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I am passionate about government and giving our readers straightforward information that will help them make informed choices when they vote. I am also a licensed C.P.A. and former Greenwood Village City Council member. Dr. Jerry Miklin and I are the parents of five young adults, including two sets of twins, all of whom graduated from Cherry Creek High School and college. I am a 9-time Colo. Press Assn. award winner. If you have any questions about local or state politics or government, or something you want to share, email me at fmiklin.villager@gmail.com.

Beware the (property) tax man cometh

BY FREDA MIKLIN

If you live in Arapahoe County and you haven’t received your property tax bill for 2024, payable in 2025, it will arrive very soon. Taxes for 2024 are payable in one payment by April 30, 2025, or split into two, the first half due by February 28, 2025, and the second half by June 16, 2025.

If you escrow your taxes with your mortgage company, you don’t need to worry about those dates, but you still may be interested in how much you are paying.

Property values are recalculated every two years and 2024 was an off year, so property values used for 2024 taxes are the same as they were for 2023, when homeowners experienced unexpectedly large increases in value. Still, mill levies for the two largest line items on the bill have gone up.

For Arapahoe County government, which appears on the second line of the bill, the 2023 levy was 11.206 mills for residential homes. This year, it’s 15.885, a 42% increase.

In Arapahoe County, whether you live in the Cherry Creek School District or the Littleton Public School District, the mill levies for schools account for more than half of your total property tax bill. The levy for Arapahoe County government, even with the 42% increase, is a distant second.

The total levy for Cherry Creek School District went from 47.567 mills in 2023 to 53.962 mills in 2024, up 13.4%. In the Littleton Public School District, the total mill levy went from 62.847 mills in 2023 to 64.793 mills in 2024, an increase of 3.1%.

On a property tax bill, mills are expressed in thousandths. So, 53.962 mills is written as .053962.

As a refresher, in Colo rado, mill levies for all the

taxing entities in a county are applied to residential homes’ assessed value to determine the amount of property tax owed. Taxing entities, in addition to your local school district and county government, typically include cities, fire protection districts, metro districts, water and sewer districts, library districts, and flood control districts, depending where you live.

Residential assessed value for 2024, based on SB24233 passed by the legislature last year, is the actual market value of your home as determined by the county assessor in the last re-evaluation, minus $55,000, times 6.7%.

For example, according to zillow.com, realtor.com, and redfin.com, the average home in Greenwood Village is currently valued at $1,500,000. The assessed value of that home would

Creek School District, Arapahoe County, the City of Greenwood Village, South Metro Fire District, Arapahoe Library District, the local sanitation district, and several other smaller entities would each be multiplied by $96,815 to determine all the line-item components of the 2024 property tax bill for the home.

In our research, we identified a GV home valued at about $1.5 million. Total taxes for that property went from $8,433 last year to $9,389 this year, an increase of 11.3%, with no change in market value.

Voters in the Cherry Creek, Denver, and Aurora School Districts, along with several smaller ones around the state, approved bond issues and/or mill levy increases for their school districts last November. Those will lead to increased taxes as authorized borrowings are drawn down and new spending in approved categories

According to several sources we checked, the average increase in home values, statewide, during that period was between zero and two percent, so taxpayers are unlikely to face the shocks from those notices that they got in the spring of 2023.

Although that is good for taxpayers who are staying put, for those who bought their home in the past few years and want to move to a new home, the news might not be good. While their properties may have barely appreciated in the past two years, 30-year mortgage rates are around seven percent, very likely higher than what they are paying now, making selling their current home and buying another one challenging.

There is some good news on this subject for taxpayers. The last reassessment of home values was based on market values as of June 2022, compared to June 2020, which went up as much as 40%. The next reassessment, which will appear on notices later this spring, will be based on the changes in market value between June 2022 and June 2024.

St. Andrew’s Village Senior Living

t St. Andrew’s Village, our Active Independent Living provides everything you or your loved one wants and needs. Let us take care of the details of daily living so you can focus on everything that brings you joy. Trade in homeownership hassles, cooking, cleaning, and your to-do list for the carefree and convenient lifestyle you crave, with the right amount of customized support should you ever need it.

Compassionate Care, It’s What We Are Known For

Our vibrant Assisted Living is the place where customized care, support, independence, and peace of mind live in perfect harmony. Enjoy a variety of wellness options and benefits tailored to meet your needs. From simple daily living routines to more comprehensive health and wellness plans, we’ll help you feel centered, connected, and supported. Your health, dignity, and well-being are at the heart of all we do.

Health Care, If You Need It

You or your loved one will have access to a full

range of customized care and wellness offerings at St. Andrew’s Village, along with easy access to our exceptional amenities and services. Why limit your options when you can enjoy our indoor pool, fitness center, salon, spa, and more? When it comes to Assisted Living, care is tailored to your needs and preferences. Chef-prepared cuisine is made to order, and there’s no end to the enriching classes and interesting outings we have planned.

Outstanding Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing care is available on-site and provided by The Ensign Group, for those who need additional care and support when recovering from illness, injury, or surgery. Here, there is something for everyone. Schedule a tour today, enjoy lunch on us, and discover what makes us different!

Sharon Magness Blake honored with prestigious Citizen of the West 2025 Award Leader, philanthropist, entrepreneur, mentor, equine enthusiast and go-to woman in Denver

“Where there’s thunder, there’s lightening. Sharon is our lightening!”

– Pete Coors, Steering Committee Chair and Capital Campaign Chair

A familiar route of 30 years while orchestrating Western Fantasy to benefit Volunteers of America - Sharon rode in on Thunder accompanied by husband Ernie Blake amid the dramatic fog

Photos by Scottie Iverson

Doug (National Western Stock Show Board Chair) and Nancy Jones with Boo and Reed Dixon

Ross and Candy Bhappu with Judy and Charlie McNeil

Jim and Jennifer Jones Paton John Sie and daughter Michelle Sie Whitten

Henry Dubroff, Larry Mizel

Sharon’s influence and attention to detail was on every element of the eveningthe tables were set in vibrant Bronco orange with centerpieces to match and favors were orange T-shirts emblazoned with the image of Sharon and Thunder

Sharon surrounded in the photo op set with Thunder IV (mascot of the Denver Broncos) in demand right next to this scene

No stranger to awards and recognition, she has raised over $100 million for causes and embodies the spirit and determination of the American West

Since 1978 the Citizen of the West Dinner has benefited the National Western Scholarship Trust with student recipients in Colorado and Wyoming. 2025 was a grand affair in an arena filled with 1,000 supporters from many circles of Sharon’s life. Three proclamations were read and a touching video shared insight into the generosity of Sharon Magness Blake with tearful proud accolades from husband Ernie Blake plus Peyton Manning, Michelle Sie Whitten, Diana Kunz and more. Of course, Lee Greenwood sang. Even Garth Brooks sent a message: “This woman is amazing. Denver you are a lucky city!”

“It’s an honor to receive this - especially in light of it’s for things I love. I am a horse girl and my first Stock Show was 38 years ago. I loved everything about it. I believe the Western way is teamwork. I’m grateful for all of you. Thank you!”

– Sharon Magness Blake

Angela Lieurance with Woman of the Hour Sharon Magness Blake

Bill and Yvonne McCallum

George and Carol Solich

Dr. Ben and Jean Galloway

Of course, Epicurean catered a splendid short rib dinner – Sharon’s partner Larry DiPasquale is surrounded by staff Meredith Smith, Kayla Wigand and Stefanie Smith

Marilyn and Pete Coors Brandis Becky and Stephen Fisher

Diana and Tom Wiens

Seated: Charlie and Judy McNeil, Howard Janzen and Susan Stiff. Standing: Former U.S. Senator Cory Gardner, Dave and Kathleen Davia, Antonette Smith, Robin and Steve Wise

LEFT: Previous recipient Dr. Tony Frank 2018 (Stock Show board member and Chancellor/former CSU president), Sean McNicholas, Steven McCarthy

Barry and Arlene Hirschfeld

Families Come First… I have been double blessed in the past months with first surviving what is described as a “Triple AAA” heart attack that features a ruptured aorta and two adjacent aneurisms. Recapping this event the doctors call me an “anomaly,” which is like an “exception,” with only a 5 percent chance of surviving from his type of heart failure. They have now found that my heart is excellent, no leaky valves, it was just the exit plumbing that sends blood to my lower extremities that ruptured quickly. Thanks to the swift action of my wife Gerri, a quick response from a nearby fire station, a ten-minute ride to a nearby hospital, and some blood transfusions, that I am still able to be a working member of the great Villager newspaper team. If you haven’t met my daughter Susan Sweeney Lanam, you have missed a real treat. She is my youngest daughter and learned her advertising skills in Dallas working for a New York advertising firm. Susan is married to my wonderful son-in-law Mike; they have a son Brennan who is an aerospace engineering student at CU. Susan is a graduate of CSU in journalism where she had the late Garrett Ray as one of her professors. Garrett was publisher of The Littleton Independent passed onto him from Houston Waring and Ed Bemis. Garrett eventually sold the newspaper to entrepreneur Bob Titsh. Garrett went on in his journalism career to become a respected professor at CSU. He passed away several years

BY BOB SWEENEY PUBLISHER

ago after retiring back in Littleton with his wife Nina.

