Denver-based artist Catie Michel paints sprawling ode to Ralston Creek wildlife on Garrison Street
BY RYLEE DUNN
A local artist is working to beautify one of the most heavily tra cked underpasses in Arvada. Denver-based muralist Catie Michel’s Garrison Street underpass mural will depict life in and around Ralston Creek when completed.
e mural is located at approximately 5890 Garrison St., and Michel
began work on Oct. 3. e project is expected to be completed by November, according to the City of Arvada’s website for the mural.
e idea for the mural came from Arvada resident Harris Rollinger, who said that he and his wife walk the path by the future mural site every day with their dogs and heard that grants were available through the Arvada Arts Commission.
“It’s easy to take this for granted
and walk right past this and so as I was walking one day I thought we should really highlight this area,” Rollinger said. “I thought it would be fun to highlight the ecology of the area and to get the neighbors to come out and help paint a mural and get to know each other and really build something together as a community.”
Rollinger continued to say that Michel’s design was chosen out of nearly 60 applicants because of how it illustrated the seen and unseen parts of the Ralston Creek ecosystem.
Local churches, governments scramble for solutions after Severe Weather Shelter Network closes
BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Local governments and nonpro ts are piecing together a plan to shelter unhoused people this winter after the nonpro t Severe Weather Shelter Network shut down permanently over the summer.
e faith-based network, which coordinated emergency overnight shelter in churches during blizzards and cold snaps in Arapahoe and Je erson counties, told supporters in an August email the organization no longer has “the nancial means, and church involvement, to keep the shelters open.”
“All SWSN sta are being released and the Board is in the process of ful lling all outstanding obligations and shutting down responsibly,” the email read.
Local governments and homelessness outreach agencies say shelter during severe winter weather is a matter of life and death for those living on the streets.
In response to the void left by SWSN closing, Je erson County and Arapahoe County are working on forming severe weather committees to coordinate sheltering services.
e Tri-Cities Homeless Initiative, which serves Englewood, Littleton and Sheridan, has formed a severe weather subcommittee to review data from previous years
Denver-based muralist Catie Michel stands beside the mural she designed for the Garrison Street overpass.
PHOTO BY TOMAS MARTINEZ
WEATHER
and determine best practices for this year, City of Englewood Communications Director Chris Harguth said. at organization will be responsible for deciding temperature regulations for the area’s daytime shelters, which currently stand at 32 degrees with moist weather or 20 degrees with dry weather, but will be nalized by a Nov. 14 vote and acted on in “good faith” until then, Harguth said. Two nonpro ts will be in charge of coordinating overnight shelters.
In the Tri-Cities, Englewoodbased Homelessness Awareness and Action Task Force will be the primary overnight shelter provider, and Movement 5280, also in Englewood, will serve as an over ow shelter.
Je co is working on creating a Severe and Extreme Weather Action Plan, Je co Human Services Spokesperson Mallory Albi said. at plan will be reliant on support from local organizations willing to use their space to shelter unhoused people. One venue that has stepped up is Mission Arvada, the homeless ministry located in e Rising Church in Olde Town Arvada.
e nonpro t’s Executive Director Karen Cowling said the church — which has provided “over ow” shelter in the past when the SWSN was full — has been scrambling to ensure it can house 40 people when the temperatures plunge below 20 degrees and/or there is at least six inches of snow. She added that if they don’t, people’s lives will be in danger.
“ is is lifesaving sheltering for unhoused individuals,” Cowling said. “We had somebody die across the street ve years ago. He was a veteran in his 30s. Since that happened, we have said we will do whatever it takes to keep people safe from the weather.”
In the south metro area (Englewood,
Arapahoe County)
Englewood City Manager Shawn Lewis spoke to the severity of what SWSN closing means for unhoused people at an Aug. 12 city council meeting where Englewood approved $5,000 in “seed money” to Homelessness Awareness and Ac-
tion Task Force; an organization based in the south metro Denver area that will use a motel voucher model to provide severe weather shelter to unhoused individuals this winter.
“( e SWSN) have undoubtedly saved lots of lives by keeping people from freezing on the streets, which has happened in Englewood, but has not (happened) since we changed our city code to allow severe weather sheltering to use some of our churches,” Lewis said.
“HAAT Force does sheltering using a motel voucher program and was approached by SWSN and asked to take their client list,” Lewis continued.
HAAT Force will activate its overnight shelter system from Oct. 1 to April 30 when temperatures fall below 32 degrees with rain or snow or 20 degrees without rain or snow for three or more hours during the overnight period of 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
HAAT Force will make the decision to open between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., seven days a week. at decision can be made for a maximum of three days at a time.
When the shelter is open, people who are pre-registered can make reservations between 10 a.m. and noon, or until full by calling the hotline at 720-483-7864. After that window, any open spots can be claimed by non-pre-registered clients. HAAT Force can serve 20 individuals and 20 families when activated.
e City of Littleton also gave HAAT Force $5,000 in funding, while Arapahoe County Commissioners approved $112,000 in funding that was left over from a 2021 federal grant the county received to be allocated to the nonpro t.
Lewis said that Movement 5280, another homeless nonpro t based in Englewood, had also reached out about providing severe weather sheltering. Harguth con rmed that Movement 5280 will serve as an over ow shelter when HAAT Force’s capacity is reached.
e HAAT Force hotline number will be transferred to Movement 5280 between 2 and 5 p.m. when there is a need for over ow sheltering. Movement 5280’s shelter will be open at 6 p.m. and doors will close for the night at 9 p.m.
Movement 5280 is able to serve 30 clients a night when activated, Harguth said, which, combined with HAAT Force’s capacity, “is greater than the demand we’ve seen in previous years,” Harguth said.
“(We) are con dent we will be able to serve clients that need services,” Harguth continued.
In the west metro area (Je erson County, Broomfield and Adams County)
Across the region, a number of organizations with di erent standards to activate shelters will seek to ll in this winter.
In Je erson County, RecoveryWorks in Lakewood will be activated for sheltering when temperatures reach 32 degrees with precipitation or 20 degrees and no precipitation; e MAC in Westminster will be activated when temperatures reach zero degrees; the EChO Shelter in Evergreen will be open every night from mid-October to April; and e Rising/Mission Arvada will be open when temperatures fall below 20 degrees and/or six inches of snow falls from November to the end of March.
Broom eld and Adams counties will continue to utilize the Severe Weather Activation Program, a hotel voucher system run by Brightonbased nonpro t Almost Home for people who have documented ties to either of the two counties. ose vouchers are available when temperatures reach 32 degrees and wet, or 20 degrees and dry.
An email from HAAT Force Executive Director Sienna McGrath to community organizations also said that Mean Street Ministry in Lakewood has “served alongside SWSN and will continue to serve.”
A spokesperson for the City of Arvada “has paused plans” to use the recently purchased Early College of
Arvada building as a severe weather shelter. e use of the building has been the source of public outcry since plans to use it as a homeless navigation center were publicized.
Albi said that Je erson County Public Health will be in charge of activating the Severe and Extreme Weather Action Plan due to “their expertise on safety and well-being in extreme temperatures.”
Many churches that were formerly part of SWSN refused to reopen their doors after the coordinating nonpro t shuttered, according to Cowling — though she added that some local churches, including Storyline Church, Arvada Vineyard and Spirit of Christ Catholic Church have agreed to aid with volunteering during nights where e Rising is activated for sheltering.
“If we open our building as a host site this season, we need them (other churches) to provide food donations and volunteers,” Cowling said.
“ e faith community of Arvada has been really supportive,” Mission Arvada Volunteer Coordinator Christine urston said. “ ey’re coming together to coordinate a weekly volunteer calendar for the months that we are open.”
urston also said that Je erson County approved the funding for two mobile cold weather warming stations that will be deployed in different cities when needed but added that the county wasn’t sure if they would be ready to deploy this winter.
A spokesperson for the county did not respond to multiple requests to con rm this information by press time.
Sta members of Mission Arvada, the homeless ministry located at the Rising Church in Olde Town Arvada, are working to iron out the details of using the church as a severe weather shelter this winter. From left: Vera Ananda, volunteer coordinator; Karen Cowling, executive director; Christine Thurston, church based shelter coordinator.
