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Former Mayor Cathy Noon, a Wings of Hope friend, honored by Colorado General Assembly

Noon died of pancreatic cancer last year after hard-fought fiveand-a-half-year battle

BY PETER JONES

A member of the Wings of Hope family was honored in March when the Colorado General Assembly officially marked the loss of former Centennial Mayor Cathy Noon, who lost her brave fight with pancreatic cancer last December after years of public service and visionary leadership. “[Noon] was a driving force behind Centennial’s emergence and became an influential figure in the community,” the proclamation reads in part. “… The Colorado House of Representatives mourns the loss of a remarkable leader whose dedication and contributions left an indelible mark on the City of Centennial and its residents.”

Noon led the elected Centennial Home Rule Charter Commission that drafted the city’s guiding document and served two terms as Centennial’s second mayor before embarking on her greatest challenge—a five-and-a-half-year battle with one of the most difficult of cancers. Even in her final years, Noon was a dedicated community volunteer, serving on the Wings of Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Research board and helping select research grant recipients.

“It was appropriate for the State Legislature to acknowledge and memorialize Cathy’s many accomplishments on behalf of her community, city and the entire Denver area,” said Maureen Shul, Wings of Hope’s founder and executive director. “Her impact while serving as mayor is immeasurable, as was her commitment to furthering pancreatic cancer research at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, for which she was a tireless advocate.”

State Rep. Eliza Hamrick, a Centennial resident since the city’s founding in 2001, says she spearheaded the tribute because of her tremendous respect for Noon and all she had done for the city, including grassroots volunteer work during the nascent incorporation movement.

“I refer to Cathy Noon as the founding mother of Centennial,” Hamrick said. “… Cathy Noon’s major legacy is a strong Centennial, and I am so very proud to have known her.”

Sen. Chris Kolker, whose district also includes Centennial, was the proclamation’s co-sponsor.

“It was an honor to acknowledge all of the important work Cathy Noon has done to establish our great city and furthering it as a viable, thriving place to live,” he said.

The award-winning Noon was equally respected during her lifetime. In 2019, the Denver Regional Council of Governments presented her with the organization’s highest honor, the John V. Cristensen Award, recognizing the mayor’s outstanding leadership and commitment to regional collaboration.

Jim Noon, Cathy’s husband, who had stood strong by her through all of life’s challenges, attended the ceremony, along with

his daughter and granddaughters.

“I felt proud of Cathy for being honored by the State Legislature because of her regional work as mayor. She was known and loved by all,” he said.

After a moment of silence, the chimes on the Senate floor rang for a minute in Noon’s honor.

“It was a beautiful memorial for an amazing public servant,” Hamrick said.

For more information on Wings of Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Research, visit wingsofhopepcr.org.

The

8

From left, state Reps. David Ortiz, Chad Clifford, and Eliza Hamrick, Evie and Lina Williams (Noon’s granddaughters), Jim Noon (her husband), Whitney Williams (her daughter) and Sen. Chris Kolker.

Arapahoe County Budget

From left, former Centennial Mayor Cathy Noon; Dr. Marco Del Chiaro; Maureen Shul, executive director of Wings of Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Research; and Richard Schulick, M.D., director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center.

late Centennial Mayor Cathy Noon was honored March

by the Colorado General Assembly.

The Power of newspaper advertising

The power of advertising sometimes works in magical ways. It’s been said that advertising is somewhat like praying, not knowing if, and when, the prayers will be answered.

BY BOB SWEENEY

This positive tale is about the surprising impact and power of local newspaper print advertising: Dianne Bartlett is a civic leader in the metro area. She is an avid Villager reader, and we see Dianne often at community events. We attended the National Western stock show livestock auction as her guest last year. She successfully purchases a prize steer to support the college student fund.

The story begins with our creative marketing director, daughter Susan, signing an advertising agreement with a new client, Berkley Bank on Belleview, DTC. Dianne tells her story of what happened next: “Over a year ago I was reading The Villager and spotted a picture in an ad that rang a bell with me. The ad was placed by Berkley Bank with a picture of an old bank interior in Downs, Kansas (circa 1890s) with three women and three men. It showed the old teller cages and desks, etc. One of the women looked familiar in my memory. I went over to the bank and introduced myself and asked to see the president. A very nice young man, Brandon Berkley, came to speak with me. I told him about our farm in Kansas that was close to Downs. I explained that years ago, about that time frame, my husband, Max Bartlett’s mother Maud Coatney,

had worked in a bank in Downs. We did not know the bank’s name and that picture seemed familiar to me. I asked if he happened to have the names of the individuals in the picture? He said that he would check with his parents who owned the bank in Downs that is still operating in a new building). He phoned me a few days later and asked if I would stop by the bank as he had information on the picture with name’s attached underneath.

Lo, and behold, you guessed it, there was Max’s mother in all her glory, in that same bank. I was very excited because he had very few pictures of her and really didn’t have much information on her, but in her stuff given to Max was the same picture, but with no information as to which bank and the date.

impressed with Berkley Bank and promptly checked them out and opened two accounts.

In the last year I opened two more accounts after closing all of my accounts, happily, at the unnamed large bank. Funny, when I closed the accounts, they never asked why I was closing them and were quite unconcerned.

Anyway, long story short, I am most happy and still impressed with Berkley Bank.

had bought a table. He is interested in giving back to the community and we had discussed the charities I was investing in. This never would have happened with a large impersonal bank that cannot even remember your face, let alone your name. I just thought in case you had empty space in your paper, this was a story of interest. Also, he continues to advertised in

May 1920, State Bank of Downs. Berkley Bank is the Colorado tradename for the State Banks of Downs.

“Needless to say, we got to talking and he showed me around the bank. He was so kind, and all the staff were so friendly and pleasant. As fate would have it, I was using a bank that I had used for years that were impersonal and unfriendly. As banks are now, you have no personal contact and just to get someone on the phone was like pulling teeth. I was most

When I go in, I’m called by name and treated like an old friend. They know all my accounts and which ones I usually use. They are happy to answer any questions I have, or to just shoot the breeze for a few minutes. Just like oldtime banks used to be, just plain friendly and ready to help you in person!

As an aside, Brandon Berkley has invited me, and my guest, to the Cancer League Ball April 27 as he

The Villager,” said Dianne.

As a newspaper publisher, this is one of the best advertising testimonies I’ve ever encountered. It does pay to advertise and it’s important how you treat your customers. Do you know their names and faces?

In this case, advertising trumped prayer, at least for now. Berkley has continued to advertise in The Villager. Advertising does work! But of course, so do prayers.

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BY FREDA MIKLIN

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 7-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.

CSI fellow Peter LiFari addresses the need for housing

On April 16, at the quarterly meeting of Common Senses Institute (CSI) on economic concerns, at AMG National Trust Bank in Greenwood Village, Peter LiFari addressed housing-related challenges facing Colorado. LiFari is CEO at Maiker Housing Partners and serves as CSI’s housing fellow.

LiFari believes, “We treat housing as broken. We treat housing as though it’s going to drive deleterious outcomes. Visionary zoning is only as successful as the number of building permits that are issued per year…We have to ask ourselves, ‘How are we going to plan our great communities? And they have to have greater density.’”

He began his presentation with, “We operate an extremely inefficient housing regulatory system that is highly fragmented, disaggregated, and ad hoc from one local government to the next. We are bitterly divided as to (whether) housing should be a matter of statewide concern, and if so, should the general assembly intervene to create consistency across the state?”

He posed the question, “If not, can local government address this at the best and highest level?”

Pointing to this year’s bill, HB241313 Housing in Transit Oriented Communities, that has passed the state House and is scheduled to be heard on April 23 by the state Senate Local Government & Housing Committee, LiFari said, “The general assembly, as they did last year, is looking to essentially strong-arm local governments into greater consistency, and there is extreme pushback on that.”

positive impact it can have on Coloradans’ ability to buy starter homes is important because “a safe and stable home provides a way to build equity to withstand the normal volatility of the economy.” Currently, far too few starter homes like condos are being

market. It is literally the most antiquated form of product that we deliver in our market here today.”

Two actions he named that government could take to increase available middle housing (condos, townhomes) were the expansion of housing tax credits and elimination of some parking requirements adopted by local governments.

are adamant that they are doing everything within their power. Many of them are doing a number of the things that are being contemplated at the general assembly. The problem is that the deployment of these strategies is (inconsistent). Some local governments (allow) 40 units per acre around transit stations but they are very narrow in their application.”

He talked about a report just completed that looked at housing in Colorado Springs, where they found, “It’s shocking. It’s all apartments of 50 units or more, or single-family homes. There are no duplexes, no quads, no six-units…all the breadand-butter of affordable offerings.”

LiFari believes this lack of middle housing will cause people to, “vote with their feet,” resulting in “job creation and economic prosperity suffering.”

What’s next? According to LiFari, “The regional collaboration with DRCOG (Denver Regional Council of Governments) has to correlate into consortiums that (result in) shared land use codes, at a meaningful scale, because if one local government decides to legalize ADUs (accessory dwelling units on lots that already contains one housing unit) but it takes them 15 years to deploy it at greater than 25% of their land mass, that’s just not going to meet the needs of our growing state.”

built that meet Coloradan’s needs. Instead, he said, “We are building homes that Coloradans do not desire, (apartments in buildings) that are like hotels or single-family detached homes, if you can find one, that are not affordable.”

He noted that HB24-1007 Prohibit Residential Occupancy Limits, signed into law by Governor Polis on April 15, “was just the fourth bill passed in the state’s history that identified housing as a matter of statewide concern.” HB24-1007 will prohibit local governments from imposing residential occupancy limits except for health and safety reasons.

Like many others around the state for whom increasing the availability of for-sale housing other than single family detached homes is a priority, Li Fari pointed to SB24-106 Right to Remedy Construction Defects, which passed the Senate on April 11 but has not yet been scheduled to be heard in the House, as the most important housing bill of the 2024 session. According to LiFari, the potential

LiFari summed up, “The legislature is looking to address the problem but we are seeing extreme pushback from Colorado voters. HB24-1313 just squeezed through the House and faces an uncertain future in the Senate, because we don’t do a good enough job explaining to Coloradans what it takes to build homes. We are eliminating the number of elements within the housing continuum that the rest of the world delivers—townhomes, condos, cottage quarters-- the most affordable and the most rentable types of homes. We’ve made those the hardest to deliver. The challenge is, if you are an advocate for local control, we need to create greater consistency… to reduce the amount of inherent volatility developers experience bringing housing product to

During the question-and-answer portion of the program, The Villager pointed out that the issues local government leaders had with SB23-213 Land Use, last year’s housing proposal from the governor, seemed very similar to the ones they have with this year’s HB24-1313 Housing in Transit Oriented Communities. We asked him how the state planned to assuage those concerns.

LiFari agreed that there remains, “a vehement disagreement about how to best address land use,” explaining, “There is a deep connection to many lawmakers at the Capitol to the importance and power and precedent of local control… There is a deep concern that identifying housing as a matter of statewide concern will have negative impacts…We need to stop treating housing as a negative externality.”

He continued, “We tax housing. We demonize developers. We treat them as individuals to be viewed with extreme caution and concern, although they provide our most fundamental need. Local governments

Kelly Brough, who was president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce for 13 years until 2021, ran for Denver mayor in 2023, and is now urban development fellow at CSI, agreed, adding, “We really saw this in the study we were doing around transit…I think we treat these issues as though we’re in a fight. The truth is, we share a goal. Show me the person who says, I think housing is fine in Colorado…If the state could say, ‘Local government, we share a goal…”

She continued, “There are very few local governments who aren’t committed to the kind of density we need at these transit stops…We should be building condos at these transit sites. People want to live there. They want to have home ownership. They want to build equity. They want to build wealth. We’re not giving them a chance.”

Brough said we need to fix the construction defects law so that, “the private sector can build what we should be building throughout our region…to get us back on the same side (with local governments). We share the goal. Let’s get there together.”

Peter LiFari

Kelly Brough

This graph of Federal Reserve Economic Data shows how the inadequate supply of housing has driven up home prices between 2000 and 2023.

Great economic news from Common Sense Institute

At the April 16 meeting of the Common Sense Institute (CSI) at the AMG National Trust Bank in Greenwood Village, speakers talked about the impact of state policies on key metrics in the economy.

Dr. Steven Byers, CSI’s chief economist, shared that, “We’ve become more competitive, relative to the rest of the country…There are only three states doing better.”

Dr. Steven Byers

He attributed Colorado’s economic strength to, “the influx of people coming

into the state over the last 20 years, high tech businesses, including aerospace and biotech,” that bring “a lot of well-paying jobs that spurn additional economic activity.” He also pointed to “a lot of females coming back into the work force in the last five years in direct response to the cost of living.”

Looking at the metric of competitiveness, Byers said our state is 14th out of all 50 states in the U.S. in competitiveness. One major reason he named is that our net in-migration to Colorado includes “a lot of people who

have a lot of money.”

Dr. Byers presented graphics that included performance trends that showed, in the 12 years from 2011 to 2023:

• Colorado Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita increased 79%, driven by business creation, high tech and aerospace, and increased productivity.

• Median household income increased 53.4%, driven by higher wages and increased labor force participation, especially from females returning to the workforce.

• Labor force participation for those 18-64 years of age rose from 79.1% to 82.7%, driven by business ex-

90% of GV voters say yes to de-annexation of unimproved land across I-225

When all the votes received from GV residents in the April 16 citywide special election were verified and tallied at 9:00 p.m. on election day, 90.14% had said yes to disconnecting a 5.78-acre piece of property across the I-225 freeway from the rest of GV. The property was zoned commercial but it had never been developed.

Last year, when the owner presented a plan to rezone it to build condos at the location, which is primarily a residential area, the city council made it clear that it would not approve that request or any other to develop the property because it could not provide emergency services there that meet its standards. In an emergency, GV police can get to most locations in the city in four minutes. It took eight minutes for police to get to this property.

Nova Plaza, LLC, the property owner, decided they would be better off if they weren’t in GV and, in a unanimous vote,

the city council agreed.

The GV City Charter says, at Section 1.09, “No tract or parcel of land within the boundary of the City shall be disconnected by any owner or owners from the City except upon majority vote of the electors of the City voting at a special election.”

The City Charter also requires the property owner to pay the cost of the election, which it did, in the amount of $20,000.

Ballots were sent to GV’s 11,145 registered voters in late March. After deducting the ones that were returned as undeliverable, the 3,204 votes returned reflected voter turnout of 30%.

Of the total 3,204 votes cast, 33% came from GV District One, 19% came from GV District Two, 26% came from GV District Three, and 22% came from GV District Four.

When the count was finally completed at 9:00 p.m. on April 16, Sean Walsh, po-

GV election judges volunteered to find out how the sausage is made

When Greenwood Village put the word out that it needed election judges for the April 16 special election, City Clerk Susan Ortiz got ten volunteers. Those people worked regularly for several hours a day once the 3,204 completed ballots placed in drop-boxes at three different locations around the city started arriving.

On election day, the volunteer judges worked shifts of up to 12 hours to get the job done. The Villager observed the process as it unfolded in the final hours of counting between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on April 16 and had the opportunity to visit with some of the judges while they were waiting around to do their part in the multi-step process.

Every member of the election judge team who came over to speak to The Villager as we were observing their process told us that they had volunteered for the job to see how it was done. Several, including Charlie Hazlehurst, who was on the GV City Council from 1989 to 1999, said they had heard for years that there were questions about election integrity and, after seeing how votes were processed and counted, they now had complete confidence in the security of mail-in voting.

One told us, “I wanted to see how the

sausage is made. After this experience, I have no doubts at all about election security.”

Every ballot envelope received is checked in by city clerk’s office staff, who make a mark next to the name of the voter on the city’s official voter rolls. The sealed ballot envelopes are then counted and formally transferred to teams of election judges, who verify that count.

Next, the volunteer election judges compare every signature on every ballot envelope to signatures on file with the Secretary of State. If any team of judges has any doubts about a signature, they bring over a second team to look at it. If the signature cannot be verified as authentic, the ballot in its sealed envelope is put aside and not counted until it can be verified or “cured” by further communication with the voter or consultation with the County Clerk’s Office.

litical consultant, and manager of the YES Campaign, told The Villager, “We are of course very gratified by the outcome of the election. With the YES vote above 90%, the community has spoken loud and clear: this small parcel belongs in an adjoining jurisdiction that can better address the many challenges of serving that neighborhood.”

He continued, “Were we surprised at the high turnout? Not really. Because the campaign centered on a corner of town not many voters knew was inside the city boundary, we had a lot of education to do. We tried to reach voters on a variety of platforms – social media, newspaper ads, direct mail and of course, word of mouth. We were fortunate to have some high-profile local leaders help us communicate the benefits of disconnection.”

We asked Walsh what Nova Plaza, LLC plans to do with the property now that it will be in unincorporated Arapahoe County. He said, “There currently are no

After signatures have been verified, ballot envelopes are counted and transferred to another team of election judges who open the envelopes and separate each ballot from its envelope. When that step is completed, the ballots are counted again to make sure they have the same number as was transferred from city clerk’s office staff.

The envelopes are then put aside and stored. Ballots are transferred to another team of judges who place the actual ballots into the counting machines. Once polls are closed on election day and every ballot received and verified has been processed in the counting machines, election judges push the button to print out final tallies.

The judges then sign those tallies and they are given to the city clerk who publishes preliminary election results, which are finalized after overseas residents’ ballots have been returned and ballots with questioned signatures have been resolved.

Overseeing the handling of the ballots

pansion, better paying jobs, and the increased cost of living motivating a return to the work force.

• Net business creation increased 18.23%, driven by net in-migration, entrepreneurship, and the pandemic.

• The percentage of all people in Colorado who were in poverty decreased 13.4% to 9.5%, driven by increased household income, increased GDP, and net migration.

• Inequality in Colorado decreased slightly to 0.4%, driven by net in-migration, improved wages at the low end (per the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics), and increased labor force participation.

development plans for the site. The next step is to annex into another municipality, a process that won’t be concluded for many months. David (Chaknova, manager of Nova Plaza, LLC) and his team soon will decide if annexing into Denver or Aurora is the better course. As a neighborly courtesy, we will of course let senior staff at Greenwood Village know which direction we take.”

and counting of the votes in this special election was Greenwood Village City Clerk Susan Ortiz, who has held her position in GV for 22 of the 30 years she has worked in city government. Susan spent her first eight years working for the Cities of Golden and Central City.

Before this special election, Susan oversaw previous city-only elections in Greenwood Village in 2001, 2003, 2006, and 2017. In regular elections, ballots are processed by the Arapahoe County Clerk, but in a special election, all the ballots are received and processed at GV City Hall under the supervision of the Office of the City Clerk.

BELOW: GV City Clerk Susan Ortiz assists election judges as they input ballots into counting machines and then hit the total button to get final tallies after every ballot has been carefully processed at 9:00 p.m. on election night.

Sean Walsh, manager of the YES Campaign, after the votes were tallied.

Photo by Freda Miklin

Photo by Freda Miklin

OWhy Does Opera Matter?

A Conversation with Dino G. Maniatis, Chair of the 2024 Opera Colorado Gala

pera has been a part of Denver’s cultural identity for over 150 years. From the first opera house built in 1881 to today, it has helped transform Denver from a bustling mining town into an urbane, cultural metropolis with one of the largest performing arts complexes in the world. It is a testament to how arts can elevate a community and a city.

This year, Opera Colorado celebrates its 41st year and we have the honor of speaking with Dino G. Maniatis, Chair of the 2024 Opera Colorado Gala about the importance of opera in building a strong, vibrant community, the remarkable work that Opera Colorado does on and beyond the stage, and the upcoming gala that is not to be missed!

Tell us a little about the history of opera in Colorado and how it evolved into what it is today.

Since its formal introduction in the early 1880s, opera in Colorado has thrived and it has resonated deeply with the community across many generations. From the grand productions at the historic Tabor Grand Opera House to today’s Ellie Caulkins Opera House just a few blocks away, opera has thrilled and entertained patrons and evolved to reflect our community’s values and collective identity.

Opera in Denver began informally in the 1870s when residents enjoyed live opera productions through short-lived local companies and national traveling troupes. Silver magnate Horace Tabor opened the Tabor Grand Opera House in 1881 which was, at the time, one of the most anticipated events in Denver to date. The Denver Post Opera performed free outdoor concerts at Cheesman Park from 1934 to 1972. Many Coloradans were first introduced to opera during these summer festivals.

In the 1970s, Julliard-trained musician Nicholas Laurienti led the formation of the Denver Opera Company which performed at the Municipal Auditorium and at the Paramount Theater. The company disbanded in 1979 and former members and fellow opera lovers met the following year at the Grant Humphreys Mansion to establish the Friends of Opera. Co-founders included Dick Dillon, a University of Colorado at Denver English professor, and philanthropist Ellie Caulkins. Ellie, a student of Dillon’s, took his class on “Opera as Literature.” She remembers the impact this had on her: “His passion for opera came through in his teaching, and his mentoring of this neophyte opera-lover guided me over all these years.”

Opera Colorado appointed Greg Carpenter as its General & Artistic director. In 2015, Ari Pelto was named the company’s first music director. The company has since thrived under their leadership.

The Friends of Opera attracted the attention of husband-and-wife team and Metropolitan Opera veterans Nathaniel Merrill and Louise Sherman. This partnership resulted in the formation of Opera Colorado which opened its first season on April 4, 1983, with Giuseppe Verdi’s Otello starring internationally acclaimed tenor James McCracken and Puccini’s La bohème, which featured world-renowned tenor Plácido Domingo. A third mainstage opera was added to celebrate Opera Colorado’s tenth season in the newly opened Temple Buell Theatre in 1992.

Stephen Seifert succeeded Merrill in 1998 and two years later Seifert appointed seasoned opera veteran James Robinson as artistic director. Peter Russell replaced Seifert three years later and under the leadership of Robinson and Russell, Opera Colorado won a 2002 bond issue to restore and renovate the old 1908 Auditorium Theater into the 2,225-seat Ellie Caulkins Opera House. In 2007,

Please tell me about Opera Colorado.

Opera Colorado has served as a cornerstone of Denver’s cultural community since 1983. In addition to its mainstage performances at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House each season, the company affirms its commitment to the future of the art form by annually presenting new works; with its nationally recognized Artist in Residence Program that trains the next generation of opera performers; and by reaching more than 45,000 students and adults each year through its Education & Community Engagement Programs that include the greater Rocky Mountain region. Please visit operacolorado.org for more details.

In what ways do you see opera influencing our local community?

found a piece of themselves or their struggles portrayed in the performance.

Why does Opera Colorado matter to you?

Opera Colorado holds a special place in my heart because it is not merely a cultural institution, but a vibrant pillar of our community. It brings the grandeur of opera to the everyday lives of Coloradans, producing three world-class opera productions each season. More than just performances, these productions are gateways to cultural enrichment and emotional exploration for audiences of all ages.

Opera is an incredibly potent tool for community enrichment. It is the most intricate and complex genre of the performing arts, representing a combination of music, theater, and technical prowess. It offers community members a variety of opportunities to engage and appreciate the genre, whether by attending performances, participating in productions, or through volunteering. This involvement can help individuals feel part of something larger than themselves, fostering a sense of community and collective achievement.

Have

you seen opera change someone’s life?

I’ve observed numerous instances where opera has profoundly impacted individuals. Opera challenges us to view both our lives and history through a different lens and explore and better understand the rich tapestry of human emotions such as love, hope, despair, jealousy, and more. For many, attending an opera is not just an evening out; it is a spiritually and emotionally energizing journey. I recall moments where audience members came out of a performance moved, sometimes to tears and other times elated, having

The significance of Opera Colorado extends beyond the stage—it reaches directly into the heart of education. Imagine over 45,000 children and adults experiencing live opera each year, many for the first time. This initiative not only cultivates an appreciation for the arts but also nurtures critical thinking and emotional intelligence. Furthermore, we’re committed to strengthening our ties within the Denver and broader Colorado community, one that fosters an environment where art and culture provoke dialogue and build bridges.

What are some memorable opera experiences for you?

One of my earliest and most vivid memories of attending an opera was watching Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffmann. The synthesis of orchestration, theater, and technical production was unlike anything I had experienced before in a symphony or ballet. It was an eye-opening revelation about the power of combined art forms to create something truly extraordinary.

My first time on an opera stage - playing a tiny role in Puccini’s Tosca - was unforgettable. As a supernumerary, a Catholic bishop in the Te Deum scene in

Act One, I was part of one of opera’s most dramatic events. Walking through a procession amidst a powerful ensemble of dozens of voices and orchestra was exhilarating. That moment, with the thunderous blend of music and vocal power, will stay with me forever.

What would you say to someone who is new to opera, and how should they prepare for their first experience?

I would say, take some time to read about the opera you are planning to see. We publish resource guides for all of the operas that we produce on our website. Understanding the story and its context makes the actual performance more accessible and enriching. Remember, the stories told in opera are often very simple; they reflect universal experiences and emotions, connecting us all through shared human conditions.

You and Kristin are chairing the Opera Colorado Gala this year. What inspired you to take on this role?

We took on the role of gala chairs for several reasons. It presented a tremendous challenge – to conceptualize and execute an event that involved not just the technical and logistic aspects but the creative variables which are often the most difficult. I had a

blank canvas to work with so I put my imagination to work. I wanted to emphasize the importance of human effort and ingenuity throughout history because this is what happens every day at Opera Colorado. We have a talented team of opera lovers who create magic every week and every season, on the opera stage and in communities throughout the state. We both felt that we could contribute to this effort in a meaningful way.

You chose La Belle Époque as the theme for this year’s gala. Can you tell us more about the era and why you decided to use it?

I chose La Belle Époque for this year’s gala theme because it was one of the most significant inflection points in human history. Unlike the major monolithic milestones such as the evolution of agriculture, industry, or technology, this was an era of substantive and transformative developments that happened concurrently in many fields including architecture, music, haute couture, technology, industry, medicine, and entertainment. Many of the world’s great masterpieces were created during this time. From Marie Curie’s groundbreaking discoveries to the Lumière brothers’ work in film, and Gustave Eiffel’s iconic tower, it is astonishing to see the level of progress achieved within a half century in just one country. There was so much

that came out of this era; the people, the places, the movements that it is too much to list here. Parallels can be drawn between the Belle Époque era and modern civilization with substantive advances in many fields today such as space technology, artificial intelligence, medicine, and other disciplines.

The gala presents a unique opportunity to tell this story in a way that sparks a dialogue and inspires a deeper interest in history. This era is the perfect metaphor for what we aim to achieve with the gala: a fusion of history, art, and music that not only entertains but also educates our community. My goal is to create an event that not only pays homage to this extraordinary period but also supports Opera Colorado’s ongoing mission of bringing world-class opera to our community. This in turn fosters a deeper appreciation for the arts.

What should we expect from this year’s gala? and what can patrons expect from this event?

It will be an exquisite evening that kicks off with a champagne greeting, a social reception with canapés and themed libations, a wine-paired multi-course

dinner, a live auction of signature experiences, and an afterparty that you will not want to miss. Guests will enjoy a Belle Époque era music performance at dinner by special guest, soprano Sharleen Joynt – familiar to Denver audiences from her role as Gilda in the 2022 Opera Colorado production of Rigoletto – joined by the 2023-24 Opera Colorado Artists in Residence.

I invite you to join us for an evening where we remember, celebrate, and relive a remarkable period in history. Elements of La Belle Époque will be placed throughout the opera house including period floral décor, and immersive theater performers. I am converting the lower level of the opera house into a turn of the century Paris nightclub for the afterparty – The Moulin Rouge. Feel good about supporting an organization that gives so much back to our community. It’s an event that promises to be as enriching as it is entertaining. The gala plays a critical role in our fundraising efforts and contributes significantly to our annual goals, enabling us to continue our work on stage and in the community.

How can I purchase tickets or a table?

Table Sponsorships, “duet” packages for two, and individual tickets are available. For more information or assistance with reservations, please contact Sara Buhr at 303.468.2027 or sbuhr@operacolorado. org, or visit www.operacolorado.org/gala to purchase

online. A portion of all reservations is tax-deductible. All proceeds from the Gala support Opera Colorado’s artistic initiatives and extensive Education & Community Engagement Programs.

How can our community get involved and support Opera Colorado’s mission?

There are many ways to support Opera Colorado by attending the gala or our upcoming performances and through volunteering. Opera is very costly to produce so we always welcome donations at many different levels with associated benefits. Please contact Erin Wenzel for more details at 303-468-2040.

Before we conclude, is there anything else you’d like to share with our community about Opera Colorado’s work and the upcoming gala?

I would like to personally invite you to attend the opera gala this year. Thank you for the opportunity to share the work we do with the readers of the Villager Newspaper. Thank you to my wife and co-chair Kristin A. Freestone, my Opera Colorado friends, colleagues, and fellow board members, the gala committee, and to everyone who supports the performing arts in Colorado.

How can I purchase tickets or a table?

Table Sponsorships, “duet” packages for two, and individual tickets are available. For more information or assistance with reservations, please contact Sara Buhr at 303.468.2027 or sbuhr@operacolorado.org. A portion of all reservations is tax-deductible. All proceeds from the Gala support Opera Colorado’s artistic initiatives and extensive Education & Community Engagement Programs.

Please visit operacolorado.org/gala

Local Republican leader appointed to National Federation of Republican Women Board

Barbara Piper of Lone Tree will serve on the membership committee

National Federation of Republican women (NFRW) President Julie Harris has appointed Barbara Piper to the organization’s board of directors for 2024-2025. Piper will serve on the membership committee which is responsible for increasing and maintaining membership nationwide. “Republican women have an impactful and ambitious agenda in 2024,” Harris said. ”We are contributing millions of volunteer hours to reclaim the White House, achieve a stronger majority in the U.S. House, and regain control of the U.S. Senate. And, we are advocating to secure the border, strengthen the economy, and protect parental rights. We are pleased Barbara will play a key role in these efforts by sharing her talents and ideas with members across the nation.” Founded in 1938, the NFRW is the largest grassroots Republican women’s organization in the country. Building leaders, energizing communities and keeping America strong, the NFRW empowers women from all backgrounds in the political process and provides a forum for women to serve as leaders in the political, government, and civic arenas. “I am honored to have been selected to serve on the Membership Committee and look forward to continuing to serve NFRW in this capacity,” said Piper.

Barbara Piper is featured speaker at Douglas County Republican Women

1st Vice Chair of CD 4 Central Committee shares history of first time the 4th Congressional District has had a need for a Vacancy Convention

“Barbara Piper was born in a red state and it’s in her blood,” began Susan Squyer’s introduction of the featured speaker at a recent meeting of Douglas County Republican Women (DCRW). Piper’s lengthy resume includes serving as president of Douglas County Republican Women and Colorado Federation of Republican Women (CFRW) simultaneously! As 1st vice chair of the CD 4 Central Committee, Barbara shared history in the making as the vacancy in the 4th needed to be filled due to U.S. Congressman

Ken Buck’s early departure. She chronicled the events including difficulty in finding a venue to even conduct the convention to select the Republican who declared himself a “placeholder.” Eventually, the meeting was in Hugo, Colorado. The evening was long as it took many ballots (six) to finally determine Greg Lopez (former Mayor of Parker and a former candidate for Colorado Governor) as the committee’s selection. Lopez will appear on the June 25 Special Election Ballot along with a Democrat and possibly others.

Colorado Federation of Republican Women 2nd VP Kerri Catlin, CFRW immediate Past President Barbara Piper who was featured speaker and CFRW President Judith Jergensen

“She knows a thing or two…”

- DCRW 1st VP Susan Squyer, introducing Barbara Piper

RIGHT: : In 2023 with Granddaughter Peyton James at the Douglas County Republican Women/ Lincoln Club of Colorado Annual Picnic

With then U.S. Senator Cory Gardner at a Colorado Federation of Republican Women meeting in 2019

Photos by Scottie Iverson

DCRW President Deborah Mulvey, Independence Institute’s Kathleen Chandler who led the prayer and Lone Tree Mayor Pro Tem Wynne Shaw (running for mayor) who led the Pledge of Allegiance

New NFRW Board Member Barbara Piper presiding over a Douglas County Republican Women’s meeting where she served as president for five years In 2022 surrounded by former Colorado Senate President Tom Wiens and Jimmy Sengenberger

Photos by Scottie Iverson

LEFT: Parker residents – DCRW Corresponding Secretary Laura Hefta who is a Parker Council member running for reelection and Deborah Flora who is running for U.S. House of Representatives, 4th Congressional District

Black Tie Gala

with a Western Flair! Central City Opera’s Theatre of Dreams at The Cable Center

Cheers to an enchanted evening of elegance, western flair and opera “We are honored to celebrate Judy and Newell’s remarkable legacy at this year’s Theatre of Dreams Gala. Central City Opera extends sincere gratitude to all of our sponsors and to Gala Chair Natela Manunts and the 2024 Gala Committee!”

–

Scott Finlay, Central City Opera Board of Directors, and staff

Honoree Newell Grant with remarks about the tribute to him and his late wife Judy

LEFT: CCO supporters visit about the evening - James Eckhart, Jr. and Johnny Cannon

The star of the evening - American soprano Sara Gartland CCO President and CEO Scott Finlay

RIGHT: Brother of the honoree, Pat Grant (of his own fame), former CCO Guild President Edie Bell, current CCO Guild President Katie Grassby, Central City Mayor Jeremy Fey (Not pictured Theatre of Dreams Chair Natela Manunts) Sara Gartland and the CCO Ensemble’s finale was appropriately “Happy Trails” (Not pictured Jeremy Reger at the piano)

Former honorees Pam (in vintage family attire) and Dutch Bansbach Photos by Scottie Iverson

A Conversation with Dave Logan - Part 3 of 3

In Part Three of Villager sports columnist Denny Dressman’s conversation with Dave Logan, they talk coaching philosophy and look ahead: Will the next iteration of the Cherry Creek Bruins be state title contenders, and how much longer does Coach Logan want to keep doing this?

DD: Can you tell going into each season whether you’ll be state championship contenders or not?

DL: I say the same thing every year. Our goal every year is to win the state championship. And I tell the team that, and I tell the parents that. I did that when I was at Arvada West, and I did that at Chatfield, and I did that at Mullen, too.

Now, you’re not always going to accomplish that. But I believe in setting goals that are high and something that you can work toward, even when you have the inevitable bumps in the road as every team, every season has.

Every team is a little bit different, but the foundation-

al belief in your football value system does not change. You want your teams to look the same every year—in regards to toughness, to competitiveness, to their love of playing football and their love of the process.

That’s so big for us, the process. We start the first Monday of every June, and we go three mornings a week; at times four. We practice for eight straight weeks. We bring in speed and conditioning staff; we have coaches in the weight room; and we install our offense and defense. That’s hard work. Those kids are working their ----- off.

DD: How much does your own high school experience—playing three sports— influence your approach now?

DL: I’m a big believer in multi sports. I’m old-fashioned that way. I want my kids to play basketball, lacrosse, baseball and other sports. And if we have to make accommodations in the summer—”Hey, coach, I’m pitching tonight I can’t lift today.”—then we do, because they’re only this age one

What I try to tell players is, it’s a competitive world, right? So, every single year, every single season, every single week and every single day, you’ve got to come out and compete. You’ve got to come out and compete and try to get better. Players have different levels of ability, but every one of those players can find something, every single time we practice, that they can improve upon. That’s really important. I’ve always believed, as a coach—you know, you have a roster full of adolescents, and they all have different levels of skill—that we have to find ways to validate everybody on our roster. What does that mean? Does that mean everybody plays equal time? It does not.

But, if you have 80 players on your roster, it’s making players 78, 79 and 80 feel that they’re special, also. They might not get in a lot of games. There might be stretches of games when they don’t get in at all.

Football’s pretty tough if you’re coming out to practice and you’re never getting in a game. So how do we make that experience for those kids the absolute best we can?

time. We have to account for them being kids. Let them enjoy themselves and be kids.

DD: You caught 262 passes for 4,247 yards and 24 touchdowns in eight seasons with the Cleveland Browns. What, from your days as an NFL player, have you tried to impart to the kids?

DL: A handful of things. Football’s a really tough game. It’s demanding. it’s tough physically. And it’s not for everybody. It’s just not.

So, you have to really . . . we always talk about the process, which I’m a big believer in, the process of getting yourself, as coaches and players, ready for the upcoming season. How do you best go about that?

What I try to tell players is, it’s a competitive world, right? So, every single year, every single season, every single week and every single day, you’ve got to come out and compete. You’ve got to come out and compete and try to get better. Players have different levels of ability, but every one of those players can find something, every single time we practice, that they can improve upon. That’s really important.

I’ve always believed, as a coach—you know, you have a roster full of adolescents, and they all have different levels of skill—that we have to find ways to validate everybody on our roster. What does that mean? Does that mean everybody plays equal time? It does not.

But, if you have 80 players on your roster, it’s making players 78, 79 and 80 feel that they’re special, also. They might not get in a lot of games. There might be stretches of games when they don’t get in at all.

Football’s pretty tough if you’re coming out to practice and you’re never getting in a game. So how do we make that experience for those kids the absolute best we can?

DD: How do you?

DL: I’m always challenging position coaches: Get to know your players. You should know their families, know their parental situations. Do they come from two parents? Is it a one-parent household? Do they have siblings? Do the siblings go to school here?

In other words, investing

in your players . . . having conversations . . . having an open-door policy. Sit and talk with a player who comes in—might not be about football; maybe something’s really bothering him, maybe something’s happening in his household. They have to feel comfortable enough that they can come to you and sit down . . . and just chop it up a bit.

DD: You’ve won 11 state titles. Does any one of them stand out more than the others?

DL: Whoever came up with the notion that you remember the games you lost more than the games you won—and I’m not sure who coined that phrase—was right-on, at least in my particular instance. We’ve won 11, but we’ve lost five. (That’s 16 trips to the state championship game in 31 years.) I remember vividly—I could tell you a lot about—those five.

The first one (state title) always has to be special. We went to the state championship my third or fourth year (at Arvada West) and got beat by Cherry Creek. We went back the next year and played Bear Creek, a team that had beaten us in the regular season. And we found a way to win that game.

DD: As you look back over 31 years as a high school coach, what’s the most satisfying part of it?

DL: I still stay in touch with many of my former players. I’m very proud of some of the stuff they’ve done. Some of them are in their late 40s now, and they’ve become husbands and dads, and have good careers. It’s been really cool to see some of the kids who played for me go to college then enter the real world and get married and have children and be good family men with good careers outside of football. It’s just awesome.

DD: Thirty-one years as a head coach! How long are you going to keep at this?

DL: Oh, gosh, you get to a certain age and people are always asking how long you’re going to stay at this. I feel good. I’m healthy. I’m very blessed.

As long as a I feel like the message is being received . . . as long as I can give the message to the kids in a way that they can understand it . . . as long as the good Lord I good with it . . .

I see no reason why I wouldn’t coach another 7-8-910 years.

Carl Koelbel named President and CEO of Koelbel and Company

Buz Koelbel will continue to serve the company as Chairman

Koelbel and Company, a 70 year-old family-owned real estate company with deep roots in Colorado, announced that Carl Koelbel will officially be named President and CEO of the company—taking the reins from the highly respected and venerable Buz Koelbel who has served in the role for more than 47 years. Buz Koelbel will continue to offer oversight and leadership to his three sons and the broader Koelbel team from a macro level in his new role as Executive Leadership Advisor. “It has been my greatest reward in life to serve as the President and CEO of Koelbel for the last four decades and I truly relished the complete journey, whether it be the tumultuous downturns or the unprecedented growth and change,” said Buz Koelbel. “But the time has come to take a step back from the day-to-day operations and hand that responsibility over to Carl and the highly capable next generation to lead Koelbel into the future.” Buz has been a pillar of Colorado’s business and real estate community for decades. He continued the family real estate development tradition when he joined the firm his father founded in 1976 and became president in 1985. Since that time, he has shepherded the development, management and investment activities that produced many of Koelbel’s premier residential, commercial and retail projects in the Denver metro area and in mountain resort communities. More recently, he established Koelbel as a leader in affordable housing/workforce housing for lowand moderate-income Coloradans. As a business leader committed to serving the communities where we live, work and play, Buz’s past and current service with community service organizations includes the Urban Land Institute – member and past trustee of the Recreational Development Council; Denver South Economic Development Partnership, member and past chair of the Board of Governors; vice chairman of Economic Literacy Colorado; and board member of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

“Timing is everything in business and in life and I am confident this is the right time to pass the baton. The future of Koelbel and Company is bright… Denver is one of the most exciting, innovative, and vibrant communities in the entire country,” said Buz. “Having three members of the third generation of Koelbel working at the company certainly provides the opportunity

“It has been my greatest reward in life to serve as the President and CEO of Koelbel for the last four decades and I truly relished the complete journey, whether it be the tumultuous downturns or the unprecedented growth and change,” said Buz Koelbel. “But the time has come to take a step back from the day-to-day operations and hand that responsibility over to Carl and the highly capable next generation to lead Koelbel into the future.”

for a far broader and longer-term horizon to build on what has been established during the first 70 years.”

First born son, Carl Koelbel, who joined the team 14 years ago, will lead the company as President and CEO. In 2010 Carl helped Buz launch the Koelbel Urban Homes platform and managed several major projects for Koelbel and Company. Like his father and both paternal grandparents, Carl is a graduate of the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business with a Master of Business Administration degree in real estate. He also has a bachelor’s degree in economics and international Relations from the University of Southern California. Carl was

instrumental in adding new dimensions to Koelbel’s commercial division. Under Carl’s leadership, over the last decade Koelbel and Company has been responsible for numerous high profile commercial projects including collaborative office spaces like Catalyst and Watershed in RiNo; mixed use developments like The Point at Nine Mile Station

“Koelbel is proud of its 70-year history but is even more excited about what the future brings for the company,” said Carl Koelbel. “The values we’ve created over the past seven decades will ensure we maintain our legacy well into the future. For Koelbel and Community, a focus on building legacy communities means defining ‘community’ in the widest possible terms. Community exists in the places where we work and play as well. Understanding that is a key insight to creating timeless communities of all types.”

in Aurora; Sloan’s Lock Block 3 and Lincoln Commons in Denver; and many more. Carl has also been instrumental in building hundreds of units of affordable housing throughout the region.

“Koelbel is proud of its 70-year history but is even more excited about what the future brings for the company,” said Carl Koelbel. “The values we’ve created over the past seven decades will ensure we maintain our legacy well into the future. For Koelbel and Community, a focus on building legacy communities means defining ‘community’ in the widest possible terms. Community exists in the places where we work and play as well. Understanding that is a key insight to creating timeless communities of all types.”

The Koelbel family have always been very active in the community and given back through a myriad of ways. Carl plans to continue this tradition and ensure the company continues its long tradition of charity. He sits on the Advisory board of the Salvation Army where he helps to consolidate their real estate holdings throughout the city of Denver. Additionally, he helps oversee the Koelbel Family Foundation, which was established in 1996, and has supported numerous worthy causes, including the Sewall Child Development Center, Economic Literacy Colorado, Rocky Mountain Public Media, Goodwill Industries, The Denver Zoo, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and the Colorado Conservation Trust that was created as an open-space advocate for the State of Colorado. They believe that education, at all levels, is the singular most important foundation for the future of the state and country. This year alone, they gave a million-dollar endowment to Rocky Mountain Public Media for the Koelbel KUVO Jazz studio which will help continue the tradition of jazz in the community. A large focus of their philanthropic activities has been in multiple areas of the education arena including the central library facility for the Arapahoe County Library District, the Koelbel Building at CU Boulder and the Sewall Child Development Center.“Carl’s leadership style appeals to the older generation of our team members as well as the millennials. His collaborative manner instills trust and allows team members to build on their individual and collective strengths,” said Tom Whyte, CFO of Koelbel and Company. “Carl carries forward the rich tradition of his grandfather and his dad of developing projects that honor Denver’s history but embracing new standards and styles. He provides team members opportunities to expand their roles but still provides the team direction and a sense of patient urgency.”

Buz and son Carl Koelbel

Our Constitutional Republic: freedom is never free

I was raised in a remote part the country. It wasn’t the end of the world, but you could see it from there. As a regional comedian said, “the weather up here spent six months trying to kill ya.”

But I learned some really deep lessons there.

Take responsibility for your own actions. If you are going to survive and prosper, do the right thing at the right time. Take care of your friends and neighbors, but don’t allow your foolish actions to place you or them in danger. When you really and truly need help, humbly ask for it. Your neighbors will come to your aid, but then you owe them, big time. That obligation should burn in your soul until returned. It’s all part of taking responsibility, for yourself.

Stay out of other people’s business. Life is hard enough without social meddling by pseudo-do-gooders. We are all on this incredible earth and given a life with which to do something. Try to do good. That decision, about what is good, is up to each individual. Each person will suffer adversity and Joy. Try to “walk a mile in your neighbors moccasins before judging him.” Yep, there is a Lakota Sioux reservation right next door.

If you want to own a gun, then own one. But take responsibility for its safe handling. Realize that the second amendment under the Bill of Rights had nothing to do with hunting. Its sole purpose is to allow the individual citizen to defend himself or his nation from any intrusive agent that wants to destroy his family or his nation: Any entity that threatens his ability to make lawful decisions, his freedom.

Concurrently, if you don’t want an abortion, don’t get one, but don’t tell another person what to do. If you think it’s murder (it is, after a certain time), then act according to your consciousness, but don’t force your conviction on another. If someone doesn’t like guns, then we would say don’t own one. Same with abortion. We would never object to your belief. We would only resist when you tried to force your belief on us.

Convincing or enlightening us is a different matter. But we object to those who willfully use laws in subversion of our right to live and decide in freedom. The question to ask is: should a government decide through another law, or should an individual decide?

Another point on guns, every time you get in your car you are taking risk. We know this because far more people die each year from car crashes than from gun-

shots. An order of magnitude more. Still, we will drive our cars around safely and responsibly. Prosecute the perpetual drunk, but leave the rest of us alone. That is the meaning of our freedom, freedom from an excessive government or obtrusive politician. We all follow rules and laws to keep each other safe. Politicians who think new laws restricting legal gun ownership will protect others, are sadly mistaken. Laws only prevent the honest citizen from owning guns, not the criminal. In effect, these new gun laws harm the law-abiding citizen and give the criminal a gun-free zone in which to perpetuate violence.

Guns in the hands of honest citizens is not the danger, the politicians who would subvert our Constitution are the real danger. Read “More Guns, Less Crime” by Professor John Lott for the facts.

There are those who say our Constitution is a “living document” and therefore subject to interpretation. I challenge those people to read it and understand the depths of wisdom contained therein, before they ignore it. Clearly these flexible constitution people do not understand in the least.

The Constitution was forged out of true adversity by men who love individual freedom so much that they put their lives on the line fighting the greatest army and navy of that time. They rebelled against tyranny. The sole purpose of the Constitution is to protect the individual from a powerful, invasive government. To protect the individual. To protect the individual’s inalienable and G-d Given rights to life, liberty and the ownership of property. It was a harsh land but it is our land and we came to love it in an almost mystical way. The land lived under us and loved us as we loved it (except during calving season in the dead of winter). Weird, but if you’ve ever walked in the remote land you know this is true.

We didn’t deserve the land any more than we deserve freedom, but we were granted these blessings by a power greater than any man or manmade thing. I started this with the edict, Take Responsibility. Freedom is never free, it requires sacrifice and hard work. This land, our nation is worth it.

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.

18th Annual State of Our City

Tuesday, May 07, 2024

11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Join Mayor Piko on Tuesday, May 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wings Over the Rockies as she proudly celebrates Centennial’s residents, business leaders, partners and others who make YOUR City a connected community where neighborhoods matter, education is embraced, businesses are valued and innovation is absolute. Together, we make our City, YOUR City great!

Purchase Tickets

Visit: http://centennialco. gov/stateofcity

This event is hosted by the Rotary Club of Centennial and the City of Centennial.

When Tuesday, May 07, 2024 11:00 AM -1:00 PM

Location

Wings Over the Rockies

Exploration of Flight, 13005 Wings Way, Centennial, 80112, View Map (right)

Local control matters! Take action today

Stand Up for Local Decision-Making

We firmly believe that the people who live and work in Centennial should be the ones making decisions for our community. "Home Rule" is a cherished value preserved in our Colorado Constitution, granting cities like Centennial the authority to make planning and zoning choices locally.

Currently, there are three

bills—HB24-1152, HB241304 and HB24-1313—before the Colorado legislature that threaten to diminish our local control, limiting our ability to make decisions tailored to our community’s best interests and imposing standardized solutions that fail to account for Centennial's unique needs. To empower residents to engage, we've established an easy-to-use civic action tool for City residents. This tool enables you to send a message to your legislator, urging them to uphold home rule and local

control during this year’s legislative session. Take Action Now by visiting centennialco. gov/localcontrolmatters. These bills would grant the State authority over accessory dwelling units, parking regulations, and land use and zoning without considering Centennial’s unique circumstances. These proposed measures would fundamentally alter the character of our community. Here's a breakdown of each bill:

HB24-1152: Regulates Accessory Dwelling Units

(ADUs) using a one-size-fitsall approach across the state, disregarding existing local laws that are tailored to our City's needs.

HB24-1313: Mandates the construction of at least 40 residences per acre near light rail stations. Failure to comply could result in the loss of critical funding for street maintenance and operations.

HB24-1304: Prohibits cities from establishing minimum off-street parking standards for all land use types, effectively eliminating

parking requirements for any development. Imagine a development with no parking requirements—where will the cars go?

Learn more about the critical importance of preserving local control and how these proposed bills could impact Centennial's future by visiting our comprehensive resource page at centennialco.gov/localcontrolmatters.

Stay informed, get involved, and together, let's protect our community's autonomy!

The power of words

Words have the power to evoke a wide range of emotions.

Certain words or phrases can trigger feelings of joy, sadness, anger, fear, or love. Understanding how language is linked to emotions can help us navigate social interactions and express ourselves more effectively.

Words have the power to uplift or demoralize. Positive words have the potential to inspire hope, encourage resilience, and foster happiness. Conversely,

negative words can evoke despair, anxiety, frustration, or worthlessness.

Dr. John Gottman, the founder of the Love Lab at the University of Washington and relationship expert, opines that for every negative word uttered, there needs to be 5 affirmative words said to restore the relationship. Criticism wears us down, but

affirmations encourage us. When negative interactions outweigh the positive ones, it may be hard to recall the positive qualities of an intimate relationship. Successful intimate relationships have a balance between positive and negative feelings and actions between partners. Healthy, satisfied couples share more positive words and actions than negative ones. Partners who criticize each other, provide constant negative

feedback, are not supportive of each other, do not demonstrate affection or appreciation, or are uninterested in their partner are in relationships that are out of balance and unhealthy.

The words we use, both internally and externally, can significantly influence our mental well-being. Negative self-talk, for instance, can perpetuate feelings of inadequacy or worthlessness, while self-compassion and positive reinforcement can nurture self-acceptance and resilience. Choosing our words with empathy and sensitivity

Justin Klomp, President of Trice Jewelers

can deepen our connections with others.

Learning the 5 to 1 ratio of positive affirmations to every negative word was a game changer for me. I realized that I needed to stay away from those who would stay in a negative space and use words flippantly with the attitude of being helpful (corrective criticism). Additionally, when my husband and I get sideways and emotions run high, I ask for a time-out because if we say negative words in the heat of battle, we are going to have a lot of work to do (5:1) to restore and repair the relationship.

Because words have power. We need to take a breath and be intentional with the words we are going to say and how we are going to say them. By cultivating mindfulness in our speech, we can foster deeper connections, resolve conflicts peacefully, and promote emotional well-being.

A strategy for keeping affirming words in our relationships is writing down all the positive qualities of our partner, children, family members, colleagues, or neighbors. Think about these words with intentionality and appreciation for having these wonderful people around you. When and if a conflict arises, state your concerns without the emotional drama, and wrap up the conflict with positive affirmations such as “Thank you for listening to my rant, and not responding negatively to what I just told you. I so appreciate your patience.” Words are singularly the most powerful force available. We can choose to use the power of words to edify one another. joneen@narme.org

COURTS

Ralph Klomp, CEO and Justin Klomp, President, Trice Jewelers with Michelle Gruber, VP, and Jay Davidson, CEO, First American State Bank

FASB Trice ad Villager

ANNUAL WAR MEMORIAL ROSE GARDEN PRUNING WORKSHOP

APRIL 27, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Free event. Bring a sharp pair of bypass primary shears, leather gloves and kneepads. BGrubb@ssprd.org 303-483-7014.

30TH MS COLORADO SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANT

APRIL 27, 2 p.m. For women age 60 plus. Event at Mizel Arts & Culture Center, Elaine Wolf Theater, 350 S Dahlia St., Denver. Hosts: Ms Senior America 2019-2020 Esmeralda Ybarra Hendrick; Ms Colo. Senior America 2008, Linda Holloway. Tickets at Mizel Arts & Culture Center Box Office. 303-316-6360. ColoSRAmerica. com

CANCER LEAGUE OF COLORADO HOPE BALL

APRIL 27. Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center. Contact barbarasreece@aol.com for tickets.

MUSEUM OF OUTDOOR ARTS LA PRIMAVERA FESTIVAL

APRIL 28 11:00 a.m. - 3 p.m. Marjorie Park, 6331 S Fiddler’s Green Circle, Greenwood Village. Pancake brunch, live Celtic music, maypole dancing, basket making, yard games and more. Adult beverage bar. Will also premiere a latest permanent installation of local artist, Lonnie Hanson. Tickets at MOAONLINE .ORG

ARAPAHOE COUNTY PROPERTY TAX DEADLINE

Full payment is due by APRIL 30. Visit arapahoegov/treasurer

SERVICES

PET & BABY SITTING

In your home. Pets $85/day; Child $20/hr. Exc. Ref.

Eileen Murphy 303-704-8638 emm30000@gmail.com

WHAT’S NEW?

Cherry Creek Republican Women memberships are due. Annual dues are $40 per year for regular members. Info: sstsruna@comcast.net or call 303913-1394.

OBJECTIONS TO REAL PROPERTY CLASSIFICATIONS & VALUATIONS

Beginning MAY 1, 2024 and no later than JUNE 10, 2024. Assistance: County Assessor’s office at 303-795-4600.

THE BIG WONDERFUL 10TH ANNUAL DERBY PARTY

MAY 4, 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. Beerfest, Bluegrass, Bazaar. Free Entry! Tickets required for beeriest. Use Code Villager5 for $5 off Best Fest tickets. Visit Belleviewbeergarden.com

CHERRY CREEK REPUBLICAN WOMEN LUNCHEON MEETING

MAY 14, 11:00 a..m. Social; 11:30 Luncheon. Speaker: Jake Jabs- “the One, the Only.” Will honor past CCRW President, June Robinson who passed away April 10, 2024. Wear a hat - just as June would. Double Tree by Hilton Denver Tech Center, 7801 E. Orchard Rd., Greenwood Village. RSVP by May 7 deadline to www. cherrycreekrepublicanwomen.org. Cost $36. Questions: Marcia Saas 303-4759148.

Please call me if you have room to board my trail riding horse. She can stay in a stall, paddock, and or pasture. Former Cherry Hills resident. 303-880-6222

ARAPAHOE COUNTY WINE & CHALK ART FESTIVAL

4TH ANNUAL - MAY 18 & 19 at the Fairgrounds. Visit arapahoecountyeventcenter.com

GREATER ENGLEWOOD 35TH ANNUAL BUSINESS AWARDS BANQUET

MAY 16, 5-8:00 p.m. Holiday Inn Lakewood. Tickets available thru May 3- Lindsey@myenglewoodchamber.org

25TH VETERANS MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE

MAY 25, 10 a.m. - noon at Bethany Lutheran Church (4500 E. Hampden Ave., Cherry Hills Village. Honor servicemen and women who gave their lives in service and those that lost a battle with post-traumatic stress at home. View images and biographies of Colo. fallen heroes; show support for Gold Star families, military officers and Veterans in attendance. Free event.

MENTAL HEALTH OF COLO. UNMASKED

JUNE 8, 6 p.m. at Haven in the Pines, 463 E. Happy Canyon Rd., Castle Rock. Theme “Unmasking Discrimination.” Cocktail attire, heavy Hors d’oeuvres. Tickets 720-208-2220.

SOUTH METRO CHAMBER GOLF TOURNAMENT

2024 Lexus GX 550 has twin-turbo power

Great vehicles just keep arriving and my favorites are the hybrids and all-gasoline engine models. EVs have diminished in popularity and are limited to short daily commutes. Great challenge is shortage of charging stations, especially in rural areas.

Arriving this week is a Lexus classic GX 550 fully equipped with a $84,395 price tag. This is a larger SUV with a 3.4L /V6 twin-turbo engine with a towing capacity of 6,955 lbs. that will tow a ship.

The powerful engine is linked to a ten-speed direct shift ten-speed automatic transmission with a wide list of driving modes starting with ECO, comfort, normal, sport S, and sport S+. Used all modes using the sport models for mountain drives and the eco mode for downhill drives back into Den-

ver. Even the ECO mode had sufficient power and acceleration.

With that much torque and power the model has a double wishbone front suspension and four link coil spring rear suspension. The GX 550 rides on 22” six-twin spoke alloy wheels with 265/55 all-season tires. Controlling the suspension is adaptive variable suspension (AVS).

Driving comfort is insuring with semi-aniline leather trimmed captain seats and 10-way drivers and 8-way passenger heated and ventilated power front seats

JUNE 10 7 a.m.-3 p.m. at Meridian

Golf Club. 8:00 a.m. Shotgun start. Four player scramble followed by an awards reception. Light breakfast, BBQ lunch, hors d’oeuvres during the awards ceremony. RSVP: jKeener@bestchamber.com or call 303-795-0142.

BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE COLORADO HOSTS 22ND

ANNUAL HOPE CHALLENGE

GOLF

JUNE 10. Tournament to be held at Colorado Golf Club Preservation Trail in Parker. Four-person scramble. Breakfast, 18 holes of golf, drinks,Dinner. RSVP: 720-524-2061.

NOW OPEN

LITTLE MAN ICE CREAM in Greenwood Village at Belleview & Yosemite. Now hiring!

ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOYS STATE

four-way adjustable door sunshades.

with messaging seats. With a total of six-passenger seating, the second-row seats have heated captain chairs. There are power-folding third row seating. A special feature in the front seating center console is

a “Cool Box,” a front console charging station and five-total charging stations in the vehicle. The second row seating has

The center console has a 14-inch display Lexus interface with a full range of apps that include a Mark Levinson 21 premium speaker surround sound system. Wireless Apple Car Play and Android compatibility add to the six USB ports.

Safety is always a major factor in this Lexus line with a Lexus 3.0 system that includes pre-collision with pedestrian detection and intersection support, road sign and lane tracing assist, lane departure alert and steering assist. Always appreciated are the blind spot mirror monitoring with rear

JUNE 2-8 FOR HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS

Premier civic program in Sterling, CO. Applications: www.CoLegionBoysState. org

CANCER LEAGUE OF COLORADO

GOLF TOURNAMENT

JUNE 17 at The Ridge of Castle Pines North, 1414 Castle Pines Parkway, Castle Pines. RSVP: jreece11@mac.com

CLUBS: DENVER LIONS CLUB MEETINGS

Meets 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 12 noon at the American Legion Hall, I-25 & Yale. Interested in joining? Call Bob, 720-3139741.

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.

By H. Throttle

cross traffic alert.

The power and performance make this a very impressive drive and the strong frame and comfortable seating, add to the overall top-drawer quality of this all-around award-winning model. Nighttime driving is assisted with triple beam headlights, LED fog lamps, windshield wiper deicer, and headlamp washer.

The GX 550 has a powerful design, automatic power-extending running boards for easy entry into the sleek “Eminent White Pearl” painted SUV. This is a classy, sassy model loaded to the hilt with comfort and performance. It rates high in the luxury brands and is worth the price.

• $17.99 PASTA OR PIZZA & SALAD LUNCH SPECIAL

• MONDAY: $1.25 FRESH - SHUCKED OYSTERS

• TUESDAY: HALF OFF WINES BY THE BOTTLE

• $16.99 BOTTOMLESS SPRITZ WEEKEND BRUNCH Don’t miss Oliver’s Italian weekly specials: