Lone Tree Voice December 5, 2024 by Colorado Community Media

Program at Parker hospital provides companionship to those at the end of life

Burglaries hit homes of Asian business owners, sheri says

The new program seeks additional ‘compassionate companions’

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Katherine Wiley, a volunteer at AdventHealth Parker, was in the hospital’s emergency department when she

saw rst-hand how being alongside a stranger during their nal moments of life can have a profound impact on those around them.

Wiley sat with an elderly woman who was dying with no one around. e patient’s sons were trying to get to the hospital from Colorado Springs but didn’t make it in time.

“When they got there, I told them that I had been with their mom so she was not alone and they were very

grateful,” said Wiley.

Wiley shared this story with the CEO of the hospital, Michael Goebel, at the annual volunteer luncheon last year, and the following week, the No One Dies Alone program was being set up.

“We can provide companionship to patients in the dying process who are truly alone,” said Wiley. “In doing so, (it) provides a gift of respect and dignity to another human being at the end of life.”

e volunteers of the program are called “compassionate companions.” ey do not provide medical care, but they assist with comfort care measures — they sit beside the patient, hold their hands, play soothing music or read to the patients.

For as many circumstances there are that lead a person to be hospitalized, there are also as many reasons why a patient is alone.

Law enforcement provides tips on crime prevention

BY ELLIS ARNOLD

A string of burglaries at the homes of Asian business owners who live in Douglas County has caused losses of roughly $1 million this year, according to the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce.

e burglars strike while the victims are at work, often outside of the county, according to the o ce.

“We have seen over 10 occurrences in 2024, including ve in the last month and a half,” the sheri ’s o ce told Colorado Community Media in a mid-November statement.

In one case, the same residence was burglarized twice, but the others were hit once, according to the o ce.

Other burglaries occur, such as when a garage gets broken into or someone opens a back door, said Deputy Cocha Heyden, a spokesperson for the sheri ’s o ce. But “the ones that t this pro le, or t this technique, t targeting business owners,” are burglaries reported that have Asian victims, Heyden said.

“I have no idea if there’s any other victims out there from any other backgrounds from any other businesses that haven’t reported to us,” Heyden said, adding: “ e ones that have been reported to us, they all (have) Asian victims.”

e victims aren’t associated with just one type of business, Heyden said.

“We cannot say they are targeting Asian business owners; all we can say is that is who has reported the crimes to us,” Heyden said.

e suspects may employ “sophisticated tactics” to track their victim’s activity before the burglary by placing trackers on their vehicles or placing hidden cameras in their yards to determine when the homes are unoccupied, according to the o ce.

ey may also use Wi-Fi jammers to disable security cameras and alarm systems during the burglary, disabling doorbell cameras and Wi-Fi of neighboring homes, the sheri ’s o ce said in a news release.

Some cables to the “home’s alarm system and/or cameras” have also

Katherine Wiley, right, speaks with one of the chaplains at AdventHealth Parker. Wiley was a volunteer in the hospital’s emergency department before becoming the volunteer coordinator for the new No One Dies Alone program.

COURTESY OF KATHERINE WILEY

Colorado sees surge in bear reports with a record year for conﬂicts

BY ALEX MURPHY KUNC

New numbers from Colorado Parks and Wildlife shows a signi cant increase in bear activity across the state. e data shows more than a thousand additional cases so far in 2024 compared to numbers from 2023. is includes 4,644 bear reports from Jan. 1 through Nov. 1. e total is the third-highest since 2019, and the year isn’t over.

With more than 17,000 bears estimated to live across the state, CPW suggests locals and visitors practice “bear-aware” principles. ese guidelines were created by wildlife o cials to keep humans and bears safe. Unfortunately, many issues between humans and bears can be blamed on food.

“ e bear population seems very healthy, which is great news, but it also puts more on our plate as humans to be sure that we are staying vigilant with trying to keep bears eating things that they should be eating. So, things out in the wild and not our trash,” said Kara Van Hoose, the Northeast Region Public Information O cer for CPW.

Part of being bear aware includes everything from securing trash cans and dumpsters to locking car and home doors and windows. To keep bears o residential property, people should secure compost piles too. e same goes for rotting fruit on the ground from fruit trees. CPW also recommends people clean grills after each use, not leaving pet food outside, and more.

“We encourage people to take down their bird feeders until after, typically after anksgiving, because those are just really easy bu ets and sources of calories for bears,” said Van Hoose. “Bird feeders are typically close to your windows, so you can look out and see what’s happening there. And you don’t want to bring the bear closer to your house where it can nd more food and also a higher chance of interacting with people.” take the proper precautions.

entering homes and buildings It’s important to note that the

issue is not isolated to the mountains. In the Boulder and Broomeld area, wildlife managers say human-bear interactions have been high this year. ey recommend hazing bears by making noise, using bear spray or even a water hose to scare the animal o . Weld and Larimer counties saw an average number of bear conicts, but there has been a sharp increase in sightings as a warm fall and drought conditions keep bears searching for food sources. Colorado’s increase in population along the Front Range also put bears and humans closer as more undeveloped land becomes homes.

Historically, bear-related incidents drop o in November and December. However, this year’s warmer than normal temperatures may keep bears out longer.

“We’ve typically always said, through anksgiving is when we consider bears to be still awake. But, I mean, it’s possible that they stay awake longer than that, based on what forecast is doing, and if it’s going to get cold enough,” said Van Hoose. “In Colorado, it’s not a true hibernation. We call it torpor, which means that they can still wake up, leave their dens, eat and then return back to their dens. So, it’s a good idea to stay vigilant about your trash and things like that, especially if we have a warmer winter too.”

Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommend locals report all bear activity, especially in towns and cities, whether the bear is digging through a trash can or is caught on a doorbell camera. e data helps wildlife o cials understand bear activity, track where bears are located, and avoid future human and bear con icts.

You can report bear activity on the agency’s website.

is story is from KUNC, a nonpro t news source. Used by permission. For more, and to support KUNC, visit kunc.org.

Douglas County organizations are collecting gifts for holiday fundraisers

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As the holidays encourage spending time with loved ones, re ecting and being thankful, local organizations are hoping to harness that holiday spirit to give back to those in need.

e Douglas County News-Press rounded up a couple of gift drives seeking donations from generous community members this season. e fundraisers focus on various parts of the community, including seniors, families and kids.

Lisa Cardinal, a pastor at NewDay Adventist Church, which partners with AdventHealth to provide an annual Christmas Store for families, told Colorado Community Media in a previous interview that the store impacts hundreds of families at a crucial time of year.

“We’re not solving their problems,” said Cardinal. “But Christmas is such a

big deal, if we can just kind of take the heaviness o and bring joy and hope.”

Christmas Store, AdventHealth

AdventHealth locations in Parker and Castle Rock host an annual Christmas Store for families in need to get presents at no cost. e hospital partners with NewDay Adventist Church and schools to provide the store for invited families.

To donate to the Christmas Store, go to www.rmahf.org/parker.html for Parker and www.rmahf.org/castlerock.html for Castle Rock.

Be a Santa to a Senior, Aging Resources Douglas County Home Instead of Castle Rock and Aging Resources of Douglas County are collecting gifts for 135 older adults. Community members are invited to help brighten the lives of these seniors by selecting a gift bulb from one of the Bulb

Displays across Douglas County. Each bulb represents a unique senior in need and a simple gift idea chosen to bring them comfort and joy. Gifts should be returned to one of the designated locations by Dec. 16. Bulb and drop o locations include Independent Financial, 501 Wilcox St., Castle Rock; ENT Credit Union, 18700 Cottonwood Dr., Parker; ENT Credit Union, 11280 S. Twenty Mile Road, Parker; and Community Banks of Colorado, 18601 E. Mainstreet, Parker. Gifts can also be dropped o at Home Instead, 333 Perry St., Suite 302, in Castle Rock; or Aging Resources at 104 4th St. in Castle Rock.

Hope for the Holidays, Hope and Help Center

e Hope and Help Center creates an annual holiday store lled with new toys and gifts for children from families facing di cult circumstances. ose interested

in participating can purchase gifts from the organization’s Amazon wishlist or hold an o ce toy drive. New toys can be dropped o at the Hope and Help Center in Castle Rock. More information is at www.helpandhopecenter.org/hope-forthe-holidays.

Giving Trees, Castle Rock Teen Advisory Group

Castle Rock’s Teen Advisory Group is leading a Giving Trees fundraiser at the Castle Rock Rec Center to collect $25 gift cards from Wal-Mart, King Soopers and Target for families in need in Douglas County. Ornaments hanging on the trees contain gift card requests — remove an ornament from the tree, attach it to the gift card you are donating and return it to the front desk sta by Dec. 9. Gift cards will be distributed to families through Catholic Charities and Developmental Pathways.

Castle Rock resident Carly Rima had a bear and her cub visit her yard in Happy Canyon on June 13, attracted by a bird feeder. Rima said she usually takes the feeder down before bear season to avoid drawing them into the neighborhood.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CARLY RIMA

Department of Justice Objects to Key Part of the NAR Settlement as Anti-Competitive

When the National Association of Realtors (NAR) agreed on March 15th to a $415-million-dollar settlement with a class of home sellers in Missouri, there were two changes which NAR agreed to make.

The first was to remove from the nation’s MLSs all mention of commissions being shared cooperatively with buyer brokers. The second was that all buyers must sign an agreement with any broker (other than the listing agent) before showing another agent’s listing.

If a buyer were to call one of us to see a listed home, we would want to make sure they were a qualified buyer before taking the time to show them a listing, but few of us would bother with any paperwork unless and until they wanted us to compose an offer to buy that or another listing. And we universally got away with that approach.

Last week, the judge in that case was scheduled to affirm or deny that settlement, and on Sunday, Nov. 30th, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a 5-page “statement of interest” stating that, in the DOJ’s opinion, the latter provision was anti-competitive and should be struck down.

So it was a bit of a pain (and an annoyance to the buyer) when we were told that from now on we had to get any prospective buyer to sign a “showing agreement” or a “buyer agency agreement.”

provision of the settlement. And let it be said that this rule was pretty meaningless in the context of the complaint on which the NAR settlement was based, namely that listing agents shouldn’t be sharing their commission with buyer’s agents.

Regarding the other requirement of the NAR settlement outlawing commission sharing and the publishing of “cooperative” commissions on MLSs, it has had little effect here in Colorado. All that happened was that offers of compensation were rephrased on listing agreements and on contracts to buy real estate.

judge in the settlement case deny that aspect of the agreement, too? Perhaps, but one can always hope!

The Origin of the 2.8% Co-op

At press time for this column, the judge had not yet affirmed the settlement, so maybe this is old news to readers, but I wanted to share it with you in case you haven’t heard about the DOJ filing.

We Realtors had taken a grin-and-bearit attitude toward both rules, and I personally hadn’t considered what the DOJ is now espousing — namely, that when you ask a buyer to sign a representation agreement with one broker just to see a home, no matter how short the term of that agreement, you are limiting the ability of other brokers to compete for that buyer’s business.

Prior to the NAR rule, it was considered proper practice to provide a buyer with whom we interact with a “Brokerage Disclosure to Buyer” stating that they are a “Customer” and not a client, but I don’t know any brokers who actually did that.

Since the NAR settlement didn’t say what kind of agreement that should be, I created a simple “Showing Agreement” which I printed up for our broker associates and gave to them, padded, to keep in their glove compartments. Before entering a listing, they were to fill in the blanks and have the buyer sign it before entering the listing. That copy would be given to the buyer, and I suggested that our broker associates take a picture of it on their smartphone — not to print and file it, but just to keep it on their phone as a record.

The fact remains that there is no one to audit whether this form is completed, although I suppose there could be “secret shoppers” who would test agents to see if they are doing that. But, remember, this is a NAR rule, not a state law, so any audits by the Real Estate Commission would not include verifying that such forms were being completed. For that reason, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear of agents who simply ignore that NAR rule.

Regardless, it would be a relief if, following this DOJ filing, the judge in the NAR settlement case were to deny that

Now, the listing agreements still state the same total commission — 5 to 6 percent, or whatever — but instead of saying how much of that commission the listing agent will offer to an agent for the buyer, the listing agreement now says how much the seller will offer to an agent for the buyer and then says that, if that amount is indeed paid to a buyer’s agent, that percentage will be deducted from the commission paid to the listing agent. In other words, no change except in phraseology.

Why the amount the seller is offering can’t be stated on the MLS makes no sense. Would it be too much to have the

Have you ever wondered why 2.8% became the typical or standard commission offered to “cooperating brokers” who represent buyers? Here’s a history lesson. It was explained to me that, before the U.S. Department of Justice said that the Denver Board of Realtors (DBOR) was engaging in price fixing by dictating commission rates, DBOR set the listing commission at 7%, and dictated that 40% of that amount, or 2.8%, was the proper amount to be shared with agents representing buyers.

After price-fixing was outlawed, listing commissions declined, but the 2.8% co-op remained a fixture, so to speak, because sellers and their agents didn’t want buyer agents to avoid their listings in favor of listings still offering 2.8%.

Nowadays, with buyers doing their own searching online (where that co-op commission was hidden from consumers), the reluctance to offer less than 2.8% diminished and now is far less important.

My Feb. 17, 2022, column reported that the percentage of listings offering less than 2.8% had grown from 2% in 2015 to 30%.

Is Your Home Fully Prepared for Winter?

Now that our warm autumn is giving way to the cold spells of winter, have you done everything you should to prepare for cold weather?

Frozen pipes should be your number one concern, given the damage burst pipes can cause. Are your outdoor hose bibs the kind that resist freezing? They’re easy enough to install. They work because the valve itself is deep within the unit so that it benefits from the warmth within your house.

Does the caulking around your windows need refreshing? Leakage around windows is a major source of lost heat.

ommend annual cleaning and servicing of HVAC systems.

If you have a wood-burning fireplace, when was the chimney last cleaned? Chimney fires are all too common. Tree trimming is expensive, but should be considered, given the increase in hurricane-force winds due to climate change. Is there a tree that could fall on your home? Consider removing it, or at least trimming threatening branches.

This is a good time to test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and maybe install fresh batteries.

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There’s so much to love about this home at 7085 W. 32nd Pl.! For starters, it’s a handyman’s delight with an oversized 2-car garage that is heated and has 200 Amps of power, including two 240-Volt circuits! Also, one of the basement bedrooms has been converted into a sound studio with professional soundproofing such that neighbors and the people upstairs wouldn’t be aware of it! Altogether, including that studio with its ensuite bathroom, this home has five bedrooms and three full bathrooms. And it has a full-size bar with bar stools next to that studio in the basement that is

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Check your dryer vent for built-up lint, a major cause of house fires.

Change the filter in your forced-air furnace to improve its efficiency. I rec-

Clean your gutters so water doesn’t collect, freeze and back up on your roof. We have vendors to recommend for each of these tasks under the “Resources” tab at www.GoldenRealEstate.com

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Help kids skip seasonal bruises and breaks this holiday season

Experts o er tips to help children avoid serious injuries

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As families prepare for the holiday season, it’s also the time to take extra precautions to help children avoid serious injuries.

Children’s Hospital Colorado tends to see a higher rate of injury related to toys, winter sports and activities, and motor vehicle crashes during this time of the year. Injuries at home, which includes falls, are always a top cause of injury consistently year over year, followed by motor vehicle crashes.

“As humans, we always have this idea that bad things aren’t going to happen to us,” said Britney Lombard, injury prevention expert at Children’s Hospital Colorado. “What we need to do is set all of these things in place to prevent any injuries from happening.”

To empower and educate parents and caregivers with prevention tools, the trauma program and injury prevention community health outreach teams at Children’s Hospital Colorado recently secured a proclamation by the Aurora mayor to establish Nov. 18 as National Prevention Day.

Car seat safety

Last year, motor vehicle crashes were the second leading cause of serious traumatic injury for patients seen across the Children’s Hospital Colorado system of care. From January to June of this year, there were more than 70 pediatric visits to Colorado hospital emergency departments for motor vehicle incidents.

According to Children’s Hospital Colorado, about 29% of children between the ages of 2 and 8, and less than half of children age 9 and up, were properly wearing a seatbelt in the crash.

“We’re seeing older kids in ve-

hicle crashes at higher rates than we see the younger kids,” said Lombard. “It is really important that families don’t get complacent and make sure they’re still following those safety recommendations.”

Earlier this year, CDOT released a statement that nearly 80% of Colorado parents and caregivers are not using a car seat correctly. e most common car seat misuse in 2023, according to CDOT, was the harness, either being loose or an incorrect placement of the harness slots. Other forms of misuse found were children moving from a booster too soon, and the car seat being the

incorrect size for children.

CDOT’s Car Seats Colorado suggests parents and caregivers refer to the car seat manufacturer’s manual and vehicle owner’s manual for car seat installation instructions, ensure the child is in the correct seat for their size and age, and periodically check for any recalls.

“We know that the back seat is safest for children, it keeps them away from the airbag,” Lombard said, adding that airbags deploy at high speeds and with lots of power. “Children’s skeletons just are not able to handle those forces.”

Going into e ect in early 2025, HB24-1055 will enhance

car seat laws to better protect children by changing the child restraint system requirements.

e new legislation will require children to use a booster seat in the car until they’re at least 9 years old, which is an extra year from what previous law currently required, Lombard said. e law will also require children under the age of 2 to be in a rear facing car seat.

“( is) is following best practices or what we’ve known to be safest for many years,” said Lombard. “We have a lot of work to do making sure that families have the information and resources to get those car seats checked.”

Fire prevention and avoiding other hazards e holiday season also brings an uptick in the number of patients treated at Children’s Hospital Colorado due to injuries from within the home.

Lombard said it’s important to focus on re prevention and ensuring children can’t get into dangerous things that could contain hazards. Some holiday decorations that could be hazardous are holiday lights, breakable ornaments and anything with buttons or batteries as they can pose a hazard if ingested.

