Lone Tree Voice March 28, 2024

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Douglas County School District Assistant Superintendent Danny Winsor and Superintendent Erin Kane advocate for the $66 million mill levy override ahead of the 2023 election. At the time, the district estimated it would cost taxpayers $200 for a $1 million home and a new analysis shows that taxes for a $1 million home went up $194 for the district.

did it cost homeowners to raise teacher pay?

T-Mobile cell tower OK’d for park

Castle Rock approves

Butterfield Crossing site

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Castle Rock Town Council has given the green light to the construction of a new T-Mobile communications tower in Butter eld Crossing Park amid mixed feelings from surrounding residents.

e council’s unanimous approval of the tower follows an earlier rejection of a plan that would have put a tower in Bison Park.

e communications tower will be a 35-foot-tall structure attached to the Butter eld Crossing Park’s pool locker room and will house T-Mobile 5G technology. Under a lease agreement, T-Mobile agreed to pay $3,500 per month for the rst year with a 3% annual increase. e lease term is ve years with the option to extend.

Most of the comments from residents at the March 19 council meeting were in opposition to the tower,

citing possible health concerns and the potential to harm property values. e closest homes are roughly 470 feet from the tower. Meadow View Elementary School is also near the park.

“Given its proximity to an elementary school, a playground and all of the homes surrounding it, there could be a very large amount of wireless radiation signals all day everyday,” Abbey Meraz said. “My main concern is health, but I’m also concerned about home values.”

According to the American Cancer Society, there is no strong evidence linking radio frequency from cell towers to health impacts, but more research is needed to know the longterm e ects. e Federal Communications Commission says radio frequency from communication towers is “typically thousands of times below safety limits.”

Some neighbors said they supported the tower because of the need for more dependable cell service.

“I carry my cell phone in a holster on my belt because when you’re 85 years old, you want to be sure that you have access to help if you need it,” Fred Walhof said. “If I have to get help for (my wife), I want to be able to get help and for that I need a reli-

able signal.”

Council member Laura Cavey, who works for Verizon, said she empathized with residents’ concerns, but worried about the public safety impact of poor access to cell service.

“I think we have a safety issue for folks who are older or maybe they have a loved one with some kind of health issue,” Cavey said.

She added that she felt the design of the tower is conspicuous enough to blend in and not a ect the character of the area.

A previous plan to build the tower in Bison Park was shot down after outcry from residents in that area raised similar concerns. However, the council felt building the tower in Butter eld Crossing Park was a better t because the tower will be attached to an existing building and the park is already home to another cell tower.

While other sites in town were explored, town sta and a representative for T-Mobile said there is limited space in Castle Rock to build communications infrastructure because of the ridgelines and terrain.

As part of the construction of the tower, T-Mobile will also build an accessible pathway near the pool locker rooms.

A rendering shows the T-Mobile cell tower attached to the left of the pool locker building at Butterfield Crossing Park. Castle Rock Town Council approved the tower amid mixed feelings from residents. IMAGE COURTESY OF TOWN OF CASTLE ROCK

Here Are My Thoughts About the Media Coverage of the Recent NAR Settlement

It has been interesting to observe how the mainstream media has covered the recent $418-million settlement involving the National Association of Realtors (NAR). In addition to the monetary settlement (which can be paid out over a four-year period), NAR agreed to end its rule requiring the inclusion in the MLS of compensation for brokers representing buyers.

It should be obvious by now that there is little understanding of why that rule existed and how it benefitted sellers to incentivize brokers outside the listing agent’s office to show and sell their homes.

ing or showing agents on clients who never sell or never buy.

It’s not a unique concept. Cruise lines and resorts, among others, offer a commission to travel agents to get them to promote their cruises and resorts, etc. Car dealers pay auto brokers who produce a buyer who otherwise wouldn’t visit their showrooms. (That’s how I bought my 2012 Chevy Volt back when I needed help finding that brand new model. I couldn't have found the one dealer who had one in transit to Aurora without my broker’s help.)

Similarly, offering a commission to other members of the MLS is how listing agents maximize the exposure of their sellers’ homes to the buying public. That exposure is compounded by the fact that every brokerage and consumer-facing website gets its listings from the MLS.

The public and the media have long quoted 6% as the “standard” real estate commission — as have some brokerages offering 1% listing commissions, with small print saying “plus co-op commission to buyer’s agent.”

That error continues and is compounded now with the media stating that 3% is the “standard” co-op commission paid by sellers to the agents representing buyers.

Worse, some media have been reporting that NAR mandates the infamous 6% commission, which is not at all true. Neither was a 3% co-op commission ever mandated, merely that some offer (as low as zero) had to be included in every MLS listing.

A reader sent me an analysis ordered by one of the Federal Reserve branches, which really got me laughing. A page from that analysis is reproduced at right. The purpose of the study was to calculate the reduction in agent earnings and the gain in social benefit if the “standard” 6%/3% system were modified. Not factored in at all was the time spent by list-

Archive of Past Columns Is Online

My July 20, 2023, “Real Estate Today” column carried the headline, “Unlike Most Professionals, Real Estate Agents Work for Free Most of the Time.” In it I made the following observation: “As it is, the average member of the National Association of Realtors earns less than $50,000 in gross commission income per year — before accounting for car, phone, MLS fees, Realtor dues, computer hardware & software, E&O insurance, and more.”

Business doesn’t come to most agents sitting in their office. They have to make themselves known, publish community newsletters in their “geographic farm,” hold open houses that may generate no sale or new clients. Myself, instead of prospecting, I spend an equivalent percentage of my time writing this column, which I then pay to have published in 23 weekly newspapers and the Denver Post. As my favorite quote at the bottom of each ad says, I “concentrate on giving and let the getting take care of itself.”

Successful real estate agents find other ways to give to their communities and thereby earn their patronage.

Yes, on occasion I will get an easy payday — a buyer who comes to me with a specific home to buy, we make an offer and close the transaction. Bingo! But that only compensates for the great amount of work done serving other buyers and other sellers plus those members of the public who ask for advice or a home valuation and never give me the opportunity to earn a pay check. I don’t resent that at all — it’s part of my giving, knowing I will be compensated in other ways. It actually makes me happy. (Call me anytime!)

Too many people enter our profession under the same misconception that I have described above, that real estate is an easy career to earn lots of money. They watch TV shows about million-dollar

listings or they see me driving my Tesla and other agents driving their BMWs and Mercedes. But we are the exception.

The public’s general impression is that real estate is a high-paying career. Keep in mind that NAR membership is optional, so agents who are willing to pay roughly $500 every year to be a NAR member are most likely the ones who take the business seriously, although many members work part-time in real estate because they can’t make ends meet solely from their commission income.

The most recent survey of NAR members included the following facts regarding median gross compensation and expenses (emphasis in original:

Realtors with 16 years or more experience had a median gross income of $80,700 — down from $85,000 in 2021 — compared to Realtors with 2 years or less experience that had a median gross income of $9,600 — an increase from $8,800 in 2021.

The largest expense category for most Realtors was vehicle expenses, which [averaged] $1,710.

I have estimated that the 80/20 rule applies as much to real estate agents as it does to other professions, although I think it’s closer to 90/10. Namely, 10% of us earn 90% of the money.

(Golden Real Estate’s broker associates and I are in the 10% because we work hard and smart.)

Too often, new agents spend a year

spinning their wheels, making cold calls and spending $10,000 or more on tools of the trade only to end the year with one or no transaction, so they give up, having lost that investment and wasted a year of their professional life. It’s really sad to watch.

It takes time to get established in the real estate profession. My broker associates and I have passed that tipping point and will renew our licenses when they expire, unlike the majority of new agents.

Some real estate agents are quite upset about the part of the settlement which removes buyer agent compensation from MLS listings beginning in mid-July, assuming the court approves the settlement.

A Wall Street Journal article posted on March 20th describes how buyers are getting off the fence before the new rules take effect in July requiring them to pay their own agent. That makes sense to me; it also means that now is a good time for potential sellers to get off the fence and list their homes for sale.

How Will This Affect Buyers & Sellers?

Not having co-op commissions on the MLS will require agents to talk to each other before submitting offers, to clarify whether the seller is offering compensation to the buyer’s agent. I discuss that and the other effects of the NRA settlement in the posting of this article at http://RealEstateToday.substack.com, where you can also ask me questions.

Boulder Home Backing to Pond Is Back on Market

Over the past two decades this column has appeared in the Denver Post, and during that time I’ve written about every conceivable topic related to real estate, You can search that archive, listed by headline and downloadable with a single click at www.JimSmithColumns.com $1,250,000

This fantastic 3-bedroom, 2-bath, 2,350sq.-ft. home at 820 Racquet Lane is at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in east Boulder’s Meadow Glen neighborhood, backing to a community pond and Boulder’s outstanding biking trail network. Foothills Parkway, Baseline Road and Hwy 36 are nearby. Inside are hardwood floors throughout, a beautiful staircase with custom wrought iron railing, and lots of sunlight thanks to the open floor plan. There are two bedrooms with walk-in closets on the main level while the primary bedroom is located on the 2nd floor with a huge walk-in closet and ensuite bathroom. The kitchen features custom cherry cabinets, granite counters and a topnotch Viking refrigerator and range. There are two living rooms (main floor and upper floor) and a dedicated home office. Outside is a large and private fenced patio. The 2car garage also has a spacious attic for extra storage. Get more details and take a narrated video tour at www.GRElistings.com, then call listing agent Chuck Brown at 303885-7855 to request a private showing.

Jim Smith

Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851

Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com

1214 Washington Ave., Golden 80401

Broker Associates:

JIM SWANSON, 303-929-2727

CHUCK BROWN, 303-885-7855

DAVID DLUGASCH, 303-908-4835

GREG KRAFT, 720-353-1922

AUSTIN POTTORFF, 970-281-9071

KATHY JONKE, 303-990-7428

“Concentrate on giving and the getting will take care of itself.” —Anonymous

Forecasts leave legislators short of what they expected

BY BRIAN EASON

THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado budget writers may be headed back to the drawing board. Slower population growth and rising fee revenue could trigger upwards of $300 million more state taxpayer refunds than expected in the current budget year, under economic forecasts presented to the Joint Budget Committee in mid-March.

The latest forecasts leave top lawmakers well short of what they expected to be able to spend in

next year’s budget, with less than a week left to finalize the 2024-25 spending plan before it has to be submitted to the General Assembly for consideration.

Under Colorado Legislative Council Staff estimates, the budget committee could need to cut as much as $267 million in spending requests to balance the budget for next fiscal year. Even under a scenario presented by the governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting, lawmakers could face $150 million gap without major budgetbalancing maneuvers.

State economists present revenue forecasts to the legislature every three months. But the March update takes on special importance, because the estimates de-

The Colorado State Capitol Building.

PHOTO BY ERICA BREUNLIN/THE COLORADO SUN

termine how much the legislature has to work with when it adopts the annual budget, known as the long bill.

A return to normal could be even more challenging than expected — but not because of any economic turbulence.

Instead, the budget will be squeezed primarily by two seemingly minor factors.

One, U.S. Census estimates now say the state’s population grew by less than the state’s demographer had anticipated. That means the state revenue cap under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, which tracks inflation and population growth, can only increase by 5.8% this budget year rather than the 6.1% legislative forecasters were expecting.

Two, the state is now expected

to collect $185 million more in road usage fees and retail delivery charges this year than last, under the legislative staff estimates.

Taken together, the two forecast changes mean state lawmakers could have to issue larger than expected TABOR refunds to Coloradans next year, leaving the state with fewer General Fund tax dollars to spend on public services. Under the legislative staff forecast, Colorado would have a $1.8 billion TABOR surplus this budget year, while the governor’s office expects $2 billion in excess revenue. That would translate to a nearly $400 refund for the average single-filer in 2025 under the current refund formula, which is tiered based on income. This year, all single-filers received $800.

This story was printed through a news sharing agreement with The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonprofit based in Denver that covers the state.

Leaders envision future of Arapahoe Community College

State system seeks input for new strategic plan

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Armed with sticky notes and markers, a group of people gathered in a large room at Arapahoe Community College.

Over the course of the evening, the attendees were asked to share what they think the college is doing well and what it could do better.

It was the third stop of a statewide listening tour led by the Colorado Community College System, which is seeking input as it develops a new strategic plan.

During the conversation at ACC, attendees shared a desire for more collaboration among colleges and highlighted the exible scheduling and personal support that ACC o ers its students. Attendees discussed current nancial models and ways to strengthen cross-college collaboration through virtual programs.

CONSTRUCTION

CCCS Executive Vice Chancellor Diane Du y said the system’s board created the tour to get in touch with those who will be most a ected by future plans.

“How can we be responsive and develop strategies and goals and measures if we don’t listen to what learners are saying, what employers are saying?” she said. “So this is like a gold mine to us.”

CCCS oversees the state’s 13 community colleges, including ACC. It is governed by a state-appointed board and serves an estimated 115,000 students annually through its colleges and programs, according to its website.

e system’s ten-year strategic plan comes to an end in 2025 and the system is looking at its next era.

ACC is a magnet for students from Littleton and beyond. Almost half of its student body in fall 2022 resided in Douglas County, the most recent data available from the college’s institutional research report.

And over 26% of its students that semester lived in neighboring Arapahoe County. Another 12% were from Je erson County and other students even attended the school from as far away as Denver, Elbert, Adams, El Paso, Weld, Boulder and

Park counties.

CCCS’s team, along with facilitators hired for the event, met with students and employees during the day on March 18. In the evening, they broke out the sticky notes and pens for ACC’s community partners.

Attendees included industry partners that run apprenticeship programs, as well as representatives from local nonpro ts, schools and workforce programs. Several ACC and CCCS board members and sta and a Littleton resident also attend-

Several industry partners said they were happy with ACC’s willingness to create programs and collaborations based on what industry partners want.

Jaime Pearson from CommonSpirit Health Mountain Region said ACC sta was instrumental in developing the company’s Medical Assistant apprenticeship program, which helped ll the healthcare group’s need for people in that role.

“ ey took the lead at that time, based on what we were needing as employers,” she said.

Todd Lambert, superintendent at Littleton Public Schools, said he hears many stories from parents who say the college helped their children navigate obstacles, challenges and unique circumstances.

“ ere’s a thread there for us that we hear coming back through, which is … Man, are they appreciative that someone took an interest in their kids,” he said.

Several attendees also spoke highly of the college’s exible scheduling, which makes it possible for students to take classes on top of full-time jobs and/or parenting responsibilities. e college also got praise for helping students in need.

