Arvada Press February 29, 2024

ARVADA RECIEVES $148,000

2ND CHANCE TO PROTEST YOUR PROPERTY TAXES

If you did not protest your property tax valuation last May, you can now protest by submitting an abatement available online from your county Assessor. OR for better results, I will review, submit, and attend the hearing for you for FREE! For Metro Denver Homeowners. All I ask is that you interview me when it comes time to sell.

Author Bestselling Book OverTaxed! On Amazon

From left: Vera Ananda (enrollment specialist/data administrator), Christine Thurston (case manager funded by this grant), Berzette Green (homeless navigator funded by this grant), Karen Cowling (executive director). COURTESY OF MISSION ARVADA

Arvada Crime Briefs: prolific retail theft caught, police chase ends with pickup flip

Suspect believed to have committed 24 retail thefts, driver of pickup charged with multiple felonies

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e Arvada Police’s weekly activity report from the week of Feb. 1218 featured two signi cant cases; the apprehension of a man suspect-

ed of committing a string of retail thefts and a police chase that ended with a suspect’s car upside down.

In the rst case, o cers were dispatched to the Target at 7899 Wadsworth Blvd. on Feb. 13 at around 3:27 p.m. after loss prevention ofcers at the store reported seeing a man suspected of being involved in a number of retail thefts around the metro area loading a shopping cart full of merchandise.

e man was contacted by APD o cers, who discovered that he had unopened merchandise hidden in his clothing. He was identi-

ed as the suspect of three prior thefts at the Wadsworth Target and taken into custody on felony theft charges.

O cers then began to compile evidence related to 24 total retail thefts at Targets throughout the metro area involving the same suspect. e other cases remain under investigation.

Police chase gone awry

Also on Feb. 13, around 8 p.m., an APD sergeant saw a pickup truck weaving in and out of tra c lanes while driving eastbound on 86th Avenue approaching Simms Street.

driver of the pickup truck. As the driver of the pickup approached vehicles stopped at a red light, he swerved into oncoming tra c and entered the intersection.

A driver passing through the green light in the opposite direction collided with the pickup truck, causing the pickup to ip over and collide with two other vehicles before coming to a stop, roof-down. One victim su ered serious injuries, while another had complaints of some pain.

INSURANCE CLAIM DEADLINE

Were you aware that there’s a one-year deadline to submit a property damage claim to your insurance provider for the hailstorms that occurred in May and June of 2023? Although the repair work can be carried out after this one-year submission window, it’s crucial to le your claim within this timeframe. Call Colorado Construction and Restoration for speci c do’s and don’ts of ling, before you le your claim.

e pickup truck was also observed to have expired registration.

e sergeant tried to initiate a tra c stop but was ignored by the

e suspect was uninjured and was jailed on charges of vehicular assault felony eluding, driving with a suspended license and several other tra c charges. He admitted to trying to evade o cers because of an active warrant.

Colorado Community Health Alliance awards $148,000 to Mission Arvada

Funding will help pay salaries for case managers, essential goods for those on Medicaid

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Mission Arvada will be able to more easily provide services to those experiencing homelessness after Colorado Community Health Alliance awarded the nonpro t, based in e Rising Church, $148,000 through CCHA’s Community Incentive Program.

CCHA awarded 16 local nonprofits throughout the state funding for its Community Incentive Program, which seeks to “support community entities that improve health, reduce costs and increase access to services for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid) members,” according to CCHA’s website.

e funding is a boon for Mission

Arvada, which will now be able to pay the full salary of its homeless navigator, partial salaries of one case manager and one facilities manager and winter gear for folks experiencing homelessness. e funding can also be used for bus passes, apartment move-in expenses, vital document recovery and various housing-related costs.

Mission Arvada Director Karen Cowling said the bene ts of the funding, such as winter gear and help with expenses, would be available to almost all of the nonpro t’s clients — 98% of folks receiving services at Mission Arvada are on Medicaid.

“We are so deeply grateful for our partnership with CCHA to ll the gaps in needed services and tangible items for our unhoused community members,” Cowling said. “Each of our clients has a story. Each client has a deep desire for stability, health and housing. CCHA’s support will make a huge di erence for in the lives of so many individuals.”

When a Realtor Violates the Code of Ethics, Clients Often Suffer.

More than once have I reminded readers that only members of the National Association of Realtors can call themselves “Realtors,” and only Realtors are bound by the Realtor Code of Ethics. Violation of the Code can subject a Realtor to discipline and even termination of their Realtor membership.

There are several ways that we Realtors might violate the Code without even realizing it, and since ethics complaints can be filed by clients, not just fellow Realtors, let me share with you some of the practices that constitute violations. If your agent is not a Realtor — and only half of all licensed agents are Realtors — he or she isn’t bound by the Code, but they could still be violating state or federal housing laws, as well as real estate commission rules. Ask yourself whether any of the following scenarios resemble something you experienced.

ly loved my listing and needed to close because their current home was about to close, which would render them homeless.

I was free to disclose that ethical lapse to my seller, empowering him to play hardball. Similarly, it would be a violation for me to say that my seller will take less than the asking price — unless I am specifically authorized to say that he or she is “motivated.” Buyers’ agents know what that means.

Here Are Examples.

who calls us or visits our open house if they are working with an agent before offering to work with them. Failing to do so could lead to “sign crossing.”

presented to a client is a big no-no and a violation of Article 9. It’s so easy with today’s electronic documents to send them by email and say, “call if you have any questions,” but we are expected to be more pro-active than that.

Not disclosing that I have an unrepresented buyer for my listing, if asked, is a violation. If I have a dual variable commission (meaning that the commission paid by the seller is lower if I don’t have to pay a buyer’s agent), I must disclose that differential. I do not have to disclose the price of each offer in hand, but it’s my practice to get permission from my sellers to do that when there are multiple buyers.

Misrepresenting one’s level of success is a violation of Article 12. There’s a bus shelter ad I have seen for years by an agent saying he’s our county’s top agent, but I did the research, and it’s not true. That’s a violation not only of the Code of Ethics but of real estate commission rules (as are most Code violations).

I once complained to the commission about bus benches on which an agent claimed he sells a home every 4 days. It wasn’t true, and the commission ordered him to change them. I could have also filed an ethics complaint.

Knowingly giving inaccurate information about one’s listing is another violation of Article 12.

When a listing expires without selling, the homeowner can expect to be deluged by phone calls, texts, letters, postcards and even door knocking by agents whose business model involves soliciting expired listings. A common error by such agents is to fail to check whether that listing is already active on the MLS with another agent or brokerage. Another error is to mistake the “withdrawn” status for the “expired” status. “Withdrawn” indicates that while the listing may be withdrawn from active status on the MLS, it is still subject to a valid listing agreement. When you get such a solicitation, share the name of that agent with your listing agent so he or she can at least contact that agent and tell him/her of the violation.

Misleading a seller on the true value of their home in order to get a listing is a violation of Article 1. The real estate commission can also discipline an agent for this. The agent is obligated to advise the seller of the home’s true value based on his or her professional expertise, and to advise the pitfalls of overpricing it.

Not presenting all offers received prior to closing is another violation. A low-ball offer from a house flipper can be demoralizing, but you still must present it unless you get in writing (as I once did) that you’re relieved from presenting any offers below a certain price.

Divulging confidential information, especially if it could disadvantage your client, also violates Article 1. I once had a buyer’s agent tell me that their buyer real-

Not following showing instructions or showing up at a time other than what was set with the showing service is a violation.

Showing your own listing on a day that you’ve indicated showings are not allowed is a violation of Article 3.

Not disclosing the status of a listing, for example if the home is under contract, is also a violation of Article 3. I’ve had listing agents tell me they weren’t going to change their listing to “Pending” on the MLS until the earnest money was received or the inspection deadline has passed. The MLS will also discipline an agent for that.

