Highlands Ranch Herald June 6, 2024

GOP hopefuls jockey for position

County calls o plan for probation o ce Commissioners halt Lone Tree proposal

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Amid loud opposition from Lone Tree residents, Douglas County commissioners halted a plan to place near a neighborhood an o ce that monitors people after they are convicted of crimes.

At a community meeting, a man in the crowd asked county leaders whether it’s more important to give people who committed crimes easy access to a nearby light rail station or to keep them “away from our schools and children.”

Primary season is here and 4th District candidates make

their cases

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

With little ideologically separating the large group of Republicans who

want to ll the seat in Congress recently vacated by Ken Buck, the candidates have spent months on the campaign trail touting their resumes and, sometimes, their personalities in hopes of wooing voters.

But there are some di erences. For instance, every one of the GOP hopefuls for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District said they will vote for Donald Trump for president in November. Yet not all of them believe

the 2020 election was stolen.

It’s one of the few deviations between the six candidates who largely agree on everything from immigration to the economy.

e most recognizable name on the ballot is U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, who currently represents the 3rd Congressional District on the Western Slope. Also vying for the job

Some people on probation and other court-related services out of Douglas County have been receiving service in Arapahoe County because of a lack of public transportation to the justice center in Castle Rock, according to county o cials.

“We have a transportation problem where it is very di cult for a lot of our clients to get from where they live, north Douglas County, (to) Castle Rock,” Judge Ryan Stuart told the crowd at the May 30 meeting. Some may have a driving under the in uence, or DUI, charge and rely on public transit.

In front of a frustrated crowd of more than 200, Commissioner Abe Laydon convinced Commissioner George Teal, who chairs the board, to back o the Lone Tree-area spot. Teal told county sta to “stop work on this location,” eliciting a standing ovation.

e county has three other unspeci ed locations in mind, Teal said: one west of Lone Tree, one east of Lone Tree, and an option that

The six Republican candidates running for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District are, from top left, U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, Deborah Flora, state Rep. Richard Holtorf, state Rep. Mike Lynch, former state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg and Peter Yu. COURTESY PHOTO

Castle Pines rejects McDonald’s plan

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Castle Pines city leaders voted down a plan to build a McDonald’s on Castle Pines Parkway near Interstate 25, a rejection that elicited applause from a crowd that lingered after midnight into the early part of May 29.

Residents had raised concerns about the impacts the increased trafc surrounding the fast food restaurant would have locally.

“Never, never in my wildest dreams did I expect a 24-hour McDonald’s in my backyard,” one area resident told the city council, adding: “ ey run the red light like crazy down here. I can only imagine children on their bicycles.”

Expressing concerns about vehicle accidents and crime, City Council-

member Chris Eubanks argued the plan would not further the “public health, safety and welfare of the community,” a sticking point for the council.

He referenced the planned McDonald’s as running “24/7,” a detail that Castle Pines residents took issue with.

Had the plan gone through, the McDonald’s fast-food restaurant would have been located southwest of Castle Pines Parkway and Lagae Road in what’s currently a vacant lot.

ough the spot sits near a half mile of commercial areas along Castle Pines Parkway west of I-25 — with restaurants, convenience stores and a King Soopers — the immediate area around the planned McDonald’s site is mostly vacant land.

To the north, across Castle Pines Parkway, sits property that is zoned

for business but is undeveloped. To the east of what would have been the McDonald’s, land contains a drainage pond and overhead electric lines. To the south, property is also zoned “commercial” but is also undeveloped. To the west, there’s land that was recently approved for an indoor self-storage business.

e planned McDonald’s location was roughly 300 feet away from the nearest homes.

e city council meeting began May 28 and was propelled past midnight with a long list of residents opposed to the plan. e crowd often talked or let out loud groans over city o cials or people with the property developer’s team.

A handful of protesters outside the meeting chanted and held signs in opposition to the planned McDonald’s. Dozens packed the seating area inside.

Castle Pines residents also worried about children’s safety in the face of added tra c near schools if the McDonald’s were to be built.

“ e problem really resonated with me, and that is we’re surrounded 360 by schools,” Councilmember Deborah Mulvey said.

Along with concerns over crime and tra c, Castle Pines residents also feared that adding a McDonald’s could decrease their property values. Here’s a dive into those topics.

Talking crime

e Douglas County News-Press

A small group carries signs on May 28 in protest of a plan to build a McDonald’s in Castle Pines. They chanted “no clown in our town,” an apparent reference to the clown character who has served as McDonald’s mascot. They protested outside a Castle Pines City Council meeting at the Douglas County Libraries location in Castle Pines. At right is Nicole Gregory, who said she lives in Castle Pines near where the McDonald’s would have been built. She voiced concerns about tra c and that the drive-thru restaurant would bring noise and a smell.

PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD

asked the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce whether it expected that adding a 24/7 McDonald’s drive-thru would increase crime — and whether it would add crime speci cally in nearby neighborhoods rather than on the McDonald’s property itself. e sheri ’s o ce has “no ocial statement or concerns to share regarding this matter,” said Deputy Cocha Heyden, a spokesperson for the o ce.

“We have no way to predict or anticipate any speci c increase in crime due to the addition of a 24/7 McDonald’s drive-thru,” Heyden said.

A Castle Pines o cial at the meeting said the city talked with the sheri ’s o ce about crime and fast food.

“It appears that the number of calls for service is related more to the number of locations and/or higher-populated areas where the restaurant is located,” said Donna Ferguson, the city’s community development director.

“ ey did share that looking at the McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s locations in their system, from January to May 10 of 2024, that Burger King located in Highlands Ranch had the highest number of associated calls for service, and they did say that the Wendy’s in Castle Pines during the same time period only had three calls, and two of those calls were associated with tra c (events),” Ferguson said.

Here Are Some Simple Steps to Take So You Have No Unpleasant Surprises After Closing

The Division of Real Estate’s HOA Information & Resource Center issued some useful advice last week which got me to thinking. It was advice on doing “due diligence” about a neighborhood’s HOA so you’re not blindsided after closing.

With over two decades of representing buyers in the purchase of homes, both with and without a homeowner’s association, I have lots more to suggest than was in that release.

I advise all buyers to look for neighbors who are outdoors, perhaps mowing their lawn, getting their mail, or washing their car in the driveway. Introduce yourself in a friendly manner, explain that your looking at that neighbor’s house which is for sale and would like to know how they like living in this neighborhood. Follow-up questions could include, “Are the homes built well? How’s the HOA? Are the neighbors friendly? Any complaints? Are the schools good? Is there much crime? By the way, do you know why the owners are selling that home?”

Don’t interrogate the poor fellow, but use your judgment in being as warm and conversational as possible. You’ll learn a lot that will serve you well if you end up buying that home. This is one task I want you to do yourself instead of me doing it for you as your agent.

Among the advice from the HOA Information & Resource Center was to request the covenants (or “CC&Rs”) from the county clerk and recorder. That

document is something I can get for you more easily (and free) from my contacts at any title company. I can also ask the listing agent for the covenants and other HOA documents, but keep in mind that one of the earliest deadlines in any contract to buy and sell a home is the “Record Title” deadline and the “Association Documents” deadline, along with an opportunity for you to object or terminate if you don’t like what you read.

The covenants are recorded, so they will come to you with the title documents. Just as important as the covenants, however, is how they are enforced by the HOA board and the management company hired by the board.

The most useful HOA documents are the minutes of the last six months’ board meeting and the most recent annual meeting. These minutes will let you know what issues may be bothering the members. (Hopefully, you learned many of those from interviewing neighbors, as suggested above.)

Those minutes will also give you a sense of the financial health of the HOA and whether a dues increase or special assessment might be under discussion.

Other documents for you to study are the financial statements, the budget for the coming year, and the most recent reserve study, which lets you know whether they have the financial reserves to deal with future repairs such as replacing the boundary fences, or fixing

How to Do Advanced Listing Searches on the MLS

Unless you’re a licensed broker with access to the MLS, the number of criteria on which you can search is very limited. Typically, consumer-facing websites only allow you to search for price range, city or county, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage, and a few other criteria.

But virtually every MLS field is searchable if you ask an MLS member such as myself to do the search.

Schools are very important to parents, and I can define a search area by naming a particular elementary, middle school or high school.

North-facing driveways are a no-no for some buyers. I can specify “Not North” in that field.

Main-floor living is important to many seniors, and I can specify one-story homes or, my favorite, specify main -floor primary bedroom (or non-primary bedroom), thereby allowing for 2-story homes which have main-floor bedrooms.

Is having the laundry on the same floor as the primary bedroom or simply not in

the basement important to you? That can be specified too and it’s required that listings indicate which floor the laundry, bedrooms and bathrooms are on.

Do you want to see only those homes which aren’t in an HOA? Or maybe you want an HOA that includes exterior maintenance of the home. No problem.

