Leadership and Elections Matter
With California wildfires blazing, it becomes increasingly evident that elections matter and competent government leaders who think long range and serve the people are imperative to our health and wellbeing. Government leadership plays a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of a community, state and a nation. Competent leaders, guided by the principles of service, empathy, responsibility and accountability are critical to fostering progress, stability, and human flourishing. Conversely, leadership driven by ego, personal goals, or selfish aspirations can erode public trust, weaken institutions, and hinder societal growth. The
distinction between these approaches underscores the urgent need for government leaders who prioritize the collective good over individual ambition.
At its core, governance is a service-oriented endeavor. Leaders are entrusted with the welfare of their constituents, and their decisions directly influence the quality of life for millions. Competent leadership ensures that policies are designed to address societal challenges such as poverty, education, healthcare, and the establishment of policies that protect and increase our quality of life. Leaders who genuinely prioritize public welfare are more likely to invest in long-term solutions
rather than pursuing shortterm gains for personal or political advancement.
When I was a nurse in the US Air Force, it was easy to spot an officer who was rank rather than service inspired. Of the many generals I met, the ones that were the most effective and loved were the ones that asked us how they could serve the staff, what we needed to do our job well, and how we were enjoying our post. At first, it was shocking to encounter such a high-ranking officer who was genuinely concerned about those serving under him/her. Experiencing servant leadership was something to behold.
Ego-driven leadership often prioritizes personal accolades, power reten-
C NVERSATIONS
tion, or partisan agendas over public service. This approach can lead to corruption, special interest influence, mismanagement, and divisive rhetoric, undermining public confidence in government institutions. When leaders focus on their aspirations rather than the needs of the people, they break the public trust and when leadership is needed the most, citizens become cynical and do not follow the designated leaders threatening the essence of democracy.
Recent history provides numerous cautionary tales of such leadership. In many cases, authoritarian tendencies or unchecked personal ambitions have resulted in economic mismanagement, human rights abuses, and societal polarization. These consequences highlight the
stark contrast between leaders who serve the people and those who serve themselves. Integrity-driven leaders inspire confidence and set the tone for the entire administration. When leaders lead by example, they cultivate an environment where honesty, collaboration, and dedication to the common good flourish. This approach not only ensures more effective governance but also encourages citizens to actively participate in the democratic process.
The importance of government leadership that serves the people cannot be overstated. As voters, we must make leadership, not looks, empty rhetoric, or personalities a priority. Be very discerning when casting your valuable vote. After all, you deserve who you elect. joneen@narme.org
Nominations now open
The Arapahoe County Mayors and Commissioners Youth Awards recognizes teenagers who have overcome adversity and risen to challenges.
Scholarships are awarded to graduating seniors who wish to pursue post-secondary educational opportunities at vocational schools, two- or four-year colleges, or trade and certification programs. Teachers, counselors, and school admins can nominate exceptional seniors through March 7 at arapahoeco.gov/youthawards.
All County offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 20 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.
A Lesson In History
On January 8, 1790, President George Washington broke new ground by delivering the first State of the Union Address. He presented it to a joint session of Congress at Federal Hall in New York City, the temporary capital of the United States. The new nation’s Constitution required that the President occasionally update Congress on the State of the Union and propose necessary measures. As the first president, it was up to Washington to decide how to execute this, and his approach was a significant departure from the monarchical traditions of the past.
and John Adams delivered the message in person.
Thomas Jefferson, however, believed this was “monarchical” and time-consuming, so he began sending a written message instead. This continued until 1913 when President Woodrow Wilson delivered his message in person.
BY BOB SWEENEY PUBLISHER
Washington gave his address eight months after his inauguration. His tone was deferential, and he understood the nation’s fear of having another monarchical ruler.
sponded with overwhelming approval to Washington’s State of the Union Address. Congress drafted and delivered a response aligned with the speech and pledged cooperation. Americans felt reassured that their new government was better balanced and less tyrannical than the one they left behind. Washington successfully demonstrated the balance between the three branches of the government, instilling a sense of confidence in the nation’s future.
their computers starting in 2002.
American presidents still give State of the Union Addresses today, though the format has evolved.
Originally known as the “President’s Annual Message to Congress,” Washington
The speech, which was a little over 1,000 words long, emphasized the need for national defense, infrastructure development, and education. It also congratulated and welcomed the newest state, North Carolina.
Congress and citizens re-
Over the years, the State of the Union Address has evolved, reflecting the changing nature of American politics and society. In 1923 the first message was carried on the radio, and in 1947, Americans were able to see the speech on television. With the advent of the Internet and streaming, Americans could start watching the speech on
The Cause and Solution, for Inflation
Directors of the Federal Reserve board are admitting that inflation is not coming down, in spite of the massive increase in Fed Fund interest rates two years ago. That rate increase was touted as the solution to Powell’s “transitory” inflation. I said it wouldn’t work then and it hasn’t.
“Lisa D. Cook, a member of the Fed’s board of governors, said during a recent speech that the labor market has been “somewhat more resilient” since September while inflation has remained “stickier” than expected. “I think we can afford to proceed more cautiously with further cuts.”
Of course inflation is “sticky”
- the Fed is not addressing inflation. They caused it. The solution to persistent inflation is the reason for inflation in the first place: excessive money supply. This bout of inflation started in 2008 when the Fed Reserve started printing money, thinking it would stimulate the economy. It didn’t. We suffered the Great Recession, and still suffer its lasting effects.
Remember that printing money means national debt. Debt that we citizens will pay off over generations. Remember too, that all this excessive money supply was created solely so the administration and congress could spend more than our government took in via tax revenues. That
debt (Treasuries) resides squarely on the citizens’ shoulders to pay back. If anyone else did that to you, it would be called fraud and theft…
In order to reduce inflation, we need the following in this order:
(1) stop federal spending, then reduce it substantially. Nothing good happens until the government stops and reduces its drunken spending habits.
(2) stop printing currency (US Dollars) and start taking excess money supply out of the economy. Excess supply of dollars devalues the buying power of every other dollar in circulation. Dollar devaluation is inflation: We pay more dollars for the same amount of goods.
(3) stop incurring debt (stop issuing Treasuries) and start
In 1790, Washington delivered his 1,000-word speech in about 30 minutes. Today, State of the Union speeches are between 6,000 and 7,500 words and generally take 60 to 90 minutes. However, they can take even longer because president’s delivery style and often interruptions from Congress with applause.
