% from the receipt while increasing the baking temperature by 25 degrees.

e increased temperature helps set the batter before the cells are formed and may also reduce the total baking time, according to research.

Evaporation at altitude can lead to a higher concentration of sugar, which researchers consider a liquid when cooking. Decreasing the amount of sugar in the recipe will help to sustain the cellular structure and the cake. Perhaps the pinnacle of baking at altitude is the delicate, light and akey pastry. For that, Colorado Community Media visited Edelweiss Pastry Shop at 1520 Miner St. in Idaho Springs where Chef Rebecca Hu and her partner Larry Dungan have been making sweet and savory pastries by hand since 2017.

Hu said she’s been cooking and baking since she was 12 years old in her parents’ restaurant in Glenwood Springs, “Rosi’s” opened in 1977. “It’s something I know how to do and I’m good at it,” Hu said.

“I would cook breakfast for the family and I had to stand on a chair to ip the sausages because I couldn’t reach the stovetop,” Hu said. As Hu started out cooking and baking on her own, she followed in her German heritage of making pastries and said she learned ev-

erything from her mother who was originally from Bavaria.

It’s di cult for Hu to say how to adjust recipes for cooking at altitude, for her she said, “It’s just the way I do it.” However, she recognized some of the advice of other experts.

“With cake mix or dough, you’ll want to reduce the liquid, which includes sugar, and increase the our until you nd that right consistency,” she said.

Feeling the consistency of the dough is the key.

“ e thing with me is, I’ve done it so long I can tell just by the look and feel of the batter, to adjust our, I can just tell,” Hu said.

When it comes to baking ourless chocolate cakes or quiches, Hu revealed a couple of tricks of the trade.

For one, when baking ourless chocolate creations, Hu likes to put the batter in mufn cups placed onto a shallow pan with a thin layer of water under the cups to compensate for the lack of humidity during baking.

“If I don’t put the water in there when I pull them out after they’re done they sink,” Hu said.

e science of cooking or baking at altitude consists of trial and error which is eventually converted to formulas for amateur or professional chefs to follow. Spur is a good example of the science of cooking but not the soul, both Carr and Hu said.

Carr said her love for cooking started at birth but accelerated later in life when her grandmother was ill.

“It’s just been who I am, so it’s been a natural life-long passion that really grew even more when I watched my beloved grandmother become diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It was devastating.”

When her grandmother was released from the hospital, Carr said she was given a recipe book for smoothies targeted toward helpful recovery.

at’s when Carr said she realized combining ingredients and cooking could do more than feed people.

“I realized that love of cooking could actually help heal or nourish people, ever since I’ve been on one track,” she said. “How can I cook and serve people in this way but also use these recipes to optimize wellness and help folks and their bodies?”

Sharing her knowledge, education and passion for cooking as a family is what Carr said feeds her soul.

“It’s ful llment, it’s the best feeling ever… to know a seed is planted in a family and they can continue to grow in it and reap the fruits and bene ts over the course of their life,” she said.

All three buildings at the CSU Spur campus in Denver are open to the public the second Saturday of every month for free cooking instruction. Details on cooking classes and events can be found at https:// csuspur.org/spur-events/.

Culinary Dietitian Bailey Carr in CSU Terra building kitchen.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KOEBERL

Apple tarts fresh from the oven at Edelweiss Pastry Shop in Idaho Springs.

Selected pastries from Edelweiss Pastry Shop in Idaho Springs.

Eclairs from Edelweiss Pastry Shop in Idaho Springs.

Chronic absenteeism rates di er sharply across metro-area school districts

BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Around 1 in 4 Colorado students miss critical time in the classroom, according to data from the Colorado Department of Education. Chronic absenteeism, dened as missing more than 10% of school days or around 18 days per year, puts students at greater risk for academic failure, poverty and dropping out of high school, according to Attendance Works, an organization working to reduce chronic absenteeism.

A newly-mandated reporting system required by a 2022 law reveals the issue isn’t just about the number of absences. Rather, it’s about who is missing: students from low-income families, students of color, multilingual learners and those with special needs are the most a ected, facing barriers that go beyond the classroom and into systemic issues like poverty, housing instability and lack of transportation.

At 27.7%, the statewide chronic absenteeism has been dropping since it peaked at 35.5% during the 2021-2022 school year. Yet, rates vary widely across districts and demographics show how some districts struggle with absences far more than others.

“In our statewide data, we see race and ethnicity gaps, but we also see gaps in multilingual learners, students with disabilities and homeless students who qualify for homeless services,” said Johann Liljengren, director of the dropout prevention and student re-engagement o ce in the Colorado Department of Education.

Acknowledging a dire need to address the issue, Colorado’s education leaders

joined with 13 other states in a commitment to cut chronic absenteeism by 50% over ve years. Among metro-area districts, Denver, Douglas, Englewood and Je erson County have joined the state’s challenge.

Data reveals disparities across districts and demographics

While all groups of students experience some level of chronic absenteeism, those districts whose minority and low-income students make up a larger portion of the total population have rates far higher than the state average.

In Adams 14, where the absenteeism rate is close to 50%, nearly nine out of 10 students qualify for free or reduced lunch, meaning their family’s income falls below the federal poverty threshold.

Similar trends hold true for Adams 12 and Denver Public Schools, whose absenteeism rates also far exceed the state average. In Adams 12, 47% of their students experience economic hardship. In Denver, it’s 65%.

At around 25%, Cherry Creek, Je co and Elizabeth school districts have lower absenteeism rates than the state average. ey also have fewer percentages of nonwhite and low-income students than the state as a whole.

Douglas County has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate, but the district also has the lowest percentage of minority and low-income students at 32% and 18%, respectively.

Understanding the causes e reasons behind chronic absenteeism are complex and often deeply rooted in students’ broader social and economic

conditions. Carl Felton, a policy analyst with EdTrust, emphasized that poverty remains one of the strongest predictors of chronic absenteeism, with low-income students two to three times more likely to miss school consistently.

“ ese are high-need populations,” Felton explained, adding that for many of these students, absenteeism re ects obstacles like unstable housing, limited access to transportation and lack of healthcare e COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these challenges. For many students, school closures meant the loss of a stable environment, access to meals and vital social interaction. As schools reopened, disengagement became a barrier for students accustomed to an extended absence from formal learning.

Felton noted that this break in routine and support made it di cult for students to readjust to school life.

Liljengren agreed.

“For some students, school was a place where they felt supported and cared for. After a year or more away, they’ve struggled to return to that structure,” he said.

Finding solutions

When it comes to nding a solution, Liljengren and Felton agree that understanding the unique challenges and barriers these speci c student populations face is crucial to developing targeted strategies to improve attendance.

While there is no one-size- ts-all answer, Felton emphasized it’s crucial to start by engaging families.

“All these folks have di erent stories and varying needs, which is why we promote family engagement as one of the top pri-

orities and strategies to address chronic absenteeism,” Felton said. “We can make a lot of assumptions and throw money at programs shown to be e ective through evidence-based data, but we may end up spending money on a program when what we really need is a school bus or to hire a person to conduct home visits.”

He also said that research has shown punitive measures, like truancy court or anything that puts more of a burden on families, break trust with school leaders and make families and students less likely to engage and work on solving the problem.

By shifting away from punitive discipline measures and towards restorative approaches, Felton explained schools can build stronger relationships with students and families, address underlying issues and keep students engaged in the learning process.

Liljengren said the state is focused on providing resources to districts, families and community partners through its “Every School Day Matters” attendance campaign.

e goal is for schools and communities to work together in a holistic, family-centered way to address the complex, multifaceted factors contributing to chronic absenteeism, especially for the most vulnerable student populations.

District leaders also recognize their role in ensuring kids want to attend school.

“When kids are excited about what they’re learning, they go to school, so part of it is connecting and saying, ‘how do we make the educational experience really engaging, fun, exciting and relevant to them,’” said Kim LeBlanc-Esparza, deputy superintendent of Je co Public Schools.

“A splendidly festive tradition”

A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens

Adapted by Richard Hellesen

Music by David de Berry

Directed by Anthony Powell

High heat drives Colorado droughts year round study finds

bee said. “We need to prepare for more frequent and more severe drought.”

THE COLORADO SUN

Climate change has made Western air so hot that drought will threaten the region even in years of decent snow and rainfall, according to a new study by UCLA and NOAA scientists detailing the scary new normal of warmer global temperatures.

From 2020 to 2022, a searing drought in Colorado and Western states was caused more by hot air robbing water from the landscape through evaporation than by the lack of precipitation, the study concludes. As average summer temperatures climb higher, that means the West will su er even when the water falling from the sky approaches historic averages.

“It is becoming the reality of the world that we’re living in,” said Joel Lisonbee, regional drought information coordinator with NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System and coauthor of the study published in “Science Advances.”

“Across the western United States, we are prone to drought. We’re also prone to high temperatures, and we depend a lot on the water that we have,” Lison-

Any patch of ground needs normal levels of moisture to promote healthy growth, and that moisture is present from two causes: precipitation, or lack of evaporation or “evaporative demand.” e scientists also refer to evaporative demand — what is taken from the ground and air by evaporation — as the “thirst of the atmosphere.”

Hotter air can also hold more evaporated moisture than cool air before it falls to ground as precipitation, exacerbating the drought cycle.

“Even if precipitation looks normal, we can still have drought because moisture demand has increased so much, and there simply isn’t enough water to keep up with that increased demand,” said Rong Fu, a UCLA professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences and a study coauthor. “ is is not something you could build bigger reservoirs or something to prevent because when the atmosphere warms, it will just suck up more moisture everywhere. e only way to prevent this is to stop temperature increase, which means we have to stop emitting greenhouse gases.”

e study logged a reversal of the usual ratio of drought causes from 2000 to 2022, a Western dry spell now considered a historic “megadrought” occurring only

every 1,000 years. During that long drought, evaporation from higher temperatures accounted for more of the severity than did lack of precipitation.

at ratio tilted further in the West’s extreme drought recorded from 2020 to 2022. In that three years, “evaporation accounted for 61% of the drought’s severity,

while reduced precipitation only accounted for 39%,” according to the study.  e researchers studied the recent drought against a historic period from 1948 to 1999. During the megadrought, the average drought area increased 17% in the western United States because of the higher evaporative demand from warmer temperatures.

Since 2000, “thirsty” atmosphere alone could have caused drought on 66% of historically vulnerable Western land, even if the precipitation was average. at was up sharply from the 1948 to 1999 period, when only 26% of that land was vulnerable to evaporation-caused drought.  e stark ndings have Lisonbee and his colleagues steering their research focus to the very de nition of modern drought, in order to make the discussion more relevant to the realities of global warming.

“Do we de ne drought using the whole period of record, all the way back to the late 1800s? Or should we be de ning drought based on a shorter period of record that is more representative of the last 30 years?” Lisonbee said.

“It’s almost more philosophical.” is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalistowned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.

Fixed data error, inches Colorado closer to climate goals

BY SAM BRASCH

NEWS

Colorado is poised to miss its ambitious targets to cut climate-warming pollution by 2025 and 2030, but a newly updated assessment suggests the state has made more progress than anticipated and will nearly hit both benchmarks.

A set of laws signed in the last ve years requires the state to rapidly cut pollution driving global warming. Colorado is now obligated to reduce its total greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent by 2025, 50 percent by 2030, and to eliminate any contribution to climate change by 2050. Each of those benchmarks is measured against the state’s 2005 emission levels.

e Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Energy O ce released a revised report last week suggesting the state has inched closer to meeting the initial targets. According to the updated estimates, the state will still miss both of its self-imposed deadlines — but should hit its 2025 goal in 2026 and its 2030 goal in 2031. ose projections mark a slight improvement over a previous greenhouse gas inventory released two years ago.

Unlike other states, Colorado hasn’t adopted a cap-and-trade market or other policies to force private companies to cut emissions. e state has instead o ered a wide array of incentives and regulated speci c industries to encourage a shift to climate-friendly technology.

“A lot of places have set goals, not that many have made real progress,” said Will Toor, the director of the Colorado Energy O ce. “What we’re seeing is that the allof-government approach that’s targeting

emissions from all ve major sectors — transportation, electricity generation, industrial emissions, oil and gas, buildings — really is setting us on a trajectory towards deep emissions reductions.”

e revised estimates don’t impact the main trends driving the state’s climate progress. In general, the state has made the biggest gains toward its climate goals by regulating oil and gas production and closing coal- red power plants in favor of renewables. It’s had a far harder time slashing transportation emissions due to a deep reliance on fossil fuel-powered cars and trucks.

e latest apparent improvement, however, isn’t driven by a sudden change in driving habits or new renewable energy projects. It’s largely the result of correcting a data error.

A helpful miscalculation

Clay Clarke, the supervisor of the climate change unit inside the state health and environment department, said the biggest reason Colorado now appears closer to its goals was a correction to the state’s estimates of historical emissions from the oil and gas sector. By xing the error, his sta discovered that the state’s current policies would result in larger cuts than previously anticipated.

e mistake occurred in a set of spreadsheets estimating past pollution from fossil fuel operations. A calculation error resulted in the state underestimating the climate impact of natural gas leaks from fossil fuel operations. Since the historic emissions are roughly 30 percent higher than previously thought, the state now expects it’s on track to achieve even deeper reductions, said Kate Malloy, a

spokesperson for the health and environment agency.

e latest emissions inventory also attempts to estimate the e ect of policies designed to shift housing closer to jobs and transit. In 2024, Gov. Jared Polis successfully pushed a package of land-use bills through the legislature to encouragemore development within cities near major bus and rail routes.

e updated inventory estimates those policies should shift the state closer to its climate goals in the future. While Toor said the new laws won’t do much for the 2025 or 2030 goals, they should signi cantly reduce the emissions related to new development by 2050.

Western Resource Advocates, an organization tracking Colorado’s climate progress, declined to comment on the new report until they had time to complete a more thorough review.

Danny Katz, the executive director of the Colorado Public Interest Research Group, said he doesn’t have the technical expertise to check the state’s math, but he said the updated estimates appear to align with his views of the state’s climate progress.

“We need to recognize that a lot of these are projections. We need to keep working toward those clear signs that we’re not continuing to warm the planet, like 100 percent renewable energy or having zero-emission vehicles on the road,” Katz said.

Unlike other states, Colorado hasn’t adopted a cap-and-trade market or other policies to force private companies to cut emissions. e state has instead o ered a wide array of incentives and regulated speci c industries to encourage a shift to climate-friendly technology.

“A lot of places have set goals, not that many have made real progress,” said Will Toor, the director of the Colorado Energy O ce. “What we’re seeing is that the allof-government approach that’s targeting emissions from all ve major sectors — transportation, electricity generation, industrial emissions, oil and gas, buildings — really is setting us on a trajectory towards deep emissions reductions.”

e revised estimates don’t impact the main trends driving the state’s climate progress. In general, the state has made the biggest gains toward its climate goals by regulating oil and gas production and closing coal- red power plants in favor of renewables. It’s had a far harder time slashing transportation emissionsdue to a deep reliance on fossil fuel-powered cars and trucks.

e latest emissions inventory also attempts to estimate the e ect of policies designed to shift housing closer to jobs and transit. In 2024, Gov. Jared Polis successfully pushed a package of land-use bills through the legislature to encouragemore development within cities near major bus and rail routes.

e updated inventory estimates those policies should shift the state closer to its climate goals in the future. While Toor said the new laws won’t do much for the 2025 or 2030 goals, they should signi cantly reduce the emissions related to new development by 2050.

