Parker Chronicle April 11, 2024

Parker o cials warn that cutting grocery tax would force budget cuts

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Parker o cials estimate the town’s General Fund would take a signicant hit, leading to cuts in services, if voters pass a measure to eliminate a grocery sales tax.

e revenue collected from the grocery tax in 2023 was $13.2 million. It included $11 million in the town’s General Fund and $2.2 million for the Parks and Recreation Fund. e town’s council passed a resolution on Tuesday stating that the removal of the tax would result in a signi cant

loss of revenue and could lead to permanent cuts in services for residents.  e issue has stoked concern and consternation among council members and town citizens.

Supporters of the Committee of Parker Citizens for Fair Taxes, which is collecting signatures in an attempt to put an initiative to remove the grocery tax on the November ballot, include Mayor Je Toborg. Toborg did not vote on the council measure on Tuesday. Supporters want to modernize the Parker Tax Code by eliminating the tax on grocery items in the categories of food for home con-

sumption, feminine hygiene products and diapers.

During public comment at the town council meeting Tuesday, ve people expressed concerns for what would happen to the town if the grocery tax was to disappear.

“If you take this away, you’re gonna get rid of the sta , the police department, everything else is going to break and you’re gonna have nothing,” said longtime resident Carol Baumgartner.

e sales tax makes up the majority

Mayor Pro Tem John Diak ran the town council meeting while the council discussed the resolution to address the financial impact to the town if the purchase of food for home consumption is exempt from the town’s sales tax.

PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

ARTIST FINDS INSPIRATION IN THE CYCLE OF LIFE P20

SPECIAL OLYMPICS COACH OF YEAR FROM PARKER P6

Elbert County judge sets $1 million bond for accused killer

Je rey Allen Church allegedly shot his fiancee’s ex at gas station o Singing Hills Road

In an April 2 Elbert County District Court hearing, bond was set at $1 million cash or surety for an El Paso County man accused of killing the father of his ancee’s child. Je rey Allen Church, 26, remained in the Elbert County jail as of press

time. He is charged with rst-degree murder.

Church’s defense counsel had requested a bond of $100,000 cash or surety, and the prosecution had requested a cash-only $2 million bond.

Church is accused of fatally shooting Parker resident Michael Bolan, 36, during a Feb. 11 st ght between the two men outside the Sinclair gas station just o Singing Hills Road in northwestern Elbert County. A witness told police that Church appeared to be already winning the st ght when he pulled the gun from his pocket and shot Bolan one time an a davit says.

Bolan had traveled to the gas station to meet with his ex-girlfriend for a custody exchange of their 4-yearold daughter. Church was present at the custody exchange as the ance of Bolan’s ex-girlfriend.

“ is is a self-defense case, isolated in nature,” Church’s defense counsel said in arguing for the $100,000 bond request, noting that “in the middle of a st ght” the defendant made an apparent “splitsecond decision” to pull a gun from his pocket and re. e defense added that Church is essentially the sole support for three children — his ancee’s 9-year-old son and 4-yearold daughter, plus a son born to his

ancee on Feb. 28, two and a half weeks after the gas-station killing, while Church was in jail.

Prosecutor Eva Wilson countered that Bolan was unarmed when he was killed and told the court: “ e defendant was the one who basically came to a st ght with a gun, and he used it.” She said Bolan “didn’t start the ght” and in opposition to the defense, she argued that Church does pose a threat to community safety.

Judge eresa Slade, declaring that the seriousness of the o ense and aggravating factors were high, settled on the $1 million cash or surety bond.

Lauren Boebert hospitalized, receives May-Thurner diagnosis

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

U.S. Rep Lauren Boebert was hospitalized and recovering in early April after undergoing surgery for a blood clot in her leg.

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In a press release, Boebert said she experienced swelling in her leg and was admitted to UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland on Monday. She has been diagnosed with May- urner Syndrome, a condition that disrupts blood ow, and underwent surgery.

Boebert’s campaign said she was taking time to rest the rst week of April, leading to a short pause in her campaign to represent Colorado’s 4th Congressional District. She missed a Parker Conservatives meeting last week.

“I’m looking forward to making a full recovery and getting back to Congress to continue ghting for Colorado,” Boebert, who currently represents Colorado’s 3rd District on the Western Slope, said in the statement.

It’s unclear what led to the clot, but the statement pointed to Boebert’s work in Congress and her busy campaign schedule.

“An exact cause is unknown, but dehydration, travel, and extended periods of sitting have all been identi ed as potential factors in causing symptoms of May- urner Syn-

The Women of Weld GOP candidate forum Jan. 25 at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center featured U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert as she seeks to represent Colorado’s 4th District.

drome,” Boebert’s statement said.  Dr. Rebecca Bade, who is treating Boebert, said the representative is expected to make a full recovery with no long-term health impacts.

“Patients with May- urner Syndrome who undergo the procedure to restore blood ow are able to live and work just as they have in the past after a brief recovery,” Bade said.  e surgery removed an acute blood clot and inserted a stent in Boebert’s leg.

PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

Here’s How I See the NAR Settlement Affecting Buyers, Sellers and Their Agents

Two weeks ago I focused on how the media has covered the settlement between the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and sellers regarding the payment of buyer agent commissions. At the end of that article I directed readers to my blog to read my further thoughts about how the settlement would affect buyers, sellers and their agents.

Since not all readers visited that website (or it might have crashed), I’ll share those insights in this week’s column.

Estate Commission (CREC) will tweak the Exclusive Right to Sell (listing) contract to remove the offer of co-op compensation from Sec. 7.1.1. Instead of entering, for example, 5% to 6% as the commission, the contract will likely show 2.5% to 3% as the commission.

Note: This column was published last Thursday in the Denver Post but not in the weekly newspapers.

I’m convinced that sellers will still want to offer some amount of compensation to buyers’ agents as an incentive to show their homes. Because co-op commissions will no longer be published in the MLS, listing agents will come up with off-MLS ways of providing that information. Failing that, they should expect buyers’ agents to call them before an offer is submitted to find out what compensation, if any, can be inserted in the purchase contract.

Buyers’ agents who didn’t get their buyer to agree to pay them a commission can be expected to call listing agents about compensation before they even show the listing. If more than one agent asks the listing agent that question and then fails to set a showing, the listing agent might get his seller to offer a coop commission.

Note: Although co-op compensation will not appear on the MLS, listing agents (like Golden Real Estate’s) who create a website for each listing can mention co-op compensation there, and ads (like the one below) can include that information too, drawing buyers to show your listing over other listings.

Here are some practical changes that can be expected. First, the Colorado Real

If the seller agrees to the idea of incentivizing buyers’ agents, it could be expressed in a newly created section of the listing agreement or under Additional Provisions like this: “If a buyer’s agent requests compensation, Broker is authorized to offer x% commission to be paid by Seller at closing.”

Beware, however: Not offering the exact same commission to every inquiring agent could constitute a Fair Housing violation. It would be better to publish that amount, such as on a listing flyer and/or listing website.

I have always advocated for buyers to have professional representation, so I welcome the settlement’s requirement to have a signed buyer agency agreement before showing listings. This can be a 1day or 1-week agreement, to allow the buyer time to decide if he/she wants a formal exclusive relationship with that agent. However, buyers will likely be reluctant to sign anything just to see a home, so they will likely call listing agents instead.

When a listing agent shows his or her own listing, the buyer isn’t required to sign anything, although the listing agent is required to present the buyer with a “Brokerage Disclosure to Buyer” that he/ she represents the seller and that the buyer is a “customer.” (Buyer can decline to sign that disclosure.)

Are listing agents prepared for that onslaught? Listing agents who are used to putting a listing in the MLS and wait-

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ing for other agents to sell it won’t like buyers asking for showings — especially once they aren’t able to get sellers to sign a 5% to 6% listing agreement.