Not getting verbal agreements in writing is a violation of Article 9. I always request at least an email instruction from my client, and I create amend/extend documents when appropriate.

Not explaining fully any document

Solar-Powered Home With Hyatt Lake Membership

Inducing a client to terminate if you change brokerages is a violation of Article 16, as is soliciting a listing that is currently subject to an exclusive agreement with another broker. Another broker’s unhappy clients can call me, but I can’t call them. Also, we must always ask persons

As I mentioned above, non-Realtors don’t have to abide by the Realtor Code of Ethics, but, as I also said, many violations of the Code are also violations of law and/ or real estate commission rules.

The Realtor associations and the Colorado Real Estate Commission want you and me to report violations.

This & That: Other Topics Worth Taking Note of...

Propane Is Proposed for Home Backup

framing, and heat recovery ventilation. All three 2500-SF homes were sold for about $1.4 million each before they were completed, proving the demand for such homes.

Seniors Get Roommates vs. Downsizing

A Denver Post article last week told of a non-profit which helps seniors living alone in a big house to find roommates, not just for companionship, shared expenses and mutual caregiving, but as a way to “age in place” instead of selling and finding a smaller resident or apartment.

High-end improvements and Hyatt Lake membership make this home special. At the end of a cul-de-sac, a gate on the back fence draws you to Hyatt Lake for swimming and non-gas-power boating, paddleboarding, and stocked fishing. The owned rooftop solar panels, not visible from the street, meet most or all of this home's electric needs. Although it’s a 2-story home, the primary suite is on the main floor with its own access to the 16’x16’ covered deck. Two guest bedrooms with a shared bathroom are on the top floor, and a 4th bedroom is in the walkout basement. The seller is a woodworker, and his work and attention to detailed improvements is obvious throughout, such as the hanging shelves in the great room. The 3-car garage is lighted and powered to support a workshop and is heated and cooled by a mini-split unit. A Tesla charging station in the garage is included. The kitchen has special touches, including quartz countertops, undercabinet lighting, ultra-high-end Schuler cabinetry, Bosch super-quiet dishwasher, and LG refrigerator with a cold-saver door. The upgrades are so extensive that I urge you to look at the room-by-room details spelled out on the MLS and at www.JeffcoSolarHomes.com. There are two narrated video tours for the same reason — one for the interior and one taking a roundtrip walk to Hyatt Lake through the open space to which this home backs. Call Kathy Jonke at 303-990-7428 to see it.

An article on CustomBuilderOnline.com argues that propane is the ultimate uninterruptible energy source, and it actually makes some sense and will appeal to people worried about natural disasters disrupting the power grid. The article makes the point that having a tank of propane on your property plus a propane powered electric generator can keep you warm or cool and able to cook even if you have an all-electric home. Because propane does not degrade and can last forever in a tank (and can supply gas at even the lowest temperature), it’s the best way to make sure life goes on for you, no matter what happens with other energy sources.

Passive-Certified Homes Built in Boston

An article on ProBuilder.com reports on three certified passive-house homes built in Boston MA by Brucewood Homes. Architect Mike DelleFave says they achieve PHI-certified status by adhering to three passive house principles: air-tight construction, highperformance windows, super insulation of the building envelope, thermal bridge-free

This reminds me of how I, single at the time, was able to afford my first Denver home purchased in 1997. I asked a male friend, Dave Garton, if he would be interested in sharing a home if I bought it. He said yes, and I bought a home with a walk-out basement. We shared the kitchen, but we each had our privacy. When I met Rita, Dave bought his own home and Rita and I bought a new house.

Links to all three of the above articles are at http://RealEstateToday.substack.com I welcome your topic suggestions!

Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com

CHUCK

DAVID

GREG

AUSTIN

KATHY

Arvada gets set for St. Patrick’s Day celebration on March 16

Live music, food trucks, vendors, kids zone highlight festivities

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e streets of Arvada will be awash with green on March 16 as Olde Town gets ready for its annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

is year’s event will feature live music all day long, food trucks, vendors, a kid’s zone and adult libations courtesy of the Olde Town Arvada Business Improvement District. Included in the food truck o erings will be Grammy’s

Goodies, Cochino Taco, Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck. With over 90 vendors including e 5280 Mermaid, e Moxi Poppy, Denver Apparel Company and Intrinsic Paths, this year’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities will have the most vendors its ever seen, according to Olde Town BID’s Director of Marketing and Events Stephanie Paul.

“Olde Town Arvada is gearing up to celebrate in style at our Annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival,” Paul said. “With live music, 90+ vendors, a dedicated kids area, and countless surprises in store. Get ready to join the festivities and paint the town green!”

Live music performances will kick o with a Centennial

State Pipes and Drums bagpipe march starting outside of Cheapskates from noon. to 12:30 p.m. Another bagpipe march will take place from 1:30 to 2 p.m. in front of School House.

Big Paddy will play on the Community Banks of Colorado Stage from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Following their set, Skean Dubh will play on the same stage from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Closing out the night on the main stage will be Juice O’ e Barley, playing from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

On the Square Stage, School of Rock Broom eld will kick o the festivities from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., followed by e McDeviants from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

Folks will flock to the streets of Olde Town for St. Patrick’s Day on March 16.

FILE PHOTO BY RYLEE DUNN

Arvada Fire swears in Kirk Lock as new chief

Lock, a 30-year veteran of the Memphis Fire Department, replaces Mike Piper, who retired in January

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Fire Protection District has a new Fire Chief; Kirk Lock. e appointment of Lock follows the retirement of former AFPD Chief Mike Piper in January following a 30-year career in re service.

Lock was announced as the sole nalist for the position of

chief on Feb. 7 and was sworn in at the Arvada Fire Board of Directors meeting on Feb. 21. Lock has been with Arvada Fire since 2020 and has previously served as deputy chief and interim chief.

Before coming to Arvada, Lock spent 30 years at the Memphis Fire Department, where he worked as an engineer, lieutenant, battalion chief, division chief and deputy chief. He has served as a deputy chief for a combined eight years; ve with Memphis and three with Arvada.

“It’s an honor to be the next re chief of Arvada Fire and continue serving our citizens,” Lock said. “I’m looking forward to building upon the history and high standards of this district while ensuring the safety of our

residents and our re ghters.”

Jim Whit eld, president of the Arvada Fire Board of Directors, touted the decision to name Lock chief.

“Chief Lock is not only highly respected for his leadership, knowledge and experience here in Arvada, but throughout the entire country,” Whit eld said. “We are con dent that under Chief Lock’s leadership, Arvada Fire will continue to deliver EMS and re protection services to the community with the highest level of professionalism and efciency.”

Additionally, Matt Osier — a 24-year veteran of Arvada Fire — was named deputy chief to step into Lock’s old role. Osier was named Fire ghter of the Year in 2004.

Headshot of Kirk Lock, new Arvada Fire Chief. COURTESY ARVADA FIRE

Family Connects and Je co Public Health deploys nurses and much-needed help to families with newborn babies

BY JO DAVIS JDAVIS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Family Connects is a free program with Je erson County Public Health and Lutheran Medical Center, a part of the Intermountain Health program. e program dispatches registered nurses to the homes of families with newborns.

“ is program saved my life,” said Amanda McCoy, a family ambassador with Family Connects.

McCoy said the program connected her and her partner with

resources that they all needed but never knew existed.

Kate Follett, Public Health Nurse Supervisor with Je co Public Health and the Family Connects program said the program model focuses on moms and babies, however, it is also for other types of families with newborns. is includes foster care providers, kinship care and babies discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit.

