18th Judicial District Attorney Amy Padden takes the helm
Democratic DA has a new approach for district, which now covers only Arapahoe County
BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
After many years of being overseen by Republicans, the district attorney’s ofce in the 18th Judicial District now has a Democrat at its helm.
South Suburban starts to record its meetings
began recording and posting video and audio from its meetings on its website.
the product was good before they started recording and posting the meetings.
Newly elected 18th Judicial District Attorney Amy Padden, a Democrat, won the November race for the seat against Republican former DA Carol Chambers. Padden started her new job on Jan. 14 and says she is looking forward to representing Arapahoe County residents and promoting community safety.
“We’re going to continue to prosecute crimes — that’s our job,” she said. “We’re going to continue to promote community safety, but I have di erent ways of going about that than most Republicans do.”
BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
After more than a year of several residents requesting more meeting accessibility from South Suburban Parks and Recreation District, the district has started recording and posting its board meetings online.
e district joins other local governmental organizations — including Littleton, Englewood, Arapahoe County and others — in posting recordings of its meetings online to make information more accessible to residents.
For resident Elizabeth Watson, the decision is a “wonderful” development.
“ e public should be involved in the maintenance and operations of their taxpayer-funded facilities,” she said. “ is is just a great opportunity for the public to be more aware of what is going on.”
Starting in September 2024, the district
e publicly elected board’s main meetings, where o cial action takes place, are held at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month, unless otherwise noted on the district’s meeting webpage. e videos are also available on the meeting webpage where agendas can be found, at https://tinyurl.com/SSPRDmeetings.
Leading up to the decision to start recording meetings, South Suburban Board Chair Pam Eller said, the district did not feel like it had the proper technology to record meetings. After residents continued pushing for recordings, the district decided to purchase new microphones and begin recording.
“ e people who were asking made very good points — that it’s hard to get to a meeting at six o’clock in the middle of the week,” Eller said. “Our district is fairly large, so people coming from the west side … it’s not just a hop and skip. We all agreed — sta and the board — that it was a reasonable request.”
She said Executive Director Rob Hanna and the board wanted to make sure
“We didn’t want to put something out there that was just a frustration to people because they couldn’t hear,” she said.
She said recording the meetings also takes “a fair bit of sta time” because a sta member reviews each video to ensure the subtitles are correct to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
e district’s December monthly report says the district’s information technology director, Mike MacLennan, is considering hiring a contractor to manage writing the subtitles.
“Having a contractor will also get us on a standard schedule where we can let people know when a meeting is expected to be uploaded to (the meeting website), rather than the current schedule of ‘as soon as Mike has time,’” the report states.
Eller said the board’s goal going forward is for the recordings to be posted no later than the Tuesday after a meeting, and she imagines this gap will lessen
Until now, the 18th Judicial District has encompassed Arapahoe County along with Republican-leaning Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties. As the result of the Colorado General Assembly’s decision to split the district — creating the new 23rd Judicial District to include the other three counties — the 18th Judicial District now only covers Arapahoe County, which leans Democratic.
“It’s been a long time since the DA that Arapahoe County voted for was actually the DA,” Padden said.
For example, when Padden ran for the seat in 2020, she won Arapahoe County by 15 percentage points, according to county voting results. But, because of the voting results from the other three counties, Republican John Kellner won the race by less than half of a percentage point, according to data from the Secretary of State.
“We’ve had Republican DAs that, frankly, haven’t represented Arapahoe County’s values,” Padden said. “I’m really looking forward to doing that.”
Prosecution, rehabilitation and prevention As the district attorney, Padden will be in charge of prosecuting criminal cases
Outside of the South Suburban Parks and Recreation building in Centennial last July.
FILE PHOTO
No new concrete set for Lee Gulch Trail
Community opposition brings end to proposal
BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
After more than 100 community survey responses opposed the proposed concrete resurfacing of a portion of the Lee Gulch Trail between Prince Street and the Mary Carter Greenway Trail in Littleton, the South Suburban Parks and Recreation district has decided to halt the project, leaving most of the path as a soft-surface trail.
In October, maintenance crews from South Suburban started pouring concrete on a portion of the trail because it was becoming a maintenance issue, Director of Parks and Public Space Andy Jennings said. But when Jennings heard from a community member who was concerned about this decision, he ordered the crews to stop the action so the district could gather community feedback about the plan.
A community survey, which was open for about a month, received 235 responses, according to a Jan. 9 email sent by the district to residents. Almost 65% of the responses expressed support for keeping the trail as granite nes and not resurfacing with concrete, the district said.
Based on these results, the district determined that they would not go forward with the proposed resurfacing project.
“If it’s their desire to have the granite
nes, then we’ll do our best to provide the granite nes and take care of it,” Jennings said.
e district’s announcement also says the sta plans to leave the portion of the trail that was already resurfaced with concrete — about 190 feet — as it is.
Resident and avid trail user Ned Sterne, who opposed the proposed resurfacing project, said the district should remove this portion of concrete in order to respect the community’s wishes.
“‘Choosing’ to leave 190 feet of concrete in place is a further a ront to the community and the kind of heavy-handed behavior district taxpayers won’t tolerate,” he said. “Part of the problem with South Suburban’s response is the precedent it sets, whereby South Suburban can ‘mistakenly’ put down concrete that they later choose to leave in place.”
Jenning said the district decided to leave the concrete in place largely because ofnancial considerations.
“I recommended not to remove the concrete that we put out there, because we already spent around $20,000 for that portion of concrete,” he said. “I just didn’t see spending additional funds to try and rip that out and rebuild that section of the trail. I felt the concrete was going to provide some bene t with erosion and rutting.”
Resident Jane Miller, who also opposed the resurfacing of the trail, said she is OK with the decision to leave the existing concrete in place.
Lava Island to open in Englewood in February
BY ELISABETH SLAY ESLAY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A large, tropical-themed indoor playground known as Lava Island is coming to Englewood in February.
Housed in the former Big Lots, at 139 W. Hampden Ave., Lava Island was created to be a place where families can play and disconnect from screens.
