George Brauchler, the first-ever district attorney for Colorado’s new 23rd Judicial District, speaks on stage Jan. 14 at the Robert A. Christensen Justice Center in Castle Rock, where he was sworn in to o ce.
Ceremony in Castle Rock marks launch of 23rd Judicial District
George Brauchler is sworn in as new district attorney
A large crowd gathered at Douglas County’s justice center in Castle Rock for a ceremony to mark the creation of Colorado’s rst new judicial district in roughly
60 years, a move that breaks Arapahoe County o into its own district and leaves Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties with their own court system.
“ is moment is a testament to the growth and evolution of our community, a recognition that the needs of our citizens are ever-changing and that our judicial system must evolve alongside them,”
Chief Judge Ryan Stuart, of the new 23rd Judicial District, said in a news release.
School board talks about proposed policy for closures
e Douglas County School Board will vote on a proposed policy for school closures later this month, following discussions of the criteria to guide the process.
At the Jan. 14 meeting, the school board discussed the draft policy to guide school closures, which are planned for up to three elementary schools in Highlands Ranch in 2026. e board will vote on the policy at the Jan. 28 meeting.
No speci c schools have been named for closure, but the district is planning to merge between four and six schools as enrollment has been declining in the Highlands Ranch area for more than a
e decision of which schools to pair will be made this spring and nalized on April 22, and then there will be a transition year before the schools are merged
e proposed policy for school closures would prioritize preserving the “integrity of school communities,” while accounting for tra c management, safety, walkability, building quality and limitations, maximizing school programs, enrollment and nancial sustainability.
An online dashboard created by the district shows data for each of the 16 elementary schools in Highlands Ranch, including current and projected enrollments. Superintendent Erin Kane said community engagement and transparency are priorities of the closure process.
“We want to make it as transparent and easy as possible for our public to browse the information that we have and look at scenarios,” Kane said.
In addition to criteria, the policy lists considerations, which include sta ng, class sizes, additional programming accommodations and accessibility to local resources such as parks and emergency services.
More details about the plans for open enrollment, sta ng and special education are expected to be available in early February, said Steve Colella, the district’s chief of sta .
Before, Colorado’s court system was made up of 22 judicial districts, and the 18th district included Douglas, Arapahoe, Elbert and Lincoln counties.
But the state legislature — at least partly driven by a political split in the 18th district — decided to break it up, moving Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties into the new 23rd district.
“Superintendent sta will account for both criteria and considerations once the pairings are made in April,” Colella said.
Board members voiced support for the proposed policy while suggesting it include more details. Board member Valerie ompson said she would like the policy to include more information on the dis-
PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD
‘Seniors matter’ as new facility celebrates its opening
$18.9 million Highlands Ranch center has ribbon-cutting following construction delays
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Before Highlands Ranch resident Nancy Smith reached the age of being in the senior population, she cared about the concerns of older adults — she even helped start a local club for seniors in the early 2000s.
When a study conducted by the Highland Ranch Metro District in 2017 revealed that a senior center was a priority for the community, Smith knew she had to support the project to further assist the community’s growing senior population.
“Seniors are important,” said Smith. “Seniors matter.”
In Douglas County, the population of those 65 and older grew by about 153% between 2010 and 2022, and is expected to grow an additional 36% by 2030, according to the Highland Ranch Metro District.
While supporting the need for school, park and recreation developments within the community, Smith said there also needed to be a focus on the older population, as many tend to become isolated and are in need of making connections with other community members.
Social interaction among seniors is important to seniors’ health, Smith said.
Studies from Harvard Health Publishing and Senior Services of America have revealed that staying socially engaged at an older age helps reduce loneliness and depression, and decreases the risk of cognitive decline.
Additionally, ndings from a 2023 study published in the National Library of Medicine show that utilizing senior citizen community centers and engaging in club activities enhance one’s quality of life.
“Social interaction among seniors is critical to health and happiness and we’re happy to provide that opportunity,” said Renne Anderson, the Highlands Ranch Metro District’s board chair.
A new chapter
Although Smith serves on the Metro District’s board, she said she was taken aback when she was invited to be the one to cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony of the Highlands Ranch Senior Center on Jan. 10.
“We celebrate a new chapter in Highlands Ranch,” Anderson said at the opening. “A chapter that shows the evolution of our 44-year-old community.”
Despite numerous delays in the construction of the building, the center continued to gain members. Anderson recalled how the board thought they would only get a couple hundred to join prior to the opening.
But the center gained more than 14,000 inaugural members.
Prior to the center’s opening, senior programs were being o ered through community partners such as the Highlands Ranch Community Association, Southridge Recreation Center, Mountain View Christian Church, UCHealth and Douglas County Libraries.
Available to those age 55 and older, the senior center is a 22,000-square-foot building that includes a multi-purpose room, three activity rooms, a kitchen, a tness room, a large patio with bocce ball and an expansive lobby.
Smith said that not every member has
to join classes or reserve a room. If they simply want to come to play scrabble, for example, the front room is a cozy area to do so.
Its dozens of classes and activities include gardening, art, technology assistance, tness programs, jewelry making, trips and many social events.
“We’ve envisioned a special place that seniors could gather, socialize, be active, to learn and to celebrate,” said Stephanie Stanely, the Highlands Ranch Metro District’s general manager.
Investing in the community
e total cost of the senior center is $18.9 million.
A one-time capital funding for construction of the facility came from cash on hand, generated from system development fees and interest earned on those fees.
With funding from user fees, grants and property taxes, the district said the longterm nancial forecast of the district does not anticipate any change to mill levy rates.
Additionally, the 2025 operations budget anticipates revenue from fees and grants of about $218,180 and expenditures of $972,845.
Annual memberships are $60 for Highlands Ranch residents and $72 for nonresidents. Memberships help reduce the fees for programs and trips, allow access to drop-in activities and provide free access to GetSetUp virtual programming.
Day passes are also available for $2.50 for residents and $3 for nonresidents.
Residents can also apply for nancial scholarships.
“ is will be a place to build new relationships, celebrate milestones and make memories,” Stanley said.
Additional resources for seniors
Although the facility is owned and oper-
ated by the Highlands Ranch Metro District, it also includes an o ce for Douglas County Human Services on the west side of the building.
Due to this additional space for county government o ces, a portion of the construction costs will be reimbursed over 15 years through lease payments, according to the district.
Newly elected Douglas County Commissioner Kevin Van Winkle said this partnership is part of the county’s older adults initiative. Having human services within the building will allow residents and family members to directly ask ques-
tions and apply for services and bene ts.
Sta members will be able to assist with pensions, Medicare, programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and more.
“We will also be a trusted resource for individuals and their families who are looking for assistance in aging in place concerns such as transportation, housing, caregiving and access to bene ts,” said Jill Hall, senior services manager. e Highlands Ranch Senior Center is located at 200 E. Highlands Ranch Parkway. Programs and services can be found at tinyurl.com/HRSeniorCenter.
Members of the Highlands Ranch Metro District board, the senior center and other elected o cials stand in the main event room of the Highlands Ranch Senior Center as they o cially open the community’s first senior center.
PHOTOS BY HALEY LENA
Renee Anderson, Highlands Ranch Metro District chair, speaks at the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Highlands Ranch Senior Center, mentioning how the facility is a new chapter in the community’s life.
Expect a Lot of Talk About Making Homes Fire-Resistant. Here’s
The whole world has watched in horror as wind-driven fires have ravaged Southern California, According to available data, approximately one-third of the U.S. population lives within two miles of the WildlandUrban Interface (WUI), meaning roughly 100 million Americans are situated in areas at risk of wildfires due to their proximity to wildlands. That’s 45 million residences that could be destroyed quickly, given the “perfect storm” of high winds, low humidity and dry vegetation.
It was that combination that destroyed over 1,000 homes in Boulder County three years ago.
sealed is essential when fire breaks out. The windows should be closed, of course, but keep in mind that if the windows have vinyl framing, it could melt, allowing the window to fall out. Aluminum framing melts at 1100º F, so metal or fire-rated wood framing is best. You could even install fire shutters or roll-down steel shutters, allowing you to keep your current vinyl windows.
