Evans touches on tari s, Medicaid during town hall
“By cutting out the fraud and abuse we will be able to give more money for health care to people who rely on this,” Evans said.
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Freshman Congressman Gabe Evans held his rst telephone town hall ursday night and defended newly implemented tari s, saying they will ultimately help the economy in the 8th Congressional District. Evans, who won the 8th District in 2024 as a Republican, also told callers that fraud must be rooted out of the Medicaid system to keep it working for Americans who truly need help. Evans pointed to a Government Accounting O ce report that said about $31 billion is given annually in wrongful Medicaid payments.
Evans has been criticized by Democrats for not holding a town hall since his election in November. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ripped into Evans at a stop in Greeley on March 31, saying his constituents “deserve better.”
Evans, at the start of the hour-long telephone session, thanked the thousands of people who joined the call.
“I know a lot of you have been waiting for a town hall, so I’m very glad that you were able to take the time,” Evans said. “We’re committed to being open and transparent with our constituents.”
Some callers reported being dropped during the call and were unable to get back into session.
“Yes, I heard that from a few people but when they called the number we posted on social media they were able to be reconnected,” said Evans spokeswoman Delanie Bomar. “But I also heard from other local reporters…and our local sta who listened in that they didn’t have any problems.”
Evans used roughly the rst 20 minutes of the call to detail his work during the rst three months of his term. at includes his rst bill – e Uplift Act – which allows local law enforcement to work with ICE and other federal agencies to detain criminal illegal immigrants. Evans, a former Arvada Police O cer, said Colorado is the “national headquarters for violent gangs” and local law enforcement needs the tools to help get illegal gang members out of the state’s communities.
Colorado GOP picks Horn as party chair
BY
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 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.
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.
Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, left, with GOP state Rep. Gabe Evans before the 2024 election. Evans hosted his first telephone town hall April 2. FILE PHOTO
JESSE PAUL COLORADO SUN
Brighton’s 14th annual Speak Week targets suicide
Prevention and awareness taking center stage
April 28-May 3
e Brighton Youth Commission will host its 14th annual SPEAK Week, April 28 through May 3, aimed at Suicide Prevention, Education, Awareness and Knowledge.
SPEAK Week consists of a series of events designed to promote awareness in the community and among peers about the warning signs of suicide and awareness of local resources for those who are struggling.
e youth-led, youth-driven initiative started in response to the 2011 death of Brighton High School Senior Joshua Dillon. SPEAK Week has grown each subsequent year, both in the activities o ered and the number of schools involved.
e public is encouraged to join this year’s SPEAK Week activities. Participants are encouraged to wear yellow in support of raising awareness for suicide prevention.
Participating schools will be able to selecte from several activities to best accommodate students. Events include QPR Training, led by the youth council members to traini and teach techniques and tools on how to man-
age a crisis situation. Trainings will be held at noon and 6 p.m April 28 in Brighton City Hall, 500 S. 4th Ave. is year’s SPEAK video will promote the importance of access to mental health, suicide prevention, and community support. e video will be viewable during SPEAK Week on www. speak5k.org and live on YouTube.
New for 2025 will be a Cease Fire Colorado presentation and workshop to highlight dangers of gun violence and ways to minimize harm. is workshop is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. April 30 at the Armory Performing Arts Center.
Age-Appropriate Mental Health Activities: ese activities will focus on areas such as self-care related to mental health and decreasing student stress. All activities and resources can be found during SPEAK Week at www. speak5k.org.
e week will conclude with a 5K walk/run at May 3 starting from Carmichael Park at 650 Southern St. Festivities begin at 5 p.m. with the 5K to follow at 7:15 p.m. e cost to participate in the 5K is $20 for adults and $15 for students (fee includes a candle, Tshirt, and swag bag). All proceeds will go towards future SPEAK projects. To register, visit www.speak5k.org.
For more information about SPEAK Week or how you can get involved, visit www.speak5k.org or contact Youth Services Manager Tawnya Russell at trussell@brightonco.gov.
Adams County o ering a new podcast
‘All in Adams’ to introduce people in the government
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Adams County inaugurated its rst-ever podcast, “All in Adams,” April 1 as a new way to communicate with the people that live here, according to a news release on April 1.
“We’re all in for our residents and employees, and this podcast is another way we’re making sure they have direct access to the information that matters most,” said Commission Chair Lynn Baca. “It’s about making government more transparent, more accessible, and more personal because Adams County is here to serve you.”
e podcast’s “All in Adams” goal is to keep residents informed about what the government is working on and its services, according to o cials. It will be available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube and anywhere podcasts are provided.
e rst three episodes will introduce the community to the County Commissioners with Baca, District 1 Commissioner Julie Duran Mullica and District 3 Commissioner Emma Pinter. Each episode o ers interviews about why they ran for o ce, plans for the county and facts about them in their personal lives.
“We know residents want easy access to
county information, and All in Adams delivers that in a way that’s engaging and convenient,” Mullica said. “ is podcast isn’t just about government — it’s about the people, the programs, and the impact we’re making in our community.”
Adams County Communications Director Nikki Kimbleton hosts the podcast and county multimedia specialist Matt Bell is the producers of the podcast.
According to o cials, each All in Adams episode focuses on the people who work on county initiatives, passing policies and essential services such as public safety, parks and open spaces, economic development, and human services.
e podcast would follow the work in Adams County government behind-thescenes giving residents transparency about the work Adams County government is doing for the communities.
“ is podcast re ects our commitment to meeting people where they are, ensuring they have the knowledge they need about their county and the resources available to them,” said David Fraser, Interim County Manager. “It’s about transparency, accountability, and making sure our residents know—we’re all in for them.”
According to the Pew Research Center, about half of Americans regularly listen to podcasts, and three-quarters of those listeners say they learn valuable information they wouldn’t get elsewhere. at number is only expected to grow, with Statista projecting 40 million more podcast listeners nationwide by the end of the decade.
“All In Adams isn’t just a new platform, it’s a promise to our community,” Kimbleton said. “It’s our responsibility to utilize all the channels at our disposal to give our residents the information they need about their county, our services, and how we’re working to make their lives better. is podcast is lling an essential need for our community, and that’s connection.”
Applications open for new District 17 judge
Governor to appoint new judge by July
A group of law professionals will met May 19 to begin interviewing and nominating candidates for a new judge in Adams and Broom eld counties.
e new judge will be appointed by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and is expected to begin serving July 1.
Eligible applicants must registered voter in Broom eld or Adams counties and must have been admitted to the practice of law in Colorado for ve years. e current annual salary for this position is $198,798. e initial term of o ce of a district judge is a provisional term of two years. e incumbent district judge, if retained by the voters, has a term of six years. Application forms are available from the o ce of the ex o cio chair of the nominating commission, Justice Brian
Boatright, 2 E. 14th Ave., Denver, CO 80203, and the o ce of the Court Executive, Patricia Kmitta, 303-654-3205. Applications are also available on the court’s home page at https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/careers/judge-opportunities
e completed application must be emailed to the address listed in the instructions below no later than by 4 p.m. May 7. Late applications will not be considered. Any person wishing to suggest a can-
didate to ll the vacancy may do so by letter to be submitted to any member of the nominating commission, with a copy to the ex o cio chair, no later than by 4 p.m.April 30.
e members of the nominating commission for the 17th Judicial District are Dr. Ajenai Clemmons of Northglenn, Damon Barry, Martin Flaum and Jennifer Hostetter of Westminster, and Jonathan Datz, Andy Kramer, and Shivam Malhotra, all of Broom eld.
North Metro Fire hosts election to elect three
Six candidates running to fill three seats on board
Six candidates are vying for three positions on the North Metro Fire Rescue District’s board of directors in an election slated for May 6. Community members may vote by absentee ballot or in person at one of three polling locations. Voters will elect two candidates to ll two four-year terms and one candidate to ll a two-year term, according to a North Metro Fire Rescue news release. e three candidates running in the
board election for the two open four-year terms are Peter J. Billera, Jacob William Hiebert and James Hiromasa. In addition, three candidates are running the ll the single open two-year term. ey are Bernard M. Burns, David R. Feineman and Richard J. Miller. Voters may nd additional information on the candidates by visiting North Metro Fire’s website at https://www.northmetro re.org/517/Board-Election.
North Metro Fire’s board members work collaboratively with sta to set the strategic direction and vision for the re district, according to the news release. Additionally, they oversee the re chief’s contract and are responsible for approving the district’s budget, large purchases and contracts, guidelines and
bylaws for the district, and re codes and fees for services provided by North Metro Fire. e board typically meets the third Tuesday of every month at 4 p.m., with a few additional meetings held for speci c purposes.
Voting Information
All eligible voters may vote via absentee ballot or in person on the day of the election by going to a North Metro Fire voting location on May 6 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to the news release. ose wishing to vote by mail must submit an application for an absentee ballot by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. An application can be found on the district’s website or requested in person at North Metro Fire Headquarters, 101 Spader
Way, Broom eld. All absentee ballots must be received by the election judge or designated election o cial by 7 p.m. on May 6, according to the news release.
In-Person Voting Locations are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 6. ose locations include the North Metro Fire Headquarters, 101 Spader Way, in Broom eld, the North Metro Fire Station 64, 13515 Lowell Blvd. in Broom eld and the North Metro Fire Station 62 at 10550 Huron St. in Northglenn. Community members are encouraged to visit North Metro Fire’s website at www.nmfr.org/boardelection for the latest information on the election process, or contact Designated Election Ofcial Heather Brown at (303) 252-3010 or elections@northmetro re.org.
Variety of fare the story at the Taste of Fort Lupton
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Fort Lupton’s restaurants and commercial food preppers were on full display March 27 as the city hosted its annual Taste of Fort Lupton, an annual showcase of the variety of delicious meals available.
e delicacies ranged breads to sauces, spices and desserts in the Fort Lupton High School Commons on March 27 as residents browsed and sampled the offerings.
Michaela Norby Cuenca from Firestone started her own business called “Makes and Bakes” making baked goods. She served up a variety of tasty pastries.
“I make cookies, cakes, macarons, bread, and cinnamon rolls out of my apartment and I o er delivery and pick up,” Cuenca said.
For more information and a menu email her at makes.and.bakes.colorado@gmail.com or call 720-712-0925.
Antoinette Kristina Camacho, the owner of Bombitas in Brighton, was handing out samples of pozole made with the spice bombs she developed to enhance the avor of meats.
“We’ve had so much growth. Now, we’re going to be starting next week at the local venue in Parker,” Camacho said. “And we just got a contract, I won’t say the distributor name yet, but in about a month, we’re going to be in 120 to 150 stores and about several di erent states, probably about ve states.”
Since October 2024, when she started her business, Camacho said she’s enjoyed signi cant growth with her business.
