Arvada Press 1015

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October 15, 2020

JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | SPORTS: PAGE 21

VOLUME 16 | ISSUE 20

Arvada residents share stories of prejudice, call for more action at community meeting City council will discuss actions to take at upcoming meeting Some road closures that have allowed extended outdoor seating in Olde Town Arvada, have been extended through March of next year.

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Olde Town Arvada street closures extended through March Open container exemption to also continue

BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The Olde Town Arvada street closures the city implemented in the wake of the COVID-19 will be sticking around a while longer.

The closures, which went into effect on June 12 and allow establishments within the closure area to use the space for expanded patio seating as well as outdoor retail displays and other activities, will now continue through March 31, 2021 “The Olde Town Arvada Business Improvement District and the city of Arvada know it is critical to continue to do everything possible to support small businesses during this time,” said Joe Hengstler, Executive Director of the Olde Town Arvada BID. “We want to give the public every opportunity to social distance and be safe while continuing to frequent their favorite Olde

Town businesses.”

The city also announced it is extending an executive order allowing open alcohol containers to be carried and consumed within Olde Towne to March 31 of next year.

A city press release announcing the extension of the orders also touted city efforts to make the permitting for tents and heaters for businesses to utilize this winter as easy as possible. According to the release, the city and BID are also looking for ways to help businesses attain the necessary resources to keep their space safe and warm in the cold weather months.

The current Olde Town Arvada closure plan includes Grandview Avenue from Webster Street to Olde Wadsworth Boulevard and sections of Olde Wadsworth Boulevard between Grandview Avenue and Grant Place and maintains essential access to businesses along the street.

The block between 57th Ave and Grant Place will open up by November 3, 2020, due to road construction changes on Ralston Road. A map of the closure area is available at arvada.org/explore/ olde-town-arvada/olde-town-arvada.

BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When Arvada resident Nancy Felix tells her friends of color she lives in Arvada, they frequently call the city an unflattering nickname in telling her why they don’t want to visit her there.

“They call Arvada Aryanvada,” said Felix. “There is MEETING VIDEO just this feeling that folks who Video recordings are different are not welcome of both the Sept. 30 in Arvada. That’s something and Oct. 8 comArvada needs to figure out how munity meetings, as well as a recent to overcome.” candid conversaThe issue of how welcoming Arvada is to people of color and tion between Arvada Mayor Pro how it could become more so Tem Dot Miller and was returned to time and again Police Chief Link during the second community Strate, found at conversation about diversity, arvada.org/about/ equity and inclusion on Oct. 8. our-organization/ The hour-long discussion, diversity-equitywhich took place over Zoom, was and-inclusion attended by about 25 residents and city leaders who had the opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences about how the city can become more inclusive of people of color.

“We’re all here because we are invested in making our better, the very best place to live, work, play and learn,” said Arvada Mayor Pro-Tem Dot Miller in comments that opened the meeting. “These challenges are big and this conversation is just the beginning of change. But you know the old saying about how to eat an elephant one bite at a time.”

SEE PREJUDICE, P8

District 29 candidates talk priorities, goals ahead of election Three candidates for north metro position

BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When the Arvada and Westminster residents living in Colorado House 29 cast their vote for who will succeed Tracy Kraft-Tharp as their representative, they will be choosing between three candidates who are running for political office for the first time.

The Democratic candidate is Lindsey Daugherty, who lives in Arvada and operates her own law firm specializing in family, estate and criminal law. The Republican, meanwhile, is Vanessa Warren-DeMott, a Westminster resident who just earned a degree from Front Range Community College. Joining them on the ballot is libertarian Ryan Van Gundy, who lives in Arvada and has worked in IT since serving in the Navy.

Ahead of the election, we caught up with each of the three candidates to

Van Gundy

WarrenDemott

Daugherty

discuss their reasons for running for office, policy concerns and stances on some pivotal issues. Here is a look at what they had to say.

The best candidate Daughtery touted her legal background, which requires her to be able to look at both sides of an issue.

“I think what a good legislator does is take into account all of their constituents and really understands both issue and that’s what I would really like to do at the state capitol,” she said.

Warren-DeMott said her strength lies in her being a “regular person” SEE CANDIDATES, P4

2 Arvada Press

October 15, 2020O

JCPH announces times and dates for free flu shots Eight clinics held over next two months

BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Jefferson County Public Health has announced the dates and locations of several free flu clinics that it will put on around the county over the next few months.

The agency stated in a press release that it is particularly important for county residents to get a flu shot this year to protect from the compounding health problems of flu and COVID-19.

Having the flu and COVID-19 at the same time could make you more susceptible to serious complications,” according to the JCPH. “While no one ever wants to be hospitalized, hospitalization during the COVID-19 pandemic means facilities may be strained for resources and equipment, as well as have stricter visitation guidelines.”

Flu shots are available now at many health care providers, pharmacies and clinics, including the JCPH clinic at 645 Parfet Street in Lakewood. Appointments at JCPH are available every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. by calling 303-239-7078. In addition to the flu vaccine, all childhood vaccines are available, and appointments are often available for same or next day.

To get a flu vaccine, contact your health care provider’s office, local public health agency or you can find local vaccine providers at vaccineFinder.org. For more information on influenza in Colorado, visit fluvaxcolorado.org.

Ann Shen, a nurse with Jefferson County Public Health, administers the flu shot to one of her patients at a 2018 clinic.

PHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN

John Hickenlooper has led Colorado through crises before, and in the Senate, he will work to end COVID-19 and help us build back better than before. \

John knows how to lead through crises by putting people ahead of politics and solving problems—just as he did when Colorado was facing historic floods, wildfires, mass shootings, and the Great Recession.

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He will bring that same leadership to ending this pandemic and helping us build back better than before, because he cares about Colorado families and small businesses.

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Now, he’s running for the U.S. Senate to expand healthcare, combat climate change, solve problems, and change Washington by bringing people together to get things done to deliver for Colorado.

VOTE FOR JOHN HICKENLOOPER. Make sure to return your ballot by 7:00 PM on November 3rd.

Visit Hickenlooper.com/vote for more information.

Paid for by Hickenlooper For Colorado

WHO SHOULD GET A FLU SHOT? Everyone six months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every flu season with rare exceptions, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The flu vaccine is safe and effective and is the best protection against the flu, reducing the risk of hospitalization in adults and pregnant women by 40 percent, according to the CDC. Most people who get the flu vaccine have no side effects, and the vaccine does not cause the flu.

Some people are more at risk for the flu including older adults, young children, pregnant women, and people with some chronic health conditions. Older adults and those with chronic health conditions are also at higher risk of complications from COVID-19, so it’s especially important to stay safe this flu season.

Flu shots are available now at many healthcare providers, pharmacies and clinics, including the JCPH clinic at 645 Parfet Street in Lakewood. Appointments at JCPH are available every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. by calling 303-239-7078. In addition to the flu vaccine, all childhood vaccines are available, and appointments are often available for same or next day.

To get your flu vaccine, contact your healthcare provider’s office, local public health agency or you can find local vaccine providers at VaccineFinder.org. For more information on influenza in Colorado, visit fluvaxcolorado.org.

DATES OF VACCINATION EVENTS Thursday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. - All ages flu clinic at Jefferson County Public Health, 645 Parfet St., Lakewood CO 80215 (please call ahead to make an appointment — walk-in appointments available) Thursday, Oct. 22, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. - Free Adult Flu Clinic at Charles E. Whitlock Recreation Center 1555 Dover St., Lakewood, CO 80215 Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. - Shots for Tots and Teens Clinic (all childhood vaccines available) Arvada Fire Training Center 6651 Indiana St., Arvada, CO 80007 (please call ahead to make an appointment) Thursday, Nov. 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. - All ages flu clinic at Jefferson County Public Health, 645 Parfet St., Lakewood CO 80215 (please call ahead to make an appointment — walk-in appointments available) Thursday, Nov. 19, 3-7 p.m. - Jeffco Public Schools Immunization Clinic at Ken Caryl Middle School (all childhood vaccines available), 6509 W Ken Caryl Ave, Littleton, CO 80128 (please call ahead to make an appointment) Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. - Shots for Tots and Teens Clinic (all childhood vaccines available) Arvada Fire Training Center 6651 Indiana St., Arvada, CO 80007 (please call ahead to make an appointment) Thursday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. - All ages flu clinic at Jefferson County Public Health, 645 Parfet St., Lakewood CO 80215 (please call ahead to make an appointment — walk-in appointments available) Thursday, Dec. 17, 3-7 p.m. - Jeffco Public Schools Immunization Clinic at Creighton Middle School (all childhood vaccines available), 50 S Kipling St, Lakewood, CO 80226 (please call ahead to make an appointment)

Caring for our Community by

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Arvada Press 3

0October 15, 2020

Fire destroys garden honoring violent crime victims Arson suspected in blaze near Jeffco courthouse

BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A memorial garden for violent crime victims next to the Jefferson County courthouse has been destroyed by a fire that is being investigated as arson, according to Golden Public Information Officer Karlyn Tilley.

At just after 7 p.m. on Oct. 8, people called 911 to report a large fire in bushes located behind the Jeffco courthouse.

According to Tilley,

Golden firefighters arrived to find multiple trees and bushes on fire, along with a gazebo in the garden, which is known as the Courage Garden and located between the Sixth Avenue footbridge and the light rail station. It took 20 minutes to knock down the fire and another 20 minutes to put out the hotspots, Tilley said.

The fire completely destroyed the gazebo and several memorial markers in the garden, which is a place of remembrance and healing for those who have lost loved ones to violent crimes in Jeffco.

The garden was the destination site of the annual Courage Walk that is held annually to remember the

victims of violent crimes in Jeffco.

The gazebo was built in honor of Sgt. Tim Mossbrucker, a Jeffco sheriff ’s deputy who was murdered in the line of duty in 1995.

The funds to build it were donated by law enforcement agencies across the county.

Pam Russell, the spokeswoman for the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office that serves Jeffco and Gilpin counties and helps to organize the walk, said the fire was “terrible news for us and everyone that enjoys this garden.”

“We are just heartsick over this,” said Russell.

“The Courage Garden has been a place of healing and hope for so many.”

Damage from the fire at the Courage Garden at the Jefferson County Courthouse and Administration Building.

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You’ve Heard of NIMBY (‘Not in My Backyard’). You’ll Be Hearing More About YIMBY in 2021. derproduced housing by 7.3 million homes from 2000 to 2015.

Exclusionary land use policies — including zoning and density restrictions, onerous parking requirements, and other burdensome development regulations — drive a severe housing shortage and affordability crisis.

The “Missing Millions of Homes” report from the New Dems coalition shows that the cost of shelter has been the single largest increase in household budgets in the last 15 years and that the median U.S. family now spends 42% of its income on housing.

Housing underproduction also increases cost of living for families, inhibits geographic mobility, burdens both renters and buyers, and stifles economic productivity. By one estimate, from 1964 to 2009, our national housing shortage lowered aggregate economic growth by 36 percent.

Many of these land use policies are rooted in racism and classism. Their continued existence perpetuates housing discrimination and contributes to the housing affordability crisis affecting large parts of the United States.

Legislative Solution: The YIMBY Act increases transparency and encourages more thoughtful and inclusive development practices by requiring localities to fully examine and disclose their housing policy decisions.

The bill provides localities a framework for smart policymaking and regulatory practices, thus promoting more inclusive development principles.

The YIMBY Act is an important first step in decreasing the barriers to smart, Background: inclusive growth and reducing the negAccording to Up for Growth’s ative and cumulative impact of exclu“Housing Underproduction in the sionary housing policies. It is also a U.S.” report, the United States has un- way to clearly demonstrate that the fedOne of the many bills passed by the Democratic House which Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has not allowed to be acted on in the Senate is the YIMBY Act. If, as may well happen, the Democrats take control of the U.S. Senate in this year’s election, that act could become law next year.

The YIMBY Act (HR 4351) was bi-partisan, co-sponsored by Democrat Denny Heck of Washington and Republican Trey Hollingsworth of Indiana. It was passed on a voice vote by the House of Representatives on Mar. 2, 2020, and sent to the Senate, where it has not been acted on. I will post a link to the full text of HR 4351 with this column at www.GoldenREblog.com.

Here’s how the act is described and promoted at www.UpForGrowth.org: The Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY) Act encourages localities to eliminate discriminatory land use policies and remove barriers that prevent needed housing from being built around the country.

The YIMBY Act achieves these goals by requiring Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) recipients to report periodically on the extent to which they are removing discriminatory land use policies and implementing inclusive and affordable housing policies detailed by the bill.

The YIMBY Act increases transparency in land use, zoning, and housing decisions; sheds light on exclusionary polices; and ultimately encourages localities to eliminate barriers to muchneeded housing.

eral government takes seriously the the underlying motives. challenges created by exclusionary zonMoreover, it is inconceivable that an ing. established and fully built out subdivision, especially one with a healthy housThis proposal has not escaped the ing stock under 30 or 40 years old, attention of conservatives, who consider would see any effects from zoning it an attack on suburbia, primarily by changes. Instead you might see the legaleliminating single-family zoning. Allow- izing of ADUs (Accessory Dwelling ing greater density and making housing Units), which are already popular in more affordable means to them the intro- many jurisdictions. These units can be in duction of lower-income and therefore walk-out basements or above detached racially diverse populations into commu- garages, and provide a great solution for nities which are historically white and modestly increasing a neighborhood’s upper-middle or upper income neighbor- and city’s density. hoods. It’s worth noting that it’s an arguWhat we are already seeing in the ment that does indeed divide conserva- older communities with pre-1970 bungatives from liberals and, because of how it lows is the scraping of isolated homes, is being promoted, will be a factor in this making way for attached townhomes. year’s election.

Again, this is only done by the enactHowever, we should remember that ment of zoning changes by your elected zoning laws are matters of local debate officials who are not going to act in opand enactment and cannot be forced up- position to their constituents’ loudly on localities by the federal government. expressed viewpoints.

That’s why the YIMBY Act only asks No matter who is elected on the nalocalities to consider the implications of tional level or what legislation is passed, their zoning decisions. Single-family housing will always be an expression zoning will only be modified or elimi- and result of very localized democratic nated gradually if at all over time and control — that’s democratic with a small only by a vote of locally elected repre- “D.” sentatives on city councils and county Moreover, the NIMBY Act would boards of commissioners. Voters would only apply to localities which accept be wise to recognize fear mongering on Community Development Block Grants, the subject for what it is and to consider for which no community needs to apply.

Support Habitat for Humanity—Buy a Pumpkin

Golden Real Estate is happy once again to support the pumpkin patches at Garrison & Alameda in Lakewood and at 78th Avenue & Wadsworth in Arvada. Operated each year

by Jeffco Interfaith Partners, a coalition of a dozen local faith groups, the profits from these two volunteer-manned patches have funded 15+ Habitat for Humanity homes over the past two decades. The pumpkins are grown on a Navajo reservation in the Four Corners area, so the sales also benefit that community.

Yes, the pumpkins sold at our two patches may be more expensive than at your local supermarket, but you have the satisfaction of making a difference with every purchase, and 40% of your purchase is tax-deductible. Our thanks go out to Mile Hi Church and to Trinity Presbyterian While it might be popular to think of the organization’s “immutable past support Church for providing these two great venues each October.

Realtor Association Takes Fair Housing Seriously Realtors as privileged conservatives (mostly Republicans) who put up with but are not fans of federal civil rights laws, quite the opposite appears to be true now. Liberal thinking Realtors are in ascendance.

An August 22 article from Realtor Magazine, the official magazine of the National Association of Realtors, makes this abundantly clear. A link to the article is posted with this article at www.GoldenREblog.com.

In 2018, NAR leadership laid bare at its legislative meetings in Washington, D.C.,

of discriminatory and racist practices,” vowing to deepen its commitment to industry inclusivity and equal opportunity in housing.

The Chicago Association of Realtors, headed by an African-American woman, apologized last year for its “historically racist policies that persisted for decades.”

Please go to my blog and click on that link. Unless you miss the “good old days,” you’ll be heartened by what you read. It makes me proud to be a Realtor. The commitment to equality and justice is rock solid.

Jim Smith

See All Our Listings, Active & Under Contract, at www.GREListings.com

Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851 Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com Broker Associates: JIM SWANSON — 303-929-2727 CARRIE LOVINGIER — 303-907-1278 CHUCK BROWN — 303-885-7855 DAVID DLUGASCH — 303-908-4835 CAROL MILAN — 720-982-4941 TY SCRABLE — 720-281-6783

4 Arvada Press

October 15, 2020O

Jeffco state house candidates speak out in virtual forum Covid relief, ballot measures and homelessness take center stage

BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The West Metro Chamber of Commerce and Jefferson County Business Lobby held a “Meet the Candidates” virtual event on Oct. 6, to give citizens a chance to hear more about policy positions of candidates running for seats in House Districts 22, 23, 24, 25 and 28 — five house districts that represent Jefferson County.

During the event, candidates were each given two minutes to introduce themselves followed by a round of two questions per candidate and a “Fire Round” where they were each asked three non-political questions to give a bit more insight into their personality and background.

The questions were different for the candidates of each district.

House District 22 Three candidates are for the seat in House District 22 — incumbent, Colin Larson (R), Mary Parker (D), and Margot Herzl (L). One of the questions asked of the District 22 candidates was where they stood on Amendment B, the Gallagher Amendment Repeal and Property Tax Assessment Rates Measure. Herzl, the Libertarian candidate, led things off with a pro-Gallagher stance, stating she’s against repeal, calling Amendment B “straight-up greed,” and focusing on the benefits she believes Gallagher has brought to homeowners over the past four decades.

“Gallagher is a gift to taxpayers that has kept home ownership affordable for the last 40 years and will keep home ownership affordable going into the future if we protect it,” Herzl said.

Parker supports Amendment B for many reasons, including the overall length of the Colorado State Constitution, which she says is way too long, especially when compared to the U.S.

CANDIDATES FROM PAGE 1

rather than a politician and the understanding of what people are going through that comes with that.

“I’m not perfect,” she said. “I’m a high school dropout and I’ve had a pretty colorful past. But when it all comes down to it, I’m a normal person and the same kind of person who lives in my district. I’m a mother of four and I understand and I really understand working families go through and what kids that live through lives of trauma and abuse go through.”

Van Gundy, too, brought up his lack of political experience as well as his interest in showing people a better way for government to function.

“Being a politician is not something I ever wanted to do,” he said.

“But I just feel we need some change in our state and the two party system

Constitution. She also said that something that was good in 1982 doesn’t necessarily work in 2020, and that considerations should be given to the differences between urban and rural Colorado.

“Having a one size fits all approach to property taxes doesn’t work in a state that has an urban Denver area and so many rural areas. They are not the same.”

Rep. Larson, was the final candidate to weigh-in on Gallagher, and said he was opposed to a straightup repeal, but thought there was room to amend it.

“We need to do something to allow for flexibility in the commercial assessment rate so that small businesses don’t have to continue to pay rates that are five to six times higher than residential rates,” Larson said.

House District 23 The first question given to the House District 23 candidates was about their stance on Prop. 118 (Paid Medical and Family Leave Initiative). Democratic incumbent Chris Kennedy is in support of the proposition, and said that too many Colorado workers are forced to choose between paying their bills and taking care of a sick family member or taking the appropriate time off after they’ve given birth to a child.

“It’s very difficult for small businesses to afford to provide family leave and that’s one of the things that I really appreciate about proposition 118, is that it broadens the risk pool when everyone’s paying in,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy’s Republican opponent in the race, Fred Clifford, said he opposes Prop. 118.

“I think a government mandated family leave is not the right solution,” Clifford said. “Individually we all know what our own needs are and what we can afford. If the government says ‘you can afford this,’” and you can’t, it’s not realistic.” has been failing us for the last 150 years and we definitely need some change and fresh ideas instead of doing the same thing over and over again.”

Priorities Van Gundy said his priorities would be shrinking the size of the government, lowering taxes and education reform.

“We are not really doing our kids any justice there,” he said of the latter issue.

Warren-DeMott said her priority is mental health, “hands down.”

“I think mental health crosses over into other areas that we are all very focused on like education and law enforcement, which I think is not a place we are really looking at when we put a lot of pressure on law enforcement and how they interact with the public,” she said.

Daugherty said her political priorities have shifted during COVID-19 and she is now particularly con-

House District 24 Questions for Monica Duran (D) and Laurel Imer (R) of House District 24 came next. Their first question was about the state’s $3 billion budget shortfall and how they would manage this financial challenge in the years ahead.

Duran favors a wait-andsee approach because of the effect ballot initiatives like Amendment B (Gallagher), and Prop.

116 (state income tax reduction) might have on revenue.

“I think that after the election we (will) see what transpires. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work to figure out how we’re going to move forward to make sure that we’re taking care of our community and the state of Colorado,” she said.

Imer framed her answer within a fiery rebuke of COVID-19-related regulations and shutdowns that small businesses have recently faced.

“The first thing I would do is open the economy. We can not continue to operate in a pandemic, COVID-19, China virus shutdown,” Imer said.

In her opinion, if the state does not allow businesses to open fully and completely, it would continue to have tax shortfalls, less funding for schools, roads and bridges.

House District 25 Questions for candidates from House District 25 included “What do you believe is the biggest challenge that Colorado is facing, and how will you address this challenge?”

Republican challenger Donald Rosier thinks the answer is all about our civil discourse (or lack thereof).

Rosier called for politicians and citizens alike to show more respect and civility when making laws, or simply getting through our days.

“With clear, concise, professional discussion between all sides of an issue we can overcome adversity,” he said.

Rosier said he is extremely bothered cerned about helping businesses whether the crisis, and particularly the winter months, to stay open for years to come. However, she is also prioritizing criminal justice reform.

“My brother has had addiction issues and a felony DUI and I have seen just how the criminal justice system doesn’t allow for second chances for people,” she said. “The recidivism rate is really high for a reason.”

A successful term Warren-DeMott said her priority is to provide mental health care to kids and adolescents so that they can be successful, an issue she said is particularly important because her own daughter has a mental health disorder that has led her to have contact with police.

“I want to look at something that helps adolescents like her be able to get the education they need, but also pair it with all the mental health that they need without making parents go into debt,” she said. “It’s not a matter

by the way that political disagreements can so easily escalate into personal attacks in today’s climate.

Representative Lisa Cutter (D) thinks helping the people of Colorado recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and lack of education funding are the biggest problems to tackle. But picking up on Rosier’s cue, she stressed the importance of electing moderates from either party to continue making progress for the state.

“We don’t want legislators that will represent extreme views either right or left that will stop the progress we’ve made, and the progress that we need to make toward resolving the key issues of public health, the state budget, and public schools during a pandemic,” she said.

House District 28 One of the questions given to House District 28’s two candidates dealt with the growing homelessness problem in the state and what they would do to improve it. Representative Kerry Tipper (D) did not attend the event, having just given birth to her son the week before. Her answers were read to the moderators by Lakewood Mayor, Adam Paul. He said that one part of Representative Tipper’s plan would be to look at vacant buildings or land sites for opportunities, and more affordable housing, and the second part of her plan would involve “looking at the root causes (of homelessness) and how the state can better look for ways with mental health and those sorts of areas to provide programs that really give people a way for self-sufficiency and help them where they’re at.”

Libertarian Amara Hildebrand said the issue of homelessness was something near and dear to her heart, and that success in helping people transition out of living on the streets can be found in different areas.

“I think private charities have the best success rate,” Hildebrand said.

“And yes, mental health, absolutely.

We need to help people so they can help themselves.” Voters will decide who they want to represent them in the state legislature on Nov. 3. of trying to get free health care but using all of those different resources, including public school funding, medical insurance, and community resources.”

Daugherty said for her success would mean focusing on education and supporting students and being a “voice for those that are underserved and underrepresented.”

“We need to make sure the workingclass people are able to make a living in whatever profession,” she said.

Van Gundy said success for him would mean showing people a better way for government and politicians to operate.

“We’ve been in this two-party system for so long everything thinks that’s just how it is and we don’t even know what liberties truly are anymore,” he said. “I would like to show everybody that now as individuals we can actually achieve a lot more and there is better way to do things then just let the government run our lives.”

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Arvada Press 5

0October 15, 2020

Tax question on ballot could be far-reaching While amount would be minuscule for each person, overall total would ding state budget

BY JOHN FRANK THE COLORADO SUN

A measure on the 2020 ballot in Colorado proposes a permanent cut to the state’s income tax rate that would give the average taxpayer a $37 break annually.

The limited-government conservatives and Republican lawmakers backing Proposition 116 say the tax relief comes at a crucial moment amid the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus. The measure would reduce the current 4.63% income tax rate on individuals and corporations to 4.55%.

“The simple truth is, Proposition 116 is a mild but much-needed tax cut for all taxpayers at a time when Coloradans could use the boost wherever they can get it,” said Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, a Republican from Sterling and author of the measure.

But the measure’s opponents say the timing is a major reason to forgo the modest tax break — because it would reduce state tax revenues by more than $150 million at the same time Colorado lawmakers are cutting billions from the state budget.

“We need more flexibility and creativity for our state budget, not something that will constrain the state budget even further — our students

deserve better,” said Amie BacaOehlert, the president of the state’s teachers union, expressing opposition to Proposition 116 and Proposition 117 limiting government fees.

The competing arguments about the benefits for individuals and corporations and the costs at the collective level define the debate on Proposition 116 ahead of the November election.

What you need to know Here’s how income taxes work in Colorado and how they are spent: Colorado is one of 43 states that levy individual income taxes and one of nine with a flat tax, according to the Tax Foundation. The state taxes 4.63% of federal taxable income, which ranks among the lowest income tax rates in the nation.

When it comes to overall individual local and state tax burden, the foundation’s analysis finds Colorado ranks 15th in the nation. The study found that businesses fare much better with one of the nation’s lower tax burdens.

(For the 2019 tax year, due in 2020, the state’s rate was temporarily lowered to 4.5% because the state exceeded the revenue limits set by the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights in the 2018-19 fiscal year. But for the 2020 tax year it will return to the standard 4.63% rate — unless Proposition 116 is approved.)

Income tax accounts for the bulk of the discretionary spending in the state budget and goes into what’s known as the general fund. In fiscal year 2018-19 the state collected $9.2 billion, according to a legislative analysis.

Colorado lawmakers apportion the SEE TAX, P11

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6 Arvada Press

October 15, 2020O

Coors announces significant upgrade at Golden plant Three year project to begin soon, bring 500 workers to Golden at its peak

BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Golden’s Coors Brewing plant is about to get a major upgrade.

On Oct. 6, Coors held a groundbreaking event in front of the plant where Peter J. Coors, the son of Molson Coors vice chairman Pete Coors, announced that the brewery will be undertaking a significant project to replace the brewery’s fermenting, aging, filtration and government cellars, which date back to the 1950s.

“This will make us much more competitive with our breweries across the network,” Peter Coors said.

The new facilities will be constructed on space currently occupied by cooling ponds and parking lots at the front of the current plant and extend to just before the plant’s wellness center to the west.

“To give you an idea of the size of the project, it is going to be about 200,000 feet under roof, there’s going to be about 45 miles of pipe and about 150 miles of wire that’s going to be put into this building,” said Peter.

As part of the project, Coors will also be constructing a large structure to control flooding on Clear Creek.

Peter Coors said the brewery has worked with both the city of Golden and Jefferson County as it planned

Coors VP of Golden Valley Operations John Stonebreaker, Pete Coors and Peter Coors pull up dirt at the groundbreaking for Coors’ new plant expansion on Oct. 6.

PHOTO BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO the new flood structure “to make sure it will benefit both the brewery and community.”

Peter said construction on the project will be starting shortly with the company targeting to have its first beer get to the cellar in 2023, the year

of Coors’ 150th birthday. The company hopes to have the project fully completed in 2024.

At its peak, 500 contractors will be working on-site at the plant.

“We are very excited for the start of this project and to be able to welcome all of the workers who will be coming every day right here to work and will be able to have the opportunity to visit our wonderful fantastic merchants and discover the wonderful goods and services that they have to offer,” said Golden Mayor Laura Weinberg.

Weinberg also praised the improved sustainability that Peter Coors touted will result from the project. He said the new state of the art facilities will allow the plant to reduce its water usage by 100 million gallons a year, reduce energy use by 15% and reduce beer waste by 25%.

Peter Coors also said the company has no plans to tear down the structures that will be replaced by the addition and has not yet determined what it will ultimately do with them.

Coors was motivated to undertake the project, which Peter Coors said will cost hundreds of millions, be-

cause the cellars and other facilities that are being replaced were 50-plus years old.

“We made the decision that instead of investing in old assets we would invest invest in new ones that would give us advantages from both a waste and a sustainability perspective,” he said.

Peter Coors also said that while the brewery does not anticipate that the project will lead the brewery to significantly increase the amount of beer it brews, the new space will provide the brewery flexibility to manufacture more Molson-Coors products than it currently can.

Jeffco Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper also praised the impact the project would have on the entire county.

“The new jobs that come with this project couldn’t come at a more crucial time,” Dahlkemper said. “Many of the companies working on the project are state and locally based.

And nearly all the labor and sourcing materials are also locally and be based. So that means that investment in our community and an investment in our people.”

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Arvada Press 7

8 Arvada Press

October 15, 2020O

Reeling from COVID-19, RTD proposing to cut service

PREJUDICE FROM PAGE 1

Among the several Arvada residents of color who discussed their experiences with racism was Sharon Davis, who said she has been contacted by Arvada police 12 times while jogging west of Wadsworth.

“I would like to be in a community where seeing me is not a surprise and seeing me where I am out distance running isn’t seen as a threat,” said Davis.

Those sentiments were echoed by Felix, who is also a racial minority and said her teenage son is also routinely pulled over.

“And I will tell you the anxiety it causes me as a parent is just unimaginable,” she said. “I want to see my kids not considered threats.”

Resident Amy Travin, meanwhile, said that she appreciated the city holding an event to listen to its residents of color and other citizens, she felt it was past time for the city to start making the actual changes that residents have been requesting.

“They know what to do, they just haven’t done it,” said Travin.

“I would appreciate them doing it quicker than they already are.”

Travin said she would like the city to acknowledge that it is already aware that actions like increasing affordable housing and banning police departments from using force tactics that are used to harm people of color are what will lead to a more equitable and just community.

However, Davis said that it is important for residents to take an active role in telling the city what they want to happen rather than waiting for the city to take action on its own.

Draft service changes impact 17 bus routes, eight light rail lines

BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Robert Montoya, the US West Region Manager for the Government Alliance on Race and Equity, led the community discussion over Zoom.

VIDEO SCREENSHOT “I think if all of us on this call got together and insisted on some ideas to get the community involved I think that would go a long way,” Davis said. “The city can’t do all the heavy lifting.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, Miller said that while the event was the last scheduled meeting on diversity and inclusion for now, the dialogue would continue. She said city staff would brief the entire council on both meetings and talk with them about actions that need to be taken.

She also encouraged residents to reach out to the city council with their concerns.

“We are listening hard,” said Miller. “Inertia is powerful so more than anything we need everyone to stay involved and invested.”

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If you haven’t been on the light rail or a bus for a while, you aren’t alone.

RTD officials say the system’s ridership dropped steeply with the arrival of COVID-19 and remains about 60% lower than pre-COVID levels (with service itself reduced by 40%), causing serious financial strain for an agency that was already dealing with a bevy of challenges and changes before the pandemic.

“We are planning for at this point what we believe to be a projected $215 million budget shortfall,” said Laurie Huff, RTD’s Senior Communications Specialist. “And that means we are going to have to do some tough things.”

Earlier this month, one potential result of those tough things came into focus when RTD came out with a list of proposed service changes, including reductions and other changes to several lines and routes serving Jefferson County.

Among the proposed changes, which would go into effect in January if they are approved by the agency’s board of directors, would be the elimination of the final two stops of the Route 28 bus line, which goes from Wheat Ridge to LoDo in Denver.

Under the proposal, the westernmost stops at the Ward Road and I-70 Park and Ride and 26th and Kipling would be eliminated making 26th and Wadsworth the western terminus. The line would also be extended to the 30th and Downing light rail station in Denver.

One of the most significant changes would be to the GS regional bus route that goes between Golden and Boulder.

Under the proposal, that route would be eliminated and replaced with either an Uber/Lyft service partnership that would subsidize rides between the cities on those services.

Jessie Carter, RTD’s Manager of Service Planning and Scheduling, said RTD was proposing to discontinue the GS and three other regional bus lines because demand is so low that RTD cannot justify dedicating resources to those roots when there are other routes that are seeing high demand that could better utilize those

MORE INFO For more info on all the proposed service changes, visit www.rtd-denver. com/service-changes/january-2021.

Riders can also leave feedback on the proposed changes by emailing service. changes@rtd-denver.com or calling 303-299-2004.

resources.

“We’re seeing loads per trip on those routes in the four to six range,” said Carter. “That is extremely low.”

Joshua Moore, an employee at National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, said during one of five virtual public input meetings held by RTD that he hoped the bus would be able to return after the pandemic is brought under better control. Those meetings were held between Oct. 8 and Oct. 12.

“I certainly am not disputing that ridership is way way down, in the past couple of months its not uncommon for me and the driver to be the only ones on the bus,” he said. “But hopefully as COVID ends I think the ridership will be their again both for people going to labs and professors and students that travel back and forth between CU and School of Mines.”

But while the changes will be a detriment to Goldenites looking to head to Boulder, other Jeffco RTD riders will likely see their experiences improved.

As part of the proposal, W line service would now depart from the Jeffco Government Center station in Golden to Union station starting at 4 a.m. on weekday rather than 5 a.m. with trains departing every 30 minutes rather than every hour. The W Line would meanwhile run between the Federal Center and Union every 15 minutes on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. rather than the current every 30 minutes.

Unspecified service level increases are also being considered for the 16 bus line between Golden and downtown Denver and the 44 between Wheat Ridge and the 40th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard Station in Denver as a result of high rider demand. Running time adjustments are also being considered to increase on time efficiency.

Those changes would likely be welcome by Goldenites who typically ride the 16L bus that ran between Golden and the Civic Center but has suspended since April as a result of COVID-19.

Carter said RTD will also look to bring the 16L and other already-suspended routes back once the pandemic is brought under control.

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Arvada Press 9

10 Arvada Press

October 15, 2020O

SAT remains popular despite declining relevance Students still take test even as more colleges decrease their reliance

BY JASON GONZALES CHALKBEAT.ORG

Despite state school board members deeming the SAT voluntary this year for Colorado high school students, the state education department ordered more than 30,000 test books for about 400 schools to administer it for free in September.

Although the Colorado Department of Education could not say how many students took the college readiness test last month, clearly many students still view the exam as important to their path to college.

James Yepez, a Palmer High School counselor in Colorado Springs, said his students are convinced they need to take the test to get into the school of their choice. College-bound students still believe SAT scores will help their admission chances, he said.

In Colorado, at least for the foreseeable future, the privately administered SAT isn’t going anywhere.

The state uses the test to rate school performance. Students also can use the test to demonstrate proficiency in English and math to meet new graduation requirements that apply to the Class of 2021. Much is also tied to the test, including the determination of merit scholarships — a requirement that’s been placed on pause for 2021 graduates by Colorado public universities, according to the Colorado Department of Higher Education.

Nationwide, more than 1,550 colleges have made the test optional for admissions, increasing about 50% this year, according to Akil Bello of the National Organization for Fair and Open Testing, which opposes how standardized tests are used in admissions. That’s about two-thirds of all four-year degree granting accredited colleges nationwide, Bello said.

Many schools decided either just before or right after the start of the coronavirus pandemic, said Bello, who is senior director of advocacy and advancement.

He said the unusual circumstances this year can allow Colorado’s college leaders and policy makers an opportunity to reflect on the use of the test, especially for admissions.

Polis OKs provision In response to the pandemic, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed into law a provision that allows public colleges and universities to go test-optional.

The University of Colorado-Boulder and Colorado State University decided to go test-optional for one year.

Other Colorado colleges and universities also hit pause on using the SAT for admissions.

The testing companies argue research shows the tests are solid predictors of college success, especially in the first year. And the research also describes how the tests create a more complete picture of student abilities.

The SAT allows schools to sort thousands of applications, said Alejandra Dominguez, a success coach at AdvanceEDU, which provides underrepresented students support in accessing college.

But Dominguez, who has counseled

Pomona High School 2020 graduates at their delayed in-person ceremony back in August.

FILE PHOTO students in the Denver area, said the tests don’t let students showcase their complexities, especially those who are low-income, have a disability, or are from underrepresented groups.

“The tests represent kind of a fixed mindset about students,” Dominguez said. “To think that we can look at a student’s score as a representation of what they can accomplish is just flatout wrong.”

Bello of Fair Test said success on the SAT or ACT can often be boiled down to whether families have the means to pay for preparation tools.

Often, low-income students don’t have access to those tools.

Given the mission of public schools, Bello said, “perpetuating wealth inequality” is not in the public good.

Bello said the tests only provide a small look into whether students can

be successful in college. Numerous studies suggest grade-point averages are a better predictor of student success in college. And a slew of research shows students from low-income and underrepresented populations don’t test as well as their white, higherincome peers.

Report urges change A recent National Association for College Admission Counseling report examined the inequities associated with standardized testing for collegegoing students. The report calls for change to the admission process.

The report’s authors said 2020 is the year to reexamine the “appropriate uses, and potential misuses, of standardized tests.”

SEE SAT, P11

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20th Anniversary of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICP) On October 30, 2000, in an historic bi-partisan Congressional vote, the EEOICP was enacted to help compensate nuclear weapons and uranium workers who became ill due to their work helping to protect our country.

75th Anniversary of the End of World War II On September 2, 1945, after several nuclear bombings by the U.S. and the entry of the Soviet Union into the war, the Japanese surrendered; putting an end to WWII after six years of fighting and the deaths of 407,000 Americans.

Arvada Press 11

0October 15, 2020

SAT FROM PAGE 10

Colorado College in Colorado Springs made the SAT and ACT optional for applicants last year.

“I don’t think it put any of our decisions at risk,” said Admissions Director Matt Bonser. Before then, the school didn’t heavily weigh the test. “We were focusing on those areas where students have spent most of

TAX FROM PAGE 5

general fund spending each year in the state budget process with health care and other safety net programs and education consuming the bulk of discretionary spending. For the current 202021 fiscal year, the two areas consumed 74% of the general fund budget.

What an income tax cut would mean For individuals and corporations, the amount of the break from the 1.7% reduction in the state’s income tax rate depends on income levels.

On average, individuals would pay $37 less in income taxes, according to legislative analysts. The savings for someone with $25,000 in taxable income would be about $20 while those with taxable income of $1 million would save $800.

What lower income taxes would mean The reduction in the income tax rate would reduce revenue into the general fund by 1.2%. That amounts to $154 million less for state lawmakers to spend in its first full year, official estimates show. The annual financial

their time over those prior 3 to 3 1/2 years,” he said. The change has been over a decade in the making, he said.

The college now reviews applicants’ academic work, grades, and interaction with their communities.

Bonser said he hopes the pandemic allows schools and families time to reflect on what they prioritize. Students shouldn’t have to stress over taking the test multiple times to get the best score, he said.

Yepez of Palmer High said it’s incredibly difficult to advise his students

what to do about the test this year.

The differences in admissions requirements mean Yepez must tailor his advice to each college or university.

Yepez said he can’t advise students against taking the test, but tries his best to give them information to attain their goals and consider their individual circumstances. About half of Palmer High School’s student population is low-income and relies on scholarships to access college. Many of those awards require SAT scores.

“It kind of boils down to this sorting

factor that indicates, in some way, the belief that because the students scored better on the SAT for three hours they somehow know more than the kids sitting next to them,” Yepez said. “I think that is a gross misunderstanding of what those tests really are showing about our students.”

This story is from Chalkbeat Colorado, a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.

Used by permission. For more, and to support Chalkbeat, visit co.chalkbeat. org.

impact of a lower income tax rate would increase as the state’s economy and workforce grows.

The opponents say that’s no small sum, particularly when Colorado lawmakers were forced to cut $3 billion in discretionary spending earlier this year as the coronavirus pinched state revenues in the prior and current fiscal years. The state may need to cut as much as $1.6 billion in the next year and $2.2 billion the following year as demands for state services increase, even though state economists are predicting a touch better fiscal outlook.

If the measure is successful, the reductions in spending would most likely come from human services and education because they are the bulk of the general fund spending.

stitute’s Jon Caldara to push the ballot question.

Supporters argue that the recent increase in the size of the state budget — driven by a strong economy and population growth — is reason enough to use a tax cut to slow spending.

Moreover, they point to recent fee increases and Democratic-led legislation approved this year that removed four tax breaks to generate an additional $100 million in state tax revenue for the current fiscal year.

“It only brings back a little of what has already been taken,” Caldara argued at a recent debate on the measure hosted by PBS12 and The Colorado Sun. “We have paid for this tax cut, this tiny tax cut, time and time again.”

Breaking from his party, Gov. Jared Polis has long supported a reduction in the state’s income tax, but he wanted to keep it revenue-neutral by removing certain tax breaks. The offsets between the tax bill he signed into law and the ballot measures are not even, but Polis recently expressed support for the intent of the ballot measure.

“We’ve long sought an income tax decrease,” Polis told The Colorado Sun. “We obviously preferred that it was revenue neutral. But particularly

in this challenging time, I think Coloradans certainly need tax relief.”

Who’s supporting Proposition 116 The measure initially was considered as an alternative to an initiative that envisioned an overhaul of the state’s tax system but the latter failed to make the ballot.

Sonnenberg ran a similar bill in the 2020 legislative session to reduce the income tax rate to 4.49%, but it was defeated by the Democratic-controlled state Senate. He paired with the limited-government Independent In-

Who opposes Proposition 116 The opposition to the measure is broad-based and includes Democratic state lawmakers, the teachers union and health care advocates, and rural civic organizations such as Club 20 in Grand Junction.

The shared sentiment among them is that the state can’t afford a tax cut now.

“What you’ll get with $37 (average tax break) is school cuts, broken infrastructure and an underfunded state,” Bell Policy Center President Scott Wasserman said during the ballot debate.

In addition, liberal advocacy organizations that are eyeing broader changes in the future to create a tiered tax structure and increase income taxes on the wealthy believe this moves the state in the wrong direction.

“At the end of the day,” Wasserman said, “cutting $160 million more from this budget … is going to make life in this state much more unequal and much more expensive for Coloradans.”

This story is from Colorado Politics, a statewide political and public policy news journal. Used by permission. For more, visit coloradopolitics.com.

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12 Arvada Press

October 15, 2020O

LOCAL

VOICES

Do-it-yourself plumbing is a pipe dream QUIET DESPERATION

Craig Marshall Smith

I

ndoor plumbing.

The world’s population was able to do without indoor plumbing for centuries and still evolve.

There are those around the world who do not have indoor plumbing to this day.

Others, like campers, find a way to rinse, wash and toilet.

Indoor plumbing is a great convenience.

Generally, indoor plumbing repair is not.

