Centennial Citizen 0506

May 6, 2021

$1.00

An edition of the Littleton Independent A publication of

VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 19

Alleged shooter in 2009 homicide set for trial Attorneys continue to speak of investigation to defend Terrell Jones

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The acquisition is the first for NTLN, a nascent nonprofit that seeks to leverage national foundation funding to buy and bolster local newspapers threatened by faltering business models and the encroachment of hedge funds and corporate conglomerates.

The Colorado Sun, a statewide news outlet founded and run by former Denver Post journalists, will oversee daily operations at Colorado Community Media.

After more delays in recent months as attorneys said the coronavirus pandemic prevented them from gathering evidence to defend Terrell Jones, who is accused of fatally shooting a Centennial man in a quiet neighborhood in 2009, the defendant now faces a trial that could last three weeks or longer.

“Given the age of this case and, at this point in time, the length of the witness list, we are asking for somewhere in the nature of three to four weeks,” said Evan Marcia Zuckerman, an attorney for Jones, in an April 26 court hearing.

Andrew Graham, a University of Colorado graduate who had plans for grad school, was found shot to death about 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 6, 2009, in the front yard of a home in the Willow Creek neighborhood of Centennial near County Line Road and Yosemite Street.

Jones entered a not-guilty plea at the hearing in Arapahoe County District Court. Jones was charged with first-degree murder after deliberation and first-degree felony murder, according to court records.

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SEE TRIAL, P11

Ann Healey, former co-owner of Colorado Community Media, speaks during a meeting announcing the sale of the print and digital news company. At right, former publisher and co-owner Jerry Healey and reporter Thelma Grimes listen.

PHOTO BY JOHN LEYBA/SPECIAL TO THE COLORADO SUN

‘Tell stories that matter:’ Colorado Community Media sold to news entity Colorado Sun, national foundation to take the reins of two dozen Denver-area newspapers

BY DAVID GILBERT DGILBERT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Colorado Community Media, the company that produces two dozen newspapers around the Denver-ar-

ea suburbs — including the Centennial Citizen — and two shoppers has been acquired by a local and national partnership with the goal of building a sustainable business model for local news, its ownership announced on May 3.

Jerry and Ann Healey, the couple who built the company over the past decade, sold the network of papers that now spans eight counties and dozens of communities to a joint partnership between the National Trust for Local News, or NTLN, and The Colorado Sun.

INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 16 | SPORTS: PAGE 20

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Apple cider lovers enjoy sampling season P14

2 Centennial Citizen

May 6, 2021

We were blessed with the opportunities to tell your stories New owners are committed to our brand of journalism

O

ur journey in journalism started in the early 1980s, as recent college graduates — me, as a reporter at The Miami Herald, then one of the country’s largest papers; Jerry in the newspaper’s advertising department.

Back in those days, rarely did editorial and advertising departments cross paths.

If it hadn’t been for a company softball team, we might Ann Macari never have met.

Healey After we married, we moved to Rhode Island to work for the Providence Journal-Bulletin.

After a few years there, we thought: Why not run our own paper? We seemed like an ideal partnership. I had editorial covered; Jerry Healey Jerry, the business end.

So we moved to Chicago to run a community paper for a friend’s father — to learn, to see how it felt, to find out whether we could make the transition from larger publications to a hyperlocal endeavor.

We decided we could. And after a year, in 1989, we rode a train to Denver, bought a small paper in Littleton and began a 22-year adventure that has defined much of our lives.

Today, our company publishes 26 newspapers and publications in metro Denver and beyond.

Journalism in any place and at any level — large, medium, small — is exciting and purposeful for those of us who ply the profession. But for Jerry and me, it also has been about our bond to our readers and advertisers. It’s personal. We have cared deeply about the quality of your lives and success of your businesses.

We were called to tell your stories with truth, accuracy, fairness and compassion.

We still remember the excitement of longtime Littleton residents at having local ownership of their paper. They understood, better than us at that time, how important it is for those who run newspapers to know the communities they cover, to understand the historic, social and economic narratives that shape a place and its people.

Between 2004 and 2020 in the United States, at least 1,800 communities lost their local newspapers, according to a recently published report. That leaves these communities without a voice, without government accountability — whether it be schools or city hall — or reliable means to connect with each other.

The death of journalism in any community is a tragedy and a crumbling of our democratic foundation. That’s not happening here because the new owners of our company — a joint partnership between the nonprofit National Trust for Local News and The Colorado Sun — are committed to the same brand of journalism that we have brought you. (Please see accompanying story.)

They are talented, innovative and

mission-driven. They will not only ensure the papers’ legacies in your communities continue, but also that community newspapers thrive in new and creative ways. And we ask you — our readers, businesses, advertisers and community leaders — to continue to support them as you’ve supported us.

It is difficult to sum up this journey of ours in a few, good words.

In the beginning, it was Jerry and me and a handful of passionate, part-time freelance reporters working out of a bookshop.

When the opportunity arose to acquire the historic Littleton Independent and two other neighboring papers, we couldn’t find a bank to take a chance on us. Family stepped in and gave us a loan, like any bank, with interest and a strict, no-fudging repayment timeline.

We stepped away for some years to explore other interests. But in 2011, the opportunity to help turn around a group of struggling community papers drew Jerry back. And little by little, more papers, some also struggling, were added. There were those who doubted the wisdom of investing financially and emotionally in an industry many have labeled as dying. And, certainly, some of the papers we acquired no longer had the reader and advertising support they once enjoyed.

But they did have roots, deep roots, some going back more than 100 years —the Golden Transcript, for instance, is 153 years strong.

How do you let such legacies go without a fight?

The fight required perseverance, creativity, difficult decisions, a lot of energy for long days and — the key — a small army of editorial, advertising, production and business staff

SOLD FROM PAGE 1

With the Healeys looking toward retirement and hoping to leave the company in good hands, publisher Jerry Healey said the deal was the best he could have hoped for.

“We were looking for new owners who understand the purpose of community newspapers,” Jerry said. “Someone who believed in our mission to tell stories that matter in our communities, not just in sending profits back East. They have the heart and vision for what could be a way to preserve and grow local papers everywhere, not just ours.”

Ann said she has total confidence in the new owners.

“They’re in it for the right reasons,” she said, “and they really care about journalism.”

The acquisition charts a new path forward for family-owned legacy newspapers, said Larry Ryckman, the editor and co-founder of the Colorado Sun. “This is a cool opportunity to demonstrate to Colorado and the country that we can find a way to keep local journalism in local hands,” Ryckman said. “My expectation is we’ll hire additional people. Readers will keep seeing the journalism they trust and support, but we can

Jerry and Ann Healey, left, sold Colorado Community Media to a national and local partnership between the National Trust for Local News and the Colorado Sun designed PHOTO BY JOHN LEYBA/SPECIAL TO THE COLORADO SUN to bolster local journalism.

breathe some energy into both the print and digital operations.”

The approach will be gradual and thoughtful, he said.

“We don’t want to come in and say how to run the shop,” Ryckman said. “I want to be humble and listen to readers and employees and figure out the best way forward. Job one is to not break anything.”

Newspapers for sale The Healeys began quietly hunt-

ing for a buyer around Thanksgiving 2020, Jerry Healey said.

He approached Laura Frank, the executive director of the Colorado News Collaborative or COLab, a nonprofit statewide network that works to strengthen local journalism, asking if she knew of any potential buyers who would preserve and grow local news. Frank connected him to Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro, CEO and co-founder of NTLN.

who believed fervently in community newspapers.

Colorado Community Media’s success belongs to its people. Our staff throughout the years has been incredibly talented. They have worked together through good times and bad to deliver the news to you every week. Jerry and I are profoundly grateful for their dedication, contributions — and friendships.

We feel privileged to have helped local businesses achieve direct access to readers. We feel rewarded that we told the stories that otherwise would not have been heard.

There are so many, but a few in recent years include the joyful drive-by pandemic celebration of a woman’s 100th birthday. Economic challenges of local shopping centers. Black students confronted by racism. Comprehensive local election guides. The quest of a man dying of cancer to complete his dream. A year-long look at the state of mental health in one county. Families’ struggles to pay the rent when jobs were lost. High school graduations. And all those triumphs and defeats in our community sports pages.

Jerry and I are leaving for a few reasons: We are nearing retirement.

We would like to spend more time with our children and granddaughter. We would like to see what else is in store for us. But we also felt it was time for new energy and vision for our papers and the communities they serve.

We feel fortunate to have found new owners who can bring that.

For Jerry and me, that means we can say goodbye, feeling secure about these papers’ future, and blessed for having had the opportunity to tell your stories.

The timing was serendipitous, Shapiro said. Just over a month earlier, NTLN had published its concept paper through Harvard University’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy.

The situation in local news nationwide is dire, the concept paper says.

Though many small familyrun operations remain profitable around the country, they face serious headwinds from declining advertising revenue and print subscriptions. Digital advertising struggles to make up the difference, especially as corporate behemoths like Facebook and Google have gobbled up much of the available online ad revenue.

Waves of consolidation and acquisitions have left a third of America’s newspapers in the hands of 25 companies as of 2018, the paper says, with more than 1,800 newspapers shut down in the last 15 years.

“The most powerful newspaper owners are now private capital holding companies whose expectations for profit and return have strongly influenced local newsrooms’ size, quality, and resource levels,” the paper reads in part.

Corporate ownership entangles newspapers in a “downward spiral” that slashes newspapers’ legitimacy and capabilities, it says.

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Centennial Citizen 3

May 6, 2021

Colorado Community Media staffers win 19 SPJ awards Top of the Rockies contest picks winners from four states in Mountain West STAFF REPORT

Colorado Community Media staff members won 19 awards in the 2021 Top of the Rockies contest, a regional contest that includes journalists in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

The contest is sponsored by the Colorado chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

CCM writers and designers tallied five first-place awards and five second-place awards in the batch. Colorado Community Media reaches more than 300,000 local community members each week with newspapers and digital channels. The company publishes 26 community newspapers and websites in the Denver metro area. CCM staffers won for work that appeared in the Littleton Independent, Highlands Ranch Herald, Canyon Courier, Clear Creek Courant and Arvada Press.

“These are fantastic awards,” CCM President Jerry Healey said.

“Three things come to mind, first, the always high quality of the writing; second, the skill to frame the content with excellent design; and, third, the ability to provide compelling story angles for our readers. Congratulations to our news and design teams.”

Top awards First place: “Homeless sweep starts over again” in News Reporting — Single Story by David Gilbert of the Littleton Independent. Judge’s comments: Good use of people to create a connection to the homeless in this fact-laden story.

“Pipe organs speak with majesty” in Short Form Features by David Gilbert of the Littleton Independent. Judge’s comments: An exemplar of a fascinating trend story that is elevated by great writing. Well done.

“Holding on to the Past” in Feature Page Design by Michael Hicks and Deb Hurley Brobst of the Canyon Courier. Judge’s comments: A beautifully designed page, and what a great idea to highlight senior citizens in your coverage area.

“Family, friends remember soccer coach,” for Obit Reporting

by Michael Hicks of the Canyon Courier. Judge’s comments: A -sensitively-told story about a coach revered in the community.

“Season ends in state quarterfinal” in Sports News by Michael Hicks of the Canyon Courier.

Judge’s comments: This game story is written the way game stories should be written — with color, context and a sense of what this game meant for the players and coach.

Second place: “Renters struggling amid pandemic” for News Reporting — Single Story by David Gilbert of the Littleton Independent.

“A ferocious fighter” for Health Feature by Elliott Wenzler of the Highlands Ranch Herald.

“Classroom in the Cloud” for Education Feature by Deb Hurley Brobst, Corinne Westeman and Sara Hertwig of the Clear Creek Courant.

“Motorcycle Relief Project” for Features — Short Form by Deb Hurley Brobst of the Canyon Courier “Stretching his own limits” for Sports Feature by Alissa Noe of the Canyon Courier Third place: “Blue wave continues” for Politics — News Reporting by Ellis Arnold of the Littleton Independent “Arvada Section 8 series” for General Reporting — Series or Package by Casey Van Divier of the Arvada Press “Everything in life is different” in Feature — Long Form by Jessica Gibbs of the Highlands Ranch Herald “Peggy Fleming Sculpture” in A&E and Food — News or Feature

by Deb Hurley Brobst of the Canyon Courier “One owner: four businesses” in Business Feature by Deb Hurley Brobst of the Canyon Courier “Family raising funds to build a field in their son’s honor” in Education Feature by Deb Hurley Brobst of the Canyon Courier “100 years of melodies” in Features — Short Form by Deb Hurley Brobst of the Canyon Courier “Golden boy” in Sports Feature

by Alissa Noe of the Canyon Courier “Fire on the Mountain” in General Reporting — Series or Package by Michael Hicks, Deb Hurley Brobst, Deborah Swearingen and Corinne Westeman of the Canyon Courier For more than 100 years SPJ has been dedicated to encouraging a climate in which journalism can be practiced more freely and fully, stimulating high standards and ethical behavior and perpetuating a free press. For more information about SPJ, visit www.spj. org.

What’s going on in my hometown?

From special events to local politics, We’ve got you covered.

Local News , it makes a difference.

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Join us for an upcoming virtual Conversations with Commissioners. The event starts at 6:30 p.m.

Details at arapahoegov.com/townhall Carrie Warren-Gully, District 1: May 12 with special guest Finance Director, Todd Weaver

Get monthly updates from your County Commissioners about recent news and upcoming events in your district and throughout the County. Sign up now. arapahoegov.com/commissionernews Looking for some relief?

Resources you depend on—from food, clothing and housing assistance to medical and family services—are available now.

Find what you need by visiting ArapaSOURCE.org

Spring Wine and Chalk Art Festival Grab your friends—or a date!—and come on out for samples of Colorado wine, live chalk art, entertainment, food trucks, and fun, laid-back vibes. The event will be heldoutside, so you can socialize safely and enjoy incredible views of the Front Range and the Eastern Plains.

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Saturday and Sunday, May 15-16, 2021 Where: Arapahoe County Fairgrounds and Event Center Time: 12–6 p.m. each day Get details at arapahoecountyfair.com/ chalklinesandvines

arapahoegov.com

4 Centennial Citizen

May 6, 2021

SOLD FROM PAGE 2

Though some newspapers have been preserved by local “angel investors” or billionaires who take them on — as is the case at the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and Colorado Springs Gazette — that model is not replicable on a large scale.

NTLN draws inspiration from public radio, which in recent decades has built a diversified funding model built on grants, foundations, underwriting and listener support, while still retaining local control.

“The new business model is ‘all of the above,’” Shapiro said. “It’s advertising, philanthropy and small-dollar giving. We’re pragmatists — let’s get the news funded as many different ways as we can.

Multiple revenue streams preserve independence.”

The CCM acquisition — the terms and price of which are confidential — brings together an array of funders.

The deal was funded by FJC, a boutique public charity that specializes in nonprofit loans, Shapiro said. The loan is guaranteed by the American Journalism Project, a venture philanthropy organization; the Colorado Trust, a health equity organization; and the Gates Family Foundation, a philanthropic group with its roots in Denver’s Gates Rubber Company.

A grant from the Colorado Media Project, a grant-funded initiative that advocates for journalistic innovation, supported a portion of the legal costs and connected NTLN to local funders.

Operational support is being provided by the Knight Foundation, a national arts and journalism philanthropic group; the Google News Initiative, which partners with local news organizations; and the Democracy Fund, a nonpartisan foundation that seeks to strengthen civic engagement.

None of the foundations will have any say over CCM’s content or editorial direction, she said.

Acquiring CCM is an exciting chance to prove the NTLN concept, Shapiro said.

“There has to be more to the story of American journalism in the 21st century than all the destruction we see,” she said. “This is setting up CCM for the long term. It’s not going to get sold to a conglomerate or hedge fund and shut down. We’re setting these papers up on strong footing, but it’s going to be up to the communities to keep them that way.”

Here comes the Sun NTLN provided the funding for the acquisition and will provide consulting and business services, but the ultimate goal is to hand off control and ownership to The Colorado Sun, Shapiro said.

