Renovations cause homeless Navigation Center to go o ine until November
Renovations slated for city-owned facility to expand sheltering capacity
BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Unhoused people in Lakewood will likely need to nd alternate sources of resources for the next few months, as the city’s Navigation Center — run by nonpro t RecoveryWorks — is going o ine for the next six months so that its capacity can be expanded.
RecoveryWorks has been operating the city-owned Navigation Center located at 8000 W. Colfax Avenue since it opened in November 2023, but it will now be taking at least a pause on that role as the building is set to go o ine for day shelter services on April 11 and will stop providing all services by the end of the month.
Arvada takes out tra c circles on 57th Avenue
concerns for emergency vehicles cited as reasons for removal
BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
After an almost three-year pilot program, the tra c circles on 57th Avenue have been removed by the City of Arvada.
e program was implemented to slow trafc on the corridor outside of Olde Town — and data suggests it was successful in that e ort — but it led to confusion among drivers and presented challenges for emergency vehicles passing through the circles.
e circles , which were essentially rudimentary roundabouts, were installed in the middle of four intersections on 57th Avenue between Independence Street and Yarrow Street in fall 2022 and began to be removed on April 1.
Data shows that the average speed along the corridor decreased between 5 and 9 miles per hour, depending on location along 57th, dur-
ing the pilot program compared to a monitoring period that took place before the pilot program went into e ect.
e program cost a total of $38,000, with $15,000 of that going toward the removal of the infrastructure. e cost to make permanent roundabouts would have been between $30,000 and $100,000 according to Chris Lisberg, Arvada’s assistant city engineer.
Lisberg detailed some of the issues the tra c circles created at a community meeting in October.
“When it came to driver behavior, it felt as if some drivers could easily get a little confused, or at least have hesitation entering and traveling through these,” Liaberg said. “As far as operations and maintenance goes, it did prove tricky for again, those larger vehicles — imagine trash trucks, a re engine or ambulance or just even general drivers with, say, a large pickup truck, maneuvering through there.
“ e input that we received was that people didn’t feel very safe and were uncomfortable,” Liberg continued. “Many (reported) feeling unsafe and uncomfortable with these devices in-
Stacie Oulton, Lakewood’s manager of public information, said the renovations will allow the navigation center to o er more services than it has in the past, and added that work is expected to be completed this November.
“ e renovation will increase the number of beds available at the site and bring trauma-informed design elements to the space,” Oulton said. “Additionally, the building will be able to better support its use through increases in bathrooms and replacement of life and safety infrastructure.”
RecoveryWorks will pause on its role and solely use its motel to o er services, though that location is a closed system that’s available to 33 people at a time for bridge housing, according to the nonpro t’s Executive Director James Ginsburg. e Navigation Center — which was formerly open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. ve days a week — was serving an average of 140 people a day and 1,100 people total in 2024. With another Lakewood day shelter, Mean Street Ministries closing at the beginning of this year and still looking for a replacement building, the closure of Lakewood’s Navigation Center creates a gap, Ginsburg said.
The tra c circle at 57th Avenue and Yukon Street has been removed. PHOTO BY RYLEE DUNN
The Typical Wood-Frame Home Which Has Dominated Subdivisions Since the 1990s May Soon Be History
Let’s say that the writing is on the wall. The kind of site-built wood-frame homes that have dominated new American subdivisions since about 1990 are getting too expensive to satisfy America’s needs in a time of severe housing shortage.
Several factors are at work which make that style of home construction soon to be obsolete.
Factor #1: Labor shortages, especially with immigrant labor being deported.
Factor #2: Wildfire vulnerability of wood-frame homes, as demonstrated in Boulder County and more recently in southern California.
just a few years ago, but is now becoming mainstream. Other builders have learned from Lennar’s experience and multiple companies have entered that space.
Factor #3: Climate change, which is spiking a demand for greater resiliency in home construction — not just from fire, but from high-wind events like tornadoes and hurricanes.
Factor #4: Higher costs, aggravated no doubt by 25% tariffs on the Canadian lumber used in most new homes.
Having followed trade publications for the home construction and related industries, I am convinced that other technologies and techniques for home construction are about to go mainstream, making today’s wood-frame, onsite building process soon to be obsolete, or at least out of favor except for super expensive custom homes.
I also believe we will see more attention paid to the siting of new homes. It’s easy enough to site a home so that it benefits from solar gain, even if it is not solar-powered. Simply having big windows to the south with a wide overhang allowing solar gain from the low sun in the winter and shade from the high sun in the summer is a no-brainer, but it seems there has been a shortage of architectural brains in current and past siting of new homes. Similarly, having fewer windows on the north side of the house is simply smart “passive house” design.
Having an enclosed rather than open foyer (what’s called an “air lock”) is common sense too, and costs very little to implement.
That’s just the beginning of the changes I expect to see in new subdivisions. Lennar has already built a 3D printed subdivision in Texas (see picture). 3D printing of homes using concrete was a novelty (which I wrote about)
A Fast Company article in January 2023 proclaimed that “3D-printed houses are the suburbs of the future.”
The pictures at right are from that article. Here’s an excerpt: “Iowa City-based Alquist 3D, which specializes in reasonably priced automated construction in rural areas, has already started building Project Virginia, in which it will create 200 3D-printed homes (all variations on craftsman designs, also framed in layered concrete and topped with gabled wood-framed roofs) around the state, starting in tiny Pulaski (population 8,691). It’s also starting a 25-home project in Malvern, Iowa and a 10-home development in Muscatine, Iowa. Alquist founder and CEO Zachary Mannheimer says the firm has about 500 total units — ranging in price from $250,000 to around $400,000 — in the pipeline in Virginia, Florida, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Texas.”
Nothing says “mainstream” quite like Iowa and those other states. Colorado can not be far behind. Just last month, CBS Colorado (Channel 4 News) reported on a $638,000 grant under Colorado’s Innovative Housing Incentive Program to a Salida company, Verotouch, following the completion of their two 1,100-square-foot 3D-printed homes in Buena Vista.
“We are proud to accelerate innovation in housing to better address Colorado's housing needs,” Gov. Jared Polis said. “The unveiling of the first 3D-printed homes in the state is a great example of our state’s efforts to support new construction methods and create more housing now.”
The layered concrete walls of 3D-printed homes are naturally fire resistant. They are typically one-story homes with a standard peaked roof made from wood trusses, as you can see in the picture above. The front three homes in that picture show a 3-D home at different stages of completion. A gantry straddling the foundation transports the tube which lays down layer upon layer of concrete slurry following a computer program.
Previous Columns on Innovation & Technology
The dates are clickable links on our blog, http://RealEstateToday.substack.com April 3, 2025 —International Builders’ Show 2025 Showcased Some New & Inspiring Products Feb. 27, 2025 — As Society Deals with Affordability, Expect Greater Focus on Manufactured Homes Sept. 26, 2024 — Is a Heat Pump Right for You? Here’s Some Information to Help You Decide. Aug. 15, 2024 -- What to Ask If Buying Solar-Powered Home; Level-Up Sustainability & Recycling July 18, 2024 — Renovation Trends Reflect a Desire for Comfort, Warmth and Healthy Living May 23, 2024 — Model Home Tour Was Uninspiring. Where’s the Innovation & Sustainability? Also: Here’s the Innovation and Sustainability — Thrive Home Builders’ Loretto Heights Project May 16, 2024 — EPA’s ‘Energy Star NextGen’ Designation Is for Fully Electrified Homes May 2, 2024 — Break Away from Common Exterior Products With These Winning Products Mar. 21, 2024 — What’s Behind the Buzz About ‘Indoor Air Quality’ and ‘Sick Building Syndrome’? Feb. 22, 2024 —Startup Develops Concrete That Absorbs CO2; Another Turns Straw into OSB Boards Feb. 15, 2024 — Here’s an Innovative Approach to the Off-Site Modular Home Construction Industry Dec. 21, 2023 — D.R. Horton Inks Deal to Build with OSB Made From Grass Instead of Wood Nov. 9, 2023 — Here Are Some Ideas for the ‘Adaptive Reuse’ of Vacant Office Buildings
Also: 3D-Printing Home Construction Firm Is Relocating to Greeley, Colorado
Oct. 12, 2023 — Here’s a Company Selling ‘Self-Powered’ Manufactured Homes Starting at $310,000 Sept. 14, 2023 — I Found Only One Marshall Fire Home Being Rebuilt with Fire Resistance in Mind
Sept. 7, 2023 — Geothermal Energy, Big Sister of Geothermal Heating & Cooling, Is Coming Along June 1, 2023 — Innovative Startup Makes ‘Carbon Negative’ Building Materials Made From Grass
May 18, 2023 — Liv-Connected: A New Player in the Manufactured and Modular Housing Industry
Apr. 6, 2023 — YouTube Features 40+ ‘Top Green Products’ from the International Builders Show
Mar. 23, 2023 — Geothermal Heating & Cooling Can Be Practical & Affordable on Community Level
Feb. 23, 2023 — Boxabl, the Las Vegas Manufacturer of ADUs, Is Ramping up Production
Feb. 9, 2023 — Understanding Indoor Air Quality and How It’s Managed in Super-Insulated Homes
Jan. 26, 2023 — This Year’s CES Show Featured Some Exciting New Technologies and Products
Dec. 15, 2022 —Lennar’s New Subdivision Near Austin, Texas, Features 3D-Printed Homes
Dec. 8, 2022 — A Subdivision in Pueblo Sets the Standard for All-Electric Home Construction
Nov. 10, 2022 —KB Home Is Building All-Electric Homes — But Not in Colorado
Oct. 13, 2022 — Homes That Survived Marshall Fire Were More Airtight & Had Conditioned Attics
In past columns, I have written about a local company, Colorado Earth, which has pioneered construction of homes using compressed-earth bricks called EcoBlox. That’s more labor intensive, since the walls have to be laid by workers, but homes share the same benefits of being fire and weather resilient.