The rules will disproportionately hurt buyers who can barely afford a downpayment, unless lenders allow a buyer commission to be included in the loan amount, and those buyers won’t be able to come up with thousands in cash to pay their agents. Those buyers will surely go to listing agents directly.

Meanwhile, listing agents are used to their paycheck doubling when they don’t have to share their 5 to 6 percent commission with a buyer’s agent. That’s going to go away unless listing agents convince their sellers to put a provision in their contract that if no commission is owed to a buyer’s agent, then the listing commission is increased by x%.

The CREC’s Exclusive Right to Buy contract has long had a section which says the buyer’s broker will request payment from the seller but, failing that, buyer agrees to pay a stated fee for representation. Here’s how those sections of the buyer agency contract read:

Buyers can be expected to resist almost any percentage, since they have never paid a commission in the past. Because of this, more buyers can be expected to call listing agents to see homes instead of hiring a buyer’s agent, although I’ll continue to advocate for buyers to hire an agent to represent them.

Justifying the listing commission will be an easier sell, but only if the listing agent offers the kind of value we do at Golden Real Estate. It will be a harder sell for listing agents who provide minimal value to their sellers.

Here’s a partial list of the value Golden Real Estate agents provide to our sellers:

 A free staging consultation

 Free use of our box truck, free moving boxes, and free packing materials, including bubble wrap

 Magazine quality still photos, HD narrated video tour, and aerial photos and video

 Custom websites for each listing and custom URLs (e.g., yourhome.com)

 Advertising your home next to this

These will become the default sections in the buyer agency contract. Agents working with a buyer will seek to insert 2.5% to 3% in their buyer agency agreement in case a seller doesn’t agree to that much (or any) compensation for the buyer’s agent. Percentages like that will be a hard sell, because the buyer would be on the hook for the difference between what the seller pays (if anything) and what’s in their buyer agency agreement.

real estate column in the Denver Post and 23 weekly newspapers

 Discount on the listing commission when we don’t have to pay a buyer’s agent and/or when we earn a commission selling you a replacement home.

The NAR settlement still allows the MLS to include an offer of monetary concessions for buyers, such as paying for buyers’ closing costs, or paying for an interest rate buydown on buyer’s loan.

Four-decade-old cold case leaves detectives in Douglas County asking for help

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On Feb. 20, 1981, James Ihm planned to meet Richard Eastridge and others at the Brazenhead Inn in Woodland Park, west of Colorado Springs. They planned to finalize the details of Ihm’s sale of a large amount of marijuana and were allegedly going to travel to a secluded area to complete the transaction.

But, investigators said, weeks later, on March 8, Ihm’s body was found miles north of Woodland Park, near Fern Creek Road,

east of Colorado Highway 67 in Douglas County.

The 29-year-old Ihm was found near the Rainbow Falls campground in Pike National Forest. He had been shot to death.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office arrested Eastridge, of the Littleton area, last November for his alleged participation in the killing of Ihm.

The arrest resulted from numerous witness statements, evidence recovered in 1981, evidence analyzed in 2023, and Eastridge’s confession, the sheriff’s office said. The office re -

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ceived assistance from the Teller County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Unified Forensic Laboratory and the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office in Wisconsin to advance the investigation.

Eastridge allegedly implicated himself and others who planned to rob Ihm of a large amount of marijuana, which ultimately resulted in the killing, the sheriff’s office said.

On Nov. 15 last year, while out of custody on bond, Eastridge took his own life, according to the office. But the office’s cold

case unit is still pursuing the case — looking for additional suspects or people involved, said Deborah Takahara, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.

“We’re looking for someone who may know about the homicide or who may know someone who suddenly had an unexpectedly large possession of marijuana in the spring of 1981,” Takahara told the Douglas County News-Press.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office cold case unit can be reached at coldcasetips@dcsheriff.net or 303-660-7528.

Veterans, first responders, funding art therapy

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e second annual Castle Rock Film Festival will feature dozens of short movies, documentaries and music videos from lmmakers both local and international. All of the proceeds from the event go to fund the Castle Rock Artist Alliance’s veterans and rst responders art therapy program.

“We’re really putting our best foot forward this year,” Hunter Burns, an organizer with the festival, said.  Around 20 veterans and rst responders have experienced the healing power of creating through the alliance’s art therapy program and

a fundraiser lm festival on April 1213 aims to support the program and grow its participation.

“Castle Rock is ripe for events like this,” Burns said. “We’ve found that people really took to it because it’s something they’ve been missing. As the town is growing, people want to dive deep into the arts.”

e festival’s inaugural year sold out both days of showings and raised around $7,000, Burns said. e hope for this year is to match or outpace last year’s success.

On Friday, the festival will screen short and experimental lms and, on Saturday, documentaries and music

The Castle Rock Artist Alliance is hosting its second annual film festival fundraiser on April 12 and 13 to support its Veterans and First Responders Art Therapy program. The inaugural festival last year sold out two days of showings.

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Meet Colorado’s 2024 Special Olympics Coach of the Year

5 questions with Legend High School’s Jeremy Dorr

BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When does a passion become a calling? In a state lled with goldhearted individuals dedicating their lives to special education, one local coach was honored as the 2024 Special Olympics Coach of the Year in Colorado.

Jeremy Dorr at Legend High School received the award last month and said he’s shocked but honored to be recognized among so many wonderful coaches in the community.

“I’ve been around special education all my life,” Dorr said. “I worked with students growing up who had special needs. I’ve just always been around it. e Special Olympics community is such a small community and it’s such a fun and amazing community with amazing people. It’s become such a huge passion of mine to just provide opportunities for athletes to experience whatever sport it may be.”

Dorr was at Legend for four years before returning to school to get his degree in special education. But he stayed at Legend while tackling his schooling online.

After being a student-teacher for four years, Dorr took a job at Ponderosa High School while continuing to coach the Uni ed basketball team at Legend. With over a decade

of coaching Uni ed athletics, he’s back at Legend full-time this year.

After winning the award, Dorr sat down with Colorado Community Media for a brief Q&A, which you can nd below.

Colorado Community Media: How did you get involved with Unied athletics and Special Olympics Colorado?

Dorr: After taking a break from school to work as an education assistant, I ended up doing a lot of subbing in the district at Cherry Creek Schools. At that point in time I got involved in subbing at Grandview High School, and a buddy of mine, one year, was asked by the athletic director to start a Uni ed basketball team. I went and I watched the games. I wasn’t coaching at the time; I didn’t know what it was, really. But I went and watched it and said, ‘ is is the best thing ever.’ I kind of just fell in love with it from that point on. e following year I asked about getting involved in it and helping coach and from that point on, it’s just been one of those things I’ve really enjoyed being a part of it. Especially with getting involved with other sports besides basketball.

CCM: Why do you think Unied basketball games, or sports in general, are such good vehicles for special education? Why is it so effective and valuable for them and yourself?

Dorr: For me, I grew up playing sports. I played baseball in high school. I played lacrosse in college. I’ve always been a competitive per-

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son that enjoyed playing sports, and these athletes really show you how to compete. When things don’t go well, we tend to fold or tend to kind of shut down … these athletes continue to thrive in what they do and continue to show us how to compete with tenacity but also have great sportsmanship at the same time. ere are so many life skills that can be learned through playing sports. You have to learn how to lose. You’re not always going to have everything handed to you in life. You’ve got to learn how to work for the things you want. ese guys just come out and play hard every time. e Special Olympics has

an athlete oath before every competition. It says, ‘Let me win, and if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.’ ey don’t let their disabilities hold them back from competing at a high level. ey’re brave in their attempt every time they step on the court, eld, bowling alley, a mat lifting, whatever it might be. at holds true to how we should all compete.

CCM: What was your reaction to winning the 2024 Special Olympics Coach of the Year in Colorado?

Dorr: I was de nitely shocked. I was not expecting it by any means.