Western Resource Advocates, an organization tracking Colorado’s climate progress, declined to comment on the new report until they had time to complete a more thorough review.

Thu 11/21

Owl-About-Art Homeschool Program @ 9am / Free

Bird Conservancy's Environmental Learning Center, 14500 Lark Bunting Lane, Brighton. 303-659-4348 ext. 53

Friendsgiving

@ 2pm

Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760

Eric Golden @ 3pm

Surrender the Tides @ 7pm

Mother Tucker Brewery, 2360 E 120th Ave, Thornton

Bunny Blake Music: Frolic Brewing @ 5pm

Frolic Brewing Company, 12910 Zuni St #1300, Westminster

Maker Monday @ 10am

Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760

Brett Hendrix: The StilleryWestminster @ 6pm The Stillery, 10633 Westminster Blvd #900, Westminster

Denver Nuggets vs. New York Knicks @ 7pm / $46-$4260

La Furia Del Bravo @ 9pm

The Stillery, 10633 Westminster Blvd #900, Westminster

Fri 11/22

Friday BINGO at Eagle Pointe (11/22) @ 1pm

Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Park‐way Dr., Commerce City. 303-289-3760

Haley Mae Campbell @ 5pm

The Stillery, 10633 Westminster Blvd #900, Westminster

Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks (Emirates NBA Cup Group Play)

@ 8pm / $48-$4260 Ball Arena, Denver

Teague Starbuck @ 7pm

La Buchona Family Mexican Restau‐rant, 217 1st St, Fort Lupton

Sat 11/23

Monthly Bird Walks - November @ 9am / Free Barr Lake State Park, 13401 Picadilly Rd, Brighton. 303-659-4348 ext. 53

Doom Blade @ 7:30pm Trailside Saloon, 10360 Colorado Blvd, Thorn‐ton

The Glenn Bar & Grill, 11140 Irma Dr, Northglenn

Sun 11/24

Haley Mae Campbell @ 12pm

The Stillery, 10633 Westminster Blvd #900, Westminster

Mon 11/25

School Breaks: Fall Break @ 9am

Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760

Ball Arena, Denver

Jelani Aryeh @ 7pm

Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver

Wed 11/27

Toys That Made America: Slinky @ 1pm Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Park‐way Dr., Commerce City. 303-289-3760

Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights @ 8pm / $64-$999 Ball Arena, Denver

Phat Daddy @ 8:30pm Hoffbrau, 9110 Wadsworth Pkwy, Westminster

Thu 11/28

The Pilgrimage Run 2024 @ 9am / $20-$35 400 Powers St, Erie

AdventHealth Avista Louisville Turkey Trot @ 9am / $20 951 Spruce Street, Louisville, CO 80027, Louisville

by

Which Colorado county loves Cybertrucks the most?

stainless-steel boxes on wheels (and Elon Musk fanboys):

9. Weld County Cybertrucks: 21

BY HANNAH METZGER WESTWORD

Does seeing a Cybertruck barreling down the street ruin your day? If so, there are a few Colorado counties you should avoid.

Tesla’s electric pickup truck has developed a divisive reputation since it hit the scene one year ago, from safety and software issues leading to ve separate recalls issued for the vehicles to viral trunk ngercrushing incidents and aesthetic complaints about the bizarre futuristic design.

But that hasn’t stopped hundreds of Coloradans from shelling out upwards of $100,000 for the polarizing pickup. ere are 413 Cybertrucks currently registered across Colorado, according to the Division of Motor Vehicles.

Only nine of Colorado’s 64 counties have more than 10 Cybertrucks registered. Over two dozen others have 10 or fewer: Alamosa, Broom eld, Cha ee, Clear Creek, Delta, Eagle, Elbert, Fremont, Gar eld, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Huerfano, La Plata, Lake, Lincoln, Mesa, Park, Pitkin, Pueblo, Rio Grande, Routt, San Miguel, Summit and Teller.

Westword ranked the state’s counties by number of Cybertrucks based on DMV data from Oct. 31, including analyses of each county’s total vehicles registered from the latest annual report by the Colorado Department of Revenue. Here is where Coloradans are most likely to encounter the 7,000-pound

Total registered vehicles: 440,338

Percentage of Cybertrucks: 0.0048 percent

Roughly one in every 21,000 vehicles registered in Weld County is a Cybertruck. at’s the ninth most Cybertrucks by number and the eighth most by percentage.

8. Larimer County Cybertrucks: 24

Total registered vehicles: 399,674

Percentage of Cybertrucks: 0.006 percent

Roughly one in every 16,500 vehicles registered in Larimer County is a Cybertruck. at’s the eighth most Cybertrucks by number and the fth most by percentage.

7. Denver County Cybertrucks: 28

Total registered vehicles: 609,894

Percentage of Cybertrucks: 0.0046 percent

Roughly one in every 22,000 vehicles registered in Denver County is a Cybertruck. at’s the seventh most Cybertrucks by number and the ninth most by percentage.

6. Adams County Cybertrucks: 33

Total registered vehicles: 580,166

Percentage of Cybertrucks: 0.0057 percent

Roughly one in every 17,500 vehicles registered in Adams County is a Cybertruck. at’s the sixth most Cybertrucks by number and the sixth most by percentage.

5. Boulder County Cybertrucks: 34

Total registered vehicles: 305,534

Percentage of Cybertrucks: 0.0111 percent

Roughly one in every 9,000 vehicles registered in Boulder County is a Cybertruck. at’s the fth most Cybertrucks by number and the second most by percentage.

4. El Paso County Cybertrucks: 42

Total registered vehicles: 754,550

Percentage of Cybertrucks: 0.0056 percent

Roughly one in every 18,000 vehicles registered in El Paso County is a Cybertruck. at’s the fourth most Cybertrucks by number and the seventh most by percentage.

3. Douglas County Cybertrucks: 49

Total registered vehicles: 419,835

Percentage of Cybertrucks: 0.0117 percent

Roughly one in every 8,500 vehicles registered in Douglas County is a Cybertruck. at’s the third most Cybertrucks by number and the rst most by percentage.

2. Arapahoe County Cybertrucks: 55

Total registered vehicles: 586,430

Percentage of Cybertrucks: 0.0094 percent

Roughly one in every 10,500 vehicles registered in Arapahoe County is a Cybertruck. at’s the second most Cybertrucks by number and the fourth most by percentage.

1. Je erson County Cybertrucks: 58

Total registered vehicles: 591,809

Percentage of Cybertrucks: 0.0098 percent

Roughly one in every 10,000 vehicles registered in Je erson County are Cybertrucks. at’s the rst most Cybertrucks by number and the third most by percentage. Printed with permission from Westword, an alternative weekly that has celebrated Denver culture since 1977.

Colorado rolls out first phase of program for climate-friendly homes

BY SAM BRASCH CPR NEWS

It’s been more than two years since President Biden signed the In ation Reduction Act, a landmark climate law set to allocate $8.8 billion to help residents make their homes more energy-e cient and switch to all-electric appliances. So where, exactly, is all the federal funding?

e main reason for the delay is a lack of state-level programs to administer the wave of federal resources. Colorado took a big step toward overcoming the obstacle on Wednesday by launching the Home Electri cation and Appliance Rebate program, which will o er residents rebates on climate-friendly heat pumps, cooktops or dryers starting at some point in 2025

An initial phase of the program, how-

CLIMATE

Danny Katz, the executive director of the Colorado Public Interest Research Group, said he doesn’t have the technical expertise to check the state’s math, but he said the updated estimates appear to align with his views of the state’s climate progress.

