Local historian speaks on origin of holiday ornament
Passed on from one generation to another, meaningful and fun holiday traditions are part of every family’s celebrations.
But sometimes, there are traditions that just can’t be fully explained.
e Christmas pickle tradition has been part of many families across the country for generations. However, with numerous theories about its beginnings circulating the internet, the origins of the tradition remain unclear.
Wherever the tradition sparked, one
Finding tradition in a pickle
thing is certain: hanging a pickle ornament on the family Christmas tree has a history of bringing people together during the holiday season.
“It’s a way for us to nd some community in fun ways,” said Dr. Kim Kilmek, a history professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver. “And nding it in a pickle — it just brings up a light heartedness to the season and to the darker time of the year.”
Whether the pickle ornament is the rst or last ornament placed on the Christmas tree, the tradition of the Christmas pickle involves having children nd the ornament on Christmas morning.
Once found, how people celebrate the pickle di ers from family to family.
Often, the one who nds the pickle gets to open the rst gift on Christmas. Another is that the person who nds the
pickle receives an extra gift or is said to have good luck for the upcoming year.
While the reason behind why the pickle is searched for varies, some say it’s a way to encourage children to appreciate the ornaments hung on the tree rather than rushing to see what St. Nicholas had brought them.
Where did it come from?
It’s commonly believed that the Christmas pickle is a German tradition. But because it is a mystery as to where it actually originated, some historians are led to believe that it is a German-American or possibly an Eastern European-American tradition.
Klimek has been teaching history courses in Denver for nearly 20 years —
SEE PICKLE, P6
Douglas County Schools OKs AP African American studies course Board
gives unanimous approval after initial delay
BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
In a unanimous decision, the Douglas County school board approved an Advanced Placement African American studies course, amid concerns that the content is divisive.
After hearing from numerous advocates for the course, the board had a quick and largely agreeable discussion on approval.
In November, the board postponed approving the AP class because board members said they didn’t feel informed enough and community members raised questions about the curriculum. School board President Christy Williams initially asked to postpone the vote to learn more about the class, to see if it aligns with the district’s equity policy and avoids critical race theory. Critical race theory is an approach to studying racism in the United States and how it intersects with institutions, according to Associated Press reporting.
On Dec. 10, Williams said her concerns were addressed after she learned more about the course, including that it has seen revisions since it was rst introduced.
“It gave me the opportunity to dig into the curriculum,” Williams said. “It helped me understand and learn.” e course “examines the diversity of African-American experiences through direct encounters with rich and varied sources,” drawing on literature, the arts, humanities, political science, geography, and science, according to the College Board, which administers AP classes for high schools across the nation. Topics in the course extend from early African kingdoms to the contemporary moment.
ough the AP African American studies class was only recently introduced, it’s already received a lot of
A popular holiday tradition involves hanging a pickle ornament on the Christmas tree for a family member to find.
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Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas resigns with a month left in her term
BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
After years of bitter public feuding among Douglas County’s three elected leaders, Commissioner Lora omas has resigned after alleging her colleagues are pushing her out of her o ce space at the county headquarters — more than a month before her term ends.
For years, omas has been the target of “unfounded investigations and vindictive punishment” by fellow Commissioners Abe Laydon and George Teal, omas said at a Dec. 6 news conference, during which she announced her resignation.
She argued that she has faced “slurs, defamation, harassing and baseless investigations, suppression” and “marginalization and outright cancellation as a duly elected county commissioner.”
omas said Teal and Laydon refused to allow her to be in videos for Douglas’ upcoming State of the County gathering, an annual event that aims to highlight the county’s actions.
“I now nd it utterly impossible to serve the people who elected me to the (best) of my ability as promised,” omas said.
e board of commissioners is the county’s policy-making body, approving Douglas’ annual budget and passing local laws that govern unincorporated areas, or those outside of city and town limits. at includes Highlands Ranch and many other parts of the county. omas and her fellow commissioners are all Republicans.
omas claims Teal and Laydon directed county sta to “evict” her from her ofce space on Dec. 9.
“ is directive was made with the full knowledge and consent” of state Sen. Kevin Van Winkle, a Republican, who won election in November to be a new Douglas County commissioner starting in January, omas claimed.
“He has no legal authority to be conducting business on behalf of the county,” omas said.
omas spoke of a meeting that she says Teal and Laydon attended at which it was decided that she would be moved out of her o ce space.
Van Winkle told Colorado Community Media that he did not make any request for her o ce.
“I was shocked by the news this morning,” Van Winkle said on Dec. 6. “Like most commissioners, my focus is on serving the people, and from my outside perspective, it never occurred to me that moving to the o ce next door to allow for refurbishment would impact her ability to serve Douglas County.”
His understanding was that omas was “just moving to the o ce next door, so her previous o ce changes could be refurbished over the holidays,” he said.
“I don’t have any authority or decisionmaking power over o ce space or county business until sworn in,” Van Winkle said. “I was asked about the process for state (representatives) and senators during transitions and did say we do vacate our o ces before the end of our term.”
In a statement, Laydon said: “It is entirely normal and customary after a November election for boxes to move and transitions to begin.”
“We are thankful for the peace, positivity and collaboration that Commissionerelect Kevin Van Winkle will bring to Douglas County,” the statement added.
CCM reached out to Laydon for com-
ment on why omas was to be moved out of her o ce space with more than a month left in her term.
“Commissioner-elect Van Winkle is actively being trained and onboarded so he can hit the ground running day one,” Laydon said. “ is is a highly complex job, and that process takes considerable time. Facilities also needs to paint his o ce and move in furniture, which also takes time.”
Laydon added: “We did o er to fully accommodate Lora with o ce space right next door on the same oor.”
Asked when he rst moved into his county o ce space after being elected to his rst commissioner term, Laydon did not directly address the question.
“I started working with sta the moment I won my election just like almost every other elected o cial anywhere,” Laydon said.
omas said she o ered to move out of her o ce space on Jan. 6 to give sta time to transition for the start of Van Winkle’s term. omas’ term was not scheduled to end until Jan. 14, she said.
omas recently ran for the state House in the GOP primary to represent the Highlands Ranch area at the state Capitol but lost to Republican Matt Burcham, who ultimately lost in the November election to incumbent Democratic state Rep. Bob Marshall.
omas could not run for a subsequent term as county commissioner because she is term limited. She was elected commissioner in November 2016 and began serving her rst term in January 2017, according to the county website. She was reelected in 2020.
Investigations in focus
At her news conference, omas pointed to what she called “unfounded investigations.”
e investigations of omas often come up in the world of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, and the disputes on the board form a complicated story.
One accusation dates to 2022 when, Laydon has said, omas attacked rst responders by sharing an anonymous letter.
On the other hand, omas has said that an investigation was “exonerating” of her.
Here’s a look at the ins and outs.
