Elbert County News 0107 by Colorado Community Media

January 7, 2016 VOLUME 120 | ISSUE 49 | 75¢

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Dore ready to tackle legislative session State representative explores some of the major issues of 2016 By Rick Gustafson Special to Colorado Community Media In part one of a two-part interview with state Rep. Tim Dore, he reflected on the 2015 legislative session. In part two, he outlines his expectations and priorities for the 2016 session, which begins Jan. 13, and explains some of the political dynamics of the Legislature in an election year. “It’s a political year, so you always have to put on those goggles when you look at a legislative session,” said Dore, R-Elizabeth. “There’s going to be a lot of taking chances to get those gotcha moments for those who are in a vulnerable seat, so you’ll see some gun legislation, and the death penalty has been talked about from both sides.” Since the 2016 Legislature has the same composition as

2015 — with Republicans in control of the Senate and Democrats the House — Dore does not expect much of the politically moDore tivated legislation to get very far. He believes the overarching issue facing lawmakers will be the hospital provider fee as it pertains to TABOR. “The legislative body has to decide what to do with the hospital provider fee,” said Dore, who represents House District 64. “Do we consider it a tax and push it to the people for them to decide, maybe as part of a larger package that could include infrastructure questions... and provide an increased opportunity for dialogue around how we handle some of the infrastructure concerns that we are going to face here in Colorado, especially

in the years to come.” Established in 2009 by the Colorado Healthcare Affordability Act, the hospital provider fee assesses hospitals up to $76.10 per patient for each day of managed care. According the Colorado Hospital Association, “The resulting

‘It’s a political year, so you always have to put on those goggles when you look at a legislative session.’ State Rep. Timothy Dore

Dore continues on Page 7

File photo

Mentoring program aims to get dads involved

Courtesy image

Watch D.O.G.S. to kick off at Running Creek Elementary By Rick Gustafson Special to Colorado Community Media The Elizabeth School District is hosting Dads and Kids Pizza Night to introduce a new program at Running Creek Elementary School called Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students) at 6 p.m. Jan. 12.

“It’s a father involvement educational initiative through the National Center for Fathering,” said Kelly Tarr, school counselor for Running Creek Elementary. “There used to be a really great mentoring program in Elbert County, which is no longer around, and I have a lot of boys who could use a positive male role model in their lives whether their father isn’t available, or they’ve never known their father.” The program invites dads to work at the school for one day each year as crossing guards, car/bus rider facilitators, hallway

monitors, library assistants, lunchroom helpers, classroom and homework tutors, or playground/gymnasium coaches. “We have a lot of mom volunteers, but we really want to have some dad volunteers and have a positive male role model in our schools rather than always calling dads when their kids are in trouble,” Tarr said. Tarr explained that having the men in the school demonstrates the importance of education to the students as well as providing a

ELBERT COUNTY NEWS (USPS 171-100) OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 | PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Elizabeth, Colorado, the Elbert County News is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ELIZABETH, COLORADO and additional mailing ofﬁces. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 12 p.m. | Classiﬁeds: Mon. 10 a.m. | Obits: Mon. 10 a.m. | Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m.

Watch continues on Page 7

2 Elbert County News

January 7, 2016

Book puts Parker’s history into perspective

Longtime resident compiles photos from town’s past

WHERE TO BUY THE BOOK “Parker (Images of America)” can be purchased at Poor Richard’s Book Shoppe in downtown Parker, at the Walgreens at Parker Road and Lincoln Avenue, or Amazon.com.

By Chris Michlewicz cmichlewicz@coloradocommunitymedia.com Sandy Whelchel had only a few months to gather enough photographs to tell the story of Parker’s 150-year history. Every year for five years, the book publisher Arcadia pleaded with Whelchel to compile a fresh installment for its “Images of America” series, which encapsulates the history of small towns in pictures, Whelchel said. And every year, she refused. That is, until June 2014, when she was struck by a sense of responsibility to make sure history lives on — and accurately. With a whirlwind deadline, the process was “labor-intensive” and “stressful,” Whelchel says, but the result was an engrossing compilation of more than 240 photos, some of which have never been publicly released. “Parker (Images of America),” which came out last April, takes residents on a sepia-toned journey through the town’s earliest days all the way up to today, with narratives shedding light on the photo subjects. “I have done a ton of research to write the Parker books and I try to be very accurate and on point,” she says, referring to town history guides published on a semi-annual basis. “My main point is to try to make things go through the ages and be right.” Whelchel, whose ancestors moved to Parker (then known as Pine Grove) in the 1880s, did some digging at Denver Public Libraries and came away with four to five images, including a photo of Chief Colorow, a well-known Ute Indian chief whose tribe resided south of what is now Denver. Whelchel, 71, also enlisted the help of longtime friend and fellow history enthusiast Marilyn Parker, who has been in Parker for 73 years and now

Two judges in a $10,000 horse race stand on a ﬂatbed carriage. The photo was taken in 1899. Courtesy photos

Part of the Rowley clan, the family for which the Rowley Downs neighborhood was named, in an undated photo. lives on a quiet spread east of town. Parker was the mail deliverywoman for 30 years and got to know many of

the characters who called Parker home. Those without children — and even some with kids — would entrust Parker with their old photos when they passed on. Parker cleaned out drawers full of pictures and gave Whelchel free rein. “She just said, ‘Let me see what you’ve got,’” Parker said. “She’s the only one I’d let out of the house with a photo.” Parker possesses three-ring binders full of original photographs, some faded and others still in remarkable condition. They came from families with familiar last names like Rowley and Motsenbocker. Whelchel also sorted through her personal collection of photos passed down through her family and carefully selected ones that best told a story. One tale in particular tickles Whelchel to this day.

Family Owned, Family Run

Two photos depict a gathering in what looks like a main drag through town. Taken in 1899, they feature townspeople milling around. Two horses are in the black-and-white shots, and one photo shows two official-looking men standing on a flatbed carriage. The pictures were taken when James Sample Parker and general store owner Norman D’Arcy “pitted their horses against each other” in a $10,000 race, the book reads. Everyone who was anyone attended the big Fourth of July event. The story goes like this: The horses were neck and neck as they neared the finish. According to race judges, D’Arcy’s horse won by sticking out its tongue to break a banner hung across the street as a finish line. “That’s how they reported it in the paper,” Whelchel said. “I can just imagine this crazy horse winning, not by a nose, but because it stuck out its tongue. That’s such a rip!” Whelchel, who lives on the last 40 acres of her family’s original homestead, had many longtime residents contribute photos during her search. She narrowed her scope by looking at other books in the series. “Parker (Images of America)” is laid out chronologically — Whelchel says she started with “ancient history” and moved into modern times. Parker was glad to help with the effort. She wants residents who have moved to Parker in the past two decades to take an interest in what was once here. “It seems like these people move out here,” she said, “but they don’t bother to learn any history or anything.”

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4 Elbert County News

January 7, 2016

Public asked to help track Colorado wildlife iNaturalist app allows users to post photos to scientific database By Steven K. Paulson Associated Press DENVER — Colorado wildlife officials are trying to turn visitors to state parks and trails into amateur naturalists, creating an app that can be used to photograph animals and create a database that will be used by scientists to study whether climate change is altering the state’s habitats. Users of iNaturalist can post their photos and sounds, or view the observations of other park visitors. They can also alert others about their finds, so people can add to their collections. The app is especially attractive to birdwatchers. The app is available for free from Android and iPhone stores, and can also be downloaded from the Colorado wildlife tracking web page. The application automatically records observations with photos and GPS locations. People can also see other reports and get updates on wildlife sightings. Steamboat Lake State Park administrator Julie Arington said it’s a great project to attract more people to Colorado parks, and get help from people who already love nature and the outdoors. It is also an attempt to attract more people to explore state forests and trails. “People like to share what they find, and this is a chance to share. They can also get help from other people identifying what they found,” Arington said.

