Highlands Ranch Herald June 20, 2024

Two Democrats in tussle to unseat Commissioner George Teal

Angela Thomas and Julien Bouquet face o in Douglas County’s District 2

We are asking Coloradans what they want candidates to focus on

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Incumbent Douglas County Commissioner George Teal, a Republican, is running unopposed in the upcoming June 25 primary. at places him automatically on the ballot for November, where he will face a Democratic challenger.

e question for Democratic voters in the county is: Which one? Angela omas and Julien Bouquet are on the party’s primary ballot. Both Democrats are posi-

“We have to bring people back together and make decisions that are good for all the people of the county, not just a certain demographic,” said omas, a former chair of the Douglas County Democratic Party.

Thousands of respondents express frustration with polarization

ousands of Coloradans responding to a survey by their local newsrooms say candidates competing for their votes this year need to be focused primarily on several broad issues: democracy and good government, the economy and cost of living, the environment, climate and natural resources, immigration and abortion. Which concerns weigh most heavily on respondents’ minds changes with their politics. Conservatives in the survey prioritized immigration and the economy, followed by the state of the government. Moderates and liberals, in contrast, chose democracy and good government as their top issue by a wide margin.

“If we don’t have free and informed citizens with equal access to the ballot box, then we won’t have

BY TINA GRIEGO, MEGAN VERLEE, NEWS STAFF COLORADO NEWS COLLABORATIVE, CPR NEWS, COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Julien Bouquet

Angela Thomas

Castle Rock gives tentative green light to Fourth of July fireworks display

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Castle Rock has given the go-ahead to a Fourth of July reworks display at the Acme Brick facility. e 15-minute display is slated to start at sundown at around 9:30 p.m. and should be visible around town. e show will start with a three shot salute.

Some of the best places to see the display are downtown, the Metzler Ranch Community Park, the Miller Activity Complex, the Rock Park and parts of the Red Hawk neighborhood, according to the town.

ere is a possibility the show could be canceled if the town is under Stage 2 re restrictions. And, in the event of inclement weather, the display will be postponed to July 5.

Personal use of reworks is permitted in town from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 4, unless re restrictions are in place. Fireworks that leave the ground, explode or break into pieces are illegal.  More information: CRgov.com/Fireworks

SWAT responds to gun incident at Cherry Knolls Park

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Arapahoe County sheri deputies responded to a park in west Centennial earlier this month after a man in a pickup truck camper allegedly pointed a shotgun at someone walking in the park. e incident set o a SWAT response that ended with no injuries.

Law enforcement received a call around 7 a.m. about an alleged menacing incident at Cherry Knolls Park in a neighborhood southeast of Arapahoe Road and University Boulevard.

After deputies arrived on scene on Elizabeth Street, two people came out of the pickup, which had a camper over the truck bed, but a third person remained inside, said Deputy John Bartmann, spokesperson for the sheri ’s o ce.

“ e SWAT team was called out (on) a barricade, and our hostage negotiations team was out there, and they made contact with the one remaining person,” Bartmann said.

He surrendered peacefully to

deputies around 8:30 a.m. and was taken into custody, Bartmann said. Deputies aren’t sure what led to the incident, but witnesses said they saw what happened, Bartmann said.

“It appears that there may have been some words spoken back and forth between one of the citizens that was walking in the park and the male who is now in custody,” Bartmann said, adding he doesn’t know who started the interaction.

Deputies had not found the alleged shotgun and were waiting to execute a search warrant on the camper, which was removed from the parking lot on a tow truck, Bartmann said at about 10 a.m.

e man, unnamed by o cials, had a warrant out of another area outside of Arapahoe sheri jurisdiction, said Bartmann, who didn’t know what that warrant was for.

e other people in the camper were not suspected of anything, Bartmann said.

e police presence closed tra c while deputies investigated at the park.

Wouldn’t It Be Great if You Could Assume the Seller’s Low-Interest Loan? Maybe, if It’s a VA Loan

Most mortgage loans are not assumable, but VA loans are assumable when certain conditions are met. Here’s what I have learned about that.

There are many sellers who are veterans and obtained a VA loan on the home they are now selling. If they don’t need to regain their certificate of eligibility for a VA loan on their replacement home, they can sell their home to anyone — not just a veteran — and let that person assume their VA loan. For the seller to regain their eligibility for a VA loan on their replacement home, the buyer would have to be able to qualify for a VA loan as a veteran.

Wendy Renee, our in-house lender at Golden Real Estate, helped me learn the rules for assuming a VA loan.

Rocket Mortgage has an excellent website explaining those rules and is the source for the following. I’ll post a link to their webpage on our company blog, http://RealEstateToday.substack.com

The good news is that a buyer can assume a VA loan, even if they would not qualify for a VA loan for themselves. If the seller has a VA mortgage at, say, 2.75%, a buyer would get to take over that loan and make the same payments. Not bad, given today’s loan rates over 6 percent!

Conventional loans guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are not

assumable. Sellers with a VA loan will want to take advantage of this crucial selling point over competing listings on the MLS. Every seller who has an existing VA loan should have his listing agent emphasize that fact in the MLS, pointing out its interest rate and that it’s assumable. However, if it’s important to the seller that he regain his entitlement to a VA loan for his replacement home, then it should be noted in the MLS that the seller will only allow an eligible veteran to assume the loan.

Hooray for that veteran, because a new VA loan would probably have an interest rate over 6%.

Although the buyer will not need to meet the military eligibility, he or she will need to meet the financial eligibility requirements of the lender. The lender, not the VA, must approve the assumption. If the lender approves your financial qualifications, you can proceed with the assumption. Note: Lenders are not required by the VA to allow assumption. Most lenders have a minimum FICO score to qualify for a loan. With Rocket Mortgage, that score is 580. Other lenders require a minimum score of 620.

VA loans don’t require a down payment, but in assuming a VA loan, you may be asked for a down payment. Considering that most homes for sale have plenty of equity due to the rise in home

Megan’s Insights on the June Real Estate Market

By MEGAN ALLER

First American Title

As we navigate the real estate market for the week of June 5th-12th, 2024, it is clear that the market continues to retract. Increased inventory and hesitant buyers have led to significant shifts in market dynamics. Now the key points:

Retraction persists as more inventory enters the market and pending transactions decline, leading to a higher months’ supply of inventory than usual for the second week of June.

The growing inventory and shrinking buyer pool have caused prices to fall slightly as we transition into summer.

Our average daily active listings have increased week over week, with inventory significantly higher compared to the same period last year.

New listings have shown an upward trend, and this activity is expected to continue growing until September. However, pending transactions have declined compared to the previous weekend.

The odds of selling have decreased

values, that’s not very likely.

VA loans require the payment of a funding fee, and that is true for the buyer who assumes a VA loan. That funding fee is 0.5% of the loan amount. As with the original borrower, that fee can be waived if the buyer is a disabled veteran or the spouse of a deceased veteran with a service-related disability.

Compensating for that 0.5% funding fee is the fact that you won’t have other fees, including paying for an appraisal.

A processing fee of $250 to $300 will be charged to the buyer in addition to the funding fee.

Note that the VA is not the lender

The loan is merely guaranteed by the VA. The underwriting requirements may differ from lender to lender.

So, how do you find a home on which the seller has a VA loan? Unfortunately, that is a not a searchable field on the

MLS, even for us MLS members. However, if you find a home you want to buy, we can find that property on Realist, an app within the MLS, which tells what kind of loan, if any, was taken out by the seller. And, of course, we can ask the listing agent if that VA loan is still in place and what the current balance and interest rate is. Depending on the buyer’s cash reserves, it may be necessary to apply for a second mortgage.

When the loan is assumed, the seller needs to request a release of liability from the lender. Without that, the seller could be responsible for late payment fees or even default by the new borrower. Ask your lender in advance of agreeing to the assumption whether you will receive a release. If they won’t, that could or should be a deal breaker.

If you’d like help finding a home with a VA loan in place, call us (below).

Coming: A 5-BR Home in Scenic Heights

compared to last week, trending historically below the average for June in previous years.

