Arvada Press December 26, 2024

2024 in rewind for Arvada

Up-and-down year sees turnover at city hall, on the council dais

BY RYLEE DUNN

Alot can change in a year, and that sentiment surely rings true in Arvada. 2024 saw the city expand, new parks come to fruition and turnover in key positions at city hall — including at the helm of the city team and on the city council dais. is year saw Arvada continue to grow into its own in unprecedented ways, as the city’s transformation from a small agricultural town into a large metro area suburb with a distinct identity of its own appears to be in full swing.

Updates on projects like the settlement of the Je erson Parkway lawsuit and the completion of the Arvada Aquatics Center entered new phases.

Meanwhile, new issues like the city’s purchase of the former Early College of

Mission Arvada gives away Christmas presents for 1,500 children

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On a cold winter’s day in Arvada, hundreds of families lined up outside e Rising Church in Olde Town, anxiously anticipating one of the largest gift drives of the year. is year’s Christmas Joy event, held on Dec. 14 by Mission Arvada — the homeless ministry that operates within e Rising — gave away Christmas presents to 1,500 children, the most proli c year in the event’s history. e milestone is perhaps a bittersweet one; the event usually serves around 500 children, but ballooned in size this year due, in part, to harsh economic traditions, which threaten to put a damper on holiday festivities.

“Maybe because we’ve had success in previous years, but also because of the need, unfortunately,” Mission Arvada Director Karen Cowling said when asked about the uptick in children this year.

Arvada building and plans to turn that site into a homeless navigation center reared their heads for the rst time. It’s been a busy year in Arvada. To review, let’s start at the top.

Arvada expands westward

Shortly after the rst of the year, Arvada expanded westward, nishing the last round of annexations and rezonings for the parcel of land that would come to be known as Canyon Pines. e city began annexing land in the Canyon Pines area in 1997.

e new residential development will, for the rst time, mean that Arvadans live west of Highway 93.

e land that would become Canyon Pines was rst purchased by Terry Ten Eyck in 1980 as a possible homestead for his family, though that plan never materialized. Ten Eyck had the distinction of naming the streets in Canyon Pines,

which he used as an opportunity to honor the area’s ties to the Union Paci c railroad line that runs adjacent to its borders. Homes in the newly formed neighborhood, which are currently on sale, range in price between $2.5 and $6.million.

Arvada parts ways with City Manager Lorie Gillis

Unexpected news came out of city hall this year, as theCity of Arvada parted ways with former City Manager Lorie Gillis after less than two years on the job. Gilis’ resignation from the city as accepted by city council at an executive session in July, and the city’s governing body laterapproved a $320,000 severance package — more than Gilis’ $260,000 base salary when she was working for the city.

Mission Arvada Team Lead Christine urston said the event has been steadily gaining attendees over the years — which, in the past, has caught the event organizers o guard. is year, they were prepared for the in ux.

“It’s always been around 300 kids,” urston said. “And then one year, social media jumped up, and everyone was sharing it. And then we got about 500 two years ago. We weren’t prepared for it. I went to the end of the line and I just brought out stu ed animals and took their name and information, and I said, ‘We may or may not (have gifts for you).’”

Part of the draw towards Mission Arvada’s event, rather than other similar gift drives in the area, is the low barrier for entry. A simple registration questionnaire is all that’s needed to shop around the donated gifts — providing a birth certi cate or proof of income and/or residency are not required.

“We’re going to help as many people as we can where they’re at,” urston said. “And we go based on personal ethics. What they say honestly of how many kids they have — compared to other places where they ask for the birth certi cates; there’s a lot more red tape. So, there’s little barrier on their end.”

Serenity Ridge Park was welcomed into the Arvada parks network this year.

PHOTO BY RYLEE DUNN

Since Gilis’ departure, the city has been conducting a nationwide search for a permanent replacement, and Deputy City Manager Linda Haley has been serving as the interim city manager. e nationwide search is nearing the nalist round, according to a recent update from the city team.

City settles lawsuit with Broomfield over Je erson Parkway

Two years after Arvada and Je erson County sued the City and County of Broom eld over Broom eld’s exit from the long-stalled Je erson Parkway project, the two sides came to a resolution out of court to allow Broom eld to withdraw from the Je erson Parkway Public Highway Authority.

As part of the settlement, Broom eld will cede the right of way of the section of the proposed highway that runs through

its borders for the next 20 years and will pay the JPPHA $636,175 to leave the project.

While one hurdle of the project out of the way, the future of the Parkway remains uncertain, as no further plans for the road have been made public.

Former Early College of Arvada building purchased, slated for site of future homeless navigation center… for now

Arvada courted some controversy over the summer, asits purchase of the former Early College of Arvada building for $6.3 million and plan to use the site as a homeless navigation centerdrew the ire of neighbors of the property — chie y from members of the Arlington Meadows HOA.

While plans for the site are currently still under consideration, city council appeared split at a recent study session whereArvada’s leaders went back to the drawing board on the issue of homelessness as a whole, which may have been done in part due to the backlash to the navigation center plan.

Arvada welcomes two new parks, nears parks accessibility goal

e city got a bit greener this year, as Arvada welcomed two new parks: Serenity Ridge Park and theGarrison Garden Paseo.

e former is located next to Red Rocks Community College, while the latter borders the Ralston Gardens housing development.

Arvada is now 90% of the way to its long-term goal of having greenspace within a 10-minute walk of every residence in town, according to Mayor Lauren Simpson.

Arvada Aquatics Center opens

After years in the works, Arvada’s newest natatorium, theArvada Aquatics Center, opened its doors to the public in November.

e 50,000 square-foot facility, the long-awaited replacement for the aging Meyers Pool, immediately becomes the premiere swimming and diving competition center in the metro area, with moveable bulkheads for swimming

competitions and one of the most expansive diving wells in Colorado outside the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Lisa Feret elected to state legislature, Brad Rupert chosen as replacement on city council e year ended with a bit of a stir, asLisa Feret’s election to the state legislature, where she will serve as the House District 24 representative, leaving a vacancy on Arvada’s City Council.   at vacancy was lled by Brad Rupert, who was chosen through an appointment process by the remaining city council members despite an apparent lack of public support — Rupert garnered 8 letters of support from the public during the feedback process, while runner-up Michael Gri th earned 39. Rupert, a former Je erson County Public School Board member, was sworn in on Dec. 16. He will serve the remainder of Feret’s term — which expires next November.

Garrison Garden Paseo and the neighboring Ralston Gardens development represent one of the final steps of the Ralston Fields Urban Renewal tract reaching completion. COURTESY PHOTO

Former landowner Terry Ten Eyck (left) stands on a lot in Canyon Pines, Arvada’s newest subdivision.

PHOTO BY RYLEE DUNN

Small Landlords: Looking to Cash Out Due to New Pro-Tenant Laws? Here’s One Option.

Under laws enacted by the 2024 General Assembly, Colorado tenants gained many protections, both from eviction and for “habitability,” but those protections for tenants have made being a landlord trickier, more expensive, and riskier, especially for the small landlord who manages his or her own rental units.

Last week, I helped one such small landlord dispose of his rental duplex and invest the proceeds in a way that deferred his capital gains but didn’t get him into yet a new investment that carried those problems and management.

you’re able to put the entire proceeds to work generating income. If you keep doing 1031 exchanges until you die, your heirs will inherit your final holding(s) with a stepped up value and no capital gains tax liability at all.

In his case, he had to deal with a squatter who knew his protections against eviction that already existed under Colorado law and refused to leave. That experience left such a bad taste in my client’s mouth that he chose to sell instead of finding a new tenant.

I was once a commercial landlord myself and earned some great passive income from it for several years, but I vowed never to be a residential landlord. Back then, the big concern was whether your tenant might be cooking meth — a nightmare situation requiring not only eviction but very expensive mitigation before the property could be put back on the rental market or sold. I preferred being a commercial landlord, because my tenants’ offices were always open and I knew they wouldn’t trash their office, because they had customers.

These new protections for residential tenants only add to the unattractiveness of being a small landlord of residential properties.

Other changes in landlord-tenant law include the banning of occupancy limits based on familial relationships by local governments and prohibiting rent increases in excess of 10% over the prior year’s rent (defined as “rent gouging”). Local governments may still implement residential occupancy limits based on demonstrated health and safety standards, such as international building codes, fire codes, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment wastewater and water quality standards, or affordable housing program guidelines.

College towns, including Boulder and Golden, have in the past implemented occupancy limits to prevent the use of singlefamily homes by large numbers of unrelated college students. Those laws are now invalidated by state law.

In the posting of this article on my blog, http://RealEstateToday.substack.com, I’ve included a link to an article with a fuller description of those 2024 landlord-tenant laws.

Meanwhile, selling a long-held investment property can subject the seller to capital gains tax and depreciation recapture that can wipe out much of the profit from selling. A common tax strategy for deferring those taxes is to do a “like kind” exchange under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code.

By purchasing a replacement investment property (not a primary residence) with the proceeds from your relinquished property,

You may be saying, “I don’t want to own any new investment property, especially a residential rental property,” given these new laws, but I have good news for you.

“Like kind” properties are broadly interpreted by the IRS to include any real estate (except a Real Estate Investment Trust or REIT). This allows you to reinvest your funds as a passive investor in what’s known as a Delaware Statutory Trust (DST). However, a DST investment is only for accredited investors. Individual accredited investors come under two categories:

They have an individual net worth, or joint net worth with their spouse, excluding primary residence, but including home furnishings and personal automobiles, of more than $1,000,000, or

They have an individual income in excess of $200,000 or joint income with their spouse in excess of $300,000, in each of the two most recent years and have a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year.

DSTs are exploding in popularity, and with good reason. A Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) is an ownership structure that allows an investor to purchase a fractional interest in a large property or portfolio of properties. The DST is a legal entity (formed as a trust under the laws of Delaware) which holds legal title to property(ies) held in the trust.

For Federal income tax purposes, each DST investor owns a “beneficial interest” in the trust and is treated as owning an undivided fractional interest in the real estate being held by the trust. A real estate company, known as the sponsor, purchases the real estate for the DST and sells “beneficial interests” to 1031 exchange investors through broker/dealers.

The investors, as beneficiaries of the trust, receive their prorated share of the income, tax benefits, and any capital appreciation produced by the real estate. The real estate company, the sponsor of the DST, serves as the trust manager and is responsible for making the major management decisions of the trust. Some examples of the type of real estate that a DST may invest in are: Industrial, MultiFamily, Medical Office, Student Housing, Senior Housing, Retail, Storage, etc. The sponsor purchases the real estate for the DST and sells "beneficial interests" to 1031 exchange investors through broker/dealers. If you list your investment property for sale and your listing agent doesn’t tell you about DSTs, it could be because it’s an investment of your proceeds that doesn’t allow your agent to earn a commission. It could also, however, be because he or she is not familiar with DSTs. Show him or her this article!

We learned more about DSTs when Wayne Bernardo of Bernardo Asset Management, a boutique real estate securities firm in Evergreen, spoke to our broker associates and me at a recent office meeting.

One problem with doing a traditional 1031 exchange is that you must identify your replacement property within 45 days of closing on the relinquished property, and close on the replacement property within 180 days. It’s not uncommon for a 1031 exchange to fail due to missing these deadlines, leaving the seller of the relinquished property to owe the capital gains tax which he or she was intending to defer. The good news in that situation is that it takes almost no time to switch to a DST. If it’s day 45 and you know you’ll miss the deadline, there’s still time to invest in a DST. But you must identify the DST by day 45 with your Qualified Intermediary (QI).

That’s because there are always some DSTs being offered, and Wayne Bernardo can assist you in finding a DST option to complete your 1031 exchange. He proved that last week when he spoke to us on Monday, and I told him I had a closing that Friday in which the seller was facing over $500,000 in taxable capital gains which he was willing to pay to get out of his rental investment. “Can you help him,” I asked.

The answer was clearly “yes,” because at the closing on Friday, the settlement statement showed $500,000 of the sellers’ proceeds going to my client's Qualified Intermediary for a DST purchase. Wayne was able to find a few DST options for my client and my client decided to purchase one of Wayne's DST recommendations.

Instead of paying capital gains tax (and depreciation recapture) on his sale and wondering how to invest what was left, my client is investing $500,000 in a DST that will earn him an expected monthly income stream over the life of the DST. (Note: Distributions are not guaranteed.)

One of the “negatives” about DSTs is that it is not a liquid investment. You can’t pull your money out of the DST for at least 5 to 10 years, but if that is not problematic, it’s a great solution for the seller who wants to get out of an investment property without paying capital gains tax but having no further management concerns or liabilities. Wayne refers to it as “mailbox money,” because you get a

check in the mail without the headaches of being a landlord.

Note: You don’t have to invest your entire proceeds in a 1031 exchange. My client who invested $500,000 in the DST also received $153,000 in proceeds on which he will pay capital gains tax but still providing him over $100,000 in net proceeds for other purposes, such as travel. I did the same thing when I sold an office building in 2004 and didn’t reinvest the entire amount using a 1031 exchange.

For more information about DSTs, check out Wayne's website BernardoAsset.com, or call Wayne at 303-981-1387, or email him at Wayne@BernardoAsset.com Let Wayne know you saw this article, which he factchecked for accuracy prior to publication.

Of course, my broker associates and I are ready and able to help you sell your investment property. Our contact info is below.

As with any real estate investment, there are risks with investing in DSTs. Here’s how they are spelled out on Wayne’s website:  Investors Do Not Hold Title: 1031 Exchange DST investors do not hold title of the property but rather own beneficial interests in the trust and the sponsor controls the management and selling of the property.

 Illiquidity: A Delaware Statutory Trust interest is an illiquid alternative investment and there is no current active secondary market for selling your interest, which creates the inability to access immediate liquidity.

 Potential for Property Value Loss: All real estate investments have the potential to lose value during the life of the investment.

 Reduction or Elimination of Monthly Cas Flow Distributions: Like any investment in real estate, if a property unexpectedly loses tenants or sustains substantial damage, there is a potential for suspension of cash flow distributions.

 No Performance Guarantee: General real estate market risks also apply to DSTs. There can be no assurance that a property will perform as projected. DSTs are subject to economic volatility, tenants not paying their rent on time, and other traditional risks of owning, operating and selling real estate.

 Potential Change in Tax Law: Tax laws are subject to change, which may have a negative impact on a DST investment.

Why Are HOA Dues Being Raised So Much?

This is a question which I have been asked by readers, so I reached out to Stan Hrincevich, president of Colorado HOA Forum, who suggested some possible causes.

Many HOAs are discovering that their reserve accounts are underfunded and are increasing monthly dues in lieu of a one-time special assessment.

Insurance costs have skyrocketed, and if the HOA is responsible for more than just common elements, this could be a reason for increased dues. If the dues weren’t raised in a timely manner, the eventual increase could be even bigger.

Insurance deductibles have increased significantly, too, and if, for example, the HOA insures the community’s roofs and there’s a hail storm, your individual share of the deductible for replacing the roofs could result in

a special assessment in the tens of thousands of dollars. Ask the provider of your individual insurance policy about a rider to cover such an assessment.

Fees charged by HOA management companies and the contractors hired by them, such as for grounds maintenance and snow removal, have increased substantially.

Water charges have skyrocketed, and if the HOA provides irrigation, that could cause dues to increase.

If the HOA embarks on lawsuits and loses, this can result in a financial impact that could raise monthly dues or result in a special assessment.

If you are worried about misappropriation, ask to see the check register and bank statements of your HOA and see where the money is going.

PRESENTS

Cowling said the goal of the event is to give back to the community in God’s honor.

“It’s just the love of God,” Cowling said. “ at’s what it means to me. It’s just how God expresses himself to people and reaches out and really just touches the heart of people that are struggling.

“He can put a smile on 1,500 kids’ faces because they got this year what they might not have gotten, and they could have a face painting and decorate a cookie, and while their parents are shopping for them; it’s all free,” Cowling continued.

“It’s really amazing.”

urston added that religious packets are handed out to families who attend

the Christmas Joy event.

“We do care about Jesus Christ as our Savior,” urston said. “We put packets together that include both English and Spanish Bibles… at’s why we changed it to the Christmas Joy event, because we want people to understand the joy of God and the joy of the gifts from there.”

Cowling thanked her volunteer team — about 65 strong — for helping the event come together. Some volunteers event stored gifts in their homes throughout the year.

“I have an amazing team of people here, like my volunteers,” Cowling said.

“People just have a passion for it, and we spread the word. And we have, we have quite a few members from the Church of Latter-Day Saints here volunteering today and other churches around the area, and just the general community, and also our shelter volunteers.”

Volunteers wrap presents at Mission Arvada’s Christmas Joy event.

The line outside The Rising during the Christmas Joy event.

1,500 children got free Christmas presents thanks to the event.

Children were able to participate in a number of activities, such as cookie decorating, while their parents shopped.

PHOTOS BY RYLEE DUNN

Hope House hosts annual Christmas Shop for underprivileged moms

Event allows moms who participate in Hope House programs to redeem points earned for Christmas presents

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

All across Colorado, folks are gearing up for the holiday season — but what about those families who can’t a ord to stack presents under the tree?

For many young moms, that’s where Hope House Colorado — a nonpro t that helps teen moms achieve self-su ciency — comes in. Hope House’s annual Christmas Shop allows moms in need to use points earned from attending Hope House programming throughout the year to redeem those points for Christmas presents.

Jenny Macias, Hope House’s director of partnerships, said the event is one of the favorites of the year — especially since it is, in many ways, the culmination of a year’s worth of work.

“Our personal shoppers get matched up one-on-one with our moms, and they essentially help them shop,” Macias said. “ ey keep track of if a mom has 400 points, they’re helping that mom grab items and calculate, ‘If you took a bike, that’s 100 points; now you have 300 points left.’ And helping them carry their stu , making sure they’re on time, helping wrap presents — all that stu .

“It’s a great opportunity for our volunteers to get to know moms,” Macias con-

tinued. “We don’t always have a lot of opportunities for volunteers to just oneon-one, spend time with a mom and get to know them. It’s a really unique, special volunteer opportunity.”

Anahi Lopez, a local mom who has been involved in Hope House programming for the last six years and has attended the Christmas Shop for the past ve, said the event has allowed her to save on Christmas shopping completely for the last two years.

“Getting to know the volunteers; it’s

when we, the moms, have volunteers and they help us out for the day and help out with my Christmas shopping,” Lopez said.

“It makes it easier,” Lopez added. “ is year for example, and last year, I didn’t have to buy any gifts. I maxed out on my points. I literally bought no gifts out of my own money.”

Macias said there is an express need for moms like Lopez to receive help with their holiday shopping, as resources are tight.

“My favorite thing about the Christmas

Shop is that this is something the moms can feel really proud of,” Macias said. “ ey earn points all year by attending classes, achieving self-su ciency goals, and all of those points translate to dollars at the Christmas Shop.

“A lot of our moms come from poverty, and money is tight, so this is a way for them to provide an amazing Christmas for their kid based on their hard work,” Macias continued. “It’s really just very empowering, and they just get to feel proud of themselves.”

REVERSE MORTGAGES MADE

Hope House mom Anahi Lopez wraps presents for her children.

A volunteer at Hope House’s Christmas Shop wraps gifts. PHOTOS BY RYLEE DUNN

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Brad Rupert sworn in to Arvada City Council

BY LILLIAN FUGLEI

SPECIAL TO THE ARVADA PRESS

Arvada City Council has o cially welcomed its newest member: Brad Rupert.

On Dec. 16, Rupert was sworn in to city council during a city council meeting. He is now serving as an at-large city councilmember, having taken Lisa Feret’s seat after she was elected to the state legislature in November.

Rupert’s swearing-in came just three days after he was selected by city council in an ap-

pointment interview on Dec. 13. He was chosen through a vacancy process that included an application round, a live interview with the other city councilmembers and a public feedback process.

Rupert previously ran for city council’s District 2 seat in 2007 and served on the Je erson County School Board from 2015 to 2021.

After being sworn in, Rupert expressed excitement for his time on council to come.

“I’m excited to get started on the work,” Rupert said. “I’m looking forward to catching up and starting to work on the issues.”

Rupert pointed to working on the city’s approach to homelessness as one of those issues, speci cally mentioning the potential use of the former Colorado Early Colleges building as a homelessness navigation center and the resulting backlash from some Arlington Meadows residents.

“Arlington Meadows and the homelessness challenges we face is of course a big issue,” Rupert said. “I’m looking forward to getting to know more about it and working with folks.”

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He also acknowledged that many of the challenges facing the city were not quick xes, but would take lots of time and e ort.

“A lot of these challenges are incremental, so the solutions are going to be incremental,” Rupert said. “I look forward to moving the ball forward. When you’re in a public o ce quite often you come in with big ambitions but then reality hits. You have to have some honest expectations. But I think we have real problems to solve and there are real solutions to be had, we just need to work with our

Rupert will be lling Feret’s former seat until the end of her term in November.

e appointment process hinged on an elimination vote conducted by council. From the four nalists, which also included Hariett Hall, Brandon Figliolino and Michael Gri th, council thinned the eld one by one,

e rst vote saw Figliolino eliminated by a 5-1 vote, with Councilmember John Marriott being the lone dissenting vote. e motion to eliminate Figliolino was made by Councilmember Bob Fifer, and seconded by Coun-

e second elimination saw Hall eliminated by a 4-2 vote, with Councilmember Shawna Ambrose and Mayor Lauren Simpson dissenting. Fifer again brought the motion, with

Finally, with just Rupert and Gri th remaining, Ambrose moved to appoint Rupert. Fifer supported Ambrose’s motion, and council voted 4-2 to eliminate Gri th, leaving Rupert as the presumptive appointee. Councilmember John Marriott and Councilmember Sharon Davis were the dissenting votes.

A motion to appoint Rupert to the city council was made by Fifer and passed by a 6-0.

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Rupert brings experience on the Je erson County School Board to the dais, having served in that role for six years, from 2015 to 2021.

Public opinion largely centered around Hall and Gri th, who earned the rst and second most letters of support, respectively, followed by Figliolino. Rupert earned the fewest letters of support from the public.

Reporting about the appointment process from a previous article by Rylee Dunn was added to this article.

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Judge Kathryn Kurtz swears in Brad Rupert during a city council meeting on Dec. 16. PHOTO BY LILLIAN FUGLEI

Brad Rupert (right) was chosen to serve on Arvada’s City Council as an appointee. PHOTO BY RYLEE DUNN

“ese are times that try men’s soul.” So wrote omas Paine in e American Crisis on Dec.19, 1776. Six days later on Christmas night, General George Washington led his Continental Army command across the ice-choked Delaware River for a surprise attack on Hessian mercenaries who were carousing in their warm barracks in Trenton, New Jersey. It was a military stroke of genius, one that gave the struggling nascent independence movement hope.

A year to the day after Paine published his pamphlet, Washington and his 12,000 troops hunkered down for a challenging winter at Valley Forge where many went without proper footwear and warm clothing and about 2,000 died from dysentery and more. Yet they persevered. e Continental Army for the most part consisted of everyday men — backwoodsmen, farmers, craftsmen — with little or no military training. But they understood that history had called upon them to ght for something greater than themselves: freedom. And not just at the national level, but at the personal.

On this Christmas 248 years later, it’s timely to recall what Washington and the men and women fought and died for in the American Revolution. Like standing and removing one’s cap during the sing-

IVOICES

Resolve and resiliency, American-style

ing of “ e Star-Spangled Banner,” taking a few moments to re ect upon Washington’s feat should be requisite for every American on Christmas Day. For far too many take for granted the freedom the millions since Washington fought and many died for.

From the outset, the Founders knew personal rights and liberties would need to be endlessly defended not just from abroad but from within. Unlike many Americans today, they knew their history. ey also understood the “will to power,” as Friedrich Nietzsche called it a century later in “ us Spake Zarathustra,” runs deep within the soul of men, and if it isn’t harnessed and redirected toward noble, unsel sh pursuits, bad things happen at the hands of the unprincipled and unscrupulous. History had clearly shown that. But some grow weary of the struggle and decide their and their fellow citizens’ rights and liberties aren’t worth defending despite Ben Franklin’s admonition that “ ose who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safe-

What brightens you?

grew up in a family where stories were a nightly part of our meals. My father, a great storyteller, came from a family of nine, seven boys and two girls. His baseball team-sized family gave him a huge volume of tales to share on seemingly endless topics. While my father told many stories around the dinner table, there were moments when the storytelling would come from my mom. Mom had tales of her father’s work as a traveling salesperson, her time in high school and many “neighborhood” stories. When Mom told us her favorite story, her face would light up and she would talk about dancing. In that story, she did not spend much time talking about speci c performances, her attempts to make every child born into the extended family a dancer, or even her time learning from and eventually teaching for Colorado Ballet founders Lillian Covillo and Freidann Parker. What she talked about was her love of motion. She would explain that as a teenager her favorite game was to walk quickly through a crowd of people without touching any of them but coming within a few inches of every person she passed. She would describe feeling the air as she passed individuals, appreciating the uidity of her motion and the fact that so many people were gathered, allowing her to play her game. I loved the story partly for the vision it created of Mom as a teenager, but more for the absolute passion you could feel in the words she shared. When she told this story, you gained an insight into the way she viewed the world. You understood that she saw things di erently than others. at the daily mundane physical tasks most people muddled through were, in her mind, a dance; a beautiful dance to be appreciated.

ty.” ey become willing to compromise and agreeable to watered-down versions of their inalienable rights that in their essence become like junk jewelry and cheap goods bought at dollar stores.

Paine took to task such people, calling them “the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot” who “shrink from the service of their country.”

“What we obtain too cheap,” he wrote, “we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated.”

When the head winds blow at gale force 24/7, it can try one’s soul. When that happens, the danger of falling into one of two extremes—denying reality and insisting everything will be all right or shrugging one’s shoulders and plaintively asking, “What’s the use?”—arises.

Brad Stulberg, a mental health authority, suggests an alternative in a New York Times essay: wise hope and action. By not looking at the anti-freedom forces through rose-colored lenses and by not giving into futility, he says a person is better able to “muster the strength, courage and resolve” to keep their focus on what they can control. e challenge for the individual then is identifying what is

in their power and deciding on how to act on it.

In “Man’s Search for Meaning,” Viktor Frankl, a psychologist and Holocaust survivor, posits the most critical elements the prisoners and victims of the Nazis’ death camps needed for survival were resolve and resiliency. In short, never giving up. Just like Washington and his army.

ough circumstances were bleak that Christmas in 1776, Washington and his troops didn’t buckle. Like the fty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence who pledged their Lives, their Fortunes and their sacred Honor, they remained steeled in their resolve and resiliency. I seriously wonder how many today could claim likewise with a straight face.

History shows freedom-loving Americans are not a compliant but a feisty people. ey don’t cave when confronted by anti-freedom forces. ey stand strong and resolute because deep within their soul, they know it’s like omas Paine said: “For though the ame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire.”

Jerry Fabyanic is the author of “Sisyphus Wins” and “Food for ought: Essays on Mind and Spirit.” He lives in Georgetown.

WORDS

e joy in Mom’s face is still fresh in my mind even though it has been more than 35 years since I last heard her share the story. is memory will never fade for me.

We all need things in our lives that ll us with such joy that it is re ected on our faces whether we are engaging in the activity or telling the story of it. We need things that color our vision, helping us to see the beauty that surrounds us.

Take time this week to think about the things that are so exciting to you that they light your face when you mention them.

During struggles, unmitigated joy is a tonic that will help each one of us.

If you would be willing to share, I would love to know what creates joy for you, I can be contacted at jim.roome@gmail.com .

As always, I hope that you will nd inspiration in my words and share those words of encouragement with those who need it. ank you to all who have shared stories with me so far, I love hearing from you as you nd helpful morsels in these columns and nd ways to encourage those around you.

Jim Roome lives in Arvada with his wife Beth. He spent 34 years in public education. Lessons learned from the one two punch of being diagnosed with MS shortly before his best friend was diagnosed with terminal cancer led him into a new pursuit as a freelance writer and speaker. He uses his life experiences and love of stories to inspire, educate and encourage local, national and international audiences.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

A message for councilmember John Marriott

In reference to the front page article in the Arvada Press (week of Dec. 19, 2024 edition) concerning the city council’s split in addressing homelessness, I have a message for councilmember John Marriott: Please note that the people you call “wretches,” not once but

twice in the article, are human beings. As such, they are entitled to the same respect as you or anyone else on the planet. With a more enlightened view, you might be able to attain your stated goal of “get(ting) the guys with shopping carts o the streets.” ank you. Harlan Smith, Arvada

Columnist Jim Roome’s mother always brightened when she talked about dancing. What makes you feel brighter?

PHOTO COURTESY OF JIM ROOME

JERRY FABYANIC

Columnist

OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Jim Roome

Welcome 2025 with a range of celebrations

Idon’t know about you, but I’m ready to bid bon voyage to 2024. is has been a challenging year for many people and who knows when things will get easier.

But as the saying goes, where there’s life, there’s hope, so I wanted to gather some options to ring in the new year for every kind of celebrant. I trust you’ll nd something that appeals, and here’s to 2025 — may it be a bright year for everyone.

For children

OBITUARIES

Michael Kent Keaton July 30, 1972 - December 13, 2024

COMING ATTRACTIONS

WHAT: Cosmic Countdown: A Stellar New Years Celebration

2001 Colorado Blvd. in Denver

WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science

WHEN: 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 a.m.

is event is just the thing for space lovers of all ages, but particularly those who don’t want to stay up until midnight. Attendees will dress up like scientists and trip the light fantastic down the Milk Way rouge carpet before blasting o in mini rockets, dancing to cosmic beats and even making their own space-themed drink. ere will also be demonstrations that provide a look at the science of space and interstellar travel.

Attend this child-friendly event by getting tickets at https://www.dmns.org/ programs-and-events/.

For adults

WHAT: Midnight at Miracle Bar, Great Hall Sparkling Stations and Champagne Soirée in Cooper Lounge

WHERE: Union Station

1701 Wynkoop St. in Denver

WHEN: 9 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Adults looking for a grown-up way to ring in the new year won’t want to miss Union Station’s three celebratory offerings, each with its own attractions. e Miracle Bar event will be hosted by Buddy the Elf and feature the creative cocktails that have made the pop-up bar such a delight all season. Meanwhile, the Great Hall Sparkling Stations allows guests to explore the newly renovated Great Hall, dance to music from a live DJ and raise a toast to 2025 at the Sparkling Station. Finally, the Champagne Soirée in Cooper Lounge is all about elegance, including an exclusive dessert add-on that pairs perfectly with the toasting champagne.

Select your option at www.denverunionstation.com/events/new-years-eve/.

For dancers

WHAT: New Years Eve with e Jacob Larson Band

WHERE: Dazzle Jazz

1080 14th St. in Denver

WHEN: 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

ose in search of a decidedly groovy way to celebrate the end of 2024 will be hard-pressed to do better than live jazz from  e Jacob Larson Band at Dazzle.

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ere are two choices for those interested in attending: a concert from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and a New Year’s Eve Gala beginning at 10 p.m. e Gala will include a three-course meal (with options ranging from prime rib and tamales to spinach lasagna and salmon piccata), party favors, a champagne or nonalcoholic cocktail for a midnight toast and access to a dance oor to boogie the night away.

Secure tickets to the event at www.dazzledenver.com/#/events.

For partygoers

WHAT: A Great Gatsby New Year’s Eve WHERE: Pindustry

7939 E. Arapahoe Road in Greenwood Village

WHEN: 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “ e Great Gatsby” is, in my opinion, one of the few books that lives up to the hype. And not only is it an astoundingly told story, it also serves as a great party inspiration.

Guests at Pindustry’s soirée will take a trip back to the roaring 1920s, with mountains of fun and glamor. e Wash Park Band will be performing from 9 p.m. until the end of the night and there’s even a VIP experience available to those looking for a little something extra. is option includes tables in the Beer Hall and a three-course meal.

All the details are available at www. thepindustry.com/events/a-great-gatsby-new-years-eve-at-pindustry.

For music lovers

WHAT: Band of Horses concert

WHERE: Fillmore Auditorium 1510 Clarkson St. in Denver

WHEN: 7 p.m.

Seattle’s Band of Horses are one of the great indie rock bands of the 2000s, thanks to their blend of folk and country rock vocals and alt-rock musical approach. ey’ve released six studio albums, each with its own charms, but their rst three releases “Everything All the Time,” “Cease to Begin” and “In nite Arms” are all classics, showcasing lead singer/songwriter Ben Bridwell’s ear for hooks and clever wordplay. e band is heading to the Fillmore to o er the perfect New Year’s Eve concert for music fans. e group’s repertoire includes both upbeat rockers and bittersweet ballads, so no matter what your mood is, they’ve got you covered. Purchase tickets at www.livenation. com.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.

the following week’s newspaper.

• Letters must be no longer than 400 words.

• Letters should be exclusively submitted to Colorado Community Media and should not submitted to other outlets or previously posted on websites or social media. Submitted letters become the property of CCM and should not be republished elsewhere.

Michael Keaton, a native Well Driller in the Denver and mountain area, died on December 13, 2024 at the age of 72 in

Michael was born in Dickinson, NC on July 30, 1952 to James Keaton and Ruthann Keaton (Farris). On October 3, 1973, he would welcome a daughter Amber Jiles (Keaton) and on September 22, 1974, he would welcome a son Jordan Keaton. He loved his children dearly. His parents James Keaton and Ruthann Keaton (Farris)

precede him in death.

He is survived by his children, Jordan and Victoria Keaton and several grandchildren; Amber and George Jiles and two grandchildren; one sister Karen Newton and late Lonnie Newton and nieces and nephew; one brother Steve and Chris Keaton and two nieces. In addition, serval other loved family members and friends.

e family will announce funeral arrangements at

Clarke Reader

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Every artist, crafter or hobbyist needs a collection of supplies, materials and equipment to accompany their creative passion.

A few stores around Denver seek to help creatives both build their collection and rehome it, if necessary. e Craft Box in Wheat Ridge, and ReCreative in downtown Denver, are both dedicated used art supplies stores that accept donations for resale – essentially thrift stores for artists.

“We’ve had kilns, massive oor looms, pottery wheels, everything down to the individual buttons,” ReCreative Programs Director Kelly Eigenberger said about the store’s inventory.

Eigenberger, who is also a clay artist, said her main goal at ReCreative is to help make art more accessible, especially when it comes to cost. Eigenberger said she knows and relates to the nancial squeeze working artists face, between studio rentals, equipment and marketing their creations.

“I love getting to hook it up for people who I see working really hard and creating access on the retail side of art,” she said. “I mean, the cost of rubber stamps is criminal.”

In addition to the reuse store, ReCreative is a nonpro t that houses artist studios, a membership-based woodshop and an art gallery. e store also o ers classes, ranging from watercolor painting to sewing to kintsugi, a Japanese technique for repairing pottery with gold.

Eigenberger said a community has built up around ReCreative, with a loop of customers becoming featured artists in the gallery or instructors of classes, creating loyal shoppers and connections for donations.

“It means a lot to have friendly neighbors and the support that comes from our people,” Eigenberger said.

Another of ReCreative’s missions is to throw away as little as possible. As of December, the store had diverted 28,000 pounds of supplies from land lls in 2024. Donations are accepted by appointment, which can be made online.

Eigenberger said donating supplies has the dual bene ts of being more environmentally friendly and helping other artists.

“I think that we’re all inclined to collect in one way or another,” Eigenberger said. “But as we collect and lose interest, there’s a lot of guilt about it, so being able to con rm for people that what I’m taking will be used by someone is important.”

Similar to ReCreative, e Craft Box is part used sup-

ply store and part haven for artists, providing space for a variety of art groups and clubs, like Quilts of Valor and the Aspen Leaf Button Collectors.

Liz Boxler, the owner of e Craft Box, said her goal is to create a community space through thrifty crafting.

“Our purpose is twofold, of course, to nd homes for all this crafty stu , but also to work with local charities that need or want things that are handmade,” Boxler said.

When donated supplies aren’t t for resale, Boxler, who is also a quilter, will sometimes use them to create goods for people in need. For example, Boxler has made dget quilts for people with Alzheimer’s, crochet pouches for catheter bags and reusable grocery bags for the food pantry.

Boxler has found that there are more supplies that could be reused than she will ever be able to manage, but she tries to do what she can. is year, the store has diverted 1.4 tons of fabric, books, rubber stamps and other craft supplies from land lls.

Boxler estimates that since she opened the store in 2012, that amount is more than 9 tons and 260,000 items. Most of her donations come from estates and

people who are moving, Boxler said. e store accepts donations by appointment, which can be made online.

“ ey’re de-stashing, is what we call it when people are moving, or they’re downsizing, or they just realize they’re gonna have to live to be 150 years old to do all these projects,” she said.

Luckily, there are also plenty of people eager to nd new purposes for the various beads, frames, yarn, fabric, paints and endless other materials stocked at e Craft Box.

Not only is it a cheaper way to maintain a collection of supplies, Boxler said used supplies are also popular with people wanting to test a new hobby.

“People can try out new crafts much easier,” Boxler said. “If somebody wanted to try quilting but fabric is so expensive, this is a way they can do that without investing a lot upfront. And then if they like it, they can expand on that.”

Boxler said one of the best things about the store is that there’s something for everyone and every skill level.

Kelly Eigenberger, the programs director at ReCreative, said the store’s mission is twofold: to help divert supplies from landfills and to make art more financially accessible. ReCreative also houses an art gallery, studio space and a membershipbased woodshop.

ReCreative is fueled by donations, which Eigenberger said mostly come from estate sales and people who are moving or downsizing. In 2024, the store accepted more than 28,000 pounds of materials.

PHOTOS BY MCKENNA HARFORD

Jackpot.com o ers online orders for lottery and scratch tickets

BY TONY GORMAN CPR NEWS

Coloradans can hold o searching for coins in the couch and take one less trip to the gas station for a scratch-o ticket.

e mobile gaming app Jackpot.com was launched in the state in November. e mobile app allows lottery players to buy statewide and national games from their phones.

“We’ve seen a lot of success in other states. Colorado has surpassed that,” said Jackpot.com CEO and co-founder Akshay Khanna. “So we are incredibly excited to see the progress that I believe we’re going to see in the coming weeks and months in the state.”

Khanna wouldn’t disclose Jackpot. com’s revenues.

It was launched in Texas last year. Along with Colorado, the online platform is available in Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Arkansas and New Jersey. ere is no centralized headquarters for the business. But, it does have a retail center in Aurora. Khanna said the goal is to eventually be available in all states. ose wanting to buy a digital game can also go to the website to purchase national games like Mega Millions and Powerball and statewide games like Cash 5, Pick3, and Lucky 4. But, Jackpot.com isn’t just a place to buy lottery games. e app also handles claims of winning prizes.

“What that means is people are buying tickets, they’re winning, but they either lose their ticket or they forget to check their numbers, or they check it for the wrong draw, and that’s it. Your winnings

are gone,” Khanna said. “So we handle all of that for you, not only the ordering of the ticket, not only the processing of the scan but also checking to make sure that your numbers are the winning numbers.”

After going to the website or downloading the app, consumers must register an account. ey must also go through a series of third-party veri cations to make sure they are over 18 years old. After selecting tickets and numbers, Jackpot. com is responsible for getting the ticket scanned and uploaded to the app or desktop account.

e online platform does charge a fee between the high teens to 20 percent at the point of deposit into an account. Jackpot.com doesn’t collect any of the winnings. But, it deposits those winnings back into the account.

e Colorado Department of Revenue considers Jackpot.com as a courier service. at means it is a delivery service similar to Instacart or Uber Eats. Instead of delivering food, they deliver lottery tickets. Unlike licensed lottery retailers, they are not a liated or working on behalf of the Colorado Lottery. e courier must go through a licensed Lottery retailer and then the courier’s digital image of the ticket goes back to the player.

While the Colorado Lottery doesn’t regulate couriers, it does regulate retailers and a courier cannot operate without a retailer. Retailers who sell tickets to the couriers are held to the same standards as they are for sales to other consumers. e Lottery Commission is in the process of considering some additional rules that would apply to retailers who sell to couriers, which are likely to go into e ect in early 2025.

Center Foundation

and services

Our mission

Khanna said Colorado can expect the app to have more presence in the state.

“You will de nitely see us advertising in Colorado,” Khanna said. e Colorado Lottery is coming o a record scal year in 2023. It generated nearly $890 million. According to the Colorado Auditor’s Ofce, that’s a 34 percent increase since scal year 2020. at’s the highest amount

of annual ticket sales to date. e lottery’s revenue goes towards state parks. In its 40-year history, it has returned more than $4 billion to outdoor projects. is story is from CPR News, a nonprofit public broadcaster serving Colorado. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org.

Why does Colorado have so many ballot measures?

BY JOHN MATSUSAKA THE CONVERSATION

Colorado voters had the chance to weigh in on 14 ballot measures when they voted in November 2024, covering a wide range of issues, including abortion, school choice, taxes, trophy hunting and primary elections.

Denver voters faced an additional 11 ballot measures.

ese measures were in addition to voting for president and other federal, state and local o cials.

Is this asking voters to make too many decisions? And why were there so many ballot measures in the rst place?

I have studied and written about ballot measures for more than 30 years and recently published a book called “Let the People Rule,” and often get questions like those.

Colorado’s history of ballot measures

Colorado’s 14 measures were the most in the country this year, with Arizona a close second with 13. While this isn’t even close to a record for Colorado – there were 32 propositions on the ballot in November 1912 — the number has grown considerably over the past 60 years.

Colorado’s ballot contains two types of ballot measures: “Initiatives” are citizensponsored proposals, while “legislative”

measures are sponsored by elected legislators.

To get an initiative on the ballot, sponsors have to collect signatures from fellow citizens equal to 5% of the number of votes cast in the previous gubernatorial election.

In 2024, half of the measures in Colorado were initiatives and half were legislative.

e state also allows “referendums,” which are votes to repeal existing laws, but they are rare.

While in all states citizens vote on certain legislative measures, such as constitutional amendments or the issuance of bonds, only 24 permit citizen-led initiatives.

I counted up the number of initiatives, or citizen-sponsored measures, for each state. Since 1960, a total of 166 initiatives have come before the voters in Colorado. is puts Colorado third among states in initiative activity, behind California with 263 and Oregon with 191, but above Washington with 139, North Dakota with 88 and Arizona with 85.

Since 1960, the Colorado legislature has placed an additional 133 measures on the ballot. is is not an extremely high number compared with other states: Colorado ranks only 18th in terms of legislative proposals.

The mobile app allows lottery players to buy statewide and national games from their phones. SHUTTERSTOCK

Thu 1/02

Beyond Laser Light Experience @ 4pm Denver

Buffalo Sabres at Colorado Avalanche Parking @ 7:01pm Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver

Sundance Head @ 9pm

The Black Buzzard, 1624 Market St, Denver

Fri 1/03

The Regular @ 7pm

Bluebird Theater, 3317 E Colfax Av, Denver

The Pretty Shabbies @ 8pm Mercury Cafe, 2199 California St, Den‐ver

Angie Stevens @ 7pm Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

Wed 1/08

Clay Rose of Gasoline Lollipops, Songs and Stories at Buffalo Rose @ 6:30pm Buffalo Rose, 1119 Washington Ave, Golden

Eddie Roberts @ 8pm

Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom & Other Side, 2637 Welton St, Denver

Chozen @ 8pm

Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver

Rotating Tap Comedy @ River North Brewery @ 8pm

River North Brewery - Blake Street Taproom, 3400 Blake St, Denver

John Caparulo @ 9pm

Oskar Blues Grill & Brew, 1624 Market St, Den‐ver

Papa Jay @ 8pm Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver

Sat 1/04

KB ANGEL: Duke & Duchess @ 3pm #VYBE, 1027 N Broadway,, Denver

Jay_Martin @ 5:30pm

Barrels & Bottles Brewery at Camp George West, 1055 Orchard St, Golden

John Caparulo @ 6pm

Oskar Blues Grill & Brew, 1624 Market St, Den‐ver

Dave Devine @ 6:30pm Dazzle Denver, 1080 14th Street, Denver

The 4411 @ 7pm Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver

6 Million Dollar Band @ 7pm The Oriental Theater, 4335 W 44th Ave, Denver

Hope MacGregor @ Mercury Cafe @ 7:30pm Mercury Cafe, 2199 California St, Denver

Weathered Statues @ 9pm Ophelia's Electric Soapbox, 1215 20th St, Denver

Sun 1/05

Friends of Chamber Music Denver: Tony Siqi Yun, piano @ 4pm

Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 2344 E Iliff Ave, Denver this broken beat @ 5pm Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver

Killakoi @ 6pm HQ, 60 S Broadway, Denver

Chris Beck @ 6:30pm Dazzle Denver, 1080 14th Street, Den‐ver

Douglas Murray @ 7:30pm Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place, Den‐ver

Voter representation

As described in my book, political observers have argued about the merits of citizen lawmaking – “direct democracy” – since the founding of the republic. Elected o cials and political elites generally dislike initiatives, preferring to have laws made by elected representatives instead of by the people directly. ey argue that voters lack the knowledge to make good decisions; but they may also simply dislike giving up power. Voters, on the other hand, strongly support voting on ballot propositions, favoring citizen lawmaking over representative lawmaking by about 2 to 1 in polls. Colorado voters adopted the initiative process in 1910, and most other initiative states adopted around the same time, during the Progressive Movement. e Progressive Movement – not to be confused with the contemporary “progressive” label – was a bipartisan centrist movement that sought to professionalize government and cleanse it from what the reformers saw as capture by powerful interest groups, particularly corporations and big-city machines. Advocates for adoption of the initiative and referendum included both Republican President eodore Roosevelt and Democratic President Woodrow Wilson. e impulses that drove the Progressive Movement are still alive today, and have heightened recently. According to opinion polls, a sizable majority of voters no longer trust government and believe that government o cials do not care about their interests. Initiatives give citizens a chance to overrule their elected representatives if they feel those representa-

tives have lost sight of their interests.

A striking example of this recently has been initiatives in some red states that sought to replace highly restrictive abortion laws with more balanced, centrist laws that better re ect majority opinion. If elected o cials adopt policies favored by the majority, then there would be little reason for citizens to sponsor initiatives. Part of the reason, then, for so many initiatives in Colorado recently is likely that voters are not feeling wellrepresented by their elected representatives, at least on certain issues.

From this perspective, having a large number of ballot measures is a symptom of a problem, not the problem itself. I’d even argue that the measures are a healthy way of trying to solve the problem of poor representation.

Too many decisions?

But this only follows if you believe that voters are able to make good decisions on the measures that come before them.

As I explore in detail in my book, some argue that policy issues are too complicated for ordinary people to decide, and that because of their ignorance, they are easily manipulated by big-spending interest groups.

Colorado’s Proposition 129 on the November ballot, for example, proposed to create a certi cation program for veterinary assistants under which they would be able to provide some services currently available only from veterinarians.

e text detailing the regulations was nine pages, over 3,200 words, and not easy reading. e opposition campaign was funded by veterinary associations, who argued that the new veterinary assistants wouldn’t be adequately trained to do surgery on pets as the law allowed.

While this concern about overloading voters has some merit, I don’t believe it

should be taken too far. For one thing, my examination of the history of initiatives across the country shows that corporate interests typically do less well under citizen lawmaking than when dealing with the legislature, which, incidentally, may explain why many business interests oppose the initiative process.

e other thing that’s important to understand is how voters decide on ballot measures.

While writing my book, I reviewed a great deal of research showing that voters do not, in fact, study the underlying statutory text of a ballot measure and try to parse its meaning. Instead, they read the ballot summaries and rely heavily on advice from informed parties they trust, such as family, friends, advocacy groups,

politicians and journalists.

For example, on a civil liberties issue, some voters may follow the recommendations of the American Civil Liberties Union; on a tax issue, some may follow the National Taxpayers Union. Research has shown that by using these shortcuts, voters often are able to overcome the complexity and campaign ads to cast votes that accurately represent their interests.

In the case of Proposition 129, voters approved the law for veterinary assistants, even though opponents substantially outspent supporters.

John Matsusaka is professor of Finance and Business Economics at the University of Southern California. is article is republished from e Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

Here’s what to know about signing up for free preschool

BY ANN SCHIMKE CHALKBEAT

Colorado families could start applying for the state’s free preschool program for the 2025-26 school year on Dec. 17.

e $344 million program, which launched in the fall of 2023, is open to all 4-year-olds. About 41,000 4-year-olds are currently enrolled in the program — about 65% of that age group in the state. A smaller number of 3-year-olds who

need extra help are also enrolled. e state has made a few key changes to the process this year, including opening the application window two months earlier and o ering a phone helpline that o ers interpretation in over 100 lan-

Here’s what families need to know about the preschool program and the

Who gets free preschool? How much do

Two groups of children qualify: All 4-year-olds and some 3-year-olds who e preschool program is primarily designed for children in the year before they go to kindergarten. For the upcoming 2025-26 school year, that generally means children who turn 4 before Oct. 1, 2025. (Some districts have slightly di erent cut-o dates, which you can nd using this district-by-district look-up tool.)

Most 4-year-olds will get 15 hours of preschool a week, though some preschool providers o er only 10 hours a

In addition, some 4-year-olds will qualify for 30 hours of tuition-free preschool a week. ese include children from families with incomes at or below 100% of the 2024 federal poverty level — up to $31,200 for a family of four.

Four-year-olds with two or more of the following risk factors will also qualify for 30 hours a week:

- eir family income is between 100% and 270% of the federal poverty level — $31,200 to $84,240 for a family of four.

- ey speak a language other than English at home.

- ey have a special education plan, also known as an IEP.

- ey are homeless.

- ey are in foster care.

Qualifying for 30 hours of free preschool through the state isn’t a guarantee that a child will get it. Not every preschool o ers a 30-hour a week schedule — or has open seats available even if it does.

Compared to 4-year-olds, only a small number of 3-year-olds — children two years away from kindergarten — qualify for tuition-free preschool. Only 3-yearolds who have special education plans are guaranteed free preschool.

What about 5-year-olds who aren’t in kindergarten yet?

A small number of 5-year-olds are eligible for free preschool in the year before they attend kindergarten. Speci cally: ose living in school districts with kindergarten cut-o dates earlier than the state’s Oct. 1 cut-o whose birthdays fall between the two cut-o dates. is look-up tool can help you determine if your 5-year-old will qualify.

Five-year-olds who could go to kindergarten but have been held out by their families — a practice often called redshirting — aren’t eligible for free preschool in that year.

When can I fill out the universal preschool application? is year’s application opened at noon on Dec. 17, about two months earlier than last year.

Colorado’s application for universal preschool opened at noon Dec. 17 for the 2025-26 school year.

Ralston Valley rallies to road win at Dakota Ridge

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LITTLETON — Ralston Valley junior Frank Psaute played the role of e Grinch on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at Dakota Ridge High School.

e junior guard sucked the holiday cheer from the home crowd pouring in a game-high 20 points in the Mustangs’ 68-58 come-from-behind victory over Dakota Ridge.

“Frank stepping up was obviously huge,” Ralston Valley coach Chris Braketa said. “Guys trusting him to make that extra pass. He got hot for sure.”

Psaute’s four 3-pointers in the nal quarter allowed the Mustangs to erase a 46-41 Dakota Ridge lead and keep Ralston Valley (6-0 record) undefeated on the season. e Eagles (4-4) grabbed the 5-point lead after senior Ethan Berninger scored eight points in the nal 90 seconds of the third quarter.

Senior Tanner Braketa had done a masterful job covering Berninger through nearly three quarters. Berninger didn’t score until he hit a 3-pointer to give Dakota Ridge a 41-38 lead with just over a minute to play in the third quarter.

“Tanner wanted that assignment,” Coach Braketa said of his oldest son matching up with Berninger defensively. “It was two of the best players in the state, in my opinion, going at each other. It was a good match-up. I think Tanner did a hell of a job on him because Ethan is a great player.”

Tanner Braketa and Berninger have combined to win three Je co League MVPs over their careers. Ralston Valley and Dakota Ridge have also combined to win three league titles with Tanner Braketa and Berninger as keystone pieces. Tanner — who has already signed to play at the University of Northern Colorado — claimed conference MVPs his freshman and sophomore seasons before a knee injury caused him to miss a good part of his junior season. e Mustangs won the 5A Je co League title Tanner’s freshman year in 2021-22

Berninger grabbed the 5A/4A Je co League MVP a season ago, while helping lead the Eagles to back-to-back conference titles the previous two years.

“He (Berninger) is a really good player and I wanted him going in,” Tanner Braketa said of the defensive task.

Psaute was up to the task draining back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers to start the fourth quarter to put the Mustangs back on top.

“ e bench energy, I could feel it,” Psaute said of making all four of his 3-pointers in the fourth quarter with the Ralston Valley bench right behind him. “I wanted to knock those down to get the team going.”

Dakota Ridge junior Caiden Dixon’ 3-pointer with 5:17 left in the fourth quarter cut Ralston Valley’s lead to 50-49. However, it was all Mustangs after that as Ralston Valley went on a 17-0 run that lasted until the nal minute of the game.

“We did a good job defensively locking (Dakota Ridge) down,” Coach Braketa said of holding the Eagles to three points through the majority of the fourth quarter. “ e defense started that run.”

Junior Zeke Andrews had a doubledouble for the Mustangs with 14 points and 15 rebounds. e Braketa brothers

— Tanner and Caiden — both had 10 points and 7 assists. Senior Hayes Gatlin was the high-scorer o the bench with 7 points, all in the second half.

huge tonight with the rebounds,” Tanner Braketa said. “Hayes hit a big shot. ose guys were key and helped us out a lot.” It was the second straight loss for Dakota

and

who lost a 1-point heart-

Ridge,

Dakota Ridge

Ralston Valley won’t have games now until after Winter Break. e Eagles host Denver South (2-1) on

Ralston Valley junior Frank Psaute (12) scored a game-high 20 points on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Dakota Ridge High School. Psaute had six 3-pointers in the Mustangs’ 68-58 victory over the Eagles.

Ralston Valley senior Tanner Braketa (10) drives on Dakota Ridge senior Ethan Berninger and junior Caiden Dixon (3) during the first half Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Dakota Ridge High School. Ralston Valley improved to 6-0 on the season with a 68-58 victory. PHOTOS BY DENNIS PLEUSS / JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

PRESCHOOL

Some families of children who will be 4 by Oct. 1 will get to preregister, speci cally those who want to send their child to the preschool where the child is currently enrolled, where a sibling is enrolled, or where the parent is employed.

ese families should ll out the state preschool application, list their current provider as their rst choice, and submit. ey’ll receive con rmation of their choice and must accept or decline the match between Feb. 3 and 10.

Families not eligible to preregister can still ll out the universal preschool application starting Dec. 17. ose who submit by Feb. 5 will fall into the state’s rst round of matching. ey’ll nd out which program they matched with on Feb. 24. ey will have to accept or decline their match by March 3.

Families that submit their choices between Feb. 6 and March 5 will fall into the state’s second round of matching. ey’ll nd out their match on March 24 and must accept or decline the match by March 31.

What if I apply after the first 2 matching windows?

Families of children who will be 4 by Oct. 1 can still apply for free preschool after the rst two rounds of matching are complete through what’s called “direct enrollment.” Contact the preschool you’re interested in to see if they have space. If they do, they’ll assist you with the enrollment process, including lling out the state universal preschool application.

If you don’t have a preschool in mind, you can browse an online list of univer-

sal preschool providers on the state’s application website.

What do I need to fill out the state preschool application?

You’ll need to provide an email address or phone number to create an account and start your online preschool application. Most families will need about 15 minutes to ll it out. e application is available in English and 10 other languages, including Spanish, French, Arabic, and Hindi.

Families with incomes at or below 270% of the federal poverty line will need to upload proof of income, such as pay stubs or tax forms, when they apply for universal preschool.

I have a child who will be 3 by Oct. 1, 2025. Should I complete the application?

If your child has an Individualized Education Program or IEP, yes. Otherwise, parents of 3-year-olds should contact their local school district to nd out if they qualify for tuition-free preschool.

My child has a disability. Should I complete the application?

Yes. Families with a child who will be 3 or 4 next school year and has a special education plan — also known as an Individualized Education Program, or IEP — should ll out the state preschool application. Be sure to check “yes” in response to the question about whether the child has an active Individualized Education Program. e local school district will contact families about the enrollment and placement process. Most preschoolers with IEPs will be placed in classrooms run by their school districts.

Parents who are worried their preschooler may be delayed in speech, learning, or development, but don’t have a diagnosis or IEP, should contact Child

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Find, a state program that screens children suspected of having a disability. Check this list for Child Find coordinators by region.

Can I pick my 4-year-old’s preschool?

Yes. More than 2,000 preschools across Colorado are part of the universal program. Families who don’t qualify for preregistration or want a program other than the one their child currently attends will be asked on the state application to pick up to ve preschools. ey can rank their choices. Options include school-based preschools, faith-based preschools, preschool programs inside child care centers, and state-licensed home-based programs.

is year, about 90% of families were matched with their rst choice of preschool.

ere are some cases where preschool providers can turn down a universal preschool applicant. For example, a schoolbased preschool might turn away a child who lives outside district boundaries. Faith-based preschools used to have the option to turn down a child who is not part of their congregation, but that’s no longer the case for the 2025-26 school year.

Can I pick my 3-year-old’s preschool?

Possibly, but you won’t have as many choices as 4-year-olds do. It all depends on your school district since districts are in charge of placing 3-year-old preschoolers. Some districts primarily serve 3-year-olds in district-run classrooms while others work with community child care programs to serve 3-year-olds.

Do I have to fill out my district’s school choice form too?

Families who want to send their child to a preschool run by their school district

may have to ll out two applications: e district school choice form and the state universal preschool application. If you’re not sure if your district has a school choice form or if you are required to ll it out, contact your district.

What if I need more hours than what my preschooler is eligible for?

You can still pay for extra hours above and beyond what the state covers for free, as long as the preschool o ers more hours. You can also see if you qualify for nancial help through other means, such as the state’s child care subsidy program or a local tuition assistance program like the Denver Preschool Program. Here’s a rundown of the options.

I have more questions. What should I do? Contact the local group that’s coordinating the universal preschool program in your county or region. Here’s a county-by-county list of all the groups — the state calls them Local Coordinating Organizations or LCOs — with email addresses.

You can also contact the state’s help desk from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. e number is 303-8665223 and interpretation is available in over 100 languages. Families can also email the help desk at universalpreschool@state.co.us or submit an online form at help.upk.colorado.gov.

Do you have a question you don’t see answered here or can’t nd the answer to elsewhere? Let us know at co.tips@chalkbeat.org and we’ll do our best to nd an answer.

Reprinted with permission from Chalkbeat, a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.

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‘Red alert’ for soccer as ejections soar in high school sports

BY STEVE SMITH

SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

e number of red cards in boys and girls soccer matches is going up among both players and coaches.

In 2023, game o cials handed out 27 red cards (ejections) to girls players and 236 to boys players, according to Justin Saylor, assistant commissioner for the Colorado High School Activities Association. In 2024, the number increased to 39 for girls players and 242 for boys.

Mike Lovinguth, Arrupe Jesuit High School’s assistant principal and the chairman of CHSAA’s soccer committee, said that none of those instances seem appropriate for the coaches.

“I’m not sure what the reason is,” Saylor said during a soccer committee meeting in early December. “To see 39 red cards for girls and 242 red cards for boys, we’ve got something we need to look at. It’s worth a discussion about how we’re going to address that. What can we do? Something has to be done. How can we lower this number?”

CHSAA o cials said of those boys ejections, 30 were for denying an obvious chance to score a goal. Fifty-three were for violent conduct, 97 were the result of two yellow cards, or cautions, and 35 were for foul or abusive language.

Coach ejections are on the increase, too. O cials tossed out ve girls coaches in 2023 and just four this last spring. In 2023, 18 boys coaches were ejected. e number grew to 30 this season.

Of the coaching ejections on boys teams, six of the red cards were for foul language, 12 for two yellow cards, seven were for dissents and three were for taunting.

Saylor couldn’t address ejection rates for sports over which he is not responsible. Frederick High School Athletic Director Ty Gordon said ejection rates increased for the recently concluded football season.

Doherty High School Athletic Director Jon Shub asked for a breakdown of the reasons for the ejections.

“ e numbers on the boys side are one per team throughout a season and lower for the girls. Coaches are 10% for the boys and signi cantly lower for the girls,” he said. “If we can have more disaggregated data, that might be helpful as well.”

e CHSAA o ce keeps a record of the reasons for each ejection.

“It’s useful to look at what the second yellow was for … dissent, violent conduct,” said Ken Hehir, president of the state high school soccer o cials association. “ e key thing to bear in mind is not the absolute number; it’s the increase. e percentages of each type of card is going to be similar. It’s just there’s a lot more of them. Boys games are more intense, but that shouldn’t equate to more coach reds, even if the game is more intense.”

Fossil Ridge High School girls soccer coach Cyrus Salehi said the issue goes back to leadership. He called the number of coaching red cards “appalling.”

“If you have players who are taking ‘last-man’ reds, pulling a player’s jersey to deny, that’s just one aspect,” he said. “Studs up, breaking a player’s leg (it happened to the SaberCats last year, Salehi noted), and then their coach pats them on the back, you have coaches that are unhinged. It’s leadership. Something needs to be done. Why is that tolerated?”

Hehir said the increase in coaching red cards “is the most concerning part.”

“ e referee has more control on the eld. Cards are used for game management, game control,” Hehir said. “ e coach numbers are very concerning.”

Ejection penalties

Coaches who are tossed out of games have to complete national courses for sportsmanship and teaching behavior. ey have to sit out two games for the rst ejection, while players have to sit out one. Coaches also go on probation.

“We did bring in that two-game suspension a few years back because we were seeing an uptick in coach reds,” Saylor said. We felt that additional punishment may give a coach a second thought about continuing a discussion with an o cial, but it appears not to have worked.”

A coach’s second ejection prompts a meeting with CHSAA o cials. A third ejection results in a restriction. Saylor said he’d not seen a coach placed on restriction in his ve years with CHSAA.

Stephen Dimit, the president of soccer coaches within the Colorado High School Coaches Association, thought any extra educational piece involved the right people.

“I’d be curious how many of these red cards are repeat red cards year after year. How many of these coaches are continuing to coach these teams?” he asked. “ e last few seasons, I haven’t seen a red card.”

Saylor said the same group of o cials work both boys and girls matches.

“ ere are more girls games, yet we have four girls coaches ejected and 30 on the boys,” he said. “I’m struggling to understand why that’s happening. e number of dissent reds is going to be above the girls’. e majority of the girls’ reds will be for play on the eld.”

Salehi suggested more of an accountability piece between the coaches and their athletic directors. Hehir said the shock value of the numbers will have an

“We can work closely with Justin and CHSAA and the coaches group to set expectations,” he said. “We’re all on the same page. If we can lay out expectations on coach behavior, what’s acceptable and not acceptable, we can set some expectations.”

According to the Colorado High School Activities Association, the number of red card penalties has for high school soccer has increased significantly in recent years. SHUTTERSTOCK