“We need to recognize that a lot of these are projections. We need to keep

ever, will invest $7.6 million of the new federal money in the state’s Weatherization Assistance Program, an existing set of free services to help low-income residents cut their energy bills and better insulate their homes.

“It really made sense to take a two phase approach with the majority of funding going to the direct to consumer rebates, but to start with the weatherization clients where we have an existing program and could get some funding out there faster,” said Will Toor, the director of the Colorado Energy O ce.  e weatherization program is a product of the 1970s energy crisis. Its initial purpose was to lower energy bills by sealing drafts and adding insulation. In the decades since, Colorado has expanded the program’s scope to install all-electric stoves and heating systems to help low-

working toward those clear signs that we’re not continuing to warm the planet, like 100 percent renewable energy or having zero-emission vehicles on the road,” Katz said.  Editor’s note: Western Resource Advocates is anancial supporter of CPR News. Financial supporters have no editorial in uence. is story is from CPR News, a nonpro t public broadcaster serving Colorado. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org.

income households take advantage of renewable energy.

e initial investment represents a small portion of a $70 million grant for the program already awarded to the state by the U.S. Department of Energy. $46 million of the funding will go toward rebates for low- and moderate-income consumers set to launch sometime next year. e remainder will cover administrative expenses and contractor training, Toor said.

ose rebates will o er a range of discounts for low- to moderate-income consumers. e program, for example, will provide up to $8,000 to cut the cost of a cold-climate heat pump o ering an e cient source of all-electric heating and cooling. A resident could claim a discount of up to $840 for electric stoves or clothes dryers.

e exact amount of those discounts is still being nalized, and will depend on the buyer’s income and the total cost of the project, said Ari Rosenblum, a spokesperson for the Colorado Energy O ce. In addition to the direct-to-consumer rebates, Colorado has received another $70 million for projects to improve home energy e ciency. Toor said the additional funding will target multifamily housing and manufactured housing units.  Colorado isn’t behind other states in launching the federally funded programs, Toor said. Rebates are only available to customers in seven states, and Colorado is among 18 with applications for funding approved by the federal government is story is from CPR News, a nonprofit news source. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org.

Loveland Ski Area opens for season

CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Loveland Ski Area welcomed skiers and snowboarders to Dillon where 8 inches of fresh powder was waiting for the rst run of the 2024-25 season. Dozens of eager skiers showed up hours be-

Chet’s Dream chair lift ferried the rst skiers and boarders 1,000 vertical feet up where Loveland sta said an 18-inch base of snow covered the mountain.

In the days leading up to the rst chair at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 9,  Loveland Ambassa-

dor of Snow Parker the Snow Dog was hard at work ensuring the snow conditions met his high standards, according to Loveland Ski Area Marketing Manager Dustin Schaefer. e Chet’s Dream lift provides access to Cat Walk, Mambo, and Home Run runs, Schaefer said. is season Loveland will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Loveland Ski Area has always been considered a “locals’ ski area” catering to Clear Creek County residents, according to Schaefer.

Loveland Ski Area ambassador of snow Parker the Snow Dog checking the trails Nov. 9.

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REAL ESTATE & RENTAL

Colleen Lyons, Secretary/Treasurer. Any petitions or remonstrance letters pertaining to this application should be directed to the City Clerk’s Office. For additional information, please call (303) 655-2031. Dated this 13th day of November, 2024 /s/ Erin

has approved the Administrative Plat known as Prairie Corner Amendment No.1, generally located to the east of I-76 and north of Eagle Blvd. The approval is to create a separate tract, apart from Lot 3, to accommodate an existing drainage easement. The property is located in the northeast quarter of Section 22, Township 1 South, Range 66 West, of the Sixth Principal Meridian, City of Brighton, County of Adams, State of Colorado.

The approval of this application on November 12, 2024, creates a vested property right.

Further information may be obtained from the City of Brighton Planning Division by calling (303) 655-2072.

Legal Notice No. BSB3493

First Publication: November 21, 2024

Last Publication: November 21, 2024

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Metropolitan Districts

Public Notice NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON EXCLUSION OF PROPERTY FROM SOUTH BEEBE DRAW METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that there has been filed with the Board of Directors of South Beebe Draw Metropolitan District (the “District”), Adams and Weld County, a petition praying that certain property, which is described below, be excluded from the boundaries of the District. The owner of one hundred percent (100%) of the property identified in the petition has given its consent to the exclusion of the property from the District’s boundaries.

Pursuant to § 32-1-903 CRS, as amended, the District’s meetings may be conducted electronically, telephonically or by other virtual means. Accordingly, notice is hereby given to all interested persons that they shall appear at a public hearing at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83880296691 at 11:30 AM on November 26, 2024, and show cause in writing why the petition should not be granted. The Board of Directors of the District, in its own discretion, may continue the hearing to a subsequent meeting.

The name and address of the petitioner is City of Longmont, whose address is 350 Kimbark St., Longmont, Colorado 80501. The property for which exclusion is sought is generally described as a parcel of land in Weld County at 13799 County Road 5, located south of Highway 66 and approximately 0.4 miles west of WCR5.

A full and complete legal description of the property petitioned for exclusion is on file at the Law Office of Michael E. Davis, LLC, 1151 Eagle Drive, Suite 366, Loveland, Colorado, 80537, and is available for public inspection during regular business hours 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SOUTH BEEBE DRAW METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

By: LAW OFFICE OF MICHAEL E. DAVIS, LLC

Attorneys for the District

Legal Notice No. BSB3478

First Publication: November 21, 2024 Last Publication: November 21, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Metro

Districts

Budget Hearings

{Insert Image ‘order60979_273860. pdf’} Public Notice

NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED 2025 BUDGET AND NOTICE CONCERNING 2024 BUDGET AMENDMENT PRAIRIE CORNER METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a proposed budget for the ensuing year of 2025 has been submitted to the Board of Directors of the Prairie Corner Metropolitan District and that such proposed budget will be considered for adoption at a public hearing during a special meeting of the Board of Directors of the District to be held Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 11:00 AM via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86933369034?pwd=bkz835lI3hXjdILxIyF35Mr0fg9mSK.1 Meeting ID: 869 3336 9034, Passcode: 881229, Telephone: +17193594580,,86933369034# US

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an amendment to the 2024 budget of the District, if necessary, may also be considered at a public hearing held during the above-referenced special meeting of the Board of Directors.

Copies of the proposed 2025 budget and, if necessary, the proposed amendment of the 2024 budgets are on file in the office of the District located at Community Resource Services of Colorado, LLC, 7995 East Prentice Avenue, Suite 103E, Greenwood Village, Colorado and are available for public inspection.

Any interested elector of the District may file or register any objections to the proposed 2025 budget and the proposed amendment of the 2024 budget at any time prior to the final adoption of said budget and proposed budget amendment by the governing body of the District.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE PRAIRIE CORNER METROPOLITAN

DISTRICT /s/ COMMUNITY RESOURCE SERVICES OF COLORADO

Legal Notice No. BSB3411

First Publication: November 21, 2024

Last Publication: November 21, 2024

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Public Notice

ERIE HIGHLANDS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 1 NOTICE CONCERNING 2024 BUDGET AMENDMENT AND PROPOSED 2025 BUDGET

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to all interested parties that the that the necessity may arise to amend the Erie Highlands Metropolitan District No. 1 2024 Budget, if necessary, and that the proposed 2025 Budget has been submitted to the Board of Directors of the Erie Highlands Metropolitan District No. 1; and that a copy of the 2025 Budget has been filed at the District’s offices, 141 Union Boulevard, Suite 150, Lakewood, Colorado, where the same is open for public inspection; and that the adoption of Resolutions Amending the 2024 Budget and Adopting the 2025 Budget will be considered at a public meeting of the Boards of Directors of the Districts on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. This District Board meetings will be held via Zoom: Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86267550643?pwd=V3RnRGRtWkRyUlZZc1VMWTJFZjFHdz09

Meeting ID: 862 6755 0643 Passcode: 987572

Call In Number: 1-719-359-4580

Any elector within the District may, at any time prior to the final adoption of the Resolutions to Amend the 2024 Budget and adopt the 2025 Budget, inspect and file or register any objections thereto.