I can also search for key words within the listing’s public remarks. I mentioned last week that I did a search for the phrase “outdoor kitchen” and found 67 such listings within 20 miles of downtown Denver. I can search for any word or phrase.

Searching by map is useful, and I can draw a line around a particular neighborhood or multiple non-contiguous neighborhoods in the same search.

I can search for homes with property taxes under a particular amount, or simply homes that do not have a Metropolitan Tax District with an additional tax levy.

The age of the home, 220V wiring in the garage, solar panels, type of heating and cooling all these and more can be searched, but only by an MLS member.

the common area amenities such as parks, playgrounds and trails.

In some cases, the listing agent may have obtained those HOA documents in advance. As your agent, even before submitting your offer, I can ask for them, first looking to see if they’re already posted as “supplements” on the MLS.

Sometimes the “Sellers Property Disclosure” is also posted on the MLS, but if not, I can request that document for you, then ask follow-up questions about items disclosed on it.

Every HOA in the state must be registered with the HOA Information & Resource Center. If they are not registered, they are unable to enforce the covenants or file a lien against a member who is delinquent on dues or fines.

The state legislature has not empowered the Center to license or otherwise regulate HOAs, including to receive and act on member complaints. It’s really quiet a sad situation. Even sadder is the condition of its registry of HOAs. I downloaded the Excel file and was shocked at the amount of duplication and errors in the data entry. See for yourself at the posting of this article at http://RealEstateToday.substack.com.

The link provided for finding a registered HOA takes you to the same form that is used for finding brokers and brokerages, so you enter the name (or part thereof) for the HOA you’re looking for, but it is very hit or miss when I tested it. Entering the ZIP code of the HOA in addition was useful. It also shows if the HOA’s license is expired, which was the case for one I looked up. The phone number was for the clubhouse and a random HOA member picked up. I had to find an HOA document in order to get the number for the contact person. Ugh!

I Just Had a Terrible Thought…

ChatGPT has leveled the playing field for real estate agents. As in most professions, 90% of us aren’t good writers or even spellers! Ask ChatGPT to rewrite a property description or newsletter, and it will do so in flawless English with flawless spelling and flawless grammar, which got me thinking about scammers. Scam texts and emails can often be identified by their poor English and spelling, but if the scammer uses ChatGPT, that red flag will no longer be present.

Every year we have to be more and more alert for possible scams.

Just Listed: 2-BR, 1280-SF Fraser Condo

This wonderful condo at 693 Wapiti Drive #A16 features a moss rock fireplace and a skylight in the living room. Off the living room is a deck with marvelous views of Byers Peak. The kitchen has granite counters, hickory cabinets, and double sink with mountain views. A laundry room/pantry is off the kitchen. The primary bedroom has new windows, double closet, a full ensuite bathroom with tile floor and tiled bath area.

$697,000

The 2nd bedroom has carpeting, double closet and new windows. The oversized garage has plenty of room to store firewood, and at the rear of the garage is a huge locked storage space. Reasonable HOA dues pay for water, sewer, snow removal, trash, and internet. Unit comes tastefully furnished. It’s a short walk from downtown Fraser with its many shops, bars, and entertainment. Experience the great outdoors just outside your door. Hike or bike along the Fraser River trail that leads to Winter Park. It’s also on the free bus route to Winter Park. To see it, call David Dlugasch at 303-908-4835. Take a video tour at www.WinterParkCondo.info.

on

Jim Smith

Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851

Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com 1214 Washington Ave., Golden 80401

Broker Associates: JIM SWANSON, 303-929-2727

CHUCK BROWN, 303-885

lacks transit. He said a decision may not come until afterJune.

‘Low to moderate risk’

Colorado’s court system is made up of 22 judicial districts, and a new district is on the way. Today, the 18th Judicial District includes Douglas, Arapahoe, Elbert and Lincoln counties.

But state lawmakers — driven by population growth and a political split in the region — decided to break it up, moving Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties into Colorado’s rst new judicial district in decades.

As part of that retooling, Douglas County o cials were poised to add a local probation o ce near the light rail station o Lincoln Avenue near Interstate 25.

Residents of the Heritage Hills gated community expressed wide opposition to the plan to place the probation o ce near their neighborhood.

Some people have confused parole and probation, “and I think that’s just a common misnomer,”

Suzanne Karrer, a spokesperson for the Colorado Judicial Branch, told the Douglas County News-Press.

“A parolee is an individual who has been released from prison before completing their full sentence; these persons are managed under the statutory authority of the Colorado Department of Corrections,” a statement from Colorado’s judicial branch said. “People on probation, who (would) be serviced at this location, are individuals who received an alternative sentence for convictions in which they agree to abide by certain terms and conditions in exchange for not serving jail or prison sentences.”

e new Douglas o ce will have

probation check-in appointments with people of “low to moderate risk” to the community, Karrer said.  “ ese could include crimes like driving under the in uence or certain domestic violence charges, for example,” Karrer said. “Low-tomoderate-risk individuals require less supervision and treatment to reduce recidivism than those on parole or considered high-risk.”

e new location would likely offer other programs too, including pre-trial services for those who are accused but have not been convicted of a crime.

Court-related programs give people “a chance to turn their life around,” Commissioner Lora omas told the crowd.

Close to neighborhoods

Laydon said o cials shouldn’t put o enders next to kids in a residential area, to applause from the crowd.

Some other probation o ces are near residential areas or schools in

the 18th Judicial District, such as the Littleton o ce along Littleton Boulevard or the Aurora o ce o Chambers Road.

e existing Douglas probation o ce sits in the county justice center in the Castle Rock area, near the sheri ’s o ce and county jail.

Teal said his kids went to grade school and high school close by the county jail. Stuart, the judge, said the county justice center sits near schools, a skate park, sports elds, an apartment complex and a neighborhood.

Referring to the other places where the county could place the o ce, Teal said the other three communities in those areas could also push back as Lone Tree residents did.

e new 23rd Judicial District is set to take e ect January 2025. e 18th Judicial District will then only include Arapahoe County. In 2020, the bill to create the new district passed with bipartisan support in the state legislature.

Colorado Community Media to Hold its First 5K Run

BY JO ANN M. COLTON

ere is no better way to appreciate the beauty of Colorado than by witnessing all the sights and sounds of the great outdoors.

from walking and/or running along our state’s many wonderful paths and scenic nature trails.

Join Colorado Community Media as we host our rst-ever 5K run on Saturday, Aug. 24, at Clement Park, 7306 W. Bowles Ave. in Littleton.

And, before the run, we want you to submit your own “Trail Tales,” including photos, to your local newspaper (events@coloradocommunitymedia. com). Tell us where you most enjoy going for a walk or a run in your commuor elsewhere in Colorado.

In turn, we will share many of those adventurous tales with the readers of our two dozen community newspapers in the weeks ahead of the run. About the 5k: It is scheduled to loop around Johnston Reservoir from 9:30 a.m. to noon. It will start and end on the bike path near Shelter P. e event is di erent from most 5k runs in many ways. For starters, the sole purpose of this event is to simply provide an opportunity for people across Colorado to come together, interact, and share their personal experiences gained

ere are no prizes associated with the event and participants will not receive a “standard” T-shirt. Instead, registered participants will receive a pair of custom running socks. e Share Your Trail Tales 5k Run is open to people of all ages. Participants have the option of making it a fun- lled day for the entire family. Registration fees are $35 for adults (ages 17 & up), $15 (ages 5 to 16), and free for children (ages 4 and under ). Parking for run participants and event attendees is available in the west parking lot, which can be reached as you enter Clement Park through the Library entrance on W. Bowles Avenue.

ent Park is currently being rmed up to feature other activities throughout the day including food and beverage purchase options o ered by local food trucks, vendor booths, and live music entertainment.

Colorado Community Media publications span eight counties along Colorado’s majestic Front Range — Weld, Adams, Je co, Clear Creek, Douglas, Elbert, Arapahoe and Denver. As a nonpro t organization, community is important to us and we are eager to reach out and meet members of the communities our news organization serves.

Carlie Scott, Colorado Community Media’s events director, stated that the program for the Aug. 24 run in Clem-

“Your support of this event as a race participant and/or as an attendee is paramount to the success of our rst Share Your Trail Tales 5k Run and it will help us sustain our ability to support local news,” Scott said. “We encourage the engagement of our readers and future readers to be part of this and future events at Colorado Community Media.” Colorado Community Media could not put on events like this 5k run without the help of its dedicated supporters and sponsors. Sponsorship provides an ideal marketing prospect for your business and positive brand recognition. e organization o ers many levels of sponsorship and opportunities for involvement. As a sponsor, you can be part of a fun community event that promotes health and wellness.

To register for the Share Your Trail Tales 5k please visit our website www.coloradocommunitymedia.com and click on EVENTS/CONTEST tab.

Family, friends honor Danny Dietz Sr.

