Arvada Press 0220

FEBRUARY 20, 2020

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A procession of first responders travels up Ward Road, toward Red Rocks Church Arvada on Wadsworth, to remember the life of firefighter Dan Moran, who died from a jobrelated illness. “Dan fought a courageous two and a half year battle with leukemia; his 18 year career as a firefighter/paramedic with West Metro Fire was unfortunately cut short by this line of duty illness,” Moran’s obituary reads. “As a husband, father, son, uncle and firefighter, Dan will be missed greatly by all whose lives he impacted.”

CASEY VAN DIVIER

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Some 4,300 Arvadans applied for Section 8 in 2015, and hundreds of those are still waiting in 2020.

More on PAGE 6

VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | CALENDAR: PAGE 14 | SPORTS: PAGE 16

ArvadaPress.com

VOLUME 15 | ISSUE 38

2 Arvada Press

February 20, 2020F

Jeffco students tackling youth issues at national conference Interns with Jefferson County Public Health program meet with representatives

BY CASEY VAN DIVIER CVANDIVIER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A group of 14 Jefferson County high school students — all interns with the county’s public health department — got to meet with the nation’s leaders, and conduct research on youth drug use as they attended the national Youth Leadership Initiative conference, Feb. 3-6.

The interms listened to conference speaker Alex Berenson, author of Tell Your Children: The Truth about Marijuana, Mental Illness and Violence, and took notes.

Directly after the presentation, the group got in line to get their books signed and by lunch, they’d organized a meeting with the author to discuss his views on preventing youth marijuana use.

“Our youth were respectful and curious. In some cases, they changed their mind and in other cases, they continued to respectfully disagree,” said Pamela Gould, coordinator of Communities that Care (CTC), the program through which the students attended the conference.

“It was absolutely inspiring to see youth asking smart questions and being really interested in different opinions,” she said.

The experience was just one of her favorites that occurred at this year’s Youth Leadership Initiative conference, organized by the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA). The first group from Jeffco’s CTC program attended the conference this year — the only attendees from Colorado — flew to Washington, D.C. on Feb. 2. The conference hosted

Student interns from Jefferson County Public Health’s Communities that Care program met with Rep. Ed Perlmutter in February to discuss some of the major issues teenagers face, and how grant funding has helped the interns combat this. “The best way to encourage young people to make social changes is by giving them a voice to express wants and concerns,” said Lola Peregoy, an intern and Lakewood High School senior.

COURTESY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH several hundred participants from CADCA’s Youth Leadership Initiative, which works with individuals ages 13 through 20 to help young people affect change in their communities.

The Jeffco students are all research interns with CTC. The community effort has brought more than 100 stakeholders together from local organizations and businesses to find solutions to issues including substance abuse, relationship violence and hopelessness in youth.

The research conducted by the youth interns directly informs CTC strategies, including the online resource the organization recently created for parents, titled Twelve Talks to Have with Teens.

As an intern, “I get to give youth in the community a voice on topics that are not discussed and addressed when, in all reality, they really need to be,” said Melody Maendel, a junior at Green Mountain High School.

Because the youth internship program is funded through government grants, the interns spent some of their time in DC thanking their representatives for their commitment to

funding the project, and highlighting the importance of continued funding.

“The best way to encourage young people to make social changes is by giving them a voice to express wants and concerns,” said Lola Peregoy, a Lakewood High School senior. “It is critical for teens to be included in conversations about current issues.”

The interns spoke with Rep. Ed Perlmutter, who represents the state’s 7th Congressional District, which includes parts of Jefferson County.

They also met with staff members from the offices of senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner.

“My favorite moment in D.C. was getting to go meet with these representatives and voice all the work we have done and will continue to do,” Maendel said. “I got to meet the representatives that I look up to and who

make a change, just like us.”

Calling the meeting an “insightful conversation,” Perlmutter said he hopes “it is one of many to come” in a Jefferson County Public Health press release.

“We must do everything we can to support young people across Colorado, and it starts with learning and understanding their experience,” he said.

In addition to speaking with their representatives, students met hundreds of other teenagers from across the country, and experienced new opportunities they could have only had in the capital, Gould said.

“The students saw protestors, and we were in a senate office building while (senators) were voting on the impeachment,” she said. “It was really fascinating for them.”

CORRECTION The city of Arvada will not be providing compensation to businesses during construction along Ralston Road. Rather, the city compensated businesses when it purchased the

right-of-way..

To report any corrections or clarifications please call 303-566-4129 or email gwallace@coloradocommunitymedia.com.

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Arvada Press 3

February 20, 2020

BRRRRRRRRAVE SOULS ON BIKE TO WORK DAY Stacey Mulligan, left, Chris Winn and Josh Blair pedal down the Lakewood Gulch Trail on Feb. 14, Winter Bike to Work Day. Similar groups of bicycling commuters gathered across the metro area. The day was hosted by Bicycle Colorado in correlation with International Bike To Work Day. JOSEPH RIOS

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Reflections on the State of Journalism & Saving Our Local Newspapers

Regular readers may recall that my first career was The sad fact is that the general public lacks journalthat of a professional journalist, trained on the city desk istic literacy. Specifically, readers (and non-readers) of the Washington Post. Committed as I am to sound conflate news articles with columns and editorials. Bejournalism, I am concerned with both the loss cause the New York Times and the Washingof newspapers around the country and the unreton Post, for example, criticize the President lenting assault on the media by the President. editorially, readers too readily attribute that Free and healthy newspapers are essential to bias to the news pages, which is simply wrong. a democratic society, which is why the free A core principle of news reporting is “no press is embedded in the First Amendment to unattributed facts or opinions.” Of course, a the U.S. Constitution. They’re our watchdogs. reporter uses his or her discretion as to which We can all be proud of how the media have facts and opinions are included, but if, for exkept us informed and, frankly, kept their cool in ample, an impeachment witness states facts or the hostile “enemy of the people” environment opinions derogatory of the President, reporting fostered by the current occupant of the White the testimony is straight news, and a good reHouse, who labels any coverage that doesn’t porter will seek a response from the President. flatter him “fake news” without providing a But calling that report “fake news” or a “lie” is specific response to the subject at hand. Most upsetting not a denial, it is a refusal to refute the testimony. is the portrayal of straight news reporting as biased.

I know that Trump supporters will say “hogwash” to

me asserting that straight news articles are unbiased, but that only proves the point I have made above. I think America’s newspapers would do well to simply eliminate all columns and editorials and print only straight news articles and letters to the editor. Attacks on the media by the President are all the more dangerous because of the inability of the general public to distinguish news articles from columns and editorials.

TV networks also conflate news and opinion. Fox News, CNN and MSNBC have daytime news programs, but they devote evening hours to personal opinion. You don’t see that on the broadcast networks.

Financial health is another serious problem. While the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Washington Post are all thriving, local newspapers are downsizing and going out of business. We need some billionaires committed to journalistic standards to rescue them from owners interested only in profit.

Guest Article from Money.com: A Survey of the Best Home Security Systems for 2020

With technology continuously evolving and improving, home security systems today offer a wide range of protection and coverage options.

Modern systems have features ranging from in-home motion and heat sensors to video doorbells and more, as well as apps and smart home integration that lets you monitor your home from any location.

Home security systems can range from basic with just door sensors, to comprehensive with fire and smoke sensors, glass sensors, and much more.

Many home security systems now feature smart home integration, allowing you to control lights, door locks, and more from your smartphone.

Some systems require professional installation, while others offer userfriendly do-it-yourself (DIY) installations. Before using a professional,

make sure to find out any costs associated with the installation.

Your homeowner’s insurance may offer you a discount for having a home security system. Contact your insurance provider to see if you qualify.

In choosing the best home security systems of 2020, we evaluated each system using the following factors: Security systems can range from basic to highly complex. We selected companies that offer a wide variety of security options, including everything from door sensors to video cameras and more.

We also made sure to include a selection of both professionallymonitored and installed options, as well as systems that embrace a DIY approach. Some of these DIY systems require no tools and install in under an hour, while some offer optional professional installation help.

While most security companies require contracts, we found some nocontract options for you, too. Most of the companies included that do require contracts offer at least a 30-day trial before commitment.

With 24/7 monitoring, a security company may summon help for you when you can’t. The companies included in this ranking all offer 24/7 monitoring and emergency assistance.

We weighed factors like the company’s Better Business Bureau rating, user reviews and satisfaction ratings, and the company’s reputation for providing responsive customer support.

Best Home Security Systems ADT – If you’re looking for versatile package options that cover home, commercial, and even small business SimpliSafe – With easy setup and a no-contract option, SimpliSafe is a

Reminder: Environmental Film Festival is This Weekend

I wrote about this event last week. Tonight (Thursday) is the free “Community Night” which includes a reception, award ceremony and the screening of a few entries. You can peruse the 60 films being screened at www.CEFF.net. The films are bundled into four screening sessions on Friday and Saturday plus two afternoon sessions on Sunday that will feature the films which won awards. You can purchase tickets on the website. Prices range from $9 for a single session ($4 for children under 12) up to $20 or $25 for a day pass and $65 for an all-access pass. Look for our booth at the free reception and Eco-Expo 4 to 7 pm on Saturday. The

venue is the American Mountaineering Center in downtown Golden.

user-friendly home security system Frontpoint – Easy to set up and no need for professional installation, Frontpoint is a versatile choice for many homeowners.

Protect America – With everything from water monitoring to glass sensors, Protect America’s wide range of options means you can customize your security system to your specific needs.

Vivint – Home security doesn’t just cover homes, anymore. With Vivint, your security system can extend to your vehicle, too.

Ring – Looking for a comprehensive security system that you can monitor on your own with no contracts and extra fees? Ring delivers exactly that, and 24/7 monitoring is available if you choose.

Google Nest – Need a system that integrates with your entire smarthome system? Google’s Nest does this, while also adding on variable options to help outfit your house.

