2-25-21 Villager

VOLUME 39 • NUMBER 14 • FEBRUARY 25, 2021

Since 1982

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This weather is “snow” joke... or is it?

Did you “snow” (ouch) there are more photos on pg. 7?

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PAGE 2 | THE VILLAGER • February 25, 2021

Cherry Creeks Schools Foundation hosts the 7th Annual Invest in Success Gala Moving Forward Together, Cherry Creeks Schools Foundation hosts the 7th Annual Invest in Success Gala – March 11th, 2021 Get ready for an exciting evening unlike anything the Cherry Creek Schools Foundation has done before. Join us as we come together to support Cherry Creek Schools District’s students and teachers at the 7th Annual Invest in Success Gala – Forward Together, March 11th, 2021 from 6:30p – 7:45p, streaming

online. Attendance to this event is FREE! This year’s event is completely virtual and can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home; featuring: a special performance from Hamilton cast member and CCSD Alum, Gregory Treco; special appearance by Emmy-award winning science educator, Steve Spangler; a variety of student performances; and an amazing silent-auction benefiting Cherry Creek students and teachers.

This year’s theme is ‘Forward Together’. Our students and

Forward Together!

Virtual Event | March 11th 2021 REGISTER: bit.ly/2021CCSFRegistration Celebrate the resilience of our students & schools as we come together to support our students & chart a new path forward, together!

You’ll enjoy student performances, a silent auction, a special appearance from TV science guy - Steve Spangler, & more!

Attendance is FREE!

All proceeds from the event will benefit CCSD students & schools. *CCSF does not encourage gatherings that do not meet CDC or CDPHE guidelines for public safety. Connecting in a virtual manner is recommended.*

schools have weathered adversity and adapted to circumstances no one could have foreseen over the last year. Let’s celebrate their resilience and come together as a community to help chart a new way forward, together!

“The last year has really shown us the compassion that exists in our community. says Jill Henden, Executive Director of CCSF. “During the pandemic, community members stepped up to help our students and families in need. All of us coming together for our students really can make a profound difference in their lives. The recovery from the pandemic will be a long road, but together we can chart a new and better path forward for our students.”

The Cherry Creek School Foundation’s 7th Annual Invest in Success Gala is Thursday, March 11, 6:30p – 7:45p streaming online. Attendance to this event is FREE. All proceeds from the evening will benefit Cherry Creek schools and students.

Register for the event at: www.ccsdfoundation.org/gala. html Special thanks to our Silver and Gold-level Community Champions: JHL Construction, Cigna, Rocky Mountain Children’s Hospital/HealthOne, and MDC/Richmond American Homes Foundation.

Learn more about the work of the Foundation at: www.ccsdfoundation.org CCSF does not encourage gatherings that do not meet CDC/ CDPHE guidelines. Connecting in a virtual manner is recommended.

Meet Nurse Practitioner Cindy Tsou, Passion for Women’s Health One stop – right in our offices • Pap smears for women up to age 65/ cervical cancer screening • Menopause management • Hormonal testing • Breast exams and routine mammogram • Birth control counseling • STD screening and treatment

Now accepting new patients!

“I am so fortunate to work with Dr. Farah Khan, an exceptional, compassionate physician and diagnostician who follows up on every medical concern of our patients.” – Cindy Tsou

Cindy received her undergraduate and graduate degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Her professional background includes working in an urgent care clinic and a psychiatric practice.

She strives to empower patients of all ages to become active participants of their health and to provide them with the proper resources, education and encouragement needed to maintain their overall health.

Cindy Tsou DNP, FNP-BC 7400 E. Orchard Road, Suite 1000N Greenwood Village CO 80111 Open Monday – Friday 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM

www.mpmacolorado.com 720.928.5446

Arapahoe County Republican Chair Suzanne Staiert is the mother of three lovely daughters.

Suzanne Staiert is new Arapahoe County Republican Chair

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

Suzanne Staiert, who was the Republican candidate for Colorado state senate district 27 in November, has been elected chair of the Arapahoe County Republican Party. As chair, she will run precinct caucuses and the Arapahoe County Republican Assembly in advance of upcoming elections. In an interview with Villager Newspaper Publisher Bob Sweeney and this reporter, Staiert told us she was very excited about the prospects for Republicans this year and in the 2022 state and county elections. Staiert will be taking a sharp look at her party’s database voter information, making sure it is in prime condition as she works with precinct leaders and volunteers to strategize the best way to contact and communicate with all voters, especially those who are unaffiliated.

In Arapahoe County, as well as the state overall, unaffiliateds are the largest voting group and Staiert believes Republican candidates will have a strong positive message to share with them.

Staiert began her career in government as city attorney for the City of Aurora, after which she was appointed to the position of municipal judge. Next, she worked in the public works and development department in Arapahoe County, which she told us she loved because “it was all about building things.”

Staiert returned to focusing on law when she was chosen to be city attorney for the City of Littleton. That lasted until she was fired after bringing a charge of sexual harassment against a judge, Staiert told us.

After that experience, she said, “I went home and

painted every wall in my house.” In 2012, Staiert applied for the position of Deputy Secretary of State under then-Secretary of State Scott Gessler. To her surprise, she got the job and stayed in that position throughout Gessler’s term in office and then through the entire term of his successor, Secretary of State Wayne Williams. One of her duties in that position was chairing the state title board that oversees ballot issues. Since leaving government, Staiert has returned to private practice with Maven Law, which specializes in non-profits and ballot initiatives. In the November 2020 election, Staiert worked on two successful ballot initiatives to protect Colorado voters. She was one of the proponents for Proposition 116 that lowered the state income tax from 4.63% to 4.55%. She was also part of the team behind Proposition 117, to require voter approval of new enterprises that would be funded with fees, which many believed was a way to avoid getting voters’ approval as required by the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. That initiative also won, by a five-point margin, with Staiert’s help.

Suzanne Staiert hales from Pennsylvania. After spending her early years in Iran, where her father was from, she moved to Wyoming, where she finished growing up. After getting her undergraduate degree at the University of Wyoming, Staiert came to Colorado to attend law school at the University of Denver and never left. Now a resident of Centennial, Staiert is mom to three daughters.

Two are in college at DU and CU, while the youngest attends Littleton High School. fmiklin.villager@gmail. com

February 25, 2021 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 3

(Don’t?) Become a teacher “Don’t become a teacher.”

That advice unfortunately enters my mind too often these days when talking to students.

As they share thoughts on the future and mention an interest in teaching, I can’t help but pause. My reservation is not surprising. Even our most revered educators have concerns about steering young people down our career path, as in 2015, when the national Teacher of the Year Nancie Atwell shocked educators and the general public by warning students away from our profession.

Though it’s disheartening to hear, the profession has long had difficulty attracting and retaining educators, and it has a high attrition rate with more than one-third of new teachers leaving the field within their first five years. Now the precarious nature of teaching is in the news again after the Denver Post reported a poll showing 40% of Colorado teachers are considering leaving the profession. After a stressful and draining pandemic year, teachers cited safety concerns, unmanageable workloads, and low pay as primary reasons for walking away.

The revelation is troubling, but it represents a growing trend as the state and local districts continue to tighten budgets while increasing responsibilities. Nationwide, schools struggle to find qualified educators for the fifty-five million children enrolled in school. Education programs produce fewer graduates every year, and districts find themselves traveling far and wide to lure young people to the field. Additionally, the financial question is tough for future teachers, for they will knowingly enter a profession earning among the lowest starting salaries for any credentialed college degree. They will spend their entire career making 20% less than their private sector counterparts.

The reluctance to commit is not hard to understand.

In addition to being content experts and masters of pedagogy, teachers are expected at a moment’s notice to become counselors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and even security guards. At times of social unrest, such as the political protests that flooded our nation following tragedies like the killing of George Floyd, students often naturally turn to their teachers to help them process and understand. They may even speak to their teachers about issues they would never discuss with their families. Yet teachers can often feel unprepared, unqualified, and even unapproved to talk with students about the issues.

Additionally it can be

dispiriting to enter a profession where so much seems beyond your control. Nonschool factors are the predominant motivators of academic achievement. And issues such as vocabulary and knowledge gaps from the moment kids en-

ter kindergarten create a daunting and seemingly insurmountable task for educators. Keep in mind that between their first day of kindergarten and their high school graduation, stu-

dents spend 90% of their time outside of school. Thus, the classroom learning opportunity is a very small window to impact a young person’s life.

Yet that is the commitment and expectation.

Of course, no one enters teaching thinking about those problems, worrying about those challenges, or focusing on the money.

We think about our passion for learning and how we want to share it with kids.

And when we think about the times a student shares an insight we’d never considered before, or asks a great question that had never occurred to us, or solves a problem in a unique way, or simply shows their joy about learning, we remember why we do this. We remember what

“Teachers remember what an honor it is to be a person of trust to another human being, and we realize sometimes we might be the only one.”

an honor it is to be a person of trust to another human being, and we realize sometimes we might be the only one. When our students say “thank you” after we’ve given them a really hard test, we marvel at their good nature, and we’re grateful to have found such a rewarding vocation.

A longtime colleague used to pass me in the hallways before class, and he’d say, “Hey, they need you today. Bring your ‘A’ game. They need your best.” So, yes, I hesitate when young people describe a desire to teach, but then I speak from the heart when answering.

“Go for it,” I tell them. “Become a teacher. We need you.”

Michael P. Mazenko is a writer, educator, & school administrator in Greenwood Village. He blogs at A Teacher’s View and can be found on Twitter @mmazenko. You can email him at mmazenko@gmail.com

ARAPAHOE COUNTY C NVERSATIONS

Join us for the upcoming virtual Conversations with Commissioners happening in February.

All events start at 6:30 p.m. Details at arapahoegov.com/townhall.