PHOTO BY RYLEE DUNN
Almost No Buyers Are Having to Compensate Their Agents as Result of NAR Settlement
Leading up to the changes on August 17th which prohibited MLSs from displaying compensation for buyer brokers, I said that I would be surprised if any buyers ended up compensating their own agents. So, last week I did some research of my own and solicited input from others to see if my prediction had come true. It has. I sent emails to listing agents who had closings in September, and every one who replied said that their seller had compensated the broker representing the buyer of their listing.
My friends at First Integrity Title did a few “spot checks” on transactions which closed post-NAR settlement to verify what they were hearing based on actual data. The challenge was that they would have to open every file individually, but the consensus was that, as I expected, the seller has continued to compensate the buyer’s agent.
“It really has not changed from the past,” I was told by Pam Giarratano, our sales rep at First Integrity Title.
Here is the response Pam got from her VP of Operations:
“I can tell you that I’ve asked the same question multiple times; I’m just trying to understand how much has changed since the NAR settlement. I can tell you that I am repeatedly told that people have not seen any buyers paying their own agents.”
From Pam’s VP of Sales: “I looked at settlement statements for a dozen closed files, and the seller paid the buyer’s agent’s commission on all of them.”
Pam asked closers and lenders, and the
consensus was that the seller still pays. A lender who conducted a CE class in Westminster told Pam that they are still seeing the seller pay, but that sometimes if the seller is offering a buy-side compensation of 2.5% and the buyer’s agent has an agreement of 2.8%, the buyer is making up the .3% difference, or it is included in the contract as a seller credit.
That was exactly the case with one of my own listings in September. I told the buyer’s broker that the seller was offering 2.5%, and he submitted a contract with the seller paying 2.5% and the buyer paying an additional 0.3%.
Pam told me, “It looks like nothing has changed as far as the seller paying commissions. I think homeowners still want their houses looked at.”
Here’s the bottom line: Real estate is a free market. Just like builders who feel they must offer commissions to buyers’ agents because other builders are doing so, individual sellers are being counseled to offer the buyer broker commission because they realize that most buyers are represented by agents and they’re not going to buy a home if the seller requires them to compensate their own broker.
I chatted with my broker associates about this, and they are comfortable with the new rules which essentially bring more transparency to the process.
At the closing table, it has always been that the commissions paid to listing agent and buyer’s agent were listed separately on the settlement statement as being paid by the buyer. Naturally, some sellers objected to paying the buyer’s agent’s com-
Understanding Different 55+ Communities
Last week I was in a Zoom conversation with 14 of my high school classmates. We have been meeting like this every week since our 2020 reunion was canceled due to Covid. Three of us had moved into senior communities and we were answering questions about the options which we Baby Boomers face.
We are all healthy 77-year-olds (or thereabouts), but we all realize that the clock is ticking and that it’s not a matter of if but when we will need some sort of assisted living. Should we “age in place,” enter an “independent living” facility now, or wait until we need “assisted living”?
If you have 90 minutes of free time, I could share with you the URL of the recorded Zoom meeting, but for now, let me share some of the insights.
Laird lives at Windcrest, where he paid a 6-figure “entrance fee” and pays about $4,000 per month rent for a 1bedroom plus den apartment. He gets 30 meals per month in a dining room, but also has a kitchen for other meals. 90%
of his entrance fee is returnable if he leaves or dies. One thing I learned was that if by chance he runs out of money and can’t afford the rent, it is taken out of his entrance fee instead of having to leave. If assisted living is needed later, he stays in the same apartment, but the services and rent increase dramatically.
“They promise this can be my home for life,” Laird said.
Rita and I had moved into a pure rental 55+ community with no entrance fee. In fact, we paid no security deposit, and we got the first month free. We since moved to a regular apartment building.
I shared what I had learned about Vi at Highlands Ranch, where you must be healthy with no degenerative disorders, but you are promised no increase in rent when/if you need to enter assisted living, nursing care or even memory care.
The entrance fees at both facilities are reduced if you agree to only 50% or none of it being returnable when you leave.
Call me if you’d like to get more info or chat, or if you’d like that Zoom URL.
mission, forgetting that they had listed their home for x% and agreed that part of their listing agent’s commission would be offered to any agent who produced the buyer.
In other words, the commission to the buyer’s agent was coming out of the listing agent’s pocket, but it sure looked like the seller, not his agent, was compensating the buyer’s broker.
As I predicted, nothing has changed except the wording. The revised “Exclusive Right to Sell” contract still states the total commission to be paid at closing, but it lists a smaller amount that the seller will pay to the buyer’s agent, and states that the listing commission will be reduced by that amount.
Of course, in a real estate transaction, what rules are the provisions in the “Contract to Buy & Sell” between the buyer and seller. Section 29 of that document has lines to enter the compensation paid to the buyer’s broker by (1) the seller, (2) the buyer, and (3) the listing agent.
In some cases, the buyer’s agent will find out what the seller is offering, since it is no longer specified on the MLS listing. (Our listings specify that amount on the listing’s website and on a sign rider.) Regardless, the buyer’s agent will submit a contract which specifies how much the seller will pay the buyer’s agent, and the seller can counter that provision. It’s simply another element of the offer to be negotiated between buyer and seller through their agents.
Just last month, to win a bidding war, one of our broker associates submitted a contract asking the seller to pay only 1.5%, which tells you not only that buyer broker compensation is negotiable but that the amount of buyer broker compensation is going down. That was predicted, and is coming true. Listing agent was paid 3%.
In the past that listing probably would have displayed at least 2.5% buyer agent compensation in the MLS, and that amount would have been paid without negotiation or discussion.
So what did the plaintiffs in the NAR settlement expect to achieve, and what did they get?
At least in Colorado, they did not relieve sellers from compensating buyer agents. Listing agents are probably get-
ting the same compensation as before, but some sellers (like in the transaction mentioned above) are saving on the compensation paid to buyers’ brokers.
In some cases, listing agents may actually be earning more. I know of one multimillion-dollar listing which had a 4% commission specified in the listing agreement. The listing agent negotiated a 1% commission paid to the buyer’s agent, leaving 3% for the listing agent. Under pre -settlement rules, that listing would likely have offered 2% co-op commission on the MLS, netting the listing agent only 2%. Thus, the listing broker earned 50% more, thanks to the new rules.
As Realtors, my broker associates and I are okay with this new arrangement. It clarifies that the seller is paying both agents, but makes the amount more transparent and thus more negotiable. With sign riders and listing brochures, it’s not hard to inform buyer brokers of the compensation which the seller (not the listing agent) is offering, and the buyer can submit whatever compensation amount he or she wants in the contract to buy and sell.
Given the minimal end result of the NAR settlement, it will be interesting to see if there is further litigation on this matter. I don’t see any legal basis for denying a seller the right to offer compensation to the broker who produces the buyer for his home.
The Habitat for Humanity Pumpkin Patches Are Open
Every October, Jeffco Interfaith Partners sells pumpkins to raise money to sponsor a Habitat for Humanity home. In the past 20 years, they have funded over a dozen metro area Habitat homes.
The pumpkin patches are on the corner of Garrison & Alameda in Lakewood, and at 78th & Wadsworth in Arvada. The pumpkins are more expensive than elsewhere, but 40% of the purchase price is tax deductible, and it’s an easy way to donate to a worthy charity.
And the selection of pumpkins is great! They also sell carving kits and other Halloween paraphernalia.
Jim Smith
Broker/Owner, 303-
Residents speak out against using former Early College of Arvada building as homeless navigation center at Arvada City Council meeting
Plans for the old high school building have riled up opposition from neighbors
BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Homelessness has been a hotbutton issue for years in Arvada, but the debate seems to have hit a boiling point recently, as a contentious town hall last month segued into a
contentious city council meeting a few weeks later. e issue at hand? Arvada’s plan to use the former Early College of Arvada as a homeless navigation center.
After a town hall held on Sept. 17 saw many residents voice their displeasure with the city’s recent $6 million purchase — city documents suggested using the building as “a navigation center, a 24/7 emergency shelter or other similar uses” at the time of the purchase — many residents also came to the Oct. 7 city council meeting to share their sentiments.
Neighbors of the former Early College building, which is located at 4905 W 60th Ave. near the Arlington Meadows HOA, showed up en masse to the Oct. 7 meeting to give public comment advocating against using the building for homeless services.