My Contribution.
My Previous Columns on This Topic (posted at www.JimSmithColumns.com)
Sept. 14, 2023 — I Found Only One Marshall Fire Home Being Rebuilt With Fire Resistance in Mind
Jan. 5, 2023 — Revisiting Lessons Learned from the Marshall Fire a Year Later
Just like then, we are beginning to see pictures of homes that didn’t burn in the middle of neighborhoods where every other house was burned to the ground. Below is one such picture taken by the architect who built it, Greg Chasen. There was even a car parked on the property line that burned so hot that the aluminum from the car melted, flowing in a stream toward the sidewalk. A video link with this article on our blog, http://RealEstateToday.substack.com, includes Chasen explaining how he designed the home to survive just such a fire.
Embers will land on your roof, so a metal roof is best. There are some attractive stone-coated steel roofs that resemble wood shakes or composition shingles.
If you have a vented attic, you can install screens with 1/16-inch mesh that will keep 99% of embers out of your home.
The most important factor in keeping a fire out of a house is eliminating wind-driven embers from entering the attic. Most homes have ventilated attics, with soffit vents to let air in and roof vents to let the air out. In the above house, there is no attic and therefore no vents.
In my Oct. 13, 2022, column (see box above right), I wrote about two homes in Superior that didn’t burn because they had “conditioned” attics with no openings for ventilation. Instead of blown-in insulation resting on the attic floor, the ceilings of the attics (the underside of the roof) in both homes were insulated with closed-cell foam — in other words, attics were conditioned (heated and cooled) like the rest of the house. Because most fires spread through windblown embers, keeping a home completely
Some building codes now require fire sprinklers, but sprinklers probably wouldn’t be in your unconditioned attic. If a fire enters your attic, the PVC pipes in the attic for delivering water to your top floor sprinkler heads would likely melt before the sprinklers activate, which would be too late anyway.
If you have flammable roofing, you might install sprinkler heads on your roof ridges to keep the roof wet during an ember storm, but don’t bother doing that if you haven’t made your attic ember-proof!
Wood decks, wood fences and vegetation that touches your house will receive windblown embers and, after burning next to your house for a while, will ignite your home, so consider replacing or eliminating the deck, installing steel fencing, and eliminating all vegetation within five feet of your home, especially juniper bushes, which make great kindling for starting a house fire.
If you’ll be replacing your windows, having the outer pane be tempered glass makes it much more resistant to breakage from heat, and pay attention to the window frames, as I mentioned above.
If building a new home, adobe walls are best, because “dirt doesn’t burn.” In my Sept. 14, 2023, column I reported on a Marshall
Oct. 13, 2022 — Homes That Survived the Marshall Fire Were More Airtight and Had Conditioned Attics
Jan. 20, 2022 — Here Are More Examples of Concrete Construction and Fire-Resistant Roofing
Jan. 13, 2022 — Homes Built of Concrete Garner Increased Interest in Wake of Marshall Fire
Jan. 6, 2022 — Last Week’s Fire Disaster Is a Wake-up Call for Building More FireResistant Homes
Fire rebuild made from “Ecoblox,” a product of Lisa Morey’s startup, Colorado Earth
Here is a picture of homeowners Matteo Rebeschini and Melanie Glover at the factory where the Ecoblox for their home were being manufactured. Ecoblox also have a smaller carbon footprint than traditional bricks, because they are not fired, but merely compressed.
Building with dirt has a long and proven track record dating back 10,000 years, and is clearly the most proven material for building a fire-resistant home. Learn more at www.ColoradoEarth.com Their factory is near Brighton. Lisa built 25 homes in New Zealand before returning to the United States and co-authoring a book on the subject, Adobe Homes for All Climates
China and New Zealand are leaders, it appears, in the resurgence of this building technique. Read more at www.earthhomes.co.nz.
The reason for using bricks instead of its predecessor technology, rammed earth, is that it can be reinforced with steel rods and concrete to make the structure earthquake resistant, not just fireresistant.
Of necessity, this article only begins to deal with hardening an existing home or building a fire-resistant home. In researching this topic, I discovered a website www.WildfirePrepared.org, which has an amazingly thorough checklist of actions to take which result in the awarding of a “Wildfire Prepared Home” or “Wildfire Prepared Home Plus” certificate which is recognized by insurers in Oregon and California, but not yet in other states. Nevertheless, it is a terrific menu of actions you could take to make your Colorado home fire-resistant. I have put a link to it with this article at http:// RealEstateToday.substack.com
PBS Show to Feature Local Net Zero Home
This coming Saturday, January 25th, Rocky Mountain PBS will broadcast another episode of “Heart of a Building,” this time featuring John Avenson’s amazing net zero home in Westminster. It will air at 5:00, between “This Old House” and “Weekend NewsHour.”
neer, has continued to enhance the home’s performance as each new technology, such as coldweather heat pumps, was introduced.
John’s home was built by SERI (Solar Energy Research Institute), the former name of NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) as a demonstration project of passive solar design, with the limited active solar technology available at that time. Since, then, John, a re-tired Bell Labs engi-
You’ll be impressed at how far John has gone to have his home be an educational installation which he keeps open to the public. It has been on multiple green home tours. Look for the half-hour program at 5:00 pm this coming Saturday on both Channel 6 and Channel 12. The series is a production of Rocky Mountain PBS, but it will air nationally on all PBS stations at a later date.
OPENING JANUARY 2025
SWEARING IN
The Colorado Judicial Branch celebrated the establishment of the 23rd district at a swearing-in ceremony Jan. 14 at the Douglas County Courthouse.
With the launch of a new judicial district comes a new district attorney — George Brauchler, a Republican and former district attorney who won election by a large margin for the new DA seat in November. The race in Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln encompassed an area that made for a deep-red electorate.
A district attorney serves as the head prosecutor for a region of Colorado’s courts, also leading the prosecutors who work in that DA’s office. The office is responsible for prosecuting crimes that occur in the area.
After being sworn in to office, Brauchler said: “We are in the business of justice.”
Many officials take office
More than 300 people were in attendance during the ceremony and witnessed the swearing in of 150 staff to the district, including district court judges, county court judges, and the chief probation officer, supervisors and other officials, according to the news release.
Along with swearing in the new district attorney, Stuart swore in the assistant DA, the chief deputy DAs, the deputy DAs, the chief criminal investigator and criminal investigators.
The creation of the 23rd district allows for prosecutorial decisions and resources to focus on crime occurring in only Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln, a news release said.
The 18th district is left to only include Arapahoe County. Residents of Arapahoe County voted in a separate race to select a new district attorney in the November election.
County officials start new terms
Locally owned and operated by Dr. Leslie Longo, The Ranch Veterinary Hospital is a brand new state-of-the-art veterinary hospital opening in Highlands Ranch. Sign up for the latest updates and receive exclusive o ers and access to our opening events.
“The rule of law for me means no one is above the law. We don’t show any favoritism. We don’t care about race, creed, religion, sexual orientation” or gender, Brauchler said, adding: “I don’t care about immigration status. You commit a crime in this (place), this community, you should have the same expectation as anybody else.”
Brauchler, a longtime politician who has appeared on ballots in several elections, served eight years as DA for the 18th district, wrapping up his term in 2021.
Later that day, in Castle Rock at the county headquarters, new Douglas County Commissioner Kevin Van Winkle was sworn in to office.
Van Winkle was already sworn in as a commissioner in December to fill a vacancy left by former Commissioner Lora Thomas, but he was sworn in again for his full term on Jan. 14.
“I look forward to many years of peace and prosperity led by us,” Van Winkle said at a swearing-in ceremony with his fellow commissioners.
County Commissioner George Teal also began his new term in o ce. Teal won reelection in November.
Douglas County Commissioner George Teal speaks Jan. 14 at the county headquarters in Castle Rock during a swearing-in ceremony. Teal won reelection in November. PHOTOS BY ELLIS ARNOLD
Douglas County Commissioner Kevin Van Winkle holds up his hand Jan. 14 as he is sworn in to o ce at the county headquarters in Castle Rock. Van Winkle was already sworn in as a commissioner in December to fill a vacancy left by former Commissioner Lora Thomas, but he was sworn in again for his full term in January.
