Lone Tree Voice November 7, 2024

Harmon talks construction, regional park plans

Mayor addresses concerns with Park Meadows, High Note developments

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

At Melissa Harmon’s rst town hall as Lone Tree mayor on Oct. 29, she addressed some of the public’s concerns about upcoming projects and current construction at Park Meadows Mall.  e construction in front of the dining hall will become a lit parking structure that will include green and red lights to identify parking availability.

“Don’t fret,” said Harmon. “If you are thinking about your holiday shopping and how this parking could impact you, they do have a moratorium.”

Construction will pause in November and resume in mid-January, Harmon said. ere will be another moratorium around the holidays for the construction that’s taking place adjacent to Nordstrom in which a C-470 connector trail will be added.

In addition to the play structure opening outside of Eddie Bauer and a new Chick-Fil-A location, Harmon spoke on some of the other prospects that will be lling some of the vacant buildings near the mall, such as the former Red Robin and in the entertainment district.

“Let me share with you a little bit about why we don’t want to share names (of businesses) too early,” said Harmon. “We want the business to be able to share the news.”

Seeking next generation to help veterans

American Legion post in Highlands Ranch calls for younger vets

Highlands Ranch American Legion Post members are seen at many events, proudly carrying the American ag.

But according to the commander of the post, the group is so much more than that.

“We’re veterans helping veterans,” said Joe Langran, post commander.

And this is especially true for recent veteran Michael Matthie.

Earlier this summer, Matthie retired from the Army and moved to Highlands Ranch from Germany with his wife and daughter. He rst joined the

Army at 18, and served for 20 years during which he completed four Middle East rotations.

Matthie was on assignment in Germany when the Russian-Ukrainian con ict emerged.

“Next thing you know, I’m on a D17 (aircraft) heading out to southeast Poland for an indeterminate amount of time,” Matthie said.

But once he quali ed for retirement, he did so to be able to be with his family. Seeking out the local legion was a matter of trying to nd a place of camaraderie and people who have had similar experiences, said Matthie.

e American Legion was founded in 1919 and was part of establishing the agency that has become the Federal Department of Veteran A airs. Today, there are thousands of posts across the country.

e Highlands Ranch American Legion Post 1260, recently renamed the

Christopher M. Falkel American Legion post 1260 of Colorado, has been active for nearly 20 years.

Matthie initially thought the legion consisted of a group of older men who served in the Vietnam and Korean wars. But when the Highlands Ranch legion met him with open arms in late August, he knew he belonged.

“ ey are the same type of breed that I am,” said Matthie.

After only a few months of being retired from the Army, Matthie said having the members of the Highlands Ranch legion to go to has been impactful. He added that they have provided him a sense of grounding as he continues to transition back into civilian life and look for employment.

“What they’re doing for the community, as well as veterans in the community, is pretty signi cant,”

e city will also see some capital projects. According to Justin Schimtz, Lone Tree’s director of public works and mobility, the city has been working with CDOT to fund a new tra c signal at County Line Road and Acres Green Drive. e project is expected to wrap up at the end of this year, and in 2025, CDOT plans to construct a new Lone Tree Mobility Hub.

As the city continues to work on pedestrian safety, new ashing beacon lights were recently installed outside of the civic center, and more will be installed on Parkway Drive and Lone Tree Parkway.

SEE TOWN HALL, P14

FIND ELECTION RESULTS ONLINE

Results from Tuesday’s elections occurred after our press deadline. To find results, analysis and more election news, scan the code at right or go to colorado communitymedia.com/ elections-2024

A man plays bagpipes at the Highlands Ranch Veterans Monument at Civic Green Park during a Memorial Day service.

PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

Castle Rock eyes goal of 100% renewable water

Domestic violence fell in 2023

58 deaths were more in line with pre-pandemic rate

BY ALEX MURPHY AND BEAU BAKER KUNC

New numbers show a drop in Colorado domestic violencerelated deaths in 2023. at’s according to a new report from the Colorado Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board which released the numbers through the state’s Attorney General’s O ce on Oct. 29.

e report says the state counted 58 individuals who lost their lives in a domestic violence incident. ose deaths accounted for 11% of all homicides in Colorado.

e decrease is a drop from the previous two years and is aligned with a trend of decreasing violent crimes across the state. In the previous year, the state set a grim record of 94 deaths. e new numbers are more aligned with the count before the pandemic.

O cials are happy to see a decline, but they say there is still work to be done.

ese are incidents that include serious bodily injury and the victims are assessed as most at risk. In the past, the organization would see about nine of these cases a year, but more recently they’ve seen about two dozen a month.

“ ere’s a lot of research that really looks at what is going on in this relationship that could indicate someone could lose their life,” said Stacie Sutter, the program director of Crossroads. “Our local fatality review board does a really good job looking at what does the research tell us, and how do we look at these cases through that, through that research rens? And we’re seeing an increase in that.”

Sutter says Crossroads is struggling to keep up with demand for their services, sometimes having to turn people away. is comes after federal and state funding resources continue to diminish.

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Castle Rock could have a 100% renewable water system by 2065 thanks to a number of recent projects and partnerships.

Castle Rock Water is building reservoirs, expanding the Plum Creek Puri cation Facility and tapping into renewable wells to rely on more sustainable water sources in the future. e town has invested almost $300 million in the projects so far.

Mark Marlowe, the director of Castle Rock Water, said the town’s existing projects will get the system to 75% renewable by 2050, with the chance to get to 100% renewable through a new e ort known as the Platte Valley Water Partnership.

Marlowe said a renewable water system will protect the system from drought and other weather variabilities.

“We need to transition to a renewable water supply to protect the groundwater, because we want to use that groundwater supply in a drought since it’s drought resistant,” Marlowe said.

Castle Rock recently joined the partnership, which in-

cludes the Parker Water and Sanitation District and the Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District, in an effort to build reservoirs in eastern Colorado.

If all of the proposed infrastructure is built out, Marlowe said it would get the town to its 100% renewable goal.

“In this project, the really cool thing is it’s a partnership between municipal water providers and agricultural water providers to share infrastructure and develop additional water supply,” he said.

Ron Redd, district manager of Parker Water, said in a news release that the partnership could be a model for other communities to follow.

“We are thrilled to have the trust and support of Castle Rock’s leadership,” Redd said. “ is partnership between two of the largest water providers in Douglas County is a powerful statement about our commitment to regional collaboration and long-term water sustainability.”

While the Platte Valley Water Partnership is in the early stages of the project, Castle Rock Water is further along in other e orts that will contribute to increasing renewable water supplies.

Construction is ongoing on Castle Rock’s reservoir outside of Sedalia, which will expand the existing reservoir and add

another. e project will add storage capacity for renewable water and is expected to be complete by the end of next year, Marlowe said.

e town is also working on the expansion of the Plum Creek Puri cation Facility, which will double the capacity of the system to purify water for reuse. e expansion is expected to nish up in 2028.

“Doubling the capacity will allow us to utilize a signi cantly larger portion of the renewable water in the reservoirs, especially when we need it in the summer months,” Marlowe said. “We want to make sure that we have more than adequate capacity to utilize all of that reusable water supply.”

In addition to water storage and puri cation, Castle Rock Water is beginning the Box Elder Project, which will tap into renewable wells in Weld County and build infrastructure to pipe the water to Castle Rock. e project includes, in the short term, leasing the water rights they have to oil and gas companies.

“ e revenue will help o set the capital cost of all of the infrastructure,” Marlowe said.  ough the transition to 100% renewable water will take time, Castle Rock is moving to that goal consistently. Marlowe said the system is becoming more reliant on renewable water every year.

“Even as we see a decrease in domestic violence fatalities, we cannot be complacent,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser. “Every life lost is a tragedy, and we must continue our e orts to combat domestic violence with a sense of urgency. It is imperative that we work together to create safer communities and support those a ected by this violence.”

Weiser is the chair of the board, which works each year to collect this data and identify ways to prevent incidents. Colorado’s General Assembly rst established the board in 2017, and in 2022 it was reauthorized for another ve years.

In this year’s report, the board reviewed 47 separate cases. In those cases, a current or former intimate partner killed 30 of the victims. An additional seven people died as “collateral victims.” Children accounted for more than half of the collateral victims.

Crossroads Safehouse, a Fort Collins based organization focused on providing emergency housing and legal advice for victims of domestic violence, says 2024 has been an unfortunately busy year.

“While I may understand that some of the deaths may be decreasing. Which, of course we we want to see that, and that’s that’s good. ese very serious domestic violence cases continue to increase,” said Crossroads Safehouse Executive Director Lori Kempter.

Kempter says they’ve seen a steep increase in lethality cases.

Kari Clark with Alternatives to Violence, a similar organization, says she’s worried about where the funding cuts will lead. e recent state report shows rural communities continue to have higher rates of domestic violence-related fatalities. It also identi ed pregnancy, especially in adolescent girls, as a signicant risk factor in fatal cases.

Besides sharing new numbers, it’s the job of the Colorado Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board to recommend ways to help with the issue. According to the press release, the recommendations this year include:

Enhance training for court professionals: Develop comprehensive domestic violence training for Child and Family Investigators and Parental Responsibility Evaluators that addresses risk factors, coercive control, and compassion fatigue.

Expand use of risk assessment tools: Increase the use of risk assessment tools in organizations and systems that work directly with domestic violence survivors, including the increased use of the Lethality Assessment Protocol in law enforcement settings. Implement victim noti cation system: Establish a system to notify domestic violence victims when the subject of a protection order attempts to purchase a rearm, improving their ability to assess risk and enhance safety planning. Address economic abuse and coerced debt: Provide more protection for domestic violence victims of economic abuse, including coerced debt, to ensure nancial control and exploitation do not prevent survivors from escaping abusive relationships.

is article is reprinted with permission via AP storyshare.

Construction is ongoing to build a second reservoir for Castle Rock Water outside of Sedalia. The reservoir project is one of many that will help get the town to its goal of 75% renewable water supply by 2050. COURTESY CASTLE ROCK WATER

We Need to Take Seriously the Pollutants Emitted When Cooking With Gas

Two years ago last week, one of the headlines in my column was, “Evidence Mounts That Gas Stoves Are Harmful to Health.” It cited an article the previous week in the journal Environmental Science and Technology which quoted a study reporting that 12 hazardous pollutants, including benzene, a carcinogen, were detected in the emissions of gas ranges. That study was of 159 homes in 19 California counties.

