Wildcat Regional Park plan spurs anger
in Highlands Ranch area
BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e monthslong drama in Douglas County over sports elds con-
tinues. First, residents raised their voices of concern about the future of elds in the Castle Rock area amid plans to renovate the county’s Fairgrounds Regional Park. Now, a proposal to add a park with sports elds in the Highlands Ranch area is meeting opposition. Another large crowd nearly packed a county meeting room in early August. at gathering came on the heels of an online petition that raises issues about
possible impacts of a park to wildlife. e proposal is called Wildcat Regional Park. e 202-acre piece of land — between Grigs Road and Monarch Boulevard, south of Rocky Heights Middle School — was given to the county as part of an agreement with Mission Viejo Company, the initial developer of Highlands Ranch.
Key takeaways from CHSAA Media Day in Denver
BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A day after boys golf teams ofcially were allowed to practice, marking the start of the 2024 fall sports season, dozens of high school athletes from around the state descended on Empower Field in Denver for the Colorado High School Activities Association’s fall sports Media Day.
Headlining fall sports this season is ag football, which will be introduced with two classi cations in 2024-25. Previously, there was a two-year pilot program with Colorado high schools. But in April, Colorado became the 11th state to sanction the sport. It is the inaugural season for the sport in Colorado.
Girls ag football becomes the 14th fall activity and 21st activity for girls recognized by CHSAA. Defending champions Arvada West and Chat eld, Cherry Creek, Mountain View, Valor Christian and Vista Ridge high schools sent teams to speak to the media.
“Flag football is the fastest-growing sport nationally, especially for girls,” said CHSAA Commissioner Mike Krueger. “So, we’re excited to be part of that with a number of
A crowd of people gathered at a Douglas County commissioners meeting on Aug. 5 in Castle Rock, where the proposed Wildcat Regional Park was discussed. Some at the meeting brought signs in opposition to the park.
PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD
SEE PARK, P10
County Commissioner Abe Laydon reacts to suspension of his law license
He says situation ‘should be rectified’ soon
An o ce of the Colorado Supreme Court has suspended Douglas County Commissioner Abe Laydon’s law license on the grounds that he failed to keep up with the minimum standards for continuing legal education.
Laydon told Colorado Community
Media he is seeking to be granted an exception based on his work with the law as a county commissioner.
“I stopped practicing law in order to serve the citizens of this county when I was elected,” Laydon said in a statement. “Continuing legal education is a routine part of the requirement for active attorneys, which I will comply with before year end in one fashion or another.”
He cited his membership on several boards that oversee organizations in the community — such as
SEE YOURSELF ON STAGE
the Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority and the Douglas County Community Foundation — along with his service as an elected o cial.
“Sitting on (about) 15 boards and governing a county full time leaves little time for such activity, but the hope is that my intrinsically law-related work in public service will be recognized under (an) exception for CLE compliance,” Laydon continued. “If not, I will comply as directed as I have for nearly 20 years as an attorney.”
Laydon was elected as a commissioner in 2018 and began serving his second term in January 2023.
Douglas County’s online bio page describes Laydon as a 15-year land use and business attorney.
education requirements waived, he said.
Regarding a request for exception, Laydon said: “ ey may or may not grant it, but if they don’t, I’ll have to listen to a bunch of books on tape.”
e O ce of Attorney Regulation
Counsel helps the Colorado Supreme Court regulate the practice of law in Colorado, overseeing mandatory continuing legal and judicial education, its webpage says.
Laydon said the matter of his law license and continuing education requirements is “frankly a nothing burger.”
He said the situation “should be recti ed within the month.”
Theatre Education at the DCPA
Attorneys are expected to take classes to stay current on legal issues, Laydon said. But people who are active in law “in other capacities” may be able to get their continuing
“It would be misleading to the public to insinuate there was anything substantive,” Laydon said, adding: “Continuing legal education is routine and ministerial. I will comply as I always have by year end if I haven’t already.”
Lone Tree police investigating highway death
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A man fell from a highway overpass in Lone Tree the morning of Aug. 4, causing a lengthy halt for tra c in the westbound and eastbound lanes of E-470 and C-470 at the overpass for Interstate 25 while the Lone Tree police investigated the incident.
A news release from the city on that afternoon con rmed speculation on social media that a person fell from a wall. It stated that Lone Tree police o cers had responded to a call around 9: 40 a.m. regarding a person in crisis near the southbound oramp to the E-470 yover.
O cers had interacted with the subject before they positioned themselves on the outside of the wall. e person had expressed the intent to fall, according to a media release. An o cer attempted to stop the subject. However the man fell from the y-
A task force is assisting Lone Tree police in the investigation of the death of a man in early August. SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE
over to the ground below, near westbound E-470.
e person was pronounced dead on the scene and the Douglas County Critical Incident Response Team was called to the scene to assist with the investigation.
e subject’s identity was not released.
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. For more information, visit 988lifeline.org.
Less Than 3% of Homeowners Took Advantage of Clean Energy Tax Credits in 2023
The Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) included generous incentives to homeowners who invest in clean energy (such as solar panels) or in energy improvements (such as improved insulation, windows or doors).
Only 3.4 million households took advantage of those tax credits nationwide on their 2023 tax returns. That was just under 2.5% of filed tax returns. In Colorado, the number was 65,810 households, or 2.9% of tax returns filed. The states with the largest participation were California, Florida and Texas, but only Florida saw over 3% of tax returns that included the tax credit (3.26%), and the other two states had rates lower than Colorado’s.
seems to be the case since 15 percent of the 3.4 million nationwide returns which took advantage of the tax credit had Adjusted Gross Incomes under $50,000. Just under half of the returns had AGIs under $100,000. The largest bracket was AGIs of $100-200,000 that numbered 1.2 million returns or 35% of all filed returns.
the installation of geothermal heat pump systems. The average tax credit taken for those systems was $12,078.
A total of $8.4 billion in tax credits was taken by taxpayers. The program is still active, and any taxpayer who wants to reduce his/her home’s operating costs should seriously consider taking advantage of the tax credits, which remain in place through 2032. I have posted a link for its provisions at http:// RealEstateToday.substack.com
One of the smallest amounts, $55.4 million in tax credits, were claimed by 36,820 households nationwide for my favorite investment, energy audits.
The average tax credit for home energy improvement such as solar panels, solar water heating and home battery installations was $5,084. The average credit for improvement in energy efficiency, such as better windows, air sealing and heat pumps, was $882.
Questions to Ask When Buying a Solar-Powered Home
I have always said that the most affordable way to “go solar” is to buy a home that’s already solar-powered. The reason is that the price differential on a solar-powered home versus a home that is not solar-powered is minimal. (Don’t invest in solar if you’re not keeping your home at least 5-10 years, because you won’t recover the cost of your investment when you sell your home.)
So, let’s say you’re buying a solar-
powered home. Most of what you need to know should be on the MLS. Is the system owned or leased, or is it owned by a 3rd party which sells the electricity to the home owner under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)? The MLS says when it was installed and how big it is (in kilowatts), but you’ll need to find out if it still performs efficiently. You might want to hire an agent like me to represent you in your purchase.