“I’m so excited for my kids,” she said. “We worked with a Social Media Creator yesterday. I’m excited for my whole family.”
To order her Bombitas online visit https://bombitas.co.
Culinary Club
e Fort Lupton Culinary Club students o ered tastings of homemade cinnamon crisps and focaccia bread with marinara sauce.
Bree Kimbrough, Family Consumer Science Instructor, teaches the beginning culinary classes, and then Pro Start one, and Pro Start two, and they also cater. Kimbrough started in November of 2024 teaching the class.
“We’re still learning and growing and trying to get the program revived,” Kimbrough said. “We’ve had up to six catering events so far this year. ey’ve mostly been for the high school because that’s nice and easy. But we did cater the Chamber of Commerce and the board of directors meeting.”
It’s all part of learning, she said.
“Getting these kids out there and getting experience meeting di erent people
Myers said the co ee shop opened a year ago. Gemma, her daughter, runs the co ee shop and specializes in creating over 80 unique, ower-infused drinks she created as a trained apothecary-style mixologist.
“She takes owers and di erent types of unique avors and blends unique drinks. We also have a women’s boutique, children’s clothing, and home décor,” Myers said.
Justin Tuttle, general manager of Wing Shack in Dacono, and his sta served different avors of chicken wings.
“We opened Oct. 4 in Dacono and have a Brighton location. We make wings, boneless salads, sandwiches, the whole nine yards and everything’s made fresh. ey use high-quality protein and are pasture-raised.
For information on their several locations visit: https://wingshackwings.com
Preston Davis, one of the owners of Lucky Shot and Sports Bar Grill in Fort Lupton, had his sta serve up several tastings of di erent avors of breaded chick-
“We like to think we’ve got better than your average bar-type food and we get a lot of compliments on the quality and the taste of the food,” Davis said. “We serve good burgers and serve burritos as well. We change the menu every couple of months. We do lunch specials every month. We got all your usual bar food, hot dogs, burgers, and, of course, pizza. Our chicken wings are our biggest seller. People love the wings.”
and learning about how di erent catering events work. It’s been great,” she said. “We enjoy it when we go out to events; we take out a few students, at a time, not the whole class of 30, and they get to know each other.”
Robin Myers and Gemma Pantoja are co-owners of Pine Grove Mercantile, a co ee bar and bakery at at 17 N. Main St. in Brighton. ey were served their lemonade ower-infused drink for the Taste of Fort Lupton.
Lucky Shots Sports Bar and Grill is located at 327 Denver, Ave. Fort Lupton.
La Buchona Family Mexican Restaurant Street in Fort Lupton. ey served up some cucumber and pineapple homemade juices, in addition to homemade tortilla chips, with red and green salsa dip. It’s all homemade Mexican food.
“We’ve been in the business for 18 years coming into Denver, so we have our food trucks as well. We’re so excited to be here at the Taste of Fort Lupton,” said owner Victoria Olguin.
Delanie Sha er, Assistant food and beverage manager for Coyote Creek Golf Club, served a tasting of pasta and bread rolls from their snack bar
Gina Selvidge, the Food and Beverage Manager said, “We o er snack bar services for tournaments for Coyote Creek’s
For more information about Coyote Creek visit: https://www.coyotecreekgc. com
Wholly Stromboli sta is serving up some yummy East Coast pizza and bread pudding. ey o er a variety of pizza and pasta dishes. ey o er catering and have a Speakeasy lounge with live entertainment, and you can book a private party.
Wholly Stromboli is located at 410 Denver Ave., Fort Lupton.
People lined up to try the pastries and desserts prepared by Michaela Norby Cuenca from Firestone at the Taste of Fort Lupton March 27.
The Fort Lupton High School Commons was a full house of the community who came to sample food. PHOTOS BY BELEN WARD
A personal journey to help a friend in need
In our fast-paced, instant-grati cation world, I sometimes worry that encouragement is an art form we are forgetting how to use.
Some might be thinking I am wrong that they can point out inspiring things all around us. But encouraging others is di erent than inspiring them. Inspiration res our hearts and points the direction we should go. Encouragement says let me walk alongside you as you navigate this di cult path.
Encouraging others is not complicated but does take some intentionality. Two of the most helpful things you can do when trying to encourage others is to personalize the encouragement and to create opportunities for people to receive that encouragement on their time frame.
Sometimes, a window into how someone else has done something is the very best way to help you imagine how to do it yourself. As I have mentioned in the past, “Words of Encouragement” started when I was looking for a way to support a friend and his wife as they navigated his stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis. My e orts were far from perfect, but they were genuine, heartfelt e orts. My encouragement came in the form of emails so that they could read on their own time.
Today, I am sharing two of the emails that I sent Shane and Summer over the course of his four-year battle, in hopes that you will nd inspiration for encouraging others.
e rst email was sent in the later weeks
It’s the end of March, and for many individuals and businesses, the rst quarter didn’t quite go as planned. Goals were set with optimism and purpose back in January: tness, revenue, personal growth, new skills and better habits. Yet here we are, three months in, and some of those goals are already collecting dust.
It happens. A slower start than expected can feel like a weight we now have to carry and catch up on. And that’s where the real danger begins, awed thinking. Instead of redistributing the shortfall across the remaining months, many of us go into panic mode and try to cram all the unmet goals into the next few weeks. It’s a trap.
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
of Shane’s rst chemotherapy rounds. You could see, at that time, that the medicine was wearing him out, and he needed encouragement to keep going. e second came as Shane was battling for his life three years into his ght and needed to be reminded of the beauty surrounding his life. Less than a year later, he would lose that battle.
August 8, 2017
Shane and Summer,
Every Monday in college during the football season, we had to run the CC (Colorado College) Stadium Hill 10 times at the end of practice. e hill was probably 35 yards long and very vertical. I never liked that hill, but I especially hated it when we were preparing to run the ninth hill. I hated it because we were not done, but we were close. ere was still work to do and no way around it. Each week it took a special kind of mental focus to get started on that ninth hill.
Marathon runners talk about the 19th mile in the same way (OK, my hill was less taxing than seven more miles of running.) ey tell about the mental energy that must go into breaking through that 19th-mile barrier.
As someone working to overcome a struggle, I know you can re ect on barriers
you have needed to ght through as well. You, me, marathon runners; we have all done what we needed to do because we knew the reward for our diligence. is part of your struggle is no di erent than those hills, or that mile. e rewards are bigger, but the mental energy needed to make it up that hill is tremendous. We would all have you take a di erent road if it were possible. But it is not. So, you are going to do what must be done. is is the time when you must believe in the process, trust in God’s plan, and use all of the determination you can muster. is struggle is messy, but you are built to push through it. You have the mental toughness inside you. e rewards are coming, every indicator points to that result. Stay strong.
You have got this,
Jim April 15, 2020
Shane and Summer, ere are moments in our lives when we know we are witnessing something spectacular. It might be a sunset or some other natural wonder. It could be a collective achievement or an individual’s special moment. ey are sights that stick with you forever. I still remember sitting in the stands at Mile High watching John Elway work his magic to beat the Houston Oilers in the last few seconds of a playo game, as my brother-in-law sat next to me repeatedly yelling, “un #!.%$ believable!” I also remember the space launch I watched, which carried an experiment
With nine months to go, let’s go
Let’s take a tness example. Suppose someone sets out to lose 30 pounds this year. By the end of March, they’ve lost three. at’s a tenth of the way there; not exactly o to the races. e common response? “I have to lose the next 27 pounds as fast as possible.” ey triple their workouts, restrict their food to extremes, and set unrealistic goals, like losing 10 pounds in a month. And what happens? ey burn out. ey get discouraged. And often, they quit. “Maybe next year,” they say. e same pattern shows up in business. A salesperson misses their Q1 quota. Leadership starts sounding the alarm. Panic meetings. Pressure builds. And the rep starts believing they must land one massive deal or have a record-breaking month just to get back on track. e pressure becomes paralyzing, and instead of fueling better performance, it leads to des-
perate decision-making or, worse, disengagement. Here’s a healthier mindset: redistribute, don’t double down. Spread the shortfall out. Do the math. Missing a goal in Q1 isn’t a death sentence, it just means adjusting the plan for Q2, Q3, and Q4. And if you lead a team, communicate that. Normalize the adjustment. Make resilience a core part of your culture. ink of it this way: if a ight from New York to LA gets slightly o course, the pilot doesn’t try to bank hard and get back on track in the next 60 seconds. at’d be reckless. Instead, they make small adjustments over time to arrive safely. You can too.
Of course, there are moments when we catch a great wave. Momentum is strong. Deals are closing. Progress is visible. ose are great moments, but they’re not the only ones that de ne our journey. Sometimes, we miss the wave. We fall behind. at doesn’t mean the ride is over. e truth is, we’re all navigating a lot right now. Global events, economic uncertainty, shifting buyer behaviors, and new technologies are changing how we think, live, and work. ese aren’t excuses. ey’re realities. And they reinforce the need to lead ourselves and our teams with both urgency and grace.
So what’s the next move? Take inventory. Recalibrate. Adjust your forecast,
created by Eaglecrest students on board, and the sunsets Beth and I saw over open space in New Mexico. e thing about those “unforgettables” is that you know it right away, as soon as you rst glimpse it. ere is never a doubt of the beauty of it, of its perfection, or the fact that it will in uence you for the rest of your life.
I hope that in the midst of this battle, 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
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.
your habits, and your daily disciplines. Stop trying to make up for three months in three days. at’s not heroic, it’s selfsabotage. What is heroic is choosing to stay in the game. Choosing to keep moving, lead, sell, and grow, even if progress looks a little slower than you wanted.
Success isn’t linear. It rarely shows up on schedule. But it always favors those who stay in pursuit.
So whether you’re leading a company, a sales team, or just trying to be a better version of yourself, redistribute your energy, stay focused on the long game, and don’t let a slow start steal a strong nish.
Let’s go!
How about you? Are you one of those
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who are on track and staying the course? Have you drifted slightly o course and just need a little redirection? Or is it time to reevaluate and redistribute the shortfall on your goals? As always I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail. com, and when we can be resilient, never giving up on our biggest goals and dreams, it really will be a better-thangood life.
Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.
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Jim Roome WINNING
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
Sundance Film Fest relocates to Boulder
City beat out proposals from Atlanta, Cincinnati, Louisville and Santa Fe
BY PARKER YAMASAKI THE COLORADO SUN
e Sundance Film Festival is o cially coming to Boulder.
e Sundance Institute announced March 27 that it had selected Boulder to host the famous 10-day lm festival for 10 years beginning in 2027.
A slow-burn competition for the festival began in earnest last April, when the Institute, which owns the festival and runs a dozen workshops for lmmakers, put out a request for information. Boulder responded, and submitted a formal proposal in June.