In Colorado, about 60 people have turned in more than 300 observations on animals, insects and plants after Colorado Parks and Wildlife posted notices at 42 campgrounds and numerous trails asking people to document their findings. Odd reports in Colorado so far include bugs called “Hanging Thieves” that are flies with long legs found near Walsenburg, a purplish copper butterfly with fuzzy wings found near Steamboat Lake State Park and a rabbit-eared Albert’s squirrel photographed near Durango. Wildlife officials say if someone spots a rare or protected species, like the imperiled lynx that was reintroduced into the Colorado wilderness, the finding is reported but the details are obscured on the Internet to protect the animals and allow wildlife specialists to check it out. The program is part of a larger international project called iNaturalist.org, which has more than 130,000 members around the world who have contributed nearly 2 million observations. International project co-founder Scott Loarie said crowdsourcing nature findings can help scientists determine if climate change is affecting local species, forcing them to move to areas where they have not been found before. Loarie said some of the findings have been surprising. He said a snail that was found and recorded in California was quickly identified by naturalists in Australia as an invasive species, allowing California to take steps to eradicate it before it can cause serious damage.

CALENDAR Editor’s note: Calendar submissions must be received by noon Wednesday for publication the following week. Send listings to calendar@coloradocommunitymedia.com. No attachments, please. Listings are free and run on a space-available basis. Events ‘Ellis Island’ Viewing The Parker Genealogical Society will watch the History Channel’s “Ellis Island” at its January meeting, Saturday, Jan. 9, at Stroh Road Fire Station, 19310 Stroh Road, Parker. Meeting is at 1:30 p.m. Community Blood Drives A number of community blood drives are planned in the area. For information or to schedule an appointment, contact the Bonfils Appointment Center at 303-363-2300, unless otherwise noted. Go to www.bonfils. org. Upcoming blood drives are: Sunday, Jan. 10, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Ave Maria Catholic Church, 9056 E. Parker Road, Parker; Sunday, Jan. 10, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Faith Lutheran Church, 303 N. Ridge Road, Castle Rock (Karen Johnson, 720-2721464); Thursday, Jan. 14, 10-11:40 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m., Douglas County Government, 301 Wilcox St., Castle Rock; Friday, Jan. 15, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker; Sunday, Jan. 17, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Crossroads Community Church, 9900 S. Twenty Mile Road, Parker; Wednesday, Jan. 20, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Walmart, 2100 Legacy Circle, Elizabeth. Literature Based Art Budding artists ages 6-12 will enjoy Art Stop on the Go, during which an artist from the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art will present a book, then lead participants in a literature-based art project. Sessions offered at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11, at the Parker Library, 10851 S. Crossroads Drive; and at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, at the Roxborough Library, 8357 N. Rampart Range Road. Registration is required. Call 303-791-

7323 or go to www.DouglasCountyLibraries. org. Nonfiction Book Club Forming Club members read stories about real people who made a difference in this world, or who inspire us because they overcame great setbacks in life. Some people wield great power or enlighten us about cultures or events in history. Nonfiction adds to your knowledge and increases critical thinking skills. History can be so much stranger than fiction. Our meetings will be individuals reading different books on the same subject, discussing what we learned, liked or didn’t like. Contact evelyn.poulo@gmail.com for a list of books and submit your own favorites. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, at the Parker Library, in the conference room. First topic will be Arab women authors speaking out about their culture. Book should be completed by meeting date; get reading. DAR Presentation Castle Rock Historical Society welcomes Paula Lasky from the Daughters of the American Revolution on Thursday, Jan. 14, at the Philip S. Miller Library, 100 S. Wilcox St., Castle Rock. Have you ever wondered if you could be part of the DAR? Lasky will speak on how to trace your ancestors to see if you could be part of the newly formed chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Castle Rock. Refreshments will be served at 6:45 p.m. with the presentation starting at 7. Contact the Castle Rock Museum at 303-814-3164, museum@ castlerockhistoricalsociety.org, or www. castlerockhistoricalsociety.org. Admission is free. Coloring for Adults Adult coloring is all the rage. Douglas County Libraries will host “Coffee and Coloring” for adults at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, at the Parker Library, 10851 S. Crossroads Drive. Registration is required. Call 303-791-7323 or go to www.DouglasCountyLibraries.org. Calendar continues on Page 7

Elbert County News 5

January 7, 2016

Tech startup has designs to change the world MovementTek could help with sports, dance

Parker-based QBLabs developed technology for medicine, sports By Chris Michlewicz cmichlewicz@coloradocommunitymedia.com Molly and Jennifer Maskrey don’t just believe their wearable technology can save lives — they know it will. With their startup, QBLabs, the Parker residents have developed MovementTek, a wearable device that alerts medical professionals and family members when a senior shows signs of instability when walking. The idea is for caregivers to intervene before a fall. But the device, which also is being tested to help patients with cerebral palsy, could expand beyond medical applications to provide real-time feedback to athletes and dancers to hone their techniques. The company is seeking $1 million in seed funding for full-on production, manufacturing and distribution. It has partnered with Innovation Pavilion, a Centennial-based business incubator that has already connected the Maskreys with some big players in the industry, such as Arrow Electronics, a Centennial-based Fortune 500 company that specializes in electronic components and computer products. “Mind-blown” is how Lindsey Finklang, Innovation Pavilion’s strategic expansion associate, described her reaction when first introduced to the concepts being created by QBLabs, which stands for Quantative Bioanalytics Labs. “They have intelligence beyond words,” Finklang said of the Maskreys. “They understand technology development, and they want to use that to make the world a better place.” ‘Prevention through intervention’ for seniors The married couple created QB labs in 2014 and has focused on MovementTek motion sensors for three separate purposes, with an initial focus on fall prevention for those with balance issues. “We’re striving to make an impact to improve the quality of life for seniors,” said Jennifer Maskrey, chief executive officer. The device is designed around sensors with a six-axis orientation and a movement-detection module. A Bluetooth module transmits data from the sensor to an integrated system that uses algorithms to quantify the data and a color-coded system to identify whether a senior is in a safe zone or danger zone. The plan is to get MovementTek into independent-living and assisted-living facilities and prevent some of the 2.5 million falls each year that Centers for Disease Control reports among seniors 65 and older. Doing that could reduce medical expenses along with the anguish associated with injuries and deaths that can result from a fall, Jennifer Maskrey said. MovementTek allows for passive prediction through data trends based on a prolonged period of monitoring. Chief technology officer Molly Maskrey, who has degrees in computer science and advanced mathematics, calls it “prevention through intervention” and, because the technology can be worn in clothing, she likens it to noninvasive glucose meters worn by diabetics. It uses a “balance cone” as a baseline that’s measured when a senior has eaten

Molly Maskrey’s excitement grows when talking about “sports-performance quantification” and how MovementTek will help golfers perfect their swing or teach dancers to achieve perfect form. She should know. As a ballroom dancer herself, she is using the technology to help her fine-tune her rumba technique for an upcoming recital in February. Maskrey developed a rumba dance application that works in tandem with MovementTek to suggest adjustments when she practices. She wears the device in her shoe. “I wouldn’t call it the perfect rumba,” she said with a laugh about the application. But “I do a pretty good rumba.” QBLabs has already jumped through the many hoops to integrate MovementTek with Apple devices, including the Apple Watch and iPad. The devices receive real-time information and correct the user when his or her movement and orientation is out of step with the ideal swing or dance step. “You can do it with any type of sport,” Maskrey said. “It’s quantifying something that wasn’t quantifiable” before.