The intention of the program is to benefit working families and small businesses to lower their utility expenses by improving their homes and offices. That
Your Best Deal on an EV Is a Used One From a Dealer
I learned the hard way that you can’t get a good deal on a used EV unless you buy it from a dealer. The reason is that there’s a 30% Clean Vehicle tax credit up to $4,000 on used EVs, but only if they are under $25,000 and purchased from a dealer. I have posted on http://RealEstateToday.substack.com a link to the IRS web page with the details on qualifying for the tax credit.
I tried selling my 2015 Model S, but no one wanted it at a reasonable price, so I ended up selling it to CarMax. Google “Used EVs Under $25,000” and you’ll see there are lots to choose from.
Although the credits vary from one improvement to another, it is generally a 30% on the cost of the improvement, including labor. The most popular improvement is solar photovoltaic installations, claimed by 752,300 households nationwide. The second most popular improvement was insulation, followed by exterior windows and skylights and central air conditioners.
Heat pump HVAC systems and heat pump water heaters were also a popular improvement, claimed by 267,780 and 104,180 households respectively.
Just under $1 billion in tax credits were claimed by 80,730 taxpayers for
Archive of Past Columns Is Online
Over the past two decades, this column has appeared in local weeklies and the Denver Post, and during that time I’ve written about every conceivable topic related to real estate. You can find and search that archive online at www.JimSmithColumns.com
Today’s the Day—Buyer Commissions Off the MLS
August 15th is the day which Denver’s MLS, REcolorado, set for removing buyer agent compensation from all MLS listings in compliance with the March 15th settlement between the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and a class of home sellers in Missouri. NAR had set the deadline for Aug. 17th. August 15th is also the date that new state-approved contracts consistent with the NAR settlement become mandatory in Colorado. I wrote about that on Aug. 1st. (see www.JimSmithColumns.com.)
Theoretically, home buyers will start paying the brokers who represent them in the purchase of real estate, but I will be surprised if a single home buyer pays anything at all for professional representation. That’s because most sellers will agree to offer compensation, leaving any seller who does not offer compensa-
tion in an untenable position — no buyer will want to make an offer on homes that require them to pay their agent.
Keep in mind that most buyers are already heavily burdened in the transaction to buy a home, especially when they are having to finance their purchase with a mortgage at 6% or higher interest rates. They have to pay for inspection, for appraisal, for loan origination, first-year’s home insurance premium, and for escrow deposits to cover next year’s property taxes and insurance renewal. Only cash buyers are spared those heavy upfront costs.
If sellers wants to attract buyers, they will need to offer compensation. It’s just that they can’t advertise it on the MLS. They’ll still let buyers know, either on a home-specific website (like we provide), on a sign rider, or in a brochure.
We Need to Level-Up Sustainability & Recycling
Have you heard of toilet paper made from bamboo? I hadn’t either, but when I read the pitch for it, I was sold. Regular toilet paper is made, like other paper, from trees. But trees grow back slowly, whereas bamboo is famous for growing quickly. It would be a lot better for the planet if everyone switched to bamboo toilet paper. Rita and I received our first order last week, and we are sold on it. It’s the only toilet paper we’ll buy now, online from both Amazon and Costco.com.
I made another discovery recently. Those plastic jars you buy for everything from yogurt to milk and milk substitutes are wrapped in plastic that must be removed in order to recycle the bottle. At left is a picture of two quart bottles, plus a third in the middle with its label removed. The back of the milk bottle contains the notice shown at right:
It’s common practice in our home now to cut those plastic wrappers off and trash them before putting the bottles in the recycling bin. Some bottles, such as Activia’s Probiotic Dailies, have a marked “zipper” on them, making it easy. Others don’t even tell you that the wrapper must be removed, and you need a pointed knife to remove the wrap.
When we were in New Zealand in February, I saw a bicycle in the window of a Nespresso storefront. Looking closer, there was a sign on it saying that the bike’s aluminum frame was made of recycled Nespresso pods. We have one of Nespresso’s coffee makers, and now we keep one of their free postage paid recycling bags under the counter in our kitchen. Call Nespresso at 855-325-5781, and they’ll mail you some. K-cups can be recycled curbside after you remove the lid and contents. Do you want to help reduce the amount of single-use plastic? It’s becoming popular for restaurant-goers to bring Tupperware containers with them for leftovers. Rita does that. Also, there’s increasing popularity of “refill shops” where you buy bulk dry and liquid groceries to refill your own bottles or containers. Here’s a map from Googling it.
Why Cimarron Middle School teachers built kids’ beds
Rotary Club of Cherry Creek Valley chips in $1,500
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
In the days leading up to the new school year, teachers often spend their time making their classrooms a positive environment for kids to learn, but faculty at Cimarron Middle School in Parker took a break from planning to build bed frames for children who otherwise might not have a bed.
At seven stations outside of the school, teachers measured, cut and sanded wood. Around 75 people in all came together, reaching their goal of building 40 twin bed frames.
As the teachers chatted about the upcoming school year, Principal Chris Zimmerman worked a little at each station.
“Our sta really deeply care about our kids,” said Zimmerman. “I think one of the things that would break all our hearts would be knowing that some of our kids sleep on the oor and don’t get a good night’s rest every night.
e school — and teachers — enlisted the help of the Rotary Club of Cherry Creek Valley to dub the community service projects.
“Teachers had said, ‘When they do a project like this, they have a better school year,’” said Cheryl O’Brien, the local Rotary youth services director.
e club also pitched in $1,500 to help fund the project.
It’s become a familiar site at the school. A few years ago, teachers and sta helped build bicycles for kids in the community, even teaching a few how to ride the bikes. For the beds project, the school partnered with the non-pro t Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an organization dedicated to building beds for kids in need.
e organization began with the aim of building one bed for a single family. Now, a decade later, it has grown into a national organization delivering thousands of beds to youth.
About 5,200 beds are needed for kids nationally, according to the group, with approximately 1,660 in the Denver area.
school aim to collect at the beginning of the school year.
Students at the school have a young Rotary Club called Interact that O’Brien often helps. e student club is holding a bedding drive to collect new comforters, sheets and pillows.
e Denver Sleep in Heavenly Peace chapter aims to build more beds this year. ey will be taking part in the 6th annual Bunks Across America Build Day on Sept. 14. Lumber, tools and “know how to help” volunteers are provided. Locations can be found at shpbeds. org/chapter/co-denver/.
By having a bed of their own, kids begin to thrive in their everyday routines, said O’Brien.
“Sleep is one of the most important things we can do for our health and also it’s one of the most important things we can do for our learning,” said O’Brien.
Once the beds are built, including bunk beds, the mattresses are provided by Sleep in Heavenly
Peace. ere is an ongoing need for twin size sheets and other bedding items, which students at the middle
“If we can help another kiddo with that, the impact is every single day.”
Learn more about ways to help at shpbeds.org/make-donation.
An assembly line of seven stations was set up in the parking lot of Cimarron Middle School where teachers joined members of the Rotary Club Cherry Creek Valley to measure, cut and sand lumber provided by Lowes. PHOTOS BY HALEY LENA
Principal Chris Zimmerman of Cimarron Middle School in Parker takes part in building twin bed frames in partnership with the nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an organization dedicated to building beds for kids of all ages in need.
