Highlands Ranch Herald February 6, 2024

Students at Cresthill Middle School raise money for filtered water refill stations

As talk about the quality of water buzzed through the hallways of Cresthill Middle School in Highlands Ranch, and on online parent chat forums, a “grassroots” e ort emerged: to raise money for ltered re llable water stations to be put in the school.

“It does seem a little odd that we would need to fundraise for something like that,” said Principal Francesca Pappalarado. “But unfortunately, it’s just kind of the reality of education right now.”

Pappalarado and other administration continuously heard from students that the water was warm and “a little

Parents, like Michele Bennet, were also hearing about the issue from their kids.

Bennet, who is an active parent with the school, heard from her sons about the poor quality and wondered why Cresthill didn’t have ltered water re ll stations like other schools in Highlands Ranch.

‘On our radar’

Cresthill Middle School was one of the remaining schools in the Douglas County School District that did not have re llable water stations. e water fountains throughout the schools had been there since the building opened in 1992.

tion, and learned tests showed there was nothing wrong with the water.

ere was one water station outside of the cafeteria, but that resulted in kids having to leave class to re ll their water bottles.

“It was on our radar, but the kids were really advocating for themselves and they did it in a very mature way,” said Pappalarado. “It was almost like a movement, starting from the ground up.”

At the beginning of the 20242025 school year, student council and other student leadership got involved, sharing with their peers the importance of the

What Dougco law enforcement agencies say about deportation policy

BY MCKENNA HARFORD, ELLIS ARNOLD AND HALEY LENA MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

With public attention focused on President Donald Trump’s anticipated push to deport immigrants, politicians are elding questions about immigration enforcement, including in Douglas County.

At an event in front of news media, Sheri Darren Weekly spoke about communicating with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement. His comments touched on what are called “immigration detainers.”

A detainer is, in part, a request from ICE that asks a law enforcement agency to communicate before releasing someone whom federal ocials may want to deport, according to ICE’s de nition.

“We’re still obeying the law — we are not violating the law, but we are communicating with ICE within the law,” Weekly said in Douglas County Jan. 29. “If you go to our website, DCSheri .net, you can see exactly how many immigration ICE detainers people we have in our custody, and ICE is coming to pick those folks up.”

project and creating the advertising for various fundraising

Always trying to nd new ways to improve the school, parents and sta hold a fundraiser every year to fund various things. However, a lot of the time when schools hold fundraisers, a company is used and it takes anywhere from 30%-50% of the funds raised, said Pappalarado.

Knowing the water re ll stations are expensive, Pappalarado said they searched for a way to ensure that every dollar raised goes to the school for this specific need because they are items not earmarked as something the school district would fund.

“Nobody is in my jail being held on ICE detainers — they are being held in jail because there’s probable cause to believe they have committed a crime in my jurisdiction,” Weekly added.

People may have questions about what local law enforcement will and won’t do regarding immigration enforcement. Colorado Community

To celebrate the money raised to get filtered water refill stations installed in their school, students participated in a chalk run. COURTESY OF JENNIFER SWANSON

Indoor sports facility proposed for Castle Rock

Nonprofit foundation asking for land in Dawson Trails

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A nonpro t foundation supporting youth sports is looking to build an indoor court facility in Castle Rock, and is asking for land in the Dawson Trails development.

At the Jan. 14 Castle Rock Town Council meeting, Kevin Petty, executive director of the Gold Crown Foundation, shared the details of a proposed sports facility that would include multiple indoor hard courts for basketball, volleyball, wrestling and more.

Gold Crown is asking the town to use 12 acres of land in the Dawson Trails development for the facility site. e proposed location would be near the future Costco on the west side of I-25 and north of the Crystal Valley Interchange.

Gold Crown is planning to build a 65,000 square-foot indoor court facility featuring six basketball courts and a dozen overlapping volleyball courts, with the potential for an outdoor multipurpose turf eld. e facility would host Gold Crown sports programming and be available for rent.

As part of the Dawson Trails development plan, 44 acres of land has been dedicated to the town for municipal facilities and uses. Council members were supportive of moving forward with conversations about leasing or transferring 12 acres of the dedicated land to the proposed Gold Crown facility.

Petty said Gold Crown is planning to build another facility because the Lakewood location is at capacity for programming, and the metro area demand for sports facilities is unmet. Of Gold Crown’s 17,000 participants in its sports programs, 18% live in Douglas County.

Petty said they expect the Castle Rock facility to have foot tra c of roughly 500,000 people annually.

“ e main purpose of this is to address the signi cant shortage in facility space in the south metro area,” he said.

Je Brauer, Castle Rock’s director of parks and recreation, con rmed the town has a shortage of facilities, noting that the last time the town built a basketball court was in 1988.

“We do need to expand our community amenities,” Brauer said.

Petty added that the facility’s estimated economic impact would be $14 million to $19 million per year.

Petty said the facility would be similar to the existing Gold Crown facility in Lakewood.

“It’s our strong belief that building an-

other Gold Crown eldhouse in the town of Castle Rock has the potential to be a transformative project for the youth of the southern portion of the state,” Petty said, noting the facility would likely draw from Colorado Springs and El Paso County.

e project is estimated to cost around $35 million and Petty said the goal is to open the facility in 2027. Gold Crown has requested a $12 million grant from the Douglas County Parks Advisory Board to support the project.

“We’re con dent that the economic impact would be very positive to the area,” Petty said.  e town council unanimously approved continuing conversations to lease or transfer land for the Gold Crown facility.

Teachers, community react to draft school closure policy

Some request more involvement in process

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Teachers and Highlands Ranch community members are requesting more involvement in the Douglas County School District’s school closure process, which includes plans to merge up to three elementary schools in 2026.

e school district released a draft policy to guide school closures in January, which outlines which criteria will be taken into consideration when the district looks to close or merge schools.

e Douglas County Federation, which is the local teachers’ union, raised concerns at the Jan. 28 school board meeting that teachers and sta had not been included in conversations about the closure policy until after the policy was drafted, and a sta committee was created.

Lucy Squire, president of the Douglas County Federation, said the creation of a sta committee to gather feedback is a good starting point, but teachers still feel their involvement has been surface level instead of true collaboration.

“It is clear to see that the educators’ opinions were not included in the rst drafts of these policies because considerations speci c to students and parents are stated, but there’s nothing speci c to teachers and sta ,” Squire said. “ is is a big omission that o ended many of us.”

Teachers also wanted more details about the district’s plan to o er sta commensurate positions. e district

Squire, president of the Douglas County Federation, which is the

speaks to the Douglas County School Board on Jan. 28 about the

process and draft policy. Squire said teachers and sta want to be more involved

and closure process.

has said that the upcoming school mergers in Highlands Ranch will not lead to layo s and the district will o er a ected employees commensurate positions at other schools.

Squire noted that Douglas County teachers are at a disadvantage compared to teachers in other metro districts where closures have happened, such as Jef-

fco Public Schools and Denver Public Schools, because they do not have a collective bargaining agreement with the district.

“It’s one thing to say that we will continue to take care of our teachers and sta ; it’s another thing to have this in writing and to collaborate with us on what this could mean,” Squire said.

In addition to comments at the school board meeting, the Douglas County Federation hosted a virtual community forum on Jan. 26, during which roughly 150 participants posed questions about the closure process that they would like the district to answer.

One point of importance for community members is that they be involved in deciding how former school buildings

“Regarding the future use of school buildings, we urge the district to consider creative, community-driven solutions for these spaces, whether that be for preschool, special education programs or community centers,” said Fiona Boomer, a teacher who was reading a comment from fellow teacher Anne Burke. “We should be asking the community for their input on this (because) they know what

Additionally, teachers and community members urged the district to expand its communication about the closure policy outside of Highlands Ranch.

So far, most of the community engagement for the school closure process has been centered around Highlands Ranch because of the 2026 plans to merge schools. However, the policy will help guide any future closures throughout the district.

“Moving forward, I’m hoping we communicate and re ne a clear and robust plan to ensure all voices are heard, particularly given the decisions made in Highlands Ranch will set a precedent for years to come,” Boomer said on behalf of Burke.

e school board is set to vote on the closure policy at the Feb. 11 meeting.

Lucy

local teachers’ union,

school closure

in the creation of the policy

SCREENSHOT

The Castle Rock Town Council unanimously approved continuing conversations to lease or transfer land for the Gold Crown sports facility.

