6-6-24 Villager

Up-and-Coming Team at Compass

The ES/OV Group powered by COMPASS was created to provide excellent service, knowledge and a seamless transaction, all with a personable and professional approach. The brokers bring a wealth of experience in all aspects of the industry as you will see here. With 40+ years of collective experience, over $250 million in sales and a 95%+ close rate, their results speak to success with purpose and integrity. Meet the team here:

Erin Susser-Watkins: A founding member of COMPASS DTC, Erin’s career in real estate was inspired by the love of houses she gained growing up under the roof of a custom home builder. Her background in banking and retail management helps her to understand that her clients are people who enjoy her attention to detail and connection to them. As Colorado native, corporate finance major, and daughter of a prestigious home builder, Erin entered real estate because she could feel the anxiety and pressure that sellers and buyers were feeling when marketing something that is so important to them. Erin brings a wealth of experience in some of the Front Range’s most sought-after and luxurious communities, as well as ranch property. She has a way of navigating the transaction while keeping it the fun experience it should be.

Shawn Kelley: As a 28+ year veteran of Colorado real estate and native, Shawn offers experience on a wide variety of property types, from land to homes to condos to investment properties to new home construction to residential development. His accolades include brokering the highest ever Denver home sale, and numerous quarterly and annual sales awards with companies such as Coldwell Banker, Sotheby’s, and COMPASS. It’s been said of Shawn, “If you haven’t seen it, he probably has.” when talking real estate!

Josh O’Connell: Born and raised in Colorado, Josh is unquestionably passionate about selling the Colorado lifestyle. After graduating from Colorado State University with a degree in Finance and Real Estate, Josh dove headfirst into serving his clients buys and sells homes all over the state. His genuine and transparent approach is the cornerstone of his relationship-focused style of business.

Grant Verlinde: Grant has a passion for real estate that resonates with his clients. Grant has spent most of his life in Colorado, living in Vail, Fort Collins, and throughout the greater Denver-Metro area. When he is not selling real estate, he is on the golf course, playing hockey, or spending time with his friends and family

Jonathan Susser: A seasoned professional who holds an MBA from Baylor University and boasts an impressive background in a Big 5 Accounting firm as well as car dealership management, Jonathan is a licensed real estate professional in both Colorado and Texas and brings a comprehensive understanding of the real estate markets in these regions. His dedication to client satisfaction, combined with Erin’s extensive knowledge of the luxury real estate market, creates a winning combination.

Janet Gilliland: Janet Gilliland is a successful Luxury Listing Specialist based in the vibrant heart of Denver. With a proven track record over two decades, her clients include eager first-time homeowners to discerning luxury executives, many of whom have bought and sold multiple homes through the years. She has a unique ability to blend a background in interior design with a broad knowledge of the real estate market – everything from chic urban condos to sprawling ranch estates.

The Greenwood Consolidated Metropolitan District (Metro District) is sponsoring a micro-mobility program using Spin electric scooters that can be accessed at four stations located in Greenwood Village west of I-25 at and north of Arapahoe Road.

The map at right details the locations where scooters can be accessed, used, and parked. Scoot-

These are the directions for using a Spin scooter.

ers are geo-fenced, which means they are not operable outside the set boundaries.

During the one-year pilot program (April 2024-April 2025), which was approved by the GV City Council, the Metro District will pay all mileage charges incurred by scooters users, who will only be responsible for a $1.00 plus tax unlock fee.

According to a press release from the Metro District, “You can easily go grab a bite to eat, attend a concert at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater, or commute to or from work from the Arapahoe RTD Station.”

The GV City Council approved this program on January 8 at the recommendation of City Council Member Anne Ingebretsen, who was instrumental in the creation of the Greenwood Entertainment District, which is in the Spin zone.

At that meeting, she explained to her fellow council members, “There is no cost to Greenwood Village to do this pilot. The Metro District is funding this so it’s really an opportunity for us to see if this kind of transportation would be successful in GV and for our business community.”

Later, she added, “I think there is a huge advantage to the city in doing this pilot. We have entertained other ways to manage traffic in this area.”

Streets where scooters can be used include parts of Arapahoe Road, Peakview Avenue, Greenwood Plaza Boulevard, Fiddlers Green Circle, and Maplewood Avenue.

Some of the businesses and buildings that are in the Spin zone

This is what the Spin scooters look like.

include Pindustry, Cherry Creek Food Hall, Spectrum, CoBank, Fidelity Funds, Arapahoe Light Rail Station, Plaza Tower One, Tuscany Building, Sprouts, and High Pointe Tower.

Several members of city council recommended the pilot area be expanded north to Orchard Road but that suggestion was not adopted.

Before the council approved the plan, Council Member Judy Hilton said, “I don’t like this at all. The elephant in the room is Light Rail. Unless and until RTD and municipal governments make that safe, I don’t want to do anything.”

This map shows where the Spin scooters can be found and where they can be used. The Greenwood Entertainment District is located in the southern portion of the Spin zone.

Council Member Donna Johnston disagreed, offering, “I don’t think we can do anything about Light Rail…but we do have control of this…I’m willing to start with this…as long as we can determine the criteria of success (including) acceptance by our constituents and the businesses.” She also noted that, “This might improve our roads and provide people another way to get around.”

After the discussion turned toward potentially not allowing scooters on concert nights at Fiddlers Green Amphitheater, when they might be most useful, Coun-

cil Member Paul Wiesner recommended that, if the city agreed the pilot program was a good idea, it should allow the Metro District to manage it as it sees fit, then judge the outcome.

When the final vote was taken, Hilton’s was the only no vote of the six council members present.

In Defense of Chris Stevens, former Curtis Art Center Director

Almost every week I drop by the Curtis Art Center to visit with director Chris Stevens and leave newspapers while learning more about art shows, and upcoming events. Chris was always busy, usually with a hammer or art frame in his hand, setting up or dismantling shows and planning for upcoming events.

I was shocked, the Art Center was Chris Stevens.

BY BOB SWEENEY

I’m especially fond of the Curtis Art Center because The Villager was part of saving the old farmhouse and creating the outstanding facility with the adjacent park area.

Outside of the Madden family museums, Greenwood Village has few cultural facilities, but many wonderful parks. Each year the parks are very busy featuring a fishing derby and a city-wide summer picnic. Greenwood Village is a very successful city, and we go back in history over 40 years. We’ve dealt with a half dozen mayors and some exceptional reporters. Reporter Betty Wotring became involved with the development of Centennial in the early days, serving on that city’s first council. Betty Todd served on the GV council and was a stellar reporter for years, still residing near mayor George Lantz. Resident reporter Ed Phillipson, assisted by wife Kay, was our first early day reporter and he would rake the council over the coals for having secret meetings, prior to new open records laws on “Executive Sessions.”

We have by far the largest circulation in Greenwood Village and former council member and resident Freda Miklin does a remarkable job of being our county-wide governmental reporter. Along with being an award-winning reporter, Freda is a CPA and is able to comb through and understand the graphs and statistics from cities and organizations.

Recently I was dropping off some complimentary Villager newspapers at the Curtis Art Center and discovered that Chris wasn’t there anymore.

Mayor and City Council,

I have been hearing reports about the reasons for my recent termination as Cultural Arts Manager that are not true and I feel it necessary to respond. There are three sides to every story and it is time for me to tell mine.

The actions I took on the evening of March 30th at the Curtis Center were not malicious. The fire alarm went off inadvertently, as had often happened in the past, moments before opening the doors for a reception. After checking to make sure there was not a real issue, I simply disconnected the wires to get the alarm to stop so that the event could continue. I had to make a quick judgement call and never intended or expected for my actions to cause such a problem with the system. With over 150 artists and attendees waiting to get into the Curtis Center and over $1000 worth of catering, I had to make a split decision.

