“Some businesses don’t get to directly participate in the evolution of a community, but that makes it fun and rewarding.” - Buz Koelbel, CEO Koelbel & Company (reprinted from 6/1/2017 Villager). See page 2 for obituary and see pages 12-15 for additional tributes and articles on Buz Koelbel, Jr.
CEO Buz Koelbel ran the firm founded by his father Walter in 1952. He stands by a statue in the southeast Denver Koelbel office lobby that embodies what Koelbel & Company considers its pioneer spirit, having invested in the southeast corridor long before it was “cool.”
Photo by Peter Jones 6/1/2017
SUBMITTED BY KOELBEL & CO
Walter A. “Buz” Koelbel, Jr. passed away peacefully in the company of his family on September 19th from blood cancer at the age of 72. Buz (also known as Buzzy in his early years) was the beloved patriarch of the extensive Koelbel family and longtime president of Koelbel and Company, a familyowned real estate development business with over 70 years of history in Colorado. He was a devoted philanthropist and his half century of contributions – both professionally and philanthropically – will have a lasting impact on the thousands of people he touched throughout his extraordinary life.
A third generation Coloradoan, Buz graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and the University of Colorado Boulder. As a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, he established strong bonds with his “brothers” and developed a lifelong love for CU Boulder. After graduating in 1974, Buz worked in property management in San Francisco. He returned to his beloved Colorado and in 1976 and joined the real estate development company started by his father in 1952. In 1985, Buz was named president of Koelbel and Company and oversaw its growth for nearly 40 years, maintaining and amplifying its stature as one of the most prominent family-owned real estate companies in Colorado.
Under his leadership, the company established a strong vision and mission that focused on “Enriching lives through legacy
communities” and the strong belief that “patience is genius.” Through the decades, the family-owned business experienced dramatic market fluctuations, yet always prevailed as an industry leader and a champion for the community. Buz relied on the simple fact that under all, lies the land and we must protect it and use it wisely. This belief has always ensured that each Koelbel and Company community is built to respect the land and use the natural beauty of lakes, nature preserves, or views as amenities. Buz once said, “We know we are custodians of the land for but a brief time, but our legacy lives on for generations to come. The rewards come from creating communities for people to live, work, shop, and play. Giving back to these communities completes the full circle of development.”
With Buz at the helm, Koelbel and Company developed numerous residential communities including The Preserve in Greenwood Village, the largest custom home community in the metro region; The Breakers Apartment Community (now TAVA Waters), the largest apartment community along the Front Range; Rendezvous Colorado, a 1,150 -acre mountain community in Grand County; Cherry Hills Park, a custom home community that set the record price point for lot sales in the Denver region; and Pinehurst Country Club, Colorado’s first master-planned golfcourse development. With help from his sons, Buz was able to significantly expand the company’s portfolio. Koelbel and Company completed 10 affordable housing projects during Buz’s tenure and was responsible for adding over 700 units of income-restricted housing, helping to address a critical shortage of affordable housing across the Front Range.
Buz also kept the company active in commercial development. He oversaw the development of Centennial Valley Business Park in Louisville, first of its kind Catalyst HTI in RiNo (now being replicated in Omaha, Nebraska), Pine Bluffs retail in Parker, Village Center – DTC along I-25 at the Yosemite Park ‘n Ride,
“I get up every day and count my blessings, having lived and participated in the most magical and successful experiment in the history of mankind. I dearly want my four kids, their spouses, and our 11 grandkids to be able to reflect on those same blessings I so cherish.”
– Buz Koelbel, Jr.
Centennial Promenade at County Line and I-25 and numerous other developments along the Front Range. Transitioning to the Chairman role earlier this year, Buz’s love for the people and the work at Koelbel and Company continued to grow. He came into work every day he was in town. His ability to coach and mentor made the company a home for many long-term employees.
That his three sons willingly entered the real estate industry and joined the company gave Buz his greatest source of pride. Their success enabled Buz to contribute even more of his time to community involvement in recent years.
Buz’s long-term community building activities extended beyond just the physical and into the social fabric by contributing time and treasure to numerous philanthropic and advocacy organizations. He was a co-founder of the Denver South Economic Development Partnership, the Common Sense Institute, and the High Line Canal Conservancy. He was a board member of many core organizations along the Front Range including the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the CU Real Estate Center, and Economic Literacy Colorado (now joined with Junior Achievement). He was a tireless proponent for education and the family’s foundation made significant financial contributions to the University of Colorado, the Arapahoe Library District, Sewall Childhood Development Center, Junior Achievement, the Denver Zoo, Rocky Mountain Public Media (KUVO Studio), Western Stock Show Association, Colorado Historical Foundation, Children’s Hospital of Colorado, and many more.
Buz showed his gratitude for the state of Colorado as a vocal advocate for individual liberty and free market capitalism, participating on multiple boards, including Turning Point USA National Advisory Board, and producing several videos promoting the societal benefits of the same. As his success as a business and civic leader grew, Buz was sought by many for his opinions, wisdom and thoughtful advice. Shelves in his home and office are lined and filled with honorary and lifetime achievement
awards recognizing Buz’s leadership. Recognized as a friend to all he met, Buz enjoyed sharing and providing valuable and meaningful connections within his extensive personal network of contacts. His tireless efforts professionally, philanthropically, and personally extended until his passing.
Buz also made the time for a life full of fun and adventure. An avid skier, golfer and CU supporter, he indeed embraced the Colorado lifestyle. He also had a passion for travel, which began with a Semester at Sea in college and continued throughout his life through his many worldwide excursions with Young President’s Organization (YPO) and culminating with recent bucket list trips that included golfing in Scotland and an African safari. Much of his travel was with his beloved family. Buz had a purpose driven zest for life that was amplified by time spent with his family. His favorite activity was sharing dinner and laughs with any or all of his extended family. Affectionately known as Bop to his grandchildren, he relished the time he spent watching his progeny play in his backyard. He is survived by Sherri, his wife of over 41 years, his four children Carl (Fallon), Walt (Laura), Dean (Kristin), and Bethany Mihalcin (Justin); four siblings Lynn Stambaugh (Jim), Bob (Deb), Leslie Webb (Tom) and Laurie Chahbandour (John); and 11 grandchildren.
Buz truly lived life to the fullest as illustrated in this parting quote that encapsulates his journey:
“I get up every day and count my blessings, having lived and participated in the most magical and successful experiment in the history of mankind. I dearly want my four kids, their spouses, and our 11 grandkids to be able to reflect on those same blessings I so cherish.”
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Junior Achievement or the High Line Canal Conservancy.
A Memorial Service will take place on October 1st at Bethany Lutheran Church at 1:30 p.m. The memorial will be live streamed. A reception will follow at Cherry Hills Country Club.
Colorado Christian University named a ‘great option’ by Heritage Foundation
CCU Was the Only University in Colorado to Receive the Highest Designation
Colorado Christian University, the preeminent interdenominational Christian university in the Rocky Mountain region, was named a “Great Option” in the Heritage Foundation’s recently released “Choose College with Confidence” guide. “Great Option” is the guide’s highest recommendation. “Colorado Christian University continues to be a brand in demand,” said Eric K. Hogue, CCU president. “The Heritage Foundation listing CCU as a ‘Great Option’ in its ‘Choose College with Confidence’ guide is recognition of the power of Christ-centered higher education to transform students to impact the world with grace and truth.” The “Choose College with Confidence” guide states that institutions receiving the “Great Option” designation “represent a strong choice for families prioritizing freedom, opportunity, and civil society … offer an intellectually rigorous and well-rounded campus environment … and offer a solid return on investment, evidenced by competitive post-graduation income levels and commendable fouryear graduation rates.” The guide surveyed 280 colleges and universities across the United States. CCU was the only institution in Colorado to receive the highest designation, “Great Option.” The Heritage Foundation used rankings and data from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s free speech rankings, the Newman Guide, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni “What Will They Learn?” rankings, data from the National Center for Education Statistics and other sources including feedback from the State Policy Net-
work think tanks. The goal of the guide is to provide transparency for students and parents when searching for
a college or university. The ”Great Option” rating comes on the heels of CCU being named a top university by the
Wall Street Journal. About Colorado Christian University Colorado Christian University is the flagship Christian university in the Rocky Mountain region. CCU is known for award-winning academics in a distinctly Chris-
tian environment and offers undergraduate and graduate programs for traditional and adult students through its College of Undergraduate Studies and College of Adult and Graduate Studies.
Consider the magical and play with the mysterious in the paintings of Jane Falkenberg. The opening reception of “Ethereal Essence” is Saturday October 19th 5-8:30 pm at Valkarie Gallery located at 445 S Saulsbury St. in Lakewood’s, Belmar Shopping District. Visitors are welcome to see the show through Nov. 10 during regular gallery hours: Wed. 4-7., Thur. 4-9:30, Fri. 4-8:30, Sat. Noon-6 & Sun. Noon-5. Contact Jane at 720-289-7071, Jane.withoutatrace@mac.com and visit linktr.ee/jfalkenberg to see more art and shop the show.
A fond “goodbye” to a good friend, Buz Koelbel
Sad news travels fast. I learned this weekend that Walter A. Buz Koelbel had passed after a battle with cancer.
Buz was always a doer, a fighter, a risk taker, and not afraid of a challenge. A patriot has ended his last fight.
I met Buz Koelbel fourdecades ago when he was working for his father Walter Koelbel in the real estate investment company. In the last century the family developed Pinehurst and later the 535 home Preserve in Greenwood Village. It is one of Colorado’s finest residential areas. He was also responsible for many other projects, including a Winter Park development. He followed in the footsteps of George Wallace and John Madden, doing great projects with quality and style. The Preserve is a masterpiece complimented by the adjacent Koelbel Library.
The Preserve was not an easy project. Prior to the residential project it was designed to be a golf course surrounded by homes. A downward shift in the economy and a cautious
Greenwood Village City Council postponed the project. When the economy improved the golf course gave way to a demand for luxury homes and the Preserve was born. I still enjoy the beautiful flowers that surround the development on my paper route.
BY BOB SWEENEY PUBLISHER
One memory of the early days during the Preserve land purchase was the plight of the prairie dogs that resided by the thousands on the large natural habitat that was to be developed. The Greenwood Village council chamber was packed with local residents, some in favor, and some against the development. Protesters were fighting to save the prairie dog habitat. TV cameras were rolling and Buz was doing his best to control his emotions. The land purchase and project moved forward and eventually became beautiful homesites and the prairie dogs were safely relocated. Down through the years we had many enjoyable times with the Koelbel family supporting their philanthropic activities. Sherri headed up the Denver Zoo
and Buz served on many boards where his wisdom and compassion were in high demand. Koelbel & Company was started in 1952 by Walter Koelbel, Sr. and was led by his son Buz for the last 47 years. He announced his recent retirement at age 71, moving to the executive chairmanship of the company. He turned the day-to day operations over to the leadership of his three sons, Carl, Walt, and Dean. Carl, taking the presidency, and becoming CEO of the third generation Koebel & Company. Carl is following in the entrepreneurial footsteps of his father, in recent weeks, purchasing several Class A buildings in the DTC.
We have lost a wonderful friend and a great patriotic American who believed strongly in hard work. He recently wrote the following in his Buz bulletins to friends: “I have been very blessed and grateful being an active participant and beneficiary of this remarkable dream… The fundamental principles and values from the genius of our founding fathers in-
clude freedoms, property rights, and the rule of law fortifying the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
He penned, “An ‘unfettered’ individual allowed to pursue whatever level of success and achievement he/ she so chose unleashed the inherent curiosity creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of the human mind. This is why we have such an extensive level of conveniences, luxuries, advancements, and simply a very privileged life as compared to most around the world.”
He concludes, “Work is what provides each individual a purpose in life, a sense of accomplishment and the foundational importance of human dignity. The result is a stable and productive individual, a more civil neighborhood, community, and overall society.”
These words were written by Buz Koelbel recently in his last message to all. He was a great citizen, patriot, and hard-working American. “Hail” to the Koelbel family. Goodbye Buz and thank you for your life’s work. And thank you for supporting and reading The Villager for the last 43 years.