“At our tropical-themed oasis, get ready to laugh, jump, slide and climb — something to explore for every age,” Alexa Hubbard, vice president of marketing features, said. “Features to anticipate include trampolines, foam pits, giant jungle gym, tricycle track, toddler areas, our famous volcano slide and more, so you can move your body, burn some energy and connect with friends and family.”
Hubbard said this new location is Lava Island’s second location in Colorado, with the rst being in Aurora.
“We want to make it so much easier for families in this area to experience all the fun of Lava Island without having to drive all the way to Aurora,” Hubbard said. “Englewood is the perfect spot, and we can’t wait to bring Lava Island closer to home for so many amazing families. We’re beyond excited to be expanding across the U.S., but there’s something special about opening in a neighborhood closer to home for families in our own backyard.”
Hubbard said Lava Island’s agship location in Aurora was developed in 2018 and many families have visited. “As a family-owned business, we knew
Get ready to laugh, jump, slide and climb
we unlocked something special with the Aurora park and the magic it brings to guests looking to burn some energy, host an epic birthday party, and spend time connecting together,” Hubbard said. “It’s been our dream to bring this same magic into other neighborhoods and create a vibrant hub for the community that o ers fun for kids of all ages - and kids at heart.” e grand opening for the Englewood location will take place in February but an o cial date has yet to be announced.
“In the meantime, I’d encourage folks to sign up for our VIP list where they’ll receive construction updates, info about birthday party bookings, and even an exclusive invite to our grand opening event,” Hubbard said. “ is event is by invite only, and you’ll have the opportunity to come play, sample our delicious menu, enter into giveaways, tour our themed
Hubbard said she hopes Englewood will be excited to have a Lava Island in their own town.
“For our new guests, we hope you’ll see us as an extension of your own backyard - a place to come explore, burn some energy, play and connect as a family, and immerse yourself in our tropical-themed oasis,” Hubbard said.
For more information on Lava Island visit lavaisland.com.
A portion of the trail that was resurfaced with concrete by South Suburban Parks and Recreation District maintenance crews in October.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NED STERNE
Lava Island’s second location is coming to Englewood in February. It’s located at 139 W. Hampden Ave.
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.
Dr. Je is alive
Rumors of the Conifer veterinarian and Animal Planet star’s demise are greatly exaggerated
BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A year ago, an international website published a story saying veterinarian Dr. Je Young had died. at single false story still resonates at Conifer’s Planned Pethood, the animal hospital owned by the former star of Animal Planet’s longrunning “Rocky Mountain Vet.”
Young is now on his fourth round with cancer, but very much alive and with a still very intact sense of humor.
“People send us sympathy cards with checks, so I’ll call them and say, ‘I’m still alive,’” he said. “And I’ll o er to send the check back.”
No one has taken him up on that o er.
“ ey’re so happy and relieved he’s OK; they don’t care about the money they sent,” said Steve LuKanic, Planned Pethood’s marketing and communications director.
Young, 69, was rst diagnosed with lung cancer in 2013, and had a portion of his lung removed, eliminating the cancer. In 2016, during a routine exam, doctors discovered he had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a diagnosis he revealed on
an episode of “Rocky Mountain Vet.” It went into remission after treatment. But in early 2023, he was diagnosed with lung cancer again. It is now in remission.
“ is is my fourth cancer,” he said. “It’s stage 4 lung cancer, and I will die. My goal is to have this facility be nancially soluble so it can go on long after I’m gone.”
Young is not taking time to think much about his diagnosis but is instead planning future renovations and expansions of Planned Pethood. During a recent tour of the facility, he barely paused to address his condition but admitted the cancer is causing him pain.
“My back hurts all the time,” he said, adding, “from the cancer but also from standing doing so many surgeries.” e rumors of his death have taken a toll on the veterinary clinic. People who once supported it with donations and thought he had died stopped doing so.
“It does hurt us nancially; people think I’m not around and it’s going to go defunct,” he said.
But that’s not going to happen, he said. His wife, fellow veterinarian Petra Mickova, who runs the nonpro t organization with him, will ensure it.
“My wife is far smarter than me,” Young said. “She’s going to run an even tighter ship than I do.”
“Rocky Mountain Vet” launched in 2015. During its 8-year -run on Animal Planet, it was the network’s mostwatched program, drawing 1.7 million viewers each week.
TRAIL
“With regret, I’m OK that they leave the paved portion as-is,” she said. “Tearing all that concrete out would create a big load in a land ll, which would be bad.” e goal of the proposed resurfacing, according to the district, was to reduce hazards such as erosion and rutting for trail users and to allow for better snow removal. In its announcement that it will keep the granite nes, the district also stated that it will “continue to maintain the crusher nes trail at the current level of service.”
Sterne said he hopes this “doesn’t mean the poor level of maintenance witnessed over the past several years.”
“It is no surprise that some of those taking the survey favored concrete as a cure for what is actually a lack of proper maintenance,” he said. “Going forward, the community would like to see South Suburban allocate more funds to maintain the trail.”
Sterne said he wants to see more crusher nes added to parts of the trail and wants to see improvements such as culverts, restructuring and realignments to prevent erosion and ooding.
Jennings said the district has added a binding product to a portion of the trail that is intended to hold it together better during wet conditions, such as rain and snow melting, in order to prevent washout. He said the district will analyze this product’s success at the end of the winter.
He said the district will not plow the trail for snow or treat it for ice because bringing the required vehicles on softsurface trails can cause rutting, an uneven quality that can be dangerous to cyclists, walkers and runners.
Residents who supported the concrete resurfacing cited the challenges of mud and ice on the current granite nes.
“ e upper part of this trail near Prince gets really iced over in the winter and due to the shade, takes forever to melt,” one respondent wrote. “It would be wonderful to have a paved trail for (yearround) use.”
Resident John Stephens said he wished the district sta sought more ideas for trail design and maintenance recommendations, not just a choice between two kinds of surfacing.
“Two bad choices is really no choice at all,” he said. “We should be allowed to imagine a better path, which is easily do-able.”
Overall, Miller said she hopes the district has “learned a lesson” from the experience.
“In the future, I hope they now know to allow for community input before commencing big projects,” she said.
Jennings said he wants the community to know the district is listening.