ERIE HIGHLANDS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 1

By /s/ Peggy Ripko District Manager

Legal Notice No. BSB3489

First Publication: November 21, 2024

Last Publication: November 21, 2024

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Public Notice

NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED 2025 BUDGET AND HEARING CLEAR CREEK TRANSIT METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a proposed budget has been submitted to the CLEAR CREEK TRANSIT METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2 (the “District”) for the ensuing year of 2025. A copy of such proposed budget has been filed in the office of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, 8390 East Crescent Parkway, Suite 300, Greenwood Village, Colorado, where the same is open for public inspection. Such proposed budget will be considered at a hearing at the meeting of the District to be held at 11:00 A.M., on Friday, December 6, 2024.

The location and additional information regarding the meeting will be available on the meeting notice posted on the District’s website at https://clearcreekmetro.specialdistrict.org/ at least 24-hours in advance of the meeting.

Any interested elector within the District may inspect the proposed budget and file or register any objections at any time prior to the final adoption of the 2025 budget.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE DISTRICT:

By: /s/ ICENOGLE | SEAVER | POGUE A Professional Corporation

Legal Notice No. BSB3500

First Publication: November 21, 2024

Last Publication: November 21, 2024

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Public Notice

ERIE HIGHLANDS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2 NOTICE CONCERNING 2024 BUDGET AMENDMENT AND PROPOSED

NOTICE

No. 2 2024 Budget 2024 Budget, if necessary, and that the proposed 2025 Budget has been submitted to the Board of Directors of the Erie Highlands Metropolitan District No. 2; and that a copy of the 2025 Budget has been filed at the District’s offices, 141 Union Boulevard, Suite 150, Lakewood, Colorado, where the same is open for public inspection; and that the adoption of Resolutions Amending the 2024 Budget and Adopting the 2025 Budget will be considered at a public meeting of the Boards of Directors of the Districts on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. This District Board meetings will be held via Zoom: Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86267550643?pwd=V3RnRGRtWkRyUlZZc1VMWTJFZjFHdz09 Meeting ID: 862 6755 0643 Passcode: 987572 Call In Number: 1-719-359-4580

Any elector within the District may, at any time prior to the final adoption of the Resolutions to Amend the 2024 Budget and adopt the 2025 Budget, inspect and file or register any objections thereto.

ERIE HIGHLANDS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2

By /s/ Peggy Ripko

District Manager

Legal Notice No. BSB3488

First Publication: November 21, 2024

Last Publication: November 21, 2024

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice

NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED 2025 BUDGET AND HEARING CLEAR CREEK TRANSIT METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 1

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a proposed budget has been submitted to the CLEAR CREEK TRANSIT METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 1 (the “District”) for the ensuing year of 2025. A copy of such proposed budget has been filed in the office of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, 8390 East Crescent Parkway, Suite 300, Greenwood Village, Colorado, where the same is open for public inspection. Such proposed budget will be considered at a hearing at the meeting of the District to be held at 11:00 A.M., on Friday, December 6, 2024.

The location and additional information regarding the meeting will be available on the meeting notice posted on the District’s website at https://clearcreekmetro.specialdistrict.org/ at least 24-hours in advance of the meeting.

Any interested elector within the District may inspect the proposed budget and file or register any objections at any time prior to the final adoption of the 2025 budget.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE DISTRICT:

By: /s/ ICENOGLE | SEAVER | POGUE

A Professional Corporation

Legal Notice No. BSB3499

First Publication: November 21, 2024

Last Publication: November 21, 2024

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Summons and Sheriff Sale

Public Notice

DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO CIVIL ACTION NO. 2024CV030379, Division/Courtroom C

COMBINED NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE OF REAL PROPERTY (Publication Notice)

NORFOLK PLACE OWNERS ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff, v. SOPHIA H YESIKI; WELLS FARGO BANK, NA; and ADAMS COUNTY PUBLIC TRUSTEE, Defendant(s).

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS,

Please take notice:

You and each of you are hereby notified that a Sheriff’s Sale of the referenced property is to be conducted by the Civil Division of the Sheriff’s Department of Adams County, Colorado at 9:00 O’clock A.M., on the 16th day of January 2025, at 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, CO 80601, phone number 303-6553272. At which sale, the above described real property and improvements thereon will be sold to the highest bidder. Plaintiff makes no warranty relating to title, possession, or quiet enjoyment in and to said real property in connection with this sale.

BIDDERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE CASH OR CERTIFIED FUNDS SUFFICIENT TO COVER THEIR HIGHEST BID AT THE TIME OF SALE.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LIEN BEING

FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN ON THE SUBJECT PROPERTY. Judgment is in the amount of $18,959.28.

First Publication: November 21, 2024

Last Publication: December 19, 2024 Published In: Brighton Standard Blade

This is to advise you that a Sheriff’s sale proceeding has been commenced through the office of the undersigned Sheriff pursuant to Court Order dated July 27, 2024 and C.R.S. 38-38-101 et seq. by Norfolk Place Owners Association the holder and current owner of a lien recorded on November 21, 2023 at Reception No. 2023000065018 in the records of the Clerk and Recorder of the County of Adams, State of Colorado. The foreclosure is based on a default under the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions of Norfolk Place Owners Association recorded on 04/10/1984 at Reception Number: 496753 in the records of the Clerk and Recorder of the County of Adams, State of Colorado. The Declaration establishes a lien for the benefit of Norfolk Place Owners Association against real property legally described as follows:

Lot 58, Block 1, Norfolk Place Subdivision Filing No. 1, County of Adams, State of Colorado.;

And also known as: 16353 E. 17th Pl., #C, Aurora, CO 80011

IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED.

The attorney representing the legal owner of the above described lien is: Kate M. Leason, Reg No. 41025, Altitude Community Law P.C., 555 Zang Street, Suite 100, Lakewood, Colorado 80228-1011, 303.432.9999

Legal Notice No.

Public Notice Estray #1622: One Brown Mare, No Brand. Livestock must be claimed by legal owner within 10 days or will be sold by Colorado Brand Board. For information call 720-2379698 or 303-869-9160.

Legal Notice No. BSB 3127

First Publication: November 21, 2024 Last Publication: November 21, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Storage Liens/Vehicle Titles

Public Notice Abandoned Vehicle Sale Tri-County

Orr McWilliams’s father and mother] Crawford McWilliam, a/k/a Crawford McWilliam, Jr., Deceased; Maggie B. McWilliams, a/k/a Maggie B. McWilliam, a/k/a Margaret B. McWilliam, Deceased; [Record title owner]

Leslie Orr McWilliam, Deceased; [Leslie Orr McWilliam’s paternal aunts and uncles]

Eliza Jane McWilliam, a/k/a Lizzie McWilliam, Deceased; Samuel McWilliam, Deceased; William Andrew McWilliam, Deceased; Mary Jane Crawford, Deceased; Thomas McWilliam, Deceased; John McWilliam, Deceased; Margaret Elizabeth Drake, Deceased; [Leslie Orr McWilliam’s maternal aunts and uncles]

Foster A. Orr, Deceased; Mary Elizabeth Parker, Deceased; Martha A. Orr, Deceased; Edwin Elsworth Orr, Deceased; [Leslie Orr McWilliam’s cousins, their spouses, and their heirs or devisees]

Minnie A. McWilliam, Deceased; Ruth Gerwig, Deceased; Henry E. Gerwig, Jr., Deceased; John Scott McWilliam, Deceased; Margaret Elizabeth Graham, Deceased; Virginia Graham Moeller, Deceased; and Geena Sue Northcutt, Deceased; Case Number: 2024PR030796 Division: T1

Attorney: Aaron D. Bieber – CO Bar 41983 The Law Offices of Aaron D. Bieber, PLLC 2245 Texas Dr

(713) 899-3893 aaron@aaronbieberlaw.com

OF

against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before March 10, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.