Follett said the program also serves “families in bereavement, where the mother or baby passed

away.” She also wants readers to know that Family Connects serves families no matter what their immigration (and documentation) status is.

“We are mandatory reporters for child abuse and neglect,” Follett said. “But that is not the focus of the program. We are mindful in those extreme cases and don’t make the decisions lightly.”

Follett said that her entire team makes the decision.

“We do not report to immigration, the IRS and other government,” Follett said. “So we are not asking for

proof of residence, income or any of that when nurses come to visit.”  Follett wants families to be assured that the nurses coming into the home are not there to judge or pry. ey are there to help.

She said the program has reduced the reports to child welfare for families with new babies. e aid that the nurses provide actually alleviates some of the factors that could lead to Child Protective Services involvement.

SEE BABIES, P7

McCoy agrees. She utilized the NICU to Home part of the program.

“ ere is a stigma and fear about letting someone into your home during that time (after bringing a new baby home),” McCoy said. “Welcome them (Family Connects nurses) in because it will help beyond what you can imagine.”

McCoy said the nurses helped her and the father of her twins in so many ways.

“Amanda, my nurse, helped me while I cried a few times,” McCoy said. e nurse helps with the mental health care of the entire family. is includes directing the family to resources when needed.

Follett explained that the resources are an important part of the program as well.

“ e nurses keep a nger on the resources,” she said. e families are screened, with consent, according to Follett. From that the nurse determines what additional aid is needed.

McCoy said her nurse connected her family with a therapist, a course on secure attachment for when her babies came home from the NICU. at course was Circle of Security and it was something that McCoy says she wouldn’t have known about without the Family Connects nurse.

McCoy said her nurse also got her diapers, high chairs, car seats and more.

Follett said the resources come from partnerships with organizations all over Je co and the Denver Metro area.

WeeCycle, 20 S Havana St., Ste 210 in Aurora is a resource for diapers, wipes, clothing, furniture and other baby needs.Jeffco Public Library hosts a monthly support group for moms and gives each new family a free book.

Follett said the nurses are there to help families with whatever they need. According to the Family Connects website, 95% of parentssaid they needed support after their families were born, but could not nd it. Family Connects aims to help ll that gap.

“Our commitment lies in assisting all families with a newborn by ensuring that they have access to in-home healthcare support upon returning home from the hospital,” said Chuck Ault, Community Health Manager for Intermountain Health. “ is program is entirely voluntary and o ers an opportunity for all families to achieve equitable health outcomes for their newborn and families.”

“ ey say it takes a village to raise a child, this is your village,” McCoy said about Family Connects. “ is is your link to all the resources.”

Je co parents can nd more information and schedule their family for services at FamilyConnectsColorado.org.

MORE INFORMATION

According to Je co Public Health, Family Connects has proven to improve health and wellness in the families they visit and beyond. These improvements include:

• 50% fewer emergency room visits and hospital stays for infants.

• 28% less reported anxiety by mothers.

• More positive parenting behaviors.

• Improved home environments and home safety.

• Increased community connections.

• Higher quality childcare choices.

• 89% reduction in racial disparity for mental health anxiety disorders for children 6 months of age.

• 14% reduction in racial disparity for emergency medical health needs.

• 28% and 57% reduction in racial disparity for child welfare system involvement.

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The Family Connects program deploys nurses to the homes of families with newborn babies. The nurses connect the families with the care and resources needed to keep the family and baby healthy during the postpartum period. COURTESY OF JEFFCO PUBLIC HEALTH

Local artists recreate the Pink Palace in NEXT Gallery’s 18th Casa Bonita Art Show

BY JO DAVIS JDAVIS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Local artist of all ages, artistic backgrounds, skill levels and more created their interpretations of Lakewood’s Casa Bonita for NEXT Gallery’s annual Casa Bonita show. is year’s show is NEXT Gallery’s 18th show honoring the community’s most well-known pink icon. e entries are displayed at the gallery located inside e Hub at 40 West at 6501 W. Colfax, Lakewood.

e show runs through March 3.

e gallery received about 73 entries. e youngest artist was Finnley Behm, 6. Behm’s markers onpaper piece “Casa Bonita,” was one of a handful of youth artworks contributed to the show.

e gallery let artists interpret the theme of Casa Bonita using their choice of medium, scale, materials and dimension. e grand prize entry was “Stepping Back Into Style” by Sydnee Masias of Denver, an intricately designed pair of pink boots is so big that it takes up a quarter of the Next Gallery wall.

Come view the pieces to buy or get more information during gallery hours, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays, and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Most of the works are for sale.

For more information visit NextGallery.org.

The grand prize entry is Sydnee Masias’ mixed media piece “Stepping Back Into Style’’ for NEXT Gallery’s Casa Bonita Art Show. Masias’ size 8.5 boots look good enough to wear to dinner at Casa Bonita. A table for six at the restaurant is the grand prize.

PHOTO BY JO DAVIS

Displaced SeaQuest creatures find new homes at zoo and aquarium in Denver

BY CHRISTY STEADMAN AND NINA JOSS CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e Denver Zoo and Downtown Aquarium Denver are now home to more animals in the wake of the closure of SeaQuest Littleton earlier this month.

“We’re fortunate to have the space, resources and animal health and care expertise to provide the best possible care for these animals,” Bert Vescolani, the Denver Zoo’s president and CEO, said in a news release, “and (the zoo is) happy we could assist in this coor-

dinated e ort to give them a great new home.”

e “animals are getting acquainted with their new habitats” and “will be viewable to guests and members soon,” the zoo said. e animals, including a keel-billed toucan, red-necked wallabies, African pancake tortoises, a New Guinea blue-tongued skink and many others, are being monitored and evaluated at the zoo’s Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Animal Hospital and its Tropical Discovery.

Two African pancake tortoises are a couple of the 130 animals rehomed to the Denver Zoo following SeaQuest Littleton’s recent closure. COURTESY OF THE DENVER ZOO

SEAQUEST

SeaQuest is a national aquarium business that allows visitors to interact with its aquatic and non-aquatic animals. People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, also known as PETA, has criticized the company for several years.

SeaQuest Littleton, in unincorporated Je erson County, was one of eight company locations in the U.S. e Littleton venue had received multiple local citations and complaints.

Colorado Community Media re-

ported that SeaQuest Littleton’s Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife license was suspended in 2019. At that time, the aquarium was required to remove roughly two dozen species of sh, birds and mammals that fall under CPW’s de nition of wildlife, totaling roughly 200 animals. e aquarium replaced the removed animals with others that didn’t fall under the CPW licensing umbrella.

Following the suspension, SeaQuest did not apply for a license, a CPW spokesperson told Colorado Community Media in a story reporting on the aquarium’s recent closure. As a result, SeaQuest Littleton had not held a CPW license since 2019.

Several recent inspection reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showed non-compliant issues at the aquarium. Examples include inadequate handling or control of animals during public interactions, unsupervised public interaction with animals, enclosure disrepair, animal injuries, insu cient sanitation and failure to document medication delivery.

A company statement on Facebook did not say speci cally why SeaQuest Littleton closed, but said it will continue its operations in “states

that support (its) interactive business model.”

e Denver Zoo has taken in about 130 SeaQuest animals. Some of the rehomed creatures are new species to the zoo.

“We have a number of rescued animals living here at the zoo and take the responsibility of bringing in these animals very seriously,” Vescolani said in the news release.

e Denver Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is home to about 3,000 animals.

3)

This New Guinea blue-tongued skink adapts to its new home at the Denver Zoo after it was displaced from SeaQuest Littleton’s recent closure.

Red-necked wallabies are two animals being cared for at the Denver Zoo following SeaQuest Littleton’s recent closure. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE DENVER ZOO

450 skiers, boarders to shred moguls to help families

BY JASON BLEVINS THE COLORADO SUN

Eric Hilty was a lawyer, sitting with pals at a bar 25 years ago, wondering how he might raise money for the Invest in Kids nonpro t he just founded.

e child advocacy group needed to pay lobbyists to help secure state funding for its nascent program connecting nurses with rst-time mothers. Over beers, the group of skiers carved a plan.

“We needed to raise money quickly so we thought, ‘Maybe we could tie it into skiing,’” Hilty said. “Why not try to ski all the moguls runs at the Jane in a day?”

A couple months after that happy-hour brainstorming session, the rst Jane-A- on in 2000 drew 16 skiers who raised $10,000 as they skied all 16 of Mary Jane’s back-diamond bump runs, with Hilty handing out water bottles and PowerBars from the back of his car parked at the Challenger Lot.

Since then, the state’s longest running ski fundraiser for kids has enlisted 4,678 participants who gathered supporters as they skied Winter Park’s dimpled dame, the mogul-Mecca of Mary Jane. e bumpers have raised more than $2.4 million for Invest In Kids, helping 131,000 children and 42,000 parents in every county of Colorado.

e 25th Jane-A- on — March 1-2 — is expected to involve about 450 skiers and snowboarders and will likely raise more than $340,000.

e March 1 Jane-A- on Corporate Day includes 27 company teams — some with as many as 50 members — gathering for teambuilding ski descents while raising money for Invest In Kids.

“We really think the Jane-A- on couldn’t be a more authentic Colorado type event,” Hilty said.

e Nurse-Family Partnership pairing nurses with low-income moms-to-be for two years remains Invest In Kids’ agship program.

e Denver-based nonpro t has added new programs as its budget has grown to more than $5 million a year, serving more than 14,000 children, parents and caregivers last year.

e group’s Incredible Years program works with preschool-

ers, teachers and parents to develop social and emotional skills.

e Child First program created in 2020 connects mental health clinicians with children and parents in 25 counties in their homes to help deal with chronic stress and trauma.

All the programs are evidencebased, with scienti c research proving the e ectiveness of clinical work that starts with pregnant rst-time moms and works with children through age 5. Invest In Kids partners with communities to do the training and advocacy work while helping to facilitate funding from county, regional and state sources.

“Invest In Kids helps to bridge the gap between academic research and replicating into real work … so local families get to bene t from the best academic research,” said Lisa Hill, who has been with Invest In Kids since 2001, serving as executive director for the past 15 years.

Hilty said he helped found the group after “seeing too many kids in the juvenile justice system” and thinking there should be a better way to reach kids early in life.

“To our core we really believe that every Colorado kid deserves to get o to a right start and we really see these programs achieving that,” he said.

e Jane-A- on has evolved into an event with less of a focus on hammering the state’s largest collection of thigh-crushing bump runs. Most participants — each promising to raise at least $175, which enrolls one student in e Incredible Years program for a year — simply ski for fun, skipping the hustle of skiing 16 long bump runs from bell-to-bell. Although there is a group of veterans, including Hilty, who rush through all 16 of the Jane’s bump elds.

“We have a lot of second-generation participants now too,” said Hilty, remembering a kid who spun 40 laps on the beginnerfriendly Galloping Goose lift at a recent Jane-A- on. “We continue to make the event more and more accessible. It’s just so fun.”

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

Since 2000, the Jane-A-Thon fundraiser for Invest In Kids has raised more than $2.4 million with 4,678 participants skiing the bumps at Winter Park’s Mary Jane. The oldest ski fundraiser in Colorado celebrates its 25th year at Mary Jane on March 1-2.

COURTESY

If you set a play in a senior facility, most people probably would expect something either really sad or overly saccharine. But that’s not what audiences will get at Paul Stroili’s “A Jukebox for the Algonquin.”

“I wrote about the experiences I’d had working at a nursing home — you do see some very sad things, but you also see incredible joy and community,” Stroili said. “It’s not a play about ailments and stu like that. It’s a serious comedy about sex, drugs and rocking chairs.”

VOICES

Miners Alley takes audiences to a modern Algonquin

COMING ATTRACTIONS

a play like this.” e cast features Abby Apple Boes, Edith Weiss, Dwayne Carrington, Chris Kendall, Arlene Hicks, John Hauser and

“A Jukebox for the Algonquin,” makes its regional premiere at Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, 1100 Miners Alley in Golden, from Friday, March 1 through Sunday, April 7. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. ursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

e show takes place in Placid Pines Senior Care Center, where former Brooklyn and Bronx residents decide that instead of staring at a sh tank all day, they’d rather have a jukebox. But since they don’t have the money to buy one, they have to gure out the best way to scrounge the funds up.

“It’s a beautifully constructed show that reminds me of a great Neil Simon play,” said Len Matheo, Miners Alley’s producing artistic director and director of the production. “It has these great jokes that come organically out of a situation and it tells a deep and moving story at the same time. It’s very exciting to direct

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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is is only the third time the play has been produced — it premiered in August 2023 at e Purple Rose eatre Company in Chelsea, Michigan, which is founded by award-winning actor Je Daniels. Its second production was also in Michigan and when Matheo read it, he knew it’d be a perfect t for Miners Alley.

“Something we’re trying to now is a lot more new work from around the country, not just Colorado,” he said. “We want to host regional premieres of great work happening all around the country.”

For Stroili, getting a chance to perform in his own show and help bring it to life at the same time is a special treat. He just hopes people enjoy getting to know the Placid Pines residents as much as he did.

“I hope audiences come away surprised,” he said. “ ese characters are not just warm and fuzzy — they’re real people. I hope they fall in love with the characters because they’ve spent quality time with people who have become their friends.”

Information and tickets can be

• Letters should be exclusively submitted to Colorado Community Media and should not submitted to other outlets or previously posted on websites or social media. Submitted letters become the property of CCM and should not be republished elsewhere.

• Letters advocating for a political candidate should focus on that candidate’s qualifications for o ce. We cannot publish letters that contain unverified negative information about a candidate’s opponent. Letters advocating for

found at https://minersalley.com/ shows/a-jukebox-for-the-algonquin/.

OZ Gallery Hosts Julie Kitzes Workshop

ornton’s OZ Gallery, 9209 Dorothy Blvd., is hosting e Varied Works of Julie Kitzes through Friday, March 22. As part of that exhibit, Kitzes will be taking part in a free community art workshop from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 9. Attendees will be able to learn how to create artwork inspired by her style that they can take home.

For those who are unfamiliar, Kitzes grew up in a remote wooded area of Western Canada, which is where she developed a love for animals and nature. She’s lived in Colorado for a decade and her work is inspired by Art Nouveau and Pop Surrealism, and an appreciation for bright colors.

Find details at www.thorntonco. gov/arts/Pages/exhibits.aspx.

Artist Danielle SeeWalker Has Something to Say at History Center

e art created by Danielle SeeWalker, a Hú kpap a Lak óta citizen from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, is a beautiful example of the continued power of work made by Native American creatives. In her latest exhibit, “But We Have Something to Say,” SeeWalker’s contemporary work gets paired with historic objects. According to provided information, the pairing helps to “explore issues important to Native Ameri-

or against a political candidate or ballot issue will not be published within 12 days of an election.

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can peoples and communities while also making visitors reconsider their preconceptions of Indigenous art.” e exhibition goes on display at the History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway in Denver, on ursday, Feb. 29. More information can be found at www.historycolorado.org/ exhibit/danielle-seewalker-wehave-something-to-say.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Cat Power at the Paramount Theatre

Fans of rock history know that Bob Dylan’s 1965-1966 tour is one of the most consequential in music history. It was during this tour he made the switch from folk troubadour to seminal rock gure — a change that many of his fans had di culty embracing. One of the most famous tour stops was at London’s Royal Albert Hall and last year singer/songwriter Cat Power covered the show in full, bringing her own haunting take to the classic performance.

In a lovely example of closing a loop, Cat Power is now touring behind her version, so audiences at the Paramount eatre, 1621 Glenarm Place in Denver, will be treated to her performance of Dylan’s famous performance. She’ll be there at 8 p.m. on Monday, March 4.

Get tickets at www.ticketmaster. com.

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

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Clarke Reader

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A perfect balance: How CPW keeps mountain lion populations healthy A new ballot ght regarding the hunting of mountain lions is starting to heat up in Colorado. Supporters of a hunting ban contend that a new measure would help to ensure the population of these animals are able to remain stable and healthy. However, members of the hunting and conservation community understand Colorado Parks and Wildlife already have this task covered, as they have successfully maintained adequate wildlife populations for decades. CPW—an institution which is regarded as a national leader in conservation e orts has implemented safeguards to ensure that these animals are able to maintain stable populations. CPW requires that hunters who wish to buy a mountain lion hunting license must rst take a mandatory Mountain Lion Education and Identi cation course and only upon 80% passing score can purchase a license to hunt mountain lions. e strategic placement of the hunting season in the winter allows hunters to identify tracks from female mountain lions with kittens. is informs hunters to stay away as female mountain lion mothers with kittens are not legal for harvest. Still, hunters are subjected to a slew of other regulations to adhere to once they receive a mountain lion hunting license. Per CPW hunters must:

• Properly prepare all edible parts of mountain lions for human consumption. is ensures that no meat will be going to waste.

• Check the Available Mountain Lion Harvest Limits report online prior to each hunting trip

• Refrain from using light

• Refrain from using bait

any illegal hunting of an animal.

CPW also employs hundreds of wildlife biologists who help shape these regulations. CPW has been able to e ectively maintain healthy mountain lion and bobcat populations in the state of Colorado. Wildlife management comes down to balance, and it appears that the CPW has been able to nd just that. Why risk putting this balance of Colorado’s ecosystem in the hands of the electorate come November?

Rather than basing statewide wildlife decisions on emotions, one should consider the science-based system of wildlife management that has endured without issue for decades.

• Refrain from using electronic calls ese are just a handful of ways that the CPW ensures that these animals are given fair chase, and that resources taken from these animals are not wasted. CPW has also taken proactive programs against poaching, creating the “Operation Game ief” program, which allows responsible hunters to report directly to CPW when they have information pertaining to

RE: Community Table building

Alex Krasnec, Arvada

Your Feb. 8 article in the Arvada Press indicates the city has not made a nal decision on the future use of the building once Community Table moves. It seems the ideal use for that building today would be an Arvada History Museum. e building is on the site of the three George Swadley houses that he built as he grew his farm and family. George Swadley was among the most important and prominent early settlers in Arvada, one of the 1859’ers. He is credited with the planning and digging of the rst agricultural ditches that allowed those who came for gold but struck out to stay and become farmers. is led to the settlement of Arvada as an agricultural area. His daughter, Laura Minges, remained in his house until her death in 1960. Unfortunately, it was torn down a few years later and the current building replaced it. Of all the structures on George Swadley’s 400-acre farm only one has survived – the “Kimbrough house” – which was built by George’s daughter Clara Belle and her husband, George Kimbrough. Arvada owes a signi cant debt to the Swadley/Minges family, especially Laura Minges, who chronicled and kept so many diaries, artifacts, letters, pictures and stories of life in Arvada’s early days – and donated so much so that we can enjoy this history. A history museum on former Swadley farm would be ideal. Just a thought.

Karen Miller, Lakewood

Conifer nonprofit helps veterans, service people and civilians

BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Former Lakewood police ocer Erick Perez’s life changed forever in December 2021 when a mass shooter killed ve people, injured his partner and shot at him. But with the help of Conifer nonpro t Faithfully K9 and his dog Chispa, the change marked an unexpected evolution in his life of service — not the end of it.

Chispa, originally adopted as a family pet, is now a service dog. And Perez is a trainer with Faithfully K9 who’s also pursuing a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling.

“It’s been amazing,” Perez said. “Because I went through that therapeutic healing myself, I fell in love with it.

“We’ve been conditioned to be hard and suck it up,” he continued. “But much like we go see a doctor when something hurts in our body,

I think it’s also important to look at our mental health. And a service dog, with its unconditional love and the bond you have, makes a di erence. It’s amazing what a dog can do in your life.”

Conifer resident Cathy Kowalski founded Faithfully K9 in 2018 to help those with disabilities or su ering the e ects of trauma. Unlike service dog organizations that match people with a puppy — requiring years of training — Faithfully K9 works with an individual to train their own dog or puppy as a service dog. Training typically takes 7 to 12 months.

“I saw a void,” said Kowalski, formerly a trainer with Englewoodbased Freedom Service Dogs. “Many times, people had a great dog at home they already had a relationship with, but had to add an already trained dog to their household.

“We also feel these dogs save lives because their owners don’t have to wait 3 to 5 years to get a dog,” she continued. “We work with a lot of veterans who have PTSD. If you have PTSD, you don’t have years to wait.”

Regardless of breed, she said, the canine’s character traits make it uniquely quali ed to be a service animal.

“Dogs don’t judge you,” Kowalski

said. “ ey love you no matter what. ey just want to please you and be there for you — and they bring a smile to your face.”

In 2023, with the help of three trainers, Faithfully K9 graduated 30 dogs from its program. At least 50% of the dogs it trains were adopted as rescues, and training is provided at no cost to veterans or active duty military. Civilians pay a signi cantly discounted rate.

Not every dog makes it through the program, or quali es to participate. Kowalski and her fellow trainers pull on ears, pick up paws and do a variety of other physical tests on each candidate dog. While many service dog programs use speci c breeds, Kowalski said any dog has the capacity to serve.

“A dog must be comfortable with a stranger handling it, not afraid of loud noises, or a tug on the tail,” she said. “If a dog’s growling at me, we’re done. e few dogs that don’t make it usually fail because of problems with people.”

Faithfully K9 trainers work for about a year with each owner/dog pair, typically training in the client’s home and community. eir clients’ range extends from Broomeld south to Castle Rock, and Aurora west to Conifer. Clients from

outside those areas also travel to train with the team.

Saved by a dog

Fort Lupton resident Gabriel Griego is among those clients who felt he had run out of time. e former Marine was medically discharged from the service after suffering an injury. He said he was diagnosed with PTSD stemming in part from childhood and sexual trauma, and struggled with substance abuse. Griego tried multiple medications, but could not shake his dark thoughts and feelings.

“I always joked I took every pill imaginable,” he said. “Half of them made me more suicidal. A lot of it just didn’t work for me and continued to make me feel worse. After my last suicide attempt in 2022, my wife said, ‘We need to gure something out.’”

Griego learned about Faithfully K9 through WarriorNOW, a nonpro t aimed at helping veterans with mental health and other challenges. Kowalski helped him nd Nala, a lab/masti mix who is now a year-and-a-half old. e two began training together when Nala was a puppy.

SERVICE DOGS

e change in Griego’s quality of life has been dramatic. With Nala at his side, his previous struggles with loud noise, crowds and people approaching him from behind have eased. Depression still haunts him, but when it descends, Nala is a warm and soothing presence.

“A year and a month into the training, there are days where it’s still difcult,” he said. “Nala is the one who pulls me out of those days. And the di erent training we do connects me back to myself and to Nala, and calms me down.

“She also helps my wife because Nala realizes when I’m going through a funk,” he said. “She’ll lay on me and just stare at my wife, like she’s saying ‘It’s OK, I got him.’ I’ve put my wife through so much with all the mental health stu ; I’m so grateful that now she can take that breather.”

Griego has also been substance free for two years, which he credits in large part to the help Faithfully K9 has provided.

“I was shocked by everything they do for veterans and rst responders — something so truly life saving at absolutely no cost to us,” he said. “Every veteran I know, we don’t stop ghting. e reason so many of us succumb to suicide is we just want the pain to end.

“ ere are so many people like me that have gone down these dark paths who I hope can stop trying to end their pain in a di erent way,” he continued. “Instead, hang out with a four-legged best friend all day. ings will be a little bit more ok.”

Griego is now working with Suicide Prevention Coaliton of Colorado, where he is focused on helping veterans. And in imitation of her owner, Nala is also extending her reach to help others.

“I take Nala into some of my meetings,” he said. “She’s awesome at picking up on the needs of other people. You see her tail wagging because she’s so excited to help anyone she can.”

Training for success

Kowalski and her team train dogs

in the owner’s homes, and in public. e dogs must learn to ignore distractions — like food, crowds, other dogs and enthusiastic children — and keep the focus on their owner. at makes shopping centers like the Castle Rock Factory Outlets ideal.

Kowalski recently met there with Colorado Springs client Levi Francis, and his six-month goldendoodle Finn. Francis su ered both mental and physical trauma while serving in the military and in childhood. Due to an injury, he also has screws in his feet that make it tough for him to balance.

Francis had been searching for a support dog since 2021 with no success. Other agencies turned down his request for a variety of reasons. Because Francis and his wife foster a variety of animals with disabilities, one said the environment would be too chaotic for training a service dog.

Faithfully K9 saw it di erently. Kowalski said “yes” to Francis’ request, and a nonpro t for which Francis volunteers led him to Finn.

At six months, Finn is tall and broad, and uncharacteristically calm for his age. His copper curls and teddy-bear features draw the attention of children and adults alike, but Finn is nearly unwavering in his focus — which is Francis.

“He’s a giant, dopey, lovable dude,” Francis said. “Our ferrets sleep next to him. He ts in perfectly with our family. We’re training really fast. Overall, he’s pretty amazing. O leash, he acts like a puppy. In training, he’s always listening.”

Like Nala, Finn has learned to sit or stand between Francis’ legs on command, a posture that allows Francis to physically connect with the dog, diverting his focus from any fears or anxiety-inducing distractions. Because of his size, Finn also helps his owner with balance issues resulting from the screws in his feet.

work with.”

He’s an ideal helpmate for Francis, whose hypervigilance and triggers are slowly easing.

“I’ve been able to go out a lot more,” he said. “I’m being less watchful just because he distracts me. My wife was surprised the other day because I o ered to go to the movies. He’s a fantastic partner to

Faithfully K9 has a thick book of similar success stories. It also has far more demand for services than resources to meet it.

“We have over 60 clients we’re working with, and I have more people calling me every day,” Kowalski said. “We have dogs working with therapists and psychiatrists in schools. We do skilled companions for rst responders. We work with a

lot of re ghters and police o cers. We are always struggling to nd donations.”

Despite those ongoing struggles, Kowalski is tireless in her mission. For her, it is a calling.

“I do this to help people,” she said. “I believe that’s why we’re here on this planet. Just making a di erence in one person’s life is worth it.”

For more information or to donate, visit faithfullyk9.com.

Colorado Springs resident and veteran Levi Francis trains with his dog, Finn, at the Castle Rock Factory Stores.

PHOTO BY JANE REUTER

Former Japanese internment camp joins national park system

BY EMMA VANDENEINDE KUNC

Amache, a former Japanese internment camp in far southeastern Colorado, is now o cially part of the national park system.

e site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994, and later named a National Historic Landmark in 2006. President Joe Biden signed the Amache National Historic Site Act in 2022, pushing the site even further to national park status.

But the land still had to be transferred by the town of Granada before it could be o cial. Without that piece, no federal funding could be put into the site.

“As a nation, we must face the wrongs of our past in order to build a more just and equitable future,” said Deb Haaland, the Secretary of the Interior, in a press release. “Today’s establishment of the Amache National Historic Site will help preserve and honor this important and painful chapter in our nation’s story for future generations.”

Before becoming part of the National Park system, a local history teacher—John Hopper—recruited some of his high school students to create a museum for the site and collect heirlooms from survivors to display.

“I think without them, there would not be Amache as a national park,” Carlene Tinker, an Amache

survivor, said. “I really feel that way.”

Many survivors like Tinker have fought for greater recognition of the site for their whole lives. She was three years old when she was forced to live at the camp.

“My rst reaction was nally, okay, nally,” she said. “It’s a very proud moment. I’m thinking about all the people who endured the incarceration experience, and thatnally their story is being told.

At its peak, Amache — also known as the Granada Relocation Center — housed more than 7,000 Japanese-Americans during the 1940s. ey were forced to live behind barbed wire in poorly-insulated rooms. is was one of ten other Japanese internment camps that existed during World War II, with some being located in the Mountain West.

Mitch Homma’s grandparents and their kids were also imprisoned at the camp. He wishes more of his relatives were alive to see this historical moment.

“My dad’s older sister just passed away,” he said. “She was hoping she was gonna be around and see it come to fruition and stu . But, you know, we got it done.”

e camp served meals that were

di erent than what they were used to — eggs, potatoes and hot dogs, to name a few. Homma’s dad died at the camp after not eating the food. He re ected on what his dad would have said about the news.

“I think he would have been totally surprised,” he said. “ e one statement he said back then was, ‘ ey didn’t care about us in 1942, and I don’t think enough people care about us now,” he said, getting emotional. “And now it’s happening and, you know, it’s pretty special.”

Some survivors, like Gary Ono, are happy that younger people are taking an interest in the park before he and many others pass away.

“I just turned 84 last week, so I know that I feel my mortality,” he said. “As we all pass on, we just hope that our history will continue. So just having Amache as a National Park Service site will help to preserve and keep telling the story.”

Amache is open to the public now, and will start to undergo some improvements of transforming the signage and working on the roads. ere will be an o cial ribbon cutting ceremony on May 17th. is story runs via e Associated Press’ Storyshare, of which Colorado Community Media is a member.

Thu 3/07

Natalie Prauser @ 5:30pm

Goosetown Station, 514 9th St, Golden

The Wendy Woo Band @ 7pm Little Bear Live, 28075 CO-74, Evergreen

Hazlett @ 8pm

Fri 3/08

Brightenstar at Rolling Hills CC @ 6pm

The Club at Rolling Hills, 15707 W 26th Ave, Golden

Ari Shaf�r @ 7:30pm

Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St, Denver

Dave Matthews Tribute Band @ 8pm

Cervantes Other Side, 2637 Welton Street, Denver

Sat 3/09

Jeff Dunham @ 3pm Bellco Theatre, 700 14th St, Denver

The Milk Blossoms @ 8pm

Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

Wed 3/13

Intervals, Hail The Sun, Makari, Body Thief @ 6pm

Summit Music Hall, 1902 Blake St, Denver

Black Market Translation: Punketry! @ 6:30pm

Mutiny Information Cafe, 2 S Broadway, Denver

LCC Presents Special EFX featuring Chieli Minucci and Karen Briggs @ 7:30pm / $25 Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 South Allison Parkway, Lakewood. tickets@lakewood.org, 303-9877845

Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St,, Denver

Shift w/ Ahee @ 8:30pm

Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, 2637 Welton St, Denver

Gabriel Santiago Solo @ Dazzle @ 11pm

Dazzle Denver, 1080 14th Street, Denver

Sun 3/10

Electric Whiskey Experiment @ 3pm Revival Denver Public House, 630 E 17th Ave, Denver

The Reveille @ 8pm Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

Mon 3/11

Soundularity: Gamma Theta Electronic Soundbath @ 6:30pm

Archipelago Denver, 2345 7th St, Denver

Dharius

@ 7pm

Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver

One Night of Queen @ 7:30pm

Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place, Denver

Tue 3/12

Mehro

@ 7pm / $18

CHADZILLA MUSIC: Bright Star the Musical @ 7pm

Denver School Of The Arts, 7111 Montview Blvd, Denver

Night Lovell @ 8pm

Moon Room at Summit, 1902 Blake Street, Denver

Me Like Bees

@ 7pm

Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver

Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, 2637 Welton St, Denver

Featured Featured

UCHealth sues thousands of patients, but its name is not on lawsuits

BY JOHN INGOLD AND CHRIS VANDERVEEN THE COLORADO SUN AND 9NEWS

e ring sparkled: 18-karat white gold, double-banded, with a 1.5-carat diamond at its center.

It was the ring that Cathy WoodsSullivan’s late husband had given to her on their wedding day, a family heirloom. Other than their two teenage daughters, it was the most precious thing she had left.

She handed it forward to the pawnbroker feeling sick to her stomach.

He looked at her, then at the ring, then back up at her.

“I’m going to hold onto it for a little while,” he said.

But Woods-Sullivan knew she wouldn’t be back.

She needed the money to pay o a debt to UCHealth, Colorado’s largest hospital system, one that collects more than $6 billion a year in revenue from patient care.

“We improve lives,” UCHealth touts in its mission statement.

But this same system sues thousands of its patients like WoodsSullivan every year, according to a 9News/Colorado Sun investigation done in partnership with the Colorado News Collaborative and KFF Health News.

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We meet in person with extraordinary live music on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month from 10:30a.m. to noon at: Activity Options, 7401 W. 59th Ave., Arvada, 80003.

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Please phone: 720-576-9193, or email: livingwaterspiritualcommunity@gmail.com

Our website is: www.livingwaterunity.org

at 303-566-4074 or email

eaddenbrooke@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

Walkways in the University of Colorado Hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, photographed on Oct. 18, 2019.

PHOTO BY JOHN INGOLD / THE COLORADO SUN

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SEE UCHEALTH, P19

What’s more, many of these lawsuits are shielded from public scrutiny through a system in which collection companies working with UCHealth le lawsuits in their own names. Taken together, UCHealth and these companies led 15,710 lawsuits from 2019 through 2023, UCHealth revealed in response to questions from 9News and the Colorado Sun. at is an average of 3,142 lawsuits per year, or more than eight per day.

In the last four years, virtually none of the lawsuits have been led in UCHealth’s name.

“ ey are essentially deliberately using those third-party collection agencies to obscure the fact that they are the ones suing the patients,” said Adam Fox, the deputy

director of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, a consumer-advocacy group that helps patients in disputes over medical bills. “It makes it really hard for the patient to untangle.”

One of these debt collection companies working for UCHealth sued Woods-Sullivan over a bill from an emergency visit for chest pains. She tried at rst to ght in court, then eventually entered into a payment plan to settle the case.

But when the stress of arguing with the debt collector over how much she still owed after every check was too much, she decided she wanted to be done.

She looked through her house for something she could sell.

“It was beautiful, beautiful,” she said of her ring. “But I had to do what I had to do. I was tired of getting the runaround.

“It was all I had.”

Woods-Sullivan owed UCHealth

$1,634.34.

e health system, which as a nonpro t community institution is exempt from paying taxes, recorded $839 million in total pro ts last year.

In a given year, UCHealth’s network of 14 hospitals and more than 200 clinics treats almost 3 million unique patients — a number equivalent to roughly half the state’s population.

From those patients, UCHealth estimates that 99.93% of bills are resolved without involving the courts.

“Our job is to stay out of the courts,” UCHealth’s chief legal ofcer, Jacki Cooper Melmed said. “ at is the very last resort.”

Until now, no one outside UCHealth knew how many lawsuits the system had actually led, though, due to the collections practice UCHealth has adopted.

e hospital system “assigns” the

debt to a debt collector without relinquishing ownership of the debt.

e debt collector — UCHealth currently uses two and has used a third in the past — then les the lawsuits against the patients in its own name, which is often nondescript. Credit Service Company. CollectionCenter, Inc.

e debt collector gets a cut of whatever money comes from the lawsuit — Cooper Melmed did not say how much — with the rest going back to UCHealth.

Most often, no publicly available court document contains UCHealth’s name, making the system’s involvement in these suits invisible to lawmakers, to state regulators and to the public at-large.

Woods-Sullivan said she initially had no idea who was suing her.

“It was so confusing to me,”

said Woods-Sullivan, who is now a plainti in a lawsuit challenging the legality of UCHealth’s debt lawsuits. “I spent two days trying to reach out to people ... just going through the process of trying to resolve the issue with the bill.”

e amount UCHealth collects from lawsuits is about $5 million per year, according to the health system. at represents 0.07% of the net patient revenue that UCHealth reported receiving last year.

UCHealth o cials argue the lawsuits are an unfortunate necessity in the health care business, where sometimes bills go unpaid and hospitals need money to continue operating.

Meet Paws!

Paws (272927) is a 7-year-old female cat. She is currently residing in a FAS foster home. Paws rocks a fabulous mustache, a big personality, and a seriously charming side with people who have gained her trust. Paws’ perfect adopter will be down with that sometimes-fickle streak in a feline and will find a companion who tends to bond intensely with her favorite humans. She’s available to a home where she’ll be the only pet. We anticipate that a larger floorplan may be one key to helping her feel secure. Paws is available to a

“I can tell you it is a common practice,” Cooper Melmed, the chief legal o cer, said. “I don’t think UCHealth is an outlier here.”

But not all large hospital systems in Colorado choose to pursue patients this way. e second-largest hospital system in the state, forpro t HealthONE, says it does not sue patients over debt. AdventHealth and Banner Health, two other large nonpro t hospital systems operating in Colorado, also said they do not sue patients.

SCL Health, which is a nonpro t like UCHealth, had sued hundreds of patients in Colorado per year under its own name, according to an analysis of court records. But when the system merged with Intermountain Health in 2022, it stopped.

“ is was done to better align with our mission,” Intermountain spokeswoman Sara Quale wrote in an email.

Debt collection lawsuits are among the most devastating products of a medical debt crisis that now burdens some 100 million people in the U.S., threatening patients’ homes, their savings, even their health.

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FoothillsAnimalShelter.org info@fas4pets.org

Aninvestigation by KFF Health News in 2022 found that about two-thirds of hospitals across the country have policies that allow them to sue or take other legal action against patients, including garnishing wages. But in recent years, major hospital systems in other states have chosen to stop suing patients over medical debt, often following negative publicity.

One way to avoid that publicity

is to sue under a debt collector’s name.

e nonpro t Pew Charitable Trusts, which has researched debt collection litigation across the country, found third-party collectors suing on behalf of creditors in Oregon and Utah.

and Anna Hewson

9News contributed to this report. is story runs via e Associated Press’ Storyshare, of which Colorado Community Media is a member. A full version of this story can be found at www.ColoradoSun.com

Noam N. Levey of KFF Health News

of

Cathy Woods-Sullivan, Feb. 8 in Aurora. Woods-Sullivan sold her wedding ring at a nearby pawn shop to alleviate medical debt from hospital visits.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA SUN / THE COLORADO SUN VIA REPORT FOR AMERICA

“My

Eaglecrest boys basketball punches ticket to 6A Great 8

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

AURORA — Eaglecrest freshman Kristopher Coleman was clutch for the Raptors in the boys basketball Class 6A Sweet 16 game Saturday afternoon.

