Arvada Harvest Festival brings fall festivities
Arvada City Council approves Texas Roadhouse building proposal
Council approves the second of two major modifications required for proposed building
BY LILLIAN FUGLEI
Creek Valley Park was overtaken by autumnal festivities as the Arvada Harvest Festival — hosted by the Arvada Junior Chamber Foundation, or Jaycees — was underway.
BY LILLIAN FUGLEI
SPECIAL TO THE ARVADA PRESS
Although the sun is still shining and the air is still warm, Arvadans seized the opportunity to celebrate fall during the annual Harvest Festival.
From Sept. 6 through 8, Clear
Local artisans, food vendors and municipal organizations lled the park with booths, giving attendees the chance to shop, eat and connect. For kids, there were bounce houses aplenty, as well as a kids zone lled with activities. e park’s amphitheater was lled with music throughout the weekend, as bands like Message
in a Bottle, Shelvis & the Roustabouts and Band under Roads took the stage.
e festival also hosted the annual Grand Parade — located on 58th Ave between Tabor St and Miller St. is year, the theme was “Honoring Our Heroes . . Red, White and Blue,” with oats touting patriotic colors and celebrating community heroes.
is was the festival’s 99th year, with next year marking 100 years of the Harvest Festival in Arvada.
Arvada’s Texas Roadhouse will soon have a new look after the restaurant’s building proposal was approved by city council.
In a council meeting on Sept. 9, Arvada City Council once again considered a major modi cation for Texas Roadhouse’s building proposal, passing the modi cation 5-2, with council members Lisa Feret and Randy Moorman dissenting.
e restaurant — located near the intersection of 55th Avenue and Olde Wadsworth Boulevard — plans to tear down the existing building and construct a new one on the northeast corner of the parcel where the restaurant is currently located.
According to a representative for the development rm working with Texas Roadhouse on the project the new building is set to be 2,000 square feet larger than the existing restaurant facility, which was built in 2001. e new building’s design is more aligned with Texas Roadhouse’s more recently built locations nationally.
e building’s relocation puts it in a Pedestrian Priority Zone — which means that the building must meet certain requirements. However, the building proposal included two major
The parade’s theme — “Honoring Our Heroes...Red, White and Blue” —made for many patriotic floats.
PHOTO BY LILLIAN FUGLEI
SPECIAL TO THE ARVADA PRESS
HARVEST PHOTOS
the
Arvada Chamber of Commerce’s Woman of the Year Karen Miller rolls through the Grand Parade.
PHOTO BY LILLIAN FUGLEI
Ralston Valley High School’s Color Guard marches through the Grand Parade. PHOTO BY LILLIAN FUGLEI
Arvada Harvest Festival’s Grand Parade marched the seasonal festivities down 58th Ave.
PHOTO BY LILLIAN FUGLEI
Cash Koch, 3, won
Largest Zucchini in the 12 and under competition at the Arvada Harvest Festival. It weighed 7 pounds 13.1 ounces.
PHOTO BY JESSICA KOCH
Inspecting and Dealing With Inspection Issues Is Crucial to the Buying Process
Sellers and their listing brokers are required by law to disclose all known defects to prospective buyers, and buyers should get and study the Seller’s Property Disclosure and share it with their inspector prior to conducting a professional inspection of the home they are buying. This form is to be completed “to the seller’s current actual knowledge,” but shouldn’t be counted on.
contract, so my buyer can see whether it’s worth the expense of a professional measurement, which can cost several hundred dollars. (I also place this device in the basements of homes I list, to give the seller a heads-up on whether to expect radon mitigation as an inspection demand.)
As a buyer, you absolutely must hire a professional inspector who will perform an overall inspection of every system and appliance within the house. Your inspector will ask if you want to do a radon test or a sewer scope, both of which cost extra. Say “yes” to both those services.
Sewer scopes only cost $100200 and are money well spent, because if they reveal a problem requiring excavation, that could cost thousands of dollars.
Schedule the inspection early, because your inspector may recommend additional inspections by an electrician, a plumber, a structural engineer, a roofer or other specialist based on what he saw.
pre-listing inspection of your home, but I don’t recommend that. You need to disclose all defects you know about, and any listing agent worth his salt (and his license to practice real estate) won’t work with you if you aren’t completely honest and forthcoming about every known defect in your home. Don’t hire an inspector to do the job of a buyer’s inspector. Let your buyer alert you to defects you aren’t yet aware of.
(Note: If your buyer terminates after sending you their inspection report, you now know about those additional defects, and you’ll have to revise your seller’s property disclosure accordingly.)
contract. For example, your furnace may be at the end of its expected lifespan, but don’t replace it. Disclose its age in the SPD, of course, and expect that the buyer will ask for it to be replaced, but keep that as a bargaining chip if the buyer submits a long list of inspection demands. Then agree to replace it, and, because it’s a big ticket item, you may be able to deny any number of lesser fixes demanded by your buyer.
I’m Now Publishing on Substack
Radon is a naturally occurring gas produced from the decay of uranium, and has been reported to cause more lung cancers than cigarette smoking. If the testing shows a level above the EPA’s action level of 4.0 picocuries per liter of air, you will want to include mitigation of radon among your inspection demands.
At Golden Real Estate, we purchased a $199 handheld device, available at Ace Hardware, which quickly provides an approximation of the level of radon gas but should not be confused with a professional measurement done by your inspector. However, I like to put it in the home’s basement right after going under
Keep in mind that money spent on all such inspections is money well spent, because you can reasonably demand that the seller fix serious issues that your inspectors uncover.
Your broker should be able to recommend an inspector that he or she trusts. Even if your broker is new and hasn’t had significant experience with inspectors for other buyers, his or her managing broker will be able to make a good recommendation. With over two decades of representing buyers under my belt, you can be sure that I have sound, professional inspectors to recommend, and so do my broker associates.
If you’re a seller, you’ve probably heard recommendations that you do a
Lastly, keep in mind that you don’t want to fix known defects that won’t keep a buyer from wanting to submit a
Everything you read in this ad each week — and more — is published at http://RealEstateToday.Substack.com and comes to you automatically each Wednesday. I also write a political column you might like. You can find it at http://TalkingTurkey.Substack.com
Past Clients Have Left Positive Reviews of Our Agents & Me
Chuck Brown is a superb Realtor. He is very knowledgeable regarding the market, very proactive and highly professional. Chuck was great at identifying potential properties that met our criteria, he moved very quickly to show us potential properties and his analysis of property values was on point and very thorough. Chuck was extremely proactive and responsive in his communications with us. Chuck went above and beyond our expectations. My wife and I have done six real estate transactions and we think Chuck is the best Realtor ever. We would highly recommend Chuck to other home buyers. — S. Diamond
Dave Dlugasch did a phenomenal job working with us! We were not easy buyers because of an extensive “wish list” and he did his homework on each property we looked at until we found the right one. He gave us great advice and was very supportive of all our questions throughout the entire process. — M. Madigan
Based on Jim Smith's knowledge, experience, and expertise in the real estate arena, we decided to work with him when it came time to downsize. We used Jim and his real estate firm to both purchase the new home and then sell our existing property. All communication with Jim has been top notch. In addition, he provided all packing materials along with free use of the company's moving truck and labor to make our move. It was a great experience from start to finish! — R. Trujillo
Greg Kraft was knowledgeable and professional. He was very easy to work with and was super proactive in searching the listings. That was a key in managing to buy the townhome in a very competitive market. He was also very responsive and communicated really well with us and the listing agents. We would recommend him without reservation. — J. Knight
Jim Swanson was kind and patient while listening to my questions. He helped me to translate the real estate language and manage the sale process. He connected the dots, allowing me to make good decisions, maintain my personal integrity and profit from the sale when a great offer came to the forefront. Jim, thank you for putting communication and community first. — N. W.