To balance the market with a 6-month supply of inventory, we would need a significantly higher number of total listings, indicating we are currently far from market equilibrium.

Showings last week were down slightly, with the average number of showings per property and the number of showings required to go under contract showing some fluctuations.

Price reductions were more prevalent this week, with a notable portion of units going under contract after reducing their price. The size of these reductions has remained consistent.

If you are wondering when to list your property this summer, it is advisable to list as soon as possible. Growing inventory and a diminishing buyer pool could lead to longer days on market and potential price reductions. Listing earlier in the summer may help achieve the best possible price for your home.

The sellers designed this 4,603-sq.-ft. home at 6714 Field St. in Arvada for entertaining and were the general contractor when building it in 1985. Spaces for entertaining abound both indoors and on the large wraparound deck, which was rebuilt with Trex two years ago. There's an indoor hot tub in its own room that is well ventilated to avoid moisture-related issues. Oak hardwood floors are on the main level, while the upstairs and the mostly finished basement have wall-to-wall carpeting. All bathrooms and the kitchen are tiled. There is not only a separate den on the main floor, but also a reading room and sewing room upstairs. This home is an early example of passive solar design for exploiting solar gain through thermal mass in the winter but staying cool in the summer. In addition to the solar thermal panels on the roof which provide hot water for the home, there are solar thermal panels built into the south wall of the living room to capture solar gain in the winter for dispersal inside the house after dark. The backyard includes a large garden area and a shed with electricity which has two compartments — a storage area with a concrete floor and a south-facing area with gravel floor and windows to capture solar gain for starting plants in the late winter. There is no HOA and there’s a gate on the north side of the house for parking an RV next to the garage. Take a narrated video tour at www.GRElistings.com, then come to my open house on June 22, 11am to 1pm.

Jim Smith

Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851

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

Broker Associates:

JIM SWANSON, 303-929-2727

CHUCK BROWN, 303-885-7855

DAVID DLUGASCH, 303-908-4835

GREG KRAFT, 720-353-1922

AUSTIN POTTORFF, 970-281-9071

KATHY JONKE, 303-990-7428

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

CANDIDATES

democracy and the country won’t be worth preserving,” Marcus Pohlmann, a Highlands Ranch resident and a professor emeritus of political science, wrote in a comment that was echoed by many others.

An issue’s ranking reveals its importance to voters, but not the nuances of their views. ose nuances are emerging in the answer to the survey’s core question: “What do you want candidates to talk about as they compete for your vote?”

So far, more than 4,500 Coloradans have answered that question. e vast majority to date self-identify as white and liberal or moderate and live along the densely populated — and deeply blue — Front Range. But voters in red, rural communities and purple suburbs are also responding. And lots of people have lots they want to say to politicians regarding what’s important:

From Arvada: “Will candidates truly be a voice for the citizen and not just vote party lines? In recent years, I have seen the state take over more and more control on what happens in our local communities. I want a candidate who listens to the people.”

From Highlands Ranch: “How to heal the divisions in our society. Foreign a airs Treating refugees and immigrants with dignity, breaking the broken system.”

From Lakewood: “Education - our teachers aren’t paid enough for what they must handle. Crime - it’s out of control. Don’t see cops patrolling anymore, speeds are unchecked, guns are the solution to disagreements. Competitive wages - people can’t make a living wage.”

From Littleton: “Candidates should speak to the wealth gap in USA, it’s causes, remediation, and prevention.”

From ornton: “How willing they are to address climate change and to preserve/strengthen a woman’s right to make her own decisions about her own body.”

From Fort Collins: “ e pursuit of unsustainable (population) growth is inexcusable and should be dropped. is includes the ridiculous YIMBY (aka real estate developer) policies.”

From Fort Morgan: “I would like them to talk about how high and unreasonable the cost of living has become. Do we pay rent and insurance but go hungry?”

From Denver: “Housing, housing, housing. e cost of living is too high

and it is primarily driven by the high cost of housing. We need to break down legal barriers and construct housing of all types, especially in dense urban areas and around transit.”

From Fremont County: “Illegal immigration, violations of our constitutional 2nd right amendment, stopping the Trump tax cuts which will result in higher taxes, economy/cost of living, increasing oil and gas production.”

From Durango: “ e homeless situation is out of control. Vets, young families, panhandlers on corners, and those without jobs, how do states handle this?? Immigrants brought in who are seeking asylum?? Monies going out to countries in need vs. our own country… I think we need to focus on our economy and our homeland rst.”

From Alamosa County: “How they plan on limiting government involvement in my life. De ne their priorities so that I may determine how they align with mine.”

From Monte Vista: “Water equity, rural equity, less guns, state bank for small biz loans, less throw-money-atthem public transportation…”

From Aurora: “What would you do to reduce wealth inequity? Would you support/subsidize starter homebuilding initiatives? Would you support before and after school childcare for elementary students?”

From Colorado Springs: “Enshrining marriage equality in the Colorado constitution… LGBTQIA+ rights are at the top of my list. I identify as lesbian/ queer, and my wife (they/them) is nonbinary and masc-presenting. e threat to our personal liberty from the right is terrifying.”

Joe Brooks, a 53-year-old father of elementary-school-age children who lives in ornton, summed up a common sentiment while acknowledg-

ing political reality.. “I’d love to hear them talk more about what’s really really at stake, which is personal liberty and freedom. Everybody really wants that, but people disagree on how that looks.”

Among other highlights from the survey so far:

Many self-identi ed conservatives, who chose immigration as top concern, are calling for closure of the southern border and the deportation of both recent asylum-seekers and people who’ve lived here long term without documentation.  ose who identi ed as liberal named “abortion” as a top-three concern, closely followed by the economy and then social justice and equity.

Young people, those 18-29, put the economy and cost of living in the No. 1 spot, followed by democracy, then the environment. Social justice and equity comes up No. 4. However, this group, like conservatives, is underrepresented in the responses so far.

Survey respondents express much higher trust in the fairness of local elections than in national ones, but conservatives indicate far more distrust in both. Six in 10 self-identi ed conservatives say they have no condence in the fairness of the national election and nearly a quarter express the same lack of faith in the local elections.

Looking at survey responses overall, without accounting for political lean, urban, suburban and rural residents who responded to the survey share the same top concerns in the same order: Democracy, economy, environment, immigration and abortion. But rural respondents follow that up with “personal liberty” as their nexthighest concern while urban and suburban residents named “social justice and equity.”

National and international politics course through the responses and many survey respondents have litmus-test questions for candidates: Do you believe Trump won the 2020 election? Do you support the overturn of Roe v. Wade? Do you support continued funding for Ukraine? For Israel? Do you have a plan to address climate change? Do you support the complete separation of church and state?

While national politics dominate these bright-line questions, there is no shortage of questions about local concerns. People responding to their local newsrooms’ surveys are asking about tra c on Tower Road, Front Range air quality, rebuilding the Douglas County health department, homelessness on the Western Slope, health care on the Eastern Plains, land-use policies (everywhere), low-income housing for seniors in Mesa County, and workforce housing in Routt County.

A note on the survey itself: is is not a scienti c poll. Data on race and ethnicity was awed and will be included in later stories.

One of the most striking takeaways from the survey so far is how many respondents answered the question of what they want candidates to talk about with how they want candidates to speak. Without rancor, without partisanship, posturing or platitudes, and with commitments to compromise, transparency and pragmatism.

“How they will get over petty partisan bickering and actually do the job they were elected to do,” Tim Samuelson, a 42-year-old self-described moderate who lives in Denver, wrote in his survey response. “Form policies together that aren’t fringe issues that the majority of the public doesn’t think about on a daily basis. Get to work, quit the gamesmanship.”

Put more bluntly by another survey respondent: “How they plan to x this mess, not what a jackass the other guy is. We already know that.”