Have you heard? The Constitution is anti-democratic
This springs from the people who scream we are a democratic form of government, who think nothing of stealing more of your money through higher taxes, or letting you pay off someone else’s debt. In fact, we were taught that we are a democratic form of government in grade school. And everyone mindlessly repeats that false mantra, until it is so ingrained that when the
nation finally starts to wake up to reality, we feel like the worst drug overdose, the hangover effect is painful.
In fact, the complaint about the Constitution being anti-democratic, is true. The Constitution does not mention the term democracy. It does allow for a democratic vote every two years. We are so brainwashed that we call our form of government democracy
without thinking. And now the power-mad are trying the next big step to further diminish the Constitution, because this document stands between them an ultimate power.
Confused yet? Let us look at a different angle. The Constitution does allow one person, one vote and that is called democracy. However, the form of our guiding documents are so much deeper and complex than this simple term democracy. It is like people get stuck at the most basic level
and look no further.
The Constitution is anti-democratic and that is because the founding documents’ sole purpose is to preserve the sanctity of the individual. As noted earlier, we do have one person, one vote, but the Constitution goes further. It seeks to prevent the ultimate abuse by democracy: That the majority of 51% will control the minority of 49%. In the democratic view of the nation, the ma-
National Western Stock Show Announces 2025 Citizen of the West
The National Western Stock Show, presented by CommonSpirit Health, proudly announces Sharon Magness Blake as the 2025 Citizen of the West. This prestigious award recognizes those who embody the spirit and determination of the Western pioneer – a true representative of Western lifestyle, ideals, agricultural heritage, and traditions. A committee of community leaders selects recipients.
Magness Blake is an equine enthusiast, entrepreneur, and philanthropic leader. Her love and knowledge of Arabian horses helped grow Magness Racing Ventures to 900 animals sold worldwide at its peak. Its most famous product was Thunder, who served as the Denver Broncos mascot that led the team onto the field starting in 1993. That tradition continues today with Thunder IV.
Magness Blake is currently the president of the Thunder Foundation; her business ventures also include her partnership in the renowned Denver caterer the Epicurean Group.
While her philanthropic efforts have been many, Magness Blake’s most prominent efforts have revolved around her cofounding and longtime leadership of Western Fantasy for Volunteers of America (VOA). Over three decades, the event and Magness Blake’s own generous contributions have raised
more than $36 million for VOA. In 2024, the national arm of the organization bestowed on her its first-ever Transformative Philanthropy Award, which henceforth will be named in her honor.
The alternative weekly Westword has described Magness Blake as “Denver’s go-to woman for those in need.” Among her honors have included the 2011 Mizel Community Enrichment Award, which the Denver Post described this way: “How does one even begin to thank Sharon Magness Blake for having raised at least $50 million for local charities? Giving her the Mizel Museum Community Enrichment Award is a nice start.”
Since that time, Magness Blake has continued raising money for local a host of charitable causes, and that figure now tops $100 million.
She served on the boards of the University of Colorado Hospital Foundation, the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation, Volunteers of America, the Denver Art Museum, the University of Denver, the National Cable Television Center and Museum, Wings Over the Rockies, and the Denver Council of the Boy Scouts of America for which she chaired the annual Sports Breakfast.
Over the years, Magness Blake has chaired or co-chaired numer-
ous events and galas, including National Repertory Orchestra’s Summer Gala, Susan G. Komen’s Pink Tie Affair, and the Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Gala. She also helped to orches-
steak-and-cigar dinner.
Magness Blake is a Trustee for the National Western Stock Show and serves on the Honoring the Legacy Capital Campaign Committee.
The widow of cable pioneer Bob Magness, Magness Blake has been married to retired attorney and former Breckenridge mayor Ernie Blake since 2004. They reside in Cherry Hills Village.
Magness Blake’s leadership and generosity have enriched the West in countless ways. She embodies all the qualities befitting a great Citizen of the West. Please join us in honoring her as the 2025 Citizen of the West.
trate the Garth Brooks’s concert for the Denver Health Foundation’s annual event, and she organizes the Denver Broncos’ annual holiday party for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. She also co-founded Men for the Cure’s annual event
Magness Blake will be honored as the 46th Citizen of the West during the annual award dinner on January 13, 2025. Proceeds from the event support the National Western Scholarship Trust, awarding 100 scholarships to students attending colleges and universities in Colorado and Wyoming for agricultural science, rural medicine, or veterinary medicine studies.
To purchase tickets for the 2025 Citizen of the West event honoring Sharon Magness Blake, contact Erika Schroeder at 303-299-5560 or eschroeder @nationalwestern.com.
National Western President and CEO Paul Andrews Announces Retirement
Andrews has led the National Western Stock Show and Complex since 2010
Paul Andrews, president and CEO of the National Western Stock Show and Complex, has announced his retirement after the 2025 National Western Stock Show this January. Andrews will continue as a consultant to the organization after a new president and CEO has been selected.
Andrews’ tenure, which began in November 2010, has been a boon to the Stock Show and the region. He led Stock Show attendance growth to an average of more than 700,000 visitors over the event’s 16-day run each January, with revenues rising accordingly. The number of National Western Complex’s non-Stock Show events more than doubled
to 250.
Under Andrews’ leadership, the economic importance of this unparalleled celebration of the West continued to grow: A 2024 Common Sense Institute report pegged the annual regional economic impact of the Stock Show alone at $170 million. At the same time, Andrews strongly supported the National Western’s 501(c)(3) status by championing education and its two scholarship funds, the National Western Scholarship Trust and the National Western Denver Scholarship Program.
Andrews has also played a central role in the conception and development of the National Western Center, a new state-of-the-art home for National Western now being built on the same site as the existing complex. Andrews also serves in the leadership of the Honoring the Legacy campaign, which is raising $150 million to support new National Western facilities.
Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale announces return of Logan Maxwell Hagege and Winter West Symposium
The Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale is thrilled to welcome back acclaimed artist Logan Hagege to the 2025 show after a long hiatus. Logan is one of the most sought-after contemporary artists in the Western art world, known for his modernist interpretations of the Southwestern landscape and its inhabitants. His influence has inspired a new generation of Western artists and collectors alike. His works are featured in the permanent collections of prestigious institutions such as the Autry Museum of the West, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, the Eiteljorg Museum, The James Museum, and the Briscoe Museum of Western Art.
“I’m excited to be showing again in the Coors Show after a long break,” Logan shared. “Some friends on the board invited me to return, and the timing felt perfect. I’ve always loved the Denver art scene and its incredible audience, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to present my work here again.”
Logan last participated in the Coors Show in 2010, winning the Artist’s Choice Award. In the years since, he has collaborated with well-known brands such as Allen Edmonds, Pendleton Blankets, and Stetson Hats.
“We are thrilled to welcome Logan back to the Coors Show this January,” said Kate Hlavin, Curator of the Coors Western Art
Show. “Logan is one of the most important artists working today, and it’s an honor to have him rejoin the show. His distinctive style and powerful compositions continue to captivate collectors across the country.”
The Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale is also excited to announce the return of the Winter West Symposium, now an annual event in conjunction with the show. This half-day program, featuring artist demonstrations, panel discussions, and brunch, will celebrate the exceptional talent of participating artists and offer guests a deeper connection to the world of Western art.
The original Winter West, once
“Paul’s dedication, energy, and business acumen have been of incalculable value to the National Western’s recent successes,” said Doug Jones, chairman of the Western Stock Show Association board. “His successor has some big boots to fill.”
Andrews, who came to the National Western after rising from entry-level account executive to executive vice president of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), is at home wearing many hats, said Pat Grant, who preceded Andrews as the National Western’s chief executive.
“From one minute to the next, Paul could be talking to a ranch hand, a top executive, or a political leader,” Grant said. “He worked directly with the mayor’s office and Denver City Council on the passage of ballot measure 2C in 2015 to fund the National
held at the Denver Art Museum alongside the Coors Show, has been reimagined and expanded. As the Coors Show continues to grow, so too, does our commitment to offering engaging programs for the community. With an eye toward our move to a new facility in 2026, the Winter West Symposium is set to become an integral part of our annual celebration.
The Winter West Symposium will take place on Tuesday, January 7th, 2025, at CSU Spur’s Hydro Building in Denver, and will feature artist demonstrations by Raj Chaudhuri, Jennifer Johnson, and Whitney Gardner, followed by a panel discussion with Brandon Bailey, Lisa Gordon, and others.
After brunch and opening remarks by the Coors team, esteemed artist, Bill Anton, will deliver an exclu-
Western Center and also worked with the Colorado Legislature in 2021 during the pandemic to secure funding for operations and was successful on both counts.”
The board of the Western Stock Show Association, which oversees the National Western, is forming a search committee that will work in tandem with an executive search firm to help identify and select Andrews’ successor. It is anticipated that the new CEO will be in place sometime in the spring or summer of 2025, and Andrews will transition the position over the course of 2025 as we prepare for the January 2026 National Western Stock Show. For inquiries related to the executive search or to submit potential talent, please contact us at nationalwesternstockshow@heidrick.com.
sive talk on his life and work.
Tickets for the Winter West Symposium are available for $65, or guests can purchase a $400 package that includes admission to the Blue Jean Preview on Monday, January 6, the Winter West Symposium on Tuesday, January 7, and the Red Carpet Reception later that evening.
Join us at the Confluence Theater at CSU Spur’s Hydro Building, located at 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216, from 10 AM to 1 PM for an exciting and inspiring day of Western art.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please contact Grace Weihs, at 303.291.2567 or gweihs@nationalwestern.com
Sharon Magness Blake and Thunder IV
Paul Andrews tips his hat to the crowd during the rodeo introduction at the 2024 National Western Stock Show
Annual Heroes Gala at Signature Aviation private jet hangar, Centennial Airport
An evening with purpose – fundraiser for Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF)
LEFT:
Mrs. Colorado Bethany Norman
Pipes and drums formed a welcoming receiving line for guests Photos by Scottie Iverson
ABOVE: Mona Weaver and husband former Douglas County Sheriff and former U.S. Marshal David Weaver
LEFT: Douglas County Sheriff David Weekly, Douglas County Coroner Raeann Brown, Undersheriff David Walcher, Chief Michael McIntosh and his wife Cathy, Sgt Ian Hutcheon
LEFT: Heroes Gala Co-Chair and DCCF Board Member Marco Fields
Emcees - FOX31 Morning News anchor Kirk Yuhnke and broadcast media veteran, now Public Information Officer with Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Deborah Takahara
2024 Heroes honored, community celebrated
Presented by Sterling Ranch Colorado in Partnership with Douglas County Colorado
The evening was filled with spirit and appreciation complemented by a silent auction, live auction and paddle raise. Tate Stevens entertained, 9’s A Pair – The Fireman Band played, Footers catered, persuasive “Fundaneer” Halie Behr raised funds and former Denver Bronco David Bruton (helping pave the path for Super Bowl 50) threw a football to a winning bidder.
Law Enforcement Award presented to Lone Tree PD Corporal Grant Collins and CRT clinician Sophie Lind by Sheriff Weekly
Captain Dan McMillian, Mrs. Douglas County Chris Nolan, Chief Mike Dell’Orfano, Captain Jason Kennedy
DCCF Board Chair Tera Radloff
LEFT: Sterling Ranch’s Diane and Harold Smethills with Veteran Award recipient U.S. Marine Corporal Ryan Garza (Ret.) and his girlfriend Jahaira Farias, also a veteran BELOW: Jeanette Reynolds with her son Cal Reynolds and his wife Madison
George Brauchler, candidate for DA – 23rd Judicial District, DCCF Board Member Wynne Shaw, Castle Pines City Council Member and Douglas County Republican Women President Deborah Mulvey, Lone Tree City Council Members Alicia Brown and Mike Parr
Douglas County Commissioner Abe Laydon presented the Community Award to Emily Davenport, CWR, RVT - Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance
The Fire & Rescue Award was presented to the all-volunteer Douglas County Search and Rescue Team formed in 1998
in the know
befollow FREDA
BY FREDA MIKLIN I
am passionate about government and giving our readers straightforward information that will help them make informed choices when they vote. I am also a licensed C.P.A. and former Greenwood Village City Council member. Dr. Jerry Miklin and I are the parents of five young adults, including two sets of twins, all of whom graduated from Cherry Creek High School and college. I 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.
Why many question use of the Electoral College in choosing our President
One of the most fundamental principles of a democratic form of government is, “one person, one vote.” It is simple to understand and is used in virtually every election in which American citizens participate, from city council to state representative to governor to Congressman and U.S. Senator.