It is unfortunate and I take responsibility that past issues with the fire

Jo Cole, who helped form the Center, was our local arts reporter for many years. We were also deeply involved in the development of the Preserve and the location of the Koebel Library. The library almost moved to a County Line Road location, but we helped save it at the present location. The Preserve has an interesting history that dates back to saving prairie dogs with considerable opposition to the development. Today, one of the finest developments in the entire Metro area.

Back to the Curtis Arts Center and Chris, in a few more days’ stories started trickling in that Chris had been “fired.” What I have heard, at this point, is mostly hearsay, but I share what I have heard. Seems that at a major evening event at the center the reportedly faulty fire alarm system went off which was a common occurrence. Chris Stevens dismantled the beeping annoyance, after making sure there was no fire. Each floor has major fire escape doorways. Apparently, the false alarms happen often, and the fire department does not respond. The question is why don’t they respond?

Chris has operated the Curtis Art Center for the last nine years and has put the facility on the map. There is always a new show in progress or one coming up. The Center is one of Greenwood Village’s great facilities with many ongoing daily classes. On one visit I strolled downstairs where an adult art class was in progress. I noticed a double-door fire exit

alarm were not in writing. However, these issues go back to when Don Wright was the Facility Managers and before there were written requests for maintenance assistance. Usually when the alarm would go off, staff learned that if you pushed enough buttons, the alarm would go silent. For some reason, that did not work on the evening of March 30. Suzanne Moore interrogated past and current staff and they all corroborated my story about the system and the fact that it would often go off for no reason. If she would have dug a little deeper she would have also found at least three instructors that had issues with it while teaching classes on a weekend. Even our new Administrative Assistant, Pari Moghadam, has stated that the system has gone off four to six times since she started her position in October of 2023. If the alarm had gone off on a Wednesday afternoon or we had not had issues with it in the past, I would have taken a different course of action on March 30.

I have also heard that it has been reported that it took me ten days to

with a fire alarm fixture.

As more information arrives, it appears that Chris was dismissed for not notifying superiors about the malfunctioning fire system quickly enough, thereby putting patrons at risk, thus leading to his immediate dismissal from his job. I was also informed that the building maintenance employee was at the Saturday night event during the malfunction.

This incident would worry me if I was a Greenwood Village employee. Here is a very loyal, successful, hardworking center director could be suddenly fired without severance, or hearing, over a malfunctioning fire alarm system. Other parties, including the fire department, might share some blame, along with building property managers. Personnel matters are part of executive session rules, but Chris can come before the council and

communicate the issue and the actions I took. If this is what is being said, it is not true. Matt Hutchins was informed that evening and even came to the Curtis Center the night of the reception so that he could evaluate the system and see what actions I had taken. By Wednesday of the following week, at least three technicians had come to look at the system and determine a future course of action. I was not privy to those conversations and after that the responsibility of the next steps and communication were Matt’s. I never tried to hide the actions I took on March 30. On a side note, I want to give kudos to Matt Hucthins. Until Matt stepped into his current role Curtis Center staff felt that there was little concern about the maintenance of the center. Staff often had to sweep and mop the floors, clean bathrooms, change light bulbs and sometimes shoveled snow. Matt has shown true interest and concern in treating the Curtis Center with as much respect and attention as other City buildings. He has upgraded systems, put efforts into keeping the Curtis Center clean and has been very

state his case, very permissible. What are all the facts, what can be learned from this situation, and is it possible for Chris to be reinstated?

I know the facility is busy because I see many people coming and going, and many nearby neighbors enjoy classes at the facility. I was there last week and the door was unlocked but the front office was empty; I was saddened.

It would seem reasonable that Chris Stevens would be given a hearing by the full city council over his sudden dismissal, apparently over a history equipment malfunction.

I believe council members should defend all employees and give them the right to defend themselves. I know that Greenwood Villager has high standards and good employees. We just lost one.

Does anyone care but me?

attentive regarding any maintenance requests. He is truly an asset to the City.

I feel that I was treated unfairly in this process. In my tenure with the City of Greenwood Village, I had never received any disciplinary action or complaint from staff or community members. In fact, I received glowing annual reviews every year for my efforts. For almost eight years, I put my heart and soul into raising the stature of the Cultural Arts Program for the City of Greenwood Village. Along with Curtis Center staff and a team of others, we increased awareness and attendance at the Curtis Center, developed signature events and created a welcoming environment and a sense of place for the community. Through our efforts the Curtis Center is now a well respected hub for the arts in the Denver metro area. It is unfortunate that one split second judgment call had to take these achievements away from me.

I do not need or expect a response to my email. I just felt it was important to tell my side of the story,

Respectfully, Chris Stevens

MARKETING

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

FASHION & LIFESTYLE Scottie Iverson swan@denverswan.com

DESIGN/PRODUCTION MANAGER Tom McTighe production@villagerpublishing.com

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Susan Lanam — 720-270-2018 susan@villagerpublishing.com Sharon Sweeney — 303-503-1388 Gerri Sweeney — 720-313-9751 gerri@villagerpublishing.com Scottie Iverson swan@denverswan.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS Gerri 303-773-8313

EDITORIAL COLUMNIST Robert Sweeney bsween1@aol.com

An upstairs fire alert exit door.

In the rear of the building are two double-wide exits at the bottom of the stairs with a fire alarm fixtures.

The one secret to creating a smarter wealth transfer plan

Holding a family meeting to share your intentions is a critical step too often skipped. Here are some tips from Bank of America for getting the conversation started.

When you set up an estate plan, signing the paperwork is the easy part. What comes before that — making oftendifficult decisions about who gets what when and sharing your plans with your family — can be an emotional minefield. After all, you are talking about your mortality. No wonder many people keep their plans under wraps.

But the price of silence can be steep: Not sharing your estate plans can create family quarrels later or make it harder for your heirs to manage their inheritance. Hosting a family meeting to communicate your plans is crucial to successful wealth planning.

Your financial advisor and estate attorney or tax professional can help you think through how to structure your estate. Then your advisor can attend your family meeting — having an objective advisor present to lead the conversation and answer questions can help family members talk freely about their feelings.

These four tips can help you have a productive conversation:

Come prepared. Before you involve family members in an estate planning discussion, you and your spouse, if you are married, need to agree on what you hope to leave to your kids and other family members and what you would like those assets to help them achieve. Gather information about your account balances and other assets — your advisor can help. Having those numbers in mind can help your family members understand how an inheritance might affect their own financial plans. Think, too, about whether you want to pass on your legacy while you are still living or after you are gone.

Finally, sharing an agenda in advance will allow family members to prepare for a thoughtful and open conversation and not get caught off guard.

Share the ground rules. For a matter as important and potentially fraught as your estate plan, it can be a good idea to set up a series of discussions. They do not have to take place face to face. Virtual meetings can be easier to schedule, and the physical distance can help remove some of the emotion.

Make clear that you want people to be candid but respectful. The idea is to forge consensus. Instead of talking about numbers for the first meeting or two, start by sharing your thoughts about what the assets you have accumulated have meant to you. Then you can talk about the impact you hope your money can have on the next generation. Set a positive tone. Emphasize a “we are all in this together” approach. Estate planning is a collective responsibility requiring a collective solution. To encourage feedback, offer discussion points as questions, such as “Do you feel the estate plan gives you the help you may need?”

Explain that your heirs will be better able to manage their financial plans based on realistic expectations and point out that everyone in the family might feel more at ease knowing where to find your estate planning paperwork and which advisors or estate attorneys they should turn to in the event of your passing.