FROM PAGE 1
County leaders express support for Trump’s deportation plan
Local o cials frame their stance as a move of ‘safety and compassion’
BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
In an act framed as one of “safety and compassion,” Douglas County o cials expressed support for President Donald Trump’s anticipated plan to deport immigrants who are in the country illegally, and they also expressed support for legal immigration.
“During his reelection campaign, President Donald Trump expounded the dangerous state of immigration in the United States and his plans to resolve the crisis, including securing America’s borders and the lawful and safe deportation of immigrants illegally present in the United States,” a resolution passed unanimously on Jan. 14 by Douglas County’s three Republican commissioners says.
“Douglas County requests President Trump’s immigration policies be implemented in Colorado, including Douglas County,” the resolution adds. e expression of support came as one commissioner, George Teal, opposed recent comments from Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, who spoke against the idea of a large deportation e ort.
“ e mayor of Denver (talked) about the fact that he would use police, he would use the power of the state to enforce … his views against (actions) taken by President Trump,” Teal said before the
commissioners’ vote. “First of all, I was appalled that we would hear that from a mayor in the State of Colorado.” Douglas o cials made claims about
undocumented immigrants and crime, framing Trump’s expected deportation e ort as a matter of public safety.
“Most of the crime being committed in
REVERSE MORTGAGES
the immigrant community is immigrant against immigrant,” Teal claimed. And
Douglas County’s building at 100 Third St. in Castle Rock, where o cials often hold public meetings, is pictured here in August 2023.
PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD
How to keep pipes from freezing as temps drop
Winter chill without preparation can lead to serious damage in homes
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
With arctic cold moving into the Denver metro area, the bitter temperatures could cause more than just discomfort — they might wreak havoc on your home.
Frozen pipes and heating system failures are two of the most common winter issues, but with preparation, you can avoid costly repairs, stay warm and keep your heat running e ciently. A little preparation now could save you thousands of dollars in damage and the headache of emergency plumbing repairs.
Here’s how to protect your home and what to do if the worst happens.
Why frozen pipes are a big deal
A burst pipe can dump hundreds of gallons of water in minutes, damaging oors, furniture and even your home’s structure, according to Jaime Rodriguez, a master electrician with Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric.
“It’s like having your garden hose on full blast in your living room. at’s how much damage it can do in just an hour,” Rodriguez said.
Frozen pipes are more common than you might think, even in newer homes.
“People assume that if their house is new, they’re safe,’ Rodriguez said. “But sometimes, the insulation isn’t done right, or contractors leave areas unprotected, allowing cold air to get in.”
Warning signs
Rodriguez advises homeowners to be on the lookout for:
• Frost or icy patches on exposed pipes.
• Weak or no water ow.
• Strange smells from drains or faucets.
• Unusual clanking noises from your pipes.
If a faucet isn’t running or you notice these signs, it’s likely frozen. He said it’s important to act quickly to keep it from bursting by adding insulation or heat tape to warm the structure.
“Also, once the line has been compromised, your potential for future leaks is higher, so you’ll need to keep an eye on it,” Rodriguez said.
Tips to prevent frozen pipes
Rodriguez shared these practical steps to keep your pipes safe during the cold snap:
1. Know where your main water shuto valve Is: If a pipe bursts, you’ll need to shut o your water fast. Make sure everyone in your household knows where the valve is.
2. Let faucets drip: Keep a stream of water trickling out of vulnerable faucets like those that have been compromised in the past or that may be furthest from the water valve.
3. Open cabinet doors: Open cabinets under sinks to circulate warm air around the pipes.
4. Keep your home warm: Set your thermostat to at least 60 degrees, even if you’re leaving for the weekend. “It’s worth it to avoid a frozen pipe,” Rodriguez said. He also advises to keep your furnace
or furnaces running and avoid allowing one area of the house to get cold.
5. Use heat or electrical tape: Consider heat tape, a pipe wrapping embedded with electrical coils, to provide an outside heat source to your exposed pipes. Be sure to use the kind with a built-in thermostat to keep them plugged in all winter. en, you won’t have to worry about power outages or forgetting to plug them in during cold spells.
6. Detach outdoor hoses: Leaving hoses attached can cause outdoor faucets to freeze and crack.
Keep your heating system running smoothly
Heating failures during cold snaps can leave your home dangerously cold. Jesse White, service manager at Elkhorn Heating, emphasized the importance of maintaining your HVAC system: “A clean lter is crucial—check or replace yours before the cold hits.”
Other tips to keep your heating system running e ciently:
• Clear snow around vents: “Snow buildup on high-e ciency furnace exhaust pipes can block air ow and shut down your system. It can also create a dangerous system where carbon monoxide is returning into the home,” White said.
• Avoid cranking down the heat: “If you set your programmable thermostat too low, it can overwork your furnace when bringing the temperature back up,” he explained.
• Watch for warning signs: If your furnace is short-cycling (turning on and o quickly) or struggling to maintain temperature, it’s time to call a professional.
What to do if the heat fails
If your heating system stops working, White advises:
• Don’t use a gas oven to heat your home: is can produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
• Use space heaters safely: Keep them on at, level surfaces, clear of clutter and ensure your electrical system can handle the load.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors: Place them near bedrooms and on each oor of your home.
What to do if a pipe freezes or bursts
Turn o your main water valve immediately if you suspect a frozen pipe. Open faucets to relieve pressure and call a plumber to assess and repair any damage.
“Once a pipe bursts, the damage can escalate quickly,” Rodriguez warned. “Don’t wait to get help.”
For those leaving town, Rodriguez advises turning o the main water valve and draining the lines by opening all the faucets. “ at way, your pipes won’t be pressurized while you’re away,” he said.
ADULT CLASSES
Stay active and engaged with a variety of adult classes from culinary and visual arts to dance and drama!
YOUTH AND TEEN CLASSES
Keep your child learning, active and inspired with classes and school break camps in visual and performing arts, technical theater, science, engineering, culinary, and more! DISCOVER THE ARTS AND LEARN SOMETHING NEW THIS YEAR!
Parker Arts partners with some of the best enrichment providers in Colorado to offer a fun and educational summer experience for kids of all ages and interests. Camps offered include half-day and full-day options from June 2nd through Aug. 1st.
EXPLORE CLASSES AND REGISTER AT P ARKERARTS.ORG/EDUCATION
Left, a burst pipe. Right, an open cabinet will increase heat around pipes along the outside walls. PHOTO COURTESY OF APPLEWOOD PLUMBING HEATING & ELECTRIC
FEB23
6:30PM • PACE CENTER
“SLICK, SKILLFUL AND UTTERLY COMPELLING!” EdinburghSpotlight.com
“SEE THIS SHOW!” BroadwayBaby.com
“THE CLOSEST THING TO A REAL-LIFE SHERLOCK HOLMES” Daily Record
DIRECT FROM HIS HEADLINING SHOW ON THE VEGAS STRIP, COLIN CLOUD HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS “THE REAL-LIFE SHERLOCK HOLMES,” ASTOUNDING AUDIENCES WITH HIS UNCANNY ABILITY TO READ YOU LIKE A BOOK.
MAR8 10:00 AM & 12:00 PM THE SCHOOLHOUSE
MAR30 2:00 & 6:30 PM PACE CENTER
MAR26 6:30 PM PACE CENTER
APR5 10:00 AM THE SCHOOLHOUSE
Polis repeats call to change how state calculates enrollment
Focus on multiple years makes Colorado an outlier, governor says
BY JASON GONZALES CHALKBEAT
Gov. Jared Polis doubled down on his call to change how the state calculates school districts’ state funding during his State of the State speech on Jan. 9.
In his speech, Polis repeated his proposal to use student enrollment from just a single year, instead of Colorado’s current method of using a four-year average, to fund schools.