Attempting do-it-yourself indoor plumbing repairs is directly related to the age of the homeowner. The older the homeowner is the less likely he or she wants to contort under a sink.

Plumbing technologies, according to the kids on “This Old House” have seen significant advancements.

However, one thing has not gotten any better; in fact, it’s become worse.

I refer to access.

First things first. An overtightened valve part next to a toilet was the difference between a relatively minor and inexpensive do-it-myself project and calling a professional with the Magic Tools.

Without the Magic Tools, I would have compounded the problem. When I was younger, I compounded the problem a number of times.

An affable 38-year-old named “Dustin” was

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Anti-Antifa Antifa seems to be everywhere. It’s sad commentary on the divisiveness in our world today. I believe that the Black community and Black leaders need to publicly call these groups out for what they’re doing to our community!

Over the years antifa has grown in number and reach. Today they are on a very aggressive path of destruction that has been tearing through the northwest U.S. and is now in our own backyard.

This past summer, protestors destroyed businesses in downtown Denver by shattering windows, all in the name of Black Lives Matter. This destruction took place while ignoring the call from the mother of Elijah McClain, a Black woman, who personally asked them to stop the violence, looting, and rioting. According to an opinion letter in the Wall Street Journal, “suggesting that Antifa is an undefined,

loosely organized group with no strategy takes a line right out of the Susan RiceBen Rhodes playbook about Benghazi being caused by a video.”

As the movement enters the mainstream, its sympathizers are escalating the violence from throwing rocks and blocking doors to physical assaults and, for the first time, killing. The rising level of violence from the group marks a sinister evolution from minor street crime to guerrilla tactics usually reserved for revolutionaries.

If we as a people, begin to examine the evidence before us, there is but one conclusion we can draw, and that conclusion: Antifa is no friend to the black community!

Casper Stockham, Greenwood Village SEE LETTERS, P18

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dispatched who never showed his face because he wore a mask through the entire operation.

He also wore booties.

As kitchen and bathroom designs and furnishings have become more refined and elegant the mechanics have been relegated to nooks and crannies in order to keep them out of sight.

Who wants to see a shut off valve right next to a beautiful sink?

Me. Wherever there is water in the home there is the possibility of trouble.

SEE SMITH, P18

The struggles of power

A

good friend of mine told me this once about teaching, when my job was as much coaching as it was teachHITTING ing: he said if you have to HOME get in a power struggle, make absolutely certain you win.

Now, that may seem a little odd to people who have never coached, but there is often one or two kids Michael Alcorn on any team who think that by virtue of whatever, that they can control the direction of the team. Smart coaches recognize the leadership potential of these kids early on, and co-opt their talents; sometimes that doesn’t work.

Parents know how this goes.

That’s why you set up rules to begin with, actions and consequences. “Don’t eat your dinner, you don’t get dessert,” that sort of thing. Heaven forbid you give in on that sort of thing even once, because the kid learns quickly that they’re in charge.

The greater problem comes when the kid realizes that they can live without dessert — then, what do you do? You escalate, of course. These days, it’s relatively simple: shut off the Wi-Fi, turn off the cell phone. That’s sort of the trump card in 2020.

But, what happens if, Heaven forbid, the kid learns that they can do without their cell phone?

That sort of scenario leads to a horrible game of brinksmanship, where all parties have to escalate further and further until a sort of nuclear option gets invoked.

And speaking of children…

Our “leaders” are engaged right now in the most comical, tragic, and absurd game of brinksmanship our country has seen in 160 years. And it’s on several fronts. On the western front, Senate Republicans have announced their intention to confirm one more Supreme Court nominee without any bipartisan cooperation. Whether you like it or not, that is their prerogative, thanks to Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid forcing the end of the Senate rule allowing filibusters of judicial nominees in 2013. Now, in retaliation, *some* Democrats are threatening to change the Supreme Court by engaging in “court packing”: increasing the size of the Court, and filling the extra seats with members of your own party, to guarantee a liberal majority. For the record, the Democrat Presidential candidate said this weekend that voters have no right to know what he thinks about that idea, and Colorado’s Democrat Senate candidate said “we need to change people before we change institutions,” whatever that means (time for our periodic reminder that Orwell wrote as cautionary tale, not as how-to guide).

On the flank of this front is the process of granting full statehood to the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, which, Democrats believe, would guarantee them four new Senators, cementing their majority into the foreseeable future.

On the eastern front, a very rich “dark money” group, tired of winning the popular vote but losing the election, is attempting to change the Electoral College.

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Arvada Press 13

0October 15, 2020

I

How we are planning on having a safe and secure election

n June, Jeffco voters proved that the Colorado election model is pandemic-proof, setting a state primary turnout record. Now, with voter registrations up, and more drop boxes and vote centers than ever before, we can set another record this November.

Here is everything you need to know to participate in the next few weeks.

Key dates Fri. Oct. 9: We opened all 24-hour drop boxes, and mailed ballots to all active registered voters, last Friday.

Mon. Oct. 19: If you have not yet received your ballot, call us at 303-2718111 or chat with us online at VoteJeffco.com. You can also go to any in-person vote center, which begin opening on this day. Mon. Oct. 26: This is the last day to register to vote if you want to receive a mail ballot, and it is also the last day to return your ballot to us by mail. But you still have options!

Tue. Nov. 3: Election Day. You can use any drop box up until 7 p.m., or if you need additional services (same day registration, replacement ballot, etc.), you can use any vote center up until 7 p.m. as well.

Drop box and vote center locations As always – and as is true of Republican and Democratic clerks across the state – we recommend returning

ALCORN FROM PAGE 12

The National Popular Vote movement would guarantee that the person receiving the greater share of the national popular vote would earn Colorado’s nine electoral votes, regardless of how Colorado actually votes. The 23 million people of southern California would, thus, swallow the influence of Colorado’s 6 million people.

These are nothing but power struggles, ones that will lead to terrible brinksmanship. If the Democrats “pack the court,” you know Republicans will do the same thing the next time they have a majority. Four new Senators? Why not 18 more, when all the intermountain states divide in two, and eastern California separates

your ballot to any of our 24-hour drop boxes. The boxes are secure, accessible, and available until 7 p.m. on Election Day. We have more than doubled the number of boxes since the last general election from 15 to 36. Visit VoteJeffco.com to find your nearest drop box—many of George Stern them do not even require you to get out of the car! That site also has a list of in-person vote center locations in case you need additional services. If you prefer to return your ballot by mail, we recommend doing so no later than Monday, October 26, and affixing one Forever stamp to your envelope.

GUEST COLUMN

Election security Experts across the political spectrum have called Colorado the safest state in which to cast a ballot, and there is good reason for that.

First, voting by mail means there is a paper trial. We send you a paper ballot, you return that paper ballot to us, and we store that paper ballot for two years after the election so it can be audited or recounted at any time.

Next, our election judges verify the signature on every ballot envelope against a signature we have on file for a registered voter who has proven their identity. Additionally, every step of the process – from verifying those signatures to picking up ballots from drop boxes – is done by teams of bipartisan election judges who have undergone FBI background checks.

Finally, all of our drop boxes and ballot processing are on 24-7 video surveillance, and the ballot processing is open to election watchers at any time.

While there has been a lot of attention on mail-ballot voting this year, Jeffco voters can rest assured that the general election will be no different than the ones held in March and June – or any of the elections we have had in the last seven years since Colorado switched to universal vote-by-mail.

Indeed, we have so much faith in our elections model that we invite you all to tune in to a virtual tour of our facility via Facebook Live on Thursday, Oct. 29. I am happy to answer any questions you have live!

Track your ballot For additional peace of mind, we encourage all Jeffco voters to sign up for ballot tracking alerts. Through a program called BallotTrax, you can

receive notifications by phone, text, or email when your ballot is on its way to you (most voters have already received those), as well as when we have received your ballot back and processed it for counting. Visit VoteJeffco.com to sign up.

Pandemic precautions While the best way to vote safely during a pandemic is to avoid in-person voting altogether – asmore than 99% of our voters did in June! – we are taking special precautions at our in-person vote centers to ensure those voters who must come in are able to do so safely. All Jeffco elections workers and staff members will be wearing face masks, and we encourage voters to do the same. We have outfitted all vote centers with plexiglass and will have hand sanitizer on site.

Surfaces and equipment will be thoroughly and regularly cleaned. And we will be enforcing social distancing at each site.

However you plan to vote this election, and whoever you plan to vote for, please just make sure you do it!

Together, we can ensure another record turnout in Jeffco, and another safe and secure election.

George Stern is the clerk and recorder for Jefferson County.

from the Coast into two new states?

And, of course, along with those Senators go 27 new electoral college votes.

And that’s just the second wave — as King George queried, “what comes next?”

I always saw power struggles as a failure, regardless of the outcome. As a country, we’re all on the brink of a terrible failure. It’s a brink we can step back from, but it’s one that we, the people, have to take the initiative to control. Because, obviously, our “leaders” are incapable of it.

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.

In Loving Memory Place an Obituary for Your Loved One.

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14 Arvada Press

October 15, 2020O

LOCAL

LIFE

Virtual sports move closer to reality

A virtual Denver Film Festival aims to entertain, provoke

S

year, and has yet to meet his new esports team face-to-face. Coaching his players virtually is a challenge, he said, but students have been able to remain connected through playing.

“There are a lot of clubs and sports that are just not playing or meeting right now,” Flori said. “The fact we can do this at home, from the comfort of our couch, to comfort each other and talk to each other — it’s really helpful for the students to keep up with that social engagement.”

Flori said he believes competitive gaming will play a larger role at the high school level as the sport continues to gain popularity.

“The difference between esports and every other sport is in the amount of students who already do this,” Flori said. “Esports isn’t new for students. It’s new for adults, but it’s not new for students. They already play these video games, whether they’re professional or not.”

More colleges are beginning their own esports programs and several offer scholarships. The top gamers can make a living off esports. In 2019, esports viewership through apps like Twitch and YouTube totaled 454 million, according to Business Insider. The industry surpassed $1 billion, according to a 2019 report

ince so many of us have spent the bulk of our recent moviewatching time using streaming apps like Netflix, the only curation we’re getting is algorithms reflecting our own tastes COMING back to us.

ATTRACTIONS That’s one of the things that makes film festivals so enlightening - they provide options viewers wouldn’t normally be able to access.

And so even Clarke Reader though the 43rd annual Denver Film Festival will be switching to mostly virtual this year, audiences will still be able to check out thoughtfully selected films from all over the world.

“I’m super excited that we can offer a festival of the same quality that we’ve been offering for the last 42 years,” said Britta Erickson, the festival’s director. “We’ve always challenged audiences, and now we’re giving them more options to see more films on the virtual platform. What they’re getting this year is the best of the best.”

The Denver Film Festival runs from Thursday, Oct. 22 through Sunday, Nov. 8, with the bulk of the films streaming on Denver Film’s virtual platform. The platform allows for viewers to stream their selected films on Roku, AppleTV or their computer or mobile device.

