Denver
Among the 28 people representing local jurisdictions and partners of the High Line Canal at the ceremony turning over two-thirds of it to Arapahoe County were Alan Salazar, CEO, Denver Water, Arapahoe County Commissioners Carrie Warren-Gully, Jeff Baker, Leslie Summey, and Bill
board president Paula Herzmark, and board members Jim Lochhead and Steve Coffin; South
Council Member Earl Hoellen, Littleton City Council Member Gretchen Rydin, Douglas County Commissioner Lora
Romero Campbell. Greenwood Village was represented by Suzanne Moore, PE, its parks, trails, and recreation director.
BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER
It has been a long time since the High Line Canal (HLC), acquired by Denver Water 100 years ago, substantially functioned as an irrigation utility.
Denver Water began to enter into agreements with local municipalities to maintain and safeguard the HLC and its trail as a recreation asset 54 years ago.
June 20, 2024 marked the culmination of a years-long process of hard work and collaboration that resulted in Denver Water transferring ownership of 54 miles of the HLC to Arapahoe County.
The 54-mile spans includes the entire reach of the HLC that is located in Arapahoe County and the majority of the Canal in Denver and Adams Counties.
Arapahoe County will hold the title to the property, which was transferred at no cost. The cost of general maintenance of the property located in Arapahoe County will be funded by the one-quarter of one percent dedicated Arapahoe County Open Space sales tax, although cities, including Greenwood Village and Cherry Hills Village, will continue to maintain the portions of the HLC in their jurisdictions, as they have for years. Denver and Adams County will pay the cost of maintaining the portions of
the HLC that run through their jurisdictions via intergovernmental agreements with Arapahoe County.
What is perhaps the most important piece of the puzzle that ensures the long-term vision for the HLC remains true is the conservation easement (CE) that Denver Water placed on the 54 miles before transferring the property to Arapahoe County.
The CE was deeded to the High Line Canal Conservancy (Conservancy). It “creates a vested interest in real property exclusively for the purpose of conserving and forever maintaining the Canal’s Conservation Values defined in the CE.”
Those Conservation Values are:
and
Carrie Warren-Gully, Chair, Arapahoe County Board of County Commissioners
• Ensure that the Property will be perpetually maintained as a linear open space park with a multi-purpose public recreational trail and canal;
• Maintain public access and recreational use of the Property;
Continued on page 7
Holen; HLC Conservancy
CEO Harriet LaMair,
Suburban Parks & Rec Commissioner Pam Eller, Cherry Hills Village City
Thomas,
Denver City Council Member Diana
Photos by Freda Miklin
General Admission: $60 before July 10th $70 after
Ticket price includes food paired to enjoy with your beer and wine from award-winning restaurateur and caterer Jimmy Lambatos from Jimmy’s Jersey Street Café includes brisket, salmon, accompaniments, plus food for kids of all ages
Non-drinking adult food tickets are $20 each
Children's food tickets are $5 and refreshments included
Family-friendly games, face painting, magicians, and more Entertainment by well-known local entertainers
Supports over 30 local and global service projects in one year. We implement projects ourselves and in partnership with many organizations and communities in the Front Range, Colorado, and to all corners of the world. Here are a few of the many ways your support will help us provide a hand-up to those in need:
• Freedom Service Dogs in Centennial helps veterans and rescues animals that are trained to help those suffering from PTSD and other debilitating illnesses.
• Project Worthmore in Aurora helps refugees and other new arrivals in our community.
• Colorado Dream Foundation helps children to stay in school until they graduate from high school and they provide services for children at risk of dropping out.
• In many resource poor countries Rotary clubs help communities to get safe drinking water and proper sanitation.
• Past two years over $92,000 was sent to Ukraine for injured civilians and soldiers and to help many nongovernmental organizations that needed first aid kits, food, water, clothes and other items needed by those displaced or injured by the war.
• Over $15,000 was sent to Rotary clubs during the Turkey Earthquake setting up portable clinics to treat the victims and many other locations that suffered from the humanitarian crises.
These are just a few of the many ways we help locally and globally; please use the QR codes to learn more about Rotary and ask us about how to become
Are You a Victim or a Victor?
Recently, I asked a friend how he was doing, and he fell apart. Fighting back tears, he said he was not doing well. His best friend was on life support, and the family was being asked to decide whether to remove the ventilator that was keeping him alive. On top of this, he confessed that his marriage was on the rocks and his family was falling apart. How does one cope with catastrophes like the loss of a loved one, estrangement, divorce, bankruptcy, or a child in trouble? How do we bounce back and become resilient, having the strength to face another day, move forward, rebuild, and start over? At some point, we have or will experience
Ginger F. Parietti
Leaving behind a legacy of kindness and strength, our dear mother, Ginger Parietti passed away on 5-24-24 at the age of 88. She was a wonderful mother and friend, who was always there when you needed help; offering support, wisdom, and abundant love. A friend and mother to many, she was a cherished member of the real estate community, The Cancer League, and many other programs, organizations, and groups she devoted her time to. She was predeceased by her father Guiseppi, mother, Margaret, sister, Mary, and brother, Joe. And leaves behind her 3 children and their spouses: Ron/Angie, Rick/Margie, and Randy/Hana, as well as 5 grandsons and their spouses: Adam/Alyssa, Ben/Caroline, Ryan/ Kristen, Bryce/Kathryn, Tyler, and great grandchild, Gianna. To the family and countless friends who felt her warmth and generosity, Ginger lived a beautiful life, full of love, laughter, and resilience. She touched the lives of all who knew her, we will miss her smile the most.