Wearing dark green shirts with the slogan “Our neighborhood, our choice,” and “Arlington Meadows” emblazoned on the chest, about 22 people spoke out against the navigation center plan. However, over double that number were in council chambers and the over ow room.
Some spoke out at a roadside protest before the meeting, displaying signs with slogans such as “No one asked us.”
Many advocated against the location of the would-be navigation center and voiced concerns about crime, loitering and trespassing if homeless services were to be administered there.
“I commend Arvada for trying to address the complex issue of homelessness,” one commenter said. “But the solution is to not put the problem of homelessness on a residential neighborhood a quarter mile from a park and playground used by children.”
Another commenter said that residents of Arlington Meadows and the east side of town feel “forgotten” by the city’s government, which she said is prioritizing the interests of those working in the city’s
historic Olde Town district, which is the site of Arvada’s only operating homeless day shelter; Mission Arvada.
“Particularly, those of us living on the east side of Sheridan, we feel forgotten,” the other commenter said. “When was the last time a routine police patrol was in our area? It’s often a lack of resources. Why does our side get so little resources? Introducing a homeless shelter, or whatever you want to call it, it not the answer.
“It won’t solve the existing issues for either the homeless people in our community or our neighborhood,” the commenter continued. e proposal feels like an attempt to prioritize the monetary success of Olde Town over our real needs of our community. Arlington Meadows is not a place to hide away those issues.”
About nine people spoke in favor of using the site as a navigation center, although one commenter noted that the organization Arvadans for Progressive Action has about 200 supporters on a petition that favors using the site for homeless services. e issue of what to do with the former Early College of Arvada building was not on the Oct. 7 city council agenda. At the beginning of the meeting, Arvada’s City Council said they are looking to schedule more community meetings to gauge feedback on the proposal, but details of those have not been nalized yet.
Arvada’s City Council at the contentious Oct. 7 meeting. Councilmember Shawna Ambrose was an excused absence.
PHOTO BY RYLEE DUNN
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MURAL
“ ere were so many great designs and I wish we could have picked all of them,” Rollinger said. “Catie’s design really resonated with all of us because of her ability to really tell the story of what is happening here. She also engaged the community through nature workshops to help the community understand what’s going on in Ralston Creek and in our environment and just how important this is.
“I think she did such a beautiful job being able to tell the story through art,” Rollinger continued.
Michel said she was initially drawn to the project because of the location by the creek and its purpose as a public art mural. She went bird watching with locals and observed nature along the trail before nalizing her design, which she said aims to incorporate wildlife above and below the creek’s waterline.
“It’s a half-above and half-underwater view of Ralston Creek,” Michel
said. “All of the species depicted in the mural can be found right here along this stretch of Ralston Creek which is connected to Clear Creek so some of these species can be found there as well. On the inside part of the mural everything is blue and pink and these are things that live in or directly interact with the creek.
“On the outsides of the mural, along the ends, the images are depicted in gold,” Michel continued. “ ose species don’t necessarily live in the creek, but they live near the creek like cottonwood trees or king sher birds. ey are depicted in gold as a nod to the history of this location. Ralston Creek is named after the recognition of the rst documented discovery of gold in the Rocky Mountain region.”
Once the mural is done, folks will be able to hold up their smartphones to the mural and, through augmented reality, access a virtual eld guide giving context to the plants and animals included in the mural. Additional nature workshops will also be held at the mural. More information about the project can be found at Arvadaco.gov/garrison-street-mural.
FROM PAGE 1
Volunteers help complete the mural.
Photo by Tomas Martinez
Gold Strike Park redesign project receives $7 million in grant funding
Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership contributes to improvements at local historic site
BY RYLEE DUNN
A redesign project to improve an Arvada park located at the site of the rst documented discovery of gold in Colorado just got a big boost, as the Gold Strike Park redesign plan was awarded a $7.3 million grant from the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership.
Construction on the Gold Strike Park redesignis expected to begin in 2025; plans for the spruced-up park werenalized in 2024 after multiple rounds of community engagement, which began in 2023. e ORLP grant was announced on Sept. 30.
e revitalized Gold Strike Park, when completed, will feature an event
space, an educational pavilion, a bouldering feature and overlooks and crossings of Ralston Creek. e park sits at the con uence of Ralston Creek and Clear Creek and was the site ofLewis Ralston’s 1850 discovery of gold that ushered in the Colorado Gold Rush.
e park is on the Colorado Register of Historic Places, thanks in no small part to thedocumentation e orts of Arvada Historical Society Co-Founder Lois Lindstrom.
Part of the National Parks Service, the ORLP’s mission is to enhance outdoor recreation outlets in urban areas, especially in historically underserved communities.
Maki Boyle, a senior landscape architect with the City of Arvada and the Gold Strike Park project manager said the grant will help make the Gold Strike Park redesign project a reality.
“ is grant will help bring to life a long-awaited project that is decades in the making,” Boyle said. “ e future of Gold Strike Park will transform and energize an under-utilized space to better serve and enhance the lives of the
surrounding community, and will also commemorate this historically signicant site.”
Arvada Mayor Lauren Simpson echoed Boyle’s sentiments and said that the grant represents a great opportunity for Arvada.
“ is grant will help us create a dynamic and welcoming space that honors the legacy of the site while improving it for families, neighbors and visitors who wish to gather, explore and connect with nature,” Simpson said. “As our city grows and as we reinvest back into our neighborhoods, it’s critical that we prioritize these outdoor spaces.
“We are incredibly grateful to Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the National Park Service for their support of this incredible project, and we look forward to seeing the positive community impacts this investment will have both now and for generations to come,” Simpson continued.
More information about the Gold Strike Park redesign project can be found at Arvadaco.gov/gold-strike-park.
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An artist rendering of a creek crossing at the redesigned Gold Strike Park.
COURTESY CITY OF ARVADA
Arvada veterinarian and Conifer resident dies in ATV crash
Friends and
family mourn “adventurous, caring” woman
BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e tragic loss of an Arvada veterinarian has struck a blow among residents of both the suburban and foothills communities. Conifer resident Shelley Maree Ekstrom, 60, died in an ATV crash Oct. 1 near the Park and Teller county lines, according to the Park County Sheri ’s O ce. Ekstrom was beloved not only by her clients at Arvada’s Indian Tree Animal Hospital but friends and neighbors in Conifer, who describe her as caring, positive, adventurous and creative.
“Working with her at the veterinary hospital, I aspired to be like her,” said Kaitlin Davis, who was also Ekstrom’s neighbor. “She was never short of advice or positivity, and was one of the most caring, patient people I ever met.”
Ekstrom was a customer when Conifer’s James Adams rst met her, but the two quickly became friends, he said. Adams owns Gruntworks Mountain Services and did several projects at Ekstrom’s home.
“She was always a happy, smiling personality, and she had her own artistic twist and vision about things,” said Adams, who attended Ekstrom’s Oct. 6 services at Evergreen Lutheran Church. “ ere wasn’t a sel sh bone in her body.
“She didn’t have to, but she introduced me to all her neighbors, and because of her generosity and kindness, I got a lot of business,” he continued. “She also integrated
me into her group of friends.”
Adams, who remembers Ekstrom had a Harley and a “beautiful purple Cadillac,” also excavated a space for her ATV.
“She was very energetic and enthusiastic, and always ready for the next adventure,” he said.
ose adventures were wide-ranging, including the quiet peace of hiking, the thrill of ATV riding and motorcycle racing, and the creativity of casting bronze sculptures.
Ekstrom was born in Spirit Lake, Iowa and had a lifelong love of animals and art, riding her quarter house and drawing and painting as a child. She earned her degree in veterinary medicine from Ross University in 2002 and began working in Texas as an equine veterinarian. She switched to working with small animals and moved to Colorado.
She kept a gratitude journal, and excerpts from it were shared during her service.
“I am so blessed to live in this time and place,” she wrote in entries dated in July and August 2024. “ is is truly the most beautiful place in the world. I feel love for all … family, friends, dogs.”
According to the nonpro t Justice Takes Flight, which helps people nd missing loved ones, Ekstrom and a male neighbor left their Conifer homes Oct. 1 to ride ATVs in Pike National Forest. e neighbor returned to the area injured and received medical treatment, but Ekstrom did not return, triggering a search.
Adams said the two were riding separate ATVs, and the man sustained “a pretty bad head injury.”
