Arvada Press 1119

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November 19, 2020

JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 16 | SPORTS: PAGE 17

ARVADANS GET SOME RE-LEAF

VOLUME 16 | ISSUE 25

Jeffco Schools moves to remote learning Changes begin Nov. 30 for K-5

BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Sara Mork of Arvada was one of more than 500 residents who stopped by the Stenger Sports Complex on Saturday morning Nov. 14 to unload leaves, which the city will eventually turn into mulch. More leaf peeping on P5.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL HICKS

The women fighting hunger and homelessness in Jeffco Pandemic causing demand for food and shelter to grow

BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

COVID-19 and tough economic times continue to take their toll on people everywhere, but for the hungry, homeless, or those on the brink, they’ve made an already difficult situation even more challenging. That goes for those trying to help solve these problems as well.

As need increases, services for the food insecure are starting to feel stretched. And as winter sets in, homelessness becomes more vexing for all concerned. Compounding and confounding the issues, many in Jeffco and across the metro area are finding themselves facing these difficulties for the first time.

Chelsey Baker-Hauck, Co-founder of the Colorado Safe Parking Initiative, said they’re not the chronic SEE HOMELESS, P4

Volunteers prepare to give out food in Lakewood.

COURTESY OF KAIZEN FOOD RESCUE

HOW TO HELP Information about Kaizen Food Rescue is available at www.kaizenfoodrescue.org. The organization distributes boxes of food in Lakewood every Wednesday at the COVID-19 testing site located at 9077 W Alameda Ave., and 11th Ave Head Start, located at 6201 W 11th Ave. More information about the Colorado

Safe Parking Initiative is available at www.colosafeparking.org/ You can learn more about Jeffco Eats, including food drive and volunteer opportunities at https://jeffcoeats.org/ get-involved/ For more information about Benefits in Action, including how to volunteer, visit www.benefitsinaction.org

On Nov. 12, Jeffco Public Schools announced that grades 6-12 would move to all-remote learning beginning the following Monday, Nov. 16.

Elementary schools K-5 will move to full remote learning after the Thanksgiving break. Those students will return to their all-remote classrooms beginning Nov. 30.

Jeffco Public Schools, in consultation with Jefferson County Public Health, made the decision to end nearly all inperson learning citing the continued rise of COVID-19 cases in the community, case counts that are dwarfing the spike in cases this spring, when schools also moved to a full-remote system.

As of Nov. 15 the district has reported 558 active cases among students and staff.

Fourteen Jeffco school sites, mostly high schools, have double-digit active confirmed COVID-19 cases. During a school board study session last week Interim Superintendent Kristopher Schuh said more than a dozen Jeffco schools had to already move full-remote simply because the district did not have enough staff to run schools with so many people kept home by precautionary quarantines.

“Simply put, we’ve now reached the point at which the benefits of in-person learning are outweighed by the disruption caused by abrupt transitions to quarantines and by the risk of COVID-19 exposures within our buildings,” Schuh said in the remote learning announcement statement to the public.

The statement went on to say that students will participate in synchronous learning (logging on and participating as a class during set class times) Monday through Thursday. Fridays will be either synchronous or asynchronous, depending on the school and grade.

Classes will continue remotely until winter break, if not longer.

Preschool and district childcare programs will continue to operate in-person, as will in-person learning for students with significant disabilities.

Career and technical education programs will continue in-person learning, but programs will be evaluated to determine which require in-person learning and to what extent. Additional information on CTE programs will come directly form the schools, including Warren Tech.

2 Arvada Press

November 19, 2020N

JCPH discussing metrowide stay-at-home shutdown Order likely to take effect in next week or two

BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As skyrocketing COVID-19 cases across the metro area severely strain hospitals, contact tracing efforts and other mechanisms for managing the pandemic, Jefferson County Public Health’s deputy director said Thursday that metro Denver health departments are in talks about a metro-wide stay-at-home order that could begin “in the next week or two.”

“The metro Denver public health group has been having a lot of conversations about what it would look like to do this as a group of health departments,” said JCPH Executive Director Jodi Erwin during a meeting with the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners. “And as of last night, what I heard is that it is going to be at least another week before we get there because we want to make absolutely sure we have all of our ducks in a row.”

Dr. Mark B. Johnson, the medical director at JCPH and its former executive director, said the departments are talking about that time frame for a new stay-at-home order because it would provide enough time for them to reach out to the business and health care communities as well as other stakeholders in order to develop “a united plan” for approaching the stayat-home order.

Johnson said the departments are

Jeffco COVID-19 cases

15,146 Total cases

SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE

also hoping that timeline will provide a chance to identify what was learned during the last stay-at-home order that could be replicated or implemented to allow the counties to move in a more targeted direction “instead of just the blunt `everybody stay at home.’”

However, Johnson did not elaborate on how a more targeted stay-at-home order might look.

“I think that’s really what we are hoping to do over these next two weeks is to learn what we can, to work with the groups that are involved and to make this a bit more of a surgical strike instead of just a hammer,” Johnson said.

Jeffco is one of several counties in the Denver metro area that has already “far exceeded” the thresholds for new cases and hospital capacity to be placed under a stay-at-home order by the state according to its new COVID-19 status color dial. However, the state has so far avoided forcing

counties into a stay-at-home order.

Rising hospitalizations a concern Erwin said JCPH has been hesitant to impose a second stay-at-home order to this point despite the sharp rise in cases because it wanted to avoid putting pressure on businesses and also buy time to see whether hospitalizations, which had not initially been increasing as sharply as new cases, would start to rise.

However, that now appears to be happening. As of Nov. 12, Jeffco’s hospital beds were 77% occupied while ICU beds are 94% occupied.

Erwin said Jeffco’s two hospitals — St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood and Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge — are also among the metro area hospitals that are anticipating staffing challenges in coming weeks as some staff members are unable to work as a result of their own exposures to COVID-19.

The impacts of the spike are also extending beyond hospitals. Erwin said the Jeffco coroner has informed the health department that “there are concerns around the region about capabilities for storing the deceased.”

The increase in cases has also made contact tracing increasingly difficult and ultimately less effective.

“We got to a point a couple of weeks ago where we could not ask all of the questions we typically ask when we

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

During the state’s “second wave” of COVID-19 cases this summer — a time when case counts notably increased after previously falling — Colorado appeared to see its residents make enough behavioral changes to flatten the curve again as summer went on.

But the current, third wave has continued on a steep upward climb since early September and shows little sign of breaking despite restrictions tightening across many counties.

“I think what was happening in summer is we had the great good fortune of having great summer weather and we could be outdoors,” said John Douglas, executive director of Tri-County Health Department, which covers Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties.

Aside from that, three factors contributed to the second wave falling, Douglas said: A state order to close

388

Total deaths

204

Currently hospitalized

1,038 Ever hospitalized

10,386 Total Recovered

Source: Jeffco Public Health statistics as of Nov. 16 are doing these investigations,” he said. “We are not really asking people where they were exposed.”

Those challenges have also made it increasingly difficult to pinpoint where in the county the virus is — and is not — spreading.

“We get a lot of comments from people saying you don’t know data that says `this is spreading here, here or here,” said Erwin. “We also don’t have data that says it’s not spreading in certain places because it’s so overwhelming with our cases right now.

Clearly, we have community spread, it’s prevalent throughout the county and throughout the region.”

that affected many bars, a change in the time of day alcohol must stop being served and — most importantly, Douglas said — issuing a mask mandate.

“We still have a mask mandate, still have bars closed (and) last call is more or less 10 p.m.” in many areas, Douglas said.

He thinks the difference now is partly the colder weather.

“I think we’re somewhat more fatigued than in July, and it’s darker and maybe we’re a little more depressed and need to be around our (friends) to feel better,” Douglas said, adding that people are spending time inside more in general. “I think the holidays were fuelers of it.”

He mentioned Labor Day and Halloween celebrations.

Douglas believes the availability of more COVID-19 testing has boosted case numbers somewhat, but he pointed out that the rate of tests that come back positive is rising, too, which signals more spread of the virus.

Arvada Press 3

0November 19, 2020

City council approves CARES Act funding for rec districts

BY MICHAEL HICKS MHICKS@EVERGREENCO.COM

The Arvada City Council unanimously approved subrecipient agreements with Apex Park and Recreation District as well as the Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District for CARES Act funding.

The council approved, by a vote of 6-0, the allocation of $431,000 to Apex Park and Recreation District from the approximately $9.2 million Jefferson County received in CARES Act funding, while approving $234,000 to Hyland Hills that came through Adams County. The funds are expected to address unemployment insurance claims through Apex and part-time staff salaries and personal protection equipment for Hyland Hills.

The approval vote came at the

city’s Nov. 2 meeting.

“This is a very vital community partner that provides the majority of recreation programming and services in our community,” Mark Deven, Arvada’s city manager, told the city council about Apex Park and Recreation District.

Hyland Hills Recreation District, which serves Adams County including Westminster and Arvada, and the City of Arvada collaborated on the development of Clear Creek Valley Regional Park, an 80-acre park that opened in 2015.