PHOTO BY ARIA MARIZZA

Real Estate Commission Says Clients,

The Colorado Real Estate Commission (CREC), whose mandate is to protect consumers, has made it clear in Position Statement #18 that we brokers should not dictate the settlement service providers utilized by buyers and sellers. Instead, the client should make that decision, influenced perhaps but not dictated by their real estate broker. Here’s the verbiage from that position statement: “When assisting a Consumer in finding a settlement service provider, a Broker must ensure the Consumer plays an active role in the process and is ultimately responsible for making the selection.”

Not Their Brokers, Should Choose Settlement Service Providers

There is a website to which we refer clients who want to do their own comparison shopping for title companies. I’ve promoted it in the past: www.CompareTitleCompanies.com

ethical question of whether we are, as required by law and by the Realtor Code of Ethics always to put the client’s interests ahead of our own.

A “settlement service provider” is defined as any provider of a service required in the execution of a real estate transaction: lenders, title companies, inspectors, surveyors, appraisers, home warranty providers, and lawyers. Another position statement (#3) echoes a federal law that prohibits us and any of those other service providers from receiving a kickback or “something of value” (such as dinners or even charitable gifts) in return for referring our client to them.

common practice for the buyer to assign that responsibility to the seller and to specify the title company named in the MLS listing — and for the buyer to use the same title company to purchase the “piggyback” title policy for the buyer’s lender. To choose another title company for the lender’s policy would always be more expensive and serve no purpose. Based on the CREC’s position statement, it would seem that we should tell each buyer that they may choose to hire a different title company for the lender’s policy than the one being used by the seller, but doing so would add hundreds of dollars to the cost of closing.

The exception to that is when the buyer is planning to flip the property (with or without making improvements) to another buyer and has an agreement with their preferred title company to “hold open” the policy for the resale, thereby saving the cost of a new title search and title policy.

There’s another aspect of this matter which I have written about before which deserves repeating, and that’s the topic of “affiliated business arrangements” (ABAs). A service provider is considered an ABA when the brokerage has an ownership or profit-sharing interest in the provider. Virtually all the big brokerages and some smaller ones have their own mortgage companies, title companies and other service providers which bring additional revenue to the brokerage. Their ABAs must be disclosed to their clients, so they are aware that the use of one of the services (which the broker will invariably recommend) benefits the brokerage financially.

Golden Real Estate does not have any affiliated business arrangements, because I feel that having such relationships introduces an

This ethical issue is amplified when the managing broker takes note (as he surely does) of which agents are “playing the company” game by “capturing” clients for their mortgage company and their title company.

Before I launched Golden Real Estate in July 2007, I was with two large brokerages which had those captive service providers, and it was clear to me that the managing broker was favoring associates with high “capture rates” for their affiliated businesses.

That is not only unethical, it constitutes “something of value” given to the associate in return for a service provider referral.

BTW, you’ll notice that we list Wendy Renee below as our “in-house loan officer.” She rents desk space in our storefront, but we earn nothing from the business she does.

In Memoriam: Our Free Moving Truck Has Bit the Dust

That law is the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 (RESPA). It was written to penalize persons or entities that are paid a fee (i.e., a kickback) for referring a client to a settlement service provider when the transaction includes a federally backed loan. As a practical matter, it has been assumed to apply to all real estate transactions.

RESPA’s primary focus is on lenders, to prohibit them from paying an “unearned” fee to a real estate broker, for example, in return for referring buyers to them. An “unearned” fee is one paid for doing nothing more than making the referral. If the person performs actual work, such as an attorney assisting on the transaction, that’s not a kickback, because it was earned

In this week’s column, I want to focus on the selection of title companies, since they, unlike those other service providers, are involved in virtually every real estate transaction.

Although the contract to buy and sell real estate allows the buyer to specify whether the seller or the buyer is to select the title company and pay for the owner’s title policy, it is a

I was reminded of this requirement that the seller actively participate in the selection of the title company when I was brought to task for my January 16th column in which I referred to First Integrity Title as our “preferred title company” because of a new service that they offer regarding HOA documents. Indeed, a complaint was filed against me by another service provider for violating the rule that the client, not the broker, must select the title company.

That complaint was dismissed by the Real Estate Commission’s investigator, but it inspired me to remind our readers — which includes real estate brokers and other service providers as well as prospective buyers and sellers — that this rule exists and that we should be diligent about obeying it. It’s not that hard to comply.

Henceforth, we will make it a practice to provide each client with a handout which, in addition to listing two or more lenders, inspectors, title companies and other settlement service providers, states in bold type (as suggested in Position Statement #18), that “the decision to hire a specific settlement service provider is completely at the Consumer’s discretion, and Consumers are not limited to service providers listed by the Broker.”

Back in 2004, I took delivery of our first box truck. After putting 150,000 miles on it, we bought a second truck and put another 100,000 miles on it. For a while, we actually had two trucks, and they got a lot of use, mostly by non-profits like BGoldN, the International Rescue Committee, Golden Chamber of Commerce, and Family Promise of Greater Denver. At right and below are pictures of volunteers from the Golden Relief Group who used the truck to transport donated furniture and furnishings for resettled refugees from Syria, Ukraine and elsewhere.

At right is our final truck, a 2012 Ford E350, which we purchased after it had logged 120,000 miles for Penske. The engine needs to be replaced at a cost of over $10,000, and it also needs a brake job.

We really enjoyed having a free moving truck to offer buyers and sellers, but you will notice in the box at left that now we only

provide free moving boxes and packing materials — still a nice benefit. We have decided not to replace the truck but to rent U-Haul trucks when the need arises.

We are sorry that so many worthy nonprofits are losing access to a free box truck, but I’m hopeful they’ll find another company which can lend them one. Many self-storage companies have free box trucks for clients to use. Maybe one of them will do what we did.

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Boebert honors Douglas County cold case unit

Sheri ’s IMPACT team also receives recognition

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert visited Douglas County on Jan. 29 to award the sheri ’s o ce’s cold case unit and IMPACT team with congressional recognition for the work they did solving a cold case that spanned nearly four decades. “ is resolution of the 1985 cold case of Roger Dean’s tragic death exempli ed your team’s dedication, resourcefulness and hard work, which was essential in bringing this case to closure,” said Boebert, representative of Colorado’s 4th District, which includes Douglas County. Dean was shot and killed in a home invasion in what is now the City of Lone Tree. A mask and bag were left at the scene, but there was not enough evidence to link a suspect to the scene as DNA technology had not yet evolved.   “ e agency worked on that case for about 34 years,” said Douglas County Sheri Darren Weekly. “But over the last four years is when this case really got solved through the work of investigative genetic genealogist Michele Kennedy.” Kennedy is a crime analyst supervisor, and both Weekly and Boebert said that without her work with DNA, the case may never have been solved.

In the last several years, the mask that was left at the scene in 1985 was sent to an independent laboratory for genetic genealogy testing, which linked Michael Shannel Je erson to the case. Detectives

were able to work with a ight attendant to get a water bottle used by Je erson, which is what broke the case, Weekly said.

Former Douglas County Sheri Tony Spurlock, who responded to the scene nearly 40 years ago, was among law enforcement members who were then able to travel to California and make the arrest.

Capt. Jason Kennedy accepted the recognition on behalf of his wife, Michele Kennedy, who was unable to attend the Jan. 29 ceremony.

“ at work that you’ve done since 2019 … not only changed the trajectory in this case, but it has also set new standards in law enforcement and criminal justice,” Boebert said in regards to Michele’s work.

Sgt. Mark O’Harold and Cpl. Mike Trindle were also given congressional recognition.

O’Harold was highlighted for his determination and persistence in following through with Dean’s case, with Boebert acknowledging that his work will not go unnoticed. And, having been with the sheri ’s o ce for about 25 years, Trindle’s expertise in investigations was recognized as a critical aspect in ensuring the case was solved.

e IMPACT team is a regional team that consists of detectives from Douglas County, Lone Tree, Castle Rock and Parker, and is overseen by the sheri ’s ofce. Although the names of the members of the IMPACT team could not be said aloud for con dentiality reasons, Weekly accepted the recognition on their behalf. e team also had a hand in solving the Dean case as they conducted ground-

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Boebert said she is trying to make congressional recognitions more common, as she believes they are “a little too scarce and rare throughout the nation.” She added that there are so many people to honor throughout her district.

While acknowledging the men and women who brought the Dean case to justice, Boebert also acknowledged Dean’s daughter, Tamara Dean Harney, who was sitting with her husband during the ceremony.

