7-27-23 Villager

Photos by Susan Sweeney Lanam

Lisa Collins, owner Graze Craze

Bride: Anja Repka

Mother of Bride: Elisabeth Repka, Anja Repka Sister, Hannah Repka

Hostess Susan Sweeney Lanam and Elisabeth Repka

Trading sex education for relationship skills training

It appears that everyone has an opinion about sex education. Activated parents do not want explicit sexual messaging or discussions regarding sexual identity, libertine behaviors, and age-inappropriate content being taught to their children. Government officials, from the educational establishment to health departments, argue that promoting a risk reduction “comprehensive” condom and contraceptive approach is the best approach for the health and well-being of adolescents. There are two pots of funding at stake, a sexual risk avoidance approach to sexual expression which is regarded as the optimal health message, and a so called realistic “kids are going to having

sex no matter what you say” risk-reduction approach to sex education.

Colorado is obsessed with sex education passing several “Sex Education Bills” in the General Assembly. The most recent is HB 1032 which states that if a school district teaches sex education, they must teach it the way it is outlined in the Bill.

As an example, HB 1032 states: “Schools may not emphasize sexual abstinence as the primary or sole acceptable prevention method available to students.” The bill goes on to forbid any school district to apply for sexual risk avoidance funds or allow any agency that has received federal or state sexual avoidance funds

from being in the schools. In addition, HB 1032 goes on to prescribe what the schools can teach and what it cannot perhaps rendering the law in direct conflict with the Colorado State Constitution which grants local control and autonomy to school districts and adherence to community norms. The State Constitution regarding local control should be honored and followed.

There were hundreds of school leaders and parents that fought and even testified against HB 1032, but it was passed and signed by the Governor anyway in 2019. What we have learned is that this kind of government control is rampant across the country. Parents and school boards are at odds with each other and fighting this battle of what to teach to children

about sex education.

When the Center for Relationship Education pivoted away from sex education to only teach relationship and life skills training which includes the science of relationship development and maintenance, character and positive youth development and life skills, the floodgates opened, and the approach was embraced throughout the country.

This innovative approach includes skills for:

• Self-regulation and personal power

• Learning about yourself and others

• Learning decision making skills

• Goal setting and overcoming obstacles

• Building protective factors and assets in youth

• Communication skills, including conflict reso-

lution

• Financial Literacy and work force readiness (soft skills)

• Teaching the success sequence for poverty prevention

• Teaching safe dating strategies

• Life skills for avoiding peer pressure and risky behaviors such as underage drinking or illicit drug use.

Let’s stop fighting. When adults are in conflict, children do not get what they need. Everyone agrees that the longing of the human heart throughout all people groups is to be loved well, be accepted, affirmed, respected and included in our collective humanity.

Let’s trade sex education for relationship skills training. joneen@myrelationshipcenter.org

I spent about eight hours last Sunday watching the British Open golf tournament at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club won by American, Brian Harman. He won the tournament by six strokes and led during the entire championship. I have never seen such a tough course and it was interesting to see the views of Liverpool. It was well worth the time. I really enjoyed the great golf. Those sand bunkers are deep and menacing but the great golfers were usually able to hit the golf ball out of the sand if they could swing without hitting the high walls. Harman had not won a golf tournament since 2017 and was a compete underdog going into the tournament.

*****

venture on a church mission to Africa. The Villager interviewed the Archers on the upcoming adventure.

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to entertain your guests. 303-635-1210.

BY BOB SWEENEY

A copy of The Villager is in the cornerstone time capsule at the Latter-Day Saints Temple. Decades ago there was resistance to the construction and location of this Temple in Greenwood Village. The Villager defended the right and privilege of the LDS Church to build this magnificent structure in the area. I was invited to sit on the stage at the dedication of the Temple with Ezra Taft Benson, a significant leader of the church and well-known Washington figure.

Observing talent besides golf, the Cirque du Soleil is in Denver for a few more days next to the Ball Arena. The tent has been erected and the talented cast of players perform high-wire acts, contortionist, juggling, and amazing feats of strength and agility. Cirque is a Canadian company with shows in Las Vegas. Great family entertainment and well worth the time and ticket price. This year’s show is called “Kooza.”

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Mark your event calendar to take in “Art on the Green” that is at the Curtis Art Center in Greenwood Village Sept. 16-17. The major art show features food, music, and all Colorado Art Fair. More to come as the dates draw closer.

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Gerri and I were guests July 16 at the Centennial Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to hear a program presented by church members Paul and Carol Archer. They will undertake a church mission to Kenya. Interesting to us because our son-in-law Mike Lanam, and grandson Brennan, just returned from Nairobi, Kenya, where they spent a week at a rural school teaching and working with 200 African children.

I became a friend of the Archers during the last election where Paul was a candidate for the State Legislature. He was an excellent candidate but lost the election. All the Republican candidates lost in the Arapahoe County election. That didn’t deter the Archers from moving forward to leave 20 grandchildren and

Sunday morning it was very refreshing to see some longtime friends at the service and to admire the very congenial and well-dressed congregation. Myself, having been raised in Craig with nearby Utah, I had many Mormon friends, including a bishop who was our ranching neighbor. We shared many working days with the Lowry Seely family sharing cowboy chores and branding calves together. Mormons are good hard-working people who came across America in the last century walking while pulling carts. Brigham Young led the group to Salt Lake City where they have prospered as one of the largest and fastest growing churches in the world.

*** We were at a yard party at the home of a good friend and the entertainment for the evening was provided by Terri Fisher from 5Star Talent and Entertainment Inc. The dance group wore awesome “Aztec” historical costumes with unique colorful designs. The dancers perform historical dance steps to a fast drumbeat.

Azteca Arts Colorado promotes their people’s heritage through the use of dance, music, storytelling, and ceremony This is a non-profit organization under the Colorado Folk Arts Council celebrating over 50 years of service in Colorado. Contact Terri if you would like a colorful group

*** Interstate 70, heading West from Denver, is becoming a traffic nightmare. The Floyd Hill project is underway, lanes are narrowing, and traffic backed up for miles, especially on weekends. The project is costing $700 million and will be underway for an estimated four-years as the granite rocks are blasted and new bridges constructed. But, beyond that project, the I-70 highway heading to Vail, and beyond, is full of ruts and potholes. Maybe the CDOT should take care of the existing highways surfaces first. The highway is worn out and an embarrassment for our state that we have a major highway so pitiful and in need of resurfacing.

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My friend Larry turned my sprinkler system on for the first time this summer last week. The rains have kept yards, trees, flowers, and lawns green for months without using the irrigation system. No doubt the Aurora and Denver Water departments are losing millions in water sales revenue, but at least our reservoirs are full and water flowing downstream to help the Colorado river dams that are in serious drought trouble. It is hard to believe that it is almost August and summer weather has just warmed up following one of the wettest years in Colorado history. Where has the summer gone?

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I see a new Cherry Cricket restaurant just opened on Littleton. Blvd. This famous brand stems from Cherry Creek, DTC, and now has

has been adding additional food and beverage to their menu of physical fitness. Become a member of this great club.

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Lots of road construction ongoing across Arapahoe County with streets, bridges, and sink holes slowing traffic as city and county work crews do summer road and underground pipe projects. We owe these maintenance workers a big thank you for doing this hard labor in now warmer days.

Labor Day is approaching, and we should be appreciative of laborers who do the sweat equity projects. If it wasn’t for our Hispanic friends and neighbors some of this hard work wouldn’t be occurring. The influx of immigrants has made America great with the early day Irish who came to Boston in the 1700s being greeted with NINA signs, meaning “No Irish Need Apply” for work. Chinese workers came to America to do early day mining and railroad construction. America has a great melting pot of many nationalities and cultures who have become very successful here by their incredible work ethic. The nation is becoming more diverse as more immigrants arrive legally, or illegally. We wouldn’t have the crisis at the border if past presidents and Congresses would updated and refined our legal immigration system.

We should also not be sending the best and brightest foreign students back home after graduation.

PUBLISHER & EDITOR

Gerri Sweeney gerri@villagerpublishing.com

PUBLISHER Robert Sweeney bsween1@aol.com

CREATIVE MARKETING DIRECTOR

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

VICE PRESIDENT/MARKETING

Sharon Sweeney sharon@villagerpublishing.com

LEGALS

Becky Osterwald legal@villagerpublishing.com

NEWS EDITOR Gerri Sweeney 303-773-8313 gerri@villagerpublishing.com

GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

Freda Miklin fmiklin.villager@gmail.com 303-489-4900

REPORTER

Robert Sweeney bsween1@aol.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

Linda Kehr — 303-881-9469 linda@villagerpublishing.com

Valerie LeVier — 303-773-8313 valerie@villagerpublishing.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Susan 720-270-2018

PHOTOGRAPHER

Stefan Krusze — 303-717-8282 octaviangogoI@aol.com

EDITORIAL COLUMNIST

expanded into Littleton. I note driving by that there is a large outdoor patio that appears to be busy already.

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South Metro Denver Chamber held a social event at Club Greenwood that was well attended last week.

This iconic John Madden family institution is one of the best and well-run facilities in America. The club

Time to check your voting registration and get ready for the 2024 election that is rapidly approaching. Should Arapahoe County retain Tabor or reject it? This taxing issue will be on the ballot come November. We had two opposing views in last week’s Villager. Be informed and read this newspaper. I see that The Denver Post is discontinuing letters to the editor because they are too divisive. We will take letters up to 300 words. No personal attacks allowed but reader input on local issues is welcome. If local newspapers disappear, it will be a sad day for transparency in government and local affairs, a that is a major reason to subscribe to The Villager. We do our best to stay abreast of local affairs and draw attention to both success and failures in our society. The printed word is still alive and reliable.