Hyper-partisanship is a perennial lament about politics. But the sharp — and sometimes plaintive — edge in the call for candidates to work together seems in part intensi ed by the sense among respondents that the stakes are just too high now to do otherwise. at sentiment surfaces in the bigpicture responses: democracy in peril, the planet in danger, our personal and civil liberties under attack. But anxiety also simmers in respondents’ dayto-day concerns, worries that can be summed up with: can’t buy a house, can’t a ord rent, our roads are bad, our schools need help, farming is un-

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CANDIDATES

der threat, taxes are unfairly assessed and distributed, tra c is killing us, our healthcare system is broken, the gap between the haves and have-nots has become a chasm and I’m never, ever, making it to the other side.

In the face of all that, Samuelson, who is also the father of three young children whom he worries will grow up with fewer opportunities and more threats, nds the partisan sniping not simply intolerable, but irresponsible.

“I just get the feeling from so many politicians that it’s about being heard and seen and having that platform instead of the desire to govern,” he said in an interview.

More than 300 miles southwest, Bay eld resident Evanne Caviness shares Samuelson’s frustration and builds upon it.

In her response to the Durango Herald’s survey, Caviness emphasized a point made by other respondents: She and her husband, and the things that concern them, cannot be reduced to one side of the partisan line or the other.

“I’m progressive in social issues, but I’m also a rural rancher,” she wrote in her survey. “So we don’t t neatly in a box like many candidates treat us.”

Caviness lives in the ird Congressional District, the massive, sprawling home to mansions and mobile home parks, to the mountains that nestle Aspen west through farmland and

public lands, south into tribal nations, through villages built on Spanish land grants and working-class Pueblo neighborhoods into the southeastern Plains.

Caviness wants it made plain that she is as complex as her district. She is 27. She is Latina, Indigenous and white. She married her high school sweetheart and they are now rstgeneration farmers and ranchers who sell grass-fed beef, and, so, yeah, they’d like a word with Gov. Jared Polis about his “MeatOut” day. But Caviness also works for the nonpro t National

Young Farmers Coalition and she is dedicated to eliminating systemic barriers that have kept young people and people of color out of agriculture.

She wants a candidate eager to sit on the House Agriculture committee. She wants a candidate who will recognize structural racism as real. She wants a candidate who knows what the price of land and cattle is doing to farmers and ranchers. She wants a candidate who understands that she can hold down a full-time job and help her husband on the ranch and still need to go to a local food program twice a month

to ease the strain on the grocery budget. She wants a candidate to do more than sympathize with the fact that she has to drive two of the couple’s three young children nearly six hours to Denver to see a medical specialist because they can’t get the care they need in rural Colorado.

Caviness doesn’t agree with some of the politics of her older, conservative neighbors, but says that she and her husband will drop everything to answer their call for help with the cows or anything else. “ at’s just who we are as a community.”

And so she wants that, too, a candidate who has a concrete plan to build on common ground rather than exploit divides.

“So long as we are distracted by whatever is trending on social media at the moment, whatever outrageous thing we have to be mad about now, it’s, like, OK, but yeah, young farmers are still not going to be able to buy land,” Caviness says.

“My kids are still going to have to go to Denver to go to the audiologist and I have to pay for that out of pocket. ese are issues that are still happening while you are debating something ridiculous that doesn’t a ect us on the day to day.”

Tina Griego is the managing editor of the Colorado News Collaborative, which is leading the Voter Voices project. Megan Verlee is the public a airs editor at Colorado Public Radio, the project’s lead partner. Colorado Community Media is among local news organizations across the state participating in the Voter Voices project.

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SHOW SOME COURAGE!

George C. Marshall once remarked all the generals he knew would give up their lives for their country. But very few would give up their stars. Meaning moral courage is rarer than physical courage.

It is even rarer in politics.

The Colorado GOP recently sent out a statewide email communication attacking fellow Americans. The email displayed an image of Christ with demonic red eyes and an adaptation of the Westboro Baptist Church slogan chanted to disrupt funerals of fallen American service-members: “God Hates Flags”. This was followed by an exhortation to burn all Pride flags.

I call on the Douglas County GOP, its elected officials and candidates to repudiate that hate.

After two weeks waiting for a response, your silence is deafening.

I do not ask more from you than I ask of myself. As the most conservative Democrat in the Capitol, I often stand-alone from my party. I was the sole House Democrat to vote against a bill to allow students as young as 12 to receive mental health exams and counseling not only without a parent’s knowledge, but against their express wishes to the contrary. I was the sole Democrat to vote against a law restricting what doctors could say to pregnant women due to First Amendment concerns (a vote vindicated by a court injunction). I fought for fiscally sound policies and against special interests; defended TABOR; worked to lower property taxes and pushed back on policies from my party I viewed as excessive or not in sync with Highlands Ranch. And I challenged decades long violations of Colorado’s Sunshine Laws by the legislature that led a former GOP Senate Majority Leader to publicly comment: “It took courage…to blow the whistle on this practice.”

But I have no patience with bigotry. I am tired of cancelling personal plans to confront militia members at DougCo Pride; calling out DougCo law enforcement to sever ties with militia groups who engage in unlawful conduct to intimidate the LGBTQ community; being the sole DougCo official who will speak out against a bill to define trans kids out of existence and speaking out against blatant racial animus.

So please repudiate the divisive hatred your party directed towards many you aspire to represent. I strive to listen to, and represent, EVERYONE in Highlands Ranch. I ask that you have the courage to make a similar effort. After more than two decades in the Marine Corps, I know courage. And I know cowardice. Which do you think you are showing?

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FROM PAGE 1

Bouquet — a middle school teacher for Douglas County School District — said he wants to focus on the county’s wellbeing. He thinks county leaders have been “way too political.”

“I think this county commissioner board has made huge mistakes when it comes to taking advantage of political opportunities (that) appeal to the farthest right-wing groups that are supporting them,” Bouquet said.

Both candidates spoke to the Douglas County News-Press about their campaigns and stances on the issues.

omas also has three years experience as a marketing director for an oil company, worked as a small-business owner and ran an independent print shop.

Bouquet serves as a member of the RTD board of directors, representing the transportation district’s region G, which includes most of Parker, Lone Tree, and portions of Centennial and Aurora. Bouquet won election to the RTD board in 2020.

omas and Bouquet are facing o in county commissioner District 2, the vast region that covers Castle Rock and the southern portion of the county, including much of Douglas’ rural areas.

Given the high number of registered Republicans in the county, either Democrat would face a di cult race in the November election.

Douglas County commissioners are elected “at large” fromone of three geographic districts. at means commissioners are required to reside in di erent districts, but voters throughout the entire county cast ballots for each seat.

Commissioners are the county’s policy-making body, approving Douglas’ annual budget and passing local laws that govern “unincorporated” areas, or those outside of city and town limits. at includes Highlands Ranch and many other parts of the county.

In addition to the District 2 race, the District 3 race is also competitive — three Republicans are battling for the northwest Douglas County seat. at district’s population center is Highlands Ranch. ose Republicans, Priscilla Rahn, state Sen. Kevin Van Winkle and John Carson, are running to replace outgoing Commissioner Lora omas, who cannot run for reelection because of term limits.

In District 3, one Democrat — Josh Smith — has led documentation to run for the seat and is also unopposed in the primary.

For a look at District 3’s candidates,

see the News-Press’ earlier story attinyurl.com/DouglasDistrict3.

Here’s what District 2’s Democratic hopefuls had to say on the issues and their backgrounds.

‘Understand the county’

Angela omas says her background prepared her for handling commissioner duties.

“One of the things that the county commissioners do is oversee the (county) health and human services departments,” omas said, adding that those are topics “I have experience and expertise in.”

She says she worked with budgets in the business world.

“I did contracts with people to provide them printing materials, those kinds of things,” omas added.

Bouquet has taught for several years at Rocky Heights Middle School in Highlands Ranch, where students learn lm editing in his class. He taught photojournalism as well.

He also served as a substitute, teaching in schools around the county.

“I understand the county really well and the families,” Bouquet said. He added: “I’ve gotten to know them well, got to know their children well and got to know what their concerns are honestly.”

