Brighton Standard Blade 072723

CLOUDS PART FOR BRIGHTON BBQ

How Coloradans can save water at home

BY SHANNON MULLANE THE COLORADO SUN

OK, Coloradans, let’s clear the shampoo out of our eyes: Your shower water is likely connected to the Colorado River water supply crisis. But can you really help by conserving water at home?

In recent years, two decades of drought and prolonged overuse have brought the Colorado River Basin’s largest storage reservoirs to the brink of collapse. e crisis is reaching Coloradans’ lives in the form of summer lawn watering restrictions, higher utility bills and even a shortage of Sriracha. Some cities have bought agricultural water rights for more municipal water, and people with junior water rights often have their water supply cut in dry years.

Water experts say Colorado residents can help with the crisis, and they have plenty of tips to help the conservation-minded Coloradan start saving water at home. One drawback: In many cases, there’s no guarantee that in-home savings help re ll the system’s struggling reservoirs.

“It’s like, OK great, our city is now saving 10% of what it was using,” said Gregor MacGregor, a

SEE TIPS, P24

Young Roland Scott, enjoys a juice box and the performance by Colorado band The Corporation while his parents Lynde and Natasha finish their dinner July 28 at Brighton’s annual BBQ at Carmichael Park. See more photos on page 6.

PHOTO BY SCOTT TAYLOR

Volunteer at the Adams County Fair

Looking for a fun volunteer opportunity in your community? Consider helping at the Adams County Fair! ose interested should visit adamscountyfair.com/volunteers to download the application and waiver. All volunteers must be 16 years old or older.

Clock ticking for Brighton ballot

Residents considering a run for Brighton City Council on the November 2023 ballot have 20 days beginning Aug. 8 to collect signatures, councilors agreed July 18.

Seats in Ward 1, currently held by Tom Green, Ward 2, held by Mary Ellen Pollack and Ward 3, held by Clint Blackhurst, are all up for election this November. In addtion, the council has a vacant Ward 4 seat that is also open.

To qualify, potential candidates must at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen who has lived in their ward in Brighton for 12 months and must be registered to vote in Brighton. Candidates cannot be city employees or have a felony conviction in their past.

Contact the Brighton City Clerk’s o ce at 303 655-2056 with questions.

Brighton launches community survey

e City of Brighton has launched the open participation survey portion of e National Community Survey through Polco NRC (National Research Center) to get resident input on a wide range of community issues. All Brighton residents can now complete the online survey by visiting www.brightonco.gov/survey. e survey is available online in English and Spanish.

Brighton residents are encouraged to take the survey before the Aug. 3 deadline to provide feedback that helps plan for the City’s future.

e National Community Survey allows Brighton to compare results and benchmark residents’ opinions against other communities across the country. e survey includes questions about quality of life, important characteristics of community, services provided by the City, and priorities for the future.

Responses will remain anonymous and personal information will be securely stored by Polco. Once

results are in, they will be analyzed by Polco, then presented to City Council. Public feedback from the survey will help Council and City sta to identify areas needing improvement, and ultimately, impact decision-making for City projects and initiatives.

Residents that have received a survey invitation in the mail should complete that version of the survey by accessing the URL in the mailer, rather than the link above.

Residents with questions about the survey may contact the City of Brighton by email at communications@brightonco.gov.

Brighton sets fifth annual Touch-ATruck event for kids

e City of Brighton will be bringing out its heavy machinery for the fth annual Touch-A-Truck event on Saturday, Aug. 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of Brighton City Hall, 500 S. 4th Ave.

Kids of all ages will get the opportunity to go behind the wheel, climb and explore vehicles of all sizes, and meet the people who operate them. Police cars, re trucks, Flight for Life (landing at 11 a.m.; subject to availability), tractors, snow plows, loaders and much more will be at the event. Kids in attendance will get to help decorate one of the city’s snow plows with paint.

is year’s Touch-A-Truck will also feature Bike Brighton’s Bike Rodeo. Children will be guided through a safety course to learn important skills for safe bike riding — please bring your own bicycle. ere will also be a drawing for giveaways. Limited parking will be available at City Hall. Please be courteous of parking in residential areas — be aware of road restrictions (i.e. don’t block re hydrants), property access and safety. If you have questions about Touch-ATruck, email communications@ brightonco.gov.

Art in the Park set for Sept. 9

e City of Brighton will host its annual Art in the Park festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 9, at Carmichael Park, 650 Southern St. is one-day festival gives attendees the opportunity to meet with local, regional, and international

artists showcasing their work and enjoy live music, dancers, and other performances.

ere will be artist demonstrations, entertainment for children with interactive art activities. In addition, food will be available for purchase through food trucks in attendance.

e festival is free to the public. Planned performers inlcude gospel singer, dance, mariachi music, live poetry, Japanese drummers and short theater performances. Artists interested in showcasing and selling their artwork can visit brightonartinthepark.com to apply.

e deadline for booth applications is Aug. 18.

For more information, please visit brightonartinthepark.com or contact David Gallegos, Arts and Culture Coordinator, at 303-655-2176 or dgallegos@brightonco.gov.

Deputy Investigated for Assault

On July 18, 2023, we were informed that an o -duty Adams County Deputy was involved in a disturbance at Walmart (7101 E. 128th Ave.). e ornton Police Department is currently investigating the incident.

Any criminal action or prosecution will be determined by the ornton Police Department and the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s O ce.

e Adams County Sheri ’s O ce takes all incidents involving our employees seriously and will fully cooperate with the ornton Police Department as they conduct their investigation. e Adams County Sheri ’s O ce will conduct our internal investigation after the ongoing criminal investigation to determine if internal policy violations occurred during the incident.

e deputy involved has been placed on restricted duty.

Garden In a Box kits available for fall planting

e Brighton Utilities Department has partnered with conservation nonpro t Resource Central to o er Brighton residents the lowwater Garden In A Box Program. rough this partnership, City of Brighton utility customers can receive a $25 discount o the program’s water-wise garden kits while supplies last.

Sales are now open to the public.

Order for fall soon, pick up and plant in late August/September.

Garden In A Box makes it easy to have a professionally designed, water-wise yard of your own. Residents can choose from 11 Garden In A Box kits with the $25 discount. Box kits include anywhere from six to over 50 starter plants, with selections ranging from vibrant hardy xeric (low-water) perennials to a pollinator friendly vegetable garden. Gift certi cates are also available for purchase.

ese pre-designed kits are tailored to Colorado soil, and the simple plant-by number maps take the guesswork out of buying and planting. Resource Central has saved an estimated 228,600,000 gallons of water over the lifetime of gardens sold.

Find the perfect garden for you and your landscape by visiting resourcecentral.org/gardens. Kit pickup will be in the fall — details will be released when they become available.

For more information, visit brightonco.gov/gardeninabox, email gardeninfo@resourcecentral.org, or call 303-999-3820 ext. 222.

Farm to Market tickets on sale

Tickets for Farm to Table, a fundraising event for the Platte Valley Medical Foundation scheduled for Aug. 17 or on sale now.

e Foundation’s biennial fundraising campaign will bene t women’s health services to help women connect with the care they need throughout their adult years and to support area women who do not always prioritize their own health needs. e foundation hopes to raise $500,000 in the campaign cycle. ey conduct multiple fundraising e orts annually with Farm to Table as the largest event.

Farm to Table will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 17 on the hospital campus. Platte Valley Medical Center’s Chef Mike Anderson uses produce donated by area farmers to create a gourmet meal for about 450 guests. e event garners so much support that it often sells out long before the date. is year, Muñoz reserved a block of tickets that are available to the public for $75 each. ey are available at https:// ftt2023.cbo.io.

We’ve added 11 bays to service your vehicle faster. Call for appointment.

City Council approves fee increase despite opposition

BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Fees for some city services will increase in August, the Brighton City Council voted July 18, despite heated opposition from some councilors.

“The thought of increasing fees at this time, to me, is truly unacceptable,” Councilor Mary Ellen Pollack said.

Councilors approved the new fee schedule by a 5-3 margin, with Pollack and Councilors Tom Green and Matt Johnston joining her.

“We have an annual review process where we can get these fees changed and you guys have put this in the middle of the year and I have a problem with that,” Green said.

Community Development Director Holly Prather said the city will begin using a new online inspection and permitting program on Aug. 1 that will allow people to apply and pay for city permits and fees online via the Internet.

New software, new fees

“These are through a third-party vendor. These are not the city’s fees, so this is what they charge and we are essentially passing that along to the consumer,” Prather said.

Two of those fees relate to that. One allows the city to charge a $2.25 fee for payments made via e-check and the other 99 cent fee and a 2.99% charge for payments made with a debit or credit card.

“We have been directed by the City Council to recoup the costs for services and that is what we are trying to do here,” Prather said.

According to Prather, the city will begin charging a refundable $1,900 fee to encourage lawns and landscaping on new single-family homes. City codes don’t allow the laying of new sod during the dryest parts of the summer, between May and September. Property owners would pay the fee and the city would refund it once the lawns are completed.

“During that time period when they cannot install sod, they give us the $1,900 and once the sod is installed, we’ll go out and inspect and they will get their $1,900 back,” Prather said. “This helps ensure that residents get

their landscaping installed in accordance with city codes. It’s a mechanism to get that done.”

Multi-family and commercial/ industrial projects will pay the fee based on the estimated cost of installing the landscaping.

City Councilor Clint Blackhurst said his concern is double-charging homeowners who purchase a recently completed home and pay to install their own lawns. While the contractor who built the home likely paid the fee, Blackhurst said he’d like to find a way for the homeowner to get the refund.

“If a contract doesn’t put the lawn in and the homeowner has to put the lawn in, that $1,900 just gets added to the price of the home,” Blackhurst said. “Can the homeowner come to us and can we rebate the money to them? I’d like to see us think about that. Otherwise, they are paying it twice. It might not be happening often, but I think we should think about a process for that.”

Scott Olsen, the acting Director of Utilities, requested an increase for three fees. One would increase the cost of Erosion and Sediment Control, another would create a Water Meter Inspection fee for new developments and the last

would charge developers the actual cost of the meters.

“This is just based on the actual cost we pay for the meters,” Olsen said.

The fee for a half-inch meter would go from $280.82 to $324.16 while the cost for the largest meter, a six-inch meter, would increase from $4,426.50 to $4,481.65.

Olsen noted the price for one size of meter, a one-inch meter, would actually drop, from $507.70 to $474.65.

The city would also charge $50 for a water meter inspection, based on the amount of time an inspector needs to spend on the job. Olsen said the city would also implement a $100 fee charged if a water meter needs to be reinspected.

“Several times during the construction process, say for a singlefamily home, we have to return to the site to make sure there is no damage to the water meter pit or the water meter itself,” Olsen said. “This fee can be avoided by the homebuilder or contractor by just being more careful around the pit and using hand shovels to make

Weld Food Bank mobile pantry helping rural communities

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e refrigerated truck pulls into Fort Lupton’s Recreation Center parking lot about 30 minutes before it’s expected on July 20.