But it doesn’t apply to the vote for the President and Vice-President of the United States because our Constitution says the Electoral College (EC) must be used to select the winners of these offices.
Members of the EC are called presidential electors. Each of the 50 U.S. states is allocated presidential electors based on the total number of representatives it has in the Congress, which is two Senators plus the number of people it has in the House of Representatives.
The only exception is Washington D.C., which does not have a voting Member of Congress but was allocated three presidential electors by the 23rd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1961.
There are 100 U.S. Senators and 435 Members of Congress. When you add the three Washington D.C. electors to those numbers, you get 538, the total number of presidential electors. We often hear that the number of EC votes needed to get elected to the presidency is 270, which is the majority of EC votes--50% of 538, plus one.
Although it sounds fair enough, there is a significant mathematical conflict between the one person-one vote principle and the Electoral College.
The most obvious examples can be seen when comparing our most and least populated states, California with 39,000,000 residents, and Wyoming with just under 600,000 residents.
Since it has 52 representatives in the U.S. House, California has 54
EC votes. Since it was one representative in the U.S. House, Wyoming has three EC votes.
Using simple division, 39,000,000 ÷ 54 = 722,222, thus each California presidential elector’s vote represents 722,222 citizens of that state.
Doing the same calculation for Wyoming, 600,000 ÷ 3 = 200,000, each Wyoming presidential elector’s vote represents 200,000 citizens of that state.
If California voters had the same level of representation in the EC as do Wyoming voters, California would have 195 electors (39,000,000 ÷ 200,000), instead of 54.
The 10 presidential electors for the State of Colorado each represent 591,418 registered voters in our state. One can see that the variations in how many voters are represented by each of the 538 presidential electors are significant. There is also the issue presented by the winner-take-all method of awarding EC votes. This method does not appear in the Constitution. It was designed later, by state legislatures, thus could be altered by those same bodies.
Forty-eight states, including Colorado, and Washington D.C. award their EC votes on a winnertake-all basis, a further blow to the one-person, one-vote principle. Maine and Nebraska, both smaller states, use a hybrid system for appointing their EC presidential electors. In 2008, those systems resulted in Maine’s electors being split 2-1. In 2016, Nebraska’s electors were split 3-1.
Looking at actual results produced by the winner-take-all method, in 2016, Donald Trump was awarded all 20 of Pennsylvania’s EC votes as a result of having beaten Hilliary Clinton 2,970,733 to 2,926,441, a difference of 0.72%.
In 2020, Joe Biden was awarded all 20 of Pennsylvania’s EC votes as a result of having beaten Donald Trump, 3,458,229 to 3,377,674, a difference of 0.17%.
Thus, in both 2016 and 2020, around three million Pennsylvania voters’ preferences had no impact on who was elected President.
Another way to demonstrate the impact of the EC, from the National Popular Vote website, is, “In 2020, if 21,461 voters had changed their minds, Joe Biden would have been defeated, despite leading by over 7 million votes nationally. Each of these 21,461 voters (5,229 in Arizona, 5,890 in Georgia, and 10,342 in Wisconsin) was 329 times more important than the 7 million voters elsewhere…Every vote is not equal under the current system.”
The EC was established at the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
According to the Brennan Center for Justice, it came about as a compromise between those who favored a national popular vote and those who believed Congress should choose our president. In its original design, presidential electors were chosen by state legislatures. That method evolved over the years to the one we have today.
In 2016, Donald Trump was elected president when he received 306 EC votes, compared to 232 for Hillary Clinton, even though Clinton received the nod from 65,853,625 Americans and Trump was favored by 62,985,106, thus Clinton received 2.1% more of the nationwide popular vote than did Trump, who was elected.
According to the Pew Research Center, as of one year ago, 65% of Americans favor awarding the presidency to the winner of the national popular vote. One can assume that more Americans from larger states than smaller states favor the Presidency being won by the winner of
the national popular vote because the EC gives more relative weight to the votes of those in smaller states. Still, 65% is generally considered a super-majority, thus most Americans favor changing the current system.
Eliminating the EC via a constitutional amendment would require that it be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress, then ratified by three-fourth of all State legislatures. No one believes that is possible.
To address the issue, proponents of a national popular vote came up with a workaround, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPV). Under it, states would award all their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote. It would not eliminate the winner-take-all system, it would use it to award the presidency to the winner of the national popular vote.
For the NPV to take effect, state legislatures in states that represent 270 EC votes would have to pass laws that commit to the NPV and follow through with that commitment. One problem that could arise is the party controlling a state legislature could change and the new legislature could repeal the law passed by the previous one, committing to the NPV.
The first state legislature to vote the NPV into law, should its supporters reach the 270 threshold, was Maryland in 2007. The most recent state legislature to adopt it was Maine in 2024. Colorado’s legislature voted to adopt the NPV in 2019 and the voters confirmed it in 2020.
As of today,17 state legislatures and the District of Columbia have passed NPV bills into law, representing 209 EC votes, 77% of the total needed to put it into effect.
CD8 is the most likely district to flip in November
Colorado CD8 Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo and the person challenging her in her bid for re-election, Republican state Rep. Gabe Evans, will hold two televised debates next month, one on 9News on October 8 and another on CBS Colorado on October 19.
Colorado gained an eighth seat in the U.S. Congress after the 2020 U.S. Census, making the November 2022 election the first held in that congressional district. CD8 was also the first district created in our state after the Colorado Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission went to work in 2021.
Given the purpose of the Independent Redistricting Commission it should not come as a surprise that, as of September 1, 2024, political party registration among
the 443,729 active voters in CD8, which is comprised of parts of Adams, Larimer, and Weld Counties, is 23% Republican, 25% Democratic, and 50% unaffiliated. Those percentages mirror Colorado’s statewide statistics for party affiliation by one point or less.
In 2022, Caraveo bested Republican State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer by 1,632 votes, or 0.69% of 236,501 votes cast in the race, including 9,280 for a Libertarian candidate.
U.S. Rep. Caraveo, who recently sponsored the, “Increasing Medication Access for Seniors Act of 2024,” which has been re-
Continued on page 9
U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo State Rep. Gabe Evans
Continued from page 8
ferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Ways and Means Committee, is a University of Colorado-trained pediatrician who practiced medicine where she grew up in Adams County near her family home before going to Congress. She is a first-generation Coloradan whose parents emigrated from
Mexico. Before running for Congress, Caraveo served in the state House for two terms. In Congress, she voted to expand the Child Tax Credit and allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. According to her website, she also voted to support tougher penalties for fentanyl offenses.
Her Republican challenger in the November 5 election, State Rep.
Gabe Evans, owns and operates a family farm in southern Weld County. According to his campaign website, he is the grandson of Mexican immigrants and spent 12 years in the U.S. Army and Colorado Army National Guard as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot and company commander. He also spent 10 years as an Arvada police officer before running for
the state House, where he is currently in his first term.
Evans gained the GOP nomination on June 25, when he beat former State Rep. Janak Joshi in the Republican primary, 77.5% to 22.5%, even though Joshi was endorsed by the State Republican Party, led by Dave Williams.
Another major DTC office property is now owned by its lender
The Cascades office building on 8.8 acres at 6300 S. Syracuse Way in Centennial is now owned by Voya Financial, which purchased it after submitting a bid for $29.4 million at auction on September 11, according to a report in Business Den. Constructed in 1984, this Class A property has eight floors and a separate two-story parking structure
The building was owned by America’s Capital Partners (ACP), based in Florida. They bought it on February 28, 2017 for $63 million, or $180.64/ square foot, from Alliance Bernstein of San Franciso (AB) with two loans from Oconee Real Estate Holdings, a Voya company, that totaled $44 million. AB owned the property for only nine months, having acquired it on May 17, 2016 for $41 million.
Voya notified ACP in July 2023 that it intended to exercise its option to call the loan in March 2024. After doing so and not receiving payment, Voya had The Cascades placed in receivership, then foreclosed in April, which culminated in its acquisition of the property on September 11. ACP still owes its outstanding balance to Voya for the two loans, including interest,
above what Voya paid in the auction, assumed to be the amount of its bid.
Voya Financial is also the owner of two other major properties in the area, both in Greenwood Village, that it obtained through foreclosure actions.
It acquired the four-story, 184,541-square foot office building on 7.017 acres at 7100 E. Belleview on September 27, 2023 in a deed in lieu
of foreclosure action. Ownership is currently vested in Oconee Real Estate Holdings III LLC.
In December 2023, Voya completed a foreclosure action on the Triad Office Complex, which includes three six-story office towers and a large surface parking area on 22 acres. The Triad is the largest property in GV’s Orchard Station subarea, near the
Denver South is the wind beneath the wings of economic development and transportation infrastructure
Denver South, the handy name of Denver South Economic Development Partnership, has, for over 40 years, “served as the critical link between the public and private sectors in the region, fostering regional collaborations that position our area as a world-class location for businesses to start, grow, and thrive.”
This civic non-profit organization brings together government, business, and community leaders throughout southeast metro Denver who work collaboratively to foster economic development and transportation initiatives that support the economic vitality of the region, now, and for the future. For tax purposes, it is a business development group, classified as a 501(c)(6).
DS’s board of directors includes Sam Inman, Wells Fargo’s commercial banking leader for the DTC and south Denver metro markets, Centennial Mayor Stephanie Piko, Shea Properties’ Peter Culshaw and Eric Hecox, local Mayors Marissa Harmon (Lone Tree) and George Lantz (GV), Coventry Development SVP
Darryl Jones, and multi-decade, iconic real estate business leader
Buz Koelbel, of blessed memory, whose untimely recent loss is only beginning to resonate across the south metro community.
DS supports transportation throughout the Southeast Public Improvement Metro District (SPIMD) that spans part of Denver, along with Arapahoe and Douglas Counties, through its Transportation Management Association (TMA) division, a 501(c)(3) that funds roadway, infrastructure, and micromobility projects through a two-mill tax levied on businesses located in SPIMD, which are all automatic DS members.
Daniel Hutton, DS Vice President of Transportation and Mobility, recently met with The Villager and explained “the lengthy and detailed vetting process” used for transportation projects throughout DS member jurisdictions, which include Lone Tree, Centennial, Greenwood Village, Denver, Arapahoe County, Douglas County, RTD, Colorado
Department of Transportation, and Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG).
In addition to the SPIMD mill levy, the TMA receives federal grant funding through DRCOG.
The process of getting a project approved by TMA includes presenting it to the DS board, as well as representatives of major stakeholders, including Centennial Airport.
With most of the roadways in the area built out, recent TMA projects included the South Gap lane balancing initiative, CDOT mobility hub in the City of Lone Tree, building a hub for RTD, Bustang, Lone Tree Link, scooters and EBikes, and a pedestrian bridge to connect the east and west side of I-25 in Lone Tree that will be bicycle and pedestrian oriented.
Microtransit has become an important component of DS transportation in recent years. Hutton told The Villager that, to support local employers, “DS has been investing in the Lone Tree Link for the past ten years for users around Schwab,
Orchard Townhomes and grocery/ retail project on 10 acres just approved by GV City Council at the former Marilyn Hickey Ministries at 8081 E. Orchard Road. Don Provost, principal and founder of Alberta Development Partners, which also owns the Streets at SouthGlenn in Centennial, is the owner and developer of the Orchard Townhomes project.
Daniel Hutton, Denver South Vice President of Transportation and Mobility
Sky Ridge Hospital, and Kiewit. That’s when Lincoln was the end of the line,” adding “Link on Demand works like Uber. It has been operating in the City of Lone Tree since 2014 and has now expanded into Meridian in unincorporated Douglas County.”
He also shared, “There is more and more bicycle infrastructure coming online. Growth is going to continue. We can’t fit more cars. Micro transit is part of it and RTD is a key player that is rebuilding.”
