Parker Chronicle April 4, 2024

Themes from Lone Tree forum of GOP candidates for Congress

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In the still crowded race for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, Republican candidates sparred in a panel in Douglas County, hoping to capture voters’ attention ahead of primaries in June.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, Colorado Rep. Richard Holtorf, Deborah Flora, Chris Phelen and former state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg participated in the panel attended by a few hundred potential voters. Colorado Rep. Mike Lynch had planned to attend, but stayed at the capitol to vote on gun legislation.

e panel’s hosts, Douglas County Republican Women, said they invited all of the candidates, but requested they have received at least $25,000

in individual contributions.

“We really want to hear from the candidates that are super serious about this and have a great chance of success,” Deborah Mulvey, president of the Douglas County Republican Women, said.

Here are a few themes of the panel that took place in late March:

Republican unity or accountability?

At multiple points throughout the night, candidates took swipes at Boebert for her history of publicly taking fellow conservatives to task, including the vote to remove former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican. McCarthy was voted out by a narrow margin last year.

Most of the candidates said it’s crucial for Republicans should stand together against Democrats and avoid

attacking each other.

“I would never, ever vote with the Democrats to oust a Republican speaker,” Sonnenberg said. “You vote with your caucus on the policy stu and then you work in a backroom to gure out if you have an issue with the president or the speaker and you deal with it as a caucus.”

Holtorf echoed Sonnenberg, and said that accountability issues should be handled strategically.

“When Republicans ght Republicans, Democrats win,” he said.  Flora said she is not the “purge and purify” type and is not interested in crossing the aisle to work with Democrats, but rather building the conservative coalition.

“ is is a big tent with our tent

From left, U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, Colorado Rep. Richard Holtorf, Deborah Flora, Chris Phelen and former state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg participate in a panel hosted by the Douglas County Republican Women on March 27 in Lone Tree. PHOTO BY MCKENNA HARFORD

SEE CD4 RACE, P8

Water commission hears input on property development

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

New construction projects, whether homes or commercial buildings, are a familiar sight along Colorado’s rapidly growing Front Range. Yet, beyond the bustling construction lies a critical concern: How will these developments impact the region’s water supply?

“ e manner in which Colorado develops into the future will have a strong in uence on Colorado’s future water supply gap, and vice versa,” says the state’s 2015 water plan, an e ort to address Colorado’s water needs as its population grows.

e delicate balance between water and development came up in a discussion as Douglas County ofcials work toward their own longterm water plan. Learning from neighboring counties’ experiences, they aim to tackle this challenge.

e state’s water plan “really highlighted a disconnect” between the way local o cials plan for property development and how they plan for the future of water supply in communities, said Will Koger, who recently spoke to theDouglas County Water Commission about his work on water supply issues in neighboring El Paso County, which has seen massive growth in recent decades,

particularly in the Colorado Springs area.

Counties and cities oversee how land develops, but they’re not always in the driver’s seat when it comes to managing water. at’s because many areas get their water through other sources, including districts like Centennial Water and Sanitation, which serves Highlands Ranch.

“And so really the goal is to have consistent planning for water, which we know is the most critical resource,” Koger said.

Donald Langley, a member of the Douglas County Water Commission, wondered whether El Paso’s planhas helped water issues there. He noted the plan was published ve years ago.

“Would the El Paso County people say it was useful or really made a di erence — there’s tangible things that they can point to and say this has been good for us?” Langley said during the meeting in late March.

Koger responded: “What I’ve heard the most feedback on is starting the conversation right up front on water.

“As soon as they have an application for new development, they start talking about water. And that’s been the real key part of it,” said Koger, who worked as the consulting project manager for El Paso’s water plan.

Marc Dettenrieder, the director of community and economic development for Elbert County, sounded a similar note about the permitting process for development in his

county.

“When a land-use application comes in … it’s the rst thing in Elbert County,” Dettenrieder told the commission. “In my department, what we do is we say, ‘Look, do you have your water gured out?’”

Colorado’s 2015 water plan mentioned some strategies for addressing water demand.

“Land-use tools, such as higherdensity developments or tap-fee incentives for water-e cient developments, save water by increasing the e ciency of water distribution systems, limiting lawn size, and installing e cient indoor xtures and appliances,” the plan says.

e Douglas water commission, which onlyheld its rst meeting in December, is still in its early stages of understanding the varied and complex issues of water and their implications for homeowners and future developments.

e body is expected to help create a long-term plan regarding water supply and the goal of improving water conservation.

To do that, water commissioners want the county to hire an outside consultant. Water commission members weren’t nished discussing the process for that as of their March meeting.

e water commission typically meets on the fourth Monday of the month at 3:30 p.m. at the county headquarters at 100 ird St. in Castle Rock.

From left, Jack Hilbert, James Eklund, Donald Langley, Clark Hammelman and Sean Tonner, some of the members of the Douglas County Water Commission, sit at a county building Dec. 11 in Castle Rock for the commission’s first meeting. Not pictured in the room is James Maras, a member who attended virtually. PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD

New Law: Landlords Can’t Refuse to Rent to Tenants Who Are ‘Rent-Burdened’

A long-term “rule of thumb” has been that one shouldn’t have to spend more than 30% of their income on housing, but a legislative bill signed into law last June stipulates that landlords cannot refuse to rent to a tenant for whom their monthly rent would equal up to 50% of their income.

The National Council for Credit Counseling (www,nfcc.org) says, “The general rule of thumb is that housing costs should be no more than 30% of your gross income. This includes rent or mortgage payments; homeowner association fees; and utilities like gas, electricity, water, and internet.”

to the refused tenant.

The bill in question, SB23-184, is titled “Protections for Residential Tenants.” It states that “A landlord may not require a prospective tenant to have an annual income that exceeds 200% of the annual cost of rent.” That’s another way of saying 50% of one’s annual income. And that figure does not include utilities in that 50%.

A violation is also an unfair housing practice subject to enforcement by private persons, the attorney general, and the Colorado Civil Rights Division. A violation carries an initial penalty of $50 payable to the applicant, and failure to cure (i.e., accept the tenant’s application) carries a $2,500 penalty, again paid

This new law not only has small landlords upset, it also has some tenant advocates upset. They point out that HUD doesn’t allow renters to be “rent burdened” over 30%. HUD says on its website that the 30% rule is “meant to protect low-income households from extreme rental costs. High housing costs and high prices for basic necessities place a greater burden on poor households living in metropolitan areas. Measures of affordability should be reassessed to ensure that policymakers are decreasing rental burdens for poor households.”

Public housing authorities nationwide are prohibited from charging more than 30% of a tenant’s income for rent under federal fair housing laws.

Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver bases mortgage payments on 30% of the homeowner’s annual salary at time of applying for a Habitat home and does not increase the payment if and when the homeowner’s income increases.

On its website, HUD acknowledges contrary opinions about the 30% rule, noting that 30% of a $500,000 income leaves sufficient funds for other household costs, whereas 30% of a $20,000 annual income does not.

Rather than measuring affordability using a rent-to-income ratio, Michael Stone of the University of Massachusetts Boston recommends a residual income approach, which measures cost burden by calculating the money a family has left for housing after other expenditures such as food, clothing, and medical costs are taken into account.

SB23-184 has other landlord-tenant provisions. It prohibits charging more

than twice the monthly rent for a security deposit, and it allows an existing tenant subject to an eviction action, irrespective of the percentage of income paid in rent, to assert as an affirmative defense that the landlord violated fair housing laws by evicting him/her.

I have no opinion about whether SB23-184 was a good idea. There will probably be more debate about it in coming months. What’s your opinion?

Houzz Report Shows Increase in Home Renovation Spending

With sellers and buyers both sitting on the fence more than usual, thanks to increased mortgage rates, it’s not surprising that both are investing in improvements of their current home, and that’s reflected in this year’s home renovation trends report from Houzz.com.

Here are some of the key findings in their 2024 report published last week based on 32,615 website users, including 17,713 home renovators, who participated in a survey regarding their 2023 spending.

The median amount spent on renovation in 2023 was up 60% from 2020 to $24,000. The median spend in the 90th percentile was up 77% to $150,000.

In just one year, the percentage who financed their project using credit cards surged 9 percentage points to 38%.

Distressed Commercial Real Estate Loans a Red Flag for Residential?

It’s no secret that commercial real estate has been in trouble with the shift to at-home work following the pandemic’s abatement. The vacancy rates in office buildings is still too high for some landlords to meet their financial obligations.

The numbers behind that trend were released last week by Bloomberg, which wrote about stressed collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) which bundle debt that would be considered too speculative for conventional mortgage-backed securities (MBOs). You may recall that MBOs full of sub-

prime loans were central to the collapse of the housing market in 2008, triggering the “great recession.”

Below is a chart published by Bloom-

Distressed Commercial Real Estate CLOs

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berg, which wrote: “In just the last seven months, the share of troubled assets held by these niche products surged four-fold — rising by one measure to more than 7.4%. For the hardest hit, delinquency rates are in the double digits. That’s left major players in the $80 billion market rushing to rework loans while short sellers ramp up attacks on publicly-traded issuers.”

Many leveraged properties can’t be sold for what they owe their lenders.

Gen Xers edged out Baby Boomers, as they did last year, with a median spend of $25,000 vs. $24,000. When it came to big projects, the top 10% of Gen X renovators had a median spend of $180,000 compared to $131,000 for Baby Boomers.

The most commonly renovated room continued to be the kitchen, followed by guest bathroom, primary bathroom and living room — 29, 27, 25 and 21 percent respectively. The median kitchen project cost $24,000 (up 20% over 2022), and median bath project cost $15,000 (up 15% over 2022).

Archive of Past Columns Is Online

Over the past two decades this column has appeared in the Denver Post, and during that time I’ve written about every conceivable topic related to real estate, You can search that archive, listed by headline and downloadable with a single click, at www.JimSmithColumns.com

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Commissioners oppose unionization e ort underway at Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Douglas County’s elected leaders say they stand with Sheriff Darren Weekly in opposition to an effort to unionize the sheriff’s office, arguing the move would hamper the interests of employees and the public.

“We believe a union would not only interfere with the effective delivery of the exceptional law enforcement you’ve come to expect from your sheriff’s office but also not be in the best interests of the employees who work there,” County Commissioner Lora Thomas said in a March 25 video message with her fellow commissioners.

Union representation of the sheriff’s office could enable employees to negotiate salaries, benefits and other aspects of their jobs through collective bargaining, a possibility the sheriff’s office leadership opposes.

In the video statement, County Commissioner Abe Laydon said the union effort now has enough signatures to force an election to determine whether deputies want to be represented by the Fraternal Order of Police.

That organization is “by far the largest professional police organization in both Colorado and the United States,” according to the Colorado FOP website.

“In Douglas County, we oppose the notion that outsiders would think they know what’s best for our community, our sheriff’s office, employees and your safety,” Laydon said.

The Douglas County News-Press did not immediately hear back from the Colorado FOP for comment on the effort to unionize the Douglas sheriff’s office.

Asked when the election among sheriff’s office employees to de-

Douglas County Sheri Darren Weekly speaks at a Feb. 29 news conference to call attention to scams targeting older adults. He spoke alongside area police chiefs at the sheri ’s o ce in the Castle Rock area.

PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD

SEE UNIONIZATION, P5

UNIONIZATION

cide whether to unionize will take place, a spokesperson said the sheriff’s office is still waiting to determine that.

“It is up to the state Department of Labor,” said Deborah Takahara, spokesperson for the Douglas sheriff. “The sheriff would like it completed as soon as possible.”

‘Unwelcome effort’

Weekly, the sheriff, opposes the unionization effort because “it

adds another layer of bureaucracy and costs taxpayers more money due to staff time for both the sheriff’s office and the county,” the sheriff’s office claimed in an email.  County staff “does an outstanding job to ensure pay and benefits are not only competitive with the rest of the Denver metro area but in many cases better than other law enforcement agencies in our region,” Takahara said.

Weekly was a member of the sheriff’s office for 29 years prior to becoming sheriff, Takahara said.

“He is committed to ensuring his staff are compensated, and he values their input on policy matters,”

she added. “In addition, the sheriff and undersheriff currently have direct and immediate access to make decisions based on the needs of the organization. The sheriff and undersheriff often make decisions mid-year to issues related to salary and benefits of DCSO employees. A collective bargaining agreement would restrict this type of effort.”

The county government released a 4-minute video statement from the county commissioners about what county officials called “the unwelcome effort to unionize our sheriff’s office.”

