KIDS CELEBRATE EASTER
Bennet sets o campaign struggle — for Senate
Senator’s entrance into governor’s race ignites shadow campaign
BY JESSE PAUL
THE COLORADO SUN
Michael Bennet, Colorado’s senior U.S. senator, announced April 11 that he will run for governor in 2026, entering the race as the de facto favorite and igniting a power struggle among the state’s top Democrats over who will be appointed to his seat in Washington if he wins.
“I think we can address many of the challenges that people are facing — from housing to education to health care and mental health care — and also make Colorado a model for the rest of the country,” Bennet said in an interview with e Colorado Sun
ahead of his announcement.
Bennet was appointed to the Senate in 2009 by then-Gov. Bill Ritter and is now in his third term. A graduate of Yale Law School, he previously served as superintendent of Denver Public Schools and chief of sta to then-Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. Hickenlooper went on to be governor and is now a fellow U.S. senator.
Before rising in Democratic politics, Bennet worked for the conservative billionaire Phil Anschutz as part of the Denver businessman’s investment arm.
Bennet is the second big-name Democrat to jump into the gubernatorial race.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser an-
nounced his candidacy at the start of the year.
e senator, who lives in Denver, plans to remain in the U.S. Senate while he campaigns for governor, saying he’s con dent he will be able to do both jobs at once.
“I am going to continue to work tirelessly to both ful ll my responsibility to Colorado and to continue to help lead the battle against Donald Trump,” he said. “I have run for o ce before while I’ve been in this job. To be really honest, my schedule doesn’t change very much when I’m running for o ce versus when I’m not.”
State’s fight against ozone turns to long term
Colorado asks EPA to downgrade status to ‘severe’
BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN
Colorado is giving up on meeting mandates for controlling toxic ozone in the next few years, while doubling down on plans that recently passed rules will start to make an impact by 2032.
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment o cials say they are asking the federal EPA to preemptively downgrade the Front Range ozone nonattainment zone to “severe” from the current “serious” violation standard, when judged by the 2015 ozone cap of 70 parts per billion.
Recent updated computer modeling of Front Range air shows continuing violations closer to 80 parts per billion, according to Regional Air Quality Council Executive Director Mike Silverstein. e RAQC is an advisory board and not a policy-making agency, but was briefed by the state about the downgrade request. at means Colorado isn’t projected to meet even the more lax 2008 standard of 75 parts per billion before 2027, Silverstein added.
Yes, it’s confusing: e nine northern counties included in the nonattainment area are on parallel but di erent schedules to cut lungdamaging ozone, one schedule whose clock started with the 2008 regulations and another schedule launched with the tighter 2015 standards.
e bottom line is Colorado is failing on both tracks.
For the 2008 track, Colorado has submitted to the EPA for approval an improvement plan aimed at getting closer to the 75 ppb standard by 2027. On that 2008 track, Colorado has already been downgraded to “severe” violations.
e rst year of monitoring actual ozone for that plan was 2024, “and we didn’t start o well in our rst year,” Silverstein said.
Lane, Colt, and Stella pause from hunting for the golden egg to pose for a photo with Ms. Bunny at Fort Lupton’s Easter Egg Hunt. See more photos on page 5. PHOTO BY BELEN WARD
Great Plains Fields of Honor open through Saturday
STAFF REPORT
Volunteers turned Fort Lupton’s Pearson Park into an emotional display of patriotism and a grand thank you to the area’s veterans and rst responders.
e annual Great Plains Field of Honor returned to Fort Lupton for the sixth year on April 23, opening in Fort Lupton’s Pearson Park to display more than 1,000 individually dedicated ags and plenty of opportunity to visit and tell stories.
e display remains open through April 26, opening from noon to 8 p.m. ursday and Friday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
A closing ceremony is scheduled at 1 p.m. Saturday feauturing a yover by military aircraft, a reenactment by the Bu alo Soldiers, an honor guard and music and speakers.
e display feautures specially dedicated ags purchased by residents to memorialize family that served in the U.S.military and worked as rst responders, including police and re ghters. Families and friends can pay to sponsor a ag with a dedication card by registering online and including a photograph of the honoree. Sponsorship costs $10 and the family gets to keep the dedi-
cation card. ey can register online at https://form.jotform.com/220936230187151. ey can also register for sponsorshjip and take the ag home for $25 online at this link: https://www.jotform.com/ build/240364280805150.
Proceeds from the ag sponsorships all go to bene t a di erent group each year. is year, the bene ciary is Rampart Search and Rescue, a 60-member strong search and rescue resource for Adams and Lincoln counties.
Bike Brighton’s Full Moon rides return for 2025
Monthly bike rides to various parks around the city that are timed to coincide with full moons return to Brighton for 2025.
Full Moon Bike Rides are family-friendly rides that are also suitable for advanced riders. All riders will begin at the same time, but ride organizers can split faster riders into separate groups during the route, if needed. Snacks will be provided after each ride, along with a few bicycle-related giveaways.
Bike Brighton’s 2025 Full
Moon Bike Rides o cially started back up on April 12 with the 5.6 mile Pink Moon ride that took riders from Kennith Mitchel Park to Benedict Park. e program continues in May with the May 12 Flower moon ride and a special May 21 Ride of Silence. e Ride of Silence is a free ride that asks cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph, wear helmets, follow the rules of the road and remain silent during the ride. e ride, which is held during National Bike Month, aims to raise awareness that cyclists have a legal right to the
public roadways. e ride is also a chance to show respect for and honor the lives of cyclists who have been killed or injured.
Maps of the routes and signup information are available on the city’s website at https:// www.brightonco.gov/3133/ Full-Moon-Bike-Ride-2025. e monthly rides continue through September 7. e rides all begin and end at Brighgton’s City Hall south parking lot, 500 S. 4th Ave., with registraiton at 5:30 p.m. Rides are all scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., weather permitting.
All participants must sign a waiver prior to their rst ride. is signed waiver is good for all Bike Brighton rides and events through December 31, 2025.
Prior to beginning each ride, Bike Brighton o cials will conduct a short talk about rules, safety, and fun sights along the route.
Helmets and bike lights are strongly recommended. Each rider is also encouraged to bring their own water bottle during warmer months.
Questions should be directed to Amanda Aburto at alaburto@brightonco.gov.
Weld County Planning Commission seeks volunteers
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Weld County Government is seeking applications for the Planning Commission, a county board that is tasked with guiding and deciding future land use development for the Weld County. ere are three open volunteer position with the Weld County Planning Commission. To be considered, applicants must live in the geographic area at the time of appointment through their term. If you
State takes over Bishop Well incident
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Weld County handed management for the response to the Bishop Well incident near Galeton to the state, the county announced April 16.
Weld County o cial said the incident no longer requires emergency incident command. e Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission has taken over regulatory oversight of the Chevron Bishop Well incident from Weld County and will continue to coordinate and provide information to the public, according to an April 16 statement from the state.
On April 6 the Bishop Well barriers lost control over the pressure, resulting in an uncontrolled ow — called a blowout — of uids. Contractors working for Chevron UIC secured the well and location by April 11. During the blowout, uids – including water, oil, and gas– were discharged from the well, according to o cials. O cials reported that the team immediately worked on air monitoring conducted at and around the well site, as well as in the evacuation zone. By April 7, results were below levels of concern for public health. Work was completed to recover and remove liquids from the site. e experts focused on securing the site using equipment to stop the oil release from the well, according to an April 8 update, according to o cials.
Air quality monitoring was in place to continue assessing air quality, and the results remain below concerning levels, so the containment and removal of liquids are ongoing.
Certi ed wildlife biologists were on-site to monitor the safety of the Bald Eagle nest located 1.6 miles southeast of the well pad. According to o cials, the biologists surveyed the area within a mile radius of the pad for any additional raptor nests. e Colorado state statutory agencies such as the Oil and Gas Conversation Act and the Energy and Carbon Management Commissionregulate and investigate oil and gas operations, incidents of oil and gas spills and its clean up, according to o cials.
Chevron is also required to investigate oil and gas spills and clean up from incidents. ECME will be the oversite to review Chevron’s work plans, its process of remedying the situation, and monitor. Under ECMC requirements Chevron is required to submit its initial spill and accident report, according to o cials.
have land-use planning, real estate, and construction your experience would be handy, according to o cials.
According to o cials, the members conduct hearings with the public on zoning any concerns of land issues, review applications on development and proposed amendments to county policies, and bring ideas and recommendations to the Board County of Commission on development land use such as planning, zoning, and subdivision. ere is one opening for an
at-large member of the planning commission. At-large seats are open to any Weld County resident, regardless of district.
ere are also two district seats open for District 4 and District 6. e District 4 representative must live in Kersey, Gill, Barnesville, Evans or parts of Greeley east of 14th Avenue. is district also covers portions of school districts RE-7 and RE-6.
e District 6 representative must live in Roggen, Keenesburg, Hudson, Masters,
Dear eld, Fort Lupton, Brighton or Weldona. District 6 includes school districts RE-3J, RE-50J, RE-8, RE-27J and RE-20J.
e Planning Commission meets once a month, on the rst Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. Regular attendance and preparation for meetings are required to present ideas and informed recommendations. Applications are being accepted through April 30, 2025. To learn more about these opportunities and apply, visit www.weld.gov/go/boardopenings.
e reports can be viewed at https://ecmc.state.co.us/library. html?utm_medium=email&utm_ source=govdelivery#/special_projects/ bishop.
In addition, ECMC will inspect Chevron’s work and its contractors and consultants as well as collect samples of evidence of environmental impact and improvement with cleanup that meets the requirement standards by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and other agencies.
Also, Chevron is required to communicate with the agencies and communities’ transparency of the status of clean up, according to o cials.
Flags will fill Fort Lupton’s Pearson Park through this weekend, honoring veterans and first responders. FILE PHOTO
STAFF REPORT
Next Week Colorado Homeowners Will Receive Updated Property Valuations From Their County Assessors
During the first week of May in every odd numbered year, Colorado’s county assessors are required to notify every property owner of the full valuation which the assessor has assigned to each property. Unless revised downward through the statemandated appeal process, that valuation will be the basis of the property tax charged for that year and the following year.
The valuation you receive by letter or postcard is the assessor’s best guess as to what your property might have sold for on June 30th of the previous (even-numbered) year. That assumes, however, that the condition of your home is the same on Jan. 1st of this year and next year as it was on June 30th of last year. If your house is bigger or smaller as of January 1st, that year’s valuation and therefore your property taxes must be adjusted accordingly.
The system actually depends on your participation in correcting the assessor’s valuation which was the result of a computer-driven “mass appraisal” system, because there’s no way that the assessor’s staff of human appraisers could create a valuation for every home in the county. Those appraisers will, however, read or listen to your appeal of the valuation which their system generated for your home.
Bottom line, therefore, is that you owe it to yourself and to the county to help the assessor come up with the proper valuation for your home.
The county assessors are expected to make it easy for property owners to determine wheth-
er they guessed correctly at your home’s value on June 30th of last year. For Adams County, your first step to take is to visit the assessor’s website, https://assessornovs.adcogov.org/ adamscountynovs, where you enter the Account Number from the Notice of Valuation which you received by mail.
If your home is in a different county, Google that county assessor’s website and the process should be similar to what I describe below.
On the assessor’s web page for your home, you should be able to look for qualified comparable sales that occurred during the eligible period, which is the 24 months prior to June 30, 2024.
Remember above all, the intention is to determine what your home was worth on June 30, 2024, not what it is worth today! Your taxes for both 2025 and 2026 will only be based on what your home was worth back then! The only adjustment would be if you home is physically different on January 1st of each year because of, for instance, it was burned to the ground or had an addition built.
If you find a good comp to use in your appeal, you need to “time adjust” its sale price. Time adjustment is based on how much homes increased in value during those 24 months. The county assessor will announce the average percentage increase in values from June 30, 2022 to June 30, 2024 for Adams County. (I suspect it’ll be about 2%.) Divide that by 24 months, to determine the increase in values for residential properties per month. That “time adjusted” price is what you would need to cite in your appeal.
Note: If, by chance, you bought your home on or close to June 30, 2024, don’t assume that
Celebrate Earth Day With Free Film Screenings This Saturday
The Colorado Environmental Film Festival (CEFF), which I wrote about and co-sponsored in February, returns to the Green Center on the Colorado School of Mines campus this Saturday, April 26th, 1 to 3 pm, for a screening of two environmental films. Admission is free, although a contribution of $12 or more is encouraged.
The first film is Peaks to Prairie and is described as follows: “In Boulder County, an ambitious initiative harnesses the power of nature to combat climate challenges in the peaks and prairie ecosystem. As megafires rage across the Western U.S., millions of acres of nearby agricultural prairies remain degraded, stripped of the nutrients vital for a thriving landscape. To address these challenges, three ecological partners—Boulder Watershed Collective, Grama Grass & Livestock, and Boulder Mushroom—have come together in a pioneering effort to restore the land.”
The second film is Common Ground (43 minutes). It’s described as follows: “From the creators of Kiss the Ground (CEFF’s 2021 Best of the Fest), this eye-opening film explores the regenerative farming movement and its potential to heal the soil, reverse climate change, and restore human health. Featuring passionate farmers, activists, and thought leaders, Common Ground offers a hopeful vision for the future of our planet— and the role we all play in shaping it.”
The screenings are followed by an audience chat “to dive deeper into the stories, themes, and action steps from each film.”
The Green Center is located at 924 16th Street in downtown Golden. Street and lot parking is free on weekends. I put a link for ordering tickets for as little as $0 on our blog, http://RealEstateToday.substack.com. There are trailers you can click on for each film.
Lennar to Build 1,500 Denver Area Homes Using Geothermal Energy
Lennar, one of the nation’s biggest home builders, announced recently that it is going to build 1,500 homes in the Denver area using geothermal energy to heat and cool them. It’s likely that these will be all-electric homes, although that was not mentioned, since gas will not be needed for space or water heating.
Dandelion Energy is the builder’s partner in the project, using heat pumps to extract heat from the ground in the winter and to extract heat from the homes in the summer. Each home will have its own individually drilled geothermal wells, which surprised me. If the homes are close together, a community geothermal system might make more economic sense.
The goal is to complete the 1,500 homes by the end of 2026, making it the largest residential deployment using geothermal so far.
This nicely updated and well-maintained condo at 10259 W. 55th Drive is in the Skyline Estates subdivision east of Kipling between the campus of Red Rocks Community College’s Arvada campus and the athletic fields on 58th Avenue. When you look out the bedroom window or from the enclosed patio between mature evergreen trees, all you see in greenbelt, a children’s playground and those athletic fields. No traffic noise, just the sounds of birds enjoying our spring weather! This condo is in great condition, as you’ll see when you come to my open house this Saturday, April 26th,
your purchase price will be the assessor’s valuation of your home, because, regardless of what you paid for your home on June 30, 2024, its valuation is based on what eligible comps indicate it should have sold for. Your home will be only one of three comps that you can use in your appeal.
Using the procedure described above, it’s possible that your home was valued correctly, but if it was overvalued, you need to appeal using a form that you can probably find on the assessor’s website.
Your form is due in the assessor’s office by June 8, 2025, so you’ll want to mail it by June 1st if you can’t deliver it in person to the assessor’s office. My recommendation is always to request an in-person meeting with the assessor’s office. You can make an appointment or just show up and wait in line. You’ll be notified of the result of your appeal by August 15th.
Spend some time surfing around the assessor’s website to learn about the appeal process, including further appeals if the assessor’s office doesn’t respond favorably to your appeal.
This Ad Will Appear Bi-Weekly Instead of Weekly, Starting This Week
Writing the articles for this full-page “advertorial” has been my privilege and passion for over two decades, but I have decided to give myself a break and publish every other week instead of weekly so I can devote more time to my thriving real estate practice and family life. All 26 newspapers in which it appears have graciously allowed me to make this change, and I look forward to having next week “off”! Look for me to return every other week starting now. On those “off” weeks, including May 1st, I’ll be publishing half-page ads on related topics. In next week’s ad, I start a series on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Look for it on this page.