Christopher James Eccher

Personal Representative 790 South 5th Court Brighton. CO 80601

Legal Notice No. BSB3452

First Publication: November 7, 2024 Last Publication: November 21, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Bonnie L. Bills. AKA Bonnie L. Bills-Law, Deceased Case Number: 2024 PR 405

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before March 21, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.

Tracy Mays-Kelly

Personal Representative

6312 N. Dunkirk Ct, Aurora Co 80019

Legal Notice No. BSB3486

First Publication: November 21, 2024 Last Publication: December 5, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of RAYMOND CHARLES CLARK, a/k/a RAYMOND C. CLARK, a/k/a RAYMOND CLARK, a/k/a RAY CLARK, Deceased Case Number: 2024 PR 30762

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before March 7, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.

Corina Barnes Personal Representative 12933 Lafayette St., Unit H Thornton, Colorado 80241

Legal Notice No. BSB3453

First Publication: November 7, 2024

Last Publication: November 21, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of DELORES RUTH BAKER a/k/a Delores R. Baker a/k/a Delores Baker, Deceased Case Number: 2024 PR 030689

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before March 21, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.

Patricia Rankin, Esq.

Atty. Reg. #27546 77 Erie Village Square Erie, CO 80516

Legal Notice No. BSB3482

First Publication: November 21, 2024

Last Publication: December 5, 2024

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Name Changes

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on November 4, 2024, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Adams County Court.

The petition requests that the name of Vanessa Cruz Alvarez be changed to Nessa Torres Case No.: 24 C 2010

By: Deputy Clerk

Legal Notice No. NTS3495

First Publication: November 21, 2024

Last Publication: December 5, 2024

Publisher: Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel

Children Services

(Adoption/Guardian/Other)

Public Notice

STATE OF COLORADO IN THE DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF ADAMS Division D No. 24JV30090

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO IN THE INTEREST OF:

Annjelica Fisher, Jerry Fisher, Alex Fisher, Alexis Fisher A Children, and Concerning

Sheena Fernandez, Juan Fernandez, James Gallegos

Respondents: S U M M O N S

To the parents, guardian, or other respondents named above, GREETINGS: James Gallegos

You are hereby notified that a verified petition has been filed in the above named Court in which it is represented to the Court that said child are alleged to be dependent and neglected; for the reasons set forth more fully in said petition, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference for greater certainty.

You are further notified that the parent-child legal relationship may be terminated by this action, if prayed for in the petition.

You are further notified that the Court has set said petition for hearing on the 10th day of January, 2025 at the hour of 1:30 p.m. You are hereby notified to be and appear, at said time, before this Court located at the Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, CO 80601.

Witness my hand and seal of said Court this 12th day of November, 2024.

Alana Percy Clerk of the District Court

Legal Notice No. BSB3491

First Publication: November 21, 2024

Last Publication: November 21, 2024

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice

STATE OF COLORADO IN THE DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF ADAMS Division D2 No. 24JV30171

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO IN THE INTEREST OF:

Deztiny Ford, Marissa Federico, Mariah Federico, Natalie Federico Children, and Concerning

Jessica Ford, Joshua Vigil, Ricardo Federico Jr. Respondents:

S U M M O N S

To the parents, guardian, or other respondents named above, GREETINGS: Ricardo Federico Jr.

You are hereby notified that a verified petition has been filed in the above named Court in which it is represented to the Court that said child are alleged to be dependent and neglected; for the reasons set forth more fully in said petition, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference for greater certainty.

You are further notified that the parent-child legal relationship may be terminated by this action, if prayed for in the petition.

You are further notified that the Court has set said petition for hearing on the 17th day of December, 2024 at the hour of 1:30 pm. You are hereby notified to be and appear, at said time, before this Court located at the Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, CO 80601.

Witness my hand and seal of said Court this 12th day of November, 2024.

Alana Percy Clerk of the District Court

Legal Notice No. BSB3490

First Publication: November 21, 2024

Last Publication: November 21, 2024

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Public Notice

DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO Court Address: 1100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, CO 80601

Children: Azlyn Lapenna, Xylin Lapenna

Respondents: Cierra Lapenna, Jerin Fritchell, Michael Thief (aka Michael Tefft, Michael Thief, Michael Teft), John Doe

Special Respondent: Terra Jack Case Number: 22JV30103

Div: D

ORDER OF ADVISEMENT

NOTICE TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENTS,: Michael Thief (aka Michael Tefft, Michael Thief, Michael Teft), John Doe

YOU ARE HEREBY ADVISED that the Petitioner, has filed a Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship which now exists between you and the above-named child(ren);

YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that the Motion has been set for hearing in Division D of the District Court in and for the County of Adams, Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, Colorado, on the 9th day of December, 2024, at 9:30 am and on the 10th day of December, 2024, at 9:30 am, at which time the Petitioner must prove by clear and convincing evidence that: 1) That the child(ren) was adjudicated dependent or neglected; 2) That an appropriate treatment plan has not reasonably been complied with by the parent or has not been successful; 3) That the parents are unfit; 4) That the conduct or condition of the parent or parents is unlikely to change within a reasonable time; no less drastic alternative to termination exists, and 6) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.

OR 1) That the child(ren) has been abandoned by parent or parents in that the parent or parents have surrendered physical custody for a period of six months and during this period have not manifested to the child(ren), the court or to the person having physical custody a firm intention to assume or obtain physical custody or to make permanent legal arrangements for the care of the child(ren); and 2) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.

OR 1) That the child(ren) has been abandoned by parent or parents in that the identity of the parent of the child is unknown and has been unknown for three months or more and that reasonable efforts to identify and locate the parent in accordance with section 19-3603 have failed; and 2) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.

If a grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, or sister of the child is requesting guardianship or legal custody of the child such request must be filed within twenty days of the filing of this motion.

YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that you have the right to have legal counsel represent you in all matters connected with the Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship.

If you cannot afford to pay the fees of legal counsel, you are advised that the Court will appoint legal counsel to represent you at no cost to you upon your request and upon your showing of an inability to pay.

If you have any questions concerning the foregoing advisement, you should immediately contact either your legal counsel or the Court.

Done and signed on: November 13, 2024

BY THE COURT:

District Court Judge/Magistrate

Legal Notice No. BSB3496

First Publication: November 21, 2024

Last Publication: November 21, 2024

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice

DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO

Court Address: 1100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, CO 80601

Child: Legacy Berlin Mahan-Baroz

Respondents: Rebecca Arellano, Brandon Baroz

Special Respondents: Mary Livingstone, Steve Livingstone

Case Number: 22JV30064

Div: S

ORDER OF ADVISEMENT

NOTICE TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENTS, Rebecca Arellano and Brandon Baroz

YOU ARE HEREBY

ADVISED that the Petitioner, has filed a Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship which now exists between you and the above-named child(ren);

YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that the Motion has been set for hearing in Division S of the District Court in and for the County of Adams, Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, Colorado, on the 2nd day of December, 2024, at 1:30 p.m., at which time the Petitioner must prove by clear and convincing evidence that: 1) That the child(ren) was adjudicated dependent or neglected; 2) That an appropriate treatment plan has not reasonably been complied with by the parent or has not been successful; 3) That the parents are unfit; 4) That the conduct or condition of the parent or parents is unlikely to change within a reasonable time; no less drastic alternative to termination exists, and 6) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed. OR 1) That the child(ren) has been abandoned by parent or parents in that the parent or parents have surrendered physical custody for a period of six months and during this period have not manifested to the child(ren), the court or to the person having physical custody a firm intention to assume or obtain physical custody or to make permanent legal arrangements for the care of the child(ren); and 2) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.