Park County o cials said Ekstrom died Oct. 1. e county and multiple other agencies received a missing person report and began the search for Ekstrom “in extremely rough terrain” on Oct. 2, recovering her body early on Oct. 3.
The good, the bad and the ugly: What’s on Je co teenagers’ minds
Results from the 2023 Healthy Kids Survey show fewer teens are vaping, but one in four experience high stress
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA. COM
Je erson County teens are navigating a complex world, and the latest Healthy Kids Colorado Survey data highlights their highs and lows. From signi cant drops in binge drinking to a troublesome rise in stress levels, the ndings reveal a mix of progress and continued challenges.
“ ese numbers show progress,” said Dr. Sarah Story, executive director at Je erson County Public Health, in a press release. “But they also remind us that there’s a lot of work to do.
We can’t let our guard down. e only way we will see lasting change is using youth perspectives to design new ways to support their health.”
e Healthy Kids Colorado Survey is the state’s largest youth survey, providing data on the health and well-being of Colorado middle and high school students. It covers topics like mental health, substance use and physical activity, helping to inform community programs and public health initiatives.
Nearly 7,200 of Jefferson County’s high school students completed the 2023 survey, representing approximately 30% of the district’s total.
Here’s a look at what Je co teenagers are thinking and what could signal important shifts in youth health and well-being.
What’s going well
Fewer high school students reported persistent feelings of hopelessness or sadness compared to 2021. In 2023, 26% of high school students reported these feelings, down from 40% in 2021.
Additionally, the percentage of students who seriously considered suicide dropped from 17% in 2021 to 11% in 2023. Middle schoolers also saw similar improvements in mental health indicators
More than 75% of high school students have a trusted adult they can go to for support, and nearly all (94.2%) feel safe at school.
Alcohol use, vaping and prescription drug misuse declined among high school students.
Shelley Ekstrom COURTESY PHOTO
TEENAGERS
Alcohol use dropped from 30% of youth reporting drinking alcohol in the past month in 2019 to 21% in 2023.
Fewer teens also reported using cannabis in the prior 30 days than in 2019, and those who reported vaping dropped to 9%, down from close to 17% in 2021.
What’s not going well
Stress remains a troubling issue among students, with one in four reporting that their stress feels unmanageable most days, and 7.4% of high school
students report attempting suicide in the past 12 months.
While fewer teens report problems with substance abuse, many reported it would be easy to get alcohol and marijuana if they wanted.
While bullying rates overall did not increase, LGBTQ+ students, particularly those who identify as gay or lesbian, reported higher rates of bullying, with 29% experiencing bullying compared to 12% of the general student population. LGBTQ+ students also reported higher levels of sadness and hopelessness.
e 2023 survey included questions about body image, which is new from prior years. Nearly 39% of high school stu-
dents worried about their physical appearance more than they wanted in the last 30 days. at percentage rose to almost 70% for transgender students.
Nearly one in ve high school students reported engaging in unhealthy behaviors to lose or control weight, such as skipping meals or using diet pills.
Another new question asked students if they had a poor mental health day in the past 30 days. Close to 30% reported yes, although percentages were much higher for LGBTQ+ students.
e 2023 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey results are available on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website.
From significant drops in binge drinking to a troublesome rise in stress levels, the survey’s findings reveal a mix of progress and continued challenges.
Opponents argue Amendment 80 opens door for public funds to private schools
Supporters say it’s about protecting school choice for future generations
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN
SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
At rst glance, Amendment 80 might seem like a simple a rmation of school choice that Colorado’s families have enjoyed for more than 30 years. e amendment, which appears on this year’s election ballot, seeks to enshrine open access to a broad array of education options in the state’s constitution. School choice is a part of the fabric of Colorado’s education system, and proponents argue that adding this right to the state constitution grants greater legal advantages than can be a orded through state law.
Opponents don’t argue with protecting school choice but rather with how the measure de nes school choice to include public neighborhood and charter schools, private schools, home schools, open enrollment options and future innovations in education.
Groups like the Colorado Education Association, the Colorado PTA, the Christian Home Educators of Colorado, Colorado Democrats, Stand for Children and the ACLU Colorado worry that making private schools a constitutionally protected right would allow the government to direct public tax dollars to private education.
“Disguised as a measure seeking to protect school choice in the state constitution, which Colorado families already have, 80 takes a permanent rst step towards creating a voucher system, which would use taxpayer dollars to bankroll elite private school tuition,” the Colo-
rado Education Association said in a statement.
Advance Colorado, a conservative action committee that doesn’t disclose its donors, is behind the measure. e group’s policy analyst, Michael Tsogy, wrote in a recent report titled “Protecting Educational Freedom: Why School Choice Must be Placed in the Colorado Constitution” that the amendment is necessary “due to a rising attack against the right to school choice for all.”
“In Colorado, which has one of the best school choice statutes in the nation, the next move is to preserve school choice for future generations by cementing it as a right in the Colorado Constitution,” writes Tsogy.
Proponents have downplayed the inclusion of private schools, saying the measure isn’t about diverting public school funding to a voucher system. However, Tsogy’s report mentions why parents send children to private schools and states that Colorado’s private school enrollment has risen since the pandemic.
“Colorado falls into the category of a state with public charter school laws but without a private school choice program,” Tsogy said. “ is means that Colorado allows multiple school choice options but does not fund private or home school options with state dollars.”
Je co teachers o er opposing views
Richard Sanchez, who teaches at Bell Middle School in Je erson County, said diverting money away from public schools to fund a private school voucher system would be devastating.
“I’m an educator of color, and I’ve seen rsthand what improper funding can do for public education,” Sanchez said. “When we use voucher programs like they’re proposing to use with 80, it’s just going to continue to widen the gap between the haves and the have-nots.”
Sanchez said parents at poorer schools, like North Arvada Middle School, where he worked for ve years, don’t have the means to shop around for schools or even begin to take advantage of a voucher system.
He worries that the types of parents who would take advantage of the voucher program are the ones who provide much-needed support to schools through PTA fundraising and volunteerism.
“It’s a lose-lose scenario,” Sanchez said.
Lyubov Panchenko, a 6th-grade teacher in Je erson County, said in a letter to the editor that she supports Amendment 80 because she believes having a diverse system of school choice “makes good teachers better” by promoting healthy competition for students.
Colorado families have benefited from a diversity of school choice options for more than 30 years. SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE
Panchencko fears that without constitutional protection “all it would take is a vote of an anti-education legislature and the signature of a governor” to “reduce, hamper or eliminate” school choice in the state.
Sanchez disagrees with the idea that competition for students makes anyone better.
“Education is supposed to level the playing eld. It in’t a competition. It’s a right,” he said.
Sanchez also said that private schools can reject students with special needs or behavioral issues, exacerbating educational inequality. Data from 2019-2020, the most recent year available for private schools, shows that private school students are overwhelmingly white compared to public school students.
While enrollment data has changed since the pandemic, nationally, the racial and ethnic breakdown of those enrolled in private schools is not signi cantly di erent.
“Education is the key out of whatever particular situation you’re in,” Sanchez said. “I don’t see how Amendment 80 helps anybody who comes from a disadvantaged background or doesn’t have the means to succeed.”
What Amendment 80 asks voters to approve
Here’s the exact language voters will see on their ballot:
Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution establishing the right to school choice for children in kindergarten through 12th grade, and, in connection therewith, declaring that school choice includes neighborhood, charter, and private schools; home schooling; open enrollment options; and future innovations in education?
A “yes” vote creates a constitutional right to school choice that can’t be changed based on which party controls the state legislature or governor’s o ce.
A “no” vote keeps the current system of school choice in state law. e amendment needs 55% of the vote to pass. If voters approve the
measure, student enrollment opportunities will remain the same. Parents will have the same options as before, but state lawmakers could change their policies around school choice, and courts could be asked to interpret local school district policies according to the ballot language.
Texas teen reunites with Colorado trauma team after life-altering ski accident
Common Spirit St. Anthony Hospital shares seven ways to stay safe while skiing or snowboarding
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Hannah Evans didn’t expect her senior Spring Break ski trip to Breckenridge to change her life. At 18, the Texas native was excited for a last adventure before graduation. But a
single misstep on the slopes left her paralyzed from the waist down, and her dreams of an active future shattered in an instant.