“I apologize that we didn’t start o with a public process,” he said. “I believe that our sta felt that they were doing the right thing that was in the best interest of the district and the safety and the users (of) the trail. I just wish we had started this with a public process — and I think that would have saved everyone a lot of heartache.”
Dr. Je Young in his surgery room at Planned Pethood. Young is planning an addition and other renovations to the Conifer facility.
PHOTO BY JANE REUTER
The Lee Gulch Trail is covered with crusher fines, a finely-crushed stone mix. PHOTO COURTESY OF NED STERNE
on behalf of the government. e district attorney typically decides whether to le charges under Colorado law.
Padden said she believes the primary job of a DA is to make the community safer, which she says involves more than just prosecution of criminal activity.
“My goals are to ensure that we are not just prosecuting and punishing crimes — which we obviously need to do for violent criminals — but also that we’re looking for ways to rehabilitate people, to reduce recidivism and to prevent crime from happening in the rst place,” she said.
According to the National Institute of Justice, recidivism refers to a person’s relapse into criminal behavior, often after the person receives sanctions or undergoes intervention for a previous crime.
To reach her goals, Padden wants to strengthen the district’s diversion program, which o ers rehabilitation services to low-level o enders, rst-time o enders and young o enders who qualify for the program.
“We try to determine what caused this person to come across our desk,” she said. “How did they end up in court in the rst place? What’s going on in their lives? Do they have a substance abuse problem? Do they have a mental health problem? Are they struggling to feed their families? And can we align them with resources that will help them address those underly-
ing problems?”
Individuals are identi ed for diversion program eligibility before their plea, Padden said. Instead of going through a traditional court process, an individual in the diversion program may be required to go to counseling, participate in employment training and/or pay restitution, and may be o ered transportation options, housing options or other rehabilitation e orts, depending on what challenges the individual is facing.
“Rather than going to court and pleading guilty and getting a sentence and going on probation or serving a jail sentence as part of that probation, they enter into our program,” Padden said.
If the individual does everything they are required to do through the diversion program, their charges are dismissed and they can get their case sealed, Padden said.
Although the individual does not go through the traditional court process in these situations, Padden said the diversion program still holds people accountable.
“Going through a diversion program is a lot more work for the offender to complete than spending three nights in the jail,” she said. “But, the outcomes are going to be better for the o ender and for our communities when we get them in the diversion program, because we get them the help they need to turn their lives back around and hopefully not commit another crime.”
Some studies show that diversion programs for young people are more successful than traditional juvenile justice systems in
reducing recidivism.
According to statistics from a 2022 Colorado Judicial Department report, only 6% of adults who successfully completed diversion in the studied districts were charged with a new misdemeanor or felony within one year of exit. is is compared to the 24% of individuals who reo ended within one year after being terminated from a diversion program due to noncompliance or due to commission of a new o ense.
To strengthen the diversion program in the 18th Judicial District, Padden wants to make it available to individuals earlier in their experience with the criminal justice system. She also wants to ensure that more defense attorneys and court o cials know about the program’s criteria so they can ag cases that might be eligible.
Ideas like strengthening diversion programs, she said, are one way she di ers from some former Republican DAs.
For example, George Brauchler, the new 23rd Judicial District’s DA, has publicly declared a strong emphasis on putting criminals in jail, even for minor theft charges. For people who commit crimes in his jurisdiction, he said the “expectation should be incarceration,” according to previous reporting by Colorado Community Media.
Padden, on the other hand, said “locking someone up is not always the best way to make our community safer.”
“For sure, if we have people committing violent crimes — they’re hurting people, they’re committing felonies, serious felonies — yes, we will prosecute
those people, and we will put them in prison,” Padden said. “But … when you put someone in jail for a low-level o ense, they could lose their job, they could lose their house. And then what kind of situation are they going to be in when they get out to move forward and not commit another crime?”
As the new DA, Padden said she also wants to start a conviction integrity review process and unit, which would focus on reviewing cases of actual innocence and disparate sentencing.
“We know that the criminal justice system has had an adverse e ect on people of color,” Padden said. “We’ve got a lot of information to work with that we can go and look at that data and see where these discrepancies and disparate impacts exist — and then work on addressing them.”
Padden said there are similar programs that are run by volunteers in other districts, but she wants the unit to be sta ed in the 18th Judicial District. She said she plans to ask Arapahoe County, which funds the judicial district, for funding for the program this year.
Keeping Aurora and the county safe Aurora, part of which is in Arapahoe County, has been thrust into the national spotlight amid claims from President-elect Donald Trump that it has become a “war zone,” taken over by Venezuelan gangs.
During his campaign for the 2024 election, Trump announced a desire to enact “a nationwide e ort dubbed ‘Operation Aurora’
to target undocumented migrant gang members for arrest and deportation,” as reported by NPR. Padden, who lives in Aurora, said this language has been concerning to her.
“Do we have crime in Aurora? Of course we do — we have crime in all our cities in Colorado, unfortunately,” Padden said. “It’s very sad to me to see the way that Aurora was painted by the incoming presidential administration, but we’re going to make sure that we are ghting for the people in Aurora, and that we keep Aurora safe because it’s a great place to live.” For 2024, the state’s crime database shows that there were about 29,100 violent crimes reported in Colorado. at’s lower than the violent crime rates in the past four years, and down almost 7% from 2023. Violent crimes reported by the Arapahoe County Sheri ’s Ofce in 2024 are also down about 7% from 2023.
“I would absolutely not say that crime is out of control (in Arapahoe County),” Padden said. “We’re going to continue to work to make our community as safe as it possibly can be.”
Looking forward, Padden said she is “going to be out there in the community” to make sure everyone knows what her o ce does and that they can come forward if they are a victim of or a witness to a crime.
“I’m going to work hard to make sure that they and their families are safe and that we’re prosecuting crime in a fair and just manner,” Padden said. “ is is a very exciting time, and I’m really excited to get to work.”
DISCOVER THE ARTS AND LEARN SOMETHING NEW THIS YEAR!
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!
Cherry Creek Innovation Campus expansion brings 9 new career paths
BY CASSANDRA BALLARD SENTINEL COLORADO
e Cherry Creek School District ceremonially broke ground to expand the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus, a move set to revolutionize career and technical education for high school students, o cials said.