The Sun was founded by former Denver Post journalists who left in 2018, following moves by Alden Global Capital, the newspaper’s hedge fund ownership, that slashed dozens of news staff and moved the newsroom from downtown Denver to the newspaper’s Adams County printing plant.

Jerry and Ann Healey, left, sold Colorado Community Media to a national and local partnership between the National Trust for Local News and the Colorado Sun designed to bolster local journalism. From left: Jerry Healey and Ann Healey, former CCM owners, Fraser Nelson and Marc Hand of the National Trust for Local News, Colorado Sun editors Dana Coffield and Larry Ryckman, National Trust CEO Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro, and Lillian Ruiz of the National Trust.

PHOTO BY JOHN LEYBA/SPECIAL TO THE COLORADO SUN

Since its founding, the Sun has proven to be resilient and well-supported, said Ryckman, the editor and co-founder.

“Our business model is so simple it sounds naive,” Ryckman said.

“Treat readers with respect. Don’t scam them with clickbait, autoplay videos or pop-up ads. Give them journalism worthy of their support. We’ve seen tremendous growth in readership and paying membership.”

The Sun is in a growth phase, he said.

“We started with 10 full-timers, and we’ll have 16 next month, and we’re aiming for 20 by midsummer,” he said. “We do have statewide ambitions, and our goal is to fill the gaps and do the stories others aren’t doing.”

CCM fits nicely into that goal, he said. Like the Sun, CCM will be operated as a public benefit corporation, meaning while it remains for-profit, it has no obligation to maximize shareholder profits.

“Strictly for-profit means you do whatever you can to make as much money as you can,” Ryckman said.

“If that means layoffs or selling real estate, so be it. In a public benefit corporation, you need to treat it like a business, but the first goal is to serve the public. Journalism is too important to be in the hands of strip-mining hedge funds.”

Ryckman said he hopes to bolster CCM’s existing strengths and connections to the communities it serves.

“CCM will remain independent, but we can find ways to help and collaborate on the business and news side,” he said.

The two already have an established working relationship — CCM reporter Jessica Gibbs and Colorado Sun reporter Jesse Paul recently

took home an award from the Society for Professional Journalists for a series on how COVID affected public health workers.

“We can be great resources,” Ryckman said. “We’re run by journalists. We’ve got Pulitzer Prize winners on staff. The Sun is the most collaborative place I’ve ever worked, and that’s the spirit I want to bring to this endeavor.”

It’s too soon to say what staffing will look like going forward, but Ryckman said they have no plans to fire anyone, and a new digital editor is likely. The Sun will also begin a search for a new permanent publisher for CCM, though Jerry Healey will stay on for a time as a consultant.

The Sun’s leadership plans to listen to readers to figure out a path forward, said Sun editor Dana Coffield.

“These are changing times, and we need to listen to what news consumers are telling us,” she said.

“There’s great journalism being produced, but it may not be presented in the ways readers want to receive it. We’re looking at web platforms that are more readerfriendly, email newsletters, more of a social media presence. We’ll start with the basics, and can get more excited and ambitious from there.”

That doesn’t mean print editions are going away, she said.

“We hope to do print for a very long time,” she said. “But a robust internet product is important too.”

In good hands For the Healeys, the deal is a great outcome for the crowning achievement of their professional lives.

“We’ve taken this company as far as we can take it, and it’s time for someone else to take it to the next

level,” Jerry said.

The company wasn’t in danger of closing, he said, though the past year has been tough.

Half the company’s advertisers either backed out or cut ads last spring, and reporters each took a week of furlough. Several salespeople who left weren’t replaced.

CCM received $255,800 in Paycheck Protection Program loans last year, according to federal records.

“I’m not afraid to say PPP money got us through last spring,” he said.

“The government stepped up. We would have gone into our savings to keep it going, but we wouldn’t have closed the newspapers. It gave us the ability to focus on the company and pay the bills.”

The company had strong showings in the third and fourth quarters of 2020, Jerry said.

“Advertisers were coming back, and I’m most proud of my management during COVID,” he said.

The company stayed bullish, with the Healeys buying seven newspapers from Landmark Community Newspapers in October.

Ann said the acquisition is a win for the newspapers, some of which date back more than a century — or in the case of the Golden Transcript, to the Gold Rush.

But it’s also a win for readers, she said.

“These days people can get lost in the cacophony of social media and snap judgments, and it’s easy to lose sight of what’s important,” she said. “We’re making sure these communities still have their voices heard through active, high-quality journalism. We feel like we’re just a small part of the history of these papers and these communities, but we’re so excited for this opportunity to hand them off and make them better and stronger.”

Centennial Citizen 5

May 6, 2021

Metro school districts ask state to end quarantine requirements Key piece of data superintendents cite doesn’t tell full story on virus spread

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A coalition of Denver metroarea school districts sent a letter to the state public-health department, saying it’s “time to eliminate mandatory COVID quarantines in Colorado’s schools.”

“Messaging from Colorado’s public health and elected officials has acknowledged, since before the new year, that rates of COVID transmission within our schools are low; that the mitigation measures we have in place are working; and that in-person schooling is critically important for many students in their social, emotional and academic development,” the April 26 letter from the school districts says.

The letter was signed onto by the superintendents of the Adams 12 Five Star, Elizabeth, Mapleton, Jefferson County, Littleton, 27J (Brighton), Aurora, Englewood, Platte Canyon, Cherry Creek, Westminster and Douglas County school districts.

Many of the district leaders had been advocating for an end

to school quarantine rules since before spring break and had heard that a cancellation of the rules was premature because of concerns about COVID-19 variants, the letter says.

School districts have generally been required to instruct people who come into contact with a person with COVID-19 or symptoms of the disease to quarantine.

The district leaders also noted fears that spread of the virus in schools “would markedly increase” as older students moved from hybrid classes to more densely occupied classrooms as full-time in-person classes resumed, the letter adds.

More than a dozen Colorado school districts have been collecting data regarding in-school COVID-19 spread throughout this school year’s second semester, the letter says. The superintendents argue that the data shows that inschool spread “remains extremely low (despite) the presence of COVID variants in our state and even after the transition from hybrid schooling models in mid-March to early April,” the letter says.

“Our most recent data compiled on April 23 shows that less than one half of one percent of students and staff placed into quarantine since January have subsequently tested positive for the virus — and the rates are not increasing over the past month,” the letter says.

But the data the superintendents cite does not appear to account for the number of students and staff who chose to get tested for COVID-19 and those who chose not to undergo testing. Some may have asymptomatic cases, and some may have symptoms but choose not to get tested.

The Cherry Creek School District has cited the same type of statistic in past months. A March 8 report to the Cherry Creek school board says that among the 4,066 individuals who were told to quarantine since the start of the third quarter in Cherry Creek, only 17, or 0.42%, became knowingly COVID-positive during quarantine.

But the “knowingly” caveat is a nod to the limitation in the data: Not all students and staff decide to undergo testing.

“As in every other sector of the country, we are not able to account for the possibility of asymptomatic positives,” a report for a previous Cherry Creek school board meeting said.

‘Choppy, inconsistent school experience’ In the April letter from the coalition of districts, superintendents say that frequent school quarantines have “caused constant disruption to classroom environments, stress for students preparing for end of year exams, and a lack of predictability and consis-

tency in almost every facet of a student’s school experience.”

“More than 3,000 students per week have been completing quarantines over the past two weeks across the 13 districts currently participating in the COVID data reporting effort,” the letter says.

The superintendents’ data lists “semester two participating school districts” as 27J, Adams 12 Five Star, Aurora, Bennett, Cherry Creek, Denver, Englewood, Gilpin County, Mapleton, Ridgway, Sheridan, Westminster and Wiggins.

If existing quarantine rules remain in place, the letter estimates that 10% to 20% of students in the superintendents’ districts could be told to quarantine before summer break.

“Those quarantines would be on top of others that students and families have had to navigate throughout the school year.

The most extreme case of which we’re aware concerns a student sent home on quarantine six times throughout the year,” the letter says. “But we have many students across our districts who have been out on quarantine two to three times this year and have had a choppy, inconsistent school experience.”

The combination of indoor masking for students and staff members, home isolation of COVID-positive staff and students, and

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6 Centennial Citizen

May 6, 2021

MY NAME IS

DISTRICTS

MICHELLE LARSEN

FROM PAGE 5

Remembering the good ol’ days in Littleton Main Street memories I grew up near Ridge Road and Broadway, back when Broadway ended at County Line Road. We called County Line “Roller Coaster Road” back then because of all the hills.

I graduated from Heritage High School in 1979 — the first class to go all the way through high school there.

On Main Street, I remember Abe’s Café, Valore Hardware, and a little cobbler’s shop. You could take your shoes in there and get a strap fixed or a heel put on a boot.

One place I miss: the old Crestwood Restaurant.

It was iconic for the Littleton area. Every youngster took a turn working there. The owner could be an intimidating guy to work for — you had to be able to carry four glasses of water in one hand to work the floor — but if you were a customer, he was amazing. He remembered everyone’s name and treated them like family. He even came to my granddad’s funeral, which meant a lot to me.

Getting into trouble We had a lot of ways to get into trouble. We’d go hang out up in Deer Creek Canyon, or jump off the spillways at Chatfield Reservoir.

The day before Senior Ditch Day we thought it would be fun to race on the track at Heritage High School. So we showed up late at night with our Dodge Challengers and Nova Super Sports and Volkswagen Squarebacks and tore up the track for a night. There were some Littleton police officers who knew some of us by name.

After college, I worked for the Littleton Independent as a classified sales manager. Us folks in classifieds all learned how to spell “avocado,”

directives that symptomatic individuals stay home has proven effective elsewhere in maintaining low rates of in-school COVID transmission, the letter argues.

Michelle Larsen remembers back when locals called County Line Road the “Roller Coaster Road.”

PHOTO BY DAVID GILBERT

because that was the color of almost all big appliances back then.

Working with the Big Cheese I worked with Hous Waring, the paper’s legendary editor and publisher. It was like working with someone from the New York Times or Wall Street Journal. He was known around town. He had been involved in everything in town politics for so long.

He let me write a couple editorials, and he edited them. It was quite an honor — the Big Cheese of the Littleton Independent looking at my work.

I still love Littleton today. They’ve done a great job of keeping Main Street family-friendly. There are great shops down here, and some great new restaurants. It’s a lot of fun. I still run into people from high school all over town.

Sometimes Littleton feels big now, but other days it still feels small.

If you have suggestions for My Name Is, please contact David Gilbert at dgilbert@coloradocommunitymedia.com.

Science says schools can be relatively safe John Douglas, head of Tri-County Health Department, in March pointed to recent findings by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that reiterated that schools have low rates of COVID-19 transmission. Tri-County Health is the local public health agency for Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties.

The information “has continued to reinforce that notion” that schools are safe, under the circumstances, if they adhere to safety precautions, Douglas said at the time.

A report on the CDC’s website, updated in March, says that increases in COVID-19 cases among school-aged children and school reopenings do not appear to pre-date increases in community spread of COVID-19.

“When community transmission was low, there was no association between in-person learning and community spread,” the report says.

It also says: “If community transmission is high, students and staff are more likely to come to school while infectious, and COVID-19 can spread more easily in schools.”

“When a combination of effective prevention strategies is implemented and strictly adhered to in the K-12 in-person learning environment, the risk of transmission in the school setting appears to be lower than or equivalent to the transmission risk in other community settings,” the report says.

Centennial Citizen 7

May 6, 2021

Xcel plan sees concerns on health, property values Plan to upgrade south metro power lines will remove some residents’ trees, move sheds

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Some homeowners in Centennial recently learned that trees in their back yards could be removed — and there appears to be little to nothing they can do about it.

About 200 single-family homes sit within or adjacent to land where Xcel Energy has the right to make adjustments to its power line system for an upcoming project. In the process, some of those homes will have trees removed or trimmed — and roughly 50 sheds will need to moved, Xcel says. Most of the residential properties that could be affected are in Centennial.

Xcel does not compensate property owners for the removal of trees, and landowners also will not be compensated for sheds that must be moved.

What’s more, local governments don’t have the authority to prevent the changes from happening.

The result has been an outpouring of concern from area residents — 115 people signed into a virtual meeting in January about the plan, known as the Greenwood to Denver Terminal Transmission Project.

Xcel plans to upgrade roughly 15 miles of power lines in a path that crosses six municipalities: Centennial, Greenwood Village, Littleton, Englewood, Sheridan and Denver, according to Xcel’s website.

The plan involves paths where Xcel already has the right-of-way to carry out a project, and the company will undertake construction in existing easements. That’s a term that means a right to use someone else’s land for a specified purpose — in this case, maintaining power lines.

One question in the January meeting read: “I just purchased our home in this area. Why was this not brought to our attention before we closed on this property?”

Under the plan, which was set in motion years ago, outreach to homeowners isn’t legally required. That’s because Xcel didn’t need land-use permits on land where the existing right-of-way dates back to 1953.

That information hasn’t brought much solace to local homeowners, who have expressed concerns about their property values, along with noise and health issues from the electromagnetic fields given off by the power lines, noted Leslie Hanks, a 70-year-old Centennial resident.

Hanks, who said she’s a cancer survivor, stood at a meeting with Xcel representatives at a park on April 24 in west Centennial, holding a sign that read, “Affected home owners last to know.” Residents of neighborhoods in the Centennial area wrote a letter of concerns dated April 12 and sent it to local government officials and local media outlets.

“Perhaps if these radical changes

were to affect the properties of our elected officials, the approach, and entire scope of the planning and project would be much, much different,” the letter read.

In a statement, the City of Centennial said it “does not have the authority to interfere in the private contracts and prevent Xcel from trimming or removing vegetation (plants) in the easement.” It also said the city is preempted by federal law from regulating electromagnetic field exposure, adding that the Colorado Public Utilities Commission oversees such regulations.

Colorado Community Media spoke to local officials, Xcel and some experts about the effect the plan will have on trees and sheds, and what it could mean for property values and health.

Outreach timing irks some A main sticking point for residents has been finding out about the plan late in the process. Xcel expects to begin construction this summer.

In August 2018, the state Public Utilities Commission approved Xcel Energy’s Colorado Energy Plan, which the company calls its “roadmap” to developing a cleaner energy mix and reducing carbon emissions in Colorado. That plan includes the Greenwood to Denver project.

The state commission approved the Greenwood to Denver project with a “certificate of public convenience and necessity” last September, according to Xcel.

Late that month came the first notice Xcel gave to property owners near the northern parts of the project path, including Sheridan and Denver. Xcel sent postcards about a virtual meeting.

Similar postcards were sent in early January to property owners and homeowners in the south, including Centennial, Greenwood Village, Littleton and Englewood.

In early January, Xcel also mailed a separate “landowner notification letter” to properties that are within Xcel’s easement or adjacent to the easement.

“We planned on having open houses (the meetings) earlier, but the pandemic delayed this,” Larry Claxton, an Xcel official with the project, said in response to a question from the January virtual meeting, adding that Xcel wanted details nailed down before the open house so questions could be answered.

Xcel met with City of Centennial officials in October and December 2019 and again in late 2020, according to a statement from Allison Wittern, city spokeswoman.

Xcel plans to upgrade its existing 115 kV, or kilovolt, transmission power lines, to 230 kV. Xcel says it’s undertaking the project in part to avoid potential overload of the metro Denver power system as it brings in new wind power and new solar power.

The upgrade from 115kV to 230kV is “not uncommon,” Claxton told Colorado Community Media.

The existing utility line was built in 1953, generally prior to development in what’s now Centennial, Claxton said.

SEE XCEL, P8

A man stands at a park in west Centennial, holding a sign that says “NIMBY,” which stands for “not in my back yard.” The route for a project by Xcel Energy runs through the deKoevend Tot Lot park and requires the removal of trees in some residents’ PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD yards, Xcel says.