Boulder’s request included a one-time, $1.5 million grant, $250,000 from the Colorado O ce of Film, TV and Media over ve years, and one-time contributions of $50,000 from the Colorado Tourism O ce and $25,000 from Colorado Creative Industries.
House Bill 1005, which is still being considered by lawmakers, would add $34 million in tax incentives to the large pile of grants.
In comparison, Utah allocated somewhere between $1.3 million and $2 million per year to keep the festival in Park City. Boulder beat out proposals from Atlanta, Cincinnati, Louisville, Kentucky and Santa Fe, and a combined proposal from Park City and Salt Lake City to start hosting the festival in 2027.
“Boulder o ers small-town charm with an engaged community, distinctive natural beauty, and a vibrant arts scene, making it the ideal location for the Festival to grow,” Amanda Kelso, Sundance Institute’s acting CEO, said in an emailed statement. “ is is the beginning of a bold, new journey as we invite everyone to be part of our community and to be entertained and inspired. We can’t imagine a better t than Boulder.”
Colorado goes all in Colorado has been vying for the festival for years.
In 2023 the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park landed the Sundance Institute Director’s Lab, an invitation-only program where screenwriters and directors hash out their big ideas — digging into scripts, rehearsing, shooting and editing scenes.
At the time, o cials were tight-lipped about whether this was a way to lure the lm festival to the Rockies from the Wasatch. But the speculation gained traction when then-Sundance Institute CEO Joana Vicente said on a podcast that there are challenges with hosting more than 100,000 visitors at the festival in a busy ski town in January.
January in Boulder, on the other hand, is a time of relatively low occupancy and visitorship, according to the Colorado Tourism O ce. e festival is projected to bring around 40,000 to 50,000 visitors to the Front Range.
e tax incentive bill in the legislature creates a new tax credit “only if at least one quali ed lm festival with a multidecade operating history and a veri able track record of attracting 100,000 or more in-person ticket sales and over 10,000
pete with neighboring states. And that’s exactly what Hollywood wants.
to pit nearby states against one another: Texas versus Oklahoma, New York versus e idea is that movies and TV shows require a lot of people, and people spend money on places to stay, to eat, to shop. Locals might be contracted for construction or catering. Aspiring lmmakers can rub shoulders with industry elite. In short, it’s an industry known for creating new worlds — and that potential extends beyond the set.
Tax incentives changed the way that movie and TV productions picked out their lming locations beginning in 2002, when Louisiana ramped up its credit program and started pulling in movie productions from the East and West coasts. at comparative — and competitive — angle has been used by the lm industry
Last year — around the same time that Boulder submitted its Sundance proposal — the state expanded its tax incentive credit for lm, TV and commercial productions to $5 million per year for four years to try to lure more lmmakers to work in Colorado.
Festivalgoers gather under the marquee at the Sundance Film Festival in 2016.
Fort Lupton’s Garza Alarcon reflects on life after high school
BY STEVE SMITH SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
FORT LUPTON - Fort Lupton’s D’mitri Garza-Alarcon noticed one big change as he moved from being a four-time state champ for the Bluedevils to being national junior-college runner-up this spring.
“ ere’s more hand ghting, there’s more aggressiveness. ey are being more technical,” he said in a recent edition of the Bois Only Podcast. “Now, I’m wrestling grown men. I have to go out there and ght as hard as I can.”
Garza Alarcon, who wrestled at 141 pounds and was the second-rated wrestler in the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association polls, attends Western Wyoming Community College. Four wrestlers, including Garza Alarcon, advanced to the nals of the junior college tournament in Council Blu s, Iowa e school record is ve.
Garza Alarcon won four consecutive matches to advance to the nals. Gavyn Whitehead of Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, beat Garza Alarcon 7-4 in overtime.
Wildcasts claim shutout agaisnt 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
“Ten seconds left in the match. I was up. I could have run. But to be a dog, you have to keep going forward. It cost me the match. It’s something I needed to learn,” he said. “I took it match by match, same as I did in high school. It’s a di erent environment. But I just wrestled it the same.”
Once the season ended, Garza Alarcon sat with his mother and hugged.
“Everywhere she needed to drive me and everything, that was my rst thing,” he said. “I’m very grateful for the opportunities I got to get to this level. Everything my mom put me through was to make me me. Now that I look back, I thought about all the memories we had and how I could improve from those.
“ en I went and ate some chicken tenders and a burger.”
Garza Alarcon began wrestling when he was 6 years old.
“We went to two and three tournaments a week, double and triple brackets, just to get mat time,” he said. “ ere was a point where I didn’t feel like doing it. But the more I thought about it and the more opportunities came to me, it’s my life now.”
Garza Alarcon wanted to see his highschool team more than he was able to.
“Especially to the community I came from, it’s very important to give back,” Garza Alarcon said. “I’m glad I goto to go before state to help with some technique. To me, that means them most. My supporters are here. It makes me happy.”
He also is a bull rider. He started that part of his life by riding sheep (at age 4), then worked his way up to steers and bulls.
“One of my buddies is a bronc rider on the (college) team. He told me about the rodeos,” he said. “It’s the best adrenaline you’ll ever get. You ride that, stick it for eight seconds. You come o sweating. You’re shaking.”
Garza Alarcon plans to stay at Western Wyoming next year. He also wants to wrestle in the Olympics for the Mexican national team in time for the 2028 Games.
10:30am -
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 AWest (4-2 record) with eight goals on the season.
“As a team we came in wanting to move
“Be yourself. Stay humble,” he said. “ e more time you do it by yourself, the more that’s going to help you in the long run. If you’re not doing the right technique, it’s a waste of time.”
Arvada West tames the Wolves
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
Fort Lupton’s D’mitri Garza-alarcon wards o a take-down attempt by Mullen’s Isaak Chavez during their 138-pound state title match Feb. 18 at Ball Arena. See page 8 for more. PHOTO BY JONATHAN MANESS
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. PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS
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BRIEFS
Registration slots still available for city’s annual ‘Egg Splash’ on April 13
e City of Brighton’s annual egg hunt, the Brighton Recreation Center “Egg Splash,” still has registration slots available. e event scheduled from 1-3 p.m. April 13 at the Brighton Recreation Center, 555 N. 11th Avenue. Participants can register for one of three remaining 45-minute time blocks beginning between 1-3 p.m.
Cost is $7 per child and children ages 0-17 are eligible to participate. An adult chaperone is required for children under age 7, or any child who cannot swim. Adult chaperones will be admitted for free but must still register for organizers to track attendance.
Children will get a chance to swim and gather eggs, which will be exchanged for an actual “goodie” bag. All children in each time block will receive the same goodie bag.
Children should wear typical swimwear and bring their own basket to gather eggs. e eggs will be placed in both the lap and leisure pools.
To register, please visit www.brightonco. gov/eggsplash.
Art in the Park announces call for artists e City of Brighton will host its annual Art in the Park festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at Carmichael Park, 650 Southern St.
ose artists interested in showcasing and selling their artwork can visit www.brightonartinthepark.com for more information and to apply. e deadline for booth applications is Aug. 15. is one-day festival brings together talented artists, live performances, interactive activities, and a vibrant artist market.
teams, or community groups with a designated lead artist. e submisison deadline is April 6. Submissions will be divided into categories for 18 and older (adult) and 17 and under (youth). At least one tra c box will be exclusive to the youth category; however, the judging committee may select more.
Details on how to submit your original artwork, as well as the design guidelines and the selection process can be found on at www.brightonco.gov/tra cboxmurals or by contacting Communications & Engagement Director Kristen Chernosky at kchernosky@brightonco.gov.
Go For Launch
Colorado Air & Space Port is hosting a Higher Orbits for students from 8th and 12th grades to expand their STEM skill sets learning with teamwork, communications, research design, and leadership.
For more information, contact Communications & Engagement Director Kristen Chernosky at 303-655-2146 or kchernosky@ brightonco.gov.
Artists invited to transform tra c boxes into public art in Brighton
Brighton will continue to transform tra c signal boxes into vibrant public art installations across the community this year, selecting six new locations for public art.
Building on last year’s success, this project invites artists to create imaginative designs that enhance neighborhood identity, turn everyday spaces into creative landmarks and encourage engaging conversations within our community.
Six pieces of art will be selected and placed on weather-resistant vinyl printing. Each artist or artist team will receive a $500 honorarium. All artists must reside or work in the Denver metro area. e tra c signal boxes have been strategically selected for this project. Artwork will be on display for at least two years. e call is open to individual artists, artist
Students would get to work with an astronaut, Captain Wendy Lawerence, and work on an experiment design project during the event, learning, growing, and developing skills to succeed throughout their lives.
e student teams will present their project to a panel of judges who work in the Space and STEM elds. ey will choose a winner from each Go for Launch event. e winning experiment will be launched to board the International Space Station or a suborbital ight. Michelle Lucas is the founder and CEO of Higher Orbits.
For more information about the Higher Orbits event, visit www.higherorbits.org. To sponsor the event, go to sponsors@higherobits.org. To call for information at 281-4515343.
Garden In A Box kits on sale
e Brighton Utilities Department has once again partnered with conservation nonpro t Resource Central to o er to Brighton residents the Garden In A Box Program. City of Brighton utility customers can receive a $25 discount o each individual purchase of the program’s water-wise garden kits, while supplies last. Purchase your garden before they sell out.
Sales are now open to the public. Residents can choose from 13 Garden In A Box kits with the $25 discount. Box kits include anywhere from nine to as many as 30 starter plants, with selections ranging from vibrant hardy xeric (low-water) perennials to a pollinator-friendly vegetable garden. Gift certicates are also available for purchase. ese pre-designed kits are tailored to Colorado soil, and the simple plant by number maps take the guesswork out of buying and planting. Plus, the garden kits can help you save around 7,300 gallons of water over the garden’s lifetime compared to a traditional lawn.
Kit pickup will be in the spring — details will be released when they become available.
For more information, visit brightonco. gov/gardeninabox, email gardeninfo@resourcecentral.org or call 303-999-3820 ext. 222.
Adams County launches O ce of Strategic Partnerships
Adams County’s Executive Leadership Team is excited to announce the creation of the O ce of Strategic Partnerships & Resilient Communities to serve the community more e ectively. e goal of SPARC is to enhance the way the county builds and sustains partnerships, both internally and with external organizations.
e team is led by Adminstrator Daniela Garcia, who played a key role in establishing SPARC for Adams County. She leads e orts to secure diverse funding, promote equitable resource distribution, and empower communities to foster resilience and prosperity.
e team will collaborate with partners to foster ongoing engagement with programming and organizations in the community, and remain a reliable place where anyone can turn when challenges arise and resources are needed.
Learn more at sparc.adcogov.org.
Historical Society tea tickets on sale
e Adams County Historical Society & Museum is hosting its annual – and popular – Spring Tea from 1-3 p.m. Saturday May 17 at Ho man Hall, located on the Riverdale Regional Park campus.
Tickets for the tea are on sale now and going quickly. Volunteers can accept credit cards to reserve tickets. For more information or to buy tickets, call 303-659-7103 and visit https://www.adamscountymuseum. com/events online for more information.
School District 27J accepting open-enrollment applications
Adams County School District 27J announced that Choice of Schools applications are now being accepted for the 20252026 school year. 27J Schools allows any student to apply to attend any 27J school or program on space/program availability and the applications are being accepted for the district’s 14 elementary schools, six middle schools and ve high schools — including the district’s online academy.
For the full list of available schools, an application and a list of frequently asked questions, visit https://www.sd27j.org/enrollment/accepting-applications online.
e Brighton-based school district operates schools in Brighton, Henderson, Commerce City and ornton.
Benedict Park renovations ongoing
Renovations at Benedict Park at 1855 Southern St. are underway, resulting in limited public access to sections of the park through June 2025.
e construction project will add a variety of amenities and upgrades, including two new playgrounds, a new irrigation system, a skate park expansion, new shelters, new lighting, supplemental landscaping, and a walking trail on the east end of the park.
e parking lot along Southern Street will be closed but access to drive through it is permitted. Portions of the parking lot adjacent to the splash pad at the northwest corner of the park will be closed. School access will be allowed.
e path along the east side of the park will be closed in sections and the skate park, Disc golf course, playground and all shelters will be closed. Sports programming will be relocated to other parks during the work.
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.
During his tenure as chairman, Williams upset Republicans by taking sides in GOP primaries, albeit unsuccessfully; running for Congress and using party funds to boost his campaign; sending out an email that was o ensive to LGBTQ people; and trying to change the party’s bylaws to further his agenda. He also had a Colorado Sun reporter removed from a party gathering last year, stoking a national controversy.
Reporters weren’t allowed at the party’s reorganizational meeting March 29. Instead, they were forced to watch the event on a livestream.
Wins despite state party
Republicans ipped three state House
and a U.S. House seat while Williams was in charge. But those victories happened mostly in spite ofthe state party, not because of it.
In the 8th Congressional District, where Republican Gabe Evans won, the Colorado GOP endorsed his primary opponent, Janak Joshi. e party didn’t report any direct spending to help Evans beat incumbent Democrat Yadira Caraveo in the general election.
Evans was so fed up with party leadership that he actually called on Williams to resign in July as part of a push to remove the organization’s entire leadership slate.
As for the three state House seats Republicans ipped last year, the party didn’t report spending any money on those races either. It was the state House Republican caucus campaign arm and independent expenditure committees that were responsible for the bulk of the activity in those contests.
Williams’ detractors, including Horn,sought to remove him as chairmanin the leadup to the 2024 election, but their e ortfell short after a court battle. Williams sued Horn and the others. e Colorado GOP central committee on Saturday also elected Las Animas County GOP Chairman Lee Phelan Sr. as vice chair, denying current Vice Chair Scheppelman a second term, and former congressional candidate Russ Andrews as secretary. is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state
The U.S. Army is starting its Five-Year Review (FYR) process for the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA) environmental cleanup. This process includes a statutory, policy, and technical review of RMA’s 1995 Off-Post and 1996 On-Post Records of Decision (ROD). The RODs provide detailed descriptions of the cleanup approach implemented for the site.
The purpose of the FYR is to determine whether RMA’s cleanup approach continues to be protective of public health and the environment. A critical part of the FYR is to update any changes to standards and determine if the remedy outlined in the RODs and subsequent ROD change documents remains protective in light of these new standards. This is the sixth FYR document to be prepared for RMA.
FYRs at RMA will be required for the foreseeable future, since the cleanup approach included on-site landfills and consolidation areas that hold contaminated waste from RMA’s cleanup. The Army manages and monitors these areas, which total approximately 1,000 acres.
In keeping with its commitment to public involvement, the Army is seeking public input during this process. Community members are encouraged to submit, in writing, any concerns or issues they would like to see addressed during the FYR. Once the FYR is complete, a draft document summarizing the findings will be made available for public review. All public comments received during this process will be reviewed and considered in the final report.
Please submit comments and questions to: Kelli Schneider
Rocky Mountain Arsenal 7270 Kingston Pkwy, Building 129, Commerce City, CO 80022
Phone: 303-289-0200 E-mail: kelli.n.schneider.ctr@army.mil
For more information about the Five-Year Review, visit online at home.army.mil/rma
El Ejército de EE. UU. está comenzando su proceso de Revisión de cinco años (FYR) para la limpieza ambiental del Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA). Este proceso incluye una revisión legal, de políticas y técnica de los Registros de decisión (ROD) de 1995 fuera del sitio y de 1996 en el sitio del RMA. Los ROD enumeran descripciones detalladas del método de limpieza utilizado para el sitio.
El propósito del proceso de Revisión de cinco años (FYR) es determinar si el método de limpieza del RMA sigue protegiendo la salud pública y el medio ambiente. Una parte crítica de la revisión FYR es actualizar cualquier cambio en las normas y determinar si el remedio descrito en los ROD y los documentos de cambio de los ROD subsecuentes siguen protegiendo a la luz de estas nuevas normas. Este es el sexto documento de la revisión FYR que se elabora para el RMA.
Se requerirá la revisión FYR en el RMA para el futuro previsible, ya que el método de limpieza incluyó vertederos y áreas de consolidación en el sitio que contienen desechos contaminados de la limpieza del RMA. El Ejército gestiona y supervisa estas áreas, cuya extensión total es de aproximadamente 1,000 acres.
Los miembros de la comunidad pueden presentar por escrito sus inquietudes o aspectos que les gustaría que se abordaran durante la revisión FYR. Una vez que se complete la FYR, se pondrá a disposición un documento borrador que resume los hallazgos para su revisión pública. Todos los comentarios públicos recibidos durante este proceso se considerarán en el informe final.
Envíe comentarios y preguntas a: Kelli Schneider Rocky Mountain Arsenal 7270 Kingston Pkwy, Edificio 129, Commerce City, CO 80022 Teléfono: 303-289-0200 Correo electrónico: kelli.n.schneider.ctr@army.mil Para obtener más información sobre la Revisión de cinco años, visite en línea en home.army.mil/rma.
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Revisión de cinco años del Rocky Mountain Arsenal
Rocky Mountain Arsenal Five - Year Review
Amache camp survivor Bob Fuchigami dies
Former Evergreen teacher, Korean War vet had backed the e ort to transfer former internment site to National
Park Service
BY HAYLEE MAY
NEWS
Camp Amache survivor, Colorado advocate and veteran Bob Fuchigami has died at the age of 94. Fuchigami was just 11 years old when his family was interred at Camp Amache in Granada, where more than 7,000 Jap-
anese-Americans were imprisoned during World War II.
“We looked like the enemy, even though we weren’t the enemy, but the public didn’t know,” Fuchigami said. “Once they put us into the camps, (the public) thought ‘Oh, they must have really done something wrong.’”
When Fuchigami arrived, his family’s small room was bare except for a few cots. One light bulb hung from the ceiling. e oor was a single layer of bricks on the sand. ere were no private bathrooms, only public latrines with no partitions. Nothing could be further from home.
Despite the conditions, the internees tried to lead normal lives. ey formed social clubs, established a newspaper and stores. Fuchigami joined the Boy Scouts.
After surviving the camp where families were forced into cramped barracks with minimal privacy and inadequate facilities, Fuchigami went on to serve in the U.S. Navy, where fought in the Korean War. He later became a special education teacher in Evergreen.
Fuchigami would also go on to testify in front of Congress to support e orts by Democratic Rep. Joe Neguse and Republican Rep. Ken Buck to transfer stewardship of Amache to the National Park Service in 2021, which was ultimately successful.
“After surviving Amache, Bob served our nation, and then dedicated much of his adult life to ensuring the story of his family and others like them were never forgotten or repeated,” said Neguse and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in a joint state-
ment. “We were honored to support him in this e ort — standing by his side when visiting Amache in 2022 and celebrating with him when our work together designated Amache as a National Historic Site. His grace, fortitude and endless wisdom will leave a lasting legacy.”
Every year, Japanese-Americans make pilgrimages back to what is one of the darkest chapters in not just their lives, but in Colorado and America’s histories. e 50th annual Amache pilgrimage will take place May 16-18.
is story includes reporting from CPR’s Nathan Fernando-Frescas. 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.
Local lawmakers make it harder to ban books
“Freedom to Read Act” mandates safeguards against censorship
Two local Democratic lawmakers want to make it tougher to ban books in school libraries.
State Representatives Jenny Willford, Northglenn and Lorena Garcia of unincorporated Adams County, are co-spon-
sors of SB25-063, would create safeguards against book bans in public school libraries, say the lawmakers. e measure passed the House Education Committee this week by a 7-5 vote. e bill would require local school boards to establish a written policy on the acquisition, use, and removal of library materials. “ is policy wound ensure that any removal or restriction of a library resource follows a clear, fair and consistent process,” according to a Democratic Party news release.
Without a policy in place, a local school board or the Charter School Institute could not remove a library resource from
its collection, according to the legislation. SB25-063 would also prevent discriminatory polices and protect librarians from retaliation, the news release states. Willford and Garcia said the bill would protect books from the political restorms now engul ng the nation.
“Banning books only harms our students, and it’s never been more important to preserve access to literature in our public schools,” said Willford, in the news release. “Knowledge is power, and schools shouldn’t take that away from students. Schools are for learning, and this important bill insulates our public libraries from D.C. culture wars and political ghts by
creating a fair process to evaluate a book’s inclusion or removal from a library.”
“When we ban books in our schools, we’re erasing the identities and perspectives of diverse thinkers and cultural thought-leaders from society,” said Garcia in the news release. “We’re ghting back against attempts to remove books from libraries and silence the voices of marginalized people. e freedom to read is a cornerstone of democracy and muzzling what literature our students are exposed to is a slippery slope. When students have access to age-appropriate books that cover all topics, they’re more likely to be wellinformed and critical thinkers.”
BY TAMARA CHUANG THE COLORADO SUN
Number of unsellable condos grows in state
HOAs trying to limit monthly condo fees opt for higher insurance deductibles, more deferred maintenance. But that puts the property on a list that may prevent buyers from getting a conventional loan.
e Town Homes at Meadow Hills homeowners association dots the i’s and crosses the t’s when it comes to keeping the community shipshape. “ ings like insurance, landscaping, snow removal — everything to keep our property up. We don’t do deferred maintenance. If we have an issue, we address it right away,” said board president Randy Garlington, who owns one of the 46 townhouses adjacent to the Meadow Hills Golf Course in Aurora. So, it was a bit concerning when he recently learned that a decision the board must make in May could impact owners planning to sell their units. A growing number of condo properties nationwide are ending up on a mortgage blacklist because they don’t meet requirements for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which set the standard for conventional loans and touch 70% of the U.S. home mortgage market.