New technology abounds in the other components that go into home construction. For example, in June 2023 I wrote about a company, Plantd, in North Carolina, which has developed an alternative to OSB, the wall sheeting and roof decking used in virtually all home construction, made from a fast-growing perennial grass, grown locally on former tobacco plantations, saving 17 trees per house
and sequestering 8 tons of carbon dioxide per house. See www.PlantdMaterials.com
A Fast Company article in October 2024 reported that homebuilder D.R. Horton had ordered 10 million of Plantd’s panels, enough to build 90,000 homes.
The innovation taking place in every other component of home construction — doors, windows, manufactured housing, appliances, and more — is stunning to behold, confirming for me that a major revolution in the home construction industry is already unfolding. Be sure that I’ll continue to write about it here!
I have posted links for everything mentioned in this article on our company blog at http://RealEstateToday.substack.com
Does Your Older Home Have a Federal Pacific Electrical Panel?
An estimated 28 million American homes built in the 1950s through the 1980s, including many in Colorado, have an electrical panel manufactured by Federal Pacific Electric, which lost its UL certification decades ago because of multiple failures of its Stab-Lok breakers to trip when overloaded, thereby causing a fire hazard.
Our friends at Alpine Building Performance, LLC, shared these additional issues with the FPE panels:
The breakers often don’t connect properly to the panel’s bus bars, causing arcing, overheating, and potential fire hazards.
Some Stab-Lok breakers get stuck in the “on” position, even when manually switched off, making it impossible to cut power.
Reports suggest that FPE manipulated UL testing results, leading to unsafe products being approved for use.
Studies indicate that homes with FPE panels have a significantly higher likelihood of electrical fires compared to other panels. For these reasons, any home inspector hired by a buyer can be expected to recommend that replacement be demanded of the seller.
Charities Which Used Our Free Box Truck Miss It.
So, We’ve Launched a GoFundMe Campaign to Bring It Back.
Back in February, I announced that our truck needed a new engine and other repairs and that we decided to retire it instead. This was a big loss to such non-profits as the Wounded Warrior Project, Family Promise, BGoldN, Christian Action Guild, Buffalo Bill Days, and the International Rescue Committee, among others, which used the truck more often than our clients!
The truck is off the road but still available to be repaired — or replaced, if we raise enough money. If you’d like to contribute, visit www.BringItBack.info. Thanks!
Above: A 3D-printed home in Desert Hot Springs CA. Below: A Lennar 3D subdivision in Texas
Post Oak Barbecue coming to Olde Town Arvada
BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Arvada barbecue enthusiasts will soon have a local outpost of a Denver favorite to frequent, as Post Oak Barbecue is opening an Olde Town location at the corner of Yukon Street and Grandview Avenue. e property at 7611 Grandview Ave. has been occupied in a temporary capacity by Burd’s Nest Art Gallery since last year. Burd’s Nest has been leasing the space from the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority, which purchased the building to keep it activated until a permanent tennant could be found. Now, it seems like that tennant has emerged.
Post Oak began when owner Nick Prince took a trip down to Texas and was hooked by the state’s barbecue style. Upon return, he bought a smoker and eventually opened the Tennyson Street location of Post Oak in 2019.
Since then, Post Oak has won numerous accolades including winning top honors at the barbecue competition at Arvada on Tap in 2018 and being named “Best Barbecue Restaurant” by Westword in 2024.
Prince said that Post Oak is still in the planning stages and will need to submit a proposal to the Olde Town Design Review Advisory Committee before anything can move forward.
Nevertheless, he said, his goal is to have the restaurant open by Labor Day. Prince talked through the plans for the restaurant, which will have a fairly unorthodox setup, assuming that it gets approved by the Design Review Advisory Committee.
“Aside from where customers enter and order and exit and two restrooms, the en-
tire building will be completely back of house,” Prince said. “ ere’s no seats inside or anything. What we’re going to do is put a rather large metal canopy outside to cover our dining area. I think our plans are drawn up for anywhere from 80 to 90 seats under this canopy.
“And it’s going to be important for me to make an extremely nice, welcoming environment, even in like February, when the wind is blowing out there,” Prince continued. “I still, I know it’s very doable to do with nice, roll down sides and a properly heated dining space. It will really feel like you’re just inside. And we’re going to have a bar installed outside.”
Prince added that the patio will have re pits, cornhole and the ability to host live music. He said that Olde Town felt like the perfect place to expand Post Oak’s footprint too because it has a similar feel to Tennyson Street.
“I love hanging out in Olde Town for the same reasons. I love hanging out on Tennyson Street,” Prince said. “It’s more of a town square type deal, than just an entire retail street like Tennyson. But it has, it has similar notes to, park and get out and walk and go to multiple places while you’re down there. It’s very family friendly which is what we’re all about.
“I think we t in really well with the other types of restaurants and businesses that are down there because there’s nothing like us out there,” Prince continued.
Prince also said that there will be certain things speci c to the Arvada location, like smoked turkey legs that allow mobile eating, that tie into Olde Town’s many community events.
Prince said he could not yet detail all
of the di erences between the Tennyson and the Arvada locations, but noted that the di erent con guration of the kitchen in Arvada will “allow us to do di erent things than the way our Tennyson kitchen
Post Oak isn’t the only barbecue spot coming to the Olde Town area, as national chain Mission BBQ recently announced they were moving into the old Ruby Tuesday’s located at 5525 Wad-
Post Oak serves up authentic Texas-inspired barbecue and sides.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF POST OAK BARBECUE
BEST OF THE BEST VOTE NOW THROUGH
We’d start with a developer, go down the path, something would come up and it would be scrapped. en we’d get another one. is developer is our sixth site plan. Sixth. at’s crazy, I know. Even then, we signed the deal with the developer in 2015 and we just broke ground on the nal phase. It has been excruciating here.
AP: What was behind the decision to retire?
MP: I was gonna see that Ralston Creek was built out. So we just broke ground on the apartments over there and the beer garden so for urban renewal, the heavy lifting is to get to the groundbreaking. at’s what takes so much work. We did the groundbreaking, and our heavy work is done now. It just needs to be built.
After we go do all this, we’ll talk to the city council and say, “We’re looking at this, we heard from the community this area needs attention. What do you think?” Now we’re taking it to the next step. We’re going and we’re going to create new projects. It’s a perfect time for me to let the next person nd those areas. ey can nd them, then they can manage them, and they can do them. It’s their turn.
AP: Why do you feel that (newly appointed AURA Director) Carrie Briscoe will be a good successor?
MP: She is so smart. She’s the smartest thing that ever entered into this ofce. She’s brilliant. She has a master’s in planning and urban design. She’s worked with architects, engineers and general contractors. Carrie has been here for 10 years. She knows everyone. She has the institutional knowledge to take what we’ve done and to move it to the next step. Carrie has the respect of everybody. She’s just an all star.
AP: What are your plans for retirement?
I felt like I didn’t have to stay here for the ribbon cutting. Now that area is getting kind of nalized. We’re getting done over here. So it’s time to start looking at new urban renewal areas. AURA is going to go out, and we’re going to do a listening tour. We’re going to start talking to everybody about where we should be next.
We’re going to say, “Okay, re department, are there areas around this community that you see need attention?” e police department, code enforcement, sales tax planning commission, city council, you know, the chamber, everybody will have this conversation. I’m sure there’s going to be certain areas that are going to percolate up, and we’ll see them time and time again.