“Since 2022, we have approved more than 75 additional full-time

employees and invested $20 million in the sheriff’s office,” Commissioner George Teal said, arguing the county has worked to “provide exceptional pay and benefits.”

Timeline unclear

Asked which sheriff’s office deputies or employees are leading the effort to unionize, Takahara deferred to the FOP and said she does not have that information.

The Colorado FOP did not immediately respond for comment on when sheriff’s office employees began collecting signatures in support of unionizing.

Building to help students with disabilities gets OK

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e Douglas County school board unanimously approved a $4.3 million purchase of a school in Parker, to house some of the district’s special education programs.

The former Colorado Early Colleges charter building will become the new home for Parker-area students in the district’s Bridge Program, which helps students with disabilities transition out of high school and into independent living.

“We are over the moon about the possibility of this building,” Superintendent Erin Kane said. “It’s a good price and a great location.” e building will have dedicated space for the Child Find Program, which identi es students with dis-

abilities. e school has 16 classrooms and 100 parking spaces across a roughly 24,000-squarefoot campus located at 10235 Parkglenn Way.

Bridge programs operate out of mobile classrooms in Parker, which is not an ideal environment for teaching, Kane said.

from the sale of a surplus school site in January that netted the district $4.9 million.

school operational for the upcoming school year. Once the Bridge and Child Find programs are relocated to the new school, the district is planning to sell the old site located at 11722 Dransfeldt Road. Board members voiced overwhelming support for the purchase.

Douglas County School District is considering purchasing the former Colorado Early Colleges school building in Parker for $4.3 million. It would house some of the district’s special education programs. COURTESY DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

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Boebert defended the removal of McCarthy, though she said she wasn’t happy with the timing of the vote. Boebert added that she regrets nominating U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican,for speaker, but doesn’t support a motion to vacate him at this time.

“I have no problem holding Republicans accountable, especially when we are making promises to voters and then make backroom deals and go a different direction,” Boebert said.

Defund and deregulate

Candidates agreed that the preferred solutions for issues ranging from the economy to national defense and energy production are defunding and deregulating. They argued that all of those issues, and others, would be improved with reduced, or even no, government regulation, taxation and other involvement.

The consensus among candidates is to defund the Department of Education, green energy subsidies and government-funded Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs or depart-

ments. Meanwhile, they favor deregulation for small businesses, education and energy production.

“The best thing we can do for the private sector, small businesses, farmers and ranchers, is get government out of their lives,” Phelen said.

Some of the loudest claps of the night came when Flora spoke about abolishing the Department of Education. She suggested a voucher-like funding system instead.

“The federal government should have zero to do with our kids’ education,” Flora said. “The money should follow the student, not the system.”

Boebert highlighted her legislative efforts to increase energy production in America with the introduction of the Restoring American Energy Dominance bill, which would repeal rules for oil and gas leasing.

“We need to be producing energy,” she said.

Locals vs. Lauren

With Boebert’s recent decision to not run again for her current seat in the 3rd Congressional District on the Western Slope and to move and run in the 4th, candidates with longer standing ties continue positioning themselves as better picks with more knowledge of the area and its constituents.

Sonnenberg, who is from Sterling in the northeast part of the state, said

his roots and experience means he will hit the ground running as a replacement for U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, the Windsor Republican who stunned the political world last month when he unexpectedly retired, leaving the GOP with a slimmer majority in the House.

“Deep roots are important for electing somebody who understands the issues you face each and every day,” Sonnenberg said.

Flora touched on her history fighting for conservative values in Douglas County, at the heart of the 4th District, and at the state level. Phelen, also from Douglas County, highlighted his experience in Congress as chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, of the 5th Congressional District, which includes Colorado Springs.

Holtorf pointed to his military service and time representing 16 of the 21 counties in the 4th District in the Colorado House.

“If you want veteran leadership and senior leadership, you’re looking at that guy,” Holtorf said. “I lead every day, as the whip in the statehouse and as a caucus member.”

In response to criticisms that she hasn’t been in the district long enough, Boebert said she may be new to the area, but she shares the same values as constituents and has a track record to demonstrate her conservative background.

Colorado schools to receive $11.4M for youth vaping prevention

BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

their health and wellbeing.”

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Colorado schools are poised to receive $11.4 million to combat the youth vaping crisis. The funding comes from a settlement between the state attorney general’s office and e-cigarette manufacturer Juul Labs, Inc.

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“Colorado has a youth mental health crisis that has fueled a vaping epidemic,” said Attorney General Phil Wieser in a press release. “These funds will support solutions and preventive measures that will help our children to make informed and better decisions about

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The deal ends a lawsuit Weiser’s office filed against Juul in 2020 for targeting young people in its marketing and misleading them about the health dangers of using its products. Juul settled with Colorado, along with several other states that joined the effort, in 2023 for $462 million. Colorado’s share was $31.7 million.

about the partnership and for the opportunity to ensure all Colorado schools can access and invest these funds.

• Address the youth vaping crisis through education, prevention, and treatment

• Provide professional development opportunities for school staff

• Increase family and community involvement in promoting healthy lifestyles and choices for students

• Include activities and programming that incorporate youth voices and are culturally responsive.

The Colorado Department of Law and the Colorado Department of Education will disburse $3.8 million annually to local K-12 education providers beginning next school year and ending in 2027. Weiser said his office is excited

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“The new Vaping Education Prevention Grant provides muchneeded resources for our school districts and boards of cooperative educational services to support students in learning about making healthy and responsible choices,” said Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova.

According to a press release from the Colorado Attorney General’s office, schools receiving the grant must incorporate all or some of the following criteria:

• Adopt or enhance comprehensive vaping and drug prevention policies that include ENDS and move towards student-centered alternatives to suspension

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approaches.

Colorado teen vaping rates

According to the 2021 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, the latest year data is available, 16% of Colorado youth report using a vape daily. This percentage significantly decreased from 2019, when 26% of Colorado youth reported daily vaping. The portion of youth who said they’d ever vaped decreased from 46% in 2019 to 30% in 2021.

Despite some positive downward trends in youth vaping, the percentage of youth who tried vaping before the age of 13 rose from 13% in 2019 to 22% in 2021 and the percentage of students who use vape products because they are flavored increased to 23%.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment conducts the Healthy Kids

Colorado Survey in the Fall of odd-numbered years. The 2023 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey results will be available this summer.