One requirement is that the community’s property insurance deductible can be no more than 5%. Any higher and condo owners won’t be able to sell their units to buyers who are using conventional loans, the most common loan available. Buyers can still pay cash, or use more expensive alternatives, like seller nancing or FHA and VA loans. But a higher deductible was a negotiating tool Garlington had hoped to use
before the property’s insurance renews in May. e premium unexpectedly tripled last year, forcing the Meadow Hills HOA to raise monthly condo fees by more than 60% — an extra $200 a month to $525. He hoped to avoid that this year and wanted to ask insurance brokers, “What if we take on some of the higher risk?”
He doesn’t know if Meadow Hills is on Fannie Mae’s so-called blacklist. e list is only accessible by mortgage lenders. Condo owners and buyers often don’t nd out until a buyer is rejected for a loan, though there could be other reasons for that. Fannie Mae o cials did not respond to questions.
“Now that you’ve said that, we’ve had a couple of units that have had a tough time selling,” Garlington said. “I don’t know why other than anecdotally. One has complained a little bit because our HOA dues are as high as they are. But our HOA dues are as high as they are because of our insurance.”
Colorado ranked third for ineligible properties
A recent Wall Street Journal story called it a “Secret Mortgage Blacklist.” With 210 properties, Colorado ranked third in the U.S. for states with the most condo projects blacklisted by Fannie Mae as of February, according to Boston law rm Allcock & Marcus.
Florida led the way with 1,398 properties while California was second, at 695.
ere were 5,175 total. But local news stories began popping up two years ago, with 1,400 properties on the list in April 2023 and growing that same year to more than 2,300 by October.
Most local lenders seemed to roll their eyes while talking about it. One called the Wall Street Journal story “sensationalized,” because the list has been around for years. It’s a list of non-warrantable properties, which doesn’t quite roll o the tongue.
e blacklist moniker has increased awareness in a market where many condo owners, potential buyers and even real estate agents, HOAs and homeowners insurance agents are unaware of the issue.
Sunny Banka, a longtime Realtor in the Aurora and Denver area, knew about it. She said that her team has run into the blacklist. But they don’t nd out until an o er is made.
“We don’t know until you get into the documents and sometimes it’s so buried that you don’t realize it’s a problem,” Banka said. Her daughter and business partner just had a property under contract that was rejected by the lender because it was non-warrantable. She steered the buyer to another condo.
“Buyers can’t buy them. ere’s a lot of them out there that are dealing with this very issue,” Banka said. “ e prices of condos might be very low and they are very a ordable, but the HOA fees and taxes are outrageous. I have a two-
bedroom, two-bath condo listed for $212,000 with a garage. It needs work. It needs appliances. ere’s pink carpet. e HOA fee is $514 a month plus there’s a recreational fee that’s $35.” e list became a focus after 98 people were killed in the Champlain Towers condo collapse in south Florida in 2021. e tragedy was blamed on the failure of the building’s aging structural columns, which were compromised over time. e collapse is still under investigation, but Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac updated their own policies as a result.
To qualify for conventional loans now, a condo complex must have completed critical deferred maintenance, have a cash reserve of at least 10% of the HOA’s annual budget, and maintain insurance to cover 100% replacement cost. A policy o ering just actual cash value for insured items, like a roof, would make the property ineligible for a conventional loan. ere’s also the 5% maximum deductible.
e list helps lenders understand which properties are in or out of compliance for conventional loans — and that’s critical for the mortgage industry, said Dawn McDonald, a regional account executive at Towne Mortgage, a wholesale lender that works with mortgage brokers and then resells the loans to larger companies like Chase, AmeriSave and Fannie Mae.
Thu 4/10
Gambling Trip – Lodge Casino @ 9am Offsite, 6060 E Parkway Drive, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Global Sips and Savories (4/10) @ 10am
Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Casa Bonita (4/10)
@ 11am
Offsite, 6060 E Parkway Drive, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Colorado Rockies vs. Milwaukee Brewers @ 1:10pm Coors Field, Denver
Brett Hendrix: The StilleryWestminster @ 9pm
The Stillery, 10633 Westminster Blvd #900, Westminster
Sat 4/12
Teens: VR Social @ 12pm
Fort Lupton Community / Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Avenue, Fort Lupton. 303-8574200
Brett Hendrix: The StilleryWestminster @ 9pm
The Stillery, 10633 Westminster Blvd #900, Westminster
Jono Zalay: Comic Cents Comedy Club @ 9:15pm License No. 1, 2115 13th St, Boulder
Sun 4/13
Colorado Mammoth vs. Saskatchewan Rush @ 2pm
Ball Arena, Denver Eric Golden @ 5pm
The Stillery, 10633 Westminster Blvd #900, Westminster
Mon 4/14
Wed 4/16
Mystery Trip @ 10am Offsite, 6060 E Parkway Drive, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
SNP Rap Battles + Statik G @ 7pm
Trailside Saloon, 10360 Colorado Blvd, Thorn‐ton
100 Things to Do Before You're 12 @ 10am
Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Colorado Avalanche vs. Vancouver Canucks @ 7pm Ball Arena, Denver
Fri 4/11
Little Sparks: April @ 10am Apr 11th - Apr 25th
Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Junior Jam - Rainbow get together @ 6pm
Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Colorado Rapids vs. San Diego FC @ 7:30pm
DICK'S Sporting Goods Park, Com‐merce City
Brick-A-Mania @ 6pm
Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Tue 4/15
SOAR Unmounted Therapeutic Horsemanship @ 10am
Apr 15th - May 20th
Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Frame by Frame Film Series @ 1pm
Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Park‐way Dr., Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Spill the Tea (4/15) @ 2pm
Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies @ 7pm Ball Arena, Denver
Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Teague Starbuck @ 7:30pm The Glenn Bar & Grill, 11140 Irma Dr, Northglenn
Illuminate Westy History @ 3pm
College Hill Library, 3705 West 112th Avenue, Westminster. wpl-intouch@ westminsterco.gov, 303-658-2604
Poetry and performance workshop for adults @ 4:30pm Anythink Huron Street, 9417 Huron Street, Thornton. swhitelonis@anythin klibraries.org, 303-452-7534
Brighton Networking Professionals- Axe Throwing @ 5pm
Lizzie's Axe Throwing - Brighton, 343 South Main Street, Brighton. eric theredmlo@gmail.com, 303-659-0223
Thu 4/17
Denver Auto Show @ 11:30am Offsite, 6060 E Parkway Drive, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
4/17 Monthly Birthday Celebration! @ 1pm
Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Park‐way Dr., Commerce City. 303-289-3760
1. TELEVISION: Who had a 1980s workout video series called “Sweatin’ to the Oldies”?
1. ANATOMY: What is heterochromia?
3. GEOGRAPHY: What is a chain of islands called?
4. FOOD & DRINK: What is Canada’s national dish?
5. HISTORY: When was Facebook launched?
6. MEASUREMENTS: What is the shortest wavelength in the visible light spectrum?
7. U.S. STATES: Which state has the most miles of interstate highway?
8. MOVIES: What type of sh is Nemo in the animated lm “Finding Nemo”?
9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which month is designated as National Ice Cream Month in the United States?
TrIVIa
10. SCIENCE: How long does it take for the International Space Station to orbit the Earth?
Answers
1. Richard Simmons.
2. When the colored part of the eyes (irises) are two di erent colors.
3. Archipelago.
4. Poutine (French fries, cheese curds and gravy).
5. 2004.
6. Violet.
7. Texas.
8. Clown sh. 9. July.
10. 90 minutes.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
to adopt or show evidence of having in effect to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. For more information on the proposed flood hazard determinations and information on the statutory 90-day period provided for appeals, please visit FEMA’s website at www.fema. gov/plan/prevent/fhm/bfe, or call the FEMA Mapping and Insurance eXchange (FMIX) toll free at 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627).
Legal Notice No. BSB 3156
First Publication: April 10, 2025
Last Publication: April 17, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
City of Brighton
Public Notice
ORDINANCE NO. INTRODUCED BY: Fiedler
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BRIGHTON, COLORADO, APPROVING THE WATERTOWER PLACE
ZONING MAP AMENDMENT FOR AN APPROXIMATELY 14.727 ACRE PROPERTY, GENERALLY LOCATED TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE BRIGHTON FIRE RESCUE DISTRICT STATION 52, SOUTH OF EAST
BRIDGE STREET, WEST OF SOUTH 42ND AVENUE AND EAST OF SOUTH 40TH AVENUE, MORE PARTICULARLY LOCATED IN THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 10, TOWNSHIP 1 SOUTH, RANGE 66 WEST OF THE 6TH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, CITY OF BRIGHTON, COUNTY OF ADAMS, STATE OF COLORADO
WHEREAS, Columbo II LLC (the “Owner”) is the owner of approximately 14.727 acres of real property located in the City of Brighton, more specifically described in EXHIBIT A, attached hereto, and incorporated herein (the “Property”); and
WHEREAS, the Owner has requested approval of the Watertower Place Zoning Map Amendment, attached hereto as EXHIBIT B (the “Zoning Map Amendment”); and
WHEREAS, City Staff used the criteria for a Zoning Map Amendment as outlined in the Land Use & Development Code for its review and procedures related to the application; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on February 13, 2025, to review and consider the application pursuant to the applicable provisions and criteria set forth in the Land Use & Development Code, and provided a recommendation of approval to the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the City Council opened a public hearing on March 18, 2025, where it conducted its review and considered the application pursuant to the criteria set forth in Section 2.03(B) of the Land Use & Development Code; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the public notice requirements of the Land Use & Development Code, a notice of public hearing was mailed to all property owners within 1,000 feet of the Property, a public notice was published on the City’s website, and a sign was posted on the Property, all for no less than fifteen (15) days prior to the City Council public hearing; and
WHEREAS, at the public hearing, the City Council received and considered all relevant evidence and testimony from City staff, the Owners, and other interested parties, including the public at large; and NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
BRIGHTON, COLORADO, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Findings. The City Council finds and determines that the Zoning Map Amendment: (1) is in accordance with the goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan; (2) will support development in character with existing or anticipated development in the area; (3) describes Property which is able to be served by the City and/or other agencies; (4) will serve a community need, amenity, or development that is not possible under current zoning nor anticipated at the time of initial zoning of the Property; and (5) is being recommended for approval by the Development Review Committee.
Section 2. The Property is hereby rezoned C-2 and R-2, as more particularly set forth in EXHIBIT B, and supersedes any existing zoning on the Property.
Section 3. The City Zoning Map shall be amended to reflect the changes set forth in this ordinance.
Section 4. As provided in City Charter Section 5.9(A), this Ordinance either as presented or as amended, shall be published in full as it was adopted prior to taking final action. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect five days after its final publication, as provided in City Charter Section 5.8, except as set forth herein.
INTRODUCED, PASSED ON FIRST READING, AND ORDERED PUBLISHED, THIS 1ST DAY OF APRIL 2025.
CITY OF BRIGHTON, COLORADO /s/ GREGORY MILLS, Mayor
ATTEST:
/s/ NATALIE HOEL, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
/s/ YASMINA GIBBONS, Deputy City Attorney
Legal Notice No. BSB3799
First Publication: April 10, 2025
Last Publication: April 10, 2025 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Metropolitan
Districts
Public Notice
AVISO DE CANCELACIÓN DE ELECCIONES Y DECLARACIÓN CERTIFICADA DE RESULTADOS
DISTRITO METROPOLITANO BRIGTHON CROSSING NOS. 5, 6 Y 8
POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA, de conformidad con el §1-13.5-513(6), C.R.S., que, al cierre de operaciones el 4 de marzo de 2025, no había más candidatos que cargos por cubrir, incluidos los candidatos que presentaron declaraciones juradas de intención de ser candidatos por escrito, para cada uno de los Distritos Metropolitanos Brighton Crossing Nos. 5, 6 y 8 (colectivamente, los “Distritos”). Por lo tanto, quedan canceladas las elecciones para los Distritos del 6 de mayo de 2025.
Se declaran electos por aclamación los siguientes candidatos para cada Distrito:
Christopher Bremner hasta mayo de 2029
Lyndsey Paavilainen hasta mayo de 2029
Brad Wilkin hasta mayo de 2029
/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie
Representante electoral designado Persona de contacto para los distritos: Blair M. Dickhoner, Esq.
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WAL-
DRON
Attorneys at Law
2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122
(303) 858-1800
Legal Notice No. BSB3774
First Publication: April 10, 2025
Last Publication: April 10, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Public Notice
NOTICE OF INDEPENDENT MAIL BALLOT ELECTION TO BE CONDUCTED BY SILVER PEAKS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 5 ON MAY 6, 2025
PURSUANT TO §§ 1-13.5-1105(2)(d), 1-13.5-502, C.R.S.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the Silver Peaks Metropolitan District No. 5, Weld County, Colorado (the “District”).
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election
will be held Tuesday, May 6, 2025 for the purpose of: authorizing the imposition of property taxes and the issuance of debt; and submitting questions regarding the collection, retention and spending of revenues.
This election shall be conducted as a special district independent mail ballot election only. Ballots will be distributed by U.S. Mail to all active registered electors of the District no earlier than April 14, 2025, and no later than April 21, 2025. The address for application and return of mail ballots is Silver Peaks Metropolitan District No. 5, c/o Law Office of Michael E. Davis, LLC, 1151 Eagle Drive, Suite 366, Loveland, CO 80537, Attn: D.E.O.. Ballots must be received at this location by 7:00 p.m. on May 6, 2025 to be counted.
Ballot Issues Certified by the District include:
• Silver Peaks Metropolitan District No. 5 Ballot Issue AA (Property Tax Limit Waiver)
• Silver Peaks Metropolitan District No. 5 Ballot Issue BB (Mill Levy Increase Waiver)
Legal Notice No. BSB3795
First Publication: April 10, 2025 Last Publication: April 10, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
NOTICE OF INDEPENDENT
MAIL BALLOT ELECTION TO BE CONDUCTED BY ADAMS EAST METROPOLITAN DISTRICT ON MAY 6, 2025
PURSUANT TO §§ 1-13.5-1105(2)(d), 1-13.5-502, C.R.S.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the Adams East Metropolitan District, Adams County, Colorado (the “District”).
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held Tuesday, May 6, 2025 for the purpose of: authorizing the imposition of property taxes and the issuance of debt; and submitting questions regarding the collection, retention and spending of revenues.
This election shall be conducted as a special district independent mail ballot election only. Ballots will be distributed by U.S. Mail to all active registered electors of the District no earlier than April 14, 2025, and no later than April 21, 2025. The address for application and return of mail ballots is Adams East Metropolitan District, c/o Law Office of Michael E. Davis, LLC, 1151 Eagle Drive, Suite 366, Loveland, CO 80537, Attn: D.E.O.. Ballots must be received at this location by 7:00 p.m. on May 6, 2025 to be counted.
Ballot Issues Certified by the District include:
Adams East Metropolitan District Ballot Issue AA (Property Tax Limit Waiver)
• Adams East Metropolitan District Ballot Issue BB (Mill Levy Increase Waiver)
Legal Notice No. BSB3791 First Publication: April 10, 2025 Last Publication: April 10, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
AVISO DE CANCELACIÓN DE ELECCIÓN Y DECLARACIÓN CERTIFICADA DE RESULTADOS
DISTRITO METROPOLITANO BRIGTHON CROSSING NO. 7
POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA, de conformidad con el §1-13.5-513(6), C.R.S., que, al cierre de operaciones el 4 de marzo de 2025, no había más candidatos que cargos por cubrir, incluidos los candidatos que presentaron declaraciones juradas de intención de ser candidatos por escrito, para cada uno de los Distritos Metropolitanos Brighton Crossing Nro. 7 (el “Distrito”). Por lo tanto, se cancelan las elecciones del 6 de mayo de 2025 para el Distrito.
Los siguientes candidatos son declarados electos por aclamación:
Jason Erdmann hasta mayo de 2029
El siguiente cargo sigue vacante:
VACANTE hasta mayo de 2029
VACANTE hasta mayo de 2029
/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie
Representante electoral designado
Persona de contacto para los distritos: Blair M. Dickhoner, Esq.
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WAL-
DRON
Attorneys at Law
2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122
(303) 858-1800
Legal Notice No. BSB3772
First Publication: April 10, 2025
Last Publication: April 10, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
NOTICE OF INDEPENDENT MAIL BALLOT ELECTION
BRIGHTON RIDGE
METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2 TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2025
NOTICE is hereby given that an independent mail ballot election will be held by Brighton Ridge Metropolitan District No. 2, in the City of Brighton, County of Adams, State of Colorado (the “District”) on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
This election will be conducted as an independent mail ballot election only. Mail ballots will be mailed to eligible electors between April 14, 2025 and April 21, 2025.
DROP-OFF LOCATION AND HOURS:
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WAL-
DRON Office of the Designated Election Official 2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122
Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., April 14, 2025 through May 5, 2025, and Tuesday, May 6, 2025 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The names of persons nominated as Director to serve until May 2027 (one seat to be voted upon):
THERE ARE NO CANDIDATES FOR THIS OFFICE
The names of persons nominated as Director to serve until May 2029 (two seats to be voted upon):
BLAKE AMEN PAIGE LANGLEY
Ballot Issues to be voted upon:
Ballot Issue A(De-TABOR)
By:/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie
Designated Election Official
Legal Notice No. BSB3786
First Publication: April 10, 2025
Last Publication: April 10, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
NOTICE OF REGULAR ELECTION SILVER PEAKS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 7 MAY 6, 2025
1-13.5-1105(2)(d), 1-13.5-502 C.R.S.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly to the eligible electors of the Silver Peaks Metropolitan District No. 7 (the “District”) of the Town of Lochbuie, Weld County, Colorado.
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a regular election is to be held on Tuesday, the 6th day of May, 2025, and that said election shall be conducted by mail ballot. Accordingly, ballots will be distributed by U.S. Mail not earlier than April 14, 2025, and not later than April 21, 2025, to eligible electors of the District entitled to vote in the election. The purpose of the election is to submit to the eligible electors of the District referenced above, the election of members of the Board of Directors, and the voting of certain ballot issues and/or ballot questions concerning taxes, debt, revenue, and spending summarized below, as applied to the District.
At said election, the eligible electors of the District shall vote for up to three Directors to serve on the Board of Directors of the District.
The names of the persons nominated for Director to serve a four-year term (20252029) are:
There are no candidates for this Office.
At said election, the electors of the District shall vote for the following Ballot Issues and Ballot Questions certified by the District:
BALLOT ISSUE A (Waiver of Property Tax Limit)
Eligible electors may apply for new or replacement mail ballots and return voted mail ballots to the office of the Designated Election Official which is also the ballot drop-off/walk-in voting location: at Spencer Fane LLP, 1700 Lincoln Street, Suite 2000, Denver, Colorado 80203. The office of the Designated Election Official is open Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. from April 14, 2025, through May 5, 2025, and from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on May 6, 2025 (Election Day). Please contact the office of the Designated Election Official at (303) 839-3800 to coordinate walk in voting or drop off of ballots. By: /s/ Courtney Linney, Designated Election Official
Public Notice
AVISO DE CANCELACIÓN DE ELECCIÓN Y DECLARACIÓN CERTIFICADA DE RESULTADOS
DISTRITO METROPOLITANO
BRIGHTON CROSSING NO. 4
POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA, de conformidad con el §1-13.5-513(6), C.R.S., que, al cierre de operaciones el 4 de marzo de 2025, no había más candidatos que cargos por cubrir, incluidos los candidatos que presentaron declaraciones juradas de intención de ser candidatos por escrito, para cada uno de los Distritos Metropolitanos Brighton Crossing Nro. 4 (el “Distrito”). Por lo tanto, se cancela la elección del Distrito del 6 de mayo de 2025.
Los siguientes candidatos para el Distrito se declaran electos por aclamación:
JOHN STRIDER hasta mayo de 2029
DAVID ZIRINSKY hasta mayo de 2029
El siguiente cargo sigue vacante:
VACANTE hasta mayo de 2027
VACANTE hasta mayo de 2029
/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie
Representante electoral designado
Persona de contacto para el distrito: Blair M. Dickhoner, Esq.
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON
Attorneys at Law 2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122 (303) 858-1800
Legal Notice No. BSB3770
First Publication: April 10, 2025
Last Publication: April 10, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Public Notice
NOTICE OF CANCELATION OF ELECTION
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Hi-Land Acres Water and Sanitation District (“District”) Adams 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 writein candidates; therefore, the election to be held on May 6, 2025 is hereby canceled pursuant to section 1-13.5-513 (1), C.R.S.
Susan Findling
4-year term May 2029
Jim Roos
4-year term May 2029
/s/ Sue Blair
Designated Election Official
Contact Person for the District:
Sue Blair, Designated Election Official Community Resource Services 7995 E. Prentice Avenue, Suite 103E Greenwood Village, CO 80111
303.381.4960 (voice) 303. 381.4961 (fax) sblair@crsofcolorado.com
Legal Notice No. BSB3790
First Publication: April 10, 2025
Last Publication: April 10, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Public Notice
NOTICE OF INDEPENDENT MAIL BALLOT ELECTIONS TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE HIGHLANDS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOS. 1-5 ON MAY 6, 2025 PURSUANT TO §§ 1-13.5-1105(2)(d), 1-13.5-502, C.R.S.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the The Highlands Metropolitan District Nos. 1-5, Weld County, Colorado (collectively, the “Districts”).
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that elections will be held
And,
At
First
NOTICES
Christopher Bremner
Until May, 2029
Lyndsey Paavilainen
Until May, 2029
Brad Wilkin Until May, 2029
/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie
Designated Election Official
Contact Person for the Districts: Blair M. Dickhoner, Esq.
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON
Attorneys at Law
2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122 (303) 858-1800
Legal Notice No. BSB3773
First Publication: April 10, 2025
Last Publication: April 10, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
AVISO DE ELECCIÓN INDEPENDIENTE CON VOTO POR CORREO
BRIGHTON RIDGE
METROPOLITAN DISTRICT N.º 1 MARTES 6 DE MAYO DE 2025
Therefore, the election for the District to be held on May 6, 2025 is hereby cancelled.
The following candidates are declared elected by acclamation:
Jason Erdmann Until May, 2029
The following offices remain vacant:
VACANT Until May, 2029
VACANT Until May, 2029 /s/ Ashley B. Frisbie
Designated Election Official
Contact Person for the Districts:
Blair M. Dickhoner, Esq.
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON
Attorneys at Law
2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122 (303) 858-1800
Legal Notice No. BSB3771
First Publication: April 10, 2025
Last Publication: April 10, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
AVISO DE CANCELACIÓN DE ELECCIÓN REGULAR POR EL FUNCIONARIO
ELECTORAL DESIGNADO PARA EL RIVERDALE PEAKS II METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
POR ESTE MEDIO SE DA AVISO por parte del Riverdale Peaks II Metropolitan District, Adams County, Colorado, que al cierre de operaciones del día sesenta y tres (63) antes de la elección no había más candidatos para Director que cargos por cubrir, incluidos candidatos que presentaron declaraciones juradas de intención de ser candidatos por escrito; por lo tanto, se cancela la elección a celebrarse el 6 de Mayo de 2025.
Se declaran elegidos los siguientes candidatos:
Jason Jose
Término de cuatro años [4]
Annette Peters Término de cuatro años [4]
VACANT Término de dos años [2]
VACANT Término de dos años [2]
FECHADO este 27th día de Marzo de 2025.
RIVERDALE PEAKS II
Se AVISA por la presente que Brighton Ridge Metropolitan District n.º 1 de la ciudad de Brighton, condado de Adams, estado de Colorado (el “Distrito”) hará una elección independiente con voto por correo el martes 6 de mayo de 2025.
Esta votación se hará solo como una elección independiente con voto por correo. Las boletas se enviarán por correo a los votantes elegibles entre el 14 de abril de 2025 y el 21 de abril de 2025.
LUGAR Y HORARIO DE ENTREGA:
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON Office of the Designated Election Official2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122
De lunes a viernes, entre las 8:00 a.m. y las 5:00 p.m., del 14 de abril de 2025 al 5 de mayo de 2025, y el martes 6 de mayo de 2025, entre las 7:00 a.m. y las 7:00 p.m.
Nombres de los candidatos a director para ocupar el cargo hasta mayo de 2027 (un puesto que se elegirá por votación): NO HAY CANDIDATOS PARA ESTE PUESTO
Nombres de los candidatos a director para ocupar el cargo hasta mayo de 2029 (dos puestos que se elegirán por votación):
BLAKE AMEN
PAIGE LANGLEY
Asuntos sobre los que se votará en la boleta electoral:
Asunto de la votación A (Exención de TABOR)
Por:/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie Representante electoral designada Legal Notice No. BSB3785 First Publication: April 10, 2025 Last Publication: April 10, 2025 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
NOTICE OF INDEPENDENT MAIL BALLOT ELECTION TO BE CONDUCTED BY SOUTH BEEBE DRAW METROPOLITAN DISTRICT ON MAY 6, 2025 PURSUANT TO §§ 1-13.5-1105(2)(d), 1-13.5-502, C.R.S. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the South Beebe Draw Metropolitan District, Adams and Weld County, Colorado (the “District”).
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held Tuesday, May 6, 2025 for the purpose of: authorizing the imposition of property taxes and the issuance of debt; and submitting questions regarding the collection, retention and spending of revenues.
This election shall be conducted as a special district independent mail ballot election only. Ballots will be distributed by U.S. Mail to all active registered electors of the District no earlier than April 14, 2025, and no later than April 21, 2025. The address for application and return of mail ballots is South Beebe Draw Metropolitan District, c/o Law Office of Michael E. Davis, LLC, 1151 Eagle Drive, Suite 366, Loveland, CO 80537, Attn: D.E.O.. Ballots must be received at this location by 7:00 p.m. on May 6, 2025 to be counted.
BRIGHTON CROSSING METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 4
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 Brighton Crossing Metropolitan District No. 4 (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:
JOHN STRIDER Until May, 2029
DAVID ZIRINSKY
Until May, 2029
The following offices remain vacant:
VACANT Until May, 2027
VACANT Until May, 2029
/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie
Designated Election Official
Contact Person for the District: Blair M. Dickhoner, Esq.
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WAL-
DRON
Attorneys at Law
2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122 (303) 858-1800
Legal Notice No. BSB3769
First Publication: April 10, 2025
Last Publication: April 10, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF REGULAR ELECTION BY THE DESIGNATED ELECTION OFFICIAL FOR THE RIVERDALE PEAKS II METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Riverdale Peaks II Metropolitan District, Adams County, Colorado, that at the close of business on the sixty-third (63rd) 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 cancelled.
The following candidates are declared elected:
Jason Jose 4-Year Term
Annette Peters 4-Year Term
VACANT 2-Year Term
VACANT 2-Year Term
DATED this 27th day of March, 2025.
RIVERDALE PEAKS II METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
David Solin
Designated Election Official
Legal Notice No. BSB3775
First Publication: April 10, 2025
Last Publication: April 10, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
NOTICE OF REGULAR ELECTIONS ALTAMIRA METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOS. 1-4
MAY 6, 2025
1-13.5-1105(2)(d), 1-13.5-502 C.R.S.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly to the eligible electors of the Altamira Metropolitan District Nos. 1-4 (the “Districts”) of the Town of Lochbuie, Weld County, Colorado.
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that regular elections are to be held on Tuesday, the 6th day of May, 2025, and that said elections shall be conducted by mail ballot. Accordingly, ballots will be distributed by U.S. Mail not earlier than April 14, 2025, and not later than April 21, 2025, to eligible electors of the Districts entitled to vote in the elections. The purpose of the election is to submit to the eligible electors of the Districts referenced above, the election of members of the Boards of Directors, and the voting of certain ballot issues and/or ballot questions concerning taxes, debt, revenue, and spending summarized below, as applied to the District.
Street, Suite 2000, Denver, Colorado 80203.
The office of the Designated Election Official is open Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. from April 14, 2025, through May 5, 2025, and from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on May 6, 2025 (Election Day). Please contact the office of the Designated Election Official at (303) 839-3800 to coordinate walk in voting or drop off of ballots.
By: /s/ Courtney Linney, Designated Election Official
Legal Notice No. BSB3801
First Publication: April 10, 2025
Last Publication: April 10, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
AVISO DE CANCELACIÓN DE ELECCIONES y DECLARACIÓN CERTIFICADA DE LOS RESULTADOS
DISTRITO METROPOLITANO DE PARKLAND NROS. 1-3
POR EL PRESENTE SE INFORMA, según § 1-13.5-513(6), C.R.S., de que, al cierre de operaciones el 4 de marzo de 2025, no había más candidatos que cargos a ocupar, incluyendo los candidatos que presentaron declaraciones juradas de intención para ser candidatos por escrito, para cada uno de los Distritos Metropolitanos de Parkland Nros. 1-3 (colectivamente, los “Distritos”). Por lo tanto, se cancelan las elecciones para los Distritos del 6 de mayo de 2025.
Se declaran electos por aclamación los siguientes candidatos para cada Distrito:
Thomas P. Morton hasta mayo de 2029
Creighton Dale Veldhuizen hasta mayo de 2029
Conley Hampten Street hasta mayo de 2027
/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie
Representante electoral designada
Persona de contacto para los Distritos: Zachary P. White, Esq.
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON
Abogados
2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122 (303) 858-1800
Legal Notice No. BSB3783
First Publication: April 10, 2025
Last Publication: April 10, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
AVISO DE CANCELACIÓN DE ELECCIÓNES
Y DECLARACIÓN CERTIFICADA DE RESULTADOS
DISTRITOS METROPOLITANOS DE PROMONTORY NOS. 2 Y 3
POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA, de conformidad con el § 1-13.5-513(6), CRS, que, al cierre de operaciones el 4 de marzo de 2025, no había más candidatos que cargos por cubrir, incluidos los candidatos que presentaron declaraciones juradas de intención de ser candidatos por escrito, para cada uno de los Distritos Metropolitanos de Promontorio Nos. 2 y 3 (colectivamente, los “Distritos”). Por lo tanto, quedan canceladas las elecciones para los Distritos del 6 de mayo de 2025.
Los siguientes candidatos para cada Distrito se declaran electos por aclamación:
Jimmy Ogé
Hasta mayo de 2027
George R. Hanlon, Jr.
Hasta mayo de 2029
Don Summers Hasta mayo de 2029
Tucker Hanlon
Hasta mayo de 2029
/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie
Representante electoral designado
Persona de contacto para los distritos: Blair M. Dickhoner, Esq. WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON
Abogados
2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000
Centennial, Colorado 80122
(303) 858-1800
Legal Notice No. BSB3778
First Publication: April 10, 2025
6, 2025 are hereby cancelled.
The following candidates for each of the Districts are declared elected by acclamation:
Thomas P. Morton
Until May 2029
Creighton Dale Veldhuizen
Until May 2029
Conley Hampten Street
Until May 2027
/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie
Designated Election Official
Contact Person for Districts:
Zachary P. White, Esq.
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON
Attorneys at Law
2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000
Centennial, Colorado 80122
(303) 858-1800
Legal Notice No. BSB3782
First Publication: April 10, 2025
Last Publication: April 10, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Public Notice
NOTICE OF INDEPENDENT MAIL BALLOT ELECTION TO BE CONDUCTED BY ALTAMIRA METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 5 ON MAY 6, 2025
PURSUANT TO §§ 1-13.5-1105(2)(d), 1-13.5-502, C.R.S.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the Altamira Metropolitan District No. 5, Weld County, Colorado (the “District”).
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held Tuesday, May 6, 2025 for the purpose of: authorizing the imposition of property taxes and the issuance of debt; and submitting questions regarding the collection, retention and spending of revenues.
This election shall be conducted as a special district independent mail ballot election only. Ballots will be distributed by U.S. Mail to all active registered electors of the District no earlier than April 14, 2025, and no later than April 21, 2025. The address for application and return of mail ballots is Altamira Metropolitan District No. 5, c/o Law Office of Michael E. Davis, LLC, 1151 Eagle Drive, Suite 366, Loveland, CO 80537, Attn: D.E.O.. Ballots must be received at this location by 7:00 p.m. on May 6, 2025 to be counted.
Ballot Issues Certified by the District include:
•Altamira Metropolitan District No. 5 Ballot Issue AA (Property Tax Limit Waiver)
•Altamira Metropolitan District No. 5 Ballot Issue BB (Mill Levy Increase Waiver)
Legal Notice No. BSB3792
First Publication: April 10, 2025 Last Publication: April 10, 2025 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
NOTICE OF INDEPENDENT MAIL BALLOT ELECTION
BRIGHTON RIDGE
METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 1 TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2025
NOTICE is hereby given that an independent mail ballot election will be held by Brighton Ridge Metropolitan District No. 1, in the City of Brighton, County of Adams, State of Colorado (the “District”) on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
This election will be conducted as an independent mail ballot election only. Mail ballots will be mailed to eligible electors between April 14, 2025 and April 21, 2025.
DROP-OFF LOCATION AND HOURS:
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON Office of the Designated Election Official 2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122
Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., April 14, 2025 through May 5, 2025, and Tuesday, May 6, 2025 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The names of persons nominated as Director to serve until May 2027 (one seat to be voted upon):
THERE ARE NO CANDIDATES FOR THIS OFFICE
DISTRICT NOS. 2 AND 3 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 each of the Promontory Metropolitan District Nos. 2 and 3 (collectively, the “Districts”). Therefore, the elections for the Districts to be held on May 6, 2025 are hereby cancelled.
The following candidates for each District are declared elected by acclamation: Jimmy Ogé Until May, 2027
George R. Hanlon, Jr. Until May, 2029 Don Summers Until May, 2029
Tucker Hanlon Until May, 2029 /s/ Ashley B. Frisbie
Designated Election Official Contact Person for the Districts: Blair M. Dickhoner, Esq. WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON Attorneys at Law 2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122 (303) 858-1800
Legal Notice No. BSB3777
At said election, the eligible electors of the Districts shall vote for up to two Directors to serve on the Boards of Directors of the Districts.
Ballot Issues Certified by the District include:
BRIGTHON CROSSING METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOS. 5, 6 AND 8
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 each of the Brighton Crossing Metropolitan District Nos. 5, 6 and 8 (collectively, the “Districts”). Therefore, the elections for the Districts to be held on May 6, 2025 are hereby cancelled.
The following candidates for each of the Districts are declared elected by acclamation:
Legal Notice No. BSB3794 First
NOTICE
The names of the persons nominated for Director to serve a four-year term (20252029) are:
There are no candidates for this Office.
At said election, the electors of the Districts shall vote for the following Ballot Issues and Ballot Questions certified by the Districts: BALLOT ISSUE A (Waiver of Property Tax Limit)
Eligible electors
location:
Spencer Fane LLP, 1700 Lincoln
Last Publication: April 10, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF ELECTIONS and CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS PARKLAND METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOS. 1-3
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 each of the Parkland Metropolitan District Nos. 1-3 (collectively, the “Districts”). Therefore, the elections for the Districts to be held on May
The names of persons nominated as Director to serve until May 2029 (two seats to be voted upon):
BLAKE AMEN PAIGE LANGLEY
Ballot Issues to be voted upon:
Ballot Issue A(De-TABOR)
By:/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie Designated Election Official
Legal Notice No. BSB3784
First Publication: April 10, 2025 Last Publication: April 10, 2025 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
AND RESCUE EQUIPMENT; AND,
• REPLACING OUTDATED EMERGENCY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT TO COMPLY WITH FCC REGULATIONS; AND, ADDING FIRE ENGINES, AMBULANCES, AND OTHER EMERGENCY SERVICES VEHICLES; AND,
PROVIDING TRAINING ON LIFE-SAV-
ING MEDICAL AND OTHER EMERGENCY RESPONSE TECHNIQUES TO PROMOTE FIREFIGHTER AND CITIZEN SAFETY; AND,
• ENSURING FINANCIAL DIVERSITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY BY MAKING THE MOST CURRENT DISTRICT BUDGET AND INDEPENDENT ANNUAL AUDIT AVAILABLE TO EVERY TAXPAYER ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE; PROVIDED, THAT THE SALES TAX WILL EXCLUDE ALL TRANSACTIONS ON SALES OF FOOD FOR DOMESTIC HOME CONSUMPTION, PRESCRIPTIONS, DIAPERS, FEMININE PRODUCTS, AND SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, AND ALL OTHER CATEGORIES EXEMPT FROM STATE SALES TAX COLLECTION (PURSUANT TO TITLE 39, ARTICLE 26, PART 7, C.R.S.), SUCH SALES TAX TO BE IN ADDITION TO ALL OTHER TAXES LEVIED BY THE DISTRICT AND THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH SALES TAX AND INVESTMENT INCOME THEREON, REGARDLESS OF AMOUNT, TO BE COLLECTED AND SPENT BY THE DISTRICT AS A VOTER APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION, AND ANY
Notice to Creditors
CONDOS
“We might only be lending to one condo unit, but we’re lending on the stability of the entire HOA community,” McDonald said. “ at’s why they (Fannie Mae) warrant the project and not just the unit. When there’s deferred maintenance, they could cause safety and structural issues. It could cause issues with the HOA’snancial stability. ose are some of the whys behind how condos are getting on the list.”
She also reviews the list with some skepticism. She does her own research since some properties may have resolved their issues.
“Some make the list as approved and some make it as not reviewed at all. So we as the lenders have to review them for acceptability,” McDonald said. “And then some make it as unavailable, which means that Fannie has said that (the condo properties) don’t meet their requirements. And a lot of them are getting on that list because of the deductible issue.”
Nicole Rueth, founder of mortgage lender e Rueth Team in Denver, said the majority of loans for condos she’s seeing now have challenges meeting the Fannie Mae requirements. She is seeing deductibles at 8% and 10%, which automatically puts a property on the list.
“I had a conversation with one HOA management company and I said, ‘You know, this is going to be a problem for every buyer that wants to come in and for every seller who wants to sell to a conventional buyer.’ And she said, ‘Well, the buyers just need to nd a di erent lender because the only lender that has a problem with this is Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.’ I had to laugh because I’m like, you
don’t understand how big that statement just was. at’s a problem. ey don’t understand,” Rueth said. “It’s an attempt to o set increased property taxes, increased cost of maintenance, increased cost of labor, increased costs of everything.”
Owners can still sell their condo or townhome. But their buyers must nd alternative nancing, such as all cash or a hard loan from a private lender. FHA loans from the Federal Housing Authority and VA loans for veterans are also OK but can be less exible and more expensive.
“Condominiums are supposed to be the entry point to access home ownership for those that struggle with a ordability. It used to be that they would appreciate and they would give you equity,” Rueth said. “And now it’s regretfully created such a burden on that rst-time homebuyer.”
Why condos are in this pickle
e number of properties on the list started increasing more rapidly after 2022, the year annual in ation peaked and home prices set records. When home values rise, the cost for insurers to replace them goes way up, too. e impact? Skyrocketing homeowners insurance premiums, which in turn raised HOA fees. Predictably, some HOAs tried to avoid the increase by upping insurance deductibles or deferring maintenance.
“I’ve been in the business for 30, 35 years and we’ve always had to look closely at condominiums,” said Je rey Beattie, president and CEO of Alliance Mortgage Group in Centennial. “ e insurance piece has never really been a problem. But within the last year or so, it’s become a huge problem in Colorado because of the cost of insurance and what the homeowner associations are doing to keep those premiums down.”
While the blacklist is accessible to the mortgage industry, anyone can scan real
estate listings on Zillow to see which condos have nance terms that are cash only. Another sign is when the complex has a lot of rentals, which Fannie frowns on, too.
High homeowners insurance premiums in the past two years are often credited to climate disasters and damage from wild res and hailstorms that have pummeled Colorado homes. Premiums rose nearly 60% between 2018 and 2023, according to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Association. But there’s also in ation, large lawsuit settlements and the higher cost to rebuild housing.
Aurora-based Service Plus Community Management, which manages about 45 HOAs mostly in the Denver and Aurora area, has an insurance broker speak to its HOA boards every year. ey’ve seen insurance premiums “that have doubled or tripled or more in the last two years,” said Todd Larson, who started Service Plus eight years ago.
Several of his HOAs are on Fannie Mae’s ineligible list for reasons that include deductibles that are too high, too few owner-occupied units, years of deferred maintenance and low reserve funds, like one with $10,000 “and they really need a million,” he said. Some already had those problems when he started the company in 2017.
It’s a challenge for HOAs to keep up with new regulations, he added. “Fannie and Freddie have really been a moving target. Since the Champlain Towers collapsed, they’ve really changed how they do things. And as community managers we don’t really get a lot of those updates,” he said. “I don’t even know that (insurance) brokers know.”
Even engaged owners willing to do the research and investigate all options are coming up short. Garlington, the president of the Meadow Hills HOA, said that
after last year’s insurance rate hike, they tossed ideas around, including what if every owner got their own insurance?
“We did not nd it was less expensive,” he said, not to mention the “brain damage” for the board if it had to manage 46 policies.
What is being done
Condo communities have unique challenges, said Carole Walker, RMIA’s executive director.
“ e liability associated with condominiums has really pushed a lot of the standard commercial insurers out,” Walker said. “What you’ve seen as the surplus lines market, which is the higher risk market, has moved into the space, that does impact costs because those policies are many times higher and they have higher deductibles.”
Walker owns a condo and is on the HOA board. She recommends that associations shop around and look for experienced insurance brokers who know the ins and outs of the loan requirements. Her HOA has its own insurance committee.
e Community Associations Institute, which represents HOAs and self-governing associations, is working with the Mortgage Bankers Association and Community Home Lenders to urge changes, “especially to the insurance deductible requirement and the replacement value coverage for roofs for condominium buildings,” said Dawn Bauman, CAI’s chief strategy o cer.
A study is underway by the Colorado Division of Insurance to look at the availability and a ordability of insurance for owners associations and come up with recommendations, including looking at “captive insurers” that are owned and controlled by condo owners. e study will be released Jan. 1.
