Where you walk into the bank and the 3rd generation President, Brandon Berkley, is there to greet you.
Q: Next year your family will be celebrating 100 years in banking. Tell us a little bit about the history and philosophy of your bank and how that guides you today?
A: My great grandfather started his banking career in 1924 and the Berkley family has been involved in the banking business ever since. In 1961, my grandfather and his brothers purchased the State Bank of Downs, which was originally established by the Harrison family in 1892 in Downs, Kansas. I grew up in Downs and started working as a teller at the bank in high school. In 2005, I moved to Denver to establish a branch of our bank, which now operates in Colorado under the trade name Berkley Bank.
Above all, we are guided by a tradition of integrity and service to the community that started over a hundred and thirty years ago in a small town on the Kansas prairie. We intend to follow this tradition for as long as our family remains in the banking business and we are honored to be able to serve the Colorado market.
Q: What do you want readers in this community to know about Berkley Bank?
A: I think in order for people to really get a feel for what we offer they need to come see us in person at the branch. Our customers know everyone at the
bank and everyone at our bank knows our customers. You’re not just another number or transaction to us. Our philosophy is simple, really. We want our customers to be financially successful and to feel like they have a financial partner when it comes to their banking. We do that by delivering a highly personalized, small-town banking experience that provides our customers with the personal attention, flexibility and technology required to navigate today’s modern banking landscape.
Q: One on one or family sit down “financial consultations” are common at your bank? Why?
A: Since we make all of our business decisions locally here at the branch, we think it’s important for us to meet with customers in person so we can discuss their needs, analyze the situation, provide feedback to our customers and create a deposit and loan product mix that works for them. We get to know our customers, their companies, and their lives, and we strive to be a whole banking resource that allows them to focus on what matters most.
“Oh, Captain, my Captain.”
In 1989, those words launched a thousand teaching careers. The movie was Dead Poets Society, the star was Robin Williams, and the quote – from a Walt Whitman poem eulogizing Abraham Lincoln – was the dramatic high point of the classic inspirational teacher movie. That beloved genre, filled with heartwarming stories of passionate educators guiding reluctant young people to academic success and self-discovery, is a time-honored institution in film and television.
The primary draw of these movies is the shared common experience of viewers. Everyone has a favorite teacher, and most people have a story about one who made a difference, opened their minds, turned them around, and even changed their life. We all have that one class, that one year, that one teacher, that one moment which is an indelible and heartwarming memory to share. And that’s one key reason the inspirational teacher story is so popular and is remade so many times.
The earliest on-screen version of this familiar story is probably Goodbye, Mr. Chips, first made in 1939 and remade in 1969. The next two most well-known versions of onscreen teacher heroes both featured Sydney Poitier. In 1955, he starred as a tough kid and reluctant, rebellious student in the Bronx who is ultimately inspired by the tough love of his teacher. Poitier returned to the genre at the front of the classroom in 1967 as the tough love teacher who brings a group of British hooligans to education and maturity through self respect in the classic To, Sir, with Love.
The 1980s and 90s can be considered the Golden Age of the great teacher film with a seemingly endless string of heroic public servants inspiring groups of ambivalent and rebellious youth through a mixture of tough love, witty banter, and mutual respect. From Richard Dreyfus finding his true calling as a music teacher, not a musician, in Mr. Holland’s Opus to Michelle Pfeiffer and Hillary Swank playing the savior teacher to inner city youth in Dangerous Minds and Freedom Writers, every year seemed to produce another rendition of the same old story. And the inspirational, but often wise-cracking, teacher hero is not just on the big screen. Going back to the 1970s, television has seen numerous iterations of the hero Welcome back Kotter to Abbot Elementary.
The primary problem with the classic teacher movie is a predictable formula based on false narratives and unrealistic expectations. The teacher wins over a bunch of disengaged, unmotivated kids and inspires them to love learning and excel
in a very short time. That’s true even when the films are based on true stories, as in Stand and Deliver, where it appears the
teacher Jaime Escalante takes a group of underprivileged students with no math background, and in one year inspires them to take and pass the AP Calculus exam. In fact, Escalante built his program over many years with students who’d shown an aptitude but had never felt they belonged in the class.
In Dead Poets Society the students are urged to “seize the day” and “make their lives
extraordinary,” but writer Elizabeth Grace Mathew suggests “the boys were actually thriving before Mr. Keating got there.” They were, in their own small ways, rebelling as all adolescents do, but still achieving. Their inspirational teacher actually leads them to tragic results. In a New York Times column, teacher Tom Ford cautioned viewers that “It’s as if all the previously insurmountable obstacles students face could be erased by a 10-minute pep talk. This trivializes not only the difficulties many real students must overcome, but also the hard-earned skill and tireless effort real teachers must use to help those students succeed.”
The inspirational teacher stereotype has even been held up to brilliant mockery in films like Bad Teacher starring Cameron Diaz as the title character
who is motivated to push her students to success on state tests simply to fund her breast implants, which she hopes will win her a wealthy husband so she can quit the job she actually hates. In an article for The Atlantic, writer Eleanor Barkhorn actually praises Bad Teacher as “Finally, a film that takes down the destructive myth of the hero instructor.”
There is much we can learn and be inspired by through fictional teachers in film and television. There are also many destructive myths and misleading assumptions rooted in the inspirational teacher story. So, keeping in mind that these stories are first and foremost simply entertainment, we should all remember it’s never as simple as Lights, Camera, Teach!
Michael P. Mazenko is a writer, educator, & school administrator in Greenwood Village. He blogs at A Teacher’s View and can be found on Twitter @ mmazenko. You can email him at mmazenko@gmail.com
Everyone has a favorite teacher, and most people have a story about one who made a difference, opened their minds, turned them around, and even changed their life.
I love Saturdays; this past weekend was a football dream, or nightmare. I’m a CSU graduate and always like to see them compete against CU. Many years ago when I was a senior at CSU the Glick led team went down to CU and drubbed the Buffaloes. Gary Glick was the star and went on to play professional football along with his brother Freddy. I have four children, two went to CU and two went to CSU, a split on cheering for the two teams.
BY BOB SWEENEYI’m sorry that the Rams got carried away with penalties, deliberate or accidental; they were fired up. I’m not sorry they lost the game because that would have really destroyed the CU Buffaloes claim to fame with coach Prime and his son. CU has the makings of a championship season and a loss to Colorado State would have created havoc with their ratings. It was an all-time historic game to watch, right to the last seconds. Overall, I think the state won with the national publicity that broke all records for national coverage. CSU fought hard.
***
I was emotionally distressed over the Bronco game on Sunday afternoon. It looked like the Broncos were for real, jumping out to a 21-3 early lead. The second half turned out to be a disaster and the result was another close game loss. The last minute “Hail Mary” might save some jobs, but now at 0-2 it really is looking bad for the team, the coach, and the season. Hope
springs eternal and Russell Wilson can still heave the ball a long way, but his scrambling has something to be desired. This may be his last hurrah, but he does play better than last year. He needs some better protection from the offensive line; given time he can hit those receivers. It was a tough, bitter loss for Bronco fans who long for those victories, week after week. It looked like we would win easily last Sunday, at least for the first quarter of the game. Those John Elway years were memorable.
***
Gerri, and I, trecked down to the grand reopening of the Westin Denver Downtown Hotel and Resort that has been remodeled. Fond memories of The Palm restaurant located on the main floor of the hotel. I remember seeing Barry Hirschfield’s caricature on the wall with many well-known Denver political figures and celebrities. The Palm is now history and Marriott has spent millions remodeling the 500-room hotel that is modern and upbeat with a very friendly, well-trained staff. The hotel is part of the Marriott chain that operates the Gaylord Resort and The Brown Palace venues and a vast worldwide network of luxury hotels.
I also have fond memories of Colorado Press Conventions held at the hotel. Lastly, the American Ireland Fund had several banquets honoring outstanding Irish figures such as Pat Bowlen. The Irish events were largely organized by Pat Broe
of Irish descent, who has gained prominence in the Metro real estate world and his love and ownership of railroads. Pat offices in
tion has become successful and somewhat peaceful. The fund aided arts and educational programs, including co-education programs for both Protestant and Catholic children to attend school together.
***
I made a special visit to the Englewood Letterpress Depot Museum operated by veteran printer Tom Parson. He has taken the old Santa Fe railroad depot along the
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Cherry Creek where he is expanding his real estate footprint. Maybe it is time for the Irish to rise again at the newly remodeled Westin Hotel. The fund helped bring peace and prosperity to Ireland. The divided Irish na-
He has gathered a vast array of ancient printing machines that for decades printed newspapers, signs, handbills, and business cards. He has all this regalia stored in the lower level of the building and is in the process of remodeling the upstairs offices. His museum is a 501-C-3 and donations can be sent to his address at Englewood Depot, P.O. Box 799, Englewood, Co. 80151. Visit the Depot and see how the printed word was put on paper for centuries.
When filling up my gas-guzzling, high-carbon-footprint car, fuel costs more than twice the amount it did two years ago. When I go to the grocery store, it cost much more to buy the identical items as a few years ago.
The first example demonstrates an artificial scarcity brought on by Federal intervention. In this case, lack of drilling permits and gas pipelines. This commodity is made scarce by a regulation and therefore the cost per unit goes up. Gas and oil is still in the ground, it’s just that our government has decided to block production and transportation. This inflation is artificial.
The second example, cost of groceries, is a different case. These groceries cost more because the value of the dollar has declined. Its not due to scarcity, but devaluation. Our US Dollars, on a per unit basis, are
worth less than before. What changed?
The Federal Reserve and Treasury Department made a fateful, and hopefully not fatal, decision in 2008. They colluded to print over $8 Trillion new US Dollars in an arcane sleight of hand called Quantitative Easing or QE. This is the beginning of the devaluation of the US Dollar.
The Supply of Money, like any commodity, is subject to excess or scarcity. In this case, the Fed Reserve created an extreme
excess of dollars and thereby devalued every other dollar in circulation. It’s why your cost of food, clothes, concerts, and services, is so high now.
Seeing a pattern yet? The source of inflation, in the majority of cases, is federal action, not markets. And if inflation is caused by government action, then government can solve it? Really, would you trust a thief to replace your stolen valuables? Then why do we trust the federal reserve to fix the problem they created?
The Feds answer to excess dollars in circulation is not to reduce the amount of excess dollars in circulation, and thereby increase the value of every other dollar. Which would rapidly reduce the cost of commodities. Rather, the federal solution is to raise interest rates to crush the private economy. It doesn’t make sense.
Herein lies the crux of the matter. Our government can be relied on to do one thing: increase the size, scope and power of the government through its bureaucracies. I understand that people who work and prosper in government want more control. I just don’t appreciate that their control comes at the cost of private citizens’ freedom. Neither should any of us.
This is a stark example of the reason for our Constitution. This founding document recognized that a government is necessary and that, in highly limited areas, it should have tremendous power, like the military or federal law enforcement. But the majority of the Constitution is directed at controlling the federal government in order to preserve the rights, freedoms and responsibilities of the individual.
Continued on page 11
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Reverend Martin Niemoller
“In Germany, the Nazis first came for the communists and I didn’t speak up because wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the Jews and didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists and didn’t speak up because wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn’t speak up because was a Protestant. Then they came for me and by that time there was no one left to speak for me!”
2020 Member
It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.
– Mark Twain
Women’s Guild hosts A Precious Tea at Cherry Hills Country Club
Fundraiser benefits A Precious Child – helping families via programs, initiatives and action
At its regular meeting on August 7, the GV City Council unanimously agreed to enter into a contract with Ting Internet LLC to install optic Fiber to the Premise (FTTP) across the City of Greenwood Village. The project is expected to take three years to complete. Digging in the right-ofway to install the FTTP will begin this month on the city’s east side. On September 15,
it was announced that Sundance Valley will be the first neighborhood in which the new service will be available to residents who wish to subscribe to it.
GV District One Council Member Dave Bullock leads the city’s Infrastructure Committee, which, like the city’s other two standing committees, is comprised of four city council members. Bullock has been looking into options to maximize the quality of high-speed internet to GV residents for the past few years. After it was determined that fiber optic cable was the best
way to “future-proof” high speed internet access, Ting submitted a bid to provide it and, after discussion, the city accepted it.
According to a press release from the city:
• Ting has committed to deliver “up to one gigabyte per second download and upload speeds simultaneously;”
• Greenwood Village has committed to pay Ting up to $5 million if it meets its installation timetable.
• Once it is available, Ting will offer its service to GV residents for a guaranteed price of $89/month “for five years…and indefinitely waive connection fees for all residents.”
At the August 7 meeting, Patrick Mulhern, Ting’s director of public policy and network engagement, talked about Ting’s “100% direct fiber for reliable and lightspeed connectivity,” its 24/7 customer service, and its ability to bring not one, but two-gigabyte connections both upstream and downstream for $89/month.
OPEN
THIS DICK TANNER DESIGNED EXECUTIVE HOME IS A SYMPHONY OF STYLE, QUALITY, VOLUME, AND LIVABILITY. ITS UNIQUE FLOORPLAN INCLUDES TWO STUDIES AND A LUXURIOUS GUEST BEDROOM ON THE MAIN FLOOR. WITH ITS SPACIOUS ROOMS, EXQUISITE FIREPLACES, AND EVERY IMAGINABLE AMENITY, IT IS TRULY IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN!! FROM ITS PERCH OVERLOOKING THE VERDANT PRESERVE, A NATURE PRESERVE IN PRESTIGIOUS GREENWOOD VILLAGE, ITS OVER 10,000 PLUS SQUARE FEET OF SPACE, INCLUDING ITS WALKOUT LEVEL, OFFERS AMENITIES AND PRIVACY THAT ARE RARE, EVEN IN THIS UPSCALE COMMUNITY. WITH ONE OF THE LARGEST FENCED YARDS, THE OWNERS HAVE CREATED A VIRTUAL PRIVATE OASIS ON THIS HEAVILY TREED 3/4-ACRE SITE. WITH FIRE PITS AND OUTDOOR KITCHENS ON THE MAIN AND LOWER LEVELS AN EXQUISITE WATERFALL, A POOL AND HOT TUB ONE STILL HAS THE USE OF THE OLYMPIC SIZED POOL, TENNIS COURTS AND WALKING TRAILS OF THE EXTRAORDINARY PRESERVE COMMUNITY. WITH 2 STAIRCASES TO ALL LEVELS, DRAMATIC VOLUMINOUS ROOMS WITH EVERY AMENITY IMAGINABLE, BRAZILIAN CHERRY FLOORS A FABULOUS STATE OF THE ART GOURMET KITCHEN, A WINE CELLAR, EXERCISE ROOM, EXTENSIVE STORAGE AND AN INTEGRATED THEATRE ROOM... WHY LEAVE HOME?