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In a moving coincidence, two military jets ew over the heads of more than 100 people at Fort Logan National Cemetery, just as the sound of taps started to oat through the air. It was the burial ceremony for

Danny Phillip Dietz Sr., a veteran of the U.S. Navy and a passionate servant to at-risk youth.

Dietz, who lived in Littleton, passed away on May 11 at the age of 75. He was laid to rest next to his son, Danny Phillip Dietz Jr., a Navy SEAL who was awarded the Navy’s second-highest decoration, the

by

Navy Cross, and the Purple Heart after his combat death in Afghanistan in 2005.

“Senior was my hero,” said Henry Jones Jr., a retired Denver police ofcer who counted Dietz as a friend. “He would do anything for you … He’d give you the shirt o his back.”

Dietz was born in Nebraska and raised his family in the Littleton/Englewood area. He served in the Navy from Dec. 1, 1967 to Nov. 30, 1971 and was stationed at Camp Lejeune, said his daughter, Ti any Bitz.

sionate about the foundation and its work with youth.

Dietz’s friend, Jones, said he was inspired by how his friend taught the kids to serve their country, whether through military or community service.

“What he teaches you is, there’s more to life than yourself,” Jones said.

Bitz said her father was a strong patriot. Even when things got tough and challenging, she said, he wanted to remind people of the greatness of living in the United States.

After the death of his son, Dietz and Bitz started the Danny Dietz Jr. Foundation to “enrich the lives of youth and young adults through strenuous mental and physical activities,” according to the foundation’s website.

“My brother … he might have been considered an at-risk youth in his young days,” Bitz said. “While he was a good kid and had a good heart, he oftentimes found himself going down the wrong path at times.”

Bitz said many people told her brother he would never amount to anything. All it took was someone to believe in him, she said, and he ended up serving the country and becoming a national hero.

“After we lost my brother, we wanted to start a foundation to nd kids who were like my brother, that maybe they just needed a little direction or guidance, or even just a loving hand,” Bitz said. “ ey had good in them, and they just needed somebody to tell them that and help them nd their purpose.”

Bitz said her father was very pas-

“He loved this country,” she said. “He loves what we stand for, and he wanted to ensure that others understood how beautiful we have it.”

Even beyond serving youth, Dietz lived his life to build connections with others, Bitz said.

“Veterans who might have been su ering with (post-traumatic stress disorder), he would spend countless hours … just trying to help them see the good in themselves, and why they matter, and why they’re important and that they have a purpose,” she said.

As highlighted by the mass of people who attended his committal ceremony at Fort Logan on May 29, Dietz had a superpower in building relationships.

“He found purpose in making connections, and through those connections, helping people,” she said. “I really feel like that was my dad’s true purpose, was just to make connections and help people see the good in themselves and the value that they bring.”

Photo

Michael Pintar Photography

A bugler plays taps to honor Danny Phillip Dietz Sr. at his committal service at Fort Logan National Cemetery on May 29.

PHOTO BY NINA JOSS

Class of 2024 gets scholarships and coaching to boost college success

BY JASON GONZALES CHALKBEAT COLORADO

anks to a one-time investment last year, Colorado students in the Class of 2024 can receive a $1,500 scholarship to attend a state college or workforce program in the fall.

Students can also access a year of coaching, which will help some of those scholarship recipients during the summer months, through their rst year, and into their second.

Together, the scholarships and coaching through the one-time $25 million Opportunity Next investment from Colorado lawmakers aim to help more students get to and persist through college, especially after enrollment declines since the pandemic. e money also attempts to address a statewide shortage in skilled labor, in which there are two available jobs for every unemployed person.

online. Scholarships are o ered at four- and two-year colleges, as well as apprenticeships and other training programs.

Students can also apply on the same website to receive coaching from national nonpro t InsideTrack, a network meant to help students who face the greatest challenges to getting to and through college. e state is funding coaching through 2024.

e launch of the program comes at an opportune time for the state because many students have struggled to ll out the revamped Free Application for Federal Student Aid application. e issues with the new FAFSA system has meant some students haven’t received aid o ers from colleges.

to achieve the goal of completing a degree, certi cate, or apprenticeship.

Coaches will also work with students to connect them to schoolbased and community resources, such as mental health, food pantry, or nancial resources. Ast said students who get coaching have been shown to use services that will help them through college, including food pantries, tutoring, and professors’ o ce hours.

“Why put money into a learner if you’re not also going to provide them the support for them to be successful?” Ast said.

While the scholarship money provides an incentive, the coaching aspect of the program provides support that some experts say helps students nish their college education.

“We’re really doubling down on our investment in learners and connecting them with employers that have these in demand job openings so we can create and continue to create a competitive economy for all,” said Eve Lieberman, executive director of the state O ce of Economic Development and International Trade.

To be eligible, a student must have graduated from a Colorado high school or earned an equivalent diploma during the 2023-24 school year.

Colorado students must also have completed the federal or state application for nancial aid, not received a grant or scholarship through the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative, and plan to attend a Colorado institution or workforce development program, such as an apprenticeship.

Lieberman expects about 14,000 students statewide will get a scholarship. Schools and workforce programs will issue those on behalf of students, but students can search for programs that o er scholarships

Students who have now graduated also have a harder time talking to counselors during the summer months as they transition from high school to college.

Steve Ast, InsideTrack senior vice president of partner success, said coaching ensures the state’s investment in students pays o by getting students the resources they need through the summer and into their second year of college. Coaching has been shown to boost student success in college programs by 5% to 15%, he said.

Coaches will work with students one-on-one and in groups. Sessions will focus on skills to balance work, personal, nancial and school commitments, as well as individual plans

InsideTrack has provided Colorado students coaching services for years, including for Latin American Educational Foundation scholarship recipients. is will be the rst time InsideTrack has worked on a statewide level in Colorado, but it has provided coaching services for Minnesota students and colleges and universities.

Ast said he hopes the program shows how valuable coaching is to students and convinces lawmakers to extend the program so students have the resources available to them through their college career.

“ e goal of a coaching program is not to say, ‘Show up on campus the rst day and good luck,’” Ast said. “It’s about setting the foundation appropriately for long term results.”

Chalkbeat is a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.

High school students receiving their diplomas this year. PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

13-16, 2024

Shopping H FOOD H EXHIBITS H MUSIC H RIDES

FUN THINGS TO DO:

• Enjoy your Favorite Festival Food

• Shopping Marketplace

• Music on Four Stages

• Carnival Rides for the Whole Family

• Free Kids Crafts

• Silent Disco – Dance, Dance, Dance!

• Bungy Jumping

• Jump and Slide on the In atables

AIR ACADEMY CREDIT UNION

EAST MUSIC Stage – Live Music ALL Day

Friday 8 pm – 10 pm Sisters of Rock

Saturday 8 pm – 10 pm

Shelvis and the Roustabouts

Sunday 6:30 pm – 8 pm

Lies or Lullabies

THURSDAY, JUNE 13 1 pm – 10:30 pm: Carnival Only

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

Fri 1 pm – 10:30 pm: Carnival Fri 4 pm – 10:30 pm: Festival

SATURDAY, JUNE 15

Sat 10 am – 10:30 pm

SUNDAY, JUNE 16

Sun 10 am – 8:30 pm CORE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Community Stage – Entertainment ALL Day

MAIN STAGE – Live Music ALL Day HEADLINERS:

Friday, June 14 presented by

8:00 pm – 10:30 pm: Kory Brunson Band

Saturday, June 15 presented by 8:30 pm – 10:30 pm: Wash Park Band Sunday, June 16 presented by 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm: That Eighties Band

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

CARNIVAL RIDES & GAMES: presented by

BUY DISCOUNTED UNLIMITED CARNIVAL RIDE WRISTBANDS ONLINE

Single-Day Unlimited Carnival Rides: $35 each

Good any one day during the festival

Sold online through 12 noon Wed. June 12

4-Day MEGA Unlimited Carnival Rides: $89 each

Good all 4 days of the festival

PURCHASE DURING THE FESTIVAL

Single-Day Unlimited Carnival Rides: $40 each

TICKETS FOR INDIVIDUAL RIDES

Food, Beverage & Ride Tickets may be purchased at Festival Ticket Booths.

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in Washington are former radio host Deborah Flora, state Rep. Richard Holtorf, state Rep. Mike Lynch, former state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg and entrepreneur Peter Yu.

In a heavily conservative leaning district, many Republicans feel con dent that whoever wins the primary on June 25 will go to Congress. ree Democrats who are looking to challenge that narrative are also battling in the upcoming primary.

e district is vast, made up of 21 counties. Its population centers include Douglas County in the south metro area — Highlands Ranch, Parker, Castle Rock and Lone Tree — and Loveland and Windsor in northern Colorado. It also encompasses the Eastern Plains, including Elbert County. Its voters are 46.6% una liated, 35% Republican and 16.6% Democrat, according to April registration numbers from the Colorado Secretary of State.