“Youth vaping is a concerning issue,” said Chelsea Andrews, CDPHE’s tobacco communications specialist. “CDPHE is actively supporting communities in their efforts to limit children’s and youth’s exposure to tobacco advertising and access to tobacco through its State Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership grant program.”

Andrews said the department encourages parents and trusted adults to discuss vaping with young people. More information about how to start these conversations is available at https:// www.tobaccofreeco.org/.

In addition, Andrews said that young people between ages 12 and 17 can access free, confidential support to quit smoking or vaping by texting “Start My Quit” to 36072 or visiting www. mylifemyquit.org for more information.

It’s game on for pickleball in Elizabeth

Groundbreaking held for facility in Casey Jones Park

BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

On March 13, the sun peeked through the clouds just long enough for Elizabeth Park and Recreation’s pickleball court groundbreaking. A crisp breeze blew around the group gathered at Casey Jones Park. EPR Executive Director Mike Barney, EPR board members and several

Elizabeth Pickleball group members were on hand for the groundbreaking.

Pickleball, a combo of tennis, badminton and table tennis, is popular nationwide. Data released in January 2023 by the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) showed that pickleball was the fastest growing sport in America. ere are more than 36 million players across the U.S. and 10,000 courts.

On their Team Reach app, the Elizabeth Pickleball group has 128 people currently, up from 75 two years ago. Lynne Watts, the group leader, says the group collaborated with EPR to bring pickleball courts

to Elizabeth. EPR felt that the courts would not only t within the existing Casey Jones Master Plan but would add to it.

Pickleballer Laura Elgin said she “absolutely loves the game and the people.” e game is social and fun and really “gets you moving”, she said. Elgin thinks the best place to play is right here in Elizabeth.

Lorraine Vance, another member of Elizabeth Pickleball, has lived in Elbert County since 1978. Vance says pickleball has “been fun since the very beginning and she’s met so many new people.”

a reality for a few years now. EPR’s March newsletter said that “after a year of planning, developing the design, and selecting a contractor, the District will begin constructing the new pickleball complex and articial turf ball eld … e District has selected FNF as the general contractor for the $1.8M build within Casey Jones Park.” Representatives from FNF were there to help celebrate the groundbreaking.

e four new pickleball courts will be fully fenced with screening to minimize wind and a plaza near the courts will include seating, portable

EPR has been working toward making the Casey Jones Master Plan

Members of the Elizabeth Pickleball group before the groundbreaking at Casey Jones Park.

PHOTO BY NICKY QUINBY

SEE PICKLEBALL, P13

PICKLEBALL

restrooms and a bulletin board. e entryway to the park will be moved and a parking lot added.

Watts gave a short speech on behalf of the Elizabeth Pickleball group. She said Elizabeth Pickleball is so excited. “Build it and they will come, it will happen,” she said to the cheerful crowd.

e new space will be versatile and bene cial to many in Elizabeth’s growing community. Barney said there are more than 300 kids registered in EPR’s spring soccer program alone. e pickleball courts aren’t the only slated improvements. ere will also be a new turf ball eld, a parking lot and a retention pond.

One of the bene ts to building the new ball elds with a sustainable surface is that they can be used for soccer practices, ag football and other programming as well as softball and baseball. e district plans to host girls softball on the new arti cial turf ball eld this fall and will host T-ball and machine pitch youth baseball programs beginning in 2025.

Jon Hayes, director of operations for the competitive softball organization Elbert County Coyotes, and ECC coach Dave Espinoza also spoke about what a great asset the new ball eld would be for girls softball and potentially for the high school.

Hayes said that EPR has been phenomenal and that the improvements will be great for the community as it grows. e development will “elevate everything around us,” he said, and will have a positive impact for the entire community, from youth athletics to adults interested in maintaining their health.

Barney added that the Casey Jones Park Master Plan includes proposed improvements to the rodeo and event arena, including new and enlarged covered grandstands with restrooms and concession areas as well as a renovated riding arena.

e master plan is not currently fully funded; in the meantime, the park and recreation district is pursuing smaller improvements within the constraints of the current budget.

Some community members have raised concerns that the pedestrian bridge connected to Evans Park should be repaired before any additions to Casey Jones Park. e bridge and the trail system are under the purview of the Town of Elizabeth, not EPR.

e pedestrian bridge was signi cantly damaged in 2023 and is scheduled to be repaired this June.

e town website explains that “Repairs have been slow due to numerous environmental concerns surrounding the Preble’s Jumping Mouse and its native habitat.” Visit townofelizabeth.org/projects/page/ trail-repairs for more information.

EPR’s newsletters are available at elizabethpr.com/newsletters.

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Some restaurants are special places for family times

OWINNING

ne of our favorite dining experiences is at Fattoria in Avon, Colorado. As we allowed ourselves to experience everything that was happening around us, the more we realized why we enjoy this restaurant so very much. e exquisite food coupled with incredible service and watching as families dined and laughed, sharing their stories of skiing and snowboarding across three generations of family members, made our meal and our night out a wonderful experi-

In the realm of culinary experiences, there exists a unique and cherished category that seamlessly blends the sophistication of high-quality dining with the joviality of family fun. ese establishments are not just places to satisfy one’s palate but serve as arenas for creating lasting memories and fostering familial bonds. From whimsical themes to interactive dining experiences, these restaurants have mastered the delicate art of catering to both discerning adults and playful children alike.

Picture this: You step into a whimsical wonderland adorned with vibrant colors, imaginative decor, and an ambiance that sparks joy in every corner. Welcome to the world of familyfriendly ne dining. Here, the notion of upscale cuisine coexists harmoniously with the laughter of children and the chatter of adults. It’s a place where parents can savor gourmet delicacies while their little ones embark on culinary adventures of their own.

One hallmark of these establishments is their ability to cater to diverse palates without compromising on quality. While parents indulge in exquisitely crafted dishes prepared by seasoned chefs, children are treated to a menu designed speci cally for their tastes and preferences. From mini sliders to gourmet macaroni and cheese, every item is curated to appeal to young appetites while maintaining the culinary standards upheld by the establishment.

