Arvadans soak up summer fun at Arvada Days Festival
BY LILLIAN FUGLEI
SPECIAL TO THE ARVADA PRESS
As fall draws closer, with children returning to school and an autumn chill just around the corner, Arvada isn’t missing any opportunities for the last bits of summer fun.
On Aug. 24, Arvadans gathered in Clear Creek Valley Park for Arvada Days — a family centered festival with fun for everyone. e park was lled with train rides, in atables and a Nerf Zone for younger attendees, with local businesses and food trucks for
Adams ltered through the crowd. For attendees over 21, there was a beer garden — with all proceeds bene ting Ralston House.
“Every pint you enjoyed at the Arvada Days Beer Garden helps pour hope into the lives of children in need, supporting vital programs to stop child abuse at Ralston House,” said Ralston House Development O cer Jennifer Kemps.
“At Ralston House we provide a safe space for our most vulnerable to tell their story of abuse and
start the healing towards building
With the park packed full of entertainment, there was fun to be found for everyone at Arvada Days.
“Arvada Days is always a great, family-friendly way to bid farewell to summer, and this year we were fortunate to have some great weather for the event,” said Arvada’s Public Arts and Events Manager Adelle Burton. “We appreciate all of our dedicated volunteers who made the Arvada Days festival — and all our festivals throughout the year — possible.”
NEW FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RULES
After multiple o cer murders in recent years, APD creates Arvada Police Foundation
BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
After the murder of two Arvada Police O cers in the line of duty in recent years, the department has created the Arvada Police Foundation, which aims to provide support for APD sta and build relationships with community members. e foundation will also begin the process of planning a public memorial to Arvada’s fallen o cers, which is intended to be located near APD headquarters at city hall.
Arvada has lost four o cers in the line of duty; O cer Robert Beghtol drowned during a department scuba training session in 1961, O cer W. Michael Northey was struck and killed by a drunk motorist during a tra c stop in 1979, O cer Gordon Beesley was murdered by a would-be mass shooter in 2021 and O cer Dillon Vako was killed while responding to a custody dispute in 2022.
Rocky Mountain Mini Train o ered rides around Clear Creek Valley Park to young Arvada Days attendees. COURTESY OF SEAN STAR
OFFICERS
Arvada Police Chief Ed Brady said the nonpro t was founded to commemorate fallen o cers and support current sta members — initiatives that have already begun in the form of APD’s Beghtol Training House facility, Michael Northey Park, e Beesley Room in city hall and the upcoming Red Rocks stair climb in Vako ’s honor.
“ ese e orts are wonderful gestures, but they fall short of the full debt of gratitude that we owe to our fallen,” Brady said. “Great communities remember those who have paid the ultimate sacri ce. Washington D.C. is full of monuments which honor and remember our military fallen.
“We pay tribute because the attacks on our o cers were attacks on our community,” Brady continued. “Our o cers dedicated and sacri ced their lives to protect our community and as a community, we should remember and honor those who protected us in a visible, thoughtful and monumental way.”
Arvada Police Public Information
O cer Chase Amos said that in addition to the memorial, the foundation will support programs like the Arvada PD Explorer Post youth program, stress and mental health management (the foundation recently sponsored a family day for o cers and their families to connect outside of work) and a Com-
munity Care Fund.
e Community Care Fund will allow o cers to help community members in immediate nancial needs like groceries, baby formula or car trouble.
Amos said that the foundation’s formation was only possible due to community support.
“ e department truly appreci-
ates all of the community support we have received over the last few years which has now culminated in the formation of the Police Foundation,” Amos said. “With its establishment, there’s now a channel for community members to help support our o cers and community partnerships above and beyond the traditional public
funding channels.”
Brady said the foundation will work to ensure that the community keeps its fallen o cers in their hearts and minds.
“When we hear those dreaded words, ‘o cer down,’ as a community we must stand together to ensure that they will never be forgotten,” Brady said.
O cer Gordon Beesley
O cer W. Michael Northey
O cer Dillon Vako
The Arvada Police Foundation recently sponsored a family day for o cers and their families to get together outside of work.
COURTESY PHOTO
O cer Robert G. Beghtol
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What Knowledge and Skills Should You Expect Your Real Estate Agent to Have?
Some people would say that real estate agents are overpaid, but that varies greatly with the agent. If your agent doesn’t know what he’s doing, he could cost you money, and he should pay you!
It’s all about experience, commitment, fidelity to the client, and a multitude of trainings and skills.
Some skills are “hard” skills, such as how to set up searches on the MLS or write a contract, but even those hard-skill tasks typically require “soft skills” which can come from experience but just as importantly from an intention to be of service to client over self.
ence of Zillow, but we consult other software and nearby sales of comparable homes when doing our “Comparative Market Analysis.” Myself, I consult Realist (an MLS app), Realtor Property Resource (available only to Realtors), and ATTOM, a commercially available property valuation tool.
Knowing the value of a home is only the starting point. We need to assess the real estate market in that neighborhood, paying close attention to existing listings. It’s important that the pricing of other listings helps to sell your home, rather than the pricing of your home helps to sell theirs.
with matching search criteria. Not all listing agents know how to find and use that list of agents whose clients have received an alert about their listing.
(MLS alerts, by the way, are a big reason why no seller should consider trying to sell his or her home off-MLS.)
What agents need to know (and exploit) is that every time there’s a price reduction, it triggers a new alert with the tag “Price Reduced.” That’s a powerful marketing tool, another reason to lower the price quickly and regularly, reminding buyers that this home is still available and matches their search criteria.
have in real estate. Needless to say, they are not taught in real estate school or measured in the licensing exams! When representing buyers, many of those same skills, practices and knowledge come into play for the good real estate agent. Once a buyer decides to make an offer on a listing, I use the same tools to determine its value and what my buyer should offer, paying attention to the sale of comparable homes.
Of course, representing sellers and representing buyers calls for different skills and knowledge, although there are some overlapping skills and knowledge. When representing sellers, the most important skill is that of coming to agreement on the most effective listing price. To the seller, who has probably been watching neighborhood sales, there may be a price point which is appropriate based on relative condition and location, but it may not be the most effective price for going to market.
I’m not just talking about whether the market is rising or falling. And I’m not talking about what the home would appraise for. The most effective price is the one that will draw immediate interest from multiple buyers. Buyers invariably look at Zillow’s “Zestimate” and will decide whether your home is overpriced or underpriced based on what Zillow says — sad but true! Nevertheless, it’s important to know.
We professionals recognize the influ-
However, the market is unpredictable. If the seller and his or her agent agree on a price but the home attracts few or no showings and no offers within a week, then the market is telling you that it’s overpriced, assuming the home was put on the MLS and had other reasonable promotion, such as the kind we provide with this ad. The price should be reduced within a week or 10 days. Don’t wait until the listing gets “stale.”
Most agents and buyers are familiar with the concept of MLS alerts. A buyer’s search criteria are entered into the appropriate search fields on the MLS, and when a new listing matches that buyer’s search criteria, he or she receives a computer-generated email alert from the MLS about it.
For example, the listing below, which is deep in the mountains, 120 miles from Denver, had 97 buyers who received an email alert about it when it went on the MLS. Last week’s featured listing in Lone Tree triggered 230 alerts to buyers
Has Your Time Come to Enjoy Mountain Life?
This 3-bedroom, 2-bath home at 48 Lang Street is in Twin Lakes, halfway between Leadville and Buena Vista at the foot of Independence Pass. It could be your escape from the Front Range rat race! This is a year-round mountain home, solar-powered, with a hightech greenhouse with “earth battery” for near year-round veggies! Enjoy the quiet mountain life of Twin Lakes Village (population 23). In summer, enjoy the drive over Independence Pass to Aspen. In winter, drive over Fremont Pass to Copper Mountain. Escape those I-70 traffic jams, too! Closer to home, enjoy hiking the Colorado Trail, which passes through town. This home was built in 2000 with all the modern conveniences, yet you're in a historic and charming mountain town. Thanks to high-speed CenturyLink internet, some of the residents have city jobs but work from home. If you’ve been hankering for a slower lifestyle, this mountain home may be your escape. Visit this listing’s website at www.TwinLakesHome.info to take a narrated video walk through of this home and see lots of photos, then come see it on Saturday, September 7th, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. NOTE: Seller offers 2.8% commission to buyer’s broker.
Price Reduced to $712,000
Because it’s important for sellers and their listing agent to keep current on the MLS activity near their listing, I have made a practice of setting up an MLS alert around each of my listings and sending it to both my sellers and myself.
Now, look at the picture for the listing below. Before changing the price on the MLS, I changed the primary MLS picture to one that included the day and time of the open house so those buyers receiving the “price reduced” alert know about the open house, which is not mentioned in the alert itself. After the open house, I’ll remove the photo with that information. That’s an example of another skill (in this case, a practice) that a good agent might have.
Some sellers dismiss open houses as a tool for agents to generate leads, not sell that house, which is admittedly rare. It does happen, however. Indeed, all three of my most recent closed listings sold to buyers who came to the open house. Note: It’s important to enter open house dates and times on the MLS. They are populated to Zillow and hundreds of other websites, and doing so draws far more visitors nowadays than the “open house” signs we put in the ground.
According to Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies, “Soft skills are as almost as important as hard skills, In fact, they often define success more than expertise does.” Communication, active listening, social cues, negotiation, patience and tactfulness are cited as the most crucial soft skills to
I also look at the listing history of the property — days on market, price reductions, previous contracts that fell, and prior MLS listings by this or another agent. I have an app that can tell me about the seller, including what other homes they have purchased or sold. I can also evaluate the level of experience and therefore skill of the listing agent.
On ShowingTime, I can see whether there are other showings scheduled or whether the listing is sitting on the market. I also call the listing agent to see if they have other contracts expected or in hand. If a previous contract has fallen, I can ask the circumstances.
I ask whether the seller has a preferred closing date or other things that would make them happy. (Furniture to sell? Post-closing occupancy needed?)
I also ask where the seller is moving to. If they’re moving locally, I can mention that our moving truck is available free to them, along with free moving boxes and packing materials. If I learn that a bidding war is possible and they are moving locally, I might include free labor and gas along with the free truck in my buyer’s contract. I may also insert an escalation clause under additional provisions, indicating that the buyer will beat any competing offer.
Lastly, there’s a new question I need to ask: Is the seller willing to pay my commission? They probably are, and I need to enter that percentage in Sec. 29 of the contract and discuss with my client adjusting the commission in our own agreement to reduce or eliminate what that client pays out of pocket for my professional representation.
Arvada City Council looks at increases in next year’s water rates
Rate increases would help address aging infrastructure
BY LILLIAN FUGLEI
SPECIAL TO THE ARVADA PRESS
With a water rate increase on the horizon, Arvada City Council took a look at what the increased rates for 2025 may be.
On Aug. 24, council held a workshop on the rate increases, looking at three potential plans for next year’s water rate increase. is was
the third of four workshops held on the increase, with the next set for Sept. 23.
At the last workshop, council looked at causes for the increase — which primarily addressed aging infrastructure.
Arvada Utilities Business Manager Christine Gray presented three potential rate increases, labeled A, B and C. e city’s 10-year strategic plan for 2025 forecasted a 10% increase for water and sewer services, along with a 5% increase for stormwater.
In scenario A, Gray discussed what a 0% increase would look like. Without an increase, the sewer ser-
vices operating service would only be 92% funded. Gray also said that a 0% increase in 2025 would lead to a much higher rate hike for water services and stormwater in 2026.
Scenario B — which received the most vocal support from council members — was a 10% increase to water service fees. e increase would help fund improvements made to the city’s water infrastructure. Scenario B for sewer fees was also a 10% increase — which would fully fund operating expenses and most of the expenses for improvements to the sewer system in 2025. For stormwater, this would mean a 5% increase.
e third option — Scenario C — was a 12% increase to water service fees. For sewer services, Scenario C meant a 14.5% increase. e increase would fully fund operating expenses and fully fund improve-
ments to the sewer system for 2025. is scenario included a 13.75% increase to stormwater fees.
None of these rates are nalized.
During their upcoming workshop on Sept. 23, council will look at rates again— nalizing their recommendations for the increases to water and sewer services, along with stormwater fees.
Councilmember Bob Fifer voiced support for the increases while also expressing a desire to see less dramatic increases in the future. Rates went up by 12.3% in 2023, followed by another 12% increase this year.
“I’d like to make sure we’re not always staying on this steady increase of year after year increases,” Fifer said. “I’d like to see us get back to a 3% (increase) eventually.”
On Oct. 21, council will hold a public hearing to vote on increases to the rates and fees.
On Oct. 21 Arvada City Council is set to vote on water rate and fee increases to help address aging infrastructure. COURTESY
The new Lutheran Hospital. We’re
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!
Caring for Colorado Energy Workers
Employment data: Are fewer people employed than we thought?
Lunch & Learn Event
Thursday, September 19 12:00 p.m. Old Spaghetti Factory
BY TAMARA CHUANG THE COLORADO SUN
For those who follow the state and federal job reports, the rst time numbers come out for any given month is not the last.
e Bureau of Labor Statistics revised employment data from March.
e U.S. added 818,000 fewer jobs than previously estimated, while Colorado’s overcount was 72,700, according to the latest Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages data.
at doesn’t quite add up, said Tim Wonholf, an economist at the state Department of Labor and Employment. It also doesn’t necessarily mean more people have lost their jobs.
“Downward revisions don’t equate to job losses, but rather provide a clearer picture of the jobs that existed to begin with,” he said in an
email. “Colorado’s revision looks higher than we would expect.”
His reason is that Colorado’s labor force is 2% of the national labor force. So, 2% of 818,000 should be 16,000 and not four-times higher.
“We are investigating and working with national partners to understand the estimate and dig into potential root-cause factors,” he said.
Ryan Gedney, a Denver economist who tracks labor trends, said that if the numbers are true, “Colorado jobs are actually declining over the year,” he said in an email. But he, too, questions the accuracy of the QCEW data.
Final revisions come out in February 2025.
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.
Tersus Solutions employee Maria Mara unloads recycled sleeping bags from the liquid CO2 cleaning systems on the warehouse floor on June 12 in Englewood.
PHOTO BY HUGH CAREY/THE COLORADO SUN
Road to top of Mount Blue Sky closed until 2026
Uppermost
section
of Mount Blue Sky Scenic
Byway will not reopen until Memorial Day 2026
BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e highest paved road in North America, Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway, closed Sept. 3 to all travel to the peak including motorized, biking and most hiking as road repairs continue until Memorial Day 2026, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
e byway, also known as CO Hwy 5, closed from the Forest Service gate near Highway 103 in Clear Creek County through the project area, above Summit Lake, USFS representatives said.
USFS plans to repair the damaged roadway from the Summit Lake overow parking lot to the rst switchback past Summit Lake.
Danille Perrone from Toronto, Canada stood at the peak of Mount Blue Sky with friends on Aug. 23 in 40-degree temperatures with a cold wind blowing strong across the peak as she gazed at the view from 14,264 feet with Summit Lake below.
“It’s raw and fresh, it’s God’s country,” Perrone said.
e USFS said its goal is to “improve public safety while reducing ongoing impacts to the fragile alpine ecosystem and restore the natural hydraulic processes through the area.”
Traveling the highway to the summit recently made apparent the need for repairs. Cars, SUVs and pickup trucks crawled up the last section of roadway between 10-15 miles an hour over and across large potholes.
e road itself, barely wide enough to accommodate two vehicles heading up or down, heaved with massive dips in the asphalt that required smaller vehicles to crawl up and down the buckled road at a snail’s pace.
As you approach the summit you’re enveloped by the high clouds that appear like fog, until you break through and realize you’re above the wisping white and gray clouds.
Once you’ve arrived at the summit and exited the vehicle you’re in a completely di erent environment than you
left at the start of the journey to the top of one of Colorado’s 14ers.
e outside temperature is below 40 degrees and strong blasts of cold winds whip across the summit and blast those who decide to complete the journey to the peak with a short hike to the top.
e rocky path to the top leads hikers through at least four switchbacks to the peak where a brass plate embedded in the rocks marks the summit and elevation; it was placed there in 1955.
Once on top, the view above the clouds goes for miles, notably with Pikes Peak to the south and Mount Bierstadt to the west.
As Perrone put it, “You’re on top of the world.”
Formerly known as Mount Evans, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names voted 15-1 on Sept. 15, 2023 in favor of the change to Mount Blue Sky.
e name change followed years of lobbying and petitions by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma to disassociate the mountain from its original namesake territorial governor John Evans.
According to historical references, Evans authorized what’s known as the Sand Creek Massacre.
On a November morning in 1864, U.S. Army Col. John Chivington and elements of the Colorado Infantry Regi-
ment of Volunteers and Regiment of Colorado Cavalry Volunteers launched an attack on Arapaho and Cheyenne civilians where they camped about 180 miles southeast of Denver. Over the course of eight hours, the troops slaughtered some 230 people, many of them women, children and elderly, according to the National Park Service.
e new name for the mountain comes from the Blue Sky Ceremony, a ceremony for all living things, including “men, women, children, plants, earth, water, life,” Chester Whiteman of the Southern Cheyenne tribe said in 2023.
Nonetheless, the iconic Mount Blue Sky will return to nature, away from tourists and local tra c, for at least the next year and a half. A couple of mountain goats resting at the peak did not seem phased by the upcoming changes to their natural environment.
Tourists from across the country at the peak said they were disappointed with the closure, including one couple from Raytown, Missouri who said the trip to Mount Blue Sky is part of a yearly tradition to experience the top of a Colorado 14er and escape the humidity of Missouri.
However, the most common sentiment was, “If it’s to repair the road for safety, then that’s what it is, you have to keep it safe,” Perrone said.
Columnists & Guest Commentaries 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.
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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.
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Mount Blue Sky summit on Aug. 23.
PHOTO BY CHRIS KOEBERL
Arvada’s inaugural Brunch Fest showcases local eateries
BY LILLIAN FUGLEI
SPECIAL TO THE ARVADA PRESS
Colorado saw a battle of the brunch fests this year with a new competitor in the ring: Arvada.
On Aug. 24, Olde Town hosted Arvada’s rst Brunch Fest. Attendees sampled Arvada’s nest brunch bites and sips, such as co ee cake — and of course, coffee — from La Dolce Vita, breakfast corn dogs from School House Kitchen and Libations, biscuits and gravy from Bread Winners and maple bacon cupcakes from Rheinlander Bakery.
In total, 14 restaurants o ered samples for attendees, who walked around Olde Town, tasting what the historic district had to o er.
Arvada’s inaugural fest happened to fall at the same time as another Brunch Fest: Denver’s. However, according to Olde Town Business Improvement District Executive Director Joe Hengstler, the coinciding event
had little impact.
“We were able to provide a family friendly and mellow atmosphere that may be a little di erent than what is typical of Denver’s Brunch Fest,” said Hengstler. “Of course a lot of our ticket sales came from the Arvada community, so they were able to enjoy an event a little closer to home.”
Hengslter added that feedback for the event had been positive so far, from business owners and attendees alike.
“Brunch Fest was great, especially for a rst year event,” Hengslter said. “I chatted with participants as they were making their way through Olde Town, and everyone really seemed to be enjoying themselves.”
Since this was the rst Brunch Fest, the event has not yet become an annual o ering. However, Hengstler says signs point to another Brunch Fest next year, with the possibility of adding other similar events in the future.
Attendees check in to the first Arvada Brunch Fest. COURTESY OF THE OLDE TOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
About 70% of Golden city employees now have compressed workweeks
One year later, GPD’s 4-32 program shows less overtime spending, better response times
BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
After a promising trial with the police department, most City of Golden employees now have compressed workweeks.
Since May 1, about 70% of Golden’s 250 full-time employees have been
working less than 40 hours a week with no change in pay. So far, employee satisfaction with this compressed workweek is around 80%, o cials stated.
Shifts are staggered to minimize impacts on the public, unlike other local governments in Colorado that don’t work on Fridays.
Golden is moving forward with its compressed workweek pilot program as it gathers data on employee productivity, with City Manager Scott Vargo emphasizing how the program is about getting the same amount of work done in less time. at could be through using new tools, working remotely, having fewer and/or shorter
meetings, and generally being more focused and engaged while at work, he described.
e overall goal, Vargo continued, is to create a happier workforce, improve employee recruitment and retention, identify cost savings and make city services more e cient.
He used the Golden Police Department as an example, which has been working a compressed 4-32 schedule since July 2023 and is now fully sta ed.
“We’ve become a more attractive work environment for people who are here and for those coming in,” he said.
GPD data: one year later
In July 2023, the Golden Police Department started a 4-32 pilot program. All full-time employees started working four days and 32 hours a week with no change in pay.
After six months, o cials saw that response times were faster, overtime was down 80%, and employee satisfaction with the program was 90% or higher based on weekly surveys.
Golden opted to extend the pilot to July 2024 to collect more data, as Vargo and Police Chief Joe Harvey described at an Aug. 20 community meeting.
Over the past year, Vargo said Gold-
PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN
en spent $190,000 less on overtime than it did the previous year. Vargo said those savings will revert to the general fund once the 2024 budget year concludes, and the city can use those dollars on other projects.
Vargo clari ed how GPD personnel are still paid to work 40 hours a week. us, if an o cer must stay a few extra hours after their shift ends under the 4-32 schedule, it doesn’t accumulate overtime the way it would under a 4-40 schedule.
Along with overtime savings, GPD’s average response time to Priority 1 calls from July 2023-July 2024 was almost 30 seconds faster than the previous year’s. Average response times to other calls were also much faster.
Harvey said there are likely a variety of factors as to why the response times are so much better under the 4-32 pilot, including o cers’ mindsets, as they’re more focused and less fatigued because they’re working fewer hours.
Another, he said, could be that GPD is currently fully sta ed.
In his 10 years at GPD, Harvey recalled a one-month period when the department was fully sta ed before now. Otherwise, supervisors have always been trying to ll positions.
Corporal Guy Garner of the Golden Police Department gives a motorcycle demonstration Aug. 6 at the city’s National Night Out event. GPD recently gave an update on its compressed workweek program, which shows that overtime costs are down and response times are faster, according to city o cials.
STAFF REPORT
Golden Optimist club hosts regional convention
Optimists from all over Colorado and Wyoming packed into the Golden Hotel last month to discuss their shared goals of improving their communities and supporting local causes.
e Golden Optimists, known for providing and repairing bicycles for locals, hosted the Colorado/Wyoming Optimist Convention Aug. 9-10. irty- ve district clubs were represented at the convention. eir annual work spans from mentoring students, lling backpacks, awarding scholarships, placing wreaths on
veterans’ graves and supplying food banks.
Many also have Junior Optimist Clubs to facilitate youth to be leaders and team players.
Optimist International is a worldwide volunteer organization comprised of more than 2,100 local clubs whose members work each day to make the future brighter by bringing out the best in children, their communities and themselves. Optimists conduct 65,000 community service projects each year and spend $78 million in their communities. Annually, Optimist programs help 6 million children.
For more information on local groups go to “Find a Club” at opti-
mistcowy.org.
Je erson County Food Policy Council named a finalist for national award
People are asked to vote for the Jefferson County Food Policy Council, which has been named a nalist in the 2024 Newman’s Own Foundation Food Justice for Kids Awards.
Up to $1 million will be awarded to nonpro ts, public schools and Native American tribes that are working to improve food justice, nutrition education and school food programs across the United States.
Based on public voting, JCFPC could receive a $10,000 grant. Recipients will be announced online at 4 p.m. MT Sept. 10.
Up to ve nalists in each category will also get a chance to receive up to $50,000 in October.
Alex Amouyel, Newman’s Own Foundation chief executive o cer, commented: “Supporting e orts that address food justice and enhance nutrition education for children has been the heartbeat of Newman’s Own since its inception in 1982, and we’re honored to be able to carry on that legacy today. We hope everyone in the community will join us in the philanthropic process by attending our pitch event and voting for their favorite organization.
From time to time, we’re shaken by the news that someone we personally knew or knew about took their own life. In moments like that, we’re often taken unawares, stunned and bewildered by the revelation. It makes us wonder, question why it happened and why we missed clues they were at extreme personal risk. at’s particularly true when the person who died by suicide is young or never exhibited suicidal tendencies.
A primary reason we’re blindsided is that the idea of suicide ranks near the bottom of our conversational topics. Suicide more than causes consternation; it invokes an intense mental, emotional and moral discomfort. at is, until it’s someone within our inner circle or community.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2021 suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death in the U.S., the second among individuals between 10-14 and 25-34, and the third among individuals between 1524. It was striking to learn in 2023 there were nearly twice as many suicides (48,183) as there were homicides (26,031). But which makes the headlines and leads the nightly news?
It’s been four years since my friend ended his life. For months afterward, I felt completely distraught. My grief and anger were driving me into a depressive state. What had been theoretical about the stages of grief became reality. I con ded in very few as I worked to project a semblance of balance and not to wear my emotions on my sleeve, even with close friends. In time, I was able to articulate in a more coherent way my overwhelming sadness and the anger I felt toward the forces and people that drove him down. Writing about it and sharing my thoughts in a public forum, however, presented a bigger challenge. I’m now able to and in so doing, I hope to do justice to my friend and to the broader topic.
VOICES
Suicide: A personal reflection
JERRY FABYANIC Columnist
In “ e Myth of Sisyphus,” Albert Camus asserts suicide is the only serious philosophical problem. ose who commit suicide, he says, have concluded life is no longer worth living. at not only seems obvious, it begs the question of why certain people decide to throw away their most precious gift, one that we instinctively protect and defend. I surmise Camus doesn’t provide a substantive answer for a simple reason: ere’s no one answer. Broadly, the reasons range from shaming and social exclusion to mental illness and in amed anger. But speci cally, they equal the number who commit suicide. In the end, no suicide is inexplicable. ere’s a reason behind each. And a person who was loved and cherished.
Still, what Camus posits is worth consideration because it gets to the fundamental question about the meaning and purpose of life. He prompts the reader to consider why, if someone concludes their life no longer has meaning or purpose and/or is lled with irreconcilable pain, they should hang on to it. e answer lies, he suggests, not in the mind where we make rational choices but in the silence of the heart. I interpret that to mean that suicide, even though ultimately an act of will, is generally not borne out of reason but out of emotion. Readers of Edgar Allan Poe, Joseph Conrad and kindred authors who explored the depth of the human soul know that is something great writers have delved into over the ages. When I got the news of my friend’s death, I was stunned and shaken, but I wasn’t surprised. Even during the time he was getting professional help and taking prescribed meds, I had “talked him o the ledge” several times. During
one episode, I sat with him while he talked with a support person at a suicide crisis center. For a couple of days after, I stayed on suicide watch. He pulled through, like he had each of the preceding times, but it further enhanced my sense of foreboding that at some point he would end his life.
Despite the front my friend projected as a charming, social and intelligent man who had it together, I knew full well of his inner turmoil. He had shared with me heartbreaking stories, speaking plaintively about the calumny and shame rained down upon him because of his sexual orientation, something I identi ed with having experienced similar. e opprobrium exacerbated the sensitivity he felt because of other aspects of his nature, like his repressed artistic talent and his heightened sensitivity to light, color and sound that con icted with what had been drilled into him about masculinity.
Shaming is among the worst of human tortures. Ironically, those who should feel ashamed about their behavior often never feel it because they don’t give a rat’s behind about what others think of them. However, for those who internalize shaming and don’t have the inner strength to turn it back on those who maliciously dole it out, it can be lethal.
As noted earlier, having been shamed is not the only reason someone takes their life, but there is a thread running through every suicide: su ering. In Buddhist belief, su ering arises from desire and attachment. However, some desires and attachments are not only not injurious to a person, they are necessary for their sound physical, mental and emotional health.
ey’re called people, and not just people broadly, but nonjudgmental people who are loving, supportive, inviting, embracing and accepting.
When one is rejected, marginalized, belittled, shamed or unac-
SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, thus a perfect time to increase your awareness of and get yourself more educated about the telltale signs of suicide. You can easily find resources online, including the National Alliance on Mental Health — https:// www.nami.org/ — and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/.
cepted, especially in their youth, they grow increasingly vulnerable and at risk. ey can become reclusive and embittered and disillusioned, and when that happens, their su ering metastasizes. Even if they survive the treacherous mineelds they’re forced to negotiate and make it to adulthood, even to late adulthood like my friend, they still can conclude, as Camus states, life is not worth living. And much too often after they reach that conclusion and end their lives, the world wonders why before it quickly averts its gaze and moves on. It’s been ten years since the great actor Robin Williams took his life. e news of it stunned the world. How could such a gifted actor and comedian get to that point? What drove him to it? I don’t know and won’t speculate, but I suspect that beneath that joke-cracking facade lay a soul in anguish. Robin donned many masks in the range of roles he played, but the cover for his inner pain was his most powerful performance. Like with my friend, it makes me wonder about how many others mask their true anguish behind a pleasant, have-it-all-together, even mirthful persona. As one PSA reminds us, the more you know. It might help you intervene with someone you cherish before it’s too late.
Jerry Fabyanic is the author of “Sisyphus Wins” and “Food for ought: Essays on Mind and Spirit.” He lives in Georgetown.
SeeSaw hosts ‘UnSettling’ art show
For “UnSettled,” the fourth exhibition at SeeSaw Art Gallery, 5 W. Radcli Ave. in Englewood, ber artist Brandi Kole and aerosol artist Rock “CYFI” Martinez tackle the challenges of nding oneself in modern society. According to provided information, “UnSettled” features new works from both artists in a range of mediums including ber, aerosol, canvas and found objects. “ e duo explores the tension between opposing forces, inviting viewers to contemplate the nature of duality, the complexity of human identity and the pursuit of stability.” e show runs through Sunday, Oct. 20 We spoke with Hayley Schneider, owner of SeeSaw, about the show, the artists and what visitors can expect.
ROWLEY
COMING ATTRACTIONS
muralist, so seeing him scale down to t his work on canvas while still capturing the essence of his murals is very compelling. His color stories are incredibly powerful and he blends guration and abstraction beautifully.
Kole works frequently with museums, and for her artwork to be experienced in a gallery context is breathtaking. Her pieces are all about the details; the loops and thread textures that bring a di erent dimension to certain features such as eyes, lips or the petal of a ower.
Interview edited for brevity and clarity.
Tell me about the background of SeeSaw?
SeeSaw is new to Englewood. We opened in November and “UnSettled” is our fourth exhibition. We showcase contemporary art in thought-provoking exhibitions, highlighting emerging and underrepresented artists. All of the artists we’ve worked with are part of or connected to the local Colorado art community.
What was the idea behind the exhibit?
Kole and Marinez are dear friends of the gallery. ey’ve championed our cause from the beginning, and Martinez painted the mural on the entrance side of our building. ey live a nomadic life, traveling between Tucson and Minneapolis, making frequent stops in Colorado and even doing a residency here this past spring with the gallery. From a curator’s perspective, it’s really interesting to see how their artistic choices inform each other’s work. During their residency we came up with the idea of a show that tells their story of searching for and de ning the idea of “home.” How was working with them?
Our friendship came before we ever worked together. When the gallery opened it only made sense for us to showcase their work. Martinez works primarily as a
What will visitors to the gallery see as part of the exhibit?
is collection of works tells a story about how we journey through life and what makes us connected to the people and places we inhibit. It’s told through bursts of color, layered surfaces and that which we weave together to create a life.
ere’s beauty, there’s introspection and there’s connection.
More information is available at seesawgallery.com.
Core Art Space finds creativity in the ‘Margins’
e Core Art Space, 6501 W. Colfax Ave. in Lakewood, is hosting “Margins,” an open show, from Friday, Sept. 13 through Sunday, Sept. 29.
e call for submissions for the show was open to artists in all mediums and the resulting exhibition was selected by juror Joe Higgins, a well-known Colorado artist working primarily in monotypes. e idea was for artists to submit works inspired by the idea of margins — whether it’s the margin of a page, the edge of an image or anything outside the norm.
ere will be an opening reception from 5 to 10 p.m. on the 13th. More information can be found at www.coreartspace.com.
Gerald T. Rowley
Jan. 29, 1923 - Aug. 3, 2024
With heavy hearts, we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved father, Gerald T. Rowley, at the age of 101 in Phoenix, AZ on Aug. 3, 2024. Gerald, a ectionately known as Gerry (aka Jerry), leaves behind a legacy of love, wisdom, and service that will forever be cherished by all who knew him.
Gerry was a man of remarkable character and integrity, imparting invaluable life lessons to his family and all those around him. His service and sacri ce during WWII and the Korean Con ict are a testament to his courage and dedication to his country. He served in the Army Air Corps during WWII, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross for his brave missions over Southeast Asia, and later served in the Korean Con ict. His family is eternally grateful for his safe return.
After his military service concluded in the Wyoming Air National Guard, Gerry continued his passion for ying as a ight instructor and pilot for United Airlines until his retirement. In his retirement, he found solace on the golf course, where he spent countless happy hours “perfecting” his game.
His impact extended far beyond his immediate family, touching the lives of many through his active involvement in the Kiwanis Club and Ginny’s Kids. He dedicated himself to the mission of Ginny’s
In
Kids International, a cause close to his heart, honoring the memory of his late sister, Virginia. Even in his later years, Gerry remained active and engaged, continuing to inspire others with his wisdom and grace. His presence at Luke Air Force Base, where he conducted a re-enlistment ceremony and shared his insights on the Air Force, is a testament to his enduring commitment to service.
Gerry is survived by his long-time friend, Jan Riess; his loving son, Gary R. Tallman (spouse, Jacque) and his daughter, Susan J. Nance, along with 6 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-greatgrandchildren. His legacy of love and devotion will carry on in the hearts of all who knew him.
In lieu of owers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Ginny’s Kids International, a cause that was near and dear to his heart.
ough we mourn the loss, we take comfort in knowing that Gerry’s spirit will live on in the memories and hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know him. Rest in Peace dear Gerry, Dad, grandpa! You will be deeply missed.
Donations can be made to:
Ginny’s Kids International PO Box 746123, Arvada, CO 80006-6123
Clarke Reader
BY ALEX K.W. SCHULTZ SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
They came, from near and far, to behold the spectacle.
Men and women, boys and girls, young and old — tens of thousands of them.
Buses shuttled them in and out of swanky Castle Pines Village, nonstop, for four days straight. Signs o local highways and roads warned of heavy tra c and delays. An economic impact of $30 million was expected for the area. A purse of $20 million was up for grabs for the ones swinging the clubs.
At long last, more than two years after PGA o cials said it was coming, it was here — the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock.
Some of the 150,000 spectators expected to show up over the four-day tournament from Aug. 22-25 were rabid golf fans. Others just wanted to be there, to see the Jack Nicklaus-designed course, to hear the “oohs” and “ahhs” of the crowd ripple
through the Ponderosa pines, to catch a glimpse of some of the game’s biggest stars — stars like Scottie Sche er, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Justin omas.
Attendees couldn’t be blamed for their excitement. After all, the last time the BMW was played in Colorado was a decade ago, when Billy Horschel hoisted the trophy at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village.
e last time a professional golf tournament was played at Castle Pines? at was nearly two decades ago, in 2006 (Castle Pines hosted the now-defunct e International Tournament from 1986 to 2006).
So, yes, Coloradans were beyond thrilled to have professional golf back in their backyard once again.
“It’s pretty cool that they’re all here in Colorado,” 14-year-old Vivian Halaby, a Cherry Creek High School student, said of the 50 golfers vying for the $3.6 million rst-place prize. “It’s neat to see famous people come and go through here.”
150,000 spectators were expected to show up over the fourday tournament.
ON PAGE 16: Spectators cheer as Wyndham Clark, a 2012 Valor High School graduate, sinks a long birdie putt at the BMW Championship golf tournament on Aug. 25 at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock. Clark finished in a nine-way tie for 13th place.
Vivian’s brother, 12-year-old Tripp Halaby, was busy trying to get some of those famous people’s autographs. He’d already gotten McIlroy, Tony Finau and Ludvig Aberg, among several others, to pen his oversized golf ball, but the youngster didn’t plan to stop signature-hunting anytime soon.
“It’s life-changing,” Tripp, who attends West Middle School in Greenwood Village, said of his experience at the tournament.
Tripp called himself a “big Nick Dunlap fan” but said he couldn’t help but root for the local kid. at would be last year’s U.S. Open champion and 2012 Valor High School graduate Wyndham Clark, the 30-year-old making his Colorado homecoming.
Clark found himself in 22nd place after the rst day but made things interesting after shooting a 4-under and 3-under the next two days, putting him in a tie for fth entering the fourth and nal round.
e “Valor Grad Wins PGA Tournament in Return to Home State” headlines weren’t meant to be, however, as Clark carded a 2-over on the last day to nish in a nine-way tie for 13th place at 5-under overall. Clark still fetched a $344,111 payout for his e orts.
“It’s been amazing. Denver showed out great,” Clark said at the post-tournament press conference. “I had tons of support. It was all in all an amazing week with all the support and friends coming out and all the love I felt.”
One of the more exciting moments for Clark came on the last day on hole No. 10, where he boomed his drive, stuck his approach shot and rolled in a 24-footer for birdie, bringing the hundreds of fans surrounding the green to their feet.
Not far away from the green where Clark had just buried his birdie was Mignon Stetman, who lives right o the 10th fairway.
“We love it. We’ve had a blast,” Stetman said of watching all the people, including the golf pros, walk within a stone’s throw of her home every day. “I think (the fans) are as much in awe as we are.”
e retired hotel sales director said she was
pulling for Horschel because he, like her, graduated from the University of Florida. Horschel nished in a tie for 22nd place.
Meanwhile, Stetman said her husband, Greg, was hoping either 44-year-old Adam Scott or Keegan Bradley would win.
Now a seven-time PGA Tour champion, Bradley did win in the end, fending o fellow American Sam Burns, the Swede Aberg and South Australia’s Scott, who all nished one shot behind the winner.
Up by the 18th green, as Bradley and Scott, partnered on the last day, made their way in from the fairway for their last putts, fans crammed in tight, craning their necks and holding up their phones, trying to savor the tournament’s nal moments.
“It was incredible,” Parker resident Coleman Harris, who was sitting nearby, said of the day and the tournament. “I go to the Waste Management Phoenix Open in Arizona every year. is was just so much better. I loved it. It was awesome.”
Now, the collective hope is that it won’t be another 10 years before professional golf is back in Colorado.
PHOTO ON PAGE 17: Fans surround the 18th green at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock on Aug. 25 during the BMW Championship golf tournament. Roughly
PHOTO
PHOTOS BY ALEX K.W. SCHULTZ
Our newsroom wins 14 state press awards
BY COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA STAFF
Colorado Community Media’s “Long Way Home” series, a deep dive that unraveled the whys and hows of the escalating housing crisis across the Front Range, took home top honors during state press awards.
e 14-story, newsroom-wide effort was named Best Public Service Project in Class 6 of the Colorado Press Association awards. Earlier this year, the series won rst place for General Reporting, Series or Package at the esteemed Top of the Rockies Excellence in Journalism, hosted by the Colorado chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
In all, the newsroom received 14 awards, eight of them for rst place, during the Colorado Press Association awards, a friendly competition held among newsrooms of all sizes from around the state.
e newsroom’s “Long Way Home” series interviewed ordinary Coloradans about how the rising costs of housing impacts their lives. e series identi ed barriers many younger residents and people of color face
as they pursue homeownership and explored potential solutions. Every reporter in the newsroom contributed to the series by interviewing dozens of local residents, elected leaders and experts. It was led by Editor in Chief Michael de Yoanna with West Metro Editor Kristen Fiore, North Metro Editor Scott Taylor, former South Metro Editor elma Grimes and former Digital Editor Deborah Grigsby. It also relied on assistance from editors Scott Gilbert and Christy Steadman as well as initial contributions from former chief editor Lisa Schlichtman.
Clear Creek Courant Reporter
Chris Koeberl won rst place in the Best Series or Sustained Coverage category for his aggressive reporting on criminal justice proceedings for deputies charged in the death of Christian Glass.
Koeberl also took home rst place honors for his coverage of the renaming of the iconic Mount Evans to Mount Blue Sky.
Reporters Nina Joss and McKenna Harford won rst place in the Best Political Reporting category for “Shades of Red” in the Douglas County News-Press, looking at divergent views among south metro area Republicans regarding how to present a uni ed front to voters.
Senior Reporter Ellis Arnold joined with Harford and Joss for a rst place honor in Best Social Justice or Equity Reporting for their stories about Douglas County PrideFest in 2023, including protests and reactions surrounding it.
Highlands Ranch Herald Reporter
Haley Lena won rst place for Best News Story for her reporting on a tra c death and a mother’s determination to honor her son.
Former Northglenn- ornton Sentinel Reporter Luke Zarzecki won rst place for Best Agricultural Story for his “Unfruitful” reporting, which examined how supermarket locations and transportations can contribute to neighborhood food deserts.
Page Designer Ben Wiebesiek received a rst place Best Page Design award for “Max out your chill.”
North Metro Bureau Editor Scott Taylor and Zarzecki were honored with a second place in Best Politics Reporting for their coverage of political candidates who alleged they were the victims of a harassment
campaign by a local resident. Reporter Belen Ward won second place for Best Social Justice or Equity Reporting for her feature on a Brighton trucker o ering sanctuary and hope to Indigenous women.
Golden Transcript Reporter Corinne Westeman also took home a second-place award in the Sports or Sports Event category for “Role Players: Orediggers work behind the scenes to elevate football team’s performance.”
Lillian Fuglei, who has reported part time for the Arvada Press, won second place for Best News Story for reporting on the One Small Step program that is working to address homelessness.
Page Designer Leah Neu won second place for Best Cover Design for “Century of Sound” in the Washington Park Pro le.
Former Je co Transcript Reporter Jo Davis won second place in the Crime and Public Safety Reporting category for her story about animal control o cers with the Je erson County Sheri ’s O ce aiding Hawaii after res.
In May, Colorado Community Media’s newsroom received 10 additional honors for its journalism at the regional Top of the Rockies contest.
A few members of Colorado Community Media’s newsroom at the Colorado Press Association awards in late August. The newsroom won 14 awards and Colorado Community Media Publisher Linda Shapley (center, in glasses) was named president of the press association.
Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 2344 E Iliff Ave, Denver
Camp�re Lakewood, 840 Tabor St, Lakewood
Ber @ 7pm
Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver
Nitefreak @ Zodiac Hause @ 8pm
Zodiac Hause, 800 Lincoln St, Denver
Bergen Pkwy #101, Evergreen
The Well @ 8pm HQ, 60 S Broadway, Denver
Tue 9/17
Joeyy @ 7pm
Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver
Avalon @ 7pm
Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver
Mon Rovîa @ 8pm
Bluebird Theater, 3317 E Colfax Av, Denver
Rocket @ 8pm
Skylark Lounge, Denver The Sheepdogs @ 8pm
Bluebird Theatre, Denver
Wed 9/18
Danny Ocean @ 7pm
Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson St, Denver
COMEDY & COCKTAILS PRESENTED BY ROTATING TAP COMEDY @ 8pm
Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey, 200 S Kalamath St, Denver
Calendar information is provided by event organiz‐ers. All events are subject to change or cancella‐tion. This publication is not responsible for the ac‐curacy of the information contained in this calendar.
CCM publisher to lead state press group
BY ELISABETH SLAY ESLAY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Colorado Community Media Publisher Linda Carpio Shapley was named the current president of the Colorado Press Association at the organization’s 2024 conference.
“It feels like such a tremendous honor,” Carpio Shapley said. “One of the things that they have listed in the convention manual is all of the presidents that have served and … I am so honored that I get an opportunity to be considered among them.”
Carpio Shapley feels “very proud” to be the next leader of the CPA and said she “feels history” around her which inspires her to “want to continue to do good things” for the organization and journalism.
Carpio Shapley began her tenure as publisher of Colorado Community
Media in August 2021.
She has worked for a number of Colorado newspapers, including the Collegian at Colorado State University and her hometown paper the Greeley Tribune.
Carpio Shapley also worked at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Kansas City Star before heading to e Denver Post, where she went from copy editor and designer to managing editor in her 21-year tenure. She also led a political team at Colorado Politics prior to becoming the CCM publisher.
e Colorado Press Association serves the state’s news media outlets. Shapley was unanimously approved.
“Along with upholding the good work of past presidents, in the everchanging media landscape, CPA evolves to champion media rights, press freedoms and professional development across the state,” the organization said.
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
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Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00pm
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Carpio Shapley said the CPA faces challenges similar to what the industry itself faces, including an outdated revenue model, “the good ght against misinformation” and the need for more journalists.
to support the Colorado journalism community.
“I’m lucky enough to have a board that is really supportive in trying to help me to do that work and I just want to keep moving forward,” she said.
“Find Connection…Discover Faith” All Are Welcome Advertise Your Place of Worship
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“Colorado Press Association is wanting to do what it can to be supportive in that way, but Colorado Press Association also has those same challenges of just trying to do it on a bigger scale,” she said.With around 160 newsrooms in the Colorado Press Association, Carpio Shapley said it can be di cult to serve everyone’s needs.
e CPA is actively trying to get public policy in the Colorado legislature to allow for more public support for informing communities.
“To me that’s one of the things that I want to continue to advocate for, and I want to make sure that everybody who is a member of CPA has an opportunity to reach out to me and learn about me and know that I am committed to this ght,” Carpio Shapley said.
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.
To advertise your place of worship in this section, call Erin at 303-566-4074 or email eaddenbrooke@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com Living Water Spiritual Community (Unity) LGBTQ+ SAFE
Please phone: 720-576-9193, or email: livingwaterspiritualcommunity@gmail.com
Our website is: www.livingwaterunity.org
“ ey go from one-person newsrooms … to news organizations like e Denver Post,” she said. “So how do you serve them both when they have so many di erent issues?”
Carpio Shapley said while it’s challenging to help with these issues, she and the CPA need to be aware of these problems and work together
Additionally, Carpio Shapley said she hopes to help the masses see the “public good” of journalism.
“We want to make sure that we’re doing good work and we need to make sure the public understands the great work that we’re doing,” she said.
in Je co’s food system. It was founded in 2015 by Je co Public Health to develop policy changes around child nutrition programs, and became its own community organization in 2022.
To vote for JCFPC or any of the other nalists, visit newmansown. org/news/vote-for-newmans-ownfoundations-ccca-and-join-ourfood-justice-pitch. FROM PAGE 12
Je erson County Food Policy Council is comprised of more than 270 parents, food workers, farmers, businesses, food pantries, nonpro ts, schools and others who are working to create a positive change
Colorado Community Media Publisher Linda Shapley has been named president of the Colorado Press Association. She is pictured with association CEO Tim ReganPorter.
COURTESY BRITTANY WINKFIELD
DMNS hosts world premiere of climate change documentary We’re all learning what it means living with
change and the ways we can still make a di erence. It doesn’t just involve science, but also artists and creatives, an idea that is explored in the lm,“MELT — e Memory of Ice.” e movie is making its world premiere at the Denver Museum of Nature & Sci-
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Colorado Community Media welcomes letters to the editor. Please note the following rules:
• Email your letter to kfiore@coloradocommunitymedia.com. Do not send via postal mail. Put the words “letter to the editor” in the email subject line.
ence’s, 2001 Colorado Blvd., In nity eater
e premiere event, presented in conjunction with the 9th annual Digerati Experimental Media Festival, will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14. e lm, made by local lmmaker Betsey Biggs, Ph.D, is described by provided information as “a minimalist cinematic song cycle for singers, electronic music, and lm, a personal reckoning with the earth’s body changing, melting, and spilling as global warming melts our ice caps and threatens winter.” After the screening there will be a discus-
• Submit your letter by 5 p.m. on Wednesday in order to have it considered for publication in the following week’s newspaper.
• Letters must be no longer than 400 words.
• Letters should be exclusively submitted to Colorado Community Media and should not submitted to other outlets or previously
sion with Richard Nunn, assistant curator and database manager of the National Ice Core Laboratory. For more information and tickets, visit www.dmns.org.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Fred Again.. at
Ball Arena
Electronic music can be hit or miss for a lot of people. But London’s Fred Again.. has distinguished himself in the genre by his uncanny ability to work with anyone and his tendency to weave a kind of a narrative in his music, all while making tracks that just bang.
posted on websites or social media. Submitted letters become the property of CCM and should not be republished elsewhere.
• Letters advocating for a political candidate should focus on that candidate’s qualifications for o ce. We cannot publish letters that contain unverified negative in-
He’s constantly experimenting, and the results are often gorgeous.
In support of his new album, “ten days,” he’s coming to Colorado for the rst time and playing two nights at Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle in Denver—8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11 and ursday, Sept. 12. I’ve heard nothing but raves about his performances, so get your 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.
formation about a candidate’s opponent. Letters advocating for or against a political candidate or ballot issue will not be published within 12 days of an election.
• Publication of any given letter is at our discretion. Letters are published as space is available.
BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
LAKEWOOD — Taking a regularseason victory over Green Mountain’s girls volleyball team on the Rams’ home court hasn’t been an easy task lately.
In fact, Green Mountain — backto-back Class 4A Je co League champions — hadn’t loss a regular-season game on its home court since the Fall 2021. However, Arvada West was up to the task Aug. 27 with a 5-set victory over the Rams.
“It is a new level for us for sure,” AWest coach Debbie Erickson said of the 22-25, 25-17, 26-24, 10-25, 15-9 marathon road victory for the Wildcats. “We have been working toward this for four years. Our program is getting better and better every year.”
e Wildcats (2-0 record) spoiled the season and home opener for the Rams (0-1) in a match that went the distance. A-West took the second and third sets to take a 2-1 lead, but Green Mountain battled back with a dominating 25-10 fourth set win to force a fth set.
“After the fourth set we just let it go,” A-West senior Sammy Guenther said. “We started over and pretended it was a new game.”
SPORTS
Arvada West girls volleyball sweats out 5-set win over Green Mountain
A-West took advantage of three Ram service errors early in the fth set. Guenther and fellow senior Elizabeth Edone both had a pair of kills in the fth set to help lead the way to a 15-9 victory.
“We played so hard,” Guenther said. “We put it all out there. We wanted it so bad.”
e Wildcats are looking to improve on their 10-13 overall record and 1-6 mark in 5A Je co last season.
“ ese girls were put to the test tonight,” Erickson said of her squad that also has an early road win against Evergreen last week. “Green Mountain is an outstanding team. An outstanding program, but we just kept making changes and adjustments.”
A-West was able to keep Green Mountain senior outside hitter
Ashlynn Reilly from taking over the fth set. Reilly — 255 kills a year ago — was the spark that gave Green Mountain wins in the rst and fourth sets.
e 6-foot-3 senior had a busy day also playing for Green Mountain’s softball team before the volleyball match. Reilly started at third base went 3-for-3 from the plate with a double and pair of singles before being pinched run for in the bottom of the fth inning.
Reilly hustled o Green Mountain’s softball eld after the end of the fth inning to get ready for the
Rams’ volleyball home opener.
“If we set her (Reilly) too much teams are going to camp on her, which is not what I want,” Green Mountain coach Melanie Watkins said of opponents focusing their defense on Reilly. “I have enough talent with these sophomore hitters to adjust and help her out.”
Erickson was pleased how her team adjusted against Reilly.
“She (Reilly) is an awesome, awesome player,” Erickson said. “ I told our girls that it is fun to play girls like that. You need to use it to get better.”
Green Mountain is coming o its
rst ever back-to-back conference titles. e Rams have a 18-0 record in 4A Je co over the past two seasons. However, Green Mountain was hit hard by graduation.
“It is going to take a minute, sure,” Watkins said of building the team chemistry this season. “I’ve got a lot of new young players. It is kind of combining two teams from last year into this year.”
Dennis Pleuss is the sports information director for Je co Public Schools. For more Je co coverage, go to ColoradoPreps.com and CHSAANow.com.
Arvada West senior Sammy Guenther (4) puts down a spike over Green Mountain sophomores Addie Evans (6) and Grace Herrig (1) during the 5-set match Tuesday, Aug. 27, at Green Mountain High School. A-West took the victory to start its season with a 2-0 record.
PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Arvada West football dominates Fountain-Fort Carson in Zero Week
WORKWEEKS
Another factor Vargo suggested is that, by improving retention, GPD personnel are better trained and more experienced. Also, by working less overtime, they have more energy “and are able to do their job at a higher level.”
Harvey added: “ e work-life balance is so astronomical in terms of being positive. at’s part of why we wanted to extend (the pilot to a year).”
Expanding the pilot
Since May 1, the city has expanded its compressed workweek pilot to several departments, including a ordable housing, planning, human resources and I.T. Parts of the
nance, parks and recreation, and public works departments have also moved to a compressed workweek.
Vargo clari ed that while GPD remains under the 4-32 schedule, Golden o cials said that schedule wouldn’t work for all departments or positions. us, they switched to calling it a “compressed workweek.”
Data collection has been crucial, as many departments needed to get baseline data before the pilot started. Even still, Vargo said some departments’ data has been impacted by seasonality, such as snowplowing and tourism.
Overall, Vargo believed the data was promising and o cials haven’t seen any causes for concern thus far. e biggest policy discussion has been regarding equity, as not all city employees have moved to the compressed workweek, he said, and some who were haven’t been able
to take full advantage of it yet. Vargo wondered whether that was why the satisfaction rate in other departments was closer to 80% while GPD’s was 90% or higher.
roughout the fall, Vargo and his colleagues would be examining whether a compressed workweek improved employee retention and recruitment, and whether productivity levels remained the same or even improved.
Vargo has previously said Golden won’t permanently change any department’s schedule until 2025 at the earliest.
If any city department does permanently move to a compressed workweek, Vargo has said it needs to be “rational and defensible,” and not have any major negative impact on the community.
For more information on Golden’s compressed workweek pilot, includ-
ing productivity data for all impacted city departments, visit cityofgolden. gov/compressed-workweek.
Arvada West defenders Kevin Sanchez (11), Daniel Marette (45), Atticus Tillman (0) and Jaxon Pyatt (3) watches the ball fly toward the ground on an incomplete pass thrown by Fountain-Fort Carson quarterback Colton Camba during the first half Friday, Aug. 23, at the North Area Athletic Complex. A-West put up a 51-14 victory in the season opener at NAAC.
PHOTOS BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Arvada West junior Adrian Symalla (12) fights for extra yards during a first-quarter carry Friday, Aug. 23, at the North Area Athletic Complex. Symalla had a monster game with 9 carries for 214 yards and a pair of touchdowns runs of 50 and 90 yards.
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