Lone tree Voice September 19, 2024

Bob Marshall and Matt Burcham

square o in 2024 House District 43 race

Democratic incumbent faces Republican challenger

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Bob Marshall and Matt Burcham are going head-to-head in November in a race that will determine whether Highlands Ranch will continue to be represented by a Democrat at the state Capitol.

Marshall, the incumbent Democratic representative for House District 43, points to his 35 years in public service. Meanwhile, Burcham, the Republican nominee, says less experience might be a good thing.

Marshall became the district’s representative in 2022 and says he is a voice for good governance, transparency and the rule of law.

“ e most fundamental thing to have in an e ective government is to have the people’s trust in it,” said Marshall. “People can usually accept losing a policy argument or things going one way or another as long as they feel they were engaged and it was an open process.”

Having previously run for the Centennial Water and Sanitation District’s board, Burcham said that not having extensive government experience might be a good thing for the district.

He supports “letting normal people” from all walks of life, including those from the business world and community, “take a shot at” serving in the legislature.

Burcham’s campaign website states that he is a “limited-government Constitutional conservative

who will never waver on his principles.” Yet he told the Highlands Ranch Herald while elected o cials may be on opposite sides, they have to meet in the middle.

Whether it’s through meet-andgreets or knocking on doors, both candidates said they are ready to listen to the community and ensure that its voices are represented at the state level.

Get to know House District

43

ere are multiple House districts within Douglas County. Each elected representative serves a two-year term, joining a total of 65 representatives at the Capitol. e current House breakdown is 46 Democrats and 19 Republicans, according to the Colorado General Assembly.

Following a 2021 Colorado Supreme Court redistricting decision, House District 43 was shaped to encompass Highlands Ranch and a sliver of Littleton.

For years prior to Marshall, Republican Kevin Van Winkle was the representative for Highlands Ranch. In 2022, after Van Winkle stepped aside, Marshall defeated Republican Kurt Hu man for the seat.

For Marshall, it was a time of change. He had only joined the Democratic Party in late 2021, after dedicating 30 years to the Republican Party and roughly four years as una liated.

Marshall touts his e orts to get several bills passed with bipartisan support, including the Purple Star School Program and Senior Housing Income Tax Credit.

In the last two years, Marshall served on the House Finance Committee and Tax Oversight Committee. He was also on the Judiciary Committee, but was removed from it late last year.

Academic recovery across school districts is mixed, with persistent achievement gaps

BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e latest release of standardized test score results provide a glimpse into how well students across the metro area are doing. e data shows they’re still rebounding from the effects of the pandemic, and many students are struggling with the basics, including reading and math.

For instance, the Colorado Measures of Academic Success, or CMAS, results show only a third of students at Adams Five Star Schools meet grade-level standards in math. And, a little more than half of third through eighth-graders in Je erson County Schools achieved grade level or above in reading scores.

In both examples, the scores are a little higher than the year before, a common trend in the tests, which measure pro ciency in districts across Colorado.

Growth scores are calculated on a 100-point scale based on their grade level. Numbers greater than 50 indicate that struggling students below grade level are gaining ground and catching up with their peers.

e district results across metroarea counties, including Adams 12, Cherry Creek, Douglas County, Elizabeth and Je erson County, are mixed. Some saw steady growth from last year and others, decline.

All but Adams 12 Five Star Schools surpassed the state’s average prociency rates in the test’s English Language Arts (ELA) and math portions.

SEE CMAS, P7

Democratic state Rep. Bob Marshall, left, is opposing Republican candidate Matt Burcham in the race to represent Highlands Ranch at the state Capitol. COURTESY PHOTOS

Red Rocks’ 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb draws estimated 2,500 attendees

Participants honor firefighters and other Sept. 11 victims with nine laps around amphitheatre

BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

An estimated 2,500 people — many reghters in full gear, some seniors climbing slowly but steadily, a few babes in arms and a handful of teens vaulting easily up the stone steps — paid tribute on Sept. 11 by participating in the Colorado 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Red Rocks.

e event honors the 343 re ghters and nearly 3,000 people who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, which included two planes crashing into the World Trade Center towers. It also honors the 362 re ghters who’ve died since from illnesses related to the terrorist attacks.

Participants did nine laps up and down the Red Rock Amphitheatre stairs, the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center.

e event began with the replaying of a 9/11 New York City radio broadcast, during which callers witnessing planes hitting the towers called in to share their observations and express horri ed disbelief.

Event coordinator Shawn Duncan, noting the divisiveness that accompanies national elections, urged participants to remember that day and the days that followed.

“ ink about how united our country was,” he said. “All we cared about was being there for one another. As we climb these stairs today, remember that feeling. Carry it with you. Let’s get back to caring for one another and let’s be united again.”

A veteran rang the Honor Bell, the Colorado Emerald Society bagpipe band played “Amazing Grace,” and a singer sang the national anthem — all under a massive American ag hung between two re trucks.

ousands of people then walked up the south ramp to the amphitheatre and began making their laps.

In its 15th year, the Red Rocks event drew participants from 24 states, the Virgin Islands and the United Kingdom.

Last year’s event raised $116,000 through donations.

e Red Rocks climb is one of 50 9/11 memorial stair climbs, including the original event which began in Denver in 2005. e Morrison event is the largest and most wellattended in the country, according to the event’s website.

e climbs bene t the FDNY Counseling Services Unit and the programs provided by the

National Fallen Fire ghters Foundation.

An American flag strung between two fire trucks flies over the crowd at the start of Red Rocks’ 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. PHOTOS BY JANE REUTER

A woman carries a baby on her back as she climbs the stairs at Red Rocks.

Conifer’s Inter-Canyon firefighters start up the south ramp at Red Rocks to begin the nine-lap memorial stair climb.

Inspecting and Dealing With Inspection Issues Is Crucial to the Buying Process

Sellers and their listing brokers are required by law to disclose all known defects to prospective buyers, and buyers should get and study the Seller’s Property Disclosure and share it with their inspector prior to conducting a professional inspection of the home they are buying. This form is to be completed “to the seller’s current actual knowledge,” but shouldn’t be counted on.

contract, so my buyer can see whether it’s worth the expense of a professional measurement, which can cost several hundred dollars. (I also place this device in the basements of homes I list, to give the seller a heads-up on whether to expect radon mitigation as an inspection demand.)

As a buyer, you absolutely must hire a professional inspector who will perform an overall inspection of every system and appliance within the house. Your inspector will ask if you want to do a radon test or a sewer scope, both of which cost extra. Say “yes” to both those services.

Sewer scopes only cost $100200 and are money well spent, because if they reveal a problem requiring excavation, that could cost thousands of dollars.

Schedule the inspection early, because your inspector may recommend additional inspections by an electrician, a plumber, a structural engineer, a roofer or other specialist based on what he saw.

pre-listing inspection of your home, but I don’t recommend that. You need to disclose all defects you know about, and any listing agent worth his salt (and his license to practice real estate) won’t work with you if you aren’t completely honest and forthcoming about every known defect in your home. Don’t hire an inspector to do the job of a buyer’s inspector. Let your buyer alert you to defects you aren’t yet aware of.

(Note: If your buyer terminates after sending you their inspection report, you now know about those additional defects, and you’ll have to revise your seller’s property disclosure accordingly.)

contract. For example, your furnace may be at the end of its expected lifespan, but don’t replace it. Disclose its age in the SPD, of course, and expect that the buyer will ask for it to be replaced, but keep that as a bargaining chip if the buyer submits a long list of inspection demands. Then agree to replace it, and, because it’s a big ticket item, you may be able to deny any number of lesser fixes demanded by your buyer.

I’m Now Publishing on Substack

Radon is a naturally occurring gas produced from the decay of uranium, and has been reported to cause more lung cancers than cigarette smoking. If the testing shows a level above the EPA’s action level of 4.0 picocuries per liter of air, you will want to include mitigation of radon among your inspection demands.