“ is happened a year before I was even born and so as long as I’ve been alive, you’ve been trying to nd answers,” said Boebert, addressing Harney. “I’m

sorry for all the years of mystery that you endured, but I’m so glad that you can have some justice.”

Mid-January of this year, Douglas County District Judge Victoria Klingensmith sentenced 67-year-old Je erson to 32 years in the Department of Corrections for conspiracy to commit murder in the rst degree.

George Brauchler, district attorney for the new 23rd Judicial District, also acknowledged Harney and her father, describing Dean as a loving husband and a committed father.

“I know it’s not a perfect outcome,” Brauchler said to Harney. “But it’s the best outcome this system can give you.”

Capt. Jason Kennedy with the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce accepts a congressional recognition from Congresswoman Lauren Boebert on behalf of his wife, Crime Analyst Supervisor Michele Kennedy. Douglas County Sheri Darren Weekly said the Roger Dean cold case might not have been solved without her.

PHOTOS BY HALEY LENA

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert speaks at the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce in Castle Rock on Jan. 29 and awards congressional recognition to the sheri ’s o ce cold case unit and IMPACT team.

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Dougco recording o ce moves temporarily

Services will be provided at county elections building

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e Douglas County o ce where the public can apply for a marriage license or rst-time passport — or get home and property documents o cially recorded — has temporarily moved a short distance from its regular location amid a renovation.

All recording services will be provided at the Douglas County Elections building at 125 Stephanie Place in Castle Rock through June, according to a news release. at location sits o Park Street, southwest of Wolfensberger Road and Inter-

GRASSROOTS

“We are just in a position right now that we have to reach out to our community and do what we can with our site-based budgets for basic needs like cold, fresh water,” Pappalarado said.

Pappalarado did make sure to thank Douglas County voters for passing the latest bond “because those are the types of things that will be addressed when we’re talking about the taxpayers supporting us.”

Making a di erence in real time

Sta and parents gured out the cost and determined that if every student raised $100, it would cover the cost of several new water stations. But the students exceeded their expectations.  rough several incentives — such as a kicko assembly where sta participated in a bucket dump, a donut party, team challenges between academic teams and a chalk run — the school raised more than $22,700.

During winter break, Next Generation Services installed seven brand new water bottle stations throughout the school.  “It’s a valuable experience for the kids to be part of something bigger than themselves,” said Pappalarado. “It’s kind of a wider impact than just the school.”

She said that their gym is rented by groups in and outside of the school district, and now those sports teams can also have access to ltered, cold water — in addition to simply having a nice place for

state 25. It’s a short distance from the permanent county recording o ce location in the downtown Castle Rock area, the release said.

“ is much-needed renovation of the recording o ce will allow us to best serve the citizens of Douglas County, and we thank you for your patience during the construction process,” Sheri Davis, the Douglas County clerk and recorder, said in the release.

Why do real-estate documents get ‘recorded’?

Generally, Colorado requires that realestate documents get publicly stored by the county clerk and recorder to prevent disputes about who can claim to own a property, according to Laura Skirde, a spokesperson for the clerk’s o ce. at process also allows potential buyers and

lenders to know who owns a property, according to Skirde.

“Real-estate documents are required to be recorded with the O ce of Clerk & Recorder to provide a permanent public record and notice to real property ownership by an impartial agency that maintains and makes those records searchable and available,” Skirde said.

Other services

e o ce is also a destination for passports. People can apply for passports at the clerk and recorder’s o ce, and then the U.S. Department of State approves or rejects the application, according to Skirde.

“ e recording o ce provides new passport application service only,” Skirde said. “Renewal of adult passports issued within the past 15 years must be completed online or by mail by the U.S.

Department of State.”

Looking to get hitched? e recording o ce also provides marriage or civil union licenses. Once a person picks up a license, they must have their ceremony within 35 days, according to the county website.

e renovation plan aims to maximize the limited space in the recording ofce to enhance its public-facing service desks and research area and create a more e cient work ow, according to the news release.

“ e research area provides a dedicated place for the public to view, obtain copies, and research documents led or recorded with the Douglas County O ce of Clerk and Recorder from 1874 through the present,” Skirde said.

For more information about the recording o ce, see douglas.co.us/recording.

kids to participate in sports.

For Jennifer Swanson, an administration assistant at Cresthill, seeing all of the support was exciting. Swanson said the school had the same water fountains from when she attended Cresthill, and to have her kid be part of the e ort — and

have the chance to see the change in real time — was fun.

Gina Chamber, the seventh grade assistant principal, added that it was good for the kids to see their principal follow through on a promise, and one that the students who actually raised the money

could bene t from.

“We’ve got a really strong community of families that are supporting the school,” said Bennet. “ e fact that we can see something tangible that the kids are going to use for years to come, I feel like all the families are going to appreciate it.”

Students of Cresthill Middle School in Highlands Ranch stand with their principal, Francesca Pappalarado, at one of the new filtered water refill stations after raising money for fresh water.

PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

Media asked police agencies in Douglas County about their policies. Here’s a look at what they had to say.

Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce “ e primary focus of the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce is to ensure the safety of our community and enforce local laws. Our o ce works in cooperation with federal agencies as needed, and in accordance with current state laws, but we do not actively engage in immigration enforcement at this time,” Weekly said in a statement.

e o ce was asked whether school resource o cers would assist with deportations of students or families at schools.

Immigration authorities can now enter schools, health care facilities and places of worship to conduct arrests, according to a new policy from the Department of Homeland Security, National Public Radio reported.

e sheri ’s o ce said in a statement: “Our school resource o cers are dedicated to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for students. While they collaborate with other law enforcement agencies on matters of safety, their primary responsibility is to ensure the wellbeing of students and sta .” Sheri ’s spokesperson Deputy Cocha Heyden added, “At this time, we will continue to follow state and federal laws. If there is a reason for us to go into a church, school or hospital based on a criminal investigation, we will continue to follow our policies and procedures.”

“In 2017 the Parker Police Department, in collaboration with the (American Civil Liberties Union), updated the Immigration Status policy to be compliant with the current law, and revised the Policy in 2018. With the evolving law around this issue, while the Policy has not been revised since that time, the training and practice of the Parker Police Department has remained consistent with the chang-

“In response to the anticipated changing landscape in both Federal and Colorado immigration (policy), the Parker Police Department would look forward to another collaborative e ort with the ACLU to ensure the best practices mov-

Castle Rock police

CCM asked the Castle Rock Police Department whether it will assist with deportations at schools, churches, hospitals or anywhere else.

“ e Castle Rock Police Department will continue to operate in accordance with all local, state and federal laws. We don’t have the information available to answer your question at this point, and we will not respond to hypothetical questions,” said Taylor Temby, a spokesperson for Castle Rock police.

Lone Tree police

Douglas County’s elected leaders, or commissioners, recently expressed support for Trump’s anticipated plan to deport immigrants who are in the country illegally.

When asked to clarify what resources Douglas County would pledge in aiding Trump’s immigration policies, county spokesperson Caroline Frizell noted that they would provide space to hold those being held on ICE detainers.

“Until state and federal laws are changed, we cannot speculate on what our procedures (will) be. We will continue to follow the current state and federal laws,” Heyden said when asked about Frizell’s response.

Heyden elaborated on sheri ’s o ce policy:

“We will notify ICE anytime there is a person in custody not born in the United States. If an inmate has an ICE detainer placed on them, we will call ICE when the inmate starts the release process, which can take about six hours. e inmate will not be held solely by the detainer. If ICE gets there before they are released from

our facility, ICE will take custody. If not, then the inmate is released routinely. We will not hold anyone for ICE once they are released from our custody. We will not delay release as well.”

During a Douglas County commissioners meeting in late January, lobbyist Je Small talked about “border and immigration priorities.”

“Sheri Weekly had some great ideas about some limited use of local law enforcement to assist with some of the federal e orts, so … continue to follow up on those and see how far we can push those,” Small said.

Heyden said the sheri was not immediately available for comment to discuss that limited use.

Parker police

CCM asked the Parker Police Department whether it would assist with deportations at schools, churches, hospitals or anywhere else.

“Our o cers will follow our immigration status policy in all the scenarios you presented,” said Josh Hans, a spokesperson for Parker police.

Parker’s policy document goes back to May 15, 2018.

