Centennial Citizen 0827

August 27, 2020

$1.00

An edition of the Littleton Independent A publication of

VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 37

State cracks down on large events, not protests

Alex Ford, left, and Isaac Kwon walk to Smoky Hill High School near the AuroraCentennial border on Aug. 18, their first day of school as freshmen.

PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD

Conservatives see ‘clear double standard’ in protest policy

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Cherry Creek schools reopen to enthusiasm, caution 1st day sees excited faces, faith in district’s safety policies

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

School officials spent the months leading up to the 2020-21 school year

fretting over details of safety precautions and weighing competing concerns over opening in-person classes and keeping kids home.

But when the first day of school came — with in-person class allowed — students walked through the doors looking forward to savoring the aspects of life they missed for the past five months.

Jill Snider’s daughter Bailey “could not wait” to come back to

over the summer, after more than 30 years on the job. In early August, he awoke for the first time in his new home, on eight acres outside Green River, Wyoming.

“I wasn’t unhappy with my job,” Grace said. “I realized time was fleeting. My wife and I are getting older.

I’m watching my kids grow up. We’ve always dreamed of going somewhere

Colorado officials in recent weeks took enforcement action against events that threatened to overrun the state’s limits on crowd sizes, but the crackdown called attention to the lack of similar enforcement regarding racial-justice protests around metro Denver in recent months.

The office of Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser issued a ceaseand-desist letter in late July to Live Entertainment, the company behind a planned July 26 rodeo in Weld County and at least one other event that have drawn as many as thousands. The office proactively sent cease-and-desist orders to an organizer, Adixion Music, as well as a venue, Imperial Horse Racing Facility, to stop such events in the future, according to a governor’s office news release.

Gov. Jared Polis called such gatherings “dangerous superspreader events” at an Aug. 4 news conference, referring to large crowds’ ability to spread coronavirus.

“People who put themselves at risk aren’t just putting themselves at risk — they’re putting their family, their neighborhood and community at risk, and we cannot stand for that,” Polis said at the news conference.

SEE GRACE, P6

SEE STATE, P8

Walnut Hills Elementary School, Snider said.

“She just wanted to be with friends — she did not want to do online,” Snider, 49, said. “She wanted to see the teachers. She was all about being social after five months.”

On Aug. 17, fifth-graders’ first day back at Walnut Hills in Centennial, Katie Duke and Cathy Chavez SEE SCHOOLS, P4

Littleton schools security director rides off Guy Grace looks back on decades of lives saved, trauma endured

BY DAVID GILBERT DGILBERT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Guy Grace is trying to get used to waking up to silence.

For years, Grace, the longtime director of security for Littleton Public Schools, personally responded to every “Safe2Tell” alert the district received. Many times, it was a latenight call about a student in crisis, on the verge of suicide or overdose.

“We were saving lives,” Grace said.

“But it destroyed my sleep. Three nights a week, I was lucky to sleep an hour.”

Grace, 53, quietly retired from LPS

INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | SPORTS: PAGE 23

2 Centennial Citizen

August 27, 2020A

Arapahoe, Jeffco, Adams races key to control of state Senate Observers see a rough road ahead for minority Republicans

BY EVAN OCHSNER THE COLORADO SUN

Republicans in Colorado look unlikely to reclaim the state Senate majority they lost two years ago, observers from both sides of the aisle say, relegating the party to another two years in the background as Democrats control Colorado’s government.

The party is grappling with an election year that forces them to play defense and the unpopularity of President Donald Trump, who could harm down-ballot candidates.

Less than three months to the election, GOP lawmakers and candidates say they remain optimistic about their odds, but most acknowledge they are just hoping to hold control of three key swing seats Democrats want to win.

“Flipping the Senate is going to be a pretty heavy lift,” said Republican strategist Ryan Lynch. “I think the hope out there is that we’re able to maintain the status quo going into redistricting.”

Republicans need to gain two seats in order to retake control of the upper chamber and disrupt the complete power Democrats have over lawmaking in Colorado.

Along with a 19-16 majority in the Senate, Democrats hold a 41-24 advantage in the state House and Gov. Jared Polis isn’t up for reelection until 2022. At best this year, Republicans are looking to regain a couple of House seats they lost in 2018.

In 2018, Democrats seized power and have passed legislation to require employers to provide sick leave, set pollution reduction targets to address climate change, added new police accountability measures and toughened regulations on the oil and gas industry. The party’s lawmakers are pledging to take on other progressive priorities should they remain in control and prioritize increased funding for transportation, education and health care.

“A majority will continue (to) help ensure we will be able to deliver on the types of policies we’ve passed,” Senate President Leroy Garcia, DPueblo, said in an interview.

In addition to flipping two seats, Republicans need to win every seat they currently hold and stave off Democratic challengers in open seats. It’s a big ask, and some Republicans believe that the party is more likely to have a net loss of one seat than it is to gain any. Democrats said they feel confident about holding the seats Republicans are targeting.

The electoral fortunes are a big reversal from the predictions from GOP leaders in the

Sen. Kevin Priola, R-Adams County, and Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, listen as the Senate Health and Human Service Committee hears debate on a bill that would change Colorado’s vaccine exemption rules on Feb. 19.

PHOTO BY JESSE PAUL/THE COLORADO SUN past two years. Conservatives suggested that voters would see the downsides of oneparty control and Democratic overreach and demand a return to split partisan power at the Capitol.

Republican Senate leader Chris Holbert declined an interview request, but in a statement, the lawmaker from Parker said voters in swing districts want bipartisan powerbrokers. “Putting Republicans back in control of the state Senate would provide balance, which is what those voters tell us that they want,” Holbert said.

GOP strategist Andy George, who ran the Republican state Senate campaign operation for more than a decade, said the party is facing an unfavorable map this year and is forced into a defensive stance. “Even is the best outcome they could hope for,” George said.

Jeffco seat seen as vulnerable Republicans’ best shot likely is in two suburban Denver districts.

The most vulnerable state Senate seat for Democrats is believed to be the 19th District, which sits in Jefferson County and includes part of Denver’s northwest suburbs around Standley Lake.

Rachel Zenzinger, an Arvada Democrat, won the seat from Republican incumbent Laura Woods in 2016. The district has more unaffiliated voters than it does members of any political party and continues to trend in that direction, according to an analysis from conservative-leaning Magellan Strategies.

The Senate Chamber at the Colorado State Capitol on Jan. 8.

PHOTO BY KATHRYN SCOTT/SPECIAL TO THE COLORADO SUN

Republicans hope Zenzinger’s support for progressive policies during her term will alienate those unaffiliated voters. Jesse Zenzinger Mallory, who was chief of staff for Republicans the last time they held the Senate, from 2015 to 2018, and is now a senior advisor for Americans For Prosperity Action, said he thinks Zenzinger may have voted for more liberal bills than her constituents would be comfortable with.

But Zenzinger says her record is bipartisan and her independent-minded voters will see through the criticism. “They just don’t buy into those kinds of partisan

Bridges faces challenge in Arapahoe In the eyes of many Republicans, their next-best chance for picking up a seat is District 26 in Arapahoe County, which is held by Greenwood Village Democrat Jeff Bridges.

Bridges, who previously served in the House, was appointed to the seat in 2019 after the resignation of his predecessor, Daniel Kagan.

November’s election will provide all voters in his district with their first chance to weigh in on that appointment. But many Republicans see their chances in that district as even less favorable than in the race to unseat Zenzinger.

attacks,” she said. To buttress her support, she also landed the endorsement of the pro-business, conservativeleaning Colorado Chamber of Commerce.

Though unaffiliateds now make up over 40% of her district, there are still slightly more Democrats than Republicans in it. Zenzinger also has a significant fundraising edge, having hauled in eight times more money than her Republican opponent Lynn Gerber, according to campaign finance records analyzed by The Colorado Sun. Campaign funds allow candidates to spend on materials like mailers and flyers and also serve as an indicator of how much support they have and how well their campaign is run.

SEE SENATE, P17

Centennial Citizen 3

0August 27, 2020

Looming Littleton schools cuts spur request for tax hike District says ‘catastrophic’ outlook won’t be relieved by state

BY DAVID GILBERT DGILBERT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Littleton Public Schools will ask voters to approve a property tax increase this fall, hoping to stave off what district officials call “catastrophic” cuts to the district as a result of budget shortfalls caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The district will ask voters in November to approve a mill levy override that aims to raise $12 million in its first year, hoping to offset slashed state funding and increased expenses related to the pandemic If the measure doesn’t pass, district officials say, LPS could face cuts beginning in 2021 including laying off more than 180 employees, increasing class sizes, slashing funding for mental health and security services, cutting teacher pay, and eliminating programs including Options High School, Village Preschool, and career and technical education programs.

“We can’t fix this by reducing a few budget items,” Superintendent Brian Ewert told the school board on Aug. 13. “We would have to drastically alter how we operate.

It would reduce the opportunities we offer students of all ages.”

Ewert The district, which serves about 15,000 students, is facing reduced state funding of about $18.5 million in the 2020-2021 school year, part of ongoing statewide cuts stretching back to the Great Recession called the “negative factor” — a policy of withholding funds otherwise due to schools under the terms of Amendment 23.

The $18.5 million shortfall is $9.4 million larger than the “negative factor” imposed on Littleton in the 2019-2020 school year. The district has been shortchanged to the tune of nearly $157 million in state funding since 2009, according to district data.

The Colorado legislature approved $3.3 billion in statewide cuts in May as coronavirus wreaked havoc on state tax revenue collection.

The gap between the state cuts and the federal funds this year will be exacerbated by a further $4.2 million in cuts already approved by the LPS school board last fall, caused by rising costs and stagnant state funding, spurring the district to eliminate 17 positions.

The cuts will be offset by $6.6 million in one-time federal funds earmarked for coronavirus-related expenses such as complying with state and local health orders, planning and implementing remote learning options and purchasing sanitation supplies.

The district’s total general fund budget for the 2020-2021 school year is $177.8 million.