All counties are supposed to follow the rules for determining the full valuation of your home and for you to appeal the assessor’s determination, but there is variation, especially in the county websites, so please forgive any errors!
My Mustang EV Is a Fine Replacement for My Tesla
A couple months ago, I reported that I had traded in my Tesla Model Y (which I loved) for the Ford Mustang Mach E after testdriving multiple other brands, including Chevrolet, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia and Nissan. Now that I’ve put 1,000 miles on my Mustang, and knowing that many readers may be thinking of trading in their Teslas, I thought it time to play automotive critic and write a review of the Mustang.
A few years ago, I spent 2 weeks driving an F-150 Lightning, which I liked, so I knew I would like the Mustang. Its “BlueCruise” hands-free driving, which only works on divided highways, is quite nice, but not worth (to me) the $50/month subscription fee after my three months’ free trial. It’s nowhere near as nice as Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)” which I reviewed favorably in my Nov. 21, 2024, column and which costs twice times as much ($99 per month or $8,000 purchase).
Without “BlueCruise,” there is lane-keeping and adaptive cruise control which can be used on city streets and arterials. The lanekeeping is not as effective as in the Tesla, wandering to the very edges of lanes instead of keeping strictly to the center, and it gives out on sharper curves, which Tesla is great at. But what I prefer about Ford’s lane-keeping is that it’s automatic. When I break the lanekeeping to change lanes, it locks into the new lane without me having to set it again.
The adaptive cruise control is much better than Tesla’s, because when the posted speed limit changes, it automatically resets the set speed. Since I set it for 10 mph over the speed
limit, when it resets, it sets the new speed control accordingly. Not true on the Tesla.
My favorite feature is the “1-Pedal” setting for driving. This uses regenerative braking to slow down the car at a good rate when you release the accelerator pedal. And when it comes to a stop, it holds the car whether on an incline or not. The best thing about it is that once I have set it to “1-Pedal” driving, it is already set every time I drive. (It’s not the factory default setting, which is with minimal regenerative braking and unwanted “creep” as if you were driving a conventional car.)
The “frunk” is not as big as in any Tesla, but it’s bigger than other brands of EV, some of which have no front storage at all.
Like the newer Teslas, there is no need for a key fob (although they give you two), because your phone is your key. Instead of door handles, you touch a button above each door, which pops the door open enough to pull on it. There’s a smartphone app. It’s useful, but not as complete as Tesla’s.
There’s an EV round-up happening in the Arvada United Methodist Church’s lot at 68th and Carr St. this Sunday, April 27, from 9 to noon. I’ll have my car there if you’d like to get a closer look. Also, I wrote more about it at http://RealEstateToday.substack.com
Charities Which Used Our Free Box Truck Miss It. Our GoFundMe Campaign Is Off to a Good Start.
Back in February, I announced that our truck needed a new engine and other repairs and that we decided to retire it instead. This was a big loss to such non-profits as Operation Feed the Troops, Family Promise, BGoldN, Christian Action Guild, Buffalo Bill Days, and the International Rescue Committee, among others, which used the truck more often than our clients!
The truck is off the road but still available to be repaired. So far, we’ve received over $2,000 in donations. If you’d like to contribute, visit www.BringItBack.info. Thanks!
Review:
Reclaiming St. Francis Volmar Cemetery
Neighbor working to maintain forgotten plot gets help from family
A group of relatives and members of Knights of Columbus have stepped forward to help care for an aging graveyard northwest of Fort Lupton.
Bill Knox, 93, a neighbor of the abandoned St. Francis Volmar Cemetery near Fort Lupton, said he’s spent many years caring for the cemetery, trimming weeds and picking up trash. His grandson, Andrew Mockerman has been helping him to clean up the cemetery, too, Knox said.
“What we are doing is digging all the sand out around the perimeter, and the fence is buried on the west side with three feet of sand, so we have to haul it away,” Knox said.
Knox even managed to take over the deed in his e ort to locate a family, neighbors or a willing volunteers to care for the forgotten plot.
Now that e ort has been paid o .
News of Knox’s search for relatives came to the attention of Fort Lupton and Brighton Knights of Columbus who have stepped forward to help him take on the project and help preserve and care for the cemetery.
“If the Knights of Columbus takes it on as a project. It’s going to be great,” Knox said. “So, one thing led a person to another, and Trudy Wise from Fort Lupton has a lot to do with it and was the rst one who came out to see the cemetery after the newspaper article.”
Knox said Dr. Holly Norton from the State Archeologist is working on trying to nd a grant to bring in the Ground Penetrating Radar machine that can search for buried bodies.
Rallying the Knights
Cesar Espinoza with the Brighton Knights of Columbus said he was talking to his aunt and asking her why the St. Francis Volmar cemetery was so unkempt. e tiny memorial markers are regularly hidden behind giant tumbleweeds as tall
eight feet. It’s an ugly place, he said.
“ e last time I went to the cemetery was 20 years ago when my grandfather died. He used to go out there every year to clean my grandmother’s grave site, but then he passed away, and nobody else went out after that,” Espinoza said. “I told my aunt, I’m going to look into it and see if I could bring the Knight to Columbus to help revitalize that cemetery.”
Espinoza said while speaking to a priest in Fort Lupton, a church secretary, overheard their conversation and suggested he check with Mr. Knox.
“She said, he’s investigating that cemetery, and there’s a chance that he might be getting a grant to help him x that it,” Espinoza said.
Knox said he met Espinoza and his Aunt Teresa Garcia, who also lives in Volmar, at the cemetery after he had cleaned it o .
“We started talking about the cemetery and Cesar brought up the subject he belonged to Knights of Columbus and
would love to get involved with the project,” Knox said. “So, he invited me to come and talk to the people.”
Knox said the meeting warmed his heart. An o ce manager at Fort Lupton St. Williams Catholic Church had already been talking to the Fort Lupton Knights about the cemetery and Mr. Knox’s plans.
Fort Lupton Knights of Columbus member Joe Hogelin said he met Espinoza.
“So, a couple of days later, three of us drove out to the site and looked around the cemetery,” Hogelin said. “We felt that we should team up with our brothers, the Knights in Brighton, and make a big group e ort to help restore this cemetery because it is sacred ground; people are buried there and they need to be.
“It just needs to be cleaned up, and this is part of what the Knights are all about. And we are so happy to be involved with the Brighton Knights of Columbus council to help remedy the situation to make it look better as it should be.”
His Brighton compatriots agreed.
“I am very pleased; this is a nice project, and it helps us connect with the community, you know, both the past community and the future community, so it will bring everyone together. It’s a great thing to do, so looking forward to it,” said Brighton Knight of Columbus Clark Musser.
Ruth Ann Garcia, another relative of Espinoza, said that her grandfather and several cousins are buried at St. Francis Volmar Cemetery.
“Unfortunately, my older relatives have passed already, and they’re not buried out
there. But you know, it’s hard to get that information, but I do know for sure my grandfather is buried there. My husband Raymond’s mom is also buried at St. Francis Cemetery.”
Espinoza is originally from Ventura, California but his family is originally from Volmar.
“My mom was born in Volmar in 1931. She would have been the same age as Mr. Knox and passed away about four years ago,” Espinoza said. “She went to school with Mr. Knox at the same schoolhouse and my grandmother’s Elvira Torrez was buried at St. Francis in 1957. She married Pedro Garcia, and they’ve lived there since the early 20s.”
Espinoza said his grandfather Garcia lived in a house in Volmar at the end of a hill facing east where the railroad used to go through.
“My mom says all the migrants who farmed the sugar beets would come on the train, and they would dump sugar beets on the train,” he said. “ ere used to be 70 families that lived in Volmar, and it was my grandfather who gave them half a lot of land for them to build the church there, La Sagrada Familia, the holy family church. It was my uncles that built it until it nally fell in about 1995.”
Moving forward
Espinoza said the Knights are in the planning stages, but are con dent they project has the council’s backing.
“I brought it up to the council, because we are a Catholic fraternal men’s organization, and it’s a Catholic cemetery, they want to get behind it, and help Mr. Knox facilitate it, through donations,” he said. “Whatever we raise in donations, it’s going to go directly to Mr. Knox and the cemetery. e Brighton and Fort Lupton Knights Council are going to match the funds so that it doubles, triples his funds.” If interested donated to preserve the cemetery contact Cesar Espinoza, the Brighton Knights of Columbus at 303 6590661. ey are located at 1096 East Bridge St. in Brighton.
The Brighton and Fort Lupton Knights of Columbus meet Bill Knox. Left to right back: Chris Lubahn, Mario Castillo, Antonio Lucero, and George Rangeo. Left to right front: Bob Heumann, Clark Musser, Cesar Espinoza, Bill Knox, Joe Hogelin, and Bob McClaren. PHOTOS BY BELEN WARD
A grave where an unidentified child was buried in the St. Francis Vollmar Cemetery in Weld County
Fort Lupton Easter Egg Hunt a sure sign of spring
BY BELEN WARD
Ms. Bunny got a ride with the Fort Lupton Fire Department and hopped over into Fort Lupton Community Park at the Recreation Center for its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 12, delighting the hundreds of kids who came to nd the golden egg and win a special prize.
Outpost Calvary Chapel served up some fresh co ee and donuts. Fort Lupton High School had a fundraiser selling fresh breakfast burritos. Ms. Bunny also
took free photos with families and kids.
Meanwhile, parents were asked to participate in a survey that asked what they love most about Fort Lupton.
“We are asking people for their opinions about Fort Lupton on what they love about Fort Lupton, but most importantly, what they want to see here in 25 years,” said Michelle Magelssen economic development manager.
e kids participated in a survey themselves, voting on photos of different kinds of playground equipment they’d like to see added to Koshio Park during an upcoming renovation.
As soon as the horn blew children scattered to find the golden egg. PHOTO BY BELEN WARD
Camila Esqueda and Aislynn Esqueda found a few eggs. PHOTO BY BELEN WARD
Michelle Magelssen economic development manager with a family that is putting their opinions on the board about what they would like to see in Fort Lupton. PHOTO BY BELEN WARD
Sophia and Leanna having fun filling their baskets with eggs. PHOTO BY BELEN WARD
Caraveo wants to retake the 8th District seat
Unseated congresswoman tosses hat in ring for a northern Colorado rematch
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Yadira Caraveo wants to reclaim her 8th Congressional District seat by taking on Republican Gabe Evans, who defeated her in November.
Caraveo, a pediatrician, on Tuesday announced her candidacy in next year’s mid-term election saying Evans has shown he has little interest in representing the people of the 8th Congressional District, which includes much of Adams County and portions of Weld County.
“I know how hard it is for working families to make ends meet; my parents raised me right here in Adams County on my dad’s construction worker pay and I worked my way through college and went on to medical school,” said Caraveo in a news release. “ e 8th District deserves a
representative who’s looking out for them but Gabe Evans has already shown that he will always put Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and his MAGA backers in Washington rst.”
Caraveo was the rst representative of CO-08 when it was newly drawn in 2022, becoming Colorado’s rst Latina member of Congress. She narrowly won the CD-8 seat in 2022 and then lost to Evans in November by less than 2,500 votes. Evans, by ipping the seat, helped the GOP achieve a narrow majority in the House of Representatives.
“I can’t stand by while Gabe Evans tries to rip away health care from tens of thousands of Coloradans, including the very families I served as a pediatrician, and make life harder for working families,” Caraveo said in her statement. “Now more than ever, Coloradans need a leader who will stand up for them and do the right thing – I’m ready to continue doing just that.“
State Rep. Manny Rutinel and John Szemler of ornton have also said they want to run in the Democratic primary race in a bid to eventually unseat Evans, according to Colorado Public Radio.
Eyes on Evans
e DCCC, the House Democrats’ campaign arm, has listed Evans as one of their top targets in the mid-terms, according to CPR.
Evans is a former Arvada police o cer and Army veteran. He also served in the state House before running for Congress.
e DCCC has been critical of Evans for not holding in-person town halls and supporting the GOP’s budget resolution, which calls for a $880 million cut for the Energy and Commerce committee. It’s a cut that many claim can only happen if the committee cuts Medicaid.
Evans has said no decisions have been made regarding cuts to Medicaid but that the waste and corruption within the fund is going to be targeted.
e House Republicans’ campaign arm and GOP leadership are expected to back Evans during the midterms and that the freshman Congressman is doing what his constituents want.
NRCC spokesman Zach Bannon said Evans “is putting the people of Colorado rst, and voters will send him back to Congress next fall,” according to CPR.
Colorado State Patrol urges prom-goers to buckle up
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
It takes a lot of moxie to get the out t, make the reservations and the vehicle, say Colorado State Troopers. But do you have the guts to tell your prom date to buckle up?
Buckling up the single most e ective took to protect yourself in a vehicle crash, and last year, Colorado State Troopers responded to 3,577 at-fault crashes for drivers aged 16-21; 310 of those happened during April 2024, the beginning of the traditional prom season in Colorado, according to the State Patrol.
Having a passenger while driving can divide or pull a driver’s attention. In fact, troopers found distracted driving to be the top crash causal factor for 16–21-year-olds in May of 2024, said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol, in the news release.
“Make sure you and your date have a fun time and a safe time. Buckle up and remind your date to do it too,” Packard said.
Seat belt use in Colorado is increasing with the current usage rate of 88%, the highest rate observed in the past 10 years. Unfortunately, teens are the lowest age demographic group to buckle up. Being properly restrained reduces your risk of injury by 50% and death by up to 65%, according to the news release.
“Troopers have heard several excuses from ‘I forgot’ to ‘It was wrinkling my outt’,” said Packard. “Safety devices aren’t optional. And, on an evening when you are excited, out driving late, or have a passenger, you need to take responsibility with the privilege of your license.”
Lap and shoulder belts prevent ejection from vehicles and keep people from colliding with the vehicle interior during a crash, according to the State Patrol. When worn properly, seat belts protect
drivers and passengers by spreading the force of impact across a body’s strongest parts and keep occupants from being ejected from the vehicle.
It’s also important that everyone in the vehicle wears a seat belt. Unbelted occupants can put other people in the vehicle at risk. e unbelted person can be thrown around the vehicle with great force and strike the other passengers, according to the news release.
Yadira Caraveo, who lost Colorado’s 8th Congressional District seat to Republican Gabe Evans in November, said she wants another chance to win the seat in the 2026 mid term election FILE PHOTO
Colorado State Patrol starting a campaign to make sure prom couples are buckled up COURTESY
Hourly rates increase but premium spots drops by $5
Airport parking rates rising in May
Denver International Airport is hiking parking fees at some of the airport’s parking lots while cutting the price of Premium Reserve parking starting May 14.
e changes have come as parking management and shuttle costs at DEN have increased by an average of 44.5% over the past three years, according to a Denver International Airport news release. Airport o cials looked at parking rates at airports in other major cities as well as the rates of nearby o -airport parking facilities before arriving at the new gures.
e last time DEN increased parking rates was July 15, 2022, the news release states.
“Increasing parking fees will allow DEN to continue investing in its parking facilities and further enhance the customer experience,” DEN Senior Vice President
Regional Air quality group o ering rebates to replace gas-powered yard tools
Colorad’o’s Regional Air Quality Council’s Mow Down Pollution program is teaming up with Adams County and the cities of Westminster, Commerce City, ornton, Northglenn and Brighton to let residents trade in old gas-powered mowers for vouchers to help purchase a new, clean electric alternative.
Gas-powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers, string trimmers and other gas powered tools are the Front Range’s third largest source of ground-level ozone causing pollutants, according to the air quality council.
While lawn mowers have small engines, they lack major emissions control devices and have an oversized impact on our air
of Parking and Commercial Transportation Mark Nagel said in the news release.
