1-5-23 Villager

Increased noise over neighborhoods from Centennial Airport

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENT REPORTER

In 2017, Centennial Airport, located 20 miles south-southwest of Denver International Airport, at 7565 S. Peoria Street in unincorporated Arapahoe County, was rated by General Aviation News as the third busiest general aviation airport in the United States. Today, the Federal Aviation Administrator (FAA) calls it one of the 25 busiest airports in the nation, based on the number of take-offs and landings, which it pegs at 1,000 per day. Using the more common standard of

the number of passengers served daily, Denver International Airport is the fifth busiest in the U.S., seeing 33.6 million passengers annually. The number of take-offs and landings is the statistic that matters to Coloradans who live in the vicinity of Centennial Airport, because it is that activity level that impacts them, not the number of passengers on each plane.

It has been well reported that there is a nationwide pilot shortage, which has led to increased activity at flight schools everywhere. According to bestaviation. net, Aspen Flying Club, Flights Inc., and Independence Aviation operate flight schools out of Cen-

tennial Airport. Mike Fronapfel, executive director and CEO at Centennial Airport, was recently reported to have said there were four flight schools and two clubs conducting training activities there.

Quiet Skies Over Arapahoe County (Quiet Skies), a citizen group organized to address what many feel is the excessive, intrusive activity from the airport that is increasingly impacting neighborhoods, reports there were an average of 2,826 “aircraft operations associated with Centennial Airport defined as training” every month from January 2019 through October 2022, the last month for

which data is available, and the month with the highest number yet, 3,465. A “training operation” is defined as one training flight take-off and landing. Exacerbating the problem is that touch-andgo landings, where a plane touches down but then goes back up instead of landing, is an important part of pilot training and can occur multiple times during one training flight. Decelerating, then accelerating creates significant noise, as well as lead emissions, since these planes generally are single-engine and use leaded fuel.

Quiet Skies has gotten the attention of our state’s leading elected officials, who displayed a clear understanding of the issues in a recent letter to the FAA. On December 14, Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, along with U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, in whose district Centennial Airport is located, wrote a letter to Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen. They cited an incident on May 12, 2021 when two small planes collided over Cherry Creek State Park while attempting to land at Centennial Airport. (No injuries were reported from the accident). That incident, the elected officials pointed out, led the FAA to “shift the air traffic pattern for the area without consulting the airport or the community, resulting in increased traffic over residential areas.” The letter continued, “Residents have relayed concerns related to this traffic pattern change, including those from noise pollution and potential lead pollution due to the leaded fuel used by single-engine planes. Other concerns include an increase in in-flight school flights, specifically noise attributable to repeated touch-and-go operations, and the anticipated growth in flights out of this airport.” Bennet, Hickenlooper and Crow asked the FAA to respond to an October 19 letter from Fronapfel about “Complaints and concerns from Greenwood Village residents,” that said that the 30 GV residents

who met with airport staff on September 13 comprised “a very agitated and frustrated community that is threatening to pursue legal action against the FAA.” One of the requests Fronapfel made in the October 19 letter was to “see if it is possible to keep the training pattern aircraft south of Arapahoe Road, east of I-25 and north of Lincoln Avenue whenever possible.”

The Senators’ and Congressman’s intervention drew a prompt, if not entirely satisfying response. In a letter dated December 16 responding to Fronapfel’s October 19 correspondence, FAA Regional Administrator Grady Stone said, “Airport traffic pattern procedures are designed to enhance safety and improve the flow of traffic at an airport... Extending either the upwind or downwind of traffic in the pattern to Runway 17R results from sequencing traffic or an increased volume in the touch-andgo pattern and, as such, cannot be confined for noise abatement. If there is no conflicting traffic--which often allows the pilot to determine the timing of the crosswind or base--- it falls to the pilot to follow the voluntary noise abatement guidelines.”

Stone agreed that the FAA would review two of Fronapfel’s suggestions “to assess the feasibility, risks, and impacts” of the requested changes. He also noted that, “Public airports, like KAPA (Centennial), are restricted by laws enacted by Congress from unilaterally banning certain types of flight activity, including pilot flight training, military operations, and enforcing mandatory curfews.”

Stone indicated that the FAA would attend future meetings of the Centennial Airport Community Noise Roundtable if asked to do so, but did not commit to attending in person, rather than virtually.

The Centennial Airport Community Noise Roundtable meets on the first Wednesday of every month at Centennial Airport, 7565 South Peoria Street, Englewood CO 80112. You can also attend virtually by registering at: https://centennialairport.com/ noise-roundtable

“Attention to detail, dedication and a commitment to perfection is why we chose First American State Bank for our banking partnership.”

Dr. Ron Yaros, Aspenwood Dental

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(303) 694-6464 www.aspenwooddental.com

Elected officials who represent their residents as members of the Centennial Airport Community Noise Roundtable include Greenwood Village City Council Members Libby Barnacle and Donna Johnston, Centennial City Council Members Candace Moon and Don Sheehan, Cherry Hills Village City Council Member Al Blum, and Arapahoe County Commissioner Carrie Warren-Gully.

The Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority monthly meetings are at the same address in Room 115 on the second Thursday of each month except July at 3:30 pm, beginning February 9th. Registration to attend virtually can be found at: https://centennial airport.com/virtual-boardroom.

You can keep up with their activities on Quiet Skies’ website, bit.ly/quietskies fmiklin.villager@gmail.com

Dr. Aaron Sun, Dr. Lisa Augustine, Dr. Ron Yaros, Aspenwood Dental, Jay Davidson, Scott Yeoman, First American State Bank, Dr. Daniel Zeppelin, Aspenwood Dental

RCI Hospitality Holdings buys Grange Hall in Greenwood Village

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENT REPORTER

There is no reason to believe the Grange Hall in Greenwood Village will be the future site of an adult nightclub.

On December 21, 2022, RCI Hospitality Holdings, which describes itself as, “the country’s leading company in adult nightclubs and sports bars/restaurants,” with more than 60 locations, announced that it had purchased the 12,500-square foot Grange Hall in Greenwood Village’s Arapahoe Entertainment District (AED) at 6575 Greenwood Plaza Boulevard, along

Hudson Gardens & Event Center

Executive Director retires

Hudson Gardens & Event Center Executive Director Rich Meredith retired at the end of 2022.

Meredith spent the last 22 years at the helm of the organization, elevating Hudson Gardens to one of the premiere garden and event destinations in the Denver metro area.

South Suburban Park and Recreation District (SSPRD), owner of Hudson Gardens, will assume management of the 30 acres of family-friendly garden exhibits, trails, open spaces and event venues. Meredith will remain in a consultant role for South Suburban.