The speech is now a lengthy televised event, a testament to the power of modern media and the importance of transparency in governance. An opposition party member then responds with their own televised address, a practice that further enriches the democratic dialogue.
paying down the massive debt burden (redeem existing Treasury bonds). The interest cost on this debt is almost $1 Trillion each year.
These three mandates are completely intertwined, we can’t have one without the other. The ultimate solution resides with you and me, the citizens of this Constitutional Republic, to demand these actions of every politician we elect. Don’t leave it to our children and grandchildren to solve. Or our great grandchildren will no longer have a country.
Jay Davidson is founder and CEO of a commercial bank. He is a student of the Austrian School of Economics and a dedicated capitalist. He believes there is a direct connection between individual right and responsibility, our Constitution, capitalism, and the intent of our Creator.
Congratulations Russell Gruber of Gruber Commercial Real Estate on being named Denver Metro Commercial Association of Realtors Heavy Hitters 2023 Top Small Shop Broker! First American State Bank is proud to be your banking partner. Just like First American State Bank, Gruber Commercial Real Estate is known for the high level, personalized service it brings to every customer interaction.
CREATIVE MARKETING DIRECTOR Susan Sweeney Lanam 720-270-2018 susan@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 cogambler@mac.com 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
Jay Davidson, CEO with Michelle Gruber, VP, First American State Bank and Russell Gruber, Gruber Commercial Real Estate
Evening Under the Stars
A delectable spread by Footers Catering accompanied the Evening Under the Stars at The Cable Center, Daniels Great Hall on DU’s campus when the Senate Majority Fund welcomed current and former state senators as well as supporters to share the annual pre-session reception. Dozens of sponsors – both corporate and individual contributed to the fundraiser.
Leadership Team members include: Senate Republican Leader Paul Lundeen, Assistant Senate Republican Leader Cleave Simpson, Senate Joint Budget Committee member Barb Kirkmeier, Republican Caucus Chair Byron Pelton, Republican Caucus Whip Janice Rich, Senator Mark Baisley, Senator Larry Liston, Senator Rod Pelton, Senator-Elect Lisa Frizell, Senator-Elect Scott Bright and Senator-Elect Marc Catlin.
Finance Committee members include: Former Colorado Governor Bill Owens, Former State Senate President Bill Cadman, Pete Coors, Carrie Couey, Sherri Koelbel, Charlie McNeil, Chelsie Miena, Tom Roche and Harold Smethills.
Annual Senate Majority Fund Pre-Session Reception
Senators Cleave Simpson (Assistant Republican Leader), Barb Kirkmeier (Joint Budget Committee) with Senate Majority Fund Chair and Senate Republican Leader Paul Lundeen who all spoke from the balcony
“The message of deleting idiotic fees, eliminating regulations, and putting dollars back in the denims of Colorado families was a winning message at the Colorado Republican Senate fundraiser.” - Senate Republican Leader Paul Lundeen
New Senator John Carson with sponsor Harold Smethills (Finance Committee member)
New Senator Lisa Frizell and Senator Janice Rich
Amy Leake and Monica Owens Beauprez of the WestBrooke Group with Monica’s dad former Colorado Governor Bill Owens
Former Senate President Bill Cadman with former Senator Jack Tate Photos by Scottie Iverson
INTERESTINGPLACES
Hello Helsinki!
After leaving northern Norway, our next stop was Helsinki, a two-flight hop from Kirkenes via Oslo. Finland has a population of 5.6 million, and Helsinki has about 700,000, similar to Colorado and Denver.
Finland has 3 million saunas, half a sauna for every person, and saunas are a major part of Finnish lifestyle and culture. Finland is the happiest country in the world, although mental illness affects 1 in 5 Finns. Maybe too much happiness?
Finnish is a complicated language, more like Hungarian than Swedish or Norwegian; fortunately, English is taught at an early age. We had no trouble on the language front.
We felt at home in Helsinki as Finns are the world’s biggest coffee drinkers, at 26 pounds per year. I’m probably in that ballpark.
For those speeding through Cherry Hills, take note. Finland bases speeding fines on your income. A wealthy Finn was recently assessed a $129,000 speeding ticket, an extreme version of “pay your fair share.”
We spent a day and a half and two nights in downtown Helsinki. A walking city tour gave us an overview of this beautiful city. One of the highlights was Oodi Library, a large public library in the city’s center. It’s a social hub, a great place to hang out and
ly life, both summer and winter. We visited the Allas public sauna on the Helsinki waterfront, across from the presidential palace. We rented swimsuits and towels.
learn during the long, dark winters. You can take Finnish classes or play chess. An urban workshop offers opportunities to learn new skills and practice using sewing machines and 3-D printers. Studio space is available for practicing or recording music and taking photographs, and cameras and musical instruments can be borrowed.
There are game rooms for video games and kitchens for hosting parties or cooking classes. The library can also be used to run a business, with office space available for three hours at a time. What a great alternative for teenagers to hanging out at someone’s home and getting into mischief.
In Finland, the sauna is a staple and a part of dai-
The saunas are hot, but after cooking to medium well, we plunged into a cold pool, which is actually part of the harbor. The original sauna was a pit in the ground; now a wooden room with hot stones. Water is ladled on the stones to add humidity to the mix. Next to the public
sauna is a Ferris wheel with a sauna cabin!
The food was excellent. Specialties include porridge for breakfast and salmon soup for lunch or dinner. We wanted to try bear meat, but the only restaurant in Helsinki that allowed it was out of bear, so we had to wait for our next stop on this journey.
We heard about some Finnish customs, such as a wife-carrying contest through an obstacle course. The winner of this international competition receives a free beer, small compensation for some hard work.
Finns also have an interesting word for staying home and drinking while in their underwear – kalsarikannit. This started before COVID and seems like a good activity during the long, dark nights after a trip to the sauna and a bowl of salmon soup.
Santa Claus is a government employee from northern Finland. He comes from Lapland. I don’t know if he would survive Elon and Vivek’s upcoming DOGE commission.
Helsinki is well worth a few days’ visit if you are traveling through this part of the world!
Economic Forecast Breakfast
Streetcars are the main mode of public
We arrived in Helsinki!
Swoozie’s Cherry Hills Marketplace store closed at as well as shutting down nationally
Swoozie’s, an Atlantabased company, had filed for bankruptcy in 2010. It was then acquired by Gart Capital, a Denver-based investment company that reopened some stores nationally and established a new one in Denver.
Just before the COVID19 pandemic hit, Gart
Investments sold their stake in the company to Beyond Brands Group. Swoozie’s have now shuttered all of their remaining 10 stores nationwide, including their Cherry Hills Marketplace location which closed their doors late last month.
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BY FREDA MIKLIN
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I am passionate about government and giving our readers straightforward information that will help them make informed choices when they vote. am also a licensed C.P.A. and former Greenwood Village City Council member. Dr. Jerry Miklin and are the parents of five young adults, including two sets of twins, all of whom graduated from Cherry Creek High School and college. am a 9-time Colo. Press Assn. award winner. If you have any questions about local or state politics or government, or something you want to share, email me at fmiklin.villager@gmail.com.
10% of state Senate just filled through new vacancy appointments
What is most notable about the appointment of three Colorado state senators between January 4 and January 7, via partisan vacancy committees, is that a total of 276 political activists participated in the process that selected three people who will represent almost 500,000 Coloradans for the next two years in a legislative body that has only 35 members.
On January 4, a Republican vacancy committee for Douglas County Senate District 30 chose former CU Regent John Carson to serve out the last two years of the term of former District 30 Sen. Kevin Van Winkle. The senate position was vacant for a month, following Gov. Polis’ appointment of Van Winkle as Douglas County Commissioner early (he had won election to the seat on November 5), following former Commissioner Lora Thomas’ early exit. Thomas was termlimited, thus hadn’t run on November 5, but stepped down before her term ended, after a long-running feud with the other two Douglas County commissioners, Abe Laydon and George Teal, who had attacked her actions publicly on multiple occasions during the past two years.
The SD30 vacancy committee was comprised of precinct leaders and county central committee members. Of the 168 official members of the vacancy committee, according to reports, 136 eventually received credentials. Once that issue was settled, Carson won on the next ballot
with 71 votes, which gave him 52% of the total votes cast in a race where 50% plus one vote carries the day.
Though he had previously been a CU Regent, Carson had no prior experience in the general assembly, He had served on the Douglas County School Board, including as its president. He was also the Rocky Mountain Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development under former President George W. Bush.
The other candidates for SD30 were Kim Ransom, who served as a state representative in the general assembly from 2015 to 2023, leaving due to term limits, and Priscilla Rahn, who was seeking her first elective office. Ransom, who received 48 votes (35%), was supported by VanWinkle to be his replacement. Rahn got 17 votes (12.5%).
On January 6, 42 members of the 45-person Arapahoe County Senate District 29 Democratic vacancy com-
mittee, comprised of precinct officers and current elected officials, gathered for a onehour candidate forum, followed by a vote to select someone to serve the first two years of Sen. Janet Buckner’s term. Buckner announced she would resign effective January 9, as the 2025 session began, two weeks after she was reelected to her seat on November 5. She had run unopposed. Three people sought the position. Iman Jodeh, HD41 state Representative who just won a third term by 25 points, won handily in one vote, receiving 35 (83%) of the 42 votes cast. The other candidates were Maya Wheeler, a community activist who has sought elective office previously, and Christian Caldwell, who had not. Wheeler got seven votes. Caldwell got none. During the candidate forum, all three were asked about the upcoming projected state budget shortfall, estimated to be around $700 million. Jodeh and Wheeler both
pointed to the restrictions imposed by the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR), which Jodeh said she would like to see repealed. (It was passed by the voters in 1992.) She also noted her support for sanctuary policies.
With Jodeh moving to the state Senate, another vacancy committee will need to fill her position representing Aurora state House District 41 for the next two years. When that position is filled, the current 100-member state legislature will have 21% of its sitting members having been appointed to the seats they occupy by vacancy committees.
Approximately one-third of all members of the general assembly will have been appointed by a vacancy committee at some point in their legislative career.
The final 2025 legislative session senatorial vacancy committee meeting and vote was in Denver Senate District 31, where Sen. Chris Hansen announced he would resign
his seat effective January 9, shortly after he was re-elected on November 5 by a margin of 84% to 16% over his only opponent, a Libertarian. Hansen is taking a job as CEO of LaPlata Electric Association in Durango.
Seven candidates filed papers to serve as Hansen’s replacement, including HD 6 Rep. Sean Camacho, who was just elected to his first term in the general assembly on November 5, besting his GOP opponent 85%-15%. Hansen had announced his support for Camacho to replace him.
The other six candidates for the position included Denver HD2 Rep. Steven Woodrow, just elected to a second term by a 50-point margin, City of Denver Policy Director Matthew Ball, hotel executive Chris Chiari, attorney Iris Halpern, Auraria Higher Education Center Chief of Staff Shaneis Malouff, and former Connect for Colorado Chief Policy and Relationship Officer Monica Van Buskirk. It took five votes, but the eventual winner was Matthew Ball. We will report in detail what the process, which took four hours, looked like, next week, to give readers more insight into how vacancy committees operate.
One moment that stood out in the process was when state Democratic Party Chair Shad Murib, who moderated the candidate forum at the SD31 vacancy committee meeting, asked each of the seven people seeking the position, if they supported the current process for filling vacancies. Not one said yes.
The three newly appointed state senators will have to stand for election by the voters on November 3, 2026.
Democratic State Senators come out of the gate strong
Although the names of many state senators in 2025 are different than they were last year, the partisan mix is unchanged, 23 Democrats and 12 Republicans, giving the Dems 65.7% (one percent less than a super-majority) and the GOP 34.3%.
Sen. James Coleman of Denver is Senate President.
On January 8, the opening date of the 2025 session, he announced, “This year, Senate Democrats are prioritizing solutions to lower the cost of living, protect our freedoms like the right to vote, and ensure safe, thriving communities…I’m excited to see how we will work together to build
a Colorado where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
Sen. Robert Rodriguez, Senate Majority Leader, whose district is mostly in Denver but includes small portions of Arapahoe and Jefferson Counties, added,
“Our caucus is well-prepared to deliver…more affordable and safer communities, protections for our rights and freedoms, and support for the middle class.”