“We want to make sure that all of those extra items we’re adding into our house, that we’re considering the safety of those items,” said Lombard.

She added that parents and caregivers might consider putting up child safety gates, especially around the replace, and other home proo ng tools, avoid standing water, ensure rearms are locked up and that ammunition is stored separately from those rearms.

Children’s Hospital Colorado does work through Safe Kids Colorado coalition, which provides tools and resources to help prevent choking, kitchen safety tips and winter safety.

Some of the winter safety tips recommended are putting on sunscreen, removing pu y winter coats before putting children in their car seats, always having an adult present during winter activities and to stay hydrated.

Many injuries seen at Children’s Hospital Colorado system of care can be prevented, said Lombard, which is why she wants parents and caregivers to take time this holiday season to be preventative.

“When we’re trying to prevent these injuries, the best way that we can prevent them is through layers of protection,” said Lombard.

For more information, visit childrenscolorado.org/ community/communityhealth/injury-prevention/.

Children Hospital Colorado o ers tips on how to keep children safe during the holiday season, as hospitals see an uptick in emergency room visits this time of the year.

PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

With brilliant choreography and a beloved score by Tchaikovsky, Parker Arts’ and Denver Ballet Theatre’s production is a festive treat for the entire family!

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COMPANIONS

e patient could have outlived other family members and friends, said Wiley, or are estranged from their family. It could be because the patients themselves don’t want to have their family see them die, but don’t want to be alone. Or they could be a John/Jane Doe who was in an accident.

“We want to be there for them, whatever those reasons are,” said Wiley. “ is sort of thing feeds my soul.”

Death is not foreign to Wiley. Leading

BURGLARIES

been cut, the release added.

In one case, the victim’s vehicle tires were slashed at work, according to the office.

Victims discovered their homes were ransacked, according to the office. Cash, jewelry and high-end handbags were the primary targets.

Heyden spoke of burglaries reported in the sheriff’s office jurisdiction — the “unincorporated” areas outside of city and town boundaries. The jurisdiction also includes Larkspur and Castle Pines.

“We just really encourage people — it doesn’t matter what race or background you’re from — if you own a business, there’s got to be ways to safeguard your property,” Heyden said.

The sheriff’s office issued some crime prevention tips:

up to the program, Wiley said she had a “colorful background,” as she was involved with the Douglas County Victims Assistance Unit for several years.

“Of all the things that I did with the program, the thing that touched my soul the most was the death noti cations,” Wiley said, adding that although it sounds bizarre, it was a way of connecting with people in a real compassionate manner.

While she is more comfortable with death than some, Wiley feels she can bring some calm and support to people in those scary moments.

e program’s rst vigil took place in September. It was for a 91-year-old wom-

• Secure valuables. Don’t keep large amounts of cash at home. Lock up expensive jewelry and other valuables in a safe that is secured to a shelf, wall or floor, preventing it from being carried out along with the contents.

• Be vigilant and report suspicious behavior in your neighborhood, especially around the homes of business owners. Suspects commonly conduct “pre-surveillance” days before the actual burglary, according to the office.

• Business owners should routinely inspect their yards and vehicles for hidden tracking devices and cameras. The office suggests a thorough search of places like bushes and trees.

“The tracking devices (would be) on the exterior of the vehicle — including underneath — where somebody would be able to reach them if they were unable to get into the vehicle’s cab,” the office said in a statement.

To report suspicious activity, the public can call the sheriff’s nonemergency line at 303-660-7505.

an who had been ill for a long time. e patient’s daughter needed to take a step back to refocus, so a group of volunteers took shifts sitting with the patient.

“ e people that have volunteered for this program — that I have been so incredibly blessed to come to know — are amazing people,” said Wiley. “You have to have something real special to make this something you are willing to do.”

ere are currently about 35 fully vetted volunteers in the program. e volunteers don’t need to have a medical background, but Wiley said it’s a lengthy process to get vetted. e program is not for people who have a morbid curiosity about what it is

like to see people die, Wiley said.

As Wiley continues to move forward with the program, she wants to get more people from the community to volunteer. She will be holding orientations, and if people are interested, they can go through the vetting process and sign up for training.

“My feeling is that if we can get one person to sit with this individual for a twohour shift, we have bene ted that individual,” Wiley said.

If interested in learning more about No One Dies Alone, contact Volunteer Coordinator Katherine Wiley at Katherine.Wiley@AdventHealth.com.

A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens Adapted by Richard Hellesen Music by David de Berry Directed by Anthony Powell

A Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce vehicle, pictured here in May 2023. PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD

Eastern Plains can provide Christmas trees, too

The Southern Plains Land Trust has junipers to give away

BY ANDREA CHALFIN CPR NEWS

It’s Colorado tradition for folks to head to mountains and national forests for their Christmas trees around this time of year.

But for some others? Well, they look no further than their own backyard for a tree that — though not a r tree or even a Charlie Brown tree — is su cient for hanging ornaments: junipers.

And now, they’re o ering one to you, too. e little junipers are cut like a traditional Christmas tree and don’t come with any roots.

Judith Westveer is the assistant director of the Southern Plains Land Trust and a resident steward of the organization’s Heartland Preserve in Bent County. It’s 43,000 acres of shortgrass prairie — home to prairie dogs, bison and other critters.

It’s also home to a phenomenon known as “woody encroachment.”

On the Heartland Preserve, it refers to the junipers that naturally occur on mesas, but are now making their way into the grasslands.

” e grassland is, by nature, an open area without many trees,” Westveer said. “But because we don’t have any natural

res going on anymore, these juniper trees are slowly encroaching, turning grasslands into shrubland.”

Westveer said their goal is to keep the land open as a prairie so that grassland birds and other mammals “have space to roam.”

As a result, they work to remove the invading junipers and, due to the success of last year’s inaugural program, they’re once again o ering them as holiday trees.

”Last year we were kind of amazed by the success of it,” Westveer said. “We didn’t expect many people to respond, but we ended up driving multiple times to the Front Range.”

Most people were happy with their junipers, she said, even if they’re not the same as a classic Christmas tree.

“One person called it her Frankenpine,” she said.

Last year, they delivered them to people’s homes. is year, to save time and cut down on expenses, you’ll have to meet them. Westveer said they have two locations — one in Colorado Springs and one in Centennial — where people will be able to go pick up their pre-ordered juniper tree.

Westveer recommends putting it in a bucket of water and hanging your favorite ornaments on it.

ey’re free — “we cut these juniper trees from the prairie anyway” — but the Southern Plains Land Trust does ask for

a donation to help with expenses. Last year, Westveer said they received around $3,500 in donations.

Plains Land Trust to learn how to preorder a tree, or send them an email at

is story is from CPR News, a nonpro t public broadcaster serving Colorado. Used by permission. To support

Downtown Denver’s ice skating rink is now open for this season

Construction may prevent the pop-up rink from opening for the 2025-26 season

BY KEVIN BEATY DENVERITE

Denver’s annual pop-up skating rink has o cially opened at Skyline Park for a winter of ice-capades beneath the Daniels & Fisher clocktower.

Get your gliding in now, because the ice rink is set for a hiatus next season. It probably will not return in 2025-’26. at’s due to planned construction of more permanent ice and water features near the clocktower.

“ is time next year, this will be under construction, creating a new signature ice rink in winter that converts into an interactive water feature in summer,” said Denver Parks & Recreation Director Jolon Clark. “We are so excited.”

e city has big ideas for Skyline Park.

e city has planned for years to install

more permanent facilities for the ice rink. It’s part of a larger reimagining of Skyline Park, which covers three blocks on Arapahoe Street.

“ ere will be re lounges and warming areas around the rink. ere will be food and beverage around the rink, public restrooms, an enhanced tree canopy providing shade and urban nature, and a new Colorado garden,” Clark told a crowd gathered on ursday.

In the meantime, there’s still a winter’s worth of ice to shred.

Skate rentals are $12 for adults, and $9

for kids 12 and under. Clark said kids with a MY Denver card can get skates for free, and anyone with their own skates can jump on the ice without paying.

Clark also said there may still be skating next year, if they can gure out a good place to put it elsewhere in the park. e jury is still out on that decision. e rink will be open each day through Feb. 2. It closes at 10 p.m. on weekends. is story is from Denverite, a Denver news site. Used by permission. For more, and to support Denverite, visit denverite.com.

Watch

Judith Westveer’s juniper Christmas tree in 2023. Westveer is the assistant director of the Southern Plains Land Trust.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JUDITH WESTVEER SOUTHERN PLAINS LAND TRUST

By Jason Harris of Foothills Kitchen & Bath

It’s widely accepted in the scientific community that Thag Urk’s greatest invention occurred one million years ago when he rubbed two sticks together to create fire. What’s lesser known is there isn’t consensus on why it’s such a magnificent achievement.

Was it because it produced more heat than sleeping next to curled up bears? Or because food evolved from sushi to ﬂambéed? Sure, all important milestones, but hear me out, because I posit that there is a direct line between ﬁre and indoor lighting. And while we might have more moths now, there are far less stubbed toes.