It is “intended to encourage crime reporting and cooperation in the investigation of criminal activity,” the document says. “All individuals, regardless of their

immigration status, must feel secure that contacting or being addressed by Department Members will not lead to an immigration inquiry.” e document adds:

• “Department Members should not engage in, assist, or support immigration enforcement except as follows: 1. In response to an articulated, or immediate direct threat to life or public safety; or 2. when such enforcement is required to safely execute a criminal warrant or court order issued by a federal, state, county or local judge.”

• “Department Members should not arrest, detain or transport an individual solely on the basis of an immigration detainer or other administrative warrant issued by ICE or any other federal agency, without a judicial warrant.”

• “If a commissioned o cer believes a person taken into custody is also an undocumented (person), after he or she is formally booked; the commissioned ofcer should inform ICE so that ICE may consider placing an ‘immigration hold’ on the individual. Commissioned ofcers should provide ICE with the individual’s identi cation information and the nature of the charges.”

CCM asked Parker police whether its policies are in compliance with morerecent state law.

Hans said in a statement:

CCM also asked the City of Lone Tree whether the Lone Tree Police Department will assist with deportations at schools, churches, hospitals or anywhere else.

“ e answer is ‘no’ to all your questions,” said Melissa Gallegos, spokesperson for the city.

County fights state on immigration policy

Douglas and several other counties have pushed a lawsuit challenging Colorado laws that prevent local governments from cooperating with the federal government on matters of immigration.  A judge ruled in December that the counties do not have standing, or the legal basis to sue.

Douglas County has appealed the dismissal, the county announced Jan. 30. e county is challenging, according to a news release, the following state laws:

• 24-76.6-102, which prohibits local law enforcement from arresting or detaining people for civil immigration enforcement.

• 24-76.6-103, which requires probation department sta withhold information regarding immigrants in the country illegally from the federal government.

• 24-76.7-103, which prohibits agreements with the federal government for immigration enforcement, according to the news release.

For coverage of that lawsuit, see CCM’s previous story at tinyurl.com/DouglasImmigrationLawsuit.

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

PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD

Local mother’s homeschool enrichment program takes flight

Mom aims to break stereotype associated with homeschooling

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Bryson McKim gets a feeling of freedom each time that the wheels come o the ground and the plane takes ight.  “Flying never gets old,” said McKim, who is working toward earning his pilot’s license. “It makes me want to pursue it as a career.”

While many high school freshmen are unsure of what career they want to pursue, McKim knew he wanted to be a pilot. With 50 hours of ight time under his belt, he is waiting to be able to obtain his private pilot’s license.

His dream to y was made possible with the help of his mother, Richelle.

Richelle was a Castle Rock mom in 2020, helping her kids get through school when the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a screeching halt.

Summit Homeschool Academy

With the uncertainty of the pandemic, Richelle, who has a background in business, looked into high academic homeschool enrichment programs for her kids. Once they returned to school for in-person learning, she noticed that her youngest son was ahead of his peers academically.

Richelle also noticed learning outcomes and morale in her son’s classroom remained low. Her kids nished the school year being homeschooled and she submitted an application to the Colorado Department of Education to start a new homeschool enrichment program called Summit Homeschool Academy. It was approved in May 2022.

“Homeschool is often thought of as an alternative education for kids who don’t t in the box,” Richelle said.

But Richelle wanted to break the stigma of homeschooling, and focused on providing a strong academic program.

Summit Homeschool Academy is a nonpro t, tuition-free high school equivalency (HSE) program that describes itself as a “classically-driven homeschool

collaborative,” according to its website. It includes “collaboratively teaching math and English with parents” and parents provide the additional courses such as science and history to complete a full education, states the website.

Kindergarten through eighth grade focuses on core academics. Once the student is in the 10th grade, they have the opportunity to continue core academics or start a pathway program.

Aviation is the rst pathway Summit Homeschool Academy is o ering. Richelle aims to add more pathways, like world discovery and agriculture, and the aviation program continues to expand. It was recently approved for a $75,000 grant in which they hope to get three ight simulators.

“(My son) is the full reason why I started the school,” said Richelle. ”I did it because my son wants to be a pilot and I

want to help him get there.”  e academy partners with EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University, a private university based in Florida. rough concurrent enrollment classes, it allows homeschoolers the ability to obtain their private or commercial pilot’s licenses by the time they graduate high school.  rough the partnership, students can earn up to eight college credits and a $2,400 ight credit for an annual materials fee of $495.

Ranging from aerodynamics to basic meteorology theory to historical developments, there are about 15 subjects taught in the pathway. Students can sign up for Introduction to Aeronautical Science and FAA Knowledge exam preparation, or Meteorology, Climatology and Instrument Rating exam — both courses are taught at a college pace.  e courses include weekly classes,

exam preparation and ground school through another partnership with Aspen Flying Club, which allows students to choose any of the club’s locations — Centennial Airport, Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, or Colorado Air and Space Port — for ying lessons.

Experienced instructors

Having experienced instructors has been inspirational for Richelle.

“ e pathway of learning for ight is not always easy,” said Richelle. “When you’re surrounded by people that have done it, and other kids that are your age that want to do it as well, it really lifts them up.”

With 45 years of experience in aviation, Kevin Weber is one of the instructors.  Weber joined the Marine Corps and he ew helicopters and F18s, and rose up to a colonel rank. After he retired from the corps, he began ying with United Airlines and became a 787 captain, in addition to being an instructor and evaluator.  Weber feels he is truly helping students through the partnership, but he wishes these kinds of opportunities were available 45 years ago.

“It’s a headstart in aviation,” said Weber, adding that the program covers other jobs associated with aviation.

As for Hank Hulme, he was originally on a track to pursue baseball in college when a friend took him on a ight. He was captured. Hulme received seven certi cations within a 10-month period and began teaching at Centennial Airport, which is when he met Richelle’s son, Bryson.

“It’s a pleasure to be able to take these kids up and see them start to get certications or start to check o that next box,” Hulme said.

The future of the academy

When Richelle started Summit Homeschool Academy, she did not expect the program to grow so quickly. What started with 24 students in 2022 has grown to more than 170 students today.

“I just thought, this could be so much more for the kids, it could be more experimental, preparing them for a career,” she said.

To learn more about the aviation pathway, visit summitha.com/aviation-pathway.

Bryson McKim and instructor Hank Hulme after a solo flight. Hulme is an instructor at the aviation program that is provided through Summit Homeschool Academy in Douglas County.

COURTESY OF RICHELLE MCKIM

Tomorrow starts today

Procrastination is the silent thief of accomplishment. It’s that gentle nudge in our minds whispering, “You can do it tomorrow.” Before we know it, tomorrow becomes next week, next month, or even never. But here’s the hard truth: Tomorrow always begins today. e choices we make today, what we prioritize, what we push through, and what we avoid, lay the foundation for the outcomes we experience tomorrow.

It’s not just about being productive; it’s about embracing a proactive life over a reactive one. Proactivity means taking control of the present and responding swiftly and e ectively to opportunities and challenges. On the other hand, a reactive mindset often leaves us scrambling, either overreacting to situations or, worse, underreacting and achieving nothing of signicance.

o ering a harsh critique or delivering bad news, it feels easier to delay than confront. But avoidance doesn’t solve the issue; it simply prolongs the discomfort.

So, why do we procrastinate? Why do we knowingly defer tasks, especially the ones we know are important? e roots of procrastination. One reason is a lack of con dence. Sometimes, a task feels daunting or overwhelming. Maybe we don’t know where to start, or we fear failure. We worry about disappointing others or ourselves. is mental chatter, often called “head trash,” convinces us that avoiding the task is easier than confronting it. But here’s the irony: avoidance only magni es the challenge. e longer we wait, the bigger and scarier the task seems.

Another reason is fear of confrontation or discomfort. Often, procrastination involves situations that require us to face di cult truths or deliver uncomfortable messages. Whether

Finally, we procrastinate because we’re human. We’re wired to seek comfort and avoid pain. Tackling a challenging or unpleasant task doesn’t align with our natural instincts, so we nd excuses to delay. e cost of delay. Procrastination is an accomplishment killer. It creates a snowball e ect where undone tasks pile up, adding stress and reducing our ability to focus on what matters most. Over time, it erodes our con dence, making even small tasks feel insurmountable.

e truth is procrastination doesn’t just rob us of productivity; it robs us of peace. at nagging feeling in the back of your mind, the one reminding you of what you still haven’t done, drains energy and focus.

e Solution: Start Today. One of the greatest life lessons I’ve learned is this: tackle the hardest task rst. If there’s a frog you have to kiss, kiss it quickly. e longer you wait, the bigger and uglier that frog becomes. By addressing the most di cult item on your to-do list rst, you free yourself from its weight. Your mind becomes clearer, and the sense of accomplishment fuels momentum for the rest of the day.

Here’s the reality: the hardest tasks are rarely as bad as we imagine. e

Face facts, take action on radon

In my role as program coordinator for the Colorado Radon Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), I have worked with scientists, doctors, homeowners, the media and lung cancer survivors to spread the message that radon causes cancer. With education and awareness, we can help to combat the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas with no color, odor or taste. Radon can easily enter homes and other buildings through small openings like cracks in foundations, crawl spaces and openings around pumps and drains. Approximately half of all homes in Colorado have radon levels above the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Radon Action Level, and our state ranks among the highest in the nation for radon levels due to its above-average, naturally occurring uranium soil content.

fear of starting is often worse than the task itself. When we choose to face challenges head-on, we discover that we’re more capable than we thought.

Living Proactively. Living a proactive life means making deliberate choices to act rather than delay. It means embracing the discomfort of today to build the success of tomorrow.

Imagine how di erent your life could be if you adopted this mindset consistently. What if every time you faced a di cult decision, you acted immediately? What if you tackled tasks today instead of pushing tasks to the future? You’d experience less stress, more condence, and greater control over your life.

Tomorrow starts today. Always remember that. e path to accomplishment isn’t paved with intentions or plans for the future; it’s built with actions taken in the present.

Whatever is on your list, whether it’s a task you’ve been avoiding, a decision you’ve delayed, or a conversation you’ve dreaded, take the rst step now. Don’t let procrastination rob you of the success and peace you deserve.

As you look at your to-do list today, remember: the frog isn’t going to get any prettier. I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com. And when we live life with the philosophy that tomorrow begins with today, 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.

We encourage homeowners to retest radon levels, even if they received a low test result in the past, as a variety of factors can change radon entry pathways. Living in a home with Colorado’s average level of radon is like having 200 chest X-rays each year. Residents who spend a lot of time at home, such as remote workers, may be especially susceptible to the e ects of elevated radon levels. e impacts of elevated levels of radon are especially concerning for people with a history of smoking and/ or a family history of lung cancer.

One Coloradan’s personal experience

Colorado resident Heidi Onda was diagnosed with Stage 3A lung cancer in October 2018 despite being a lifelong health enthusiast, health educator, tness trainer and non-smoker. Her diagnosis was a mystery until her son, an environmental engineer, noted that Mrs. Onda spent a lot of time in her basement gym and asked if she had ever tested their home for radon. Based on that conversation, Heidi tested her home and discovered elevated radon levels above the threshold of 4 pico curies (pCi/L). Using CDPHE’s list of accredited mitigators, she immediately installed a radon mitigation system in her home. Mrs. Onda has since gone on to establish the White Ribbon Project, a grassroots lung cancer awareness and advocacy organization.

We at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment strongly urge Colorado residents to test their homes for radon using a free radon test kit. If your home has high levels of radon, it’s important to take action to reduce your risk. Radon mitigation systems can reduce radon levels in any home. For those who cannot a ord a mitigation system, Colorado o ers a Low Income Radon Mitigation Assistance program to homeowners who qualify through a simple application process. More information is available on the CDPHE website: ColoradoRadon.info.

is guest column was written by Margaret Horton, the coordinator of the Colorado Radon Program in the Colorado Department of Health and Environment.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

DCSD’s silence is unacceptable

I am writing to express deep concern over the Douglas County School District’s (DCSD) silence regarding potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids at our schools. Following an executive order by Donald Trump granting ICE agents access to historically “safe zones” like churches, hospitals and schools, many parents and community members have sought clari cation from DCSD about their stance and protocols. e lack of a robust and transparent response is alarming.

While DCSD provided a protocol for handling Department of Human Services (DHS) arrivals, it is troublingly vague and insu cient. e superintendent assured us that local law enforcement partners have con rmed “there will be no change in current practices related to entering our schools to detain or remove a student”. Current practice stating that they only enter to detain a student accused of a “very serious crime.” However, this reliance on unde ned terms like “very serious crime” and ambiguous assurances from partnerships leaves too much room for interpretation.

Equally concerning is the protocol’s lack of clarity on parental noti cation. Why wouldn’t contacting a parent or guardian be the rst or simultaneous step if law enforcement arrives to detain a student? While the superintendent stated that legal review of documentation would precede noti cation, this delay undermines the trust and safety of our students and families.

Additionally, the absence of a public statement on this issue raises questions about DCSD’s commitment to all students, regardless of their immigration status. If Douglas County’s leadership believes the immigrant population is signi cant enough to warrant concern, as local government discussions, such as Castle Rock’s Town Council’s recent lawsuit against the city of Denver and more recent declaration of deportation as well as the BOCC suggest, why hasn’t the county’s largest employer — a system responsible for over 63,000 students — taken a rm and public stance to ensure the community knows where it stands? Without a clear, transparent, and publicly communicated protocol, the silence becomes complicit. Is DCSD prioritizing partnerships over protecting students? Or worse, is this lack of action a tacit endorsement of ICE’s potential actions?

ilk) the world agrees the Nazis were fascists.

In an October 25 ABC News/IPSO poll speci cally asked if either candidate was “A political extremist who seeks to act as a dictator.” Trump got 49% — Harris 22%. 30% said neither were.

Zacharias raised what America needs: “Family values”: Trump says Bible his favorite book, yet does not put hand on the Bible. Cheats on his wife (commits adultery). Trump “We had no guns on Jan 6.”

“It was a day of peace and love” (thou shalt not lie). (Transcript for Jerod Bargar — his gun found on property); Trump campaign unpaid event bills (“shalt not steal”) “peace through strength” is threatening to invade or take over Panama, Greenland, and Canada peaceful? Expand military against Americans he considers “enemies from within.”

First 10 days in power: Trump: Signs executive mandate to ignore 14th amendment (born here = citizen); illegally res 17+ inspectors general (federal law requires documenting of cause and 30 days notice to Senate); withdraws from WHO and stops CDC communication with same; drops US out of climate accord. Removes funding for schooling and health for low-income, DEI; Medicaid.

During campaign Trump promised that prices would go down. Now he says it is very hard to lower prices. reatens withhold federal funds to entities that don’t do what he wants. Frees convicted violent Jan 6 o enders.

What e’s...? “Migrants eating pets” New DHS head just shoots them. “Anti vax RFK Jr. for Health. OK since we can “inject disinfectants,” Fox news talking heads being chosen for posts? ird term hint

Parents deserve to know how DCSD will safeguard their children in the face of these troubling possibilities. I urge DCSD to issue a public statement detailing its position and reinforcing its commitment to protecting ALL students, regardless of legal status or dare I say, “skin color.” Our community needs reassurance that schools remain a safe space for every child.

Chad Cox, Castle Rock

Praise for Trump is dubious

In response to the Jan. 23 letter from Zacharias Gabert:

Zacharias says “the narrative that Trump is racist, sexist, Nazi, and fascist was fundamentally denied because over half the country voted to put him back in the White House.” His numbers are wrong. Neither candidate got more than 50% of the popular vote. Trump 49.8% Harris 48.3%. A Trump majority does not prove he is none. As he says, a vote just means a majority liked his platform. 1930s voting in Germany: Nazi party got 100% of the government seats. Except maybe for Holocaust deniers (and their

Where is constructive feedback by Republicans. I.E. Pardons: have not read yet (Scott, FL); no comment (Kennedy, LA, Sullivan, AK); “...Looking forward” ( une, SD); etc.

My opinion: Trump has all the above traits.

Dave Crabb, Castle Rock

Get the facts straight

In response to the letter from Zacharias Gabert stating that “half the country voted to put Trump back in the White House,” that is simply not true. Half the country did not vote for Trump. About a third of Americans eligible to vote actually voted for him. According to the US Elections Project’s count, 64% of the voting-eligible population in the U.S. voted in the 2024 election. at means about 43% percent of people eligible to vote just didn’t. Donald Trump only beat Kamala Harris by a razor thin 1.6% margin in the popular vote. So we need to stop saying half the country voted for him. It is simply not true.

Susan Buckley, Highlands Ranch

Don’t fear immigrants

I am writing regarding the resolution passed by the Douglas County commissioners on Jan. 14 (and reported on by Ellis Arnold) regarding immigration. As a citizen of Douglas County, I am very disappointed in this action. I nd the resolution to be misleading about immigrant issues and written with language that is in ammatory and unnecessarily creates an environment of fear and hatred. e resolution depicts undocumented immigrants as criminals who bring contagious diseases, violence, terror and “dangerous materials,” all of which is untrue.

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Lawmakers seek limits on cell phones at school

hours a day on social media experience signi cant mental health concerns, including anxiety and depression, Lauren Henry, a Children’s Hospital of Colorado clinical psychologist, said.

BY JASON GONZALES CHALKBEAT

On Jan. 29, legislators unveiled a new bill that would require school districts to enact policies to limit cell phone and smartwatch use by July 2026. e bill also requires school boards to spell out exceptions, such as for health emergencies or to report a safety concern. e legislation aims to eliminate distractions within the classroom that hinder learning, lawmakers and others said during a news conference ahead of the bill’s ling. ey said they hope devicefree classrooms will foster better mental health among students.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, who supports the bill, announced seven statewide grants to support school districts in their e orts to revamp cell phone use policies.

“Every metric you can look at underscores what the Surgeon General has called a youth mental health crisis,” he said. “Over the last decade, the widespread adoption of smartphones is one of the main causes of why young people are su ering, why bullying is on the rise, why self-harm is on the rise, why distraction is on the rise, why kids are not sleeping at night.”

Recent research has shown that kids who spend more than four

e bill has bipartisan support and three of the sponsors are former educators. Bill sponsors include state Sens. Janice Marchman, a Loveland Democrat, and Lisa Frizzel, a Castle Rock Republican, as well as state Reps. Meghan Lukens, a Steamboat Springs Democrat, and Mary Brad eld, a Colorado Springs Republican.

Lukens, who chairs the House Education Committee, said 19 other states have cell phone policies such as the one introduced in the bill. While many Colorado schools might have a policy, some are outdated or aren’t districtwide, she said.

However, an increasing number of school districts have started to adopt stricter cell phone policies in the last two years, according to a Chalkbeat survey of the 20 largest school districts in Colorado.

e policies vary, but most restrict use in middle and elementary schools during the day while high school students have more access. Students and parents have varied reactions to the changes.

e goal of the legislation is to respect the independence of districts, but also create statewide policy that reduces distractions and promotes better student mental health, Lukens said.

“We all want our students to succeed in the classroom, and this bill sets us on the right path

forward,” Lukens said.

Superintendent Brian Hill of Mesa County Valley School District 51 in Grand Junction said his district recently revamped its cell phone policies to prohibit cell phones in elementary and middle schools altogether and in high school classrooms. Some high school principals have even gone as far as banning cell phone use during lunch and in hallways, he said.

e bill would allow districts to gure out what works best for their schools, such as in District 51, he said.

“Our teachers actually were the ones that were most vocal,” he said. “ ey were saying we want something consistent across the board. We want it to come from the district, because I’m tired of being the one teacher that’s restricting cell phones and the other teacher isn’t.”

District 51 has lockers for cell phones and some schools have purchased pouch locks, Hill said.

e bill doesn’t say how schools should store the phones because the bill’s authors said they don’t want to create extra costs not funded by the state.

“We have a duty to take immediate action to ensure the situation is addressed appropriately,” Brad eld said.

Although the bill doesn’t provide funding for any policy work by boards, some schools will get support through the attorney general grants to identify practices that work for their communities. Here’s a list of the schools and their intended goals for the

funding:

• Aurora Public Schools plans to host educational opportunities for students, educators, and parents about healthy smartphone usage.

• Denver Justice High School wants to create an incentivebased system to support student compliance with smartphone policies. e school will also hold engagement sessions with families about cell phone use.

• Eastlake High School will use the grant to expand and improve existing smartphone storage policies.

• Englewood Schools plans to buy smartphone lockers for classrooms and create a yearlong campaign that talks about the challenges of cell phone use.

• Mesa County Valley School District 51 intends to develop learning tools that focus on digital literacy and the impact of technology on students.

• Pueblo County School District 70 will host digital literacy presentations and student-led awareness campaigns to teach students how to use smartphones responsibly.

• Trinidad School District 1 plans to teach students and teachers about the challenges of cell phone and social media addiction. District leaders also want to purchase smartphone storage containers and review its policies.

Reprinted with permission from Chalkbeat, a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.

Wind Crest continues to expand in Highlands Ranch

Retirement community’s new building will house residents who require higher-level care

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

For nearly two decades, Wind Crest, a continuing care retirement community in Highlands Ranch, continues to expand to support the growth and needs of the senior population in and around Douglas County.

Wind Crest, managed by Erickson Senior Living, is an independent living neighborhood that is home to more than 2,100 residents.

While it o ers assisted living and memory care options, about 85% of the campus is independent living, said Craig Erickson, executive director of Wind Crest.

Independent living is typical for seniors who are able to live on their own, and focuses more on social needs rather than medical needs. Whereas assisted living provides assistance with daily activities and some medical services while allowing residents to live as independently as possible.

Memory care is a more secure setting for residents who may pose a risk to their safety, such as regularly getting lost outside.

Erickson said in the last couple of months, residents who have needed the higher level of care have had to wait one or two months until an apartment became available.

Now there is a new building dedicated speci cally to assisted living and memory care, called Bowen Landing.

Having opened in early January, the building features 109 new residences in a variety of styles and sizes. All residences include a full, private bath, a kitchenette, closet space and other features designed to promote independence and safety. And, for the rst time, select assisted living residences have a small patio.

“ e new building doubles the number of residents,” Erickson said.

About 140 residents are part of Wind Crest’s assisted living and memory care, and the new building will serve up to 280 residents.

“We have 24-hour nursing on call, but we don’t have 24-hour nurses on site,” Erickson said.

Clinical care consists of a mix of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses. ey work with a team that is called care associate employees. ese employees are either a certi ed nursing assistant or a personal care worker.

Floors one through three are for assisted living and the fourth is dedicated to memory care. A new amenity space, a library, movie theater, two exercise rooms, a salon and spa are located throughout the building and an enclosed courtyard features an outdoor replace and a multipurpose turf eld.

Di erentiating this building from the other assisted living and memory care locations on the campus is the signature restaurant called Katies. Instead of small dining rooms on each oor, the restaurant provides menu items freshly prepared by professional chefs.

Coley Rainbold, director of continuing care, said in a statement that a move to assisted living doesn’t mean one’s lifestyle has to change.

“Bowen Landing supports our person-centered approach to care driven by a holistic assessment of each individual’s needs, where residents engage in programs and activities that add value and meaning to their daily lives,” Rainbold said.

e expansion will also bring more employment opportunities, as Wind Crest looks to hire about 60 more employees.

e Bowen Landing building is the second to last building that will be added to the campus, said Erickson. An independent living building aims to open this fall, bringing the total number of buildings on the campus to 18.

“We plan to reach stabilized occupancy by next summer,” Erickson said.

BEST OF THE BEST VOTING STARTS MARCH 1!

A mountain view from the enclosed courtyard outside of the Bowen Landing building. COURTESY OF CRAIG ERICKSON

PRESERVING THE MAGIC

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Over 50 years since Pong burst onto the gaming scene and 30 years since the Sony PlayStation changed the trajectory of the eld, small independent arcades featuring scores of vintage games continue to thrive throughout the Denver metro area. In many cases, unassuming exteriors give way to dimly lit interiors with memorabilia-adorned walls, locally sourced libations, and, of course, the ashing lights, exclamative sound e ects and controller clatter of the arcade’s reserve of classic games. ere’s something, perhaps, a bit more impersonal when the venue gets scaled up in a corporate chain setting. To its credit, many Denver-area locales have managed to preserve the magic of these establishments.

Jason Ungate, owner of e Tabletop Tap in Englewood, credits the

thriving local arcade scene with the renaissance of interest in classic games.

“ e Denver-metro area has a handful of very unique arcades which all o er something a little bit di erent,” Ungate said. “( e) 1Up (Arcade Bar) has a thorough lineup of arcade games that invoke the feeling of the ‘80s via their classic game lineup. Akihabara (Arcade and Bar) gives locals the chance to experience a Japanese-themed spot with candy cabs and other games you’d never see in an American arcade.

“We at Tabletop Tap marry board games with video games and console games, a mishmash of multiple nerdy elements,” Ungate continued. “ ese places and more o er unique experiences, both for the generations that may have grown up with them, and the younger generations who are just encountering them for the rst time.”

While Akihabara and 1Up both keep Westminster’s gaming community satiated, the metro area abounds

with unique shops in other locales as well. Up in the foothills, Wild Game Entertainment Experience in Evergreen has everything from bowling to arcade games, while Blizzard Mountain Pinball specializes in the kind of wizardry e Who immortalized in 1969.

Over in Arvada, dueling Olde Town arcade establishments Secret Level and Super Zoom Bang Bang cater to di erent demographics; the former includes a bar and is generally open a couple of hours later than its counterpart, which primarily caters to younger kids and doubles as a toy story.

Holly Nikolich owns the Colorado Pinball Pub in Littleton (with another location in Monument) and opened the shop with her husband as an outgrowth of sorts of their annual pinball festival, the Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown and Gameroom Expo, which is entering its 21st year this year.

The Tabletop Tap’s decor features nods to the past, like this classic Pizza Hut light fixture.

COURTESY OF THE TABLETOP TAP

rado Pinball Pub as a year-long home for the folks who enjoy our annual pinball festival.

“ e once-a-year festival brings together the pinball and gaming community from across Colorado, neighboring states, and beyond,” Nikolich continued.

A longtime love of games seems to be a common thread with shopkeepers.

“We’re long-timers in the pinball and gaming world and are proud to bring the arcade and whiskey community together with the Colorado Pinball Pubs,” Nikolich said. “My husband and I opened Colo-

Ungate said he and his wife, Kristin, had been collecting classic games like Joust, Battlezone and Frogger, and eventually set out to combine their love of classic games with their love of board games in what would become Tabletop Tap.

“We wanted to create a place that was clean and welcoming, but also full of nostalgia for the ‘80s and the ‘90s,” Ungate said. “We o er over 250 board games, a small but rotating collection of arcade games.”

Ungate also said that he, like many other arcade owners, seeks to foster community at the arcade, even going so far as to host community nights such as a monthly Mario Kart tournament, a “nerdy book club,” and a video game book club.

and young people looking for community.

Velasquez also said that the advent of arcade chains — such as Round One in Littleton, Immersive Gamebox in Den-

ver and Main Event in Highlands Ranch, ornton, Colorado Springs and Windsor — has allowed corporations to gain a foothold in the industry, though he posits that these establishments are more focused on alternative revenue streams

“(Arcade) chains are more focused on making money in other ways, like through drinks and food sales,” Velasquez said. “I think local shops put more of an emphasis on the games and keeping up the games over time.”

Nevertheless, the independent arcade scene in Denver seems to be thriving, and hopefully won’t be ceding way to its corporate competition anytime soon.

Channel 3 Retro Gaming Center in Lakewood o ers classic arcade fun for all ages.

COURTESY OF CHANNEL 3 RETRO GAMING CENTER

Tetris is just one of the many arcade games o ered at The Tabletop Tap. COURTESY OF THE TABLETOP TAP

COURTESY OF THE TABLETOP TAP

The 1985 arcade classic Gauntlet at The Tabletop Tap. COURTESY OF CHANNEL 3 RETRO GAMING CENTER

Douglas, Je erson among the top counties for speeders

El Paso county tops list for speeding citations

BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e Colorado State Patrol has, once again, pinpointed the state’s ve counties that attracted the most speeding citations in 2024 and two are right here in the Denver-metro area.

Troopers say drivers in El Paso County

LETTERS

Whether we want to admit it or not, immigrants (documented and undocumented) are an important part of our economy, providing workers when many industries are nding it di cult to hire someone who will do the job.

In addition, the prioritization of hunting down non-criminal, non-violent people simply because they are undocumented immigrants draws valuable resources away from ghting real crime in our communities. Policy makers should be working towards alleviating the root causes of immigrant concerns. We should take an honest look at what immigrants provide and work toward immigration policies that are not based on punitive action that hurts our communi-

got the most speeding tickers last year with 2,161. Douglas and Je erson counties are ranked number two and three respectively, with Douglas collecting 862 citations followed by Je erson with 831. Rounding out the top ve is Fremont County with 727 and Mesa County with 684, according to a CSP news release.

El Paso, Douglas and Je erson counties have remained the top ve counties for speeding citations for the past four years, the CSP states. is is the third consecutive time in four years that Fre-

ties as well as people who are simply trying to make a better life for themselves and their communities.

Laurie

Freya, Highlands Ranch

Cornucopia of bad actions

Still arguing for Trump? He got 49.8% of the popular vote, which translates to 77.3 million votes versus Kamala’s 75.0 million votes. Hardly a landslide. e 2024 House has 220 Republicans versus 215 Democrats, which is less than the results of 2022 election, which was 222 versus 213. e Senate had a 50/50 split before the election and the results have the Republicans holding a 53 to 47 advantage. None of these are a ringing endorsement of Trump. Now, the border is one of the major determining factors in the election. I think arresting and deporting violent o enders would be approved by most people. However, the implementation of the pol-

mont County has entered the top ve and this is the rst time in four years for Mesa County.

e top ve roadways in 2024 for speeding charges by highest speeding intervals issued by the CSP were:

I-70, I-25 followed by state highways 50, 24 and 285. e top four roadways have held their respective top positions for six consecutive years, the CSP states. Highway 285 broke into the top ve in 2022 and has held that spot for the last two years.

Col. Matthew Packard, chief of the

icies may not be what most people will approve. Allowing the arrest of people at schools, churches, and hospitals will probably not be a popular policy. What was the Secret Service doing at a school in Chicago? Looking for counterfeiters or assassins?

Of course, after deporting everyone who provides services like working in agriculture, construction, roo ng, painting, food preparation and food services, there will be no one to do the work. We already have a shortage of these laborers and no one to ll in for them which means no one wants to do the work. is will drive up the prices if the deportations get to a signi cant part of the population. e disruption of the underground economy will have the US economy grinding to a halt.

e Republican attack on the LGBTQ community is very disheartening. ey are people and they have the same basic

CSP, said drivers in 2025 need to lighten up on the accelerator and be more aware of their speeding habits in the new year. “ e temptation to speed may be all around you, but you won’t get out of a ticket if you violate the law and get pulled over, “ Packard said in a press release.  “Our goal isn’t to go out and ticket everyone; we want drivers to do the right thing and drive like a trooper is a passenger in their vehicle. Citations are meant to correct poor driving choices, and you are literally in the driver’s seat to determine the likelihood of a tra c stop.”

rights as anyone else.

Of course, releasing the people who attacked the Capitol on his orders is a very bad look for a so-called law and order party. Do they really back the blue?

He ridicules our allies while he praises our enemies. His agenda is more like turn back the clock where everyone knew their place or they were told what their place was in society. ey use buzz words DEI, Critical Race eory, and ban books to protect children from learning the truth about our past and about people who are di erent to their values. eir values are to retain the status quo and not allow any changes that threaten their ideals.

Seems pretty fascist, racist, and sexist to me. What makes America great is the melting pot of ideas and people not some rose-colored past that was not that great.

Ed

Moore, Highlands Ranch

The Su ragette’s Murder By Sandy Rustin Directed by Margot Bordelon

Thu 2/13

Sharin' is Karen's 69th Birthday Bash – A Music Scholarship

Fundraiser w/ Rob Bob Band

@ 7pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, En‐glewood Maz

@ 7pm

Bluebird Theater, 3317 E Colfax Av, Denver

Bob Sumner Music @ 7pm

Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver

JME

@ 8pm

Ski House, 2719 Larimer St, Denver

Fri 2/14

Many Mountains Live at Sheraton Denver

@ 4pm

Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, 1550 Court Pl, Denver

The Galentines: Heartache Cabaret

@ 7pm

Skylark Lounge, 140 S Broadway, Den‐

ver Jay_Martin

@ 8pm

The Alley, 2420 W Main St, Littleton

Phat Daddy

@ 8:30pm

Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Mainstreet, Parker

Gimme Gimme Disco (18+ Event)

@ 9pm

Marquis Theater - Denver, 2009 Larimer Street, Denver

Myles O'Neal

@ 10pm

Temple Denver, 1136 Broadway, Denver

The Thorn @ 1pm

Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre, 1400 Cur‐tis Street, Denver

Diagnosed Denver @ 2pm

Armando Davalillo @ 9pm / $25.18 La Rumba, Denver

Sat 2/15

All �af�e Trick: Punk Rock Cakewalk to Save East Fax Tap @ 7pm East Fax Tap, 8001 E Colfax Ave, Den‐ver

Noche de Verano Sin Ti: DEBÍ TIRAR MÁS FIESTAS @ 8pm

Gasolina Night Club, 1414 Market Street, Den‐ver

Los Rehenes - Adolfo Urias - Paralelo Norte @ 9pm / $71.13 Stampede, Aurora

Sun 2/16

The Stand Alones @ 5pm Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver

DJ Rockstar Aaron: Forbidden BingoTailgate Tavern & Grill @ 8pm Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Mainstreet, Parker

Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, 119 Park Ave West, Denver

Marvel Studios In�nity Saga Concert Experience @ 2:30pm

Boettcher Concert Hall, 1400 Curtis Street, Denver

Ivan Villazon @ 9:30pm Stampede, 2430 S Havana St, Aurora

Mon 2/17

School Break Camp - 2/17 @ 7:30am / $57

Parker Fieldhouse, 18700 E Plaza Dr., Parker. 303-805-6315

Beyond Laser Light Experience @ 12pm Denver

DJ Rockstar Aaron @ 7pm

The Angry Clover, 15350 E Smoky Hill Rd, Au‐rora Knolls

Tue 2/18

Beyond Laser Light Experience @ 4pm Denver

The Plot In You w/ Holding Absence @ 7pm Ogden Theatre, Denver

9Million @ 8pm Skylark Lounge, 140 S Broadway, Denver

Ren Q. Dawe: Comedy on Colfax @ 7:30pm The People's Building, 9995 E Colfax Ave, Aurora

Wed 2/19

Beyond Laser Light Experience @ 4pm Denver

Ladies Night @ 6pm / $16.51 Stampede, Aurora

Alejandra Guzmán @ 8pm

Bellco Theatre, 1100 Stout Street, Den‐ver

Eric McFadden: Sgt. Splendor @ 8pm

Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom & Other Side, 2637 Welton St, Denver

BAYNK @ 8pm

Ogden Theatre, 935 East Colfax, Denver

Christian McBride @ 9pm Dazzle Denver, 1080 14th Street, Denver

Elias Hix @ 7pm

Meow Wolf Denver | Convergence Station, 1338 1st St, Denver

Duncan Coker: The Black Buzzard @ 8pm

The Black Buzzard, 1624 Market St, Denver

PhaseOne: Sounds Of Mayhem Takeover @ 10pm

The Church Nightclub, 1160 Lincoln St, Denver

Thu 2/20 Calendar

1. TELEVISION: What is the name of the spaceship on the TV drama “Fire y”?

2. GEOGRAPHY: What is the only tropical rainforest in the United States?

3. LITERATURE: What is the title of author Oscar Wilde’s only complete novel?

4. MOVIES: What is the name of the killer in the movie “Silence of the Lambs”?

5. SCIENCE: What are the three branches of science?

6. AD SLOGANS: Which fast-food chain’s slogan is, “What you crave”?

7. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: How many NFL teams are named after animals (including birds)?

8. U.S. STATES: In which state is the U.S. Naval Academy located?

9. ASTRONOMY: How many constellations are visible from Earth?

10. ART: What is the Japanese art of arranging owers called?

TrIVIa

Answers

1. Serenity.

2. El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico.

3. “ e Picture of Dorian Gray.”

4. Bu alo Bill.

5. Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Formal Sciences.

6. White Castle.

7. 14 (Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks).

8. Maryland.

9. 88.

10. Ikebana.

(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.

Engineer In Training

Multiple positions - Perform field visits and bridge safety inspections for various state Departments of Transportation as well as local government and private clients.

Evaluate structural load ratings using AASHTO specifications and AASHTO BrR software, using various non-destructive testing (NDT) equipment (such as Ultrasonic Flaw Detector and Resistograph) to evaluate structural integrity of bridges and rope access (SPRAT) climbing techniques to physically inspect fracture critical bridges, signs, and high mast light towers. Coordinate land surveying with Total Station equipment and transfer collected data to model 3-D surfaces.

Interpret data received from field inspections and testing results to create comprehensive bridge reports detailing bridge conditions and defects regarding the structural integrity of bridge inventory for submittal to the client. Coordinate with Deputy and Senior Project Managers on all projects. Off-site travel required for field inspections approximately 16 to 24 weeks per year.

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or closely related field and successful passing of the FE Exam as well as proficiency with Microsoft Office products, Bentley Microstation and Open Roads software, AutoCAD and AutoCAD Civil 3D, AASHTOWare BrRLoad Rating, land surveying. Send resumes to M Slattery, HR, Engineering Operations, 10397 W. Centennial Road, Littleton, CO 80127 or mslattery@eopsco.com.

Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

East Central BOCES is seeking a Part-Time 3.5 days a week

Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year, approximately 53 days, depending on start date. Salary Range$13,754 - $18,122, dependent upon experience and education.

Requirements: Hold or be able to attain a Colorado Teaching License with an endorsement as a Special Education SpecialistDeaf/Hard of Hearing required. Complete assessments, attend IEP meetings, provide direct and indirect special education services.

Benefits: Excellent benefits including access to a company vehicle or mileage reimbursement and fully paid health insurance, including vision and dental. May be eligible for loan forgiveness program. Flexible scheduling with the opportunity to complete some work from home. To apply for this position, please visit our website ecboces.org and click on the “Jobs” page, click on the job you are interested in & then click on the grey button “Apply Online”, located at the bottom of the job listing. Questions contact Tracy at (719) 775-2342, ext. 101. EOE

Help Wanted

Analyst, Credit Anaysis Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC seeks an Analyst, Credit Analysis in Englewood, CO responsible for rating a portfolio of credits and the end-to-end ratings process. Telecommuting permitted within normal commuting distance of Englewood, CO office. REQ: Bachelor’s in Finance, Bus. Admin (finance specialization) or rel field plus 5 yrs exp in performing cash flow & credit analysis. The anticipated base salary range for this position is $144,503 to $206,350. Final base salary for this role will be based on the individual’s geographic location, as well as experience level, skill set, training, licenses & certifications. In addition to base compensation, this role is eligible for an annual incentive plan. This role is eligible to receive additional S&P Global benefits. For more information on the benefits we provide to our employees, please see: https://spgbenefits.com/benefit-su mmaries/us. Resume to PeopleMovementSupport@spglob al.com, ref # 311573 (Analyst, Credit Analysis).

Facilitator/Aide East Central BOCES is seeking a facilitator/aide to assist with the provision of special education services to students. Travel is required to multiple schools. Duties include picking up students from class, monitoring students during virtual instruction, and returning them to class. Training will be provided. Great Opportunity for someone who wants to work while your children are in school or someone who is taking online college classes. The salary range is $16 - $18 per hour, depending on experience. 24 hours per week. Mileage reimbursed for travel between schools. Location of schools: Arickaree, Bennett, Limon, Burlington, Deer Trail, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Strasburg, & Byers. Questions, please contact Tracy at 719-775-2342 ext. 101 or tracyg@ecboces.org. To apply for this position, please visit our website ecboces.org and click on the “Jobs” page, click on the job you are interested in & then click on the green button “Apply Online”, located at the bottom of the job listing. EOE

MARKETPLACE

Misc. Notices

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Merchandise

Split & Delivered $450 a cord Stacking $50 Call 303-647-2475 or 720-323-2173

Health & Beauty

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Medical

Attention oxygen therapy users! Discover oxygen therapy that moves with you with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. Free information kit. 1-866-4779045

Miscellaneous

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Portable Oxygen Concentrator may be covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 877-305-1535

Consumer Cellular - same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No longterm contract, no hidden fees free activation. All plans feature unlimited talk & text, starting at just $20/mo. Call 1-877-751-0866

DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB Games! Choice Package $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/ Choice Package or higher.) No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866859-0405

Don’t let the stairs limit your mobility! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1-833-3993595

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Miscellaneous

Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase* Call 1-855948-6176 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.

We buy houses for cash as is! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer & get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-844-8775833

Bath & shower updates in as little as 1 day! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & military discounts available. 1-877-5439189

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris -blocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833610-1936

Water damage cleanup: A small amount of water can cause major damage to your home. Our trusted professionals dry out wet areas & repair to protect your family & your home value! Call 24/7: 1-888-872-2809. Have zip code!

Miscellaneous

!!OLD GUITARS WANTED!! GIBSON, FENDER, MARTIN, Etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. TOP DOLLAR PAID. CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-433-8277

Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day. For a limited time, waving ALL installation costs! (Additional terms apply. Subject to change and vary by dealer. Offer ends 3/30/25.) Call 1-844-501-3208

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

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Pets

IT TAKES A VILLAGE