Colorado joins Purple Star School Program for military families
Legislation aims to support spouses of high-risk workers
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
With kids heading back to school, a new Colorado law aims to support students in military families. e state now joins dozens of states in implementing the Purple Star School Program.
Highlands Ranch state Rep. Bob Marshall was the prime sponsor of the House Bill. House Bill 24-1076 establishes the program in K-12 public schools in an e ort to assist military children with the transitions and deployments involving their parents.
“ ese little ones (bills), they’re little, but they’re extremely important to the small group that is impacted by it,” Marshall, a Democrat, said. e bill had bipartisan support. Its Senate sponsor was Bob Gardner, a Republican who represents El Paso and Teller counties.
A public school can qualify by showing a strong commitment to military-connected students and their families through resources and support that helps mitigate the “academic and social-emotional challenges they may face” due to parent deployment, frequent moves and new schools.
Marshall, who served as a Marine, said he knows personally the challenges that reclocating has on families.
According to the Military State Policy Source, other gaps the program addresses include overlaps in curriculum, course-placement disruption and di ering school district graduation requirements.
“Children of military families are especially vulnerable to the changes that come with moving schools, making new friends and joining extracurricular activities mid-season,” Marshall said in a statement.
Over 40 states across the country have received Purple Star School designation. With a large military presence in Colorado – almost 40,000 active duty service members according to the Military State Policy Source – Marshall said Colorado should be included..
“It just made no sense that we didn’t have it,” said Marshall.
To qualify for the designation, schools must recognize military service and civic responsibility, as well as:
• Designate a school sta member as a military liaison
• Maintain an accessible web page on the public school websites with resources for military-connected students and their families
• Maintain student-led transition programs
• O er professional development opportunities for educators and sta relating to students.
Whether it’s publishing a resolution on the school’s website, part-
nering with a local military installation for volunteer opportunities, showing community-family engagement through student-driven clubs or celebrating families in April and November, the schools must implement one of the initiatives.
e bill was also sponsored by Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora who says the law could strengthen communities and Sen. Rhonda Fields,
“Military families make big sacri ces to support service members and their communities, and it’s critical that we support them as well,” Fields said in a statement. “ is new law will uplift kids in military families by making sure they get the support they need to thrive in school.”
Highlands Ranch Rep. Bob Marshall, who served as a Marine, was a co-sponsor of the House Bill 24-1076, also known as the Purple Star School Program. The program aims to assist military children with the transitions and deployments involving their parents in public schools.
PHOTO BY HALEY LENA
states that have now sanctioned it.”
Flag football
Arvada West defeated Cherry Creek 34-14 in the nal of the 16team state championship tournament last October. e Wildcats nished the season with a perfect 25-0 record. ey were the rst team to speak.
e team addressed several changes coming to the sport in its inaugural season as a fully sanctioned sport. What was a noncontact sport the past two pilot years now brings more physical changes, including punting, screen blocking, a one-yard rush line for defenses and a major change in eld size.
Instead of a 60-by-30-yard eld, it’ll now be 80-by-40 yards. e game will be more physical this upcoming season as blocking will be a big emphasis on o ense.
“Luckily a bunch of our players were able to play summer ball with those new rules,” Chat eld coach Alexis Rosholt said. “I think the two main di erences are going to be the one-yard rush, the unlimited rushers as well as blocking. Your quarterback is going to basically have a second to get the ball o . Our receivers are going to have to do some blocking before getting into routes.”
Football
Broom eld, Columbine, Delta, Erie, Haxtun, Holy Family, Limon,
Ralston Valley and Stratton high schools sent representatives from their football teams to speak with the media.
For Ralston Valley, the team is tired of seeing teams that beat them in the championship game.
“Really, the past two years, both teams that we lost to went to the state championship,” Ralston Valley Head Coach Jared Yannacito said.
“So, you just continue to be consistent. You continue to show up. You continue to focus on one game at a time, one week at a time. We don’t overlook any of our opponents.”
e Mustangs will have to replace former quarterback Logan Madden, who is now a freshman player at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Yannacito said he can’t replace Madden other than having his team come together to make up for his production.
Last year, Columbine dethroned Cherry Creek as the 5A champion. It
was the Rebels’ sixth 5A state championship since 1999 and the rst
since 2011. All six of the Rebels’ state football titles have been coached by Andy Lowry, who wasn’t in attendance.
But his players showed up as champs and are ready to repeat if they can.
“Every senior group at Columbine steps up,” said Brennan Goodwin, the starting quarterback at Columbine. “We’re excited to do that.”
Other sports
Other fall sports teams were in attendance also ready to kick o the 2024 season.
Field hockey, gymnastics, boys golf, uni ed bowling, softball, girls
Adaptable route sizes • No suit & tie required! revious carrier experience encouraged; reliable vehicle and email access, required. no telephone inquiries - but email us at:
Reigning flag football state champions Arvada West spoke to the media first. The Wildcats enjoyed a perfect season capped with a trophy in 2023. PHOTO BY JOHN RENFROW
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Goat gets ride home after car crash
Deputies with the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce put an unexpected “subject” in the back of their cruiser earlier this month. After assisting the Colorado State Patrol with a car crash and the arrest of an allegedly drunk driver, the sheri ’s o ce shared photos on social media of the passenger — a goat — which was uninjured and whisked away to the Dumb Friends League Buddy Center in Castle Rock.
‘I Voted’ design competition opens to high school students e Colorado Secretary of State’s O ce is inviting high school students to participate in its “I Voted” digital sticker competition. e winning design will be sent to voters via BallotTrax after they vote in the upcoming General Election. It will also be featured on the Secretary of State’s website, media channels, press releases and in media coverage. Sta from the Colorado Secretary of State’s O ce will also present the award during an assembly at the artist’s school. e entry deadline is Sept. 2. More information can be found at https://www. sos.state.co.us/pubs//elections/votedSticker/contest.html.
Gov. Polis highlights $2.7 million classrooms investment
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Gov. Jared Polis, in partnership with DonorsChoose, has announced $2.7 million in funding from the Governor Emergency Education Relief to help educators make purchases that support students. Teachers can receive up to $600 in supplies per classroom. To learn more about this opportunity, teachers should visit donorschoose. org and enter the code COLORADO. Teachers can submit their project requests beginning in early August, un-
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Legislation to support families of high-risk workers
til funds are fully allocated.
Unscrambling the 2024 November ballot over breakfast
A fur ban, property taxes, school choice, the fate of mountain lions and more are topics before Colorado voters in November. e nonpartisan Common Sense Institute will highlight these issues in its 2024 ballot guide, a resource for voters that includes data, analysis and a description of the issues.
A discussion costs $25 and will take place from 7:30-9 a.m. Sept. 10 at the Dome at AMG, 6295 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Greenwood Village. Link: https://tinyurl.com/mvanhk27.
Another new state law aims to support families of rst responders and state employees with high-risk jobs. Previously, surviving spouses of rst responders could be eligible to receive lifelong workers’ compensation death bene ts if their spouse was killed on the job, but that right was forfeited if they remarried.