The most common lighting in our homes is ambient, a word whose Latin origin meant “going round,” though we tend to think of it today as something in the background, such as sound, heat or light. Any fixtures that cast light over the bulk of the room fit this category. Your grandparents’ bulb with a pull string in the middle of the room was ambient; chandeliers, sconces, cans or track lighting are ambient; floor or table lamps also belong.

With endless materials, whether man-made or au natural, lighting fixtures can provide architectural statements that are limited only by the imagination of designers: chandeliers that look like jellyfish, a driftwood table lamp, sconces repurposed from hubcaps. But what if American Express hasn’t been kind enough to add another digit to your credit line, how do you enhance your room without spiking your heart aflutter?

Take advantage of technology, because today‘s LED lighting is amazing and increasingly affordable. LED stands for “Light Emitting Diode”; electricity passes through a microchip and creates light via electrolu-

minescence. With no ﬁlaments to break, they, uh, claim to last thousands of hours and not produce heat I’ll buy the low heat, but apparently my “thousand” is higher than theirs.

In the past, we’d buy bulbs based on wattage, whereas now we have to retrain ourselves with LED‘s to think in Kelvins and lumens. Kelvin refers to the color temperature of light, and runs from red to purple; the lower end is considered warm, while the higher Kelvins are cool. Maybe your preference is daylight — 5000-6000 K — but how bright do you want it? That’s where lumens come in, because as the lumens increase, the light becomes more intense or brighter.

But back to setting the mood. Clients constantly request more fixtures throughout a room, and our weapons of choice are thin profile retrofit LED’s. Initially, they came at specific Kelvins, then they were selectable prior to installation, before finally evolving to being adjustable on your phone. You can choose daylight for cleaning, then scale back to cool colors for entertaining, or party with red and green for Christmas or orange and purple at Halloween.

That’s more fun than one person deserves, so we’ll gloss over accent lighting — those that are directed toward speciﬁc architectural elements — to discuss the heavy lifting that gets done. Task lighting illuminates areas where projects are performed, such as over countertops or computers or reading. The most common example would be undercabinet lighting, but pendant lights above an island or directional mini-spots attached to the headboard are others.

We’re a kitchen and bath store, after all, so let’s talk about design ideas for kitchen lighting: Place under-

cabinet lights at the front of the cabinets; this not only directs the lights to the middle of your counters, it also decreases shadowing in your backsplash; that said, for a corner cabinet, place the light more toward the middle or add a second light, else the corner will seem darker. You’ll want either slim proﬁle lights, or you’ll need light rail molding, but be aware light can bleed through the gap between the rail and the frame.

Consider glass shelves with puck lighting for cabinets with glass doors. Install motion detectors that turn on lights when doors or drawers are opened. Toe kick lighting is gorgeous. Tape lighting is less expensive, but projects a dotted reﬂection on your counters. My friend always referred to hidden wires as proper wire hygiene; with good planning, you can keep the wires behind the drywall before the backsplash is installed.

This isn’t lighting, but have you ever seen a beautiful backsplash that was marred by bad cuts in the tile to make room for electrical outlets? That’s a thing of the past as you can now have custom length, hard-wired power strips installed beneath the back of the cabinets. Dimmer switches are now touch sensitive for boomers; or wireless for millennials and Gen Z.

Whoops, must ﬁnish...article...but it’s suddenly... getting dark....daaarrk inside my eyezzzz....

Is the Aurora Sentinel a ‘citizen’?

The Colorado Supreme Court is examining whether a newspaper is considered a “citizen” and therefore entitled to attorney fees when prevailing in open meetings lawsuits.

A year ago, in a victory for the Aurora Sentinel, the Court of Appeals ordered Aurora to publicly release the recording of an executive session in which city council members ended censure proceedings against a fellow councilor.

But the three-judge appellate panel decided not to award reasonable attorney fees to the Sentinel, even though the Colorado Open Meetings Law (COML) requires it when citizens successfully challenge violations in court. e Sentinel doesn’t meet the Merriam-Webster dictionary de nition of a citizen as “a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it,” Judge David Furman wrote for the court.

at opinion was “erroneous as a matter of law and must be reversed to avoid undermining the General Assembly’s intent to encourage — not only individual litigants but any and all members of the press and public — to challenge clear violations of the COML,” argues a Supreme Court brief submitted for the Sentinel by attorneys Rachael Johnson of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and Steve Zansberg, president of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition.

“News organizations regularly stand in the shoes of the public and provide a check on government institutions; Colorado sunshine laws are crucial to this e ort,” the brief says. “With local news organizations across Colorado and the country facing ever-increasing nancial barriers to taking on public records and open meetings litigation, news organizations like e Sentinel must be able to rely on the availability of fee recovery when deciding to pursue an open meetings violation in court.”

In a world where “What can I get for free?” seems to be a growing mentality, I can’t help but notice the pattern of entitlement and discontent it creates. ere’s no better place to observe this than in restaurants, where I’ve occasionally overheard people at nearby tables complaining about a perfectly ne meal, only to get an item comped from the bill. What’s astonishing is that these diners enjoyed their food, shared laughs, and appeared to be having a wonderful time until the check arrived. It’s as if they felt a moral victory in walking away with something for nothing. But when did getting a free ride become so celebrated, and what does it say about how we approach life?

GUEST COLUMN

Je rey A. Roberts

If it’s not reversed, the Court of Appeals ruling “will make fee recovery unavailable to news organizations even in cases involving the most agrant violations of the COML, leading to less news reporting and a lesser-informed public — a result that would directly contravene the purpose of the COML,” it adds.

Under the open meetings law, the courts have jurisdiction to enforce violations “upon application by any citizen of this state.” In “any action in which the court nds a violation of this section, the court shall award the citizen prevailing in such action costs and reasonable attorney fees.”

If the Sentinel is a “citizen” for purposes of bringing litigation to enforce the law, “it should also be a ‘citizen’ for purposes of fee recovery provided for in the very same section of the Law,” Johnson and Zansberg argue.

ere is nothing in the legislative history of Senate Bill 91-033, which added the attorney fee provision to the open meetings law, to indicate state lawmakers “intended to permit only natural persons (not corporate persons or entities) from recovering fees,” the Sentinel’s brief says. To the contrary, legislators during a 1991 Senate committee hearing noted that “quite often, it is the press who takes the lead” on open meetings issues.

e Court of Appeals’ ruling is inconsistent with prior legal interpretations of the open meetings law and the Colorado Open Records Act, it adds, citing several instances in which Colorado courts have awarded fees to corporate entities in those types of cases.

A brief submitted by Aurora earlier this week argues against the Sentinel’s status as a “citizen” and asks the Supreme Court to reverse the appellate court’s nding that the city violated the open meetings law. In an amicus brief, the Colorado

Be

Municipal League also asks for a reversal of the appellate ruling. e statute, the city’s brief says, “grants any person standing to challenge an OML violation, but only allows a citizen of this state to be awarded its attorney fees.” If the General Assembly “meant to award attorney fees to any ‘person’ or the ‘prevailing party’ under the statute, it would have simply done so, and used a di erent term” other than citizen, it adds.

Prepared by attorney Corey Ho mann, Aurora’s brief also says that each case cited by the Sentinel in which prevailing corporate entities were awarded attorney fees “had, as plainti , at least one citizen who was entitled to an award of fees and costs.”

In the Sentinel case, the Court of Appeals concluded that Aurora council members violated the open meetings law by inadequately announcing a Mar. 14, 2022, closed-door meeting and improperly deciding in secret to halt a censure action against Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky for comments she made about Aurora’s then-police chief and deputy

empowered, not entitled

I’ve thought about this mentality, and one analogy comes to mind: people who sit by a replace, expecting heat without ever adding wood to the re. ey expect warmth without contributing any fuel, just like those who expect more from life without ever making deposits of their own. is notion extends beyond restaurants and replaces; it in ltrates many aspects of life. People complain about others who have more or live more

luxuriously, begrudging them their bigger homes, fancier cars, or exotic vacations. But instead of acknowledging the e ort it took those people to achieve such success, they resent the fact that they themselves aren’t living that way. It’s a mindset that chooses envy over e ort and dissatisfaction over disci-

is attitude isn’t con ned to just a few.

I’ve seen it spill over into the workplace, especially in younger or newer salespeople who see top performers taking an afternoon o to golf or sh and wonder, “Why can’t I do that?” What they often fail to see, however, is the years of hard work, rejection, and persistence it took for those salespeople to reach a place where they could take that time o without jeopardizing their success. ose new to the eld can be quick to judge but slow to recognize the grind that their role models endured. ey want the freedom, the rewards, and the lifestyle without un-

derstanding the discipline, the work ethic, and, yes, even the sacri ces that made it possible.

Entitlement is alluring because it o ers a shortcut that promises reward without investment. But these shortcuts are often illusions that breed dependency rather than ful llment. People who spend their energy looking for freebies or shortcuts miss out on the deep satisfaction of building something themselves. ere’s an empowerment that only comes when you’ve earned what you have; it’s a condence that isn’t easily shaken, a pride that doesn’t require validation.

In contrast, a “What can I get for free?” mentality robs people of the joy and satisfaction they seek. While they may get temporary wins, a discounted meal here, a small perk there, these victories are hollow. In time, these individuals become disillusioned, wondering why they’re not as happy or ful lled as those who do the work. ey become like those who stare into a replace, frustrated that there is no warmth, never realizing that they’ve failed to build a re worth stoking.

As individuals, we must shift our mentality from “What can I get for free?” to

chief.

Aurora claimed the executive session recording shouldn’t be released to the newspaper because it contains privileged attorney-client communications. But the city council waived any privilege “by describing everything that occurred” during the executive session in a letter included in a public meeting packet two week later, according to the appellate judges.

In its Supreme Court brief, the city argues that the Court of Appeals’ holding “erodes the protections of the attorneyclient privilege and destroys the very basis of convening an executive session for purposes of receiving legal advice if the client cannot direct its attorney to prepare a document for Council consideration based on the legal advice it received from its counsel.”

Je rey A. Roberts is executive director for the CFOIC, the voice for open government in Colorado. Find more information, or donate to the nonpro t group, at coloradofoic.org.

“What can I contribute?” ere’s something profoundly rewarding about putting in the wood, the work, and the sweat equity, knowing that the warmth you’ll receive isn’t a gift; it’s a return on your investment. We shouldn’t be looking to game the system but rather to engage in it fully, understanding that the most gratifying successes aren’t free. Instead, they result from consistent e ort, meaningful contributions, and a commitment to growth.

In the end, life gives us what we put into it. When we start by stacking the logs, fueling the re with our e ort, we can sit back and enjoy the warmth that radiates from our labor. How do you see it? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com. And when we take an empowered approach to life instead of one of entitlement, 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.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Rejecting progressive overreach

In response to criticisms of my recent letter on the political shift to the right, I must address the inaccuracies and overgeneralizations presented. e shift isn’t about hate or regression — it’s about rejecting progressive overreach that many feel prioritizes ideological crusades over practical governance.

To the rst response: Claiming half the population “loathes” President Trump or equating his reelection with hate dismisses the legitimate grievances of millions. Americans are frustrated with rising costs, unchecked crime, and policies that divide through identity politics rather than unite through shared values.

Conservatives reject “woke ideology” not to discriminate, but because it prioritizes virtue signaling over real solutions, often deepening divisions instead of bridging them.

To the second response: Assertions that Trump’s policies only bene ted the wealthy ignore the facts. Under his administration, record-low unemployment for minorities, wage growth for lower-income workers, and a revitalization of manufacturing improved life for millions. Tari s, while controversial, were part of a broader e ort to hold foreign competitors accountable and create long-term gains for American industries.

Regarding immigration, enforcing laws is not about hate — it’s about fairness to those who immigrate legally and security for current and future citizens. Unchecked illegal immigration places signi cant strain on public services and taxpayers. Conservatives advocate for a secure border to ensure law and order while supporting legal pathways for immigration.

Finally, fears that conservatives aim to dismantle Social Security or Medicare are unfounded. Conservatives seek to protect these programs by addressing long-term sustainability issues, unlike progressive policies that make promises without scal accountability. is shift to the right re ects a demand for policies grounded in common sense and accountability — not regression or hate. Instead of defaulting to divisive labels, let’s discuss why voters believe a return to pragmatic conservatism better serves their families and futures.

C.J. Garbo, Castle Rock

Support for rank and ﬁle

It has been 63 years since I entered the civilian work force after an assignment at the Air Force Academy. e assignment, and a letter from my commanding o cer, opened employment doors all over metro Denver to me.

I settled on a low-level job in a credit union, worked my way up the ladder and retired 35 years later as the CEO. e membership of our credit union was mostly union with several hundred non-union white-collar workers. e credit union’s forty employees were part of this workforce.

Not once in 35 years did I witness any management employee of our sponsor company attempt to in uence union organizing by any white-collar employee. ey simply o ered better salaries, better bene ts and competitive promotional opportunities to their employees. I worked for an elected board of directors and my instructions from them were to do the same.

I am not a registered Republican, but I voted for Sheri Weekly as I did Sheri Spurlock before him. My next vote may be for the hourly employees at the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce.

Roy Legg, Highlands Ranch

Look at both sides

I had to chuckle at the two letters in the Nov. 28 issue critical of C.J. Garbo’s comments. It is said if you are taking ak you must be over the target. One letter complained of reducing corporate tax rates. Before Trump’s rst term, the US had the highest corporate tax rate in the entire world. After badly needed reductions, money began owing back to our country. By the way, stocks are not only owned by the ultra rich — they are owned by a broad swath of middle America. e wealthy are the ones who fund major projects. Without them we would be Venezuela.

Women’s Wellness: The e ects

of symptomatology

Symptomatology is the branch of medical science that focuses on the study of disease and overall symptom patterns shown by a patient or associated with a speci c disease. is is important, especially for women, where care can often be informed on the basis of symptoms and signs.

It’s central to understand that not all conditions can be detected early on. A symptom is something an individual experiences, while a sign is something a medical professional notices. Subjective symptoms can only be known if acknowledged by the individual experiencing those conditions and cannot alone constitute a diagnosis.

For example, pelvic pain, irregular periods, brain fog and fatigue are all considered symptoms. Objective symptoms are those clear to the observer and called physical signs such as pulse rates and temperatures.

No matter who observes the symptoms or signs, it is the body’s way of signaling something might not be functioning properly. Each body creates symptoms and signs uniquely, and every woman reacts in a unique way. Some experiencing the conditions show no symptoms at all. Another person may be hypersensitive to the signs and symptoms experienced.

WOMEN’S WELLNESS

It was claimed that these many millions of illegal arrivals are those providing so many services we can’t do without. Really? ere was no shortage of any of these services before this amazing in ux. Wake up and read something right of center before commenting. Too many of these people who entered the country illegally have provided crime, like the Tren de Aragua group so feared in Aurora. All of these are free to re-apply legally at a standard border crossing site so criminals can be weeded out.

Kind of basic isn’t it?

e left has done more to destroy marriage and family values in this country than we can count. What we considered bizarre a few years ago is aggressively presented as totally acceptable. e left is quick to attach labels to those with whom it disagrees: bigot, hater, phobe this and phobe that.

It is vital in coming years that all of us read material from both sides of the aisle if we have any hope of working together.

Alan Wild, Parker

Everyone is di erent, which can pose challenges for identifying treatment. As a physician, it’s important to know our patients to discern between what is an alert

versus a non-urgent concern. One symptom by itself usually means very little. It is its relationship to other symptoms that may be signi cant. For instance, frequent bathroom visits and frequently having to start and stop while using the bathroom may indicate pelvic oor dysfunction, while a feeling of heaviness around the lower tummy or a dragging discomfort in the reproductive organs could lead one to suspect something causing pelvic organ prolapse. Whether it is a symptom or sign, talking to your doctor is the rst step. As a physician, I rely on patients to share what symptoms or signs they may be experiencing. Ongoing appointments are recommended for the most accurate evaluation and success of treatment options.

It’s a must to understand a patient’s background, determining abnormal ndings if any and weighing the patient’s problem(s) with the pattern of the known disease processes. It’s important to know your body and to “listen” to the signs it is giving to ensure health issues are not overlooked.

Dr. Terry Dunn is the owner of Foothills Urogynecology, a Denver-based practice specializing in women’s health. To learn more, visit www.urogyns.com.

Dr. Terry Dunn

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Teachers, students test out AI in Colorado classrooms

BY ANN SCHIMKE CHALKBEAT COLORADO

In room 126 at Denver’s South High School, students in a Spanish language arts class got suggestions for improving their short essays from an arti cial intelligence app called Magic School: “You could elaborate on your examples,” the app advised one student.

Upstairs, in AP Computer Science, a student shared the x she made after feeding the Java code she’d written for a bookstore inventory system into the same AI app.

Later that October day, students in an after-school club at Aurora West College Preparatory Academy pitched hypothetical products in presentations augmented with AI images and text.

For A’mariae, a ninth grader who envisioned a high-tech shoe that could be transformed from sandals to sneakers to boots with clip-on attachments, there was one problem. e trendy blue shoe the AI app had conjured on his laptop screen had a Nike swoosh on the side, a trademarked logo that would be olimits for his brand.

ese scenes illustrate how Colorado teachers and students are beginning to use arti cial intelligence in the classroom — and navigate its limitations. Since ChatGPT burst onto the scene in late 2022, the use of generative AI in schools in the state and across the country has become increasingly common. New York City’s schools chief championed the use of AI before he left the post in October, and districts in New Jersey and Indiana are piloting AI tools.

Generative AI analyzes huge amounts of data to generate text, images, videos, and other kinds of content.

For the moment, many teachers, and students are approaching AI more as a toe-dipping exercise than a plunge into the deep end. Not only does it take time to test and learn the apps, they don’t always work as intended. In addition, some districts are still guring out what guardrails need to be in place to protect student privacy.

students to have a conversation with a computer facsimile of a historical gure.

“My goodness, just the potential for what this could do, for closing learning gaps, for really helping us rethink how learning experiences look because the ‘stand-and-deliver’ model is not always e ective,” said Quanback.

Je Buck, the AP Computer Science teacher at South and a 26-year veteran of Denver Public Schools, recently joined a di erent yearlong AI training program for educators. He’s also taking a series of AI trainings o ered by his district.

“ is is what keeps me going. I can learn something new and interesting, right? And kids are kind of interested, and so we’re learning together, and I think that’s really fun,” he said.

But the learning curve, he said with a laugh, is “also a massive time sink.”

AI can save time but accuracy is ‘not 100%’

Once teachers master the apps, AI can be a time-saver, helping draft lesson plans and tests, taking a rst pass at grading essays, or writing and translating parent newsletters. e cost of the apps varies, with basic versions often available for free.

option to ask Magic School to review their Java code.

e response was “tepid,” he said. “Not everybody is necessarily seeing the value right now.”

While most students chose to ask Buck or classmates for feedback, a few students used Magic School. One of them was Mimi Genter, a senior who’d written code for organizing book store inventory.

e app returned a neatly organized list of the things she’d done correctly, signi ed by green checkmarks. It also agged a typo in her code, suggested an additional feature she could add, and closed by saying, “Keep up the excellent work. You’re really grasping these object-oriented programming concepts.”

Genter said it was only the second time she’d used Magic School but appreciated that it was an e cient ne-tooth comb of sorts — instantly spotting a capital “L” that should have been lower-case.

Helping students understand AI landscape

Students in an afterschool club called AI Studio at Aurora West College Preparatory Academy pitch products they conjured up with the help of AI at a meeting in late October.

giving you lists of ideas, and then you can take that and run with it.”

But she’s proceeding with caution. When her students did research projects last spring on key gures from European cultural movements like the Renaissance, she had them print out the responses they got from ChatGPT, evaluate the quality of the responses, and then seek out other non-AI sources for further research. And when Nichols’ students turn in nal essays or projects that incorporate AI, they have to turn in notes, rough drafts, and edits to prove they’ve done the work every step of the way.

“If there’s something that they could just go home and create on ChatGPT, I don’t make that a homework assignment,” said Nichols. “We do that in class.”

Educators are also helping students think critically about the racial and gender bias inherent in AI.

CORRECTIONS

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

Still, the sense of excitement about AI in education is real, with a ood of products on the market and a complementary stream of AI conferences, training, and webinars available to K-12 educators. Currently, eight districts in Colorado, ranging from Adams 12 to Estes Park to Durango, are participating in a yearlong project to build AI literacy o ered through the Colorado Education Initiative, which has taken a leading role in ushering the state’s schools into the AI age.

Karen Quanbeck, vice president of statewide partnerships for the organization, ticked o some of the ways AI can help teachers: quickly adapting passages for students at di erent reading levels, providing personalized tutoring after school hours, and allowing

Moisés Sánchez Bermúdez, the South High School teacher whose students used Magic School to get writing feedback, said he’s generally been impressed with app’s suggestions. Even its critiques of student poetry were decent.

“It was not 100% but it’s getting there,” he said.

By using the app to give students — sometimes up to 35 in the classroom — immediate feedback on their rst drafts, Sánchez Bermúdez has more time to work with students individually.

“It gives them meaningful work to do while I go one by one,” he said.

But not everyone likes getting pointers from a chatbot.

“I don’t really like using AI for the feedback. I’d rather have a real person,” said Juliana Gutierrez, a junior in Spanish Language Arts 3. “If you don’t understand something, you can ask [the teacher] to explain it in another way, or in more of a personal

As educators incorporate AI tools into their lessons, many are looking not only to make lessons enriching, but to build students’ uency in a technology that’s here to stay.

ey want students to understand how to craft prompts that return worthwhile information, to use AI tools to deepen learning without crossing the line to cheating, and to recognize the inherent weaknesses of arti cial intelligence.

Talley Nichols, who teaches high school history at Crested Butte Community School in western Colorado, sent out permission slips last spring asking parents if their children could use ChatGPT in class. She was pleasantly surprised by the response.

“I was worried about parental pushback, but I didn’t get any,” she said. “In fact, I got a couple of parents who were like, ‘ ank you for doing this. is is important. ey need to learn how to use this.’”

Nichols said her students like using AI to generate project or topic ideas: “It’s really good at

Students in Aurora West College Preparatory Academy’s weekly after-school club, “AI Studio” quickly discovered that predisposition as they experimented with AI this fall in preparation for their marketing presentations. When A’mariae asked the tool to produce images of doctors, it showed two older white men and one white woman. When he asked for an image of “three white teenagers,” he got a picture of three happy white teenagers. Next, he said, “I searched three black teenagers and it showed, like a mug shot.”

Asked how to deal with racist and sexist results, one of the other three boys in the club said, “You have to train your AI.”

It’s exactly the message Antonio Vigil, Aurora’s director of innovative classroom technology and the club’s advisor, has been emphasizing all semester. He wants students to understand that they have to continually vet AI responses for accuracy, precision, and bias – and revise them accordingly.

He said, “You have to be the human in the loop.”

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.

PHOTO BY ANN SCHIMKE CHALKBEAT

Surviving political debates and keeping your cool

7 practical tips from a behavioral scientist to navigate family conversations post-election

BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Navigating political debates during the holidays can feel like walking a tightrope: one wrong step, and you’re in a heated argument instead of enjoying the pumpkin pie. Whether it’s a well-meaning relative dropping a divisive comment or a spirited family member pressing you for your stance, these moments can quickly escalate.

Denver-based behavioral scientist Susanna Park, Ph.D., shared practical advice for navigating these tricky conversations without losing your cool — or your relationships. Here are her top tips, drawn from her expertise and personal experience.

1. Know your goal

Before diving into any political discussion, Park advises asking yourself a critical question: What’s my goal?

“Is it to actually change the other person’s mind, or is it to just be able to speak your thoughts and feel heard?” she asked. If you know the likelihood of changing minds is slim, adjust your expectations.

“ e way you talk to them is going to change…because you know it’s not going to happen,” she continued. Reframing your goal can prevent conversations from spiraling into heated debates where both people ght to win.

Pro Tip: If validation is your goal, frame the conversation with open-ended questions to encourage dialogue, not debate. If you sense things heating up, redirect to common interests or shared values.

2. Recognize your limits

It’s okay to step away if the conversation becomes too overwhelming.

“You’re not losing an argument,” Park said. Instead, you’re saving yourself unnecessary stress and prioritizing quality family time. Remember, you’re allowed to decide how you want to spend your evening. Peacefully enjoying dessert beats a shouting match any day.

Pro Tip: Have an exit strategy ready. For instance, excuse yourself to grab a drink or o er to help in the kitchen when tensions rise. Physical distance can also give you mental space.

3. Set boundaries

Sometimes, the best approach is to set clear limits upfront.

A mutual agreement to leave politics at the door can help maintain harmony. If some feel strongly about discussing it, they can nd other outlets while respecting the collective agreement at the gathering.

“ ere is something to be said

about permitting yourself to not engage,” Park said. “Others in the community are with you and doing that work as well. Just because you’re not engaging in that one moment with your family doesn’t mean that you’re a bad person or that the situation will change for better or worse.”

Pro Tip: Frame the boundary as a shared goal to keep the event positive. For example, say, “Let’s make this about catching up and celebrating, not debating politics.”

4. Find common ground

Park emphasized the value of connecting with family members on shared interests outside of politics.

“If you care about animals, nd people who care about animals,” she said. Whether volunteering at a shelter or attending a local event, community work can bridge divides and bring people together.

Pro Tip: Suggest activities that focus on shared values. Wheth-

er it’s a food drive, local park cleanup or holiday decorating, working toward a common goal can strengthen bonds despite di ering views.

5. Take care of yourself

Self-awareness is key, from managing social media algorithms to recognizing physical signs of stress.

Emotions are just information for us to then take in and tell us what the next steps are,” Park said.

Recognize physical signs of anxiety, like a racing heart or shallow breathing and step back if needed.

Park also advised that we don’t have to scroll through everything the algorithm shows us.

“I think it’s really important for people to recognize that they have the power to change how they feel about social media –how they feel going into it and coming out of it.”

And don’t underestimate the basics: “Get sleep,” she urges.

e holiday chaos, compounded with election fatigue, means self-care is more critical than ever.

Pro Tip: Balance your media diet. Follow uplifting or educational accounts alongside news, and take regular social media breaks to reset your mindset.

6. Embrace the long game Park said to remember that meaningful change and understanding take time, so there’s no need to resolve deep political divides in a single conversation over a holiday meal. Advocacy and change are marathons, not sprints.

Park likened activism to the airplane oxygen mask rule: take care of yourself rst. “If you’re feeling burnt out and fatigued, then your capacity is decreasing,” she said. Step back when needed and trust others in the community to carry the torch.

“It’s OK to take that moment. It may feel sel sh, but it’s really not,” Park said.

Pro Tip: Instead of diving into arguments, focus on small, impactful actions that align with your values, like sharing a thoughtful article, asking open-ended questions or simply listening. ese quieter approaches can build bridges without overwhelming yourself or others.

7. Practice empathy and kindness At the end of the day, the holidays are about connection. “ ere’s a need for more empathy and grace for each other,” Park said. You don’t have to ignore the world’s challenges, but facing them together with kindness can make all the di erence.

Pro Tip: Use humor to defuse tension. Sometimes, a lighthearted comment can help everyone remember what matters most: your connection, not your con icts.

With these strategies, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the post-election holiday season with grace and sanity intact.

“ e holidays are rough for a lot of people,” Park said. “So just be kind.”

Surviving holiday political debates can be challenging no matter how you voted.

SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Educators Je Kagan and Paige Doughty are a married children’s musical duo in Colorado who have performed together for 20 years. ey focus on teaching science in English and Spanish through music and theater at summer camps and educational school assemblies.

“To see the joy on their faces and the connections they make through their bodies and minds when dancing and singing about these complex subjects” is what makes it all worth it, Doughty said.

“I love creating something at home or sitting by a stream, a song, or an entire performance piece and then seeing how a large group of three to eight-year-olds responds to that when we present it,” Kagan added.

Doughty was not born in Colorado but considers it her home.

“It was the rst place that felt like home to me,” Doughty said. “I’ve been here a long time. I can’t claim I’m a native, but it feels like home.”

Doughty has undergraduate degrees in English Literature and French Language.

“When I was teaching middle school and high school, I realized I wanted to teach experientially about the is-

sues happening in the world around us,” Doughty said. “So I went back to school and I got a degree in Environmental Education.”

While pursuing that degree, Doughty met Kagan, who was inspired into the line of study after teaching residential environmental education at a camp for middle school students on the East Coast.

“Once a week, the entire sixth-grade class would come to a camp in the Adirondacks, which would be their curriculum for the week,” Kagan said. “I just fell in love with both the content and all the creative ways that teachers were using the natural world to get these kids excited about science and nature.”

After Doughty and Kagan completed their environmental education, they ended up in Boulder where they started leading programs through the City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks.

“We started doing those programs to get families outdoors to enjoy music. rough those programs, I started writing songs about the actual ecology of the places we were sitting in, and now we have seven albums,” Kagan said.

Kagan and Doughty made these programs their fulltime work in 2011.

Paige Doughty and Je Kagan are

science educators.

SCIENCE

When the duo performs, they sing and perform theatrically about science and nature while Kagan plays the guitar.

Doughty said they started adding the Spanish language to their music and theater science programs in

the last ve years and are trying to add more Spanish every time they perform.

“It’s important to us to be inclusive, and it feels exciting to use another language involved in our educational act,” Doughty said.

Doughty said they are called for performances at events mainly in the front range, but all over Colorado.

“In our 20-year history, we’ve been to many places. … Since we had our kids, we have stuck a little bit closer to

home and love traveling for work when we can and reaching more people with our live performances,” Doughty said.

e couple also has a YouTube channel and music available to stream.

Doughty said they teach kindergarten through fth grade, and babies and toddlers come to their shows, too.

“With fth graders, especially in the upper grades, I see them letting loose, nding themselves in the joy of their movement, and presenting it as their learning. It feels right we tend to deprive our kids so much these days, and we expect them to grow up so fast,” Doughty said.

Doughty said that occasionally over the years, she received feedback from people who said they wouldn’t bring the fth graders to their assembly because it was too babyish for them.

“I said they’re the ones that need it much more than the kindergarteners,” Doughty said.

e duo works as a nonpro t, so they do a lot of fundraising to support their programming and o er as much as they can for free to audiences, Doughty added.

“ ere’s so much work we must do in the background to plan the shows, rehearse, write and produce the music. It feels delightful, and it’s worth it,” Doughty said.

“It’s uplifting. It feels like we are ultimately doing what we are called to do, and the kids are having a great time, especially in a school context, that they’re getting to move their bodies and learn about these subject matters in a fun and artistic way,” Kagan added. “It’s what I want to do until my hair is entirely gray.”

For more information about Je and Paige, visit www.je andpaige.org. To see their performances, visit www.youtube.com/je andpaige.

Paige Doughty and Je Kagan dress in di erent nature and animal costumes. COURTESY OF PAIGE DOUGHTY

A ‘Miracle’ comes to Town Hall Arts Center

There are few things about Christmas that are as joyful as a child’s excitement about a visit from Santa Claus. So, can you imagine the thrill when a child meets the real Santa at Macy’s Department Store?

at’s just what happens to 6-year-old Susan in Meredith Willson’s “Miracle on 34th Street: e Musical,” which is running at the Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 St. in Littleton, through Sunday, Dec. 29. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. ursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

“When I saw Town Hall was doing this show, I immediately remembered the 1947 movie so well,” said Billie McBride, director of the show. “I thought this was just my cup of tea and I know it will be for the audience as well.”

Based on the classic lm, the show follows Doris Walker and her daughter Susan as they navigate the holiday season in New York City. When Doris’ neighbor, Fred, volunteers to take Susan to meet Kris Kringle at Macy’s, she nds herself face-toface with someone claiming to be the real Santa Claus. And so begins a song-anddance- lled magical journey to discover if he’s the genuine article.

e original version of the musical moved the time frame from the 1940s to the 1960s, but for this production, Mc-

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Bride returned the setting to its original roots. She said this allows the story to better capture a time of innocence in the world.

“ is story is a fairy tale and I think it is harder to tap into that during the 1960s, with all that was going on at the time,” she said. “ e story needs the simplicity of a di erent time, and so we opted to return to 1947.”

COMING ATTRACTIONS

meredith-willsons-miracle-on34th-street-the-musical/.

A cast of the size “Miracle” requires a lot of work from McBride and the behind the curtains team — everyone from the musical director and the choreographer have worked hard to get the performers to their holiday best. And McBride is particularly proud of the cast, which she said was selected to re ect the way New York City actually looks.

At SeeSaw Art, PRESENT is a Pres-

e show is really about celebrating the magic of the season and McBride hopes the production will give audiences some much-needed Christmas fun.

“To sit a whole bunch of people down and give them a live production of a wonderful show is a gift we give them for Christmas,” he said. “It’s an old-fashioned, feel good musical with magic and we consider it a gift to the community.”

Information and tickets are available at https://townhallartscenter.org/event/

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• Letters should be exclusively submitted to Colorado Community Media and should not

For its nal show of the year, SeeSaw Art Gallery, 5 W. Radcli Ave. in Englewood, has un PRESENT Company, a group show highlighting small works. It runs at the gallery through Sunday, Jan. 12. e exhibition features 27 artists (most local to Colorado) and more than 65 unique artworks. e works have been curated with the holiday season in mind and require the same skill, technique and creativity as any large piece you might come across. Visitors can see work in a range of mediums, including painting, mixed media, drawing, ber and sculpture.

More details at www.seesawgallery. com/.

Make Merry with Christmas Stories at the Arvada Center

Christmas is brimming with stories that have delighted audiences for years; stories that have worked their way into the very fabric of the season. “Making Merry” is a collection of holiday stories and songs to

submitted to other outlets or previously posted on websites or social media. Submitted letters become the property of CCM and should not be republished elsewhere.

• Letters advocating for a political candidate should focus on that candidate’s qualiﬁcations

mark the season presented by Stories on Stage and it’s coming to the Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13.

e show features Gabriella Cavallero, Seth Dhonau, Voices Rock Reverb and pianist Kent Lemburg. Tickets are available at www.arvadacenter.org.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — brent Forever: The Tour at Mission Ballroom

It seems like you don’t hear many musical duos these days, which makes the partnership between Connecticut’s Chelsea Cutler and New Jersy’s Jeremy Zucker such a special treat. Both musicians have worked together o and on since 2018, specializing in the kind of love-drunk melancholy pop that we’ve all needed from time to time.

All three of the pair’s albums have been named “brent,” so it’s only tting now that they’ve just released “brent iii,” that they take the show on the road. brent Forever: e Tour is coming to the Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. in Denver. e opening act for the evening will be Paige Fish Get tickets at www.axs.com.

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

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.

Clarke Reader

Thu 12/12

Neil Z @ Earls Kitchen + Bar @ 6pm

Earls Kitchen + Bar, 8335 Park Meadows Center Dr, Lone Tree

Fri 12/13

Christmas Movie Night at AMC Castle Rock

@ 5pm / Free AMC Castle Rock 12, 3960 Limelight Avenue, Castle Rock. kmcsparran@mis sionhills.org, 303-794-3564

Colorado Holiday Bazaar

Riders in the Sky

@ 7:30pm

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Com‐mons St, Lone Tree

Voices West Presents: 'Here Comes Santa Claus' Concert (With an Appearance by Santa Claus, Himself!)

@ 1pm / $10

Douglas H. Buck Community Recre‐ation Center, 2004 West Powers Av‐enue, Littleton. marketingteam@voic eswest.org, 303-683-8622

@ 5pm / Free Dec 13th - Dec 15th 3950 River Point Pkwy, 3950 River Point Parkway, Englewood. denvermakers market@gmail.com, 303-505-1856

Will Roland Music: Cheezmin Park with Chili Powder, and Trash @ 7pm

Moe's Original BBQ, 3295 S Broadway, Englewood

Jay_Martin

@ 7:30pm Rocker Spirits, 5587 S Hill St, Littleton

Ryan Chrys & The Rough Cuts: Santa's Guitar - Rough Cuts Christmas Show @ 8pm Wild Goose Saloon, Parker

Shovels & Rope @ 8pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Sat 12/14

Kids Cooking: Great Christmas Cookies (6-12yrs) @ 9am PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker

KB ANGEL: Waf�es and Wigs A family friendly Brunch

@ 12pm Pizzability, 3445 S Broadway, Englewood

Art: Little Elves Art Workshop (6-12yrs) @ 12pm PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker

Amahl and The Night Visitors

@ 1:30pm Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons Street, Lone Tree

Amahl and The Night Visitors @ 4pm

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons Street, Lone Tree

The King Stan Band: KSB's Annual Ugly Sweater Party @ 7pm

Paradise Tavern, 9239 Park Meadows Dr, Lone Tree Nine Wide Sky @ 7pm

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

The Nu Wav Band: The New Wave @ 7:30pm Wild Goose Saloon, Parker

Sun 12/15

Climbing Wall: Intro to Adaptive Climbing (16+ yrs) December @ 10:30am Parker Fieldhouse, 18700 E Plaza Dr, Parker

Santa in the Hangar at Exploration of Flight @ 11am / $12.95

Exploration Of Flight - Centennial Air‐port, 13005 Wings Way, Englewood. info@wingsmuseum.org

Denver Gay Men's Chorus @ 3pm St Andrew United Methodist Church, 9203 S University Blvd, Highlands Ranch

Tue 12/17

The Erwin Family: Cherry Hills Commu‐nity Church / 2024 CHRISTMAS TOUR @ 6:30pm Cherry Hills Community Church, 3900 Grace Blvd, Highlands Ranch

Wed 12/18

Tony Medina Music: The Open Mic Hosted by Tony Medina @ 6:30pm The Alley, 2420 W Main St, Littleton An Afternoon of Brass @ 1:30pm Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Com‐mons Street, Lone Tree

Eric Golden @ 6pm The Pint Room, 2620 W Belleview Ave, Littleton

Ladies Night @ 6pm / $16.51 Stampede, Aurora

Don McMillan @ 7:30pm Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Pl, Greenwood Village

DJ Rockstar Aaron: Forbidden Bingo Wednesdays - 'Bout Time Pub & Grub @ 8pm Bout Time Pub & Grub, 3580 S Platte River Dr A, Sheridan

Artist collective in Centennial holds holiday market

Shop local for handmade gifts, pottery, knitted items, herbal products, paintings, class gift certificates and more artful treasures. Fifteen percent of proceeds are to be donated to Littleton Public Schools to support grants to teachers that support creative classroom projects.

The event runs at 2154 E. Commons Ave., Suite 306, in Centennial from 3-7 p.m. Dec. 13 and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 14.

Paws to read with animals at Littleton library

Children in grades K-5 can practice reading with a therapy dog or cat at Bemis Public Library.

The event takes place Dec. 14 at various times. See tinyurl.com/BemisPaws for more information.

Visit the children’s desk or call 303795-3961 to register.

Experience holidays on ice with South Suburban parks and rec

Glide on the ice with Santa and his elves at Skate with Santa events. Enjoy free holiday figure skating ice shows at the Sports Complex or Family Sports Center. Regular public skate admission rates apply for Skate with Santa events.

The South Suburban Sports Complex sits at 4810 E. County Line Road in the Highlands Ranch area. The Family Sports Center is located at 6901 S. Peoria St. in the Centennial area.

Schedules listed below:

with Santa from 2:15-3 p.m. and Holiday Ice Show from 3:15-4:15 p.m.

— Dec. 14 at Family Sports: Skate with Santa from 2:15-3 p.m.

— Dec. 15 at Sports Complex: Skate with Santa from 1:15-2 p.m.

— Dec. 15 at Family Sports: Skate with Santa from 2:15-3 p.m. and the Holiday Ice show from 3:15-4:15 p.m.

Littleton’s Bemis library hosts holiday book sale

The Friends of the Littleton Library and Museum are putting on their holiday used book sale.

Books and media will be like new and in gift-worthy condition. There will also be some vintage books as well as rare and specialty items for sale.

— Dec. 13 at Sports Complex: Holiday Ice Show from 6-7 p.m. and Skate with Santa from 7-8 p.m.

— Dec. 14 at Sports Complex: Skate

The sale was to begin Nov. 30 and run through Dec. 22. It will be open during regular holiday hours.

Douglas County ‘safety net’ programs get grant money

The Douglas County commissioners — the county’s elected leaders — have selected 19 nonprofit programs to share $135,000 in grant funds from the county’s 2024 portion of the Philip S. Miller Trust.

These awards continue the legacy of philanthropy established by Philip S. Miller and his wife Jessie, who dedicated so much of their lives to helping others in Douglas County and continue to do so through this gift, according to the county.

These vital programs cast a wide safety net throughout the county by delivering services such as suicide prevention, therapy, medical assistance, emergency financial assistance and support for seniors and school-

age children.

See a list of organizations that received funding at tinyurl. com/2024nonprofitsDouglas, and visit that page to learn more about the grant program, qualifications and how to apply for future awards.

Those interested in giving charitable donations can visit coloradogives. org/community/Douglascountygives.

Arapahoe County seeks holiday donations for neighbors in need

You can bring holiday joy to children and adults in crisis, victims of abuse or neglect, or those experiencing financial hardship.

Arapahoe County Human Services, in partnership with the Arapahoe County Foundation, is seeking gift donations for all ages to fill the shelves of the Winter Wonderland Gift Shop.

Some of the needed items include blankets, gently used winter gear, family games, gift cards (such as Target, Walmart), toys and books for children, as well as learning toys for toddlers and infants.

Donations can be dropped off through Dec. 12 at the following locations:

— Arapahoe County Human Services, Aurora location 14980 E. Alameda Drive (second floor lobby)

8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday

— Arapahoe County Human Services, Littleton location 1690 W. Littleton Blvd. (second floor lobby)

8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday

— Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office 13101 E. Broncos Parkway in the Centennial area

Weekly Carrier Routes Available

required! revious carrier experience encouraged; reliable vehicle and email access, required.

— Colored Red 13960 E. Mississippi Ave. in Aurora

7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday

This special event, supported by Journey Christian Church in Aurora and Elevate Hope Centennial, is only possible through the generosity of the community. If you have any questions, email kslater@arapahoegov. com or call 303-795-4400.

‘Centennial Snow Force’ seeks your creative names for snowplows

The city has launched its inaugural Centennial Snow Force naming contest.

From classrooms to roadways, this initiative invites kids ages 13 and under to put their creativity to work by naming one of Centennial’s hardworking snowplows. The contest runs through Dec. 15.

7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday

The contest is open to all Centennial youth ages 13 or younger, which includes residents or attendees of a Centennial-based elementary or middle school.

Submissions are limited to one per person and must be 25 characters or fewer, no more than three words and cannot be named after an individual or character.

Winners will be announced on Dec. 20.

Read the full contest rules at tinyurl. com/CentennialSnowplowNaming. The winning snowplow names will be displayed on the city’s snowplows all winter long. Winners will receive an award and a photo opportunity with their named snowplow truck. You can contact communications@ centennialco.gov or call 303-325-8000 with questions.

Contact Erin Addenbrooke, 303-566-4074 eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

CAREERS

Seasonal Tax Preparer (Lone Tree)

Are you a licensed tax preparer looking for a rewarding seasonal opportunity? Join our small business accounting firm for the 2025 tax season!

About Us:

 We are a family business and a small business ourselves.

 We pride ourselves on being both dog and family friendly.

 Our firm is dedicated to providing personalized accounting services to individuals and businesses.

Responsibilities:

 Preparing individual and business tax returns.

 Offering expert tax advice and support.

 Ensuring compliance with current tax regulations and laws.

Qualifications:

 Must be a licensed tax preparer.

 Experience in tax preparation for both individuals and businesses is required.

 Strong attention to detail and excellent communication skills.

Compensation: $45+/hr - pay is commission based

If you are experienced, detail-oriented, and ready to join a supportive and friendly team, we would love to hear from you.

Please send resume to sheilat@cbizofdenver.com

Help Wanted

Special Education Teacher

Special Education Teacher for a signiﬁcant needs program located at the Strasburg School District beginning January 2025

• Current Colorado Special Education Teacher license required

• BA salary range

$41,000$47,300 & MA salary range $46,250-$52,550, based on experience

• Excellent beneﬁts. including full health beneﬁts!

• Collaborative work environment with lots of free continuing education opportunities available

• May be eligible for Student Loan Forgiveness

• Questions contact Tracy at (719) 775-2342, ext. 101 or tracyg@ecboces.org

• To apply for this position, please visit our website ecboces.org and click on the “Jobs” page, click on the job you are interested in & then click on the green button “Apply Online” at the bottom of the job listing. EOE

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