Returning to Colorado for the rst time since her accident, Evans and her mom recently reunited with several members of her care team at Common Spirit St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood for a trauma symposium to discuss her case with other medical providers.
While visiting, she spoke about tragedy, triumph, recovery, resilience and how, while her life may be di erent, it’s far from over.
Hannah’s fall
Before the accident, Evans was a
cheerleader who loved to run and excelled academically. As graduation approached, she couldn’t wait to hit the slopes with her best friend and classmates.
After a fun morning on the mountain, Evans and her best friend had decided to call it a day in favor of shopping when the two ran into friends at the base who convinced them to go up for one more run.
“I decided we should go because the trip was almost over,” Evans said. “ en, we got on this lift, and it was not what we anticipated at all. But we were like, ‘OK, let’s just do it anyway.’
“I panicked going down, and I ended up hitting a tree,” she contin-
ued. “I broke a couple of vertebrae, punctured a lung, broke my left femur and dislocated my right hip.”
While Evans’ memories after her accident aren’t crystal clear, she credits her initial survival to three Navy SEALS, one of whom was a medic, for immediately coming to her aid and stabilizing her while waiting for Ski Patrol.
As they loaded her on the toboggan, she remembers thinking how beautiful the scenery was. “Snow was falling on me, and it felt so good. All I could think was that if I had died there, I couldn’t have died in a more beautiful place,” Evans said.
Proposition 131, concerning the conduct of elections, is a poor choice for Colorado. Although promoted as being focused on ranked-choice voting, it is much more about implementing radical changes to the primary election system and restricting voter choice in the general election. I believe the proposition would complicate the voting process, favor wealthier candidates, confuse voters and fail to deliver a better system.
FROM THE LEFT
is measure introduces a convoluted primary voting method, potentially requiring either two separate ballots or, worse, one ballot with two sections containing entirely di erent voting procedures. It proposes an “all-candidate” primary for U.S. Senate and House, statewide positions like Governor, and State Senate and House, asking primary voters to choose from all candidates for each of these races, regardless of political a liation; the top four candidates for each position would advance to the general election, regardless of the percentage of the votes they received. At the same time, voters would use the current primary process for U.S. President and many local races, selecting only one candidate for each position from their chosen political party.
is measure also requires a confusing process for the general election that is likely to create many invalidated ballots. For each speci ed federal and state race, voters would cast four “ranked preference” votes per race, and a computerized runo would decide winners if no one gets 50%. If voters don’t use all four ranked votes for those races, they would lose their vote in the subsequent rounds of the computerized runo . at’s why the University of Pennsylvania says ballots cast in RCV elections are 10 times more likely
VOICES
Vote NO on Proposition 131
to be invalidated due to a mistake, without the voter knowing. For the presidential and local races, voters would use the current method of voting for only one candidate per
e “all-candidate” portion of Prop. 131 is designed to weaken the party system that many voters rely on to make informed decisions. Political parties provide voters with a framework to understand where candidates stand on key issues. Without this, voters may struggle to identify candidates’ policy positions or ideological leanings, thus tilting the advantage to wealthy candidates and wealthy donors who can afford to run expensive campaigns to in uence voters. e 131 model would likely expand the use of “dark money” PACs and independent expenditures with murky or non-existent reporting rules.
And after spending an estimated $21 million in taxpayer money to rework our elections required to implement this measure, we’re not likely to see the promised results.
In 2023, the University of Minnesota studied RCV elections in other states and cities and found little to no evidence it will produce the touted results of tempering elections, increasing turnout, and electing more moderate or diverse candidates.
Rather than experimenting with a awed system like Prop. 131, we should focus on improving voter education and ensuring that all Coloradans can participate in a fair and democratic process.
Kathryn Wallace is the Chair of the Je erson County Democratic Party.
Can we a ord to live here?
The General Election may end on Nov. 5, but election season is in full swing. Ballots were mailed beginning Oct. 11 and early voting is well under way.
e ballot has a host of candidates – including, of course, the contest for President. For months the candidates have been seeking to differentiate themselves so you will understand your choices. In many cases, the biggest di erence is the candidate’s view of the role of government. Democrats are seeking to expand government control and therefore they need to raise taxes and take more of your money. Republicans are seeking to reduce, or at least maintain, the size of government without spending more of your hard-earned money.
Consider your ballot. Je erson County Issue 1A is seeking to take away your TABOR refund. e Democrat Commissioners have been working on this all year, spending your tax money on political operatives to convince you that they need more money for roads and public safety. Where are they spending the money now? What priorities are more important than public safety and roads? e ballot issue says “without increasing any tax rate or mill levy rate” but if you are supposed to receive a refund, and someone else keeps your money, doesn’t that mean you are paying more?
Je erson County has remained a stronghold for the constitutional protection provided by TABOR. Do you want to give up your refund and the right to vote on government spending? If you want to protect these things, then vote NO on Je co Ballot Issue 1A.
e ballot also includes 14 statewide measures. ese include seven amendments to the Colorado Constitution, ve amendments to state laws, and two referred by the Legislature. e referred measures ask for more tax money to come from ammunition and sports betting with the suggestion the taxes will be used for speci c things. is is a ction for two reasons. First, any new tax
THE RIGHT
money will go into the General Fund. Money in the General Fund can be used for anything –it is not earmarked to be spent on the stated purposes. Second, raising taxes on ammunition is a back door attempt to muzzle our second amendment rights by making things more expensive. If you do not want to pay more taxes, Vote NO on Propositions JJ and KK. How about Proposition 131 that seeks to create a one-party system through Ranked Choice Voting. While some argue that we already have a “uniparty,” there are many thoughtful voices which will never again be heard. at does not serve the democratic process at all! If you value vigorous debate, and you think that one-party rule is a bad idea, vote NO on Proposition 131. With the cost of living in Colorado already among the highest in the country, driven heavily by housing costs, is now the time to give the government more money and control? Candidate Harris wants price controls and a tax on unrealized capital gains. Do you have a 401k that is worth more than is used to be? Harris wants to tax the gain. How about your house? Did it go up in value? at’s another capital gain. Do you have the cash to pay those taxes? We need to think hard about the things our “leaders” want to do and how much of our money they want to do them. Otherwise, after this election, we may be asking if we can a ord to live here.
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.
FROM
Don Ytterberg
Better than ever: Key changes we’ve made to strengthen our elections
Colorado is known nationally as a leader in safe, secure, accessible elections, with its streamlined vote-by-mail process, in-person voting options, and smart laws that allow voter registration right up through Election Day. Statewide, our turnout is high, and in Je co, turnout is even higher. And we never stop working to make this great voting system even better.
I’m exceptionally proud of the work we’ve done this past year to remove barriers to voting while maintaining – and enhancing – the integrity of our elections. ere are a number of important changes we’ve made that you should be aware of.
JEFFCO CLERK & RECORDER
In Colorado, all U.S. citizens over the age of 18 who have lived in the state for at least 22 days and aren’t currently serving time for a felony conviction are eligible to vote. But for some Coloradans, especially
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
There is ethical hunting and then there is cruel, unsporting trophy hunting
Supporting Proposition 127 to protect mountain lions and bobcats from trophy hunting and fur trapping AND supporting ethical fair chase hunting are two sides of the same coin.
is describes me, my family and most folks I know. In fact, I encouraged my husband to go deer and elk hunting with his parents to help them pack and carry and learn from them. For several years, we had deer meat.
those who are being held while they await trial and those who are incarcerated for misdemeanors, having the right to vote hasn’t always meant they had the opportunity to vote. I worked hard to help pass Senate Bill 72 this year, which will require county jails to o er in-person voting for eligible voters. An early trial of this increased voter turnout in Je co’s jail by 1600% from the November 2023 election to the March 2024 election! I’m thrilled to see Colorado create a meaningful process to ensure that every eligible voter’s right to vote is being honored.
SEE GONZALEZ, P31
e ethical hunters I talked with are clear about the di erence between fair chase hunting and the cruel, unsporting trophy hunting that nearly always uses a pack of GPS collared dogs to tree or corner a mountain lion so it can be shot primarily for wall art. e majority of Coloradans support ethical hunting AND oppose trophy hunting and fur trapping Colorado’s wild cats, which also orphans kittens and can harm the endangered lynx in the process.
