Three other victims of crash — one adult and two children — remain in critical condition
BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COMOne of the four people who were critically injured whena small plane crashed into an Arvada resident’s front yard has been identi ed as Melissa Brinkmann, a mother of three who lived in Parker, according
to Arvada Police and Brinkmann’s social media pages.
A small Beechcraft 35 Bonanza single-engine plane crash landed into a lawn near Oberon and Carr Street in Arvada on June 7 after making contact with a large spruce tree, according to eyewitness reports. Four people were transported to the hospital with critical injuries; two children and two adults.
Arvada Police said that on June 8, Brinkmann was pronounced dead. Her family shared the following message in the wake of her passing:
SEE CRASH, P7
e Je erson County Clerk and Recorder sent out the ballots for the 2024 Colorado State Primary Elections in early June. Here’s what you need to know about the primaries and to ensure that your vote is counted.
According to the Je erson County Clerk and Recorder’s election factsheet, ballots went out to approximately 415,000 eligible voters in Je erson County. In the last State Primary Elections in 2022, 32.8% of county voters mailed in a ballot or voted at a county voting center.
According to the county clerk and recorder’s factsheet, this ballot will contain federal, state and county candidates. In Je erson County, many of the primary candidates are running uncontested. In addition to the usual U.S. congress seats and state legislature seats, the primary ballots will have candidates for other races including:
• Colorado State Board of Education
• Gilpin and Je erson County District Attorney
• University of Colorado Board of Regents
• Je erson County Commissioners e county clerk’s o ce notes that the primary ballots will not have “issue questions, ballot initiatives, amendments, or propositions” according to the election fact sheet.
District 30, which covers Lakewood and part of Wheat Ridge, has an uncontested primary for the Republicans, but Democrat voters have a choice between candidates Rebekah Stewart or Kyra deGruy Kennedy.
State representative primary races are uncontested for districts 23 (Wheat Ridge), 24 (Arvada), 25 (Evergreen and Conifer) and 27 (Golden), meaning that there is only one Democrat and one Republican candidate for each — except for the District 23 race, which has no Republican candidate.
Most mortgage loans are not assumable, but VA loans are assumable when certain conditions are met. Here’s what I have learned about that.
There are many sellers who are veterans and obtained a VA loan on the home they are now selling. If they don’t need to regain their certificate of eligibility for a VA loan on their replacement home, they can sell their home to anyone — not just a veteran — and let that person assume their VA loan. For the seller to regain their eligibility for a VA loan on their replacement home, the buyer would have to be able to qualify for a VA loan as a veteran.
Wendy Renee, our in-house lender at Golden Real Estate, helped me learn the rules for assuming a VA loan.
Rocket Mortgage has an excellent website explaining those rules and is the source for the following. I’ll post a link to their webpage on our company blog, http://RealEstateToday.substack.com
The good news is that a buyer can assume a VA loan, even if they would not qualify for a VA loan for themselves. If the seller has a VA mortgage at, say, 2.75%, a buyer would get to take over that loan and make the same payments. Not bad, given today’s loan rates over 6 percent!
Conventional loans guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are not
assumable. Sellers with a VA loan will want to take advantage of this crucial selling point over competing listings on the MLS. Every seller who has an existing VA loan should have his listing agent emphasize that fact in the MLS, pointing out its interest rate and that it’s assumable. However, if it’s important to the seller that he regain his entitlement to a VA loan for his replacement home, then it should be noted in the MLS that the seller will only allow an eligible veteran to assume the loan.
Hooray for that veteran, because a new VA loan would probably have an interest rate over 6%.
Although the buyer will not need to meet the military eligibility, he or she will need to meet the financial eligibility requirements of the lender. The lender, not the VA, must approve the assumption. If the lender approves your financial qualifications, you can proceed with the assumption. Note: Lenders are not required by the VA to allow assumption. Most lenders have a minimum FICO score to qualify for a loan. With Rocket Mortgage, that score is 580. Other lenders require a minimum score of 620.
VA loans don’t require a down payment, but in assuming a VA loan, you may be asked for a down payment. Considering that most homes for sale have plenty of equity due to the rise in home
As we navigate the real estate market for the week of June 5th-12th, 2024, it is clear that the market continues to retract. Increased inventory and hesitant buyers have led to significant shifts in market dynamics. Now the key points:
Retraction persists as more inventory enters the market and pending transactions decline, leading to a higher months’ supply of inventory than usual for the second week of June.
The growing inventory and shrinking buyer pool have caused prices to fall slightly as we transition into summer.
Our average daily active listings have increased week over week, with inventory significantly higher compared to the same period last year.
New listings have shown an upward trend, and this activity is expected to continue growing until September. However, pending transactions have declined compared to the previous weekend.
The odds of selling have decreased
values, that’s not very likely.
VA loans require the payment of a funding fee, and that is true for the buyer who assumes a VA loan. That funding fee is 0.5% of the loan amount. As with the original borrower, that fee can be waived if the buyer is a disabled veteran or the spouse of a deceased veteran with a service-related disability.
Compensating for that 0.5% funding fee is the fact that you won’t have other fees, including paying for an appraisal.
A processing fee of $250 to $300 will be charged to the buyer in addition to the funding fee.
Note that the VA is not the lender The loan is merely guaranteed by the VA. The underwriting requirements may differ from lender to lender.
So, how do you find a home on which the seller has a VA loan? Unfortunately, that is a not a searchable field on the
MLS, even for us MLS members. However, if you find a home you want to buy, we can find that property on Realist, an app within the MLS, which tells what kind of loan, if any, was taken out by the seller. And, of course, we can ask the listing agent if that VA loan is still in place and what the current balance and interest rate is. Depending on the buyer’s cash reserves, it may be necessary to apply for a second mortgage.
When the loan is assumed, the seller needs to request a release of liability from the lender. Without that, the seller could be responsible for late payment fees or even default by the new borrower. Ask your lender in advance of agreeing to the assumption whether you will receive a release. If they won’t, that could or should be a deal breaker.
If you’d like help finding a home with a VA loan in place, call us (below).
compared to last week, trending historically below the average for June in previous years.
To balance the market with a 6-month supply of inventory, we would need a significantly higher number of total listings, indicating we are currently far from market equilibrium.
Showings last week were down slightly, with the average number of showings per property and the number of showings required to go under contract showing some fluctuations.
Price reductions were more prevalent this week, with a notable portion of units going under contract after reducing their price. The size of these reductions has remained consistent.
If you are wondering when to list your property this summer, it is advisable to list as soon as possible. Growing inventory and a diminishing buyer pool could lead to longer days on market and potential price reductions. Listing earlier in the summer may help achieve the best possible price for your home.
The sellers designed this 4,603-sq.-ft. home at 6714 Field St. in Arvada for entertaining and were the general contractor when building it in 1985. Spaces for entertaining abound both indoors and on the large wraparound deck, which was rebuilt with Trex two years ago. There's an indoor hot tub in its own room that is well ventilated to avoid moisture-related issues. Oak hardwood floors are on the main level, while the upstairs and the mostly finished basement have wall-to-wall carpeting. All bathrooms and the kitchen are tiled. There is a guest bedroom on the main floor (used by the seller as a home office) and a reading room and sewing room upstairs. This home is an early example of passive solar design for exploiting solar gain through thermal mass in the winter but staying cool in the summer. In addition to the solar thermal panels on the roof which provide hot water for the home, there are solar thermal panels built into the south wall of the living room to capture solar gain in the winter for warming the house after dark. The backyard includes a large garden area and a shed with electricity which has two compartments — a storage area with a concrete floor and a south-facing area with gravel floor and windows to capture solar gain for starting plants in the late winter. There is no HOA and there’s a gate on the north side of the house for parking an RV next to the garage. Find more info and pictures at www.GRElistings.com, then come to my open house on Saturday, June 22nd, 11am to 1pm.
Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851
Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com 1214 Washington Ave., Golden 80401
Broker Associates:
JIM SWANSON, 303-929-2727
CHUCK BROWN, 303-885-7855
DAVID DLUGASCH, 303-908-4835
GREG KRAFT, 720-353-1922
AUSTIN POTTORFF, 970-281-9071
KATHY JONKE, 303-990-7428
“Concentrate on giving and the getting will take care of itself.” —Anonymous
Arvada’s City Council had a busy meeting on June 10, with two workshops. Council began with a look at Colorado’s 2024 Legislative Session, then wrapped up with a look at the City’s current bond projects.
In 2023, e City of Arvada began contracting lobbyists from Bowditch and Cassell Public Affairs — a full-service government relations rm. e lobbyists are responsible for strategic analysis, direct lobbying, communication of positions and interests of the City and coordination with advocacy organizations. is meant that the lobbyists advocated on behalf of the interests of the city during the 2024 Legislative Session —their rst session doing so.