“Colorado is an outlier when it comes to school funding — with our current system funding based on students who were enrolled four years ago,” Polis said. “It is past time to eliminate this antiquated system that funds empty chairs rather than actual students.”
e issue can quickly become technical but carries major signi cance for districts’ bottom lines. e change, which Polis rst introduced in his November budget proposal, has been criticized by some district leaders with declining student populations. ey said such a change would greatly reduce their state revenue.
e issue has also split lawmakers on how to proceed forward, especially because many are worried about cutting into recent K-12 investments.
As Polis said, most states don’t aver-
SCHOOLS
trict’s public engagement process and data transparency.
“I think we might want to include in the policy some of the processes that (sta ) engaged in that have been really e ective,” ompson said.
e board also asked for the policy to be explicit in the ways that the district will account for the impacts to sta . e district has promised that sta impacted by the Highlands Ranch closures will be offered a commensurate job in the district.
e district will have a virtual community meeting to take feedback and answer questions about the proposed policy at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 29.
More information about the process can be found at www.dcsdk12.org/about/ growth-and-decline.
age enrollment for the purpose of their budgets. But several have moved to Colorado’s model since the pandemic and in light of declining enrollment.
Eliminating the method of using a fouryear average would save Colorado money in a tight budget year. Yet some school leaders and advocates have said that could also trigger large, single-year budget dips. District leaders also like averaging enrollment counts because it helps them prepare for budget declines over a greater length of time.
One recent study on Colorado school funding said the state should consider using either a single-year enrollment count or a three-year average, whichever is greater for each district.
In a news conference after his speech, Polis said he’s open to a discussion about di erent options, but reiterated he wants to make sure the state is funding students where they are — not where they were several years ago.
Lawmakers have said they want to gure out the best route forward to balance the state budget while also reducing the impact to districts.
Colorado House Speaker Julie McCluskie, a Democrat, said in a recent interview that she’s studying how schools would be impacted by Polis’ proposal.
“I really appreciate some of the numbers that I’ve seen initially from districts with the elimination of the averaging provision,” she said. “I want to explore and better understand those impacts.”
Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, a Republican, said after the governor’s
speech that he’s advocated for a singleyear count for 13 years.
“I don’t think we should pay for empty seats,” Lundeen said, although he also said he’s willing to work toward a compromise.
Meanwhile, House Education Committee Vice Chair and Majority Co-Whip Matthew Martinez, a Democrat, said he’s most concerned about how changes would impact rural districts, especially those in the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado. He said the new school nance formula invests money into rural schools that he serves, and he doesn’t want to see schools negatively a ected.
Members of the Joint Budget Committee, which crafts the budget, are still guring out how to address the issue.
During Chalkbeat Colorado’s legislative event, state Sen. Je Bridges, the Joint Budget Committee’s chair, said lawmakers are oating many ideas about how to lessen the impact of changing to a singleyear enrollment count.
“For me, at the end of the day, it’s about what’s the impact on kids,” he said.
Reprinted with permission from Chalkbeat, a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.
Outside the Douglas County School District building in Castle Rock last July 17. The school board discussed
meeting. PHOTO BY ARIA MARIZZA
Gov. Jared Polis gestures to the gallery while delivering his State of the State address at the Colorado Capitol on Jan. 9.
PHOTO BY HYOUNG CHANG/THE DENVER POST
As the calendar turns to a new year, many re ect on our personal and professional growth. What goals will we set? What dreams will we chase? And, more importantly, how will we muster the con dence to pursue them? After more than 25 years in personal and professional development, particularly in sales and sales management, I believe con dence is the cornerstone of success in nearly every endeavor.
I’m often asked, “What is the number one trait of a successful salesperson?” People expect me to say something like I have a knack for prospecting, asking insightful questions, or have a talent for closing deals with a killer instinct. While those skills are valuable, the real secret lies in communicating e ectively and having authentic, adult-to-adult, truth-based conversations. At the heart of that
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Left causing divide
VOICES
Greater confidence for the new year
WINNING
ability are the three C’s of con dence: Con dence in Yourself. Believing in your abilities, knowledge, and potential is the foundation of condence. A salesperson who trusts their judgment and skills can navigate challenging conversations and objections with
Con dence in Your Products and Services. You must genuinely believe in the value of what you’re o ering. If you don’t trust that your products or services can solve your client’s problems, how can you expect them to believe it?
Con dence in Your Company. Knowing that your organization
It confuses me how someone can claim to be part of the party of love and compassion, as in a Jan. 2 letter, and then, in the same paragraph, call half of the country supporters of Nazism and white supremacy. e narrative that Trump is a racist, sexist, bigot, Nazi, and fascist was fundamentally denied when over half of the country voted to put him back in the White House last November. I would only hope that members of the self-proclaimed party of compassion would be able to accept that Americans overwhelmingly disagree with them on this issue and nd a way to improve America together. Instead, while they may claim to be holding the country together, they are actually the cause of the great divide. e great divide, as I like to call it,
between Republicans and Democrats, stems from a simple question that I would like to pose: What is an American? If our nation is truly held together by common ideas and one identity, it behooves us to state those ideas. e true reason for the fracture in our nation is that we simply cannot agree on what it means to be an American.
In the election this last November, Americans voted not only for candidates but for the ideas that those candidates support. What the left fails to understand is that the majority of Americans did not vote for Trump because they support fascism or any of the other false narratives but rather because they support his policies and ideas. e majority of Americans prefer an America- rst agenda, believe it or not. Ideas like family values, national security, and
America needs a youth sports revival
AGUEST COLUMN
stands behind you and will deliver on promises with white-glove service allows you to speak with assurance and credibility.
When you align these three types of con dence, your communication ability soars. You’re no longer just selling; you’re having meaningful, impactful conversations that build trust and inspire action.
But let’s step away from sales for a moment. Con dence is critical in every aspect of our lives. ink about it: What are you most con dent in?
Maybe you’re a great parent, an exceptional spouse, a gifted teacher, or a leader with unwavering integrity. ose areas of con dence give you strength, purpose, and ful llment. ey remind you of your unique talents and values.
peace through strength should be non-partisan issues. Still, in recent years the Democrats have shifted so far leftwards that those issues have become part of the right-wing’s core identity. ese once common values are now under attack, along with what it means to be an American. While each side claims to uphold American values, only one side can state what those values are. Americans did not vote a fascist or a white supremacist into o ce, but instead, someone who will uphold these values, along with the very idea of truth itself. You do not have to agree with everything Trump has done or even like him as a person, but you can still recognize that he at least can answer the question that the left cannot: What is an American?
Zacharias Gabert,Highlands Ranch
cross the country, young people are dropping out of organized sports. e share of kids ages 6 to 17 who participated in a team sport dropped by nearly 5 percentage points between 2017 and 2022. e decline isn’t primarily because kids are losing interest. Rather, what they’re losing is access — especially as the cost of participation continues to rise.
Reversing this trend is critically important for kids’ mental and physical health. So it’s worth looking at some of the barriers sports have faced, and how tennis is forward-thinking in this matter.
It’s no secret that learning and playing a sport at an early age can prove enormously valuable. Sports participation is associated with lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in young people — as well as better selfesteem, improved cognition, and heightened physical literacy. Physical activity releases endorphins, feel-good hormones that put you in a better frame of mind and enhances brain connections. It helps kids maintain a healthy weight and sets young people on a path to a lifetime of healthy habits.
Barriers to sport involvement, especially nancial ones, have been growing ever more formidable. e average cost of playing youth basketball was over $1,000 a year in 2022. Soccer was almost 20% more expensive, at $1,188 a year on average. No wonder nearly two-thirds of families say the cost of youth sports is a nancial strain.
Tennis is one of the few sports to counter the trend of inaccessibility. Since 2019, the number of Americans ages 6 and older playing tennis has increased by 34 percent — and currently stands at 23.8 million.
Part of this success is tennis’s relatively low barriers to entry, especially compared to more equipment-heavy games like hockey, football, or skiing. All you need to get started is a racquet and a few balls — maybe $30 worth of equipment in total — and access to one of the nation’s roughly 270,000 tennis courts, which are typically free to use.