Robert Sweeney bsween1@aol.com

The Villager is an award-winning, locally owned, independent newspaper. All letters to the editor must be signed. The contributor’s name, hometown and phone number must also accompany all letters to the editor for verification and we reserve the right to edit contributions for space. We attempt to verify all matters of fact but hold contributors liable for the content, accuracy and fairness of their contributions. All submissions become the property of The Villager and may be reused in any medium.

Reverend Martin Niemoller

“In Germany, the Nazis first came for the communists and I didn’t speak up because wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the Jews and didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists and didn’t speak up because wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn’t speak up because was a Protestant. Then they came for me and by that time there was no one left to speak for me!”

2020 Member

If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.

– James Herriot

Greenwood Village will install license plate readers around the city to fight crime

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

At its July 17 study session, the Greenwood Village City Council responded enthusiastically to Police Chief Dustin Varney’s proposal to add 14 more automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) around the city, to supplement the two that have been in use in the vicinity of Arapahoe Road and the I-25 corridor since 2020.

Chief Varney explained that those who commit crimes in the business districts and/or neighborhoods of GV use the city’s main roads, so having ALPRs in key locations will capture important data. Accordingly, he proposed placing them on GV thoroughfares, including Belleview Avenue, Orchard Road, University Boulevard, Holly Street, Quebec Street, and Yosemite Street.

Appearing with the chief were Deputy Police Chief Dave Oliver, Traffic Operations Commander Scott Jones, and Communications & Re-

GV resident wants the city to ask again about composting, and make it easier to respond this time

Dear Editor,

This is in response to the article “GV says no to composting due to low resident response on website” printed in the July 20 issue of THE VILLAGER paper.

I am concerned that the low response may have been due to the inability of residents to locate and navigate the Village Voices tab. I respectfully request the City find another, more user-friendly, way to assess resident interest levels.

When I saw the notice months ago, I was very motivated to vote in the affirmative but had difficulty finding the correct site. Rather than spinning my wheels I contacted my district representatives, and they forwarded my vote to the City.

The article mentioned that 100% of the responses were in strong support of some sort of composting program. Because I had trouble with the website, I suspect others may have had trouble as well, and that may be why the response rate was low. The article also mentioned that middle-schooler Julia Pace was persuasive enough to move the City Council to action, as well as 50 families in her neighborhood to sign up at their own expense. This tells me there is interest!

People are busy and may not have time to deal with registering on the website. Please

cords Manager Mike Stewart.

Chief Varney pointed out that motor vehicle theft has been the fastest rising crime since 2019 and Colorado led the nation in motor vehicle thefts from 2020 to 2021. ALPRs have proven to be an effective tool in combatting both crime and traffic issues.

The two ALPRs that have been in use in GV since 2020 capture 6.5 million license plates annually and generate approximately 14,000 alerts. Those alerts, along with the implementation of new police department tactics and policies, are believed to have been key to motor vehicle thefts in GV coming down from 212 in 2021 to 165 in 2022. The system has also “helped solve crimes involving burglary, theft, weapons violations, robbery, assault,” and other offenses, including drugs.

GVPD’s proposal is to lease the ALPRs for five years, at an estimated annual rental cost of $40,600. Leasing the equipment instead of buying it avoids a significant up-front cost. More importantly, it will allow GV to take advantage of technological updates and im-

consider a different method of reaching residents, such as calling a special-purpose telephone number and leaving a voice message or selecting options 1 or 2, yes or no, along with their address.

Wendy Boutin Greenwood Village

provements.

The Chief expects that the new and currently-in-place ALPRs will generate 91,000 alerts annually, of which approximately 27,000 will be actionable. To handle the additional workload that will be generated by the data collected, he told the council he will need three additional staff members; one 911 dispatcher, one digital media technician, and one commissioned police detective, for a total estimated cost of $310,152 per year, including benefits.

In response to a question from Council Member Anne Ingebretsen, Chief Varney confirmed that ALPRs could be used to identify vehicles involved in repeated incidents of street racing, which would increase the likelihood of the perpetrators being caught and cited if they engage in the activity again.

Addressing the question of privacy, GV Communications Officer Megan Copenhaver told The Villager that the City’s stated policy is, “The new devices will only be placed in areas… with high rates of crime and/or areas that

have been identified as zones of travel for vehicles associated with crime. Access and use of scanned data is for law enforcement purposes only, and officers utilizing the data need a justifiable reason to view and use the information to further an investigation.” Further, she explained, “All license plate recognition data and images are retained for 21 days. Data that contains information pertinent to a specific law enforcement investigation will be retained for the life of the related case file or otherwise deemed by a court of law. Following the 21-day period, if the data does not contain information that has been identified as pertinent to a law enforcement investigation or an ongoing case, it is discarded. These policies are consistent with the state’s recommended

municipal records retention schedule and meet standards as outlined by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, the departments accrediting agency.”

Chief Varney assured the council that, if the chosen sites do not generate the expected volume of alerts, ALPRs could be relocated at a nominal cost.

In an informal voice vote, the council unanimously decided to proceed with the implementation of the program immediately, since the city is “very much ahead of budgeted revenues” for 2023, according to its city manager, John Jackson. Chief Varney told the council it would likely take about six months to get the equipment and staffing in place.

fmiklin.villager@gmail.com

Larry McLaughlin Aurora

We are the only state with a TABOR law Why is Colorado the only state that has a TABOR law? That tells you what a horrible idea it was and is.

Western Fantasy is filled with unique 2023 event marks “30 Years of Giving”

COSTNER

MODERN WEST

WEST

America, Colorado – a nonprofit that is known itself for coming to the res-

cue of numerous vulnerable segments of the Colorado community. That was 30 years ago. Sharon and Jean brainstormed for something new in Denver’s already crowded charity schedule. The concept was magic. A giant western gala – not the typical black-tie evening, but a multi-faceted adventure with an audience dressed in “elegant” western at-

tire in a western setting with amazing entertainment – all celebrating our western spirit. It was brilliant! And, it grew. From the first headliner – John Denver, no less, each year was eagerly anticipated. Now 30 years of excitement is even greater for one of Denver’s premier fundraisers. Through the years, an incredible lineup of stars has graced the stage at Western Fantasy: 1994 – John Denver, 1995 – Kenny Rogers, 1996 – Alabama, 1997 – Barbara Mandrell, 1998 – Wynona Judd, 1999 – George

Jones, 2000 – Brooks Dunn, 2001 –Toby Keith, 2002 – Kenny Chesney, 2003 – Jo Dee Messina, 2004 – Randy Travis, 2005 – Lee Greenwood, 2006 – Trisha Yearwood, 2007 – LeAnn Rimes, 2008 – Dierks Bentley, 2009 –Kenny Rogers, 2010 – Wynona Judd, 2011 – Sara Evans, 2012 – Rodney Atkins, 2013 three headliners – Lee Greenwood, The OakRidge Boys and Lonestar, 2014 – Trace Adkins, 2015 –Sara Evans, 2016 – Josh Truner, 2017 – Scotty McCreery, 2018 – Rodney Atkins & Diamond Rio, 2019 – Lauren Alaina, 2020 (Virtual) – Lee Brice & Billy Dawson, 2021 – The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, 2022 – Justin Moore and NOW 2023 – Kevin Costner and Modern West!

“Out of our brainstorming 30 years ago, Western Fantasy was born. We were able to secure John Denver and put together a dynamite leadership committee, and it became truly magical. I must pay tribute also to Sharon’s steadfast devotion to its success. She’s been VOA’s Angel and Western Fantasy’s Angel.”

-Jean Galloway, Co-Founder of Western Fantasy

was the headline entertainer

The tenth year (2003 featured Jo Dee Messina pictured here surrounded by Sharon Magness Blake and Ernie Blake

A large audience celebrates the spirit of Western Fantasy each year at the “transformed for the evening” National Western Event Center (This is Year 18 in 2011 with Sara Evans)

The 15th year in 2008 featured Dierks Bentley who is pictured with Sharon and Ernie

LEFT: The 20th in 2013 featured Lee Greenwood who attended the the Preview Party in 2022

Photo by Scottie Iverson

Photo by Scottie Iverson

BELOW: 2022 Gala Chair Pat Robinson (Humanitarian Award Winner 2018) is surrounded by Kevin Edling and Scottie Iverson

history, amazing entertainment to Volunteers of America, Colorado

This year’s 30th Western Fantasy will be held Saturday, October 21 at National Western Event Center, 1515 East 47th Avenue in Denver. The Reception begins at 5:45 PM with Dinner at 7:00 PM with always divine catering by EPICUREAN. In addition - Silent Auction including the outstanding array of gift baskets assembled by honoree Judy McNeil, Live Auction, Surprise Boxes by Trice Jewelers and… exceptional entertainment by Kevin

Costner and Modern West.

Kevin Costner and Modern West is an Americana and rock band founded by actor Kevin Costner in 2007. Their first album, Untold Truths, was released in 2008 and reached No. 61 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and No. 35 on the Top Heatseekers chart. Singles released from that album include “Superman 14,” “Long Hot Night” and Backyard.” The band’s sec ond album, “Turn It On” was followed

by a tour through Europe. The band’s 2012 album, Famous For Killing Each Other: Music From and Inspired By Hatfields & McCoys, peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Country Album chart. Coinciding with Costner’s star turn as John Dutton in the TV Series “Yellow

much more colorful histo-

ry of Western Fantasy, photo galleries, sponsorship information (The $30,000 level is a new addition this year as a Tribute to 30 Years) and more, visit the beautiful website: westernfantasy.com. Or call: Lynn Hubert 303.748.5368.