Beyond the immersive atmosphere

and delectable cuisine, what truly sets these restaurants apart is their commitment to creating shared experiences for families. Whether it’s celebrating a birthday, hosting a family reunion, or simply enjoying a night out, these establishments go above and beyond to ensure that every moment is memorable. From personalized greetings to special surprises, they understand the importance of making guests feel valued and appreciated.

Moreover, these restaurants often incorporate elements of education and culture into their o erings, providing families with opportunities to learn and grow together. From themed menus that explore di erent cuisines to workshops that teach culinary skills, there’s always something new to discover. By fostering a sense of curiosity and exploration, these establishments inspire children to develop a lifelong appreciation for food and culture.

In a fast-paced world where quality time with loved ones is increasingly rare, these restaurants serve as sanctuaries where families can reconnect

and create cherished memories. Here, laughter lls the air, and bonds are strengthened over shared meals and shared experiences. It’s not just about nourishing the body but also feeding the soul, leaving guests with a sense of warmth and contentment that lingers long after the meal has ended.

As society continues to evolve, so does the concept of dining out with family. Gone are the days of stu y establishments where children are seen but not heard. Instead, a new era of family-friendly ne dining has emerged, rede ning the way we experience food and fellowship. ese restaurants prove that high-quality cuisine and family fun are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary elements that together create a truly unforgettable dining experience.

e fusion of high-quality dining with family fun represents a delightful convergence of culinary artistry and heartfelt hospitality. ese restaurants o er far more than just a meal; they provide a gateway to a world of imagination, discovery and together-

ness. So, the next time you’re craving a dining experience that caters to both discerning tastes and playful spirits, seek out one of these establishments and prepare to embark on a culinary journey unlike any other.

Fattoria is one of our favorites for sure with a special shout out to Eli, Dave, Denitsa, James, Justin and all the other sta who create a wonderful experience. Do you already have a favorite ne-dining establishment that also provides the ambiance and intimacy of a fun family experience? I would love to hear all about your favorite such restaurants at gotonorton@ gmail.com, and when we can nd the time to enjoy an exquisitely prepared meal blended in a family friendly environment, 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

Commissioner confusion

Under the auspices of the DougCo county commissioners, we now have multiple Public Health rules in e ect to fully cover what Exec Director Mike Hill “the unlikely event that migrants are placed in DougCo.” ese rules harken back to another county health proclamation - Commissioner Laydon’s April 2021 statement, “I want … Douglas County to be (the) rst county in the state to say that this pandemic is over.” Just a week or so before the fourth COVID wave hit Colorado.

Recently, the BoCC announced a lawsuit against the state related to the bar on ICE jailing people suspected of civil immigration violations. e following week, commissioners advanced an ordinance that would prohibit commercial vehicles from dropping o people in the county unannounced.

“We have a lot of concerned residents here on this,” Douglas County Commissioner George Teal said ursday. “It has reached a boiling point.” (Denver Post)

So, if anyone spots an immigrant or two out on the streets of Douglas County, take the following sequential actions: 1) sound the ve alarms outside of Teal’s boiling point; 2) send an extra $100 to the commissioners to cover legal fees du jour; and 3) as the last and nal option, contact Abe Laydon. He’ll o er a proclamation, and the migrant pandemic will be over.

Lloyd Guthrie, Roxborough Park

Strive for street safety

I’m anxious almost every day for 15 minutes at around 3 o’clock. I’m waiting for my 14-year-old to noisily enter the house after his scooter ride home from school. He crosses Highlands Ranch Parkway, just a few miles up the road from where Alex Mackiewicz was tragically killed. I see the similarities of our boys and my heart breaks for his family.

Each day, in our community, people must cross Highlands Ranch Parkway and similar roads to reach schools, open space trails, shopping centers, workplaces and homes. And, in most cases, there isn’t a safe way to walk or ride.

No amount of road deaths is acceptable or inevitable, and we can strive for zero in our community. A systemic approach that recognizes the inevitability of mistakes is needed to keep our communities and children safe. While we must invest in enforcement of tra c laws, we must also look at upstream prevention through reducing speeds in pedestrian areas, leveraging left turn arrows and safer crosswalks, protected bike lanes, pedestrian bridges, and other infrastructure and policies to save lives.

We have a collective responsibility to prevent additional tragedies from occurring. Let’s together urge our local leaders to take action and work toward safer streets and roads in our community.

Matthew Self, Highlands Ranch

Please support these amazing local businesses

Worth

Local Irish pubs keep tradition of Celtic culture alive

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Everyone wants to be Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, but luckily metro area residents can experience Gaelic culture any day of the year at local Irish pubs.

Irish pubs di er from the average sports bar or cocktail lounge, and not only because there’s guaranteed to be Guinness on the menu. A good pub is all about a welcoming and approachable environment, where patrons feel like one of the lads.

Colorado Community Media rounded up a few places to go for a pint and some shenanigans. Sláinte!

Nallen’s Irish Pub

1429 Market St., Denver

Nallen’s sells the most Guinness in Denver and it’s likely because the bar is known for the smoothest pour in town, per a trophy that proudly sits behind the bar.

John Nallen, an Ireland native who moved stateside in the ‘70s, said the secret to the perfect Guinness pour is patience.

“It’s a two-pour and you have to let it sit for a few minutes and then top it o ,” Nallen said. “We take the time to do it right.”

Nallen opened the bar with his family in 1992 and has since gained a reputation that’s led to hosting a number of celebrities, including Fergal Murray, who is a former brewmaster at Guinness, and musicians Toby Keith and U2.

e pub’s reputation has also

earned it a loyal group of regulars. Nallen said a comfortable and inviting atmosphere denes the Irish pub.

“ e local pub is kind of the living room of the Irish community,” Nallen said. “(Nallen’s) is a hang out place. ere’s no pressure.”

In addition to a variety of Irish whiskeys, the bar also has a selection of Irish creams, which it uses to make one of it’s signature drinks, the Shillelagh, a whiskey and cream mix. e drink is named after an Irish walking stick used by humans and leprechauns alike.

Landsdowne Arms

9352 Dorchester St., Highlands Ranch

As Landsdowne Arms prepares for its 20th anniversary next year, it’s busier than ever, fresh o a record-breaking St. Patrick’s Day weekend for the restaurant.

“Post COVID, to have such a big weekend, even though we don’t stay open until 2 a.m. anymore, is really incredible,” Steven Gregory, general manager at Landsdowne Arms, said. “We’re glad for our regular families we have come in.”

Gregory said the restaurant offers a family-friendly pub experience that blends Irish and Latino culinary dishes, drawing inspiration from the mix of cultures on sta . For example, the menu features traditional sh and chips, as well as sh tacos made with fried cod.

Nallen’s is known for having the best Guinness pour in the area, having won a trophy for their pints. Nallen said it all comes down to patience.

PHOTO BY MCKENNA HARFORD

IRISH PUB

“We have great Irish food and a meld of Irish and Latino culture beyond the Irish fare,” he said.

Other specialties are the Reuben, a roast beef sandwich dubbed the Dubliner and the Irish whiskey chicken and mushrooms.

At the bar, Landsdowne Arms serves up more than 45 varieties of Irish whiskeys and scotchs. ey also have their own take on the Irish car bomb called the Left Hook, which uses Hard Chaw Irish cream instead of Bailey’s.

e space includes a rooftop patio and private library room with a replace for events.

Darcy’s Bistro and Pub

4955 South Ulster St., #103, Denver e sister restaurant to Landsdowne Arms, pub-goers will nd a similar vibe and menu at this location, which opened in 2002. Gregory said it’s a popular date night spot thanks to its cozy atmosphere.

“Couples often come in to split a sh and chips or a Reuben,” he said, Chef Jorge Garcia is known to add special menus for holidays, like Mardi Gras and Oktoberfest, as well as serving the classics. Specialties include bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie and sh and chips.

e bar o ers a selection of more than 20 Irish whiskeys and scotch options, as well as a rotating taplist alongside the usual Guinness and Smithwick’s. On Wednesdays, the bar has Jameson, Tullamore Dew and Bushmills for $7.

When describing what de nes an Irish pub, Gregory joked “mostly Jameson.”

Ned Kelly’s Irish Pub

5686 South Sycamore St., Littleton

Located in the heart of downtown Littleton, Ned Kelly’s opened in 2009 as a “raggedy local spot,” as Megan Casey, operating partner at Ned Kelly’s, put it, before growing into the establishment it is today.

Casey said the pub is beloved for its friendly environment where everyone is a regular.

“It’s a ‘Cheers’-like establishment,” Casey said. “Plenty of chat and fun, and always a bit of shenanigans.”

e pub serves a small menu of pizza and snacks from Grande Station, but there’s nothing small about the

drink selection. Ned Kelly’s advertises having one of the widest-ranging liquor selections in the area and bar keeps who can make anything.

For the full taste of Ireland’s brews, try an Irish ight, which includes Guinness, Smithwick’s, Harp and Kilkenny.

In its years in Littleton, Casey said Ned Kelly’s has seen countless great days, but one of the best each year is the St. Baldrick’s fundraiser.

St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a nonpro t that raises money to support children with cancer by sponsoring head-shaving contests. is year, Ned Kelly’s St. Baldrick’s event raised over $90,000 for the foundation, the most of any Denver area participant.

“Our St Baldrick’s event is a proud day for us, every year,” she said. “It’s good to give back.”

Clancy’s Irish Pub

7000 West 38th Ave., Wheat Ridge

Clancy’s Irish Pub was established in 1973 and claims on its website to be Colorado’s oldest Irish Pub. Despite being around for over 50 years, Clancy’s still keeps things fresh.

Chefs Jeremy Ramos and Shon Guy released a new dinner menu at the start of the year, which includes a mix of scratch-made traditional Irish fare and unique dishes, like the Irish

a corned beef and pastrami

in the style of a Cubano. Classic corned

and

is served every Friday night.

e bar o ers more than 30 kinds of Irish whiskey and, of course, Guinness, Harp and Smithwick’s on tap.

e 6,000 square-foot pub, hous-

ing four bar areas and two patios, frequently hosts live music, with music ranging from the expected Celtic style to bluegrass, blues and classic rock.

Every Tuesday the pubs hosts an open jam session for Celtic music where anyone can join in.

Castro,

sandwich

beef

cabbage

John Nallen, owner of Nallen’s Irish Pub, pours a Guinness at the bar. Nallen said an Irish pub is commonly known as the living room of Ireland because of the camaraderie.

PHOTOS BY MCKENNA HARFORD

Highlands Ranch pub Landsdowne Arms serves up a twist on the Irish car bomb called the left hook which uses Hard Chaw Irish cream. The restaurant is also popular for Celtic fare, like fish and chips, shepherd’s pie and bangers and mash.

Pharmaceutical company Amgen sues state over price-setting

BY JOHN INGOLD THE COLORADO SUN

Amgen, the multinational pharmaceutical company that makes the blockbuster arthritis drug Enbrel, has sued Colorado over a state board’s efforts to possibly cap the price of the drug.

In a lawsuit led in U.S. District Court in Denver, Amgen argues that the actions of Colorado’s Prescription Drug A ordability Board are unconstitutional because they conict with federal laws and because they violate rights to due process. e company is seeking not just to overturn the board’s recent decisions about Enbrel but also to strike down major parts of the law creating the board.

“We have signi cant concerns with the Colorado Prescription Drug Affordability Board’s decision to move forward with its awed policy and process,” Amgen said in a statement. “ ere is no legal basis for the Board’s actions or haphazard process throughout the review period.”

A spokesperson for the Colorado

Division of Insurance, which houses the a ordability board, said they could not comment on pending litigation.

Colorado lawmakers, backed by Gov. Jared Polis, created the Prescription Drug A ordability Board, or PDAB, in 2021 with the goal of lowering prescription costs. e board has the ability after extensive review to set so-called upper payment limits — basically, price caps — on drugs it deems una ordable.

Its rst reviews of prescription drugs brought outcries from patient groups worried that price caps would cause their needed drugs to be pulled from the market in Colorado. But, last month, the board voted unanimously to declare Enbrel una ordable, setting in motion a roughly sixmonth process to weigh whether to become the rst state to place a price cap on a prescription medication.

Enbrel is an injectable drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions. According to Amgen, its list price is $1,762.34 per 50 mg dose, meaning a full year of treatment for some patients could stretch over

$90,000. But Amgen’s patient-assistance programs mean almost no patients pay the list price out-of-pocket. Insurance companies pick up a large majority of the bill, even for patients who don’t receive nancial help.

Amgen reported making about $3.7 billion from Enbrel sales worldwide in the 2023 scal year, down 10% from the year before.

In its lawsuit, Amgen argues that Colorado’s PDAB law violates the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause by seeking to override federal patent laws.

“To incentivize the immense risktaking and investment necessary to discover and develop new medical treatments, Congress has established a carefully calibrated intellectual property regime that rewards pharmaceutical innovation with a period of market exclusivity and the ability to charge prices that allow for further investment and innovation during that period,” the lawsuit states.

Amgen says the law also potentially interferes with Medicare’s ability to control its pricing decisions. And the company also argues that the law seeks to regulate transactions that occur outside of Colorado in violation of the Constitution’s commerce clause.

Lastly, Amgen argues that Colorado’s law is too vague and leaves too many of the ne-print details

up to the PDAB to decide, creating due process violations. is “fails to provide drug manufacturers with a meaningful opportunity to be heard and fails to protect them against erroneous deprivations of their property,” the lawsuit states.

e lawsuit has been assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Nina Y. Wang, who was appointed to the bench by President Joe Biden in 2022. Amgen is asking Wang to strike down PDAB’s authority as it relates to patented drugs, federal health care programs and out-of-state transactions. It is also seeking an order barring the PDAB from enforcing its decisions on Enbrel.

Priya Telang, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, which supported the PDAB’s creation, called the lawsuit “unfortunately expected.”

“It’s a well-known practice that pharmaceutical companies sue to protect pro ts and excessive prices,” Telang wrote in an email. “In this case, it’s just another example of them putting pro ts over patients, regardless of the harmful impact highcost drugs have on those patients.”

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

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‘Wild Wild West’ night honors those who serve chamber

BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

e Elizabeth Area Chamber of Commerce Wild Wild West ElizaGala Member Awards & Casino Event is coming up on Saturday, April 6, from 5-10 p.m. at the Elbert County Fairgrounds Exhibit Building in Kiowa. e awards gala is a celebratory evening to recognize members, sponsors and volunteers. Elbert County Fair and Elizabeth Stampede Royalty will be there to greet guests and help as needed.

Chamber of Commerce President Mary Martin said that over the last 20 years, this event has evolved into a membership appreciation event. “We’ve added new awards categories, expanding into the community to honor community volunteers who do so much,” she exclaimed.

ere will be casino tables and the chamber is adding live music for the second year in a row. is year’s live entertainment is Kevin Austin, a local acoustic musician.

Award nominations are solicited from chamber members, the community, and the Chamber board of directors. Martin explained that votes for businesses are conducted via survey, using those nominations received; only one vote per chamber member is allowed. Martin went on to say the awards are not a popu-

For a little extra fun, there will be a mechanical bull this year, as well as e event is open to anyone 21

A blackjack table at a previous ElizaGala Casino night.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELIZABETH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT MARY MARTIN

ELIZAGALA

and over. Registration is open until Tuesday, April 2 and RSVPs are required for this event. Visit tinyurl. com/46bfte47 to register.

e Elizabeth Area Chamber of Commerce has been in business since 1948 and has members throughout Elbert, Douglas and other counties in Colorado. e Elizabeth Area Chamber of Commerce provides valuable bene ts and works with members to help promote their businesses. Martin shared that the chamber has developed new programs and events,

created a Visitor Guide & Business Resource Directory, and partnered and collaborated with other local entities like Elizabeth Stampede and the Town of Elizabeth.

Martin said that membership has grown by 30% over the last few years and, in the last three years, the “chamber’s presence and engagement on Facebook has quadrupled.”

“We know that whenever we host a vendor event along Main Street, or at Casey Jones Park,” Martin explained, “our local businesses bene t by us bringing hundreds and hundreds of visitors and shoppers to their stores and restaurants.”

For more information on the Elizabeth Area Chamber of Commerce, visit elizabethchamber.org.

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A roulette table at a previous ElizaGala Casino night.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ELIZABETH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT MARY MARTIN

Musician Kevin Austin alongside Chamber Board Chair Larry Higman at a Christmas Happy Hour event.

Green Mountain boys lacrosse beats Lutheran, plans to keep its winning ways

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Green Mountain boys lacrosse team has had six straight winning seasons.

“We have been lucky to win a lot of games for a while,” Green Mountain Head Coach Nate Hallahan said of the program. “We want to keep doing that. ese guys expect to win.”

e Rams are o to a solid start to keeping that string alive after a nice 9-6 victory Wednesday night over Lutheran at the North Area Athletic Complex.

Green Mountain (3-1 record) trailed early but went on an 8-1 run

from late in the rst quarter through the third quarter for its rst victory coming out of spring break.

“We were just trying to move the ball and get some shots on early,” Green Mountain senior attacker/ mid elder Caden Jantzer said. “We were just trying to get our o ense going. It was a good rst half and a great second quarter coming out hot.”

Lutheran (2-3) held a 2-1 lead late in the rst quarter, but a bad turnover in the nal seconds ended up on Jantzer’s stick one-on-one with Lutheran sophomore goalie Tyler Michell. Jantzer buried the shot with 9.4 seconds left in the opening quar-

La Ciudad ¡Hola!

ter to tie things up 2-2.

Jantzer would nd the back of the net twice in the second quarter and senior Quinn Johnson put in his second goal of the game to give the Rams a 5-2 halftime lead. After an opening second-half goal by Lions’ Simon Gunther, Green Mountain responded with a 4-0 run to end the quarter to take a 9-3 lead going into the fourth.

Four di erent Rams scored in the quarter which showed how Green Mountain’s o ense won’t look like it did last year when Kole Stratman led the Rams with 40 goals.

“Kole was a big kid who would run through guys and could just shoot o the run,” Jantzer said. “We don’t have that size anymore. We have to dodge and pass as much as we can without running through guys.”

is biggest change for the Rams is the absence of Stratman.

“Skill-wise, we’ll be a little bit of a developing project this year,” Hallahan admitted with the graduation of Stratman. “But, I think our kids always work hard and that is fun to be around. I think we are guring out how to play the right way to be able to win.”

Lutheran did outscore Green Mountain 3-0 in the nal quarter as Hallahan worked on getting in some of his bench players. Senior Borden Tabor picked up the win in net for the Rams.

“We have high expectations for us with as many seniors as we have,” Jantzer said. “We want to go as far as we can for as long as we can.”

Green Mountain returns to action to face Ralston Valley (2-0) at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 29, at Je co Stadium.

Cherokee Trail 16, Lakewood 12 e second game of the varsity doubleheader at NAAC proved to be an o ensive show.

Cherokee Trail erased an early 4-0 lead by Lakewood. e Cougars eventually took a 16-12 victory led by senior Nate Gilmore’s four-goal performance. Gilmore poured in 46 goals last season.

Lakewood coach Darin Denton has plenty of young talent, headlined by Jaxson Fontenot. e freshman attacker nished with a game-high ve goals, including three straight to start the fourth quarter as the Tigers trimmed the Cougars’ lead to 14-11.

Junior Damon Schuetz had a nice game with four goals and freshmen Lukas Gonzales and Henry Rodriguez both found the back of the net for the Tigers in the loss. Lakewood (2-3) was slated to face Je co rival Dakota Ridge at on March 29 at Jeffco Stadium.

Dennis Pleuss is the sports information director for Je co Public Schools. For more Je co coverage, go to CHSAANow.com.

Green Mountain senior Caden Jantzer (2) attempts to dodge past Lutheran sophomore Collin Huber during the first half on Wednesday, March 27, at the North Area Athletic Complex. Jantzer led the Rams with four goals in a 9-6 victory over the Lions.

PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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Douglas County students get the backing of Daniels Fund

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Six Douglas County students are among the more than 200 across Mountain West states to receive scholarships from the distinguished Daniels Fund, which helps fund their college aspirations.

Seniors Caleb Cease and Brynna West of underRidge High School

in Highlands Ranch, Ryan Gromer and Kayla Stutz of Chaparral High School in Parker, Collette Johnson of Legend High School in Parker and Kiera Sheehan of Ponderosa High School in Parker are recipients of this year’s scholarships.

Daniels Scholars get the full cost of their attendance covered at partner schools in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, and up to

$100,000 over four years for schools outside the four-state partner region.

“We are thrilled to support the educational aspirations of this tremendous group of young people,” Daniels Fund President and CEO Hanna Skandera said in a statement. “ ey represent the next generation of leaders and we can’t wait to see the amazing things they will accomplish

with this opportunity.”

e Denver-based fund, established by Bill Daniels, a U.S. war veteran and cable TV executive, operates in perpetuity to help local communities.

is year 209 seniors from across Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming were selected as Daniels Scholars, including 144 students from Colorado.

Elbert County Legals

Legals

CHILD FIND

East Central BOCES and/or its member districts would like to locate all 3 through 21 year olds, who

The Colorado Department of Education maintains a comprehensive child identification system consistent with Part B of IDEA and ensures that each Local Education Agency (LEA), in collaboration with a variety of community resources, assumes the leadership role in establishing and maintaining a process in their community for the purpose of locating, identifying and evaluating all children, 3 through 21 years, who may have a disability and may be eligible for special education services under Part B of IDEA.

If you have any concerns about your child’s growth in• Speech/Language Development

Learning

Vision and/or Hearing • Social and/or Emotional Development

• Physical Motor Development

Ages 3 through 5 year-old concerns should be directed to the following:

•Cheyenne County (Cheyenne Wells and Kit Carson Schools)

•Lincoln County (Genoa-Hugo School)

•Yuma County (Idalia & Liberty Schools)

• Kit Carson County (Bethune, Stratton, Arriba-Flagler & Hi-Plains Schools)

•Arapahoe County (Byers, Deer Trail, Strasburg & Bennett Schools)

•Washington County (Arickaree & Woodlin Schools)

•Adams County (Bennett, Strasburg, Byers and Deer Trail Schools)

•Lincoln County (Limon & Karval Schools)

•Elbert County (Agate & Kiowa Schools)

•Kit Carson County (Burlington Schools)

Please contact: Stacey Brown, Child Find Coordinator - (719) 775-2342, ext. 133

All 5 through 21 year-old concerns should be directed to the local school district administrator, special education teacher, East Central BOCES (719) 775-2342, ext. 101.

The East Central BOCES member schools are: Bennett, Strasburg, Byers, Deer Trail, Agate, Woodlin, Arickaree, Limon, Genoa-Hugo, Karval, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Cheyenne Wells, ArribaFlagler, Hi-Plains, Stratton, Bethune, Burlington, Liberty, and Idalia.

References: IDEA, Part B, Section 300.125

ECEA CCR 301-8 2220-R-4.01-4.04(4)

East Central BOCES Comprehensive Plan Section III Process of Identifying

Legal Notice No. 205125

First Publication: March 28, 2024

Last Publication: April 4, 2024

Publisher: Elbert County News

Metro Districts Budget Hearings

Public Notice

NOTICE CONCERNING

2024 BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR ELIZABETH PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to all interested parties that the necessity has arisen to amend the Elizabeth Park and Recreation District’s 2024 Budget; that a copy of the proposed Amended 2024 Budget has been filed at 34201 County Road 17, Elizabeth, Colorado, where the same is open for public inspection; and that adoption of the Resolution to Amend the 2024 Budget will be considered at a public meeting of the Board of Directors of the District to be held at Casey Jones Pavilion, 4189 Highway 86, Elizabeth, Colorado, on April 16, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. Any elector within the District may, at any time prior

to the final adoption of the Resolution to Amend the 2024 Budget, inspect and file or register any objections thereto.

ELIZABETH PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT

By:/s/ Kelly Moffatt, Chair

Legal Notice No. 202122

First Publication: April 4, 2024

Last Publication: April 4, 2024

Publisher: Elbert County News

Notice to Creditors

Public Notice NOTICE TO

Estate of James O. Madden; a/k/a James Oliver Madden; a/k/a James Madden; a/k/a Jim Madden, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR30016

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Elbert County, Colorado on or before August 5, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Myka M. Landry, Attorney for Personal Representative Van Madden

PO Box 2276

Elizabeth, Colorado 8010

Legal Notice No. 202128

First Publication: April 4, 2024

Last Publication: April 18, 2024

Publisher: Elbert County News

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Rosemary A. Rodgers, Deceased

Case Number 2024 PR 030012

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Elbert County, Colorado on or before August 9, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

James T. Anest #16727

Attorney to the Personal Representative 19751 E. Mainstreet, Suite 365 Parker CO 80138

Legal Notice No.