“Our investments include improved lighting, accessibility upgrades and enhanced security features.”
Increased parking fees will also allow DEN to continue to maintain competitive rates for its airlines, so they continue to add ights, bene ting local commu-
nities, the news release states. e rate increase is expected to generate more than $3 million in additional revenue per month.
DEN o cials say they are committed to o ering a diversity of transportation options to and from the airport. RTD buses and trains provide regular service at DEN. Additionally, the Colorado Depart-
ment of Transportation’s Bustang Outrider service provides transit between DEN and communities on Colorado’s Eastern Plains.
For more information on DEN Parking, including parking facility locations and real-time availability, visit https://www. ydenver.com/parking-and-transportation/parking-lots/.
Mower trade-in at Bison Ridge April 26
quality. One hour of running a gas-powered mower creates as much pollution as driving a car 300 miles, according to an air quality council statement.
“Replacing gas-powered mowers with electric alternatives is one of the low-hanging fruit for solving the Front Range’s air quality problems,” said Jacob LaBure, Program Manager for the RAQC. “ is is an action that everyone who owns a mower can take to help reduce air pollution.”
e air quality council is hosting its spring trade-in event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 26 at Commerce City’s Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E 112th Ave. in Commerce City e trade-in event is open to residents of Westminster, Commerce City, Northglenn, Brighton, or unincorporated Adams County.
Residents can get a $200 voucher for veri ed residents who turn in their gas mower to be recycled. A separate, statefunded 30% point of sale discount, and manufacturers’ discounts can also be
stacked onto the savings. ese programs combined reduce the cost of a $449.99 mower to only $79.99. A variety of brands and models will be available for purchase.
To qulaify for the $200 rebate, residents must bring in a gas-powered mower to
recycle and proof of residency such as a photo ID with current address or piece of mail and other photo ID. Limited vouchers are available and will be rst come, rst served.
Other discounts are available to everyone.
neighborhoods are lighting up every day with ALLO’s fiber-optic service. If you’re in the green, schedule your installation today. If we’re heading to your neighborhood, sign up for services now to reserve a priority installation date.
Brighton
The parking rates in this table are e ective starting May 14, 2025.
There are opportunities in state’s school spending plan
As superintendents of two school districts deeply committed to academic excellence, equity, and community well-being, we believe in speaking up when opportunity knocks.Opportunity is knocking now.
Colorado’s new school funding formula, enacted through House Bill 25-1320, is not just a long-overdue x to a broken system. It represents a fundamental shift toward fairness, need-based funding, and student-centered investment.
In its very rst year, the formula is projected to bring $2.4 million in additional state funding to Mapleton and $1.1 million in additional funding to Westminster. at is real money that will make a real di erence for real students. Even our neighboring districts with declining enrollment will fare better under this new model than under the old formula.
ese are di cult times, especially with so many districts in Colorado experiencing declining enrollment. No district
Ileader wants to make sta ng cuts, and we empathize with our colleagues across the state who are navigating these decisions. But the new nance formula is not responsible for these cuts, and it represents the best opportunity for Colorado students at the present time. e truth is that Colorado has underfunded education for decades. at chronic neglect, not the new formula, is
Resistance and grit, in the service of others
want to take a moment to tell you about a hero few know.
Virginia Hall was born into a well-to-do family in 1909. She desperately wanted to be a part of the Foreign Service, so she left the comfort of her Baltimore home to study in Europe. Eventually, in the early 1930s, she took a clerical job in the U.S. Embassy in Poland. After relocating to a similar role in Turkey, Hall lost her left leg below the knee in a hunting accident and received a wooden prosthetic leg. She named her prosthesis “Cuthbert,” explaining that something that was going to be with her forever needed “a name”, and after a short convalescence, she continued to pursue her Foreign Service dream.
After being blocked multiple times from entering the U.S. diplomatic service, she eventually became an ambulance driver for the French at the start of World War II. She was later recruited by British Intelligence and served for two years as a British agent in France.
As the rst Allied spy in German-controlled territory, her success in the role was unparalleled. During a 15-month period behind enemy lines, she was often the only Allied source of information on German troop movements and forti cations. With heroic e ort, she was able to establish networks of resistance that operated even after she ed France.
In November of 1942, with German forces close to capturing her, she crossed the Pyrenees on foot, with snow falling and “Cuthbert’s” rivets cutting her stump with every step.
Barely a year after her escape, she was back in France working for the U.S. precursor to the CIA. In her second 15 months of service, Hall’s work as a wireless operator and resistance organizer was identi ed by General Eisenhower as critical to the success of the D-Day invasion.
Hall was eventually honored, with some of the highest awards of distinction given in France, Britain and the United States. Additionally, the Germans acknowledged her as the most dangerous foreign operative in France, putting up posters and allocating signi cant resources to nding her. eir name for her was “ e Limping Lady.” Virginia Hall was identi ed by friend and foe as a di erence maker.
Even with all these accolades, Virginia Hall has faded from our collective memory. e one group of people who never forgot Hall were
why so many districts are still trying to climb out of scal holes. e new formula is designed to ramp up over time, ultimately delivering $500 million in new education funding annually across Colorado. ere will be problems left to solve regarding funding Colorado’s schools even after the passage of this new formula, but we must seize this moment to take a giant step forward.
e new formula does not just increase funding. It distributes it more equitably. It prioritizes students living in poverty, English learners, and those with special learning needs. It recognizes that di erent communities face di erent challenges and it tailors funding accordingly. For districts like ours, which serve diverse and highneed student populations, this approach is not only welcome—it will be transformative for what we can o er our students.
e budget pressures many school districts face—including rising operational costs, declining enrollment, or failed local
tax initiatives—are real and complex. But that is exactly why this new, reliable, and more just funding model matters. It gives all districts, whether growing or shrinking, urban or rural, a stable path forward. Let us not lose sight of the bigger picture. e last time Colorado updated its school funding formula was in 1994. House Bill 25-1320 is the product of years of collaboration among educators, lawmakers, parents, and advocates. It is a historic e ort to nally align Colorado’s school funding system with the realities facing students in 2025. By staying the course with HB25-1320, we are giving our students—especially the most vulnerable among them—the resources, attention, and future they deserve. is new formula as a critical part of a long-awaited solution to our state’s school funding challenges. It will make a real positive di erence in our communities and our schools. And we urge our fellow Coloradans to support this transformative investment in our kids.
The season of new beginnings
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
those who worked directly with her in France. e resistance hubs she created continued, for decades, after the war, to gather yearly to reminisce. ose who attended the get-togethers said their conversations would always turn to their appreciation for the woman who did so much to help them and France. Even those who argued with her during the war about her initiatives came to appreciate her in re ection.
Virginia Hall wanted, with every ber of her being, to help free France and to make a di erence. In that work, she found in her very core an ability to persevere. She refused to allow Cuthbert, the dripping misogyny of the time, the loss of dear friends, the German military, criticism of her actions, or any list of hardships to sway her from her work supporting the Allies. In the end, her e orts were spectacularly successful.
I share Hall’s story with you in hopes that when you are in the midst of a struggle you will remember that sometimes we need to set aside the focus on self and turn it toward others. When I am focused on helping others, I do not see the struggles of moving my body, I see the di erence I have made for someone. More importantly, I realize that my heart, not my limp, is what makes a lasting di erence. e same will be true for each of us.
I hope my words encourage you, and that you will share them with those who need support. ank you to everyone who has shared their stories with me so far; I truly appreciate hearing about the valuable ideas you nd in these columns and how you use them to uplift those around you.
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.
Spring has arrived, bringing with it the unmistakable signs of new beginnings. e air is warmer, the days are getting longer, and nature is waking up from its winter slumber. e robins are back, hopping across lawns as they search for food, and the trees are beginning to bud, promising a vibrant canopy of green. Flowers are cautiously peeking through the soil, eager to bloom. For those of us in colder climates, this change is not just welcome, it’s eagerly anticipated. We aren’t quite yearning for the sweltering heat of summer, but the gentle warmth and the hint of what’s to come are a comfort.
WINNING
resolutions and more on small, intentional steps that lead to meaningful change. is change is not driven by external forces or societal pressure but by a desire to live with greater purpose and con-
In past columns, I’ve shared thoughts on new beginnings, each time re ecting on how they can mean di erent things to di erent people. Whether it’s the New Year, a new job, or even a signi cant life transition, the idea of starting fresh resonates with all of us in one way or another. Yet, spring brings a unique sense of renewal. It’s not just the visible changes in nature but the feeling of being reinvigorated after a season of waiting and hoping.
Easter is one of the most profound symbols of new beginnings at this time of year. While some see the New Year as a moment to set new goals or make resolutions, Easter carries a deeper meaning for many of us. It’s not just about making a change; it’s about being transformed. It calls us to look inward, examine our spiritual lives, and consider how our relationship with God might shape who we are becoming.
Easter invites us to re ect on what we want to do di erently and who we want to become. It’s a time to think about how to deepen our relationships, with our families, friends, and even strangers. Easter has always been more about the heart than the calendar. As I grow older, I focus less on grand
In a world that is changing faster than ever, driven by technology, evolving social norms, and shifting perspectives, it’s essential to recognize that true personal growth is a slower, more deliberate process. Unlike technological advancements, which seem to burst onto the scene almost overnight, personal change often happens quietly, through re ection and commitment. It’s born internally, shaped by our deepest desires and new insights, and slowly manifested in our actions and attitudes. We can’t overlook that the world in uences how we think and feel about new beginnings. e information we consume, the conversations we have, and the voices we choose to listen to all shape our beliefs and attitudes. at’s why it’s so important to pause and listen to the voice from our heart and mind, especially in a season like this when we’re naturally inclined to think about renewal and transformation.
Easter remains a powerful reminder of the most signi cant new beginning I can embrace, strengthening my relationship with God. It’s not about making sweeping changes or setting lofty goals but about seeking more profound connections with God, those I love, and those I don’t yet know. It’s about being more welcoming, open, and intentional in how I show up in the world.
Jim Roome
Gotto Crawford
“So we need to have much better summertime air quality these next two years,” he added.
Is that likely?
No. New modeling run by the state “doesn’t predict we’re going to make it to 75” in 2025 or 2026, Silverstein said. “Our emission trends are at,” he said.
e state asking for a “severe” reset on the 2015 track buys time and moves the deadline for achieving 70 ppb to August 2032.
e state’s action, detailed in a letter to the advisory Regional Air Quality Council in late March, also helps Colorado avoid some of the additional EPA sanctions that would have come from leaving nonattainment in the “serious” category and then o cially exceeding those caps. By moving to “severe,” Colorado avoids having to submit a new improvement plan on the 2015 standards during 2025, and skirts these new sanctions:
• A requirement that proposed pollutants from new or modi ed large-source facilities be o set 2-to-1 by emissions cuts elsewhere in the nine-county area before projects could move forward.
• Federal highway funding sanctions that could hold back money for important Colorado transportation projects.
Colorado’s request does involve, though, adding some new territory into the nonattainment area. Far northern Weld County will now be included, along with the remainder of Weld, part of Larimer, and all of Boulder, Je erson, Denver, Broom eld, Adams, Douglas and Arapahoe counties. e change means new oil and gas developments in northern Weld will be subject to more state scrutiny in permitting.
Does Colorado have any chance of making big improvements in those outlying years, even with the bonus time from seeking the second “severe” downgrade?
Colorado and RAQC o cials cite these recent laws or policies as examples of potentially e ective ozone-cutting practices that could start changing the results on monitors by 2030 to 2032:
• Ongoing state subsidies for purchasing clean electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, attacking ozone in the stubborn area of transportation.
• A series of new rules meant to cut ozone and greenhouse gas-causing emissions from the oil and gas industry, including “midstream” controls at oil and gas gathering and pipeline operations, and sharp cuts to allowed nitrogen ox-
ide produced in upstream oil and gas.
• Rebates to buy clean lawn and garden equipment and restrictions on when large institutional users of gas-powered equipment can use the highly polluting engines in high ozone summer months.
• Advanced clean trucks rules requiring makers of heavy-duty commercial vehicles to start selling an increasing per-
centage of electric or otherwise clean-fuel models beginning in the 2027 model year.
Colorado’s request for a downgrade, said RAQC spokesman David Sabados, “in no way reduces our sense of urgency.” 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.
As we embrace this season of renewal, let’s challenge ourselves to witness the new growth around us and nurture it within us. Let the robin’s song remind us that change is inevitable and beautiful. Let the budding trees and blooming owers inspire us to grow in ways that
As the world around us continues to change, sometimes at a dizzying pace, let’s remember that the most meaningful changes are the ones that start within us.
re ect our values and aspirations. And most importantly, let the spirit of Easter guide us toward becoming the best version of ourselves, rooted in faith, love, and the promise of new beginnings. I would love to hear your “new beginnings” story at gotonorton@gmail.com. And when we can begin that transforma-
tive journey from within, it really will be a better-than-good 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.
BY ELISABETH SLAY ESLAY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
From hand painted cross stitch patterns to intricate knitted designs to textile complex quilts, artists and hobbyists alike are drawn to the array of ber arts shops and organizations strewn across the Denver metro.
Owners and employees of these establishments say the Denver ber arts scene is lively and inclusive.
“We all have di erent vibes,” said Marsha Corn, owner of the Tangled Ball. “We all carry some of the same, some di erent, we all specialize. (But) we’re in it for the same reason because we all love ber and we all want to succeed and maybe make our customers love bers as much as we do.”
The Tangled Ball: ‘A community’
e Tangled Ball, located at 5505 W. 20th Ave. in Edgewater, is not just a yarn shop – it’s a vibrant community hub for individuals of all ages and skill levels to come together and engage in the ber arts.
“We have classes here, we have work-
shops here, we have events here,” Corn said. “It’s a safe place for people to come and just hang out and create.”
Corn said her mother inspired her passion for the ber arts, and she was inspired to open the Tangled Ball after sitting in a shop with some friends and wishing there was one similar near where she lived.
“So my mom taught me how to knit and crochet (and) do all that kind of stu ,” Corn said. “I’ve always wanted to open my own business, so I proposed the idea to my husband about (opening) a yarn store, and it was one of the few that he was like, ‘yeah, we could do that.”’
e location Corn chose was ideal because it’s within a marketplace that o ers food, drink and ample parking — creating a perfect environment for a community-centered store.
e Tangled Ball opened its doors in July 2020, after delays caused by the pandemic, and it has since grown into a space that serves many.
For Corn, the best aspect of the Tangled ball is the way it provides support to people.
“We solve each other’s world prob-
lems. We get people through divorces. We get people through breakups. We get people through what to make for dinner. It’s just such a great community,” Corn said.
As a lover of the ber arts, Corn feels di erent forms — such as needlepoint, knitting, crocheting and more — are both for those searching for a hobby and those skilled in the art of all of it.
For Corn, something like a hand-knitted article is a work of art.
“It’s the yarn. e color of the yarn. e texture of the yarn. e composition of the yarn. (It) has linens and silks and rolls blended into it, and it’s just beautiful,” Corn said. “It’s an art form of design patterns. I do say we don’t knit or crochet now out of necessity, we knit out of joy or hobby.”
Corn believes people especially enjoy the ber arts because it allows them to focus on something other than the stresses and challenges of day-to-day life.
“I’m not thinking about all the junk going on up here in the world,” Corn said. “I’m focused on what I’m doing, even if it’s just 10 minutes. I’m not thinking about what to make for dinner. I’m not thinking about politics. I’m not
thinking about religion. I’m just concentrating on what’s in front of me.”
Diversions Needlepoint: ‘Keeping needlepoint alive’
Similar to Corn, Colorado native and co-owner of Diversions Needlepoint, Cari Davis, was inspired by her late mother to practice the art of needlepoint. It was her passion for the art that eventually led her to pursue it as a career.
“I saw her doing it and wanted to do it,” Davis said. “(I love) the color, the people, the challenge, the creativity, and I love the tactile. I enjoy the kinesthetic.”
Davis and her mother, Mary Lou Kidder, initially opened Diversions in Vail. It is now located at 410 W. Hampden Ave., and for over 50 years, the store has brought ber arts supplies and knowledge to people throughout Colorado. Davis now runs the shop with her own daughter, Mandy Adams, who grew up in the ber business – even making her rst project, a belt, at the age of 4.
One of hundreds of quilts on display throughout the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum in Golden. This quilt was created by David Taylor. PHOTO BY ELISABETH SLAY
FIBER ARTS
Adams brought her own artistic talents to the shop, o ering custom design services such as hand-painted canvases for needlepoint projects. Her ability to turn a customer’s vision into a unique work of art quickly became a hallmark of the store.
“I was just born artistic,” Adams said. “I always drew and painted and played with color from the time I was just a little one. (I am) awful at math and everything else, but I can kind of draw.”
e sta at Diversions, a mix of paid employees and volunteers, is knowledgeable and passionate about needlepoint. Many of the sta members have been with the shop for years, ensuring that customers always receive expert guidance and support.
“We’ve got a great group of women and wonderful people that volunteer here to help people,” Davis said. “Every day is di erent. You never know what’s going to happen or who’s going to walk in the door, and that makes it fun.”
Adams said she enjoys the challenge and the creative aspect of her art.
“You’re making heirlooms,” Adams said.
As the shop celebrates over ve decades of business, it remains committed to providing a welcoming space where people can explore their creativity, build connections and nd inspiration.
For Davis and Adams, it’s not just about selling products — it’s about building a community of makers.
“We hope to keep making people happy and inspire future generations and to keep needlework alive,” Davis said.
Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum: ‘All about stories’
Another institution that works to educate and foster a community of ber arts enthusiasts is the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum in Golden.
Located at 200 Violet St. Suite 140, this museum is dedicated entirely to the history, teaching and fundamentals of quilting.
“It’s a place where people really nd an opportunity to experience what quilts are all about,” said Holly Bailey, the museum’s education manager. “And quilts are all about stories — stories of the people who made the quilts, stories of people who owned the quilts and got to experience the quilts. Even brand new quilts, the makers, almost always have a story of why they made the quilt or things that happened along the way while they were making it.”
e museum has over 850 quilts in its permanent collection and about 150 quilts in its educational collections.
“(With) the permanent collection, preservation is kind of the primary thing that we’re concerned with, and then exhibiting so that people can see those quilts,” Bailey said.
e education collection contains quilts that don’t make it into the permanent collection.
“ ey’re still really valuable for education purposes,” Bailey said. “So we use those quilts to be able to bring them out. We take them out in trunk shows around the community and (country). e audience can touch
them. So the education collection has the ones that you can get up close and personal with.”
For Bailey, quilting began not as a lifelong passion, but as a deeply personal project.
“I started doing it for kind of a strange reason,” Bailey said. “My sister was a quilter and she was the major caretaker for my parents and lived very close to them. I lived 1,500 miles away.”
Bailey said her mother had Alzheimer’s. So as a way to help her stay engaged in the story of her life, Bailey and her sister decided to make a quilt of their mother’s memories.
“She could talk about it and it didn’t really matter whether she was right or wrong or anything, but it was conversational and it would be something that she would get to enjoy,” Bailey said.
Based on her experience, Bailey believes many people begin quilting due to sentimental purposes and then just fall in love with the storytelling element of the art.
“I think a lot of people get involved because of friends or family or somebody else,” Bailey said. “Maybe they learn it from their relatives or people they’re around. But it’s very creative. Most of the time it’s very relaxing. Touching fabric has a value in and of itself. It’s almost like giving somebody a hug when you give them a quilt because it’s something that’s going to wrap around them and they’re going to nd comfort in it.”
Bailey said many di erent people — from children to seniors — visit and enjoy all the services the museum has to o er, including its extensive library and classes.
Classes range from beginner quilting to advanced textile arts, with topics like hand-stitching, machine quilting and even digital-to-fabric design. One recent class explored how to turn a photograph into a quilt, using technology to manipulate and print images on fabric.
Another key highlight is the museum’s summer kids’ camp. Running for four weeks in June, the camp o ers young artists, ages 8 to 16, the opportunity to design and complete their own quilts.
“ ey do everything,” Bailey said. “From the design of it through all of the sewing, all of the quilting, the binding.” e museum also o ers free community groups, including hand-stitching circles, study groups and technique-focused clubs.
Despite the richness of the ber arts scene in the Denver metro area, Bailey feels there’s room for deeper collaboration.
“ ere’s a lot of variety, but we don’t come together very often and really trade ideas and crossover in our teaching,” Bailey said. “It would be nice if we could maybe be a little more intentional about that.”
One step toward greater unity is an upcoming partnership with the Embroidery Guild of America. e two groups will share knowledge through workshops, such as one on crazy quilts, which often incorporate intricate embroidery.
e team has recently expanded into a third unit of their building, with hopes to eventually occupy the entire space. e overall goal is to create a full- edged quilting and ber arts complex and a destination for locals and visitors alike.
Owner of the Tangled Ball Marsha Corn spins yarn for a customer on a wheel at her shop located in the Edgewater Public Market. The market address is 5505 W. 20th Ave. in Edgewater.
Co-owners of Diversions Needlepoint and mother and daughter Cari Davis and Mandy Adams stand among the thousands of skeins of thread available at their shop located at 410 W. Hampden Ave. in Englewood.
PHOTOS
ELISABETH SLAY
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BRIEFS
Brighton hosts tree planting activity May 3 at Elmwood Cemetery
In honor of Arbor Day, the City of Brighton invites residents, community organizations, and tree enthusiasts to make a meaningful environmental impact at Elmwood Cemetery. Join our Open Space, Forestry, and Cemetery teams by participating in a tree planting initiative at the cemetery May 3, from 8 a.m. to noon, at 14800 Old Brighton Road. is volunteer event o ers a unique opportunity to give back to the community while supporting the creation of a sustainable tree canopy at Elmwood Cemetery. Trees play a vital role in improving air quality, providing habitat and shelter for wildlife, and enhancing the aesthetic beauty of city properties yearround. As a token of appreciation, all attendees will be entered into a ra e to win free trees. Participants should wear longsleeved tops and pants, sturdy shoes, work gloves and bring a water bottle. e city will provide tools, equipment, trees, training, drinking water and snacks. To register for the event, or for additional information, please contact City Forester Adam Rhodebeck at 303-655-2048 or via email at ajrhodebeck@brightonco.gov.
dy 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 281-451-5343.
Brighton hosts Day in AA 2025 Brighton Alcoholics Anonymous is hosting the District 9 Day In AA 2025 for District 9 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on June 14 at their location, 147 Second Place in Brighton.
e Day in AA includes eight meetings, three meals and one solution that will be delivered over the course of 13 hours.
e meeting is open to anyone in Colorado’s AA District 9, which includes the entire Metro Denver region and Boulder.
Art in the Park announces call for artists
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 certi cates are also available for purchase.
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. For more information, contact Communications & Engagement Director Kristen Chernosky at 303-655-2146 or kchernosky@ brightonco.gov.
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 303659-7103 and visit https://www. adamscountymuseum.com/ events online for more information.
School District 27J accepting openenrollment applications
($16.48/hour) and classroom aide ($15.62/hour) for Head Start, an IT intern ($17/hour) for the Sheri ’s O ce, and a Healthy Farmers Market intern ($17/hour).
ese opportunities are available through the Workforce & Business Center. ose interested should work with their Business Center case manager or call 720.523.6898 to get established with a case manager.
Water audit program
e city of Brighton and Resource Central teamed up to provide a free water audit for businesses and homeowner associations. e program aims to help residents and cities increase water use e ciencies and reach conservation goals. Call 303-999-3824 or visit https://www.brightonco. gov/589/Water-Audit-Program
Adams County School District 27J announced that Choice of Schools applications are now being accepted for the 2025-2026 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.
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.
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.
Students would get to work with an astronaut, Captain Wen-
Brighton Police o er online reporting
Brighton Police Department has launched an online reporting system at its newly updated website at www.brightonco.gov/ police.
e online reporting system allows community members to submit a report directly to the police department from their smartphone or computer. It can be used to report criminal tampering, identity theft, lost property, theft, vandalism, and other matters.
Adams County o ers O ce of Strategic Partnerships
Adams County’s O ce of Strategic Partnerships & Resilient Communities is meant to serve the community more e ectively and 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 efforts to secure diverse funding, promote equitable resource distribution, and empower communities to foster resilience and prosperity.
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.
All cases led using the online reporting system will be reviewed by a police sergeant. is tool can only be used when the incident is not an emergency; no one was injured, no known suspects, and no physical evidence. All incidents that do not meet this criteria should be reported by calling our non-emergency line at 303-288-1535. Emergencies should always be reported by calling 911.
Block Party trailers return
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
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.
Internships available with Adams County
Are you interested in learning more about working for local government? Adams County currently has paid internships available.
Opportunities include a cook
Unincorporated Adams County residents can apply and reserve a complimentary Block Party trailer for their next event. e Block Party Trailer is intended to build and strengthen neighborhoods in Adams County. e Neighborhood Services division in the Community Safety and Well-Being Department administers the program on a rst-come, rst-served basis. For more information, go to https://adcogov.org/block-party, call 720 523-6465 or email blockparty@adcogov.org
Legal advice
e Access to Justice Committee hosts a free, legal self-help clinic from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on the rst Tuesday of every month. e program is for customers without legal representation who need help navigating through legal issues.
Volunteer attorneys are available to discuss family law, civil litigation, property, and probate law. Call 303-405-3298 and ask for a Legal Self-Help Clinic at least 24 hours before.
Thu 4/24
Colorado Documentary Discovery –Stanley Hotel @ 9am
Offsite, 6060 E Parkway Drive, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
No Limits Endurance CoachingRun Clinic @ 6pm / $25
100th Avenue & Owens Avenue, West‐minster
Tony Crank @ 6pm
Bricks Retail Inc., 512 4th Ave #103, Longmont
Face Vocal Band: SPRING SOIRÉE A bene�t for Jefferson Center @ 6pm
Social Capitol Events, 6543 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada
Sarah Adams: Muse Performance Space | full band @ 7pm
Muse Performance Space, 200 E South Boulder Rd, Lafayette
Gutenberg The Musical @ 7:30pm Garner Galleria Theatre at Denver Center for the Performing Arts, 1400 Curtis Street, Denver
Fri 4/25
Kidz Only- Earth Day Celebration @ 6pm
Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Bounce Empire: Bluey and Bingo Meet & Greet @ 6pm
Bounce Empire, 1380 S Public Rd, Lafayette
Signal 99 @ 7pm
Dirty Side Down Band: Dirty Side Down @ Hester's @ 7pm
Hester's Burgers, Brews & Blues, 9975 Wadsworth Pkwy M1, Westminster
Eric Golden @ 8:30pm The Stillery, 10633 Westminster Blvd #900, Westminster
Sat 4/26
Runs With Scissors Races @ 7am / $35-$76 13401 Picadilly Road, Brighton
2025 Five Star 5K, Mile of Smiles, and Wellness Festival @ 8am / $5-$30
Nordic Daughter: Nordic Nights: Harvest of Melodies @ 7pm The Rickhouse, 6100 E 39th Ave, Den‐ver
Sun 4/27
Colorado Rockies vs. Cincinnati Reds @ 1:10pm Coors Field, Denver
Nada Surf @ 7pm Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St, Boulder
Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast @ 9am Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks Depart‐ment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton. 303-8574200
Trailside Saloon, 10360 Colorado Blvd, Thornton
Riverdale Regional Park, 9755 Hender‐son Road, Brighton
Zip Lining @ 9am
Offsite, 6060 E Parkway Drive, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Family American Sign Language @ 10am
Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Singing bowls April @ 3pm Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks Depart‐ment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton. 303-8574200
Colorado Rapids vs. Seattle Sounders
FC @ 7:30pm DICK'S Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City
Dirty Side Down Band: Dirty Side Down @ Trailside Saloon @ 8pm
Trailside Saloon, 10360 Colorado Blvd, Thorn‐ton
TJP @ 3pm Legacy Event Center, 9051 N Harlan St #300, Westminster
Mon 4/28
Colorado Rockies vs. Atlanta Braves @ 6:40pm Coors Field, Denver
Tue 4/29
Eric Golden @ 6pm The Stillery, 10633 Westminster Blvd #900, Westminster
Colorado Rockies vs. Atlanta Braves @ 1:10pm Coors Field, Denver
Alton Brown @ 7:30pm
Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre, 1400 Cur‐tis Street, Denver
Wed 4/30 Thu 5/01
Eric Golden: Hesters @ 6pm Odde's Music Grill, 9975 Wadsworth Pkwy, Westminster
Sideline diagnosis: Trainer spots a rare condition
Standley Lake standout
Graham grateful for eagleeyed team trainer
BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Every year, adversity hits high school athletes like “Good Riddance” by Green Day during a graduation ceremony. But not many have faced the challenges Liam Graham has in his high school career.
For the past three years, the Standley Lake High School senior struggled to identify the cause of the sharp pains in his legs and body.
Still, he didn’t stop playing football or running track, battling through the pain to try to live like an average student athlete. However, Graham’s athletic trainer would play a pivotal role in providing not just relief but also mental and medical support, as she knew what he was going through better than most.
Spotting the red flags
“It was a lot of stabbing pains, like when I was running,” Graham said. “It felt like I’d get stabbed in the leg, and it would just ache all day throughout the entire shin. It just wouldn’t go away all day, even after running.”
No stranger to the wear and tear that being a two-sport athlete can bring, it was his sophomore year when Graham realized something more signi cant was wrong.
“We were doing a workout, and at the end of it, my legs were wobbling as I walked, and I think that’s probably the moment I remember being like, ‘Oh, that’s bad,’” Graham said.
Several doctors thought they knew the cause: shin splints, as some of Graham’s symptoms were consistent with those. So, treatment was implemented.
Graham would miss practices to let his body heal before playing in the games,
spending every day with the trainers to try and nd some relief to get ready to play. Adrenaline and pain meds would carry him through the games but bring him some rough nights full of discomfort, to say the least.
“Sleeping was very painful after the ibuprofen and adrenaline wore o ,” he said. “ e adrenaline helped a lot, so once that was gone, it was very rough nights most of the time.”
To make matters worse, the treatments weren’t working, and Graham and his family scrambled for answers.
Some answers at last
It wasn’t until Mercedes Steidley, Graham’s athletic trainer at Standley Lake and with the Children’s Hospital Colorado Orthopedics Institute, posed a question: Could it be compartment syndrome?
“As soon as he said the treatment for shin splints wasn’t getting any better, and that his foot starts to op as he was walking, I knew right away that was a red ag for me,” Steidley said, who has battled compartment syndrome herself for over a decade. “And so we referred him to Children’s Hospital Colorado with one of our providers, who then did the diagnosis for compartment syndrome.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a “compartment” is the medical term for a group of muscles, nerves and blood vessels. Compartments are covered by a fascia — a thin, rm membrane.
Compartment syndrome occurs when additional pressure builds up inside a compartment, and as a result, muscles press against the fascia more than they should. It’s a very rare condition, with fewer than 10 in 100,000 people experiencing it yearly.
Steidley said she was relieved when they found out the diagnosis in Graham but felt daunted for him about the potential di culties to come. Her own battle has been a struggle for years, including 16 total surgeries.
“My journey was a little bit di erent be-
cause mine was trauma-based,” she said. “Liam had mentioned he could lose his leg if he fractured it, and we didn’t catch the compartment syndrome. at was my journey. I almost lost my leg, and that still might be an option for me. With Liam, if we caught it early enough, like we did, we saved the leg right away so he didn’t have to go through such an extensive journey as I did.”
