FREE
July 23, 2020
JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
ArvadaPress.com
VOLUME 16 | ISSUE 8
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 8 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | SPORTS: PAGE 19
Jeffco to follow statewide mask order
FAITH EAGLES GET ELEVATED
County order removed to avoid confusion BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Months late, Faith Christian students get a graduation ceremony. More photos on Page 5.
CASEY VAN DIVIER
Two residents dead after Arvada house fire Fire department and police investigating the scene STAFF REPORT
An Arvada house fire that occurred early the morning of July 15 has left two dead and one injured, according to the Arvada Fire Protection District. Firefighters responded to the scene, near W. 71st Avenue and Swadley Circle, around 1:20 a.m. after multiple 911 calls were made, said public information officer Amber Jones. During the initial search and rescue process, two individuals were found inside the structure and were transported to an area hospital. Both individuals were pronounced dead at the hospital.
A third individual was found just outside the structure after having escaped the home and was also transported to the hospital. A total of five individuals were believed to have been in the home during the fire, leaving two unaccounted for at the time. Later on July 15, those two individuals were found alive inside the home and are safe, Jones said. Multiple dogs and cats were also in the home at the time of the fire, Jones said. One dog escaped during the fire and has since been reunited with family members, and another dog was found and transported to a local veterinarian. The remaining animals perished in the fire. The fire department is now working with the Arvada Police Department to investigate the fire’s cause. “They were vital in helping us get
OBSTACLE COURSE
Area student athletes return to a COVIDconfused season P19
this process going and containing the scene all day. Investigators are going to work well into the night and likely into tomorrow,” Jones said. “Hopefully, they’ll be able to determine the origin.” Because the fire was fatal and the department has not yet determined a cause, the scene is being treated as an active scene, she added. “We are working closely with APD and would want to make sure we cross all the t’s and dot all the i’s,” she said. “Then, if there was foul play, we’ve accounted for that and if not, we’ve done our due diligence.” Updates about the incidents will be posted on the AFPD’s Twitter page, @ArvadaFire. Jones said the AFPD urges residents to ensure they have working smoke detectors and evacuation plans in place.
KALE COPS
Arvada PD helps with community garden deliveries
P3
Just two days after it issued a public health order requiring people in Jeffco to wear a face mask, JCPH has rescinded that order to let the county be governed solely by the face covering order issued by Gov. Jared Polis on July 16. A statement JCPH indicated the decision to rescind the county order resulted from the agency’s desire to avoid confusion because the two orders were “substantially similar, though not identical.” One significant difference between the orders was that the state applies to those over 10 while the county order was for those five and over. The state order also applies only to those entering “public indoor space” while the county order applied to situations where six feet of social distancing could not be maintained, including outdoor situations. According to the statement, “all individuals and businesses within Jefferson County should follow the face covering requirements set forth in the state’s EO D 2020 138.” JCPH Executive Director Mark B. Johnson said on July 14 that he felt Jeffco needed a mask order because of recent increases in COVID-19 cases in Jeffco as well as elsewhere in the Denver metro area. Johnson said that he had previously declined to issue a face covering SEE MASK ORDER, P6
PARK SPARK
Specialty parks around the metro area can offer something exciting and new for children P12
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July 23, 2020J
County’s first ever trails plan will map out future of trails Feedback on plans through end of month
COMMUNITY RESPONSE The Draft Jeffco Trails Plan and the Draft Jeffco Trails Plan Implementation Resources documents are both available to view at jeffcotrailsplan.org Public comments associated with the draft plan can be sent to JTP@jeffco.us until July 30.
BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A shared use path along Wadsworth Boulevard from I-70 to West 32nd Street in Wheat Ridge. An extension of the Dutch Creek trail in Littleton from Kipling Parkway to C-470, where it could link up with the C-470 bikeway. A new three-mile loop in the Westminster Hills Open Space. Those are just three of the ideas for new trails and trail connections outlined in the draft of Jeffco’s first ever trails plan, a new document that will eventually guide the future of trails development across Jefferson County by identifying opportunities to expand existing trail networks in the county and ways to realize them. Sophie Katz, the trails program coordinator for Jeffco Open Space, said the trails plan process began three years ago when JCOS saw different Jeffco communities creating their own trails plans. “We realized if we just have different jurisdictions tunnel visioning their own trail plans without taking a larger step back and looking at the greater regional picture we might not end up with the greatest trail connections,” Katz said. “At JCOS we have the bandwidth and technical knowledge to kind of lead the charge on this. So we are trying to create a healthier, more connected community by trails.” Katz said the creation of the plan was a collaborative effort involving 36 cities, agencies and park and open space districts as well as non-profit groups like the Colorado Mountain Bike Association (COMBA) and the Jefferson County Horse Council. Then there was the public input effort, which saw JCOS collect 861 comments online and commission six stakeholder groups. The agency also received 1,174 responses to a survey. From that input JCOS identified three priorities for the future development: develop more trails and paths to area destinations; create more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors close to home; and increase opportunities to see wildlife. Those priorities, in turn, gave rise to three goals that are now the centerpiece of the plan and against which JCOS says it and other communities will evaluate and prioritize future trail projects. Those goals are:
NOW ! EN
OP
Graphs showing the number of Jeffco residents who live within a 10-minute walk or drive of trails depending on whether they live in the more urban or rural portion of Jeffco along with JCOS’ goals for those numbers. COURTESY GRAPHIC 1. Improve connections across the entire region by connecting communities to each other, nearby parks and trails and businesses 2. Establish a 10-minute standard of access with residents of the more urbanized “plains” portions of the county within a 10-minute walk of a trail while residents of the mountain areas are within a 10-minute drive 3. Create safer experiences for everyone by creating a trail system that accommodates the needs of people of all ages and abilities The plan also sets future goals for the county: to expand the 956 miles of trails that currently exist in the county to 1,100 miles by 2030 and 1,200 miles by 2050. To provide a starting place for that process, the trails committee worked with JCOS to choose 184 potential trail projects. Katz said those goals are not prioritized within the plan because the county wanted each community to choose which projects to pursue. Of course, all of the projects will also need funding before they can proceed — although Katz said JCOS is
also planning to help with that. “We are launching our trails partnership project next year which will allow municipalities and recreation districts to apply for funding to see projects through,” she said. “We will fund 25% of local projects and 50% of regional projects.” The county is currently seeking feedback on the draft plan at jeffcotrailsplan.com. The plan currently consists of two parts: the actual draft which outlines its basic concepts and a more in-depth document that explains how it was produced and how its goals will be implemented. Gary Moore, the executive director of COMBA who was involved in creating the draft plan, said he felt the process was an effective one that helped identify many gaps in trail access and “low hanging fruit” for how they could be improved. The importance of 10-minute access to trails and recreation spaces is something that Moore said has also been underscored by the recent pandemic. “Now we are all trying to recreate locally and trying to get out there go
A mountain biker rides onto an access trail at William F. Hayden Green Mountain Park. PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO places while staying inour county and our community,” he said. “So I think it’s shpwing why it’s important to have that safe and close access to outdoor recreation whether its on a concrete trail or natural surface.” Katz said the county will be taking feedback on the plan through July 31—and that feedback will then be taken into account before the final plan is presented to the county commissioners in September. She said JCOS has already realized from the feedback it has received that it needs to do a better job of communicating that the plan involves multiple agencies, not just JCOS. Then there is the issue of equity, which is not addressed directly in the current plan even as it is central to it. “We want to emphasize the point that this is a really big and wonderful opportunity to be able to create a little more equity,” said Katz. “There really isn’t any mention or call out of equity in the plan itself, which we will add, but this plan really provides the opportunity to not only people that have the resources or live at the base of one of our parks get to enjoy outdoor recreation. It should be available to everybody.”