LEFT: The entrance of Ernie with Sharon on Thunder is always a thrill for the audience

(Photo from 2022 gala)

Photos by Scottie Iverson

ABOVE:Judy and Charlie McNeil will accept the 2023 Humanitarian Award

Photo by Gary and Steve Pettit

ABOVE: Justin Klomp at the Trice Mine hosting the traditional Surprise Boxes

LEFT: Lauren Elaina entertained in 2019

Emcee Ed Greene, who with his wife Barbara, won the Humanitarian Award in 1999

Kevin Costner and Modern West to entertain on October 21 at Western Fantasy 30!

Courtesy of VOA

After “Fight at the Opera,” CEO Pantos shown exit door

BY DON IRELAND SENIOR REPORTER

Pamela Pantos won’t be on hand for the closing performances at the Central City Opera next weekend. She was swiftly shown the exit door last week by the opera organization, barely 17 months after she assumed the role as the opera’s president and CEO.

“We thank her for her work and wish her the best in her future endeavors,” stated Heather Miller, board co-chair of Central City Opera, regarding the conclusion of Pantos’ employment that was announced suddenly on Thursday, July 20. The opera’s leaders said the search for a replacement will begin immediately.

The opera’s Shakespearian-themed season under Pantos ended as something of a midsummer’s nightmare for the leader following bitter, scandalized negotiations that lasted for nine months between the Central City Opera and the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA).

While the sounds of singing and speaking are familiar at the opera, those involved have been relatively tight-lipped about Pantos’ departure. Her name, photo and biographical information were gone from the Central City Opera’s website Thursday morning. A short statement announcing a leadership change was posted later last week.

Blogger Peter Alexander, who writes about classical music in the region, last week said, “Although no one said so on the record, it was widely believed that the previously-reported dispute between the opera company and the American Guild of Performing Artists (AGMA) was a result of Pantos’ administrative style and reflected her wishes.”

A spokesman from AGMA told the Weekly Register-Call, “AGMA, along with the rest of the opera community, recently learned that Pamela Pantos was terminated from her position at Central City Opera. But that’s all we currently know for certain, and we still have significant questions about what’s next at CCO. We hope that this change in leadership signals a shift in CCO’s culture, a commitment to treating CCO artists with dignity, respect, and care, and an improvement to our working relationship with CCO. Should this be the case, AGMA stands ready to work in partnership with CCO for the betterment of both the artists who perform on its stages and CCO itself. While we wait for more information, AGMA will continue to actively fight and advocate for our members, including pursuing multiple outstanding grievances under the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) and several unfair labor practice charges at the National Labor Relations Board. We applaud the brave

Directors under an appropriate agreement that guarantees the confidentiality and protection of the targets of this abuse.”

The guild, which has had an 80-year agreement with the Central City Opera, noted that “at the moment, our path forward in negotiations is questionable due to the recent actions of the CCO, under the current leadership of Pamela Pantos. We understand that it has been a tumultuous period for CCO and that, in recent months, several long-tenured and respected members of CCO’s artistic team have resigned.”

During the negotiations, AGMA leaders accused Pantos of attempting union-busting techniques when the opera hired a legal team that also sought to keep Starbucks coffee employees from unionizing.

In December, AMGA alleged that “several artists have come forward, detailing disturbing conduct, ranging from public body shaming to sexual harassment to threats of retaliation for union activity.

Artists and Arts Professionals across the globe who stood up for what was right and raised their voices to call out injustice and mistreatment. We don’t underestimate the courage it takes to speak your truth.”

During the negotiations, AGMA leaders accused Pantos of attempting union-busting techniques when the opera hired a legal team that also sought to keep Starbucks coffee employees from unionizing. In December, AMGA alleged that “several artists have come forward, detailing disturbing conduct, ranging from public body shaming to sexual harassment to threats of retaliation for union activity. Out of respect and concern for the artists who have shared these accounts with us, we will not detail them here, but we are open to discussing the conduct with CCO’s Board of

The back-and-forth negotiations also heard CCO representatives claim AGMA wasn’t attempting to bargain in good faith. However, Sam Wheeler, executive director for AGMA, announced in early May that a work stoppage would occur for the opera’s 91st season if both parties couldn’t agree. A federal mediator was brought in to help resolve differences in

Ken Cazan, who directed Kiss Me, Kate, wrote in a blog, “I’m glad it’s over. Now, hopefully, the company will wipe the slate clean and start from the ground up to recreate itself. “

what local observers characterized as a pie-throwing fight.

On May 26, both parties agreed to a multi-year contract that yielded conditions the musicians’ union sought. The new contract enabled the 2023 opera season to begin in June. The curtain rose for Romeo and Juliet on June 26, Kiss Me, Kate on July 1, and Othello from July 15 through Aug. 6.

Ken Cazan, who directed Kiss Me, Kate, wrote in a blog, “I’m glad it’s over. Now, hopefully, the company will wipe the slate clean and start from the ground up to recreate itself. “At the moment, it is totally up to the board, and I pray that they have the fortitude to look at the company and its mission through a very fresh, clear lens. It is the perfect time to reimagine who and what they are and how they fit into the Colorado, American and international arts landscapes. I have so many thoughts on the huge potential for the company to move forward and grow artistically at this moment. It just takes guts and trusting a new artistic mentality—whoever that may be. Let the Managing Director and the new Artistic Direc-

Ashraf Seawilam, who directed Othello, wrote: “To me—and many of my colleagues share this sentiment— the priority now is to concentrate on performing the rest of the festival not only successfully, but brilliantly. I won’t speak about the circumstances under which we put this excellent season together. The company and its great history will move on from this episode. The tremendous efforts put together by the artists, creatives, and crew in order to produce this season in spite of the ‘obstacles’ should be what’s in the limelight now, not what we left behind. In the end, it’s why we’re here: The art and artists who make it happen.”

tor (a must position and one that was sorely missed this summer) create a new world within and around CCO, one that hopefully reaches out and invites in a new, fresh audience while being grateful for the guidance and support of current and past generations.”

Ashraf Seawilam, who directed Othello, wrote: “To me—and many of my colleagues share this sentiment— the priority now is to concentrate on performing the rest of the festival not only successfully, but brilliantly. I won’t speak about the circumstances under which we put this excellent season together. The

company and its great history will move on from this episode. The tremendous efforts put together by the artists, creatives, and crew in order to produce this season in spite of the ‘obstacles’ should be what’s in the limelight now, not what we left behind. In the end, it’s why we’re here: The art and artists who make it happen.”

Senior staff members Scott Finlay and Margaret Williams have agreed to serve as Interim Chief External Affairs Officer (Finlay) and Interim Chief Administrative Officer (Williams) during this leadership transition to ensure operational continuity. “We are confident in the team we have in place and know that they are the utmost professionals with deep understanding and respect for this historic organization,” said Miller.

Pantos began her role as the opera’s president and CEO on Feb. 28, 2022. “Pamela is a seasoned leader with significant experience in the arts, and the Board is confident that she is the right person to build upon the legacy of Central City Opera and our commitment to serving our community,” said Anne McGonagle, co-chair of the Central City Opera Board of Directors, when Pantos’ selection was announced.

The now-departed CEO previously worked for Boston Children’s Chorus, Newport Music Festival, Arts Consulting Group and Opera North. She also advised national institutions, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Park Avenue Armory and Bravo! Vail. Before that, Pantos spent more than 10 years in Europe, performing opera roles in many of the world’s most prestigious venues. As a mezzo-soprano, she recorded for EMI and the Companions Label and was on the roster of Columbia Artists.

Considered its opera a gem in local history, it has been a tourist attraction for over a century, frequently offering sold-out performances over the decades. The city annually contributes $25,000 to the non-profit organization.

Founded in 1932, the Central City Opera is the fifth oldest professional opera in the nation, developing a reputation for world-class productions, a robust young artists training program, educational activities and community involvement.

Central City Opera owns and maintains 27 Victorian-era properties, including the intimate 550-seat jewel box opera house built in 1878. Since its opening, the opera has welcomed such notables as screen actress Lilian Gish, Mae West and others. President Ulysses S. Grant visited the famous property in 1873. Many highly-profile names appear on markers around the opera properties on Eureka Street.

Pamela Pantos, former CEO Central City Opera (file photo)

Cherry Hills Land Preserve reports positive activity at Quincy Farm

On July 18, Ellen Hereford Thompson, executive director of Cherry Hills Land Preserve (CHLP) and Quincy Farm (QF), and Laura Christman, former CHV mayor and president of the board of directors of CHLP and QF, offered the Cherry Hills Village City Council an in-depth look at current and future programs planned for QF.

Emily Black, CHV Parks Project & Operations Manager, first told the council about the many repairs and improvements that have been done at QF during the past year.

Black explained that, “One of the main goals in

the 2023 annual plan, which we’re currently operating under, was creating public access to the east side of the Farm. That began in January 2023.” She showed several before-and-after photos of major repairs CHV parks and maintenance staff per-

formed.

All repairs were done so as to retain the original character of QF as much as possible, including re-using original hardware when rebuilding gates, doors, and fences. At the east side farmhouse, a new walkway

was built to replace the original one that was destroyed, bluegrass was replaced with buffalo grass, and low-water garden beds were added that are pollinator-friendly. The house was also made ADA-compliant.

Thompson opened her

presentation with the vision for QF, which she described as, “QF will be an integral part of the educational and recreational infrastructure of CHV, a place of experiences that remind our community of its agricultural heritage, a place of natural beauty and open spaces, a place that provides a rich habitat of local flora and fauna, and a place that enriches and centers the Cherry Hills community,” adding that the barnyard is the educational hub of the property, “with the big barn being the central visual element that provides the program space.”

After noting that CHLP

Continued on page 10

Wearing their Quincy Farm baseball caps are CHV Mayor Pro Tem Randy Weil, Council Members Earl Hoellen and Rob Eber, Cherry Hills Land Preserve and Quincy Farm board president Laura Christman, CHV Mayor Katy Brown, and Council Members Al Blum and Dan Sheldon.

Photo by Freda Miklin

Positive activity at Quincy Farm

Continued from page 9

and the city meet monthly to discuss what is happening at QF, creating a true partnership with full transparency, Thompson pointed to outreach and structured educational programs like QF’s Ambassadors Program, a 12-person group created by board member Nancy Wolfe. Ambassadors spread the word and advocate for QF in their neighborhoods. She also talked about the importance of QF’s quarterly newsletter in “increasing engagement and getting people to our events.”

Recent and upcoming events include Bird Walk with Denver Audubon, StarGazing, Creeks & Critters at Woodie Hollow Park, Family Birding Adventure, Sunday Afternoon Horsemanship, Trail Walk, and book discussions.

Thompson said she and her team are focused on high quality programs, many of which are done with partners like the Butterfly Pavilion, Denver Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy, and Botanic Gardens Chatfield.

All QF’s programs, she explained, “fall into one of three buckets: 1) nature and conservation; 2) sustain-

ability; and 3) heritage & history, all of which support the conservation values of this property,” adding, “Our audience is young families, adults interested in nature,

sustainability, and history, and schoolchildren.”

Christman pointed to site improvements planned for 2024 at the Big Barn, the nature trail, Hopkins House,

and the Pond. Outreach, she added, will be accomplished by QF’s website, advertising, social media, the Am-

bassador program, neighbor input, and partners. fmiklin.villager@gmail. com

Lots of CHV residents came for this adult bird walk program. The Creeks & Critters at Woodie Hollow Park program was great for families.

South Metro Denver Chamber holds Summer Soiree at Club Greenwood

BY FREDA MIKLIN STAFF WRITER

On July 20, after another rainy summer day in Colorado, the sun came out in time for South Metro Denver Chamber’s Summer Soiree that drew close to 200 people to Club Greenwood. Guests were treated to delicious offerings from Landmark’s Pizza Republica and a hosted bar, compliments of the Chamber.

Leaders in business, local government, and education mixed and mingled, catching up with old friends and making new ones.

fmiklin.villager@gmail. com

SMDC President and CEO, Jeff Keener and Tony Salazar, SMDC Board Chair and University of Colorado Vice President for Outreach and Engagement

Centennial Mayor Pro Tem Richard Holt and Greenwood Village Mayor George Lantz

Photos by Freda Miklin

SMDC’s Allison Crouder, Andrew Graham, Secretary, Littleton Public Schools Board of Education, Centennial City Council Member Christine Sweetland, and Littleton Public Schools Superintendent Todd Lambert, Ph.D.

Patrick Collopy, attorney at Fisher Phillips and Centennial City Council Member Mike Sutherland

Doug Tisdale, RTD Past Chair and Director, District H and Cherry Creek Schools Foundation Executive Director Jill Herndon

Centennial City Council Member Tammy Maurer and Littleton Economic Development Director Cindie Perry

Highway 6 overnight closures will begin weekend of Aug. 6

Weeks of overnight closures will begin on Sunday night, Aug. 6, along Highway 6 (Clear Creek Canyon), according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

The closures will be from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. Sunday nights through Thursday mornings every week for four consecutive weeks. No construction will occur over the Labor Day holiday weekend, which begins on Friday, Sept. 1

Work on Highway 6 in the Huntsman Gulch area will close Highway 119 (south of Black Hawk) to the City of Golden. The closings also will allow crews to conduct work on the Peaks to Plains Trails.

The closings are the first of an anticipated 100 nights of Highway 6 shut-downs that will continue through 2025, including 60 overnight closures through November 2023, weather permitting.

Highway 6 closures at a glance:

Sunday, Aug. 6 through Thursday, Aug. 10: U.S. 6 will be closed from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Sunday, Aug. 13 through Thursday, Aug. 17: U.S. 6 will be closed from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Sunday, Aug. 20 through Thursday, Aug. 24: U.S. 6 will be closed from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Sunday, Aug. 27 through Thursday, Aug. 31: U.S. 6 will be closed from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.

CDOT said all dates and times are weather dependent. There will be no simultaneous closures with surrounding CDOT projects. If needed, all full closures will be made passable for first responders.

For Gilpin County residents, casino employees and visitors will be directed to detour using I-70 to the bottom of Floyd Hill, a distance of 10.7 miles.

During the I-70 Floyd Hill construction project, CDOT reports at least one lane will open in each direction of I-70 when U.S. 6 is closed.

Complicated construction of the three-mile-long Peaks to Plains Trail segment requires overnight closures of U.S. 6 from CO 119 to CO 58/CO 93 in Clear Creek Canyon. Full closures are planned for overnight hours

Sunday through Thursday (excluding holidays) when traffic volumes are the lowest. The detour route will be I-70. The project team collaborates closely with CDOT on other project impacts and closures.

I-70 construction at a glance:

This week, there are continuing single- and double-lane restrictions eastbound I-70 along Floyd Hill. The lanes are restricted to installing a concrete barrier, shifting traffic, and conducting roadway striping.

U.S. 40 Roundabout work (Clear Creek County):

This week, the installation of new sewer lines is

causing the continued closings at Highway 40 roundabouts near the top of Floyd Hill, just west of Homestead Road to the Floyd Hill Open Space.

The road closed on Monday, July 24 and is expected to reopen tomorrow (Friday, July 28). I-70 is the suggested detour route.

Reduced speed limits as low as 45 mph, narrower lanes and shoulders, and increased truck traffic entering and exiting the work zones. CDOT requests that motorists heed the speed limit, not follow trucks into the work zone, slow for the cone zone, and not drive distracted.

Ongoing Floyd Hill work

CDOT’s $700 million I-70

Floyd Hill Project began on the project’s first section on July 6. Construction includes the East Section of the project, which spans I-70 from County Road 65 to the bottom of Floyd Hill (approximately exits 248 to 244). Motorists can expect corridor-wide impacts for crews to mobilize in the area, establish a safe work zone and install traffic control signage. This will require minor lane restriping, shoulder closures and the installation of temporary barriers to separate the work area from I-70 travel lanes.

Work on the West project section, near the Veterans Memorial Tunnels, will be the second phase of the work. The Central City affected section, which includes the Central City Parkway (Exit 243) and the U.S. on-ramps to I-70, will begin next spring.

CDOT notes that all construction activities are weather dependent and subject to change. For real-time travel information, visit www. COTrip.org.

To keep readers in the Gold Country informed of the progress of the I-70/Floyd Hill Construction, watch for this continuing section in the Weekly Register-Call.

Carol

and Paul Archer will serve their Church in Central Africa

BY FREDA MIKLIN STAFF WRITER

Paul Archer was the GOP candidate for Colorado State House District 37, comprised of Greenwood Village, west Centennial, and Foxfield, in November 2022. He lost that race to Ruby Dickson, an environmental economist, who is now the youngest person in the State House at 27 years old.

Paul developed an interest in government in part from his experience with our state’s

highly complex sales tax system that had a significant impact on his business, Automated Business Technologies of Centennial. A perennial problem solver, Paul wanted to use the knowledge he’d developed during years of working with state government to simplify the tax system. He also had other ideas to make government work better.

Now he is embarking on a new mission, literally. In a few days, Paul and his wife Carol will head to Utah for a week of training, followed by a 17-month stint in Central Africa as missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter-day Saints. Once they leave for Nairobi, Kenya, Paul and Carol will not see their five children or their twenty grandchildren until they return in January 2025.

The Archers are a Senior Couple in the Church. Their area of expertise is communications. They will take those skills to the Central Africa Area, which has 495 million people in 17 countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, Somalia, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and South Sudan.

Melinda Luke

Paul told The Villager that the Democratic Republic of Con-

go is now the second-fastest growing country in the world for new members of the LDS Church.

Paul and Carol’s duties as missionaries who are communications specialists will be to teach church members in Central Africa how to connect with government and the media, which is what they do for the Church here in Colorado.

Paul told us that he and Carol had expected to be sent to Washington, D.C. to complete their mission for several reasons, but when the Church told them that their mission would be in Central Africa, they didn’t hesitate to say yes.

“If that is where we are needed, then that is our calling,” he explained, without missing a beat.

What about leaving his children and grandchildren for 17 months? What about leaving his business for such a long time?

Paul Archer smiled and said, with abundant clarity, “My faith is the most important thing in my life. Then comes my relationship with Jesus Christ. Next is my family, then my work, then my community. I’ll see everyone in January 2025.”

fmiklin.villager@gmail. com

Pad Based Red Light Therapy is HOT now!

I’m Melinda Luke, Integrative Health Coach. After supporting women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome for many years I wanted to have a space to help women with weight-loss on a local level.

At Castle Rock Contouring I have the most advanced, pad designed Red Light Technology to target arms, abdomen, back, thighs, and face in EACH SESSION!

Contour Light is FDA cleared which means they acknowledge that a reduction of at least 2 inches will take place with each session. It is liquifying the fat which releases into waste.

Come and try a session for $79 and you will be guaranteed to lose at least 2 inches in your first session. There are so many wonderful benefits to red light therapy! Each session is followed up with 10 minutes on a vibration plate and a discussion about your food intake as our Health Coach can possibly give you some suggestions that could really help you in your weight-loss journey.

The pads have a reflective surface which traps and redirects light energy into the tissue. There is no other LED based system available on the market that delivers and retains more mid-600 nm and infrared light energy.

I’m Melinda Luke, Integrative Health Coach. After supporting women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome for many years I wanted to have a space to help women with weight-loss on a local level.

At Castle Rock Contouring you will get free health coaching with the sessions, and I offer a 30-day natural supplemental pack to help with losing weight where I am documenting how I’m doing on the weight-loss pack on facebook.com/castlerockcontouring

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Paul and Carol Archer have five children, who, together with their spouses, each have two girls and two boys, all smiling in this family photo of 32 people.

Museum of Outdoor Arts Inspires and Educates Next Generation of Emerging Artists on National Scale

One-of-A-Kind Design and Build Program

Students will Install Temporary Exhibit at Marjorie Park Opening August 5th

SUBMITTED BY CARRIE HORN

Opening on August 5, the nine participating students in the 2023 Design and Build summer internship program will present their collaboratively made public artworks in a temporary exhibit within Marjorie Park in Greenwood Village. For over 30 years, The Museum of Outdoor Arts has provided the Design and Build program to motivate invention through collaborative creativity amongst emerging artists, students and creative minds. The program has multiple components in-

cluding a summer internship, a national design competition, a fellowship and community outreach.

The public is invited to join the artist reception celebration to view these unique creations.

Design + Build Exhibition

Opening Reception

Saturday, August 5, 5-8pm

Marjorie Park

6331 S. Fiddler’s Green Circle, Greenwood Village Refreshing drinks and bites from the Uptown & Humboldt and Polar Bros Ice Cream food trucks will be available for purchase.

FREE and open to the public with registration. Details and registration at https://moaonline.org/good vibes/ The Design and Build internship program recruits

Romance vs. mature love

Traveling on a cruise around the Fjords of Norway with 2500 other passengers who are mostly in the winter of their lives, I was struck by the mature love and kindness I saw all around me. Elderly couples were everywhere, many in walkers, wheelchairs, and scooters. Their partners were right beside them holding hands, carrying their bags, getting them their meals at the buffet, and sometimes even wiping their mouths with a tender dab of a cloth napkin. Most of the people I was watching were not particularly attractive, fit or physically appealing. Yet, their life partner focused on their every move. It appeared to me that this life journey expanded and deepened the love these couples appeared to have for one another. Self-love had been replaced by a deep mature love and service to the partner of their youth.

I am fascinated by this and wanted to explore this intimacy which, very likely, does not include romance as most would define or describe it. It is an intimacy that means vulnerability, authenticity, safety, acceptance, kindness, service, and care. This life commitment im-

plies a level of trust that may be present in no other relationship in life; communication is honest and supportive of one another. Reading about mature, loving, committed relationships, they were described as inclusive of a sense of mutual support, fulfillment, and a focus on growth through the life span of the relationship. Descriptions included compassion and a loving bond, with real engagement where nothing is withheld from one another. Fascinating!

I am sure that if these individuals were alone and not paired up with a loving partner, they would not be traveling and exploring the wonders of the world. It might be too difficult for them to maneuver by themselves. I found myself curious about their story, how and where they met, the number of children they might have, where they lived, what they did prior to retirement, their shared history, and their secret to developing the mature love we all crave and long for.

Mature love can be a love story that might have begun with passion, romance, chemistry, and attraction. That then turned into a commitment to build a life

undergraduate students nationally for its 8-week summer program and generates temporary public art, exhibitions, installations and design concepts while offering lessons in collaborative teamwork, problem-solving and aesthetic and technical considerations. From concept to installation, students must consider all of the elements of the public art process, including environmental concern, safety, budgeting, project design, proposal writing, maquette making, construction, installation and removal.

Each year, MOA provides a request for proposal with a

together with responsibilities, disappointments, joys, sorrows, overcoming obstacles, planning, goal setting and mutual vision-casting. The romance changes and becomes defined by common experiences, deep roots, respect, and shared history. Intimacy changes from pure physicality to years of trust, safety, reliability, closeness, and respect.

According to Walter M. Bortz II, MD, author of We Love Too Short and Die Too Long, Sexual expression is not about performance or pleasuring, but rather sharing that oneness of spirit and connection which is extremely satisfying. The cuddle hormones of oxytocin and dopamine get transported through our bodies even when body parts are not functioning the way they used to. Research suggests that this type of committed, mature and sacrificial love enriches our lives and has immeasurable health benefits.

In our youth we declare that we want to grow old with our partner. Being on this cruise and observing how this youthful declaration was being operationalized and manifested, I was in awe of how mature love could be sexier than passionate romance and the key to vitality and happiness. joneen@myrelationshipcenter.org

specific theme for internship participants. The 2023 theme is ‘Good Vibrations’. The culminating project is curated to be representational of the theme and add aesthetic value to the site. The students engage in a pitch day where they present their ideas to leadership for approval and they have a budget of $10,000 for design, materials, fabrication and installation.

This marks the second year in partnership with the University of Colorado Denver College of Arts & Music and Metropolitan State University of Denver, which provides studio space and facilities for the interns to

create their projects. Students gain experience with a vast array of skills throughout the program, including welding, bronze casting, wood work, 3D printing and more.

In 2023 MOA welcomed Erica Rawson as its fourth Design and Build Artist Fellow to mentor the students. Rawson is an artist and metal fabricator working in Denver. Her art is based in sculpture, painting, poetry and collage. She helped to facilitate the process, and distill student ideas for multiple design concepts.

“The Design and Build program is the heartbeat of MOA,” said Executive Director, Cynthia Madden. “We enjoy seeing participants grow their skill sets and confidence in their creative paths through this truly unique program.”

THIS DICK TANNER DESIGNED EXECUTIVE HOME IS A SYMPHONY OF STYLE, QUALITY, VOLUME, AND LIVABILITY. ITS UNIQUE FLOORPLAN INCLUDES TWO STUDIES AND A LUXURIOUS GUEST BEDROOM ON THE MAIN FLOOR. WITH ITS SPACIOUS ROOMS, EXQUISITE FIREPLACES, AND EVERY IMAGINABLE AMENITY, IT IS TRULY IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN!! FROM ITS PERCH OVERLOOKING THE VERDANT PRESERVE, A NATURE PRESERVE IN PRESTIGIOUS GREENWOOD VILLAGE, ITS OVER 10,000 PLUS SQUARE FEET OF SPACE, INCLUDING ITS WALKOUT LEVEL, OFFERS AMENITIES AND PRIVACY THAT ARE RARE, EVEN IN THIS UPSCALE COMMUNITY. WITH ONE OF THE LARGEST FENCED YARDS, THE OWNERS HAVE CREATED A VIRTUAL PRIVATE OASIS ON THIS HEAVILY TREED 3/4-ACRE SITE. WITH FIRE PITS AND OUTDOOR KITCHENS ON THE MAIN AND LOWER LEVELS AN EXQUISITE WATERFALL, A POOL AND HOT TUB ONE STILL HAS THE USE OF THE OLYMPIC SIZED POOL, TENNIS COURTS AND WALKING TRAILS OF THE EXTRAORDINARY PRESERVE COMMUNITY. WITH 2 STAIRCASES TO ALL LEVELS, DRAMATIC VOLUMINOUS ROOMS WITH EVERY AMENITY IMAGINABLE, BRAZILIAN CHERRY FLOORS A FABULOUS STATE OF THE ART GOURMET KITCHEN, A WINE CELLAR, EXERCISE ROOM, EXTENSIVE STORAGE AND AN INTEGRATED THEATRE ROOM... WHY LEAVE HOME?

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Elder mediation can help families navigate thorny caregiving issues

Dear Savvy Senior, Are there any services that you recommend that can help families resolve elder parent caregiving conflicts?

My 86-year-old father was recently diagnosed with earlystage Alzheimer’s disease, and to make matters worse, my sister and brother and I have been perpetually arguing about how to handle his future caregiving and financial needs.

Conflicted Siblings

Dear Conflicted,

It’s not unusual when adult children disagree with each other regarding the care of an elder parent. If you and your siblings are willing, a good possible solution is to hire an “eldercare mediator” who can help you work through your disagreements peacefully. Here’s how it works.

BY DONALD PETERSON

Dear Readers,

What are variable annuity charges?

You will pay several charges when you invest in a variable annuity. Be sure you understand all the charges before you invest. These charges will reduce the value of your account and the return on your investment. Often, they will include the following:

- Surrender charges. A surrender charge is a type of sales charge you must pay if you sell or withdraw money from a variable annuity during the “surrender period,” which is a set period of time that typically lasts six to eight years, but sometimes 10 years or longer, after you purchase the annuity. Surrender charges will reduce the value of, and the return on, your investment. Generally, the surrender charge is a percentage of the amount withdrawn, and declines gradually over a period of several years, known as the “surrender period.” For example, a 7 percent charge might apply in the first year after a purchase payment,

Elder Mediation

While mediators have been used for years to help divorcing couples sort out legal and financial disagreements and avoid court battles, eldercare mediation is a relatively new and specialized service designed to help families resolve disputes that are related to aging parents or other elderly relatives.

Family disagreements over an ill or elderly parent’s caregiving needs, medical care, living arrangements, driving issues, legal and financial decisions are just some of the many issues that an elder care mediator can help with. But don’t

6 percent in the second year, 5 percent in the third year, and so on until the eighth year, when the surrender charge no longer applies. Often, contracts will allow you to withdraw part of your account value each year - 10 or 15 percent of your account value, for example - without paying a surrender charge.

- Mortality and expense risk charge. This charge is equal to a certain percentage of your account value, typically around 1.25 percent per year. This charge compensates the insurance company for insurance risks it assumes under the annuity contract. Profit from the mortality and expense risk charge is sometimes used to pay the insurer’s costs of selling the variable annuity, such as a commission paid to your financial professional for selling the variable annuity to you.

- Share classes. A variable annuity may offer different share “classes” with different charges (including mortality and expense fees) and different surrender charge periods. For example, “L class” shares may have a shorter surrender charge period, but may have higher ongoing fees, while “B class” shares may have a longer surrender charge period and lower ongoing fees. Consider how long you expect to own the variable annuity and your need to access funds when you think of any

confuse this with family or group therapy. Mediation is only about decision-making, not feelings and emotions.

The job of an elder mediator is to step in as a neutral third party to help ease family tensions, listen to everyone’s concerns, hash out disagreements and misunderstandings, and help your family make decisions that are acceptable to everyone.

Good mediators can also assist your family in identifying experts such as estate-planners, geriatric care managers, or health care or financial professionals who can supply important information for family decision making.

Your family also needs

tradeoff between the length of the surrender charge period and the level of ongoing fees. Also, because fees are paid from the amount you invest, they can reduce your potential investment return.

- Administrative fees

The insurer may deduct charges to cover record-keeping and other administrative expenses. This may be charged as a flat account maintenance fee (perhaps $25 or $30 per year) or as a percentage of your account value (typically around 0.15 percent per year).

- Underlying fund expenses. You will also indirectly pay the fees and expenses imposed by the mutual funds that are the underlying investment options for your variable annuity.

- Fees and charges for other features. Special features offered by some variable annuities, such as a stepped-up death benefit, a guaranteed minimum income benefit, or long-term care insurance, often carry additional fees and charges.

- Initial sales loads, or fees for transferring part of your account from one investment option to another, may also apply.

Tip: You should ask your financial professional to explain to you all charges that may apply.

to know that the mediation process is completely confidential and can take anywhere from a few hours to several meetings depending on the complexity of your issues. And if some family members live far away, a conference or video call can be used to bring everyone together.

If you’re interested in hiring a private eldercare mediator, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to more than $500 per hour depending on where you live and who you choose. Or, if available in your area, you may be able to get help through a community-based nonprofit program that offers free or low-cost services by volunteer mediators.

Finding a Mediator

To locate an elder mediator in your area, start by asking for referrals from health professionals or hospital social workers or search

You can also find a description of the charges in the prospectus for any variable annuity that you are considering.

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

Many of my clients have asked what are the critical documents needed, particularly in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. Healthcare 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).

online at The Academy of Professional Family Mediators website (apfmnet. org) or Mediate.com

Both sites have searchable directories.

Or, to search for free/ low-cost community-based mediation programs in your state, see the National Association for Community Mediation website (nafcm. org). Unfortunately, not all states offer them.

There is currently no universally accepted credential or professional standard for eldercare mediators, so make sure the person you choose has extensive experience with elder issues that are similar to what your family is dealing with. Also, be sure you ask for references and check them. Most elder mediators are attorneys, social workers, counselors or other professionals who are trained in mediation and conflict resolution.

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.

Selected information in this column has been taken with permission by Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc., from the Colorado Senior Law Handbook, 2020 Edition (Chapter 17: Annuities, Rebecca L. Franciscus, Esq.), which is a copyrighted publication and may be accessed and downloaded for free at: www.cobar.org/For-thePublic/Senior-Law-Handbook.

Image of Brees looms over Dove Valley Days

Broncos fans, ticketed to a maximum of 3,000 per day, will start showing up at the Dove Valley complex tomorrow.

That’s when their team, with rookies and veterans alike on hand, commences full-squad preparations for the coming season.

And the same questions, in one form or another, will be on the minds of virtually everyone in attendance, as well as countless others who aren’t there in person.

Does Sean Payton really know the secret to turning talented but undersized quarterbacks into giants under center?

Will he be as successful coaching 5-foot-11 Russell Wilson as he was for more than a dozen years with 6-foot Drew Brees?

The answers will go a long way toward determining how the Broncos fare in Payton’s first season as Denver’s head coach.

No one, of course, can know now how things will turn out. But some comparisons are worth considering.

Playing for Payton in New Orleans in his age-34 season (2013), Brees passed for 5,162 yards—his third straight season topping 5,000 yards and fourth of five in his career. He threw 39 touchdown passes—third most in 20 seasons—and the Saints went 11-5.

Stumbling under dysfunctional Nathaniel Hackett at that same age last season, Wilson totaled 3,524 years and 16 touchdown passes— the fewest in any of his pro seasons—as Denver finished 5-12.

Brees, who retired at 41 after the 2021 season, still had several highly productive seasons in him after 34, all with Payton as his head coach.

In his age-35 season, he led the league in completions (456), attempts (659), total yardage (4,952) and yards per game (305).

His completion percentage his last five seasons was .700 or better every year, and in 2018, at the age of 39, he led the Saints to 13 wins and first place in the NFL South Division.

This history raises hopes that maybe last season wasn’t the fast slide down the back side of Wilson’s peak that it appeared to be. Maybe, now that he’s playing for Sean Payton, his best years are still to come.

Maybe. But maybe not. A closer look shows that even when Wilson was at his best in Seattle, Russell wasn’t quite equal to Brees, at least not statistically.

During the nine years their NFL careers overlapped, Brees led the league in various positive categories 18 times, to Wilson’s two, and passed for 39,616 yards and 290 touchdowns, to Wilson’s 33,946 and 267.

Brees was sacked 212 times (1.59 per game) for 1,483 yards in 133 games. Wilson, who scrambled much more, was nailed almost twice as much (394 times, or 2.75 per game) for almost double the losses (2,642 yards) in only 10 more games.

BUT . . .

Wilson’s winning percentage was .685 (98-45) to .602 for Brees (80-53).

The difference was on the ground. Wilson ran for 4,506 yards, while Brees gained 187—about 21 yards per year. Brees also threw more interceptions, 97-81.

Sean Payton comes to the Russell Wilson Challenge as the fifth head coach in the past 53 years to be part of a trade involving a first-round draft choice.

Three of the first four won a Super Bowl within three seasons: Don Shula, traded from the Colts to the Dolphins; Bill Belichick, Jets to Patriots; and Jon Gruden, Raiders to Buccaneers.

Shula, Gruden and Bill Parcells (with the Jets) posted winning records in their first seasons with their new teams.

There is no shortage of opinions on how Payton will do with Wilson, though none is definitive.

“If he can’t do it, it can’t be done,” Super Bowl-winning Hall of Fame coach Dick Vermeil has said.

“Sean’s had good success with quarterbacks and developing Drew Brees,” Payton mentor Parcells said, “so hopefully (this) will work out . .

One thing seems certain.

With the additions of Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers on the offensive line . . . the return to health of wide receivers Tim Patrick, Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy . . . and the anticipated return of running back Javonte Williams, lost after four games last year, Wilson has to be better than he was last season.

But matching Brees at 35 (and beyond) will depend in part on Payton and his coaching staff, in part on the team they assemble around Wilson; and in large part on a slimmed-down Wilson himself.

Dove Valley Days should tell us a lot.

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 15 books, nine of them sports-related. You can write to Denny at dennydressman@ comcast.net.

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Centennial residents can provide feedback through city surveys

Biennially, the City of Centennial conducts a citywide Community Survey through Polco. Centennial invites all residents to complete the survey online by visiting centennialco.gov/surveys.

The Community Survey’s design provides a baseline of how the Centennial Government serves its residents to gauge perceptions of the City and compare with peer communities. For control, a random and scientific sample of 5,000 households received mailed invitations to participate, and their confidential

responses will be weighted and analyzed. The City encourages all the households who received the Community Survey to respond for more

accurate results. The online Community Survey was available until Monday, July 24.

In addition to the biennial

Community Survey, the City is working with Millan Chicago in partnership with Digital Ubiquity Capital to explore broadband access options. Through an online fiber survey, Centennial seeks input from residents and businesses specific to their broadband needs since the successful construction of its fiber network in 2018. Residents and businesses can share their views through the 10-minute survey by visiting centennial co.gov/fibersurvey. The re-

ceived information will help explore broadband access options and are confidential. The online Fiber Survey is available until Monday, July 31.

“The City’s commitment to provide exceptional service to the Centennial community is made possible through community participation. The City’s surveys help determine what community members find most important, guide decision making and help set priorities in Centennial,” says Centennial Mayor Stephanie Piko.

Littleton Elks donate $1,155 to Arapahoe Rescue Patrol after Rifle Raffle

The Littleton Elks Lodge #1650 held a rifle raffle during April through June to raise money for the Lodge’s relief fund and the Arapahoe Rescue Patrol. Through the raffle, the Lodge earned $2,310, which it split between the two groups.

Art Rice, a very generous member of the Littleton Elks Lodge, donated a rifle for the Lodge to raffle off. Half of the proceeds from the raffle was presented to the Arapahoe Rescue Patrol per Art’s request. Art was a member of the Arapahoe Rescue Patrol when he was in high school.

“The Arapahoe Rescue Patrol is also a very active organization in our community,” said Jeff Pater, Trustee of the Littleton Elks. “As a matter of fact, we call on them to help us during Western Welcome Week. They help security and direct traffic during our Pig Roast and Car Show.”

“This is an incredible organization that works with and trains young adults to help in emergency situations,” Art

Broncos unveil new ‘Snowcapped’ alternate helmet

BY ARIC DILALLA DENVERBRONCOS.COM

The Broncos’ alternate helmet is here.

The new “Snowcapped” helmet was unveiled Tuesday and features a white shell, the classic D logo and an orange-and-blue stripe.

The white shell and white facemask both pay homage to Colorado’s towering snowcapped mountain ranges, while the stripe and logo reflect a classic look that was first worn in the 1960s.

The Broncos, who have worn five helmets during their more than six-decade history, will now feature an all-white helmet shell for the first time.

Denver will wear the new alternate helmet with its all-orange alternate uniform, per league requirements. The Broncos can wear the helmet for as many as two games in 2023, and the team will announce in August when they will don the helmets.

The Broncos’ new “Snowcapped” helmet will be on display for fan-facing promotions during Denver’s Back Together Weekend presented by Ticketmaster practice on Saturday, July 29 and during practice on Thursday, Aug. 17. Tickets are required to attend Broncos training camp practices.

said. “We are very fortunate to have them as members of our community.” The rifle was a Ruger Mini

14 Ranch Rifle, Calibar .223 Remington, which Old Steel Historical Firearms appraised at between $700 and $1,000.

Tickets for the raffle were one for $25 or five for $100. Elliot Papas of the Littleton Elks won the raffle.

Rifle Raffle Donation – The Littleton Elks Lodge #1650 donated $1,155 to the Arapahoe Rescue Patrol in late July. Pictured from left to right are Trustee Jeff Pater, Arapahoe Rescue Patrol Captian Cam Fitzpatrick, Littleton Elks Lodge member and donator of rifle Art Rice, ER Jimmy Stanley, Arapahoe Rescue Patrol Chief Justin Kanaber and Arapahoe Rescue Patrol President of the Board of Directors, Barbara Nicholas

The Catch of the day

For some reason I feel compelled to pick up litter when I’m out walking. It’s odd really. I don’t always feel the need to do it in my own home. And if I were to hazard a guess I would say

SPECIAL DISTRICTS

NOTICE OF VACANCY FOR VERMILION CREEK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

Pursuant to Section 32-1-808(2)

(a)(I), C.R.S., notice is hereby given that a vacancy exists on the Board of Directors of the Vermilion Creek Metropolitan District. An eligible elector may be appointed to the vacant position to serve until the next regular election, which shall be held on May 6, 2025. Any interested elector may file a letter of interest in such position by mail to: Matt Ruhland, Esq., Cockrel Ela Glesne Greher & Ruhland, P.C., 44 Cook Street, Suite 620, Denver, Colorado 80206.

VERMILION CREEK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

By:/s/ Matthew P. Ruhland

Attorney for the District

Published in The Villager

Published: July 27, 2023

Legal # 11260

plastic bags are the trash item I pick up the most often outdoors. Junk mail is the trash I pick up most often in my house. But that’s a rant for another day.

When it comes to litter outdoors, plastic bottles are a close second to plastic bags. On the bright side, the bags give me something to carry all the plastic bottles home in. How conve-

nient!

Actually it makes me a little cranky. I can’t tell you how often I’ve gotten fed up with picking up trash and decided to quit. Then I walk by a plastic bag or the wind blows one by and it feels like a sign from God or the universe that picking up trash is my reason for being.

You can see why I might be a little preoccupied with litter in general and plastic in particular.

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According to the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, Connecticut, if we don’t change our plastic ways, there may be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. The article I read on the subject didn’t mention it, but I suspect there may be more plastic bags than people on land too. I know how it happens. Rain-

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP

Continued on page 24

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water and wind carry plastic trash out of road ditches into streams and rivers—if I don’t get to it first. Then streams and rivers carry it to the oceans. And that’s why I worry that the plastic bottle I didn’t pick up will soon be the catch of the day at an 8390

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PARK MEADOWS SUMMER SUNSET

SERIES

Thursdays, 4- 9 p.m. JULY 27 AUG. 10, AUG.

24. Enjoy a summer sunset stroll in the Vistas at Park Meadows with a cocktail in hand, live music, shopping, photo ops, activities for kids and a chance to win a summer get away.

CENTRAL CITY OPERA ROMEO & JULIET

William Shakespeare’s famous love story told through the romantic melodies of Charles Gounod. Performances July 15, 21, 28, 30 at 7 p.m. and Aug. 2, 4 at 7 p.m. Buy tickets from centralcityopera.org

ARAPAHOE COUNTY FAIR

JULY 27-30 at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, 25690 E. Quincy Ave. in Aurora. See schedule of events at arapahoecountyfair. com Live entertainment, carnival rides, rodeos, games & more!

ENGLEWOOD CHAMBER RIBBON

CUTTING

JULY 28, 4-6 p.m. at Movement 5280 3190

S. Grant St., Englewood. Check out the renovated space. Ribbon cutting, 4:30 p.m., tours, food & refreshments. RSVP: info@ myenglewoodchamber.com

PARIS STREET MARKET

AUG. 5, SEPT. 2, OCT. 7 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Aspen Grove, 7301 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton. Open-Air, Vintage, Boutique, Artisan.

SHINING STARS FOUNDATION

EVENT

AUG. 5 at the home of Arlene Mohler Johnson in Cherry Hills Village. 5-9 p.m. Presentation of the “Life is Looking Up” award to honor the legacy of Gerry McKenna and Noel Cunningham - great supporters of the Shining Stars Foundation. Honory Chair: Judi McKenna, Arlene Mohler Johnson & Michael Ditchfield.

Event Chairs: Holly Reef, Chris Gunplay, Julie Stovroff, L& Robin Brown. Tickets: https:// secure. give lively.org/event/shining-starsfoundation/starry-starry-night. Valet parking by Rocky Mountain Valet. All proceeds benefit pediatric cancer patients & their families.

COLORADO FEDERATION OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN DISTRICT 4 & 6 MEETING

Aug. 5 – 11:30am. Come to hear The Honorable Rose Pugliese, Colorado State House Assistant Minority Leader tell us what happened at the last Legislative Session. Location Double Tree Hotel – I-25 and Orchard. Contact Evie Ashmore 303-746-4608 for registration information.

59th ANNUAL COLORADO SCOTTISH FESTIVAL

AUG. 5-6. Sat. 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, 9 am.-5 p.m. at Denver Polo Club, 6359 Airport Road, Sedalia. Discover aspects of Scottish culture, traditions and history. The festival offers something for all cultures and every age group. Experience the exciting sports of polo also. Festival Website: http://www.scottishgames.

org. Tickets/Parking: https://scottishgames. tickets-ice.com/admissions. Sponsors: St. Andrew Society of Colo., SCFD, Renaissance Scots, Denver Polo Club, Belhaven Scotch Ale, Edrington Brands, Scottish Kings Gin.

95th WESTERN WELCOME WEEK

EVENTS AUG. 11-20

AUG. 11, Concert & laser show 5:30-10 p.m.

AUG. 12- 9:30 a.m. Gold Panning on the South Platte Park. l6:30-9:30 p.m. Fishing Derby by the Littleton Elks for the children. AUG. 12, 10

a.m. - 2 p.m., Littleton Elks Car Show.

AUG. 12, 8-11:59 p.m. Perseids Meteor Shower to be viewed from Carson Nature center in South Platte Park.

AUG. 13 - 8 a.m. Pancake Stampede 5K Fun Run & Walk last Hudson Gardens, 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton.

Aug. 13, 8-11 a.m. Pancake Breakfast at the Geneva Lodge Lawn at the Littleton Center.

AUG. 15, 6-7 p.m. Hawk-Quest’s Family Night Out at Carson Nature Center in South Platte Park.

AUG. 15, 6-8:30 p.m., RiverPointe Senior Living Swing Dance with Zing, the Great Big Band.

AUG. 16, 4-8:30 p.m. Cycling Without Age Littleton-Rock and Roll Roundup at RiverPointe.

AUG 17, 5-6 pm. Historic Littleton’s Inc.’s Downtown Historic District Walking Tours. (Meet at the old courthouse on Littleton Blvd.)

AUG. 18, Opening of the Annual Quilt Show and used book sale at First Presbyterian Church of Littleton. Also the Elks Hometown Pig Roast and Dance at the Elks Lodge.

AUG. 19 10-11:30 a.m., Western Welcome Week Grand Parade. View the Craft and Home Improvement Fair on Downtown Littleton’s Main St. and adjoining streets.

AUG.19, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. A Day at the Elk’s Lodge. 12 noon to 4 p.m., The Honor Bell, a tribute for Colorado’s heroes to be held downtown.

AUG. 20, 12:00 noon -2:30 p.m., rubber duckies race along Little’s Creek, starting at the War Memorial Rose Garden.

AUG. 14-19, 10-5 p.m. “Home on the Range” art show at Town Hall’s Stanton Gallery presented by the Littleton Fine Arts Guild. “Best of Colorado” also to be presented at the Depot Art Gallery, 2069 W. Powers Ave., Littleton.

CENTENNIAL UNDER THE STARS

AUGUST 12, 5-9 p.m. Centennial Center Park, 13050 E. Peakview Drive. Live music featuring Libelula and 6 Million Dollar band, Local vendors and food trucks, activities.

DENVER LYRIC OPERA GUILD DLOG SUMMER PARTY

AUGUST 12. A French-themed Luncheon at Columbine Country Club. Tickets available at the DLOG website in mid-June. SAVE THE DATE!

DOUGLAS COUNTY REPUBLICAN

WOMEN

LINCOLN DAY PICNIC

AUGUST 19. 11:00 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Wiens Ranch. Couples $60.

2023 Toyota Crown rules the roads

About the time that you that you have driven the ultimate car a better one come along. The best car driven so far in 2023 is the Toyota Crown PLT; a full time electronic all-wheel drive hybrid with a 2.4L turbocharged engine and six-speed versatile six-speed transmission. The combination provides a powerful 360 horsepower with five drive modes: eco, normal, comfort, sport, and sport plus. I spent drive time in both sports modes and eco. My overall fuel mileage was 27.9 for driving in mountains and freeways.

There were no worries about finding charge stations with the self-charging hybrid system. I stayed on the fuel combustion side for the test drive that was outstanding in all respects.

First, the appearance of this “Crown” model is a “wow” with “Heavy Metal” two-tone black paint. Kind of resembles the Colo

CANCER LEAGUE 5K RUN & WALK

SUNDAY, AUG. 20. 27th Annual Race 4 Research at Washington Park. Register www. cancerleague.org or call 303-281-9864.

CANCER LEAGUE OF COLORADO

OVER THE EDGE

SEPT. 7-9. Join in the fight against cancer by repelling down McGregor Square. Registration now open for 2023. www.cancerleague.org or Call 303-281-9864.

TAPS: TRAGEDY ASSISTANCE

PROGRAM FOR SURVIVORS

WESTERN-THEMED GALA

SEPT. 9 at Wings Over the Rockies. Founders, Lynne and Bo Cottrell, in 2005 will be honored. The Cottrell’s will be stepping down as directors of the event. The event raises funds for military survivors. Featuring country legend Pam Tillis and singer/songwriter Gary Morris. Also a special performance by Frank Moscato, an American Idol Gold Ticket winner. INFO: visit TAPS.org/Colorado

MS. COLORADO SENIOR AMERICA

- QUEEN’S TEA

SUN, SEPT 10, 2 p.m. -5 p.m. At Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Course, Antero Ballroom. It will be a fun afternoon of sipping tea and tasting the delights of an assortment of finger sandwiches, canapés, appetizers, and desserts. You will be entertained by the Ms. Colorado Senior America Pageant Queen 2023 Joanie Ryan and club members including the dance group, The Bella Donna’s! Silent auction and Live auction! This is an annual fundraiser that should not be missed. For tickets contact Cyndy Oberdier at: 720-217-3560 colosramerica.com

AUTHORS HALL OF FAME DINNER

SEPT. 11 at the Double Tree Hilton DTC. 12 New Inductees. For the list of all inductees, and tickets to attend the gala visit ColoradoAuthorsHallofFame.org

CHERRY CREEK REPUBLICAN

WOMEN

Cherry Creek Republican Women are taking a break from monthly meetings for July and August. Programs resume on Sept. 12. Contact Evie Ashmore at 303-746-4608 for information.

WHAT’S NEW?

Break Bread LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS

Volunteer to serve two warm, freshly cooked meals each week. Options include food prep, serving meals, walking meals to neighbors close by driving meals stop families without transportation access, or hosting a table. Call 720-335-5525 or sign up online at breakbread.org/volunteer. Check them out on Wednesday evenings for to-go meals or Sat. evenings from 4-6 p.m. at 5894 S. Datura St., Littleton. Money donations are also needed for the 400 meals provided every week. $145 feeds a family of 4 twice a week for a month. $1750 nourishes 1 table once a week for an entire year.

rado State Patrol cars, and could perform as well, or better in speed.

The appearance is outstanding both in exterior and internal. The interior is black, with heated and cooled leather seats. Heated leather steering wheel… but didn’t need any heat elements with the warm weather but will be great in Colorado winter driving. The rear seats were heated and cooled as well.

The Crown model has a panoramic glass roof, quad LED headlights, and 21”/10 spoke machined alloy wheels that add to the black two-tone paint.

The interior features a 12.3 multi-media screen with Apple Car Play and Android auto compatible features and JBL 11 speaker with subwoofer.

By H. Throttle

Safety features, the Crown had them all including the new steering assist that will drive the car by itself but warns to keep hands on the steering wheel. I really like the road signs alerts and school speed zone warning. The full range of the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 system that includes so many safety features, especially valuable is the pre-collision alert that will stop from striking a forward object if possible.

This car is very special with power, safety features, adaptive variable suspension, comfortable power seats, appearance, and the turbo engine experience of thrust and speed. There is the thrill of having a four-door sedan that can handle like a sports car for the price of $52,350 with most options included.

It would make me very happy to have this car in my garage.

Devil’s Food Bakery-Denver Restaurant Review

BY LISA J. SHULTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Devil’s Food Bakery had a line out the door when I went there on a Saturday mid-day. If you have a sweet tooth, this is the perfect place to satisfy this craving. The bakery is located on 1004 S. Gaylord Street in the Washington Park neighborhood in Denver.

The name of the bakery suggests that the offerings are decadent regarding sugar. It is a small batch, from scratch bakery, which also serves coffee. I patiently waited in line about 15 minutes and ordered a frosted sugar cookie and a buckeye with a chai latte. I sat at the counter in an old-time café environment to enjoy them.

Devil’s Food Bakery is the perfect place to treat yourself to a sweet or pick something

Rosby

Continued on page 22

ocean-front restaurant.

I’m carrying on about this issue now because it’s Plastic Free July, when people around the world pledge to avoid buying single-use plastic items for a month. It’s not easy. Single use plastic is the dandelion of consumer society, except dandelions are prettier and you can eat them.

And speaking of eating, July is also Picnic Month. If you’re planning on observing it, stop by and I’ll give you some of my plastic cutlery for your picnic. Also some dandelions.

I’ve saved every plastic knife, fork and spoon I’ve received at fast-food restaurants since the

out for someone as a gift. Cash register pay station is fun too! Hours are 7:00am5:00pm each day of the week.

Devil’s Food Bakery has been around since 1999, and it expanded to two locations on the street. Cookery at Myrtle Hill on the same block at 1020 S. Gaylord Street is under the same ownership and offers breakfast and lunch daily from 7:00am-3:00pm.

Gaylord Street is a wonderful block to explore before or after enjoying sweets or a meal at these two spots. Find out more at devilsfooddenver. com http://www.devilsfooddenver.com

Lisa J. Shultz is a Denver native. She loves to inspire exploration of Denver in her book Essential Denver. Find out more about her and her book at EssentialDenver.com or call her at 303-881-9338.

Village BOOK REVIEW

invention of the spork. And I’d be happy to share them.

Naturally I also use canvas bags—when I remember to take them to the store. And when I forget them, I stuff my purchases into my pockets and purse and haul the rest out in my arms while carrying the receipt in my teeth so I won’t be accused of shoplifting.

I carry a stainless-steel mug everywhere I go so I won’t have to buy beverages in plastic bottles. And I’ve been using the same straw since I got it at a fastfood restaurant in 1998. I think the cleaning brush for reusable straws is the greatest invention since, well, the straw.

I’ve even been known to remove plastic bottles from other people’s trash and take them home to my recycling bin. I have to be sneaky about it because

people don’t appreciate it as much as you’d think they would.

Of course, I do all of this yearround, not just in July. Plastic Free July is just the beginning. It won’t do much good if, come August 1, we stock up on plastic everything. I dream of a day when stores are filled with barrels of ketchup, cooking oil and shampoo. We’ll walk in with our refillable jugs and say, “fill ‘er up.”

Until then, I’m trying to convince everyone I know to observe Plastic Free July. Then maybe I won’t have to pick up another plastic bag until August 1.

Dorothy Rosby is the author of I Didn’t Know You Could Make Birthday Cake from Scratch: Parenting Blunders from Cradle to Empty Nest and other books. Contact her at www.dorothyrosby.com/contact.

Live Long, Die Short: A Guide to Authentic Health and Successful Aging

This book was written by Roger Landry and published in 2014. The author provides a personal inventory towards the beginning to see how you are doing on twelve key items that lead to successful aging. Then there is a chapter that expounds on each one. Here is a summary:

1. Move your body

2. Have face to face conversation

3. Learn or do something new

4. Be proud of how you spend your day

5. Eat fruits, vegetable, nuts (5 or more servings a day)

6. Keep your weight within 10 pounds of what it was at age 18

7. Stop rushing

8. Stop worrying

9. Focus on what you are doing

10. Get quality sleep

11. Laugh daily

12. Interact with a child

To learn more about Lisa and her books, visit her website, www.LisaJShultz.com. To read more book reviews, follow her on Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/ LisaJShultz. Lisa loves speaking to groups, and she would be happy attend your book club. Call her at 303-881-9338.

Landry is passionate about his subject matter and the book is presented in an inspiring manner. I highly recommend it.