OR 1) That the child(ren) has been abandoned by parent or parents in that the identity of the parent of the child is unknown and has been unknown for three months or more and that reasonable efforts to identify and locate the parent in accordance with section 19-3603 have failed; and 2) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.

If a grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, or sister of the child is requesting guardianship or legal custody of the child such request must be filed within twenty days of the filing of this motion.

YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that you have the right to have legal counsel represent you in all matters connected with the Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship.

If you cannot afford to pay the fees of legal counsel, you are advised that the Court will appoint legal counsel to represent you at no cost to you upon your request and upon your showing of an inability to pay.

If you have any questions concerning the foregoing advisement, you should immediately contact either your legal counsel or the Court.

Done and signed on: September 27, 2024 BY THE COURT: District Court Judge/Magistrate

Legal Notice No. BSB3477

First Publication: November 21, 2024

Last Publication: November 21, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade ###

Fort Lupton Press

Legals

City and County

Public Notice NOTICE OF PROPOSED DECISION

The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety proposes to approve Permit Revision Application No. 3, submitted by Coors Energy Company for a coal mining permit at the Keenesburg Strip Mine (Permit No. C-1981-028). This permit revision alters the mining plan to state that an option for the approved post-mining land use for the entire permit area is Industrial/Commercial. This will allow for renewable energy development at the site.

The Keenesburg Strip Mine is a/an surface operation located in Weld County, approximately 7 miles North of Keenesburg, Colorado. Coal interest is state and private, and the surface to be affected is private land. The permit area encompasses approximately 225.55 acres.

This proposed decision is based on a finding of whether the proposed operation will comply with all requirements of the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act, Section 34 33 101, et seq., C.R.S., and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

Copies of the proposed decision, including any stipulations, are on file for public inspection at the Keenesburg Town Hall, 140 S Main, Keenesburg, CO 80643. The revision application and proposed decision documents, as well as all other permit documents, can be viewed at https://dnrweblink.state.co.us/drms/search. aspx by searching C1981028 in the “Permit No” field. A user guide is available to help first time users of the imaged document system and can be viewed at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1l8OUdf_Mpjo3kxIHkP5hMH-w7MeBtxX7/view.Persons with an interest that may be adversely affected by the proposed decision may request a formal hearing before the Mined Land Reclamation Board on the proposed decision. Such request must be made within thirty (30) days of the date following initial publication of this notice, must be in writing, and must state with reasonable specificity the reasons for the request and the objections to the proposed decision.

A publication of

Call first: 143 S. 2nd Pl., Brighton, CO 80601

Mailing Address:

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

Phone: 303-566-4100

Web: FtLuptonPress.com

To subscribe call 303-566-4100 or Scan this QR Code

LINDA SHAPLEY Director of Editorial & Audience lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

SCOTT TAYLOR Metro North Editor staylor@coloradocommunitymedia.com

BELEN WARD Community Editor bward@coloradocommunitymedia.com

JOHN RENFROW Sports Editor jrenfrow@coloradocommunitymedia.com

TERESA ALEXIS Marketing Consultant Classified Sales talexis@coloradocommunitymedia.com

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

BUSINESS INQUIRIES

For advertiser or vendor questions, please email our business department at accounting@ coloradocommunitymedia.com

Columnists & Guest Commentaries Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Press. We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

Email letters to staylor@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Deadline Tues. for the following week’s paper.

Fort Lupton Press (USPS 205880)

A legal newspaper of general circulation in Ft. Lupton, Colorado, Fort Lupton Press is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 143 S. 2nd Pl., Brighton CO 80601. .

PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID AT Ft. Lupton and additional mailing o ces.

POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Fort Lupton Press, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITY.COM

Weld now on Instagram

e Weld County Government added Instagram to its communication platform to inform residents about county operations, sta highlights, and announcements, according to news releases on November 6.

“By launching our Instagram account, we’re excited to create a space where we can engage with

our community in a more visual and engaging way,” said Commissioner Chairman Kevin Ross. “ is platform will help us reach di erent demographics within Weld County and keep them informed about county government.”

e Weld County Board of Commissioners approved adding Instagram to its already existing platforms that the county uses Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

According to o cials, Facebook is the Weld County government’s most viewed social media channel for news releases, events announcements, and highlights. Adding to Instagram will widen its audience reach visually.

Residents can nd Weld County Government on Instagram at @ weldcountyco. For additional ways to stay connected, visit Weld County Government’s Public Information O ce.

BRIEFS

Fort Lupton replacing water meters e City of Fort Lupton has hired Northern Colorado Contractors to replace the water meters in town. Over time, meters age and require replacement to ensure accurate measurement and e ciency of water use. e majority of the meters in the City are reaching their useful life prompting this program. e replacement of the meters is entirely free of charge to residents.

According to the city, the current meters continue to work properly, however, some meters do not transmit the data from the meter to the system. e meter must then be read manually. Accounts with meters that can’t be manually read, will be estimated. If the actual amount consumed is lower than the estimated amount previously billed, then the bill will be adjusted to reect the higher usage. When the new meter is connected, it will re ect the correct usage moving forward.

need with a backpack of healthy food. It’s an all-volunteer program and is in need of volunteers. If interested in volunteering or donating, call 303-718-4440.

40th annual Turkey Trot Run/Walk set for Nov. 23

e City of Brighton’s Parks and Recreation Department will host the 40th Annual Turkey Trot Run/ Walk Race at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 23, at the Brighton Recreation Center pavilions located at 555 N. 11th Avenue.

e 5K run/walk is a Bolder Boulder qualifying race and will award rst, second and third place winners in each age division.

Contractors will notify residents when they will replace meters in their vicinity. For houses with meters that are outside and accessible, the contractors will let residents know when they plan to replace the meter. For houses that have inaccessible meters that are inside, in a basement or a crawl space, residents should contact public works to schedule an appointment.

More information can be found here- https://www.fortluptonco. gov/1240/Water-Meter-Replacement-Program

Co ee with a cop

Fort Lupton Police set aside one morning each month to share a few cups of co ee with residents. Co ee with a Cop is an chance for police to meet with community members and discuss many topics including parking regulations on the 1st Wednesday of each month at Hard Bean Co ee 107 Dales Place. e next scheduled event runs form 8-9:30 a.m. Dec. 4 at Dales Co ee.

CORRECTIONS

Colorado Trust for Local News asks readers to make us aware of mistakes we may have made.

Email linda@cotln.org if you notice a possible error you would like us to take a look at.

breakfast runs from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Nov. 30. e library is located at 370 S. Rollie Ave.

e event is combined with the library’s weekly reading program, so families can ll up with a good meal while listening to popular cult classic children’s stories that never get old. Breakfast starts at 9:30 and read-aloud starts at 10 a.m. Every last Saturday of the month.

All ages are welcome.

Help for vets

Early bird entry fees are $35 for adults and $25 for youth and seniors. Race day entry fees are $40 for adults and $30 for youth and seniors. Entry fees will include a t-shirt, breakfast, awards, prizes and drawings. Please register as soon as possible to guarantee a shirt. To register, call 303-6552200 or visit brightonco.gov/turkeytrot/.

Early packet and bib pick-up will be available from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 20 and Nov. 21 at the Brighton Recreation Center. ose who have not registered by Nov. 17 will have to wait to pick up their bib on the day of the race.

For more information regarding this event, please contact Jacquelyn Ramsey, Race Coordinator, at 303-655-2221.

ONGOING

Co ee with a Cop is an easy way to get to know the men and women who serve our community and let them know about the issues that matter most to you. Remember that you can always reach our police department through our non-emergency number 720652-4222.

Blessings in a Bag

Fort Lupton’s Backpack Program helps schoolchildren in

Quali ed Listeners, a veteran and family resource hub serving northern Colorado and southern Wyoming, has several power chairs, scooters, and electric wheelchairs available.

e VA o ers urgent care services to eligible veterans at VA medical facilities or several in-network urgent care clinics that are closer to home.

To nd the closest facility to you, visit www.va.gov/ nd-locations or call 720-600-0860.

421 Denver Ave., on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Call 303-857-1096.

Silver Sneakers

Silver Sneaker Yoga is available three times per week, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 to 9:45 a.m. and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave.

Free short-term radon test kits

Weld County residents can receive a free radon test kit (one per household, while supplies last). Test kits can be requested online at www.drhomeair.com/weld, according to a statement. Call the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment at (970) 400-2226 or visit: www.weldgov.com/go/radon.

Quali ed Listeners also needs volunteers to drive veterans to and from appointments, run errands for veterans who cannot get out, handyman services, help administer veteran and family resource guide inventory in local libraries, and veterans to be trained to become quali ed listeners.

City committees need members Fort Lupton is looking for several community-minded individuals to ll openings on several boards that advise the City Council and help run city programs. e Cemetery Committee, Parks and Recreation Committee, Golf Committee, the Library Board, Public Safety Committee and the Senior Advisory Committee have openings. e openings consist of a two-year term running through the end of 2024. If you or anyone you know is interested in serving in a committee, please complete a committee application at https://www.fortluptonco.gov/966/I-Want-To-Apply-for-a-Committee on the city’s website.

Saturday pancakes

e Fort Lupton Public Library hosts a simple pancake breakfast on the last Saturday of each month in the library’s community rooms. is month’s pancake

Volunteers needed

Quali ed Listeners, a veteran and family resource hub serving northern Colorado and southern Wyoming, needs volunteers to drive veterans to and from appointments, run errands for veterans who cannot get out, provide handyman services, help administer veteran and family resource guide inventory in local libraries and veterans to be trained to become quali ed listeners.

Visit quali edlisteners.org/volunteerapp and ll out the form or call 720-600-0860.

Donation time

e Fort Lupton Food & Clothing Bank is asking for donations of canned fruits and nuts, varieties of dry pasta and pasta dinners, peanut butter and canned meat such as tuna (including the pouches).

Other potential donations could include chicken, Vienna sausages, spam and salmon. e bank also needs personal items, such as toiletries and baby needs. Drop o donations at the food and clothing bank’s back door,

Registration opens for Image Summit Youth Leadership Conference Brighton Youth Services will host the Image Summit Youth Leadership Conference on Nov. 5 & 6 at Riverdale Regional Park, 755 Henderson Road. e Summit is open to Colorado youth in grades 5 - 12.  is two-day summit will feature keynote speakers, engaging workshops ranging from art to diversity, an opportunity to interact with elected o cials from across the state, an American Ninja Warrior obstacle course, a food truck alley (all food included with registration fee), networking and more.   e goal of the youth conference is to empower youth, build con dence, teach leadership, and inspire young leaders to use their voices to positively impact their communities.   e cost to attend is $25. Registration is now available at brightonimagesummit.org and early registration is recommended.

Free short-term radon test kits

Weld County residents can receive a free radon test kit (one per household, while supplies last). Test kits can be requested online at www.drhomeair.com/weld, according to a statement. Call the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment at (970) 400-2226 or visit: www.weldgov.com/go/radon.

Water aerobics

e city’s water aerobics class meets from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Tuesdays and ursdays at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave. Call 303-857-4200.

To inform the community, Instagram was added to Weld County’s social media platform. PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

BY BELEN WARD

Weld County celebrates National Adoption Month

Weld County Commissioner Scott James said adoption is personally important to him as he helped celebrate National Adoption Month Nov. 7.

“As an adoptive father myself, I know that adoption is how you ll the kid-sized hole in your heart,” said Commissioner Scott James. “I am deeply passionate about the family being the fundamental building block of our society, where parents and children pursue happiness and the American Dream together. I cannot thank our adoptive parents enough and the sta who helped facilitate the process and make these families whole. I truly appreciate it.”

e Weld County Board of Commissioners declared November the month for raising awareness about adoption and for supporting children and youth in Weld County who are waiting for adoption, as well as honoring adoptive parents.

BUDGET

“We’re not just interested in fully funding our schools one year, as an example,” Polis said. “We want to make sure we’re preparing the state budget for delivery on these promises over many years, including implementing the new school nance act to better fund students in need.”

State Minority Leader Rep. Rose Pugliese, a Colorado Springs Republican, criticized the slow rollout of the new school

e Weld County Department of Human Services will help nalize 12 adoptions Nov. 22 at the Weld County Courthouse. According to o cials, National Adoption Day and Adoption Month have been celebrated for 24 years, helping children and youth nd homes.

According to the Weld County Department of Health, post-adoption support, known as Family Forever and Foster Care services, provides families with a safe environment to receive support with many resources to help their adoptive families. It also o ers education about the foster care and adoption processes.

Families that have adopted children live in Weld County, and those that have adopted through the Weld County Child Welfare system live elsewhere. Both groups have access to e Family Forever program is available to families with adopted children who live in Weld County now as well as those who adopted through Weld County Child Welfare but no longer live in the county.

nance formula and said the budget doesn’t have enough funding dedicated to public safety.

“While I appreciate the Governor’s commitment to avoiding the budget stabilization factor, there is still much more work to be done to address Colorado’s education needs fully,” Pugliese said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the school nance reforms we have pushed for will not take e ect soon enough. Colorado families can’t wait seven years for an updated formula to roll out — our students deserve real support now.”

Colorado’s Medicaid caseload has been

For more information and resources about permanency and adoption in Weld County, visit https://www.weld.gov/ Government/Departments/HumanServices/Foster-Care/Permanency-andAdoption-Resources.

“higher than expected,” Polis said, with Medicaid costs accounting for 36% of the state’s operating budget and 32% of general fund spending for the 2024-2025 scal year. With more increases expected, Polis proposes maintaining current Medicaid reimbursement rates.

“Over the last few years, we’ve worked hard to build a safe, a ordable, sustainable Colorado, and the focus of this budget is really maintaining the progress we’ve had and making sure that we can tighten our belts and deliver scal responsibility, more government e ciency and meet those commitments around continuing

Anyone interested in becoming a foster parent is welcome to attend monthly orientations to learn more about foster care in Weld County. Visit https://www.weld.gov/ Government/Departments/Human Services/Foster-Care for more information.

to fully fund our schools and investments in public safety,” Polis said.  e governor can submit a supplemental budget amendment package on Jan. 2, which would include any changes that result from ballot measures voters may pass in the election this week.

State lawmakers are the ones who are ultimately responsible for writing and passing the state budget during next year’s session.  is story is from Colorado Newsline. Used by permission. For more, and to support the news organization, visit coloradonewsline.com.

The Weld County Commission poses with the sta from the Weld County Human Services in honor of National Adoption Month. COURTESY OF WELD COUNTY