Arvada Press 0611

JUNE 11, 2020

DISTANCE DATING Residents are finding creative ways to date during the pandemic P16

FREE

JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

Protests against police violence come to Arvada

More than 20 protesters gathered at City Hall June 8 for a peaceful protest against racial inequality and police brutality. The protest was part of a chain of protests that began June 1 and continued every week night since, from 5 to 6 pm. Organizer PJ Travin said the protests would continue at least through June 12. More protest news on P4-5. CASEY VAN DIVIER

GRANDVIEW REDO

City to revisit historic building dev plan P8 Your newspaper is made possible by advertisers like this one, who support our efforts to keep you connected to your community!

DISCOVER THE Y IN YOU The Y is more than a place to work out.

It’s where you can find your inner strength and

HALF-BACK TO SCHOOL

FARM FRESH Arvada Farmers Market is open for the season

Plan for students to be in class 50% in fall P6

P2

THE BOTTOM LINE

“On June 8, we mailed ballots to all active, registered voters and opened all drop boxes.”

Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder George Stern on the June Primary | P13 INSIDE

VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 16

ArvadaPress.com

VOLUME 16 | ISSUE 2

2 Arvada Press

June 11, 2020J

Outdoor and online farmers markets ongoing in Arvada Market at McIlvoy Park opened June 7

BY CASEY VAN DIVIER CVANDIVIER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When the Arvada Farmers Market opened June 7 after almost three months of pandemic-related regulations, residents like Rebeccah Basell and Lowell Glovesky —who moved to Arvada six months ago partly because it has so many community events — said the modified market was a welcome arrival.

“Fantastic events like this are what make Arvada special,” Basell said.

“I’m so happy to be out and I’m more happy this is being done in a responsible way. Everyone seems to be really respectful of the distancing.”

Run by company Edible Market, the Arvada Farmers Market is a staple summer activity for many residents — and though it can’t run exactly as it has in previous years, the company has found other ways to make sure several types of farmers market experiences are available to customers during the pandemic.

Closest to the traditional experience is the outdoor farmers market, which has been relocated to McIlvoy Park this year to promote physical distancing. The market will run on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. through Sept.

27.

In addition to the new location, visitors and vendors wore masks and sanitized their spaces consistently to prevent the spread of the virus.

Like customers, vendors agreed that all in attendance were doing well on staying at least six feet from one another. They were also pleasantly surprised at the turnout on the market’s first day.

“It’s great to see how many people want to come out and support us,” said Lesley Mortimer with Healthy

by Design, which brought several jarred products including their latest, Ghostly Fire Pickles, to the market.

Mark Albrecht with Cream City Market, a Wisconsin cheese curd company, highlighted the fact that for many vendors, farmers markets are their main source of income — making it even more of a relief that the

Produce boxes like these are often ordered for pickup or delivery by customers using the virtual market option. market was able to open this summer.

“I’m thanking everyone for being here, and then they’re thanking me for being here,” he said.

But for those who aren’t ready for the outdoor market, throughout the pandemic, Edible Market has been running a virtual market through its website. The option sees a team of contractors work together to prepare hundreds of orders — up to 300 most weeks — for delivery or pickup on Saturdays.

Though the virtual experience has actually been part of the market for years, it became extremely popular only as the pandemic arrived, said Nathan Mudd, who runs the market with his wife Kimberly.

The team of about 15 to 20 individuals then drives a route in the area to drop off boxes of produce and residents’ favorite products, which can range anywhere from about $12 to $250, said Nicole Plante, a vendor with the market who is taking the year off this year.

Meanwhile, others stay at Bromley Farm in Brighton as customers drive in for pickup.

“It’s important they’re allowing a way for people to eat healthy and local during all this,” said Anna Frie, another vendor who helps with the

PHOTOS BY CASEY VAN DIVIER

More than a dozen vendors set up at the outdoor market June 7, which was the first to run in-person in Arvada since the pandemic began. pickup and delivery process.

Plante agreed.

“We got a comment from people who are immunocompromised. For them, even the grocery store is not an option,” she said. “This has had an incredible impact on their life, so it’s pretty cool.”

DISCOVER THE Y IN YOU The Y is more than a place to work out.

It’s where you can find your inner strength and come together as a family and as a community.

We have so much to offer, so try the Y on us!

Receive one week guest pass at the Susan M. Duncan Family YMCA. Enjoy fitness classes, swimming, a great community of members and more.

Visit us at 6350 Eldridge St. in Arvada and bring in this ad to discover all we have to offer.

Some restriction apply. No cash value.

Precautions including one-way traffic were put in place at the outdoor market to encourage physical distancing.

A delivery driver loads his car in preparation for his delivery route.

Drivers can customize their route based on their own location and the size of their vehicle.

Arvada Press 3

June 11, 2020

Arvada has already reached 79% response rate for 2020 census Residents can still respond by mail, phone or online

BY CASEY VAN DIVIER CVANDIVIER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In preparation for the 2020 census, the city of Arvada took a number of big steps to ensure its response rate would match or exceed that of the last census in 2010, said city communications manager Ben Irwin.

But new challenges arose this year; particularly, a 2019 effort by the Trump administration to add a citizenship question to the census, which was later blocked by the Supreme Court, has caused some confusion and uncertainty around the 2020 census, Irwin said. Facing this, Arvada chose to invest even more in its strategies to ensure a strong community response.

So far, those strategies — even after they faced drastic alterations because of the COVID-19 pandemic — have paid off: As of May 27, Arvada had already achieved about a 79% re-

sponse rate. About a week before, the city’s response rate was listed as the third highest when compared to other similarly sized cities in the nation.

“We’re really proud of where Arvada is at. The census is of critical importance,” Irwin said. “It’s how resources are allocated across the country; money is distributed to the states each year based on census numbers, and in human form, that’s our representation in congress. From the individual resident’s perspective, it’s a civic duty.”

Additionally, census counts directly affect decisions made at the local level, he said. Every 10 years, the city reapportions city council districts using census data and uses the numbers for other forms of planning. New or relocating businesses also use the data to determine where or how to open, making it important that everyone participates in the census so the numbers are accurate, he said.

Arvada’s census strategies With all that in mind, Arvada applied for grant

money through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs specifically to fund census efforts. The city was awarded that grant and has received additional funding through a grant that Adams County received through the department.

The city team and city council also worked together to form the Arvada Complete Count Committee, made up of members from both groups, community partners and Census Bureau staff. The committee has worked to raise awareness about the census, with the city hiring six part-time community connectors to help with those outreach efforts.

In the beginning, the committee’s plan was to table at Arvadans’ favorite events, like the Kite Festival and Taste of Arvada, to reach as many residents as possible.

While that worked for some winter events including WinterFest and A Chocolate Affair, when coronavirusrelated shutdowns began in March, the city needed to change tactics.

“We moved a lot more of our resources toward advertising,” Irwin said. “We’ve

purchased bus stop signage, we wrapped a couple of RTD buses and we invested in some social media and streaming advertising,” such as on platforms like Hulu and Spotify, he said.

Meanwhile, community connectors reached out to different Arvada partners to find new ways to get the message out while everybody has been staying at home.

For instance, community connector Robert Slay worked with area nonprofits like Project Angel Heart, which distributed reminder information to some households, and the Carin’ Clinic, which has provided information for families stopping by for health care services.

They have also brainstormed ways to make extra connections with parts of the city that have had a lower response rate historically. One upcoming plan is to send about 5,000 postcards to households in these areas reminding them to respond, Slay said.

“We’ve sent a lot of things out, and we think something happened because we’re right at about 80% (response rate) now,” he

said. “We think what we did made a difference.”

How to respond The 2020 census is the first through which residents have options to respond by phone or online. Mailing in a response is still an option as well.

The switch to more remote response options has long been planned by the bureau, coincidentally coming at a time when a number of other services moved online because of COVID-19.

“It was really lucky they had that ready,” Irwin said, adding that there has been a high percentage of responses through the online option.

The census count is ongoing, with residents encouraged to respond by calling (844) 330-2020 or visiting 2020census.gov, or mailing in their response. This year, the self-response option will be open through Oct. 31.

“It’s not too late,” Irwin said. “We want to encourage people to keep participating, and I would just thank the community for hearing our message about how important participating in this is.”

4 Arvada Press

June 11, 2020J

Metro Denver communities gather in protest Marches, other events follow George Floyd’s death When Hana Berhanu stepped up to the mic in front of hundreds at a June 7 Castle Rock protest, she first spoke about the anxiety she felt in deciding what to share that afternoon.

She didn’t know if she should talk about the secret friend she had in second grade, who continued playing with her despite the child’s parents forbidding it because Berhanu is black.

She could discuss the first time someone told her to “go back to where you came from,” Berhanu said. Or, she could talk about what it felt like, more recently, watching her hometown of Minneapolis burn on television, her longing to be there in person, protesting alongside loved ones, she said.

Instead, she decided to take the advice of a friend, she said, and say what was most on her heart. With that, Berhanu turned away from the crowd, leaned deep into the microphone and let out an agonizing scream.

“I’ve been wanting to scream for two weeks now,” she said to applause. “This is my pain. I am coming to you with my pain.”

Berhanu took part in one of several marches, protests and other events across metro Denver in the wake of the May 25 death of George Floyd at the hands of police.

While most attention has been focus on large protests in downtown Denver, residents of other communities have also been gathering to speak

Hundreds gathered in Parker June 4 to protest police brutality and racial injustice in America.

NICK PUCKETT

Organizer Alex Morgan of Northglenn leads a group of 65 people on a short walk from Northglenn’s Justice Center along Community Center Drive to E. B. Rains Park on June 6. The march was a protest calling for racial justice.

SCOTT TAYLOR of Floyd’s death, police brutality, racism and other issues.

In Castle Rock on June 7, protesters marched from the Philip S. Miller Library parking lot through downtown and gathered in Festival Park. Like a June 2 event, also organized by local residents Janine Reid and Josh Pease, the June 7 protest remained peaceful.

Elsewhere across the metro area: • Arvada has seen small protests take place every weeknight from 5-6 p.m. in front of the city hall building. On June 8 the crowd numbered about 20 people.

• In Northglenn, about 65 people gathered at E.B. Rains Park on a windy morning June 6, walking along Community Center Drive to the Northglenn Justice Center.

The walk was meant to show solidarity with demonstrators around the county seeking to promote racial justice. They paused at the police station briefly, holding a silent vigil for 10 minutes in grass in front of the building before walking back to the park.

City Councilor Katherine Goff joined the walk as a resident, she said.

“I think racism is systemic in our society and everyone needs to work on it, and include myself in that,” Goff said.

• In Golden, near the start of the “Vigil and March for Black Lives” on June 7, Golden City Councilwoman JJ Trout read the words of a black girl growing up in a multiracial family in the city.

“I know my friends and family love me, but I feel scared

An event decrying racial injustice gave way to protests in Castle Rock on June 2.

JESSICA GIBBS

and people do not understand,” the girl had said.

Trout then shared the words the girl’s mother said she had recently told her white son, who had said he felt scared for his black sister.

“For white people, we know not to talk about it [racism], but we need to be uncomfortable to make change,” said the mom.

There were also several Golden police officers present at the march, including Police Chief Bill Kilpatrick. On June 2, Kilpatrick released a letter calling Floyd’s murder “repulsive, appalling and unconscionable.”

• In Centennial, a June 8 march in support of Black Lives Matter ended at Willow Creek Park, where a crowd of more than 100 heard Chesney Midcap speak of her experi-

ence growing up with racism that started when she was age 6.

• In Parker, hundreds marched through downtown Parker the night of June 4 in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Organizer Nina Garcia said she was surprised at the turnout. She said she has children who are bi-racial and felt she needed to do something to decry racism.

“I don’t want to talk. I want to be about it,” Garcia said. “I want to be part of something that is very near and dear to my heart. My kids have dealt with racism before, and it’s not right.”

Reporters Jessica Gibbs, Nick Puckett, Ellis Arnold, Scott Taylor, and Paul Albani-Burgio contributed.

12 metro police agencies helped Denver with protests Tactics, use-of-force rules differed among departments

BY DAVID GILBERT DGILBERT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Demonstrators gathered May 28 at the Colorado state Capitol in Denver to protest the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.

CHRISTY STEADMAN

In the days after protests against racial injustice and police brutality first broke out in Denver on May 28, the Denver Police Department called in backup from a dozen metro-area law enforcement agencies, each bringing their own equipment, tactics and useof-force regulations.

City police departments and county sheriff ’s offices in Arapahoe, Doug-

las, Jefferson, Adams and Broomfield counties assisted in Denver.

As police and protesters clashed, with some protesters vandalizing or destroying property or throwing objects at police, officers deployed a variety of crowd-control methods, including firing “less-lethal munitions” at protesters, and deploying tear gas and flash-bang devices.

How Denver police oversaw and coordinated the response and crowdcontrol methods of officers from numerous agencies is difficult to determine -- the department did not respond to multiple requests for comment from Colorado Community Media.

But in a rebuke of police tactics, federal District Court Judge R.

Brooke Jackson issued a temporary restraining order against Denver police and partner agencies late on June 5, severely restricting their ability to use such methods.

“Although I do not agree with those who have committed property damage during the protests, property damage is a small price to pay for constitutional rights — especially the constitutional right of the public to speak against widespread injustice,” Jackson wrote in an 11-page decision, citing injuries to protesters including “loss of vision, fractured bones requiring surgery, deep laceration, loss of eyes, (and) ruptured testicles.”

“If a store’s windows must be SEE POLICE, P5

Arvada Press 5

June 11, 2020

Polis encourages protesters to get COVID-19 test Expanded access to free testing at Pepsi Center includes ‘anyone potentially exposed to virus’

in light of their activity. The governor stressed the importance of wearing masks and staying 6 feet from others.

“Health experts tell me (the protests) could result in hundreds of new cases,” Polis said.

The City of Denver has expanded the criteria for its test site at the Pepsi Center in a way that includes those who attended the protests, and those participants should get tested if they develop symptoms — and they also should get tested if they have not developed symptoms about seven days after attending a protest, Polis said.

“That’s the way we can act to (detect) earlier some of the folks who

might be contagious without knowing it,” Polis said.

In light of the recent demonstrations and many people returning to work, Denver encourages “any participant who would like a free COVID-19 test” to come to the drive-up testing at the Pepsi Center.

“Only an individual’s name and date of birth need be verified to obtain the test and receive confidential results,” the city said in a news release.

The testing is open to everyone, not just Denver residents, according to Tammy Vigil, a spokeswoman for the Denver Department of Public Health

and Environment. There is no cost to anyone, whether they have health insurance or not, Vigil said.

The City of Denver expanded access to testing to anyone potentially exposed to the virus and those heading back to work amid the current phase of recovery in the pandemic, according to a June 2 news release.

“People who do not currently have COVID-19 symptoms but believe they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or have been deemed essential by their employers, are now eligible,” the release said.

The Pepsi Center site has been testing more than 400 people each day since it opened on May 22, with the ability to increase that capacity as needed, according to a city news release.

The site is open daily, excluding holidays, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Individuals administer the nasal swab themselves to speed up the process and increase safety, the release said.

If individuals are unable to, staff will assist.

The testing site is located in the Prius parking lot on the far west side of the Pepsi Center, accessible from the entrance at seventh Street and Auraria Parkway. There is no access to the testing site off of Speer Boulevard or at the main entrance of the Pepsi Center, the release said.

For more information and how to register to be tested, see the city’s website at tinyurl.com/DenverTestSignUp.

Adams County deputies, for example, deployed flash-bang devices and two types of tear gas, according to Commander Paul Gregory.

In social media posts and in response to questions from journalists, Denver police repeatedly denied using flash-bang devices against protesters.

Adams County deputies detained protesters on behalf of Denver police, Gregory said, but said the detainments were not arrests.

Unlike many local agencies, Adams County deputies do not wear body cameras.

Gregory did not respond to a question about how many Adams County deputies provided backup in Denver.

Adams County Sheriff Rick Reigenborn did not respond to multiple requests for comment on his department’s tactics and crowd control methods.

The Jefferson County Sheriff ’s Office sent 44 officers on May 31 and June 1, drawn from county deputies and officers from city police departments that form a joint task force.

The Jefferson County team made about 10 arrests, said Sheriff Jeff Shrader, including “three or four” people found to be carrying weapons including guns. Shrader said he was unsure whether Jefferson County personnel deployed tear gas, but said he was aware of one instance of a deputy firing “less-lethal” rounds at a fleeing suspect.

Shrader said he understands the outrage at Floyd’s death.

“We all witnessed a murder in that video,” Shrader said, adding he supports many elements of a police reform bill making its way through the state General Assembly.

Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock declined a request for an interview on the matter through a spokesperson. The department did not provide details about its response.

In an interview on other matters with CCM’s Elliott Wenzler, Spurlock decried the Floyd killing, saying: “There is no reasonable, rational reason for any police officer to use that kind of restraint on someone.”

Other departments’ responses to assist in Denver appear to have been

more low-key.

The Arapahoe County Sheriff ’s Office sent between 40 and 50 deputies for several nights, said Sheriff Tyler Brown, but said they fired no shots or tear gas and made no arrests.

Brown said he sympathized with protesters, saying George Floyd’s killing was “an abuse of power people should be upset about.”

While Brown said he is confident Arapahoe County is a forward-thinking department, there’s always room for improvement.

“We need to make sure our ears and offices are open to have these conversations,” Brown said. “We can do this together.”

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

After several days of protests in Denver over the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers, Gov. Jared Polis spoke about the incident and advised protesters — who marched in large crowds — to be tested for COVID-19.

“What happened to George Floyd was not only wrong; it was brutal, it was inhumane and it was murder,” Polis said at a June 2 news conference.

The governor lamented violent protesters and vandalism distracting from the protest’s “righteous message.”

But, he said: “Property can be cleaned, but the black lives that are taken cannot be replaced or brought back.”

Polis told peaceful protesters he is listening, and “more importantly, I want to work with you.”

Despite Polis’ support for the motivation for protests, he worried about the effect of large demonstrations on the spread of COVID-19 and encouraged participants to get tested

POLICE FROM PAGE 4

broken to prevent a protestor’s facial bones from being broken or eye being permanently damaged, that is more than a fair trade,” Jackson wrote.

“If a building must be graffiti-ed to prevent the suppression of free speech, that is a fair trade. The threat to physical safety and free speech outweighs the threat to property.”

The protests were spurred by the May 25 death of black Minneapolis man George Floyd, who died after a police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes. Investigators ruled Floyd’s death a homicide, and officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder. Three other officers have been charged with aiding and abetting murder.

Officers from a dozen metro-area agencies responded to the Denver protests, according to Denver police: Adams County Sheriff ’s Office, Arapahoe County Sheriff ’s Office, Arvada Police, Aurora Police, Broomfield Police, Brighton Police, Commerce City Police, Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff ’s Office, Lakewood Police, Wheat Ridge Police and Westminster Police.

Though Colorado Community Media was not able to obtain comment from all 12 agencies, a sampling of respondents showed a variety of tactics and involvement.

Demonstrators march in Denver outside the Colorado state Capitol on the May 28, spurred by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

CHRISTY STEADMAN

Paid Advertisement

27 Tips to Drive Up the Sale Price of Your Arvada Home Arvada - Because your home may well be your largest asset, selling it is probably one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. And once you have made that decision, you’ll want to sell your home for the highest price in the shortest time possible without compromising your sanity. Before you place your home on the market, here’s a way to help you to be as prepared as possible.

To assist homesellers, a new industry report has just been released called “27 Valuable Tips That You Should Know to Get Your Home Sold Fast and for Top Dollar.”

It tackles the important issues you need to know to make your home competitive in today’s tough, aggressive marketplace.

Through these 27 tips you will discover how to protect and capitalize on your most important investment,

reduce stress, be in control of your situation, and make the best profit possible.

In this report you’ll discover how to avoid financial disappointment or worse, a financial disaster when selling your home. Using a common-sense approach, you will get the straight facts about what can make or break the sale of your home.

You owe it to yourself to learn how these important tips will give you the competitive edge to get your home sold fast and for the most amount of money.

Order your free report today. To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report call toll-free 1-844-913-7504 and enter 2414. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Get your free special report NOW.

This report is courtesy of Wilson Group Real Estate. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright [C] {2020}

6 Arvada Press

June 11, 2020J

Jeffco Schools now considering a 50% return to classrooms Some parents against hybrid learning, but district says health guidelines come first

BY CASEY VAN DIVIER CVANDIVIER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Jeffco’s June 4 Board of Education meeting provided the first chance during the pandemic for community members to give public comment over video conferencing.

And as a long line of parents began to share their thoughts, it became apparent that the majority of those who spoke would vastly prefer that their children return to school in the fall as normal, as opposed to what has been outlined in the district’s Restart Plan.

Shared with parents May 22, the plan requires several practices, such as six feet physical distancing of anybody in a school building and hand-washing protocols. Even more notable has been the part of the plan that asks students to engage in hybrid learning — some in-person learning and some remote — meaning students would complete their education remotely for at least 50% of school days.

In this model, half of students might attend on “A” days and the other half on “B” days, making space for physical distancing and limiting the number of students in contact with one another.

But when parents like Arvada mom Brittany Dunn spoke, they pointed to data that shows schoolaged children rarely experience se-

WHAT DO YOU THINK? During the month of June, Jeffco Public Schools will be collecting feedback on its school Restart Plan for the fall of 2020.

To give input, go to restartjeffco.com and click the link “Jeffco Public Schools Restart Model-Draft” near the top of the page to read the current draft plan and take the survey. vere symptoms related to COVID-19.

“I’m having a hard time understanding why such drastic measures are being taken,” Dunn said. “Just as grocery stores are essential in our community, so are our school buildings.”

Dunn suggested that instead of requiring hybrid learning, families should have two choices. Those who are uncomfortable sending their child to in-person school can engage in 100% remote learning. Meanwhile, others should have the option to send their children to school every day of the week, she said, with many of the other parents who spoke agreeing with her.

But others, including math teacher Ernest Garibay of Standley Lake High School, argued that while teachers would love to see the return of normal school days, it isn’t safe to make that the number one priority.

“I believe student and staff health must take precedence over any other decision that we make,” he said.

To be sure, this opinion was the one that members of the district team and school board aligned with.

It is true that children rarely exhibit severe COVID-19 symptoms, Superintendent Jason Glass said.

But students become carriers of the disease and when they go home,

they put their families and the broader community at risk, he said.

Even so, the team highlighted some changes since its last presentation.

Guidelines are suggesting that in the fall, closer to 16 people may be able to be in the room at one time, as opposed to the previous number of 10. This could prevent the need for an ABC or ABCD schedule, which would see students attend in person just one day a week.

Further, because a number of other countries have tried bringing all elementary-aged students back for in-person learning Monday through Friday, Jeffco may do the same thing. This could address parents’ worries about child care, deputy superintendent Kristopher Schuh said.

For secondary students, the district is still planning to move forward with an AB schedule, unless health guidelines change.

Jeffco has been collecting community members’ feedback on the Restart Plan and will gather more input through the month of June. It will publish an official plan July 8.

At the time of the presentation, the community survey had more than 13,000 responses.

Results showed that about 41.2%

of respondents want the school year to start Aug. 24 and not the earlier proposed date of Aug. 18. This would allow teachers more time to prepare for new protocols, like one-way hallways. Jeffco is strongly considering the Aug. 24 option.

Results also showed that about 10% of 13,267 respondents said they were unlikely to, or certainly not going to, send their children for in-person instruction next year, instead opting for a 100% remote education.

There is also a survey question asking if families would prefer a fully remote environment, fully in-person environment, alternating day schedule or alternating week schedule.

While the presentation slides showed 41% of parents preferred an alternating day schedule and 19% prefer an alternating week, they did not break down percentages for the other two options.

However, Schuh and board members emphasized that above all, the Restart Plan’s main goal is to maximize in-person time while adhering to public health standards.

“Our parents want their students to be at school, so that’s what we want,” Schuh said. “But we’re also going to be prepared.”

District’s recommended cuts include option busing, school improvement funds June 4 discussion one step in process to chop $74 million off budget

BY CASEY VAN DIVIER CVANDIVIER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As the school board and district team get closer to making final decisions on the 2020-2021 budget, the team has divided some of its potential districtwide cuts into recommended, disruptive and damaging categories.

Jeffco expects a decrease in state funding of about $74.3 million this year because of the pandemic, and though a good portion of this could be offset by federal aid, the district is still preparing for tens of millions in cuts.

At the June 4 Board of Education meeting, the three categories were discussed, with no final decisions made.

The board had plans to further discuss these cuts along with larger possibilities, such as a districtwide furlough day, during its June 10 study session.

The initial list of recommended central cuts included several larger items, such as the elimination of bus routes to option schools, which drew several community members out for public comment.

The roughly $475,000 cut to district transportation would do away with approximately seven bus routes, affecting students at D’Evelyn Jr./Sr. High, Dennison Elementary, Free Horizon Montessori, Jefferson County Open School and the Manning School of Academics & Arts.

Marci Edford, a Morrison resident who has children attending D’Evelyn and Dennison, said the family relies on bus transportation every day.

“It would be very difficult for me to get my children back and forth from school,” she said. “We pay money for the bus and I would be happy to increase the amount that we have to put forward.”

However, said chief operating officer Steve Bell, fee increases could likely not meet the cost of bussing each individual student, which runs at about $1,300 to $1,500 a year. Further, the district already does not provide

transportation to some options and this would create consistency, he said.

Other line items discussed included a $2.2 million cut to school improvement funding. The funding was first awarded to high-impact schools two years ago, when the district had funds available to increase SBB budgets (student-based budgeting) and chose to do so at the schools most in need of extra resources.

Because of the pandemic, the district only has reliable data on the effectiveness of the funding in its first year, as opposed to the past two years.

The results have been mixed, said chief of elementary schools Renee Nicothodes.

Additionally, a recommended reduction of almost $200,000 will eliminate two literacy interventionist positions that are currently vacant. The interventionists work with children on read plans, with about 2,900 students on the plans, said chief academic officer Matt Flores.

He cited a study showing that 50% of students who worked with the Jeffco interventionists increased two or three “levels,” or standard devia-

tions of the mean. In other words, 50% of the students who worked with the interventionists hit the specified benchmark for improvement.

“I do believe the literacy interventionists are making a difference,” Flores said.

Items that have been explored but are not being recommended for reductions include an approximately $250,000 cut to the Athletics Department; a roughly $400,000 cut to the IT Department; and the elimination of four positions — an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, ESL tutor, the district lobbyist and the district grants coordinator.

Board member Stephanie Schooley questioned the $2.2 million cut to student improvement funds, and board member Brad Rupert sounded uncertain about cutting the literacy interventionists.

Other board members still had questions about these recommended items, with plans to further discuss them at the June 10 session.

The budget must be adopted by the school board by July 31 with a chance for revisions later on.

Arvada Press 7

June 11, 2020

Colorado Book Award winners announced STAFF REPORT

Colorado Book Award winning authors read from their works at a Facebook Live celebration event that was watched by more than 1,000 viewers on May 30.

Special guests were Colorado Humanities and Center for the Book Board Chair Thor Nelson, a partner at Holland & Hart LLP; and Larry Ryckman, managing partner of The Colorado Sun. Sponsored by Outskirts Press and The Colorado Sun, the Colorado Book Awards recognize contributions by Colorado authors, editors and illustrators in 16 categories.

Learn more at coloradohumanities.

org, or call 303-894-7951.

This year’s winners are: Anthology/Collection — “Rise: An Anthology of Change,” edited by Northern Colorado Writers (Northern Colorado Writers, LLC) Children’s Literature — “Truman” by Jean Reidy, illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Simon & Schuster) Creative Nonfiction — “Deep Creek: Finding Hope in the High Country” by Pam Houston (W.W. Norton & Company) General Fiction — “The Gifted School” by Bruce Holsinger (Riverhead Books/Penguin Random House) General Nonfiction — “Taste the Sweetness Later: Two Muslim Women

in America” by Connie Shoemaker (Amity Bridge Books) History — “Scholars of Mayhem: My Father’s Secret War in Nazi-Occupied France” by Daniel C. Guiet and Timothy K. Smith (Penguin Press) Juvenile Literature — “Tree of Dreams” by Laura Resau (Scholastic Press) Literary Fiction — “Burn Fortune” by Brandi Homan (CLASH Books) Mystery — “Celtic Empire” by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler (G.P. Putnam’s Sons) Pictorial — “Bird Parade” by Patrick Loehr (Centipede Press) Poetry — “How To Dress a Fish” by

Abigail Chabitnoy (Wesleyan University Press) Romance — “Zapata, Book 1: The Border Series” by Harper McDavid (Soul Mate Publishing) Science Fiction/Fantasy — “An Illusion of Thieves” by Cate Glass (Tor Books) Short Story Collection — “Not a Thing to Comfort You” by Emily Wortman-Wunder (University of Iowa Press) Thriller — “The Dead Girl in 2A” by Carter Wilson (Sourcebooks) Young Adult Literature — “There’s Something About Sweetie” by Sandhya Menon (Simon Pulse, Simon & Schuster Children’s Division)

ADVERTISEMENT

It Seems That We All Have Racism on Our Minds. Here Are My Thoughts.

It has certainly been an interesting — and emotional — two weeks since the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Rita and I have been impressed at the longevity and the worldwide spread of the demonstrations.

On Sunday afternoon, there was an event in downtown Golden, which the two of us attended. It was followed by a march through downtown Golden, although Rita and I didn’t stay for that.

The event was organized by a group called Golden United.

I have attended several prior events by this wonderful organization, headed by Golden resident Ron Benioff. You will probably read about it elsewhere in this newspaper

since I met the reporter covering it. Several hundred people attended the event in Parfet Park, most of them wearing masks and all socially distanced.

It was, of course, very peaceful. After all, this is Golden, a college town that is majority liberal, majority white, and my home for the past 23 years. A city councilor, JJ Trout emceed the event, giving a very thoughtful speech of her own. Mayor Laura Weinberg also spoke.

Both displayed great introspection and deep thought on the topic of racism. Ron Benioff spoke, stressing that being nonracist is no longer enough. We all have to be anti-racist.

The police chief, Bill Kilpatrick, was there with one other officer and received

generous applause at the mention of his sensitive letter to the community which he wrote shortly after the death of George Floyd.

I have a couple thoughts to share beyond my sincere appreciation for Golden United and our city’s political leaders.

First of all, I feel that we are overlooking anti-Hispanic racism, which is just as pervasive as anti-black racism. It is also the first and greatest racism of our current president who opposes even legal immigration from people of any color other than white. (Remember his comment about Norwegians being more desirable than Hispanics?)

It’s my perception, and perhaps yours, that whites and the police are not as fearful of Hispanics as they are of AfricanAmericans, but they still don’t see them as equally valuable human beings.

I certainly value and appreciate our Hispanic population and especially the Mexican-Americans and their undocumented cousins who work tirelessly and with seeming contentment at so many jobs which other Americans are unwilling to perform — picking our vegetables and fruits, repairing or replacing our roofs, and collecting our trash alongside African-Americans.

(It was heart-warming last week to read a post on NextDoor urging neigh-

bors to tape dollar bills to the lids of our trash carts as a way of thanking our trash collectors.)

Not only do we as a white society insufficiently appreciate our black and Hispanic population, our regressive laws work to keep that population impoverished. We need to address our anti-poor policies — really our pro-wealthy policies, such as the Trump tax bill of 2017 — which have expanded the gap between rich and poor in America.

Real estate, at least in the Denver market, is a majority white industry, not representative of the racial diversity of the metro area. I can say with confidence that it’s not reflective of any anti-black discrimination in hiring. My first partner in real estate with whom I co-listed properties was an African-American woman who I miss working with. She remained with Coldwell Banker when I moved to RE/MAX Alliance before starting my own brokerage in Golden.

My seven broker associates are all white, but they and I would welcome with open arms one or more AfricanAmerican and Hispanic agents to join our ranks. It is hard to say why our industry has not attracted more AfricanAmerican brokers, but I have noticed a large contingent of Hispanic agents, who even have a highly active association.

A Black Realtor Offers Her Perspective on This Topic

Lori Pace is a Jamaican woman who serves on the 18-member Board of Directors of the Denver Metro Association of Realtors (DMAR), representing Denver proper. She is a broker associate with Kentwood Real Estate City Properties in downtown Denver The above column is not the one that is archived for this week at www.JimSmithColumns.com or that is published in this week’s YourHub section of the Denver Post. Look for it to read Lori’s perspective on racism and diversity. She writes and teaches on this topic.

Jim Smith

Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851 Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com

Every article in this ad is also posted at www.GoldenREblog.com

Broker Associates: JIM SWANSON — 303-929-2727 CARRIE LOVINGIER — 303-907-1278 CHUCK BROWN — 303-885-7855 DAVID DLUGASCH — 303-908-4835

8 Arvada Press

June 11, 2020J

Arvadans give helping hand through backyard sanitizer workshop Operation has helped businesses, nonprofits

BY CASEY VAN DIVIER CVANDIVIER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Local nonprofits, healthcare organizations, businesses and the Arvada police and fire departments are just some of the groups that have received free hand sanitizer made by a local couple in their backyard workshop.

Lisa Smith, a social worker and Air Force veteran, launched the operation in March after discovering with her fiancé, Eli, that the sanitizer could be made at home with the World Health Organization’s local hand sanitizer production guidelines.

The document includes a list of ingredients, which prompted the couple to jump into action to find supplies including glycerol and isopropyl alcohol.

While the search began with national vendors, the two quickly found that the ingredients were not readily available nationwide.

“It made us look hyper-locally,” Smith said. “For the alcohol we learned you could use Everclear, and I also started reaching out to science companies and distilleries.”

After securing the ingredients, it was time to get to work measuring and combining ingredients, bottling and labeling the sanitizer and allowing it to sit for 72 hours — all of which has

Lisa Smith and her fiancé, Eli, in the backyard shed where they have been making sanitizer by hand.

PHOTOS BY CASEY VAN DIVIER been done inside a shed in the Arvada couple’s backyard.

The operation has produced close to 2,000 bottles of hand sanitizer, Smith said, and those bottles have made their way across Arvada. She’s brought cases to Arvada organizations and sometimes handed bottles out to the residents she crosses paths with.

While the process can be timeconsuming, she added that she’s motivated by the fact that many have

Got a taste of remote learning and liked it?

been unable to find cleaning products in stores.

“I was raised by a social worker and a teacher and it was distilled in us that you give what you can,” Smith said, “and there’s something to be said about veterans and their call to service. I never want to see people struggle.”

Individual residents or businesses can pick up the free sanitizer by contacting Smith at lisa.smith@teamru-

BY CASEY VAN DIVIER CVANDIVIER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

JVA has been offering 6-12 grade students an online learning path since 2009.

We’re proud to provide full-time program options to residents of Colorado-Middle School, High School, Credit Recovery, Credit Advancement, and Concurrent Enrollment for college credit. JVA is a Jeffco Public School and has been offering 6-12 grade students a tuition-free online learning path since 2009. These programs expose students to challenging coursework with academic and social support. Some programs require students to be on campus one day a week.

Interested in finding more about JVA in an upcoming Information Session, visit www.jeffcovirtual.org or email jeffcovirtualacademy@jeffco.k12.co.us

biconusa.org. As of June 5, the couple had about 300 bottles available.

With businesses preparing for a kickoff of the Olde Town street closure plan June 12, Smith will also be providing hand sanitizer for the business’s booths at the event.

“This has brought me into the community and connected me to such amazing people,” Smith said. “We’re just going to keep pushing it out until there’s no need.”

Rehearing canceled, Grandview Station process starting over Separate court case sparks redo

Then you’ll be happy to know you can continue to be a remote learner next year! Jeffco Virtual Academy is here for you!

Smith estimated the operation has produced nearly 2,000 bottles of sanitizer so far, with hundreds still available for anyone who needs them.

A June rehearing of the appeal that halted the Grandview Station project is no longer scheduled to take place because the developer has been approved to submit a new application instead.

The widely talked-about project would go up on the properties at 7315 Grandview Ave., 7317 Grandview Ave. and 7318 W. 57th Ave., replacing two 20th century houses. Developer Keane Palmer has offered to move the houses if another property-owner would provide land for the relocation.

Palmer’s project, Grandview Station, was planned to be a three-story condo and retail development. The plan was the subject of an extensive approval process starting in 2019, going before several government bodies including the board of adjustment, planning commission and city council.

After the planning commission made a Nov. 2019 decision that would allow the project to go forward, the

decision was appealed to city council by business owner Lori Drienka, who owns the Eli Ashby Healing Arts Center at 7401 Grandview Ave., adjacent to the property in question.

Over the summer of 2019, Drienka started a paper petition and change. org petition against the project, gaining more than 2,000 signatures to date.

Drienka’s December appeal saw council overturn planning commission’s decision with a 3-3 vote.

Councilmember Nancy Ford recused herself from the vote because she had signed Drienka’s petition prior to knowing the issue would come before city council.

Because of the vote, Palmer was unable to proceed with the plan as drafted. But at a Jan. 27 meeting, council voted unanimously to rehear the appeal.

Palmer did not speak at the first appeal and councilmembers believed if he could speak at the rehearing, it might change the way some of them voted.

However, this decision was made under a provision in the city’s previous Land Development Code (a new code was adopted May 2020). The city’s SEE GRAND VIEW, P17

Arvada Press 9

June 11, 2020

Thousands raised for Lakewood nurse’s family Denver resident Sara Gallegos is in critical condition as she fights COVID-19

BY JOSEPH RIOS JRIOS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Since they met each other in a Denver neighborhood over 30 years ago, Tara Reichle and Sara Gallegos have been best friends.

Gallegos would do generous things for Rehicle like throw her baby showers, and Reichle grew to know and appreciate Gallegos as a friendly, patient, funny and loving human being.

But unfortunately for Reichle and Gallegos’ family, only hospital staff at Lutheran Medical Center have been able to see Gallegos in person for the past month as she fights COVID-19.

As Gallegos lies on a hospital bed in a coma, hooked up to a ventilator, her family, friends and others have managed to raise over $10,000 through GoFundMe to help support her husband and children.

Before she fell ill to COVID-19, Gallegos, 39, was a frontline worker as a nurse at Villa Manor Care Center in Lakewood — a nursing home that has experienced a lethal

Sara Gallegos, a nurse at Villa Manor Care Center in Lakewood, is in critical condition due to COVID-19. Her family and friends raised over $10,000 through GoFundMe to help support her husband and children.

COURTESY OF SAMANTHA GALLEGOS outbreak of the virus. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reports that 17

OUTBREAK DEFINITION

HOW TO HELP

The Colorado Department of Health and Environment defines a COVID-19 outbreak at a healthcare facility when two or more confirmed COVID-19 cases in residents with onset in a 14-day period.

To donate to Gallegos’ family, visit www. gofundme.com/f/gallegos-torres-familycovid19-fundraiser.

people have died at the center from the virus, as of June 3.

A June 4 statement from Villa ManorExecutive Director Sara Dent says that currently, 20 residents and 30 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19, with 18 residents having recovered from it.

Reichle said Gallegos took care of all the expenses of her family’s household that includes her two children, her step granddaughter and her husband. Gallegos’ husband also works at Villa Manor Care Center, but he was forced to quarantine after she fell ill. And because of the outbreak at the nursing home, he hasn’t been able to go back to work.

“She does everything. She would take the kids everywhere, she worked nights, and then she would do things during the day to work on her own personal health,” said Reichle who helped start the GoFundMe. “How do you function when your other half or your parent can pass away at any moment? I can’t even imagine that. That’s why people like me have stepped in.”

Gallegos’ sister, Samantha Gallegos, said that Gallegos’ skin color is depleted, but she is in a much better place than she was in midMay. “The most difficult part has been the waiting. The waiting for any news about whether she is getting better or worse,” said Samantha.

“It’s a slow process at this point.

The biggest stress is we’re not sure what is going to happen.”

Even though Gallegos hasn’t been able to have visitors, staff at Lutheran Medical Center have been orchestrating Facetime calls for her and her family. Samantha said the calls were difficult at first because of all the equipment Gallegos was hooked up to. But now, she doesn’t have as much tubing going into her mouth.

“It’s still difficult because she can’t speak. It’s been a long time since she supported herself, physically,” said Samantha. “(Gallegos) is a great nurse. Her patients love her, and I’ve never seen her ever be mean or in a bad mood,” said Theresa Waters, a nurse at Villa Manor Care Center.

“She is always pleasant, and the patients love her.”

EARN 2.25 UP TO

%APY

*

ON A BELLCO BOOST CHECKING ACCOUNT NO MONTHLY FEES | NO MINIMUM BALANCE REQUIREMENTS | FREE ATMS | FREE MOBILE BANKING

Bellco.org Federally Insured by NCUA *Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of 5/1/2020. The interest rate and APY may change after the account is opened. 2.25% APY applies to balances up to and including $25,000. The APY may range from 2.25% to 0.25% for balances in excess of $25,000. Fees may reduce the earnings on the account. Visit BellcoBoost. com or speak to a Bellco representative for more details about applicable fees and terms. Membership eligibility required.

10 Arvada Press

June 11, 2020J

Rules relaxed for worship houses, gyms, recreation Playgrounds, swimming pools also opening under safer-at-home update

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Continuing to strike a balance between public safety and returning to normalcy, Colorado officials have released plans to loosen restrictions on places of worship, organized recreational sports, pools and playgrounds.

Under the changes, gyms can reopen to more patrons.

The updates to the state’s “safer at home” phase of social distancing come as COVID-19’s “reproductive number” — how contagious the disease is in Colorado — has ticked up after months of decline, and the second peak of the virus’ spread may be worse than the first.

“In most scenarios, we project the next peak in infections will be greater than the prior peak in April,” public health scientists led by the Colorado School of Public Health wrote in a May 29 report.

A June 1 extension of the safer-at-home order — announced in an executive order titled “Safer at Home and in the Vast, Great Outdoors” — lasts through June but could be extended further.

SEE COVID, P14

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Caution tape wraps swings at Littleton’s Sterne Park. Amid statewide stay-athome orders, even playgrounds have been off-limits.

DAVID GILBERT

Colorado’s social distancing policies have stemmed the spread of COVID-19, but indicators show progress slowing as the state moves further into a relaxed safer-at-home phase.

Hospitalizations have been declining since mid-April, but the rate of decline is slowing, according to a May 29 report by Colorado public health scientists.

Meanwhile, the disease’s reproductive number — sometimes written “R0” — had fallen from about four in March to below one.

But in early May, it ticked back up toward one, according to the report.

That’s the average number of infections generated by each COVID-19 case — meaning if the reproductive number sits below one, the number of new cases per day is declining.

The report projects that hospital capacity could be exceeded in coming months if social distancing is loosened too much. It also concludes that mask-wearing needs to be maintained and case detection and isolation should be gradually increased, the report says.

“In all scenarios, the epidemic curve is rising … at Aug. 15, the time

that schools, colleges and universities begin to open,” the report says.

The curve is projected to rise before and after that point.

Intensive-care unit capacity in Colorado could be reached somewhere between July 18 and Sept.

10, roughly, if social distancing is relaxed too much, the report says.

The report’s model does not yet incorporate the effect of contact tracing, it says.

One of public health officials’ goals is to prevent having to return to a stay-at-home order, the June 1 presentation to reporters said. That’s a possibility officials have repeatedly acknowledged.

Gov. Jared Polis announced on June 2 a partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service, which will mobilize more than 800 AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members to support the state’s COVID-19 response through contact tracing and other associated work, according to a governor’s office news release.

“With more than 1,000 contact tracers working in Colorado, the state will be able to address outbreaks more quickly, which will reduce infections and save lives,” the release said.

Health restrictions loosen for Jeffco Gatherings of larger numbers now allowed with county approval STAFF REPORT

Jefferson County was granted certain variance to the statewide Safer-atHome and in the Vast, Great Outdoors order, beginning June 8. The county’s variances allow for larger gathering sizes for places of worship; gyms; indoor retail malls; outdoor recreation; indoor and outdoor museums and educational experiences; graduations; brew pubs, distilleries and other similar places; event centers; and some additional businesses not specifically provided for in the state’s order.

The county’s variance allows certain things that are not yet in the state order: Indoor malls can begin to open, with a plan approved by the county health department Graduations can take place, with a plan approved by the county Gyms or places for per-

sonal recreation can have up to 50% occupancy or 50 people (whichever is less) in each confined indoor space In outdoor settings, the variance allows for 125 people Event centers can operate with 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors, beginning now through July 31, and with 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors beginning Aug. 1 “This approval will help us responsibly continue the process of re-opening Jefferson County,” County Manager Don Davis said as part of the announcement. “We hope that everyone will follow the new guidance to ensure a safe and timely economic recovery.”

As required by the state for variance applications, Jefferson County Public Health approved the state’s COVID-19 suppression plan in the application. As the county’s economy slowly reopens, Jeffco residents will still be expected to follow all public health orders – including staying six feet away from others, wearing a cloth face covering, washing hands, getting tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19, and self-isolating if test results are positive.

Arvada Press 11

June 11, 2020

YOUR PERFECT BUNDLE

BUNDLE NOW. SAVE ALL YEAR.

Now save $30/mo. for a whole year on a bundle with DIRECTV and AT&T Internet. w/24-mo. TV & 12-mo. Internet agmts & combined bill. Savings based on extra $10/mo. off for 12 mos. compared to previous price, plus $10/mo. discount on internet and $10/mo. bill credit for 12 mos. on TV when you bundle.

$

79

98

mo.

For 12 mos. plus taxes & Internet equipment fee.

w/ 24-mo. TV agmt & combined bill. Autopay & Paperless bill req’d.

TV price higher in 2nd year. $10/mo. internet equip. fee applies.* Incl Unlimited data allowance ($30 value) at no add’l charge.†

The Addams Family now playing on DIRECTV CINEMA®

*$19.95 ACTIVATION, EARLY TERMINATION FEE, $20/MO. FOR TV FOR EACH MONTH REMAINING ON TV AGMT., EQUIPMENT NON-RETURN & ADD’L FEES APPLY. Price incl. SELECT TV Pkg., monthly service & equip. fees for 1 HD DVR & is after $5/mo. autopay & paperless bill and $10/mo. bundle discounts for up to 12 mos each. Pay $54.99/mo. + taxes and fees for TV until discounts start w/in 3 bills. New approved residential customers only (equipment lease req'd). Credit card req'd. Restr’s apply.

CALL your AT&T Dealer Today!

Iv Support Holdings LLC

1-877-220-6081 Geographic and service restrictions apply to AT&T Internet services. Not all speeds available in all areas. Call or go to www.att.com/internet to see if you qualify.

1-YR BUNDLE PRICE: Ends 6/27/20. Pricing: $79.98/mo for first 12 mos. only. After 12 mos. or loss of eligibility, then prevailing rates apply (currently $85/mo. for SELECT TV Pkg.; $39.99/mo. for Internet), unless canceled or changed prior to end of the promo period. Must maintain all qualifying services and service addresses must match to receive advertised pricing. Pricing subject to change. $5/mo. autopay/paperless billing discount for TV: Must enroll in autopay & paperless bill within 30 days of TV activation to receive bill credit starting in 1-3 bill cycles. First time credit will include all credits earned since meeting offer requirements. Must maintain autopay/paperless bill and valid email address to continue credits. No credits in 2nd year for autopay/paperless bill. $10/mo. bundle discount for TV: Internet must be installed w/in 30 days of TV activation to receive credit starting in 1-3 bill cycles. First time credit will include all credits earned since meeting offer requirements. Must maintain both qualifying svcs to continue credits. No credits in 2nd year for bundled services. Includes: SELECT All-Included TV Pkg., Internet plans 768k to 100M, monthly service and equipment fees for one Genie HD DVR, and standard pro installation. Additional Fees & Taxes: Price excludes $10/mo. internet equipment fee, applicable use tax expense surcharge on retail value of installation, custom installation, equipment upgrades/add-ons (min. $99 one-time & $7/mo. monthly fees for each extra receiver/DIRECTV Ready TV/Device), and certain other add’l fees & charges. See att.com/fees for additional details. Different offers may apply for eligible multi-dwelling unit customers. †Must maintain a bundle of TV and Internet on a combined bill in order to receive unlimited data allowance at no add’l charge. Unlimited data allowance may also be purchased separately for an add’l $30/mo. For more info, go to www.att.com/internet-usage. DIRECTV SVC TERMS: Subject to Equipment Lease & Customer Agreements. Must maintain a min. base TV pkg of $29.99/mo. Programming, pricing, terms and conditions subject to change at any time. Some offers may not be available through all channels and in select areas. Visit directv.com/legal or call for details. The Addams Family: ©2019 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. and BRON Creative MG1, LLC. All Rights Reserved. ©2020 AT&T Intellectual Property. All Rights Reserved. AT&T, Globe logo, DIRECTV, and all other DIRECTV marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

12 Arvada Press

LOCAL

June 11, 2020J

VOICES

An open letter to the class of 2020

ALCHEMY

Andrea Doray

D

ear Class of 2020 Graduates: Congratulations on your accomplishments!

You have achieved great ambitions … not only throughout your years of study but also by navigating the time of coronavirus (or “the rona,” as I’ve heard it called) to complete your degrees.

For most of you, though, your graduations didn’t go as planned, as hoped for, as dreamed of, although you still may have been recognized in more abbreviated festivities: Communities hung banners to honor you. Yard signs proclaimed: “A [fill in the school] Senior Lives Here!” Friends and family staged drive-by celebrations. Celebrities offered tributes.

Videoconferencing made parties possible.

Schools hosted virtual ceremonies. These

were – and continue to be – moving demonstrations of love and support that I’m sure you appreciated.

But what now? What’s next? What does “commencement” mean for you, class of 2020?

I asked a few of you. My sister’s neighbor Heath graduated from Arvada West High School, and is now headed for CSU. He tells me his senior year workload was pretty much what he expected and that his online classes – including AP testing – went well.

A West is planning a graduation ceremony for Aug. 15, but Heath isn’t sure he’ll attend. “I have my diploma,” he said, “and I just think things will feel different after this summer.”

Heath said that, for him, commencement means more than the physical act of graduat-

ing, and (like many of you, I’m guessing) he’s ready to get out into the world.

My neighbor’s daughter Kylee is expecting a virtual graduation this month from Dartmouth, where she majored in English and creative writing. Missing the actual ceremony is particularly disappointing this year because it is also Dartmouth’s 250th anniversary. “The class of 1970 planned to return to campus and the class of 2020 would have walked with them,” Kylee said. Her physical graduation is now planned for June 2021, but Kylee wonders how many people, realistically, would return for the ceremony.

“This is a strange time,” Kylee told me SEE DORAY, P13

Dogs, a cat and those two wolves

A LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Trash hauling should be voted upon As we approach the June 15 date on which our city council will decide if the citizens of Arvada should have the right to vote on the single hauler scheme they are considering I am writing to urge them to put this to a vote.

The stated goal of the city to reduced traffic on neighborhood streets is noble. However, when you conflate that goal with the social engineering aspects of forcing 100% recycling and the financial folly of “Pay as You Throw” you are left with a half-baked scheme.

I feel for our hard-working city staff, they started with a straightforward goal and ended up with a

A publication of

Call first: 14143 Denver West Pkwy., Suite 100, Golden 80401, 303-566-4100 Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110 Phone: 303-566-4100 Web: ArvadaPress.com To subscribe call 303-566-4100

proposal request that was almost impossible to respond to with any contract that would be beneficial to our citizens.

The old saying “Do you know what you get when you design a horse by committee? A camel” comes to mind here.

Please put this camel to bed and start over with clearly defined goals that makes sense for our city, and stop trying to social engineer. Social engineering has no place in local government.

T.O. Owens, Arvada SEE LETTERS, P15

round the horn…

We got a new puppy this week. To quote the lady at the shelter, he is “ridiculously cute.” And I agree HITTING — not only is he HOME ridiculously cute, but he has completely latched on to my son, which is who we were hoping he would be a best friend for. It’s such a win for everybody!

Well, maybe not everybody. The other animals in the house… they’re not Michael Alcorn so sure yet. The oldest one, the old lady of the bunch, is very curious, and has a lot of energy around the newbie. So much so that it’s a little nerve-wracking, to be honest. I know she has to assert her “alpha-ness” to the new puppy, but you never know just how far she’ll go until they’re completely comfortable with each other.

The middle animal, the cat, is the funny one. She could not care less about the new puppy if you paid her to. She’s not curious, she’s hasn’t hissed at him, she’s barely acknowledged him (in that oh-so-like-a-cat

way of ignoring something in its world). It seems like her thought process is very much along the lines of “as long as I get the food, play, and attention that I want, what difference does one more creature make?”

So we’ve got the old one, working overtime to hold on to its position; the middle one, indifferent and focused on her own thing; and the new one, who has no legs, no voice, doesn’t know where to go to the bathroom and sleeps in a kennel. And, of course, which one is getting all the attention? The newbie.

Do you ever get the feeling that public policy is decided by groups of people who, roughly, fit that exact same set of descriptors?

No. No real point. Just that, sometimes, I think we’d do just as well having policies decided by the group of animals in my house than the people we pull the proverbial lever for. Quick show of hands: who is waiting with baited breath for the Trump/Biden debates this Fall?

We’ve all heard the old Navajo (supposedly) legend of the two wolves, yes? To refresh, a tribal elder is speaking to the young men of the tribe, and he tells them that, within

JERRY HEALEY President

MINDY NELON Marketing Consultant

jhealey@coloradocommunitymedia.com

mnelon@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MARK HARDEN Editor

AUDREY BROOKS Business Manager

mharden@coloradocommunitymedia.com

abrooks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Press. We welcome letters to the editor. Please Include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

GLENN WALLACE Metro West Editor

ERIN FRANKS Production Manager

Email letters to gwallace@coloradocommunitymedia.com

gwallace@coloradocommunitymedia.com

efranks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

CASEY VAN DIVIER Community Editor

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager

Deadline Wed. for the following week’s paper.

cvandivier@coloradocommunitymedia.com

lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

To opt in or out of delivery please email us at circulation@ coloradocommunitymedia.com

SEE ALCORN, P13

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.

POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Arvada Press, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110

Arvada Press 13

June 11, 2020

Here’s what you need to know for the June Primary

I

t may feel like the March presidential primary election just ended, but the June 30 state primary is already here. While the COVID-19 outbreak means election offiGUEST cials must take new COLUMN safety precautions, the good news is that nothing — not even a pandemic — will disrupt the Colorado elections model.

As always, the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder’s office wants to ensure that George Stern Jeffco voters have all the information they need ahead of Election Day. Here is the who, what, when, and where of the June 30 state primary.

Who? If you are a Democrat, you will receive a Democratic primary ballot. If you are a Republican, you will receive a Republican primary ballot. If you are a Libertarian, you will receive a Libertarian primary ballot. If you are

DORAY FROM PAGE 12

when I asked her about commencement, “not knowing what the future holds. We’re going out into the real world, whatever that means now.”

Sarah, who is graduating as an M.D. from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, said the whole thing feels anticlimactic, after all her years of work. “We had a virtual ceremony for our convocation commencement,” Sarah said, “with pre-recorded speeches from the president and chancellor, and a presentation with our photos.

And we took our physician’s oath.”

Sarah said her family and friends could not be present for the event due to stay-at home orders “It was all pretty underwhelming,” she said.

And commencement? “It hasn’t

ALCORN FROM PAGE 12

him, are two wolves constantly at war.

One is filled with compassion, wisdom, patience and kindness; the other, with greed, envy, folly and anger. One of the young men asks him, “which one will win the war?” To which the elder answers, “the one that I feed.”

In these times of tumult and strife, can I make an unsolicited suggestion?

Feed the first wolf. Or, at least, starve the second wolf. And, in my opinion, one of the easiest ways to do that is to turn off the television, exit Facebook and Twitter, and go outside and talk to other human beings. It’s legal now!

Believe me, I understand the irony of columnizing about shutting media out of your world for a bit, but … Trust

unaffiliated, you will receive both a Democratic and a Republican ballot, but you may only return one of the two.

Minor parties other than the Libertarian Party do not have a primary election, so voters registered with those parties are not eligible to participate in this election.

17 year olds are eligible to vote — and will receive a ballot if they are pre-registered — as long as they will be 18 by the general election on Nov. 3, 2020.

All citizens can register to vote or check or update their voter registration at VoteJeffco.com.

What?

The top race on the ballot is the U.S. Senate seat. For the major parties, the U.S. Senate race is followed by candidates for U.S. House, the state Board of Education and/or CU regent (depending on your district), the state legislature, district attorney, and county commissioner.

We have posted sample ballots for the Republican, Democratic, and Libertarian primaries at VoteJeffco. com.

really hit me yet that everything has changed,” she said. “It didn’t feel like a big celebration of this milestone, but I’m ready to move on and be a physician.”

Commencement means different things to each one of you, I’m sure, and my fervent hope is that the next paths on your journeys will take you to challenging, fulfilling and rewarding places.

To Heath, Kylee, Sarah and all the seniors in the class of 2020, I offer my sincere admiration, my heartiest congratulations, and the very best of wishes for your commencement.

Go forth and stay safe.

Andrea Doray is a writer who wrote in a recently published poem: “Instead of 2020 graduation tassels, face masks now hang from rearview mirrors.”

Contact Andrea at a.doray@andreadoray.com.

me. You’ll be saner. You’ll be happier.

You’ll realize that people are mostly run by the first wolf. And – wait for it — you might learn something new that feeds your first wolf.

Snarky question: So … based on recent edicts by the political class, can we please fully open the schools in the fall? I mean, seriously — you’ve never seen a more spontaneous peaceful protest than the ones thrown by seventh graders assigned an essay to write.

That is all. Have a good week, people. Do something to be of service to someone else.

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.

When?

Here are the key dates: Saturday, May 16: We mailed ballots to all military and overseas voters.

Monday, June 1: Last day to change your party affiliation for this primary.

Monday, June 8: We mailed ballots to all active, registered voters and opened all drop boxes.

Monday, June 22: We will open inperson vote centers.

Tuesday, June 30: Election Day—we must receive your ballot by 7 p.m.

Where?

Drop boxes: Our 24-hour drop boxes remain the most efficient and secure way to return your ballot. Because more than 75 percent of our voters use them, we continue to use state dollars to add more (and many drop boxes don’t even require you to get out of your car!). Find the latest locations at VoteJeffco.com.

Mail: Voters may also use the U.S. mail to return their ballots. Please re-

member that postmarks do not count, so if you choose to mail your ballot, we recommend doing so at least eight days before Election Day. Vote Centers: Fewer than 2 percent of our voters will need to vote in person. In light of COVID-19, we are taking special precautions with our in-person vote centers, including large sites for adequate social distancing, vote station cleaning between every voter, plexiglass dividing voters and election workers, and face coverings for all election workers. Find the latest locations at VoteJeffco.com. And in the meantime, you can help us reduce the number of voters who need to vote in person to almost zero by encouraging others to register to vote or update their registration right now at VoteJeffco.com so they can receive a ballot in the mail!

George Stern is the elected Clerk and Recorder for Jefferson County.

Name: a007; Depth: 8 in; Ad Number: -; Customer Name: Obituary House Account

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

Funeral Homes Visit: www.memoriams.com

14 Arvada Press

June 11, 2020J

County offers grants to small businesses and nonprofits hurt by COVID-19 GUEST COLUMN Libby Szabo, Casey Tighe and Lesley Dahlkemper

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to many Jefferson County residents and businesses. As individuals, the state’s “Stay at Home” and now “Safer at Home” orders have been challenging as many of us try to balance our personal and work lives, but those orders dealt an incredible blow to most of our small businesses. They need our support now more than ever.

As county commissioners representing Jefferson County, the three of us have made a commitment to shop locally whenever possible. We’ve eaten more restaurant take-out food in the past three months than in the previous year, and we are making a point to tip more generously than we ever have. We hope you do the same.

We are fortunate that there is another way that we are able to help our Jefferson County community. The federal government has made more than $2 trillion available to state and local governments, small businesses, healthcare providers and individuals through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The county’s portion of those funds total $101.7 million, and we are working hard to put that money back into the community as quickly as possible.

For example, Jefferson County elected offices, departments and divisions will use ap-

COVID FROM PAGE 10

The state Department of Public Health and Environment released draft guidance for houses of worship, outdoor and personal recreation, and some other items. Coloradans were able to give feedback until noon June 3 online, and the changes went into effect June 4.

Here’s a look at how restrictions have loosened, according to the guidance.

Laundry list of changes Houses of worship can welcome groups larger than 10 people under the new directives, which allow for a maximum of 50% capacity or up to 50 people per room, according to the state public-health department.

Seating should be arranged to maintain at least 6 feet in every direction between individuals or parties. A “party” includes members of a house-

proximately half of those funds for items such as personal protective equipment, COVID-19 tests, ongoing cleaning services to keep the public and staff safe, and other needs directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are distributing nearly $30 million to cities located in Jefferson County to help them address the effects of the pandemic. Those distributions will be made based on city populations to ensure fairness.

Small businesses and local nonprofits need our help too. We have set aside $7.5 million to support small businesses in unincorporated Jeffco and nonprofits throughout the county that have been hurt by the pandemic. More information on this program can be found on our CARES Act Emergency Grant Funding web page – visit https://www.jeffco.us/ and click on the link.

We’ve also earmarked nearly $1 million for food programs including Jeffco Public Schools’ summer meals program and a bulk food purchase program. And nearly $500,000 is going to local health care providers and hospitals to support them, and $150,000 will go to the Jefferson County Workforce Center to increase temporary employees to better help job seekers find employment and secure unemployment insurance benefits. Additionally, $250,000 will support an initiative to combat homelessness through a partnership that in-

hold who live together, the guidance says. Outdoors, groups from different households also can worship at least 6 feet apart.

The state strongly recommends that speakers and singers move much further back —about 25 feet — than others to maximize distance between them and the front row of attendees. Choirs should not be used at this time, given the strong risk of viral spread from singing, the state recommends.

The state plans to “continually review” the guidelines and welcomed feedback in a survey at tinyurl.com/ ColoradoCOVIDWorship by June 12.

Outdoor recreation could see a laundry list of changes in time for summer: Playgrounds can be open for up to 10 people at a time, and outdoor sport facilities such as tennis and basketball courts, and fields, can open for up to 25 people at a time per court or field.

Outdoor pools also can open, with up to 50% capacity or up to 50 people, whichever is fewer.

Weekly Carrier Routes Available Castle Rock & Parker Areas

• Part-time hours • Adaptable route sizes • No suit & tie required!

Previous carrier experience encouraged; reliable vehicle and email access, required. no telephone inquiries - but

email us at:

snevins@coloradocommunitymedia.com

cludes Jeffco, local cities and nonprofit,s such as the Salvation Army.

While these numbers might change slightly as we go through the process, we want to be sure that the distribution of the CARES Act dollars ensures our cities and our county have funding to help businesses re-open and to support services that help our neighbors facing economic hardship due to the pandemic. The Board of County Commissioners, in coordination with Jefferson County Public Health and the community stakeholders within the Business and Economic Taskforce submitted a request for a variance to safely and responsibly reopen our businesses by implementing guidelines that best meet our county’s needs.

These last couple of months have been a very difficult time for us all, but we’re a strong community that looks out for one another, especially our most vulnerable. This pandemic is no exception, as we focus on preventing the spread and economic recovery. You have helped make this possible. Our heartfelt thanks to our community for your sacrifice and hard work to help flatten the curve in Jeffco.

Libby Szabo, Casey Tighe and Lesley Dahlkemper serve as the county commissioners for Jefferson County.

“It is strongly encouraged to limit pool activity to lap swim,” the guidance says. “If you permit open swim, make efforts to reduce in-pool interactions.”

Indoor gyms, recreation centers and pools can hold up to 25% capacity, or 50 people — whichever is fewer — per room, as long as people can stay 6 feet apart. Pools are limited to 25% capacity or up to 50 people.

Use of any shared equipment is discouraged, and facilities must ensure all equipment is cleaned and disinfected between each use.

Before the June 4 update, gyms had to remain closed except for personal training and classes indoors, which were limited to members of a single household or a mixed group of four or fewer.

Public health orders — such as the safer-at-home order — generally issue requirements that Coloradans must follow, and the health department’s guidance provides instructions for how businesses and Coloradans can comply with the orders, according to the department. But some guidelines are only “strongly recommended.”

The full list of requirements for all types of spaces, with specific social distancing rules, are located at covid19.colorado.gov/safer-at-home.

‘When, not if’ Perhaps the largest change is for organized recreational sports: Youth and adult recreational leagues for groups of up to 25 players, excluding coaches, referees and umpires, are allowed.

Gov. Jared Polis acknowledged the risk in allowing such large groups at a June 2 news conference, speaking about the protocol for when COVID-19 cases would occur in players.

“I’m using the word ‘when,’ not ‘if,’ because there are so many” organized sporting groups in Colorado, Polis said.

But he expressed more confidence

in allowing organized groups of that size rather than large groups for pickup sports. Contact tracing — where public health workers notify people that they may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 — isn’t possible with “random social groups” as opposed to leagues, the governor said.

Spectators are “strongly discouraged” for adult sports, the guidance says. Spectators, like parents, are allowed for youth sports, as long as members from different households maintain at least 6 feet of distrance from each other.

Teams must maintain contact information and rosters and be prepared to support local contact tracing efforts if exposures occur, the guidance says.

“Consider participating in low or no-contact sports like baseball, cross country, or cycling instead of highcontact sports like wrestling or soccer,” the guidance says.

Under the prior safer-at-home order, Coloradans at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 were urged to stay at home at all times except to seek medical care.

The state public-health department now asks older adults — those 65 and older — and others, such as those with underlying health conditions, to stay at home except to perform necessary activities or for outdoor recreation, according to a June 1 presentation to reporters.

As of June 4, casinos, theaters, horse tracks and off-track betting facilities are still generally closed statewide, but counties may apply to open them via a variance, or waiver, from the state.

Hair and nail salons, spas, tattoo parlors, pet grooming, and massage establishments were allowed to be open since May 1, except for if a county had a stricter public health order in place.

Capacity for such businesses was updated effective June 4.

Arvada Press 15

June 11, 2020

LETTERS FROM PAGE 12

General appreciation Thank you Arvada police officers for not using excessive force when it may become necessary to physically restrain an individual.

Brian Newton, Arvada People should vote on what we know now Recently I have heard my council representative in Arvada District 2, Lauren Simpson, say that she does not need a vote of the people to determine that there is broad support for a single hauler system in Arvada. She justifies this position by saying she was just elected and has heard from voters on the campaign trail. I question this thinking because during the time of the campaign there were many unknowns. For instance, some of the unknowns were: The company the city has chosen is not local.

If you need an extra bag you must go to city hall and purchase a sticker for $3.25.

There will be no senior discount, and seniors like my wife & I will be subject to the whims of others for trash removal costs.

If you choose to use a different company you will be forced to pay Republic $4.25 per month, for which you get nothing.

Recycling will no longer be a choice; it will be mandatory.

We citizens were promised a vote and the city council is taking that away.

None of these facts were known during the campaign. How could our elected official have gotten any idea about the support for the city scheme without being able to talk to residents about the details.

I have spoken to many neighbors and these details are exactly what they all oppose. I ask out councilor to do her job and represent the vast majority of her residents, not the vocal minority.

Rick Foster, Arvada Almost time to vote In only six short months we will once again be able to vote both locally and nationally. I keep thinking of Nikita Khrushchev’s 1959 speech in which he promised to feed us socialism in such small doses we would not even know it is happening. Then, one day we would wake up and have communism. They would never even have to fight us; we would weaken to the point we would fall. We are slowly reaching the point where those of us who are working are not only supporting ourselves, but an entire underclass of people who no longer work, nor feel the need to work.

We only need to look at San Francisco and Seattle as examples. An entire underclass of homeless and subsidized non-workers has developed, and laws keep changing to facilitate this fraud. Other cities around the country are slowly joining them.

Is this the direction we want to see Jefferson County and Colorado take?

Please take the time to review some of the bills going through our demo-

cratic legislature and you will see the slow creep of socialism. If you find this as frightening as I do, I hope this time around you will vote for the conservative candidates. Matt Durkin for Jeffco DA, Joni Inman for County Commissioner, Vicky Pyne for House District 27 and Lynn Gerber for Senate district 19. I wonder, are we looking at some of the last chances to save Colorado? When you consider local and national candidates, remember Nikita.

William Hineser, Arvada Enslaved to evil Oh, slavery, slavery, you are alive and well in this country, and never more are you exalted than when rioters go to town in the divine name of protest.

Rioters, you act like the very virus, mindlessly destroying as it does. But your worst violence will not blot out evil, your fury will not bring life back to a good man who has perished, nor bring justice to his memory.

That is why you riot. Not because you believe in your deepest heart that what you are doing is right and just, but because the thing you are enslaved to drives you to evil.

You fear life itself and your inability to control it.

The virus has brought home to you that you are not the divine rulers of your destiny you believed you were.

So you lash out, using the death of a good man to excuse any license in the name of your fear and hate over the things in your life you cannot control. You are a disgrace, bringing untold anguish to his grieving family, whom you refuse healing because you keep the story of his death on the news for them to watch.

George Floyd is praying for his killer, and I stand by him, not you.

I refuse to be the judge, jury, and executioner of that cop. He is a murderer, but I will not murder him in turn, my heart. He too is another slave in chains.

Just like you.

Xiào Lóng N , Arvada Lilly for DA I support Jake Lilly for DA for Jefferson & Gilpen Counties (JD1) because he’s been for Criminal Jjustice Reform before it was cool.

Jake believes our prison system has been used instead of a better functioning mental health system for too long. Instead of imprisoning the mentally ill, Jake wants to expand the use of diversion courts who will actually treat mentally ill and substance abusers rather than just locking them up. Jake understands problems of mentally ill because when he was a defense attorney, he specialized in defending veterans. Most veterans he defended suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) & Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Yes, they had committed crimes but they needed mental health help, not incarceration, to get better. Jake also plans to develop a network of resources in our community to advocate for housing and healthcare for those leaving the prison system to help them break free of the prison system, which now often just cycles people out and then back in jail.

Brenda Bronson, Lakewood Asking the right questions As a white suburban woman lucky enough to have a work from home job and financial security, I’ve been listening to the reactions of my friends towards the killing of George Floyd and the world’s response.

Most of my friends, like myself, have deep empathy for the issue of police violence towards people of color and support the protests and their cause. Some of my friends however seem disproportionately focused on the riots and looting, rather than the more frequent peaceful protests and the reasons people are protesting.

I sure understand the fear of watching buildings burn and looters steal. But it’s important for all of us to also consider how we might feel if our children were subjected to the unwarranted police abuse that is so often seen towards people of color. Why is it that when Colin Kaepernick took a knee to protest police violence, too many focused on the fact that he was kneeling instead of the reason why? Why is it that we are sometimes more concerned about the wrongful destruction of property by a small minority of protesters than the wrongful taking of life? Are we more interested in justice for our black neighbors, or in maintaining the status quo because it works for us?

Robin Kupernik, Arvada Using the crisis How sad that many of our Jefferson County officials are deploying the Obama playbook, enunciated by his Attorney General Rahm Emanuel, “Never let a crisis go to waste.”

In one story this week, Jeffco Manager Don Davis proclaimed they now are looking for reductions to achieve a balanced budget. So when the COVID “crisis” came, rather than look for budget savings by immediately furloughing all non-essential Jeffco government employees, they kept them at full pay. And now that the crisis is diminishing, Davis announces the county will be cutting services to taxpayers, with “many county offices closed on Fridays.” It’s so much easier to reduce services to taxpayers, than to furlough an employee who is not working.

Similarly, Jeffco libraries are choosing to remain closed to taxpayers, offering only curbside pickup.

So .. .it’s safe for the public to mingle with scores of people in grocery stores and department stores...handling products that have been shelved or displayed by other people...but we can’t enter a library and pick up a book someone previously touched.

Too dangerous.

And to close this trifecta, readers are told of a parade of self-serving unionized education professionals -- also not furloughed -- who now are begging for more funds from taxpayers. To top it off, Jeffco Schools rented school buses to those who paraded them around the capital. I hadn’t known the district was renting out government property. Some friends of mine would like to rent those same buses for the next Reopen Colorado Rally!

Count me among those who will be strongly opposed to budget increases for the various government entities that are milking this crisis for all it’s worth!

Mark W. Salley, Arvada

Local ads, coupons & deals are just one click away!

CHECK IT OUT AT:

ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

ST. JOAN OF ARC C AT H O L I C C H U R C H

Proclaiming Christ from the Mountains to the Plains www.StJoanArvada.org 12735 W 58th Ave · 80002 · 303-420-1232 Daily Masses: 8:30am, Mon-Sat Confessions: 8am Tue-Fri; 7:30am & 4:00pm Sat Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00pm Sunday Masses: 7:30, 9:00, 11:30am, 5:30pm

To advertise your place of worship in this section, call Erin at 303-566-4074 or email eaddenbrooke@ ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

16 Arvada Press

LOCAL

June 11, 2020J

LIFE

Thornton Arts welcomes the summer

Residents are finding creative ways to date during the pandemic

T

A different way of meeting people Meredith Gerdes of Denver also uses Bumble to meet other people for dating. She believes residents who are looking to date are realizing how dependent they are on bars and restaurants to meet someone.

“The important message to bring across is no one is meeting anyone in

he Thornton Arts and Culture Division is emerging from the COVID-19 closedown with several free activities that provide artistic connection and take into account the need to keep attendees safe.

“We’ve been looking for ways to deliver creative experiences to our communities,” said Alisa Zimmerman, arts and culture manager with the City of Thornton. “It’s going to be COMING in progress ATTRACTIONS a—work something we’ll tweak as we go through summer.

We want the arts to be a way people can engage in a positive way.”

The first activity, Lumonics Mind Spa: Thornton, Thornton runs through Clarke Reader Sept. 25 in the OZ Gallery at the Thornton Arts and Culture Center, 9209 Dorothy Blvd.

The Denver-based Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery worked to create the installation which, according to provided information, uses “the light sculptures of artists Dorothy Tanner and Mel Tanner, and the video art and music of Marc Ballard and Dorothy Tanner, to create a soothing space for reflection and contemplation.”

As Zimmerman explained, there can be no more than 10 people in the gallery at a time, but while there they can meditate or bring their own art supplies to create in the multi-sensory installation.

“It’s a bit like the Calm app. We want people to come, get out of their homes, mellow out in this space and see how art can be different than a framed picture,” she said. “It’s really a different experience, and people might get something different from it each time. We hope people leave and feel a little renewed, refreshed and not so stressed.”

Thornton Arts is also offering two musical options — the annual Twist & Shout Summer Concerts and Ward ice cream socials and the new Acoustic Tuesdays Concert Series.

Attendees will have to follow numerous safety guidelines, and maximum attendance is 250 people per concert, but they will also be live-streamed.

The Twist & Shout concerts run from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Thursdays from July 9 through Aug. 27 at Carpenter Park Field, 11151 Colorado Blvd.

Bands will perform in a variety of genres, ranging from patriotic classics to Motown, the 80s and bluegrass.

Free ice cream will be served at Ward concerts in August.

SEE DATING, P17

SEE READER, P17

BY JOSEPH RIOS JRIOS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

T

ownsend Wenzler of Arvada is just getting used to his new home.

Wenzler, 23, moved out to Colorado from Arkansas last August, and he came only knowing some family members and friends who live in the state.

And as COVID-19 closed social places where Wenzler would go to look to find people to date, he and other residents throughout the Denver metro area turned to dating apps like Hinge, Bumble and Tinder to meet other people.

“I don’t think it’s anything crazy, it’s just how it is, and young people are young and dumb and going insane and just wanting to branch out and meet each other. It’s impossible without the bars, so thank God for dating apps,” said Wenzler.

Since mid-March, mobile dating apps like Tinder and Bumble, where users swipe through a feed of profiles to see who is interested in them, have seen an uptick in use.

BBC reported that on March 29, Tinder users made 3 billion swipes worldwide — a record for the app.

Other apps like Bumble reported that it saw a 16% increase in messages sent during the week ending on May 1 as opposed to the week ending on March 13. Bumble also has a voice call and video chat feature and reported that it saw a near 70% increase in video calls during the week ending on May 1 in comparison to the week ending on March 13.

Wenzler had a date over to his home that he met on Tinder to cook her dinner during the pandemic. He said he thinks people are bored, and because of that, he believes residents his age aren’t afraid to forgo social distancing recommendations.

“Half of you wants to social distance, while the other part of you is going insane. I had more success (dating) toward the end of (the stayat-home order) just because initially, people were more freaked out and less willing to go on dates with people they didn’t know,” said Wenzler.

Townsend Wenzler swipes through the Bumble dating app outside his Arvada home on June 4. Dating apps like Bumble have reported that they have seen more users since the pandemic started.

JOSEPH RIOS

Dating and relationship tips

Arvada Press 17

June 11, 2020

A reader-submitted poem: Covid discovery Covid, are you friend or are you foe?

You made me stop this frantic pace, of running with the human race.

Going here and flitting there, with never a thought or never a care about the purpose of it all.

Not wanting to miss out what others are seeing, doing or enjoying.

I might pass by things exciting. It might be thrilling and delighting.

It made me stop all this scrambling and see the error of my ways.

The greatest thrills are all around

me, opened my eyes so I could see Natures evolving scenes before me, of quiet and storms, of light and shadow, of symbiosis and psychosis.

Where beauty and tragedy are mixed together, waiting for man to observe the pattern and realize it is useless to fight the flow.

Why not jump aboard and ride the storm.

It is an adventure to see what unfolds in all this strife.

What’s the calling we are made for?

Where do we fit in all this struggle?

Open our ears to what we are hearing in the quiet of our minds.

Is it God who decides it all or where does man fit in his plan?

He gave us life to use and enjoy. It is not a trinket or a toy to be wasted.

Day by day we are invited to partake of what’s around us, where the path does seem to lead, where there is the greatest need.

Open our eyes to all the beauty that

surrounds us without rushing.

If we stop and to see the unfolding and wait upon the calling, We will see a brighter picture of what this life is all about.

Listen to the world around us and be nudged by something greater To take a stance or take some action that flows within us.

Discovering our place in this web of life and bringing peace to our souls.

GRAND VIEW

vision was the best possible route.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the city chose not to recommended moving forward with the rehearing using that same provision,” said Ryan Stachelski, Arvada’s community and economic development director.

Instead, the city recommended to Palmer that he submit a new application. Stachelski has officially deemed the new application substantially

similar to Palmer’s first application.

In average circumstances, a substantially similar application cannot be submitted until a 12-month waiting period has passed. However, under the code, if council finds good cause to waive the 12-month period, it can do so.

Council voted to waive the waiting period June 1.

“There is very good cause. At the first go around, the developer did

not get to present his application because of the request of the city that the city staff do it,” said councilmember John Marriott. “The developer just shouldn’t be penalized for the city’s action. The other good cause is this project has changed and it does more closely meet the guidelines.”

Palmer’s new application will go before the city’s Design Review Committee on June 18.

during the COVID-19 era. She also added that before the pandemic, she met a man on Bumble who was visiting from San Diego, and although he is back in California, the two have been Facetiming and getting to know each other more.

“I am abiding to social distancing, and it has helped me learn more about myself. I feel good coming out of this knowing what I want and getting to learn more about myself,” said Gerdes. “I think COVID-19 has enabled (residents) to get to know each other more.”

But COVID-19 forced restaurants to close, so Whitley and Benavides ordered take-out food and ate together at a park.

“After our second date, we decided to do social distance dating because we wanted to be cautious with what’s going and be safe. For a good while, we didn’t see each other at all,” said Whitley.

Wanting to still keep the connection with Benavides, Whitley dropped off a care package to her that included ice cream and dinner. After that, the two spent time video chatting and did online tours of places like Machu Picchu — while still keeping a distance from each other.

Whitley said his big idea was to set up a projector in his driveway with a screen. Benavides sat in her car on Whitley’s driveway, and he sat outside of it and kept a distance as the two watched a movie together.

“I think my mentality was trying to figure out what I would do on a typical date and how I can modify it so that we can still do a date like a typical one in a way to still social distance,” he said.

Whitley said dating during the pandemic has been a crazy time, but it has forced him to think outside the box in terms of setting up dates with Benavides. He added that it has been worth it, because he has had a great time with her.

“I feel like it allowed us to connect, and it caused us to have deeper conversations. It was a time to spend at a park or watch the sunset and catch up on each other’s days and to get to know each other and what our lives are like,” said Whitley. “It was really nice to be able to connect, and because there was so much other stuff going on, we really got to know each other. I really appreciate that.”

Clarke’s Concert of the Week - James Brown Live in Boston Legendary soul-man James Brown was scheduled to perform at the Boston Garden on the day following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968, but the city’s mayor wanted to cancel the performance out of fears that it would lead to violence. With the help of African American councilmember Tom Atkins, Brown and the city reached a deal to broadcast the performance on television, in the hopes that people would stay in to watch.

The idea mostly worked and watching the concert now, it’s easy to see why. Brown is incandescent, bringing all his talent, charisma and humanity to bear for a moment when he was needed most. The performance is a quintessential display of the unifying and healing power of music. It can be streamed in its entirety on the James Brown Channel on YouTube.

Streaming style - ‘I Am Not Your Negro’ In 2016 filmmaker Raoul Peck used James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript “Remember This House,” as the basis for his blistering documentary, “I Am Not Your Negro.”

The film analyzes the history of racism in the US (both historic and current) by exploring the lives and deaths of Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Thanks to footage from Baldwin’s speeches and television interviews, audiences get to hear from the man himself about all the work still to be done. It stays with you.

The film is available for free streaming on PBS, Jefferson County Public Library’s Hoopla program and for Amazon Prime members.

FROM PAGE 8

interpretation of that same provision was recently overturned by the Colorado Court of Appeals in a separate matter concerning a development called Olde Town Residences, prompting the city to reconsider whether a rehearing under this pro-

DATING FROM PAGE 16

a normal setting,” she said.

Gerdes said dating during the pandemic is restoring a safer environment for women to meet men. She said before the pandemic, some of her friends would go over to men’s houses after their only interactions were on Bumble.

“Rather than meeting someone with dimmed lights and alcohol at a restaurant or bar, you’re meeting in the park in broad daylight. It’s kind of cool because you are forced to be put into a different environment, so therefore, it could almost change the dynamic for whatever the relationship might be,” Gerdes said.

Gerdes has gone on a date to a park with a man who she met on Bumble

READER FROM PAGE 16

As for the new Acoustic Tuesdays Concerts, these run 7-8 p.m., from July 7 through Sept. 15 at Lu Murray Park, 9211 Dorothy Blvd. These performances will focus on celebrating different cultures and holidays through storytelling and dance.

As the summer progresses, Thornton Arts will continue looking at ways to connect residents with creativity.

And residents can support them by donating to the Thornton Arts, Sciences and Humanities Council (TASHCO).

“We’ve been doing lots of sharing on Facebook and Instagram, reaching out with a survey on ways to connect, and are still pursuing public arts projects,” Zimmerman said. “We hope people find a great art escape.”

For details on events, call 720-977-

Forming a new relationship during the pandemic Just before the COVID-19 pandemic, Sam Whitley met his now girlfriend Chelsea Benavides through a friend.

The two went out together to a restaurant, hit it off and decided they wanted to go out together again.

5880 or visit www.ArtsThornton.com.

Celebrate a virtual Junteenth Marking Juneteenth — which commemorates the ending of slavery and the beginning of African American independence in the US on June 19, 1865 — in 2020 requires bringing all the celebrations to a virtual space on Thursday, June 18.

The online event will feature musicians, merchants, artisans, comedians and other creatives from all over the world, and will also include three virtual competitions: global buckdown dance, barz cypher and comedy club. On Friday, the 19 there will be an #IamJuneteenth celebration campaign and people can get involved with the effort to make Juneteenth a national holiday.

The festival and information can be found at www.juneteenthmusicfestival.com.

— Beth Tubach, Arvada

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

18 Arvada Press

June 11, 2020J

Hundreds turn out to honor longtime Westernaires volunteer Brian Ball was honored with car parade at jeffco fairgrounds

BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Brian Ball loved kids, and spent most of his adult life volunteering with Westernaires in Jefferson County precisely for that reason.

On June 7, Ball’s family was able to see just how much they loved him back.

Ball passed away at 47 from metastatic esophageal cancer on May 16, but the ongoing COVID-19 Ball pandemic has so far prevented his family and friends from being able to hold a large party to celebrate his life.

So they instead held a serpentine parade and procession through the fairgrounds, in which hundreds of people drove their vehicles through the facility to pay their respects to Ball and his family.

“This was so amazingly special,” said Brian’s mother, Judy Ball, after the procession. “I knew Brian was loved but I’ve just been stunned.”

During the parade, many held

up signs thanking Brian for their contributions to their lives and stopped to greet Judy and her husband, Stephen Ball.

“We’ve been in Westernaires since 1986 and I know it’s your second family,” Stephen said. “We’ve been out here for so long and for everybody to take their Sunday to do this for Brian is mind blowing.”

Brian began with Westernaires as a participant in the program from 1986-1992 before returning later as a volunteer.

He proudly served as an instructor, mentor, Posse, Chief Instructor of Red Division. More recently, he also enjoyed experiencing Westernaires in a new capacity, parent, as his children Nickolaus and Emily rode in the program.

Brian Ball spent most of his career working for Miller-Coors and was known for his passion for life and desire to make those around him laugh.

“He was a mischievous prankster,” Stephen Ball said.

However, he will surely be best remembered for the work he did with Westernaires.

“He was a lot of fun but he did his work he didn’t pass of his work but he had fun doing it,” said Judy Ball. “He loved the kids and the kids all loved him.”

At the start of the procession, a riderless horse led the way in recognition of Brian.

A girl standing out of a sunroof holds a “Thank you Brian!” sign.

Brian Ball’s mom, Judy, holds the hands of a driver of a car while her husband, Stephen, stands beside her. PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO

PHOTOS BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO

A girl riding in an SUV holds a “We Heart Brian” sign.

Y L T C E F R E P & R E D N TERANTEED DELICIOUS GUA

RSES 20 MAIN COUSE RT GET THE GRILLER’S BUNDLE

INTRODUCTORY PRICE:

$

Taller, thicker steaks, expertly hand-cut.

Double-trimmed for 100% flawless bites.

4 (5 oz.) Butcher’s Cut Filet Mignon 4 (4 oz.) Boneless Pork Chops 4 (4 oz.) Omaha Steaks Burgers 4 (3 oz.) Gourmet Jumbo Franks 4 (2.8 oz.) Potatoes au Gratin 4 (4 oz.) Caramel Apple Tartlets Omaha Steaks Seasoning Packet

Aged 21 days for the most tenderness.

$224.91* separately

TRY THE EXCLUSIVE OMAHA STEAKS

BUTCHER’S CUT FILET MIGNON

THE BEST STEAKS OF YOUR LIFE OR

YOUR MONEY BACK

7999

+ SIDES & DES

+ 4 MORE BURGERS

FREE

com/family254

s.

25 | OmahaSteak 5 .6 9 9 .2 3 3 8 1. ow Order N Bundle 63281DCB Ask for the Griller’s

*Savings shown over aggregated single item base price. Limit 2.

Free burgers will be sent to each shipping address that includes (63281). Standard S&H added per address. Not valid with other offers. Expires 10/31/20. All purchases subject to Omaha Steaks, Inc. Terms of Use & Privacy Policy: omahasteaks.com/terms-of-useOSI and omahasteaks .com/info/privacy-policy or call 1-800-228-9872. Photos exemplary of product advertised.

Arvada Press 19

June 11, 2020

Remote literacy provided for K-3 students, families Children in kindergarten to third grade, along with their families and caregivers, have access to remote literacy learning through Colorado Classroom — Read with Me at Home.

The direct-to-home learning initiative, which began May 18, is a partnership among Gov. Jared Polis, the Colorado Department of Education, the Colorado Education Initiative and Rocky Mountain Public Media.

“I am thrilled to announce this partnership with Rocky Mountain Public Media to provide high-quality, standards-aligned literacy instruction for K-3 learners across Colorado,” Polis said in a news release. “This programming will be available to families across Colorado to help close the digital divide and prevent learning loss during this critical time for children. I want to thank all of our partners, as well as the incredible, creative teachers that have helped make this a reality for Colorado children and families.”

The learning initiative will be broadcast in English with Spanish subtitles and is available for free because of support from Gary Community Investments, the release said.

It will be shown on Rocky Mountain PBS stations in Denver (KRMA), Pueblo/Colorado Springs (KTSC), Steamboat Springs (KRMZ), Grand Junction (KRMJ) and Durango (KRMU).

During the COVID-19 school closures across Colorado, this remote learning initiative will provide continued early literacy development and provide K-3 learners with access to free educational reading resources at home on television and online, regardless of their ability to access broadband internet services, the release said.

“Colorado Classroom — Read with Me at Home” will connect teachers

with students in their homes from 8-10 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Customized lessons on Tuesday and Thursday will leverage expert teachers to support students with language development needs.

The Colorado Education Association has provided the funding for stipends for the expert teachers. Viewers can watch or record the lessons, as they will be rebroadcast overnight to allow for DVR recording. Accompanying lesson plans and work packets will be posted on the Rocky Mountain PBS website for parents and caregivers to use, adapt, and build upon.

Access to the lesson plans and student work packets available at rmpbs. org/ColoradoClassroom or by calling 800-274-6666.

“Particularly for the 15 percent to 20 percent of children who live in rural areas without access to highspeed internet, RMPBS offers a way to ensure every child has a place to continue learning in the framework of Colorado’s curriculum outside of the classroom,” Amanda Mountain, president & CEO of Rocky Mountain Public Media, said in the release.

“Partnering with the State of Colorado Governor’s Office, the CDE and Colorado Education Initiative is such an important collaboration to ensure we can reach all Colorado families with this important early literacy development initiative.”

PBS Kids programming will continue to be available all day on the 24/7 PBS Kids subchannel or on the free PBS Kids Video or Games apps.

For information about how to access channels based on location, visit http://www.rmpbs.org/channels.

Lesson plans and student work packets can be found at www.rmpbs.org/ColoradoClassroom. Other guidance documents and resources developed specifically for district and school leaders are available at https:// www.cde.state.co.us/safeschools.

Answers

Solution © 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

STAFF REPORT

THANKS for

PLAYING!

20 Arvada Press

June 11, 2020J

www.ColoradoCommunityCareers.com

To Advertise call Karen 303.566.4091

kearhart@coloradocommunitymedia.com

TO ADVERTISE CALL 303-566-4100

H RING?

Career Training COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Now offering a $10,000 scholarship qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! 888449-1713 (M-F 8am-6pm ET) TRAIN ONLINE TO DO MEDICAL BILLING! Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get Trained, Certified & ready to work in months! Call 888-572-6790.

(M-F 8am-6pm ET)

It’s easy to place your ad online.

Please Recycle this Publication when Finished

Rates are very reasonable with self-placement.

It will run in print and on all 20 of our newspaper websites.

Please Recycle this Publication when Finished

AIRLINES ARE HIRING - Get FAA approved hands on Aviation mechanic training. Financial Aid for qualified students - Career placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 888-686-1704

classifieds.yourquickads.com/ccm/ For Local News Anytime of the Day Visit OurColoradoNews.com

For Local News Anytime of the Day Visit OurColoradoNews.com

FIND YOUR PASSION

Arvada Press 21

June 11, 2020

www.ColoradoServiceDirectory.com

To Advertise call Karen 303.566.4091 kearhart@coloradocommunitymedia.com TO ADVERTISE CALL 303-566-4100 Carpentry

Handyman

Carpenter/Handyman:

Michael’s Handyman Services

Semi retired but still ready to work for you! 34 years own business. Prefer any small jobs. Rossi's: 303-233-9581

Carpet/Flooring

Heating/Air Conditioning

• Home Beautification • Home Repair & Interior Painting

303-301-4420

MINOR HOME REPAIRS

No job is too small • Free Estimates

Cleaning Professional cleaner that is searching for select few clientele for personal house cleaning.

Supplies can be included or if you have your preferred cleaners and smells, please have ready. Estimates are free, no house is too large or too small.

References are available upon request.

Concrete/Paving Quality Concrete Service Since 1968 FREE Estimates • Concrete Specialist

Capra Concrete, INC Patios • Sidewalks Driveways • Retaining Walls Colored and Stamped Concrete

Phone: 303-422-8556 Cell: 720-364-2345

Contact : Agnes Call/text: 303-912-0716

msmiyagi33@gmail.com

Or via email: a.plonska@yahoo.com

Drywall

Concrete/Paving

A PATCH TO MATCH Drywall Repair Specialist

• Home Renovation and Remodel • 30 years Experience • Insured • Satisfaction Guaranteed All of Flat Work by by AllPhases Phases of Flat Work

T.M. T.M.CONCRETE CONCRETE

Driveways, Sidewalks, Patios Driveways, Sidewalks, Patios Tear-outs, stamped & colored Tear-outs, stamped & colored concrete.

Quality work, Lic./Ins. concrete. Quality Reasonable rates work, Lic./Ins. "Small Jobs OK!" Reasonable rates 303-514-7364 "Small Jobs OK!" tmconcrete.net 303-514-7364

tmconcrete.net

G& E Concrete • Residential &Commercial Flatwork • Driveways • Patios • Walks • Garages • Foundations • Colored & Stamped Concrete • Tearout/Replace • FREE Estimates 25+ yrs. Experience Best Rates • References

303-451-0312 or 303-915-1559 www.gandeconcrete.com

Serving the the Front Serving Front Range Rangesince since1955 1955 Furnaces Water Heaters Furnaces •• Boilers • Water Heaters Rooftop HVAC • Mobile Furnaces Rooftop HVAC • Commercial Commercial Residential • Install •• Residential Repair • Replace InstallInspections • Repair • Replace Free Furnace & A/C Startups

Highly rated & screened contractor by Home Advisor & Angies list

Call Ed 720-328-5039 Sanders Drywall Inc. All phases to include

Acoustic scrape and re-texture Repairs to full basement finishes Water damage repairs Interior paint, door & trim installs 30+ years experience Insured Free estimates

Free Estimates Free Estimates •• 720-327-9214 720-327-9214

Garage Doors

Hauling Service

FOR ALL YOUR GARAGE DOOR NEEDS!

$$ Reasonable Rates On: $$

Electricians

Affordable Electrician

Over 25 years experience • Residential Expert • All electrical upgrades • No Job Too Small • Senior Discounts

Cell: 720-690-7645 Office: 720-621-6955 B&W Electric, LLC

Licensed and Insured.

Residential or Commercial Ask about our Senior Citizen and/or Veteran discounts.

Call (720) 925-1241 Fence Services

DISCOUNT FENCE CO

Quality Fencing at a DiscountPrice Wood, Chain Link, Vinyl, Orna-iron, New Install and Repairs.

Owner Operated since 1989 Call Now & Compare!

303-450-6604

• Springs, Repairs • New Doors and Openers • Barn and Arena Doors • Locally-Owned & Operated • Tom Martino’s Referral List 10 Yrs • BBB Gold Star Member Since 2002

303-974-7404

www.mikesgaragedoors.com

Handyman

Bob’s Home Repairs

ELECTRICAL SERVICE WORK

All types, licensed & insured.

Honest expert service.

Free estimates.

720-203-7385

Trash Cleanup • Old Furniture Mattresses • Appliances • Dirt Old fencing • Branches • Concrete Asphalt • Old Sod • Brick • Mortar House/Garage/Yard clean outs Storm Damage Cleanup Electronics recycling avail.

Mark: 303.432.3503

Cut Rate Hauling Trash / Rubbish / Debris and Junk Removal Professional and Reliable Year Round Service Rubin (720)434-8042 Kerwin (720) 519-5559

All types of repairs.

Reasonable rates 30yrs Exp. 303-450-1172

Landscape/Nurseries

AFFORDABLE

Landscape & Concrete

HANDYMAN

Carpentry • Painting Tile • Drywall • Roof Repairs Plumbing • Electrical Kitchen • Basements Bath Remodels Property Building Maintenance Free Estimates • Reliable Licensed • Bonded Insured • Senior Discount

Ron Massa

Office 303-642-3548 Cell 720-363-5983 No Service in Parker or Castle Rock

Call DJ 303-915-0739

Electricians

HAULING

Landscaping • Yard Cleanup • Sod Concrete • Sprinklers • Fertilization Tree Trimming/Cutting • Planting Retaining Walls • Flagstone Fencing • Gutter Cleaning Power Raking • Aerating

720-436-6158 Lawn/Garden Services

LAWN SERVICES

$$ Reasonable Rates On: $$ TM

HOME REPAIRS & REMODELING

• Drywall • Painting • Tile • Trim • Doors • Painting • Decks • Bath Remodel • Kitchen Remodels • Basements & Much More!

We Never Mark Up Materials Saving you 25%-35% All Work Guaranteed • A+ BBB Rated

Call Today for a FREE ESTIMATE 303-427-2955

• Leaf Cleanup • Lawn Maintenance • Tree & Bush Trimming/Removal • Removal/Replacement Decorative Rock, Sod or Mulch • Storm Damage Cleanup • Gutter cleaning • All of your ground maintenance needs Servicing the West & North areas

Mark: 303.432.3503 Refs. avail

22 Arvada Press

June 11, 2020J

www.ColoradoServiceDirectory.com

To Advertise call Karen 303.566.4091 kearhart@coloradocommunitymedia.com TO ADVERTISE CALL 303-566-4100 Painting

Tree Service

Roofing/Gutters

Michael’s Handyman Services

Let Me Help You Beautify Your Home – Quality Workmanship Free Estimates • Reliable • Quick Response

Interior • Painting • Minor Home Repair Basic Plumbing & Electrical Services*

Majestic Tree Service

Have a Hail Damaged Roof?

720-231-5954

- Call Golden Spike Roofing - We are 100% Local & Have Great References - Roofing • Siding • Paint • Windows • Gutters

Tree & Shrub Trimming, Tree Removal Stump Grinding Free Estimates/Consultations Licensed and Insured

- Call Dave Vaughn 720-427-7422 - davegoldenspikeroofing@gmail.com

Call Michael

303-301-4420

Windows

* 10% discount with this ad *

Lawn/Garden Services

Painting

TOP WINDOW CLEANING #1 in Customer Satisfactions

Plumbing

Roofing/Gutters

• Roofing • Siding Alpine Landscape Management

Weekly Mowing, Aerate, Fertilize, Spring Clean Up, Power Raking, Trim Bushes & Small Trees, Senior Discounts

720-329-9732 Painting Bob’s Painting, Repairs & Home Improvements 30 yrs experience Free estimates

303-450-1172

juspainting.com • Affordable • Quality • Insured • Great Customer Service • Local Colorado Business • Interior Painting • Exterior Painting • Drywall Repair “We Specialize In Jus*Painting”

• Gutters Front Range Plumbing

We will match any written estimate!

No job too small or too big!

303.451.1971

303-805-7800

For all your plumbing needs

In business in Colorado 25 Years We Accept All Major Credit Cards

720-827-6956 DANIEL’S PAINTING exterior • interior residential repaints Re-caulk all home complete prime all caulked areas / replace any damaged boards/ popcorn removal drywall and texture repair/fences and decks/insured and bonded

720-301-0442 Plumbing

Call Frank

303.420.0669

• Water Heaters • Plumbing Parts

SENIOR DISCOUNTS www.frontrangeplumbing.com

Handy Man Screwed up your plumbing?

Drain Clearing & Plumbing Repair • Garbage disposal • Leaking pipe • Water Heater • Sump pumps

We are open and operating on normal schedule!

Call Dirty Jobs 720-308-6696 Over 35 yrs experience• Free Estimates www.askdirtyjobs.com

Roofing/Gutters DEPENDABLE ROOF AND GUTTER REPAIR Repairs are all I do!

Wind Damage & Fix Leaks Gutter repair/cleaning 40 years experience FREE Estimates

We Provide Quality Painting Long lasting Specialty Services interior & exterior Over 40 yrs. experience References and guarantees available.

Commercial/Residential

PLUMBING & SPRINKLERS

Free Instant Phone Quote Repair or Replace: Faucets, Sprinklers, Toilets, Sinks, Disposals, Water Heaters, Gas Lines, Broken Pipes, Spigots/ Hosebibs, Water Pressure Regulator, Ice Maker, Drain Cleaning, Dishwasher Instl., for coupons go to vertecservices.com CALL Vertec 303-371-3828

(720)209-4589

www.1wayroofer.com

Sprinklers

Just Sprinklers Inc Licensed and Insured

Affordable Rates Residential /Commercial • Winterization • System Startup • Install, Repair

Winterizations and System Startups Free Estimates

• Service & Renovations Senior Discounts

(303) 425-6861 Family Owned & Operated Ask About Lawn Services

(303)425-1084

Weekly Mowing & More

PayPal & Venmo accepted

Tree Service JAY WHITE Tree Service Serving with pride since 1975 Call Jay (303)278-7119 Licensed and Insured All Types of Roofing New Roofs, Reroofs, Repairs & Roof Certifications Aluminum Seamless Gutters Family owned/operated since 1980 Call Today for a FREE Estimate • Senior Discounts

(303) 234-1539

www.AnyWeatherRoofing.com • Sales@AnyWEatherRoofing.com

720-400-6496 topwindowcleaning.net

• Insurance Claims

• Honest pricing • • Free estimates • Contact JR

10% OFF to NEW CUSTOMERS Over 20 Years Experience Insured / Bonded Call Today For A FREE Estimate Quality work guaranteed Gutter, Tree Trimming/Removal

Firewood For Sale

Please Recycle this Publication when Finished

To advertise your business here, call us at 303-566-4100

Arvada Press 23

June 11, 2020

P L A C E A D S O N L I N E 2 4 / 7 AT

www.ColoradoCommunityClassifieds.com

To Advertise call Karen 303.566.4091 kearhart@coloradocommunitymedia.com TO ADVERTISE CALL 303-566-4100 Colorado Statewide Classified Advertising Network To place a 25-word COSCAN Network ad in 91 Colorado newspapers for only $300, contact your local newspaper or call Colorado Press Association Network at 303-571-5117.

WANTED

COLORADO PRESS ASSOCIATION NETWORK

Cash for Mineral Rights Free, no-risk, cash offer. Contact us with the details: Call: 720-988-5617 Write: Minerals, PO BOX 3668, Littleton, CO 80161 Email: opportunity@ecmresourcesinc.com

Buy a 25-word statewide classified line ad in newspapers across the state of Colorado for just $300 per week.

Ask about our frequency discounts!

Contact this newspaper or call Colorado Press Association Network 303-571-5117

Classifieds

Health & Beauty

Misc. Notices

Recently diagnosed with LUNG CANCER and 60+ years old? Call now! You and your family may be entitled to a SIGNIFICANT CASH AWARD. Call 877-648-6308 today.

Free Consultation. No Risk.

CASH FOR CARS: We Buy Any Condition Vehicle, 2002 and Newer.

Nationwide Free Pick Up! Call Now: 1-800-864-5960.

WIDOWED MEN AND WOMEN OF AMERICA. A social club offering many exciting activities and life long friendships.

Social hours for all areas of Metro Denver.

Visit Widowedamerica.org for details In your area!

Merchandise Firewood

Split & Delivered $300 a cord Stacking available extra $35 Call 303-647-2475 or 720-323-2173

Still paying too much for your MEDICATION? Save up to 90% on RX refill! Order today and receive free shipping on 1st order - prescription required. Call 1-888-906-1529 VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 100 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed.

24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Espanol

Miscellaneous BURIAL PLOTS FOR SALE: AT&T Internet.

Starting at $40/month Two agmt. side-by-side plots sold w/12-mo Includes 1 TB of data together forMore $5500.

Located per month.

Get For Your Highat Olinger Crown HillAsk Cemetery, Speed Internet Thing. us how to 777 and W 29th Ave,Geo Wheat Ridge, bundle SAVE! & svc restricBlock 66, Lot Spaces B 3&4. tions apply.

Call207, us today 1-888-796Contact Crown Hill to see plots 8850 and ask about current transfer fee (buyer’s responsibility). To purchase email mrsearll@msn.com

DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. 1-833-872-2545.

BOY SCOUT COMPENSATION FUND - Anyone that was inappropriately touched by a Scout leader deserves justice and financial compensation! Victims may be eligible for a significant cash settlement. Time to file is limited. Call Now! 833-7290164 Need some cash? Sell us your unwanted gold, jewelry, watches & diamonds. Call GOLD GEEK 1-844-209-9872 or visit www.GetGoldGeek.com/nani BBB A+ Rated.

Request your 100% FREE, no risk, no strings attached appraisal kit. Call today!

Only the Highest quality CBD products from AceWellness! We guarantee highest quality, most competitive pricing on CBD products. Softgels, Oils, Skincare, Vape & more. Coupon Code: PRINT20 1-855-681-3113 Stay in your home longer with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub.

Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation! Call us at 1-855-534-6198 NEW AUTHORS WANTED! Page Publishing will help you self-publish your own book. FREE author submission kit! Limited offer! Why wait?

Call now: 866-951-7214

DIRECTV NOW. No Satellite Needed. $40/month. 65 Channels.

Stream Breaking News, Live Events, Sports & On Demand Titles. No Annual Contract. No Commitment.

CALL 1-866-825-6523 Eliminate gutter cleaning forever!

LeafFilter, the most advanced debrisblocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today.

15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855995-2490 Scrap Metal, Batteries, Appliances, Wiring, Scrap Plumbing/Heating, Cars/Parts, Clean out Garages/Yards, Rake, Yard work done w/chainsaw, Certified Auto Mechanical / Body Work & paint available Also can do inside or outside cleaning 303-647-2475 / 720-323-2173

ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. FREE information kit. Call 877-929-9587 Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 844-909-3339

Pets Dogs

Rhodesian Ridgeback Puppies

expected in June! Outstanding deep red color, royal bloodlines, completely health checked, and papered. Bred to German standards. One time event!

Contact @ 808-990-8490 www.RidgeAndRoyal.com

Wanted

Cash for all Vehicles!

Cars, Trucks, Vans, SUV’s Any condition • Running or not No title OK • Free towing

(303)741-0762

Cell: (303)918-2185 for texting

Bestcashforcarsco.com

Transportation Wanted

Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans.

Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398

CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!! 2002 and Newer! Any Condition. Running or Not. Competitive Offer! Free Towing! We’re Nationwide! Call Now: 1-888-416-2330.

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company.

Coverage for 350 procedures. Real dental insurance. NOT just a discount plan. [Don’t wait!] Call now!

Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-888-6233036 www.dental50plus.com/58 #6258

Please Recycle this Publication when Finished

Please Recycle this Publication when Finished

Lots ToCemetery Advertise call Karen Rentals 303.566.4091 BURIAL PLOTS for sale: Two side-by-side plots sold together for $5500. Located at Olinger Crown Hill Cemetery, 777 W 29th Ave, Wheat Ridge, Block 66, Lot 207, Spaces B 3&4.

Contact Crown Hill to see plots and ask about current transfer fee (buyer?s responsibility). To purchase,

For Local News Anytime kearhart@coloradocommunitymedia.com of the Day Visit OurColoradoNews.com

Office Rent/Lease VARIOUS OFFICES

100-2,311 sq.ft. Rents from $200-$1750/month.

Full service.

405-409 S Wilcox Castle Rock Wasson Properties

719-520-1730

For Local News Anytime

24 Arvada Press

June 11, 2020J

‘Making it by the skin of our teeth’ Family stays afloat during economic downturn

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On one hand, Matt Leising spent the past several weeks under pressure, hoping his wife’s two jobs and his paid leave could keep his family afloat as he stayed home to take care of their kids during a pandemic.

On the other hand, getting stuck at home allowed Leising to see his 1-yearold son start walking.

“I’ve been kind of embracing it, enjoying it,” Leising, 35, said about staying home. “There’s a lot of pluses, being able to spend more time with (my kids) and bond.”

The south Jefferson County resident sells hearing aids, and his workplace drastically reduced operations amid the economic disruptions of COVID-19. He began working at home, and with his kids’ daycare closed, he was put on paid leave that only covered two-thirds his usual pay.

His wife, Ashley, works for a consulting company that helps prepare construction projects. She also is a manager at McKinners Pizza Bar in downtown Littleton, where she picked up more hours to help make ends meet.

Many restaurant patrons have

Ashley Leising, left, and husband Matt Leising. The south Jefferson County residents live in the Ken Caryl area.

COURTESY PHOTO shown empathy for the struggling industry, said Leising, who lives in the Ken Caryl area of unincorporated Jefferson County, west of Littleton.

“They’re tipping well, (giving) nice

comments,” Leising said. “It’s nice to see the humanity in people.” People’s true colors show in times like these, he added. “Either you’re helpful or you’re not.”

So far, the family has pulled through, and Leising started work again May 11 as his children’s daycare re-opened. The family “had some close calls” with bill payments, he said.

“We’re making it by the skin of our teeth,” Leising said. “I think me going back to work right now was a godsend moment, just perfect timing.”

The social restrictions the coronavirus brought about have taken a toll on kids, too, Leising noted.

“I do miss my kids being able to see their friends. Our daughter asks about her friends all the time. Kids can’t see grandpa,” Leising said. The family had an “Easter egg hunt around the condo,” he laughed.

To get through the tough time, he employs a lesson learned from an old coworker: “Treat every day like a year,” said Leising, who thinks of days in terms of chunks or quarters. “No day’s really bad.

“Break up the monotony. Do something random with your kids — get messy, get muddy,” Leising said. “Go outside, have some fun.”

To health care workers and others the state deemed critical or “essential,” Leising gave thanks.

“I just really appreciate everybody that’s still pulling out there and is an essential person and is still working, whether you want to or not,” Leising said. “I really appreciate your efforts out there.”

C Mo #1 olora rtg Rev do ag ers ’s eB e rok er

The Reality of Retirement

by Matt Witt

According to a Recent Survey of Seniors: • 80% were concerned about their ability to age-in-place.

• 60% of seniors have less than $10,000 in savings or retirement plans.

• 50% of homeowners ages 65–79 carry a mortgage.

In addition, seniors are living longer than previous generations. All this adds up to a reality that most retired homeowners struggle financially on a daily basis.

However, there is a smart way to afford retirement and live without a monthly mortgage payment*, call Silver Leaf Mortgage. Ask us how a reverse mortgage can get you the financial freedom you deserve. Our job is never to sell you on a reverse mortgage. Our goal is to educate and equip you with the knowledge and tools to make a sound financial decision for yourself.

Key Reverse Mortgage Benefits: • A reverse mortgage is governmentinsured.

• Proceeds are tax-free and can be used any way you choose.

• You will always own your home.

• It does not need to be paid back until the last person leaves the home.

• It is a “non-recourse” loan. This means the debt cannot exceed the market value of the property.

• Your heirs can keep the house and settle/ refinance the loan, or sell the house to settle the loan and keep the remaining money. If the house isn’t worth enough to cover the loan no debt will pass to them.

We all want to live a long, healthy, independent life. With a reverse mortgage, aging-in-place is possible! Call me today to see if a reverse mortgage is right for you.

Silver Leaf Mortgage, Colorado’s #1 Reverse Mortgage Broker.

Matt Witt, NMLS #1638881, President at Silver Leaf Mortgage in Centennial.

Contact me at: (720) 458-4034, or you can email me at: MattW@SilverLeafMortgage.com

* The homeowner is still responsible for applicable property taxes and homeowner’s insurance,as well as maintaining the property.

720-458-4034

Located in The Streets at SouthGlenn 6972 South Vine Street | Suite 366 | Centennial, CO 80122

No Upfront Appraisal Fee. Offer Code 0612CCM

Matt Witt

NMLS #1638881 Reverse Mortgage Specialist

720-458-4034

Matt Witt: Reve Mortgage Experse rt!

MattW@SilverLeafMortgage.com Listen to: The Reverse Mortgage Show Hosted by Matt Witt Legends 810 and 94.3FM, 670 KLTT, 100.7FM KLZ and 560 KLZ or see us live on Colorado’s Best KWGN CW2 & Fox-31, or Colorado & Company KUSA 9News SLM NMLS #1394377 is an Equal Housing Lender. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Regulated by the Department of Real Estate.