“This government entity was pretty well impacted by the pandemic. They are a valued partner,” Deven said. “The Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District works with us providing parks and recreation services for our Adams County residents.”

Marriot serving on noise roundtable Also at the Nov. 2 meeting Councilman John Marriot was appointed to sit in on a Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport Community Noise Roundtable with Arvada City Manager Mark Deven serving as an alternate after the city council approved a resolution authorizing acceptance of an intergovernmental agreement.

The council unanimously passed the measure.

The Jefferson County commissioners directed the formation of the roundtable, according to Deven, to promote a regionally coordinated approach to address the noise impact for the communities surrounding the airport. The group is expected to begin meeting next year.

Members of the roundtable are expected to include participants

from Arvada, Westminster, Jefferson County, Broomfield, Boulder County, Louisville and Superior. Westminster City Councilor Kathryn Skulley was named to the board last month.

Earlier this year, scoping sessions facilitated by Jefferson County resulted in conditions setting the agreement, Deven said.

“We believe that it’s in Arvada’s best interest to have a seat at the table to make sure that noise complaints are addressed in a manner that doesn’t disadvantage our residents and to make sure that safety concerns associated with the operation of the airport are properly looked into and reviewed, and to also understand the economic impact of the airport as something positive as a generator to the economy.”

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Biden Presidency Will Bring Renewed Focus on Affordable Housing and Discrimination

As you’d expect from any Democratic administration, there will be an increased focus on middle class and low income communities’ needs in the Biden administration, and that includes housing policy.

Back in February, after losing the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, and prior to the South Carolina primary, Biden released a $640 billion housing plan, focused primarily on increasing home ownership among Americans. Among other things, it included a $15,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers that could be used as part of the down payment at time of purchase.

“People vote based on their pocketbooks, and you don't get a bigger pocketbook issue than housing,” realtor.com’s chief economist Danielle Hale said. “For many, [housing] is the largest monthly expense that they have. And if you own a home, it's likely the most valuable thing that you own.”

According to Clare Trapasso’s article on realtor.com, Biden’s plan also includes down payment assistance for teachers and first responders plus changes in the appraisal process to address racial disparities. The down payment assistance, however, would be conditioned on purchasing in targeted lowincome areas in need of investment.

It has long been understood that home ownership is central to building family wealth, supported statistically by the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances. The most recent available report, covering the period 2013-2016, showed that during that period the medi-

an net worth of homeowners rose by 15% to $231,400, while the median net worth of renters fell by 5% to only $5,200. In other words, as of 2016, homeowners’ median net worth was 44.5 times that of renters.

A new 3-year survey should be published soon and will probably show those trends continuing.

As you’d expect, there’s a racial component to the homeownership divide. According to Svenja Gudell, chief economist of Zillow Group, nearly 75% of white households own their own home, while less than half of black and Hispanic households are homeowners.

Although redlining of low-income communities, which was promoted by the FHA from its inception in 1934, was outlawed by the 1968 Fair Housing Act, the damage had been done, and it will be hard for any administration to undo it.

We are just beginning to understand the problem and how to solve it.

The Biden plan also includes increased funding of Section 8 vouchers for low-income renters. At present, there’s only enough Section 8 funding to meet 25% of the demand. The plan would also prohibit landlords from discriminating against prospective tenants using Section 8 vouchers, and would provide legal assistance to tenants facing eviction. You can expect this idea to face a lot of opposition.

The most progressive element of Biden’s plan may be his proposal to provide a tax credit so that no renter pays more than 30% of his/her income toward rent, estimated to cost $5 billion/year.

The plan speaks about appraisal re-

Golden Real Estate Helps Buyers and Sellers With the High Cost of Moving to a New Home

If you’ve ever paid a moving company to move your furniture and other belongings to a new home, you know it can be very expensive. We’re talking thousands of dollars, even for a local move.

I have always felt that our clients deserve something more than a fruit basket or bottle of champagne at closing, so I continue to look for ways we can add value to each buyer or seller relationship.

I bought our first moving truck in 2003 and our second truck (a former Penske

rental shown here) in 2017. Together those trucks have logged 200,000+ free miles for our clients, who would have spent $200,000 or more on mileage fees alone if they had rented a similar truck from U-Haul.

When a client uses us for two transactions — to sell their current home and buy their replacement home within a 50-mile radius — I not only reduce the commission charged to sell their current home, but I hire the laborers to drive the truck and to load and unload it — using boxes we provide free!

form, aiming to create a national standard to assure that homes in minority communities are appraised for the same as homes in comparable white communities, but that defies the core principle of appraisal — that a home is worth what a willing arms-length buyer will pay for it.

According to the realtor.com article, the Biden plan promotes the creation of a public credit agency that would take into consideration a positive history of payment of rent and utility bills, providing a higher credit score that could help renters qualify for a home mortgage.

Not mentioned in the realtor.com article about Biden’s housing plan is the president-elect’s promise to undo the elements of Trump’s tax law which favored the wealthy. However, one provision actually harmed the wealthy who live in states with high property taxes, many of which, coincidentally, voted for Hilary Clinton.

That was the provision regarding SALT — State and Local Taxes, composed primarily of real estate taxes and income tax. It limited the deduction of those taxes to $10,000 per year. I suspect that this element of the tax code will be changed under the Biden administration.

The Trump tax law also doubled the standard deduction to $24,000, which eliminated for many the benefit of charitable donations. I, for one, thought this

would spell doom for many non-profit organizations, although Giving USA reports that donations by individuals fell only 3.4% in 2018. That’s remarkable, given that the number of taxpayers who itemized deductions fell that year to 18 million, from 46.5 million the year before, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation (per accountingtoday.com).

Those of us who are into sustainability and fighting climate change can expect the new administration to incentivize energy efficiency improvements and building codes through tax credits and grants. When Trump took office, there was a lot of concern in Golden and Jeffco that the Department of Energy, whose secretary had advocated abolishing the department until he learned it was responsible for America’s nuclear arsenal, would defund the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, but funding was actually increased by Congress. We can expect that a Biden administration will provide even greater funding to NREL, energy efficiency, sustainability and the electrification of transportation.

Biden’s February housing plan does address this issue, with the goal of cutting the carbon footprint of buildings by 50% by 2035, and providing incentives to home owners who retrofit their homes to be more energy efficient and more solar powered.

Leyden Rock Ranch-Style Home Backs to Open Space This 4-bedroom, 3-bath ranch home with walkout basement at 19019 W. 88th Drive in Arvada’s Leyden Rock subdivision backs to open space. A former model home (Remington Homes 2017), it has over $240,000 in upgrades! The main level features a contemporary style open floor plan with hardwood floors, a 14-ft ceiling in the living room, and floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning views of the Boulder Flatirons. The fully finished basement features a family room, custom full bath, and two bedrooms. In addition to the 2-car garage visible above, there’s a 1-car garage to its right. The lot backs to open spacfe to the north and east sides of the house, with vacant HOA land to the south. Take a narrated video tour at www.LeydenRockHome.info. Open this Saturday, 11-2. Listed by Chuck Brown. $779,900

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4 Arvada Press

November 19, 2020N

HOMELESS

network of safe parking sites throughout every community in every county.”

Baker-Hauck said so far, there hasn’t been any pushback from the neighbors where the lots are located.

In Jeffco, there’s one safe parking lot in Arvada and one planned for Golden. While she acknowledges the Safe Parking Initiative won’t stop or cure homelessness, BakerHauck thinks it’s a viable way to help people rebound into traditional housing.

Working to solve hunger and food insecurity in Jeffco is also a challenge. Several organizations continue to tackle it, but with growing demand, the obstacles to keeping people fed in a global pandemic are still daunting.

FROM PAGE 1

homeless you may be thinking of.

“They may not even consider themselves homeless,” she said. “Often when people experience homelessness, the first place they go is into their car if they have one.”

In her experience, many of the new homeless tend to be working, some have children or pets and their car is an invaluable asset that can make the difference between stabilizing their situation, or spiraling into longer-term homelessness. Her organization focuses on creating safe parking spaces for people living in their cars. Working in concert with community partners, the goal is not just to create a place for people to safely shelter in vehicles, but coming up with a whole ecosystem — sanitation, ways for people to shower, help with keeping vehicles registered and road-worthy, a formal intake process — to know who’s coming and going from the lots, plus a coordinated system to help individuals tap into housing navigation, food support, resources for healthcare, even assistance in finding or training for jobs.

“There’s a ton of need out there,” Baker-Hauck said.

“Hundreds of people, on the conservative side, are living in their cars in the metroarea, and it could be as many as a thousand. We need a

Nonprofits see a surge Barbara Moore started Jeffco Eats in 2017 to make sure kids and their families wouldn’t go hungry. Jeffco Eats primarily works with Title 1 schools, Section 8 housing residents and select nonprofit organizations. They distribute food year-round.

Moore said need is surging.

“In March we were delivering to about 20 sites,” she said. “Now we’re up to 35. The amount of food we’re giving out since COVID-19 hit, has doubled, at least.” It’s a common refrain. Jane Barnes, Executive Director, Benefits in Action (BIA) echoed Moore’s take on expanding need.