A common refrain among the Republican candidates on the campaign trail is that while geography in the district di ers from suburban to rural, conservative values are shared across the region.

to their time representing northeast Coloradans in the state Capitol. Holtorf added that his military service helped prepare him for the role.

“I’ve represented 16 of the 21 counties at the state over the last ve years,” Holtorf said. “Sizing up the resumes, I’ve done more in this world, with military service, in business and as a successful agricultural businessman.”

Boebert’s response to those who boast credentials at the state Capitol is that she is already holding o ce in Congress and has passed federal legislation. Boebert’s Pueblo Jobs Act was signed into law in December and the CONVEY Act, which authorizes a land sale in Mesa County, passed the House in February.

Boebert said she aims to be a public servant and a voice for the party, which she is con dent will be led again by Trump.

“In Washington D.C., when President Trump comes back, he wants his A Team ready to go,” she said. “When I’m here with my hopeful constituents, it’s about how I can serve them.”

“It depends on the terms of the election,” Holtorf said.

“It depends on how the election is run,” Boebert said. “I would hope no one would do that just because they didn’t like a candidate. It would have to be about, ‘Were our elections free and fair?’”

Sonnenberg said he is concerned about election integrity, but added that he would have certi ed the 2020 election for Biden.

“I would have to look at everything that plays in the 2024 election,” he said. “For me to not vote to certify it, I would have to have evidence that the election was incorrect, that we were certifying someone who was not duly elected in a free and fair election.”

Yu said he would likely certify a Biden win in 2024.

“I would, unless there’s something obvious and with documented proof,” Yu said.

Flora said she would certify a fair election, even if it is not the outcome she would prefer.

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

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e Douglas County News-Press sat down with Boebert and Flora, interviewed Sonnenberg and Yu over the phone in between campaign stops and spoke with Holtorf at a Douglas County panel. Lynch did not respond to interview requests.

In addition to interviews, the NewsPress attended multiple forums and events, including ones in Fort Lupton, Lone Tree and Castle Rock.

Experience matters

Acknowledging their policy similarities, the conservative candidates have largely di erentiated themselves by highlighting their political experiences and backgrounds.

Sonnenberg, who is from Sterling, in the northeast of the district, said his time in the state legislature and connections in the district are what sets him apart.

“We’re going to agree probably 90% of the time and probably vote the same way 90% of the time,” Sonnenberg said in a phone interview. “I think I’m the best candidate for CD4 because I have a proven track record of experience and leadership skills, not only representing my district, but all of Colorado when I served in the legislature.”

Similarly, Holtorf and Lynch point

For other candidates, the connections they highlight are local. Flora and Yu say they’re grassroots conservatives, not career politicians. Flora, of Douglas County, has worked to support school choice and parents’ rights at the local level, including lming the documentary “Whose Children Are ey?”

Flora said she would be very present in the district as its representative.

“What I think we need in elected representatives that’s been missing is not someone who pretends to be an expert on every single subject, but somebody who has the humility and respect to make sure people have a seat at the table,” she said.

Yu, who is from Loveland, said he is running because of the political corruption and division he sees in Congress. He said too many politicians overpromise and underdeliver.

“Some of these promises are so extreme that they’re never going to happen,” he said. “I take a microview of the situation and take it step by step.”

So, where do they disagree on issues?

When it comes to the 2020 election, Boebert and Holtorf have questioned the legitimacy of Biden’s win, while the other candidates accepted the results, which were counted and certi ed by election o cials across the country.

e Douglas County News-Press asked candidates whether they would certify the 2024 election if Biden wins. Most candidates said it would depend on the information available at the time.

“We are based on a system where people get to elect their representatives,” Flora said. “I would never want to overstep the will of the people. If Joe Biden is elected and I’m elected, I will do everything I can to make sure we have a government meeting the needs of the people of CD4 and Colorado.”

One of the only policy di erences between the unanimously pro-life candidates is a split in the approach regarding anti-abortion legislation. Boebert, Flora and Sonnenberg support federal legislation to limit or ban abortions, while Holtorf, Lynch and Yu say it’s a state’s rights issue.

“You don’t want the federal government telling 50 states how to live their lives,” Yu said. “It’s a slippery slope.”

Boebert is a signatory on the strictest anti-abortion legislation that has been introduced in Congress, the Life at Conception Act, which would de ne a fertilized embryo as a person. e concept has caused controversy because, if it became law, it could ban some contraception and in vitro fertilization on top of abortions.

Policy alignment

All of the candidates say they plan to vote for Trump in the 2024 election and support his policies.

For all the candidates, the top issues facing the country are immigration and the rising cost of living, amid in ation. ey also largely agree on how to tackle those issues.

On immigration, the Republicans

CONGRATULATIONS!

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How to become a part of the community

In an increasingly digital world, the importance of being part of a physical community cannot be overstated. Communities form the bedrock of society, providing a support system, fostering relationships and enhancing our overall quality of life. Engaging with your community through various activities not only bene ts those around you but also enriches your own life in myriad ways. Here’s why being an active community member is essential and how you can contribute.

Volunteering is one of the most impactful ways to give back to your community. Local events, whether they are charity runs, community cleanups or festivals, rely heavily on volunteers to succeed. By dedicating your time, you help ensure these events can take place, which in turn strengthens community bonds. Volunteering also allows you to meet new people, learn new skills and gain a sense of accomplishment. It creates a ripple effect, encouraging others to participate and fostering a culture of giving.

Supporting local businesses is crucial for maintaining the economic health of your community. When you shop on Main Street, you help local businesses thrive, which keeps money circulating within the community. is supports local jobs, encourages entrepreneurship and helps maintain the unique character of your town. Additionally, local businesses often give back to the community by sponsoring events and contributing to local causes. By prioritizing local shops over large chains, you contribute to a vibrant and sustainable local economy.

Local restaurants and pubs are more than just places to eat and drink; they are social hubs where people gather, share stories and build relationships. By patronizing these establishments, you

help them stay in business, which in turn keeps the social fabric of your community strong. Local eateries often use locally sourced ingredients, which supports local farmers and producers. Moreover, these venues frequently host community events such as trivia nights, live music, and charity fundraisers, providing additional opportunities for community engagement.

Town events, from parades and fairs to farmers markets and holiday celebrations, are integral to community life. ey provide opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together, celebrate, and connect. Participating in these events fosters a sense of belonging and pride in your community. It also supports local organizers and vendors, further boosting the local economy. ese events often become cherished traditions that strengthen the bonds among community members and create lasting memories.

For many people, regular attendance at worship services is a cornerstone of community involvement. ese gatherings offer spiritual support, a sense of belonging and opportunities for service. Faith communities often engage in charitable activities, provide support networks for members and o er programs for youth, seniors and families. By participating in worship services, you contribute to the spiritual and social well-being of your community.

Sometimes, the smallest gestures can have the biggest impact. Sharing a wave hello or a friendly smile when you’re out

A

Hlook back at 2023-2024

ere in the Douglas County School District (DCSD), we have some of the most dedicated teachers, principals, and support sta who give their all each and every day to ensure that our students receive the best possible education. Because of their efforts, the 2023-2024 school year was full of celebrations!

Did you know?

• For the rst time in a decade, DCSD is the TOP scoring district in the Denver metro area!

• DCSD is one of the only districts in the country to have met or exceeded our 2019 (pre-pandemic!!) scores in every subject and every grade.

• DCSD is one of the only school districts in the state to increase prociency levels across all student subgroups.

• DCSD is one of the leaders, nationwide, in “blurring the lines” between PK-12, higher education, and industry through our incredible Concurrent Enrollment/Career and Technical Education o erings (over 20K seats!) and our partnerships with multiple higher education in-

EDUCATION CORNER

Erin Kane

stitutions, providing students additional pathways to success after high school, whether they choose college or go straight to industry.

• Finally, DCSD ranked number 11 on the list of the 250 “most envied” school districts in the country by Test Prep Insight (DCSD is the only Colorado school district in the top 65!).

Award-winning academic success

• irty- ve of our schools received the 2023 John Irwin Award of Excellence from CDE.

• Ten of our schools received the 2023 Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award from the Colorado Department of Education (CDE).

• Parker Core Knowledge Charter was named a 2023 Colorado National Blue Ribbon School. e future is bright!

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Pick Padora in primary

We stand at a pivotal moment in our nation’s history, and the future depends on electing leaders who genuinely listen to their constituents and work tirelessly on their behalf. roughout my life, I’ve seen rsthand the kind of dedication it takes to build a better future. My parents epitomized hard work and commitment. My father, a front-line supervisor in golf course maintenance, and my mother, who worked overnight shifts at a federal bank, both sacri ced immensely to support my two brothers and me. ough they have since passed, their lessons in integrity, teamwork and respect for others have stayed with me. ese values are why I am wholeheartedly supporting John Padora for Congress in CD4. John embodies the same spirit of relentless dedication and genuine care for the community. He is a ghter for the hard-working individuals and families who make up our district. John isn’t in this for personal gain; he is driven by a deep commitment to serve the people of CD4.

John’s tenacity and compassion are precisely what we need in Congress. He listens, he cares, and he never stops advocating for the well-being of his neighbors. His campaign is not just about winning an election; it’s about making a tangible di erence in the lives of the people he aims to represent.

Water money and local races

Douglas County voters should be aware of the substantial amount of dark money to local candidates for multiple local o ces, owing from deeppocketed proponents of piping groundwater from the San Luis Valley to Douglas County.

In June 2023, the Alamosa Citizen published an article noting several candidates for the Parker Water Board received large donations from agents of Renewable Water Resources, according to TRACER lings.

Around the same time, winners of seats on the Sterling Ranch Metro received funds from the same RWR sources, routed through several dark PACs and disappeared electioneering committees including Neighbors for a Safe and Prosperous Community.

On June 25th, I urge you to cast your vote for John Padora in the primary election. We need a leader who will bring our voices to Washington, someone who will ght for our needs and stand by our side. John Padora is that leader. Together, let’s choose a brighter future for our district and our nation by supporting John Padora for Congress.

Nick Petersen, Highlands Ranch

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Colorado Community Media welcomes letters to the editor. Please note the following rules:

• Email your letter to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com. Do not send via postal mail. Put the words “letter to the editor” in the email subject line.

According to a December 2023 article in the Colorado Sun, when Douglas County commissioners formed the water commission, they placed several RWR parties on the board.

Now, several local candidates for county commissioner and Colorado House positions are being touted/supported by the Douglas County Future Fund, another six- gure o shoot of RWR interests. DCFF is chaired by an RWR principal (also a DougCo water board member).

So, the points of these facts are clear. Advocates for the transfer of San Luis Valley water to DougCo are continually dumping money into local political races. If they have their way, a lot of our local water resources will fall into the hands of a few very wealthy investors.

Lloyd Guthrie, Roxborough Park

• Submit your letter by 5 p.m. on Wednesday in order to have it considered for publication in the following week’s newspaper.

• Letters must be no longer than 400 words.

• Letters should be exclusively submitted to Colorado Community Media and should not be submitted to other outlets or previously posted on websites or social media. Submitted letters become the property of CCM and should not be republished elsewhere.

BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When Jacques Hennig’s Australian shepherd mix Alex collapsed at the park in January 2024, he knew it was time to say goodbye.

“It’s a feeling in your gut; I knew immediately the cancer had come back,” he said.

He also knew how Alex would die: at home, with Hennig and his partner Max Donald by his side. A year earlier, the couple had used in-home euthanasia for their other dog, Oliver.

“It’s a horrible thing to have to deal with,” Hennig said. “You don’t want them to ever go; you want them to be with you forever. But it was important to me they were happy in death as well. I didn’t want their last vision to be the vet with uorescent lighting and lots of noise.”

Veterinarian H Howells, who performed the service for both Alex and Oliver through her company Peace Wings, is among a subset of veterinarians who o er in-home euthanasia. ese mobile veterinarians come to the pet owner’s residence, where they administer medication so the pet can pass in their home, surrounded by their owners and often, other family pets.

In-home euthanasia is a fastgrowing service, with a network of veterinarians that includes local, independent doctors like Howells, Conifer-based Amy Holtschlag and Franktown-based Julie Hasenfratz of Hometown Veterinary Hospice, as well as national companies like Lap of Love that employ a network of doctors.

As in a clinic setting, veterinarians performing in-home euthanasia typically use two medications: one to sedate the pet, and a second that stops the heart. Some vets also

use oxygen to help the pets relax further.

While fees vary, the service costs more than an in-clinic euthanasia service. e personalized nature of the service, time spent with each client and transportation costs are all factors in setting prices, veterinarians said.

e three veterinarians who spoke for this story charge between $350 and $775, their rates varying with the type and size of animal and the services included. Some charge separately for cremation, urns, memorial keepsakes and other items and services, while others include it in a at fee.

‘The last act of love’

Many pet owners say it’s worth it, and the best way they’ve found to close the nal chapter in a beloved pet’s life.

When Commerce City residents

John and Jan Leiker adopted their Great Dane Kiara, John Leiker said she was an aggressive, poorly socialized, “out-of-control” rescue.

ey spent two years training and loving her, “to turn her into the wonderful Great Dane that she was. She had a wonderful life.”

Giving her a peaceful ending was their nal act of caring, and Hasenfratz helped them give her that.

“Dr. Hasenfratz took her time and let us know everything she was doing, every step of the way,” Leiker said. “She just sat down with Kiara petting her, letting her sni everything. She gave her the proper drug to just relax.

“You still cry when they go; it’s never easy. But this is so much easier on the people and the animals. It’s the last act of love you can do. I will always do it this way if pos-

sible.”

Hasenfratz also o ered the couple a memorial paw print with Kiara’s name imprinted on it, which the couple treasures.

“When it’s time for our current Dane to go, Julie will be the one we’ll call,” his wife Jan agreed.

Despite the pain of loss that accompanies an in-home euthanasia, owners describe the service as personal, intimate and soothing. And most veterinarians say they work hard to make it that way.

“People have a lot of anxiety around this decision,” Holtschlag said. “And pets are often not relaxed when they come to the vet clinic; there’s that innate panic they have coming through the doors. at fear is not there when they’re home with their people.

From left, Jacques Hennig, Oliver, Alex and Max Donald on the road together. Hennig and Donald chose in-home euthanasia for both dogs. “It was important to me they were happy in death as well,” Hennig said.

PHOTO BY JACQUES HENNIG

ALTERNATIVE

“I want the experience to be as peaceful as it can be for both the pet and the people, and a memory the owners can cherish going forward,” Holtschlag continued.

Holtschlag treats each appointment as its own service.

“I usually do a little information gathering before I get there,” she said. “I have the family tell me if they have any special requests or wishes, and who is going to be there. ere are things we can do at home we’re not able to do in a clinic to make it meaningful for them; they can set up the experience the way they want it to go.

“When I get there, I spend a lot of time going through what will happen, explaining the process so they know what they’re going to see. ey can hold their pet, or be right next to them throughout.”

In December 2023, Holtschlag helped Evergreen residents John and Sue Dunlop say goodbye to their 10-year-old standard poodle Reggie, who’d su ered a series of debilitating seizures. Dunlop described Holtschlag and her assistant as patient, respectful and “very compassionate.”

“While it was heartbreaking, it

was great that he was here in our house, in a place he was comfortable,” John Dunlop said. “It was easier on us, too, because we didn’t have to walk out of the vet’s o ce and leave our (deceased) pet behind.

“We’ve been down this road before, and this was so much more comforting. ere’s no easy way. But in our mind, it was the most compassionate thing we could do.”

After Reggie passed, John Dunlop brought his other standard poodle Cooper into the room to see the body — an act that would have been more challenging at a clinic.

“We hoped it would give him some knowledge of what’s going on,” he said. “Who knows what they think. But for my peace of mind, I’d like to think he understood.”

e Dunlops opted to have Reggie cremated and plan to spread his ashes on their property.

“I would do it again,” John Dunlop said. “We’ve had pets euthanized in a vet’s o ce and they were also compassionate and doing the best they can, but it’s not the same. It’s not like being at home.”

Guidance for end-of-life decisions

Veterinarians who provide the service can also guide pet owners in making end-of-life decisions.

“When a pet has a slow-moving illness or a long decline, the owners have a choice in the matter,” Howells said. “When they call me, a lot of them are struggling with the timing. If I wait too long, I’ve been sel sh. If I do it too soon, I haven’t been patient enough. e big question that’s underlying that is, ‘Am I killing my pet?’

“ e answer is no. Cancer is killing your pet. Kidney disease is killing your pet. eir pets are dying anyway,” Howells continued. “When people can ip that switch, it gives them and me peace. ey’re no longer making a life-and-death decision; biology has already made it. In all reality, at-home euthanasia is a happy ending. In many cases, they’ve lived a long life, and they’re in the home in which they’ve been cherished.”

Hasenfratz also provides such consultations and said she understands the struggle pet owners undergo. She tries to emphasize that

death is not just inevitable, but natural. And while you can’t keep it from happening, you can sometimes control the circumstances that surround it.

“I lost my mom in hospice care, and that’s when I started realizing how important it is to be home — not just for the patient but the family,” she said. “Saying goodbye is a natural part of living. If we can pass away as comfortably as possible, I think that’s what we all would want.

“I feel very good about what I do because I end struggles,” she continued. “I give the pet a peaceful passing, and I give that peace to their human family too.”

Because the service is so personal, the bonds extend beyond owners and pets to the veterinarian as well. Hennig and Donald chose Howells for Alex because she had previously done the same service for their dog Oliver. e moment Howells and Oliver met is still vivid in Hennig’s memory.

“Oliver used to come over at every meal and lean on you with his forehead; we found out years later that’s a way they bond or say thank you,” he said. “When Dr. H came in for his appointment, she was sitting on the oor, getting her supplies out. Oliver could hardly walk, but he went over to her and pressed his forehead into hers. And I thought, ‘ is is OK.’”

Commerce City residents John and Jan Leiker opted for in-home euthanasia for their great Dane Kiara. “It’s the last act of love you can do,” John Leiker said.

PHOTO BY JOHN LEIKER

Jacques Hennig’s dog Alex rests his paw on Hennig’s hand on the day he died through an in-home euthanasia. Hennig has Alex’s head tattoed on his hand.

PHOTO BY JACQUES HENNIG

Bonding authority set to buy fabled Stanley Hotel

BY JASON BLEVINS THE COLORADO SUN

Gov. Jared Polis has signed legislation that modi es a grant program for

Colorado’s creative industries to allow the Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority to buy the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park.

Polis signed the legislation Tuesday

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at the Stanley Hotel. A lengthy amendment to House Bill 1295— which extends incentives o ered under theColorado Community Revitalization Grant programand was approved by the Colorado House late April and the Colorado Senate earlier this month — allows the Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority to create a nonpro t company to manage a facility and direct revenue from that facility toward the organization’s mission to support schools and art facilities in the state.

e legislation is a critical step in the authority’s plan to buy the historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park and issue bonds to support the construction of a new lm center at the hotel. Once the bonds are repaid — the bonds could be for as much as $450 million — the authority will own the hotel and lm center as a private revenue generator to support schools and cultural facilities.

e authority was created in 1981 to lend money to educational and art organizations for new and renovated schools, venues and museums, but the original legislation barred it from own-

KANE

What’s next for DCSD?

In the coming school year, we will ask our community to join us in conversations about our future. Looking ahead 10 years to 2035 and beyond, together we will:

• PARTNER: Continued partnerships with our families, students and sta to remain in that number one spot! Together, we will take on issues that impact our kids, like social media.

• DREAM: Community conversations around what we want for DCSD

NORTON

walking can brighten someone’s day and create a more welcoming atmosphere in your community. ese simple acts of kindness can break down barriers, make people feel seen and valued, and contribute to a culture of friendliness and inclusivity. ey remind us that we are all part of the same community and that even small actions can strengthen our social bonds.

ing or operating those facilities. e new legislation changes the authority’s mission to include ownership and management of facilities and expands the de nition of the facilities supported by the authority to include a lm center, a hotel, eating and drinking establishments, gift shops and lodging.

Owning the Stanley Hotel would be a new role for the bonding authority that has issued $7.6 billion in low-interest, tax-exempt bonds that help pay for schools, student housing, performance halls, museums and Olympic training facilities across Colorado since the early 1980s.

e 140-room Stanley Hotel — the inspiration behind Stephen King’s “ e Shining” — is owned by the Grand Heritage Hotel Group. e group’s CEO, John Cullen, bought the dilapidated historic hotel out of bankruptcy in 1996 and has invested millions in upgrades and maintenance.

Originally Cullen planned to sell the Stanley Hotel to Arizona-based nonpro t Community Finance Corp.,

SEE STANLEY, P26

10 years from now and beyond.

• DECIDE: Determine what we want our kids to know and be able to do in 2035 and beyond.

• EXPLORE: Prepare students for the workforce and life after high school as it looks in their future. is means leveraging (safely!) the world of Arti cial Intelligence (AI) and whatever else is to come.

ank you for an incredible 20232024 school year. We are very grateful for our students, families, teachers, sta and community members. #ProudtoBeDCSD

Erin Kane is the superintendent of the Douglas County School District.

In a world that often feels increasingly disconnected, being part of a community reminds us of our shared humanity and the importance of coming together. I would love to hear your community story at gotonorton@ gmail.com, and when we do our part in creating a thriving community, it really will be a better than good life. Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

FROM PAGE 14

FROM PAGE 14

Thu 6/06

Jubilingo Live at Clement Park @ 6pm Clement Park, Littleton

Strung Out @ 6pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Fri 6/07

Jordan Yewey @ 5:30pm

Scooters Sports Bar & Grill, 13698 E Alameda Ave, Aurora

Hazel Miller & the Collective @ 7pm

Los Inquietos Del Vallenato - Los Diablitos del Vallenato @ 8pm / $60 Stampede, Aurora

Sat 6/08

Mutt Market at Aspen Grove @ 9am

Sun 6/09

The Mike G Band @ 11am

Takoda Tavern, 12311 Pine Bluffs Way # A, Parker

Eric Elison @ 2pm

Tue 6/11

Build and Fly Your Own Estes

Alpha Rocket @ 7am / $125

Jun 11th - Jun 13th

Valor - Academic Building Basement, 3775 Grace Blvd, Highlands Ranch. 303471-3000

Hampden Hall, Englewood Civic Center 2nd �oor, 1000 Englewood Pkwy, Engle‐wood

98.5 KYGO Birthday Bash featuring Jordan Davis @ 3pm Fiddlers Green Amphitheatre, Englewood

Cruxvae @ 7pm

Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

Wed 6/12

7301 S Santa Fe Dr, 7301 South Santa Fe Drive, Littleton. info@as pengrovecenter.com

Fleatwood Mac: The Premier Fleetwood Mac Tribute: Fleatwood Mac at Tailgate Tavern (Parker, CO), 6/8/24 @ 6pm

Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

Eric Golden @ 4pm

Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Mainstreet, Parker Extra! Extra! @ 7pm

Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

Mon 6/10

School's Out for the Summer! Musical Theatre Full Day Camp 4th-8th Grades @ 8am / $380

Jun 10th - Jun 14th

Valor Center, 3775 Grace Blvd, Orchestra Room, Highlands Ranch. 303-471-3000

MC Lars @ 7pm

Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Mainstreet, Parker

Moe's Original BBQ, 3295 S Broadway, Englewood

Football OL/DL Speciality Skill Development Camp @ 7:30am / $189

Jun 12th - Jun 13th

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

Godcaster @ 6pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Thu 6/13

CITRA: Parker Days 2024 @ 6pm Downtown Parker, 19501 Mainstreet, Parker

DannyLux @ 7pm

Gothic Theatre, Englewood

Dannylux @ 7pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

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

School-to-work program at Highlands Ranch hospital aims to bridge a persistent gap

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As thousands of local high school students take the rst steps into their future, Hayden Nguyen joins them. Nguyen is a graduate of Project SEARCH from UCHealth Highlands Ranch, a school-to-work transition program for young adults with signi cant intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“It’s more than just one day of job

experience,” said Nguyen.

Originating at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Project SEARCH got its start in 1996. ere are now over 5,000 sites around the world.

“ e goal of the program is that it ends in meaningful and competitive employment within the community or within the hospital,” Melissa Strickland, director of the Highlands Ranch program said.

e program is part of a solution to a persistent problem those with

disabilities face. e employmentto-population ratio in 2023 was lower for people with a disability than those with no disability, according to the federal Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

e program has supported dozens of young adults at the University of Colorado Hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus since 2017, and expanded to the Highlands Ranch location this past academic year. Nguyen was one of six that made up the rst graduating class at Highlands Ranch.

“When I rst started this program, it was nerve racking,” said Nguyen.

But as he began learning about the

hospital and its departments, Nguyen said it was a fun experience.

Learning how to work in a professional environment, the interns had the ability to explore di erent interests such as radiology, respiratory therapy, food and nutrition, material management, virtual health and more.

Nguyen started in the Women and Infants Unit, but found a real interest in his second semester in the sterile processing department. ere, he said he learned how to enhance the skills he already had.

In addition to developing work-

What to know before ‘reversing’ your retirement

For various reasons, many retirees are headed back to the workforce. If you’re thinking of joining them, you’ll need to consider some factors that may affect your nances.

First, if you’ve been taking Social Security, you could see your payments reduced if you earn over a certain level, at least until you reach your full retirement age, which is likely between 66 and 67.

And your Medicare Part B and Part D premiums are based on your income, so they could rise if you start earning more money. Also, your extra income could push you into a higher income tax bracket.

Still, going back to work can offer some advantages. First, of course, is the added income, which can boost your cash ow and help you reduce your debts. Also, you can contribute to an IRA and possibly a 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored retirement plan.

And you might nd some social bene ts, too, as you re-engage with other workers.

Ultimately, you’ll want to weigh the potential costs of going back to work against the possible bene ts. There’s no one right answer for everyone, but by looking at all the variables, you can reach a decision that works for you.

Investments 4185 E Wildcat Reserve Parkway. Suite 301 Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

Phone: (303) 683-2038 Email: Erik.Niemeier@edwardjones.com

King Soopers salvaged enough food for nearly 5 million meals last year

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Ever wonder what happens to the dented cans or cereal boxes that get pushed aside at King Soopers? Most of the items nd a way to people’s plates through recovery and redistribution e orts with hunger relief organizations that partner with King Soopers.

“It’s our mission to end hunger and waste in our communities, but it takes all of our associates doing their part,” said Jessica Trowbridge of King Soopers and City Market corporate a airs.

Another part of the e ort is to ght climate change by preventing salvageable food from being thrown away. Kroger Co., which operates 153 King Soopers in Colorado, established a Zero Hunger / Zero Waste program in 2018. It aims to build a more resilient, equitable and sustainable food system.

rough the e ort, nearly 6 million pounds of food was rescued last year.

“Which is equivalent to 4.92 million meals,” said Trowbridge.

Such e orts are needed. In Colorado, one in nine people face hunger, according to Feeding America.

e Zero Hunger / Zero Waste program is not just about rescuing and redistributing food. It also aims to increase the a ordability of and access to fresh food.

Feeding America also reports those facing hunger often lack funds to purchase healthy foods. at is why King Soopers activates a markdown program when items in the fresh departments approach their use-by dates, making them more affordable, reducing the amount that would spoil.

e grocer also considers the effort to be a top solution when it comes to reversing the e ects of climate change. Unsellable items may be donated to local food banks and agencies. For example, if the corner of a Cheerios box has a dented corner and gets pushed aside, it’s still usable as long as the cereal inside is not compromised.

King Soopers works with Feeding America as well as the Food Bank of the Rockies, where they pick up the products weekly and redistribute them to local communities.

e federal Department of Agriculture estimates that between 3040% of food produced goes to waste in America. For Zero Hunger / Zero Waste, the goal is to ensure that nonperishable items don’t wind up in the land ll, as well as organic items, because those take longer to break down, producing more climateharming methane. It can also help water systems.

Ralph Powell, the reclamation center manager at King Soopers, added that Colorado’s good samaritan law allows donated products to go to food banks. From there, the food banks will evaluate to make sure it’s safe to consume.

“ ey will trash some of what we give them if it’s not up to their standards,” Powell said.

Any unsold organics not eligible for donation go into a composting program, which Powell helped develop. In addition to helping the environment, their trash bill was reduced by the amount it cost to compost what was being thrown away, said Powell.

With composting taking place at each store, and about 500,000 pounds of mostly produce and deli trimmings each week, King Soopers locations across the state composted over 9.5 thousand pounds last year. Several of the stores commercially bag and sell the compost for people to use in their gardens.

“Oftentimes, this is where the food banks get the majority of that fresh product, which they can redisburse to the community,” said Trowbridge. “It helps them make sure people that are in need are still getting fresh meat or dairy.”

“Always looking for ways that we can leave less of an impact on the earth,” Trowbridge said.

King Soopers reclamation center e King Soopers Reclamation Center in Aurora, near Denver International Airport, operates round the clock. About 180 semi truck trailers lled with plastic containers used for shipping, the bakery, diary, reusable containers and materials like baled cardboard and loose plastic are cleaned out daily at the center.

It didn’t use to be this way. Powell began working at the reclamation center in 1986 in the transportation department.

“It’s totally di erent from what it was,” said Powell. “When it rst started, we were doing glass, steel

cans and aluminum cans.”

For a time, the stores had bins and employees would sort materials customers brought in, but that raised concerns about sanitation within the stores.

In 2023, the reclamation center recycled over 104 million pounds of materials. e top product is baled old corrugated cardboard, making up 94 million pounds.

e cardboard gets compressed in a Baler Compactor, making it easier to transport. Powell said about seven trailers a day take the material down to New Mexico where it is turned into reusable boxes.

Loose plastic is continuously cleaned, compacted and made into 2,000 pound bales that are then sold for deck materials. Plastic bags, which accounted for over 3.2 million pounds last year, also get condensed.

ere is more to the reclamation center than condensing materials. Dairy, bakery and produce crates get sanitized and reused, and eventually recycled when no longer useful.

“We’ve looked at our operation and how do we, instead of using something that’s single use, use something that’s multiuse,” said Trowbridge.

Outside, there are trailers that hold smaller items, such as milk jugs and plastic soda bottles.

Having worked in the industry for nearly four decades, Powell has seen the impacts recycling, composting and donating can have on the community and environment.

“We’re all coming to grips with what hunger is about and what we’re doing to the earth,” said Powell. “ is is just one piece that can help it.”

With about 8 million pounds of cardboard recycled monthly, the cardboard at the King Soopers Reclamation center in Aurora gets compressed in a baler compactor and taken to New Mexico where they get turned into new boxes.

PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

Modern Market Eatery’s Summer Menu Brings the Sunshine

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Colorado-born in 2009, Modern Market Eatery has been a beloved destination for wellness-minded, busy foodies. With 18 restaurants across the Front Range, they’ve been spreading the joy of wholesome, chefcrafted fare one madefrom-scratch dish at a time.

The menu of salads, grain bowls, sandwiches and pizzas changes twice a year to re ect seasonality and incorporate produce at the peak of avor. The brand just announced the addition of a brand new protein

option to its summer menu, Chilled Herb Shrimp! This certi ed sustainable protein takes center stage in dishes like the Shrimp BLT Salad, Green Goddess Shrimp Bowl, and the Chilled Herb Shrimp Protein Bowl.

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kissed seasonal glow-up.

VP of Culinary Chef Nate Weir has always had a soft spot for seasonal cooking.

“I went to culinary school for farm-to-table cuisine, so I always start with what’s in season,” said Chef Nate. “That’s what I love about changing our menu twice a year. Endless opportunities for exploration and creativity.”

Adding shrimp to the summer menu has ignited a new ame of inspiration for Chef Nate and his team. “Shrimp has been so fun

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From indulgent staples to healthy, seasonal dishes, Modern Market Eatery has a menu the whole family can agree on. So soak up the sun with the limitedtime summer menu today! Visit

for locations and to order.

are united in wanting to deport immigrants who are undocumented, nish work on the border wall that Trump began, and Biden halted, and enhance border patrol.

Boebert introduced legislation that she has dubbed as the “Build the Wall, Deport them All Act,” which would follow through on those plans and end birthright citizenship for people whose parents are not citizens.

“ ere is an invasion taking place at our southern border and I have a proven track record of being one of the frontrunners getting our bor-

STANLEY

which would use bonds backed by CECFA to develop the Stanley Film Center. When the deal with the Arizona group did not materialize, the Colorado bonding au -

der secure,” Boebert said. “It’s more a ordable to deport them than to support them.”

Holtorf advocates for militarizing the border and declaring war on drug tra ckers.

“(We should) use our military resources, military support to civilian authorities, leverage those things we already have in the inventory and the manpower that’s already paid for,” he said. “We can shut this border down right now.”

To handle in ation and improve the economy, the candidates point to reducing regulation on domestic energy production and small businesses and cutting government spending and taxes.

Yu said the most common thing he hears from voters is that they are

thority stepped in with the plan to acquire the hotel, which required legislation to adjust its mission and allow the purchase and management of a property.

The legislation does not approve the deal, but only empowers CECFA to own and manage property, John Cullen said Tuesday.

“That doesn’t mean that it’s go -

struggling with rising costs.

“We need to work on deregulation because it is so hard to be productive in society when there’s regulations on everything,” Yu said.

Reducing regulation and downsizing or dismantling government agencies, such as the Department of Education, is a popular idea among the candidates. Sonnenberg suggested he would push for a hiring freeze on all government agencies to curb costs.

“We would reduce the size of government through attrition,” Sonnenberg said. “We’ve grown government so large that people are looking for things to do and then we have overregulation.”

To address the economy, the candidates also agree on the idea of

ing to happen, it just means it’s enabling it. So rather than having an Arizona group, we now have a Colorado group,” Cullen said.

“And when I last checked, people in Colorado are more motivated by things in Colorado.”

Part of the original deal included the sale of Cullen’s 89-unit Fall River Village Resort. A new deal has emerged with the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, the Estes Park Housing Authority and Grand Heritage Hotel Group that would convert the Fall River Village property from vacation rentals to workforce housing.

The Fall River Village deal is not connected to CECFA’s plan with Cullen for the Stanley Hotel.

“It’s important to note that CHFA is not party to any agreements or arrangements pertaining to the sale of the Stanley Hotel, includ -

ramping up domestic energy production.

“ e overbearing restrictions that are being put on our energy sector, when we were just recently energy independent, is driving up the cost of everything from fertilizer for the Eastern Plains to diapers,” Flora said.

Nearing Election Day

Even as the race has narrowed from its starting group of 11 hopeful representatives to six, campaign events continue ahead of the June 25 primary.

Ballots will be mailed starting on June 3 and voters can nd drop box and polling station locations in Douglas County at ElectionsDouglas County.

ing whether that sale may be conditioned upon the sale of Fall River Village Resort,” said Matt Lynn, a spokesman for the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority.