Talking housing

Bouquet lamented that house prices in the county make it di cult for teachers to own a home. He wants leaders to talk to developers about needing diversity in housing types — like condominiums.

“If you make these developments that are actually a ordable for working families, for teachers, for nurses, for seniors, for rst responders and young families, you’re going to see people want to live in the county,” Bouquet said. omas echoed that, hoping for “some small bungalow-style homes that are designed for a single person or a young couple to start out in.”

She’d like to see more low-income apartments in the county while also acknowledging families with children

Julien Bouquet, a Democrat, speaks during an April 24 forum in in Highlands Ranch for candidates running for Douglas County commissioner. He’s flanked by another Democratic candidate, Angela Thomas, and Commissioner George Teal, a Republican, on left. PHOTO BY

who need more than an apartment.

“We need to have places for people to live who work here,” omas said. “Because people working in our hospitality industry here, they aren’t making 80, 90, $100,000 a year. ey’re making $50,000 or less.”

Cheaper, or “starter,” homes for families allow them to begin building their own wealth, “and I think we need to get back to that in some way,” omas said.

“I want people to recognize that not everybody in this county is a uent, and probably more people than they’d like to imagine aren’t a uent,” omas said. “ ey’re just struggling to get by.”

Looking at ‘RWR’ plan e Democrats also talked about what’s known as the Renewable Water Resources plan, an idea that has drawn controversy in county politics. at’s a proposal to pump about 22,000 acre-feet of water per year to the county from the San Luis Valley in the south part of the state.

An acre-foot is the equivalent of a one-foot-deep pool about the size of a football eld.Renewable Water Resources, often called RWR, is the private company that proposed the project.

In 2022, Commissioner Abe Laydon joined Lora omas in deciding not to move forward with the project, and Teal continued to support it.

Angela omas does not support the RWR project.

“ e San Luis Valley already struggles for water,” omas said. “No one should be taking it from them.”

Bouquet said the project “just doesn’t seem right.”

“It’s not right for us as a growing suburb and community” to pump water from that area, he added. e balance of how Douglas County allows development is tied to the issue of water supply, Bouquet noted.

“Are we building infrastructure that is quality growth and looking into using the best amount of water as possible?” Bouquet said. “I think that’s what we need to encourage as a county commissioner.”

ELLIS ARNOLD

Sun Jr., a ‘psych mountain rock’ experience at the Mile High Hoedown

BY JO ANN M. COLTON

If you yearn to fly back to the sounds of yesteryear, you will love soaring to new heights with Boulder’s own Sun Jr, appearing at the MILE HIGH HOEDOWN later this month! The band’s sound is a blend of psychedelia, cosmic cowboy and Americana with indie-folk influences.

Friends Nod Norkus (drums), Jim Heekin (guitar/singer), Matt Kubis (banjo/singer), Jon Schimek (pedal steel guitar), and Jeremiah Streets (keys/ bass/organ) launched the band in 2013. They practiced in the evenings in Jim’s basement (“The Bottoms”), where they have become a “band of brothers.”

Sun Jr. hit the stage with a style all their own and immediately made an impression. From a spot on the “Gentleman of the Road” tour in Salida with Mumford & Sons, Dawes and the Flaming Lips in 2015, they’ve grinded their way into a stellar act that you cannot miss.

During the 2020 COVID pandemic, the band leaned heavily into long basement jams, taking notes from the likes of Pink Floyd and late ’60s bands that played for art’s sake. They branched into livestreaming to reach out to more folks and have continued to do so.

“In February 2024, (Heekin) posted a TikTok video of our song ‘Buttercorn’ from a live performance at Dharma Farm

— and it went viral,” Norkus said. “The post garnered 2.3 million views and about 40,000 new fans.”

The post was the mega break that has opened more doors to some of Colorado’s best venues and a “second media wave” of the post expanded their reach even farther, he said.

“We started receiving invitations to play in California, Texas, and points beyond the U.S.,” Norkus said.

The band’s current goal is

mostly to ignore national invites and build an ardent local fan base. To stay connected, they are partnering with Chris Wright of Violet Recording to capture their Colorado live shows to share more broadly. Wright will also engineer a series of in-studio live recordings, possibly capturing two albums from this dual recording process.

Visit sunjrband.com for the latest band information (recordings, play dates — and more)! Then, “go down” to the MILE HIGH HOEDOWN and enjoy Sun Jr.’s “Psych Mountain Rock” ex-

perience LIVE at the Stampede, 2431 S. Havana Street, in Aurora.

MILE HIGH HOEDOWN attendees can enjoy food truck food and beverages, learn new line dances with instructor/choreographer Laurie Burkardt, “creative cut” or screen print their own T-shirt with Ink & Drink, purchase a custom hat from hat shaper Parker Thomas, get a “flash” tattoo from Ace of MR. ACE Art & Tattoos; and visit Little People Face Painting for cool, but not permanent, body/ face/hair art — you’ll be sure to sparkle during Sun Jr.’s LIVE, never-to-be-duplicated hoedown performance!

Get the “low down” on the MILE HIGH HOEDOWN, which is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, June 29, by heading to coloradocommunitymedia.com/ mile-high-hoedown. And GET A MOVE ON, partners! We’re running a limited-time buy-oneget-one promotion. Entry ONLY tickets are $20/each ($25 at the door). Don’t miss out and BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

FBI

Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce sounds alarm about ‘gold bar scams’

issued warning to the public on schemes aimed to steal money

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Local and federal o cials are warning people to be vigilant amid a string of “gold bar scams,” a type of crime that can put people, particularly older residents, at risk of losing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In the past few months, the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce has received reports of residents being instructed to purchase gold bars and then hand deliver them to suspects, according to a news release.

“No one gets to come to Douglas County, prey on our elderly residents, steal their life savings, and get away with it,” Douglas County Sheri Darren Weekly said in a prepared statement. It’s a type of crime the FBI also issued a public warning about this year. Here’s a look at how crimes in Douglas County reportedly played out.

How the crimes allegedly unfold

Sheri ’s detectives arrested two suspects in late May in a sting operation in a parking lot near Interstate 25 and Castle Pines Parkway. A 76-year-old

victim helped detectives in their e orts to apprehend the suspects.

e victim reported that she received a pop-up message on her iPad in March, which prevented her from using it. e message directed her to call a phone number, which she called. She was told that “some of her identity and accounts had been compromised” and that she was being forwarded to the “bank’s fraud department,” according to the news release. She spoke with someone claimed to be “agent Richard Parker, badge #GS7408.”

She wasn’t talking to an o cial. She was talking to a scammer, who told the victim that fraudulent checks had been written for pornography sites. He also said there was a gag order on the case and she should not speak with anyone about the incident, including her husband.

e man directed the victim to withdraw funds from her accounts to purchase gold bars. He told her the gold bars would be delivered to her safe deposit box.

(In this kind of crime, scammers tell victims their nancial accounts were hacked or are at risk of being hacked and, as a result, their funds need to be protected. Scammers then instruct victims to purchase gold or other precious metals, telling victims they will safeguard the assets in a protected account on their behalf, according to the FBI. In reality, victims never hear back from

the scammers and lose their money.) rough the investigation, detectives worked closely with the victim to gather information. When the two suspects arrived to pick up the gold bars, detectives arrested them.

e charges include theft and crimes against at-risk persons.

In a separate case in late March, an 81-year-old woman reported a similar scam. e victim purchased $429,000 in gold bars and dropped them o to a man waiting in a black SUV in a parking lot in the Littleton area.

She wrote down the vehicle’s license plate information, and a Douglas County detective tracked the suspect to Illinois.

Illinois state police detained the suspect and recovered $1.1 million in gold bars, and detectives have identi ed additional victims in other parts of the country, according to the news release.

FBI provides tips to stay safe e FBI in January issued a warning about scammers instructing victims to convert their assets into cash “and/or buy gold, silver, or other precious metals to protect their funds.”

From May to December 2023, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3, saw an uptick in the activity, with aggregated losses of over $55 million.

e FBI o ered the following tips to avoid being scammed:

• e U.S. government and legitimate businesses will never request you purchase gold or other precious metals.