A memorial service will be 10:50 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Parish | 6853 S. Prince St. Littleton CO 80120 | (303) 7988506 August 16th.
The burial will follow, as well as a lunch and celebration of life reception back at St. Mary’s Parish.
failure, tragedy, disappointment, or a wrecking ball that has landed on us. Resilience, the art of bouncing back, is something we can learn and plan for. Resilience is defined as mental toughness, perseverance, optimism, and courage to stay in the arena. It is the opposite of victimhood. Resilience is not hereditary or given to a select few. It is cultivated through thoughts, attitudes, actions, and behaviors. Studies show that the primary factor in resilience is having caring and supportive relationships.
I remember having a TKO (Total Knock Out) years
ago when my husband of 20 years announced that he wanted a divorce. I thought my life was over. It took every ounce of energy to keep it together for the children. During my depression and shock, I had to buy a home, move, and figure out life on my own. Family and friends lifted me out of the pit. On the day of my move, I was not functional. I could hardly drive to the new house and meet the moving van because I could not see through my tears. When I arrived, there were several cars that I recognized. My friends, neighbors, school chums, and work colleagues had created a moving team that
was at the new house when I arrived. They had organized themselves into groups, tackling the tasks of kitchen, bedroom, bathrooms, and basement. Even the art crew was busy hanging mirrors and pictures. By the end of the day, when my children came to their new home, the house was put together, beds were turned down, pictures were hung, the refrigerator was stocked with meals, and boxes were hauled away. I was so moved by the help of my friends; I knew I would be okay. Cultivating deep, authentic relationships over many years compelled these life helpers to be there in my most profound need.
Once I moved, I had to readjust my life, take realistic baby steps to recovery, and
regain my confidence. I had to learn how to honor my feelings and communicate my hurt and loss to my counselor. I had to regain a sense of humor after crying all the time. I had to journal to unpack and unravel the confusion and chaos in my mind and heart. I had to learn how to ask for help, stay in a supportive community, and stay hopeful. With all that is going on in our country about oppression and privilege, we must help all individuals build healthy, supportive relationships to walk this difficult road called life together. We must build resilience and grit in our children so they can be victors, not victims. joneen@narme.org
Hail Caesar, But It Is Ron Rakowsky Leaving Town
The word first came from our wonderful colleague and governmental reporter Freda Miklin that former Greenwood Village Mayor Ron Rakowsky and his wife Margaret, were moving away. This was big news, and shortly thereafter a going away party was held at a Greenwood Village Silo Park for the departing “Revered Father” of Greenwood Village. No doubt, he is the most popular mayor the city has had since Mayor Nancy Sharpe’s leadership.
his goal with excellence. During his career he was a pilot and had a twin-wing acrobatic airplane out at the airport and would go up and do stunts in his little plane.
BY BOB SWEENEY
He didn’t like Denver and would tell me things that I could never print.
The days of Mayor Poundstone included the death of council woman
me as the reporter at the scene. I always felt that she was innocent and said so on the late-night TV series that ran for years. Susie and Freda were a powerful team who worked well together on behalf of the city.
One of Freda’s great loves was the annual Christmas toy drive for children. Freda was a famous lobbyist and the Poundstone Amendment on state schools was her legacy.
Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater are part of his legacy, along with the Greenwood Athletic Club.
Getting back to Ron, I think what really made him so popular was his love of people, and a caring attitude about the residents of Greenwood Village.
One of the most active mayors was Freda Poundstone who was responsible for much of the growth of the city, some annexations and the success of the Koelbel Library and the Koelbel Preserve neighborhood. Freda was somewhat like Donald Trump; she was fearless and just got many projects completed. She didn’t care about what anyone wrote or said about her. I really admired Poundstone, and we worked closely together for many years.
The Villager has now covered Greenwood Village, in one capacity or another, for 43 years. We have saved every issue published and have a professional bindery of all the issues. We have a huge assembly of history of the city going back to the days of DTC developer George Wallace. I had lunch often with George at his DTC office and the last time we dined he was wearing oxygen and still smoking. He was a genius, and his goal was to build a beautiful office complex close to an airport so people could live, play, and work close to air service. He accomplished
Susie Ocrant’s husband who was found shot in bed at their home on a Sunday morning. Susie and the kids were at breakfast or church and there was some suspicion that fiery Susan might have shot him. It was ruled a suicide. The lone GV police chief destroyed the gun found on the bed. Ocrant was cleared of any charges, but some suspicion still lingered about the death. A TV program called “Unsolved Mysteries” did a feature on the death and interviewed
There are so many stories and incidents with mayors leading right up to the current Mayor George Lantz whom I admire. We have breakfast at McDonalds periodically and talk about the city and life in general. George has a great family and was a champion wrestler at The University of Wyoming.
John Madden, who we just lost recently, was another Greenwood Village titan. His buildings and the Museum of Outdoor Art and
He was constantly involved in city functions, attended countless breakfasts and dinners (he loved dining at Benedicts), events, ceremonies, and served on county and state boards. He was an incredible mayor.
Ron was everywhere and now he and Margaret are headed back home to Ohio to live near family in their golden years. The Villager newspaper will be a gift to them so he will keep tabs on his city after his 17 years of service. I think he deserves to have a street named after him.
Thank you, Ron and Margaret, for being great public servants.
The Meaning of Words : Is Fascism Right or Left?