“The numbers of folks requesting services are growing like crazy. The demand

is outstripping all of our capabilities,” she said. “Food stocks are good through end of year, but who knows what will happen come January.”

BIA recently received a grant through the Jeffco Workforce Development Center, allowing them to hire ten delivery drivers to keep up with growing need.

In fact, the need is so great that Jeffco Eats has outgrown their space. Moore said they’re looking for a building large enough to accommodate all of the food they need to bring in. She said she’d love to have more volunteers, but remains hopeful Jeffco’s hunger problem can be solved.

“With the cost to buy and rescue food — pantries with the right financial support could really move the needle to 100% in dealing with food needs people have,” she said.

“It’s in reach if everybody would do their part.”

Thai Nguyen is doing a lot more than her part. Nguyen, founder of Kaizen Food Rescue, heads up the all volunteer organization that shared 2.6 million pounds of food across the metro area from March through Oct. 2020, a 2,000% increase over the same period of time in 2019, a staggering escalation of need.

Pre-Covid, Kaizen would operate a weekly pop-up, but quickly had to shift to curbside, no-contact distribution.

Now, utilizing parking lots, often on church property, Kaizen sets up shop in different locations six days a week,

A Kaizen Food Rescue food share box. serving up to 350 families each day. Partnering with Food Bank of the Rockies, Nguyen said she does her best to make sure the food boxes her organization gives out are filled with nutrient-dense choices with fresher ingredients and healthier options, rather than highly processed canned foods food banks sometimes provide.

Nguyen said Kaizen concentrates on serving what she calls Food Apartheid communities.

“They’re areas that don’t have grocery stores around them,” Nguyen said. “We don’t use the term Food Desert because deserts are naturally occurring, apartheid is

COURTESY OF KAIZEN FOOD RESCUE

more deliberate.”

In Jeffco, most of the families Kaizen serves are from the Latinx, East African and West African communities.

It’s something Nguyen seems to connect with deeply, in part because her family came to this country as refugees from Vietnam when she was a young girl.

“I think it’s part of my healing process,” she said.

“I’m paying it full-circle. It’s a privilege to be able to do that.”

According to Nguyen, many organizations like hers see a decrease in volunteers during the winter holidays, and extra help this time of year is always welcome.

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Arvada Press 5

0November 19, 2020

Some needed re-leaf for Arvada

BY MICHAEL HICKS SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

In an effort to keep leaves out of the landfill and off of City streets where they can block storm drains, free residential leaf recycling was made available the first three Saturdays in November. There is one more leaf collection day event, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nov. 21. The leaf recycling locations are at Stenger Soccer Complex (east entrance), 5675 Oak Street, and Perma Green Organics, 5520 Harlan Street.

This event is for leaves only; no branches, woody brush, or tree stumps will be accepted. This program is not for commercial or business leaf disposal.

Due to COVID-19, leaves in plastic bags will need to be emptied by the resident. Assistance cannot be offered this year.

Muni-Code Caution The city of Arvada asks resident

Ian Shulman dumps out a bag of leaves on Saturday morning at Stenger Sports Complex. to not sweep or blow leaves into the street It is against municipal code to sweep/blow leaves (or any other debris) into the streets. Not only do they find their way into storm drains, but piles of leaves can cause damage to street sweepers.

Piles of leaves start to build up in the parking lot of Stenger Sports Complex on Nov. 14, the second Saturday this month that the city has collected leaves to save potential buildup in storm sewers.

Sara Mork of Arvada was one of more than 500 residents who stopped by the Stenger Sports Complex on Saturday morning Nov. 14 to unload leaves, which the city will eventually turn into mulch.

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6 Arvada Press

November 19, 2020N

Arvadans in the giving spirit City resident, councilmember team up to provide boxed lunches to police department, fire district

or what you’ve done. Everyone has experienced hardship in their own unique way,” Simpson said. “The pandemic, economic crisis, protests, wildfires. We wanted to recognize the first-responders who’ve had to step up and deal with the everyday responsibilities that are normal, but also all that the extra that’s piled on this year. Our community really values them and appreciates them for all that they do for us. We wanted to spread a little bit of joy. Coming to the end of the year and the holiday season is all about being together, being joyful. We want there to be a little bit more joy and to celebrate the holiday season how we celebrate with our loved ones.”

The plan is to deliver to all eight fire stations and four police stations.

Footers Catering will provide hot lunch boxes for the Arvada Police Department, while Elements Catering will do the same for the Arvada Fire Protection District. The boxes will be individually wrapped.

“I wanted to show them that amid everything that is going on that they are supported and loved,” Just said.

Any residents or businesses want-

Recreating a social media posting that triggered her first delivery years ago, Just found a willing and helpful adversary in City Councilmember Lauren Simpson.

She, like Just, wants to spread a little holiday joy this year to those who make life a little easier for area residents. With a little help from her fellow councilmembers, the City of Arvada and the Chamber of Commerce, the wheels got rolling for Chow for Champions Holiday Edition.

The Chamber operated Chow for Champions earlier this year during the COVID-19 shutdown to support the community. Now hot meals will be provided to first-responders for Thanksgiving and Christmas as a way of saying thanks from the community.

“Lauren is amazing. She’s the backbone that made sure that this can happen,” Just said.

Simpson, coincidentally, gives the credit to Just. After all, it was her idea. Simpson is happy that she could be of assistance.

“2020 has been one of the hardest years on record for anyone across the board. It doesn’t matter who you are

BY MICHAEL HICKS MHICKS@EVERGREENCO.COM

Kimber Just has always supported Arvada’s law enforcement. She has nothing but love for them given what they do day in and day out serving the community.

That’s why she’s giving back.

A few years ago, the Arvada resident coordinated a community effort to provide homemade meals for the police department as a show of support. She wanted to do that again this year, incorporating the Arvada Fire Protection District into the fold as well, but the COVID-19 pandemic threw a monkey wrench into those plans.

At least, temporarily.

HOW TO HELP WHAT: Chow for Champions Holiday Edition WHEN: Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26; Christmas Day, Dec. 25 DONATIONS: Individual contributions of $10, $25 or $50 are being accepted. Business contributions of $250 will include the businesses name being listed on the Chow for Champions website and on cards delivered to the stations. Holiday Hero Sponsors for $1,000 will receive their business logo listed on the website, in a wrap-up email to all contributors and on cards delivered to the stations. All contributions will be used for meal purchases. Any contributions exceeding the goal of $6,000-7,000 will be given to local nonprofits.

MORE INFO:business.arvadachamber. org/events/details/33419 ing to support the effort can donate through the Chamber of Commerce, Simpson said. Organizers are hoping to raise approximately $6,000 to $7,000 to cover the cost of catering and labor with any additional funds being distributed to Arvada-based nonprofits and community organizations during the holiday season.

Resiliency task force touts expeditious response in helping area businesses Arvada officials preparing in case the city has to shut down again

Ryley, the executive director for the Arvada Economic Development Association, it was crucial that support was given out quickly and dispersed wisely.

Converting the initial $2.8 million emergency small business loan funding in April to a grant program allowed the task force to help an additional 30 businesses receive funds. A second round of funding in September for $1.5 million helped another 150 businesses, Ryley said.

“We want to do what’s right with this money and the resources we have to ensure the best possible opportunity for broad economic recovery, which will create equity of opportunities for all of our businesses. But at the same time, these businesses are not num-

Resiliency Taskforce comprised of nearly a dozen entities from the City of Arvada to the Apex Park and Recreation District and others is touting the rapid response that has helped businesses stay afloat.

“We’ve seen incredible impact for our businesses. It’s been really heartwarming to hear the stories of impact from businesses of how these resources, this support has helped them to get through a really difficult time,” said Welch, the Chamber’s President, during the Nov. 2 Arvada City Council meeting.

From the street closures in Olde Town in June to free personal protection equipment for businesses and financial support, the impact has been measurable. But, according to Daniel

BY MICHAEL HICKS MHICKS@EVERGREENCO.COM

It wasn’t 24 hours after Gov. Jared Polis announced the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Colorado on March 5 that Kami Welch and the Arvada Chamber of Commerce sprung to action. The plan: To provide city businesses with the support and resources needed to combat a global pandemic.

Eight months later, the Arvada

bers, these are people. These are families in our community, the people we know and care about. We have to also understand the impact and the gravity of these businesses facing incredibly challenging decisions about their own operation,” Ryley said.

Choices, like whether to stay open, stay in the same spot, or having to let employees go “that they care about like family,” all take an individual perspective Ryley said, as does gauging the individual and collective impact of each of those choices on the broader community. Understanding those impacts are what Ryley said are important “so that we both can cater to that individual business owner’s needs but SEE RESILIENCY, P23

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Arvada Press 7

8 Arvada Press

November 19, 2020N

Grab-and-Go meals planned for Jeffco students Free breakfast and lunch program to continue during return to mandatory-remote learning

BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As Jeffco public schools transition back to an all-remote learning model, Interim Superintendent Kristopher Schuh wants students and their families to know that food students currently receive through the District’s breakfast and lunch programs will continue to be available as part of a grab-and-go model.