BY

• Protect your personal information and never disclose your home address or agree to meet with unknown individuals to deliver cash or precious metals.

• Do not click on unsolicited popups on your computer or links sent via text messages. (Be careful of email links and attachments.)

• Do not contact unknown telephone numbers provided in popups, texts or emails.

• Do not download software at the request of unknown individuals who contact you.

• Do not allow unknown individuals access to your computer.

If something “feels o or raises suspicion, trust your gut instincts,” the sheri ’s o ce added.

“Seek advice from trusted family members, friends, or law enforcement before proceeding with any nancial transactions,” the news release said. e FBI requests victims report these fraudulent or suspicious activities atwww.ic3.gov as quickly as possible.

Victims aged 60 or over who need assistance with ling an IC3 complaint can contact the Elder Justice Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 833-372-8311.

More: Information on scams is available at the FBI’s site at tinyurl. com/FBIscamalert.

Ad supporting Castle Rock Republican Max Brooks wrong about military service, candidate says

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A Republican candidate running to represent Castle Rock at the state Capitol is clarifying his background after an independent political committee attempting to boost his candidacy sent voters an ad in the mail with wrong information.

Max Brooks, who is running for Colorado House District 45, said the advertisement from a group una liated with his campaign wrongly calls him an Army veteran and a native of Castle Rock, where he serves on the

town’s council.

Brooks said he went to a military boarding school, but never served in the military. Brooks added that he was born in Oklahoma, grew up in Lakewood and moved to Castle Rock in 2006.

“I want to set the record straight and apologize to the voters, especially to the men and women who served in our armed forces,” Brooks said in a statement. “I come from a military family. I hold service members in the highest regard and have the most profound respect for them.” e advertisement came from

Ready Colorado Action Fund, an independent expenditure committee that’s not directly linked with Brooks’ campaign. Colorado election laws prohibit independent expenditure committees from working directly with candidates or campaigns.

Brooks emphasized that he has never claimed to have served in the military.

Ready Colorado is a conservative group focused on school choice and education that supports Republican candidates. It supported Heidi Ganahl’s campaign for regent at the University of Colorado.

Colorado House District 45 GOP candidate Max Brooks denied claims in an ad from a group unaffiliated with his campaign, calling him an Army veteran and a native of Castle Rock.

Consumer Groups, Patients, & Providers Applaud Colorado Legislators for Holding Big PhRMA Accountable, Protecting State’s Prescription

AARP Colorado, along with a broad coalition of consumer groups, patients, and medical providers celebrated the end of the 2024 legislative session after fending off coordinated efforts by drug manufacturers to undermine the Colorado Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB), the state’s only tool to reign in out-ofcontrol drug costs. As a rare cancer patient currently in remission, I’m deeply grateful for the broad coalition that fought to ensure that the voices of patients were heard.

The Colorado State Senate stood alongside advocates to defeat SB24-060, which sought to prevent the PDAB from reviewing the costs of, and setting limits on, hundreds of the most high-cost and commonly-prescribed prescription medications. In fact, it would have exempted 67% (more than 400 medications) of the approximately 600 drugs eligible for review by Colorado’s PDAB because they have some form of orphan drug designation – including many of the most expensive and most commonly prescribed medications in the state. The bill was part of a national strategy being pushed by pharmaceutical companies

to make it impossible for PDABs across the country to bring down the cost of prescription medications. Lawmakers laid the bill over indefinitely on April 15th, sending a strong message: Colorado refuses to let the pharmaceutical industry continue to put profits over patients, especially as the PDAB is just beginning its critical work. In addition, 115 medical professionals across Colorado released a letter opposing Senate Bill 60.

Big PhRMA continues to use the defeat of SB24-060 and the ongoing work of the PDAB to stoke fear in patients of rare diseases. Unfortunately, these very patients are among the most harmed by out-of-control drug costs and deserve access to affordable, lifesaving drugs through Colorado’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board. To ensure these critical voices are front and center, SB24203 “Prescription Drug Board Consider Rare Disease Council’’ legislation was introduced on April 8th by Senators Ginal and Kirkmeyer, and Representatives Harstook and Ortiz. The legislation passed with strong bipartisan support and will ensure greater

Drug

stakeholder engagement from the rare disease community in the work of Colorado’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board without exempting any medications.

We thank the lawmakers who championed these efforts and refused to let Big PhRMA play games with Colorado’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board. This work is more important than ever, with 1-in-3 Coloradans struggling to afford the medications they need to stay healthy. AARP has a vested interest in ensuring drug prices are affordable for all. Over 80% of adults over 50 take at least one prescription medication regularly, with many older adults skipping or stretching their life-saving medication because of the high cost. Older Coloradans are the highest utilizers of prescription drugs in the state and many of our own members have expressed their frustration and concerns with rising health care costs. Adults 65 and older tend to spend the most on health care; and skyrocketing drug prices are driving up health care costs for all. This economic pressure piles on top of the emotional, physical, and psychological toll that patients

Affordability Board

face on an almost daily basis. The Colorado Legislature created the PDAB with the passage of SB 21-175. Since 2023, the PDAB has reviewed three medications, and determined one of those medications, Enbrel, to be unaffordable for Coloradans. The PDAB is slated to complete affordability reviews on two additional medications in June.

Debbie Hornor

AARP Colorado State President 6427 S. Kline St., Littleton, CO 80127

COURTESY OF

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In a world that constantly demands more from us, maintaining passion in whatever we do has never been more critical. Passion is the lifeblood of innovation, the driver of excellence, and the key di erentiator between success and failure. It’s the internal re that fuels our purpose and performance, propelling us to raise the bar and set new, higher expectations. But how do we sustain this passion? e answer lies in our ability to remain curious, to continuously ask questions, and to let hope guide our journey.

At the heart of passion lies curiosity. It’s the relentless desire to know more, to understand deeper, and to explore uncharted territories. Curiosity compels us to ask questions, not just of others but of ourselves. How can we improve? What can we do di erently? Where can we nd new opportunities? ese questions drive us to

WINNING WORDS

Fueling success through curiosity and purpose

VOICES

Gpush beyond our comfort zones, to innovate, and to seek excellence in everything we do. But curiosity alone is not enough. We need to couple it with hope and purpose. Hope is the belief that our e orts will lead to positive outcomes. It’s the optimism that fuels our determination and resilience. When we have hope, we are more likely to persevere through challenges and setbacks. Hope gives us the strength to keep going, even when the road gets tough.

Purpose, on the other hand, gives our passion direction. It’s the reason behind our actions,

‘Man up’ can lead to man down

rowing up, independence and self-su ciency were always synonymous with masculinity for me. e idea that I could do it on my own, that I would be “less than” if I asked for a helping hand, was an ideal I not only believed in, but strived to live up to. I asked for as little help as possible. Facing the di cult task of processing my emotions as I entered adolescence, I was overwhelmed and underequipped. Seeking support never crossed my mind. e more pain I endured, the more resolute I became to conquer it on my own. I found a magic solution — the illusion of control via drugs and alcohol.

e immediate oblivion brought on by substances allowed me to

trick myself into believing I had taken control. However, the escape I found in substances lessened over time, leaving me without the relief I so desperately needed. For years my stubborn worship of self-suciency kept me in the living hell of addiction. When I was nally beaten down enough to ask for help, I was morti ed, disgusted by my weakness, and convinced of my failure as a man.

is is the unfortunate reality for many men grappling with addic-

tion. “Man up” far too frequently becomes the mantra for many tragic stories of demise into alcoholic insanity and death. at story nearly became my reality.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, mental illness is less prevalent in men than women, but it often goes untreated in men. Men are two to three times more likely to misuse drugs than women, and according to Mental Health America, men die by suicide at a rate four times higher than women.