With a strong background in education and tourism, Meredith guided the growth and development for major projects at Hudson Gardens. Improvements included revitalizing the Welcome Garden, restoring the Inn, adding 20 permanent local art sculptures and securing grants with Arapahoe County Open Spaces and the City of Littleton for a river integration project. The renovated Bloom Room also opened in 2022, creating a modern indoor/outdoor space for a variety of events.

“It’s been an honor to serve as the executive director at Hudson Gardens for more than 22 years,” said Meredith. “Creating a vision that enhanced the community’s access to nature, open spaces and healthy living has always felt like a passion, not just a job. I’m thankful to everyone who contributed to the growth of Hudson Gardens and look forward to celebrating its future success.”

Meredith’s vision and financial acumen ensured free admission to the gardens, increasing attendance and visibility from 10,000 to nearly 50,000 visitors per year. His inspiration to attract community members of all ages led to the creation of educational classes, unique holiday-themed events, as well as a background for local and national concerts like Foreigner, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Styx.

with the land under it, for $5.2 million.

Grange Hall owner Troy Guard was reported to have said that RCI had made his TAG Restaurant Group “an offer we couldn’t refuse” for the property, which only began operating just over a year ago after a major remodel of the former C.B. & Potts Sports Bar and Restaurant.

RCI said that its plan “is to add a mini Bombshells kitchen featuring its famous

wings and salads as well as many of its popular appetizers, and use the brewery to create its own, signature craft beers for sale in other RCI locations to further differentiate its brands in Colorado.”

The company also noted that it had recently announced “the acquisition of sites in Aurora for a Bombshells and in Central City, for a Rick’s Cabaret Steakhouse and Casino.”

The announcement caused some raised eye-

brows in Greenwood Village, where some wondered about the company’s longterm plans for the property.

Those familiar with GV’s municipal code would have known that sexually oriented businesses are allowed by the city’s zoning code only in the city’s light industrial zone district and only as a special use, requiring a special use permit to be issued by the city council.

Grange Hall is located in GV’s mixed commercial zone district, which also carries overlay zoning added in 2019 when the city created the AED.

The language of the AED includes, “alternative development standards for building setbacks, height

and open space for preferred entertainment-related uses, while maintaining the rights of the underlying (mixed commercial) zoning district designation…. to promote a vibrant retail area located west of Interstate 25 that is clearly identifiable as a Greenwood Village district.” It also says, “To the extent there is a conflict between the provisions of the underlying zoning district and the AED, the provisions of the AED shall control.”

The AED zoning code language lists preferred uses by right, including “art studios and galleries; craft brewery, distillery, taproom, winery; indoor amusement/entertainment facilities; and entertainment in conjunction with eating and drinking establishments.” It also lists, as a special use, “other entertainment related uses… unless otherwise prohibited.”

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Citizen Boards and Committees

Help shape our community by serving on one of Arapahoe County’s citizen boards and committees. New vacancies are now open to applicants. Your expertise is needed to help shape growth, distribute funds to arts and sciences partners, guide CSU Extension programming and many more!

Get involved by visiting arapahoegov.com/ citizenboards or scan the QR code with your smartphone.

Shovel Snow for Seniors

Shovel Snow for a Neighbor in Need

Volunteers are needed, especially in Aurora and Centennial, to help seniors by shoveling driveways and walking paths.

Make a difference for someone in need in your community.

Visit arapahoegov.com/volunteer

South Suburban will manage the 30-acre gardens

We begin a new year. What does God and Mother Nature have in store for us in 2023? They both had a pretty good time during 2022.

Looking forward I’m somewhat optimistic, I don’t think that we will have a recession. I have lived through several of them and during those times there was an acute shortage of money.

Everything was cheap including gold, silver, and real estate, but very few people had the money to take advantage of the bargains at the time. Cash was “King,” and banks were tight on loans; times became tough for businesses. My experience was in a small town, but if times are tough in rural America, big cities suffer even more. Rural folks stick together closer and take care of each other.

My parents lived and worked through the “Great Depression” of the 1930s and the damage lingered forward into World War ll. That ended the depression and started a patriotic movement to support the war effort. As most readers know, I was raised on a very rural cattle ranch. My parents survived the depression and saved everything for the next rainy day. We had an attic of saved clothing, a root cellar of summer vegetables canned in Ball jars, tons of potatoes grown and stored in wooden bins, fresh meat stored in canvas bags and

put out at night to cool and placed in the cellar during the day.

I remember my parents telling about my Uncle Frank who was also a rancher. He raised some hogs during the depression and shipped them to Denver and the sale proceeds didn’t even pay the railroad freight bill.

There may be portions of the United States where economies may falter, but the West is booming. Denver is almost recession proof.

We’re the second largest Federal employee outlet in America with Buckley Air Base, the Lakewood Federal Center, and a raft of government agencies. That is a good solid payroll.

We have the best ski and snow boarding facilities in America. The mountain towns are recession proof. Along with outdoor sports Denver has every professional sport franchise in existence. We are on the circuit for top entertainers and Broadway traveling shows.

We have operating oil and gas fields, major wheat and corn fields with crops in high demand with the war in Ukraine. Soybeans have climbed over $15 a bushel in recent days and wheat $8 a bushel. Cattle prices are high and even with the astounding prices at the grocery stores, beef is in demand. Major restaurants are selling those New York strips and filets steaks at record prices.

A recession in 2023, I

don’t think so. There may be an excess of retail stores, how many outlets do we need? Amazon seems to have lost some appeal and their stock has plunged over 50 percent. We always urge our readership to shop locally. Don’t order from the catalogs in Dallas and Chicago, hit the malls or your nearest locally owned outlet. Can’t afford new? Goodwill Industries has a full inventory of almost everything and supporting them provides jobs to underprivileged workers. Goodwill is one of the best non-profits in existence, along with the Salvation Army.

Service industries are strong, work at home has created more home improvements.

The Federal Reserve is raising interest rates on loans and this is raising interest on saving’s accounts. Bonds, and some savings accounts are topping 4 percent. Interest rates on home loans are somewhere between 5, to 7 percent, depending on credit scores.

Sad if you missed the lower interest rates below 2 percent. Makes a huge difference in a 30-year loan payoff. The historic low interest rates created a boom in the housing markets.

President Biden just signed a 1.7 trillion spending budget with over $800 billion going to our military and national defense. Some of this money will flow to major defense contractors here in Colorado.

It is ironic that the Fed is attempting to reduce inflation while the President

has just injected this huge amount of money into the economy. We just keep on printing money and the debt keeps rising.

I’m no economist, but I’ve lived through tough times and good times, and we aren’t anywhere close to bad times. There are jobs galore and they are paying more than anytime in history. Minimum wages are rising to new levels with signs in many store windows seeking employees.

The cost of housing and rent are very high and rising interest rates hurt homeowners, especially on new and old floating loans. Utility rates are rising as oil creeps back towards $100 a barrel.

Yes, 2023 will be an interesting and challenging year. Let’s hope that China sees the folly in Russia attacking Ukraine and backs away from any war with Taiwan.

Let’s hope that we can protect our borders. The new challenge is to take care of those folks who have fled to America for many reasons. But, enough is enough.

Let’s pray that the war in Ukraine will end soon.

And, let science put an end to COVID-19 for good.

2023 has promise. Remember that the sun always comes up tomorrow, and when a door slams a window opens.

Let’s enjoy our friends and neighbors more in 2023.

Happy New Year from The Villager in our 41st year.

Ring in the New Year reading

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The Villager

Office: 6972 S. Vine St., Suite 363, Centennial, CO 80122 • (303) 773-8313

A legal newspaper of general circulation in Arapahoe County, Colorado. (USPS 431-010) Published weekly by the Villager Publishing Co., Inc. 6972 S. Vine St., Suite 363, Centennial, CO 80122. Available for home or office delivery by U.S. Mail for $62 per year. Single copies available for $1 per issue.

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Deadlines: Display Advertising, Legal Notices, press releases, letters to the editor, 4:00 p.m. Friday.

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PUBLISHER & EDITOR

Gerri Sweeney gerri@villagerpublishing.com

PUBLISHER

Robert Sweeney bsween1@aol.com

CREATIVE MARKETING DIRECTOR

Susan Sweeney Lanam 720-270-2018 susan@villagerpublishing.com

VICE PRESIDENT/MARKETING

Sharon Sweeney sharon@villagerpublishing.com

LEGALS

Becky Osterwald legal@villagerpublishing.com

NEWS EDITOR

Gerri Sweeney 720-313-9751 gerri@villagerpublishing.com

GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

Freda Miklin fmiklin.villager@gmail.com 303-489-4900

REPORTER

Robert Sweeney bsween1@aol.com

FASHION & LIFESTYLE

Scottie Iverson swan@denverswan.com

DESIGN/PRODUCTION MANAGER Tom McTighe production@villagerpublishing.com

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

Susan Lanam — 720-270-2018 susan@villagerpublishing.com

Sharon Sweeney — 303-503-1388 Gerri Sweeney — 720-313-9751 gerri@villagerpublishing.com

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SUBSCRIPTIONS Susan 720-270-2018

PHOTOGRAPHER

Stefan Krusze — 303-717-8282 octaviangogoI@aol.com

EDITORIAL COLUMNIST Robert Sweeney bsween1@aol.com

The Villager is an award-winning, locally owned, independent newspaper. All letters to the editor must be signed. The contributor’s name, hometown and phone number must also accompany all letters to the editor for verification and we reserve the right to edit contributions for space. We attempt to verify all matters of fact but hold contributors liable for the content, accuracy and fairness of their contributions. All submissions become the property of The Villager and may be reused in any medium.

Reverend Martin Niemoller

“In Germany, the Nazis first came for the communists and didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the Jews and I didn’t speak up because wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me and by that time there was no one left to speak for me!”

Come, gentlemen, I hope we shall drink down all unkindness.

WHAT

NEED TO KNOW

Denver mayor’s race has 23 candidates and counting

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENT REPORTER

With current Mayor Michael Hancock term-limited, the position of Denver mayor is an open seat. The election will be held on April 4 and ballots will be mailed to all eligible voters beginning March 13. This election will also include candidates for Denver City Council, Clerk and Recorder, and Auditor, as well as local ballot measures.

If no one receives at least 50% of the votes cast in the race for mayor, which is likely to happen due to the number of candidates, the top two vote-getters will have a runoff in June.

Twenty-three candidates have announced their intention to run for the non-partisan position of Denver mayor so far. They are, alphabetically, Kelly Brough, Lisa Calderón, Alex Cowans, Paul Fiorino, Aldwyn L. Gardner II, Marcus Giavanni, State Sen. Chris Hansen, State Rep. Leslie Herod, Sylvia Herring, Mike Johnston, Danny Lopez, Aurelio Martinez, Debbie Ortega, Jesse Lashawn Parris, Terrance Roberts, Trinidad Rodriguez, Andre Rougeot, Ken Simpson, David Stevens, Ean Tafoya, State Rep. Alex Valdez, James Walsh, and Thomas Wolf.

In addition to the three members of the General Assembly, the most well-known candidates are Debbie Ortega, Kelly Brough, and Mike Johnston.

Ortega served on the Denver City Council for 29 years, from 1987 until 2003, when term limits went into effect. She was elected again in 2011 and is again term-limited.

Brough was chief of staff to John Hickenlooper when he was Denver mayor and then served as president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. She also co-chaired the Housing Affordability Strategy Group of U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper.

Johnston is a former state senator and was a candidate for Colorado governor in 2018. Originally a teacher and principal, he has served as CEO of philanthropic organization Gary Community Ventures since 2020.

Among the current general assembly members seeking the Denver mayor’s job, State Sen. Chris Hansen has worked in the energy industry

for many years and is known as a leader on environmental and climate issues, while

State Rep. Leslie Herod is best known for her work on criminal justice reform. Both Hansen and Herod have served on the legislature’s all-important Joint Budget Committee that crafts the state’s annual proposed budget.

In addition to being an open seat, one of the reasons this race is believed to be

drawing so many candidates is the Denver campaign finance reform measure passed by voters in November 2018. The Fair Elections Fund Act lowered the contribution limit for candidates for Denver mayor, city council, clerk and recorder, and auditor from $3000 per donor to $1,000 per donor.

It is also possible for candidates to receive a 9-to-1 match of all contributions up to $50. To qualify for that

match, candidates for mayor must choose to participate in the Fair Elections Fund,

Candidates for mayor are limited to receiving $750,000 total from the fund.

Of the 23 announced candidates for Denver mayor, 17 have indicated that they intend to participate in the Fair Elections Fund.

The most recent data available from the City and County of Denver shows that Kelly Brough filed to run for mayor on August 15, 2022 and has received total campaign contributions of $264,940, of which $135,495 came from the Fair Elections Fund.

State Rep. Leslie Herod filed to run for mayor on September 8, 2022 and has received total contributions of $241,328, of which $157,592 came from the Fair Elections Fund.

Denver City Council Member Debbie Ortega filed to run for mayor on September 2, 2022 and has raised a total $144,828, of which $95,751 came from the Fair Elections Fund.

Andre Rougeot, who filed to run on July 13, 2022, and who is not participating in the Denver Fair Elections Fund, has raised $274,675, the largest total of any candidate, but he contributed $250,000 of that total.

Mike Johnston, State Sen. Chris Hansen, and State Sen. Alex Valdez did not file their intent to run for mayor until November, so no financial reports of contributions are available yet but all three have indicated their intent to participate in the Fair Elections Fund.

For some candidates, the Fair Elections Fund has provided the great majority of the funds they have available for this race.

Terrance Roberts filed his intent to run on April 8, 2022 and has received $68,339 in total contributions, of which $51,165, or 75%, came from the Fair Elections Fund.

Ean Tafoya filed his intent to run on May 5, 2022 and has received $96,069 in total contributions, of which $76,421, or 80% came from the Fair Elections Fund.

which lowers the amount they can accept from an individual donor from $1,000 to $500, but the matching funds net them $450 in city money for every $50 they receive from an individual.

Candidates who participate in the Fair Elections Fund may not accept donations from political committees or other candidate committees.

A number of candidates who have been in the race for several months have not reported raising any funds, so it is expected that the list of 23 will begin to be whittled down in the coming weeks.

Additional information on the Denver election can be obtained from Denver Clerk and Recorder Paul D. López at 303-653-9668, by dialing 311, texting 56003, or emailing elections@denvergov.org. fmiklin.villager@gmail.com

Kelly Brough

Debbie Ortega

State Sen. Chris Hansen

Terrance Roberts

Ean Tafoya

State Rep. Leslie Herod

Mike Johnston

State Rep. Alex Valdez Andre Rougeot

Defending bullied children and rebuilding lives

Bullying is a pervasive problem in our society and especially in our schools. It is an unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated or has the potential to be repeated over time. Bullying may have serious, lasting consequences for all involved.

Bullying Recovery Resource Center (BRRC) was

bullying has on its targets. BRRC provides education, expertise, advocacy, resources and hope to families in need.

Since children have returned to school after the pandemic, the need for our services has greatly increased. With the help of outreach, additional volunteers, and the necessity of communicating in online forums, we have successfully offered our services beyond the Denver area.

established to empower families of bullied children. We are a parent-run organization and provide the resources, education and advocacy needed to stop bullying and stem the long-term effects

We now also proudly serve families on the western slope, in the Colorado Springs area, the Ft. Collins area, in the mountain regions and in the Denver-metropolitan area.

The new year promises to be a year of continual growth for BRRC. We are streamlining our processes to better

For Erin, a story of hope

Imagine driving the streets of Denver and you see a woman on her knees, crying. Her seven-year-old daughter stands at her side, her two-year-old son in a stroller filled with all of their belongings. What if you knew her full story: that she was a single mother, had held down a job for many years and still found herself unable to afford stable housing?

That woman’s name is Erin, and this was her reality before coming to Denver Rescue Mission.

Erin had always made sure her daughter and son had two things: a roof over their heads and food to eat. But there was one night when she wasn’t sure she’d be able to provide either

of these things.

“I remember dropping to my knees and just crying my eyes out,” she said. “I had a check coming but not until the next day, and that night I thought ‘my kids are going to sleep on the street.’ That was the first time I was really scared.

It was an experience Erin wouldn’t wish upon anyone. “It’s lonely. It’s humbling. It’s

serve families. We continue to work in the community and speak with others who are grateful to suggest BRRC as a resource. We plan on partnering with more organizations and individuals who work with children and teens. We are especially focusing our efforts on partnering with the disability, mental health, BIPOC and LGBTQIA communities. Children who are in one of these communities are at a greater risk for being bullied (2 to 5 times more likely depending on the category they in.)

We are grateful to continue to grow and serve families across Colorado. We are thankful for the immense support of our mission and our services. We will continue to empower families to stop bullying today so recovery can start tomorrow.

humiliating. It’s embarrassing,” she said. She has been working for many years, but realized she needed more support. She connected with Denver Rescue Mission’s STAR Transitional Program at The Crossing and her life has not been the same since.

Unfortunately, Erin’s situation is not unusual in the city of Denver, which continues to rank in the top areas in the country for housing unaffordability.

“Just like this single mother, as many as 40 to 60 percent of our guests who sleep in our shelters and at The Crossing have income,” says Tracy Brooks, who leads the Homelessness Resolution team at the Mission. “In our transitional program, we give them to opportunity to reset and work

Thank you for supporting Colorado youth in foster care!

Your support of Cobbled Streets allows dreams to come true for youth in foster care here in Colorado and gives them a childhood the way it ought to be!

The importance of activities, like summer camp, is something that is hard to put into words. From the fast bonds and lasting memories, camp is a time of joy, exploration, and fun! Last summer, we partnered with the Cottonwood Institute and kids ages 10-14 had the chance to learn, unwind, and most importantly just be kids! Just one story is about new best friends 11-year-old ‘Anna’ and 14-year-old ‘Dawn’ connecting instantly. On the second day of camp, Anna arrived with a set of matching necklaces that she had stayed up all night making. The two built an important and joy filled relationship through the week. Not only did they create campfires and roasted marshmallows, but they also built miniature boats, and went hiking and fishing. The girls shared with one another that they were in foster care and loved the opportunity to connect with other children who understood what their

own lives were like.

Think back to when you were young and imagine your childhood dream coming true, thanks to adults who care.

‘Drake’ is a 12-year-old in foster care who has an affinity for music and a natural talent for disc jockeying. Recently he had a special opportunity to sit in on a radio program and choose all the music. The host and media icon, who invited Drake to share the program, is a volunteer and friend of Cobbled Streets.

Drake thought the experience was fantastic and hopes he can do it again. The host of the show said he has a great ear for how music lines up when you are playing it over the air and that he enjoyed learning all aspects of the program. She said, “He is welcome back any time!” As Drake was leaving the studio, he stopped, turned around, and gave the host a big hug!

We can’t wait for 2023 and to share the hope and joy, experience and opportunities that lie ahead for the youth in foster care. Keep in touch at www.cobbledstreets. org and follow us on social media! Thank You and Happy Holidays!

through strategies to overcome the challenges that have caused them to lose their housing.”

Denver Rescue Mission has served men, women and

children in need every day for more than 130 years with meals, shelter, rehabilitation and transitional programs. Last year alone, they provided more than one million meals, 351,371 nights of shelter and helped 480 households obtain housing.

As for Erin, for the first time, she feels like there is hope for her family. She now has goals that feel attainable and resources that help provide the stability her family has longed for. And her kids have noticed, too, she said. “They both struggled trusting and I think with the help we’ve had here, they finally look at me and think, ‘we’re good.’”

Stories of Changed Lives at https://denverrescuemission .org

SHINING A LIGHT ON NON-PROFITS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO THOSE IN NEED IN OUR COMMUNITIES

Deborah Flora shares election perspective with Cherry Creek Republican Women

Candidates honored and upcoming Mardi Gras event announced for February 14 luncheon

Cherry Creek Republican Women (CCRW) honored candidates who stepped up to run at its December meeting and heard from Deborah Flora whose topic was “Hope for the Holidays.”

Deborah Flora was just 32 votes shy, at the Colorado State Assembly, of being a U.S. Senate candidate.

The magna cum laude graduate is a wife, mother of two, daughter of an Air Force

Lt. Colonel (retired), actress, award-winning filmmaker, producer, national public speaker, 710KNUS radio host, former Miss Colorado and second runner up to Miss America. She is the founder of Parents United America and has been on the front line fighting for parental rights and educational freedom, and as a Director of Public Policy, she has advocated and testified for issues impacting the citizens of Colorado and across the country. Many re-

call her most recent poignant documentary Whose Children Are They? that caused audience members to gasp and shed tears over what’s going on in our schools.

The woman of faith shared her thoughts and feelings about the recent election. “Many have talked about feelings after the election and experienced the five stages of grief,” she said. “None of the emotions are bad or wrong. What

LEFT: Keynote speaker Deborah Flora and CCRW President Evie Ashmore

RIGHT: Deborah Flora said, “Now is the time for persuasion. Elon Musk is a gift that keeps on giving.”

FAR RIGHT: With her contagious spirit, Stephanie Hancock engaged the audience Photos by Scottie Iverson

is the path forward? Where do I get hope? My hope comes from God. My love of my country is an extension of my love of God. Government’s only job is to protect. Politics is downstream from culture. George Washington was praying at Valley Forge. We have a Judicial Branch and should use it. The Congressional ship turns slowly.”

Flora is positive and feels there were a lot of wins and

movements in the election cycle and emphasized moving forward. Her alliteration mantra is: Prayer. Principle. Purpose. Persuasion. On how to get beyond the losses, blame, anger and depression, she advocates moving from all of these to be resilient.

“You don’t lose until you quit trying,” she said. “The truth is more powerful than money paying for lies.”

Jewell Hargrave has another fun event planned for CCRW’s luncheon on February 14 – a Mardi Gras Party and celebration with masque and other prizes, auctions and entertainment. For more information: www.cherrycreek republicanwomen.org

Deborah Flora

Candidates

sought: Rebecca Kim (representing husband Tom Kim SD 27), Dave Woolever (HD 61), Kevin Edling (Arapahoe County Sheriff), Stephanie Hancock (HD 41), Heidi Ganahl (Colorado Governor), Bob Andrews (Arapahoe County Assessor), Ron Bouchard (Arapahoe County Coroner)

Stephanie Hancock led the caroling and was accompanied by Kathy Turley

First American staff and friends feeling proud of their efforts which provided Christmas presents to families in need in the Denver Metro area.

Beautifully wrapped gifts by all the many First American Bank staff, owners and friends, Volunteers of America staff and West Middle School students.

Vice President of First American State Bank, Michelle Gruber whom has organized this Annual Toy Drive for 9 years.

Photo by Sharon Sweeney

Kids helping load up gifts

Photos by Kyle Jones

West Middle School students volunteered to help wrap the abundance of gifts.

Bradley Craddock, Director of Community Engagement and Jan Otteman Volunteer Specialist from Volunteers of America Photo by Sharon Sweeney

Colorado Supreme Court rules that mayor and city council member term limits don’t overlap in Thornton

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENT REPORTER

The Colorado Constitution prohibits local elected officials from serving more than two consecutive (four-year) terms in any office. Thornton, like many cities in Colorado, considers its mayor to be a member of the city council. When current Thornton Mayor Jan Kulmann was elected to that position in November 2019, she had just served six consecutive years on the city council.

On the theory that serving as mayor for more than two years (which would make eight consecutive years sitting on the same dais) would

violate the state constitution’s term-limit language, a Thornton resident, Cherish Salazar, filed a suit in Adams County District Court to get clarification as to whether Kulmann was lawfully entitled to serve

as mayor past November 2021, since that would be eight years since she took her seat on that city council.

On December 19, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled 5-2 that Thornton mayor and city council member are different offices “elected in different ways and by different constituencies, and they represent different groups of people,” hence the words “in office” contained in Thornton’s City Charter “plainly and unambiguously refers to a specific office, and not an institution or governing body.”

Although that settled the issue for the City of Thornton, the state Supreme Court’s ruling left open questions

about how the term-limit rule in the Colorado Constitution is impacted by the language in a city’s individual charter, whether a mayor is selected by the city council or the voters, and how it conducts its elections, e.g., at large or by district. In Cherry Hills Village, for instance, all city council candidates and the mayor run at-large, not by district.

It could also matter whether the mayor regularly votes as a member of the city council.

In the City of Centennial, the mayor is a regular voting member of the city council.

In Cherry Hills Village and Greenwood Village, the mayor only votes to break a tie. In Aurora, the mayor can vote to

create a tie, as well as break one.

The two dissenting Colorado Supreme Court justices expressed concern that the decision could result in a person participating in the same local government voting body indefinitely, saying, “I fear that this Thornton-specific analysis may map poorly onto the state’s other jurisdictions and destabilize varying municipal structures… By alternating between eight-year stints as a ward-elected and an at-large council member/mayor, an individual could hold the same legislative position in the city of Thornton forever.”

Fmiklin.villager@gmail. com

West Middle School students spread message of connection with production of “Boat”

SUBMITTED BY ANNA C. DOLAN

When the cast and crew of the West Middle School production of “Boat” started rehearsals in September, they quickly realized that the play had a powerful message.

“The message is that we’re all in the same boat and to find connections with other people that you might not usually find connections with,” said actor Brenna Conley, who is a seventh grader at West.

“It’s all about community and empathy and making connections,” added West drama teacher Jen Brickley. “It’s centered around the idea of ‘we are all in the same boat’ and trying to understand what other people are going through.”

During their two months of afterschool rehearsals, the students realized they wanted to share the message of “Boat” through their performance and through other means as well. So, they decided to host an art and writing contest around the theme of “We’re all in the same boat.” They let the West student body know that anyone could enter a piece of art or writing that shared their thoughts or feelings about the theme.

The cast and crew received some three dozen entries, which they displayed in the hallway outside of the theater, where students, staff, and families could enjoy them. They also evaluated the entries and selected three winners, one from each grade level. Cast member Brenna Con-

ley’s drawing was awarded first place for seventh grade. It shows two girls in a boat who are hugging each other. Next to each of them is a ghost of someone they loved and lost.

“Because they both lost somebody, they’re finding connections through that… They’re comforting each other,” Conley explained. “I want people to take away that if you lose somebody, it can be really hard, but you’ll get through it, and you should

“It’s very fun, just awesome,” said eighth-grader Luna Valentine, about being part of the “Boat” tech crew. “We’re techies, so we help make things… props, make-up, design, costumes, and more.”

“I thought it would be fun,” said seventh-grader Celia Hallberg, who was participating in her first theater production. “I think the community here is just really great. I’m able to hang out with my friends and put on a great show.”

The “Boat” cast and crew also did a community service project as part of their production. During each show, they staffed a concession stand that offered beverages and snacks. They raised $1,000 for a local non-profit organization.

have friends that will be there with you, because it will make it a lot easier.”

Friendships are one of the most important parts of the West Middle School Wildcat Drama program, which exemplifies the Cherry Creek Schools Core Values of Engagement and Relationships.

“Theater is a place where kids can find a place to fit and find a family and make some of those connections,” Brickley said. “As we’re here practicing, we form bonds that are different than we might make in our regular day. That is as important, if not more important, than the end-all production.”

The 60 students involved in “Boat” agree.

“Family Promise of Greater Denver is a homeless shelter and organization,” Hallberg explained. “They help prevent homelessness and help families who are experiencing homelessness.”

When the “Boat” performances on Dec. 8 and 9 were over, everyone involved in the production felt that they had accomplished their goal to put on a great show and share an important message about connection and compassion.

“I’ve seen a change in the people around me,” said seventh-grader Rylen Haar. “They’re more empathetic towards other people, they’re more understanding, and they very much got the message about we’re all in this together.”

Thornton Mayor Jan Kulmann

Simple home safety solutions for aging-in-place

Dear Savvy Senior, Falls and fires are the two things I worry most about for my elderly father who lives alone. Do you have any suggestions on what we can do to help keep him safe, and keep an eye on him from afar?

Concerned Daughter

Dear Concerned, Of course! There are a number of small adjustments and modifications you can make to your dad’s home to help protect him from falls and fires, both of which cause thousands of injuries and deaths each year. Here are some tips to get you started.

Eliminate tripping hazards: Since falls are the leading cause of home injury among seniors, a good place to start is to pack away your dad’s throw rugs which are common tripping hazards or use carpet tacks or double-sided tape to secure them. You may also need to adjust your dad’s furniture so there are clear pathways to walk through and position any electrical or phone cords along walls and out of the way.

For hardwood steps, consider attaching a nonslip tread to each one to provide traction and help him see the edge. And for added protection in the bathroom buy some nonskid rugs for the floors and use adhesive nonslip treads or

Dear Readers, What are the advantages of planned giving and what are some types of planned gifts?

The advantages of planned gifts are many, but some of the more popular reasons for establishing this type of gift are:

a mat with rubber suction inside his tub or shower stall.

Improve his lighting: Good lighting is essential for safe aging-in-place, so check the wattage ratings on your dad’s lamps and light fixtures, and install the brightest bulbs allowed, and add supplementary lighting if necessary.

You should also purchase some dusk to dawn nightlights for the bathroom and in the hallways that light up when the sun goes down. And mount some motion sensor lights outside the front and back doors and in the driveway that automatically come on when he comes and goes after dark.

Get grab bars: These can significantly reduce his risk of bathroom falls. Install them where he enters the shower or tub and on a wall inside the stall, but don’t use grab bars that attach with suction. Instead, have wall-mounted bars put in by someone who can affix them to the wall studs. It’s also best to choose bars whose surfaces are slightly textured and easier to grip.

Ensure railings are stable: Wherever he has steps – stairways, entryways or basements – he needs sturdy railings. Ideally, they should be on both sides of the steps.

Prevent cooking fires: There are several affordable products you can purchase to help your dad

or any other beneficiary from his or her Will.

prevent home cooking fires like BurnerAlert discs that attach to a stove’s knob and will continuously blink or beep after the stove has been in use for a preset amount of time, and Ome smart knobs that can control a stove’s heating settings from an app. Or you can invest in a more expensive iGuardStove sensor that shuts the stove off when it doesn’t detect motion for five minutes.

Install smoke alarms: Install a smart smoke alarm in your dad’s house (buy one for each floor) that will alert him when smoke or carbon monoxide is detected. These smart devices will also send alerts to your phone to let you know when a problem is detected. Google Nest and First Alert both smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Add fire extinguishers: Get portable multipurpose fire extinguishers for each level of your dad’s house and in the garage.

Consider a medical alert: To ensure your dad’s safety and provide you some peace of mind, consider getting him a medical alert device that comes with a wearable SOS button that would allow him to call for help if he were to fall or need assistance.

For more tips, get a copy of AARP’s “HomeFit Guide” (see AARP.org/HomeFit), which has more than 100 aging-in-place suggestions that can help make your dad’s home safer and easier to live in.

BY DONALD PETERSON

• Providing life income to the donors;

• Receiving a charitable income tax deduction;

• Avoiding or mitigating capital gains taxes by gifting appreciated long-held property;

• Removing assets from one’s estate to lessen the estate tax burden;

• Turning low or non-income-producing assets into higher income payouts;

• Fulfilling one’s charitable intent by supporting a favorite charity; and

• Providing a charitable gift while receiving tax benefits and maintaining control of the asset during one’s lifetime.

The types of planned gifts include bequests, which is the basic, easiest and most popular planned gift. Many planned gifts to charities are bequests. A charitable bequest is a provision in your Will or Trust that designates a charity as a beneficiary. Bequests can either be specific (leaving a specific asset or a set sum of money to the charity) or general (leaving a percentage of your estate to the charity).

The greatest advantage of bequests to charity is that you, the donor, maintain control over your assets until your death. If the Estate’s assets cannot support payment of the bequest to a charity, there is no legal obligation on the part of the Estate to make payment. The donor can also change his or her beneficiaries during life and can remove a charity

Also, a bequest can be designated to be used for any purpose that the donor wishes, as long as the gift is not to be used for an intention that is in violation of the law. If you have a particular use to which you would like your bequest directed, the charity will be most pleased if the terms of your intentions are set forth specifically in your Will, so that the charity can use your gift in the way that you intended.

Another way to provide a planned gift to a charity is to include your favorite non-profit organization in your retirement plan documents. You can designate a charity as your beneficiary of your Individual Retirement Account (IRA), 401(k) or other qualified retirement plan. It is preferable to fund this type of asset because the proceeds from these accounts are, at death, considered income in respect of a decedent (IRD). This tax law concept is generally defined as taxable income earned but not received prior to death. No matter who the beneficiary is, the income, when received, will be taxed to the beneficiary as it would have been taxed to the decedent. Generally, inherited property is not included in a heir’s taxable income, but if a family member receives an IRD asset, he or she will be subject to income tax when the gift is distributed.

When a donor provides at death

for a direct transfer from his or her retirement account to a qualified charity, however, the entire value of the IRD assets will go to the charity tax free. In addition, the donor’s estate receives a charitable estate tax deduction for the entire amount of the gift.

The types of trusts to select for planned gifting require tax and legal expertise and it is best to consult with a knowledgeable advisor, such as an attorney, financial planner, or CPA to help structure the gift and select the appropriate legal documents to accomplish your goals.

What are the four key medical/estate plan documents you need now?

Many of my clients have asked what are the critical documents needed, particularly in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Simply being married does not give you the legal right to gain access to your spouse’s medical records or make medical decisions on your spouse’s behalf, even in an emergency. To avoid this problem and to help others care for you and to achieve your overall estate planning goals, the following documents create an effective medical/estate plan package:

• 1. Healthcare Power of Attorney;

• 2. General Financial Power of Attorney;

•

3. Advanced Directive for Medical/Surgical Treatment (“Living Will”); and

• 4. Will (or a Will with a Trust).

Careful medical/estate planning should include preparation and signing of these documents, to accomplish your goals and protect you, both during your lifetime, and at the time of passing. The Power of Attorney documents allow you to designate those agents whom you authorize to help you on your behalf during your lifetime, and the Will/Trust documents allow you to nominate others to help with your estate after your passing, as well as to identify the beneficiaries and the distributions to them, to accomplish your estate planning goals.

SAVVY SENIOR BY JIM MILLER

Tale of Two Coaches playing out in Boulder

Two momentous occurrences competed for top play in news out of the University of Colorado recently. What is to follow might be called—with apologies to Charles Dickens— the Tale of Two Coaches.

In the afternoon Coach Prime, less than a month into his new job as CU head football coach, announced the first recruiting class of the Deion Sanders era.

That night Tad Boyle—in his 13th season at what he called his “dream job” when he was hired—became the winningest basketball coach in Buffs history.

Boyle is optimistic about his current team’s chances of making it to March Madness, and almost giddy when he looks ahead to next season, largely because of his incoming recruits.

Meanwhile Sanders, who appears to attract players the same way honey draws flies, is advising all who will listen:

“If I were you, I would stay tuned. I would not change the channel.”

In case you wondered, Sox Walseth held the record for most wins by a CU men’s basketball coach. He went 261-245 (.516) from 1957 through 1976.

Ricardo Patton was second, winning 184 between 1996 and 2006. Of note, Patton was the only coach among six who followed Walseth, prior to Boyle, to have a winning record.

After Boyle’s 262nd victory, he had the second-highest winning percentage in school history at .621. That’s just

'Hey, can you pitch?

Since their inception in 1993, the Rockies had never asked a position player to pitch in one of their games. But in the 12th inning against the Atlanta Braves on August 22, 2000, they had no choice.

.002 behind Frosty Cox, who won 147 and lost only 89 from 1936 through 1950.

Among CU football coaches the leaders are Bill McCartney (93); Fred Folsom, of Folsom Field fame, (77); Eddie Crowder, the Athletics Director who hired McCartney, (67); and CU Athletic Center namesake Dal Ward and Myron Witham, from the decade of the ‘20s, (63).

“I’m coming,” Coach Prime repeated, by unofficial count about 40 times, in one public appearance in Boulder.

The question will be, “Is he staying?”

There’s no more successful coach in college football than Nick Saban, and it took him three games into his ninth season at Alabama to surpass 93. It took McCartney 13 years to get to 93.

That suggests that, to even have a shot at becoming CU’s all-time leader in football coaching victories, Sanders likely will have to remain in Boulder for at least a decade. And how likely is that, especially if he’s approaching McCartney’s mark in record time?

(Saban averaged 11.4 victories per season on his way to exceeding McCartney’s total. McCartney’s average for 13 seasons was 7.2)

Between incoming freshmen and upper classmen arriving via the NCAA Transfer Portal, Coach Prime is virtually guaranteed to have more talent on his first CU team than any in the recent past.

And in addition to some of Jackson State’s best players,

he’s also brought six of his assistant coaches with him. On top of that, he’s filled out his staff with some highly regarded coaches from other programs, including Kent State’s head coach.

But can he turn it around overnight?

The Buffs went 7-26 under Chuck Fairbanks in the three years before McCartney was hired from Michigan for his first, and, as it turned out, only college head coaching job.

McCartney’s first team finished 2-8-1, and his third went 1-10. Saban’s first Alabama team was only 7-6.

Of course, they didn’t have the transfer portal. Already, more than a dozen players from other programs have announced that they’re switching to CU, just to play for Coach Prime.

CU begins the “Coach Prime Era” on September 2 ON THE ROAD against TCU, one of the four semifinalists in this year’s College Football Playoff.

The home opener follows against McCartney’s designated rival, Nebraska, which will be attempting a revival of its own under new head coach Matt Rhule. Then the Buffs renew the Mile High Showdown with rebuilding Colorado State, beginning Jay Norvell’s second season as Rams head coach.

Nebraska has had six straight losing seasons and seven head coaches, including two interims, since Tom Osborne stepped down in 1997 after 25 years. CSU has had five straight sub-.500 finishes, including 3-9 in 2022; Norvell is the Rams’ fifth head coach since Sonny Lubick retired with 182 victories after the 2007 season.

Following those three is the nine-game Pac !2 gauntlet. By the time we find out how Coach Prime fares in his first year, Tad Boyle will be into “next season” and adding to his all-time record win total at CU.

Remember: Don’t change the channel.

16 Pitches tells how catcher Brent Mayne, who had never pitched at any level, became the first fielder since the Yankees' Rocky Colavito in 1968 to be the winning pitcher in a Major League game, and the storybook way Colorado won for him.

Order at Amazon.com.

Denny Dressman is a veteran of 43 years in the newspaper business, including 25 at the Rocky Mountain News, where he began as executive sports editor. He is the author of 15 books, nine of them sports-related. You can write to Denny at dennydressman@ comcast.net

Western Stock Show Association Elects J.J. Ament to the Board of Directors

The Western Stock Show Association (WSSA) (dba, National Western Stock Show) is pleased to announce and welcome new Board Member J.J. Ament, President, and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, to the Board of Directors.

J.J. Ament leads the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Colorado’s oldest business and economic development organization. Continuously serving for more than 155 years, the Denver Metro Chamber has played critical leadership roles in the West, including being a co-founder of the National Western Stock Show in 1906. Ament was appointed by the Chamber Board in 2021 to lead the 1000-member organization and served as the chief executive officer of the Metro Denver Economic Development

Corporation from 2017 to 2021. Ament brings a unique combination of private, public, and non-profit experience, including investment banking to the role.

A fifth-generation Colorado native, born and raised on his family’s farm and cattle ranch in Northeast Colorado, J.J. has been coming to the Stock Show his entire life. He is an active WSSA Trustee as well as Chair of the National Western Scholarship Trust. “J.J. will bring a broad knowledge of both business and agriculture to our board of directors and welcome insights as we continue to build our future,” said Chairman of the Board, Douglas L. Jones. “His Colorado ranching roots and well-respected reputation in Denver will help us grow and expand our 117-year presence in the West,” stated Jones.

Estate of Rogers Richard, Deceased

Case Number 22PR31375

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to District Court of Arapahoe, County, Colorado or on or before April 22, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

The original of this document is on file at the law office of Donald Glenn Peterson

/s/. Donald Glenn Peterson

Donald Glenn Peterson – Attorney for Personal Representative 4100 E. Mississippi Avenue, Suite 410 Denver, CO 80246 Telephone: (303) 758-0999

Published in The Villager

First Publication: December 22, 2022

Last Publication: January 5, 2023 Legal # 10961

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to District Court of Arapahoe, County, Colorado or on or before May 1, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Patricia K. Johnson 27680 E. Lakeview Drive Aurora, CO 80016

Published in The Villager

First Publication: December 29, 2022

Last Publication: January 12, 2023 Legal # 10964

Shana

Published in The Villager

First Publication: January 5, 2023

Last Publication: January 19, 2023 Legal # 10966

DENVER GOP FIRST FRIDAY BREAKFAST

JAN. 6, 8-9 a.m. at the Morning Story Restaurant, 560S. Holly St., (Holly & Leetsdale). Speaker: Andy Rougeot, candidate for mayor of Denver. He is a small business owner and former Army officer. He will relate how he he crack down on crime, enforce the camping ban, and increase affordable housing. INFO: Celeste Gamache at 719-238-0652 or celesterg@hotmail.com.

NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW

JAN. 7-22, 2023. The 117th NWSS will host 29 rodeo performances and a full schedule of horse shows. Info: nationalwestern.com

SOUTH SUBURBAN PARKS & RECREATION HOLIDAY EVENTS

Jan. 13 & Feb. 10 5-8 p.m.

Goodson Rec. Center. For ages 3-12 for movie nights. Bring your blanket. Popcorn & pizza served. Info: 303-483-7014

SOUTH METRO DENVER CHAMBER ECONOMIC FORECAST BREAKFAST

JAN. 17, 2023. More than 500 business executives and leaders expected for the 35th Annual breakfast. 7-9:00 a.m. - Marriott South at Park Meadows. Tickets: Call 303795-0142.

CITY OF CENTENNIAL NEWS

Centennial City Council Meetings move to Tuesdays in 2023. Study Session followed by a Regular Council Meeting on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Council Work Session on the second Tuesday of the month. Study Sessions and Work Sessions at 6 p.m. Regular Council meetings a t 7 p.m. Open to the public.

‘WHAT’S NEW?” DENVER JAZZ CLUB YOUTH ALL-STAR IS LOOKING FOR A HIGH SCHOOL TRUMPET PLAYER

Contact The Director, Ed Cannava at ecan11@ msn.com

2023 Sequoia SUV is superior in winter weather

Texans know about building big and the Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro is assembled in San Antonio, TX. This is a king-size SUV that is wellnamed after the famous trees.

The running board helps climb into the cabin of this powerful 437 twin-turbo driven engine to nestle into the spacious cabin and luxury captain seat. There are three drive modes to select, eco, normal, and sport. I like the sport mode best and the finetuned exhaust deep roar when accelerating the vehicle. A ten-speed versatile transmission adds to the powertrain and selection of 2-wheel, 4-wheel and high or low range drive.

The Sequoia arrived at a very appropriate week with frigid temperatures and heavy snowfall across the front range and mountains. A blessing for the state’s water supply and covering the

thirsty Eastern Slope farmlands.

Blizzard conditions existed during a late afternoon and night closing many highways. I had the opportunity to test drive the Sequoia in blizzard conditions to rescue a friend stuck in the snow. Driving around E-470 the road signs were completely covered with extreme driven snow. Going west on the new toll road there was no westbound traffic except the Sequoia,

and myself, heading to the University exit with the roadside signs covered with snow. Deep snow ruts were stalling cars with little traffic heading North on University to the SouthGlenn Mall. The Sequoia never missed a beat and just plowed through the deep snow and unplowed road.

The heavy snow had accumulated to l0”/12” inch depths, but the 18” forged alloy wheels, and rugged all-weather tires, cut through

the snow like frosting on a cake. What a pleasure to sit on the heated seats, heated outdoor mirrors, and warm steering wheel while the snow was blowing and wind drifting the snow. There were numerous cars stalled along roadways and some awesome late-night traffic jams. The Arapahoe and Parker intersection was a sea of late-night red lights with cars spinning out on the sloping eastbound lanes.

Knowing the road network, we averted the traffic jam taking a detour via Bronco Parkways and averting the stranded vehicles. The stalled traffic was a reminder to have an all-wheel drive vehicle and/or some very good frontwheel drive winter snow tires.

There was a feeling of security and safety in the “Solar Octane” Bronco orange

colored Sequoia as it was a match for the blizzard conditions. There is something to be said for large SUV’s and also for the nimbler small SUV models. During the stormy drive some of the Toyota Safety Sense cameras became covered with snow and the dashboard informed me of monitor failures. A very smart vehicle for the manufacturer’s suggested list price of $75,000. The price included all of the major options except a $1,395 roof- rack.

Living in the mountains, spending time camping, or enjoying winter sports, this is a quality vehicle in all respects, it never saw a blizzard that it didn’t like. I was very happy driving this vehicle in a very nasty winter storm. The Sequoia, and my wife, who I rescued, became very good friends that night.

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