“We’re thrilled that the community is supporting us in this way,” said Steve Day, Innovation Campus principal. “ is expansion means we can provide even more students with the opportunity to connect their identities to real careers and change their lives.”
Now in its sixth year, the Innovation Campus is gearing up to serve 70% more students in grades 10-12, because of a $950 million bond measure approved by voters in November 2024. Day said the expansion will grow the school from 1,800 to 3,200 students with the addition of a new building on its campus.
e $100 million expansion to the campus is estimated to open in August 2026. It will introduce nine new in-demand career pathways, enhance hands-on learning opportunities and solidify the campus as a hub for student success.
e new additions will include programs in advanced electronics, aerospace engineering, creative industries ( lm, editing, sound, production), emergency medical technician (EMT), veterinary medicine, HVAC, welding, baking and pastries and an expansion of auto mechanics and manufacturing.
Currently, the Innovation Campus offers pathways in advanced manufacturing, business services, health and wellness, hospitality and tourism, infrastructure and engineering, IT and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), and transportation (automotive and aviation).
the EMT training program, which o ers hands-on education in a eld resistant to automation. Programs like these empower students to make informed decisions about their future careers while preparing them for immediate entry into the workforce, Day said.
Since its inception in 2019, the Innovation Campus has garnered national and international acclaim. HundrED, an organization dedicated to advancing education, named it one of the top 100 innovative programs globally and one of the top 10 in the U.S.
“It’s going to be students excited about possible careers that are going to turn into potentially great employees in our community,” Day said. “We’re so excited about what this means for our community.”
Graduates have already seen signicant success. Day said that one construction program alumnus was named employee of the quarter at GH Phipps, while another launched an auto shop earning over $160,000 annually.
On-time completion rates also increase with students in Career and Technical Education, like the Innovation Campus, Day said.
“ is expansion will allow even more students to connect their passions to real careers and transform their lives,” said Superintendent Christopher Smith. e Innovation Campus program allows students to spend a portion of their school day immersed in career-focused coursework and training, ranging from construction to automotive technology.
Current construction student Gavin Poland shared his enthusiasm for the hands-on learning opportunities.
“I think it’s really fun,” he said. “I’ve loved to do hands-on things ever since I was little.”
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
Day said the expanded campus will also feature a 500-person events center, enhancing the culinary and hospitality programs by providing students with real-world, hands-on learning experiences.
e decision to implement these programs was prompted by voter support, a deep dive into labor market data and student interests, Day said.
“We primarily looked at eighth-grade data because that’ll be the core group of students who are here when it opens,” Day said. “We also did extensive research on local, regional and national trends over ve and ten-year periods to understand where the job market is headed.”
One standout addition Day noted is
Gavin advises future students to “take advantage of the great opportunities,” and he’s excited his little brother will get to take the courses on the expanded campus when he’s old enough.
Smith and Day emphasized the importance of student input and safety when asked about programs like construction and welding.
“Our students had a voice in choosing these pathways,” Smith said. “Safety is always our top priority, especially in construction-focused programs.”
e school’s expansion represents more than just physical growth — it’s an investment in the future of Cherry Creek students.
Cherry Creek educators and guests ceremonially dig into construction of the Innovation Campus expansion on Jan. 8.
PHOTO BY CASSANDRA BALLARD/SENTINEL COLORADO
Education leaders take closer look at multilingual learners
Decline in overall fluency level created challenge
BY YESENIA ROBLES CHALKBEAT
e number of Colorado students who are learning English as a new language is expected to continue to increase — and State Board of Education members are taking a closer look at their performance.
e Colorado Department of Education recently presented a State of the State on multilingual learners — the term the state uses to identify students who need services as they learn English as a new language, formerly referred to as English language learners. e presentation signals a greater interest from the state board in how those students are doing.
In the 2023-24 school year, Colorado identi ed 114,482 multilingual learners, up from 109,780 in 2022-23, but still lower than 122,976 identi ed in 2019-20. ose latest numbers mean about 13.4% of all Colorado students are learning English as a new language, similar to 13.9% in 201920.
One di erence in the population, however, is that a larger portion of those students are considered not-English procient, meaning they are at the lowest level of uency, just starting to learn English. In 2023-24, there were 38,036 students identi ed as not-English pro cient, up from 29,147 in 2019.
e update reiterated some previous data that shows that this group of students has struggled to recover academically from disruptions at the beginning of the pandemic compared to other students.
It also showed that statewide, fewer students are reaching English pro ciency test levels that allow them to be considered to exit the need for federally-required support services.
CAMPUS
“ is is an opportunity for students to pursue college, careers or both,” Smith said. “It’s about providing choices and pathways to success.”
Day and Smith clari ed that the new campus will continue to empower students, ensuring they graduate ready to
But it also showed that students who do reach English pro ciency and exit services typically score similarly to native English speakers, although a gap remains on the SAT test high school students take.
When state board members asked about the challenges districts face in educating these students, Education Commissioner Susana Cordova said one of the largest is in nding enough highly quali ed sta members who are trained or bilingual for certain models.
State board members suggested that one of the ways to look at the e ectiveness of school programs to educate English learners would be to look at how students move through language pro ciency levels.
Students who are learning English as a new language take a test each year that determines their language abilities in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students are placed in levels one through six depending on how much English they understand.
Sta for the Colorado Department of Education said Jan. 8 they believe it takes students about ve to eight years to reach uency in English at a level adequate for academic learning. ey said the department is taking a closer look at tracking students who get stuck and might take longer than that to learn the language. e department is also attempting to highlight more good work schools are doing with English learners. O cials started Wednesday by highlighting the Denver Language School, a charter school that focuses on an immersion model and has about 12% of its students identi ed as English learners. e school has high ratings and has been improving, o cials 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.
thrive in higher education or enter the workforce with the skills and con dence needed to succeed.
“ is is just another opportunity for students, whether they want to go to college or they would rather do a career,” Smith said. “ is is a pathway. It’s a choice, and you can do both.”
is story is from Sentinel Colorado, a nonpro t dedicated to covering the city of Aurora.It comes courtesy of a sharing agreement with AP StoryShare.