The Cascades office building Photo courtesy Loopnet
Don Sober and Pete Coors
Artist Craig Tennant and Cheryl WilsonTennant
Pete Coors receives TAPS Legacy Award from Founder Bonnie Carroll
Coors Cowboys Club
Survivor family members
Kristina and Jay Davidson with Dianne Bartlett
Michael Spencer with Bill and Maribeth Hanzlik
Ed Montana
Lynne and Bo Cottrell
Karen D’Amboise silent auction coordinator
William Roberts, Joshua D’Estrada, entertainment chair Sara Duke, Elise Marks Gruitch and Edie Marks
Event Chairs Laura Benton and George Dempsey
Louise and Flip Rouse
Edie Marks, auction committee chair celebrates her birthday with TAPS
Dave and Annette Jewell, Auction Committee Chairs Rene Green and Jake Jabs
Photos taken by Sharon Sweeney-Barbillon auction committee chair
L to R: Craig Dies, Joni Dies, Deborah Dies, and Rene and Jeff Tomczak, Executive Committee members
IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME TRIBUTES TO BUZ KOELBEL, JR.
The Villager has been honored to be in the forefront of covering the growing Koelbel and Co and the Koelbel family for the past 43 years. The Villager would like to share some interviews dating back to 2017 and the most recent sit down and last interview with Buz and our reporter Freda Miklin. (Freda and her husband Dr. Jerry Miklin were the second to purchase a Preserve lot from Buz that has been their home for the past 32 years. The Villager reached out to Dino Maniatis and Robin Wise for a tribute.
Remembering Buz Koelbel
In pace amicus antiquus
Rest in peace, old friend
Many who knew Buz Koelbel recognize that it’s impossible to capture the full essence of a man whose presence was so profound and who touched so many lives. His passing last week leaves a void that words alone cannot fill.
Buz had a remarkable gift for making everyone around him feel valued and respected.
His benevolence and philanthropy were boundless; coupled with his unwavering humility, he set a standard that all should aspire to achieve. He genuinely cared about people and communities throughout Colorado, embodying a rare combination of generosity and authenticity. His extensive collective knowledge and wisdom were the products of a lifetime of curiosity and learning. To know Buz was to know a man who was deeply committed to the well-being of others.
A true lover of history, Buz had an uncanny ability to weave stories that connected us to our past. He delighted in sharing the rich history of Cherry
Hills Village and the Cherry Hills Country Club and illuminating it with his unique perspective. I was deeply honored when he agreed to write the foreword for my recent history book, Cherry Hills Village. Who better than Buz to introduce that narrative? The legacy of the Koelbel family stretches back over seven decades, and Buz truly represented the essence of the city and the greatercommunity. His commitment to preserving our history was unwavering, reminding us of the vital importance of understanding our roots. Buz believed that our past shapes our present and future, and he dedicated himself to ensuring that the stories of our community would not be forgotten. Through his passion for sharing history, he also inspired us all to appreciate the journey that has brought us here and to honor those who paved the way.
and a friend. His kindness and empathy were woven into the fabric of everything he did, serving as a powerful reminder for us all to live our lives with selflessness and compassion.
We should celebrate the extraordinary life he led—a life that was truly one of a kind. While I feel profound sorrow at his passing, I also carry heartfelt gratitude for the moments we shared. His values and philosophy exemplify what it truly means to be our best selves. Let us honor Buz by carrying forward his remarkable legacy, ensuring that his influence continues to resonate within us and in the communities he cherished.
Thank you, Buz, for everything you gave to this world. You were a true blessing, and you will forever remain in our hearts.
As I reflect on Buz’s life, he was not just an inspiration, he was a mentor
With sincerest gratitude, Dino G. Maniatis Cherry Hills Village Resident
We hold these truths to be self-evident...
Life - Buz spent his energy working to make life in our community better. The time, talent, energy, and financial resources that Buz invested in so many organizations ensured the next generation of workers, leaders, and entrepreneurs is well equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in life.
Liberty- Buz was a patriot who believed freedom, as Reagan said, was never more than one generation away from extinction.
He worked whole-heartedly to support efforts to ensure the lessons of freedom and opportunity were protected for other generations to embrace.
Pursuit of Happiness - Buz believed that the surest way to happiness was earned success and knew the free market was the greatest anti-poverty achievement in the world.
To say that my friend Buz... our friend Buz...will be greatly missed is an understatement, but his humor, kindness and words of wise counsel will endure.
Robin Wise President/CEO Junior AchievementRocky Mountain
Family-run Koelbel & Company marks 65 years
offices sit adjacent the bustling light rail station in an area that once had no future, but where Koelbel’s “folly” headquarters eventually gave way to progress.
This article was originally printed in the 6-1-17 edition of The Villager.
Ahalf century ago when developer Walter Koelbel Sr. moved his offices from downtown Denver’s 17th Street to the boonies of I-25 and Yale Avenue, people thought he was crazy.
“Back then, there was no such thing as a suburban office,” his son Buz recalled. “He wanted to be closer to the communities and the projects he was developing, and he wanted to be closer to home. People just didn’t understand it, but it turned out to be very visionary.”
Call it the chicken or the egg—but when Koelbel Sr. set up shop on the outskirts of southeast Denver, it signaled the embryonic vitality of the new Denver Technological Center and what would eventually become the most important business corridor in the metro area.
Koelbel was among a group of Colorado developers—most notably, George M. Wallace and John Madden—who helped redefine the suburbs as something more than rows of houses, but an economic engine fully integrated into post-war lifestyle. That movement would evolve over decades into mixed-use development and transit-friendly new urbanism.
Ironically, Koelbel was a victim of his own pioneer spirit three decades later when his son Buz became heavily involved in light rail expansion along I-25, as chair of a fundraising committee for T-REX, the award-winning $1.7 billion multimodal transportation project that reinvented travel in and around the highway’s intersection with I-225.
As it happened, Buz’s trips to Washington, D.C. and his local bond-election advocacy brought an unforeseen outcome when the Colorado Department of Transportation had to make room for the I-25 and Yale light rail station.
“Our building was in the right of way, so we actually had it condemned away from us,” Buz said with a slight smile. “I say, no good deed goes unpunished. It’s the path to growth, and we ended up with a nice new building.”
Today, as Koelbel & Company marks its 65th anniversary, the family-owned firm’s 21st century
Stirring a ‘Buz’ in development
Buz Koelbel and Koelbel & Company are almost like twin brothers. The mainstay Colorado development firm was founded by Walter Koelbel Sr. in 1952, the same year Buz was born, birthing parallel pathways in business and life.
“Does it make me feel old? It does, as a matter of fact,” Buz said with a laugh. Although named Walter Jr. on his birth certificate, the name would not last for long.
“Fortunately, my sister couldn’t say Walter and she called me her little baby buzzer— and it just stuck,” he said. “When I was learning cursive in first or second grade, I looked at it and I thought it sounds the same with one z as two.”
Buz’s father, born in 1926, came to Colorado from Muskegon, Mich. In the 1940s, after a stint in the Naval Reserve, he attended the University of Colorado School of Business and played tight end for the CU Buffalos. After a brief post-college job at the old Montgomery Ward on Denver’s Broadway, Walter landed a life-changing gig at Moore & Company, eventually setting up his own shop in the Equitable Building at 17th and Stout streets.
“To get us kids out of the house, he’d take us on property tours,” Buz remembered. “But probably the most significant memory is when they started converting my grandparents’ Hereford cattle farm into what is now Pinehurst Country Club and community. We used to play in the cornfields out there as kids. That was our first big flagship community.”
The family farm was just the beginning. If the in-laws were ready to sell the homestead, maybe other farmers would do the same if Koelbel put his vision for untapped suburbia into action.
In the late 1950s, Koelbel took his checkbook to the boonies and began buying up whatever parcels he could afford, especially along I-25’s gateway to Denver, eventually accumulating 640 acres at the northeast corner of I-25 and County Line Road.
One of those former farms— named Inverness after the Scottish golf course believed to be the world’s first—would follow Koelbel’s formula for Pinehurst.
When a development is five miles from the end of the world, it needs a centerpiece.
“You build a golf course to create an aesthetic catalyst and enhance the values,” Buz said.
“Country clubs were truly that. They were clubs out in the country where primarily men went to play golf. So my father had that process of doing the same thing with an office park. It was way out in the country, so he had to get all the sewer and water engineered.”
During an economic downturn, Koelbel sold the property in 1970 before the completion of Inverness, which now sits in the heart of a commercial area on the border of Arapahoe and Douglas counties, across the highway from Park Meadows.
Other key developments would follow Inverness, including Centennial Promenade, Orchard Valley and the Village Center.
‘Preserving’ old debates
When CEO Buz Koelbel reads about controversy in Greenwood Village over the Orchard Station Subarea and the arguments over higher density in the suburbs, he recalls similar disputes over his own Preserve project 17 years ago. Although named in keeping with the Village’s rural history, many saw the development as a threat to “preservation.”
“So not unlike what [Alberta Development Partners’] Don Provost is going through, they didn’t want me to do the Preserve, so I went to a vote of the people” Koelbel said. “People realize now it really isn’t that
dense on a relative basis, and it realize now it really isn’t that dense on a relative basis, and it really did help the values around the entire area. Decision makers many times are a little slower to understand where consumer preferences are going.”
The Preserve—approved by 59 percent of Greenwood voters—led directly to the nearby Koelbel Library, for which the family donated land and contributed to construction costs.
Although Koelbel & Company became known for higher-end developments, the firm staked out a lower profile in the affordable-housing arena, including a workforce complex adjacent its headquarters on Yale, one of four such Koelbel projects next to light rail stations.
“This is kind of a missiondriven passion for us,” said Buz, who lives in Cherry Hills Village. “It’s very tough because there is a lot of government involvement. But in the end, it is a very needed component of the community and society.”
The Koelbel family has also been active on the nonprofit front, especially in education, having been significant contributors to CU’s Koelbel building, the Sewall Child Development Center and the K-12-oriented Colorado Council for Economic Education.
CEO Koelbel has also sat on the board of the little-understood Southeast Public Improvement Metropolitan District, a regional commercial-tax-collecting entity, and SPIMD subsidiary Transportation Management Association, both of whose names have a long history in development and transit projects and policy along I-25.
Koelbel considers the unusual coalition of improvement districts and developers unparalleled in its ability to leverage local, state and federal dollars in the interest of regionalism.
“Even though we’re all competitors, I think we knew if we worked together we could accomplish more,” he said.
The next generation develops as Buz Koelbel and Koelbel & Company mark their joint 65th birthdays, a new generation of
Koelbels has stepped forward, much as Buz did 41 years ago. His three sons, Carl, Dean and Walter III, have all taken their successive places in the company structure.
For 33-year-old Vice President Carl, it is not so much about real estate, but community.
“You take a piece of property that’s underused and build a community, whether it’s a community of retail, or a community of apartments, or an office community,” he said. “… We’ve all got what my dad calls the dinnertable DNA. It was growing up and hearing my dad talk about real estate. It just got embedded within us.”
Per the emerging preferences of millennials, Koelbel & Company is expected to continue its emphases on affordability and mixed use, among other impending development trends, just as the founder kept his eye on the future decades ago.
Walter Sr., who died Christmas day 2011, would be proud, Buz says.
“There was always a twinkle in his eye. He was thrilled when my son Carl came on board,” the second-generation patriarch said. As for the next 65 years, the CEO expects them to be not unlike the last 65.
“I think we’ll always continue to be part of how people live, work and play,” he said. “Some businesses don’t get to directly participate in the evolution of a community, but that makes it fun and rewarding. That’s why we’ve chosen not to take our business nationally and stay here in the community we have roots in. I just don’t think what we do would transport very well on a plane.”
Three generations of Koelbels: Walter, Buz and Carl. The firm marks its 65th anniversary this year. Courtesy of Koelbel & Co.
Walter Koelbel Sr. surveys the wilderness of the I-25 corridor in 1958. Courtesy of Koelbel family
Koelbel’s Preserve in Greenwood Village was controversial when first proposed in 2000. It was only after a vote of the people that the development was allowed to go forward. Courtesy of Koelbel & Co.
Buz Koelbel and Dino G. Maniatis
Koelbel and Company builds communities
BY FREDA MIKLIN STAFF WRITER
When people hear the name, Koelbel and Company, CEO Buz Koelbel hopes that they think of a company that builds communities. He told The Villager, “We are residential and commercial developers who become part of the communities where we build by giving back to the community.” A perfect example is the Koelbel Library at the corner of Orchard Road and Holly Street, adjacent to Koelbel’s premier community, The Preserve at Greenwood Village.
Walter Koelbel, Sr., Buz’ father, who founded the company in 1952 and with whom he worked side by side for three decades, had a unique ability to “find good property,” Buz told us. As a result, they owned three of the four corners at that intersection—where they built The Preserve, where they developed what is now the King Soopers shopping center, and where the library and two senior living facilities are now situated. In about 1988, as they were finally about to develop The Preserve, Buz told us, the Koelbels “heard that Arapahoe County Library District was looking for a location for a new central library facility. We thought, we’re creating a family community at The Preserve, so what better amenity for families than a library?” Koelbel and Company gifted the land to the Library District and was also instrumental in bringing in Joyce Meskis, owner of the Tattered Cover Book Store from 1974 to 2015, “who consulted with us, as part of the strategic design team, about how we could create places in the library where people would want to stay and read and gather…We wanted community rooms for anyone to be able to use.” Today, that library has four meeting rooms, including one with a capacity of 108 people, a forum theater that seats 39, and three study rooms that hold up to six people.
“As part of the strategic design,” Buz told us, “My parents commissioned George Lundeen to create a piece of art,” referring to the bronze statue of a mother reading to and with her children that sits outside the library’s front door. Buz also pointed out that, “The Koelbel Library remains one of the busiest community gathering places through today, despite the fact that libraries can’t compete with home computers for conducting research. Something was created there that transcends the digital world such that, to this day, it enjoys a remarkable amount of use and popularity.” Buz also credits Ed
and Kay Phillipson for their dedication to the library project. Ed was a reporter for The Villager Newspaper.
Of all the projects Koelbel and Company has developed, Buz is most proud of The Preserve at Greenwood Village. It took ten years and numerous stops and starts to get it approved, but, he told us, “I knew it was going to be a great community for families and kids and I was committed to getting it built.” Thirty-two years after Koelbel and Company sold its first lot on the 540acre property, he remains as steadfast about its place as a unique family community as he was in the beginning.
which includes 120 acres of open space in addition to almost 400 homes on lots with no perimeter fences and another 136 patio homes in the Bateleur section of the neighborhood. Koelbel and Company sold the last lot in The Preserve this year. Buz calls the neighborhood, “My pride and joy, because of what we created, how tough it was to get it done, and how we got it done.”
Another interesting, lit-
at me and said, ‘Buz, this plan is spectacular but you’re going to rue the day that you decided not to let people put in fences.’ I thanked them for their input, but I never doubted my decision to not allow fences. They’re ugly and they don’t create a neighborhood. They get in the way of having connections between people. If you take the fences down, you take the barriers between people down. I was certain I didn’t want
Many people know that the company struggled to gain approval from the City of Greenwood Village to build The Preserve because neighbors to the east and west wanted it to remain as open space. What many people don’t know is that when Buz Koelbel finally decided that the people of Greenwood Village, not its city council, should make the final decision about The Preserve, he personally knocked on between 3,000 and 4,000 doors of GV residents himself to ask for their support and answer their questions, eventually winning approval of the voters for the development,
tle-known piece of the history of The Preserve that Buz shared with us is that, before he even had the election, he was confident enough in his plan that he created “a focus group of all the top realtors in the area that sold all the big homes.” He showed them his plan and told them that they should expect to see lots available to sell there soon. After they looked at it, he told us, “The three top brokers looked
to know all their neighbors on all sides and behind them. Kids played together and long-term bonds were formed between families. At the end of the day, it’s one of the premier communities in the entire metro area.”
Although most people think of Koelbel and Company as being a successful developer, it wasn’t always easy. Buz told us, “When markets got tough and we were struggling, going from 140 employees in 2007 to nine in 2009, I would drive through The Preserve on weekends because it uplifted me. Even though we had no sales activity for probably 18 months, I decided we wouldn’t fold our tent and lower our prices to make sales. I believed strongly that we would survive the recession. I knew the value was there if I could just wait out the economy. We’re a legacy generational company. I wasn’t going to let those two or three years destroy what I had personally worked so hard to put into place. It was a very tough time financially for us, but I felt like I owed it to the people who already lived there and to the Perry family (of the Marjorie Perry Nature Preserve), who had stuck with us, to wait it out.”
We asked Buz what the keys to the success of his company have been. He told us he learned from his father, “Patience is genius. Don’t overreact in a tough market. Another thing that has been key is a constant focus on innovation. Our innovation started with Pinehurst Country Club, our flagship legacy community. A master-planned golf course community was not commonplace in the early 1960’s, particularly in the area of town where we built Pinehurst. The success of Pinehurst solidified the importance of innovation in what we do, and since then, we’ve consistently engaged in unique and different projects. The other important lesson I learned from my dad that I’ve never forgotten is to always take a long-term approach. That is how we have viewed everything we’ve done.”
there to be fences and I also wasn’t going to build a brick wall around The Preserve. We decided to use landscaping around the perimeter so it looks more open and more inviting. When I told the realtors that I wasn’t going to change my mind about fences, they said I’d regret that decision. I said I didn’t think so, because that’s how you develop a community. That’s exactly how it turned out. Everyone there got
Buz never planned to have a third generation come into the company, but it happened organically. His three sons, Carl, Walt, and Dean started their careers in Washington, D.C., Kansas City and Chicago, but eventually decided they wanted to be a part of the family business. Today, Carl is the Chief Operating Officer, Walt is focused on office and commercial, and Dean is in leasing, along with Catalyst, a cutting-edge, health-tech industry integrator that Koelbel developed in Denver’s RiNo District and is now replicating for the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
A philosophical value that has played an essential role in the success that Koelbel and Company continues to enjoy after 70 years, Buz told us, is that they are “agnostic to the product type.” Their values of community
This bronze artwork of a mother reading to and with her children, created by George Lundeen, was commissioned by Walter and Gene Koelbel. It sits just outside the Koelbel Library.
Buz Koelbel
building, constant innovation, and unwavering long-term commitment to their projects apply to everything they do. In addition to residential development in the metro area and in the mountains, where Koelbel built Rendezvous Colorado, a 1,110-acre master-planned resort community in Grand County’s Fraser Valley, and Catalyst in RiNo, Koelbel is partnering with DeNOVO Solutions, LLC to create “INNOVUS, a state-of-the-art secured facility capable of meeting the expanding needs of the private defense contractors around Buckley space force base in Aurora, Colorado.”
The strongly held value of community is always top of mind. Koelbel and Company’s “low-income housing division is executing its tenth project, more than any other private developer in the state over the past 10 years.”
That commitment shows up in the family’s extensive philanthropy, as well. Buz told us that his parents and his grandparents were all civic-minded, and most of the family’s philanthropic efforts have always been around children. Besides the Arapahoe Library District, some of the
organizations that have benefited greatly from the Koelbels’ generosity are the University
of Colorado, The Denver Zoo and the Sewall Child Development Center, which named its
building at 940 Fillmore Street in Denver, “The Koelbel Building” in honor of Buz’ parents, particularly his mother Gene, who they describe as having “served Sewall’s mission for over 60 years as a board member,” continuing the legacy of commitment and support of the organization begun by Gene’s parents—Buz’ grandparents— in the 1940s.
Finally, we asked Buz if there was anyone he want-
ed to thank at this time in his career. To our sweet surprise, he named this newspaper’s publisher, Bob Sweeney. Said Buz, “In some ways, Bob was like another father to me. When things got tough while I was trying hard to get The Preserve built, it was Bob that would encourage me to keep going and I’ve always been grateful to him for that.”
fmiklin.villager@gmail.com
“Patience is genius. Don’t overreact in a tough market. Take a long-term approach. That was how we viewed everything that we did.”
– Buz Koelbel
Walt, Dean, Buz and Carl Koelbel.
Local student achieves top ACT score
Julian Kline, son of Brent Kline, Esq. and Chiara Kline, who is a senior at Cherry Creek High School earned the highest possible ACT composite score of 36.
About one-quarter of 1% of students who take the ACT earn a top score. In the U.S. high school grad uating class of 2023, only 2,542 out of 1.39 million students who took the ACT earned a top composite score of 36.
The ACT consists of tests in English, mathemat ics, reading and science, each scored on a scale of 1–36. A student's composite score is the average of the four test scores. The score for ACT’s optional writing test is reported separately and is not included within the ACT composite score.
“Earning a top score on the ACT is a remark able achievement,” said ACT CEO Janet Godwin. “A student’s exceptional score of 36 will provide any college or university with ample evidence of their readiness for the academic rigors that lie ahead.”
The ACT is a curriculum-based achievement exam that measures what students have learned in school. Students who earn a 36 composite score have likely mastered all of the skills and knowledge they will need to succeed in firstyear college courses in the core subject areas.
ACT scores are accepted by major four-year colleges and universities across the U.S.
HAPPENING?
WHAT’S HearingLife ribbon-cutting
12th annual Evening of Hope raises recordbreaking $60,000 for pancreatic cancer research
CU cancer researchers and Colorado’s Miss America share stories of inspiration and hope
BY PETER JONES
It was an Evening of Hope— and notable success—on Sept. 6 when Wings of Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Research raised more than $60,000 to support the groundbreaking work taking place year-round at the University of Colorado Cancer Center. The total included a $20,000 title sponsorship by Colorado business leader Jake Jabs, who lost his wife to the disease.
“This year’s Evening of Hope was the biggest crowd, fastest sell out, and one of the most special,” said Maureen Shul, Wings of Hope’s founder and executive director. “Each year, these benefits attract a bigger crowd of people who have been impacted by this horrid disease, all wanting to do something to further the research. I never cease to be amazed by the kindness of those who attend—kindness for one another, and especially for those on this cancer journey.”
Tributes were made to those in the community who have lost their battles with pancreatic cancer, including former Centennial Mayor Cathy Noon, who died last December.
The 12th annual Evening of Hope is an annual gala where cancer researchers from the CU Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora join financial supporters and cancer survivors to celebrate recent progress and to raise more funds for the ongoing exploration into the prevention, detection and treatment of one of the world’s most challenging cancers.
“I am extremely grateful to Wings of Hope because it was actually the first organization that believed in our research and gave us funds to allow us to study
what we believe is important for pancreatic cancer,” Dr. Carlo Marchetti, a CU research professor, told the sold-out audience in the Exploration of Flight hangar at Centennial Airport.
As a direct result of initial seed money from Wings of Hope, Marchetti said his research into treating inflammation and bodily resistance to chemotherapies was able to attract even more backing from larger funding sources that would not have been available otherwise.
Dr. Richard Schulick, director of the Cancer Center, described how the small, locally funded Wings of Hope is a case study in how every donation—literally no matter how small—can truly make a difference, even with something as seemingly overwhelming as finding potential cures or treatments for pancreatic cancer.
“[Researchers] take that money and they generate some preliminary data,” Schulick explained, “and then they apply to the National Cancer Institute, the U.S. Defense Department
or other funding agencies, and they turn that $50,000 into $2 million. And then, we take that money and turn it into multiple grants, clinical trials and multiple paths forward to better treat our patients.”
Although there is still much work to be done, the hope in the room was contagious.
“I have far more hope for pancreatic cancer research [now]. In fact, that’s because of you,” Dr. Sana Karam told the audience. “… Not only were we able to establish a research program and plant the
Director
seed, but we planted a forest.”
The keynote speaker for this year’s Evening of Hope was Miss America 2024 Madison Marsh, who started the Whitney Marsh Foundation after losing her mother to pancreatic cancer.
“The most important thing in that entire process was finding hope,” Marsh said. “… I just remember seeing the strength and the tenacity [my mother] brought every single day in that battle. That’s what I wanted to emulate.”
Since graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a degree in physics, the first Miss America to double as an active-duty Air Force officer has done her graduate work at Harvard Medical School, where she studies how artificial intelligence might be used to detect tumors in the pancreas.
“[I wanted] to make my life about something that I cared about,” Marsh said. “Because I knew if we all do something that we’re passionate about and surround ourselves with people that we love—that is how we’re going to make the change.”
Wings of Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Research was born 12 years ago after founder Maureen Shul, a former Castle Pines mayor, lost both her mother and brother to the disease within months of each other.
For more information or to donate, please visit wingsofhopepcr. org.
Colorado Senior America Pageant Administrator René Green, American Furniture Warehouse CEO Jake Jabs and Maureen Shul. Miss America Madison Marsh
Everyone got involved in the live auction
Wings of Hope founder Maureen Shul, Joe and Lisa Goodman, Miss America Madison Marsh
CU Cancer Center
Dr. Richard Schulick shares the progress being made in pancreatic cancer research
Shohei before Shohei: Bullet Rogan, 1920-28
Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers conclude the 2024 regular season with a three-game series in Denver this weekend. The following is based on the “Before Shohei” chapter in my forthcoming book, “HEYDAY – The Negro Baseball Era in art and words,” which features the spectacular paintings of Kansas City artist Anthony High, to be published next spring by McFarland and C0ompany. -
with 171 total home runs (including 46, 34 and 44 in ’21 through ’23), 437 runs batted in and 86 stolen bases, PLUS he had a 38-19 won-lost record with a 3.01 earned run average in 86 games as a pitcher, with 608 strikeouts in 481 2/3 innings.
of his six seasons with the Angels, Rogan helped the Kansas City Monarchs win three straight Negro National League pennants (1923-25) and led them to victory in the 1924 Negro Leagues World Series.
Wilber Joe Rogan or Charles Wilber Rogan or Wilbur “Bullet” Rogan—he’s identified all those ways by different sources—was born in Oklahoma City, in either 1889 or 1893.
Shohei Ohtani is the Travis Hunter of Major League Baseball.
Like the defensive back/ wide receiver who plays nearly every snap for the CU Buffs, Ohtani is modern baseball’s only true all-way player.
He’s a competitive starting pitcher and competent outfielder (though not this year as he recovers from Tommy John surgery), in addition to being a prolific offensive force.
The three games against the Rockies will determine his final numbers for ’24. But he’s already surpassed 50 in both home runs and stolen bases—a feat no previous player has ever accomplished in the same season. He’s also hitting for a high average.
In his first six Big League seasons, all with the L.A. area’s other team, the Angels, Ohtani compiled a .274 batting average in 701 games,
As remarkable as Ohtani is, though, he’s not baseball’s first exceptional twoway talent.
He’s been regularly equated to Babe Ruth.
But there’s another who was equally prolific—almost 100 years ago. It’s just that his exploits were obscured to many by the infamous color line that denied black ballplayers their rightful place in the Majors until Jackie Robinson, with Branch Rickey’s help, broke through in 1947.
That’s Bullet Rogan, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame alongside Todd Helton, Larry Walker and Cooperstown’s 343 inductees to date.
From 1920-28, Rogan compiled a 120-51 pitching record with a 2.62 ERA and 136 complete games in 156 starts, PLUS—playing center field when he wasn’t pitching and usually hitting cleanup, either way—batted .338 with 419 RBI, 50 home runs and 106 stolen bases.
While Ohtani is yet to play for a champion and didn’t make the playoffs in any
While there’s no definitive explanation for the variations of his name, the confusion over his date of birth seems to trace to his enlistment in the U.S. Army, when he quit school, left home in a tiff with his stepmother, and fudged his age to join the military.
Rogan served in the U.S Army’s segregated 24th Infantry Regiment in the Philippines from 1911 to 1914. Then, after honorably discharged, he immediately reenlisted in the 25th Infantry, then-stationed at Schofield Barracks, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Specifically recruited to play baseball for the star-studded 25th Infantry Wreckers—a team of ringers among whom were roughly a dozen future Negro Leagues players—Rogan was the best.
“Rogan was the greatest pitcher that ever threw a ball,” said George Carr, a Monarchs teammate. “Once Rogan pitched to a batter, he never forgot that batter’s weaknesses and strong points. And don’t think Rogan was nicknamed ‘Bullet’ for nothing. That guy had a ball that was almost too fast to catch.”
Not surprisingly, the 25th Infantry Wreckers won Post League championships, the United States Army Series and the Oahu League. They also held their own against barnstorming teams of Major League stars..
Playing “Army” baseball assured Bullet and his teammates steady paychecks.
Last December, Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year free agent contract with the Dodgers worth a guaranteed $700 million.
The highest-paid White players when Rogan was starring for the Monarchs were Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb, Ruth at $52,000 each year from 1922 through 1924, and Cobb $35,000 in ’22 and $40,000 in ’23-’24.
Bullet, meanwhile, was collecting about $400 a month.
Denny Dressman is a veteran of 43 years in the newspaper business, including 25 at the Rocky Mountain News, where he began as executive sports editor. He is the author of 16 books, nine of them sports-related. You can write to Denny at denny dressman@comcast.net
Because the public has a right to know
SPECIAL DISTRICTS
CENTENNIAL AIRPORT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that during a regular meeting which begins at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 10, 2024, the Board of Commissioners of the Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority will hold a Public Hearing at which all interested persons will be given the opportunity to be heard concerning an Application Under Centennial Airport’s Minimum Standards for Commercial Aeronautical Activities from Ascend Maintenance Services, LLC to conduct Aircraft Maintenance as described under Part 3 Section (11).
The hearing will be conducted as Virtual Public Meeting via GoTo Meeting, in order to view the board meeting or participate in the public hearing visit the following link and follow the instructions to join the meeting: https:// centennialairport.com/board-of-commissioners.
Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority
Published in The Villager
First Publication: September 26, 2024
Last Publication: October 3, 2024 Legal # 11582
CENTENNIAL AIRPORT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that during a regular meeting which begins at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 10, 2024, the Board of Commissioners of the Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority will hold a Public Hearing at which all interested persons will be given the opportunity to be heard concerning an Application Under Centennial Airport’s Minimum Standards for Commercial Aeronautical Activities from Ascend Maintenance Services, LLC to conduct Aircraft Maintenance as described under Part 3 Section (11).
The hearing will be conducted as Virtual Public Meeting via GoTo Meeting, in order to view the board meeting or participate in the public hearing visit the following link and follow the instructions to join the meeting: https:// centennialairport.com/board-of-commissioners.
Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority
Published in The Villager
Published: September 26, 2024 Legal # 11583
CENTENNIAL AIRPORT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that during a regular meeting which begins at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 10, 2024 the Board of Commissioners of the Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority will hold a Public Hearing at which all interested persons will be given the opportunity to be heard concerning amendments to the Centennial Airport’s Minimum Standards for Commercial Aeronautical Activities which will revise the following sections, Part 3, Section (2), Section (2.5), Section (9), and Section (10).
The hearing will be held in the Wright Brothers Room located at 7565 South Peoria Street, Englewood, Colorado 80112 at the above date and time. More information concerning these changes is available on our website at www.centennialairport.com or maybe reviewed in the Administration Office of the Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority at the same address as stated above.
Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority
Published in The Villager
Published: September 26, 2024 Legal # 11584
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED 2025 BUDGET AND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE AMENDED 2024 BUDGET
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the GOODMAN METROPOLITAN DISTRICT (the “District”), will hold a public hearing via teleconference on October 9, 2024, at 5:00 p.m., to consider adoption of the District’s proposed 2025 budget (the “Proposed Budget”), and, if necessary, adoption of an amendment to the 2024 budget (the “Amended Budget”). The public hearing may be joined using the following teleconference information: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81168880305?pwd=oIkD5s3sDiz8RbVRnF7M mVNybtvaL2.1
The Proposed Budget and Amended Budget are available for inspection by the public at the offices of CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP, 8390 East Crescent Parkway, Suite 300, Greenwood Village, CO 80111.
Any interested elector of the District may file any objections to the Proposed Budget and Amended Budget at any time prior to the final adoption of the Proposed Budget or the Amended Budget by the Board.
The agenda for any meeting may be obtained at https://goodmanmetro. org/ or by calling (303) 858-1800.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: GOODMAN METROPOLITAN DISTRICT, a quasi-municipal corporation and political subdivision of the State of Colorado
/s/ WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON
Attorneys at Law
Published in The Villager
Published: September 26, 2024 Legal # 11584
NOTICE OF HEARING ON PETITION FOR ORGANIZATION IN RE ORGANIZATION OF VERMILION CREEK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that there was filed with the Arapahoe County District Court, a Petition for Organization (the “Petition”)
of Vermilion Creek Metropolitan District No. 2 (the “District”), which Petition requests the organization of a metropolitan district. Notice is further given that a Service Plan and a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Centennial, County of Arapahoe (the “City”), approving such Service Plan were also filed with the Court in this matter, as required by law. The Service Plan and related documents are now on file in the office of the Clerk of the Arapahoe County District Court and are available for public inspection.
The purposes of the District are generally to provide streets, traffic and safety controls, water, storm and sanitary sewer, and park and recreation services, as defined by statute, and in accordance with the duly approved Service Plan, within the jurisdictional boundaries of the District.
The District’s initial boundaries consist of approximately 0.002 acres. The District is located entirely within the City and as shown on the map and legal description of the District that are a part of the Service Plan.
In accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 32-1-305(3), C.R.S., the owner of any real property within the District may file a petition with the Arapahoe County District Court stating reasons why such property should not be included within the District, and requesting that such property be excluded therefrom. Such petition shall be duly verified, shall describe the property sought to be excluded, and shall be filed any time after the filing of the Petition, but no later than 10 days before the day hereinafter specified for the hearing thereon before the Arapahoe County District Court.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN by order of the Arapahoe County District Court that a public hearing on the Petition will be held on the 8th day of October 2024 at 10:00 a.m. in Division 15 of the District Court of Arapahoe County, Arapahoe County Justice Center, 7325 South Potomac Street, Centennial, Colorado 80112.
At such hearing any interested party may appear and be heard within the limitations provided by law.
DATED this 17th day of September, 2024.
CLERK OF THE ARAPAHOE COUNTY DISTRICT COURT
/s/ CLERK OF THE ARAPAHOE COUNTY DISTRICT COURT
Published in The Villager
Published: September 26, 2024 Legal # 11586
NOTICE OF HEARING ON PETITION FOR ORGANIZATION IN RE ORGANIZATION OF VERMILION CREEK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 3
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that there was filed with the Arapahoe County District Court, a Petition for Organization (the “Petition”) of Vermilion Creek Metropolitan District No. 3 (the “District”), which Petition requests the organization of a metropolitan district. Notice is further given that a Service Plan and a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Centennial, County of Arapahoe (the “City”), approving such Service Plan were also filed with the Court in this matter, as required by law. The Service Plan and related documents are now on file in the office of the Clerk of the Arapahoe County District Court and are available for public inspection.
The purposes of the District are generally to provide streets, traffic and safety controls, water, storm and sanitary sewer, and park and recreation services, as defined by statute, and in accordance with the duly approved Service Plan, within the jurisdictional boundaries of the District.
The District’s initial boundaries consist of approximately 0.002 acres. The District is located entirely within the City and as shown on the map and legal description of the District that are a part of the Service Plan.
In accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 32-1-305(3), C.R.S., the owner of any real property within the District may file a petition with the Arapahoe County District Court stating reasons why such property should not be included within the District, and requesting that such property be excluded therefrom. Such petition shall be duly verified, shall describe the property sought to be excluded, and shall be filed any time after the filing of the Petition, but no later than 10 days before the day hereinafter specified for the hearing thereon before the Arapahoe County District Court.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN by order of the Arapahoe County District Court that a public hearing on the Petition will be held on the 8th day of October 2024 at 10:00 a.m. in Division 15 of the District Court of Arapahoe County, Arapahoe County Justice Center, 7325 South Potomac Street, Centennial, Colorado 80112.
At such hearing any interested party may appear and be heard within the limitations provided by law.
DATED this 17th day of September, 2024.
CLERK OF THE ARAPAHOE COUNTY DISTRICT COURT
/s/ CLERK OF THE ARAPAHOE COUNTY DISTRICT COURT
Published in The Villager
Published: September 26, 2024
Legal # 11587
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED 2025 BUDGET AND
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE AMENDED 2024 BUDGET
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the WILLOW TRACE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT (the “District”), will hold a public hearing via teleconference on October 1, 2024, at 4:30 p.m., to consider adoption of the District’s proposed 2025 budget (the “Proposed Budget”), and, if necessary, adoption of an amendment to the 2024 budget (the “Amended Budget”). The public hearing may be joined using the following teleconference information: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86404782978?pwd=M2NiSVQrNU5rRmVNaG JpakhWdDFJUT09
Meeting ID: 864 0478 2978; Passcode:
The Proposed Budget and Amended Budget are available for inspection by the public at the offices of Simmons & Wheeler, 304 Inverness Way S #490, Englewood, CO 80112.
Any interested elector of the District may file any objections to the Proposed Budget and Amended Budget at any time prior to the final adoption of the Proposed Budget or the Amended Budget by the Board.
The agenda for any meeting may be obtained by calling (303) 858-1800. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO Petitioner, In the Interest of: FAITH ANGRADI, Children, and concerning, SELAMAWIT ABRAHA AND DAVID ANGRADI Respondents.
Shannon Nichols, Esq. #50527 Assistant County Attorney Attorney for the People 14980 East Alameda Drive Aurora, CO 80012 Tel: (303) 636-1895 Fax: (303) 636-1889 Case No: 22JV231 Division: 22
NOTICE OF DEFAULT ADJUDICATORY HEARING AND DISPOSITIONAL HEARING CONCERNING DAVID ANGRADI
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a Default Adjudication Hearing and Dispositional Hearing and setting hearing regarding DAVID ANGRADI is set on October 4, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. in Division 22 at the Arapahoe County District Court, 7325 South Potomac Street, Centennial, Colorado 80112.
You have the right to be represented by an attorney during these proceedings; if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to represent you. In the event you fail to appear for said hearing at the date and time indicated, the Petitioner, the People of the State of Colorado, will request that the Court enter a default judgment against you and adjudicate the child dependent and neglected and adopt the prepared treatment plan for you in accordance with the Colorado Children’s Code, or to determine that there is no appropriate treatment plan.
The Arapahoe County District Court is holding hearings via Cisco WebEx Meetings to allow for audiovisual and/or audio participation. Participants may use any computer, tablet or smart phone equipped with a camera and microphone for audiovisual participation. Parties should use the following link:
•https://judicial.webex.com/meet/ D18-ARAP-Div22
•Enter your name and email address (so we know who you are). You will then be in the virtual courtroom.
•Select your audio setting. If the audio on your computer or tablet does not work, please use the alternate audio option of calling in to the number below.
•If you do not have a device that will support a video connection, you may still participate by audio only by calling 720-650-7664. When prompted enter Access code: 2594 887 9073 then press #, # (no attendee ID is needed).
If you elect to appear in person, you must be at the Courthouse a half hour before the hearing is scheduled to begin.
Date: September 20, 2024
Shannon Nichols, Esq. Assistant County Attorney Attorney for Petitioner 14980 E. Alameda Dr. Aurora, CO 80012
Phone: (303) 636-1895
Email: SNichols@arapahoegov. com
Published in The Villager
Published: September 26, 2024 Legal # 11578
DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE STATE OF COLORADO 7325 S. Potomac Street Centennial, Colorado 80112
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO Petitioner, In the Interest of: GERARDO GONZALEZ AND
BANK NOTE - JAY DAVIDSON
Continued from Page 4
jority should issue edicts that t everyone follows, no matter the effect on the individual.
In a Constitutional Republic, the tyranny of the majority is held in check in many profound ways. Among them is separation of powers into legislative, judicial, and administrative roles with very distinct powers and limits on that power. Another is the bicameral congress, a house, and a senate. A third is the electoral college, which serves to prevent the larger states from overpowering the less populated states. The fourth is States Rights, further distributing power from the central government. In the beginning, the only people allowed to vote were landowners because the founders thought they had a personal stake in understanding their role as self-governing.
A Republic is so much more than a Democracy.
The more we study its philosophy and the documents that begat our nation, the more we can appreciate the profound genius of our founders. They created the Declaration of Independence to articulate the rights and responsibility of the citizen and thereby recognized the divine concept of an autonomous individual culminating in the inalienable right to life, liberty, and ownership of property. These rights are bestowed on an individual, not a mob nor a nation, they accrue to each person unfettered by manmade intervention. These rights are not man-made and cannot be taken away by man.
Then the founding philosophers of our nation created the Constitution and Bill of Rights (Amendments) to restrict any one group from threatening another’s individual liberty as defined in the Declaration. The Constitution goes to great lengths to do one thing: Re-
and concerning,
GENESIS ARREDONDO-SALAZAR AND DAVID GONZALEZ, Respondents.
Erinn Walz, Esq. #43200 Assistant County Attorney Attorney for Petitioner 14980 East Alameda Drive Aurora, CO 80012
Tel: (303) 636-1821
Fax: (303) 636-1889
Case No: 24JV147
Division: 22
NOTICE OF DEFAULT ADJUDICATION
HEARING FOR GENESIS ARREDONDO- SALAZAR SET FOR SEPTEMBER 24, 2024, AT 8:30 AM IN DIV. 22
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the above-captioned matter has been set for a DEFAULT ADJUDICATION HEARING for Respondent, Genesis Arredondo-Salazar, on September 24, 2024, at the hour of 8:30 a.m., in Division 22, at the Arapahoe County Justice Center, 7325 South Potomac Street, Centennial, Colorado 80112. The
strict the government, or any powerful manipulator, from abusing the power inherent therein. Democracy devolves into the tyranny of the masses over the individual using abuse of the government to retain their ill-got status...
A Republic is a concept whereby the citizen rules himself. The Constitution defines the Rule of Law and limits the power of a government. Our form of governance is a Constitutional Republic, not a democracy. Even though we have democratic elements in our founding documents, these elements refer to a method of voting every two years and not to the concept of freedom. At its worst, a democracy devolves into the rule of the majority over the minority. That concept is antithetical to individual liberty.
One doubts that either candidate today, or any party, understands the lesson in the previous paragraphs. One might be better, but neither is perfect. And this is the third stroke of genius our founders left us. They instilled in our founding documents the culmination of thousands of years of philosophical thinking into this moment. They articulated the very real concept of the individual. Ergo, the only antidote to abuse of power is the citizen, the individual, who is informed and involved in his own governance. Today, as in all ages, means control and balance of power to restrict its malevolent incursion into our individual liberty. Knowledge is power, and liberty. Principled knowledge is Wisdom.
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.
Court requests that you be at the Courthouse a half hour before the hearing is scheduled to begin, for you to discuss the case with an attorney and/or caseworker if you wish to do so. In the event you fail to appear for said hearing at the date and time indicated, the Petitioner, the People of the State of Colorado, will request that the Court enter a default judgment against you and adjudicate the children dependent and neglected and enter into a treatment plan by default in accordance with the Colorado Children’s Code.
The Arapahoe County District Court is holding hearings via Cisco WebEx Meetings to allow for audiovisual and/or audio participation. Participants may use any computer, tablet, or smartphone equipped with a camera and microphone for audiovisual participation. Parties should use the following link:
• https://judicial.webex.com/ meet/D18-ARAP-Div22
• Enter your name and email address (so we know who you are). You will then be in the virtual courtroom.
• Select your audio setting. If the audio on your computer or tablet does not work, please use
Desensitized to coarseness
Her 6-year-old son said, “What the heck?” Mom responded gently but firmly, “Tommy, do not use coarse language, Honey.” I was in the elevator at the hotel listening and was so moved by this verbal exchange between a mom and her son that I thanked her. She was a bit surprised. I said, “Sometimes the words we use are so harsh, and no one seems to care or notice. By giving your son direction about this seemingly innocent statement, he will become sensitive to coarseness and be mindful of regulating his speech. I bet he will remember your words and grow into a kinder and gentler person.” She was so interested in my insights that she asked me what I do. When I told her I train teachers to teach young people relationship development skills and social and emotional competencies, she wanted to continue the conversation. Being in a bit of a hurry to get to my appointment, I gave her a business card and asked her to contact me. These are the kinds of conversations I have frequently when I travel.
Conversely, I was visiting a relative with two children, eight years old and under. The television was on the whole time with inappropriate video games that are violent and filled with coarse language, scary, ghoulish content, and outright swearing. I could no longer stay silent and said, “There are children that are hearing this.” It was stunning how the parents were unaware of what their children were exposed to. Breathe!
The coarse culture, the normalization of sexualized content, decriminalization of drugs, the uncoupling of marriage and childbearing, cohabitation, divorce, bullying, violence, crime, road rage, smash and grabs, lack of impulse control, self-regulation, or social and cultural norms, as well as the ubiquitous nature of cell phones and electronic devices, are making us less kind and unaware of how desensitized we have become. Now, in an election year when dehumanizing others is commonplace, this is downright dangerous! We have become used to a
constant diet of brutal images that we can no longer see what it is doing to us. Our emotional health is suffering as we have become numb to all this bombardment. We have become the frog in the pot.
This is too big for us. Many have experienced a loss of hope. This is just the way it is. We are emotionally exhausted and disillusioned with systems that are supposed to monitor and maintain certain paradigms of character and virtue.
To prevent/address the dulling of our senses to the coarseness of our culture, it can be helpful to think about what we are watching, what we accept, what we need to set boundaries around, and how we act with others. If we became dedicated to surrounding ourselves with beauty, kindness, character, integrity, honor, and goodness, we would no longer accept the mediocrity and crassness of the culture. It starts with us, our parenting, our families, and our workplaces. If many did this, it would have a ripple effect. Perhaps our language and behavior will become less coarse and filled with goodness and kindness, respecting and honoring our humanity. joneen@narme.org
COURTS
the alternate audio option of calling the number below.
• If you do not have a device that will support a video connection, you may still participate by audio only by calling 720-650-7664. When prompted enter Access code: 2594 887 9073 then press #, # (no attendee ID is needed).
YOU ARE FURTHER COMMANDED to appear before the Court at said time and place, either in person or by phone. If you elect to appear in person, you must be at the Courthouse a half hour before the hearing is scheduled to begin.
Dated September 11, 2024.
Erinn Walz, Reg. #43200
Assistant County Attorney
Attorney for Petitioner
Published in The Villager
Published: September 26, 2024 Legal # 11579
DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE STATE OF COLORADO 7325 S. Potomac Street Centennial, Colorado 80112
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF
COLORADO Petitioner, In the Interest of: GERARDO GONZALEZ AND PAOLA GONZALEZ- ARREDONDO, Children, and concerning, GENESIS ARREDONDO-SALAZAR AND DAVID GONZALEZ, Respondents.
Erinn Walz, Esq. #43200
Assistant County Attorney Attorney for Petitioner
14980 East Alameda Drive Aurora, CO 80012
Tel: (303) 636-1821
Fax: (303) 636-1889
Case No: 24JV147
Division: 22
NOTICE OF DEFAULT
ADJUDICATION HEARING FOR GENESIS ARREDONDOSALAZAR SET FOR SEPTEMBER 24, 2024, AT 8:30 A.M. IN DIV. 22
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the above-captioned matter has been
set for a DEFAULT ADJUDICATION HEARING for Respondent, Genesis Arredondo-Salazar, on September 24, 2024, at the hour of 8:30 a.m., in Division 22, at the Arapahoe County Justice Center, 7325 South Potomac Street, Centennial, Colorado 80112. The Court requests that you be at the Courthouse a half hour before the hearing is scheduled to begin, for you to discuss the case with an attorney and/or caseworker if you wish to do so. In the event you fail to appear for said hearing at the date and time indicated, the Petitioner, the People of the State of Colorado, will request that the Court enter a default judgment against you and adjudicate the children dependent and neglected and enter into a treatment plan by default in accordance with the Colorado Children’s Code.
The Arapahoe County District Court is holding hearings via Cisco WebEx Meetings to allow for audiovisual and/or audio participation. Participants may use any computer, tablet, or smartphone equipped with a camera and microphone for audiovisual participation. Parties should use the following link: • https://judicial.webex.com/ meet/D18-ARAP-Div22
• Enter your name and email address (so
4TH ANNUAL MAGIC OF THE JACK O’LANTERNS ILLUMINATES HUDSON GARDENS
SEPT. 20-NOV. 2. More than 7,000 pumpkins on select nights. Walk through a glowing trail of thousands of magnificent, can-carved pumpkins. For a unique optical experience, 3-D glasses are available for purchase. Food trucks, S’mores stations, drink stations. Tickets: magicofthejackolanters.com beginning on Wed., August 28.
THE COLO CHRISTIAN BUSINESS ALLIANCE CCBA 2024 CONFERENCE
SEPT. 27, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. “Mutuality of Business Working Together for Christ.” Speakers: Wil Armstrong, Tamra Andress, Paul Cuny. Conference Emcee, Parker Samelson. Sign up: 303-335-4217 for the conference at The Cable Center, 2000 Buchtel Blvd., Denver.
2024 COLORADO UPLIFT GUILD ANNUAL LUNCHEON
SEPT. 27, 10-11 a.m. Shop, sip & silent auction. 11-1 p.m: Lunch & Program. Columbine Country Club. Interested in attending? Call 720-982-3460 or uplifftguildvp@gmail.com.
BUTTERFLY BALL COLORADO IS COLORADO’S BIGGEST NIGHT FOR CONSERVATION
SAT., SEPT. 28. 6 p.m. Omni Interlocken Hotel, 500 Interlocken Blvd., Broomfield. Butterfly inspired formal attire. Enjoy a magical stroll through the Monarch Menagerie filled with 400 live monarch butterflies, a champagne welcome, cocktail reception, sit-down dinner, live entertainment and fashion show, and silent and live auctions. See how Butterfly Pavilion embraces the principles of People. Planet. Promise. Will showcase how we conduct global conservation projects with an equity lens in Tanzania, Mongolia, Sumatra and many other locations around the globe. For info: Alex Peterson, 720531-9362. or peterson@butterflies.org or www.butterflies.org
SOUTH METRO DENVER CHAMBER WORKFORCE SHOWCASE
SEPT. 30, 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Arapahoe Community College Summit Room. Featuring the Landscape of Internships, Creating Exceptional Workplaces, Preparing for the Future Workplace (Long Life Learning)Eradicating Ageism, Creative Benefits & Retention, Impact of Al and Chat GPT Activity. Tickets: lgerlits@bestchambler. com
UNDERSTANDING ESSENTIAL LEGAL DOCUMENTS
OCT. 2, 11:30-1:00 p.m. with a Lunch & Learn session presented by Sue Mickus, J.D. of Hackstaff, Snow, Atkinson & Griess Law Firm. Enjoy a presentation, lunch and tour of the St. Andrew’s Villager Community at 13801 E. Yale Ave., Aurora. RSVP: 720-6845913 by Sept. 30.
8TH ANNUAL 2024 WILLIAM L ARMSTRONG AWARD DINNER
THURS., OCT. 3, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Colorado Christian University Event Center. Award Recipient: Robert L. Woodson, Founder & President of the Woodson Center. The award is presented in honor of former businessman, U.S. Senator, Colorado Christian University President and former Cherry Hills Village Senator. Award based on William L Armstrongs values of faith, family and freedom. Remarks from Will & Kristy Armstrong and CCU President, Eric Hogue. Tickets: Centennial Institute/ Colorado Christian University or call 303963-3157.
CHERRY CREEK CHORALE “A CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT”
OCT. 5, Bethany Lutheran Church. Guest from D’Evelyn High School Concert Choir and the Stratus Chamber Orchestra. Tickets: cheerrycreekchorale.org or at the door on the night of the performance at 450 E. Hampden Ave., Cherry Hills Village. Preconcert talk at 6:40 p.m., concert at 7 p.m.
RODEO ALL-STAR MUTTON
BUSTIN COMPETITION OCT. 4 & 5 National Western Complex. For children 5-7 and under 55 pounds. Open to 900 kids. Visit rodeoallstar.com
MEAL PLANNING WITH CONFIDENCE WORKSHOPONLINE PRESENTATION
OCT. 9, 7-8:30 .m. Cost $5. Visit https:// bit.ly/CSU MealPlanning or scan the QR Code in the Arapahoe County advertisement in this weeks issue.
MENTAL HEALTH COLORADO 41ST TRIBUTE FUNDRAISING GALA
SAT., OCT. 12, Grand Hyatt-
2025 Honda Prologue Elite has It all
I had a Honda lawn mower that would not wear out. Same thing about Honda vehicles, they last forever. The latest Honda model is a 2024 Honda Prologue Elite all-wheel drive, the first Honda entry into the SUV all-electric car competition. Car manufacturers are doing their best to market these new cars following in the success of Tesla. The mileage is improving, and the Prologue has a range of 273 miles with two electric kWh electric motors generating 288 horsepower. Mileage is estimated at 99 MPDe in city driving and highway 84 MPDe, depending upon driving conditions. Going uphill with air conditioning the mileage can decline. Conversely, with stops, and starts, in city driving the system recharges itself at a faster rate.
Unfortunately, the 11.5 KW onboard charger
takes nine-hours to recharge the battery. With a much faster charger, time can be 30 minutes. I repeat this often, electric cars are practical, stylish, very fast, and loaded with safety features if used within the mileage boundaries. But don’t try to drive to Grand Junction on a hot day without finding a charging station in Rifle. General Motors thinks they will only produce electric vehicles by 2035. That remains to be seen. Where is all the new- found electricity going to come from?
But for now, major car companies are moving forward on electric cars of all shapes and sizes and the 2024 Honda Prologue is a solid SUV loaded with features at a $59,295 price, with all options included.
The “Mercury Silver” metallic paint blends well with the gray interior and the shiny chrome dash design. The cabin is spacious, seats heated cooled, leather trimmed seats and steering wheel with power adjustments for driver and passenger seating. An 11”
OPENING RECEPTION FOR “ETHEREAL ESSENCE” AT VALKARIE GALLERY
SAT. OCT. 19, 5-8:30pm The opening reception for “Ethereal Essence” at Valkarie Gallery, 445 S. Saulsbury St. in Lakewood. Visitors are welcome to visit the show through November 10 during regular gallery hours, Wednesdays 4-7., Thursdays 4-9:30, Fridays 4-8:30, Saturdays Noon-6 and Sundays Noon-5. www. artofjanefalkenberg.com
ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONCOLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY - 50 YEAR CLUB CELEBRATION
FRI., OCT. 25, 10:30 a.m. pre-reception; 11:45-1 p.m. Luncheon & Awards Program, Hilton Fort Collins, 425 W. Prospect Rd., Fort Collins. The class of ’74 will be inducted into the 50 Year Club. Award Winners: Career Achievement Award: Dr. Vijay Singh, ’74 and Public Service Award: Susan Campbell ’73. Registration: 800-286-2586.
COLORADO BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE VIEW FROM THE TOP: INNOVATION IN THE FACE OF UNCERTAINTY.
OCT. 23, 7:30-9:00 a.m. at the Denver Museum of Nature an Science. Featured Speakers: Bryan Leach, Founder & CEO, Ibotta; Ron Lopez, Pres., Astroscale U.S. Inc. and Anne Noonan, Pres. & CEO, Summit Materials. This event unites CEOs from America’s largest and most innovative companies to tackle the theme of “Innovation in the Face of Uncertainty.” Leaders from aerospace, consumer technology, and construction materials will share how they drive technological advancements, boost operational
digital screen gives all the driving information along with a 11.3” information and entertainment screen adjacent to each other. A phone charging station rests in front of the center console storage. Something new is the gear shift adjacent to the steering wheel with a lever to pull forward to engage reverse and drive and button for parking. Usually that left lever is for signaling or windshield washing. On my first drive it took a few minutes to find the gear shift near the steering wheel. As the week’s drive progressed, I became fond of the location of the two-gear system. Acceleration is fast. I found the ride comfortable, and the low gravity of the two-battery weight makes for great curve cornering.
efficiencies, and foster resilience amidst rapid change. Tickets: events@cobrt.com
Colorado Business Roundtable is located at 62925 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Suite 100 in Greenwood Village.
SOUTH SUBURBAN GOLF COURSE 50TH ANNIVERSARY
7900 S Colo. Blvd., Centennial. Five leagues have joined together to raise funds for “Nourish Meals on Wheels” this month. Nourish delivered more than 200,000 meals and groceries in 2023 to those in need. Concerts and karaoke nights throughout the year. Info: 303-70-5500.
DENVER LIONS CLUB MEETINGS
Meets 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 12 noon at the American Legion Hall, I-25 & Yale. Interested in joining? Call Bob, 720-3139741.
ENGLEWOOD LIONS CLUB MEETINGS
Meets 1st & 3rd Thursdays at 7:00 p/m. At Mango Tree Coffee, 3498 S. Broadway,Englewood. Info: Gail 720-3777682.
GLOBAL DOWN SYNDROME FOUNDATION “BE BEAUTIFUL BE YOURSELF FASHION SHOW
NOV. 16, 5 p.m. Zaya Biel honored as Global Ambassador and Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Awardee, Sofia Sanchez. Questions: 303-321-6277. Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel.
WHAT’S NEW?
Arapahoe County calling for people to serve on the Justice Coordinating Committee. To apply, visit arapahoeco.gov/ getinvolved
By H. Throttle
this top of the line “Elite” model suited for Colorado with all-wheel drive, heated windshield wipers, and outside mirrors. The SUV rides on 21” wheels for a softer ride and more highway loft in deeper snow conditions. The SUV had LED lights front and rear and auto dimming controls.
Honda was smart in making
The vehicle is loaded with the latest safety features, rear cross traffic alerts and collision stop controls. Also, a new feature to avoid a lane turning incident with another vehicle.
The Prologue has a 3 year/38,000-mile-powertrain warranty. Models are assembled in Ramos Arizpe, CZ., Mexico with 22 percent Korean parts, and 16 percent Mexico, with the electric motors made in Korea, and the transmissions in China. Truly an international company with a large world footprint.
Along the way you can enjoy the music from a 12 speaker BOSE radio sound system and the sunroof looking at fall season Colorado aspen leaves.
Copenhagen First
INTERESTINGPLACES A Scandinavian Sojourn
In July I had a medical conference in Stockholm. Rather than just visiting Sweden, we planned a grand adventure, six countries total in just under 3 weeks.
Describing this trip will take more than one article, so here goes.
Our first city was Copenhagen. We flew United, Denver to Frankfurt with a short layover and then to Copenhagen, the capitol city of Denmark. There are no nonstop flights from Denver, so choose your layover.
Copenhagen is a city of 1.4 million in a country of just under 6 million, similar to metro Denver and Colorado.
Copenhagen sits on the island of Zealand, interestingly not related to New Zealand. The Oresund bridge/tunnel connects Copenhagen to Malmo Sweden. Copenhagen is a green city but in a sensible way. Bicycles are everywhere with dedicated bicycle lanes throughout the city. And cyclists actually obey traffic signals!
Copenhagen has a great subway system and it’s easy to get from the airport to downtown and travel around. Uber and Google Maps worked well.
Copenhagen has an active monarchy although mostly ceremonial. We visited Christianborg Palace, home the of recently coronated King Frederik the 10th. We toured the prime minister’s personal library in the palace which he shares with the monarchy, and where he hosts foreign dignitaries. His office was just above us.
Nyhavn is a popular restaurant row along a canal dotted with brightly colored buildings. The Little Mermaid statue is a must see, although prepare to be underwhelmed as it’s quite small.
This is a great city for foodies. As we do in most cities, we took a food tour. These tours are easy to find and arrange using the Get Your Guide app.
We first visited a hot dog stand. These were popularized after World War One with vendor permits only given to the disabled. It’s topped with ketchup, mustard, grilled onions and sweet pickles. And per custom washed down with chocolate milk.
Open faced sandwiches called smorrebrod are a slice of dark rye bread topped with combinations of sliced egg, shrimp, roast beef and served with a shot of schnapps. We also sampled yummy crispy pork with local peach beer. The food was fresh, locally grown, and free of process-
ing, dyes, seed oils, and other American additives making Americans less healthy than their foreign counterparts. Listen to any recent RFK Jr interview or speeches if you want elaboration on this topic.
Aperol spritzes, although originally from Italy, are popular in Copenhagen, perfect at a sidewalk café on a warm summer evening after a dinner of schnitzel, mussels, tartare, and strudel.
We had a great two-day visit, then flew to Bergen Norway for our next adventure, a cruise up the Norwegian coast and fiords. Come back for that and the rest of our trip, with lots of fun stuff ahead!
LUNCH & LEARN
OCTOBER 2nd 11:30 AM
Ensuring that your essential legal documents are executed to align with your wishes not only protects your rights, but also takes the weight off of your children, family members, and close friends when important decisions need to be made on your behalf. Join us for this informational luncheon presented by our partner, Sue Mickus, J.D., of Hackstaff, Snow, Atkinson & Griess law firm as she explains the importance of each legal document, as well as offers tips and advice to expertly plan for your future. After the presentation and flavorful lunch, enjoy a tour of our community and see for yourself how we’ve redefined senior living.
IN THE EYES OF BRIAN Bio Retinal specialist, writer, Greenwood Village resident email: joonbug@mac.com