Teal and Laydon initiated an investigation after accusing omas of circulating
an anonymous letter that criticized speci c employees in the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce, allegedly creating a hostile work environment. ey also accused her of emailing county legal representation with a request not authorized by the full board.
e investigation into omas by outside legal counsel found that while omas had distributed the letter, doing so did not create a hostile work environment. It also found she did draft correspondence to legal counsel without informing the board.
e outside legal counsel’s investigation report says: “Commissioner omas published the Alleged Deputy Letter on the website for her 2022 campaign for Douglas County Sheri . In at least one public appearance during that campaign, Commissioner omas encouraged the audience to visit the website for her 2022 campaign for Douglas County Sheri in order to review the Alleged Deputy Letter. Multiple witnesses reported seeing Commissioner omas personally distribute the Alleged Deputy Letter at the 2022 Republican Assembly for Douglas County.”
“I nd it more likely than not that Commissioner omas used the Alleged Deputy Letter to support her 2022 political campaign for Douglas County Sheri ,” the report adds.
Separately, regarding the context of omas’ alleged misdirection of legal counsel, the report says the board of county commissioners had a discussion regarding residents of the San Luis Valley region in southern Colorado who feared personal and nancial retribution for speaking out about the Renewable Water Resources plan. at’s a controversial proposal to pump about 22,000 acre-feet of water per year to Douglas County from the San Luis Valley. Renewable Water Resources is the private company that proposed the project.
e investigation’s report says the board’s direction was to “ensure that those vulnerable individuals were protected from disclosure of their personal identifying information.”
omas drafted correspondence to legal counsel, “without informing the board, that was contrary to this board direction and (signed) it as the (then) chair of the board of county commissioners,”
“I now find it utterly impossible to serve the people who elected me to the (best) of my ability as promised.”
Lora Thomas
the report says. at legal counsel, Stephen Leonhardt — apparently in response to omas’ correspondence — told omas in an email in April 2022 that he “can request that (someone) circulate a sign-up sheet for the attendees at each meeting identify themselves on a list … I understand that some of the attendees may desire that their identities not be made public; ultimately the Board will decide whether any information that we provide will become a public record.”
e investigation report is available at tinyurl.com/ omasReport.
Aftermath of the first investigation
omas appeared in a CBS Colorado news story in July 2022 discussing the condential report that showed the results of the investigation, prompting the Douglas County government’s attorney to nd that omas could have broken the law by doing so.
omas had asserted multiple times in meetings and in her newsletter to constituents that she believes the privileged nature of the document had already been broken by Laydon discussing parts of it publicly, CCM has previously reported. Another investigation — this time conducted by the Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce — did not nd probable cause to believe that omas committed the crime of rst-degree o cial misconduct. (Because of the con ict of interest that would come with investigating a commissioner, then-Douglas County Sheri Tony Spurlock asked the Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce to conduct the investigation, according to Spurlock.)
“ e Colorado criminal code does not speci cally prohibit a waiver of privileged and con dential information by a privilege holder. In this case, as a member of the Board of County Commissioners, Lora omas is a privilege holder,” Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce Sgt. Bruce Peterson wrote in a memorandum.
Laydon has argued Arapahoe County “got it wrong” in evaluating omas’ actions, saying “the privileged holder of a con dential document is the board” and not just one member of the board. He based his point on the understanding of the law of Chris Pratt, then interim Douglas County attorney.
omas’ stance has been that there’s a lack of evidence to justify Laydon and Teal’s actions toward her.
Laydon has argued that “there is a di erence between criminal liability and civil” wrongdoing.
At a commissioners’ meeting in December last year, omas told the audience: “I work for all of you, and nothing they ever do will ever change that.”
Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas stands at the 2023 State of the County event.
FILE PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD
What
Are the Costs of
This is one article you’ll want to read at http://RealEstateToday.substack.com, where the buyer and seller settlement statements at right appear much larger on your computer screen. I have anonymized the actual closing statements from a property I sold for $698,000 this year which had an HOA, a seller loan to pay off, and a buyer loan to fund. This should cover most of the expenses that a buyer or seller might encounter when closing on a home sale or purchase.
We’re blessed in Colorado when it comes to the cost of buying and selling real estate. In many states, there are transfer taxes imposed by state or local jurisdictions, but not here by Colorado or in metro Denver. Also, in some states, both buyer and seller need to hire a lawyer, not just a real estate agent to complete a transaction. Long ago the State of Colorado passed a law giving licensed real estate brokers limited legal authority to explain state approved contracts, so it’s rare for a client to spend money on a lawyer. The exception is when a buyer purchases a new home, because builders have lawyers create their own contracts, and we would be practicing law without a license if we were to interpret those contracts and their provisions for our buyer.
Buying
or Selling a Home? Homeowners & Investors Need to Know
ance renewal), but that escrow can't be credited on your closing. You’ll pay for the property taxes at closing and get a refund of your escrow balance from your lender 30 days or so after closing. On this seller’s settlement statement, the HOA dues are also pro-rated to the date of closing, and since the closing was on the 30th of August, the statement refunds two days’ worth of HOA dues, which the seller had paid on August 1st.
The biggest deductions for the seller (other than property taxes) are the real estate commissions and the title insurance policy. The purchase contract specifies whether the buyer or seller will pay for the buyer agent’s commission and the owner’s title insurance, but it is still common for the seller to pay both agents’ commissions plus the title policy, as in this case.
There are HOA fees which can also be paid by either party but are typically paid by the seller. Typically, the title company which is closing the transaction pays those fees (for status letter, documents, transfer fee, and more), so those fees are shown here as being reimbursed to the title company rather than paid to the HOA.
statement. If the buyer were paying cash, he or she would have very few expenses other than recording the deed for $10. The biggest costs associated with buying the home are related to the loan, especially if the seller has paid the buyer’s real estate agent and paid for the owner’s title policy.
ing takes place. In this case the buyer is being debited for 3 months of insurance coverage and 5 months of property taxes.
So let’s look at the seller’s settlement statement first. Not all the debits on this statement are considered the cost of selling. For example, the property taxes for the current year, pro-rated to the date of sale, are not a cost of selling. Since property taxes are paid in arrears (not due until April of the following year), you’re always going to find that pro-ration of property taxes on the settlement statement. If selling in December, that’s almost an entire year’s tax bill. In January through April, if your taxes haven’t been paid, you will find the full year’s taxes plus a portion of the current year’s taxes deducted from your proceeds.
If you have a mortgage, your lender has probably been charging you each month to escrow for next year’s tax bill (and insur-
In addition to paying off the seller’s loan, based on payoff numbers the title company obtains directly from the lender, the closer will deduct a few extra days of interest to cover the time it takes to get the payoff to the lender. If that’s an overcharge, the seller will get a check for the surplus from the title company within a few weeks.
The title company will also escrow a few hundred dollars to pay the final water and sewer bill (unless water is included in the HOA dues), and will refund the excess after they pay the final water/sewer bill. This is the only utility which the title company pays and transfers on your behalf, because an unpaid water/sewer bill would result in a lien against the property, and the title company’s job is to assure the buyer that they are getting the home clear of any liens.