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4 Arvada Press

February 20, 2020F

Pomona student projects combine film with cancer awareness P

F

School enters nonprofit’s statewide competition

BY CASEY VAN DIVIER CVANDIVIER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Many of the students in Pomona High School’s video production elective grew up sharing their ideas with the world. Juniors Isaac Rosasco and Gage Fish posted videos on YouTube when they were younger. Senior Tanner Heng currently runs a YouTube channel where he shares music videos he’s edited to popular songs. Senior Shayla Crumb Potmesil creates promotional videos for family members’ businesses.

But a winter class project for the third annual Catch It In Time video project will give students a new opportunity to create videos for the public eye.

The goal of the Catch It In Time nonprofit is “to bring storytelling to cancer awareness” and encourage early detection of the disease, said executive director Keith Singer. “One of the reasons so many more young people are being diagnosed is they’re just not aware of it.”

The nonprofit’s statewide contest asks students to submit three-minute videos to raise cancer awareness, particularly for young adults.

“The content is up to them,” Singer SEE POMONA, P5

On behalf of nonprofit Catch It In Time, executive director Keith Singer, third from left, presented Pomona High School with audio equipment as a part of the nonprofit’s contest. “It’s a good chance for them to see that just because you’re trying to do something for the community, you get rewarded,” said teacher Olivia Newman, fourth from left.

COURTESY OF KEITH SINGER

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Arvada Press 5

February 20, 2020

POMONA

‘I admire my students so much for jumping into this with me.’

FROM PAGE 4

said. “What they come up with is just amazing.”

‘Doing it for a reason’ As of Feb. 3, students from five Colorado schools had decided to participate in the contest, which will accept submissions through March 31 at videochallenge.catchitintime.org.

Several winners will receive prizes ranging from video production equipment to an internship with Catch It In Time. The winning videos will be featured on the Catch It In Time website.

Students may also choose to donate prizes to their school, said Olivia Newman, who teaches the Pomona elective.

This year will be the first Pomona is participating in the competition, Newman said.

“I admire my students so much for jumping into this with me,” she said.

“I’ve never seen them so driven.”

Senior Emillee Beltran agreed that the students have extra motivation for the project.

“We’re doing it for a reason,” she said, “so there’s more of a reason to put our hearts into it.”

Over the course of several weeks, the students have been working in groups to research, storyboard, script, shoot and edit their videos. Singer and some of the nonprofit’s partners, including Sarah Cannon Cancer Care and Research, have spoken to the class to provide background information

Olivia Newman, Pomana video production elective instructor LEARN MORE To learn more or register for the Catch It In Time Video Challenge, visit videochallenge.catchitintime.org To watch Catch It In Time videos, including winning videos from previous contests, visit catchitintime.org/stories

They added they have enjoyed the chance to join a film competition at a young age.

“It’s cool to have a practical application for our skills so early on in life,” Crumb Potmesil said.

A meaningful message Through Catch It In Time, teachers can apply for grants to provide students with the equipment they need. The process saw Pomona receive new audio equipment that will remain at the school even after the project is finished.

“It’s a good chance for them to see that just because you’re trying to do something for the community, you get rewarded,” Newman said.

The project stands out among the videos the students have created so far, they said, not only because of its

for the project.

Now, students are relying on their unique talents to make their videos stand out. Fish and Rosasco plan to produce a parody infomercial, while juniors Hayden Cameron, Presley Larson and Isaiah Nelson are producing a rap video for their project — the “first musical project” they’ve been able to complete in class, Larson said.

“We wanted to do something we like and challenge ourselves creatively,” Cameron said.

Crumb Potmesil and senior Britany Petersen’s project will also rely on music. In fact, it will rely completely on music, as opposed to any dialogue, to convey their video’s message, they said.

role in a state contest but also because of the topic it focuses on.

“I’ve never thought of getting tested for cancer,” Rosasco said, but research has shown him the importance of paying attention to symptoms.

He and Fish hope their video will help the nonprofit in its mission to create a culture in which cancer screenings for younger people “would just be normal,” Rosasco said.

While teenagers often hear messages like this, “it comes off as more understanding” when communicated by their peers, Fish said.

Nelson, his classmate, agreed, saying this has added to the importance of the project.

“A lot of us have already lost people to cancer,” Nelson said. “If we can help people catch it before it’s too late, they won’t have to live through that.”

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6 Arvada Press

February 20, 2020F

For some, 2020 marks fifth year on city’s Section 8 waitlist Arvada working to assist hundreds on list

Arvada resident Jane Doe received the paperwork for a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher on Jan. 15. Jane has been on the waitlist since 2015, moving from place to place in the meantime.

“I’ve really kept praying.

I’m just remembering to breathe and not forgetting to take care of myself,” she said.

BY CASEY VAN DIVIER CVANDIVIER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

W

hen Jane, a 45-year-old Arvada resident, applied for housing assistance in 2015, she was hoping to obtain a housing voucher to pay the rent, find her own apartment and quickly get back on her feet.

But the voucher from the federal Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program didn’t come through until Jan. 15 this year.

Until now, she has depended on the kindness of others, staying with her mother, her daughter and a childhood friend.

“It’s not been easy living in Arvada,” said Jane, who asked that her real name not be used because of safety concerns involving a former family member. “I have not had my own place in four years. I haven’t had a healthy space.”

Having received Section 8 assistance after more than four years of waiting, Jane’s struggle isn’t over yet: She has 90 days from Jan. 15 to find a place and a landlord who will accept the Section 8 voucher — an increasingly difficult proposition in a housing market where one-bedroom rents have increased by 22.5% over the past three years.

Section 8 in Arvada The Arvada Housing Authority (AHA) houses about 500 families through its Section 8 program, said Carrie Espinosa, the city’s housing choice voucher supervisor. The national program was created through 1974’s Housing and Community Development Act to assist low-income individuals and families in finding stable housing.

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), voucher-holders contribute 30% of their monthly income for rent and utilities while their voucher covers the rest, up to a limit established by the local authority. For those who have zero income, the voucher pays 100% of their rent, up to the authority limit. In Arvada, the limit for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,184 per month, including utilities.

To be eligible for a voucher, an individual or family must make less than 50% of the median area income. That number varies based on family size; for a family of four in Arvada, 50% of the 2019 median was $46,400, according to HUD. Nearly 200 individuals are on Arvada’s Section 8 waitlist. Individuals from across the country were eligible to apply, though recipients must use the voucher at an Arvada property.

The AHA began accepting applicants in 2015 and closed the list the same year after receiving around 4,300 applications, Espinosa said. The list has remained closed ever since.

Arvada housing manager Ed Talbot said he typically receives one or two emails every day from residents look-

CASEY VAN DIVIER

ing for housing assistance. Unable to add them to the list, the authority refers to other organizations, like Colorado Housing Connects, a nonprofit that keeps a database of open waitlists and other resources.

ABOUT THE SERIES

More than a year to go For many individuals on the list, a voucher won’t come easily.

HUD funding for the Section 8 program periodically increases because rents increase each year; the extra federal dollars are meant to cover those increases so authorities can keep housing their current voucher-holders and assist new individuals.

But federal increases haven’t kept up with yearly rent increases and “housing authorities across the nation are not getting the funding they need,” Espinosa said.

About a decade ago, “the rent increases we were seeing (for an individual) were anywhere from $10 to $50, maybe up to $100,” Espinosa said.

“There are some cases now where we’re seeing $500 rent increases coming in. It’s all over the place right now.”

According to website Zumper, an apartment listing site, Dec. 2019 median rents for a one-bedroom in Arvada increased 22.5% since Dec. 2016, from $1,020 to $1,250.

For two-bedrooms, the median rent increased 14.3%, from $1,400 to $1,600.

The website compiles active apartment listings to calculate median rents, it says. In 2017, Zumper medians fell in the same range as median costs reported by the US Census Bureau.

The bureau asks for renter costs, including utilities, with its most recent data (2017) showing renters paid a median of $1,208 a month. On average, Zumper’s medians were $1,006 for a one-bedroom and $1,348 for a two-bedroom that year.

The constant increases can make the wait for a voucher longer than This is Part I of a multi-part series by reporter Casey Van Divier, exploring the city of Arvada’s Section 8 program. Look for Part II in an upcoming issue.

expected.

Jane, for instance, was at the top of the Arvada list for years, able to track her place via the authority, she said.

She first applied for the voucher in 2015 when a severe gastrointestinal illness kept her from working. She was planning to return to work soon, once the symptoms were under control, but a car accident later that same year left her with a brain injury that affected some of her physical abilities, including her balance. She has been unable to return to work since, receiving county benefits and food stamps to cover some expenses while, for years, the lack of federal funds kept a Section 8 voucher out of her hands.

Logistical problems also contributed to the delay. Though the AHA attempted to reach out to Jane to offer a voucher in 2018, because she was living at her daughter’s address, the mail did not reach her, she said. Jane later asked the authority if vouchers were available that year, but the funding had already been awarded to someone else, she said.

The Arvada authority remains unsure when it will again accept new applications for the waitlist. Espinosa estimated it will take about a year and a half for the authority to assist all on the wailist.

November 2019 saw a chance for the authority to slightly accelerate the process. The Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the Arvada authority 30 additional mainstream housing choice vouchers for non-elderly individuals with a disability. The vouchers were distributed in January.

Jane, who has a brain injury, was one of those recipients. But the voucher is contingent on if she finds a landlord by April 14. Individuals can apply for an extension if necessary, which the housing authority may either grant or deny.

Struggle to find a landlord State law does not require landlords to work with Section 8 tenants. In SEE SECTION 8, P7

On its Resource Locator, the HUD identifies Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties, which must provide affordable rent to qualifying tenants, and Multifamily Housing properties accepting HUD rental assistance, such as Section 8 vouchers. In Arvada:

Properties with affordable units are listed

LIHTC properties are listed

Multifamily Housing properties are listed

LIHTC/Multifamily Housing properties are listed

Arvada Press 7

February 20, 2020

SECTION 8 FROM PAGE 7

Denver, a 2019 law prohibited landlords from discriminating based on a tenant’s source of income, but for other cities in the metro area, no such law exists.

Sheridan resident Elizabeth, who receives Section 8 assistance through Innovative Housing Concepts, the Englewood housing authority, says she was turned down by more than 10 landlords before she finally found somewhere to stay. Elizabeth asked her last name not be used because many do not know she receives Section 8 assistance.

“I was about to give up,” she said. “It was very difficult because the reputation for Section 8 is that you won’t take care of the house.”

When Jane and 29 others were given their vouchers, the AHA told them that although almost every Section 8 tenant can find a landlord in Arvada, some landlords will not work with a Section 8 voucher, Jane said.

“The first thing you ask is ‘do you accept Section 8,’” she said.

Some area landlords have long held that Section 8 vouchers come with significant challenges. In summer 2018, for instance, landlords asked Denver’s city council to vote no on the code revision to prevent discrimination against Section 8 tenants. They argued the program often burdens landlords by requiring extra paperwork and inspections.

An additional concern — that Sec-

TIL ONLY UN

TO QUALIFY FOR SECTION 8 Section 8 voucher-holders generally contribute 30% of their income to rent, with the voucher covering remaining expenses up to a limit established by the local public housing authority.

To qualify for a Section 8 voucher, a family or individual’s income must fall below 50% of the median area income. In the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metropolitan statistical area, which includes Jefferson County, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reported the 2019 median area income at $92,800.

Based on household size, families qualify for Section 8 when income is below: For an individual: $32,500 For a family of two: $37,150 For a family of three: $41,800 For a family of four: $46,400 For a family of five: $50,150 For a family of six: $53,850 For a family of seven: $57,550 For a family of eight: $61,250 Source: US Department of Housing and Urban Development tion 8 landlords incur costs when tenants cause property damage they cannot pay for — led the Denver mayor’s administration to explore a possible Landlord Risk Mitigation Fund. The fund would help landlords pay for such expenses.

The fund hasn’t yet been set up and provisions for the fund were not included in Denver’s 2020 budget.

While there are “a few steps involved in signing up as a Section 8 landlord, the process thereafter is like any other non-Section 8 rent

payment,” said Kristen Gines, chief people officer with the Jefferson County Housing Authority (JCHA).

The authority both gives out Section 8 vouchers, and accepts them as payment at rental properties it owns, including Arvada Cottages at 11923 W. 60th Pl. Few affordable options Gines suggested Section 8 landlords experience more benefits than burdens because payments are always issued on time. She added that to her and others at the JCHA, working with Section 8 tenants is also an important way to address the “large housing gap” created by unattainable rents.

“Our goal is to fill that gap with affordable options,” Gines said.

One such option, affordable housing units, are a necessity for voucher-holders, as vouchers do not cover rents beyond the specified limit. To incentivize new affordable housing projects, the federal government instituted the LIHTC program, or low-income housing tax credit program, covering some construction costs for those building affordable developments.

The HUD lists eight LIHTC developments in Arvada on its resource locator. The majority are located just south of Grandview Avenue, near W. 52nd Avenue and Allison Street, with a handful of others scattered across the city.

As the cost of living increases, representatives “need to work at the federal level to ensure accessible and affordable housing options are available for all Coloradans,” said Rep. Ed Perlmutter, who represents the

state’s 7th Congressional District. The district includes Arvada, Lakewood, Golden and Westminster.

Perlmutter has been part of several recent efforts to boost government funding for housing programs. He is a cosponsor of 2019’s Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, which would expand the LIHTC by 50%, and H.R. 5599, which would increase affordable housing construction by growing the National Housing Trust Fund. The first has more than 200 cosponsors and is currently in the Ways and Means Committee, while the second was introduced Jan. 14.

But while those efforts seek the necessary support and funding, Jane and others can find themselves spending day after day on waitlists, or making call after call to landlords.

The AHA has compiled a list of landlords who will work with Section 8 tenants, so that “rarely do we have a customer that is unable to find a unit in Arvada,” Espinosa said.

Even still, at times, the task at hand seems overwhelming, Jane said. So far, she estimated that she has reached out to more than a dozen landlords, with no success; many of the landlords will not consider her because of a previous eviction related to her inability to pay rent, she said.

“It’s really easy to fall out of faith when you’ve faced as much adversity as I have,” she said. “I’ve really kept praying.”

As she continues to search for a home, she works to stay positive.

“I’m just remembering to breathe,” she said, “and not forgetting to take care of myself.”

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8 Arvada Press

February 20, 2020F

Jeffco DA cites ‘significant concerns’ about jail releases Chief judge says situation should not impact court sentencing

JEFFCO JAIL RELEASES Jan 19: Jan 21: Feb 12: Feb 17:

BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On Feb. 12, the Jefferson County Sheriff ’s Office announced it would be releasing 23 inmates early as the jail population was once again two percent above its capacity of 1,148 beds.

Those releases marked the third time inmates have had to be released from the jail since the start of the year, when the sheriff closed the seventh floor of the jail as a result of budget cuts.

Since then, Jeffco Sheriff Jeff Shrader has repeatedly told both the county commissioners and the media that residents can expect the releases to continue for the duration of 2020.

Shrader has also warned that it is likely the county will soon have to begin limiting the number of people that are arrested and booked into the jail via “enhanced arrest standards.”

But while Shrader has been vocal about his frustration with the situation and the cuts he has been forced to make to his budget, Jeffco District Attorney Pete Weir said the continue released of inmates is also giving him “significant concerns” and presents “a significant public safety risk.”

Cities call for more jail funding

21 inmates 47 inmates 23 inmates 24 inmates

BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

“Individuals that are receiving jail time as a condition of probation or as a state sentence are doing so because their record merits it or the nature of the crime merits it,” Weir said. “Judges do not impose jail in a cavalier fashion so these are people we have significant concerns about.”

Weir said he was particularly troubled that over half of the 47 inmates released from the jail on Jan. 21 were serving time for drunk driving offenses, including some for sentences of a year or longer. Such sentences are only imposed, Weir said, for those who have a previous history of drunk driving and have already been sentenced to the alcohol treatment that is mandatory for first time offenders.

“That tells me some of these individuals that were released have a significant history of driving while intoxicated,” Weir said. “Now we are putting these people back out on our public streets and that’s extraordinarily concerning to me from a public safety risk standpoint.”

Weir also echoed Shrader’s concern that the releases take the teeth out of the system by preventing offenders

On Feb. 13, the municipal police chiefs of Jefferson County — representing Arvada, Edgewater, Golden, Lakewood, Morrison, Mountain View, Westminster and Wheat Ridge — submitted a letter to the county commissioners requesting that additional funding be provided to the Jefferson County jail. The letter, states that “not having a fully operational jail is detrimental to all of our communities.”

A portion of the letter reads: “Please know that we are fully aware of, and understand, the austere fiscal conditions that Jefferson County is currently facing. It is not our intention to try and dictate Jefferson County financial priorities. However, it is our duty to ensure the safety of our communities and when the county’s financial priorities impact that safety our voices need to be heard. We strongly believe that public safety should be the number one priority of government entities and adequately funding the Sheriff ’s department is paramount to providing safety for the residents of Jefferson County.” from seeing the full consequences of their actions.

“The system is not perfect but it’s been developed over a number of years and I think the data certainly strongly suggests that if you want to change behavior there needs to be a combination of both sanctions and rewards,” Weir said. “If you take the sanction component out of the equation then you are much less likely to change their behavior and people,

particularly these drunk driving offenders that have had repeated trouble following the law, are going to feel the consequences of their behavior are minimal.”

Shrader also noted that while there has been some conversation about alternate forms of sentencing, he feels those that are in jail generally should be in there because of the risk their

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Arvada Press 9

February 20, 2020

RELEASES FROM PAGE 8

presence in the community presents.

To justify that claim, he points to a study his office conducted last year that found that over 50 percent of those who felony charges are filed against in Jeffco are already under some sort of supervision relating to a felony, including probation or parole.

“It’s all well and good to say we should have these people out in our community but when they are out in our community the vast majority of these folks continue to commit felony crimes against our citizens,” Weir said. “And in my view that’s absolutely unacceptable.”

Impact on DA’s office goes beyond jail But while Weir’s concerns are top of mind, he said the jail situation is not changing his office’s approach to prosecuting cases.

“We approach the case to try to achieve what we feel is a just result and then the consequences of sentencing are just what they must be at that point,” Shrader said. “So we go in and advocate for what we believe is appropriate on behalf of protecting the community and then it’s up to the courts and jails to manage that.”

Weir also said his concerns about the budget cuts extend beyond the situation at the jail to concerns about a lack of funding for core public safety funding in Jeffco, including in the DA’s office. Weir said his office’s $23 million budget was slashed by about

$1 million last year. Those cuts were mostly felt in personnel reductions, including the slashing of the elder abuse crime unit by half and the reducing of the special victims unit, which deals with crimes against vulnerable populations, by 40 percent.

“Something has got to be done because we are cutting into muscle as far as my operations are concerned,” Weir said. “Public safety in Jeffco historically has had a reputation throughout the state for being absolutely excellent and that status is jeopardized by lack of funding.”

The continued early releases are also being noticed by the county’s judges, said Chief Judge Jeffrey Pilkington. But while he said those judges are “aware of ” and “sympathetic to” the challenges at the jail, Pilkington said those challenges are not leading the judges to change how they approach their work.

“If you are asking me if we do things differently as judges whether it be sentencing or setting bonds, I think the answer is that it’s business as usual,” he said.

Pilkington said that is because judges are guided by certain legal factors when determining both sentences and bond. However, the availability of jail facilities is not one of those factors to be considered.

“We still have to follow the law,” said Pilkington. “Does (the jail situation) have an impact on maybe more creative sentences? Maybe so. But we still have to follow what we think is the right sentence to impose and we try to do our best with what we have.”

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10 Arvada Press

LOCAL

February 20, 2020F

VOICES

Overcoaching can kill creativity

O

ne of my oldest friends just sent me a video montage of Ichiro Suzuki, the baseball player. In an 18-year career in America with three different teams, he was a .300 hitter, a Gold Glove outfielder, led the American League in stolen bases, and holds the major league record for hits in a season.

The video my friend sent to me was nothing but highlights of Ichiro hitting balls that were *not* in the strike zone for base hits. Some of them were not *close* to the strike zone, and some of those, he hit out of the park for home runs. It is a wildly entertaining video, as some of the hits don’t look like baseball as much as they do a tennis player playing “volley” to warm up before a match.

And, weirdly, one of the first things that jumped into my head was “this guy clearly never went to the University of Whatever” summer hitting HITTING camp. The swing is HOME so unorthodox, the approach to hitting so unusual, and the results… well, the results speak for themselves.

That dovetails nicely with an interview I heard on the radio last week. One of the sports stations was interviewing Michael Alcorn Dan Orlovsky, who is an analyst for ESPN who specializes

in quarterback play. And, as they were talking about the Kansas City Chief ’s remarkable young quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, Orlovsky said “He plays like he’s having fun. Like he’s never had the creativity coached out of him.”

Had the creativity coached out of him. Interesting thought, dontcha think?

Some of the greatest players to play any professional sport do it with a flair and a spontaneity that defy explanation. Nothing about their approach looks like the cookie-cutter approach everybody else seems to take. And, certainly, sometimes it doesn’t work out very well. But, then again, Patrick Mahomes just won a Super Bowl, and Ichiro had a 28-year professional

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Reframing socialism If your idea of socialism is limited to Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, East Germany, China, and North Korea, I can understand having negative opinion. Instead, study some modern European countries who have decided that society as a whole benefits from free universal health care, free child care, and free post-secondary education. Of course these things are not really “free,” but are paid for through taxes, higher than ours. But their societies do not have have to subsidize a health care system which wallows in administrative costs, deductibles, copays, non-coverage, and insurance and drug company profits (how else to pay for expensive commercials). They go to a doctor or hospital and the bill is paid.

And their single mothers and married mothers can contribute to the workforce without paying a significant portion of their earnings for child care. I suppose if critics scrutinized every unmarried mother’s situation they would conclude most did not deserve society’s support.

Europeans who make more money contribute more in taxes, and I suppose some people pay nothing. But in our society, in addition to our relatively low taxes, we pay the social costs of families going bankrupt over uninsured health expenses, mothers who can barely feed their kids, and jails full of those who just bailed out altogether (we pay a lot for their care). I would rather pay more in taxes to create a more just and happy society, and would not grouse over the few bottom feeders who might be taking advantage.

David Wolf, Lakewood

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Focus more on issues The media is presenting the election and the Democratic primaries and caucuses as though they were a horse race.

We get poll numbers, scores, demographics, and percentages, but we don’t get issues. Who is talking about issues?

How are we supposed to know who to vote for if we don’t hear views on critical issues such as the environment and climate change?

I don’t care how many offices or door knockers a candidate has, I care about his/her opinions and plans.

Kathleen Flynn, Arvada Wannabe emperor has no clothes Now past his possible removal via impeachment, Donald Trump is as arrogant as ever, or worse!

A frequent letter to the editor writer complained about “hate” from the left side a couple weeks ago. Hasn’t he been listening at all Trump’s cruel and unusual and hateful texting, and even worse his actions, such as most recently with our Dept. of Justice?

Given all Trump’s words and treatment of “loser” people, ranging from immigrants to other minorities and even, of people he hired for the White House and then fired for criticizing his personal wishes. How can his supporters discard precious American values and vote for him? How many years will it take us to back to the values that respect all our fellow Americans and even humanity across this shrinking globe?

Ron Vander Kooi, Arvada

career, so sometimes, it does. It really does.

As a teacher, I understand the reliance on proven techniques, and the need to drill fundamentals into young students. Without a foundation, there is no achievement. But I think sometimes, as a society, we get caught up in trying to “overcoach” our kids. I’m guilty of it, too. My son loves to go out in the driveway and kick the soccer ball around. For a time, I started trying to get him to “work on things,” and, weirdly, he stopped wanting to go out and kick the ball around so much.

My bad.

Those 8, 10, 12-year old kids should be going out in the yard, playing SEE ALCORN, P11

We’re building on proven scholarship success

S

B20-006 passed the Senate unanimously on Feb. 13 and is set to be heard in the House soon.

I’m a big advocate for leveraging our successes in the state legisGUEST lature, and so recently we capital- COLUMN ized on an obvious opportunity in the field of higher education. A bill introduced in 2014 worked so well, it prompted us to expand its reach, thus helping untold thousands of Sen. Rachel students to receive Zenzinger college degrees.

As a student, I worked multiple jobs at a hotel, as a landscaper, and in a bookstore— often at the same time. It seemed as though I was always working in order to pay for school, and it was honestly discouraging. But I was one of the lucky ones who managed to get through—if you can count someone as “lucky” who now has a lifetime of student debt.

Tuition costs have skyrocketed since then — and a college degree has become an expectation for most Colorado jobs. In fact, a 2013 George-

town study predicted that by the end of this year, Colorado’s economy will require the second most educated workforce in the nation, with 74% of jobs needing some kind of postsecondary education. Yet, according to a Denver Post article from November, Colorado ranks 47th nationally for post-secondary education funding.

There is a stark gap in our education priorities. As illustrated in my own example, students worry about how to pay for their education almost as much as they worry about their actual classwork.

To help make education affordable and accessible for Coloradans everywhere, I have sponsored legislation (SB20-006) to amend the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) and build on a program that has proven its worth. Through COSI, we have awarded $47 million in scholarships to over 75,000 students in 61 Colorado counties. But the COSI program does more than simply throw money at recipients and say, “Good luck.” It offers support services such as counseling, tutoring, and assistance that help students address all the non-classroom related challenges that often derail the students on

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SEE ZENZINGER, P24 Arvada press A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Arvada Press is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 14143 Denver West Pkwy., Suite 100, Golden 80401.

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Arvada Press 11

February 20, 2020

A primary primer for Jefferson County

N

ow that we are in the middle of the first presidential primary in Colorado in 20 years, the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder’s office has been getting a lot of questions. Here are some answers: Why are we having this primary now?

In 2016, Colorado voters overwhelming passed a ballot initiative that re-established a presidential primary.

Though this election is new for many Colo- GUEST rado voters, we run COLUMN it just like all other Colorado elections.

We mailed ballots on Monday, Feb. 10, and voters have until 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, March 3, to complete and turn in their ballots to any of our 24-hour drop boxGeorge Stern es or in-person vote centers. Jefferson County has doubled the number of drop boxes available (using state – not county – funds) from 15 to 30 in the last year. Voters may also return their ballots via the U.S. Postal Service, but postmarks do not count, so if you choose to use this method, we recommend mailing your ballot by Feb. 24.

ALCORN FROM PAGE 10

around with their buddies, trying to imitate their favorite players, no matter how strange it might look.

That is where creativity is developed, that is where talent starts to take hold, and—wait for it—that is where the joy of the game is learned.

A 10-year old quarterback should not be out in their back yard practicing a precision 5-step drop with a crisp pivot and core thrust towards a target…without throwing the ball. That’s fine for a varsity high school player trying to hone their technique; it doesn’t make a lot of sense for a kid who still hasn’t hit their growth spurt. And, to be fair, I would say the same thing about a young musician: I would never advocate for a 10-year old musician to spend

ST. JOAN OF ARC

This election is the presidential primary only. The state primary is still in June and will have candidates for U.S. Senate and House, as well as state and local races.

How do unaffiliated voters participate?

For the first time ever in a presidential primary in Colorado – and for only the second time in any primary – unaffiliated voters can participate.

Registered Republicans will receive a ballot with the Republican candidates for president. Registered Democrats will receive a ballot with the Democratic candidates for president. And unaffiliated voters will receive both ballots – but may only return one! Voters registered with minor parties (e.g., the Libertarian or Green Party) are not eligible to vote in these primaries.

Can 17 year olds really vote?

Because of legislation that passed last year, Colorado has joined 16 other states across the country – including red and blue states – in allowing 17 year olds to vote in primary elections if they will be 18 by the general election. So, a young person who is 17 today and will turn 18 by Nov. 3, 2020 can vote in Colorado’s March and June primaries. Eligible 17 year olds who were pre-registered received a ballot along with everyone else. Eligible 17

hours a day on scales and arpeggios, never to actually play music. Let them discover the joy of music first, then work towards the minutiae that takes them where they want to go.

Our kids are not in a good place right now, as a society. And I am quite certain that part of it is there’s no joy in anything. As Orlovsky further said, “the so-called ‘adults’ need to put their minds towards building the best 22-year olds, and stop worrying so much about the bragging rights of having the best 12-year old at the P.T.A. meeting.”

Michael Alcorn is a teacher and writer who lives in Arvada with his wife and three children. His new novel, “Charon’s Blade,” is available at Amazon.com, on Kindle, or through MichaelJAlcorn.com.” His opinions are not necessarily those of Colorado Community Media.

DENVER METRO

been called one of the safest states to cast a ballot by experts on both ends of the political spectrum because of the measures we take to ensure election security, including paper ballots, machines that are never connected to the internet and are tested by bipartisan teams, and rigorous post-election audits.

How can I learn more?

You can find more information, including voting locations and an election security backgrounder at VoteJeffco.com. You can also receive the same info on your mobile phone by texting “Jeffco” to 28683. Or, you can call us at 303-271-8111, visit us at any of our inperson vote centers, or join us at our public tour and town hall on Thursday, Feb. 27.

George Stern is the Jefferson County clerk and recorder. He lives in Golden where he also serves as a volunteer firefighter.

In Loving Memory Place an Obituary for Your Loved One. Private 303-566-4100 Obituaries@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

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year olds who were not pre-registered – and any eligible citizen who is 18 or older – can register to vote up until 7 p.m. on Election Night by visiting one of our in-person vote centers.

Why are there candidates on the ballot who have already dropped out?

State law requires the Secretary of State’s office to certify ballot content several weeks before we mail ballots, so there are candidates on both parties’ ballots who have already dropped out. We recommend you do your research to find a candidate you support who is still in the race.

Any risk that Colorado will have the same issues as Iowa?

Iowa has caucuses, which are run by the political parties, and often by volunteers. Colorado has primary elections, which are run by professional election administrators. Our Jefferson County elections team has more than 100 years of election experience between us. Additionally, Colorado has

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12 Arvada Press

LOCAL

February 20, 2020F

LIFE

IDEAS OFFER

arts

UNLIMITED Sensory- and memory-friendly events give opportunities for expression

BY NICK PUCKETT NPUCKETT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

he Barros family has difficulty finding programs they all can attend.

“We try to take them to events as much as I can, but the kids at this age don’t pay attention for an hour,” Fernando Barros said.

Following a Jan. 12 sensory-friendly program at the Lone Tree Arts Center, Barros said he was lucky to be close to the arts center for its regularly scheduled programming of shows open to kids who may need to blurt or move around during a theater show or who have sensitivities to light or sound.

The strict etiquette of theater performances or art galleries can be difficult to follow for people with disabilities or those suffering from memory loss.

Throughout Denver, arts and culture venues are offering specialized programs for those who need special attention. “Arts for all” programs give families a place to enjoy the arts without worrying about being a disturbance to others.

“We want families to feel like they have a place to come and feel welcome at the theater,” said Robin Scurto, annual giving director at the Lone Tree Arts Center who oversees the arts-for-all programs.

“However they enjoy they arts, they’re allowed to do that.”

A sensory safe place Sensory-friendly programming is the heart of the Lone Tree Arts Center’s “arts for all” initiative. Arts for all programs are becoming more common staples to local arts centers.

Facilities including the Butterfly Pavilion, Denver Aquarium, Denver Museum of Nature & Science and Denver Botanic Gardens offer sensory friendly hours as well.

Low-sensory programming can look different based on the facility. Lone Tree Arts Center hands out fidget objects and a quiet room for kids to cool off if needed. Arts centers in Arvada, Littleton and Parker all have some sensory friendly programming. Many partner with Phamaly Theatre Company, a Denverbased theater group made up of people with disabilities.

Darion Ramos, company production manager at Phamaly, said most low-sensory programs aims to limit surprises, flashing

Phamaly Theatre Company performers during HONK! the musical. Phamaly hosts sensory friendly programming to families who need a little extra space or are sensitive to light and loud noises.

COURTESY PHOTO lights and loud noises, for the most part.

“We want to make sure everyone is welcome and everyone is comfortable,” Ramos said. “It feels less intruding if parents take their kids to the sensory-friendly performance.”

Different shows are modified in different ways to accommodate sensitive kids. The house lights are dimmed to half, microphones and sound effects are tempered and families are allowed more space between themselves and others. No clapping is allowed. Instead, the audience is asked to applaud in American Sign Language, which looks similar to jazz hands.

Before the show, actors and any scary characters are introduced. A sensoryfriendly guide will assist families in the lobby.

“Bottom line, it’s important to have that space for people so everyone can come out and enjoy theater and be comfortable,” Ramos said. “No matter what’s going on the world, theater is one of those releases … Just because you can’t sit still in your seat or have to make noises and be yourself doesn’t mean you can’ t come to the theater because other people are going to care.”

Annual Dragon Film Festival roars in return

A

sia’s dynamic and varied cultures have histories and stories that go back thousands of years, and as “Parasite” thrillingly displayed at this year’s Oscars, there are many, many stories still to tell. As the only all Asian and Asian-American film festival in the state, the Colorado Dragon Film Festival is committed to telling some of these stories.

“We want to ensure Coloradoans are able to view unique films from Asian and AsianCOMING American talents,” ATTRACTIONS explained Sara Moore, executive director of Dragon 5280, which is hosting the festival for the first time with Denver Film.

“This is definitely a needed festival here in Colorado, which provides a Clarke Reader unique opportunity to view cinema that most normally wouldn’t have access to.”

The fifth annual Colorado Dragon Film Festival runs from Thursday, Feb. 20 through Sunday, Feb. 23, at the Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver.

The theme for this year’s festival is “Wellness in the Community,” and as such, the films shown over 10 screenings explore the ways that wellness expresses itself in community relationships, food, identity, healthcare, LGBTQ health, and the arts, according to provided information.

To organize the festival, Dragon 5280 worked with Denver Film’s Matthew Campbell on a lineup that features an exciting blend of films and informative events.

Notable highlights including opening night film, “The Wandering Chef,” which follows celebrity chef Im Ji-ho as he explores Korea in search of interesting culinary and medicinal ingredients, and “Koshien: Japan’s Field of Dreams,” which lets viewers in on the way Japan approaches the great American pastime.

On the interactive side, the festival is hosting fascinating “Creative Conversation” events, the majority of which are free, regardless of if an attendee sees the corresponding film or not. Examples include the “Best Tasting Wild Foods of Colorado,” event held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, which serves as an

SEE ARTS, P13 SEE READER, P13

Arvada Press 13

February 20, 2020

ARTS FROM PAGE 12

Tapping into memories Once a week the Colorado Alzheimer’s Association visits with one of 90 arts centers in the state to lead a group of Alzheimer’s patients in watercolor classes. The Memories in the Making program gives patients the opportunity to express themselves through painting.

“It’s amazing how you see different people’s personal styles come out and the way they move the brush and the color choices they make, how far they go to the edges of the paper,” said Lisa Steffan, Memories in the Making art program coordinator. “There’s a lot of personal expression in the style in the way they work.”

The Memories in the Making program has been offered by the Colorado chapter since 1994. Each week, a group paints in watercolors based on either an image or an object. Painting helps the artists express their emotions or feelings that lead to deep memories. The most important part of the process is the interaction the artist has with one

READER FROM PAGE 12

introduction to foods and medicines found in the backcountry of Colorado; and a Chinese opera mask making event held at 6:15 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23.

At 2 p.m. on the 23rd the University of Colorado Denver’s College of Arts and Media is hosting a Colorado showcase and filmmaker talkback.

The event includes narrative and documentary shorts exploring wellness in a variety of areas, all of it connected to Colorado.

“The main thing we want to communicate is that everybody has a story, and it’s important to share those stories,” Moore said. “By sharing, we’re able to appreciate and understand different cultures and backgrounds. The festival is a chance for us to come together as

During Phamaly Theater Company’s sensory friendly performance of “Chicago,” families could sit with empty seats around them. Before the show, the characters are introduced to the audience to limit surprises. The house lights are dimmed to half and the microphones are tempered to accommodate sensitive groups.

COURTESY PHOTO of the group facilitators. Through casual conversation, the artists tap

into memories the facilitator will write on the back of each painting.

one and celebrate all the cultures in our state.”

For tickets (both individual and packages) and information, visit www.cdfilm.org.

A new light on a yoga class Highland Ranch’s Recreation Center at Southridge is providing one of the more unique approaches to yoga I’ve seen with its Adult Glow in the Dark Yoga event.

Held at the rec center, 4800 McArthur Ranch Road, from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, this event is only for those 21-years-old and older.

A ticket for the event includes glow paint, necklace, one glass of wine or beer, with additional available for purchase, and light appetizers. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 303-791-2500 or visit www.

HRCAonline.org/Events.

Saluting those who air guitar Lakewood’s Benchmark Theatre is kicking off its new season with some serious laughs, courtesy of the regional premiere of Chelsea Marcantel’s “Airness.”

The show runs through Feb. 29, with performances at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings and 2 p.m. on Sunday at The Bench at 40 West in the 40West Arts District, 1560 Teller St. There will also be one Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. on the 29th.

Directed by Marc Stith, the show focuses on Nina, as she enters her first air guitar competition. The show is the first taste of the 2020 season’s theme of “Hopes and Fears,” and you can learn more and get tickets at www.benchmarktheatre.com.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week Rapsody at the Marquis and Fox theaters Since about 2008, North Carolina’s Rapsody has proven herself to be one of rap’s most thrilling voices, earning her a notable feature on Kendrick Lamar’s seminal album, “To Pimp A Butterfly.”

SUSAN M. DUNCAN FAMILY YMCA 6350 Eldridge St., Arvada 303 422 4977

DenverYMCA.org/Arvada

Artists can take several weeks to finish a single piece, but the end goal is not necessarily the painting.

The effects of expressing oneself through painting can last for days at a time, Steffan said.

“We often talk about how it depends on using what they have. Not focusing on what they’ve lost but focusing on what they can still do in the present moment,” Steffan said.

“Painting has a soothing quality to it that, once they get started on something and get into a groove, they’re not focused on somebody telling them what to do.”

At a Lone Tree Arts Center Jan. 30 SPARK! event, a partnership program between the Alzheimer’s Association and local art centers, patrons were asked to interpret what they saw in a collection of abstract-realist paintings from the late Joellyn Duesberry, a Denver painter. Some saw a horse’s face in the rocks of a cascading waterfall or dirt mounds from fox holes in a painting of piles of chili peppers in a Peruvian desert. What they saw helped unlock memories from their past.

“You don’t need to remember what you ate for breakfast to be able to look at a painting and have an opinion,” Scurto said.

She released one of the best albums of 2019 with “Eve,” a tribute to important women of color throughout history. It’s full of songs that celebrate their vitality and societal contributions, like the soulful closer, “Afeni,” which features lines like, “I don’t know where I would be/If you weren’t here with me./If you don’t hear anybody else sayin’,/Please know you’re appreciated.”

Rapsody will be performing twice in the area. First at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St. in Denver, and at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23 at the Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St. in Boulder.

Get tickets for the Marquis at www. themarquistheater.com, and the Fox at www.foxtheatre.com.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail. com.

14 Arvada Press

THINGS to DO

THEATER

Up Next at Colorado ACTS: Rapunzel’s Tangled Tale: Performances: 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, and 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at Colorado ACTS Theatre, 11455 West Interstate 70 Frontage Road, North, Wheat Ridge.

General admission: All tickets sold at the door. Doors open half hour before show. Visit coloradoacts. org or call 303-456-6772 for more information.

Miners Alley Children’s Theatre Presents: Hansel and Gretel: Runs through Feb. 29 with performances on Saturdays at 1 p.m. Feb. 22 & 29 at 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. Tickets are $12 and available by calling 303-935-3044 or online at minersalley.com. Miners Alley Playhouse is located at 1224 Washington Ave. Golden.

ART

Have your artwork professionally critiqued: 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 4 at Clements Community Center, 1580 Yarrow St., Lakewood. Popular Colorado Artist, Educator, Author and Speaker will be our guest at Mountainside Art Guild to critique a piece of your art. All artists are welcome.

For more information, contact Nancy Wylie at 303-420-8169 or email@nwylie.com.

this week’s TOP FIVE LCC Presents Cuentos: Tales from the Latino World with David Gonzales: 7-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Pkwy., Lakewood. David Gonzales, recipient of the International Performing Arts for Youth “Lifetime Achievement Award for Sustained Excellence,” paints a vivid picture of the people and rich cultures of the Spanishspeaking world with colorful tales from the Caribbean, South America and the Bronx! Suitable for audiences ages 6 and older. Tickets start at $7.

Visit lakewood.org for more information.

3rd Annual Casa Bonita Art Exhibition: Opening reception: 6-10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 at Next Gallery, W. Colfax Ave., Unit B, Lakewood. Artists from all over the Denver Metro area have created art that celebrates the iconic Lakewood restaurant. Sopapillas, honey, and chocolate banditos will be donated by Casa Bonita. The show through March 8. Visit nextartgallerydenver.com for more information.

Bowling Nite: 6:30-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 at Wheat Ridge Lanes, 6595 W. 38th Ave., Wheat Ridge.

EVENTS

A ‘gather and greet’ coffee and/ or lunch discussion group: Noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 at Malone’s, 14455 W 64th Ave Unit G, Arvada. We will talk about living, our own psychology for living, how we cope now, and perhaps some ideas about how we can do so in the future. Free coffee, buy y.o. lunch. For more information, call Dr. Ruth Gannon Cook 312.543.2675.

LEGO® Play & Build at the Wheat Ridge Library: 4:30 to 5;30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 20 at Wheat Ridge Library, 5475 W. 32nd Ave., Wheat Ridge. Calling all LEGO® fans!

Builders of all ages are welcome

We’ll be meeting at one of Wheat Ridge’s coolest hangout spots for a fun night of bowling with friends and neighbors. For $10 per person, you’ll get lane, shoe rental and bowling for two and a half hours. Visit wearelocalworks.org for more information.

Mardi Gras at Arvada UMC: 5-7 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 25 at Arvada United Methodist Church, 6750 Carr St., Arvada. Come in costume and enjoy a wonderful pancake supper, including scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausage.

We will have crafts, games, a parade, and a talent show by some of the wonderful small groups of musicians in our congregation. Email info@ arvadaumc.org for more information.

Catana Chetwynd: Arvada Center Literary Series: 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23 at The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada. Join celebrated artist and author Catana Chetwynd for this unique and charming addition to the Arvada Center Literary Series as she discusses her work and newest collection, Snug. Price: $22. Visit arvadacenter.org for more information.

$19 (non-res. $24).

Pre-registration is a must. Visit apexprd. org for more information.

MUSIC

Free Folk Music Songcircle: 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23 at the Arvada Library, 7525 W. 57th Ave., Arvada. This song circle is held on the last Sunday of each month and is sponsored by area residents who love folk music. Bring your instruments, songbooks (optional), or just your voices. It is round-robin style - each person has the option to participate and can lead a song or request a song.

We use the “Rise Up Singing” and “Rise Again” songbooks and will have extra copies on hand. Email folkmusic64@gmail.com for more information. Open to all. Free.

February 20, 2020F

to drop in and build their own creations. What story will you tell?

We provide the LEGO® bricks and LEGO DUPLO® for younger kids.

Visit jeffcolibrary.org for more information.

QPR Suicide Prevention Training at Arvada UMC: 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23 at Arvada United Methodist Church, 6750 Carr St., Arvada. All adults are welcome to join us after our 10am service for this mental health awareness event. Childcare is available. Email info@arvadaumc. org for more information.

Family Fun Night: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28 at Apex Center, 13150 W. 72nd Ave., Arvada.

Need some fun and adventurous family bonding time? Join us at the Apex Center for Family Fun Night! Registration fee includes swimming, rock climbing, ice skating, bounce house, and pizza dinner for 1 parent and 1 child. Res.

DGMG Jewelry, Gem & Mineral Show: Feb. 28 through March 1 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 15200 West 6th Ave., Golden. Fun for the whole family, with beautiful minerals from around the world, ancient fossils, meteorites from outer space, rocks that glow in the dark, and of course magnificent hand-crafted jewelry.

Visit denvergem.org/Shows.html for more information.

WinterFest, a free outdoor celebration: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 29 at McIlvoy Park, 5750 Upham St., Arvada. Come experience live cultural performances, art demonstrations, craft vendors and winter-themed attractions at this free familyfriendly event. Event is free. Visit arvadafestivals.com/winterfest for more information.

HEALTH

Buddy Saturday//Free Fitness Class: 9:15 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday, March 14 at The Studio on 64th, 6350 Wadsworth, Unit A, Arvada.

Every month The Studio opens its doors to our community & offers a free 75 minute “COMBO” class which includes kickboxing, kettlebells & yoga and is beginner

friendly. If you are new to kickboxing or want a little refresher, join us for an intro session at 9:15 am. Class will start at 9:30 am. Email StudioOn64@ gmail.com or call 303-4236067 for more information.

Food Pantry Agape Life Church distributes free food from 10-11 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month (weather permitting) at the church, 5970 W. 60th Ave. in Arvada. ALC provides this service to all qualifying Colorado residence. Call 303-4316481 to see if you qualify.

EDUCATION

Foothills Genealogy Society Class: 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 at Applewood Valley United Methodist Church, 2035 Ellis St., Golden. Pam Heath, FHGS Education Coordinator, will show you in her presentation, “Census Records: Taking the Next Step. In class you will learn what you can glean from census records and where that information will lead you to search. Suggested donation: $5.00. Visit foothillsgenealogy.org for more information.

Drop In Tech Help at the Wheat Ridge Library: 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Wheat

Ridge Library, 5475 W. 32nd Ave., Wheat Ridge. Get personalized technology assistance and instruction from one of our experts on your own device or a library computer. Visit jeffcolibrary.org for more information.

Crochet for Beginners (Event 1 of 2): 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Wheat Ridge Library, 5475 W. 32nd Ave., Wheat Ridge. Crochet the day away at the Library! Learn the basics of crocheting in this two-part, hands-on workshop.

Yarn and hooks supplied. Registration required for both sessions.

Beginning Crocheting Class (Event 2 of 2) 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 8. Visit jeffcolibrary.org for more information.

Suing for Freedom: Slavery and the Law in Early America: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24 at Golden History Museum and Park, 923 10th St. This presentation by Dr. Honor Sachs follows the story of one extended slave family in Virginia who initiated dozens of freedom suits over multiple generations between the American Revolution and the 1820s, claiming freedom by reason of Native American descent.

Visit goldenhistory.org for more information.

TriceraTOTs Preschool Program: TriceraTOTs is a toddler program perfect for children ages 2-5 years. The program consists of reading 2-4 dinosaur-themed books and then participating in a 15-minute craft or activity. The program lasts 30-45 minutes. Cost: $5/child (non-member); $3/child (FODR member); children age one or under are free. Attendance: Limit to 20 children. Register at dinoridge. org/tours-programs/triceratotspreschool-program/.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute/DU, OLLI West: Classes for 50-plus in art, literature, music, history, philosophy, politics, science, wellness, and the world. Classes meet at the Jefferson Unitarian Church at 14350 32nd Ave. No tests; learn as much as you want. Go to portfolio.du.edu/olliwest or call 303-503-3992.

Editor’s note: Calendar submissions must be received by noon Wednesday for publication the following week. To place a calendar item, go to eventlink. coloradocommunitymedia.com.

Things to Do events run free, on a space-available basis.

Arvada Press 15

February 20, 2020

Environmental film festival returns bigger and better for 14th year Golden Festival will showcase 60 films from 22 countries

IF YOU GO WHAT: The 14th Annual Colorado Environmental Film Festival WHEN: Feb. 20-23 WHERE: The American Mountaineering Center, 710 10th St., Golden COST: There are several options for festival passes. Tickets to individual two hour-screening sessions are $9 for adults and $4 for kids. There is a free opening night event featuring a two-hour screening at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 20 (advanced registration required).

BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When the Colorado Environmental Film Festival returns to Golden for the 14th straight year later this month, festival veteran Dave Steinke says festgoers can expect an event that is both bigger and better than ever.

“This is by far the strongest line up of films I have seen during the 14 years,” said Steinke, the festival’s vice president and a filmmaker in his own right that is heavily involved in the selection process. “No matter what segments chose to see learn something and be smarter and I think you’ll be moved by these very powerful films.”

Both Steinke and the festival’s director, Nicole Bickford, say the increase in quality is a result of the festival’s adoption of a new submission platform that made it easier for filmmakers to submit. This year the festival received 187 entries when it typically receives about 120. Bickford said the increase in both quantity and quality also led the festival to ultimately add more films to its line-up.

“So we are actually showcasing over 60 films this year which is a record for us,” she said. “Getting 60 films into

A still from “Queen Without Land,” a film about the impact of climate change in the Artic, that will screen on Friday, Feb. 21 at the Colorado Environmental Film Festival in Golden.

COURTESY PHOTO the short time frame we have is pretty awesome. And we have films from 22 countries this year so it really is kind of a worldwide overview of films and topics.”

But while the festival has grown, Steinke and Bickford both agree that one of its great appeals remains its still relatively small size and intimate feel. While part of the appeal of any film festival is the chance to see and hear from those involved with making the film, Steinke said the CEFF is unique in that every film is represented by someone involved in making it and the festival’s small size makes it easy to interact with those people.

Folk Music Legends

Saturday • March 28 Paramount Theatre

“It can give people a really fun and unique chance to maybe sit down and have a beer with one of the filmmakers that threw all of their passion and love into telling these stories,” said Bickford.

In addition to the film screenings, which consist of short and featurelength films as well as youth entries made by kids under 18, the festival also includes an exhibition of environmental photographs.

Photographer Cheryl Opperman said the goal of the workshop is to present a diverse range of images that will educate and motivate people around environmental issues.

“I think when people see something (in a photo) they connect with it and it often inspires them to take action,” Opperman said of the value of the exhibition.

The festival’s 60 films also present a diverse range of subjects ranging from deer migration in Wyoming, which is explored in Deer 139, to the 1983 protests of Rocky Flats near Golden. Just don’t go in thinking all of the films will be depressing, Steinke said.

“I think some people think ‘it’s oh my god we are ruining the Earth and you will come out of it depressed and sad’ and yeah, we have some films like that, but also we have so many uplifting films that have hope and that tell you about ways that you can make the difference after you watch. I think it’s worth it to come out and feel like you are doing something learning and becoming educated.”

16 Arvada Press

LOCAL

February 20, 2020F

SPORTS

Gregersen makes big splash, wins 5A girls diving state title

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

THORNTON — Ralston Valley junior Izzy Gregersen claimed her first diving state championship during the Class 5A girls swimming and diving state finals Friday, Feb. 14.

Gregersen already had a pair of top-10 finishes — 3rd in 2019 and 7th in 2018 — under her belt. While she admitted there was a bit of pressure being the favorite heading to the finals at the VMAC in Thornton, the junior’s main focus is clear.

“I want to do well,” Gregersen said after the prelims and semifinals held Thursday, Feb. 13. “We’ll see how it turns out. I’ll come in, do my best and have fun with everybody.”

Everything turned out gold for Gregersen. The junior amassed 497.45 points to have a 10.05 margin over Horizon senior Ally Brown.

During the prelims and semifinals held Thursday morning Gregersen was in the center of the action at the VMAC. She had a chair set up right in the middle of the pool deck between the three diving boards talking many of the other 43 5A divers that qualified to state during the eight rounds of dives.

Gregersen finished the semifinals first with a point total of 351.1.

Heritage senior Grace Downing was a close second with 348.6 going to the finals. Downing eventually finished eighth.

“It’s really just fun to be out here.

I’m used to diving club,” said Gregersen, who is ranked nationally. “I find it more fun and laid back.”

Ralston Valley had the largest contingent of divers than any 5A program. The Mustangs qualified six —

Ralston Valley junior Izzy Gregersen, second from the right, hangs out with the other Class 5A state divers during the prelims Thursday, Feb. 13, at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center in Thornton. Gregersen won the 5A diving competition on Feb. 14.

PHOTOS BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Gregersen, Jordan Okamoto, Payton Roberts, Kelly Heald, Gigi Borghi and Sophie Trudell — to the state meet.

Okamoto and Roberts both finished in the top-20. Okamoto placed 10th and Roberts took 17th.

“I love hanging out with Payton (Roberts) and Jordan (Okamoto). They make diving more fun,” Gregersen said. “I also enjoy hanging out with

the other teams and getting to know them.”

Roberts a senior and three-sport athlete — gymnastics, diving and track — has already signed to dive at the University of Idaho. Okamoto has a bright future ahead as just a sophomore.

Gregersen has a chance next year to be a two-time state champion

Ralston Valley junior Izzy Gregersen was all smiles after racking up 497.45 points to win the Class 5A state diving title at the 5A girls swimming and diving state championships held Feb. 13 and 14 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center. before heading onto the college ranks.

Gregersen says that she has talked to a few schools, but hasn’t narrowed down her list of colleges yet.

Dennis Pleuss is a media specialist for Jeffco Public Schools with a focus on athletics and activities. For more Jeffco coverage, go online at CHSAANow. com.

Jeffco swimmers in state action STAFF REPORT

Green Mountain senior Emma Neuroth, left, launches herself into the water during the start of the 100-yard backstroke final at the Class 3A girls swimming and diving state championship Feb. 15 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center in Thornton. Neuroth placed sixth with a time of 59.68 seconds. The Rams placed 11th in the overall team standings.

PHOTOS BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Jefferson County athletes were wellrepresented in the 3A and 5A girls state finals swim meet, Feb. 14 and 15 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center in Thornton. The 4A meet began this week, after print deadline.

In 3A, the Evergreen girls won their second straight state title, starting off strong with the team win in the 200 medley relay, and continued that dominance, with another big win in the 400-free relay.

D’Evelyn’s 200 medley team took ninth.

Green Mountain’s team took 24th.

Remi Gucker of Evergreen took 3rd in the 200-free, followed by Alexandria Ouellette in fifth.

A total of four Jeffco swimmers made the top-10 in the 50-free race. Junior Caitlin Smith of Evergreen, and freshman Ava Anderson of D’Evelyn tied for third place in that event.

Two Green Mountain divers, Lucy Meinert (11th) and Emily Kruse (19th) represented the top Jeffco divers.

In the 200 freestyle relay, Green

D’Evelyn’s 200-yard freestyle relay team prepares for the championship finals during the Class 3A girls swimming and diving state championships Feb. 15 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center in Thornton.

Mountain’s team took fourth, edging out Evergreen’s fifth-place squad.

In 5A action, Ralston Valley can boast a state champion in diving, in Izzy Gregersen. Junior RV breaststroke swimmer Anslee Dickerson just cracked the top 10.

Arvada Press 17

February 20, 2020

POMONA PREP PARAGONS

Pomona High School held a National Letter of Intent celebration Tuesday, Feb. 11.

Those signers included from left, Sanjay Strickland, football, Colorado State University; Kyle Moretti, football, Central Michigan University; Kylee Monaco, golf, Northeastern Jr. College; Bethany Tiscareno, softball, Otero Jr. College; Ashlyn Mathers, softball, Augustana-Illinois; Alexandra Stunkard, basketball, North Central University (MN); Trevor Baskin, basketball, Colorado Mesa University; Zoe Hendrix, soccer, Doane University; Garrett Bishop, football, New Mexico State University.

PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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February 20, 2020F

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Arvada Press 23

February 20, 2020

Amidst lawsuit, Everitt Middle works to ‘reinvigorate the perception’ Area parents discuss their differing views of Wheat Ridge schools

BY CASEY VAN DIVIER CVANDIVIER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Becca Shramek, whose eighthgrade daughter attends Everitt Middle School in Wheat Ridge, has seen firsthand the positive effects of the school’s recent improvement efforts, particularly those focusing on social-emotional health.

“They have two emotional support dogs, they do gratitude journals,” Shramek said. “My daughter’s only sadness about middle school is that her time at Everitt was so short.”

But amid an attempt to change what some have called a negative reputation, the school has been involved in several controversies, causing other parents in the community to say Everitt’s improvements have a long way to go — and causing Superintendent Jason Glass and the schoolboard to “look at a new vision for that school,” Glass said.

The proposal comes at a time when the school has received significant local media attention for a lawsuit surrounding the school, filed last November. A Jeffco mother, on behalf of her daughter, filed a complaint against Jeffco Public Schools, Glass and two prior Everitt administrators, former principal Jeff Gomez and former assistant principal William Carlin.

The complaint alleges that in 2017, the woman’s daughter told the principals she’d been harassed and groped dozens of times by two male classmates. It further alleges Carlin investigated the allegations, ignored evidence corroborating the claims and did nothing to discipline the two accused classmates.

The lawsuit also claims school offi-

cials have long overlooked a “culture of sexual harassment and assault (that) dates back to at least 2010.”

According to the complaint, “on Tuesdays, boys would touch girls’ breasts in the hallways … (and) on Fridays, boys would touch girls’ buttocks in the hallways.” The complaint goes on to say that students viewed the occurrences as tradition and commonly referred to them using profane nicknames.

The school district, in collaboration with its outside counsel, conducted a preliminary investigation that “determined many of the allegations are without merit, however our investigation continues,” said Craig Hess, district chief legal counsel. “Our complete response will be contained in our answer” to the complaint, which will be filed no later than March 3, he said.

Hess and the school’s current principal, JoAnn Euler, did not reply to further questions regarding the case.

Community reactions For some community members, the lawsuit didn’t come as a surprise.

Sara Hood, who attended Everitt, has a 22-year-old stepson who also attended Everitt and an 11-year-old son who currently attends, said that when she heard the news, she recalled stories she’d heard from her stepson years ago.

Checking in with him again, he said he remembered Everitt classmates engaging in the weekly occurrences of harassment a decade ago.

“That was going on when he went there. It’s the same stuff,” Hood said.

But for others, the news didn’t resonate with what they know about the school now.

“Of course, hearing that is concerning. It’s an upsetting thought,” said Leslie Weinstein, whose son began attending Everitt this year. “But it was confusing. I wanted to know more because of the fact that our experience has been so positive there.”

Last fall, a call for change While the lawsuit has stirred up community conversations, efforts to affect change at Everitt date back before the complaint made headlines.

In October, parents of the school accountability committee at Golden’s Maple Grove Elementary presented to the board of education. Maple Grove feeds into Everitt Middle School.

The parents’ data showed that only four students who graduated from Maple Grove in 2019 — 8.2% of the 49 graduates — enrolled at Everitt that fall.

Parents requested the school board give Maple Grove students priority enrollment into nearby option school, the Manning School, as a possible alternative to Everitt.

The request was primarily “to build the connection with Manning,” which sits adjacent to Maple Grove, said Brian Hansen, a Maple Grove parent and president of the Applewood Property Owners. “Manning makes sense for us.”

That said, “we had heard rumors and concerns about Everitt that have always circled in the background,” mostly related to general safety issues for students, he said.

“Everyone wants Everitt to be a successful school,” Hansen said.

“But if I were in the position of having to send my kids to middle school next year, I would not consider Everitt.”

One of the school accountability committee’s concerns has been Everitt’s academic performance, he said.

On state standardized test Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS), Everitt’s 2019 scores showed 28% of students met or exceeded expectations in English; 13.9% in math; and 20.3% in science.

Districtwide, those numbers were 51.7% for English; 39.8% for math; and 37.3% for science.

Public Notice

In discussions around test scores, Glass and other district leaders have pointed out that the scores alone don’t indicate how successful a school may be.

The Everitt PTA highlights several other indicators of success, while also stating that in the parents’ experience, “it is evident that our teachers and staff are invested and committed to helping kids reach their full potential,” said a PTA statement.

“Everitt’s emphasis on social-emotional development helps students feel heard and connected in a safe, supportive environment,” the statement said.

Even so, parents weren’t satisfied when they were told Maple Grove children would not receive priority enrollment into Manning.

After another meeting with Glass, the group and superintendent compromised: Maple Grove students will receive priority enrollment into nearby Bell Middle School for one year; and the district will work to “reinvigorate the perception of Everitt,” Glass said.

Potential examples of this, he said, would be the creation of a STEM pathway or project-based learning curriculum.

Glass added Everitt is in the process of hiring a principal for the 2020-2021 school year, with Euler currently serving as interim principal.

The changes line up with what groups like the Maple Grove school accountability committee are asking for.

“We want to see the district put more resources into Everitt: money, teachers, staff and support services,” Hansen said. Public Notice CALLhas FOR offered NOMINATIONS The committee to SPRING MESA METROPOLITAN DISTRICT lend a hand however it can, he said.

TO willing WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, “We’re all to put time and, andparticularly, to the electors of the Spring Mesa Metropolitan District (the “District”)Everitt of the City of commitment toward helping Adams County, Colorado. become Arvada, successful.”

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS SPRING MESA METROPOLITAN DISTRICT TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the Spring Mesa Metropolitan District (the “District”) of the City of Arvada, Adams County, Colorado.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a regular election will be held on the 5th day of May, SEE EVERITT, P24of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 2020, between the hours p.m. At that time, Three (3) directors will be elected to serve 3-year terms. In order for an eligible elector’s name to appear on the ballot for the election, a self-nomination and acceptance form or letter must be filed with the District Manager or the designated election official on or before 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 28, 2020. If the designated election official determines that a self-nomination and acceptance form is not sufficient, the eligible elector who submitted the form may amend the form at any time prior to the close of business on the day of the deadline. Affidavit of intent to be a write-in candidate forms must be submitted to the office of the District Manager or the designated election official by the close of business on Monday, March 2, 2020. Self-nomination and acceptance forms and affidavit of intent to be a write-in candidate forms are available upon request from the District Manager, c/o CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP, 8390 East Crescent Parkway, Suite 300, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111, telephone number 303-779-5710 or from the designated election official, c/o Spencer Fane LLP, 1700 Lincoln Street, Suite 2000, Denver, Colorado 80203, telephone number 303-839-3800.

www.ColoradoCommunityMedia.com/Notices

PUBLIC NOTICES Public Notice

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS SPRING MESA METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the Spring Mesa Metropolitan District (the “District”) of the City of Arvada, Adams County, Colorado.

Public Notice

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a regular election will be held on the 5th day of May, 2020, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, Three (3) directors will be elected to serve 3-year terms. In order for an eligible elector’s name to appear on the ballot for the election, a self-nomination and acceptance form or letter must be filed with the District Manager or the designated election official on or before 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 28, 2020. If the designated election official determines that a self-nomination and acceptance form is not sufficient, the eligible elector who submitted the form may amend the form at any time prior to the close of business on the day of the deadline. Affidavit of intent to be a write-in candidate forms must be submitted to the office of the District Manager or the designated election official by the close of business on Monday, March 2, 2020. Self-nomination and acceptance forms and affidavit of intent to be a write-in candidate forms are available upon request from the District Manager, c/o CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP, 8390 East Crescent Parkway, Suite 300, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111, telephone number 303-779-5710 or from the designated election official, c/o Spencer Fane LLP, 1700 Lincoln Street, Suite 2000, Denver, Colorado 80203, telephone number 303-839-3800.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Public Notices callSPRING Sheree 303.566.4088 MESA METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

Metropolitan Districts Public Notice CALL FOR NOMINATIONS SPRING MESA METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the Spring Mesa Metropolitan District (the “District”) of the City of Arvada, Adams County, Colorado.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a regular election will be held on the 5th day of May, 2020, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, Three (3) directors will be elected to serve 3-year terms. In order for an eli-

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the Spring Mesa Metropolitan District (the “District”) of the City of Arvada, Adams County, Colorado.

Metropolitan Districts

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a regular election will be held on the 5th day of May, 2020, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, Three (3) directors will be elected to serve 3-year terms. In order for an eligible elector’s name to appear on the ballot for the election, a self-nomination and acceptance form or letter must be filed with the District Manager or the designated election official on or before 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 28, 2020. If the designated election official determines that a self-nomination and acceptance form is not sufficient, the eligible elector who submitted the form may amend the form at any time prior to the close of business on the day of the deadline. Affidavit of intent to be a write-in candidate forms must be submitted to the office of the District

Metropolitan Districts

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a regular election will be held on the 5th day of May, 2020, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, Three (3) directors will be elected to serve 3-year terms. In order for an eligible elector’s name to appear on the ballot for the election, a self-nomination and acceptance form or letter must be filed with the District Manager or the designated election official on or before 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 28, 2020. If the designated election official determines that a self-nomination and acceptance form is not sufficient, the eligible elector who submitted the form may amend the form at any time prior to the close of business on the day of the deadline. Affidavit of intent to be a write-in candidate forms must be submitted to the office of the District Manager or the designated election official by the close of business on Monday, March 2, 2020. Self-nomination and acceptance forms and affidavit of intent to be a write-in candidate forms are available upon request from the District Manager, c/o CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP, 8390 East Crescent Parkway, Suite 300, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111, telephone number 303-779-5710 or from the designated election official, c/o Spencer Fane LLP, 1700 Lincoln Street, Suite 2000, Denver, Colorado 80203, telephone number 303-839-3800.

legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com Metropolitan Districts

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that requests for an application for an absentee voter’s ballot may be made orally or in writing with the designated election official not later than the close of business on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at the address and telephone number listed above between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

SPRING MESA METROPOLITAN DISTRICT By: /s/ Bryce Bierman

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that requests for an application for an absentee voter’s ballot may be made orally or in writing with the designated election official not later than the close of business on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at the address and telephone number listed above between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Metropolitan Districts

SPRING MESA METROPOLITAN DISTRICT By: /s/ Bryce Bierman Designated Election Official Legal Notice No.: 406783 First Publication: February 20, 2020 Last Publication: February 20, 2020 Publisher: Golden Transcript and the Arvada Press

Arvada Legals 2.20.20 * 1

24 Arvada Press

February 20, 2020F

MILESTONES Arvada Megan Dighero, of Arvada, graduated in May 2019 from Saint Francis University with a Master of Medical Science.

Staeci Lee, of Arvada, graduated in May 2019 from Saint Francis University with a Master of Medical Science.

Niklavs Vilis Levensteins, of Arvada, was named to the fall 2019 president’s honor roll at the University of North Georgia.

Taylor Worley, of Arvada, was named to the 2019 Collegiate Choir at Bob Jones University. Worley also was named to the fall 2019 presi-

dent’s list at Bob Jones. Worley is a sophomore majoring in music education.

Golden Lisa A. Bigler, of Golden, graduated in June 2019 from Oregon State University with a Master of Science in mathematics.

Walker Denton, of Golden, was named to the fall 2019 dean’s list at Nazareth College.

Emily Fox, of Golden, was named to the fall 2019 dean’s list at Belmont University.

Matthew Smaldone, of Golden, was named to the fall 2019 dean’s list at De-

ZENZINGER FROM PAGE 10

their path to a degree.

The result has been inspiring. Students who enroll in the COSI program complete their schooling at a 15% higher rate than their peers. Those COSI students also graduate with a significantly lighter financial burden. Not incidentally, the program also contributes toward our efforts to achieve racial balance in our schools, with over threequarters of COSI recipients being students of color.

This kind of success clearly warrants an expansion of the program to make it even more accessible and efficient. My bill broadens COSI’s assistance to a more holistic and

Sales University.

Lakewood Stacey Cummins, of Lakewood, graduated in December 2019 from Miami University through Project Dragonfly with a master’s degree in biology.

Sarah Dodrill, of Lakewood, graduated in December 2019 from Simpson College with degrees in criminal justice and Spanish.

Alexandra Hoagland, of Lakewood, graduated in May 2019 from Harding University with a Bachelor of Arts in public relations.

inclusive model, tying scholarships to all the rising expenses of college education, rather than to tuition alone. It also enhances the support services, and it allows more institutions such as colleges, universities, and school districts to receive funding. Students will be motivated to dream big and work hard because they know they have the support of their community and the entire State of Colorado.

For me, a highly functioning education system has always been a great priority. I will continue to work to offer Coloradans the opportunity to obtain the best possible education because I think it has such a positive effect on the entire community. These pieces of legislation serve as important steps in that direction.

Sen. Rachel Zenzinger (D-Arvada) represents Colorado Senate District 19.

GO ALL OUT ON AN ALL-INCLUDED FAMILY VACATION

EVERITT FROM PAGE 23

Opposite experiences Two months after the committee reached its compromise with Glass, the community learned of the lawsuit against the district.

Some Everitt parents, like Hood, felt compelled to ask their children if they had experienced similar harassment at school.

Hood said her 11-year-old son has never witnessed any sexual harassment at Everitt.

But he himself has been bullied: In December, a student pushed him down a hill at school, leading to a fight between the two boys, Hood said.

Despite phone calls and meetings between her and school administrators, the classmate was never disciplined and was not removed from the classes he shares with her son, she said.

Additionally, Hood says her son has told her of multiple fights, students being expelled for bullying, and students kicking, tripping and pushing one another every day in the halls.

“He says it’s so unsafe.

He hates it,” she said. “Every morning he tells me he doesn’t want to go to school because the only place he

feels safe is at home.”

She has considered removing her son from the school and said she is more likely to enroll him in online school than to let him continue to attend Everitt.

Euler and the district did not respond for comment regarding Hood’s statements.

Like Hood, Weinstein asked her son about some of the details described in the complaint, she said.

“I have no idea what happened in these instances. But the concepts of these things were completely foreign” to her son, she said. “When I’ve asked him specifics, like how the hallways are, he told me he has not observed any fights.”

Shramek likewise said that her daughter has told her she feels safe at school.

“Everitt is very quiet about all the positive things going on at the school,” she said.

What several parents could agree on: Community members need more opportunities to exchange their stories about the school. Parents who have enjoyed their experience say this could potentially destigmatize the school, while those with concerns say it could pave the way toward new solutions.

“For our whole community, it can only help to have some sort of collaborative effort,” Weinstein said.

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