In her compartment syndrome experience, Steidley said doctors were trying to save muscle that had already been damaged due to a leg injury she su ered. Not being able to save as much muscle as they hoped, Steidley said she is left with 30% function in her leg. So, early intervention is everything, she explained.
“De nitely having the intervention and the knowledge right o the bat saved, I think, both of us a heartache,” she said. “Because if he was out there with that increased pressure in that compartment, and then he fractured his leg, now that’s an overload of blood ow, which can then cut o blood ow to the muscle, and then the muscle actually dies. ... So, the sooner we can catch it to prevent that from happening, the better.”
Now, having an idea of what they’re dealing with, paired with Steidley’s experience and wisdom on the subject, they’ve been able to make progress in nding him relief.
Standley Lake senior Liam Graham and athletic trainer Mercedes Steidley pose for a photo at the Gators’ football field. Graham is a multi-sport athlete in football and track, and is back on the field after several years of health issues Steidley helped discover.
PHOTO BY JOHN RENFROW
GRAHAM
On top of ibuprofen being his MVP, Graham said they’ll often do cupping or needling, which helps. But it’s still a struggle, and he’s working tirelessly to get back to where he was before this condition plagued him, Steidley said.
“It was tough. Liam’s a talkative, goofy kid, and on those painful days, he would just come in almost defeated, not knowing if he was going to be able to practice or if he was going to be able to play on Friday nights,” Steidley said. “And that was tough, really tough to see. ... He’s a really strong kid. It’s been a pleasure working with him. He comes in every day, just in so much pain, but wants nothing more than to be out on the eld pain-free.”
Another scary — and even rarer — diagnosis
His parents, Brent and Amy Graham, are relieved to nally understand what their son has been dealing with for most of his high school journey.
Unfortunately, the compartment syndrome diagnosis, while shedding clarity on Graham’s turmoil, led to the discovery of another, even scarier condition.
“It’s incredible to have answers because for three years, he experienced debilitating leg pain, and it got dismissed time and time again by various orthopedic doctors as shin splints,” Amy said. “And thank goodness for Mercedes. Given her personal experience and her skills, she was able to notice things, and it brought him to the doctor that said, ‘Absolutely, I think he has compartment syndrome,’ and got treatment for it. But it’s just really unfortunate because he also has this incredibly rare artery condition as well.”
Graham was diagnosed with popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES), which only a ects between 0.17% and 3.5% of the general population, according to the National Library of Medicine.
PAES is a rare vascular condition that results in a person’s calf muscle pressing on the popliteal artery (the main artery behind the knee), stopping or trapping it, making blood ow di cult or impossible to the lower leg and foot.
“When they did pulse checks, he actually didn’t have a pulse in his foot,” Amy said.
Since learning of his two new conditions, Graham has endured four surgeries: two for compartment syndrome and two for PAES.
“During the two surgeries that he just (most recently) endured the last couple of months in the operating room, they actually checked his pulse, and he had a pulse for the rst time (in his foot),” Amy said.
“And his foot was warm because he actually had blood ow for the rst time. And we don’t know how long that (had been).”
ey could only operate on one leg at a time, which resulted in weeks of Graham being bedridden.
Normally an active teenager, it was tough to be stuck to his bed, watching TV and simply waiting to get his legs back, he said.
“It was overwhelming,” said Graham, who said it was di cult not to feel defeated or wallow in his reality. “Sometimes, you just had to sit at practice and watch them run, and it’s kind of draining a little bit.”
A grateful and hopeful future
Fast forward to the present day: Graham is stretching and getting ready for track and eld practice in his nal year as a Standley Lake Gator. e next day, he will compete in four track events. He is 10
weeks out from his most recent surgery.
Steidley is there, going through some treatment with him before he takes o .
As of now, the pain is still there, but it’s much more manageable. And spirits are up.
Fortunately, he was able to delay his surgeries until after the season ended last year and was able to run at state. He’s eager to get back to the big stage in 2025 and spoke about his goals in his nal season.
“Last year, we broke two school records in the relays, and the other two would be cool to break,” he said. “And then rebreak those and then just go to state for all the relays again.”
March is National Athletic Training Month.
Steidley’s athletic trainer helped her through her rehab at her small Division II college in New Mexico. She saw the impact it had on her mental and physical recovery and knew this was the career for her as well.
“ at’s what got me into it,” said Steidley, who has been a trainer in Colorado for close to six years. “It allows you to spend time with athletes. I really struggled with not having the athlete title, but I still feel like I’m an athlete, so that is kind of my way of staying in the athlete world. I get to see kids at their worst, and then we spend every single day together to get them into their favorite spot to see them at their best. So that is the most rewarding part of this whole thing.”
Amy wants parents to recognize how important athletic trainers are to their child’s sports journey.
“Most parents, I would bet, don’t even know her name, which is crazy because they play such an integral role in an athlete’s health,” Amy said. “She had a hunch, and from that moment, we were communicating sometimes multiple times a week. So I’m just very grateful for that.
I think that the mental toll that this has taken would have been far worse had he not had somebody like Mercedes to support him and motivate him and give him hope.”
What’s next for Graham? He’s still holding out hope to play college sports, perhaps as a walk-on, but he now wants to become an athletic trainer to help others like Steidley helped him.
“Listen to your athletic trainers,” Graham said. “ ey normally know more than you do. Also, listen to your body. If you know something’s wrong, trust yourself, but don’t think everything’s wrong. But trust yourself to ask questions about it.”
Liam Graham smiles for a photo after one of four surgeries he endured for both compartment syndrome and popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES). COURTESY PHOTO
BENNET
Bennet’s decision to jump into the gubernatorial race has started behind-thescenes maneuvering to replace him in the Senate.
Should he be elected governor, Bennet could resign from the Senate and let Gov. Jared Polis select the person who would serve out his term, which ends in January 2029. However, Bennet said he plans to stay in the job until he is sworn in as governor and hand pick his successor.
“I believe that if I’m elected governor, I will be in the position to pick the replacement,” he said.
U.S. Reps. Joe Neguse, Jason Crow and Brittany Pettersen are seen as the top contenders for Bennet’s seat. Colorado has never had a Black senator or a woman senator.
Neguse, who is Black, was also mulling a 2026 gubernatorial bid, but endorsed Bennet.
Pettersen didn’t rule out pursuing the appointment when asked recently by e Sun.
“I’m honored to have people calling me and that have me in the consideration,” she said. “Oftentimes women are overlooked and underestimated.”
Crow, who also endorsed Bennet after also considering a 2026 bid to be Colorado’s next governor, is also interested in the appointment.
Bennet’s entrance in the governor’s race is likely to keep other big-name Democrats out of the contest. For instance, Secretary of State Jena Griswold was considering a run for governor next year, but she’s now running for attorney general in 2026 in the wake of Bennet’s plans.
In addition to support from Crow and Neguse, Bennet launched his campaign Friday with endorsements from Hickenlooper, Colorado Senate President James Coleman, D-Denver, and Colorado House Speaker Julie McCluskie, DDillon, as well as the backing of Denver Mayor Mike Johnston.
Bennet held a 10 a.m. event April 11 in Denver’s City Park to roll out more endorsements and talk about his campaign. Crow, Neguse and Johnston were there.
News of Bennet’s gubernatorial bid began to leak out ursday.
People began approaching Bennet last year in an attempt to draft him to run for governor. Initially, he resisted, telling top Democrats was going to stay in the Senate. But his views changed around the new year, as rst reported by e Sun in February.
“ e epiphany was knowing that there’s a really, I think, as important a ght in the states as there will be here in Washington,” he said. “ ere is also the opportunity to be able to do substantive work as an executive, to create solutions to the challenges that we’re facing economically, as a country and as a state.”
Bennet is setting his sights on the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights — “we are long overdue a conversation in Colorado about how our state government is funded” — and helping Colorado weather any federal funding cuts.
“I’ve got rst-hand experience of how the federal government works, how Donald Trump works,” Bennet said. “I think I’m in a position to be able to help protect Colorado from some of the potential cuts that are coming, and to help us think through how best to respond to those cuts, both substantively and politically.”
If Bennet loses his gubernatorial bid and completes his current term, he
would be Colorado’s longest-serving senator in the century since state legislatures stopped selecting senators.
Bennet is better known than Weiser
A recent poll indicates Bennet has a big leg up on Weiser.
e survey showed that 45% of likely 2026 voters in Colorado had a favorable opinion of Bennet, while 31% had a negative view of him. Seventeen percent said they had no opinion of the senator, while 8% said they didn’t know him.
As for Weiser, 22% said they had a favorable view of him, while 18% said they had an unfavorable view. A whopping 34% said they had never heard of Weiser, while 26% said they had no opinion of him.
e Colorado Polling Institute Survey was conducted among 615 likely 2026 voters in Colorado from March 27 to 31. It had a margin of error of 3.95 percentage points.
Weiser, however, is a fundraising juggernaut. His gubernatorial campaign raised nearly $2 million in its rst three months.
In a written statement April 10, Weiser took swipes at Bennet for leaving the Senate and hinted that he was out of touch with Colorado issues.
“While Sen. Bennet has been in Washington, I have served Colorado as the people’s lawyer, working directly with people in every county of every background to solve di cult challenges,” Weiser said. “Two years ago, the voters sent Sen. Bennet back to D.C. because we believed he would be there for us no matter what – especially in historically dangerous moments like the one we currently face.”
On Friday, Bennet pushed back, saying the. notion that he hasn’t spent enough time in Colorado “absolute nonsense.”
“ ere isn’t anybody who’s spent more
time in Colorado than I have as a statewide elected o cial,” he said. ere isn’t anybody who’s spent more time in rural Colorado than I have.”
As for leaving Washington before the end of his Senate term, Bennet said it’s a matter of positioning himself best to defend democracy.
“ is is where I believe I can make the biggest di erence to our state at this moment where there’s red alert ashing with respect to our democracy, with respect to our democracy and with respect to our economy,” he said.
Bennet has long been interested in an executive political role. He ran for president in 2020, but dropped out after the Democratic primary in New Hampshire. e Democratic primary for the 2026 gubernatorial race in Colorado won’t be held until June 2026. Whoever wins the primary will likely cruise to victory in the general election.
Current Gov. Jared Polis is term-limited and can’t run for reelection in 2026. He won reelection in 2022 by nearly 20 percentage points. He secured his rst term in 2018 by 10 points.
e Democratic headwinds haven’t stopped a growing crowd of Republicans from getting into the gubernatorial race, including state Rep. Scott Bottoms of Colorado Springs; Sen. Mark Baisley of Woodland Park; Teller County Sheri Jason Mikesell; and former Parker mayor and 4th CD stand-in Greg Lopez.
State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton, is also weighing whether to jump into the race.
Colorado has not elected a Republican to be governor since 2002, when thenGov. Bill Owens secured a second term. 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.
1. MOVIES: Which animated movie was the rst to be nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award?
2. GEOGRAPHY: Interior and exterior lm shots of Alnwick Castle in England are featured in the rst two movies of which lm series?
3. TELEVISION: What was the last name of the family in the sitcom “Married ... With Children”?
4. LITERATURE: For which category is the Caldecott Medal awarded?
5. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Also known as a double eagle, what is the golf term for scoring three under par on a hole?
6. ANATOMY: What is the protein that carries oxygen in the blood?
7. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president was the rst to name a woman as a Cabinet member?
TrIVIa
8. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a baby toad called?
9. FOOD & DRINK: Which fast-food chain’s secret ingredient is 11 herbs and spices?
10. ASTRONOMY: How many moons does Mars have?
Answers
1. “Beauty and the Beast.”
2. “Harry Potter.”
3. Bundy.
4. Outstanding children’s picture books.
5. Albatross.
6. Hemoglobin.
7. Franklin D. Roosevelt named Frances Perkins as Labor Secretary.
8. Tadpole.
9. Kentucky Fried Chicken.
10. Two: Phobos and Deimos.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
ORDINANCE NO. 2025-1185 INTRODUCED BY: MICHAEL SANCHEZ AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING TWO LOAN AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE COLORADO
WATER RESOURCES AND POWER DEVEL-
OPMENT AUTHORITY AND THE CITY OF FORT LUPTON, COLORADO ACTING BY AND THROUGH ITS UTILITY ENTERPRISE, AND LOANS (LEVERAGED AND DIRECT LOANS) TO BE MADE IN CONNECTION THEREWITH IN THE MAXIMUM AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF $20,000,000, APPROVING THE FORM AND TERMS THEREOF, MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS AND DETERMINATIONS, AUTHORIZING INCIDENTAL ACTIONS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
PREFACE
Any term used herein as defined shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Recitals below or in Section 1 of this ordinance (this “Ordinance”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the City of Fort Lupton, Colorado (the “City”) is a municipal corporation and political subdivision of the State of Colorado (the “State”) duly organized and operating under the Constitution and laws of the State; and
WHEREAS, the City has previously acquired and developed certain properties and facilities for the collection, treatment and distribution of water for the beneficial uses and purposes for which the water has been or may be appropriated (the “Water System”); and WHEREAS, by Ordinance No. 95-675 adopted by the City Council of the City (the “City Council;”) on July 26, 1995, the City Council acted to recognize and confirm the existence of the City’s existing water utility enterprise, sewer utility enterprise and storm water drainage facility enterprise as enterprises of the City within the meaning of Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution, which ordinance was codified as Chapter 12 of the Fort Lupton Municipal Code (the “City Code”); and WHEREAS, by Ordinance No. 98-733 adopted by the City Council on December 9, 1998, the City Council acted to amend Chapter 12 of the City Code (as amended, the “Enterprises Chapter”) to create and establish a combined water and sewer utility enterprise to be known as the “Utility Enterprise”; and WHEREAS, the City Council serves as the governing body of the Utility Enterprise for purposes of the issuance of revenue bonds by the City, acting by and through the Utility Enterprise, to finance facilities for the Water System; and WHEREAS, for purposes of this Ordinance, the term “City” means the City, acting by and through the Utilities Enterprise, unless the context requires otherwise, and the term “City Council” means the City Council, acting as the governing body of the Utilities Enterprise, unless the context requires otherwise; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Title 37, Article 45.1, Colorado Revised Statutes (the “Water Activity Enterprise Law”), state and local governmental entities which have authority to issue revenue bonds under applicable law are authorized: (i) to establish or continue to maintain water activity enterprises for the purpose of conducting water activities, which term includes, without limitation, the diversion, storage, carriage, delivery, distribution, collection, treatment, use, reuse, augmentation, exchange or discharge of water and includes the provision of wholesale or retail water services and the acquisition of water or water rights; and (ii) to issue or reissue bonds, notes or other obligations payable from the revenues derived or to be derived from the function, service, benefits, or facility or from any other available funds of the enterprise, the terms and conditions of such bonds or other obligations to be as set forth in the ordinance authorizing the same and, as nearly as practicable, as provided in Part 4 of Article 35 of Title 31, C.R.S.; and WHEREAS, the Utility Enterprise constitutes an “enterprise” within the meaning of Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution, and a “water activity enterprise” within the meaning of the Water Activity Enterprise Law, in that the Utility Enterprise is a government-owned business that is authorized to issue its own revenue bonds and receives less than 10% of annual revenue in grants from all Colorado state and local governments combined and is not authorized to levy any taxes in connection with the Water System or the City’s sew-
er system (collectively, the “Utility System”); and WHEREAS, the City Council has also heretofore determined and hereby determines that it is in the best interests of the City and the residents thereof for the City to improve the Utility System through the installation of an elevated water storage tank, a new pump station, and associated pipelines (the “Capital Project”); and WHEREAS, the City Council has heretofore determined and hereby determines that it is in the best interests of the City and the residents thereof for the City to undertake the Capital Project and to finance such Capital Project by entering into two loan agreements (the “2025 Authority Loan Agreements”) with the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority (the “Authority”), consisting of one loan agreement for a leveraged loan, and one loan agreement for a base direct loan, a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) direct loan, and a BIL principal forgiveness loan, in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $20,000,000 (the “2025 Authority Loans”); and
WHEREAS, the 2025 Authority Loans shall be special, limited obligations of the Utility Enterprise payable solely from the net revenue derived from the operation of the Water System, on a parity basis with the Utility Enterprise outstanding 2017 Bonds, and its outstanding loans from the Colorado Water Conservation Board, the Authority, and the Bank of Colorado; and WHEREAS, the 2025 Authority Loans shall not constitute a debt, indebtedness or multiple fiscal year debt or other financial obligation of the City or the Utility Enterprise within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory provision or limitation and shall not be considered or held to be general obligations of the City or the Utility Enterprise; and
WHEREAS, the 2025 Authority Loans shall be executed and delivered pursuant to the constitution and laws of the State, including, without limitation, Title 31, Article 35, Part 4, C.R.S., Title 11, Article 56, C.R.S., Title 11, Article 57, Part 1, C.R.S., Title 11, Article 57, Part 2, C.R.S. (the “Supplemental Public Securities Act”), the Water Activity Enterprise Law and all other laws thereunto appertaining or enabling; and in accordance with the instruments authorizing the Outstanding Parity Obligations; and
WHEREAS, the 2025 Authority Loans are being executed and delivered by an “enterprise” within the meaning of Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution, and thus are permitted to be executed and delivered without prior voter approval; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined to apply all of the provisions of the Supplemental Public Securities Act to the 2025 Authority Loans, including, without limitation, the delegation of authority to determine certain provisions of the 2025 Authority Loans and execute the 2025 Authority Loan Agreements; and WHEREAS, none of the members of the City Council have any potential conflicting interests in connection with the authorization, execution and delivery of the 2025 Authority Loans or the use of the proceeds thereof; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to authorize the execution and delivery of the 2025 Authority Loans, the 2025 Authority Loan Agreements, the Capital Project and the execution and delivery of any and all documents in connection therewith;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT LUPTON, COLORADO, ACTING IN THE CAPACITY OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY’S UTILITY ENTERPRISE:
Section 1. Definitions. As used in this Ordinance, the following capitalized terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below, unless the context indicates otherwise:
“2025 Authority Loan Agreements” means the two loan agreements to be entered into between the City and the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority (the “Authority”), consisting of one loan agreement for a leveraged loan, and one loan agreement for a base direct loan, a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) direct loan, and a BIL principal forgiveness loan.