To further those goals, Senate Democratic leadership laid out the first ten bills they have proposed for the 2025 session:
SB25-001 Colorado Voting Rights Act – This bill
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to site-built homes in the same zone district, and must employ the statewide requirements established by the division for factorybuilt structures and by the United States department of housing and urban development for manufactured homes.
Prime sponsors are Arapahoe County Sen. Jeff Bridges, El Paso County Sen. Tony Exum, and Larimer County Rep. Andrew Boesenecker.
SB25-003 Semiautomatic Firearms & Rapid-Fire Devices – This bill prohibits the sale, purchase, manufacture, distribution, or any other method of transfer of a semiautomatic shotgun with a detachable magazine, a gas-operated semiautomatic handgun with a detachable magazine, or a semiautomatic rifle, unless it is to an heir, a person residing outside Colorado, or a federally licensed firearm dealer. It also classifies any device that increases the rate of
fire of a semiautomatic firearm as a dangerous weapon. Possession of a dangerous weapon is currently illegal.
Prime sponsors are Denver County Sen. Julie Gonzales, Arapahoe County Sen. Tom Sullivan, Arapahoe County Rep. Meg Froelich, and Larimer County Rep. Andrew Boesenecker.
SB25-004 Regulating Child Care Center Fees - This bill limits the amount a licensed child care center can charge for a wait list fee or an application fee to $25 and requires that any deposit fee be used toward the cost of the first month’s child care fee if the family secures a position for their child.
Prime sponsors are Adams County Sen. Faith Winter, Boulder County Sen. Janice Marchman, Adams County Rep. Jenny Willford, and Adams County Rep. Lorena García.
SB25-005 Worker Protection Collective Bargaining – This bill would make it easier for workers to form a union by holding only one election instead
of two separate ones, as is required under current law.
Prime sponsors are Majority Leader Denver Sen. Robert Rodriguez, Jefferson County Sen. Jessie Danielson, Denver Rep. Javier Mabrey, and Denver Rep. Jennifer Bacon.
SB25-006 Investment Authority of State Treasurer for Affordable Housing – This bill authorizes the state treasurer to invest up to $50 million of state money in bonds that may have below-market interest rates and are issued by a quasi-governmental entity. The proceeds would be used to build affordable for-sale housing.
SB25-007 – Increase Prescribed Burns – This bill allows the division of fire prevention and control to utilize prescribed burns as a tool to control fire danger by setting aside $1 million to pay claims in the unlikely event of damages caused by the prescribed burn.
Prime sponsors are Boulder County Sen. Janice Marchman, Jefferson County Sen. Lisa Cutter,
Newly elected Arapahoe
County officials are sworn in
Pitkin County Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, and Larimer County Rep. Ron Weinberg.
SB25-008 – Adjust Necessary Document Program – This bill would allow self-identified low-income earners, homeless individuals, victims of domestic violence, Coloradans impacted by a natural disaster, the elderly, and the disabled to obtain official documents needed to prove their identity, status, or citizenship, including drivers’ licenses, birth certificates, and other identity documents, without paying a fee. It would take effect July 1, 2027.
Prime sponsors are Pueblo County Sen. Nick Hinrichsen, Larimer County Sen. Cathy Kipp, and Arapahoe County Rep. Meg Froelich.
modifies existing statutory language to prevent actions by any political subdivision that make it harder for a member of a protected race, color, or minority group to vote. It clarifies voter registration and participation access for Indian tribes, individuals with disabilities, and non-English speakers. It also creates a statewide election database and information office in the Colorado Department of State, which will collect and maintain data on demographics, election results, and voting, and which will be available to
the public.
Prime sponsors are Sen. Julie Gonzales and Reps. Jennifer Bacon and Junie Joseph.
SB25-002 Regional Building Codes for FactoryBuilt Structures –This bill requires the state housing board to adopt rules to undertake or complete construction and installation of factorybuilt structures—regular residences, tiny homes, and nonresidential structures. After the board adopts said rules, the state plumbing board, the state electrical board, and the state fire suppression
administrator will not have jurisdiction over factorybuilt structures. It also requires that an advisory committee on factorybuilt structures develop regional building codes for said structures, including implementation requirements, and submit those building codes to the state housing board by July 1, 2026. The bill further states that counties and municipalities cannot exclude factory-built structures from their boundaries or impose more restrictive standards than they apply
Continued on page 9
District 2 Commissioner Jessica Campbell opened the program, held at Centrepoint in Aurora on January 9, by expressing the Board of County Commissioners’ (BOCC) gratitude to voters for passing Ballot Measure 1A in November which, she pointed out, “released us from the confines and restrictions of TABOR and spending and revenue limits on that.” She added that, by voting to “De-Bruce” (become exempt from TABOR restrictions), Arapahoe County residents chose to prevent the significant challenges and budget cuts that would have had to occur otherwise, also acknowledging that the BOCC is aware of the financial challenges its constituents face with the rising cost of living, and appreciates voters’ trust that money will be spent wisely. Campbell reminded listeners that a resident oversight committee will be in place to review and monitor the BOCC’s spending.
All the officials sworn in to the positions to which they were elected on November 5 began by acknowledging and thanking their supporters, especially their families.
Chief 18th Judicial District Judge Michelle Amico started off the official actions by swearing in BOCC District
One Commissioner Carrie Warren-Gully for her second
term of office. Warren-Gully, who chaired the BOCC in 2023 and 2024, reflected on the past four years as a time when the county supported the families, businesses, and individuals of the community, focused on recovery from the health and financial impacts of the pandemic. She pointed to the start-up of a new county public health department and a new judicial district as examples of large projects undertaken by Arapahoe County since she was elected four years ago. As a result of the passage of Ballot Measure 1A, she said, “We have a lot to look forward to and a bright future over the next four years,” noting the county will operate based on its carefully developed strategic plan. She thanked the state, local, and federal officials, along with businesses and civic organizations for their continuing partnership with Arapahoe County.
After being sworn in for his third and final term, District Three Commissioner Jeff Baker made a point to acknowledge the county employees (he formerly was one) who “work every day, sometimes nights, sometimes weekends; you plow the roads, doing your jobs efficiently and professionally.”
He named department heads and other county elected officials, as well as former BOCC and Arapahoe County
Health Department Commissioners Nancy Sharpe Kennedy and Nancy Jackson, who attended the event, pointing to the many partnerships that support the BOCC in being effective.
