Arvada celebrates local first responders for National Night Out
18th annual event takes neighborhood-focused approach for this year’s iteration
BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Arvada celebrated its rst responders for the city’s 18th Annual National Night Out, with celebrations taking place in seven neighborhoods across town.
is year’s celebration took place on Aug. 6, and while it did not feature gatherings at community hubs
like the Arvada Flour Mill and the Arvada Center, neighbors banded together to give rst responders a night of appreciation and community building.
Arvada Police Department Public Information O cer Dave Snelling said that in today’s charged political landscape, where discussions of policing can be heated, it’s vital to make connections in the commu-
nity APD serves.
“In this day and age of division, it’s more important than ever that we treat our friends and neighbors how we would like to be treated — because there is going to be a day when we need them,” Snelling said. “We may only have each other to count on.”
Council approves $320,000 severance for former city manager
BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Arvada’s City Council has approved a $320,000 severance package for former city manager Lorie Gillis, who resigned from the city team following an executive session last month. Gillis’ base pay was $260,000 when she was employed by the city.
Council approved Gillis’ resignation at an executive session held on July 1 — her last day with the city was Aug. 2. In an email sent to city sta on July 12, Gillis called her decision to leave the city after less than two years at the helm one she came to after “personal re ection.” e severance agreement which was approved by council at its Aug. 5 meeting stipulates that Gillis will be paid six months of her base salary, or approximately $162,000, and payment for all accrued leave, vacation and sick time, or approximately $160,000, for a total amount of $320,000.
A non-disparagement clause in the severance agreement prohibits both sides — Gillis and Arvada’s City Council, plus the City’s Leadership Team — from making any derogatory statements about each other. In the contract’s wording, the city team refers to any employee who is the head of a city department, a work system director or a member of the city manager’s o ce.
SEE COUNCIL, P4
Kids play catch with an APD o cer.
COURTESY OF ARVADA POLICE
Colorado Community Media 5K to support firefighters
Event looks to build friendships centered around trails
BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Community members will gather to run, walk and raise money to support local re ghting e orts at an upcoming 5-kilometer race in Robert F. Clement Park.
e “Share Your Trail Tales 5K” event and related storytelling initiative will be hosted by Colorado Com-
munity Media, the nonpro t that owns the Littleton Independent and two dozen other local newspapers around the metro area.
Events Director Carlie Scott said the event aims “to bring our communities together through our shared love for the great outdoors and to showcase all the beauty Colorado has to o er.”
It will also bene t the rst responders to the Quarry re, which erupted in early August in the Deer Creek Canyon area, many who are volunteers from local re departments and the American Red Cross.
“ is event is not only about enjoying nature, but also about giving
SEE YOURSELF ON STAGE
back,” Scott said. “It’s an opportunity for our community to support our local volunteer re ghters, whose extraordinary e orts have saved countless homes and protected vast areas of wildlife and open space.”
e run takes place at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 24 at Robert F. Clement Park, located at 7306 W. Bowles Ave. in unincorporated Je erson County, just west of Littleton. e course will include two laps on the bike path around the lake, according to the event’s webpage.
Scott said a local competitive dance group will perform after the race, and other local businesses and vendors will be on site.
Leading up to the event, community members can share stories about and photos of their favorite Colorado parks and trails at https:// tinyurl.com/h2s562d5.
Registration costs $35 for individuals ages 17 and above, and $15 for youth between the ages of ve and 16. Children ages four and under can
join the race for free. Runners who register early will receive a pair of custom running socks, according to the event’s webpage.
Race-day registration is also available for an additional $10 from 7:15 to 8:15 a.m. on Aug. 24 at Clement Park Shelter Q. Race packets may be picked up that morning at Shelter P.
Scott said events like the 5K are important because they create opportunities for community members to connect with each other.
“In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel isolated and disconnected,” she said. “ ese events provide a chance to slow down, enjoy the beauty around us and share meaningful experiences with our neighbors.”
More: Participants can register for the event at https://coloradocommunitymedia.com/2024/05/04/shareyour-trail-tales-5k/. Scott encourages community members to share photos and stories about their favorite trails at https://tinyurl.com/h2s562d5.
Theater camp kids sing in the street after performing at the Arvada Center
A group of young performers could be heard singing the night of Aug. 3 in Olde Town Arvada after a week of theater camp at the Arvada Center. More than 30 kids between the ages of 9 and 13 were part of the camp, which had them rehearse and perform “Newsies Jr.” After their Aug. 3 performance they met at Scrumptious ice cream to celebrate and then went out onto the closed Grandview Street and began singing all the songs from the musical to the delight of the restaurant patrons and strolling crowds.
Less Than 3% of Homeowners Took Advantage of Clean Energy Tax Credits in 2023
The Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) included generous incentives to homeowners who invest in clean energy (such as solar panels) or in energy improvements (such as improved insulation, windows or doors).
Only 3.4 million households took advantage of those tax credits nationwide on their 2023 tax returns. That was just under 2.5% of filed tax returns. In Colorado, the number was 65,810 households, or 2.9% of tax returns filed. The states with the largest participation were California, Florida and Texas, but only Florida saw over 3% of tax returns that included the tax credit (3.26%), and the other two states had rates lower than Colorado’s.
seems to be the case since 15 percent of the 3.4 million nationwide returns which took advantage of the tax credit had Adjusted Gross Incomes under $50,000. Just under half of the returns had AGIs under $100,000. The largest bracket was AGIs of $100-200,000 that numbered 1.2 million returns or 35% of all filed returns.
the installation of geothermal heat pump systems. The average tax credit taken for those systems was $12,078.
A total of $8.4 billion in tax credits was taken by taxpayers. The program is still active, and any taxpayer who wants to reduce his/her home’s operating costs should seriously consider taking advantage of the tax credits, which remain in place through 2032. I have posted a link for its provisions at http:// RealEstateToday.substack.com
One of the smallest amounts, $55.4 million in tax credits, were claimed by 36,820 households nationwide for my favorite investment, energy audits.
The average tax credit for home energy improvement such as solar panels, solar water heating and home battery installations was $5,084. The average credit for improvement in energy efficiency, such as better windows, air sealing and heat pumps, was $882.
Questions to Ask When Buying a Solar-Powered Home
I have always said that the most affordable way to “go solar” is to buy a home that’s already solar-powered. The reason is that the price differential on a solar-powered home versus a home that is not solar-powered is minimal. (Don’t invest in solar if you’re not keeping your home at least 5-10 years, because you won’t recover the cost of your investment when you sell your home.)
So, let’s say you’re buying a solar-
powered home. Most of what you need to know should be on the MLS. Is the system owned or leased, or is it owned by a 3rd party which sells the electricity to the home owner under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)? The MLS says when it was installed and how big it is (in kilowatts), but you’ll need to find out if it still performs efficiently. You might want to hire an agent like me to represent you in your purchase.
The intention of the program is to benefit working families and small businesses to lower their utility expenses by improving their homes and offices. That
Your Best Deal on an EV Is a Used One From a Dealer
I learned the hard way that you can’t get a good deal on a used EV unless you buy it from a dealer. The reason is that there’s a 30% Clean Vehicle tax credit up to $4,000 on used EVs, but only if they are under $25,000 and purchased from a dealer. I have posted on http://RealEstateToday.substack.com a link to the IRS web page with the details on qualifying for the tax credit.
I tried selling my 2015 Model S, but no one wanted it at a reasonable price, so I ended up selling it to CarMax.
Google “Used EVs Under $25,000” and you’ll see there are lots to choose from.
Although the credits vary from one improvement to another, it is generally a 30% on the cost of the improvement, including labor. The most popular improvement is solar photovoltaic installations, claimed by 752,300 households nationwide. The second most popular improvement was insulation, followed by exterior windows and skylights and central air conditioners.
Heat pump HVAC systems and heat pump water heaters were also a popular improvement, claimed by 267,780 and 104,180 households respectively.
Just under $1 billion in tax credits were claimed by 80,730 taxpayers for
Archive of Past Columns Is Online
Over the past two decades, this column has appeared in local weeklies and the Denver Post, and during that time I’ve written about every conceivable topic related to real estate. You can find and search that archive online at www.JimSmithColumns.com
Today’s the Day—Buyer Commissions Off the MLS
August 15th is the day which Denver’s MLS, REcolorado, set for removing buyer agent compensation from all MLS listings in compliance with the March 15th settlement between the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and a class of home sellers in Missouri. NAR had set the deadline for Aug. 17th. August 15th is also the date that new state-approved contracts consistent with the NAR settlement become mandatory in Colorado. I wrote about that on Aug. 1st. (see www.JimSmithColumns.com.)
Theoretically, home buyers will start paying the brokers who represent them in the purchase of real estate, but I will be surprised if a single home buyer pays anything at all for professional representation. That’s because most sellers will agree to offer compensation, leaving any seller who does not offer compensa-
tion in an untenable position — no buyer will want to make an offer on homes that require them to pay their agent. Keep in mind that most buyers are already heavily burdened in the transaction to buy a home, especially when they are having to finance their purchase with a mortgage at 6% or higher interest rates. They have to pay for inspection, for appraisal, for loan origination, first-year’s home insurance premium, and for escrow deposits to cover next year’s property taxes and insurance renewal. Only cash buyers are spared those heavy upfront costs.
If sellers wants to attract buyers, they will need to offer compensation. It’s just that they can’t advertise it on the MLS. They’ll still let buyers know, either on a home-specific website (like we provide), on a sign rider, or in a brochure.
We Need to Level-Up Sustainability & Recycling
Have you heard of toilet paper made from bamboo? I hadn’t either, but when I read the pitch for it, I was sold. Regular toilet paper is made, like other paper, from trees. But trees grow back slowly, whereas bamboo is famous for growing quickly. It would be a lot better for the planet if everyone switched to bamboo toilet paper. Rita and I received our first order last week, and we are sold on it. It’s the only toilet paper we’ll buy now, online from both Amazon and Costco.com.
I made another discovery recently. Those plastic jars you buy for everything from yogurt to milk and milk substitutes are wrapped in plastic that must be removed in order to recycle the bottle. At left is a picture of two quart bottles, plus a third in the middle with its label removed. The back of the milk bottle contains the notice shown at right:
It’s common practice in our home now to cut those plastic wrappers off and trash them before putting the bottles in the recycling bin. Some bottles, such as Activia’s Probiotic Dailies, have a marked “zipper” on them, making it easy. Others don’t even tell you that the wrapper must be removed, and you need a pointed knife to remove the wrap.
When we were in New Zealand in February, I saw a bicycle in the window of a Nespresso storefront. Looking closer, there was a sign on it saying that the bike’s aluminum frame was made of recycled Nespresso pods. We have one of Nespresso’s coffee makers, and now we keep one of their free postage paid recycling bags under the counter in our kitchen. Call Nespresso at 855-325-5781, and they’ll mail you some. K-cups can be recycled curbside after you remove the lid and contents. Do you want to help reduce the amount of single-use plastic? It’s becoming popular for restaurant-goers to bring Tupperware containers with them for leftovers. Rita does that. Also, there’s increasing popularity of “refill shops” where you buy bulk dry and liquid groceries to refill your own bottles or containers. Here’s a map from Googling it.
COUNCIL
e non-disparagement clause caused some dissent among council, as council member John Marriott voted no on the severance agreement because of the “treatment” that Gillis received “at the hands of this council.”
“I’ll be voting no on this separation agreement,” Marriott said. “You might think that coming from me, this is based on scal responsibility, but it’s actually not. Given the treatment that city manager Gillis received at the hands of this council, she’s earned every bit of it, and I’m ne with that part of it.
“ ere is, however, a clause within this agreement that I wish to express and be absolutely clear about and that I do not consent to, and that is the non-disparagement clause,” Marriott continued. “For that reason, I will be voting no.” e severance package was approved by a 6-1 vote, with Marriott as the lone dissenter.
Texas Roadhouse’s new building proposal
In other business, council agreed to rehear a proposal from Texas Roadhouse regarding the construction of a new building for the restaurant at the same site the existing building is located — near the intersection of 55th Avenue and Olde Wadsworth Boulevard.
e new building would be located on the northeast corner of the parcel where the restaurant is currently located. A representative for the development rm working with Texas Roadhouse on the project said the restaurant’s current lease is expiring in September 2025. According to the representative, the new building would be 2,000 square feet larger than the existing restaurant facility, which was built in 2001. e new building would be more in line with Texas Roadhouse’s more recently built locations nationally. An agreement between the restaurant chain and the landowner,
Harkins, for the out parcel, has been reached, the representative said.
e proposal includes two major modi cations under the city’s Land Development Code, one of which council was deadlocked on when the issue rst came before them on July 15 — a meeting Mayor Lauren Simpson was absent from, leaving the applicant with no deciding vote.
e rst major modi cation proposal is related to height: the proposed building would have a roof height of 22 feet with tower elements that stretch to 29 feet. e land development code states that if a building is that tall, it must have
two stories, which the proposed building would not.
e second major modi cation proposal pertains to the requirement for transparent windows. Only 11% of the west side of the proposed building (facing Olde Wadsworth Boulevard) contains transparent windows and doors, although the façade does include non-transparent windows and an outdoor patio is also included in the proposal.
e LDC requires window and door transparency covering 50% of the façade.
Rendering of the view from Olde Wadsworth Boulevard to the south.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CITY OF ARVADA.
Headshot of former Arvada city manager Lorie Gillis. Artist rendering from the 55th Avenue frontage road to the west of the proposed new building.
FROM PAGE 1
The
new Lutheran Hospital.
We’re here for life.
From new life, through your entire life, the new Lutheran Hospital can now offer better access to more critical treatments, no matter what happens. Our expanded services, advanced technologies, and unsurpassed compassionate care mean that although we’ve moved, we’re still here for you, and we always will be. Our new location is now open at I-70 and Highway 58!
COUNCIL
e Arvada Planning Commission recommended approving the major modi cation related to building height but recommended the denial of the major modi cation pertaining to building transparency.
When council voted on July 15, the major modi cation related to height did not pass by a 3-3 vote. e major modi cation related to building transparency was passed by a 4-2 vote. On Aug. 5, council unanimously approved a motion to rehear the proposals at a later date when all seven council members can be present, which has not been agreed upon as of yet.
Council member Bob Fifer said
at the July 15 meeting that he supported both major modi cation proposals and felt that Texas Roadhouse has been a valuable member of the Arvada community since the restaurant came to town over 20 years ago.
“ ey have been a good neighbor, I think they’re doing everything they can do to work within their brand, and we should respect their brand,” Fifer said. “And their patrons are a lot of our residents. at facility is used — it is an important part of our community… I’ll be supporting both their modi cations.”
Marriott more directly discussed the LDC considerations within the proposal, which he said — if taken too literally — would lead to businesses packing up and leaving town.
“ ey are working within the con-
straints of what works for them as a business, what works for them as (far as) branding (goes),” Marriott said. “If you take these codes completely strictly, at some point you end up with vacant spots. at’s not within best interest of the city, Texas Roadhouse or Harkins. I’ll be voting yes as well.”
Council member Lisa Feret disagreed, saying that the LDC was written the way it is due to a need for more density, which led to a novote from her on the height modication proposal.
“ e purpose of this code is for density, not aesthetics,” Feret said. “Having a facade of two stories does not comply with what the community wants or what we have envisioned with that area. With that, I don’t think it meets the design criteria and I will not be approving it.”
e proposals will come back before council when all seven members are able to hear it, which may leave Simpson as the deciding vote on the height modi cation proposal.
Council to hear ordinance on allowing handguns in city hall
A few months after the Colorado state legislature passed SB24-131, a bill prohibiting carrying a rearm in “sensitive spaces” — including many government buildings, such as Arvada’s City Hall — Arvada’s City Council will hear a proposed ordinance that would allow the city to opt out of that law and allow people to carry handguns in city hall again.
City council will have a public hearing on that issue at the Aug. 19 meeting.
Je co celebrates breastfeeding
The babies are weighed before and after the mother breastfeeds them at every Baby Cafe session. Perla Madrid, a dietitian and lactation consultant with JCPH said doing so gives the mother tangible proof that the baby is getting nourishment.
Je co Public Health,
Mothers’ Milk and Cuenta
Conmigo partner up this year
BY JO DAVIS
JDAVIS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e Je erson County Public Health’s Women Infants and Children program has partnered with other local partners to celebrate breastfeeding. Cuenta Conmigo Coop, Mothers’ Milk Bank and Je erson County Library helped organize a special session of their regular Mothers’ Milk Bank Baby Café. e Baby Café takes place every Monday at the Belmar Library for breastfeeding, lactating and pregnant families. For World Breastfeeding Week, the agencies wanted to provide more information to the mothers and families in the Je co community.
Perla Madrid, a registered dietitian and lactation consultant with the Jeffco WIC program, said the special session still served as a support group for women.
“We’re here to support women with
breastfeeding — and not just with latching if they’re having that problem,” Madrid said. “But it’s also just a resource for them to be able to come and talk with other moms, and hang out, and be with other people and have that support.”
Paulina Erices, a lactation consultant and a director of development and strategic partnerships with Cuenta Conmigo Coop, explained that World Breastfeeding Week is particularly important for women of color.
“We want to make sure that people are receiving the information they need – that they know their rights to nurse their babies are protected,” Erices said. “ at they are educated on and able to make di erent choices about the nutrition their babies are receiving.”
Erices added that it’s especially for women in marginalized communities, who already have enough extra barriers.
“When it comes to breastfeeding and lactation, we should have people in the community, in hospitals and systems that know how to support,” Erices said.
According to Jacqueline Morales, a breastfeeding peer counselor for the Jefferson County WIC program, bilingual services are vital to helping Latina mothers with language barriers. Morales said her job is to become a very close support for breastfeeding mothers.
Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Press. We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.
Email letters to lkfiore@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Deadline Tues. for the following week’s paper.
Arvada press
A legal newspaper of general circulation in Je erson County, Colorado, the Arvada Press is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 3540 Evergreen Parkway, Evergreen, CO 80439.
POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Arvada Press, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110
The Baby Cafe sessions by Mother’s Milk Banks and the Je co WIC program are designed to support breastfeeding families. Siblings, dads, and other family members often attend the sessions to learn and find community.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JCPH
RESPONDERS
Celebrations took place in the Scenic Heights, Club Crest, Aspen Ridge, Forrest Springs, Windham Park and Whisper Creek neighborhoods of Arvada. AVi Olde Town, a new apartment complex, also held
a National Night Out celebration. Snelling added that National Night Out helps community members bond with police o cers as people, not just authorities.
“For many years we’ve been trying to demonstrate that behind every badge is a person,” Snelling said. “And this type of event showcases the amazing people that do police work every day.”
Members of the Arvada Police Department with a resident on National Night Out.
Morrison annexes Bandimere Speedway property
Town also rezones land to allow development of vehicle auction center
BY JANE REUTER
e Morrison town board narrowly approved the 125-acre annexation of the former Bandimere Speedway site at its Aug. 6 meeting. e deal also calls for the new land owner to transfer 16 acres zoned for mixed-use to the town, giving Morrison control over future retail or commercial development at its front door. Trustee Sean Forey described the acreage near C470 and Morrison Road as “prime real estate.” at decision, paired with a sec-
maining property at C470 and Morrison Road. Copart is under contract with John Bandimere, Jr. to buy the land.
As part of the deal, Copart will take down the grandstands, stadium lights and signs, then fence and revegetate much of the speedway site. Developers describe the planned future operation as a “passive use” that will be quiet, and preserve views of the hogback. Because of that, several residents and trustees said it ts with Morrison’s motto of “Keep Morrison Morrison,’” a slogan built around the idea of maintaining the community’s small-town feel and history.
Longtime Bandimere Speedway owners Lorraine and John Bandimere Jr. pose in the Morrison Town Hall after the town board voted to annex the former speedway site and rezone it for a vehicle salvage center.
PHOTO BY JANE REUTER
BREASTFEEDING
“I’m a breastfeeding care counselor,” Morales said. “So what I do is educate them throughout their trimesters in pregnancy. We just become friends, really. We talk about what’s happening at home, and then their environment. It gets really personal. And then we contact each other as much as they want. ey call me, or we text, or I meet them in the clinic.”
Rachel Goodman, director of clinical relations at Mothers’ Milk Bank, said breastfeeding has another importance that should be considered.
“From the Mothers’ Milk Bank’s perspective, the milk bank is a really crucial part of, and a bridge to, breastfeeding,” Goodman said. “If you have a premature baby in the hospital and your milk isn’t going to come in for a week, what are you going to feed that baby? It should be human milk, and so donor milk helps to support breastfeed-
ing, and we do that in other ways, too.”
Goodman said that support is why they partner with the Je co Baby Café and why the milk bank holds its own Baby Café.
“We also have a Baby Café on Fridays at the milk bank to support families experiencing breastfeeding issues. It provides socialization and other ways for families to connect with each other and receive lactation support,” Goodman said.
Madrid said breastfeeding education and awareness are needed to overcome the still-prevalent idea that breastfeeding is e ortless.
“Breastfeeding awareness is also very useful because I think breastfeeding is made to look very natural (that) it should be instinctive or easy — you should already know how to do it,” Madrid said.
“But it’s not. ere’s a learning curve for mom and baby, and so that’s the connection these programs have.”
For more information on the Je erson County WIC program and other breastfeeding resources, visit the breastfeeding page on the Je erson County Public Health website.
For World Breastfeeding Week, Mothers’ Milk Bank, Je co WIC, and other agencies o ered swag for mothers. At every Baby Cafe session, the mothers could receive breast-feeding supplies, clothing, and other items to help continue support and education at home.
REVERSE MORTGAGES MADE EASY
A LETTER TO OUR READERS
To our loyal supporters,
ere’s a saying in journalism that newspaper production is a daily or a weekly miracle. A er the last few weeks, we’ve performed a few such miracles to make sure you can continue to receive your local newspaper.
I’m writing to update you about some short-term (potential) delivery delays, to provide information about the reasons, and to thank you for your continued support of your community newspaper.
As you may know, Colorado Community Media’s parent company, the National Trust for Local News, has been busy building a new, local commercial printing facility to serve Front Range newspapers. is move sets up our newspapers for more economic sustainability and the potential for future editorial investments – in other words, a stronger, more vibrant community news source.
Along the way, we’ve learned that launching a printing press from scratch is not for the faint of heart. During the initial project work, we discovered that the electrical capacity needed to run all of our equipment required additional (and unexpected) enhancements to our facility. We’re making great progress and are working with our partners to complete the nal electrical services. We hope to begin printing Colorado Community Media’s newspapers there in early September.
Given the unexpected closure of the Berthoud press facility this month, we have been scrambling to nd alternatives to print our mailed newspapers during the 3-4 week timeframe expected before our own press launches. Fortunately, we’ve found a temporary out-of-state alternative that will allow us to continue providing you the print newspaper you’ve come to expect from us while we work to get our own press operational. What that means, however, is that you could experience delays of one to four days in receiving your printed paper.
Know this: We’re dedicated to ensuring you get your newspaper throughout this interim period. If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to hello@coloradocommunitymedia.com, or visit our website, which is always up-to-date with the latest news and information in your community.
We’re hopeful the disruptions to our readers and customers will be minimal and deeply appreciate your support of local journalism.
Linda Shapley Publisher Colorado Community Media
SPEEDWAY
“Morrison’s not going to get a better deal,” Forney said as he cast his vote for the annexation. “It’s the lowest (impact) use possible. It would be a real problem if Morrison didn’t take advantage of this time to control this property. I’m voting with the majority of the residents in the town to keep Morison Morrison.”
Longtime speedway owner John Bandimere Jr. and his wife Lorraine both shed tears during the public hearing. Bandimere said it’s been his family’s “home away from home” for 65 years, but said changes in the racing industry and encroaching development are making the site unsuitable for the speedway. Bandimere plans to move the business to a larger site near the metro area.
“Do we want to leave? No,” Bandimere said, pausing with his head down for a long moment as emotion overtook him. “ is property is sacred ground to me and my family, as well as the community and
especially our racers who we’ve seen grow up. It’s probably one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do.
“But we do know things in life change,” he continued. “Copart has the same principles we built our business on. We feel it’s important to leave our land in the hands of someone who wants to be an integral part of the community and will make it better.”
Copart corporate counsel Jon Lawson said the company will hire about 20 employees at the site, which will be open weekdays. e center will include about 66 acres of outdoor vehicle storage, o ce and administrative building and employee and visitor parking.
“We try to be a good neighbor,” he said. “ ere will be no live auctions. We don’t part these (vehicles) out. We won’t crush them. We won’t stack them. We make money when these vehicles leave the site, not when they stay on site.”
e agreement also limits Copart to three water taps and puts a cap on water usage.
Copart consultant Marcus Pachner said the developer was generous in agreeing to give the town 16
acres on the south end of the property nearest the town, a request town trustees made during negotiations.
“We had an average of ve commercial brokers a week calling us about those properties,” he said. “It is very valuable, a remarkable asset. is annexation deal has been so smartly crafted to limit town costs. It is a very good scal deal.
“It will have less intensity and less scale than what is there today. It also honors the automotive legacy on this site.”
e board was unanimous on a separate vote to rezone the property but split four to three on the annexation.
Trustee Paul Sutton said he felt the deal was rushed.
“Copart is one thousand times bigger than the town of Morrison nancially, so I think we’re inviting a gorilla to our little town,” he said. “Any disputes we may have after (this), we will lose. I think Copart can make Je Bradley look like a bit player in town.”
Bradley, whose family has lived in the area since the Civil War, owns several Morrison properties, including the Café Prague and
Morrison Joe buildings, and a parking lot on Bear Creek Avenue.
“I would prefer to see a more sophisticated party like Je erson County be the ones to negotiate what happens on this land,” he said. “I felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of material I should presumably be up to speed on this issue.I feel like this is a rushed marriage between the little town of Morrison and the big company of Copart, and I’m concerned it might not work out so well.”
Trustee Katie Gill agreed, pointing to the 500 pages of information developers presented to the board just days before the hearing. Regardless, she said she sees many potential bene ts to Copart’s plans and the deal the two have crafted.
“In the beginning, I was opposed to this proposal,” she said, before casting a ‘no’ vote. “But I now believe the view will be better than it is now; people are not going to be gazing at a junkyard as the original concern was. ere is also not a development on the planet that would use less water on 124 acres.
SPEEDWAY
“I think this is probably a good deal for the town,” Gill continued. “But I think I am personally not in a place where I should be voting for something I haven’t fully understood.”
Trustee David Wirtz also voted against the annexation.
Town residents who spoke at the hearing spoke for the annexation and Copart — even as some lamented the loss of the speedway.
“Bandimere had the sound of summer; I always welcomed that noise,” said Morrison planning commissioner Maya Stefansdottir. “I like the idea (that the) town of Morrison will get about 16 acres. I’m thinking if we don’t
take them, someone else will and we might not like what they put in.”
Longtime resident Gus Chambers agreed.
“ is use of that land I think is a dream come true for the town,” he said. “It’s zoned for high-impact commercial. You can’t nd anything more low impact, or low light (than Copart). e town really ought to step in and grab this. Only if it’s annexed can the town control what goes on there.”
John Bandimere Sr., now 86, bought the 150-acre property on Morrison Road in 1957 — decades before C470 was built — and opened the speedway a year later. Also known as under Mountain, the dragstrip hosted 28,500 spectators at more than 130 events a year. Bandimere Speedway closed at the end of the 2023 season.
A portion of all proceeds will be donated to volunteer firefighters
Let’s come together to celebrate the beauty that our local communities have to o er.
SHARE YOUR TRAIL TALES 5K
is a new event that celebrates Colorado’s walking/running trails within our local communities.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24
Clement Park–Littleton
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 countdown is on for both parents and kiddos. e new school year means a return to routines, perhaps slightly less chaos, earlier bedtimes and a break from constant snack and entertainment requests. It means excitement about new teachers, making new friends and seeing old friends. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you and your family gear up for a successful and lowstress start to the school year.
1. Organize your supplies
It starts with the school supply list and honestly, as a Type A oldest child, I loved school supply shopping and I still get excited about getting my daughter’s supply lists. Shopping early can help avoid the last-minute rush and ensure you get everything on your list. Consider buying in bulk for items that will be used throughout the year. And don’t forget to label belongings to prevent lost items. ere are many cool options for stickers and stamps to make this even easier.
2. Update the wardrobe
Planning that rst-day out t is a back-to-school fave. But rst, be sure to take inventory of your child’s current clothes to identify what they truly need, what needs to be replaced and what they’ve outgrown. As you gather clothes for donation, consider organizations that accept clothing and other back-to-school supplies to support kids. Take advantage of back-to-school sales to purchase new clothes, shoes and accessories,
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
VOICES
Preparing for the school year: Yes, it’s time!
mornings even smoother (packing lunches, organizing backpacks, laying out clothes, etc.).
In response to Kathryn Wallace’s July Je co Democrats column I understand that Kathryn Wallace is just doing her job for the Democrats. However, as a Republican I take o ense to her slanderous implication that the Republicans are only for the wealthy. e sparse statistics that I could nd do not show much di erence in
and don’t forget about hand-medowns as well. If your school has a uniform policy, be sure you have enough sets to last through the week to prevent midweek laundry stress.
3. Set up a study space
Creating a dedicated study space at home is a great way to help motivate your child to do homework. Get your kids involved in preparing the space, from choosing decorations to picking out fun pens, a cool lamp, a comfy chair, anything that will help them look forward to using the space. Having a designated homework zone establishes a routine and signals to your child that it’s time to focus and get work done.
4. Establish a routine
A consistent routine is key. Start adjusting your child’s sleep schedule at least a week before school starts to ensure they are well-rested and ready to learn. Establish a morning routine that includes enough time for breakfast, hygiene, getting dressed, organizing their backpack and getting out the door with minimal stress. Similarly, create an after-school routine that incorporates time for homework, play and relaxation. Pro tip: Many morning routine items can be handled the night before to make
5. Health and nutrition
It’s that time of year for wellness checks, which can bring anxiety if vaccinations are involved. Creating a fun tradition around checkups can be a great way to mark the upcoming school year. My family likes to make a trip to our favorite local bookstore, e Bookies, to pick out a book after our appointment. And ice cream, always ice cream. Since everything is about balance, this can also be a great time to brainstorm a list of nutritious meals and snacks your kids would like to eat. Don’t forget to emphasize the importance of staying hydrated and packing a water bottle.
6. So many big feelings
e start of a new school year can bring a mix of emotions. Be sure to create opportunities for your child to share their feelings by asking questions about concerns or anxieties they may have. Encourage positive energy by focusing on the exciting prospects of the new school year, such as extracurricular activities, new subjects and seeing friends. I’ve also found it helpful to share the worries I had at their age or embarrassing stories (there are plenty) to nd common ground and humor in worries that are totally normal.
7. Get involved is doesn’t mean being at school every day, but being en-
gaged to show your child you are supportive of their experience is important. Attend orientation sessions, meet teachers and familiarize yourself with the school’s policies and expectations. Establish a communication line with your child’s teachers to stay informed about their progress and any areas that may need attention. Volunteering at school can also provide insights into your child’s school life and help build a supportive community.
8. Technology and tools
Technology plays a signi cant role in education, which can make life both easier and harder at the same time. Make sure your child has access to the necessary devices and learning tools, such as a computer or tablet, internet access and any required software or apps. Set up parental controls and discuss responsible use of technology, emphasizing the importance of balancing screen time with other activities.
Preparing for the school year involves more than just shopping for supplies and clothes. It’s about setting the stage for a successful and enjoyable year, for everyone. So cheers to getting back into a routine, nding calm in the chaos and enjoying all the moments with your littles during these years.
Megan Trask and Cody Galloway are Denver residents and co-founders of TULA Life Balanced. Learn more about their business at tulabalanced.com.
the total worth of Democrats vs Republicans. Perhaps the real difference between the two parties is the amount of government control the Democrats would like to see compared to Republicans. Republicans use Medicare and other government funded services just as the Democrats do. All of this has pros and cons.
e real di erence that I can see is in government philosophy. More individual choice and self-su ciency for the Republicans and more government control and programs from the Democrats, with many variations on the theme. Have things changed over the years? Of course they have. So, to continue to call Republicans the
party of and for the rich, or the Democrats the party of segregation and socialism would be inaccurate in the present-day United States. I am not rich, nor are my Republican friends. I really would like to see stop to all this slanderous rhetoric and more focus on the quality of the candidates.
Bill Hineser, Arvada
Megan Trask and Cody Galloway
12 Tablecloths art installation honors women
Most people don’t spend much time thinking about the dining room table unless it’s a holiday or special event. But for many women who were enslaved throughout the US, the dining room table of their enslavers was the focus of their day.
Artist and historian Chloé Duplessis was introduced to ve of these women during a tour of e Whitney Institute, a plantation museum in her home state of Louisiana. eir names are Lucy Clark, Francoise, Julienne, Sally and Marie and they were enslaved at the plantation in the late 1800’s.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
eir stories and living conditions inspired Duplessis to think about the many tablecloths these women had to clean every day, and how she could reclaim the tablecloths in a way that honored them.
“ e average meal required 12 tablecloths. e people in the main house had three meals a day and those meals had to be served on crisp, white linen,” she said. “I had to face the fact that these women’s whole existence was minimized and regulated to present a measure of quality of life to the people in the main house, at the expense of their own.”
As Duplessis started working on the installation that would become 12 Tablecloths, which is on display at the Center for Colorado Women’s History Museum at the Byers-Evans House, 1310 Bannock St. in Denver, through Monday, Sept. 30, she heard the story of another woman, named Myrtle Grant, who worked at the house in the 1940s and 1950s.
And she knew the installation needed a sixth table setting.
“Myrtle did the only job a woman of color could do at that house, and it was a source of pride at the time to be a laundress there,” Duplessis said. “ ere’s a tendency with people who were servants to only focus on their service, but these were people who had lives and experiences of their own, so I wanted to make sure I included Mrytle’s life outside of her work in the piece.”
e resulting installation is set up in the house’s dining room and includes original art pieces by Duplessis and noted visual artist and ceramicist Katie McWeeney, narrative panels and an online audio tour.
e table settings carve out a place of rest and welcome for these six women, and honor their service and sacri ce, Duplessis explained. Burlap is used to represent people of color through the fabric’s resiliency and versatility. e handcrafted plates around the table feature ebony ecks representative of the African Diaspora, and are made from clay from North Carolina, a hub of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Clarke Reader rep-
Everyone will come away from the exhibit with their own meaning, but the intention was to invite contemplation of the luxuries so many take for granted and to celebrate the labor of women from every generation. e exhibit pairs beautifully with a tribute to underrated musical keystone Sister Rosetta arpe that Duplessis has on display at the BlairCaldwell African American Research Library, 2401 Welton St. at exhibit runs until Saturday, Aug. 31, and there will be a special public closing ceremony from 2 to 4 p.m. that day.
“I want the feminine to be honored and exalted in both installations,” Duplessis said. “I hope visitors will come away with a deeper understanding of what women have had to endure throughout history.”
For more information on 12 Tablecloths, visit www.historycolorado. org/exhibit/12-tablecloths.
Summer Scream Honors Winona Ryder
Denver Film’s annual Summer Scream event at Lakeside Amusement Park is one of the best seasonal traditions. e event is held from 6 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22, at the park, 4601 Sheridan Blvd. and this year’s theme is Winona Forever, in celebration of actress Winona Ryder. e fundraiser will feature Ryder cosplay, art, trivia and games, and even a scavenger hunt. Rocky Mountain Pro Wrestling will also be on hand, in addition to unlimited rides and nightlong open bars.
BY AUDREY BRICE AND LOURDES CAMARILLO
On a hospital bed, surrounded by sterile equipment and isolated, the anxious await a surgery that will alter their lives. In pursuit of motherhood, many women have turned to In-Vitro-Fertilization (IVF).
Samantha Bronson, a children’s youth minister at a church near Littleton, has dealt with negative thoughts and emotions regarding her infertility.
“A lot of questions came to me about my spirituality as well,” Bronson said. “Like, ‘Is this God saying something to me?’ And, in my darkest moments, ‘Is God punishing me?’ I don’t believe that’s how God works at all, but those were the feelings that were coming up for me.”
Samantha Sullivan of Fort Collins wanted a child, and her mom had called a center to talk about taking steps toward fertility treatment.
“She knew that my dream has always been to have kids, and so I was grateful,” Sullivan said. “But I also didn’t really know what I was getting myself into.”
Emily Heizer-Kochman, from Sacramento, California, is on her ninth round of IVF.
“ e whole thing’s been brutal. e emotional ups and downs are just exhausting, and any time there’s a sliver of hope, it just seems like it’s a trick,” Heizer-Kochman said. “Something worse happens when you’re expecting the good news.”
For Tanya Knepp of Florence, the costs “impacted us in a lot of ways emotionally, mentally.” Knepp and her husband paid for IVF without the help of insurance. While Colorado law mandates IVF coverage, Knepp’s insurance skipped around this law because her company’s insurance is selffunded.
“It was 100% out of pocket,” said Knepp.
e World Health Organization says one in six women globally experience infertility.
A single IVF cycle can cost $15,000 to $30,000, creating another challenge for many.
Bronson, Sullivan, Heizer-Kochman and Knepp shared their experiences with the University of Colorado’s News Corps in hopes that their stories
would help other women and their partners as they navigate the di cult path of IVF in hopes of having a baby.
Samantha Bronson, God and science
In 2020, Bronson and her husband, Luke, decided to start trying to conceive. By the end of 2021, the couple still wasn’t expecting, so Samantha went to her OBGYN for answers.
Bronson, of Aurora, was diagnosed with unexplained infertility, meaning that despite appearing capable of conceiving, she has been unable to do so. e only test Samantha could not undergo was an egg health test, which requires
an egg retrieval.
“I wanted there to be a reason,” said Bronson. Bronson started trying to conceive through intrauterine insemination (IUI), a type of articial insemination where a long tube is used to put the semen directly into the uterus. Bronson tried this method of conception four times.
“We were paying out of pocket for those each month, which was racking up a lot. So our fertility doctor recommended we switch over to IVF,” said Bronson.
e switch would cost around $30,000.
SEE THE SILENCE, P17
Emily Heizer-Kochman cries tears of joy while her husband, Ben Kochman, rests his head on her shoulder, sighing with relief from their hopeful fertility test results.
PHOTO BY LOURDES CAMARILLO / CU NEWS CORPS
THE SILENCE
PAGE 16
Bronson felt like they wouldn’t be able to pursue that path at anytime soon, and after going through multiple rounds of IUI, she needed a break.
However, this changed when Luke switched careers, as his new job’s insurance would be able to cover the cost of IVF.
“We were ready to be parents,” said Bronson. “And because of (Luke’s) job and the fact that (his) insurance does cover it, that’s when we were able to pull the trigger on (IVF) without having to stress about going into more debt.”
roughout her struggle with infertility, Bronson has felt a strain on some of her relationships. She has had friends hesitant to tell her they are expecting because they don’t want to upset her, along with people just saying the wrong things.
“A lot of people don’t really know how to talk about infertility, so they’ll say some really stupid things. I am in a Christian community, and sometimes people will ask me if I’ve prayed about it,” said Bronson.
Bronson has chosen to keep her infertility journey largely private. While she believes she may share her experience once she has dealt with it, she exercises caution, particularly within her congregation, mindful of her position and the potential impact.
“As pastors, we’re taught to share vulnerably with people, and at the same time, the people that we are serving and helping, we don’t want them to feel bad for us,” said Bronson. “So, I
don’t want it to be that somebody who is expecting gets worried or weird about sharing that with me because they are worried I would feel upset about it. Whereas this is my job and calling to walk through that with people.”
Leading up to her rst egg retrieval, Bronson was feeling a variety of emotions.
“I feel excited and nervous and worried and happy, and quite literally what feels like every emotion I could feel,” said Bronson. “ ere’s still grief in there, too. is isn’t what I planned, I wish it would have been di erent.”
On April 2, Bronson underwent her egg retrieval, and 17 eggs were retrieved, but no answers about her unexplained infertility diagnosis were discovered.
e couple would get nine embryos, but upon further genetic testing for abnormalities only seven were viable for transfer.
“I had a lot of feelings. One of those feelings was that I did not want nine or seven children.
at’s a lot,” said Bronson. “I was also excited about how successful it was and that this means that theoretically, I will never have to do an egg retrieval again.”
Bronson was ordained as a minister in June and her embryo transfer was set for mid July.
Samantha Sullivan, cancer survivor
When Sullivan’s journey with IVF began, her mind was far from fertility preservation, as she waited to nd out if she had breast cancer.
“I didn’t even think about that prior because I was so focused on: am I getting diagnosed with breast cancer?” said Sullivan.
She was devastated. She was unable to think about the trajectory of her life, but her mother’s
call to a fertility treatment center put her on track. It was on Valentine’s Day of 2020 that Sullivan received her diagnosis: stage two, grade three, triple-negative breast cancer.
e nancial burden of IVF also quickly revealed itself.
“I remember we had to pay in full up-front, and I think it was something like $15,000 or $20,000 and I was like, ‘Well, I don’t have that so I can’t do this,’ and my mom was like, ‘We’ll talk about it. We’re doing it. Let’s go,’” Sullivan said.
“I didn’t know if I was going to survive, I didn’t know if my husband was going to become my husband,” said Sullivan. “We were engaged at the time. I gave him an out, and he stayed with me.” Sullivan and Patrick would later marry on the rst anniversary of Sullivan being cancer-free on Oct. 9, 2021.
Before chemotherapy, Sullivan underwent two egg retrievals which gave them eight embryos viable for transfer. Only three were free of the BRCA 1 gene, which can increase a person’s chance of developing breast cancer.
Two years after her double mastectomy, Sullivan was able to undergo her rst embryo transfer. She went through three embryo transfers. One ended in a miscarriage and two didn’t implant.
Sullivan would have to come to terms with her only remaining embryos having the BRCA 1 gene.
After all those losses, Sullivan decided to take some time away from trying to become pregnant and also decided to switch from her previous clinic to the Conceptions Reproductive Associates of Colorado.
Tanya and Leslie Knepp walk in their neighborhood in Florence. “IVF was the only thing remaining for us to try,” Tanya Knepp said.
Samantha Bronson sits on her porch in Aurora. She and her husband, Luke Bronson, tapped their savings, paying just under $25,000 in fertility treatments.
Samantha Sullivan looks outside of her bedroom window in Fort Collins. “IVF changes you,” she said.
PHOTOS BY LOURDES CAMARILLO / CU NEWS CORPS
THE SILENCE
Instead of spending a couple thousand dollars to transport the embryos there, Sullivan rented a tank and transferred them herself.
“My mom and I drove down, dropped the tank o at CCRM in Lone Tree. ey loaded the embryos up and I bucked them into the car and drove them over,” said Sullivan.
At this new clinic, Sullivan went through her fourth embryo transfer, which ended in a miscarriage.
“Every single failed transfer has been absolutely devastating, and of course, every pregnancy I have lost a child. So, it’s been very di cult,” said Sullivan. Later on, Sullivan went in for a fth embryo transfer.
e procedure itself went well, but a home pregnancy test she took came back negative. e clinic con rmed the result.
e couple still has two embryos that their current clinic could transfer. However, they have begun looking into using an egg donor to make an embryo.
“I don’t know if I can keep going through loss,” said Sullivan.
Sullivan works as a postpartum nurse, a di cult position to have while going through infertility.
“It is really hard to take care of patients that don’t want the baby, or are upset that they’re pregnant, or are abusing their bodies – intentionally or unintentionally – which then a ects the baby, when I’m trying to do everything that I can and everything right to have a child,” Sullivan said.
Tanya Knepp, one little chance
Knepp and her husband, Leslie, have been trying to conceive for ve years, and recently started their rst round of IVF.
“We were very con dent that – aside from something miraculous and out of the ordinary – we weren’t just gonna get pregnant with less invasive means, and our doctors are pretty con dent of that too,” said Knepp.
e couple had to make a lot of sacri ces – living in a less-than-desirable neighborhood and driving older cars – to a ord IVF. And, after selling their last house, they were able to a ord their rst cycle of IVF.
When Knepp started, she got the news that she had low ovarian reserve. is diagnosis means a woman has fewer eggs in her ovaries compared to others her age, making conceiving more di cult.
During her egg retrieval, Knepp’s emotions were mixed, partly due to the cost of the procedure.
“I was de nitely feeling hopeful, but at the same time, just scared,” said Knepp, adding that part of her fear came from the nancial aspect because they were spending $5,000 for one cycle of IVF with no guaranteed success.
e retrieval returned seven eggs, but only one ended up being viable for transfer.
“We have one embryo. We’ve got one little chance waiting for us,” said Knepp. “So that’s how I feel about that embryo now, just glad we had that chance.”
As the couple wants more than one child, they have decided that with Knepp’s diagnosis of low ovarian reserve, they should attempt another egg retrieval now before attempting an embryo transfer.
“You’re not crazy for wanting to do this. e hope of bringing a child into this world is so valid,” said Knepp.
Emily Heizer-Kochman, the ninth try
“I had worries that we would have trouble conceiving another baby – or that we were on a short timeline – just because of my age,” said Heizer-Kochman.
Unfortunately, Heizer-Kochman was right to worry, as she would begin struggling with secondary infertility, a condition in which someone is unable to conceive or carry to term after already giving birth to a child without any fertility treatments.
Heizer-Kochman had ve miscarriages.
“I don’t know that you ever forget that pain. I don’t know,” said Heizer-Kochman. “You gure out how to live with it. I didn’t really do anything to deal with it, I just tried to move on.”
e couple ended up going to CNY, a fertility clinic in Colorado Springs. e cheapest option they could nd in the United States, which costed roughly $3,700 per cycle.
Out of eight rounds of IVF, none of the three embryos retrieved were deemed viable due to chromosomal abnormalities.
On Feb. 16, Heizer-Kochman went in for an egg retrieval for her ninth and nal round of IVF. e procedure only returned a single egg. e couple wanted to try one last time to ensure they had done all they could, but Heizer-Kochman wasn’t putting much hope into their single egg.
Does Colorado require motor vehicle insurance for e-bikes?
ree weeks later, the couple received the results that their latest embryo would not be viable.
ey continue to work towards having another child with the help of a friend who has agreed to be their egg donor.
“We got nothing out of it, other than the courage to move on,” said Heizer-Kochman. “If we hadn’t done IVF and spent that much and tried all those times, I don’t know that we would be emotionally ready to move on.”
e couple has spent around $50,000 on medical expenses.
“My biggest takeaway is that it doesn’t always work,” said Heizer-Kochman. “It’s not necessarily a faster track to a baby. ere are some people who do one cycle and get everything they need. at’s not everybody.”
A threat to IVF
Navigating IVF is already challenging, but the recent Alabama ruling has added another layer of di culty. It’s evident that many people lack understanding of the complexities involved with IVF. Although none of the women interviewed were from Alabama, some still express concerns about the misconceptions regarding IVF highlighted by the ruling.
is story was created by students at the University of Colorado-Boulder’s News Corps. Colorado Community Media participated in the process that helped bring this story to light.
BY JUSTIN GEORGE THE COLORADO SUN
Colorado does not require motor vehicle insurance for electric bikes as long as the bikes t the state’s electrical assisted bicycle classi cations and aren’t motorcycles.
e state has three classi cations for e-bikes:
Class 1: an electric assisted bicycle with a motor that provides power when the rider is pedaling and stops when the bike reaches a speed of 20 mph.
Class 2: an electric assisted bicycle with a motor that provides power but stops when the bike reaches a speed of 20 mph.
Class 3: an electric assisted bicycle with a motor that provides power when the rider is pedaling but stops when the bicycle reaches a speed of 28 mph.
Insuring e-bikes, however, is recommended by some insurance providers, who recommend at least liability coverage in case of an accident. Companies have started o ering special e-bike insurance for riders as some companies don’t insure them as property under homeowners policies.
is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalistowned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state. e Colorado Sun partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-size fact-checks of trending claims.
Concert featuring members of the Colorado Symphony @ 6pm
Kinzie Patio, 6385 E Floyd Dr, Denver
Hearty Har @ 7:30pm
Mon 8/26
Collective Groove: Private Event @ 6pm
Private Event, Denver
John Fogerty @ 7:30pm
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 West Alameda Parkway, Morrison
Wed 8/28
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison
Tue 8/27
Beyond Laser Light Experience @ 4pm Denver
Sweeping Promises @ 7pm
Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St,, Denver
chair bomb @ 7pm
Seventh Circle Music Collective, 2935 W 7th Ave, Denver
Dread Mar I @ 7pm
Summit Music Hall, 1902 Blake St, Denver
Dave Jordan @ 8pm Lot 46 Music Bar, 5302 W 25th Ave, Edgewater
John Statz @ 8pm
Two Moons Music Hall, 2944 Larimer St, Denver
Interest-free cash flow loan program helps Colorado schools
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Several of Colorado’s urban, suburban and rural school districts are set to take advantage of an interestfree loan program o ered by the state’s treasury department just as educators, sta , and administrators are preparing to welcome students back to school.
In July, state Treasurer Dave Young announced the sale of $508.7 million of 2024 Education Tax Revenue Anticipation Notes that will bene t 24 participating public school districts across the state. Young, who taught middle school in Greeley for 24 years, explained that Colorado’s school districts receive a combination of state and federal funds along with property tax dollars each year to keep their
schools running smoothly, ensure teachers and educators are paid and contribute to sta retirement and health care funds.
“While districts receive monthly equalization payments from the state, they don’t receive property tax funds until the Spring,” Young said. “Districts that receive more of their funding from property tax revenue have less cash ow early in the school year, making it more di cult for them to operate through cash ow shortages.”
Young compared the issue to managing a household budget.
“If you have a steady paycheck, you can budget for monthly expenses fairly easily,” he said. “But, say, if you’re someone who relies on a quarterly commission or yearly bonus, you know the money is coming but may have a gap in what you can
ST. JOANOF ARC CATHOLICCHURCH
Proclaiming Christ from the Mountains to the Plains
www.StJoanArvada.org
12735 W 58th Ave · 80002 · 303-420-1232
Daily Masses: 8:30am, Mon-Sat
Confessions: 8am Tue-Fri; 7:30am & 4:00pm Sat
Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00pm
Sunday Masses: 7:30, 9:00, 11:30am, 5:30pm
Green Mountain Presbyterian Church 12900 W Alameda Pkwy Lakewood, CO 80228
303-985-8733 www.gmpc.net
a ord until it hits your bank account.”
To qualify for the program, districts must prove they’ll experience a de cit until property taxes come in, and they must pay back the loan by the end of the school year. Because of the loan’s short window, districts don’t have to ask for taxpayer approval like they do for longterm bonded debt.
Additionally, the cash ow loan program is speci cally for operational expenses, not capital projects. Districts can’t use the loan funds to build new schools or purchase equipment like HVAC systems. e following districts participated in the Series 2024A Notes:
• Adams 14
• Aspen School District RE-1
• Aurora School District (Arapahoe 28J)
• Bennett 29J
• Boulder Valley School District RE-2
• Cherry Creek (Arapahoe 5)
• Denver School District 1
• Douglas County RE-1
• Eagle County RE-50
• East Grand School District
• Englewood (Arapahoe 1)
• Estes Park (Larimer R-3)
• Gilcrest (Weld 1)
• Huerfano
• Johnstown-Milliken (Weld RE-5J)
• Lake County (Leadville)
• Littleton (Arapahoe 6)
• Mapleton (Adams 1)
• Poudre (Larimer R-1)
• Roaring Fork (Gar eld)
• Summit County RE-1
• ompson (Larimer R2-J)
• Windsor (Weld RE-4)
READER
Grab your tickets at www.denverlm.org.
Get all the details at www.northglenn.org/backintime.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — The Hold Steady at the Bluebird Theater
Your Place of Worship
We meet in person with extraordinary live music on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month from 10:30a.m. to noon at:
Activity Options, 7401 W. 59th Ave., Arvada, 80003.
All other Sunday meetings are on zoom from 10:30a.m. to noon.
Please phone: 720-576-9193, or email: livingwaterspiritualcommunity@gmail.com
Our website is: www.livingwaterunity.org
To advertise your place of worship in this section, call Erin at 303-566-4074 or email
eaddenbrooke@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com
Northglenn Invites People to Put on Their Boogie Shoes
ese warm summer evenings are the perfect occasion for some dancing under the stars and the City of Northglenn has people covered with its Dancing rough the Decades party, held from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16 at the Festival Lawn at 1 E. Memorial Parkway.
As a way to add a fun spin to the proceedings, each hour will focus on a speci c decade — beginning with the 50s, moving through the 60s and ending in the 70s. e free event will also o er dance demos, giveaways, booths and more. Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes, and there will also be food and beverages available for purchase.
If you like rock music, you’re going to enjoy a e Hold Steady show. ere’s really no two ways about it. Since the band’s formation in 2003 they’ve cemented a reputation as one of the best live shows around and that designation is well-earned. e blend of singer/songwriter Craig Finn’s sharply drawn stories and the band’s rocking music is irresistible.
e Hold Steady is stopping by Denver as part of their Constructive Summer tour, and are playing at the Bluebird eater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., at 8 p.m. on ursday, Aug. 22, Friday, Aug. 23, and Saturday, Aug. 24. Everyone should experience this band live at least once, so 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.
FROM PAGE 14
Flag football and more metro-area prep sports news
BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A day after boys golf teams o cially were allowed to practice, marking the start of the 2024 fall sports season, dozens of high school athletes from around the state descended on Empower Field in Denver for the Colorado High School Activities Association’s fall sports Media Day.
Headlining fall sports this season is ag football, which will be introduced with two classi cations in 2024-25. Previously, there was a two-year pilot program with Colorado high schools. But in April, Colorado became the 11th state to sanction the sport. It is the inaugural season for the sport in Colorado.
Girls ag football becomes the 14th fall activity and 21st activity for girls recognized by CHSAA. Defending champions Arvada West and Chat eld, Cherry Creek, Mountain View, Valor Christian and Vista Ridge high schools sent teams to speak to the media.
“Flag football is the fastest-growing sport nationally, especially for girls,” said CHSAA Commissioner Mike Krueger. “So, we’re excited to be part of that with a number of states that have now sanctioned it. To say we’re excited would be an understatement. It was a lot of work to get through that pilot program, but credit to Je erson County, Cherry Creek and Denver Public Schools along with the Broncos in getting that done. We’re super excited for our girls.”
Flag football
Arvada West defeated Cherry Creek 34-14 in the nal of the 16team state championship tournament last October. e Wildcats nished the season with a perfect 25-0 record. ey were the rst team to speak.
e team addressed several changes coming to the sport in its inaugural season as a fully sanc-
SPORTS
Fall sports: Key takeaways from CHSAA Media Day in Denver
now brings more physical changes, including punting, screen blocking, a one-yard rush line for defenses and a major change in eld size.
Instead of a 60-by-30-yard eld, it’ll now be 80-by-40 yards. e game will be more physical this upcoming season as blocking will be a big emphasis on o ense.
“Luckily a bunch of our players were able to play summer ball with those new rules,” Chat eld coach Alexis Rosholt said. “I think the two main di erences are going to be the one-yard rush, the unlimited rushers as well as blocking. Your quarterback is going to basically have a second to get the ball o . Our receivers are going to have to do some blocking before getting into routes.” at means team depth is going to be important. Fortunately, every team’s coach said there’s been a spike in interest this past o season and it’s nice to see the sport continue to grow.
“Depth is going to be a huge role this year,” said Arvada West Head Coach Mario Lopez. “We’re going to have pass rushers … in the trenches, we’ll have blockers. So, it’s going to be a di erent style of football. ere are going to be girls sacri cing their
bodies on plays as opposed to last year where the girls had noncontact. It’s going to be a lot more similar to tackle football (this season).
Arvada West quarterback Saylor Swanson said she’s excited to have blockers in front of her so she can move around in the pocket and make plays.
e Wildcats know the target will be on their backs this season.
“Being state champs, feel like we have to push ourselves a little bit harder,” Molly Schellpeper said. “Everyone, knowing that, will push
themselves harder too.” Chat eld won the championship in the rst year of the pilot program and nished in the nal four last year.
But now the Chargers are hungry. “ ey don’t lose well,” Rosholt said of her team. “ ey’ll be ghting from day one. ey’re ready. Yes, we lost quite a few seniors last year that were big playmakers for us, but we gained so many underclassmen that were on our varsity team last year that were competitors.”
Reigning flag football state champions Arvada West spoke to the media first. The Wildcats enjoyed a perfect season capped with a trophy in 2023. PHOTOS BY JOHN RENFROW
Valor Christian volleyball’s Bergen Waitman, Kenzey McGatlin and Kenzee Steinbar take questions from the media on Aug. 6 at Empower Field in Denver.
Valor Christian, another team determined to make their mark on the inaugural ag football season, is ready to build a legacy for the program. It starts now, they said. “Especially at Valor, competition is so high,” said Savannah Khan. “Coming in last year, having the opportunity to start completely over and learn something new, and continue to grow on that and create a foundation … being able to just make that mark at Valor is something super important and something that is really inspiring, especially to young little girls.”
Proposed Affordable Housing Development – Marshall Pointe: Neighborhood Meeting
August 21st at 5:30 PM (via Zoom)
https://bit.ly/MarshallPointeNeighborhoodMeeting
Phone Number: +16694449171
Meeting ID: 827 7867 1100
Passcode: 97003
Valor hosted its rst ag football camp over the summer. e turnout was tremendous, with over 50 girls showing up to learn from the high school players.
“Having little girls having someone they can look up to is already starting to create a legacy,” Khan said.
Cherry Creek’s ag football team lost to Arvada West in the nal last season. Since that loss, they’ve been anxious to get back on the eld and pursue another championship run.
“I think we’re coming back stronger than ever,” said Cherry Creek’s Addy Beck. “We’ve worked together with all the new rules and we’re so excited to come back.”
Football
Broom eld, Columbine, Delta, Erie, Haxtun, Holy Family, Limon, Ralston Valley and Stratton high schools sent representatives from their football teams to speak with the media.
For Ralston Valley, the team is tired of seeing teams that beat them in the championship game.
“Really, the past two years, both teams that we lost to went to the state championship,” Ralston Valley Head Coach Jared Yannacito said. “So, you just continue to be consistent. You continue to show up. You continue to focus on one game at a time, one week at a time. We don’t overlook any of our opponents.”
e Mustangs will have to replace former quarterback Logan Madden, who is now a freshman player at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Yannacito said he can’t replace Madden other than having his team come together to make up for
his production.
Last year, Columbine dethroned Cherry Creek as the 5A champion. It was the Rebels’ sixth 5A state championship since 1999 and the rst since 2011. All six of the Rebels’ state football titles have been coached by Andy Lowry, who wasn’t in attendance.
But his players showed up as champs and are ready to repeat if they can.
“Every senior group at Columbine steps up,” said Brennan Goodwin, the starting quarterback at Columbine. “We’re excited to do that.”
Other sports
Other fall sports teams were in attendance also ready to kick o the 2024 season.
Field hockey, gymnastics, boys golf, uni ed bowling, softball, girls volleyball, cross country, spirit and student leadership representatives all spoke to the media.
Evergreen golf’s Liam Houlihan is excited to have everybody back this fall to try and win another team title. Houlihan and his teammate Tyler Long nished tied for second in 4A individual nishes last season.
“It’s a lot of fun having the same guys return each year,” Houlihan said. “I don’t quite know if we’re going to be the favorite — we just moved down to 3A, so that’s a new kind of team dynamic there — but we’ll see what happens and it should be fun.”
SEE CHSAA, P31
Columbine football’s Peyton Burcar and James Basinger, two leaders for the returning championship team, field questions from the media.
PHOTO BY JOHN RENFROW
Academy for Dental Assisting Careers has opened a new location in Arvada! We are taking enrollments for September classes! We need more students to meet the job demand from hiring Dentists! Get Certified with our 8 Week online program and in person clinical training on Saturdays. 303-774-8100 or email adacinfo@me.com
TECHNOLOGY HP Inc. is accepting resumes for the position of Senior Software Engineer in Westminster, CO (Ref. #7830437). Support new product development and cross-product integration. Support customers and resolve product issues. Telecommuting permitted. Annual Salary: $130,459.00/year to $160,459.00/year. Email resume to HP USA Jobs, jobshpusa@hp.com. Resume must include Ref. #, full name, email address & mailing address. No phone calls. Must be legally authorized to work in U.S. without sponsorship. EOE.
MARKETPLACE
Flea Markets
LAKEWOOD FLEA MARKET OUTDOOR Every Saturday 8am-2pm Roller City 6803 West Alameda Call Rod 720-980-1585
Misc. Notices
WIDOWED MEN AND WOMEN OF AMERICA. A social club offering many exciting activities and life long friendships. Social hours for all areas of Metro Denver. Visit Widowedamerica.org for details In your area!
Merchandise
Health & Beauty
Dental insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400+ procedures. Real dental insurance - not just a discount plan. Get your free Information Kit with details! 1-855-526-1060
Replace your roof w/the best looking & longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! 3 styles & multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off install + Additional 10% off install (military, health & 1st responders.) 1-833-370-1234
Split & Delivered $450 a cord Stacking $50 Call 303-647-2475 or 720-323-2173
Lawn & Garden
Professional lawn service: Fertilization, weed control, seeding, aeration & mosquito control. Call now for a free quote. Ask about our first application special! 1-833606-6777
Attention oxygen therapy users! Discover oxygen therapy that moves with you with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. Free information kit. 1-866-4779045
Miscellaneous
Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt & fees cancelled in 2019. Get free info package & learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 833-308-1971
Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 7-Year warranty with qualifying purchase* Call 1-855-9486176 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move. Bath & shower updates in as little as 1 day! Affordable pricesNo payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & military discounts available. 1-877-543-9189
MobileHelp America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! Call 1-888489-3936
MARKETPLACE
Miscellaneous
DIRECTV Stream - Carries
the most local MLB Games!
Choice Package $89.99/ mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/ Choice Package or higher.) No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405
Water damage cleanup: A small amount of water can cause major damage to your home. Our trusted professionals dry out wet areas & repair to protect your family & your home value! Call 24/7: 1-888-872-2809. Have zip code!
Aging Roof? New Homeowner?
Got Storm Damage?
You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-888-878-9091
Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Financing available. 1-855-417-1306
Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-610-1936
Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day. For a limited time, waving ALL installation costs! (Additional terms apply. Subject to change and vary by dealer.) Offer ends 8/25/24. Call 1-844-501-3208
Home break-ins take less than 60 seconds. Don’t wait! Protect your family, your home, your assets now for as little as 70¢/day! 1-844-591-7951
Don’t let the stairs limit your mobility! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1-833399-3595
CHSAA
Valor Christian volleyball has gone 58-0 in the past two seasons and won back-to-back 5A titles in Colorado.
But the Eagles know competition gets stronger each year and they aren’t ready to overlook anyone. “I would say every time out there is going to be our competition. We just need to get in the gym and work,” Chloe Elarton, a senior and University of Georgia commit said. “I just to savor every moment, every win, every loss, every practice. It’s going to be a really special season for us seniors and I just want to cherish that.”
Lutheran has won three straight 4A softball titles in Colorado. Meredith Barnhart said this year, preparation is more emotional this year. “We need to make up a lot of that momentum and success that we’re used to,” Barnhart said. Rallying as
a team will be huge. ere’s always the hitting in the cages and taking ground balls, so we’ll get that going here pretty soon and hopefully hit the road quick.”
Kinley Wolfe of Cherry Creek cross country just wants to improve.
“I’m just hoping to do the best I can and try to be better than I did last season,” Wolfe said. “I’m just trying to be a strong competitor this year that people are looking at.”
But no matter the sport, the athletes said they’re all inspired by the recent uptick in the popularity of women’s sports.
“I think, for me, sports have allowed me to nd who I am,” said Colorado Academy eld hockey player Addie Chandler. “So, having these big stars like Caitlin Clark, Simone Biles, having these really cool role models to look after has been really cool.”
For more from CHSAA’s fall sports Media Day, visit www.chsaanow. com.
Evergreen’s Liam Houlihan is one of the returning leaders for the Cougars’ golf team. He represented the school at CHSAA’s Media Day on Aug. 6 at Empower Field in Denver.