Now let’s look at the buyer’s settlement
Moving, Even Locally, Can Cost You a Lot
At Golden Real Estate, we like to save you money wherever we can. For example, we have a handyman who can help you get your home ready to show or fix inspection issues at a client-only rate of $30/hour.
We also have a box truck which you can use prior to, during and after closing, not just for moving to your new home, but making those dump runs or runs to Goodwill for donating all that stuff you accumulated over the years!
packing material, including bubble wrap, so don’t buy any of those items yourself.
We’ve been offering the use of this truck since 2004. In fact, this is our second truck. It’s hard to estimate how much money this perk has saved both our buyers and sellers, but it must be several hundred thousands of dollars.
We also provide free moving boxes and
We also make the truck available free to non-profits and local organizations, such as Family Promise and BGoldN, which uses it to pick up food from Food Bank of the Rockies for their Golden food pantry.
Those loan costs are large and varied, as is detailed in the buyer’s settlement statement above. There’s the origination fee, from which the loan officer is paid. There is also the cost of appraising the home (in this case paid prior to closing), underwriting, credit report, flood certification, and a couple other lesser fees.
The buyer’s lender wants to be sure the home is insured, so you see that debit on the last line of the buyer’s settlement. (A cash buyer might choose not to insure.)
Not only does the buyer have to pay all those expenses, the buyer is charged for a title policy that covers the lender for the amount of the loan ($500 in this case) and a loan closing fee ($450). The lender will probably want to escrow for property taxes and insurance and will require a deposit for both those expenses that will vary depending on when in the calendar year the clos-
There is one big credit which the buyer receives from the seller. The funds which were deducted from the seller’s proceeds for the current year’s property taxes are credited to the buyer, not paid to the county. That’s because the buyer will paying the current year’s entire property tax bill when it becomes due. You see that credit — almost $3,000 — near the top of the above settlement statement.
There could also be a concession for repairs that the seller agreed to in the inspection resolution, although not in this case. Sometimes that concession takes the form of a price reduction, which does not appear as a line on the settlement statement.
Notice that the closing services (notary) fee of $360 is shared 50/50 in this case, as is commonly done, $180 for each party.
As mentioned above, visit our blog for more readable copies of those documents and more discussion of transaction costs.
FHA Loan Limits Have Been Raised
Each year, the FHA raises the limits on its federally guaranteed loans. The limits are based on the median sale price of homes in each county.
Because the Denver metro area’s median home price was calculated by FHA at $710,000, the loan limit for single-family homes was raised to $816,500 this year. That is the loan limit, not the purchase price, although FHA only requires a 3.5% down payment.
The loan limit for a duplex/2-family home was raised to $1,045,250. For a three-family home it was raised to $1,263,500, and for a four-plex, it was raised to $1,570,200.
Boulder County’s limits in each category are slightly higher, starting at $856,750 for a single-family home.
In the country’s lowest-cost counties, the loan limit is $498,257 for a single-family home, and in the highest-cost areas (Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands), the limit is $1,724,725, rising to $3,317,400 for a 4unit property. (Whether 1-unit or 4-units, the borrower has to live in the subject property.)
Non-FHA (“conventional”) loan limits are slightly lower for 2024. In most areas, the conforming conventional loan is limited to $766,550. Alaska, Hawaii and high-cost areas have a conforming conventional loan limit of $1,149,825 for a single-family home. FHA loans are attractive because they only require a 580 credit score (as low as 500 with a 10% down payment), and your debt-toincome ratio only needs to be below 57%.
The biggest negative of FHA loans is that they require a mortgage insurance premium (MIP) of 1.75% at closing, plus an annual premium which varies based on your loan-tovalue ratio. MIP is for the life of the loan, unless your downpayment is at least 10%, and remains in effect no matter how low the loan-to-value ratio falls (i.e., how much your equity increases). If your down payment was 10% or higher, the MIP goes away after 11 years. Otherwise, most 15- or 30-year FHA mortgages should be refinanced once the owner can qualify for a conventional loan, hopefully at a better interest rate, to get rid of the MIP.
NOTE: All prior “Real Estate Today” columns are archived at
Tree lighting draws big turnout in Elizabeth
Mayor and mayor-elect welcome sizable crowd to traditional community event
BY NICKY QUINBY
SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
e Town of Elizabeth Mayor’s Tree Lighting is a sure sign that Christmas is coming ever closer. is year the event took place on Dec. 7 on Main Street. e tree lighting has grown every year since it started and, in 2023, there were more than 900 people in attendance. is year the town estimates about 1,000 people came.
e Tree Lighting was formerly held at the Elizabeth Town Hall but was moved to Main Street in 2021. Santa visits, a craft and snacks were available inside Town Hall, while outside in the parking lot hot drinks were o ered. e original event did stretch all the way to Main Street Elizabeth, where there were carriage rides and s’more stations. For a while, the town also collected donations for two nonpro t organizations.
Elizabeth Town Clerk Michelle Oeser said most of the event, with the exception of food and merchandise from outside vendors, is free to the public. “We do not charge for anything the town provides … the Elizabeth Education Foundation and the Elizabeth Fire ghters Foundation both have booths and provide hot chocolate or cider. ey do this on a donation basis.”
Most aspects of the event are o ered at no cost. For the last three years, Ed Beard has provided free horse-drawn carriage
rides. Last year, a few reindeer visited from the North Pole and elves from the Town Board of Trustees helped with crafts at the Elf Emporium. Visitors also enjoyed the Elizabeth High School Concert Band and were welcome to participate in an Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest.
Oeser said each year the town tries to add something new to the event and expand the amount of decorations and other festive o erings. is year, more photo opportunity cutouts and train rides were added to the lineup. e CORE Express train was located in the Winter Wonderland at the North Pole.
“Di erent crafts are o ered for free by the library, town, and Elbert County Agricultural Alliance. is year the Parker Arts will be bringing a photo booth. ere is also a face painter. ere will be two food trucks at our event. Businesses along Main Street will be open all day and through the Mayor’s Tree Lighting,” Oeser added in the leadup to the event. Crafts included cookie decorating and making Christmas cards with the Elizabeth Police Department.
Of course, Oeser said, the biggest draw is Santa and Mrs. Claus at the North Pole.
“Kids can give Santa their wish list and have a picture taken. is year we are adding a mailbox for letters to Santa,” she shared.
e main event, the tree lighting, took place around 5. Mayor Tammy Payne said a few words and introduced Mayor-Elect Angela Ternus. After Ternus spoke, she ofcially lit the tree for the season.
For more information about the Town of Elizabeth, including Board of Trustees meetings, visit townofelizabeth.org. e trustees meet the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.
Santa and Mrs. Claus stopped by to visit reindeer. The reindeer hailed from the local 7 Oaks Ranch in Franktown. PHOTOS COURTESY OF TOWN OF ELIZABETH
The CORE Train was available for a festive photo opportunity.
Santa and Mrs. Claus awaited visitors in the North Pole.
Veteran news innovator to helm CCM
Brooke Warner brings vast experience in digital transformation
Brooke Warner, a veteran news industry innovator who has guided legacy organizations toward a more resilient future, has joined Colorado Community Media as its executive director.
In this role, Warner will lead CCM’s continued transformation into a sustainable community news business. She comes to CCM with extensive experience in digital media, organizational transformation and revenue growth.
“I’m excited to lead CCM’s continued development into a sustainable community news business for Colorado.”
Brooke Warner,
executive director of Colorado Community Media
port of the National Trust, I’m excited to lead CCM’s continued development into a sustainable community news business for Colorado.”
e National Trust for Local News started in Colorado in 2021 with the acquisition of Colorado Community Media, the primary source of local news for communities across the Denver metro area.
Over the last two years, the National Trust has unveiled a comprehensive overhaul of CCM’s websites and digital news products, and expanded its news o erings to serve growing bilingual audiences in greater Denver.
“We’re thrilled to have Brooke Warner take the helm at Colorado Community Media,” said Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro, CEO and co-founder of the National Trust for Local News. “She brings a passion for our mission along with deep experience in digital media, leading transformational change and diversifying revenue. Our organization will bene t from her leadership as it works to create a sustainable future for community news in Colorado.”
PICKLE
including medieval history — and mainly focuses on women’s history and European history. Klimek’s studies suggest the pickle tradition seem to have originated in the United States when the Pennsylvania Dutch were settling in the Midwest.
“No historians know if it was there before these people came,” said Klimek.
Prior to joining CCM, Brooke served as general manager at Swift Communications in Nevada, where she managed a portfolio of 25 local media brands. She also
Klimek added that many people in Germany and its surrounding Germanspeaking countries were not aware of the tradition and didn’t, and still don’t, take part in the tradition.
History of the pickle
One theory dates back to ancient times in which the pickle was thought to represent hope and a glimmer of light. Another is a medieval tale that involves St. Nicholas rescuing two Spanish boys who were kidnapped by an evil innkeeper and placed in a pickle barrel.
was vice president of Draper Digital Media and WBOC-TV in Maryland, where she launched the rst interactive division at one of the state’s largest television stations.
“I’m thrilled to join Colorado Community Media. It has been my mission to help local news companies grow and thrive to meet the needs of readers, advertisers and communities,” Warner said. “With the sup-
Others think the tradition was a marketing strategy. In the 19th century, a town in Germany was producing glass blown produce-shaped ornaments that were imported to Woolworth stores in the United States. Legend has it that the pickle ornament was not selling well, but by calling it a “German tradition” made it more appealing to American customers.
One of the most commonly heard stories is about a Bavarian-born soldier who was captured during the American Civil War and was being starved in a prison. e story goes that the soldier begged
e Trust also just announced the launch of the Trust Press to print CCM’s newspapers and o er commercial printing services for news organizations and other clients throughout the region. Warner will oversee those operations, as well.
Warner’s position replaces the publisher role recently vacated by Linda Carpio Shapley, who is now CCM’s director of Editorial and Audience Engagement.
the guard for a pickle on Christmas Eve. e guard gave in and the pickle gave the soldier the strength to survive and reunite with his family.
Despite the fact that no one knows the exact origin of the tradition, Klimek said it feeds into the fact that Americans tend to seek tradition.
“ ey’re always seeking these kinds of older traditions to bring into their households,” said Klimek. “I think that this idea really links us to maybe even an imagined past — it doesn’t even have to be true to be fun.”`
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Unleash the power of creativity in new year
As we prepare to enter the new year, we have a unique opportunity to tap into the power of our imagination and dream about what lies ahead. Last week, I explored how we can nish strong and start the new year even stronger. is week, I want to challenge you to unleash your imagination, dream beyond boundaries, and create a vision for the year ahead that excites and inspires you.
boundaries,
One of my favorite activities when my children were younger, and now with my grandchildren, is gazing up at a cloud- lled sky. Together, we look for shapes and gures in the clouds. With a little creativity, we’ve spotted trains, dinosaurs, hearts, dolphins, Santa Claus, snowmen, and countless other formations. It’s remarkable how, when we let our imaginations roam free, young and old minds alike can conjure up incredible visions.
So, as we approach the new year, let’s ask ourselves: What do we see in the clouds of our own future? Are we allowing ourselves to imagine with boundless creativity, or are we playing it safe, constrained by the familiar? For some, the year ahead might hold dreams of a new role within your current company, an opportunity to stretch into leadership, or explore a di erent area of the business. Others may be thinking about starting their own ventures, nally bringing to life that business idea they’ve nurtured for
Dyears. Perhaps your dreams center on carving out more intentional time o , traveling to places that have long been on your bucket list, or spending quality time with family and friends. e new year also brings opportunities for celebration. Signi cant milestones like birthdays, anniversaries, or graduations often call for creativity and intention to make them truly memorable. What if you could dream up ways to make these events extraordinary? Perhaps it’s planning a surprise party that will leave your loved ones speechless or organizing an experience that becomes a cherished memory.
For those of us who already meticulously plan the year, here’s an added challenge: Layer your planning with imagination. Move beyond traditional goal-setting and practical to-do lists. Instead of just thinking outside the box, let’s forget the box entirely. In this era, there is no box. ere are no limits except those we impose on ourselves.
Ask yourself: What does a year of un-
limited possibilities look like? If failure weren’t an option, what would you aim to achieve? What form would it take if you could sprinkle a bit of magic into your daily life? What would you do differently if guided by your most creative and uninhibited self?
For example, imagining a year lled with travel might prompt you to start a dedicated savings plan or research destinations you’ve always dreamed of visiting. Dreaming about a career change could inspire you to enroll in a course, expand your network, or schedule informational interviews. e act of imagining opens doors and sets a foundation for action. e key is to imagine without judgment or fear of overreaching. Remember those clouds we stared at as kids? No one told us our dinosaur didn’t look like a dinosaur, and no one said a train couldn’t appear in the sky. We saw what we wanted to see and reveled in the joy of discovery.
’Tis the season — make it jolly
TFINANCIAL STRATEGIES
his is a special time of year, so I am not going to give you a litany of things to do. I did that last month to give you extra time. is is the season of giving and sharing and spending time with loved ones. We do have a lot to be grateful for. Even investors are happy this year with higher interest rates and a strong stock market. Homeowners are enjoying strong equity positions with increased values. More families are focusing on experiences instead of fad gifts. Hopefully, the rush and stress of the holidays are toned down this year for you.
December is also the month I renew my Certi ed Financial Planner, or CFP®, certication. It is a nice reminder why I wanted to educate and advise for the past 38 years. e code of ethics, code of conduct andduciary duty are all embedded standards of practice when advising others about their hard-earned assets. I am always grateful that this allows me to focus on what is important, just like we do over the holidays. Sometimes people get caught up in the rat race and think they must work harder or constantly strive to make more money. As I look back at the more than 1,000 families I have helped, it never ended up being about the money. After all, money is just a tool. Perhaps this is a good time of year to think about the best ways to use that tool for what is most important to you.
is could be why December is the most popular month for charitable donations. I can always tell we are nearing the end of the year when more donor-advised funds are opened to transfer highly appreciated assets to a charity tax free. More quali ed charitable distributions are requested to send IRA money directly to a charity tax free if you are at least 70 1/2 years of age.
Mental health: The Sway Test can help unlock healing
espite out-of-pocket costs and long waits for appointments already being a statewide issue, the truth is the citizens of northwest Denver are blessed to have more therapy options per capita than almost anywhere else in the state of Colorado.
From a glut of private practitioners to culturally responsive clinics such as Clinica Tepeyac (not to mention the free, 24-7 Colorado Crisis line, accessed by dialing 988), mental health help is there for those who seek it out.
at’s important because as we head into the holiday season and the winter months, mental health and wellness is more important than ever. Yet many folks don’t know there are simple techniques we can try in the privacy of our own homes to explore our own psyches and develop insight. One of my favorite techniques to do so is called the Sway Test.
e Sway Test was developed by Dr. Bradley Nelson, an author and expert in
the eld of energy psychology. Dr. Nelson’s theory is that there is intelligence within our entire body, not just our brain. He developed a technique from his years of clinical experience as a chiropractor who expanded into the eld of holistic medicine. e Sway Test is a method of gathering information from our subconscious mind, and it is very easy to learn and does not require the assistance of anyone else. To do the Sway Test, you simply must be able to stand on two feet.
Here’s how: Start in a standing position, feet rmly planted and shoulder-width apart, being sure not to lock your knees, and with your arms by your sides. Let go of all conscious thoughts and close your eyes if you are comfortable doing so.
You’ll notice it’s impossible to actually stand still—your body typically sways almost imperceptibly. en make a statement: When you vocally make a positive
true statement, your body will begin to sway noticeably forward, Nelson’s theory being that a gentle sway forward represents a true or correct statement, while a gentle sway back on your heels represents a negative, untrue or incongruous statement.
Try this experiment: Take the Sway Test stance and make a statement you know to be true, for example your name. If your name is Alex, for example, and you say, “My name is Alex,” your subconscious mind knows the statement to be true and you’ll sway forward gently because your body is drawn to congruence and truth. Try it again with a false name, and you should feel your body begin to sway backward within a few seconds. Your body’s response time will shorten the more that you practice this phenomenon.
e most challenging form of this testing of our subconscious mind is that it requires our conscious mind to give up control for a few moments allowing our body to respond innately. We can im-
plicitly trust the wisdom of our subconscious mind to help inform decisions large and small.
While it’s not a crystal ball, the Sway Test could be useful in a wide range of scenarios, like whether to enroll in a class, rekindle a friendship or pursue a side gig. It’s particularly useful in exploring the murky world of emotions, which often drives us to engage in behavior that’s befuddling.
May the Sway Test hold the answers to the emotions or subconscious thought patterns that are presenting barriers to you achieving the goals that you seek? Plant your feet, ask your questions and let your body’s sway speak.
Erin Olyer Rohlf is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), professional therapist and founder of Denver Couples Clinic. Call her at 720-644-1400 or nd her at www.denvercouplesclinic.com to learn more or to suggest ideas for future columns.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Unheavenly facts
Douglas County rates as: (1) “top 10 wealthiest counties in the US” (2) “healthiest county in the US” (3) highly educated population low unemployment. From the outside, DougCo might sound like a little “bit of heaven.”
By-and-large, Douglas County is a safe and convenient community ... as long as you fall on the right side of the pack of local and outside power players.
Here are the unheavenly facts.
Douglas County has been long-plagued by the cabalistic scheming of conservative players who hand-pick their successors from a well-maintained list of wealthy insiders.
Locals call this collusion … e CABAL.
e CABAL controls most elected ofces in county and local governments as well as our local school board.
e CABAL appoints dozens of citizen committees and advisers … over 80% of those selected are conservative white men over the age of 55.
e rest of the Douglas County community is grossly under-represented and the CABAL is ready to let you know they have no intention of giving you the time of day.
Many in the CABAL are graduates of the Leadership Program of the Rockies, a conservative training think-tank underwritten by libertarian millionaires and billionaires who reside in Colorado and beyond. Money from those millionaires and billionaires shows-up in our local elections as dark money passed through a planned cascade of de-identi ed contributions and gifts.
Jan 6, 2021.
e chronic BoCC cat ght is typical of the CABAL ... in ghting has been standard operating procedure for decades.
Two local realities are operative … most people don’t have the time/interest to gather and take in the truth about the people they elect … and media coverage of the CABAL is mixed. Many Coloradobased outlets are either enabling the CABAL’s shenanigans, or staying out of the fray because “Douglas County is Douglas County, will always be Douglas County.”
So, is Douglas County a “little bit of heaven”?
If you are white guy, conservative, and rich ... it’s utopia.
Lloyd Guthrie, Roxborough Park
Laydon, Teal hit rock bottom
Substantial numbers of the CABAL are hard-core MAGA … they publicly associate with religious and nationalist extremists. In fact, the CABAL welcomes Douglas County citizens who gain national reputations for conspiracy mongering. More than a few were in DC on
NORTON
As you stand on the brink of this new year, take a moment to look up, not just at the sky but at the endless possibilities that await. Use your imagination to shape your dreams, plans, and life. Forget the box. Dream big, dream bold, and dream without limits. Let this year be the one where you surprise yourself with what you can create, achieve, and experience.
KUMMER
Family gifts and estate planning are also popular topics this month. You can give up to $18,000 per year per person to help others and to reduce your estate. Next year, the maximum increases to $19,000.
It is hard to believe after the past four years of poor behavior for Douglas County Commissioners Abe Laydon and George Teal regarding fellow Commissioner Lora omas that things could get worse with only one month left on Lora’s term, but they have. Commissioners Laydon and Teal created their own ruling to instruct county employees to evict Lora omas from her o ce. eir reasoning is that Commissioner-elect Kevin Van Winkle needs to settle into his future ofce. is is an unprecedented action by any DC commissioners, despite what Laydon and Teal make up. ey must not be aware of Colorado statute that clearly states that an elected o cial cannot hold two elected o ces at the same time. State Sen. Van Winkle is in o ce through Jan. 9 before sworn in as DC commissioner on Jan. 14.
Why would Laydon and Teal create this action roughly one month before Lora omas terms out? It appears this is an arrogant, vindictive and spiteful move on their part. is action is deplorable! I sincerely hope that Lora omas sues
Douglas County for this continued harassment. Unfortunately, Lora cannot sue Laydon and Teal as they are county o cials, but she can sue Douglas County for ignoring the ridiculous behavior of these two commissioners for the past four years. Laydon and Teal apparently do not care that it will be the tax paying citizens of the County who will foot the settlement bill, and not them directly. I hope Lora wins a signi cant settlement. Jim Weglarz, Larkspur
I am an American I have lived on this earth nine decades. I am a rst generation American whose family came through Ellis Island from Scotland. I was born during the Great Depression seeing men selling apples on street corners for a few pennies. Raised on the tough streets of the south side of Chicago. All races, creeds and religions. World War II memories; American ags on every porch, you recited the Pledge of Allegiance to start every school day. Sang God Bless America! A few new classmates after the war had numbers inside their arms. Dachau, Bergen Belsen, Auschwitz and others. I have a BS in Aeronautical Engineering from Purdue University ( Neil Armstrong was a couple classes ahead of me, Roger Chaffee was a close classmate) and an MBA from the University of Chicago. I am USAF/ Ret; a “Nam” kid, three combat tours. Air Medal with eleven Oak Leaf Clusters (300 combat missions, mostly over North Vietnam), the Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star. I voted for Trump. I am not a racist, sexist, bigot, Nazi, fascist or garbage. I am a proud American.
James Stewart, Lone Tree
discover after the fact that I’ve been ignorant about some laws already in effect — such as the regulation of only one earbud (not two!) while driving. It’s not that I’m necessarily opposed to new laws, but so often these added regulations crop up because of the unfortunate misuse of individual freedoms encroaching on another’s rights — or the use of something toxic that is deemed to be environmentally unsafe.
New Colorado laws beginning Jan. 1 include at least three involving vehicles: a ban on holding a cell phone while driving, locking up handguns in an unattended vehicle, and kids not getting out of car booster seats until they turn 9 years old (which will affect a local grandson who is currently 8 years old until his summer birthday).
Clearly we need help I’m always surprised by new laws that go into effect every year. I also seem to
As for the new environmental laws, all eggs sold in Colorado must now be cage-free, and many products such as cosmetics and indoor furniture can no longer contain those nasty PFAs (“forever” chemicals).
I notice there are also new laws involving the insurance and health-care industry, as well as statutes regarding minor workers, minor autopsy reports, protection orders for crime victims, estate planning, tort actions, testing accommodations and lodging tax.
My husband’s comments as we talked over this extensive list at breakfast one day? “I guess we need to save people from themselves.”
Indeed. Like the warnings we so often see posted on products (“Don’t eat this” or “Don’t operate near water,” etc.), between our fears of litigation, our desire to make people act in safer ways, and our occasional lack of common sense, we continue to crank out more and more regulations. We must need an awful lot of salvation.
Linda Mazunik, Lone Tree
After all, when we combine imagination with action, the sky isn’t the limit, it’s just the beginning. I would love to hear your story and how you imagine the year ahead at gotonorton@gmail. com, and when we can tap into the power of our imagination, 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.
to help educate, recreate or encounter new places?
So, as you see all the Christmas decorations or get ready to light the menorah, know the most important things you can share are your traditions, values and love.
We will always have time next year to talk about your goals and opportunities. But for now, just enjoy all you have and who you get to spend time with.
Patricia Kummer is managing director for Mariner, an SEC-registered invest-
OBITUARIES
Michael James Craigie died on Oct. 29 surrounded by love and family. He was born on the summer solstice June 21st, 1944, in Alice, Texas where his dad was stationed during the war. e family relocated and Michael grew up in Manlius, New York. He majored in Chemistry at the University of Illinois. In September of 1964, Michael married his rst wife, Lucy Shelby. ey had two children, Bonnie and Ariana who were both born in Illinois. e family moved to southern Colorado in the mid 70’s, settling in Pagosa Springs for several years.
He loved science and was an early computer programmer and planned geothermal power for town buildings. He volunteered with the town emergency services and loved driving the ambulance and became an EMT. After his divorce with Lucy, he fell in love with his friend’s sister, Carol Williams and they married. ey and the children moved to Boulder. Shortly after his son, Aaron, was born, he endured a life-threatening
medical condition and was given a 1% chance of survival. Mike not only survived but he continued to beat all the odds with his health problems mystifying doctors and living until age 80. He is survived by the love of his life, Carol Craigie, his 3 loving and helpful children and their partners: Bonnie Craigie, Ariana (and Philip) Spiegler and Aaron (and Amber) Craigie. He has 6 grandchildren: Madelyn, Evan and Nettle Anderson and 3 young fun ones Alissa, Asher and Aiden Craigie and a great grandchild Clara. Mike has 3 siblings with wonderful families: Larry Craigie, Kevin Craigie and Jodie Craigie. He loved Colorado and enjoyed living in various parts of it. He was a master at photography, continued to love and follow science, had a great sense of humor and could talk like Donald Duck to the delight of his family. His celebration of life will be held on March 15. He is missed by his family including the dog, Cuddles and the cat, Romeo.
CRAIGIE
Michael James Craigie June 21, 1944 - October 29, 2024
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State tax panel suggests renter relief for 2025
Previous policy changes have benefited homeowners
BY SARA WILSON COLORADO NEWSLINE
A Colorado commission on property tax policy wants lawmakers to consider tax relief to low-income renters next session, following years of policy changes aimed at helping homeowners.
e bipartisan commission, created during a 2023 special session on property taxes and made up of four lawmakers and local government o cials, approved three recommendations recently for the Legislature to consider next year. e recommendations, unlike interim bills considered by committees between sessions, are not binding or attached to any lawmaker.
e commission wants the Legislature to provide tax relief to low-income renters, though it did not de ne “low-income,” as it could vary based on city, and it suggested two methods of relief: an income tax credit for quali ed renters and a modi cation of the state’s Property Tax, Rent, Heat (PTC) Rebate program.
e PTC rebate is currently available to old-
er or disabled Coloradans who pay property tax, rent or heating bills and make less than a certain income. In 2023, that threshold was about $18,000. e rebate amount can be up to $1,112 per year. e commission’s recommendation is to modify the income eligibility requirements and amount of the bene t. ere were a record number of evictions in Denver this year, and Colorado renters increasingly spend more than one-third of their income on rent.
e commission voted against a recommendation to give landlords a tax credit if they have a ordable units, with the idea that landlords would then pass savings to their renters.
“I don’t necessarily believe that adequate relief will then be passed down to renters in the way that we expect it to. If we’re looking at how to speci cally support our renters, then we should focus and target the relief directly to the renters and not to the landlords,” Democratic Rep. Lorena Garcia, an Adams County Democrat, said.
e commission also voted to recommend to lawmakers to make permanent the portability of valuation adjustments for senior homeowners. Certain senior homeowners can now chop o part of the value of their home used to calculate property taxes if they have lived there for 10 years. A two-year pilot program lets the homeowner bring the ad-
justment with them if they move. Permanent portability has support among legislative leaders, but a tight budget year could make it di cult to pass.
“Even though it is not a huge bene t to seniors, it is one of the largest — that I have encountered —- stopping points from people downsizing into a smaller home, because they feel that they’re losing out on this bene t,” real estate agent and commission member Sean Dougherty said.
Republican Rep. Lisa Frizell said that even though the budget could make such a policy challenging to pass, it is important for the commission to be on record that portability is a priority.
Finally, the commission recommended that the Legislature increase awareness of existing exemptions and a property tax deferral program, though it was not speci c about how to do so.
Members voted down a recommendation to allow counties to o er quarterly property tax payments.
e Colorado Legislature reconvenes on Jan. 8. e property tax commission will meet through June.
is story is from Colorado Newsline. Used by permission. For more, and to support the news organization, visit coloradonewsline. com.
Individual in Parker arrested after hours of negotiations
The incident caused a shelter in place order for an hour on Dec. 12
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Parker Police took a person into custody without incident at about 10 p.m. on ursday, following a shelter in place order issued about an hour earlier for the area near Parker Road and Indian Pipe Lane.
Parker police received a call from a resident in the 19700 block of East Centerville Court at about 6:30 p.m., who reported that a family member inside the home was “acting erratically” and was armed with a gun, said
Josh Hans, spokesperson for the Parker Police Department.
O cers arrived at the residence and made contact with the suspect, as well as other individuals inside the home.
After several hours of negotiations, and with the assistance of the Douglas County Regional SWAT team, the suspect was taken into custody. No injuries were sustained, and the incident wrapped up peacefully, Hans said.
e suspect’s name had not been released by authorities by press time for this paper.
Former jail employee accused of sexual misconduct
CORRECTIONS
Colorado Trust for Local News asks readers to make us aware of mistakes we may have made.
Email linda@cotln.org if you notice a possible error you would like us to take a look at.
Woman arrested on charge of improper relationship with inmate
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A former Douglas County Sheriff’s Office employee assigned to the Douglas County jail has been arrested on sexual misconduct charges.
Sheriff’s detectives received information on Oct. 20 that a female civilian, later identified as Alexis Montoya, who was assigned to the detention division as a crew leader may have been involved in an inappropriate relationship with an inmate.
Montoya started with the sheriff’s office on Oct. 12, 2023.
An investigation indicated there was probable cause to believe a crime had been committed by Montoya, according to the authorities.
Two days after detectives received the information about the potential relationship, Montoya was placed on administrative leave without pay, and then later resigned on Dec. 4.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office issued a warrant for Montoya’s arrest, but on Dec. 9, Montoya turned herself into the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office on two charges of sexual conduct in a correctional institution, which are both felonies.
Montoya was booked into the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office on a $5,000 bond.
Sheriff Darren Weekly said in a statement that this behavior is not tolerated by the sheriff’s office and that the county will continue to hold itself accountable with high standards of professionalism.
“Maintaining the integrity and trust of our office is a top priority,” said Weekly. “This former employee’s actions are a serious betrayal of that trust and the values we uphold.”
The case has been turned over to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
While the holiday season marks a time to relax with family and friends, the lead-up to the moment can often feel chaotic and overwhelming, and nding time to get and wrap gifts can be di cult.
However, there are businesses around the Denver metro area that provide gift-wrapping services to those who are overwhelmed by the holiday hustle and bustle.
“People shouldn’t feel like they have to do it all,” said Megan Trask, co-founder and CEO of TULA Life Balanced. “It’s more important to enjoy the season than to feel stressed or burdened by all the things that come with the holiday to-do list.”
TULA Life Balanced is an on-demand personal and family assistance platform that operates similarly to companies like Uber. TULA matches clients with an assistant to complete tasks ranging from grocery shopping and laundryto meal prep.
Having a to-do list to complete when people get home from a regular job can be overwhelming, and Trask said TULA aims to give busy people and their families a little more time in their days to do what matters most to them.
“(It’s) to create a way that people could ask for help without feeling kind of guilty about it,” Trask said.
While the assistants — who are fully vetted — are available year-round, Trask said the business sees about a 30% to 40% increase in services starting in October to mid-January.
During the holiday season, TULA Life Balanced can source gifts, wrap them and deliver them. Also, based on certain preferences, the company can create a list for the client to be able to quickly make purchases.
e clients pay for the materials, whether they provide wrapping materials or the assistants stop at a store to pick up supplies.
Although she is the co-founder of the business, Trask loves to wrap gifts and said she is more than happy to take gift-wrapping requests.
“It’s kind of like a nice break to just wrap somebody else’s gift beautifully,” Trask said. “What better gift to give than somebody getting the gift of time back?”
Always looking for ways to be creative, Kammy Witulski, a Highlands Ranch resident, also loves gift wrapping for others and started her home business, Wrap Paper Scissors, about a decade ago.
Witulski used to be an area manager for a high-end retail company in which one of the services provided was gift wrapping. After she had her daughter, Witulski felt she needed to take a few years o .
One of Witulski’s friends from her retail job had reached out to Witulski because she no longer had the ability to wrap the gifts herself. Witulski told the woman she would wrap gifts for her. While the two chatted, one thing led to another, and the idea of the
“It just started as a holiday type of job,” said Witulski. “It’s built up and now we operate year round — but the bulk of our business still comes from the Christ-
Witulski o ers several types of services. People can call, make an appointment and tell Witulski what they would like to see, such as certain colors or styles. ere is also no charge for canceling an
From the paper to the tag, Witulski provides all the supplies and will even remove price tags. However, people can also bring their own supplies. In those cases, the client will only be charged for the actual service.
Witulski does a majority of the wrapping herself as she said it brings her joy to meet people and help others during the holiday season. Nonetheless, Witulski has a team of four to ve people she can call when she needs help with big requests like corporate events or
Kammy Witulski, the owner of Wrap Paper Scissors, wraps around 2,000 gifts a year for customers who need help wrapping gifts.
From the paper to the ribbons to the tags, Kammy Witulski of Wrap Paper Scissors provides all the supplies. However, people can also bring their own materials.
One of the most important things when it comes to gift wrapping is to not leave the task to the last minute.
PRESENTS
Gift wrapping tips and tricks
For those who have time to wrap gifts or enjoy the task, Trask and Witulski have some helpful tips.
e rst one is to invest in quality supplies like sharp scissors and thicker-grade wrapping paper.
“While you are saving money on the less expensive paper and scissors, the time that it takes you to correct the tearing or sometimes needing to rewrap is where you end up spending more time and more money,” Witulski said.
While searching for wrapping paper online can be good due to the variety of patterns and colors, Witulski said it’s important to pay attention to the dimensions of
Gift wrapping experts recommend investing in quality supplies, which includes sharp scissors and thicker grade paper.
the wrapping paper. e dimensions for a standard roll of paper can di er depending on the brand type and type of paper.
Trask agrees that measuring before wrapping is the foundation to beautiful gift wrapping. Once the paper is picked out, measure straight lines before cutting the paper to ensure a clean look. It’s also helpful to have all of the supplies in one place instead of making multiple trips to stores as you are wrapping.
One of the most important tips from Trask and Witulski is to not leave gift wrapping to the last minute and to take 10 to 15 minutes to wrap gifts as you purchase them. And don’t forget about those gifts you’ve been hiding in the closet, attic or under the bed.
“ at’s much easier to do than to try to block out like three, four hours on Christmas when you’re already trying to clean your house, cook for company or maybe you’re having a party,” Witulski said.
To learn more about their services, visit TULA Life Balanced at tulabalanced.com and Wrap Paper Scissors at wrappaperscissors.com.
PHOTOS BY HALEY LENA
STUDIES
pushback nationwide, including being banned from classrooms in Florida after Gov. Ron Desantis claimed it was pushing a political agenda.
AP classes are higher-level courses that o er students the chance to earn college credit while still in high school by taking an exam run by the College Board at the conclusion of the class. e class is an elective course.
Board member Becky Myers said she
appreciated the extra time to evaluate the class and supports the class being available to students.
Board member Kaylee Winegar said she thinks the class would be a great option for students after looking more at the course content. Winegar suggested including community input on proposed courses in the future to assuage public concerns.
“I think after getting time to review this course it does do a great job as an AP course. ere’s a lot of rigor and including di erent view points and proving your points, not so much about indoctrination,” Winegar said.
Board member Tim Moore said he supports o ering choices and he heard from a lot of students and families who want to take the course.
e conversation included pushback from some board members about the delay. Board member Brad Geiger called out his fellow board members for delaying the vote, saying he trusted the sta that recommended the course.
During public comment, roughly a dozen parents and school sta spoke in favor of the class. Valarie Moses, a teacher at Highlands Ranch High School who proposed the AP course, said her students are excited for the class and want
opportunities to learn about themselves and others.
Dr. Remy Rummel, the district’s former director of equity, culture and language, said the course would meet equity goals and advocated for the course as a way to help students feel represented. ree commenters reiterated concerns about the course that led to the delay, saying that the curriculum is politically one-sided and biased. Cindy Jensen said she worried about the politics of the course developers, who she called Marxists and communists. e course will be available to students in the 2025-26 school year.
Thu 12/26
Otis Taylor @ 9pm Dazzle Denver, 1080 14th Street, Denver
Fri 12/27
Ken Walker
@ 6pm
Dazzle Denver, 1080 14th Street, Denver
Colorado Ballet w/ The Nutcracker
@ 6:30pm
Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver
YAN YEZ
@ 7:30pm
Skylark Lounge, 140 S Broadway, Denver
Poolside at the Flamingo
@ 8pm HQ, 60 S Broadway, Denver
All Your Stupid Friends: 2024 Wrapped Party
@ 8pm
Bluebird Theater, 3317 E Colfax Av, Denver
Phat Daddy
@ 8:30pm
TECH N9NE - LIVE 2024 @ 7pm / $49.75-$79.75
Fillmore Auditorium (Denver), Denver
Regal @ 10pm Club Vinyl, 1082 N Broadway, Denver
Sun 12/29
Holiday Weekend Fête
@ 12pm
Studio Loft at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 980 14th Street, Denver
Colorado Ballet w/ The Nutcracker @ 1pm
2025 Denver All Access New Years Eve (NYE) Bar Crawl (10th Annual) Eventvesta @ 7pm / $10
Charles Blenzig @ 6:30pm Dazzle Denver, 1080 14th Street, Denver
Mon 12/30
Holiday Weekend Fête @ 12pm
Studio Loft at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 980 14th Street, Denver
Remy Le Boeuf: Alex Heffron | Dazzle @ 6:30pm Dazzle Denver, 1080 14th Street, Denver
Cecelia Band: New Years Eve Rock N Roll Party @ 7pm
Sports Lounge Off Broadway, 44 W Centennial Blvd, Highlands Ranch
2024 Wrapped Party @ 9pm
Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave, Denver
Sat 12/28
Many Mountains live at Sheraton Denver @ 4pm
BEZEL Bar, 1550 Court Pl, Denver
The Black Box presents: Chef Boyarbeatz w/ Soukii, Neumonic, Marah, Athena
@ 9pm
The Black Box, 314 E 13th Ave, Denver
Tue 12/31
Sol y Luna @ 6:30pm
Studio Loft at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 980 14th Street, Denver
Ninety Percent 90s @ 7pm
Studio@Mainstreet, 19604 Mainstreet, Parker
The Toad Tavern, 5302 S Federal Cir‐cle, Littleton
DARIUS: New Year's Eve at Meow Wolf Denver @ 8pm Meow Wolf Denver | Convergence Station, 1338 1st St, Denver
NYE with Rick Lewis ProjectFeaturing Vince Converse @ 9pm Wide Open Saloon, 5607 US-85, Sedalia
Wed 1/01 Thu 1/02
New Year's Day 5K or 1M Virtual Run - Denver @ 9am / $27-$27 Jan 1st - Jan 2nd Denver area, Denver Ladies Night @ 6pm / $16.51 Stampede, Aurora Denver Nuggets vs. Atlanta Hawks @ 7pm / $40-$2615 Ball Arena, Denver Atlanta Hawks at Denver Nuggets Parking @ 7:01pm Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver Colorado Avalanche vs. Buffalo Sabres @ 7pm / $46-$999 Ball Arena, Denver Sundance Head @ 9pm The Black Buzzard, 1624 Market St, Denver
MARKETPLACE CAREERS
Help Wanted
Special Education Teacher
Special Education Teacher for a significant needs program located at the Strasburg School District beginning January 2025
• Current Colorado Special Education Teacher license required
• BA salary range $41,000$47,300 & MA salary range
$46,250-$52,550, based on experience
• Excellent benefits. including full health benefits!
• Collaborative work environment with lots of free continuing education opportunities available
• May be eligible for Student Loan Forgiveness
• Questions contact Tracy at (719) 775-2342, ext. 101 or tracyg@ecboces.org
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TREE &
Children’s Hospital campus hosts holiday parade
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
What do rst responders, DC and Marvel characters and the Denver Broncos Stampede band have in common?
Every December for the past four years, they bring smiles to children and sta at Children’s Hospital Colorado South Campus in Highlands Ranch for its annual holiday parade.
“Everyone’s super excited just to interact and give back in such a small way,” said Erin Bolinger, junior communications specialist for the corporate and community development team at Children’s Hospital Colorado. “It’s a great way to say thank you (to hospital sta ) for all their hard work during the holidays.”
Initially put together to safely spread holiday cheer without having to go inside the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, the interest in participating in the parade has continued to grow year after year. e hospital has had a long-standing partnership with South Metro Fire Rescue, the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce and the Denver Broncos, which all take part in the parade each year.
is year, the parade took place on Dec. 11, and a Tesla car club, members of the hospital’s sports medicine team, Miss Highlands Ranch Teen and the Douglas County Search and Rescue team joined in on the festivities.
Denver Broncos cheerleaders, front, and the Stampede band take part in the annual holiday parade at Children’s Hospital Colorado South Campus in Highlands Ranch, which took place on Dec. 11 this year. PHOTOS BY HALEY LENA
Miles, the Denver Broncos mascot, waves to sta and families as he passes by in a Denver Broncos themed Jeep.
Members of the Douglas County Search and Rescue team and the sheri ’s o ce take a photo with Miles, the Denver Bronco’s mascot, during the parade at Children’s Hospital Colorado South Campus in Highlands Ranch on Dec. 11.
Comic book characters, from left, Harley Quinn, Batman and Flash wave to sta and families as they walk around the hospital.