“ is school cares about its students enough to have scholarships and get grants to provide scholarships,” Patrick Holwell from Arapahoe/Douglas Works Workforce Center said. “If the kids are hungry, they have a food bank. is is huge, because life gets in the way sometimes of your education.”

When discussing how the CCCS could improve its operations and service, creating more systemwide programming was a common theme. Every community college in the state has di erent resources and

Laura Reinhold, a member of the Arapahoe Community College Foundation Board of Directors, writes her ideas on a sticky note at the listening tour meeting on March 19.

PHOTO BY NINA JOSS

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What did it cost homeowners to raise teacher pay?

Numbers are in following 2023 ballot question

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When homeowners review their property tax bills this year, they’ll see an increase for the Douglas County School District, which voters approved in November to increase teacher pay.

At the time voters lled out their ballots, the district estimated the cost for the $66 million mill levy override would be $200 for a $1 million home. An analysis by district ofcials shows that cost estimate was close to spot on.

For a $1 million home, the increase in property taxes for the school district is $194 comparing 2022 to 2023.

Superintendent Erin Kane said some property owners were confused by the mechanics of school funding. While the 2023 mill levy voters approved increased property taxes, the cost of previous school

district mill levy overrides dropped and that helped to o set the increase.

In addition, the district’s bonds payments fell year over year, reducing what homeowners will pay.

e net change in mills from 2022 to 2023 equals the $194 increase for a $1 million home, Kane said. A mill is equal to $1 per $1,000 of assessed home valuation.

“ e bottom line is the mills went up 2.939 mills,” she said.

Because the district’s mill levy overrides are a set dollar amount, the cost lowers over time as more homes are built and additional homeowners are taxed and contribute.

“Each year as there are more homeowners sharing in that xed amount, the amount we’re assessing on each homeowner will reduce,” Kane said.

Chief Financial O cer Jana Schleusner said this year was unique for property tax calculations because of the big rise in assessments of home values and the response by state legislators in a special session. In Janu-

ary, legislators approved a reduction in the assessment rate after voters shot down Proposition HH, a similar measure on last November’s ballot.

Before the election, the district calculated cost estimates based on a 35% increase in home valuation, but home valuations ultimately rose 24% statewide.

“ ere were a lot of moving pieces with the assessed valuations that we had never seen before,” Schleusner said.

With the additional funding from taxpayers, the school district provided teachers an average 9% pay increase for the 2023-24 school year, something teachers had long fought for and that advocates said was overdue as district teachers earned less than their counterparts in neighboring districts. Starting pay for teachers is at $50,182, up from $45,209, which was the lowest in the metro area.

e district is discussing returning to voters in 2024 for a bond to build new schools and address current maintenance problems and building upkeep.

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o ers di erent programs, several industry partners said. In some cases, this makes it challenging for them to partner with the right programs, because they may be physically far away.

Stephen Shepard from the Denver Metro Building Owners and Managers Association suggested using virtual tools to share curriculum between and across the colleges.

“I think there’s this economy of scale that can happen if the curriculum at the 13 community colleges is the ‘curriculum of community college’ — and no matter which one is your home base, you can plug in to some of these to make it a more ro-

bust experience,” he said.

Holwell said this type of collaboration across the colleges would especially bene t students in rural communities, who often have to leave their areas to nd speci c educational programs.

Julie Beggs, the vice president of economic mobility and workforce innovation at ACC, said this type of cross-college collaboration would require adjustments in nancial models to incentivize it.

CCCS board member Karen McNeil-Miller agreed.

“ e nancial model and budgeting and planning model would have to completely change,” she said.

For example, if several students from Pueblo Community College took a class virtually at ACC, Pueblo would get the revenue from the student’s tuition, but ACC would carry

the cost of the instructor.

Regarding economic mobility, Sasha Easton from Arapahoe/Douglas Works Workforce Center said it’s important to ensure those who are on public assistance at ACC are aware of the “cli e ect,” which is the sudden decrease in public bene ts that can occur with an increase in earnings, as de ned by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

“ ere’s a lot of tools available … but just so we’re not setting the students up for failure as they embark on a new career pathway,” she said.

Jill Hawley, Vice President of Philanthropy at a philanthropy organization called Gary Community Ventures, said the strategic plan should mention innovation.

e draft guiding principles for the CCCS strategic plan focus on economic mobility, education for

all, the colleges being a “partner of choice,” the “power of 13” colleges and empowered talent.

“When you read those ve principles, it misses this idea of innovation, of cutting edge, of being on the forefront,” she said. “It feels, in the way you read it, as kind of the same and sort of responsive — as opposed to pushing, leading, cutting edge, forward.”

ACC President Stephanie Fujii said the listening session is valuable not only for the overall system, but for the college.

“(We) appreciate your involvement, your engagement, your expertise and your willingness to come and share,” she said.

e CCCS listening tour will continue through the end of April, visiting each community college in the system.

Mom, sheri want stricter tra c laws, more safety after boy’s funeral

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Alexander “Alex” Mackiewicz’s mom spoke for the rst time publicly in detail about her son’s sudden death earlier this month. ough she describes herself as a “very private person,” she said people needed to know about the 13-year-old Highlands Ranch boy whose life was cut short and expressed hopes that changes will happen to make roads safer and laws stricter so that others will be spared from a tragedy like the one her family is experiencing.

“If I remain private, his death, his loud scream of death, will not be

heard and something has to happen,” Alex’s mother, Victoria Cegielski, said in a press conference at the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce on March 21.

Alex, whose funeral was two days before the press conference, was just a kid, Cegielski said. His love for his family was beyond measure. Just as he loved a hug from his mom, she loved to kiss his “perfect little nose.”

In a car two days before his death, Cegielski watched as the sun shone on her son’s face, illuminating his freckles. e last time she saw her son was when he said he was heading o to school, on March 6.  at morning, Cegielski received a

noti cation that her son was recorded absent from school around 8 a.m.  Cegielski looked at the location of his phone and it showed up at the Venneford Ranch Road and Highlands Ranch Parkway intersection. She immediately went there and, as she arrived, saw the ashing lights of police and re vehicles. Her walk to the intersection turned into a run and Cegielski found a deputy and asked if they were there for a boy on a “onewheel” scooter. e deputy’s face dropped.

“Everything else is in a blur,” said Cegielski. “I don’t know what was happening.”

Tra c investigators with the sheri ’s o ce alleged about a week later that the driver, Ruben Morones, 52,

was in the far-right lane of the three lane parkway and had failed to stop at a red light, hitting Alexander, who was crossing at the Venneford intersection with the walk signal activated. Investigators said he was thrown from the single-wheel electric board, landing against the curb line east of the intersection. Alex died at the scene.

A witness told Cegielski that Alex was smiling just before he began to cross the street.

“I sure hope he died with that smile on his face without knowing what happened to him,” said Cegielski. “I pray to the Lord that it was just a light turned o .”

Alexander “Alex” Mackiewicz’s mother, Victoria Cegielski, and stepfather, Owen Cegielski, hold hands after speaking about the loss of their son in a press conference on Thursday, March 21 at the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce Substation in Highlands Ranch.

PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

SEE SAFETY, P12

“My

A plea for change

e family wants to establish a permanent memorial at the intersection to silently remind both drivers and kids to be cautious and mindful that lives are at stake.

e family also wants to work with Douglas County to improve the “horrible” intersection and parkway where Cegielski has stood every morning since her son’s death only to see cars apparently driving well in excess of the posted 45 mph speed limit.

Douglas County Sheri Darren Weekly, who held back tears at times during the press conference, assured Cegielski and others that the sheri ’s o ce will work with the family to improve safety, including meeting with local legislators to seek potential changes.

“We are not gonna let this be a headline for a day or two and then move on until the next child dies,” said Weekly. “We’re going to do what we can to make change now.”

ere have been eight crashes at the Venneford-Highlands Ranch Parkway intersection in the past three years. However, none involved pedestrians or injuries, according to the sheri ’s o ce.

Colorado Department of Transportation data indicates that since

March 6, 2020, there were 89 fatal crashes in the county and, in the past year, 19.

Morones faces charges that include “careless driving” that caused serious bodily injury to a vulnerable road user and death, and failure “to obey” a tra c control signal.

“Careless driving resulting in death carries a maximum of a $1,000 ne and one year in county jail,” said Weekly. “ is family lost a

son, they lost a brother and on top of all that the justice system is likely going to fail them as well.”

Cegielski wants to see tougher laws.

“Only us, all of us together, can do something,” said Cegielski. “Our message has to be heard.”

Remembering Alex

Members of Alex’s family don’t want him to be forgotten. ey

spoke about his love for family and baseball, and his generosity.

His mom told the story of how he emptied his lunch account at school, buying lunches and snacks for others and if someone liked his sweatshirt, he would give it to them.

“Half of his clothes are in his classmates’ closets,” said Cegielski .

Alex’s stepdad, Owen Cegielski, recalled how he once saw Alex hit three homeruns in one game. Alex would run across home plate with his arms spread out like wings, inspiring everyone to “Fly High For Alex.”

Robert Mackiewicz, Alex’s father, cherishes snowboarding and drinking banana shakes with his son.

His older sister, Helena Bernal, will remember the time she came home from college and noticed that Alex had taken an interest in her career.

“As a sibling, especially our age, you don’t expect to be talking about your little brother in the past tense,” said Bernal.

ere were not enough words to describe Alex on ursday. He was a friend, happy, charismatic and caring. He was a good listener and goofy. He was talented and a sweetheart.

His family and the sheri wanted to show people who Alex was so that they might think of the bright young, smiling star the next time they drive down Highlands Ranch Parkway.

Standing with photos of Alexander “Alex” Mackiewicz, Victoria and Owen Cegielski spoke about their son’s character and his passions. Victoria also spoke about the day she found out her son had died. PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

Tea Street owners plan Parker shop

Mixing traditional, modern flavors is siblings’ approach

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Inspired by their cultural roots, Victoria and Patrick Lam opened a rst Tea Street location in Denver’s busy Colorado Boulevard shopping district in 2018, and plan to open a second location in Parker, near where the siblings grew up.

“We wanted to be part of a smaller community, where it felt like we could have a bigger impact,” said Victoria.

e Lam’s anticipate their new shop, located at 16522 Keystone Blvd., in the Stonegate Village Center, to open late spring or summer. Currently in the inspection phase, the siblings look to incorporate Chinese architecture to create the aesthetic of a traditional tea shop, mixed with modern design.

Like their Denver location, the new spot will be among a few tea shops in Parker, such as Kung Fu Tea and Ju’s Co ee, but aims to bring a fresh and authentic taste to the area.

“We don’t use any powders and the syrups that we do use, we make ourselves,” said Victoria. “We’re going to bring that same quality to Tea Street Parker and since we are in a bigger space, we may experiment with bringing even more new products.”

Directly sourced from Taiwan, their premium loose-leaf tea is the center of Tea Street’s menu. at tea is paired with di erent avorings, including fresh fruit. eir toppings include pudding, herbal jelly, and

red and mung beans.

One of their most popular drinks is their peach tea. In the fall, Tea Street will get palisade peaches from Grand Junction and cook them to make their own syrup for tea.

Starting at $5, Tea Street’s drinks include classic teas such as Jasmine; milk teas that include coconut milk and fresh soy milk; fresh teas with avors such as passion fruit, buckwheat and ginger and winter melon teas.

e menu also includes slushies and other tea free drinks such as lemonade and Vietnamese Co ee.

e Parker location will include a dumpling showroom. A dumpling machine will prepare the dough, mix the llings made by Tea Street and fold into a thin and long shape. About 1,000 dumplings can be made per hour, and they can be pan-fried or steamed.

e Colorado natives are ethnically Cantonese with signi cant Vietnamese culture in uence. e siblings’ grandparents owned a cafe in Vietnam and, throughout their childhood, Victoria and Patrick would help their parents at their Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants.

Growing up in Centennial during the 1990s, Victoria said there were few Asians in the community, but that began to change by the time they went to high school, and especially when they attended college.

“It was de nitely a di erent kind of experience growing up feeling like we were the one and only at school, but then at home, it felt normal to be eating what we ate and be speaking a di erent language,” said Victoria. “ ere was always kind of a disconnect.”

Although they would often visit

Hong Kong with their family and enjoy Hong Kong-style Milk Teas –kick-starting their interest in teas –Victoria’s love for milk teas is what led her to study in Shanghai. Patrick learned about Taiwanese Bubble Tea while in Taiwan.

Yearning for that authentic taste in the U.S., the siblings began brewing tea at home, mixing various fruits, milks and toppings, creating Tea Street.

“It helps explain a lot of who we are,” said Victoria. “ at’s what we really want to bring into Tea Street, is the culture behind tea and kind of the line in between not being fully Asian, but not being fully American.”

Tea Street’s second location will be located in the Stonegate Village Center in Parker, just o Lincoln Ave and Keystone Boulevard. Owned by siblings Victoria and Patrick Lam, they anticipate the location to open in spring or summer.

PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

Siblings Victoria and Patrick Lam are opening a second Tea Street location in Parker. In addition to creating a place where people can simply gather, enjoy a cup of tea or even get work done, they aim to share high quality tea with premium loose-leaf tea directly sourced from Taiwan. PHOTO BY ALEX GUARDIA

Good advice for your golden years

YFINANCIAL STRATEGIES

our nancial future should not be left to fate. Many pre-retirees may think that the stock market will control their standard of living in retirement. at would create a signi cant level of uncertainty, perhaps causing you to be too cautious or try to overcompensate for volatility.

Yes, there are always circumstances out of your control, such as interest rates, market cycles, Social Security, taxes, and job loss to name a few. Part of building a prudent retirement plan is understanding those things are not predictable and instead focusing on what you do have control over.

SEE KUMMER, P18

Older adults invited to CALF program

Brooke Fox, CEO, will share the history of the Colorado Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) and the Lowell Ranch, which was originally homesteaded in 1877, during the Seniors’ Council of Douglas County meeting on ursday, April 4. e meeting will be at Lowell Ranch south of downtown Castle Rock and will run from 10-11:30 a.m. It is free and open to the public.

CALF’s Lowell Ranch is a working educational ranch hosting a vibrant array of agriculturally oriented programs. For example, elementary school teachers schedule eld trips so students can enjoy the outdoors and learn where food comes

from. Twice yearly, the ranch is open to the public for spring and autumn celebrations that include tours, agricultural activities and products, tractor rides and more.

Brooke will provide a presentation and, weather permitting, a tour of the ranch on April 4. She may introduce animals being raised by CALF Kids — 4-H or FFA members who care for livestock at CALF. e ranch boasts a modern greenhouse, a creek, barns, gardens, enclosed beehive and plenty of open space.

“We cannot successfully implement our programs without our amazing group of volunteers. Vol-

unteers help with everything from teaching visiting students to planting and caring for our produce gardens. ey help with events and care for livestock,” says Brooke. “We encourage our senior friends to look into joining our wonderful group of volunteers.”

For information and the location of CALF in Castle Rock go to thecalf. org.

Seniors’ Council of Douglas County aims to educate, involve, and advocate for older adults. For additional information call 303-6637681 or email dcseniorlife@douglas. com.us. Updates are available at www.douglas.co.us — search for Seniors’ Council. Our motto is Living Well/Aging Well!

Brooke Fox, CEO of Colorado Agricultural Leadership foundation, will speak April 4 at Lowell Ranch. COURTESY PHOTO

Is altruism still alive?

In a world seemingly driven by self-interest and personal gain, one might wonder: Is altruism still alive? Has the essence of sel essness faded away amidst the chaos of modern society? ese questions loom large, prompting us to re ect on the nature of human kindness and compassion in an era often characterized by individualism, the need for instant grati cation, and personal and professional competition.

Altruism, at its core, is the act of sel essly helping others without expecting anything in return. It’s a fundamental aspect of human nature that has been celebrated and debated throughout history. From ancient philosophical teachings to modern psychological studies, the concept of altruism has fascinated thinkers and scholars alike.

However, in today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, the prevalence of altruism seems to be increasingly questioned. Skeptics argue that self-interest and personal gain drive much of human behavior, overshadowing acts of genuine kindness and compassion. Indeed, with the rise of social media and the glori cation of material wealth, altruism can sometimes feel like a quaint relic of the past, overshadowed by a culture of narcissism and self-promotion.

Yet, despite these challenges, ex-

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Shaw is proven leader

After Deb and I married, I moved into her Masters Park home in 2001. For years afterward, as I served as our HOA board president, I became acquainted with many of our city and special district leaders; accordingly, I have been comfortable in maintaining these relationships since that time. Since Wynne Shaw joined the Lone Tree City Council eight years ago, when either Deb or I spot an issue that requires city attention, we noti ed Wynne. She immediately responds, listens carefully to our concerns, and quickly uses her knowledge of city sta , other entities and services to nd resolution.

As just one example, though

Michael Norton

amples of altruism continue to emerge, o ering glimpses of hope and inspiration. From individuals donating their time and resources to volunteer organizations working tirelessly to uplift marginalized communities, acts of altruism are still woven into the fabric of our society, albeit often overshadowed by more sensationalized news stories.

Research in psychology and neuroscience suggests that humans are inherently wired for empathy and cooperation. Studies have shown that acts of kindness trigger the release of oxytocin, a hormone associated with bonding and trust, suggesting that altruism may be deeply ingrained in our evolutionary biology. Experiments like the famous “prisoner’s dilemma” demonstrate that cooperation and mutual bene t often prevail over sel shness in social interactions.

However, the landscape of altruism has undoubtedly evolved in response to the challenges of the modern world. In an age when global crises like climate change and social inequality loom large, altruism is increasingly being rede ned on a larger scale. Movements advocating for environmental conservation, human rights, and social justice are fueled by the collective e orts of individuals united by a shared sense of

Southern Hills Circle had originally been a private street in our neighborhood, our HOA deeded it back to the city in 2002 to provide maintenance, plowing, sweeping and repaving. And although the city had repaved and maintained the circle, inexplicably it was not always plowed by the city after snowstorms, which sometimes then left residents with no easy way out of the neighborhood. After a major snowstorm when the circle again was not plowed, we contacted Wynne who quickly worked with sta to get the circle plowed and the city recommitted to plowing and maintaining the street per the 2002 agreement.

to eliminate any remnants of leavened bread, or chametz, to prepare for Passover. Ancient Catholic tradition dedicates the three days after Palm Sunday to a comprehensive home cleaning in preparation for Easter.

Deep cleaning the house is a tradition leading up to the Lunar New Year, sometimes known as the Spring Festival in China, to sweep out disease and bad luck before the new year.

And, in the weeks leading up to the Persian or Iranian New Year, Nowruz — which falls on the spring equinox — families practice a deep-cleaning tradition called kh ne-tak n . Translated to English, the practice is called “shaking the house” and involves more than just physical bene ts.

“Just as one cleans one’s place of residence from dirt and debris, one should also clean the inner self from all impurities to prepare for a better life in the New Year,” journalist Leila Imeni wrote in Iran Daily.

In the eyes of health and cleaning experts, spring can be a great time to cleanse and declutter your spaces — both physical and mental — and set yourself up for a great season ahead.

Clean space, happy mind

Local cleaning service provider Lindsay Buck said her team sees an increase in demand in the springtime. She owns Bucket & Shine, which provides one-time and recurring cleaning services to homes in the northwest Denver metro area.

“We de nitely see an uptick in the one-time deep cleanings” in the spring, she said.

Buck said she thinks people want their houses clean after they’ve been “cooped up” inside them all winter. She said having a clean home can also improve mental health, which people might desire as the new season begins.

“A clean space equals a happy mind,” she said. “When you walk into a room that’s all cluttered … it makes you feel a little bit overwhelmed, closedin, anxious.”

A writer from the 19th century, Susan Fenimore Cooper, agreed about this freshening bene t of “the great spring house cleaning.”

SPRING CLEANING YOUR HOME, HEALTH AND HEART

Local experts explain physical, mental and emotional benefits of cleaning as springtime arrives

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As the sun comes out and plants begin to bloom, springtime brings symbols of rebirth and a fresh start. For many, this means opening the windows

and getting to work dusting, scrubbing, wiping and vacuuming their homes.

With ties to several cultural and religious traditions, spring cleaning provides an opportunity for people to cleanse and declutter.

In Jewish custom, families clean their homes

In her 1850 novel “Rural Hours,” she described the spring cleaning process, which some researchers say was common in those days to rid homes of dust and grime from a long winter. Wood and coal-burning stoves were common, which left layers of lth to be cleaned come spring.

“Topsy-turvy is the order of the day,” Cooper wrote, describing curtains and carpets hanging out of doors, beds in the hallway, chairs upside down and the ceiling “in possession of the whitewash brush.”

But despite calling house cleaning one of “the necessary evils of life,” Cooper highlighted its mental reward.

“It must be confessed, however, that after the great turmoil is over — when the week, or fortnight, or three weeks of scrubbing, scouring, drenching are passed, there is a moment of delightful repose in a family,” she wrote. “ ere is a refreshing consciousness that all is sweet and clean from garret to cellar; there is a purity in the neighborhood.”

Several cleaning products sold at Refillary.

PHOTO COURTESY OF REFILLARY

SPRING CLEANING

Cooper’s experience is backed by experts, like Dr. Jaya Kumar, the chief medical o cer at Swedish Medical Center, who says cleaning can have a positive impact on one’s mental health.

Kumar said some studies have shown that having a clean space can help reduce anxiety and stress, improve concentration and make people sleep better.

“For some people, the act of cleaning helps them destress,” she added. “It’s like a focused work — when doing something, it helps them destress and let go of other thoughts.”

Health and cleanliness

Kumar said cleaning also provides physical health bene ts, especially in the spring.

“Our take on cleaning is that it shouldn’t be bad for you, or for your house or for the planet,” she said. “All of our household cleansers and our laundry detergents, dish soaps and everything else you need to keep a tidy home fall into that.

ey don’t have nasty ingredients, they’re not going to cause you cancer, they’re not going to kill the sh.”

Grolbert sells many cleaners, including singleingredient cleaners like vinegar, baking soda and citric acid, in customizable quantities so people can re ll containers to reduce the use of plastic. She also sells reusable cleaning tools to replace single-use sponges and paper towels.

Cleaning the mind and heart

Beyond physical cleaning, some say springtime o ers an opportunity for re ection and self-care.

“You’ve accumulated dust, mold, mildew and dander all over your house because you haven’t ventilated much — everything is closed during winter,” she said. “All of that kind of piles up and causes allergies, asthma and respiratory problems, and that process of cleaning would help

Having a lot of clutter in the house can also create opportunities for accidents, Kumar said, so picking up and organizing one’s home can keep

“We, at the hospital, really see a lot of elderly falls,” she said. “I can’t tell you enough how important it is to have your house decluttered when you have elderly (individuals) around.”

Kumar said the trauma center at Swedish Medical Center receives many older patients su ering hip fractures from trip-induced falls. Reducing clutter also reduces opportunities for kids to ingest or choke on objects, she said.

Beyond eliminating dust and clutter, Kumar said cleaning is important to maintain a germfree environment.

JaLisa Williams, a social worker, clinician and Metro State University of Denver professor, said a lot of people notice that their homes get messier when there is a lot on their minds. is shows how our internal experience can be replicated in our external environments, she said.

e spring re ects the start of the new year in many cultures, Williams said, including communities that follow the astrological calendar. As the new year begins, it’s a good time to re ect on and cleanse mental and emotional spaces, she said.

“We’re going into this new year, but you still have a lot of old mental and emotional baggage,” she said. “So, how do you actually create a full balance, so you can come in actually clean and ready to enter the new year and to be lled with other things?”

Williams recommends rest as one way to “clean” the internal space.

“If our brains are always going, our bodies are always trying to go, we are unable to actually tap into what is happening in our internal space,” she said.

Mindfulness practices like yoga, meditation tai chi and walking are also great ways to empty the mind and cultivate inner peace to approach change and hardship, she said.

“Just having those high-touch surface areas clean by wiping away (germs) will be helpful,” she said, especially with the u, RSV and COVID going around.

e cleaning process also requires movement, which can be good exercise and boost endorphins, Kumar said.

“If you are doing rigorous cleaning, like mopping, vacuuming — even if you do it for 30 minutes, you’ve burnt around 100 calories,” she said.

When cleaning, Kumar said it is important to be careful about what products a person uses. Some cleaning agents can cause nose and throat irritation or respiratory problems, she said.

People can check the safety of products on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “Safer Choice” website, she said. Also, it’s important to ventilate while cleaning.

Some shops, like Re llary in Parker, center their business around providing clean products that are non-carcinogenic and not bad for the planet. Adrienne Grolbert started the low-waste, re ll company in 2022, where she sells household and cosmetic cleaners.

“I think self-care has been a hot topic concept for the last few years, and I think (we’ve) wrapped it up into facials and vacation,” she said. “But in reality, that self-care is very deep work. When we are thinking about how can we integrate mindfulness, it’s because we’re trying to create this sense of peace or empowerment, so then we can actually navigate the things that are pressuring us.”

Cultivating a community you care about — and leaning on it — is another way to clean your inner self, Williams said.

“Are these people bringing out the best in me?

Am I bringing out the best in them?” she said.

In some cases, cultivating a “clean” community for a person could mean having hard conversations, letting relationships go or showing appreciation, Williams added.

For those who choose to clean their homes this spring, Williams said to take it space by space, room by room, be gentle with yourself and lean on community members for support if needed.

A bathtub in a home, before (left) and after (right) being cleaned by sta from Bucket & Shine.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BUCKET & SHINE

Refillary o ers household cleaners and other products for customers to refill their own containers.

PHOTO COURTESY OF REFILLARY

A sparkling kitchen after Bucket & Shine employees finished cleaning it. PHOTO COURTESY OF BUCKET & SHINE

FROM PAGE 14

Ideally you have control over when you retire, how much you were able to save, how to invest and how much to spend. And you have the choice to choose a nancial advisor, a duciary to help navigate those unpredictable things in life. Yet, according to a recent study, only 29% of Americans work with a nancial adviser.¹

Choosing a nancial adviser is a major life decision that can determine your nancial trajectory for years to come. e value of working with a nancial adviser varies by person and advisers are legally prohibited from promising returns, but

NORTON

altruistic purpose.

Technology has transformed the way we practice altruism, enabling us to connect with and support causes on a global scale. Crowdfunding platforms allow individuals to contribute to charitable projects and disaster relief efforts with the click of a button, democratizing philanthropy and empowering ordinary people to make a differ-

research suggests people who work with a nancial adviser feel more at ease about their nances and could end up with more money to spend in retirement.2

A recent Vanguard study found that, on average, investors could earn more on their investments under the care of an adviser compared to self-management over a period of 25 years.3

Building a strategy should not be only about returns though. Look at tax savings, estate planning, risk management and other solutions that can save you over time. Perhaps the best advice may actually be to seek good advice. But how do you get a good adviser?

Here are some guidelines to think about:

• Consider choosing a duciary,

ence. Yet, for altruism to thrive in the 21st century, it must contend with formidable obstacles, including cynicism and apathy.

The commodification of altruism, where acts of kindness are often exploited for personal gain or corporate branding, risks diluting its genuine essence. In an age where virtue signaling and performative activism abound, discerning genuine altruism from mere token gestures can be a daunting task.

However, despite these challenges, the spirit of altruism en -

one who is ethically bound to act in your best interest and must disclose any con icts of interest.

• Meet with more than one adviser to learn di erences, areas of expertise or the best personality t for you and your family. is should be a lifelong relationship, so those things count in both good and difcult times.

• Consider working with an independent adviser who has no other agenda other than to serve you.

• Always ask about experience, education, and certi cations. For example, an advisor who has studied and earned the Certi ed Financial Planner mark has met speci c education, experience and ethical standards required by the CFP Board of Practice Standards annually.

Now the hard part. Be open-

dures, fueled by the innate human desire to connect, empathize, and uplift one another. Whether it’s the neighbor who volunteers at a local food bank, the activist fighting for social change, or the stranger who offers a helping hand in times of need, acts of altruism remind us of the power of compassion to transcend barriers and unite us in our shared humanity.

minded to your advisor’s recommendations. ey likely have access to tools and resources to help design complex portfolios over multiple market cycles. It is important to collaborate and express your wishes but also be willing to accept good advice and stick to your plan over time.

ere will always be things out of your control. Seeking good advice may help you navigate those uncertainties throughout your golden years.

1. smartasset March,2024

2. Planning & Progress, Northwestern Mutual 2022

3. Vanguard: Putting a Value on your Value

Patricia Kummer is a Certi ed Financial Planner and is a director for Mariner Wealth Advisors.

to thrive, illuminating the path towards a more compassionate world.

What if we all asked ourselves one simple question each day, “How can I help someone or be a difference maker today?” And then, what would it look like if we actually lived out that spirit of helpfulness? I would love to hear your story or thoughts on altruism at gotonorton@gmail.com and when we can simply help others without expecting anything in return, it really will be a better than good life.

So, is altruism still alive in a selfcentric world? The answer lies not in grand gestures or lofty ideals but in the everyday kindnesses that define our interactions and shape our communities. While the forces of individualism and self-interest may sometimes seem overwhelming, the resilience of the human spirit and the inherent goodness within each of us offer hope for a future where altruism continues

LETTERS

FROM PAGE 15

Winter or summer, Wynne is there for her constituents. With COVID restrictions in place in August 2020, a ash mob began congregating with no warning in the Lone Tree Hub lot and soon hundreds of people were listening to loud music and becoming disruptive, spilling out into the Parkway and open space. When we contacted Wynne, she quickly determined that no permit had been issued for this event by the city. She immediately contacted the Lone Tree Police Department. anks to the

Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

LTPD, the crowd was soon safely and peacefully dispersed.

Wynne may be the most responsive, patient, and dedicated public servant who has ever represented Deb and me. She is a rare blend of someone who has a great depth of governmental and nancial knowledge and an equal depth of caring and compassion for all whom she represents. We need Wynne to continue her service to Lone Tree.

Please join us in voting for Wynne Shaw for mayor when your ballot arrives in your mailbox, so she can continue working for us all in the years ahead.

Deb and Roland Stubble eld

Lone Tree

Thu 3/28

Advanced Fly Fishing

@ 6am / $25

Valor Christian High School - Academic Building, 3775 Grace Blvd., Highlands Ranch. 303-471-3000

Teague Starbuck

@ 5pm

Fri 3/29

90s Party at Western Sky

Mark Masters Comedy: Carmen Lynch - Castle Rock Comedy Show - Spotlight Theater @ 6pm

Wed 4/03

Queensrÿche: The Origins Tour @ 5pm

Brewability Lab, 3445 S Broad‐way, Englewood

Rotating Tap Comedy @ Coal Mine Ave Brewing @ 6pm

Coal Mine Ave Brewing Company, 9719 W Coal Mine Ave unit a, Littleton

Miko Marks: Trailblazing Women of Country

@ 6:30pm

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St, Lone Tree

Spotlight Theater, 680 Atchison Way Suite 100, Castle Rock

6 Million Dollar Band

@ 6pm

Pindustry, 7939 E Arapahoe Rd, Centen‐nial

Alex Hooper

Featuring Ninety Percent 90s @ 6pm / $15 Western Sky Bar & Taproom, 4361 S BROADWAY, Englewood. west ernskybarco@gmail.com

Aaron Shust @ 6pm The Rock, 4881 Cherokee Dr, Castle Rock

Vamonos Pest/Mobro: Vamonos Pest at Wide Open Saloon @ 6pm Wide Open Saloon, 5607 US-85, Sedalia

Ninety Percent 90s @ 7pm

Western Sky Bar & Taproom, 4361 S Broadway, Englewood

Sat 3/30

Navy Showcase + “Top Gun: Maverick” Movie & Speaker @ 7:30am / $20

@ 6:30pm

Parker Arts, Culture & Events Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker

Dirty Side Down Band: Dirty Side Down @ Q's Pub @ 7pm

��s Pub and Grill, 10133 W Chat�eld Ave, Littleton

Mon 4/01

ARTS: Pottery - Hand Building @ Harvard Gulch @ 9pm

Apr 1st - Apr 22nd

Harvard Gulch Recreation Center, 550 E. Iliff Ave., Denver. 720-913-0654

Tue 4/02

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

DJ Rockstar Aaron: Forbidden Bingo Wednesdays - 'Bout Time Pub & Grub @ 7pm

Bout Time Pub & Grub, 3580 S Platte River Dr A, Sheridan

ARTS: Throw-a-thon @ Harvard Gulch @ 10pm

Harvard Gulch Recreation Center, 550 E. Iliff Ave., Denver. 720-913-0654

Thu 4/04

Exploration Of Flight, 13005 Wings Way, Englewood. info@ wingsmuseum.org

Caffeine and Chrome – Classic Cars and Coffee at Gateway Classic Cars of Denver @ 8am

Gateway Classic Cars of Denver, 14150 Grasslands Drive, Englewood. marketing @gatewayclassiccars.com, 618-271-3000

@ 6pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Humbird

@ 7pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Rotating Tap Comedy @ Someplace Else Brewery @ 6pm

Bent Barley Brewing CompanyPiney Creek, 15416 E Orchard Rd, Centennial

Battle of the Bands @ 6pm / $25 Stampede, Aurora

ADR: Special Olympics Track & Field @ 11:15pm

Apr 4th - Jun 6th

Denver Parks and Recreation (HVG), 550 E Iliff Ave., Denver. 720-913-0654

Calendar information is provided by event organiz‐ers. All events are subject to change or cancella‐tion. This publication is not responsible for the ac‐curacy of the information contained in this calendar.

powered by

Indigo De Souza

Castle Rock mom thankful after nearly losing son

A rare heart condition surprised doctors, family

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Megan Strothmann knew her pregnancy was di erent, but she never imagined her son would be diagnosed with a rare heart condition before he was born.

Megan was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which led her to see a specialist and have more ultrasounds than normal. At a growth scan last July, doctors noticed the baby’s heart rate was extremely low.

“ e fetal medicine doctor basically said, ‘Do not go home. I want you to go straight to the Colorado Children’s Hospital,’” said Meghan.

On her way, she called her husband, Derek, and told him to meet her there with their kids. Once there, a cardiologist at the Colorado Fetal Care Center at Children’s Hospital con rmed the baby, who is now named Grayson, had heart block.

“Heart block is an interruption in the ow of electricity through the heart,” said Dr. Dustin Nash, a cardiologist. “ e upper chamber of the heart is usually in charge of how fast the heart beats. It looks like there was a blockage of that signal.”

In his case, his heart rate was 50-60 beats per minute, said Nash, which is much lower than the average 100180 beats per minute for a fetus at that stage. His heart wasn’t beating frequently enough to get enough

blood to all his organs.

At Children’s Hospital Colorado, Nash said they only see about ve to 10 children have heart block each year. And, that includes cases not only in Colorado, but also from nearby states – Montana, Wyoming, parts of Nebraska and New Mexico.

A common reason for heart block is that antibodies in the mother’s blood attacks the fetus’ conduction system. Or it can be due to an autoimmune reaction between the mother and the fetus’ developing heart.

However, Grayson’s was more uncommon. He had a rare genetic change that resulted in the condition.

“Grayson’s heart block in many ways is acting sort of like an iPhone cable that only charges when you hold it at a certain angle,” said Nash.

Megan was immediately admitted to the Colorado Fetal Care Center and was scheduled to have a C-section on July 19, two months before Grayson’s due date.

As an electrophysiologist explained to the family that Grayson would need a pacemaker after he was born. Along the way, the family felt confusion and fear, but they regained some con dence after meeting a multidisciplinary team at the hospital.

“ ey were hopeful, but also preparing us for the worst because we didn’t know what he was going to be like,” said Megan.

e medication given to Grayson through the uterus brought his heart rate up, allowing the C-section to be

Grayson Strothmann was born on July 22, 2023, with an uncommon heart condition. Nearly a year later, his parents describe him as “a happy boy” and “their little superhero.”

canceled.

the kids home after celebrating their eldest daughter’s birthday when Megan’s lab work showed she was developing preeclampsia and the baby needed to be taken out.

“ ey wanted to do this before the preeclampsia got any worse,” said Megan. “Because that would have caused me to go to the adult campus next door and then all of the team members for him would not have been there.”

Just as physicians were called, so was Derek. As the Strothmanns entered the operating room, they were greeted by the multidisciplinary

“My initial thought in that moment was, ‘ ey’ve thought of everything,’” said Megan. “ ere’s no way that my baby can’t make it.”

Grayson was given two doses of heart medication to increase his heart rate and allow doctors to avoid

SEE STROTHMANN, P21

PHOTO COURTESY OF MEGAN STROTHMANN

STROTHMANN

FROM PAGE 20

a procedure that would have meant placing a pacemaker in the baby before the birth.

As the doctor delivered the 4.5-pound baby, a small cry was heard, providing relief to the Strothmanns. However, a moment later, Derek said Grayson wasn’t breathing and for more than a minute, the team administered life-saving CPR.

“I don’t know who had to do that to a little ve pound baby, but somebody did and I will forever be thankful for them for saving his life,” said Megan.

Grayson’s lungs were too weak to put in the pacemaker that night. Yet in the days after his birth, Grayson’s heart was beating around 154 beats per minute. No one could answer why.

As Grayson turned ve days old,

his heart rate began to decrease. So, he underwent a pacemaker surgery.  “ at was genuinely the longest three hours of both my husband’s and I’s life,” said Megan.

While most pacemakers are made for adults, Nash helped coordinate the use of a speci c pacemaker for small infants, the Pediatric IPG. If at any time the conduction in the heart isn’t happening, the pacemaker kicks in.

After the procedure, the Strothmanns saw a glimmer of hope as they got to hold their son for the rst time since he’d been born.

“He was just like a little superhero to us,” said Megan.

After multiple blood transfusions, a few setbacks and 38 days in the hospital, the Strothmanns took Grayson home. Approaching his rst birthday, he “is eating like a champ” and has become a people person.

“He is a happy boy,” said Megan. “He is so fun and his brother and sister just adore him.”

PRECISE REPAIR, GENUINE CARE

Megan Strothmann was admitted to the Colorado Fetal Care Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado in July 2023 where she underwent a c-section two months before her son’s due date. After being born, Grayson had to have a pacemaker put in to help his heart condition.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MEGAN STROTHMANN

Spirit coach and volunteer Virginia Lorbeer dies

Coaches, o cials remember beloved local legend

BY STEVE SMITH SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

A well-known gure in the Colorado high school coaching and volunteer ranks has passed away after an illness. Virginia Lorbeer, who helped spirit become a sanctioned sport in the 1990s, was 82.

Lorbeer coached the rst 5A state championship squad at Montbello High School when the meet was for cheerleading only. e Colorado High School Activities Association said through her e orts, spirit became sanctioned in 1991, the same

year that Standley Lake High School won the state poms title. She was the coach for the Gators at the time.

Peers took to social media with words of praise and thanks as news of Lorbeer’s passing on March 15 spread.

One said, “She was a coach who epitomized what it means to be a coach. Not just of her own team,

La Ciudad ¡Hola!

El idioma no debería ser un obstáculo para acceder a noticias confiables que te interesan. Nuestro equipo de La Ciudad ofrece noticias tanto en inglés como en español.

but of everyone she met. She was so thoughtful, encouraging, and steadfast. She met everyone with kindness and that beaming smile.”

She was born May 31, 1941, in Denver, to Earl C. and Alice L. (Schlemeyer) Lorbeer. She earned a bachelor of science degree in education and English from Fort Hays State in Kansas in 1963 and a master of arts in secondary school administration from the University of Colorado in 1973. Lorbeer did post-grad work at the University of Northern Colorado from 1977 to 1979.

Teaching, coaching in her DNA

Lorbeer was a teacher of business education and a sponsor of the school pep club and cheerleaders at Manual High School from 1964 to 1981. She moved over to Montbello High School, where she taught business education and was the director of student activities for the school. She also spent time as a passenger relations agent for Trans World Airways at the old Stapleton Airport.

According to the Canon City Record, Lorbeer’s name adorns a coaching scholarship handed out at the state spirit tournament each year. e scholarship honors a spirit coach “whose dedication to their program and support of school and community sets them apart from others in the sport,” the Record reported in 2022.

high-school basketball tournament – “close to 30 years,” he said.

“She was always very organized and ready to go and one of the last to leave,” Hergenreder said. “I also worked with her at the state track meet. She worked the gate checking in athletics and always had a smile for all those who came through.”

For her volunteer e orts, CHSAA presented Lorbeer with its Distinguished Service Award in 1995.

“She was very concerned that the individual did the job right,” Contreraz said. He and Lorbeer worked the state tournament for close to 30 years. “She didn’t come down hard. She pointed out the concern and encouraged you not to make the same mistake.”

Not just a figure, but a friend

Outside the world of poms, volunteer work and cheerleading, she was a friend.

“From the rst day I met you, I felt like I had been in your life as long as I can remember,” said Skyview High School girls basketball coach Chris Kemm. “Your support, your genuine being, and genuine love and support. I will miss all the cards and notes you leave behind every event, and your constant support that only a coach knows how to give.”

She was on the board of the Colorado High School Coaches Association, which inducted her into its hall of fame shortly before Lorbeer died. She received the organization’s Don DesCombes Award for distinguished service in 2022. e Colorado High School Activities Association inducted her into its hall of fame in 2000.

Helping where help was needed

Volunteering was part of Lorbeer’s history with CHSAA as well. She volunteered at the state basketball tournament from 1973 until last year. She was in charge of the volunteers who ran the statistics program.

“She rotated games among the (stat) teams,” said veteran basketball and football o cial Mike Contreraz. “If you worked the semi nals one year, you worked the title game the next year. I enjoyed working for and working with her.”

Rick Hergenreder, a retired veteran basketball o cial in Colorado, worked with Lorbeer at the state

“She was a very kind, very caring person,” Contreraz said. “She was an easy person to talk to, and it was easy to get to like her. She had a soft voice. You had to strain your ears to hear her.”

Funeral services are pending through Keithley Funeral Homes and Crematory-Brock’s Chapel in Hays.

“You fought so valiantly to be there for everyone, and there is no telling how far your reach went,” Kemm said. “Heaven needed a new coach to coach the coaches. And boy, heaven got the best one.”

“She volunteered at CHSAA for many state championships,” Hergenreder said. “She seemed to have endless energy with everything she did. I will miss seeing her this year at track.”

“She was more concerned that you did everything right for your benet,” Contreraz said. “If you did it right and worked hard, it was for you. It was the only way you were going to be successful. She had a big heart, and she cared about you. at’s what she wanted.”

Lorbeer COURTESY PHOTO

CAREERS

Help Wanted

Software Engineer

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Help Wanted

SDH Systems LLC has openings for the positions:

Software

Developer with master’s degree in Comp Sc, Eng Any, Tech, Mgm Info Sys/Sec or related to Design, develop, implement, maintain and test business functions and web applications using a variety of languages, tools, methodologies and technologies. Develop, create and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions. Design software or customize software for client use with the aim of optimizing operational efficiency.

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Work location is ‘Englewood, CO, with required travel to client locations throughout the USA. Please mail resumes to 14 inverness Dr E, Suite H-220, Englewood, CO- 80112. (OR) e-mail: hr@sdhsystems.com

Help Wanted

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Home for Sale

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Come check out our open houses which are 1) Happy Hour Open Houses Fridays 4-6PM and every Sat and Sunday in March from 10AM to 2PM. 4360 Marshall St, Wheat Ridge CO 80033. alandavis@levelengineering.com