“It’s a tough situation, because we’d much rather have these films presented to people in the theater. But we’re doing the best we can, just like so many other festivals,” said Matthew Campbell, artistic director with Denver Film. “But the power of film is that people still want good, quality films in their lives. And we’ve got a line-up with films that anyone can enjoy.”

As always, the 180 films to select from at the festival come from all over the world - some with familiar themes, like Women + Film and the Sheila K. O’Brien Spotlight on UK/ Ireland Cinema, while others are new. Thanks to a partnership with the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, this year there will be selections from the Colorado Dragon Film Festival

SEE ESPORTS, P15

SEE READER, P15

SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE

CHSAA considers sanctioning esports as second pilot season starts

BY NICK PUCKETT NPUCKETT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

C

olorado high school sports coaches and administrators have adjusted practices, games and meets to satisfy public health requirements amid the COVID-19 pandemic in hopes of returning to high school sports this fall.

While sports like cross-country were more easily able to manage social distancing and symptom regulation, team sports had more hoops to jump through — crowded buses, pep rallies, student sections are a thing of the past. Meanwhile, schools continue to experiment with virtual learning, having mixed results.

The scramble to bring back high school sports has opened a new door for a sport without the inherent intermingling issues other sports have: esports.

The Colorado High School Activities Association is considering making esports an official high school sport. The CHSAA esports pilot program begins its second regular season Oct. 15. By season’s end, CHSAA could decide whether to make esports a sanctioned sport.

“These are kids who are not typically involved in their high school community and experience outside of the classroom,” CHSAA Spokesperson Ryan Casey said. “By and

large, this is a population which is not involved currently in sports or activities, so we see this as a way to get them more involved with the community aspect of a school.”

The regular season includes eight games and four rounds of playoffs, with the championship scheduled for Dec. 11. A varsity team for “Rocket League” has three players, and a team for “League of Legends” has five. Most schools participating have at least a varsity and junior varsity team.

‘Level one’ Matt Flori moved to Colorado in 2017 to teach science at Gateway High School in Aurora. One year later, Flori heard rumblings of people organizing esports matches at the high school level.

Bouts of “League of Legends” and “Rocket League” took place in classrooms as clubs and developed a popular following. Dozens of Denver-area schools formed their own teams. Flori stepped in to organize the first high school esports tournaments as Gateway’s first coach.

“When I was growing up, not every single student played video games,” Flori said. “It wasn’t the cool thing to do. Nowadays, every student — male or female — plays video games.”

Flori was hired at Castle View High School in Castle Rock this

Arvada Press 15

0October 15, 2020

ESPORTS FROM PAGE 14

from Newzoo, a games and esports analytics group.

Breaking into the professional realm of esports can be daunting, which is where high school coaches can come into play, Flori said.

“A lot of amateur teams and collegiate teams are looking for the next big thing and next big student,” Flori said. “This will start to open up those avenues for the kids.”

‘More than a fad’ Chandler Farnsworth has been competitive his whole life.

The 17-year-old from Highlands Ranch grew up in a “golf family,” he said, and attributes his hours spent on the links to his fiery “Fortnite” play. A student at Sky-

READER FROM PAGE 14

available, and there’s a new spotlight on social justice.

“We’ve always endeavored to bring audiences films that raise issues around social justice, so this isn’t a shift in the way we program - we’re reframing the conversation,” Erickson explained. “One of the timeliest films we have is `MLK/FBI,’ and there couldn’t be a better time to bring this film to audiences. Because we can all learn from the past.”

While this won’t be the familiar festival experience for many longtime attendees, there’s the hope that allowing viewers to do all their watching at home will bring in new audiences that have never participated before.

“We’re widening the net a little bit, and getting exposure to people who might be interested, but maybe never engaged before,” Campbell said. “We have the challenging films people are used to, and we also have a lot of very audiencefriendly options.”

For the full lineup and tickets, visit www.denverfilm.org/dff43/.

A classic horror story on a classic medium During this pandemic, many families have been using the screens the way people used to gather around the radio, so it’s fitting the Arvada Center is bringing a dash of the past back with its radio play

View Academy, Farnsworth started gaming his freshman year. Now, as a senior, he feels can safely say he can beat anyone at his school in any video game.

“It’s a hobby for me,” Farnsworth said, “and I really wanted to do it for more than just for fun outside of school.”

Though “Fortnite” is not a CHSAA esports game title, students can still play exhibition matches with other titles during practices.

The pilot program only includes “League of Legends,” a five-on-five battle-arena game, and “Rocket League,” a two-on-two game akin to soccer, for now.

Farnsworth helped start the first esports team at SkyView this year.

“We had more interest in esports than we did golf,” Farnsworth said.

To coach the team, the school hired Chris Curtis, a former esports pro and current program

director for South Suburban Parks and Recreation’s esports department. Curtis has organized tournaments across the Front Range and is an advocate for the sport.

“Everybody is starting to realize this is a bit more than a fad,” Curtis said. “Schools are learning how to incorporate this more … You’re seeing students who wouldn’t enter in a physical sport enter this and it becomes the driving factor in increasing their grades.”

Curtis added that esports players are subject to academic requirements set by CHSAA similarly to other sports, adding a layer of academic motivation for interested players.

Farnsworth believes esports will continue its rise in popularity and will eventually help debunk the stereotype of the isolated, antisocial gamer.

“If you’re good at the game,

people will find you eventually and you will get a community around you,” Farnsworth said.

And earning that CHSAA seal of approval could be crucial to the sport’s attempt at establishing credibility. There are 17 states nationwide that have esports as a sanctioned activity.

“More often than not, there is a big spike in participation once a sport is sanctioned,” CHSAA spokesperson Ryan Casey said.

Flori and Curtis agree esports will continue to surge in popularity. Flori said some teams are working on adding a “unified” team for students with special needs.

“I think it starts at high school and leads into college,” Curtis said.

“I would not be surprised if within the next five to seven years you’re seeing a handful of high schools offering esports as a competitive offering with any other sport.”

of the masterpiece, “Dracula.”

Created by former Black Box Repertory Company member Zachary Andrews, this one-man radio adaption is available through Nov. 1; after you purchase a ticket you can access a Vimeo link of the play, and it can be streamed as many times as you want through the 1st.

For a taste of old-fashioned horror, visit www.arvadacenter.org/ events/dracula-a-radio-play.

nuts Gang with a live-streamed event with Simon Beecroft, author of the new “The Peanuts Book: A Visual History of the Iconic Strip,” and representatives from the Schulz Museum and Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates. They’ll discuss the history and develop-

ment of the classic strip and more.

Visit www.schulzmuseum.org/ calendar/ for details.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week - Teenage Cancer Trust Unseen series Over the last 20 years or so the Teenage Cancer Trust has had all manner of legendary rock groups perform to benefit their work running from immortals like Paul McCartney and The Who (featuring patron Roger Daltrey) to Noel Gallagher and Them Crooked Vultures. And now in support of the charity it has launched The Unseen series on YouTube, where through Monday, Oct. 19, unseen performances by some of these legends will be shown.

Visit www.teenagecancertrust. org/about-us/our-story/music/ unseen to donate and see the full lineup of performers.

Streaming style - 70 Years with the Peanuts Gang This October marks the 70th anniversary of the publication of the first strip to feature Charlie Brown and the rest of his friends, so why not pay respects to one of great creative projects?

From 3-4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, mark 70 Years with the Pea-

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

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October 15, 2020O

A Triceratastic new view

BY GLENN WALLACE GWALLACE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Some 66 million years ago, herds of triceratops wandered the land.

Back in 1887, paleontologists discovered the first identified triceratops fossils in the Denver area.

Last weekend, a small herd of colorful geometric triceratops walked the grasslands again, at the intersection of 56th Avenue and Highway 93, just north of Golden.

The Cretaceous creations are the work of Golden sculptor Pat Madison, who might be a familiar name for folks who appreciate the public art already on display in the city. He created the swimming cutthroat trout sculptures in Parfet Park, as well as the butterflies that grace downtown.

“I like to do things that match the environment,” Pat Madison said, mentioning the trout and the butterflies as examples of showing wildlife in the location they naturally belong. The triceratops offers a prehistoric tie to that same theme.

Judy Madison, who taught for 25 years at Golden High School ,journeyed out to the open grass lot at the corner of 58th Avenue and Highway 93 on Oct. 10, to help install the sculptures.

“This guy is my best student.” she said gesturing to her husband. “In fact, he’s turned into a monster,” she added, laughing.

The sculptures themselves — consisting of a “daddy” triceratops of roughly lifelike proportions (more than 9 feet tall and 26 feet long), to two “mommies” of medium size, and a baby (about 5 feet high and 7 feet tail to snout) — are made of electrical conduit piping, crimped and bolted together

Judy Madison and her husband Patrick Madison stand next to the “father” member of his family of triceratops statues created by Patrick that are now positioned in a field north of Golden.

PHOTO BY GLENN WALLACE in mostly triangular portions. some of the triangulated panes are filled in with spray-painted wood, some with shiny plastic. Pat Madison said he was largely inspired by the big blue bear sculpture (“I See What You Mean” by Lawrence Argent) that peeks in the window at the Colorado Convention Center, which is also made up of geometric shapes.

The Madisons say work on the baby triceratops began years ago, starting with the feet and just working up-

wards. Pat says working on the bigger members of the family in the last few months has been a good COVID-19 project.

“I just did it as I felt like it,” Pat Madison said.

Judy Madison admits she was a little sad to see all the dinos leave her yard, but Pat said he intends the entire family to stay together.

Sue Thompson, who is one of the owners of the property, said she had know the Madisons forever, and that

the sculptures fit in well with her nonprofit, Wildlife Protection Services.

“It was probably just decided one night over beers,” she laughs about how the triceratops came to be on the property.

So for now, Pat Madison says the horned herbivores will call the grassy corner lot home, serving as a welcome of sorts for drivers headed south along Highway 93.

“I hope it makes them laugh and brightens up their life a little,” he said.

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0October 15, 2020

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18 Arvada Press

October 15, 2020O

SMITH FROM PAGE 12

This goes for dishwashers, washing machines, even aquariums.

The builder’s grade dishwasher that came with the house and sat on a wood floor exploded.

The builder’s grade sump pump that came with the house exploded and flooded the basement.

Dustin said there were openings in the plumbing profession because it’s

LETTERS FROM PAGE 12

Good pathway etiquette I am a 77 year old woman who lives in Arvada. I love to walk on the various paths in Arvada but recently have become very cautious about walking on them. I understand the paths are for walkers and bicyclists.

Four times now, I have almost been run over by the cyclists. Some never let you know they are approaching behind you and others will ride side by side while people are walking on the paths.

Recently I was walking and two cyclists were coming toward me on the path. They were riding side by side and as they got closer to me it became apparent they were not going to ride behind each other. I was forced to jump onto the grassy area to avoid being hit. I have two hip replacements and a fall could be very serious for me.

The paths are for walkers and bicyclists and each group should respect whoever is on the path. Courteous

not seen as an attractive pursuit by young people looking for a career.

“I’d like you to meet my fiancé. He’s a plumber.”

“Oh, that’s too bad.”

If I had a family, I’d welcome a plumber.

If your son is an art major, like I was, don’t count on him to fix your leak.

If I had it to do all over again, I might have gone into plumbing instead and tried to find a way to standardize and simplify and make it possible for almost anyone to repair or replace plumbing.

This does not include running pipes from the basement to the bathroom or doing in-wall work.

But I should have been able to solve my recent problem without too much trouble or becoming a contortionist.

The part that had to be replaced was poorly made and doomed to begin with.

Dustin said many of his repairs stem from homeowners who have watched a YouTube video and think they know what they’re doing and want to avoid the high costs of a professional.

Dustin attributed costs to the equipment and the associated overhead

involved, something I understood. He goes from job to job to job (in a pink truck) and encounters something unique at each one.

“Give me an example,” I asked.

He said he had to army-crawl into a crawl space to swap out kitchen disposal pipes that had leaked garbage that provided nourishment for the frogs he met along the way.

is important especially in this time when we are all going through so much. Please cyclists take the time to announce yourself when you are coming upon a person who is walking. You can call out “On your left or your right” or just ring the bell on your bike. We all want to enjoy our great parks and walking paths without someone getting hurt.

Carol Perez, Arvada

In good conscience, should not the Board members responsible for Glass’s flawed selection, and the extension of his lucrative contract, submit their resignations immediately?

Barring that, should not all Jeffco residents vote to ‘throw the bums out’ come November of 2021 (or even sooner), and replace them with a new Board which has the captive students’ achievements foremost?

Russell W Haas, Golden

nities or that 90% of constructions jobs are filled by Hispanics. We cut your grass, do most landscaping, make most hotel beds and cook most Mexican food. If the Hispanics went on strike, the economy would tank.

Most if not all leadership positions in Arvada government are nonminorities, even though 15% of us are minorities. Black racial equality is the focal point in American today.

What about Hispanics, Asians, and Indians? I see whites in the suburbs protesting for “Black Lives Matter.” Then, they go back to their lives. Any future mention of BLM is bragging to their friends how they have protested. In reality, they do not know the real struggles of minoritie.

Brown people (Hispanics) are not counted as a race according to the census.

There must be articles on minorities in each paper so all people know of the everyday racial inequality minorities experience. Not just the feel good stories. We must remember that non-minorities cannot walk in the shoes of minorities.

Tony Sanchez, Arvada

Why didn’t they care?

After reading Tom Coyne’s invective (10/8) re Jeffco Schools’ education debacle, departed Supt. Glass’s failings, and the derelictions of his (bloated) management team, should we not ask: Where was the elected R-1 School Board during all this?

Why have its members been silent?

Why did its members select a Superintendent with a record of failure?

Why, after witnessing Glass’s subsequent non-performance and failure here, did they prematurely vote to lock-in his incompetence for an additional 5 years?

So little has changed In and age where finally, the nation is pushing racial equality, why am I seeing very little change? I viewed the most recent newspaper edition, and this is what I saw or haven’t seen: 28 candidates for public had one Hispanic and only one male black.

Most, if not all the articles are by non-minorities. One article on Hispanics is by a non-Hispanic who doesn’t live in Jefferson county. I can’t recall any article on just a common minority in Arvada. Zero articles on Hispanic struggles, discrimination, equal job opportu-

Craig Marshall Smith is an artist, educator and Highlands Ranch resident. He can be reached at craigmarshallsmith@ comcast.net.

OFTEN THE B E S T T R E AT M E N T IS A HUMAN CONNECTION. Find care at centura.org Centura Health does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, creed, ancestry, sexual orientation, and marital status in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy contact Centura Health’s Office of the General Counsel at 1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711). Copyright © Centura Health, 2020. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-719-776-5370 (TTY: 711). CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-719-776-5370 (TTY: 711).

Arvada Press 19

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20 Arvada Press

October 15, 2020O

Cardboard boxes spur imagination

D

o you have a few cardboard boxes around? Then you are prepared for children.

All you need are boxes, string, ruler markers, box cutter or knife, and duct tape.

If you bring a few boxes home leave them in the children’s bedroom.

LIFELONG Don’t do anything LEARNING with the boxes for Esther Macalady a few days. Just let children use their imaginations and art supplies on the boxes. They may make action figure houses, garages for cars, a vehicle, or a whole city.

Imaginations Who are your children’s story heroes? Are they interested in space characters, princesses, book characters, knights, or super heroes? Imaginary play encourages children to plan a story, take turns being characters, design costumes, set up scenes, plan problems, and use teamwork to solve them. Both the planning and the actual play develop the brain.

Two large sturdy shipping boxes for stoves are ideal for castles or space stations. Remove any staples. Cut out the top and bottom. For easier storage and handling cut one seam of each box so they store flat.

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Building To make a structure, open them up and arrange so they make one large circle with any writing facing inside.

Make two puncture holes on end sections and tie them with string so they stay together.

To make a simple drawbridge type

FREE ticket required for entry.

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door a castle or ship, cut off one section of the cardboard. Puncture a hole on each top corner of this section about four inches from the top and side. Cut two pieces of sturdy string 2 ½ yards. Tie one to each hole. Leave the other ends free for now.

Make a hole four inches from the top and side in the two wall sections nearest the drawbridge. Thread each drawbridge string through a wall hole and tie securely. To allow children to close the drawbridge, make a slanted slash on the top of the castle or space ship. Children can pull each side of the drawbridge and secure the strings in the slash. You can help decorate with rulers and markers, cut windows, draw trees and flowers.

Children can help make cardboard costumes and props reinforced with duct tape. For crowns, armor, light sabers, shields, or swords draw patterns on newspaper first. Then trace on cardboard, cut out, and decorate.

Children can act out their story and take turns being a favorite character. The cardboard will easily fold up ready for storage.

These little plays make great Facetime drama or movies to send to long distance relatives.

There are some children’s books about playing with boxes. Check out “The Big Box” by Toni and Slade Morrison and “Not a Box” by Antoinette Portis. The internet has many ideas for building with cardboard boxes.

Esther Macalady is a retired schoolteacher in Golden. For more see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com and wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons.

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Arvada Press 21

LOCAL

0October 15, 2020

SPORTS

Jeffco well represented on the green Three Jefferson County schools made the top 10 at the CHSAA state golf tournament: Ralston Valley in fourth place, Lakewood High School in eighth place and Arvada West in 10th.

The Mustangs were led by Trey Kirschner, who came within one stroke of tying the the state title winner Lucas Schulte of Vallor Christian. Fellow Mustang Gage Messingham and Lakewood’s Ryan Liao both tied for seventh place — the only other Jeffco athletes to crack the top 10.

Arvada West senior Tyler Tyson uses a little body language as his tee shot nearly clips a tree on his drive on No. 1 to start his final round of the Class 5A boys golf state tournament Oct. 6 at The Club at Rolling Hills in Golden. Tyson finished tied for 17th.

Ralston Valley senior Trey Kirschner stands at the No. 1 tee box for starting his final round of the Class 5A boys golf state tournament Oct. 6 at The Club at Rolling Hills in Golden. Kirschner shot the best round of the day with a 2-under-par 69. He finished tied for second place, one stroke behind Valor senior Lucas Schulte.

PHOTOS BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Ralston Valley junior Gage Messingham hits his approach shot on his opening hole of the Class 5A boys golf state tournament Oct. 6 at The Club at Rolling Hills in Golden.

The 5A Jeffco League medalist finished tied for seventh at the state tournament.

Lakewood senior Ryan Liao blasts his way out of the sand during his final round of the Class 5A boys golf state tournament Oct. 6 at The Club at Rolling Hills in Golden. Liao had a rollercoaster round of 4-over-par 75, but finished off his round with an eagle on the final hole to finished tied for seventh place. It’s the third straight top-10 finish for Liao at the state tournament.

Golden faces three-time state champion Palmer Ridge in opener

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Golden senior quarterback Joey Mancuso (2) gets off a pass during the first half against Palmer Ridge on Oct. 9 at the NAAC. PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ARVADA — Golden football had a tall order in its season opener Friday, Oct 9, at the North Area Athletic Complex.

Golden was coming off its most successful season since its run to the Class 4A state runner-up back in 2002. The Demons went 8-3 last season, including a state playoff berth. Head coach Jared Yannacito is beginning his fourth season at the helm of the resurgent Demon football program.

However, Golden was handed an extremely talented and motivated Palmer Ridge squad to open the season. The

Bears dominated the Demons with a 42-7 victory.

“They are a three-time defending state championship team,” Yannacito said. “They have kids who have been on the biggest stage. Their program is very good. That is more athletic and speed that I even saw in my old Pomona days. They have a handful of Division I guys.”

Yannacito played at Pomona and was an assistant coach with the Panthers before taking over Golden’s football program.

“These are games you learn from, grow from and you build on,” Yannacito said.

“I’m extremely proud of how our defense played at times.

Our offense just couldn’t

keep the momentum going.”

Golden did get blown out in Florida to open its season last year and responded with a 5-game winning streak.

Senior quarterback Joey Mancuso threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to senior Adam Feasel in the closing minutes to end the shutout bid by Palmer Ridge.

The Demons get into 4A Jeffco League action next week against Standley Lake on Friday night back at the NAAC. “We’ll be fine,” Yannacito said.

Palmer Ridge’s football program said hello to the Class 4A classification in a big way.

SEE FOOTBALL, P22

22 Arvada Press

October 15, 2020O

C R O S SWO R D P U Z Z L E

Golden junior Josh Torrey makes a juggling grab of an interception during the second quarter for the Demons on Oct. 9 against Palmer Ridge. Golden did pick off Palmer Ridge senior quarterback Luke McAllister twice. McAllister was intercepted just three times all of last season.

PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

FOOTBALL FROM PAGE 21

“We have a lot to prove coming from 3A. Especially coming off a state championship,” Palmer Ridge senior captain Saxon Wright said. “We have a lot of returning guys, but we still had a lot to prove tonight.”

Palmer Ridge made the jump for the new two-year CHSAA cycle moving up to 4A in football. The Bears dominated 3A the past three years, winning a trio of state titles while amassing a 38-4 record.

The Bears — No. 5 in the CHSAANow.com 4A preseason rankings — looked more than prepared for the jump in classification against Golden at the NAAC. “We are excited,” Palmer Ridge senior quarterback Luke McAllister said after throwing four touchdown passes in the win. “Everyone was saying we are just 3A and we wouldn’t be able to adjust. I think we came out here and proved that we can hang.”

McAllister hooked up with junior Anthony Costanzo for three of his touchdown passes. The first two scores came in the opening five minutes of the game.

“My man (Costanzo) balled out,” McAllister said of his main target Friday. “He did exactly what he is supposed to do. He caught some touchdowns. I’m super proud of him.”

Wright had a pair of short touch-

down runs for the Bears (1-0 record).

He also anchored Palmer Ridge’s stout defense that didn’t allow Golden to get a first down until the Demons’ fifth possession.

“It has been a little weird because we’ve really had just light contact,” Wright said with no scrimmages before the Bears’ opener. “We came out and showed our defense can shutdown teams.”

The lone crack in Palmer Ridge’s armor was McAllister getting intercepted twice in the second quarter.

Golden senior Sam Aranda picked off the Colorado State University-commit on the first play of the second quarter. Golden junior Josh Torrey made a juggling interception later in the quarter.

McAllister vowed to atone for those mistakes for the remainder of the season.

“Last year I threw three picks all season. I can’t let that get in my head,” McAllister said. “Each week I’ve got to get better. I expect zero picks for the rest of the season.”

McAllister said he is planning on graduating early from Palmer Ridge after first semester and enrolling at Colorado State University second semester. The Bears are back in action next week hosting Grand Junction to open 4A Western League action next Friday night.

Dennis Pleuss is the Sports Information Director for Jeffco Public Schools.

For more coverage go to CHSAANow. com/Jeffco.

Answers

THANKS for

PLAYING!

© 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

Solution

Arvada Press 23

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October 15, 2020O

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Arvada Press 27

0October 15, 2020

State semifinal heartbreak for Jeffco softball teams Dave Thies will now take over the Farmers’ program. Thies was an assistance this year for the Farmers and was on Stricklett’s staff when Wheat Ridge won four 4A state titles from 2008 to 2013.

“I’m glad I came back. It was fun,” Stricklett said. “This was year 25 coaching for me. Nine years coaching at Wheat Ridge we made it to Saturday.”

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

AURORA — The strange and different softball season due to COVID-19 came to a close Saturday, Oct. 10, for Chatfield, Wheat Ridge and D’Evelyn.

The three top teams in Class 5A and 4A Jeffco all advanced to the state semifinals Saturday morning at Aurora Sports Park, but the conclusion of the season all ended in heartbreak for the Chargers, Farmers and Jaguars.

Cherokee Trail 5, Chatfield 1 The Chargers were one the favorites going into Saturday as the highest seed remaining in the 5A state tournament after top-seeded Rock Canyon and No. 2 Broomfield suffered quarterfinal losses.

The No. 3 Chargers were looking to grab the school’s first state softball title since Chatfield won it all back in 1997. However, No. 10 Cherokee Trail had other plans.

The Cougars broke the ice in a scoreless tie with a 4-run top of the sixth inning. Junior Caitlin Cushenbery delivered the big blow with a 2-run home run to start the scoring.

Cushenbery added an insurance run with a solo home run in the top of the seventh.

Chatfield (15-4 record) mustered up a rally in the sixth and seventh innings, but was only able to push one run across with junior Dakota Dipaloa on an RBI single by Peyton Shepard. The Chargers only had six hits, all singles in the loss.

“I knew we would go as far as our bats would take us because I knew what Izzy could do on the mound,” Chatfield coach Jen Lazzeri said. “We just got outplayed today and our bats disappeared at the wrong time. We do have a lot to celebrate for sure.”

Chatfield senior pitcher Izzy DiNapoli finished off her incredible run at Chatfield reaching the 600-strikeout

Wheat Ridge junior Aaliyah Arellano, left, waits for the ball to get to her as Mead sophomore Izzy Campbell slides into second base during the Class 4A state semifinal game Oct. 10 at Aurora Sports Park. The Farmers had their season come to an end with a 15-9 loss.

PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS mark on her career in her final game.

DiNapoli racked up a 41-20 record with a 2.19 ERA during her four years at Chatfield.

“It’s a special group,” Lazzeri said who finished her fourth season at the helm. “This senior group I came in with. They gave us everything they could.”

Madison Shepard, Courtney Bidwell, Morgan Morrell and DiNapoli are the four graduating seniors for the Chargers.

“Those seniors are the cornerstone of what we’ve done here,” Lazzeri said. “Those young kids have a lot to look up to. We’ve been here (state) three years in a row now. We want to make this a regular thing.”

Mead 15, Wheat Ridge 9 No. 1-seeded Wheat Ridge was looking to move into second place with all-

state state softball championships by grabbing a seventh state title Saturday.

The Farmers fell behind early with the Mavericks bashing three home runs through the first inning and a half to take a 6-0 lead.

“We gave up six bombs (home runs) today,” Wheat Ridge coach Marty Stricklett said. “That’s hard to overcome in any game against any team.”

The Farmers (17-2 record) did battle back and actually took a 8-7 lead through four innings. The Mavericks’ bats got hot again late scoring seven runs in the final two innings to grab the 15-9 win.

“These girls will learn from this.

They came a long way this year,” said Sticklett, who returned to coach the Farmers for one season before retiring from coaching. “I wish we could have finished it out correctly, but we made it to Saturday.”

Holy Family 12, D’Evelyn 7 No. 2-seeded D’Evelyn was one out away from earning a berth into the 4A state title game. The Jaguars led No. 3 Holy Family 6-5 with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, but the Tigers scored seven runs with two outs on their way to an eventual 12-7 win.

“It was a weird ending,” D’Evelyn coach Dan Porreco said. “It was a great game all the way through, but that last inning. We just needed that one more out to win it. Then it just steamrolled on us.”

D’Evelyn led for nearly the entire game. The Jaguars were up 6-1 through three innings.

“I loved how we came out and played,” Porreco said.

Holy Family — eventual state champions with a 9-6 victory over rival Mead in the 4A title game later Saturday afternoon — scored 11 unanswered runs to turn the tide on D’Evelyn.

“We always played the underdog this year with the adversity we had to go through. More than people will ever know,” Porreco said. “I’m proud of these girls. They had an incredible season. Their goal was not completed, but they have to hold their heads up high for what they did.”

Dennis Pleuss is the Sports Information Director for Jeffco Public Schools.

For more coverage go to CHSAANow. com/Jeffco.

www.ColoradoCommunityMedia.com/Notices

PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088 Legals Metropolitan Districts Public Notice NOTICE OF HEARING ON PROPOSED 2021 BUDGET AND 2020 BUDGET AMENDMENT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the proposed budget for the ensuing year of 2021 has been submitted to the Spring Mesa District (“District”).

Such proposed budget will be considered at a meeting and public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District to be held virtually via Microsoft Teams, at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2020. In order to preserve the health, safety, and welfare of the public in light of the imminent threat caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting and public hearing will be held by telephone and videoconference only. To attend and participate by telephone, dial 720-547-5281 and enter Conference ID 340 633 241#. Information regarding public participation by videoconference will be available at least 24 hours prior the meeting and public hearing online at www.springmesa.org.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an amendment to the 2020 budget of the District may also be considered at the above-referenced meeting and public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District. A copy of the proposed 2021 budget

and the amended 2020 budget, if required, are available for public inspection at the offices of CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP at 8390 E. Crescent Pkwy, Suite 300, Greenwood Village, CO, 80111.

Due to concerns related to COVID-19 and certain visitor restrictions that may be in place, please contact Natalie Herschberg by email at Natalie.

Herschberg@CLAconnect.com or by telephone at 303-793-1417 to make arrangements to inspect the budget(s) prior to visiting the foregoing office.

Any interested elector within the District may, at any time prior to final adoption of the 2021 budget and the amended 2020 budget, if required, file or register any objections thereto.

SPRING MESA METROPOLITAN DISTRICT By: /s/ Mark Entman, President Legal Notice No. 408354 First Publication: October 15, 2020 Last Publication: October 15, 2020 Publisher: Golden Transcript and the Arvada Press Public Notice NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED 2021 BUDGET AND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE AMENDED 2020 BUDGET NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a proposed 2021 budget has been submitted to the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the HASKINS STATION METROPOLITAN DISTRICT (the “District”). A copy of the proposed budget is on file in the office of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, 8390 E Crescent Park-

legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com

way, Suite 300, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, where the same is open for public inspection.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an amendment to the 2020 budget has been submitted to the District. A copy of the proposed amended budget is on file in the office of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, 8390 E Crescent Parkway, Suite 300, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, where the same is open for public inspection.

Such proposed budget and amended budget will be considered at a public hearing during a meeting of the District to be held on October 21, 2020 at 11:30 A.M. Due to Executive Orders issued by Governor Polis and Public Health Orders implementing the Executive Orders issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and the threat posed by the COVID-19 coronavirus, this meeting will be held via teleconferencing and can be joined through the directions below: https://zoom.us/j/91430400193?pwd=c3pjSHBZ UDh5T1hGTEhZenhvN0RWZz09 Meeting ID: 914 3040 0193 Passcode: 342396 Phone: 1-669-900-9128 Any interested elector of the District may file any objections to the proposed budget or amended budget at any time prior to final adoption of the budget and amended budget by the governing body of the District.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: HASKINS STATION

METROPOLITAN DISTRICT /s/ WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON Attorneys at Law Legal Notice No. 408355 First Publication: October 15, 2020 Last Publication: October 15, 2020 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript and the Arvada Press Public Notice NOTICE OF HEARING ON PROPOSED 2021 BUDGET AND 2020 BUDGET AMENDMENT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the proposed budget for the ensuing year of 2021 has been submitted to the Olde Town Arvada Business Improvement District (“District”). Such proposed budget will be considered at a meeting and public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District to be held at 7307 Grandview Ave. Arvada, CO 80002, at 1:00 p.m. on October 28, 2020. In order to preserve the health, safety, and welfare of the public in light of the imminent threat caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting and public hearing will be held by telephone and videoconference only. To attend and participate by telephone, dial 617-675-4444 and enter passcode 314 494 765 5528#. Information regarding public participation by videoconference will be available at least 24 hours prior the meeting and public hearing online at www.oldetownarvada.org or may be obtained by contacting Joseph Hengstler, by email

at director@oldetownarvada.org or by telephone at 303-420-4769.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an amendment to the 2020 budget of the District may also be considered at the above-referenced meeting and public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District. A copy of the proposed 2021 budget and the amended 2020 budget, if required, are available for public inspection at the offices of Olde Town Arvada BID. 7307 Grandview Ave. Arvada, CO 80002. Due to concerns related to COVID-19 and certain visitor restrictions that may be in place, please contact Joseph Hengstler by email at director@oldetownarvada.org or by telephone at 303-420-4769 to make arrangements to inspect the budget(s) prior to visiting the foregoing office.

Any interested elector within the District may, at any time prior to final adoption of the 2021 budget and the amended 2020 budget, if required, file or register any objections thereto.

OLDE TOWN ARVADA BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT By: Joseph Hengstler, Executive Director Legal Notice No. 408380 First Publication: October 15, 2020 Last Publication: October 15, 2020 Publisher: Golden Transcript and the Arvada Press

###

Arvada Legals 10.15.20 * 1

28 Arvada Press

October 15, 2020

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