The total financial impact of the pandemic on the 2020-2021 school year isn’t yet known, said Donna Villamor, the district’s finance director.

The cost of the TOPS program, an online alternative to in-person learning, could wind up reaching $5 million this year, Villamor said. Paying for coronavirus testing and sick leave for teachers could also prove expensive.

Reserves likely to take hit Ewert anticipates the school board will dig deeply into its reserves in the coming year, and if the ballot measure doesn’t pass, the district could come close to exhausting all but the reserves mandated by the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, or TABOR. While Ewert said the district anticipates being able to weather the coming school year without severe cutbacks, funding for the 2021-2022 school year and beyond looks bleak.

A statewide income tax measure that would have raised money for education and other programs failed to gain enough signatures to make it onto the ballot this fall. Other statewide ballot measures aimed at increasing school funding have also failed in recent years. Statewide revenue collection is constrained by TABOR, and the Gallagher amendment, which constrains property taxes.

Marijuana tax revenue is no panacea, Ewert said.

“Proponents of Amendment 64 (which legalized recreational marijuana in Colorado) acted like it would just soak schools with money,” Ewert said. “It was a heck of a marketing gimmick.”

Since Amendment 64 was passed in 2012, the district has received just enough marijuana tax revenue to hire one substance abuse counselor, Ewert said.

State won’t be rescuer “The state will not or cannot help,” Ewert said. “School districts are completely on their own to solve financial problems.”

Currently, district residents pay a mill levy rate of 59.266 toward LPS, or $423.75 per year per $100,000 of home value.

If approved, the district’s mill levy override ballot measure would raise the mill levy on homes in the district by 6 mills in its first year, with the option to increase by one mill per year, up to a maximum of 11. The 6-mill increase would be $42.58 per year per $100,000 of home value.

That means on a home valued at $500,000, the measure would increase the annual taxes paid toward LPS from $2,118.75 to $2,331.65.

The amount a homeowner would pay if the mill levy was increased by 11 over five years is difficult to estimate, Villamor said, because mill levy payments are based on the property tax rate, which is subject to fluctuation. If the rate remained steady at 7.15%, a full 11-mill increase would result in an increase of roughly $78 per year per $100,000 of home value.

Mill levy hike would aid capital fund If approved, the money raised by the mill levy override would not be deposited into the district’s general fund, which covers operating and personnel costs, but would go instead into the district’s capital fund, SEE CUTS, P24

C NVERSATIONS Join Commissioner Jeff Baker with special guest Open Spaces Director Shannon Carter on Thursday Aug. 27 @ 7 p.m.

Get updates on recent and upcoming projects and initiatives that affect our diverse communities.

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4 Centennial Citizen

August 27, 2020A

SCHOOLS FROM PAGE 1

dropped off twin fifth-graders who looked forward to seeing friends.

Duke wasn’t worried at all, she said, about safety in the school.

“I think they worked really hard,” Chavez said about school officials crafting precautions to guard against the spread of coronavirus.

Cherry Creek School District assembled a laundry list of new protocols for schools to stay safe, from older students using backpacks instead of lockers to younger students having assigned supplies, according to the district’s plans this summer.

That includes requiring masks, a rule that will be managed in a “developmentally appropriate manner” for elementary students, the district has said.

The district opted for a “blended” plan for grades six through 12 that puts half of students in school Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with the other half attending Thursday and Friday.

The youngest students — those in pre-kindergarten up to fifth grade — will attend school five days per week.

The district also made online class an option for all K-12 students, with a new online program available for grades K-5.

Across town in the east Centennial area, seventh-grader Nathen Ball walked on Aug. 18 to Laredo Middle School. Different grades returned to school on different days the week of Aug. 17, which was organized as a “phase-in week” in which students could come to school to practice new routines, and staff and students

The electronic sign outside Smoky Hill High School in the east Centennial area Aug. 18 displays the phrase “freshman cohort A.” Middle- and high-schoolers in Cherry Creek School District are assigned to “A day” or “B day” groups, based on their last name, to lessen the number of students attending school on any given day and support social distancing.

PHOTOS BY ELLIS ARNOLD could begin to develop relationships, prior to the full start of school.

On Ball’s mind: “Seeing all the friends that I haven’t seen in five months and seeing old teachers that I used to hang out a lot with.”

He isn’t preoccupied with the virus, worrying more about how his friends and family members are doing in general, he said.

Ball doesn’t mind the maskwearing and other social-distancing protocols.

“I think it doesn’t really matter as long as we’re 6 feet apart, and just to be safe, wear a mask, but don’t have it on 24/7,” Ball said.

A short while earlier, Alex Ford and Isaac Kwon walked nearby to Smoky Hill High School on their first day of school as freshmen.

Ford carried his French horn, and Kwon his violin. Ford looked forward to meeting new people, and Kwon looked forward to a new school.

Ford’s friends talk about the virus,

Nathen Ball, a seventh-grader, on his walk to Laredo Middle School. Different grades returned to school on different days the week of Aug. 17, which was organized as a “phase-in week” in which students could come to school to practice new routines, and staff and students could begin to develop relationships, prior to the full start of school. but they aren’t too worried, Ford said, pointing out that students will still play sports.

“I don’t know how long school will last,” Ford said, noting the possibility of future school closures due to COVID-19 cases. “It might not be as big a deal if everyone wears a mask.”

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A colorful sign says, “Welcome back 5th grade!” on the wall on the outside Walnut Hills Elementary School Aug. 17 in west Centennial.

Centennial Citizen 5

0August 27, 2020

MY NAME IS

SUZY COTTON

Longtime swim coach and record holder I’m 60 years old and I live in Centennial. However, I worked for the Highlands Ranch Community Association from 1997 until May of this year. So I do call that my second home.

In my 24 years working with HRCA, I was a head swim coach, aquatic Red Cross CPR and first aid trainer, a swim instructor and a lifeguard. I was laid off in May due to COVID-19 but I’m now employed as a swim coach for Highlands Ranch Aquatics; it is a club swim team located in Highlands Ranch.

I really enjoyed coaching and teaching young swimmers how to swim.

Watching them progress from floating into actual stroking is just a joy in itself.

A longtime swimmer I grew up in Colorado Springs in a swim family. I started swimming competitively at the age of 7 and continued through high school and two years of college.

I then took 35 years off of swimming to raise my daughter and pursue other activities.

At the age of 49 I dove back in the water and my body remembered how to swim fast again.

I currently have seven events where I placed in the top 10 in the nation in my age group. I was first in the 200-yard backstroke and second in the 200-yard freestyle in my age group this

Suzy Cotton, who was a longtime employee of the Aquatics Department at the Highlands Ranch Community Association, is a competitive swimming champion several times over.

FILE PHOTO year. I also placed fifth in the world in the 200-meter backstroke for the short course season in 2019.

I really believe it’s never too late to get back in the water.

My home Highlands Ranch has been my home, from raising my daughter, to seeing me through marriage, divorce, death,

alcoholism and winning in the world championship swim meet in Montreal.

I was the only Highlands Ranch employee Master swimmer that has ever participated in such a high level.

I have loved watching the trees grow.

When I first started working at Eastridge in 1997 the trees we’re so small.

Now they are glorious and full of life and stories.

I don’t think people know how much they mean to me. Working at all for rec centers over almost a quarter of a century I have made many lifelong friends that I cherish dearly.

If you have suggestions for My Name Is … or if you would like to be featured in the segment, contact Elliott Wenzler at ewenzler@coloradocommunitymedia.com.

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6 Centennial Citizen

August 27, 2020A

Guy Grace stands in the Littleton Public Schools security office. Grace retired after more than 30 years working in the district’s security department.

GRACE FROM PAGE 1

more rural, and if I didn’t do it now, I’m not sure I ever would.”

Green River, less than a six-hour drive from Littleton, is a world away.

An old railroad town, it sits in the desert of southwest Wyoming, one of the last true vestiges of the Wild West. Grace said he’s looking forward to taking his kids, 10 and 13, on camping trips.

But, as he sat in the dining room of his new home, surrounded by moving boxes, Grace said it was going to take some adjusting.

“It’s tough,” he said. “For years I’ve woken up with a mission. That’s gone now. It’s hard not to feel like I’m not doing my part. I’m trying to distract myself.”

Grace’s contributions to school security are legendary, earning him a slew of national awards and a write-up in Popular Mechanics. He remains the chairman of the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools, and measures he developed have been emulated in districts nationwide.

Vandals and thieves When he started on the district security team in 1989, as a 22-yearold not long out of the Army, school security was more about catching vandals and thieves than preventing suicides and shootings.

Still, Grace took his job seriously from the start.

“We used to have burglaries in the schools every other week,” he said.

“I emphasized patrols and mandatory responses to all alarms. As a young man, my Friday night was waiting to see who would break into a school.”

The approach worked — vandalism and burglaries plummeted, and district officials took notice.

Then, in 1999, everything changed.

End of the ‘innocent times’ In the aftermath of the Columbine High School shooting, in which two students killed 12 classmates, a teacher and themselves in the near-

by Jefferson County school district, suddenly school security rocketed to the top of districts’ priority lists nationwide.

A month later, Grace found himself promoted to head of Littleton’s security department.

In the years that followed, he kept LPS at the forefront of the movement to reshape school security, guiding Littleton through a series of firsts: the first district in the state to integrate its radio network with those of first responders, to attend federal emergency training, and to develop an incident command structure.

“We were exploring everything possible, to give the community the satisfaction that the district was taking things seriously,” he said. “We weren’t resting on our laurels. We never have.”

Meanwhile, Grace and his team began hardening schools: cameras, access control, fewer entrances.

“Back in the 1990s, you could walk up to any elementary school and find almost any door unlocked,” he said.

“It’s sad to look back on. Those were the final students who went to school in the innocent times.”

The post-Columbine pendulum swing ushered in heavy-handed attitudes. Across the country, school districts implemented “zero tolerance” behavior policies, and students who got in fistfights often found themselves in front of judges.