ARAPAHOE COUNTY
The Arapahoe County Mayors and Commissioners Youth Awards recognizes teenagers who have overcome adversity and risen to challenges.Scholarships are awarded to graduating seniors who wish to pursue post-secondary educational opportunities at vocational schools, two- or fouryear colleges, or trade and certification programs. Teachers, counselors, and school admins can nominate exceptional seniors through March 7 at arapahoeco.gov/youthawards.
We are thrilled to announce the 2025 lineup of community events at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds. There’s an event for every season, from a spring wine and chalk art festival to the 119th annual Arapahoe County Fair, Treat Street, and a winter holiday fun day. Learn more at www.arapahoecountyeventcenter.com
Volunteers Needed
Shovel Snow For a Neighbor in Need
Help an older adult in need this winter by volunteering to shovel their walkways and driveway. When you sign up, you will be paired with someone within walking distance or a short drive from your home. Scan the QR code or visit arapahoeco.gov/volunteer
In the 2023-24 school year, Colorado identified 114,482 multilingual learners, up from recent years but still lower than the 2019-20 school year.
PHOTO BY ELAINE CROMIE/CHALKBEAT
Town hall focuses on Englewood middle schools
Decision on possible merger will come down on March 4
BY ELISABETH SLAY ESLAY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
In a town hall on Jan. 15, the Englewood Board of Education discussed the possible combination, separation or continued integration of Englewood Middle School and Englewood Leadership Academy with parents and residents.
Superintendent Joanna Polzin presented an overview of an impact study that analyzes impacts to the district should the schools be combined in some way, separated or remain blended. “ ese are some of the facts about the community impact,” Polzin said at the town hall. “If ELA or EMS are combined, the surrounding community of transportation really would remain physically una ected. One or both school’s identity would be gone. e community will have only one middle school option. ere’s also the spirit of bringing everyone together under one name, but if the schools remain blended, there might continue to be some confusion and a lack of distinction between EMS and the ELA. And that if the schools are totally separate, there would be an impact, especially if one school is possibly relocated or you’re putting up walls.”
Polzin said board members and attendees felt the town hall was successful.
Polzin continued to say the options to separate schools might decrease collaboration between faculty and sta , but it would increase options for students and parents.
“Members of the board of education and our community shared that the town hall was a meaningful opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings in a small group setting about the upcom-
ing decision regarding Englewood Middle School and Englewood Leadership Academy,” Polzin said. “It highlighted how Englewood is a close-knit community deeply committed to providing quality educational opportunities for our students — a commitment the Board of
Education recognizes and values. Coming together as a community to understand one another is essential when making a decision of this signi cance.”
Following the presentation, Board of Education members split up and each held rotating small group discussions with parents where they discussed topics in the study, including enrollment trends, educational quality, opportunity and access considerations, sta ng and human resources, facility utilization, nancial implications and community impact.
During the town hall, many parents expressed concerns about further division in the middle schools — which they say already contain a signi cant division and stigma of ELA being the “good school” and EMS being the “bad school.”
Kayt Calder, a mother of an Englewood High School sophomore and an ELA seventh-grader said she felt like the town hall went well and she felt heard.
“I was really impressed … I felt that this was actually really well organized and re-
Matt Pfeifer, father to two elementary schoolers in the district, said he also thought the town hall went well and it was reassuring to see so many people have the opportunity to express their concerns and opinions.
“ ere were lots of people who were considering what was best for their kids and their community and balancing those needs and coming and participating,” he said. “It felt like the school board and school sta were here genuinely listening to ideas. It was pretty well facilitated. e questions were appropriate.”
Englewood Middle School and Englewood Leadership Academy share a building on The Englewood Campus at 3800 S. Logan St. A decision on a possible merger of the schools is now in the hands of the school board.
PHOTO BY SCOTT GILBERT
Greater confidence for the new year
AWINNING
s 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, adultto-adult, truth-based conversations. At the heart of that ability are the three C’s of con dence: Con dence in Yourself. Believing in your abilities, knowledge, and potential is the foundation of con dence. A salesperson who trusts their judgment and skills can navigate challenging conversations and objections with poise.
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 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.
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 con dence 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 your skills and expand your knowledge. Learning bridges the gap between uncertainty and mastery, whether through formal education, reading, or hands-on experience.
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 condent yet.
So, as you set your resolutions and envision the year ahead, ask yourself: What will I do today to strengthen my con dence 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.
America needs a youth sports revival
Across 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 self-esteem, 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 bar-
riers 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 co-chaired 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.
GUEST COLUMN
Brian Hainline
DJFF returns for 29th year
TOBITUARIES
Brian Victor Mahler
COMING ATTRACTIONS
he importance of cultural understanding and communication has rarely been as important as it is in our current world climate. And lm has proven itself time and time again as a perfect medium to create empathy for other people.
All this makes the 29th annual Denver Jewish Film Festival (DJFF) not just an opportunity for entertainment, but one for education.
“Films shown during the festival tell human stories, and in a time when there is more and more worldly tension, it is important to remind us that we are all human,” said Tim Campbell, program director of the Mizel Arts and Culture Center at the JCC. “DJFF celebrates the human experience and tells compelling stories that bring thoughtfulness and joy to festival-goers.”
e festival kicks o on ursday, Jan. 23 and runs through Sunday, Feb. 2 at the Mizel Arts and Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia St. in Denver. is year’s event features more than 20 documentaries, comedies, narratives and shorts, and presents an exciting sampling of Israeli and Jewish cinema, actors and producers.
Some highlights from this year’s lineup include Running on Sand, We Will Dance Again and Centered: Joe Lieberman.
equipskiing. few — 270,000 tenadjust inparor to rules. all availball, the a made of play competiover, comneed reach where Hainline, Unittransicer. Commitmanagement athletes. NYU aprevival
documentaries and more. Plus, we’ve planned many different supplemental programs that include talkbacks with filmmakers, specialty food offerings, and even a game night. The best way to take advantage of all of these options is by purchasing our DJFF All Access Pass.
What do you hope audiences come away from the festival with? rough the lms we have selected and the programming we have coordinated, we are able to share amazing stories with the greater Denver community. ere is a story for everyone. We want people to leave with a deeper and more empathetic understanding of the world around them. We hope the festival will inspire people and help create community.