Modest equipment costs are only part of tennis’ growth. e game has found ways to adjust to people of all ages and abilities, including individuals who are too often told they cannot participate in sports because of physical, mental, or age-related challenges.
Tennis recognizes that not everyone needs to play on the same size court and by the same rules. All the way down to beginner youth (and all the way up to the elderly), adaptations are available, ranging from the speed and size of the ball, the size and weight of the racket, the size of the court, rules of service, scoring, and the length of a match. Importantly, wheelchair tennis has made a major breakthrough and is an exciting variant of the game that’s widely available.
Tennis is also a game young people can play into adulthood. ere are leagues and competitions across the country for players 18 and over, 40 and over, and even 95 and over.
Sports remain one of our best tools for combatting the crisis in youth health. All sports need to look for opportunities to expand their reach through custom tailoring to meet players where they are.
is guest column was written by Brian Hainline, MD, who is board chair and president of the United States Tennis Association and recently transitioned from the NCAA as their chief medical o cer. He cochaired the International Olympic Committee consensus meetings on both pain management in elite athletes and mental health in elite athletes. Hainline is clinical professor of neurology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. is piece rst appeared in the Boston Herald.
Brian Hainline
SEE NORTON, P11
Make changes to help stave o dementia
Older adults and those who support them are invited to attend an educational meeting on ursday, Feb. 6. Laura Kneeskern from eKey will share information about ways anyone can modify their lifestyle to stave o dementia.
e meeting will be at Canvas Credit Union in the Community Room, 10000 Park Meadows Drive, Lone Tree. e meeting will begin with announcements from 10-10:15 a.m. Kneeskern will present information and take questions for one hour. e meeting will conclude with community conversation from 11:15-11:30 a.m. e meeting is free and open to the public.
LIVING & AGING WELL
According to Kneeskern, “Don’t we all want to maintain our brain health? Dementia a ects millions, but research shows that 45% of cases can be delayed or prevented by addressing modiable risk factors. From managing blood pressure to improving sleep and staying socially engaged, simple changes can make a big di erence. At eKey, we share practical, research-based strategies for reducing dementia risk.”
In other news, Mike Drake was recently honored with the Seniors’ Council of Douglas County All Star Award in appreciation of his many years of exceptional work supporting older adults. He started his older adult advocacy e orts in 1970. He was involved with the rst White House Aging Conference. Since retiring, he has lled volunteer roles supporting older adults starting in Arapahoe County and culminating with service in
Douglas County. “Mike Drake’s knowledge and experience brings exceptional insights regarding the needs and desires of our older adults,” stated Gretchen Lopez, SCDC leadership team.
Older adults in Douglas County are invited to attend monthly meetings and special events planned by the volunteer SCDC leadership team. e meetings and events keep older adults involved, informed, and give them a voice.
Older adult service providers like the Castle Rock Senior Activity Center and community partners including Douglas County Libraries contribute to positive progress for older adults in Douglas County.
A volunteer leadership team with support from Douglas County Community Services plans monthly educational meetings and special events as well as advocates for older adults. Additional volunteers are welcome to apply for shortterm or long-term volunteer roles with the leadership team.
Call 303-663-7681 or email dcseniorlife@douglas.co.us with questions. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ MyDougCoSeniorLife. For updates and information, visit www.douglas.co.us — search for Seniors’ Council.
is guest column was written by Jean Spahr, the publicity chair for the Seniors’ Council of Douglas County.
your skills and expand your knowledge. Learning bridges the gap between uncertainty and mastery, whether through formal education, reading, or hands-on experience.
Now, consider the ip side: Where do you lack con dence? Perhaps it’s your fear of speaking in public, leading a newly promoted team, or learning a new skill. A lack of con dence can feel like a wall between you and your goals, casting doubt on your ability to succeed. But here’s the thing: Con dence isn’t a xed trait; it’s a muscle you can build.
So, how do we strengthen our condence in areas where we feel weak? Here are a few strategies to consider: Start small and build momentum. First, tackle smaller, manageable challenges. Each success, no matter how minor, adds to your reservoir of con dence and prepares you for bigger hurdles.
Surround yourself with the right people. Con dence doesn’t exist in a vacuum; who you choose to surround yourself with matters. Are you spending time with people who uplift and encourage you, or with those who chip away at your self-belief? Build a circle of trusted coaches, mentors, and supporters. ese people will cheer you on when you’re hesitant and push you forward when self-doubt creeps in.
Embrace lifelong learning. Con dence grows when you take the time to improve
NORTON 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
Practice self-compassion. We’re often our own harshest critics. When you stumble, remind yourself that failure is part of the process. Treat yourself with the same kindness and encouragement you’d o er a friend.
Whether you’re a salesperson striving for more meaningful conversations, a new leader nding your footing, or someone looking to grow personally, the path to greater con dence is within your reach.
With the right mindset, people around you, and a commitment to growth, this year can be your most con dent yet. So, as you set your resolutions and envision the year ahead, ask yourself: What will I do today to strengthen my condence for tomorrow? e answer might transform your life. I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we gain greater con dence each day, it 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.
subject line.
• 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.
A publication of
Call first: 115 Wilcox St., Suite 220, Castle Rock, CO 80104
Mailing Address:
750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110
Phone: 303-566-4100
Web: HighlandsRanchHerald.net
To subscribe call 303-566-4100 or Scan this QR Code
BROOKE WARNER Executive Director brooke@ntln.org
LINDA SHAPLEY Director of Editorial & Audience lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com
CHRISTY STEADMAN South Metro Editor csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com
HALEY LENA Community Editor hlena@coloradocommunitymedia.com
ERIN ADDENBROOKE Marketing Consultant eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com
LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com
BUSINESS INQUIRIES
For advertiser or vendor questions, please email our business department at accounting@ coloradocommunitymedia.com
Columnists & Guest Commentaries
Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Herald.
We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.
Email letters to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Deadline Tues. for the following week’s paper.
Highlands Ranch Herald
A legal newspaper of general circulation in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, the Herald is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 115 Wilcox St., Suite 220, Castle Rock, CO 80104.
Send address change to: Highlands Ranch Herald, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110
AdventHealth Parker expands amid town’s growth
$300 million expansion will bring additional patient rooms, operating rooms and labs
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
and since then, the population of Parker has grown about 72%, according to the hospital, and is expected to grow another 8% by the time the tower opens.
Currently, Parker’s population is over 62,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and grew about 7.2% within a three year period. However, according to the Town of Parker website, the town has approximately 67,300 people residing within the incorporated town boundaries as of January 2024, which is the most recent data available from the town.
more than 10 years. Although he has worked in di erent hospitals, he said Parker has always been one of the most special places to work and is excited for the expansion as it will allow him to help grow the intensive care unit.
“It’ll mean an expansion of the ICU so that we’re there to be able to support the patients that are really sick (and) support my colleagues on the medical sta who have patients that need the ICU after having complex or di cult surgeries,” said Nadon. “(It) means more space.”
CORRECTIONS
Colorado Trust for Local News asks readers to make us aware of mistakes we may have made.
Email linda@cotln.org if you notice a possible error you would like us to take a look at.
After years of planning, a smile came to Michael Goebel’s face, the CEO of AdventHealth Parker, as he watched shovels hit the ground, marking the start to the hospital’s expansion. Located on the south side of the existing facility, construction of a new seven-story tower will begin in February, with plans to care for the rst patient by February of 2027. “ is facility will set Parker up very well for the future of this market, this service area,” said Goebel. “I’ll be very happy to see it come to fruition.”
From the current 179-bed hospital, the $300 million expansion will add at least 60 new patient rooms, four operating rooms with two additional rooms that will be shelled for future use, 16 new pre- and postoperative rooms, two cardiac catheterization labs, two interventional radiology labs and a new sterile processing department.
Goebel attributes the expansion to the sophistication of the hospital’s services and the growth of the community.
AdventHealth Parker rst opened in 2004,
AdventHealth has also cared for patients outside of Parker. For nearly 21 years, the hospital has served the entire southeast Denver metro area.
“It’s de nitely trying to make sure we meet the needs of our market,” Goebel said.
With an expansion that covers various areas of the hospital, Aaron Nadon, MD, and AdventHealth Parker medical sta president, said the expansion allows sta to be able to provide more and better care to the patients.
“Parker and the surrounding area just continues to grow and the hospital has just needed to grow with that,” said Nadon. “We’ve certainly seen some growing pains where we’re kind of reaching capacity, or just needing more space and availability to be able to care for our patients.”
Nadon, who specializes in critical care medicine, neurocritical care and pulmonary disease, has been with the Parker hospital for
e idea of the expansion started shortly after Goebel became the CEO. A master facility plan began formation in 2019. e detailed plan helped the hospital determine what services were needed based on local, regional and national utilization rates.
Additionally, with more than 1,100 employees, AdventHealth Parker is currently the town’s largest employer, said Goebel, and when the tower opens in 2027, it is expected to create at least 100 additional jobs.
Brett Spenst, AdventHealth’s CEO for the Rocky Mountain region, said in a statement that the goal of AdventHealth is to be a “preeminent healthcare system” known for whole-person care.
“With this aspiration guiding us, it is our sacred duty to expand our services and continue to grow so that more people can achieve wholeness in mind, body and spirit,” Spenst said.
AdventHealth Parker hospital sta and Parker elected o cials on Jan. 7 break ground on the seven-story expansion outside of the hospital. The expansion is expected to open for care in early 2027. COURTESY
BY DARIUS TAHIR KFF HEALTH NEWS
Health care AI requires a lot of expensive humans
Preparing cancer patients for di cult decisions is an oncologist’s job. ey don’t always remember to do it, however. At the University of Pennsylvania Health System, doctors are nudged to talk about a patient’s treatment and end-of-life preferences by an arti cially intelligent algorithm that predicts the chances of death.
But it’s far from being a set-it-andforget-it tool. A routine tech checkup revealed the algorithm decayed during the covid-19 pandemic, getting 7 percentage points worse at predicting who would die, according to a 2022 study.
ere were likely real-life impacts. Ravi Parikh, an Emory University oncologist who was the study’s lead author, told KFF Health News the tool failed hundreds of times to prompt doctors to initiate that important discussion — possibly heading o unnecessary chemotherapy — with patients who needed it.
He believes several algorithms designed to enhance medical care weakened during the pandemic, not just the one at Penn Medicine. “Many institutions are not routinely monitoring the performance” of their products, Parikh said.
Algorithm glitches are one facet of a dilemma that computer scientists and doctors have long acknowledged but that is starting to puzzle hospital executives and researchers: Arti cial intelligence systems require consistent monitoring and sta ng to put in place and to keep them working well.
In essence: You need people, and more machines, to make sure the new tools don’t mess up.
“Everybody thinks that AI will help us with our access and capacity and improve care and so on,” said Nigam Shah, chief data scientist at Stanford Health Care. “All of that is nice and good, but if it increases the cost of care by 20%, is that viable?”
Government o cials worry hospitals lack the resources to put these technologies through their paces. “I have looked far and wide,” FDA Commissioner Robert Cali said at a recent agency panel on AI. “I do not believe there’s a single health system, in the United States, that’s capable of validating an AI algorithm that’s put into place in a clinical care system.”
AI is already widespread in health care. Algorithms are used to predict patients’ risk of death or deterioration, to suggest diagnoses or triage patients, to record and summarize visits to save doctors work, and to approve insurance claims.
If tech evangelists are right, the technology will become ubiquitous — and pro table. e investment rm Bessemer Venture Partners has identi ed some 20 health-focused AI startups on track
to make $10 million in revenue each in a year. e FDA has approved nearly a thousand arti cially intelligent products.
Evaluating whether these products work is challenging. Evaluating whether they continue to work — or have developed the software equivalent of a blown gasket or leaky engine — is even trickier.
Take a recent study at Yale Medicine evaluating six “early warning systems,” which alert clinicians when patients are likely to deteriorate rapidly. A supercomputer ran the data for several days, said Dana Edelson, a doctor at the University of Chicago and co-founder of a company that provided one algorithm for the study. e process was fruitful, showing huge di erences in performance among the six products.
It’s not easy for hospitals and providers to select the best algorithms for their needs. e average doctor doesn’t have a supercomputer sitting around, and there is no Consumer Reports for AI.
“We have no standards,” said Jesse Ehrenfeld, immediate past president of the American Medical Association. “ ere is nothing I can point you to today that is a standard around how you evaluate, monitor, look at the performance of a model of an algorithm, AI-enabled or not, when it’s deployed.”
Perhaps the most common AI product in doctors’ o ces is called ambient docu-
mentation, a tech-enabled assistant that listens to and summarizes patient visits. Last year, investors at Rock Health tracked $353 million owing into these documentation companies. But, Ehrenfeld said, “ ere is no standard right now for comparing the output of these tools.”
And that’s a problem, when even small errors can be devastating. A team at Stanford University tried using large language models — the technology underlying popular AI tools like ChatGPT — to summarize patients’ medical history. ey compared the results with what a physician would write.
“Even in the best case, the models had a 35% error rate,” said Stanford’s Shah. In medicine, “when you’re writing a summary and you forget one word, like ‘fever’ — I mean, that’s a problem, right?”
Sometimes the reasons algorithms fail are fairly logical. For example, changes to underlying data can erode their e ectiveness, like when hospitals switch lab providers.
Sometimes, however, the pitfalls yawn open for no apparent reason.
Sandy Aronson, a tech executive at Mass General Brigham’s personalized medicine program in Boston, said that when his team tested one application meant to help genetic counselors locate relevant literature about DNA variants, the product suffered “nondeterminism” — that is, when
asked the same question multiple times in a short period, it gave di erent results. Aronson is excited about the potential for large language models to summarize knowledge for overburdened genetic counselors, but “the technology needs to improve.”
If metrics and standards are sparse and errors can crop up for strange reasons, what are institutions to do? Invest lots of resources. At Stanford, Shah said, it took eight to 10 months and 115 man-hours just to audit two models for fairness and reliability.
Experts interviewed by KFF Health News oated the idea of arti cial intelligence monitoring arti cial intelligence, with some (human) data whiz monitoring both. All acknowledged that would require organizations to spend even more money — a tough ask given the realities of hospital budgets and the limited supply of AI tech specialists.
“It’s great to have a vision where we’re melting icebergs in order to have a model monitoring their model,” Shah said. “But is that really what I wanted? How many more people are we going to need?”
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
PL8 POPULARITY
BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMUNITYMEDIA.COM
If you feel like you’ve noticed more license plates with custom messages while driving on Colorado’s roads, you’re probably not alone. Numbers from state o cials reveal that those personalized plates are indeed becoming more popular.
Requests for custom plates in 2024 nearly tripled the number of requests from just six years earlier, with particu-
larly big gains in the past two years.
When asked whether the state Division of Motor Vehicles has any theories as to why personalized plates have become more common, spokesperson Jennifer Giambi said: “ e DMV cannot speculate why these have become more popular over the years.”
But while the reasons may not be clear, the trend appears strong. And the large jump in requests for custom plates since 2023 coincided with the introduction of Colorado’s retro black, blue and red
plates, three designs you’ve also probably seen out and about.
If you’re looking to customize your own plates with a word or message, it’s not necessarily as simple as walking into a county o ce and requesting the funny reference you joked about with your friends.
For one thing, the application is seven pages long. What’s more, messages that are deemed “o ensive to the general public” can be denied, according to Colorado’s application document.
You also must explain the meaning of the custom message you request — and if your explanation is too vague, the request will be rejected, the document says.
Here’s a look at the rise in popularity of custom plates, some messages that the state has rejected and how to apply if you’re thinking of personalizing your ride.
SEE PL8, P15
Personalized plate numbers up
Here’s the yearly number of personalized license plate requests — and how many o cials approved or rejected — in Colorado for each year going back to 2018, according to the state DMV.
( e state DMV was only able to provide information from 2018 onward because of a systems upgrade implemented that year, Giambi said.)