To become a healthy man, I had to learn to accept that I needed help, and then practice asking for it. e rst time was excruciating, then it became less so over time. It’s become the foundation on which

my recovery from addiction has been built, the gateway to nding a level of peace and serenity I never thought possible. I’m thankful for the opportunity to become an example to other men and help lift the stigma around asking for help. is is a process. Six years into my recovery I still have di culty asking for help and fall into old patterns of arrogance and independence. e more I ask for help, the easier it is to keep asking. Practicing reaching out for small pieces of advice on a regular basis helps me seek support when I’m dealing with a deeper and heavier problem. Building relationships over time makes me feel safe and comfortable.

SEE SWARTZ, P15

GUEST COLUMN

SEE NORTON, P23

Michael Norton

How to avoid challenges in your will or trust

Although you may have taken the time to create a welldesigned will and/or trust that distributes your property as you desire upon your death, there are some common challenges which may present themselves upon your passing. Disputes among your  bene ciaries can result in bitter family relationships, costly court proceedings and nancial devastation. e following are some proactive measures you can take to avoid common challenges and ensure your documents accomplish your intended goals.

GUEST COLUMN

Treat children equally: Family dynamics may have you questioning whether your assets should be divided equally between your designated bene ciaries who are often your children.  In order to avoid potential complications, especially if there is already discord, equal distribution may be a wise decision. If you have two children, leave each child half of all assets. Setting up a trust for a child with bad spending habits can be a useful tool to help protect and manage their assets. is way, a designated trustee will have the responsibility of managing assets for their bene t. e trust may specify how

ankfully, we live in a di erent world than I experienced in my childhood, where I learned to worship the false belief of self-su cient masculinity through our culture. I now embrace masculinity and femininity not as opposing forces, but as two sides of the same coin of humanity. While change continues in our culture, there is still a long way to go. Awareness still needs to be raised. Recovery stories such as mine need to be heard.

One way I strive to do this is through Colorado’s Recovery Cards Project (recoverycardsproject.com). I had the privilege of designing two greeting cards that can be sent to loved ones struggling in the early stages of recovery. rough this pro-

assets can be utilized, establish incentives to encourage good behavior and set restrictions to prevent erratic spending. Regarding control of your estate, delegate positions according to skill level or select a corporate executor or trustee to avoid anyone from feel-

Distribute tangible property through speci c bequests: While monetary assets can be divided easily, it can be di cult to determine the true value of items of sentimental value and tangible property. Statements in wills or trusts which divide all “tangible personal property” among your bene ciaries in substantially equal shares may not be enough instruction for your bene ciaries. Substantive value can be based upon several characteristics including emotional and sentimental worth. Discuss this issue with your bene ciaries to determine

SEE DUNCAN, P20

gram, I have shared my story and helped others open up about theirs. e free cards are an easy and accessible way for friends and family to show support and encourage our loved ones on a path to vulnerability and recovery.

June is Men’s Health Month, an opportunity to continue these discussions. It’s not a responsibility to be passed onto others or to place the burden of change at men’s feet. It’s a collective e ort we can all take part in, to love and support each other so that we may feel safe and comfortable reaching out for help.

A Colorado professional artist, David Swartz works with various water-based paints to create bright and energetic artwork with a humorous twist. He believes connection enriches the world and creates a sense of unity and compassion throughout humanity.

Northglenn Youth Theatre has been ‘feeding the souls’ of young performers for 30 years

BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Slight and bespectacled, 14-year-old Lilly Sergeef is eyeing Broadway. She is a veteran actor and has been in commercials for insurance companies and Village Inn since age 6.

But she is especially drawn to the stage, where she has never felt intimidated by the audience or other performers.

“Broadway is my goal,” ornton resident Sergeef said. “Being before an audience is never something I dread … it’s something I grew up on.”

A determined Vienna Frey also sees acting on Broadway in her future. e Broom eld resident said her parents are performers and she began acting when she 6. She’s starred in several plays and musicals including “Percy Jackson and Lightning ief” and “Shrek Junior.” Frey savors always diving into the characters she played.

“I just enjoy playing other people and getting into their stories,” said the 14-year-old Frey.

Both are veteran performers at Northglenn Youth eatre, which has been tutoring, supporting and ushering actors as young as 8 onto the local stage. Over 1,000 young performers have inhabited roles at Northglenn Youth eatre — or the NYT as the locals call it.

is year, NYT is celebrating its 30th anniversary, a testament to the wide-ranging support the theater has enjoyed even as cultural programs at local schools have scaled back their performances, said Kimberly Jongejan, Northglenn’s Cultural Programs Direc-

tor and the NYT director.

“Funding for arts programs is not always solid, especially in elementary and middle schools,” Jongejan said.

Most of NYT’s students come from communities outside of Northglenn because there is a dearth of theater programs in the north metro area, she added.

Northglenn o cials, meanwhile, have long supported the arts and the NYT, said Jongejan, who was hired in 1996 to help lead the arts program in Northglenn.

“It’s aways been this way,” she said. “ e city has always seen its arts and culture as a growing and thriving part of Northglenn.”

For example, Northglenn is the only city to include a state-of-the art performing arts space — the Parsons eatre — as part of its new recreation center, Jongejan said. e entire theater and recreation complex opened in 2021.

e Northglenn Arts & Humanities Foundation — NAHF — provides funding for the NYT as well as for public art and other cultural ventures in Northglenn, according to the city. Other sponsors include Colorado Creative Industries, Scienti c & Cultural District, Tour West, WESTAF and the National Endowment for the Arts, the city states.

Jongejan said the NYT has sent some of its graduates to Broadway and O -Broadway. Mostly, NYT students become teachers and perform at dinner theaters and other community productions.

Above all, NYT serves a higher purpose of stoking the dreams of young performers, she said, adding, “We feed kids’ souls.”

NYT Academy classes range from $25-$120 depending on duration and whether a participant is a resident of Northglenn or not, she said.

Each year, NYT puts on six productions performed at the Parsons eatre, three productions for 12- to 18-year-old performers and three for the NYT Jr., program, which include eight to 12 performers. ey are tutored by professional actors on a tight schedule that calls for auditions on Monday, rehearsals during the rest of the week and performances usually over two nights.

Productions this year include “Sister Act,” “Cinderella and e Fairy Godmother’s Spell,” “ e Brothers Grimm Spectacular” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

e NYT Academy also o ers acting basics for young performers through drama activities, scenes, songs and visual arts. One dance class is Broadway Basics, which offers kids ages 9-12 “ball change kicks, jazz squares and more while dancing to the tunes of Broadway’s best ballads,” according to the course description. e cost of that class is $38-$46.

Jongejan said registration fees for NYT Jr. productions are $200; NYT productions are $250.

acting. He is starring as the main character in “Shrek Jr. e Musical,” which is running from June 28-30.

Scholarships are needs-based and are awarded via an application process. ese scholarship awards range from 50% to 100% of fees being covered through the Northglenn Arts and Humanities Foundation, Jongejan said.

NYT’s more advanced classes teach how to manipulate an actor’s voice and body to create a memorable character, a “Fosse Posse” focuses on dancing for actors and a tap dance also teaches the basic steps and combination used in musical theater, according to the course guide.

Jongejan said the NYT is also offering a screenwriting course for Hip-Hop theatre. Students can also take technical theatre workshops for a glance at the behind-the-scenes production process, Jongejan said.

“We want our students to get a good, well-rounded look at what goes into a theater production and how important stage development, lighting and other behind-thescenes work is so important,” she said.

For 13-year-old Ian Amaro, character development is key to his

“I like to write notes down for my character and get the back story,” he said. “I think that makes acting much more e ective.”

Amaro, who lives in ornton, admits acting isn’t really what drew him to NYT.

“School can be rough for some people,” Amaro said, adding his stutter is sometimes an obstacle.

“I needed friends badly, then NYT popped up for me and the light bulb in my head went o .”

So far, Amaro has not bumped up against any diva behavior among his cast mates.

“ e people are absolutely fantastic,” he said. “Everyone has been so helpful.”

irteen-year-old Aksel Gangji’s two sisters gave him a nudge toward acting and NYT where he started performing in 2019. He still su ers from some stage fright but powers through it with the help of his castmates. Gangji attends Rocky Top Middle School in ornton.

ey often cross their arms together and then say “Break a leg” before a performance, Gangji said. Actors also pass around a “Kudos” coin before they go on stage and tell each

other something positive about their work.