Each year, Arvada City Council publishes a Legislative Agenda, outlining the initiatives the city supports during the upcoming session. Contracting lobbyists was a way to further the city’s interests and policy goals during the session.
Arvada’s lobbyists — Ed Bowditch and Jennifer Cassell — spoke with council about the impacts of their work during the 2024 Legislative Session — which convened on January 10 and adjourned on May 8.
During the session, Arvada took position on 13 bills — identifying three to support, ve to oppose, three to amend and two to monitor. Two of the three bills Arvada supported passed while the other bill was killed in committee.
e rst bill Arvada supported that passed was HB24-1090, which restores access to criminal court case ling information on child victims. e bill — who State Rep. Brianna Titone was a prime sponsor for — allows unredacted records to be released to victims and their representatives, as well as the o ce of the state public defender —among other government o ces.
Arvada also supported HB24-
60 minute period.
However, the last bill supported by the city, SB24-106, which would have allowed builders the right to remedy a defect before litigation occurred was killed in committee. State Sen. Rachel Zenzinger was a prime sponsor for the bill.
“I am highly disappointed that Senator Zenzinger’s construction defect reform bill did not pass,” said Mayor Lauren Simpson. “ is is a critical piece for us to be able to get ownership-opportunity condominiums back into our market —especially if the state is mandating all this high-density development.”
Meanwhile, three out of the ve bills Arvada opposed passed — meaning that two were successfully killed. One of the bills that did not pass would have allowed a single-exit stairway to serve up to ve stories of multifamily residential buildings. e other would have strengthened responses to law enforcement misconduct.
e presentation also looked at laws passed this session that could be impactful on Arvada, focusing primarily on HB24-1313. e bill requires communities that qualify as transit-oriented communities—meaning they have at least 4,000 people, are entirely within a metropolitan planning organization and contain 75 acres of transit related areas—to create denser, transit oriented communities.
confess to having concerns about HB24-1313 in particular, given the amount of mass transit we have. Arvada has been a leader on transit oriented housing for years, so it’s highly disappointing to be told that we can’t determine our own community needs and where.”
“While we will wait for fuller guidance to be issued, this high-density mandate is beyond the scope of our build-out plans,” Simpson added. “We will need to reassess our infrastructure and water needs alike, and proceed with caution and great thoughtfulness to ensure that we rst do no harm.”
roughout the presentation, Bowditch and Cassell emphasized Arvada’s involvement in the legislative session through their lobbying.
“ is recap showed us how important it is to have local governments voices heard at the capitol when policy is being debated,” said council member Lisa Feret.
“ e Legislature certainly had a busy session this year,” Simpson said. “I’d like to thank the Arvada delegation for their hard work, and for being great partners to me personally as we advocated for policy that was in Arvada‘s best interest.”
Council also took a look at some of the bond projects the city is currently working on — focusing on
of work. Paving and striping on the road were completed in December, leaving some landscaping and a little work in asphalt and concrete to wrap up. According to Britton omas — the city’s transportation engineering manager — construction on the project should be complete by the end of the summer.
omas also addressed current plans for improvements on West 72nd Avenue. Construction was recently delayed due to the need for a construction and maintenance agreement between the city and Union Paci c. Currently, the only planned construction on 72nd Avenue is sprinklers and planting, wrapping up the second phase of construction.
omas outlined a projected timeline for coordination with Union Paci c, which included a submittal of the bridge plan in June, and agreement execution by the end of 2024, following approval of the construction and maintenance agreement.
Simpson questioned the timeline, asking how con dent the city was in its execution. omas said the timeline was reasonable, though it could be pushed back. He noted that the process of working with the railroad was generally slow.
“I do think this next submittal that we have going in is going to be an excellent submittal,” omas said.
If you yearn to fly back to the sounds of yesteryear, you will love soaring to new heights with Boulder’s own Sun Jr, appearing at the MILE HIGH HOEDOWN later this month! The band’s sound is a blend of psychedelia, cosmic cowboy and Americana with indie-folk influences.
Friends Nod Norkus (drums), Jim Heekin (guitar/singer), Matt Kubis (banjo/singer), Jon Schimek (pedal steel guitar), and Jeremiah Streets (keys/ bass/organ) launched the band in 2013. They practiced in the evenings in Jim’s basement (“The Bottoms”), where they have become a “band of brothers.”
Sun Jr. hit the stage with a style all their own and immediately made an impression. From a spot on the “Gentleman of the Road” tour in Salida with Mumford & Sons, Dawes and the Flaming Lips in 2015, they’ve grinded their way into a stellar act that you cannot miss.
During the 2020 COVID pandemic, the band leaned heavily into long basement jams, taking notes from the likes of Pink Floyd and late ’60s bands that played for art’s sake. They branched into livestreaming to reach out to more folks and have continued to do so.
“In February 2024, (Heekin) posted a TikTok video of our song ‘Buttercorn’ from a live performance at Dharma Farm
— and it went viral,” Norkus said. “The post garnered 2.3 million views and about 40,000 new fans.”
The post was the mega break that has opened more doors to some of Colorado’s best venues and a “second media wave” of the post expanded their reach even farther, he said.
“We started receiving invitations to play in California, Texas, and points beyond the U.S.,” Norkus said.
The band’s current goal is
mostly to ignore national invites and build an ardent local fan base. To stay connected, they are partnering with Chris Wright of Violet Recording to capture their Colorado live shows to share more broadly. Wright will also engineer a series of in-studio live recordings, possibly capturing two albums from this dual recording process.
Visit sunjrband.com for the latest band information (recordings, play dates — and more)! Then, “go down” to the MILE HIGH HOEDOWN and enjoy Sun Jr.’s “Psych Mountain Rock” ex-
perience LIVE at the Stampede, 2431 S. Havana Street, in Aurora.
MILE HIGH HOEDOWN attendees can enjoy food truck food and beverages, learn new line dances with instructor/choreographer Laurie Burkardt, “creative cut” or screen print their own T-shirt with Ink & Drink, purchase a custom hat from hat shaper Parker Thomas, get a “flash” tattoo from Ace of MR. ACE Art & Tattoos; and visit Little People Face Painting for cool, but not permanent, body/ face/hair art — you’ll be sure to sparkle during Sun Jr.’s LIVE, never-to-be-duplicated hoedown performance!
Get the “low down” on the MILE HIGH HOEDOWN, which is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, June 29, by heading to coloradocommunitymedia.com/ mile-high-hoedown. And GET A MOVE ON, partners! We’re running a limited-time buy-oneget-one promotion. Entry ONLY tickets are $20/each ($25 at the door). Don’t miss out and BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
e West Metro Chamber of Commerce’s annual Taste of the West took place on June 6 at the Foothills Fieldhouse in Denver. e event brought over 80 of Je co and Colorado’s food and beverage businesses, with a few other industries mixed in amongst those vendors.
According to Erin Acheson, vice president of the West Metro Chamber, there were 77 food, beverage and other businesses present at the Taste of the West. Acheson estimated the crowds to be more than 950 people.
Did you know... In the month of May, 421 animals were adopted and 147 were returned to their owners. 278 stray animals came through our doors and 83 were transferred in from out of state and from Colorado.
Private chefs, microbrewers and even large chain businesses were represented at the Taste of the West. Each business served samples. ere were small plates of food, like little tiramisu cups from 240 Union Creative Grille, a Lakewood restaurant.
Each participant received a small cup upon entering the venue to use in sampling beverages.
Vendors like Sam Swartz, sales ambassador of Dirty Dill, a Denver beverage company, lled the complimentary cup with a “pickle shot” called a Dirty Dill pickle vodka shot. e 30% alcohol spirit was the talk of the event.
All the businesses also o ered swag, from stickers to cups and even a pizza cutter from the Comcast Business and X nity booth. Some companies like Twin Peaks Colorado Mills from Lakewood, gave coupons for free and discounted items, redeemable at the establishment. Twin Peaks o ered 20% o discounts, coupons for free mozzarella sticks, drink holders, key chains and more.
Non-food and beverage vendors also dotted the venue. Bayaud Enterprises a nonpro t that advocates for people with disabilities in overcoming barriers to employment,
Juan Ortega Torres pleads guilty for causing crash that killed one
A 23-year-old man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for causinga multicar crash that took the life of 33-year-old Kresten Wol omsen and seriously injured omsen’s two children, who were passengers in his vehicle.
Juan Alexis Ortega Torres pleaded guilty to one count of vehicular homicide (DUI) and two counts of vehicular assault (DUI) and faces up to 24 years in prison.
e accidentoccurred on Feb. 5 at
“Melissa Brinkmann was involved in the plane crash in Arvada, CO, on June 7, 2024,” the statement said. “On Saturday, June 8th, we said goodbye to our beloved Melissa, our daughter, our big sister, our mom, our best friend, our partner, our hero. We ask for space and privacy to grieve this tremendous loss on our own terms. Melissa was bold, brave, loving, and a erce champion of those she loved – and she loved boundlessly.
3:30 p.m. when Torres was driving a GMC Sierra around 60 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone. Torres ran a red light at 64th Avenue and Lamar Street in Arvada and collided with omsen — who was driving his two children home from school — and two other cars.
At the sentencing hearing on June 11, omsen’s wife remembered her husband as a devoted husband and father, as well as a talented composer, writer and musician who is missed by his family.
“All of the words in all of the languages on earth will never be able to describe what a wonderful man this was,” she said. “Kresten and the loss of him consumes my every thought. I live in a sorrow that is indescribable, unpredictable, and inconsolable. I long for him every minute of every day.”
Torres addressed the court brie y,
apologizing for his actions and accepting responsibility for the harm they caused.
“If I could trade places with Kresten, I would,” Torres said. “I still can’t believe the harm I’ve done to this family. I hope people believe me that I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”
First Judicial District Deputy District Attorney Benjamin Hepler said he hoped the quick resolution could bring closure to those impacted by omson’s death, and credited the Arvada Police Department for their work on the case.
“While no sentence can bring back Kresten or undo the signi cant trauma experienced by all the people impacted in this tragedy, we hope this consecutive sentence and quick resolution brings some sense of closure to all the victims and Kresten’s loved ones,” Hepler said.
ful to the rst responders, bystanders, and medical sta who came to her aid, fought for her, and eased her passage from this life.”
Flight records show that the aircraft took o from the Centennial Airport before its ight plan went awry, according to Flight Aware. FAA registration logs show the aircraft is registered to Whiskey Romeo LLC in Timnath, Colorado, near Fort Collins.
“To know Melissa was to be inspired by her. She elevated others and made this world a better place,” the statement continued. “We have been awe-struck and comforted by the countless messages, memories, and stories shared by the legions of people Melissa has impacted. We will be forever grate-
e plane was previously registered to Tom Searls Sawyer, also in Timnath, who was Brinkmann’s romantic partner, according to Facebook posts.
Brinkmann’s LinkedIn page lists her as a mother of three and a former U.S. Air Force Captain.
Arvada Police did not provide an update on the condition or identity of the other three plane crash victims. e Jefferson County Coroner’s o ce said they did not have any more informaFROM PAGE 2
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was on hand to promote the fall food and wine event
Lakewood Food and Wine at Belmar Plaza, scheduled for Sept. 14. Bayaud o ered eventgoers some info and a silicon wine cup emblazoned with their name.
A highlight of the Taste of the West was the demonstrations on two stages. Private chef DeAndre Smith and his business Chef Cool Dre showed the crowd how to make a lighter, more elegant version of the traditional peach cobbler.
Austin Adamson of Ballmer Peak Distillery in Lakewood was among the companies that provided
demonstrations.
e Taste of the West was not over after the doors closed that night. ere was still a vote by the eventgoers. Here are the winners:
• Best business booth, Painting with a Twist Belmar
• Best non-alcoholic beverage, Teahee
• Best beer or cider, Locust Cider Taproom Belmar
• Best wine or seltzer, Blanchard Family Wines
• Best spirit or cocktail, Ballmer Peak Distillery
• Best savory, GQue BBQ
• Best sweet, 240 Union Creative Grille
• Comcast Business Best of the Best award, Tom’s Seafood & Gourmet Market
For more information on the Taste of the West, go to WestMetroChamber.org.
This
Don’t let foodborne illness spoil your summer cookouts
When spring gives way to sunny summer days, many of us look forward to attending – or hosting – barbecues and picnics with family and friends.
During this time, it’s important to take precautions when it comes to safe food handling, preparation and cooking, to avoid foodborne illnesses like salmonella and E. coli, which can be serious and, in some cases, life-threatening.
e Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that each year, 48 million Americans get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases.
Typical food-poisoning symptoms include vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea and fever, all of which may range from mild to serious and can last from a few hours to several days. Health care professionals caution that certain people have an increased risk of becoming very sick from foodborne illness, including pregnant women, older adults, young children and people with weakened immune systems.
To stay healthy and protect friends and family from food poisoning, here are some general food and kitchen hygiene tips to guide you in safely preparing and serving your outdoor summer meals.
Foodborne illnesses tend to in-
crease during the summer months because bacteria multiply faster when it’s warm, so following food safety guidelines is especially critical for raw meats, summer salads, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, which are among the most perishable foods at cookouts.
Clean everything: It’s important for those preparing and handling food to frequently wash their hands before, during and after they start cooking, and to use fresh, clean plates and utensils for serving cooked food.
Do not cross contaminate: Raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs can spread germs to ready-to-eat food unless you keep them separate.
Cook to the right temperature:
e only way to tell if food is safely cooked is to use a food thermometer to make sure meat, poultry and sh are cooked to a safe internal temperature. Refrigerate perishable food within two hours. When food is left unrefrigerated for more than two hours, bacteria grow rapidly. When temperatures exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit, food should be refrigerated within an hour.
Have fun this summer, but be mindful of food safety to help keep your family healthy.
Dr. Eric Hemler, D.O. New West Physicians, part of Optum, Table Mountain Family Medicine
he Colorado State Primary is June 25. Chances are that you are registered to vote and have already received your ballot. anks to great Democratic leaders like Je erson County Clerk and Recorder, Amanda Gonzalez, and Secretary of State, Jena Griswold, we have automatic voter registration in Colorado. In Je co, we love to vote — we had record turnout in the 2023 General Election, with Je erson County casting the highest percentage of votes of any county.
Not all registered voters are eligible to vote in a primary election. Only voters a liated with a political party that is holding a public primary (typically just Republicans and Democrats) or those who are not a liated with any party (Una liated) are eligible. Una liated voters may vote in either the Republican OR Democratic primary, but not both. If you are una liated and receive both ballots, RETURN ONLY ONE!
Key dates:
Monday, June 3: Ballots mailed to voters
Monday, June 17: Vote Centers open, last day to mail your ballot, drop boxes still available
Tuesday, June 25: Last day to vote
For more information go to https:// www.je co.us/Elections or call 303271-8111
Information about the Democrats who are running in opposed primaries is available at www.Je CoDems.org. Even if there is no opposition, please ll in the bubble for the candidate that is on the ballot. ese votes will be counted, and they let your candidate know that they can count on those votes in the general election.
Voting in every election is your duty as a member of a democracy. Please take the time to vote in this important primary.
Kathryn Wallace is the chair of the Jefferson County Democratic Party.
merica is ideologically divided. Identity politics seems to be the order of the day with an intent to maintain the division or, at least, to minimize unity. Labels identify opposing groups with these labels declared badges of honor for some or used as derogatory attacks by others.
Consider former President Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again” which is abbreviated “MAGA.” Trump supporters, and most of America, believe that the country is on the wrong track but they embrace the idea that America’s best days still lie ahead. President Biden, whose job approval rating is the lowest of any President in recent memory, regularly tries to make the term “MAGA Republicans” an insult. Similarly, Hillary Clinton called people who supported MAGA “deplorables”.
Perhaps the extreme di erences between Conservatives and Progressives are the root of the ideological divide. eir beliefs are starkly di erent.
Conservatives believe that the founding of our country, the rst to codify self-rule, was extraordinary through our Constitution which provides protection from overreaching government. ey believe in liberty, the ability to make one’s own choices with limited government interference and that merit is the basis for both individual and national economic success. Conservatives defend faith and fami-
Regarding the headline of the Arvada Press week of June 6, ‘Plutonium found in Indiana Street air filters near Rocky Flats’
lies believing that these core values must be maintained for our nation to continue.
Conservatives believe that defending our nation includes a strong military, adhering to the rule of law, and maintaining our national sovereignty. ey believe America is truly unique and capitalism is the best system for creating wealth and lifting many out of poverty.
Contrast these ideas with the observable beliefs of modern-day Progressives. Progressives believe the founding of America was fundamentally awed and the Constitution limits the power of government. (Of course, thats the purpose of the Constitution). ey believe a utopian society can be created if government is allowed to solve all of life’s daily problems, merit is of little concern, and wealth should be redistributed so everyone can have equal outcomes. Progressives believe in moral relativism. ey seek to undermine the traditional family, as evidenced by their support of men competing in women’s sports and gender reassignment for children. National sovereignty means very little to them, as evidenced by their open borders which are allowing millions
of non-citizens to have access to the welfare state. ey are committed to making government the primary guiding force in American society. With no moral absolute to which people adhere, there is a tolerance for ideas which are the antithesis of Conservative positions.
Since these two positions are diametrically opposed, how is there a secure future for our country and our families? How is “making the country great again” a poor idea? Why isn’t that the stated objective of both major political parties?
We are approaching the 2024 election with domestic and international issues that should be of concern to all Americans. Federal spending and the U.S. de cit are at their highest ever. ere are countless laws that make too many spending categories “mandatory”. Our country is of two minds and it will require great care and diplomacy to create the positive future we all want.
Let’s be wise when selecting our representatives. Our future, and our children’s future, depends on it.
Don Ytterberg is a former fourtime chair of the Je co Republicans and former two-time Vice Chair of the Colorado Republican Party. He has been a candidate for the Colorado Senate and the U.S. House. He and his wife Kim have been residents of Je erson County since 1987 where he has been a business owner since 1990.
We were just delivered the Arvada Press with the headline of “Plutonium found in Indiana Street air lters near Rocky Flats” that registered plutonium in the air during a high wind day. Anybody who lives in Arvada knows we have quite a few of those. is article should serve as a huge wake-up call to anyone who lives in that area.
is is no longer about home values or what some real estate agent sold you on when you bought your home. is isn’t about beautiful views and miles of open space and trails. is isn’t about dog parks or proposed bike trails. is is about human life! What will it really take for people to sit up and pay attention to where they live and the history of where you call home? Will the wake-up call come when you are searching for answers as to why you or your loved one or sweet pet
is now ghting for their life with some rare cancer? When you are trying to nd answers as to how this could happen to you? All the thoughts and prayers in the world won’t change a diagnosis. at land is contaminated and will be long after us. It should not be used to recreate on or build homes near. Our children, our pets, our families do not deserve to be a statistic or part of a medical study. We have a choice!
The longest day of the year is nearly upon us and we’ve still got two months of summer ahead. In other words, we’re living the good life right now.
Colorado is such a great place to be during the summer — there is so much to do, both indoors and outdoors, no matter how active or laid back you are. ere are so many options, in fact, that I thought I’d help out and gather some highlights from all over the metro area. Whatever your interests are, there’s something for you. Get out and enjoy.
‘T. REX’ Stomps into the Summer at the DMNS
Mary Ann LaPedus
June 30, 1934 - June 6, 2024
out wonderful art, open houses at galleries and other locations, as well as music and children’s art activities.
Mary Ann LaPedus passed away at MorningStar Memory Care in Wheat Ridge, CO on June 6, 2024. Loving mother of Mark Mensik and Carla Drew. Please see a full obituary at HoranCares.com
ere are few better options when it comes to getting out of the summer heat than escaping to the cool of a movie theater. However, this season is looking a little bleak on the movie release front, but fear not — the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s, 2001 Colorado Blvd. in Denver, In nity eater has you covered with the release of “T. REX” on Friday, June 21.
is 3D lm makes use of stateof-the-art CGI and cutting-edge paleontological insights to bring the world’s most famous dinosaur to life in a way audiences have never seen before. Not only will audiences learn about the famous Cretaceous carnivore, but will get to experience its world and other inhabitants.
e lm runs daily at 10:30 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 3 p.m., at 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 7 p.m. on Friday. More information and tickets are available at https://www. dmns.org/visit/in nity-theater/.
Golden Throws a Party for the Artistic Community
If you’ve spent any time in Golden, then you know it’s one of the most artistic communities around. e city is celebrating this creative yen with the 2024 Artsweek Golden Festival. e event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23.
According to the provided information, the free, juried festival features 70 local and national artists in downtown Golden at 12th and Arapahoe Streets, just outside the new Foothills Arts Center Astor House. Attendees will get to check
For details about the festival, including parking locations, visit www. visitgolden.com/ events/
Clarke ReaderPACE Goes for Summer Fun with ‘Legally Blonde The Musical’
e best summer music is full of joy and energy, so the Parker Arts, Culture and Events Center’s (PACE) decision to produce “Legally Blonde e Musical” during the season makes perfect sense. e show runs at PACE, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., from Friday, June 28 through Sunday, July 21. Performances are at 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Based on the much-loved Reese Witherspoon lm, the show follows Elle Woods as she goes to Harvard Law to prove to her ex she can. While there, she struggles with everything from her classmates and teachers to stereotypes and sexism. But Woods does everything with determination and fun and that makes the musical wildly enjoyable.
Find information and tickets at https://parkerarts.org/.
Thornton Pride Asks All to be Friends of Dorothy e ornton Arts, Sciences & Humanities Council is going all out to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community with its Second Annual ornton Pride event, which will be held at the ornton Arts & Culture Center, 9209 Dorothy Blvd. e event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 29.
According to the provided information, the theme for this year’s party is “Are You a Friend of Dorothy?” to highlight the ongoing need for LGBTQIA+ members to nd community and safe places to be themselves. It harkens back to the 1990s when LGBTQIA+ people had to be cautious about who they interacted with.
March 14, 1922 - June 6, 2024
Jean S. Johnson, age 102, of Evergreen, CO, passed away June 6, 2024. She is survived by her brother Alan Staples (Joan), son Eric Johnson (Kim); grandsons Kevin Johnson (Erin) and Lukas Johnson, and two great grandchildren Julian and Maya. She was preceded in death by her parents Charles and Louise Staples, husband Robert Johnson, brother Warren Staples, and daughter Rondi Johnson. She was a freelance illustrator, and brought joy to others through her many paintings. Jean’s work was seen in children’s books, magazines, record albums, and newspaper advertisements.
Her paintings were shown in exhibits from Maine to Florida and Colorado. e last article on Jean can be found at Colorado Serenity Magazine, February, 2022, pg. 28. She was loved by many and will be dearly missed. Memorial service will be held Saturday, August 3 at 10:30 am at the Rocky Mtn. Village Estates (Genesee Building), 31719 Rocky Village Drive, Evergreen, CO. In lieu of owers donations are suggested to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 118-128 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102.
online at coloradocommunitymedia.com/arvada-press
Northglenn Youth Theatre has been ‘feeding the souls’ of young performers for 30 yearsBY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Slight and bespectacled, 14-year-old Lilly Sergeef is eyeing Broadway. She is a veteran actor and has been in commercials for insurance companies and Village Inn since age 6.
But she is especially drawn to the stage, where she has never felt intimidated by the audience or other performers.
“Broadway is my goal,” ornton resident Sergeef said. “Being before an audience is never something I dread … it’s something I grew up on.”
A determined Vienna Frey also sees acting on Broadway in her future. e Broom eld resident said her parents are performers and she began acting when she 6. She’s starred in several plays and musicals including “Percy Jackson and Lightning ief” and “Shrek Junior.” Frey savors always diving into the characters she played.
“I just enjoy playing other people and getting into their stories,” said the 14-year-old Frey.
Both are veteran performers at Northglenn Youth eatre, which has been tutoring, supporting and ushering actors as young as 8 onto the local stage. Over 1,000 young performers have inhabited roles at Northglenn Youth eatre — or the NYT as the locals call it.
is year, NYT is celebrating its 30th anniversary, a testament to the wide-ranging support the theater has enjoyed even as cultural programs at local schools have scaled back their performances, said Kimberly Jongejan, Northglenn’s Cultural Programs Direc-
tor and the NYT director.
“Funding for arts programs is not always solid, especially in elementary and middle schools,” Jongejan said.
Most of NYT’s students come from communities outside of Northglenn because there is a dearth of theater programs in the north metro area, she added.
Northglenn o cials, meanwhile, have long supported the arts and the NYT, said Jongejan, who was hired in 1996 to help lead the arts program in Northglenn.
“It’s aways been this way,” she said. “ e city has always seen its arts and culture as a growing and thriving part of Northglenn.”
For example, Northglenn is the only city to include a state-of-the art performing arts space — the Parsons eatre — as part of its new recreation center, Jongejan said. e entire theater and recreation complex opened in 2021.
e Northglenn Arts & Humanities Foundation — NAHF — provides funding for the NYT as well as for public art and other cultural ventures in Northglenn, according to the city. Other sponsors include Colorado Creative Industries, Scienti c & Cultural District, Tour West, WESTAF and the National Endowment for the Arts, the city states.
Jongejan said the NYT has sent some of its graduates to Broadway and O -Broadway. Mostly, NYT students become teachers and perform at dinner theaters and other community productions.
Above all, NYT serves a higher purpose of stoking the dreams of young performers, she said, adding, “We feed kids’ souls.”
NYT Academy classes range from $25-$120 depending on duration and whether a participant is a resident of Northglenn or not, she said.
Each year, NYT puts on six productions performed at the Parsons eatre, three productions for 12- to 18-year-old performers and three for the NYT Jr., program, which include eight to 12 performers. ey are tutored by professional actors on a tight schedule that calls for auditions on Monday, rehearsals during the rest of the week and performances usually over two nights.
Productions this year include “Sister Act,” “Cinderella and e Fairy Godmother’s Spell,” “ e Brothers Grimm Spectacular” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
e NYT Academy also o ers acting basics for young performers through drama activities, scenes, songs and visual arts. One dance class is Broadway Basics, which offers kids ages 9-12 “ball change kicks, jazz squares and more while dancing to the tunes of Broadway’s best ballads,” according to the course description. e cost of that class is $38-$46.
Jongejan said registration fees for NYT Jr. productions are $200; NYT productions are $250.
acting. He is starring as the main character in “Shrek Jr. e Musical,” which is running from June 28-30.
Scholarships are needs-based and are awarded via an application process. ese scholarship awards range from 50% to 100% of fees being covered through the Northglenn Arts and Humanities Foundation, Jongejan said.
NYT’s more advanced classes teach how to manipulate an actor’s voice and body to create a memorable character, a “Fosse Posse” focuses on dancing for actors and a tap dance also teaches the basic steps and combination used in musical theater, according to the course guide.
Jongejan said the NYT is also offering a screenwriting course for Hip-Hop theatre. Students can also take technical theatre workshops for a glance at the behind-the-scenes production process, Jongejan said.
“We want our students to get a good, well-rounded look at what goes into a theater production and how important stage development, lighting and other behind-thescenes work is so important,” she said.
For 13-year-old Ian Amaro, character development is key to his
“I like to write notes down for my character and get the back story,” he said. “I think that makes acting much more e ective.”
Amaro, who lives in ornton, admits acting isn’t really what drew him to NYT.
“School can be rough for some people,” Amaro said, adding his stutter is sometimes an obstacle.
“I needed friends badly, then NYT popped up for me and the light bulb in my head went o .”
So far, Amaro has not bumped up against any diva behavior among his cast mates.
“ e people are absolutely fantastic,” he said. “Everyone has been so helpful.”
irteen-year-old Aksel Gangji’s two sisters gave him a nudge toward acting and NYT where he started performing in 2019. He still su ers from some stage fright but powers through it with the help of his castmates. Gangji attends Rocky Top Middle School in ornton.
ey often cross their arms together and then say “Break a leg” before a performance, Gangji said. Actors also pass around a “Kudos” coin before they go on stage and tell each
other something positive about their work.
“Usually by then, you are saying ‘Oh great, I am going to perform,’” Gangji said.
He is also considering pursuing a career as a stage technician. “Sound, costumes, it’s what brings it all together,” Gangji said. “You can’t see the actors without the lights.”
Performing is a tradition in 14-year-old JJ Witmer’s family. His mom toured internationally with Up With People and he took his rst role as an actor at 6 as Tiny Tim in a high school production.
“It was really fun,” he said. He attends Riverdale Ridge High School in ornton.
He enrolled at NYT in 2018 and has acted in several productions including “Peter Pan” and “ e Little Mermaid.”
He’s learned to act with an English accent to play Hamlet and dyed his hair for another role.
“I like getting into a role and becoming more of that character,” Witmer said.
After “Hamlet” ended, he remembers talking with an English accent for two weeks.
“It just happened,” he said. “ at’s what you do when you get into a role.”
Folks hit the town for monthly soiree
BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COMHundreds of people visited Olde Town Arvada for the monthly Second Saturday street fair, which featured live music, vendors and food trucks.
e June 8 iteration of Second Saturdays featured live music from Rootbeer Richie and the Reveille, Altaphonic, the Olde Town Swing Band and Matthew Rising and the Summersoul Orchestra.
Two more Second Saturdays are left to go this summer; on July 13 and Aug. 10. e July installment will be headlined by Nick Parr and the Sel ess Lovers, while the Aug. 10 edition will feature Ryan Chrys and the Rough Cuts.
Thu 6/27
dogtired @ 6pm
Town Hall Collaborative, 525 Santa Fe Dr, Denver
Dead Original @ 8pm HQ, 60 S Broadway, Denver
Fri 6/28
Concerts in The Canyon: Antonio Lopez Band / Spirit
Voices & Janis Kelly
@ 6:30pm
House concert, 11753 Hillcrest Road, Golden, CO, Golden
Tonguebyte @ 8pm
Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver
Keddjra @ 8pm
Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver
Priceless @ 9pm
Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver
Sat 6/29
The Imaginaries @ Historic
Downtown Louisville @ 7pm Louisville UMC, Louisville Rock Machine @ 8pm
Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver
Sun 6/30
KB ANGEL: BBQ ICRME @ 11am Cheesman Park, Denver
StoneyBertz
@ 7:30pm
Your Mom's House, 608 E 13th Ave., Den‐ver
Mon 7/01
Xana @ 7pm
Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver
Blushing @ 7pm
Skylark Lounge, 140 S Broadway, Denver
Ben Beal @ 8pm
Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom & Other Side, 2637 Welton St, Denver
Tue 7/02
The Grass Project Live @ Denver Botanic Gardens (Evenings Al Fresco) @ 4:30pm
Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St, Denver
Naomi Raine: Girls Night OutDenver @ 7pm
Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place, Denver
Bktherula @ 8pm
Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom & Other Side, 2637 Welton St, Denver
Christopher Paul Stelling @ 8pm
Skylark Lounge, 140 S Broadway, Denver
Wed 7/03
Western Wednesday w/ Sugar Britches and White Rose Motor Oil @ 8pm
Skylark Lounge, 140 S Broadway, Denver
Beezwax @ 8pm
Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver
Calendar information is provided by
ers. All events are
of
Primary races for the District Attorney 1st Judicial District and Jefferson County Commissioner districts 1 and 2 are uncontested. e District Attorney 1st Judicial District race has no Republican candidate.
Learn more about what’s on the ballot at https://www.je co. us/4652/On-the-Ballot.
Why are some ballots di erent?
According to the clerk’s voting factsheet, the primary ballots are di erent for voters of di erent parties. For example, Republicans get one ballot with only Republican candidates. e factsheet notes that Una liated voters will receive two ballots. However, they must choose ONE ballot to ll in and return.
“Choose only one party’s primary to vote in. Voting in both will
disqualify your vote,” the county clerk’s note warned.
Where does voting happen in Je co?
ere are a few ways to cast a ballot in Je co. ere are 37 ballot drop boxes in Je erson County. e boxes are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Two additional ballot boxes are open during business hours. e locations of these boxes are on VoteJe co.com.
Vote in person at ve voting centers that open June 17. According to the county clerk and recorder’s o ce, the voting centers will have Spanish-language ballots and ADAaccessible ballot marking devices. Take a look at the sample ballots in Spanish on VoteJe co.com.
What is the timeline for the state primaries’ election ballots?
e Je co clerk and recorder’s ofce released the following timeline for the State Primary Elections:
• June 3: ballots are mailed locally and drop boxes open
• June 17: in-person voting centers (VSPCs: Voter Service and Polling Centers) open
• June 25: Election Day
• July 3: is the deadline for curing ballots and for military/overseas votes to be counted
• July 5: the deadline for completing the election audit
• July 17: the deadline for election results to be certi ed
According to the clerk’s factsheet on Je co elections, “curing ballots” involves verifying the identities of voters whose signatures do not match their voter registration cards.
ese votes can’t be counted until the “voter’s identity and eligibility are veri ed,” the factsheet stated.
e clerk’s o ce wants voters to know that ballots must be mailed by June 17. is ensures that the ballots are received by June 25. According to the clerk, ballots received after June 25 will not be counted. e postmark doesn’t matter.
If you can’t mail your ballot on or before June 17, go to a voting center.
There are bonuses for voting early Je co Clerk & Recorder Amanda Gonzalez wants voters to know that there are some bonuses for voting early.
“Returning your ballot early avoids having an accident or emergency prevent you from voting, gives you more time to correct any issues if your ballot isn’t accepted, and also ensures faster, more complete results on election night. It also removes you from campaign phone calls and email lists,” the clerk’s voting factsheet states.
To find everything about voting in Je co…
Get help from and meet Je co’s Clerk and Recorder at the Voter Up events happening:
• June 20 in Edgewater
• June 21 in Westminster
• June 24 in Morrison
There is so much more to voting in Jefferson County. For more information, go to VoteJeffco.com.
e pride event will feature local artists, vendors, food, family-friendly entertainment, and indoor and outdoor activities. All you need to know can be found at https://www.thorn-
tonco.gov/arts/Pages/tashco.aspx.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Nas and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra at Red Rocks
If you’re a rap fan, then you must have an appreciation of Brooklyn’s Nas. He’s in almost every conversation about the greatest rappers of all time and his 1994 debut album, “Il-
lmatic,” is one of the best examples of the storytelling power of the medium. Since then, Nas has gone on to have a storied career, churning out years of great music and being an advocate for the power of rap. For a really exciting pairing, Nas is teaming with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra for a concert at Red Rocks, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway in Morrison, at 6 p.m. on Sunday,
Colorado is home to no shortage of beautiful parks and open space, mountains, plains, snowy peaks and lush meadows, miles and miles of biking and hiking trails. Any area near Rocky Flats could very well
Colorado Community Media welcomes letters to the editor. Please note the following rules:
• Email your letter to kfiore@coloradocommunitymedia.com. Do not send via postal mail. Put the words “letter to the editor” in the email subject line.
• Submit your letter by 5 p.m. on Wednes-
June 30. I love it when the symphony pairs with hip-hop artists — the resulting music is always exciting and di erent than you expect. Get tickets for this unique show at www.ticketmaster.com.
Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail. com.
be the nal one you make. Choose wisely where you decide to enjoy and live in our beautiful state. Please, for the sake of everything you love, choose wisely. I speak from a place of having gone through cancer with our son and dog. It is heart breaking to try and seek answers after the fact. I wish I would have known then what I know now. Michele Green, Arvada
day in order to have it considered for publication in the following week’s newspaper.
• Letters should be exclusively submitted to Colorado Community Media and should not be 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.
ousands of Coloradans responding to a survey by their local newsrooms say candidates competing for their votes this year need to be focused primarily on several broad issues: democracy and good government, the economy and cost of living, the environment, climate and natural resources, immigration and abortion.
Which concerns weigh most heavily on respondents’ minds changes with their politics. Conservatives in
the survey prioritized immigration and the economy, followed by the state of the government. Moderates and liberals, in contrast, chose de-
mocracy and good government as their top issue by a wide margin.
“If we don’t have free and informed citizens with equal access to the ballot box, then we won’t have democracy and the country won’t be worth preserving,” Marcus Pohlmann, a Highlands Ranch resident and a professor emeritus of political science, wrote in a comment that was echoed by many others.
An issue’s ranking reveals its importance to voters, but not the nuances of their views. ose nuances are emerging in the answer to the survey’s core question: “What do you want candidates to talk about as they compete for your vote?”
AARP Colorado, along with a broad coalition of consumer groups, patients, and medical providers celebrated the end of the 2024 legislative session after fending off coordinated efforts by drug manufacturers to undermine the Colorado Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB), the state’s only tool to reign in out-ofcontrol drug costs. As a rare cancer patient currently in remission, I’m deeply grateful for the broad coalition that fought to ensure that the voices of patients were heard.
The Colorado State Senate stood alongside advocates to defeat SB24-060, which sought to prevent the PDAB from reviewing the costs of, and setting limits on, hundreds of the most high-cost and commonly-prescribed prescription medications. In fact, it would have exempted 67% (more than 400 medications) of the approximately 600 drugs eligible for review by Colorado’s PDAB because they have some form of orphan drug designation – including many of the most expensive and most commonly prescribed medications in the state. The bill was part of a national strategy being pushed by pharmaceutical companies
to make it impossible for PDABs across the country to bring down the cost of prescription medications. Lawmakers laid the bill over indefinitely on April 15th, sending a strong message: Colorado refuses to let the pharmaceutical industry continue to put profits over patients, especially as the PDAB is just beginning its critical work. In addition, 115 medical professionals across Colorado released a letter opposing Senate Bill 60.
Big PhRMA continues to use the defeat of SB24-060 and the ongoing work of the PDAB to stoke fear in patients of rare diseases. Unfortunately, these very patients are among the most harmed by out-of-control drug costs and deserve access to affordable, lifesaving drugs through Colorado’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board. To ensure these critical voices are front and center, SB24203 “Prescription Drug Board Consider Rare Disease Council’’ legislation was introduced on April 8th by Senators Ginal and Kirkmeyer, and Representatives Harstook and Ortiz. The legislation passed with strong bipartisan support and will ensure greater
stakeholder engagement from the rare disease community in the work of Colorado’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board without exempting any medications.
We thank the lawmakers who championed these efforts and refused to let Big PhRMA play games with Colorado’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board. This work is more important than ever, with 1-in-3 Coloradans struggling to afford the medications they need to stay healthy. AARP has a vested interest in ensuring drug prices are affordable for all. Over 80% of adults over 50 take at least one prescription medication regularly, with many older adults skipping or stretching their life-saving medication because of the high cost. Older Coloradans are the highest utilizers of prescription drugs in the state and many of our own members have expressed their frustration and concerns with rising health care costs. Adults 65 and older tend to spend the most on health care; and skyrocketing drug prices are driving up health care costs for all. This economic pressure piles on top of the emotional, physical, and psychological toll that patients
face on an almost daily basis. The Colorado Legislature created the PDAB with the passage of SB 21-175. Since 2023, the PDAB has reviewed three medications, and determined one of those medications, Enbrel, to be unaffordable for Coloradans. The PDAB is slated to complete affordability reviews on two additional medications in June.
Debbie Hornor
AARP Colorado State President 6427 S. Kline St., Littleton, CO 80127
So far, more than 4,500 Coloradans have answered that question. e vast majority to date self-identify as white and liberal or moderate and live along the densely populated — and deeply blue — Front Range. But voters in red, rural communities and purple suburbs are also responding. And lots of people have lots they want to say to politicians regarding what’s important:
From Arvada: “Will candidates truly be a voice for the citizen and not just vote party lines? In recent years, I have seen the state take over more and more control on what happens in our local communities. I want a candidate who listens to the people.”
From Highlands Ranch: “How to heal the divisions in our society. Foreign a airs Treating refugees and immigrants with dignity, breaking the broken system.”
From Lakewood: “Education - our teachers aren’t paid enough for what they must handle. Crime - it’s out of control. Don’t see cops patrolling anymore, speeds are unchecked, guns are the solution to disagreements. Competitive wages - people can’t make a living wage.”
From Littleton: “Candidates should speak to the wealth gap in USA, it’s causes, remediation, and prevention.”
From ornton: “How willing they are to address climate change and to
preserve/strengthen a woman’s right to make her own decisions about her own body.”
From Fort Collins: “ e pursuit of unsustainable (population) growth is inexcusable and should be dropped. is includes the ridiculous YIMBY (aka real estate developer) policies.”
From Fort Morgan: “I would like them to talk about how high and unreasonable the cost of living has become. Do we pay rent and insurance but go hungry?”
From Denver: “Housing, housing, housing. e cost of living is too high and it is primarily driven by the high cost of housing. We need to break down legal barriers and construct housing of all types, especially in dense urban areas and around transit.”
From Fremont County: “Illegal immigration, violations of our constitutional 2nd right amendment, stopping the Trump tax cuts which will result in higher taxes, economy/cost of living, increasing oil and gas production.”
From Durango: “ e homeless situation is out of control. Vets, young families, panhandlers on corners, and those without jobs, how do states handle this?? Immigrants brought in who are seeking asylum?? Monies going out to countries in need vs. our own country… I think we need to focus on our economy and our homeland rst.”
From Alamosa County: “How they plan on limiting government involvement in my life. De ne their
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priorities so that I may determine how they align with mine.”
From Monte Vista: “Water equity, rural equity, less guns, state bank for small biz loans, less throw-moneyat-them public transportation…”
From Aurora: “What would you do to reduce wealth inequity? Would you support/subsidize starter homebuilding initiatives? Would you support before and after school childcare for elementary students?”
From Colorado Springs: “Enshrining marriage equality in the Colorado constitution… LGBTQIA+ rights are at the top of my list. I identify as lesbian/queer, and my wife (they/ them) is nonbinary and masc-presenting. e threat to our personal liberty from the right is terrifying.”
Joe Brooks, a 53-year-old father of elementary-school-age children who lives in ornton, summed up a common sentiment while acknowledging political reality.. “I’d love to hear them talk more about what’s really really at stake, which is personal liberty and freedom. Everybody really wants that, but people disagree on how that looks.”
Among other highlights from the survey so far:
Many self-identi ed conservatives, who chose immigration as top concern, are calling for closure of the southern border and the deportation of both recent asylum-seekers and people who’ve lived here long term without documentation.
ose who identi ed as liberal named “abortion” as a top-three concern, closely followed by the economy and then social justice and equity.
abortion. But rural respondents follow that up with “personal liberty” as their next-highest concern while urban and suburban residents named “social justice and equity.”
National and international politics course through the responses and many survey respondents have litmus-test questions for candidates: Do you believe Trump won the 2020 election? Do you support the overturn of Roe v. Wade? Do you support continued funding for Ukraine? For Israel? Do you have a plan to address climate change? Do you support the complete separation of church and state?
While national politics dominate these bright-line questions, there is no shortage of questions about local concerns. People responding to their local newsrooms’ surveys are asking about tra c on Tower Road, Front Range air quality, rebuilding the Douglas County health department, homelessness on the Western Slope, health care on the Eastern Plains, land-use policies (everywhere), lowincome housing for seniors in Mesa County, and workforce housing in Routt County.
A note on the survey itself: is is not a scienti c poll. Data on race and ethnicity was awed and will be included in later stories.
One of the most striking takeaways from the survey so far is how many respondents answered the question of what they want candidates to talk about with how they want candidates to speak. Without rancor, without partisanship, posturing or platitudes, and with commitments to compromise, transparency and pragmatism.
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Young people, those 18-29, put the economy and cost of living in the No. 1 spot, followed by democracy, then the environment. Social justice and equity comes up No. 4. However, this group, like conservatives, is underrepresented in the responses so far.
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Survey respondents express much higher trust in the fairness of local elections than in national ones, but conservatives indicate far more distrust in both. Six in 10 self-identi ed conservatives say they have no condence in the fairness of the national election and nearly a quarter express the same lack of faith in the local elections.
Looking at survey responses overall, without accounting for political lean, urban, suburban and rural residents who responded to the survey share the same top concerns in the same order: Democracy, economy, environment, immigration and
“How they will get over petty partisan bickering and actually do the job they were elected to do,” Tim Samuelson, a 42-year-old self-described moderate who lives in Denver, wrote in his survey response. “Form policies together that aren’t fringe issues that the majority of the public doesn’t think about on a daily basis. Get to work, quit the gamesmanship.”
Put more bluntly by another survey respondent: “How they plan to x this mess, not what a jackass the other guy is. We already know that.”
Hyper-partisanship is a perennial lament about politics. But the sharp — and sometimes plaintive — edge in the call for candidates to work together seems in part intensi ed by the sense among respondents that the stakes are just too high now to do otherwise.
Colorado, with its dramatic mountain landscapes, deep winter snow and thriving ski industry, has been referred to as the “Switzerland of America.” Gov. Jared Polis even once used the phrase. e similarities were are more than just a name. A delegation of experts from Switzerland visited Boulder in early June for a summit on melting snow and ice. Mountain guides, climate scientists, artists and policymakers shared notes on the impacts of climate change on high-mountain landscapes.
ose experts painted a fairly bleak picture as they described the role of warming trends in reshaping the snow and ice that de ne the Rockies and Alps.
Perhaps the most striking accounts of those changes came from mountain guides, who lead groups of climbers and adventurers on trips through the peaks. Angela Hawse, a Ridgway-based guide and vice president of the International Federation of Mountain Guides Association, shared videos of icefalls and rockfalls from around the world, showing how large pieces of mountains are falling apart as the ice and snow that holds them together disappears.
Hawse and Switzerland-based Urs Wellauer, the association’s president, both expressed optimism in nding xes to climate problems through collaboration. Hawse reected on a trip the binational group took to Boulder County’s Brainard Lake as part of the conference.
“It really brought us together as a bunch of individuals that have di erent perspectives on life,” she said, “ at have di erent professions, that have di erent ways of looking at the mountains and ways of understanding how we can work together to communicate our experiences for that shared experience of moving forward.”
Climate scientists from both countries presented data about a number of climate factors that are rapidly changing the behavior of high-altitude snow and ice. Temperature and precipitation patterns in the Rockies and Alps are changing, and the two regions share even more granular similarities.
Researchers explained how windblown dust in Colorado is landing on top of snow, making it darker, absorbing more radiation from
the sun and melting faster. at phenomenon makes it harder to capture and share water from the Colorado River, which is used by 40 million people across the Southwest.
In Switzerland, Saharan dust blown across the Mediterranean is a factor in the quickening melting of glaciers. e nation’s glaciers lost 10% of their total volume in 2022 and 2023, the same amount that melted in the three decades between 1960 and 1990.
Emily Zmak, a deputy chief at the Colorado Water Conservation Board who focuses on interstate water policies, remarked at the many similarities between the challenges facing both Colorado and Switzerland, and the potential solutions.
from walking and/or running along our state’s many wonderful paths and scenic nature trails.
There is no better way to appreciate the beauty of Colorado than by witnessing all the sights and sounds of the great outdoors.
Join Colorado Community Media as we host our first-ever 5K run on Saturday, Aug. 24, at Clement Park, 7306 W. Bowles Ave. in Littleton.
And, before the run, we want you to submit your own “Trail Tales,” including photos, to your local newspaper (events@coloradocommunitymedia. com). Tell us where you most enjoy going for a walk or a run in your commuor elsewhere in Colorado.
There are no prizes associated with the event and participants will not receive a “standard” T-shirt. Instead, registered participants will receive a pair of custom running socks. The Share Your Trail Tales 5k Run is open to people of all ages. Participants have the option of making it a fun-filled day for the entire family. Registration fees are $35 for adults (ages 17 & up), $15 (ages 5 to 16), and free for children (ages 4 and under ). Parking for run participants and event attendees is available in the west parking lot, which can be reached as you enter Clement Park through the Library entrance on W. Bowles Avenue.
Park is currently being firmed up to feature other activities throughout the day including food and beverage purchase options offered by local food trucks, vendor booths, and live music entertainment.
“Your support of this event as a race participant and/or as an attendee is paramount to the success of our first Share Your Trail Tales 5k Run and it will help us sustain our ability to support local news,” Scott said. “We encourage the engagement of our readers and future readers to be part of this and future events at Colorado Community Media.”
In turn, we will share many of those adventurous tales with the readers of our two dozen community newspapers in the weeks ahead of the run. About the 5k: It is scheduled to loop around Johnston Reservoir from 9:30 a.m. to noon. It will start and end on the bike path near Shelter P. The event is different from most 5k runs in many ways. For starters, the sole purpose of this event is to simply provide an opportunity for people across Colorado to come together, interact, and share their personal experiences gained
Colorado Community Media publications span eight counties along Colorado’s majestic Front Range — Weld, Adams, Jeffco, Clear Creek, Douglas, Elbert, Arapahoe and Denver. As a nonprofit organization, community is important to us and we are eager to reach out and meet members of the communities our news organization serves.
Carlie Scott, Colorado Community Media’s events director, stated that the program for the Aug. 24 run in Clement
Colorado Community Media could not put on events like this 5k run without the help of its dedicated supporters and sponsors. Sponsorship provides an ideal marketing prospect for your business and positive brand recognition. The organization offers many levels of sponsorship and opportunities for involvement. As a sponsor, you can be part of a fun community event that promotes health and wellness.
To register for the Share Your Trail Tales 5k please visit our website www.coloradocommunitymedia.com and click on EVENTS/CONTEST tab.
An exciting opportunity for aspiring softball players hits Lakewood this summer. Colorado Christian University is partnering with Nike to bring three exclusive camp sessions to Coca-Cola All-Star Park beginning on July 14.
Twins Kayla and Kenzie Middleton, former CCU and Golden High School players, will be assistant coaches for their alma mater starting this fall. ey’re also co-directing the camps and couldn’t be more excited to show players what CCU softball is all about.
Instruction will focus primarily on hitting, elding, base-running and game situations. But it will be a lot of fun, too.
“ e most exciting thing for us is just giving back to the community,” Kenzie said. “Because when we were trying to get into college, obviously we went to a bunch of camps. at’s just what you did. And so, this camp we’re really trying to give back to them and show them this is something you do and this is something that is fun. Some camps can not be fun, but we’re making this one fun.”
Having Nike as a sponsor helps big time, they said.
Below is a breakdown of the three camp options.
ere is an overnight (on CCU’s campus) and extended day camp for ages 13-18 that runs July 14-17 ere is a “Little Cougs” day camp for ages 6-12 that runs July 15-17
ere is an all-skills day and halfday camp for ages 6-18 from July 29 to Aug. 2
“( ere will be) fun games. It’s just kind of learning how to play softball and getting started,” Kayla said. “ at’s the biggest thing. And that’ll be a cool experience because it’s mostly games and we’ll have
Kenzie Middleton Named First and ird Team All-Americans by D2CCA (Division II Conference Commissioners Association)
For more, visit Kenzie’s page and Kayla’s page at CCU softball’s website.
As rst-year assistant coaches for CCU, the sisters re ected on how special it’s been to share their journeys at every level.
“Softball has been a part of our lives for so long, and it’s really exciting for us to be able to stay in that community and in that realm of life,” Kayla said. “I think we see the opportunity that learning never stops. ere’s a lot of development that happens in those four years as college athletes and so I think we really want to take that and help others grow their skills.”
CCU is not just a place to improve your softball game and stack wins, Kenzie said, adding that there’s so much love for one another at the university, and having a camp to showcase the Cougars’ culture can let potential college players see what the atmosphere could be like for them in the future.
“It’s just a great place to be friends with one another,” Kenzie said. “But also, before we went to CCU, we didn’t really have a relationship with God, but going through that program and that school, we have a great relationship now. It’s built us into the people we are and I think that’s super important. CCU’s been a great foundation for us and we want to continue that to the next generations.”
prizes from Nike … We have a lot of di erent portions to the camp that can t your lifestyle needs and what parents want for their kids.”
Kenzie and Kayla were state runner-ups on the Golden High School softball team in 2019 before their highly decorated college playing careers.
Both sisters have too many col-
lege accolades to include here, but a few brief ones include: Signi cant contributions to backto-back Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championships in 2022 and 2023 (2022 being the rst in CCU’s history) Kenzie Middleton’s program record of 18 home runs in a season in 2024, beating her 2023 record of 16 Kayla Middleton and
“I had the goal of becoming a college softball player since I started and these camps help kids get to where they want to be to be seen by college coaches,” Kayla said. “So, it’s passing it along and helping these kids get to where they want to be in their dreams.”
For more information on pricing, schedules and pre-camp checklists for what campers should bring, visit www.ussportscamps.com/softball/ nike/nike-softball-camp-coloradochristian-university. Registration for the camp is ongoing until the start date.
at sentiment surfaces in the bigpicture responses: democracy in peril, the planet in danger, our personal and civil liberties under attack. But anxiety also simmers in respondents’ day-to-day concerns, worries that can be summed up with: can’t buy a house, can’t a ord rent, our roads are bad, our schools need help, farming is under threat, taxes are unfairly assessed and distributed, tra c is killing us, our healthcare system is broken, the gap between the haves and have-nots has become a chasm and I’m never, ever, making it to the other side.
In the face of all that, Samuelson, who is also the father of three young children whom he worries will grow up with fewer opportunities and more threats, nds the partisan sniping not simply intolerable, but irresponsible.
“I just get the feeling from so many politicians that it’s about being heard and seen and having that platform instead of the desire to govern,” he said in an interview.
More than 300 miles southwest, Bay eld resident Evanne Caviness shares Samuelson’s frustration and builds upon it.
“ ere’s also a sense of optimism,” Zmak said. “We haven’t lost all of our snowpack, we still have time to adapt and be smart, to build community resilience to build resilience at a state or federal government level.”
Ambassador Balz Abplanalp, the Swiss representative for the Western U.S., organized the conference
In her response to the Durango Herald’s survey, Caviness emphasized a point made by other respondents: She and her husband, and the things that concern them, cannot be reduced to one side of the partisan line or the other.
“I’m progressive in social issues, but I’m also a rural rancher,” she wrote in her survey. “So we don’t t neatly in a box like many candidates treat us.”
Caviness lives in the ird Congressional District, the massive, sprawling home to mansions and mobile home parks, to the mountains that nestle Aspen west through farmland and public lands, south into tribal nations, through villages built on Spanish land grants and working-class Pueblo neighborhoods into the southeastern Plains.
Caviness wants it made plain that she is as complex as her district. She is 27. She is Latina, Indigenous and white. She married her high school sweetheart and they are now rst-generation farmers and ranchers who sell grass-fed beef, and, so, yeah, they’d like a word with Gov. Jared Polis about his “MeatOut” day. But Caviness also works for the nonpro t National Young Farmers Coalition and she is dedicated to eliminating systemic barriers that have kept young people and people of color out of agriculture.
and said international collaboration will be a key part of global climate change solutions going forward.
“We can learn from experts from another domain,” he said, “How they tackle the issue in order to be inspired. is is 360 degree inspiration that we can generate.”
is story is part of ongoing coverage of the Colorado River, produced by KUNC in Colorado and supported by the Walton Family Foundation. KUNC is solely responsible for its editorial coverage.
She wants a candidate eager to sit on the House Agriculture committee. She wants a candidate who will recognize structural racism as real. She wants a candidate who knows what the price of land and cattle is doing to farmers and ranchers. She wants a candidate who understands that she can hold down a full-time job and help her husband on the ranch and still need to go to a local food program twice a month to ease the strain on the grocery budget. She wants a candidate to do more than sympathize with the fact that she has to drive two of the couple’s three young children nearly six hours to Denver to see a medical specialist because they can’t get the care they need in rural Colorado.
Caviness doesn’t agree with some of the politics of her older, conservative neighbors, but says that she and her husband will drop everything to answer their call for help with the cows or anything else. “ at’s just who we are as a community.”
And so she wants that, too, a candidate who has a concrete plan to build on common ground rather than exploit divides.
“So long as we are distracted by whatever is trending on social media at the moment, whatever outrageous thing we have to be mad about now, it’s, like, OK, but yeah, young farmers are still not going to be able to buy land,” Caviness says.
“My kids are still going to have to go to Denver to go to the audiologist and I have to pay for that out of pocket. ese are issues that are still happening while you are debating something ridiculous that doesn’t a ect us on the day to day.”
Tina Griego is the managing editor of the Colorado News Collaborative, which is leading the Voter Voices project. Megan Verlee is the public a airs editor at Colorado Public Radio, the project’s lead partner. Colorado Community Media is among local news organizations across the state participating in the Voter Voices project.
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Colorado-born Parker Thomas Orms always envisioned himself growing up and tackling life head-on as an athlete on a sports field. So, how did he wind up being a hat shaper and owner of Hats By Parker Thomas? The answer is… fate! Parker’s father Glenn has been a hat shaper all his life following the tradition set by his own father. Parker’s grandpa Dewey started shaping hats 65 years ago in Texas —and did so until his death in 2022.
Parker inherited his passion for playing sports from his mom and her family. His mother Katherine lettered in softball at Northern Colorado in the 1970s.
Parker Thomas Orms attended Colorado University Boulder (2010-2013) on a football scholarship and played defensive back for the Colorado Buffaloes football team. He was an engaging presence on the field and a fan favorite. Parker was on the path to joining the NFL although football-related injuries (shoulder and hamstring injuries and a torn ACL for which he had to undergo surgery) likely ended that pursuit.
In 2015, Parker traveled to Milan to play semi-pro football as a Free Safety Punt Return Man for the Milano Rhinos, Italy’s professional league. But after playing his last football season in Europe, Parker Thomas came home to his family and the family traditions that are tightly woven into the fabric of his being. So, it wasn’t just a “hat” trick that led him to become a hat shaper and Parker’s success is proving to be far more rewarding than he could ever have imagined.
can shape any type hat he especially enjoys creating cowboy style hats, which are so very popular throughout Colorado.
“Most hats can be done in around 30 minutes and I will make your hat to order right there at the Mile High Hoedown,” said Parker who mentioned that his custom wool or beaver-blend hats range from $200 to $450. For additional fees he also offers cleaning, reshaping and branding services.
“I worked with my father and grandfather for eight years. Traveling around different rodeos and western-themed events, I shaped and designed cowboy and fedora hats,” said Parker who has been adding his own sense of style and creativity to traditional hats while shaping his own destiny in the process.
made through his business location or through Instagram and TikTok.
Then he opened Hats By Parker Thomas (https://www.hatsbyparkerthomas.com/) two years ago at 257 Fillmore St., Unit 110, in the Cherry Creek area of Denver where he meets with his clientele by appointment. Parker and his small team of hat craftsmen also shape and sell his hats nationwide at private home parties (with 5-25 people), weddings, corporate gatherings, and community events. Likewise, sports figures and celebrities like Reba McEntire are now a part of his overall customer base. Most of Parker’s bookings are
The store and private events keep Parker busy these days but he still enjoys opportunities to be part of community events like the June 29 Mile High Hoedown at the Stampede in Aurora.
“I am really looking forward to meeting people at the Mile High Hoedown,” said Parker who explained that he welcomes every opportunity to support Colorado’s lifestyles and interact with athletes/artists, and all others within its many communities.
“Each hat and design depends on the needs of the customer and the customizations they choose,” said Parker. He stated that although he
Music lovers won’t want to miss a beat when Boulder’s very own Sun Jr. brings their “Psych Mountain Rock” sounds to the stage. Dancers will love learning the latest line dances taught throughout the day by dance instructor/choreographer Laurie Burkardt. Attendees can visit vendor booths and print their own shirt or tank top with Ink and Drink, obtain a flash tattoo from Ace of MR. ACE Art & Tattoos, and get interactive with some “not permanent but cool” body art/face painting and/or hair sparkle accents from Little People Face Painting. Enjoy food truck food/beverages, and stop by and meet with hat shaper Parker Thomas to purchase your custom hat!
Get the “low down” on the Hoedown (tickets and more) at coloradocommunitymedia.com.
Mark your calendars for CCM’s Mile High Hoedown on Saturday/June 29 (11:00am-5:00pm) at the Stampede, 2431 S. Havana Street in Aurora. Socialize with friends and/or family, eat/ drink/kick up your heels—and just have a rip-roaring good time! Tickets are $20/per ticket; $25.00 at the door and includes the entry fee only. For a limited time, CCM is running a BOGO promotion on its website; don’t miss out BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY!