It doesn’t seem that long ago that community news could be found everywhere. ere were two scrappy daily newspapers that had hundreds of sta ers dedicated to all parts of the metro area. ere were community newspapers stacked in businesses or sitting in residents’ mailboxes or driveways.
But as the economy changed, newspapers became a casualty of technological disruption, and, as newsrooms shrank or disappeared altogether, readership and advertising dwindled.
But while the model by which we fund our newspaper is changing, that in no way means that newspapers are failing. Studies show that more than three-quarters of Coloradans read print or digital newspapers every month, and it’s still an important part of readers’ decisions when they’re shopping and voting.
at’s why I’m proud today to o er you this sampler of the Canyon Courier and tell you about our owners, the nonpro t National Trust for Local News. It’s a tenet of democracy that we ask questions of our leaders and of people who are entrusted to keep our communities safe. So when there are fewer journalists in a market, there are fewer people around to hold the government accountable, or to even just share the best of what communities have to o er. e National Trust believes in supporting community news and is putting resources on the ground to do this. From standing up a printing press in 2024 to continuing to nd better processes and programs for our team, we’re committed to improving our connection to communities and sharing your stories. As executive director of Colorado Community Media, I’m proud to lead the sta as we work hard to preserve local integrity and keep your community voices strong. We’re providing stories, information and government accountability that people in this community can’t get anywhere else — all while connecting businesses directly with readers. Any support we get – through advertising, subscriptions or donations – goes directly to the journalism that informs our communities.
at’s why we’d like you to take the time to read this sample copy of the Courier and see the great news and information that you can get delivered to you weekly. I promise that it’s more than worth the price to subscribe.
If you have interesting news and tips that we need to hear, need to promote a business or event, or even have some critiques about the work we’re doing, then reach out to us. We are ready to hear it. We’ve been in your community for 66 years and look forward to being part of your lives for decades to come.
Evergreen Fire/Rescue’s new teammates formally
join foothills firefighting community
Six paid firefighters and several others were recognized in badge pinning and oath-taking ceremony
BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
In a ceremony that honored the traditions of the re ghter industry and Evergreen Fire/Rescue in particular, EFR formally welcomed its rst paid re ghters Oct. 25. e event, which included a badge-pinning ceremony and oath, also recognized seven other EFR re ghters who recently earned promotions. e six men include four former EFR volunteer re ghters and two career re ghters. eir spouses, friends, children and babies gathered around each of them to pin the badge on their EFR uniforms. e re ghter pinning ceremony is a tradition that introduces new re ghters to
their department and community and symbolizes their new roles and responsibilities.
“ e badge is a cornerstone of our existence,” said Kris Kazian, EFR re operations chief. “Our actions can shine that badge or tarnish it.”
e badge is in the shape of a Maltese cross, with each of the eight points representing an occupational commitment, and symbolizes the willingness of re ghters to sacrice their lives for others.
“We are a family working together to give to this community,” Kazian said. “In people’s worst
FRIGID FUN
Evergreen’s annual lake plunge returns to kick o the new year
BY TIM WEIGHART SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
New year’s day at Evergreen Lake this year had the perfect weather to bundle up and celebrate the holiday on the lake: blue skies, a vibrant sun and just a bit of chill in the air. However, for roughly 400 people from across the state, bundling up was only a temporary luxury as they prepared to jump into the ice-cold water. e annual Evergreen Lake Plunge is a longstanding tradition run by the nonpro t Active4All to raise money for its INSPIRE program, which aims to provide inclusive recreational activities to kids with disabilities. Last year’s plunge hosted a record number of jumpers who collectively raised over $40,000 dollars for INSPIRE.
John DuRussell, president of Active4All, said INSPIRE hopes to use donated funds to build an ADA accessible playground and work on a skate park and amphitheater.
While a few bold souls have been taking the yearly plunge since long before Active4All started running the event, many more experienced the grueling waters for the rst time in 2025.
“ is is just one of the rst challenges we’ll overcome this year,” said rst-time-plunger Jeremy Salter from Strasburg. Jeremy and his daughter wore matching Bluey shirts as they jumped, getting in on the trend of wearing matching out ts or costumes when jumping into the lake.
Other attendees wore onesies portraying animals or ctional characters, including Emily and Leo from Parker, who dressed as Mike and Sully from Monsters Inc., and Rosalie from Denver, another rst-timer, who dressed as a shark.
EFR Fire Chief Mike Weege swears in the organization’s new firefighters, including from left, paramedic Joe Black, Joe Rimkus, Nate Perdue, Harrison Leahy, Sean Ender, Joe Galindo and David Hughes.
PHOTO BY JANE REUTER
1
You get to read stories about people in the foothills doing good things. We should be celebrating the good in life, and the people who are doing good work to improve the community.
2
Your life will be more enjoyable knowing about events, clubs and other ways to interact with your community.
Check out the Canyon Courier for news about upcoming shows and community events.
3
Trained, professional and edited journalists attend fire, recreation and school boards and county commissioner meetings to keep you informed.
Award-winning journalists, who live in many of the communities CCM covers, work day and night to keep an eye on local government. We are digging through agendas, checking records and getting elected o cials on the record to keep you informed and ensure accountability at every level.
4
6
Read features on foothills residents and local businesses. at person you walked past on the street? ey could be an Olympian or a talented artist. Read about the stories your neighbors have to tell about their lives and unique businesses.
7
Reading a community newspaper has a positive e ect on your health and critical thinking. Learn more about what’s going on around you. Get objective information. Read opinion columns and letters to the editor that ... while you won’t always agree with ... will stretch your thinking.
Canyon Courier
Local decisions often impact your life more than national decisions, and the Canyon Courier keeps you in the know. Trust us to do the hard work to bring you insightful and fair-handed analysis on important issues like mental health.
5
Reading advertisements can help you find great deals, learn about new businesses or find the perfect contractor for your home. We all know that shopping locally helps your community. We help connect local business owners with a greater audience and help you learn more about the goods and services available here in the foothills.
8
Guaranteed to tell you something you didn’t know.
We’ll nd the stories you never would have guessed at but will be happy to read about.
9
The foothills area fun place to live and the Canyon Courier helps you live it to the fullest.
We are eager to showcase all the foothills has to o er.
10
Right now, you can subscribe for less than $2 per week, including delivery to your mailbox. at’s about the cost of one drink at a co ee shop every month. And even if you opt for the co ee, just think about how enjoyable it would be to have the community newspaper in your hand while you sit down to drink it.
Dog trails and tails: Harper finds a home after shelter shuts down
BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Harper, the last dog left when the Intermountain Humane Society shut down late last year, has found her forever family.
Centennial resident Stephanie Segal, who lives with her three children in a house with a yard, brought Harper into their home on Jan. 26.
“Oh my God, we love her,” she said. “Harper has a lot of personality. She loves to snuggle. She loves to play. She gets the zoomies outside; she’ll run laps and jump.”
Segal’s children are 15, 19 and 21 — old enough to help reinforce Harper’s training and give her plenty of a ection.
“If they were younger, she might not have been a good t for us, but we can give her the love and structure it sounds like she needed,” Segal said.
IMHS closed Dec. 21, 2024 so the shelter’s owners, Conifer’s nonpro t Planned Pethood, can sell the land and pay for construction of a new shelterat the clinic’s Conifer site.
Harper came to IMHS in February 2023, a transfer from a Kansas shelter with an uncertain history and some obvious trauma, Knudsen said. While the shelter traditionally keeps animals for extended periods, the closing meant itran out of time with Harper. To help her nd a home, the sta spearheaded a fundraising campaign, raising more than $6,000 for training to address her behavioral issues.
IMHS sta member Kat Knudsen said the sta and volunteers are delighted for
Harper.
“I love to see her looking so happy,” she said. “I don’t think we could’ve asked for a better outcome.”
IMHS had arranged with the Max Fund to take Harper if no one adopted her. e no-kill facility welcomes and shelters pets of all kinds, including those with critical needs. While Knudsen was grateful for that option, it was far from ideal.
“After so much time in our shelter, I could tell it wasn’t doing her any favors, so going back into a shelter environment wouldn’t have been a great situation,” she said.
e Segals, meanwhile, needed a dog to ll a void in their home.
“We lost our family dog in September,” Segal said. “We’d gone through our grieving period and started looking for dogs at shelters and rescue.”
A friend forwarded her the article about Harper. For Segal, it was love at rst sight.
“ e photos get you rst; she has those puppy eyes and she’s just adorable,” she said. “When I read her story, I immediately sent in an application.”
Segal and her daughter rst met Harper at dog trainer Max Alpert’s Arvada home.
“She was pretty comfortable with us right away,” Segal said. “She’s a little timid at rst, but she was playing with us after about half an hour.”
e family has continued working with Segal to ensure her new training sticks. So far, it’s been smooth sailing.
“She is just the sweetest,” Segal said. “ is is a happy story. It’s good to have some happy stories right now.”
Hank & Barbie Alderfer: A story of building community and lasting love
Evergreen family helped preserve and create many of the area’s most beloved assets
BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Hank Alderfer remembers well the moment he rst saw his future wife Barbie. She was astride a horse at his parent’s Bu alo Park Road ranch in 1978, helping a mutual friend round up some wayward horses.
“I was immediately smitten,” said Hank, now 77, recalling their meeting in the living room of their Pine home.
at meeting began what Barbie says was a life of adventure, characterized by family, social and community events, and Hank’s civic, ranching and construction work.
Alderfer, then already a known name in the foothills because of Hank’s ranching parents EJ and Ar-
leta, became a permanent thread in the fabric of Evergreen through Hank and Barbie Alderfer’s dedication to the land and their community.
Hank’s list of civic accomplishments runs long and helped shape the Evergreen people know and love today for its emphasis on open spaces, recreation and community. In the earlier years of their marriage, Barbie said she refused to take her husband away from his voluntary community work, asking only that he reserve Saturdays for the family.
“He had a passion for helping make society mentally and spiritually healthier,” she said. “It was not about building up the Alderfer name, but the community.”
“We were raising a family and a
throughout the area.
“I describe him as a, a rancher, a builder, a sawyer, a community leader, a husband and father,” said longtime EPRD board member Peter Eggers. “For me, he leaves an incredible legacy in Evergreen of com-
munity involvement and making this a better place to live.”
In the mid-‘80s, Hank arranged the sale of his family’s property — now part of the larger Alderfer/ ree Sisters Park — to Je erson County Open Space, ensuring it would remain undeveloped and open for public access. Additionally, he was
Harper’s new owner Stephanie Segal took a photo with her on her adoption day, Jan. 26.
PHOTO COURTESY OF STEPHANIE SEGAL
Barbie and Hank Alderfer pose in the living room of their Pine home.
COURTESY OF BARBIE ALDERFER
Resolve and resiliency, American-style
“ese are times that try men’s soul.” So wrote omas Paine in e American Crisis on Dec.19, 1776. Six days later on Christmas night, General George Washington led his Continental Army command across the icechoked Delaware River for a surprise attack on Hessian mercenaries who were carousing in their warm barracks in Trenton, New Jersey. It was a military stroke of genius, one that gave the struggling nascent independence movement hope.
A year to the day after Paine published his pamphlet, Washington and his 12,000 troops hunkered down for a challenging winter at Valley Forge where many went without proper footwear and warm clothing and about 2,000 died from dysentery and more. Yet they persevered. e Continental Army for the most part consisted of everyday men — backwoodsmen, farmers, craftsmen — with little or no military training. But they understood that history had called upon them to ght for something greater than themselves: freedom. And not just at the national level, but at the personal.
On this Christmas 248 years later, it’s timely to recall what Washington and the men and women fought and died for in the American Revolution. Like standing and removing one’s cap during the singing of “ e StarSpangled Banner,” taking a few moments to re ect upon Washington’s feat should be requisite for every American on Christmas Day. For far too many take for granted the freedom the millions since Washington fought and many died for.
From the outset, the Founders knew personal rights and liberties would need to be endlessly defended not just from abroad but from within. Unlike many Americans today, they knew their history. ey also understood the “will to power,” as Friedrich Nietzsche called it a century later in “ us Spake Zarathustra,” runs deep within the soul of men, and if it isn’t harnessed and redirected toward noble, unsel sh pursuits, bad things happen at the hands of the unprincipled and unscrupulous. History had clearly shown that.
But some grow weary of the struggle and decide their and their fellow citizens’ rights and liberties aren’t worth defending despite Ben Franklin’s admonition that “ ose who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” ey become willing to compromise and agreeable to watered-down versions of their inalienable rights that in their essence become like junk jewelry and cheap goods bought at
JERRY FABYANIC
dollar stores.
Worry is like the wind
APaine took to task such people, calling them “the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot” who “shrink from the service of their country.”
“What we obtain too cheap,” he wrote, “we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated.”
When the head winds blow at gale force 24/7, it can try one’s soul. When that happens, the danger of falling into one of two extremes—denying reality and insisting everything will be all right or shrugging one’s shoulders and plaintively asking, “What’s the use?”—arises.
Brad Stulberg, a mental health authority, suggests an alternative in a New York Times essay: wise hope and action. By not looking at the anti-freedom forces through rosecolored lenses and by not giving into futility, he says a person is better able to “muster the strength, courage and resolve” to keep their focus on what they can control. e challenge for the individual then is identifying what is in their power and deciding on how to act on it.
In “Man’s Search for Meaning,” Viktor Frankl, a psychologist and Holocaust survivor, posits the most critical elements the prisoners and victims of the Nazis’ death camps needed for survival were resolve and resiliency. In short, never giving up. Just like Washington and his army. ough circumstances were bleak that Christmas in 1776, Washington and his troops didn’t buckle. Like the fty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence who pledged their Lives, their Fortunes and their sacred Honor, they remained steeled in their resolve and resiliency. I seriously wonder how many today could claim likewise with a straight face.
History shows freedom-loving Americans are not a compliant but a feisty people. ey don’t cave when confronted by anti-freedom forces. ey stand strong and resolute because deep within their soul, they know it’s like omas Paine said: “For though the ame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire.”
Jerry Fabyanic is the author of “Sisyphus Wins” and “Food for ought: Essays on Mind and Spirit.” He lives in Georgetown.
few years ago, my family took a trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where we spent ve days in a house that looked out on a series of islands in Lake Huron. We rented a boat, a Boston Whaler, and I was “Captain” for the excursions on the water. “Captain Jim”…it has a good ring, doesn’t it?
Being from Colorado I have not spent much time around large bodies of water. At the house and on the boat, I was struck by the power of calm water. ere is a crystal beauty in the water re ecting its surroundings, and the silence in that calm is a wise and welcome friend. ose moments of beauty are lled with a stunning kind of power that can only be found in stillness.
One day while we were out on the water there was a short time, maybe ten minutes, when wind whipped across the lake. As that wind blew and the boat rocked, I began to comprehend how an unseen force like the wind can whip the lake into a frenzy. I could imagine the violent storms that have crossed the Great Lakes and sunk many ships.
e juxtaposition of the calm and
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
There isn’t just a single layer to history. Events and stories are built on top of each other, in uencing the future in ways both expected and surprising. De la Tierra: Re ections of Place in the Upper Río Grande, a new exhibit at the Colorado History Center, uses a blend of art, culture and artifacts to explore the historical and societal region of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico.
“ is exhibit provides the opportunity to re ect on past and contemporary works and see how they interpret traditions from the region,” said Lucha Martinez de Luna, associate curator of Hispano, Chicano, Latino History and Culture with Colorado History. “When visitors walk into the exhibit space, they will be transported to this region and its cultures.”
De La Tierra is on display at the History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway in Denver, through April 6, 2025. e center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
According to Martinez de Luna, the area is the northernmost frontier of the Spanish empire and later Mexico and includes the San Luis Valley. To put together the exhibit, she and Jeremy Morton, exhibition developer and historian for History Colorado, worked with contemporary artists who are either from or have family ties to the Upper Río Grande region.
“ is is a multi-generational artistic exhibit, which highlights the continuation of the region’s cultural traditions in contemporary art,” Martinez de Luna explained. “We’ve broken it into three themes: land
wind-swept water fascinates me. Both waters hold great power, both are beautiful, both left me in awe. e power and beauty of the calm water gave me time to re ect and the space to renew myself. e power and the beauty of the wind-swept water was far di erent, it left me feeling small and insigni cant, almost hopeless in the face of its possible force. e agent that turned the lake from a spot of beauty and re ection to a power lled force of potential destruction had nothing to do with the water itself. e wind created the chaos, the wind changed the water.
I think we are very much like the water of Lake Huron and worry is like the wind. When we are calm, when we are still there is great strength in that space
De La Tierra tells story of Upper Río Grande Region
COMING ATTRACTIONS
and water, cultural expressions and lifeways.”
Clarke Reader
Visitors will get to learn about the daily tasks of the people who lived in the region by checking out historical artifacts, like tools for shearing sheep, textile work and cooking. When paired with a range of artistic works, the exhibit is more clearly able to provide a glimpse into life and the e ects of colonization in the Upper Río Grande.
For Martinez de Luna, who herself has ties to the region and artistic community, working on De La Tierra was an opportunity to work on one of her true passions — presenting voices from the community that usually aren’t featured in museums.
“Many people in the community were co-curators on the exhibit, donating photos, images and more. It’s an important reminder that museums are for the people,” she said. “When I started working at museums, I dreamed of opportunities like this.” e hope is that when people leave the exhibit, they’ll have learned something new about Colorado history and gained a greater appreciation for the state’s diversity.
“ ere’s been a continuation of cultural erasure for a long time, so I’d love it if people walk away understanding how
Columnist
Jim Roome
waters in your heart and mind. I wish I had the golden ticket to share how you accomplish this. While I do not know exactly how to tell you to nd the calm water, I do know that:
and it creates beauty and the opportunity for re ection and healing. When we allow outside forces like worrying about the future to impact our calm waters we are whipped into a frenzy, a force no doubt, but a force that can be destructive and certainly chaotic.
I found the moments on or near the still lake to be very comforting and I worked to experience that power- lled still water each day we were there. To nd that stillness I needed to wake up early and intentionally go outside to spend time on the lake’s edge. When I created the time to seek the still water, the rewards were spectacular.
We are di erent than the waters of Lake Huron in that we can create shelter against those outside forces in ways the lake cannot. Water will always be at the mercy of wind. But we do not need to be moved by circumstances we cannot control. is week, it is my sincere hope that you will seek to nd the strength of clam
READER
complex and diverse Colorado is,” Martinez de Luna said. “We’re still striving for many of the same things now that people were back then. We’re really not as di erent as some would like us to believe we are.”
More information is available at www.historycolorado.org/exhibit/de-la-tierra.
Silent Film Festival returns for 11th year
• You must intentionally seek it.
• You must be fully present to experience it.
• You must take the time to appreciate the beauty and power of it.
I hope that you will nd inspiration in my words and share those words of encouragement with those who need it. I would love to hear from you as you nd helpful morsels in these columns and as you nd ways to encourage those around you. I can be contacted at jim.roome@ gmail.com.
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.
Denver Film’s annual Silent Film Festival is the best way to experience these unique and groundbreaking lms: on a big screen with live musical accompaniment. is year’s event runs from Friday, Sept. 27 through the 29th at the Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax Ave.
e festival includes nine silent-era feature lms and a shorts program, and features live music from local musicians like the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra, e Dollhouse ieves and more.
Schedule and tickets are available at https://www.denver lm.org/denver-silentlm-festival/.
Evergreen boys soccer enjoys first 10-win season in years
Cougars eye playo s after dominant 2024 run
e Evergreen boys soccer team is gearing up for its rst playo appearance since 2018. e Cougars have had up-and-down seasons in the win column and a tough Je co League for a few years. But in 2024, Evergreen looks as dominant as any boys soccer team in the metro area.
e Cougars are 10-3 overall and 8-1 in the 4A/3A Je co League, with their only league loss su ered to the 11-0-1 Wheat Ridge Farmers. Wheat Ridge remained undefeated in league play after an electric rollercoaster win over Evergreen on Oct. 15. In just 90 seconds, three goals were exchanged between the teams with Wheat Ridge winning 2-1 in a nailbiter.
“We haven’t made playo s in a few years. We are taking that personally,” Evergreen senior captain Isaac Arnold told Dennis Pleuss after the Cougars’ 4-1 victory over Bear Creek in September. “We want to win league and make a showing in playo s.” ough playo s are on the horizon, the Cougars could have clinched the league with a win over the Farmers. It would have been the program’s rst league championship since 2015.
emy (a 2-0 loss) and Week 4 against Columbine (3-1).
e 2024 season has been a lightning rod for the Cougars who have had relatively mediocre seasons in recent years. Last season Evergreen nished 6-6-1. In years prior, the Cougars had middling seasons:
• 5-8-2 in 2022-23
• 7-6-2 in 2021-22
• 6-3-1 in 2020-21
• 5-9 in 2019-20
• 7-9 in 2018-19
• 6-9 in 2017-18
e Cougars’s 2024 start is the rst 10-win season since the 2016-17 team when Evergreen nished 10-6-2. It was the year following the dominant 17-2-1 season when the Cougars won the league and clinched the 4A state championship, the program’s second
If Wheat Ridge wins out, they win the league. But it’s still up in the air for Evergreen, Wheat Ridge and Golden depending on how the nal week of the regular season plays out.
Until the narrow loss to Wheat Ridge,
Evergreen baseball hosts 2nd annual Home Run Derby fundraiser
Past and present players honored in return to fall ball
BY JOHN RENFROW
For the second year in a row, Evergreen High School baseball held a Home Run Derby to honor its pro baseball alumni. e Sept. 29 event featured past and present players hosting baseball lovers of all ages in a fun, fundraising event for the program’s booster club.
Last year’s inaugural event honored two alums — Kevin Kouzmano (1999 graduate) and Brock Burke (2014) — who played Major League Baseball, but neither could make it in 2023. is year, Kouzmano showed up and brought his whole family in tow.
“I have spent countless hours on that eld with my dad and brother, Ky, and it’s great to see that eld in tip-top shape,” Kouzmano said at the event. “(Head Coach John Krane) is very proud to have two former EHS grads play Major League Baseball and recognize them.”
In fact, Kouzmano , who played eight years in the major leagues for the Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics, Colorado Rockies and the Texas Rangers, plans to stick
around for a while. He hit 87 home runs in his career.
“I’m planning on spending some time in Evergreen this winter to help out,” he said. “It’s nice to see John get the community together for the Home Run Derby to watch the players, moms and dads hit home runs to raise money for the EHS baseball team.”
e derby, sponsored by the Evergreen Baseball Boosters, is the second fundraiser for the boosters, which helps the high school team and sponsors two club teams.
Each batter — ranging from age 10 to adult — attempted 15 pitches from a machine or a coach. Older hitters had to hit the ball farther into the out eld for it to be declared a home run, and trophies were awarded to the players in age groups with the most home runs.
Below is a list of this year’s winners from the event.
Age 10 and younger: Tie - Huxley Leonard and Carter Huggins ( ve home runs)
11-14 years: Jack Melichar ( ve home runs)
15-18 years: Shane Benson (one home run)
19-40 years: No participants other than James Maroney who won for the alumni home runs) home run)
second year as head coach after years of serving as an assistant coach. “ is eld represents our community’s pride
Cougar alumni: James Maroney of class of 2012 (four home runs) in its high school and what it means to live in Evergreen. Our Home Run Der-
Evergreen junior Callum Mo att (11) goes after the ball during the Cougars’ Class 4A Je co League game against Wheat Ridge on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at the North Area Athletic Complex.
Baseball lovers of all ages attended Evergreen baseball’s second annual Home Run Derby event on Sept. 28. The event honored former pro players, featured current players and allowed potential future Cougars to get a few swings in for some friendly competition. Here, a young batter lines one up with Head Coach John Krane in the background.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BROOKE MORGAN
MEET THE CANDIDATES
Evergreen Park and Recreation District will hold a regular election on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 to fill three (3) vacancies on its Board of Directors. The polls will be open at Buchanan Park Recreation Center from 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM on May 6th.
Evergreen Park & Recreation District maintains a neutral position on all candidates. These bios have been written and submitted by the individual candidates themselves.
Betsy Hays, a 25-year resident, has served the public as a leader in everything from scouts to sports to PTA and nonprofits to the being the President of the Chamber of Commerce. She received the 2020 Leader of the Year Award from Leadership Evergreen, the 2020 Leadership Impact Award from the Rotary Club of Evergreen and was inducted into the Mountain Area Women in Business Hall of Fame in 2021.
Betsy was elected to the Board in May 2022. As current Board President she leads EPRD to take care of what it has, rebuild and expand recreation and provide the community what is asked for. On plan, on budget, implemented over time. The strategic plan is in place and she is excited to work with Board and Staff to execute the plan over the next 4 years.
Betsy and her husband John have three children that grew up in Evergreen and worked for EPRD. On serving on the EPRD Board of Directors she says, “I am honored to serve my local community by connecting the public with EPRD, the businesses, Jefferson County government, and others about how the Rec District serves us all and contributes to our way of life.”
Learn more about Betsy by contacting her at bhays@eprdco.gov.
Ally Hilgefort is a mom who believes EPRD will benefit from varied Board perspectives. Since embracing the mom role with her 7-and-3yo girls, Ally frequents local events, knows play spots, enrolls in activities, and understands the tricky logistics and planning often required to make all that fun happen.
Her day-to-day as a mom has led to spinoff volunteer gigs throughout the community. She has a Bachelor's degree in Integrated Strategic Communications with a minor in Philosophy. With dedicated groups like EPRD existing in Evergreen, encouraging a community environment alongside a surreal natural environment, Ally and her husband know this is the perfect place for their family. The Hilgeforts love to camp with their teardrop, hike, ski, bike, backpack, play disc golf, and take advantage of town festivals and other fun local opportunities.
Ally is excited to join the EPRD board to enhance and increase those opportunities for everyone in Evergreen by keeping all community members in mind when contemplating projects, programming, events, and other offerings. Bringing various perspectives to the decision-making table creates the best versions of the current Improvement Projects and Plans, which are important and impactful additions to Evergreen for years to come.
Learn more about Ally at http://eprdally.com/.
I have long been part of a group of citizen leaders dedicated to making Evergreen a better place to live. EPRD has given me that opportunity. As a lifelong woodworker, designer, and small business owner, I believe my skills will benefit EPRD in the years ahead.
With the Boardʼs Strategic Plan now underway, I am running for the Board to help guide these projects to completion and support EPRDʼs staff.
The vision for Buchanan Park has been years in the making — from EPRDʼs first land purchase in 1994 to the 2008 Master Plan and todayʼs Strategic Plan. I want to help bring that vision to life while remaining focused on the broader mission of the District — listening and responding to the needs of all patrons.
I also believe the Arts play a vital role in our community. As a Board member, I will encourage EPRD to partner with the Arts whenever possible to strengthen our cultural offerings. Itʼs an honor to serve this community, and I hope to continue contributing my experience and passion to EPRDʼs future.
by contacting me at peggers@eprdco.gov.
Mr. Erdahl and his wife Kerry have lived in Evergreen since 2006 and have 2 Huskies. Geoffreyʼs domain is in digital content creation mainly involved with graphics,photography, video, and music. Previously an Accounting/Payroll Analyst for several years and having worked in building maintenance and construction through his life, he obtained his B.S. Technical Communications degree in 2014.
His main interest in running is to examine priorities and satisfy his need to validate the integrity of EPRDʼs fiscal status for Evergreenʼs constituents. His objective is “trust but verify”. He also wants EPRD to consider expanding its role as a partner and intermediary between Jeffco, Denver Mountain Parks, and the State of Colorado, as Evergreen is not an incorporated town (Home Rule). Thus, we have limited means of feedback on issues like wildfire preparation, street maintenance, and public land use.
Evergreen has been without an off-leash dog park since the old one was abruptly closed in 2017. Over 30% of our residents are over 60/retired and many of those have dogs that need a safe place to walk off-leash as the owners are more susceptible to injury. Dog owners pay taxes and many wish to see action on this issue.
Learn more about Geoffrey here: https://www.theevergreenobserver.org/geoffrey-erdahl-bio-submission
Mary has been actively involved with EPRD for 30 years as a patron, volunteer, District taxpayer, and athletics employee on-site 4 days every week. She has a comprehensive view of EPRD from the board room to the broom closet.
In her free time, Mary volunteers with the Evergreen Rodeo, organizes sports leagues and runs the DAR college scholarship for 4 area high schools. Mary completed the NYC Marathon twice, is a local trail runner, 1st place overall winner in the EPRD Elk Meadow trail race, a lifeguard for 7 years, volleyball player & referee, certified Scuba diver, dressage horseback rider who has jumped the US Equestrian Team Gladstone NJ cross-country course.
Mary earned a Masters in Computer Science and has a BS in Mathematics from Vanderbilt University. She has an expansive work history in electronic data systems engineering since 1983 and has written business software for numerous Fortune 100 companies. With her current job at the State of Colorado, she works with casino operators to enact and enforce casino regulations, software field trials, and responsible gaming.
Goal of Maryʼs 2nd term is to implement project priorities from the 2024 district-wide citizen survey. Learn more about Mary by contacting her at mmcghee@eprdco.gov.
Erin offers over a decade of specialized financial industry experience, most of which has been within the Government Banking space. She obtained the Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) designation in 2021 and FINRA Municipal Securities Representative designation in 2022. Erin is eager to contribute her time, gather input from our community, and share industry knowledge with EPRD to support relevant and fiscally responsible decisions.
Outside of work, Erin serves as the Treasurer for a local Not-for-Profit, Rocky Mountain Weavers Guild, a fiber arts community. In her free time, she enjoys exploring Evergreen, weaving, hiking, snowboarding, traveling and reading. She is also working toward her Private Pilot License (PPL). Get to know Erin! Please reach out to erinforevergreen@gmail.com
Cast your vote on May 6, 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM at Buchanan Park Rec Center! 32003 Ellingwood Trail, Evergreen, CO 80439
Questions? Please reach out to: Maddy Evans, Designated Election Official mevans@eprdco.gov
Local outdoor rinks’ unique features, settings o er something for everyone
BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Winter sports reign supreme along the Front Range. While the mountains and foothills o er plenty of places to ski, snowboard, snowshoe and spike-hike, the Denver metro area has opportunities galore to ice-skate and play hockey.
During the winter holidays, several local cities like Denver and Arvada host outdoor skating rinks in shopping centers or town squares. Some are only open through local schools’ winter break, but others remain open through January or February, depending on conditions.
Hours and prices vary, but most rinks o er rental skates or people can bring their own for lower-priced admission.
Although there are plenty of indoor skating options, many skaters prefer outdoor rinks’ atmospheres and open-air conditions. ey enjoy soaking up the sunshine or embracing the cold, depending on the weather.
Lakewood’s Greg Daniels and his three teenage children said skating outdoors is “more fun, more festive.” Also, indoor rinks tend to host more intense skaters, while outdoor ones like e Rink at Belmar are more casual, they said.
Leesa Stone, a former Parker resident, felt likewise. She liked the atmosphere at Parker’s Ice Trail at Discovery Park, with its holiday lights around the perimeter and its open replaces for people to warm themselves.
Plus, at places like Evergreen Lake, people come just to enjoy the views and skate on a real lake.
“We love the beautiful surroundings, being nestled here in the mountains,” Commerce City’s Michael Scanlon said of Evergreen Lake. “It adds to the ambiance.”
Whether they were experts or new to the sport, the skaters said local rinks o er something for people of all ages and experience levels.
“Everyone should try it,” Denver’s Marie Duran said.
And, as her 7-year-old Charlotte added, even if people don’t like skating, most rinks are in locations where people can easily nd other activities, like walking, sledding or shopping.
The Rink at Belmar
e Durans rst visited e Rink at Belmar last year and had fun. So, when Charlotte started asking to go skating this winter, the family returned to Belmar Jan. 2.
e rink, which is presented by Quantum Fiber and made of real ice, is in the middle of Lakewood’s Belmar Shopping District.
sphere and holiday lights.
Maddi Harris and Kian Larson, students at Evergreen High School, were visiting Belmar for a date night and decided to rent skates before their movie. e two had also been skating at Evergreen Lake before. While it has its advantages, they liked Belmar’s festive atmosphere with all the holiday lights and the decorated evergreen tree near the rink.
“I prefer the holiday spirit here,” Larson said.
Evergreen Lake
Lara De Beer was visiting the area from Belgium, and for her last day in town, Evergreen’s Colin Saunder decided they should go skating at Evergreen Lake. De Beer had never skated on a lake before, and Saunder hadn’t been out on Evergreen’s in a while, so Jan. 2 seemed like the perfect time to try out the ice.
While the lake is several acres in size, skating is only allowed on a portion of it. e maintained section near the Evergreen Lake House has a large perimeter that skaters can take laps around, as well as about a dozen small rinks people can use to play hockey, practice their skating technique and more.
People can buy tickets ahead of time or purchase walk-up tickets on a rstcome, rst-served basis. Private bookings and skating lessons can also be booked online.
Charlotte, who’s a big roller-skating fan, has enjoyed learning to ice skate. Her mom said the smaller rink is ideal for people like Charlotte who are learning to skate.
Duran also felt that e Rink at Belmar was reasonably priced, wellmaintained and “fun for all ages.”
Daniels estimated he and his family have been coming to the Belmar rink for about 10 years. ey tried to go skating before Christmas, but it was very busy. So, they opted to do their annual skating night Jan. 2 instead.
e family frequently shops at Belmar, and liked how close and convenient the rink was for them and other Lakewood residents.
e Daniels have been to other rinks in the area, like the one at Evergreen Lake, but the Belmar one’s atmo-
Because it is a lake, the dates and hours it’s open is weather-dependent. It was scheduled to be open through at least Jan. 25, when it would host the Pond Hockey Championships, but anyone wanting to visit should call the hotline at 720-8801391.
De Beer and Saunder both enjoyed the pleasant weather and mountain scenery from the lake, with Saunder describing how unique and special it is compared to other rinks around Denver.
“ ere’s no place like it,” he said.
Small outdoor rinks like the one in downtown Denver tend to be crowded, but Evergreen Lake has plenty of space for everyone, he added.
Michael Scanlon and his children, Alex and Isabel, felt likewise, describing how they’ve been visiting Evergreen Lake annually since the late ‘90s. Michael said they love the excitement and energy that seems to be inherent among outdoor skating rinks.
However, he added, he felt like the lake’s seasons were getting shorter as the lake doesn’t freeze over as early in the winter as it used to. It’s also grown so popular that parking can be di cult, he said.
People skate at Evergreen Lake Jan. 2., amid Je erson County’s scenic foothills. Several skaters said the scenery is one of the reasons they enjoy skating at Evergreen Lake. PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN
ICE SKATING
He recommended that anyone wanting to visit Evergreen Lake “should get here right when it opens,” because it’s usually less crowded and the ice is in the best condition.
e Martinez family from Colorado Springs also went skating during a day trip to Evergreen.
Lauren Martinez said she appreciated how the rink had plenty of pushable skating aids for children. Her family also enjoyed the nearby sledding hill. Overall, she said, they would be open to visiting it again.
Parker Ice Trail at Discovery Park
Parker’s Josh Blaha and his family had planned to go skating in Denver during the evening Jan. 2. But that rink closed earlier in the evening, so they opted to visit the Parker Ice Trail at Discovery Park instead. It was right down the street and open later, he described.
“It’s nice to have something like this in our backyard,” he said of the ice trail. Unlike a traditional rink, the Parker Ice Trail at Discovery Park is an ice-covered loop trail that’s about 450 feet around. It’s also not a perfect oval with some sharper corners to keep skaters on their toes.
In the summer, it’s a concrete walkway; but in the winter, sta members cover it with ice that they maintain with a Zamboni. It’s scheduled to be open for the season through Feb. 28.
While his family has been to other outdoor rinks, Blaha said they’re much farther away. Additionally, he thought the ice trail was a good size and didn’t feel too crowded.
Leesa Stone, who lived in Parker for more than 20 years before moving to Utah, was happy that Parker had an outdoor rink of its own.
She’s been skating before at e Pond Ice Rink at Southlands, saying that while she liked the lights at e Pond Ice Rink better, she overall liked the Parker Ice Trail more. She said it felt bigger and like that it was one-way only. Plus, the open replaces and overhead heater at the admissions booth are nice touches, she added.
Avery Jones and her family said the shape was also unique. ey thought it motivated some people to skate faster than they would at a regular rink, while others might go slower.
Like the Blaha family, Avery and Zach Jones said they appreciated having an outdoor skating feature so close to home. ey added that it was the perfect thing to do over the holidays, as it’s a very approachable activity for families.
So, whether it’s a family outing, date night, a casual jaunt to soak up the sun or a serious training session, skaters agree the Denver area is the place to be.
Denver’s Marie Duran, left, skates at The Rink at Belmar Jan. 2. Duran and her daughter wanted to come back after visiting the rink for the first time last year. PHOTOS BY CORINNE WESTEMAN
Lara De Beer, far left, and Evergreen’s Colin Saunder skate around Evergreen Lake Jan. 2. De Beer was visiting from Belgium, and Saunder thought skating at Evergreen Lake would be a fun activity for her last day visiting.
Parker’s Avery Jones helps her 5-year-old Rylee as she learns to skate Jan. 2 at the Parker Ice Trail at Discovery Park. The feature, which is a concrete walkway in the summer and is iced down in the winter, is scheduled to be open through Feb. 28.
An employee drives the Zamboni around The Rink at Belmar Jan. 2. The rink, which is scheduled to be open through Jan. 26, is in the middle of the Belmar Shopping District.
We’d like to know about events or activities of interest to the community. Visitwww. canyoncourier.com/calendar/ and post your event online for free. Email jreuter@ coloradocommunitymedia.com to get items in the newspaper. Items will appear in print on a space-available basis.
UPCOMING
Savvy Seniors: e Power of Probiotics: 11:40 a.m. March 27, Buchanan Recreation Center, 32003 Ellingwood Trail, Evergreen. seniors4wellness.org
Lincoln Portrait,” presented by Evergreen Chorale and Evergreen Chamber Orchestra: 7:30 p.m. March 28 and 4:30 p.m. March 29, Wellshire Presbyterian Church, 2999 S. Colorado Blvd. Denver. Tickets range from $22 to $32 at ovationwest.org or at the door.
Evergreen Audubon Morning Birds & Brews: 8:30 a.m. March 28, Evergreen Nature Center, 27640 Hwy 74, Evergreen. Free. evergreenaudubon.org
Bergen Park Art Walk: 5 p.m. March 28, Center for the Arts Evergreen, 31880 Rocky Village Dr., Evergreen. Walk from CAE and Catalyst to Bergen Village Center. ever-
greenarts.org
Father Daughter Dance: 6 p.m. March 28, Evergreen Lake House, 29612 Upper Bear Creek Road, Evergreen. For girls ages 3-12 and their guardians. evergreenrecreation.com
Morning Birds & Brews: 8:30 a.m. March 28 and April 25. Evergreen Nature Center, 27640 CO-74, Evergreen. We will spend some time chatting indoors before heading to the meadow to see birds. Free, no registration required. evergreenaudubon.org.
Evergreen Audubon April Chapter meeting: 6 to 8 p.m. April 1, Church of the Trans guration, 27640 CO-74, Evergreen. “Hawk Migration Along e Rocky Mountain Flyway” presentation. evergreenaudubon.org
Painting in Peace, free for veterans: 12:30 p.m. April 2, Center for the Arts Evergreen, 31880 Rocky Village Drive, Evergreen. seniorsforwellness.org
Friends on Foot senior walks: 9 a.m. April 3, starting from Buchanan Recreation Center, 32003 Ellingwood Trail, Evergreen. seniors4wellness.org.
A Night with our Stars: 6 to 9:30 p.m. April 4, Evergreen Lake House. 29612 Upper Bear Creek, Evergreen. Annual Evergreen Chamber business awards. Assigned seating, catered dinner, black tie encouraged. Tickets, $75. evergreenchamber.org.
Evergreen’s 150th Sacred Spaces: Noon, April 5, Evergreen Gallery, 28195 Hwy. 74, Evergreen. Featuring local historian and Hiwan House administrator John Steinle. Walking tour from Evergreen Gallery to Highland Haven. Free. evergreenchamber.org
Evergreen Animal Protective League fundraiser: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 5, Buchanan Park Recreation Center, 32003 Ellingwood Trail, Evergreen. Featuring 90 minutes of restorative harmonic vibrations from traditional Himalayan gongs and singing bowls. Silent auction, door prizes. Meet rescue dogs. $20 donation. More info at EAPL.com
Evergreen Chamber Orchestra - Spring Concert: 3 p.m. April 5, Rockland Community Church, 17 S Mt Vernon Country Club Road, Golden. Immerse yourself in the radiant world of Mozart, featuring Steinway artist Stephanie Shih-yu Cheng. Tickets at evergreenchamberorch.org
Diane Gansauer Reading, Discussion and Signing: 4 p.m. April 9, Mountain Area Land Trust, 908 Nob Hill Road, Evergreen.Free. Evergreen resident, former MALT board member and author Gansauer wrote “ e Waypoints: From 400 Farewells and 3,000 Miles.” RSVP requested at savetheland.org.
Creativity, Co ee and Conversation: 1:30 p.m. April 11, Center for the Arts Evergreen, 31880 Rocky Village Drive, Evergreen. seniors4wellness.org
Evergreen Newcomers and Neighbors Food Drive: 10 to 2 p.m. April 12.. Donation drop-o at Church of the Cross or at the Evergreen Safeway. Food Drive for EChO Food Pantry. For more information:: evergreenchristianoutreach.org/
18th annual Foothills Home, Garden and Lifestyle Show: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 12 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 13, Evergreen High School, 29300 Bu alo Park Road, Evergreen. Sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Evergreen and Conifer. foothillshomeshow.com
e Terrible Toll Road: 1 p.m. April 13, 26951 Barkley Road, Conifer. e Bradford Toll Road was once the most direct route to the mining camps in the mountains. Learn more with Journalist Jamie Siebrase. Tickets at coniferhistoricalsociety. org
Foothills Conversations: 4 p.m. April 15, Mount Evans Home Healthcare and Hospice, 3081 Bergen Peak Drive in Evergreen.Review critical documents, talk about end-of-life care. FoothillsConversations@MtEvans.org
Conifer Area Council: 7 p.m. April 16, West Je erson Middle School, 9449 Barnes Ave., Conifer.
Mountain Mixer@ 5: 5 p.m. April 10, Echo Mountain tubing hill, 19285 Hwy 103,
Idaho Springs. evergreenchamber. org.
Our Shared Habitat: Coexisting with Wildlife program: 6 p.m. April 17, Evergreen Library community meeting room, 5000 County Hwy 73, Evergreen. Join Colorado Parks and Wildlife District O cer Jacob Sonberg for info on protecting wildlife, your home, pets, and yourself. Register at oursharedhabitat.cheddarup.com. Free.
How to keep your cool during holiday political debates
7 practical tips from a behavioral scientist to navigate family conversations post-election
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Navigating political debates during the holidays can feel like walking a tightrope: one wrong step, and you’re in a heated argument instead of enjoying the pumpkin pie. Whether it’s a well-meaning relative dropping a divisive comment or a spirited family member pressing you for your stance, these moments can quickly escalate. Denver-based behavioral scientist Susanna Park, Ph.D., shared practical advice for navigating these tricky conversations without losing your cool — or your relationships. Here are her top tips, drawn from her expertise and personal experience.
1. Know your goal
Before diving into any political discussion, Park advises asking yourself a critical question: What’s my goal?
“Is it to actually change the other person’s mind, or is it to just be able to speak your thoughts and feel heard?” she asked. If you know the likelihood of changing minds is slim, adjust your expectations.
“ e way you talk to them is going to change…because you know it’s not going to happen,” she continued. Reframing your goal can prevent conversations from spiraling into heated debates where both people ght to win.
Pro Tip: If validation is your goal, frame the conversation with openended questions to encourage dialogue, not debate. If you sense things heating up, redirect to common interests or shared values.
2. Recognize your limits
It’s okay to step away if the conversa-
tion becomes too overwhelming.
“You’re not losing an argument,” Park said. Instead, you’re saving yourself unnecessary stress and prioritizing quality family time. Remember, you’re allowed to decide how you want to spend your evening. Peacefully enjoying dessert beats a shouting match any day.
Pro Tip: Have an exit strategy ready. For instance, excuse yourself to grab a drink or o er to help in the kitchen when tensions rise. Physical distance can also give you mental space.
3. Set boundaries
Sometimes, the best approach is to set clear limits upfront. A mutual agreement to leave politics at the door can help maintain harmony. If some feel strongly about discussing it, they can nd other outlets while respecting the collective agreement at the gathering.
“ ere is something to be said about permitting yourself to not engage,” Park said. “Others in the community are with you and doing that work as well. Just because you’re not engaging in that one moment with your family doesn’t mean that you’re a bad person or that the situation will change for better or worse.”
Pro Tip: Frame the boundary as a shared goal to keep the event positive. For example, say, “Let’s make this about catching up and celebrating, not debating politics.”
4. Find common ground
Park emphasized the value of connecting with family members on shared interests outside of politics.
“If you care about animals, nd people who care about animals,” she
Surviving holiday political debates can be challenging no matter how you voted.
said. Whether volunteering at a shelter or attending a local event, community work can bridge divides and bring people together.
Pro Tip: Suggest activities that focus on shared values. Whether it’s a food drive, local park cleanup or holiday decorating, working toward a common goal can strengthen bonds despite differing views.
5. Take care of yourself
Self-awareness is key, from managing social media algorithms to recognizing physical signs of stress.
Emotions are just information for us to then take in and tell us what the next steps are,” Park said.
Recognize physical signs of anxiety, like a racing heart or shallow breathing and step back if needed.
Park also advised that we don’t have to scroll through everything the algorithm shows us.
“I think it’s really important for people to recognize that they have the power to change how they feel about social media – how they feel going into it and coming out of it.”
And don’t underestimate the basics: “Get sleep,” she urges. e holiday chaos, compounded with election fatigue, means self-care is more critical than ever.
Pro Tip: Balance your media diet. Follow uplifting or educational ac-
counts alongside news, and take regular social media breaks to reset your mindset.
6. Embrace the long game
Park said to remember that meaningful change and understanding take time, so there’s no need to resolve deep political divides in a single conversation over a holiday meal. Advocacy and change are marathons, not sprints.
Park likened activism to the airplane oxygen mask rule: take care of yourself rst. “If you’re feeling burnt out and fatigued, then your capacity is decreasing,” she said. Step back when needed and trust others in the community to carry the torch.
“It’s OK to take that moment. It may feel sel sh, but it’s really not,” Park said.
Pro Tip: Instead of diving into arguments, focus on small, impactful actions that align with your values, like sharing a thoughtful article, asking open-ended questions or simply listening. ese quieter approaches can build bridges without overwhelming yourself or others.
7. Practice empathy and kindness
At the end of the day, the holidays are about connection. “ ere’s a need for more empathy and grace for each other,” Park said. You don’t have to ignore the world’s challenges, but facing them together with kindness can make all the di erence.
Pro Tip: Use humor to defuse tension. Sometimes, a light-hearted comment can help everyone remember what matters most: your connection, not your con icts.
With these strategies, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the post-election holiday season with grace and sanity intact.
“ e holidays are rough for a lot of people,” Park said. “So just be kind.”
Morrison eateries ask for help with parking issues
Trustees give mixed response, though new spots have been proposed
BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
ree Morrison restauranteurs who recently asked the town board for help with parking in the historic town didn’t get the reaction they wanted. One town trustee suggested improving their restaurant’s o erings is a better way to draw customers than adding parking.
“Make your restaurants destinations where the food’s good and people want to eat there,” Trustee Paul Sutton said during the board’s Jan. 7 meeting.
“ ey have threes on Yelp. I come and eat at these restaurants once a year and I think, ‘God, why did I do that?’ It’s terrible. Make better food.”
Parking has long been a hot topic in Morrison, but it’s not a subject on which the town board and its business people agree. Some business owners and managers say there aren’t enough spaces, and that the paid parking system implemented in 2021 — and tickets generated through it — are taking a toll on their bottom line. At the same time, board members and some residents say there’s more than enough parking in Morrison.
O ering a partial resolution to the issue, local property owner Ross Bradley said his company plans to add as many as 30 new paid parking spots on the main street, and town leaders said they’ll look into re-opening the now-closed alley parking north of Bear Creek Avenue.
e owners of the Morrison Inn, Tony Rigatoni’s and the Rooftop Tavern and the Morrison Holiday Bar asked the board for help during its Jan. 7 meeting; all said their revenues are down.
Paid parking ‘a disaster’
“I think the paid parking has been a disaster for the businesses,” said Butch Luedtke, the Morrison Inn’s owner. “We’ve had the worst year we’ve had in 44 years. It could well be a year from now, you won’t have to worry about parking anymore. I hope you’ll do an evaluation on lost revenue from sales tax versus the dollars you’ve gotten from parking.”
Morrison’s sales tax revenue dropped from about $2.4 million in 2023 to $1.9 million in 2024. Some of that could be attributed to the mid-October closing of Café Prague, a popular downtown Czech food restaurant.
During that same time, the town took in $249,000 in parking revenue.
“Look at your sales tax revenue; our sales are down and that is a fact,” said Reza Ardehali, who owns Tony Rigatoni’s and the Rooftop Tavern. “I agree 100% with Butch on parking. When your customer comes in to pick up a
to-go pizza and has a $50 parking ticket, he thinks Reza had something to do with it.
“Your revenues from parking were well over a quarter of a million. You bought that money in for a purpose.
But I don’t think you took a serious look at what it does to us.”
Morrison started its paid parking program in 2021 after hearing from downtown Morrison owners who said their customers can’t nd places to park. e board said then it hoped paid parking would promote turnover on the spaces.
Morrison Holiday Bar owner Dave Killingsworth said the paid parking has done just that, and while he spoke in favor of it, he believes the town needs more parking. Killingsworth, who speaks about that need at nearly every town board meeting, reiterated that belief at the Jan. 7 meeting. He also asked the town to consider converting the Jones lot, an undeveloped property on the town’s west side, into a free parking area.
“We need butts in the chairs to survive,” Killingsworth said. “ e paid parking helps get butts in the seats for me because it turns the seats. But the number of parking spots is well below what’s needed. ere are enough seats going empty that it’s a ecting all of us.
“Costs are going up,” he continued. “Minimum wage is going up. We’re down here eating hardtack all the time.”
Trustee Krista Nash suggested the Jones lot idea is worth exploring.
“All three of these businesses have been running for 40-some years,” she said. “When they take the time to come and say we’re su ering … can we not noodle some potential solutions to test this theory of whether it helps them or not?”
But other trustees and the town manager said making the lot usable would take signi cant time and money, and some said the lot is too far west of the business district to be viable.
Former town board member and Morrison resident Katie Gill said her own informal survey shows the town has ample parking.
“Even on the busiest days in the summer, when there was a 45-minute long wait to get a table at e Cow (restaurant), there were always at least 30 spots available at the school, and usually 10 to 20 free spots along Union,” she said.
Gill was referring to the parking lot at Red Rocks Elementary School, at which free parking is available when school is not in session.
Some solutions in the works Bradley, whose company owns the
now-vacant Morrison Carworks property on Bear Creek Avenue, said they have submitted options to the town for redeveloping the land into a paid parking lot with 12 to 30 spots.
Additionally, the board said it will nd out if it can re-open several parking spots in the alley that extends behind the Morrison Inn to the Morrison Carworks building. It was recently designated a re lane, eliminating the use of about eight parking spaces. However, Luedtke said even without parking, the alley is too narrow for a re truck to maneuver, rendering the re lane designation a moot point.
While Sutton said he believes both Bradley’s and the alley parking are good solutions, he isn’t in favor of adding more parking or eliminating paid parking.
“I’m happy to help them with some of these things,” he said, referring to the Carworks and alley parking.
“But I’m done with this conversation. ere’s lots of parking in town. And the paid (parking) was a solution to them coming and saying we want turnover.
So far I think it’s been good.
“ e reason we have good business here is this is a nice place to be. We keep putting up parking we got nothing but a parking lot. It’s a Joni Mitchell song.”
But Ardehali said the issues with the town’s businesses go beyond parking. He sees an overall lack of investment from the town in its businesses.
“It’s embarrassing for me as a restaurant owner; we have not one Christmas light in town,” he said. “Look at Golden, Arvada (at the holidays), it’s beautiful; because those towns really believe and invest in them. We don’t feel that you care about us. I believe you should think twice about it before you have more closed windows and gaps in the landscape.”
A parking employee checks a parking kiosk in downtown Morrison on a quiet December morning.
PHOTO BY JANE REUTER
Morrison speed camera vandalized and out of service
Town plans to hire new ticket vendor before returning controversial device to its streets
BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Morrison’s speed camera was vandalized last month and is out of service, likely until early 2025, according to Town Manager Mallory Nassau. But the needed repairs aren’t the only issue keeping it o Morrison’s streets. e town plans to hire a new vendor to process the tickets, after months of revenue tracking showed the current company is taking an outsized portion of the money.
Additionally, town leaders say many people aren’t paying the $40 citation, which is also impacting total revenue for the town.
At an October town board meeting, Nassau said she anticipates Morrison will end 2024 with $134,000 in speed camera revenue — signi cantly less than town leaders had anticipated. e town contracted with Louisianabased Emergent Enforcement Solutions for automated tra c monitoring and enforcement.
“We expected to get some sort of revenue from it,” said Town Trustee Katie Gill. “ e vendor’s billing to the town to manage the system has been huge. It didn’t turn into very much
revenue for the town.
“I think it’s also that lots of people aren’t paying the tickets,” Gill continued. “We still have to pay the vendor to manage the process, but the revenue doesn’t come in.”
Nassau said she’ll have nal numbers at year’s end.
e camera, which was parked on a trailer on Bear Creek Avenue at Morrison’s east entrance, was vandalized Oct. 25, and is being repaired. e town said it has no suspects.
e camera began generating automatic citations May 8 and has been controversial — for those who get tickets, but also among the town’s business owners and some town trustees. And that controversy has centered not only on the brisk pace at which it issued tickets, but on a location that clocked drivers as they were leaving Morrison. e site was at the end of the town’s 25 mph zone and within view of a 40 mph sign in Je erson County.
e camera was set to issue citations to those traveling 10 mph or more over the town’s 25 mph speed limit.
Morrison Holiday Bar owner Dave Killingsworth, who called the speed
O say can you seer?
CONIFER – ere he was, minding his own business, when an unsigned text appeared on his phone requesting the number of a competent Tarot reader. Not knowing any competent Tarot readers, he ignored the message and moved on with his life. But then, out of the blue, the anonymous inquirer struck again, asking if he is, in fact, a card-carrying psychic. He isn’t, and once again ignored the question in the hopes his tormentor would interpret silence as answer enough. ey didn’t, and the third time they texted he replied in spades, denouncing the mysterious texter as “a (freaking) idiot” and promising legal action if they contacted him a fourth time. Perhaps accidentally counting the third time twice, he then took legal action, turning screen-shots of the queries over to JCSO and asking o cers to formally pull the plug.
Romeo who used the complainant’s phone number to request a date. She’d actually dated the fellow, although very brie y, and it was only recently that she’d thought of him again when a series of “odd” items began appearing on her doorstep. Believing her long-ago lover might be behind the kooky collection, she’d been texting his number hoping to con rm her suspicion and persuade him to knock it o . She agreed to stop texting the complainant, and deputies foresee no more trouble between them.
The most dangerous game
camera the town’s “orange ATM,” suggested the town move the device to instead monitor the speed of drivers coming into Morrison.
“If you do put it back, put it on the other side of the street,” he said. Let people know what to expect, instead of giving them the nger on the way out.”
Killingsworth also said his revenues are down, as are those of many other business owners.
Some business owners have complained that Morrison’s parking ticket and speed enforcement are taking a toll on their sales.
“I think the combination of parking and putting in the (camera) on the way out of town, in a spot where people see a sign that says 40, it rubs people the wrong way,” said Town Trustee Adam Way. “I think people coming to Morrison, having dinner, coming out and having a yellow (parking) ticket on their car and then getting a speeding ticket could be attributed to some of the revenue depreciation. We need to look at that.”
Gill believes the camera should be moved to northbound Colorado Highway 8, monitoring drivers coming into town from U.S. Highway 285.
“We do need some speed patrol,” she said. “But I agree it spent too much time at that location targeting people leaving town.”
Trustee Paul Sutton said he’d also
was.”
An opponent as wily as she is willowy, Jeep evaded the one-car blockade, in the process scraping his driver-side door with her driver-side bumper before eeing up Mountain Cedar. Happy went hunting again, but by the time he’d managed to get turned around Jeep was nothing more than an unpleasant memory with silky brown tresses and an unsightly cream-colored smudge on his red Saturn. Unable to pick up Jeep’s fading scent, deputies bagged the case.
like to see it moved to monitor drivers coming into town, but he believes the speed camera serves an important purpose in Morrison.
Morrison Police Chief Bill Vinelli said it was slowing drivers. e camera averaged 750 citations a day in its rst several months of operation, a number that had dropped to just over 300 by fall.
Vinelli, who oversaw installation of the camera and reported its activity to the town board monthly, is on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.
“Once people realize that if you speed, you get a ticket, we won’t have the number of speeding tickets we have now,” Sutton said, adding he is less concerned about its impact on local businesses than deterring speeders. “Public safety is more important to me than restaurants.”
Morrison has a long-held reputation as a speed trap that relies on tickets to bolster its revenues, but town leaders said that is a misnomer.
Trustees defended the paid parking and enforcement, saying it was designed to help businesses by ensuring parking spaces turn over.
“ ere are several smaller businesses who wanted the parking,” Gill said. “ eir revenue went up because they had parking available for their customers instead of employees of large businesses taking over parking.”
pennies on the dollar and partying on the proceeds. reatened with fresh eruptions, Daddy and Mommy further reminded Princess about her sketchy boyfriend’s pro igate ways and known antipathy for honest work.
Deputies telephoned the Tarotseeking texter, who turned out to be a former Tarot reader herself, having dealt the Deck of Destiny at the Colorado Renaissance Festival. Two years ago, she explained to deputies, she’d received a call from a Tarot-reading
EVERGREEN – Returning from a productive visit to the greengrocer, the happy homeowner somehow fell afoul of a delicate ower in a “dark, four-door Jeep” who followed him to his residence in order to sing “Why don’t you learn to drive?” out of her driver-side window. Not one to let a challenge to his motoring skills go unanswered, Happy leapt back into his car and sped o in hot pursuit, chasing his critic down Mountain Willow and nally bringing her to heel at an intersection where he intended to “ask her what her problem
Princess Party-Pooper EVERGREEN – Daddy and Mommy invited their all-grown-up Little Princess over to celebrate her birthday. Princess showed up to her party an hour late and immediately went all Krakatoa when Daddy and Mommy told her they weren’t going to take her shopping for brand-new ski gear. Daddy and Mommy patiently explained to Princess that they’d decided to rent any equipment the family would need for Princess’s birthday ski weekend, on account of Princess’s unfortunate habit of quietly liquidating gently-used gifts for
Furious, Princess stormed outside to wait for Sketchy to come get her, because it’s Sketchy’s unfortunate habit to never come within a half mile of Daddy’s and Mommy’s house, much less attend a birthday party for his girlfriend at that address. With the party winding down before it had properly begun, Daddy phoned JCSO and suggested they look into Sketchy’s economic activities, not to mention his abysmal treatment of Princess. Deputies looked into both, but didn’t see any place to hang a charge.
Sheri ’s Calls is intended as a humorous take on some of the incident call records of the Je erson County Sheri ’s O ce for the mountain communities. Names and identifying details have been changed, including the writer’s name, which is a pseudonym. All individuals are innocent until proven guilty.
YOUR OTE
A Strategic V ision. A Steady Dir ection.
Candidates for Evergreen Fire Protection District Board of Directors - May 6th Election
STACEY BALLINGER Board President
Attracting & keeping dedicated volunteers
• Listened to our volunteers’ needs and concerns, made targeted changes, and brought in top-notch, dynamic leadership — increasing our volunteer core by 8.33%, and increasing retention by 33.3% from 2022 to 2024
• Encouraged volunteer participation at all levels —boosting morale and giving them a voice in shaping the department’s future.
• Improved teamwork between volunteers, paid firefighters, and staff —easing strain on volunteers and enhancing community safety through more efficient emergency responses, stronger collaboration, and a shared commitment to protecting lives and property.
Protecting our community from wildfire risks
• Attracted top Wildland fire experts to join the fire department —improving ability to respond to wildfires, enhancing community preparedness and provide wildland training for volunteers and paid firefighters.
• Activated fire department mitigation efforts to improve community safety —securing over $1 million in grant funding and workforce projects to remove hazardous fuels from public and private lands, mitigated critical evacuation routes like highway 73, highway 103, Witter Gulch and this season High Dr, with ramped up efforts over the next 5 years.
• Updated the Community Wildland Protection Plan —implementing community mitigation programs, including free home assessments, chipping services, as well as enhancing the Neighborhood Ambassador program to educate residents on wildfire preparedness.
Strengthening our fire department to protect our community
• Optimized resources to support higher emergency call volume —significantly improving fire emergency response times from our main station by an average of almost 5 minutes, from an average of 8.20 minutes in 2022, to just 3.44 minutes the beginning of 2025.
SWEARING IN
times, they call 911 and expect us to show up as professionals, as experts.
“So when we pin you, I want you to know it’s not just a little ornament we wear on our shirt. Every day when I put this badge on, I remember what my calling is today, what I could be called to do,” Kazian continued. “I’m asking all 13 of you that you share that excitement when you put that badge on.”
EFR Emergency Medical Services Division Chief Dave Montesi spoke about the re ghters’ oath.
“It’s more than a ceremonial promise,” he said. “It’s a powerful commitment. When we pledge to protect life and property, we’re accepting the inherent risks of the job.
“In times of crisis, the oath becomes a source of strength and resilience. It encourages us to push through adversity, knowing we are part of something greater than ourselves. e oath connects all of us to the history and tradition of our profession … and a bond that
LAKE PLUNGE
transforms a job into a calling.”
Assistant Chief Stacee Martin said the new team members are joining a family.
“We are much more than coworkers,” she said. “We become brothers and sisters, an extended family you can call day or night.
“Who else volunteers to run into a re to help a complete stranger? We do, because this is the best job in the world. We get to laugh together, cry together, and see people during their best and worst times. We’re there to help,” she continued. “We do it as a tight-knit family.”
e ceremony was a signi cant day not just for the re ghters, but the agency itself. EFR decided earlier this year to add paid re ghters, moving away from the all-volunteer neighborhood response model it had used since 1948. e six additional sta will support EFR’s current volunteer force, ey will work in three teams of two, with each captain and re ghter team taking a 48hour shift. e paid re ghters will be based at Station 2 on Bergen Parkway.
EFR has about 70 volunteers. Previously, its only paid re ghters were Chief Mike Weege and Kazian.
• Created a community-focused fire department —completing a Master Plan and currently developing a Strategic Plan which are long -term roadmaps to direct growth, operations and resources.
• Diligently managed budget —ensuring community funds are allocated wisely to maximize service and support, delivering essential resources and programs while maintaining fiscal responsibility for the benefit of all residents.
We’ve listened to everyone’s concerns, tackled challenges with smart solutions, and tightened financial and management oversight to make our fire department stronger —because your safety depends on it.
We’re committed to continuing positive momentum with the current direction, maintaining operational stability, supporting our essential volunteers and staff, and ensuring we build a safer Evergreen, together.
nerves, most plungers looked shocked and ready to get back on land as soon as they hit the water.
Exposing so many people to such cold water would be impossible without the supervision and safety practices implemented by the Evergreen Fire/Rescue squad, ensuring that everyone got in and out of the water safely.
“It’s always exciting to see so many people join, and to see their facial expressions,” said Doug Matheny, a volunteer captain who has overseen the event for nine straight years. “ e department’s here to help out the community, make sure it’s safe, and get the ice ready for them.”
e Fire/Rescue squad is always on standby to keep the ladder out of the pool
by the cold water to swim out on their own.
“We’ve pulled a lot of people out. Once you get them out, they’re ne, but the shock in that cold water can get you in the moment,” Matheny said.
Even though more and more people from across the Denver metro have come up to the lake in recent years, the Evergreen Lake Plunge still feels like a vibrant celebration of the local community. e sponsors, rescue team and the skate park company where the plunge is located are all locally based and dedicated to helping Evergreen be the fun and welcoming town that it is.
Cheers to everyone who makes the plunge possible, and for many more plunges in the years to come.
Emily and Leo from Parker took the plunge in matching ‘Monsters, Inc.’ onesies.
PHOTO BY TIM WEIGHART
Our club has more than 100 members from all walks of life. We like to have fun and we organize social functions throughout the year.
• We meet once a week on Fridays at 7:00 a.m. for breakfast. There is no meeting commitment – attend as many or as few as you like.
• Our meetings, events, location details and speaker schedules can be found at EvergreenRotary.org, along with details about our local and international committees and projects.
• Our membership is open to all people of all ages and all backgrounds. More info at EvergreenRotary.org