Jennifer, left, and Molly Maskrey, a pair of forward-thinking entrepreneurs from Parker, have paired with Innovation Pavilion to introduce technology that is quickly gaining attention in multiple industries, including healthcare. Photo by Chris Michlewicz well and taken all of his or her medications. Changes in balance, no matter how small, are detected. “If they’re approaching the point where they might be unbalanced,” Molly Maskrey said, “it transmits a signal to caregivers in a nursing home or sends a text message to the son or daughter to check on them.” Jodie McCann, senior outreach coordinator for the Highlands Ranch Metro District, said falls are the top reason seniors go from living independently to assisted living. Prevention of falls would be a major step forward, she said. “Oftentimes, it leads to more serious things, kind of a snowball effect,” McCann said. “So many things can happen after that. It might be pneumonia or other setbacks that don’t let them to return to their way of life.” Changing existing healthcare and health insurance models is a challenging, uphill battle, Molly Maskrey said. However, there is a significant push in healthcare to encourage proactive measures instead of reactive. The Maskreys plan to eventually develop the technology to detect various environment conditions. For example, the system could notify family members if a senior leaves on the stove or hasn’t taken daily medication.

hospital’s groundbreaking motion sensor lab. The lab is particularly important for those with cerebral palsy. With MovementTek, the Maskreys believe they can track a patient’s leg movement and help surgeons pinpoint the exact places to disconnect muscle to fix gait issues. Timothy S. Nicklas, business operations manager at the Center for Gait and Movement Analysis, said his team has had preliminary discussions with QBLabs for a year and is providing validation that its motion sensors are accurate. The gait center and QBLabs are applying for grants to conduct testing. Although no official agreements exist with Children’s to use the technology, Nicklas said the center is happy to provide guidance to startups trying to make improvements in the field. “We really like having conversations with them because they’re doing some really cutting-edge stuff,” he said. “We see the type of work they’re doing as the future of movement analysis.” The mobile technology will not replace gait-analysis labs, but rather would supplement existing resources and enable medical professionals to observe how patients walk while performing daily activities, Nicklas said. Resources are scarce for adults with

FALL STATISTICS • One of three people age 65 and older fall each year. • Each year, 2.5 million people over 65 are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries. • One of five falls causes a serious injury, such as a broken bone or a head injury. • Women experience three-quarters of all hip fractures. • Adjusted for inflation, the direct medical costs for fall injuries are $34 billion annually. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cerebral palsy, and only a small percentage of patients receive the care they need, Jennifer Maskrey said. Motion analysis labs could potentially help mobile technology be more accessible and less expensive. “They know they can’t treat everybody they want to treat,” Jennifer Maskrey said, “so they want a mobile system.” Vic Ahmed, co-founder and chairman of Innovation Pavilion, sees tremendous potential in the technology. He predicts MovementTek will have “an enormous impact on the independence and mobility of millions of patients with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury or critical balance challenges.”

Help for patients with cerebral palsy QBLabs also is working with the Center for Gait and Movement Analysis at Children’s Hospital Colorado to develop a gait-analysis application based on the

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6 Elbert County News

January 7, 2016

VOICES

LOCAL

Only you can hold yourself back How many times in our lives have we uttered the word “If?” “If only I would have…” “I could have made it if only I didn’t …” “If the sun wasn’t in my eyes.” “I would have been on time if I didn’t run into traffic.” If, if, if, if, if. There is an old saying that goes like this, “If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, every day would be Christmas.” You see “if” has always been the scapegoat or excuse as to why we don’t accomplish what we had set out to achieve. “If” the gym wasn’t closed I would have gotten my workout in. “If” the church parking lot wasn’t so full I would have attended service. “If” my friends would just stop talking about me, I would stop talking about them. Such a small little word right? I mean really, two letters, “if,” but such a powerful and big little word. Even in its smallness, in its precarious position between success and failure, the word “If” has

become the easiest way out for many of us when it comes to rationalizing and justifying why we are not who we want to be or where we want to Michael Norton be in life. AcWINNING cepting “if” is like giving WORDS ourselves per mission to accept the defeats, mishaps, and barriers to success that will challenge us along the way from time to time. What we need to understand is that regardless of our age, our position, our social status, our race and our sex, there is only one person on the planet that can stop us from reaching success and becoming all that we were meant to be and achieving everything that we want to be, do, and

have. And that one person who holds that ultimate power is the same person who greets us each morning as we look in the mirror. That’s right, the only person stopping you is…you. This happens because we get caught up in and buy into the “ifs” and the “If only” excuse making talk track or script that we rehearse over and over again until the myth becomes fact. So here’s one potential solution for anyone who has become trapped in the “if” cycle of life, replace the word “if” with the word “when.” “When the gym is closed I will run laps around the building and do push-ups and sit-ups.” “When the parking lot is full at church, I will park around the corner and walk, even though I may enter during the first hymn.” “When my friends seem like they are talking about me, I will listen to what they have to say, change what I need to change, and offer love and forgiveness. Never speaking poorly about

them in return.” The world will certainly serve up its challenges and attempt to thwart our plans at times. And when that happens we can either buy into the problem and hide behind the excuse of “if” or we can say, “When the world gives me lemons, I will make lemonade.” I know it’s an old cliché, but it just felt like the right thing to share. How about you? Do you live in the world of “Ifs and buts?” or do you take a more responsive and proactive approach toward life and live for new opportunities, claiming future successes with a “Can do” attitude? Either way I would love to hear all about it at gotonorton@gmail.com. And as we replace the word “of” with the word “when” it really will be a better than good week. Michael Norton is a resident of Castle Rock, the former president of the Zig Ziglar Corp., strategic consultant, and business and personal coach.

Darkness welcome, but just a light amount When I mentioned to a friend that I like it when it gets dark here at 5, she said, “Then why don’t you move to Barrow? They don’t see the sun for 67 days in a row come winter.” I am not so sure I would care for that, except as a narrative concept. Darkness at 5 is fine. The population of Barrow, Alaska, is less than 5,000, or roughly the number of shoppers in my King Soopers on a Saturday. There’s a high school and they field athletic teams. The Barrow High Whalers. Recently they reached the semifinal game of the Alaska Small School Football Championship. And then it was lights out. As much as I like the early darkness these days, that would be too much. I wonder what the depression rate is? Light bulb sales are the highest in the United States. On the flip side, Barrow has 80 days of uninterrupted sunlight. I just checked. It’s 4:30 p.m. in Barrow, and minus 20. And dark as pitch.

It makes me wonder why someone would live there. I think it would be a good encampCraig Marshall Smith ment for a fugitive. QUIET It’s about DESPERATION as undesirable as it gets, presumably for bounty hunters too. It is its own kind of punishment. The area is best known for a tragedy. Pilot Wiley Post and humorist Will Rogers both died in a plane crash near Point Barrow in August, 1935. Post was 37. Rogers was 56. Post was the first pilot to fly solo around the world. Rogers wrote, “When I die, my epitaph, or whatever you call those signs on gravestones, is

going to read: ‘I joked about every prominent man of my time, but I never met a man I dident (sic) like.’ I am so proud of that, I can hardly wait to die so it can be carved.” Post and Rogers preceded Carole Lombard in airplane deaths. And of course Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper. Maybe you already know this: Waylon Jennings gave up his seat on the plane to The Big Bopper, because J.P. Richardson was ill. Add: Glenn Miller, Ricky Nelson, Otis Redding, Jim Croce, Stevie Ray Vaughn, John Denver, John F. Kennedy Jr. and Patsy Cline. Back to Barrow: It seems to me that 67 days without a glimpse of sunshine would have a negative effect on personality, behavior and things like productivity, creativity and even morale. Maybe not. It must be wonderful to see the gradual return of daylight. I am sure the residents all have the dates, when the light will go low, go out, and then begin to come back on.

Do you remember “Darkness Darkness” by the Youngbloods? “Darkness darkness, be my pillow. Take my head and let me sleep. In the coolness of your shadow. In the silence of your deep.” At this time of the day, at this time of the year, the neighborhood is silent. I am sure the mall is hopping, and downtown Denver is crawling. But in this little territory, all I hear are the sounds that I make. I might feel differently if I had a 4-year-old and a 5-year-old. Then the darkness and the closeness might not be so poetic and profound. But I don’t. It’s really perfect. And I always want to hold on to it. I haven’t always felt this way. But introversion will do that to you. These are my days. These are my nights. And I am thankful for them. Craig Marshall Smith is an artist, educator and Highlands Ranch resident. He can be reached at craigmarshallsmith@comcast.net.

What is a senior citizen? Not us, of course Many years ago when I turned 50, some funny things began to happen. People started interacting with me in whole new ways. My doctor started conversations with, “Now that you are 50….” My bank told me about its special services for seniors and, wherever I went shopping or other leisure activities, people took the time to tell me about their senior discounts. Like a tadpole to frog, I had morphed and been reclassified into this thing called senior citizen. AARP is in your mailbox two days before you turn 50. McDonald’s is willing to classify customers looking for a discount as a senior if they are 50, 55, 60 (depending on who you ask), or simply if they “look it,” according to a May 2012 post from the huffingtonpost.com.

Ouch! Can a senior citizen be defined as someone who works or someone retired? Many times, senior is related directly to retired, which in turn is related in some people’s minds as diminishing capabilities. Don’t say that too loudly around Harrison Ford, 73, who is still fighting the dark side of the Force in future galaxies, or Alex Trebek, 75, who is still giving clues on “Jeopardy!” And don’t say it too loudly to those who worked hard and were successful enough to retire to pursue lifelong dreams.

When it comes to the government, it usually applies to individuals who are 65-plus and eligible to receive full Social Security benefits, pensions and medical benefits. West’s Encyclopedia of American Law defines a senior citizen as “Elderly persons, usually more than 60 or 65 years of age.” Any definition that uses the term “elderly persons” definitely makes being classified as a “senior” sound much more appealing. Fortunately, there are some upside perks for suddenly becoming reclassified. Automobile insurance companies, as well as many restaurants and event venues, offer discounts. Travel can become cheaper and, most important, you are eligible for the National Parks Golden Eagle Pass at 62 — a coveted reward that makes you

contemplate getting a fake ID. Predictions that one in four people will be over 65 by 2039 means that seniors are everywhere. Sometimes, you can identify these individuals as the ones who are a little grayer, a little slower and wearing a sweater in 85-degree weather. But don’t be fooled, sometimes they are the most tech savvy people in the room. You may even find yourself talking to one. So what is a senior citizen? Not us, of course. As Associate Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., who was 90 when he retired from the Supreme Court in 1932, once said: “Old is 15 years older than I am now.” Naioma Walberg is a member of the Senior Council of Douglas County.

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Elbert County News 7

January 7, 2016

Dore Continued from Page 1

revenue is then used to draw a dollar-fordollar federal match that is used to cover the uninsured by expanding eligibility for Medicaid and CHP+.” In 2015, two bills were introduced into the Legislature addressing the fees. In January, House Republicans attempted to remove a ban that restricts hospitals from disclosing the amount of the hospital provider fee on patient billing statements and to require hospitals to disclose the fees. HB 15-1141 was “Postponed Indefinitely” by the House Committee on Health, Insurance & Environment. The second bill was offered by House Democrats to create a health care affordability enterprise, essentially a government-owned business exempt from TABOR to collect hospital provider fees. House Bill 15-1389 passed the House on a party-line vote (33 to 31) and was “Postponed Indefinitely” in the Senate Committee on State, Veterans & Military Affairs. According to Dore, the issue is being debated among the governor’s office and the legislative leadership.

Calendar Continued from Page 4

British Comedy The British are coming to the Theatre of Dreams in Castle Rock. Martin Lewis, British comedy magician, has performed the feats of illusion and magic in Tokyo, London, Australia, Europe and more. Lewis will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, and Saturday, Jan. 16. Keith Fields, comedy magician, stars in “A Brit of Magic,” an interactive show that includes magic, comedy and stunts. He will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6. Reservations required for all shows, as seating is limited. Go to www.Tickets.AmazingShows.com or call 303-660-6799. Theatre of Dreams is at 735 Park St., Suites C & D, Castle Rock. Go to www. AmazingShows.com. Disney’s Mary Poppins With the Banks children running rampant, a magical nanny ﬂies in to save the day in this fantastical musical. Featuring songs you know and love like “Chim Chim Cher-ee,”and “A Spoonful of Sugar.” All the fun of the ﬁlm is brought to life on stage in this “Supercalifragilistic-expialidocious” production. Show runs from Friday, Jan. 15-31 at the PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker. A sensoryfriendly performance is at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28. For times, tickets and information, go to www. ParkerArt.org or call 303-805-6800.

Watch Continued from Page 1

second set of eyes in hallways and the lunchroom, enhancing school security and reducing bullying. A Watch D.O.G. can be a father, a grandfather or an uncle. “We even have a couple of interested community members that don’t actually have students at the school, they’re teachers’ husbands or school board husbands, things like that,” Tarr said. Each Watch D.O.G. undergoes a background check conducted by the district and attends an orientation to learn the rules and boundaries of their role at the school. “They sign a contract about the rules. They need to wear a T-shirt so that we can recognize them in our halls, so we know they’ve been through orientation and had their background check. That way teachers aren’t always asking them to go sign in at the front desk,” she said.

MILESTONES Jacob Patrick, of Elizabeth, a secondyear graduate student enrolled in the higher education student affairs master’s

“If they come up with a compromise, it may curtail some of the drama around the issue, but it looks like we’re going to face a fairly significant debate, and it’s multifaceted,” Dore said. Dore also expects robust debates over transportation, education, government spending, higher education and the governor’s water plan. “Issues that come up are going to be partisan. Republicans are going to be focused on liberty and the right to the Second Amendment. Democrats have a different interpretation of that,” he said. Dore expects the debate over health care to be contentious, especially regarding the single-payer ballot initiative set for November. “[It] will have a huge debate and have an incredible fiscal note attached to it, a 25 billion dollar tax increase,” he said. “Those debates are going to be very partisan.” Setting goals During the 2016 session, Dore is planning to sponsor several pieces of legislation. The first is a proposal to use overflow from the Gaming Impact Fund to pay down $15 million of the nearly $900 million owed against the education “negative factor.” In 2000, Colorado voters approved Amendment 23, which required the state Monthly Adult Lecture Series The Parker Cultural and Scientific Commission sponsors talks on topics that impact Colorado and Douglas County residents. The intent of these talks is to increase the understanding of how science and technology address issues facing the community. RSVP required; call the PACE Center box office at 303-8056800. All lectures begin at 6:30 p.m. and are free and open to the public. Thursday, Feb. 4, Mining in Colorado, presented by Colorado Mining Association. Guest speaker is Stuart Sanderson. From the time we get up in the morning to the time we go to bed at night, we use mineral products. Even more surprising, perhaps, is that many of these are produced here in Colorado. Colorado ranks 11th among the states in coal production, 4th in gold, and 1st in molybdenum. Overall, mining generates $8.8 billion in revenue for Colorado and produces more than 73,000 jobs. Thursday, March 3, Human Viruses and Vaccines: Who wins the race? Guest speaker is Dr. Sonia Flores, professor of medicine, University of Colorado Denver. Viruses are small bags of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protein shell. Viruses are responsible for many serious, often deadly, diseases including AIDS, Ebola hemorrhagic fever, hepatitis, the flu and chicken pox. How can viruses cause so much trouble? What makes us so vulnerable to them, and what makes them spread? Lecture will focus on the biology of known human viruses and how they have evolved to escape our own defenses, and will conclude with a discussion of how vaccines trigger an immune response that will

Tarr learned about the program at a recent conference and decided to introduce it at Running Creek in the new term. “I went to a school counseling conference in November in Colorado Springs, and one of the breakout sessions was about Watch D.O.G.S. After watching the videos they had, I was blown away by the amount of positive things that came from other schools.” Founded in 1998 at George Elementary in Springdale, Arkansas, Watch D.O.G.S. has grown to encompass 5,148 schools in 47 states. The program has also expanded internationally to include schools in Barbados, Canada, China, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Last year nearly 400,000 men volunteered for at least one full day as a volunteer. “I’m really excited about it. I think the teachers are kind of excited. There excited to have a little help in the classroom,” Tarr said. “I hope that dads really come away seeing how hard our teachers are working and enjoy spending one whole day with their kid. That’s all were really asking for is just one day a year.”

program at Fort Hays State University, presented the educational session “Planning a Purposeful Path: Mission Driven Programming” at the annual conference in Denver of NODA: The Association for Orientation, Transition and Retention in Higher Education.

Legislature to increase K-12 per-pupil funding at the rate of inflation plus 1 percent through 2011, and increase it at the rate of inflation in the years after. According to GreatEducation Colorado, “Since 2009, the Legislature has balanced the budget in a different way, reinterpreting the constitutional provision in a way that allows cuts to per-pupil funding while claiming compliance.” “I’m not going to be able to pay it back in one bill, so we’re going to look at legislation that will allow some monies to be used, our excess funding Gaming Impact Fund,” Dore explained. “There is a required amount of money that goes into the fund. Anything else, in excess, overflows and goes into the general fund for standard use. I want to take that overflow money and put it to the negative factor.” Dore’s second goal for 2016 is to increase government transparency by extending Colorado’s requirement to post budgets to the state’s website for all 65 counties in Colorado. “It allows the people of Colorado, the taxpayers of Colorado, to access what their local government is doing with regards to spending their tax money. It’s part of an overall increase in good government, transparent government, which we need to have in all four corners of the state,” he said. Dore is also hoping to introduce

legislation requiring that any new rules imposed on Colorado by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also include an economic impact on business and the state. “We do that at the state level, at the legislative level… so any bill I run, we have an estimated cost so we can compare the budget in years to come. I want to take that sort of idea and put it with an EPA issue.” Dore said. “It goes along with good government transparency that I know people desire.” Though Dore expects the partisan attitude in the Legislature to continue in the 2016 session, he hopes to see a Republican majority in the House following the elections in November. “Because it’s a presidential year, there are a lot more dynamics from outside the state of Colorado. That influences elections top down. It’s tight,” he said. Dore said his goals are aimed at increasing opportunity in Colorado, to make the state a place people want to come and move their businesses to. “This has always been my theme, and I’ll continue to do that. If we keep our focus, the people of Colorado know that they can be happy and confident that this is a place they will want to live, and for generations, will still want to live in,” Dore said. “That is my goal, and I hope it is most of the Legislature’s goal.”

recognize the virus as a threat and neutralize it before it can cause disease. Thursday, April 7, What Does Your DNA Have To Say? A general discussion on big data and biology with guest speaker Dr. Michael Edwards, assistant professor of medicine, University of Colorado Denver. The information contained in our DNA can be used to trace ancestry across the planet, to convict someone of murder or to predict the potential for a terminal disease later on in life. This lecture will attempt to summarize the state of genetic analysis and to explain how all this information will completely change the way we do science and medicine in the future. Thursday, May 5, Living with Wildlife. Mary K. McCormac, education and watchable wildlife coordinator (Northeast Region), will lead a

discussion on how and why human-wildlife conﬂicts happen, how to minimize potential problems, and how to protect wild animals, people and pets. ESL Family Night Students who speak English as a second language will get help with the college application process during Douglas County Libraries’ ESL family night at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, at the James H. LaRue Library, 9292 Ridgeline Blvd., Highlands Ranch. Other highlights of the event include information on accessing students’ grades online and literacy opportunities for students and adults. Registration is encouraged; call 303-791-7323 or go to www. DouglasCountyLibraries.org.

OBITUARIES LOHMAN

Rudy L. Lohman

10/2/1954 – 12/30/2015

61, of Elizabeth, passed away on December 30, 2015. Rudy is survived by his two daughters, Shona and Kasey Lohman. A Memorial Service with Military Honors provided by the U.S. Army will be held on January 7, 2016. See ponderosavalleyfunerals.com.

In Loving Memory Place an Obituary for Your Loved One. Private 303-566-4100 Obituaries@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

Funeral Homes

Visit: www.memoriams.com

8 Elbert County News

LIFE

LOCAL

January 7, 2016

CULTURE FA I T H FA M I L Y FOOD HEALTH

A question of faith? Millennials increasingly look to sources other than churches, books for spiritual guidance By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com

iam Michael, 19, grew up attending a Unitarian Universalist church with his family in Portage, Michigan. It was nothing like the dogmatic religions of Catholicism, Judaism or Islam that have more black-and-white interpretations of the world. There was room for finding one’s own path. Yet, he remained unsettled. “I still felt uneasy at the idea that there were these rules that had to be followed to the ‘t’ and a little insulted at the idea that in order to be some sort of moral person, I had to label myself as a member of some sort of club, essentially,” said Michael, now a student at the University of Denver. Although a belief in a deity was never imposed on him in the Unitarian Universalist church, which welcomes congregants from diverse religions and holds the belief that God is love, most of the members believed in God, he said. And, as an atheist since the age of 5, he felt he didn’t really fit. “I do not think that organized religion is necessary, or even a good idea for that matter,” Michael said. “Once a religion has the sort of power over its followers where it can impose a specific interpretation of its holy book, text, dogma, it becomes very easy to divide humanity along religious lines and to create conflict that can oftentimes result in oppression or violence.” Michael is part of a growing number of young people who, for varying reasons, choose to not take part in organized religion. Today, 35 percent of adult Millennials — Americans born between 1981 and 1996 — are religiously unaffiliated, according to a 2014 study by the Pew Research Center. And nearly one in five American adults, or 18 percent, who were raised in a religious faith now identify with no religion, according to Pew. When the same study was conducted in 2007, only 25 percent of Millennials identified as religiously unaffiliated. “Almost everyone in religious studies or religious education is highly aware of the ‘nones’ — the people who answer none to the religious affiliation question on surveys,” said Dr. Sandra Lee Dixon, a religious studies professor at the University of Denver.

Faith in the information age Reasons behind the “nones” include the rise of the Internet and access to information; intolerance and violence committed in the name of religion; and young people not wanting to separate themselves by or be identified by a particular faith. But research shows one of the most significant influences is the birth of the Internet, one of the most dramatic and influential cultural and social forces of this lifetime: Human beings can access virtually the entire record of human knowledge and experience at any time. Eighty-seven percent of American adults use the Internet, according to a 2014 Pew study. For people ages 18-29, the number jumps to 97 percent. “Insofar as religion is concerned, these advances seem to have been detrimental,” said John Robert Kinsey, a lecturer in religious studies at the University of Colorado. “Disheartening stories such as Kim Davis’ religious justifications for her anti-homosexual bigotry, or Hobby Lobby’s discrimination against women’s reproductive rights and homosexuals, or acts of Christian, Islamic or Jewish terrorism are all too easy to find. This being the case, it should come as no surprise that the younger population would actively distance itself from these traditional narratives.” Michael agrees. “I think that the reason many young people today are beginning to move away from religion and, in some cases, move towards a more atheistic world view is, quite frankly, the bad reputation of most religions,” he said. Lucas Carmichael, a lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Colorado, contends the move away from or-

ganized religion is not a new phenomenon in America. “Organized religion has always had a rocky relationship with Americans’ widespread distrust of institutional authority and celebration of the individual. Periodic swings towards and away from organized religion have been the norm,” Carmichael said. “The Cold-War swing towards religion in the face of “godless communism” — which resulted in ‘under God’ being added to the Pledge of Allegiance and “In God We Trust” being added to our money — strengthened the position of organized religion as central to American religious identities. This position of strength has certainly been eroded by the increased religious Carmichael diversity, as well as various scandals and attempts to exert institution authority that seem out of step with larger cultural values in America.” Kids have a say Families also place much less importance on religious education, according to Karen Silverman, executive director of jHUB, an organization that connects Jewish teens in Colorado. In some instances, children make the decision whether to participate in organized religion because their parents are disinterested or place greater importance on competing activities, she said. “In the past, it would have been unheard of for the children to have such influence over a family’s religious observance,” Silverman said. jHUB tries to connect teens to Jewish programs that fulfill that need for connection and guidance without pushing religious observance. Many teens, Silverman said, have a concept of spirituality and do seek guidance on life’s big questions. “Last year, I was able to observe focus groups with Jewish teens in Denver. What we heard from some of them was that they weren’t interested in organized religion,” she said. “But when the researchers delved deeper into the question, many of the teens still saw themselves as spiritual. They are reluctant to identify in a way that excludes others. If I’m one religion, that means the other religions are wrong, so I can’t do that.” That is why even some with deep roots in religion are becoming more skeptical. Katie Lynn-Vecqueray, a recent University of Denver graduate, is 23 years old and grew up in a family of Lutheran pastors. Organized religion has always Lynn-Vecqueray been a central part of her life. “Churches were my second home, and I was surrounded by the care, faith, and love of amazing congregations,” Lynn-Vecqueray said. “As I got older, however, and following some personal experiences and heartache of my own, I began to question the foundation of my own faith and the benefits of believing in stories and testaments I couldn’t hope to ever prove or understand.” Relevance of religion — or the lack of it — also is key in young people’s choices. Keith Baker is director of the group Young Life for Western Douglas County. He works with teens and young people in Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Castle Rock and surrounding communities. Faith continues on Page 12

BY THE NUMBERS 35 — Percent of Millennials who are religiously unaffiliated 11 — Percent of Millennials who identify as mainline

Protestant

— Percent of Millennials who identify as evangelical Protestant

16 — Percent of Millennials who identify as Catholic 64 — Percent of college graduates who identify with

Christianity

— Percent of all American adults who are religiously unaffiliated

51 — Million Catholics in the U.S., a loss of 3 million since 2007 Source: Pew Research Center

Illustration courtesy of Metro Creative Graphics

January 7, 2016

Elbert County News 9

AREA CLUBS

Ongoing Douglas-Elbert County Music Teachers’ Association meets at 9 a.m. every ﬁrst Thursday at Parker Bible Church, between Jordan and Chambers on Main Street. All area music teachers are welcome. Call Lucie Washburn, 303-8143479.

The Elbert County Sheriff’s Posse is a nonprofit volunteer organization that is part of the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office. As volunteers we support the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office, all law enforcement in our county, and the community at large. For more information or a membership application, go to www.elbertcountysheriff.

com/posse.html, or contact Dave Peontek at 303-646-5456. Elizabeth American Legion Post 82, a 96-year veterans association supporting veterans, their families, their survivors and the community, meets at 6:30 p.m. the ﬁrst Tuesday of each

month at the Legion Post Hall at South Banner Street and Elm Street in Elizabeth. All veterans are invited to attend these meetings to learn of their eligibility for membership in the National American Legion Organization. Clubs continues on Page 12

DISNEY’S MARY POPPINS

The Broadway Musical Jan. 15 - 31

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BIG BUBBLE CIRCUS

At The Schoolhouse January 16 10:00 a.m.

Join us for giant soap bubbles and family-friendly silliness.

CELTIC NIGHTS Spirit of Freedom

February 5 and 6 7:30 p.m.

SALUTING

Celtic Nights features some of Ireland’s ﬁnest international dancers and Celtic musicians.

COMEDY AND COCKTAILS At The Schoolhouse

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February 14 2:00 p.m.

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“Rock Ballet” with Chimney Choir & Ian Cooke Band

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SPORTS

January 7, 2016

LOCAL

The Ketchum family poses for a picture during the holiday break. In the back row, from left, are Zac Paris, Steve Ketchum, Mardi Ketchum and Cody Paris. In the front row, from left, are King Ketchum, Cory Ketchum, Rocky Ketchum, Dre’ Ketchum and CJ Ketchum. Courtesy photo

Coach’s family a full-court affair Steve Ketchum, who has seven sons, is feeling at home at Ponderosa By Jim Benton jbenton@coloradocommunitymedia.com When all his sons are home, Ponderosa boys basketball coach Steve Ketchum can field a basketball team. That’s because Ketchum and his wife, Mardi, have seven sons: Two are from Mardi’s first marriage and five are adopted — three from the Denver foster care system and two from Haiti. “When Mardi and I decided we were falling in love and we were talking marriage, the first question I asked her was, ‘Would you be willing to have more children?’” Ketchum said. “I said, ‘What about adopting?’ and she said, ‘Absolutely.’ She had always dreamed of having seven kids — and she has seven sons.” Ketchum, 57, has coached basketball for 32 seasons, including a stint in Missouri and 16 seasons in Aspen, where his family lives. This season at Ponderosa, a Class 4A school playing in the 5A Continental League, is his first in Parker but his 33rd season overall of high school coaching. He is living with friends in Aurora for the season, which could last until early March if the team makes the playoffs. His wife, Mardi, is chief financial officer of Terrapin Investments and Management Corp., a hotel ownership and management company headquartered in Aspen. Four of the couple’s adopted sons live with her at the Ketchum home in Basalt. CJ, an avid runner and cross-country skier, is studying in an advanced private school in Branson, Missouri. One of Mardi’s sons from her first marriage, Zac Paris, 31, is a ski instructor and organic farmer living in Aspen. The other, Cody Paris, 32, is an associate professor at Middlesex University in Dubai. A school that ‘felt like home’ In April 2014, Ketchum, also CEO and owner of Aspen Basketball Academy, a summer program that takes teams to play in Europe, stepped away from high school coaching because he wanted to spend more time with his family. He mentored his son’s competitive basketball teams during the 2014-15 season. But “I could tell he was getting a little antsy,” said Mardi. “I told him to go find another job. It came up on the Front Range.” Denver offered more opportunities at higher-level coaching, Ketchum said. “Pondo was the first place I interviewed,” he said. “I just fell in love with Tim Ottmann, the athletic director. The school felt like home. This felt like family.” Ottmann knows he hired the right person to run the Mustangs basketball program. “Coach K and I share many of the same coaching values,” he said. “His incredible knowledge of the game and work ethic have already had a huge impact on our boys basketball program. Our players now believe they can win

Steve Ketchum talks to the Ponderosa basketball team during practice. While coaching the Mustangs — which after more than 10 years of losing seasons are 6-2 heading into the new year — he is living with friends in Aurora. His family lives in Aspen. Photo by Jim Benton and carry that confidence into every game.” After more than 10 years of losing seasons, the Mustangs are 6-2 heading into the new year. Distance from family ‘tugs at heart strings’ Ketchum traveled home during Christmas break but won’t return for good until after the Ponderosa basketball season. He admits it’s not easy living apart from his family. “It tugs at my heart strings every day not to be with the boys,” he said. “I think about them every day and try to call the boys every single night and talk to each one of them, tell them I love them and ask how their day went, what’s going on at school and sports and their teams.” The distance isn’t easy for the boys, either. “It’s pretty tough because I really miss my Dad helping me and working with me,” said King, 14, originally from Haiti. “It’s harder when he’s not here or I’m not with him.” Ten-year-old Dre’, adopted through the Denver foster care system, agreed. “The fact that there are a lot of pictures with Dad and us together around the house helps a little,” he said, “but it’s not the same as having him here. I miss him. We have fun together.” Building a family Ketchum met Mardi 16 years ago, when she was a single

mom and he was coaching her sons in basketball. They married in 2003 and soon after began expanding their family. From the Denver foster care system, they adopted CJ, who is 15 and a high school freshman; Cory, CJ’s younger brother, who is 14 and in eighth grade; and Dre’, who is in fourth grade. King and Rocky, 11, were evacuated from Haiti following the 2010 earthquake. It took a year because of government red tape, but they became members of the Ketchum clan in January 2011. “They all act like brothers — they fight like brothers and they love like brothers,” Mardi said. “The best thing is they all have somebody to play with. If they are not getting along with one brother, they go to another’s room and play with someone else. It’s kind of like having a big slumber party because they are always shifting into each other’s room.” Living in Aspen was an adjustment for the Haitian boys, who had to learn the English language. “They were 6 and 9 when we got them, so they remembered the earthquake — not having any food and they have some pretty crazy stories about living in Haiti and the horrific conditions,” Mardi said. “They remember how bad things were, so they keep things in perspective and help everyone in our family keep perspective.” Juggling two worlds At a Ponderosa basketball practice before the holiday break, Ketchum constantly interacted with his players, demonstrating techniques, yelling encouragement, applauding good moves. “I tell my players every day, ‘Thank you for saving my marriage,’” Ketchum said jokingly. “‘I can yell at you, get it all out, and I can go home and relax.’” But Ketchum doesn’t yell much. And he seems to be enjoying coaching at the high school level again. “At times, he gets intense, but other times he’s really mellow,” said team captain Derek Hansen, a junior. “You can go talk to him one-on-one as a player. ...He opens up and he actually likes it when you go talk to him and ask him questions outside of practice. We are playing with more confidence, and as a team we trust each other more.” Hansen said players are aware of Ketchum’s big family. “He’s actually got two of (his sons) with him now,” Hansen pointed out during a post-Christmas practice attended by Rocky and Dre’. Ketchum isn’t sure how long the family’s long-distance situation will last. He believes three of his sons have the ability earn athletic scholarships in football or basketball and said the competition in the Denver area could help them. “The plan is for me to be here long term,” he said. “But I’ll have to do what is best for our family.” That could mean eventually moving the family to Douglas County because of its good schools, he said. But for now, Ketchum juggles his two worlds. “I love spending time with the boys and coaching them,” he said of his sons. “But I missed coaching at a high level. Ponderosa was a perfect fit.”

Elbert County News 11

January 7, 2016

HAVE A SPORTS STORY IDEA? Email Colorado Community Media Sports Reporter Jim Benton at jbenton@coloradocommunitymedia.com or call 303-566-4083.

Salomess Stars Salome FOR RELEASE WEEK OF JAN. 4, 2016 ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A hectic period begins to wind down. Take time to draw some deep breaths and relax before getting into your next project. A long-absent family member makes contact. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You’re eager to move forward with a new challenge that suddenly dropped in your lap. But you’d be wise to take this one step at a time to allow new developments to come through. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You’re almost ready to make a commitment. A lingering doubt or two, however, should be resolved before you move ahead. An associate could provide important answers. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Caution is still the watchword as you move closer toward a decision about a new situation. If you act too fast, you might miss some vital warning signs. Go slowly and stay alert. LEO (July 23 to August 22) Your new goal looks promising, and your golden touch does much to enhance its prospects for success. In your private life, Cupid does his best to make your new relationship special. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) That impatient side of yours is looking to goad you into moving before you’re ready to take that big step. Stay calm and cool. Let things fall into place before you act. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A legal matter you hoped could finally be settled could be a pesky problem for a while, until all the parties agree to stop disagreeing with each other. Be patient. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Partnerships -- personal or professional -- which began before the new year take on new importance. They also reveal some previously hidden risks. So be warned. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Your associates are firmly on your side, and that persistent problem that has caused you to delay some activities should soon be resolved to your satisfaction. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Favorable changes continue to dominate, and you should be responding positively as they emerge. Someone wants to become more involved in what you’re doing.

Super Crossword & Sudoku Answers

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A friend wants to share a secret that could answer some questions you’ve wondered about for a long time. Meanwhile, travel aspects continue to be strong. PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE19OF OF on PISCES (February toPURCHASE March 20) Stay REAL ESTATE AT TAX LIEN your new course despite so-called well-meanSALE AND OF APPLICATION ing efforts to discourage you. Rely onFOR your ISSUANCE OF TREASURER’S DEED deep sense of self-awareness to guide you to do what’s right for TSC# you. 2011-01434

BORNToTHIS have Possession the capac-or EveryWEEK: Person You in Actual Occupancy of the hereinafter Described ity to meet challenges that others might find Land, Lotand or Premises, the Person overwhelming, turn themand intotosuccessful in Whose Name the Same was Taxed or ventures. Specially Assessed, and to all Persons

Public Notices Name Changes

Notice To Creditors

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Rick L. Hunt, Deceased Case Number: 15PR30029

Public notice is given on December 16, 2015 that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Douglas County Court. The Petition requests that the name of Mato Ty Garrett Loughridge be changed to Nikolai Ty Loughridge-Hish Case No.: 15 C 62 By: Palmer L. Boyette, County Court Judge Legal Notice No: 23315 First Publication: December 31, 2015 Last Publication: January 14, 2016 Publisher: Elbert County News

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice To Creditors NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of ERON FREISNER, aka ERON R. FREISNER aka ERON RICHARD FREISNER, Deceased Case Number 2015 PR 30047

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Elbert County, Colorado on or before May 1, 2016 or the claims may be forever barred. JENNIFER L. FREISNER Personal Representative 41212 Madrid Drive, Parker, CO 80138

Notices

BARBARA JOYCE TAYLOR You and each of you are hereby notified that on the 8th day of November A.D.2011 the then County Treasurer of the County of Elbert, in the State of Colorado, sold at public tax lien sale to TESS INVESTMENTS the following described real estate situate in the County of Elbert, State of Colorado, to wit: Legal Description:

To advertise your publicSection: notices35call 303-566-4100 Township: 10 Range: 60

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Alvina Elizabeth Wilson, Deceased Case Number: 2015 PR 030041

NOTICE OF PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE AT TAX LIEN SALE AND OF APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF TREASURER’S DEED

Notice To Creditors

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Elbert County, Colorado on or before April 30, 2016 or the claims may be forever barred. Patricia Keller Personal Representative P.O. Box 235 Parker, Colorado 80134 Legal Notice No: 23317 First Publication: December 31, 2015 Last Publication: January 14, 2016 Publisher: Elbert County News

Government Legals TSC# 2011-01434

To Every Person in Actual Possession or Occupancy of the hereinafter Described Land, Lot or Premises, and to the Person in Whose Name the Same was Taxed or Specially Assessed, and to all Persons having an Interest or Title of Record in or to the said Premises and To Whom It may Concern, and more especially to: BARBARA JOYCE TAYLOR You and each of you are hereby notified that on the 8th day of November A.D.2011 the then County Treasurer of the County of Elbert, in the State of Colorado, sold at public tax lien sale to TESS INVESTMENTS the following described real estate situate in the County of Elbert, State of Colorado, to wit:

(TOTAL 0.344 A) Subdivision: SIMLA HEIGHTS Block: 1 Lot: 15 AND:-Lot: 1615000 SQ FT

Government Legals

and said County Treasurer issued a certificate of purchase therefore to TESS INVESTMENTS. That said tax lien sale was made to satisfy the delinquent taxes assessed against said real estate for the year 2010;

That said real estate was taxed or specially assessed in the name(s) of BARBARA JOYCE TAYLOR for said year 2010.

That a Treasurer’s Deed will be issued for said real estate to the said Elbert County at 3:00 o’clock P.M., on the 7th day of APRIL, A.D.2016, unless the same has been redeemed.

Get Involved!

MidFirst Trust a/k/a MidFirst Bank Personal Representative Attn: Jeffrey B. Kadavy and Jennifer Sherman 101 Cook Street Denver, Colorado 80206

Legal Notice No.: 23310 First Publication: December 24, 2015 Last Publication: January 7, 2016 Publisher: The Elbert County News PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of ERON FREISNER, aka ERON R. FREISNER aka ERON RICHARD FREISNER, Deceased Case Number 2015 PR 30047

Legal Notice No.: 23314 First Publication: December 31, 2015 Last Publication: January 14, 2016 Publisher: The Elbert County News

Government Legals

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Alvina Elizabeth Wilson, Deceased Case Number: 2015 PR 030041

NOTICE OF PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE AT TAX LIEN SALE AND OF APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF TREASURER’S DEED

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Elbert County, Colorado on or before April 30, 2016 or the claims may be forever barred. Patricia Keller Personal Representative P.O. Box 235 Parker, Colorado 80134

Legal Notice No: 23317 First Publication: December 31, 2015 Last Publication: January 14, 2016 Publisher: Elbert County News

Facts do not cease to exist b because they are re ignored. ignored.

Legal Notice No.: 23314 First Publication: December 31, 2015 Last Publication: January 14, 2016 Publisher: The Elbert County News

- Aldous Huxley

TSC# 2011-01434

Legal Description: Section: 35 Township: 10 Range: 60 (TOTAL 0.344 A) Subdivision: SIMLA HEIGHTS Block: 1 Lot: 15 AND:-Lot: 1615000 SQ FT

Said property may be redeemed from said sale at any time prior to the actual execution of said Treasurer’s Deed. Witness my hand this 10th day of December, 2015 A. D. Richard Pettitt County Treasurer of Elbert County

Legal Notice No.: 23298 First Publication: December 24, 2015 Last Publication: January 7, 2016 Publisher: Elbert County News

That said real estate was taxed or specially assessed in the name(s) of BARBARA JOYCE TAYLOR for said year 2010.

That a Treasurer’s Deed will be issued for said real estate to the said Elbert County at 3:00 o’clock P.M., on the 7th day of APRIL, A.D.2016, unless the same has been redeemed.

BARBARA JOYCE TAYLOR You and each of you are hereby notified that on the 8th day of November A.D.2011 the then County Treasurer of the County of Elbert, Every day, the sold government makes decisions one to publish public notices since the birth Said property that may be this redeemed from said in the State of Colorado, at public tax saledecisions at any timeon prior of to the actual execulien sale TESSyour INVESTMENTS the folcan to affect life. Whether they are the nation. Local newspapers remain the most tion of said Treasurer’s Deed. Witness lowing described real estate situate in the zoning, taxes, businesses myriad source of public notice information. This hand thisother 10th daytrusted of December, 2015 County of Elbert, State new of Colorado, to wit: ormy issues, governments play a big role A. inD. your life. newspaper publishes the information you need Legal Description: relied60on newspapers Richard Pettittlike to stay involved in your community. Section:Governments 35 Township: have 10 Range: County Treasurer of Elbert County (TOTAL 0.344 A) Subdivision: SIMLA HEIGHTS Block: 1 Lot: 15 AND:-Lot: Legal Notice No.: 23298 1615000 SQ FT First Publication: December 24, 2015 Notices are meant to be noticed. Last Publication: January 7, 2016 and said County Treasurer issued a certiPublisher: Elbert County News ficate of purchase therefore to TESS INRead your public notices and get involved! VESTMENTS. That said tax lien sale was made to satisfy the delinquent taxes assessed against said real estate for the year 2010; That said real estate was taxed or spe-

Elbert * 1

12 Elbert County News

Faith

South Metro SBDC

Continued from Page 8

The following workshops will be held in the South Metro area: Business Plan Basics Wednesday, February 3rd, Free 6:30—8:30 PM Phillip S. Miller Library, Castle Rock

---------------—————————— Marketing Fundamentals Tuesday, February 9th, Free 6:30—8:30 PM Lone Tree Library, Lone Tree

---------------—————————— Attend a free info session for the LEADING EDGETM Strategic Planning Series Fri., March 4th, 2:30-3:30 PM Or Fri., March 11th, 9:00-10:00 AM City of Lone Tree—Municipal Building, #200

----------———————————— Learn what it takes to compete successfully in today’s business climate.

In his experience, Baker said, many young people view religion as something nice for others, but irrelevant to daily life. “Many young people are now two to three generations removed from the last people in their family who held religion at high regard,” Baker said. “I also believe that our society, media and entertainment outlets paints those within religious institutions as narrow-minded and ignorant. With so much access to a constant stream of this message, it’s easy to understand their lack of desire for involvement in religion.”

BUSINESS

TRAINING

The Aurora—South Metro SBDC helps existing and new businesses grow and prosper through workshops and consulting.

January 7, 2016

SmallBusinessDenver.com (303) 326-8686

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Spiritual, not religious But although an increasing number of young people may choose not to participate in organized religion, many still view themselves as spiritual. According to Rev. Jann Halloran, of Prairie Unitarian Universalist Church in Parker, “these are people looking for a spiritual home that doesn’t tell them they have to believe a certain way.” Lynn-Vecqueray said the term spirituality often replaces faith or religion, encompassing ambiguity

Clubs Continued from Page 9

The Elizabeth Food Bank, 381 S. Banner in Elizabeth (next door to Elizabeth Presbyterian Church) needs to let the public know that we are available to help anyone who needs food. The hours are Friday 12:30-3 p.m. and Saturdays from 9-11:30 a.m. Other times by appointment. Finding Our Way Together, a brand new group for anyone who is alone, left out, picked on or overwhelmed by life. Since it is just forming, the group will evolve to ﬁt the needs of the participants. Group will meet

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and the opportunity to continually refine one’s beliefs. “Fluidity precludes orthodoxy, and I have witnessed my own peers struggling to retain a strong faith when faced with the contemporary realities of science and innovation,” she said. “Youth of today increasingly pick and choose elements of various religions, combining them within an individualized faith perspective.” Amy Scott Grant is an author and spiritual coach who lives and works in Denver. She agrees the trend is now more toward self-awareness and spiritual exploration. Young people don’t want to be told what God is or isn’t, Grant said. They want to explore the concept of Universal Intelligence on their own and draw their own conclusions. “They want to discover reasons to restore faith in themselves and others — they seek to be creative and expansive,” Grant said. “Yet traditional religions hold views about God that feel archaic and untouchable to Nourse young people.” Dr. Ben Nourse, a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Denver, focuses his work on eastern religions, particu-

larly Buddhism. In the debate of organized religion versus personal spirituality, Nourse said his experience with Buddhism in Denver would suggest generational factors are at play. “I have visited a lot of Buddhist temples and groups in Denver and almost always the people attending regular meetings, worship, teachings, study groups or meditation sessions tend to skew towards people in middle age or older,” Nourse said. “Millennials do not seem to be regular members or attendees. However, the classes I teach on Buddhism at the University of Denver are very popular.” And although he is not religious, Liam Michael does put his faith in something. “I obviously don’t speak for all of the atheists or all of the ‘nones,’ but I can tell you that I do not place my trust in a deity because, to put it blankly, I do not believe one exists,” Michael said. “Since I do not practice any religion, I find myself trusting in the fact that we as people all share one thing, and that is the human ability to empathize with one another. And while that may seem like an almost foolish thing to trust in, I truly believe that the human ability to relate to one another holds far more power over our moral decisions than any ancient desert script.”

at 10 a.m. Saturdays at 34061 Forest Park Drive, in the lower level of Elizabeth Family Health. Leaders are Mary, 720-638-9770, and Karen, 303-243-3658, and both welcome phone calls. Group participation is free, and building is accessible.

come by from 8:30 a.m. to noon Tuesdays; we are located in the Fellowship Hall at 231 Cheyenne Street, Kiowa.

Kiowa Creek Food Pantry is a distribution site for the State of Colorado TEFAP food program. Food is distributed monthly to low income individuals/families that qualify. We also distribute low income senior food boxes for the state; those 60 and older may qualify for a monthly supplement. If you are in need of food assistance or know someone who is, we may be able to qualify you for one of these programs. Call the food pantry for more information at 303-621-2376, or

Lawyers at the Library, a free legal clinic for parties who have no attorney, will be offered from 6-9 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month at the Elizabeth Library, 651 W. Beverly St. Volunteer attorneys will answer questions, help fill out forms and explain the process and procedure for the areas of family law, civil litigation, criminal defense, property law, probate law, collections, appeals, landlord-tenant law and civil protection orders. Walk-ins are welcome. Everyone will be helped on a first-come, first-served basis.

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