MP: is summer, I’ve got all kinds of trips planned. I’m a huge gardener, and I purposely picked the beginning of April to retire because that’s when all the heavy lifting is for gardening. You gotta go out and clean up, deadhead and bring in all the compost. I’m gonna be doing a bunch of gardening.
All my girlfriends are either retired or retiring this year. My husband’s not going to retire, he has his own thing, so he can set his own schedule. I just have all kinds of fun things planned. I want to take up art. It’ll be nice to start again with the whole creative side of my brain, which has been atrophied since kindergarten. It’s obvious I’m very, very excited.
A twist in the long-running Vizguerra deportation case leads to another delay
BY BEN MARKUS COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO
In a tactical shift, attorneys for Jeanette Vizguerra are now arguing that she is being unfairly targeted for deportation by government agents frustrated by their inability to remove her from the U.S. during a 15-year process. e new approach by attorney Laura Lichter, led ursday, caused the cancellation of a recent court hearing designed to determine whether Vizguerra could continue to be held by the government for deportation.
Instead, U.S. District Judge Nina Y. Wang convened a status conference and gave the government three weeks to respond to Lichter’s forthcoming new argument that pursuit of Vizguerra is rooted in their frustration with her criticism over the years of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.
“As the court is aware, this case has been moving very quickly and there have been material changes, some additional facts, that we determined after we led our initial petition,” said Lichter. “One of those centers around our concern that Ms. Vizguerra’s detention was retaliatory for her exercise of her rst amendment speech rights.”
“She was ambushed in the Target parking lot by o cers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement who said ‘we nally got you.’”
Such an argument may not ultimately protect Vizguerra from deportation, but it adds a new wrinkle to a case that has played
out for more than a decade through immigration courts and the news media.
And, at least for now, it means she will remain held in the ICE detention facility in Aurora.
e government asked for 21 days to respond to the yet-to-beled amended petition, noting that the court has already put a stay on any deportation until federal court proceedings run their course, which the judge said could push a hearing on the matter to late next month, depending on when the amended petition is led with the court.
Vizguerra has multiple federal court cases in process — including the one heard Friday. While her attorneys challenge her detention in federal district court, they’re also disputing the validity of the deportation order against her in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. ey argue the government never properly served her with a deportation order and failed to fully inform her of her right to appeal.
Federal agents detained Vizguerra on March 17 — less than two months after President Donald Trump returned to ofce — while she was working at a Target store in the Denver area. Her attorneys led a habeas petition the next day, contesting her detention.
Vizguerra rose to national prominence in 2017, when she evaded immigration authorities by living in a church basement early in the rst Trump administration. Her public de ance drew widespread attention, making her a symbol for both immigra-
TRAFFIC CIRCLES
Arvada’s Communications Manager for Infrastructure, Katie Patterson, detailed the stop signs that will be added back to the intersections, some of which will also have pedestrian crossings now as part of the switch away from tra c circles.
“All of the intersections will be returned to a two-way stop con guration with stop signs for the north and southbound tra c,” Patterson said. “ e Yukon and Balsam intersections will be converted to four-way stops on 57th as the tra c data warranted these changes.
“Generally, four-way stops are only e ective in locations with higher volumes of cross-tra c,” Patterson continued. “Overuse of four-way stops and stop signs can result in less driver compliance and an increased risk of crashes and thus are not considered nor should be used for tra c calming.” Patterson added that the area will still be studied for speed and tra c patterns, and that lessons from the pilot program will be implemented in tra c calming e orts elsewhere in the city going forward.
tion activists and hardliners. She came to Colorado from Mexico in 1997 and worked her way up from cleaning o ces to organizing for the janitor’s union. In 2009, a routine tra c stop launched what has become a 15-year battle to stay in the U.S. Federal authorities initiated deportation proceedings, and while she appealed, Vizguerra traveled brie y to Mexico in 2012 to visit her dying mother. She later pleaded guilty to illegal reentry.
After serving one year of unsupervised probation, Vizguerra successfully applied for stays of deportation ve times. But when Trump rst took o ce in 2017, ICE denied her sixth request. She sought sanctuary in the First Unitarian Church in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.
Time Magazine named her one of the 100 most in uential people of the year in 2017. Her cause was championed by Colorado lawmakers, including then-Congressman Jared Polis, who said she was being unfairly targeted. Soon after, she received a twoyear stay of deportation and left the church.
It was a short-lived reprieve. In 2019, when her stay was not renewed, she again sought sanctuary in the church. By 2020, amid the pandemic, protests over the killing of George Floyd, and a turbulent election year, Vizguerra quietly left the church once more.
Like many immigrants with uncertain status, Vizguerra kept a low pro le — working at Target and raising her U.S.-citizen
RENOVATIONS
FROM PAGE 1
“We give (clients) all the resources that are typically in Metro Denver, and most folks are familiar with what’s available, but this certainly will leave a temporary gap in central Je erson County, especially in Lakewood,” Ginsburg said. “I’m assuming that e Rising (Church in Olde Town Arvada that operates Mission Arvada) will be impacted.”
Oulton said Lakewood will ramp up its own e orts to provide resources for people dealing with homelessness.
“Lakewood will remain connected with participants through outreach models, including its Homeless Navigator Program, and the city has added an additional housing navigator,” Oulton said. “Lakewood also applied for and was awarded funds from the state of Colorado to expand Lakewood’s street outreach presence by another full-time sta .”
Ginsburg said the renovations have been planned at the site from its inception, and added that the building has been used in a segmented fashion up till this point; half of it has been used for navigation services, and half was temporarily used as a cold weather shelter.
children — until Trump was reelected last year. His administration again moved to deport her shortly after his inauguration.
Vizguerra’s national pro le has helped her secure extraordinary legal resources. Many of the hundreds of cases that go through immigration court in Colorado every year are rarely a orded more than limited pro bono help. Often people going through immigration court don’t have an attorney, and are confused by the proceedings. Many are deported to their home countries with no fanfare, no press.
Vizguerra’s attorneys told the judge that they were “frustrated” by the immigration authorities trying to proceed with so-called “reasonable fear” interviews with Vizguerra. It’s a normal part of the process, triggered by previous deportation orders.
“I sent an email yesterday to the Houston asylum o ce reiterating my concerns about representation and they’re not communicating directly with my client unless I was present, and asking them to hold the review in abeyance pending the result of this litigation,” said Lichter. e judge didn’t rule on that issue, but noted that Vizguerra has the right to have council present at the interview. e judge also ordered the case to be unrestricted, so that the lings are publicly posted online going forward. is story is from CPR News, a nonpro t public broadcaster serving Colorado. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org.
center will be utilized.
Ginsburg said that discussions about using the center as an overnight shelter have taken place, but it’s unknown if that will be 24/7 or a di erent setup at this time. He added that RecoveryWorks will assess where it’s at nancially before deciding to submit an application in the RFP process.
“We’ll just have to decide if we want to be the ones running that, or if we want to more closely partner with another organization,” Ginsburg said. “We’ll kind of see how it looks, how it’s funded, what the model is going to be, and then we’ll decide at that time.”
MEET LUCY!
Lucy (305054) is a 3½-year-old female American Pit Bull Terrier who brightens up any room she enters. She loves playing fetch, going on long walks, and providing endless entertainment with her funny, joyful nature. Lucy is available to homes without kids or with kids aged 10 or older. She can be selective about doggie pals, so an introduction at the Shelter is needed for multidog homes.
Lakewood will now go through a request for proposal process to see who will become the operator of the Navigation Center going forward. at process will likely also determine how the
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ROOME
tle, you will take a moment to look at the beauty and the perfection of the life you have built. And that the longer you gaze, the more you are amazed and the more you gain strength and determination. e road you are travelling is di cult, do not forget to take in the sights. You are amazing and you have got this. Keep your eye on the beauty of what surrounds you,
Jim
READER
While the show certainly tackles weighty issues, that doesn’t mean it is without humor. Sorge described it as a “dark play about death, but still a comedy,” and said Sherrill and the cast have found the humor he embedded in the script and brought it to the stage. at blend of darkness and light mirrors the way life so often can be.
“I hope there are enough points of view on stage that everyone in the audience can relate,” Sorge said. “I believe folks will see themselves re ected in the characters.”
e humanity present in “National Bohemians” is a major draw for Sherrill, who added that he hopes audiences come away appreciating the time they have with those they love.
“ e message to me is how important family is and how life is eeting,” he said. “We all have petty things that we challenge ourselves with that we shouldn’t, but life just gets in the way sometimes.”
Information and tickets are available at https://minersalley.com/shows/national-bohemians/.
JCC Denver Hosts Queer Seder
e Jewish holiday of Passover is just about to start – this year it goes from April 12 through 20 — and to mark the occasion, the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center(JCC Denver) in Denver is hosting its annual Queer Seder from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on ursday, April 17.
According to provided information, the Passover Seder is a “time to celebrate, contemplate and rejoice around freedom,” and the Queer Seder will honor the hard-won freedoms the LGBTQIA+ community has earned and the work there is still to do. It will be led by local rabbis and leaders in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Tickets are available on a sliding scale
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I hope you will be inspired to keep the art of encouragement alive and will take a moment to share with me your stories of encouraging others.
Jim Roome lives in Arvada with his wife Beth. He spent 34 years in public education. Lessons learned from the one two punch of being diagnosed with MS shortly before his best friend was diagnosed with terminal cancer led him into a new pursuit as a freelance writer and speaker. He uses his life experiences and love of stories to inspire, educate and encourage local, national and international audiences. Contact him at jim.roome@gmail.com.
for families and people of all ages and are available at https://www.jccdenver.org/ portfolio-items/queer_seder/.
Maria Bamford to Perform at PACE Center
Maria Bamford is one of the most unique and hysterical stand-up performers in the comedy world. Not only is her sense of humor and timing impeccable, but she mines her own struggles with mental illness and other challenges she’s faced in her life for her shows. ere’s a reason her specials and lm and television appearances are so highly revered. Bamford will be coming to the Parker Arts, Culture & Events (PACE) Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., at 7:30 p.m. on ursday, April 24. is is a big get and I’m sure tickets are going fast, so secure yours https://parkerarts.org/event/maria-bamford/.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Paul Simon at the Paramount Theatre
We’re getting close to prime concert season in Colorado, which means fans are about to be spoiled for choice when it comes to live music. ere are some great options this week, but it would take something seriously top-tier to beat Paul Simon at the Paramount eatre, 1621 Glenarm Place in Denver. For a while there, it didn’t seem like we’d get Simon touring anymore, so this is an opportunity that should absolutely not be missed. Simon is touring in support of 2023’s lovely and introspective album, “Seven Psalms,” and he’ll be performing for three nights: 8 p.m. on Monday, April 14, Wednesday, April 16 and ursday, April 17. e man is responsible for at least one perfect album and numerous classic songs, and the Paramount is the perfect venue for his music. In other words, don’t miss this. Information and tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com
Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.
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BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
In March 2020, Christian churches across the Denver area shut their doors during the initial COVID-19 shutdowns. Many hoped the doors would be reopened for Easter in April.
But they weren’t.
Instead, local Christians watched their churches’ Easter celebrations online while their pastors preached and their musicians played for empty churches.
e Very Rev. Richard Lawson of St. John’s Cathedral — the Episcopal cathedral in central Denver — recalled that Easter, saying, “ ere were less than ve people in the entire cathedral, and two of them were priests.”
Meanwhile, some smaller congregations like the United Church of Idaho Springs held its Easter service via video conference, where everyone logged in to worship together.
Five years later, local church leaders expected this Easter would look more normal. But even then, they couched it as “the new normal,” outlining how much their churches have changed in terms of technology, membership, ministry and more in the last ve years.
In March 2025, Colorado Community Media spoke with Christians leading six churches across ve denominations and four counties in the Denver area. While experiences varied, they all said their congregations have changed permanently
since March 2020.
“It has been a really hard journey,” said Rev. Susan Otey of the First United Methodist Church of Golden. “Pastoring during COVID was some of the hardest work I have ever done … I could see that God was working to make something good out of a terrible situation.”
Disciples in the digital age
Across the board, leaders from the six churches said technology was far and away the biggest change.
Before, none of them o ered online options for Sunday services; now, all of them either livestream or allow people to join via video conference.
In general, they said it’s a great help, as church members can now join when they are homebound, sick or traveling. e United Church of Idaho Springs has a member who moved to Minnesota but still joins remotely, and some churches said they also livestream funerals so loved ones can watch from anywhere.
Figuring out how to livestream services in spring 2020 was rough going, as churches had to get creative with the limited resources they had.
For instance, the First United Methodist Church of Fort Lupton started by taping an iPad to a tripod. Now, the church has a dedicated camera in the sanctuary, and Church Council Chair Neena Hagans monitors the livestream from the choir loft.
Otey said the pandemic pushed her congregation
to invest in the technology necessary to livestream services, which might not have happened until 2030 otherwise.
“COVID taught us that virtual services are essential in this day and age,” she continued. “( e pandemic) pushed us several years into the future.”
Along with Sunday services, technology is now a key aspect in other parts of church life, from online giving to hybrid Bible studies, church leaders said.
Daren Forbes, who’s on the Arvada Stake communications council for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said there is “an abundance of podcasts” that he and his fellow church members use to help them study scripture, church history and similar topics.
In fact, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has its own app with all its holy texts, the given year’s curriculum, videos and other resources “to augment study in the home,” he described.
Forbes and other Christians throughout Denver clari ed how these technologies don’t replace inperson services or fellowship opportunities. ey are simply another option.
Lawson believes that, especially after the pandemic, “people are hungry for community,” whether that’s in-person or online.
“Livestreaming has expanded our reach beyond what we ever could’ve imagined,” Lawson said. “It’s too bad it took COVID to teach us that.”
With the morning light illuminating the First United Methodist Church of Fort Lupton’s stained-glass windows, the Rev. Anna Viehland demonstrates preaching from the altar on March 25. PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN
CHURCHES
Parishioners in the pews
In general, the number of Coloradans identifying as Christian has declined, mirroring a national trend, according to Colorado Public Radio; and the Associated Press has reported how Protestant denominations’ national membership has been declining for years.
Regarding their own ocks, leaders from the six churches had mixed experiences.
Otey and Lawson said their congregations in Golden and Denver, respectively, have actually grown over the last ve years, especially if one includes online attendance. eir biggest demographic changes have been with young families and young adults, respectively.
Otey believed it was because people are seeking out a community that shares their values and beliefs, with the idea of raising their children in it, too. She summarized those parents’ experiences as: “I want to teach my kids about loving and serving our neighbors.”
Meanwhile, Forbes said the Arvada Stake’s overall membership hasn’t changed signi cantly, but there have been a few demographic shifts over the last ve years.
As western Arvada has grown, so has church membership in that area. Members from western Arvada tend to be young families, while eastern Arvada is more older people who’ve lived in the area for decades, Forbes described.
Additionally, he said the Arvada Stake has seen signi cant growth among its Spanish-speaking population.
Contrastingly, membership at the United Church of Idaho Springs and the First United Methodist Church of Fort Lupton have declined slightly.
Vivian Simpson, chair of the church council, said the United Church of Idaho Springs was averaging about 30 people at Sunday services before the pandemic. Now, it’s about 20 people in-person with another ve online.
Fort Lupton church leaders said their congregation averaged 80 to 100 people on Sundays before the pandemic. Now, it’s down to about 60 in the pews, with some joining online.
For the First Baptist Church of Denver, while its attendance and overall membership haven’t changed much, its space utilization has.
Kurt Kaufman, a member of the pastoral team, said the church used to have a high demand for facility rentals and parking-space leases before the pandemic. Now, demand for both has gone down signi cantly, impacting the church’s budget.
“We haven’t had a parking waitlist since 2019,” Kaufman said. “We’ve had to rethink what we do to make money and how to survive as a congregation.”
Pastors in the pulpit
Both the First Baptist Church of Denver and the United Church of Idaho Springs said their previous pastors left within the last ve years, and they’ve struggled to nd replacements.
Kaufman said he and fellow members of the First Baptist Church’s pastoral team are rotating responsibilities, including preaching on Sundays.
Similarly, Simpson said the Idaho Springs church has been looking for a part-time pastor since its former pastor retired in 2021.
Because it’s a combined Methodist and Presbyterian congregation, Simpson said the church has looked through Methodist, Presbyterian and unafliated channels. It’s had some interest, but nothing that worked out long-term, she described.
“Nationwide, there’s a shortage of ordained ministers for Methodist and Presbyterian (churches),” she said.
Simpson added that the Idaho Springs church can only a ord a part-time pastor, which makes the search more di cult.
In a similar vein, the First United Methodist Church of Fort Lupton has had a dedicated pastor in the Rev. Anna Viehland since 2022, but she splits her time between Fort Lupton and another Methodist church in Erie.
On March 29, St. John’s Cathedral ordained four
people as deacons. ey’re now scheduled to be ordained as priests in October.
Lawson said four ordained ministers in a year is about average for the Episcopal Church’s Diocese of Colorado.
However, with the in ux of young adults at the cathedral, Lawson said he’s seen increasing interest in ordination among his congregation. In 2025, St. John’s Cathedral will have ve members attend seminary, including one of the newly ordained, he said.
Charity in the community
In terms of ministry — both for their members and for the wider community — there were some common threads among the six churches.
Along with a greater push for online or hybrid events, church leaders said they’ve seen more demand for small-group events, such as Bible studies, parent groups and in-home ministering.
On top of their continued interfaith partnerships, the two Denver churches said they’ve seen more demand for social justice-focused events and groups.
In addition to its Faith in Action ministry, Lawson said St. John’s Cathedral now has the Re-Imagining Justice group that focuses on racial healing, and the Migrant Interest Group that does pro-immigration work.
Kaufman said the First Baptist Church is now “more attuned to hunger and social justice issues around our community” than it was pre-pandemic.
Part of that is because of its new outdoor community fridge, which has already distributed about 30,000 pounds of food since February 2023.
Additionally, because its parking lot isn’t as full as it once was, Kaufman said the church has been able to host a shower trailer and a safe parking program.
e other four churches said they’ve likewise seen increased demand among their safe parking programs, free weekly meals and similar ministries; and they’ve worked to meet that demand alongside other churches and nonpro ts.
“Some things that started during COVID really de ned who we are as a church,” Otey said. “We increased our services tremendously.”
During the COVID-19 shutdowns, Otey described how her church worked with the larger Golden community to distribute free food to the homebound and unsheltered — even distributing food outside when indoor gatherings were restricted.
And that work has continued to the present day, she said, as the church has expanded from free meals once a week to three times a week.
Forbes encouraged people to visit justserve.org to nd service opportunities near them. ese events are open to anyone, not just Christians, he emphasized, saying it could be anything from painting a
house to working at a local food bank.
“It’s become even more apparent how important those service opportunities are because of COVID and what we’re experiencing in society,” Forbes said. “We have more in common with our neighbors than we think … (and) when we have an opportunity to serve one another, those di erences dissipate.”
‘Best of all, God is with us’
Another common thread among the six churches was how di cult the last ve years have been, in one form or another.
Church leaders discussed loneliness among their members, concern about the declining number of Christians locally and nationally, and burnout among their volunteers and ordained ministers.
Viehland, Fort Lupton’s pastor, described how she’s seen not only laypeople but also clergy struggle with the pandemic’s immediate and long-term fallout.
She believed some clergy members — not necessarily local ones — were already burnt-out, and the pandemic was a deciding factor in them leaving ordained ministry. And Viehland said she didn’t blame them.
“Five years out, we’re just starting to reckon with the spiritual and emotional trauma that came from (the pandemic),” Viehland said.
Kaufman said the First Baptist Church was full of hope and joy when he joined in 2019. Now, he said it’s been “a struggle to nd joy with anything” and that the congregation has shifted to one that’s “less hopeful and more fearful.”
Still, leaders from all six churches o ered messages of hope and faith, especially with Easter approaching.
“It’s been very challenging to nd hope in earthly, worldly things,” Kaufman said. “‘Where is it that I nd hope?’ e only place is in my faith.”
Similarly, Fort Lupton church leaders summarized the experience of faith by quoting Methodist Church founder John Wesley: “Best of all, God is with us.”
Kaufman, Forbes and Simpson invited fellow Christians to celebrate Easter by deepening their relationships with God and with one another. ey also encouraged those “who are searching for something” to visit a local church and ground themselves in a loving God and a welcoming community.
Otey also emphasized how God’s love is unconditional and how the Holy Spirit is at work in everyone’s lives, community and shared world, even if they don’t know it.
Re ecting on the changes of the last ve years, and all the changes that are to come, Lawson said: “God is as real as God has ever been.”
Morning light shines through a stained-glass window of a cross and crown March 25 at the First United Methodist Church of Fort Lupton. Church leaders and others across the Denver area said their churches have changed permanently since March 2020, particularly with regard to technology. PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN
BY CAITLYN KIM CPR NEWS
Proxy voting in the U.S. House clears a major hurdle
House Republican leaders tried, and failed, to kill an e ort to allow proxy voting for new parents in the chamber.
It was a big win for Colorado Democratic Rep. Brittany Pettersen and Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna. e two women have been trying to get this change done in the House since the last Congress.
And it was a loss for Speaker Mike Johnson, who, along with much of House leadership, opposes proxy voting, calling it unconstitutional, even as he used it himself when it was allowed during the pandemic.
But it’s a setback that he hopes is temporary. House leaders left the Capitol saying they will again try to stop proxy voting through a rule next week.
Luna and Pettersen had pushed for a House vote on the change through a legislative maneuver known as a discharge petition. With 218 signatures, rank-andle lawmakers can bypass House leadership and force a vote on a particular piece of legislation. Over two days, a dozen Republicans bucked their leaders and signed onto the petition, along with over 200 Democrats, early last month.
In an attempted end run, early Tuesday leaders inserted language to kill the proxy voting resolution, and anything similar in the future, into the rules package that lays out debate on legislation for the week.
Luna described the language as a “discharge petition killer” that would paint anyone voting against the rule as being opposed to the bills being debated, which this week includes a Republican
priority bill to require proof of U.S. citizenship to vote. She added that leadership was “trying to change the rules” because her side was successful at getting the required number of signatures.
Still, instead of passing along party lines as usual, Luna and eight other Republicans voted against the rule, ending Johnson’s attempt to kill proxy voting this Congress, 206-222. All of Colorado’s Republicans voted for the rule, while the state’s Democrats voted against it.
After the vote, the Florida congress-
woman joked “Never bet against the Luna.”
She called it a historical day for the chamber. “it’s showing that the body has decided that parents deserve a voice in Washington and also the importance of female members having a vote in Washington, D.C.”
Luna and Pettersen worked as a team and praised each other’s e orts.
“Speaker Johnson pulled out all the stops and people continued to stand with us,” Pettersen said. “We’re chang-
ing the way that Congress works, making sure that moms and parents have a voice and I am just so proud to be part of this.” e issue has caused divisions among House Republicans. Earlier this week, Luna resigned from the House Freedom Caucus as some in the group worked to block her e ort.
“I cannot remain part of a caucus where a select few operate outside its guidelines, misuse its name, broker backroom deals that undermine its core values and where the lines of compromise and transaction are blurred, disparage me to the press, and encourage misrepresentation of me to the American people,” she said in her letter stepping away from the group.
In 2023, Luna was the 12th lawmaker to give birth while serving. At the time she appealed to GOP leaders to adjust rules for new parents to no avail.
Earlier this year, Pettersen became the 13th and GOP Rep. Kat Cammack will soon be the 14th. She announced she’s expecting her rst child in August.
“I’m really excited to think that [Cammack] will not go through what we went through, on trying to make sure that we’re representing our constituents and taking care of our baby. So it’s all worth it – changing Congress for the better,” Pettersen said. at change may have to wait a little bit longer. While Luna moved to have the resolution brought up to the oor within the next two legislative days, House leaders canceled votes for the rest of the week. is story is from CPR News, a nonprofit public broadcaster serving Colorado. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr. org.
Vote
Reps. Brittany Pettersen and Anna Paulina Luna talk with press outside of the U.S. Capitol after defeating an e ort to kill their proxy voting resolution on April 1, 2025. PHOTO BY CAITLYN KIM
Thu 4/10
Colorado Rockies vs. Milwaukee Brewers @ 1:10pm Coors Field, Denver
Hank, Pattie & The Current: New Terrain Brewing @ 6pm
New Terrain Brewing Company, 16401 Table Mountain Pkwy, Golden
The Copper Children @ 6pm Goosetown Station, 514 9th St, Golden
Juniper Blue @ 6pm
Brewery Rickoli, 4335 Wadsworth Blvd, Wheat Ridge
Eric Gales @ 12:20pm Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison
AJ Finney Fan Page: Second Chance Comedy at Free Recovery @ 6:30pm FREE Recovery Community, 2122 S Lafayette St, Denver
Colorado Avalanche vs. Vancouver Canucks @ 7pm Ball Arena, Denver
A Gentlemans Guide to Love and Murder @ 7:30pm Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada
Fri 4/11
Chief Hosa Lodge Open House Tour (for future customers)
@ 3pm Chief Hosa Lodge, 27661 Genesee Lane, Golden. 720-913-0654
Perpetual Groove (16+ Event)
@ 7pm Meow Wolf Denver, 1338 1st Street, Denver
Teague Starbuck @ 7pm The Arvada Tavern, 5707 Olde Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada
Opera on Tap Colorado: Opera on Tap at New Image: Singers Choice! @ 7pm
Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies @ 7pm Ball Arena, Denver
Sat 4/12
Denver Onyx vs Chicago Tempest @ 1pm In�nity Park, Denver
TriceraHOPS @ 3pm The Dahlia, 119 S Broadway, Denver
Mike Lamitola @ 6pm
Spirit Hound Distillers Highlands Tasting Room, 3622 Tejon St, Denver
New Image Brewing Company - Wheat Ridge, 9505 W 44th Ave, Wheat Ridge
Raye Zaragoza: Colorado Symphony with Nathaniel Rateliff @ 7:30pm Boettcher Concert Hall, 1000 14th St, Denver
A Gentlemans Guide to Love and Murder @ 7:30pm Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada
Erin Stereo: Stress Relief @ 8pm The Beacon, 2854 Larimer St, Denver
Lil Dee Raps "aka" Danny James: Lil Dee Live in Denver Colorado @ 9pm Bar Red, 437 W Colfax Ave, Denver
Sun 4/13
Spring Fling Prairie Dog Half, 10k, & 5k @ 7:45am / Free-$65 13150 W 72nd Ave, APEX CENTER, Arvada
Girl Scout Tea @ 11:40am / $20
Molly Brown House Museum, 1340 Pennsylva‐nia, Denver. asalutz@historicdenver.org
Colorado Mammoth vs. Saskatchewan Rush @ 2pm Ball Arena, Denver
Mon 4/14 Tue 4/15
Paul Simon @ 7pm Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place, Den‐ver
Eric Golden: American Soul Live w/ Jon Chandler and Ernie Martinez @ 7pm Foothills Golf Course, 3901 S Carr St, Denver
Case of measles reported in state March 31
Symptoms appeared in unvaccinated Pueblo adult who traveled internationally
BY JOHN DALEY CPR NEWS
Health o cials con rmed a case of measles March 31 in a Colorado resident from Pueblo who had recently traveled to an area of Mexico where there’s an ongoing measles outbreak.
e case was in an unvaccinated adult, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment said in a joint press release. ey urged Coloradans to check their vaccination status, monitor for symptoms, and be aware if they were at a pair of possible exposure locations, both in Pueblo, starting March 17.
“Measles is one of the most contagious diseases we know, but it is also highly preventable,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, deputy chief medical o cer and state epidemiologist. “ e MMR vaccine provides excellent protection and helps prevent outbreaks like the one we are seeing
globally. We urge Coloradans to review their vaccination status and take steps to protect themselves, their families, and their communities.”
Outbreaks have been popping up around the country, including in Texas and New Mexico, with cases for 2025 already at higher levels than all of last year.
As of March 27, a total of 483 con rmed measles cases were reported in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s been recorded in 19 states: Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Washington.
Colorado is the 20th state with a recent measles case.
Health o cials, in their release, posted locations where people could have been exposed to measles ey include a deli and cafe, Southwest Deli and Cafe in Pueblo, and a clinic, Southern Colorado Clinic Pueblo West, where people could have been exposed to it. ey said those who were there recently should “monitor for symptoms for 21 days after exposure and consider avoiding public gatherings or high-risk settings.” Monitoring for symptoms is key for people who are
not vaccinated with the MMR vaccine. ey said they would update the locations, as needed.
People who were at the deli between March 17 and March 21 and the clinic on March 22, should monitor for symptoms and consider avoiding public gatherings and high-risk settings, public o cials said.
If you think you’ve been exposed and how to protect yourself
Measles symptoms typically develop seven to 21 days after exposure. ey include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and what measles is best known for, a rash. It usually starts on the face several days after exposure and spreads.
Health o cials urge people who were in one of the locations during the exposure period and developed symptoms to immediately contact their health care provider by phone.
If you don’t have a provider, they said to call an urgent care center or emergency department and explain that you may have been exposed to measles.
Calling ahead is a safety precaution that can prevent additional exposures to other people, according to the release. ose who have received the MMR vaccine or were born before 1957 are generally considered immune, accord-
Colorado GOP picks Horn as party chair
Horn replaces Williams, vows to unite party and boost fundraising
BY JESSE PAUL COLORADO SUN
Brita Horn, a former Routt County treasurer, was elected March 29 to serve as the next chair of the Colorado GOP,
vowing to unite the highly fractured party, boost fundraising and show up for candidates as Republicans look to right their wayward ship in 2026.
“We have so much division, we have so much distraction,” she told members of
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ing to the release. Health o cials recommended all Coloradans make sure they and their children are up to date on MMR vaccinations. e MMR vaccine has been available for decades.
Some adults, not just kids, may need to get an MMR vaccine as well, according to infectious disease experts.
People who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated should closely monitor for symptoms during the 21 days after a possible exposure. If you’re exposed to the virus, getting the MMR vaccine within 72 hours after exposure can prevent infection.
Unvaccinated individuals, or those who aren’t sure of their immunity should talk to their health care provider about receiving the MMR vaccine. More information on vaccination and exposure to the virus is available from the CDC.
A child’s immunization records can be checked through the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS) Public Portal, though records may be incomplete if all vaccines have not been reported by providers.
is story is from CPR News, a nonprofit public broadcaster serving Colorado. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr. org.
the Colorado GOP’s central committee. “Guess what the Democrats are doing right now? ey’re winning elections.”
Horn, who ran unsuccessfully in 2018 for state treasurer, won 53% of the party chair vote in the second round of voting over former Weld County Commissioner Lori Saine. ere were about 440 members of the Colorado GOP casting ballots at the party’s reorganization meeting in Colorado Springs.
Horn beat out six other candidates for the job, including Saine, former state Rep. Richard Holtorf, and Darcy Schoening, the state party’s director of special initiatives.
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Horn lives near Steamboat Springs and is the chief of the Rock Creek Volunteer Fire Department. She’s long been active in Republican politics in Colorado.
Targetting statewide elections
Next year will be a big one for Colorado Republicans. e statewide o ces of governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer and a U.S. Senate seat will be up for grabs. e last time a Republican won a statewide election in Colorado was 2016.
Republicans also will be defending U.S. House seats in the 8th and 3rd districts and seeking to ip more state legislative seats.
Horn replaces Chairman Dave Williams, whose two-year term leading Republicans in Colorado was marked by controversy after contreversy. Williams decided not to seek reelection.
Former Routt County Treasurer Brita Horn will serve as the next chair of the Colorado GOP, vowing to unify the party and improve fundraising and candidate support.
Mines track & field teams generate their own ‘Golden hour’ at midweek meet
Orediggers to host three more outdoor meets this spring
BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
ere’s no better time to take photos than the so-called “golden hour” shortly after sunrise or shortly before sunset, as the soft light and long shadows make images even more striking.
And, for the Colorado School of Mines outdoor track and eld teams, their recent accomplishments at a home meet made it feel like Golden hour — literally and proverbially speaking — at the Stermole Track & Field Complex.
On March 27, Mines hosted a small tri meet with the University of ColoradoBoulder and MSU Denver, where the Orediggers broke two program records and set several personal-bests amid idyllic weather conditions.
is Mines Midweek Meet was the rst of four home meets the Orediggers are hosting this spring, including the 2025 RMAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships on April 25-27.
e highlight of the meet was Orediggers Abbi Gillespie and Jennifer Jarna-
Wildcasts claim shutout
Westminster
BY DENNIS PLEUSS
JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ARVADA — Arvada West’s girls soccer team got everyone involved Monday night at the North Area Athletic Complex.
e Wildcats took a dominating 10-0 non-league victory over Westminster to start the week. A-West had seven di erent goal scorers.
“We’ve got a good group and a deep group,” A-West coach Dan Watkins said. “Being able to get everyone out there in the ow of the game was really important tonight. To have success from a bunch of players tonight was great.”
A-West senior Gigi Grieve scored her hat-trick in the rst 16 minutes. Grieve scored the Wildcats rst three goals in the opening minutes to give A-West a 3-0 lead.
“She is a dynamic player and a great leader for us,” Watkins said of one of the Wildcats’ senior captains. “She loves setting up goals as much as she likes scoring them. I think that is exactly what we need from her to be able to do both.”
Grieve said scoring that many goals in a short period of time has only happened in club games for her before. She leads A-West (4-2 record) with eight goals on the season.
Gillespie warms up for the women’s shot put at the March 27 Mines Midweek Meet. Gillespie placed third in the event, along with second in women’s hammer throw and sixth in women’s discus.
gin both breaking the program record for the women’s hammer throw within minutes of each other.
Gillespie had a 57.51-meter throw on her very rst attempt, breaking team-
mate Kitt Rupar’s previous record of 56.42 meters from May. en, on her fth attempt, Jarnagin hit 57.74 meters, breaking Gillespie’s newly set record. Among other Mines eld accomplish-
Arvada West tames the Wolves
ments, Holden Murphy set the secondbest men’s discus throw in program history with 51.04 meters; Rupar took rst in women’s discus, and Jarnagin placed rst in women’s shot put.
On the track side, Everett Delate placed rst in the men’s 110-meter hurdles, nishing in 13.81 seconds. is not only tied his program record, but is the third-best time this year among all NCAA Division II competitors.
Elijah Quinby and Avery Wright each ran personal bests in the men’s 400-meter hurdles and the women’s 100-meter hurdles, respectively.
Although it took second place to the CU team, the Mines men’s 4x100 relay team nished in 41.49. is is now the third-fastest time in program history and the best since 1996.
Similarly, Jonah Fallon might be ramping up to break Mines’ outdoor record in the men’s 400-meter race, as he already broke the indoor one this winter. On March 27, he nished rst in 47.01 — the fastest time for an Oredigger in 20 years. e Orediggers will be home again April 11-12 for their annual Kit Mayer Classic. For more information, including the preliminary schedule or ticketing information, visit MinesAthletics. com.
“As a team we came in wanting to move the ball,” said Grieve about facing the winless Westminster squad. “We want to get better every game.”
e scoring was distributed out evenly the rest of the way. Seniors Isabella Teran, Carman Williams, along with freshman Blakely Erickson pushed the Wildcats’ lead to 6-0 at halftime.
A-West freshman Aubry Grieve put in
the Wildcats’ 7th goal in the 47th minute to start the scoring in the second half. Senior Janae Marquez scored in the 62nd minute to give the Wildcats’ an 8-0 advantage. Junior Mallory Tyson added a goal on a direct-free kick in the 66th minute.
Teran put in her second goal of the night in the 68th minute to end the game due to the 10-goal mercy rule.
A-West has had a few good tests already this season. e Wildcats had a tough 2-1 loss to Boulder and su ered a 2-0 defeat to defending Class 5A state champion Mountain Vista last week at NAAC.
“ ose were tough games, but I think as a team we held together strong,” Grieve said of the losses to Boulder and Mountain Vista. “One thing I love about this team is no one ever bickers at one another. We always stay positive through the tough games and in games like this one.”
e Wildcats head to Colorado Springs on ursday, April 3, to face Doherty. A-West has one more non-league game against Brighton next week before diving into Class 5A Je co League play.
“ at is really important. In year two it is a little easier for me personally,” Watkins said A-West’s team chemistry in his second year at the helm of A-West’s girls soccer program. “To get a group that is excited to be together. e trip on ursday will be a great opportunity to continue that work.”
A-West opens conference play at Valor Christian on April 10.
“It is de ntely a motivator for us,” Grieve said of trying to prevent rival Ralston Valley from repeating as 5A Jeffco League champs. “It’s a tough league. We believe in ourselves and we know we can get there.”
Dennis Pleuss is the Sports Information Director for Je co Public Schools. For more Je co coverage, go to ColoradoPreps.com and CHSAANow.com
Colorado School of Mines redshirt senior Abbi
PHOTOS BY CORINNE WESTEMAN
Arvada West senior Gigi Grieve (11) scored three goals in the first 16 minutes for the Wildcats on Monday, March 31, at the North Area Athletic Complex. A-West defeated Westminster 10-0. DENNIS PLEUSS
Safety concerns in a Je co kindergarten classroom spark legal and ethical questions
Parents say district inaction left children in danger. Their story o ers a roadmap for others navigating similar concerns
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Parents of several kindergarten students at a Je erson County elementary school have come forward in recent months with concerns about repeated classroom evacuations, student injuries and growing anxiety among their children, all tied to the behavior of a single classmate.
“Some days, my son comes home and tells me he sat outside coloring for over an hour because the classroom had to be evacuated again,” one parent said. “He tells me he doesn’t feel safe. And I can’t tell him he’s wrong.”
According to these families, the situation has disrupted learning and raised serious questions about safety, support and accountability.
To protect the privacy of those involved, this story does not name the school or individuals. What follows is a deeper examination of what unfolded, what the law requires and how parents in similar situations can advocate for their children.
e student at the center of these concerns has a disability and is protected under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. is federal law ensures students with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education in settings that are as close to the general education environment as possible.
But when one student’s behavior results in repeated harm to classmates and possibly to the teacher, the legal and ethical challenges grow more complicated. While the parents involved in this situation consistently emphasized their support for inclusive education, their concern, they said, is not the child’s diagnosis but the district’s response — or lack of one — to ongoing disruptions in the classroom.
What parents say is happening in the classroom
According to multiple families and veri ed by public records, the student repeatedly injured classmates and a teacher, prompting numerous classroom evacuations and ongoing safety concerns.
One parent said his daughter was hit in the head with a wooden block on the rst day of school. Weeks later, the same child was reportedly struck with a pencil. As more incidents surfaced, the parent said, concern turned to alarm.
Other families described similar incidents: one child was punched in the face, and another had her hair pulled aggressively. A student was reportedly pulled o the monkey bars, kicked in the head and later chased across the playground. Another student was allegedly kicked in the face three times on the school bus. e classroom teacher was also reportedly injured, according to a records request showing the teacher documented multiple injuries during the year.
Parents allege their children evacuated the classroom at least 14 times from August to March. During those evacuations, students went to other parts of the school, often the library, sometimes for over an
hour, while the child calmed down.
Several children began associating school with fear.
One reportedly began refusing to attend, telling his parents, “I don’t feel safe at school.”
Parents said early attempts to raise concerns were met with empathy but little action. As incidents continued, families contacted district o cials and organized among themselves, compiling a timeline of injuries and evacuations to track the pattern.
Frustrations deepened when district administrators told the families they couldn’t share speci cs due to privacy laws. e Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA, restricts schools from disclosing information about individual students, including disciplinary actions.
While parents acknowledged the student’s right to support under IDEA, the disabilities act, many questioned what steps were being taken to protect the rest of the class.
“ e district keeps citing FERPA and IDEA as reasons they can’t tell us more,” one parent said. “But no one will answer a simple question: What are you doing to keep the rest of the class safe?”
The district’s response
According to a timeline created by parents, families began raising concerns in the fall. When initial conversations with the principal didn’t result in change, they escalated their concerns to Community Superintendent Lynn Torr, Interim Chief of Schools Todd Engels and Deputy Superintendent Kym LeBlanc Esparza. e district added additional classroom support, including a one-on-one paraprofessional, frequent administrator presence and eventually a behavioral specialist. But parents said those e orts were ine ective.
Responses, parents said, were sympathetic but noncommittal. One was told the matter was “being handled at the highest levels,” but e orts to schedule meetings proved di cult.
In the parent timeline, they documented a response from Torr stating he was waiting for a reply from Superintendent Kym LeBlanc-Esparza to schedule a meeting with them and that “getting a meeting on her calendar takes an act of God.”
Je co Public Schools Associate Chief of Communications and Strategic Partnerships Kimberly Mahugh said leadership took the issue seriously as soon as they became aware and did “everything in its power to protect the safety and well-being of everyone involved.”
When asked why Torr told parents that “getting a meeting with LeBlanc-Esparza would require an act of God,” Mahugh acknowledged the statement was unprofessional and said she would make sure someone would follow up with him directly.
What the law says
Federal law requires schools to educate students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment, meaning alongside their non-disabled peers as much as possible. When a student exhibits aggressive or disruptive behavior, it’s the school district’s responsibility to act, according to Selene A. Almazan, legal director at the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates. at can include reevaluating the student’sIndividualized Education Program, conducting aFunctional Behavior Assessmentand updating theBehavior Intervention Plan.
Parents say repeated disruptions have raised safety concerns at one Je co school. SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE
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“ e interventions should be proactive, not reactive,” Almazan said. “It’s not about corralling a student. e student has to learn what to do with these big emotions or these impulses.”
Districts must also collect data, identify behavior patterns and assess whether additional support or a change in placement is needed.
Almazan said schools sometimes claim their hands are tied, but that’s not entirely accurate.
“ ey’re not tied. at’s a myth,” she said. “ ey could go to a hearing o cer and get the equivalent of anHonig injunctionand get the student removed.” is process requires proof that a stu-
dent poses a danger to others, typically under theserious bodily injurystandard. ough the bar is high, Almazan said, it remains a legal option if other interventions fail.
Yet, families of other students in the classroom have fewer direct legal protections
“ ere are no direct rights under IDEA for the other students,” Almazan said. “But the school district is still responsible for what’s happening in that classroom. is is a school issue. is is not about this student. e responsibility is on the adults to create a safe and supportive learning environment.”
What parents can do
While families of students in general education settings may have limited legal recourse, there are steps they can take to advocate for their children and
press for change.
1. Focus on your child’s experience Almazan said parents are most likely to get answers by requesting records related to their child, such as evacuation logs, missed instructional time or support services o ered.
2. Ask for support services
If a child is anxious, afraid or struggling emotionally due to classroom disruptions, parents can request a meeting with school sta . Almazan said schools must respond when a student’s learning or well-being is impacted.
3. Follow the chain of command Begin with the child’s teacher, then the school principal. If the issue isn’t resolved, escalate through the district’s reporting structure. In Je erson County, that includes the community superintendent, chief of schools and, if needed, the superintendent’s o ce.
4. Document everything In this case, parents compiled a detailed timeline of incidents, communications and actions taken — or not taken — by school and district leaders. Almazan said this documentation can support requests for services or complaints.
5. Learn the system — or get help navigating it
Even if a child isn’t on an IEP, families can work with special education advocates or attorneys to understand district obligations and legal options.
6. Keep the focus on accountability, not blame In emotionally charged situations, it can be tempting to assign blame. But, advocates say focusing on systemic accountability is more e ective. Blame isolates individual students; accountability pushes districts to act.
SABELL METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to §1-13.5-513(6), C.R.S., that, at the close of business on March 4, 2025, there were not more candidates than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates, for the Sabell Metropolitan District (the “District”). Therefore, the election for the District to be held on May 6, 2025 is hereby cancelled.
The following candidates for the District are declared elected by acclamation:
CHARLES REGAN HAUPTMAN:
Until May 2029
MATTHEW GAYDA CAVANAUGH: Until May 2029
JULIE PERO: Until May 2029
The following offices remain vacant: VACANT: Until May 2027
/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON
Attorneys at Law 2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122 (303) 858-1800
Legal Notice No. Jeff 1678
First Publication: April 10, 2025 Last Publication: April 10, 2025 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript and the Arvada Press
Public Notice
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF ELECTION and CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS MOUNTAIN SHADOWS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to § 1-13.5-513(6), C.R.S., that, at the close of business on March 4, 2025, there were not more candidates than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates, for Mountain Shadow Metropolitan District (the “District”). Therefore, the election for the District to be held on May 6, 2025 is hereby cancelled.
The following candidates for the District are declared elected by acclamation: Lea Jensen: Until May 2029
The following office remains vacant: Vacant: Until May 2029
/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie Designated Election Official
Contact Person for District: Trisha K. Harris, Esq.
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON Attorneys at Law
2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122 (303) 858-1800
Legal Notice No. Jeff 1673
First Publication: April 10, 2025
Last Publication: April 10, 2025
Publisher: Jeffco Transcript and the Arvada Press
Public Notice
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF ELECTION and CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS
HASKINS STATION METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to §
1-13.5-513(6), C.R.S., that, at the close of business on March 4, 2025, there were not more candidates than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates, for Haskins Station Metropolitan District (the “District”). Therefore, the election for the District to be held on May 6, 2025 is hereby cancelled.
The following candidates for the District are declared elected by acclamation:
Karolyn Evans: Until May 2029
Ryan Heaton: Until May 2029
Robert Pipkin: Until May 2029
/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie
Designated Election Official
Contact Person for District: Kristin J. Bowers, Esq.
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON
Attorneys at Law
2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122 (303) 858-1800
Legal Notice No. Jeff 1679
First Publication: April 10, 2025 Last Publication: April 10, 2025
Publisher: Jeffco Transcript and the Arvada Press
Public Notice
NOTICE OF POLLING PLACE ELECTION APEX PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the APEX PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT, of JEFFERSON County, Colorado.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a polling place election will be held on the 6th day of May 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
The Board of Directors of the District have designated the following polling place and ballot drop-off location on election day (7:00 a.m-7:00 p.m.). Signage will direct voters to the voting room at each site on Election Day:
Polling Place and Ballot Drop-off Location: Apex Park and Recreation District Apex Center, 13150 West 72nd Avenue, Arvada, CO.
Ballot Drop-off Locations (Signage will direct voters to the ballot drop boxes)
•Arvada Fire Protection District Headquarters, 7903 Allison Way, Arvada, CO, front entrance (24-hour drop box)
•Office of the Designated Election Official, 1100 W. Littleton Blvd., Littleton, CO, back entrance (24-hour drop box)
•Arvada Fire Protection District Station 60, 4755 Isabell St., Golden, CO 80403 (Monday-Friday, beginning April 14-May 6, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.)
Apex Park and Recreation District Community Recreation Center: 6842 Wadsworth Boulevard, Arvada, CO (Monday-Friday, beginning April 14-May 6, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m. on May 6, Election Day)
Apex Park and Recreation District Apex Center, 13150 West 72nd Avenue, Arvada, CO (Monday-Friday, beginning April 14-May 6, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m. on May 6, Election Day).
At said election, the electors of the District shall vote for:
Three (3) Directors who will each serve a four (4) year term.
The names of persons nominated as Director for a four (4) year term:
Bob Loveridge
Abby McNeal
Robert Zimmerer Jo Burns
R. Ken Harrell, Jr. Liz Tomsula Lynn Emrick.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an eligible elector of said district, for the purpose of said election, is a person registered to vote and who has been a resident of the District, or who, or whose spouse or civil union partner, owns taxable real or personal property within the District, whether said person resides within the District or not, or a person who is obligated to pay taxes under a contract to purchase taxable property within the District shall be considered an owner of taxable property for the purpose of qualifying as an eligible elector.
Eligible electors of the APEX PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT may drop off a voted ballot, beginning April 14, 2025 at the locations listed below. Permanent Absentee Voters may also request a replacement ballot at the following location or by contacting:
Sarah Shepherd, District Designated Election Official (DEO)
Mailing address: P.O. Box 359, Littleton, Colorado 80160
Physical Address: 1100 W. Littleton Blvd. #101, Littleton, CO 80120 Telephone: 303-482-1002; Email: info@ ccrider.us.
The Office of the Designated Election Official is open on the following days: Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. from April 14, 2025 - May 5, 2025, and 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday May 6, 2025. Ballots must be received by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, May 6, 2025.
Additional drop off locations are located at: •Arvada Fire Protection District Headquarters, 7903 Allison Way, Arvada, CO, front entrance (24-hour drop box)
•Office of the Designated Election Official, 1100 W. Littleton Blvd., Littleton, CO, back entrance (24-hour drop box)
•Arvada Fire Protection District Station 60, 4755 Isabell St., Golden, CO 80403 (Monday-Friday, beginning April 14-May 6, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.)
• Apex Park and Recreation District Community Recreation Center: 6842 Wadsworth Boulevard, Arvada, CO (Monday-Friday, beginning April 14-May 6, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m. on May 6, Election Day)
• Apex Park and Recreation District Apex Center, 13150 West 72nd Avenue, Arvada, CO (Monday-Friday, beginning April 14-May 6, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m. on May 6, Election Day).
Please contact the Designated Election Official, Sarah Shepherd, at 303-482-1002 or info@ccrider.us for more information. Updates, if any, will be posted on the district’s website: https://apexprd.org/.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an application for a mail-in ballot as a Permanent Absentee Voter (PAV) shall be filed with the Designated Election Official no later than the close of business on April 29, 2025. The application is available contact the Designated Election Official, Sarah Shepherd, at 303-482-1002 or in-fo@ccrider.us. Voters are encouraged to contact the DEO or Deputy DEO to confirm if they have filed a PAV in prior election years.
APEX PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT
By: /s/, Sarah Shepherd, Designated Election Official
Legal Notice No. Jeff 1680 First
April 10, 2025
April 10, 2025
Publisher: Golden Transcript and the Arvada Press Public Notice
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF ELECTION and CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS LEYDEN ROCK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to § 1-13.5-513(6), C.R.S., that, at the close of business on March 4, 2025, there were not more candidates than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates, for Leyden Rock Metropolitan District (the “District”). Therefore, the election for the District to be held on May 6, 2025 is hereby cancelled.
The following candidates for the District are declared elected by acclamation:
Jeffrey Cunningham: Until May 2029
Christian Ardita: Until May 2029
Robert Joseph Betts: Until May 2029
/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie Designated Election Official
Contact Person for District: Megan J. Murphy, Esq
WHITE BEAR ANKELE
TANAKA & WALDRON Attorneys at Law
2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122
(303) 858-1800
Legal Notice No. Jeff 1675
First Publication: April 10, 2025
Last Publication: April 10, 2025
Publisher: Jeffco Transcript and the Arvada Press
Public Notice
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF REGULAR ELECTION BY THE DESIGNATED ELECTION OFFICIAL
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Hometown Metropolitan District, Jefferson County, Colorado, that at the close of business on the sixty-third day before the election there were not more candidates for director than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates; therefore, the election to be held on May 6, 2025, is hereby canceled pursuant to Section 1-13.5-513, C.R.S.