No. 9-seeded Ralston Valley grabbed its rst lead of the game 46-45 with 1:59 left in the fourth quarter when sophomore Caiden Braketa made a pair of free throws. However, Coleman answered with a 3-pointer on the next possession and the No. 8 Raptors never trailed again in a 53-49 victory.

“I knew the team trusted me,” Coleman said of his huge 3-pointer on his way to a team-high 13 points. “I just knocked it down.”

Coleman came into Saturday’s playo game having just two double-digit scoring e orts, but with junior Lucas Kalimba still recovering from coming back from an injury, the freshman guard was counted on by Eaglecrest coach Jarris Krapcha.

“It has been an ongoing thing with him (Coleman) trying to get him to do more,” Krapcha said of his starting freshman. “We needed another kid to step up. It’s been a constant thing. You’ve got to score. We need to be aggressive. You need to look for your shot. It has been kind of up and down.”

It was de ntely an up game for Coleman, who also helped seal the victory and trip to the Great 8 at the Denver Coliseum on ursday, Feb. 29.

Coleman made 3-of-6 free throws in the nal minute. He sunk the nal two free throws with 3.9 seconds remaining with a handicap. Coleman had his left contact knocked out of his eye on the previous possession, but still made both free throws despite blurred vision to give Eaglecrest the 4-point lead.

“I’m just kind of worried about this win right now,” Coleman said. “Now it’s go time.”

Senior Sir Devin Roberts (12 points), along with juniors Ladavian King (7 points) and Garrett Barger (7 points) helped the Rap-

tors advance to the Great 8 for the rst time since 2022.

Eaglecrest (18-7 record) will face No. 1 and undefeated Fruita Monument (25-0) on ursday.

e Wildcats eliminated No. 17 Broom eld 61-44 on Saturday afternoon. While Fruita is undefeated, it hasn’t played a team that is remaining in the 6A state tournament.

“(Ralston Valley) is a very wellcoached team that runs a lot of great sets,” Krapcha said. “ ey are discipline on defense and they have two really good players (Tanner and Caiden Braketa) that can score the ball. We knew it was going to be a battle.”

Ralston Valley (19-6) stayed within striking distance the entire game at Eaglecrest High School.

Junior Tanner Braketa played in just a dozen games this season after undergoing knee surgery this summer. Tanner wasn’t cleared to play until after Winter Break.

e two-time Je co League MVP poured in 24 points in the nal three quarters to lead the Mustangs. It was his second 20-plus game this season.

“Tanner is so freakin good,” Krapcha said. “You’ve got to help. You’ve got to worry about his shot. It was a team approach.”

Tanner and his younger brother Caiden had drives to the basket trying to tie or take the lead in the nal minute, but the Raptors’ defense held strong.

“(Eaglecrest) was in foul trouble so we had to do that,” Tanner said of the Mustangs attacking the rim in the nal minutes.

Ralston Valley graduates senior starters Jackson Hansen and Mason Trebilcock, but will return several of key players that got a lot of varsity experience this season.

“We’ll get more healthy this summer,” Tanner said. “Get more athletic, bigger, strong and faster over the summer. at’s the focus.”

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

Ralston Valley sophomore Samson Wright (45) protects the rim from a dunk attempt by Eaglecrest junior Garrett Barger (12) during the first half Saturday, Feb. 24, at Eaglecrest High School. The Mustangs took the lead in the fourth quarter, but Eaglecrest would pull out a 53-49 victory to end Ralston Valley’s season in the Class 6A Sweet 16 playo game.

PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS / JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Colorado Pond Hockey Tournament draws thousands to Georgetown Lake

BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e annual Colorado Pond Hockey Tournament was held on the ice of Georgetown Lake for the rst time, but it wasn’t supposed to be

It was scheduled to take place on Dillon Reservoir.

However, two weeks before the

tournament started, Feb. 16 organizers say heavy equipment started falling through the thin ice and into the reservoir.

“Dillon’s ice is way too thin; they unfortunately lost two skid steers in the water,” event coordinator and Georgetown public information ofcer Jess Jones said.

Ben Anderson and his 22-year-old son traveled to Georgetown from Austin, Texas to compete together with the Anonymous Hockey Club.

AJ Williams from San Antonio, Texas holds his son two-year-old, Leon, at the tournament. This is the eighth year Williams has played in the Colorado Ice Hockey tournament.

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POND HOCKEY

FROM

Georgetown residents and town employees worked together feverishly to set up the two dozen individual hockey rinks and found parking and vendors to welcome the more than 1,800 players, their families and spectators, according to Jones.

Jones said it took “a lot of group e ort.”

“It’s a community event,” Jones said. “Everybody wants to help out one way or another.”

ey pulled it o and teams took to the ice over three days to compete for the championship on Sunday, Feb. 18.

e players came from across the country, and for some of them, the annual tournament is a family tradition.

Ben Anderson and his 22-year-old son traveled to Georgetown from Austin, Texas to compete together with the Anonymous Hockey Club.

MISSION

CCHA has awarded funds in the Community Incentive Program since 2019 — doling out over $8.6 million to organizations throughout the state in that time.

Other recipients this year include Deserving Dental, Eye Love Care and a Family Support Navigation

“It’s a parent’s dream to be able to participate in any kind of event or project with your kiddos and see them enjoy it,” Anderson said. “ at’s worth everything right there.”

e 30-minute games included a 10-minute break at halftime and every rink was lled with players competing.

ere were a few ghts and minor brawls, according to tournament volunteer Jen Lofton, but overall she said it was a friendly and family atmosphere.

During breaks between games, even the kids got some time on the ice, preparing to one day compete in the tournament themselves. at included ve-year-old Jake Murphy from Colorado Springs. His dad Jez was competing as his mom Alexa watched while caring for the family’s three year old, Summer.

“Well, we were making him skate on the path and he was mad because it wasn’t the real skating rink, he was also looking for sh under there,” Al-

Pilot program in El Paso County. After the latter two organizations, Mission Arvada’s award was the recipient of the third richest award.

Amy Yutzy, CCHA’s executive director of Medicaid Programs, said the Community Incentive Program is an initiative meant to ensure all Medicaid recipients in Colorado get adequate care.

“To successfully coordinate care and services for approximately 341,630 Health First Colorado

exa Murphy said, smiling. e last minute change gave Georgetown time to shine in the sunny weekend of hockey, Jones said. It also lled hotel rooms and home rentals across the region.

For competitors and their families, a trip to the mountains was a welcome change.

“It’s beautiful,” Anderson said. “We don’t get a lot of snow in Texas, so this is phenomenal.”

Georgetown, Anderson added, was a surprise, but it’s a town he’ll bring his family to again.

“It’s an incredible experience and it’s a beautiful, beautiful city here in Georgetown and you couldn’t ask for better conditions,” he said.

Organizers said it was a challenge putting it all together in two weeks, but it was a great chance to showcase the town and welcome guests.

“You’re a part of it. You don’t have to put yourself out there or try too hard — everyone just welcomes you as you are,” Jones said.

members, we must build upon and maintain a network of strong community support,” Yutzy said. “Each of this year’s recipients aligns closely with CCHA’s goals and addresses social determinants of health.

“We are honored to support these recipients as they care for vulnerable populations, including those facing homelessness and members requiring non-covered dental and eye care,” Yutzy continued. “ is

year’s awardees also tackle obstacles related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in health care, such as addressing transportation issues, mental health barriers, and improving access to care.”Mission Arvada recently hired a new pastor, Jarrod Irwin after the retirement of Pastor Stephen Beyers, and received $25,000 in grant funding through the City of Arvada’s allocation of Housing and Urban Development money.

Five-year-old Jake Murphy from Colorado Springs gets some ice time during the Colorado Pond Hockey Tournament at Georgetown Lake Feb. 17.

PHOTO BY CHRIS KOEBERL