“Sometimes, involving the criminal justice system is necessary, but I greatly prefer restorative justice principles,” Grace said. “Nobody wants to see a school-to-prison pipeline. Zero tolerance policies have fallen by the wayside, and that’s absolutely for the best.”

Troubling trends As the 21st century matured, more tragedies would follow. Troubling trends began to emerge in youth mental health — increasing rates of anxiety, depression and suicide.

Grace said student suicides weren’t unheard of in decades past, but theorized the digital revolution, and the explosion of social media, has upended how young people interact and view themselves in distress-

ing ways.

“How I’m supposed to look. How I’m supposed to act. What’s expected of me in terms of popularity. It’s a terribly skewed impression of reality,” he said.

School shootings increased as well.

Schools began paying attention to student mental health to greater degrees, and the field began to meld with school security.

In the early 2010s, Littleton onboarded Safe2Tell, an anonymous reporting system that allows students or families to report concerns or threats.

Calls numbered in the dozens in the program’s first years. Still, Grace’s job began to involve a new paradigm: crisis interventions, rushing to save young people from disaster. Many calls came in the middle of the night. Grace responded to every single one.

Missed opportunities Then, in 2013, tragedy struck.

On Dec. 13, a student stormed into Arapahoe High School with a gun, killing classmate Claire Davis before turning the gun on himself.

“I was planning on leaving for my mom’s that day,” Grace recalled. “My car was loaded. I got a call from the security office — it was bad. I raced over to the school. I destroyed the engine on my car, actually.”

Grace oversaw the incident command, evacuating the school and reuniting families.

“It was one of the most stressful situations I’ve ever been in in my life,” he said.

In the months that followed, inquiries and investigations into the shooting found gaps in informationsharing and missed opportunities.

“I had never heard (the shooter’s) name before that day,” Grace said.

“There was a threat assessment, but it wasn’t followed up on like it should have been. I hate that kids died for us to learn. I hate it.”

The aftermath only intensified Grace’s attitude toward his job.

Processes and procedures were revamped. Information-sharing increased. Amid other school violence around the nation, Grace and his

COURTESY PHOTO

team hardened schools even further.

“It put me into a mayhem of trying to do better,” he said. “We tightened up everything. What can I do better?

How can I learn from my mistakes?

How do I save these kids’ lives?”

‘The failures are what follow you’ The district’s security apparatus kept evolving, with controlled entrances, and a growing district-wide panopticon of cameras.

Meanwhile, Grace responded to students in crisis at a feverish rate.

Safe2Tell reports skyrocketed following the Arapahoe shooting, growing from dozens a year to nearly two a day, motivated in part by a greater familiarity with the program.

Grace knows he saved many lives.

He sent paramedics to rescue teenagers from overdoses. Responding officers cut one girl down from a noose in the nick of time.

Still, Grace was haunted by the suicides he couldn’t prevent. A teen busted for drinking on school property. A former student who returned to Arapahoe High School’s field to die. A student who died on camera on a school playground while Grace was en route.

“We had so many more successes than failures, but the failures are what follow you,” he said.

‘In the peace of the night’ By the tail end of the 2010s, Grace was struggling.

“Safe2Tell. Safe2Tell. Safe2Tell.

Arapahoe. Suicides. I haven’t told you half of what I saw, what we dealt with. It was spinning in my head.

Racing thoughts. In the peace of the night, I couldn’t shut it off.”

Grace, Army tough, said despite his job, he hadn’t always been the type to seek mental health care himself. That changed, and he sought treatment for PTSD. On the phone from Wyoming, Grace paused.

“If I’m honest,” he said, “it’s why I’ve sought a quieter life. I want to be here for my kids. I think they like me most of the time. I’m proud I’m still married.”

SEE GRACE, P23

Centennial Citizen 7

0August 27, 2020

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8 Centennial Citizen

August 27, 2020A

STATE FROM PAGE 1

In all, Weiser’s staff has sent four cease-and-desist orders to organizers for violating size limits on large events, said Weiser spokesman Lawrence Pacheco on Aug. 19.

‘Double standard’ alleged The state’s response to the Weld County rodeo prompted a conservative blog, Colorado Peak Politics, to argue that protests received a “free pass” on crowd-size enforcement and that Polis looked the other way when it came to “mobs rallying their Democrat base.”

That complaint echoed other conservative writers in recent months, including in an op-ed piece in Colorado Politics magazine by businessman Barry Farah, a 2018 Republican candidate for governor, that spoke of a “clear double standard” in the state’s treatment of protesters. An opinion piece by U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, a Republican of Windsor, made a similar point about protests nationwide.

Protests amassed in the downtown Denver area for at least two weeks in late May and June following the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by a Minneapolis police officer, an incident that sparked nationwide unrest.

Protests that also focused on criminal justice issues in Colorado — such as the death of Elijah McClain in August 2019 following an encounter with Aurora police — continued into at least late July in the metro area.

In some cases, the demonstrations saw crowds of thousands. Denverarea protests are often organized and advertised on social media.

Under Colorado’s safer-at-home order, gatherings of more than 10 people in public and private spaces are prohibited, but crowd sizes can be larger in numerous circumstances depending on the activity or business, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Under the safer-at-home order, outdoor events — including receptions, fairs, rodeos and concerts and others — can allow up to 175 people, excluding staff, per designated activity with a minimum of 6 feet between individuals or non-household contacts.

‘Right to protest’ Weiser’s office and the state

A crowd of about 200 gathered in O’Brien Park in Parker on June 4 for a demonstration protesting the death of George Floyd and racial injustice in America. The protesters lay down for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the length of time Floyd was pinned down by his neck while in Minneapolis police custody.

PHOTO BY NICK PUCKETT

Public health community backs protests despite virus risk

public-health department declined to respond to questions from Colorado

Community Media about complaints of political bias and why protests

should be treated differently than other types of large gatherings.

Polis’ office did not directly address those questions but provided a statement in response.

Polis “respects every Coloradan’s right to free speech. The governor has been very clear that we are still experiencing a global pandemic, and if people choose to exercise their right to protest, they need to wear masks, practice social distancing, and get a free and easy test afterwards,” said Conor Cahill, a spokesman for Polis.

Despite Polis’ support for the motivation for protests, he worried about the effect of large demonstrations on the spread of COVID-19 and encouraged participants to get tested. The governor stressed the importance of wearing masks and staying 6 feet from others.

“Health experts tell me (the protests) could result in hundreds of new cases,” Polis said at a June 2 news conference.

As a dramatic rise in the state’s rate of new COVID-19 cases took shape in June, Polis pointed partly to protests as a driving factor.

“Our uptick, like the major spikes in other states, is largely among the younger demographic,” Polis said at a June 30 news conference. “I think it is partially attributable the bars and nightclubs and also potentially to the large public gatherings and the protest movements that we’ve seen outside.”

Earlier that month, Polis didn’t characterize the protests as playing a large role in Colorado’s outbreaks, saying “there’s some evidence that” some of the people involved in a Boulder outbreak attended marches.

“We don’t necessarily have that same information from Denver,” Polis said at a June 24 news conference.

“We believe it was associated with large get-togethers and parties.”

Asked how large a role protests played in Colorado’s June and July spike in COVID-19 cases, the state public-health department put the focus on Coloradans’ wider socializing compared to earlier in the pandemic.

“The increase in cases last month is likely due to a change in behavior, including socializing in larger groups, especially if without proper physical distancing or mask-wearing,” said an Aug. 20 statement from the Colorado State Joint Information Center, which includes staff from the state publichealth department.

Arapahoe County’s exception from COVID-19 rules remains in place Variance allowing larger crowds was at risk of being revoked

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Arapahoe County’s residents have reined in the spread of the coronavirus enough to prevent the state from rolling back the county’s progress on reopening — as long as it stays on the right course.

The state so far has not revoked the county’s waiver from Colorado’s restrictions on crowd sizes at businesses and places of worship.

Also known as a “variance,” the exception allows counties a break from some of the state’s restrictions on activities and businesses aimed at

containing COVID-19.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment was expected to make a decision on the county’s variance in the first week of August, said Luc Hatlestad, a county spokesman. A permanent decision hadn’t arrived as of Aug. 20, but it appears the county can tentatively continue under its variance rules.

“CDPHE has not guaranteed anything but has expressed its willingness to allow us to continue along our current path, pending any changes in case numbers,” Hatlestad said.

Gyms, restaurants, places of worship and the county’s only indoor mall — the Town Center at Aurora, near East Alameda Avenue and Interstate 225 — received expanded capacity under the state’s June 29 approval of Arapahoe County’s variance request.

In mid-July, about one-fourth of

Colorado’s counties were notified that the virus’ trend has become intense enough that their variances must be reconsidered, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment.

When the virus’ spread in a county shifts from low or medium to high — based on benchmarks the state outlines — a county must submit a plan to bring transmission levels back down. The public-health department then monitors the county’s COVID-19 case counts for two weeks and may alter or remove the variance if deemed necessary.

Instead of submitting a mitigation plan, counties also can choose to return to terms of the state’s “safer at home” order with no variances. Several of the smaller counties decided to do so.

SEE EXCEPTION, P18

In a May 2020 file photo, hairstylist Jen Ambrose works with longtime client Teresa Caldaro at Indulgence Salon on Main Street in Littleton. Colorado is under a statewide order requiring people to wear masks in public indoor spaces.

PHOTO BY DAVID GILBERT

Centennial Citizen 9

0August 27, 2020

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10 Centennial Citizen

E

LOCAL

August 27, 2020A

VOICES

Let’s make sure everyone counts in census

xciting news GUEST for the City of COLUMN Centennial!

The Census Bureau recently listed Centennial as having the highest response rate for completion of the 2020 Census (for cities over 100,000) in the United States.

Congratulations Stephanie Piko Centennial, so far our response rate is 85.3%, but we’re

T Lesson still unknown as pandemic year schools us all

T

he title of the assignment was intentionally dumb: “How I Spent My Summer Vacation,” a holdover from QUIET the grade school DESPERATION writing projects many of us were assigned.