“Usually by then, you are saying ‘Oh great, I am going to perform,’” Gangji said.

He is also considering pursuing a career as a stage technician. “Sound, costumes, it’s what brings it all together,” Gangji said. “You can’t see the actors without the lights.”

Performing is a tradition in 14-year-old JJ Witmer’s family. His mom toured internationally with Up With People and he took his rst role as an actor at 6 as Tiny Tim in a high school production.

“It was really fun,” he said. He attends Riverdale Ridge High School in ornton.

He enrolled at NYT in 2018 and has acted in several productions including “Peter Pan” and “ e Little Mermaid.”

He’s learned to act with an English accent to play Hamlet and dyed his hair for another role.

“I like getting into a role and becoming more of that character,” Witmer said.

After “Hamlet” ended, he remembers talking with an English accent for two weeks.

“It just happened,” he said. “ at’s what you do when you get into a role.”

Ian Amaro (center) in a production of “Game of Tiaras.”

COURTESY OF NYT

Media barred from Rittenhouse event in Douglas County

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A Colorado gun-rights group scheduled Kyle Rittenhouse, a prominent name in the national conversation about rearms, to speak at its fundraising event at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, but the entrance to the banquet bore signs that read: “Not open to media.”

“We’re not allowing any media in the event tomorrow for obvious reasons,” Taylor Rhodes, head of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, told the Douglas County News-Press a day before the June 15 event.

He declined to elaborate on why the organization chose not to let me-

Public Meeting Notice

Let’s Talk: Howcan AdventHealth Littleton bring more whole-person care to our community?

dia in.

In April, the organization said on social media that the event would also feature “Random rearm and accessory drawings.”

e social media post added: “Every 30 minutes, we’ll be giving away a stripped lower.” at appears to be a reference to a rearm part.

”We gave a bunch of guns, optics, accessories and thermoses away — as well as Kyle gave away 100 of his books,” Rhodes said after the event.

“All combined we had over 300 giveaways winners.”

Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, a group that describes itself as a “no-compromise gun rights lobby concentrating on Colorado,” is the

You areinvitedtoattend AdventH ealth’s Communit y Health Improv ementPublicMeeting!WeneedYOU R voic e t o guide AdventHealth’s e orts to create a happier, healthier community.

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Colorado a liate of the National Association for Gun Rights.

e national organization helped fund Rittenhouse amid his legal case when he “was in trouble,” Rhodes said.

at’s a reference to when the then-17-year-old Rittenhouse shot three men, killing two of them and wounding the third, during a protest over police conduct in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 2020. Rittenhouse argued that he red in self defense after men attacked him and was acquitted of all charges.

Rhodes guessed that Rittenhouse would talk about the case at the fairgrounds event in Castle Rock, saying RMGO didn’t tell him what to speak about other than Second Amendment-related topics.

In the aftermath of his court case, Rittenhouse wrote a book, “Acquitted,” and recently set out on a series

While Rhodes said promoting his book is not the reason Rittenhouse was set to come to Douglas County, he said the speaker would likely talk about it.

Asked about not allowing media into an event at a county facility, Rhodes said it’s a private event.

“I paid a fee to be there,” Rhodes said, adding that he is a taxpayer in Douglas County himself.

To those who won’t see what’s said at the event due to media being barred, Rhodes said: “Buy a ticket and come next year.”

“We sold out of this event,” selling nearly 750 tickets, Rhodes said. He expected around 650 to show up. e RMGO also expected U.S. Rep. omas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, to speak at the event.

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A sign on a door at the entrance of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners’ June 15 event at the Douglas County Fairgrounds says: “Not open to media.”

PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD

Thu 6/20

WaterFest 2024 @ 2pm

South Platte Renew, 2900 South Platte River Drive, Englewood. ebartlett@englewoodco.gov, 720753-2411

Sunny War @ 5pm

Levitt Pavilion Denver, 1380 W Florida Ave, Denver

Sophie Seng @ 5pm

The Alley, 2420 W Main St, Littleton

Pattie Gonia

@ 6:30pm

Gothic Theatre, Englewood

Fri 6/21

Strutter: Wide Open Saloon @ 7pm

Wide Open Saloon, 5607 US-85, Sedalia

SCFD Free Day At Exploration Of Flight @ 8am

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

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy: Lone Tree Arts Center @ 6:30pm Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St, Lone Tree

Sat 6/22

14th Annual Corey Rose Wishes and Heroes Bene�t Concert @ 2pm

Breckenridge Brewery, Littleton

Ice Cream Social with Perpetual Motion @ 6pm

Little Man Ice Cream, 3455 S University Blvd, Englewood

Yolanda Del Rio @ 7pm

D’Cartier event center 2, 3181 W Alameda Ave, Denver

Cecelia @ 7pm

Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

Mon 6/24

Girls Basketball Camp K-2

@ 7:30am / $189

Jun 24th - Jun 27th

Valor Athletic Building, 3775 Grace Blvd, Highlands Ranch. 303-471-3000

Girls Basketball Camp 3-5 @ 7:30am / $189

Jun 24th - Jun 27th

Valor Athletic Building, 3775 Grace Blvd, Highlands Ranch. 303-471-3000

Yetman Farms: Rodney Rice with band @ 5pm Yetman Farms, 2995 S. Estes Street, Lakewood

Sun 6/23

Brett Hendrix: Wild Goose Saloon @ 12pm Wild Goose Saloon, Parker

IV and the Strange Band @ 6pm

Boys Lacrosse Camp 6-8 @ 12pm / $199

Jun 24th - Jun 28th

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

Tue 6/25

Noah Kahan @ 6pm

Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Greenwood Vil‐lage

Wed 6/26

Juice O'The Barley: Littleton Museum Summer Concert Series @ 5:30pm

Littleton Museum, 6028 S Gallup St, Lit‐tleton

Noah Kahan @ 6pm

Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Greenwood Vil‐lage

Thu 6/27

Flag Football: Adult- FREE AGENTS- Thurs- Coed-Summer 2024 @ 11:30pm

Moe's Original BBQ, 3295 S Broadway, Englewood

Jim Messina @ 6pm Gothic Theatre, Englewood

Jun 27th - Sep 19th

Parker Fieldhouse, 18700 E Plaza Dr, Parker

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.

RITTENHOUSE

Rhodes’ organization billed the event as “not just a celebration of our Second Amendment rights but a strategic effort to fight against anti-gun legislation in Colorado.”

Money raised will fuel the group’s efforts to fund pro-gun litigation,

maintain legislative pressure for pro-gun votes and “support election season accountability for progun candidates,” the organization wrote on social media.

In Rittenhouse’s court case, a jury found him not guilty of five felony charges, including a murder charge that could have carried a life-in-prison sentence, the Associated Press reported.

Rittenhouse was charged with

homicide, attempted homicide and reckless endangering for his shootings with an AR-style semi-automatic rifle during a tumultuous night of protests over the shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, by a white Kenosha police officer.

The teenage Rittenhouse said that he went to Kenosha to protect property from rioters but that he came under attack and feared for his life.

Rittenhouse had also been charged with possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18, a misdemeanor that carries nine months behind bars and appeared likely to lead to a conviction, the AP reported.

But the judge threw out that charge after the defense argued that the Wisconsin law did not apply to the long-barreled rifle used by Rittenhouse.

the personal signi cance of certain items. By inserting speci c bequests into your will or trust, you can mitigate squabbles regarding that antique lamp in the living room or your grandmother’s diamond ring.

Account for gifts given during lifetime: If you gifted money or property to a bene ciary in the past, make sure to account for it in your plan. Since your goal is to treat all your children equally, you might want to address this gift in your will

or trust. Classify any gift as an advancement, with the value of the gift counting as part of the “residuary” money you will leave to that bene ciary. For example, if you gave your daughter $5,000 toward student loans, you would speci cally state under her residuary share “less $5,000 gifted for student loan payments during my lifetime.”