IREA maintains a year-round vegetation management program that includes tree trimming. Wood chips produced by trimming crews are free to interested IREA customers and typically can be delivered to the address you specify within a week or two.

Call our Vegetation Mangement Department at (720) 733-5632 to request free wood chips that can be used for landscaping and composting.

8 Centennial Citizen

May 6, 2021

XCEL FROM PAGE 7

Trees and sheds Xcel gathered data on about 1,100 trees and shrubs in the right-of-way and determined that about 20% of those plants will need to be removed before construction. The company estimates pruning will be needed on another 25% of the plants.

The vast majority of those trees are in residential properties, Claxton said. Not all of the roughly 200 single-family homes along the path will have trees removed or trimmed.

In response to complaints from homeowners, Xcel revised its “vegetation management” plan, said Kelly Flenniken, Xcel’s director of community relations.

“We did listen to customers who were reasonably upset about having to cut trees in the easement, and we looked at what trees might be able to stay,” Flenniken said. Some trees that Xcel said originally need to be removed can be trimmed instead as a result, she added.

After the recent change to the plant removal plan, Xcel has met with several homeowners.

“Someone from Xcel Energy will be in touch with every single property owner,” an official with Xcel said in response to a question in the January meeting.

Xcel also contacted Littleton Public Schools and South Suburban Parks and Recreation about whether any buildings would need to be removed. No buildings need to be removed regarding LPS or the parks

Leslie Hanks, 70, and John Hanks, 72, stand at the deKoevend Tot Lot park in west Centennial on April 24, holding signs that say “Affected home owners last to know,” “Why does Xcel hate trees?” and that electromagnetic fields “harm property values and health.” The Hankses came to the meeting at the park held by Xcel Energy to discuss a plan to upgrade power lines that run through parts of Centennial, Greenwood Village, PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD Littleton, Englewood, Sheridan and Denver.

district, but for construction purposes, Xcel says it needs to move some residential sheds in back yards.

“Xcel Energy will work with landowners to relocate the sheds elsewhere on their property if possible,” Flenniken said, but landowners will not be compensated.

The letter written by residents of Centennial-area neighborhoods said it “is important to note that the easements state that owners will be compensated for any damage to their properties.”

But Xcel, in a January meeting response, said: “Landowners typically are given a one-time payment based

on fair market value for easement rights to their land, traditionally based on the appraised land value at the time the easement is purchased.”

Home values likely not at risk Mike Papantonakis, board chair for the Denver Metro Association of Realtors, says the impact on property values might not be as serious as some fear.

“There’s a pretty big easement in my backyard that the utility company could access,” said Papantonakis, who is a practicing Realtor with Remax Alliance in Arvada. “That’s a very common thing for any neigh-

borhood in the metro area to have easements for utilities.”

Papantonakis doesn’t see any aspect of the plan that would “drastically affect home values at all, if any,” he said. Any time a property loses a “great big” tree from the back yard, it can affect the appearance and the perceived value could be affected in a “very minor way,” he continued.

He noted that the existing galvanized-steel lattice towers will be replaced “with something much less scary and much less obtrusive with the pole.”

Moving or losing a shed, such as a standard tool shed, wouldn’t likely drop a home’s value either, he continued.

There will be more noise from lines as a result of the project because the current lines are de-energized, said Claxton, the Xcel official, but the plan meets all the requirements by the state. An analysis said the noise could range up to the low end of levels deemed reasonable by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission.

To contact Xcel For more information on the project and to sign up for email updates, see Xcel Energy’s website at greenwoodtodenverterminal.com.

To contact Xcel about the project, call 303-294-2726 or email greenwooddenverterminal@xcelenergy.com.

To request a meeting with Xcel representatives, see greenwoodtodenverterminal.com/contact. html.

Reporter David Gilbert contributed to this story.

4 FREE ON MAY 8th!

Wondering what to do with those old, expired drugs? Got documents just sitting gathering dust?

Or what about those old electronics like flip phones, CD players or an old printer? Or maybe you’d like to recycle your blood? Well, we’ve got you covered!

The Rotary Club of Centennial is hosting four events in conjunction with this year’s Day of Service.

Recycling many electronics is free, however there may be a charge depending on item.

Drug Take-Back 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Centennial Hospital 14200 E Arapahoe Rd Centennial, CO 80112

Electronics Recycling 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Cherry Creek Innovation Campus 8000 S Chambers Rd Centennial, CO 80112 Note: Participation in this event is limited.

It will be first come first serve.

Shred-athon 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Centennial Airport 7565 S Peoria St Englewood, CO 80112

Blood Drive 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Embassy Suites 10250 E Costilla Ave Centennial, CO 80112

Note: Participation in this event is limited.

It will be first come first serve.

Note: Participation in this event is limited.

It will be first come first serve.

The Rotary Club of Centennial is happy to host these events, and we hope you will be able to take advantage of at least one of them.

For more information on these events, please copy the following link and paste it into your browser’s search box:

https://bit.ly/2Q6xAbN

Centennial Citizen 9

May 6, 2021

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the ultimate resort

escape

Step into the ultimate resort, only 45 minutes from Denver. Savor all-new flavors at Monarch Chophouse, enjoy burgers, brews and more around the clock at Twenty-Four 7. Or let The Buffet light up your senses with exquisite flavors and cuisine from all corners of the globe. Spread out and feel the thrill of the action on our spaciously expanded gaming floor. Then, retreat to your own luxury guest room to relax, rejuvenate, and prepare to do it all over again. We’re ready. Are you?

Gambling problem? Call 1.800.GAMBLER

10 Centennial Citizen

May 6, 2021

Thrift shop in need of help after burglary Soul Dog store supports nonprofit animal rescue efforts

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Janet Yench, right, a volunteer for Soul Dog thrift shop in Englewood, holds the shop’s donations jar next to Kimberleigh Anders of the Littleton area. The two were running the Soul Dog store on April 30, a few days after a burglary there caused damage that PHOTOS BY ELLIS ARNOLD the shop is seeking help to recover from.

An Englewood thrift store that has become a safe haven for people in need found itself on hard luck after a burglary caused hundreds of dollars in damage to the shop.

In the early morning April 26, the building’s owner received a security phone call and arrived at the shop to find a broken window and a damaged wall, according to Soul Dog Rescue, the animal rescue nonprofit that runs Soul Dog thrift shop on South Broadway.

Someone had stolen a donation jar and a “massive” change jar, the nonprofit’s Facebook page wrote.

The money stolen likely totaled only about $75, but the damage the burglary caused dealt a setback to a store that typically sells clothes for just a dollar. The nonprofit runs the thrift store to support its animal rescue efforts.

The April 26 incident wasn’t the only time Soul Dog thrift store has seen crime, said Janet Yench, a 76-year-old volunteer for the store.

Another time, someone took all the money from the register while a volunteer was distracted in a “bait and switch” incident, Yench said.

A young couple appeared to have stolen the shop’s donation can in a different theft, and another breakin through the window occurred before, Yench said. The store opened in spring 2014, she said.

“Sadly, after nine-ish years, we feel we are no longer safe in this community,” the Soul Dog nonprofit wrote on Facebook. The post added: “This may be the final straw and we may have no choice but to close to keep our people safe.”

HOW TO HELP The Soul Dog nonprofit is accepting cash donations and checks to help recover. See souldog.org, drop by the store at 4725 S. Broadway or call 303-8576789 to ask how to help.

After the nonprofit pays rent and utilities, “everything else goes straight to the animals, straight to the dogs and cats,” Yench said.

“That’s what we’re all about: saving lives.”

The store has also become a crucial resource for people experiencing homelessness in the Englewood area, paying for hotel vouchers for some and letting people come in out of the cold — even providing no-cost hats, gloves, scarves, coats and other clothing, according to the Facebook post and Yench.

But the Soul Dog nonprofit’s main mission is to spay and neuter pets to reduce overpopulation, along with protecting animals in other ways, according to its website.

The nonprofit’s team travels to rural communities on Native American reservations, where spaying and neutering “will only happen if it is nearly free or very convenient,” the website says. Soul Dog uses donations to help pay for medications, supplies and the operating cost for clinics.

“It’s hard to say” whether the shop may need to close, Yench said.

“We weren’t sure we’d survive COVID-19 a year ago. So we just don’t know.”

So far, the shop, which sits at 4725 S. Broadway, has seen a positive response from the community.

“People have come into the store to offer their help,” including some cash donations, said Yench, who lives in Englewood.

“There’s always an upside because no matter what happens, we’re still going to do good,” Yench said. “And you cannot have too much good in the world.”

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Janet Yench, a volunteer for Soul Dog thrift shop in Englewood, talks on April 30 about the clothes in the store, which typically sell for just a dollar.

Centennial Citizen 11

May 6, 2021

TRIAL FROM PAGE 1

A count of first-degree felony murder can be charged against anyone in a group that is allegedly involved in a serious crime in which a death occurs. The charge applies even if a particular member of the group is not believed to have directly caused the death.

Other defendants in the case have described a plot to rob Graham.

Defense attorneys had asked to postpone Jones’ arraignment — the hearing at which he would enter a plea — three times in recent months, on Dec. 11, Jan. 29 and March 12. The attorneys argued they were “hampered in our ability to meet with witnesses for investigation,” Zuckerman said, citing the barriers the pandemic has put on interactions.

She argued that COVID-19 vaccine eligibility would help enable the investigation.

It remains unclear from the court proceedings what topics the investigation would entail, though Zuckerman said on April 26 that the investigation “is proceeding.”

Judge Joseph Whitfield scheduled the trial to begin on Oct. 13 and said it could last 3 1/2 weeks.

The court expects to hold motions hearings on Aug. 5 and Aug. 17. That’s a type of hearing where attorneys make requests to the court.

The defense anticipates the motions hearings will include a “fair amount of evidence and possible expert testimony,” Zuckerman said at the April hearing. It wasn’t clear what that would entail.

Jones’ arrest follows others A few hours before Graham, 23, was found in November 2009 — just before midnight — video surveillance captured Graham riding an RTD light rail train and exiting at the station near Park Meadows mall in Lone Tree. Graham had been making living arrangements in Boulder that day and would often walk from the station to his parents’ house in nearby Willow Creek a couple miles away, his mother told Colorado Community Media at the time.

Jones was arrested in March 2020, KCNC-CBS4 reported. Jones was 16 years old at the time of the shooting.

A 2016 Arapahoe County grand jury indicted Clarissa Jae Lockhart, Allen Deshawn Ford, Kendall Adam Austin and Joseph Martin — also teenagers at the time of the shooting. The four were arrested in January 2017 in connection with Graham’s death.

The codefendants described a plot to rob Graham, whom they saw as “a white male who might have money,” according to the af-

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Besides alleged gunman Terrell O’Neil Jones, who was arrested in March, four other suspects were identified in the 2009 Centennial slaying of Andrew Graham. They allegedly acted as a group in attempting to rob Graham.

Allen Deshawn Ford, Clarissa Jae Lockhart, Kendall Adam Austin and Joseph Martin were arrested after a grand jury in Arapahoe County, called in 2016, indicted the four.

Lockhart, Austin and Ford originally were charged with first-degree felony murder, a count that can be charged against anyone in a group that is allegedly involved in a serious crime in which a death occurs.

fidavit for Jones’ arrest. Jones and three other suspects are AfricanAmerican. One suspect, Joseph Martin, is listed as American Indian on the state Department of Corrections website.

Ford, Lockhart and Austin had been linked to a string of racemotivated robberies and assaults in downtown Denver in 2009, according to the affidavit and court proceedings in the Graham case.

Suspects in that rash of crimes told police they targeted white males because they assumed they had money and wouldn’t fight back or present a threat.

Lockhart and Austin pleaded guilty to attempted robbery in September 2009 incidents, and Ford pleaded guilty to a biasmotivated crime involving “bodily injury” and pleaded guilty to assault in August 2009 incidents, according to online court records.

‘Stories that changed’ In court on Oct. 27, Zuckerman, the defense attorney, hammered on what she argued are inconsistencies in the accounts of the four codefendants.

Investigators told the codefendants that their cooperation would influence whether arrest warrants for murder would come down against them, Zuckerman has said.

“Every suspect was threatened with a first-degree murder charge with an ... arrest warrant, and not surprisingly, it didn’t take long after those threats for the witnesses to give investigators what they wanted to hear, and what they wanted to hear is that Terrell Jones is the shooter,” Zuckerman argued at the time.

Jones — who apparently first spoke to authorities in 2010 — has SEPTEMBER 26, 2019

‘We lived in Denver from 1974-2012. When we moved to Centennial in

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The Denver metro area had an unemploymen t an improvementrate of 2.6% in August, from 3.3% a year earlier.

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The charge applies even if a particular member of the group is not believed to have directly caused the death.

Lockhart, Austin and Ford also were charged with conspiracy and a pattern of racketeering — which generally relates to organized crime — under the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, according to online court records and the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

The codefendants’ outcomes were as follows: • Ford was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Jan. 17, 2020, after taking a plea deal in November 2019, pleading guilty to racketeering, according to online court records. The felony murder and conspiracy charges were dismissed. His sentence includes five years of mandatory parole.

acknowledged to investigators that he knew the codefendants but has denied involvement in Graham’s death.

He admitted to having a gun around the “2009 time frame,” according to the January 2017 indictment that led to the arrest of the other suspects. He indicated before a grand jury that Ford stole that gun from him at a party, the indictment says.

Chris Wilcox, the prosecutor and a chief deputy 18th Judicial

• Lockhart received a 10-year prison sentence on June 26, 2020, after she pleaded guilty on Feb. 27, 2020, to a racketeering charge. Her charges of conspiracy and felony murder were dismissed as part of her plea deal.

• Martin pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and in February 2018 received a 10-year prison sentence and three years of mandatory parole, according to the state judicial branch. His other charge of felony murder was dismissed, according to court records.

• The DA’s office moved to dismiss all of the charges against Austin in October 2019 after deciding it no longer had “a reasonable likelihood of success at trial,” according to Austin’s defense attorney.

District attorney, argued on Oct. 27 that “while the court heard voluminous statements about stories that changed,” Jones still may be found guilty by a jury. The 18th Judicial District includes Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties.

The codefendants “aren’t just witnesses that came forward to make a statement,” Wilcox said.

They are people who “put themselves as being involved in a crime.”

12 Centennial Citizen

LOCAL

May 6, 2021

VOICES

Don’t allow concealment of records, oppose House Bill 1214

W

e understand the intent behind House Bill 1214 to provide a fresh start to those with lower-level criminal records — such as arrest records in which no criminal charges have been filed. Further, it allows some offenders — and those who have received full pardons — to petition to have their records sealed.

We do not oppose the idea of offering a clean slate to many who have blemishes on their records.

We appreciate that a clean record better paves the way to housing and employment opportunities.

OUR VIEW Even so, we strongly oppose HB 1214 because the loss of complete information would be too severe.

Passage of the bill would compromise the system because the cumulative value of the records is paramount. In our journalistic work to serve the public, we find revealing trends in complete arrest records. For example, we can analyze patterns that can lead to questions to ensure law enforcement agencies are accountable.

The information can tell us how agencies do their jobs, where they

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Colorado Community Media welcomes letters to the editor. Please keep in mind the following rules:

• Email your letter to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com. Do not send via postal mail. Put the words “letter to the editor” in the email subject line.

• Submit your letter in a Word document or in the body of an email. No PDFs, please.

• Submit your letter by 5 p.m. on Wednesday in order to have it considered for publication in the following week’s newspaper.

• Include your full name, address and phone number. We will publish only your name and city or town of residence, but all of the information requested is needed for us to verify you are who you say you are.

• Letters will be considered only from people living in Colorado Community Media’s circulation area in Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas, Elbert and Jefferson counties.

• We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, grammar, punctuation and length.

• Not all letters are published at our discretion. Letters are published as space is available.

• Letters must be no longer than 250 words.

• Do not use all caps, italics or bold text.

• Keep it polite: No name calling or “mudslinging.”

• Include a source — and a link to that source — for any information that is not common knowledge. We will not publish information, including quotes, that cannot easily be verified.