At Golden Real Estate, we purchased a $199 handheld device, available at Ace Hardware, which quickly provides an approximation of the level of radon gas but should not be confused with a professional measurement done by your inspector. However, I like to put it in the home’s basement right after going under

Keep in mind that money spent on all such inspections is money well spent, because you can reasonably demand that the seller fix serious issues that your inspectors uncover.

Your broker should be able to recommend an inspector that he or she trusts. Even if your broker is new and hasn’t had significant experience with inspectors for other buyers, his or her managing broker will be able to make a good recommendation. With over two decades of representing buyers under my belt, you can be sure that I have sound, professional inspectors to recommend, and so do my broker associates.

If you’re a seller, you’ve probably heard recommendations that you do a

Lastly, keep in mind that you don’t want to fix known defects that won’t keep a buyer from wanting to submit a

Everything you read in this ad each week — and more — is published at http://RealEstateToday.Substack.com and comes to you automatically each Wednesday. I also write a political column you might like. You can find it at http://TalkingTurkey.Substack.com

Past Clients Have Left Positive Reviews of Our Agents & Me

Chuck Brown is a superb Realtor. He is very knowledgeable regarding the market, very proactive and highly professional. Chuck was great at identifying potential properties that met our criteria, he moved very quickly to show us potential properties and his analysis of property values was on point and very thorough. Chuck was extremely proactive and responsive in his communications with us. Chuck went above and beyond our expectations. My wife and I have done six real estate transactions and we think Chuck is the best Realtor ever. We would highly recommend Chuck to other home buyers. — S. Diamond

Dave Dlugasch did a phenomenal job working with us! We were not easy buyers because of an extensive “wish list” and he did his homework on each property we looked at until we found the right one. He gave us great advice and was very supportive of all our questions throughout the entire process. — M. Madigan

Based on Jim Smith's knowledge, experience, and expertise in the real estate arena, we decided to work with him when it came time to downsize. We used Jim and his real estate firm to both purchase the new home and then sell our existing property. All communication with Jim has been top notch. In addition, he provided all packing materials along with free use of the company's moving truck and labor to make our move. It was a great experience from start to finish! — R. Trujillo

Greg Kraft was knowledgeable and professional. He was very easy to work with and was super proactive in searching the listings. That was a key in managing to buy the townhome in a very competitive market. He was also very responsive and communicated really well with us and the listing agents. We would recommend him without reservation. — J. Knight

Jim Swanson was kind and patient while listening to my questions. He helped me to translate the real estate language and manage the sale process. He connected the dots, allowing me to make good decisions, maintain my personal integrity and profit from the sale when a great offer came to the forefront. Jim, thank you for putting communication and community first. — N. W.

Kathleen Jonke is a knowledgeable, efficient and hard working broker. Her availability and response time were exceptional. — K. Wiig

Smith Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851 Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com 1214 Washington Ave., Golden 80401

Broker Associates:

JIM SWANSON, 303-929-2727

CHUCK BROWN, 303-885-7855

DAVID DLUGASCH, 303-908-4835

GREG KRAFT, 720-353-1922

AUSTIN POTTORFF, 970-281-9071

KATHY JONKE, 303-990-7428

In-house Lender: WENDY RENEE, 303-868-1903

Plane crashes on Meridan Golf Club course

2 occupants of Cessna 172 were able to walk away from incident near Centennial Airport

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A small plane crashed and was found upside down at Meridian Golf Club near Centennial Airport on Sept. 11. e aircraft’s two occupants had gotten out of the plane by themselves and were able to walk away, according to the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce. e plane, a Cessna 172, had just departed a runway at Centennial Airport when it ended up in the area of the seventh tee box at the golf course in the Lone Tree area, according to South Metro Fire Rescue. Deputies responded to the scene around 9:45 a.m. e golf course sits less than a mile from the airport. e crash didn’t cause any major injuries, said Brian Willie, a spokesperson for the re agency.

“One (occupant) had minor injuries and refused any medical treatment or transport,” Willie said. “He was checked by re medics on scene. ( e) second party on the plane had no injuries and no need to be looked at by re medics.” e crash did not cause a re, Willie said.Golfers were on the course, but no one other than the plane occupant was injured, he added.

It was not immediately clear what caused the crash. e investigation into the cause was to be handled by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, according to the sheri ’s o ce.

Fire destroys two homes on Woodrose Lane in Highlands Ranch

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

South Metro Fire Rescue crews responded to a two-alarm re on Sept. 12 that threatened multiple homes on Woodrose Lane in Highlands Ranch.

Just after 2:30 p.m., crews responded to two single-family homes on re, threatening a third home, in a neighborhood o Highlands Ranch Parkway, near Coyote Elementary school. Upon arrival, rst responders noticed the re spreading to trees in the backyard.

Occupants of both homes, with a total of three dogs and a cat, safely escaped, according to South Metro. As a precaution, one of the homeowners alerted South Metro that there was ammunition in the home.

Two civilians and two re ghters were checked out for heat-related issues by paramedics. One re ghter was transported to a hospital for precautionary measures due to the heat.

Nearly an hour after the call was received, crews had the re under control and were working on identifying hot spots throughout the homes.

An electrical breaker box on the side of one of the homes was damaged, creating a loud popping sound that neighbors might have heard.

Around 4:30 p.m., South Metro shared a video on the social media platform X of ames coming out from the roof of one of the homes and the extensive damage done to both homes. Video shows the sides of the homes are blackened with heavy structural damage.

Investigators from the re rescue’s Marshal’s O ce were on the scene working to determine the cause of the re. Initial reports indicate the re possibly started outside between the homes and then spread.  All crews were released just before 7 p.m., but re investigators remained on scene, according to another social media post.

A plane crashed at Meridian Golf Club in Douglas County after taking o from nearby Centennial Airport on Sept. 11. PHOTO COURTESY OF SOUTH METRO FIRE RESCUE ON X

Pick up after your pet

Pet waste is not a fertilizer and doesn’t readily decompose. It contains bacteria which is easily picked up by shoes and paws and is harmful to people and our environment.

Looking at primary concerns

Education and public safety are top priorities for both candidates.

Both candidates support the idea of a range of schools, including vocational, neighborhood, charter, private and colleges.

rough his conversations with students, Marshall supports the idea that the education system should emphasize vocational skills – like auto shop, landscaping and interior design. Such schools, he said, also help students earn and save money.

“It’s something separate and not integral to what your education can be,” said Marshall.

A father of three, Burcham has seen how his kids bene t from different school systems, adding support for an array of schools that give students the chance to succeed in every way they can.

“We want to make sure that we are trying to fund the students and not the system,” said Burcham.

Both candidates have similar views on crime, viewing it as a critical problem that lawmakers should

help address. Both support funding law enforcement in ways that ensure departments have the resources they need.

Citing local property crimes, Burcham supports prioritizing policies that enforce existing laws and prosecuting accused criminals.

“Maybe not focus on some of these special interest things and some of the pet projects that we see out there,” said Burcham. “But making sure we are giving (law-enforcement) everything we can.”

Burcham has received the endorsement of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, which describes itself as “a no-compromise gun rights lobby,” and is an ardent supporter of the Second Amendment.

Marshall is also a gun owner. He said he supports the rule of law, but added that with rights come responsibilities, which is why he supports gun safety measures like so-called “red ag” laws. In Colorado, the Extreme Risk Protection Order law, allows police and others, like family members, to go to courts to potentially prevent someone deemed a safety risk from possessing rearms in certain situations.

Expressing an understanding that law enforcement, re mitigation and

mental health are all part of the community’s safety, Marshall said another way to provide more resources to law enforcement is to improve the mental health system. He said law enforcement agencies and schools have become default mental health care providers.

“ at’s not what they’re supposed to be doing,” said Marshall. “If you try to be a jack of all trades, you’re a master of none.”

Marshall cited a law in Oregon that allows – not forces – those who have committed a crime, “but for” a mental health condition, to be committed to state mental authorities instead of a jail or prison for the maximum sentencing period the crime would have carried. However, he said that it would take a lot of money and years to grow enough resources for such a program in Colorado.

Burcham also voiced a need for mental health resources. He said he would listen to his colleagues in the House and Senate and strive to learn from the leaders who have “been on the front lines,” o ering his support where it could be most impactful.

Other areas of focus

Veterans’ issues are important for Marshall, a veteran himself. He has

worked for, and saw legislation pass that o ers support to veterans. e Modifying Property Tax Exemption For Veterans With a Disability includes veterans who have “individual unemployment status,” requiring them to be treated as equivalent to those who have a permanent disability when determining eligibility for veteran bene ts.

Burcham backs the idea of lower property taxes as a way to make Highlands Ranch a ordable for more families.

“How are we going to make sure this is a place where people can live and they can raise their families?” said Burcham. “I want to look at all options.”

Meanwhile, Marshall mentioned one of his recent resolutions, which passed the house nance committee, but ultimately did not become law, aimed at creating an annual property tax revenue growth limit consistent with Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, or TABOR.

Burcham is also a supporter of TABOR and limits on government growth.

“TABOR was put in place to put a check on that,” said Burcham. “We

SEE HD 43, P7

CMAS

To date, Douglas County remains the only metro-area district to have surpassed reading and math levels seen before the pandemic.

Douglas County saw the highest average growth in reading and math with scores of 55 and 53. Je erson County and Cherry Creek also

achieved reading and math growth scores between 50 and 52.

Signi cant achievement gaps remain among racial and ethnic groups, as well as in disability, family income, and the ability to speak English in each metro-area district.

Among the districts detailed here, on average, white students outperformed Black students in reading by 29 percentage points and Hispanic students by 27, a persistent gap raising concerns about ensuring that all

students receive the support they need to succeed.

Students with a speci c learning disability like dyslexia, speech and language delays, autism and other developmental disorders scored 40 or more percentage points lower than their peers, and those living in poverty or learning English are more than 30 points below other students. Here is a summary of results from nearby districts in the south metro area.

Cherry Creek Schools

CMAS results in Cherry Creek were more mixed than in other districts. Reading pro ciency dropped almost 1.5% from 2023, while math scores improved about 1%. While higher than state averages, scores in both areas lag behind where they were in 2019.

“Cherry Creek Schools continued outperforming statewide averages

SEE CMAS, P20

have to be vigilant, we have to be always on the lookout for the escalation of fees and of taxes to ensure our government isn’t out of control.”

Marshall added that insurance rates, including re mitigation, have increased around the metro area

and that adds pressures to the cost of housing. Marshall aims to protect single family housing in communities, but also supports more condominium construction, adding that the dwellings are an intermediary, lower-cost step in property ownership.

When asked about how they di er from one another, both candidates stated that they would represent the community the best.

Burcham describes himself as a “fairly normal type of guy,” trying to do the best for his community. He said it’s tough to speak about Marshall.

“I don’t think I have any more answers to that question,” said Burcham. “I’m trying to keep the rhetoric down.”

Citing a recent honor from the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, Marshall said he is trans-

parent about conducting public business, and works e ciently with others.

“I am the most independent legislator down there (state Capitol) and the most conservative Democrat in the state House,” Marshall claimed.

To learn more about their views on other topics, visit the candidates’ websites: Bob Marshall at bob4colorado.com and Matt Burcham at mattburcham4co.com.

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I-25 frontage road segment to close for months

Part of west frontage road in Castle Rock area will be relocated and upgraded

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A legal newspaper of general circulation in Lone Tree, Colorado, the Voice is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 115 Wilcox St., Suite 220, Castle Rock, CO 80104.

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As crews move closer to building a new Interstate 25 interchange in the south Castle Rock area, they’ll also make changes to adjacent frontage streets in an area where the roadway has seen safety concerns. e frontage road that runs along the west side of the interstate is a major road for locals. A large part of it will be relocated and undergo upgrades in the process. e project comes with a long road closure that could last well into 2025.

During a town hall meeting last year, George Teal, one of Douglas County’s elected commissioners, mentioned

“the tragedy of the three deaths that we’ve seen” over a handful of months on the highway frontage.

O cials say the unfolding project isn’t driven by safety concerns. But it could help make the road safer. e project is necessary because of development in parts of Castle Rock.

e project was envisioned decades ago, “when Dawson Trails and the Crystal Valley developments were annexed by the town,” said Melissa Hoelting, a spokesperson for Castle Rock.

e frontage road’s realignment will make space for the new highway interchange’s on- and o -ramps to I-25, according to the town. When completed, the new interchange will route Crystal Valley Parkway over I-25, add new entrance and exits to I-25 and also relocate part of the frontage road on the east side. Crews will also build a new bridge over the railroad tracks that run parallel to I-25.

Here’s a look at what’s expected to change for that street, the frontage

road to the east, and the area at Crystal Valley Parkway and I-25.

West frontage changes

e west frontage road will be closed from Yucca Hills Road — near Plum Creek Parkway in the central Castle Rock area — down south to Tomah Road.

Once it’s relocated, a part of west frontage road will be known as Dawson Trails Boulevard.

e town will construct a section from Crystal Valley Parkway to the town limits. Douglas County will build a section from the town limits to Tomah Road. Dawson Trails Boulevard north of Crystal Valley Parkway will be constructed by a property developer as the nearby development expands to the north, according to Hoelting.

e town section and Douglas County’s section are scheduled to be completed by late summer 2025.

Lone Tree Voice

Signs mark a road closure on the frontage road west of Interstate 25, seen on Sept. 6 in the Castle Rock area.

PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD

CLOSURE

“ e northern section is development driven,” Hoelting said. “ e town does not know the developer’s timeframe.”

e west frontage road will still exist from Tomah Road south to Sky View Lane, according to Castle Rock.

e section of the current west frontage road from Plum Creek Parkway to Yucca Hills Road will also remain the same, but a turnaround, or cul-de-sac, will be added where vehicles can U turn because that part of west frontage road will dead end at Yucca Hills, according to the town.

In terms of continuity of I-25 frontage on west side of the highway, that all means that there will be a gap from Crystal Valley Parkway north to Yucca Hills Road until the Dawson Trails property developer builds Dawson Trails Boulevard between those two roads.

“When the interchange is complete, the west side residents will be able to get on I-25 or on the east frontage road to go north,” the town said in a statement.

Road upgrades

Today, the west frontage road sits between the highway and the railroad tracks.

Teams will move the west frontage road to the west side of the railroad tracks.

“ e location of Dawson Trails Boulevard is to allow for buildable parcels (of land) between the boulevard and the railroad,” Hoelting said.

“It’s also to improve safety and minimize delays by eliminating at-grade railroad crossings.”

e narrow road is expected to see some expansion.

e south segment, outside of Castle Rock’s boundary, will gain a 12foot painted median — a new center lane for left turns— to provide access to properties that are located west of the railroad tracks.

e middle segment, from town limits to Crystal Valley Parkway, will still be a two-lane road at rst. But in the future, as the Dawson Trails housing and business development continues to grow, the developer will be required to widen the road to four lanes on the middle segment and construct the median and 10foot sidewalks on both sides, Hoelting said.

Talking guardrail

Drivers may feel that guardrail on west frontage road has historically been con ning, preventing vehicles from veering o road in an emergency.

“ e guardrail is there to keep you from going o and going into I-25 tra c or the railroad tracks,” said Aaron Monks, public works engineering manager for Castle Rock.

e new west frontage road likely will have guardrail associated with structures, like a drainage area that goes under the road, Monks said.

But “if you drove, say, Crystal Valley Parkway east of I-25, it’s going to ultimately have a feel similar to that,” Monks said. “Ultimately, it’ll be nice, big and open and not have that perception of ‘tunnel’ and con ned feeling that the current west frontage road has.”

East frontage update

e east frontage road will also see changes.

at road will be relocated about a third of a mile north and south of Crystal Valley Parkway.

“ e current alignment of the east frontage road will remain the same (except) where pushed to the east

to allow for the interchange ramps,” Hoelting said.

e project also will include a new roundabout on Crystal Valley Parkway east of I-25.

“Weather pending, tra c will be shifted to the relocated east frontage road by the end of 2024,” Hoelting said. “ is includes the full use of the roundabout at Crystal Valley Parkway.”

Closure details

Starting Aug. 19, crews were to close the section of west frontage road between Territorial and Tomah roads, according to the town.

Local access to businesses and residences along west frontage road will remain, but no through tra c will be allowed, the town website says.

“Our schedule, at this time, has Dawson Trails Boulevard from Crystal Valley Parkway to Tomah Road open in late summer 2025,” Monks said.

Roundabout and frontage road construction east of I-25 is anticipated to be completed in 2025, with total completion of the interchange project anticipated in 2027, according to the website.

Senior center will open without tra c signal

Highlands Ranch facility is located along busy street

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e much-awaited senior center o Highlands Ranch Parkway is inching towards completion. As it does, some residents are wondering if a tra c new signal on Highlands Ranch Parkway will accompany it. But despite concerns about safety, a tra c signal will not be installed at this time.

“It doesn’t meet the appropriate warrants for a tra c signal,” said Sherry Eppers, Highlands Ranch Metro District’s community relations manager.

Certain criteria must be met before a tra c signal can be installed at any intersection in Douglas County, and that includes the Highlands Ranch and Roxborough communities.

e county Tra c Engineering and Operations Division follows the

Manual on Uniform Tra c Control Devices to determine when a tra c signal is needed.

Tra c engineers study intersections around the county to see if they adhere to national standards.

e Highlands Ranch Metro District completed their own tra c study of the area near the senior center, but it did not meet the quali cations, said Eppers.

Zeke Lynch, Douglas County public works and engineering assistant director, told the Highlands Ranch Herald that because the senior center is not yet open, the county has not conducted a formal study. Once open for several months, and tra c volumes have stabilized, the county may complete what is called a warrant analysis.

“We anticipate that during most hours of the day, the signals at Broadway and Burntwood Way will provide adequate gaps in tra c for those drivers leaving the center on Highlands Ranch Parkway,” said Lynch.

Lynch added much of the tra c in the area is expected to occur dur-

ing o -peak hours, meaning a signal might not be needed.

ere are nine areas that o cials look into if they want to add a signal: eight-hour tra c volume, four-hour volume, peak hour, pedestrians, school crossings, coordinated signal systems, crashes, roadway networks and intersections near railroads.

e key metric for the county is the eight-hour warrant, Lynch said.

“Which is where the tra c volume on a major street is so heavy (that) tra c on a minor intersection street su ers excessive delay or con ict in entering or crossing the major street for multiple hours during the day,” said Lynch.

Located on the south side of Highlands Ranch Parkway, east of Broadway, the senior center already has over 1,300 inaugural memberships, said Eppers and aims to serve the needs of the community’s growing senior population.

According to the metro district, 23 sites in the community were studied in which three met the majority of the criteria, including program accommodation, land ownership,

Sky Ridge Medical Center…

utilities and infrastructure, zoning and impact on neighbors, access and tra c.

A site evaluation report shows Plaza Drive and Erickson Boulevard, and space adjacent to Topfer Park on Venneford Ranch Road, were all also considered. But in the fall of 2019, o cials identi ed Highlands Ranch Parkway for the site due to its central location and visibility. Eppers said the metro district worked with the county to discuss tra c planning along the way.

Another reason a tra c signal may not be installed is because of the increasing costs of signals. Lynch said a four-approach intersection currently costs about $850,000.

“ e county would rst look at other operational improvements such as acceleration lanes, time of day turn restrictions and access control prior to signalization,” said Lynch.

Highlands Ranch Parkway will be an area of focus as the county’s Department of Public Works is currently analyzing the roadways to update the 2050 Transportation Plan.

Sewage issues temporarily close Parker middle school

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A recent sewer issue at Sierra Middle School in Parker closed the building and canceled classes, making toilets, sinks and water fountains unusable.

Amid their response to the incident, several district o cials said the situation is indicative of why they are asking voters to give the green light to a $490 million bond in November.

Problems at the school began on the evening of Sept. 9. Toilets across the building could not be ushed and bathrooms, sinks and water fountains were not functioning.

e district’s maintenance department was able to x the issue and students were able to return Sept. 11. e issue is part of a pattern of sewage issues recently.

According to an email sent to families, the temporary closure was the fth time this year that the building faced some kind of sewage issue.  Sierra Middle School is over 40 years old, one of the oldest schools

in the district. e building uses well water and is not connected to Parker’s water system.

“Well water, especially for a large facility like this, is incredibly unreliable and often backs up,” Superintendent Erin Kane said at an August board meeting.

e incident comes at a time when the district is asking voters for a $490 million bond to address a backlog of maintenance issues at schools, as well as to build new ones. If voters pass the bond in November, it would dedicate $30 million to renovate and expand Sierra Middle School.

School board President Christy Williams said the bond funding would address the sewage issues the school is experiencing.

“Having kids out of school because our buildings are old is detrimental to their education,” Williams said.

“ e bond would help Sierra Middle School get o well water so we could have our school full of students.”

School board member Brad Geiger said the conditions at Sierra Middle School are a perfect example of why the bond needs to pass.

Sewage issues closed Sierra Middle School temporarily on Sept. 10. Though the district was able to fix the problem, district o cials say the situation highlights why they are asking voters for a $490 million bond.

“ is closure demonstrates that Douglas County school buildings

need to be upgraded on a regular basis just like all public infrastructure,” Geiger said. e bond would not increase property taxes, but if it is not passed, property taxes would decline. e district estimates a decrease of around $73 for the average $780,000 home in Douglas County if the bond fails.

Without a bond, Kane said the district will not be able to address signi cant maintenance issues, meaning building closures would be more likely.

“If (the bond) doesn’t pass, we will have to continue to set aside onetime reserves for those absolute emergency situations until our reserves are depleted,” she said.

Kane added that costs for maintenance and emergency repairs only increase if they are delayed.

PHOTO COURTESY BRAD GEIGER

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Letting patience prevail in an impatient world VOICES

It’s no secret that we live in an age of instant grati cation. Over the past few years, impatience has taken the number one spot on the bad human behavior chart. As a society, our expectations for immediate results have overshadowed our ability to live with reason and perspec-

Let’s consider some everyday examples. e Keurig isn’t brewing co ee fast enough. e person driving in front of us won’t pull out into tra c as quickly as we would. A scheduled threeand-a-half-hour ight feels like it’s taking too long, and we wonder why they can’t just y faster. We forget how long it used to take to brew a pot of co ee and how the aroma would ll the house, making every second of waiting worthwhile. We forget the care we took when teaching our children to drive, encouraging them to prioritize safety over speed, urging them to disregard the rude, impatient driver behind them.

Our children won’t fall asleep fast enough, so we feed them melatonin gummies, not for their bene t, but because we’ve run out of patience for the night. What did previous generations do without melatonin? Maybe they read one or two more books, let their children cuddle a bit longer, or simply allowed them to cry themselves to sleep.

Have our memories faded so

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Vote in honor of women’s progress

quickly? Once upon a time, a road trip from Denver to the East Coast could take 30 hours of driving. Now, we complain about a three-and-ahalf-hour ight, forgetting the luxury of air travel and the gift of time saved. In moments like these, I’m reminded of the wisdom in the old Chinese proverb: “Patience attracts happiness; it brings near that which is far.” Would we allow ourselves an extra 20 minutes in the morning to ll our homes with the warm, comforting scent of freshly brewed co ee? If we knew the hesitant driver in front of us was our neighbor’s teenage child, would we o er them an extra 15 seconds to ensure their comfort and safety? And when it comes to air travel, take it from someone who’s logged over two million miles in the air: patience often seems like a tall order, especially in the face of delays

and disruptions. Perhaps we can nd it within ourselves to exercise patience and grace.

ere’s a profound truth in the saying, “One moment of patience may ward o great disaster. One moment of impatience may ruin a whole life.” Impatience often leads to frustration, frustration leads to anger, and anger rarely results in anything positive. It clouds our judgment, stresses our bodies, and strains our relationships. Patience, on the other hand, opens the door to understanding. Understanding brings calm, and calmness allows us to respond thoughtfully to life’s challenges.

We live in a world that constantly pushes us to move faster, do more, and achieve instant results. But perhaps true wisdom lies in slowing down, savoring the moment, and nding contentment in the jour-

After watching the Harris/Trump debate on Sept. 10, “I ain’t going to vote for no half black, half Asian woman for president of the United States. I just ain’t gonna do it.” at is MAGA lingo. What I am personally going to do is vote for a young woman who represents the progress

made by the last seven female generations of my family, from my greatgrandmother, Matilda, born in 1841 to my own great-granddaughter, Amaya, born in 2024. My maternal grandmother, born in 1873, could not have voted until 1920. She died in 1917 without ever being allowed to vote.

What I saw Sept. 10 was a sick old man with a twisted mind who wants to take women’s rights back to the 1900s. Sadly, half of the most livable county in Colorado, Douglas, will most likely vote for Donald J. Trump. We are better than that. Roy Legg, Highlands Ranch

ney rather than just the destination. Practicing patience opens us up to happiness, understanding, and a more meaningful, ful lling life. So, the next time you feel impatience bubbling up, whether waiting in line, sitting in tra c, or dealing with a delayed ight, take a deep breath. Remember that patience attracts happiness. Give yourself and those around you the gift of time and understanding. I would love to hear how your future self might thank you for this at gotonorton@gmail.com. And when patience prevails, 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.

Keep Marshall on the job

E ective and responsive state government is essential for providing public services and for preserving democracy and freedom. Our state representative in House District 43, Bob Marshall, is a thoughtful, hon-

LETTERS

est leader who works tirelessly to address the needs of his constituents. He is an attorney and a former Marine who values good governance, transparency, and the rule of law. It’s unusual to have a state representative who is so accessible. Rep. Marshall holds frequent town hall meetings to update citizens on legislative a airs and hear their concerns, and he publishes a regular newsletter. He also attends many local events, such as the Highlands Ranch Fourth of July parade, Juneteenth celebrations, Pridefest, and Veterans of Foreign Wars ceremonies.

In the legislature, Rep. Marshall works across the aisle to nd common ground with legislators from both parties and craft solutions to problems in our state. He was a prime sponsor of the Senior Housing Income Tax Credit bill recently signed by Gov. Polis, which will extend the senior tax relief to those who do not own their own homes, and he sponsored an equity theft bill to protect homeowners from losing their equity during foreclosure. In addition, Rep. Marshall co-sponsored a bill to establish a Purple Star School Program to help kids in military families who move frequently to adjust to new schools. e bill was signed in May of this year.

Rep. Marshall is also not afraid to disagree with his own party leaders when necessary. He fought to ensure the legislature abides by Colorado’s open meetings law, even ling a lawsuit along with a colleague to ensure meetings are open to the public.

We are lucky to have a leader like Rep. Marshall representing Highlands Ranch. Let’s reelect Rep. Marshall this November to keep him working for us in the Colorado House of Representatives.

Debbie Miller Highlands Ranch

Media misleads on U.S. jobs data

Each month the Bureau of Labor Statistics announces the previous month’s jobs report data. e White House and the media state the numbers are doing really well. en 2-3 months later, the BLS revises the jobs gures downward. e latest downward correction was 818,000 jobs. Job revisions are likely caused by these four factors:

1. Flaws in data collection/analysis

methods; 2. Potential political pressure to in ate initial gures; 3. Structural changes in the labor market not captured by current metrics; 4. Leading indicator of economic slowdown.

Here are some BLS facts:

1. Full-time jobs are DOWN 1.6 million over the last year and parttime jobs are up 1.8 million — the economy is hemorrhaging full-time employment, and all the net job growth is gig work.

2. Native (U.S. born) vs. foreign hires: Native is down, foreign hires are up. is includes a near-record 3-month plunge starting in 2024.

Why have all new jobs since 2018 gone to foreign-born workers (i.e., immigrants)? Because you can be an illegal immigrant in deportation proceedings (not to mention anyone seeking asylum) and get authorization to work in the U.S. for up to 5 years, no questions asked.

3. Two-thirds of new reported jobs are now government and social welfare created positions. In other words, Washington is buying the jobs — the economy isn’t creating them.

4. Last May, 414,000 immigrants (legal and illegal) gained a job. Meanwhile, 663,000 native-born Americans LOST their job. Since pre-Covid, native born workers have actually LOST ~2 million jobs. All of the net job gains are immigrants.

5. Last July, there were zero manufacturing jobs added. Barely any major industry jobs added at all. ere were a number of part time jobs created and 100,000 new government and “social assistance” jobs.

6. ere have only been 6 upward jobs revisions since January 2023. Meanwhile, there have been 13 downward revisions with many of these reports being revised down TWICE.

7. Lastly, once you factor in the millions of people missing from the labor market, estimated to be over 5 million, (don’t have jobs but are excluded from o cial unemployment calculation), the unemployment rate jumps from 4.2% to somewhere between 7.0% and 8.5%, depending on methodology.

Market con dence in labor market data is deteriorating.

Something is wrong.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics and Federal Reserve Economic Data Supporting charts can be found with this letter online at tinyurl.com/ employletter.

Steve Taraborelli Highlands Ranch

BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A welding fabricator by trade, Joe Cole only dabbled in steel and bronze sculpting as a pastime and then eventually gave it up in 1993. But 30 years later, after he made an urn for his departed family dog, Cole caught the passion for creating again. At the same time, the Northglenn resident couldn’t shake a persistent echo in his head of an owl calling out, “HOO.” He decided then he needed to mold something that paid homage to an owl building a life in a tree in the forest.

“ e conclusion was made, and I spent an estimated 40 hours sculpting the bird and a limb to hold,” Cole said. He spent another 30 hours adding three more owlets and a tree trunk. Later he added moss to represent growth, a snail for patience, a stump for reaching out and a mouse for courage. e result is a steel statue called “Hoo What Where and When” by Cole, and the sculpture is being displayed this year at Northglenn’s EB Rains Jr. Memorial Park. His work is also featured in Castle Rock and Alamosa. But the one in Northglenn holds special meaning for the 60-year-old since it was his rst attempt to have his work displayed for the public.

He entered three of his sculptures into four cities in Colorado to exhibit. ree accepted his work.

“I wanted to share with the public…and Northglenn is my only home, and I wanted to share a piece of me,” Cole said via email. “ ree out of four ain’t bad.”

Other sculpture programs that dot the Front Range host Colorado artists from varying backgrounds who have molded bronze and steel frames that lure the eyes with humor and mysticism. From novice to well-established, artists say metro cities have o ered nurturing environments for their projects.

Charlotte Zink – whose home studio is in Berthoud – produced “Eternal Echoes” for the Northglenn exhibit. But her handiwork has been shown, some permanent, at several locations surrounding Denver.

ey include Westminster’s Sculpture on Loan, Lafayette’s Art on the Street, Art in Public Places in Longmont, heArt of Lyons, Hudson Gardens in Littleton, Douglas County Art Encounters, Sculpture Evergreen and Art 2C on Havana in Aurora, Zink said.

“It’s wonderful to see the arts supported in these communities,” Zink said via email.

Hoo What Where and When displayed at E.B Rains Jr. Memorial Park in Northglenn.

PHOTO BY MONTE WHALEY

SCULPTING SOLIDARITY

Bill Bunting’s “With Wings Like Eagles” is also featured in Northglenn. He said the same sculpture is part of a year-long project with the Douglas County Art Encounters program at Sterling Ranch in Littleton.

He has other sculptures at Brighton, Monument and Alamosa that will be shown through this year, he said.

e works of Cole, Zink and Bunting are part of an annual e ort in Northglenn to get more people acquainted with the unique nature of outdoor sculptures, say city o cials.

Sponsored by the Northglenn Arts & Humanities Foundation, the exhibit at EB Rains Jr. Memorial Park features six new sculptures as part of the city’s 2024-25 Art on Parade program. Ocials say the sculptures, including those of Cole, Zink and Bunting, were chosen by a diverse volunteer committee in February and will be onsite at the park for one year.

e other works and artists chosen for the 2024-25 season include: “Spiral Vortex” by Diego Harris, “Sun Lion” by D’Jean Jawrunner and “Magnify” Kirk Seese. Photos of the works are available on Northglenn’s website.

e annual Art on Parade program is an onloan outdoor sculpture exhibit funded by NAHF and the Adams County Scienti c and Cultural Facilities District. Artists loan their pieces to the program for one year, and park patrons are asked to vote for their favorite by paper ballots available at the Northglenn Recreation Center and online at https://northglennarts.org/public-art/ art-on-parade-ballot/. e deadline to vote for this year’s sculptures is Nov. 1, 2024.

e sculpture with the most votes is dubbed “ e People’s Choice” and will be purchased by NAHF and gifted to the City of Northglenn for permanent placement in the city. e sculptures are also available for sale to the public.

e new sculptures will remain at E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park through May of 2025. e park is located at 11701 Community Center Drive, half a mile south of 120th Avenue and Grant Street in Northglenn just south of the new Webster Lake Promenade.

e NAHF is a non-pro t group that provides funding for “dynamic theatre, public art, and other cultural endeavors in the city. e NAHF was founded in 1990, according to the NAHF website.

Zink, native of New Orleans, came to Colorado and received a Bachelor of Studio Arts and Art Education for CU-Boulder. After working with many mediums, the past 25 years Zink has collaborated with her partner Ben to create Zink Metal Art, Zink said.

e steel “Eternal Echoes” was created in 2022 after Zink lost someone very special her, she said. e sculpture symbolizes the beauty of a vast universe, Zink said.

“We are all just specs of stardust making our way on this earth, hoping to explore and share life together, this incredible gift of life we’ve all been granted,” Zink said. “Let’s make the most of our amazing gifts while we’re all here together. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, contemplating and celebrating our miraculous journey in and being a part of this beautiful universe.”

Bill Bunting said his iron “With Wings Like Eagles” has been an inspiration to those who view it. e piece is also one of his favorites, he said via email.

“I chose the piece to display at Northglenn because I have always had a strong interest in the Native American culture and the history of the West and love sharing that with others through my art,” Bunting said.

e inspiration for the sculpture “With Wings

Like Eagles”, Bunting said, comes from the belief of most Native American Tribes that the Eagle and Eagle Feathers are sacred, carrying their prayers to e Creator, combined with a passage from the ancient text of Isiah which states, “ ose who wait upon e Creator shall mount up With Wings Like Eagles.” Bunting pointed out that the following original poem is mounted at the base of the sculpture.

With Wings Like Eagles

With patience he has learned to wait

For the strength the Spirit brings

Now he rides high upon the winds

As if on eagles’ wings

Now he walks and is not weary

Now he runs and will not fall

His strength is over owing

As he heeds the Spirits call

Eagle sculpture at E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park in Northglenn.

PHOTO BY MONTE WHALEY

Wings Over the Rockies celebrates 30 years

Museums are more than places to simply explore the past. At their best, they also inspire guests to look forward and to use their imaginations to wonder what the future could be.

As John Barry, president and CEO of Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum puts it, that’s providing a look at “the art of the possible.” Something the museum has been doing for 30 years.

“It’s been a long haul over the last 30 years, but 2023 was our best year ever in every category and 2024 looks to beat it,” Barry said. “We’ve gotten to the point where we’re recognized as one of the top 10 Best Aviation Museums by USA Today and named in the ‘20 Best Aviation Museums Around the World’ by CNN Travel.”

To celebrate three decades in existence, Wings Over the Rockies is throwing a celebration and bene t at its Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd. Denver, from 5:45 to 9:30 p.m. on ursday, Sept. 26. All proceeds will support Wings’ mission to “educate, inspire and excite the next generation of aerospace enthusiasts.”

e evening will feature champagne and whiskey bars, a seated dinner, live entertainment and a live auction. ere will be a y-by and the museum will honor many of the supporters who have kept it thriving over the last 30 years.

Wings Over the Rockies opened in 1994, following the transfer of two hangars of the former Lowry Air

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Force Base from the United States Air Force to a group of volunteers. In the ensuing decades, the museum has grown in ways that no one could have predicted, and now features more than 100,000 square feet of exhibit space dedicated to displaying iconic aircraft, space vehicles, artifacts, military uniforms and much more, according to provided information. ey even opened a second location, the Exploration of Flight in Centennial, to attain even loftier aims.

Wings’ recent goals include getting the next generations interested and ready for careers in the aviation and aerospace worlds. To that end, it launched the Colorado SKIES Academy in 2019 in Centennial, which provides several career-focused pathways, including piloting and drone piloting.

“We are providing complete pathways for our students, not just oneo events,” Barry said. “We’re using the past to build a future for young people.”

With eyes rmly set on the horizon, Barry said Wings Over the Rockies is looking to continue to develop its status as a world-class museum and a place where young people come for inspiration and a future.

“We have all the excitement of avia-

tion and space and an opportunity to give back,” he said. “When people see what the art of the possible is, it opens up a whole new world.”

For information and tickets, visit https://wingsmuseum.org/events/ celebration/.

Head to Larkspur for autumnal shopping

Larkspur is o ering a beautiful outdoor shopping opportunity at its 12th annual Autumn Arts & Crafts Fest. e event is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22 at Larkspur Community Park, 8820 Spruce Mountain Road.

is year it includes local artists and artisans selling their work, face painting for children, a dog adoption station, visits from a re truck and medical helicopter, and a farmers market area. Add in beer and wine, food trucks and live music, and what more could a shopper want?

More details are available at https:// larkspurchamberofcommerce.com/ annual-events/autumn-fest/.

Doors Open Denver takes a historic and futuristic look at the Mile High City e Denver Architecture Foundation’s Doors Open Denver, the annual celebration of the metro area’s built environment, is back from ursday, Sept. 26 through Sunday, the 29th. e theme this year is “Denver rough Time,” and it highlights both historic and future-forward projects with walking tours, open sites and events.

Some of the most exciting features of the 2024 event are insider tours of buildings like the Mayan eater and the Sudler, open houses at 15 Denver architecture rms and historically important buildings, and parties where attendees can mingle with other architecture and design fans and celebrate the best of both in Denver.

For a full schedule of events and more information, visit https:// denverarchitecture.org/events-programs/doorsopendenver/.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Beabadoobee at

Fillmore Auditorium

For my money, London’s Beabadoobee is one of the most exciting indie rock voices to come out in the last few years. She’s been releasing music since 2018, and with each album or EP she levels up a bit more. Just a month ago she released her third full-length album, “ is Is How Tomorrow Moves,” and it is her strongest record yet, showcasing fantastic lyrical and musical gifts that are still getting better.

In support of the album, Beabadoobee is coming to the Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson St. in Denver, at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20. She’ll be joined by another great indie rock duo, Hovvdy, who have also released one of the year’s best albums. Get tickets at www.livenation.com.

Clarke Reader is an arts and culture columnist. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.

Clarke Reader

Thu 9/19

Let Freedom Swing

@ 7:05am 1414 Castle Pines Pkwy, Castle Pines

Rolling Hills Fun Run

@ 7:35am / Free-Free 5756 S Biscay St, Aurora

Face Vocal Band: Tunes for Trails @ 5:30pm

Philip S. Miller Park Amphitheater, 210 E Wolfensberger Rd, Castle Rock

Jazmin Bean

@ 6pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Fri 9/20

La Santa Cecilia @ 6pm

Levitt Pavilion Denver, 1380 W Florida Ave, Denver

Jeff Allen: "Are We There Yet" Tour

@ 6:30pm

Pace Center, Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker Joywave @ 7pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Hunny @ 7pm

Dylan Marlowe @ 6pm

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

Sun 9/22

Andy Chrisman @ 7am

Cherry Hills Community Church, 3900 Grace Blvd, Highlands Ranch

AIDA CUEVAS EN CONCIERTO @ 5pm / $55 Stampede, Aurora

Modern Swing Mondays 2024 @ 6pm / $10

Stampede, Aurora

Wed 9/25

Ladies Night @ 5pm / $10

Stampede, Aurora

DJ Rockstar Aaron: Forbidden Bingo Wednesdays - 'Bout Time Pub & Grub @ 7pm

Bout Time Pub & Grub, 3580 S Platte River Dr A, Sheridan

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Sat 9/21

Electric Whiskey Experiment: Live at Max Taps Highland Ranch! @ 5pm

Max Taps Co., 2680 E County Line Rd A, Highlands Ranch

Vamonos Pest/Mobro: Va‐monos Pest plays Brewability @ 6pm

Brewability Lab, 3445 S Broad‐way, Englewood

Nina Storey @ 6pm

Swallow Hill Music Association, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver

Marcy Playground @ 6pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Mon 9/23

SCFD Free Day At Exploration Of Flight @ 8am

Exploration Of Flight - Centennial Airport, 13005 Wings Way, Englewood. info@ wingsmuseum.org

Earthside @ 6pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Thu 9/26

George Birge @ 6:30pm

Wild Goose Saloon, 11160 S. Pikes Peak Drive, Parker

Bison Bone @ 7pm

Swallow Hill Music, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver

Esseks @ 8pm

The Church Denver, 1720 S Alcott St, Denver

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

Get all the ‘fall feels’ at annual Parker Fall Fest

Community-wide fun

slated for Sept. 21-28

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Leaves changing colors, the crisp autumn breeze, pumpkin spice lattes and the uno cial o cial start to “spooky season.”

All that, and more, will be celebrated at the annual Parker Fall Fest.

e town-wide kick-o to autumn starts at noon on Sept. 21 at O’Brien Park and wraps up in the evening of Sept. 28 with a bright drone show.

Presented by Audi Parker, this year’s promoters are announcing plans for a bigger and better celebration, as they welcome folks of all ages to enjoy the music, games and activities.

From noon to 4 p.m., giant table and lawn games will be available throughout the week in O’Brien

CMAS

on state assessments in 2023-24, with English Language Arts and Math scores remaining mostly steady overall,” said Lauren Snell, district public information o cer.

“Our focus remains on delivering strong classroom instruction and supporting student wellness as part of a comprehensive approach to education beyond test scores.”

Snell pointed to strategies the district has employed for improvement.

“Schools have been working to complete Uni ed Improvement Plans that are grounded in data and outline speci c strategies that align with core values and aim to increase student achievement. ese living documents will serve as a roadmap to guide the work of schools,” she said.

Snell also pointed to professional learning communities where educators collaborate to use data and shared expertise to improve teaching practice and deliver personalized instruction that meets individual student needs.

e district is rolling out a comprehensive literacy program, which in-

Park — as well as activities with Sam the Scarecrow, who will make a return appearance this year.

“Nothing beats helping my Parker neighbors celebrate the start of the autumn season with some fun outdoor activities in the park,” said Sam the Scarecrow.

In addition to such characters, Parker Mayor Je Torborg and town council members will be attending the event.

Earlier this year, the Parker Chronicle shared that the town was holding its rst Name A Snowplow contest. e winners of the contest will be announced on Sept. 21 along with a snowplow touch-atruck contest.

In addition to the hay bale maze and other games, people can participate in a “Prowl for the Pumpkins” contest.

Sam the Scarecrow will hide 15 orange pumpkin signs throughout the town, including trails, parks, the downtown area and town facilities for residents to discover. ose who

cludes investing in evidence-based core reading instruction and implementing a framework for monitoring progress on learning goals to guide instruction and ensure students get the support they need.

Achievement gaps among stateidenti ed subgroups range from 45 percentage points lower for multilingual learners vs. pro cient English speakers to between 26 and 29 percentage points lower for Black and Hispanic students vs. white students.

Douglas County School District

Students in the Douglas County School District showed the highest levels of reading and math pro ciency and growth in the Denver metro area.

More than 62% of students are procient in reading and 52% in math, well above the state average and higher than in 2019. Average growth rates also exceeded the 50th percentile for both areas of focus.

“We have amazing students, sta members and families,” said Paula Hans, district public information ofcer. “ ese results are a testament to the hard work of our students and sta and would also not be possible without the continued support of our families.”

nd a hidden pumpkin can enter to win prizes. All they have to do is take a sel e with the pumpkin and share it on the Town of Parker Facebook page.

End the weeklong celebration with the whole family at Fun and Games Day in O’Brien Park from 4-7 p.m., which will include food vendors on site.

Kids will have the chance to participate in the Colorado’s Avalanche’s “Game On” street hockey program, lawn games, rock climbing and carnival games with prizes.

Jill Callan, owner of the children’s store Petit Parker, looks forward to the fall festival because she loves to see the community come together to celebrate the changing season, she said.

“As a children’s store, it warms my heart to see all the little ones having a great time,” said Callan.   ere will also be adult-friendly attractions such as an ax-throwing booth for those 18 and older, as well as a beer garden hosted by the

Hans said the district is proud of the continued growth among racial and ethnic groups, disability, family income levels, and English-speaking ability.

All groups improved by two to three percentage points from 2023, except those living in poverty, which grew by 7%. Still, Black and Hispanic students are 19-22 percentage points below White students.

e gap between low-income students, those with a disability and multilingual learners is 40 points or greater.

Hans said the district has identied written expression as an area of improvement.

“We continue to lean on our core programs to provide best rst instruction and interventions for students needing additional instruction and support.”

Elizabeth School District

While elementary and middle school students in the Elizabeth School District scored above the state average for reading and math, they dropped in pro ciency levels from 2023. In ELA, 45% of students met or exceeded reading expectations, while 35% achieved similar pro ciency in math.

Reading pro ciency rates for

Downtown Business Alliance. Tickets for the garden are available onsite.

With the help of Douglas County, family and friends can get warm and cozy as they watch the sky light up above O’Brien Park with a drone show beginning around 7:15 p.m.

third-graders dropped below 30%. is grade is the rst time students take CMAS and is a critical marker for how well they will do in future grades where reading becomes more challenging.

Students also failed to show growth above the 50th percentile, meaning that compared to classmates across the state, they aren’t keeping up with improvement from the prior year. e district saw a 9% overall drop in participation rates, from almost 91% in 2023 to 82% this year. In a small district like Elizabeth, which counts 2,600 students from pre-K to 12, a large number of students choosing to opt out can result in greater swings from year to year.

Students with a disability rated 13% pro cient in reading and 8% in math, a gap of 32 points in reading and 27 points in math to those without a disability.

A 13-point achievement gap separated families living in poverty from those who weren’t. Not enough minority or English language learners took CMAS for their scores to be reported.

Colorado Community Media contacted the Elizabeth School District for comment on the district’s CMAS results but did not hear back in time to be included in this article.

Parker Fall Fest returns to downtown Parker, starting at noon on Sept. 21 and runs through the evening of Sept. 28. The celebration will end with a drone show above O’Brien Park.

COURTESY OF THE TOWN OF PARKER

Federal o cials say Colorado’s access to air pollution open records is good enough

BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN

e Environmental Protection Agency is letting Colorado air pollution o cials o the hook for making records available to members of the public who might want to help police corporate rule breaking, two state environmental groups say.  e federal agency had previously held up approval of a key “state implementation plan” detailing how Colorado will stop northern Front Range violations of EPA ozone caps. e EPA in delaying approval had agreed with environmental groups that Colorado should more frequently demand records from polluters and make them easily accessible.

But Colorado pushed back hard, arguing that its proposed system provided “e ective and reasonable” access to anyone who wanted it, and that the EPA’s initial demands went above and beyond what the agency was requiring of other states. Attorney General Phil Weiser’s o ce sued the EPA in the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, as required by the Clean Air Act, to stop the demands for expanded open records.  Now it’s likely the environmental groups will have to le their own lawsuit with the 10th Circuit, demanding the EPA’s tougher openaccess rule be put back in place.  Coloradans wanting to check up on actual air pollution emissions from oil and gas or other sites will be “getting just the tip of the ice-

berg,” said Ryan Maher of the Center for Biological Diversity, which along with Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility has been challenging Colorado’s open records rules. “And the EPA and Colorado are saying, well, that’s all the public needs.”

e gap of information available to the public comes frequently in aring operations at oil and gas production sites, with rules requiring that the producer have burning devices that remove 95% of methane and volatile organic compound emissions created as an extraction byproduct, Maher said.

e oil and gas company may only need to report once a year that it has the minimum required equipment in place, Maher said. But those reports don’t say how often the aring equipment is o ine due to malfunction or maintenance, or whether it’s truly burning up 95% of pollution. Unless state inspectors demand those records and put it online in a way the public can access, enforcement lags, Maher said.

“ ere’s 14,000 permitted entities out there, and the state is not requesting records on a regular basis,” Maher said.

“We know that we’re not going to get access to a lot of this unless it’s required by the EPA,” he said. “ at’s why this situation is especially disheartening, where the EPA initially came out with such strong language in favor of public enforcement, and then just kind of accepted what I view as pretense … super cial ex-

planations.”

e Denver regional o ce of the EPA said it was still evaluating comments on its proposal to accept new State Implementation Plan details from Colorado, and would respond to groups like Center for Biological Diversity before taking nal action.

e EPA said that after it had initially rejected parts of Colorado’s state implementation plan for lack of records access, the state “submitted a letter committing to undertake

additional steps to improve public access to regulatory compliance information and clarify existing SIP reporting requirements.”

Colorado air pollution control ofcials said they would not have any comment about the open records dispute.

is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.

View from the NOAA/NASA Twin Otter research plane making runs over the Denver Julesburg oil basin in search of greenhouse gas and ozone precursor sources in early July.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NOAA/NASA

No Hate Tour returns to Colorado high schools

BMX riders shred to combat bullying, promote mental health

BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Students of ornton High School were treated to likely the most extreme assembly they’ll see this year on Sept. 10.

For the second straight year, X Games athletes brought the No Hate Tour back to Colorado, stopping at four high schools last week in a campaign to end bullying and promote mental health awareness. e tour, now entering its 25th year, is run by ASA Entertainment, a leading producer of action sports events in the U.S.

Some of the world’s top BMX riders back ipped, 360-ed and tricked their way through ornton, Northridge, Mountain View and Prairie View High Schools with a positive message, thrilling students and educators alike.

“ ey do (get red up for this event),” said Jeremiah Johnson, the athletic and activities director at ornton. “It’s cool to have these community events where we get everybody in the school together. It brings some community and camaraderie and gets everybody focused

on one thing for a while.”

September has been the National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month since 2008, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

With mental health emerging as a hot topic in athletics in recent years, combining action sports with a positive message is truly valuable, Johnson said.

“All of our coaches are trained in

mental health and suicide prevention,” Johnson said. “It’s a huge part of our life right now and it’s important. e more people know about it, the more we can a ect it.”  e event featured renowned BMX riders Oscar Marquez, Trey Herrera, Matt Mecher and Dane Beardsley. It was also emceed by Zack “Cat sh” Yankush, a pioneer BMX announcer and popular voice of the sport at major competitions,

such as the X Games.

Yankush said he’s always been hyper-passionate about BMX, but for more than 15 years has been channeling that passion into the No Hate Tour.

Of all the national stops the tour makes, he loves coming to Colorado, he said. He’s even moving to Denver soon.

Pro BMX rider Oscar Marquez bravely backflips over a Marine and Thornton High School teachers John Tinsman (left) and Andrew Kuklinski (far right).

PHOTO BY JOHN RENFROW

NO HATE

“Colorado is awesome for a couple of reasons,” Yankush said. “I think the students here are more accustomed to seeing action sports because you guys have skate parks everywhere. A big shout-out to the municipalities here in Colorado. Action sports provides an anchor for us to kind of get their attention, and then we talk about our message.”

at message starts with curbing bullying, whether that’s physical, verbal, relational or cyberbullying. It involves testimonials from the riders and Yankush in cases where they were bullied in their youth.

Using BMX as a channel for spreading a positive message is a dream come true for Yankush, who has been all over the country and the world over through the sport. It’s not just about ghting bullying and promot-

ing positive mental wellness; it’s about encouraging students to follow their dreams.

“For me, it’s brought me so much joy in life,” Yankush said. “And I’m from nowhere in Ohio. e fact that I’ve been able to make it this far — and looking back on it sure there was hard work put into it — but I’m a rm believer that everybody has something that they’re passionate about. I think society and the media think living your dream — they attribute it to luck. If you’re doing something you love, money doesn’t matter. I’d do this for free.”

He said the impact has been huge. People approach him years later and say the tour was the reason they got into BMX or got through a di cult time.

“I’ve had students come up to me and tell me I’ve saved their life,” Yankush said. “It’s super rewarding and super awesome, and to do it through BMX is a lifelong dream.”

To learn more about the No Hate Tour, visit www.nohatetour.com and on social media.

Pro BMX rider Dane Beardsley wows the crowd with some flat-ground tricks during the No Hate Tour’s event at Thornton High School on Sept. 10.

PHOTO BY JOHN RENFROW

September snowstorms are rare in the Denver area

But it has happened

BY JUSTIN GEORGE THE COLORADO SUN

As recently as Sept. 8, 2020, it snowed 1 inch in Denver, the second-earliest snowfall in the city’s recorded history. September snowstorms are relatively rare in the Mile High City.

Since 1882, Denver has received a monthly snow total of at least 0.1 inch in September at least 29 times, with the earliest snowfall coming Sept. 3, 1961, when Denver was pounded with 4.2 inches of snow.

Most years, snow doesn’t show up in the city until November or December. In 2023, snow’s rst arrival in Denver came Oct. 28. In 2022, snow fell Nov. 4.

And in 2021, the rst snow was recorded Dec. 10. at was also the latest a rst snow had ever fallen in Denver.

Before that, the latest recorded rst snowfall occurred Nov. 21, news sharing agreement with e covers the state. e Colorado Sun

partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-size fact-checks of trending claims.

February snowstorms, like this one during this year’s Goldens in Golden event, are no surprise to Coloradans. September snowstorms are a di erent story, but they have happened in the recent past.

FILE PHOTO BY SARA HERTWIG

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