Revamped ‘Festi-Mill of Scarecrows’ goes o without a hitch
Entering its 28th year, the Arvada Festival of Scarecrows embraced change with aplomb
BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A little shift in tradition didn’t keep folks away from this year’s Arvada Festival of Scarecrows, as the event moved to the Arvada Flour Mill for the rst time and debuted with a new name: the “Festi-Mill of Scarecrows” (festival at the mill).
is year’s festivities took place on Oct. 12 and featured event mainstays like the kids’
costume contest, scarecrow contest and scarecrow adoptions. Scarecrow storytime, along with other children’s activities, were also added to this year’s event, which brought more youngsters than usual to the our mill, event organizer Karen Miller said.
“It was great to bring back this popular event and expose the mill to a younger crowd,” Miller said. “We love to see all the kids in costume for the kids’ parade.”
is year’s scarecrow contest featured 10 entrants. e winning scarecrow is called “Revenge of the Invasive Weeds” and features a menagerie of ferns growing from the scarecrow’s shirt sleeves. About 20 scarecrows were
Arvada City Council approves lease agreement for new Community Table building
Nonprofit hoping to move into new digs by May 2025
BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Months after the City of Arvada nalized the purchase of a building located at 4600 W. 60th Ave., Arvada’s City Council approved a lease agreement that will allow local nonpro t food bank Community Table to use the building as its headquarters for $100 a month. Council approved the lease agreement at the Oct. 7 meeting by a 5-1 vote. Councilmember John Marriott was the lone dissenting vote. e City of Arvada has planned on relocating Community Table from its current home at 8555 W. 57th Ave. since setting its sights on the 60th Avenue building last year. A representative from Community Table said the nonpro t hopes to move into the new facility by May 2025. e City of Arvada purchased the building for $3 million.
Community Table CEO Sandy Martin said she felt the nonpro t was deserving of the favorable lease terms, as the organization has operated in Arvada since 1982 and frequently takes strides to be a good neighbor — Community Table has “adopted” 60th Avenue from Tennyson to Wol Streets in an e ort to continue that trend at the new digs.
“We, I think, provide a valuable service to this community,” Martin said. “We raise a substantial amount of money to run this organization without government assistance, and the supportive members of our community have been the ones who have been the largest supporters, nancially, of this organization.
“Not having to pay a larger leasing fee allows us to take the funds that we obtain to run the organization to purchase the food and supplies that we need to give to the family members and community members to survive,” Martin continued.
Dorie Reader chooses a scarecrow for adoption at the Festi-Mill of Scarecrows on Oct. 12.
PHOTOS COURTESY KAREN MILLER
The winning entrant in this year’s Scarecrow Contest; Revenge of the Invasive Weeds.
WINNING BIG
Colorado’s naloxone fund is drying up, even as opioid settlement money rolls in
BY CLAIRE CLEVELAND
KFF HEALTH NEWS
On a bustling street corner one recent afternoon outside the o ces of the Harm Reduction Action Center, employees of the education and advocacy nonpro t handed out free naloxone kits.
Distributing the opioid reversal medication is essential to the center’s work to reduce fatal overdoses in the community. But how long the group can continue doing so is in question.
e center depends on Colorado’s Opioid Antagonist Bulk Purchase Fund, also known as the Naloxone Bulk Purchase Fund, which now lacks a recurring source of money — despite hundreds of millions of dollars in national opioid lawsuit settlement cash owing into the state.
“Our concern is that we won’t have access to naloxone, and that means that more people will die of a very preventable overdose,” said Lisa Raville, executive director of the center.
e bulk fund was created in 2019 to provide free naloxone to organizations like the Harm Reduction Action Center. e fund’s annual budget grew from just over $300,000 in scal year 2019 to more than $8.5 million in
Arvada hires new director of Vibrant Community and Neighborhoods
Jermel Ryan Stevenson brings 20 years of parks operations experience to Arvada’s
large parks network
BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
After a few months of searching, Arvada has hired a new director of Vibrant Community and Neighborhoods: Jermel Ryan Stevenson, who has worked as a parks and open space administrator for over 20 years in cities in Kansas and Texas.
e Department of Vibrant Community and Neighborhoods governs Arvada’s parks, athletic elds, golf courses and arts and culture programs. It also oversees the Majestic View Nature Center. e department is separate from the Apex Parks and Recreation District, which operates many athletic complexes in Arvada as a special district.
e position was previously held by Enessa Janes from 2022 to July 2024, when Janes left the city team.
e city announced Stevenson’s hiring on Oct. 10.
scal 2022, according to legislative reports by the state’s Overdose Prevention Unit.
e fund has boosted the availability of the medication throughout Colorado, which passed a law in 2013 that gives legal immunity to medical providers who prescribe the drug and to any person who administers it to someone su ering an overdose. e fund currently provides more than $550,000 worth of naloxone kits to various entities each month.
Despite the increased availability of naloxone, fatal opioid overdoses continued to rise. In 2023, 1,292 people in Colorado died of an opioid overdose, according to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. at was 132 more people than the year before.
And now, one of the fund’s major money sources, the American Rescue Plan passed by Congress in response to the covid-19 pandemic, is set to expire next year. As of September, the Colorado fund had $8.6 million left, according to Vanessa Bernal, a spokesperson for the state health department.
e fund got a boost in September when the state’s Behavioral Health Administration provided it with $3 million from a one-time Substance
Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant and nearly $850,000 through a State Opioid Response Grant. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said his o ce will “ensure that the necessary budget remains in place for the next year.”
e amount of that funding and where it will come from has yet to be determined, and long-term solutions are still being weighed.
“It’s just completely ironic that something that addresses the opioid overdose crisis is underfunded at the very same time that these settlement funds are owing,” Sylla said. “ ere couldn’t be a better use for them.”
Over the past ve years, Colorado’s fund has distributed more than half a million doses of the opioid reversal drug to hundreds of organizations and schools across the state. Last year, the Harm Reduction Action Center received 7,284 doses from the fund, which Raville estimates helped save more than 4,500 lives.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
Stevenson was most recently employed as the Director of Parks and Recreation for the city of Overland Park, Kansas; a suburb of Kansas City with a population of about 197,000. Prior to that position, Stevenson held similar roles in Corpus Christi, Texas and Garland, Texas.
He holds a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation management, both from the Central Michigan University. Stevenson said he was looking forward to working in a community that values its open space, like Arvada — which contains 90 neighborhood parks, or one within a 10-minute walk of 96% of the city’s residents.
“I am honored to join the City of Arvada,” Stevenson said. “ is is an active and forwardthinking community, and I am excited to work alongside the talented sta within the VCN (Vibrant Community and Neighborhoods) work system as well as City leadership.
“Together, we will continue to build on Arvada’s legacy of providing top-tier parks and recreational opportunities for all,” Stevenson continued.
Interim City Manager Linda Haley said that she was excited to add Stevenson to the city team.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ryan to our team,” Haley said. “His proven track record of visionary leadership and his dedication to enhancing community services will help guide our Vibrant Community and Neighborhoods work system into an exciting new era.”
Stevenson is set to start his new position on Oct. 21.
Cash Koch, 3, won first place for the largest pumpkin contest at the Arvada Gardeners Festival on Oct. 12. The pumpkin weighed 61.8 pounds. COURTESY OF JESSICA VINCENT
Jermel Ryan Stevenson, the new Arvada Director of Vibrant Community and Neighborhoods. COURTESY CITY OF ARVADA
A Sign of the Times: Zillow Shows Climate Risk Data for All Active Listings
I was as shocked as anyone to hear that Asheville, North Carolina, had been devastated by flooding from Hurricane Helene. It is over 300 miles inland from the Atlantic coast and on the western slope of the Appalachian mountain range. It is 2,100 feet above sea level.
To those of us who comfort ourselves that we are in a haven from climate change, this should be a wake-up call.
Zillow heard that wake-up call and recently introduced a “Climate Risk” assessment for all active listings on its website. At right are charts you’ll find if you search on Zillow for my listing at 48 Lang Street in Twin Lakes, Colorado, at the eastern foot of Independence Pass. I’m only showing the Flood risk map, but there are comparable maps for Fire, Wind, Air Quality and Heat risks by clicking on the buttons you see at the top left of the map.
younger home shoppers, who are driving the market. The median age of today's home buyer is 39, and first-time buyers make up 50% of all buyers. Millennial and Gen Z shoppers who comprise 54% of all home buyers are most likely to consider a climate risk when determining where to shop for a home. Across generations, a majority of shoppers reported taking into account at least one climate risk when looking for their next home.”
Although 86% of Millennials are likely to consider climate risks when searching for a home, the average for all groups is 83%, with Baby Boomers the lowest at 70%. Bottom line: it’s a big concern for everyone, and we need to take notice.
“Climate risks are now a critical factor in home-buying decisions,” said Skylar Olsen, chief economist at Zillow.
It was a year ago last month that Zillow released a report stating that “A clear majority of prospective buyers in each region of the United States consider at least one climate risk when shopping for a home.” In the Midwest the percentage was 77% and in the West it was 90%.
Such risks were of least concern, surprisingly, to prospective buyers in the South, including Florida, but I suspect that may change after recent hurricanes.
The Sept. 2023 report continued: “Climate risks are a major concern for
The data source for Zillow is First Street, which provides climate risk data across multiple industries, including government, banking, and insurance.
First Street’s analysis of the destruction caused by August’s Cat-1 hurricane Debby found that 78% of flooded properties were outside FEMA’s flood zones.
According to Zillow, “First Street is the standard for climate risk financial modeling (CRFM) working to connect climate change to financial risk. First Street uses transparent, peer-reviewed methodologies to calculate the past, present, and future climate risk for properties globally, and makes it available for citizens, industry and government.”
Don’t expect to find climate risk data for your home on Zillow, unless it is cur-
Price Reduced on 2-Bedroom Winter Park Condo
rently for sale. However, you could look for a nearby home that is for sale and find your home on the maps such as the one above.
Years ago, I learned couple important things about flood insurance. First, for water damage to be covered by regular homeowners insurance, the water can’t hit the ground before entering your house. If the water hits the ground first, it is considered flooding and is only covered by flood insurance.
However, even flood insurance does not cover a finished basement. It will cover anything in your basement, such as a furnace and water heater, that serves the above-grade floors, but it will not cover below-grade walls, floors or furnishings.
Climate risk information is currently available on Zillow’s iPhone app and on the Zillow website, with Android availability expected early next year.
Take Pictures of Your Home Before the Snow Falls
Even if you don’t expect to put your home on the market this winter, it’s a good idea to have exterior pictures of your home and yard which the grass is green and the leaves are on the trees. If you have trees which blossom in the spring, make a note to take a picture then too.