Sponsored by Reps. Sheila Lieder, DLittleton, Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud and Sen. Perry Will, R-New Castle, HB24-1139, also known as Death Benet for State Employee Surviving Spouses, ensures surviving spouses bene ts will not change, even if they remarry. is includes spouses of state troopers, Colorado Bureau of Investigation o cers, correction o cers, community parole o cers, state re ghters, port of entry o cers, Parks and Wildlife o cers and Colorado Department of Transportation safety and mainte-
Deputies with the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce put an odd “subject” in the back of their cruiser earlier this month. After a car crashed and the driver was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, the sheri ’s o ce gave the passenger, a goat, a ride to a safer place. The goat, which was uninjured, was whisked away to the Dumb Friends League Buddy Center in Castle Rock. COURTESY OF DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Public comments open on Arapahoe County oil and gas regs Arapahoe County Commissioners will consider proposed amendments to oil and gas regulations within unincorporated parts of the county. e proposed amendments introduce additional measures that are meant to protect the health of residents, wildlife and the environment. People can provide comments through Aug. 26. An Open House will take place from 5:307 p.m. Aug. 22 in the Exhibition Hall at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, 5690 E. Quincy Ave., in Aurora. Visit www.arapahoeco.gov/oilandgas for the proposed draft amendments and more information.
nance workers.
Co-sponsor of the bill, Sen. Tony Exum, Sr., D-Colorado, who served as a re ghter for over 35 years, said he understands the di culties spouses of lost employees go through following the passing of their loved one.
“Death bene ts are critical for them during their times of need,” said Exum. “ e current remarriage penalty forces a surviving spouse to relive the trauma of their loss and prevents them from moving forward with their lives. With this law, widows can choose to remarry without sacri cing nancial security.”
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ere’s a saying in journalism that newspaper production is a daily or a weekly miracle. A er the last few weeks, we’ve performed a few such miracles to make sure you can continue to receive your local newspaper.
I’m writing to update you about some short-term (potential) delivery delays, to provide information about the reasons, and to thank you for your continued support of your community newspaper.
As you may know, Colorado Community Media’s parent company, the National Trust for Local News, has been busy building a new, local commercial printing facility to serve Front Range newspapers. is move sets up our newspapers for more economic sustainability and the potential for future editorial investments – in other words, a stronger, more vibrant community news source.
Along the way, we’ve learned that launching a printing press from scratch is not for the faint of heart. During the initial project work, we discovered that the electrical capacity needed to run all of our equipment required additional (and unexpected) enhancements to our facility. We’re making great progress and are working with our partners to complete the nal electrical services. We hope to begin printing Colorado Community Media’s newspapers there in early September.
Given the unexpected closure of the Berthoud press facility this month, we have been scrambling to nd alternatives to print our mailed newspapers during the 3-4 week timeframe expected before our own press launches. Fortunately, we’ve found a temporary out-of-state alternative that will allow us to continue providing you the print newspaper you’ve come to expect from us while we work to get our own press operational. What that means, however, is that you could experience delays of one to four days in receiving your printed paper.
Know this: We’re dedicated to ensuring you get your newspaper throughout this interim period. If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to hello@coloradocommunitymedia.com, or visit our website, which is always up-to-date with the latest news and information in your community.
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Colorado Community Media
Can the county satisfy both camps?
O cials have heard some overlap between people who want new elds and those who are concerned for the wilderness. But whether the public can widely agree on new eld locations is unclear.
“Our ask today is not to halt the search for sports elds in Douglas County. We see the need,” said Shama DuBose, a mom of a youth athlete in Highlands Ranch, adding that the park is the “right idea, wrong location.”
On the other hand, Collin Cacchione, baseball director for the Castle Rock-area Raptors Athletics, said the park “would be integral to helping us grow our league.”
e Raptors organization had to turn away 100 kids because it didn’t have enough space this spring in its
baseball program, said Mark Steinke, the Raptors’ president who has worried about what losing elds would mean for youth sports.
ose who oppose building Wildcat Regional Park found out at the August meeting that county commissioners voted against funding a $250,000 study — at least for the moment — that would look at whether building the park is feasible.
e park plan could continue later, but it likely faces an uphill battle, with Lora omas the only one of three county commissioners who clearly wanted to move forward with a study.
Still, omas told the Douglas County News-Press that “this is way, way early in any proposal.”
“I would say we are at step 3 of 100,” omas said.
“I’m not absolutely wedded to this plan,” she added. “We need to do things in balance.”
Meanwhile, an alternate plan by the Highlands Ranch Community
Association would instead develop “passive” recreational amenities on the land, including trails, with an eye toward wildlife conservation. County Commissioner George Teal favors that plan.
A county survey may be available to take in late August, where the public can express what they want Douglas’ open space and recreation funding to go toward, omas said.
Here’s a closer look at the competing park plans and the e ort to nd new sports space in the county.
Why park plan is in spotlight
Envisioning the land as a park has a history that goes back decades.
“In order to build the houses they wanted to build in Highlands Ranch, they were required by law to provide land for (park space) to the county,” omas said.
(In 1997, Mission Viejo Company was purchased by Shea Homes, according to the Highlands Ranch Metro District website.)
Castle Rock for a town hall meeting about the fairgrounds master plan, a vision for renovating the county fairgrounds — the home of the annual county fair and other events. Some sports elds could remain, based on the draft of the plan.
But three elds near the eastern edge of the fairgrounds park property could be converted to new uses. ose impacted could include one baseball diamond, one football/lacrosse area and a multi-use area for soccer, according to Tim Hallmark, the county’s director of facilities.
What a Wildcat Regional Park could look like
Amid the planned changes, ocials are looking to other parts of the county for possible sports space.
Saturday, September 7th
Join us for our 3rd annual 5K trail run/walk focused on physical and mental wellness along with family fun and our furry friends.
• K-9 training demonstrations
• Vendor Market Place
• Food trucks
• Live and silent auction
• Kids zone with family fun events
• Pet costume contest
But the land has sat vacant for years. It moved into the spotlight this summer amid public attention on the question of where new youth sports elds could be built in the county.
In May, a large crowd gathered in
Peak Ozone
Conversations about a Wildcat Regional Park had long been brewing. An organization approached omas in September 2023 and told her they had money to open an Olympic pool but needed land to do so. Others reached out to omas after that and expressed desire to build youth sports elds. After those conversations, county sta met with organizations and developed an
SEE PARK, P12
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initial sketch of what a Wildcat Regional Park with a pool and sports elds could look like, omas said.
While a concept of the park is only in its early stages, the vision would encompass several sports.
“User groups have inquired about creating elds for soccer, football, and baseball. Also, there are potential partnerships and interests in indoor sports elds and an Olympic sized pool,” a county sta report says.
‘Same or better’
In a new “fact vs. ction” page, the county website says: “ e Board of Douglas County Commissioners has stated publicly that no youth sports facilities will be removed until there is space available to replace them with the same or better facilities.”
But that statement doesn’t address whether new elds would fall in the same territory as ones that could be lost in the Castle Rock area.
Raptors Athletics, the youth sports organization, would use sports elds at Wildcat Regional Park, Steinke
said, “and yes, it would help but is not a location we would consider a replacement for the fairground
elds we are losing.”
He added: “It is within our territory due to it being the area that feeds into Rock Canyon (High School), but Rock Canyon is a shared territory with (the) Warriors.”
“So at best, we would get a partial sharing opportunity of those elds,” Steinke said. “Its distance from where the current elds are (could)
eliminate the usage of Douglas County residents who live near the current elds and in Castle Rock.”
An alternate proposal
Local residents say elk and eagles, among other animals, live in the area where Wildcat Regional Park
A map shows the location of the proposed Wildcat Regional Park in the Highlands Ranch area. SCREENSHOT OF DOUGLAS COUNTY STAFF REPORT
SEE PARK, P13
would be built, and concerns center around the idea that a new park would disturb them.
As an alternative, the Highlands Ranch Community Association wants Douglas to donate the potential Wildcat Regional Park land to the HRCA and fund basic infrastructure like utilities and a vehicle bridge o Monarch Boulevard.
In that scenario, the association would develop a 5K trail and bikeonly trails open to all Douglas County residents, its website says.
“We would fund the trails, we would fund the regular maintenance of it,” Monica Wasden, president of the association, told the commissioners at the August meeting.
“ e schools could come in and have cross country” meets, Wasden added.
omas isn’t keen on the idea.
“Perhaps HRCA can buy the land from the county so the county can buy a piece of land somewhere else
for a park,” omas told the NewsPress. “I think it’s irresponsible to give away county land that was (pro-
vided) for a park.”
On the issue of elk, she argues that the potential Wildcat Regional Park land is only a small percentage of what is essentially a huge region of “open space” that includes the association’s Backcountry Wilderness Area, Daniels Park and Cherokee Ranch.
Study halted for now
Commissioner Abe Laydon argued the county should not spend $250,000 on a feasibility study before the survey results are in.
ough there was some confusion on what the commissioners were voting on at the Aug. 5 meeting, they voted unanimously in favor of halting further action on the study, with omas stipulating that she voted that way because she understood it to mean a study will not be done before the survey results come in.
Teal then proposed to entirely abandon the feasibility study, but only he voted in favor, and that motion failed.
REVERSE MORTGAGES MADE
The front of Douglas County government headquarters.
PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD
Finding life’s balance in the snow and surf
The snow-covered mountains in winter and the powerful ocean waves o er two of nature’s most exhilarating playgrounds: skiing and snowboarding on the one hand, and sur ng on the other. Each of these sports, while distinct in their environments and techniques, shares a common thread that is essential not only to their practice but also to our broader experience of life: balance.
ere is an art of balance in sport. In skiing as in snowboarding, in the serene, snow-laden mountains, skiing and snowboarding demand a harmonious blend of strength, agility, and control. Skiers carve graceful arcs down the slopes, their movements a dance of precision and uidity. With their single board, snowboarders exhibit a unique balance style, leaning into turns and navigating the mountain’s contours with an elegant ow. Both sports require an acute awareness of one’s body in relation to the terrain, a constant adjustment to the ever-changing snow conditions, and the ability to remain composed under pressure.
Sur ng, in contrast, takes place against the backdrop of the ocean’s vast, sometimes thunderous pow-
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
er. Surfers must balance on their boards while reading the waves, anticipating the swell, and executing maneuvers with split-second timing. e ocean is unpredictable, and each wave presents a new challenge, demanding adaptability and resilience. Sur ng is a dance with nature’s raw energy, requiring a deep connection with the water and a keen sense of timing.
I have learned many lessons in balance from the mountains and the sea. Having been fortunate enough to live in the mountains and by the beach, I’ve witnessed rsthand how these sports mirror life’s journey. Like in skiing, snowboarding, and sur ng, balance is crucial as we navigate the turbulence and tranquility of our everyday lives.
As beginners, whether on the slopes or in the surf, we start with tentative steps. Our movements are awkward, falls are frequent, and progress can seem slow. is phase teaches us the importance of perseverance and humility. We learn to get up after each fall, to laugh at our mistakes, and to appreciate the incremental gains we make.
Moving to the intermediate stage, we gain con dence and competence. Our skills improve, and we start to enjoy the rhythm of the sport. However, this is also a period where we must guard against complacency. e challenges become more complex, and the need for physical and mental balance be-
comes even more pronounced. We learn to push our limits while maintaining control, to take calculated risks, and to stay focused amidst distractions.
Reaching the expert level, we achieve a mastery that allows us to express ourselves fully through the sport. Our movements become second nature, and we can tackle the most challenging terrains and waves with nesse. is level of prociency is not just about technical skill but also about an inner balance.
Experts in skiing, snowboarding, and sur ng often speak of a state of ow where they are completely immersed in the activity, their mind and body perfectly synchronized. Living in the mountains and by the beach has shown me that true
Kennedy has correct values I am writing to express my support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for president of the United States. Today, America nds itself more polarized than ever, with both sides blaming each other for the nation’s woes. However, the real issue lies in the division itself, sapping the strength of the public to resist exploitation and challenge the status quo. To combat this, a united move-
ment must emerge, transcending political, racial, and demographic divides. A powerful uprising that brings together left and right, Black and White, urban and rural, young and old, and working people of all backgrounds, is the key to breaking the grip of undemocratic forces. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. invites everyone to join this movement for people power, free from identi cation with any one political party.
Despite clear positions on divisive issues like abortion, guns, and immigration, Kennedy recognizes the legitimacy of concerns on both sides. In his vision, no one is deplorable, and shared values beneath surface disagreements can foster unity. Kennedy’s approach involves drawing on broad moral agreements, encouraging careful listening, and creating conditions for understanding each group’s stories. is commit-
balance is not about avoiding the ups and downs but embracing them. It’s about nding stability amidst change, peace amidst chaos, and joy amidst challenges. You may not ski, snowboard, or surf, but there have probably been times when you felt out of balance. If so, I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can ride the ups and downs of life with greater balance, it really will be a better than good life.
Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.
ment to respect and unity is evident in the campaign itself. Kennedy appeals to the generosity, goodness, kindness, and courage of the people, steering away from exploiting greed, anger, fear, xenophobia, and bigotry.
In these critical times, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emerges as a leader who respects the values held dear by many Americans, including myself. Deborah Blandin-Surbeck, Kiowa
Castle Rock voters may rule on tax increase
Castle Rock continues to top lists as a safe community. To help ensure the town can maintain this margin of excellence, the town council is considering placing a 0.2% sales tax increase request (20 cents on a $100 purchase) on November’s ballot. Council’s deciding vote will occur at its Aug. 20 meeting. As we share information on the proposed ballot measure, there have been some recurring questions that I’d like to address. For more information, visit CRgov. com/SupportPublicSafety.
Q: If approved by voters in November, how much would the 0.2% sales tax increase generate annually, and how would the revenue be used?
A: e proposed sales tax would generate about $3.75 million annually — the bulk of which would allow for the hiring of 40 additional public safety personnel by 2029:
• 21 personnel would be hired in 2025, including sta for a fourth ambulance and nine additional police o cers.
• 19 additional public safety personnel — for a total of 40 over ve years — would be hired by 2029:
• 11 police personnel, including o cers for patrol, schools and tra c enforcement
• 8 re personnel, including six to help adequately sta a new re station in Terrain/Cobblestone Ranch
Q: Has the town worked to cut its costs before requesting additional revenues?
A: As the town budget is developed each year, town sta evaluates over 6,000 line items to identify areas of potential savings and adjusts the budget accordingly. Town leadership has consistently said “no” to potential service expansions, choosing to focus on core services like re and police. For instance, the town has not pursued adding public internet service, a public transit system and many other services o ered
TOWN
TALK
by other area municipalities, keeping its focus on communitysupported priorities.
Q: My property tax bill increased. Didn’t the town get some of that money?
A: e owner of a median-value home in Castle Rock ($663,360) pays $37.50 in town property tax.
e lion’s share of a resident’s annual property tax goes to local schools. Another large component of one’s property tax payment may be to a metropolitan district; these are taxing entities separate from the town that exist primarily to fund public improvements to bene t property owners in the district.
A provision in the town charter restricts annual growth in the town’s property tax revenue to 5.5%, so the town’s mill levy rate declined for 2024, to 0.92 mills.
e Town expects to bring in $1.5 million in property tax revenue this year, compared to about $75 million in sales tax revenue.
Q: Can the town stop growth to eliminate the need for more police and re personnel?
A: Several things make it impractical for the town to stop growth — the primary being that Castle Rock is located between the state’s two largest cities, and that the general area would continue to grow regardless of whether growth occurs inside the town’s boundaries. Further, the town — mostly during the 1980s — approved development rights for several areas that remain in place today. Removing those rights from the landowners would be nancially infeasible. Finally, a state law passed in 2023 no longer allows anti-growth laws to be implemented within Colorado.
David L. Corliss is the town manager of Castle Rock.
David L. Corliss
BY AUDREY BRICE AND LOURDES CAMARILLO SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
On a hospital bed, surrounded by sterile equipment and isolated, the anxious await a surgery that will alter their lives. In pursuit of motherhood, many women have turned to In-Vitro-Fertilization (IVF).
Samantha Bronson, a children’s youth minister at a church near Littleton, has dealt with negative thoughts and emotions regarding her infertility.
“A lot of questions came to me about my spirituality as well,” Bronson said. “Like, ‘Is this God saying something to me?’ And, in my darkest moments, ‘Is God punishing me?’ I don’t believe that’s how God works at all, but those were the feelings that were coming up for me.”
Samantha Sullivan of Fort Collins wanted a child, and her mom had called a center to talk about taking steps toward fertility treatment.
“She knew that my dream has always been to have kids, and so I was grateful,” Sullivan said. “But I also didn’t really know what I was getting myself into.”
Emily Heizer-Kochman, from Sacramento, California, is on her ninth round of IVF.
“ e whole thing’s been brutal. e emotional ups and downs are just exhausting, and any time there’s a sliver of hope, it just seems like it’s a trick,” Heizer-Kochman said. “Something worse happens when you’re expecting the good news.”
For Tanya Knepp of Florence, the costs “impacted us in a lot of ways emotionally, mentally.”
Knepp and her husband paid for IVF without the help of insurance. While Colorado law mandates IVF coverage, Knepp’s insurance skipped around this law because her company’s insurance is selffunded.
“It was 100% out of pocket,” said Knepp. e World Health Organization says one in six women globally experience infertility.
A single IVF cycle can cost $15,000 to $30,000, creating another challenge for many.
Bronson, Sullivan, Heizer-Kochman and Knepp shared their experiences with the University of Colorado’s News Corps in hopes that their stories
would help other women and their partners as they navigate the di cult path of IVF in hopes of having a baby.
Samantha Bronson, God and science
In 2020, Bronson and her husband, Luke, decided to start trying to conceive. By the end of 2021, the couple still wasn’t expecting, so Samantha went to her OBGYN for answers.
Bronson, of Aurora, was diagnosed with unexplained infertility, meaning that despite appearing capable of conceiving, she has been unable to do so. e only test Samantha could not undergo was an egg health test, which requires
an egg retrieval.
“I wanted there to be a reason,” said Bronson. Bronson started trying to conceive through intrauterine insemination (IUI), a type of articial insemination where a long tube is used to put the semen directly into the uterus. Bronson tried this method of conception four times.
“We were paying out of pocket for those each month, which was racking up a lot. So our fertility doctor recommended we switch over to IVF,” said Bronson.
e switch would cost around $30,000.
SEE THE SILENCE, P17
Emily Heizer-Kochman cries tears of joy while her husband, Ben Kochman, rests his head on her shoulder, sighing with relief from their hopeful fertility test results.
PHOTO BY LOURDES CAMARILLO / CU NEWS CORPS
THE SILENCE
Bronson felt like they wouldn’t be able to pursue that path at anytime soon, and after going through multiple rounds of IUI, she needed a break.
However, this changed when Luke switched careers, as his new job’s insurance would be able to cover the cost of IVF.
“We were ready to be parents,” said Bronson. “And because of (Luke’s) job and the fact that (his) insurance does cover it, that’s when we were able to pull the trigger on (IVF) without having to stress about going into more debt.”
roughout her struggle with infertility, Bronson has felt a strain on some of her relationships. She has had friends hesitant to tell her they are expecting because they don’t want to upset her, along with people just saying the wrong things.
“A lot of people don’t really know how to talk about infertility, so they’ll say some really stupid things. I am in a Christian community, and sometimes people will ask me if I’ve prayed about it,” said Bronson.
Bronson has chosen to keep her infertility journey largely private. While she believes she may share her experience once she has dealt with it, she exercises caution, particularly within her congregation, mindful of her position and the potential impact.
“As pastors, we’re taught to share vulnerably with people, and at the same time, the people that we are serving and helping, we don’t want them to feel bad for us,” said Bronson. “So, I
don’t want it to be that somebody who is expecting gets worried or weird about sharing that with me because they are worried I would feel upset about it. Whereas this is my job and calling to walk through that with people.”
Leading up to her rst egg retrieval, Bronson was feeling a variety of emotions.
“I feel excited and nervous and worried and happy, and quite literally what feels like every emotion I could feel,” said Bronson. “ ere’s still grief in there, too. is isn’t what I planned, I wish it would have been di erent.”
On April 2, Bronson underwent her egg retrieval, and 17 eggs were retrieved, but no answers about her unexplained infertility diagnosis were discovered.
e couple would get nine embryos, but upon further genetic testing for abnormalities only seven were viable for transfer.
“I had a lot of feelings. One of those feelings was that I did not want nine or seven children.
at’s a lot,” said Bronson. “I was also excited about how successful it was and that this means that theoretically, I will never have to do an egg retrieval again.”
Bronson was ordained as a minister in June and her embryo transfer was set for mid July.
Samantha Sullivan, cancer survivor
When Sullivan’s journey with IVF began, her mind was far from fertility preservation, as she waited to nd out if she had breast cancer.
“I didn’t even think about that prior because I was so focused on: am I getting diagnosed with breast cancer?” said Sullivan.
She was devastated. She was unable to think about the trajectory of her life, but her mother’s
call to a fertility treatment center put her on track. It was on Valentine’s Day of 2020 that Sullivan received her diagnosis: stage two, grade three, triple-negative breast cancer.
e nancial burden of IVF also quickly revealed itself.
“I remember we had to pay in full up-front, and I think it was something like $15,000 or $20,000 and I was like, ‘Well, I don’t have that so I can’t do this,’ and my mom was like, ‘We’ll talk about it. We’re doing it. Let’s go,’” Sullivan said.
“I didn’t know if I was going to survive, I didn’t know if my husband was going to become my husband,” said Sullivan. “We were engaged at the time. I gave him an out, and he stayed with me.” Sullivan and Patrick would later marry on the rst anniversary of Sullivan being cancer-free on Oct. 9, 2021.
Before chemotherapy, Sullivan underwent two egg retrievals which gave them eight embryos viable for transfer. Only three were free of the BRCA 1 gene, which can increase a person’s chance of developing breast cancer.
Two years after her double mastectomy, Sullivan was able to undergo her rst embryo transfer. She went through three embryo transfers. One ended in a miscarriage and two didn’t implant.
Sullivan would have to come to terms with her only remaining embryos having the BRCA 1 gene.
After all those losses, Sullivan decided to take some time away from trying to become pregnant and also decided to switch from her previous clinic to the Conceptions Reproductive Associates of Colorado.
Tanya and Leslie Knepp walk in their neighborhood in Florence. “IVF was the only thing remaining for us to try,” Tanya Knepp said.
Samantha Bronson sits on her porch in Aurora. She and her husband, Luke Bronson, tapped their savings, paying just under $25,000 in fertility treatments.
Samantha Sullivan looks outside of her bedroom window in Fort Collins. “IVF changes you,” she said.
PHOTOS BY LOURDES CAMARILLO / CU NEWS CORPS
THE SILENCE
Instead of spending a couple thousand dollars to transport the embryos there, Sullivan rented a tank and transferred them herself.
“My mom and I drove down, dropped the tank o at CCRM in Lone Tree. ey loaded the embryos up and I bucked them into the car and drove them over,” said Sullivan.
At this new clinic, Sullivan went through her fourth embryo transfer, which ended in a miscarriage.
“Every single failed transfer has been absolutely devastating, and of course, every pregnancy I have lost a child. So, it’s been very di cult,” said Sullivan. Later on, Sullivan went in for a fth embryo transfer.
e procedure itself went well, but a home pregnancy test she took came back negative. e clinic con rmed the result.
e couple still has two embryos that their current clinic could transfer. However, they have begun looking into using an egg donor to make an embryo.
“I don’t know if I can keep going through loss,” said Sullivan.
Sullivan works as a postpartum nurse, a di cult position to have while going through infertility.
“It is really hard to take care of patients that don’t want the baby, or are upset that they’re pregnant, or are abusing their bodies – intentionally or unintentionally – which then a ects the baby, when I’m trying to do everything that I can and everything right to have a child,” Sullivan said.
Tanya Knepp, one little chance
Knepp and her husband, Leslie, have been trying to conceive for ve years, and recently started their rst round of IVF.
“We were very con dent that – aside from something miraculous and out of the ordinary – we weren’t just gonna get pregnant with less invasive means, and our doctors are pretty con dent of that too,” said Knepp.
e couple had to make a lot of sacri ces – living in a less-than-desirable neighborhood and driving older cars – to a ord IVF. And, after selling their last house, they were able to a ord their rst cycle of IVF.
When Knepp started, she got the news that she had low ovarian reserve. is diagnosis means a woman has fewer eggs in her ovaries compared to others her age, making conceiving more di cult.
During her egg retrieval, Knepp’s emotions were mixed, partly due to the cost of the procedure.
“I was de nitely feeling hopeful, but at the same time, just scared,” said Knepp, adding that part of her fear came from the nancial aspect because they were spending $5,000 for one cycle of IVF with no guaranteed success.
e retrieval returned seven eggs, but only one ended up being viable for transfer.
“We have one embryo. We’ve got one little chance waiting for us,” said Knepp. “So that’s how I feel about that embryo now, just glad we had that chance.”
As the couple wants more than one child, they have decided that with Knepp’s diagnosis of low ovarian reserve, they should attempt another egg retrieval now before attempting an embryo transfer.
“You’re not crazy for wanting to do this. e hope of bringing a child into this world is so valid,” said Knepp.
Emily Heizer-Kochman, the ninth try
“I had worries that we would have trouble conceiving another baby – or that we were on a short timeline – just because of my age,” said Heizer-Kochman.
Unfortunately, Heizer-Kochman was right to worry, as she would begin struggling with secondary infertility, a condition in which someone is unable to conceive or carry to term after already giving birth to a child without any fertility treatments.
Heizer-Kochman had ve miscarriages.
“I don’t know that you ever forget that pain. I don’t know,” said Heizer-Kochman. “You gure out how to live with it. I didn’t really do anything to deal with it, I just tried to move on.”
e couple ended up going to CNY, a fertility clinic in Colorado Springs. e cheapest option they could nd in the United States, which costed roughly $3,700 per cycle.
Out of eight rounds of IVF, none of the three embryos retrieved were deemed viable due to chromosomal abnormalities.
On Feb. 16, Heizer-Kochman went in for an egg retrieval for her ninth and nal round of IVF.
e procedure only returned a single egg.
Does Colorado require motor vehicle insurance for e-bikes?
e couple wanted to try one last time to ensure they had done all they could, but Heizer-Kochman wasn’t putting much hope into their single egg.
ree weeks later, the couple received the results that their latest embryo would not be viable. ey continue to work towards having another child with the help of a friend who has agreed to be their egg donor.
“We got nothing out of it, other than the courage to move on,” said Heizer-Kochman. “If we hadn’t done IVF and spent that much and tried all those times, I don’t know that we would be emotionally ready to move on.”
e couple has spent around $50,000 on medical expenses.
“My biggest takeaway is that it doesn’t always work,” said Heizer-Kochman. “It’s not necessarily a faster track to a baby. ere are some people who do one cycle and get everything they need. at’s not everybody.”
A threat to IVF
Navigating IVF is already challenging, but the recent Alabama ruling has added another layer of di culty. It’s evident that many people lack understanding of the complexities involved with IVF. Although none of the women interviewed were from Alabama, some still express concerns about the misconceptions regarding IVF highlighted by the ruling.
is story was created by students at the University of Colorado-Boulder’s News Corps. Colorado Community Media participated in the process that helped bring this story to light.
BY
Colorado does not require motor vehicle insurance for electric bikes as long as the bikes t the state’s electrical assisted bicycle classi cations and aren’t motorcycles.
e state has three classi cations for e-bikes:
Class 1: an electric assisted bicycle with a motor that provides power when the rider is pedaling and stops when the bike reaches a speed of 20 mph.
Class 2: an electric assisted bicycle with a motor that provides power but stops when the bike reaches a speed of 20 mph.
Class 3: an electric assisted bicycle with a motor that provides power when the rider is pedaling but stops when the bicycle reaches a speed of 28 mph.
Insuring e-bikes, however, is recommended by some insurance providers, who recommend at least liability coverage in case of an accident. Companies have started o ering special e-bike insurance for riders as some companies don’t insure them as property under homeowners policies.
is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalistowned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state. e Colorado Sun partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-size fact-checks of trending claims.
JUSTIN GEORGE THE COLORADO SUN
Thu 8/15
Denver Broncos Training Camp @ 9am
Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit, Englewood
Lauren Frihauf Trio
@ 5:30pm
Sat 8/17
Martin Gilmore: Swallow Hill Open House @ 9am
Swallow Hill Music, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver
Ilya Serov @ 3pm
Eddie V's Prime Seafood, 5111 DTC Pkwy, Greenwood Village
Adam Cayton-Holland Live at Western Sky Bar & Taproom @ 6pm / $10
Western Sky Bar & Taproom, 4361 S BROADWAY, Englewood. westernsky barco@gmail.com
Fri 8/16
Ty Myers @ 6pm
Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Greenwood Vil‐lage
conjunto azabache @ 7pm
Stampede, 2430 S Havana St, Aurora
Bay Ledges @ 7pm
Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood
Bay Ledges @ 8pm Gothic Theatre, Englewood
Centennial park, S Uvalda St, Centennial
Robert Cristian Jordan: Everybody’s Favorite BBQ & Hot Sauce Festival 2024 @ 6pm
Centennial park, S Uvalda St, Centennial
Jesse Raub Jr.: Cody Johnson Leather Tour @ 6:30pm
Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, 6350
Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Greenwood Vil‐lage
Wilder Woods @ 7:30pm
Philip S. Miller Park, 1375 W Plum Creek Pkwy, Castle Rock
Sun 8/18
Last Train To Juarez: Wheelz, West Hampden Avenue, Englewood, CO, USA @ 2pm
Wheelz, 2490 W Hampden Ave, Engle‐wood
Englewood Tavern: Matt Woods + Jack Yoder @ 6pm
The Englewood Tavern, 4386 S Broadway, Englewood
Mon 8/19
$UICIDEBOY$ w/ Denzel Curry @ 5pm
Fiddlers Green Amphitheatre, Englewood
EKKSTACY @ 5:30pm
Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, 6350
Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Greenwood Vil‐lage
Tue 8/20
Shakewell @ 5pm
Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Greenwood Vil‐lage
$UICIDEBOY$ @ 5pm
Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, 6350
Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Greenwood Vil‐lage
Wed 8/21
Ladies Night @ 5pm / $10
Stampede, Aurora
Thu 8/22
Orbit Culture @ 5:30pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood
Blessing Offor @ 6pm
Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Greenwood Village
Dallas Moore @ 6pm
Wheelz, 2490 W Hampden Ave, Englewood
Calendar
A portion of all proceeds will be donated to volunteer firefighters
edith Barnhart said this year, preparation is more emotional this year.
Let’s come together to celebrate the beauty that our local communities have to o er.
SHARE YOUR TRAIL TALES 5K
is a new event that celebrates Colorado’s walking/running trails within our local communities.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24 Clement
Park– Littleton
Our 5K Run/Walk will mark the culmination of members sharing their stories about the great places they go for a run or a walk.
volleyball, cross country, spirit and student leadership representatives all spoke to the media.
Evergreen golf’s Liam Houlihan is excited to have everybody back this fall to try and win another team title. Houlihan and his teammate Tyler Long nished tied for second in 4A individual nishes last season.
Valor Christian volleyball has gone 58-0 in the past two seasons and won back-to-back 5A titles in Colorado.
But the Eagles know competition gets stronger each year and they aren’t ready to overlook anyone.
“I would say every time out there is going to be our competition. We just need to get in the gym and work,” Chloe Elarton, a senior and University of Georgia commit said. “I just to savor every moment, every win, every loss, every practice. It’s going to be a really special season for us seniors and I just want to cherish that.”
Lutheran has won three straight 4A softball titles in Colorado. Mer-
“We need to make up a lot of that momentum and success that we’re used to,” Barnhart said. Rallying as a team will be huge. ere’s always the hitting in the cages and taking ground balls, so we’ll get that going here pretty soon and hopefully hit the road quick.”
Kinley Wolfe of Cherry Creek cross country just wants to improve.
“I’m just hoping to do the best I can and try to be better than I did last season,” Wolfe said. “I’m just trying to be a strong competitor this year that people are looking at.”
But no matter the sport, the athletes said they’re all inspired by the recent uptick in the popularity of women’s sports.
“I think, for me, sports have allowed me to nd who I am,” said Colorado Academy eld hockey player Addie Chandler. “So, having these big stars like Caitlin Clark, Simone Biles, having these really cool role models to look after has been really cool.”
For more from CHSAA’s fall sports Media Day, visit www.chsaanow. com.
REGISTER NOW!
Silverdale Trailhead
Lace up your shoes, and after you hit the path, share your story with Colorado Community Media. We will be publishing your fan letters in our local papers.
Three Sisters Trail
Colorado Community Media 5K to support firefighters
Event looks to build friendships centered around trails
BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Community members will gather to run, walk and raise money to support local re ghting e orts at an upcoming 5-kilometer race in Robert F. Clement Park.
e “Share Your Trail Tales 5K” event and related storytelling initiative will be hosted by Colorado Community Media, the nonpro t that owns the Littleton Independent and two dozen other local newspapers around the metro area.
Events Director Carlie Scott said the event aims “to bring our communities together through our shared love for the great outdoors and to showcase all the beauty Colorado has to o er.”
It will also bene t the rst re-
sponders to the Quarry re, which erupted in early August in the Deer Creek Canyon area, many who are volunteers from local re departments and the American Red Cross.
“ is event is not only about enjoying nature, but also about giving back,” Scott said. “It’s an opportunity for our community to support our local volunteer re ghters, whose extraordinary e orts have saved countless homes and protected vast areas of wildlife and open space.”
e run takes place at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 24 at Robert F. Clement Park, located at 7306 W. Bowles Ave. in unincorporated Je erson County, just west of Littleton. e course will include two laps on the bike path around the lake, according to the event’s webpage.
Scott said a local competitive dance group will perform after the race, and other local businesses and vendors will be on site.
Leading up to the event, community members can share stories about and photos of their favorite Colorado parks and trails at https://
tinyurl.com/h2s562d5.
Registration costs $35 for individuals ages 17 and above, and $15 for youth between the ages of ve and 16. Children ages four and under can join the race for free. Runners who register early will receive a pair of custom running socks, according to the event’s webpage.
Race-day registration is also available for an additional $10 from 7:15 to 8:15 a.m. on Aug. 24 at Clement Park Shelter Q. Race packets may be picked up that morning at Shelter P.
Scott said events like the 5K are important because they create opportunities for community members
to connect with each other.
“In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel isolated and disconnected,” she said. “ ese events provide a chance to slow down, enjoy the beauty around us and share meaningful experiences with our neighbors.”
More: Participants can register for the event at https:// coloradocommunitymedia. com/2024/05/04/share-yourtrail-tales-5k/. Scott encourages community members to share photos and stories about their favorite trails at https://tinyurl.com/ h2s562d5.
As part of the “Share Your Trail Tales” 5K storytelling initiative, one community member submitted this photo of the Bear Creek Greenbelt Trail in Lakewood.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
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