It was the first assignment in the fall semester of the advanced drawing class I taught for years as a university professor and Craig Marshall it was always a Smith success. It was a perfect introduction to the top drawing students in the school.

Or an immediate indicator that a student had reached a level they were incapable of maintaining

I N D E P E N D E N T An edition of the Littleton Independent A publication of

A publication of

Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110 Phone: 303-566-4100 Web: CentennialCitizen.net To subscribe call 303-566-4100

for 16 weeks.

I’ve reminisced about that project this summer and wondered what a wall of drawings might look like, were I still teaching.

Masks and ventilators? Street protests? Empty stadiums? Cabin fever in quarantine?

Believe or not, the project was very challenging. Every day, we do a hundred or more things that might become a memory. Any memory can become an image in the hands of someone who is creative.

Sifting through ideas is what all artists do. “Artists” includes inventors, lyricists, architects, and anyone else who has to make choices for a living.

If you were asked to sift through your 2020 summer and SEE SMITH, P11

Heights, Michigan, who is currently the #2 city in the Census response race. Mayor Michael Taylor of Sterling Heights, initiated a friendly challenge with Centennial to see which city ends up first. We want to remain in first place so we are asking for your help to make that happen!

Please complete your Census form and encourage your neighbors and family members to do the same. Let’s do what we can to make sure we’re all counted.

Thank you Centennial!

Mayor Stephanie Piko

flow into our area whether it be for schools, social services or transportation.

• Establish how many representatives each state gets in Congress; • Redraw state and federal legislative district boundaries; • Help ensure Centennial citizens are represented.

Please know your response to the Census will impact our community for the next decade.

And last but not least, help Centennial’s response rate stay #1! We have received a challenge from Sterling

not done yet. Census workers have started knocking on doors of those who have not filled out their Census in an effort to make sure everyone is counted. These workers may visit a home up to six times in order to reach our citizens.

It is not too late for individuals to respond to the Census by completing and mailing back the paper questionnaire, responding online at 2020census.gov or by calling 844-330-2020.

Data used from the Census is used to: • Determine how federal funding will

Want divisiveness to stop?

Campaign for empathy

he other day I was in a Zoom meeting with some folks, one of whom I have struggled with personally. There are few people in my life with whom I default to judgment anymore, but she has been one. For several years, I’ve been working on dumping my assumptions about people and increasing my curiosity about them instead. But there I was, listening to this person and feeling my blood presGUEST sure rise feeling her ego dripping off the COLUMN screen. Then, I caught myself, stopped, and took a breath. I began to look and listen as if I had no judgment. I focused on her as just another human like me, trying to do the right thing in whatever way she knew how.

Linda Newell In just one moment, I could feel my body calm down and my heart and mind open.

Rather than feeling her ego, I could see her as a fellow child of God. OK, that might sound cheesy to some people, but it felt real. It was real and very healing.

I can now honestly say that I won’t shy away from being with her again or try to avoid eye contact as I had done before. In reflection afterward, I had to ask myself: “Who’s the problem here?” Is it the woman with the ego or the other woman with the ego (me)? I had to acknowledge that no matter how many years of teaching empathy skills or facilitating conflict, I am not immune to getting sucked into my Judgment Self.

I get so upset about people judging people by the color of their skin, the sound of their accent, or the political party they belong to. But how can I expect all of us to change if I’m not changing me? Don’t get me wrong. I’m

very proud of the work that I do and of my personal growth over the years. But clearly, my personal work is not done and never will be. Just like everyone else on the self-improvement track, I’ve got to have patience with myself as I attempt to do better.

This experience reminded me that if we want this divisiveness to stop in this country, it’s not only up to “our society,” but it’s up to ourselves first. If we can’t have empathy and genuine curiosity with each other in our own lives, how can we have it for others whom we don’t even know?

We’re conditioned to see people who are different or separate from us as “the other.” In business and sports, they’re our competitors. In politics, they’re whacko or stupid. In religion, they’re the ones we feel sorry for as they won’t have eternal peace. In racial divides, their lives don’t really matter or they’re self-righteous. Educationally, they’re the ignorant other or the elitist who thinks they know it all. When is this going to stop? HOW is this going to stop?

Well in this political season and beyond, I’m campaigning for empathy; emotional intelligence — with our family members, partners, neighbors, customers, colleagues, students, professors, and even our elected officials. And especially, ourselves. Imagine how quickly we’d unite, in dignity, if we truly tried to understand others’ lived experiences with empathy and curiosity; listening to each other without judgment. What have we got to lose?

Former Colorado state senator, now with a master’s in Social Justice and Ethics from Iliff School of Theology, Linda Newell is a writer, speaker, facilitator, and filmmaker. Senlindanewell@gmail. com, www.lindanewell.org, www.senlindanewell.com, @sennewell on Twitter, Senator Linda Newell or @TheLastBill on Facebook.

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Littleton Independent (USPS 315-780) A legal newspaper of general circulation in Littleton, Colorado, the Littleton Independent is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110

Centennial Citizen 11

0August 27, 2020

T

The positive evolution of professional selling

hink about a time when you decided not to get behind a cause, chose not to buy into an idea or plan, or decided not to make a purchase of a product or WINNING service. When I ask WORDS people why they chose not to participate, buy in, or make the purchase, one word comes up most of the time: trust. Or rather a lack of trust.

They either didn’t trust or believe in the cause, they Michael Norton didn’t trust the plan, they didn’t trust the person selling them the product, they didn’t trust the product or service, or they didn’t trust the company to stand behind the product or service.

In a recent virtual sales training session that I participated in, the facilitator shared a graphic showing how people viewed certain professions regarding trustworthiness.

Would it shock you to learn that salespeople were seen as the least

trustworthy of all the professions listed? It did and it did not shock me.

It did not shock me because salespeople have endured a negative stigma for a very long time. Whenever a group of people are asked for words that they think of when they think of salespeople, they typically come up with words like: slimy, sleazy, dishonest, liar, unprofessional, and many more derogatory characterizations.

It did shock me because I have been around a lot of salespeople over the past three decades. And as I look back at the evolution of professional selling, I have seen how salespeople have evolved, and how companies have become increasingly selective in making sure they hire and develop professional salespeople. More and more companies are investing in the people they hire in providing the right skills-based training. They provide them with industry and product knowledge to make sure that they represent themselves and the company professionally.

I meet with salespeople every day.

These meetings take place virtually and the salespeople are trying to sell me something that they believe I

might need or want. When I agree to take a meeting, I do so for two reasons.

First, I may actually have a need or desire for a product or service they are selling. Second, I like to see how salespeople are selling. Are they connecting with me, are they professional, are they actively listening, do they ask me relevant questions, do they have their facts and data right? Are they earning my trust?

And I have to tell you that for the most part, today’s salesperson is very professional, they are well educated on their offerings, even in a virtual setting they are engaging and making great eye contact. They ask relevant questions and take good notes. And they follow up, doing what they said they would do, when they said they would do it. All of this contributes greatly to earning my trust.

It has been said that there are five primary reasons people choose not to buy something, or not to buy into something. No Time, No Want, No Money, No Need, but the number one reason is No Trust.

So now when I am on a virtual sales training session, I ask everyone to make sure their cameras are on,

and I ask them a different question.

I ask them what they see as they look around at all the faces on the screen and how they would describe the salespeople on their team. What I hear from people these days are words like: professional, honest, integrity, successful, great attitude, achiever, smart, and more positive and affirming words. The world has changed, and so has the profession of selling. The world will continue to change, and so will the salespeople as they work towards earning and maintaining our trust.

How about you? Have you seen how salespeople have grown and changed? Are you in sales, and if so, have you noticed the positive difference in yourself and in your team? I would love to hear your trust story at mnorton@tramazing.com, and when we live and work from a foundation of trust, it really will be a better than good week.

Michael Norton is the grateful CEO of Tramazing.com, a personal and professional coach, and a consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator to businesses of all sizes.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Add air quality to the fight The current fight for Black Lives Matter make it impossible to ignore systemic inequity in our communities.

As part of this awakening we must also acknowledge that climate change has disproportionately impacted Black communities and other communities of color. These impacts include bad air quality, water quality and contaminated soil.

This is why it was so important that the state of Colorado passed statewide goals for greenhouse pollution reduction. These goals were set with a

SMITH FROM PAGE 10

represent it with a drawing on a single piece of paper, what would it look like?

Generally, the drawings I looked at were scenes from a vacation, something like that. Rarely were they dark.

One young woman had the temerity to depict her breakup with a married man.

After I retired I was asked now and then to sub or make an appear-ance as a guest artist. And once I was asked if I would be interested in teaching an online drawing course.

It sounded like madness and I said so.

The intimacy of instruction in an art room is absolute, I thought: no exceptions.

Now look.

Almost everything we once considered normal is now something else, and that includes schools and schooling.

What if school buildings disappeared and all students were educated at home? Or not? Truancy would be easy as pie. Ferris Bueller could take off for months at a time.

I know someone who teaches at Overland High School. My best friend is a dean at the University of North Texas.

That’s as close as I am to what the

mandate that the Air Quality Control Commission set goals not only to reduce pollution in “disproportionately impacted communities” but also engage those communities in finding solutions.

Our communities have been dealing with the impacts of pollution for generations. It is time to take action now, not later to ensure that regardless of your zip code in Colorado you have access to clean air and clean water and that the state do everything it can to meet these goals.

Marlo Alston, Centennial

school year might actually mean.

I hope to be around long enough to find out what the 2020 educational data that was collected and analyzed determined.

That’s something the National Center for Education Statistics will do.

Is it possible our children will be better educated at home or in environments outside of a typical classroom?

It seems very unlikely, doesn’t it?

Further, the absence of socialization might have a huge impact on, well, learning how to socialize, get along and coexist.

Have you ever wanted to flip a switch and see the future? Where’s Rod Serling?

My friend in Texas does not foresee higher education ever being the same again.

What else? Anyone who experienced depression before the pandemic isn’t likely to be singing show tunes right now.

Every day I ask myself, “What can I do?”

Realistically, this is about it. Along with journalists all over the country, I am trying my best to continue to provide crucial information to our readers.

Have you heard about that new corduroy pillow? It’s making headlines.

Craig Marshall Smith is an artist, educator and Highlands Ranch resident. He can be reached at craigmarshallsmith@comcast.net.

In Loving Memory Place an Obituary for Your Loved One. Private 303-566-4100 Obituaries@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

Funeral Homes Visit: www.memoriams.com

12 Centennial Citizen

LOCAL

August 27, 2020A

LIFE

Virtual learning provides challenges for dance instructors

BY NICK PUCKETT NPUCKETT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

I

nstructors at the Parker Dance Academy are getting better at using their words.

Studio director Lexie Steinhauser has danced and taught dance for years. But even she struggled when it came to teaching through a computer screen.

“Usually, as you’re teaching the technique of dance, you go around and touch their shoulders, tell them to go back, tell them to fix their foot,” said Steinhauser. “We’ve gotten really into imagery with our students, and with movement, how you utilize different body parts.”

Without the ability to get up close with their students to adjust an elbow here or a plie there, dance teachers are adapting their methods to reach students beyond the studio.

“As dancers, especially dance teachers who have worked all over the world, you have to learn how to adapt to a situation no matter what,” Steinhauser said. “It’s part of the gig.

If someone goes the wrong way, makes a wrong step, gets too close to another dancer, the music stops, the audience throws something at you — you have to adapt to that situation and make it seem like nothing has gone wrong.”

Dance instructors throughout Denver are finding new ways to reach their students and picking up new tricks themselves along the way.

Allison Jaramillo, co-director of the Littleton Ballet Academy, said the instructors found some new tools while learning to teach virtually. The angle with which the students position their web cameras can sometimes help instructors visualize a student’s form. The shy students in class have been noticeably more engaged.

Less-advanced dancers don’t feel left behind in a big group and end up discouraged.

“They knew they weren’t the best in the class, but all of a sudden they were the best in their house,” Jaramillo said.

They say dance like no one’s watching, Jaramillo said.

“For some of them, it was actually true.”

The pre-ballet students, from ages 3 to 6, have been the most difficult to engage. Students are sometimes left without a parent watching at home and become distracted.

Instructors have to be more expressive and praise the students as much as possible. Lisa Leafgreen, director of education at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, said the instructors have to give twice the effort to get half the output from the students.

“It’s just not an ideal format for a performing art,” Leafgreen said. “But we adjusted. They pivoted their teaching style like we all did to put more into their teaching. It’s not that they didn’t before, but it takes more excitement and exuberance.”

Jaramillo said the Littleton Ballet Academy may not be back to full inperson teaching for several months.

The academy is operating under a “hy-

Students at the Parker Dance Academy do plie squats led by Studio Director Lexie Steinhaus. Some students say their strength has improved over the months because they have been forced to relearn some of the basics from home.

PHOTO BY NICK PUCKETT

Students at the Parker Dance Academy are back in the studio, and some say in better shape than when they left. Being away and struggling with learning how to improve from home, some say they’ve gone back to basics, and are better for it.

PHOTO BY NICK PUCKETT

brid” model, letting students choose to stay home or find spots in a class. The school won’t be holding any performances until at least spring, hoping to perform “The Nutcracker” as soon as they can.

“The ones that started coming every day because they had nothing else to do realized they started improving, which helped them keep up,” Jaramillo said.

High school students lost their proms, graduations and most of their spring semester. Lisa Leafgreen, director of education at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, said the center set out to make sure its art programs were one of the few things that didn’t close or cancel.

“As writers need to write, dancers need to dance,” Leafgreen said. “It is such an important time to stay connected.”

The Arvada Center is offering in-person classes for its all its usual dance courses. Capacity is limited to about half as many students with social distancing maintained. Lessons are available online as well.

Leafgreen said the shift to a virtual teaching format has given the center more opportunities to reach a wider range of people as well. Leafgreen said the center has had people take virtual lessons from across the country. One person tuned in from Guatemala.

“As a director of education, that was something that wasn’t on my trajectory of what I thought our program would be doing, but we shifted, we pivoted, we’re nimble and it opens different possibilities,” Leafgreen said.

Dance instructors are just beginning to venture into this world of virtual

Students at the Parker Dance Academy take part in an outdoor lesson in a parking lot near the studio. Dancers and teachers are adjusting to virtual and socially distanced learning, creating unique obstacles and opportunities.

COURTESY PHOTO

teaching, Leafgreen said.

“I wake up each day thinking, ‘OK, is this going to happen? Is that going to happen?’” Leafgreen said. “How do we stay relevant here? How do we continue to keep kids engaged? It’s rethinking everything we do.”

Without any competitions to work toward, no thunderous applause to look forward to and no “The Nutcracker” over the holidays, instructors are also finding new ways to motivate their students.

Steinhauser says she tries to remember what makes dance important to the kids.

“A lot of these kids, the reason they dance is for the friends and community and the relationships you only get with someone in an artistic way,” Steinhauser said. “We’ve been continuing to think outside the box to move together.”

Centennial Citizen 13

0August 27, 2020

‘Vibrant Bounty’ offers rich glimpse into culture Folk art from China’s Shaanxi Province at Littleton Museum

BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

New at the Littleton Museum — and clearly worth more than one visit — is a collection of Chinese folk art from the Shaanxi Province called “Vibrant Bounty.”

It will engage art lovers from 8 to 80 with its detailed presentation of rural scenes via tempera paintings, plus a collection of charming fabric toys certain to make one smile.

The exhibit, organized by Exhibits USA, a program of Mid America Arts Alliance, will be at the museum through Oct. 17, open during museum hours.

It shares works from a region of China, near the beginning of the fabled Silk Road, that has many similarities to rural America, with its sturdy, hard-working people.

(Readers may be familiar with the famous nearby archaeological find, the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang and his Terracotta Army.)

In the center of the gallery are glass cases with colorful crittters — we especially loved the gray-green embroidered silk toad, with its googly eyes and pink nose ... close to a bright redcrested rooster and an embroidered

IF YOU GO “Vibrant Bounty” will be exhibited through Oct. 17 at the Littleton Museum, 6028 S. Gallup St., Littleton. Open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. Reservations required: 303-7953950; www.littletongov.org/city-services/ city-departments/museum. (Limit on number of people in a group: 10) piggy with flowers and a smile.

Paintings in a uniform size and style circle the room, depicting rural customs and scenes many Americans will relate to. They were created between 1958 and 1961, and were part of the Communist Party’s “Great Leap Forward.”

To the right of the entrance is a painting by Shengtao Zhao, called “Harvesting Sugar Cane in the North,” which establishes the folk art style that carries throughout the exhibit. It relates to American “Grandma Moses” folk art, with a rhythm of rows of people and plants, and bright colors.

Next is one by Quan Tang called “Making Paper by Hand,” illustrating the way it’s been done for centuries.

China is widely credited with development of papermaking techniques and one can buy a similar handmade paper today. It’s popular with some watercolorists.

Third is “Rinsing Cloth on the River” by Zijian Lui, followed by “Hoeing in Spring” and “Picking Lotus

Chinese folk art from Shaanxi Province is on display in the “Vibrant Bounty” exhibition at Littleton Museum.

PHOTO BY MOIRA CASEY/COURTESY OF LITTLETON MUSEUM Seedpods.” (This one brought to mind the giant Lotus Pods now in the Water Gardens at Hudson Gardens.)

While different artists are presented, the paintings are the same size, created with a similar palette of paints and in a related folk style.

They go on to show drying tobacco leaves, and several especially bright ones focused on drying peppers — one can almost smell the hot peppers in Szechuan foods.

Several elaborate opera masks by unknown artists stand out in mid gallery. Perhaps readers have seen performances of Chinese opera, with elegant costumes, grotesque masks and villains shouting lines and bran-

dishing swords?

A case on the wall holds “Hanging Crab With 12 Animals,” illustrating the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac that symbolize “The Happy Cycle of Life” and are said bring good luck to a home where they are displayed.

Near that crab is a painting of a flutist sitting on the back of a “Grazing Cow,” characterized as a “poetic scene of country life.”

Also included in this rich exhibit: New Year prints of Chinese deities, embroidered shoe pads, a baby quilt and a painting showing children floating lanterns in a festival, celebrated on the fifth day of the Chinese New Year.

‘The Walls Between Us’ shares works by collective

“W

itness,” a painting

by Patricia Aaron of Greenwood Village, hangs in Metro State University’s gallery, Center for Visual Arts, at 965 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, in a new exhibit called “The Walls Between Us.” The exhibit is a collection of works by the artist collective Artnauts. The exhibition explores “walls, SONYA’S whether emotional barriers, physical SAMPLER structures, implied boundaries or heavily guarded barriers ...” according to a statement from CVA. The collective focuses on social justice. The exhibit runs through Oct. 17. Gallery hours: Tuesday-Friday, 11 Sonya Ellingboe a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday: noon to 5 p.m.

Admission: free. 303-294-5207, www. msudenver.edu/cva. Free parking by entrance or on the street nearby.

Virtual quilt show In normal summers, Littleton celebrates the summer, and part of that celebration is a beautiful quilt show at First Presbyterian Church, where church members share quilts: some crafted by the exhibiter and others passed down in families, from a mother, grandmother or aunt, perhaps. And then there are some, like those shown by the show’s organizer, Jennie Staritzky, which belong in her personal collection. “This year’s show is online, produced by Pastor Cody Sandahl,” Staritzky writes. “Access through the church website: littleton-

can be involved? The museum will send a video invitation. To be exhibited May 21 to Aug. 22, 2021.

