588-1335

BY JESSICA ROE

BEHIND THE SCENES

STAFF WRITER

Memorial Day weekend traditionally marks the start of swimming season, but this year, the earliest you may be able to jump in the pool is sometime in the month of June. Even that may be wishful thinking.

The Villager spoke with several pool maintenance and HOA management companies, all of whom report they have received very little guidance from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), which oversees swimming pool regulations.

Just earlier this week, Water World announced that for the first time in its 41-year history, it will not open due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Currently all swimming pools are closed under the most recent Safer at Home order,” said MaryAnn Nason, Communications Manager of CDPHE’s Water Quality Control Division. “After June 1, the state will decide if the Safer at Home order can be further modified to phase in other things like summer activities and public spaces like libraries.”

Beyond that date, here is what else we have learned after surveying more than half a dozen pool professionals.

If you have a pool in your neighborhood or a swim club or country club you frequent, it is likely you have seen it filled up in the past week or so. Operators are simply getting the chemicals and heating controls just right, so they can be ready the moment they get the “go” from CDPHE. Again, the earliest possible date is June 1st.

If your neighborhood pool is still empty by Memorial

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Day, pool operators have explained to The Villager that generally means your HOA board believes they are doing the right thing - perhaps trying to save money or something - and decided to hold off on a start date. The issue is, they tell us your pool will be at a disadvantage, and here’s why: Once the other pools that are ready to open can do so, pool operators will be incredibly busy training lifeguards on new capacity, cleaning and safety protocol the state rolls out, so the earliest they may be able to get out and fill your empty pools may not be until the middle of summer.

Larger facilities, like country clubs or fitness centers such as Life Time Fitness, may not have their pools filled yet, but they still may be able to have their pools open by the first day the state allows. That’s because they have an entire dedicated team on site to operate and maintain that one giant pool, versus neighborhood pools, where a traveling crew manages dozens of pools in any given day.

Smaller pool operators and HOAs expect the biggest change they will have to make is coordinating a new entry system, to maintain capacity. Will it be first come, first served?

The Heritage Greens Pool in the neighborhood of Olympic swimmer Missy Franklin is routinely packed in the summer.

Will you instead have to make a reservation on your HOA’s website for a two hour window? Will there be a time limit on how long you can stay? These are all things the folks who operate your pool are trying to figure out while they await word from CDPHE.

If you have a small pool in an HOA subdivision without a lifeguard - typically these have signs that say “Swim at Your Own Risk” - and it appears the HOA is opening it, this is against the law. We found more than one HOA with this type of pool who believed theirs was no different than that of a private homeowner and therefore they could do whatever they wanted.

Not true, said CDPHE, and if caught, the pool will be shut down indefinitely and the HOA fined.

“Public Health Order 20-28, at Section I.H, closes all pools. Other aspects of an HOA fitness center may remain open, but pools are specifically closed,” said Nason.

Die-hard pool regulars are having a hard time imagining the start of summer not kicking off with a trip to the pool.

“I swim almost every day in the summer,” said Tami Snowden of Highlands Ranch. “Throughout my whole life, there is nothing that relaxes me more than taking a book to read by the pool and taking time to swim.”

Toyota’s slogan “Let’s Go Places” is a pretty clever marketing statement. They make many of the world’s most popular vehicles that include the Corolla brand. The 2020 Corolla Hatchback XSE is a different new styled hatchback that has the appearance of a SUV model without all-wheel drive.

The Corolla has a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine with a sport mode that provides sufficient acceleration and admirable overall 33 mpg. The hatchback features the famed Toyota sequential transmission with standard drive and optional nine-speeds with a leather wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters, just like more expensive sports cars.

It is truly amazing how much power, acceleration, and fuel economy comes from this 2.0L engine without turbo assistance or hybrid batteries.

2020 Toyota Corolla Hatchback XSE Has Style

BY H. THROTTLE AUTOMOTIVE COLUMNIST

The Corolla is manufactured in Toyota, Aichi, Japan and this model has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price $24,340 with a significant list of options moving the price to $29,301.

All of the Safety Sense features are standard equipment and include all camera warnings, front and rear, lane departure alerts, dynamic radar cruise control and blind sport monitors. A major list of the latest safety features so important in today’s busy highways.

For families of competitive swimmers, the pandemic has led to a completely different way-of-life.

“I have an 18-year-old son and a 16-year-old son who have swam in the Rocky Mountain Swim League since they were 5-years old. The league cancelled all meets this summer,” said Sandi Stephenson of Centennial. “As a swim mom, I understand the decision because swim meets involve a lot of people in close quarters. But it is sad because it’s such a great neighborhood activity. Usually we live at our neighborhood pool from midMay through mid-July. This summer will be very different for our family.”

Prior to a decision on pools, Governor Jared Polis is expected to announce decisions on whether ski resorts can reopen for spring skiing, restaurants can reopen and at what level, and whether summer residential and day camps can reopen and under what conditions, all by the time the state’s Safer at Home order expires on May 26. To stay up to date with the state’s latest public health orders, visit covid19.colorado.gov.

This Corolla is attractive with exterior “Bronze Oxide” paint and a sleek body style that includes leather trimmed sports seating .

Toyota engineers might offer this model with a turbo engine as they visualize this as a sports car product at a modest price.

Overall this is a fun car, loaded with safety features, and very capable at high speeds with the great transmission features.