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Arvada Press 3
0July 23, 2020
Garden partners with police to help families in need Rose Roots Community Garden and APD delivering produce to local families BY CASEY VAN DIVIER CVANDIVIER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Since its establishment in 2012, Rose Roots Community Garden has donated more than 10,000 pounds of produce to the Community Table, Arvada’s local food bank. So when its 2020 season came with the COVID-19 pandemic — and the Community Table began asking for monetary donations only during the height of the crisis — gardener Geremi Boom started brainstorming other ways the garden’s produce could help those in need.
She didn’t have to look far from home. As she was discussing the problem with her husband, Sterling, an Arvada police officer, the two came up with an alternate way to get produce to the community — the garden could identify families in need and have the food delivered by an Arvada police officer. “It’s a way to connect with my community on a personal level,” Sterling said. “I contribute to my community professionally and it’s great to have found a way to contribute personally as well.” The program got underway in late May after a local nonprofit called Hope, Connection and Community introduced the garden to four Arvada families in need. Every week since, the garden has SEE GARDEN, P10
Arvada police officer Sterling Boom prepares to make one of his weekly deliveries to local families through a partnership program between Rose Roots Community Garden and the Arvada Police Department. COURTESY OF GEREMI BOOM
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Realtor.com Weighs in on the Real Estate Market’s Surprising Rebound The fact that we’re still in a seller’s market puzzles many real estate professionals, but there are reasonable explanations, which Realtor.com did a good job of describing in a July 13th article by Clare Trapasso. You can find a link to her full article at www.JimSmithBlog.com. The headwinds in this market are strong and numerous. We have a lingering and maybe worsening pandemic, staggering unemployment numbers, and a contentious presidential campaign, made even more contentious because of our national reckoning about systemic racism. How does one account for such a strong real estate market, and when will that market soften? First let’s look at our local numbers. In my July 9th column, I showed statistically how the market had surged in June. As I write this on Sunday evening, there are only 847 active listings in Jefferson County, but there are 1,571 listings under contract, 842 of which (or 53.6%) went under contract in 7 days or less. A total of 1,176 other listings closed in the last 30 days, 627 of which (or 53.3%) went under contract in 7 days or less and 424 of which (or 36.1%) sold for above full price, likely with competing offers. So, yes, we are still in a seller’s market, but how can that be? To quote the realtor.com article, “The housing market is back — and then some.” Nationally, according to realtor.com, median home prices rose 6.2% year-over-year for the week ending June 27th. According to REcolorado, the median sold price for sales within 25 miles of the State Capitol was $449,990, with 48.9% of them selling in 7 days or less, compared to $422,630 for the same 7-day period a year ago, when 44.1% sold in 7 days or less. That’s a 6.5% increase in median price. To quote the realtor.com article, “Homes are selling faster than they did in 2019, when no one had heard of COVID-19. And bidding wars are back as first-time and trade-up buyers who have lost out on other homes slug it out.”
The contrast between this market and the market for white-collar workers who were not furloughed or during the “Great Recession” of 2008, is pronounced. laid off during the pandemic and may have money in Back then, there was a glut of housing and few buyers. the bank for a down payment. Today, the situation is reversed, with few Another factor which I mentioned in my earlier collistings and a glut of buyers. Because the umn is the number of workers who started telecommut2008 crisis was caused by the subprime mort- ing because of the pandemic and whose employers said gage scandal, the glut of housing was made they could keep telecommuting even after it’s safe to worse by a flood of foreclosures. return to the office. These people are in a buying mood To quote further from the realtor.com arti- as they look to move further from the congestion of cle, “To be sure, there are plenty of danger downtown apartments or condos where going outside signs ahead in this economy, including con- involves a greater risk of Covid-19 infection. They tinuing historic levels of unemployment and also saved as lot of money (as Rita and I did) by eating rising coronavirus infection rates in many more home cooked meals because restaurants were parts of the country. But, for now, real estate closed. And Netflix costs a lot less than going out to is bouncing back much quicker than other the movies or the theatre, to say nothing about the savbellwether industries. The reason: After ings on popcorn made at home or purchased at the sumonths on hold, Americans are beginning to permarket! feel more confident about the idea of buying Yet another factor is the increase in divorce and sepor selling a home.” arations resulting from forced home confinement. I was The article quoted a Fannie Mae survey of 1,000 amused to note the increase in TV commercials by diparticipants, showing that 61% said it was a good time vorce attorneys during April and May. to buy and 41% said it was a good time to sell. And that survey was taken before mortgage rates dropped to Follow-up on ‘Master’ Bedroom Issue under 3%, which happened just last week. As a result, In my July 9th column, I poked fun at the Houston Associwe can expect the real estate market to be even more ation of Realtors (HAR) for getting rid of the term “master supercharged in the coming weeks. Already, mortgage bedroom” because, in the minds of some members, it evoked applications for home purchases had risen 33.2% year connotations of slavery. I mistakenly said they were changover year in the week ending July 3rd, according to the ing it to “owner’s bedroom,” but, on further research, that is wrong. They have changed it to “primary bedroom,” which I Mortgage Bankers Association. actually like. Similarly, “master bathroom” has been changed Lower interest rates mean lower mortgage payments to “primary bathroom.” by hundreds of dollars, which instantly increases the One HAR member joked on Facebook that “master bedaffordability of homes, and buyers understandably be- room” should be changed to “adult gameroom.” LOL lieve they are smart to buy now before the rates rise Just Listed: Patio Home in a 55+ Lakewood Community again, as they surely will. If you are 55 or older, this home at 2677 S. JohnThe low interest rates $475,000 also make the decision to son Circle in the Village at McCoy Jensen is meant buy more compelling for for you. The subdivision’s 41 patio homes form a renters burdened by the close-knit community built around a single circular still high cost of renting in street with a wide common area and gazebo in the the Denver market. This middle. Come in the morning and meet many of the is particularly compelling neighbors taking their morning walk around the circle. Afternoon get togethers are also common! Each gets a hand-out with everyone's name and the phone numbers of those Just Listed: Ranch Home on 42 Acres North of Denver homeowner willing to share it! This home is perfectly located at the far right corner of the subdivision with an expansive back yard (maintained by the HOA, of course). It has three This beautiful custom ranch-style home $1,125,000 bedrooms and three full or 3/4 bathrooms and 2,195 finished square feet of living at 25999 E. 152nd Ave. in Brighton was space, plus 678 unfinished SF in the basement. To fully appreciate this great home, built in 2015. It has fabulous mountain watch the 7½-minute narrated video tour at www.LakewoodPatioHome.info, then views and sits on a 42-acre lot that is fenced call your agent or Jim Smith at 303-525-1851 to arrange a private showing. & cross fenced. It features 4 bedrooms, 3½ baths, 4,744 total square feet, a 3-car overJim Smith sized attached garage, a pull-through 40’ x Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851 64’ detached barn with RV hookups and loft, a Baltic stone water feature, open Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com floor plan, hardwood floors, granite and marble countertops, all stainless steel appliances, a finished garden-level basement with rec room, wet bar, and pool table Broker Associates: JIM SWANSON — 303-929-2727 (included). There is a tiny home used as a gardener’s shed, natural gas, private well and septic. It is zoned agricultural and there is no HOA. There’s a security system, CARRIE LOVINGIER — 303-907-1278 gated driveway, and professional landscaping and lighting. There are simply too CHUCK BROWN — 303-885-7855 many features to list, so please call listing agent Carrie Lovingier at 303-907-1278 Every article in this ad is also posted DAVID DLUGASCH — 303-908-4835 for a private showing. More pictures and a narrated video tour can be found at at www.GoldenREblog.com C AROL MILAN — 720-982-4941 www.BrightonRanchHome.info. Showings begin on Friday, July 24th.
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Arvada Press 5
0July 23, 2020
Faith Christian Eagles are onto the next chapter July celebration was a graduation to remember
E
BY CASEY VAN DIVIER
xactly eight weeks after its originally scheduled graduation — which was cancelled due to restrictions related to COVID-19 — Faith Christian High School celebrated its 88 graduating students in the class of 2020 on July 16. The graduation looked different than in years past, with the ceremony held at the high school’s football field on Carr Street.
Graduates sat with their families on the field during the ceremony, with each family seated in their own area six feet apart from other families. Instead of being handed their diplomas with a handshake, graduates picked up their diplomas themselves before standing at the front of the stage to be recognized. Graduating senior Ashley Finch commended her classmates for being resilient and adapting to “so much unwanted change” — and said it taught the students an important lesson about their faith. “Let us trust that He will make things rights,” she said, “as we accept the things we cannot change.”
Families took photographs after the ceremony to commemorate the event.
Graduates move their tassels while standing beside their families.
PHOTOS BY CASEY VAN DIVIER
Graduates lined up in small groups before being called up to the stage to be recognized.
Graduating senior Quincy Hansen addresses the class of 2020. Paid Advertisement
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Arvada - According to industry experts, there are over 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection when your home is for sale. A new report has been prepared which identifies the eleven most common of these problems, and what you should know about them before you list your home for sale. Whether you own an old home or a brand new one, there are a number of things that can fall short of requirements during a home inspection. If not identified and dealt with, any of these 11 items could cost you dearly in terms of repair. That’s why it’s critical that you read this report before you list your home. If you wait until the building inspector flags these issues for you, you will almost certainly experience costly delays in the close of your home sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers away altogether. In most cases, you can make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself if
you know what you’re looking for and knowing what you’re looking for can help you prevent little problems from growing into costly and unmanageable ones. To help home-sellers deal with this issue before their homes are listed, a free report entitled “11 Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home Inspection” has been compiled which explains the issues involved. To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your free special report call tollfree 1-844-913-7504 and enter 2413. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Get your free special report NOW to learn how to ensure a home inspection doesn’t cost you the sale of your home.
This report is courtesy of Wilson Group Real Estate. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright [C] {2020}
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July 23, 2020J
Teachers union against Jeffco Jeffco student Instagram page return to in-person school chronicles bullying, discrimination Official letter asks district to change plans STAFF REPORT
On July 20, teachers union Jefferson County Education Association (JCEA) communicated with district leaders to request that school does not open in-person the week of Aug. 24 as planned. Jeffco Public Schools has been working since spring to develop a plan for how students and staff would return to school in fall 2020 in a way that balances academic needs and COVID-19 concerns. After gathering community feedback through several mediums, including a community survey, the district announced July 8 that students would have two options: a 100% in-person experience or a 100% online experience. But throughout the process, some Jeffco educators have been asking the district to consider limiting the number of in-person school days to protect community members, including staff members, from contracting the virus. According to a July 20 JCEA media release, the union has also issued three surveys to educators and found that a majority indicated that “health and safety must be at the center of every decision
we make.” Now, the union is officially calling upon the district to reconsider its restart plan. “While Jeffco educators would like to see school return to normal as much as parents and students do, we have a responsibility to speak up for our school and community safety,” said JCEA president Brooke Williams. “The start of school should be online or be postponed until broader conditions improve and JCEA and Jeffco Schools can come together to agree on how to respond to rapidly changing COVID conditions.” Also on July 20, Jeffco Public Schools provided a statement to Colorado Community Media saying it is having daily conversations with the health department, district staff and others about feedback it has received. “We appreciate JCEA sharing their newest data from their membership survey. We are continuing to observe conditions as we work towards a decision for the fall,” the statement said. “We will take the time to process this information in order to make the best decision for students and our community. We anticipate new information, changes in the spread of the virus, and more testing and mitigation guidance to be coming out which will continue to inform our thinking and decision process.”
Got a taste of remote learning and liked it?
Then you’ll be happy to know you can continue to be a remote learner next year! Jeffco Virtual Academy is here for you! 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
TimesUpJeffco lets Jeffco Public Schools students anonymously share their stories BY JOSEPH RIOS JRIOS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Lakewood High School senior Joshua Lujan identifies himself as queer and said he has experienced homophobia since he was in elementary school. Lujan, who previously attended South Lakewood Elementary and Creighton Middle School, said being targeted because of his sexuality is distracting and affects him even though he’ll act like it doesn’t. “What makes it harder is the lack of help for kids themselves. I’ve definitely asked for help or went to (Creighton Middle School) to address the issue,” said Lujan. “Having them present no solution makes me feel like I am not listened to or heard by my own school. And it definitely makes me not feel safe.” After being inspired by the Instagram page @timesupjd, an account that allows Instagram users at Jamesville-DeWitt Schools in New York to anonymously share their stories of alleged incidents like sexual harassment, discrimination and other issues like mental health, Lujan and his friend Elyza Berry started the
MASK ORDER FROM PAGE 1
declined to issue a face covering because he was not convinced after a review of the evidence related to masks that there was “a preponderance of evidence that supported moving forward with a mandatory mask order.” He also said he had repeatedly been told that people in Jeffco would voluntarily wear masks in great enough numbers to contain the spread of COVID-19 without a mandate. “Unfortunately over the period of time since I decided we did not need a face mask order we are seeing a rise in cases again,” Johnson said. Johnson also mentioned a recent study conducted by the National Governor’s Association that found that in states with a mandatory mask order place new COVID-19 cases was 25% lower in the third week of June then the first week of June. However, in states where masks were encouraged but not required, cases went up 84% in the same period. Issue remains controversial At the June 14 county commissioners meeting, when Johnson initially announced his plan to issue the now repealed county mask requirement, many residents spoke both in favor of and against a mask requirement. “I do agree that businesses have the right to do what they want and if they want to require customers to wear masks that is there right and they should go ahead and do that but government-required mask wearing
TIMESUPJEFFCO ON INSTAGRAM AND CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SAFE2TELL TimesUpJeffco on Instagram: @timesupjeffco Safe2Tell: You can make an anonymous report on Safe2Tell by calling 1-877-5427233 or by downloading the Safe2Tell Colorado mobile app from the Apple Store or Google Play. Instagram page @timesupjeffco, or TimesUpJeffco. The page, launched on July 5, provides Jeffco Public Schools students the opportunity to anonymously share their alleged stories of being bullied, racially profiled, targeted because of their sexual orientation and more. As of July 16, the page has 1,670 followers with more than 300 posts of students sharing their stories throughout Jefferson County. “There is a desire for people to share these stories,” said Berry, who graduated from Lakewood High School in May and plans to attend the University of Oregon this fall. “They felt ignored for so many years, and the people who have experienced these things want change. I think other people are intrigued to read about these things that they haven’t necessarily experienced themselves. But additionally, a lot of these stories are shocking and somewhat horrifying.” SEE STUDENTS, P11
is unconstitutional,” said one speaker from unincorporated Jeffco. However, Pam Bales, the president of the West Metro Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber has taken the position that a mask order is “key to keeping the county economy open.” Bales said the chamber has been polling member businesses about what they are hearing from our customers and learned that more than half of people are not completely ready to visit stores and other businesses again. “This information makes it imperative that we continue to help consumers feel safe (with masks) so they will go out and patronize our local businesses,” said Bales. “Plus, employers want to keep their employees and customers safe as well.” Lakewood Mayor Adam Paul also expressed support for a mask requirement that would apply to Jeffco. “We have to make sure we don’t go backwards with the opening of our businesses so I feel like while it might be annoying for some it’s a small sacrifice to make to keep things moving forward,” Paul said. That sentiment was also shared by Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper. “It seems to me that this should be a no-brainer for us,” said Dahlkemper. “We’ve all sacrificed over the past three months and we’ve finally gotten to the point where we are reopening the economy and why would we want to put our neighbors, businesses and other community members by not wearing face coverings? Why would we want to put the reopening at risk?”