On a recent Facebook Live event, Erika Edwards, Jeffco Food Nutrition Services Director of Operations, said the plan is to have distribution sites scattered across the district that will provide a mix of ready to eat meals and snacks, alongside meals that can be heated at home.

Chicken tenders and twisted breadsticks will be among the ‘heat at home’ options. Meals will come with heating instructions and will include fruit, vegetables and milk.

According to Edwards, the menu options will reflect the winter season and thus vary a bit from what was offered during the March shutdown.

Edwards said that twice-a-week distribution is how families of athome learners have been receiving food so far this school year, and that is likely to now extend to all students as the district goes all-remote. Fami-

TWO WAYS TO HELP November is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month, and the school district is planning two fundraising events to benefit unaccompanied youth and families experiencing homelessness.

Nov. 17 Chipotle Community Night — at 4255 W. Colfax Ave Chipotle.

Nov. 7-21 Virtual 5K — More information about this virtual fundraiser can be found on the Jeffco Public Schools website. lies will receive three to four meals at a time to cover all seven days in the week. Social distancing and masking will be required at distribution sites.

Locations, times and other details will be posted on the District’s website when they are confirmed.

Distribution sites are scheduled to open Nov. 30.

Susan Kimes-Demboski, Jeffco Schools’ Family Engagement Liaison Coordinator, Title I, leads a team of five liaisons that work across the district to identify students that are experiencing homelessness and food insecure youth. During the Facebook Live broadcast, Kimes-Demboski said the District has built partnerships, both within the district and community partners like Hunger Free Colorado, the Action Center, Coalition to End Hunger and various faith organizations, to help keep Jeffco youth fed beyond the bounds of the grab-and-go program.

“It isn’t just a Title 1 issue,” she said. “I want families to know we’re here for you.” Kimes-Demboski said her team has been working hard to build safe spaces for families to

considers her program a bridge of support between schools and the community.

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Arvada Press 9

0November 19, 2020

Decades in the district come to an end School board member Ron Mitchell says farewell to Jeffco

BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.CO

“I’m not as young as I used to be,” he says.

“I’m going to turn 76 on my next birthday. I’ve battled cancer for 20 years, had a heart attack, a bone marrow transplant. And my energy isn’t what it used to be, to continue to do what needs to be done for the people of Jeffco.”

Those are the words of outgoing Jeffco School Board Member, Ron Mitchell, explaining why his official association with Jeffco Schools, going back more than six decades, came to an end on Nov. 12.

Mitchell traces his connection with the district all the way back to when he was a third grade student at Lawrence Elementary in Arvada, where a teacher managed to get him to read a book every week. As he speaks about it, you can hear the pride and fondness in his voice.

Mitchell graduated from Arvada High School, joined the Army Reserves, earned a masters from the University of Northern Colorado and

returned to start teaching at Arvada West in 1969. He would eventually become an assistant principal, principal and area administrator in the district, before retiring “a bit too early,” he said.

Then, five years ago, a time Mitchell describes as contentious, he was urged to throw his hat in the ring for a seat on the Jeffco school board. A recall effort was underway, targeting three conservative board members, and friends thought he had the calm leadership qualities the board would need moving forward.

Mitchell agreed to run and was part of a group of candidates known as “The Clean Slate.” After winning his race against incumbent board member Ken Witt, Mitchell was sworn in, Nov. 19, 2015.

Of all the things the board accomplished during his time serving, the one he seems most proud of is conceptual.

“I truly believe that we changed the climate in the board room from day one,” he said. “We did it in a simple way, with respect. We began to value people across the organization, and people felt it.”

Jefferson County Education Association President, Brooke Williams is one of those people.

She said the JCEA is sad to see Mitchell go and they’ll miss his advocacy for educators.

“He’s given so much to the

community and students,” she said. “He’s always put us first, even before himself. We wish him the best.”

The change of atmosphere in the board room isn’t the only accomplishment Mitchell is proud of. He believes 2018’s bond election and mill levy override, allowing the district to make major improvements, modernize schools and increase educator salaries, were significant achievements. The new Warren Tech South, also a benefit of the passed bond, is another accomplishment high on Mitchell’s list.

“Its a big deal that our kids, a year from now, and for generations to come will benefit from,” he said. “It will make us more adaptable as we move into the future and I’m proud to have been a part of it.”

Fellow board member Stephanie Schooley first met Mitchell when her children’s elementary school was in danger of being shut down by the district. She said reaching out to Mitchell for advice about how to better advocate for the school was the first step on her own path of involvement.

Schooley admires Mitchell’s dedication to have stayed on the board for this long.

“This year there’s just been one more thing to be able to vote on, or one more thing to do. It’s been like 10 years rolled into 6 months,” she

Outgoing Jeffco School Board member Ron Mitchell. said. “We’re just grateful that he stayed, to help shepherd the district though some of the issues. He’s the biggest cheerleader and supporter for Jeffco Schools.”

Her thoughts on the matter almost seem prophetic, because when asked about his retirement date, Mitchell said he chose Nov. 12 because there was one last vote he wanted to take part in on Nov. 11 — phase 2 authorization of the district’s 2018 capital improve-

COURTESY OF RON MITCHELL

ment bonds.

Now that the 12th has come and gone, he’ll get some well deserved time to spend with family, and the job of filling his seat on the board for the remainder of his term will fall to his fellow board members. Mitchell is positive that will all work out fine.

“If you bring the right values and apply them to every decision, You can find the answer that you need to find,” he said.

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10 Arvada Press

November 19, 2020N

Chief Jeffco judge suspends all jury trials until 2021 Current, incoming DAs grapple with impact on courts

BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The First Judicial District, which includes Jefferson and Gilpin counties, is taking another pause on jury trials amidst rising COVID-19 case numbers and an outbreak of the disease among court staff.

On Nov. 6, Chief Judge Jeffrey Pilkington issued an order suspending all jury trials through Jan. 18, 2021.

The order does permit “other court operations to continue through the use of remote technology, whenever possible.”

According to the order, the court was notified on Nov. 4 that three court employees had tested positive for COVID-19. Following the completion of the contact tracing process, 12 other court employees have been quarantined because they were in contact with those who are positive.

“This has a significant impact on the court’s ability to conduct its business, including trials,” Pilkington wrote in the order.

The order notes that “most

The Jefferson County building, which includes the court.

PHOTO BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO

other jurisdictions in the state have suspended jury trials through much of the holiday season” and “public health experts repeatedly caution that COVID-19 will spread as families and friends gather during the holidays.”

Pilkington said the order is based on the COVID-19 orders previously issued by federal, state and local authorities.”

“For these reasons and in collaboration with the Jefferson County Public Health and the Gilpin County Board of Health, the Court concludes that the District can no longer safely assemble a jury pool at this time in the pandemic,” Pilkington wrote in the order.

The order may be amended as necessary as circum-

stances with the virus have “changed rapidly and may continue to do so.”

The postponement of all jury trials to 2021 will worsen what First Judicial District Attorney Pete Weir has called “an unprecedented backlog of cases” that was created following a five-month pause on jury trials earlier this year as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

“The cases continue to pile up,” said Weir. “The week before last we had three murders in Jefferson County so that’ll be other cases that are now in the queue and when we have a complete moratorium all it does is stack up some real challenges in 2021 and beyond.”

GET THIS DEAL BEFORE THE

Among the many notable trials that will now need to be continued is that of the driver accused of killing four people in a fiery crash on I-70.

Weir said the court was able to make good progress in the period when jury trials were once again able to proceed with COVID-19 modifications in place. He said the court was able to try about 20 felony cases and 30 county court cases, a number which he believes was possibly the highest in the state.

Still, he said that progress really equated to “nibbling around the margins” of the backlog that had developed.

That backlog will likely only grow as Weir said he is not planning to take any steps to reduce pressure on the court like he did at the start of the pandemic when his office took what he described as the “extraordinary step” of releasing over 2,000 lowlevel traffic and misdemeanor cases.

“We’re not going to go down that path again,” he said. “I just don’t think that’s what the public will be wanting at this stage.”

Instead, Weir said his office will continue to work to prioritize cases according to factors like the severity of the crime, the number of times it has been continued and the impact on witnesses.

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The pause on trials also comes as the court as Alexis King, who was elected to be the district’s next DA earlier this month, is preparing to take over the office.

“It’s not a surprise but it is worrying,” King said of the pause. “We want to make sure folks who want to go to trial have that option and we o want to make sure victims N who want resolution to their case can have that closure.

B So, we are going to be under c a lot of pressure to prioritize J and make the best of the time s that we have when we do open fl back up.”

King said she will continue t h with Weir’s effort to work a with the chief judge and 7 public defender’s office to prioritize cases and plans to maintain those collaborative t efforts when she takes over a t while considering “any additional efforts we can make s on our end.”

To that end, King said she f has not yet made any commit- t ments when it comes to tak- f ing additional steps to reduce b the case load.

P “At the end of the day we won’t compromise public safety,” she said. “But I think s I ran to be a resourceful lead- e er and to find, as I have in the b past, new ways of addressing l folks in the community and o that is the perspective I bring t to the office.”

The Golden Police are looking to identify three suspects who committed a robbery at the Home Depot in Golden, including one who threatened a store employee with an ax.