Littleton Garden Club Members of the long-running Littleton Garden Club have decided to cancel meetings through 2020. If there’s to be a January 2021 meeting, we will hope to publish a notice. This local group hopes members will create gardening videos to share and seeks new computer-savvy members — and any others interested. See littletongardenclub.org. The group maintains a Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ littletongarden.club. (It may be a long winter!)

Patricia Aaron’s painting “Witness” was created with beeswax, pigment and mixed media. It is being shown in the Center for Visual Arts’ exhibition “The Walls Between Us.” COURTESY PHOTO presbyterian.org/quilt. There are two formats: a 5 minute video with music, or you can click through at your own pace and enjoy the fascinating tidbits the owners have shared about their quilt’s history.”

‘Vibrant Bounty’ On Wednesday, Sept. 2, there will be a family program on crafting that will tour the Chinese exhibit at the Littleton Museum with exhibit-related child-friendly crafts. Visit facebook. com/LittletonMuseum/videos to see a video with Littleton Museum Curator of Collections Jenny Hankinson and Curator of Exhibits Moira Casey as they guide you through some exhibit-

related, kid-friendly crafts.

Denver Art Museum With a future exhibit in mind, Denver Art Museum announces “Each/ Other”, a collaboration between two leading Indigenous contemporary artists: Marie Watt (Seneca, Scottish, German) and Cannupa Hanska Luger (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Lakota and European), whose practices both focus on collaborative art-making. The exhibit will include 24 mixed-media sculptures, wall hangings and largescale installation works. In addition, there will be a “new artist-guided community artwork.” Watch for more news about this — perhaps readers

Littleton author David Weiden of Littleton announces publication of a debut novel: “Winter Counts,” a “literary thriller set on the Rosebud Indian Reservation,” he writes. He is an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, he writes.

(Will hope to read and review soon — publication date is Aug. 25.)

Highlands Ranch history Mark Stevenson of the Highlands Ranch Historical Society met with Gary Debus, original Highlands Ranch manager to record an oral history. Look for it on the website, thehrhs.org, where the society’s other videos are available ...

DMNS A new film, “Superpower Dogs 3 D” is available at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, to compliment the exhibit, “Dogs: A Science Tail.” DMNS is located at 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver. See dmns.org for information.

303-370-6000.

14 Centennial Citizen

August 27, 2020A

5 things to know: City may expand pandemic business grant eligibility More than $2.5 million has been distributed to Centennial firms

UNINCORPORATED AREAS MUST LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR HELP

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Centennial’s effort to throw a lifeline to local businesses resulted in more than $2.5 million distributed as of Aug. 11, according to a city staff report.

That’s just over half of the $5 million the city council allocated for the “Centennial CARES: Small Business Grants.” The city received an influx of cash via Arapahoe Count’s funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, known as the CARES Act. By the time the city finishes providing grants, hundreds of businesses will likely have benefited. Home-based businesses are also eligible for funding, a change the city made starting Aug. 3.

Centennial is also developing another round of small-business grants, tentatively scheduled to be available during October, according to a news release.

The city will stop accepting applications for the current grants at 5 p.m.

Aug. 30.

Here’s a look at who has benefited so far, who is eligible and what to know about the upcoming grants.

Applications in the hundreds Just under 300 businesses have applied for grants as of Aug. 11, according to city staff in an Aug. 17 report to city council.

1

Arapahoe County also directed CARES Act funding to help small and medium-size businesses, but the county’s application deadline has passed, according to the county website.

The first priority of Advance Arapahoe, a $6 million grant program, was to fund employers within the boundaries of unincorporated Arapahoe County — the areas not located within a city or town — because most businesses in cities or towns can apply to relief

programs through those jurisdictions.

There are several pockets of unincorporated land within and near the Centennial city limits, including the Inverness business park, Centennial Airport and Dove Valley.

The application process was to open June 22, and deadline was to extend to Aug. 1 or until the funds were depleted.

See other resources under “Business Resources” on the county’s website at tinyurl. com/CountyAssistanceList.

The city received 408 total applications, but that’s because some businesses submitted incomplete applications and then applied again, and some businesses applied for the city’s two main types of grants separately.

As of Aug. 11, the city listed 208 applications as “completed” and has distributed $2.5 million in response to those applications. Others were still being processed.

The city began accepting applications June 19.

Different grants available The city’s current program includes two grants that can provide businesses up to $30,000.

The Business Interruption Grant provides up to $10,000 for expenses such as lease or mortgage, payroll, inventory, and supplies or equipment necessary to operate the business.

The Business Infrastructure and PPE Grant provides up to $20,000 for expenses incurred, or planned, toward complying with public health orders.

Expenses may include items such as building and property modifications, touchless payment systems, online ordering platforms, personal protective

equipment, and safety training.

Home-based businesses are eligible for the Business Interruption Grant for up to $2,500. Home-based businesses are not eligible for the Business Infrastructure and PPE Grant.

Who has received grants so far The city couldn’t say what the top 10 largest businesses that received grants were in terms of yearly profit, but the recipients appear to be small companies.

“The city did not collect exact employment information from applicants,” said Neil Marciniak, Centennial’s economic development director.

“Applicants were required to confirm that they employed between one and 100 (full-time positions) prior to the pandemic. We expect that most of the applicants were on the lower side of that range judging by the types of businesses.”

Very few nationally known franchises were awarded grants, and those that did -- including Subway and Golden Corral -- were locally owned and had received little to no financial assistance from the franchisor, accord-

2

3

ing to Marciniak.

More funding possible in October Centennial may provide another round of small-business grants in or near October, according to a news release.

“This round of grant funding will also come from Arapahoe County’s CARES Act funding that has been allocated for the City of Centennial,” Marciniak said.

The city intends to expand which businesses are eligible and plans to reduce the program to include the Business Interruption Grant only, Marciniak added.

Eligibility To apply for funds, businesses must meet the following criteria: • Be currently licensed with the City of Centennial • Business license issued no later than March 1, 2020.

• Have a physical address in Centennial.

• Be a for-profit, privately held business.

• Was forced to temporarily close or to dramatically limit operations due to the public health orders related to the pandemic.

• Able to demonstrate 25% or more in revenue loss during the pandemic and a need for a grant to help mitigate the economic injury.

• Able to provide a total estimate of current and anticipated business losses (revenue and other losses) due to the pandemic.

See the full list of criteria and how to apply at tinyurl.com/CentennialGrants.

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16 Centennial Citizen

August 27, 2020A

Food pantries collaborate to feed thousands Food Exchange Resource Network operates out of large warehouse

BY JOSEPH RIOS JRIOS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Denver resident Maria, who declined to give her last name, was doing house cleaning services before the COVID-19 pandemic forced her out of a job.

Maria receives benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a federal program that helps low-income Americans purchase groceries — but sometimes, the program doesn’t provide enough support for her. So, to get food she’ll occasionally go to Community Ministry of Southwest Denver’s food pantry at 1755 S. Zuni St. “To tell you the truth, it’s very helpful when you don’t get (enough support from SNAP). It’s hard for people to survive like that, but I’m glad there’s places like this one,” said Maria as she packed a grocery cart of food from the pantry into her car on Aug. 20.

Some of the food from Community Ministry of Southwest Denver comes from the Food Exchange Resource Network (FERN) — a food resource collaborative located at a 15,000-squarefoot warehouse at 2830 S. Zuni St. in Englewood.

The network is made up of seven sharing partners and eight participating member food pantries, such as Community Ministry of Southwest

The Food Exchange Resource Network’s warehouse covers 15,000 square feet and serves as a major food distribution center.

Joyce Neufeld, president of the Food Exchange Resource Network, shows off the network’s Englewood warehouse. Last year, 202,000 area residents were served through the food pantries of the network.

PHOTOS BY JOSEPH RIOS Denver, who share the warehouse that holds food, serves as a major food distribution center, increases storage capacity and the amount of food available for those in need and serves as a space where the network can share food and other resources.

“We can’t make it all on our own.

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Joyce Neufeld, executive director of Community Ministry of Southwest Denver and president of FERN. “We all benefit off of each other’s services.”

FERN was started in 2011 after it received a grant from the Denver Foundation, an organization that helps to mobilize resources to strengthen the community. The Denver Foundation helped to fund three formal food pantry collaborations like FERN to create changes in delivering food and to advance best practices within the emergency food delivery system.

At the time, Community Ministry of Southwest Denver was collaborating with other food pantries. Neufeld said the most common need for the pantry partnership was storage to hold refrigerated food, and with the grant, the pantries were able to purchase a large fridge, a walk-in freezer and other resources at the warehouse.

“Sometimes, you get major food loads in, and then you’re scrambling for (storage space),” said Neufeld.

The partners of FERN — Colorado Feeding Kids, Colorado Pet Pantry, Community Ministry of Southwest Denver, Denver Metro Ministries, MetroCaring and St. Mary’s Parish Pantry — rent space in the warehouse to hold their goods and supplies. The members — Brentwood United Methodist Church’s Table of Grace, Mercy Housing, New Apostolic Church Pantry, Nourish Meals on Wheels, Sharing

with Sheridan and others such as Integrated Family Community Services — pay a fee to FERN on a monthly basis for access to the shared food.

Partners and members all have access to large distributions of food and workspace to receive and process large donations.

“It’s like a grocery store for us,” said Todd McPherson, development director for Integrated Family Community Services — a nonprofit based in Arapahoe County that provides necessities such as clothing and food through its food bank at 3370 S. Irving St. in Englewood.

“We all have to play together and maximize what we can do as a group more so than trying to do it individually,” said McPherson.

Last year, 202,000 residents were served through the food pantries of FERN while 59,316 pets were provided with food by the Colorado Pet Pantry.

Neufeld said at this time last year, Community Ministry of Southwest Denver was serving around 800 people a month. But in the midst of a pandemic, that number is up to at least 1,200 a month now.

FERN is in need of donations to carry out improvements to the warehouse for features like security cameras and lighting, Neufeld said. People can donate to FERN at fernfoodbank.org.

“There’s been such generosity in a lot of ways. Everyone is worried, and they are worried about people going hungry,” said Neufeld. “I know that won’t last long because the longer (the pandemic) goes on, people will lose their spirit of giving, I think after a while. And then there are places that have popped up that are serving food now that never did. Once the weather comes, they won’t be there. Agencies like (Community Ministry of Southwest Denver) and others that are part of FERN — we’ll still be here when the other people are gone.”

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Maria packs food into her car at Community Ministry of Southwest Denver’s food pantry on Aug. 20. She recently lost her house cleaning job because of the pandemic.

Centennial Citizen 17

0August 27, 2020

SENATE FROM PAGE 2

Like Zenzinger, Bridges has a large fundraising edge, raising more than 10 times what Republican challenger Robert Roth has collected, according to campaign finance records.

Arapahoe County was long a politically moderate part of the state, but Democrats swept into power in that area in 2018, led by U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, who defeated five-term Republican incumbent Mike Coffman. Voters also pushed out other Republicans, including Sheriff David Walcher, County Clerk Matt Crane and state Rep. Cole Wist.

Democratic lawmakers and strategists believe they are likely to hold Bridges’ seat. Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, said he thinks Bridges has served his district well and hopes he will be rewarded for it. “He is a good, solid representative of that community,” Fenberg said.

Republicans, meanwhile, are most vulnerable in a formerly friendly seat.

Republicans are two seats away from a majority, but that’s only if the party is able to hold on to all of its other seats. In all, 18 seats are in play this cycle. And on paper the breakdown would appear to favor Republicans.

GOP incumbents occupy four seats up for grabs, Democrat incumbents hold seven, and seven others are open. But two of the Republicans seeking reelection are facing tough challenges from Democrats

and one of the open seats, formerly held by a Republican, is at risk of switching loyalties.

Kolker sought a seat in the state House in 2018, but came up short in his bid to unseat Republican Rep. Susan Beckman. Kolker is a financial planner and former high school teacher.

Open race in Centennial Republicans’ most difficult defense is likely Senate District 27, More tough challenges for GOP where Sen. Jack Tate, of CentenRepublicans also have potentially nial, is stepping down. Vying to vulnerable incumbents in northwest replace him is Republican Suzanne Colorado’s District 8, held by Bob Staiert, who strategists from both Rankin, and the sides say will eastern Adams have her work County District cut out for her to 25 represented defeat Democrat

by Kevin Priola.

Chris Kolker.

Each inStaiert is a forcumbent has mer deputy secoutraised his retary of state Democratic who recently challenger so litigated the ethfar but will ics case brought need to attract by a conservaa significant tive nonprofit Ian Silverii, portion of the against former Gov. John executive director of unaffiliated vote to win.

Hickenlooper.

ProgressNow Colorado Rankin will She’s running in need over 40% part on her role of unaffiliated helping to create voters to pick Colorado’s mailfor him, according to an analysis by in voting system during her time in Republican strategist Ben Engen. the secretary of state’s office.

There’s some disagreement among But Staiert said she isn’t getting strategists and legislators about much help from the Republican how vulnerable Rankin is, but all Party and instead is leaning on political strategists who spoke with friends to help her win the ArapaThe Sun said his race was among hoe County district. “I don’t have the most competitive on the map. party activists,” she said.

Rankin, who moved from the She’s been outraised by Kolker, House to fill the vacant GOP seat and even if she wins, Staiert said earlier this year, is running against she thinks she will likely be legisWestern Slope attorney Karl Hanlating from the minority. “I think lon, who lost in the 2018 Democratic it’d be tough to take the majority,” primary for Colorado’s 3rd U.S. she said. “We’d need to pick up two House district. more seats.”

‘When you’re playing for the majority, you’re playing for the majority, and every seat counts.’

In state Senate District 25, which includes Thornton, Priola will need just under 60% of unaffiliateds to vote for him, according to Engen’s analysis. His Democratic challenger is Paula Dickerson, a longtime teacher.

Priola is a moderate Republican who often serves as a bipartisan vote on more Democratic-led legislation. But Democrats say they’re still hoping to knock him out of office.

“When you’re playing for the majority, you’re playing for the majority, and every seat counts,” said Ian Silverii, executive director of the liberal group ProgressNow Colorado.

But in an election year that has been shaken by a racial reckoning, an economic disaster and a pandemic that has killed over 160,000 Americans, a lot could change in the months between now and Election Day. In interviews with The Sun, multiple senators emphasized the volatility of the race, and said they’re looking for a curveball that could shift the race in their favor.

Sen. Paul Lundeen, R-Monument, a member of the Senate Republican leadership team, said he’s an “eternal optimist” and his party will continue to fight for seats through Nov. 3.

“They say in politics 90 days is a lifetime,” Lundeen said.

Colorado Sun correspondent Sandra Fish contributed to this report.

This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. Used by permission. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com.

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18 Centennial Citizen

August 27, 2020A

C R O S S W O R D EXCEPTION P U Z Z L E FROM PAGE 8

In mid-July, Colorado issued a statewide order requiring people to wear masks in public indoor spaces and began a two-week pause on accepting any new variance applications.

The state resumed processing variances starting with communities with low or no COVID-19 transmission, according to an Aug. 11 state public-health department statement.

Businesses must follow guidelines The state put Arapahoe County on notice because its COVID-19 testpositivity rates approached 5%.

As of July 20, by one metric — known as the 14-day “rolling” rate — positivity stood at 4.9%, according to a letter from the county to businesses that urged them to help turn the trend around.

“We need all local businesses to redouble their efforts to monitor, track and enforce the guidelines established by the variance,” the letter said.

In addition to frequent handwashing and wearing masks, the variance’s guidelines include the following: • Gyms, restaurants and houses of worship each may allow for 50% of the posted occupancy code, not to exceed more than 175 people, in a confined indoor space with a minimum of 6-foot distancing.

• Restaurants and houses of worship may work with their local authorities to determine how many people they may have in an outdoor space.

• For the Aurora mall, the state public-health department said the county’s request of 30% building capacity “does not include a total person limit, other than what is calculated using a ratio of one person per 55 square feet.” Based on the state’s variance approval, the total limit for an indoor mall for any confined indoor space is 175 people. The state also stressed that “it is critical for the common spaces within the indoor mall to be well-managed … to mitigate gatherings above 10 people and keep traffic flow moving.”

Seeing results The county is “trending toward” the state’s conditions for keeping

its variance, Hatlestad said. Generally, the conditions include meeting certain benchmarks for low rates of new COVID-19 cases and a county’s trend in hospitalizations, according to the state’s COVID-19 website.

“While our variance remains in place, we’re continuing to implement our mitigation plan and monitor the continuing decline,” Hatlestad said.

The county submitted a mitigation plan to the department on July 20 that, among other steps, included: • Educating county residents to stay home when sick or when they have been in close contact with a COVID-19 case.

• A public information campaign to increase awareness of the county’s COVID-19 statistics.

• Continuing to work with the state to distribute personal protective equipment, or PPE, to health care personnel and other frontline workers.

• Conducting weekly business roundtables with public-health experts to address industry and site-specific questions, which the county hoped would increase attention to detail regarding cleaning, distancing, mask-wearing and flow of patrons.

Asked what fueled the decline of COVID-19’s spread in the county over the past few weeks, Hatlestad said: “Our residents and visitors are doing an excellent job of following best practices such as maintaining social distancing and frequent hand-washing and avoiding large gatherings outside the home.”

The proportion of people wearing masks in public in Arapahoe County was estimated at 99%, according to Tri-County Health Department, which covers Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties. That number was recorded during the week of Aug. 9, the most recent data available as of Aug. 22. Tri-County collects that data by observing crowds at “local facilities,” according to the agency’s website.

Businesses have been pitching in to maintain the county’s variance as well, Hatlestad said.

“We’ve fielded many calls and emails from business owners doublechecking to make sure they’re doing everything correctly,” Hatlestad said. “And we’ll be pushing a lot of ‘keep it up’ messaging over the next few weeks to encourage and remind people to not let their guard down over the Labor Day weekend.”

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Centennial Citizen 19

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Centennial Citizen 21

0August 27, 2020 Roofing/Gutters

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22 Centennial Citizen

August 27, 2020A

P L A C E A D S O N L I N E 2 4/ 7 AT

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Health & Beauty

Misc. Notices

VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 100 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed.

24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Espanol

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Social hours for all areas of Metro Denver.

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CASH FOR CARS: We Buy Any Condition Vehicle, 2002 and Newer.

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Split & Delivered $300 a cord Stacking available extra $50 Call 303-647-2475 or 720-323-2173

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kearhart@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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Commercial Property for Rent

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To Advertise call Karen 303.566.4091

Real Estate Home for Sale

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Great place to retire. 970-472-5978 Office Building for Rent. 5,000 Square Foot metal building with 6 offices, large common area, Kitchen, 2 double bathrooms with showers, ADA compliant. 1500 are Foot Storage or shop or parking garage. $4.25/Square Foot. 4735 CR 102, Elbert, Co. 3035653760 ask for Jack.

7200 square foot Lite Industrial Building for rent with Kitchen/eating area, 2 bathrooms and 2 offices. $4.00/Sq. Ft. 4501 County Road 102, Bldg E, Elbert, Co. call 303 565 3760 ask for Jack.

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*Commissions subject to change

Please Recycle this Publication when Finished

730, 750, & 770 W Hampden Ave., Englewood, CO 80110 The Hampden Center is a commercial office/medical complex in the heart of the Englewood Business District situated between Santa Fe and Broadway on Hampden Avenue with easy access to the RTD and Light Rail station. With our competitive market rates starting at $19 psf, full-service gross and class A general contractor our custom tenant buildouts are second to none and offer a truly personal tenant experience. The Hampden Center offers a great value for all tenants with numerous dining and retail options within walking distance, easy free parking and more!

For current suite availability and more leasing information please contact Omni Development: Tristan Sedbrook: tsedbrook@omnidev.net - Mobile: (720) 421-4971 Jared Kelleher: jkelleher@omnidev.net - Mobile: (303) 868-3056

Centennial Citizen 23

0August 27, 2020

Tennis is escape for top singles player Time on court has helped athlete get through stress of mother’s illness

BY JIM BENTON JBENTON@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

For Chase Walters, tennis was a way for him to get through a rough time in his life.

Walters is a senior and the No. 1 singles player at Littleton’s Heritage High School. His mother, Laurie, was diagnosed with breast cancer and it’s been tough on her son, but he said tennis was a big help.

“He has played No 1 singles for us for three years,” said Heritage coach Chad Hanson. “He’s been through a lot the last couple years. His mom had breast cancer and was just recently given a clean bill of health. She went through chemo and all the other treatments. Chase has been a steady and fun player to be around the entire time. He’s very strong and never wavered a bit.”

Thanks to tennis.

“It was definitely hard,” said Walters. “Getting back on the court, I’m a different person. All the emotions I have off the court, it all drains out on the court. I love tennis so much, no matter what I do, it tends to be the No, 1 thing and helps me to see things, and whenever I need to get things off my mind, you know you are going to have good and bad days, and tennis helps me get through it.

“She is A-OK and is recovering. I’m happy and blessed. It’s a miracle and I’m thankful to say the least.”

Walters was on the court at Heritage on Aug. 20 for a dual meet against two-time defending

state champion Regis Jesuit. The Regis Raiders posted a 7-0 victory over the Eagles, winning all the matches in straight sets, and Walters had to play defending No 1 singles champion Morgan Schilling from Regis.

Walters lost 6-4, 6-1, but showed improvement over last season, when he lost 6-0, 6-0 to Schilling.

“I got destroyed last year,” admitted Walters. “That’s the goal, to try to get better this year.

I’ve trained so hard. I want to get better at tennis, that’s the main thing. Being a captain, not only just playing for myself but leading the team.

“I played great against him. His serve is just going to overpower me. He just had a better serve than me. I played well. I think I played my best match and he was just the better player.”

Walters hopes to develop into a more aggressive player this season.

“I’ve got to be more aggressive out there on the court,” he said. “Schilling is a bigger kid that me and hits a harder ball than me. I’d like by the end of the season hit as hard as he can.

On the physical side he can hit a harder ball but at the same time you can be aggressive and be a smaller kid. But the mental side, you have to stop being more conservative. You have to think about being aggressive because it is risky.”

After the loss to Regis Jesuit, the Eagles were 1-1 in dual meets so far this season.

“I’m very proud of where are team is at right now,” said Walters. “We can get better. We will be focused by the time regionals and state come. It’s great to get out and play. It’s so fun. Every match, every practice, I’m so grateful to get out there. I’m happy we have a season. Yeah it’s shortened, but if we get through it, it will be fun.”

GRACE FROM PAGE 6

In good hands Still, he grapples with guilt.

“I miss responding. I woke up this morning really sad, actually. You wonder who you’re not saving.”

By no means is Grace leaving his field of expertise. He is staying busy recording presentations for the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools, where he is working on an updated

Heritage tennis player Chase Walters.

version of safety recommendations for K-12 schools nationwide. He has also been recruited to develop safety protocols for high school and college sports seeking to reopen amid the challenges of the novel coronavirus era.

In coming years, Grace and his wife, a school psychologist, want to start a support network for school employees who have endured tragedy.

“There are a lot of people out there hurting,” he said.

Grace said he’s confident he left

Littleton Public Schools in good hands. He praised the expertise, passion and devotion of the district’s security personnel, mental health team, faculty and administration.

He expressed deep gratitude to the LPS community for the opportunity to pursue his calling and work with wonderful staff, parents and students.

Still, he harbors concerns.

“I’m worried about what will happen when schools return,” he said.

“Will they be so focused on COVID, while nothing else has disappeared?

www.ColoradoCommunityMedia.com/Notices

PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088

legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com

PHOTO BY JIM BENTON

The issues could be compounded.

Kids are going through a major disruption. Mental health crises aren’t going away. Shootings aren’t going away. Heck, tornadoes aren’t going away. When you’re not looking, that’s when these things happen.”

But, for the time being, Grace is trying to keep his mind in Wyoming, with his wife and kids. He tries to quiet his mind as he watches mule deer tiptoe through his yard, or the sunset paint the distant bluffs.

“I might even try to go fishing,” he said.

Legals City and County Public NOTICE CITY OF CENTENNIAL NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Monday, August 17, 2019, the Centennial City Council approved the following ordinance on second and final reading: ORDINANCE NO. 2020-O-06

The full text of the ordinance is available for public inspection in the office of the City Clerk and is also available on the City’s web site, www.centennialcolorado.com. The ordinance may be obtained by contacting the City Clerk, 303-754-3324. by a vote of 9 in favor and 0 against.

(First published August 6, 2020) By: Barbara Setterlind, MMC, City Clerk Legal Notice No. 524065 - 60113 First Publication: August 27, 2020 Last Publication: August 27, 2020 Publisher: Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen Independent

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CENTENNIAL, COLORADO, AMENDING ARTICLE 8 OF CHAPTER 2 OF THE CENTENNIAL MUNICIPAL CODE CONCERNING THE DISPOSITION OF UNCLAIMED PROPERTY

Centennial Legals 8.27.20 * 1

24 Centennial Citizen

August 27, 2020

Alzheimer’s Association offers free webinars in September STAFF REPORT

The Alzheimer’s Association offers a variety of free webinars for caregivers and anyone who would like to learn more about the disease.

September’s free webinars highlight Alzheimer’s research and the latest advances in research to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

Among the September webinars are: The 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease Noon to 1 p.m. Sept. 2, 6-7:30 p.m. Sept.

15, and noon to 1 p.m. Sept. 24 Attendees will learn about the 10 common warning signs, what to watch for in yourself and others, typical age-related changes, the benefits of a diagnosis, early detection and more.

Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia 4-5 p.m. Sept. 10, 3-4 p.m. Sept. 17, and noon to 1 p.m. Sept. 30 This webinar will offer an opportunity to learn about the impact of Alzheimer’s, the differences between Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, risk factors, current research, treatments to address some symptoms and more.

Understanding and Responding to Dementia-related Behavior 1-2:30 p.m. Sept. 14 Behavior is a powerful form of communication and one of the primary ways that people with dementia communicate their needs and feelings as the ability to use language declines. But these behaviors

can be challenging for caregivers. Join us to learn how to decode behavioral messages and learn strategies to intervene with some of the most common behavioral challenges.

Dementia Conversations 11 a.m. to noon Sept. 16, and 10-11:30 a.m. Sept. 28 This webinar will provide tips on how to have honest and caring conversations with family members about going to the doctor, when to stop driving and making legal/financial plans.

Effective Communication Strategies Noon to 1 p.m. Sept. 8, 1-2:30 p.m. Sept.

18, 4-5 p.m. Sept. 24, and 2-3:30 p.m. Sept. 29 This workshop teaches caregivers to decode verbal and behavioral communication from someone with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Develop strategies for having meaningful connection with people in differing stages of dementia.

Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body: Tips from the Latest Research 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 10, 4-5 p.m.

Sept. 17, and 1:30-3 p.m. Sept. 25 The health of the brain and body are linked, but now science is able to provide insights into how we can optimize our physical and cognitive health as we age.

Learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement, and use hands-on tools to help you incorporate these recommendations into a plan for healthy aging.

To learn more about Alzheimer’s Association, visit www.alz.org or call its 24/7 Helpline: 800-272-3900.

CUTS FROM PAGE 3

and would be earmarked for maintenance costs, technology upgrades and capital construction.

Ewert said the idea is to backfill the capital fund and minimize transfers from the general fund, saying while the district would prefer to simply bring money directly into the general fund, statutory limitations mean they could only go for a set percentage of the general fund, raising at most around $7 million per year, which he called inadequate to cover the district’s need.

Littleton Public Schools boasts a long track record of public support for fundraising measures.

Voters have approved every local bond and mill levy the district has put before them in recent memory, including a $12 million mill levy passed in 2010 and a $298 million bond measure approved in 2018 and earmarked for rebuilding and overhauling schools districtwide.

The ballot measure is not entirely a response to the pandemic — district officials began discussing the idea late last year, around the time the school board approved a round of budget cuts.

A poll of district residents in January and February — before the novel coronavirus pandemic impacted American schools — found 58% supported the idea of a mill levy override, said district spokesperson Diane Leiker. A followup poll in July found support

had dropped to about 50%.

Still, Leiker said, a majority of survey respondents said they would prefer school funding problems to be solved at the local level rather than waiting for the state to help.

School board members acknowledged that asking voters to increase their taxes during a pandemic that has resulted in widespread unemployment and hardship could be a harder sell than previous ballot measures, but said they felt compelled to ask.

“The idea of cutting $12 million makes me sick to my stomach,” said board member Lindley McCrary at the Aug. 13 meeting. “We owe it to students, teachers and schools to at least ask the question.”

Kelly Perez was the only board member to vote against referring the ballot measure to voters at the Aug. 13 meeting, saying constituents have told her it’s a bad year to talk tax hikes.

Board president Jack Reutzel said the board wouldn’t be doing its duty if it didn’t ask voters.

“We never take the largesse of this community for granted,” Reutzel said. “We are humbled by their support. Even in the best of times it’s risky, but we have developed a partnership between the district and the community that makes this one of the more attractive places to raise your children … Our function as a board is to find the resources we need to make LPS the place we want it to be. It’s a public school district, so we should ask the public what they think. I don’t like to lose, but I’d like to ask the question.”

MEMORY CARE

Covid doesn’t live here.

Thanks to our rigorous preventative and monitoring practices, and our caring, heroic staff, everyone at Renew can live life to the fullest — except Covid.

Proudly 100% Covid free

Call to learn more (720) 805-1142 R E N E W S E N I O R . C O M

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