Find the full schedule and ticket options at jccdenver.org/macc/dj /.
New John Fielder exhibition comes to History Colorado e John Fielder Mezzanine Gallery in the History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway in Denver, is getting an update with Horizon: On the Plains with John Fielder.
Opening on Friday, Jan. 24, this new exhibition features a selection of “iconic large-format Fielder prints that evoke the photographer’s emotional connection to these sublime and diverse landscapes of Colorado, and invites viewers to lose themselves in the expanse of the Great Plains,” according to provided information.
We interviewed Campbell about the festival, how to approach it and more e interview was edited for brevity and clarity.
What makes this festival unique? e festival brings the community together to experience stories that are brought to life in our 380-seat theatre. We are able to tell compelling stories through a media type that allows the viewer to escape from the outside world for a moment and experience thoughtfulness, joy, intrigue and fun. Our experience is unique because the lms we show may not always be shown in a traditional theatre setting. Our space crosses many di erent genres to celebrate humanities and the stories we tell.
If someone has never attended a lm festival, what should they know? DJFF has so many different opportunities to enjoy film and is open to all. The schedule is varied to allow for viewings throughout most days during the festival. We offer familyfriendly events, comedies, dramas,
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Information and tickets are available at historycolorado.org/john- elderscolorado-collection.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Billy Strings at Ball Arena
You don’t often hear about breakout stars coming from the world of bluegrass and folk music, but that’s just what’s happened over the last few years with Billy Strings.
Hailing from Michigan, Strings’ topnotch guitar and banjo playing, coupled with his warm vocals and songwriting has made him a favorite in the music industry and with listeners. Last year he released a stellar live and solo album, and who knows what 2025 will hold for him.
One thing we do know is Strings will be performing at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24, Saturday, Jan. 25 and Sunday, Jan. 26 at Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle in Denver. Buy your tickets at www.ticketmaster.com.
Clarke Reader is an arts and culture columnist. He can be reached at Clarke. Reader@hotmail.com.
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October 31, 1967 - January 7, 2025
Englewood, COLO. — Brian Victor Mahler, 57, of Englewood, CO, passed away after a long battle with cirrhosis of the liver on January 7th, 2025.
older siblings: Vickey, Sharon, Daniel, & David. Brian pursued a career in networking and IT after attending trade school in Virginia and relocating to Denver. He found joy in skiing, ATVing, and cheering for the Denver Broncos. May his memory bring comfort to those who knew him. MAHLER
Born on October 31, 1967, in Fairfax County, Virginia, Brian was the son of Victor and Marion Mahler. He is survived by his ve children: Kevin, Casey, Scott, Todd, and Briana, as well as his four
Clarke Reader
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.
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.
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Littleton Independent (ISSN 1058-7837)(USPS 315-780)
A legal newspaper of general circulation in Littleton, Colorado, the Littleton Independent is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110
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Two suspects arrested, facing
drug charges
BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Two suspects were arrested the morning of Jan. 13 after a tra c stop led o cers to discover fentanyl and other illicit substances in a car.
Around 11:30 a.m., an ocer conducted a tra c stop of a black Honda sedan near 5600 S. Santa Fe Drive. e car allegedly had an obstruction of its li-
ment spokesperson Sheera Poelman said.
When the o cer asked the driver for his license and registration, the o cer saw what appeared to be fentanyl in the car, Poelman said. e o cer asked the driver and the passenger to exit the vehicle and arrested them and they cooperated, Poelman said.
O cers found just under 375 grams of fentanyl and other illicit substances in the vehicle, along with more than $1,000 in cash, according to a post on X from the Littleton Police Depart-
posted online. During study sessions, sta and board members give updates, review monthlynancial reports and discuss upcoming agenda items and events.
be part of the investigation, Poelman said.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. Just two milligrams of fentanyl –an amount that can t on the tip of a pencil – is considered a fatal dose, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
e driver is facing charges of driving without a license, driving with an obstructed license plate, driving without insurance, fen-
tanyl distribution and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, Poelman said. e passenger is facing charges of fentanyl distribution and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, she said. e driver and passenger are in custody at the Arapahoe County Detention Center, Poelman said. e opioid crisis, which includes problems caused by fentanyl and other opioids, has been considered a public health emergency in the United States since 2017. According to its website, Arapahoe County saw 180 deaths in 2023 due to opioids.
Shevy Gallegos, a resident who lives in Sheridan and has been asking for the district to record meetings for more than a year, said having the meetings accessible online is important for equity.
POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Littleton Independent, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110 as the district works out a better plan for reviewing the subtitles.
“ e regular meeting is ne if you want to know how the nal vote went, but when all the discussion is happening and you’re trying to gure out which board members align with your values, (we want) the full picture,” Gallegos said of the study sessions.
have ranged from two to 17 views per meeting, according to the district’s December monthly report. Eller said she expects the district to continue recording meetings, no matter what the viewing numbers are.
CORRECTIONS
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“Not everybody has a vehicle, not everybody has a babysitter” to watch their kids during board meetings, she said. “I asked the board to look at it from an equity lens … and understand that we need access regardless of capability of arriving in-person.”
Gallegos said recording the meetings is a “small win,” but she feels the community can ask for more. Speci cally, she wants to see the board’s study sessions, which take place at 6 p.m. before each meeting, also recorded and
Hanna said the board directed staff to record the meetings, but he does not remember there being clear direction to record the study sessions. He said that if the board directed staff to record the study sessions, staff would do it.
Eller said she was unaware that the study sessions were not being recorded, and she does not think it would be unreasonable to record them.
Since the board started recording meetings, viewing numbers
“I think there’s a lot of value,” she said. “ e more contact and interaction we get with the people paying the taxes, the better. It’s better for the district … I don’t see us saying, ‘well, there are only ve people watching, so we’re not doing it anymore.’ ose ve people could have the answer to an important question.”
Watson said that in addition to recording and posting the study sessions, she would like to see the district livestream all of their meetings so people could get district information in a more timely manner.
She also said it’s important for community members to get involved in learning about the district’s work.
“I do think people care,” she said. “It’s important that South Suburban residents not be complacent … I truly think there are board members who want to hear from the public. So, hearing what’s going on is just the rst step in creating a more meaningful relationship between the board and the in-district community.”
Amy Conklin, a resident who said she has been asking the board for years to record its meetings, said she believes recording and posting the meetings will encourage more community engagement.
“Congratulations to the district,” she said. “I am so pleased that they’re doing this.”
South Suburban meeting recordings are available at tinyurl. com/SSPRDmeetings.
Click “Meetings” in the top right corner of the page, select the date on the left, and then click the button that says “Watch Video.”
A collection of drugs, cash and other items found in the vehicle pulled over by Littleton Police on Jan. 13.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LITTLETON POLICE DEPARTMENT
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
ere were parents who felt it would be bene cial for students, and the community as a whole, for there to be a more unied school as the choice for two separate programs forces them and their students to miss out on certain opportunities.
“It needs to be one school,” Calder said. “We need to keep the rigor and the standards of ELA for all of our (students).”
Other parents expressed that whether it be blended or combined in some capacity, it needs to be executed well and communicated well to the public on how exactly the district will execute the board’s decision. Additionally, parents
agreed two separate schools in the same facility — which would require building walls according to the impact study — would not be the way to go.
“I’m all on board for combining them. It’s a small community. We’re arti cially creating divisions where they don’t need to be. Combining schools is the way to go as far as I am concerned,” Pfeifer said.
e town hall comes after various parents expressed concerns or their preferences regarding the fate of ELA and EMS during public comment at a Jan. 7 board of education meeting.
e board is expected to make its decision during its March 4 meeting.
e town hall also comes after parents expressed concerns as to how the district’s model of sixth will be impacted, as it currently o ers parents and students
the choice to complete sixth grade at an elementary level at EMS or a middle school level at ELA.
However, the board decided in its Jan.7 meeting that it will not be making a decision on that matter and whatever the outcome of the structure of the two schools, parents and students will continue to have that choice.
“ at is a huge thing. I think it’s really good that they’re listening and understanding that we need that for sure,” Calder said.
Currently, the two schools are blended as they share a building and a principal at the Englewood Campus at 3800 S. Logan St.
State ratings and a document presented at the Jan. 7 meeting that showcases parental input from both schools de-
scribe ELA as a school with 98 students in sixth to eighth grade that’s “known for its strong academic programming and personalized attention” that has “consistently achieved the highest ‘performance’ rating on Colorado’s state accountability framework scale” for the last two years.
ere are 187 students enrolled in the seventh and eighth grades at EMS, which “o ers a larger and more diverse educational environment and has faced academic challenges, transitioning from ‘improvement’ to ‘turnaround’ status,” which are the lowest ratings on the state’s accountability framework scale.
A survey conducted by a third party company, Magellan Strategies, will be administered to the community in late January to February.
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:
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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
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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
STATE OF COLORADO.
APN#: 032444803
Purported common address: 8140 S Fillmore Cir, Centennial, CO 80122.
THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.
NOTICE OF SALE
The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.
THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 03/05/2025, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)' heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys' fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.
Revised 1/2015 Legal Notice NO. 0491-2024 First Publication: 1/9/2025 Last Publication: 2/6/2025 Name of Publication: Littleton Independent
COMBINED NOTICE - PUBLICATION CRS §38-38-103
FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0500-2024
To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:
On November 12, 2024, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Arapahoe records.
Original Grantor(s)
Jordan Julian Alcazar Quijano
Original Beneficiary(ies) Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as Beneficiary, as nominee for United Wholesale Mortgage, its successors and assigns Current Holder of Evidence of Debt NewRez LLC
d/b/a Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing Date of Deed of Trust
August 16, 2019 County of Recording Arapahoe Recording Date of Deed of Trust
August 26, 2019
Recording Information (Reception No. and/or Book/Page No.)
D9086908
Original Principal Amount
$450,450.00
Outstanding Principal Balance
$381,492.86
Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to make timely payments as required under the Evidence of Debt and Deed of Trust
THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.
Lot 37, Block 1, Southcreek Subdivision
Filing No. 9, Arapahoe County, State of Colorado.
Purported common address: 15835 E Broncos Pl, Centennial, CO 80112.
THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.
NOTICE OF SALE
The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.
THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 03/12/2025, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)' heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys' fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.
First Publication: 1/16/2025
Last Publication: 2/13/2025
Name of Publication: Littleton Independent
IF THE SALE
DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED;
DATE: 11/12/2024
Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado
By: Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee
The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:
Amanda Ferguson #44893
Heather Deere #28597
Toni M. Owan #30580
Halliday, Watkins & Mann, PC
355 Union Blvd., Ste. 250, Lakewood, CO 80228 (303) 274-0155
Attorney File # CO23902
The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.
Littleton Independent COMBINED NOTICE - AMENDED - PUBLICATION
CRS §38-38-109(1)(b) FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0414-2024
To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:
On September 20, 2024, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Arapahoe records.
Original Grantor(s)
KRISTIN M. BROWN
Original Beneficiary(ies)
MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC. AS NOMINEE FOR ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC, FKA QUICKEN LOANS, LLC
Current Holder of Evidence of Debt
ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC
F/K/A QUICKEN LOANS, LLC
Date of Deed of Trust
April 22, 2022
County of Recording
Arapahoe
Recording Date of Deed of Trust
April 28, 2022
Recording Information (Reception No. and/or Book/Page No.)
E2047078
Original Principal Amount
$321,530.00
Outstanding Principal Balance
$311,890.26
Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows:
Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust and other violations of the terms thereof
THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.
LOTS 40 AND 41, BLOCK 28, SOUTH BROADWAY HEIGHTS, COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO.
Purported common address: 4237 S LOGAN ST, ENGLEWOOD, CO 80113-4728.
THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.
NOTICE OF SALE
The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.
THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 03/12/2025, the date to which the sale has been continued pursuant to C.R.S. 38-38109(1)(b), at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)' heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys' fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.
Amended First Publication: 1/16/2025
Amended Last Publication: 2/13/2025
Name of Publication: Littleton Independent IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED;
DATE: 1/3/2025
Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado
By: Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee
The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:
Anna Johnston #51978
Joseph D. DeGiorgio #45557
Carly Imbrogno #59533
Randall M. Chin #31149
David W. Drake #43315
Ryan Bourgeois #51088 Barrett, Frappier & Weisserman, LLP 1391 Speer Boulevard, Suite 700, Denver, CO 80204 (303) 350-3711
Attorney File # 00000010244762
The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.
©Public Trustees' Association of Colorado
Revised 1/2015
Legal Notice NO. 0414-2024
Amended First Publication: 1/16/2025
Amended Last Publication: 2/13/2025
Name of Publication: Littleton Independent COMBINED NOTICE - PUBLICATION CRS §38-38-103 FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0453-2024
To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:
On October 18, 2024, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Arapahoe records.
Original Grantor(s)
Sandra L. Schoob
Original Beneficiary(ies) OPTION ONE MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Current Holder of Evidence of Debt
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as Trustee for ABFC 2006-OPT3 Trust, Asset Backed Funding Corporation Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2006-OPT3
Date of Deed of Trust
July 28, 2006
County of Recording
Arapahoe
Recording Date of Deed of Trust
August 02, 2006
Recording Information
(Reception No. and/or Book/Page No.)
B6111039
Original Principal Amount
$254,800.00
Outstanding Principal Balance
$262,043.34
Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured by the deed of trust and other violations thereof.
THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.
LOT 22, BLOCK 34, SOUTHGLENN - FIFTH FILING, COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO.
Purported common address: 7173 S Clarkson Street, Centennial, CO 80122-1223.
THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.
NOTICE OF SALE
The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.
THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 02/19/2025, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)' heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys' fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.
First Publication: 12/26/2024
Last Publication: 1/23/2025
Name of Publication: Littleton Independent
IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED;
DATE: 10/18/2024
Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado
By: Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee
The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:
Alison L Berry #34531 N. April Winecki #34861
David R. Doughty #40042
Nicholas H. Santarelli #46592
Lynn M. Janeway #15592
Janeway Law Firm, P.C. 9540 Maroon Circle, Suite 320, Englewood, CO 80112 (303) 706-9990
Attorney File # 24-033242
The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.
©Public Trustees' Association of Colorado
Revised 1/2015
Legal Notice NO. 0453-2024
First Publication: 12/26/2024
Last Publication: 1/23/2025
Name of Publication: Littleton Independent COMBINED NOTICE - PUBLICATION
CRS §38-38-103
FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0474-2024
To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:
On October 29, 2024, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Arapahoe records.
Original Grantor(s)
DeClutter Me Now, LLC
Original Beneficiary(ies)
Premier Capital Group, LLC
Current Holder of Evidence of Debt
Premier Capital Group, LLC
Date of Deed of Trust
June 30, 2022
County of Recording Arapahoe
Recording Date of Deed of Trust October 13, 2022
Recording Information (Reception No. and/or Book/Page No.)
E2102949
Original Principal Amount
$308,595.90
Outstanding Principal Balance
$308,595.90
Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to Make Payment
THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.
Lots 12 & 13 Ex S 8 Ft Lot 12, Blk 4 Ridgeview Hills South, 1st Flg, County of Arapahoe, STATE OF COLORADO
Purported common address: 7434 S. Cherry Ct., Centennial, CO 80122.
THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.
NOTICE OF SALE
The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.
THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 02/26/2025, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)' heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys' fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.
First Publication: 1/2/2025
Last Publication: 1/30/2025
Name of Publication: Littleton Independent
IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED;
DATE: 10/29/2024
Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado
By: Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee
The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:
Ralph Cantafio #16280 Cantafio Law P.C. 1927 Market Street, Unit 1A, Denver, CO 80202 (970) 819-2371 Attorney File # Rule 120
The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.
©Public Trustees' Association of Colorado Revised 1/2015
Legal Notice NO. 0474-2024
First Publication: 1/2/2025
Last Publication: 1/30/2025
Name of Publication: Littleton Independent
COMBINED NOTICE - PUBLICATION CRS §38-38-103
FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0456-2024
To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:
On October 18, 2024, the undersigned Public Trustee
Sally Ann Willilams and for contesting this order will be held by WebEx. All parties are expected to appear by video. In the event a party does not have video capability, that party may appear by telephone:
To appear by video: https://judicial.webex.com/ meet/D18-ARAP-Div12
To appear by phone: 720-650-7664
access code 2598 388 751 #
Date: February 12, 2025 Time: 4:00PM
Legal Notice No. LI2025 First Publication: January 16, 2025
Last Publication: January 30, 2025 Publisher: Littleton Independent
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF HEARING BY PUBLICATION District Court
Arapahoe County Justice Center 7325 South Potomac Street Centennial, CO 80112
In the Interests of: Amara Bell Thorton, Minor
Party: Jared K. Sheldon 11587 County Road 22 Cortez, Colorado 81321 sheldon411@yahoo.com Case Number: 24JV206
NOTICE OF HEARING BY PUBLICATION PURSUANT TO § 15-10-401, C.R.S.
To: Wayne M. Thorton
Last Known Address: 7600 East Caley Ave Apt 1402, Englewood CO 80111.
A Hearing On: Petition To Determine Parentage for the child Amara Bell Thorton
Date: February 25th, 2025 Time: 10 a.m.
Division: 12
Arapahoe County Justice Center7325 South Potomac Street Centennial, CO 80112
Legal Notice No. Arap 2064
First Publication: January 23, 2025
Last Publication: February 20, 2025
Publisher: Englewood Herald
Public Notice
NOTICE FOR ADOPTION AND ADOPTION HEARING
Pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-104.14, Lucrece H. Bundy, attorney-at-law, P.O. Box 45873, Omaha, NE 68145, 402-235-1112, does hereby provide the following notice of adoption and adoption hearing: Steven Plasencio-Lucero: You are hereby notified that Talon L. and Gabriella T. plan to adopt a child that was born to you and Jasmayne P. on December 22, 2010, in Denver, Colorado. Gabriella T. has identified you as the biological father of the child. If you are the biological father, you may (i) deny paternity; (ii) waive any parental rights you may have; (iii) relinquish and consent to the adoption; (iv) file a Notice of Objection to Adoption and Intent to Obtain Custody any time during the pregnancy or as late as ten
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