Weston Edmunds, communications manager for the Weld Food Bank, said he knows they’ll need that time to set up all the tables and prepare the produce. It takes about a half-hour to get it up and running for distribution.

“We started getting people coming through, and by the looks of the line, and folks from the community, it isn’t getting shorter,” Edmunds said. “Fort Lupton is one of our busier sites. We serve 150 to 200 families at this distribution site. e average family size is about three or four members and you multiply that by 150 families each time we come here, so it’s very important.”

e Weld Food Bank mobile truck Farms to Families visits students monthly at the Greeley and Windsor campuses, providing fresh produce. ey’ve partnered with Arty’s Pantry, housed on the Aims Community College campus, to bring the same services to Aims’ campus in Fort Lupton.

“Amazingly, we have so many volunteers who help in the com-

munity that takes ownership of this

“ e Farms to Families food truck

Edmunds said the program relies

A larger refrigerated truck carries

E AGLE VIEW A DULT C ENTER

Eagle View Adult Center Update July 26 – Aug 2, 2023

Eagle View Adult Center is open Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 303-655-2075 for more information. e July & Aug Newsletter is available.

Eagle View will be CLOSED July 31 – Aug 4 for our annual facility maintenance. We will reopen on Aug 7. Cribbage Tournament

Our monthly cribbage tournament is lots of fun and includes prize winnings. Just drop-in and pay fee to the tournament volunteer.

12:30 p.m. Wed. July 26. $4

Low Vision Support Group is month’s topic will focus on cooking and kitchen skills with low vision. Facilitated by Beyond Vision Skills Trainer from the Center for People With Disabilities.

1:00 p.m. Wed. July 26. Free. Deadline: Mon. July 24

e Power of Mushroom Supplements

Research is showing that mushroom supplements support almost every facet of health. Join nutritional health coach Patricia Towey, from Natural Grocers to discover the power of mushroom supplements.

1:30 p.m. urs. July 27. Free. Deadline: Wed. July 26

at’s the Way It Is

William Newton Byers did much to boost Denver with the Rocky Mountain News. e written word and word of mouth served as the news of old, graduating to radios and televisions. Join Denver History Tours as we explore how Denver has shared the news and continues to do so today.

1:30 p.m. Fri. July 28. $5. Deadline: Tues. July 25

The Fort Lupton Police Department building will see upgrades in the basement, councilors agreed July 18. BELEN WARD SEE PANTRY, P5

FEES

FROM PAGE 3

sure they are not causing damage.”

Pollack said urged other councilors to void the fee increases.

“When are we going to say enough is enough?” Pollack said. “Slow down. Pretty much every time we come up here, that I recall, utilities come to us to raise the fees on something —water meter increase, water inspections. What are we doing with the

PANTRY

FROM PAGE 4

prodcue and dairy goods to the rural communities throughout Weld County.

“Small towns and rural communities are among the most signicant driving factors that caused us to start this program over ten years ago,” Edmunds said.

Having the larger refrigerated truck is a game changer, Edmunds said, especially for items such as fresh produce and eggs. ey couldn’t come to Fort Lupton with those items before they had the refrigerated truck,and if somebody wanted them, they needed to come to Greeley to get them.

“Now, with the refrigerated truck, we can bring these beautiful, multicolored peppers, fresh mangoes, and even the dairy,” Edmunds said.

Edmunds said this truck has enough capacity that we can transport food and store it safely.

“We can provide folks that lives in rural communities food where public transportation is unavailable and can’t take the bus to the grocery store or don’t have the money to buy what’s at the grocery store. ey can get food here,” Edmunds said.

Schulz said Aims and Weld partnered to start the Hunger Free Initiative at the campuses.

“I also think the increase in use is related to the COVID-19 Pandemic and its e ects,” Schulz said. “Our pantry used to be a small closet lled with random donated items pre-pandemic. Students would show up in person and select a few items from whatever was currently available.”

Schultz said students couldn’t visit the pantry in person because the stay-at-home order was in place, but she found a way around that.

“I created an online form for students to select the items they needed and arrange for contactless pickup,” Schultz said. “ is shift brought the need for us to have consistent inventory on hand

money we already have?”

But Councilor Peter Padilla said the fees made some sense.

“These are costs that we experience today,” Padilla said.

“These are fees generally paid by developers for new developments and very new things, not things I would pay for when I’m remodeling my house. Under our guidance to have developments pay for themselves, if we don’t charge what our costs are then I, as an existing resident, will pay the difference. I would prefer to have the developer pay those costs.”

at all times. With the aid of our grants department, we were able to receive grant funding to help us keep our shelves stocked.”

After a short time, Schultz said the simple form she created was no longer e ective because it needed to track inventory going in and out. ey found a solution for that, too.

“We were able to purchase a pantry management software package with some of the grant funding. is new software package allows the student to shop almost like shopping online at any other grocery store,” Schultz said.

“ e implementation of this software platform along with funding to keep the shelves stocked has contributed to increased usage and a decrease in the stigma surrounding using this resource.”

Post COVID increases Edmunds said that since COVID, the Weld County Food Bank has seen signi cant increases in demand for all the programs they o er due to the nancial hardships many communities face.

“Our Mobile Food Pantry and Farms to Families programs are no exception,” Edmunds said. “ e Mobile Food Pantry had a 42% increase in individuals utilizing the program, and Farms to Families had a 51% increase. In Fort Lupton, the mobile food pantry served over 6,400 individuals last year, which is 2,000 more than the previous year.”

Edmunds said they started partnering with Aims Arty’s Pantry in Greeley with the Farms to Families program truck in 2021.

“We did a test run at their other locations in late-2022, including in Fort Lupton.

en in February of this year, we made all Aims locations regular distribution sites for the Farms to Families program,” Edmunds said.

“ e Farms to Families program that stops at Aims Community Colleges has proven to be a signicant help for the students at Aims,” Edmunds said.

To nd information about where the mobile food pantry will be in your area, visit www. https://weldfoodbank.org.

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Clouds part for Brighton BBQ

Brighton residents gathered in Carmichael Park July 20 to celebrate the city’s birthday with an annual barbecue, despite an early rainstorm that wrapped just as the celebration began and dark clouds that threatened more.

Brighton hosts the barbecue each year to celebrate the city’s founding and distribute information about city services and a free dinner. Students in the city’s Young Entreprenuer program also worked booths to sell their wares.

Rebecca Orenelas distributes bags of food to her family July 20 at Brighton’s annual barbecue July 20 at Carmichael Park. The city provided free dinners, with a choice of chicken or pork sandwiches.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT TAYLOR

Brighton City Councilor Peter Padilla enjoys a laugh with former Councilor Tim Watts and City Manager Michael Martinez during the city’s annual BBQ July 20 at Carmichael Park.

Erin Nap and daughters Reagan and Beatrix enjoy their meals July 20 July 20 at Brighton’s annual barbecue at Carmichael Park before the live music got started.

Crowds meander along a line of city information booths July 20 at Carmichael Park during Brighton’s annual BBQ celebration.

Smart guns hit the market

BY DYLAN SIMARD KUNC

At rst glance, the Bio re Smart Gun is di erent from other rearms. e large handgun looks part Halo, part Cyberpunk in design.

It’s an appropriate look since the gun is made with new technology ripped straight from science ction. It’s unlocked biometrically, meaning it can only be activated with an authorized user’s ngerprint or face. at, in turn, means only authorized users can shoot it.

Kai Kloepfer is the CEO of the Broom eld-based company Bio re. He said making a gun like this was impossible until very recently.

“A lot of the technology we’re using did not exist two years ago, in most cases,” Kloepfer said.

Kloepfer began thinking about the smart gun in high school. He grew up in Colorado and remembers the 2012 Aurora theater mass shooting, where 12 were killed. He brought an early design to an international science fair and won rst place. More than a decade later his plastic prototype has evolved into a fully functional handgun.

“I’ve gotten a chance to be shooting it, handling it. Even got to take one home for a little bit. It’s just been really cool to see something that I only dreamed of like 11 years ago,” Kloepfer said.

Experts say putting a computer into a gun is a remarkable feat—a gun’s explosive force once made it unthinkable. But beyond the computer, the gun is unremarkable in its function. Bio re’s smart gun is a semiautomatic 9mm handgun, meaning a user can pull the trigger, a round goes downrange, and a new round is fed into the chamber. It functions exactly like any other handgun of its class and caliber— and that’s by design.

It takes an expert like Bryan Rogers, the lead designer at Bio re, to bring the gun to commercial production. He said the secret to making a reliable smart gun is to enable more than one way to unlock it.

“It uses both ngerprint and facial recognition to recognize you as the owner,” Rogers said.” It’s either/or— whichever one it gets rst.”

e gun uses a portable dock with a small screen attached to both charge the gun and edit its user permissions. e battery life is considerable—with a full charge, it will be ready to shoot as many as 6 months later.

So, a gun that can only be shot by its designated owner is now available for purchase—but does that

mean it’s any safer than other guns?

Eileen McCarron, president of the gun violence prevention organization Colorado Cease re, said this rearm is an improvement—but there are still no safe guns.

“ e safest thing you can do for your family is to not have a gun,” McCarron said.

ere’s evidence that the presence of guns makes a home more dangerous. Having a gun in the home leads to a fourfold increase in the risk of suicide, according to a study from Stanford University.

But this research didn’t look at smart guns, and it will likely be years before there is enough data to know if a smart gun is a safer alternative to a traditional gun.

McCarron remains concerned about the mental states of those in possession of smart guns.

“ ere’s still the issue of suicide for the person who is identi able by the machine,” McCarron said of smart guns’ user-recognition technology.  e rearms industry has been closely watching the development of smart guns. Mark Oliva, a spokesperson for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, said the new technology does have some people concerned.

“We’ve never been opposed to authorized user technology, or smart guns. What we oppose are mandates on that technology,” Oliva said.

Some Second Amendment advocates are afraid this technology might one day be mandatory for all guns. ere’s no evidence of that yet, though it has been a focus within some state legislatures. New Jersey passed a law requiring stores to carry smart guns once they become available, but Bio re CEO Kai Kloepfer has said he wouldn’t submit the gun for the state’s review – specically to avoid triggering the law.

Overall, the stakes are high for this smart gun from Bio re—and

for all smart guns to come. Steve Wolf, a rearms expert in Boulder, is a plainti ’s expert witness in a case against Alec Baldwin, after the actor was involved in an accidental rearm-involved death on the set of the lm Rust. Wolf believes Bio re is taking a risk.

“If even one or two cases get out where it’s found that someone

was unable to protect themselves because the gun didn’t recognize them... I think that’s going to kill the movement for a long time,” Wolf said.

e Bio re smart gun doesn’t just prevent unauthorized users inside of the home from using the gun—it also prevents use by strangers.

Hundreds of thousands of guns are stolen each year in the United States, and many are used in violent crimes. Wolf said the smart gun might put a dent in that.

“It would diminish the ability of criminals to use the gun,” Wolf said.  For his part, Wolf hopes Bio re succeeds.

“Everyone wants to see gun safety improved,” Wolf said. “And if this is a step that gets us closer to that, more power to them.”

Bio re isn’t having any trouble selling out right now, even though the rst guns won’t ship until the end of the year. But whether the technology is here to stay is still anyone’s guess. Firearms history is littered with technology that never caught on—but that history is also lled with innovations that changed the world.

is KUNC story via e Associated Press’ Storyshare, of which Colorado Community Media is a member.

The Biofire Smart Gun is the first commercially available smart gun in the United States. Bryan Rogers, a lead designer for the weapon, leaned into a futuristic design as an expression of its futuristic technology.

PHOTO BY DYLAN SIMARD

First commercially available ‘smart guns’ are available for sale in the U.S.

Handling the turbulence of life

With over 2 million miles own, I have experienced a lot of turbulence during those ights. Last month my wife and I were on a ight and for the most part it was a fairly smooth ight. However, during our descent the plane was violently rocked and had we not had our seatbelts on, we would have been tossed from our seats. In all my years of ying that was denitely the toughest turbulence that I had ever experienced. Over the years I have had the opportunity to sit next to many captains and pilots. As we would y through the turbulence, they would provide calming assurances that the planes are built to handle the turbulence and the pilots are trained to y us through safely. at has given me such great comfort over the years, a comfort that I tried passing along to some of the nervous yers I have had sitting next to me.

WINNING

On one such ight as we were ying from Denver to Albuquerque, the turbulence was bad the entire ight as the pilot couldn’t nd an altitude where the air was smooth. e woman sitting next to me literally squeezed my forearm the entire ight, and I had never met her before. I didn’t mind and tried to assure her of the safety by sharing the stories pilots have shared with me, but she still held on for dear life.

Just last week I was ying on a Dreamliner, a massive airplane and super comfortable. e ight was full, and as we went through our ascent, the plane hit a pocket of turbulence and gave us a fairly good bounce up and down.

ere were a few quick screams and gasps, but there was another sound I heard, children laughing. e plane went through a little more bumpiness before nding smoother air and with each bump and drop of the plane, the children continued to squeal as if they were on an amusement park ride. I believe their laughter and relaxed attitude served to calm the nerves of others who didn’t nd the turbulence so amusing.

Life is full of turbulence, isn’t it? It just seems that every single day we are at odds with one another over something. e turbulence of politics, of cancel culture, of societal pressures, and just overall discontent and disagreements brewing everywhere. Sometimes the turbulence is frightening as it escalates and becomes erce. And sometimes the turbulence is slight, but still enough to cause us some fear, worry,

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher

and doubt.

It has been said that our character isn’t de ned by what happens to us, it is de ned by how we handle what happens to us. e turbulence happening in the world doesn’t de ne who we are, how we respond to the turbulence is a much better barometer of who we are. Sometimes we have to just buckle up, fastening our seatbelts and riding out the turbulence as it will eventually smooth out. Other times we may need to hold onto one another, supporting and encouraging each other as we ght our way through the turbulence. And then maybe we can look at the silliest things that feel like turbulence and like the children on the airplane, laugh our way through it.

ere are plenty of real-world problems that we face as a society, and we should pay attention to those and become as informed as possible, focusing on the facts instead of opinions

lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com

JOHN RENFROW Sports Editor jrenfrow@coloradocommunitymedia.com

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

and rants of others. It just seems like there is much more noise and turbulence around the silliest and smallest things that get us so worked up. For me, in these situations, my go-to response is laughter, as it really keeps me focused on the more important things in life.

How do you handle the turbulence? Do you buckle up and ride it out? Do you hold on to others? Or do you decide that the best response is to smile and laugh it o ? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can decide to respond instead of react to all that the world has to throw at us, it really will be a better than good life.

Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

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Recent school year saw little academic recovery, new study finds

BY MATT BARNUM CHALKBEAT

ere’s been little, if any, progress making up large learning gaps that have emerged since the onset of the pandemic, according to a new analysis of data from the testing group NWEA.

In the 2022-23 school year, students learned at a similar or slower rate compared to a typical prepandemic school year, the analysis found. is left intact the substantial learning losses, which have barely budged since the spring of 2021.

NWEA o ers only one data point based on a subset of American students, and more data from other exams will be needed to produce a clearer picture of academic progress during this last school year. Still, NWEA’s analysis is a concerning indication that the steep learning losses seen since the pandemic have proven di cult to ameliorate and could have lasting consequences for students and the country. e results are “somber and sobering,” said NWEA researcher Karyn Lewis. “Whatever we’re doing, it’s not enough,” she said. “ e magnitude of the crisis is out of alignment with the scope and scale of the response and we need to do more.”

Since the onset of the COVID pandemic, NWEA, which develops and sells tests to schools, has been measuring students’ progress on math and reading exams in grades three through eight. By the spring of 2021 — according to NWEA and a string of other tests — the typical student was far behind where they would normally be. Test score gaps by race and family income, already yawning, had grown in many cases. is coincided with dramatic disruptions outside and inside schools, including

Your Family

extended virtual instruction. Students were learning during that time — but much more slowly than usual.

By the end of the 2021-22 school year, NWEA o ered some reason for optimism. Gaps were still there, but students in many grades had started to slowly make up ground. Learning during the school

year was back to normal, perhaps even a bit better than normal. State tests also indicated that students were starting to catch up.

But NWEA’s results from the most recent school year are more pessimistic. For reasons that aren’t clear, progress stalled out, even reversed. In most grades and subjects, students actually learned at a slightly slower rate than usual. Growth in middle school reading was particularly sluggish.

In no grade or subject was there evidence of substantial catch-up this year. Instead, the learning gap this spring was not much di erent than in the spring of 2021, according to NWEA. Students of all types remain behind, but NWEA shows that Black and Hispanic students have been hurt somewhat more than white and Asian American students.

“ is is not what we were hoping to see and it’s not the message we want to be sharing at this time,” said Lewis. “But the data are what they are.”

Frustratingly, though, the data does not come with a clear explanation.

Schools were beset with challenges this past year: Chronic absenteeism remained at an alarmingly high level in many places. More teachers left the classroom than usual. Educators reported di culties managing students’ behavior and supporting their mental health.

But it’s not clear why there was more progress in the 2021-22 school year, which was also an unusually taxing year in many ways, according to teachers. Lewis said this was puzzling, but speculated that an initial burst of motivation upon returning to school buildings had zzled.

Students in NYC’s Summer Rising program at a school in the West Bronx. Many schools have attempted to use summer programs to make up for learning loss, but new data suggests that students are still behind. CHRISTINA VEIGA

selection. ese moments never fail to make her smile.

“It brings me just a ton of joy to see people enjoying it and enjoying the space,” Monson said. “I think it’s also enriched my kids’ love and appreciation for literature because they get so excited about nishing a book and passing it on.”

Monson built her library in 2017 and registered it with Little Free Library, a Minnesota-based nonpro t that aims to increase access to literature by providing blueprints and guides to build community libraries, as well as mapping registered libraries across the country.

Hundreds of little free libraries have popped up across the Denver metro area as their popularity proliferates. Monson said she was inspired to build her library after visiting others with her 11-year-old twins Tommy and Luci, who are avid readers.

“I really believe in the importance of building community and connection for wellness, so I thought it was a great way to build community shortly after we moved to Golden,” she said. “So it was their love of reading and my want to build community that made it happen.”

Since the library is on a bike and walking path, it’s not accessible by car, so Monson took advantage of the unique environment by adding a bench, a slide and fairy gardens around the library to make it an inviting spot for visitors.

BUILDING BOOKISH COMMUNITIES

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

One of the more recent little free libraries in the metro area is the one at Castle View High School, which was built as a memorial to student Brooke Adams, who died in April. Adams loved to read, so her school book club worked with others to build the library in her honor.

Golden resident Sam Monson poses with her little free library on the Tucker Gulch Trail. Monson said the library has brought joy to her and those who visit.

COURTESY SAM MONSON

SEE FREE LIBRARY, P11

FROM TOP PHOTO:

FREE LIBRARY

“We wanted to create a space for people to pause and enjoy the green belt that we’re on and the bike path is on,” she said. “Especially through covid, it was a way that I felt like we could put wellness out in the world with something as healthy as reading that creates a mindful, peaceful experience, but also gets them outside and active.”

Monson said the library quickly became self-sustaining once it opened and has since become a xture in the community.

“People often comment to thank us or leave notes,” she said. “It’s like an identity of our family, which we love.”

On top of being a way to build community, little free libraries improve access to literature. Unite for Literacy, a publishing company that tracks book deserts, estimates only a third of Colorado homes have more than 100 books.

Amber DeBerry, Director of Community Engagement for Douglas County Libraries, said improving access to reading materials, whether that’s books, magazines, journals or comics, is important because reading bene ts everyone.

“If you have access to books prior to the age of ve, your success rates in school drastically increase,” DeBerry said. “For people who don’t have the opportunity or ability to purchase books, libraries are an incredible community asset.”

In Dianne Shantz’s neighborhood in Adams County, she noticed there weren’t nearly as many little free libraries as more a uent areas of Denver, so Shantz built one in 2021.

Shantz used a thrifted co ee table and an old kitchen counter with a repurposed replace door to create a weatherproof library and food pantry near her community’s shared mailbox, which provides steady foot tra c.

“I’m proud to say (the library) is self-sustaining because it shows that there was a need there, and that’s true of the pantry too,” she said.

Shantz said she enjoys having opportunities to share her love of reading and tries to stock the library with books she knows her visitors will read.

“Being new to the neighborhood, it’s given me a chance to meet my neighbors,” she said. “A lot of Hispanic people live in the area, so I try to include Spanish books. One lady likes Danielle Steel, so I put those in when I can.”

For Kate Garland, a graduate of Castle View High School in Castle Rock, building a little free library was a way to memorialize her friend and fellow student Brooke Adams, who died in April.

Garland met Adams through the school book club she started and they bonded over reading.

“Brooke and I both loved the ‘ e Summer I Turned Pretty’ series by Jenny Han and somebody donated the entire set so we made sure that those were in there,” Garland said. “Some of Brooke’s other friends also picked booked they thought she would like.”

When Adams died, Garland worked with Adams’ family, school o cials, the school’s Technology Students Association and book club members to build the library and host a book drive to ll it. Materials for the library were donated by the local Ace Hardware and community members donated more than 1,000 books during the drive.

“ e community support around it and the continuing book donations have been really rewarding for me and the book club and the TSA members who helped,” she said.

As Garland heads to Arapahoe Community College, the stewardship of the library will pass on to other students in the book club.

“We wanted to make sure it would keep going, even after I’m gone,” she said.

To nd these little free libraries and more, go to littlefreelibrary.org.

At Dianne Schantz’s library in Adams County, she added a free pantry to help serve her community’s needs. Schantz said both the library and pantry are self-sustaining.

COURTESY DIANNE SCHANTZ

Thu 7/27

Nature Series: Naturalist

@ 3pm Jul 27th - Jul 28th

Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

Crafty Corner: Picture Matting (7/27)

@ 4pm

Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Reverse Mortgage Myths (7/27) @ 4pm Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Lazy B Chuckwagon Dinner & Show

@ 9:45pm

Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks De‐partment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton. 303-857-4200

Fri 7/28

Sat 7/29

AL. 7/31 Growing Naturally

Nature Play (2)

@ 9am / Free

Bird Conservancy's Environmental Learning Center, 14500 Lark Bunting Lane, Brighton. 303-6594348 ext. 53

Pirates Run for Booty @ 7:45am / $8-$25

108th Ave & Colorado Blvd, Car‐penter Park - SOUTH SIDE, Thorn‐ton

Leagues Cup Group StageColorado Rapids vs Deportivo Toluca FC @ 7:30pm / $25-$250

DICK'S Sporting Goods Park, 6000 Victory Way, Commerce City

Tue 8/01

Seth Beamer: Westminster

Neighborhood Nights (Solo Set)

@ 6pm

Irving Street Library, 7392 Irving St, Westminster

Manolito Y Su Trabuco @ 9pm

Mariscos El Berrinche's, 7850 Sheridan Boulevard, Westminster

Sun 7/30

Colorado Rockies vs. Oakland Athletics @ 1:10pm / $12-$300

Coors Field, 2001 Blake St., Denver

Mon 7/31

Storytime in the Park @ 3pm

Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

Craft Masters Challenge 2: Nature @ 4:30pm

Jul 31st - Aug 3rd

Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

Colorado Rockies vs. Oakland Athletics

@ 6:40pm / $12-$300

Coors Field, 2001 Blake St., Den‐ver

Colorado Rockies vs. San Diego Padres @ 6:40pm / $10-$300

Coors Field, 2001 Blake St., Denver

Legal Self-Help Clinc @ 2pm

Anythink Wright Farms, 5877 East 120th Avenue, Thornton. morgan@ hayday.org, 303-405-3242

Horse Trek @ 3pm Aug 1st - Aug 2nd Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 East Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Jenny Shawhan @ 5pm Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, 6700 N Gaylord Rockies Blvd,, Au‐rora

Colorado Rockies vs. San Diego Padres @ 6:40pm / $10-$300

Coors Field, 2001 Blake St., Den‐ver

Wed 8/02

Priscilla Block @ 7pm Adams County Fairgrounds, 9755 Henderson Rd, Brighton

Thu 8/03

Gambling Trip The Wild Wood Cripple Creek (8/3) @ 2pm Offsite, 6060 E Parkway Drive, Commerce City. 303-289-3760

Jordan Davis @ 7pm Adams County Fairgrounds, 9755 Henderson Rd, Brighton

ADAMS COUNTY PRESENTS

Grandstand events at the Adams County Fair

AUGUST 2

Priscilla Block with Frank Ray

Come hear one of Country Music’s rising stars as she performs from her debut album “Welcome to the Block Party,” including her hit “Just About Over You”.

She’ll be joined by Amazon Music USA

“Artist to Watch,” Frank Ray, who is touring in support of his self-titled debut album.

Doors open at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. This is a free show.

AUGUST 3

Jordan Davis with Callista Clark and Professional Bull Riding

Kick start a night of Professional Bull Riding with a special performance by Louisianaborn Jordan Davis, fresh off the success of his number on Hot Country song “Buy Dirt”, a duet with Luke Bryan.

He’ll be joined onstage by Callista Clark, part of the Opry Nextstage’s class of 2022 who has been featured two years running in Bilboard’s annual “21 under 2” list.

Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets $14 - $24

AUGUST 4

Demolition Derby Show at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 - $20

AUGUST 5

NSPA Truck Pull

Show at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 - $25

AUGUST 6

Charreada with La Autentica de Jerez

Adams County celebrates its Hispanic heritage with the annual Charreada Mexican rodeo followed by a performance by La Autentica de Jerez.

Gates open at 4 p.m. events start at 5 p.m. Tickets are $10-75, children under two-years-old are free.

Entertainment Stage

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 2

• Kelsey Jo and the Wildcards, 4-5:30 p.m.

• The Junebugs, 6-8 p.m.

• Karaoke 8:30-11 p.m.

THURSDAY, AUG. 3

• DJ Pipkin, 6-7:30 p.m.

• The Junebugs, 7:30-8:30 p.m.

• Karaoke 9-11 p.m.

FRIDAY, AUG. 4

• The Junebugs, 6-7:30 p.m.

• Mz Vendetta, 8:30-9:30 p.m.

• Judgement Day, 10-11 p.m.

SATURDAY, AUG. 5

• Global Sound Studio, 4-6 p.m.

• The Junebugs, 8-9:30 p.m.

• Karaoke 9-midnight

SUNDAY, AUG. 6

• Mariachi Mass 10-11 a.m.

• Strolling Mariachi 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Bonna Pluma y Los Originales, noon-1:30 p.m.

• Tomas Cordova and Just Friends, 2:15-4 p.m.

• Chicano Heat, 5-7 p.m.

• Baby Bash, 8-9:30 p.m.

• House Music, 10:30 p.m. to midnight

THE ADAMS COUNTY FAIR FOOD GUIDE

From flip-flops to funnel cakes, visit the Exhibit Hall and Midway for your a wide variety of food vendors and food trucks, as well as a chance to get your shopping fix. Vendors who have signed up to come are listed below.

Bibi’s Eggrolls

Serving traditional Philippine style rice noodles with vegetables & chicken, egg rolls with ground beef, carrots, and bell peppers, BBQ grilled chicken or pork on a bamboo skewer, Filipino empanadas with ground beef, potatoes, peas, and raisins, and chicken adobo with soy sauce, lemon juice, ginger, and potatoes!

Capone’s Concessions

Stop by and enjoy a refreshing drink of fresh squeezed lemonade or cherry limeade or shaved ice to cool you down. Try the BBQ pulled pork sandwiches or corn on the cob. Got a sweet tooth? Try a strawberry kebab or frozen cheese cake. Don’t forget a chocolate covered jalapeno!

Cheese Love Grill

Say cheese! This food vendor is a must if you’re craving an all time classic! Come check out their menu for a classic grilled cheese and tomato bisque or a street taco inspired grilled cheese. This place is sure to leave a smile on your face.

DC Concessions

Switch it up with seafood! Find this vendor for fried catfish and shrimp and pair it with some sweet potato fries or twisted taters. They also serve a variety of appetizers from jalapeno poppers and fried pickles, to chili cheese fries and mozzarella sticks. Enjoy their hand-breaded chicken tenders and don’t forget to ask about the freshly squeezed lemonade.

Fry Factory

Fries are a fan favorite, but if you’re looking to take it up a notch make sure to stop at Fry Factory! They put a fun spin on the classics with their hatch green chili curly fires, pizza box nachos and smoked grilled kielbasa. Don’t forget to try their gourmet red velvet funnel cake or a classic crepe!

German Specialty

Want to try something out of the box? Germany Specialty serves an uber potato skillet, a variety of bratwursts, and even a Bayou Brat Alligator! They also have the classics covered with corn dogs, nachos, and fried candy bars.

Grammy’ s Goodies

Are you in the mood for homemade Italian food? Make sure to check out Grammy’s Goodies who was recently featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.(2020) for the BIGGEST slices and the best home made Italian food and baked goods. Stop by for a giant turkey leg or explore the rest of their menu,where you’ll find handmade mozzarella sticks, garlic knots, delicious pizza, cannolis, pasta dishes sandwiches and of course some sweet treats.

Kona Ice

Try FlavorWave Kona Ice Flavors Like: Tigers Blood, Lucky Lime, Blue Raspberry, Watermelon Wave, Wedding Cake, Strawberry’d Treasure, Blue Coconut, Monkey Business, Ninja Cherry, Pina Colada!

Polar Brothers

This Colorado based company has some unique Nitro made Ice Cream flavors you cannot miss! Flavors such as cookie monster, vermont maple, nutella oreo, and much more! Stop by and check them out!

Pork Hub

Stick a pork in it! Come by and enjoy a smoked pulledCome by and enjoy a smoked pulled pork sandwich, a pig in potato patch or just some delicious queso fries or Colorado green chili cheese fries!

Simply Pizza

This local coffee shop from Frederick is bringing superior quality to the Adams County Fair this year! Specializing in Coffee and Cold Brew, we also craft 15 additional hot and cold beverages (Cocoa, Teas, Lemonades, Italian Sodas, and Blended drinks). Keep it SIMPLE! This is a stop you will not want to miss! This food truck presents Neapolitan inspired wood fire pizza. Menu items include: Two Meats, Charred Garden, Queen, and of course a Plain & Simple option.

Spicy Catering

Make sure you stop by Spicy Catering and enjoy some of your favorite Mexican cuisine, including tacos, quesadillas, burritos and nachos. Do not miss Sunday for the special taco tortas menu!

Sugars Concessions

Satisfy your sweet tooth with any of the following carnival favorites: funnel cake, specialty cakes, or a fried cheese cake!

Tacos with Altitude

Come enjoy green chili cheese fries, Nachos, or street tacos. Top off your meal with a Auga Fresca or Mexican Coca Cola

Wild Wolf Kettle Corn

Pop by this vendor to release your inner wild wolf. With wildly delicious kettle corn, caramel corn and lemonade smashers, 13 flavors to choose from this is a stop that is hard to pass up

Yazmin

Get ready to heat things up! Satisfy that spicy craving with the chili mayo cheese corn, the chili and salt mango on a stick, or the mangoneadas mango sobert with chili and chamoy. Don’t worry though, if things get too hot you can cool down with their signature home-made fresh fruit water.

In Association with

First Aid

Information Booth

Lost Children

Sheriff

General Parking Lot

Handicapped-Accessible Parking Lot

Restrooms

Handicapped-Accessible Restrooms

Food & Beverages

Beer Shuttle & Golf Cart Loading/Unloading

Recycling

Supporting Sponsors

Contributing Sponsors

Friends

EMERGENCIES & IMPORTANT INFORMATION

There will be first aid provided during the fair. First aid is located in the Red Cross Building. EMTs are also on golf carts roaming the fair each day.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office provides security services during the fair. Their office is located in the Administration Building located just south of the Al Lesser Building.

The Brighton Fire Protection District's office during the fair is located just south of the Red Cross Building in the mobile command unit.

To receive text alerts about important changes and notices, please text "Join AdamsCoFair" (without quotes) to 31002 or scan the QR code below and click send.

LOST CHILDREN

To report a lost child or locate a lost child, please go to the Rampart Search and Rescue Booth located directly below the Water Tower

Although every ensure the accuracy of the information provided on this map, Adams County cannot be responsible for consequences made herein. Attendees should consult with Fair management at ascertain whether any modifications have been made since the publication of this material. In case of inclement weather, Fair management may choose to evacuate the grandstands, midway,

and/or barns for the safety of all patrons.

mes:

• Wednesday – 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.

• Thursday – 3 p.m. – 12 a.m.

• Friday – 3 p.m. – 12 a.m.

• Saturday – 12 p.m. – 12 a.m.

• Sunday – 12 p.m. – 12 a.m.

Locations:

Prairie

2023 ADAMS COUNTY FAIR ROYALTY

2023 Adams County Fair Queen, Tymberlynn Rose Weidemann

Tymblerynn Rose Weidemann is the 19-year-old daughter of Jayleen and Willie Weidemann. A proud Colorado native, Rose grew up in Brighton where she participated in many activities including FFA, 4-H, yearbook, and Link.

She graduated from Brighton high school in 2022 and is furthering her education at Colorado State University for her undergraduate. She is majoring in Agricultural Education along with a minor in Agricultural Literacy.

The fair holds many wonderful adventures and memories for her. She is delighted to promote the fair and activities it holds. She hopes you will open the doors and join her and Elsie in their adventures August 2-6.

2023 Adams County Fair Ladyin-Waiting,

Elsie Oswald

Elsie Oswald is the 18-year-old daughter of Paige and Chris Oswald. Elsie is a senior currently attending Brighton High School, where she is a Link Leader and President of the Brighton FFA chapter. Elsie has been in 4H for ten years and is President of the Pure Country 4H club. After graduating from Brighton High School this year, she will continue her education at Colorado State University, majoring

in Agricultural Business in pursuit of going to a chiropractic college to work on people and horses.

This is Elsie’s tenth year attending the fair, and she is thrilled to share the joy of the Adams County Fair with you. She is excited to promote the Fair and the 4H exhibitors, livestock, rides, food, and other activities that make the Adams County Fair great. She hopes you will join her and Rose at the Adams County Fair, the largest county fair in Colorado, this year from Aug. 2-6, 2023.

Sponsors

Rose and Elsie are proudly sponsored by:

• Constance Photography

• Cox Ranch Originals

• Greeley Hatworks

• Rocky Mountain Clothing Company

• Thollot Diamonds & Fine Jewlery

• United Power

The Adams County Fair Royalty Program Clinic will be announced in the fall. For more information on attending this event, please email Courtney Cox.

If you plan to compete for the 2023 title of Adams County Fair Ladyin-Waiting, this royalty clinic is mandatory. The 2023 competition will be held at the Regional Park Complex in the fall of 2022.

Past Fair Royalty

1950s

1950 Chloe Plass Weidenbach

1951 Gretchen Gilbert Wilson

1952 Betty Williams

1953 Yulene Banek

1954 Carma Jesiop Hale

1955 Ella Masters

1956 Sandy Crosby Davidson

1957 Bonnie Aschenbrenner Kanouse

1958 Revae Milligan - Miss Rodeo Colorado 1958

1959 Diane Newell

1960s

1960 Phillis Guthrie Webb

1961 Rosemary “Cookie” LarsonMiss Rodeo Colorado 1961

1962 Sandy Schwab Purdy

1963 Pat Strole

1964 Annette Carrvin Bowers

1965 Teri Reither Watson

1966 Janice Schwabb Miles

1967 Paula Klaumann Jones

1968 Georgia Dowd Haller

1969 Marilynne “Lynne” Hokr Redman

1970s

1970 Jodi Russell Pfersh

1971 Janet Snidow Jackson

1972 Linda Carter Larson

1973 Marla Myers Zuch

1974 Nancy Coufal Elrod

1975 Barbara Seitz Williams - Miss Rodeo Colorado 1978

1976 Pam Armstrong Whitlock

1977 Teri Bohlander Griffith Parkos

1978 Debbie Pech Ritch - Miss Rodeo Colorado 1979

1979 Jeri Cooper Hass

1980s

1980 Nancy Nott Bunjes – (also the mother of the 2006 Queen)

1981 Susan Berger Farner

1982 Margaret Keehn

1983 Penny Constable Anderson

1984 Sandie Chaney

1985 Duetta Allart

1988 Kelly Field

1989 Kim Kling Daley

1990s

1990 Heidi Carmack

1991 Colette Wilbanks Stoudt

1992 Tara Rumsey Weber

1993 Kelli Mohan Metz

1994 Sara Ocker

1995 Jodi Miller Stonner

2000s

2002 Amanda Milton

2003 Stacie Toft

2004 Bronwyn Schindler

2005 Alyse Scebbi Fieldgrove

2006 Alyssa Bunjes Baker – (the daughter of the 1980 queen)

2007 Chelyn Heideman Hart

2008 Sadie Sayler Nelson

2009 Randi Rae Fishler

2010s

2010 Sydnie Rask

2011 Courtney Cox

2012 Danielle McCormick

2013 Alexandra Nelms Holyoak

2014 Savanna Hamilton

2015 Lindsey Irby Bakes

2016 Aviendha Anemaet

2017 Jennifer Ann D’Epagnier

2018 Lindsey Burleson

2019 Racheal Lampo

2020s

2020/21 Mandy McCormick

2022: Kira Szulinski

SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT AGRICULTURE

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Tymberlynn Rose Wiedemann said she grew up in the shadow of the Adams County fair and always had her eye on the fair royalty –although she wasn’t sure what they did.

“It wasn’t up until I was in high school, I was in the Future Farmers of America FFA Organization, which is an agriculture youth organization, so being part of that organization, we were around the fair lot. I actually got to talk to the fair queens and realized they are advocates for the agriculture industry,” Wiedemann said.

Now it’s her turn on the fair’s throne.

After a year as the 2022 fair’s Lady In Waiting, Wiedemann,19, was selected as the 2023 Adams County Fair Queen.

“I graduated in 2022, and I’m so fortunate. I was able to come from Brighton High School and I get to represent my county; it’s wonderful,” Wiedemann said.

Wiedemann said as a Future Farmers of America member, they teach students about the agricultural industry but need to learn how to promote it and educate people.

“I realized this is a way to serve my community, and follow a passion in the agricultural industry,” Wiedemann said. “These women royalty state titleholders are not just a pretty face that represents the county. When you talk to these women, they are very intelligent. They know horsemanship, agriculture, rodeo and the fair they’re representing.”

Wiedemann said FFA, 4-H, and the fair for kids’ is essential.

“You don’t have to be in a local 4-H or in agriculture or come from the city,” she said. “You can I can sign up and it’s something that is really fun. My FFA department at high school not everyone was an agriculture kid and some grew up in the subdivision or apartments. So sitting in Ag class they realized they too can be a part of this industry.”

Wiedemann said the FFA classes at the high school taught kids how to start a small project or grow a garden, educating them about the industry without even realizing it.

“Even the kids that are not working members in the agricultural industry when someone ask them a question, they can tell them about growing and harvesting in a field,” Wiedemann said. “The programs are incredible. It not just for kids its regular everyday people that can sit in those classes and those

organizations and be involved in the work.”

Wiedemann is attending Colorado State University, majoring in Agricultural Education and minoring in Agricultural Literacy.

She chose to stay close to home because it allows her to give back to the organization.

“I learned so much value and what our industry really means. I hope I’m able to come back and grow the next generation of agriculturalists. A lot of times, industries can slowly die, and generations will leave if you have people that aren’t willing to fight for this organization industry that is slowly dying, and you need to have people that are knowledgeable about the industry and want to learn about it and work for it to last for the future,” Wiedemann said.

If she has her way, she’ll be involved in agriculture for the rest of her life.

“I hope to stay in the agriculture industry, whether it is classroom teaching, working in a position with agriculture, or work as legislator. I want to continue to be a voice for this industry representing the agriculture and Western industry in a public matter, talking to people. If I can continue to do that into adulthood, I would love that,” Wiedemann said.

Muniz bounces back from setback

BY STEVE SMITH SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

As far as Brighton’s Danthony Muniz was concerned, things couldn’t have been better early in the spring.

Muniz, who’s aiming to become a professional mixed-martial arts ghter, was getting set for his rst foray into submission grappling. e goal is to score submission victories as opposed to wrestling, where pins are the name of the game.

Muniz had a spot on a submission grappling card in New York in late April. en the injury bug bit.

“I fractured my shoulder during live training a week before leaving for New York,” Muniz said. “Time o the mat was all it took to recover. It was de nitely a very long month.” at wasn’t all.

“At rst it was a very hard hit on my mental state,” he said. “I was very down and upset. But I knew it was a part of the process. So, I just kept my

head on straight and thought about the positive things that could come

from it.”

e doctors wouldn’t let him train

on the mats. But they let him run. His normal output had been ve miles a day. He’s doubled that since the injury. He’s also found some new training partners.

“I have been mainly training with ug Rose Namajunas (a member of the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization and former two-time UFC women’s strawweight champion), Pat HD Barry (a former American mixed martial artist and kickboxer).” Others in the training group are Tatsuo Taira (a Japanese mixed-martial artist), Alonzo Menied (an American mixed-martial artist) and Ralek Gracie (a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grappler and mixed martialarts ghter).”

All the work is leading toward an appearance with CJCC, a professional grappling association, in early September in Aurora He and his brother, Dom (also a BJJ ghter), started a clothing and landscaping company, Lifestyle.

How to stay safe on Colorado’s trails and waters in a wet year

Parks agency urges checking trail conditions, wearing life jackets on water

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

After a strong winter and wet spring, the statewide snow runo owing into Colorado rivers, streams and lakes is higher than usual this year — and with large dumps of rainfall along the Front Range, that means outdoor recreators might encounter conditions they aren’t used to seeing.

With high water on rivers this year, as of late June, there have already been 12 swift-water-related

fatalities in Colorado, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

“ is year’s river ows are more dangerous compared to last year,” Michael Haskins, a swift-water investigator, said in a news release.

“We strongly encourage people to check river conditions before you head out, and if you arrive and see high and fast water conditions you don’t know how to navigate or feel unsure about, please don’t risk getting hurt and the need for a river rescue,” Haskins added.

Last year, the majority of fatalities occurred because people did not wear a life jacket — and the state parks agency urges using that and other precautions to stay safe.

Meanwhile, trails have also seen impacts from the wet weather. Heavy rainfall destroyed all bridge

crossings over the Cherry Creek in Castlewood Canyon State Park in Douglas County, a June news release from the parks agency said.

Here’s a look at how to stay safe when you’re recreating outdoors — whether on land or water.

Staying safe on trails

Standing water on trails is one potential hazard for bikers to watch out for.

“Check trail conditions before you

go to be sure conditions are safe,” said Travis Duncan, a spokesperson with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

You can visit trails.colorado.gov to access the state’s COTREX map system, or download the app, to locate trail closures.

(It may also be helpful to check local government websites for trail closures. For instance, Castle Rock and Je erson County list closures at

Brighton’s Danthony Muniz works on his grappling technique with his coach, Eric Gutierrez, during a recent training session in Westminster.

PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH

tinyurl.com/CastleRockTrails and tinyurl.com/Je coParksTrails.)

Trail users should also be mindful of erosion, the natural process by which rock and soil are worn away by wind, water and tra c.

“Left unchecked, erosion can destroy trails and damage the environment,” Duncan said. “Trail erosion is accelerated by a combination of trail users, gravity and water.”

When walkers and runners encounter standing water on a trail, recommendations can vary.

“Every situation is di erent,” Duncan said. “In many instances, we’d prefer folks not hike when conditions are bad on a given trail. In most cases, going through the water is the best option and will prevent further erosion to the trail.”

Staying safe in water

Even the most experienced outdoor enthusiasts can become victims to deceptively strong currents, cold water temperatures and unexpected changes in depth, according to the state parks agency.

In 2022, Colorado experienced a low- ow snow runo year, but it was still what the parks agency called the deadliest year in Colorado waters,

FINDINGS

FROM PAGE 9

Learning loss recovery e orts have also run into hurdles. Tutoring has reached only a small subset of students. Few districts have extended the school day or year to guarantee all students more learning time.

But NWEA researchers cautioned that their data cannot speak directly to the e ectiveness or particular

with the majority of water-related deaths occurring in lakes and reservoirs.

( e parks agency clari ed to Colorado Community Media that it is keeping an uno cial tally. Said Duncan: “ ere is no statewide authority on water-related deaths in Colorado, though CPW has been tracking them in recent years ... CPW handles investigations on properties we manage and often gets asked to assist in searching for victims or evidence in other jurisdictions. But CPW is not the overarching authority on water-related deaths for the entire state.”)

In 2022, there were 42 water-related fatalities in Colorado, which was up from 22 in 2021, and 34 in 2020, according to the agency.

recovery e orts or to the federal COVID relief money more generally. “We have no access to the counterfactual of what life would be like right now absent those funds — I think it would be much more dire,” said Lewis.

It’s also possible that some combination of out-of-school factors may be driving trends in student learning. Researchers have long noted that a complex array of variables outside of schools’ control matters a great deal for student

EXACT SAME COVERAGE UP TO HALF THE COST.

855-908-2383

occurred from people swimming, paddle boarding, kayaking or using an in atable of some kind, and the vast majority were not wearing a life jacket,” the agency said in a news release. “CPW wants to remind the public that paddle boards and kayaks are considered vessels, and life jacket requirements apply.”

e parks agency also recommends all boaters and passengers wear a life jacket while on the water.

“Regardless of your age or experience level, the data shows that life jackets save lives,” Grant Brown, boating safety program manager for the parks agency, said in the release.

State parks sta also emphasized that river water exerts “a very powerful

learning.

What the NWEA study does suggest is that students are not on track to catch up to where they would have been if not for the pandemic.

Lewis says the takeaway is that policymakers and schools simply aren’t doing enough. “If you give someone half a Tylenol for a migraine and expect them to feel better, that’s just not reality,” she said.

NWEA’s analysis is based on data from millions of students in thousands of public schools. Outcomes

and constant force against any xed object.”

“Just six inches of water can knock a person o their feet. Water owing at seven miles per hour has the equivalent force per unit area as air blowing above 200 miles per hour,” the news release said.

Sta also pointed to the fact that although the air temperature may be hot, “the water is very cold.”

“Cold water can quickly create a drowning emergency,” the agency said in a release.

e agency also urged the public to boat sober, as “alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths.”

Duncan also explained the term “swift-water rescue,” which involves fast-moving water conditions.

“Although sometimes called ‘white water rescue,’ it applies to any rescue situation in an environment — rural or urban — with moving water, including one not normally submerged, such as a ooded drainage area,” Duncan said. While “swift water” has no formal de nition in the rescue industry, according to Duncan, many industry professionals accept the following quali cations as standard:

• Water depth of over two feet

• Flow rate of, at minimum, one knot (1.15 miles per hour)

• Occurrence in a natural watercourse, ood control channel, or ood-a ected environment.

may not be representative of all students or schools, though, since the exam’s administration is voluntary.

NWEA researchers say other data would be helpful to con rm the results. at could come soon: State test results from this year are beginning to emerge and other testing companies will be releasing their own data.

Chalkbeat is a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.

People, along with a dog, recreate in the water. COURTESY

water law expert at the University of Colorado. “ e question is, what is your city going to do with that 10%? Are they going to leave it in the Colorado River Basin? Are they going to leave it in a reservoir for drought conditions? Or are they simply going to divide that savings out to build more and then use that savings on new development?”

e average American family uses more than 300 gallons of water per day at home, and about 70% of that use is indoors. In the arid West, states have some of the highest per capita residential water use because of landscape irrigation, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

In Colorado, water users run through 5.43 million acre-feet of water per year. One acre-foot supports two families of four to ve people for one year.

Of that, 90%, or about 4.8 million acre-feet, is used by the agriculture industry. About 380,000 acre-feet is used in cities and towns, and of that, only about 46% goes to indoor water uses like toilets, faucets, laundry machines and showers.

at means that the impact of inhome water conservation is going to be limited in the grand scheme of water use in the Colorado River

Basin, where the amount of water stored in reservoirs like Lake Powell and Lake Mead has declined dramatically.

“While the bulk of that water to help prevent Lake Powell from collapsing will come from agriculture, cities need to do their part,” said John Berggren, senior regional water policy analyst for Western Resource Advocates. “Municipalities’ water use matters. It’s small … but it matters.”

Home water use falls primarily into two categories: indoor and outdoor.

In Colorado, residents tend to use more water outdoors watering their lawns and gardens. at’s led to the rise of water-wise landscaping e orts, like those currently being showcased at the Denver Botanic Gardens.

Indoors, Colorado residents use about 60 gallons per capita each day. at leaves them with plenty of opportunities for conservation — and accidental waste.

In 2016, toilets were the main culprits of water use in homes nationwide, using 24% of household water, followed by showers, 20%; faucets, 19%; and washing machines, 17%, according to the EPA.

Americans use more than 1 trillion gallons of water each year just for showering. e average shower is eight minutes, which means it uses more than 16 gallons of water at 2.1 gallons per minute.

Letting your faucet run for ve minutes while washing dishes can waste 10 gallons of water. Each year, household leaks waste nearly 900 billion gallons of water nationwide, which is enough to supply water to 11 million homes. And about 50% of the water used outside is lost because of wind, evaporation and runo from ine cient irrigation systems, according to the EPA.

“We’re now in a world where feet matter in Lake Powell. Drops of water matter because we’re on a knife’s edge. When you’re in that tight of a spot, every single water use matters. No matter how small,” Berggren said.

ere are a few simple ways to cut back on water use at home, including some Colorado-speci c programs.

Yes, taking shorter showers can decrease water use and cut back on your water bill. e EPA says that, if all 300 million people in the U.S. reduced their shower time by one minute each time, the country could save 170 billion gallons each year.

Turning o the tap while brushing your teeth can save 8 gallons of water per day, and only running the dishwasher when it’s full can save the average family about 320 gallons of water per year, according to the EPA.

But Berggren says rather than changing habits — which we all know can have a hit-or-miss success

rate — he’d start with making purchases, like a more e cient shower xture.

e EPA says households can boost their water e ciency by 20% when residents switch to products with WaterSense labels. And a shower that lasts for ve minutes using a low- ow showerhead uses 12 gallons of water, according to a 2014 Colorado State University water use fact sheet.

Similar savings are possible with toilets: ose made before 1993 use 3.5 to 8 gallons per ush, while high e ciency toilets made after 1993 use 1.6 gallons per ush or less. at means a family of four can save 14,000 to 25,000 gallons per year by switching to more e cient toilets. ( e date of manufacture of most toilets is on the underside of the tank lid.)

Updating your washing machine can also make a big di erence. Conventional, top-loading washing machines use 35 to 50 gallons per load. Newer front-loading machines use 18 to 20 gallons per load, according to CSU.

For those who have updated their appliances and are careful about water use around the house, there’s a way to take at-home e ciency a step further: grey water reuse. ese systems capture grey water — the runo from showers, bathroom sinks and laundry machines

SEE TIPS, P25

TIPS

— and then use it for other purposes, like watering ornamental plants outside or ushing toilets, at the same location. is water can contain dirt, oil, greases, lint and possibly human pathogens, so don’t use it to drink or water your vegetables, experts say.

Laundry-to-landscape systems installed by homeowners, which capture washing machine water for outdoor irrigation, can cost as little as $350, said Jon Novick, the environmental administrator for the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment.

Whole house systems pipe water from showers and bathroom sinks through a treatment process and then send it to toilets to provide water for ushing. e system alone can cost $6,000 to $8,000, not including installation costs, so they’re more feasible for new houses or developments with multiple units, Novick said. ey’re often cost prohibitive for existing homes.

ese systems also come with a catch: Local governments need water rights that allow for reuse, which limits the adoption of grey water programs, and new installations are only legal if the local government has o cially approved

grey water reuse. People with preexisting systems should check with their local programs to see if their system can be grandfathered in.

As of July, six local governments have approved grey water reuse, including the city and county of Denver, Pitkin County, Fort Collins, Grand Junction and Golden. ose who draw water from wells will need to check their permits. Exempt well permits, for example, do not allow reuse of indoor water for outdoor irrigation.

If a grey water system saves 25 gallons per day and is installed in 500,000 homes, it could save 14,000 acre-feet per year. at’s enough water to supply 28,000 homes, Novick said.

But the counties that have approved grey water ordinances have seen little uptake. As of June, Denver had approved 30 systems; Castle Rock, 29 systems; and Pitkin County, zero, according to each county’s program manager.

Whether water e ciency measures translate into conservation in the Colorado River Basin depends on factors ranging from where a resident lives to local water management decisions.

Water pulled from the Colorado River Basin on the Western Slope never returns to the basin. Front Range residents could use less water in the hope that more water could stay on the Western Slope, but there are no incentives for

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Front Range water providers to give up such a valuable resource because of water savings, said MacGregor, the water law expert at CU.

“Anyone who pockets (water) savings can make a ton of money by selling those savings to another water user,” he said. “ e question is, what is the mechanism for leaving water on the Western Slope through conservation?”

Even if a water e ciency program is enormously successful, cities and towns can still choose to use their water savings toward building new developments, rather than leaving them in reservoirs.

“ is is the really frustrating part of what’s happened in a lot of areas. It’s like, you look at it, and e ciency has increased per capita, use has decreased over time, but we’re still susceptible to drought,” MacGregor said. “It’s because we’re not actually banking those savings.”

If at-home water e ciency measures are adopted widely, and the unused water is conserved for the future, those savings can help storage at local reservoirs and even help meet environmental and ecological needs by keeping more water in streams. It could even be used by downstream water rights holders who might have their supply cut o earlier in a dry year.

But there’s no guarantee that the water will reach the Colorado River’s main storage reservoirs, like Lake Powell on the Utah-Arizona

border. at would require complicated, interstate legal and administrative procedures — an option being explored by Colorado.

Experts are adamant: Residents should still try to use water eciently at home.

If Colorado residents are more e cient in their water use, then cities and towns could pull less water from rivers and streams on the front end, which leaves water in the stream for others. Landscapes could be better able to withstand wet and dry years with the addition of native plants. Treatment plants spend less money on treating water before releasing it, which could help with water bills, experts say.

“ is isn’t a situation that there’s going to be one thing that’s going to solve the problem. It’s more of a case of incremental change, so every little bit helps,” Novick said. “If you’re saving a gallon of water by taking a shorter shower, or two gallons of water — if everyone were to do that … all of that would add up. We have to think of this more holistically.”

is story is from e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support e Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun. com. e Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

TRIVIA

1. THEATER: Which group composed the rock opera “Tommy”?

2. GEOGRAPHY: In which country is Mount Everest located?

3. LITERATURE: Which novel contains the line, “Big Brother is watching you”?

4. HISTORY: Who was the second president of the United States?

5. WEATHER: What is a cloud shaped like a ying saucer called?

6. TELEVISION: Which TV comedy features a character named Opie Taylor?

7. MOVIES: What is the name of Argus Filch’s cat in the “Harry Potter” series?

8. MATH: What is the only even prime number?

9. MEDICAL: What is the common name for the ailment called dysphonia?

10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: How many stages are in a butter y’s life cycle?

Solution

Answers

1. e Who.

2. Nepal.

3. “1984” by George Orwell.

4. John Adams.

5. A lenticular cloud.

6. “ e Andy Gri th Show.”

7. Mrs. Norris.

8. Two.

9. Hoarseness.

10. Four (egg, larva, pupa and adult).

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

NOW HERE’S A TIP

* Assorted hardware seems to collect in big, random piles in our tiny workshop. Nails, screws and bolts of all sizes are mixed together, tossed on the bench when a project is complete. Every so often, the kids and I make a game of sorting and organizing it using a mu n pan. It’s easy to sort by size and type!

* “After cleaning my paintbrushes recently, I decided to hang them from the clothesline to dry. It worked great, as the bristles were nice and soft when they were dry. I think it helped to hang straight down.” -- O.C. in Washington

* Before you start a painting project and head to the hardware store, determine what you might need and raid your recycling bin for containers.

* Here’s a great way to get your lawn tools organized and o the oor: If you have any PVC pipe, you can cut some 4- or 5-inch sections and screw them into the wall vertically a foot or two from

the oor in your garage. Slip the handle of your rake, garden hoe, broom, etc ., down into the pipe, and it will stay stable against the wall. Make sure the pipe is wide enough.

* ere are lots of shop, lawn and garden uids that are not allowed in the trash. Contact your waste management provider to see if there is a place you can drop o hazardous waste in your community.

* “I needed more light over my workbench, and those hanging lights are pretty expensive. My wife had a lamp she didn’t need anymore, so I inverted the lampshade and hung it from a hook on the ceiling. It’s right over my workbench, and I can use it when I need it.” -- W.S. in Connecticut

Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices call

Legals City and County

Public Notice

Town of Lochbuie, Colorado Ordinance No. 2023-683

AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE TOWN OF LOCHBUIE, COLORADO, AMENDING THE LOCHBUIE MUNICIPAL CODE BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW ARTICLE 5 OF CHAPTER 11 ENTITLED “STREET ACCESS CODE” TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM FOR STREET ACCESS AND IMPOSE FEES FOR PROCESSING STREET ACCESS PERMIT APPLICATIONS, MAKING IT UNLAWFUL TO ACCESS TOWN STREETS EXCEPT AT A PERMITTED OR TOWN APPROVED STREET ACCESS POINT, AND SETTING PENALTIES FOR A VIOLATION THEREOF

Ordinance No. 2023-683 was passed at the July 18, 2023, regular meeting of the Town Board and will take effect on August 28, 2023. The full text of the ordinance is available for public inspection and acquisition in the Town Clerk’s Office, 703 Weld County Road 37, Lochbuie, CO 80603 and on the Town’s website at: Lochbuie.org

Heather Meierkort

Town Clerk

Legal Notice No. BSB2567

First Publication: July 27, 2023

Last Publication: July 27, 2023

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Public Notice

DISTRICT COURT, COUNTY OF ADAMS, STATE OF COLORADO

ADAMS COUNTY COMBINED COURT

Court Address: 1100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, CO 80601

CONSOLIDATED NOTICE OF PUBLICATION – DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE

Notice is hereby given that in the following proceedings filed in the Court under the Uniform Dissolution of Marriage Act, the Court has found that due diligence has been used to obtain personal service of process within the State of Colorado or that efforts to obtain the same would have been to no avail.

Pursuant to C.R.S. 14-10-107(4)(a), one publication of the following shall be published once during the month of July 2023. A copy of the Petition and Summons may be obtained from the Clerk of the Combined Court. Default judgment may be entered against you if you fail to appear or file a response within 35 days of this publication.

Case Number Names of Parties

2023DR942 MASTE MESHINGA CLAIRMONT-FREEMONT VS LISA PEREZ

2023DR30387 ALMA CAROL LUCERO VS RONALD DEAN LUCERO

2023DR612 OLIVIA DE LA PAZ ROMO VS CESAR ANTONIO HERNANDEZ

2023DR637 NORMA RAMIREZ VS LEONCIO

JAVIER CHAVEZMONGE

2023DR683 CECILIA FIGUEROA VS GUILERMO FIGUEROA JR

2023DR254 VIRGINIA SUE LEYBA VS BENJAMIN DAVID LEYBA

2022DR1331 BLANCA ESTELA MARQUEZ SAENZ VS FRANCISCO JAVIER REYES

QUEZADA

2023DR519 VICTORIA LYNN MEDISCH VS PATRICK ALLEN MEDISCH

ALANA PERCY Clerk of the Combined Court

Date: July 20, 2023

By: Madeline Scholl

Deputy Clerk

Legal Notice No. BSB2570

First Publication: July 27, 2023

Last Publication: July 27, 2023

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

303-566-4123

OWNERS FILING PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION APPEALS WITH THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that starting on August 2, 2023, the Adams County Board of Equalization shall sit at the Adams County Government Center, 4430 South Adams County Parkway, Brighton, Colorado, to hear contests of property tax exemption denials by an authorized independent referee.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that the deadline for filing appeals with the Board of Equalization for Property Tax Exemption Appeal is August 15, 2023.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS JOSH ZYGIELBAUM, CLERK OF THE BOARD

Legal Notice No. BSB2560

First Publication: July 27, 2023

Last Publication: July 27, 2023

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice

DISTRICT COURT, COUNTY OF ADAMS, STATE OF COLORADO

ADAMS COUNTY COMBINED COURT

Court Address: 1100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, CO 80601

CONSOLIDATED NOTICE OF PUBLICATION – ALLOCATION OF PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Notice is hereby given that in the following proceedings filed in the Court under the Uniform Dissolution of Marriage Act, the Court has found that due diligence has been used to obtain personal service of process within the State of Colorado or that efforts to obtain the same would have been to no avail.

Pursuant to C.R.S. 14-10-107(4)(a), one publication of the following shall be published once during the month of July 2023. A copy of the Petition and Summons may be obtained from the Clerk of the Combined Court. Default judgment may be entered against you if you fail to appear or file a response within 35 days of this publication.

Case Number Names of Parties

2023DR30422 KENDY RIVERA AGUILAR VS JOSE MANUEL MARTINEZ LUNA

2023DR677 ERIN DIANE LUCERO VS JASON MICHAEL HOLLAND

2023DR416 PRISCILLA IVONNE ORTIZMONTEZ VS JUAN MANUEL ESTRADANAJERA

ALANA PERCY Clerk of the Combined Court

Date: July 20, 2023

By: Madeline Scholl

Deputy Clerk

Legal Notice No. BSB2571

First Publication: July 27, 2023

Last Publication: July 27, 2023

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Public Notice

PUBLIC NOTICE TO ADAMS COUNTY

REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY OWNERS FILING APPEALS WITH THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that commencing September 1, 2023 the Adams County Board of Equalization shall sit at the Adams County Government Center, 4430 S. Adams County Parkway, Brighton, Colorado, to review the assessment roll of all taxable real and personal property located in the County, as prepared by the Assessor, and to hear appeals from determinations of the Assessor, sitting by itself or by authorized independent referees.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, the deadline for filing appeals with the Board of Equalization for real and personal property is September 15, 2023.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS JOSH ZYGIELBAUM, CLERK OF THE BOARD

Legal Notice No. BSB2561

First Publication: July 27, 2023

Last Publication: July 27, 2023

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Metropolitan Districts

Public Notice

NOTICE OF HEARING CONCERNING EXCLUSION OF REAL PROPERTY

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that there has been filed with the Board of Directors of the Prairie Center Metropolitan District No. 4 (“District”), located in the City of Brighton, Adams County, Colorado, a petition requesting the Board adopt a resolution approving the exclusion of certain property from the boundaries of such District (“Petition”).

1. The name and address of the Petitioner and a general description of the property that is the subject of such Petition is as follows:

Petitioner:

THF Prairie Center Development, L.L.C. 211 N. Stadium Blvd., Suite 201 Columbia, MO 65203

Description:Approximately 2.266 acres of land, generally located northeast of the intersection of Buckley Rd. and E. 136th Ave. in the City of Brighton, Adams County, Colorado.

2.Accordingly, pursuant to Section 32-1-501(2), C.R.S., notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of the District shall hold a public meeting to hear the Petition on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.

(a)To attend via Zoom videoconference, use the following link, or e-mail pcorado@sdmsi.com to have the link e-mailed to you: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86267550643?pwd=V 3RnRGRtWkRyUlZZc1VMWTJFZjFHdz09

(b)To attend via telephone, dial 1-719-359-4580 and enter the following additional information:

(1)Meeting ID: 862 6755 0643

(2)Passcode: 987572

3.All interested persons shall attend such meeting and show cause in writing why such Petition should not be granted. All protests and objections shall be deemed to be waived unless submitted in writing to the District (c/o Special District Management Services, Inc., 141 Union Blvd., Suite 150, Lakewood, CO 80228) at or prior to the hearing or any continuance or postponement thereof in order to be considered.

PRAIRIE CENTER METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 4

By:/s/ PAULA J. WILLIAMS Attorney for the District

Legal Notice No. BSB2565

First Publication: July 27, 2023

Last Publication: July 27, 2023

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice

NOTICE OF HEARING CONCERNING INCLUSION OF REAL PROPERTY

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that there has been filed with the Board of Directors of the Prairie Center Metropolitan District No. 3 (“District”), located in the City of Brighton, Adams County, Colorado, a petition requesting the Board adopt a resolution approving the inclusion of certain property into the boundaries of such District (“Petition”).

1. The name and address of the Petitioner and a general description of the property that is the subject of such Petition is as follows:

Petitioner:

THF Prairie Center Development, L.L.C. 211 N. Stadium Blvd., Suite 201 Columbia, MO 65203

Description:Approximately 2.266 acres of land, generally located northeast of the intersection of Buckley Rd. and E. 136th Ave. in the City of Brighton, Adams County, Colorado.

2.Accordingly, pursuant to Section 32-1-401(1)

(b), C.R.S., notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of the District shall hold a public meeting to hear the Petition on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at 4:00 p.m..

(a)To attend via Zoom videoconference, use the following link, or e-mail pcorado@sdmsi.com to have the link e-mailed to you: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86267550643?pwd=V 3RnRGRtWkRyUlZZc1VMWTJFZjFHdz09

(b)To attend via telephone, dial 1-719-359-4580 and enter the following additional information:

(1)Meeting ID: 862 6755 0643

(2)Passcode: 987572

3.All interested persons shall attend such meeting and show cause in writing why such Petition should not be granted. All protests and objections shall be deemed to be waived unless submitted in writing to the District (c/o Special District Management Services, Inc., 141 Union Blvd., Suite 150, Lakewood, CO 80228) at or prior to the hearing or any continuance or postponement thereof in order to be considered.

PRAIRIE CENTER METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 3

By:/s/ PAULA J. WILLIAMS

Attorney for the District

Legal Notice No. BSB2564

First Publication: July 27, 2023

Last Publication: July 27, 2023

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Misc. Private Legals

PUBLIC NOTICE

CORPORATE STRUCTURE REORGANIZATION OF INTERMOUNTAIN HEALTH, SCL HEALTH, SCL HEALTH – FRONT RANGE, INC., AND INTEGRITY HEALTH

Intermountain Health hereby gives public notice of its proposed corporate structure reorganization of Intermountain Health, SCL Health, SCL HealthFront Range, Inc., and Integrity Health, which aims to align the Intermountain Health system further to better provide high-quality, accessible, and affordable healthcare to more patients and communities. As part of the reorganization, SCL Health’s longstanding affiliate Integrity Health, which includes Platte Valley Medical Center, would be integrated as a secular division of the Intermountain Health system. Additionally, SCL Health - Front Range, Inc., which includes Lutheran Medical Center and Good Samaritan Medical Center, would be reorganized under the same secular division of the Intermountain Health system alongside Platte Valley Medical Center. The reorganization is intended to further the Intermountain Health system’s commitment to helping people live the healthiest lives possible and exceed their expectations for health. The parties further believe the reorganization will only enhance their ability to deliver clinical excellence, provide value-based care that improves lives, and continue to support and improve health in all communities, including rural and underserved ones, through value-based care, effective clinical integration, and innovative approaches.

Legal Notice No. BSB2568

First Publication: July 27, 2023

Last Publication: July 27, 2023

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Public Notice

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations for the City of Aurora and Unincorporated Areas of Adams County, Colorado, Case No. 22-08-0618P. The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) solicits technical information or comments on proposed flood hazard determinations for the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), and where applicable, the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report for your community. These flood hazard determinations may include the addition or modification of Base Flood Elevations, base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area boundaries or zone designations, or the regulatory floodway. The FIRM and, if applicable, the FIS report have been revised to reflect these flood hazard determinations through issuance of a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), in accordance with Title 44, Part 65 of the Code of Federal Regulations. These determinations are the basis for the floodplain management measures that your community is required to adopt or show evidence of having in effect to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. For more information on the proposed flood hazard determinations and information on the statutory 90-day period provided for appeals, please visit FEMA’s website at https://www.floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/BFE_Status/bfe_main.asp , or call the FEMA Mapping and Insurance eXchange (FMIX) toll free at 1-877FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627).

Storage Liens/Vehicle Titles

Notice to Creditors

or to

Court

Adams County, Colorado on or before November 20, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Nucla St Aurora CO 80011

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Charles T. Jennette Sr., a/ka/ Terry Jennette Sr., a/k/a Charles Terry Jennette, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 238

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before November 27, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Angela Mazzocco

Personal Representative 5713 Slate River Pl Brighton, CO 80601

Legal Notice No. BSB2569

First Publication: July 27, 2023

Last Publication: August 10, 2023

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Public Notice District Court Adams County, Colorado 1100 Judicial Center Dr. Brighton, CO 80601

In the Matter of the Determination of Heirs or Devisees or Both and of Interests in Property of:

(1) Edna M. Berthrong a/k/a Rhio Berthrong, deceased; and

(2) Donald J. Berthrong, deceased

Case Number: 2023PR030497

Division T1 Courtroom

Attorney (Name and Address):

Chris Michael Ball More Lowe PLLC c/o Industrious 1801 California Street, Suite 2400 Denver, CO 80202

Phone Number: (720) 907-7897

Email: cmichael@bml.law

Public Notices

First Publication: July 13, 2023

Last Publication: July 27, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Sylvia Ailene Staten, Deceased

Case Number: 2023 PR 0195

Case No.: 23 C 0943

By: Deputy Clerk

Legal Notice No. BSB2538

First Publication: July 13, 2023

(List all names of interested persons and owners by descent or succession):

Sherri Lee Berthrong

Sherri Lee Berthrong as Trustee of the Donald J. Berthrong Revocable Trust dated July 22, 2009

John Berthron McCulliss Oil & Gas Inc.

C.O.T.A. Resources Inc.

A petition has been filed alleging that the above decedent(s) died leaving the following property (including legal description if real property):

Property 1

Description of Property Oil, gas and other minerals

Location of Property

TOWNSHIP 1 SOUTH, RANGE 67 WEST, 6th P.M.

Section 13: Plot five (5), Broadview, less and except that part conveyed in that certain Warranty Deed dated May 9, 1960 and recorded in of Adams County, Colorado at Reception No. 608106 more particularly described as follows: “That part of Plot 5, Broadview, Adams County, Colorado described as beginning at the Northeast corner of said Plot 5 thence West 286.23 feet along the North line of Plot 5; thence South at right angles 81.52 feet; thence East at right angles 248.11 feet to a point on the Westerly R.O.W. line of County road No. 31; thence N25°04’ E, 90 feet along said R.O.W. line to the true point of beginning.” Containing 4.541 acres, more or less. Adams County, Colorado

The hearing on the petition will be held at the following time and location or at a later date to which the hearing may be continued:

Date: Thursday, August 31, 2023

Time: 8:00 a.m.

Address: 1100 Judicial Center Dr., Brighton, CO 80601

Courtroom or Division: T1

The hearing will take approximately (this is a nonappearance hearing).

Note:

• You must answer the petition on or before the hearing date and time specified above.

• Within the time required for answering the petition, all objections to the petition must be in writing, filed with the court and served on the petitioner and any required filing fee must be paid.

• The hearing shall be limited to the petition, the objections timely filed and the parties answering the petition in a timely manner. If the petition is not answered and no objections are filed, the court may enter a decree without a hearing.

Legal Notice No. BSB2539

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of HAROLD EDWARD WORTH, aka HAROLD E. WORTH, aka HAROLD WORTH, aka HAL WORTH, Deceased

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before November 13, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Barbara J.W. Cole

3i Law, LLC 2000 S. Colorado Blvd. Tower 1, Suite 10000 Denver, CO 80222

Legal Notice No. BSB2537

First Publication: July 13, 2023

Last Publication: July 27, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of ROBERT J. GREWE, a/k/a ROBERT JOHN GREWE, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30527

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before November 20, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

David 0. Colver, Attorney for Personal Representative 131 W. Emerson Street Holyoke, CO 80734

Legal Notice No. BSB2553

First Publication: July 20, 2023

Last Publication: August 3, 2023

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of CAROL DIANE BAKER a/k/a CAROL D. BAKER a/k/a CAROL BAKER, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30503

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before November 20, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Kenneth M. Baker

Personal Representative 1128 Woodland Drive Bozeman, MT 59718

Legal Notice No. BSB2557

First Publication: July 20, 2023

Last Publication: August 3, 2023

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before November 13, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Jean Freedom Personal Representative 2635 Mapleton Ave Lot 172 Boulder, CO 80304

Legal Notice No. BSB2541

First Publication: July 13, 2023

Last Publication: July 27, 2023

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of William James Nelson Jr, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 89

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before November 20, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Jeannie Nelson

Personal Representative

1780 Elmira St Aurora CO, 80010

Legal Notice No. BSB2549

First Publication: July 20, 2023

Last Publication: August 3, 2023

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Name Changes

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on July 14, 2023, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Adams County Court.

The petition requests that the name of Travis Gene Slapnicka be changed to Travis Scott Teller Case No.: 23 C 1027

By: Deputy Clerk

Legal Notice No. BSB2562

First Publication: July 27, 2023

Last Publication: August 10, 2023

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on June 23, 2023, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Adams County Court.

The petition requests that the name of Ayden Chance Starek be changed to Ayden Chance Cocco

Last Publication: July 27, 2023

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on July 13, 2023, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Adams County Court.

The petition requests that the name of Adrian Lynn Keller be changed to Adrienne Lynn Keller Case No.: 23 C 1102

By: Deputy Clerk

Legal Notice No. NTS2559

First Publication: July 27, 2023

Last Publication: August 10, 2023

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Children Services

(Adoption/Guardian/Other)

Public Notice

DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO

Court Address: 1100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, CO 80601

Child: Isaiah Emanuel Barajas, Respondents: John Doe

Case Number: 21JV170 Div: S Ctrm.: ORDER OF ADVISEMENT

ORDER OF ADVISEMENTNOTICE TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENT: John Doe

YOUARE HEREBYADVISED that the Petitioner, has filed a Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship which now exists between you and the above-named child;

YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that the Motion has been set for hearing in Division S of the District Court in and for the County of Adams, Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, Colorado, on the 4th day of August, 2023, at the hour of 11:30 am, at which time the Petitioner must prove by clear and convincing evidence

1) It is in the best interests of the child, that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between you and the child be terminated and severed;

2) That the child was adjudicated dependent or neglected;

3) That an appropriate treatment plan has not reasonably been complied with by the parent or has not been successful; 4) That the parents are unfit; 5) That the conduct or condition of the parent or parents is unlikely to change within a

reasonable time; OR 1) That the child have been abandoned by their parent or parents in that the parent or parents have surrendered physical custody for a period of six months and during this period have not manifested to the child, the court or to the person having physical custody a firm intention to assume or obtain physical custody or to make permanent legal arrangements for the care of the child and 2) That it is in the best interests of the child that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child and the respondents be terminated and severed. The Court, before it can terminate the parent-child legal relationship, must find that a continuation of the relationship is likely to result in grave risk of death or serious injury to the child or that your conduct or condition as a parent renders you unable or unwilling to give the child reasonable parental care.

YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that you have the right to have legal counsel represent you in all matters connected with the Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship. If you cannot afford to pay the fees of legal counsel, you are advised that the Court will appoint legal counsel to represent you at no cost to you upon your request and upon your showing of an inability to pay.

YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that a grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother or sister of the child must file a request for guardianship and legal custody of the child within twenty days of the filing of the motion to terminate parent/child legal relationship.

If you have any questions concerning the foregoing advisement, you should immediately contact either your legal counsel or the Court.

Done and signed this 18th day of July, 2023.

BY THE COURT: District Court Judge/Magistrate

Legal Notice No. BSB2566

First Publication: July 27, 2023

Last Publication: July 27, 2023

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade ###

Withoutpublicnotices,

Publicnoticesare acommunity’swindow intothegovernment.Fromzoning regulations tolocalbudgets,governments haveusedlocalnewspaperstoinform citizensofitsactionsasanessentialpart ofyourrighttoknow.Youknowwhereto look,whentolookandwhattolookforto beinvolvedas acitizen.Localnewspapers provideyouwiththeinformationyou needtogetinvolved.

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