Words have meaning. Especially words that mean the opposite of what one thinks. Clear definition has greater meaning. Fascism allows the business to keep the means of its production, the factories or farms, but takes the output (profit) of the business. The Nazi’s of 1930’s Germany were Fascists. Nazi is a contraction of the National Democrat Party. Today we call it Corporatism, but the end result is control.
put. The Communist party ruled the USSR until their economy failed in the 1980’s. Both assume the State owns everything. In truth, both imply that the individual has no rights, no individualism, no freedom. The State is all. Their slogan is “Together.” But their meaning is “Give me everything.”
Communism takes both the means of production and the out-
While Fascism and Communism are social concepts, the State cannot obtain control of everything without intervening in its population’s private and economic lives. Since,
in their minds, the State is all, there can be no individual and therefore, no right to ownership. The State will regulate everything, tax all and live, for a short time, off the steadily declining capital of the few remaining individuals.
Socialism is the midpoint between freedom and serfdom, it is the gateway drug to convince the weak and weary that if they give up their greedy, individual ways, and worship a government, that government will take care of them.
Socialism starts the population down the path of believing that their problems are so great
(climate change, pandemics, inflation, recession) that they need a greater entity to step in. That greater entity is the State, Government, Bureaucracy. Show me any economic philosophy that survives Communism, Fascism or Socialism.
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.
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SUBSCRIPTIONS Gerri 303-773-8313
EDITORIAL COLUMNIST
Ron and Margaret Rakowsky
An evening about EMERGE, the campaign to build a new Butterfly Pavilion
Epicurean catered a soirée at the Greenwood Village home of Daphyne and Rick Reiff complemented by entertainment by music icon Hazel Miller to share updated plans for Butterfly Pavilion’s exciting expansion and its new home in 2027. Butterfly Ball, Colorado’s biggest night for conservation, will be held Saturday evening, September 28 at Omni Interlocken Hotel in Broomfield. For further information: Alex Peterson - apeterson@butterflies.org or visit: www.butterflies.org.
“The
new Butterfly Pavilion will be a state-of-theart research and learning facility coming to the Front Range, and will serve as the preeminent local, national and global hub for invertebrate research, conservation and education.”
-Janet McFarland Burlile, VP of Donor Relations
Steve Benson, who created the giant paper sculpture, his daughter Daphyne and son-in-law Rick Reiff who opened their home for the party with the future Butterfly Pavilion expansion plan boards in the background
Daphyne Reiff welcomed guests, shared her passion for Butterfly Pavilion and wore a butterfly headband for the occasion VP of Donor Relations Janet McFarland Burlile, Interim CEO Nathalie Brochu and VP Science and Conservation Rich Reading Photos by Scottie Iverson
Colorado’s own Hazel Miller and her band performed
LEFT: Jana Akhavan visited with Kay Burke
RIGHT: Paul Dunne visited with Hazel Miller
BELOW: Giant butterflies dotted the landscape
in the know
befollow FREDA
BY FREDA MIKLIN I
fmiklin.villager@gmail.com.
Metro area leaders are looking for the best solutions for migrants and the unhoused
On June 4, Common Sense Institute hosted a program to talk about how our state is dealing with the impact of migrants and unhoused people in our community. DJ Summers, CSI’s director of policy and research, moderated. Panelists were Adam Paul, director of regional affairs for Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, Paul Scudo, CEO of Step Denver, an organization whose goal is to “help men end their cycle of addiction, take back control of their lives, and transition to a safe and sober living environment where they can become productive, contributing members of their family and our community,” and Heidi Williams, president and CEO of the Metro Mayors’ Caucus, a group of 38 mayors in the metro Denver region who collaborate on issues that transcend city boundaries.
Summers said that CSI projects that $1.9 billion will be spent in the metro Denver region between 2021 and 2023 on homelessness, and that the number of homeless in the region will have grown from 5,728 in 2016 to 9,065 in 2023, noting that 2023 numbers have not yet been finalized or tallied.
Focusing on mortality, Summers reported that in 2022, one out of every 21 of Denver’s homeless died, of which 56% were from drug overdoses.
Paul Scudo added that 70% of the homeless are in that state due to a substance abuse issue. When Summers pointed to fentanyl as the culprit, Scudo pushed back. He first clarified that the 70% was “home grown homelessness,” unrelated to migrants, adding that fentanyl was undoubtedly a contributor but, “It’s just the flavor of the month that we’re focusing on. In the 1970s, it was powder cocaine. In the 1980s and 1990s, it was crack. In the 2000s, it was meth. In the 2010s, it was opioids. There was always the drug that was going to ruin society, but the number one killer of addicts that is never mentioned is alcohol, because it’s so deeply ingrained in the fabric
of our society and our economy. It’s the social lubricant and the tax revenue is ridiculous,” Scudo pointed out.
He continued, “The cause of death listed by the coroner is some sort of heart failure, liver failure, freezing to death while passed out…We need to focus on addiction as an issue, not just one specific substance (like fentanyl)…There needs to be substance abuse treatment and long-term recovery support following that. It should be a requirement as part of homeless services (along with) life skills, including financial literacy, rebuilding family relationships, navigating transportation, all the things that can help an individual reintegrate as a productive and functioning member of the community.”
On costs associated with the migrant population, Summers explained, “The city (of Denver) has done an excellent job of tracking its spending and accounting for where it goes … CSI research has been trying to build on what the city has spent and deepen what we know about how public resources are being allocated across the Denver metro region,” pointing out that CSI estimates that number at between $260 million and $340 million in direct expenditures by Denver, including education and health care costs, since December 2022.
The largest portion of that total, CSI projects, is for educating
migrant children in the public school system, which CSI estimates costs $14,110 per student for instruction and administrative support, adding, “We don’t know how many migrants typically arrive in any Denver Metro school district. We do have a range of estimates, but, since 2022, there have been 15,725 students born in other countries who have matriculated into a Denver Metro school district, of which 44% were from Venezuela, Guatemala, Columbia, El Salvador, and Honduras.”
From that data, CSI extrapolated, “Somewhere between 7,000 and just under 16,000 are enrolled in 17 metro Denver school districts; at $14,110 apiece, that’s somewhere between $98 million and $220 million…In Denver Public Schools, that will account for between 3% and 6% of the currently existing student body and it’s similar in other school districts.” In terms of state spending, Summers said, “It accounts for 1% to 2% of total state match to these (17) school districts for just one year.”
Health care for migrants, Summers said, may be administered by nonprofits or other providers. CSI estimated that cost at $48 million per year, based on its approximation of the number of new illegal migrants who arrived last year and those who came previously.
Asked to identify issues that
impact both the homeless and migrants, Adam Paul pointed to the lack of affordable housing as a place where the groups intersect, adding that Denver needs 100,000 more affordable housing units to meet the population’s needs.
Heidi Williams said that homelessness is complex and that many nonprofits are helping those who are caught in it. Migrants are completely different from the homeless, she said, because they are seeking asylum, and many ended up in Colorado, even though it wasn’t their destination.
She agreed that a large part of the problem is insufficient affordable housing and that problem does not respect city boundaries thus needs to be looked at and addressed regionally, putting it in the remit of the Metro Mayors’ Caucus.
Migrants, per Adam Paul, want to work and businesses have jobs for them. “We know, if we can get them work authorization, we can line them up with jobs, and they can figure out how to be self-sustaining,” he said.
Later, Summers asked panelists to point to successes and positive trends.
Adam Paul noted that asylum seekers must wait six months for work authorization. During that time, they are getting laptops provided by AT&T, language classes, and unpaid internships to help them be ready to go to work when they get those authorizations.
Heidi Williams pointed to Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, who signed a memorandum of understanding with 300 local governments to give them $750 million the state received from the opioid settlement, noting that much of that money is being used for wraparound services for recovering addicts.
Panel DJ Summers, moderator, Paul Scudo, Heidi Williams, and Adam Paul
Photos by Freda Miklin
The 7:30 a.m. event drew a full house to the AMG National Bank dome in Greenwood Village.
Denver Water transfers 45 miles of High Line Canal to Arapahoe County
Continued from page 1
• Permit stormwater uses of the Property that are consistent with the preservation and protection of the other Conservation Values;
• Preserve the environmental and urban natural ecosystem values of the Property.
The Property is intended to be used for recreation purposes, stormwater activities, public necessities, and special events and programs. Any use that impairs the Property or interferes with the preservation of the Conservation Values is prohibited.
Uses that are explicitly prohibited include:
• Construction of any building or structure unless approved in ad-
vance by the Conservancy and the landowner;
• Alteration of the topographical profile of the Canal without prior written approval of the Conservancy,
grams, members of the public may not be charged a fee to use the Property.
The Conservancy is charged with the responsibility to enforce compliance with the CE.
the landowner, and Denver Water;
• Commercial or Industrial activity;
• Motorized vehicle use, unless necessary for allowed uses.
Except for special events and pro-
Cherry Hills has been working on a plan to address poor cell phone coverage
In 2022, in connection with the update of its Master Plan, the City of Cherry Hills Village reached out to its citizens via a citywide survey, and, “residents expressed that poor cell service coverage was a primary concern, potentially affecting their safety and the quality of life,” according to CHV City Manager Jim Thorsen at the June 4 regular city council meeting. As a result, Thorsen reported, having the city develop a feasible strategy for improving cell service was identified as a new task in the Master Plan.
Thorsen went on to provide the council (and the public, who can watch complete videos of CHV city council meetings via the city’s website or YouTube anytime) all the significant steps that had been taken since, eventually resulting in a proposal to provide cell phone service coverage across the city, which has been the subject of recent public outreach and focus groups.
He began, “The reason we have poor cell service is due to the lack of sufficient antennas within the Village to transmit signals…Historically, carriers have been reluctant to invest any amount of money to provide better coverage due to our low densities and limited number of users. In addition, carriers have stated there is insufficient right-of-way for their equipment and pole heights have been restricted…”
The city manager explained that, to potentially improve cell service, they started with four primary goals:
• Establish a baseline cell coverage that benefits the entire city;
• Improve cell coverage without raising taxes, while minimizing government spending;
• Minimize cost to the carriers to incentivize them to invest in a plan that would provide coverage across the city;
• Provide a turnkey solution that the city can execute without having to impose on private property owners.
He continued, “To accomplish those goals, in 2023, “CHV placed a request for proposals to consulting experts in the telecommunications industry.” From four proposals received, HR Green was selected to lead the study “to determine the
Mayor Brown and the city council emphasized that elected officials and city staff are not and will not be advocating for the plan. Their role is one of providing information so that the residents can make an informed decision.
extent of the existing cell phone coverage, identify limiting issues, and develop possible solutions.”
The consultants conducted “an extensive review of our cellular conditions and our fiber conditions. They used state-ofthe-art radio frequency (RF)-designed tools to create a robust model of the current cellular coverage,” which showed many gaps in coverage. They collected “widespread public input,” including an online GIS-based survey (which) mirrored the information that they had gathered on their own,” residents reported many gaps in cell service coverage in the city.
Over the past year, the topic was addressed in the CHV monthly newsletter, The Crier, and discussed at multiple public meetings.
Thorsen continued with the chronology, “HR Green began to develop conceptual solutions cost estimates for pole construction and fiber extension, identifying best site locations to minimize the number of poles that might be needed…including additional RF modeling” to ensure coverage across the city...After looking at many options, it became clear that the most efficient, cost-effective solution… was the three-pole, 100-foot solution in three city parks—Woody Holly, Three Pond, and City Park. This solution provided the best baseline citywide cell coverage (using) the latest 5G technology and allowing for future upgrades without requiring any tax increase to city residents, minimal spending by the city—in fact, all spending on this project would be repaid from lease revenue to the city—while also limiting the investment by the carriers, a factor they identified as important in affecting their decision to participate in this plan. Lastly, this plan can be implemented within the city’s own right-of-way, with-
out requiring any imposition on private property, which provides complete control of the timing to build it. Thus, it met the four goals that had been set.
The city manager also identified, in detail, three other solutions that the consultant considered and rejected, including the reasons why they were rejected.
Moving forward, CHV plans to create and implement a media outreach campaign to inform residents about the identified solution via public presentations at board and commission meetings, a onepage summary on the city website, a Crier article in July, social media outreach, a press release for The Villager Newspaper, a mailer to every CHV household, and, most importantly, two town hall public meetings, in addition to the stakeholder and focus group meetings that have already been held. The town hall meetings will be held on July 17 and August 7 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 p.m. at CHV City Hall.
The purpose of all these activities is for the city council to find out if the preferred solution to the cell service coverage issue is one that the residents support. IF the answer is yes, it is anticipated that CHV will place a question on the November ballot on this subject to determine whether CHV residents, as a whole, want to move forward with this plan. It conforms to the current City Charter thus there is no need or desire to amend that document. The technical aspect of the ballot question would be to give the city council permission to enter into a lease with the carriers to effect this plan. Under the Charter, no leases over five years in duration are permitted, which is too short, so residents would need to allow a onetime exception to that rule to implement this plan.
During the meeting, Mayor Brown and the city council emphasized that
No part of the Property can be conveyed to any entity, except for the county in which it is located or a state or federal agency, upon agreement by the Conservancy, Denver Water and Arapahoe County.
The CE will run with the property in perpetuity.
The remaining 26 miles of the HLC that was not conveyed to Arapahoe County on June 20 runs through Douglas County. Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas told The Villager that Douglas County officials are in the process of working with Denver Water to conclude an agreement to take over and manage the 26 miles and she expects that it will be finalized soon.
elected officials and city staff are not and will not be advocating for the plan. Their role is to provide information and answer questions so that the residents can make an informed decision.
Several residents came to the meeting to speak against the proposal.
Keith Bierman, who has lived in CHV for 15 years, said, “I urge the council not to put the proposal on the ballot in November,” because, he believes that if it were approved by “a less-than-unanimous vote, the people who are disenfranchised will be really, really irritated,” and, “If it fails, that will be used as a reason for not doing anything.”
CHV resident Linda Carney told the council that she believed the matter should not be placed on the ballot because the ballot language won’t have enough information for people to understand what they are voting for, and, “A 100-foot tower is gigantic and ugly, so maybe we don’t have to solve the problem as well as it can be solved.” She continued, “I don’t look at the city website. I don’t know how many people get their information that way. I don’t think people will see that if there’s an explanation that way…We’ve gone an awful long time with cell phone service as it is. We can go another while before we get it really set.”
Jim Green, a 30-year resident, said, “There isn’t anything like the Blue Book with the pros and cons…It’s not just a tower. There’s a lot of infrastructure that goes with it.”
Realtor Josh Behr said, “Has enough diligence been done in order to stress-test all the options?” He suggested that there may be less intrusive alternatives for satisfying the “hundreds of people” who asked that this problem be addressed so that they “are less inconvenienced,” at the cost of, “our city of 6,000” who doesn’t want their rural parks that they so cherish…veritably ruined because of these cell phone towers,” adding that this plan might not be safe and might negatively impact property values.
The next CHV city council meeting will be July 16.
CHV will hold town hall meetings on the cell phone coverage plan on July 17 and August 7 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 p.m. at CHV City Hall.
Paula Herzmark, Board Chair, High Line Canal Conservancy
Harriet LaMair, CEO, High Line Canal Conservancy
Alan Salazar, CEO, Denver Water Photos by Freda Miklin
A Villager contributing columnist - “My passions are all things interior design.”
The 7 Elements of Design
Since the onset of COVID, people have been spending considerably more time at home for both work and leisure. The impact of your home space has been demonstrated to significantly impact our efficiency, mood and energy level. Therefore, there has more attention devoted to the design of our homes and the spaces where we live and work.
give height to the room. The horizontal lines of a table or bed can draw the eye to special focal point. As with form, the balance of the varying lines is critical to creating the desired feeling within a room.
When designing a space, there are 7 elements that you should consider: space, form, line, light, color, pattern and texture. Each of these 7 elements contribute differently and significantly to the final effect.
1. SPACE
Understanding your space - both its advantages and its limitations - is crucial to the success of the design process. Sometimes it’s as simple as using an L-shaped sofa in a corner to maximize space. Occassionally, knocking down a wall (is possible) provides huge advantages. Designers are trained to look at spaces from a 3 dimensional perspective - height, width and length - to achieve objectives.
2. FORM
In interior design, form is usually defined as the shape of features or objects within a space. Frequently, it is a lack of understanding of form that can lead to a feeling of confusion and lack of cohesion in a space. Form can come in the structure of a sculpture to lead the eye upward. Even the choice of a lampshade can contribute to the correct balance of geometric and natural form.
3. LINE
When you enter a room, your eyes are naturally directed by lines in that space. These might be the naturl lines of the space itself (for example, the walls, staircases, etc.) or those created by design (such as furniture, lamps, and other features).The vertical lines from door frames or a high pieces of furniture can help
4. LIGHT
The first thing to consider here is the natural light in the room, which will be determined by the direction the room faces and therefore at which times during the day it gets the most sunlight. This is important because morning light is cool and blue. Noon light is clearer and afternoon/evening light turns more red and warm. Designers understand that this (along with clients’ personal preferences, of course!) helps determine the choices for color schemes. Mirrors can also helpful to redirect natural light and also reflect a desirable outdoor view! Then we also must consider artificial light. Light sources such as ceiling lights, wall sconces and table and floor lamps are not only determined by utilitarian factors, but also the elements discussed above, Sometimes lighting, when used properly, can contribute to beautiful patterns of shadow on ceilings and walls and give a feeling of more depth to a space.
5. COLOR
I frequently consider color to be the single most important element in creating the desired mood in a room. I sometimes select the darker tones for the floor (to represent the ground and the pull of gravitiy), mid-way tomes for the walls (representing the horizon), and the lightest tones on the ceiling (the sky above us). Color can also be used the draw attention away from architectural flaws, such as awkward angles, sloping ceilings, beams or girders, or ugly radiators.
6. PATTERN
Patterns are everywhere in nature. It is extremely easy for pattern to dominate a space so when designing a space, it’s important to make sure that patterns do not overpower the other components of the design. However, when designing a larger room, sometimes pattern can link areas and provide a sense of flow within the room. A great place to use pattern effectively is on smaller details, such as pillows. But sometimes it can be dramatically used on larger areas, such as in wallpaper or rugs; but I would advise professional guidance here! Also, when using pattern, one must be sure to consider its context and perspective. For example, some patterns work better vertically (such as wallpaper on a wall) than horizontally (such as a rug on a floor.) Another factor is the directionality of the pattern (For example, the directionality of the arrows in the picture below.)
7. TEXTURE
Texture refers to the tactile surface of an object, fabric, etc. This is easily one of the most easily overlooked aspects of a design, yet it is the interaction between color, light and texture which create visual impact. Light-filtering textures (think sheer fabrics or certain blinds) diffuse light and make it more delicate, while light-absorbing textures (think matte paints and most wools) tend to make the color more impactful. A bold texture (like pattern, color and light) can also transform a smaller object or styling item into a major focal point.
Questions? Something you would like to read about? Feel free to email me: sari@sariminaross.com
COUNTRY LANE LIVING IN GREENWOOD VILLAGE - 3400 WILLIAMETTE LANE $7,300,000
COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED FROM TRADITIONAL TO TRANSITIONAL WITH UNMATCHED ATTENTION TO DETAIL. ITS EXTRAORDINARY MAIN FLOOR PRIMARY BEDROOM, EASY FLOW, PASTORAL AND MOUNTAIN VIEWS AND HIS AND HER STUDIES MAKE IT A ONE OF A KIND OPPORTUNITY. THE ONCE INDOOR POOL AREA HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED TO A COMBINATION GYM AND SPACE FOR 6 ADDITIONAL CARS FOR A TOTAL OF 9 CAR GARAGES, OR IT WOULD BE THE PERFECT SPACE TO CREATE THE POPULAR INDOOR GOLF EXPERIENCE. ALL OF THIS IS AVAILABLE JUST BLOCKS FROM GLENMOOR COUNTRY CLUB. THIS HOME IS THE EPITOME OF QUALITY, LIVABILITY, FUNCTION AND STYLE.
We’re changing business banking throughout the neighborhood
We believe that partnering with clients is the only way to do business
Many large banks have lost the desire and ability to provide their customers with the personalized banking experience they deserve.
At Berkley Bank, we’ve changed all that. We can provide your business with a range of banking services and deliver them with a more personalized touch. We’re building relationships throughout the neighborhood by providing individual attention and unmatched responsiveness. Our Team is the same every time you visit.
The business landscape is constantly evolving, and Berkley Bank is there for you with innovative banking solutions to help your business thrive in this dynamic environment. It’s a style of banking that most people rarely encounter these days, and it has worked for the Berkley family for over 130 years. We think you’ll love it!
Our goal is to be a bank you can rely on and to also be a long-term partner in your business journey. Let us help you build a solid financial foundation for sustained success.
Ron and Margaret Rakowsky are returning to their roots
BY FREDA MIKLIN STAFF WRITER
The barn at Silo Park in Greenwood Village was a fitting setting for GV Mayor Emeritus Ron Rakowsky and his 58-year partner in life, Margaret, to say thank you and farewell to some of the countless friends they’ve made in the 36 years they’ve lived in Colorado, including the 17 years between 2002 and 2019 that Ron served as city council member, then mayor of GV.
Speaking to the 60 people who responded to the ambiguous invitation to the park on June 19, uncertain about the nature of the party they were attending, Mayor Ron said, “When you get to a certain point in life when you know you only have a decade or two left (he will turn 80 in September)….With that in mind, we bought a place in Rocky River, Ohio,” near their daughter and her family, a favorite cousin, and old friends. Ron and Margaret are both from Ohio.
He continued, “Then there’s our second family, all of you.” At that, Mayor Ron choked up, saying, “This is the tough part, but it’s time.” Margaret took over, “We appreciate you coming. We love all of you. We’re glad to be able to bring people together. We’re sad to leave you.” Then she choked up, as well, closing with, “We appreciate you so much.”
The Rakowskys will be at their new home in Ohio on August 16, so they aren’t leaving just yet. For anyone who wants to reach out and wish them well before they go, Ron’s email is mayor ronr@gmail.com.
Anna Hall prevails in Trials heptathlon
Anna Hall is an Olympian. Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s protégé from Greenwood Village won the final event of the heptathlon at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon Monday night—the 800-meter run—in two minutes 4.39 seconds—finishing 2.29 seconds ahead of runner-up Michelle Atherly.
The victory completed Hall’s comeback from knee surgery in February and means she’ll go to the Summer Olympics next month as America’s heptathlon champion with a first-place total of 6,614 points. Former Utah State star Chari Haw-
kins—10 years older than Hall—finished second, 160 points behind.
Hall led Hawkins by 10 points after four events on Sunday, and by only six after the first two events Monday.
stride in the early going then pulled away about halfway through the half-mile run.
After collapsing on the track upon crossing the finish line, as she always does, she tearfully hugged her three sisters at trackside then shared an embrace with her mother and father.
In the stands was Joyner-Kersee, beaming broadly.
“It’s been so hard,” Hall gasped on national television when interviewed after the race. “Getting here has been so much harder that I imagined it would be.”
Hall did not compete for more than three months following surgery at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail.
Starting in Lane 8, one row from the outside, Hall matched Atherly stride-for-
“It meant the world to me,” Hall said when asked about having the support of the greatest heptathlete in history. “She told me, ‘I’m going to call you every day. I’m behind you. You can do this.’ I thought, ‘I need to be strong for her.’”
In her other events, Hall won the high jump and her heat of the 200-meter dash, was third in the shot put and javelin throw and fifth in the long jump but did not place in the 100-meter hurdles.
Mayor Ron with nine former and one current GV City Council Members who came to honor him, along with a close friend. From left to right, 18th Judicial District Judge Gary Kramer, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, Jerry Presley, Denise Rose, Allan Stone, Karen Blilie, Gary Kleeman, Freda Miklin, Bette Todd, Dave Bullock, and Anne Ingebretsen. Photo by Dr. Jerry Miklin
Lynn Myers and her new husband, Stan Sessions
Bryan Zerr and Mayor Ron
Bruce and Susan Beckman
Mayor Ron and Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman
Kent Bagley with Mayor Ron
Bette Todd and Denise Rose
Freda Miklin, SMFR Chief Bob Baker, Benedict’s Restaurant owners Bob Melton, Tillie Melton, and Richard Melton
Marion and Brent Neiser with Mayor Ron
South Metro Fire Chief Government Affairs Officer Mike Dell’Orfano with James and Joy Hoffman
CERNING
District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado Judicial Center 7325 S. Potomac St. Centennial, CO 80112
Plaintiff: Reynolds Roofing Systems, a Colorado corporation
v.
Defendants: Ronald E. Lowry, a/k/a Ronald Lowry, a/k/a Ron Lowry; and Richelle Lowry
Newman E. McAllister Attorney for Plaintiff 8740 Chipita Park Road Cascade, CO 80809
Phone Number: 719-641-4424
E-mail: nemlawcos@aol.com
Atty. Reg. #: 601
Case Number 2024CV30573 Courtroom 204
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANT RICHELLE LOWRY
If you fail to file your answer or other response to the first amended complaint in writing within 35 days after the date of the last publication, judgment by default may be rendered against you by the court for the relief demanded in the first amended complaint without further notice.
This is an action to foreclose a mechanic’s lien against real property with a street address of 1120 Antelope Drive West, Bennett, CO 80102, and legally described as follows:
Lot 61, Antelope Hills Filing No. 1, County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado
Dated: May 26, 2024
Published in The Villager First Publication: May 30, 2024
Last Publication: June 27, 2024 Legal # 11526
DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO 7325 South Potomac Street Centennial, Colorado 80112 (303) 649-6355 Telephone
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO Petitioner,
You are hereby summoned and required to appear and defend against the second claim for relief of the first amended complaint filed with the court in this action, by filing with the clerk of this court an answer or other response. You are required to file your answer or other response within 35 days after the service of this summons upon you. Service of this summons shall be complete on the day of the last publication. A copy of the first amended complaint may be obtained from the clerk of the court.
In the Interest of:
LESLIHT JASMIN SALVADOR LOPEZ AND DILAN SALVADOR LOPEZ, Children, and concerning,
REINA LOPEZ NEPUCENO, ALSO KNOWN AS, REINA LOPEZ NEPONUCENO, AND DELFINO SALVADOR MANUEL Respondents.
Sarah Simchowitz, Reg. #44890
Attorney for the Petitioner 14980 E. Alameda Dr. Aurora, CO 80012 Tel: (720) 800-5788
Case No: 24JV56 Division: 22
NOTICE OF DISPOSITIONAL HEARING AND DEFAULT JUDGMENT CON-
DELFINO SALVADOR MANUEL
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a Dispositional Hearing and Default Judgment Hearing regarding DELFINO SALVADOR MANUEL is set on July 29, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. in Division 22 at the Arapahoe County District Court, 7325 South Potomac Street, Centennial, Colorado 80112.
You have the right to be represented by an attorney during these proceedings; if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to represent you. In the event you fail to appear for said hearing at the date and time indicated, the Petitioner, the People of the State of Colorado, will request that the Court enter a default judgment against you and adopt the prepared treatment plan for you in accordance with the Colorado Children’s
Code, or to determine that there is no appropriate treatment plan.
The Arapahoe County District Court is holding hearings via Cisco WebEx Meetings to allow for audiovisual and/or audio participation. Participants may use any computer, tablet or smart phone equipped with a camera and microphone for audiovisual participation. Parties should use the following link:
•https://judicial.webex.com/meet/ D18-ARAP-Div22
•Enter your name and email address (so we know who you are). You will then be in the virtual courtroom.
•Select your audio setting. If the audio on your computer or tablet does not work, please use the alternate audio option of calling in to the number below.
If you elect to appear in person, you must be at the Courthouse a half hour before the hearing is scheduled to begin.
Date: June 21, 2024
Sarah Simchowitz, Esq. #44890 Assistant County Attorney Attorney for Petitioner 14980 E. Alameda Dr. Aurora, CO 80012 Phone: (720) 800-5788 Email: SSimchowitz@arapahoegov.com
•If you do not have a device that will support a video connection, you may still participate by audio only by calling 720-650-7664. When prompted enter Access code: 2594 887 9073 then press #, # (no attendee ID is needed).
HUDSON GARDENS RED, WHITE & ROCK EVENT
JULY 3. Family-friendly festivities will feature live music from Super Diamond - The Neil Diamond Tribute Band. City of Littleton an Hudson Gardens partnership with kids’ activities, Food trucks, cocktails for purchase, and a grand finale fireworks show. Gates open at 5 p.m. with the School of Rock Littleton band taking stage art s6 p.m. Super Diamond will start at 7:30 p.m. Bring folding chairs and blankets. To purchase tickets, visit hudsongardens.tixr.com/ROCK
COLORADO FEDERATION OF REPUBLICAN WOMENJOINT DISTRICT MEETING
Luncheon on Saturday JULY 20 –DoubleTree Hotel – program starts at 11:30 Check in at 11:00 AM Hosted by: Cherry Creek Republican Women, Douglas County Republican Women and Elbert County Republican Women.
SPEAKER: Michael Fields, President Advance Colorado will speak on the 5 Propositions that will be on the ballot. $36 payable by July 10. Guests are welcome. Questions: Evie Ashmore 303-746-4608 or jeashmore@comcast.net
SAVE THE DATE - JULY 25-28 ARAPAHOE COUNTY FAIR
A.C. FAIRGROUNDS - REGIONAL PARK - 11:00 a.m. www. aprapahoecountyfair.com
SCOTTISH FESTIVAL
AUGUST 3, 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
AUGUST 4, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Denver Polo Club, 6359 Airport Rd., Sedalia. Tickets: www.scottishgames.org
WINGS OF HOPE FOR PANCREATIC CANCER RESEARCH PRESENTS
EVENING OF HOPE
SEPT. 6, Presenting Miss AmericaMadison Marsh at Exploration
of Flight Centennial Airport. Benefiting CU Cancer Center. Tickets: www.wingsofhopecr.org
WHAT’S NEW?
ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION OF COLORADO PURPLE GALA RAISES $540,000. 500 people gathered at Denver’s Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum to raise funds to support research and provide educational programs and services at no charge.
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, 720-313-9741.
ENGLEWOOD LIONS CLUB MEETINGS
Meets 1st & 3rd Thursdays at 7:00 p/m. At Mango Tree Coffee, 3498 S. Broadway, Englewood. Info: Gail 720-377-7682.
FANTASTIC HAI RSTYLIST! Cuts, Color, Style+ Women-Men-Kids
Experienced. Skilled. Bella Mia Salon 7790 East Arapahoe Rd. COLLEEN 303-828-6793
SPECIALS!!!
The contributor’s name, hometown and phone number must accompany all letters to the editor for verification and we reserve the right
2024 Toyota Prius Prime Is Perfection
Wow, I just wrapped up test driving the 2024 Toyota Prius Prime, a hybrid featuring a 2.0L DOHC 16 valve 4-cylinder engine with a plugin hybrid system that reaches combined 220 horsepower. The package provides an astonishing factory 127 mpg and gasoline mileage of 52 mpg. In my test drive I achieved 69 mpg with the gas engine only. The EV charge can be done with a simple garage outlet and for short daily commutes one would never need gas. What’s equally important is the strength of this engine providing astonishing power and performance. This is a sleek stealth designed vehicle with 17” alloy wheels and featuring “Reservoir Blue” paint on my test car, with black interior. The final assembly is in Toyota, Aichi, Japan. This car will run with the best of the fleet, fully
equipped for $32,675. The efficiency is shocking, and the drive of this vehicle is
perfection. Prius owners must be very happy with their cars. The Prius is equipped with
all the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 program that includes so many
SOFTWARE ENGINEER
Job site: Greenwood Village, CO. Salary: $108,992/yr (min.) + perf. bonus + health/ dental/vision benefits. Send resume to: Askey International Corp. 4017 Clipper Court, Fremont, CA 94538 HELP WANTED
features and the new front-end cross traffic alert compliments the rear alert system.
Seating is manual with six-way choice seating that is somewhat old fashioned but comfortable enough. A six-speaker sound system, a heated steering wheel, and rain-sensing wipers work well. This is a sports roadster, rather than an outdoor mountain all-wheel drive.
This is one of the best driving cars driven this year and the economy package is outstanding.
The price is right on this vehicle with very competitive pricing.
I would like to own this car for work and pleasure. Just a great drive.
By H. Throttle