I’m blessed to have a wonderful wife, publisher Gerri, who is also my nurse, and three daughters, all who have spent their careers in the publishing business. The youngest of the family, Patrick, is a certified Microsoft/ Apple techie, keeping all our electronics operating, with the Villager online and our talented staff working from home but covering constant meetings and events. Our talented staff and writers all excel in their newspaper roles. We have a award-winning graphic designer in Tom McTighe who has been with us for over 15 years. Susan, Gerri and Tom are the warriors who plan the newspaper every week and well-qualified to replace me. I’m bouncing back, starting to drive again. I’m thankful to still be alive with some work still to be accomplished. I think the good Lord is on my side and we’ll continue the good fight to keep this newspaper alive and well. Susan is our inspiration and leader, and we are in awe of her talent. We do not plan on becoming a nonprofit, depending upon foundations for our existence. We do depend upon our loyal readership with many

friends and subscribers going back 43 years when we started this newspaper in Cherry Hills Village and expanding into Greenwood Village, working with DTC developer George Wallace. Whether you read The Villager online or the print edition we need your support as printing costs continue to increase.

If the

countless nonprofits in raising funds to help those in need. Thanks to all of you faithful subscribers and advertisers who join us in this effort to preserve a locally owned-and operated newspaper with a big heart for public service. A special tribute to Susan who inspires her mother and father with her vast skills in marketing, writing, and networking with associates. (Kudos to Mike for many cold dinners.)

tariffs with Canada go into effect newsprint is expected to rise by 25 percent. In recent times we have expanded the reach of The Villager across Arapahoe County and Northern Douglas County. My thanks go out to wonderful staff members who carry on with this mission to produce a lively, local newspaper about the people who make the news. We have assisted

Lastly, another family member has arrived on the scene with my granddaughter Michelle giving birth to a 5 lb 12 oz baby boy, “Jace” January 17. She and her husband Tom, are the proud parents of a sixth-generation great-grandson to our family heritage.

My grandfather, arriving in America in 1865, was the first American Sweeney to arrive as a 19-year-old Irish Catholic Democrat. His future five sons resulted in my father Henry, and then myself, as a third generation. My four children as fourth generation… my three grandchildren Sean, Michelle, and Brennan as fifth generation, and now little ”Jace” joins the family as a sixth generation. We all live in the area and work together. My family is my biggest blessing.

Free Citizens Have a Unalienable Right to Ownership

Consider: Every time we support an expansion of our government, with a new program or expansion of an existing one, we drive another tax burden onto every citizen. Someone has to pay for it. Using debt, through money printing or QE, only prolongs the cost, hides it from current view. And places a crushing debt burden on our grandchildren.

Since we pay for every single federal expenditure, should citizens not question its effectiveness and efficacy? And if we citizens deem government spending excessive, do we not have the right and obligation to end waste?

Search the dark corners of politicians thought process, look for the underlying assumptions made when forming their decisions. Consider the premise, the foundation of these thoughts, ideas and decisions. And if the premise is to default to a federal solution to every problem, question the outcome of that idea.

For instance, if our government can solve climate change and global pollution by destroying fossil fuel production, did all these

trillions spent to date prevent climate change? Is that a reasonable outcome on which to sped resources? After all, they are spending your money. Similar examples of failure abound in every industry: medicine, education and banking. Federal revenue (including debt repayment) comes from the citizen taxpayer. Government is not a profit center, everything it spends it must take from others in the form of taxes or debt. Massive government spending means the private economy and the individual are losing more of their earnings to an already bloated government. Federal spending is taking an ever-larger portion of GDP.

Tax rate reduction is mandatory as a means to limit the federal government. Tax reductions are moral because they allow the earner to keep more of that for which he has legally worked.

Socialism gradually confiscates one’s earning, through ever higher and progressive tax increases. Communism and Fascism are the end result of more government. They reach their terminus when

the majority of private earnings are confiscated by a central government. We don’t have to go down that path, but we must start now to prevent our own destruction.

So, before we criticize tax rate reductions we would do well to consider a system wherein the government takes the vast majority of personal earnings through taxes. The current tax rate takes well over 1/3 of our earnings (37%). Add on all the local, regional and state taxes and we pay over half of our income to governments and their bureaucracies. Think about when it reaches 75% or 100%. Comrade. Faulty economic theory, and a thorough lack of understanding human nature, is the Achille’s Heel of Socialism and Communism. They presume that only the State can provide, and that the individual is incapable. Yet every nation that has embraced it, failed. The common Leftist refrain is that they will do it better. Their insistence on central-control is the definition of insanity.

Socialism, Communism and Fascism ignore mankind’s God given right to freedom to choose and his right to ownership of that for which he has worked. Ignoring this inalienable right is why Social-

PUBLISHER &

PUBLISHER Robert Sweeney bsween1@aol.com

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

LEGALS Becky Osterwald legal@villagerpublishing.com

NEWS EDITOR Gerri Sweeney 303-773-8313 gerri@villagerpublishing.com

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

REPORTER Robert Sweeney bsween1@aol.com

FASHION & LIFESTYLE Scottie Iverson swan@denverswan.com

DESIGN/PRODUCTION MANAGER Tom McTighe production@villagerpublishing.com

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

Sharon Sweeney — 303-503-1388 cogambler@mac.com

Gerri Sweeney — 720-313-9751 gerri@villagerpublishing.com Scottie Iverson swan@denverswan.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS Gerri 303-773-8313

EDITORIAL COLUMNIST Robert Sweeney bsween1@aol.com

ism, Communism and central-control fail. And always will.

Communism’s opposite is Free Market Capitalism, which is nothing more than individual rights to free choice. The foundational premise of individual freedom is the right to ownership of property, which is the right to keep that which you earn. By inference, freedom means that we cannot and should not be taxed excessively by our government.

Our objective should always be to keep the majority of earnings in possession and under control of those who earned it, not some government bureaucrat. A guy named Jefferson mentioned individual freedom under inalienable (coming from G-d, not man) rights in an obscure document called the Declaration of Independence.

Jay Davidson is founder and CEO of a commercial bank. He is a student of the Austrian School of Economics and a dedicated capitalist. He believes there is a direct connection between individual right and responsibility, our Constitution, capitalism, and the intent of our Creator.

Jace’s Mom, Michelle

Proud GreatGrans Bob & Gerri

Jace

BY FREDA MIKLIN

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Colorado’s economy is still moving in the right direction

The Douglas County School District Legacy Campus in Parker was this year’s venue for the South Metro Denver Chamber 2025 Economic Forecast Breakfast, held on January 31.

Debbie Brown, president of the Colorado Business Roundtable (COBRT), was the moderator for the event. Henry Sobanet, Chief Financial Officer/Senior Vice Chancellor for Administration and Government Relations, Colorado State University, who served as the Director of the Office of State Planning and Budgeting under former Colorado Governors Bill Owens (R) and John Hickenlooper (D), presented the economic forecast.

Other speakers were Eyal Darmon, North America Public Service Data, AI and Generative AI Lead & Managing Director, Accenture, and Tim Wolfe, Director of Colorado Tourism Office, Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade.

Most important to the members and guests of the South Metro Denver Chamber was the economic forecast for Colorado, sponsored by CSU,called ColoradoCast.

Sobanet told the 300 people in the room that, “The Colorado economy is still growing, though with some headwinds— affordability, regulatory constraints on housing development, and water issues. It’s just not the same relative cost of doing business and relative attraction that we used to have. Those are where the policy points need to pivot to retain our old dynamism. The trend line is showing slower and slower growth.”

He continued, “Northern Colorado and Colorado Springs are growing faster than the front range, which is dominated by the slowdown in Denver. There’s some work to do, but there are still reasons to be optimistic. We have an amazingly trained workforce, an amazing lifestyle, amazing climate, a collaborative business community with government. All these things are still in our favor and we need to keep working them.”

To frame the national economic picture, Sobanet presented a quote from Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, an 87-yearold conservative think tank that “advocates in favor of private enterprise, limited government, and democratic capitalism.”

On the topic of our national economic policy, Strain said, in a January 25 article in the Wall

Street Journal, “I don’t see any kind of (policy) through line. I see policies that are in direct conflict.”

Next, Sobanet presented an inflation-adjusted graph that showed consistent GDP growth of the American economy since World War II. He told the audience, “We can ground ourselves in that the American economic experiment is an incredible machine. The vibrancy, the dynamism, the spirit of the country, is reflected in this graph.”

Another graph Sobanet displayed from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics demonstrated that employment numbers have mostly risen steadily, even though the labor force participation rate has dipped significantly below the employment rate in recent years. Sobanet noted that the largest contingent of workers were baby boomers (ages 61-79) and millennials (ages 29-44). He pointed out, “The big change in the labor force participation rate after the end of the1960s was women. That is also when you start to see the impact of the baby boomers.” He also pointed out that the drop-off in the labor force participation rate came in 20102011, following the recession, when the baby boomers turned 65 and began to retire. “But,” he added, “There were enough young people still in the system that total employment was still growing.”

Sobanet’s next graph was focused on income inequality.

A review of federal income tax records through 2020 demonstrated that, in 1970, in Colorado and across the United States, the top 10% of income earners accounted for 30% of total income. Fifty years later, in 2020, the top 10% of income earners in the U.S. accounted for 53% of all earned income. In Colorado, the top 10% accounted for 49% of all income earned, placing it first among all states in income inequality. He explained, “That has implications for tax policy…and demand for government services.”

Sobanet then turned to the intersection of inflation and housing costs, pointing out that, as recently as early 2022, 30year mortgages were 3%, then began climbing quickly, and are now 7%.

At the same time, he explained, “The year-to-year inflation rate is dropping, but the price level is still elevated…and that affects household budgets, government budgets, and corporate budgets.” He continued,

“The Federal Reserve is trying to get down to their two percent target on inflation, so they left rates unchanged this week, and now the thinking is that there might be only one more rate drop. That’s a tough prediction to make because the new President is overtly for lower rates. But if the rates go too low, the Fed (is worried) that people will borrow and speculate too much, which (could) drive inflation. Those two tensions are going to be present from here forward. We also don’t know if the recent increase will tip us into recession…It’s elusive, and like the Chairman (of the Fed) said, it

pretty modest, but we are seeing some pressure in lower-income households.”

Turning to the federal budget, Sobanet displayed a pie chart from the Congressional Budget Office for 2023 which showed that Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, combined, accounted for 73% of the total of annual mandatory federal spending of $3.758 trillion, putting the annual cost of those three items at $2.743 trillion.

The total annual federal budget for 2023 was $6.1 trillion, or $18,283 per American, as Sobanet likes to put it. “How do we pay for this?” he asked.

Inflation-adjusted graph from U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that U.S. Real Gross Domestic Product per capita has consistently expanded since WWII, except for a COVID-19 dip in 2020.

“When the inflation rate comes down, it’s called disinflation, but modern economies don’t know how to manage deflation…It would be nice for prices to drop and we’ve seen some drops in the price of energy and some foods. Housing has gone sideways, which is bringing the inflation rate down.” Then he got to the most important point on the subject: “Deflation is elusive and it’s actually not a policy goal of the federal government. Managing this permanently higher price level is part of the current equation.”

Moving on to the topic of interest rates, Sobanet shared,

needs to be coordinated with what the Congress and the administration are doing on fiscal policy.”

While those questions await answers, Sobanet pointed to positive results for the U.S. economy over the past year, noting, “GDP grew at 2 ½%, adjusted for inflation, for all of 2024, and the economy is still growing, though not as fast as people want it to, sustainably, without inflation.”

Other data points Sobanet noted were, “Incomes have been recovering since the COVID recession. Consumer debt, as a share of disposable income, is

“With income taxes at the top, payroll taxes for the Social Security program, then, with a much lower share, corporate taxes, and ‘all other,’ which includes tariffs. President Trump is going to levy 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico….A tariff is a levy on a product that you import. Who pays the tariff? We do. The price goes up here, so we might buy less from the other country (like Mexico or Canada).” Regardless of how the dynamic around tariffs unfolds vis-à-vis the U.S. and other countries, Sobanet demonstrated that tariffs cannot possibly close the federal budget gap.

Henry Sobanet

The Economic Forecast for Q4 2024, sponsored by CSU, shows that the Colorado economy is continuing to grow.

“There’s some work to do, but there are still reasons to be optimistic. We have an amazingly trained workforce, an amazing lifestyle, amazing climate, a collaborative business community with government. All these things are still in our favor and we need to keep working them.”

- Henry Sobanet, Chief Financial Officer/Senior Vice, Chancellor for Administration and Government Relations, Colorado State University See Freda Miklin’s story on the Breakfast on page 7

PRESENTING SPONSOR 2025

The 2025 Economic Forecast Breakast featured a full house of over 400 attendees, informative speakers and a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere.

As the Presenting Sponsor for the South Metro Denver Chamber Economic Forecast Breakfast, we congratulate Jeff Keener and his team for their excellent production of this networking event.

This informative platform of speakers gave attendees insights on everything from local economic issues to AI to Colorado tourism.

Team Pinnacle also had the opportunity to share with business owners and community leaders about the Direct Primary Care movement for health options.

2025 Distinguished Panel of Presenters

The Pinnacle Team

Steve Roper SMDC Director/Board of Directors - Villager Man of the Year Jeff Keener

Arapahoe County Commissioner Carrie Warren-Gully

Dr. Rex Corr and Katie Winsor

Daniel Liffengren and Peggy King of Vectra Bank

Don Sheehan announces run for Centennial Mayor focused on

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non-partisan,

responsive city government

Representing northeast Centennial since 2020, District 4 Councilman

Don Sheehan announces his candidacy for mayor for the November 2025 election. Citing a focus on non-partisan, responsive local government, Sheehan says Centennial voters want certainty and efficient government services.

“Centennial has done a good job keeping the partisan political agendas at bay to deliver great results for its taxpayers,” Sheehan said. “Anymore, the residents and neighbors I talk to are exhausted by the partisanship and just want the government to work and be responsive to the needs of citizens and their families. That’s why I’m running. To continue to roll up my sleeves to craft responsible policies and create real solutions for the people of Centennial, regardless of their political affiliation.”

Sheehan seeks to succeed Stephanie Piko, the city’s third Mayor, who is term-limited. Mayor Piko backs Sheehan’s campaign.

Sheehan served on Centennial’s Budget Committee for two years; he credits the city for maintaining an efficient and balanced budget over the years but fears revenues will slow.

“Centennial has been economically responsible and fiscally conservative from the beginning,” Sheehan explained. “But, rapidly increasing expenses and slowly rising revenues threaten our ability to provide the services our

citizens expect, including road repairs and snow removal. We must ensure we provide safe roads for parents to get their kids to schools today and reduce congestion to get our workers to their jobs on time.”

Having served on various regional committees and Centennial’s City Council for the past five years, Sheehan understands the city’s and its residents’ needs. One of his top issues is public safety and keeping Centennial families and neighborhoods safe.

“Centennial is known for being a safe city, with lower property and violent crime rates than many surrounding cities,” Sheehan said. “Citizens should always feel safe in their homes, at ease on city streets, and

confident in punishments for offenders and justice for victims. Public safety is a non-negotiable for me. Voters can trust that public safety will remain a top priority.”

Sheehan was a victim advocate with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office before being elected. Don is a dedicated board member at Nourish— Meals on Wheels. Don volunteers at Centennial Airport’s Exploration of Flight Museum, operating a flight simulator. He cherishes the great Colorado outdoors, engaging in activities such as hiking, kayaking and exploring the backcountry with his 4x4.

To learn more about Sheehan’s campaign for Centennial mayor, please visit www.donforcentennial.com

Local oil executive easily confirmed to be U.S. Secretary of Energy

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

Chris Wright founded onshore oilfield services company Liberty Energy in 2011 and served as its CEO and Chair of the Board until February 3, when he was confirmed by the United States Senate, in a 59 to 38 vote, to become the nation’s newest Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy. Wright was replaced as Liberty’s CEO by its president, Ron Gusek. Liberty, which has 5,500 employees, is rated in the top ten of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) companies, nationwide. According to stockanalysis.com, it had a market cap of $2.99 billion as of January 31, 2025.

Wright is a longtime supporter of the oil and gas industry and has also publicly supported the existence of climate change and the need for renewable energy.

In his testimony to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, prior to his confirmation by the full Senate, Wright said, “Energy is critical to human lives. Climate change is a global challenge that we need to solve,” continuing, “Tradeoffs between those two are the decisions politicians make and they’re the decisions that will impact the future of our world and our quality of life.” It was similar to what he said to the Colorado Business Roundtable (COBRT) in a panel discussion on October 23, 2024, reported in The Villager on November 28, 2024.

Wright described himself at the COBRT event in October as, “a tech nerd turned entrepreneur and dedicated humanitarian on a mission to better human lives,” whose “passion has inspired a career in energy, working not only in oil and

gas, but also nuclear, solar, and geothermal.”

The new Secretary of Energy was a member of the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City until June 2024. He is a founding member of the Better Human Lives Foundation and is known for his compassion for those less fortunate around the globe. Wright will resign from that entity, as well as the Colorado Business Roundtable, and seven other companies, in addition to Liberty Energy, in connection with his new role.

Wright will not divest from 13 other companies, including Koelbel Real Estate, Amgen, Inc, The Charles Schwab Corp. Capital One Financial Corp., Astra Zeneca PLC, and Eli Lilly & Co., but has vowed to recuse himself from any decisions that could impact them.

Divesting from Liberty Energy alone will reportedly result in Wright netting around $53 million. His is Liberty’s largest stockholder.

Colorado’s two United States Senators, Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, both Democrats, voted to confirm Chris Wright as Energy Secretary.

Chris Wright speaking to the Colorado Business Roundtable last October.

Officiating is difficult; which game’s hardest?

One of the bigger stories leading up to Sunday’s Super Bowl is NFL officiating and how it seems to benefit the Kansas City Chiefs.

The two pivotal calls in their threepoint victory over Buffalo—both wrong, in my opinion—are the most recent examples.

Rather than debate them, though, I have this question: Which sport is the most difficult to officiate?

Here’s a case for and against football, basketball, baseball and hockey. You decide.

Football: This game has the most officials (7) but also the most players on the field at one time (22). With so many formations and different plays, there’s a lot to look at on every snap.

Except when time is running out, officials have time between plays to get in position, assess the arrangement of players, and anticipate, at least to some extent, what the team with the ball is going to try to do.

With each official assigned to scrutinize specific areas of the field, there should be few outright surprises for the striped shirts.

Basketball: The player-to-whistle ratio is almost as small as football, with 10 players to three zebras at any moment (3.33:1).

And the rules are pretty straightforward: double-dribble, walking, hitting a player while he’s in the act of shooting, running over a defender, blocking an offensive player’s path, etc.

But the pace of play can, at times, be breakneck—adding to the difficulty by testing the outer limits of a referee’s ability to keep up with athletes who usually are younger by a decade or much more, in peak condition and often given to amazing athletic feats.

Baseball: There’s an umpire behind the plate and one at each base, except when two additional umps are added in the postseason to prowl the foul lines. (They’re usually so close to first and third base as to be virtually incapable of contributing in any meaningful way).

Besides balls and strikes, which almost exclusively is the purview of the ump behind the plate, the crew’s responsibilities largely consist of fair or foul, safe or out, and over the fence or not.

What increases the degree of difficulty is that they never know when they’ll be needed to decide these things, because they never know what will happen each time a pitch is thrown.

Hockey: Two referees and two linespersons officiate an NHL game, and what separates them from their coun-

terparts in other sports is that they must be able to skate as well as the 12 players they’re monitoring (when no one is in the penalty box).

I’d also argue that no other sport is as fast-paced or spontaneously physical.

All four sports have some type of instant reply to review outcomes that are unclear to the naked eye in a split second. Though, not even replay assures a correct decision.

Just under half of all plays challenged across these four sports are reversed.

What separates officiating one of these sports compared to another, in my view, is the extent to which human judgment can affect a particular call.

In football, for example, are defender and receiver simply hand-fighting as they race downfield with the ball in the air heading their way? Or is one interfering with the other? Most times, it depends on who is making the call.

And when is an offensive lineman holding as a defender tries to rush the quarterback or a ball carrier scans for a hole to dash through? (The widespread acknowledgment is that holding occurs on every play but isn’t usually called.)

On the basketball court, is it charging when an offensive player runs over a defender on the way down the lane? Or is the defender blocking? Is the glass half-empty or half-full?

Nearly every interaction between offense and defense involves some type of individual move that appears to infringe on a tenet of the sport.

But, like holding in the NFL, most of the time it’s “let ‘em play.”

Baseball’s biggest inconsistency is the home plate ump’s strike zone.

One night, low balls are strikes; another night, they’re balls. Same with high pitches, and inside or outside. The X factor is who’s behind the plate.

Icing and offsides are pretty obvious in hockey; otherwise, the rules, it seems, are mostly left to interpretation in the moment.

As you ponder a questionable call in Sunday’s game, keep this debate in mind.

Denny Dressman’s 17th book, a collaboration with Kansas City artist Anthony High titled Black Baseball’s Heyday – Capturing An Era in Art and Words, will be published in late spring. You can write to Denny at dennydressman@comcast.net.

Driving with Dementia and Knowing When to Stop

Dear Savvy Senior,

When should someone with dementia stop driving?

My 83-year-old father has some dementia issues but still drives himself around town pretty well.

Concerned

Daughter

Dear Concerned,

Most doctors agree that people with moderate to severe dementia should never get behind the wheel, but in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia, driving performance should be the determining factor of when to stop driving, not the disease itself.

longer safe for him to drive. Here are some additional tips that can help you.

Watch for Warning Signs

org/driver_search or Aded. net to locate one in your area.

Transition Tips

With that said, it’s also important to realize that as your dad’s driving skills deteriorate over time from the disease, he might not recognize he has a problem. So, it’s very important that you work closely with his doctor to monitor his driving and help him stop when it is no

Dear Readers,

What are the Funding Instructions for a Revocable Trust? (Part 2)

Titling Assets in Your Name as Trustee

Generally, you should title all of your currently owned and newly acquired assets in the name of your trust. The following is a preferred format for titling assets in the name of your trust:

John Smith and Mary Smith, Trustees of the John and Mary Smith Living Trust, dated: _____and any amendments thereto.

Instructions for Transferring Specific Assets

Cash Accounts

You should sign new signature and ownership cards to retitle any sizeable bank accounts or cash equivalents, including treasury bills, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit, to name yourself as Trustee of those accounts. You need not change any small joint or other checking accounts used primarily for household expenses.

Before you retitle your certificates of deposit, consult with a bank officer to make sure that the institution does not consider the change in account name to be an early

The best way to keep tabs on your dad’s driving abilities is to take frequent rides with him and watch out for warning signs. For example: Does he have trouble remembering routes to familiar places? Does he drive at inappropriate speeds, tailgate, drift between lanes or fail to observe traffic signs? Does he react slowly or make poor driving decisions? Also, has your dad had any fender benders or tickets lately, or have you noticed any dents or scrapes on his vehicle? All of these are red flags. If you need some assessment help, hire a driver rehabilitation specialist who’s trained to evaluate older drivers. See Myaota.aota.

withdrawal that incurs a penalty. Generally, this should not be a problem because your tax identification number for the account will remain the same. Instruct your financial institution by letter or in person to change the title to your trust. The tax identification number (your Social Security number) on the account for withholding and reporting purposes will remain the same. For joint trustee trusts, be sure to give each trustee signature power with respect to the account. Sign the new signature cards as Trustees. Retitling the account records should have no effect on the name you wish to have printed on your checks. There is no reason to have the name of your trust on your printed checks. Ask your bank to continue to print your individual name on the checks.

Through your assessments, if you believe it’s still safe for your dad to drive, you should start recommending some simple adjustments to ensure his safety, like driving only in daylight and on familiar routes, and avoiding busy roads and bad weather. Also, get him to sign a dementia “driving contract” that designates someone to tell him when it’s no longer safe to drive. Go to Alz.org/driving and click on the “Download” button to print one. You may also want to consider getting a GPS car tracking device (like Bouncie.com or MotoSafety. com) to help you monitor him. These devices will let you track where he’s driving and allow you to set up zones and speed limits that will send you alerts to your smartphone when he exits an area, or if he’s driving

If you hold publicly traded stocks and bonds that are already in brokerage or investment accounts, contact your broker or custodian and direct them to change the title of the accounts to the name of your trust. The procedure for doing so is that same as the procedure for retitling cash accounts, explained above. You may have to complete new account applications and present a copy of your Affidavit or Certification of Trust in order to change the title. Title to the accounts should be in the trust name. After changing title, your next account statement will confirm the retitling by listing you as Trustee of your trust.

What are the four key medical/estate plan

too fast or braking harshly.

Time to Quit

When your dad’s driving gets to the point that he can no longer drive safely, you’ll need to talk to him. It’s best to start having these conversations in the early stages of the disease, before he needs to quit driving so he can prepare himself.

You also need to have a plan for alternative transportation (including a list of family, friends and local transportation options) that will help him get around after he stops driving.

For tips on how to talk to your dad, the Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence offers a helpful guide called “At the Crossroads: Family Conversations About Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia and Driving” that you can download at TheHartford.com/Publications-on-Aging.

Refuses to Quit

If your dad refuses to quit, you have several op-

documents you need now?

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

1. Healthcare Power of Attorney;

2. General Financial Power of Attorney;

3. Advanced Directive for Medical/Surgical Treat-

tions. First, suggest a visit to his doctor who can give him a medical evaluation, and prescribe that he stops driving. Older people will often listen to their doctor before they will listen to their own family.

If he still refuses, contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to see if they can help. Some states will automatically revoke a license when a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, while many others require retaking a driving test.

If these fail, consider hiding his keys or you may need to take them away. You could also disable his vehicle by disconnecting the battery, park it in another location so he can’t see it or have access to it, or sell it.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

ment (“Living Will”); and 4. Will (or a Will with a Trust).

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

Because the public has a right to know

1st place - 2018, 2nd place - 2023

SPECIAL DISTRICTS

1st place - 2018

NOTICE OF CONTRACTOR’S SETTLEMENT ARAPAHOE COUNTY STATE OF COLORADO

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT on the 21st day of February, 2025, final settlement will be made by the Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority, for and on account of the contract of said Holcim – WCR, inc. for the furnishing and installation of AIP No. 3-08-0029-057-2023 and 3-08-0029060-2024, at Centennial Airport, and any person co partnership, association or corporation who has unpaid claim against said Holcim – WCR, Inc. for or on account of the furnishing of labor, materials, supply of laborers, rental machinery, tools, or equipment, team hire, sustenance, provision, provender or other supplies used or consumed by such Contractor or any of the subcontractors in or about the performance of said work, may at any time up to and including said time of such final settlement on February 21st, 2025, file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim with the Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority.

Failure on the part of a claimant to file such statement prior to such final settlement will relieve said Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority from all and any liability for such claimant’s claim.

Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority County of Arapahoe State of Colorado By

Chairman

Published in The Villager

First Publication: January 30, 2025

Last Publication: February 6, 2025

Legal # 11708

AIRPORT ROADSIDE SIGNAGE PROGRAM CENTENNIAL AIRPORT ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO

Sealed bids for the Airport Roadside Signage Program, at Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado, will be received by the Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority, 7565 South Peoria Street, Englewood, Colorado 80112, until 10:00 a.m., local time, on February 28, 2025, and then opened, read aloud and canvassed.

The work involved includes the following:

Schedule I: Airport Roadside Signage Program

Schedule II: Bid Alternate for Solar Lights

A complete set of Plans and Bidding Requirements and Contract Documents may be obtained on or after February 10, 2025 on Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System at https://www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado.

The project includes fabrication and installation of wayfinding signs along the Airport’s roadways. Major work items include sign fabrication, site preparation, foundation construction, and sign installation.

All bidders are advised to examine the site to become familiar with all site conditions. The project will be discussed and shown to interested bidders at 10:00 a.m., local time on February 18, 2025, at the Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority, 7565 South Peoria Street, Englewood, Colorado 80112.

Each bid must be accompanied by a Certified Check or Cashier’s Check in the amount of not less than five percent (5%) of the total bid, made payable to the Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority, or by Bid Bond in like amount executed by a Surety Company.

The Bidder must supply all information required by the Bidding Requirements and Contract Documents. The Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority reserves the right to waive any informality in or to reject any or all portions of the various bid items or reject any and all bids and make the award deemed in the best interest of the Airport Authority. No proposal may be withdrawn for a period of 30 days from the opening thereof.

Any questions must be submitted to Chris Dodge, JACOBS, via email to Christopher.Dodge@jacobs.com. Questions are due by 10:00 a.m., February 21, 2025. Questions received after this time will not be accepted.

Published in The Villager

Published: February 6, 2025

Legal # 11722

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR BENNETT FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly to the electors of the Bennett Fire Protection District of Adams and Arapahoe Counties, Colorado.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a regular election will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, three (3) directors will be elected to serve a four-year term, and one (1) director will be elected to serve a two-year term.

Self-Nomination and Acceptance forms are available from Kara Winters, the Designated Election Official for the District, at c/o Collins Cole Winn & Ulmer, PLLC, 165 S. Union Blvd, Suite 785, Lakewood, Colorado 80228, or email: kwinters@cogovlaw.com. Self-Nomination and Acceptance forms must be filed with the Designated Election Official for the District at the above email address not less than 67 days prior to the election (Friday February 28, 2025, at 4:00 pm).

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that applications for absentee ballots may be filed with the Designated Election Official of the District at the above address during normal business hours (8:00 am and 4:00 pm), until the close of business on the Tuesday immediately preceding the election (Tuesday, April 29, 2025). All absentee ballots must be returned to the Designated Election Official by 7:00 p.m. on election day.

BENNETT FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

By: /s/ Kara Winters, Designated Election Official

Published in The Villager

Published: February 6, 2025 Legal # 11723

CONVOCATORIA DE CANDIDATURAS PARA BENNETT FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

A QUIEN PUEDA INTERESAR y particularmente a los electores de Bennett Fire Protection District del condado de Adams and Arapahoe, Colorado.

POR LA PRESENTE SE INFORMA de que se hará una elección regular el martes 6 de mayo de 2025, entre las 7:00 a. m. y las 7:00 p. m. En ese momento, se elegirán tres (3) directores para servir un término de cuatro años y se elegirán uno (1) directores para servir un término de dos años. Los formularios de autocandidatura y aceptación están disponibles en Kara Winters, el funcionario electoral designado para el distrito, en c/o Collins Cole Winn & Ulmer, PLLC, 165 S. Union Blvd., Suite 785, Lakewood, Colorado 80228, o por correo electrónico: kwinters@cogovlaw com. Los formularios de autocandidatura y aceptación deben presentarse ante el Funcionario electoral designado para el Distrito en la dirección de correo electrónico mencionada arriba no menos de 67 días antes de la elección (viernes 28 de febrero de 2025 a las 4:00 p. m.).

SE INFORMA ADEMÁS de que las solicitudes de votos ausentes pueden presentarse ante el Funcionario electoral designado del Distrito en la dirección indicada arriba durante el horario de atención habitual (8:00 a. m. y 4:00 p. m.), hasta el cierre de la jornada laboral del martes inmediatamente anterior a la elección (martes, 29 de abril de 2025). Todos los votos ausentes deben devolverse al Funcionario electoral designado antes de las 7:00 p. m. del día de la elección.

BENNETT FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

Por: /s/ Kara Winters, Funcionario electoral designado

Published in The Villager

Published: February 6, 2025

Legal # 11724

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

CASTLEWOOD WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly, to the eligible electors of the CASTLEWOOD WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT (“District”) of Arapahoe County, Colorado.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the District will conduct a regular election on the 6th day of May 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, (2) two directors will be elected for a 4-year term expiring in May 2029 and (2) two directors will be elected for a 2-year term expiring in May 2027.

In order to be a candidate for one of the director positions, a qualified individual must submit a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form. Eligible electors of the District interested in serving on the Board of Directors may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form from the District’s Designated Election Official (DEO) after January 1st, 2025.

Sue Blair, DEO elections@crsofcolorado.com

Community Resource Services of Colorado 7995 East Prentice Avenue, Suite 103E Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Phone: 303-381-4960

Offices Hours: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m

The Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form must be returned to the Designated Election Official by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 28, 2025. The form can be emailed to elections@crsofcolorado.com. A Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form that is not sufficient may be amended once at any time before 3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 28, 2025. Earlier submittal is encouraged as the deadline will not permit correcting an insufficient form if received at 5:00 p.m.

Affidavit of Intent To Be A Write-In-Candidate forms must be submitted to the office of the Designated Election Official by the close of business on Monday, March 3, 2025.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an application for an absentee ballot may be filed with the Designated Election Official, at the contact information referenced above, no later than the close of business on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

CASTLEWOOD WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT

Sue Blair, Designated Election Official

Published in The Villager

Published: February 6, 2025

Legal # 11725

A CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

§1-13.5-501, 1-13.5-1102(3), 32-1-905(2), C.R.S.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the Cherry Hills North Metropolitan District of Arapahoe County, Colorado.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held on the 6th day of May 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, three directors will be elected to serve 4-year terms.

Eligible electors of the Cherry Hills North Metropolitan District interested in serving on the Board of Directors may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form from the District Designated Election Official (DEO): Darcy Beard, DEO 6050 Powell Road Parker, CO 80134 303-594-5488

d.beardcpa@outlook.com

The Office of the DEO is open on the following days: Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The deadline to submit a Self-Nomination and Acceptance is close of business 5 p.m. on February 28, 2025 (not less than 67 days before the election).

Affidavit of Intent To Be A Write-In-Candidate forms must be submitted to the office of the designated election official by the close of business on Monday, March 3, 2025 (the sixty-fourth day before the election).

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, an application for an absentee ballot shall be filed with the designated election official no later than the close of business on Tuesday preceding the election, April 29, 2025.

/s/ Darcy Beard

Designated Election

Published in The Villager

Published: February 6, 2025 Legal # 11726

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR COUNTRY HOMES METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly to the electors of the Country Homes Metropolitan District of Arapahoe County, Colorado.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a regular election will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, two (2) directors will be elected to serve a four-year term and one (1) director will be elected to serve a two-year term.

Self-Nomination and Acceptance forms are available from Crystal Schott, the Designated Election Official for the District, at c/o Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe, PC, 1660 Lincoln Street, Suite 3000, Denver, Colorado, or email: cschott@irelandstapleton.com. Self-Nomination and Acceptance forms must be filed with the Designated Election Official for the District at the above email address not less than 67 days prior to the election (Friday February 28, 2025 at 4:00 pm).

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that applications for absentee ballots may be filed with the Designated Election Official of the District at the above address during normal business hours (8:00 am and 5:00 pm), until the close of business on the Tuesday immediately preceding the election (Tuesday, April 29, 2025). All absentee ballots must be returned to the Designated Election Official by 7:00 p.m. on election day.

COUNTRY HOMES METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

By: /s/ Crystal Schott, Designated Election Official

Published in The Villager

Published: February 6, 2025 Legal # 11727

A CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

§1-13.5-501, 1-13.5-1102(3), 32-1-905(2), C.R.S.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the Devonshire Heights Water & Sanitation District of Arapahoe County, Colorado.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held on the 6th day of May 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, three directors will be elected to serve 4-year terms.

Eligible electors of the Devonshire Heights Water & Sanitation District interested in serving on the Board of Directors may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form from the District Designated Election Official (DEO): Darcy Beard, DEO 6050 Powell Road Parker, CO 80134 303-594-5488 d.beardcpa@outlook.com

The Office of the DEO is open on the following days: Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The deadline to submit a Self-Nomination and Acceptance is close of business 5 p.m. on February 28, 2025 (not less than 67 days before the election).

/s/ Darcy Beard Designated Election

Published in The Villager

Published: February 6, 2025 Legal # 11728

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

GOLDSMITH GULCH SANITATION DISTRICT

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly, to the eligible electors of the GOLDSMITH GULCH SANITATION DISTRICT (“District”) of Arapahoe County, Colorado.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the District will conduct a regular election on the 6th day of May 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, (3) three directors will be elected for a 4-year term expiring in May 2029 and (1) one director will be elected for a 2-year term expiring 2027. In order to be a candidate for one of the director positions, a qualified individual must submit a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form. Eligible electors of the District interested in serving on the Board of Directors may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form from the District’s Designated Election Official (DEO) after January 1st, 2025.

Sue Blair, DEO elections@crsofcolorado.com Community

Services of Colorado

Phone: 303-381-4960

Offices Hours: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m

Affidavit of Intent To Be A Write-In-Candidate forms must be submitted to the office of the Designated Election Official by the close of business on Monday, March 3, 2025.

GOLDSMITH GULCH SANITATION DISTRICT

Sue Blair, Designated Election Official

Published in The Villager

Published: February 6, 2025 Legal # 11729

INVITATION FOR BIDS

Sealed Bids for construction of the GMD – Orchard Station Park Project, addressed to Goldsmith Metropolitan District, 8351 E. Belleview Avenue, Denver, CO 80237 will be received at the office of Goldsmith Metropolitan District, (Owner), until 1:00 p.m., local time, on the 7th day of March 2025. Any Bids received after the specified time will not be considered.

Bids will then be privately opened and read.

Bids are invited for the following: Update to Orchard Station Park including all grading, landscaping, new irrigation and utilities, updated site furnishings, hardscapes and new lighting. A soundwall will also be constructed on the property along I-25. All earthwork, foundations, and wall structure will be included in the project scope. Coordination for future signage on the wall will be required.

Each Bid must be submitted on the prescribed Bid Form and accompanied by the other documents as prescribed in the Instructions to Bidders.

There will be a Mandatory pre-bid meeting and site visit held on February 21, 2025 at 10:00 am. Please bring your own personal protective equipment (COVID, hardhats, etc.) as it will not be provided (meet at 8351 E. Belleview Avenue, Denver, CO 80237).

The Successful Bidder will be required to furnish the bond(s) and insurance prescribed in the Bidding Documents.

For information concerning the proposed work and bid packages, contact Chris Scanlan Goldsmith Metropolitan District, telephone: (303) 4861367.

Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids, to waive any informality, technicality or irregularity in any bid, to disregard all non-conforming, nonresponsive, conditional or alternate bids, to negotiate contract terms with the successful bidder, to require statements or evidence of bidders’ qualifications, including financial statements, and to accept the proposal that is in the opinion of Owner in its best interest. Owner also reserves the right to extend the bidding period if it appears in its interest to do so.

Dated this 29th day of January 2025.

Goldsmith Metropolitan District

By: Ken Lykens, General Manager

Published in The Villager

Published: February 6, 2025

Legal # 11730 CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

§§ 1-13.5-303; 1-13.5-305; 1-13.5-501; 1-13.5-1002; 32-1-905(2), C.R.S.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly, to the electors of Greenwood Athletic Club Metropolitan District, of Arapahoe County, Colorado.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held on the 6th day of May 2025, between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. At that time three (3) directors will be elected to serve a 4-year term and zero (0) direc-

County Court

Arapahoe County, Colorado Court Address: 7325 S Potomac St #100 Centennial, CO 80112

In re to the Marriage of: Petitioner: CLAUDIA IVETTE PRADO and Respondent: JORGE LUIS PRADO IBARRA

ATTORNEY FOR PETITIONER: Kelsey A. Layman, #55158 NEW LEAF FAMILY, a division of ANDERSONDODSON, P.C. 14143 Denver West Parkway, Suite 100-50 Golden, Colorado 80401

Phone: 720-647-7158

Email: klayman@andersondodson. com

Case Number: 2025DR30018 Division: 35 Courtroom: SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION

TO: JORGE LUIS PRADO IBARRA

You are hereby summoned and required to file with the Clerk of the Court an answer or other response to the Petition filed in this case. You are required to file your answer or response on or before March 27, 2025, in the Arapahoe County Court, Centennial, Colorado.

Please take notice that an Initial Status Conference is scheduled to be held on February 7, 2025 at 11 a.m. in the above referenced Court to be conducted via Webex.

The nature of this action is a pro-

tors will be elected to serve a 2-year term, as such numbers may increase due to one or more vacancies arising after this Call for Nominations has been released and prior to the deadline to submit Self-Nomination and Acceptance Forms below.

Eligible electors of the Greenwood Athletic Club Metropolitan District interested in serving on the board of directors may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form from L. Noël Nail, the Designated Election Official of the Greenwood Athletic Club Metropolitan District, c/o Icenogle Seaver Pogue, P.C., 4725 S. Monaco Street, Suite 360, Denver, CO 80237, (303) 292-9100. The office of the Designated Election Official is open Monday through Friday (with the exception of holidays) from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

The deadline to submit Self-Nomination and Acceptance Forms to the Designated Election Official is not later than the normal close of business on the 67th day prior to the election, which date is Friday, February 28, 2025. If the Designated Election Official determines that a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form is not sufficient, the eligible elector who submitted the form may submit an amended Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form to the Designated Election Official before the normal close of business on the 67th day prior to the election, which date is Friday, February 28, 2025. Affidavit of Intent to Be a Write-In Candidate Forms must be submitted to the office of the Designated Election Official by the close of business on the 64th day before the election, which date is Monday, March 3, 2025.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that applications for absentee voters’ ballots are available in the office of the Designated Election Official, Icenogle Seaver Pogue, P.C., 4725 S. Monaco Street, Suite 360, Denver, CO 80237, (303) 292-9100. An application for an absentee voter’s ballot shall be filed with the Designated Election Official no later than the close of business on the Tuesday immediately preceding the election, which date is Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

GREENWOOD ATHLETIC CLUB METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

By: /s/ L. Noël Nail, Designated Election Official

Published in The Villager

Published: February 6, 2025

Legal # 11731

ceeding in rem.

The relief sought by the Petitioner is a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.

After 91 days from the date of service or publication, the Court may enter a Decree affecting your marital status, distribution of property and debts, issues involving children such as child support, allocation of parental responsibilities (decisionmaking and parenting time), maintenance (spousal support), attorney fees, and costs to the extent the Court has jurisdiction.

If you fail to file a Response in this case, any or all of the matters above, or any related matters which come before this Court, may be decided without further notice to you.

The court has issued a Case Management Order on January 7, 2025, that contains important information and pertinent deadlines. This full document is available to you through the court record.

Dated at Denver, Colorado, this 27th day of January 2025.

NEW LEAF FAMILY

By: /s/ Kelsey A. Layman Kelsey A. Layman CO Atty. Reg. No. 55158

ATTORNEY FOR PETITIONER

Published in The Villager First Publication: January 30, 2025 Last Publication: February 27, 2025 Legal # 11719

A CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

§1-13.5-501, 1-13.5-1102(3), 32-1-905(2), C.R.S.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the Hi-Lin Water and Sanitation District of Arapahoe County, Colorado.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held on the 6th day of May 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, three directors will be elected to serve 4-year terms.

Eligible electors of the Hi-Lin Water and Sanitation District interested in serving on the Board of Directors may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form from the District Designated Election Official (DEO): Darcy Beard, DEO 6050 Powell Road Parker, CO 80134 303-594-5488 d.beardcpa@outlook.com

The Office of the DEO is open on the following days: Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The deadline to submit a Self-Nomination and Acceptance is close of business 5 p.m. on February 28, 2025 (not less than 67 days before the election).

Published in The Villager Published: February 6, 2025 Legal # 11732

COURTS

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 AMAYA NICOLE-REBECCA FLORES, Child, and concerning:

LANIKA RUTH BROWN (DECEASED) AND JOHN DOE, Respondents.

Linda Arnold, Reg. No. 16764

Office of the Arapahoe County Attorney Attorney for the People Arapahoe County Department of Human Services 14980 East Alameda Drive Aurora, CO 80012 Tel: 303-636-1882 Fax: 303-6361889

NOTICE OF ADJUDICATORY

COURT TRIAL AND DEFAULT JUDGMENT REGARDING RESPONDENT JOHN DOE

Case No: 24JV168 Division: 23

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the above captioned matter has been set for an ADJUDICATORY COURT TRIAL AND DEFAULT JUDGMENT REGARDING

A CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

§1-13.5-501, 1-13.5-1102(3), 32-1-905(2), C.R.S.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the Skyline Fire Protection District of Arapahoe County, Colorado.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held on the 6th day of May 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, three directors will be elected to serve 4-year terms.

Eligible electors of the Skyline Fire Protection District interested in serving on the Board of Directors may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form from the District Designated Election Official (DEO): Darcy Beard, DEO 6050 Powell Road Parker, CO 80134

303-594-5488 d.beardcpa@outlook.com

The Office of the DEO is open on the following days: Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The deadline to submit a Self-Nomination and Acceptance is close of business 5 p.m. on February 28, 2025 (not less than 67 days before the election).

/s/ Darcy Beard Designated Election

Published in The Villager

Published: February 6, 2025 Legal # 11733 CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

§§ 1-13.5-501; 1-13.5-303, C.R.S.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the eligible electors of the Willow Trace Metropolitan District, Arapahoe County, Colorado (the “District”).

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held on May 6, 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, one (1) director will be elected to serve until May 2027 and two (2) directors will be elected to serve until May 2029. Eligible electors of the District interested in serving on the board of directors may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form from the Designated Election Official (“DEO”) at 2154 E. Commons Ave., Suite 2000, Centennial, CO 80122 or via telephone at 303-858-1800, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Self-Nomination and Acceptance Forms are also available online at https://whitebearankele.com/.

The deadline to submit a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form is the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on Friday, February 28, 2025. If the DEO determines a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form is not sufficient, the form may be amended prior to 5:00 p.m. on February 28, 2025. Earlier submittal is encouraged as the deadline will not permit curing of an insufficient form after this date and time. An Affidavit of Intent to be a Write-In Candidate must be submitted to the office of the DEO by the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on Monday, March 3, 2025.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that information on obtaining an absentee ballot may be obtained from the DEO, and applications for an absentee ballot must be filed with the DEO no later than the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on April 29, 2025.

WILLOW TRACE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

By: Designated Election Official

Published in The Villager Published: February 6, 2025 Legal # 11734

RESPONDENT JOHN DOE, on March 14, 2025, at 11:15 a.m. (MST) in Division 23 of the Arapahoe District Court. The Arapahoe County District Court is holding hearings via 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/D18-ARAP-Div23

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 and enter access code 2598 320 5548 (followed by #, #).

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 dependent and neglected in accordance with the Colorado Children’s Code.

Linda Arnold, Esq., 16764

Assistant County Attorney

Published in The Villager

Published: February 6, 2025 Legal # 11720

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 KARIZMA BORER, Child, and concerning, DEVIN BORER AND KRYSTALEE HERLYCK, Respondents.

Linda Arnold, Reg. No. 16764 Office of the Arapahoe County Attorney Attorney for the People Arapahoe County Department of Human Services 14980 East Alameda Drive Aurora, CO 80012

Tel: 303-636-1882 Fax: 303-6361889

Case No: 24JV30196 Division: 23

NOTICE OF ADJUDICATORY COURT TRIAL AND DEFAULT JUDGMENT REGARDING RESPONDENT KRYSTALEE HERLYCK

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the above captioned matter has been set for an ADJUDICATORY COURT TRIAL AND DEFAULT JUDGMENT REGARDING RESPONDENT KRYSTALEE

HERLYCK, on March 7, 2025, at 11:15 a.m. (MST) in Division 23 of the Arapahoe District Court. The

Arapahoe County District Court is holding hearings via 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/D18-ARAP-Div23 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 and enter access code 2598 320 5548 (followed by #, #).

Linda Arnold, Esq., 16764 Assistant County Attorney

Published in The Villager Published: February 6, 2025 Legal # 11721

DENVER FIRST FRIDAY REPUBLICAN BREAKFAST

FEB. 7, 8-9:30 a.m. Morning Story Restaurant. Speaker: Greg Lopez - former Mayor of Parker, Colo. Director of Small Business Administration, candidate for Governor, served in the U.S. House of Representatives, President. & CEO of Colo. Hispanic Republicans.

CHERRY CREEK REPUBLICAN WOMEN GENERAL MEETING/ LUNCHEON

TUESDAY, FEB. 11, 11:00 a.m. RSVP Deadline: Feb. 4. Double Tree by Hilton, DTC, 7801 E. Orchard Rd., Greenwood Village. Free Parking on West side, lower lever. Cost $36. Speaker: Mark Hillman, “Where are we - and where should we go from here?” Hillman served 2 terms in CO State Senate, State Treasurer and CO-GOP National Committeeman,

Ex Director of the CO Civil Justice League, Journalist. RSVP: 303-475-9148.

DENVER CLERK & RECORDER

ANNUAL MARRIAGE MARATHON

FEB. 14, Valentine’s Day. In the main atrium of the Webb Bldg.

AURORA HISTORY MUSEUM PRESENTS NEW COMMUNITY STORY EXHIBIT

NOW - FEB. 16, 2025. A rich tapestry of community stories brought to life at Community Gallery of the Aurora History Museum, 15051 E. Alameda Parkway. Created in collaboration with the city of Aurora, Poet Laureate, Ahj a Fox. The poetry on display was selected from over 100 entries by local artists, highlighting the Aurora Community. Aurora Museum.org

CITY OF CENTENNIAL BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMUNITIES

OPEN

Application deadline: MONDAY, FEB. 17, 5 p.m. New appointments for six of the 10 groups will be made at the end of March and selected applicants will begin serving their terms in April. Applications being accepted for the Audit Committee, Election Commission, Investment Commission, Open Space Advisory Board, Planning & Zoning Commission and Senior Commission based on vacancies. More Info: Visit centennialco.gov/boardsandcommissions

ARAPAHOE COUNTY COTTAGE FOOD SAFETY

TUE., FEB. 21, 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Learn how to operate a home-based cottage food business. Visit https://bit.ly/csucottagefoods

SOUTH METRO DENVER CHAMBER SMDC ANNUAL BUSINESS AWARDS

HELP WANTED

TECHNICAL LEAD MANAGER POSITIONS AVAILABLE AT THE CE SHOP LLC IN GREENWOOD VILLAGE, COLORADO

To apply, submit resume and cover letter to: Tiff Kuhns, HR Business Partner, 5670 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Suite 340, Greenwood Village, Colorado, 80111 or by email to hiring@careercertified. com. Job Duties: Lead, manage, train and supervise software engineers/developers. Innovate software development processes and end-user products with a focus on enhancing the customer experience and business growth opportunities. Collaborate with a team comprised of both technical and non-technical members in support of development projects, including PMs, QA, software architects, DevOps leadership, and other stakeholders to build best in class products. Develop, write and test high-quality code that supports new/existing applications. Partner with scrum master to evolve agile practices, participate in all Agile ceremonies. Turn the architecture into a reality considering best engineering practices. Minimum Education Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, computer engineering, or related field. Higher degree is acceptable. Minimum Experience Requirement: 3 years of software development experience using Salesforce. Certifications Required: Salesforce Advanced Administrator and Salesforce Platform Developer. May work from employer’s headquarters in Greenwood Village, Colorado or remotely anywhere in the United States.

WED., MARCH 12, 5-8:00 p.m. Curtis Ballroom, Comedy Works South. Presented by Vetra Bank. Nomination deadline: FEB. 7. Nominees must be a member of the Chamber from Jan.-Dec. 2024 and beyond. Nominations to: info@bestchamber.com

MIZEL ARTS & CULTURE CENTER’S DENVER CHILDREN’S THEATRE, “CHARLOTTE’S WEB.”

FEB. 20-MARCH 16. FEB. 23 Performance at 10 a.m. is a SCFD Free Day event and Accessibility Day for the public. Additional performances March 2, 9, and 16 at 10 a.m. at Theatre at the Mizel Arts & Culture Center located at the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center. Tickets available for public performances.

LOCAL ARTIST INVITED TO APPLY FOR 2025 ART ON LOAN PROGRAM

Sponsored by South Suburban Parks and Recreation. Apply by MARCH17. Selected sculptures will be displayed at Goodson Recreation Center or Hudson Gardens for a year, and artists will receive a $500 honorarium for the display. Call 720-245-2604 or Info: gpeterson@ssprd.org

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN

The Arapahoe County Mayors & Commissioners Youth Award recognizes teenagers who have overcome adversity & risen to challenges. Scholarships awarded to graduating seniors who wish to pursue post-secondary educational opportunities at vocational schools, two or fouryear colleges, or trade & certification programs. Teachers, counselors, and school administrators can nominate exceptional seniors through March 7 at arapahoecogov/youth awards.

MS. COLORADO SENIOR AMERICACALL FOR CONTESTANTS

Ms. Colorado Senior America Pageant is taking applications for the 31st pageant on APRIL 26, 2025 If you are a lady 60 years or better, this is your opportunity to get out and do something for you in 2025!!! Not just a “one and done” pageant, we are involved with year round activities and make a difference in our communities. This is the “Age of Elegance!” For more information - website: ColoSrAmerica.com, FB - Ms Colorado Senior America Pageant or call René Green, Pageant Administrator at 720- 384-6249.

WHAT’S NEW? - ST. ANDREW’S VILLAGE SENIOR LIVING EVENTS

Upscale dining, engaging events and activities, indoor pool, pet friendly. Call 720-684-5913 to schedule a tour and enjoy lunch on the Village. Located at 133801 E. Yale Ave., Aurora.

ARAPAHOE COUNTY WINE & CHALK ART FESTIVAL

MAY 3 & 4 - Arapahoe County Fairgrounds. Enjoy wine from local wineries, chalk art, live bands, activities, shopping and more. Early bird tickets $30 for Sat./ $20 for Sunday. arapahoecountyeventcenter. comSAVE THE DATE - MIZEL INSTITUTE 2025 HONOREES

THURSDAY, MAY 22 . Honoring Bonnie & David Mandarich. 2024 honoree was Peyton Manning.

DENVER LIONS CLUB MEETINGS

Meets 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 12 noon at the American Legion Hall, I-25 & Yale. Interested in joining? Call Bob, 720-313-9741.

ENGLEWOOD LIONS CLUB MEETINGS

Meets 1st & 3rd Thursdays at 7:00 p/m. At Mango Tree Coffee, 3498 S. Broadway,Englewood. Info: Gail 720-377-7682.

2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter 4x4 Is Rock Star

This is a larger truck that takes a leaping step-up to enter the captain heated and cooled captain seat. The I-Force Max 2.4L 4 cylinder turbocharged engine growls out the power of this truck. An eight-speed automatic transmission with dial drive mode selections makes this a real mountain vehicle with a front steel skid plate and frame mounted rock side rails. What a great truck for big game hunting on deep rural mountain trails. This is a man’s truck, and one can feel the immediate turbo power in the sport drive mode.

I’ve not test driven a Ford or Chevrolet pickup in recent months for a comparison, but

this Toyota pickup is very impressive. Final assembly is in Guanajuato, Mexico with a military appearance of “Oxide Bronze” metallic paint, and 18-inch bronze finished wheels.

If the recent Trump tariff

goes into play in 30 days, this truck’s present price $63,449 could increase by 25 percent. Only time will tell how these tariffs will impact the auto industry. The smaller engine provides improved fuel economy with an overall 23 mpg

that is quite good for a larger vehicle with high performance. This vehicle is a 4x4 double cab that can seat five people in comfort. The front seats are a “Softex” fabric, heated and cooled with lumbar support. The JBL sound system has 10 speakers and a subwoofer sound system along with a FLEX portable speaker. Safety is always highly valued by all Toyota vehicles and this truck has the 3.0 Safety Sense program, along with the pre-collision Star Safety system. One of the interesting features is the 360- degree vertical camera view of the

By H. Throttle

truck’s surroundings, very handy in parking lots when backing up. “Old Man” forged monotube shocks add to the strength and support for rough trails and towing capacity. The 4x4 cab adds to the versatility of this vehicle for added passengers seating. Overall, this is a rugged vehicle for challenging terrain and has all the bells and whistles to challenge the mountains. All the options are included in the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.

Widowhood: The loss couples rarely plan for and should

No one is ever emotionally ready for the death of a spouse. But these tips can help you prepare for the decisions and financial implications of widowhood.

More than 15 million Americans are currently widowed, according to the U.S. Census Bureau as of 2022. Widows and widowers may experience shock and grief. But those widely shared emotions can eventually give way to financial challenges, including adjusting to being the sole financial decisionmaker, dealing with a loss of income and navigating the paperwork.

Even as you learn to meet day-to-day needs and deal with issues like filing for life insurance and renaming joint accounts, more profound challenges may emerge. For newly single parents of young children, another worry is how to plan for their financial future alone. While older widows and widowers may find themselves dealing with other serious considerations. Those who have gone through a prolonged and expensive period of caregiving for their lost loved one, may worry about who will provide similar care for them.

While everyone experiences this profoundly difficult but, for most couples, inevitable life event differently, planning for the process can help alleviate the stress.

The importance of preparation

As difficult as it is to contemplate the loss of a spouse, taking steps to prepare can help the survivor better manage if the worst happens. The first thing to do is to take stock of your full financial picture, perhaps with the help of an advisor.

You will need an estate plan that includes a will, power of attorney, healthcare proxy, living will and possibly a trust. With minor children, be sure to name trusted guardians. And regularly confirm beneficiaries on your life insurance and retirement plans.

Share access to personal and joint plans with your spouse and designated

representatives, organize paperwork and store estate documents in a convenient place.

The tools to move forward

When the unthinkable happens, critical paperwork and decision-making kick in. To cope with this painful transition, follow these steps.

Start by gathering all the necessary paperwork, including multiple copies of the death certificate, which you will need to share with financial and insurance companies. Pull insurance documents, birth and marriage certificates, wills, trusts and tax returns. File for the support you are entitled to, including life insurance claims and Social Security survivor’s benefits.

You will need to untangle the finances you share. Remove your partner’s name from joint accounts. If you are covered by your partner’s healthcare plan, contact their employer or the insurance company. You should also ask about any survivor’s benefits you may be entitled to from your spouse’s employer, including deferred salary, bonuses or stock options.

Take stock of your assets, including retirement, investment and savings accounts. Working with an advisor can help you revisit your retirement plans and overall financial strategy. Finally, make sure you update your own estate plan.

Keeping an eye on the future

The financial burdens that come with the loss of a partner can be immense especially for women, who are more than two times as likely to lose a spouse. Three-quarters of widows and widowers are women, and in the first two years after losing a spouse, women experience a 22% drop in income on average, according to the Stanford Center on Longevity.

That is when help from a knowledgeable professional can be invaluable. For example, how you manage a life insurance death benefit could affect your children’s eligibility for future financial educational aid. Solo decision-making can be even more daunting when you have dependents at home. Research suggests that any financial decision that is not time-sensitive should be put off until you are feeling less emotionally vulnerable.

If the deceased spouse was the primary breadwinner, you may have to address issues around returning to full-time work and saving for retirement. As difficult as the day-to-day financial pressures may be, retirement needs to be a high priority so you can take care of yourself in the future. Especially when you become a widow or widower at a young age, your long-term financial health is an important goal. You can always borrow for your children’s education, but you cannot borrow for your retirement.

Finding the courage and financial confidence to go on alone Amid all the pain that losing a spouse brings, there is also healing. Widows and widowers can find courage and financial confidence that they never knew they had. In addition, these changes, although difficult, can help sustain you throughout your lifetime.

For more information, contact Merrill Financial Advisor

Andrew Neal in the Greenwood Village, CO, office at 303.689.8043 or andrew.neal@ml.com.

Asset allocation, diversification, and rebalancing do not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets. This material does not take into account a client’s particular investment objectives, financial situations, or needs and is not intended as a recommendation, offer, or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security or investment strategy. Merrill offers a broad range of brokerage, investment advisory (including financial planning) and other services. There are important differences between brokerage and investment advisory services, including the type of advice and assistance provided, the fees charged, and the rights and obligations of the parties. It is important to understand the differences, particularly when determining which service or services to select. For more information about these services and their differences, speak with your Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor. Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A., member FDIC, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”) Bank of America, N.A. makes available The H.S.A. for Life® Health Savings Account. Bank of America is a marketing name for the Retirement Services business of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). Banking activities may be performed by wholly owned banking affiliates of BofA Corp., including Bank of America N.A., member FDIC. Please consult your tax or legal advisor regarding specific use of Health Savings Accounts. Investments can lose money. Neither Bank of America nor any of its affiliates, provide legal, tax or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”) makes available certain investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, Member SIPC and a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp. Brokerage services are provided by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, Member SIPC, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. Banking products such as checking accounts and certificates of deposit are FDIC insured to the maximum allowed by law and are offered through Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Investment products offered through MLPF&S, and insurance and annuity products offered through MLLA.: Are Not