“Life happens,” and it’s good to be prepared to show your home at its best.
NAR: ‘Make Your Listings Shine Online’
With ski season just around the corner, don’t miss your chance to make this fabulous condo at 693 Wapiti Drive your home in the mountains. Full of natural light, you'll delight in the open concept living and dining area with windows that showcase the beautiful views. The kitchen features hickory cabinets, an island and granite countertops. There is also a pantry/laundry room on the main floor. Additional features of this unit include a gorgeous moss rock fireplace, a skylight and a private balcony with stunning views of Byers Peak. All bathrooms have granite countertops with hickory cabinets, and the two full bathrooms, including the primary ensuite, have tiled floors and bath. Both bedrooms have double closets. There is an oversize garage with a large locked room for plenty of storage. No more scraping snow off your car! This condo is tastefully furnished and has reasonable HOA dues. Experience the great outdoors just outside your door with a walk down to the beautiful Fraser River for a hike or bike along the river trail that takes you up to the Winter Park Resort or take your rod for a little fly fishing! You'll also be just a short walk from downtown Fraser, which is bustling with shops, restaurants and bars. In addition, just steps away is the free Lift bus line which will take you to concerts in Hideaway Park, skiing & summer activities at Winter Park Resort and all of the events, restaurants & entertainment Winter Park offers. Take a narrated video tour at www.GRElistings.com, then call David at 303-908-4835 to see it.
Golden Real Estate’s Broker Associates
Last week, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) had a newsletter item that caught my attention.
Covid had, of course, increased the importance of making listings more attractive to potential buyers who might not be able to visit the home in person. The newsletter article pointed out that, just like work-at-home, buying without seeing a home in person is still a thing.
It quoted a 2022 survey of 1,000 homeowners by Lending Tree which showed that 47% of them bought without an in-person tour of the property.
We already know that the vast majority well over 90% of buyers begin their home search online and only call an agent when they want to see a home. During Covid, that meant in some cases a FaceTime tour of the home by a showing agent. (We were “essential workers.”)
Americans got so used to Zoom meetings and working virtually during Covid that many of them still prefer Zoom meetings, and that translates into wanting to see a home virtually before making an offer.
What the article failed to mention was
that most of those buyers probably did attend the professional inspection of the home after going under contract, but the fact remains that a good online presence is what got that home under contract.
The article mentioned some of the technological tools, in addition to FaceTime, which have allowed listing agents to dramatically improve the online presentation of their listings, thereby allowing buyers to feel comfortable with submitting an offer prior to seeing the listing in person.
Matterport’s interactive still photos linked to a floor plan was one of those technologies. It allows a person, with their computer mouse, to rotate each still photo 360 degrees and even look at the ceiling and floor.
What wasn’t mentioned, and shocked me by its absence, was the mention of narrated video tours, which my broker associates and I create for every residential listing! What could be more useful than being able to walk through a home with the listing agent describing all its features basically simulating an inperson showing?
Je co 10th graders explore future careers at Lakewood expo
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
On a bright, warm October day, thousands of Je erson County 10th graders wandered the grounds at the Gold Crown Foundation athletic facility in Lakewood. e high school students were there to explore a diverse array of career paths at the annual Je co Career Expo.
“ e big goal is for our 10th-grade students to have an opportunity to be exposed to a variety of career opportunities and to interact with people in those jobs to learn how to pursue them,” said Heather Waldron, director of post-secondary workforce readiness for Je co Public Schools.
e expo featured nearly 100 industry partners, including long-time participants like Mountain Vista Healthcare and newer additions like the Colorado Arborists Association. Waldron said that for the rst time, the district asked business leaders to consider o ering job shadow experiences, worksite tours and internships to allow students to continue exploring careers after the expo.
Waldron said having the opportunity to talk to professionals creates light bulb moments for many students.
“ ey can ask representatives directly what people love or not love about their jobs before they start to make choices for their junior and senior courses,” she said. “I heard a student today who was surprised to learn that you don’t have to have a college degree to be an airline pilot.”
Audra Ramirez, director of lifestyle and activities at Mountain Vista Senior Living
Community, said she’d met several students at expos like this one who became interns at the facility. Others have come back as volunteers.
Anne Gardetto with Standley Lake Regional Park said she was there to educate students about the two jobs the park service o ers: park ranger and park naturalist.
“Everyone knows about a park ranger job, but they don’t always know that teaching about nature, which is what a park naturalist does, is a thing,” Gardetto said. She brought job descriptions that include the salary range and qualications needed to apply so high school students can see what level of education and experience they’ll need if interested.
Outside in the parking lot, students gathered in line, taking turns climbing a tree and learning what it takes to become an arborist.
David Merriman, who founded Arbor Scape more than two decades ago, was there helping promote pre-apprenticeship programs for high schoolers.
“My age group was told you have to go to college, no ifs, ands or buts,” said Merriman, who has one son attending the Colorado School of Mines and the other is a Journeyman, a name given to skilled tradespeople. “But college isn’t for everyone.”
Waldron said that thanks to a collaborative community e ort, the expo not only serves to expand students’ horizons and provide hands-on engagement, but also facilitates connections and highlights the importance of non-traditional career paths. is, in turn, strengthens the local workforce and economy.
AGREEMENT
“It is our intention to continue how we have in our current location to be a good neighbor, and not having to pay a larger fee allows us to do that.”
Councilmember John Marriott said he opposed the lease agreement because of the city’s nancial position at the moment and called Community Table a “successful nonpro t,” while also acknowledging that the lease is essentially identical to Community Table’s last lease, which was also at a city-owned building.
“Maybe this is an opportunity for a larger discussion that’s maybe long-term for the city council and the city team to consider,” Marriott said. “ e city government is now in a more di cult budget position than it has been in the last decade or more. For the rst time here, our tax collections will increase, but at a rate less than in ation.
“We’re going to feel in ation in everything we do,” Marriott continued. “ at
makes me a little weary of that type of expenditure.”
Councilmember Bob Fifer disagreed with Marriott and pointed out that the District 3 representative did not mention the other nonpro ts the city o ers favorable leases to.
“ ere are several nonpro ts within city buildings that we do that arrangement with,” Fifer said. “ e Chamber of Commerce is one, (Historic Olde Town Arvada) HOTA, Ralston House… And we have the exact same arrangements, if not to a T. So, I don’t think your facts are quite true.”
Fifer also said that the decision to buy a new building for Community Table also aligns with the city’s needs, space-wise.
“We didn’t ask them to move just for them,” Fifer said. “We asked them to move because we needed their space for other city use and we were going to buy a building for other city expansion uses anyways, it just happened to work out for us to let them move there… It just happened to t them better. We can use their existing facility for other city services.”
Plans for the old Community Table building have not been published at the time of press deadline.
Audra Ramirez talks to students about Mountain Vista Senior Living’s internship and volunteer opportunities.
PHOTOS BY SUZIE GLASSMAN
Students wait in line to learn about what it takes to become an arborist.
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Ash-kicking invaders
How to spot and stop the emerald ash borer beetle as it emerges in Je erson County
Earlier this fall, Lakewood con rmed its rst case of emerald ash borer beetles — a tiny but destructive invader with a taste for North American ash trees. Spotted in a central Lakewood neighborhood, these beetles are known to drill distinctive D-shaped exit holes and leave behind S-shaped tunnels under the bark, ultimately spelling trouble for the region’s beloved trees.
Adult beetles lay their eggs on the bark of ash trees. When the larvae hatch, they burrow into the tree and feed on the inner bark, disrupting its ability to transport water and nutrients. e tree typically dies within two to four years of infestation.
According to Je erson County, ash trees account for around 15% of the trees in its urban forests. Losing these trees to invasive pests like the emerald ash borer has a ripple e ect, impacting the county’s ecosystem and also the well-being of its communities.
Ash trees provide essential environmental bene ts such as air puri cation, cooling shade and habitats for wildlife. e destructive insect was rst detected in Boulder in 2013 and has
been spreading across the state ever since.
Infestations have already extended to Adams, Arapahoe, Broom eld and Larimer counties. is year’s sightings in Lakewood and Wheat Ridge are spurring Je erson County ocials to begin control measures to mitigate the potential dam-
age. Fortunately, residents can also take steps to protect healthy ash trees, but early identi cation is crucial.
Identification and protection
Begin by identifying any ash trees on your property and examining them for signs of emer-
ald ash borer infestation.
“Look for the distinctive Dshaped exit holes, bark splits and S-shaped tunnels called galleries underneath the bark, gradual canopy thinning and dieback, abnormal shoots of growth, smaller than normal leaves and heavy woodpecker activity,” said Lakewood Forest-
ry Supervisor Luke Killoran.
If you think your tree has potential damage and an infestation, Killoran said it’s best to hire a certi ed arborist to assess the tree and determine if it’s not too late to treat it with an e ective insecticide.
The emerald ash borer beetle kills ash trees from within and leaves D-shaped exit holes on the bark. LAKEWOOD COMMUNITY RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
Millions of aging Americans face dementia by themselves
BY JUDITH GRAHAM KFF HEALTH NEWS
Sociologist Elena Portacolone was taken aback. Many of the older adults in San Francisco she visited at home for a research project were confused when she came to the door. ey’d forgotten the appointment or couldn’t remember speaking to her.
It seemed clear they had some type of cognitive impairment. Yet they were living alone.
Portacolone, an associate professor at the University of California-San Francisco, wondered how common this was. Had anyone examined this group? How were they managing?
When she reviewed the research literature more than a decade ago, there was little there. “I realized this is a largely invisible population,” she said.
Portacolone got to work and now leads the Living Alone With Cognitive Impairment Project at UCSF. e project estimates that that at least 4.3 million people
55 or older who have cognitive impairment or dementia live alone in the U.S.
About half have trouble with daily activities such as bathing, eating, cooking, shopping, taking medications, and managing money, according to their research. But only 1 in 3 received help with at least one such activity.
Compared with other older adults who live by themselves, people living alone with cognitive impairment are older, more likely to be women, and disproportionately Black or Latino, with lower levels of education, wealth, and homeownership. Yet only 21% qualify for publicly funded programs such as Medicaid that pay for aides to provide services in the home.
In a health care system that assumes older adults have family caregivers to help them, “we realized this population is destined to fall through the cracks,” Portacolone said.
Phone and Internet Discounts Available to CenturyLink Customers
Imagine what this means. As memory and thinking problems accelerate, these seniors can lose track of bills, have their electricity shut o , or be threatened with eviction. ey might stop shopping (it’s too overwhelming) or cooking (it’s too hard to follow recipes). Or they might be unable to communicate clearly or navigate automated phone systems.
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission designated CenturyLink as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier within its service area for universal service purposes. CenturyLink’s basic local service rates for residential voice lines are $34.00 per month and business services are $53.50 per month. Specific rates will be provided upon request.
CenturyLink participates in the Lifeline program, which makes residential telephone or qualifying broadband service more affordable to eligible low-income individuals and families. Eligible customers may qualify for Lifeline discounts of $5.25/ month for voice or bundled voice service or $9.25/month for qualifying broadband or broadband bundles. Residents who live on federally recognized Tribal Lands may qualify for additional Tribal benefits if they participate in certain additional federal eligibility programs. The Lifeline discount is available for only one telephone or qualifying broadband service per household, which can be either a wireline or wireless service. Broadband speeds must be at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload to qualify.
A household is defined as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses. Services are not transferable, and only eligible consumers may enroll in these programs. Consumers who willfully make false statements to obtain these discounts can be punished by fine or imprisonment and can be barred from these programs.
If you live in a CenturyLink service area, visit https:// .centurylink.com/aboutus/ community/community-development/ lifeline.html for additional information about applying for these programs or call 1-800-201-4099 with questions.
Denise Baker, a former CIA analyst, lives alone in a 100-year-old house in Asheville, North Carolina. She has cognitive problems related to a stroke 28 years ago, Alzheimer’s disease, and serious vision impairment. With help from a few artist friends, she throws ceramic pots about six days a week. “I’m a very independent person and I find that I want to do everything I possibly can for myself,” Baker says. “It makes me feel better about myself.”
who checks on her most frequently is an ex-boyfriend.
“I don’t really have anybody,” she said, choking up.
A variety of other problems can ensue, including social isolation, malnutrition, self-neglect, and susceptibility to scams. Without someone to watch over them, older adults on their own may experience worsening health without anyone noticing or struggle with dementia without ever being diagnosed.
Should vulnerable seniors live this way?
For years, Portacolone and her collaborators nationwide have followed nearly 100 older adults with cognitive impairment who live alone. She listed some concerns they said they worried most about: “Who do I trust? When is the next time I’m going to forget? If I think I need more help, where do I nd it? How do I hide my forgetfulness?”
Jane Lowers, an assistant professor at the Emory University School of Medicine, has been studying “kinless” adults in the early stages of dementia — those without a live-in partner or children nearby. eir top priority, she told me, is “remaining independent for as long as possible.”
Seeking to learn more about these seniors’ experiences, I contacted the National Council of Dementia Minds. e organization last year started a biweekly online group for people living alone with dementia. Its sta ers arranged a Zoom conversation with ve people, all with early-to-moderate dementia.
One was Kathleen Healy, 60, who has signi cant memory problems and lives alone in Fresno, California.
“One of the biggest challenges is that people don’t really see what’s going on with you,” she said. “Let’s say my house is a mess or I’m sick or I’m losing track of my bills. If I can get myself together, I can walk out the door and nobody knows what’s going on.”
An administrator with the city of Fresno for 28 years, Healy said she had to retire in 2019 “because my brain stopped working.” With her pension, she’s able to cover her expenses, but she doesn’t have signi cant savings or assets.
Healy said she can’t rely on family members who have troubles of their own.
(Her 83-year-old mother has dementia and lives with Healy’s sister.) e person
Denise Baker, 80, a former CIA analyst, lives in a 100-year-old house in Asheville, North Carolina, with her dog, Yolo. She has cognitive problems related to a stroke 28 years ago, Alzheimer’s disease, and serious vision impairment that prevents her from driving. Her adult daughters live in Massachusetts and Colorado.
“I’m a very independent person, and I nd that I want to do everything I possibly can for myself,” Baker told me, months before Asheville was ravaged by severe ooding. “It makes me feel better about myself.”
She was lucky in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene: Baker lives on a hill in West Asheville that was untouched by oodwaters. In the week immediately after the storm, she lled water jugs every day at an old well near her house and brought them back in a wheelbarrow. ough her power was out, she had plenty of food and neighbors looked in on her.
“I’m absolutely ne,” she said by phone in early October after a member of Dementia Friendly Western North Carolina drove to Baker’s house to check in on her, upon my request. Baker is on the steering committee of that organization.
Baker once found it hard to ask for assistance, but these days she relies routinely on friends and hired help.
Her daughter Karen in Boston has the authority to make legal and health care decisions when Baker can no longer do so. When that day comes — and Baker knows it will — she expects her longterm care insurance policy to pay for home aides or memory care. Until then, “I plan to do as much as I can in the state I’m in,” she said.
Much can be done to better assist older adults with dementia who are on their own, said Elizabeth Gould, co-director of the National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center at RTI International, a nonpro t research institute. “If health care providers would just ask ‘Who do you live with?’” she said, “that could open the door to identifying who might need more help.”
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
LORENA RUSSELL FOR KFF
A publication of
National movement aims to create inclusion for all children, but some criticize it
Keri Sawyer, a child therapist and owner of Bloom Child erapists in Parker. But, parents shouldn’t feel like they have to take part, she added.
“I don’t think that at any point a child or their parents should feel like they need to have a speci c color bucket or disclose any speci c information about their child in order to receive empathy and acceptance,” said Sawyer.
While the movement was created to promote awareness for trick-or-treaters with autism and those who are nonspeaking, some say that children shouldn’t have to “advertise” their medical diagnosis just to be included fairly.
“If our children could thrive on good intentions, then the blue ‘autism’ Halloween buckets would be a wild success,” said Brittany Yarbrough, a Littleton mom. “Unfortunately, that’s just not how it works.”
Yarbrough understands the challenges as her son has motor planning di culties and hy-
or disabilities, she doesn’t think that trick-or-treaters should have to carry some sort of marker that identi es their diagnosis in order to have the same access that every other child does on Halloween.
“In my imaginary ideal world, everybody has awareness that we don’t know each other’s whole story, and that people can behave di erently for a lot of different reasons, and that we don’t get to set expectations for other people,” said Bennet. “We don’t live in that ideal world yet.”
Jessica Vestal, whose son is nonverbal and has trouble performing tasks, has watched as adults have told her son, “no candy until you say trick-ortreat!”
“Whether they are unable to say trick-or-treat, have to use an AAC device, have no way to say it at all or are carrying a specially-colored pumpkin, each kid deserves to participate in something fun,” said Vestal.
Both Vestal and Yarbrough
they would like to, not that they should have to — and let the child lead on that decision.
Similar to Bennet, Sawyer hopes that people answering doors will answer with empathy and a willingness to be accepting of all individuals and use Halloween as a time to show kindness to neighbors.
For three consecutive years, Sawyer participated in the Town of Parker’s Trunk or Treat event because she enjoys the opportunity to allow families to have a little more control of the environment. She appreciates the inclusivity that the rst hour of the event is sensory-friendly because it creates a safer and more accessible environment.
Whether a family chooses to carry a blue bucket to raise awareness of autism or if they feel uncomfortable with it, Sawyer encourages letting the child lead on how they want to do Halloween.
“ ere’s no wrong way of doing it,” said Sawyer. “So having a
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Purple Pumpkin Project.
Colored pumpkins can also be seen on people’s front porches to indicate to trick-or-treaters and their families that it is an inclusive home. Besides the traditional orange pumpkins, another common color to see is teal.
e Teal Pumpkin Project was created to promote food safety and inclusion of those who have food allergies.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 13 children have a food allergy. erefore, having options other than candy helps children feel included. Non-edible treat ideas include Halloween erasers, novelty toys, vampire fangs, spider rings and bouncy balls.
e Food Allergy Research and Education nonpro t organization provides a map of houses that have non-food treats as well as free printable signs, ideas for non-food treats and facts about di erent types of candy. ese can be found at tinyurl. com/5eac8f4c.
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The di erent-colored Halloween candy buckets have taken on new meanings over the years in hopes to bring awareness to various medical conditions and diagnoses. SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE
Je co Commission District 1
Eric Bodenstab
Residence: Arvada
Profession: Engineer
About me: Originally from California, but I have lived here for 22 years. Since then I have earned two master’s degrees from Colorado universities (in disparate elds). I got married in 2019 and have two boys in Je co schools. I have been involved in politics since running in 2007 for Boulder City Council. I lived in downtown Denver for a decade, but am now at home in Jeffco. I serve on the Colorado HS Water Polo Association Board and as Den Leader for my son’s Cub Scout Pack.
For more information: Eric4Je co.com
With the Quarry Fire and others along the Front Range this summer, how would you work to mitigate wild re danger in Golden, Evergreen, Conifer and other Je erson County foothills communities?
More water storage could allow for quicker responses to drought-induced burns. Also, Payment in Lieu of Taxes funds from the Feds should be used for Jeffco’s re district responses. We should be getting more money from the state to fund our re districts. Prevention is key and the Community Wild re Protection Plan (CWPP) by Je co provides a detailed plan that can be funded, implemented and better distributed to our residents. Broadcast prescribed burning and mechanical thinning or slashing can lower fuel continuity, thereby limiting potential spreading of wild res in west Je co.
What do you feel are the biggest infrastructure needs facing the county? How would you deal with those?
ere is one interstate and several rail lines that run through Je co. I am as prepared as any candidate to address project speci c issues and expedite funded construction. is could include the NW Parkway. I have biked one time from my home in Arvada to my work in DTC, and bike transportation is usually not feasible for most. I applaud those who do, and I did for the rst 7 years as a Coloradan. Water, stormwater, water treatment, and water utilities also are critical to environmentally responsible development. With my background in civil engineering, I can provide technical insight there too.
Should Je erson County have property tax caps for homeowners? Why or why not?
Probably. But the real culprit is Metro
Election o cials push back at Ganahl’s
Districts, which don’t go to fund county es are paying for the pipes in the ground twice. I would be very hesitant to approve any of these new districts in Je co, and provide a voice of reason on what would otherwise be a unanimous 3-0 vote for their approval. Commissioners are able to establish a oor (min. # of houses) for acceptability, a low mill-levy cap (paid to the developers), and proper disclosures to potential buyers. Most residents in these districts nd out about their obligated debt too late.
What would your priorities for the county be if elected?
Proportional representation. As many as 11 commissioners could provide a voice for 98% of voters in the county. “Pro rep” is fair representation, and their are no wasted votes. 53 of 64 counties in Colorado are one-party dominant, and those in the minority – a million plus Coloradans – are not included in the decision-making of the legislative bodies. Commissioners are more executive by nature, but could be restored to representatives at the same time with this system. To institute this system, (2) commissioners would have to put Home Rule on the Ballot, and from there particulars can be determined. What should the county do to address homelessness?
As Rachel pointed out, there is no Jeffco housing authority, however programs from the state can be utilized. Addictiontreatment and workforce training are other aspects. I am not going to lie: homelessness is a hard nut to crack. I would hate to waste a lot of money on individuals who would prefer to be homeless. At the same time, as government o cials we are expected to be helpful and kind to all our residents, sheltered or not. I would engage with partner organizations, CCD, other municipalities to have a multi-tier program to get those – who want to be o the street – o .
‘reckless’
claims of voting security issues
Clerks respond to accusations from former GOP candidate
BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Less than a month out from Election Day, current and former local election o cials met in Douglas County to contest claims of voting security problems after a barrage of allegations raised by Colorado’s 2022 Republican candidate for governor, Heidi Ganahl.
Ganahl’s e ort to push those claims is “a reckless attempt for attention,” said Matt Crane, a Republican who is a former Arapahoe County clerk and recorder.
Clerks act as the top election o cials for their counties, and the Douglas and Boulder clerks showed up alongside Crane to speak in Highlands Ranch about voting security following Ganahl’s bevy of claims that partly focused on Douglas County. e former candidate said the voting system could be exposed to unauthorized remote access, but clerks disputed that concern.
“Our o cials have been patting us on the head, telling us everything is ne; everything is not ne, and how would they even know?” Ganahl said in a recent post on the Rocky Mountain Voice, a conservative outlet that she founded.
At the news conference, two weeks after Ganahl took aim at Douglas County, the local clerk announced a new e ort to ensure con dence in the election system.
“Douglas County will be providing a live stream of the surveillance (feed) at each of our 21 drop boxes throughout this election,” Douglas Clerk Sheri Davis said. e public can view the 24/7 live stream of the video surveillance via the drop box locations page on the county website at douglasvotes.com.
“And remember, elections are run by people from right in your own community who make sure the process is secure and that your vote counts,” Davis, a Republican, said in a statement after the news conference.
Clerks began mailing ballots on Oct. 11 to registered voters for the November election. Overseas and military voters’ ballots were sent out by Sept. 21, according to the Colorado Secretary of State’s O ce.
Here’s a look at what clerks had to say about Ganahl’s claims.
‘Unauthorized access’ concerns Voters who follow the news may be familiar with the question of whether voting systems can be hacked or misused via the internet.
“We can con rm through purchase order records and written con rmation from the Douglas County clerk’s o ce that there are indeed wireless networking cards installed in their voting system computers that could be used to expose the voting system to unauthorized remote access,” Ganahl said in the post.
Asked about access to the election system, Davis said there is a number of voting equipment pieces that have Wi-Fi capability throughout the state, but they’re disabled.
“It would require physical access of two di erent teams to enable that — one is the secretary of state, and one is Douglas County,” Davis said, arguing it would be impossible for the connection to be turned on.
e nearby Je erson County clerk’s ofce recently weighed in on the question.
“No vote counting machines in Colorado are connected to the internet,” Sarah McAfee, a spokesperson for the Je erson clerk’s o ce, has said.
She added that “in larger counties that have multiple vote counting machines, these machines may be networked together, but it is a closed network, not accessible from outside the room the equipment is housed in.”
She cited a Colorado election rule that can be found at tinyurl.com/InternetConnectionRule.
County elections o ces transmit results to the Colorado Secretary of State’s O ce, McAfee said.
“I believe it’s accurate to say that every county has at least one, but probably not more than two … internet-connected computers that are used to upload election results,” McAfee said. But “these computers are never connected to the counting machines or the closed network the counting machines may be a part of. ey do upload the results le from the counting machines through an internet connection to the secretary of state’s o ce.”
But even if the internet connection to the state election o ce were somehow tampered with and uno cial election results reporting to the public were a ected, the original voting results le would still be intact, McAfee said.
“Vote counting and election certi cation would not be impacted by any disruption to election night results reporting,” McAfee said.
Eye on ballots
Ganahl also focused on the idea that ballots could be used improperly.
“Based on what we have discovered in our analysis, we are very concerned that drop boxes are ripe for foul play with inadequate monitoring,” Ganahl said in the post. Fraudulent ballots would come up invalid because of how they’re tracked, Jack Twite, Douglas County’s deputy of elections, has said.
“We use that barcode that’s on your return envelope — it’s one per voter per election and never repeated,” Twite has said. He added, “And if somebody made copies of those envelopes and tried to put them back, if we receive two, only one gets counted.”
And ballots still go through signature veri cation as a guard against fraud, according to a recent presentation put on by election sta ers in Golden.
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Feeling election stress?
calm amid political tensions
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
If you’re feeling stressed about the upcoming election, you’re not alone. Mental health professionals are seeing a spike in election-related stress, with concerns ranging from political divisions to uncertainty about the future.
“I’m hearing and seeing people who are anxious and stressed about what’s going to happen,” said Randi Smith a psychology professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver. “ ere is a general sense of uncertainty and fear among some that things are going to fall apart to such a degree that they are questioning if they can even make plans in November.”
All that election-related distress is negatively impacting the country’s mental health. Results of three national surveys found that close to half of U.S. adults say politics is a signi cant source of stress, citing problems such as lost sleep, shortened tempers and obsessive thoughts.
While political anxiety may be unavoidable, especially if you’re surrounded by family, friends or neighbors with opposing views, the good news is that there are practical steps you can take to keep your sanity leading up to and after Nov. 5.
Take screen breaks
Smith said it’s essential to recognize that our social media feeds and the news we tune into tend to reinforce our belief systems.
“ ese belief systems have become increasingly polarized over the last eight or 10 years to the point where we don’t all nec-
treme views, most vehement arguments and most radical takedowns, that’s only because they are controversy aggregators and outrage is their business model.
“Such outlooks are not necessarily representative of most people’s actual beliefs,” Smith continued.
Cultivate perspective
While it may feel safer to avoid those who disagree with you or express opposing views, Smith said having conversations with others helps us see we have more in common than we think and that exaggerated hyperbolic rhetoric doesn’t
Connect with your support system
“We should never underestimate the value and importance of social support. If you’re feeling stressed about the political process, nding others with similar viewpoints could be a real comfort,” Smith said.
Yet, be careful not to spend too much time in groups that reinforce our sense of angst.
“We de nitely need the support of other people who are like-minded, especially when the world feels threatening,” Smith said. “But when we nd ourselves in conversations stuck on the threat of what could happen, it heightens our fear and
cycle of catastrophizing is to recognize that you’re doing it and that going down that rabbit hole will be awful and then to nd sources of comfort.
“For some, it might be spiritual or faithbased. For other people, it might be more cognitive, like mindfulness-based meditation. Certainly, social relationships for almost everybody are really good,” she said. Smith also recommends nding sources of distraction, like reading a book, going for a hike or watching a movie. While physical activity is great for relieving anxiety and depression, she said it won’t
It was a Christmas night like the ones over the years. Close to three dozen of us gathered into our family’s eight hundred square foot house. e little ones played in the cellar and the older kids mingled with the adults who congregated mainly in the dining room, where we sang songs like “Pu , the Magic Dragon,” “Blowin’ in the Wind,” and “Deck the Halls” as Dominick — sister Helen’s husband and family Chet Atkins — played guitar.
My mother, who had taken refuge in her bedroom for a while, emerged and surveyed the scene. “Sing ‘Joy to the World,’” she said
On cue, one of her teenage grandsons let loose with “Jeremiah was a bullfrog!” He was quickly joined by his siblings and cousins who nished the verse and then the chorus, wishing joy to everyone, even the sh in the deep blue sea, and ending with “Joy to you and me.” eir grandma smiled and shook her head while the rest of us roared. It was moment of family joy.
In “Desert Solitaire,” Edward Abby speculates about the role joy might’ve played in evolution. Interestingly he writes about joy in context of the spadefoot toads’ croaking, whose vocalizations are not exactly harmonious to the hu-
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
The U.S. needs to stop sending weapons to Israel
VOICES
Joy to you and me
man ear. Abbey wonders whether their croaking is more than about attracting a mate or communicating with neighbors. Perhaps it’s done, he muses, out of “spontaneous love and joy, a contrapuntal choral celebration” celebrating the recent rainfall after an extended dry period. And possibly out of love for their existence and everyday life.
What? A song about the joy of life? Better yet, how about a symphony? Like Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy?”
Joy is experiencing a revival, strangely because of politics. Now there’s an anomaly: mean-spirited politics making bedfellows with joy. More than pause; it jolts because joy hasn’t just been divorced from politics, it’s been ostracized, expelled, exiled, like Napolean to Elba. We can debate whether joy’s demise is a cause of our social-political miasma or the result of sinister forces seeking to crush it, but I’ll leave that to you to consider.
In “Finding Joy and Engaging in the Dance of Life,” Allison Abrams states that studies show about half of human hap-
piness is genetically predisposed and ten percent circumstantial. at means we control forty percent of our happiness quotient. And that means each of us has plenty of space to amp it up. But, she says, it takes hard work and a strong willingness to make it happen. Nonetheless, evidence shows happiness and, by extension, joy is largely a choice. Which means if you’re not feeling it and there are no painful circumstances preventing it, consider taking a good look into your psychological mirror.
Abbey believes joy is correlated to the survival rate in evolution. He avers the morose and fearful eventually go extinct because courage depends on joy. Without courage, animals—Sapiens included—shrink, tremble, and hide in terror. It’s hard to feel happy and joyful if you’re waiting for a bomb to explode or if you’re a target for hate, yet our friends in the animal kingdom seem to feel it in spite of their fraught environment, like the frogs and toads who croak incessantly despite the presence of predators like snakes, owls and whatnot.
When I read Abbey’s musings, I wondered whether there was a link between them and ree Dog Night’s “Joy to the World,” since Abbey published “Desert Solitaire” in 1968 and TDN’s hit followed
two years later. But I found no evidence to support that. Nevertheless, it seems too coincidental that Abbey and Hoyt Axton, who wrote the song, correlated joy with croaking toads and frogs. Happy little critters, it seems, despite many of them destined to be dinner or objects for experimentation by high school biology students.
Joy is happiness on steroids. As such, it’s a high, an upper. Even though it’s short-lived like any high, it leaves an imprint, an indelible etching in the psyche. Like a healthy diet, it’s needed. Although Abbey wasn’t a psychologist or evolutionary scientist, he put his nger on an essential truth: ere’s a strong correlation between long-term survival and one’s sense of happiness and joy. It’s from that we can meet life head on with undaunted courage.
Mum’s joy was evinced by the one Christmas song she requested. Not “Silent Night” or “Adeste Fidelis,” but “Joy to the World.” Even though her grandkids hijacked her request, we knew she felt it. We were her family. And that’s where she found joy.
Jerry Fabyanic is the author of “Sisyphus Wins” and “Food for ought: Essays on Mind and Spirit.” He lives in Georgetown.
Before Oct. 7, 2023 Israel had ethnically cleansed most of Palestine of Palestinians. ousands of Palestinian homes had been destroyed to make way for Jewish only settlements. e West Bank and Gaza were one of the most brutal occupations on earth. From 2008 to 2022 Israel killed over 6,000 Palestinians. e Gaza was invaded multiple times. Israel killed protesters with snipers. e U.N. had declared the Gaza unlivable. On Oct. 7 Hamas invaded Israel, attacked civilian as well as military targets and killed over 1,100 people. Israel, a people long su ering from antisemitic violence culminating in the Holocaust, responded with rage. ey have killed over 42,000 people in Gaza with bombs the people have no defense against. ey have blocked food, water and medicines to 2.3 million people causing famine, polio and other disease outbreaks. ey assassinated the chief Hamas negotiator for a cease re. Hezbollah has been shooting rockets at Northern Israel in support of the Palestinians, causing over 60,000 Israelis to be evacuated. In response Israel has bombed Lebanon and invaded, killing over 2,000 people. In response to this and the assassinations of top Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, Iran shot rockets at Israel killing one person. Israel promises revenge. Israel’s actions have caused antisemitism to dramatically increase. e best way to reduce this escalating violence is for the U.S. to stop sending weapons to Israel. ese weapons shipments violate U.S. law
and fuel the violence. A recent CBS YouGov poll found 61% of Americans do not support more weapons to Israel. Yet none of the major party candidates for congress have spoken out against these weapons. Please call Sen. Michael Bennet at 202-224-5852, Sen, John Hickenlooper at 202-2245941 and Rep. Brittany Pettersen at 202-225-2645 and tell them to call for stopping weapons to Israel.
Bruce Morrison, Arvada
RE: ‘Je co Senate, House and Commissioner candidates address voters at Ralston Valley Coalition forum’
Having just returned to Arvada after being gone this past month, I’ve been catching up on my past copies of the Arvada Press. I would now like to “throw a ag” on state Rep. Brianna Titone’s football analogy of the 2024 Colorado legislature’s removal of limits on private government communications and public transparency of them. During election years I can see a political party’s team needs to “huddle before a play” in their candidates’ e orts for re-election but not during the actual legislative sessions. During our legislative e orts it is of ultimate importance and an imperative for all the state’s representatives and senators to all be on the same team during the making of each new state law. While any law may need to be updated, private political party discussions during sessions are unnecessary and unproductive. ese non-public communications avoid the openness needed in our state government’s legislative e orts, especially since the current majority in Colorado is an
ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
often one-sided political party rule. Representation in government is for all Coloradoans. Voters need this to be a requirement of any American government actions. is has also been a big issue with District 19’s past representative, Brianna Titone. is representative’s reasoning for legislations passed have been severely limited. Community members’ inputs have often been ignored in this representative’s processes.
For example, take Titone’s representation on a 2023 STEM statute that didn’t refer to or use longstanding Colorado knowledge and programs for this new statute. e nationally recognized 2010 Business and Education Talent Readiness program for STEM, made by the Colorado Department of Employment and Labor, included many on-line materials and videos and an already developed and paid for STEM student mentoring website. Governor Ritter said these program materials could be a major advantage for all Colorado students that want to enter these elds, and it was never put to real use. Government wastes of developed materials and funds have been a major issue in Colorado. e problem is the representation for all communities, and their input in state representatives’ and senators’ e orts. Not all elected ofcials are alike, even if they are in the same political party, as Rachael Zenzinger has been in her representations of both House 19 and Senate 24. e recent redistricting for both our State House and Senate Districts has had its advantages, in my opinion. Gary Sco eld, Arvada
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JERRY FABYANIC
Columnist
A remembrance of Jim Green, who helped millions ‘hoooold on’ at DIA
Denver-based sound artist died in September
BY KATHRYN CHARLES
SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Jim Green was a towering gure in the art world, known mostly for his public art sound sculptures in airports, city sidewalks, and museums.
On Sept. 11, Jim slipped away from Earth in the same manner he approached his art: subtly catching us all by surprise through his positive a rmations, greetings and unexpected sounds that brought joy to passersby.
Jim Green, a CU graduate with a masters in ne arts, was the “Mr. Rogers” of the art world.
Green was probably the rst to record creative messages for public transportation, including the greetings on the train at Denver International Airport, on rapid transit in Salt Lake City, and in Fort Collins.
Jim instructed us to “HOLD ON, the train is departing,” using the voices of Alan Roach, Reynelda Muse, Peyton Manning and Lindsay Vonn. His chimes between messages were homemade from various plumbing pipes and early synthesizers.
Green’s notable “Singing Sinks” at the Denver Art Museum revolutionized the public’s experience of hand washing when they unexpectedly triggered a trio of three sinks singing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.”
Green recorded all the sounds connected to the Martin Luther King Memorial in Denver’s City Park, where people gather annually on King’s birthday for the annual MLK ‘Marade’ down Colfax to Civic Center Park.
Jim loved working with the sound of water, and his “Talking Drinking Fountains” in Seattle’s Airport continues to amuse thirsty travelers.
“Sound Walk” along Curtis Street
next to Denver’s Federal Reserve building transported pedestrians from their heady thoughts through recordings of subway trains, yodeling, and cow mooing mysteriously seeping out of sidewalk grates.
Visitors attending a multitude of Colorado Convention Center gatherings enjoyed the sound of laughter on a usually boring escalator ride up to the second oor.
e “Talking Trash Cans” in front of the Arvada Center welcomed visitors with greetings of positive a rmations including “I like your shoes,” or “You look great today!”
Perhaps one of the most complicated projects was Green’s “Talking Parking Meters” placed in the market place at Denver’s Central Park. Coins went toward Hickenlooper’s Road Home Project bene ting unhoused people.
“Unplugged,” installed in Denver’s Museum of Contemporary Art, consisted of pneumatic compressors activating the rich, various noises of Whoopie Cushions pressed automatically under plexiglass, again triggered by motion. It is one of the museum’s most successful longrunning exhibitions.
“ e Red Phone” installed at Redline made a direct connection with Green, who was willing to talk to his audience one at a time, live.
Jim Green was listening.
Jim Green was a keen observer of human nature peculiarity. His early recordings and research led him to travel the country one summer to document the sounds of amusement parks and state fairs. He amassed a catalogue of people working at sideshows, recording their shticks and their stories.
Green’s positive spin on a dark world brought a little more humanity to our lives. His message to the world was clear, concise, positive and playful. He reminded us to be present, listen to the world around us, and most of all, not take ourselves too seriously.
Jim Green, who created sound designs in public spaces around the Denver metro area, died Sept. 11. COURTESY OF KATHRYN CHARLES
Colorado’s byways o er views, history
BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Some might say that what’s important is the journey, not the destination — and if you travel in Colorado, you might encounter roads that are considered “destinations unto themselves.”
ose include a couple of Colorado’s more than two dozen designated byways: signi cant roads that are, for many Coloradans, o the beaten path. Around the state, those roads are marked as byways because they hold archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational or scenic qualities.
“We protect those intrinsic qualities,” said Lenore Bates, who manages Colorado’s byways program.
e routes drive economic activity, too. e roads attract travelers, said Bates, adding that they can be “like a bucket list” item.
“Just like the national parks,” Bates said. People “will arrive just to do that byway.” e routes mark the map around Colorado, with some falling close to Denver and others sitting a longer drive away. Here’s a look at the state’s byways system and information about the roads.
Decades of byways
Colorado’s Scenic and Historic Byways program works to protect and promote the byways, Bates said.
Nationally, in the 1960s, “there was a lot of interest in outdoor recreation, and then in the 70s, it got put on the back burner,” Bates said.
Colorado’s byways program started in 1989, Bates said.
At the federal level, the National Scenic Byways program was created in 1991. It’s an e ort to help recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads around the country, according to a federal news release.
ere are 13 of Colorado’s 26 byways designated at the federal level as America’s Byways, which gives Colorado more national designations than any other state, according to the state program’s webpage.
‘Grassroots’ involvement
Each of Colorado’s byways has its own local organization that helps take care of and oversee the roads.
ose groups can fall under other entities, such as a county, a national park or national heritage area, or they could be a nonpro t, Bates said.
“So they’re very grassroots,” Bates said, adding: “A lot of them are, of course, volunteers who have full-time jobs.”
Byway groups might be involved in making updates to outdated resources, a visitor center or a rest area, for example.
“We’re trying to get everything ADA accessible or accessible for people who need visual resources,” Bates said, referring to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
One challenge the byways community faces is updating the kiosks — boards with historical information that people can pull over and read, Bates said.
“Unfortunately, a lot of those stories are outdated, and the language is not always up to current view,” Bates said. “And they might be missing somebody’s story on that storyline — it might be one-sided. So we’re trying to get those stories updated slowly. It’s a huge endeavor.”
“We need to get tribal input and other organizations to give those stories,” she added.
Overall, Colorado’s byways program is managed by a governor-appointed commission of up to 15 members, including representatives from a variety of government bodies, Bates said.
Money for taking care of Colorado’s byways comes from a mix of federal and state government sources, as well as local fundraising, Bates said.
‘All-American’ travel
Some byways get a special designation as an “All-American Road.”
To be highlighted with that title, a byway must meet criteria for at least two of the “intrinsic” qualities that are nationally signi cant and have one-of-a-kind features that do not exist elsewhere, according to the federal byways webpage.
“ e road or highway must also be considered a ‘destination unto itself,’” the webpage says. “ at is, the road must provide an exceptional traveling experience so recognized by travelers that they would make a drive along the (road) a primary reason for their trip.”
Colorado has two All-American Roads: Trail Ridge Road, running between Estes Park and Grand Lake, and San Juan Skyway, which runs in the Durango and Telluride areas.
In general, the last time Colorado designated a new byway was in 2014, when Tracks Across Borders Byway was designated between Durango and Chama, New Mexico, Bates said.
Colorado’s byways include paved and unpaved roads. All of them have access to local recreation, such as trailheads, state parks or national parks, Bates said.
“Some of them have parallel paths on a portion of the corridor — for example, along the West Elk Loop is the Crystal Valley Trail” in the Carbondale area, Bates said.
Some of the byways host cycling events, such as Ride the Rockies, Bates added.
How many byways have you been on?
Here’s a list of Colorado’s byways, their length according to CDOT, and their location, starting with some near Denver.
Lariat Loop: Runs 40 miles through the Morrison, Golden, Bergen Park and Evergreen areas
Peak to Peak: Runs 55 miles between the Estes Park and Black Hawk areas. e route “provides matchless views of the Continental Divide and its timbered approaches,” CDOT’s webpage for the byway says
Mount Blue Sky (formerly Mount Evans): Runs 49 miles, winding from the Idaho Springs area to the Bergen Park area. Reservations are required for vehicle entry at Mount Blue Sky. See recreation.gov. e road to Mount Blue Sky is currently closed and is not expected to reopen until mid-2026.
Guanella Pass: Runs 22 miles between the Georgetown and Grant areas. Guanella Pass Road is seasonally closed on or about Nov. 26
Trail Ridge Road at Rocky Mountain National Park: Runs 48 miles between the Estes Park and Grand Lake areas. For up-to-date information on the status of Trail Ridge Road, call 970-586-1222
Alpine Loop: Runs 63 miles, generally between the Lake City, Silverton and Ouray areas
Cache la Poudre – North Park: Runs 101 miles between the Fort Collins and Walden areas
Collegiate Peaks: Runs 57 miles (one way), generally between the Granite and Salida areas
Colorado River Headwaters: Runs 80 miles. “ e route begins at Grand Lake, an old resort town on the shores of Colorado’s largest natural lake, and ends on a gravel road through spectacular Upper Gore Canyon,” CDOT’s website says
Dinosaur Diamond: Runs 134 miles or about 500 miles total in Colorado and Utah, according to CDOT. In Colorado, it goes between the Dinosaur and Fruita areas
Flat Tops Trail: Runs 82 miles between the Yampa and Meeker areas
Frontier Pathways: Runs 103 miles, generally between the Pueblo, Silver Cli and Rye areas
Gold Belt Tour: Runs 131 miles and includes multiple roads between the Florissant and Canon City areas
Grand Mesa: Runs 63 miles, generally winding between the Mesa and Cedaredge areas
Highway of Legends: Runs 82 miles, generally in three legs running from the Walsenburg, Aguilar and Trinidad areas and through the Monument Park area
Los Caminos Antiguos: Runs 129 miles, according to CDOT, generally in the Alamosa, San Luis and Conejos areas
Pawnee Pioneer Trails: Runs 128 miles, generally between the Sterling, Fort Morgan and Ault areas
San Juan Skyway: Runs 236 miles in a loop, generally between the Durango, Cortez and Ridgway areas. e roads go “snaking through the woods in the shadow of impressive 14,000-foot peaks,” CDOT’s webpage says
Santa Fe Trail: Runs 188 miles or about 565 miles total for Colorado and New Mexico, according to CDOT. In Colorado, it runs roughly from the Lamar area to the Trinidad area
Silver read: Runs 117 miles, roughly from the Gunnison area to the South Fork area
South Platte River Trail: Runs 19 miles in a loop roughly between the Julesburg and Ovid areas
Top of the Rockies: Runs 115 miles, generally between the Aspen and Vail areas
Tracks Across Borders: Runs 89 miles or about 125 miles total for Colorado and New Mexico, according to CDOT. In Colorado, it goes roughly from the Durango area past the Arboles area
Trail of the Ancients: Runs 116 miles or about 480 miles total for Colorado and Utah, according to CDOT. In Colorado, it goes roughly from the Four Corners Monument through the Cortez area and past the Yellow Jacket area
Unaweep Tabeguache: Runs 133 miles, generally between the Norwood area and the Whitewater area near Grand Junction
West Elk Loop: Runs 205 miles, generally between the Carbondale and Gunnison areas.
For more details about each byway, see the program’s page on the Colorado Department of Transportation website at codot.gov/travel/colorado-byways.
Fall leaves show various colors in the Guanella Pass byway area on Oct. 12 in the Georgetown area.
PHOTOS BY ELLIS ARNOLD
of Colorado’s byways o Interstate 70.
‘Dracula’ gets a feminist revision at Arvada Center
Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” is easily one of the most well-known stories in the world, one that brought the idea of vampires to the masses. And culture has never been the same since.
Over the centuries, there have been numerous ri s on this classic tale, but not many have the sharpness — both in wit and societal commentary — that Kate Hamill’s “Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really,” carries. And now that show is swooping into the Arvada Center, just in time for spooky season.
“ e show is very much rooted in Stoker’s book, but audiences will get really cool twists on who end up being the protagonists in the play,” said Lance Rasmussen, who plays Jonathan Harker. “In the play, this historically terrible monster of a person is met by strong-willed and determined women who work to stop him.”
Directed by Carolyn Howarth, “Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really,” runs at the Arvada Center’s Black Box eatre, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., through Sunday, Nov. 3. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday, 1 p.m. on Wednesday, and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. e show is an over-the-top (in the best way), gory and hilarious retelling of the Dracula story, one that takes the Victorian tropes of women’s role in society
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and turns them on their head.
Clarke Reader
“We decided to really lean into the camp aspect of the show, especially because we found some of the darker moments hit harder when they’re paired with the camp style,” Rasmussen said. “I think this is the kind of show people aren’t used to seeing in the theater. It’s a lot more cinematic, and the humor and styling are much more of a pop horror approach.”
While staging the show, there were the typical challenges, but “Dracula” is unique in all the special e ects puzzles that needed solving, including how the sprays of blood would work. All the gore and humor are not simply present for entertainment’s sake, but to help underscore the play’s key point, which is the way societal systems can be harmful to everybody.
“It’s not men against women, but instead is everybody against these problematic systems that exploit everyone,” Rasmussen said. “We want people to be thinking by the play’s end and maybe wonder what they can do to change the systems they’re involved in.”
More information and tickets
are available at https://arvadacenter.org/events/dracula-afeminist-revenge-fantasy-really.
PACE Center visually highlights Día de los Muertos e Parker Arts, Culture & Events Center is hosting a Día de los Muertos art exhibit through Saturday, Nov. 30, which delves
into the holiday’s special signi cance for people all over the world.
According to provided information, the curated exhibit features the rich cultural traditions and artistic expressions of Día de los Muertos, allowing visitors to explore many sides of the holiday. And from 5 to 8 p.m. on
Tuesday, Nov. 5, there will be a reception and celebration, hosted in collaboration with Global Village Academy. Attendees will be able to participate in interactive activities, see an ofrenda (altar) created by Academy students and more.
In “Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really,” a historically terrible monster of a person is met by strong-willed and determined women who work to stop him.
AMANDA TIPTON PHOTOGRAPHY / COURTESY OF THE ARVADA CENTER
Thu 10/31
Youth Swim Lessons WRC Level 1-2
@ 3:30pm Oct 31st - Dec 19th
Wulf Recreation Center, 5300 S Olive Road, Evergreen. 720-880-1000
All Hallows' Eve w/ The Dollhouse Thieves
@ 5pm
Starburn Will Be Rocking In The Zone! @ 7pm In The Zone Sports Bar and Grill, 15600 West 44th Ave, Golden
Deadmau5 @ 7pm Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison
Nils Hoffmann @ 6pm Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison
Tue 11/05
Advanced Boys Gymnastics (6-17yo)Nov
@ 3:15am Nov 5th - Nov 25th
Wulf Recreation Center, 5300 S Olive Road, Evergreen. 720-880-1000
Pickleball - Beginner- Nov 5 & 12 @ 7am Nov 5th - Nov 12th
Wulf Recreation Center, 5300 S Olive Road, Evergreen. 720-880-1000
Beginner Girls Gymnastics (6-17yo)Nov @ 5:15pm Nov 5th - Nov 19th Wulf Recreation Center, 5300 S Olive Road, Evergreen. 720-880-1000
Jazz 3 @ 5:15pm Nov 5th - Nov 19th Buchanan Park Recreation Center, 32003 Elling‐wood Trail, Evergreen. 720-880-1000
Youth Basketball Clinic - Boys 7th-8th Tue Nov/Dec @ 7pm Nov 5th - Dec 19th Wulf Recreation Center, 5300 S Olive Road, Evergreen. 720-880-1000
Sonic Highways @ 7pm Buffalo Rose, 1119 Washington Ave, Golden Sat 11/02
Yachty Got Back @ 8pm The Oriental Theater, 4335 W 44th Ave, Denver
Dani Flow @ 9pm
Eclipse Event Center, 2155 S Sheridan Blvd, Denver
Sun 11/03
CRi: Anjunadeep Open Air Red Rocks @ 2pm Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison
Anjunadeep @ 6pm Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison
Mon 11/04
Girls Hot Shots Gymnastics (4-6yo)Nov @ 4:15pm Nov 4th - Nov 20th
Wulf Recreation Center, 5300 S Olive Road, Evergreen. 720-880-1000
pigeon pit @ 7pm
Wed 11/06
Sister Hazel @ 6pm Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison
Youth Basketball Clinic - Girls 6th-8th Wed Nov/Dec @ 6:30pm Nov 6th - Dec 18th Wulf Recreation Center, 5300 S Olive Road, Evergreen. 720-880-1000
Seventh Circle Music Collective, 2935 W 7th Ave, Denver
Performance Team @ 7:30pm Nov 4th - Nov 26th
Wulf Recreation Center, 5300 S Olive Road, Evergreen. 720-880-1000
Dustin Lynch @ 7pm
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison
Lakewood’s Bright MINDS Program o ers lifeline for students with dyslexia
Dyslexia Awareness Month shines light on unique needs
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
At Alameda International Junior/Senior High School in Lakewood, Sophomore River Gallegos is nding his stride after years of struggling with dyslexia in a traditional school setting. Now in his fourth year in the Bright MINDS program, Gallegos describes the school as a place where he can truly t in, and not just academically.
Bright MINDS (the second part stands for Multisensory Intensive Dyslexia Support) provides specialized support for middle and high schoolers with dyslexia, ensuring they receive the tailored education they need to succeed. rough multisensory teaching techniques and a focus on self-advocacy, the program helps students like Gallegos and Hudson Judy — two of its rst enrollees — navigate their academic challenges while fully integrating into school life. By fostering an environment of understanding and empowerment, Gallegos, Judy and their classmates are overcoming hurdles and gaining con dence while also breathing a sigh of relief.
Earlier this year, parents and students were told Bright MINDS would be scaled back dramatically due to inadequate funding and a sta ng shortage.
Within a few weeks of the announcement, the Je erson County School District reversed its position and said it was committed to keeping the program open. e district has lived up to its word. e program’s 23 students, who are a mix of 7th, 8th and high school grades, moved to a newly renovated area of the
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library and now occupy two large classrooms. ere are no signs of slowing down.
Andrea Arguello, assistant principal and program administrator, said her colleagues and students love the new space and are enthusiastic about recruiting more students to apply.
“I would love to get the word out to all of Je erson County and people around the state. Our mission is to ensure that dyslexic children are educated in a way that they need, so they can be successful in middle and high school.”
e district empowered the school to build the program, which opened in 2021, from the ground up, demonstrating its commitment to serving dyslexic students, whose struggles often go unrecognized until they are years behind in reading.
“Elementary school was the worst,” Judy said. “I had no help, and I didn’t enjoy school at all. ey put me in these classes that separated me from the other kids, which gave me less con dence in myself.”
At Alameda, Judy, now in 11th grade, is thriving.
“ e help we get here is unlike any other school,” he said. “I feel con dent asking for help. It’s okay to struggle in school, and now I can just be myself.”
Sophomore Zila Bobian said she wasn’t diagnosed with dyslexia until 6th grade, and for years, no one knew what was wrong with her even though she sensed all along that reading was di cult.
“So when I came to this school, it really helped me out because there are other people who have dyslexia and understand what I’m experiencing,” Bobian said. “It was just easier for me with these classes.”
Bobian is also part of TRiO, a grantfunded college preparatory program
through the Colorado School of Mines. A university counselor teaches TRiO participants a daily advising class focused on academic and career guidance, tutoring, and grade-speci c workshops on student success topics, including ACT/ SAT prep, college applications andnancial aid.
“With the college prep program, we’re showing them they can make it to college and be successful,” said Jessica urby, program learning specialist and reading interventionist.
Mexico,” Arguello said. “Other families drive from as far as Brighton.” Families can apply for Bright MINDS through the Je erson County enrollment process or contact the school for more information.
Dyslexia awareness
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Dyslexia-friendly public school e Bright MINDS program is unique in Colorado and possibly the country. It’s a rare opportunity for families to receive such individualized support at a public school.
Students are also fully integrated into the school.
“ eir intervention is not in place of their English class,” Arguello said. “It’s what our Bright MINDS teachers give them, and then they’re completely mainstreamed with students in their subjects. Because Alemeda’s principal, Susie Van Scoyk, Arguello, urby and others strive to create a dyslexia-friendly school, students say they feel understood by all of their teachers, not just the ones trained in special education.
“We’re working with all of our sta to know what dyslexia is,” said urby. “And we’re implementing universal accommodations in classrooms so anybody who may be struggling, whether they’re part of the program or not, can succeed.”
Although Van Scoyk said the district is working to train all its teachers, this type of culture is rare. As a result, students travel long distances to get to school each morning.
“We had a student relocate from New
October is designated as Dyslexia Awareness Month to raise public understanding of dyslexia, promote early diagnosis and intervention and support individuals with dyslexia. Dyslexia is a learning disability that a ects how the brain processes written language, making reading and spelling di cult. It a ects 15% to 20% of the population but is commonly misunderstood.
Individuals with dyslexia can learn to read, especially when they receive explicit instructional support.
According to Dr. Sally Shaywitz, M.D., a prominent dyslexia researcher and co-director of the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity, “Dyslexia is an island of weakness surrounded by a sea of strengths.”
Dr. Shaywitz developed a model highlighting that while students have weaknesses in decoding words and phonological processing, they are often gifted in reasoning, critical thinking, problemsolving, general knowledge, and concept formation.
Students with dyslexia are often challenging to identify because their strengths can mask their weaknesses. According to the Colorado Department of Education, “At times, what may appear as lack of e ort or avoidance of reading tasks may in fact be fatigue due to challenges processing information di erently than their peers.”
e only way to identify dyslexia is through an assessment and evaluation.
From left, River Gallegos, Hudson Judy, Zila Bobian and Sami Rericha say they are more confident and self-assured thanks to the Bright MINDS program.
PHOTO BY SUZIE GLASSMAN
Lakewood’s shy ‘turtle’ cat goes viral, melting hearts on TikTok
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Meet eodore, the irresistibly shy cat taking refuge at Lakewood’s Cat Care Society. With his adorable antics, eodore has taken the internet by storm. Snuggling under a bean bag like a tiny turtle, his heartwarming journey to condence has captivated nearly 2 million TikTok viewers, turning him into an overnight sensation and a fan favorite. e original post, captioned “When you’re new to the oor, and you’re kind of shy,” shows eodore scurrying underneath a bean bag, implying the shy cat is trying not to call attention to himself as he goes about his business.
A note taped to the bean bag reads, “Do not sit or step on me. My name is eodore, and I identify as a turtle and am under here.”
e Cat Care Society sta have dubbed
All the pertinents can be found at https://parkerarts.org/event/art-gallery-exhibit-dia-de-los-muertos/.
Osi Sladek shares story of Holocaust survival at the Arvada Center
As time goes on, we’re losing more and more eye-witness survivors of the Holocaust, which means it’s crucially important to amplify their voices while they’re
eodore brave when he comes out from under the bean bag and a turtle when he
still willing to share their stories. In that spirit, the Arvada Center is partnering with Chabad of NW Metro Denver to present An Evening Remembering the Holocaust featuring Osi Sladek. e event will be held at the center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27. Attendees will experience Sladek’s story of survival and hope on screen, followed by a live Q&A with the man himself. He’ll also be signing copies of his memoir, “Escape to the Tatras,” from 6 to 6:50 p.m. ere will also be a special presentation of music from the Holocaust by the Red Rock String Quar-
remains. Posts invite followers to tune in to see if today is a “brave” day or a “turtle day.”
tet musical ensemble.
More information and tickets are available at https://arvadacenter.org/events/ an-evening-remembering-the-holocaust.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Samara Joy at the Paramount Theatre
We don’t really get jazz singers making a big splash the way they used to these days, which is a shame, because a really great jazz singer can absolutely rock you back if you let them. New York City’s Samara Joy is a great jazz singer, one who is helping to lead the way for a new gen-
Several commenters stated they could relate. “I identify as eodore,” said one. “Sometimes we all just need to be a turtle until we’re feeling brave.” and “If eodore can be brave, then so can I,” others said.
e limited-admission cat shelter, which opened in 1981 and runs solely on individual donations, is enjoying its 15 minutes of fame.
“ is viral moment is an incredible opportunity to raise awareness about our shelter and the unique services we provide,” Cat Care Society Executive Director EC Michaels said in a press release.
Ashleigh Leader, the shelter’s director of philanthropy, added, “Several families have inquired about adopting eodore, which is amazing.”
Leader said the shelter is unique in that cats are free-roaming and not caged. To learn more or make a donation, visit the organization’s website.
eration of young jazz vocalists. In 2023, she won the Grammy for Best New Artist, and she’s just released her lovely third album, “Portrait.”
In support of the record, Joy will be stopping by the Paramount eatre, 1621 Glenarm Place in Denver, at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30. If you’ve listened to any of Joy’s music, you know that a venue like the Paramount is perfect for her. Get tickets at www.ticketmaster.com.
Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.
Shelter employees have fun playing with Theodore’s shy personality.
Arvada Fire wins inaugural charity softball game over Arvada Police
Firefighters victorious by 15-12 score
BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Arvada re ghters will have some bragging rights over their police counterparts for the foreseeable future, as the Arvada Fire Protection District defeated the Arvada Police Department in the two’s inaugural charity softball matchup by a score of 15-12.
In addition to the main event, a junior varsity police vs. re matchup was contested early in the day, games were played between the Water Hawks and Sewer Stallions (comprised of employees of the city’s public works department), and folks from the Apex Parks and Recreation Department took on the city’s parks team.
e undercard games were contested in a tournament-style bracket. All games were played at the Youth Memorial Sports Complex. e games were organized by the Arvada Vitality Alliance, along with a number of sponsors including the City of Arvada, Bambei Brewing and Umps Care Charities.
Arvada Fire Protection District Public Information O cer Brady Johnston said the department was thrilled to be part of the rst police vs. re softball game.
“We’re proud to have some bragging rights over our rst response partners,” Johnston said. “ is was a fantastic inaugural event and we were thankful to be a part of it. More important than the score, this event was all about charity and the community that makes Arvada so special.”
Joining in on the festivities was Colorado Rockies mascot Dinger, who gave hugs and pep talks alike to the players. “ is was an incredible event, not only an opportunity for some friendly competition with colleagues and friends, but more importantly a way to raise funds for a charity that directly impacts the people in Arvada,” APD Commander Jason Ammon said.
Over $10,000 was raised for charity at the event.
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‘This was a fantastic inaugural event and we were thankful to be a part of it. More important than the score, this event was all about charity and the community that makes Arvada so special.’
Brady Johnston,
Arvada Fire Protection District public information o cer
The Arvada Fire team was presented with the inaugural trophy.
The police squad and the fire squad pose for a post-game photo. PHOTOS
Ralston Valley boys soccer back-to-back champs
BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Junior Jake Sweeney was the hero on ursday night at Lakewood Memorial Field.
A corner kick from Ralston Valley senior Aidan Castillo in the nal minutes found the head of Sweeney, who headed the ball into the back of the net for the lone goal of the night in the Class 5A Jeffco League nale.
“I closed my eyes,” Sweeney said of his rst goal of the season. “Next thing I know, I opened them and the ball is in the net. Everyone was cheering.”
e goal in the 76th minute held up as the Mustangs took a 1-0 victory over previously undefeated Columbine. e win gave Ralston Valley (8-3-2, 4-0-1 in league) the 5A Je co League title for the second straight year.
It’s the rst time Ralston Valley has gone back-to-back with boys soccer league titles since 2016 and 2017.
“We are so proud of the boys,” Ralston Valley Coach John Doody said of picking up back-to-back league titles in his rst two years guiding the Mustangs. “I inherited a great squad last year and had kind of the same magical (regular season) run that Paul (Columbine Coach Paul Moline) and his squad had this year. Everything kind of went right. is year, we’ve had so much adversity.”
Doody said the Mustangs have had to battle through injuries, along with replacing its goalie and back four defenders due to graduation. Ralston Valley had a 2-3-1 record through its rst six games, losing some close games against tough competition like Arapahoe, Boulder and Fairview.
Columbine (12-1, 4-1) was attempting to run the table in conference play under its second-year coach Paul Moline. e Rebels were trying to win their rst con-
ference title since 2004.
“Columbine came out with so much intensity. We were expecting that,” Doody said. “I’m so impressed with what Paul and his squad have done. I want to give full credit to how good of a side they are.”
e Rebels looked to have taken the lead in the 23rd minute on a header o a direct free kick, but the play was ruled o side. e game was scoreless until
Sweeney converted on the set play.
“ ere was a lot of set pieces for both sides today,” Doody said. “We had really executed our’s poorly up to the point. I don’t think any of our direct free kicks were even on target.”
Doody actually moved Sweeney from his normal right backer position to center mid eld for the game due to injuries.
“Aidan Castillo just has such a cultured right foot. He placed just a beautiful inside swinger,” Doody said of what he saw on the long goal. “Sweeney just rose and buried it.”
Not only was it Sweeney’s rst goal of the year, but this is the junior’s rst year playing varsity on a team that advanced to the 5A state quarter nals a year ago and was a state semi nal team in 2022.
“I had a gut feeling that I was going to score the game-winner and help out the team,” Sweeney said.“ roughout this season I’ve felt like I’ve joined a family. I love every single one of them.”
Ralston Valley junior goalie Ben Brown got the shutout victory in net for the Mustangs in their fth shutout win of the season.
All six 5A Je co League teams will play in a mini-tournament next week. Teams will play on Monday, Oct. 21, and ursday, Oct. 24, in games that will not count toward the conference standings.
“We are excited,” Doody said of the upcoming mini-tournament. “Paul and I just talked about hopefully we’ll be able to play this one again next week.”
Ralston Valley will host Valor Christian (6-4-3, 2-2-1) at the North Area Athletic Complex on Monday. e Mustangs and Eagles tied in their rst meeting last week.
“We are at our peak and at our best,” Sweeney said of the 6-0-1 record over the past month.
Columbine will host Arvada West (4-81, 2-3) back at Lakewood Memorial Field with the winner facing the Ralston Valley/Valor winner on ursday. Chat eld and Lakewood will square o at Lakewood Memorial Field.
Dennis Pleuss is the Sports Information Director for Je co Public Schools. For more Je co coverage, go to CHSAANow. com.
Ralston Valley’s 1-0 victory over Columbine on Thursday, Oct. 17, at Lakewood Memorial Field allowed the Mustangs to repeat as Class 5A Je co League champions. PHOTOS BY DENNIS PLEUSS / JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Ralston Valley senior Ryan Rossi (8) marks Columbine senior LJ Melucci (9) during the first half on Thursday, Oct. 17, at Lakewood Memorial Field. Columbine had its 12-game winning streak snapped with the Mustangs taking a 1-0 victory to capture the Class 5A Je co League title.
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Why thousands of trees at Chatfield State Park are being cut down
The long-planned removal of popular cottonwoods with their bases flooded by rising waters will improve safety and keep dam from clogging
BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN
ousands of ooded cottonwood snags poking out of the reservoir at Chateld State Park are popular with anglers and paddleboarders, but they must come out for boater safety and to keep dam outlets from clogging.
Fans of the much-visited lake park southwest of Denver will see nearly 3,000 trees with their bases currently underwater cut down and trucked away in coming months.
ousands more trees will get the fateful blue paint marks for removal next year. Why do the cottonwoods and willows have to go?
Rising water levels for the past couple of years (more about that below) have ooded and eventually killed thousands of cottonwoods and willows that were previously o ering shade at the waterline. State and federal o cials knew this would happen when a planned reservoir-expansion project began in 2014.
After letting the public play in and around the dead trunks for a few years,
INVADERS
“Buyer beware that there are salesman out there who will say they can 100% save the tree and that may not be accurate,” he said.
If you have ash trees on your property that aren’t infected, it’s essential to treat them with insecticide to pro-
it’s now time for them to go. High winds can easily topple trees made unstable by ooded, rotting roots, endangering boaters or people walking the shoreline. In winter, the trunks get frozen into ice oes and further destabilized when wind moves the ice.
e fallen trunks, limbs and roots also drift northeast toward the dam and clog outlets for the South Platte River heading into Littleton and Englewood.
Fishing boats love cruising the shadows and cover provided by the dead trees and fallen trunks, while paddleboarders nd them a steering challenge and an exploration opportunity.
“We have enjoyed having the cottonwood and willow trees in the reservoir for the past two years and been pleased by the new recreating opportunities the trees provided our visitors,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife Chat eld Park Manager Kris Wahlers said. “We explored all options to keep the trees, but since they did not survive, we have to do what’s best for our visitors.”
Why has the water been rising at Chateld?
Colorado’s growing Front Range cities and water agencies are always looking for new reservoirs or expanded, innovative storage ideas for water rights satisfying local demands.
Chat eld was nished in 1975 as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tri-Lakes ood control project that includes Cherry Creek State Park and Bear Creek Lake reservoirs. Chat eld can hold 350,000 acre-feet of water but past water
tect them. Killoran said the more trees treated while they’re healthy, the more the county can slow the beetle’s spread.
Removing infected trees
If a tree is infected with the ash borer beetle, Killoran recommends hiring a certi ed arborist to remove it immediately and dispose of it locally.
“Once the bug attacks these trees, they become extremely brittle and can fall over in a windstorm,” he said. “ ey
levels have always been a small part of the overall basin. e Chat eld Storage Reallocation agreement in 2014 allows local agencies to store up to 20,600 acre-feet in the ood control pool for municipal uses.
Favorable snow and rain in the spring of 2023 nally allowed the partners to store enough basin runo to reach the extra 20,600 acre-foot level. (An acre-foot can supply the water needs of two to four metro households for a year.) More precipitation in 2023 and 2024, as well as relatively cool weather during key water use seasons, has left the Chat eld pool at or near the maximum levels, keeping the trees ooded.
Who owns the water at Chat eld?
e Army Corps controls the oodprevention pool. Various water agencies and farm ditch companies see their South Platte River Basin water rights ow through Chat eld. e primary entities taking advantage of the new storage available at Chat eld include Centennial, with nearly 7,000 acre-feet; the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District, a farming district, at nearly 4,300 acre-feet; Denver Water at 1,600 acre-feet; and Castle Pines North district at 1,000 acre-feet.
Does losing the trees hurt the park overall?
Losing thousands of highly visible tree trunks from the northern boat ramp all the way down the western shoreline of the reservoir will certainly make an aesthetic di erence for parkgoers. But the mitigation for this year’s big tree cutting began years ago, with plans to replace the shoreline shade and wildlife habitat with thou-
also become hazardous for arborists to climb. If you have a 60-80-foot tall tree that can’t be reached from the street, you may have to pay to remove it with a crane, which is extremely expensive.”
To prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer to new areas, the arborist should entirely chip and dispose of the tree on-site rather than transporting the wood.
Also, Killoran said to never move rewood or other wood products made
sands of new trees and shrubs. at planting work began as early as 2018, state parks o cials say, with more than 100,000 new trees and shrubs now in the ground. e state says many of those new groves are already thriving and creating cottonwood habitat.
Tree snags at the waterline can be popular with eagles and other nesting birds, but state o cials say there were no eagle nests established in the areas that must be cut down.
Will the state park stay open during all the lumberjack work?
Yes. e state says impact on visitation and use will be minimal. About 2,700 tree trunks will be removed over the next six months, followed by a second phase in winter of 2025 with about 2,300 more cottonwoods needing to go. Work will begin this fall at the north boat ramp and move south down the western shore of the reservoir.
Helicopters will be used to grab trees that can’t be reached by workers wearing waders, and for winter tree removal for trunks surrounded by ice.
“To lessen impact to park visitors, one day-use area will be closed at a time while ground crews complete their work. Helicopter work is expected to start after anksgiving,” a parks release said. Visitors looking to use a particular area can keep up on closures at the park’s website or social media channels. 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.
from ash trees, as this is likely the leading cause of accidental spread. Visit Lakewood’s invasive insects website to learn more about protecting your trees or nding a a certi ed arborist.
Lakewood is also planning a sale in the spring, during which city residents can purchase up to three trees per address for $25 each. For more information, visit the Lakewood Loves Trees website.
for Luxelocker located at Lot 1, Block 2 Candelas 93-72 South Filing No. 1.(southwest corner of State Highway 72 and Liberty Canyon Lane). Members of the public may attend. To submit written public comment to be considered by the Commission, email comments to cedboardsandcommission@arvada.org by 5 p.m. on 11/11/2024. Additional information can be obtained from https://www.arvadapermits.org/etrakit3/search/
project.aspx?activityno=DA2024-0037
CITY OF ARVADA PLANNING COMMISSION /s/ Brandon Figliolino, Secretary
Legal Notice No. 419213
First Publication: October 24, 2024 Last Publication: October 24, 2024 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript PUBLIC NOTICE
A public hearing will be held before the Arvada Planning Commission scheduled for November 12, 2024 at 6:15 p.m., Arvada City Hall, 8101 Ralston Rd., Arvada, when and where you may speak on the matter to consider an Annexation of a Section of 64th Avenue Right-of-Way. Members of the public may attend. To submit written public comment to be considered by the Commission, email comments to cedboardsandcommission@arvada.org by 5 p.m. on 11/11/2024. Additional information can be obtained from https://www.arvadapermits.org/etrakit3/search/ project.aspx?activityno=DA2023-0018
CITY OF ARVADA PLANNING COMMISSION /s/ Brandon Figliolino, Secretary
Legal Notice No. 419212
First Publication: October 24, 2024
Last Publication: October 24, 2024
Publisher: Jeffco Transcript PUBLIC NOTICE
A public hearing will be held before the Arvada City Council scheduled for November 4, 2024, at 6:15 p.m., Arvada City Hall, 8101 Ralston Rd., Arvada, when and where you may speak on the matter to consider the Major Comprehensive Plan Amendment for RV Storage, a 14 acre parcel of land approximately located at 6800 Kilmer Street. Members of the public may attend.
CITY OF ARVADA CITY COUNCIL
/s/ Kristen Rush, City Clerk
Legal Notice No. 419210
First Publication: October 24, 2024
Last Publication: October 24, 2024 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript PUBLIC NOTICE
A public hearing will be held before the Arvada Planning Commission scheduled for November 12, 2024 at 6:15 p.m., Arvada City Hall, 8101 Ralston Rd., Arvada, when and where you may speak on the matter to consider
A Major Modification from LDC Section 2-13-3A for the purposes of modifying lot widths and setbacks at 7399 Carr Street. Members of the public may attend. To submit written public comment to be considered by the Commission, email comments to cedboardsandcommission@arvada.org by 5 p.m. on 11/11/2024. Additional information can be obtained from https://www.arvadapermits.org/etrakit3/search/ project.aspx?activityno=DA2024-0071