Legend High School’s Jeremy Dorr was named the 2024 Special Olympics Coach of the Year in Colorado. Above, he gives two thumbs-up during a Legend Unified basketball game against the Parker Police Department. COURTESY KEYSER IMAGES

I’ve never done any of this for any kind of recognition. At the end of the day, it’s about my athletes. It’s about the partners we have in our Uni ed teams and providing them with these opportunities and lifelong memories. I was surprised by it for sure. It’s hard to put into words. It’s de nitely nice to be recognized but at the end of the day, it’s not the ‘why.’ ere are other coaches out there that do a whole heck of a lot as well. It’s de nitely an honor, for sure.

Recently, Legend High School held its annual “Pack the Gym” night for a Unified basketball game against the Parker Police Department. Coach Jeremy Dorr said the resounding support from the community was heartwarming.

CCM: In your years coaching Uni ed athletics and in special education, how have opportunities grown for these individuals, in part because of these events?

Dorr: From the rst time I got involved to now, it’s really exciting to see the amount of opportunities provided to these athletes across the

state within the schools. It’s really cool, you see a lot more Uni ed programs coming up in high schools, middle schools and elementary schools. It’s fun to see the growth

and the inclusiveness throughout all the di erent high schools getting involved. I remember the rst time I got involved, it was two schools I knew of. It was us at Grandview and Overland High School. Now, you look at the amount of schools … it’s cool to see more people are getting involved.

CCM: What does Uni ed athletics do for a school or a community?

Dorr: At the end of the day, Uni ed, to me, can totally change the culture of a school, can change the culture of a community. You see it rsthand here at Legend with what our kids are able to do and what they’re part of. We had our big (game) against the Parker Police Department and the community showed up in force. It’s really cool to see the growth throughout the state.

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of revenue in the town’s General Fund, which is the fund used to pay for services provided by the town such as public safety and public works.

However, one public comment was in favor of the initiative. Resident David Williams asked the council to not presume what the citizens want.

“How do you prioritize the decisions you make?” asked Williams.

Town Manager Michelle Kivela said the town puts out citizen surveys asking residents about their needs, which helps the town prioritize what to focus on.

“It’s a lengthy survey that asks all sorts of di erent questions about their services and operations and prioritizes what people are looking for from this community,” said Michelle Kivela, town manager.

Supporters of removing the grocery sales tax on food for home consumption argue that it is a regressive tax that has been in place since Parker was incorporated in 1981 and that local towns/municipalities like Lone Tree and Aurora have eliminated the tax.

But Kivela said the comparison wasn’t fair, stating di erences in property tax mills, admissions tax and more.

“You can’t really compare apples to

apples with Lone Tree,” said Kivela. “We all have similar funding sources but the way we do them are always different.”

In 1981, when landowners voted to incorporate the town, they also decided to tax themselves to provide essential services and since 1990, the town has been collecting a combined 3% sales tax, including the tax on groceries, according to Jim Maloney, assistant town attorney.

e town’s 3% sales tax is paid by both town residents and nonresidents.

“ e bene t of using a sales tax as opposed to a property tax to pay town services is that nonresidents pay a signi cant amount of the sales tax,” said Maloney.

About 50% of the tax on groceries is paid by nonresidents and in 2023, nonresidents paid nearly $6.6 million.

“ e elimination of the grocery tax would result in a loss of a major source of tax revenue from nonresidents who shop in Parker,” said Maloney. “And a corresponding increase in the cost of services to residents, that’s assuming that there’s no replacement of revenue or in the alternative a signi cant reduction in the services provided by the town.”

In 2023, the town collected $67 million in sales tax, $55.8 million of which was paid into the General Fund and $11.2 million into the Park and Recreation Fund, according to town sta .

e General Fund expenditures totaled $63.3 million and about 60% was spent on public safety and public works.  e remainder of the General Fund dollars comes from other revenue sources such as property taxes, intergovernmental agreements and charges for services, town o cials said.

While some town council members hinted at their disdain for the initiative, all council members agreed to share the information about the potential for cuts if the tax is eliminated with the public. Mayor Pro Tem John Diak added that it’s healthy to revisit, ask questions and try to understand each other’s thoughts.

“You may have heard that we want to hinder citizen’s from the right to petition their government and that is a lie,” said Councilmember Joshua Rivero. “I will adamantly defend a person’s right to collect signatures, but at the same time, I will not sit idly by if they are using lies to gather said signatures.”

e resolution with detailed information about the nancial impact to the town done by the town’s nance department can be found on Parker’s website at https://rb.gy/1gnsj1. e Parker website also has a frequently asked question’s page concerning the grocery tax initiative.

More information about the Committee of Parker Citizens for Fair Taxes can be found at parkergrocerytax.com/.

School district mulls future of Frontier Center

Older part of Elizabeth building in bad shape, newer portion is rented

BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

A year ago, the Elizabeth School Board decided to take the former Frontier High School building o the market and instead focus on repurposing it for the district. Now called e Frontier Center, the stately brick building is nestled in downtown Elizabeth at 589 S. Banner St. e building was designated as a historic structure by the Elizabeth Board of Trustees in January 2000.

Elizabeth School District Superintendent Dan Snowberger said “many

in the community struggled with the sale due to the historic nature of the building.” He continued on, adding that the o ers for the building were very low and would not have bene ted the district much scally.

ere were also zoning hurdles that inhibited selling the building.

Elizabeth Town Administrator Patrick Davidson said the property is currently zoned Public / Institutional (P-I). “ is is the zoning involved in government operations and entities such as schools, parks, cemeteries, and the like,” he explained.

For tax and zoning purposes the property is nonpro t and therefore not subject to property taxes. Unless the property was being transferred to another public institution, a change in zoning would need to take place

The

original, three-story part of the Frontier Center, built in 1920 at 589 S. Banner St. It was sometimes referred to as the “Red Brick Schoolhouse.” This portion of the building is in need of significant renovation and is not currently usable.

PHOTO

NICKY QUINBY

and taxation.

Davidson elaborated that the school district could apply for a change of zoning, subject to the potential of paying property taxes on the land or consent to a third party applying for a change of zoning, so that the new owners would then be subject to the payment of property taxes.

Unfortunately, because the property had not been taxed previously, the pending property tax was an unknown, unwelcome variable for potential buyers. In addition, any alterations, improvements or other business cannot be conducted on the property until zoning is established.

Currently, the building is available for rent based on availability and is being used by various community partners on a regular basis. Jason Hackett, Elizabeth School District public information o cer, said a preschool, a homeschool and the Wranglers have been using the building. e main lobby was rented for a dance in March.

e idea is that proceeds from rent will go toward maintaining the building and thus avoid using K-12 district operational funds in the future. e district is currently selling

the parking lot across the street from the campus, which will generate $250,000 in pro t. at money will be reinvested in Frontier.

Snowberger said the district is still hoping, as discussed last year, to use the building for educational programs in the future, including the possible relocation of district o ces. Long term, Snowberger said, “we hope to increase preschool and infant/toddler care in the community by using some space at Frontier.” To accommodate that, the district will need to add restroom facilities in rooms that currently do not have

plumbing and is seeking grants to help fund those improvements. In the immediate future, the district may use a modular building near Frontier for childcare services.

e Elbert County Partnership is in discussions with the school district to create a Wall of Honor at the Frontier Center. Partnership member Dan Rosales said the Wall of Honor will be “a place to honor ordinary citizens who have done something special for Elbert County.” A picture and a narrative of what they

The original, three-story part of the Frontier Center was built 104 years ago in Elizabeth. It is no longer usable because it would require significant renovation to be utilized.

PHOTOS BY NICKY QUINBY

A view of the Frontier Center, formerly Frontier High School, from the road. The newer (1971) addition to Frontier can be seen in the foreground. This portion of the building, as well as the gym, is what is presently being rented and utilized by the Elizabeth School District.