$4,995,000
He also told the council that, “Typically, when we enter a market, market forces take over and you see higher speeds and lower costs for everyone. The incumbents… lower their prices and improve their services.”
In addition to its residential service, Mulhern also said Ting will offer “standard small business rates,” as well as a “dedicated Ting website for Greenwood Village for placing orders and customer service with contact information and live support.” He also noted that the company has received 89% favorable customer service scores over the past 12 months.
GV City Manager John Jackson told The Villager that the city looked at lifestyle changes that include working from home in high-tech fields, telemedicine, stock trading, and education as examples of why there is a need for reliable higher speed internet for GV residents. Fiber internet, he explained, uses fiber-optic cable containing glass fila-
ments instead of copper wires to transport data to and from a computer, and the glass filaments use light signals that are much faster and more reliable than traditional cable internet, which uses coax cable.
Ting will need to place its fiber-optic cable underground in the right-of-way throughout the city, but Jackson expects the digging to be minimal and Ting has given the city assurances it has put funds aside to fix any problems it causes during the installation.
GV District One City Council Member Paul Wiesner told The Villager, “Fiber optic is the best way to get internet into the home because of its capacity and speed. Cable can never catch up.” He continued, “It’s hard to get companies to compete against Comcast to bring fiber optic cable to all GV residents. The further the houses are apart,
the more expensive it is to do it. This will give homeowners a choice and bring in competition to Comcast, resulting in better service and cheaper rates. Comcast will lower its rates and over time, fiber optic is best.”
Wiesner and Jackson both believe it is well worth the $5 million GV has committed to the project, which includes the city getting its own standalone fiber-optic system to connect all its traffic cameras, traffic lights, and soon-to-beinstalled license plate readers, along with other technology, to systems in its maintenance facility at 10001 E. Costilla Avenue, as well as City Hall, where its finance operations, community development staff and inspectors, municipal court, and police department are housed.
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The weather was perfect for watching 75+ chalk artists create masterpieces while listening to live music throughout the Streets at SouthGlenn on Saturday, September 16. An estimated 5,000 eventgoers enjoyed the beautiful day and were invited to vote for their favorite art in one of three categories (Kids’ Choice, People’s Choice and Artist’s Choice). Congratulations to the winners!
Thank you to all the talented artists who participated and those who voted. We’re already looking forward to next year.
And the winners are…
People’s Choice
Maria Chavez, “The Glader”
Kyra Libeski, “Bubba”
Kyley Flinn, “Beetlejuice”
Kids’ Choice
Kyra Libeski, “Bubba”
Josh and Kat Chow, “Mario World”
Susan and Alice Crum, “Cat Box”
Artist’s Choice
There was a tie for first place.
Susan and Alice Crum, “Cat Box”
Kyra Libeski, “Bubba”
Maria Chavez, “The Glader”
THANK
Curtis
www.artonthegreencolorado.com
Arts Center thanks the City of Greenwood Village, the talented artists, bands, food trucks, sponsor table and art enthusiast supporters for attending! See you next year!Demeri Flowers Michael Morris SheRa Kelly Liz Covert Lee Reedy Gisela Boderke Marlene Polmear with daughter Lexi Kathy Friesz Anastasia Mangold Laurie DunnPeterson Chris Stevens and Pari Moghadam Bob Doyle and Sue McKelvy
Q: Dr. Dusty, you felt it was important for our readers to know that September is Fall Prevention Awareness Month. Why is that?
A: Yes, I do feel it is an important topic for everyone to be aware of because statistics show that our risk of falling increases as we get older, and one in four people age 65 or older fall each year. Another scary fact is that falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries. As we know, falls will often lead to broken bones and our bones just don’t heal as quickly as we get older, so they are harder to recover from. Injuries related to falls create a financial burden as well, with billions of dollars spent annually on medical costs related to falls.
Q: Wow, I can definitely see why this is a topic that we should be talking about. But what do falls have to do with you, as an audiologist? I thought your focus was on treating hearing loss.
A: Audiologists are actually trained to diagnose and treat disorders of the auditory (hearing) system as well as the vestibular (balance) system. So preventing falls is something we deal with on a daily basis. It is obvious that someone who is dizzy or feeling off-balance is more likely to fall. But what might surprise some people is that hearing loss is also a significant risk factor for falling. In fact, people with even mild hearing loss are nearly three times as likely to fall, and that risk increases with greater degrees of hearing loss.
Q: Interesting…I always thought that hearing aids were just meant to help people hear better. But are you telling me that hearing aids can actually reduce our risk of falling?
A: Well, kind of. But I would change your statement to say that properly treating hearing loss can reduce our risk of falling. There are a few reasons why hearing loss increases our fall risk. The main one is that when we have a reduction in our hearing, we are unable to hear subtle cues in our environment that might alert us to variations in our surroundings. For example, when I’m near the sliding glass door that leads out to my patio, I can tell if the door is open or closed, even with my eyes shut, because I can hear the sounds outside if it is open, or I can hear the sounds inside reflecting off of the glass if the door is closed. These soft auditory clues are always around us, helping us be aware of our immediate environment. If we can’t hear these soft sounds, or we hear them inaccurately (for example, if we have more
hearing loss in one ear than in the other ear) we have to rely on other senses, such as vision. And unfortunately, our sense of sight doesn’t get any better as we age which just adds to our increased fall risk.
Q: OK, that makes sense. But what do you mean by “properly treating hearing loss?”
A: Simply getting hearing aids isn’t the magic solution to treating hearing loss. First, it is critical to have a professional audiological evaluation before getting hearing aids. This allows us to examine your entire auditory system, from your outer ear all the way to your brain. In addition to showing us your hearing profile, this evaluation will also tell us if there are other factors that could be contributing to an increased risk of falls. Second, not all hearing aids are created equal, so we help to choose the devices that are most appropriate for your lifestyle and your type of hearing loss. Third, the hearing aids need to be properly fit to your ears physically (they don’t do much good when they are hanging out of your ear!). Fourth, they need to be properly fit to your ears acoustically (there are special measurements that allow hearing care providers to ensure that the hearing aids are delivering the proper amount of volume to your ears). And finally, proper hearing loss treatment includes lots of education, counseling, and follow-up visits for fine-tuning the devices. People who bypass these steps by purchasing overthe-counter (OTC) hearing aids or buying them online are running the risk of improperly treating their hearing loss. At best, this means that they wasted their money and time for no benefit. At worst, improper treatment can actually increase the risk of falls by wearing devices that don’t fit well physically and may be set too softly, too loudly, or imbalanced.
Q: I definitely see how properly treating hearing loss can help to reduce our risk of falls. What else can people do to prevent falls?
A: It is important for people to be aware of their overall health status and work to improve areas of weakness. The main health challenges that contribute to increased fall risk are balance, hearing or vision difficulties, muscle weakness, fatigue, and stress. We already discussed the importance of proper hearing loss treatment. It is equally important to make sure that vision loss is being professionally addressed. If there are balance concerns, it is important to be seen by an audiologist or Ear,
Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist for balance and dizziness testing and treatment recommendations. Some physical therapists specialize in vestibular therapy which is a treatment for balance disorders. We all know that keeping our muscles strong and flexible is good for every aspect of our lives, and this includes fall prevention. Most experts recommend daily stretching and some kind of weight-bearing exercise such as walking or lifting light weights. Fatigue and stress both contribute to increased fall risk by making us less aware of our surroundings, so it is absolutely essential that we get those 7-8 hours of sleep each night and find ways to reduce our stress levels. Read books or watch shows that make you laugh. Take time to meditate, or just sit quietly and be thankful for the blessings in your life. And surround yourself with people who lift you up.