The Colorado Economic Development Commission in 2015 designated the proposed Stanley Film Center a Regional Tourism Act project, qualifying it for $46.4 million in state sales tax incentives over 30 years. The commission last month approved an amendment to the Stanley Film Center plan that included listing both CECFA and the authority’s subsidiary “Stanley Partnership for Art Culture and Education, LLC” as owners of the film center.

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

place independent about structor and create sary and for program,” the said.  16 job Ranch las district’s his when

WORK PROGRAM

place skills, the interns also work on independent living skills. ey spend about an hour each day with an instructor where they learn how to get and maintain a job, how to budget, create a grocery list and other necessary life skills that are transferable.

“ ey’re students who want to and are willing to work and to look for that job when they leave thwe program,” Judy Jordan, principal of the Douglas County Bridge Program said.

e interns have to work at least 16 hours a week and want to have a job year-round and at the Highlands Ranch location, must be from Douglas County schools.

Nguyen has been with the school district’s bridge program for most of his life and expressed his gratitude when he said he is going to miss it.

But, he is excited for what is next, as he would like to take part in the sterile processing academy at UCHealth.

“He’s one of the interns that we’re looking at potentially keeping in the hospital for his employment,” Strickland said.

Another one of his goals is to live independently, which he is one step closer to. He was the only intern this year who drove himself to and from the hospital. Nguyen will stay in touch with his job coach to ensure he is successful in his job.

With e orts like these, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics has tracked a bump in employment rates since 2019. In 2023, the employment-topopulation ratio for those with a disability increased to 22.5%, up 1.2% from the year prior.

e program has already accepted its eight interns for the upcoming year and Jordan is grateful for UCHealth Highlands Ranch. She said it’s important and encouraging to nd businesses that understand

how these students can come in, help them and do the job.

this in a hospital is that you can do any job in the hospital,” said Strick-

land. “You can work in nance, you can work in accounting, you can work in food and nutrition. ere are so many jobs because a hospital is

Told he’d never walk again, Castle Rock man defies odds after stroke

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Dan Le ert dedicated most of his life to traveling across the globe to places like Switzerland and Germany. He spent most of the time outside, riding his motorcycle for thousands of miles. So hearing the words “You’ll never walk again” felt like the end of the world.

He lost his mobility after having a stroke in 2016 and now 70, he has undergone countless hours of physical and occupational therapy.

With the inspiration from his grandkids and the help of a medical device, Dan is walking once again. And, like his motorcycle riding, he’s measuring his miles. Dan has a goal of walking 200 miles by the end of the year. And in 2025, he’ll up the mileage again. He says it’s not about trying to get back to where he used to, but more about seeing where he can go from here.

“I’ve got to do 300 next year,” Dan said. “It’s not more what I had, it’s

what I’m going to do.”

Everything changed on an ordinary February day in 2016. Dan was sitting next to his wife, Vicky, taking part in a homeowners association meeting in Castle Rock, speaking, when his words began to slur. eir property manager asked if he was alright and when Dan responded “No,” 911 was called.

“I was coherent, but not speaking well,” said Dan.

e initial CT scan veri ed Dan had su ered a hemorrhagic stroke, causing bleeding in the brain. Multiple times throughout the night, he was taken in for more scans to monitor the bleeding, which eventually stopped.

Stroke is not only a leading cause of death for Americans, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also states that it’s the leading cause of serious long-term disability in the U.S.  ere are two main categories of strokes according to the American Stroke Association, ischemic and

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hemorrhagic. An ischemic stroke, which accounts for 87% of strokes, occurs when a blood vessel or artery going into the brain is obstructed.

blood vessel leaks or ruptures and bleeds into the brain, putting pressure on the brain, in turn, causing damage.

Dan was in the intensive care unit for six days before spending the next ve weeks at Spalding Rehabilitation Center in Aurora.

He didn’t know how he could keep it up, but little did he know that one of his inspirations had been born just months earlier: Hailey, his grand-

“We brought Hailey into the ICU, into rehab every single day and laid her on his belly and said, ‘ is is why you have to get better,’” Vicky said.  e stroke left Dan in a wheelchair for a year and a half. He was para-

Dan Le ert uses three Bioness devices, one on his thigh, knee and hand to help stimulate the nerves in his arm and leg and help him with his mobility.

PHOTO BY VICKY LEFFERT

SEE SURVIVOR, P30

SURVIVOR

lyzed on the right side of the body, his dominant side. He continues to learn how to adapt everyday, oftentimes with unique products his kids nd.

For some time, he struggled with insurance for his occupational and physical therapy, but his speech therapy was located at Sky Ridge Medical Center. While at speech therapy one day, the couple noticed occupational and physical therapists. ey realized they wanted to be with those therapists. Vicky walked up to the receptionist and asked how she could get her husband in and  Dan soon began therapy to relearn movement and coordination skills for over two years at Sky Ridge. Typically with insurance, Dan said there were only 20 visits per year for occupational therapy and 20 visits for physical therapy, but he went 100 days a year, paying out of pocket.

It’s a functional electrical stimulation system that produces mobility improvements for patients who have instability or mobility issues.  e device also has an app on the phone in which the patient can alter the intensity and an adaptive algorithm that can predict walking patterns and provide stimulation when needed to make it easier to move, according to Bioness.

Needing more intense therapy, Dan began seeing a neuromuscular massage therapist in addition to using the devices.

It was during his rst year with this therapist, in 2020, Dan was back on his feet. He walked a mile-long track. at distance has gradually gone up each year, reaching 120 miles in 2023.

He did multiple forms of therapy, including constraint therapy, aqua therapy, acupuncture, deep needle therapy and massage therapy.

“I was looking for anything,” said Dan . “Everything I did contributed to getting better.”

en, a friend from one of his motorcycle groups came to visit one day.

He told Dan about a medical device called Bioness L300 Go, which the friend’s father had used after having a stroke. After some research and learning their insurance wouldn’t cover the device, the couple met

with a Bioness representative.

“It came down to, we don’t care what it costs,” Vicky said.

With one device on his thigh and two others on a knee and a hand, the devices promote recovery by activating neuromuscular pathways re-

Although the recovery has been long and frustrating at times, said Vicky, it’s also been rewarding. eir two youngest grandsons have learned how to walk alongside Dan and the walking has become easier with the help of his new puppy, Grizzly Bear.

Both Dan and Vicky want to encourage those who have had a stroke to not give up.

“You can do it,” said Vicky. “Try any and everything that’s out there because it all brings something to

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L300

ert

year.

PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

MCDONALDS

e Wendy’s on Castle Pines Parkway o I-25 is open until midnight, according to its webpage.

Jim Boselli, an owner-operator with McDonald’s locations in the Front Range, told city council that the planned Castle Pines location had not been determined to be 24/7.

But a letter from the developer’s team in January refers to “the 24hour operations of the store.”

‘Hard to argue’

As for whether adding a McDonald’s would drive property values down, Toby Damisch, who heads the county’s property valuation of-

ce, doesn’t believe fast food restaurants necessarily negatively a ect home prices.

“Our o ce will typically adjust our value models downward on the homes that directly overlook and back to a drive-through restaurant. If a speci c address does not back to it, we don’t typically adjust for it,” said Damisch, the county assessor, adding: “ ere is a new McDonald’s on Chambers at Hess that is visible from a few dozen homes and we’ve seen no value loss there. However, none of the homes back directly to the restaurant.”

Damisch, whose o ce calculates home values for property tax purposes, noted how the upcoming indoor self-storage business — to be built between the nearby homes and the proposed McDonald’s spot —

could factor into property values.

“If they cannot see (McDonald’s) or hear it because of the development in between, it’s hard to argue anything really,” Damisch said. “ e current residents may hate it, but imagine you are the buyer in a few years — I might be more annoyed with the self storage.”

‘Pro-property rights’

Before voting to reject the McDonald’s plan, Councilmember Roger Hudson said that city council doesn’t have much latitude during a property development process.

“I wish I was as magical as the residents believe that we are,” Hudson said.

Moving a McDonald’s or picking a di erent restaurant is not a power the council has, Hudson added.

Cities like Castle Pines set the rules, called “zoning,” for where different types of property development — like homes, commercial buildings and other land uses — can occur.

But once those rules are set, if a property owner wants to build some-

thing that ts within the zoning for an area, Castle Pines legally must allow it if it’s consistent with the city’s property development standards, guidelines and other city goals.

City o cials can change zoning — for example, changing where fast food restaurants are allowed — but once a property owner has applied to the city to build something, the city must judge it based on the rules in place when the project started.

In rejecting the McDonald’s plan, though, the city council focused on broad language that lies in the Castle Pines property development standards, looking at how a development might a ect the “public health, safety and welfare of the community.”

In the minority, Councilmember Geo Blue argued in favor of the McDonald’s with Mayor Tracy Engerman echoing him.

“I’m very pro-business and proproperty rights,” Blue said.

Councilmembers Mulvey, Eubanks, Hudson, Ben Price and Ron Cole voted to deny the plan, with Engerman and Blue voting in favor of it.

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