• 2018 — Approved requests: 25,818; rejected requests: 2,548; total: 28,366
• 2019 — Approved: 22,535; rejected: 437; total: 22,972
• 2020 — Approved: 19,291; rejected: 328; total: 19,619
• 2021 — Approved: 23,821; rejected: 419; total: 24,240
• 2022 — Approved: 38,054; rejected: 201; total: 38,255
• *2023 — Approved: 62,356; rejected 175; total: 62,531
• 2024 — Approved: 80,044; rejected 270; total: 80,314
What about that asterisk in 2023? It’s to point out that it was the rst year of Colorado o ering its retro black, blue and red plates, according to the state DMV. ose plates have roots in the past,
and the once-discontinued designs raise money for people with disabilities.
“ e rst blue-and-white plate was issued in 1914,” the state DMV said in a statement, adding: “ e rst year the allred background with white letters was issued was 1925.”
Colorado’s popular new black plate is modeled after a 1945 design, predating the state’s rst plate design with mountains by about 15 years, according to the state DMV.
For more information on the red, blue and black plates and the disability support funding, see Colorado Community Media’s previous story at tinyurl.com/ ColoradoPlates.
Rejected proposals
While many requests gain approval each year, plenty get rejected for being “foul, lewd or rude,” the state DMV said in a news release.
O cials may refuse to issue any combination of letters or numbers that “carry connotations o ensive to good taste and decency” or duplicate any other license plate, the application document says, citing state law.
“ e DMV also follows the guidance laid out by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, which states that unacceptable license plates include: profanity, derogatory reference
to a group based on age, race, nationality, ethnicity, gender, or religion; reference to illegal substances or criminal acts; sexual terms, intimate body parts, and bodily functions or uids; and references to acts of violence,” Giambi said.
Some rejected requests for license plate con gurations include “GYATTT,” “GTJIGGY” and “OMGWTF,” which appear on the o ensive-omit list, which the DMV uses to automatically reject most “foul, lewd or rude” requests, the division said in the 2024 news release.
See that list at tinyurl.com/LicensePlateReject.
How to get personalized license plates
If you’re looking to get a personalized plate of your own, get ready to explain your choice.
“Every entry requires an explanation,” Giambi said. “An entry can be rejected if no meaning is supplied.”
Here’s a look at some other criteria for custom plates:
• Only seven characters are allowed — six for motorcycles — including blank spaces, dashes and periods.
• e minimum amounts of characters allowed are ve for plates with numbers only and two for any other plate (all letters or combinations of letters and numbers).
• Spaces, dashes and periods count as a character. However, they do not change the con guration. For example, if “ABC” is taken, then “A B C,” “A-B-C,” and “A.B.C.” are also taken.
• Special symbols like !, #, $, %, * and so on are not allowed.
To be approved, requested customizations in Colorado don’t necessarily have to be original, according to the state DMV.
“A con guration can generally be reissued to either the same or a di erent individual as long as it has expired for more than 13 months,” Giambi said. It usually takes three days or less for a request for custom license plates to be rejected or approved in Colorado, but on occasion, it can take up to a week, Giambi said. e state makes the calls on which requests get approved.
“Personalized plates are a state-run program, and other than processing the transaction itself, the counties are not involved in the decision-making process,” Giambi said.
Custom plates carry a one-time personalization fee of $60 upon their initial registration and are an additional $25 upon renewal each year after, and other taxes and fees may apply, Giambi said.
For more information on custom license plates, see dmv.colorado.gov/ license-plates or call 303-205-5600.
Thu 1/30
Antonia Bennett @ 6:30pm Dazzle Denver, 1080 14th Street, Denver
Eric Golden @ 7:30pm Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Main‐street, Parker
The Meditations @ 9pm
Ophelia's Electric Soapbox, 1215 20th St, Den‐ver
Fri 1/31
Just a Feeling (Colorado)
@ 7pm
Duncan Coker: Moe's Original BBQ- Songwriter Showcase @ 1pm
Moe's Original BBQ, 3295 S Broadway, Englewood
Syndee Winters: Syncopated Ladies LIVE! (Guest Artist) @ 7pm
Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Com‐mons St, Lone Tree
Wunderhorse @ 8pm Bluebird Theatre, Denver
Wed 2/05
Beyond Laser Light Experience @ 4pm Denver
Back to the Future - The Musical @ 7:30pm Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre, 1400 Curtis Street, Denver
Friends of Chamber Music Denver: Dinner with the Danish String Quartetlate performance @ 8:15pm Nocturne, 1330 27th St, Denver
Thu 2/06
Teacup Gorilla: Jane/Eyre: A queer rock gothic romance @ 7:30pm
Mon 2/03
KSE Venue Ball Arena Walk-In Tour @ 1pm Denver
Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver
Splintered Autumn + Twazz + cLub + This House Has Lions
@ 7pm
Moe's Original BBQ, 3295 S Broadway, Engle‐wood
The River Arkansas @ 9pm
Ophelia's Electric Soapbox, 1215 20th St, Den‐ver
Sat 2/01
Giant Zero @ 5pm Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver
Lauren Mayberry (16 & Over)
@ 8pm Gothic Theatre, Englewood
Buntport Theater Company, 717 Lipan St, Denver
Dogs In A Pile w/ Atlas Radio @ 8pm Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom & Other Side, 2637 Welton St, Denver
Sun 2/02
Johnny & The Mongrels - Revival Denver Public House @ 3pm Revival Denver Public House, 630 E 17th Ave, Denver
Back to the Future the Musical (Touring) @ 7:30pm Buell Theatre, Denver
Unleashed Theater New Play Reading Series at Western Sky Bar & Taproom @ 6pm
Feb 6th - May 1st
Denver Nuggets vs. New Orleans Pelicans @ 7pm / $16-$1965 Ball Arena, Denver
Tue 2/04
Dave Hill @ 7pm
Ophelia's Electric Soapbox, 1215 20th St, Den‐ver
Ariel Elias: Denver, CO @ 7:30pm Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Pl, Greenwood Village
Western Sky Bar & Taproom, 4361 S BROADWAY, Englewood. westernsky barco@gmail.com
Kat Edmonson @ 6:30pm Dazzle Denver, 1080 14th Street, Denver
Friends of Chamber Music Denver: Danish String Quartet @ 7:30pm
Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 2344 E Iliff Ave, Denver
Bryce Vine @ 8pm Ogden Theatre, 935 E Colfax Ave, Denver
DEPORTATION
“they’re not calling the police. I want to use the phrase ‘ma a.’ I want to use the phrase ‘reverting to organized crime.’”
Abe Laydon, another commissioner, noted his own Latino heritage before voting for the resolution.
“I am deeply sensitive” to people seeking refuge, Laydon said. But “the money is not there to beckon people to a coldweather climate (that lacks) resources.”
e county “joins and stands with state and local governments across the United States, including Castle Rock, Colorado, who pledge their resources and commitment in aiding President Trump in his work to solve America’s Immigration Crisis,” the resolution says.
e Castle Rock Town Council recently — with one abstention — declared support for Trump’s deportation plans.
A county news release framed the Douglas resolution in terms of “safety and compassion.”
“Illegal immigration creates safety concerns, including for migrants, who frequently become the victims of crime and abuse,” Commissioner Kevin Van Winkle said in the release.
Douglas o cials support legal immigration, Laydon said in the news release.
“ is resolution is about the safety and welfare of our hardworking taxpayers, including those who come to enjoy the quality of life in Douglas County through the proper legal channels,” Laydon said in the release.
Deportations in large numbers aren’t new — and don’t only happen under Republican presidents — but the topic has garnered attention amid Trump’s rise to return to the presidency.
e U.S. deported more than 270,000 immigrants in a recent 12-month period, the highest amount annually in a decade, according to a government report as described in a story by e Guardian news outlet.
e deportations were nearly double, from 142,580 in the same period a year earlier, and came as part of a broader push by President Joe Biden to reduce illegal immigration, the outlet reported.