Insert a no-contest clause in your will: Typically, a no-contest clause will state that if a bene ciary challenges the validity of the will and fails, that bene ciary will forfeit any inheritance they would have received. e clause acts as a threat and discourages those seeking to

receive a bigger piece of the pie. If you know a bene ciary is prone to con ict, inserting this statement can prevent heated legal battles and ensure your estate is distributed as intended.

Prove your Competence: e bene ciary contesting the will or trust will often claim the maker of the document was incompetent, under undue in uence from another bene ciary, or under duress during the signing of their will. To avoid these allegations, you may want to consider obtaining a medical evaluation which will con rm you are mentally competent and understand the nature and consequences of signing a will. is statement can be included in the will or presented to a court if the will is challenged. Another way to prove competence when signing a will is to have witnesses present at the signing. Witnesses can attest to the individual’s mental capacity and

ability to understand the nature and consequences of signing a will, and to a rm that they believe the individual is of sound mind and not under any form of duress.

Disinherit any heirs: Leaving certain family members out of your will can be a source of contention among bene ciaries. If you are going to disinherit someone, make sure it is noted clearly in your will or trust so there can be no question as to whether you intended to exclude them.

Carolyn Moller Duncan’s Duncan Legal, PC is located in Centennial with a practice emphasis on estate planning, probate and trust administration. Carolyn has over 22 years of experience practicing law in Colorado. Carolyn is a member of the Colorado Bar, Trust & Estate Section, Family Law Section and Denver County Bar Association.

Convergint donates $500K in upgrades to Douglas County outdoor education facility

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Hundreds of volunteers completed nearly $500,000 in security and accessibility updates at Stone Canyon Outdoor EdVenture campus in Larkspur at no cost to the district, thanks to a partnership with the security company Convergint.

Convergint, an international company with a location in Centennial, o ers a program called Step Up, which donates labor and equipment for security upgrades at schools. On June 6, Stone Canyon, part of the Douglas County School District, became the latest recipient of the program.

In total, about three months of work got done in one day at Stone Canyon. Projects ranged from installing a new loudspeaker system

across the property to building a new gazebo for one of the outdoor classrooms to painting the base camp building.

Other security improvements include a license plate reader at the entry gate and a video surveillance system.

Stephen Fisher, director of business development for Convergint, said the work done at Stone Canyon is the biggest Step Up donation since the program started in 2018.

“Every part of this campus is being touched,” Fisher said.

e Stone Canyon facility is a sprawling 99-acre camp that features ropes courses, a zipline, indoor and outdoor classrooms and other recreational amenities like archery. It mostly hosts fth and sixth grade classes from around the metro area, but also o ers summer

camps and company team building retreats.

Jolee Jones, director of organizational development and experiential learning for the school district, said the campus teaches students outdoor skills, like re building and Leave No Trace principles, and lessons in science and nature, as well as works on teambuilding, communication and critical thinking.

“We want students to understand the environment they grow up in and have an appreciation for it, and learn about one another,” Jones said. “Out here, kids get to shine and thrive in an entirely di erent way and then they learn to appreciate one another in that way.”

Jones said the upgrades will help address emergencies like wild re,

dangerous wildlife and potential human threats.

“We want to make sure that our facility is safe and taken care of and that we’re thinking about the needs of all of our students and sta , like those who are deaf or hard of hearing,” Jones said. “With the new message boards, if they can’t hear the (emergency) sirens, they can see the board, so it’s bringing a lot of accessibility.”

Deputy superintendent Danelle Hiatt said Convergint’s donation helped the district make upgrades that it otherwise couldn’t a ord.

“We’re really excited to be able to have this partnership,” Hiatt said. “ ese projects that have been worked on today will really enhance the student experience when they participate in outdoor education.”

REVERSE MORTGAGES MADE

Douglas County asks drivers to avoid Quebec and Lincoln/University intersection for one day in June

Landscaping, pavement striping to follow

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

After months of heavy construction at the Quebec Street and Lincoln Avenue/University Boulevard intersection, Douglas County o cials are promising to complete the project before school starts in fall. However, there are some things drivers should know, including one day coming up in June that it is better to avoid the intersection if possible.

at day is June 22, starting at 5 p.m. until 5 p.m. the next day, June 23. Of-

cials say it’s for the safety of drivers and to help increase e ciency as crews complete paving a nal piece in the middle of the intersection.

ere will be limited access through the intersection that day. Drivers are encouraged to consider alternate routes. ese include Wildcat Reserve Parkway, McArthur Ranch Road, Gleneagles Village Parkway, Park Meadows Drive, Lone Tree Parkway Timberline Road, South Yosemite Street, Interstate 25 and Colorado Highway 470.

If drivers choose an alternate route, they should give themselves extra time, abide by posted speed limits and be mindful of residents in neighborhoods.

With major concrete work com-

plete, crews will continue to work on landscaping and striping the roads, which is expected to require daily intermittent lane closures.

If drivers do go through the intersection, they can expect multiple delays and tra c impacts as well as tra c control set-up. Here’s what is expected:

• Full closure through the intersection from eastbound Lincoln Avenue/ University Boulevard

• One through lane on northbound and southbound Quebec Street

• One through lane on westbound Lincoln Avenue/University Boulevard

• No left-turns throughout the intersection.

Right turns will be allowed in all directions to help maintain access,

which was one of the reasons the county has said it wouldn’t shut down the intersection completely. During a town hall in April, Dan Roberts, assistant director of public works operations said the intersection couldn’t be closed all at once because emergency vehicles may need to pass through.

e roads were originally built in the 1980s. e county’s goal with reconstruction is to build roads that will last upwards of 50 years. e $13 million project that started in August 2023 will result in additional lanes, raised pedestrian safety islands and updated tra c signals.

More: Visit https://rb.gy/d8l020 to stay up to date on the construction or sign up for text updates by texting “QLUnews” to 21000.

Colorado Community Media to Hold its First 5K Run

BY JO ANN M. COLTON

There 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 first-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. The event is different 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

There 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. The Share Your Trail Tales 5k Run is open to people of all ages. Participants have the option of making it a fun-filled 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.

Park is currently being firmed up to feature other activities throughout the day including food and beverage purchase options offered 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, Jeffco, Clear Creek, Douglas, Elbert, Arapahoe and Denver. As a nonprofit 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 Clement

“Your support of this event as a race participant and/or as an attendee is paramount to the success of our first 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. The organization offers 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.

NORTON

the “why” that motivates us to keep pushing forward. When we have a clear sense of purpose, we are more focused and driven. Our efforts become more meaningful, and our passion becomes more intense. Purpose helps us stay committed to our goals, even when the initial excitement fades.

To maintain our passion, we must constantly set new and higher expectations for ourselves. We must raise the bar wherever and whenever we can. This doesn’t mean we should be

constantly dissatisfied with our achievements. Rather, it means we should celebrate our successes while also striving for continuous improvement. By setting higher expectations, we challenge ourselves to grow and evolve. We push our limits and discover new potentials.

One of the most significant benefits of maintaining our passion is that it sets us apart from the competition. In any field, there are countless individuals who possess similar skills and knowledge. What distinguishes the successful ones is their passion. Passionate individuals are more likely to go the extra mile, to put in the extra hours, and to come up with in -

novative solutions. Their enthusiasm and dedication are evident in their work, making them stand out from the crowd.

Passion is contagious. When we are passionate about what we do, we inspire others to feel the same. Our energy and enthusiasm can motivate our colleagues, employees, and even our clients. This creates a positive and dynamic environment where everyone is driven to perform at their best. In such an environment, success becomes a collective effort, and the chances of achieving great results are significantly higher.

Passion is the key to unlocking our full potential. It’s the driving force that propels us towards ex-

cellence and sets us apart from the competition. By remaining curious, asking questions, and continuously seeking new ways to improve, we can sustain our passion.

I would love to hear your story of hope, passion, and purpose at gotonorton@gmail.com and when we realize that our passion is the key to unlocking our fullest potential, 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.

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