Leave with an action plan. As you work together to create an estate plan, your advisor can help with practical strategies for many complex situations. These may involve financial documents such as wills, trusts and life insurance policies. Say you are considering passing on part of your estate while you are alive but wonder whether your children are prepared to handle it. Your advisor can help you implement a “test drive” approach in which you periodically give financial gifts through a trust.

Then there is the question of estate taxes. During your family meeting, your advisor can help make sure everyone understands the implications of their inheritances and can work with your estate attorney or tax professional to see whether there might be ways to lessen their potential tax burden.

Even after all the paperwork is done, think of this as an ongoing conversation. As your family’s needs change — through divorce, marriage or a new grandchild, for instance — you will want to revisit your plan. And each time you do, it should come closer to capturing your vision for empowering the next generation.

For more information, contact Merrill Financial Advisor Andrew Neal in the Greenwood Village, CO, office at 303.689.8043 or andrew.neal@ml.com.

Neither Bank of America nor any of its affiliates, provide legal, tax or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions. Investing involves risk. There is always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities. Asset allocation, diversification, and rebalancing do not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets. This material does not take into account a client’s particular investment objectives, financial situations, or needs and is not intended as a recommendation, offer, or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security or investment strategy. Merrill offers a broad range of brokerage, investment advisory (including financial planning) and other services. There are important differences between brokerage and investment advisory services, including the type of advice and assistance provided, the fees charged, and the rights and obligations of the parties. It is important to understand the differences, particularly when determining which service or services to select. For more information about these services and their differences, speak with your Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor. Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). Bank of America, N.A. makes available The H.S.A. for Life® Health Savings Account.

Bank of America is a marketing name for the Retirement Services business of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). Banking activities may be performed by wholly owned banking affiliates of BofA Corp., including Bank of America N.A., Member FDIC. Please consult your tax or legal advisor regarding specific use of Health Savings Accounts. Investments can lose money. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”) makes available certain investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, Member SIPC and a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp. Brokerage services are provided by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, Member SIPC, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. Banking products such as checking accounts and certificates of deposit are FDIC insured to the maximum allowed by law and are offered through Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Investment products offered through MLPF&S, and insurance and annuity products offered through MLLA.:

Heidi Ganahl shares Rocky Mountain Voice with Douglas County Republican Women

Annual Auction fundraiser contributes to candidates’ coffers

A myriad of silent auction items were on display when Douglas County Republican Women held the organization’s last meeting at Lone Tree Golf Club before summer break.

The live auction called by John Anderson touted various experiences including a divine outdoor Italian evening with interactive pizza making and wine in Ft. Collins with former U.S. Senate Colorado Candidate Gino Campana and his family.

Promising Women Entrepreneurs and Denver Business Journal’s Business Woman of the Year!

She was a statewide elected Regent at the University of Colorado for six years and the Republican candidate for governor in 2022. As a leader in the education freedom movement, she works with ACE Scholarships around the country. And now founder of Rocky Mountain Voice (a new right-of-center news organization).

Rocky Mountain Voice is an online platform that you can listen to, read or watch.

Featured speaker was the dynamic Heidi Ganahl who never stops with enthusiasm for her state and country, charisma, willingness to share her gifts and hope for a brighter future. She’s an entrepreneur, mom of four and community leader to say the least. To name a few achievements – founder of Camp Bow Wow (the country’s largest pet care franchise on the Inc 500/5000 list), SheFactor (founded to help young women thrive), Fortune Magazine’s Top 10 Most

While on the campaign trail for governor, Heidi gathered critical information and later researched other states and garnered valuable mentors who were able to teach the Road Back to Red. Texas had the best model and those to encourage the “franchise girl” to move forward.

“It’s a grassroots group with pure news,” said Heidi. It’s a 501 c 3 nonprofit and for now, subscriptions are free. To join the team that is building trust through the truth and/or to subscribe, visit: www.rockymountainvoice.com.

DCRW President Deborah Mulvey, Lone Tree Mayor Pro Tem Wynne Shaw, Auctioneer of the annual fundraiser John Anderson

Photos by Scottie Iverson

State Rep. Mike Lynch running for U.S. Congress District 4

Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas running for HD 43

Former CU Regent John Carson running for Douglas County Commissioner

DCRW Immediate Past President and NFRW officer Barbara Piper, her daughter Juli James and granddaughter Peyton James

LEFT: Keynote speaker Heidi Ganahl with Meg Rafferty, Marc and Pam Gitlitz

ABOVE: One of the live auction items was a group lunch at one of Heidi’s husband Jason Ganahl’s GQ BBQ restaurants (The poster is a spoof of his being featured on the cover of GQ magazine)

Sharon Magness Blake receives national award

Audiences at the iconic Western Fantasy looked forward to Sharon’s opening of the evening’s festivities by circling the venue on her Arabian horse Thunder while holding the American flag

VOA honors Denver philanthropist with its Inaugural 2024 Transformative Philanthropy Award

No stranger to honors, accolades and much-deserved recognition for her generosity, leadership, and sharing her talents with numerous causes – Sharon Magness Blake’s latest award was bestowed near Washington, D.C. at the Volunteers of America (VOA) national conference. In 1994, Magness Blake co-founded Western Fantasy that reigned for 30 years as one of Den-

ver’s hallmark philanthropic events. VOA is one of the nation’s largest and oldest human services organizations. Sharon was presented this first-ever award in recognition of her decades-long partnership with VOA to support and uplift those in need. In future years, the award will be named in her honor as the Sharon Magness Blake Transformative Philanthropy Award. “Thank you Sharon for your vision, dedication and labor of love,” said Mike King at the presentation. My personal Congratulations Sharon Magness Blake! –one of my treasured mentors for decades!

“We are proud to present this award to honor those who give selflessly. Today we recognize Sharon Magness Blake, whose volunteer efforts have raised over $36 million for Volunteers of America Colorado. Her dedication and inspiration are invaluable.” –VOA National President and CEO Mike King

New members appointed to Cherry Hills Village Art Commission

On the heels of a very successful annual Art in the Park event, the Cherry Hills Village Art Commission has announced two new members – long time Cherry Hills Village residents Julie Mirr and Scottie Taylor Iverson.

Julie Mirr earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Art History with a minor in Studio Art from SMU. After a wide range of business careers, she

became a serial entrepreneur owning a few marketing agencies and currently owns a full service digital marketing company called Reputation Local. She’s had an appreciation for and love of all things art and nature since childhood. Over the years, she has shared her skills and passion with several nonprofits including Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA), Art Students

“As chairman of the Cherry Hills Village Art Commission I would like to welcome Scottie Taylor Iverson and Julie Mirr as new members of the Commission. Both ladies bring creative energy and a wealth of knowledge of the arts to the Commission. I am very much looking forward to working together.” - David Schmidt

League of Denver, GrowHaus, Denver Parks and Recreation and Feed Denver Urban Farm –to name a few. She founded the Highline Canal Conservancy’s Art Pull and co-chaired the Dine for High Line with her husband. Julie served on the Cherry Hills Land Preserve (CHLP) for four years and again co-chaired its major fundraiser the Barn Party with her husband.

Scottie Taylor Iverson has had a passion for art and fashion since elementary school when a project won first place and was displayed at the Cincinnati Art Museum. Her creative career has garnered local, regional, national and international industry (as well as community) awards including for her own boutique marketing and public relations agency SWAN TAYLOR DENVER. In addition, she

has served on dozens of boards, was proudly appointed to the Women’s Economic Development Council for the state of Colorado and elected vice chair, founded and chaired organizations plus named and chaired numerous fundraisers. For the past 20 years she has been the community/fashion/lifestyle editor for The Villager Newspaper and she is soon to launch Swan Denver Designs.