Last week, The Guardian, a British periodical, published an article with a more damning headline: “Pollutants from gas stoves kill 40,000 Europeans each year, report finds.”

that, “New peer-reviewed research from RMI, the University of Sydney, and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, which I co-authored with two epidemiologists and a colleague, estimated that nearly 13 percent of childhood asthma cases in the United States can be linked to having a gas stove in the home.

According to that article, “The researchers attributed 36,031 early deaths each year to gas cookers in the EU, and a further 3,928 in the UK. They say their estimates are conservative because they only considered the health effects of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and not other gases such as carbon monoxide and benzene.”

Now, that’s a wake-up call!

I did a web search for “dangers of gas stove emissions” and found that multiple other studies had been conducted from late 2022 through to now reaching similar conclusions but without that large a database of impacted human beings.

On Sept. 7, 2022, Harvard Health reported that, “Gas stoves affect air quality inside and outside your home, circulating pollutants that raise risk for asthma and other illnesses.”

On Jan. 19, 2023, Scientific American wrote that, “Scientists have long known that gas stoves emit pollutants that irritate human airways and can cause or exacerbate respiratory problems.”

On Feb. 15, 2023, Brady Seals of the Rocky Mountain Institute announced

On April 7, 2023, Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health reported, “A recent study suggests that gas stoves contribute to about 13 percent of childhood asthma cases in the U.S. equivalent to the risk of developing asthma due to exposure to secondhand smoke. NO2 can cause respiratory problems, particularly for those with asthma or other respiratory illnesses, and long-term exposure to NO2 from gas stoves has also been linked to an increased risk of developing heart disease.”

On June 21, 2023, Yale Climate Connections reported that, “Cooking with gas emits dangerous levels of benzene, a carcinogen, into household air.”

On May 3, 2024, Stanford University reported that, “A study of air pollution in U.S. homes reveals how much gas and propane stoves increase exposure to nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant linked to childhood asthma.”

This appears to be a problem that disproportionately affects low-income populations for a couple reasons. First, they are more likely to have gas ranges, especially in cities where natural gas is ubiquitous. Second, the problem is exacerbated in smaller kitchens, allowing the emissions to be less dispersed.

Obviously, a large-scale switch from gas ranges to induction or electric ranges is not practical or affordable, especially for low-income populations, but health

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experts have some advice on what to do in the meantime. First of all, ventilate your kitchen when using a gas stove. If you have a vent fan above your range, use it, but only if it vents to the outside. Many vent fans, such as those built into over-the-stove microwave ovens, merely filter the air of particles, blowing it back into the kitchen. To see if your vent fan ventilates to the outside, open the cabinet above it, so see if there’s a flue.

A good short-term solution, if you have $50-100 to spend, would be to purchase a plug-in induction cooktop, as Rita and I have done. Search for “induction burners” and you’ll find many starting as low as $49.99. Because induction is so efficient, most induction burners plug into a standard countertop kitchen outlet.

NOTE: Induction burners only work with ferrous pots and pans, such as cast iron, enameled cast iron and certain stainless steel pots and pans. If a magnet sticks to the pan, it can be used on an induction burner.

Rita and I like to buy live lobsters from

Seafood Landing in northwest Denver and boil them, but it takes forever to heat a pot of water large enough to submerge four 1½-lb. lobsters, so next time we’re going to use our induction burner, because it will heat that much water in less than half the time. (I look forward to timing it!) That’s the thing about induction cooking it’s faster and uses less electricity than a standard electric burner.

NAR’s Clear Cooperation Policy Under Attack

“Clear Cooperation” is a policy introduced by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in November 2019 to reduce the use of “pocket listings” by brokers who don’t want to share their high commissions with a buyer’s agent.

Let’s say that a broker lists a home for 6%, to use a round number. (The average has long been between 5% and 5.5%.) The listing contract had a place to designate the percentage of that 6% which the listing broker would share with the broker who produced the buyer. For a $1,000,000 listing, that would be, for example, $30,000 commission to each agent.

You can understand why the listing agent would want to promote that listing off the MLS and hopefully keep the full $60,000. Most Realtors, like myself, would consider that unethical on the face of it but also believe it’s not in the seller’s best interest. The seller wants as many buyers as possible to know about his or her listing so that he/she sells for the highest price.

From a greedy listing broker’s perspec-

tive, getting 6% of $1,000,000 is a whole lot better than only 3% of a higher price.

Enter the Clear Cooperation policy, which pissed off a lot of brokers, including those who aren’t members of NAR, because all MLSs were ordered to enforce it.

CCP, as the policy is called, requires that a listing be entered on the MLS within one business day of it being publicized in any way, whether it be a sign in the ground, a Facebook post, mass email or whatever. And it could only be “Coming Soon” as long as no showings were granted, including by the listing agent, and for a max of 7 days.

The attacks on CCP, mostly by large brokerages, have surged recently, but Zillow’s Susan Daimler, like myself, defends the policy as being in the consumer’s best interest. In fact, she wants to see the policy strengthened by eliminating the “office exclusive” loophole. That loophole discriminates against small brokerages and independent brokers by allowing big brokerages to display MLS listings only to agents within the brokerage. That loophole should be abolished.

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Douglas County candidates tout collaboration with Rep. Lauren Boebert

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Republican candidates seeking to represent Castle Rock at the state Capitol held a joint town hall with U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert where they committed to working across all levels of government to find solutions for their constituents.

e town hall, held at the Pegasus restaurant in Castle Rock, featured remarks from Boebert, Colorado Rep. Lisa Frizell, who is running for Colorado Senate District 2; and Max Brooks, a candidate for Colorado House District 45.

Boebert, who currently represents Congressional District 3 on the Western Slope, is now running to represent the 4th Congressional District, which includes Douglas County and the Eastern Plains.

Brooks, Frizell and Boebert pledged to work together should they all be elected, speaking to issues like immigration and water.

“ is is an opportunity to build bridges and I believe that the best way we can serve you is to make sure that we collaborate — from the Castle Rock Town Council to the state of Colorado and the Douglas County government to our federal friends,” Frizell said.

Brooks praised Boebert’s knowledge of local issues and her legislative e orts to address them.

“I’m committed to keeping this line of communication open and I absolutely believe that you’re going to see (Boebert) in Douglas County often, having these discussions,” Brooks said.

One issue the candidates spoke about

coordinating on was immigration. Boebert thanked Douglas County o cials for their lawsuit against the state seeking to repeal laws that limit how law enforcement can work with federal immigration agencies.

Boebert said she would support eliminating all sanctuary policies for undocumented immigrants.

“ ese sanctuary policies are inviting them to come here and get housing o your tax dollars, and food and gift cards and cell phones and health care, education,” Boebert said.

Undocumented immigrants are eligible for public education and emergency health care, as well as some other assistance programs, but they are not eligible for Social Security bene ts and the vast majority of taxpayer-funded welfare programs, including food stamps and cash assistance, according to reporting by NBC News.

Brooks and Boebert also talked about working together on projects to conserve water.

Castle Rock has a goal of getting to 100% renewable water sources by 2060, which is on track to happen thanks to a number of local partnerships. Brooks highlighted one, the Platte Valley Water Partnership project, which involves building reservoirs in northeastern Colorado.

expand ngerprinting requirements in massage parlors to curb human tra cking and the other seeks to address issues with zip codes.

“Putting in a reservoir helps agriculture and it helps Castle Rock,” Brooks said. “(Boebert) can speak to the details of all this and I’m excited for that connection all the way through.”

Boebert added that she has taken inspiration from conversations with Douglas County o cials for two pieces of recently introduced legislation. One bill would

Boebert said the zip code bill, which would establish new zip codes for certain municipalities, like Castle Pines and Lone Tree, would help local governments collect appropriate sales tax revenues and improve way nding for rst responders. She said the bill is a major priority.

“I’m going to work on this so diligently to try my hardest to get it signed into law

this year,” she said.

All three of the speakers emphasized the need for unity in the Republican party so that they can be more successful ghting against Democratic policies, which Boebert said have “destroyed our beautiful state.”

ey encouraged attendees to vote and turn out in force to ip Colorado seats and secure the presidency for Donald Trump.

“We need a uni ed Republican party who can move on behalf of God’s will for our country,” Boebert said.

NOVEMBER

Law

on phone use while driving about to change

BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

ects our commitment to protecting all road users, whether in a vehicle, on a bike or walking.”

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Colorado drivers face a new law that prohibits people from using a mobile electronic device — including a cell phone — while driving unless they use a hands-free accessory. e penalties for violating the prohibition include a $75 ne and license suspension points, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

To prepare drivers for the new law, which goes into e ect Jan. 1, 2025, CDOT is launching an awareness campaign over the next several months to ensure all Coloradans know about the law and best practices. e campaign will include outreach e orts through social media, paid ads and collaboration with key stakeholders, according to a CDOT news release.

e goal with the new law is to reduce distractive driving in Colorado, as studies have shown that using a mobile device while driving increases the risk of a crash by two to six times, according to CDOT.

“ is new legislation is a crucial step toward making Colorado’s roads safer for everyone,” Shoshana Lew, executive director of CDOT, said in the news release.

“By encouraging drivers to focus solely on the task of driving, we can reduce the number of distracted driving incidents and prevent crashes that often come with such behavior,  Lew states. “ is law aligns with best practices from across the nation and re-

According to CDOT’s 2024 Driver Behavior Report, 77% of Colorado drivers admitted to using their phones while driving, with 45% saying a handsfree feature in their car would stop them from using their phone.

Distracted drivers pose a particularly high risk to vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and bicyclists. From 2015 to 2023, deaths among pedestrians and bicyclists increased by 50% and 112.5%, respectively, while Colorado’s population grew by less than 8% during the same period, the news release states.

Colorado joins 29 other states in prohibiting the use of hand-held mobile devices while driving. States with similar laws have reported decreases in distracted driving crashes. In Michigan, a 2023 law banning hand-held cellphone use led to a 12.8% decrease in distracted driving crashes within the rst year, the news release states.

Penalties for violating the new law start with a $75 ne and two license suspension points for the rst o ense. First-time violators can have the charge dismissed if they provide proof of purchasing a hands-free accessory. Repeat o enders face higher nes and more license suspension points, according to CDOT. e law includes exemptions for individuals reporting emergencies, utility workers, code enforcement o cers, animal protection o cers, rst responders and individuals in parked vehicles.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert speaks at a town hall in Castle Rock with Republican candidates Max Brooks and Colorado Rep. Lisa Frizell. Boebert, Brooks and Frizell pledged to work together should they be elected.

PHOTOS BY MCKENNA HARFORD

Max Brooks, the Republican candidate running to represent Castle Rock in Colorado House District 45, speaks at a town hall with U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and Colorado Rep. Lisa Frizell about how the three would partner to tackle issues.

Strides with strollers: How active parents keep up the mileage

Stroller fitness activities provide outlet for community, family bonding

BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Active people don’t stop being active when they become parents; they just become more innovative and e cient.

Whether to keep the step count up, nd a sense of community or not miss a beat while training for health goals, new and experienced parents are strapping the kids in the stroller and hitting the trails.  It’s no secret nding a babysitter can be challenging, but moms and dads grow to rely on the bonding time their new sidecar brings; not just with their kid copilots, but with other parents, too.

Bonding through training

“We have a 3-year-old and a 1-yearold, and over the summer, upgraded and got a double-wide stroller to t both kids in,” said Dan Petty in Littleton. “It’s been great. I’m training for the New York City Marathon right now, and my kids have been companions for much of this summer while I’ve been training up for that.”

Petty’s daily treks often take him and his kids on runs beyond 10 miles.

ere are no iPads or screen time. Instead, the kids bring a few toys and snacks and enjoy the landscape while they speed down the Mary Carter Greenway Trail, one of Petty’s favorites. Just north of Chateld Reservoir along the South Platte River, it provides paved and gravel paths (large enough for double-wide strollers) for runners and walkers.

While the kids enjoy a near rst-class riding experience, Dad gets his training in and Mom gets a well-deserved break.  “It’s great because when I take them out for an hour or two hours, or sometimes longer, it gives my wife a break to read or work out, herself,” Petty said. “It’s one of these things where I get exercise, the kids get fresh air, we have some time together and my wife gets a real break from two kids, which is a lot.”

e NYC Marathon on Nov. 2 will be Petty’s second. He was a competitive runner in high school and college but took some time away from the sport. After some friends got back into it a few years ago, Petty did too, not letting his fatherhood get in his way.

In fact, his kids help push him harder. at, and the altitude. Petty has lived in Colorado for 15 years and said training

athon, consider donating at www.aaja. org/the-futures-fund/.

Memories through the miles

Another parent in Arvada sets her eyes on a lofty goal, and her daughter is a key piece to the puzzle.

Cassandra Porter is an assistant cross country and track coach for Arvada West High School. As a lifetime runner, she competed in high school for the Early College of Arvada until 2016 before becoming a Roadrunner at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

After becoming a mom and a coach in 2021, Porter continued running, bringing her daughter to Arvada West practices and pushing her along. Last year, around the Fourth of July, Porter learned a new Guinness World Record was set by a woman pushing a pram (stroller) at ve minutes, 24.17 seconds.

e woman’s name was Neely Gracey, and oddly enough, she was from Boulder and set the record in Englewood.

“I’m just always up to date on anything in the running world and last summer I think I saw that. Some mom from Colorado actually broke the record, and she

got it down to 5:24,” Porter said. “And so I called my coach and we talked about it and applied for the Guinness record. It takes about three months to get approved for it. So, once we got the approval back, we were going to run it last fall of 2023. But I just had a couple of hiccups in my training. I had an injury and then a medical issue. So we pushed it back until I was t again.”

is past April, Kaitlin Donner from Viera, Florida, broke the record again, bringing the number down to ve minutes, 11.46 seconds.

“I was like, ‘Oh, I’m going to have to train a little bit harder for this now.’” Porter said. “So now I think we are ready. I just think it’d be cool to run it with my daughter and also have my athletes watch and hopefully inspire them. at’s a big motivation for it.”

Porter’s been running with her daughter since she was three months old. She’s now almost 3 and has accompanied Porter on more than 50 runs, whether they’re longer distance runs, sprints or tempo runs.

“She loves it,” she said. “My athletes love it when she comes to practice and runs with us. We put a speaker in the stroller and we play music, and she gets to ride along and just eat her snacks. It’s the best.”

She doesn’t have an exact date for the record but Porter knows it’s something she wants to tackle soon. It’s been on her mind for a while now. Whether she breaks

it or not, the time with her daughter has been invaluable and irreplaceable.

“It would be a huge deal. I’m so goalbased,” Porter said. “ is has just been a goal for a year and I want to check it o the list, hopefully. I’m a really nervous racer so I’m hoping that this will kind of be a breakthrough with racing. I usually am really good with training, but racing is a little bit more nerve-wracking for me. So I think racing with my daughter will kind of calm my nerves. I think it’ll just be something super special between me and her.”

Community in parenthood

For others, becoming a parent could open a door to a more communal and active lifestyle.

Stephanie Holzhauer is the owner of Fit4Mom Castle Rock. Before moving to Colorado a couple of years ago, she got exposed to the program after becoming a mom herself in San Diego.

She started as a member, and after several Fit4Moms experiences across several cities, decided she had to get more involved.

“I immediately fell in love with community tness and just having support from other moms, being a rst-time mom

A group of moms at Fit4Mom Castle Rock complete exercises together at a stroller strides event. The program allows for community among fellow moms through mental, physical and emotional well-being and fitness.

COURTESY OF EMILY YOUNG / C&E PHOTOGRAPHY

Dan Petty runs with his two children using a jogging stroller on Oct. 24 in Littleton.

PHOTO BY ANYA SEMENOFF

SEE STROLLERS, P18

Wife shares memories of late husband’s love for the community

Parker woman honors husband with interactive painting displayed in library branch

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

It was 1991 when Joanna Kelleher met a man named Mike at a singles dance at Cherry Hills Community Church. Little did she know it at the time, but Joanna had found the love of her life and would spend more than 30 years with Mike by her side.

“We preferred each other’s company,” said Joanna Kelleher. “We both felt this was the love of our life.”

Holding an art degree from the former e Art Institute of Colorado, Joanna lled Mike’s life with art. eir home became their canvas. He would thrift items and she would refurbish them.

Mike passed away earlier this year, and when Joanna no longer had her best friend by her side, she turned to art. She painted “Colorado Critters” in his honor, which will be displayed at the Douglas County Parker Library all November.

“But it was done with love,” said Joanna.

A white chair still remains on the front porch of their house where Mike would sit and admire Parker’s views and wildlife. Humming birds would come right up to him, said Kelleher.

When he passed away, Joanna started painting a scene that included some of his favorite animals, including the state butter y and bird, along with a rabbit, ladybug, snail and a grasshopper to represent the year of the grasshopper.

Painting became therapeutic for Joanna. She would wake up at two or three in the morning and paint until the sun came up, she said.

“For me, the painting took me out of my grieving,” said Joanna. “I would go in and start painting and the hours would go by.”

While showing her paintings to others, she realized younger kids were pointing out the animals. is led her to include an accompanying picture “Can

You Find…” to identify the animals in the painting. Joanna hopes the painting will be approved to be displayed at Children’s Hospital Colorado, where her grandson was treated for cancer.

A community man

While serving as a pastor for 35 years, Mike traveled to places like Russia and Ethiopia and was known as the “Bible answer man” on a local radio program due to his extensive knowledge of the gospel, said Joanna.

After he retired, Mike became a volunteer chaplain at the Life Care Center of

S H OWCAS E

J oin us to see a collection of the finest ta il dra gging a ircra ft in the a rea . M eet the pilots who lov e a nd fly ta ildr a ggers!

Stonegate in Parker.

“He was just a remarkable guy,” said Joanna. “He was so incredibly smart.”

In addition to math and chemistry, Mike was a history bu and together, the couple would study everything they could to learn about Parker.

Before Parker’s housing boom, Joanna said they would go on walks and nd arrowheads, spear points and many more artifacts. Wanting to share the history, Mike spoke to children at schools and helped arrange eld trips.

“With him, he was my TMI guy,” said Joanna. “I would ask him a question want-

ing a little answer and I would get this big answer because he was so brilliant.”

Trips to the Parker library – starting when it was in the old water building –were common for them, even throughout the global pandemic.

When COVID-19 forced everyone into new routines, Joanna and Mike started a new tradition. ey would get their individual chores done in the morning and spend the afternoon playing card games before grabbing a movie from the library to have a movie night.

“ at was life with Mike,” said Joanna.

Now, as Joanna looks around her house, she is reminded of all the good times with Mike, including the couch where he laid when he could no longer make it up the stairs.

On July 25, 2021, Mike su ered a bilateral subdural hematoma, which is when blood collects between the skull and the brain, requiring brain surgery. Two years later, neighbors came to Mike’s aid when he collapsed on the driveway and broke

He later su ered another brain bleed and developed a serious brain infection.  ere were countless doctor’s appointments, emergency room visits, four different hospitals and three physical rehabilitation centers. rough all of that, Kelleher said her neighbors were always looking out for them and assisting him in and out of the car or bed.

“Our neighbors just picked up the slack,” said Joanna. “I couldn’t have managed without them.”

Mike passed away on Feb. 16 at the age of 74.

Joanna will always remember the man wearing shorts and a casual shirt on the dance oor in 1991. She will remember their shing trips, the New Years Eve when he proposed and how he could let negativity ow o his back.

“He was just such a role model,” said Joanna. “And I just wanted so much to be more like him.”

While celebrating her 80th birthday at the Parker Library on Oct. 19, it was like Mike was still by her side, as her artwork was displayed on the wall paired with artifacts they had found together and their personal photos.

Joanna Kelleher painted “Colorado Critters” in honor of her husband, who passed away earlier this year. The painting, which includes some of his favorite animals, will be displayed at the Parker Library all of November. COURTESY PHOTO

Dual enrollment fuels community college gains

Nearly half of students are still in high school

BY JASON GONZALES CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Dual-enrolled high school students are closing in on accounting for nearly half of Colorado’s community college enrollment, according to fall 2024 enrollment data.