FRONTIER

have done will be placed on the wall. Monty Gabby, the recent winner of the Elbert County Song Contest, will be the rst inductee later this year. Some plans have had to be paused while repairs and updates have been made. Snowberger believes most of the repairs are cosmetic. e threestory part of the Frontier building, the oldest part, is not currently usable. It still requires signi cant investment and renovations. e primary space being used and for rent is the gym and the newer portion of the building, built in 1971.

A signi cant portion of the concrete leading up to the front door had to be torn out recently because of a broken pipe and some rooftop HVAC units need to be entirely replaced. e building’s plumbing has since been repaired. Internet access has been restored to the building to accommodate the homeschool programs. Safe and secure access to the gym still needs to be sussed out and the gym bathrooms need to be renovated.

e district has met with the Colo-

rado Department of Local A airs, known as DOLA, on a number of occasions to explore possible funding options for renovations. DOLA works with government entities and provides funding and resources to update older buildings. At this point, Snowberger said, “We’ve been unable to identify any possible funding sources to move forward but haven’t taken that o the table yet. We hope to do so in the future as we do see this as a possible multi-use facility in the future.”

Elbert County News previously wrote about the ongoing changes and challenges at Frontier High School. It opened in 1920 and was originally called the Red Brick School; it was added onto in 1971. e building housed an alternative high school until 2020, when it was closed due to low enrollment numbers. More history about the town of Elizabeth and the building itself can be found at tinyurl.com/elizhist.

To watch the April 24 Elizabeth School Board meeting where the future of Frontier was discussed at length, visit elizabethschooldistrict. org/domain/124.

To learn more about the 2020 closure of Frontier High School, go to tinyurl.com/frontclose.

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FILM FEST

videos. In addition to the lms, both days will feature live music to kick o viewings.

Some of the highlights of this year’s lineup are a documentary about Richard Fierro, the Army veteran who intervened to save lives during the Club Q shooting in Colorado Springs in 2022, a French Frankenstein adaptation and animated works from students at the University of Denver.

“We have a lm for every cinephile,” Burns said.

Another feature is a documentary called “Painting the Path” about the local art therapy program with testimony from participants.

e proceeds raised from the lm festival help cover the costs of renting spaces to provide classes, as well as purchasing art supplies like canvases and paint.

Veterans and rst responders can take up painting, drawing, sculpting and photography as part of the therapy program, which is led by local artist Carrie Martin.

“We’ve noticed that classes help a lot of veterans communicate and express themselves, have emotion and open up,” Burns said. “You don’t have to look at each other and you can pick up a brush and focus on the canvas.”

Art from the program is featured on the walls of Castle Rock businesses, such as Co 33 and Burly Brewing Company, and at popups throughout town.

Currently, the program serves mostly local responders at the Douglas County High School and Burns said the program would like to expand not only the number of

participants, but also the kinds of classes o ered and the program’s geographic footprint.

“We really want to meet them where they are and help them paint their way out or to a new place or a new perspective,” he said.

e lm festival will be held at the eatre of Dreams in Castle Rock with 6 p.m. showings on April 12 and 13, as well as a 3 p.m. matinee on April 13.

For tickets and more information, go to lmfreeway.com/ CastleRockFilmFestival.

Facts, fiction, powered by our unlimited imagination

DWINNING

ata and analytics certainly play an important role both in our personal as well as our professional lives. Facts and gures are just a millisecond away when we need them. We leverage these data points to monitor our own health and activity including how much we eat, drink, work out and sleep in any given day. We have wearable rings and bracelets that gather this data 24/7, except for when we are charging those devices.

ere exists a dizzying amount of data and analytics in the business world. Facts and gures that fuel decision making from hiring, nancial, operations, sales statistics and more. Data-driven decisions make an incredible amount of sense, if we can trust the sources of the data. e challenge for most organizations is that the data may point to a di erent and logical conclusion that may con ict with what senior leadership feels like they should do, as they rely on instinct and experience rather than the data.

Enter our imagination. Whether it is in our personal lives or what we do professionally, we can all get creative and lean into our unlimited imagination to gure out what we can do with all the data and analytics surrounding us.

Let’s revisit the example of data and analytics being fed to us from our health tracking or monitoring devices. Clearly for most of us we see areas where we de nitively need improvement. Other parts of our

VOICES

everyday living that need moderate adjustments, and for some who are really on top of this and are crushing it, where they are just trying to raise their own bar, each one of us can use our creativity to think, “How can I imagine myself eating better, sleeping soundly, and getting in better physical condition?” And once we imagine it and can see it in our mind’s eye, we have a greater chance of executing on our newly imagined workout, diet, and rest schedule.

Work isn’t much di erent. When we see organizations struggling with results, even though they have the data and analytics that support taking a new direction, they stay the course. And if they are missing their numbers month after month or quarter to quarter, they have two options. First, they can continue doing the same thing and missing another quarter. Or they can also think, “How can we imagine a better and di erent future for the company, our associates, and our customers?”

Get creative, bring in bright and cre-

ative thinkers who can look at the data and analytics with fresh eyes and creative thinking.

Fiction is where it starts to become somewhat tricky. Typically, those who write ction tend to be super creative with wild imaginations. As a voracious reader myself, I cycle through a novel with every ve books that I read. I have my favorite authors, and part of what I enjoy the most about those books that I read, the author ties in data and analytics. As a matter of fact, they often begin with data and analytics, facts and gures, historical data and points of view. And once they have that starting point as their basis, they apply their creativity and imagination to write a thrilling story.

Some will still argue today that the statistics we are using need to be fact-checked and that the data is unreliable, they will refer to it as ction instead of fact. As arti cial intelligence matures, and it is maturing with terri c rapidity, it will only make access to more reliable data

and analytics available to everyone on this planet regardless of who we are and what we do. e power of AI in healthcare alone will change the way each one of us is diagnosed and treated for any condition we might be facing. And keep in mind that arti cial intelligence was once someone’s imagination solving a problem the world would one day face. We are living in an interesting time, a time where data and analytics are playing a vital role in our recreation, vocation, and the way we choose to live and work. I would love to hear your thoughts on all of this at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can understand the power of our imagination when it comes to facts and ction, 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.

’The Mousetrap’ is set at Lone Tree Arts Center

Some types of genre storytelling are destined to be with us forever. I think it’s safe to say at this point that murder mysteries are one of the top examples of such evergreen storytelling. People just can’t seem to get enough. And with classics like Agatha Christie’s “ e Mousetrap” still being staged, who am I to argue?

e show is running at the Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., from ursday, April 11 through Sunday, April 21. We interviewed director Sam Gregory about the show, what makes it so much fun and more.

Interview edited for brevity and clarity.

Tell me about ‘ e Mousetrap’ and what it’s about?

“ e Mousetrap” is an Agatha Christie murder mystery. Mollie and Giles Ralston have just converted Monkswell Manor house into an inn. On the inn’s rst night, a blizzard traps the guests in the old house. One of the guests is murdered and everyone is a suspect. Agatha Christie asks us to consider if we can ever truly know anyone, even those closest to us. It is the classic murder mystery. What drew you to direct the show?

I love the characters in this play. ey are quirky and mysterious and sometimes pretty funny. I love a good murder mystery and this play is one of the best.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Deputies, vote union

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Are there any particular challenges to directing such a wellknown show?

You might think the most challenging aspect of the show would be keeping the secret of “who done it” till the end. But the reverse is true. We are working very hard to make sure that the audience can follow all the facts they need to know to solve the case. If you haven’t seen the play already, I’m pretty sure that even the most accomplished armchair detectives will be challenged to gure it out.

What is your favorite thing about the show?

is show is just a lot of fun. It is certainly fun to do and I know it will be fun to see. It’s equal parts mystery and comedy. e combination of suspense and humor is what makes this play special.

What do you hope audiences come away with?

I hope we entertain everyone who comes. If you’ve never seen the show, you’ll be fully surprised by the twists and turns of the story. And if you’ve seen it many times before and know “who done it” (By the way, shhh, don’t give it away!), you’ll enjoy revisiting these classic, memorable, characters.

Information on showtimes and

tickets can be found at www.lonetreeartscenter.org/whats-on/themousetrap.

Get ready for Water Garden Season

e Colorado Water Garden Society and Denver Botanic Gardens are teaming up for “Get Wet — Water Gardening Fun in 2024,” which will be hosted from 6 to 8 p.m. on ursday, April 18, at Gates Hall in the Boettcher Memorial Center at the Botanic gardens, 1007 York St. in Denver.

e free event will feature a presentation from Tamara Kilbane, Curator of the Aquatic Collection at the Botanic gardens. Information about upcoming water gardening events will also be shared, and some water gardening-related door prizes will be given away.

For more information, contact Kilbane at 720-865-3556 or tamara. kilbane@botanicgardens.org.

The Hits of the 60s and 70s Come to Lakewood

e Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra’s presentation of Hitmakers of the 60s & 70s featuring the Music of Carole King, James Taylor & Friends is coming to the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway, at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 14.

e show will feature some of King and Taylor’s most famous tunes, as well as music from some of their legendary peers, like Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell and Simon & Garfun-

kel. e show will be performed by a small band ensemble featuring vocalist, arranger, and concert curator, Marion Powers.

e CJRO doesn’t do many smaller shows like this, so get tickets at www.coloradojazz.org/concerts.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — The Mountain Goats at the Gothic Theatre

e Mountain Goats are one of those indie rock bands that have fans, man. And I mean fans – the kind of people who study lead songwriter John Darnielle’s every line and turn of phrase. And the band earns this kind of dedication – they tend to release innovative concept albums, inspired by everything from wrestling to Dungeons & Dragons. Last year’s “Jenny From ebes” is a rock opera based on a character who showed up in one of their 2002 records. eir catalog goes that deep.

In support of the album, e Mountain Goats will play two nights at the Gothic eatre, 3263 S. Broadway in Englewood. ey’ll take to the stage at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, and Wednesday, April 17. Audiences will be treated both nights to an opening performance by celebrated alt-rock singer-songwriter Katy Kirby. Get tickets at www.axs.com.

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

After members of the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce voted to formally consider unionization, the Douglas County commissioners made their opposition to unionizing abundantly and forcefully clear. In the commissioners’ slickly produced anti-union video, and campaign promo I’m sure. ey detailed how much they have done for the Sheri ’ Ofce. e recent infusion of $20M for pay increases and hiring of 75 additional sheri o cers should be enough to appease and quash union talk. e BOCC has also insulted the intelligence of deputies by accusing the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) union as “tricking” the voting o cers. Excellent pay and bene ts are the least that can be expected to compensate for highly trained professionals who put their lives on the line for the public.

e current commissioners have not personally been a part of unions and are unable to understand that the most important components of unionization are policies to protect workers from unfair practices by ad-

ministration. I believe the alleged nepotism and hate groups within the Sheri ’s organization has interfered with fair advancement and good order and discipline. is may be a motivating factor to joining a union. e department has accepted o cers joining 3% (hate group) and displaying this by wearing 3% shirts with DCSO leadership. Christian nationalists, followers of Jimmy Graham’s terrorist group, Able Shepherd (hate group), have been witnessed gladhanding and backslapping sheri ’s deputies at events. Perhaps, union voters are hoping to scrub out this element and embrace a more honest and honorable organization. Deputies, vote union! ey built a pathway for our middle classes to prosper and build a better life for their families. Nurses, teachers, service workers, building trades, grocery store workers etc., deserve a better life that unions provide in pay and bene ts to bring the American Dream closer.

Katie Barrett Castle Rock

Clarke Reader

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLOROADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The elementary school students making paper parachutes and homemade kaleidoscopes now will — in about 10 years or so — be studying aerospace engineering and nuclear ssion.

at’s the hope behind programs like Colorado School of Mines’ third annual Girls Are SMART event, which recently hosted 130 girls from elementary schools across the Denver area.

Girls Are SMART — Studious, Mighty, Amazing, Resilient and Talented — had the participants rotate through a variety of science, tech-

nology, engineering and math-focused activities.

ey spent the morning on March 9 making their own Newton’s cradles, rainsticks, elephant toothpaste, stomp rockets and more, with Mines students explaining the mechanics behind each station’s activity.

e participants described afterward how they had a great time making new friends and learning about science, and several said they wanted to come back next year.

The short-term goal behind Girls Are SMART, as the event’s organizers from Mines’ Society of Women Engineers chapter explained, was to bolster the participants’ knowledge of basic scientific principles like air resistance, pres-

sure and gravity.

But, the larger objective was to encourage the students’ love of learning, especially in STEM, and “inspire girls to go into any eld they want,” as organizer Mary Nimey said.

Nimey, a Mines senior studying mining engineering, noted how SWE hosts similar events for middle school and high school students, although they’re more technical and involved based on the age group. For the older students, Nimey said these programs also encourage participants to explore whichever topics or specialties within engineering interest them.

A Girls Are SMART participant looks through a handmade kaleidoscope crafted during the March 9 event on the Colorado School of Mines campus. The Mines’ Society of Women Engineers chapter hosted the third annual event, where elementary school students rotated through several science-focused stations.

PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN

ENGINEERING

According to Colorado School of Mines enrollment data, women accounted for a third of all 7,608 enrolled students in fall 2023. Additionally, the SWE chapter’s webpage states it has about 800 members, and is the largest SWE college chapter in the United States and the largest professional student organization on the Mines campus.

Nimey hoped to see both SWE membership and women’s enrollment at Mines increase in the coming years, thanks in part to Girls Are SMART and similar programs throughout the country.

If so, today’s participants will be tomorrow’s organizers and volunteers, helping to encourage the next generation of scientists just as Golden’s Eva Christianson now is.

Christianson, a Mines junior studying mechanical engineering, recalled attending similar events when she went to Golden High

School. ese events were crucial in solidifying her interest in studying engineering, she said.

Northglenn’s Jessica Tomshack, a fellow junior and mechanical engineering major, emphasized how crucial it is to get girls involved and help them feel encouraged to study STEM at a young age, and to “show them what the options are” as far as future careers, she added.

Students today; leaders tomorrow

For the Girls Are SMART participants, the March 9 event was simply a fun opportunity to make new friends and learn new things.

First-grader Hannah Woolley said her favorite station was making cotton-ball shooters. Meanwhile, second-graders Amelia Zeller and Lyla Premschak said they enjoyed the elephant toothpaste the most, as they liked watching the substances react and the colorful foam rise out of the bottle.

Lyla and her family said several of her Castle Rock schoolmates signed up for the event after their elementary school sent out information. Lyla appreciated how all the Oredigger vol-

unteers were “nice and helpful,” and enjoyed making a new friend.

Although Lyla’s dad is an engineer and Mines alumnus, mom Bre Premschak signed her up because “it shows the opportunities (in engineering) for girls too.” Plus, Lyla is an advanced learning student, so Bre believed the Girls Are SMART activities would “add onto those experiences” at school.

Similarly, ornton’s Zeller family signed Amelia up after hearing about it from a local teacher. Because Amelia’s shown an interest in environmental studies, her parents said it was important for her to be “surrounded by likeminded women” in her fellow participants and their Mines mentors.

e Woolleys, who live in Highlands Ranch, also heard about Girls Are SMART from a previous participant, and thought it’d be perfect for Hannah as she loves math and science. Plus, the event was special because it was for girls, her mom Maggie Woolley said.

“Anything we can do to encourage it,” dad Mike Woolley said of Hannah’s love for math and science.

Participants at the Girls Are SMART event look at a hand diagram they made at the March 9 event on the Colorado School of Mines campus. About 130 elementary school students from across the Denver area participated in the third annual event, hosted by Mines’ Society of Women Engineers chapter. PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN

Black bears: From hibernation to hungry encounters

As black bears rouse from their winter hibernation, typically in April, a pivotal phase unfolds, marked by their gradual awakening and the necessity to kickstart their metabolism. During this period, bears actively seek tender new vegetation emerging in spring, gradually shifting their diet to include grasses and other greenery—vital for revitalizing their systems. As the season progresses, the forest becomes abundant with young and vulnerable wildlife, o ering an additional source of nourishment for these omnivores.

is sets the stage for heightened bear activity as they navigate their surroundings in search of sustenance, impacting both natural habitats and human settlements. Understanding and addressing this phase in the bear’s annual cycle is crucial for e ective wildlife management

FROM THE WILDLIFE OFFICER’S DESK

and con ict prevention.

Jacob Sonberg, Scott Murdoch, Philip Sorensen, Mark Lamb, Matt Martinez & Kara VanHoose

Colorado Parks and Wildlife shoulders the responsibility of managing black bears. In 2023 alone, CPW district wildlife managers, also known as wildlife o cers, responded to over 3,500 bearrelated calls and complaints, underscoring the signi cance of wildlife management in their responsibilities. With well over 100 wildlife districts in Colorado, the substantial time dedicated to bear and lion management becomes evident. Bear-related issues, ranging from trash and bird feeders to livestock depredations, car break-ins,

The root cause of bear issues lies in human behavior rather than the bears themselves. Failure to diligently clean up attractants, like trash cans and hummingbird feeders, exacerbates the problem. PHOTOS COURTESY

and dwelling or garage break-ins, including attacks, are often rooted in the food sources that attract bears. Addressing these underlying causes becomes imperative.

Renowned for their intelligence and perpetual hunger, bears encounter challenges nding food as they emerge from hibernation, initially targeting tender vegetation and subsequently transitioning to hunting young wildlife such as deer fawns and elk calves.

In times of abundant natural forage, bears are less likely to turn to arti cial food sources. However, during food shortages, bears become more creative, venturing into human settlements for calories. Requiring 20,000 calories a day to survive winter, bears are driven to high-calorie locations, such as houses, alleys, and trash dumps, despite the increased risks.

e root cause of bear issues lies in human behavior rather than the bears themselves. Failure to diligently clean up attractants, like trash cans and hummingbird feeders, exacerbates the problem. Seemingly innocent actions, such as leaving these items out overnight, can quickly escalate, turning a bear into a potential threat that breaks into cars and homes, posing risks to human safety. Most bear attacks are traced back to trash or attractants left out by individuals neglecting responsible practices.

Contrary to misconceptions, CPW values bears, and the di cult decision to relocate or euthanize “problem” bears arises from human actions. CPW wildlife o cers are dedicated to protecting the public and managing wildlife. Unfortunately, the necessity of euthanizing

bears stems from learned behaviors caused by human actions. Addressing this complex issue requires public cooperation to nd viable solutions.

CPW grapples with two main challenges in addressing bear con icts: inadequate reporting of con icts and the public’s reluctance to heed CPW employees’ advice. Often, people only report bear con icts when it’s too late for preventive measures. Proactive public engagement is crucial to informing CPW about potential issues, such as problematic trash, before bear behavior escalates. Cooperation and understanding are essential for reducing con icts with bears and nding long-term solutions to this complex issue.

If you would like to get in touch with your local Wildlife O cer regarding wildlife violations, habitat projects, educational program opportunities, or other wildlife concerns and incidents, contact CPW’s Northeast Region Service Center during normal business hours at 303-291-7227.

If you would like to report a wildlife incident and it is outside of normal business hours, please contact Colorado State Patrol’s Non-Emergency Dispatch at 303-239-4501 or *CSP (*277), and a Wildlife O cer will be in touch.

If you would like to report a wildlife violation, on record or anonymously, please contact Colorado Operation Game ief at 1-877-COLO-OGT (1-877-265-6648).

Contributors to this column included Wildlife O cers Jacob Sonberg, Scott Murdoch and Philip Sorensen; Area Wildlife Managers Mark Lamb and Matt Martinez; and CPW NE Region PIO Kara Van Hoose.

OF CPW

Thu 4/11

Sammy Kershaw @ 6:30pm

Parker Arts, Culture & Events Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker

Alex Ubago @ 8pm

Stampede, 2430 S Havana St, Aurora

Fri 4/12

Eric Golden @ 6pm

Wide Open Saloon, 5607 US-85, Sedalia

Geoff Tate @ 7pm Gothic Theatre, Englewood

Sat 4/13

Agricultural Aircraft Showcase @ 8am / $12.95

DJ Rockstar Aaron: Forbidden

Bingo - Tailgate Tavern & Grill @ 7pm

Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Mainstreet, Parker

Yaguaru @ 6pm

Stampede, 2430 S Havana St, Aurora

Mon 4/15

ADR: Adaptive Aquatics for People w/ Disabilities Session II @ 9pm

Apr 15th - May 6th

Denver Parks and Recreation (ATH), 2680 W Mexico Ave., Denver. 720-913-0654

Tue 4/16

Exploration of Flight (Centennial Airport), 13005 Wings Way, Engle‐wood. info@wingsmuseum.org

JaySilenceBand: Jay Silence Band at Wide Open Saloon @ 6pm

Wide Open Saloon, 5607 US-85, Sedalia

William Tyler @ 7pm

Swallow Hill, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver

Willow Pill @ 7pm Gothic Theatre, Englewood

Guardianes del amor @ 7:30pm

Stampede, 2430 S Havana St, Aurora

TIERRA CALI - GUARDIANES DEL AMOR @ 7:30pm / $50 Stampede, Aurora

Sun 4/14

2024 Platte River Half Marathon & Relay @ 6am

Littleton, CO, 2920 BREWERY LN, LITTLETON. logan@platteriver half.com

Bunny Blake Music: Uncorked Wine Bar @ 4pm

Uncorked Kitchen & Wine Bar, 8171 S Chester St Ste A, Centen‐nial

The Mountain Goats @ 6pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Matt Axton and Badmoon at Herman's Hideaway @ 7pm

Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

Fleming Mansion Open House Tour (for future customers) @ 9pm

Fleming Mansion, 1510 S. Grant St., Den‐ver. 720-913-0654

The Mountain Goats @ 7pm

Gothic Theatre, Englewood

Wed 4/17

The Mountain Goats @ 6pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Flamenco Vivo @ 6:30pm

Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S Allison Pkwy, Lakewood

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

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

Thu 4/18

Bunny Blake Music: Earl's Kitchen + Bar @ 5pm

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

Billy Cardine @ 6pm

Swallow Hill Music Association, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver

Reggae Jam Fest 2024 @ 7pm / $30-$50

Stampede, Aurora

DJ Chris Milly @ 7pm

Stampede, 2430 S Havana St, Aurora

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

Why a Parker man turned to art to explore life’s cycles

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When he felt like he was at his lowest, Mark Steinhauser found inspiration in his late mother’s artwork. Though he wasn’t an artist, later in life, he became one and has turned his hardships into art. He will be exhibiting works from his latest series, “Life Cycles,” at the Deep Space Event Center in Parker.

Starting April 12, guests can see the series that touches on concepts of “origin existence” and adapting to the outside world.

“It’s really exploring the universal life stages from an abstract, symbolic perspective,” said Steinhauser.

One of the pieces, “Grounding,” will soon reside in a farmhouse in the south of France that is sponsoring emerging artists from the Royal Academy of Arts. The piece is currently in Zurich, Switzerland, a couple of hours from where Steinhauser was born.

Born in Geneva, Steinhauser grew up overseas with art all around him. His mother studied art in Florence, Italy.

“Most kids go to Disneyland and stuff like that,” said Steinhauser. “I’d be going in these famous art museums.”

While he remembers painting with watercolor as a kid, Steinhauser stepped away from art as

Mark Steinhauser with one of the pieces from his “Life Cycle” series is currently in Switzerland. In this series, Steinhauser explores the concepts of origin, existence and time. COURTESY PHOTO SEE ARTIST, P21

he entered adulthood and began working in analytics.

Then, in 2018, Steinhauser’s life was challenged. He suffered a medical emergency where a routine procedure turned into a 10-day hospital stay. Around that time, he felt like the environment at his job was becoming toxic, putting strain on his personal life, unraveling a 30-year-long relationship.

“I had kind of like a trifecta of things happen in my life in a relatively short span of time,” said Steinhauser. “I’ve never been through depression before in my

life, and I went through some serious depression.”

While struggling with his mental health, Steinhauser began going through his mother’s artwork and came across old sketches.

“I couldn’t put them away,” said Steinhauser. “It was almost like her communicating with me.”

He began using her tools to create pieces. From that moment, he became obsessed with art.

One of his first pieces won the “Juror’s Choice Award” at the “This Is Colorado” art show sponsored by the Heritage Fine Art Guild at Arapahoe Community College in 2020.

Steinhauser is an active participant in the monthly PACE Center Artist Workshops. There, he met and learned from international

artist Tadashi Hayakawa. Steinhauser was even included in Hayakawa’s latest book, “Waku Waku II” and coincided with his exhibition at the Bitfactory Gallery in October.

“It’s great to be an artist and do your own stuff, but this has really profoundly impacted me and my art,” said Steinhauser.

Steinhauser used an organic process when interacting with his media. The initial imprint on a canvas was done with a tea leaf infuser and further embellished with sprayed ink.

Often he thinks about sound and uses the “subtractive synthesis” concept in which sound is taken out of the spectrum to create sonic textures. In his painting, texture is added with different papers and

mediums.

Through sharing these universal human themes, Steinhauser hopes the pieces can resonate with people, get them to pause for a moment and spark meaningful dialogue.

“I don’t know what my pieces mean to other people,” said Steinhauser. “But I do know what they mean to me and I kind of like to leave it open to interpretation.”

Steinhauser show at the Deep Space Event Center runs April 12May 5 at the Deep Space Event Center, 11020 S Pikes Peak Dr #50, Parker.

He is also preparing five works to be submitted to the Bitfactory Gallery on Santa Fe for June and will participate in Parker’s Art in the Parks in August.

Boxer Kenny Hill helps mentor fight Parkinson’s one jab at a time

Denver’s Tao of Boxing gym helps people combat symptoms of the disease

BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Kenny Hill was a troubled youth as he was growing up in Kansas. But one day, he met a man who turned his life around.

Butch Dillon and Hill got acquainted through the Boys & Girls Club, and the friendship grew when Dillon gave Hill an hourly gig detailing cars. “He got me out of trouble,” Hill said of Dillon. “He inspired me to do better.”

Dillon and Hill remained close, the former serving as an adult role model and o ering advice as the latter grew up and eventually moved to Denver, earned a college degree and started a business.

In 2011, Hill was able to return the favor. Dillon had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. So Hill — a lifelong boxer who has garnered many accolades including threetime junior Olympic champion, a three-time Silver Glove champion and a Golden Glove champion — didn’t waste any time helping his friend in the best way that he knew how.

“Boxing is the No. 1 exercise that combats the movement symptoms,” Hill said.

Hill traveled to Indianapolis to get certi ed to coach people with Parkinson’s disease through a nonpro t called Rock Steady Boxing, which exists to “improve the quality of life of people with Parkinson’s disease through a non-contact, boxing-

based tness curriculum.”

Hill got Dillon set up with all the equipment, and every month, Hill designs a new boxing-based exercise routine for Dillon’s Parkinson’s symptoms.

“Taking instruction from Kenny (Hill) is just a joy,” Dillon said, adding that Hill is both enthusiastic and patient. “It has done wonders for living with Parkinson’s.”

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive and degenerative brain disorder that a ects a person’s muscle movement. While the disease itself is not fatal,

its complications can be serious and greatly diminish quality of life. e most obvious motor, or movement, symptoms include tremors, slowing and sti ening movements.

“Half of boxing is footwork,” Hill said. is means participation in boxing can help with posture and balance. And likewise, using the arms for the punches and jabs in boxing also helps with the rigidity symptoms.

Aside from the movement symptoms that come with Parkinson’s, those living with the disease also suffer a wide range of non-movement symptoms that can include cognitive changes such as problems with attention, and mood disorders such as depression, anxiety and apathy.

Boxing can help with some of the mood disorders — particularly depression — because it provides people living with the disease with an outing.

“It gets them out of their head for a bit,” Hill said. “Someone is ghting the battle of their life, but they still leave here with a smile on their face.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 50%-80% of those living with Parkinson’s will eventually experience dementia as the disease progresses.

Boxing can also help with this, as the memorization work of learning a series of combination punches targets the cognitive symptoms.

“When they come in, they have

Ryan Ehtessabian, left, and Kenny Hill demonstrate how boxing can help alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

PHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN

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Denver Public Schools District 1 seeks the following positions in Denver, CO - Job duties for below positions: Follow DPS curriculum to instruct students

• ELA-S Elementary Teacher *multiple positions available* Reqs: Bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in any field. Must possess a valid Colorado Department of Education Teacher’s License with appropriate endorsement in Elementary Education (K-6), Spanish (K-12), or ability to obtain. Ability to speak, read, and write both in English and Spanish. Salary: $52,130 with Standard Benefits. Ref 0696.

• World Languages Teacher: Spanish Secondary Teacher *multiple positions available* Reqs: Bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in Education, Teaching English Speakers of Other Languages, English or related. Must possess a valid Colorado Department of Education Teacher’s License with endorsement in English Language Arts (7-12), Spanish (K12), or ability to obtain. Ability to speak, read, and write both in English and Spanish. Salary: $50,130 with Standard Benefits. Ref 0586.

• Science Secondary Teacher *multiple positions available*Reqs: Bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in Education, Biological Sciences, or related. Must possess valid Colorado Department of Education Teacher’s License with appropriate endorsement in Science Education (7-12), or ability to obtain. Salary: $50,130 with Standard Benefits. Ref 0618.

• Senior Team Lead, ELA-S Elementary Teacher Reqs: Bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in Teaching English Speakers of Other Languages, Education, or related. Must possess a valid Colorado Department of Education Teacher’s License with appropriate endorsement in Elementary Education (K-6) or ability to obtain. Ability to speak, read, and write both in English and Spanish. Salary: $52,130 with Standard Benefits. Ref 1308.

• Special Education Teacher Reqs: Bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in Education, Special Education, or a closely related field. Must possess a Valid state of Colorado Department of Education Teacher’s license with an appropriate endorsement in Special Education Generalist (5-21) or ability to obtain. Salary: $50,130 /yr with Standard Benefits. Ref 0588.

• Social Studies ELA-S Secondary Teacher Reqs: Bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in Education, Social Sciences, or related. Must possess a current Colorado Department of Education Teacher’s License in Social Studies Education (7-12), or ability to obtain. Ability to speak, read, and write and both English and Spanish. Salary: $52,130 with Standard Benefits. Ref 0585.

• ELD ELA-S Secondary Teacher Reqs: Bachelor’s (or foreign equivalent) in Education, English as a Second Language, Curriculum and Instruction, or related. Must possess a valid Colorado Department of Education Teacher’s License with appropriate endorsement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (K-12) or ability to obtain. Ability to speak, read, and write and both English and Spanish. Salary: $52,130 with Standard Benefits. Ref 1315.

Application deadline 5/30/2024. To apply, email resume to Fatima Puelles with ref number: Fatima_puelles@dpsk12.net.