FLEURISH

Photo by Scottie Iverson

Julie Mirr

Scottie Iverson

At the awards ceremony - Sharon Magness

Blake flanked by husband Ernie Blake and VOA National President and CEO Mike King

Photo courtesy of National VOA

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BY FREDA MIKLIN

SD16 GOP candidate Robyn Carnes talks issues with neighbors

On May 30, Tom and Patricia Grant hosted a meet-and-greet for Centennial City Council Member and GOP Senate District 16 candidate Robyn Carnes in their Littleton home that drew 40 neighbors and friends.

Robyn told her supporters that, “Colorado is out of alignment and there is a real need to bring balance back under the golden dome.” She said that Centennial, where she has served on the city council for two and one-half years, “has balanced government, which is the best government.”

She believes the make-up of the state legislature, where Democrats comprise 71% of the House and 66% of the Senate, has led to “grave overreach of home rule, which is where the citizens get to decide what is best for their community.” That is not good because, “Every community is unique and we need to govern it that way,” the candidate explained, so when Colorado Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen asked her to run, she said yes because she felt it was the right thing to do. Still, she said, “What voters want is independence. I’m not going to just vote the party line.”

SD16, which has 133,000 residents, is comprised of 47% unaffiliated voters, 26% Republicans, and 24% Democrats, Robyn told her listeners, and is considered a new seat because its current Senator (Democrat Chris Kolker) was elected in 2020 in a different district. He became the SD16 senator by virtue of redistricting two years ago.

Focusing on the importance of independent voters, the candidate shared, “We are running a purple campaign, because red and blue make purple,” and, “Purple means sensible. We are still going to support conservative values, but we need to be reasonable.”

Event host Tom Grant, who first met Robyn when their boys played soccer together, told us, “I’m a fourth-generation Coloradan. I went to school here through college and worked at Lockheed Martin until I retired. Now I have three children and four grandchildren, all in Colorado. I’m a political volunteer be-

cause I want to see us recognize that choice is important to how we live our lives and how we spend our money. When government does it for us, they don’t do it half as well. We support Robin because we can tell her our property taxes are too high. We can tell her that affordable housing can be increased if government doesn’t add unnecessary costs with more regulation. She can prevent a super-majority from taking hold in the Senate, which could lead to bad laws.”

Neighbor and party worker

Carolyn Wolvin told The Villager she supports Robyn because, “She is a phenomenal representative for the conservative voice. She is grounded, she’s reliable, and she’s trustworthy.”

Another neighbor, Merrily Tohill told us, “Robyn is a Republican and we need more Republican representatives in the state. I also don’t want to see any more interference with oil and gas production, because those are good jobs. I lived through the disruption of the oil and gas industry in 1987 and I don’t want to see that happen again.”

Diana Olson, who met Robyn recently and was extremely impressed with her, was concerned about property taxes. She said, “I heard that the new law that passed is going to give breaks to people at a certain income threshold. That’s not fair… We shouldn’t be paying an absurd tax and what I pay shouldn’t be given to somebody else,” adding, “If more than half of the new laws were repealed, we’d be better off.”

Democratic Sen. Chris Kolker is running for election in SD16

On June 2, SD16 Sen. Chris Kolker held a kick-off event at Zymos Brewing at 5180 S. Lowell Boulevard in Littleton that drew over 100 people and elected Democrats from U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, Secretary of State Jena Griswold, State Treasurer Dave Young, County Clerk Joan Lopez, Littleton Mayor Kyle Schachter, State Reps. Eliza Hamrick, Chad Clifford, and David Ortiz, Jefferson County Commissioner Andy Kerr, and Centennial City Council Member Christine Sweetland, to former U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, who is enjoying his retirement from Congress.

Kolker, a financial planner and former social studies teacher, was elected in SD27 in 2020 but after the 2022 redistricting, he was living in and representing SD16, which includes parts of Arapahoe and Jefferson Counties. So, although he is running for re-election to the state Senate, Kolker is running in SD16, for the first time.

Chris Kolker has had 65 bills on which he was a prime sponsor signed into law during the past four years he has served as a state Senator.

The Villager asked Kolker about SB24-131 Prohibiting Carrying Firearms in Sensitive Spaces, signed by Gov. Polis on May 31. He told us, “My number one prior-

ity with that bill was that we were preventing open and concealed carry at higher education campuses. We heard from so many students from college campuses who came out and testified in support of this bill. It’s important that there are certain places you just can’t bring a gun legally. If those guns aren’t there, it’s less likely that something’s going to happen.”

Another bill Kolker sponsored that passed this year was SB24111 Senior Primary Residence Prop Tax Reduction, which allows seniors to keep their property tax discount when they move. Previously, they had to live in their home for ten years to qualify for the tax reduction.

We found Ron and Alice Puen-

ing sitting at a table at the brewery. Both retired, Ron is a former engineer and Alice worked in accounting and human resources. Ron told us, “I’ve known Chris for a long time. He’s impeccably honest. He isn’t just a party guy. He thinks for himself. He’s analytical. He has a finance background and state government is largely about managing money, understanding how to spend it, what works economically and what doesn’t. He also has a background in education. Besides his solid honestly, we appreciate his willingness to talk. He isn’t dogmatic, he sees two sides of issues.” Alice said, “I will add, he has a heart for the people. He finds out what’s needed and what will help—gun control, mental health, education. He is willing to step outside his normal barriers to do what he believes is right.”

Addressing supporters, Kolker talked about his father who passed in October and pointed to the lifelong health benefits he received as a member of the United Auto Workers, noting that his mother still has that benefit and, “When everyone gets health care, we do well.”

He continued, “We are all neighbors. We help each other, regardless of whether we live ten feet away or ten miles away. That’s why I’m running for office. That’s the value that I bring. People here today who are elected are all bound together by the empathy we have for the people we represent, whether they agree with us or not. Living a safe and healthful life depends on our ability to get along with our neighbors. That’s what we’re doing with the legislation that we run. We know we are making a difference, making life safer with our gun violence prevention bills like the banning of guns in sensitive spaces. We heard from students, from Moms Demand Action. We are making a difference, one bill at a time. We are going to continue to do that.”

Host Tom Grant with candidate Robyn Carnes

U.S. Rep. Jason Crow

Photos by Freda Miklin Ron and Alice Puening came out to support Kolker.

Secretary of State Jena Griswold and Arapahoe County Clerk Joan Lopez

Lydia, Chris, Caroline, and Tara Kolker. Lydia, 12, and Caroline, 7, are students at Littleton Public Schools.

Carolyn Wolvin, Merrily Tohill, and Diana Olson came to hear from the candidate. Photos by Freda Miklin

Robyn had a tray with issues and ideas that supporters could put stones into to let her know which were most important to them.

Neighbors listened intently to the candidate.

Over 100 people came out to learn about the candidate and his accomplishments.

From left to right, Alison and Leigh, students studying International Affairs at George Washington University, JeffCo Commissioner Andy Kerr, and former U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter.

Greenwood Village HD37 GOP candidate says he will drop out of the race

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

Three others have been removed from the ballot

Danny D. Moore, a U.S. Navy veteran and 2022 running mate of GOP gubernatorial candidate Heidi Ganahl, has notified party officials that he plans to withdraw from the race for Colorado House District 37, which includes all of Greenwood Village, Foxfield, and part of Centennial. He did not have a primary opponent hence was already slated for the ballot in November.

The Arapahoe County Republican Party told The Villager they were exploring

William Jasper Wiggins July 3, 1932-May 21, 2024

Aurora lost a pillar of the community on Tuesday, May 21 when Bill Wiggins passed away. He was very active in and made many contributions to the city he loved. He will be missed.

Bill was an active member of the Rotary Club of Aurora and a past president. He served on the City of Aurora Planning Com mission and was one of the first members of The Aurora Sister Cities Committee. He was instru mental in the founding of The Community College of Aurora and served on the Foundation Board. He served on the Board of Directors for the Aurora Chamber of Commerce and was named Businessman of the Year. A true patriot he was a member of Sons of the Revolution. He viewed him self as a citizen of the world and was a world traveler. This motivat ed him to be an active member of World Denver where he served on the board of directors. An outdoor enthusiast, Bill was a hiker, biker, skier, mountain and rock climber and participated in many mara thons.

Bill is survived by his wife Molly Link, and Leslie (Kevin) Conrad, sister Marjorie Grant, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. was preceded in death by his par ents Jasper and Merle Wiggins, wife Lore Wiggins and grandson Dillon Conrad.

options for replacing Moore, who withdrew for personal reasons.

Other candidates around the state who have been removed from the November ballot are Republican Luis A. Moy, who was running for the state House in HD61-Arapahoe & Douglas Counties, Republican Robert Tate, who was running for the state Senate in SD 29-Arapahoe County, and Democrat Charles Alvarado, who was running to replace Richard Holtorf in state House District 63-Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld & Yuma Counties.

Holtorf is one of six candidates running for the GOP nomination for Congressional District Four to replace former U.S. Rep. Ken Buck. All three candidates were disqualified by the Secretary of

State for failing to file campaign finance reports required by state law.

Ballots have already been printed and mailed for the June 25 primary election. Any votes received for a candidate whose name appears on a ballot, but is no longer eligible to run, will not be counted.

If a primary candidate voluntarily withdraws from a race, their party has a set amount of time during which it can form a vacancy committee to name a new candidate for the general election. It can even be the same person who dropped out if he or she changes their mind.

Political parties can also use vacancy committees to replace candidates who have been disqualified for failure to comply with rules, but in that case, it cannot be the same person.

Bill’s legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of all who know him.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Horan & McConaty on Dartmouth Avenue in Aurora on Tuesday, June 11 at 1 pm. of flowers contributions may be made to Aurora Rotary Foundation (a 501-C3) or Saint Stephens Episcopal Church, Aurora.

Relationships are tricky but essential

Relationships are tricky. There are ups, downs, way ups, and the oh-nodo-we-need-to-break-up downs. The sweet reward of being loved well and the ability to love in return inspires all of us to navigate these choppy waters. Sometimes, we need help figuring it out. Mostly, we need skills to put into practice.

One of the skills we need is perspective. Not all days in loving relationships are fun. Dealing with the drudgery and responsibility of laundry, sick kids, meal preparation, insane schedules, and carpooling is taxing. But having your partner play footsies with you after the kids are in bed is priceless.

The phrase we hear on airplanes to put on our oxygen mask first and then help others is a great skill. Taking care of ourselves so that we can care for others is imperative. This is essential if there has been trauma in your life. You need to get help to heal from the trauma so your relationships can be healthy and satisfying. Knowing what your partner can do to assist you in healing is part of communicating well. First, you must hone your self-awareness skills to communicate your needs. Don’t expect your partner to be a mind-reader. That is too much pressure and is not fair. Healthy people ask for what they need.

Knowing each other’s personalities and how they operate in the world and honoring them is a skill to be learned and put into practice. Letting people be who they are establishes emotional safety and opens the heart to vulnerabilities and closeness. Exploring and discovering your partner’s primary and secondary love language (how they give and receive love) speaks to loving efficiently and effectively and speaking the language of their heart. For example, if your love language is words of affirmation and your partner’s is acts of service, a love language barrier might require an interpreter.

Knowing how to apologize to ensure that your partner knows you are contrite and genuinely sorry is imperative. This is the repair mechanism when your partner is hurt. Expressing gratitude for what your partner does, but more importantly, with who they are, opens the heart to love and attachment.

According to the research, conflict resolution, hearing, and validating your partner’s emotions are essential skills for healthy relationship development and maintenance of intimacy. We also need self-discipline and impulse control as adults to sustain our relationships and teach our children. According to leadership experts, self-discipline is the number-one character trait that builds healthy relationships and life success.

Competencies in character are essential to developing and maintaining healthy relationships. One cannot have a healthy relationship with a person who is not trustworthy, unkind, or short-tempered.

Intentionality and commitment to the health of the relationship should be a priority. We are hardwired to connect and not to do life alone.

Possessing these skills is a game-changer regarding our health and happiness. After all, according to the 75-year Harvard Happiness Study, the secret to health and happiness is the quality of our relationships. joneen@narme.org

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Boebert is a target when GOP candidates for CD4 debate ahead of primary

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

On May 30, four days before ballots for the June 25 primary election began showing up in voters’ mailboxes, 9News and Colorado Politics held a televised debate with all six candidates running for the Republican nomination for Congressional District Four (CD4) that includes Parker, Lone Tree, Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Loveland and most of Colorado’s eastern slope.

The candidates, alphabetically, are CD3 U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, former talk show host Deborah Flora, state Rep. Richard Holtorf, state Rep. Mike Lynch, Logan County Commissioner and former state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, and mortgage broker Peter Yu.

According to the Secretary of State’s records, as of May 1, 35% of active voters in CD4 are registered Republicans, 17% are Democrats, and 47% are unaffiliated. The U.S. Census Bureau describes the CD4 population as 80% white, 14% Hispanic, and 2%

Boebert, the leading fundraiser of the group, drew considerably more fire than any of the other competitors from questioners and fellow candidates.

She was asked whether she presented a stronger risk of losing CD4 to the Democrats than the other Republican contenders for the nomination, because she nearly lost her bid for reelection in CD3 in 2022 and she declined to run from that district again, instead moving to Windsor in CD4.

Boebert blamed her near loss in 2022 on “50,000 Republicans (who didn’t) show up to vote.” Boebert beat Democrat Adam Frisch, who is also the 2024 Democratic candidate in CD3, by only 546 votes in 2022.

Flora, Sonnenberg, Lynch, and Yu responded affirmatively to the question of whether they thought Boebert could cost the GOP the CD4 seat. Only Holtorf did not agree.

Kyle Clark stated that data indicates that 51% of Colorado’s 150,000 “unauthorized immigrants” have lived in the state for 15 years or more, which, he said, “mirrors federal statistics from

the Department of Homeland Security.” He asked the candidates whether they agreed with Donald Trump’s stated plan that, if elected, he would use “local police, the National Guard, and even the U.S. military” to deport 17 million people.

Boebert said she agreed with Trump’s plan.

Lynch said that it was a complex issue, explaining, “We have migrants that come into our state every year to work in our fields. If we blindly start rounding people up…we run the risk of seriously impacting our agricultural community in this state…We need to look at our visa policies and the way we allow people to stay here. As a small business owner, I would love to be able to hire some of these folks.”

Boebert accused Lynch of “promoting indentured servitude.”

Sonnenberg, who has said he also agreed with the idea of mass deportations, was asked about economists’ statements that “Trump’s plan would deport about 4.5% of the American workforce,” which would cause a recession and inflation because, “Those jobs support

www.fasbank.com 303-694-6464

jobs that are held by Americans.” Sonnenberg responded, “Mass deportation that I’m talking about is, shipping the ones that have been bussed into Denver, bus them back out.”

On immigration, Flora said that drug cartels “control our border and a vast majority of Mexico.” Flora did not respond to a direct question about how deportation would work in CD4.

Asked twice what the current Republican-led House of Representatives has done to address grocery prices that have gone up 20% in the past three years, Boebert responded, “When we are selling our resources and not regulating our communities into poverty and not relying on our foreign adversaries for our energy production, we are unleashing our nation’s full potential for economic development and prosperity and it would lower inflation.”

When another candidate asked Boebert what bills she had sponsored that had been signed into law during her two terms in Congress, Boebert named the Pueblo Jobs Act. That bill, which was part of the 2024 National Defense

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Authorization Act signed into law in December 2023, authorized the U.S. Army to close the Pueblo Chemical Depot (PCD) no later than one year after the completion of chemical demilitarization and transfer the remaining parcel of land to the Pueblo community for redevelopment. The PCD is one of two remaining military sites in the U.S. that stores chemical weapons manufactured during World War II.

Asked what she thought public education in the U.S. would look like if all parents removed their elementary and middle-school aged children from public schools, as she has suggested, Flora only said she was very proud of her work on “choices other than government-controlled schools.”

Asked why he supported classifying a hospital provider fee as a fee in 2017 rather than a tax that would have required voter approval, Sonnenberg explained that the fee was used “to leverage money from the federal government to take care of those people that hospitals have to take care of,” adding that his action saved rural hospitals from losing that money and potentially closing, which would have left many rural Coloradans without a reasonably close hospital in an emergency.

All the candidates were asked if they would have voted to overturn the results of the presidential election on January 6, 2021 after the Congress reconvened to certify the election following the insurrection at the Capitol. Only Boebert, who voted to not certify the election on January 6, said she would do the same thing today. The other candidates said they would have voted in favor of certifying President Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential race.

The Republican who gets the highest number of votes in the June 25 primary, between the six contenders, will be the GOP nominee for CD4. The winner does not need to win a majority of the votes cast, only one more than the second-place finisher.

Black.

All the candidates running for the GOP nomination in CD4 raised their hands to respond affirmatively when asked if they supported Donald Trump on the day he was convicted of 34 felony counts. From left to right (without titles) Mike Lynch, Richard Holtorf, Jerry Sonnenberg, Lauren Boebert, Deborah Flora, and Peter Yu.

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Doctors Aaron Sun, Lisa Augustine, Ron Yaros, and Daniel Zeppelin, Aspenwood Dental Jay Davidson and Scott Yeoman, First American State Bank

Dear Readers,

Future Follow Up Estate Planning Checklist

In a prior article, I outlined the steps to be followed upon signing your estate plan documents. The following steps should also be followed, regarding follow up activities under your estate plan documents:

Each Year:

• Review your advance directives (Health Care and General Powers of Attorney) to assure they express your current desires;

• Review your life insurance needs;

• Check your beneficiary designations on life insurance;

• Check your beneficiary designations on your IRA and 401(k) accounts;

• Review your homeowner’s and automobile insurance with your agent;

• Condominium owners: review condominium financial status—particularly the reserve fund and your insurance needs.

Every Two Years:

• Update your asset and

liability list;

• Verify that your bank accounts are correctly titled;

• Verify that your investment accounts are correctly titled;

• Verify that there are no payable on death or transfer on death designations to people who are not your intended beneficiaries, or which are contrary to your estate plan documents/goals;

• Notify your estate plan attorney of changes in any of the above;

• Provide someone outside of your household with the name of your estate plan attorney, to contact in the event of an emergency.

Every Five Years:

• Schedule an appointment with your estate plan attorney to review and discuss the changes in your estate plan, to meet your goals;

• If necessary, consider updating your estate plan to reflect the changes and/or to take advantage of any changes in the law which may affect your estate plan goals.

BY DONALD PETERSON

What are the four key medical/estate plan documents you need now?

Many of my clients have asked what are the critical documents needed. Simply being married does not give you the legal right to gain access to your

spouse’s medical records or make medical decisions on your spouse’s behalf, even in an emergency. To avoid this problem and to help others care for you and to achieve your overall estate planning goals, the following documents create an effective medical/estate plan package:

1. Health Care Power of Attorney;

2. General Financial Power of Attorney;

3. Advanced Directive for Medical/Surgical Treatment (“Living Will”); and

4. Will (or a Will with a Trust).

Careful medical/estate

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

Some dates to circle on Broncos calendar

When the Broncos’ 2024 schedule was released a few weeks ago, which dates did you circle on your calendar?

In this instance, circling a date in a coming month denotes a game that is likely to attract extra hype or, for whatever reason, is of special significance—either generally or maybe just personally.

Here are the ones I’ve highlighted:

coach in 2022 provided bulletin board material for Hackett’s new team

The motivated Jets scored 23 points in the second half to get the last laugh, 31-21.

with the Panthers as a free agent.

November 17: Atlanta

The belief in May was that Michael Penix Jr. would not play much, if at all, in 2024 because the Falcons spent a boatload of money to sign Kirk Cousins to play quarterback for them.

August 11: Indianapolis—Preseason games aren’t usually a big deal beyond marking the start of games instead of just more practice sessions.

But this one’s different. It will be the first game for Bo Nix at quarterback, whether or not he starts.

Sean Payton has a reputation as a quarterback whisperer. This marks the beginning of his latest project.

Unlike most preseasons, this one, as a whole, is likely to draw more buzz than most, because of Nix.

There’s also the matter of Zach Wilson, who will be trying to resurrect a career that was more ballyhooed than Bo’s when the Jets made him the No. 2 pick in the draft in 2021.

And Jarrett Stidham, whom Payton signed to a two-year contract before last season and who started the last two games of 2023 and isn’t conceding anything to Wilson or Nix.

September 9: At Seattle—This is the regular season opener, and a return to the scene of the crime, so to speak. Will Nix be Denver’s replacement for Russell Wilson?

Whoever starts, will he fare differently against the Seahawks than the erstwhile star they unloaded in a lopsided deal with the Broncos that, time has shown, favored them disproportionately?

The Broncos lost Wilson’s return, 17-16, in 2022 to begin his disappointing twoyear run in Denver.

September 15: Pittsburgh—Wilson returns to Empower Field at Mile High.

How many stories will be written and interviews beamed on TV and radio this week about him coming back?

Will he exact any measure of satisfaction against the team they paid handsomely to acquire then release?

September 29: The Jets—A rematch of last year, when Payton’s intemperate assessment of Nathaniel Hackett’s performance as Broncos head

And Zach Wilson, who started in place of hobbled Aaron Rodgers, completed 19 of 26 passes for 199 yards.

Barring another injury, Rodgers will be healthy this time, while Wilson will be wearing Broncos colors and may or may not get in the game.

October 17: At New Orleans—Sean returns to Payton’s Place, where he was the head coach for 15 seasons, during which he won 152 and lost 89.

New Orleans captured Super Bowl XLIV that season, scoring 15 unanswered in the fourth quarter to upset the Colts and league Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning, 31-17.

This is a Thursday Night TV game, the first of Week 7, so all eyes will be focused on it.

October 27: Carolina—Josey Jewell played in 78 games for the Broncos between 2018, when they drafted him in the fourth round of that year’s college draft, and 2023.

He makes his return to Denver after signing a threeyear, $22.75 million contract

But who knows if a guy who will be 36 in August will return successfully from a torn Achilles? Then if he does, whether or not he’ll still be standing by Week 11.

If he’s not, we could be looking at a head-to-head between the two quarterbacks most often mentioned as Denver’s next savior: Penix vs. Bo Nix.

Time will tell.

The other 11: My list doesn’t include the homeand-homes with the Chiefs, Raiders and Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers; nor this season’s lone Monday night game for Denver, vs. Cleveland; nor tough road games against Baltimore and Cincinnati.

Six of those come after the Atlanta game.

By then, the only dates left worth circling on this year’s calendar could be Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Denny Dressman is a veteran of 43 years in the newspaper business, including 25 at the Rocky Mountain News, where he began as executive sports editor. He is the author of 16 books, nine of them sports-related. You can write to Denny at denny dressman@comcast.net.

Arapahoe Libraries to host free outdoor concert with That Eighties Band

Get ready for a blast from the past!

Arapahoe Libraries and the City of Centennial will host a concert with That Eighties Band from 6-8 p.m. June 14 at Centennial Center Park. The event is free and open to the public.

The band will play all your favorite hits, from pop to hard rock and everything in between. Food trucks will offer a variety of items for purchase. ‘80s attire is encouraged, and all ages are welcome. No pets, please. Bring blankets or lawn chairs and enjoy the show!

When: Friday, June 14 6-8 p.m.

Where: Centennial Center Park, 13050 E. Peakview Ave., Englewood Who: adults and families

Throughout the summer, Arapahoe Libraries will host free events for all ages, including author visits, escape rooms and movie screenings. To learn more, visit arapahoelibraries.org or call 303-LIBRARY (303-542-7279).

About That Eighties Band

Arapahoe Libraries includes eight community libraries, a jail library and a Library on Wheels in Arapahoe County, Colorado. For more information, visit arapahoelibraries.org.

About Arapahoe Libraries

Arapahoe Libraries includes eight community libraries, a jail library and a Library on Wheels in Arapahoe County, Colorado. For more information, visit arapahoelibraries.org.

Need a refresh? Where do I start?

Do you feel bewildered and lost when you contemplate giving your home a refresh? Do you have absolutely no idea where and how to start? Here are some ideas to help you renew and revitalize your space without doing a major overhaul. The psychological side-effects of a living area refresh can be amazing!

Step 1: First, pick a specific area where you will start. A good idea is to start with a small space, such as an entry way, mudroom or powder room. It can even be that cluttered corner where you do your work from home. What is great about doing a powder room refresh is that the space is small but it has a big impact.

Step 2: Once you’ve decided where to start, the next step is to declutter. Declutter, declutter, declutter. Then declutter a little bit more. You will be amazed at how much bigger and cleaner your space feels!

Step 3: Next, purge and organize. Do I really need that blender I haven’t used in 5 years? What about all those thread-bare towels and washcloths that are still in my linen closet? If you feel you can’t do this on your own, hire

someone to help.

Step 4: Now it’s time to maximize space. Try moving your furniture around in differing lay-outs.

Step 5: Identify what makes your space unique and emphasize that uniqueness. What architectural elements do I want to emphasize and how? A beautiful fireplace? A window with outstanding views of the mountains? Or perhaps even lovely powder room fixtures. Sometimes, something as simple as a new coat of paint in an eye-popping color will do the trick.

Step 6: Think about functionality. What would make your life/work easier? A desk? More counter space? A family communications center?

Not ready to work with a designer? Here are some easy things to do that can have a big impact on your space.

Swap out light fixtures. Make sure to choose the right light bulbs. Change the pulls on your cabinet door and drawers. Update your window treatments. Should I remove those old drapes, curtains or swags to streamline my space? This might make my room appear bigger! And – it’s a great way to emphasize that

of the

tains. Invest in a new rug. Paint! Paint the walls or paint a piece of furniture or paint a picture!

If you are ready to work with a designer, start early. Do not make any decisions or purchases that could end up being a costly mistake. This could actually save you money as well as provide you with fresh ideas that you never would have thought of. When selecting a designer, make sure you look at samples of their work. A professional designer should have a portfolio and an online presence with samples of their work. Also, check out their professional training and education. There are many self-declared designers out there with little or no professional training or experience. Working with a designer can be a fun and enriching experience!

Sari

Mina

Ross Interior Design www.sariminaross.com 646.594.3476

A Villager contributing columnist - “My passions are all things interior design.”

lovely view

moun-

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Boy Scouts of America to become Scouting America

This rebranding reflects the continuing efforts to welcome everyone to experience the benefits of Scouting

The Boy Scouts of America today announced that it will rebrand to Scouting America, reflecting the organization’s ongoing commitment to welcome every youth and family in America to experience the benefits of Scouting. The change will go into effect on February 8, 2025, the organization’s 115th anniversary.

This announcement also comes as the organization celebrates the fifth anniversary of welcoming girls into Cub Scouting and Scouts BSA programs. Scouting America currently serves more than 176,000 girls and young women across all programs, including over 6,000 who have earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

“Though our name will be new, our mission remains unchanged: we are committed to teaching young people to be Prepared. For Life,” said Roger A. Krone, president and chief executive officer of Scouting America.

“This will be a simple but very important evolution as we seek to ensure that everyone feels welcome in Scouting.”

Scouting America builds on the organization’s 114 years of helping America’s youth. Its ongoing goal is to provide young people with a safe environment where they can learn meaningful life skills and have fun, educational experiences, fostering their growth and future outcomes as leaders, and be prepared for life. At the same time, values instilled by the Scout Oath and Law help prepare young people for lives of purpose and impact.

More than 130 mil-

lion Americans have been through Scouting programs since its founding in 1910, and currently, more than 1 million youth, including both men and women, are served by 477,000 dedicated adult volunteers in local councils throughout the country. To date, more than 2.75 million youth have earned Scouting’s highest rank of Eagle Scout.

In addition to supporting the nation’s youth,

Scouting America will continue to be an important asset to strengthen our communities, having provided more than 7 million hours of volunteer services for community improvement and other projects across the country annually.

“Scouting America provides a welcoming, safe environment where youth can become the best version of themselves by learning from and respecting each other,” said Krone. “I encourage everyone to join us and experience the benefits of Scouting.”

About Scouting America

Scouting America provides the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be “Prepared. For Life.®”

Scouting America welcomes all of America’s youth into its programs. Our goal is to give them fantastic experiences in the outdoors, and elsewhere, where they can grow with us in a safe environment.

More than 130 million Americans have been through our programs since our founding, and currently more than 1 million youth are served by 477,000 dedicated adult volunteers in local councils throughout the country.

To learn more about Scouting America’s mission, visit Scouting.org.

Old-Fashioned Letters Versus Modern Communication

Remember firstclass letters, the kind you sat down and read right away instead of leaving them on the kitchen counter to collect breadcrumbs for a few days? I’ve been thinking about those lately because I’ve finally decided to part with the letters I’ve been saving since 1980. I used to get a lot of letters, probably because I used to write a lot of letters. Checking my mail was once the highlight of my day. Now it’s just the responsible thing to do if I want to avoid having my identity stolen.

and paper. But on the positive side, the slower pace meant we were less likely to say something we hadn’t thought of yet. And if we did write in the heat of the moment, we still had time between licking the envelope and dropping it off at the mailbox to change our mind. Sometimes that wasn’t enough time either.

of handwriting: the lovely and legible, the lovely but illegible, the not lovely but legible and the not lovely and completely illegible. In case you’re wondering, my handwriting falls into that last category. Modern technology has given me a chance to finally be understood. Not that I always am.

Going through all those old letters has got me comparing them with the modern ways we communicate. Of course texts, emails and social media messages are faster to create and send if you have the proper technology—and if you can find it when you need it. In fact, you can fire off a message faster than you can say, “Maybe I should give this a little more thought before I hit send.”

Lucky for me, my email program gives me 30 seconds to come to my senses and reel a message back in. I’m not proud to admit 30 seconds isn’t always enough.

Obviously writing letters took longer. How much longer depended on the letter writer’s ability to find a pen

Once it was mailed, a letter could take days or even weeks to arrive at its destination, depending on where the letter was going and whether or not we’d remembered to put a stamp on it.

Meanwhile, we can send modern messages around the world in seconds. And we do. And so does everybody else. The speed, convenience and variety of platforms has left us drowning in messages. If someone wants to contact us these days they can do it with text, snail mail, email, voicemail, Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In, Instagram, carrier pigeon or singing telegram. There are so many places to check for messages these days that we can spend all day doing it.

At least, modern messages are legible. Not all old-fashioned letters were. As I’ve been sorting through 40-some years of them, I’ve decided there are four basic types

I blame any misunderstandings on my overreliance on voice activated software, autocorrect and my bad habit of hitting send before I’ve read over what I just wrote. I once texted a friend that I’d meet her at 2, but the message read “I’ll see you at zoo.” Lucky we don’t have a zoo, otherwise she might still be waiting for me.

One last consideration when comparing snail mail to modern communication is value. I saved letters for 40 years and I’m finding it hard to part with some of them. I can’t see myself saving texts and emails for 40 years. But there’s something special about an actual letter written in the handwriting of someone you love. The fact that they took the time to write you a letter says a lot about how they feel about you too—even if you can’t read it.

Dorothy Rosby is an author and humor columnist whose work appears regularly in publications in the West and Midwest. You can subscribe to her blog at www.dorothyrosby.com or contact at www. dorothyrosby.com/contact.

People + Produce at Belleview Station 2024

People + Produce, a Gum Pop Presents event, announces its 5th season at Belleview Station!

Every Sunday June 2 - October 13 9AM - 1PM

Belleview Station / Denver Tech Center

S. Newport St & E Chenango Ave. Denver, CO 80237

For market details, vendor lineups and tickets, visit peopleandproducebvs.com

It’s farmers market season! People + Produce is returning to Belleview Station for its 5th season, starting on Sunday, June 2.

Every Sunday starting at 9AM attendees can eat fresh and shop small with 50+ Colorado makers & craft vendors. People + Produce at Belleview Station strives to be a place where the community can shop for locally and sustainably grown produce, farmed and fished foods, grocery items, baked goods, artisanal products, and more.

Prefare Meals, the presenting sponsor of this year's farmers market will pop up with delicious samples from their locally sourced and packaged at-home meal kits as well as weekly specials to get these chef-prepared meals delivered right to your door!

Miller Farms returns with weekly fresh produce and will be joined throughout the season by The Urban Orchard, Spruce House Bread, Bjorns Honey, and more with locally sourced grocery items.

This season’s craft vendor lineup includes, but is not limited to: Evey K Fashionliner, Charlie’s Bouquet Bar, Of Mountain’s & Gems, Gold Rush Soaps, Aj’s Dog Bakery, Home Girl Thrift, and Haykin Family Cider.

There will also be a variety of local street food and food truck eats at every market, including The Pizza Box Truck, Little Man Ice cream, Rollin’ Eats, and Yatri Chai Company.

We’re thrilled to partner with Belleview Beer Garden, the local watering hole, to provide live music every Sunday from 11AM to 2PM on their patio and to offer attendees bottomless mimosas and an all-Colorado lineup of brews to enjoy after they shop.

People + Produce is family-friendly, all ages, and free to attend. For more information on market hours, weekly vendor lineups, music schedule, and more please visit peopleandproducebvs.com. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP via Eventbrite to get $1 off their first drink at Belleview Beer Garden and subscribe to the newsletter to receive relevant email announcements.

Be sure to follow People + Produce on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest news and updates.

www.peopleandproducebvs.com

www.instagram.com/peopleproducebelleview/ https://www.facebook.com/peopleproducebelleview

Classified advertising

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.

CENTENNIAL SUMMER SOCIALS

DISTRICT 1 - JUNE 12 - ARAPAHOE PARK

6-8 p.m. for all socials. Live music, food trucks, local vendors, yard games and kids activities. Info: 303-325-8000

WHAT’S NEW? BALLOTS FOR THE JUNE ELECTION BEGIN MAILING JUNE 3

Make sure your voter registration is up-todate at ArapahoeVotes.gov

ARAPAHOE COUNTY FERMENTATION CLASS: GINGER ALE

JUNE 6, 7-8 p.m. at CSU Extension -Arapahoe At the County office in Centennial. Learn how to make this beverage at home. Workshop is $10. RSVP.

PUBLIC WORKS & DEVELOPMENT PLAY DATE AT DOVE VALLEY

JUNE 7, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Dove Valley Regional Park, 7900 S. Potomac St. Learn more at Arapahoe.gov/publicworks

MENTAL HEALTH OF OPEN HOUSE WOOL SPINNING

JUNE 8 at 17 Mile House Farm Park and discover how animal wool is spun into the sweaters we wear. FREE event. Reservations required. Register arapahoeco.gov/17 mile house

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 720-2082220.

SOUTH METRO CHAMBER GOLF TOURNAMENT

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 303-7950142.

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: 720524-2061.

ARAPAHOE COUNTY (CSU EXTENSION) XERIC & WATER WISE LANDSCAPING

JUNE 11, 7-7:30 p.m. Must register. The class will be held at Hudson Gardens

ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOYS STATE JUNE 2-8 FOR HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS

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

ENGLEWOOOD CHAMBER

RIBBON CUTTING AT WOK SPICY

JUNE 13, 4-6 p.m. at 3021 S. Broadway in Englewood. Free & open to the public but must RSVP. 303-789-4473.

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

50TH ANNUAL MADAM LOU BUNCH DAY & FAMOUS BED RACE

JUNE 22, 12 noon-7:30 p.m. Bed race, costume contests, live music and Ball. Sponsored by Main Street Central City.

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

SAVE THE DATE - JULY 25-28

ARAPAHOE COUNTY FAIR

A.C. FAIRGROUNDS - REGIONAL PARK11:00 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

FANTASTIC HAIRSTYLIST! Cuts, Color, Style+ Women-Men-Kids Experienced. Skilled. Bella Mia Salon 7790 East Arapahoe Rd. COLLEEN 303-828-6793 SPECIALS!!!

Rd., Sedalia. Tickets: www.scottishgames. org

WINGS OF HOPE FOR PANCREATIC CANCER RESEARCH PRESENTS EVENING OF HOPE

SEPT. 6, Presenting Miss America- Madison 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

2024 Mazda CX-30 Is Impressive Package

I’ve just driven a great lower priced all-wheel drive, turbo powered, Mazda CX30. What a fine drive in a spirited compact sedan that has excellent acceleration and all-around perfection.

The CX-30 has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $36,800 that includes a plethora of standard and hightech features, starting with a snappy appearance of “Platinum quartz metallic” paint and a black and brown interior with leather trimmed seats.

Assembled in Salamanca, Mexico with Japanese powertrain engine and transmission. This combination achieved 30 mpg

in highway mileage with sport mode with six-speed “Skyactiv” transmission achieving 227 horsepower from the 2.5L turbo engine.

The car was agile, and acted like a Kentucky-bred racehorse, just wanting to

run fast. Running fast means slowing down quickly, and CX-30 has 4-wheel disc “smart” brakes. The car rides on 18-inch black alloy wheels with twin rear tail pipes, a clue to its high performance.

I’m impressed with the

technical support that Mazda puts into their cars. A wide array of safety features earning a five-star frontal and side crash perfect score. Safety measures include lane keep assist and lane departure warnings, along with a driver attention alert. More traffic alerts for blind spots and rear cross traffic warnings.

Deicer windshield wipers and heated outside mirrors. This car is prepared for Colorado weather with all-wheel traction control system for icy roads.

A sliding glass moonroof along with all-around LED lights and a rear end spoiler adds more sparkle to

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

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, 720-3139741.

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.

this CX-30. I have a quibble with the Mazda engineers. I find the suspension system too firm, leading to a rougher ride. Perhaps the firm suspension may be necessary for the high performance and G-vectoring controls for curve stability.

There are many good features in the CX, including a Bose 12 speaker sound system and a 360 degree surround camera view. The vehicle is loaded, but what is the best is the driving performance with paddle wheel steering wheel shifters and turbo power at a very attractive price. This is a car that I would purchase for pleasure and work.

By H. Throttle