Arvada Press 7
0July 23, 2020
Inaction is not an option. Complete the 2020 Census to shape the next ten years for your community. The power to change your community is in your hands. We can help inform funding every year for the next ten years for public services like healthcare, childcare programs, public transportation, schools, and job assistance. And our responses determine how many seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. But time is running out, so complete the census today online, by phone, or by mail.
Complete the census today at:
2020CENSUS.GOV Paid for by U.S. Census Bureau.
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July 23, 2020J
LOCAL
VOICES
As we venture out we will need contact tracing
M
y fervent ALCHEMY hope for the next few weeks is that I don’t get a call from a 970 prefix, Steamboat Springs specifically. We recently took a road trip there to enjoy cycling along the Yampa River and Andrea Doray some social-distanced outdoor dining. I have to say, Routt County has it going on: everyone was required – even before the state-wide mandate – to wear masks indoors and
in some outdoor situations. At lunch, if you got up from the table for whatever reason, you needed your mask. Nobody seemed particularly upset, and social distancing was well-observed. What struck me most about this visit, however, was that every place we went, one of us was asked to provide a first or a last name, and a phone number … not for reservations, though, because we were already at our destinations. I didn’t realize at first why this was happening, but then it dawned on me: if someone in the establishment tested positive for “the Rona,” those of us who were there at the time would
receive notice that we had potentially been exposed. This is called contact tracing. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) to interrupt the disease spread, contact tracing identifies both the people who have the virus and the other people they came in contact with. This includes, of course, asking people with Covid-19 to isolate themselves, as well as asking their contacts to quarantine at home voluntarily. Here’s how it works: contact tracing for involves 1) interviewing people who test positive to identify everyone they had close contact with during the
time they may have been infectious, 2) notifying contacts of this potential exposure, and 3) referring such contacts for testing. To prevent further spread of the disease, these contacts are encouraged to stay home and maintain social distance from others until 14 days after their last exposure. During this time, health officials help monitor contacts for signs and symptoms, and connect them with services they might need during the self-quarantine period. For the people who are identified as coronavirus-positive, self-isolation is SEE DORAY, P9
Without compromise, no telling where we end up
O
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Recall rubbish So David Palm and others want to recall city council members because of trash collection. For many years we volunteered in foreign countries and witnessed the life and death situations many people face every day and you are upset because the city wants to reduce air pollution, noise pollution and help our roads. Really? you do realize this is only trash we are are talking about. There are a lot of ways to make this world a better place, but complaining about this insignificant first world problem is not one of them. Dennis and MaryAnn Larsen, Arvada We said no to 2G Seems like many Arvada voters have short memories. Does anyone remember the 2G vote? It was a “no” vote on a 1/2 cent tax increase for street maintenance. I wish that our City Council would be more honest about the one trash hauler
A publication of
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debacle. This is just one way that the city is using to come up with the 9+ million needed for streets. Its not about the fact that the trash trucks are damaging the roads any worse than the heavy equipment construction traffic for all of these residential neighborhoods that are being developed in Arvada. These residential developments add more vehicle traffic and frustration to us trying to get to work, the grocery store, or where ever or travels take us. Not to mention the multiple times a day that FedEx, UPS, Amazon, etc. go up and down our streets delivering our groceries or what ever we are ordering online. I don’t know about you, but I only have my trash picked up once a week, but deliveries are made all day long every day on my street wearing our roads out. Doug Schneider, Arvada SEE LETTERS, P9
ne of my favorite sub-genres of fiction is alternative history. It’s a challenging concept, so you really only see it in science fiction. The newest incarnation of “Star Trek” comes to mind as a prime example: one thing in the past gets altered (through time HITTING travel), and the rip- HOME ples roll throughout the time-space continuum. I tried to apply the concept to our current discontent, through my social network. I posed it this way: “Imagine, through the magical powers of your Michael Alcorn Arrogant Enlightenment that you’re transported back to Philadelphia the sweltering summer of 1787. And one night you walk into a bar, and there are AHam, Ben Franklin, George Washington and Josiah Bartlett having dinner. And you talk them out of accepting the 3/5 person compromise. What comes next?” In my imagining, I see it playing out like this: The government of the colonies reverts back to the Articles of Confederation, which were so weak, and left the country in such terrible condition financially, that the government effectively collapses. That leaves one of two possibilities: thirteen separate nation-states, each run according to their own devices; or, essentially, two separate nations, divided along roughly the same lines as would define the middle of the 19th century. I think the more likely circumstance is the latter.
By 1800, the southern slave-holding states would have remained financially strong (“hey, neighbor, your debts are paid ‘cuz you don’t pay for labor”), having significant agriculture and natural resources to draw from, not to mention strong cultural bonds and manpower. But not really any point for a Confederate President Jefferson to complete the full Louisiana Purchase or to send Lewis and Clark out west. The north, on the other hand, would continue to be in debt and require increasingly generous foreign trade to provide for its citizenry. The expansion to the Northwest Territories would be hastened, as would conflict with the Native tribes. But with France and England still vying for global superiority, the new continent with two weak nations would provide an irresistible target. Britain almost certainly would have attempted to prosecute some version of the War of 1812. And, while there would not have been a White House to burn down, there also wouldn’t have been Generals Harrison, Scott or Jackson to repel them at various points. Easy to imagine a Northern U.S. as a reclaimed client state of the British Empire. Which eliminates the need for the Civil War, I suppose, saving the lives of 600,000 Americans. So, that’s a good thing. Of course, eventually, the slave economy would have to end, as it did around the world—whether that was violent or not remains an open question. Elsewhere, the southwest would never shrug off Mexico in favor of a weak Confederacy; no need to link up the “nation” with a transcontinental railroad; also, no need to
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SEE ALCORN, P9 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 9
0July 23, 2020
LETTERS FROM PAGE 8
Still time to go to voters I must strongly disagree with my friend Mark McGoff regarding most residents being in favor of a one company trash pickup. Quite frankly not enough people even know this is going on for the public to have a voice one way or the other. If you don’t read the Arvada Press or speak to politically interested people you would not even know this has happened. We have 62 units in our townhouse development and so far, no one I have spoken to even knows about the trash issue. As president of our board I get around the area quite a bit and talk to a lot of people. Even at our board meeting not one other member of our board knew about this, nor did the property
ALCORN FROM PAGE 8
commit all those atrocities towards the Native Americans. Yea! So, coming through the 19th century, perhaps our enlightenment leads to a better North American Continent. Perhaps. But, what happens come 1917? Does a fractured North American state provide the same material and manpower assistance to England and France to repel the Kaiser? Instead of 4 million soldiers, what if “New England” can only provide 600,000 troops—does the west prevail? Or 25 years later…sure, Pearl Harbor is probably not worth attacking. But without the PacFleet, does Japan run roughshod over China, Russia, Australia, and southeast Asia? Without Eisenhower and Patton, does Hitler ever leave France? And with
DORAY FROM PAGE 8
critical and means staying at home in a specific room away from other people (and even pets, according to the CDC!) and using a separate bathroom, if possible. By the way, names of infected persons are not revealed to those they may have exposed, even if these people ask. My personal guess about contact tracing from our recent excursion is that managers at dining establishments would be most likely to know when someone on their staff tests positive, rather than a guest … unless they were notified as part of contact tracing from another source, such as a local resident or someone else who
manager (to be fair, he lives in another city). A public vote is the only way to get this to the attention of the public. The few voices that have been heard are a minority of Arvada citizens. This issue has been forced upon us without a true public discussion. This would require a vote. I only hope it not to late. I strongly favor a recall of the politicians who refused to bring this to the public, we deserve this right to decide for ourselves. William F Hineser, Arvada Please wear a mask Wearing a mask is one thing you can do to help people around you avoid the Coronavirus. A mask doesn’t do much to protect the wearer but it keeps the droplets you might expel from your nose and
Russia occupied on its eastern shores, does Germany solidify its hold everything to the Dnipro? And then there’s the question of Soviet expansionism if there’s only a shadow America. It’s easy to look back through time and judge what others have done through the lens of our current understanding. But it’s really arrogant, and to imagine that we can tug at the loose threads of history’s tapestry without the whole thing coming unraveled is naïve. Let’s cut the Founders a little slack — they did the best they could given the understandings of the time. And, frankly, they did a hell of a job. 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.
remembers being there. In addition to the obvious reason why contact tracing is so important – slowing the spread of this debilitating and often deadly disease – I believe businesses want to maintain their reputations as clean and safe establishments. Contact tracing identifies both sources and contacts to help eliminate business-busting outbreaks. Identifying infected persons and notifying contacts help keep us, our families, and our communities safer. So, please, maintain social distance, wear a mask, and wash, wash, wash your hands. To your health! Andrea Doray is a writer who is glad it’s summertime and socially distant outdoor dining is accessible. Contact Andrea at a.doray@andreadoray.com.
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mouth away from others. Not worried about contacting the Coronavirus? You could be a carrier and not be aware of it, so please wear a mask to protect others. The fewer infections we have, the fewer precautions we will have to take, but it will take patience and all of us working together. Kathleen Flynn, Arvada Picking priorities Regarding the news of Jefferson County’s 2021 budgeting process (“COVID-19 complicates Jefferson County budget situation”, July 9), I found the article was a shining display of how isolated the county leadership and staff is from the reality of the county’s real economic situation. The major concerns voiced in this article are about “...what message does it send to the staff ” over the potential lack (or perhaps only a possible delay) of a 2021 salary raise, and the “need” to keep county staff compensation packages at a competitive level. Perhaps the county should be concerned about what kind of message it sends to the citizens of Jefferson County when county staff, who have a relatively high level of job security, are discussing a raise, when many of our county’s citizens have lost jobs they will never get back due to the irreparable damage inflicted by the
pandemic restrictions. These county budget concerns are very minor when compared with the extreme levels of unemployment and loss of commerce being experienced by Jefferson County’s citizens. Jefferson County Health defined and dictated the pandemic restrictions, presumably with an attitude of shared sacrifice among all citizens. Will we see shared sacrifice from our county leadership? Based on this article, I know the answer. Barry Stamp, Golden
What about Jefferson County? We’ve lived in Jefferson County almost 42 years, but never thought much about the name until protesters taught us. Jefferson may be thought of historically as the greatest American, but that’s until guys like Al Sharpton came along. Also, wasn’t there thoughtless honoring of Christopher Columbus with parades and statues? Doesn’t this give aging hipsters the dry heaves, even though Chris never got closer to this continent than the Island of Dominica? About the renaming of the county: Shouldn’t residents, having had the privilege of hearing from brave protesters, recommend that the name be changed to Marx County? Tom Graham, Arvada
OBITUARIES MCCLOSKEY
Robert John McCloskey 9/19/1985 - 6/6/2020 It is with great sadness that we announce Robert John McCloskey, 34, recently from Maricopa, AZ, died unexpectedly Saturday, June 6th, 2020. Robert, or as we always called him, Robby, was born in Aurora, CO, Sept 19th, 1985 and later moved to Maricopa, AZ in 2016. Robby is survived by his wife Bethany (Jones) McCloskey and their son Liam McCloskey, his parents George McCloskey (Barbara Naslund) and Diane Braley (Stuart Braley), his sister, Jessica McCloskey, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends. Robby went to Wheatridge High School, Class of 2005, received his GED in 2008. Still has many friends from the
Wheatridge High today. GO FARMERS. Robby loved his son Liam and being around family and friends. He was the life of the party. Robby enjoyed country music and to dance and have a good time. He will be greatly missed. Per Robby’s wishes there will not be a funeral service. There will be a private Celebration of Life on Saturday July 25th in the Wheatridge area. Please contact his father at charliebrown1958@comcast.net to get information. In lieu of flowers or donations, he would prefer you spend time with your loved ones and donate to one of your favorite charities.
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10 Arvada Press
July 23, 2020J
Survey: Metro Denver homelessness was rising even before COVID-19 ‘Point in time’ tally shows 6,104 people unhoused in metro area BY ALAYNA ALVAREZ COLORADO POLITICS
The number of people experiencing homelessness in the Denver metro area continues to rise. At least 6,104 people were experiencing homelessness between dusk on Jan. 27 to dusk on Jan. 28 in the seven counties surveyed in the 2020 Point-in-Time census, a one-day count across the nation of people experiencing homelessness. The data reflects a 6% increase since 2019 and a nearly 15% rise from two years ago. “These data demonstrate homelessness was a crisis before COVID,” said Matt Meyer, executive director at the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative, which coordinates the PIT each year and reports the data to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “With eviction moratoriums and other protective measures ending, we fully expect to see dramatic increases as a result of the economic impact of the pandemic,” he said. “Reinstating these moratoriums on a local or state level would significantly decrease the impact for those
Debris and belongings line the street on Jan. 15 at Denver’s Liberty Park near the state Capitol after a weeklong homeless encampment, while the city’s urban camping ban is in legal limbo. PHOTO BY MARIANNE GOODLAND/COLORADO POLITICS
households on the edge that now face homelessness.” Denver represents the largest share of homelessness compared to neighboring counties surveyed in the region — Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Douglas and Jefferson — with a count of at least 4,171. The survey identified: 444 unhoused persons in Jefferson County, up from 434 in 2019. 476 unhoused persons in Adams County, down from 483 in 2019. 245 unhoused persons in Arapahoe County, up from 228 in 2019. 53 unhoused persons in Douglas County, up from 14 in 2019. Of the more than 6,000 people living unhoused in the entire metro
area, 51% were living in shelters within the region. A quarter of those surveyed said they were staying outdoors. Of the populations identified, 759 people were actively fleeing domestic violence, 627 were veterans, 278 were unaccompanied youth and there were at least 420 families. The survey also examined race and found that minority populations are disproportionately affected by homelessness. African Americans made up more than 20% of people experiencing homelessness, but they represent less than 10% of the general population. Indigenous populations make up about 2% of the general population but comprise about 5% of those unhoused. “The overrepresentation of people of color, specifically (B)lack and Native Americans, among those experiencing homelessness is critical to the response,” Meyer said in a statement. “Homelessness is an issue of race and must be approached through this lens.” Hundreds of volunteers and partner agencies work together to complete the count every year. For more survey data, visit mdhi. org/2020_pit_reports. This story is from Colorado Politics, a statewide political and public policy news journal. Used by permission. For more, visit coloradopolitics. com.
GARDEN FROM PAGE 3
delivered produce and recipes to the families. Sterling generally makes the deliveries, though a handful of other officers have participated as well. “The families have loved it. This is a friendly face on their doorstep,” Geremi said. “Our political climate has not been great for Sterling’s work, and this program has been positive for the community all around.” Rose Roots Community Garden has filled all 89 of its available plots this year, with some plots split between multiple gardeners from Arvada and the surrounding area. Several of the gardeners have been donating to the effort to assist local families, while other produce has been harvested from the plots that the garden sets aside yearly for community donations. As more produce is available for harvesting later in the summer and into the fall, the garden also plans to make donations to several nonprofits and community organizations, such as Hope House, a nonprofit that assists teen moms, and the Arvada Veggie Van. Meanwhile, the deliveries to the four local families will continue throughout the garden’s season, which will end in October, said Laura Bennett, who leads orientations for gardeners new to Rose Roots. And after seeing the program’s success so far, the garden’s organizers hope to continue the program in future years, she said. “It’s a super fun connection,” she said. “Our gardeners know that this produce is going to a particular family and when you know that, I think people have a little more passion.”
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Arvada Press 11
0July 23, 2020
STUDENTS
Joshua Lujan and Elyza Berry hold out their phones, displaying the TimesUpJeffco Instagram page. As of July 16, the page has 1,760 followers with over 300 posts of students sharing their stories.
FROM PAGE 6
Lakewood High School’s Theatre Company has been the subject of several posts on the TimesUpJeffco page for its showing of “West Side Story.” The musical, which was performed by students in the theater group in March, features a feud between two New York City gangs — the white Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. “West Side Story” is a play that many suggest pleads for racial tolerance. Posts on the page accused students in the musical of using racial slurs offstage as a joke and said Hispanic roles were given to white students. “I personally auditioned for this show, and as a Hispanic girl (I can pass for either white or Hispanic) who was in advanced choir, I thought I would at least have a chance at making it into the ensemble — but I did not even receive a call back, while MANY if not all, of my white friends did, and they were eventually cast. This year, they were not focused on upholding the culture and realism of this show,” reads a July 5 post on TimesUpJeffco’s Instagram from a female at Lakewood High School. “They wanted a show that would be the most `successful,’ but at the expense of the people they promised roles.” The Lakewood High School Theatre Company released a lengthy statement that said it is deeply saddened to think it hurt feelings. The statement reads that racial slurs were never encouraged and accusations of the production being “white-washed” are unfair. Every Puerto Rican character in the musical was either partially or completely Hispanic or of color, the state-
JOSEPH RIOS
ment says. It continues and reads that everyone is welcome in theatre and that the directors will always strive to do the right thing and to listen with the intent to grow. “To have to defend a story that aims to teach acceptance and love that is now being weaponized to cultivate division and resentment is not only ironic, it is heartbreaking. However, some things are worth defending,” the statement says. “The (Lakewood High School Theatre Company) directors have always been and will continue to be open to discussions and conversations with students who have concerns about the community, the decisions made and the outcome of casting choices.” “Nowhere on an anonymous social media platform can those conversations take place, conversations that promote understanding, compassion, healing and ultimately growth,” the statement continues. Lujan said he believes the page provides a platform for students to have their voices heard and have their
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stories told, which he says isn’t easy. He believes the anonymous platform makes it easier for students to share their experiences. “For so long students have felt like their voices aren’t heard or prioritized. A lot of the stories that are shared to us detail times when students reach out for help from their schools and either get ignored or don’t get helped,” said Lujan. “I think the page encourages a lot of people to open up and share their stories.” Berry said the page has received submissions from people who make jokes and mock gender identity. She said the jokes further provide evidence of the way some students behave in Jeffco Public Schools. Berry said she would like the school district to diversify its required reading and called for it to have a no-tolerance policy toward certain slurs. “Most importantly, I want them to have sufficient mental health resources and more accessibility to file complaints and have them taken seriously,” she said.
Jeffco Public Schools said in a statement it is aware of the TimesUpJeffco Instagram page and that it is committed to ensuring that all of its schools support student success, safety and wellness. The statement lists off a number of school district policies in place including its public/parent complaint policy, student complaint policy and non-discrimination policies. Jeffco Public Schools’ public/parent complaint policy reads that the district believes that parents concerns, complaints or grievances should be addressed in a timely manner. The student complaint policy says that it honors a student’s right of inquiry and to express matters of concerns and encourages issues to be settled at the local school level. When a complaint related to discrimination or harassment is filed, it is required to be processed. The district conducts an inquiry and takes steps to mitigate future harm during an inquiry, according to its discrimination statement and general complaint process. Jeffco Public Schools’ statement also pointed to Safe2Tell as a way for students to anonymously report concerns or threats to themselves, friends, family or the community. “In any circumstance where we can identify a concerning situation including posts on social media, we will investigate to determine if there is sufficient information to support the complaint and then work with school administration to take action. We want to be part of the solution and work to solve problems from the perspective that we care deeply about our students, staff and community,” the school district’s statement reads.
12 Arvada Press
July 23, 2020J
LOCAL
LIFE
Get off the beaten path to discover unique parks
Boulevard at 4801 W. 92nd Ave. Sensory Park offers a playground that is Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant and therapy-focused yet fun for all kids, says Angela Simental, a Westminster parks spokeswoman. SEE PARKS, P13
SEE READER, P14
Metro area boasts eclectic places to have fun, explore BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
I
n a summer where large gatherings of family, neighbors and friends are still barred, and with many wanting to avoid crowds out of caution, metro Denver residents have reconnected with taking an old-fashioned walk outdoors. It’s a ripe time to check out the parks in your area that you may have overlooked — or even to find a new park a few miles away. There’s more to parks in the Denver area than Cherry Creek State Park, Standley Lake Regional Park, Washington Park and the other big names, and there’s lots to find beyond the old standby down your street. Here’s a look at some unique and standout parks in the north, south and west metro suburbs.
Westminster Westminster Center Park is also known to locals as the “Peter Pan Park.” The park takes inspiration
Lakewood’s Carmody Park at 2200 S. Kipling St. features a universal playground for kids of all abilities and an accessible fitness zone. COURTESY OF CITY OF LAKEWOOD from landmarks of London, referencing Big Ben in the play structure and the River Thames in the water play features, along with Peter Pan’s Neverland in the pirate cove, according to the city’s website. The water play area may be closed to encourage social distancing. The park is found in central Westminster near North Sheridan
I
nnovation is the name of the game for most theaters during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly since an artf orm that gathers people together in a small space will be among the last to reopen. So, Golden’s Miners Alley Playhouse has been doing just that — livestreaming the first entry in the Quarantine Cabaret series and hosting summer camps at Southridge Park. But it still has the same concern that so many have — earning the funding necesCOMING sary to keep ATTRACTIONS creating. “As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, one of our greatest strengths before the pandemic was that 70% of our income was earned income from ticket sales, classes and Clarke Reader camps,” said Len Matheo, executive and artistic director at Miners. “We weren’t overly reliant on donated income, but now that strength has become a weakness, as we seek to bring income into the theater when we can’t produce any income from ticket sales, classes or camps.” Especially with the theater deciding to close its doors through the end of 2020, the situation is going to get precarious quickly. In an effort to make it less so, the theater’s annual mid-year fundraiser is more important than ever. Up until 2019, Miners Alley had only two fundraising events — Colorado Gives Day and one other. “I was brought in last year to ramp up development at Miners Alley, and we’re going to be bringing other fundraising initiatives in the future,” said Leslie A. Rutherford, director of marketing and audience development. “We’ve also been applying to grants to help the theater.” In 2019 the theater had its best year yet, with more than 20,000 patrons passing through its doors, Matheo said. In the five or so months that the theater has been closed, those same audience and community members have been extremely generous with their support — both financial and otherwise. “It’s really heartening to see how much our patrons care about us,” he said. “The majority of them have donated the money from their tickets back to us, and so many donations have been accompanied by notes of support.” Matheo and the rest of the staff are already working on next year’s season, with the aim of reopening in January. The season is expected to include the production of “The Crucible” that was
Sensory Park in Westminster at 7577 W. 103rd Ave. offers a playground that is Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant and therapy-focused, according to the city. COURTESY OF CITY OF WESTMINSTER
Arvada Britton Park in east Arvada offers a farm-themed playground with a bluegrass and native grass design. It’s a great place to see bees and butterflies, and kids there can pretend to drive a large tractor, says Ben Irwin, a spokesman for the city. The park sits near North Sheridan Boulevard at 5574 W. 69th Ave. In north Arvada, Volunteer Firefighters Park is a firefighter-themed park commemorating the contributions of the city’s volunteer firefighters, including a monument to them. It’s located near North Wadsworth Boulevard at 9190 W. 84th Ave.
Miners Alley makes plans, asks for help
Arvada Press 13
0July 23, 2020
A record-breaking year for Blues & BBQ Fundraiser brings in more than ever before for Habitat for Humanity
FOR MORE INFO To learn more about the Blues & BBQ Festival for Better Housing, visit bluesnbbq.com To learn more about Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver, visit habitatmetrodenver.org
BY CASEY VAN DIVIER CVANDIVIER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic leading to a venue change and smaller in-person audience this year, on July 18 and 19, the Blues & BBQ Festival for Better Housing raised around $50,000 for Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver. That number represents a sizable portion of the total that the event has raised over the past 23 years, totalling more than $400,000. “We wanted to do anything we could to keep the festival rolling,” said Arvadan Ranger Miller, who organizes the event. Twenty three years ago, the event began after Miller volunteered to build a home with Habitat for Humanity, a 501(c)(3) that builds and sells homes to residents in need of affordable housing. Feeling a strong connection to the cause, Miller held a silent auction during a gig for his band, raising around $350 for the organization. From there, the festival grew. Blues & BBQ became an Arvada tradition held in the streets of Olde Town before its continued growth sparked a change in location to Citizens Park in
PARKS FROM PAGE 12
It’s easy to access through the local trail system. Sensory Park is the city’s first completely accessible play area built in cooperation with Children’s Hospital Colorado, Simental says. It sits in the west part of the city near North Wadsworth Boulevard at 7577 W. 103rd Ave. Lakewood Lasley Park in east Lakewood features a games court with ping pong, cornhole and chess, outdoor fitness equipment, sand volleyball, basketball, tennis courts and a “modern playground,” says Stacie Oulton, a spokeswoman for the city. The park’s “storybook design theme” features mosaic artwork by local artist Annette Coleman and quotes selected by children at the nearby elementary
Members of the Glory Days including Ranger Miller, right, play at Blues & BBQ on July 19. CASEY VAN DIVIER
Edgewater. “Arvada really rallied behind this festival,” said Mayor Pro Tem Dot Miller, who is married to Ranger and helped run the event. “There are patrons who come out every single year and this year, we sold out immediately.” Ranger said he was determined to keep the event going this year, even as the pandemic posed some challenges to organizing the annual festival. “Mainly, we wanted to keep the momentum going,” he said. “We know Habitat is down quite a bit from where they would normally be. We figured
that at least we could give something.” After researching possible locations, the Millers were able to hold the event at The Venue on Cortez Street in Denver. To keep guests safe, patrons wore masks when entering and moving around the space and seating was limited to 75 people. The event was also livestreamed, with Ranger saying that several thousand viewers tuned into the stream each night. The event included live music by a number of local bands, including Ranger’s band, Glory Days, as well as live interviews with several guests
school, Oulton says. That park sits at 6677 W. Florida Ave. near South Wadsworth Boulevard. One of Lakewood’s lesser-known parks is Sutherland Shire Park, named after Lakewood’s Australian Sister City, Oulton says. The playground features a climbing wall, slides and Australian-themed designs. A path leads to Main Reservoir, where shoreline fishing is popular, Oulton says. The park is located in central Lakewood near South Kipling Street at 10600 W. Kentucky Drive.
Littleton was created in 1946 when Littleton citizens donated money to acquire land for a park that would honor veterans of World War I and World War II, according to Becky Grubb, a spokeswoman for South Suburban Parks and Recreation. More than 1,300 roses bloom at this park, which also features a gazebo and Orian Sterne Fountain, Grubb says. It sits near West Littleton Boulevard at 5804 S. Bemis St. Writer’s Vista Park sits along on the High Line Canal and offers “amazing mountain views,” Grubb says. Along with a recently renovated playground and restrooms, the park includes playgrounds for kids of all ages and a large, shaded picnic pavilion. In south Littleton not far from South Santa Fe Drive, the park is located at 1900 W. Mineral Ave.
Littleton Creekside Experience Park, a nearly 6-acre open space park, features a tree house-style overlook, boulder scramble, sand play area, and a log, stump and boulder trail. It’s located on the north edge of Littleton near Englewood, not far from West Belleview Avenue, at 4829 S. Santa Fe Drive. War Memorial Rose Garden in
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Castle Rock Philip S. Miller Park offers a particularly wide range of activi-
from Arvada and Habitat for Humanity. Lori and Glen Merica, who have attended several Blues & BBQ’s in the past, said the event was a welcome return to the normalcy and fun that has been missing for many during the pandemic. “This is our first live music since the shutdown and we love the family ties at this event,” Lori said. “Ranger and Dot put so much time into making it happen and they’re so dedicated.” Ranger said that organizers hope to return to their Edgewater location next year. He added that, after a successful first livestreaming of the event, he plans to continue streaming the event in the years to come. Residents can still donate to the cause or learn more by visiting the event’s website, bluesnbbq.com. Through the event, organizers also coordinate an annual build with Habitat for Humanity. Ranger said he hopes the build will take place this fall, with the exact date and signup instructions to be posted on the festival’s site later this year.
ties, including at the Miller Activity Complex. In all, the park boasts a pool, indoor playground, trampolines, indoor turf fields, splash pad, functional fitness area and golf simulator. Outdoors, the park has an athletic field, “adventure playground,” outdoor fitness area, amphitheater, events building, a pond, 7 miles of unpaved trails, a 1-mile paved trail loop, zip lines and an “epic adventure tower,” says Jeff Smullen, Castle Rock’s assistant director of parks and recreation. The park sits in the central part of town, not far from Interstate 25, at 1375 W. Plum Creek Parkway. One of the newest trails in Castle Rock’s system is the Legacy Trail at Gateway Mesa Open Space. It runs through large stands of mature Gambel oak, ponderosa pine and Douglas fir forest while also traversing interesting rock formations along the edge of the mesa, Smullen says.
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July 23, 2020J
C R O S S W O R D READER P U Z Z L E
center.org/tickets-events/mixedtaste.
FROM PAGE 12
supposed to be staged this year and new shows with small casts, social distancing and other safety protocols in place. The plan is also to provide livestreaming viewing options for those who don’t feel comfortable attending in person. That livestreaming plan makes the new Quarantine Cabaret series — which debuted on July 18 with John Hauser, the star of “Once,” and David Nehls, musical director of “Once” — a kind of test run to see how livestreaming an event would go for. Combined with the positive reviews the online and outdoor summer camps have been receiving, there’s a lot to be excited for in the future. Supporters should check Miner Alley’s social media and website, www.minersalley.com, for updates on special programs and reopening dates. Mixed tastes series yields dual rewards The Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ Off-Center program and Museum of Contemporary Art Denver have partnered to bring the Mixed Taste lectures online and for free. The series began in 2004 and features two speakers, talking for 20 minutes each on completely unrelated subjects, followed by questions from the audience on both topics at the same time, according to provided information. Upcoming topics include everything from napping and Slovenian zombies to church signs and Icelandic hip-hop. Entries will premiere at 7 p.m. every Wednesday through Aug. 19. Registration for the virtual lectures is available at www.denver-
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Beethoven 7 The Colorado Music Festival went to a virtual format instead of the Chautauqua Auditorium’s beautiful space this summer, but that hasn’t stopped the music from being uniformly excellent. The festival is ending at 7:30 p.m. on July 30 with Beethoven 7. Featuring performances by members of the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, the Ivalas Quartet and piano duo Michelle and Christina Naughton, the finale features two movements from Ludwig Van’s legendary Seventh Symphony and more. For information and details, visit www.coloradomusicfestival.org.
Streaming style — ‘The Long Dumb Road’ During this shutdown period, if most of us are traveling anywhere, it’s by car. So now is the perfect time to catch up on Hannah Fidell’s “The Long Dumb Road,” which I caught at the Vail Film Festival back in 2018. It stars Jason Mantzoukas and Tony Revolori as two men who spontaneously meet on the road to Los Angeles, and while there are laughs aplenty, the film aims for more than jokes. They’re real people, struggling to start a new stage in their lives, and it just happens to be hilarious. There’s a rich cinematic history of mismatched pairs taking to the road, and if “The Long Dumb Road” doesn’t break any new ground, it’s also much more than funny. Watch it on Netflix. Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail. com.
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Arvada Press 19
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Athletics up and running in Jeffco schools District plan requires modified approaches for safety BY CASEY VAN DIVIER CVANDIVIER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
For high school athletes like Luke Loehding, in previous summers, “getting to prepare for our football season is an opportunity that many of us took for granted,” he said. But this year, for months, the COVID-19 pandemic left the future of school activities uncertain. And ever since Jeffco Public Schools announced on June 5 that it would reintroduce athletics and activities over the summer, district athletes have a renewed perspective on summer training. “Summer workouts mean an opportunity to get back to some semblance of normal life,” said Loehding, a senior and football player at Dakota Ridge High. “We now get the chance to build team chemistry and develop as a team, rather than individual players.” Returning in steps Jeffco’s phase-in of athletics and activities began June 22 with a weeklong phase called Step 1, which limited outdoor practice areas to 25 students and indoor areas to 10. Also in Step 1, all equipment was required to be sanitized after each individual use and equipment was not to be shared, which meant players could not pass a ball to one another. Common areas could not be used and masks were required indoors. Throughout every phase, crowd sizes have been controlled by asking fall sport athletes to attend conditioning only one Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and athletes for all other sports attending Tuesdays and Thursdays. From June 29 through July 11, athletes participated in Step 2 of the process, in which up to 50 players could be in an outdoor space and 25 indoors. This phase set out differing guidelines for “low risk”, “moderate risk” and “high risk” sports, as defined by sports associations including the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA).
During Phase 3 of Jeffco’s phase-in of athletics and activities, a football player at Dakota Ridge High School runs through a drill individually as his coach wears a mask. A six-foot distancing requirement and intermittent equipment sanitization have remained a constant through Step 2 and into Step 3, which the district introduced on July 13. Under the current schedule, Step 3 will last at least until July 25. In Step 3, low- and moderate-risk sports have resumed as normal while all other sports — football, cheerleading, ice hockey and wrestling — still must abide several modifications. Coaches for these sports have been asked to arrange for “modified contact drill work and conditioning done in smaller groups of 5-10 spread throughout the practice area,” the Jeffco plan says. This prohibits full contact drills in football but allows for modified contact. Live wrestling is still prohibited. Though the guidelines in every phase apply to every Jeffco school, every athletic director and coach has some autonomy in what practice looks like, said Patrick Simpson, Columbine High’s athletic director. Surrounding schools have shared different ideas with one another, such as having players wear gloves when completing drills that require them to pass or hand off equipment, so that those policies are also widespread throughout Jeffco. At Columbine specifically, there has also been a heightened focus on drills that can be completed individually, Simpson said. Footballs are sanitized whenever they are not being used and
Incoming freshmen were able to practice on the DRHS tennis courts July 15. PHOTOS BY CASEY VAN DIVIER
players have been asked to wash their hands after every touchdown. But despite a widespread commitment to health and safety, he added that the transition has required many hours of planning and preparation. “These are really challenging parameters for any sport,” he said. “I was a little worried the kids wouldn’t want to do it, but I was so wrong on that. They’ve been unbelievable at understanding this and they’ve just lit up being together.” Matt Heckel, the athletic director at Dakota Ridge, also said he has seen how important it is for the school’s athletes to be able to get together again. “It’s not only about the physical activity, it’s also the mental component. I think that’s the most important part of it,” he said. “Our community, and that means parents, players and coaches, they need this positive interaction. Our coaches are positive role models and sense-makers for these kids.” There is another phase of the plan, Step 4, that has not yet been implemented. Step 4 was initially planned to run from July 27 to Aug. 8, allowing for a full return to normal workouts for all sports, with symptom screening and equipment sanitization still required. But Simpson said with the current
conditions of the pandemic, he and other athletic directors are not sure that the district will move past Step 3 before the beginning of the school year. Jeffco classes are scheduled to begin the week of Aug. 24. Awaiting news about fall sports season As of July 17, the state of Colorado had not yet decided what high school sports, if any, will be able to have their fall season. CHSAA has submitted plans to the governor’s office and is awaiting feedback, Simpson said. In the meantime, he said he is optimistic and hopeful that sporting events will be able to come back. “The better this plan works, the higher likelihood of us playing our season,” he said. The student athletes share in that optimism and, after months of focusing on the pandemic, they say they’re trying to stay focused on the potential season ahead. “I am hoping that this upcoming football season will be a great experience and a memorable season for everyone on the team,” said senior Dakota Williams, a Dakota Ridge defensive lineman. “I am excited because I feel that we have a chance to win a championship this year, and I’m also hoping to leave a legacy that others can look up to.”
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PUBLIC NOTICES
Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088 Legals City and County PUBLIC NOTICE A public hearing will be held before the Arvada City Council on August 3, 2020, at 6:15 p.m., when and where you may speak on the matter to consider a Conditional Use Permit for the Cherrywood Pointe Senior Living, generally located west of McIntyre Parkway and south of 63rd Avenue. Members of the public may join virtually via Zoom
by emailing broome@arvada.org, the email must mention this meeting date. CITY OF ARVADA CITY COUNCIL /s/ Kristen Rush Legal Notice No. 407912 First Publication: July 23, 2020 Last Publication: July 23, 2020 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript Public Notice NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT at the meeting of the Arvada City Council to be held on MONDAY,
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August 3, 2020, at 6:15 p.m. at the Municipal Building, 8101 Ralston Road, Arvada CO, City Council will hold a public hearing on the following proposed ordinances and thereafter will consider them for final passage and adoption. Members of the public may join virtually via Zoom by emailing broome@arvada.org, the email must mention this meeting date. For the full text version in electronic form go to www.arvada.org/legalnotices, click on Current Legal Notices, then click on the title of the ordinance you wish to view. The full text version is also available in printed form in the City Clerk’s office. Contact 720.898.7550 if you have questions.
Authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement By and Between the State of Colorado Acting By and Through the Department of Transportation and the City of Arvada Pertaining to the Alkire Street Sidepath, 78th Ave. to 80th Ave., to Complete the Trail and Sidewalk Network on the West Side of Alkire Street Between W. 72nd Avenue and W. 80th Avenue (CDOT Project No. 23662)
Land Development Code, Measurements, Rules of Construction, and Definitions, by Amending Section 11-3-3, Definitions, and Adding a New Subsection 3-1-5-3 to the Land Development Code, Chapter 3, Use Regulations, of the Arvada City Code to Allow for the Licensing and Taxation of Short Term Rental of a Dwelling, Dwelling Unit or Accessory Dwelling Unit, Residential.
CB20-019 An Ordinance Repealing and Reenacting Section 58-72, Presiding Judge, and Repealing Section 58-72.5, Clerk of the Court, of Article III, Municipal Judges, of Chapter 58, Municipal Court, of the Arvada City Code.
Legal Notice No. 407911 First Publication: July 23, 2020 Last Publication: July 23, 2020 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript
CB20-018 An Ordinance Authorizing the Second Amendment to the 2020 Operating and Capital Budget in the Amount of $1,500,000.00 and
CB20-020 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 98, Taxation, By Amending Subsection 98-66(1)e and Section 98-243, Amending Chapter 11 of the
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Arvada Legals 7.23.20 * 1
20 Arvada Press
July 23, 2020
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