Of the 88,118 students enrolled at the twoyear level, more than 39,000 students statewide are still in high school, the Colorado Community College System reports. e share of dual-enrolled students has steadily increased each year. Nationally, about 1 in 5 community college students are dual enrolled, according to 2022-23 numbers.

In light of the increases and the variety of the state’s concurrent enrollment system — where high school students enroll in college classes — Colorado lawmakers and other education advocates want more information on the long-term bene t of these programs as well as the overall costs to the state. Lawmakers have passed laws that call for studying how to streamline and improve a system that has been built piecemeal over the years.

In total, high school students accounted for almost 90% of enrollment increases at the community college level this year. Since the pandemic, high school students have become a main driver of community college enrollment in the state.

e numbers were climbing even before 2020 amid greater emphasis on exposing students to college-level work, said Sarah Heath, system vice chancellor of academic and student a airs.

“We really have focused on the value of high school plus,” Heath said. “ at has resonated.”

About 3,100 new students enrolled this year in Colorado community colleges, with a 2,770 increase in high school students, according to October numbers.

Among students who are beyond high school, enrollment ticked up only slightly. ese older adult students traditionally represented the bulk of community college enrollment, but colleges have had more trouble enrolling them since the pandemic.

“We haven’t had much growth” in that segment, Heath said, “except for some online pieces.”

Nationally, community colleges fared better than public four-year universities in enrollment in part because of the number of high school students who are also enrolled in public two-year colleges.

National numbers show a 7% increase in the number of students under the age of 17 who are dual-enrolled this fall over last year. Here’s a closer look at the changing face of Colorado’s two-year colleges:

What do we know (and not know) about the students?

e majority of high school students take

college classes part-time, or less than 12 credits. is has led to an increase in parttime students at colleges.

Of the 88,118 community college students enrolled this year, including high school students, only 22,715 enrolled full-time.

Many high school students also likely never set foot on a college campus thanks to the increase in high school teachers who are certi ed to teach college-level courses, according to Heath.

By the time students graduate from high school, they’ve typically earned only a few college credits. Still, state leaders have said that this helps o set the overall cost of a college education for them. A state report estimated from 2020 data that graduates saved about $53 million in tuition through these opportunities.

e new community college enrollment data doesn’t break down gures for overall high school student diversity, but past reports show these programs are mostly representative of the state’s K-12 ethnic and racial makeup. About half of all students in 2021 were white, a quarter were Hispanic, and about 3.5% were Black.

e report did not include information on how the programs bene t lower-income students in the state, or those students who would bene t the most nancially from

these programs.

Where are students dual-enrolled?

Most dual-enrolled high school students live on the Front Range in urban and suburban communities, although many rural districts have a higher percentage of their students participating in programs.

In total, Colorado has 561 cooperative agreements between school districts and two- and four-year colleges. Only two districts in the state do not participate in dual enrollment.

Of the two-year colleges, Front Range and Arapahoe community colleges have some of the highest numbers of district partnerships. ose colleges enroll almost 25,000 high school students, or about 62% of the dual-enrolled student population.

e highest participation rates are in rural districts such as in Crowley, Edison, and Silverton, where more than 70% of high school students are dual enrolled.

Who pays for dual enrollment?

In most cases, the districts and state pay for the cost of o ering these programs.

funds. For example, education advocates have questioned whether states are just subsidizing college for students who would already plan to go.

Research shows that in Colorado, fewer dual-enrolled students — about two-thirds of them — end up on a college campus after they graduate from high school, compared with most other states. It’s not entirely clear why, but the number decreases if students are from lower-income backgrounds, according to the Community College Research Center.

What do lawmakers want to change?

Colorado lawmakers say they recognize the value of dual enrollment, especially because national research shows these programs can help eliminate gaps in who gets to college. But they also want more information on the state’s many programs. A state task force has called for streamlining what it has described as a fragmented early career and college system built over many years. Colorado has numerous programs, but not every district o ers every program.

Each program has di erent reporting requirements, making it hard to measure how programs are working individually and as a whole. Colorado lawmakers enacted legislation this year that:

Programs like ASCENT, where students attend college in their fth year of high school but also get support from their districts, now require students to ll out the FAFSA so they’re eligible for Pell grants, or federal aid to students from lower-income backgrounds. e Pell grants then o set the cost of college incurred by the state. is year, the state is projected to spend about $17 million to educate about 1,200 ASCENT students.

Most partnerships between the community colleges and districts are structured to be cost neutral, so community colleges only charge for services to support dual enrollment, Heath said. But districts must hire sta , provide classes, and support students. Nationally, some have wondered whether these programs are the best use of state

• Directs the state to perform a comprehensive nancial study to analyze how much the programs cost the state and districts;

• Compiles long-term data on program outcomes;

• Expands college opportunities for high school students; and

• Seeks to nd a comprehensive direction on college and career education.

Reprinted with permission from Chalkbeat, a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.

Red Rocks Community College President Landon Pirius speaks at an August event in Arvada.

PHOTO BY LILLIAN FUGLEI

VETERANS

said Matthie. “Attempting to raise funds for those in need, and just being a place where other veterans can come and connect.”

A resource for the community

The Highlands Ranch post is a volunteer organization that works to raise funds to assist veterans in times of need.

“We measure everything in (number of) veterans that we can help,” said Langran. “Without the funds, we can’t help the vets.”

While the posts’ annual Veterans Concert in November typically brings in a couple of thousand dollars, Langran said they are hoping to meet businesses that are veteran-friendly and would be willing to help them with their programs.

“A lot of money brought in goes to help homeless veterans through a program with the VA to find housing, to find jobs,” said Langran.

It’s called the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program. It combines HUD’s Housing Choice Vouchers rental assistance with the Department of Veteran Affairs’ case management and clinical services. Langran said they have been able to help about 40 local veterans in the past year through this program.

Other programs they support include the Fisher House Foundation, which provides homes for military and veterans’ families to stay in for free while their loved one is in the hospital; and the Warrior Bonfire Program that offers Purple Heart recipients a community to help heal.

The post also sponsored a local family in August to participate in Project Sanctuary, which is a military family support program.

Additionally, the Highlands Ranch post gives flag etiquette classes to Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops; and has a few members in the All Veterans Honor Guard, which is a nonprofit that provides final honors at the nearby Fort Logan National Cemetery.

And each year, the group gives $1,500

to support the Highlands Ranch Community Association Scholarship, which helps provide high school graduates with their college education.

The Highlands Ranch Hot Rodders have been a tremendous help in raising funds for the post to be able to they can support these various veteran programs, said Langran. The Hot Rodders is a nonprofit dedicated to assisting the community — all of their car shows are fundraisers for the post.

Efforts like the Hot Rodders’ car show help support the posts’ community efforts, but the post itself is in need of additional members.

Looking for the next generation

Langran, a Vietnam veteran, has been the commander of the Highlands Ranch post for nine years.

And he is concerned about the future of the post.

“Our concern is (that) a lot of us are in our 70s,” said Langran. “We want to be able to hand the baton to the next generation to keep things going. We need the next generation to carry on our legacy of helping veterans in need.”

Currently, the Highlands Ranch post has about 170 members.

Many of them are Vietnam veterans and served between 1964 and 1975. Langran said they need Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq veterans to not only join, but become active members.

“Even if we could get some people that are approaching retirement, that would be great,” said Langran.

Thinking back to when he was younger, Langran said he remembers how difficult it was to balance a family, work and be part of the community.

Understanding that being active in the organization is easier for those who are retired compared to those who have a young family and a job, Langran said he is just asking for a couple of hours “here and there.”

“I hope that we can really connect with some of the younger guys and let them know this isn’t just a bunch of oldtimers,” said Matthie. “You‘ve got some young guys like myself.”

Visit highlandsranchpost1260.org for information about the monthly meetings of the Highlands Ranch American Legion Post 1260.

NEWS BRIEFS

Ceremony to honor veterans in Douglas County

In honor of the men and women of the armed forces, Douglas County o cials, the Douglas County Veterans Service O ce and the Douglas County Veterans Monument Foundation invite you to a Veterans Day ceremony to honor American heroes.

e event begins 11 a.m. Nov. 9 at the Veterans Monument Plaza located at 301 Wilcox St. in Castle Rock.

is year, the program will feature Gilbert Espinoza (U.S. Navy), a Vietnam veteran, Navy SEAL and retired Colorado re ghter.

Other speakers include Douglas County Veterans Service o cers Chris Maes (U.S. Army, retired) and Darcy Ho man (U.S. Air Force), and Douglas County Commissioners George Teal (U.S. Army), Abe Laydon and Lora omas.

e event will also feature music from local musician and 30-year Colorado

resident Byron Miller.

Douglas County government o ces will be closed Nov. 11 in observance of the o cial federal holiday.

Sponsor a veteran wreath for Dec. 14 ceremonies

You can also sponsor a wreath now for a Wreaths Across America ceremony to honor veterans.

Wreath-laying ceremonies will be held Dec. 14 at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Castle Rock and Fort Logan National Cemetery. Wreaths Across America coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies in all 50 states and beyond.

e ceremony at Cedar Hill starts 10 a.m. Dec. 14 and is being organized by American Heritage Girls Troop 8909.

Sponsor a wreath using the form at tinyurl.com/WreathSponsorVeterans.

Volunteers to participate in the wreath laying are welcome. e public can learn more at WreathsAcrossAmerica. org.

Parker Arts puts on musical production e Town of Parker’s arts and culture hub is pleased to announce the opening of Nunsense. e zany, hilarious and wholesome musical revue will play at the Parker Arts Schoolhouse eater from Oct. 25 - Nov. 17.

Billed as a “divine comedy,” Nunsense follows the Little Sisters of Hoboken as they put on a fundraiser to raise money to bury sisters accidentally poisoned by the convent cook, Sister Julia (Child of God).

e musical has been updated with new jokes, additional lyrics, two new arrangements, and a brand new song. Featuring Kayleigh Bernier, the star of Parker Arts’ recent production of Legally Blonde, reprising the role of Sister Leo, Nunsense is an homage to musical and theater history before 1980. Audiences are taken on a journey through every decade of theater, music and lm from late Vaudeville through the 1970s.

For information on show dates and times and to purchase tickets visit parkerarts.org or call the box o ce at 303805-6800.

El Pomar Foundation claims to be one of the largest and oldest private foundations in Colorado. El Pomar contributes about $25 million annually through grants in the areas of arts and culture, civic and community initiatives, education, health, and human services, as well as community engagement and leadership development programs to support Colorado nonpro ts. e public can learn more at www.elpomar.org.

Submissions open for 2025 Colorado Book Awards

Colorado Humanities and Center for the Book is accepting submissions for the 2025 Colorado Book Awards.

Submission categories include anthology, ction, history, non ction, pictorial, poetry, children’s, juvenile and young adult literature. e deadline is Jan. 3. Winners will receive a cash prize and an engraved plaque.

Books are reviewed in a two-part process by volunteer selectors and judges from across the state.

Colorado nonprofits and community leaders honored ree nonpro ts and three individuals from around Colorado were honored by El Pomar Foundation during its 2024 Night of Excellence.

For 35 years, El Pomar has recognized extraordinary nonpro ts and community leaders in this awards ceremony, which includes awards for excellence and the Julie Penrose Award.

e trustees of El Pomar established that Award in 2020 in honor of what would have been Penrose’s 150th birthday to connect her legacy of philanthropy and service to other women throughout Colorado committed to the betterment of their communities.

e organizations honored include Food Bank of the Rockies in Denver, Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center in Trinidad and CASA of the 7th Judicial District in Montrose.

e individuals honored for their lifetime achievements and outstanding contributions to the nonpro t sector were Kathleen Merritt, Paul Major and Lucille A. Echohawk.

In the rst round in February and March, a panel of three selectors receives all books submitted in a category to determine the nalists. In the second round in April and May, a panel of three judges reviews the nalists and selects a winner.

All winners will be announced at the Finalists Celebration and Winners Announcement in July. Winners and nalists will have the opportunity to join the Colorado Center for the Book Author Talks, statewide publicity surrounding announcement of the Colorado Book Awards and branded promotional materials.

Colorado Humanities and Center for the Book also invites applications for Colorado Book Awards selectors and judges. Volunteers participate in a twotier review process that includes reading up-and-coming works from Colorado’s literary community and engaging with panels of fellow selectors and judges, including scholars, librarians, booksellers, teachers and writers from across the state.

For more information and opportunity to be considered, email valerie@ coloradohumanities.org.

Embracing our flaws to find true innovation

Last week, I shared a piece titled “ e Perfect Imperfection of a Five-YearOld,” re ecting on my grandson and how his seemingly chaotic playtime revealed a hidden beauty. His natural ow and spontaneity opened my eyes to how imperfection can be a gateway to creativity and joy. is week, I want to explore that same thought through a wider lens: our human imperfections and how, in striving for perfection, we may unintentionally hinder our creativity, ingenuity and growth.

Whether at home, in our careers, or leading teams, many of us have fallen into the trap of chasing perfection. We set out with grand plans, meticulously crafted strategies and polished expectations. And yet, life has a funny way of reminding us that the best-laid plans often go awry, and more often than not, it’s in those imperfect moments that something new and beautiful emerges. Let’s take a cue from the current football season, where highlight reels capture what seem like perfect plays, the perfect pass, the perfect block, the perfect catch. But often, the plays that truly stand out are the ones that are far from perfect. A missed block or a broken play can end in the most thrilling, unexpected touchdown. ese moments weren’t planned. In fact, they were born out of improvisation, quick thinking, and sometimes just sheer luck.

Much like those broken plays, in life and our work, we often nd ourselves rerouted or delayed from our meticulously planned paths. My wife and I recently took a road trip that GPS perfectly mapped out. Everything was set until we hit a detour because a bridge was closed. Our perfect plan was disrupted. We were

On Oct. 15, Centennial Water and Sanitation District published our proposed budget and rate schedule for 2025. Our water and wastewater system provides essential services which are at the heart of public health, environmental protection, and sustainable growth for the communities of Highlands Ranch and Solstice. Each year the budget process at Centennial Water begins in July. Sta assess our current systems and look ahead to ensure we can meet both immediate needs and future demands.

For 2025, we are proposing a series of moderate rate adjustments that aim to maintain the reliability and quality of service our customers depend on, while preparing for the challenges posed by aging infrastructure and environmental factors. As always, our goal is to keep rates as a ordable as possible while ensuring we invest responsibly in our community’s future.

We know a rate increase may cause

initially frustrated, but as GPS recalibrated, it guided us down a side road we would never have chosen otherwise. at detour brought us through some of the most breathtaking fall foliage I’d ever seen, and in that moment, I was reminded of the value of life’s detours.

We often experience similar detours in our personal and professional lives. Projects don’t go as expected or meetings go o course. But new ideas can be born in those moments of imperfection. Suppose we embrace these broken plays and detours and allow ourselves and our teams the freedom to explore them.

As leaders, whether in the workplace or at home, we are often guilty of placing too much emphasis on perfection. We expect awless execution from ourselves and those we lead. e truth is that holding on too tightly to perfectionism can

sti e creativity and dampen morale. It can create an environment where people are afraid to take risks, an essential part of growth, is avoided at all costs. Even those who seem to have it all together have moments where things don’t go as planned. And that’s OK. It’s better than OK. It’s necessary. A missed deadline or a failed project isn’t the end of the world; it’s an opportunity to learn, recalibrate, and discover a new way forward. Perfection doesn’t leave room for creativity, but imperfection does.

e challenge for us as individuals, especially as leaders, is to create spaces where imperfection is embraced. How often has an employee come to you with a broken play of their own, only to nd that a new idea was born in the process of “ xing” the issue? Maybe it’s a suggestion that turns a slight mishap into a break-

Your water rates at work

through, or perhaps it’s a creative solution to a problem that seemed unsolvable.

Maybe as we move through this football season, let’s not just cheer for the perfect plays but also for the broken ones. In life, let’s embrace the idea that perfection is not the goal. e goal is to learn, grow, and appreciate the perfect imperfection of being human.

As always, I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com. And when we can innovate and improvise in an imperfect world, 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.

concern for our customers who are already balancing tight household budgets. We are committed to being transparent about why an increase is necessary and how it aligns with our nancial plans, and ultimately bene ts the communities we serve.

Last year, during the budget process, we shared that rising operational costs would likely result in a necessary rate adjustment in 2025. e proposed increase is in line with those projections and is part of our broader strategy to ensure we continue to meet service demands, maintain infrastructure, and improve water delivery systems.

What water rates pay for Water rates are more than the cost of getting water to your tap. ey fund the

entire infrastructure that ensures safe, clean, and reliable water for all customers over the long term. is includes maintaining pipes and treatment facilities, as well as routine water quality testing. Beyond the direct costs, water rates also help support essential operations, long-term planning, and improvements to ensure our water system remains resilient for years to come.

Your water rates at work

Two signi cant projects are in progress to strengthen the reliability of our water and wastewater treatment processes. Both are driven by our commitment to our customers to provide high quality water that meets all federal and state regulations, and to ensure we can meet current and future water demands.

Upgrades at the Joseph B. Blake Water Treatment Plant enable us to treat and deliver water during peak summer months without relying on nonrenewable groundwater. We want to preserve

our groundwater sources for times of water scarcity when we don’t have sufcient supplies in our surface water reservoirs. Enhancing treatment capacity to deliver water solely through surface water sources is the goal of every water provider. e project improves e ciency and delivers cleaner, higher-quality water to the community.

Upgrades to the Marcy Gulch Wastewater Treatment Plant are scheduled for completion in 2025. ese improvements are essential to meet updated state and federal regulations, allowing us to release cleaner water back into the South Platte River. e enhanced treatment process will improve water quality, supporting sh, wildlife, and the health of our natural environment.

We know increases like these aren’t easy, but they are critical to preserving the high-quality water service our community depends on. By investing in the

GUEST COLUMN

Sam Calkins

To restore faith in democracy, learn more about civics

In an era of political polarization and widespread civic illiteracy, an unlikely group is spearheading a movement to reinvigorate American democracy: middle school students.

Over 6,000 students in 28 states devoted countless hours to prepare for the National Civics Bee on Nov. 12 this year. eir enthusiasm highlights a critical gap in our education system and o ers a potential solution.

e stark reality is that civic education in America has been neglected for decades. According to the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, only a third of adults would pass the civics exam required for U.S. citizenship. Even more alarming, the Annenberg Public Policy Center reports that nearly one- fth of Americans can’t name a single branch of government.

For the younger generation, the outlook is equally grim. e 2022 Nation’s Report Card revealed that a mere 22% of eighthgraders are pro cient in civics.

ere’s a growing recognition across the country that we’re facing a civic crisis. From local initiatives to national programs, e orts are underway to revitalize civic education and promote essential democratic skills.

e National Civics Bee, launched in 2022 by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and its founding partner, the Daniels Fund, is one of the most innovative responses to this challenge. is competition, modeled after the National Spelling Bee, tests middle schoolers on crucial concepts like voting rights, separation of powers, and pivotal moments in American democratic history.

What sets the Civics Bee apart is its non-partisan, apolitical approach and ability to scale nationally in partnership with local chambers of commerce. In our divisive times, these competitions o er a refreshing focus on the fundamental principles that unite us as a nation. Moreover, it’s not just engaging students; en-

CALKINS

present, we are safeguarding the future — ensuring reliable water service for generations to come. Even with the increase projected for 2025, Centennial Water remains one of the lowest cost providers in our region.

We invite you to engage in the conversation as we work to strike the right balance between cost, sustainability, and service

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GUEST

COLUMN

Hanna Skandera & Michael Carney

tire families are getting involved by attending events and helping children prepare.

e Civics Bee’s impact extends beyond competition day. is knowledge equips them for a lifetime of active citizenship.

“Before the National Civics Bee, I thought that maybe I could do a bit of volunteer work, but other than that, it was mainly the government’s job [to solve problems],” Washington state champion Benjamin Wu said in a 2023 interview.

“But now I know that there’s a lot of things that I and other people like me can do to help our community.”

As we approach another fraught election, the importance of civic literacy cannot be overstated. Despite our di erences, we are bound by a shared constitutional framework. It’s crucial that we, as a society, prioritize teaching these fundamentals.

e success of the National Civics Bee should serve as a call to action. We need to champion similar initiatives, advocate for robust civics programs in our schools, and commit to enhancing our own civic knowledge. Educators, policymakers, and citizens must recognize that a wellinformed populace strengthens and revitalizes our democratic institutions.

Our democracy faces numerous challenges, from misinformation to apathy. But if we follow the lead of these civicminded youngsters, we might just secure a brighter future for our republic. After all, an informed and engaged citizenry is the bedrock of a thriving democracy.

Hanna Skandera is president and CEO of the Daniels Fund and former secretary of public education of New Mexico. Michael Carney is president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Learn more about the Civics Bee at civics.uschamberfoundation.org/national-civics-bee/

excellence. e proposed budget, including details about the budget process and how to provide feedback, is available on our website at centennialwater.org, and a hard copy is available at our o ce at 62 Plaza Drive, Highlands Ranch.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to work hard to keep the water owing to your homes and businesses.

is guest column was written by Sam Calkins, the general manager of Centennial Water and Sanitation District, which serves Highlands Ranch and Solstice.

• Letters advocating for a political candidate should focus on that candidate’s qualifications for o ce. We cannot publish letters that contain unverified negative information about a candidate’s opponent. Letters advocating for or against a political candidate or ballot issue will not be published within 12 days of an election.

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Lone Tree Voice

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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Dougco settles on Meridian for probation services

North county location has transit access, sets stage for new judicial district

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

After hearing loud opposition from Lone Tree residents, Douglas County’s leaders halted a plan to place an office that monitors people after they are convicted of crimes near a neighborhood. Now, the county has found a new location.

County Commissioner Abe Laydon, who in May pushed Commissioner George Teal to back off the earlier Lone Tree-area spot, expressed support in October for the new location.

Off Meridian Boulevard, south of the E-470 toll highway and east of Interstate 25, the newly selected location will offer probation services.

“It is this perfect combination of a great deal for us fiscally — it’s in the perfect location right in Meridian,” Laydon said, adding, “There’s really no neighbors to complain or be upset about the adjacency, yet it’s a wonderful facility that will house some really significant departments within our county.”

A change in the state’s court system drove the need for a new office. Colorado’s court system is made up of 22 judicial districts, and a new district is on the way. Today, the 18th Judicial District includes Douglas, Arapahoe, Elbert and Lincoln counties.

But state lawmakers — driven by population growth and a political split in the region — decided to break up the district, moving Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties into Colorado’s first new judicial district in decades.

As part of that retooling, Douglas County officials had been poised to add a probation office near the light rail station off Lincoln Avenue near I-25.

Residents of the Heritage Hills gated community expressed wide opposition to the plan to place the probation office near their neighborhood, including at a community meeting in May with a frustrated crowd of more than 200 people. Area residents expressed fears about safety.

The newly selected location, farther east, sits near Meridian Golf Club and office buildings and somewhat near some apart-

TOWN HALL

“ at’s one thing our sta is always doing,” said Schmitz. “How do we maximize all of our programs and projects in one so we don’t have to come back and impact that same area.”

High Note Regional Park

ment complexes.

The county had “looked at over 60 properties within Douglas as well as Arapahoe (County) trying to find a good fit,” Tim Hallmark, the county’s director of facilities, said at the October meeting where county commissioners approved the new location.

The Meridian-area spot also “provides a great opportunity for some other county services, such as human services and our Douglas County Health Department,” Hallmark added.

Here’s a look at other information on the new space, the difference between probation and parole, and what fueled the need for a new location.

Transportation needs

Some people on probation and other court-related services out of Douglas County have been receiving service in Arapahoe County because of a lack of public transportation to the justice center in Castle Rock, according to county officials.

“We have a transportation problem where it is very difficult for a lot of our clients to get from where they live, north Douglas County, (to) Castle Rock,” Judge Ryan Stuart told the crowd at the May 30 meeting.

Some may have a driving under the influence charge and rely on public transit.

The new Meridian-area location is still close to the Lincoln transit station, about a half-mile walk.

The probation office at the Robert A. Christensen Justice Center in Castle Rock will continue to operate, and the new location will serve as an additional probation office, said Suzanne Karrer, a spokesperson for the Colorado Judicial Branch.

Some other probation offices are near residential areas or schools in the 18th Judicial District, such as the Littleton office along Littleton Boulevard or the Aurora office off Chambers Road.

What is probation?

Amid the backlash to the probation office’s earlier potential location, area residents expressed worry about crime, and some people referred to a plan for a “parole” office.

Some people have confused parole and probation, “and I think that’s just a common misnomer,” Karrer has told Colorado Community Media.

“A parolee is an individual who has been released from prison before completing their full sentence; these persons are man-

gardens, chess and a dog park.

“We’re really excited about this to be able to provide those experiences that we haven’t been able to provide in Lone Tree parks before,” said Good. “ ink about this as a really active destination place.”

Despite concerns about the number of elds, Good said the city had gone back and forth with South Suburban, and came to an agreement to put in ve elds.

aged under the statutory authority of the Colorado Department of Corrections,” a statement from Colorado’s judicial branch said. “People on probation, who (would) be serviced at this location, are individuals who received an alternative sentence for convictions in which they agree to abide by certain terms and conditions in exchange for not serving jail or prison sentences.”

The new Douglas office will have checkin appointments with people on probation. Getting probation means a person is judged to have a low-to-moderate risk of committing the same crime or an additional crime, according to Karrer.

“These could include (people convicted of) crimes like driving under the influence or certain domestic violence charges, for example,” Karrer has said.

Here is a breakdown with numbers, from the state judicial branch, on who receives probation services in Colorado:

• There are roughly 40,000 adults sentenced to probation each year in Colorado.

• There are about 70,000 adults on probation at any given time across Colorado.

• Individuals on probation supervision have offenses ranging from petty offenses to misdemeanors and felonies. About onethird of the probation population is on supervision for a felony conviction. The majority of the probation population has a misdemeanor conviction.

• When filing charges, or accusations, in criminal court, district attorneys select the charges to file, and even inside crimes considered “violent,” there is a wide range of misdemeanor and felony charging options.

• Here are some estimates for those case types for individuals on probation supervision. Of the 70,000 adults on probation across Colorado, 8,500 (12%) were charged with crimes that fell in the assault category, 7,600 (11%) fell in the domestic violence category, 2,900 (4%) fell in the menacing category and 4,000 (6%) fell in the sex offense category.

There are circumstances where somebody may be on parole and then on probation after they finish their parole, Karrer said.

Similarly, parole and probation could occur for a person at the same time for different offenses, but “that would be unusual,” Karrer said.

“The majority of these people are going to be on probation for lower offenses, a sentence of ‘here’s your fine and probation,’” Karrer said.

site, activity areas and basic amenities.   e plan for the north side, according to the city’s website, will be two multipurpose elds, an interim dog park, basic amenities, part of the north parking lot and a maintenance and storage building. Both sides will have a trail connection to the Happy Canyon Regional Trail.

CORRECTIONS

Colorado Trust for Local News asks readers to make us aware of mistakes we may have made.

Email linda@cotln.org if you notice a possible error you would like us to take a look at.

One of the biggest projects in the city that has gained attention has been the construction of the High Note Regional Park.

“It’s going to be Lone Tree’s largest park,” said Austin Good, assistant city manager.

Located along Happy Canyon Creek near Interstate 25 and RidgeGate Parkway, the nearly 80-acre park is a partnership between Lone Tree and South Suburban Parks and Recreation.

e park aims to include ve lit multipurpose elds, a restaurant, a festival terrance to o er a place for farmers markets and other festivals, a large playground, sports courts,

“A lot of their (South Suburban) sports practices are over owing into the neighborhoods,” Good said. “We want to make sure we’re taking pressure o of some of the neighborhood parks.”

Due to its size, the construction — which is set to begin in 2025 — will take place in phases. e rst phase is anticipated to cost about $32 million, according to Good. About $22 million is budgeted by South Suburban and Lone Tree, and the city has a funding application in place with Douglas County.

e phase one plan for the south side will include the festival terrace, a signature water feature, a food truck area, an amphitheater lawn, the foundation for a restaurant pad

Good said they aim to have 400 parking spaces on the north side and about 300 spaces on the south side. He added that a tra c study has been completed on the property and said a tra c light on Lyric Street will likely be put in place.

Because of public comment about the park that had been previously gathered, Good said the design includes a one-mile walking loop that will go through the park.  Residents can learn more and provide input on the development at highnotepark. org/.

“As we continue to expand on any project, we want to hear from you,” said Harmon. “What you want more of, what you’re concerned about and we want to take that into consideration.”

FRIENDLY LOCAL GAME STORES

3

board game cafes to check out around the Denver metro area

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In an era where video games, social media and online chatting have come to the forefront of many gaming circles, a handful of local shops are providing board game enthusiasts with venues to experience a sense of community, new games, campaigns and eats.

For many in the tabletop gaming world, giving folks a place to come together is of the utmost importance. Jessica Willman, the owner of Do Gooder Games in ornton, said that in the modern age, that meeting space has become even more important than ever before.

“In this modern age of technology, it is easy to nd people who share similar interests with you, but they might be in a di erent city, state or even country,” Willman said. “I think it’s very easy to start feeling like you are in the wrong spot and start to feel very isolated. FLGS or Friendly Local Game Stores, are a place to remind you that is not true”

Willman notes that there is a game for everyone — quilt-making enthusiasts can connect around Patchwork, foodies can play Charcuterie, robotics lovers can duke it out in Battletech, basketball lovers in Crunch Time — and FLGS can serve as an important reminder that everyone’s favorite niche interest is also something to connect with others around. For many shopkeepers, creating an inclusive space is step one of owning a board game café.

Elysium Café and Games Owner Chris Martinez said that having a welcoming space for everyone is of

paramount importance, while still recognizing that speci c cafes can cater to speci c groups of gamers — Elysium has a large population of Dungeons and Dragons players, for example.

“Elysium is all about being a community center to all the nerds that have in the past been on the fringes as far as hobbyists go,” Martinez said. “For instance, we have a large group of Dungeons and Dragons players. We provide a welcoming way for folks to come and connect with other players that may have never met.

“Younger kids have a safe place to play as well,” Martinez continued. “It is common to hear someone ask, ‘What is your nerd?’ around here. Inclusivity is our meat and potatoes.”

Willman said that inclusivity extends to people from all walks of life.

“ e FLGS is a place to remind you that the thing you are passionate about is loved by millions, so much so that they made a game out of it; and the people who love it aren’t in some far-o land, they are in your neighborhood,” Willman said. “ ey are waiting at a table for you to come share all the random, zany and even seemingly mundane things that you are passionate about.

“ at’s the amazing thing about FLGS, your age, race, sex, religion, socio-economic state doesn’t matter at the gaming table,” Willman continued. “It’s just people wanting to have fun and play a game. at’s why the motto of our store is ‘Gaming For All.’”

With that, here are three local board game cafes around the Denver Metro Area that are certainly worth checking out.

Elysium Café and Games — Lakewood

10800 W. Alameda Ave., Lakewood, CO 80226 | 720519-0131 | elysium.games

Open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through ursday; 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday

What was the impetus behind starting a board game café?

Martinez: e original trio were friends that used to play games together. One was mostly an investor that already was running a successful business, one had years of experience with game shops and the community, and the last one had a ton of experience running kitchens and cafes.

What is the story behind the name of the café?

Martinez: e name came from one of the owners and his Greek background. After tossing around ideas the name stuck as it checked all the boxes for theme and menu that they were looking for.

What makes Elysium unique?

Martinez: We provide a large area to meet with friends. We have a cafe that provides food and drinks so everyone can connect and enjoy their games. We have an extensive rental game library in case someone wants to try something out before they buy. All that said, the most unique part of Elysium is what we bring to the community.  It is a community center at its heart that caters to what most of us nerds have been missing, connection with other nerds. ere are other game stores that have larger inventories or even more hosted events. Elysium focuses on the community.

GAME STORES

What are your favorite parts of running a board game café?

Martinez: e community. I love chatting with everyone about what type of games they are into. My team and I have dabbled in most games and are experts in a large number.

Do you accept reservations?

Martinez: Yes! We do not charge for tables/space, per se. We o er open and closed events. Open events are open to the public and anyone can join. Closed events are like birthdays or special occasions for friends and family. If a third-party event organizer wants to use Elysium’s space for a paid event, we do charge a small fee from the organizer.

Thane’s Table — Arvada

7655 W. 88th Ave., Arvada, CO 80005 | 720-381-4200 | thanestable.com

Open 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through ursday; 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday

What is the story behind the name of the café?

Shop owner Abhi ane: “ ane” in Anglo-Saxon England was a title awarded by noblemen, giving someone ranking between a common free person and a hereditary noble.

Given that we also serve the Dungeons & Dragons community, ane’s Table was a catchy, be tting and

What makes ane’s Table unique?

noble ctional name for a town tavern where patrons can play games with their friends and loved ones, purchase local handmade crafts, and join community groups, with the tavern’s purpose being to provide a welcoming space for all its patrons.

ane: ane’s Table o ers two private gaming rooms with custom tables for dungeons and dragons or any tabletop gaming, with the ability to order food and drinks directly from the rooms. All our main area gaming tables are handmade as well and o er pull-out trays to hold food and beverages keeping the tabletop free for gaming.

What are your favorite parts of running a board game café?

ane: As we get close to celebrating our two-year anniversary, we can admit that starting a niche small business like a gaming restaurant has been a challenge overall. And all thanks to our amazing team, we continue to learn to operate e ciently.

Our favorite part is serving the gaming community that has been nothing but kind, patient and supportive in our journey this entire time.

Do you accept reservations?

ane: Yes, we o er online and in-person reservations.

Do Gooder Games Café — Thornton 16639 Washington St., ornton, CO 80023 | 720432-4155 | dogoodergames.com

Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through ursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday; Closed Monday

What was the impetus behind starting a board game café?

Willman: It was an idea that my partner and I had tried about 15 years ago, but decided to not go through with it. After COVID, we decided to actually make it happen.

What is the story behind the name of the café?

Willman: It actually was the idea of a friend of mine. We were throwing around ideas for names and he suggested that we use “Do Gooder.” We absolutely loved it, because not only is it a gaming reference, but it also really sums up what we wanted to do with our store.

What makes Do Gooder Games Café unique?

Willman: ere are a lot of great game stores around Denver, but it can be very intimidating to go into a new store and try to learn a new game, especially if you have two young children with you. I wanted to create a space where you could go and play any type of game, no matter if you are just learning or have been playing for years.

I also wanted to make a place where you could bring your whole family and have a good time.

What is the importance of serving food at Do Gooder Games Café?

Willman: As far as the cafe side goes, I have always loved doing full game days but frequently ran into the problem of what to do when it is time to eat. When playing at a store and you’re in the middle of a game, does someone have to leave to go get food for everyone, or does someone have to stay behind to watch the game and keep the table while everyone else goes and gets food.

Frequently I noticed that we would end up just ending the game so everyone could go get food. I wanted to have a space where it was possible to game all day and be able to get some actual food and drinks without having to leave.

A gaming table at Thane’s Table. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ABHI THANE

Butter beer o ered at Thane’s Table in Arvada.

Step into a rainforest at Denver museum

The  Denver Museum of Nature & Science normally uses models, fossils and preserved specimens to bring the dynamic natural world to visitors, but in the new  Animals of the Rainforest exhibit, guests have the opportunity to see up-close and personal some of the forest’s most beautiful inhabitants.

“ is exhibit provides the opportunity for people to see something special, something they normally don’t get to see here,” said Dr. Frank Krell, senior curator of entomology at the museum. “We know people love seeing live animals and this is an opportunity to see animals from rainforests from all over the world.”

Animals of the Rainforest is currently on display at the museum, 2001 Colorado Blvd., and is free with a general admission ticket.

e immersive exhibit features a mix of live animal displays and informative content on a range of topics, from how the rainforest ecosystem works, to the many threats these critical places face from humans and technology. ere are also animal sculptures set up throughout the exhibit that are perfect for climbing on and taking a family photo.

But of course, the biggest draw are the many animals that people can meet. Species on display include a sloth, python, iguana, boa constrictors and tortoises, all within intricately designed

STROLLERS

myself,” Holzhauer said. “Just in that community, having that support and then being able to work out with my kid … one of the biggest reasons I joined is as a social person, too. I love to work out outside, and as a mom, I never wanted to put my child in daycare at a gym. It was like a win-win because I was able to work out, I was able to make friends, and I didn’t put my child in childcare.”

Fit4Mom o ers several di erent classes for mothers, including a speci ed prenatal workout for expecting moms, mom-only sessions like body wellness and body boost classes, and the most popular: stroller strides.

As its name suggests, this workout is a full-body strength, cardio and core training class all while engaging their kids in the stroller. And the kids get a lot of the classes as well, she said. Instructors will sing songs to the kids and engage them in physical

COMING ATTRACTIONS

habitats that replicate their natural rainforest environments. e wildlife’s caretakers are also on hand to answer questions and provide more information about the animals.

connected to these places and animals, they may want to do something to preserve them.”

Clarke Reader

“Documenting rainforests’ biodiversity is a really important way to preserve it for the future,” Krell said. “And here in Colorado, it provides the opportunity to see animals we normally don’t get to see.”

As is always the case at the museum, curators and have expanded the exhibit by adding features from the museum’s vast collection of preserved specimens. For this exhibit, the museum showcases a beautiful and bright collection of rainforest butter ies.

e hope is that by learning more about rainforests and the many creatures that call them home, visitors will be inspired to do what they can to help protect them. e forests face threats from ranching and deforestation, among many other man-made pressures. We can all do our part to aid in rainforest conversation, and the exhibit highlights this fact.

“You can reach people better through their feelings and emotions rather than lecturing them,” Krell said. “If people feel

and active learning exercises.

“I absolutely love it when I have a mom send me little videos of their kids at home, doing lunges with their stroller or singing songs and kind of playing stroller strides,” Holzhauer said. “My girls are now (older), but when they were little, they would play stroller strides all the time … And to this day, they love what I do, and I love to come to classes, and they love tness and the incredible example that moms are setting for their kids just being outside and being active.”

ere’s also a run club, which includes an eight-week guided training program for moms interested in running a 5K or halfmarathon, with or without their stroller stragglers.

When she rst got involved working for Fit4Mom, Holzhauer said she gured she could teach a few classes with no problem, but she never expected how much it would give back to her.

“It has been incredibly rewarding,” she said. “You know, when you have someone that shows up and she joins and she’s like, ‘I didn’t know how much I needed this. I was

Weekly Carrier Routes Available

& Highlands Ranch Areas

For more details, visit dmns.org/visit/ exhibitions/animals-of-the-rainforest.

Play a ‘Mindgame’ at Wheat Ridge Theatre Company ere’s still time to catch the last weekend of the  Wheat Ridge eatre Company Playhouse’s production of  “Mindgame,” written by Anthony Horowitz and directed by Selena A Naumo . e show is a psychological thriller set in a mental hospital and focuses on a true crime writer who hopes to interview a serial killer for a new book he’s working on. e writer doesn’t have a good feeling about the place, and the longer he’s there, the worse it gets.

“Mindgame” runs through Sunday, Nov. 10. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Get tickets at wheatridgetheatre.com.

Schoolhouse Theater Brings ‘Nunsense’ to the Stage

Parker Arts is welcoming autumn with  “Nunsense,” a hilarious musical revue that is running at  e Schoolhouse eater, 19650 Mainstreet in Parker, through Sunday, Nov. 17. Performances are at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and 7:30 p.m. ursday through Saturday. According to provided information, the

show tells the story of a fundraiser put on by the Little Sisters of Hoboken to raise money to bury sisters accidently poisoned by the convent cook, Sister Julia (Child of God).

“Nunsense” has been updated with new jokes, arrangements and a new song.

You de nitely don’t want to miss this laugh-riot of a musical, so get tickets at parkerarts.org/event/nunsense.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — MICHELLE at Lost Lake Lounge

New York City’s indie rock group  MICHELLE specialize in the kind of alt rock that hits you like a dream: quietly and then all at once. ey beautifully use dreampop soundscapes and R&B touches to take listeners on an internal journey that is both enlightening and compelling. e band’s latest album, “Songs About You Speci cally,” might be their strongest yet, showcasing exciting new approaches to their music.

In support of the band’s new release, MICHELLE will be performing at the Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver, at 8 p.m. on Nov. 8. ey’ll be joined for the evening by opener ggwendolyn.  Get tickets at lost-lake.com.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.

Part-time hours

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• No suit & tie required! revious carrier experience encouraged; reliable vehicle and email access, required.

no telephone inquiries - but email us at:

Moms in Fit4Mom Castle Rock programs do a slew of workouts involving their little ones in their strollers. Owner Stephanie Holzhauer said not only do the moms get solid workouts in, but the kids stay engaged with songs and other active learning forms. COURTESY

Thu 11/14

Zikr Dance Ensemble presents "Secrets" at Highland Ranch's Southridge Recreation Center November 14

@ 6:30pm / $15-$25

Palerider @ 8pm

Moe's Original BBQ, 3295 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Palehorse @ 8pm

Moe's Original BBQ, 3295 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Phat Daddy @ 8pm Q's Pub and Grill, 10133 W Chat�eld Ave, Little‐ton

Sat 11/16

Southridge Recreation Center, 4800 McArthur Ranch Road, Highlands Ranch. info@zikrdance.com

Adult Spelling Bee at Western Sky Bar & Taproom

@ 7pm

Kids Cooking: Apple & Pumpkin Fun (6-12yrs) @ 9am

PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Av‐enue, Parker

Art: The Day the Crayons Quit (5-10yrs) @ 10am PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker

14U-18U Tryout 11/16 @ 1pm / Free The Island, 2233 S Geneva St, Aurora. 720-5244136

(DENVER) BLESSED AND UNSTOPPABLE: Billy Alsbrooks

Life Changing Seminar @ 1pm

Hilton Denver Inverness, 200 Inverness

Western Sky Bar & Taproom, 4361 S BROADWAY, Englewood. westernsky barco@gmail.com

Fri 11/15

Kids' Zone Event: Princess Ball (211 yrs) FALL24

@ 6:15pm

PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Av‐enue, Parker

Live Wire: A Tribute to AC/DC @ 7pm

Dee Lucas @ 7:30pm

Dr W, Englewood

Chasing The Devil: Wild Goose Saloon

@ 6:30pm Wild Goose Saloon, Parker

Shimon Moore: SHIM "Sick Puppies

Original Singer" wsg Shallow Side and Chasing the Devil

@ 7pm

Wild Goose Saloon, Parker

Joey Avery @ 7pm

Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Pl, Greenwood Village

Mon 11/18

Valor Wrestling Club - Elite 24/25

@ 5:30pm / $550

Nov 18th - Mar 31st

Valor Christian High School, 3775 Grace Blvd., Highlands Ranch. 303-471-3000

La Femme @ 8pm Gothic Theatre, Englewood

Wild Goose Saloon, Parker

Bad Year

@ 8pm

Moe's Original BBQ, 3295 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Tue 11/19

Tony Medina Music: The Open Mic

RockStar Music Hall & Event Center, 15755 E Arapahoe Rd, Centennial

Phat Daddy @ 8pm

Q's Pub and Grill, 10133 W Chat�eld Ave, Little‐ton

RJD2 @ 9pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Sun 11/17

Robotics Studio

@ 2:15pm / $316

Nov 17th - Apr 27th

Hosted by Tony Medina @ 6:30pm The Alley, 2420 W Main St, Littleton SonReal @ 7pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Wed 11/20

14-18U Tryout 11/20

@ 4:30pm / Free The Island, 2233 S Geneva St, Aurora. 720-5244136

Ladies Night @ 6pm / $16.51

Stampede, Aurora

Mark Ambor @ 8pm Gothic Theatre, Englewood

DJ Rockstar Aaron: Forbidden Bingo Wednesdays - 'Bout Time Pub & Grub @ 8pm

After Midnight Jazz Band: Arts in the Afternoon @ 1:30pm Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Com‐mons St, Lone Tree

Sam Wheelock: Koelbel Library (CO) "A STORY AND A SONG"... FREE @ 6:30pm Koelbel Library (Arapahoe Libraries), 5955 S Holly St, Centennial

Thu 11/21

Neil Z @ Earls Kitchen + Bar @ 6pm Earls Kitchen + Bar, 8335 Park Meadows Center Dr, Lone Tree

Korey Foss: Rock Candy @ Q's @ 7pm Q's Pub and Grill, 10133 W Chat�eld Ave, Little‐

CW & Twenty Hands High @ 7:30pm Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Mainstreet, Parker

Molly Sarlé @ 8pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Blind Pilot @ 8pm Gothic Theatre, Englewood

In Home Rootics, 12229 s eagle hawk trail, Parker. 515-708-0433

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

Rock Canyon softball rides bounce-back season to state tournament

last season, finishing 15-12 and 4-6 in the 5A/4A Continental League. Rock Canyon was 10-3 at home this year and enjoyed five straight wins to start the year.

BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Last year, the Rock Canyon Jaguars were nothing to write home about on the softball diamond. With an overall record of 6-17 and 2-8 in the brutal Continental League, it was easy to think the team’s best days were in the rearview mirror after three straight losing seasons.

But enter first-year Head Coach BJ Kingsbaker. He spent eight seasons as head coach at Smoky Hill High School in Aurora, winning two league titles before having his third child made him take a back seat. After a couple of seasons as an assistant coach for Rock Canyon, he was ready to be a head coach again.

“I asked the seniors to change the culture,” Kingsbaker said. “I said I’d give them a good senior year if they helped me with that. We lost our best player (Sydney Boulaphinh) to Stanford. Our best junior transferred away to Idaho. So, we had what we had. And they worked. They started in June, they showed up, they had a great attitude all year and it showed.”

The 2024 Jaguars — led by seniors Brooke Schenderlein, Taylor Dumas, Karley Hackert, Sydney Lowery and Ottilia Padden — added nine more wins to their record from

At regionals, the No. 22 Jaguars were pitted against a tough No. 11 Arvada West team but lit up the scoreboard to win 2212. The second round brought a 12-0 loss to No. 6 Riverdale Ridge, but it was enough for the Jaguars to earn their first berth in the 16-team 5A state tournament since the program’s 16-2 shortened season in 202021.

Rock Canyon entered the state tournament as the No. 15 seed, which unfortunately meant they’d run into powerhouse No. 2 Broomfield in the first round. Broomfield was undefeated, walking into the state tournament with the confidence of a perfect 25-0 record.

“It was really a mindset of nothing to lose,” Kinsgbaker said. “We had (Broomfield) on the ropes in a 2-1 game in the bottom of the sixth inning, and we were playing as loose and with as much energy as we had all year. And obviously, we ran into a buzzsaw eventually, and then they scored seven in the bottom of the sixth inning.

But, you know, for all the entire regionals, and through six innings of that game, we played with arguably the two best teams in the state.”

Broomfield won 9-1 to advance, beating No. 10 Grandview in the second round 5-4 before losing to No. 6 Riverdale Ridge in

the semifinal. Riverdale Ridge went on to win its first softball state title in school history.

But for Rock Canyon, the Jaguars learned how to win again. And with only five seniors graduating, the future is bright for the program, Kingsbaker said.

“To do it with a freshman in the threehole and a freshman as the leadoff hitter and a sophomore on the mound, and our hottest hitter was the third freshman … It really gave everyone a belief of just how close we can be to be that team again,” Kingsbaker said. “I think this entire group would start the season tomorrow if they could. When you have this momentum going in, I think we have a very hungry group to go into the next nine months bigger and stronger and faster with the idea that we’re going to have loftier goals next year.”

He’ll lean on sophomore pitcher Kennedi Martinez and junior shortstop Delaney Mimless as pillars of the program next season but said there are too many other promising players to name.

The Jaguars are tired of middling seasons, and Kinsgbaker expects them to continue to build on what he already calls a fixed culture. Kingsbaker is just happy to be back in his element and wants to turn the Jaguars back into a perennial state contender.

“I’m a head coach at heart, and it was really good to be back to building a program again,” he said.

Rock Canyon softball bounced

tournament. After three losing seasons, 2024 indicated good years ahead for the Jaguars. COURTESY PHOTO

Bandimeres eye Hudson site for new raceway

Weld County property would allow for longer track and other amenities

BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Bandimere Speedway is pursuing a move to Hudson, with its eyes on a piece of land more than seven times bigger than its longtime Morrison site. Hudson is a town of about 1,600 people in Weld County. e prospective 1,100-acre site would allow the development of a mile-long track and many other amenities.

“ e size of the property has made it so we can look at a lot of things we’ve always wanted to do,” John Bandimere Jr. said. “ ere are opportunities for a lot of our sponsors and other people to do things they’ve always wanted to do, too. One simple deal is we de nitely would like to have a go-cart track.”

Morrison’s now-closed Bandimere Speedway had a three-quarter mile track, which Bandimere said is too short for today’s cars.

“ at extra space gives you a quarter mile to race and three-quarters to shut down,” he said. “When I was growing up, there wasn’t anybody that went 200 mph in a quarter mile. Vehicles are so fast today, they just need that extra space for stopping.”

But all those plans are on hold while Bandimere is in due diligence, the process of inspecting the property before closing. Bandimere said there is an issue with a wetland that he described as “ xable.”

Bandimere Speedway is a family-run operation, and Bandimere said they’re excited about the potential move and expansion.

“We really like Hudson and all the people up there,” Bandimere said. “ ey’re very open to dealing with us and are very interested in what we do.”

If all goes smoothly, Bandimere hopes to have the new speedway at least partially open in 2025, with full operations by 2026.

A partial opening “would not make money,” he said. “But that’s not the point,” he said. “It’s

about keeping this racing family together.”

Global auto company Copart plans a vehicle auction center on most of the former speedway site at Morrison Road and C-470.

e town of Morrison agreed to annex the 125-acre site in August in a deal that includes the transfer of 16 acres to the town. at gives Morrison control over future retail or commercial development at its front door.

Copart and Bandimere agreed on that deal, Bandimere said, and shared the expense of giving Morrison the land.

“It was very important we got that done,” Bandimere said. Bandimere Jr., who is 86, said his son John “Sporty” Bandimere, had been managing operations in Morrison and will do so at the new site.

John Bandimere Sr. bought the 150-acre property on Morrison Road in 1957 — decades before C470 was built — and opened the speedway a year later. Also known as under Mountain, the dragstrip hosted 28,500 spectators at more than 130 events a year. Bandimere Speedway closed at the end of the 2023 season.

The site of the former Bandimere Speedway, which closed last year, was annexed into the Town of Morrison and is set to become the new home of an auto auction company. COURTESY PHOTO

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