Q: That sounds like good advice for all of us! Is there anything we can do in our homes to reduce the risk of falling?
A: Absolutely! The big risk factors in our homes are poor lighting, uneven floors, and steep stairs. The lighting is probably the easiest issue to address. We should always turn the lights on when we have to walk around the house at night (like when we get up to go to the bathroom). Some people worry that this will bother their partner, but I’m pretty sure that having a spouse with a broken hip is more bothersome than a light being on for a few minutes in the night! If you have dim lighting in your house, replace the bulbs with brighter ones. Uneven floors can often be fixed or modified in some way. Rugs are often the culprit for falls (I know this one from experience!!) so get rid of rugs that slide around easily or that don’t lay perfectly flat on the floor. And of course, if you can avoid steep staircases, that is the best option. Otherwise, make sure there is a sturdy handrail and good lighting in the stairway. If you are at high risk of falling, I recommend adding an occupational therapist to your care team as they can assess your environment and help you make the necessary accommodations.
BY PATRICE MATTESONCookbooks have been part of the culinary landscape for thousands of years, even if they were in the form of stone tables dating back to fourth century AD Rome. In the United States, their rise was attributed to both industrialization and growing literacy.
American Cookery, by Amelia Simmons, is the first known cookbook written by an American, published in Connecticut in 1796. Until then, the cookbooks printed and used in the thirteen colonies were British.
The older the cookbook the more it will use basic ingredients and have more variations on the recipes with fewer ingredients. In the 50’s, the Betty Crocker Picture Cookbook was the most popular. It is said to be the most-sold cookbook in American history. You might find meat stews, creamed tuna, meat loaf, corned beef and cabbage and fried veal cutlets.
Why are cookbooks important? I enjoy looking through old cookbooks even though I am not known as an amazing cook (or even a good cook). They allow us to dive into traditions and culture. There is something about reading about table manners, table etiquette, or the importance of breaking bread together. In one 1936 cookbook they state, “it is our social duty to act in a most courteous manner and contribute all that we can to the decorous gaiety of the meal.”
In today’s world I would say we need to enjoy meals together, engage in conversation, and be with our friends even if it is a casual meal. One of my friends handed out old cookbooks to several of her friends and had everyone bring a recipe from that cookbook to share. She said it was a very fun evening! I’m sure they had some interesting dishes.
Who could you invite over? I hope you would be willing to try something new, maybe a recipe from a vintage cookbook. Come by the shop if older cookbooks pique your interest!
At least once each year, Colorado U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, the 9th most senior woman and the 25th most senior member overall in the 435-person House of Representatives, holds a one-hour casual sit-down meeting with around half a dozen reporters and editors of local newspapers, where she talks about what is happening in Washington, D.C., and responds to questions on any subject, including, this year, what is going on with our major league sports teams. DeGette has been a Member of Congress since 1996.
On August 31, in her downtown Denver office, DeGette talked about “Member Directed Spending,” now in its third year since returning in March 2021 after a ten-year ban on what was previously called earmarks.
In its new incarnation, this practice has multiple institutional safeguards to prevent abuse. The Brookings Institution, a nonprofit nonpartisan organization dedicated to conducting in-depth research to improve public policy and governance at all levels, has called this program important because it allows elected officials who know their districts’ needs best to direct funding where it is most needed in a way that is fully transparent as to the source of each request, why it is being recommended, its supporters and beneficiaries.
DeGette explained that potential projects are submitted to her office by
Continued from page 4
The freedom of the individual gives rise to free markets, capitalism. I raise this point because, in the examples above, the government has has taken courses of action that harms the private economy and by extension, the individual.
For instance, the source of inflation is an excess supply of dollars or an artificial scarcity of a commodity. The money supply issue is directly tied to government spending. The Fed Reserve and Treasury created these QE dollars so that congress could spend more money on their favorite pork deals.
What they forgot to tell you is that you, the individual, will pay for that spending because it is based on debt. Debt that will hit the individual through in-
recognized community organizations. After her staff vets them, they are submitted to the Appropriations Committee of the Congress, where they are independently vetted again, before they make their way through the Appropriations process. She said, “In all three cycles (2021-2023), I’ve focused my efforts around projects targeted at solving homelessness, including funding for mental health services at Denver Health.” She also talked about a project at Warren Village for which she got funding that will provide early childhood education for homeless single-parent families, $3 million she got for a new shelter for homeless youth being built by Urban Peak, and $2 million for the City of Denver as seed money for their acquisition of the Stay Inn Hotel to house the homeless.
flation (dollar devaluation) and the cost of the debt, which is interest on the Treasury Bonds issued under QE. Never trust a thief to replace your stolen items…
The solution is free markets, the individual’s right to choose and private business, and that requires a government that adheres to the controls placed upon it by our Constitution. So, please think before you ask a thief to replace your stolen items or a bureaucrat to solve your problems.
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.
The Congresswoman discussed new challenges placed on funding these projects by the Republican majority in the House, noting that they have banned funding for anything related to the arts. DeGette believes that, “In Denver, the arts are part of our vibrant and diverse community.” She expressed disappointment that she could not even submit a request to help fund a new building for arts education being built by highly renowned Denver dance artist Cleo Parker Robinson.
Some of the organizations DeGette named for which she has requested financial assistance are Coalition for the Homeless, Habitat for Humanity, and Revision, for an urban farm to address food insecurity.
The Villager asked DeGette about the recent news that Medicare would be able
Today, I attended a meeting and was enlightened on the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
Taxpayer: that’s you and me! We have to pay taxes in order to live in community where everyone benefits. This is the American Way! I get it! I like it!
Bill of Rights: Passed in 1992 TABOR (the Taxpayer Bill of Rights) accomplished two major objectives. It was created as an oversight to balance the budget and keep the control in the voter’s hands and not the Governor. After meeting our commitments, a refund was sent to us. This was an excellent way to keep the control in our hands, the people.
Don’t be fooled when in the fall of 2022, the Governor announced he was sending all of us a check out of “the goodness of his heart.” That $720 check was not because of the Governor but be -
to negotiate drug prices on 10 identified popular drugs, but could not begin to do so until 2025. She told us, “Under the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare was directed to negotiate prices on 10 specific drugs by 2026 and it would go on from there… We allow negotiation on drug prices right now in the Veterans Administration and several other areas of the government. I think it should be done throughout the government. So, this is a start, but it’s not every place we need to go.” She also noted the cap on insulin cost of $35/vial for Medicare recipients that was also included in the Inflation Reduction Act and shared that she was working with colleagues in the Senate as well as the House on both sides of the aisle to get the $35/vial price for insulin extended to everyone who needs it, since it is a life-saving drug.
DeGette’s position as a senior Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, through which 40% of all legislation must pass, makes her the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee that writes bills about energy policy, including climate issues. Should the Democrats regain control of the House in 2024, she shared that she will chair that subcommittee which would, “put me in a great position to forward all the work I’ve done over the years to combat the climate crisis, expedite our move toward renewable energy, and improve the grid.” DeGette pointed to a bill she has been working on for several years with the State Department and the President’s climate expert, “that will take us to zero percent carbon emis-
cause of the bill that was passed called the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
Today the Governor is exerting his desire for control and power in attempting to eliminate the Taxpayer Bill of Rights as we know it today. Proposition HH is a tax relief plan on the November Ballot to lower property tax rates for the next ten years. It would eliminate the current six-tier TABOR refund mechanism and establish a flat refund beginning in tax year 2023 for all eligible taxpayers. Sounds good, right? Read the fine print!
Currently, the state of Colorado is in dire straits! Our legislative body is dominated by one party. The Governor is developing a reputation with scare tactics to control his Democratic Legislators. Thank you to those Democratic leaders who defied the recent Land Use Bill and followed their own conscience and voted the Bill down. They did the right
sions by 2050, which is what all the scientists say we need to do to bend the curve.” She has gotten support for the bill from multiple stakeholders, from Xcel Energy to the Sierra Club, but is still working to get support from Congressional Republicans. Still, she reported, “Almost all the Republicans in the House now realize that climate change is real and we’re going to need to do something about it.”
As the co-chair for two decades of the Pro-Choice Caucus with U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, DeGette said, “The (U.S. Supreme Court) Dobbs decision has not just impacted states like Florida and Texas, where abortion is now pretty much illegal. It has a spillover effect in Colorado, where people are coming from other states to get health care services.”
She noted that the ProChoice Caucus has been working to pass a bill, The Women’s Health Protection Act, to codify Roe vs. Wade, pointing out that it is a policy “supported by a majority of Americans.” Nevertheless, under House rules, it is extremely difficult to get a bill heard without the approval of the Speaker of the House, currently Republican U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who has thus far refused to call it.
Listening to cable news, one hears that the pro-life caucus is equally committed to passing a national anti-abortion bill.
DeGette, now in her 14th consecutive term in the Congress, made no mention of retirement and no one asked about it.
fmiklin.villager@gmail. com
thing and they should be commended for that. No legislative body should be dominated by one party. This is very unhealthy! Is there room for discussion, compromise and resolution that benefits everyone? No! I want to live in a society that encourages, supports and respects all interest and viewpoints. Our Legislature is a powerful entity and should represent all aspects of a community. Too much power and control is dangerous in any society.
I encourage you to research Proposition HH and vote this “power play” down. More importantly, if the spirit leads you, I encourage you to get involved. Let’s together, bring balance, integrity and common sense back to our Government.
Kathy Turley Former ProTem & City Councilwoman Centennial
Marlis Earl Smith, age 91, of Cherry Hills Village, CO passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 10, 2023. Marlis, also known as “Senior” and “Granddad” and most recently and adoringly as “Papa” was born on August 25, 1932, in Lubbock, Texas, the son of Alma (Greene) and Robert Earl Smith.
Survivors include sons, Marlis, Jr. (Karyn) and John Timothy (Wendyann); daughter, Melinda Haymons (Chris); 10 grandchildren: Mikele Alexandra Oldani (Anthony), Mariah Noelle Smith, Marissa Belle Smith, Forrest Jackson Smith, Theodore Albritton Smith, Allison Lilla Smith, William Henry Smith, Alexandra Carol Haymons, Reed Christopher Haymons and Tyler Daniel Haymons; and a great-grandchild, Gianna Marie Oldani. Marlis was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Shirley, and his brother, Albert “Smitty” Smith of Abilene, Texas.
Funeral Services were held at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at Saint Gabriel the Archangel Episcopal Church, 6190 E Quincy Ave, Englewood, CO 80111, The Rev. Christopher Ditzenberger, Rector, officiated, followed by a private interment in Olinger
dream of owning his own airplanes, which he proudly called his “air force.”
Marlis was a “Fiji” in college as a member of the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta, and he continued to support his fraternity brothers not only at Texas Tech, but also at Colorado College, Colorado School of Mines and as a National Trustee of the Fraternity’s Educational Foundation.
Chapel Hill Cemetery. At Noon, a Celebration of Life reception for family and friends was held at Olinger Chapel Hill Cemetery, Mountain View Room, 6601 S Colorado Blvd, Centennial, CO 80121.
Marlis graduated in 1954 from Texas Tech University (where he also met his future wife, Shirley Shields, on a blind date) with a degree in Petroleum Geology and as an ROTC cadet. The married couple was then stationed at Otis Air Force Base in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where Marlis served as navigator aboard Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star aircraft.
After completing his military service with the rank of captain, the couple moved back to Lubbock, Texas and started their family with the birth of Marlis, Jr. In 1965 the young family moved to Denver, Colorado where Marlis was employed as District Geologist for Amoco Corporation. In 1968 Marlis became Chief Geologist for Davis Oil Company and continued there until 1980 when he founded Four-Ten Exploration, an oil and gas exploration partnership. Marlis continued in the oil and gas industry for the remainder of his life.
Marlis also had a keen eye for real estate. He and Shirley enjoyed spending time with family in up-andcoming locations from back in the day including Vail, Santa Fe, and Wailea.
Marlis had a life-long passion for automobiles and aircraft and achieved his
In his prime, Marlis enjoyed playing tennis with family and friends; he and his long-time doubles partner were known affectionately as “Fearless” and “Faithful” on the court. Marlis hosted numerous enjoyable events over the years as a member of The Village Club and Cherry Hills Country Club.
Marlis along with Shirley were passionate supporters of arts organizations. Opera Colorado, The Santa Fe Opera, Central City Opera, the Denver Symphony, the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music were some of his favorites. He also loved the art of collecting. He was proud to be a part of the Denver community and a long-time resident of Cherry Hills Village.
Marlis enjoyed people and especially liked going to lunch or dinner with his friends and family. He was also an accomplished “grillman” on his bar-b-que and shared a passion for Northern New Mexican cuisine with Shirley that continues to this day with his children and grandchildren. Marlis loved dogs, especially his pugs, and was always happy mastering his gardening skills with them by his side. He made friends easily and was a confidant to many.
Marlis will be dearly missed by his family and friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Gabriel the Archangel Episcopal Church; Christian Living Communities, 9570 S Kingston CT., Suite 300, Englewood, CO 80112; or the charity of your choice. Marlis was interned with full military honors at a ceremony by the United States Air Force.
Let me be clear: I did not graduate from, or ever take classes at, the University of Colorado. I don’t have a CU vanity license plate, either.
If anything, I’ve rooted for Colorado State more often than CU, to support my son-in-law, who’s a CSU alumnus and vocally loyal to the Rams.
So, keep my neutrality in mind as you read this.
I watched Saturday night’s Rocky Mountain Showdown to the very end. It was spirited and entertaining, a great battle befitting its title.
For most of the game, the Rams were the more intense, aggressive team. CSU virtually dominated, at least until the Buffs got desperate.
Interviewed during the first half, Rams coach Jay Norvell dismissed the mounting number of penalties his team was drawing by saying, with some seeming agitation, “It’s a rivalry game.”
As if that justified what I consider numerous dirty fouls.
The most egregious was the cheap shot by defensive back Henry Blackburn during CU’s third possession of the first quarter.
After a Shedeur Sanders pass intended for two-way sensation Travis Hunter was incomplete along the sideline in CSU territory, Blackburn intentionally put his shoulder into Hunter’s chest, flattening him. Hunter was out of bounds; the play was over.
Eventually Hunter was taken to a hospital, and word Sunday was that he’d miss at least a couple games. CU did not disclose his injury.
A 15-yard personal foul penalty was assessed for the flagrant hit, but Blackburn should have been thrown out of the game.
Three plays later, Xavier Weaver caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Sanders to tie the score at 14-14. As he took steps after catching the ball in the end zone, the defender gave him a shove in the back.
Weaver narrowly missed the goal post as he fell; no flag, but another cheap shot.
For the game, Norvell’s team was flagged 17 times for 182 yards. Nine of those penalties could have caused injury.
They included two chop blocks, two blindside blocks, another illegal block, two unsportsmanlike conducts (including the one that sent Hunter to the hospital), one grabbing the face mask and one targeting, which resulted in the ejection of CSU’s strongest pass-rusher in the first overtime period and preceded a touchdown pass that
put CU ahead. Perhaps fittingly, CSU’s final major penalty, one of the blindside blocks, nullified a Rams touchdown that would have put them a two-point conversion away from tying the Buffs in the second OT.
I would expect a rivalry game to be intense. Bragging rights mean a lot, especially to players, alumni and fans.
But there’s a line, or should be, between hard-hitting, intense play (clean football), and winat-all-costs, try-tohurt-the-other-guy behavior.
How else do you explain NINE physical fouls with the potential to injure opposing players?
I don’t believe, for a minute, that it’s just coincidence that Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders—CU’s two best players—were among those who suffered illegal blows.
I’ll give Jay Norvell credit for transforming his team during a bye week following its debacle in the season opener against Washington State (a 5024 shellacking at home). If he can get the same kind of performance from his players the rest of the season (minus the bad penalties), CSU should win a lot of games.
Much has been made about Coach Prime’s remaking of the Colorado roster as well as his theatrics.
But I think three points are particularly worth making after his team’s third straight victory.
Two holdovers made significant contributions. Tight end Michael Harrison caught seven passes for 76 yards, two touchdowns and the two-point conversion that sent the game into overtime. Safety Trevor Woods had four unassisted tackles and one assist, plus the game-ending interception in the end zone.
Shedeur Sanders was sensational once again, completing 38 of 47 passes for 348 yards, throwing for four touchdowns, and leading the Buffs on a game-tying 98-yard drive in one minute and 30 seconds at the end of regulation.
Deion Sanders, for all of his Coach Prime showmanship, declined to criticize CSU or its head coach for crossing the “rivalry” line with its play. “I ain’t got time for that,” he said. “I’m on to bigger things.”
The other positive to come out of this super-charged environment is that, after the hardfought game, students from both schools and other rabid fans, conducted themselves appropriately. Police reported only a few minor post-game incidents.
Denny Dressman is a veteran of 43 years in the newspaper business, including 25 at the Rocky Mountain News, where he began as executive sports editor. He is the author of 15 books, nine of them sports-related. You can write to Denny at dennydressman@comcast.net.
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I am living in a world of transitional change. My mother passing in February changed the rhythm of my days as I called her every morning on the way to the office just to check in. The house I moved into after a brutal divorce, which was a place of healing and peace for 27 years, just sold. The succession plan the Center for Relationship Team and I have been planning and preparing for the last 3 years is here. Starting October 1, 2023, I will no longer be the president of this amazing organization I founded over two decades ago. Some days I feel am doing well
and excited to retire and other days I feel like I am being held together emotionally by duct tape.
Seeking wise counsel for this stage of my life, I learned that workers who continued to work past retirement experienced better health and well-being. Research suggests that work provides a sense of purpose and social connection which are essential for human flourishing.
I am healthy, curious, joyful, smart and have something yet to do to make the world a better place. I know I will enjoy not working 12 hours a day but playing golf or
traveling will get old and will not satisfy my need to expand my horizons and use the gifts, talents, and time I have left to make a difference. It is in my DNA!
As God so often does, a new opportunity surfaced. I was recently offered the position of being the President of NARME, (The National Alliance for Relationship and Marriage Education). The mission of NARME is to improve the well-being of children, adults, and families by elevating skills-based relationship and marriage education (RME) as a social norm. Strengthening marriage and families are important to the health of our nation as the root cause of many social chal-
lenges emanate from the breakdown of the family.
Relationship Education, as opposed to therapy, has the potential for creating positive social change which is essential at this time when America can not longer afford reparative endeavors in the area of violence and crime prevention, homelessness, substance abuse, depression, suicide, school failure, and the crisis of loneliness and isolation (outlined in a new report released by the Us Surgeon General).
The NARME Board of Directors is allowing me to work half-time and remotely so I can travel and continue to build alliances across the country as well as opportunities to increase the funding for marriage/
fatherhood grants and other initiatives that strengthen families. The research concerning this issue is abundant and robust. It is my new job to inform foundations and congressional appropriators about this root cause data.
I am working diligently to let go of the rhythm of my life being focused on building the brand of the Center for Relationship Education and embracing the transition to NARME and the opportunity to effect sustainable change by making marriage, fatherhood, and family formation cool! Opening myself to new opportunities and embracing change is a primer for life transitions.
ARAPAHOE County, Colorado 1790 W LITTETON, BLVD LITTETON, CO-80120
PUBLIC NOTICE OF PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME
Case Number: 2023C100640
Petitioner: SHAMSULLAH SHAHAB - SOMAN SABAH SHAHAB
Public Notice is given on September 21, 2021 that a Petition for a Change of Name of a Minor Child has been filed with the Court.
The Petition requests that the name of MARYAM SHAHAB be changed to MARYAM SELINA SHAHAB
By Clerk of Court/Deputy Clerk
Published in The Villager
First Publication: September 21, 2023
Last Publication: October 5, 2023
Legal # 11285
ARAPAHOE County, Colorado 1790 W LITTETON, BLVD LITTETON, CO-80120
PUBLIC NOTICE OF PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME
Case Number: 2023C100644
Petitioner: SHAMSULLAH SHAHAB - SOMAN SABAH SHAHAB
Public Notice is given on September 21, 2021 that a Petition for a
Change of Name of a Minor Child has been filed with the Court.
The Petition requests that the name of SADAF SHAHAB be changed to SARAH SADAF SHAHAB
By Clerk of Court/Deputy Clerk
Published in The Villager
First Publication: September 21, 2023
Last Publication: October 5, 2023
Legal # 11286
ARAPAHOE County, Colorado 1790 W LITTETON, BLVD LITTETON, CO-80120
PUBLIC NOTICE OF PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME
Case Number: 2023C100642
Petitioner: SHAMSULLAH SHAHAB
- SOMAN SABAH SHAHAB
Public Notice is given on September 21, 2021 that a Petition for a
Change of Name of a Minor Child has been filed with the Court.
The Petition requests that the name of HEELAL SHAHAB be changed to YOUSUF HEELAL SHAHAB
By Clerk of Court/Deputy Clerk
Published in The Villager
First Publication: September 21, 2023
Last Publication: October 5, 2023
Legal # 11287 ARAPAHOE County, Colorado 1790 W LITTETON, BLVD LITTETON, CO-80120
PUBLIC NOTICE OF PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME
Case Number: 2023C100638
Petitioner: SHAMSULLAH SHAHAB
- SOMAN SABAH SHAHAB
Public Notice is given on September 21, 2021 that a Petition for a Change of Name of a Minor Child has been filed with the Court.
The Petition requests that the name of BELAL SHAHAB be changed to BELAL AIDEN SHAHAB By Clerk of Court/Deputy Clerk Published in The Villager First Publication: September 21, 2023
Last Publication: October 5, 2023
Legal # 11288
NOTICE OF VACANCIES ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE DOVE VALLEY METROPOLITAN DISTRICT TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly to the electors of the Dove Valley Metropolitan District of Arapahoe County, Colorado (“District”).
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 32-1-808, C.R.S., that vacancies currently exist on the board of directors of the District. Any qualified, eligible elector of the District interested in filling a vacancy and serving on the board of directors should file a Letter of Interest with the board of directors of the District by no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 2, 2023, at the address of District General Counsel below.
Forms of Letters of Interest are available and can be obtained from the Dove Valley Metropolitan District, c/o Craig Sorensen at McGeady Becher P.C., 450 E. 17th Avenue, Suite 400, Denver, Colorado 80203; Phone: 303-592 4380; Email: csorensen@specialdistrictlaw.com.
DOVE VALLEY METROPOLITAN
DISTRICT
By: /s/ Elisabeth A. Cortese
Attorney for the District
Published in The Villager
Published: September 21, 2023
Legal # 11289
NOTICE OF HEARING ON PROPOSED 2024 BUDGET AND 2023 BUDGET AMENDMENT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the proposed budget for the ensuing year of 2024 has been submitted to the INOVA Aero Metropolitan District (“District”). Such proposed budget will be considered at a meeting and public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District to be held at 11:00 a.m. on November 9, 2023 via telephone and videoconference. To attend and participate by telephone, dial 1/669-254-5252 and enter passcode 920451 with meeting number 160 468 0430. Information regarding public participation by videoconference will be available at least 24 hours prior to the meeting and public hearing online at https:// inovaaeromd.com.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an amendment to the 2023 budget of the District may also be considered at the above-referenced meeting and public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District. A copy of the proposed 2024 budget and the amended 2023 budget, if required, are available for public inspection at the offices of Spencer Fane LLP, 1700 Lincoln Street, Suite 2000, Denver Colorado. Any interested elector within the District may, at any time prior to final adoption of the 2024 budget and the amended 2023 budget, if required, file or register any objections thereto.
INOVA AERO METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
By: /s/ Tom N. George, Legal Counsel
Published in The Villager
Published: September 21, 2023
Legal # 11290
NOTICE OF VACANCY INOVA AERO METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
Pursuant to Section 32-1-808(2) (a)(I), C.R.S., notice is hereby given that there are vacancies on the Board of Directors of INOVA Aero Metropolitan District, in the City of Centennial, Arapahoe County, Colorado (the “District”).
Any eligible elector of the District who is interested in appointment to the Board of Directors may contact the District’s attorney, Tom George of Spencer Fane LLP, 1700 Lincoln Street, Suite 2000, Denver, CO 80203, via email at tgeorge@ spencerfane.com. The Board of Directors of the District may fill said vacancies 10 days after the date hereof.
By: /s/ Thomas N. George
Legal Counsel
Published in The Villager
Published: September 21, 2023 Legal # 11291
NOTICE OF PARTIAL RELEASE OF RETAINAGE
NOTICE is hereby given that South Metro WISE Authority of Arapahoe County and Douglas County, Colorado, will make a partial release of retainage payment at Greenwood Village, Colorado, on Wednesday, October 11th, 2023, at the hour of 10:00 AM to Jennifer Smith of Glacier Construction Company, of Centennial, Colorado for all work done by said Contractor in construction of the Binney Connection Pumping and Treatment Package, performed within South Metro WISE Authority, Arapahoe County and Douglas County, State
of Colorado.
Any person, copartnership, association of persons, company or corporation that has furnished labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender, or other supplies used or consumed by such contractors or their subcontractors, in or about the performance of the work contracted to be done or that supplies rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used in the prosecution of the work, and whose claim therefor has not been paid by the contractors or their subcontractors, at any time up to and including the time of final settlement for the work contracted to be done, is required to file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid, and an account of such claim, to South Metro WISE Authority, c/o Kate Bandel, on or before the date and time hereinabove shown for final payment. Failure on the part of any claimant to file such verified statement of claim prior to such final settlement will release South Metro WISE Authority, its directors, officers, agents, and employees, of and from any and all liability for such claim.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SOUTH METRO WISE AUTHORITY
By: Secretary – Board of Directors
Published in The Villager
First Publication: September 21, 2023
Last Publication: October 5, 2023
Legal # 11292
DOUGLAS COUNTY
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
HEROES GALA
SEPT. 21. Event to raise awareness and support to Douglas County first responders, Armed Forces members, veterans and the nonprofit partner organizations that support them. Sterling Ranch Development Company is the presenting sponsor. Event at the historic Denver Botanic gardens Chatfield Farms (8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Rd., Littleton. Info: https://www.dccf.org/ events/2023-heroes- gala.html. Tickets 720-733-2656
DENVER REPUBLICAN
WOMEN MEETING
SEPT. 23, 9 a.m.-Noon. Donuts & coffee provided Independence Institute, 727 E. 16th Ave., Denver. A call effort for NO on Prop HH. RSVP: denver republican women@gmail. com
CENTRAL CITY OPERA
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
S EPT. 24, 2:30 p.m. at Boettcher Concert Hall Young Artists Orchestra in collaboration with Central City Opera & Performing Arts Academy. Tickets: colorado symphony.org or call 303-623-7876.
CENTENNIAL CITY COUNCIL
DISTRICT 1 MEETING
SEPT. 26, 6-8 p.m. with Robyn Carnes and Candace Moon. Meet at the Centennial YMCA Center of Generations, 6972 S. Vine St., Suite 366, Centennial. Update from Xcel Energy and Ting update on progress in Dist. 1, among other topics.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR SOUTH SUBURBAN 2024
BUDGET
SEPT. 27, OCT. 4 Provide input on projects and priorities. Meetings to be held in the Board Room at the Sports Complex (4810 E. County Line Rd., Littleton. Info: Call 303-7985131. Mon.-Fri from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
BEMIS PUBLIC LIBRARY
PRESENTS ONE BOOK ONE LITTLETON AUTHOR RECEPTION & KEYNOTE WITH ROBERT JUSTICE
SEPT. 29. Members read the same book and engage with the author. Tickets to the keynote and book signing are free. Tickets to the catered reception are $20. Tickets: BemisLibrary.org/OneBook.
AUTISM SPEAKS INVITES
COLORADO TO WALK 2023
SEPT. 30 at Infinity Park, 950 Birch St., Glendale. Info: autism speaks. org/walk
CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE POLICE FOUNDATION CAR
SHOW & SILENT AUCTION
SEPT. 30, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Fundraiser at Cherry Hills Village City Hall- 2450 E. Quincy Ave. Unique cars on display. Winning Categories are: Best of Show, Best Antique, People’s Choice and Most Likely to be Pulled Over. Registration form and $50. display fee due by Sept. 15. New exciting Silent Auction this year! Live entertainment and refreshment vendor. No admission cost for spectators. Info: Mark Griffin 303324-0965 or markgriffin@msn.com
UPLIFT GOLF TOURNAMENT
OCT. 2 at Cherry Creek Country Club. Get the scoop: coloradouplift.org/ golf
RODEO ALL STAR RODEO COMPETITION
OCT. 6-7. NEW Denver dates. Three rodeo competitions and a Friday night All-Star Concert.. Also the RAS Mutton Bustin’’ Sheep Stampede. Registration open. Tickets: rodeoallstar.com
INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE SEMINAR “SPEAKING UP AND SPEAKING OUT!”
SAT., OCT. 7 9:30 a.m.-Noon. Cost: $10. Koelbel Library, 5955 So. Holly St., Centennial, Meeting Room B. 2 1/2 hour seminar facilitated by Kathleen Chandler and Sheri Tuffield. Learn how to Speak out in the name of Liberty! Info: Kathleen@i2i.org
PARIS STREET MARKET
OCT. 7 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Aspen Grove, 7301 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton. Open-Air, Vintage, Boutique, Artisan.
TESORO CULTURAL CENTER
FREE LECTURE
OCT. 14, 4 p.m. Lone Tree Hub, 8827 Lone Tree Pkwy. “The Widowed OnesBeyond Little Big Horn by Chris Ends.
OCT. 15, 1:30 p.m. at Goodson Rec Ctr., 6315 So. Univ. Blvd., Centennial.
UPLIFT GUILD FASHION SHOW & MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON
OCT. 20 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Columbine Country Club. Fashion show sponsored by local boutiques. Proceeds support students and staff by sponsoring new vans, hygiene products for kids in need, and more. Shop with local vendors. RSVP: Nicole at nwirwtz@coloradouplift. org
SPINA BIFIDA FALL FESTIVAL
OCT. 21,11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Food, music, games, crafts & demos. The event is free but pre-registration is required at https://form.jotform.com 232486099729169. Main sponsor: Rotary Club of Aurora. At Douglas County Fairgrounds, Castle Rock.
CITY OF CENTENNIAL SIP IN CENTENNIAL
OCT. 21, 1-5 p.m. Centennial Center Park, 13050 E. Peakview Ave. Combining Brew-N-Que and Whiskey Warmer - beer & liquor tastings, food trucks, yard games and live entertainment. Free to attend and open to all ages.
MENTAL HEALTH COLO.
40TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE FUNDRAISING GALA
SAT., OCT. 28, 5:30 p.m. Formal attire. Denver Center for the Performing Arts Seawell Ballroom, 1350 Arap. St., Den. Email: ashaw@ mentalhealthcolorado.org
CHERRY CREEK SCHOOL DIRECTORS ELECTION
NOV. 7, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Three directors will be elected to serve 4-year terms in Director Districts A, B & C for CCSD No. 5. Eligible electors must reside in each District respectively for at least 12 months preceding the election.
Hyundai has designed a super-sharp sedan/truck mix that provides a rear small truck bed with four door front and rear seating sedan. A very exceptional and creative design that drives as a turbo-charged car with a semi-truck body.
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The performance with a 2.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is exceptional, linked to an 8-speed “wet-clutch”
transmission with paddle shifters and normal and sport modes. This is a perfect outdoor vehicle with a covered rear bed that can accommodate recreational and camping equipment. The all-wheel drive adds to the Colorado
winter weather challenges.
The Santa Cruz rides on sport 18” alloy wheels, has side roof rails and a sliding power sunroof. The rear storage area has a Tonneau secure cover and a sheet molded composite bed with storage
compartment under the bed with side compartments.
The cabin hosts H-Tex heating and cooled front seats with driver lumbar support. For the great outdoors there is a 115V power outlet in the bed. The vehicle is complete with a long list of safety features along with navigation and dynamic voice recognition. This combo/ truck/car has it all with spare tire, LED lights, and remote engine start for those cold winter mornings.
Fuel economy is rated at 19 in the city, and 27 on the highway. I averaged over 23 mpg overall. The UBS smart
phone port was welcome with a pocket storage area for the phone.
Hyundai offers one of best warranties in the industry with a 10- year/ 100,000-mile power-train warranty and fiveyear/50,000-mile new vehicle warranty.
Manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $39,850, that includes a long list of comfort and conveniences options.
This is really an ingenious new model and really fits well into an active Colorado lifestyle as a work/pleasure vehicle. Best of all is the road performance with the turbo power and paddle shifters where this vehicle is a real road warrior with safety, comfort, and shear driving pleasure.
BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER
In Greenwood Village, the tax dollars just keep rolling in.
On September 15, the GV City Council held a six-hour meeting to review and discuss a 202-page document that contains the amounts and detailed explanations of its proposed revenues and expenditures for the coming year.
As we do every year, The Villager attended the meeting, for which no minutes are kept. It is also not recorded by video or even audio, although council members can participate remotely if they prefer.
The proposed 2024 city budget lists expected revenue for the coming year of $68.4 million. Sales and use taxes account for over 60% of that total, making GV “especially reliant” on that source of funds.
At this time one year ago, as GV got ready to adopt its 2023
budget, citywide revenue for the coming year was expected to be $59.7 million, 15% less than what is now projected for 2024. That number turned out to be low. As of today, projected revenue for 2023 is $66.5 million, $6.8 million more than the amount budgeted, but still under what is expected in 2024.
For perspective, we looked back five years to before the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, GV’s adopted budget was $52.9 million, thus annual city revenue has gone up 29% over the past five years that included the entirety of the COVID-19 pandemic.
GV’s proposed expenditures in 2024 total $69.8 million, which exceeds the money the city expects to bring in by $1.4 million, slightly depleting its total fund balance, which is projected to go from $58 million on December 31, 2023 to $56.6 million on December 31, 2024, still robust by any standard.
The city’s unassigned general fund balance, which is the
amount it has in the bank (invested to bring in appropriate returns) that is not reserved pursuant to any legal requirement or self-imposed policy, is projected to be $32.7 million as of December 31, 2024.
Over the past four years, the city has increased salaries and benefits, which comprise 63% of its general fund expenditures, to recruit and retain employees in what it views as an increasingly competitive environment.
Budgeted personnel costs for year: Amount
2021 $26,630,000
2022 $27,620,000
2023 $30,100,000
2024 $32,000,000
Prior to 2024, the increased costs for salaries and benefits were not accompanied by any new staff positions. Next year, three new positions are being added in the police department to manage the data gathered by the automatic license plate readers GV is in the process of installing throughout the city. The total
cost for those positions is just over $300,000 hence the budget increase for 2024 includes $1.6 million for higher salaries and increased benefits.
Some of the larger line items included in GV’s proposed 2024 $20 million capital projects budget have been ongoing for several years while others are new. A few of the larger capital projects, outside of regularly scheduled road and pavement maintenance, and their total expected costs include: Project Total cost for 2024 and previous years
City Hall Interior Remodel
$5,311,178
Belleview Ave & Fairfax Lane
$2,211,199
northbound to westbound acceleration lane
Orchard Rd & Quebec St
$1,399,999
southbound right turn lane
Marjorie Perry Nature Preserve Well
$1,900,000
As part of its ongoing evaluation of needed traffic improve-
ments that are included in the capital projects budget, GV has been working in concert with the Cherry Creek School District (CCSD) for the past four years to analyze how to improve traffic flows around the multi-use campus that includes district administrative buildings, a school bus storage yard, and three schools, Belleview Elementary, Campus Middle School, and Cherry Creek High School. The impact area extends from Belleview Avenue north to Union Avenue and Yosemite Street east to Dayton Street. These discussions are continuing as CCSD evaluates the ongoing functional use of the multiple buildings that comprise this campus, some of which are over 50 years old.
fmiklin.villager@gmail.com
Speakers: Dusty Jessen, audiologist and owner of Columbine Hearing Care and Derek Smith, physical therapist and owner of Roaming Rehab
Location: Columbine Hearing Care, 5808 S. Rapp St, Ste 102, Littleton 80120
Date: Friday, September 29th Time: 11:30am-12:30pm