Help Wanted

Speech-Language Pathologist

Remote or in person FT or part time Speech-Language Pathologist or SLPA Positions

Available for the 20242025 school year. Open to School Internships. No Contract Agencies. Able to provide supervision for CFY hours. Join our dynamic, multi-disciplinary team of professionals for the 202425 school year. Complete assessments, attend IEP meetings, provide direct services and indirect services for students in PreK-12th grades. Competitive salaries: SLP - $50,450-$56,050 & SLPA- BA $41,000- $46,600 based on 186 day contract. Salaries given are based on a full-year contract. Salary commensurate upon experience. May also be eligible for loan forgiveness! Excellent benefits, including full health benefits & mileage reimbursement. For in person providers there is flexible scheduling with the opportunity to complete some work at home.

Questions contact Tracy at (719) 775-2342, ext. 101. 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”, located at the bottom of the job listing. EOE

Help Wanted

Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

East Central BOCES is seeking a Part-Time 3 day a week Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for the 2024-2025 school year. Salary Range- $27,750$32,790 for 112 days dependent on experiences and education. Hold or be able to attain a Colorado Teaching License with an endorsement as a Special Education Specialist- Deaf/ Hard of Hearing required. Complete assessments, attend IEP meetings, provide direct and indirect special education services. Excellent benefits including access to a company vehicle or mileage reimbursement and fully paid health insurance, including vision and dental. May be eligible for loan forgiveness program. Flexible scheduling with the opportunity to complete some work from home. 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”, located at the bottom of the job listing. Questions contact Tracy at (719) 775-2342, ext. 101. EOE

Help Wanted

Special Education Teacher

For a significant needs program located at the Strasburg School District for 2024-25 School Year. 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) 7752342, ext. 101 or tracyg@ ecboces.org. To apply for this position, please visit

CASTLE PINES

METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

– SUMMER SEASONAL

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Seasonal Groundskeeping Jobs

Enjoy working outside in beautiful surroundings? Castle Pines Metro District is hiring positive, motivated, team-oriented people for its Landscape Maintenance Team for the summer (May-August). Duties include mowing, trimming, planting, miscellaneous jobs, and repairs.

Hours: 7 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday –Friday; Salary $20/per hour. depending on experience.

Requirements: 17 years old, clean MVR, dependable, clean/neat appearance.

To apply call Sue or Liz at Metro, 303-688-8330, or email apply@castlepinesmetro.com.

School Psychologist or Intern

Full-Time School Psychologist or Intern to join our dynamic, multi-disciplinary team of professionals for the 202324 school year - School Districts East of Limon Area

Requirements: Educational Specialist (Ed.S.), Colorado certified. Provide PreK12 intervention including assessment, development of IEP’s & consultation services. Competitive salaries: ED.S $57,800$66,200 & Intern $53,590$59,550, both commensurate upon experience. Excellent benefits including dental, vision, and medical insurance.

Flexible scheduling with the opportunity to complete some work at home. May also be eligible for loan forgiveness. Flexible schedule. Use of a car or mileage reimbursement.

Questions contact Tracy (719) 775-2342, ext. 101. 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”, located at the bottom of the job listing. EOE

Misc. Notices

COMMUNITY SHREDDING DAY

BRING YOUR DOCUMENTS

April 27th

SATURDAY, 10AM – 1PM

ON SITE UNLIMITED PROFESSIONAL SHREDDING

1400 S. University Blvd

St. Michael & All Angels’ CHURCH PARKING LOT behind the church

$7.00 / banker box or $25/car trunk load/ pick-ups negotiable

TELL YOUR FRIENDS

WIDOWED MEN AND WOMEN OF AMERICA.

A social club offering many exciting activities and life long friendships. Social hours for all areas of Metro Denver. Visit Widowedamerica.org for details In your area!

Garage and Estate Sales

Garage Sales

EARTH DAY EVENT

Craft Fair

Yard Sale and Food

April 20, 2024 10am – 4pm

Spirit of Hope UMC 4300 S. Lincoln St. Englewood, CO 303-781-4041

Help us save our mother earth! Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose.

Merchandise Firewood

Health & Beauty

VIAGRA and CIALIS

USERS!

50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00

100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928

Hablamos Espanol

Dental insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400+ procedures. Real dental insurance - not just a discount plan. Get your free Information Kit with details! 1-855-526-1060 www.dental50plus.com/ads #6258

Medical

Attention oxygen therapy users! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-9299587

Miscellaneous

Aging Roof? New Homeowner?

Got Storm Damage? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-888-878-9091

Split & Delivered $450 a cord

Stacking $50 Call 303-647-2475 or 720-323-2173

Lawn & Garden

Professional lawn service: Fertilization, weed control, seeding, aeration & mosquito control. Call now for a free quote. Ask about our first application special! 1-833606-6777

13kW Genrac Standby Generator with transfer switch for sale

Produces 13Kw , about 60 Amps, on LP or NG at the move of a lever. Low hours, about 40 during grid outages plus 12 minute weekly automatic exercise. Air Cooled so no water pump, radiator, hoses etc. Well maintained and just serviced. Comes with the Automatic transfer switch. Had to get a new $5,200 electronically controlled unit to work with my solar/battery system. Can deliver if needed. Weight about 400 lbs. Call or txt Paul. 703 887, 8052.

BOXING

doubts that they can do things, but when they walk out the door, they’re believing they can do them,” said Ryan Ehtessabian, Hill’s business partner. “It’s the little things – walking a dog or grocery shopping. ey can maintain an active lifestyle, even though they’re battling Parkinson’s symptoms.”

Tao of Boxing

Hill, 42, has been boxing since he was a young child. Being smaller in stature than the rest of the kids his age – he is 5-foot and 6-inches as an adult — Hill got bullied and picked on in school. So his dad got him involved with boxing.

“It ended up being the best thing for me,” he said.

Hill had dropped out of school as a youth, but with the mentorship he received from Dillon, he eventually moved to Colorado and pursued higher education. While in college, he obtained a job at the YMCA in downtown Denver and worked his way up, eventually founding its boxing program and becoming the program’s rst Black director. Later, he obtained a job as the boxing director of the Denver Athletic Club.

Hill, now a master trainer and boxing coach — who trains UFC ghters, professional boxers and amateur boxers alike — opened Tao of Boxing,

gym had been o ering the Parkinson’s and cancer boxing training for a while, but was able to get the nonpro t arm, Movement by TOB — which provides boxing training for people living with Parkinson’s and cancer – o the ground in March 2021. It is governed by a vemember board, and the nonpro t status allows Movement by TOB to accept donations so that it can provide the training for Parkinson’s and cancer patients to those who need it at low or no cost.

“I’ve been given an opportunity,” Hill said. “I have the skill set, and I want to help others. Being able to better their lives goes a long way.”

Ehtessabian, who has been with Tao of Boxing since 2018, recently moved to California and is opening a Tao of Boxing in Orange County. His grandfather

and Ehtessabian expects Movement by TOB to be implemented in California as well.

“Boxing brings out a level of challenge,” he said. “And the bene ts that come from that are incredible.”

Dillon couldn’t be prouder of his friend Hill, he said.

Living with Parkinson’s disease for about 13-14 years now, Dillon continues to do the boxing-based exercises that Hill designs for him about four times a week.

“Boxing is a wonderful combination of training and friendship,” Dillon said.

Hill agrees.

“It’s about giving people a path,” Hill said. “Not my path, but their path.”

To learn more about Tao of Boxing, visit taoofboxing.com. To learn more about the gym’s nonpro t arm, Movement by TOB, visit movementbytob. org.

Editor’s note: April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. To learn more about the disease, visit the Parkinson’s Foundation’s website (a national organization) at parkinson.org or the Parkinson Association of the Rockies at parkinsonrockies.org.

Kenny Hill, left, and Ryan Ehtessabian, who are business partners and boxers, operate a nonprofit called Movement by TOB, which o ers boxing training to people living with Parkinson’s disease and cancer.

PHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN