Be safe. Stay Strong.
PAGE 4 | THE VILLAGER • June 11, 2020
Support law, order, and justice for all Race relations has become a delicate subject to discuss in print or vocally. The nation is filled with protesters with the death of George Floyd who became an unknowing martyr for racial and police protests. His violent death sparked a symbolic protest against racial injustice and a major national debate over law and order related to justice and inequality towards black people in America. All of this began when George purchased some cigarettes with a fake $20 bill and now an apologetic clerk regrets calling the police. George, who had a very troubled life, has become a major symbol of the simmering racial tensions that dates back to slavery. There have been many other black murders, but statistics reveal that 97 percent of the Afro-American deaths come from their own race and communities. About three percent of black deaths come from police enforcement across America. It was very distressing to see in St. Louis last Tuesday black looters shoot and kill a retired 77-year-old African/American
police captain who was in uniform trying to protect a Missouri pawn shop. David Dorn had spent half his life on the Missouri police force and was shot dead on the sidewalk. The shooting was recorded on a St. Louis Post-Dispatch social media platform. The clip made national news briefly showing the officer bleeding on the sidewalk with no one rushing to his aid, but someone taking a photo of his murder. A Facebook viewer observed Dorn dying with no one helping him, instead choosing to record his death. The video shows black looters rushing in to rob the store, some carrying guns. President Trump last Wednesday morning paid tribute to Captain David Dorn saying, “Our highest respect to the family of David Dorn, a great police captain from St. Louis, who was viciously shot and killed by despicable looters last night. We honor our police officers, perhaps more than ever before. Thank You! David Dorn has a large family with ten grandchildren. Since he was killed by his race it didn’t have the impact of the
George Floyd murder at the hands of the Minneapolis police officers. Candace Owens, a young black conservative spokesperson on an email posting relates that protesters have the wrong martyr in many protests including George Floyd who has been in prison on numerous occasions. She sends a very brave message that draws some attention to the hypocrisy of tolerance for blacks killing blacks, such as in Chicago every day, and police encounters with black offenders who have committed alleged crimes. Do police go too far, such as shoving the older 75-year old white protester to the sidewalk, cracking his head and just walking away leaving him in critical condition. He was just sitting on a bench and stood greeting the police. Bad behavior! I listened to the pundits Sunday morning and it appears that we’re heading to the fall elections with Trump espousing law and order and willing to use military forces to quell anarchy, if necessary, as done by prior presidents. Many of our major cities have businesses looted, our nation’s monuments defaced, St, John’s Church set
on fire, and a police station burned to the ground. It seems appropriate to support police and not destroy them. Taking protection from schools is the last thing that should happen! I saw the hateful signs by many protesters violently attempting to break through the secret service line to assault the White House. (The British burned the White House in 1812.) Some 45 agents were injured last week along with looting and violence. Even our own Supreme Court building in downtown Denver was set on fire. We need to recruit and train more black police officers, preferably military veterans who have defended this country on foreign shores. We need to protect this nation against all foreign and “DOMESTIC” foes. There are many issues, but anarchy, murder, and looting on the streets of America must be stopped by the police, National Guard, and if necessary, regular military forces. This ensures rightful protesters their day in the sun, or rain, and have their protests against injustice and police brutality seen and heard. America is listening! I’m voting for law and order and justice for all.
The Villager
Office: 8933 East Union Ave. • Suite 230 Greenwood Village, CO 80111-1357 Phone: (303) 773-8313 Fax: (303) 773-8456 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Arapahoe County, Colorado. (USPS 431-010) Published weekly by the Villager Publishing Co., Inc. Available for home or office delivery by U.S. Mail for $52 per year. Single copies available for $1 per issue. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ENGLEWOOD, CO. A Colorado Statutory Publication CRS (197324-70 et al). Postmaster: Send address changes to The Villager, 8933 East Union Ave., Suite #230, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111-1357 Deadlines: Display Advertising, Legal Notices, press releases, letters to the editor, 4:00 p.m. Friday. Classified Advertising, noon Monday.
PUBLISHER & EDITOR Gerri Sweeney — x307 gerri@villagerpublishing.com PUBLISHER Robert Sweeney — x350 bsween1@aol.com VICE PRESIDENT/MARKETING Sharon Sweeney — x305 sharon@villagerpublishing.com CREATIVE MARKETING DIRECTOR Susan Sweeney Lanam 720-270-2018 susan@villagerpublishing.com LEGALS Becky Osterwald legal@villagerpublishing.com NEWS EDITOR gerri@villagerpublishing.com GOVERNMENTAL REPORTERS Freda Miklin fmiklin.villager@gmail.com 303-489-4900 • 303-773-8313 x365 Jessica Roe jessica@projournalists.com 303-588-9899 REPORTERS Robert Sweeney bsween1@aol.com STAFF WRITER Doris B. Truhlar dorisbtruhlar@gmail.com 720-934-4645 FASHION & LIFESTYLE Scottie Iverson swan@denverswan.com DESIGN/PRODUCTION MANAGER Tom McTighe production@villagerpublishing.com ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Susan Lanam — 720-270-2018
Our family dog Cleo passed away about one year ago and I still miss my little dog that my son Patrick shared with me for several years. The best was the bark of welcome and the tail wagging when coming home from a busy day. Dogs just have a loving personality and know when not to speak, just a bark for food or time for a walk. I notice that we have an ad in The Villager from the Heffelbower family in Highland’s ranch advertising a new service called “The Last Paw” for pet funerals and cremation services. A badly needed service, so write the phone number down if your dog is aging. 303-905-4630. *** The Villager has long supported many service and non-profit organizations. One of the groups we have enjoyed covering and attending their events is the Colorado Consular Corp that has representatives from dozens of foreign countries that include official consulates, for example from Canada and Mexico, two of our major Colorado trading partners. We have many local folks with deep roots in foreign countries as most of us came from immigrants. Don Ringsby was a member of the Consular Corp since 1960 representing Thailand. His
friends have written a tribute to him in this week’s Villager. Our Villager “About “Law” columnist lawyer Don Peterson is the new Dean of the entire Consular Corp. He represents Sweden and his family were pioneer Denver newspaper printers with the presses now buried under the Convention Center. See his story in The Villager. Don is a proud DU graduate and a really good writer and lawyer. *** I had lunch with Don last week and it was such a joy to have a French dip sandwich with fries at Poppies on South Colorado Blvd. What a wonderful restaurant as they reopen with booth spacing and building an outdoor patio for summer spacious dining. Time to get back to supporting our local restaurants. All businesses, for that matter. Don’t go if you are fearful, but for many it is time to return to normal. I can’t believe that the Governor won’t let the Cherry Creek Mall open until July 1. Park Meadows is now open because they are in Douglas County. I think if protestors can gather in Denver, so can shoppers. *** A new Farmer’s Market is arriving at Belleview Station
just two blocks west of I-25 on Belleview located near the new Newmont mining headquarters and where a new major hotel is under construction. Many new businesses are located in the Station area. Starting June 14 until September 27 a “People and Produce” Farmer’s Market will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The many Belleview Station shops and restaurants will be on hand along with produce vendors and curbside orders. Sadly, the Palisade peach crop suffered a 90 percent frost so this year’s fruit will be in shorter supply, but farmers will be hustling with the fresh early fruits; I love those June cherries. *** We have produced a keepsake Villager photo spread for Cherry Creek graduates as they “rolled” out of high school onward to higher education, military service and the job markets. A tough time for students and athletes as the summer and fall events are on hold in many places. It appears that the economy is rebounding rapidly and there is some light at the end of the tunnel. *** A California friend sent me the following piece that I believe came out of Canada to the West Coast and is on the internet. No author named but some good humor
and common sense. Need more of both right now:
SOME COMMON SENSE
Feminist Author Unknown I hope they give us two weeks’ notice before sending us back out into the world. I think we’ll need the time to become ourselves again. And by “ourselves” I mean lose 10 pounds, cut our hair, open up our ear lobe holes and get used to not drinking at 9 a.m. New Monthly budget: Gas $0, Entertainment $0. Clothes $0, Groceries $2,799. Breaking News: Wearing a mask inside your home is now highly recommended, not so much to stop COVID 19, but to stop eating. When the quarantine is over, let’s not tell some people. I stepped on the scale this morning. It said, “please practice social distancing. only one person at a time on scale” Not to brag, but I haven’t been late to anything in over 8 weeks. It may take a village to raise a child, but I swear it’s going to take a vineyard to home school one. You know those car commercials where there’s only one vehicle—doesn’t seem so unrealistic these days. They can open things up Continued on page 5
Sharon Sweeney — 303-503-1388 sharon@villagerpublishing.com Linda Kehr — 303-881-9469 linda@villagerpublishing.com Valerie LeVier — 303-358-1555 valerie@villagerpublishing.com Gerri Sweeney — x307 gerri@villagerpublishing.com Scottie Iverson swan@denverswan.com SUBSCRIPTIONS B.T. Galloway — x301 subscribe@villagerpublishing.com PHOTOGRAPHER Stefan Krusze — 303-717-8282 octaviangogoI@aol.com EDITORIAL COLUMNISTS Robert Sweeney — x350 bsween1@aol.com The Villager is an award-winning, locally owned, independent newspaper. All letters to the editor must be signed. The contributor’s name, hometown and phone number must also accompany all letters to the editor for verification, and we reserve the right to edit contributions for space. We attempt to verify all matters of fact but hold contributors liable for the content, accuracy and fairness of their contributions. All submissions become the property of The Villager and may be reused in any medium.
Reverend Martin Niemoller “In Germany, the Nazis first came for the communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me and by that time there was no one left to speak for me!”
2020 Member
QUOTE of the WEEK
Leave noWEEK QUOTE of the authority existing not responsible to the people. – Thomas Jefferson