Bill L. Holen, District 5: Feb. 24

Jeff Baker, District 3: Feb 25

Nominate a student for a college scholarship!

If you know a local high school senior who’s gone above and beyond, nominate them for a 2021 Arapahoe County Mayors and Commissioners Youth Award.

The application deadline is Friday, Feb. 26.

ARAPAHOE COUNTY

MCYA

MAYORS & COMMISSIONERS

YOUTH AWARDS

For more information, visit arapahoegov.com/youthawards.

Dial 2.0 is now in effect Arapahoe County is under Level Yellow restrictions according to the state’s new dial dashboard.

For more information, visit covid19.colorado.gov.

5K

TRAIL SERIES WALK /RUN

Let’s Get Moving and Hit the Trails!

Join us for Arapahoe County’s inaugural 5K TRAIL WALK/RUN SERIES celebratingOpen Spaces, fitness and good health, and our thriving local trail system. The event is on Sat. April 10 and registration begins early March. Visit arapahoecountyfair.com.

arapahoegov.com

Visit arapahoegov.com/osmasterplan to read the DIVE summary report.

PAGE 4 | THE VILLAGER • February 25, 2021

Cause and effect impacts We’re living in an age where “cause and effect” impacts our daily lives, our leadership, and the future of America.

For example, take the invasion of our nation’s capital resulting from a lost election, anger, and what was billed as a patriotic demonstration in Washington D.C. The end result was an ugly assault on a very proud and majestic building and some resulting deaths and now a lengthy legal prosecution of the violators of government property and the threat to our nation’s leaders. Fair to say, if the rally hadn’t occurred, the event would never have happened. Cause and Effect at work.

Let’s focus on Texas and the recent disaster of a severe, almost never happened before snowstorm, and freezing weather that has devastated this very proud state.

The cause was the weather, the effect was that Texas wasn’t prepared for such a disaster. We can now play the blame game, but who would have foreseen such a

widespread blizzard and freeze that would impact many southern states and Texas foremost. Who to blame? Cause and Effect once again.

One might blame this on the rush to “Green New Deal” concepts of eliminating coal power plants that actually saved the day in Texas as gas lines ran out of fuel as homes demanded more natural gas.

The lack of Texas not being on the national electric grid system added to the disaster. The wind generators froze and solar failed in demands.

As we all know here in Colorado, the wind doesn’t always blow, and the sun doesn’t always shine. Roof top solar panels don’t work when they’re covered with snow. While the wind blows most of the time across the Eastern slope plains less than 10 percent of Colorado energy comes from alternative sources. No wind and sunshine creates “Cause and Effect.”

We now recognize the Biden administration and many of his new executive orders will have

The Villager

long lasting cause and effects.

Many offsetting Trump’s policies that were put into place. Trump’s major asset was, and still is, that he was a businessman first, and a politician second. For his supporters who admired his business acumen and negotiating skills, he recognized an America with years of both Republican and Democrat ineptness in sound business and trade agreements that put America first. He saw the Chinese abusing tariffs and stealing our scientific and technical advancements.

He witnessed multiple American companies moving factories to Mexico and aboard for cheap labor where resort time share salesmen brag about paying workers $4 a day to build condos for gullible American tourists. Trump slowed the illegal immigration flow of Latin Americans fleeing the poverty stricken and corrupt countries.

It would have been appropriate if the last three American presidents would have worked far more with Latin America to provide aid and assistance to improve their economies rather than projecting America as the land of “milk and honey.”

Cause and Effect, now President Biden is opening the borders once again and where will this lead?

The Wall Street Journal had a cute headline, “Texas Cold ‘Em” and related that since 1940 Texas has had only 4” inches of snow ever recorded in the last 81 years.

Leadership was caught off guard and the rush to new energy sources has delivered a severe and loud message to Texas and other state governments. In particular, Colorado where coal plants are being closed in the next five to ten years.

Cause and effect, can Colorado suffer the fate of Texas?

While we can all appreciate clean air and water and caring for our planet we need to prepare for the unforeseen. Here in Colorado our most vulnerable danger is our water supply based totally on snow in the mountains.

Our second challenge is not to suffer the fate of Texas and gain more respect for our energy providers of natural gas, fossil fuels, and conservation of our natural resources and forest management.

Leadership should concentrate on steps that will create positive “Cause and Effect” results into the future, not the negative.

We should show a little more respect and appreciation to our energy providers.

Office: 8933 East Union Ave. • Suite 230 Greenwood Village, CO 80111-1357 Phone: (303) 773-8313 Fax: (303) 773-8456 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Arapahoe County, Colorado. (USPS 431-010) Published weekly by the Villager Publishing Co., Inc. Available for home or office delivery by U.S. Mail for $52 per year. Single copies available for $1 per issue.

PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ENGLEWOOD, CO. A Colorado Statutory Publication CRS (197324-70 et al).

Postmaster: Send address changes to The Villager, 8933 East Union Ave., Suite #230, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111-1357 Deadlines: Display Advertising, Legal Notices, press releases, letters to the editor, 4:00 p.m. Friday.

Classified Advertising, noon Monday.

PUBLISHER & EDITOR Gerri Sweeney — x307 gerri@villagerpublishing.com PUBLISHER Robert Sweeney bsween1@aol.com VICE PRESIDENT/MARKETING Sharon Sweeney — x305 sharon@villagerpublishing.com CREATIVE MARKETING DIRECTOR Susan Sweeney Lanam 720-270-2018 susan@villagerpublishing.com LEGALS Becky Osterwald legal@villagerpublishing.com NEWS EDITOR 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

The devastation in Texas and southern states is tragic.

Mother Nature has such a powerful impact on our weather and planet. This freeze impacted the entire state where the hurricanes only impact portions of the state where they strike.

I harken back to my Craig days where I was mayor of Craig when we first started building the power plants. The town was depressed, and growing energy sources was the wave of the future. A city delegation traveled to Farmington in the Four-Corner area of New Mexico to see their power plant and the related coal strip mining, then to Rock Springs, Wyoming to view the coal plant operations.

We wanted to learn about the related boom challenges that energy development brought to that city government and to local schools.

As the local newspaper publisher and mayor, I was able to report first-hand on the many challenges facing the city and our environment.

That was decades ago, and the coal fired power plants have been supplying energy to the vast growing Eastern Slope and to the old Salt River project and other providers in Arizona. This energy boom created hundreds of good jobs for workers in N.W. Colorado communities of Oak Creek, Steamboat Springs, Hayden and Craig. Local high school graduates were able to stay in their hometowns and have

good paying jobs. New homes blossomed, new school classrooms opened, and badly needed doctors moved to Craig and Steamboat Springs.

Transportation boomed and the Yampa Valley Airport was constructed with Frontier airlines daily flights and Rocky Mountain Airways making round trips into the Craig airport. Governor Dick Lamm and his department of local affairs provided over $1 million for the expansion and construction of a new Moffat County high school.

Craig boomed and prospered and grew from a town of 4,000 people to 15,000.

The newspaper became The Craig Daily Press, a five-day daily newspaper distributed to homes by 40 carriers nightly.

Next came the Oil Shale boom south of Craig between Rifle and Meeker appearing to be the next major energy expansion in the west.

This attracted Howard Newspapers with their chain of 20 newspapers in California and Wyoming to purchase The Craig Daily Press and put the Sweeney family publishers out of work. The newspaper chain was expecting Western Colorado to boom with oil shale development.

Their nearest newspaper was the Casper Star Tribune.

We had four children, some approaching high school and college age. We moved to Denver in 1980 and shortly thereafter starting The Villager, filling a gap with the shortage of week-

ly newspapers. The rest is history and The Villager began almost 40 years ago.

Our children went to Cherry Creek schools, siblings graduating from Cherry Creek high school and playing sports. Oldest daughter Saundra, and son Patrick both attended CU. Middle sister Sharon, and young sister Susan attended CSU. All four have taken a spin at The Villager to assist in marketing, computer science, and parent counseling.

Youngest daughter Susan, who is the brains behind the current Villager operation, moved to Dallas following college for ten years where she sharpened her marketing skills working with a national publication based in New York City serving the auto supply industry nationwide.

Susan moved back to Denver. She and her husband Mike now have a 15-year-old son attending Rock Canyon high school in Douglas County. She spends her time as The Villager creative director. You can see the clever changes in the news content of the newspaper and especially in advertising, her creative specialty. Take note of the two-page house spread advertising home services.

This has already attracted the attention of one of the greatest publisher in Iowa and America, sweeping all first- place awards in that state’s newspaper contest. A longtime friend and Villager reader he called wanting a copy of the design to duplicate the promotion for his newspapers.

Now back to Craig where I was born and raised on a cattle ranch. I went to CSU to become a veterinarian. Most regular readers know this because I write often about growing up in the wilderness drinking water from the river in a bucket and using a kerosene oil lamp to read with at night. We had little contact with the outside world and mail delivery came once a week if the muddy dirt road was passable by Stella Craig, a ranch neighbor driving a big yellow Buick. We had a radio with a large battery ordered from the Montgomery Wards catalog to listen to the noon livestock report on KOA and any Joe Lewis prize fights.

Travel had to be early in the morning when the mud was still frozen on the road. Years later the county graveled the seven miles of road.

The car battery was stored in the house and the 1946 Plymouth parked in the barn.

We had a large root cellar packed with home grown bins of potatoes, canned garden vegetables, fruit, jelly, and fresh butchered beef packed in canvas bags hung out at night on hooks and put back in the cool cellar during the daytime. We had an ice- house with blocks of ice sawed out of the nearby river with hand ice saws and hauled to the log cabin icehouse by horse teams pulling sleds where the ice was stacked in layers and insulated with coal slack. The ice blocks would be used one by one in the small wooden refrigerator in the pantry. You Continued on page 5

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Susan Lanam — 720-270-2018 susan@villagerpublishing.com Sharon Sweeney — 303-503-1388 sharon@villagerpublishing.com Linda Kehr — 303-881-9469 linda@villagerpublishing.com Valerie LeVier — 303-358-1555 valerie@villagerpublishing.com Gerri Sweeney — 720-313-9751 gerri@villagerpublishing.com Scottie Iverson swan@denverswan.com SUBSCRIPTIONS B.T. Galloway — x301 subscribe@villagerpublishing.com 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 I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I 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 I 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!”

2020 Member

QUOTE of the WEEK All deception the QUOTE of theinWEEK course of life is indeed nothing else but a lie reduced to practice, and falsehood passing from words into things.

– Robert Southey

Opinion

February 25, 2021 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 5

OPINION

Frozen hearts on Valentine’s Day Although Valentine’s Day is for romance and warm hearts, this past Valentine’s Day provided frozen hearts along with frozen everything else.

Denver had its coldest Valentine’s Day since temperature records were first kept, way back in 1872.

Sunday evening, Valentine’s Day, saw the mercury drop to minus 14 degrees, 4 degrees colder than the previous record set in 1903. It was an Arctic blast, also called a polar vortex, a mass of cold air pushing south through the United States into Mexico, which saw below freezing temperatures. Actually, it was the entire northern hemisphere, with record snow and cold from Canada, to the UK, to Moscow.

Is this global warming, global cooling, or climate change? The latter term is nondescript enough to cover all manner of weather and temperature. Global cooling was a thing in the 1970s, followed by global warming, now simply referred to as climate change.

The climate has always changed. Only 20,000 years ago, a blink of an eye in the Earth’s 4.5-billion-year history, mile thick ice

BY BRIAN C. JOONDEPH covered most of Canada and the northern contiguous United States. But then the climate changed, warming and melting the ice, leaving us with the Great Lakes, long before human activity influenced global temperatures.

Cold temperatures are more than a political narrative and have real world implications.

Energy is needed to combat the cold and keep us warm, or else people can die. Prudent American energy policy should address inevitable cold temperatures with reliable energy sources.

Instead, we have the Green New Deal and a promise by President Biden to “end fossil fuel”. That’s fine on the campaign trail and for discussion at woke dinner parties but how is it for those living through extreme cold?

Germany suffered a recent freeze which left solar panels covered in ice and as useless as its 30,000 wind turbines

which froze and could not generate electricity.

Texas faced a similar fate during the Valentine’s Day freeze where cold and ice knocked out half the state’s wind generating capacity, shutting off power and sending electricity process through the roof.

Wind accounts for 23 percent of Texas electricity.

Suppose under Biden that figure jumps to 75 or 95 percent? What if that happened in Colorado? What are the consequences of using makeshift heaters, like ovens, space heaters, fireplaces, and car exhaust, to stay warm and survive?

Britain had a big freeze in 2010 causing nearly 300 excess deaths per day. Cold can be deadly and frozen green energy alternatives will be useless in such conditions.

Current plans to eliminate fossil fuels will certainly make good on Biden’s warning of a “dark winter.”

Brian C. Joondeph, MD, is a Denver-based physician and freelance writer for American Thinker, Rasmussen Reporter, The Villager and other publications.

BARBWIRE BOB Continued from page 4

see these little oak ice chests today in antique stores.

It was a happy day when REA, the Rural Electric Association ran power lines across the country and delivered electricity to our ranch. I was in high school when this stellar event occurred.

It was the same REA that grew into a vast energy co-ops of today with headquarters of Tri-State Electric located here in Denver. A large amount of the Hayden plant energy was sold to Public Service Co. that became Excel energy.

Interesting note that Denver’s Lee Schlessman, famous for his YMCA’s day care facilities, owned Greeley Gas Company, our local Craig natural gas company. He would come by and see me annually on his visits to Craig and ran a regular weekly ad. More recently, here in Denver, Lee and I would have lunch at Joy Burns’ hotel and discuss early childcare and his love for Shriner hospitals.

He was a third-generation member of the Denver Lions Club. He passed away several years ago making a very generous contribution to the Denver Lion Foundation that

runs Savio House, a youth care organization.

A flashback to life in Craig years following the steam plant developments. The Craig plants and Hayden units provide major amounts of electricity to the western grid system. They are fueled by local coal that is strip mined along with some deep shaft mining.

Much of the coal is shipped out of Craig and Hayden by rail to Colorado Springs for eastern slope energy needs. Electric power generated by these plants flows into the western grid system. This system could have aided Texas if they had been connected to the grid system.

A lasting memory several years later, when the coal plants started operations, one early morning, I headed to the daily newspaper and observed a very slight white film of coal dust on my car. That was a price we paid for the jobs, energy, and prosperity for our abundant energy needs and business prosperity. There is a price to pay on environmental issues.

I might add that in later years more scrubbers were placed on the coal plants to stem any air pollution. ***

PAGE 6 | THE VILLAGER • February 25, 2021

Witty and wise Wadhams shares perspective of the Republican Party in Colorado Members and guests of Cherry Creek Republican Women were treated to a presentation by Republican Political Consultant Dick Wadhams who served as the party’s state chair from 20072011. He is also a political analyst for CBS4 in Denver, writes a monthly column for The Denver Post and often joins the talk show of Dan Caplis on 630 KHOW and… calls himself “The ultimate

political geek.” He credits his victories in part because of candidates letting him do his job. Many remember one of Wadhams’ most successful campaign strat-

egies was out of state – resulting in the unseating of incumbent and fixture Senator Tom Daschle in South Dakota

by John Thune. “Colorado is led by the Denver/ Boulder contingency,” he said.

“Rural

Colorado is getting screwed – oil and gas, mining and prisons.” He rattled off statistics of each Colorado election for decades. “With only two exceptions, every U.S. senator and governor, if Democrat, has been from Denver or Boulder.” What happened in 2020? “Colorado is a composite of what happened nationally. Republicans suffered from the vote of women, suburbanites and the college educated.” On a positive note, he expressed that Colorado has a tremendous opportunity in 2022. He feels Governor

Polis is vulnerable. “We have to remember Bill Owens was a successful governor and we can do that again.” He also thinks Senator Bennet is beatable.

And then, there’s the secretary of state. AG and treasurer plus we will get new boundary lines for an 8th congressional district. “Look at history! We have to come to grips with who we nominate,” he said “and, they have to articulate why they are running. Governor Owens had three issues: cut taxes, education reform and transportation. Let’s shoot for 2022 and 2024!”

The elephant bell used to call the meeting to order by CCRW President Nancy Doty

Rick Spoor with Cherry Creek Republican Women’s featured speaker Dick Wadhams Photos by Scottie Taylor Iverson Shari Gillespie, Tim Eckerman, Susanna Cohen-Eckerman and Barbara DeGroot Nichols

Patriotic Historian of our American Founding Heritage, Ben Martin, parallels time of Abraham Lincoln to current times “Right makes Might,” Ben Martin repeated when he addressed members and guests of Douglas County Republican Women. He reminded the sold out audience of how special the observance used to be for both President George Washington and President Abraham Lincoln.

There were pictures of both men

on the walls at schools. There were two days set aside to recognize the great things accomplished by these men. Now, it’s one day, combined with a weekend frenzy of sales. “We are losing our heritage,” said Martin. He read portions of Lincoln’s most eloquent and poignant speeches that were delivered for various

“Without Lincoln, America today might be remembered as a failed experiment.”

- Ben Martin

Douglas County Republican Women President Barbara Piper, keynote speaker Ben Martin and CU Regent Heidi Ganahl BELOW: Gayle Ray, candidate for Douglas County Sheriff Holly Nicholson-Kluth, Jeanette NewVille and Deborah Mulvey Photos by Scottie Taylor Iverson

occasions including his inaugural address. Lincoln recognized evil long before he became president.

He recognized “Points of Danger” and made that his focus 23 years before being elected – mob violence in America, destroying churches, businesses and institutions – the beginning of the end.

Lincoln “saw” the Civil War coming. How to fortify against it? Lincoln answered: “Let every American swear by the blood of the Revolution.”

He called for a reverence of The Constitution and its laws and no tolerance for disobedience.

Martin reminded the attendees of

parallels to today’s unrest in our country.

Ben Martin humbly considers himself a Patriotic Historian of our American Founding Heritage. One of his important goals throughout life has been to share what he has learned about our amazing American Founding Heritage and Founding Principles so that others may also be inspired by the priceless gifts given to us, and to the world, by our matchless Founding Fathers!

He was reared in SW Louisiana’s Cajun Country, received his classical education at West Point and three graduate schools.

February 25, 2021 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 7

Some folks’ creativity has “snow” limit!

Ok, we’ll stop now, it’s not puny anymore...

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February 25, 2021 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 9

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PAGE 10 | THE VILLAGER • February 25, 2021

Coloradans have received 1.2 million vaccinations

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

Statewide, 844 providers have administered 1,178,197 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, split evenly between manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna, as of February 21. Individually, 797,634 Coloradans have received at least the first dose of the vaccine and 379,144 of those people have gotten both. Although the U.S. Census Bureau tells us that the number of men and women in our state is split 50/50, 61% of all vaccinations have been given to women, compared to 39% to men.

That may have to do with the fact that 60% of all vaccinations statewide have been administered to people aged 60 and up. It has long been known that American women overall live to an older age than do men.

U.S. Census Bureau data does not compare very favorably to vaccination data in the area of racial background. As of July 2019, although 68% of Coloradans are Caucasian, that group has received 74% of all COVID-19 vaccinations. More concerning is state data tells us that only 5% of vaccinations have gone to Hispanics, even though they comprise 22% of all Coloradans. People deemed to be black by the U.S. Census Bureau comprise 4% of our state’s population, but have received only 2% of the vaccines administered.

Still, the data must be viewed A

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Despite the pattern of small spikes, COVID-19 cases in Colorado continue to go down.

The red line on this chart represents the seven-day average of new COVID-19 hospitalizations statewide, which continues to go down. It was 53 as of February 21st.

somewhat critically. It is unclear how vaccine recipients’ ethnic heritage was determined. Additionally, a full 15% of all vaccinations were administered to people whose race was not identified.

Locally, the largest number of vaccinations have been given to residents of the state’s three most populated counties. Denver County residents, with 12.7% of the state’s population, have R

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received 149,648 vaccinations.

Jefferson County residents, who comprise 10.1% of all Coloradans, have gotten 140,011 doses of the vaccine, and Arapahoe County residents, who together are 11.4% of all Coloradans, have received 120,537 total inoculations. On a per capita basis, the counties with at least five percent of the state’s population that have gotten the highest number of residents S

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vaccinated are Boulder and Larimer Counties.

The total number of people hospitalized in our state with confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of February 21 was 399, the lowest number since October 13, 2020. The seven-day moving average of new COVID-19 cases was 873, the lowest number seen since October 11, 2020.

Focusing locally on the possibility of moving down on the state’s color dial 2.0 to blue from their current position at yellow, Arapahoe, Douglas, and Denver counties are progressing. As of February 21, Arapahoe County’s seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases was 96.2 and its positivity rate was 3.8%, both well into blue-level range. Only the number of days of declining hospitalizations was still yellow at 9; once it gets to 11, it will be at

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the blue level.

Denver County’s metrics were all at the blue level. As long as it stays there, Denver can expect to be reclassified to blue on February 27. Douglas County is moving in the right direction, but with a seven-day average of new cases of 128.6, they aren’t quite there yet (blue level requires that number to be less than 100).

At a press conference on February 18, it was announced that all health care workers who wanted the vaccine had received it and educators and those aged 65-69 were well on their way. Although the weather hampered delivery, the state was working 24 hours a day to get back on schedule.

All alternative care sites have been decommissioned in Colorado, according to Kevin Kline, director, Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. He also said that eight million masks were being delivered to schools to help get in-person learning moving ahead.

On February 18, Colorado National Guard Brigadier General Scott Sherman of the state task force shared that the state is expecting 218,000 doses of the vaccine during the week of March 7 and that, “With our current structure, we can handle 300,000-350,000 each week. We are planning to be able to handle more. We don’t know exact amounts past March 7, but we’ll know late next week the amount we’ll get the week of March 14.” In response to a question on the subject of reimbursement for services to vaccine providers, Kline said, “All providers are eligible for FEMA reimbursement. We want to make our providers whole.”

Fmiklin.villager@gmail.com

LETTERS

Freda, I just wanted to say that I enjoy and admire your articles in The Villager.

Your writing is clear, factual and to the point. You write several articles every edition that help illuminate what is going on in south -central Arapahoe County, and address items of local concern.

Local news is vital to understanding decisions and events that affect everyone’s lives.

A newspaper like The Villager helps bring a community together, helps us know our neighbors and what is going on. And, of course, thanks for your attention and fairness to Arapahoe County, Thanks for your many contributions to civic democracy.

Nancy Jackson Arapahoe County Commissioner, District #4

February 25, 2021 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 11

Pandemic has made it easier to talk about mental health issues

BY FREDA MIKLIN STAFF WRITER

O

n February 12, the South Metro Denver Chamber economic development group sponsored a virtual panel to address mental health issues in and out of the workplace.

Speaker Amber Berenz is a licensed counselor at All Health Network and manager for the Colorado Spirit Program, a fully federally funded mental health program being run through AllHealth Network. It offers free psychological support to people of all ages during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She encouraged people and companies to reach out for information on that program that is completely free of charge before it disappears at the end of June. Information about the program can be found at https://www.all healthnetwork.org/colorado -spirit.

The fundamental theme of the Chamber program was best described by Dr. Vincent Atchity, who said, “Our western tendency to separate health into different parts of our body, goes awry. Mental health is just like physical health…They go together in an oscillating continuity throughout our lives. Everyone’s mental health suffers as many challenges as does their physical health.” He explained that in the area of physical health, we’ve come a long way, realizing the importance of prevention. We advise good nutrition, adequate sleep, and movement (exercise).

We know those things enhance our physical health.

Mental health works the same way. There are specific actions and activities we can undertake throughout

Dr. Vincent Atchity is president and CEO of Mental Health Colorado, the state’s leading advocacy organization for mental health.

Mark Littrell is CEO of Denver Springs, a hospital in Englewood treating mental health and substance abuse issues.

our lives that have been well documented as being protective of our mental wellbeing.

Currently president and CEO of Mental Health Colorado, Dr. Atchity served on

own challenges and opportunities for continuing mental growth and development. As children, housing security is crucial to mental health and the shortage of affordable housing causes great mental

Amber Berenz is the manager of the Colorado Spirit Program run through the AllHealth Network.

people’s behavioral health crises is costly and provides very bad outcomes.”

Overall, our goal must be to end shame and discrimination for having mental health issues. He said that in our society, people who do

“Every family has experience with mental health issues, but we haven’t learned or advanced collectively because we hide experiences we actually have in common with others.” – Dr. Vincent Atchity Governor Hickenlooper’s Mental Health Holds Task Force and currently serves on Governor Polis’s Behavioral Health Task Force and the Colorado School of Public Health Behavioral Health Initiative Advisory Board, along with multiple other public boards.

He shared that as of last year, Colorado ranked 47th in the availability of mental health care compared to the need for it. Our state is in the top five for youth suicide (a fifth grader in a public school in our area recently took his own life) and the top ten for adult suicide.

Colorado also has a high rate of drug and alcohol abuse.

Dr. Atchity explained that every phase of life brings its

stress in children and families. Later, he said, “In the U.S., people age into insecurity.” He contrasted that with northern Europe and Scandinavia, where “people age with security in their access to health care and housing.”

On the subject of drugs and alcohol, Dr. Atchity said we need to concentrate on “reducing the harm” from using substances. He said, “Our efforts to eradicate these (substances) from the human experience is misguided. They are part of life. We should try to make sure we can get through life without getting derailed by them.” We need to “decriminalize mental health. Using the justice system to react to

not present as “normal” are marginalized, hidden away, cast out by their families.

He likened it to “a wounded animal that hides its vulnerability to escape the mishaps that occur when a weakness is detected.” He said that “every family has experience with mental health issues, but we haven’t learned or advanced collectively because we hide experiences we actually have in common with others.”

Mental Health Colorado lobbies the legislature in support of the types of issues Dr. Atchity outlined. Presently, they are working to enact the 988-suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis response hotline in Colorado. We need a “fast and

Medical and business leaders chart roadmap to health insurance equity

O

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

n February 10, the American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Benefits Council, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Federation of American Hospitals, and America’s Health Insurance Plans issued an 1,100word joint statement declaring that “Americans deserve a stable health care market that provides access to high-quality care and afford-

able coverage for all.” They pointed out that “achieving universal coverage is particularly critical as we strive to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and work to address long-standing inequities in health care access and disparities in health outcomes.”

Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed a decade ago, the United States has made great strides, with over 90% of its population having health insurance through employers, Medicare, Medicaid, and the ACA. But there are still 29 million Americans who are under the Medicare age and are not insured. Some are eligible for coverage but haven’t enrolled, thus it is

recommended that “robust outreach and enrollment efforts to connect people to the programs available to them” be utilized.

For many others, the issue is affordability. For those people, the medical and business groups recommend: 1. tax credits and cost sharing reductions to make the ACA more accessible.

2. a federal insurance affordability fund to pay a) high costs associated with those who have serious health conditions and b) unaffordable premiums in the exchanges.

3. automated and simplified enrollment in Medicaid and other “premium-free

marketplace insurance plans.”

4. federal funding for outreach and programs to facilitate easy enrollment.

5. reinstate a three-year program in which the federal government funds expanded state Medicaid programs for those with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level. (If your income is below 138% of the federal poverty level and your state has expanded Medicaid coverage, you qualify for Medicaid based only on your income.)

6. making sure that no one loses their coverage by

easily accessible support system for individuals in need of immediate mental health services and supports,” he explained. The proposed bill “would enact federal legislation establishing the 988-crisis response number here in Colorado and create a sustainable funding option for receiving and responding to those calls in the community,” he explained. It is funded through a surcharge on telephone bills similar to the one for 911.

Dr. Atchity reminded people to recognize and celebrate the activities in their lives that support our mental health. He named fly fishing, cooking, bike riding, singing, and participating in church groups as examples.

Mark Littrell, CEO of Denver Springs, a 96-bed behavioral health hospital in Englewood that serves adolescents and adults with mental health crises and addiction, said that many children and adults have experienced symptoms, including depression, anxiety, eating and substance disorders in the past year, as a result of the changes brought on by the pandemic. He explained that although mental illness cannot be prevented, it can be treated, the earlier the better.

He said that it is important to keep routines, including how you spend your time and what you eat.

Although worry is a normal reaction to many situations, anxiety is obsessively thinking about it and acting compulsively. For many, the goal of treatment is to teach resilience, the capability to recover from the difficult situations that arise in life.

Littrell said that since the pandemic started, “we’ve seen 30 to 35 percent more patients at Denver Springs.” fmiklin.villager@gmail.com temporarily covering the cost of COBRA for those who leave their jobs, making direct loans to employers who cannot afford increased premiums, and immediate outreach to those who have lost their covverage to get them re-enrolled in whatever insurance program is available to them.

Lastly, the medical and business leaders pointed out that minorities and the LGBTQ community “are more likely to be uninsured” than Americans in the majority groups and that policymakers can address that disparity of unequal access to coverage through the steps they have recommended.

Fmiklin.villager@gmail.com

PAGE 12 | THE VILLAGER • February 25, 2021

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Dear Readers,

Does Colorado provide for a senior property tax exemption?

Yes, for seniors 65 years or older who live in Colorado and who have owned their Colorado home as their primary residence for at least 10 years, Colorado law allows a senior property tax exemption. This exemption is also available to 100 percent disabled veterans and to the widow or widower of a qualifying senior.

Qualifying taxpayers get a 50 percent break on their property tax bill, up to $200,000 of property value. Details and applications are available from your County Assessor’s office.

Please note, Colorado has periodically suspended this program when tax revenues are expected to be low (2009-2011).

You must file your application

by July 15 of the year for which the exemption is requested.

Colorado also offers a Property Tax/Rent/Heat Rebate Program for low-income seniors, age 65 years or older, widows or widowers aged 58 years or older, and disabled persons.

Qualified applicants can receive a rebate of at least $300 based on the applicant’s actual rent, property tax and living expenses. Applications are available at every County Assessor’s office, through the Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Taxation at (303) 238-7378, or online at www.colorado.gov/ pacific/tax/PTC-Forms. Free assistance in completing the application is available. You can file an application for this year and two prior years.

The Colorado Senior Property Tax Deferral Program is a program for homeowners aged 65 years or older where the state makes tax payments directly to the county to pay the property tax due. These payments are loans, and the

state will file a lien against the property, but no payment is due on the loan until the home is sold or the senior no longer qualifies for the program. The state charges interest at a market rate for the loan. Seniors can use this program for multiple years. To qualify, the home must be owned and occupied by the senior, and the property cannot generate rental income.

The mortgage lender must agree that the state’s lien will come first before the mortgage.

Applications and information are available at your local County Treasurer’s office. See additional information online at www.colorado.gov/pacific/ treasury/senior-and-veteranproperty-tax-programs.

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 What are the four key medical/ estate after your passing, as well as to identify the beneestate plan documents you ficiaries and the distributions need now? to them, to accomplish your Many of my clients have estate planning goals. asked what are the critical docSelected information in uments needed, particularly in this column has been taken view of the COVID-19 panwith permission by Continudemic. Simply being married ing Legal Education in Colodoes not give you the legal right rado, Inc., from the Colorado to gain access to your spouse’s Senior Law Handbook, 2020 medical records or make medEdition (Chapter 8: Financial ical decisions on your spouse’s Difficulty for Seniors, Jamie behalf, even in an emergency.

J. Roth, Esq.), which is a To avoid this problem and to copyrighted publication and help others care for you and may be accessed and downto achieve your overall estate loaded for free at: www. planning goals, the following documents create an effective cobar.org/For-the-Public/ medical/estate plan package: Senior-Law-Handbook.

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February 25, 2021 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 13

The State ofColorado our State needs the best ideas

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

On February 17, as he began his third year in office, Governor Jared Polis delivered the annual State of the State address to a joint session of the Colorado General Assembly. The governor opened his address by asking for a moment of silence to honor the 5,655 Coloradans who have been lost to the coronavirus pandemic. He thanked first responders, health care workers including the state’s public health team, frontline workers, census workers “who did everything they could to ensure an accurate count,” legislators who worked to provide additional help to businesses, and donors who gave “$24 million in COVID relief funds that supported over 1,000 nonprofits throughout the state.”

Over 40 minutes, Polis focused on key aspects of his proposed stimulus plan for Colorado. He said we have a “once in a generation opportunity to build back stronger and better…

“thousands of small businesses,” an idea that drew immediate universal support from the general from both parties so together we assembly. can rise to meet the challenge In another nod to helping before us.”

Coloradans get back to economHe talked about ic health, Polis will repairing roads across propose doubling the the state to ease travel state earned income for residents as well tax credit (ITC) from as visitors, and to 10% to 20% of the reduce traffic and federal ITC. It is a reimprove main streets fundable credit for low in our cities. He wants and middle-income to see “shovel-ready working families. He transportation projects also talked about a to improve the econtax credit of $600 per omy” funded. Polis Governor Polis’ child that would be noted that, “transpor- address was well available for 200,000 tation is changing,” received in a joint meeting of the Colorado families, if and he “looks forColorado general passed by the general ward to expanding assembly. assembly. On the other multi-modal transside of the ledger, Polis aims to portation to improve air quality,” “eliminate tax loopholes.” adding, “As our transportation The governor talked about the habits change, we should reduce great quality of life for families vehicle registration fees while in Colorado with the addition of modernizing the way we fund paid family leave to full-day kintransportation.” dergarten and free pre-school for The governor is proposing four-year-olds, beginning in the eliminating state income taxes on social security for seniors. He fall of 2023, as well as the imalso wants to eliminate the busi- portance of affordable colleges ness personal property tax for and universities. He also talked

Seniors Helping Seniors founder offers inspiration from Mother Teresa

K

iran Yocom being that beautiful grew up age when you really in a Hindu need someone to tell family in India, you they love you?” but she attended a Then COVID-19 Catholic school and began hitting Amerbegan showing up to ica’s elderly hard. donate money each “Some of them are week at the charities Kiran Yocom so alone, and some of Mother Teresa. of them are in very bad health, “I became a beggar at a mentally, physically, emotionvery young age. To me I was ally, spiritually. Your heart more like a Robin Hood. I goes out to that,” she said. would take money from the The mission runs deep at rich, and make sure to give Seniors Helping Seniors. “We it to the children who didn’t bring hope and joy into the have much,” Yocom recalled. seniors’ lives who were mereOne day, at age 7, she saw ly existing,” said Namrata Mother Teresa, the Christian Yocom-Jan, Yocom’s daughter missionary and nun who was and executive vice president canonized in 2016. “I actualof the franchise, who joined ly touched her feet. I was so in 2007. young. She actually gave me Andy Malivuk became a the biggest hug, and then she Seniors Helping Seniors frantook me to the room where chisee in 2016. He said his they prayed. So that bond turnover rate for caregivers is started,” and it grew into about 10 percent, compared adulthood. with the industry average Mother Teresa’s teachings of 64 percent. “There’s an inspired Yocom and her husextremely high level of turnband, Philip, to start Seniors over, and not only is it a high Helping Seniors in 1998, the turnover, so clients are getting in-home services agency with a revolving door of faces, but about 200 locations today. even those faces that are com“This is Mother’s words, ver- ing in, they aren’t relating. batim: ‘America is very poor They’re on the couch doing in giving time, especially to their Instagram,” Malivuk their seniors.’ When she said said. that, it just touched my heart, “I saw very clearly the and I realized that she was so impact to my mom, the imright,” Yocom said. pact to my dad, the impact “That’s when I had this to the rest of us, when you calling in my being that kept have unreliable, inconsistent saying to me: Some day you caregivers that have attitudes are going to be old. How and you can tell they don’t would you like to respond to really care, versus when you

have one who’s there for the right reasons. It’s life-changing. “ www.seniorcaresouth denver.com. 303-990-4561

State Rep. Meg Froelich posed with Colorado Congressmen Joe Neguse and Jason Crow, whose profiles were raised significantly by their roles in the two impeachment trials of former President Trump.

about the importance of voters having supported requiring equal pay for equal work by men and women.

Touching on the significance of getting Colorado’s kids back in the classroom full-time as soon as it is safely possible, the governor said, “Millions of women nationwide have been forced out of the workforce (by the pandemic). Women of color have been disproportionately impacted. We need in-person school for our kids, but we also need it for Colorado moms and dads.”

Polis spoke about equity in health care, noting, “When the virus struck last year, we moved swiftly to extend the enrollment in health care. The reinsurance program has successfully reduced rates by 20% across the state, especially in rural Colorado.”

Reminding lawmakers that he ran for governor on a plat-

form of transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2040, Polis said that electrical utilities in our state representing 99+% of the population, “have committed to reduce emissions from fossil fuels by 80% or more by 2030,” adding, “Colorado is a national leader in green energy jobs because we’ve embraced the opportunities of renewable energy. It is an essential part of protecting our public lands and the biodiversity that we celebrate.”

Pointing out that, “When the crisis struck, our vast public lands became a retreat and we must always protect them, Governor Polis pointed to Fishers Peak State Park, Colorado’s newest state park located in the southernmost portion of our state.

Governor Polis’ conclusion?

“The State of Colorado remains strong.”

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PAGE 14 | THE VILLAGER • February 25, 2021

LEGALS

—Continued from previous page— FIRST PLACE Best Public Notice Section

2017 FIRST

PLACE — Best

2018 NNA Better Newspaper

Advertising Contest

Section

Award-winning Newspaper

ARAPAHOE COUNTY ARAPAHOE COUNTY REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL RFP-21-07 LANDSCAPING/IRRIGATION SERVICES Notice is hereby given that the Arapahoe County Purchasing Division will be accepting proposals for Landscape/Irrigation services required for Replacement of the Irrigation System and modifications to existing turf and landscape at the Arapahoe County Administration Building, 5334 S Prince Street, Littleton, CO for the Arapahoe County Facilities and Fleet Management Department.

A MANDATORY pre proposal conference will be held on March 9, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., local time, at the Arapahoe County Administration Building, Grays Peak Conference Room, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, CO 80120.

A representative of the Contractor must attend this mandatory conference in order to qualify to respond to this contract. Contractors who fail to sign in prior to the scheduled starting time (our clock) shall be considered non responsive and ineligible for award.

All Arapahoe County solicitations can be obtained from the County’s website. The Request For Proposal (RFP-21-07) document can be obtained by going to the Arapahoe County website www.arapahoegov. com, then go to the Finance Department, and under the Finance Department select Purchasing then go to the Quick Link for the Rocky Mountain ePurchasing website.

Electronic submissions will only be accepted online via Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing Systems (RMEPS), www.bidnetdirect.com/ colorado.

Submittals must be received, electronically, no later than 2:00 p.m. local time on March 25, 2021.

The County reserves the right to waive any or all informalities or irregularities and to reject any or all submittals.

Joan Lopez, Clerk to the Board Published in The Villager Published: February 25, 2021 Legal # 10145 ___________________________ ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO PUBLIC NOTICE & OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Arapahoe County, Housing and Community Development Services staff will complete a study session with the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), as well as provide a thirty day public comment period to obtain citizen input and comments regarding the County’s 2021 Annual Action Plan, which describes how the County and the City of Centennial plan to utilize 2021 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Act (HOME) funds.

The BOCC study session will be held electronically on Monday, March 1, 2021, at 2:00 pm, or shortly thereafter. Interested parties can view and access the public study session through our website: https://www.arapahoegov. com/1617/Meeting-Videos-andLive-Broadcast and our new Legistar portal at https://arapahoe. legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.

Interested parties are also encouraged to review the 2021 Annual Action Plan Draft and submit comments during the 30 day public comment period, beginning March 2, 2021 and ending April 1, 2021.

The 2021 Annual Action Plan Draft will be available for review online, starting Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at http://arapahoegov.com/index. aspx?NID=334. The plan will also be available by request made to Jeremy Fink at jfink@arapahoegov. com or (303) 738-8062 or by TDD (303) 738-8033, or at Arapahoe County Housing and Community Development Services located at 1690 W. Littleton Blvd., Suite 300, Littleton, CO 80120.

The County will consider any comments (written or verbal) received during the public comment period when preparing and submitting the 2021 Annual Action Plan. As such, a summary of the comments will be incorporated into the final

document.

The County encourages citizen participation, emphasizing demographic diversity and the involvement of low-to-moderate income residents, particularly residents and interested parties located in areas served by CDBG and HOME projects.

If you need special accommodations or translation services to attend a public meeting or submit comments, or if you would like to request related documents in a language other than English, please contact Jeremy Fink (contact information is listed above) at least 48 hours prior to the start of the meeting to ensure we can accommodate your request.

Published in The Villager Published: February 25, 2021 Legal # 10151 ___________________________

TREASURER NOTICE OF PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE AT TAX LIEN SALE AND OF APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF TREASURER’S DEED To Every Person in Actual Possession or Occupancy of the hereinafter Described Land, Lot or Premises, and to the Person in Whose Name the same was Taxed or Specially Assessed, and to all Persons having an Interest or Title of Record in or to the said Premises and To Whom It May Concern, and more especially to LAUREN A SHERWOOD You and each of you are hereby notified that on the 3rd day of November, 2016, A.D., the then County Treasurer of the County of Arapahoe, in the State of Colorado, sold at public tax lien sale to FIG CAPITAL INVESTMENTS CO13 LLC, the following described real estate situate in the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado, to-wit: UNIT 215 BLDG 300 AS PER CONDO DECLARATION RECORDED IN B4596 P505 CENTENNIAL CROSSING CONDOS FORMERLY SPENCER’S LANDING CONDOMINIUMS aka 4691 S DECATUR ST 215 and said County Treasurer issued a Certificate of Purchase therefore to FIG CAPITAL INVESTMENTS CO13 LLC; Whereas, the said FIG CAPITAL INVESTMENTS CO13 LLC did, on the 30th day of December 2020 duly assigned the certificate of the sale of the tax lien on the property as aforesaid, and all its rights, title, and interest in said property, to BLUE SPRUCE SERVICING COMPANY LLC. That said tax lien sale was made to satisfy the delinquent general taxes assessed against said real estate for the year 2015; That said real estate was taxed or specially assessed in the name(s) of LAUREN A SHERWOOD for said year 2015; That said BLUE SPRUCE SERVICING COMPANY LLC, on the 30th day of December, 2020, the present holder of said Certificate, who has made request upon the Treasurer of said County for a deed to said real estate; That a Treasurer’s Deed will be issued for said real estate to the said BLUE SPRUCE SERVICING COMPANY LLC, on or about the 16th day of June, 2021, A.D., unless the same has been redeemed.

Said property may be redeemed from said sale at any time prior to the actual execution of said Treasurer’s Deed.

Witness my hand this 11th day of February, 2021, A.D. Sue Sandstrom Treasurer Arapahoe County Published in The Villager First Publication: February 11, 2021 Last Publication: February 25, 2021 Legal # 10125 ___________________________

COURTS

DISTRICT COURT ARAPAHOE COUNTY COLORADO Court Address: 7325 S. Potomac Street, #100 Centennial, CO 80112 Plaintiff: SUNBURST HOME-

OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., a Colorado non-profit corporation; Defendants: MATTHEW POSET; GUILD MORTGAGE COMPANY, INC.; ARAPAHOE COUNTY TREASURER; UNKNOWN TENANT(S) IN POSSESSION. Attorneys for Plaintiff: THE DUPONT LAW FIRM, LLC Stephane R. Dupont, #39425 Address: PO Box 1073 Castle Rock, CO 80104 Phone Number: (720) 644-6115 Case Number: 2021CV30183 Div.:Ctrm.: SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT: Matthew Poset You are hereby summoned and required to appear and defend against the claims of the Complaint filed with the court in this action, by filing with the clerk of this court an Answer or other response. You are required to file your Answer within 35 days after the service of this Summons upon you. Service of the Summons shall be complete on the day of the last publication. A copy of the Complaint may be obtained from the clerk of the court.

If you fail to file your answer or other response to the Complaint in writing within 35 days after the date of the last publication, judgment by default may be rendered against you by the court for the relief demanded in the Complaint without further notice.

This is an action for judicial foreclosure of an association assessment lien pursuant to C.R.S. 38-33.3316, in and to real property situated in Arapahoe County, Colorado, more particularly described on Exhibit A, attached hereto and by this reference made a part hereof.

Dated: February 9, 2021 THE DUPONT LAW FIRM, LLC By: *s/ Stephane R. Dupont Stephane R. Dupont Published in The Villager First Publication: Last Publication: This Summons is issued pursuant to Rule 4(h), Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure Exhibit A

2021 at the hour of 9:15 a.m., in Division 23, at the Arapahoe County District Court, 7305 South Potomac Street, Centennial, Colorado 80112. You have the right to be represented by an attorney during these proceedings; if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to represent you. In the event you fail to appear for said hearing at the date and time indicated, the Petitioner will request that the Court enter a default judgment against you and adjudicate the child(ren), dependent and neglected in accordance with the Colorado Children’s Code. /s/ Linda Arnold Linda Arnold, Reg. No. 16764 Senior Assistant County Attorney Published in The Villager Published: February 25, 2021 Legal # 10146 ___________________________ DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO 7325 S. Potomac Street Centennial, Colorado 80112 PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO, Petitioner, IN THE INTEREST OF: ANGELA LOVATO Child, and concerning DENISE LOVATO aka DENISE WALKER, JUSTIN VERDUGO and JOHN DOE, Respondents, and concerning KATHY THOMPSON and SCOTT THOMPSON, Special Respondents.

Linda Arnold, Reg. No. 16764 Office of the Arapahoe County Attorney Attorney for the People 14980 East Alameda Drive Aurora, CO 80012 Tel: 303-636-1882 Fax: 303-636-1889 NOTICE OF ADJUDICATORY COURT TRIAL AND DEFAULT JUDGMENT Case No: 20JV362 Division: 23 To The Respondents:

Published in The Villager First Publication: February 18, 2021 Last Publication: March 18, 2021 Legal # 10141 ___________________________ DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO 7325 S. Potomac Street Centennial, Colorado 80112

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that an Adjudicatory Court Trial regarding JOHN DOE is set for April 9, 2021 at the hour of 9:15 a.m., in Division 23, at the Arapahoe County District Court, 7305 South Potomac Street, Centennial, Colorado 80112. You have the right to be represented by an attorney during these proceedings; if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to represent you. In the event you fail to appear for said hearing at the date and time indicated, the Petitioner will request that the Court enter a default judgment against you and adjudicate the child(ren), dependent and neglected in accordance with the Colorado Children’s Code.

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO, Petitioner,

/s/ Linda Arnold Linda Arnold, Reg. No. 16764 Senior Assistant County Attorney

IN THE INTEREST OF:

Published in The Villager Published: February 25, 2021 Legal # 10147 ___________________________ DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO 7325 S. Potomac Street Centennial, Colorado 80112

Lot 6, Block 1, Sunburst Subdivision, Filing No. 2, County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado.

Also known as: 16150 East Radcliff Place, Aurora, CO 80015

ANGELA LOVATO Child, and concerning DENISE LOVATO aka DENISE WALKER, JUSTIN VERDUGO and JOHN DOE, Respondents, and concerning KATHY THOMPSON and SCOTT THOMPSON, Special Respondents.

Linda Arnold, Reg. No. 16764 Office of the Arapahoe County Attorney Attorney for the People 14980 East Alameda Drive Aurora, CO 80012 Tel: 303-636-1882 Fax: 303-636-1889 NOTICE OF ADJUDICATORY COURT TRIAL AND DEFAULT JUDGMENT Case No: 20JV362 Division: 23 To The Respondents: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that an Adjudicatory Court Trial regarding JOHN DOE is set for April 9,

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO In the Interest of: GIOVANNI TRUJILLO AKA GIOVANNI RIBALI, FELIX TRUJILLO, AND MEZMIRIYAH TRUJILLO, Children, and concerning ERICA TRUJILLO AKA ERICA RIBALI, FELIX TRUJILLO, AND JOHN DOE, Respondents.

Kristi Erickson, Reg. #50739 Assistant County Attorney 14980 E. Alameda Drive Aurora, CO 80012 303-752-8989 / (F) 303-636-1889 NOTICE OF ADJUDICATORY HEARING AND DEFAULT JUDGMENT SCHEDULED FOR SET MARCH 1, 2021 AT 1:30 PM IN DIV. 22

Case No: 20JV76 Division: 22

Technician, Transportation (303) 708-6111 or geveleth@greenwoodvillage.com

To The Respondents:

/s/ Jeremy Hanak

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that an Adjudicatory Hearing regarding JOHN DOE is set for March 1, 2021, at the hour of 1:30 p.m., in Division 22, at the Arapahoe County District Court, 7305 South Potomac Street, Centennial, Colorado 80112. You have the right to be represented by an attorney during these proceedings; if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to represent you. In the event you fail to appear for said hearing at the date and time indicated, the Petitioner will request that the Court enter a default judgment against you and adjudicate the child(ren), dependent and neglected in accordance with the Colorado Children’s Code.

Director of Public Works

Due to COVID 19, the Arapahoe County District Court is holding hearings by WebEx. Should you choose to appear by phone or video, please use the following WebEx Case Management Order instructions: AUDIOVISUAL HEARING EXPECTATIONS AND GENERAL GUIDANCE The court will use Cisco WebEx Meetings to allow for audiovisual and/or audio participation. Participants may use any computer, tablet or smart phone equipped with a camera and microphone for audiovisual participation. Parties should use the following link: •https://judicial.webex.com/meet/ natalie.chase •Enter your name and email address (so we know who you are). You will then be in the virtual courtroom.

•Select your audio setting. If the audio on your computer or tablet does not work, please use the alternate audio option of calling in to the number below.

If you do not have a device that will support a video connection, you may still participate by audio only by calling 720-650-7664 OR 1-415655-0001. When prompted enter code 926 560 922.

YOU ARE FURTHER COMMANDED to appear before the Court at said time and place, either in person or by phone. If you elect to appear in person, you must be at the Courthouse a half hour before the hearing is scheduled to begin.

Date: 2/17/2021 Kristi Erickson, Reg. #50739 Assistant County Attorney Published in The Villager Published: February 25, 2021 Legal # 10148 ___________________________

GREENWOOD VILLAGE NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Notice is hereby given that the City of Greenwood Village, Colorado (the “City”) will receive proposals electronically via email until 2:30 pm on March 11, 2021.

The request for proposals for the Yosemite Overpass Bridge Rail Replacement Design is available electronically via the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System on the City website, www.greenwoodvillage.com/bids.

Please submit proposal documents to George Eveleth at geveleth@ greenwoodvillage.com with the subject line reading “Yosemite Overpass Bridge Rail Replacement Design Proposal”. Please submit fee estimates to George Eveleth at geveleth@greenwoodvillage.com with subject line reading “Yosemite Overpass Bridge Rail Replacement Design Fee Estimate”.

The City reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, and to make final determination in the event of duplications.

No proposal may be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) days after the date set for opening thereof.

Any proposal received as a result of this request is prepared at the consultant’s expense and becomes City property and therefore, public record.

Any questions regarding the project should be directed to George Eveleth – Senior Engineering

Published in The Villager First Publication: February 25, 2021 Last Publication: March 4, 2021 Legal # 10149 ___________________________

SPECIAL DISTRICTS “NOTICE OF FINAL PAYMENT” Notice is hereby given that at 1:00 p.m., on Friday March 12, 2021, Cherry Creek Valley Water and Sanitation District will make final settlement with C&L Water Solutions of Littleton Colorado, in connection with payment for all services rendered, materials furnished, and for all labor performed in and for construction of project: Florida Avenue Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation, Alton Street to Dayton Street.

1. Any person, co-partnership, association, or corporations who has unpaid claim against the said project or on account of the furnishing of labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provision, provender, or other supplies used or consumed by such contractor or any of his subcontractors in or about the performance of said work, may at any time up to and including said time of such final settlement file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claims.

2. All such claims shall be filed with Cherry Creek Valley Water and Sanitation District, 2325 S. Wabash St, Denver, CO 80231 on or before the above-mentioned time and date of final settlement.

3. Failure on the part of a creditor to file such statement prior to such final settlement will relieve Cherry Creek Valley Water and Sanitation District from any and all liability for such claim.

Published in The Villager First Publication: February 25, 2021 Last Publication: March 4, 2021 Legal # 10150 ___________________________

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of BRUCE DELMER MILLER also known as BRUCE D. MILLER and BRUCE MILLER, Deceased Case Number: 2021PR30150 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 on or before June 11, 2021, 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 Published in The Villager First Publication: February 11, 2021 Last Publication: February 25, 2021 Legal # 10131 ___________________________ NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Chauncey Stephens Gerard a/k/a Chauncey Viencent Stephens, Chauncey Vincent Stephens, Chauncey S. Gerard, Chauncey Gerard, Chauncey V. Stephens, and Chauncey Stephens, Deceased Case Number 2021 PR 30120 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 on or before June 25, 2021, or the claims may be forever barred.

William F. Gerard Personal Representative 5874 S. Espana Street Centennial, CO 80015-2126 Published in The Villager First Publication: February 18, 2021 Last Publication: March 4, 2021 Legal # 10143 ___________________________

—Continued End oftoLegals — next page— —

February 25, 2021 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 15

Classified Advertising

tickets online at icecastles.com/ Colorado. For information call 855-845-7885.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

History Colorado Borderlands of Southern Colorado

Presented in English and Spanish this stunning exhibit explores the shifting geopolitical history of southern Colorado. In 1848 when the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo moved a portion of the US – Mexico border from the Arkansas River – which flows through the middle of Colorado – down to the Rio Grande, an international border crossed over the people in this region changing their lives forever. Daily 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. 1200 Broadway, Denver. Non-member tickets : Adults $14, Seniors $12, Students $10.

For tickets go online to estore. historycolorado.org. No tickets available on site. For information call 303-447-8679.

Museo De Las Americas Testigos/ Witnesses Exhibit Now through March 20.

This timely exhibit is about Life, Death, Culture and Time.

Born out of a friendship that developed between artist Gaal D. Cohen and artisan Genaro Fuentes Trego of the indigenous Otomi community of San Pablito Pahuatlan, Mexico it weaves together photography and thanatology into a stunningly wise and compassionate presentation.

General Admission $8. 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm. 861 Santa Fe Drive. For information call 303571-4401.

EVENTS

Dillon ice Castles

Now through February 28 Ice Castles is an awe-inspiring, must-see winter phenomenon that brings fairytales to life. The Ice Castles are built entirely by hand using hundreds of thousands of icicles placed by professional artists. The castles include breathtaking LED-lit structures, frozen thrones, ice-carved tunnels, slides and fountains. Daily 12 – 9 pm. 120 Buffalo Street, Dillon. Tickets may be available on-site if Ice Castles is not sold out. On-site prices are subject to higher rates. For guaranteed entry and the lowest price, buy

NOW OPEN

Denver Botanic Gardens

The Denver Botanic Gardens 1007 York Street location is open with limited attendance numbers, timed tickets and strict social distancing guidelines.

Admissions are capped at 250 people in two-hour increments.

Make a reservation online for a specific date at botanicgardens. org. Tickets will not be available onsite. For information call 720865-3500

WANTED TO BUY

Old coins and coin collections, jewelry, silver flatware, tea sets, old watches, Chinese and Japa-

nese antiques. Antique firearms and more Call Ted @ 720-3277867.

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HELP WANTED

Colorado Statewide Classified Advertising Network

Denver Zoo

All tickets must be purchased/ reserved online at DenverZoo. org/Visit. The zoo will limit the number of visitors per day with staggered 15-minute entry windows to limit the number of guests at any one time. A one-way path around the entire campus has been created to allow guests to view a majority of its animal habitats and gardens.

All guests ages 3 and over will be required to wear face masks.

For further information call 720337-1644

Colorado Press Network Buy a 25-word statewide classified line ad in newspapers across the state of Colorado for just $300 per week. Ask about our frequency discounts!

Contact The Villager at 303-773-8313 x301 v

Office: 303-773-3399

Cell: 303-905-0744

CALL EDIE FOR A SHOWING

CHERRY HILLS WALKOUT RANCH

$2,995,000

NEW AND COMING

2021 Toyota Camry XSE can steal your heart

BY H. THROTTLE AUTOMOTIVE COLUMNIST

Toyota has returned the Camry to a top-flight contender in the mid-range sedan market with the new 4-door XSE model with a choice of a 205 hp.4 cylinder 2.5L engine or a larger V6. Prices start in the $31,415 range for selection of models and options.

The test car featured a 205hp engine with eco, normal, and sports modes. The Camry averaged 34 mpg on the freeway and 28 mpg on city streets. The eight-speed transmission works well with steering wheel paddle shifters. The Camry has dual quad chrome exhaust tips showing a sports car flair.

The best feature on the new Camry is the all-wheel drive that makes this an ideal car for Colorado weather conditions. Another striking

feature about the Camry is a hard to achieve perfect fivestar safety rating in all categories by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

This mid-range model is a joy to drive and has amazing performance from the non-turbo engine. In the normal drive or sports mode this Camry drives like a sports car. The special sports tuned suspension give a firm grip on the highway aided with the all-wheel drive. The XSE is rated with a top speed of 116 mph. The speed displayed on the windshield can be appreciated by safe law- abiding drivers.

Some vehicles just feel better than others and this Camry from appearance to performance is outstanding.

Camrys have been around the Toyota line-up for years, but this is the best model ever

produced and takes the brand name to a new level. It also means a higher price for the new models with more bells and whistles, but this is a prize-winning sedan.

All-wheel disk brakes, leather trimmed seats, an easy to operate JBL sound system with amplifier and subwoofer that has awesome sound.

Loaded with safety features that include the Toyota Safety Sense package that brings so many new safety features to the line of vehicles. These safety features add to the perfect five-star score.

Comparing this Camry to more expensive vehicles, it can compete with many higher priced cars with a much lower price.

I would purchase this car for my own personal use. It is that good.

o CHERRY HILLS PERFECTION: 5000 S ALBION ST. Exquisite walkout ranch backing to the Highline Canal. Superb attention to detail, spacious, flowing floorplan. $2,995,000 UNDER CONTRACT. o ONE CHERRY LANE - COMING THIS MONTH - Exquisitely remodeled from traditional to transitional in this premier low maintenance gated community. $1,975,000 o THE PRESERVE - Tuscan beauty with bedroom on the main floor, outdoor kitchen and exquisite stonework. $2,895,000 UNDER CONTRACT. o VILLAROSSO PENTHOUSE - East facing with full length balcony, European ambiance. Total custom. 3 Bedrooms. $1,135,000 o 20446 E ORCHARD PLACE - Minimum maintenance walkout ranch at the Hillside at Greenfield. $435,000 UNDER CONTRACT. o COMING - The Hills at Cherry Creek. 3 car garage, over 3000 sq ft. $900,000 UNDER CONTRACT AND SOLD o THE PINNACLE IN CASTLE PINES NORTH: MAIN FLOOR MASTER AND THEATRE, SOARING RUSTIC BEAMED CEILINGS, PHENOMENAL WATERFALLS. EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY. $1,500,000. UNDER CONTRACT. o 5055 S. HOLLY CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE Best Buy. $2,350,000. With $100,000 allowance for additional garages. SOLD. o RANCH NO MAINTENANCE VILLA IN THE MEADOWS AT CASTLE ROCK $515,000 SOLD. o 467 ADAMS ST. CHERRY CREEK NORTH - $2,195,000 SOLD. o THE PRESERVE Exceptional executive home. $3,000,000. SOLD. o THE PRESERVE ON OPEN SPACE. 4810 PERRY PARKWAY $1,750,000. SOLD. o SUNDANCE HILLS. BEAUTIFUL REMODEL $785,000 SOLD. o OBSERVATORY PARK $2,000,000 SOLD. o 37 CHARLOU IN CHERRY HILLS - $1,700,000 SOLD. o 5816 S. VILLAGE WAY - $2,560,000 SOLD. o 19 S. FRANKLIN CIRCLE - $3,550,000 SOLD. o ONE OF A KIND ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECE.RANCH LIVING GREENWOOD VILLAGE $1,680,000 SOLD. o 5775 S FOREST ST, THE PRESERVE. $1,739,000 SOLD. o LANDMARK 11TH FLOOR PENTHOUSE $1,040,000 SOLD.

BUYER NEED NOW: $3,000,000 TO $6,000,000 QUALITY, UPDATED TRADITIONAL OR CONTEMPORARY HOME ON .6 ACRES OR MORE DENVER OR CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE CALL EDIE 303-905-0744 CHECK OUT MY INDIVIDUAL HOMESITES at www.DenverRealEstate.com E-mail me at emarks@DenverRealEstate.com

#1 DENVER BOARD OF REALTORS 12 YEARS STRAIGHT #44 OF 1,350,000 AGENTS IN THE USA (THE WALL STREET JOURNAL)

PAGE 16 | THE VILLAGER • February 25, 2021

THE PRESERVE AT GREENWOOD VILLAGE

4081 E CHESTNUT CT

RACT T N O RC UNDE Exceptional European styling. Bedroom on main floor. $2,895,000 CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE

5000 S ALBION

RACT T N O RC UNDE Extraordinary walkout ranch backing to the Highline Canal.$2,995,000 THE PRESERVE

5775 S. FOREST

SOLD

Perfect transitional. Totally updated. $1,739,000 THE PRESERVE

4701 PRESERVE PARKWAY NORTH

refused to give her back the paper’s homecoming photo unless he could walk her home.

The pair married in 1951, then relocated to Denver where Sid was named editor of TV Guide. While raising a family Renae became involved in social activism that, her children recall, created a sharp contrast between their experiences growing up and those of their contemporaries. She marched with farm workers, was active in the antiwar movement, and demonstrated for sexual equality in employment. She finished her undergraduate degree at University of Colorado and a masters at University of Denver, then went on to teach English to a generation of Denver high school students, often from immigrant families; many of whom would later cite her influence as having been turning points in their lives.

After 50 years in Greenwood Hills, Sid and Renae Levin moved to Bateleur and celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2011. He died in 2016. Renae Levin is mourned by her sister, Joyce Orbuch, and husband Martin Orbuch of Minneapolis, by her sister Susan Dechter and husband Zvi Sesling of Newton, Mass.; by her children and their spouses Brad Levin and Patti Jo Robinson of Denver, Mark and Beth Samuelson of Greenwood Village, Ted and Jenifer Levin of Pasadena, Calif., Laure Levin and Gary Rand of Denver; and by grandchildren Robyn, Alex, and Richard Levin; Rachel and Leah Samuelson; Jordan and Justin Levin; and Ari and Ben Rand. Services were Sunday, Feb. 14, at Hebrew Educational Alliance in Denver.

Contributions may be made to the Anti Defamation League or your own charity.

George Gibbens died Feb. 14

blind rehabilitation program. This allowed him to thrive in his second career as a blind shop owner through the Department of Education. His shop at the Air Force Finance Center-Lowry was one of the most successful in the state of Colorado. Even after going blind it never slowed him down.

He navigated Denver with public transportation, but most often on foot.

He and Kenita traveled to many places around the world. George loved his animals.

One of the biggest beneficiaries was the Denver Dumb Friends League, who he donated to for years because of the family’s

rescue dog Jack.

George loved being outdoors, especially fishing and walking.

He enjoyed the friendships he and Kenita fostered through the years. He was an active member of his church and the Lion’s Club throughout his life.

George was preceded in death by his father J.C. and his mother Lorita. He is survived by his wife Kenita, his three children, Mark, Marisa and Brock, his brother Tim Gibbins, sister Martha Morris and three grandchildren Averie, Reece, and Landon

Brenda Holben - March 15, 1939 - Feb. 12, 2021

three kids, Jeff, Rich and Heather. She was active in the kid’s schools, Junior Symphony Guild, dressed as Mrs. Big Bird for Rocky Mtn PBS and played a lot of tennis.

After her kids became adults Brenda went back to work for the Cherry Creek School District as its Prevention Coordinator.

During her 20 + years at Cherry Creek, she taught countless parenting classes to district parents, built programs and services to help students make healthier choices and work through difficult challenges and circumstances, founded the district’s Parent Information Network (PIN) and was instrumental in the Community Asset Project (CAP).She also developed a partnership with First American State Bank for an annual 5k walk/run with all proceeds used by CAP to promote positive youth development in the

district. In recognition of her value to the district and community,in 1996 she was named the Health Educator of the Year in the State of Colorado. Brenda was kind spirited, empathetic, genuine and a true friend. Her last few years with dementia were tough.

But she retained her great smile, feisty spirit and overall je ne sais quoi. Her presence will be missed. She is survived by her son Jeff (wife Paula and sons Reid and Henry), her daughter Heather Stork (husband Matthew, daughter Annabel and son Tom) and her brother Dick Nagel (wife Karan).

Burial will be at Fairmount Cemetery in Denver. A funeral/remembrance will be held this summer when we can get together - the way Brenda would want it. Donations can be made in her name to the Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado at www.epilepsycolorado.org.

Renae Dechter Levin, longtime resident of Greenwood Hills known for her service to Denver Public Schools, died suddenly Feb. 12.

She was 90.

Levin was born Nov. 23, 1930, to Maurice and Sally Dechter, who owned shoe stores in Minneapolis. During undergraduate studies at University of Minnesota following World War II, she met former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and often cited that opportunity as a landmark moment in her later pursuits. She was popular on campus, chosen freshman homecoming queen, luring what her sisters recall was a lineup of suitors, some headed for prominent business positions in the Twin Cities. Rather, she yielded to a pursuit by a reporter on the school paper, Sid Levin, attending university on the G.I. Bill, who On Sunday, February 14, 2021, George Gibbons passed way at the age of 82. George was born in Arpelar, OK to J .C. and Lorita Gibbins. George met the love of his life Kenita Savage Gibbins at the University of Colorado.

They married July 25, 1959 and were married for 61 years until George’s passing. George and Kenita raised three children. George was a member of the Littleton Fire Department for 20 years and promoted to the rank of Battalion Chief. He retired due to becoming legally blind in 1988. George completed a

Brenda Nagel Holben died on Feb. 12, 2021 after a battle with dementia and complications from a fall.

She was 81 years old. Born in Fair Haven, New Jersey on March 15, 1939 to Henry and Verna Nagel, Brenda and her family moved to her beloved Boulder, Colorado in 1944 where she graduated from Boulder High in 1957 and the University of Colorado in 1961.

Shortly after graduating from CU she married her college sweetheart Bill Holben and moved to Denver. She had some disappointments in her life with the death of her son Rich and her divorce from Bill, both in 1992.

She taught first grade in both Boulder and Denver. She quit teaching in 1964 to raise her

Results that move you.

SOLD

Amazing executive home on the Nature Preserve.10,000 sq ft.,pool, walkout. $3,000,000 VILLAROSSO

Renae Dechter Levin, 90, teacher and social activist

4875 S MONACO #703

The Yeddis Group knows your home is more than just a house. With almost 50 years of combined experience, we provide real estate expertise at the highest level.

We’d love to talk to you about your next move.

TheYeddisGroup.com Fran | 303.619.3600 Josh | 303.956.2455 TheYeddisGroup@compass.com

EUROPEAN ELEGANCE PENTHOUSE CREATED FROM THE SHELL. 2700 SQ FT. $1,135,000

Kentwood.com/EdieMarks

Compass is a licensed real estate broker in Colorado and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage.