Arvada Press July 25, 2024 by Colorado Community Media

20 | ISSUE 4

Arvada on Tap returns for 9th year to fanfare despite sweltering heat

11 local beermakers share their ales with the community

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Hundreds of Arvadans braved near triple-digit heat to taste some of the city’s best beer at Arvada on Tap this year. Eleven local beermakers participated in this year’s iteration of the event, which included a barbeque competition as well.

While this year’s attendance didn’t quite surpass previous years, over 520 people still came out to the Ralston Park Addition on July 13, which was dotted with various cooling stations — some which were put together shortly before the festivities got underway.

“Our biggest thing is just prioritizing the health and safety of the community,” Arvada Festival Commission Chair Rachel Lovisone said. “We have lots of shade, and actually one of our members jerry-rigged this wonderful, little mister station.”

Arvada purchases former Early College building for possible homeless service center

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Arvada’s City Council approved the $6.3 million purchase of the former Early College of Arvada building and is discussing using the building to provide homeless services.

e sale was approved by a 5-1 vote — with Councilmember John Marriott as the lone dissenting vote — at the July 15 Arvada City Council meeting. Arvada Mayor Lauren Simpson was an excused absence from the meeting, as she is in New York for a Harvard City Leadership program this week.

Early College of Arvada is located at 4905 W 60th Ave. and closed its doors for good after holding its last day of school on May 23; the property went up for sale shortly thereafter. e future of the building is still to be determined, but the city stated that it is evaluating the possibility of providing homeless services from the site.

SOLD “AS IS” DEFINED

1.Yes, it needs maintenance, carpet, paint and maybe a new furnace etc. This is not a ﬁx up. You should not take a discount. So many seniors and elders say: “I only paid $200,000 so If I could get $300,000, I’m happy. They lose hundreds of thousands of dollars every day.

2.“As is” minus safety issues. Natural gas leak, bad furnace are about the only things.

3.“As is” where it is often a fix and flip. Do not fix up your house if you are going to sell it. Call me to learn why you don’t need to do it.

Folks sampled beer despite the sweltering heat at Arvada on Tap.

PHOTO BY LILLIAN FUGLEI

PURCHASE

“While a speci c purpose has yet to be de ned, the property could be used for locating various nonpro ts in one location: a navigation center, a 24/7 emergency shelter or other similar uses,” the report to city council regarding the purchase stated.

Marriott said that with the recent resignation of City Manager Lorie Gillis, purchasing a property that needs “renovations and remodeling” would be a poor use of city funds at this time.

“With the impending change in leadership in the city, it’s going to take at least six months, probably a

year, until [the post of a permanent city manager] is settled, i see this as an improper expense at this time,”

Marriott said.

Councilmember Bob Fifer disagreed with Marriiott, saying that he felt the city team was still wellequipped to move forward with the transaction.

“I have con dence in the city leadership,” Fifer said. “ e city manager is the only change. I feel con dent that the continuity in this decision is solid with the leadership here at the city.”

e move comes amidst a number of other real estate transactions related to homelessness — and an ongoing debate amongst council about how to handle the issue.

e term “land banking,” was thrown around at the July 15 meet-

ing, which refers to buying property as an investment without plans for its immediate development.

“If we don’t use this (property) as a navigation center, we still have the opportunity to move forward with some of our goals in land banking,” Councilmember Lisa Feret said. Marriott raised further concerns with the property, and criticized the practice of land banking in general.

“ is purchase price involves city taxpayer funds,” Marriott said. “ ese are your tax dollars buying it. is is an initial purchase price — this is not a facility that’s in any shape that would be useful to the city as is and will require another signi cant expenditure to be able to do anything with it.

“Any plans for operating homeless centers and things like that in Arvada are just that at this point; just plans,” Marriott continued. ”Just in the beginning planning stages… I’d also like to point out that we throw the term ‘land banking’ around in a crazy fashion.”

Earlier this year, the City of Arvada closed on a 15,000-squarefoot property located at 4600 W. 60th Ave. for $3 million, where it plans to relocate Community Table within the next few months. Reno-

vations at the site will ostensibly be used to expand the nonpro t’s services.

In 2022, the city paid $2.75 million for a property at 5045 Marshall St. for the purpose of using the site to build a Je erson County homeless navigation center. at property has not been developed in the intervening two years.

Relocating Mission Arvada — the homeless service providing nonpro t located within e Rising Church in Olde Town — has also been a hot-button topic in the city, but no nal plans have been made.

At last week’s city council workshop on homelessness, council members di ered on what the city’s role in addressing the issue should be.

“Community didn’t make anyone homeless,” Marriott said. “Individuals made themselves homeless.”

Councilmember Randy Moorman disagreed.

“I believe that homelessness is a community problem and the data backs that up,” Moorman said. “Most of the folks we are counting up in our data collection are from Arvada, and that number is going up. is is a community problem that we have to address as a community.”

Exterior of the former Early College of Arvada building, which has been purchased by the City of Arvada.

PHOTO BY RYLEE DUNN

Many Homeowners

Don’t Understand Title Issues, Which Can Lead to Big Problems Later on

Our office hosted estate lawyer Dan McKenzie at last week’s office meeting, where he shared some horror stories about homeowners who made mistakes in the execution of deeds on their property.

It’s important to understand the difference between “joint tenants” and “tenants in common.” Most married couples hold title to their home as joint tenants, meaning that both of them own the whole house, and if one dies, the surviving spouse still owns the whole house by himself or herself. Tenants in common own part of the house, typically but not necessarily equal parts. When one of them dies, the heirs on the deceased party inherit that part of the house. The problem arises when that new relationship may not be a friendly one.

When a single person owns their home by him/herself (“in severalty”) and wants to add a lover or spouse to the title, a “quitclaim” deed is used to accomplish that, usually with zero dollars exchanged. For example: John Doe quitclaims his home to John Doe and Jane Roe. Dan told us of a case where John Doe mistakenly quitclaimed his home to Jane instead of to both of them, leaving him off title. When she died, her heirs inherited the house, not him. Because they weren’t married and he wasn’t in her will or on good terms with her heirs, it created a real problem reclaiming his former home.

A common mistake is for a homeowner, whether single or a couple, to put their heir(s) on title as joint tenants so they would instantly own the home when they die. The problem with that

North Park Hill Home Listed by David Dlugasch

Welcome to this completely renovated charming brick 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom single-family home at 2690 Ash Street in the heart of original Denver. This home features hardwood floors, new paint, new windows, stainless steel appliances, newer kitchen cabinets, tile backsplash and slate countertops. The bathroom has tile floors and a tiled bath. There is a 3 Season's bonus room (below) at the rear of the home. The yard has a 6’ privacy fence and has a large storage shed. The yard is great for entertaining friends and comes with garden beds to grow your veggies and flowers. Air conditioning, furnace, and water heater were installed in 2020, and there is a whole house fan. It is in walking distance to several coffee shops, City Park, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, the Denver Zoo — and an Italian grocery store called Spinelli’s. There’s no HOA to deal with, either. Find a narrated video walk-through and interior photos at www.DenverHome.info Then call David at 303-908-4835 to see it!

$510,000

approach is that the value of the home is not “stepped up” at death. You want to will the home to your heirs or create a “beneficiary deed” so that the value of the home is stepped up to the value at the time of death. Otherwise, the heir could owe a significant amount of capital gains tax. If that heir sells the house soon after inheriting it, the capital gains tax would be close to zero.

In a beneficiary deed, you name the person who is to inherit the home, independent or outside of your will. Thus, the transfer of ownership is automatic at your death without that tax liability.

A “life estate” is a special kind of deed that allows you to sell your home while you’re alive, but not have to vacate it until you die. When my brother died ten years ago, my sister-in-law (his

widow) was able to sell their farm to a buyer who gave her a life estate, allowing her to live free (except for utilities) in the farmhouse until her death many years later. The buyer got full use of the rest of the farm during those years, so it was a win/win.

If you have questions about deeds or other title issues, including how probate works, you can reach Dan McKenzie at The McKenzie Law Firm, LLC. His number is 303-578-2745, and his email is Dan@TheMcKenzieFirm.com

Come to Golden This Weekend! It’s Buffalo Bill Days, one of Golden’s signature events, and you’re invited. We’re one of the event’s sponsors, as we have been for over a decade, and I’ll be driving our free moving van in Saturday’s parade.

We’re Seeing More Active Listings & Price Reductions

Like us, you’ve probably noticed that there are more homes on the market — and that there are more price reductions on listings before they go under contract. The evidence is right on this page, with the price reduction featured at the bottom of this page.

I always like to quantify my observations, so here are two charts I created from REcolorado, our Denver MLS.

After several years of low inventory, we saw jumps in active listings as high as 72% year-over-year this May.

REcolorado doesn’t provide statistics on price reductions prior to homes going under contract, but that information can be imputed from the chart below.

January and February of this year actually out-performed the same two

months in 2023, ultimately selling for a higher percentage of the original listing price. However, June and July of this year show that the average listing went under contract for its full listing price, but only because the price had been cut.

Price Reduced on 3-Bedroom Golden Townhome

Nestled in a cul-de-sac of the neighborly Canyon Point Villas community, this home provides its owner with relaxing views from every window of the foothills, including the famous "M" on Lookout Mountain. Originally listed at $725,000, the price has been reduced to $698,000. Its full-width cedar deck in back, shown above, is perfect for relaxing and entertaining. Relax inside, too, including the living room with its 20-foot cathedral windows. Enjoy the refinished hardwood floors throughout and new carpeting in the lower-level living area. The updated, contemporary kitchen with slab granite countertops includes cutouts to let in twice as much natural light. The brightly painted 2-car garage includes wall cabinets and other convenient storage. View a narrated video walk-through, drone video and floor plans, plus lots of pictures at www.NorthGoldenHome.com, then come to our open house Saturday, July 27th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Or call Jim Smith to request a showing.

Arvada City Council rezones land for future library in Candelas

Council also approves funding for water main replacement

BY LILLIAN FUGLEI

SPECIAL TO THE ARVADA PRESS

Candelas may soon be home to a new library.

Je erson County Public Library has been looking to open a new branch in Candelas since the JCPL board voted to sign a purchase and sale agreement on a 9.4 acre parcel— located between Wilkerson Court, 92nd Avenue and Candelas Parkway — for the new location in 2022.

On July 15, JCPL got one step closer to the library, when Arvada City Council voted 6-0 to rezone the land.

e lot — previously zoned as planned unit development, or PUD — is now zoned as commercial general, or CG. ough the library could have been built under either zoning, CG more closely ts with the proposed use of the site.

During the city council meeting, Donna Walker — executive director of JCPL — outlined the plans for the future library in a presentation. e library — which is fully funded as part of JCPL’s 5-year Capital Improvement Plan — aims to ex-

pand JCPL’s services as the population in the area grows. According to market analysis conducted by the library, the area could have a population of 45,000 by 2050.

“We believe it’s vital to provide library resources to this quickly growing community,” said JCLP Board of Trustees Chair Kim Johnson. “Not just books but computers, Wi Fi access, meeting rooms and programming. All the other important services that the library provides our community.”

Candelas does not currently have a library. Instead — for the time being — the neighborhood has a holds locker, which allows residents to pick up their holds and return library books.

While the proposed library does not yet have a nal design plan, the presentation featured an overview of design concepts that the library may include. e concepts were based on engagement sessions with community leaders and library sta .

e design concept includes a large parking lot — exceeding the city’s minimum parking requirements — as well as pedestrian trails surrounding the 30,000 square foot building. Outside the building, a children’s discovery area, public art and lots of native prairie vegetation—with the potential for a learning garden space.

At the time of the meeting, JCPL

had not closed on the land. Walker said during the meeting that the purchase of the land was dependent on the zoning of the parcel. On July 19, JCPL o cially closed on the purchase of the 9.4 acre parcel.

“JCPL is thrilled to be moving forward,” said Elise Pennington, JCPL director of communications and engagement. “Building a destination library from the ground up offers such a wonderful opportunity to design a community hub that serves a community well, o ering materials, services, and resources for all generations.”

Initial phases of planning for the library, such as community engagement sessions, are set to begin later this year. Tentative plans are for

construction to begin in 2026, with the library opening in 2027.

Water Main replacement

During the meeting on July 15, council also voted to approve $4,662,989 of funding for a water main replacement, with funding coming from bond funds and water utility fees. e replacement will take place in the Sierra Vista neighborhood between W 80th Avenue and W 74th Place and Kipling Street and Oak Street. e area was chosen due to the age of the infrastructure and water main breaks in recent years. Construction is expected to take 365 days and be completed by August 2025.

Chamber of Commerce announces Taste of Arvada winners

Attendees voted on their favorite samples and Footers Catering, 6550 Co ee and Lot Que tied for most top 3 ﬁnishes

BY RYLEE DUNN

e Arvada Chamber of Commerce announced this year’s winners from the contest portion of Taste of Arvada, the Chamber’s annual showcase of

the city’s best food and beverage offerings. e winners were chosen by votes from attendees.

6550 Co ee, Footers Catering and Lot Que nished with the most top three nishes, with three each. Footers — which o ered samples of their katsu hot dog and key lime pie — nished in rst place in the category of best overall taste.

Here are the winners from this year’s Taste of Arvada contest:

Best Sweet Treat

1. La Patisserie Francaise

2. Footers Catering

3. Enstrom Candies

A design concept for the new library in Candelas.

Arvada Mayor Lauren Simpson enjoys key lime pie from Footers Catering Company.

PHOTO BY LILLIAN FUGLEI

Arvada Mayor Lauren Simpson chosen to attend Bloomberg Harvard Leadership Initiative

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Arvada Mayor Lauren Simpson is representing the city on a national stage as she attends the Bloomberg Harvard Leadership Initiative, a selective executive training program that only 39 mayors from around the world were invited to. While the program runs for a full year, the inperson portion of the class took place from July 14 to 17. e only other Colorado mayors selected for the program were Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, Colorado Springs Mayor Blessing “Yemi” Mobolade and Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett.

Joining Simpson from Arvada’s city team are Director of Finance Brian Archer and soon-tobe Acting City Manager Linda Haley, who will be stepping in for outgoing City Manager Lorie Gillis on Aug. 3.

Last year, Simpson participated in Bloomberg Harvard’s First 100 Days program before her term began. She said this opportunity felt like a natural progression from that.

“ at program felt like a crash course in ‘how to mayor,’ with experienced mayors from around the U.S. sharing their learnings and advice with our class of newly elected mayors,” Simpson

said. “It was an amazing experience, and it also resulted in the invitation to join this longer, more intensive program.”

Bloomberg Harvard pays for the cost of tuition and transportation, so the City of Arvada wasn’t on the hook for any of its sta ’s expenses.

Simpson said that although the city team has been busy lately — she missed the July 15 city council meeting that saw council approve the purchase of Early College of Arvada’s building for $6.3 million — she felt that the lessons she can learn from the program are vital to impart on the

2. CD’s Wings

3. Famille Westminster

Best Taste from Around the World

1. Spice Room

2. Footers Catering

3. Cupbop

Best Alcoholic Beverage

1. e Arvada Tavern

2. Lot Que

3. LUKI Brewing

Best Non-Alcoholic Beverage

city team upon her return.

“It was a big decision to participate, given all that we have going on in our city,” Simpson said. “But that’s true for any mayor, and I saw this as an opportunity to not only grow my own leadership skills but importantly one I could share with two of our top leaders at City Hall.

“I hope to use this time to think strategically about the goals we have in Arvada, learn best practices from my counterparts, and identify tactics that will help us even better serve our residents,” Simpson continued.

1. Snooze A.M. Eatery

2. 6550 Co ee

3. Longmont Dairy

Best Overall Taste

1. Footers Catering

2. Lot Que

3. 6550 Co ee

Best Non-Food Giveaways

1. Climb Credit Union

2. Arvada Appliance

3. Westerra Credit Union

Group photo of all mayors (with Arvada Mayor Lauren Simpson at the far right, front row) invited to the program with Michael Bloomberg and CEO of Bloomberg Philanthropies Patricia Harris (center). COURTESY LAUREN SIMPSON

First Mountain Music Fest to bring full day of music to Evergreen

Proceeds to beneﬁt mountain-area students

BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e cost for a student to participate in one extra-curricular activity in a season was about $833 in 2022, according to the Aspen Institute’s Project Play. For families with annual household incomes of $150,000 or more, that average is $2,068.

e Evergreen-based Wooden Hawk Foundation wants to help, and it’s doing so in a unique way — by helping to coordinate a largely student-run mountain music festival through which students can gain unique experience, and raise money and awareness about their sports and clubs.

“Firefall” will headline the Aug. 3 Mountain Music Fest, which will include eight bands playing from noon to 9 p.m. at Evergreen’s Buchanan Park elds. e lineup includes Non-Prophet, George Gray and the Elvis Experience Band, Jenna Weidner, Trouble Bound, Denver Rock Orchestra and Dirty Snowman Society, Hand Turkey, Steve Knight & Elle Green and headliner Firefall.

Early pricing tickets are $30 through July 27, with discounts for families, military, rst responders, teachers, students and those who have tickets to that morning’s Dam Ducky Derby. Proceeds from ticket sales will bene t the Wooden Hawk Foundation, while students will earn money through the sale of bottled water and signed Firefall event posters. e foundation’s mission is to support the mountain community school system through charitable and educational initiatives.

“ e foundation wanted to provide students an opportunity to have skin in the game, a large event where they could be in charge of running it and have an opportunity to garner awareness and donations for their clubs,” said foundation president Pam LushLindquist, adding the festival will be an annual event. “We’ve struck a nerve in so many entities. Whether they’re sponsors, people or musicians that understand what our core mission is —

which is to support our students where programs have been cut.

“Public education is no longer an equal playing eld. Home economics, woodworking, driving instruction — these programs are long gone. On top of that, it costs you to get on the bus to go to school. To play a sport, you have to pay for all equipment and transportation. It costs to become a member of the DECA club, and if you go to state or international, it costs much more. We’ve lost public education the way in which we once knew it.”

With the idea of o setting some of those costs, EHS clubs and teams will have booths at the event to showcase their activity.

“ e Mountain Biking Team is going to build a little mountain biking course where people can participate by a suggested donation that goes directly to the team,” Lindquist said. “Each club and sports team is doing their own rendition of an activity.”

e concert line-up includes local connections. Non-Prophet, winners of Conifer’s Got Talent, features three stu-

dents from the Morrison-Conifer area. Country singer Jenna Weidner and Hand Turkey Band lead vocalist Andy Seracuse are EHS graduates.

“Every one of our acts has a passion or program for students,” Lindquist said.

e foundation will use its share of the proceeds to help build its planned Future Center and Alumni Center at Evergreen High School.

e Futures Center is planned as a platform to guide students on their future career pathways, o ering resources for those seeking work in trade careers, community college, the military, universities, internships, or other options.

e Alumni Center will be an interactive kiosk near the high school’s main entrance that lets alumni share their experiences as students, and connect with peers from all graduating classes.

e Wooden Hawk Foundation was founded in 2023 by Michele Peeters Vanags, an Evergreen-based insurance agent.

For tickets, visit Mountain Music Fest.

Call ﬁrst: 3540 Evergreen Parkway, Evergreeen, CO, 80439

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Mountain Music Fest, a fundraiser for the Wooden Hawk Foundation and local students, will be held Aug. 3 at Buchanan Park.

COURTESY OF MOUNTAIN MUSIC FEST

Colorado awarded $40.5 million federal quantum technology grant

BY MICHAEL BOOTH AND TAMARA CHUANG THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado won a $40.5 million quantum technology grant from the federal government to help turn the state into a worldwide hub in the emerging eld, Gov. Jared Polis recently announced as one of 12 awards after a highly competitive sprint for the U.S. money. e award cements Colorado’s leadership in quantum computing, which relies on supercooled operations at an atomic level, and will unlock $74 million in state tax credits

passed in anticipation of a federal grant win, Polis said. at in turn could draw billions of dollars in private and partnership investment to the eld, which already employs thousands of people in Colorado, Polis said.

“America, rightfully so, is making a bet on the future of computing and Colorado is that bet,” Polis said. “And we’re going to make sure it pays o , not only for Colorado, but for the country and beyond.”

Colorado economic development and technology o cials had identi ed the state’s big head start in quantum research as the most promising avenue when it joined nearly 200 national applicants seeking federal awards from the Department of Commerce’s Regional

REVERSE MORTGAGES MADE EASY

Kelly Schilling, technician at Maybell, demonstrates a mill machine center Oct. 19, 2023, in Denver.

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

ON TAP

Lovisone said the festival commission had about 50 volunteers this year, about half of which were external folks who wanted to help out for Arvada on Tap speci cally.

Breweries present for the 9th annual installation of the event included 6 and 40 Brewery and Taproom, Call to Arms, Goldspot, LUKI, Prost Brewing Company, Ratio Beerworks, Westminster Brewing Company, Marble Brewing, Ceria Brewing Company, WeldWerks Brewing Co. and Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

Tunes were provided by Halfway ere; a Bon Jovi tribute band, and Cold Shot; a Stevie Ray Vaughn tribute band.

GRANT

Technology and Innovation Hubs program. e hubs were enacted as part of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.

Applicants sought money for one of 10 technologies designated as key to future U.S. research and development. e state applied for up to $75 million in additional federal funding in February, a few months after the Biden administration named Colorado an o cial Tech Hub for quantum computing.

A group called Elevate Quantum formed a consortium of private quantum companies, investors, startups and universities including the University of Colorado and Colorado School of Mines. At least three Boulder-area companies are building their own quantum computers in a race to o er more qubits, akin to computer data. e quantum industry could bring $3 billion in funding to Colorado over the next decade, o cials say, plus provide jobs for 30,000 future workers at di erent education and training levels.

Colorado’s enthusiasm for quantum technology was reinforced on a recent trade mission to Finland, Polis said Monday. e Scandinavian nation is an international leader in the eld, and Colorado has a memorandum of understanding on research.

“We were certainly hoping that our country would not give leadership in this area to the rest of the world,” Polis said. “And yes, with this decision, the United States of America is making a clear statement that we are serious about America being a leader in quantum technology. Colorado is the place to invest and make it happen.”

Winning the additional funding means that House Bill 1325, passed by the legislature this year, kicks in to provide up to $74 million in state tax credits to the quantum industry. e fully refundable tax credits would be available to o set the costs of building a shared quantum facility or for nancial lenders who provide loans to quantum companies should there be a loss incurred on the loan. Quantum, which refers to the science of probabilities down to the atom and the tech that can speed up complex computer calculations, has a long history in the Boulder region. In the 1950s, the National Institute of Standards and Technology picked Boulder for a research facility. NIST, which needed quantum measurements because they need to measure the most precise and sensitive things in the world, later partnered with the University of Colorado to create the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics in 1962. 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.

SATURDAY

AUGUST 24

Let’s come together to celebrate the beauty that our local communities have to offer!

SHARE YOUR TRAIL TALES 5K

is a new event that celebrates Colorado’s walking/running trails within our local communities. Our 5K Run/Walk will mark the culmination of members sharing their stories about the great places they go for a run or a walk.

REGISTER NOW!

Lace up your shoes, and after you hit the path, share your story with Colorado Community Media. We will be publishing your fan letters in our local papers.

Silverdale Trailhead Three Sisters Trail

The BBQ portion of the day gets underway. PHOTO BY LILLIAN FUGLEI

Colorado’s historic South Platte Hotel gets a new look

As e orts to preserve the hotel continue, volunteers add new window panels to the 111-year-old building

BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e historic South Platte Hotel re-

cently got a fresh look, the rst step in what local and state historical groups hope will be a pathway to its full restoration. Volunteers painted and hung window panels on the 111-year-old building near Buffalo Creek. e panels depict black window frames with white curtains, one including a cat that appears to be watching passers-by.

“ ey’re mostly to let other people know that people care about the building, and to help envision a rehabilitation and future use of the building,” said Lee Katherine Goldstein, president of the nonpro t History Je co. “It looks less abandoned because of these beautiful panels.”

Goldstein and History Je co are among many volunteers and historical groups working to give the hotel new life. e building was added to Colorado’s Most Endangered Places list in 2023, which has given a boost to e orts to save it.

e Endangered Places Program, started by the Colorado Preservation, Inc., highlights buildings and locations at risk of loss, then works with communities to save them. ey’re working with Denver Water, which owns the building,

“Right now, we’re pushing to get the building stabilized,” said Colorado Preservation Inc. President Jennifer Orrigo Charles. “Our biggest concern now is that a tree limb

has fallen on the hotel, and there’s a hole in the roof. We’re working with Denver Water to try to gure out a way to remove that branch and close up the hole.”

Beyond that, its future is yet unknown.

“We’re really hoping there’s a positive public response that demonstrates to Denver Water the community really cares about this building, and would like to see something positive happen to it,” Charles said.

e two-story wood hotel was built in 1913 and was a central part of a small community of at least 40 residents who lived at the convergence of the South Platte and the North Fork of the South Platte rivers.

e 14-room hotel that still stands today replaced an even older hotel that was built there in 1887 and burned down, according to Colorado Preservation Inc.

e hotel was one of many along the Denver, South Park & Paci c Railroad narrow gauge line that brought tourists to the mountains in the 1900s. e train, along with railroad tourism, stopped in 1937 as automobiles became the preferred mode of travel.

“It’s a landmark and a remnant of historical tourism and railroad tourism in that area,” Goldstein said.

“It’s also the last surviving building from a small town that once had a grocery store and a train depot. is is the last building left to tell that story.”

Denver Water bought the hotel and several nearby properties in the 1960s and 1970s during the early planning stages of Two Forks Dam, a project that never came to fruition. If it had, the area would have been ooded as part of the reservoir.

Denver Water leased the hotel

and said its last tenant left in the early 1980s. Since then, the building has been empty. Because it doesn’t serve any purpose for its ratepayers, the utility company hasn’t invested in building repairs and the building is “currently extremely unsafe,” said Denver Water spokesperson Jimmy Luthye. Denver Water erected a fence to keep people out “while we go through the process of determining its future,” he said.

“We understand the importance of the history of the site,” Luthye said. “Given the condition of the building and our role as a water provider, we are committed to working closely with Colorado Preservation Inc., History Colorado, Je erson County Historical Commission and other groups that are interested in

examining potentially viable options.

“We also appreciate the e orts of CPI and its volunteers for their recent, creative project to improve the appearance of the South Platte Hotel.”

While the hotel is no longer on a busy rail route, its location along the Colorado Trail and on the river make it a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Preservationists hope they can someday capitalize on that. “ e hotel is in such a remote area, but at the same time, it’s very heavily tra cked,” said Katie Peterson, program director for Endangered Places. “We haven’t ultimately decided what the future use will be, but there are endless opportunities for that building.”

Volunteers painted and installed new window panels on the historic South Platte Hotel near Bu alo Creek.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HISTORY JEFFCO

Je erson County Republicans tab former RTD Board Member Natalie Menten for District 2 Commissioners race

Menton replaces Charlie Sturdavant, who dropped out due to an injury

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e Je erson County Republicans have settled on a new District 2 County Commissioner candidate: former RTD Board Member Natalie Menten will step in for Charlie Sturdavant, who dropped out of the race because of a knee injury.

A vacancy committee met on July 12 to ll the open position, and picked Menten to run against Democrat incumbent Andy Kerr, according to Je erson County Republican Party Chair Nancy Pallozzi.

Menten was the RTD District M board member for 8 years, and has been involved in advocacy against tax hikes and against Senate Bill 213, which would have taken away a degree of local control regarding land use decisions.

“I’m not a newbie in any sense of the word, and actually thought about entering the race back in 2016 but at that time, I was on the RTD board as an elected board director, and knew there’s still worth some things I was completing there,” Men-

ten said. “Now, this is the right time, an ideal time.

“ ere’s a demand for myself to enter this race, because what we have at stake here is the nancial impact to the taxpayers of Je erson County, which I want to protect, and so that that really requires that I step into this race now and put my name in,” Menten continued.

In addition to her term on the RTD board, Menten also has experience owning and managing an automotive shop based in Golden.

She says she plans to take a “hands on” approach to county management if elected, including shoring up some “redundancies” and “duplication” in certain departments, which she believes could be streamlined into a more cost-e ective operation.

Her priorities include making sure Je co residents don’t have to give up property tax caps, reviewing the taxation of food with the aim of making it more a ordable and ghting against “land use mandates” such as those found in the now-dead SB 213.

Pallozzi mentioned Menten’s advocacy in maintaining TABOR within the county as one of the reasons why she was selected for the vacancy, which Menten echoed in her comments as well.

“Je erson County has asked the voters to de-TABOR twice in the last

ve years,” Menten said. “I was one of the main opponents, working with a large group of volunteers to defeat both of those issues, meaning I was printing 1000s of yers out of my home o ce and handing them to volunteers.

“I will work to the end to defeat this measure they want to get passed, which will eliminate our property tax caps and it is a tax increase, eliminating our Tabor refund forever,” Menten continued.

With regards to entering the race at this stage, Menten said it wasn’t a concern for her, as she also jumped into the RTD race late and was able to secure the vote there.

“We want somebody who’s really going to bring some balance back to government, require more open meetings of government, nd deciencies in the government, have the ability to actually say those words you don’t hear that often in government, which is, ‘No, that’s not the best idea and not the best role of government,’” Menten said.

“We can do better for the community (in terms of) protecting taxpayers’ wallets,” she continued. “I hope all those years where I spent doing that work already is re ected on the vote in November.”

Pallozzi said Menten has the full support of the Je co Republican Party.

“(Menten) knows how to run government and be a part of that process,” Pallozzi said. “ e Je erson County Republicans are very excited that she is our candidate for County Commissioner in District 2 and we are looking forward to seeing her prevail in this race.”

District 2 covers parts of Golden, Lakewood and Edgewater. Election day is Nov. 5.

Newly minted Je erson County District 2 Commissioner Candidate Natalie Menten. COURTESY PHOTO

Study shows ‘churn’ hurts classrooms

Mobile students have lower third grade reading scores

BY MELANIE ASMAR CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Classroom “churn” — when students leave a classroom midyear or new students join — can have a negative e ect on third grade reading scores, according to a new study that examined Colorado census and state standardized test data. e study, by researchers at the Colorado Futures Center at Colorado State University, found that higher classroom churn was correlated with lower third grade reading scores, based on data from 2019. It’s a trend that the center’s executive director and lead economist, Phyllis Resnick, suspects has ramped up since that year, as schools experience higher levels of chronic absenteeism after the pandemic and struggle to make up for lost learning.

After the study revealed that nding, Resnick said she spoke to one teacher who had 40 di erent students cycle in and out of 20 seats in her classroom in a single year.

“Every time you have a new student, you have to take a step back and assess where that student is and then integrate them into the classroom,” Resnick said.

“It’s not easy to be a kid who’s bouncing in and out of schools,” she said, “but it’s also a challenge for the kids who are consistently in the classroom.”

Classroom churn was one of many factors examined in the study, called “Social Factors of Academic Success.” e research, Resnick said, grew out of a question from CSU o cials: What policies can Colorado adopt to help students be more prepared for learning after high school, whether that’s at a college campus, a vocational training program, or a job site? Resnick doesn’t specialize in education research, but she said it quickly became clear that early intervention, or policies with the potential to impact young students, would be most e ective.

With a team well-versed in guring out the impact of di erent socioeconomic, demographic, and community health factors, she and the other researchers set out to determine which of those factors most a ect third grade reading scores in Colorado.

Many of the ndings were unsurprising. For instance, the team found that the more funding a school had, or the more access to early childhood education a community had, the higher its students’ third grade reading scores.

e nding about classroom churn stood out as more interesting, Resnick said. To calculate it, the team used data collected by the Colorado Department of Education on student mobility, plus scores from the state’s third grade standardized reading and writing test.

When stacked up against all the other factors, classroom churn ranked third among the factors most closely correlated with third grade reading scores, behind students’ household income and whether their parents have college degrees. Other classroom factors, including

class size and teacher pay, did not correlate with third grade reading scores, the study found.

As Resnick has shared the ndings informally with elementary school teachers and principals, she said many of them have acknowledged that churn can be di cult. But they said they never thought of it as a problem that could be solved by policy. Instead, Resnick said, they thought of it as something that would always be there. She described it as “the air they breathe.”

e study makes several policy recommendations to address classroom churn, including providing more support in classrooms with high churn or having teachers “loop” with the same cohort of students year after year to provide some level of stability. Housing instability is often a root cause of classroom churn, and while it may be di cult for schools to affect housing policy, the study suggests that states shore up their school records transfer systems so teachers know the academic histories of students who arrive midyear.

Now that the study has been released, Resnick hopes to nd the funding to take it on the road to discuss the ndings and potential policy solutions with educators across Colorado.

“We see this as the beginning to frame a conversation,” she said. is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with Chalkbeat Colorado, a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.

When more students move in and out of the classroom midyear, third grade test scores tend to decline, researchers found.

PHOTO BY JIMENA PECK/CHALKBEAT

Judge dismisses universal preschool lawsuit brought by school districts

BY ANN SCHIMKE CHALKBEAT COLORADO

A Denver district court judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by several Colorado school districts over the state’s universal preschool program, ruling that the plainti s don’t have legal grounds to sue.

In his 20-page ruling, Judge Jon J. Olafson concluded that the six school districts, two education groups, a cooperative education services board, and two families that sued the state last year had not su ered any “injury” covered by state or federal law. e districts, groups, and families had argued

that the universal preschool program administration was harming students with disabilities, in addition to other claims.

e decision is a win for the state and for Gov. Jared Polis, who spearheaded the popular free preschool program, which launched last summer after a rushed and rocky planning process. It comes a month after a partial victory for the state in another universal preschool lawsuit — one brought by Catholic preschools who don’t want to enroll children from LGBTQ families. ( e Catholic preschools plan to appeal.)

Melissa Gibson, deputy execu-

tive director of the Colorado Association of School Executives, one of the plainti s in the case, said in a statement, “We are disappointed by the court’s decision, but we will continue our focus on doing everything possible to advocate for resolution to the issues impacting students and families in the [universal preschool] system.”

She said ling the lawsuit was “a last resort,” and that the plainti s will continue to work with the state to push for solutions and transparency.

In addition to Gibson’s group, the plainti s include the Consortium of Directors of Special Education,

Centennial Board of Cooperative Educational Services, two families, and the six school districts: Brighton-based 27J, Cherry Creek, Harrison, Mapleton, Platte Valley, and Westminster.

ey led the lawsuit against the state last summer, claiming its administration of the universal preschool program was harming children with disabilities and breaking nancial promises to families and school districts. In response, the state asked the court to dismiss the suit. Olafson held a hearing on that motion at the end of April.

Think your ngers aren’t smudged with black coal dust? Even in the Roaring Fork Valley and Boulder County, places with no smokestacks currently in use, we still rely upon coal power. Coal has made the lives of nearly all Coloradans easier. at’s why the recent agreement that could result in more than $70 million being paid to a city and county in northwestern Colorado deserves attention. It is the strongest evidence yet of Colorado’s commitment to just transition.

In 2019, Colorado targeted dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the rst milestone being 50% economy-wide reduction in emissions by 2030. Replacing coalburning plants with cheaper, cleaner wind and solar backstopped by natural gas will be the easiest work. We’re on track to have that task nearly completed by 2028.

State legislators that same year adopted a just transition law that so far remains unique to Colorado. e law declared a “moral commitment to assist the workers and communities that have powered Colorado for generations.”

Noble intention. What does it mean in practice?

Our most concrete example comes from Craig, a city of 9,000 set amid the sagebrush of the Yampa River Valley. Nearby are three coalburning units supplied by two local

VOICES

How Craig matters in Colorado’s just energy transition

When most people think of live jazz, many probably imagine dimly lit, smokelled clubs. However, the music sounds just as great at a higher elevation.

at’s the idea behind the Evergreen Jazz Festival, which is returning for its 21st year on Friday, July 26 through Sunday, July 28.

“What makes the festival unique is we focus on classic and early forms of jazz,” said Ed Danielson, the event’s music director. “ ere are still plenty of people out there playing and ap-

coal mines. Together they deliver 43% of the property tax base for Craig and Mo at County as well as hundreds of reasonably wellpaying blue-collar jobs.

Other Colorado communities will also lose jobs but with lesser percentage impact. Mo at County’s job loss will be 5.1 times that of nearby Routt County, 16.8 times the projected percentage loss in Morgan County, and 33.7 times that of Pueblo County.

Ski towns depend greatly upon snow and are mostly dominated by major ski area operators. But their economies long ago began diversifying.

Crested Butte in the 1990s began having more lucrative months in summer than in winter. Di erences in sales tax revenues between good and poor snow winters in the resort valleys vary, but not by all that much. Perhaps no other place in Colorado depends so much on one industry and one employer than Craig. e settlement agreement reached among Craig and Mo at County, environmental groups, and roughly a dozen others is complex. It required year-long negotiation. Notable is the voluntary participation of

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, the operator of all three coal-burning units and owner of one of the mines.

Tri-State is second only to Xcel Energy in Colorado in electrical generation but it has a di erent business model. It’s a cooperative, owned by its members, 41 electrical cooperatives in Colorado and three other states. It argued that as a legal principle, it was not obligated to assist the communities where it is leaving coal behind. Arguably, that was true. Unlike Xcel Energy, no state law speci cally mentions Tri-State.

But there is little doubt that Colorado lawmakers thought utilities –and by extension you and me – had the obligation to ease the glide path for coal-dependent communities. In the end, Tri-State stepped up. It’s a two-tiered package. Four years of payments totaling $22 million will start beginning in 2026. Tri-State also committed to paying $48 million beginning in 2028, but that money is conditional. If Tri-State reinvests in Mo at County, such as with a new natural gas plant, the tax revenue will be deducted from those payments.

ere’s also a water component: an award to Mo at County for augmentation water rights valued by the county at up to $3 million. ese payments won’t make Craig economically whole. e town and its various school, re, and other

taxing districts need to gure out how to reinvent their economic fabric. Can improved rail to the Yampa Valley, as identi ed by state legislation earlier this year, make a di erence? Craig isn’t delivered a future on a silver platter. It’s only been given a helping hand.

What does this mean for Pueblo and Hayden, where Xcel Energy has coal-burning plants that will be retired, and at Brush, where the Pawnee plant will be converted to burn gas?

Xcel Energy has already agreed to pay property taxes until 2040 on Comanche 3, the coal unit in Pueblo originally scheduled to burn coal until 2070. It is now to close in 2031. What else Xcel Energy may need to deliver at Pueblo and Hayden will be the subject of discussions for the next year or two. It is scheduled to deliver its thinking to state regulators by Aug. 1. Why does this matter? is speaks to who we want to be. We can no longer a ord coal. It costs more than renewables. ere’s also a much greater cost, the enormous risk of climate instability. But we need to honor the coal miners and coal towns and help them move on to new careers.

Allen Best publishes Big Pivots, which chronicles the energy and water transitions in Colorado. is was drawn from a much longer analysis at BigPivots.com

Evergreen Festival returns for a celebration of jazz

COMING ATTRACTIONS

preciating this kind of music.”

When Danielson said the festival features on classic jazz, he means the types of jazz that really helped to create the genre — big band, Dixieland, and Gypsy and western swing. Some of the legendary artists who pioneered this music include Louis

Clarke Reader helped

Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Jelly Roll Morton, just to name a few e three-day festival features musicians performing at a variety of lovely venues in Evergreen: the Evergreen Elks Lodge, Evergreen Lake House, Evergreen Christian Church and Center Stage. Each space provides a unique live experience and they all have the bene t of being surrounded by Evergreen’s natural beauty.

Some of the bands that are performing at this year’s festival include: After Midnight (Denver): A group

that’s been around more than 30 years and specializes in the sounds of the legends of the swing era, like Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw and Woody Herman.

Jeremy Mohney & His Band (Boulder): Making their festival debut, this group has quickly made a name for itself thanks to its energetic and fun take on classic jazz from the 1920s and 40s.

e Hot Tomatoes Dance Orchestra (Denver): A band for the dancers,

BIG PIVOTS

Allen Best

this swing group is made up of topnotch musicians performing some of the swing era’s greatest hits. ey’re guaranteed to get you out on the dance oor.

Appealing to younger audiences is a key goal for Danielson, and bringing in younger performers and groups that play music attendees can dance to is a key part of that e ort.

“ ere’s been a renewed interest in recent years in swing dancing, so we want to make sure the performances are danceable,” he said. “We o er dance lessons as part of the festival as well.”

ere will be food trucks at this year’s event and all funds raised go right back to putting on the festival for another year. Since the event’s mission includes a commitment to jazz education, attending is a great way to listen to wonderful live music and support a good cause.

“ e festival is just a real pleasant way to spend the weekend,” Danielson said. “ e music is great and the people are friendly. It’s a real joy to be part of.”

For more information and schedule, visit www.evergreenjazz.org/.

A Day of Racing Fun at the Twilight Criterium

Anyone who thinks cycling is just a leisurely activity or a more environmentally-friendly way to get from one place to another have never watched a race like the Audi Denver Littleton Twilight Criterium. is year’s race will be from 3 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3 in Downtown Littleton and promises a whole day of fun. e race portion of the day features men’s and women’s races and is part of the national criterium series formed in collaboration with USA Cycling and America’s best criterium

races.

For the non-racers, the Criterium will also feature live music, a beer garden, a cruiser ride for the family and much more. Get all the details at https://www.littletoncrit.com/.

DIA Takes Live Music to the Skies

ere are a lot of interesting live music venues in the metro area, but the Denver International Airport’s Concerts on the Fly series has to be high up on the list.

e second annual outdoor concert series will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. every Sunday from July 28 through Sept. 1 at the airport’s 82,000-squarefoot open-air plaza, located between the South Security TSA Checkpoint on the south end of the Jeppesen Terminal and e Westin Denver International Airport Hotel and Transit Center.

Performers will include Ambrosia, e Motet, Dotsero and more, and food and drinks will be available for purchase on site. e concerts are free, but there are a limited number of tickets available, and guests must register in advance. Visit FlyDenver.com/concerts for more information.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Oneness Tour at Red Rocks

e Oneness Tour, which features guitar legend Carlos Santana and 90’s rock stalwarts Counting Crows might seem like an odd pairing, but since both have consistently delivered high-quality rock music for decades, I think it makes perfect sense. e tour will be stopping by Red Rocks, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway in Morrison, for two nights: 7 p.m. on Monday, July 29 and Tuesday, July 30. For a night of musical greatness, get tickets at www.axs.com.

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

Olafson acknowledged that the school district plainti s had faced “headaches” in adapting to the new universal preschool system, but said “these growing pains are not legally protected injury.”

He also said that some of the plainti s’ concerns would be better addressed through legislative or

administrative means, rather than through the courts.

During the 2023-24 school year, about 39,000 4-year-olds received tuition-free preschool through Colorado’s universal preschool program — representing 62% of children in that age group in the state. Enrollment is expected to be even higher next year. is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with Chalkbeat Colorado, a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.

IN GOOD HANDS

Local single moms use low-cost automotive services to provide for families

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Danicka omas’ car was on its last legs.

For weeks, the Denver resident asked her neighbors for rides or spent hundreds of dollars on rideshares. With six children who all needed to be in di erent places at varying times, omas said public transportation wasn’t a viable option. She needed a car — a real, working car.

Finally, last month, she caught a ride to a concert at Clement Park, and then drove home in a new car.

“It’s been a long time coming,” omas said. “ … I’m beyond words.”

On June 28, Goldenbased nonpro t organization Hands of the Carpenter hosted a bene t concert to help omas and other single moms throughout the Denver area.

e faith-based nonpro t o ers low-cost automotive services, including maintenance and placement, for working single moms. It serves clients in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomeld, Denver, Douglas and Je erson counties.

Hands of the Carpenter started in 2003 and has garages in Golden and Aurora. It plans to open a third in the Federal Heights area this fall, Founder Dan Georgopulos said.

In 2022, it served 355 families. Last year, after opening the Aurora garage, it served 609.

Georgopulos added that Hands of the Carpenter had helped more than 400 fami-

lies so far in 2024, and believed the third garage would enable it to serve even more clients than 2023.

“We know there’s a lot of need in the northern Denver area,” he said, adding that the Federal Heights garage will be the largest of the three, with eight bays total.

As its operations expand, Georgopulos hoped the nonpro t’s clients, volunteers and other supporters would continue to spread the word about Hands of the Carpenter’s mission and services.

“Everybody knows somebody who needs help,” he continued.

‘It’s life-changing’ omas, who heard about Hands of the Carpenter from a coworker, reached out to the nonpro t in October. With her new car, she’ll be participating in the three-year Lift UP Program, which includes low-cost repairs and maintenance. e car itself was 35% of the retail cost under the Lift UP Program.

With her new 2010 Ford Edge Sport, omas said that she’s looking forward to driving herself to and from work, getting her children to all their commitments, and making a road-trip to visit her out-of-state relatives without issue.

“It’s life-changing,” she continued.

She thanked all the Hands of the Carpenter leaders and volunteers, and everyone who helped with the June 28 bene t concert, including musicians Hazel Miller & the Collective.

On June 28, Aurora’s Antoinette Ogunwo drives the car she received from Hands of the Carpenter about two years ago. The nonproﬁt serves single moms across the seven-county Denver metro area through its Transportation at Low-Cost program, which includes vehicle repairs and placement. PHOTO BY

Priscilla Guerra has her car repaired at Hands of the Carpenter’s Golden-based garage earlier this year. The nonproﬁt, which helps single moms with their transportation needs, has a second garage in Aurora and is planning to open a third in the Federal Heights area this fall. COURTESY OF HANDS OF THE CARPENTER

GOOD HANDS

“I hope they’re able to bless many more families,” omas said of the nonpro t.

On July 9, Lakewood’s Jasmine Coronado-Lopez took her car to the Golden garage for maintenance. After being referred through Hope House, she’s been in the Lift UP Program since March.

Coronado-Lopez said her car’s been having transmission problems, and Hands of the Carpenter referred her to an outside shop for additional evaluation. She hoped to get it xed soon, saying the nonpro t has been helping her navigate the stressful situation.

“ ey’ve been so helpful and encouraging on my journey to gure out cars and get my kids around safely,” she continued.

As a delivery driver and a relative’s primary care worker, Coronado-Lopez said having a car is crucial for picking up medication, grocery-shopping, and other tasks. She was thankful Hands of the Carpenter has kept her car running “when I thought it was going to break down for good,” she said.

She’s referred other moms, saying she’s learned a lot about cars as the Hands of the Carpenter mechanics walk her through everything her car needs and why. While she believed other shops might talk down to their clients or take advantage of them, Coronado-Lopez felt informed on the process at Hands of the Carpenter.

“It feels home-like,” she said of bringing her car into the Golden garage. “… I’m so thankful for all the work they’ve already done in the last few months.”

Aurora’s Antoinette Ogunwo is starting her third year with the Lift UP Program this August, as Hands of the Carpenter placed her with a 2011 Chevy Malibu a few years ago.

Ogunwo recalled trying to apply for help several years ago, but Hands of the Carpenter wasn’t serving her area yet.

After it expanded, though, she received a yer in the mail and applied that night.

She described how, before getting her current car, Ogunwo “kept driving lemons.” She became trapped in a vicious cycle of needing to x or replace her car on a regular basis. So, after she received her new car at a bene t concert like omas did, Ogunwo said it was “truly a blessing.”

Not only has it helped her family get around town, but Ogunwo said, “I’ve learned to manage my nances and appreciate what I have.”

Overall, she said her experiences with Hands of the Carpenter were reassuring, adding, “You’re in good hands.”

‘They

do it with heart’

Along with individual donors, Hands of the Carpenter receives grants and donations from businesses, civic and philanthropic organizations, and faith-based groups.

Nancy Smith of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Lakewood said her group has been supporting Hands of the Carpenter’s work for years. She also volunteers at the Golden garage, helping families when they bring their cars in for service.

She said people don’t need to be mechanics to volunteer.

Just welcoming the clients and spreading the word is key, Smith continued, adding, “ ere’s something for everyone (to help with).”

In addition to monetary donations, Hands of the Carpenter also accepts vehicles. Georgopulos said that, depending on its condition, it might be placed with a family or sold to fund additional services.

From her experiences as a volunteer, Smith described just how important having a working and reliable car is for every family the nonpro t helps. She and Georgopulos hoped people would continue to support Hands of the Carpenter as it opens the third garage later this year.

“ ey’re making a di erence in people’s lives,” Smith said, “… and they do it with heart.”

With a fundraising chart for Hands of the Carpenter in the background, Hazel Miller & the Collective perform at a June 28 beneﬁt concert at Clement Park. The nonproﬁt serves single moms across the seven-county Denver metro area through its Transportation at Low-Cost program, which includes vehicle repairs and placement.

PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN

In March 2024, Solangel Ramos Blanco and her family receive a new car at the Golden-based Hands of the Carpenter garage. The nonproﬁt, which helps single moms with their transportation needs, placed the family with a donated 2012 Toyota Highlander that was evaluated and prepared by the nonproﬁt’s mechanics. COURTESY

Colorado’s first Firehawk is finally ready to fight

The state purchased it about 3 years ago

BY OLIVIA PRENTZEL THE COLORADO SUN

ree years after lawmakers allocated $30 million to purchase its rst “Firehawk,” the modi ed military helicopter that is capable of quickly crisscrossing Colorado to detect and douse ames is nally ready for action.

But that doesn’t mean it will be called to attack the next wild re that sparks as overgrown fuels dry up in the sti ing summer heat.

Highly specialized training for four primary pilots is complete but whether the one-of-a-kind aircraft is called to the next re depends on what other resources are available nearest to the re, said Mike Morgan, director of Colorado’s Division of Fire Prevention and Control.

“We’ll send the closest available helicopter,” Morgan said. “It might be a large air tanker, might be a single-engine tanker, depending on what the re is doing — it’s different tools in the toolbox. Sometimes you need a hammer, sometimes you need a screwdriver, and so that’s why we have a wide array of resources.”

e rst chopper — purchased at $26 million plus more to cover operational costs — was highly anticipated, as o cials told the public it would go into service earlier this year to help Colorado ght res, which are becoming larger and more frequent as climate change causes dangerously dry conditions across the Western U.S. e purchase of Firehawks was part of the state’s push to rely less on rented aircraft to ght wild res. In 2020, for instance, when Colorado had the three largest wild res in its history, the state struggled to secure the aircraft it needed because there were also res burning in California, New Mexico, and several other states.

When the rst one was purchased in 2021, it had not been built yet, Morgan said. is particular model was built in Poland, shipped to Texas and then brought to Colorado, where it was disassembled as a military aircraft and then rebuilt with new technology to be able to ght res.

en after a delay in delivery, the engine was recalled, Morgan said.

e state’s second Firehawk, which was purchased last year, ar-

rived in Colorado at the end of June and is expected to be operational by August 2025, Morgan said.

“And so there were a bunch of things that just weren’t going quite right for us,” Morgan said.

Colorado’s new Firehawk helicopter. It can ﬂy faster than 150 mph and quickly slurp up and deploy up to 1,000 gallons of water.

PHOTO BY JESSE PAUL/THE COLORADO SUN

Thu 8/01

Tenia Nelson: Spherio at "The Can" @ 7pm Little Man Ice Cream, 2620 16th St, Denver

Call Me Karizma supporting Jonny Craig @ 7pm HQ, 60 S Broadway, Denver

Sleepy Gaucho

@ 8pm

Skylark Lounge, 140 S Broadway, Denver

Fri 8/02

Alan Fitzpatrick @ 9pm

Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St,, Denver

ProbCause @ 11:30pm

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

Sat 8/03

Visible Planets @ 6pm El Jebel - A NPU Venue, 1770 Sherman St, Denver

Tarantula Bill @ 7pm

Lost Walks: The Hour of the Wolf 2024 @ 1pm

Shoemaker Plaza, 2250 15th St, Denver

Marley Hale @ 7pm

Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

Mon 8/05

Wed 8/07

Crown The Empire: Not Dead Yet Tour @ 6pm / $27.50-$57.50 Summit, Denver

Angelique Kidjo @ 6:30pm

Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver

Robin Lore @ 8pm

Roots and Leaves: Peak Kava, 7576 W Jewell Ave, Lakewood

Tue 8/06

Graham Nash @ 6:30pm

Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

Sun 8/04

Angelique Kidjo and Meshell Ndegeocello @ 6:30pm

Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St, Denver

Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver

Fleedami @ 7pm

Dazzle Denver, 1080 14th Street, Denver

Shakedown Strings: Little Bear - Evergreen CO @ 12:30pm Little Bear Live, 28075 CO-74, Evergreen

Robin Lore @ 8pm

Roots And Leaves: Mile High Kava

Bar, 7703 W 92nd Ave, Westmin‐ster

Blanca: K-LOVE Live at Red Rocks @ 7pm

Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison

Teague Starbuck: Open Mic @Crazy Mountain Brewery @ 7pm

Crazy Mountain Brewery, 1505 N Ogden St, Denver

Oni @ 7pm

Summit Music Hall, 1902 Blake St, Denver

Nox Novacula @ 8pm HQ, 60 S Broadway, Denver

These Colorado schools will get Juul lawsuit settlement money for education and prevention

BY MELANIE ASMAR CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Twenty-one Colorado school districts, seven charter schools, one cooperative education services board, and one youth residential treatment center have been awarded $11.4 million in funding over the next three years for vaping education and prevention programs. e money comes from a $31.7 million settlement between the state of Colorado and e-cigarette manufacturer Juul Labs Inc. Colorado sued Juul in 2020, alleging that it targeted youth with deceptive marketing and played down the health

risks of vaping. In settling the lawsuit, Juul did not admit any wrongdoing.

Colorado is poised to spend the bulk of the settlement money on a $20 million grant program aimed at improving children’s mental health. But the state is also giving smaller grants directly to school districts, nonpro t organizations, and government entities.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced the recipients of the smaller grants in a press release Tuesday. e school district and school recipients are: Alamosa School District: $244,968

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Atlas Preparatory School in Colorado Springs: $85,000

Aurora Public Schools: $140,267

AXL Academy in Aurora: $238,000

Bennett School District: $218,547

Center School District: $198,098

Chavez-Huerta Preparatory Academy in Pueblo: $46,940

Colorado Military Academy in Colorado Springs: $117,471

Dolores County School District: $45,681

Downtown Denver Expeditionary School in Denver: $78,000

DSST Public Schools in Denver and Aurora: $114,000

Eagle County School District: $213,353

Elizabeth School District: $130,217

Fountain-Fort Carson School District: $131,009

Gunnison Watershed School District: $74,534

Montrose County School District: $100,000

New Legacy Charter School in Aurora: $71,624

North Park School District: $187,545

Pueblo County School District 70: $127,657

San Luis Valley BOCES: $273,870 School District 49: $126,961

Sierra Grande School District: $100,985

Southern Peaks Regional Treatment Center in Cañon City: $36,181

Steamboat Springs School District: $125,635

Strasburg School District: $91,500

Summit School District: $50,000

Twelve nonpro t organizations and government entities were awarded a total of $6 million. ose recipients are:

Harrison School District: $253,405

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Lake County School District: $87,543

Mancos School District: $54,300

Mapleton Public Schools: $36,681

21st Judicial District Attorney’s O ce, Juvenile Diversion Lighthouse Program: $224,010 for a vaping education program for youth in Mesa County, with a focus on rural communities

Paddle Georgetown Lake: No experience or equipment needed

Local company sets up shop on Georgetown Lake to o er paddle boards, kayaks and safety presence

BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Georgetown Lake Paddle set up shop on the lake more than a year ago but now the business is thriving with owners saying safety on the entire lake is part of the job.

Operating out of a trailer next to Cabin Creek Brewing, the rental company o ers paddle boards and kayaks to anyone who wants to experience Georgetown Lake on the water.

“Felt like there needed to be something for the average folks, somebody coming out not even from Denver, say from Iowa or Texas who wants to enjoy this beautiful place. So, we feel like we’ve created that here,” Georgetown Lake Paddle Owner Sam Shoyer said.

e operation runs from ursday to Monday during the summer season and o ers special events like the Full Moon paddles.

Owner/operator Shoyer said the goal is to run a successful business but it’s also an opportunity to open the unique experience of Georgetown Lake to anyone, and local knowledge of the lake is crucial to making it a safe experience.

“It’s a beautiful space, a dynamic space where locals know the wind e ects tremendously and for us to be out here managing that for folks helps keep people safe, helps keep us con dent,” Shoyer said.

Sources from the Clear Creek County Sheri and Fire Authority told the Courant they were aware of the business but had no formal agreement or operational knowledge of it as a “rescue” organization.

Georgetown Lake Paddle Company is open for business.

PREVENTION

Boys & Girls Clubs in Colorado, Inc.: $855,979 for community engagement and youth substance use prevention and peer-led programs at 50 clubs across Colorado Broom eld Public Health and Environment: $202,184 for nicotine replacement therapy and peer support programs to help young people quit vaping, with a focus on LGBTQ+ youth

FIREHAWK

e rst Firehawk is stationed at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Je erson County, but can be moved anywhere in the state based on re conditions, he said. State ofcials are still working to determine the location of the second Firehawk.

e Firehawk can y at 160 mph when empty and 140 mph with a full load of water.

e Firehawk was not called to the Interlaken re, which ignited June 11 after a camp re was not properly doused near Twin Lakes before growing to more than 700 acres, because it wasn’t the nearest resource, Morgan said.

“When a re happens, we’re going to send the closest available one because that’s what makes the most sense, to get water on the re the soonest,” he said. “If we had a big re in Durango tomorrow, would the Firehawk be the rst aircraft to be deployed to it? No, because it’d y over the top of six other helicopters before it ever got there.”

‘Catch it before it gets big’

e Firehawk will give Colorado’s re ghters “a leg up” in their initial attack and boost their chances of stopping a re while it’s still small, Morgan said.

A traditional re ghting helicopter must y to a landing zone near the re, hook a bucket up to the bottom of the helicopter, identify a water supply and then avoid ying over subdivisions and homes due to the weight it’s carrying.

“ ey’re quick, but by the time you go and land and hook things up, identify a water supply, close road-

Denver Department of Public Health and Environment: $541,158 for nicotine replacement therapy, community engagement, and trauma-informed counseling for youth Mountain Youth: $500,000 for vaping prevention education, media campaigns, cessation programs, and youth-led initiatives in the Eagle River Valley

Je erson County Public Health: $400,000 for vaping education and cessation services for youth Partners of Delta, Montrose & Ouray: $297,161 for mentors who will support middle and high school

ways and start bucket operations, you’ve got a delay in time,” Morgan said. “ e Firehawk helicopter is di erent.”

e Firehawk, which has a 1,000-gallon tank attached, doesn’t have the same restrictions of not being able to y over roadways or subdivisions, he said. It also has a snorkel that allows re crews to ll the tank without ever landing.

It can also re ll its tank in about a minute or less before returning to the re.

“Catch it before it gets big — if we stop this unwanted re before it gets big, and before we lose 1,000 homes, and before we deal with ooding and mudslides for the next ve years, we’re saving millions and millions of dollars by being proactive with our investment,” Morgan said.

“And that’s what this whole thing is really about. It’s about reducing the impacts of these big res by providing early intervention to the unwanted res.”

Based on a ve-year average, Colorado will spend $20 million for large res with 10% of overall costs going toward re suppression, he said.

“When you take a re that we nd when it’s small and we send a Firehawk helicopter to it and we put it out, those numbers don’t ring true,” he said. “We’re spending a little bit of money today and we’re saving millions on the back end.”

Colorado has several contracts with re ghting aircraft and positions them around the state depending on which area is seeing the highest frequency of res and where people and homes are at highest risk.

Colorado’s growing aerial reghting eet also plays a role in

students with behavioral issues through school-based programs

Partners for Youth: $335,487 for an initiative to connect youth in Routt County with trusted adults and engage them in positive activities to prevent substance use

Rocky Mountain Center for Health, Promotion and Education: $800,000 for a program that will train adults to build strong connections with youth in school, family, and community settings

Servicios de La Raza: $950,000 to deploy a bilingual vaping-cessation program for Latino youth

reducing the rising insurance rates across the state, Morgan said. Coloradans are facing 50% to 100% price hikes for home and car insurance — or cancellation altogether — as climate disasters mount.

“If we don’t stop these large res from turning into con agration burning hundreds of homes, we’re not going to be able to get insurance,” Morgan said. “So this is an investment in a lot more than just helicopters. It’s much bigger than that.”

Fire outlook for the summer

Above-average snowpack levels across the state and a very wet spring and early summer is good news for Colorado’s re year. But that moisture also translates to overgrown grasses that will soon dry out and become re fuel, Morgan said. ere are also a lot of dead ponderosa and lodgepole trees that have been killed by the nefarious, burrowing mountain pine beetles.

“With the dead trees, that’s already ready to go. All it takes is for the light fuels to dry out, to carry it to those and we’re in trouble,” Morgan said.

It’s unclear how long the moisture is expected to last into the summer months, but forecasts suggest that southeastern Colorado could have higher than normal re activity this year, he said.

Southwestern Colorado is also getting a lot of moisture, but that could quickly dry up later in the summer, too. at part of the state saw its snowpack disappear much earlier than usual this season because of a rare, sudden and large melt in late April.

“We don’t have a lot of good data to tell us what’s going to happen as we transition from the moisture

University of Colorado/Colorado School of Public Health UpRISE: $544,018 to expand a youthled social justice movement for tobacco control

Youth Healthcare Alliance: $350,000 for a program in which school-based health centers will participate in an alternative-to-discipline initiative for youth who are caught vaping is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with Chalkbeat Colorado, a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.

patterns,” Morgan said. “But we’re hopeful we can keep enough moisture to keep the light fuels green and then hopefully get a big snowpack to push it down so it doesn’t just end up being fuel for next spring.” 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.

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