Kathleen Jonke is a knowledgeable, efficient and hard working broker. Her availability and response time were exceptional. — K. Wiig
Jim Smith
Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851
Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com 1214 Washington Ave., Golden 80401
Broker Associates:
JIM SWANSON, 303-929-2727
CHUCK BROWN, 303-885-7855
DAVID DLUGASCH, 303-908-4835
GREG KRAFT, 720-353-1922
AUSTIN POTTORFF, 970-281-9071
KATHY JONKE, 303-990-7428
In-house Lender: WENDY RENEE, 303-868-1903
BY LILLIAN FUGLEI SPECIAL TO THE ARVADA PRESS
Olde Town Shindig paints the town as arts festival returns for second year
Olde Town was more colorful than ever as artists took to the streets, paints and brushes in hand to paint the town during the Olde Town Shindig.
On Sept. 6, the Olde Town Shindig — organized by the Business Improvement District — returned for its second year. e arts and music festival ran Friday and Saturday, lling Olde Town with music and local artists. “ e shindig this year was fantastic,” said Joe Hengstler, director of the Business Improvement District. “We’re bringing something di erent to Olde Town because we focus
so much more on the art.”
e shindig hosted a live mural painting competition, with 20 artists painting murals on plywood throughout the historic district. Attendees voted for their favorite murals, while the winners took home cash prizes. is year, rst place went to Elizabeth Truskin, while Ramon Trujillo took second and Shannon Powers placed third.
e competition also had a Grand Prize winner selected by a panel of judges. e winner, Patrick Maxcy, will receive a commission of up to $10,000 to collaborate with an Olde Town business on a mural installation.
Muralist Catie Michel was one of 20 artists who competed in the Olde Town Shindig Mural Competition.
PHOTO BY LILLIAN FUGLEI
Raygunomics take the Community Bank Grandview Stage, playing to shindig attendees.
PHOTO BY ELSA FUGLEI
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23rd Annual Arvada Art Studio Tour set for Sept. 21 and 22
STAFF REPORT
Every fall, artists and studios across Arvada open their doors to the community so that folks can experience the creative endeavors of the community’s painters, photographers, sculptors and other visual artists. is year’s iteration is set for Sept. 21 and 22 and will be open from noon to 5 p.m. each day. Admission is free to the public. More information about the participating artists and a map can be found at https://www. arvadaart.com/.
One dead after hit and run in ABC Carwash parking lot
Suspect cooperating with active Arvada Police investigation, department spokesperson says
BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A man in his 60s was killed after an altercation led to a hit-and-run in the parking lot of the ABC Carwash on 64th Avenue and Indiana Street in Arvada.
e incident occurred around 6 a.m. on Sept. 6. Both the suspect and the victim appeared to be on their respective ways to work.
e victim is believed to have been driving a gray Lexus SUV, while the suspect is believed to have been driving a brown Ford Focus. e drivers had an altercation near the intersection of 72nd Avenue and Indiana Street before both pulled into
the carwash parking lot.
Once in the parking lot, the driver of the Lexus SUV got out of his car and confronted the other driver. e driver of the Ford Focus stayed in his car and tried to drive out of the parking lot, but struck the other driver, who sustained life-threatening injuries.
A spokesperson for the Arvada Police Department, who provided the rest of the stated information, said that the department knows who the suspect is and that he’s cooperating with authorities. However, no arrest has been made yet.
“When we arrest somebody, that puts a timeframe on the investigation,” APD Spokesperson Dave Snelling said. “ e suspect is cooperating with police. If we’re going to charge somebody, we have one chance to be successful in court, so we want to be correct when we present that to the District Attorney’s o ce. We’re trying to make sure we have everything.” e Je erson County Coroner’s O ce has identi ed the victim as David Brlej, 67.
The 23rd Annual Arvada Art Studio Tour is Sept. 21 and 22. COURTESY IMAGE
PROPOSAL
modi cations under the city’s Land Development Code, which must be approved by city council.
e rst modi cation — related to transparency — was approved 4-2 in a meeting on July 15. On the west side of the proposed building (facing Olde Wadsworth Boulevard), only 11% contain 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.
e second modi cation — related to height — did not pass by a 3-3 vote during the July 15 meeting. e proposed building would have a roof height of 22 feet with tower elements that stretch to 29 feet. is does not meet the LDC’s requirement of two usable oors.
After the vote was tied 3-3 — with Mayor Lauren Simpson absent — council voted to rehear the modi cation at a later meeting, with all council members present.
During the Sept. 9 meeting, a representative for the development rm working with Texas Roadhouse presented the restaurant’s justi cation for the modi cation, saying that although the building did not have two usable oors, it appeared to have two usable oors from the outside, which complied with the spirit of the zoning requirements. e representative also said that the tower elements of the building were used for storage, with access from inside of the building.
e design for the building has changed since the July 15 meeting, with faux windows added to the upper half of the building to make it appear as though it were a usable second story.
Council expressed mixed feelings before voting, with some council members still expressing concern — particularly regarding the precedent it set for the development of the area.
“I feel like the modi cation does not set a good precedent going forward as we develop this area,” Moorman said. “Especially what kind of exceptions to expect for others wanting the same kind of treatment.”
Feret echoed Moorman’s thoughts, emphasizing the need for the building to have two oors of usable space.
“I appreciate the facade of the windows on the second oor, but I think it goes against what we’re trying to do,” Feret said. “ e facade might look better, but it’s not what we’re trying to do in that community.”
Other council members expressed support, with the nal vote approving the modi cations.
“ ey’re just wanting to update the building,” Councilmember Bob Fifer said. “ e building needs a little love. is is a good opportunity to rejuve-
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Arvada City Council approved the building proposal for Texas Roadhouse, allowing for two major modifications.
Beth Evergreen celebrates 50 years
Jewish synagogue draws diverse group of believers and thinkers from the foothills and beyond
BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Members of the Beth Evergreen synagogue all speak of it in similar tones: With a mix of joy and reverence, and a touch of seeming awe that they have found and become part of such a place.
“ is is special,” said board member Mike Schneider. “It’s the vibe, the warmth and friendliness, the musical Shabbats.”
“For me, there’s a freedom in the spiritual connection,” said Beth Evergreen’s director of operations Sarah Hess. “I feel like I can go directly to my relationship with God here in a way I’ve been searching for my whole life.”
“I like the service, I love the rabbi, I love the whole thing,” said Joanne
Greenberg, one of Beth Evergreen’s founders. “I had no idea what it would come to be, but it hasn’t disappointed. A lot of us had escaped from rigid Judaism back east, and this is easier but not wimpy. We still practice a lot of the things that are more conventional, but we’re liberal in our doing.”
Beth Evergreen celebrated its 50th year in early September.
e synagogue is strong and vibrant, say both its members and its 19-year Rabbi Benjamin “Jamie”
Arnold. at’s due in part to challenges in the global Jewish community that have bonded the local congregation more tightly, but also to more elusive qualities unique to the Colorado foothills site.
Beth Evergreen is the only synagogue between Morrison and Vail, and consequently draws a wide variety of people. While Jewish people in Denver may be able to choose among synagogues with unique ideologies, Beth Evergreen’s congregants include a mix of conservative, reform and interfaith families.
“We’re sort of a one-shul town,”
EQUIPMENT
AUCTION
Arnold said. “So we may have a larger diversity of political and religious ways of thinking, and be more spiritually than ideologically driven.
“Here, people are not just coming because of their belief system, but simply to be connected to Jewish culture and community.”
It’s what the synagogue’s founders had in mind.
Congregation Beth Evergreen launched in 1974 after New York transplant Bernie Goldman put a small article in the Canyon Courier,
seeking other area Jews with which to celebrate the high holidays. But in those early days, foothills area Jews weren’t sure they’d have enough support for a building.
“ ere was a sense among the founders was that if you came to live in Evergreen and you were Jewish, you did so to get away from organized religion,” Arnold said. “ ere was a question if there would be an interest in a synagogue.”
Rabbi Arnold leads the congregation during a Sept. 7 Torah service as part of Beth Evergreen’s 50th Jubilee celebration.
PHOTO BY JANE REUTER
Westminster joins Rocky Flats group exodus
Other cities dropping out of stewardship council prompted the move by Westminster
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e City of Westminster is joining other local governments that are pulling out of the Rocky Flats Stewardship Council.
Westminster City Councilors voted 7-0 Monday night to leave the oversight group. e move was not a surprise as six other communities have
already voted to leave the stewardship council, said City of Westminster spokesman Andy Le.
e stewardship council – or RFSC – includes 10 local government members and has served to provide a platform for mayors and city council members to have say on the management of the closed Rocky Flats nuclear facility. e agreement that formed the RFSC began in February 2006, according to a city sta report.
e terms of the agreement states that the RFSC ceases to exist if six government members drop out. In recent weeks, Golden, Superior, ornton, Northglenn, Broom eld and Boulder County have said they will leave, the
sta report states.
e dissolution of the RFSC will not alter the Department of Energy’s management responsibilities of Rocky Flats or its obligations to provide updates and reports, the sta report states.
Councilors Monday night also postponed an executive session to discuss the city’s next move regarding the Rocky Mountain Greenway Trail.
Activists have urged the City of Westminster to stop building the trail which would link the city with the abandoned Rocky Flats Plant, saying local recreation will disturb soil still contaminated with deadly plutonium.
View of Rocky Flats from one of Michael Ketterer’s air filter collection sites. COURTESY PHOTO
Red Rocks’ 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb draws estimated 2,500 attendees
Participants honor firefighters and other Sept. 11 victims with nine laps around amphitheatre
BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
An estimated 2,500 people — many re ghters in full gear, some seniors climbing slowly but steadily, a few babes in arms and a handful teens vaulting easily up the stone steps — paid tribute on Sept. 11 by
participating in the Colorado 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Red Rocks. e event honors the 343 re ghters and nearly 3,000 people who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, which included two planes crashing into the World Trade Center towers.
An American flag strung between two fire trucks flies over the crowd at the start of Red Rocks’ 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.
PHOTOS BY JANE REUTER
Conifer’s Inter-Canyon firefighters start up the south ramp at Red Rocks to begin the 9-lap memorial stair climb.
It also honors the 362 re ghters who’ve died since from illnesses related to the terrorist attacks.
Participants did nine laps up and down the Red Rock Amphitheatre stairs, the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center.
e event began with the replaying of a 9/11 New York City radio broadcast, during which callers witnessing planes hitting the towers called in to share their observations and express horri ed disbelief.
Event coordinator Shawn Duncan, noting the divisiveness that accompanies national elections, urged participants to remember that day and the days that followed.
“ ink about how united our country was,” he said. “All we cared about was being there for one another. As we climb these stairs today, remember that feeling. Carry it with you. Let’s get back to caring for one another and let’s be united again.”
A veteran rang the Honor Bell, the Colorado Emerald Society bagpipe band played “Amazing Grace,” and
a singer sang the national anthem — all under a massive American ag hung between two re trucks. ousands of people then walked up the south ramp to the amphitheatre and began making their laps.
Among them were 45 students and four teachers from Evergreen Country Day School.
Teacher Allison Musser said the school does a lot of work in the community around it and talked about Sept. 11 before coming to the event.
“ is has been great for them,” she said. “Having these kids see these teams of re ghters doing the climb in all their gear, seeing the sacri ces people are still willing to make for others, is good for them.
ese kids weren’t even on the planet then; they don’t know life pre-9/11. is is one way to teach them about it.”
“It was amazing; I love doing things like this,” said Lena Humphrey, 13. “It was a really good experience … in memory of all these amazing people.”
In its 15th year, the Red Rocks event drew participants from 24 states, the Virgin Islands and the United Kingdom.
Last year’s event raised $116,000
through donations.
e Red Rocks climb is one of 50 9/11 memorial stair climbs, including the original event which began in Denver in 2005. e Morrison event is the largest and most wellattended in the country, according to the event’s website.
e climbs bene t the FDNY Counseling Services Unit and the programs provided by the National Fallen Fire ghters Foundation.
A woman carries a baby on her back as she climbs the stairs at Red Rocks.
PHOTO BY JANE REUTER
CELEBRATE
Greenberg, now 91, said the early days were rough and often uncertain.
“We started out with no rabbi, no building and none of us knew what the hell we were doing,” said Greenburg, 91. “We had some moments where we thought we were done.”
Helping continue and further rene Beth Evergreen’s unique culture drew Arnold to the synagogue, and what’s kept him there for nearly two decades.
“Part of the joy for me of serving the community has been trying to keep that spirt of innovation and independence alive, of setting aside some of the trappings of organized religion and being a laboratory for spiritual expression and connection that draws on the best of the past and traditional practice while
actively being engaged in evolving the next generation of Jewish community,” he said.
e Rochester, New York native fell in love with Colorado on a high school ski trip and vowed then to someday live there. at dream came true in 2005, when he became Beth Evergreen’s rst full-time rabbi. At the time, the synagogue had about 100 families and had just nished its sanctuary overlooking Elk Meadow.
Arnold was drawn to all those elements, but sold on the people on Beth Evergreen’s search committee. One of his earliest meetings with some of them took place on a Loveland ski lift.
“It was just the openness to innovation and creativity, the connection to the land and nature,” he said. “ ey described themselves as a congregation united more by geography than ideology at the time.
REVERSE MORTGAGES MADE EASY
The amphitheater behind Beth Evergreen was decorated with flowers for its 50th anniversary celebration.
PHOTO BY JANE REUTER
Je erson County is facing an important decision this November. With our population growing and the costs to maintain essential services rising, the county’s nancial situation has reached a critical point. Voters will be asked to approve Ballot Measure 1A, which would allow Je erson County to keep and spend the revenue it already collects, without increasing taxes or the mill levy.
To be clear: this is NOT a tax increase. Measure 1A asks voters if Je erson County should be authorized to collect, retain, and spend the full amount of revenues from existing sources beginning in Fiscal Year 2024. e funds will be directed to two key areas that impact everyone in our community.
VOICES
Je erson County’s future depends on Measure 1A
FROM THE LEFT
Republicans support TABOR
1. Transportation and Infrastructure: is includes repairing roads, lling potholes, and maintaining bridges.
2. Public Safety: Funds will be used for crime prevention, wildre and ood mitigation and vital mental health services.
While the measure doesn’t increase your taxes, it does change how the county manages its revenue. Je erson County is one of only two counties in Colorado that refunds a portion of excess revenue to taxpayers each year. at means a small refund check sent out annually. e average refund check over the last few years totals $22. Measure 1A would allow the county to retain these funds and invest them in essential services like transportation and public safety instead.
It’s also important to note that Measure 1A does not impact your state refund check. is change would only a ect the county refund. With Je erson County facing serious nancial shortfalls, your refund check could go much further as $30.5 million total (the projected value of total refunds for scal year 2024) if reinvested into critical services that improve the quality of life for everyone in our community.
By passing Measure 1A, the
Kathryn Wallace
county would be authorized to collect full revenues in perpetuity, just as 62 of Colorado’s 64 counties already do. is would ensure state grants for critical areas such as wild re mitigation, road improvements, and crime prevention no longer count against the county’s revenue cap. Additionally, the measure includes annual audits to guarantee that funds are spent responsibly and solely on the designated priorities of transportation and public safety. is ensures accountability and transparency for taxpayers. e stakes are high. If the measure fails, Je erson County is poised to make $15-20 million in budget cuts next year. is won’t be the rst time the county has faced such cuts. In 2020, Je erson County was forced to cut $16.1 million from its budget, and in 2021, another $8.7 million was slashed.
ese cuts have left the county further behind in maintaining critical services, including a $500 million backlog in transportation projects. Federal funding during the pandemic temporarily kept additional budget cuts at bay, but those dollars are no longer available.
Many might ask: “Why is Je erson County cutting its budget when property taxes are increasing?” It’s a fair question. As property values rise, so do the taxes homeowners pay. But under state law, Je erson County is limited in how much it can collect and spend, no matter how much more comes in. Any amount collected over the revenue cap is returned to taxpayers in the form of refund checks. is means the county is unable to fully invest the money it receives to address urgent needs like road repairs and public safety – unlike the majority of other counties across the state.
Folks I talk to are concerned about the rising cost of living, buying an a ordable home, open borders and our sanctuary state, rising crime, the quality of our schools, increasing property taxes, and much more. Too many are concerned that their children and grandchildren will not have as good a quality of life as they had.
With so many issues, how can any of us make a di erence? One way is listening closely to what the candidates are saying they will do with our taxes and voting for those who will protect us and use our tax dollars wisely.
In addition to the candidates on the ballot, once again, we are going to be asked to give up our TABOR refunds. What does this mean? Who is taking our money?
For the third time in ve years, the Je erson County Democrat Commissioners want to take away our refunds so they can spend our tax money any way they want. ey are even spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on political operatives to nd the best, and probably most confusing, language to convince us to vote the way they want us to. In 2024 alone, Democrat State Legislators and Democrat Governor Polis “passed 101 bills that will a ect [our] TABOR refunds” (1). In June, the RTD Board approved a ballot measure asking us to exempt RTD from TABOR. Although RTD has a budget in excess of $1.2 billion, it’s estimated that less than 3% of Colorado’s population uses its services. Further illustrating how weak RTD really is, 95% of operating costs, including rides, are subsidized by sales taxes and taxes from vehicle registrations. e money does not come from RTD fares and users! Compare RTD to CDOT which has a budget of just under $1.6 billion and it serves the whole state. From RTD, what are we getting for our money?
Republican candidates support TABOR and want us to keep our refunds. Check out these Commissioner Candidates:
• Natalie Menten (https://nataliementen.com/)
• Charlie Johnson (https://www.cjforje co.com/)
• And all the Republican Candidates: https://je corepublicans.com/meetour-2024-candidates/
Our choice is clear. It is time to re-
FROM THE RIGHT
place the Democrats who want to take our money!
Election Day is Nov. 5 and our vote will give voice to our opinion about the direction of Je co, Colorado and the Country. Mail ballots will arrive in the middle of October and early voting starts on Oct. 21.
A little TABOR background
e website of the Legislative Council Sta of the General Assembly gives a summary of the Amendment to Colorado Constitution Article X, referred to as TABOR – the Taxpayers Bill of Rights. In short, TABOR was:
“… approved by voters in 1992, [to] limit the amount of revenue the State of Colorado can retain and spend. Speci cally, TABOR allows the state to retain and spend an amount based on the prior scal year’s actual revenue or limit, whichever was lower, grown by Colorado in ation and population growth and adjusted for any ‘voter-approved revenue changes.’” (2) is says voters must approve spending greater than these constitutional limits. Further reading would show that when government revenue exceeds the limits imposed by TABOR, we are supposed to get our money back.
Voters have approved changes to TABOR through statewide initiatives like Referendum C and have approved local exceptions to spending limits. It is safe to say every change has been to weaken our ability to limit government spending.
Visit these websites for more information:
https://thetaborfoundation. org/2024-colorado-legislative-sessiontabor-takings-tracker/ https://leg.colorado.gov/agencies/legislative-councilsta /tabor
Don Ytterberg is a former four-time chair of the Je co Republicans and former two-time Vice Chair of the Colorado Republican Party. He has been a candidate for the Colorado Senate and the U.S. House. He and his wife Kim have been residents of Je erson County since 1987 where he has been a business owner since 1990.
Don Ytterberg
Vote “Yes” on Merger of Arvada &
Fairmount
Fire Districts
If you live within the Fairmount Fire Protection District, you will be asked in the November election to decide on whether or not Fairmount Fire Protection District should merge with the Arvada Fire Protection District. Unfortunately, it is more complicated than a single “yes” or “no” vote because for it to pass, you must vote “yes” on 3 separate ballot measures. All must pass for the merger to take place. ( e 3 ballot measures are too lengthy to print here)
e decision is a no brainer “YES.” Currently, Fairmount Fire is facing nancial and operational limitations, such that to remain able to provide adequate services, taxes would need to increase a minimum of 5.00 mills. Many services that are provided by Arvada Fire are not currently provided by Fairmount Fire because of nancial limitations related to a smaller tax base than Arvada Fire. ese services include 50+ on-duty re ghters on all shifts, 24 hours per day ALS ambulance response (rather than the current 12 hours contracted), paramedics on all ambulances and retrucks, hazardous materials response team, dedicated mental health
WALLACE
With Measure 1A, we have the opportunity to change that. By voting YES, you’ll ensure that Je erson County can retain and use the money it has already collected to improve our roads, maintain public safety, and secure a brighter future for our community.
is is about much more than numbers — it’s about the future of Je er-
ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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• 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.
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response team and increased access to equipment, apparatus, and training. And the best part about all of these enhanced services is that it will actually cost you, the tax payer, less than if the merger does not pass. e tax increase would be 3.91 mills if passed, vs. 5.00 mills if the merger does not pass.
Unrelated to the Fairmount and Arvada Fire District Mergers are two other measures related to funding of re districts. Currently, only the voters of a particular re district vote on a mill levy. Measures 50 and 108, which if passed by voters would require the voters of the entire state to vote on mill levy increases for any re district. In other places, such as Arizona where this ploy has passed, it has wreaked havoc with re districts and it has led to great nancial shortfalls Your safety and health require a “NO VOTE” on those two issues. In conclusion, the best solution for the safety of our homes and property, as well as emergency response to medical situations we may encounter is to vote “yes” on all 3 of the ballot measures related to the merger of the Fairmount and Arvada Fire Districts. It will also save you money!
Mike Schneider, Golden
son County. Your vote is your voice, and by supporting this measure, you’re helping to secure a strong, healthy, and safe future for our community. Together, we can ensure that our county has the resources it needs to serve its residents, now and for generations to come.
I urge you to vote YES on Measure 1A this November. To learn more or to get involved, visit www.YesOn1AJe co.com.
Kathryn Wallace is the Chair of the Je erson County Democratic Party.
tion 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 posted on websites or social media. Submitted letters become the property of CCM and should not be republished elsewhere.
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A welding fabricator by trade, Joe Cole only dabbled in steel and bronze sculpting as a pastime and then eventually gave it up in 1993. But 30 years later, after he made an urn for his departed family dog, Cole caught the passion for creating again.
At the same time, the Northglenn resident couldn’t shake a persistent echo in his head of an owl calling out, “HOO.” He decided then he needed to mold something that paid homage to an owl building a life in a tree in the forest.
“ e conclusion was made, and I spent an estimated 40 hours sculpting the bird and a limb to hold,” Cole said. He spent another 30 hours adding three more owlets and a tree trunk.
Later he added moss to represent growth, a snail for patience, a stump for reaching out and a mouse for courage. e result is a steel statue called “Hoo What Where and When” by Cole, and the sculpture is being displayed this year at Northglenn’s EB Rains Jr. Memorial Park. His work is also featured in Castle Rock and Alamosa. But the one in Northglenn holds special meaning for the 60-year-old since it was his rst attempt to have his work displayed for the public.
He entered three of his sculptures into four cities in Colorado to exhibit. ree accepted his work.
“I wanted to share with the public…and Northglenn is my only home, and I wanted to share a piece of me,” Cole said via email. “ ree out of four ain’t bad.”
Other sculpture programs that dot the Front Range host Colorado artists from varying backgrounds who have molded bronze and steel frames that lure the eyes with humor and mysticism. From novice to well-established, artists say metro cities have o ered nurturing environments for their projects.
Charlotte Zink – whose home studio is in Berthoud – produced “Eternal Echoes” for the Northglenn exhibit. But her handiwork has been shown, some permanent, at several locations surrounding Denver.
ey include Westminster’s Sculpture on Loan, Lafayette’s Art on the Street, Art in Public Places in Longmont, heArt of Lyons, Hudson Gardens in Littleton, Douglas County Art Encounters, Sculpture Evergreen and Art 2C on Havana in Aurora, Zink said.
“It’s wonderful to see the arts supported in these communities,” Zink said via email.
Hoo What Where and When displayed at E.B Rains Jr. Memorial Park in Northglenn.
PHOTO BY MONTE WHALEY
SCULPTING SOLIDARITY
Bill Bunting’s “With Wings Like Eagles” is also featured in Northglenn. He said the same sculpture is part of a year-long project with the Douglas County Art Encounters program at Sterling Ranch in Littleton.
He has other sculptures at Brighton, Monument and Alamosa that will be shown through this year, he said.
e works of Cole, Zink and Bunting are part of an annual e ort in Northglenn to get more people acquainted with the unique nature of outdoor sculptures, say city o cials.
Sponsored by the Northglenn Arts & Humanities Foundation, the exhibit at EB Rains Jr. Memorial Park features six new sculptures as part of the city’s 2024-25 Art on Parade program. Ocials say the sculptures, including those of Cole, Zink and Bunting, were chosen by a diverse volunteer committee in February and will be onsite at the park for one year.
e other works and artists chosen for the 2024-25 season include: “Spiral Vortex” by Diego Harris, “Sun Lion” by D’Jean Jawrunner and “Magnify” Kirk Seese. Photos of the works are available on Northglenn’s website.
e annual Art on Parade program is an onloan outdoor sculpture exhibit funded by NAHF and the Adams County Scienti c and Cultural Facilities District. Artists loan their pieces to the program for one year, and park patrons are asked to vote for their favorite by paper ballots available at the Northglenn Recreation Center and online at https://northglennarts.org/public-art/ art-on-parade-ballot/. e deadline to vote for this year’s sculptures is Nov. 1, 2024.
e sculpture with the most votes is dubbed “ e People’s Choice” and will be purchased by NAHF and gifted to the City of Northglenn for permanent placement in the city. e sculptures are also available for sale to the public.
e new sculptures will remain at E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park through May of 2025. e park is located at 11701 Community Center Drive, half a mile south of 120th Avenue and Grant Street in Northglenn just south of the new Webster Lake Promenade.
e NAHF is a non-pro t group that provides funding for “dynamic theatre, public art, and other cultural endeavors in the city. e NAHF was founded in 1990, according to the NAHF website.
Zink, native of New Orleans, came to Colorado and received a Bachelor of Studio Arts and Art Education for CU-Boulder. After working with many mediums, the past 25 years Zink has collaborated with her partner Ben to create Zink Metal Art, Zink said.
e steel “Eternal Echoes” was created in 2022 after Zink lost someone very special her, she said. e sculpture symbolizes the beauty of a vast universe, Zink said.
“We are all just specs of stardust making our
way on this earth, hoping to explore and share life together, this incredible gift of life we’ve all been granted,” Zink said. “Let’s make the most of our amazing gifts while we’re all here together. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, contemplating and celebrating our miraculous journey in and being a part of this beautiful universe.”
Bill Bunting said his iron “With Wings Like Eagles” has been an inspiration to those who view it. e piece is also one of his favorites, he said via email.
“I chose the piece to display at Northglenn because I have always had a strong interest in the Native American culture and the history of the West and love sharing that with others through my art,” Bunting said.
e inspiration for the sculpture “With Wings Like Eagles”, Bunting said,
comes from the belief of most Native American Tribes that the Eagle and Eagle Feathers are sacred, carrying their prayers to e Creator, combined with a passage from the ancient text of Isiah which states, “ ose who wait upon e Creator shall mount up With Wings Like Eagles.”
Bunting pointed out that the following original poem is mounted at the base of the sculpture.
With Wings Like Eagles
With patience he has learned to wait For the strength the Spirit brings Now he rides high upon the winds As if on eagles’ wings
Now he walks and is not weary
Now he runs and will not fall
His strength is over owing As he heeds the Spirits call
Eagle sculpture at E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park in Northglenn.
PHOTO BY MONTE WHALEY
Wings Over the Rockies celebrates 30 years
Museums are more than places to simply explore the past. At their best, they also inspire guests to look forward and to use their imaginations to wonder what the future could be.
As John Barry, president and CEO of Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum puts it, that’s providing a look at “the art of the possible.” Something the museum has been doing for 30 years.
“It’s been a long haul over the last 30 years, but 2023 was our best year ever in every category and 2024 looks to beat it,” Barry said. “We’ve gotten to the point where we’re recognized as one of the top 10 Best Aviation Museums by USA Today and named in the ‘20 Best Aviation Museums Around the World’ by CNN Travel.”
To celebrate three decades in existence, Wings Over the Rockies is throwing a celebration and bene t at its Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd. Denver, from 5:45 to 9:30 p.m. on ursday, Sept. 26. All proceeds will support Wings’ mission to “educate, inspire and excite the next generation of aerospace enthusiasts.”
e evening will feature champagne and whiskey bars, a seated dinner, live entertainment and a live auction. ere will be a y-by and the museum will honor many of the
COMING ATTRACTIONS
supporters who have kept it thriving over the last 30
Wings Over the Rockies opened in 1994, following the transfer of two hangars of the former Lowry Air Force Base from the United States Air Force to a group of volunteers. In the ensuing decades, the museum has grown in ways that no one could have predicted, and now features more than 100,000 square feet of exhibit space dedicated to displaying iconic aircraft, space vehicles, artifacts, military uniforms and much more, according to provided information. ey even opened a second location, the Exploration of Flight in Centennial, to attain even loftier aims.
Wings’ recent goals include getting the next generations interested and ready for careers in the aviation and aerospace worlds. To that end, it launched the Colorado SKIES Academy in 2019 in Centennial, which provides several career-focused pathways, including piloting and drone piloting.
“We are providing complete path-
ways for our students, not just oneo events,” Barry said. “We’re using the past to build a future for young people.”
With eyes rmly set on the horizon, Barry said Wings Over the Rockies is looking to continue to develop its status as a world-class museum and a place where young people come for inspiration and a future.
“We have all the excitement of aviation and space and an opportunity to give back,” he said. “When people see what the art of the possible is, it opens up a whole new world.”
For information and tickets, visit https://wingsmuseum.org/ events/celebration/.
Head to Larkspur for Autumnal Shopping
Larkspur is o ering a beautiful outdoor shopping opportunity at its 12th annual Autumn Arts & Crafts Fest. e event is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22 at Larkspur Community Park, 8820 Spruce Mountain Road. is year it includes local artists and artisans selling their work, face painting for children, a dog adoption station, visits from a re truck and medical helicopter, and a farmers market area. Add in beer and wine, food trucks and live music, and what
more could a shopper want?
More details are available at https://larkspurchamberofcommerce.com/annual-events/autumn-fest/.
Doors Open Denver Takes a Historic and Futuristic Look at the Mile High City
e Denver Architecture Foundation’s Doors Open Denver, the annual celebration of the metro area’s built environment, is back from ursday, Sept. 26 through Sunday, the 29th. e theme this year is “Denver rough Time,” and it highlights both historic and futureforward projects with walking tours, open sites and events.
Some of the most exciting features of the 2024 event are insider tours of buildings like the Mayan eater and the Sudler, open houses at 15 Denver architecture rms and historically important buildings, and parties where attendees can mingle with other architecture and design fans and celebrate the best of both in Denver.
For a full schedule of events and more information, visit https:// denverarchitecture.org/events-programs/doorsopendenver/.
Clarke Reader
Thu 9/26
DJ_Marvel_: Rockies VS Cardinals @ 1pm Coors Field, 2001 Blake St, Denver
Neil Z at the Chart House @ 4pm
Chart House, 25908 Genesee Trail Rd, Golden
Ivalas Quartet: Friends of Chamber Music Denver & Denver Violins - Behind the Clock
@ 6:30pm Daniels & Fisher, 1601 Arapahoe St, Denver
crêpe girl @ 7pm / $12
Moon Room at Summit, Denver
Mark Masters Comedy: LoDo Comedy Show with Andy Hendrickson (Tonight Show, The Late Late Show) hosted by Mark Masters - new location @ 7:30pm
Above Ground Lodo, 1740 Blake St, Den‐ver
Fri 9/27
Bar404 Presents: Bailey Elora's Music Video Release Party
@ 7:30pm Bar 404, 404 Broadway, Denver
Teague Starbuck
@ 7:30pm
The Arvada Tavern, 5707 Olde Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada
Sat 9/28
Rock and Roll Playhouse @ 11:30am Bluebird Theatre, Denver
KB ANGEL: Rocky mountain Shin‐ing Star Pageantry Presents "roy‐alty Around the World" Contest @ 6pm
#VYBE, 1027 N Broadway,, Denver
Sun 9/29
Mon 9/30
Sonny Singh: Revolutionary Love Tour (with Valarie Kaur + Friends) @ 5pm
DARUMA: Two Moons Music Hall @ 7pm
Two Moons Music Hall, 2944 Larimer St, Denver
Laur Elle @ 7pm
Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver
Emarosa @ 7pm
Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver
Positive Legacy: BoomBox @ 8pm
Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom & Other Side, 2637 Welton St, Denver
Wed 10/02
Fall Festival @ 11am Glory of God Lutheran Church, 12200 West 38th Avenue, Wheat Ridge. tech@gloryofgod church.net, 720-312-6502
Tattered Cover Book Store Colfax, 2526 E Colfax Ave, Denver
Tue 10/01
Daniella Katzir Music: Dazzle Denver Presents: The Coda Quartet Featuring Daniella Katzir @ 7pm
Dazzle Denver, 1080 14th Street, Denver
Crawlers @ 5:30pm
Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clark‐son St, Denver
Janes Addiction Parking @ 5:31pm
Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson St, Denver
High On Fire w/ Weedeater @ 6:45pm Oriental Theatre-CO, 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.
CELEBRATE
at’s probably not as much the case now, but that appealed to me.”
In the three years after his arrival, Beth Evergreen’s congregation almost doubled in size. It has hovered at around 200 families since then. In the past year, almost 40 new households have joined, which Arnold attributes in large part to the IsraelHamas war and a post-pandemic desire for community.
“I think Oct. 7 and the ongoing war in Israel really was a trigger point for a lot of Jewish families and individuals,” he said, referring to the 2023 Hamas terrorist attack. “You don’t realize how important something is until it has the threat of going away. We certainly also have some individuals who’ve felt the rise in antiSemitism that has been occurring.”
While those tragedies have bond-
ed the congregation more tightly, they’ve also required Beth Evergreen to invest in heightened security measures.
“We spent tens of thousands of dollars this year on providing armed, professional security at every gathering that has more than 10 people,” Arnold said. “ at’s been a substantial budgetary shift. at was not something we ever had to worry about before.”
Security and global issues aside, Arnold’s primary focus is on creating joyful, meaningful ways for his congregants to gather. Unlike many Christian churches, Jewish congregants are not obligated to attend weekly sabbath services. A synagogue is viewed more as a gathering place, and at Beth Evergreen, people gather in havurah — small groups sharing communal experiences.
“We have a huge array of ways people can gather intentionally,” Arnold said. “We have a hiking ha-
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
“Find Connection…Discover Faith” All Are Welcome
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Green Mountain Presbyterian Church 12900 W Alameda Pkwy Lakewood, CO 80228 303-985-8733 www.gmpc.net
vurah, a biking havurah. We have a needlework group that draws members drawing from local community, and a mahjong group.”
Every third Friday, Beth Evergreen hosts a musical service in its outdoor amphitheater, adapting liturgy to popular music. It recently hosted a John Denver musical service, as well as a Grateful Dead and Billy Joel shabbat. e synagogue has an in-house band that produces “some pretty robust music,” Arnold said.
“It can be hopefully engaging and meaningful for a diverse group, whether you’re someone who prays or celebrates shabbat or just one who enjoys good music and likes to be with people,” he said. “I’m just looking for new ways around which people can meaningfully gather.”
e amphitheater was built during the pandemic to help continue services and has since been used by the larger Evergreen community for theater productions, weddings and other events. It served its original purpose well; in contrast to many other synagogues, Beth Evergreen saw only a small drop in its membership during the pandemic.
Advertise Your Place of Worship
To advertise your place of worship in this section, call Erin at 303-566-4074 or email eaddenbrooke@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com Living Water Spiritual
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
Arnold regularly reaches out to other congregations, both in the Jewish community and beyond.
During the pandemic, he helped coordinate a Rosh Hashana celebration with four other congregations at Lair of the Bear park. In 2023, Beth Evergreen hosted a songwriting workshop for those specializing in Reconstructionist Judaism, which drew musicians from across the country.
Beth Evergreen also hosts a weekly musar, a Jewish spiritual practice that o ers instructions on living a meaningful and ethical life. It includes attendees from local Episcopal, Methodist and other churches who study speci c character traits.
Before Arnold’s 2005 arrival, Beth Evergreen formed an interfaith clergy group that continues to meet. at group helped create a 2008
a ordable housing initiative that eventually led to the creation of the Evergreen Christian Church (Echo) overnight shelter.
“I think in general we have had an outsized impact on both the Evergreen community, not just the Jewish community,” Arnold said.
Arnold still loves skiing, and does so regularly. It dovetails with his love for his mountain community, which he intends to call home for a long time to come.
“It’s becoming more and more rare for clergy to be in a place as long as I have, but as long as the congregation and the rabbi are content, we can stay in one place for as long as we like,” Arnold said.
“I have what we call an Evergreen contract,” he added with a grin. “I plan to stay here until retirement.”
Joanne Greenberg, one of Beth Evergreen’s founders, talks about what she loves about the Evergreen synagogue.
PHOTO BY JANE REUTER
FESTIVAL
Finished murals were placed up for auction, with the proceeds split between the artists who created the mural and the BID.
Music lled Olde Town, both inside and out, with multiple outdoor stages throughout the streets and businesses hosting musical performances inside. Local musicians took the stage, with many bands playing, including e Mananas, e Barlow and May Be Fern.
READER
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Beabadoobee at the Fillmore Auditorium
For my money, London’s Beaba-
“ e best part of the shindig is that it promotes public art within our community,” Hengstler said. “We’re going to have a new mural installed in Olde Town next year because of this event.”
is was the second year the shindig was hosted, with several events from last year — like the pie eating contest or bloody mary contest — absent from this year’s lineup.
“ is was only our second year doing the Old Town Shindig,” said Hengstler.
“I think year after year, we always try to re ne our events, see what works, see where our e orts are best used. So for the shindig, we cut out a couple of the things this year that we had last year.”
doobee is one of the most exciting indie rock voices to come out in the last few years. She’s been releasing music since 2018, and with each album or EP she levels up a bit more.
Just a month ago she released her third full-length album, “ is Is How Tomorrow Moves,” and it is
her strongest record yet, showcasing fantastic lyrical and musical gifts that are still getting better.
In support of the album, Beabadoobee is coming to the Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson St. in Denver, at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20. She’ll be joined by another great
indie rock duo, Hovvdy, who have also released one of the year’s best albums.
Get tickets at www.livenation.com.
Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail. com.
Local artisans and vendors filled the streets of Olde Town, giving attendees the chance to shop.
PHOTO BY LILLIAN FUGLEI
BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
LITTLETON — Columbine sophomore Shalee Trujillo delivered the walk-o RBI single to give the Rebels a dramatic home victory in a Class 5A Je co League opener Tuesday.
“ ings just weren’t going well for us at all,” Columbine coach Jim Santaniello said of the Rebels falling behind 4-0 early. “For us to pull it o really shows the heart and character of our team.”
e Rebels (10-2, 1-0 in 5A Je co) had trailed the entire game against rival Arvada West (6-5, 0-1). e Wildcats led 5-4 heading to the bottom of the seventh inning.
However, a 2-out RBI single by sophomore Charlee Abelein tied things up 5-5. Trujillo’s hard-hit single through the left side of the in eld scored senior Katie Forbes for the victory in walk-o fashion.
“It was huge for us,” Forbes said of the conference opening win. “Arvada West has always been a really big rival. Coming in we had no expectations. We just wanted to play 10-out-of-10 and try to do our best. Getting this win in a clutch game like this was really exciting.”
Forbes was the only o ensive producer for Columbine until the bottom of the seventh inning. e senior crushed 2-run home runs in the fourth and six innings to keep the Rebels within striking distance.
A-West wasn’t going to give Forbes a shot for a third 2-run home run and win the game in the seventh inning. Forbes came up to the plate with two outs and junior Nina Vargas on base after a single. e Wildcats intentionally walked Forbes to put the tying run in scoring position in Vargas and the potential winning run at rst base in Forbes.
“It crossed my mind,” Forbes said of getting intentionally walked. “I didn’t think they would do it because it allowed two runners on base.”
Abelein — 0-for-3 from the plate before her game-tying single — and Trujillo made A-West pay.
SPORTS
Columbine softball rallies late to edge Arvada West
“I just knew I had to produce for my team,” Trujillo said of the gamewinning single. “I had to produce for the team, not just myself. I just had a good mindset.”
e victory helped erase a substitution infraction by Columbine in the top of the fth inning that cost the Rebels a run. Trujillo replaced starting junior pitching Ivy Ryan to start the inning, but the home plate umpire was told Trujillo’s jersey number was 18. Trujillo’s number is actually 11.
Trujillo retired the rst batter she face, but after getting A-West junior Vivyanna Dycus to groundout, A-West coaches pointed out Trujillo’s number was actually 11. After a lengthy decision, Dycus was allowed to bat again. She would eventually single and score on an RBI single by sophomore Payton Weaver to extend A-West’s lead to 5-2.
Columbine senior Ana Lovato (2) flips to the ball to first base for an out during the first inning Tuesday, Sept. 10, at Columbine High School. The Rebels defeated Arvada West 6-5 in the Class 5A Je co League opener. PHOTOS BY DENNIS PLEUSS / JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Columbine senior Katie Forbes (8) is greeted at home plate by teammates after her first of two 2-run home runs Tuesday, Sept. 10, against Arvada West. The Rebels scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning to squeeze out a 6-5 victory.
Lakewood Simplified Pickleball program helps dementia patients stay active and engaged
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Betty LeTerneau can’t stop smiling as she moves across the indoor pickleball court at Lakewood’s Charles Whitlock Recreation Center. From the strength of her serve to how quickly she returns shots, you wouldn’t know she’s su ering from early-stage dementia.
LeTerneau is playing Simpli ed Pickleball, a version of Pickleball that Chris Beal, a long-time Pickleball player and instructor, helped develop to make it easier for those with memory loss to keep up with the game.
Beal said the idea came to her when a senior couple at one of her clinics asked if they could set aside a separate time to play for people having trouble remembering the rules.
“ e most confusing part of the sport is the scoring and knowing where you’re supposed to stand on the court,” Beal said. “I could see how that became frustrating to people with memory issues, and I could tell they would get embarrassed.”
Beal said she simply took those parts out and devised a list of rules that made the game easier and more enjoyable to play. e only requirement is that the “players,” a term she uses to distinguish those with early-stage dementia from volunteers, have a caregiver with them and are mobile enough not to be a fall risk.
She then secured a weekly time
slot for her players at the Whitlock Recreation Center, which Beal said the city was more than accommodating in granting her request. e courts are indoors, allowing the program to continue year-round.
Joanna Diers leads the volunteers who sta the program. Earlier this year, she told the Alzheimer’s Association, “My mom had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 15 years before she nally passed from the disease. As a result, I have an understanding of the e ects of the disease and a heart for its victims and their caregivers.”
Pickleball works on balance, reaction time and agility since it involves fast-paced movement, sudden directional changes and quick re exes. For seniors especially, the sport also provides a cardiovascular workout, which can help prevent and slow down the progression of memory loss.
A 2022 review of 15 studies examining the e ect of aerobic exercise on cognitive function in people with Alzheimer’s disease found that 30 minutes of exercise up to three times per week improved mental skills like thinking, learning, reasoning, remembering, problemsolving, decision-making, attention and language use.
Before the pandemic, Beal said six to eight players met weekly with their caregivers, but numbers dwindled after shutting down for several years.
Beal and Diers hope to spread the joy of the sport to more people with
and 5A Je co League contenders. A-West will host Columbine in another league match-up Sept. 28.
memory or physical limitations. “ is is a chance for them to be active and feel good about what they can do,” Beal said.
But don’t just take her word for it.
“Look at Betty. We can’t get her o the court,” Beal said.
Simpli ed Pickleball is held from 10 a.m. to noon on ursdays at the Charles Whitlock Recreation Center at 1555 Dover St. in Lakewood. Participation is free.
“I’m going book-to-book from now on,” Santaniello said about communicating number changes to the other team after the Rebels were penalized for an illegal substitution. “You never want anything to be decided by anybody else but the players. I’m glad everything worked out. It was just a miscommunication.”
It was the rst go-around between two of the perennial state quali ers
“I think it great honestly,” Forbes said of the new league format with playing 5A Je co foes twice in the 7-team league. “It gives us more chances to preform (in league). In previous years if you lost one game in league that was pretty much it.”
Dennis Pleuss is the sports information director for Je co Public Schools. For more Je co coverage, go to ColoradoPreps.com and CHSAANow.com.
A group of volunteers come each week to play Pickleball with seniors facing early stage memory loss.
PHOTO BY SUZIE GLASSMAN
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Federal o cials say Colorado’s access to air pollution open records is good enough
e Environmental Protection Agency is letting Colorado air pollution o cials o the hook for making records available to members of the public who might want to help police corporate rule breaking, two state environmental groups say. e federal agency had previously held up approval of a key “state implementation plan” detailing how Colorado will stop northern Front Range violations of EPA ozone caps. e EPA in delaying approval had agreed with environmental groups that Colorado should more frequently demand records from polluters and make them easily accessible.
But Colorado pushed back hard, arguing that its proposed system provided “e ective and reasonable” access to anyone who wanted it, and that the EPA’s initial demands went above and beyond what the agency was requiring of other states. Attorney General Phil Weiser’s o ce sued the EPA in the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, as required by the Clean Air Act, to stop the demands for expanded open records. Now it’s likely the environmental groups will have to le their own lawsuit with the 10th Circuit, demanding the EPA’s tougher openaccess rule be put back in place. Coloradans wanting to check up on actual air pollution emissions from oil and gas or other sites will be “getting just the tip of the iceberg,” said Ryan Maher of the Center for Biological Diversity, which along with Public Employees for
Environmental Responsibility has been challenging Colorado’s open records rules. “And the EPA and Colorado are saying, well, that’s all the public needs.”
e gap of information available to the public comes frequently in aring operations at oil and gas production sites, with rules requiring that the producer have burning devices that remove 95% of methane and volatile organic compound emissions created as an extraction byproduct, Maher said.
e oil and gas company may only need to report once a year that it has the minimum required equipment in place, Maher said. But those reports don’t say how often the aring equipment is ofine due to malfunction or maintenance, or whether it’s truly burning
and put it online in a way the public can access, enforcement lags, Maher said.
“ ere’s 14,000 permitted entities out there, and the state is not requesting records on a regular basis,” Maher said.
“We know that we’re not going to get access to a lot of this unless it’s required by the EPA,” he said. “ at’s why this situation is especially disheartening, where the EPA initially came out with such strong language in favor of public enforcement, and then just kind of accepted what I view as pretense … supercial explanations.”
e Denver regional o ce of the EPA said it was still evaluating comments on its proposal to accept new
State Implementation Plan details from Colorado, and would respond to groups like Center for Biological Diversity before taking nal action. e EPA said that after it had initially rejected parts of Colorado’s state implementation plan for lack of records access, the state “submitted a letter committing to undertake additional steps to improve public access to regulatory compliance information and clarify existing SIP reporting requirements.”
Colorado air pollution control ofcials said they would not have any comment about the open records dispute.
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.
THE COLORADO SUN
View from the NOAA/NASA Twin Otter research plane making runs over the Denver Julesburg oil basin in search of greenhouse gas and ozone precursor sources in early July.