New District Five Commissioner Rhonda Fields was sworn in by Judge Amico for her first term, replacing Bill Holen, who served for 12 years. She talked about coming to Colorado when her father was stationed at Fort Carson and completing her education here, including a masters’ degree at the University of Northern Colorado. Fields’ professional background includes 28 years with United Airlines. She has lived in Arapahoe County for 30 years and has broad government experience, having served in the state legislature for 14 continuous years, ending in 2024.
Commissioner Fields shared the tragedy she experienced when her son was murdered 20 years ago and acknowledged the community for holding her up and getting her through that terrible time by encouraging her to devote her public service to standing up for crime victims. She plans to “pay it forward” as a commissioner by “tackling the critical issues facing the people of Arapahoe County, including public safety, supporting small businesses, and protecting public spaces.”
Prime sponsors are Summit County Sen. Dylan Roberts, Jefferson County Sen. Jessie Danielson, Boulder County Rep. Junie Joseph, and Larimer County Rep. Ron Weinberg.
SB25-010 – Electronic Communications in Health Care – To improved efficiency, this bill would permit health insurance companies to deliver documents to their customers electronically unless a customer asks to have it sent by U.S. mail on paper.
Prime sponsors are Adams County Sen. Kyle Mullica, Logan County Sen. Byron Pelton, and Boulder County Rep. Kyle Brown. Senate Bills 006, 007, 009 and 010 have bipartisan prime sponsors. Bills 001-005 and 008 are being proposed by all Democrats.
SB25-009 – Recognition of Tribal Court Orders –This bill would allow the state to recognize an arrest warrant issued by a Tribal court of a federally recognized Tribe that has a reservation in Colorado. A representative of the tribe would arrange for a person arrested by a state peace officer under this law to be transported to a tribal detention facility.
After taking the oath of office, Amy Padden expressed her gratitude for being selected to be the first DA of the Arapahoe County-only 18th Judicial District. Her background includes working for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Colorado Attorney General, the Jefferson County DA, and as an attorney in private practice. She pointed to her 20-year government career representing “the people” as one of “immense responsibility.” DA Padden pledged to lead an office in which public safety is the
priority, by working “to prevent crime, rehabilitate nonviolent offenders, and break the school-to-prison pipeline, thereby reducing crime and recidivism,” while “standing up for victims, and ensuring that their voices are heard and they receive justice.” She also pledged to “address mental health and problems, including addiction, by enhancing diversion programs and specialty courts, like veterans’ court, toward making sure everyone in the legal system is treated fairly.”
Douglas County Senator John Carson (R-30)
Commissioner Carrie WarrenGully
Aurora State Senator Iman Jodeh (D-29)
Commissioner Jeff Baker
Denver State Senator Matthew Ball (D-31)
Commissioner Rhonda Fields 18th Judicial District Attorney Amy Padden
BY OLIVER SCALA STAFF WRITER UNION ST. JOURNAL
Senior Sovereign Walker composed an all-original choir piece entitled “Cry Not,” which was performed by the Meistersingers at their December 11th concert. His inspirations for the piece included past songs performed by him in the choir, his poetry, and his religious background.
Walker’s mother taught him and his siblings how to sing when he was around three years old, an ability that he was able to use and exercise regularly in church.
Music Theory in his Junior year. Walker accredits being in Meistersingers along with Music Theory with improving his ability to compose music. Today, along with being in Meistersingers and singing in church, he is also in the Union Street Jazz Choir.
“I would watch my older brother go into his choir concerts and I wanted to do that one day, so I found my way here,” Walker said. “I think the voice is a really pretty instrument because certain consonants that sound weird on other instruments work interestingly well for the voice. Then, you can pair that with words that lift and inspire.”
able to have their work performed by one of our ensembles. This is a very special event,” Branton said.
Since joining the choir, the community has embraced Walker and he has embraced it.
As a senior, Walker will remember the tight-knit community that Creek’s choir form.
Walker’s talent did not go unnoticed by choir teacher Sarah Branton.
Sovereign Walker Composes Song Cry Not
Walker started in Statesmen as a Freshman, then Troubadours in his Sophomore year, as a junior he entered Meistersingers. He also took piano lab in his Sophomore year and
“I have only had a few students through my career who have shown enough promise to be
“I have teachers who care about me here, and here you get to know people and make connections with students which help the music,” Walker said. “It’s like a school family, we get to laugh and make music with each other. We take time to connect with the pieces and connect with one another,”
Music Man: Senior Sovereign Walker often works on the sheet music for “Cry Not,” annotating them with various changes and updates
Walker (left) works with teacher Adam Cave on his piece after school. The two often work through structure and harmonies.
Photos by Quinn Rudnick
In composing a piece of music, Walker has formed a bond with the choir department’s teachers as well as with students.
“He brings light to anyone who ever encounters him, and he shows that through his music. We would be a very different community without Sovereign as a part of it.” Branton said.
Walker began to compose this piece in his Sophomore year as a Troubadour. In choir that year they performed a piece called “A Song of Light,” and in his poetry club he developed a running theme; many of his poems revolved around light.
“I was sitting in advisory as a Sophomore and the words and the melody (to the song) came to me and so I wrote it down, and I
made it into a song with some piano. After a while, I decided that It wasn’t enough, so I decided to turn it into a choir piece,” Walker said.
In order to make the piece fit for a choir, it needed to be divided.
Choir music is divided into 4 lines of music based on the type of voice that a given singer has. These voices are soprano, being the highest voice, followed by alto, tenor, and bass, being the lowest voice. “Cry Not” opens on an “overwhelmingly tender” soprano solo, featuring lyrics such as “cry not, let your heart be healed.”
Having grown up going to church, Walker drew inspiration from his faith and used it to create the positive tone of the Cry Not’s lyrics. He accredits God as being the princi-
pal inspiration behind the piece.
“That’s where my belief is, I am spreading his love to wounded hearts to mend a very broken world. Sometimes when I feel sad I remind myself not to cry, that it will be alright.” Walker said.
Walker has worked closely with instructors such as Branton to put the final touches on the piece. Though Branton had little influence on the start of the piece, she did have a hand in organizing and finalizing it.
“I’ve gotten to know Sovereign on a more personal level because he has been expressing himself through his music,” Branton said. “He’s a once-ina-career kind of student for a teacher like me.”
Walker is a firm believer that music can be used to unite people across the world. He has noticed firsthand the power music has to bond people in his choir class, and believes it can unite people beyond the music classroom; music can be used as a form of diplomacy.
“I believe that music, despite the many languages and barriers that surround people, it’s the language that God gave us to help spread love,” Walker said. “You can go anywhere in the world and though I can’t speak German, for example, I’m sure that we all know music in some form.”
I would watch my older brother go into his choir concerts and I wanted to do that one day, so I found my way here,” Walker said. “I think the voice is a really pretty instrument because certain consonants that sound weird on other instruments work interestingly well for the voice. Then, you can pair that with words that lift and inspire.
- Sovereign Walker, Senior at CCHS
Music Man: Senior Sovereign Walker often works on the sheet music for “Cry Not,” annotating them with various changes and updates at right.
Does Medicare Cover Talk Therapy Services?
Dear Savvy Senior, What types of mental health services does Medicare cover? I struggle with anxiety and depression, and my primary care provider recommended I see a therapist or psychiatrist.
Anxious Annie
Dear Annie, Medicare actually covers both outpatient and inpatient mental health care services and programs to help beneficiaries with anxiety, depression and many other mental health needs. Here what you should know.
Outpatient Coverage
If you’re enrolled in original Medicare, your Part B coverage will pay 80 percent (after you’ve met your annual $257 Part B deductible) for a variety of counseling and mental health care services that are provided
Dear Readers,
Why do I need a Will or Trust?
A Will is a statement that describes how your assets will be distributed after your passing and allows you to appoint your Personal Representative, to handle your affairs after your death. A Will allows you to transfer assets that are not titled, such as business holdings, money and personal property. A Will also permits you to identify whomever you wish to receive your estate as well as the specific gifts or distributions to be made to them, particularly if your spouse dies prior to you, or you die together. A Will can also reduce or eliminate certain costs associated with probate.
A Will also protect against the possibility that your assets are not titled in the way you thought, such as in joint tenancy. An example is where a husband and wife think they own their home as joint tenants, but, due to improper wording on the deed, they actually own the home as tenant-in-common, which has a different legal effect at the passing of one owner, versus ownership in joint tenancy. Under Colorado law, in order to take advantage of joint tenancy survivorship, the deed must state that the owners take title as “joint tenants”; otherwise, the law dictates that, without such language, the owners are considered to be tenants-in-common, regard-
outside a hospital, such as in a doctor or therapist’s office, hospital outpatient department or community health center. These services can also be received via telehealth. You, or your Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policy, is responsible for the remaining 20 percent coinsurance.
Medicare also gives you the expanded option of getting treatment through a variety of health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical nurse specialists, clinical social workers, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors.
To get this coverage, you’ll need to choose a participating provider that
ing an undivided one-half
interest ownership interest each, in the real estate.
A Revocable Living Trust is also a useful estate plan document and provides valuable protections.
A Revocable Living Trust:
· Provides one planning document which contains instructions for your care and the care of your loved ones;
· Provides continuity in the handling of your affairs by transferring your property to your loved ones;
· Avoids probate on your disability or death with respect to its assets;
· Achieves your death tax objectives;
· Creates protective trusts for your loved ones that
accepts Medicare assignment, which means they accept Medicare’s approved amount as full payment for a service.
If you choose a nonparticipating provider who accepts Medicare but does not agree to Medicare’s payment rate, you may have to pay more. And if you choose an optout provider that does not accept Medicare payments at all, you will be responsible for the entire cost.
To locate a mental health care professional in your area that accepts Medicare, go to Medicare.gov/ care-compare, click on “doctors & clinicians” and type in your location, followed by “clinical psychologist” or “psychiatry” in the Name & Keyword box. You can also get this information
are free from the supervision of the Court;
· Can be easily changed should you desire to do so;
· Enables you to rely on your Trustees, should you wish to travel or otherwise delegate the day-today management of your financial affairs;
· Is difficult for disgruntled heirs to attack;
· Ensures your family’s privacy, following your disability or death; and
· Easily moves with you from state to state.
Your Revocable Living Trust has control over only that property which is actually transferred to the Trust.
by calling Medicare at 800633-4227.
Inpatient Coverage
If you happen to need mental health services in either a general or psychiatric hospital, original Medicare Part A covers this too, after you’ve met your $1,676 Part A deductible. Your doctor should determine which hospital setting you need. If you receive care in a psychiatric hospital, Medicare covers up to 190 days of inpatient care for your lifetime. And if you use your lifetime days but need additional care, Medicare may cover additional inpatient care at a general hospital.
Additional Coverage
In addition to the outpatient and inpatient mental health services, Medicare also covers yearly depression screenings that must be done in a primary care doc-
Unless you or your loved ones can show a document which vests ownership of a particular asset in the name of your Living Trust, that property may have to go through probate.
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:
tor’s office or clinic. Annual depression screenings are covered 100 percent.
And if you have a Medicare prescription drug plan, most medications used to treat mental health conditions are covered too.
Medicare Advantage Coverage
If you get your Medicare benefits through a private Medicare Advantage plan, they too provide the same coverage as original Medicare does, but may impose different rules and will likely require you to see an in-network provider. You’ll need to contact your plan directly for details.
For more information, call Medicare at 800-6334227 and request a copy of publication #10184 “Medicare & Your Mental Health Benefits,” or you can read it online at Medicare.gov.
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).
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.
From third-and-long to CU’s all-time best
When someone known for some significant achievement or an accomplished career, either of which brought him or her a measure of fame, a typical reaction is to recall how you knew them and what you remember of your interactions with them.
That was the case for me when I learned that the most successful football coach in the history of the University of Colorado died late last week.
I met Bill McCartney in person only once, a decade after he retired as CU’s head man on the sideline at Folsom Field.
I was writing a book about one of McCartney’s players—Jay Leeuwenburg—and Coach Mac met us in a Boulder coffee shop.
football coach only 102 days before the season opener.
Michigan’s legendary Bo Schembechler called CU Athletics Director Eddie Crowder and recommended McCartney. Six days into CU’s search, McCartney was called. It was a Sunday evening, and McCartney flew to Colorado the next morning.
The late Fred Casotti, then Crowder’s assistant AD, was assigned to chaperone McCartney before his job interview.
Coach Mac, Casotti said: “Coach, fourth and short. You just need to make a first down.”
Forty-eight hours after that first call from Crowder, McCartney was offered the job.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
McCartney went 2-8-1, 4-7 and 1-10 in his first three seasons. But, unlike these days, he wasn’t fired. Instead, new Athletics Director Bill Marolt signed McCartney to an extension—when the Buffaloes were 1-7.
I wanted to know about his decision to offer a scholarship to a high schooler who had type one diabetes. In addition, McCartney told me about his own recruitment to CU and how he turned around the moribund football program.
It was June 1982 when Chuck Fairbanks resigned to become a head coach in the new United States Football League. In three seasons at CU, he had won only seven games, going 3-8, 1-10 and 3-8.
Fairbanks untimely departure left CU without a head
“About 15 minutes before I was going to go before about 15 people from all over campus,” McCartney told me, “I said to Fred, ‘What do you think my chances are?’
“He said, ‘Coach, it’s third and long. You better make a big play.’”
McCartney went before the group that was prepared to interrogate him and told them he’d like to make a statement before he took their questions.
The statement, he recalled, took 20 minutes, covering his background and time at Michigan, his philosophies and values, and what he’d bring to Colorado if he got the job.
After that, no one asked a question.
Later, while waiting to meet with CU’s president, McCartney again asked Casotti: “What do you think my chances are?”
This time, according to
In the 10 seasons that followed, CU won 86, lost 30 and tied four. Included were three 11-win years, three conference titles, and a national championship in 1990.
Explaining the time required to build a consistent winner, McCartney said to me:
“When you want to build a skyscraper, the higher you want to build, the deeper you have to dig. You have to have a strong foundation.”
That foundation was the recruiting class of 1987—only a dozen players but all “handpicked,” McCartney said.
Half of that small class— Alfred Williams, Eric Bienemy, Mike Pritchard, Joel Steed, Kanavis McGhee and Jay Leeuwenburg—played a combined 699 games in the National Football League.
“When I was recruiting,” Coach Mac said, “I would say there are other schools that have won more games, others that have better academics, others that might have a better campus. But not all three in a package, like the University of Colorado.
“I truly believed what I was saying. I never had a kid say to me, even once, ‘Coach, you oversold me on Boulder.’”
In Leeuwenburg’s case, McCartney had to look past a disability most coaches were unwilling to overlook.
“Jay had that sparkle in his eyes and that bounce in his step,” McCartney told me for Yes I Can! Yes You Can! “You knew that one day he would lead if things went well.”
Leeuwenburg became a three-year starter at center (on three straight Big Eight champions and the ’90 national champs), a consensus firstteam All-America center in 1991, and a nine-year pro.
Of his college coach, he said: “He really came across as genuine.”
Denny Dressman’s 17th book, a collaboration with Kansas City artist Anthony High titled Black Baseball’s Heyday – Capturing An Era in Art and Words, will be published next spring. You can write to Denny at dennydressman@ comcast.net.
Have a Root Canal and Other Ways to Slow Down Time
Here we are well into 2025, and I’m still writing the wrong year on my checks. I’d chalk it up to habit except that today I wrote 2019. Maybe because 2019 seems like only a couple of days ago to me.
I’m determined to make 2025 last and when next January rolls around, I’ll be ready to write 2026 on my checks. Or at the very least, 2025.
It is possible to slow time down, you know. Try drinking a gallon of caffeine before bed. Or a gallon of anything. One night will feel like three weeks.
You can make half an hour last all day if you check your watch every few seconds. I know because I did it at the doctor’s office today.
And if you really want to slow time down, I bet a year in jail would feel like five. Fortunately I was able to find less extreme ideas on that source of all wisdom, the internet. And as a public service, I’m going to share them with you so that you can start putting the right year on your checks too.
As it turns out, much has been written on the subject. One article I read suggested that occasionally changing our routine might help. That would be easy enough for me to try in 2025. Normally I get up, feed the cat and go straight to my office. Maybe once or twice a week, I could get up, feed the cat and go back to bed.
Several articles mentioned
that looking forward to something has a way of slowing down time. I’d agree with that. My watch has practically stopped and right now all I’m looking forward to is lunch.
Neuroscientist David Eagleman says boredom also slows time down and I can attest to that too. I once attended a university graduation that lasted around two and a half hours. But I could have sworn it took 12 days.
All the articles I read claimed that time seems slower for younger people because they have more new experiences to mark it with. As we get older, we have fewer memorable events. Or maybe we just don’t remember them. I’m joking! Sort of.
Eagleman uses the analogy of a video to explain the phenomenon. “The way we estimate duration has a lot to do with how much memory
we’ve laid down—how much footage we have to draw from the video.” In other words, if our life is basically the same year after year, we have less new “footage in our video.” It probably doesn’t help that we’re still recording on VHS.
The point is, slowing time down might be as simple as adding footage from unforgettable events. Moving, getting a new job and getting married are some of the biggest memorable events adults engage in. But I don’t have any of those planned for 2025 and I hope my husband doesn’t either.
Broken limbs, root canals and fender benders are all pretty memorable too. And if they don’t succeed in slowing time down, they at least make us appreciate how fast it goes.
The kinds of experiences one puts on a bucket list
might be preferable, especially if your bucket list includes thrilling activities like bungee jumping, skydiving or running a marathon. Those would give you some really good footage—if you survive them.
My list isn’t quite as exciting but it’s safer. Among other things, I dream of a good night’s sleep. And finally getting my desk cleared off. And just once in my life, I’d like to get my checkbook to balance on the first try. I’m not sure how much footage any of those would lay down, but they would be easier than running a marathon and more fun than having a root canal.
Dorothy Rosby is the author of “Alexa’s a Spy” and “Other Things to Be Ticked off About, Humorous Essays on the Hassles of Our Time” and other books. Contact her at www.dorothyrosby.com/ contact.
SPECIAL DISTRICTS
Project
2025.
NOTICE is hereby given to all interested parties that a proposed budget has been submitted to the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Vermilion Creek Metropolitan District No. 3 (the “District”) for the ensuing year of 2025; that copies of such proposed 2025 Budget, have been filed in the office of District’s accountant, Simmons & Wheeler, P.C., at 304 Inverness Way South, Suite 490, Englewood, Colorado, where the same are open for public inspection; and that such proposed budget will be considered at a public hearing of the Board to be conducted on January 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom conference at https://us02web.zoom. us/j/82451584411 or by phone: 1-719-359-4580; Meeting ID: 824 5158 4411. Any interested elector within the District may, at any time prior to the final the adoption of the budget, inspect the budget and file or register any objections thereto.
VERMILION CREEK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 3
By:
/s/
John R. Fetters, Jr. President
Published in The Villager Published:
SAVE THE DATE:
MONDAY, JAN. 20, 6-11:00 p.m.
2025 Colorado Inaugural Ball to celebrate Trump’s Victory, presented by the Lincoln Club of Colorado. Marriott DTC, 4900 S. Syracuse, Denver. Dinner and cash bar. Dancing to 22 piece Mile High Big Band, complementary champagne toast, live feed from the Washington DC Inaugural Ball. Formal attire or Black Tie. Looking for sponsors and volunteers. Call Lynne at 303-5505115 or lcottrell@aol.com
ENGLEWOOD CHAMBER
RIBBON CUTTING
WED., JAN. 22, 4-6 p.m. Ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m. Inaugurate two new murals by artists Nate Padavick & Julie Libel on the side of Frame DeArt, 3065 S. Broadway, Englewood.RSVP: lindsey@ myenglewoodchamber.org
SELL YOUR VALUABLES
JAN. 21-23. Only 3 days. Tue.Thursday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sell your Valuables to the Nation’s Leading Estate Buyers at 5910 S. Univ. Blvd., Set C11-Greenwood Village. Directions 720-706-0021. See advertisement on Page 2 of the Jan. 16 Villager
ARAPAHOE COUNTY FOOD SAFETY TRAINING FOR COTTAGE FOODS
JAN. 24, 9 a.m. - 12:30 a.m. online class. Register https//bit.ly/ CSUCottageFoods
ARLENE & BARRY HIRSCHFELD TO BE HONORED
TUESDAY, JAN. 28, 6-8:00 p.m.
JEWISH Colorado presents a Signature Event featuring Emmy winning actress Debra Messing at the Bluebird Ballroom at Colorado Convention Center. Hirschfelds to be honored with Lifetime Achievement Award for more than 50 years of service to the Jewish community. RSVP: 303-316-6464 or jkatchen@ jewishcolorado.org
CYBERSECURITY EVENT IN DENVER SOUTH
FEB. 6, 7 -9:00 a.m. Learn how cyber criminals access our network, take advantage of our systems, etc. Speaker Julia Costin; Co-Founder & COO; Cyber Qubits Richard Korn; Senior Security Specialist; Comcast Business Global.
Herb Miner; Owner, Founder & COO; Silicon Plains. Eventt at the Lone Tree Arts Center, 1075 Commons St., LT. RSVP: 303-792-9447. Email Kellie@denver-south.com
AURORA HISTORY
MUSEUM PRESENTS NEW COMMUNITY STORY
EXHIBIT
NOW - FEB. 16, 2025. A rich tapestry of community stories brought to life at Community Gallery of the Aurora History Museum, 15051 E. Alameda Parkway. Created in collaboration with the city of Aurora, Poet Laureate, Ahj a Fox. The poetry on display was selected from over 100
entries by local artists, highlighting the Aurora Community. Aurora Museum.org
WHAT’S NEW?ST. ANDREW’S VILLAGE SENIOR LIVING EVENTS
Upscale dining, engaging events and activities, indoor pool, pet friendly. Call 720-684-5913 to schedule a tour and enjoy lunch on the Village. Located at 133801 E. Yale Ave., Aurora.
MS. COLORADO SENIOR AMERICA - CALL FOR CONTESTANTS
Ms. Colorado Senior America Pageant is taking applications for the 31st pageant on APRIL 26, 2025 If you are a lady 60 years or better, this is your opportunity to get out and do something for you in 2025!!! Not just a “one and done” pageant, we are involved with year round activities and make
a difference in our communities. This is the “Age of Elegance!” For more information - website: ColoSrAmerica.com, FB - Ms Colorado Senior America Pageant or call René Green, Pageant Administrator at 720- 384-6249.
SAVE THE DATEMIZEL INSTITUTE 2025 HONOREES
THURSDAY, MAY 22 . Honoring Bonnie & David Mandarich. 2024 honoree was Peyton Manning.
DENVER LIONS CLUB MEETINGS
Meets 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 12 noon at the American Legion Hall, I-25 & Yale. Interested in joining? Call Bob, 720-313-9741.
ENGLEWOOD LIONS CLUB MEETINGS
Meets 1st & 3rd Thursdays at 7:00 p/m. At Mango Tree Coffee, 3498 S. Broadway,Englewood. Info: Gail 720-377-7682.
2025 Toyota Crown Signia is a real jewel
The 2025 Toyota Crown Signia is royally named and an attractive model inside and out. A sleek design with awesome “Storm Cloud” paint. Assembled by Japanese decade old craftsmen, the attention to detail are exceptional.
The appearance is outstanding, and the performance is exceptional. The Crown is a combination gas and hybrid model having combined 248 horsepower and exceptional fuel economy, averaging 39 mpg in the city and 37 on the highway. The hybrid system depends upon friction to improve mileage and that accounts for the higher mileage in the city versus freeways.
The electronic continuous variable transmission (CVT) makes the all-wheel drive easy. Drive selections are eco,
normal, and sport, and driving through some deep snow and ice I used the sport power mode with great results.
The Crown rides on 21” dark gray metallic alloy wheels. Adding to the appearance are low profile roof rails and a panoramic fixed glass roof. A handsfree power liftgate adds to the overall efficiency.
The Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 safety system encompasses collision prevention and
blind spot monitors. Additional options offer a “Advanced Technology Package” that includes a panoramic view, front traffic alert, parking assist, and other special features.
Inside the cabin there is a JBS 11 speaker sound system with subwoofer, leather trimmed heated front and rear seats, heated
leather steering wheel, and a very handy “Pouch” style smart phone charging station that works fast.
This is a very smart and sassy model, with great appearance, all the economy of a combination hybrid and gas power train and three drive mode selections. The electric all-wheel drive on demand is ready for ice and snow roads.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $47,990 with a list of options that can raise the price, if selected. This is an exceptional model and has all the best desirable features.
By H. Throttle