Deer and elk hunting ended for us because of chronic wasting dis-
ease and its relentless increase.
CWD isafatal prion disease that now infects nearly 80% of deer herds, 40% of elk herds and even moose. While free testing is helpful, the increasing rate of CWD increases the chance of a wasted hunt by getting a CWD diseased deer or elk that should not be eaten. at also means wasted vacation time and wasted money renting an RV or staying in a hotel. e cost/bene t and potential risk no longer made sense for us to continue hunting.
I also learned about research ndings that mountain lions selectively kill deer and elk infected with CWD and sequester the prions, thereby reducing the spread of this deadly disease.
Trophy killing hundreds of mountain lions every year, when these animals are the best tool we have to reduce the spread of chronic wasting disease, reminds me of the First Law of Holes. When you are in one, rst - stop digging.
Voting “Yes” on Proposition 127 will align our laws with Colorado values as well as common sense.
Michelle DeLaria, Arvada
BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLOROADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
All week, Paige Becker had noticed an extra level of excitement and buzz around the Colorado School of Mines campus.
Becker, a Mines alumna and faculty member from the Broom eld/Westminster area, said the students were more energetic than usual. At the same time, employees were busy getting the campus ready for an enormous in ux of visitors.
And their energy was rewarded when thousands of Orediggers from near and far returned to their alma mater Sept. 26-28 to celebrate the university’s 150th anniversary for Homecoming Weekend.
“It’s the most exciting Homecoming I’ve ever witnessed,” Becker said.
e university amped up its traditional Homecoming celebrations with expanded or new events, including the Sept. 27 Blaster’s Bash party to commemorate the new Sesquicentennial Bell outside Guggenheim Hall.
About 4,800 Mines students, alumni, faculty, sta and other supporters packed Kafadar Commons that night. But that was just a taste of the crowd that turned out for the football game the following day, when almost 7,000 Orediggers packed the Marv Kay Stadium stands to set a new stadium record.
While Orediggers from across the Denver area said they love visiting the campus regularly for Homecoming and/or other events, they described how the 150th anniversary made this year’s Homecoming unique.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event to celebrate as an alumnus,” said Julian Liu, a Littleton resident and a Class of 2020 graduate.
Lakewood’s Darien O’Brien, valedictorian of the Class of 1983, added how the Homecoming Weekend’s incredible turnout only enhanced that feeling.
“It’s a special weekend,” O’Brien said. “It’s tremendous … seeing all generations of Orediggers interacting together.”
The Golden years
With Mines history now spanning 150 years, the Orediggers at the Sept. 27 Blaster’s Bash enjoyed deciding which academic or calendar year was their favorite.
Some like O’Brien picked the year they graduated.
O’Brien’s two children and their spouses also went to Mines, so he had several years to pick from beyond his own time at the university. But, he said 1983 was a pivotal year for him because he not only got his degree in petroleum engineering – a di cult eld – but he also founded the Mines chapter of Pi Epsilon Tau. e academic fraternity for petroleum engineering students is still active, he said.
Wheat Ridge’s Kendall Armitage and Castle Rock’s Natalie Mudd also picked the year they graduated: 2023.
e two received their undergraduate degrees in quantitative biosciences and engineering. But more than that, 2023 was also the year they saw how much progress had been made on campus, with things reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic and with various construction projects starting or concluding, they described.
Some Orediggers named other years that were important to them.
Liu said 2017-18 was his favorite year because it was when he was most active and involved in student organizations.
Sept. 2628 to celebrate Homecoming Weekend and the university’s sesquicentennial.
Colorado School of Mines students run in the Sept. 28 Homecoming 5K along Clear Creek. Thousands of Orediggers from near and far returned to campus
COURTESY OF COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES
HELLUVA YEAR
Golden’s David Matlock, a professor emeritus of metallurgical and materials engineering, has been teaching at the university since the early ‘70s and had more than 50 years to choose from. He ultimately picked 1999 because it was the year his son graduated from Mines, but he added that he enjoyed seeing so many former students at the sesquicentennial celebration.
Several Orediggers picked this year, though, but for di ering reasons. Freshman Harshith Jayadeva said 2024
was his favorite by default, adding how tight-knit the Mines community is. He appreciated how many clubs and opportunities there are “where you can share your passion for engineering.”
Junior Clara Henckler-Davis, of Littleton, said 2024 was her favorite so far.
She’s double-majoring in civil engineering and economics.
Becker graduated from Mines with an undergraduate degree in 2017 and a master’s in 2018 but said 2024 has been her favorite thus far. She’s enjoyed being back on campus as a faculty member, describing how it’s all the nostalgia but “without the pressures of being a student.”
Andrea Passman, a Class of 1998 grad-
Paige Becker, Mines alumna and faculty member
uate, picked 2024 for the unique sesquicentennial celebration.
“It’s wonderful seeing so many generations celebrate together,” she said. “I’m proud to be a part of it. … I hope to see the 200th anniversary celebration.”
‘A really special school’
Mines has been observing its 150th anniversary all calendar year with special events and revived traditions like the Engineer’s Hats.
e centennial celebration in 1974 was “very different,” Matlock said.
Students built Mineral City — a fake 1874-style mining town — on the main quad, he recalled. Various fraternities, student groups and other Orediggers combined their e orts to build it, and even the governor stopped by to appreciate the atmosphere, he said.
While the centennial celebration was a “really nice event,” Matlock said Blaster’s Bash for the sesquicentennial drew a much bigger crowd. e university has grown in recent years — both in terms of facilities and enrollment — so there are more Orediggers to return every time their alma mater invites them.
After all, being an Oredigger means being invested in school spirit and involved in events, HencklerDavis said.
In front, mascots Marv the Miner and Blaster the Burro celebrate the Sept. 28 Homecoming football game with Colorado School of Mines fans. The game had record attendance, as thousands of Orediggers returned to campus to celebrate Homecoming Weekend amid the university’s 150th anniversary. COURTESY OF COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES
Armitage and Mudd said they’ve appreciated all the opportunities to meet fellow alumni and hear how much the university has changed in living memory.
ey described how Mines’ graduating classes 50 years ago had a much lower ratio of female students, but they’re encouraged that women now make up roughly 30% of Mines’ student body.
Passman, who’s also a University of Denver alumna, commended Mines President Paul C. Johnson and his sta for all their work to expand and improve the university since Johnson became president in 2015.
“ is is the greatest institution Colorado has to offer,” she said.
Becker felt likewise, calling Mines “the MIT of the West, but better.” She described seeing students wearing funny T-shirts where the jokes are math equations.
But more than that, she continued, there’s a special camaraderie among the Orediggers, because of the university’s emphasis on STEM and the challenging curriculum. It’s something students and alumni instantly understand, she said, summarizing it as: “I get it; I went to Mines.”
As the university’s sesquicentennial year draws to a close, the Orediggers hoped to see their “really special school,” as Becker described it, leave its mark around the world until the bicentennial in 2074 and beyond.
Denver’s tireless green chile tracker shares her spice advice
The chile queen behind DenverGreenChili.com dishes on her shopping strategies and more.
BY KEVIN J. BEATY DENVERITE
Anita Edge was about 50 when she rst learned about Denver’s obsession with green chiles. She’d lived in the metro for a few years, and she quickly got up to speed.
“I drove down Federal, bought some chiles, was very happy with them,” she remembered. “ e next year, I went back to the exact same
place: empty parking lot.”
A chile-shaped lightbulb appeared over her head.
“So I thought, I want to know exactly where I can go to get chiles. I thought, if I want to know this, other people do too,” she said. “ e idea was just: I’m going to slap a website up, and it’ll be a reference where people can nd out, ‘Where do you go buy great chiles?’”
us was born DenverGreenChili. com, a directory of roadside sellers and a celebration of cuisine with a kick. Edge has maintained the site for 20 years, driving around the city each year to catalog addresses, prices and varieties for anyone on the hunt.
e guide has remained relevant, especially since COVID, she said. A
THE BEST YOU WANT OMAHA STEAKS
lot of operations closed or moved during those lockdown days. Since a lot of roasters don’t pick up their phones, some gumshoeing is in order to nd out what’s available.
“Probably this weekend, I’ll do a whole bunch of driving around,” she told us last week.
We met Edge on Oct. 2 at the Morales Family Chile Store at 52nd Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard — a multi-generational roaster and one of her favorites — for a quick guide to the season.
But rst: Is it chile or chili? is has been a bone of contention in the pedantic world of journalism, so much so that the Associated Press speci cally called it out.
ADVICE, P21
Anita Edge, the mind behind denvergreenchili.com, stands under the big tent at the Morales Family Chile Store, at 52nd Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard. Oct. 2, 2024.
SEE
PHOTO BY KEVIN J. BEATY, DENVERITE
Thu 10/24
So� Tukker @ 6pm
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morri‐son
Chris Koza @ 6pm
Goosetown Station, 514 9th St, Golden
Hamilton @ 7:30pm Buell Theatre, Denver
Fri 10/25
anamē @ 6pm
Apollo Suns @ 7pm
Wood Cellar, 1552 Bergen Pkwy #101, Evergreen
Sat 10/26
Slow Joy @ 6pm
Sun 10/27
KIDZ BOP LIVE 2024 @ 1pm
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morri‐son
Stoned Level: Shaq's Bass AllStars: Red Rocks @ 6pm
Rico Nasty @ 6:30pm
Wed 10/30
The Oriental Theater, 4335 W 44th Ave, Denver
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison Akon @ 6:30pm
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison
T-Pain @ 6:30pm
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 West Alameda Parkway, Morrison
ST. JOANOF ARC CATHOLICCHURCH
Proclaiming Christ from the Mountains to the Plains
www.StJoanArvada.org
12735 W 58th Ave · 80002 · 303-420-1232
Daily Masses: 8:30am, Mon-Sat
Confessions: 8am Tue-Fri; 7:30am & 4:00pm Sat
Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00pm
Sunday Masses: 7:30, 9:00, 11:30am, 5:30pm
Green Mountain Presbyterian Church 12900 W Alameda Pkwy Lakewood, CO 80228
303-985-8733 www.gmpc.net
Your Place of Worship
We meet in person with extraordinary live music on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month from 10:30a.m. to noon at: Activity Options, 7401 W. 59th Ave., Arvada, 80003. All other Sunday meetings are on zoom from 10:30a.m. to noon.
Please phone: 720-576-9193, or email: livingwaterspiritualcommunity@gmail.com
Our website is: www.livingwaterunity.org
To advertise your place of worship in this section, call Erin at 303-566-4074 or email eaddenbrooke@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com
REUNITING
After reaching the small hospital in Breckenridge, she was intubated, given potent pain medication and transferred to Common Spirit St. Anthony Summit Hospital. From there, Flight Nurse Maggie Clark and Flight Paramedic Dave Rowe took her by helicopter to St. Anthony’s in Lakewood.
Meanwhile, Evans’ mom, Ashley Evans, was frantically trying to get to Denver from her home in East Texas.
“It was 11 in the morning, and I was talking with a friend when we got a call from Hannah’s best friend’s mom,” Ashley Evans said. “She said Hannah had fallen, and I thought, it’s snow, how hard can it be? She repeated that it was serious and that they were taking her to Denver. at’s when we immediately began trying to get to her.”
The road to recovery
Hannah credits her ability to cope with her injury to the care she received at St. Anthony’s.
“ e nursing sta were the rst people to make me feel like it wouldn’t matter whether I walked or rolled out of there,” Hannah said. “When other people were still praying for me to be healed and telling me that I would walk again, the nurses were talking to me about going skiing with adaptive care. I’m a better human being because I spent time at St. Anthony’s.”
While Ashley isn’t psyched about Hannah ever skiing again, she echoed her daughter’s feelings about the care she received.
“ e sta at St. Anthony’s was lifechanging for us. e whole time, they reassured us that it wasn’t a big deal, that she could do this, and I could do this,” she said.
Hannah underwent multiple surgeries during her stay, missing her high school prom and graduation, which was particularly hard on her. For years, she’d pictured herself walking across the stage and ful lling a dream she’d worked hard to achieve.
On one rough, snowy day, when Hannah was feeling down, a few nurses found a way to sneak her out to the hospital garden.
“It was the rst time I’d been outside since my accident. We got co ee on the way down and sat outside, drinking co ee and hot chocolate and talking. It was just like being with my friends again,” she said.
Moments like those and visits from her friends and siblings kept her going. Plus, Hannah credits her mom’s refusal to let her mentally decline by pushing her to get out of bed and focusing on what she could do rather than what she couldn’t.
Adapting to her new life e Evans’ community rallied to renovate with wheelchair modications even before they arrived back home, and family members have adjusted their schedule to help Hannah manage her pain. Hannah can drive thanks to the hand controls installed in her car, which she said has been a gamechanger in allowing her to remain independent. She also has a parttime job at a Christian summer camp in East Texas, plans to become an English teacher and is taking classes at the local community college.
Since returning home, Ashley and Hannah have each learned a few lessons.
“I wanted to make her feel like nothing’s changed and that she could still do everything she wanted,” Ashley said. “I came out of the gates that way, and I think there were positives and negatives to that because sometimes she needed to wallow in it. She needed to hear that things had changed and that life was di erent.”
FROM PAGE 12
Several of the nurses who cared for Hannah reunited with her for this time since she returned home. From left, Jess Ballinger, Kate Tetreault, Kristin Slater, Hannah Evans, Abby Burns, Nicole Bailey and Noel Christiansen.
PHOTO BY ASHLEY EVANS
From left, Trauma Director Dr. Brian Blackwood, Hannah Evans, Nurse Kate Tetreault and Ashley Evans.
PHOTO BY MATTHEW STAVER
ADVICE
“It’s ‘chile’ and ‘chiles’ for any of a variety of spicy peppers or the sauces or gravies derived from them,”the AP tweeted in 2018. “ e meat- and/ or bean-based dish is ‘chili.’” Merriam-Webster went deep on the history, and found this is actually way more complicated and interesting, with origins in the Aztec language Nahuatl. Edge con rmed most people around here use the “chile” spelling for the produce, but she said local vendors use both spellings.
DenverGreenChili.com uses the “i,” but typing an “e” instead will still take you to Edge’s site.
“Actually, I have both domain names,” she told us.
How to chile, according to Edge: You could start at her website, or
you could just do what she did 20 years ago: Drive Federal and Sheridan boulevards until you see a tent, a sign and, maybe, some ames.
Roasters have spread out over the years, Edge said, though the city’s west side is still a hot spot.
Next, select your variety. It’s not as simple as Hatch vs. Pueblo, the sort-of rivalry between New Mexico and Colorado. You can get Anaheim peppers grown in both states, for example, and sellers may have different heat levels across the same varieties.
When selecting, prioritize your heat tolerance, Edge said. You might ask vendors for help.
“I like some spicy dishes, but not generally knock-your-socks o spicy,” she said.
Edge likes Big Jims, which are avorful and not too hot, and Sandias for when she wants more of a kick. She likes poblanos for stu ng. She generally stays away from the Dyna-
mites — those, she said, are dangerously spicy.
Next comes roasting, which is good for avor but also more practically about stripping thick outer skins from these fruits (that’s right, they’re fruits) before they get to a kitchen.
Edge has a roaster at home, but she usually lets vendors do that part.
“ ey do a great job,” she said, “and propane costs money!”
Vendors then stu freshly roasted chiles into special plastic bags that don’t melt in the heat. ey seal the bags to let the peppers steam; Edge said you should keep the bag sealed for at least an hour after purchase.
Once the steaming has concluded, you can strip o the rest of that outer skin and get cooking, or toss your charred chiles into a freezer for the winter. Some people like to keep the skins on frozen chiles as a “ avor saver.” Edge doesn’t like to put o the peeling — she doesn’t want
any delays when the time to thaw out arrives.
For Edge, the website is a labor of love.
It’s been a couple decades since Denver chiles rst entered her life. She’s amassed dozens of recipes over those years, and her friends and family have come to expect something spicy from her when they get together.
ough DenverGreenChili.com has brought in some money over the years, it was never really meant to be a business. Instead, it was the thrill of the chile hunt, and the joy of getting to know people, that’s kept her dedicated to this project for so long.
“I’m also — it’s a part of the community,” she told us. “ ese are my friends.”
is story is from Denverite, a Denver news site. Used by permission. For more, and to support Denverite, visit denverite.com.
BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
LAKEWOOD — Arvada West girls ag football team added some more hardware to the trophy case Wednesday night.
e Wildcats won the inaugural Je co Tournament with a dominating 39-6 victory over Valor Christian at Trailblazer Stadium.
“It was nice to see some di erent faces,” A-West coach Lacey Abell said of the Je co Tournament that included 5A and 4A Je co teams. “It is interesting to have a little inseason tournament, kind of like the NBA. It was cool.”
A-West (11-2 record) grabbed wins over area-rival Ralston Valley in the tournament opener Oct. 5. e Wildcats shut out Pomona 42-0 in the semi nals Oct. 7 to advance to Wednesday’s championship game.
Valor (11-2) was the top-seed in the tournament, but No. 2-seed AWest grabbed a second win over the Eagles this season. A-West defeated Valor 27-12 in 5A Je co League play in a game that ended up allowing the Wildcats to win the conference title.
e championship game was only a 1-score game late in the rst half. A-West held a 12-0 lead with touchdown passes from quarterback Saylor Swanson to junior Santana Pena and senior Sara Walker, but Valor respond with a touchdown with 1:51 left in the second quarter to cut the lead to 12-6.
However, Swanson’s Hail Mary was answered just before halftime. Senior Molly Schellpeper was able to run under a deep ball in the nal seconds to push the lead to 19-6 at halftime.
“I thought I might as well throw it up on the last play of the half,” Swanson said of the score that came with 4.9 seconds remaining before halftime. “I know Molly would be there. I just threw it up and she caught it. It was amazing.” Schellpeper just crossed the goalline before a Valor defender pulled her ag.
SPORTS
Arvada West girls flag football wins inaugural Je co Tournament
“I actually had a short route, but once you run your route you have to look at your quarterback and nd that open space,” Schellpeper said of her rst of two touchdown catches on the night. “I just kept running, got behind the defense and attacked the ball.”
A-West road the momentum into the second half with an e ective scoring drive to open the second half that ended with Swanson nding the end zone on a trick play — hook-and-ladder — to give the Wildcats a 26-6 advantage.
Valor had some defensive success sacking Swanson several times in the rst half, but A-West outscored the Eagles 20-0 in the second half.
“After those sacks we had to change up our strategy a little bit,” Schellpeper said of the defensive pressure they put on Swanson early in the rst half. “We adjusted well.”
Pena caught her second touchdown pass of the game early in the fourth quarter. Schellpeper ran a perfect route on her second touchdown catch late in the nal minutes.
“It is nice for everyone to have
some success. Everyone out there I trust,” Abell said. “Every week I feel like we are getting a little big stronger. We are guring out di erent combinations and what works. It
has come together really well here toward the end of the season. at is what you want.”
Arvada West’s girls flag football team shows o the Je co Tournament trophy after its 39-6 victory over Valor Christian on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at Trailblazer Stadium.
PHOTOS BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Arvada West freshman Harper Tillman celebrates after her interception against Valor Christian on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at Trailblazer Stadium. The Wildcats took a 39-6 victory over the Eagles in the Je co Tournament championship game.
PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Big Cat Marching Invitational
Swanson isn’t surprised about her remarkable passing numbers she has put up in 13 games this season. e quarterback has well over 3,000 yards passing and 57 passing touchdowns, to go along with her over 600 yards rushing and seven rushing touchdowns.
“I have all the same girls I had last year,” Swanson said of the A-West team that won the state title in 2023 in the second year of the pilot program before girls ag football got o cially sanctioned by CHSAA for the Fall 2024 season. “I have great playmakers and my blockers are great. ey give me time. We have so many threats on offense.”
Walker and Schellpeper are both over 1,000 yards receiving on the season. Both of Swanson’s favorite targets have 21 receiving touchdowns on the season. Pena’s two scores Wednesday night put her at nine touchdowns on the season.
A-West has non-league games against Green Mountain (Oct. 15) and Mullen (Oct. 16) next week back to Trailblazer Stadium before the 5A state tournament begins the following week.
Dennis Pleuss is the sports information director for Je co Public Schools. For more Je co coverage, go to ColoradoPreps. com and CHSAANow.com.
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Ralston Valley High School’s marching band took to the field at the North Area Athletic Complex on Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Big Chatfield Senior High School’s marching band preforms during the Big Cat
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Hannah said it’s important to her to have fun and even joke about her new life. “My family makes fun of me, and I make fun of them. ere are lots of walking jokes. I realized it would make it harder for me not to be able to laugh about my injury and to see all the good in it.”
When it comes to what she’d say to anyone dealing with a lifechanging accident, Hannah said, “It’s gonna be hard, but you’re just as capable as anybody else. Now, I
GONZALEZ
Young adults are another population who have historically faced voting barriers in Colorado. Many have handwriting that is still evolving. Yet elections rely on voters having consistent and up-to-date signatures, meaning young voters’ ballots can be less likely to be accepted for counting. Consistency is key: we can’t verify that you’re the voter you say you are if your signature looks di erent from your ballot envelope from your voter le. In Je co, we’ve launched a new initiative that aims to address this challenge. Voters can now get a signature card they sign and send back via QR code along with an image of
never approach a situation thinking I can’t do this. Remember that life’s not over. It’s just di erent.”
7 tips to stay safe on the slopes this winter
St. Anthony’s Trauma Medical Director Brian Blackwood, who treated Hannah, explained his most e ective strategies for staying safe and avoiding injuries while skiing or snowboarding, especially during busy periods like spring break.
1. Know the mountain: Familiarize yourself with the terrain and runs before attempting them, especially if you’re not an avid skier. Knowing the names of runs and
their current ID. is will give us a clear, recent signature on le for them when they return their ballot. It’s working so well already that we’ve distributed materials to other counties so they can implement it, too. It’s a simple, creative solution to a pervasive challenge.
We’ve also taken many steps to increase the safety and security of our elections. One of these is that concealed rearms are no longer allowed in places where people vote, drop a ballot, or where ballots are counted and veri ed (Senate Bill 131). While the existing law prohibits openly carrying a rearm within or near these places, the new law prohibits concealed carry, too. is protects you as voters as well as your friends and neighbors who are election workers.
Another security precaution,
their di culty levels can help you avoid getting into situations you’re not prepared for.
2. Be aware of obstacles: Watch out for trees, poles and other obstacles along the runs. Staying toward the middle of the run can help you avoid hazards, especially if you’re not a con dent skier.
3. Always wear a helmet. Helmets are crucial for protecting your head in case of a fall or collision.
4. Ski within your abilities: Don’t try tackling runs beyond your skill level, even if you feel pressured to keep up with friends or family. Stick to runs that you’re comfortable with and can navigate safely.
in addition to upgrading the surveillance cameras that monitor our ballot drop boxes 24/7, is that we redesigned our ballot boxes.
For their new look, we made them higher visibility, state the rules for using them more clearly, and added Spanish translations so the rules can be understood by more voters. Find one in your community and check out the new design – we’d love to hear what you think.
A third change to increase election security is a new law to curb the misuse of Arti cial Intelligence in campaign ads. It’s a concern we’ve heard from voters, as deepfake videos become increasingly convincing. Now we have reasonable guardrails requiring campaigns to feature prominent disclosures if they include AI audio, video, and other content – it’s the AI version
5. Ski with a group: It’s safer to ski with people who can provide assistance if needed rather than going solo. Having a group can also help you make better decisions about when to call it a day.
6. Avoid skiing under the inuence: Skiing while impaired, whether from alcohol or drugs, signi cantly increases the risk of accidents and injuries. Stay sober on the slopes.
7. Listen to your body: If you’re feeling fatigued or your skills are starting to deteriorate, it’s best to take a break or call it a day. Pushing yourself too hard can lead to accidents.
of truth in advertising (House Bill 1147).
We’ve made a variety of other small changes, too, from placing Braille “I Voted” stickers in our inperson voting centers for our visually impaired voters, to creating an internship program to bring in young election workers, to installing a new ballot drop box at Colorado Christian University. All of these changes and many more are in service of our ultimate goal: an equitable, accessible, trustworthy democracy for the Je co of today and tomorrow. I hope you share my enthusiasm for these new ways of breaking down barriers to voting and strengthening our election system. Now please return your ballot!
Amanda Gonzalez is the Je erson County clerk and recorder.
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