• Letters advocating for a political candidate should focus on that candidate’s qualifications for office. We cannot publish letters that contain unverified negative information about a candidate’s opponent.

• Letters advocating for or against a political candidate will not be published within 30 days of an election.

• Only submit ideas and opinions that are your own — and in your own words. We will not publish any letter that appears to be part of a letter-writing campaign or that copies text from an outside source, such as a website.

• Letters will not be published from the same writer on consecutive weeks.

• Generally we will not publish multiple letters that make the same point in a given week.

• Letters should be exclusively submitted to Colorado Community Media and not submitted to other outlets or previously posted on social media.

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

spend their time and with whom they interact in these patterns.

The records can point to patterns of misconduct, racism and other issues. The patterns can play into whether to elect candidates to law enforcement positions, such as sheriff, and whether to vote to retain judges.

We understand that having lower-level infractions on a criminal record provides challenges for many, but criminal arrest records should be maintained in full to ensure the public’s right to know and provide the whole picture for the media’s queries.

Oppose HB 1214 for its unintended consequences. Urge your lawmakers to oppose this bill.

Please join us in opposition along with the Colorado Press Association, the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition and The Colorado News Collaborative (COLab).

For more perspective about this bill, visit the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition at https://coloradofoic.org/ journalists-testimony-considerthe-impact-of-sealing-criminalrecords-on-public-service-newsreporting.

This knock-knock stuff is no joke

O

ccasionally, this is an opinion column. Here comes one now.

Advertisements taped or left hanging on front doors should be QUIET against the law.

The mischiefDESPERATION makers of advertisements taped or left hanging on front doors where there is a “No Solicitors” sign posted nearby should be subject to a sixCraig Marshall month sentence.

Smith The mischiefmakers of advertisements taped or left hanging on front doors where there are four “No Solicitors” signs posted nearby like mine should be subject to life without parole.

Littering is against the law.

Advertisements left on front doors is littering.

One of my signs, in red, says “No Ads, No Coupons, No Junk.”

Guess what?

It happened again today.

This is, in a world of death and destruction, small potatoes.

However, this is not the forum for large potatoes. Sometimes I wish it were, albeit knowing I’d be in for passionate disagreements.

I mentioned littering. Have you noticed any masks on the ground?

Where I live, Harry and I see masks and dog poop.

Where is your mother when

you need her?

The hampton.gov web site states, “More than 51 billion pieces of litter are released on American roadways each year,” adding that littering costs the United States more than $11 billion to clean up annually.

My front doorknob is forty inches above a woven mat. If the taped ad falls off the door, it’s litter and I’m calling the cops.

There’s nothing like spending time in the old stoney lonesome when it comes to learning a few lessons about unlawful behavior.

Some of you may remember when men and women went door to door with household products and vacuum cleaners “Avon calling.”

Representatives for Watkins Incorporated offered “home remedies, baking products, and other household items.”

In 2021, it’s a little hard to imagine inviting someone into your home to peddle a floor wax or dessert topping.

Ads left on my front door against my wishes might be considered “small stuff.”

I think that’s what the moderators of my anger management classes would have claimed.

Over and over we were told, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”

Or maybe it was, “Don’t pet the sweaty stuff.”

All I know is that it bothers me.

While I’m at it, there’s one more thing that is even more annoying than ads left on my house.

Unwanted phone calls.

My phone allows me to block

thirty phone numbers. My file is full.

“Why don’t you get an unlisted number?”

I have an unlisted number.

“Why don’t you add your name and number to the National Do Not Call Registry?”

I added my name to the National Do Not Call Registry years ago.

These people are like weeds: They grow where nothing else can.

Sometimes I have engaged in animated discussions with the callers. You don’t want to know.

I don’t feel good about it, but there’s only so much a kind and sensitive individual can take.

Some of my comments and suggestions are very colorful. It is one benefit of knowing a wide range of creative expressions.

Most of the callers hang up on me.

If a call is especially egregious, I contact the Federal Communications Commission whose chairperson is Jessica Rosenworcel (a name straight out of Dickens).

What happens next? Absolutely nothing.

But at least I’ve done all I can.

One door-to-door salesperson asked if I would make a small donation towards the local swimming pool.

I gave him a glass of water.

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

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Centennial Citizen 13

May 6, 2021

Finding consistency in a world of inconsistency

“I

pray to be like the ocean, with soft currents, maybe waves at times. More and more, I want the consistency rather than the highs and lows.” - Drew BarWINNING rymore There have WORDS been some very famous people who have provided us with quotes about consistency.

Some will argue that consistency will compromise creativity, while others believe that Michael Norton consistency plays a vital role in the achievement of success for individuals and teams alike.

For those seeking a little more peace and normalcy, it would be nice to experience the soft currents of the ocean. This is in direct opposition to the desire for constant turbulent seas and thunderous crashing of the waves.

And with the ever-present tumult of life coming at us from every direction, like Drew Barrymore, I believe more and more of us are in search of consistency as opposed to the extreme and often volatile highs and lows.

Trying to keep pace in an often-

chaotic race can be exhausting as we often hear contradictory statements and see inconsistent actions from those in a leadership role or position of trust. As we try and make sense of what hear and see, what to do and how to do it, or what we can do and what we can’t do, it all leaves us longing for some level of consistency in the messaging we receive.

Although we cannot control the consistency of anyone else, we do have complete control over our own ability to be consistent in all that we do, say, and share. We can and should make new decisions and take different courses of action based on receiving new and accurate information. If we are consistent in our diligence and in seeking the truth, changing our mind after thoroughly understanding the facts, we can confidently change our mind or form a new opinion.

One of the things that made Zig Ziglar such a motivational icon and inspirational influencer was what he referred to as, “Persistent Consistency.” Before Mr. Ziglar would share anything in a book, from the stage, or on a recording, he would validate the information historically, physiologically, psychologically and theologically so that he would be more than

reasonably assured that the information that he was about to share with others was accurate. Zig Ziglar was absolutely resolute when it came to persistent consistency, so much so that it became part of his signature, brand, character and reputation.

Even if we enjoy watching a stormy ocean filled with crashing waves from time to time, most of us would not be able to swim in such a strong current or undertow. And we certainly wouldn’t encourage our children or friends to jump into such a dangerous situation. If this is true, why would we be encouraged ourselves or encourage others to jump into, or react to, discussions that are inconsistent or formed by the opinions and the ever-changing thoughts of those trying to feed the undertow and create more chaos? When we do that, we are seeking consistency from inconsistent sources.

The good news is that regardless of the lens that we read or see things through, or the ears we use to hear what is being shared, is that we can be consistent

ourselves in the way we respond instead of reacting to any and all information we receive. If not, we increase the likelihood of furthering the spread of inconsistent and potentially wrong or even harmful information. We can be consistent and filter everything we see, read, or hear through our own belief system, not through the words, thoughts or actions of others.

Do you have your trusted sources of information and are you persistently consistent in seeking and validating the truth before reacting or responding? Have you realized that trying to keep the pace in a chaotic race leads to exhaustion? I would love to hear your story of persistent consistency at mnorton@tramazing.com, and when we can be consistent in a world that seems so inconsistent, it really will be a better than good year.

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.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Government should back off Our state government should not be putting restrictions on us. The role of our government is to work for us and to protect our inalienable rights as citizens of the United States. Therefore they should not take control of our lives and tell us what we can and cannot do.

In the past year, our government has been telling us that we have to stay home, we have to wear masks, and we can have limited people at gatherings. They do not have the right to do that. While putting these unlawful restrictions on us, they take control of our lives and try to tell us what we can do and what we can’t do.

This reduces us down to subjects of the government who can’t make decisions about our own lives or what the appropriate amount of safety precautions are for us and our families.

We need to take back control of our own lives so that we don’t eventually become sheeple that can’t think for ourselves or make decisions. If we ever come to that point we will just become slaves to the government, which will totally reverse one of the key ideas of America, that the government works for the citizens.

James Hirsch Centennial

Classic

TRUCK

Let experts make health decisions Per your article, “County opts out of Tri-County dial extension,” Abe Laydon’s quote “I want ... Douglas County to be the first county in the state to say the pandemic is over” is totally irresponsible. I do not see an MD or PhD after his name. Is he a doctor, a public health, research, or infectious disease specialist? If not, to make uninformed political comments about the health and wellbeing of Douglas County residents is not befitting an elected official who was elected to represent all of us and not just his right-wing constituency, What Laydon and the rest of the Republican commissioners do not understand is that by putting their political beliefs and call for personal freedom above the rest of the population, they are making members of the entire county less free and unsafe. Until Laydon and his colleagues have the credentials to speak and vote on public health issues, they should abstain and let the experts determine policy. Only then will the pandemic be lessened and hopefully over.

Barbara Morton Highlands Ranch

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14 Centennial Citizen

Cider makers keep creative juices flowing as popularity grows

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

I

magine it’s a hot Colorado day and adults are looking for alcoholic beverages to help beat the heat. Many seek out beer, seltzers and cocktails.

But, for Sam Al-Jassim and many others, the answer is cider.

This fruit wine has grown in popularity in the United States and Colorado over the last 10 years, and cideries, taprooms and tasterooms have recently opened across the Denver metro area.

Unfortunately, the sugary national brands have given cider a bit of a bad reputation, but locals are working to correct that, saying there’s something for everyone.

“We have seen people who don’t like cider try it and come back,” Al-Jassim, a manager at Clear Creek Cidery & Eatery in Idaho Springs, said. “I feel like there’s a cider for everybody.”

Like wine, the drink has a range of dryness and sweetness, with some falling at either end and some in the middle. The industry also offers a variety of flavors — anything from Locust Cider’s mojito to Colorado + 49 Cidery & Pub’s blueberry lavender.

Luke Furey, operations manager at Golden-based Colorado + 49, described how he thinks of cider as a happy medium between beer and hard seltzer, saying it’s the perfect crisp and cool drink to enjoy on a hot day.

Of course, there’s no reason why drinks have to be mutually exclusive as there’s plenty of local craftsmanship to go around.

Brad Page, owner of Denver-based Colorado Cider Company, pointed out that the British — the world’s biggest cider drinkers — often drink beer and cider in the same sitting.

And some local cideries, like Clear Creek and Colorado + 49, keep beer on tap, offer flights of beer and/or cider, and can make beer-cider mixes.

And, for those who don’t drink, local cideries also offer a variety of food options.

So, whether people are diehard fans, casual drinkers or uninitiated, Page and his colleagues only ask

LOCAL

LIFE

CIDER SAMPLES Want to sample local cider? Here are the sweet details on some Denver-area cideries.

Clear Creek Cidery & Eatery Location: 1446 Miner St., Idaho Springs Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day Offers: Nine Colorado ciders on tap, 14 in cans; full bar and full kitchen Founded: Restaurant and bar opened Feb. 22, 2019; in-house fermentation is forthcoming Clear Fork Cider (tasting room) Location: 4965 Iris St., Wheat Ridge Hours: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays Offers: Exclusive small-batch Clear Fork ciders along with others; snacks Founded: Initial location in downtown Denver opened about five years ago; moved to current location in July 2019 and opened tasting room that September Distribution: Some local restaurants and liquor stores Events: May 1 was launch day for new ciders; participating in Lakewood’s Cider Days Oct. 2-3 at Belmar Park Colorado + 49 Cidery & Pub Location: 1100 Arapahoe St., Golden Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day Offers: In-house dry-mediums to semisweet ciders; 29 taps with about half ciders and half non-Colorado beers; full kitchen with all gluten-free menu items Founded: June 25, 2018 Distribution: Growlers to-go at Golden location only that they keep an open mind and explore the world of flavor local cideries have to offer.

A blooming industry Cider is made from fermented fruit — primarily apples — and is most popular in Britain and other parts of Europe. Page, a Colorado Cider Guild board member, said it used to be a common drink in the United States but fell out of favor shortly before Prohibition.

However, as the craft beverage movement began in earnest, Page said it was only a matter of time until ciders saw a revival.

When Colorado Cider Company opened in 2011, it was the first commercial cidery in the area. Now, there are probably 18 across Colorado, Page estimated.

Cider’s gluten-free profile is one reason it’s become so popular. It also has less sugar than beer, in most cases, and is lower in alcohol content than liquor. Thus, it’s healthier

Events: Anniversary celebration on June 25 with staff members’ “tap takeover” to introduce new ciders Colorado Cider Company (tasting room) Location: 2650 W. 2nd Ave. No. 10, Denver Hours: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Offers: Variety of in-house ciders Founded: 2011 Distribution: Wide-ranging at Denverarea restaurants and liquor stores Events: Participating in Lakewood’s Cider Days Oct. 2-3 at Belmar Park Locust Cider (Belmar taproom) Location: 7260 W. Alaska Drive, Unit A, Lakewood Hours: 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, noon to 9 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 8 p.m. Sundays Offers: 16 Locust Ciders on tap and others in cans; wines; small-plate food menu and snacks Founded: Seattle-based Locust Cider opened its first Colorado location in Boulder in 2019; taprooms in Fort Collins and Belmar opened fall 2020 Distribution: Wide-ranging at restaurants and liquor stores; taproom locations also offer ciders to-go Events: Participating in Lakewood’s Cider Days Oct. 2-3 at Belmar Park overall than other alcoholic drinks, industry members posited.

While the industry’s growth seemingly exploded between 2013 and 2018, Page said two things have hindered it recently.

The first is the pandemic, which restricted capacities and forced many cideries to survive on to-go orders. The other is the rise of hard seltzer, which breweries can massproduce much cheaper than cideries can make their products.

However, the overall movement toward craft beverages in general is helping, Page said, as many Coloradans want to support smaller producers and enjoy better quality drinks.

Is there an untapped market?

While Page was unsure whether the metro area will see more cideries in the near future, he said the existing ones are definitely growing.

Furey was more optimistic, believing that more cideries will pop up over the next five years and that

May 6, 2021

they could eventually be on par with breweries as they gain more national popularity.

The success of Seattle-based Locust Cider’s new Belmar taproom also seems to indicate the cidery market is relatively untapped.

Despite opening last fall — among increasing COVID-19 restrictions and poor weather — business has far exceeded expectations, manager Sarah Mutch stated. She and Eric Smith, vice president of Locust Cider-Rocky Mountains, said they can’t keg the place fast enough sometimes.

“It’s a good problem to have,” Mutch said.

Unlike breweries, local cideries don’t have as much geographic competition. Both Furey and Mutch pointed out that their locations are the only cideries in Golden and Lakewood, respectively.

Additionally, while some cideries like Wheat Ridge’s Clear Fork Cider distribute to local restaurants and liquor stores, others like Colorado + 49 only offer theirs on-site.

Although the market is growing, it’s still relatively small so everyone knows and helps each other, Smith said. The better the industry does as a whole, the better for each cidery.

Keeping history fresh For Rob Bayless, Clear Fork’s director of operations, the industry is as much about the drink itself as it is about the people who enjoy it.

Bayless described how he takes pride in crafting cider, explaining everything from visiting local orchards to hand-pressing the apples to letting the juice ferment for several months.

“When you go to make it, it always feels like alchemy,” he said. “You start with a sweet juice, and six months later, it can end up as a completely changed product. … It’s magical to see that transformation.”

Along with the taste, people can also connect with the story behind the ciders, Bayless continued. Cidermaking is very much tied to Colorado’s agricultural and orchardindustry roots.

Whether people have similarly deep ties or are relatively new to Colorado, he said, “I think people can relate to that history and that story … There’s a lot of (Colorado) pride around that.”

Contact reporter Corinne Westeman at 303-567-4491 or cwesteman@coloradocommunitymedia.com, and follow her on Twitter @cwesteman.

Centennial Citizen 15

May 6, 2021

Park reaches 25-year anniversary of land acquisition Southdowns added greatly to area protected as Roxborough State Park

BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On May 31, Roxborough State Park staff and volunteers will celebrate the acquisition of the area called Southdowns near the park entrance.

The acquisition was a process that developed numbers of devotees along the way — accumulating the 3,339 acres that are now included in the spectacularly beautiful Roxborough State Park in hDouglas County ...

Striking red rock formations, the Fountain Formation, grassland expanses and Willow Creek combine to make a place of absolute beauty, which became Roxborough State Park. (The dlate Littleton Independent editor, Houstoun Waring, was an early park supporter, as was well-known Littleton artist rita derjue, who died in the past year.)

Twenty five years ago, a critical piece was the addition of “Southdowns,” a 625acre parcel that had been platted for development, until a Friends of Roxbor-

ough organization formed to preserve the area where one now enters.

“Twenty-five years ago, on May 31, 1996, conservationists, state and county government leaders and a developer came together to celebrate the protection of the platted 625-acre development known as `Southdowns’ and its addition to Roxborough State Park. The dedication ceremony was the culmination of nearly three years of grassroots awareness-building, intense real estate negotiations and multifaceted fundraising,” wrote Susan Trumble, who was senior ranger/park manager from 1980 to 2003.

“Southdowns, part of the original Woodmoor development at Roxborough, was platted in the 1970s, with over 1,100 housing units. At the time of the Woodmoor bankruptcy in 1975, most of the lots had been sold to individual owners. In the early 1990s, US Home consolidated a majority of these lots with plans to construct over 700 homes.

“Final approvals for con-

The ceremony dedicating the Southdowns land to Roxborough State Park concluded with a Native American Friendship Dance on May 31, PHOTO BY SUSAN TRUMBLE 1996.

struction were in process when a group of concerned citizens came together in November, 1993 to found the Friends of Roxborough State Park. They saw this intense development on the front doorstep of the park as a death threat to the park’s existence as a nationally recognized Natural Landmark and its designation as a Colorado Natural Area.

The Friends of Roxborough State Park vowed that day to bring public awareness to the park’s plight, raise funds

and seek an alternative to the housing development.”

Readers who tend towards grassroots involvements can imagine the scene!

The Friends wrote letters to Gov. Roy Romer, state legislators and Douglas County commissioners, distributed `Save Roxborough State Park’ bumper stickers and collected almost 15,000 petition signatures. Romer visited and his concern “caused momentum to change,” Trumble said.

A change in the county’s

comprehensive plan met resistance from citizens in an alternative location the developer found.

Tom Macy of the Conservation Fund was brought in to negotiate with US Home to find a solution. (Macy likened the Southdowns dilemma of attempting to `reverse development’ to `trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube.’ ) US Home agreed to sell their interest in Southdowns and the Conservation Fund agreed to purchase and hold the property until Colorado State Parks could come up with the cash. ($2.35 million.)

The May 31, 1996 dedication ceremony was blessed with a cedar ceremony by Northern Cheyenne Richard Tall Bull. The ceremony concluded with participants joining hands in a Native American Friendship Dance led by Sicangu Lakota Jessica Bordeaux Vigil and Miss Junior Indian Colorado, Ogallala Lakota, Randi Rae Blakesly,” Trumble concluded.

Trumble cited Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

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May 6, 2021

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Centennial Citizen 17

May 6, 2021

Small Mouth Sounds, big heart feelings

B

ack in early March of last year, I had a piece all written about “Small Mouth Sounds,” the final play of the Arvada Center’s 2019/2021 season. I had spoken to director Lynne Collins about the show, COMING why it would conATTRACTIONS nect with audiences and what any who see it should come away with. And then the theater — and theaters all over the country — went dark.

So, there was Clarke Reader more than a little déjà vu when, nearly 14 months later, I had Collins on the horn to talk about the show … again, this time as the center’s first foray into in-person theater since the pandemic properly kicked off.

“It was very sad we never got to open the show, especially because it really ended up speaking to what we’ve all been through,” Collins said. “Looking at it after the last year, it felt so of the moment, and so healing, it made sense to bring it back.”

Bess Wohl’s “Small Mouth Sounds” runs at the Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., through Saturday, May 30. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday, 1 p.m. on Wednesday, and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. According to provided information, this makes the center the first theater in the region to receive approval by the Actors’ Equity Association to produce indoor theatre with an in-person audience.

Featuring Josh Robinson, Jessica Austgen, Kate Gleason, Geoffrey Kent, Jake Mendes, Kevin Rich and Annie Barbour, the show takes place in a silent yoga retreat where six strangers try to find some sense of peace — and themselves. Collins reckons the show is about 80% to 90% silent — a feature that invites audiences to pay attention to really get to know the characters.

“What you learn about these people and their journeys is based entirely on their actions and interactions. It requires a detective’s mind,” Collins said. “Audiences can’t just wait for someone to tell them what’s going on. They have to lean forward in a way to catch what’s happening.”

After so long performing mainly via screens, it was an emotional experience for practically everyone involved to be back in the theater. And being in front of an actual audience again? Forget it about it. But it won’t be exactly the same as before. The show has been moved from the Black Box to the larger Main Stage to accommodate social distancing guidelines and limited ticket sales.

What remains the same, however, is what the show says about the power of connection and its importance for each of us.

“All of the characters are somewhat lost, lonely and looking for meaning in their lives in a very complicated world. Everybody felt that this last year,” Collins said.

“We also all felt how much we need other people with us on our journeys. That’s the key theme of the play, and we feel it so intensely at this time.”

For more information and tickets, visit https://arvadacenter.

org/events/small-mouth-sounds.

‘Road Work’ ahead at K Contemporary Denver’s K Contemporary art gallery, 1412 Wazee St., is welcoming the warm weather with its new solo exhibition by Denver-based artist Andrew Jensdotter, called “Road Work.” The exhibition begins on Saturday, May 15, and runs through Saturday, June 26.

According to provided information, the show - Jensdotter’s first regional solo exhibition following his 2019 show at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver “features new work by the artist, including sculpture, drawing and painting, on both the first and second floors of the gallery.”

The gallery is limiting the number of guests at any one time and requiring advanced reservations, which can be made at https:// calendly.com/kcontemporary/ andrew-jensdotter-road-work.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Van Morrison from Real World Studios Van Morrison is responsible for some of my favorite music of all time — he has at least one perfect album (“Astral Weeks,” but I’d gladly listen to arguments that he has multiple), numerous songs that have been ingrained in our collective psyche (looking at you “Brown Eyed Girl” and “Into the Mystic”) and generally has made the world better with his writing.

Morrison has a new album out

and is celebrating with his firstever virtual performance. The livestream will be broadcast from the famous Real World Studios in England at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 8. Tickets are just $15, and trust me, that’s the cheapest price you will ever find for a live performance from the man. Visit www. nugs.net to get a spot.

Streaming style — ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show’ Robin Thede is a comedic renaissance woman - it seems there’s practically nothing she can’t make absolutely hilarious, and the best proof of this so far is “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” which is finally airing its second season.

In addition to Thede, the show features Ashley Nicole Black, Gabrielle Dennis, Laci Mosley and Skye Townsend, and all the women (as well as some expertly selected famous faces) are throwing nothing but heaters. You’ll laugh until it hurts, while simultaneously being aghast at the fact that it’s taken so long for talent of this caliber to be given a spotlight.

Catch up on the first season and see new episodes Friday nights on HBO. Clarke Reader’s column on culture apears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@ hotmail.com.

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Centennial Citizen 19

May 6, 2021

Snakes in the grass on the move Snakes and small animals nursing babies are more active as the weather heats up

BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Even with some scattered rain and snowstorms, the hint of warmer weather leads to more sightings of snakes and other small animals as they prepare for the hot summer months.

Isaac Mertens, owner of Castle Rock Pest Control, said he has been receiving calls for a variety of issues since early April. Mertens said snakes and other small critters start emerging in spring.

Jason Clay, of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said snakes follow a predictable pattern. Sheltering during the winter and resuming activity in April and early May. “Pavement and other hard surfaces such as trails are often sought out for basking. Many times, this leads to negative encounters with people and automobiles,” Clay said.

“Hunting (for food) usually occurs in the late afternoon and evening once the snakes have become warm enough. When temperatures allow, rattlesnakes may also prowl for food in the early afternoon or night.”

Merten has been operating in the Douglas County region for about two years. He said he mostly gets calls about bull and garden snakes, noting he recently removed a sixfoot bull snake from a family’s front yard.

“They are mostly coming out into the sun and passing through yards,” he said. “They do not want to be near you as much as you do not want to be near them. In most cases they will just keep passing through on their way.”

In cases where the snakes are inside the home, Merten said it is be better to call local animal control offices for removal.

Merten said rattlesnakes are also coming out. Rattlesnakes near homes are mostly seen in areas with nearby fields, and hills with a lot of rock ledges, he said.

Clay said there are two species of rattlesnakes in Colorado, the wester, also known as the prairie, and the massasauga. Both species can be seen around developed homes or near neighborhoods on the fringes of open spaces.

Wildlife experts warn residents not to touch the snake or take

Isaac Merten of Castle Rock Pest Control holds up a six-foot bull snake he captured COURTESY PHOTO earlier this month.

pictures and selfies. Whether they are near a home, or on hiking trails, Clay said it is important to follow safety rules.

Some safety measures to follow include: Stay on designated trails and pathways.

Do not wear earbuds so you can hear if you come up on an angry, rattling snake.

Keep pets on a leash.

Leave the snake alone and keep a safe distance — Rattlesnakes can strike to half their body length. A good rule is to be at least five feet away.

Freeze in place — Snakes are often heard before they are seen. If there is a rattling sound, freeze in place until the animal is located.

Wear sturdy leather boots when hiking.

Avoid stepping over rocks and logs and reaching into holes that could serve as snake shelter.

“Rattlesnakes are basically creatures of habit and often bask, hunt, migrate and den in the same areas year after year,” Clay said. “Be prepared. Hikers in rattlesnake country should be knowledgeable and prepared to minimize the chances of a snake encounter.”

In addition to snakes, Merten said some common calls he receives this time of year are about small animals like squirrels and racoons finding small spaces inside or near homes to have offspring.

“When you find these animals, it is important to call in an expert to get them out,” Merten said. “You get a raccoon mom that just had babies — she is already tired and won’t be in a very good mood if you try to mess with her or her babies.”

In most cases, Merten said animal

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control experts can come and get the animals to leave on their own. If not, Merten said he will take them to a new location where they can go on their way safely.

Merten said almost all animals, including snakes, are not euthanized. Unless the animal has a health issue, Merten said they are relocated in areas like Franktown or Elizabeth.

Skunks are the only animal pestcontrol experts euthanize because state laws require it. Skunks are known carriers of rabies and other diseases.

To prevent small critters from taking up residence in or around the home, Merten said a good measure is to cap the chimney and check to make sure open spaces are sealed up.

Besides the small animals, Clay said bears are also a lot more active in spring.

“Residents need to make sure they do not have attractants around their homes,” Clay said. “The biggest ones are trash and birdfeeders.”

Trash needs to be kept in a secure enclosure and should not be placed outside until the morning of collection. To be extra cautious, don’t keep birdfeeders outside from March until after Thanksgiving.

Bird seed is one of the easiest meals a bear can find, and the availability of bird seed teaches the bears that homes are a place for food, making them associate humans with food, Clay said.

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20 Centennial Citizen

LOCAL

SPORTS

May 6, 2021

Cherry Creek boys soccer team almost had it all Ranked as No. 16 seed Creek advanced to face Fairview, but fell 2-0

BY JIM BENTON JBENTON@COLORADOCOMMUNTYMEDIA.COM

State tournament pairings are often debated and criticized when they are revealed by the Colorado High School Activities Association.

That was the case for this season’s boys state tournament bracket when Cherry Creek was the last team selected for the state tournament and was the No. 16 seed.

However, the Bruins beat top-seed Regis Jesuit, No. 9 Boulder and fourth-seeded Grandview to advance to the state championship game, which was played May 1 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.

Second-seeded Fairview ended Creek’s magical playoff run with a 2-0 victory as the Knights claimed their first boys state soccer title.

“Things just came together for us,” said Creek’s junior team captain Cyrus Gulati. “We had one practice just before playoffs that coach put us through that kind of brought us together. He made us run for two hours straight. That just helped us click for the playoffs.

“A lot of people weren’t expecting us to be in the finals. We shocked everyone by being the 16thseed and made it to the finals. We beat Regis which was the first seed in the first round and that woke a lot of people up.”

After the loss to Fairview (13-01), Creek finished the abbreviated COVID-shortened season with a 9-5 record.

“The team played hard but first let me congratulate Fairview,” said Creek coach Wilmer Barrera. “Fairview was such a great team and they deserve it. We were the 16th seed and everyone said, ‘oh they’re gone in the first round.’ There was a group that criticized us saying ‘oh why are they in the playoffs?’ We proved why. I cannot be more proud of those boys and to be at Creek. At the end of the day it is all about the journey.”

Creek goalie Knox Quarles and the defenders in front of him were sharp in the scoreless first half.

The Bruins had a chance to take the lead when Cyrus Gulati was tripped in the penalty area in the 46thminute. Carter Koui took the penalty kick for the Bruins but his attempt sailed high over the goal.

Six minutes later Fairview’s Sebastein Mazur booted a high shot from 30 yards away that Quarles leaped for but the ball deflected into the net.

Cherry Creek kept offense pressure on the Knights but Tristan Hird scored for Fairview in the 79thminute to seal the win which denied the Bruins a chance to win their seventh state boys soccer title.

“I can’t say anything that our defense did wrong,” added Barrera. “Look at Fairview’s first goal,

Cherry Creek’s Carsten Jones heads up field with the ball during the May 1 boys state soccer game against Fairview. The Knights PHOTOS BY JIM BENTON won, 2-0.

Louis Kehoe (11) of Fairview ties up Cherry Creek’s Cyrus Gulati in the corner during the second half of the boys state championship game on May 1. The Knights captured the school’s first boys state soccer title with a 2-0 victory.

Cherry Creek’s Cyrus Gulati takes the ball into the corner during the second half of the state boys soccer championship game on May 1 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.

Fairview defeated the Bruins, 2-0.

a 30-yard shot. It was a great shot.

Soccer is about momentum. We we had momentum, we got the PK and we missed it. It would have been a different game at that point. Two or three minutes after that, they scored.

“It’s part of the game. That’s what I love about this game, you never know.”

During the semifinals, there was a sign taped to the railing in front of the Cherry Creek fans and students that read: Bracket Busters.

And ,Creek kept its hot postseason run going with a 2-0 semifinal

win over Centennial League rival Grandview on April 28 at Englewood High School.

Carsten Jones launched a high free kick from the left side of the pitch and the ball went into the top right corner of the goal to give Creek a 1-0 lead in the 22ndminute.

Macklin Riley pushed the Bruins ahead 2-0 on a deflected shot 30 minutes into the game and then the Creek defense withstood heavy second half Grandview pressure to secure the win.

“The first goal was the key,” said Barrera. “We knew that if we scored

first that we are going to have the mindset that we are here.”

Grandview coach Brian Wood felt his team was tentative early and it was hard to comeback after Creek went ahead.

“That first goal was huge,” he said.

“We knew the first goal was probably going to be the difference in the game because both teams defend real well and once they got one, it was really hard to break them down.

“We played a little tentative in the beginning and I tried to loosen them up before the game but they were still a little tentative. That hurt us but Cherry Creek did a great job.”

Grandview finished the season with an 11-2 record and both setbacks were dealt by Cherry Creek which beat the Wolves, 3-1, on March 23.

Centennial Citizen 21

May 6, 2021

Coach proud of Grandview soccer team’s season Season-ending game was a battle of defenses, coach notes

BY JIM BENTON JBENTON@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Grandview boys soccer coach Brian Wood was obviously frustrated to watch the season end.

However, he wasn’t disappointed with his team.

Cherry Creek, the 16thand final seed in the Colorado boys soccer tournament, notched a 2-0 win over the fourth-seeded Wolves in a semifinal contest on April 28 at Englewood High School.

Grandview ended the COVID-shortened season with an 11-2 record and Cherry Creek handed the Wolves both its losses. The Bruins also downed the Wolves, 3-1, on March 23.