“2025 Authority Loans” means the loans to be made by the Authority to the Utility Enterprise pursuant to the 2025 Authority Loan Agreements in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $20,000,000.
“Authority” means the Colorado Water Re-
City of Fort Lupton
sources and Power Development Authority.
“CapitalProject” means installing an elevated storage tank, a new pump station, and associated pipelines.
City” means, as the context so requires, the City of Fort Lupton, Colorado, or the City of Fort Lupton, Colorado, acting by and through its Utility Enterprise.
“City Council” means, as the context so requires, the City Council of the City acting in the capacity as the governing body of the City or in the capacity as the governing body of the Utility Enterprise.
“Combined Average Annual Principal and Interest Requirements” means, with regard to the 2025 Authority Loans, the aggregate of all future payments of principal of and interest on the 2025 Authority Loans to become due from the date of computation to the date of maturity of the latest maturing 2025 Authority Loan, divided by the number of years between such dates.
“C.R.S.” means the Colorado Revised Statutes, as amended and supplemented as of the date hereof.
“Enabling Laws” means, without limitation, Title 31, Article 35, Part 4, C.R.S., Title 11, Article 56, C.R.S., Title 11, Article 57, Part 1, C.R.S., the Supplemental Public Securities Act, the Water Activity Enterprise Law and all other laws thereunto appertaining or enabling.
“Federal Securities” means direct obligations of (including obligations issued or held in book entry form on the books of), or obligations the principal of and interest on which are guaranteed by, the United States of America, which obligations shall be non callable and not subject to redemption at the option of the issuer thereof.
“Loan Certificate” means a certificate executed by the Loan Delegatee on or before the Issue Date, setting forth the matters to be determined pursuant to the Section of this Ordinance entitled “Delegation of Authority.”
“Loan Delegate” means the person or persons authorized to sign the Loan Certificate and the Bond Purchase Agreement pursuant to the Section of this Ordinance entitled “Delegation of Authority,” which shall be the Mayor, the City Administrator or the Director of Finance of the City.
“Ordinance” means this ordinance, which authorizes the execution and delivery of the 2025 Authority Loans and the 2025 Authority Loan Agreements, including any amendments or supplements hereto.
“State” means the State of Colorado.
“Supplemental Public Securities Act” means Title 11, Article 57, Part 2, C.R.S.
“Utility Enterprise” means the City’s Utility Enterprise.
“Water Activity Enterprise Law” means Article 45.1 of Title 37, C.R.S.
“Water System” means all of the water facilities and properties, now owned or hereafter acquired by the City, whether situated within or without the City bounda¬ries, including all present or future improvements, exten¬sions, enlarge¬ments, betterments, replacements, or additions thereof or thereto.
“Water System Gross Revenue” means all income and revenues directly or indirectly derived from the operation and use of the Water System, or any part thereof, including, without limitation, any rates, fees, plant investment fees, standby charges, availability fees, tolls and charges for the services furnished by, or the use of, the Water System, and all income attributable to any past or future dispositions of property or rights or related contracts, settlements or judgments held or obtained in connection with the Water System or its operations and including investment income accruing from moneys held to the credit of the Water Revenue Fund; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from Water System Gross Revenue any moneys borrowed and used for providing Water System Capital Improvements; any money and securities, and investment income therefrom, in any refunding fund, escrow account or similar account pledged to the payment of any bonds or other obligations; and any moneys received as grants or appropriations from the United States, the State or other sources, the use of which is limited or restricted by the grantor or donor to the provision of Water System Capital Improvements or for other purposes resulting in the general unavailability thereof, except to the extent any such moneys shall be received as payments for the use of the Water System, services rendered thereby, the availability of any such service or the disposal of any commodities therefrom.
“Water System Net Revenue” means the Water System Gross Revenue after deducting the Water System Operation and Maintenance Expenses.
“Water System Operation and Maintenance Expenses” means all reasonable and necessary current expenses, paid or accrued, for operating, maintaining and repairing the Water System, including, without limitation, legal and overhead expenses directly related to the administration of the Water System, insurance premiums, audits, charges of depository banks and paying agents, professional services, salaries and administrative expenses, labor and the cost of materials and supplies for current operation; provided, however, that Water System Operation and Maintenance Expenses shall not include any allowance for depreciation, payments in lieu of taxes or franchise fees, legal liabilities not based on contract, expenses incurred in connection with Water System Capital Improvements, payments due in connection with any bonds or other obligations issued or incurred to provide Water System Capital Improvements and charges for the accumu¬lation of reserves.
Section 2.Authorization and Purpose of the 2025 Authority Loans.
(a) By virtue of and pursuant to the State constitution, the Enabling Laws and all other laws of the State thereunto appertaining or enabling, the City shall be authorized to enter into the 2025 Authority Loan Agreements and execute and deliver the 2025 Authority Loans for the purpose of:
(i) funding the Capital Project, which is hereby authorized; and (ii) paying issuance and other costs in connection with the 2025 Authority Loans.
(b) The City elects to apply all of the provisions of the Supplemental Public Securities Act to the 2025 Authority Loans.
Section 3. Delegation of Authority.
(a) Delegation. There is hereby delegated to each Loan Delegate, acting individually, for a period of one year following the effective date of this Ordinance: (i) the authority to make any determination delegable pursuant to Section 11-57-205(1) (a-i), C.R.S., in connection with the 2025 Authority Loan Agreements and 2025 Authority Loans, and to execute a Loan Certificate setting forth such determinations, without any requirement that the City Council approve such determinations, subject to the parameters set forth in subsection (b) of this Section, and any other matters that, in the judgment of the Loan Delegate, are necessary or convenient to be set forth in the Loan Certificate, are authorized to be delegated by applicable law and are not inconsistent with this Ordinance; and (ii) the authority to execute the 2025 Authority Loan Agreements on behalf of the City.
(b) Parameters. The authority delegated to the Loan Delegate by this Section shall be subject to the following parameters:
(i) the aggregate principal amount of the 2025 Authority Loans shall not exceed $20,000,000;
(ii) the 2025 Authority Loans shall mature not later than December 31, 2058;
(iii) the net effective interest rate of the 2025 Authority Loans shall not exceed 6.50%, which is the maximum net effective interest rate hereby authorized for the 2025 Authority Loans; and (iv) the Combined Average Annual Principal and Interest Requirements for the 2025 Authority Loans shall not exceed $1,250,000, and the total repayment amount for the 2025 Authority Loans shall not exceed $35,000,000.
Section 4. Limited Obligations. The 2025 Authority Loan Agreements and the 2025 Authority Loans incurred thereunder shall constitute special, limited obligations of the City payable only from Water System Net Revenue. The 2025 Authority Loan Agreements and the 2025 Authority Loans incurred thereunder shall constitute irrevocable and nonexclusive first liens on the Water System Net Revenue, on a parity basis with the lien thereon of the outstanding parity obligations and any additional parity obligations. The Water System Net Revenue are hereby pledged to the payment of the 2025 Authority Loan Agreements and the 2025 Authority Loans incurred thereunder. The Authority may not look to any other fund or account of the City for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the 2025 Authority Loan Agreements or the 2025 Authority Loans incurred thereunder. The 2025 Authority Loan Agreements and the 2025 Authority Loans incurred thereunder
Section 6.Authorization to Execute Documents. The Mayor, the City Clerk and all other appropriate officers of the City Council and the City shall, and they are hereby authorized and directed to, take all actions necessary or appropriate to effectuate the provisions of this Ordinance, including, but not limited to, the execution of the 2025 Authority Loan Agreements, and all other documents and certificates necessary or desirable to effectuate the issuance or administration of and security for the 2025 Authority Loans, the investment of proceeds of the 2025 Authority Loans and the transactions contemplated hereby.
The execution by the Loan Delegate of any document authorized herein shall be conclusive proof of the approval by the City of the terms thereof.
The Loan Delegate is hereby authorized to execute the 2025 Authority Loan Agreements on behalf of the City subject to the limitations of the Section of this Ordinance entitled “Delegation of Authority.”
Section 7. City Representative. Pursuant to Exhibit B of the 2025 Authority Loan Agreements, the Mayor, the City Administrator, and the Finance Director are hereby designated as the Authorized Officers (as defined in the 2025 Authority Loan Agreements) for the purpose of performing any act or executing any document relating to the Loan, the City, or the Financing Documents. A copy of this Ordinance shall be furnished to the Authority as evidence of such designation.
Section. 8 Costs and Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with the 2025 Authority Loan Agreements and the 2025 Authority Loans incurred therefunder shall be paid either from the proceeds of the 2025 Authority Loans or from legally available moneys of the City, or from a combination thereof, and such moneys are hereby appropriated for that purpose.
Section 9. Pledge of Revenue. The creation, perfection, enforcement and priority of the pledge of revenues to secure or pay the 2025 Authority Loans provided herein shall be governed by Section 11-57-208, C.R.S., and this Ordinance. The amounts pledged to the payment of the 2025 Authority Loans shall immediately be subject to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery, filing or further act. The lien of such pledge and the obligation to perform the contractual provisions made herein shall have priority over any or all other obligations and liabilities of the City, except as may be otherwise provided in the Supplemental Public Securities Act, in this Ordinance or in any other instrument, and shall be subject to any prior pledges and liens. The lien of such pledge shall be valid, binding and enforceable as against all persons having claims of any kind in tort, contract or otherwise against the City irrespective of whether such persons have notice of such liens.
Section 10. No Recourse Against Officers and Agents. Pursuant to Section 11 57 209, C.R.S., if a member of the City Council, or any officer or
Section
Section
Repealer.
PUBLIC NOTICES
(the “Owners”) are the owners of approximately 10.59 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 Owners have requested approval of the Singh Property 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 January 23, 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 denial to the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the City Council opened a public hearing on March 4, 2025, where it conducted its review and considered the application pursuant to the applicable provisions and criteria set forth in 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, 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 15th 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. BSB3827
First Publication: April 24, 2025 Last Publication: April 24, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice District Court, County of Adams, State of Colorado Court Address: 1100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, CO 80601
CONSOLIDATED NOTICE OF PUBLICA-
TION – DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE
Notice is hereby given that in the following proceedings filed in the Court under the Uniform Dissolution of Marriage Act, the Court has found that due diligence has been used to obtain personal service of process within the State of Colorado or that efforts to obtain the same would have been to no avail.
Pursuant to C.R.S. 14-10-107(4)(a), one publication of the following shall be published once during the month of April, 2025. A copy of the Petition and Summons may be obtained from the Clerk of the Combined Court. Default judgment may be entered against you if you fail to appear or file a response within 35 days of this publication.
Case Number Names of Parties
2024DR30970
2025DR30133
BARRAZA VS FRANCISCO DELATORRE GALLEGOS
2025DR1377 LUZ MARQUEZ LOPEZ VS OSCAR LUJAN LOPEZ
2024DR1763 HEYLING CASTILLO MARTINEZ VS XAVIER STOUFFER
2025DR182 LATASHA DAMINE
CERVANTES VS JORY BRIAN HOWE
2025DR249 LISET BANUELOS VS FREDY LUNA TERRAZAS
24DR1463 ANNA CARABAJAL VS ARMANDO CARABAJAL
ALANA PERCY Clerk of the Combined Court
Date: April 16, 2025
By: Deputy Clerk
Legal Notice No. BSB3825
First Publication: April 24, 2025
Last Publication: April 24, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Public Notice
Town of Lochbuie, Colorado Ordinance No. 2025-704
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LOCHBUIE, COLORADO REPEALING AND REENACTING SECTION 10-10-10 OF THE LOCHBUIE MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO FIREWORKS
Ordinance No. 2025-704 was passed at the April 15, 2025, meeting of the Town Board and will take effect on May 23, 2025. The full text of the ordinance is available for public inspection and acquisition in the Town Clerk’s Office, 703 Weld County Road 37, Lochbuie, CO 80603 and on the Town’s website at: Lochbuie.org
Heather Bowen Town Clerk
Legal Notice No. BSB3829
First Publication: April 24, 2025
Last Publication: April 24, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
In compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) on destruction of data collected, maintained or used in the provision of a free and appropriate public education of students with disabilities, School District 27J will be purging archived special education records. Records to be destroyed on May 23, 2025 will include all students who were born in the year 2002. If you would like to claim your records, please contact the SPED Records Department at 303-655-2920 before that date.
Legal Notice No. BSB3810
First Publication: April 24, 2025
Last Publication: May 1, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
ORDINANCE NO. 2472 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
PASSED ON SECOND AND FINAL READING AND ORDERED PUBLISHED BY TITLE ONLY THIS 15TH DAY OF APRIL 2025.
CITY OF BRIGHTON, /s/ GREGORY MILLS, Mayor
ATTEST:
/s/ NATALIE HOEL, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
/s/ YASMINA GIBBONS, Deputy City Attorney
A COMPLETE COPY OF THE ORDINANCE IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS AND ON THE CITY OF BRIGHTON WEBSITE.
Legal Notice No. BSB3828
First Publication: April 24, 2025
Last Publication: April 24, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
District Court, County of Adams, State of Colorado Court Address: 1100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, CO 80601
CONSOLIDATED NOTICE OF PUBLICATION – INVALIDITY OF MARRIAGE
Notice is hereby given that in the following proceedings filed in the Court under the Uniform Dissolution of Marriage Act, the Court has found that due diligence has been used to obtain personal service of process within the State of Colorado or that efforts to obtain the
and Summons may be obtained from the Clerk of the Combined Court. Default judgment may be entered against you if you fail to appear or file a response within 35 days of this publication.
Case Number Names of Parties
2025DR30230 GUILLERMINA DIAZ VS FLORENCIO VILLEDA SANCHEZ
ALANA PERCY
Clerk of the Combined Court
Date: April 16, 2025
By: Deputy Clerk
Legal Notice No. BSB3826
First Publication: April 24, 2025
Last Publication: April 24, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Metropolitan Districts
Public Notice
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON INCLUSION OF PROPERTY INTO SOUTH BEEBE DRAW METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that there has been filed with the Board of Directors of South Beebe Draw Metropolitan District (the “District”), Adams and Weld County, a petition praying that certain property, which is described below, be included into the boundaries of the District. The owner of one hundred percent (100%) of the property identified in the petition has given its consent to the inclusion of the property into the District’s boundaries.
Pursuant to § 32-1-903 CRS, as amended, the District’s meetings may be conducted electronically, telephonically or by other virtual means. Accordingly, notice is hereby given to all interested persons that they shall appear at a public hearing at https://us06web.
zoom.us/j/85642106450 at 3:00 PM on April 24, 2025, and show cause in writing why the petition should not be granted. The Board of Directors of the District, in its own discretion, may continue the hearing to a subsequent meeting.
The petition for the inclusion of property was submitted by CAW Equities, LLC and Red Tierra Equities, LLC, whose address is 8301 East Prentice Ave., Suite 100, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111. The property for which inclusion is sought is generally described as two parcels of land located on the east side of Weld County Road 53 at the junction of Weld County Road 58 and Weld County Road 53 in Weld County, Colorado containing approximately 94 acres.
A full and complete legal description of the property petitioned for inclusion is on file at the Law Office of Michael E. Davis, LLC, 1151 Eagle Drive, Suite 366, Loveland, CO 80537, and is available for public inspection during regular business hours 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SOUTH BEEBE DRAW METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
By: LAW OFFICE OF MICHAEL E. DAVIS, LLC
Attorneys for the District
Legal Notice No. BSB3823
First Publication: April 24, 2025 Last Publication: April 24, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Summons and Sheriff Sale
Public Notice
NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE AND COMBINED NOTICE OF RIGHTS TO CURE
SHERIFF SALE NO. 2025001287 TO THE ADAMS COUNTY SHERIFF
Pursuant to the terms of the Deed of Trust described as follows:
Original Grantor(s): SAMUEL CHAVEZ ROMERO JR. AND ALMA REYES
Original Beneficiary: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Holder of Evidence of Debt: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Date of Deed of Trust: August 17, 2015
Recording Date of Deed of Trust: October 05, 2015 Book and Page No. or Reception No. of Recorded Deed of Trust: In book , on page, at Reception No. 2015000082859, and County of Recording: ADAMS
Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt:
COMMERCE CITY, CO 80022-3321
THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST. THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST TO BE FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.
YOU ARE NOTIFIED AS FOLLOWS: YOU MAY HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE REAL PROPERTY BEING FORECLOSED.YOU MAY HAVE CERTAIN RIGHTS OR SUFFER CERTAIN LIABILITIES AS A RESULT OF SAID FORECLOSURE PURSUANT TO COLORADO STATUTES. YOU MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO REDEEM SAID REAL PROPERTY OR YOU MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO CURE ANY DEFAULT UNDER THE INSTRUMENT BEING FORECLOSED. A COPY OF THE STATUTES, AS SUCH STATUTES ARE PRESENTLY CONSTITUTED, IS ATTACHED HERETO. HOWEVER, YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE DETERMINED BY PREVIOUS STATUTES.
The Holder of the debt secured by the Deed of Trust declares a violation of the covenants of said Deed of Trust for reasons including, but not limited to, the failure to make payments as provided for in the Deed of Trust and Negotiable Instrument.
A notice of Intent to Cure filed pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes 38-38-104 shall be filed with the undersigned at least 15 calendar days prior to the first scheduled sale date or any date to which the sale is continued.
A notice of Intent to Redeem pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes 38-38-302 shall be filed with the undersigned no later than 8 business days after the sale.
If the sale date is continued to a later date, the deadline to file a Notice of Intent to Cure by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended.
IF THE BORROWER BELIEVES THAT A LENDER OR SERVICER HAS VIOLATED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT IN SECTION 38-38103.1 OR THE PROHIBITION ON DUAL TRACKING IN SECTION 38-38-103.2, THE BORROWER MAY FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE COLORADO ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE FEDERAL CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU (CFPB), OR BOTH. THE FILING OF A COMPAINT WILL NOT STOP THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS.
Colorado Attorney General 1300 Broadway, 10th Floor Denver, Colorado 80203 (800)222-4444
www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov
Federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau P.O. Box 4503 Iowa City, Iowa 52244 (855) 411-2372
www.consumerfinance.gov
The foreclosure proceedings have been commenced at the request of plaintiff, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, the legal Holder of the debt secured by the Deed of Trust. The name, address and telephone number of the attorney representing Holder of the Debt is as follows:
/s/ Randall M. Chin
Randall M. Chin, Esq. Reg. No. 31149
Barrett Frappier & Weisserman, LLP 1391 Speer Boulevard, Suite 700 Denver, Colorado 80204 (303) 350-3711
NOTICE OF SALE
The undersigned will on May 29, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at 1100 JUDICIAL CENTER DR , BRIGHTON, CO 80601-8217 sell the Property at public auction to the highest bidder who has submitted bid funds to the undersigned as specified by C.R.S. 38-38-106(7) to pay the Debt and certain other sums, all as provided by applicable law and the Deed of Trust.
THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED MAY BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
DATED: February 27,2025.
Sarah Tedesco Sheriff of ADAMS County, Colorado
Legal Notice No. BSB3700
First Publication: March 27, 2025
Last Publication: April 24, 2025
You are hereby summoned and required to file with the Clerk an answer to the Complaint, which has been filed with the Court within thirty days after service of this Summons upon you.
If you fail to do so, judgment by default will be taken against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.
If service upon you is made outside the State of Colorado, or by publication or if a copy of the Complaint is not served upon you with this Summons, you are required to file your Answer to the Complaint within thirty-five days after service of this Summons upon you.
This is an action for forfeiture pursuant to C.R.S. §16-13-307 of the currency that was seized in Adams County, Colorado by officers of the North Metro Task Force on January 13, 2024, as being derived from activity constituting a class one public nuisance.
A copy of the Summons, Complaint and Temporary Restraining Order may be obtained at the Adams County District Attorney’s Office, 1000 Judicial Center Drive, Suite 100, Brighton, Colorado 80601.
DATED: March 19, 2025
/s/ Cameron Munier
Senior Deputy District Attorney 1000 Judicial Center Drive Suite 100 Brighton, CO 80601 (303) 659-7720
Legal Notice No. BSB3747
First Publication: March 27, 2025
Last Publication: April 24, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO Court Address: 1100 Judicial Center Dr., Brighton, CO 80601
Plaintiff: GREENS AT BUFFALO RUN HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., a Colorado non-profit corporation
Defendants: DEBORAH A. SANDERS; U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, FOR THE C-BASS MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-CBl; THE VILLAGES AT BUFFALO RUN PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.; ALEX VILLAGRAN AS PUBLIC TRUSTEE AND TREASURER FOR ADAMS COUNTY; UNKNOWN TENANT(S) IN POSSESSION
Attorneys for Plaintiff: WINZENBURG, LEFF, PURVIS & PAYNE, LLP Wendy E. Weigler, # 28419
Address: 350 Indiana Street, Suite 450 Golden, CO 80401
Phone Number: 303-863-1870 wweigler@wlpplaw.com
Case Number: 2024CV030530
SHERIFF’S COMBINED NOTICE OF SALE AND RIGHT TO CURE AND REDEEM
Under a Judgment and Decree of Foreclosure entered on December 30, 2024, in the abovecaptioned action, I am ordered to sell certain real property as follows:
Original Lienee
Deborah A. Sanders
Original Lienor
The Greens at Buffalo Run
Homeowners Association, Inc.
Current Holder of the evidence of debt
The Greens at Buffalo Run
Homeowners Association, Inc.
Date of Lien being foreclosed
June 23, 2022
Date of Recording of Lien being foreclosed
June 23, 2022
County of Recording Adams
Recording Information 2022000055175
Original Principal Balance of the secured indebtedness
$6,097.00
Outstanding Principal Balance of the secured indebtedness as of the date hereof
$29,743.97
Amount of Judgment entered December 30, 2024
$27,466.11
Description of property to be foreclosed:
that
2024DR1450 MELISSA
2025DR180
Pursuant to C.R.S. 14-10-107(4)(a), one
$42,900.00
Outstanding Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt as of the date hereof: $42,884.58
The real property to be foreclosed is described as: The South ½ of Lot 2, all of Lot 3, Block 1, Hilltop Subdivision, County of Adams, State of Colorado. Subject to all easements, covenants, conditions, restrictions, leases and restrictions of record, all legal highways, all right of way, all zoning, building and other laws, ordinances and regulations, all rights of tenants in possession, and all real estate taxes and assessments not yet due and payable, Being the same property conveyed by deed recorded in Document No. 20130000083975, of the Adams County, Colorado Records Which has the address of : 6080 HOLLY ST,
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice SUMMONS
SERVICE BY PUBLICATION IN THE DIS-
TRICT COURT IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF ADAMS AND STATE OF COLORADO
Civil Action No. 24CV30433, DIV. C THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO, Plaintiff, vs.
UNKNOWN PERSON and TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN UNITED STATES CURRENCY, Defendant.
TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANT, GREETINGS:
Unit E, Building 28, The Greens at Buffalo Run according to the Condominium Map recorded on June 15, 2006 at Reception No. 20060615000609950, in the records of the Office of the Clerk and Recorder of Adams County, Colorado, and as defined and described in the Amended and Restated Condominium Declaration for The Greens at Buffalo Run recorded on September 16, 2004 at Reception No. 20040916000908710 and November 23, 2004 at Reception No. 20041123001187980, and Supplement recorded June 15, 2006 at Reception No. 20060615000609960 in said records, County of Adams, State of Colorado.
Also known as: 15501 E. 112th Avenue, #28E, Commerce City, CO 80022.
THE PROPERTY TO BE FORECLOSED AND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN.
THE LIEN BEING FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.
The covenants of Plaintiff have been violated as follows: failure to make payments on said indebtedness when the same were due and owing.
NOTICE OF SALE
THEREFORE, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
C.R.S. AND THE LIEN BEING FORECLOSED IS A UNIT ASSOCIATION LIEN, THE ALTERNATE LIENOR HAS THIRTY (30) DAYS TO FILE THE NOTICE WITH THE OFFICER OF THE ALTERNATE LIENOR’S INTENT TO REDEEM.
IF THE BORROWER BELIEVES THAT A LENDER OR SERVICER HAS VIOLATED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT IN C.R.S. 38-38103.1 OR THE PROHIBITION ON DUAL TRACKING IN C.R.S. 38-38-103.2, THE BORROWER MAY FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE COLORADO ATTORNEY GENERAL AT THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF LAW, RALPH L. CARR JUDICIAL BUILDING, 1300 BROADWAY, 10TH FLOOR, DENVER, CO 80203, 720-508-6000; THE CFPB, HTTP:// WWW.CONSUMERFINANCE.GOV/COMPLAINT/; CFPB, PO BOX 2900, CLINTON IA 52733-2900 (855) 411-2372 OR BOTH, BUT THE FILING OF A COMPLAINT WILL NOT STOP THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS. The name, address, and telephone number of each of the attorneys representing the holder of the evidence of the debt is as follows: Wendy E. Weigler #28419 Winzenburg, Leff, Purvis & Payne, LLP 350 Indiana Street, Suite 450 Golden, CO 80401 303-863-1870
THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED MAY BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
Date: March 13, 2025.
By: Gene R. Claps Adams County Sheriff Adams County, Colorado
Statutes attached: §§38-37-108, 38-38-103, 38-38-104,
Original Amount
$2,207.98 Outstanding Amount
$6,577.60
Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the provisions of the North Hill Homeowners, Inc.’s Declaration (“Declaration”) have been violated as follows: Failure to pay common expense assessments as that term is defined in 38-33.3-316 C.R.S., together with all other payments provided for in the Declaration or by Colorado Statute secured by the Assessment Lien.
THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN. THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN:
LOT 5B BLOCK 2 IN HOLLY HILLS ESTATES
FILING NO. 1, 2ND AMENDMENT, RECORDED JUNE 13, 2018, AT RECEPTION NO. 2018000047991, OF THE RECORDS OF THE ADAMS COUNTY CLERK AND RECORDER, COUNTY OF ADAMS, STATE OF COLORADO.
also known by street address as: 14370 Ivanhoe Street, Thornton, CO 80602 and assessor’s schedule or parcel no.2 1571-202-07-020 with all appurtenances.
NOTICE OF SALE
The current holder of the Lien, described herein, has filed the Court’s Decree in Foreclosure as provided by law. The lien being foreclosed may not be a first lien.
THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will, at public auction, at 9:00 A.M. on May,29 2025, at the Offices of the Adams County Sheriff, located at 1100 Judicial Center Dr. Brighton, Co 80601, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Assessment Lien, plus attorney fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.
**BIDDERS ARE REQUIRED TO BRING CASH OR CERTIFIED FUNDS SUFFICIENT TO COVER THEIR HIGHEST BID AT TIME OF SALE**
NOTICE OF RIGHTS
YOU MAY HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE REAL PROPERTY BEING FORECLOSED OR HAVE CERTAIN RIGHTS OR SUFFER CERTAIN LIABILITIES PURSUANT TO COLORADO STATUTES AS A RESULT OF SAID FORECLOSURE. YOU MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO REDEEM SAID REAL PROPERTY OR YOU MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO CURE A DEFAULT OF THE LIEN BEING FORECLOSED. A COPY OF SAID STATUTES, AS SUCH STATUTES ARE PRESENTLY CONSTITUTED, WHICH MAY AFFECT YOUR RIGHTS, IS ATTACHED TO ALL MAILED COPIES OF THIS NOTICE. HOWEVER, YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE DETERMINED BY PREVIOUS STATUTES.
A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION 38-38-104 SHALL BE FILED WITH THE COUNTY SHERIFF AT LEAST FIFTEEN (15) CALENDAR DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRST SCHEDULED SALE DATE OR ANY DATE TO WHICH THE SALE IS CONTINUED; A NOTICE OF INTENT TO REDEEM FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION 38-38-302 SHALL BE FILED WITH THE OFFICER NO LATER THAN EIGHT (8) BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE SALE. If the sale date is continued to a later date, the deadline to file a notice of intent to cure by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended.
The date of sale determined pursuant to section 38-38-108.
The place of sale determined pursuant to section 38-38-110: The lien being foreclosed may not be a first lien.
Adams County Sheriff – Civil Divison 1100 Judicial Center Dr. 1st Floor Brighton, Co 80601
If the borrower believes that a lender or servicer has violated the requirements for a single point of contact in C.R.S. 38-38-103.1 or the prohibition on dual tracking in C.R.S. 38-38103.2, the borrower may file a complaint the Colorado Attorney General, at the Colorado Department of Law, Ralph L. Carr Judicial Building, 1300 Broadway, 10th Floor, Denver, CO 80203, 720-508-6000 or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, P.O. Box 2900, Clinton, IA 52733-2900, 855-411-2372, http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/ or both, but the filing of this complaint will not stop the foreclosure process.
DATE: February 27,2025
By: Sarah Tedesco Adams County Sheriff Adams County, Colorado
The name, bar registration number, address, and telephone number of the attorney is: Richard W. Johnston, Reg. No. 19823, Winzenburg Leff, Purvis & Payne. LLP, 350 Indiana Street, Suite 450,
Public Notice BEFORE THE ENERGY AND CARBON MANAGEMENT COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO IN THE MATTER OF THE PAYMENT OF PROCEEDS FROM THE PRODUCTION OF OIL AND GAS AS ESTABLISHED BY SECTION 34-60-118.5, C.R.S., NIOBRARA AND CODELL FORMATIONS, WATTENBERG FIELD, ADAMS AND BROOMFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO
CAUSE NO. 1
DOCKET NO. 250200021 TYPE: PAYMENT OF PROCEEDS
NOTICE OF HEARING
Blackwell Energy, LLC (“Payee”) filed a Form 38, Payment of Proceeds Hearing Request (Form 38) pursuant to Rule 503.g.(5) and C.R.S. § 34-60-118.5, for an order awarding payment of proceeds and interest due to Payees for production attributable to the below-described Wells, which are operated by Extraction Oil & Gas Inc. (Operator No. 10459) (“Extraction”) and located in Adams and Broomfield Counties, Colorado. This Notice was sent to you because the Applicant believes you may own oil or gas (“mineral”) interests in the Wells identified below and or are responsible for making payments to the owners of mineral interests.
WELLS
Interchange A S22-30-3N
(API No. 05-014-20767) Interchange A S22-30-5N
(API No. 05-014-20763) Interchange A S22-30 7C
(API No. 05-014-20768) Interchange A S22-30-8N
(API No. 05-014-20766) Interchange A S22-30-9N
(API No. 05-014-20771) Interchange A S22-30-10C
(API No. 05-014-20760) Interchange A S22-30-12N
(API No. 05-014-20765) Interchange B S22-30-14N
(API No. 05-014-20779) Interchange B S22-30-15N
(API No. 05-014-20780) Interchange B S22-30-16C
(API No. 05-014-20783) Interchange B S22-30-18N
(API No. 05-014-20781) Interchange B S22-30-19C
(API No. 05-014-20778) Interchange B S22-30-20N
(API No. 05-014-20851)
DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION OF HEARING (Subject to change)
The assigned Hearing Officer will hold a hearing only on the above-referenced docket number at the following date, time, and location:
Date:June 4, 2025
Time:9:00 a.m.
Location:Virtual Hearing with Remote Access via Zoom
To participate virtually navigate to https:// ecmc.state.co.us/#/home and locate the Zoom meeting link on the left side of the webpage. Energy and Carbon Management Commission
The Chancery Building 1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 801 Denver, CO 80203
PETITIONS
DEADLINE FOR PETITIONS BY AFFECTED PERSONS: May 5, 2025
Any interested party who wishes to participate formally must file a written petition with the Commission no later than the deadline provided above. Please see Commission Rule 507 at https://ecmc.state.co.us/#/home, under “Regulation,” then select “Rules.” Please note that, under Commission Rule 510.l, the deadline for petitions may only be continued for good cause, even if the hearing is continued beyond the date that is stated above. Pursuant to Commission Rule 507, if you do not file a proper petition, the Hearing Officer will not know that you wish to formally participate in this matter and the date and time of the hearing may change without additional notice to you. Parties wishing to file a petition must register online at https://oitco.hylandcloud.com/DNRCOGExternalAccess/Account/Login.aspx and select “Request Access to Site.” Please refer to our “eFiling Users Guidebook” at https://ecmc. state.co.us/documents/reg/Hearings/External_EfilingSystemGuidebook_2023_FINAL. pdf for more information. Under Commission Rule 508, if no petition is filed, the Application may be approved administratively without a formal hearing.
Any Affected Person who files a petition must be able to participate in a virtual prehearing conference during the week of May 5, 2025, if a virtual prehearing conference is requested by the Applicant or by any person who has filed a petition.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For more information, you may review the Application, which was sent to you with this Notice. You may also contact the Applicant at the phone number or email address listed below.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if any party requires special accommodations as a result of a disability for this hearing, please contact Margaret Humecki at Dnr_ECMC_Hearings_Unit@state.co.us, prior to the hearing and arrangements will be made.
ENERGY AND CARBON MANAGEMENT COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
By: Elias Thomas, Commission Secretary
Dated: March 25, 2025
Blackwell Energy, LLC
c/o/ Sandra Carter
S2P2 Law, LLC
6105 S. Main St., Suite 200 Aurora, CO 80216
720-593-0963
sandra@S2P2law.com
Legal Notice No. BSB 3151
First Publication: April 3, 2025
Last Publication: May 1, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Storage Liens/
Vehicle Titles
Public Notice T&R AUTO REPAIR 710 N.7TH AVE UNIT #5 BRIGHTON , CO 80601 303-659-6747 IS SELLING
1)1980 buick regal
Vin ending in 144880
Legal Notice No. BSB3817
First Publication: April 24, 2025
Last Publication: April 24, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Notice to Creditors
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of James Carl Horan, Deceased Case Number: 2025 PR 118
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before August 18, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Dana Mason
Personal Representative 15850 Colorado Blvd Brighton, CO 80602
Legal Notice No. BSB3813
First Publication: April 17, 2025
Last Publication: May 1, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Elizabeth Stine, a/k/a Elizabeth I. Stine, a/k/a Elizabeth Irene Stine, Deceased Case Number: 2025 PR 30203
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before August 18, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
/s/ Casey L. Williams, #39117
Attorney for Debra L. Bustos Personal Representative 203 Telluride St., Suite 400 Brighton, CO 80601
Legal Notice No. BSB3814
First Publication: April 17, 2025
Last Publication: May 1, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of RODERICK MCDONALD BROWN, aka RODERICK M. BROWN, aka RODERICK BROWN, Deceased
Case Number: 2025PR30249
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before August 17, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Kendra S. Mandarich, Personal Representative
c/o Baker Law Group, PLLC 8301 E. Prentice Ave., Suite 405 Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Legal Notice No. BSB 3157
First Publication: April 17, 2025 Last Publication: May 1, 2025 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Patricio Trujillo A/K/A Pat Trujillo, Deceased Case Number: 2025 PR 60 All persons having claims against the above-
named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before August 11, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Sandra L Pursley
Personal Representative 1700 S Zuni St Denver, CO 80223
Legal Notice No. BSB3789
First Publication: April 10, 2025
Last Publication: April 24, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of DANIEL ROBERT TORKE
aka DANIEL R. TORKE, Deceased Case Number: 2025 PR 30252
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before August 25, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Gregory J. Notarianni, #15182 1290 Broadway, Ste. 1700, Denver, CO 80203
Legal Notice No. BSB3822
First Publication: April 24, 2025
Last Publication: May 8, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Deanna Rae McAninch
aka Deanna R. McAninch, Deceased Case Number: 2025 PR 30216
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before August 11, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Dalla Hammond, P.C. for Personal Representative 15016 Elizabeth Street Thornton, Colorado 80602
Legal Notice No. BSB3788
First Publication: April 10, 2025
Last Publication: April 24, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Joshua James Owen, a.k.a. Joshua J. Owen, a.k.a. Joshua Owen, a.k.a. Josh Owen, a.k.a. Jhed Owen, Deceased Case Number: 2025 PR 030205
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before August 25, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Marty Joe Owen
Personal Representative 6021 Key Largo Circle Punta Gorda, FL 33955
Legal Notice No. BSB3820
First Publication: April 24, 2025
Last Publication: May 8, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Name Changes
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name
Public notice is given on March 17, 2025, that a Petition for a Change of Name of a minor child has been filed with the Adams County Court.
The petition requests that the name of Karen González Trejobe changed to Karen Sofia González
Case No.: 25 C 0384
By: Deputy Clerk
Legal Notice No. BSB3779
First Publication: April 10, 2025
Last Publication: April 24, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
YOU ARE HEREBY ADVISED that the Petitioner, has filed a Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship which now exists between you and the above-named child(ren);
YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that the Motion has been set for hearing in Division S of the District Court in and for the County of Adams, Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, Colorado, on the 30th day of May, 2025, at 10:30 am, at which time the Petitioner must prove by clear and convincing evidence that: 1) That the child(ren) was adjudicated dependent or neglected; 2) That an appropriate treatment plan has not reasonably been complied with by the parent or has not been successful; 3) That the parents are unfit; 4) That the conduct or condition of the parent or parents is unlikely to change within a reasonable time; no less drastic alternative to termination exists, and 6) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.
OR 1) That the child(ren) has been abandoned by parent or parents in that the parent or parents have surrendered physical custody for a period of six months and during this period have not manifested to the child(ren), the court or to the person having physical custody a firm intention to assume or obtain physical custody or to make permanent legal arrangements for the care of the child(ren); and 2) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.
OR 1) That the child(ren) has been abandoned by parent or parents in that the identity of the parent of the child is unknown and has been unknown for three months or more and that reasonable efforts to identify and locate the parent in accordance with section 19-3603 have failed; and 2) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.
If a grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, or sister of the child is requesting guardianship or legal custody of the child such request must be filed within twenty days of the filing of this motion.
YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that you have the right to have legal counsel represent you in all matters connected with the Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship.
If you cannot afford to pay the fees of legal counsel, you are advised that the Court will appoint legal counsel to represent you at no cost to you upon your request and upon your showing of an inability to pay.
If you have any questions concerning the foregoing advisement, you should immediately contact either your legal counsel or the Court.
Done and signed on: April 10, 2025
BY THE COURT: District Court Judge/Magistrate Legal Notice No. BSB3819
First Publication: April 24, 2025
Last Publication: April 24, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
STATE OF COLORADO IN THE DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF ADAMS Division D1 Case Number 24JV30263
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADOIN THE INTEREST OF: Damian Marquez, Dominik Marquez Child, and Concerning
Perla Marquez, Flavio Torres, Franklin Cruz Hernandez, John Doe S U M M O N S
To the parents, guardian, or other respondents named above, GREETINGS: Flavio Torres, Franklin Cruz Hernandez, John Doe
You are hereby notified that a verified petition has been filed in the above named Court in which it is represented to the Court that said child are alleged to be dependent and neglected; for the reasons set forth more fully in said petition, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference for greater certainty.
You are further notified that the parent-child legal relationship may be terminated by this action, if prayed for in the petition.
You are further notified that the Court has set said petition for hearing on the 24th day of April, 2025, at the hour of 10:00 am. You are hereby notified to be and appear, at said time, before this Court located at the Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, CO 80601.
Witness my hand and seal of said Court this 10th day of April, 2025.
Child: Messiah Cox-Cardoza
Respondents: Maria Cox-Cardoza, John
Special Respondent: Robert Cox Case Number: 24JV30132 Div: S
OF ADVISEMENT
TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENTS,: Maria Cox-Cardoza and John Doe
Alana Percy Clerk of the District Court Legal Notice No. BSB3818
Student group inspired these 7 state laws
Now, funding woes will likely end Colorado Youth Advisory Council
BY JASON GONZALES CHALKBEAT
State Rep. Hugh McKean saw a problem. Although Colorado had an outlet for students to talk with lawmakers about issues relevant to them, those conversations happened near the end of the legislative session, and the students’ priorities often got lost.
So in 2019, the late Republican lawmaker from Loveland helped pass a law to revamp the Colorado Youth Advisory Council. It allowed students to meet before the legislative session to discuss priorities and present policy proposals, with up to three getting drafted into bills.
“ ey can come and present their ideas and re ne those ideas right here in the Capitol,” McKean said at the time.
But now, after six years of being able to draft real bills that have a shot at becoming law, COYAC is expected to lose that power. What started as a conversation among state lawmakers about cutting about $50,000 to run the program amid a $1.2 billion budget shortfall this year turned into altering the program after Republican leadership said it has strayed away from its original mission.
Republican leadership also said that legislators are paying for the group to draft laws — a few of which conservative lawmakers, who are in the minority, have opposed. ey’ve argued the legislature doesn’t do that for other groups.
e program was created in 2008 by former Durango Republican Rep. Ellen Roberts and brings together 40 students between the ages of 14 and 19 from Colorado’s 35 Senate districts and the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute tribes. Students serve two-year terms.
Since 2019, student ideas have inspired more than a dozen bills, including the three under consideration this year. One proposal would reduce food waste in schools. Another bill would have students on the council advise lawmakers on the youth opioid crisis.
Sarah Moss, COYAC director, has pointed out how valuable the program is to the students. She’s pleaded with lawmakers to keep it, because students learn about the legislative process, how to talk with lawmakers, and other valuable skills.
While the program will go on helping students learn and experience the legislative process, it’s clear students won’t be
able to get legislation in front of lawmakers any longer. With that power gone, here are seven of the most signi cant laws that the council has helped inspire:
Student preferred names
One of the council’s more contentious bills, House Bill 24-1039 was an e ort by students to support transgender youth and protect them from bullying. e law says educators must call students by their preferred name upon request. Supporters said it reduces discrimination against transgender students and creates a more inclusive environment statewide.
Colorado House and Senate Democrats, who are in the majority, overwhelmingly supported the bill.
Meanwhile, opponents at the time pushed back because they felt it would infringe on educator and parent rights.
College financial assistance for foster youth
In 2021, COYAC students recognized that students in the foster care system had trouble getting to college. Citing a report from the University of Denver’s Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab, they highlighted that only 13.4% of students who entered foster care at age 13 enrolled in college by age 21. eir focus on the issue helped lawmak-
ers le Senate Bill 22-008. e law sets aside $5 million a year in nancial aid support for the about 4,500 foster kids statewide who might decide to go to college.
Student mental health resources
COYAC students had a hand in the information on Colorado student identi cation cards.
House Bill 22-1052 requires the identication cards to include the number, the website, and text to talk number of the 24hour state’s crisis service center and Safe2Tell, a violence intervention and prevention program for students to anonymously report threats.
Eating disorder prevention
Colorado residents also have resources about eating disorders thanks to student ideas.
Senate Bill 23-014 created the Disordered Eating Prevention Program within the Department of Public Health and Environment, as well as a research grant that helped fund studies on the impacts and how to prevent eating disorders.
e program holds information for Colorado residents on interventions, treatments, and other educational resources. Budget cuts will eliminate the program next year.
Student voice in academic standards review
Senate Bill 23-008 created opportunities for students to get involved in the state’s education standards review, giving students a voice in what they learn.
Student discipline review committee
A COYAC idea helped the state dig into discipline practices and whether certain groups of students were being disproportionately disciplined. Senate Bill 23-029 created a task force made up of 18 members and charged with reviewing discipline data and policies. It released a nal report in August.
Free menstrual products in schools
Colorado schools are required to provide free menstrual products in school bathrooms after House Bill 24-1164. e law ramps up how much schools must provide. For instance, schools must provide at least 25% of applicable student bathrooms in all applicable school buildings by June 30.
Reprinted with permission from Chalkbeat, a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.
The Colorado state Capitol, pictured in 2023. PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD
Republican Lopez takes 3rd shot at governor
Former Parker mayor, 4th CD stand-in says “We can’t a ord to sit back”
meeting, vowing to serve only six months and not run for a full term in the seat, which is now held by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert.
Lopez ran for the Republican nomination for governor in 2022, losing out to Heidi Ganahl in the primary. In 2018, he came in third in the Republican primary.
He was also the lead plainti in a case last year to try to overturn Colorado’s limits on campaign contributions, which was seen as a sign that Lopez planned to try again to be the state’s chief executive. Lopez was elected the mayor of Parker in the 1990s. He also served as the Colorado Director of the Small Business Administration from 2008-2014. In 2020, the Trump Department of Justice and Lopez settled claims that he violated con ict of interest rules.
Current governor, Democrat Jared Polis, is term-limited.
e last time a Republican was elected governor of Colorado was in 2002, when Bill Owens won his second term.
A number of Republicans have already entered the race, including state Sen. Mark Baisley, state Rep. Scott Bottoms and Teller Country Sheri Jason Mikesell. Two Democrats have also entered the race: U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Attorney General Phil Weiser.
e primary is more than 14 months away. is story was produced by the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and e Colorado Sun, and shared with news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Greg Lopez speaks during the GOP assembly at the Broadmoor World Arena on Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Colorado Springs. PHOTO BY HUGH CAREY/THE COLORADO SUN