‘Unintended consequences’
During public comment before the commissioners’ vote, Jennifer Patterson, who said she lives in Douglas County and appeared on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Arapahoe and Douglas Counties, opposed the resolution.
“We do not support deporting these immigrants who have no history of major and/or violent criminal activity,” Patterson said.
e resolution “risks being misinterpreted and will likely lead to unintended consequences,” she argued.
Deporting immigrants would damage the economy, said Patterson, who argued that the “loss of immigrant payroll taxes” would hurt the economy in Colorado.
Julie Ort, another Douglas County resident, said the resolution “has no specifics” on how the county wants to o er support to a deportation e ort.
“ ere’s no speci cs about what you’re planning to do whether that’s (using) law enforcement,” Ort said, adding: “ e statistics you cited have nothing to do with any issues (that are) crime related in Douglas County per se.”
Teal responded by saying: “ ere are real victims here in Douglas County.”
“ e reality is we do know of crime that is being committed by illegal immigrants in Douglas County,” Teal said.
e county did not immediately re-
spond for comment when asked whether o cials know how many immigrants who do not have citizenship or other authorization to be in the U.S. have been convicted of crimes that were committed in Douglas County since December 2022, around when Denver’s tracking of the number of migrants served by the city starts. Colorado Community Media will follow up for comment.
Local data on reported crime
Some candidates for the November election painted con icting pictures of crime in Douglas County.
So what does the data say?
For 2023, the most recent full year of data, the state’s database shows about 31,100 violent crimes reported in Colorado. at’s down from about 32,600 in 2022 but remains higher than the prepandemic recent high of about 26,100 in 2018.
In 2024, a year for which data appear to only currently be available through November, the number of reported violent crimes in Colorado stood at about 27,500, according to the state’s database on Jan. 14 this year.
Violent crime in the data includes murder, non-consensual sex o enses, aggravated assault and robbery, according to the database.
For the Douglas County Sheri ’s Ofce, the state’s database shows about 480 violent crimes in 2023, down from the recent pandemic-era high of about 510 in 2021. e 2023 number is close to the pre-pandemic recent high of about 460 in 2018.
For 2024 so far in the database, the number of reported violent crimes in the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce data stood at 450, according to the state’s database on Jan. 14 this year.
e sheri ’s o ce is the law enforce-
ment agency for Douglas areas outside of cities and towns — known as unincorporated places, such as Highlands Ranch — along with Castle Pines and Larkspur.
On the state’s website, data is current through the last full month, plus a 30-day data-entry lag. For example, April data is available beginning June 1, the site says.
County fights state Van Winkle, the commissioner, said before voting on the resolution that “at the heart of this” issue is a restriction of local law enforcement regarding immigrants.
“It simply is our voice saying we support communication between local law enforcement and federal partners,” Van Winkle said.
After several counties, including Douglas, pushed a lawsuit challenging two Colorado laws that prevent local governments from cooperating with the federal government on matters of immigration, a judge recently ruled that the counties do not have standing, or the legal basis to sue.
On the counties’ argument regarding the Douglas County sheri being unable to comply with a federal civil immigration detainer request, the Code of Federal Regulations does not mandate that political subdivisions comply with such requests, Judge David Goldberg of the Denver District Court wrote.
“A federal civil immigration detainer request is just that, a request,” the judge wrote. “A nding that the federal government may command the states to carry out federal initiatives, such as civil immigration detainer requests, would unquestionably run afoul of longstanding and established constitutional limitations, such as the anti-commandeering doctrine.”
Douglas County planned to appeal the ruling.
Eng 3, SW Dev & Eng
Cable Comm, LLC, Englewood, CO. Contrib to team resp for dsgn & dvlp new sw & web apps in an Agile dev envrnt use Java, Python, & SoapUI; Reqs: Bach or forgn equiv in CS, Eng or rltd; 2 yrs exp prfrm Behavior Driven Dev use Gherkin w/in Cucumber framework. Salary: $94,578 to $135k/yr. Benefits: https://jobs.comcast.com/life-at-co mcast/benefits. App window: 30 days (+/- depend on # of applicnts). Apply to:
Job_Candidates@comcast.com
Ref Job ID# 4039
Eng, Mob Dev – Comcast Cable Comm, LLC, Englewood, CO.
Contrib to teams resp for dsgn & dev new iOS sw & apps; Reqs: Bach or forgn equiv in CS, Eng or rltd; 2 yrs exp dev sw & web apps; wrk w/ Apple iOS releases, techs, & librs, incl Frameworks & CocoaPods. Salary: $94,578 to $170k/yr. Benefits: https://jobs.comcast.com/life-at-co mcast/benefits. App window: 30 days (+/- depend on # of applicnts). Apply to:
Job_Candidates@comcast.com
Ref Job ID# 4321.
RingCentral, Inc.
Job Title: Senior Security operations Engineer (FT; Multiple Openings)
Job Location: Centennial, CO Requirements: MS or equiv. in CS, IS, etc. + 2 yrs. exp. or BS + 5 yrs. exp. req’d. Exp. w/ Windows, macOS, Linux, antivirus tools, firewalls, email monit, two-factor authn, AWS, AWS security tools, Python, SIEM, IDS/IPS, WAF, EDR, CVE, CVSS, SOX, SOC2, GDPR&HIPPA req’d. Apply online at ringcentral.com/company/careers
MARKETPLACE
Misc. Notices
WIDOWED MEN AND WOMEN OF AMERICA.
A social club offering many exciting activities and life long friendships. Social hours for all areas of Metro Denver. Visit Widowedamerica.org for details In your area!
Merchandise
Firewood
Split & Delivered $450 a cord Stacking $50 Call 303-647-2475 or 720-323-2173
Health & Beauty
Dental insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400+ procedures. Real dental insurance - not just a discount plan. Get your free Information Kit with details! 1-855-526-1060 www.dental50plus.com/ads #6258
Medical
Attention oxygen therapy users! Discover oxygen therapy that moves with you with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. Free information kit. 1-866-4779045
Miscellaneous
Don’t let the stairs limit your mobility! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1-833-3993595
MobileHelp America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! Call 1-888-489-3936
Aging Roof? New Homeowner? Got Storm Damage? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-888-878-9091
We buy houses for cash as is! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer & get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-844-8775833
Become a published author We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author`s guide 1-877-7294998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ ads
Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day. For a limited time, waving ALL installation costs! (Additional terms apply. Subject to change and vary by dealer. Offer ends 3/30/25.) Call 1-844-501-3208
Miscellaneous
DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB Games! Choice Package $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/ Choice Package or higher.) No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866859-0405
Water damage cleanup: A small amount of water can cause major damage to your home. Our trusted professionals dry out wet areas & repair to protect your family & your home value! Call 24/7: 1-888-872-2809. Have zip code!
Portable Oxygen Concentrator may be covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobil-ity with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 877-305-1535
Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts
Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt & fees cancelled in 2019. Get free info package & learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 833-308-1971
Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris -blocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833610-1936
Home break-ins take less than 60 seconds. Don’t wait! Protect your family, your home, your assets now for as little as 70¢/ day! 1-844-591-7951
Instruction
FREE BIBLE STUDY
Taken privately by mail GIVE GOD A TRY
Kerry and Patty Franklin 9249 Broadway #200-544, Highlands Ranch, 80129 Castle Rock Church of Christ
We pay all postage.
Miscellaneous
Replace your roof w/the best looking & longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! 3 styles & multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off install + Additional 10% off install (military, health & 1st responders.) 1-833-370-1234
Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase* Call 1-855948-6176 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.
Consumer Cellular - same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No longterm contract, no hidden fees free activation. All plans feature unlimited talk & text, starting at just $20/mo. Call 1-877-751-0866
Bath & shower updates in as little as 1 day! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & military discounts available. 1-877-5439189
Doodle Puppies Golden Doodles and Bernedoodles Home-Raised Heath Tested and Guaranteed Standard and Mini Size available Schedule a visit today! (970)215-6860 www.puppylovedoodles.com
Wanted
Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
Local News relies on your support, but it’s also dependent on the dozens of people who bring this important information to your doorstep.