“It was a fantastic season,” said Wood. “I’m proud of these guys. They worked real hard. Our success was because of the work they put in, not just during the season but before the season too. There was not part of the (Cherry Creek) game that I was disappointed in them.

“We were league champions (Centennial) and won the league tournament.

I’m disappointed we didn’t continue on but I’m not disappointed with the season.”

Cherry Creek, which advanced to play Fairview in the state championship game, scored in the 22ndminute when Carsten Jones booted a high free kick from 30 yards away on the left side of the pitch which landed high in the top right corner of the goal.

“That first goal was huge,” added Wood. “In this game we knew the first goal was probably going to be the difference in the game because both teams defend real well and once they got one it was really hard to break them down.”

Macklin Riley pushed Creek ahead 2-0 on a goal that was deflected into the net with 30 minutes gone in the first half and then the Bruins’ defense staved off a flurry ofGrandviewpressure in the second half.

“We played a little tentative in the beginning and I tried to loosen them up before the game but they were still a little tentative,” said Wood. “That hurt us but Cherry Creek did a great job.”

Bruins coach Wilmer Barrera also said the first goal was a key to the outcome and praised the defense played by his team.

“From the beginning I had a mindset that defense wins championships,” said Barrera. “We had to fight until the end.

Nobody thought we could go too far but I personally believe in this team. The first goal was the key. We knew that if we scored first that we were going to have the mindset that we are here.”

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BATTLE AT THE NET

Valor Christian’s Hailey Bowman (13) tries to block out the spike attempt from Cherry Creek’s Courtney Wisneski (12). Wisneski led all with 18 kills and her Bruins ended up on top 3-1 in the 5A regional May 1 and will advance to the state quarterfinals in Colorado Springs on May 12.

PHOTO BY PAUL DISALVO

22 Centennial Citizen

May 6, 2021

Coach proud of girls’ state field hockey championship 7-on-7 overtime played to speed strength of the team

BY JIM BENTON JBENTON@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Regis Jesuit coach Spencer Wagner was probably one of the few people who relaxed a little when the state field hockey championship game went into double overtime.

He knew his team might have an advantage since the game went from 11-on-11 into a 7-on-7 situation in the second OT, and the Raiders could use their speed.

Cherry Creek controlled play for most of regulation time but the Raiders dominated in the overtimes and pulled out a 2-1 double overtime win in the April 29 match played at the Stutler Bowl.

It was the second state title for Regis (9-1) in the past three years and was the second win over Creek this season as the teams split two earlier games.

It took just 38 seconds into the second overtime period for Ellie Johnson to charge into the middle on a penalty corner and get the ball to Cate Lord who tipped in the game-winner.

“This is what we’ve been working for and this is an amazing,” said Johnson. “We have a lot of speed and that translates into our game. So 7-on-7 really helps us.”

Regis Jesuit players were all smiles after a 2-1 double overtime win over Cherry Creek in the state championship girls field hockey PHOTOS BY JIM BENTON game played April 29 at the Stutler Bowl. Regis coach Spencer Wagner is in the background.

Lord didn’t have much time before joining a group of Regis students that fans that started celebrating on the field.

“We practiced 7-on-7 a few days before just in case it gets to that,” added Lord. “We just have really good connections moving down field so I think that was to our advantage.”

Lily Castiglione put Regis ahead 1-0 with with 8:13 left in the second period but Creek’s Ella Pratt

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tied the game on a penalty stroke in the third period and the teams went into overtime.

“I was excited to see what we could do 7-on-7 because we practice it,” said Wagner. “We looked good. We have a core of very strong players and they practice together. We put those same six players together over and over.

I think that’s one of the reasons that 7-on-7 went in our favor.”

Wagner admitted the game was “a little draining.”

“This is more relief for me than celebration,” he continued. “It took a lot to get here. We’ve been quarantined, masked, canceled and snowed out. It’s been a lot.

“I thought the game was phenomenal, and I thought Creek played phenomenal. Last time we scored four goals against them but they shut us down and kept us to one goal for 70 minutes until the second overtime. But we trained and prepared for it and got ready for overtime. I couldn’t be prouder.”

Cherry Creek finished the COVID shortened season with a 10-2 record.

“The hardest thing is watching this team progress and be the best team in the state and lose the last game,” said Creek coach Clara Detrick-Yee. “I told them there was nothing more they could have done except put one more in and they were definitely the dominating team in the game.

“The first overtime we had 10 really strong players. In 7-on-7 we just lose strength and definitely speed and quickness,” Regis, which won the 2018 state trophy with a 2-1 overtime win over Creek and was seeded fourth in this season’s state bracket, ushered out top-seeded Colorado Academy in one of the April 24 semifinals. Castiglione had two goals in the Raiders’ semifinal win while Lord scored the other goal for Regis.

Creek, the No. 2 seed, got a 2-1 semifinal win over third-seeded Palmer Ridge. Alexandra Michelotti and Emily Sands had the Bruins’ goals as Creek advanced

Regis Jesuit’s Cate Lord scored the game winning goal in double overtime in a 2-1 victory over Cherry Creek in the state field hockey title game held April 29 at the Stutler Bowl. The Raiders have won two of the past three state titles.

Ella Pratt (4) scored Cherry Creek’s only goal of the game during the state hockey field championship game on April 29 at the Stutler Bowl.

into the state finals for the eighth time. It was the school’s first title appearance since a 2007 state championship victory over Colorado Academy.

Centennial Citizen 23

May 6, 2021

AIMING FOR THE GAP Cherry Creek’s Kaegan Wherry (9) tries to aim her shot between the waiting hands of Valor Christian sisters Hailey (13) and Taylor Bowman (14).

Wherry’s Bruins ended up on top 3-1 in the 5A regional May 1 and will advance to the state quarterfinals in Colorado Springs on May 12.

PHOTO BY PAUL DISALVO

Centennial soccer first team players named STAFF REPORT

Tanner Scarth, a senior defender at Regis Jesuit, was named the Continental League’s Player of the Year while Legend’s Michael Agostinho was selected as Coach of the Year as the team published its All-League team on April 28.

League champion Regis had five players named to the first team.

The first team selections: Regis – Tanner Scarth, Sr., defense; Alejandro Herrera, senior, defense; Josh Dermer, Jr., midfield; Trey Tomlin, Sr., goalie.

Castle View – Issac Bohrer, Sr., midfield; Jack Pucciano, Jr., midfield; Bailey Voit, Jr., midfield; Jack Blair, Sr., defense.

Legend – Perry McCord, Sr.,

defense; Nash Mullen, Sr., midfield; Brody Bassett, Sr., midfield; Jaden Robertson, Jr., goalie.

Rock Canyon – David Pousma, Sr., defense; Mason McGaffin, Jr., defense; Cameron Spires,Jr., midfield.

Ponderosa – Brandon Wobshaw, Sr., defense; Chase Ripley, Jr., defense; Braden Buttchen, Jr., defense.

Mountain Vista – Aiden Mott, Jr., defense; Tristen Laresen, Jr., midfield; Shane Baker, Soph., defense.

Highlands Ranch – Kyle Finley, Sr., defense; Nolan Schroeder, Sr., defense.

Chaparral – Jagger Hooper, Jr., midfield; Justin Lintonsmith, Sr., midfield.

ThunderRidge – Matthew Schultz, Sr., defense; Brody Bassett, Sr.,

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midfield.

Douglas County – Joseph Susser, Jr., forward; Maddox Tinjum, Sr.,

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Heritage – Kole Villescas, Sr., goalie

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24 Centennial Citizen

May 6, 2021

C R O S SWO R D P U Z Z L E

Summer concert series coming Tickets now on sale for 2021 summer rocks concert series STAFF REPORT

Celebrate the sounds of a perfect summer at the Castle Rock 2021 Summer Concert Series. Tickets are on sale now at CRgov.com/ PSMConcerts.

Nestled in the setting of Philip S. Miller Park, The Amphitheater has become one of Colorado’s most sought-after live music venues. Each year, the featured acts get bigger and bigger. The series has hosted dozens of Grammynominated, world-famous artists and has made Castle Rock a musical hotspot. The intimate setting, family friendly environment and amazing acoustics make for a great musical experience.

The 2021 concert series includes:

5

38 Special - Saturday, June 19 Parmalee - Saturday, July 10 The Beach Boys - Thursday, Aug.

Castle Rock Summer Jam - Saturday, Aug. 21 (headliner announcement coming soon) Super Diamond with The Denver Pops - Saturday, Sept. 11 These ticketed music events have become a signature part of summers in the community.

Prices range depending on the artist. Or, get 20% off face value with a Season Lawn Pass. These passes are for general lawn admission to all five concerts.

Check out the website for more information, including frequently asked questions. Or, find the event posts on the Town’s Facebook page (/CRgov).

Want to get involved in Town events? We’re looking for sponsors. You can also join the events staff, or become a volunteer. Email specialevents@CRgov.com for more information.

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Answers

THANKS for

PLAYING!

© 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

Solution

Centennial Citizen 25

May 6, 2021

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Help Wanted

kearhart@coloradocommunitymedia.com Help Wanted

LEGITIMATE WORK AT HOME No Sales, no Investment, No Risk, Free training, Free website. Contact Susan at 303-646-4171 or fill out form at www.wisechoice4u.com Junior Embedded Engineer Finna Group, Inc. Centennial, CO. Req: Master’s in Elec Eng; Soft Eng; Compu Science or rltd + (6) mths of exp in the use of prog lang. Send resume: susan.agema@finnasensors. com Senior Software Test Engineers Visa USA, Inc., a Visa Inc. company, currently has openings in our Highlands Ranch, CO location for: Senior Software Test Engineers (REF31979N) Provide support for Digital Card Account Services, Enhanced Visa Services, Visa Transaction Controls, and Cooperative Authorization Processing Service. Develop representational state transfer based in application programming interface solutions that enable issuers to leverage each of these applications.

Design and implement automated test solutions using an agile methodology. Staff SW Test Engineers (REF33050B) Design and develop QA automation tools and test frameworks. Collaborate with developers and QA leads to improve testability, automation, and tools. Some travel, up to 10% travel required to various, unanticipated worksites in the United States. To apply, please reference the Job#s above when mailing resume to: LJ, Visa Inc., MS: M1-12 SW, 900 Metro Center Blvd., Foster City, CA 94404. EOE

23691 County Rd. 60 1/2 Greeley, CO 80631

NOW HIRING!!!

Development Solutions company of Northern Colorado is hiring: - Hydrovac Operators - Hydrovac Swampers - Civil Operations Manager - Project Manager - Water Haul - Frac Sand Box Hauler Class A - Nights - Belly & Side Dump Class A (Greeley & Keenesburg - Tandem Class B (Greeley & Keenesburg) - Heavy Haul (Keenesburg)

Apply online at www.fortressds.com/careers or by phone: 970-353-6666

To Advertise, Call Us At:

303-566-4100 Colorado Community

NW Engin 3, Data Center NWs Comcast Cable Comm, LLC, Centennial, CO. Config & deploy of NW device in supprt of CO’s apps & server. Reqs: Bach in CS, Engin, or rltd & 2 yrs exp config NW Gear w/ EOS, IOS/IOS-XR & JUNOS; dvlp automated service use Python, Perl, Ansible, PHP, Javascript or Ruby; & assess budget needs & purchase hardware to supprt NW expand & maintain. $88,275 - $110,000/yr, https://jobs.comcast.com/life-atcomcast/ benefits. Apply to: John_Moran2@ comcast.com. Ref Job ID # 3484.

Media, in Englewood, CO is a full service media company looking to add to our team.

Help Wanted

Join the arc thrift Store Team!

Please Recycle this Publication when Finished

Colorado Community Media, publishers of 24 weekly and 3 monthly publications is currently seeking to hire an Multi-Media Advertising Account Executive. If you aren’t familiar with us, maybe you know one of our publications such as the Arvada Press, Golden Transcript, Westminster Window, Littleton Independent, the Parker Chronicle, the Castle Rock NewsPress or the Washington Park Profile. But we are a lot more than local newspapers. We also can help businesses through our full suite of digital marketing tools. Such as programmatic online advertising, email marketing and our own newspaper websites. If you have a desire to help businesses succeed by being a marketing advisor with many solutions at your disposal, this is your opportunity. Plus, as the local newspaper, we are trusted and well MULTI Colorado Community known.

Media, Englewood, Colorado C Candidate must be a multi-tasker, be outgoing andin a fast learner. Like anyCO sales position, seeking to is a full service media candidate must like the challenge of calling on prospects as well as established customers us, maybe looking add and earning commission on every sale.company Newspaper sales experienceto a plus but not required.

Westminst Position is full time and offers a base salary plus commission PressWe or th to our team. and full benefits available. can help b offer a nice working environment.

online adv

What we do as an organization matters. Sales revenues supports our newsroom. Ourto help bus disposal, t reporters are out there everyday holding the powerful accountable, telling good stories known. about good people, keeping readers informed about things to do and yes, the occasional breaking news story that is not always positive. If you are mission driven, we have aCandidate strong candidate mission and a 150+ year history in Colorado doing what we do.

and earnin Position is offer a nic

Please send resume to:

Job Type: Full-time • Pay: $40,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

COVID-19 considerations:

Come join CCM to be a part of helping local businesses be successful and our community newspapers thrive.

Sales sits in tall cubicles, properly socially distanced from others. Everyone wears a reporters mask a about good when not at their desks. Currently, it is rare that sales meets with anyone in person. Almost breaking n all work is being done via zoom, phone or email at this time. mission an

All Retail positions join our team!

Enjoy a New and Rewarding Career No Experience Needed!

We Train!

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720-981-0804 visitingangels.com/littleton/employment

MULTI-MEDIA ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

What we d

Please send resume to:

Job Type:

eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

COVID-19

Come join CCM to be a part of helping local businesses be successful and our community newspapers thrive.

Sales sits when not a all work is

Merchandising & retail is a plus!

Hiring for Production, Cashiers and Supervisors!

H RING?

Hiring Location: Bowles arc Thrift store: 8996 W. Bowles Littleton, CO 80123

Rates are very reasonable with self-placement.

It will run in print and on all 20 of our newspaper websites.

It’s easy to place your ad online.

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26 Centennial Citizen

May 6, 2021

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

www.ColoradoCommunityClassifieds.com

To Advertise call Karen 303.566.4091 Colorado Statewide Network To place a 25-word COSCAN Network ad in 91 Colorado newspapers for only $300, contact your local newspaper or call Colorado Press Association Network at 720-274-7174.

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Classifieds

Personals

Auctions

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Age and gender not important. 2 swimming pools, fitness area included. Near I-25, Outlet Stores, King Soopers. Call 303-997-6732

Colorado Dept of Transportation (CDOT) Upcoming Online Auctions: Fri, May 28th 2:00PM-Government Agency Participation Fri, June 11th 2:00PM-Open To The General Public 18500 E Colfax Ave, Aurora www.Dickensheet.com (303) 934-8322 Dickensheet & Associates, Inc.

Misc. Notices WIDOWED MEN AND WOMEN OF AMERICA. A social club offering many exciting activities and life long friendships.

Social hours for all areas of Metro Denver. Reopening Activities May 1st, 2021 Visit Widowedamerica.org for details In your area!

Merchandise Health & Beauty VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed.

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Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous kearhart@coloradocommunitymedia.com Watch Your Business

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Wanted to Buy Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests. Send details to P.O. Box 13557 Denver, Co. 80201

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Rentals Office Rent/Lease VARIOUS OFFICES

for Sale To Advertise callHome Karen 303.566.4091

2495 SELL YOUR HOME ½ %

$

OR

kearhart@coloradocommunitymedia.com

100-2,311 sq.ft. Rents from $200-$1750/month.

Full service.

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over 500k

up to 500k

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Please Recycle this Publication when Finished

Cornerstone Homes Realty

720-560-1999 • charlespaeplow@yahoo.com

*Commissions subject to change

Centennial Citizen 27

May 6, 2021

www.ColoradoServiceDirectory.com

To Advertise call Karen 303.566.4091

kearhart@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Concrete/Paving

On The Level • Elder Care/Home Health Care/Personal Assistant • Housecleaning /Organizing /Meal Prep • Errands/Shopping /Downsizing /Companion Work • Pet/House Sitting /Childcare • Gardening

I Care About All Your Family’s Needs Call For An Estimate • No Job Too Big or Too Small

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Concrete All types of Concrete Work

·

Driveways

·

Patios

·

Foundations

·

Walkways

Cleaning

EXCEPTIONAL HOUSECLEANING # 1 ,INC. Since 1997 - Lincensed - Insured - Bonded Weekly, Bi-Weekly, 3Weeks, Monthly, Move-In, Move-Out

FREE ESTIMATES SONNY NGUYEN: OFFICE & CELL: 303-918-2411 exceptionalhousecleaning@gmail.com exceptionalhousecln.wixsite.com/home Visa-M/C • Paypal • Venmo Heating/Air Conditioning

Joe Alsvary 303.882.2118

Serving the the Front Serving Front Range Rangesince since1955 1955 Furnaces • Boilers • Water Heaters Furnaces • Boilers • Water Heaters Rooftop HVAC • Commercial Rooftop HVAC • Mobile Furnaces Residential • Install • Repair • Replace Commercial • Residential Free Furnace Inspections & A/C Startups Install • Repair • Replace

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• CARPET REPAIRS •RE-STRETCHING • PET DAMAGE

n:

Call Ke

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Residential/Commercial Riley 720.382.0932

Cleaning

A BROOM AND A BUCKET

Call Elaine at 303-515-0117 rileyrosie1@gmail.com

Trusted name in residential, construction, office, move in move out & real estate cleanings

Concrete/Paving

REFERENCES AVAILABLE.

•All Concrete •Tear Out •Patios •Driveways

We’d love to come out!

Charity Passarella (303) 667-3536

www.abroomandabucket.com

Please Recycle this Publication when Finished

All phases to include

BEST PRICES 30+ years experience Clem: 303-973-6991

Specialize in barn floors, Driveways, Remove and replacement

FREE ESTIMATES

Any job over 400 SF give us a call!

•Curb & Gutter •Walls •Anything Concrete

All of Flat Work by by AllPhases Phases of Flat Work

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Driveways, Sidewalks, Patios Driveways, Sidewalks, Patios Tear-outs, stamped & colored Tear-outs, stamped & colored concrete.

Quality work, Lic./Ins. concrete. Quality Reasonable rates work, Lic./Ins. "Small Jobs OK!" Reasonable rates 303-514-7364 "Small Jobs OK!" tmconcrete.net 303-514-7364

tmconcrete.net

PRO FORM CONCRETE We do driveways, garage floors, walkways, front porches, steps, back patios, and always provide free estimates. Fully insured, local and perform quality work.

CALL FOR AN ESTIMATE

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WE DO ALL DECK & FENCE REPAIRS CALL US FOR A FREE ESTIMATE

SAND/WASH/STAIN 15% OFF! www.coloradodeckandfence.com codeckandfencepro@gmail.com

UTDOOR

ESIGNS, INC

Call DJ 720-339-4722

Electricians

Affordable Electrician

Local ads, coupons & deals are just one click away!

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• Residential Expert • All electrical upgrades • No Job Too Small • Senior Discounts

Cell: 720-690-7645 Office: 720-621-6955 Fence Services

“Specializing in Composite Redwood and Cedar Construction for Over 30 Years”

• Decks • Fences • Stairs • Overhangs •

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CHECK IT OUT AT:

Acoustic scrape and re-texture Repairs to full basement finishes Water damage repairs Interior paint, door & trim installs 30+ years experience Insured Free estimates

Over 25 years experience

Riley@arrowheadwindowcleaning.com

Contessa’s Cleaning Service

Drywall

Sanders Drywall Inc.

Ty Barrett

303-646-2355

Professional, reliable and affordable residential cleaning Give your home the ROYAL TREATMENT at an affordable price.

PROFESSIONAL HOUSE CLEANING

Deck/Patio

• patios • sidewalks • garage floors • • porches • stamped/colored • exposed agregate • lic.& ins. free estimates

• Home Renovation and Remodel • 30 years Experience • Insured • Satisfaction Guaranteed Highly rated & screened contractor by Home Advisor & Angies list

Call Ed 720-328-5039

Cowboy Fencing is a full service fence & gate company installing fences in Colorado for 23 6 years.

Residential/Commercial/ Farm & Ranch Fencing Low rates, Free estimates

Scott, Owner - 720-364-5270 Handyman

ONE WAY HANDYMAN

General Repairs Licensed General Contractor

303-805-7800

In business in Colorado 25 years We accept all major credit cards.

28 Centennial Citizen

May 6, 2021

www.ColoradoServiceDirectory.com

To Advertise call Karen 303.566.4091 Landscaping

kearhart@coloradocommunitymedia.com Painting Painting Mountain Skyline Painting is a family owned Residential and Commercial Painting company which specializes in exterior and interior painting as well as kitchen cabinet refinishing.

Our core values are honesty, integrity, service, quality and beauty and our focus is on delivering an outstanding customer experience.

We currently include a full color consult, test quarts and a detailed walkthrough with all of our paint jobs.

• Family Owned • Free Upgrades Included Give us a call to set up a free estimate!

Complete Design & Installation • Renovations • Drought Tolerant Design • Sprinkler Systems • Sod • Retaining Walls Trimming Trees • Tree Removal • Decks & Repair • General Clean Up • Xeriscape

Satisfying Customers for Over 24 Years

Al V A Vinnola innola 720-404-3525

Senior Discounts • Veteran Owned & Operated • Free Estmates • Competitive Rates

• Color Consulting • Sherwin Williams/ Benjamin Moore Paints • Full Warranty

Painting

mountainskylinepainting.com

(720) 432-6125 Roofing/Gutters

PEREZ PAINTING LLC

Interior / Exterior Front Door Refinishing Specialist FULLY INSURED

720-298-3496

Have a Hail Damaged Roof?

- Call Golden Spike Roofing - We are 100% Local & Have Great References - Roofing • Siding • Paint • Windows • Gutters

- Call Dave Vaughn 720-427-7422 - davegoldenspikeroofing@gmail.com

Smith & Sons Painting Father and son business for 15+ years.

Residential ceilings & walls, stain decks, wallpaper removal, stain & varnish.

Free estimates

Call Niilo 763-226-5719

DANIEL’S PAINTING exterior • interior residential repaints Re-caulk all home complete prime all caulked areas / replace any damaged boards/ popcorn removal drywall and texture repair/fences and decks/insured and bonded

720-301-0442 Plumbing

PEREZPAINTINGCOLORADO@YAHOO.COM Painting

PERFECTION PAINT

Roofing

M4 ROOFING

303-591-8506

6Y Wa ear rran ty

Residential & Commercial • Interior & Exterior New Construction • Expert Stain & Color Matching Quality at a great price • Free Estimates Handyman

TM

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• Drywall • Painting • Tile • Trim • Doors • Painting • Decks • Bath Remodel • Kitchen Remodels • Basements & Much More!

We Never Mark Up Materials Saving you 25%-35% All Work Guaranteed • A+ BBB Rated

Call Today for a FREE ESTIMATE 303-427-2955 Hauling Service

Cut Rate Hauling Trash / Rubbish / Debris and Junk Removal Professional and Reliable Year Round Service Rubin (720)434-8042 Kerwin (720) 519-5559

Please Recycle this Publication when Finished

rs Yea 25

Lawn/Garden Services

Landscaping Services: • Spring clean up • Weekly lawn maintenance • Decorative rock/mulch installation • Hedge/bush trimming • Tree pruning/removal • Gutter cleaning • Sod installation • Xeriscape installation Concrete Services: We specialize in concrete flatwork, we offer: • Patios (Pavers/concrete) • Stamped/Decorative Concrete • Sidewalks • Driveways • Retaining Walls (concrete or block) • Drainage solutions Pressure Washing Services: We offer our pressure washing services for concrete, houses/buildings, heavy equipment, and restaurant grease problems.

Trae Francque

720-653-8379

ttpropertymain@gmail.com • Reasonable rates, Reliable service • Customer satisfaction Guaranteed

PLUMBING & SPRINKLERS

We live in the neighborhood!

A+ Accredited rating with the BBB 18th year in business Great Google reviews

303-797-8600 www.M4Roofing.com

Lawn/Garden Services

Lawn/Garden Services

SMALL $25 $25 $30 $75

MEDIUM $30-$35 $30-$35 $35-$40 $90-$105

LARGE $40$40$45$120-

I don’t take the grass or leaves away, but I do supply my own bags.

RAKING LEAVES  FERTILIZING I have all my own equipment.

In business since 1991.

Serving Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Parker and Centennial

CHRIS YOAKAM 303-745-7676

Dirty Jobs

Done Dirt Cheap

Drain Cleaning + Plumbing Can do repair work on Everything in your home!

7 Days a week No extra charge for weekends 35 yrs experience

CALL Anytime 720-308-6696

ANCHOR PLUMBING

LAWN SERVICES C.Y.  FREE ESTIMATES  SIZE OF YARD MOW & TRIM MULCH & TRIM AERATION POWER RAKING

Free Instant Phone Quote Repair or Replace: Faucets, Sprinklers, Toilets, Sinks, Disposals, Water Heaters, Gas Lines, Broken Pipes, Spigots/ Hosebibs, Water Pressure Regulator, Ice Maker, Drain Cleaning, Dishwasher Instl., for coupons go to vertecservices.com CALL Vertec 303-371-3828

Alpine Landscape Management

Weekly Mowing, Aerate, Fertilize, Spring Clean Up, Power Raking, Trim Bushes & Small Trees, Senior Discounts

720-329-9732

Residential: Hot Water Heat • Forced Air Water Heaters • Kitchens • Baths Service Repair • Sprinkler Repair

(303) 961-3485 Licenced & Insured

Roofing/Gutters

• Roofing • Siding • Gutters • Insurance Claims

303-805-7800

www.1wayroofer.com In business in Colorado 25 Years We Accept All Major Credit Cards

Centennial Citizen 29

May 6, 2021

A little hard-won wisdom from one who would know

Y

ou’ve got a tale to tell.

Everybody does, but people believe that yours would sell. Write a book, they say, your story is interesting/ funny/exciting.

BOOKWORM And so you start to imagine the crowds at your book signing.

You think about the money you’ll make. You picture the life of a writer.

You should read “Consider This” by Chuck Palahniuk Terri before you go any Schlichenmeyer further.

Long before he was an author of novels, Chuck Palahniuk was a truck assembly line worker with a journalism degree, struggling to be a better writer through a series of expensive, ineffective workshops.

Then he met Tom Spanbauer, who offered “less a class than a dialogue.”

That, says Palahniuk, is what he hopes this book will be.

“If you’re dedicated to becoming an author, nothing I can say here will stop you,” Palahniuk cautions. “But if you’re not, nothing I can say will make you one.”

If you were Palahniuk’s student, though, he would tell you to pay attention to the “textures” in your characters’ conversations. Use textures as you would in normal

THE BOOK “Consider This: Moments in My Writing Life After Which Everything Was Different” by Chuck Palahniuk c.2020, Grand Central Publishing, $27, 256 pages conversation; they’ll help your readers know who said what, they’ll bridge conversational gaps, and they help indicate time passed.

“Establish… authority” to make your characters relatable. Offer real-world context; never, ever ignore fine details; and don’t worry about making people likable.

Some of literature’s best-loved characters were despicable.

If you were Palahniuk’s student, he’d tell you to “plant a gun” and an object that quietly returns again and again. He’d instruct you to surprise your readers and raise tension, both correctly, and to avoid ping-pong conversations.

You’d start to listen to other people’s stories because that’s where your novel lies. You’d know how to rescue a boring character and how to write dialogue that sounds authentic. And if Palahniuk were your teacher, you’d learn this: “Don’t overthink your creative process.”

Great writers are not born that way. They are molded from a mixture of sweat, rejection, odd hours, tiny pieces of notepaper, antacids, and books like “Con-

Author Chuck Palahniuk.

COURTESY OF DAVID MACK

sider This.”

Your readers have a short list of things they hate in a novel, and author Chuck Palahniuk shows you how not to do those things when writing your future bestseller. Replacing bad behavior with good is part of this book, including advice that makes so much sense that you wonder why you never thought of it before. (Hint: you didn’t because you’re not his student).

On that note, Palahniuk will delight you as he instructs, by subtly using his own advice scattered throughout this book amid stories

“Consider This” book cover.

COURTESY PHOTO

of his struggle to become a novelist and tales of booksignings that were held on his behalf. There are shout-outs to other authors that serve as a kind of reading list for prospective writers, and yes, you’ll find a few head-scratchers that may not make sense until you’re there.

Writers who are readers will enjoy this book for its anecdotes.

Readers who are writers will love it for the chance to watch a master in action. If you are both, “Consider This” tells the tale.

www.ColoradoServiceDirectory.com

To Advertise call Karen 303.566.4091 Windows & Doors

Tree Service

kearhart@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Continental Inc. Colorado’s Premier Colorado’s Premier Window and Door Window and Door Specialist Specialist

CallCall Joe for a quote Joe for a quote

720.202.6160 720.202.6160 Sprinklers

Tile

Columbine Custom Contracting

ANYTHING TILE

• Sprinkler Start Up $40

• Gutter Clean ups $40 • Fertilization $30 • Fence Repair & Painting • Aerations $40 • Fence Posts $140/each • Power wash decks & houses • Clean Up / Tree service • Garage Doors • Interior/Exterior Painting • Licensed Plumber

Tony 720-210-4304

● Marble ● Repairs ● Granite Counter Tops Remodeling is my specialty!

Call now for free estimate

(303) 646-0140

To advertise your business here, call us at 303-566-4100

Tree and Shrub Trimming CALL FOR A FREE QUOTE

720-283-2155 ABE’S TREE & SHRUB CARE Abraham Spilsbury Owner/Operator

• Pruning • Removals • Shrub Maintenance • FreeEstimates Certified Arborist,Insured, Littleton Resident

Tree Service

A-1 Stump Removal Stump grinding specialist

Most stumps $75.00 and up $55 Minimum.

Call Free estimates.

Licensed & Insured. or 39 years experience. text

Watch Your Business

GROW

10% off when coupon presented

A father and son team!

Call Terry or Corey 303-424-7357

Looking for new customers?

Handyman MR.FIX-IT

Advertise with us to promote your local, small business!

720.283.8226 • C:720.979.3888 aspilsbury@msn.com

Call us at

303.566.4100

Please Recycle this Publication

To advertise your business here,

Call us at

30 Centennial Citizen

May 6, 2021

Castle Rock student honored at Western Hannah Nordling selected for Alumni Award of Excellence STAFF REPORT

A Castle Rock student has been named among Western Colorado University’s extraordinary graduates of 2021.

Hannah Nordling is one of eight graduating seniors selected for the Alumni Award of Excellence. The award was established by the school’s former president, Harry Peterson, in 1997 to recognize the numerous talents and accomplishments of the graduating class. Students are nominated by faculty and staff and

then the advisory council evaluates the merits of each submission.

“All of the nominees are dedicated to being the best versions of themselves,” said Ann Johnston, director of alumni relations. “They have outstanding academic records. They are diligent, creative and deserving of this honor. And they’ve given their bright selves to campus and the Western community.”

Johnston said the decision-making process was tough for the advisory council as the drive and initiative of the nominees was clearly demonstrated to the faculty and staff that recommended them.

Nordling graduates with a major in global studies politics and government, and a

Hannah Nordling has been named as one of Western Colorado UniverCOURTESY PHOTO sity extraordinary graduates of 2021.

minor in Latin American studies. She is known to faculty for her well-researched

projects, and excellent academic work. Beyond the traditional student, Nor-

dling writes about historical topics with thoughtful analysis, consideration of consequences, and development of new questions to explore.

“Hannah opens herself to the world and committed herself to a deeper and broader understanding of cultures and peoples around the world,” said history professor Heather ThiessenReily. “Her participation in Western’s excellent Model U.N. program again reveals a commitment to engaged citizenship. Hannah illustrates every day and in everything she does, an openness to the world.”

Western Colorado University’s in-person commencement will be 10 a.m. May 8 on the university campus in Gunnison.

www.ColoradoCommunityMedia.com/Notices

PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088 Legals Public Trustees COMBINED NOTICE - PUBLICATION CRS §38-38-103 FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0009-2021 To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust: On February 19, 2021, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Arapahoe records.

Original Grantor(s) Kristin Clay Original Beneficiary(ies) Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver, Inc. Current Holder of Evidence of Debt Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver, Inc. Date of Deed of Trust March 06, 2008 County of Recording Arapahoe Recording Date of Deed of Trust March 10, 2008 Recording Information (Reception No. and/or Book/Page No.) B8027994 Original Principal Amount $104,500.00 Outstanding Principal Balance $71,748.30 Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured by the deed of trust and other violations thereof.

Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)' heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys' fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication: 4/29/2021 Last Publication: 5/27/2021 Name of Publication: Littleton Independent IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED; DATE: 02/19/2021 Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado By: Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: Lindsay L. McKae #39200 ROBERT S. ARTHUR #9614 Trevor G. Bartel #40449 Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP 1200 17th St, #3000, Denver, CO 80202 (303) 623-9000 Attorney File # 211668-10176 The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose. ©Public Trustees' Association of Colorado Revised 1/2015 Legal Notice NO. 0009-2021 First Publication: 4/29/2021 Last Publication: 5/27/2021 Name of Publication: Littleton Independent

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

City and County

LOT 7, GABRIEL SUBDIVISION, COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO

Public Notice

Also known by street and number as: 2065 W. Vassar Ave., Englewood, CO 80110.

THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST. NOTICE OF SALE The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 06/23/2021, at The East Hearing Room, County

CITY OF CENTENNIAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Centennial, Colorado will conduct a public hearing on Monday, May 17, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. regarding Resolution 2021-R-16 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CENTENNIAL, COLORADO, AMENDING THE 2021 BUDGET AND APPROVING SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE GENERAL, STREET, CONSERVATION TRUST, AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS. The public hearing will be held virtually, via the City’s website at: www.centennialco.gov. Copies of Resolution No. 2021-R-16 are available for inspection by the public on the City’s website: www.centennialco.gov. Interested parties may file written comments with the City Clerk, at: www.

legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com

cityclerks@centennialco.gov or via mail at: 13133 E. Arapahoe Road, Centennial, Colorado 80112, received by 1pm on May 17, 2021. Any written comments received will be read into the record during the Public Hearing. Citizens wishing to speak during the Public Hearing, may access the virtual meeting via instructions published on the May 17, 2021 Agenda at: https://www.centennialco.gov/Government/ Mayor-Council/City-Council-Meetings/AgendasMinutes or by contacting the City Clerk at 303-7543324 prior to the meeting./s/Barbara Setterlind, MMC, City Clerk Legal Notice No. 525170-60177 First Publication: May 6, 2021 Last Publication: May 6, 2021 Publisher: Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen Public Notice NOTICE CITY OF CENTENNIAL NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Monday, March 3, 2021, the Centennial City Council approved the following ordinance on second and final reading: ORDINANCE NO. 2021-O-05 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CENTENNIAL, COLORADO, AMENDING THE GAS AND ELECTRIC FRANCHISE GRANTED BY THE CITY OF CENTENNIAL TO PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO AND AMENDING ARTICLE 5 OF CHAPTER 5 OF THE CENTENNIAL MUNICIPAL CODE ENTITLED “GAS FRANCHISE” 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 April 22, 2021) By: Barbara Setterlind, MMC, City Clerk Legal Notice No. 525169-60176 First Publication: May 6, 2021 Last Publication: May 6, 2021 Publisher: Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF CENTENNIAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Centennial, Colorado will conduct a public hearing on Monday, May 17, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. regarding Ordinance 2021-O-06 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CENTENNIAL, COLORADO, ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE, 2020 EDITION, AMENDING SECTION 18-11-10 OF THE CENTENNIAL MUNICIPAL CODE, AND ADDING SECTION 1811-40 OF THE CENTENNIAL MUNICIPAL CODE

REGARDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE SAME. The public hearing will be held virtually, via the City’s website at: www.centennialco.gov. Copies of Ordinance No. 2021-O-06 are available for inspection by the public on the City’s website: www.centennialco.gov. Copies of the 2020 edition of the National Electric Code are on electronic file with the City Clerk and are available for public inspection. The 2020 edition of the National Electric Code is published by the National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169, and issued on August 5, 2019. The subject matter of 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code includes provisions and standards considered necessary for safety related to electrical design, installation, and inspection, and which standards will result in electrical installations, essentially free from hazards. The purpose of the Ordinance and the Code adopted therein is to provide standards for safe electrical design, installation, and inspection.

Interested parties may file written comments with the City Clerk, at: www.cityclerks@centennialco. gov or via mail at: 13133 E. Arapahoe Road, Centennial, Colorado 80112, received by 1pm on May 17, 2021. Any written comments received will be read into the record during the Public Hearing.

Citizens wishing to speak during the Public Hearing, may access the virtual meeting via instructions published on the May 17, 2021 Agenda at: https://www.centennialco.gov/Government/ Mayor-Council/City-Council-Meetings/AgendasMinutes.

By: Barbara Setterlind, MMC, City Clerk Legal Notice No. 525128-60172 First Publication: April 29, 2021 Last Publication: May 5, 2021 Publisher: Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen Public Notice FOXRIDGE GENERAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Foxridge General Improvement District will conduct a public hearing on Monday, May 17, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. regarding RESOLUTION NO. 2021-FRGID-R-01 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FOXRIDGE GENERAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AMENDING THE 2021 BUDGET AND APPROVING A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION. The public hearing will be held virtually, via the City’s website at: www.centennialco.gov. The public hearing will be held virtually, via the City’s website at: www.centennialco. gov. Copies of Resolution 2021-FRGID-R-01 are available for inspection by the public on the City’s website: www.centennialco.gov. Interested parties may file written comments with the City Clerk, at: www.councilcomments@centennialco. gov or via mail at: 13133 E. Arapahoe Road, Centennial, Colorado 80112, received by 1pm on May 17, 2021, or by recording a voice message via 303-325-8087. Any written comments received will be provided to City Council prior to the Public Hearing. Citizens wishing to speak during the Public Hearing, may access the virtual meeting via instructions published on the May 17, 2021 Agenda at:

https://www.centennialco.gov/Government/ Mayor-Council/City-Council-Meetings/AgendasMinutes. /s/ Barbara Setterlind, MMC Secretary to the District Legal Notice No. 525168-60175 First Publication: May 6, 2021 Last Publication: May 6, 2021 Publisher: Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen Public Notice CITY OF CENTENNIAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Centennial, Colorado will conduct a public hearing on Monday, May 17, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. regarding Ordinance 2021-O-06 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CENTENNIAL, COLORADO, ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE, 2020 EDITION, AMENDING SECTION 18-11-10 OF THE CENTENNIAL MUNICIPAL CODE, AND ADDING SECTION 1811-40 OF THE CENTENNIAL MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE SAME. The public hearing will be held virtually, via the City’s website at: www.centennialco.gov. Copies of Ordinance No. 2021-O-06 are available for inspection by the public on the City’s website: www.centennialco.gov. Copies of the 2020 edition of the National Electric Code are on electronic file with the City Clerk and are available for public inspection. The 2020 edition of the National Electric Code is published by the National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169, and issued on August 5, 2019. The subject matter of 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code includes provisions and standards considered necessary for safety related to electrical design, installation, and inspection, and which standards will result in electrical installations, essentially free from hazards. The purpose of the Ordinance and the Code adopted therein is to provide standards for safe electrical design, installation, and inspection.

Interested parties may file written comments with the City Clerk, at: www.cityclerks@centennialco. gov or via mail at: 13133 E. Arapahoe Road, Centennial, Colorado 80112, received by 1pm on May 17, 2021. Any written comments received will be read into the record during the Public Hearing.

Citizens wishing to speak during the Public Hearing, may access the virtual meeting via instructions published on the May 17, 2021 Agenda at: https://www.centennialco.gov/Government/ Mayor-Council/City-Council-Meetings/AgendasMinutes. /s/Barbara Setterlind, MMC, City Clerk Legal Notice No. 525171-60178 First Publication: April 29, 2021 Last Publication: May 6, 2021 Publisher: Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen Not consecutive publications

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Centennial Legals 5.6.21 * 1

Centennial Citizen 31

May 6, 2021

Greeley Stampede plans to return this summer Ticketing could start in May as officials wait for best estimate on restrictions

BY HANNAH METZGER THE DENVER GAZETTE

One of Colorado’s foremost Western summer celebrations is returning this year with the annual Greeley Stampede festival set to be held.

This summer’s celebration is

scheduled for June 24 to July 4 at Island Grove Park. The festival was forced to close in 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions.

“We are thrilled to finally say we are officially having a Stampede in 2021,” said Justin Watada, Greeley Stampede general manager, “but we still have a lot of work to do.”

The Greeley Stampede tradition dates back to the late 1800s as a community celebration started to honor local potato farmers. Now, it’s an internationally acclaimed festival that

attracts more than 250,000 people each year.

The festival as it’s known today began in 1922 as the Greeley Spud Rodeo and became the Greeley Independence Stampede in 1972.

It features rodeos, concerts, a carnival, a Western art show, food and a Fourth of July parade. Officials don’t know what the festival will look like this year, saying they’re making modifications to meet current COVID-19 event guidelines.

“The Greeley Stampede has been working hard making plans and

collaborating with the city and state,” said Greeley Mayor John Gates. “We are confident that the Stampede is creating an event that will be safe and entertaining for our community.”

Additional information on this year’s festival events will be available soon, officials said. Updated information about the Greeley Stampede will be posted on its social media accounts and website at greeleystampede.org.

For more stories like this, subscribe at denvergazette.com.

To advertise your place of worship in this section, Serving the southeast Denver area

Castle Rock/Franktown

Greenwood Village

call Erin at 303-566-4074 or email eaddenbrooke@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com Parker

Advertise Here!

Advertise Here!

Advertise Your Place of Worship

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WORLD MISSION CHURCH (KOREAN CHURCH)

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EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

Congregation Beth Shalom

Please check our Website for details about Sunday Services. www.CSLParker.org

Serving the Southeast Denver area

Call or check our website for information on services and social events! www.cbsdenver.org

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32 Centennial Citizen

N

May 6, 2021

Fulfilling lifelong dreams

ow more than ever before, people around the world can relate to feeling isolated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Isolation, something that increasingly affects our well-being as we age, is incredibly dangerous and puts individuals at higher risk for heart disease, high LIVING & AGING WELL blood pressure, and even dementia. According to the National Council on Aging nearly one in three socially isolated seniors expect their quality of life to get worse in the next decade.

Elija Valdez This number will only continue to grow as the senior population is anticipated to double by 2050. So, what can be done to make sure individuals are aging well?

Communities that produce the most centenarians share traits of social integration, community support, and family involvement.

Culture matters — seniors who

live in cultures that value, respect, and integrate them into the community live longer and have a better quality of life. Together, we can build this culture.

Wish of a Lifetime from AARP is a Denver-based nonprofit organization that grants life enriching and experiential wishes to adults 65-plus across the United States.

They grant wishes that reconnect loved ones, renew and celebrate passions, commemorate service, and fulfill lifelong dreams! Wish of a Lifetime grants wishes to combat senior isolation and shift the way society views and values aging. By granting wishes and sharing the stories of our eldest generations, Wish of a Lifetime hopes to create a more inclusive society.

Wish of a Lifetime was founded

by NFL quarterback and Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Bloom in 2008 in loving memory of his grandmother Donna Wheeler.

He was inspired by his travels throughout the world, seeing the countless acts of kindness and respect for elders across Europe and Asia, wanting to bring that sense of respect to the United states.

Since 2008, Wish of a Lifetime has granted more than 2,000 wishes to deserving seniors.

Wishes connect seniors to people, purpose and passions to eliminate feelings of isolation and help them live vibrant, purposeful lives. Helping an older adult achieve a long-held or deeply meaningful dream can have tremendous positive outcomes on their health, purpose, and sense of value. Wish recipients report that they are happier, healthier, and feel more involved in the world after having a wish granted.

One of the organization’s favorite wishes is that of Elvira Gomes. In October 2019 Wish of a Lifetime sent Elvira, 94, and her daughter Rachel, 72, to New York City to visit Ellis Island and see the Statue of Liberty in person.

Elvira’s parents had originally immigrated to the U.S. from Azore Islands off the coast of Portugal and she had always been very connected to her immigrant Portuguese roots and always dreamed of visiting the Statue of Liberty, which continues to serve as a beacon of hope for Americans of

all backgrounds. With the help of Wish of a Lifetime, a long-awaited wish that seemingly felt out of reach was granted for Elvira and her daughter Rachel.

“I had tears in my eyes. It was beautiful, all the people that came into that island … so much thinking and planning and working together … it was a miracle.” — Elvira Individuals can nominate themselves or a loved one for a Wish of a Lifetime by submitting an application at https://wishofalifetime. org/submit-a-wish/.

Elija Valdez is the Wish Lead at Wish of a Lifetime. To learn more contact elija@wishofalifetime.org, or call 720-647-9740.

This column is hosted by the Seniors’ Council of Douglas County. Please join us for our next virtual online presentation June 3 at 10 a.m. Elija Valdez will be our presenter and provide an overview about Wish of a Lifetime. For more information, please visit www.

MyDougCoSeniorLife.com, email DCSeniorLife@douglas.co.us or call 303-663-7681.

Caring for our Community by

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Learn how your neighbors are accessing $100,000s from home equity with Colorado’s number one reverse mortgage lender.

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rom Larimer Square to the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver is truly a great place to call home and enjoy retirement.

With the Rockies at your doorstep, there are virtually unlimited opportunities for adventure. Denver is also No. 3 on the list of America’s Best Cities* for a Healthy (and More Affordable Retirement).

What you may not know is a reverse mortgage loan from AAG may help you get even more out of your retirement.

A reverse mortgage is simply a way for you to convert some of your built-up home equity into cash for your retirement — cash to pay off large bills or high-interest credit card debt, make home improvements, cover medical expenses, build a bigger rainy-day fund, or simply get out and enjoy more of the Mile High City.

If you choose, you can wait to repay your loan when you permanently leave your home. Although a reverse mortgage requires no monthly mortgage payments, you are still responsible for paying for the maintenance of your home, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and, if required, HOA fees.

“Working with Jarred Talmadge and AAG was a very nice experience,” said AAG customer Angela Pendergraft. “No pressure or feelings of anxiety. He answered all our questions and concerns leaving us feeling comfortable with our decision to do a reverse mortgage.”

If you want to learn how a reverse mortgage can specifically improve your retirement, AAG Market Sales Manager Jarred Talmadge, NMLS# 1842043, and his team are ready to assist you.

Jarred can also address all your questions and concerns by calling (303) 957-3653 today.

To qualify for a reverse mortgage, you must: Be 62 or older Own your own home Live in it as your primary residence Have sufficient home equity (no mortgage or low mortgage balance) ACT NOW FOR A FREE INFO KIT

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*https://www.bestplaces.net/docs/studies/americas_best_cities_for_a_healthy_retirement.aspx NMLS# 9392 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). American Advisors Group (AAG) is headquartered at 18200 Von Karman Ave., Suite 300, Irvine, CA 92612. AAG conducts business in CO (Regulated by the Division of Real Estate; to check the license status of your mortgage loan originator, visit http://www.dora.state.co.us/real-estate/index.htm). These materials are not from HUD or FHA and were not approved by HUD or a government agency. For full legaldisclosure, please visit: www.americanadvisorsgroup.com/disclosure