According to a press release from Golden Police, the robbery occurred at around 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 10. Surveillance footage shows the three suspects loading up a shopping cart with items.

As they attempted to leave the store

with the cart, they were contacted by store society which is when one of the suspects threatened a store employee with an ax. The suspects were able to get away with the items in the cart and fled in a white Ford F150 with no plates. The stolen merchandise is valued at $1,300.

Police are asking those with information to call Crime Stoppers at 720913-7867. Callers can remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.

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Arvada Press 11

0November 19, 2020

With COVID-19 pressure in jail, county to use CARES dollars to reopen a floor Seventh floor will allow capacity to be increased by 216 inmates

BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Budget challenges forced the closure of a floor of the Jeffco jail last winter.

Now, COVID-19 is about to reopen it.

On Nov. 10, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners directed county staff to provide Jeffco Sheriff Jim Shrader with the $3.75 million he says is necessary to reopen the fifth floor of the jail for the next year.

Shrader had told the commissioners that reopening the fifth floor, which has been closed since March, would allow him to increase the jail’s current 760-bed capacity by 216 beds.

He had originally asked for twice that amount, which he said would allow him to keep the floor open until the pandemic’s likely end.

Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper said she supported funding the floor for one year rather than two because the county is facing other demands for CARES Act funding and trying to balance them all.

Pandemic led to space issues Space has been an issue in the jail since the start of this year, when cuts enacted to the Jeffco Sheriff ’s Office budget as part of county budget cuts led Shrader to close the seventh floor of the jail because he no longer had the budget to staff it. That closure

The Jefferson County jail.

PHOTO BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO

reduced the capacity of the jail from 1,392 beds to 1,148.

The capacity of the jail then had to be reduced even more when COVID-19 arrived in the jail in March. Shrader reduced the population to less than 600 inmates in accordance with CDC and public health department guidance.

To do so, the Sheriff ’s Office implemented early release protocols, worked with the District Attorney’s office to adjust bonds and review sentences and implemented new arrest standards that limited jail bookings to certain felonies and crimes involving the Victim’s Rights Act. “I have worked my entire career to put criminals behind bars so it was very difficult to have to make deci-

sions regarding which criminals to put behind bars,” Shrader wrote in a letter to the Jeffco community on Nov. 6.

The jail has also dealt with its own COVID-19 outbreak during the pandemic that began when cases were first identified at the jail in March and was officially deemed by an outbreak in late May. That outbreak was deemed over by Aug. 27. By that point, 58 inmates and 12 staff had been confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19.

In March, the Sheriff ’s Office closed the fifth floor so that it could reopen the seventh floor to use it to house inmates who were showing symptoms of COVID-19. The seventh floor can currently hold up to 192 inmates while the remaining floors, including the fifth, can each hold 216.

In his letter, Shrader stated that the Sheriff ’s Office had noticed an increase in certain types of crime that do not typically meet the current arrest standards, particularly motor vehicle trespasses and motor vehicle theft. In response, Shrader met with Jeffco’s police chiefs to discuss the enhanced arrest standards and how to ensure that criminal activity is still being “appropriately deterred and disrupted while jail capacity remains limited.”

On Sept. 2, Shrader expanded the jail capacity to 760 beds and amended the arrest standards to include class 4 felonies, the fourth most serious felony.

He said reopening the seventh floor would allow him to further relax standards but that such changes would not

come overnight.

“Just because there is a `yes’ today doesn’t mean the problem is solved today,” said Shrader. “There is obviously a lag in recruiting, hiring and training to make sure that we can get to this point, but this will give us the latitude to move forward in a positive direction.”

New COVID-19 cases in jail The move to fund the reopening of the seventh floor comes as the jail is experiencing new pressure from COVID-19. As of Nov. 6, “one inmate and five detention employees were currently positive, with several additional employees showing symptoms and awaiting test results.”

“Despite our best efforts to prevent the spread of COVID in the detention facility, the number of current positive cases could mean the jail will revert to outbreak status again, only two months after our first outbreak was officially resolved at the end of August,” Shrader wrote in his letter.

Commissioner Casey Tighe also expressed support for providing funds to reopen the seventh floor but said the Sheriff ’s Office must redouble efforts to determine who really needs to be in jail.

“I support this effort but I also want to really push hard to make sure we evaluate our system and make sure that we are making good decisions on who is incarcerated and who isn’t,” said Tighe.

Shrader said he agreed with Tighe, and would work with the county’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee to continue those evaluations.

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12 Arvada Press

November 19, 2020N

LOCAL

VOICES

A digital testament to those we’ve lost ALCHEMY

Andrea Doray

“O

n one of our walks during quarantine, my mom and I talked about how sad it was that people were dying and their loved ones couldn’t memorialize them or celebrate their lives. We decided we wanted to do something to give back to all those grieving.”

These are the words of 17-year-old Sam Shoflick. And what she and her mother Megan decided to do was develop a free website for people to create memorial pages for their loved ones “…so all who have been lost to the pandemic can be commemorated in this collective space,” says Sam.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Thanks for supporting Prop EE I am pleased that Colorado voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition EE, showing strong support for early learning. Proposition EE will initiate a tax on nicotine vaping products and increase the tobacco tax to secure revenue for universal preschool beginning in 2023.

Youth in Colorado have had access to nicotine and vaping products, with low or no taxation at all, and young children have had limited access to high quality early education. Proposition EE will help address teen vaping, and bolster learning opportunities for young children.

Colorado has some of the lowest funding for early learning in the nation. For example, the Colorado

Preschool Program is unable to serve over 60% of eligible students due to lack of sufficient funding despite research showing the great importance of healthy early childhood education. Passage of Proposition EE will help make Colorado a leader in early learning and dramatically increase early learning opportunities for children.

Research has shown that access to healthy early childhood education has positive impacts on children’s linguistic, social, and cognitive skills, as well as overall literacy. Furthermore, early childhood education significantly contributes to the development of creativity and intellectual skills at a SEE LETTERS, P13

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Sam and Megan live in the south Denver metro area, but their site – Covituary.org – is available around world. Megan says their inspiration actually came from a particularly heartbreaking loss – a close friend’s mother was separated from her husband in their nursing home after she got sick with COVID-19.

“When she was dying, her husband couldn’t see her, so their children took an iPad and a ladder to the second-story window of their dad’s room, so he could say goodbye via FaceTime to his wife of 60-plus years,” says Megan.

Deeply affected by this story, Sam and Me-

gan agreed that a website to honor victims of the coronavirus would have the most impact.

“CovituaryTM is a place to reconnect with family and friends and celebrate the lives of those we’ve lost,” says Megan.

Through a friend, they connected with a programmer who built the interactive site. It was also vitally important their website be translated into multiple languages. “Because the pandemic is global, we want our site to accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world,” says Megan.

For information about the coronavirus SEE DORAY, P13

Our lives influenced by technocrats and criminals

T

ell me something, if you can: When did we, as a country, become so comfortable, and even blasé, about mafia-like behavior?

For, example, two nights HITTING before the election, one of the bigger national stories HOME was how stores and business in several cities around the country were boarding up their windows in anticipation of violence following the election. Apparently, if the election, which was closer than anybody imagined, had tipped the other direction, metropolitan businesses felt there was a Michael Alcorn credible threat to their businesses.

Of course we know which side of the election the store owners were worried about, and anybody who would argue differently is being obtuse. Exhibit A: the fact that one side lost, and no cities were burned.

But, in a larger sense, since when do we accept that behavior? Was the threat of violence and destruction a factor in this election? No, not likely. But it should never be a concern!

That’s very 1940s and 50s South America kind of stuff. We’re better than that.

And why do we accept social media exerting power over our lives to control the flow of information? I get it — the Russians bought up a lot of Facebook ad space in 2016. But that should not mean that a couple programmers from Silicon Valley should suddenly have the power to decide which bits of information are allowed the light of day, and which are not? And, yeah, it’s not the government exerting control, so it’s not a First Amendment legal issue; but once upon a time, civil libertarians would have been storming the digital gates to prevent that sort of censorship. These days, not so much. Mostly just conservatives, in their khaki-pants brigades, whining about media bias.

And speaking of our tech overlords, when did Microsoft become the Wizengamot?

And if you don’t know what that is, I would refer you to the Harry Potter universe. I’m betting the powers that be at Microsoft know what that is, and the negative connotation it carries.

About six weeks ago, I received notice from Microsoft that my account had been blocked.

I was not informed at the time of the nature of the violation for which I was blocked, nor was I even informed of the device upon which the “offense” occurred. I was simply blocked.

Now, those of you who store stuff in any of the Microsoft cloud environments would surely understand what a nightmare this could have been. As it turns out for me, it’s little more than an inconvenience.

However, since, as a security precaution, all of my son’s Xbox content is registered to my email account, my son has now lost access to hundreds of dollars worth of gaming content, his profile, his records, his ranking in some of the competitive worlds…. All hidden now, in some double super-secret probation.

Again, the genesis of the potential offense still a carefully guarded secret.

The best part of all this is that one afternoon last week I wasted an hour and a half chatting with a Microsoft customer service agent who had no access to my information, no access to records of the investigation underway, no ability to escalate my complaint, and no suggestions as to how to proceed. In fact, the only thought he had (and it’s not his fault) was to file a records request; of course, I filed a records request six weeks ago, and it clearly states that duplicate requests would “start the clock over” on the investigation into the original request.

So much of our lives right now are dependent on people and systems that we have absolutely no control over, and, frankly, it’s a little scary. You want to see the education world come to a screeching halt in a nanosecond? Have Google shut down all their services. Education would literally stop.

We should be smarter than this. Somewhere between Don Corleone and SkyNet there has to be a place for us to get off this ride.

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.

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Arvada Press 13

0November 19, 2020

Perlmutter holds COVID-19 focused telephone town hall As case numbers tick up, state health officials answer virus questions from Jeffco residents

BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On the evening of Nov. 10, Congressman Ed Perlmutter hosted at telephone town hall event featuring Dr. Margaret Huffman, director of Community Health Services at JCPH, Dr. Rachel Herlihy, CDPHE State Epidemiologist and Daniel Chase, Chief of Staff at Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

During the hour-long call with constituents, Perlmutter and his guests fielded questions from 12 community members while nearly 6000 people

DORAY FROM PAGE 12

I turned to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the current status in our country.

As of this writing, the CDC reports 10,846,373 cases in the U.S., and the number of deaths ascribed to the coronavirus are 244,810 since January 21. Worldwide (based on numbers from countries who choose to share reports), 54.3 million people have been infected and 1.32 million have died.

The Colorado Department of Public Health reports 163,417 cases in our state and 2,234 deaths due to COVID-19

LETTERS FROM PAGE 12

young age.

As an educator and Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) advocate, I applaud Colorado voters for

listened in. While not mandatory, Perlmutter’s team tried to keep questions focused on the pandemic and related unemployment issues.

Perlmutter opened the call with a statement of concern about the nationwide increase in COVID-19 cases and his hopes that when congress returned to session Nov. 16, there would be progress in passing a relief bill. Herlihy spoke next, telling listeners the state is experiencing exponential growth in cases and a rapid increase in hospitalizations and deaths. She said she understands that there’s a lot of coronavirus fatigue right now, but the reality is the virus is here and causing rapid transmission. She stressed the continued need for masks, social distancing, hand washing and avoiding spending time with people outside of your household unit. Huffman added continuing to utilize curbside pickup at restaurants when possible and

calling ahead if you’re going to meet with someone, to make a plan for keeping safe. On the topic of mask mandates, Herlihy said existing measures are working, but not as good as they could be.

“Right now around 62% (of people) are wearing masks. We really need to be at 80-90%,” she said. “There’s also strategy that we need to implement in our personal lives to contain transmission, to stop households from mixing and spreading it to each other.”

When asked about recent reports of promising test results in the development of a vaccine, Herlihy said an estimated 9% of Coloradans have already contracted the virus but warned against a easing up on current prevention practices.

“A vaccine is important and will save lives,” she said. “But all of the strategies in place right now will continue to be important because it will take a while for residents to get access

to the vaccine.”

Huffman reminded listeners that there will be a prioritization in distribution when a vaccine is released that will put high-risk individuals at the front of the line.

On why mask mandates haven’t led to more enforcement, Perlmutter said he believed in general, Jeffco residents were taking the mandates seriously and he didn’t think fines or stricter enforcement of mask mandates were the right way to go. On the economic front, in answering a question about Covid relief, Perlmutter thinks progress will be made despite the possibility of Sen. Mitch McConnell maintaining control of the Senate.

“There are a lot of states that are hurting. Layoffs are ticking up, small business closings are ticking up again,” he said. “I think there’s something that will happen to help people.

It may be short-term, but hopefully something’s on the way.”

(the total number of deaths among these cases is slightly higher).

Of course, pretty most everyone I talk to has an opinion on these numbers – overcounted, under-reported, misrepresented, etc., not to mention stark differences in perspectives about masks and social distancing.

To most of us, though, numbers like these (whether higher or lower) are overwhelming. And, unfortunately, most of us probably know of – or have experienced – heart-wrenching tragedies like the one Megan and Sam describe … families and friends unable to share a funeral service, a celebration of life, or even a goodbye.

Their Covituary.org site has only been live for three weeks and already

honors more than 50 people. “This is a hard and challenging topic,” says Sam. “Losing a loved one at any time is difficult, but even more so without the support of friends, family and community. This project is our way of

giving back and making a difference.”

passing Proposition EE, and making Colorado just one of five states to offer universal preschool. I now urge state lawmakers to prioritize early learning in the year ahead, and help create the systems necessary to build a strong universal preschool program.

Kiki McGough, Arvada

Andrea Doray is a writer who was moved to tears by the memorials on covituary.org. Contact her at a.doray@ andreadoray.com.

In Loving Memory Place an Obituary for Your Loved One. Private

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

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Funeral Homes Visit: www.memoriams.com

14 Arvada Press

November 19, 2020N

LOCAL

LIFE

R E F F O S O I D U T S D OPTIONS N

SOU

Arapahoe Libraries creative specialist Sivan Johnson works in the Southglenn Library recording studio before the pandemic. The library district offers three studios: one each in west and east Centennial at Southglenn and Smoky Hill libraries, respectively, and one at Sheridan Library in the city of Sheridan.

COURTESY PHOTO

Some are free for recording; others have seen artists such as Kanye West, The Lumineers

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

M

usic of various genres. Podcasts. Work presentations on a green screen.

Slam poetry. Music videos.

Making movies for film school.

These are the types of works patrons have produced at free recording studios through the Arapahoe Libraries district that stretches across a swath of the south Denver metro area.

“And this is all free to anyone — not

just our library (members),” said Tim Fritz, a digital media librarian for the library district. “We don’t ask for a card.”

It’s a service that has seen patronage from both younger and older local residents — from people living around the Sheridan Library studio in the district’s western end, to residents of other areas utilizing the district’s other two studios in the west and east ends of Centennial.

“We had a (kid) come in and use the Sheridan studio, and he’s now a

touring rapper,” Fritz said, referring to a performer with the stage name Jay The Rarest. “There a high school right next to the studio, and when school gets out, the studio’s booked.”

The district’s three studios closed in March, along with Arapahoe Libraries locations as a whole, as the spread of COVID-19 gripped Colorado. But the libraries are considering checking out some of the studio equipment — such as for digitizing film or possibly loaning out keyboards — as the trend in public-health restrictions signals

that studios may stay locked up into 2021.

On the other hand, some commercial recording studios in the Front Range have seen their work pick up as Coloradans have more time at home amid the pandemic, said Dave Devine, a senior lecturer of jazz guitar at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Artists have used that time to “record the basic parts at home and send the parts in to finalize them in a SEE STUDIOS, P15

Sharing ‘Daddy Bruce’s’ story this holiday season

I

f you’ve been in the Denver metro area for a while, there’s a good chance you’ve come across the name Bruce Randolph at least one or twice. You COMING might recognize it ATTRACTIONS as a street name, the name of a school, or maybe from President Barack Obama’s 2011 State of the Union. But people who knew the restauranteur and philanthropist affectionally known as “Daddy Bruce” Clarke Reader best remember him for his kindness and generosity.

Those are the qualities highlighted in the documentary “Keep A Light in Your Window,” which is making its broadcast premiere on Rocky Mountain PBS at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19. The film will also be shown at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 22, 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 26 and 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 27.

“Lots of stories and information for this film was gathered from his family and the people who knew him directly,” said Ronald Wooding of Peoples’ Production Company LLC, producer of the documentary. “It’s been 18 years of working with the Daddy Bruce legacy, sharing and finding stories and learning about the richness he invested in the community.”

Randolph was born in 1900 and opened his first restaurant in Denver on the corner of Gilpin Street and East 34th Avenue in 1963, Wooding said. His restaurant grew in popularity, thanks in no small part to the BBQ recipe he was given by his grandmother - an ex-slave living in Arkansas.

The restaurant became a popular spot for all kinds of people, and when he started bringing food up to the Denver Broncos’ practice facility in Greeley, he had fans for life.

“He became friends with Pat Bowlen and would even travel with the Broncos — they called him their 12th man,” Wooding said. “He was like a magnet, always drawing people in.”

A deeply religious man (another gift from his grandmother), Wooding said Randolph wanted to emulate Jesus by feeding at least 5,000 people and that mission just kept on growing, even after his death at age 94. Randolph started an annual Thanksgiving food distribution event that’s been going for 56 years, feeding up to 10,000 families this year alone. The Epworth Foundation is currently hosting the distribution event and is always looking for donations and volunteers - particularly so this year, when COVID-19 has decimated so many lives.

“Bruce had this saying that nothing beats love — he just believed in people and helping people,” Wooding said. “Right now, with the pandemic going on, that’s what we all have to do.

We all have to sacrifice and reach out

to other people, because it’s not just about feeding them — it’s about how we treat others in our everyday life.”

For information about how to access the Rocky Mountain PBS channel in a specific area, please visit www.rmpbs. org/channels/. And those who want to support the Epworth Foundation can find details at www.epworthfoundation.org/.

‘The Nutcracker’ dances onto RMPBS The Colorado Ballet’s annual production of “The Nutcracker,” presented by PNC Bank, will air on RMPBS on the following dates and times: 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 26; 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 27; 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18; 1 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19; 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24; and midnight on Friday, Dec. 25.

The production also may be streamed for free throughout the holiday season on the Rocky Mountain PBS app, downloadable at https://www.rmpbs.org/pbs-videoapp/.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week - Patty Griffin from The Continental Club If you’ve ever heard Patty Griffin sing, you know when she really digs in, she has the kind of voice that can blow the walls of a place. Her takes on gospel, folk, blues and rock always feel vibrantly alive and brimming with emotion.

Like so many of us, Griffin is worried about our beloved music venues, many of which we could lose due to

the COVID-19 shutdown. To help keep 18 venues afloat during this extraordinarily challenging time, she’ll be doing a livestream performance at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21 and Dec. 5. Both shows will be broadcast from The Continental Club in Austin, Texas.

Get tickets to one - or both - shows at https://boxoffice.mandolin.com/ pages/patty-griffin-live-from-the-continental-club.

Streaming style - Lounge Around Sounds Variety Hour Boston’s Lake Street Dive specialize in a kind of modern nostalgia that can hit right in the heart if you’re open to it. That familiar feeling one gets from their music is a perfect fit for holidays, and they’re going beyond music with their Lounge Around Sounds Variety Hour: THANKSforGIVING event.

The livestreamed event will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 23 and will feature music, Thanksgiving dishes and cooking tips from Phil Rosenthal, host of Netflix’s “Somebody Feed Phil,” discussions and a surprise or two.

All the information and tickets for this event can be found at Onlocationlive.com/category/loungearoundsounds3.

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

Arvada Press 15

0November 19, 2020

STUDIOS FROM PAGE 14

studio,” said Devine, who has played the role of producer in metro-area studios. He’s also set foot in studios as a member of bands and ensembles and as a session musician to record for other artists.

Some local spots are well-known Metro-area residents looking to step into a recording studio have a variety of options, including some that have seen big-name music artists.

One that might be “shocking” to hear about is west Denver’s Side 3, located in an industrial area near North Santa Fe Drive.

The studio has recorded Kanye West, Devine said, as its website shows. Their clients also include “Green Day, Ed Sheeran, Lil Wayne — it’s insane,” he added.

Mighty Fine Productions in east Denver is “renowned and does a variety of music,” said Devine, who lives in Lakewood. Colorado Sound in the Westminster area — another spot Devine mentioned — lists Colorado folk band The Lumineers and neo soul pioneer D’Angelo among its clients.

In response to the pandemic, Mighty Fine started livestreaming concerts from its studio, Devine said.

Avoiding the virus has turned some to home recordings, he added.

“You can record yourself on your computer and drop the file in the s ‘cloud,’ and the engineer can turn them into magic,” Devine said. “The engineer I was talking to today from Longmont said he has more work than he can handle because people have more time.”

Some recording studios are located in people’s homes, too, which may make them more cost-effective without “overhead” costs of a building with plumbing, electricity and taxes, Devine said. “But another thing is it feels (like) a much more comfortable environment. They’ll go make you coffee … it feels much more communal.”

For amateur artists, a home studio can be a great place to start, Devine said.

“You can look online for home studios where maybe the time is more flexible,” Devine said. Some will start there, and if an artist thinks a recording needs something more, they can take the project to a bigger studio, Devine added.

Prices can be steep: Devine estimated most places in town can cost between $500 and $750 for a day of recording. He wasn’t sure on home

-

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

At three Arapahoe Libraries locations, visitors can use recording studios for free, whether they are library members or not.

The studios remain closed as the pandemic continues, but the libraries may start checking out some of the recording equipment. Call 303-5427279 for more information.

Under regular conditions, the studios offer equipment including the following: • Software for audio recording such as GarageBand, Logic Pro and Audacity • Video editing software such as iMovie and Adobe Premiere, along with cameras, iPads and green screens for recording • Microphones, keyboards, electric and acoustic guitars, and electronic drum pads In Centennial, Smoky Hill Library’s studio opened in 2013 and Southglenn Library’s studio opened in 2014.

Sheridan Library’s studio opened in 2014. Visit arapahoelibraries.org/recording-studios for more information.

The Douglas County Libraries location in Parker offers “state-of-the-art software and equipment to create videos, musical compositions, animations, e-books and more,” according to the district’s website. For more information, see dcl.org/reserve-a-space.

Denver Public Library locations also offer multiple recording studios listed at denverlibrary.org/studios.

The Studio at the Wright Farms library in the Thornton area also offers “state-ofthe-art video, audio and design equipment and software,” according to the website for the Anythink library district in Adams County. For more information, see anythinklibraries.org/location/ anythink-wright-farms.

The recording studio at Wright Farms was closed, according to its website in mid-November. Other metroarea library studios are likely to be temporarily closed or restricted as well amid the pandemic, but see contact information on the websites above for current information.

studio prices.

An artist recording a vocal performance might say, ‘$700, that’s a lot of money,’” but it’s an opportunity to sing into equipment that may be worth thousands of dollars, Devine said.

Free studios still a quality bet Fritz, the digital media librarian for the Arapahoe Library District, said that in Smoky Hill and Southglenn libraries in Centennial, “you get a professional-grade studio,” and at Sheridan Library it’s a little less sophisticated but still capable.

Electric guitars, keyboards, DJ equipment and electronic drum pads are among the gear patrons can use at the library studios, Fritz said. Middleaged residents often come in to produce audiobook readings, he added.

Fritz helps newcomers learn about the equipment, too, and before the pandemic, studios could be booked for up to three hours daily.

As the studio closure continues, Arapahoe Libraries is planning to check out some equipment but isn’t as certain about providing large items such as guitars because of the cleanup they require, Fritz said.

“I think we’re all hoping like January” to open the studios back up, Fritz said. But the library district has to play it by ear given changing public health guidelines.

The Douglas County Libraries location in Parker offers “state-of-the-art software and equipment to create videos, musical compositions, animations, e-books and more,” according to the district’s website. Denver Public Library locations also offer multiple

Sivan Johnson, a creative specialist at Arapahoe Libraries, works in the Southglenn Library recording studio in the days before the COVID-19 pandemic.

COURTESY PHOTO recording studios listed on that district’s website.

The Studio at the Wright Farms library also offers “state-of-the-art video, audio and design equipment and software,” according to the website for the Anythink library district in Adams County.

Wright Farms library sits near East 120th Avenue and North Holly Street in the Thornton area. The recording studio at Wright Farms was closed,

according to its website in early November. Other metro-area library studios are likely to be closed or restricted as well.

Fritz wants to get the word out, particularly to “underserved populations,” about the fact that his libraries offer studios.

“Many people don’t know that the places exist, and then when they (find out), they’re quite shocked,” Fritz said.

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

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Jointhe the Y

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November 19, 2020N

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Arvada Press 17

LOCAL

0November 19, 2020

SPORTS

Ralston Valley corrals victory against rival Arvada West

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ARVADA — Ralston Valley senior Devin McNearney put the finishing touches on what was likely the final game of the season at the North Area Athletic Complex for the Mustangs.

McNearney intercepted a pass from Arvada West junior Xavier Nail on the opening drive of the second half Nov. 12. The two-way player then finished off the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter.

“That was pretty sweet. He just lobbed it up,” McNearney said of his first interception of his varsity career. “Then the touchdown, that was my big boys up front blocking for me. I love every single one of them. They always get it done.

I really appreciate them.”

Ralston Valley — No. 10 in the final CHSAANow.com Class 5A football rankings — cruised to a 35-7 victory over rival Arvada West (1-5, 0-5 in 5A Jeffco League).

Senior Tyler Roybal got the Mustangs (4-2, 3-1) started with a 1-yard touchdown run to close out the opening drive of the game. However, A-West answered with a nice drive where they had Nail run ‘Wildcat’ for most of the drive.

Junior Cade Russel finished the drive with a 1-yard run.

It was all tied up 7-7 after the first quarter, but it was all Ralston Valley for the final three quarters.

“We kind of expected Arvada West to pull something out of the bag for us specifically,” Ralston Valley senior defensive back Cole Kumpf said of A-West running ‘Wildcat’ to start the game. “We had confidence that we were going to stop it after a little bit.”

After a 23-yard touchdown pass from Ralston Valley ju-

Ralston Valley senior Rocco Tate, far right, tries to break free from an Arvada West defender during the first quarter Nov. 12 at the North Area Athletic Complex.

PHOTOS BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS nior quarterback Zach Friedman to senior Rocco Tate and McNearney’s first touchdown run of the game gave the Mustangs a 21-7 lead.

Kumpf had a huge defensive play intercepting A-West sophomore quarterback Ethan Cook in the final minutes before halftime and returning it for a touchdown pushing the lead to 28-7 at halftime.

“I was just in a good spot and I got lucky with the tip,” Kumpf said of the pick-6. “I saw it. Got it in my hands and scored.”

McNearney’s second touchdown with 6:27 left in the third quarter was the only score of the second half.

“It seems like we haven’t put our best foot forward all

year,” Kumpf said. “This was the game we wanted to do it finally.”

It’s been a wild ride for Ralston Valley. Trying to find games after several scheduled opponents had to cancel games against the Mustangs due to COVID issues has been an ongoing issue for Ralston Valley. That included Ralston Valley not playing No. 5 Columbine last week when the Rebels had to be quarantined.

The Mustangs picked up No. 2 Valor Christian for a non-league game to replace Columbine last week. After giving the Eagles a solid test the first half, Valor pulled away in the second half on the way to a 45-7 win.

“We were just trying to

Ralston Valley senior Cole Kumpf (11) returns an interception for a touchdown to give the Mustangs a 28-7 lead over Arvada West going into halftime Nov. 12 at the North Area Athletic Complex.

make a better comeback from last week,” Ralston Valley coach Matt Loyd said referring to the loss against Valor.

A-West got off to a good start with a non-league victory over ThunderRidge to kickoff the season. However, the Wildcats are on a 5-game losing streak. That includes close losses to Mullen and Lakewood in conference play.

Ralston Valley had an outside shot on making the 8-team 5A state field. The Mustangs finished at No. 11 in the CHSAA seeding index and along with No. 9 Columbine, was left out of the playoff picture. Pomona was the lone 5A Jeffco team to make the 8-team field.

“A shortened season wasn’t

what I wanted for any one of our seniors,” Loyd said. “(McNearney) had a really good game tonight. He is fun to watch.”

The Mustangs’ two losses were against undefeated and Top-5 ranked teams — Valor and Pomona.

Ralston Valley finished out its season with a non-playoff game against Legacy on Thursday, Nov. 19.

A-West played its Week 7 non-playoff game against Standley Lake, also on Thursday, Nov. 19.

Dennis Pleuss is the Sports Information Director for Jeffco Public Schools. For more coverage go to CHSAANow.com/ Jeffco.

Pomona wins 5A Jeffco League title by edging rival Columbine

Pomona sophomore Ian Frye (79) celebrates a fumble recovery during the first quarter that ended a Columbine drive deep in Pomona territory Nov. 13 at Jeffco Stadium. The Panthers took a 14-11 victory in the regular-season finale to clinch a spot in the 8-team Class 5A state tournament that begins this week.

PHOTO BY LANCE WENDT/CHSAANOW.COM

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAKEWOOD — Two huge offensive plays and a gritty defense is what it took for Pomona to claim the Class 5A Jeffco League title Friday, Nov. 13, at Jeffco Stadium.

Pomona — No. 3 in the final CHSAANow.com 5A football rankings — grabbed a 14-11 victory over No. 7 Columbine to finish off an undefeated 6-0 regular season for the Panthers.

The two scoring plays were courtesy of senior Jack Pospisil and junior Dominick Nichols. Pospisil opened the scoring up on the second play from scrimmage. The quarterback weaved his way for a 77-yard touchdown run to put the Panthers up 7-0, less than

a minute into the regular-season finale for both teams.

Columbine (4-1, 3-1 in 5A Jeffco) responded with a 20-yard field goal by senior Adam Tasei on the first play of the second quarter to cut the Panthers’ lead to 7-3.

Nichols put the Panthers up 14-3 midway through the third quarter with a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Pomona did turn the ball over three times to help keep Columbine in the game. The Rebels capitalized on that third turnover to get within a score. Junior Seth Cromwell had a big 41-yard run to get Columbine down to Pomona’s 6-yard line.Then Columbine junior quarterback Brock Zanetell scored on a 1-yard plunge and also ran in a 2-point conversion with 4:01

left to cut Pomona’s lead to 14-11.

It was the only touchdown drive for Columbine as Pomona’s defense was able to slow down the Rebels’ rushing attack for the majority of the night.

The Panthers came up with just the offensive drive they needed, clinging to a 3-point lead. Pomona junior Chase Muller had six straight carries on the ground that totaled 36 yards to drive across midfield. On third down-and-12, Pospisil faked a handoff to Muller and preceded to run 23 yards around the right side to ice the game. The senior quarterback then took a knee on the final play to run out the clock.

SEE POMONA, P18

18 Arvada Press

November 19, 2020N

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

Pomona junior Chase Muller (9) helped the Panthers run out the clock with a handful of key runs late in Pomona’s 14-11 victory over Columbine on Nov. 13 at Jeffco Stadium. The Panthers grabbed the No. 4 seed for the Class 5A state tournament and will face No. 5 Eaglecrest on Friday at Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch.

PHOTOS BY LANCE WENDT/ CHSAANOW.COM

POMONA FROM PAGE 17

The Panthers and Rebels discovered their postseason fate on the morning of Sunday, Nov. 15. Pomona received the No. 4 seed and will play No. 5 Eaglecrest on Friday, Nov. 20, at Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch. The playoff game was moved to Valor’s home field to allow fans into the stadium.

Current Jefferson County Public Heath directives do not allow spectators at Jeffco Public School’s stadiums due to the rising COVID-19 cases in the county.

Columbine just failed to make the 8-team field. The Rebels finished just a hair behind Cherokee Trail (4-2) in the CHSAA Seeding Index that determined the state tournament field.

Columbine is scheduled to play a Week 7 non-playoff game against Grandview at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at Legacy Stadium in Aurora.

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

For more coverage go to CHSAANow. com/Jeffco.

Columbine junior Seth Cromwell had the Rebels’ longest run from scrimmage with a 41-yard run in the fourth quarter that set up Columbine’s lone touchdown Nov. 13 at Jeffco Stadium. The Rebels suffered their lone loss of the season with a 14-11 defeat to Pomona. Columbine finished No. 9 in the CHSAA Seeding Index that determined the 8-team field for the state tournament that begins this week.

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Arvada Press 23

0November 19, 2020

Veterans Day gift to Green Mountain High School Unique friendship between Vietnam Veterans and students leads to a special celebration PHOTOS BY BOB WOOLEY

A young masked trumpeter played and former brothers in arms silently looked on as Old Glory was raised under the blue Colorado sky. Members of Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 1071, gathered at Green Mountain High School this Veterans Day to dedicate a 30 foot flagpole they donated to the school. This gift was just the latest in a string of interactions between the school and the veterans group that started six years ago when Social Studies Teacher, Miles Schwartz reached out to see if the veterans would be interested in speaking to his students about their experiences in the war.

Vietnam veterans attend a flag pole ceremony at Green Mountain High School.

Veteran Stan Paprocki stands for a portrait at Green Mountain High School.

RESILIENCY FROM PAGE 6

also lift up the entire business community ... the entire economy.”

In recent months, Arvada has seen the impact of the Resiliency Taskforce’s efforts. Sales tax revenue — down 5 percent in April from the same time in 2019 — was up 10 percent in June from a year ago. The unemployment rate has dropped from 12.1 percent in April to 6.1 percent in September, Ryley said.

Furthermore, Olde Town has seen an uptick in foot traffic from 20,000

Veteran Cliff Fejfar attends a Veterans Day ceremony at Green Mountain High School.

visitors in April in the early stages of the shutdown to 157,000 per month in August, according to Ryley.

While Ryley noted that all the positives may or may not be a direct result of the task force’s efforts, it was something worth paying attention to.

City officials certainly have noticed.

“They’ve done a wonderful job in working to keep our local economy upright during this pandemic and we’re proud of the work they’ve done,” Arvada City Manager Mark Deven said.

“I can’t tell you how good it is for us to have partners like you in the community who not only can but will pick up this ball and run with it, and

Students play the Star Spangled Banner at Green Mountain High.

do what frankly we probably couldn’t have. We definitely could not have done,” Councilman John Marriott said.

Mayor Pro Tem Dot Miller echoed those sentiments.

“You have responded to this pandemic with such a fierce swiftness that it’s incredible to imagine the work that you’ve done and how quickly and efficiently you have done it,” Miller said.

But with Jefferson County moving to Level Orange – Safer-at-Home Level 3 – last week, there is concern that another shutdown could be on the horizon.

“If we have another lockdown we’re

all worried what the next thing will do,” Councilman Bob Fifer, a former small business owner, said. “So, we’re all going to keep our fingers crossed that that doesn’t happen.”

That’s why it’s imperative, Welch noted, that the Resiliency Taskforce continues to keep a pulse on the health of businesses in the area, understanding which ones need support and when to deploy necessary resources.

“Everybody (in the taskforce) understands how they can help improve the environment for our local businesses right now and have worked collectively … to make the magic happen,” Welch said.

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Legals City and County PUBLIC NOTICE

A public hearing will be held before the Arvada City Council on December 7, 2020, at 6:15 p.m., when and where you may speak on the matter to consider a Conditional Use Permit for Olde Town Residences, generally located at 7267 W 56th Avenue. Members of the public may join virtually via phone by emailing broome@arvada.org, the email must mention this meeting date.

CITY OF ARVADA CITY COUNCIL /s/ Kristen Rush, City Clerk Legal Notice No. 409623 First Publication: November 19, 2020 Last Publication: November 19, 2020 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript

Arvada Legals 11.19.20 * 1

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November 19, 2020

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