Canyon Courier 120122

forces to present ‘The Nutcracker’

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

For four dance studios in Evergreen and Conifer, there’s been a bright side to the pandemic.

The owners at the studios — Peak Academy of Dance, Kinetic Arts, Evergreen School of Ballet and Evergreen Dance Studio — lost students during the pandemic, so they decided collaboration might be an innovative option to improve attendance and give dance students

a new experience.

A summer class went so well that they decided to collaborate on the holiday favorite, Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” which will be performed in December. Since performances are sold out, they are offering two additional options to view the show: Purchase a DVD or view the show via a link between Dec. 21 and Jan. 21. For more information, visit www.peak-education.com.

The collaboration rather than competition among the dance

studios — known as the Mountain Area Dance Collective — is working so well that Danielle Heller, owner of Peak Academy of Dance, wants to present the idea at the National Dance Education Association convention in a couple years.

“This shows us we can do things differently,” she said. “My hope is this Mountain Area Dance Collective becomes a flagship organization for a new way of looking at how to

Words about LGBTQ+ community matter, say leaders across Denver area in wake of Club Q shooting

BY COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA STAFF

In the wake of a deadly mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, leaders in cities and counties to the north are among those denouncing hate and violence. From county commissioners to newly-elected sheriffs, to mayors and chiefs of police, community leaders say words of support for the LGBTQ+ community are needed now and should continue beyond the tragedy.

“Clubs like Club Q are one of our safe places where we can be free and celebrate who we are, but clubs should not be the only places we feel safe,” said Jessica CampbellSwanson, commissioner-elect for Arapahoe County.

Campbell-Swanson, who is bisexual, will be the first openly LGBTQ+ member of the board when she takes office. It is a milestone she said signals a desire by many to see a commission that mirrors the community.

“I want the LGBTQ+ community to know one of us is on the board of commissioners, reviewing policy, looking out for us, doing what I can to make Arapahoe County a healthy and safe place for our community to thrive,” Campbell-Swanson said.

From left, Milena Dambrosky, Julia Wendel, Eddie Ells, Jade Van Lennep, Aurora Farrant and Dava Krane will be performing in “The Nutcracker” in December. While Julia, Eddie and Jade dance for Peak Academy of Dance, Milena dances for Kinetic Arts, Aurora dances for Kinetic Arts and Evergreen School of Ballet, and Dava dances for Evergreen Dance Studio.

PHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST SEE

mailbox for letters to Santa Evergreen’s letters to Santa have found a new mailbox.

The new mailbox is now outside Michele Vanags’ State Farm Insurance Agency office, 3112 Evergreen Parkway. Families wanting personalized letters from Santa returned to their children need to drop off their letters in the festively decorated mailbox by Dec. 15. Letters to Santa also can be mailed to: Santa, c/o State Farm Insurance, 3112 Evergreen Parkway, Evergreen, CO 80439.

Vanags said she was glad her office could help Santa and Santa’s elves this year.

The old mailbox was at the home

at Whitney Pickering Knause, who began the letters from Santa campaign in 2019 because she loves Christmas. Last year, she helped Santa respond to more than 350 letters from area children with the help of some of her elves.

Knause’s elves will continue the tradition since Knause will be away for the holidays. Knause explained that Santa never promises children anything for Christmas.

Children who drop off their letters between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday are welcome to stop into the office for treats.

Salvation Army bell ringing

The Salvation Army in both Evergreen and along the 285 Corridor is looking for bellringers for its annual Red Kettle campaign through Dec. 24.

In Conifer, bell ringers are at the Conifer King Soopers, and you can sign up for one-hour slots by visiting https://www.signupgenius.com/ go/30e0e4bada82ca6f58-conifer6.

If you have questions or need help with the sign-up, email Jacqueline at ConiferBellRingingSignup@ gmail.com.

In Evergreen, bellringers will be at Walmart and the Evergreen King Soopers. To sign up, email Vince at vventimiglia@msn.com or visit www.signupgenius.com/ go/10c094eadac2aa6fbce9-salvation.

The Salvation Army units provide assistance of all kinds to needy families such as help with rent or heating bills, medical bills, car repairs and more.

Gingerbread house decorating, Santa visits

The Meeting Sanctuary in Indian Hills is offering Santa’s Workshop with gingerbread house decorating sessions, visits with Santa on the weekends and a gift shop, all through Dec. 24.

The business, which provides meeting and gathering space, has turned the 100-year-old building into a winter wonderland. The gift shop is open Tuesday through Sunday, sessions for gingerbread-house decorating are available from 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, and Santa is available for visits from noon-6:30 p.m. on weekends.

For more information and to reserve a session time, visit meetingsanctuary.com or call 303-973-3211.

Baroque Folke concert

Baroque Folke will be singing in the season with its free holiday concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 18 at Center Stage in Evergreen.

Celebrate with carols old and new, even a yodel, accompanied with harpsichord, recorders, krumhorn and accordion. For information, contact ann@annmooreco.com.

Breakfast with Santa

Visit Santa for breakfast on Saturdays, Dec. 10 and 17, courtesy of the Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce.

Breakfast is from 9:30-11 a.m. on Dec. 10 at the Woodcellar and on Dec 17 at The Wild Game, and tickets, which are $25 per person, are available at evergreenchamber.org.

Evergreen Lake Plunge 2023

It’s time to sign up for the annual Evergreen Lake Plunge.

The event on New Year’s Day will be from noon-2 p.m. at the Evergreen Lake House. The plunge is a fundraiser by Active4All, the Evergreen Park & Recreation District’s foundation, with proceeds going to the INSPIRE program for those with special needs.

Cost to jump in the lake is $40, and costumes are encouraged. Last year, 177 people jumped into the frigid water. This year’s fundraising goal for both plungers and sponsors is $20,000.

For more information about this event, to sign up, donate or volunteer, visit Active4All’s website at https://a4aevergreen.org/.

The Meeting Sanctuary in Indian Hills is hosting gingerbread-house decorating sessions, time with Santa and a gift shop.

COURTESY PHOTO

Whitney Pickering Knause, left, and Michele Vanags stand in front of the mailbox where children can drop o their letters to Santa. They will get a personal response.

COURTESY PHOTO

Five people died in the Nov. 19 shooting, according to Colorado Springs police. Another 17 were injured before the gunman’s rampage ended when he was subdued by bar patrons, including Richard Fierro, a retired U.S. Army officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, as reported by The New York Times.

Police are holding Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, who is facing murder and hate crimes charges.

Police also tweeted out photos of the five victims: Kelly Loving (she/ her), Daniel Aston (he/him), Derrick Rump (he/him), Ashley Paugh (she/her), and Raymond Green Vance (he/him).

Some families members issued statements to the press, saying they were not interested in interviews at this time, including Kelly Loving’s sister, Tiffany Loving.

“My condolences go out to all the families who lost someone in this tragic event, and to everyone struggling to be accepted in this world,” Loving said in a statement. “My sister was a good person. She was loving and caring and sweet. Everyone loved her. Kelly was a wonderful person.”

The family of Raymond Vance also issued a statement saying that he had never been to Club Q before and went to see ashow with his girlfriend, her parents, and her parents’ friends to celebrate a birthday. Although Vance is supportive of the LGBTQ community, he is not a member of it.

“Raymond was a kind, selfless young adult, with his entire life ahead of him,” the family’s statement read. “His closest friend describes him as gifted, one-of-a-kind, and willing to go out of his way to help anyone. He had just gotten a new job at a Colorado Springs FedEx distribution center and was thrilled to have received his first paycheck. He couldn’t wait to save enough money to get his own apartment, but in the meantime, he lived with his mother and younger brother who adored him.”

Ashley Paugh’s husband, Kurt Paugh, issued a statement: “She had a huge heart. I know that Ashley cared about so many people. She helped so many people through her work at Kids Crossing, a nonprofit that helps find loving homes for foster children. She would do anything for the kids – traveling all over

southeastern Colorado, from Pueblo and Colorado Springs to Fremont County and the Colorado border, working to raise awareness and encourage individuals and families to become foster parents to children in our community. This included working with the LGBTQ community to find welcoming foster placements for children. During the holidays, Ashley organized giving trees and delivered them to businesses so that foster kids could have brighter holidays – and in fact, she was setting up giving trees even last week, canvassing Pueblo and Colorado Springs.”

Kurt Paugh called Ashley Paugh his “high school sweetheart” and an “amazing mother.”

“Her daughter was her whole world, and she was so proud of Ryleigh, who is a championship swimmer,” Paugh wrote.

About 55 miles north of Colorado Springs, the president of the chamber of commerce in the Town of Parker was flooded with emotion when thinking of events over the weekend.

“These places are so critical as safe spaces for a historically-marginalized community, and it’s hard to be reminded of how vulnerable they are to hate and violence,” said Parker Chamber of Commerce President T.J. Sullivan, who is openly gay.

Sullivan recalled the 2016 shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando and said that bars like it are places to feel safe.

“They’ve played a role for so many of us,” Sullivan said. “There are many LGBTQ+ individuals here, and countless families with an LGBTQ+ member. It’s so important

that we elect leaders who are vocal that this is a safe place for everyone. If you have a loved one who is part of the LGBTQ+ community, give them a hug. We spend a lot of time worrying about our safety, the support of our family members, friends, coworkers and neighbors. An affirming word will go a long way this week.”

Sullivan noted that sometimes officials have used rhetoric that can be hurtful to the LGBTQ+ community.

Also listening to the rhetoric is the mayor of Littleton, about 66 miles north of Colorado Springs. Mayor Kyle Schlachter called the shooting “another unconscionable act in Colorado” and pointed the finger at homophobic and transphobic remarks from national and statewide officials.

“Elected officials especially should understand that words matter and words have impact,” Schlachter said. “We can’t try to have this plausible deniability of an official … they have to realize people do act in response to their words.”

Roger Hudson, deputy chief of staff with Colorado’s House Republicans and also a member of the Castle Pines City Council, said in a statement to Colorado Community Media that “this violent attack is made even more personal because I am a gay man with several dear trans friends and a close family member who is currently undergoing her transition.”

“These feelings of fear and the absence of community are all too real for some members of the LGBT+ community,” Hudson said. “I wished

I could say these fears were unfounded but we all know that is not true.”

Hudson, a former reporter who has covered mass shootings, including Columbine, was in Egypt en route to Israel when he heard the news on the BBC. He said he has pondered what to say publicly about the incident but has no “special wisdom to heal this terrible wound we all feel.”

“I will, however, recommit to making myself seen as a gay man, elected in Douglas County, as a fiscally conservative Republican, who believes fully in the rights of ALL our citizens to lead their own lives, with limited government intrusion and safe communities for ALL our residents,” Hudson added.

State Rep. Brianna Titone, DArvada, echoed that sentiment in a tweet after the shooting.

“When politicians and pundits keep perpetuating tropes, insults, and misinformation about the trans and LTBGQ+ community, this is a result,” she tweeted. “I’m angry and my heart breaks for those who lost their lives.”

In a statement to Colorado Community Media, Titone added: “The community is devastated by this attack, but we know that, as a community, we need to be resilient, as we have always been. The fact that (retired Army) Maj. Richard Fierro took his safety into his own hands to confront the gunman is a testament to our resilience and those who are allies for us. We need to stop the rhetoric and the damaging language directed at the LGBTQ+ community and stand up to it. We need everyone to call it out and show that we won’t tolerate this. The LGBTQ+ community deserves to be left to live our lives in peace, free of harassment and the threat of violence.”

Political scientists and activists have tracked a rise in anti-trans and anti-gay statements and threats in Colorado and across the country that can spark violence against those communities, The Colorado Sun has reported.

Schlachter said he’s seen it “ever since the 2016 presidential election when it seemed that there were no boundaries of what was decent anymore.”

Robert Dorshimer, CEO of Mile High Behavioral Healthcare, has

also tracked the indecency.

“I am frankly shocked and saddened to wake up yet again to horrible news and more traumatic news of a hateful act of violence against the Rainbow Community I’m a proud member of,” Dorschimer said.

Located in the City of Sheridan, southwest of Denver, the healthcare organization offers care and services to high-risk, high-need individuals, many of them in the transgen-

der community.

“No community should ever have to endure this horrible act of violence. We are once again saying ‘thoughts and prayers.’ Really?” Dorschimer added.

Chase Janis, a member of Northglenn’s Diversity, Inclusivity and Social Equity Board who is queer and trans/nonbinary, said it was heartbreaking to see the LGBTQ+ community attacked in place made

for people to feel safe. Janis echoed the words of author Dan Savage.

“Our community was once so used to violence against us that these clubs/bars were one of our only places of sanctuary,” Janis said.

“When those were raided, the members of the community took to the streets instead despite their fears.”

Janis recalled the Stonewall riots,

Samaria

been at Club Q in Colorado Springs on Nov. 19, 2022, when a gunman attacked, killing

PHOTO BY OLIVIA SUN

CLUB Q

FROM PAGE 4

“where members of our commu nity were attacked and how they responded by getting louder, by being prouder and championing our safety.”

“So we continue that legacy by re fusing to be silenced and by refus ing to stop being who we are even in the face of hatred,” Janis said. “We are here and we are queer and we are not going anywhere. Even in my grief, it makes me so proud to be a part of this community.”

Golden Police Chief Joe Harvey said the tragedy had a significant impact on members of his staff who are part of the LGBTQ+ com munity.

“I know for those folks in my organization, who live that, that it strikes home for them deeply,” Har vey said. “They know that anytime they could be the person who could be a victim of this type of rage and hatred.”

In Douglas County, Sheriff-elect Darren Weekly called the shooting “a horrific event,” and said that “violence should not be tolerated in our society.”

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office tweeted that its department was “deeply saddened by the sense less shooting.”

City of Fort Lupton Chief of Police John Fryar said the shoot ing at Club Q was “one of those very regretful things” and that his department is shocked by the violence that occurred there.

He also said that he was worried about the potential motivation for

the shooting.

In Englewood, the City Council meeting began with a moment of silence for the victims of the Club Q shooting.

David Lewis, who chairs the city’s Diversity, Equity and Inclu sion Committee, gave an emotional statement at the Nov. 21 meeting.

“An attack like this doesn’t just impact those at the epicenter,” Lewis said. “This hits home for everyone in the LGBTQ+ commu nity. It strikes fear in the hearts of siblings, parents, colleagues, friends and loved ones.”

Lewis added that the city will defend the LGBTQ+ community.

“There’s nothing that I can say tonight that will diminish the pain of prejudice and violence, but on behalf of the DEI Committee, I can say this: The City of Englewood stands with you, and we adamantly reject bigotry, hate and violence against the LGBTQ+ community,” Lewis said.

The DEI Committee is made up of 19 team members from city departments, Lewis said.

Chris Harguth, the city’s direc tor of communications, said in an email the committee is currently formulating a roadmap with mea surable goals related to diversity, equity and inclusion.

The City of Centennial’s council meeting had a similar tone, with Mayor Stephanie Piko expressing words of support for the Colorado Springs community.

“It is heartbreaking when any tragedy occurs in any community, and… we know what that’s like,” Piko said, referring to the 2013 shooting at Arapahoe High School in Centennial. “Just want Colorado

Springs to know that our thoughts and prayers are with them, and hope that their community can heal.”

Councilmember Marlo Alston added: “I not only will be thinking about the community of Colorado Springs and praying for them but having conversations with leader ship in various areas regarding this particular incident.”

Allison Wittern, the city’s com munications director, noted that Centennial recently adopted a value statement.

“In Centennial, we value kind ness, integrity and diversity in order to build a strong, unified and inclusive community in which all citizens feel welcome and safe,” Wittern said via email. “In Centen nial, we value protecting the com munity’s physical and emotional well-being. The City of Centennial is committed to upholding, dem onstrating and living these values and takes pride in this statement.”

The statement is echoed yearly in strategic planning processes.

Lone Tree Mayor Jackie Mil let was “sickened to learn of the senseless, horrific shooting.”

“The City of Lone Tree ex tends our deepest sympathy and heartfelt support to the LGBTQ+ and Colorado Springs communi ties,” Millet said in a statement to Colorado Community Media. “I know the Lone Tree community will join me in keeping the victims, their families, and the community around Club Q in our thoughts and prayers. We are very grateful for the actions of the heroes who intervened to prevent the gunman from taking more innocent lives and appreciate the efforts of the

first responders who continue to be stalwarts of support and protection in our communities.”

Newly-elected state Rep. Bob Marshall, who represents the High lands Ranch area in House District 43, said such statements are impor tant to supporting everyone in the community.

“There is no doubt that rheto ric increases heat and (for) the fringe one-tenth of 1% out there, it gives them license in their heads to do things that normal people wouldn’t,” he said, adding he would call out that kind of language from colleagues as a legislator.

In a Twitter post, Marshall called the Club Q shooting a “targeted hit” that shows the importance of defending equal human rights for the LGBTQ+ community.

The issue of support has come up in his community recently. Ear lier this year, he defended a drag show event at a Highlands Ranch recreation center amid protests that claimed it was inappropriate because families used the facil ity. Marshall said the event didn’t cause harm and noted a variety of 21-and-up events, including alcohol tastings, that hadn’t received the same outcry. He reiterated those thoughts on Monday to Colorado Community Media.

Marshall said he feels the laws already protect the LGBTQ com munity but added that he would defend Colorado’s current dis crimination laws from any future potential changes.

This story was co-reported by Colorado Community Media’s Rob ert Tann, Haley Lena, Nina Joss, McKenna Harford, Tayler Shaw, Rylee Dunn and Luke Zarzecki.

Evergreen’s Seniors4Wellness provides lunch for 180 to celebrate the holiday

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

It took 16 turkeys, 90 pounds of sweet potatoes, 90 pounds of potatoes, 90 pounds of stuffing and 50 pounds of gravy to feed 180 seniors Thanksgiving lunch on Nov. 18 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Evergreen.

The Knights of Columbus at the church made the luncheon logistics look easy. The Knights did the cook-

Giving thanks for seniors

ing and plating, while members of several Evergreen service clubs did the serving.

Chef Rich Davis led about a dozen Knights through the cooking, noting that they began preparing several days early. He noted that the Knights cook for large gatherings about four times a year, so they have the knowhow to create tasty meals.

David Schreck, the self-appointed gravy guy and plate inspector on the serving line, belongs to the Knights of Columbus in Conifer, and he was happy to come to Evergreen because he likes helping with events such as this.

According to Marianne Temple, past president of Evergreen Rotary, the club started Thanksgiving lunches for seniors eight years ago, and Seniors4Wellness took over the

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

At the 12th annual Turkey Trot in Evergreen, it was all about the headgear.

Among the nearly 800 participants in the 5K to benefit Evergreen Chris-

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

event last year after a pandemic hiatus. Last year’s luncheon had 40 attendees, and it multiplied to a 180-person gathering, filling the

Trotting for turkey

tian Outreach, a good share wore something to mark the Thanksgiving Holiday — turkey hats, turkey sunglasses, turkey-drumstick headbands and more.

Some of the participants without the distinctive headgear said they felt underdressed, vowing to add to their Turkey Trot wardrobes next year.

While the Turkey Trot is a fun family activity, it also has a mission:

Tommyknocker Holidays

Raising money for EChO to provide food to families in need. According to Dale Flanders, EChO’s executive director, the organization is feeding 30% more people this year compared with last year, and those people are going through the food bank even more often.

“Everything we raise here is to help stamp out hunger,” Flanders told the crowd before the 5K began at Church of the Transfiguration,

church’s parish hall.

“We are all about what Seniors4Wellnes is doing,” Temple said.

Seniors4Wellness, which began offering programs for seniors after the Seniors’ Resource Center in Evergreen closed, is planning outdoor activities, classes and social activities for people 55 and older starting in February.

In addition to Evergreen Rotary, volunteers also came from Mountain Foothills Rotary, Evergreen Kiwanis and the Salvation Army.

Vince Ventimiglia, the founder of Seniors4Wellness, thanked all of the volunteers who made the luncheon happen and the seniors who attended, reminding them, “You have contributed so much to the community.”

went around Evergreen Lake and ended at the church. “You are helping us continue to provide healthy food to our clients.”

Lauren Oesterle of Evergreen brought her daughters Briar and Brooks to participate for the first time, noting that they had to cancel their usual trip to Ohio for Thanksgiving.

Jefferson Symphony Orchestra

Holiday Concert

next symphony concert! Our Holiday Concert features endearing seasonal classics for everyone, symphonic masterpieces to discover, and the Christmastime story of a giant gingerbread house — Hansel & Gretel! Free admission for Jeffco K-12 students!

December 1-4, 2022

The Teller House, 120 Eureka, Central City, Colorado

THURSDAY Dec. 1st - 1:30pm CHILDREN’S PARADE down main street to the City Tree, followed by CHILDREN’S PARTY at the Teller House.

FRIDAY, Dec. 2nd 6:30pm - LIGHTING OF THE TREE at City Hall, Carol & Candlelight Walk to Teller House for a Potluck Dinner at 7:00 pm. Peak to Peak Chorale 7:45pm. Optional: bring a prepared dish. Ugly Sweater Contest. All are welcome.

SATURDAY Dec. 3rd, 10-4pm & SUNDAY Dec. 4th, 10-3pm -GIFT BAZAAR featuring Arts, Crafts & Food booths, Father Christmas, Cookie decorating, Gingerbread House Contest, Victorian Costume contest, Children’s Coloring contest.

Members of the Knights of Columbus at Christ the King Catholic Church serve up Thanksgiving lunches to 180 seniors on Nov. 18.

PHOTO

Expressing themselves

Vertical Skills Academy students recite original poetry

is like taking your heart and putting it on paper.

That was how Wynston Unger, a fourth grader at Vertical Skills Academy, explained his second attempt at writing poetry. Wynston and his classmates read their poetry and explained their inspiration for their topics at a Poetry Jam on Nov. 18 at Bivouac Coffee.

Wynston noted that he’s had a pretty tough year, but now attending school at Vertical Skills Academy, he said he wanted to find ways to make the world a better place. Vertical Skills Academy located in north Evergreen is a private school that specializes in teaching students with dyslexia and related language-based learning issues.

Wynston and his classmates agreed that writing poetry was much easier than other forms of writing because there is more emphasis on content than on the mechanics of writing.

Their teacher, Emily Kemp, agreed. “When they have the freedom to write however they want and realize poetry has no rules unlike the majority of writing we do, they have been really, really excited about that,” Kemp explained. “It’s the art version

of writing because there is no wrong answer.”

As part of the expeditionary learning unit on poetry, the six students in fourth and fifth grade — Caleb Cook, Wynston Unger, Grayson Carty, Lida

Fromm,

stanzas, rhyming, meter and rhythm. Then they were given the opportunity to write their poems in any style they wanted.

“They had the freedom to write (the poem) how they wanted and not worry about punctuation, grammar or complete sentences,” Kemp said. “That goes out the window, and they are free to use their imaginations. It showed them what they were capable of.”

The students also learned about motivation as it relates to writing, especially poetry, and they concluded that anything can inspire someone to write poetry.

That’s why poems were about soccer, math, their pets and siblings.

Caleb in his poem said the reason he does math problems of all kinds is “because I simply just love it.”

He explained that he has a lot of stories to tell and could have written about many topics.

“That’s the nice thing about poetry,” he added. “It’s nice to write and to share.”

Wynne Romley said in her poem,“We’d rather play soccer than stay in,” and she explained that she was inspired to write about her soccer team because of how supportive her teammates have been.

Lida Fromm wrote about her baby sister Heidi: “I felt so excited to see Heidi for the very first time. So, so small. So, so cute.”

Abby Manley wrote about her experience swimming with dolphins when she was in San Diego, saying she wanted to write about it because she may never get the opportunity to swim with dolphins again.

“I want to remember (that experience) forever,” she said.

Wynne Romley and Abby Manley — studied possible poetry structures,

Student Wynston Unger, wearing black and white clothes, recites his poem, “Black and White.”

COURTESY PHOTO

VOICES

Thank you to candidates who concede

The night after last month’s election, behind by about a thousand votes with several thousand votes left to be counted, the Republican candidate for Colorado’s 8th Congressional district, Barbara Kirkmeyer, called her opponent, Yadira Caraveo and congratulated her for winning the election. Shortly thereafter, she officially conceded the race.

With enough votes to be counted to give her a victory, why would she concede? Kirkmeyer looked at how many votes likely still would be counted, from where they would come and the margin she’d need to overcome the deficit. While it was theoretically possible she could win, it wasn’t reasonable to believe she would. Even though the race hadn’t been called, she acknowledged that Caraveo would win and allowed the process to move forward without additional drama.

GREG ROMBERG

Colorado’s 3rd Congressional election was even closer than the 8th. After election night, Democrat Adam Frisch held a small lead over incumbent Congresswoman Lauren Boebert. As more votes came in, Boebert overtook him, but the margin stayed miniscule out of the number of votes that had been cast. When all the votes were tallied, Boebert had a lead of 543 votes out of 327,110 votes in the election. Under Colorado law, Boebert’s .16% lead triggered an automatic recount. Before the recount could begin, Frisch called Boebert and congratulated her for winning the election. Shortly thereafter, he officially conceded the race. With a statutory recount about to

begin and such of small deficit, why would he concede? Frisch knew and acknowledged that with modern election technology recounts simple do not change results by more than a few votes. His concession allowed the process to move forward and made sure that unnecessary expenditures by both campaigns would not be made.

Kirkmeyer and Frisch deserve praise for acknowledging the reality of their circumstances and not delaying acceptance of election results. Our democracy works because we have a long-standing history of candidates, whether they have won or lost, honoring the will of voters. Given the terrible stain on our history by election deniers still not accepting the results of 2020 elections, the actions of these two Coloradans can be an important step toward reestablishing public trust in our elections. Without that trust, our democracy is at risk.

The irresponsible and baseless denial of 2020 election results have divided our country unnecessarily. Unless all but the most irrational Americans reject the claims that our elections are not fair, the credibility of our government is as risk.

It’s unfortunate that Kirkmeyer and Frisch’s responsible concessions of their election losses are notable. But for the traitorous actions of the 45th President of the United States, they would simply have done what grown-ups do. We should thank them for doing their part to preserve our country and its democracy.

Greg Romberg had a long career in state and local government and in government relations. He represented corporate, government and trade association clients before federal, state and local governments. He lives in Evergreen with his wife, Laurie.

Living my own version of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’

The movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” with James Stewart and Donna Reed gets shown frequently this time of year. It is ultimately a story of gratitude and hope that is timely during the holiday season. A desperate owner of a bankrupt savings and loan (Stewart) is facing ruin and becomes suicidal because of his troubles. What Stewart finds out ultimately is that his life mattered and his well being was important to a number of others.

2022 was a difficult year for me personally. My mother passed away after a short battle with rapid progress dementia and almost immediately afterward I was diagnosed with kidney stones and renal cancer. It was an almost five month battle to get well but I was pronounced cancer free in July with a minimal chance for the tumor to return. I am blessed.

I am also blessed because during

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

JOE WEBB

the cancer battle and after I was pronounced cancer free I have been living my own version of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The difference is that I am not despondent or feeling quite hopeless. Far from it. What I am discovering is that my life matters to others and it matters to a degree that I did not appreciate before 2022.

What has happened is that most frequently I will get a phone call from someone asking if I am all right and doing OK healthwise. When I tell them I am, there is an audible sigh of relief that I hear on my end of the phone. I have to tell individuals specifically that I am well and that I will inform them if I

am not well. Once, an elderly female relative called me crying imploring me not to die before she did. I calmed her down and promised her that I would attend her funeral mourning her instead of the other way around. When I was sick many offered to help drive me to doctors appointments. Others wanted to fly out to Denver to assist me. I am grateful and blessed for all of those offers.

I realize that what I have just conveyed is a little bit maudlin and Hollywood like but put yourself in my position. How can you not be grateful and smile that your friends and acquaintances are worried about you even when they have no reason to be? It makes you stop and think about things. They’ve shown me what my impact on the life of others has been. This small writing is my way of saying “Thank you” to them.

Dear reader, if these circumstances are part of my life, I am willing to bet that if serious illness became part of your life that you would have those who care about you reach out as well. I would prefer to put my illness in the rear view mirror but focusing on it one more time serves a purpose. If there is a chance that someone you know is suffering from a serious illness, reach out to them like others have with me. Let them know that in this big human family that they are a valued part of it. If you are on the receiving end of such concern acknowledge it gracefully with regard to the concerns that others have about you. In this season of Thanksgiving and Christmas if more of that concern were shown, it would be something to celebrate.

Colorado Community Media welcomes letters to the editor. Please note the following rules:

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

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

• Letters must be no longer than 400 words.

• Letters should be exclusively submitted to Colorado Community Media and should not be submitted to other outlets or previously posted on websites or social media. Submitted letters become the property of CCM and should not be republished elsewhere.

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher

lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

DONNA REARDON Marketing Consultant dreardon@coloradocommunitymedia.com

KRISTEN FIORE West Metro Editor kfiore@coloradocommunitymedia.com

DEB HURLEY BROBST Community Editor dbrobst@coloradocommunitymedia.com

RUTH DANIELS Classified Sales rdaniels@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Courier.

We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

Email letters to kfiore@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Deadline Wed. for the following week’s paper.

Canyon Courier (USPS 88940)

A legal newspaper of general circulation in Evergreen, Colorado, Canyon Courier is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 27972 Meadow Dr., Ste. 320, Evergreen CO 80439. .

PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID AT Evergreen and additional mailing o ces.

POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Canyon Courier, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110

Columnist

Joe Webb is the former chairman of the Jeffco Republican party.

Columnist

Smartwatches are calling 911 from the slopes

calls from smart watches at Loveland Ski Area, sometimes even as many as eight a day according to dispatcher Tom Dale.

“We’re pretty routinely, almost every day, getting at least one crash,” Dale said. “We’re getting more this year than we have in the past.”

dispatch trying to verify their infor mation. That’s when the informa tion gets passed on to Ski Patrol at Loveland to make sure everything is okay on the mountain.

BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE OLOVE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Clear Creek County 911 dispatch ers are getting increased calls from the ski slopes, but not from people in distress — rather, their watches are calling for help when the owner takes a tumble.

Increasingly, people wear smart watches and other devices to track their workouts, but some of these devices are tracking other activities, too. Many watches have the ability to track a “hard fall” or crash that its user is involved in and automatically call for emergency help.

In a sport known for messy falls, not every crash while skiing or snow boarding is an emergency. 911 dis patchers have been getting increased

The dispatchers aren’t ignoring these calls, though. While many of the calls might be false alarms, Dale has seen a watch help an injured skier firsthand.

“We received a call from an older gentleman….this gentleman was ob viously disoriented, possibly had loss of consciousness briefly….we were able to verify his location and notify ski patrol,” Dale said.

When it detects a crash, the smartwatch will call 911 and give an announcement about the crash. The watch will identify the device and GPS coordinates of the owner, and dispatch will attempt to call back the owner to verify if it was a true emergency.

Often, since watches are buried under layers of cold weather gear, skiers can’t hear the message from

John Sellers is a spokesperson for Loveland Ski Area. He said Loveland hopes to reduce false alarms in order to preserve resources.

“We are working with the sheriff’s department and other ski areas to figure out how to mitigate these calls,” Sellers said.

“Obviously, this could be a very beneficial tool in certain circum stances,” Sellers added.

Dale Atkins is a member of the Alpine Search and Rescue Team who has spent years working in the outdoor industry. He spent 2007 to 2019 working for RECCO, a company specializing in avalanche transceiv ers and rescue technology.

Atkins said false alarms aren’t new, and neither is the idea of wear able technology.

“The idea of wearable technologies has really been evolving over the past couple of decades,” he said.

Working at RECCO, Atkins was at

OBITUARIES

Jack Wildes transitioned peacefully in his home surrounded by friends and family on November 10th, 2022. As the owner/operator of Evergreen Climate Master, he was an active member of our mountain community since 1978.

Please join us in celebrating his life, legacy, and love at the Evergreen Elks Lodge on Dec 11th, 2022 at 11:00am. Full obiturary can be found at, www.evergreenmemorialpark. com/obituaries/john-wildes-jack

Joseph Cox, of Genesee Village, CO and Grant City, MO. passed away in Centennial, CO. on November 13, 2022. He was born August 14, 1933, in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Lora and William Cox. He always told the story of his parents celebrating the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt and nine months later, Joe was born.

the table to see many of the compa nies first pursuing crash detection technology.

He recalled the work of the compa ny OnStar, which pioneered some of the first crash detection technology in vehicles over 20 years ago.

As technology advanced, more companies began incorporating it into their products.

“As the censor got smaller, it be came very attractive,” Atkins said.

The Apple Watch 4, released in 2018, was the first one to have fall detection technology.

As the accessory became less ex pensive and more accessible, greater usership has caused an increase in false crash calls, as experienced by Clear Creek dispatch.

Atkins sees the value of the tech nology that has been evolving for years, and suspects the bumps will be ironed out with further development.

“It’s a wonderful concept…..but it comes with a pretty significant false alarm rate that is a big problem for sheriffs’ department and ski patrols, and eventually maybe even moun tain rescue teams,” he said.

family spent the day at the Easter Egg hunt.

In 1968, Joe moved his family to Lawrence, KS., where he graduated with a master’s degree in Business. His wife also continued her master’s degree in Gold and Silversmithing.

Dr. William Hackos Jr was born in Paterson New Jersey in 1939. He grew up in Little Falls NJ and earned his BA in physics at Rutgers University. He began teaching physics at Belleville NJ high school while he was earning his physics MS at New York University. It was there he met his future wife, JoAnn. ey were married in 1966 and left for Indiana University, where Bill earned his PhD in Astrophysics and JoAnn her PhD in English Literature. In 1968, their rst son, David, was born. After graduation in 1970, Bill became a professor of physics and astronomy at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, where their second son, Nathan, was born in 1971. In 1974, JoAnn and Bill moved to the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in Odessa, TX, where Bill taught engineering and headed the computer center, while JoAnn taught English literature.

At UT Permian, Bill wrote the rst inventory software program for the UT system. He also discovered that the rst item purchased for the new university was a revolver! In 1977, Bill and JoAnn moved to Colorado, where Bill worked for the US Geological Survey as a lead programmer. After USGS, Bill worked at Homestake Mining and Climax Molybdenum as a programmer. He wrote the rst program to create a digital map of the underground works at the Climax mine.

In the late 70s, JoAnn and Bill started their international consulting business, Comtech Services, Inc. in Lakewood. ey travelled throughout the world consulting with companies about managing their technical content e ciently. Bill made friends everywhere. ey especially enjoyed their many trips to teach workshops and consult in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and China.

Bill was always a dedicated hiker and birder. He ran a marathon years ago with Nathan in Phoenix. He enjoyed nding and learning about new birds, nding and identifying new wild owers, and collecting photos of butter ies. He and JoAnn traced the route of Louis and Clark from the Mississippi River to Astoria, OR. ey had many adventures in South and Central America, Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, Russia, Poland, throughout Europe. He only missed Africa when he became ill.

Bill served on the board of Evergreen Audubon and led one of the Christmas Bird Count routes for many years. He served as a volunteer at the Evergreen Nature Center. He is survived by his wife, JoAnn, their sons Nathan and David, and their eight grandchildren, Jorge, Katherine, Rodrigo, Estelle, Kristin, Briana, Julian, and Dylan. Please make donations in his name to Evergreen Audubon.

His older siblings: Bill, June and Dotty spoiled him with love and teased him with their amazing humor. His father, Will, was a master storyteller, and that talent was passed down through all four of his children and his grandchildren. Joe’s extended family have memories of reunions full of stories and laughter. Road trips in the station wagon all over the country, camping and hiking trips were a summer tradition.

He graduated from Lyons High School in 1952 and loved playing football. He started his college career at the University of Kansas. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He graduated in 1956 and in the summer married Charlene Welsh Cox, who was attending KU for her master’s degree. ey married July 23th1956 at Danforth Chapel in Lawrence, Kansas. Joseph was ROTC with the Navy and served as an Ensign.

He enjoyed watching KU win many basketball games. He was a Jayhawk forever. ey moved to Houston, TX, in 1957 where he started a job with Tenneco and their rst daughter, Susan, was born. In 1958, they moved to Great Bend, KS. and their second daughter, Cheryl, was born. In 1960, they moved to Lafayette, LA where their son, David was born. In 1962, they returned to Houston where their third daughter, Cynthia, was born.

He and his family resided in Houston, TX until 1968.. e Cox family spent many weekends at Tennewood, Tenneco’s club for employees. Summers lled with swimming in the pool and in the lake with a real sand beach. e vast property had 15 lakes, 1,000 century-old oak trees and multiple playgrounds. Every Easter after church, the

He spent over 30 years working in the Petroleum business buying and selling Crude Oil. He started working in the industry working summers in the oil elds of Kansas and o shore drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. He worked for Tenneco, Vickers, Sinclair, and Coral Petroleum CO.

After years of lling their homes with antiques, Joe and his wife, Chuck, opened and ran several antique stores in Colorado, Missouri and Nebraska. ey spent their years traveling between the family farm in Missouri and their home in Genesee, Colorado.

Joe was a member of Flagon and Trencher: Descendants of Colonial Tavern Keepers. His ancestral tavern was the Black Horse Tavern and Pub located in Mendham Township, New Jersey. It is NJ oldest continually running restaurant dating back to 1742.

He was very proud of being a descendant of 6 passengers of the May ower, 1620.

He is survived by; daughter Susan Stevens, of Berkeley, CA. daughter Cheryl (JB Lafon) of Colorado Springs, CO., daughter, Cynthia Cox (Michael Trealo ) of Centennial, CO. Five grandchildren Bradley and his wife, Katie, Trevor and Paige Stevens and her husband, Sudharsan Kondaskumar and Lora and Michael Lafon and two great grandchildren Amy Joe and Reid Stevens.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Charlene Welsh Cox and his son, David Reagan Cox and his son-in-law, James Stevens.

A memorial service will be held June 24, 2023 in Colorado Springs.

In lieu of owers, please consider a donation in the name of Joseph P. Cox to the charity of your choice.

WILDES

John Martin “Jack” Wildes January 10, 1949 - November 10, 2022

COX

Joseph Phifer “Joe” Cox August 14, 1933 - November 13, 2022

HACKOS

William “Bill” Hackos June 27, 1939 - November 25, 2022

Clear Creek dispatchers are getting calls from the ski slopes, but not from people — from their wrists

TURKEY TROT

“This is a first for our family,” she said. “We are doing activities to make up for not going on our trip.”

Jeri and John Hazeltine and their daughter Sidney also were trying the Turkey Trot for the first time, with Jeri noting she recently turned 50, so she was trying new things.

Sidney added: “I want to run and stretch my legs and have fun.”

The Stensland daughters returned to Evergreen to be with their par-

ents and siblings, and Chloe signed up her entire family to join in the fun. A bit cold in the 25-degree weather, they were ready for the event to start.

Patricia Cuomo and Anne-Marie Schmidt, neighbors in Idaho Springs and running buddies, decided to participate to support EChO — and for the pie. The winner of the 5K in each age group received a pie.

“I’m here for the fun and glad to support EChO,” Cuomo said. “And for the pie.”

“EChO has done good work,” Schmidt added. “And did we mention the pie?

FROM PAGE 6

Cousins Conrad Kock, 5, Sylas Pinkelman, 9, and Kellen Jensen, 10, wear their turkey headgear before the Turkey Trot begins.

PHOTOS BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

Some of the 800 participants begin the 5K that started and ended at Church of the Transfiguration in downtown Evergreen.

The Stensland family, from left, Lily, Toby, Molly, Emma and Chloe, are ready to start the Turkey Trot in style.

Make your contribution go twice as far!

Know that your gift to Colorado Community Media helps our 24 publications thrive. Our staff works hard to keep tabs on our communities, and in 2023, we want to give you more. More accountability of local government agencies, more coverage of community events, more voices from the community.

Our organization was chosen for the #newsCOneeds matching program, so now through Dec. 31, your support will mean more. The Colorado Media Project will match contributions up to a total of $5,000. It’s a unique way to show your support for reliable, affordable local news.

People tell us that our reporting truly makes a difference in their lives — that no one else covers our communities like we do or with such transparency and care. Thank you so much for the support you give to make this work possible. We are proud to be there for all of you, and to keep our communities strong.

With gratitude, Linda Shapley, publisher

Linda Shapley Publisher

High school seniors reflect on life lessons from athletic careers

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

To paraphrase Ted Lasso, the fictional football-turnedsoccer coach, one aspect of sports is helping people become the best versions of themselves, both on and off the field.

For high school seniors a few months from graduation, athletics have helped them prepare for the ups and downs and the responsibilities of adult life.

“I don’t know what my life would be like without athletics,” Clear Creek High School’s Bode Baker said. “ … It taught me many valuable life lessons and helped me grow into the person I am today.”

Baker and five fellow seniors across the Denver area detailed how sports taught them communication, trust, perseverance, how to accept failure and other valuable life lessons.

And while there are possible downsides to competing in sports — injuries, feelings of exclusion and inadequacy, and additional commitments amid already busy schedules — the seniors believed there were far more benefits.

They encouraged parents to have their children try sports at a young age, and for younger students to try any sport they’re interested in, even if they haven’t played it before.

Conifer High School’s Patrick Doty started cross country as a freshman and was the second-slowest person on the team. However, he stuck with it and now hopes to run at the collegiate level.

“I don’t want to stop running,” Doty said. “… It helps you stay physically and mentally fit. I want to keep it around in my life as much as possible.”

And, certainly, there are plenty of life lessons to be garnered from clubs, part-time jobs, volunteering and other extracurriculars that high school students balance with academics.

Brighton High School’s Jazlyn Amaya is in five clubs and sports, including cross country and swimming, and she’s learned different things from each activity. She felt being involved in a variety of extracurriculars was important, but sports can be especially effective at forcing students outside their comfort zones.

“It’s taught me to manage my time — especially in high school — and to work hard for yourself and for others,” Amaya said of athletics. “ … It was about understanding who I was, helping me realize you’re not defined by a sport or club. You’re defined by who you are.”

Building a team, finding a family Sami Zebroski’s never played an individual sport. She grew up playing recreation-league soccer and softball and now plays volleyball and basketball for Clear Creek.

In life, she tends to be more independent, wanting to fix everything herself. However, she said team sports have taught her the value of relying on and trusting other people.

“You’re going to have your biggest supporters on the court with you,” Zebroski said of volleyball in particular. “Once you go down, you kind of bring them with you. You have to be as reliable as your teammates are reliable to you.”

Trust and communication are the cores of teamwork, and Amaya said she’s improved on those throughout her sports career. She started playing recreation-league basketball, where she said that on-court connection was vital among teammates.

While sports like track and swimming are more individual, there’s still a team aspect. Teammates have to build each other up, critique each other in a kind way, and communicate their expectations effectively for relays and so on, Amaya and her peers described.

Maya Dawson and Mason Pratt, who both play multiple sports at Conifer, said they’ve made important memories with their teams over the years. Team-building, chemistry, and bonding time can help a group of athletes transform into something even greater than a team — a family.

“A lot of my non-blood family, I’ve found in sports,” Pratt said.

Having an outlet for self-improvement

There’s hardly a sport Baker hasn’t played. He started in T-ball when he was 3 or 4 years old, and now plays baseball, football, basketball and track for Clear Creek. He also competed in wrestling, boxing and cross country when he was younger.

For Baker, sports have always been an important mental and physical outlet.

“You have a bad day at school, you go do your sports and get your anger out,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for you to go out, have fun, and get away from your daily struggles.”

Pratt and Dawson also described how sports can be therapeutic, whether it’s in the camaraderie or the workout aspect. Dawson said sports forces athletes to make time

Conifer’s Mason Pratt dribbles the ball during a game in the 2021-22 season. Pratt, a senior who also plays baseball, hopes to play baseball at the collegiate level.

Conifer’s Maya Dawson (13) shoots a free throw during the 2021-22 season. Dawson, a senior who also runs cross country and track for Conifer, plans to study journalism in college.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF COREY NEUMEIER AND CONIFER HIGH SCHOOL

UNDERRATED

in their day to take care of themselves and be active.

Dawson plays basketball and runs track and cross country at Conifer. She and Amaya explained how their experiences in both team and more individual sports highlight how the latter requires athletes to motivate, improve and hold themselves accountable.

Amaya made varsity cross country this year and pushed herself to work hard for her teammates, saying, “If I’m behind, I put everyone behind.”

Dawson described how teammates, coaches and other supporters can cheer on runners from the sidelines, but “at the end of the day, you’re the one getting yourself across that finish line.”

She and Amaya believed there’s power in learning to work hard, push oneself through pain, and accomplish individual goals.

“That feeling of accomplishment, it’s one of the best things about sports,” Dawson said. “Just knowing that you left it all out on the track.”

Learning to persevere, face failure

Whether it’s in life or in sports, Doty believes “you’re owed nothing.”

An athlete can work hard toward their goals, but the outcome might not go their way. And part of sports is learning to accept that, he described.

“It’s a nice, little reality check,” Doty continued. “ … (Sports involves) accepting that not every day is your day.”

That’s something that, as baseball players, Pratt and Baker understand perfectly. Both described baseball as a “game of failure,” where the best professional hitters strike out seven times out of 10.

Perseverance and patience are key in baseball, they explained, with Baker saying players must keep their heads up and capitalize on success when it does come.

Pratt added: “The longer you stay attached to failure, the more you’re going to fail in the future.”

Whether it’s in an individual play, a game, or an entire season, failure is inevitable in sports. Baker and Dawson described how their football and basketball programs, respectively, have experienced losing records throughout their high school careers.

But, working through conflict is part of sports, Dawson stressed. Making a journey of learning “to love a sport when you’re not successful” has been one of the most valuable aspects of her sports career, she said.

“You have to find the joy in your sport, in the little things,” Dawson continued. “ … I think that’s valuable too, maybe more so than points or wins.”

As they’ve persevered in their individual sports over the years, all six seniors hoped to continue their athletic careers in some capacity after high school. Whether it’s competing at the college level, playing intramurals, or taking daily runs, they want to make athletics part of their adult lives.

If that’s the case, they’ll likely learn more from their mutual teacher and continue becoming the best versions of themselves.

“I think (athletics) is a part of growing up,” Amaya said. “ … For people who have that opportunity, it’s important to take it. Giving it a try never hurts.”

Conifer senior Patrick Doty runs cross country, as seen here, and track for Conifer High School. He hopes to pursue a degree in nursing and run competitively at a Division I or Division II college.

COURTESY OF COREY NEUMEIER AND CONIFER HIGH SCHOOL

Clear Creek’s Sami Zebroski poses for a picture in October 2021. Zebroski, a senior, also plays basketball and will graduate this year. She plans to study psychology in college.

FILE PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN

Jazlyn Amaya, a Brighton High School senior, competes in cross country and swimming for the Bulldogs. She also plans to run track this spring, after her freshman season was cancelled in March 2020. COURTESY PHOTO

Bode Baker throws a pitch during a June 2021 game at Denver Christian. The Clear Creek senior, who plays three other sports for the Golddiggers, is considering playing baseball or football in college.

FILE PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN

FROM

Our mission is to lower energy costs and provide the healthiest quality air possible. For anyone, business or residential, we will increase e ciency of your system by using the very latest techniques, the latest technologies and top of the line products.

We will provide the highest quality of work possible. Our professional sta will assure a high level of professionalism that cannot be matched in our industry. We guarantee our products and services.

Feeling Holiday OVERWHELM?

Christine Kahane

NBC-HWC, MCWC www.kahanecoaching.com christine@kahanecoaching.com 303.589.5456

Nationally Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach

Dear Davis Schilken,

My partner and I have been talking the last few months about getting our Wills and Planning documents together. My partner, however, remains skeptical that we need to do anything at all. He is of the mind that a Will does not change anything when you pass away because it “didn’t work for his mother.” Can you offer some insight?

Sincerely, Concerned Cathy Cathy, We would caution just about anyone who takes this approach. Your Estate Plans are extremely important to ensuring that your Estate is properly passed onto your loved ones, regardless of who that might be.

A lack of Estate Planning can cause quite a few issues. First off, without proper Power’s of Attorney, your loved one’s lack the legal ability to help manage the financial side of your Estate during times of both mental and physical incapacity. Without a Proper Medical Power’s of Attorney, your loved one’s lack the legal authority to make healthcare decisions for you (including level of pain management and hospice care). Without a properly drafted Will, you are forfeiting the ability of your Fiduciaries to help distribute and manage your Estate after your passing. Essentially, you are giving that power to the Courts. This is an extremely slow and costly process, and rarely do the Courts ever have the decedent’s wishes in mind.

Having an Attorney draft a Will and Powers of Attorney are just a few ways to ensure your goals are met both during life and after death. However, they remain some of the most basic and effective tools to do so.

With a properly established and funded Estate Plan, we can ensure that you have the ability to give what you want, to whom you want, when you want, the way you want. During that process we can help you save money on every court cost, legal fee, professional fee, and tax fee legally possible.

Estate planning is never about how much you have, but how much you care about what you have.

Contact the Davis Schilken, PC team with any of your Estate Planning needs (303)670-9855. We offer no obligation in person or virtual meetings. We make estate planning simple! Visit our comprehensive website for more tools www.dslawcolorado.com

It’s no secret that Holiday time can be stressful, but did you know that short-term coaching can help reduce your stress and anxiety? We’re o ering Holiday Stress Relievers for you, that starts with a free 30-minute consult.

Davis Schilken, PC

CONIFER – Buzzy and Lulu are neighbors. Buzzy and Lulu don’t get along. Buzzy likes to complain to JCSO about Lulu’s dogs. Lulu likes to complain to JCSO about Buzzy’s surveillance cameras. Most recently, Lulu called JCSO to complain that Buzzy’s latest eye-in-the-sky appeared to be unwholesomely situated as best to record the activities of Lulu’s teenage daughters. As far as the responding deputy could see, it was situated as best to record the inside of Buzzy’s own privacy fence. Well then it might interest you to know, Lulu continued, not yet defeated, that Buzzy once blasted the song “Who Let the Dogs Out?” all afternoon just to get her goat, and that he’s been seen by reliable persons leaving the house after dark dressed in black clothing. The officer pointed out that while neither of those actions is, strictly speaking, illegal, he’d stroll next door and ask Buzzy about his impressive camera array. Instead of offering an explanation, Buzzy waved the deputy inside to see that none of the contested cameras were, strictly speaking, hooked up to anything. Truth is, Buzzy admitted, Lulu won’t make her dogs shut up so he installs dummy cameras just to yank her chain, and he’d appreciate it they could keep that little factoid on the Q-T. Alas, the deputy was dutybound to share the joke with Lulu,

who chose that moment to realize that her feud with Buzzy was childish and un-neighborly and she asked the deputy to “arrange a meeting” so they could “bury the hatchet.” The officer asked Buzzy if he’d be up for a little hatchet-burying. Buzzy said he’d think about it.

Access denied

EVERGREEN – The perturbed pastor called JCSO on the morning of Nov. 1 to report commissions of the second, fourth, and possibly seventh, deadly sins. Sometime during the previous two days, related the wrathful rector, a presumably envious person in the dark grip of avarice tried to bust into his Bergen Park sanctuary after hours and by the back door. Deputies observed marks consistent with determined use of a pry bar, and further noted that the back door can only be approached by scaling a fence. Fortunately, the door proved sin-resistant and the would-be burglar was no glutton for punishment, giving up his lusty labors in favor of slothful retreat. Nothing appeared to be missing from the church, and the pastor said he’d check his surveillance system for snaps of the sinner.

Lunch crush

EVERGREEN – Mr. Ramsay didn’t like his sandwich and wanted the whole residential complex to know it.

According to the anxious employee who summoned deputies on the afternoon of Nov. 5, he’d bulldozed his way into the kitchen to give the food service staff a piquant piece of his mind, and then “crumbled the bread onto the floor.” When Anxious advised Mr. Ramsay to eighty-six the attitude and be “nice and respectful,” he’d responded with “Do you really want to go to battle about this?” and then rolled his electric wheelchair forward “onto my foot.” In his own defense, Mr. Ramsay explained that his sandwich contained “too much meat” and the “bread was stale,” and crumbling it onto the floor was simply a visual aid for the kitchen staff. As to running over people with his wheelchair, Mr. Ramsay assured officers he’d done it purely by accident when Anxious started “haranguing” him about “being nice” and “not yelling.” He also insisted his “battle” comment was strictly figurative and certainly not a threat of open warfare. After interviewing a witness or two, deputies served Mr. Ramsay a hot, fresh summons for third degree assault.

Sheriff’s Calls is intended as a humorous take on some of the incident call records of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for the mountain communities. Names and identifying details have been changed. All individuals are innocent until proven guilty.

WORSHIP DIRECTORY

ASCENT CHURCH

“Real people pursuing a real God”

All are Welcome Sundays at 10am In-person or Online www.ascentchurch.co 29823 Troutdale Scenic Drive, Evergreen

BERGEN PARK CHURCH

Bergen Park Church is a group of regular people who strive to improve ourselves and our community by studying the Bible and sharing our lives with each other.

On Sunday mornings you can expect contemporary live music, Children’s Ministry that seeks to love and care for your kids, teaching from the Bible, and a community of real people who are imperfect, but seek to honor God in their lives. We hope to welcome you soon to either our 9:30AM or 11:00AM Sunday service.

Search Bergen Park Church on YouTube for Livestream service at 9:30am 31919 Rocky Village Dr. 303-674-5484 info@bergenparkchurch.org / www.BergenParkChurch.org

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH SERVICES

28244 Harebell Lane

Sunday Service & Sunday School 10am

Wednesday Evening ZOOM Meeting 7:30pm

Contact: clerk@christianscienceevergreen.com for ZOOM link

Reading Room 4602 Pletner Lane, Unit 2E, Evergreen

OPEN TUE-SAT 12PM - 3PM

CHURCH OF THE CROSS

Please join us for Sunday worship at 28253 Meadow Drive, Evergreen or visit www.churchotc.com

8:30am Traditional Service 10:30am Contemporary Service

Communion is served every Sunday at both services. All are welcome! Visit our website at www.churchotc.com for info on church activities. 28253 Meadow Drive, Evergreen • 303-674-4130 • o ce@churchotc.com

CHURCH OF THE HILLS PRESBYTERIAN (USA)

Serving the mountain community from the heart of Evergreen Worship 10:00 a.m.

Reverend Richard Aylor

O ce Hours: Tu-Thur 9:00 - 4:00; Fri 9:00 - noon Bu alo Park Road and Hwy 73 www.churchofthehills.com

CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION EPISCOPAL

In-Church: Sunday Communion Quiet Service 8:00 am & with Music 10:15 am 10:15 am only Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86017266569

In-Meadow: 2nd Sunday of the month at 9:30 a.m. --June through September—

27640 Highway 74 – ¼ mile east of downtown Evergreen at the Historic Bell Tower www.transfigurationevergreen.org

CONGREGATION BETH EVERGREEN (SYNAGOGUE)

Reconstructionist Synagogue Rabbi Jamie Arnold www.BethEvergreen.org / (303) 670-4294 2981 Bergen Peak Drive (behind Life Care)

CONIFER CHURCH OF CHRIST

“Doing Bible Things in Bible Ways” 11825 U.S. Hwy. 285, Conifer, CO 80433

Sun: 9:00a.m. Bible Study-10:00a.m. Worship; Wed: Bible Study 7:00p.m.

EVERGREEN CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)

27772 Iris Drive, Evergreen - 303-674-3413 www.EvergreenChristianChurch.org - eccdoc01@gmail.com

Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m., with communion every Sunday We are an inclusive faith community and welcome you to join us in our new ministry journey.

EVERGREEN LUTHERAN CHURCH

5980 Highway 73 + 303-674-4654

Rev Sara Wirth, Interim Pastor

Join us for Virtual Worship on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/EvergreenLutheranChurch Sunday Worship uploaded by 10am. www.evergreenlutheran.org + All Are Welcome!

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY CHURCH – EPC 1036 El Rancho Rd, Evergreen – (303) 526-9287 www.lomcc.org – o ce@lomcc.org

Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m., with communion every Sunday “Real Church In An UnReal World” A community empowered by the Holy Spirit which seeks authentic relationships with God and others to share the good news of Jesus with Evergreen, the Front Range and the world. Come as you are, all are welcome!

MOUNT HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH-LCMS

30571 Chestnut Drive ~ (303)670-1387

Sunday Worship 9:00am • Education for All 10:30am Rev. Carl Frank, Pastor www.mounthopelutheranlcms.org

MOUNTAIN REVIVAL CHURCH

“Baptizing the Mountains in Jesus Name” Sundays 11:00 am & Wednesdays 7:00 pm

Location: Aspen Park Community Center 26215 Sutton Road, Conifer, CO 80433

(Additional parking at the Park & Ride next to Big O Tires) 720-770-0380 Call, Text, or Just Drop In www.mountainrevival.org

PLATTE CANYON COMMUNITY CHURCH

Located: 4954 County Road 64 in Bailey. O ce hours MWF 8am-1pm 303-838-4409, Worship & Children’s Church at 10am Small group studies for all ages at 9am

Transitional Pastor: Mark Chadwick Youth Pastor: Jay Vonesh

Other activities: Youth groups, Men’s/Women’s ministries, Bible studies, VBS, MOPS, Cub/Boy Scouts.

ROCKLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH

“Connecting all generations to Jesus” Please check our website, www.Rockland.church, for updated service times ¼ mile north of I-70 at exit 254 17 S Mt. Vernon Country Club Rd., Golden, CO 80401 303-526-0668

TIMBER RIDGE CHURCH

Location: The Village at Aspen Park 25587 Conifer Rd. Unit 5A201 (2nd floor - above the UPS Store) Sunday Worship 10:00 am www.timberridgechurchconifer.org • 303-834-3577

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF EVERGREEN

Rev. Sarah Clark • 303.674.4810 • www.evergreenumc.org

3757 Ponderosa Dr. across Hwy 74 from Safeway in Evergreen Join us in person every Sunday at 10:00am for worship “Open Hearts, Open Doors, Open Minds”

UNITY OF THE FOOTHILLS

Transforming lives through the power of Love

Join us on Sundays from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., in person or on Zoom, for a unique, member-led service. Each week a member volunteer presents a spiritual topic of their choice along with discussion questions. Attendees are encouraged, not required, to share their experiences and views on the chosen topic. We find our discussions to be lively, thought provoking, and meaningful. We are an all-inclusive community and welcome all perspectives. 28577 Bu alo Park Road, Suite #120 • Evergreen, Colorado • 80439

Email: unityofthefoothills@gmail.com

NUTCRACKER

FROM PAGE 1

collaborate.”

Heller explained that by pooling their resources, the four studios can do something no single studio could do by itself.

“We are developing a more cohe sive community that was not built on competition but built on sup port,” she said. “It’s been an amaz ing process. Everybody is bringing a different gift to the table.”

She said the studio owners chose “The Nutcracker” — with a cast of 80 — to provide a high level of art istry to the community, so families don’t have to go down the hill to see a high-quality show.

Four owners

The owners say that “The Nut cracker” has allowed them to collab orate on choreography and staging the show. Plus each has been able to

bring her strengths to the process, making the show even better.

The dance teachers met over cof fee, for example, where they came up with ideas for the show’s party scene — “turning hours of notes turning into movement,” as Shelby McKee, owner of the Evergreen Dance Center, explained.

The owners agreed that the col laboration allows dance students the opportunity to learn from more than one instructor, improving their technique and performances.

“We have a great staff of dance instructors that our students can bounce back and forth,” McKee explained.

Betsy Hoffman, owner of Kinetic Arts, called the studio collaboration a way for individual studios to offer more to their students.

“What we are offering is more ro bust than we could do individually,” she added. “We can expose our stu dents to different styles of teaching and choreography. We are showing

our students it’s not a competitive thing.”

The studio owners, including Gabe Marshall, owner of Evergreen School of Ballet, say they have a lot of respect for each other, and they work well together.

A learning experience

Students performing in “The Nutcracker” are happy with the studios’ collaboration, saying it has been fun to meet other dancers in the foothills, see other studios and learn from different instructors.

“It’s going great,” said Julia Wen del, a Peak Academy dancer playing Clara. “It’s been amazing to work with different dance instructors and see their styles of teaching.”

Jade Vin Lennep, a Peak Academy dancer playing the Sugar Plum Fairy, said she’s enjoyed watching the choreography develop as the dance teachers collaborate, while Eddie Ells, a Peak Academy dancer portraying the Nutcracker, noted that the different perspectives bring

more to the show.

Milena Dambrosky, a Kinetic Arts dancer, said it’s been fun to meet dancers from other studios and other parts of the foothills, noting that they’re bonding during prac tices.

For Dava Krane, an Evergreen Dance Studio dancer, it’s about cre ating friendships and creating bet ter performances by collaborating.

Aurora Farrant, who dances for both Kinetic Arts and the Ever green School of Ballet, noted that she has enjoyed seeing other danc ers grow through the process.

For the collaborating studio own ers, it’s about trying something new that helps both their businesses and their dancers.

“When you start something new, you don’t know how the clientele will respond,” Heller said. “The directors and studio owners were willing to take the risk, and the result is more than we could have asked for.”

Now hiring Local Sales and Sponsorship Position

Colorado Community Media is hiring an events – sponsorship- digitalnative sales professional seeking to build their career with the largest local media company in Colorado. We continue to invest in innovation and people, developing new businesses and state-of-the art tools that support new products that produce superior ROIs for clients. We believe that a creative, learning environment staffed with talented people who want to grow and utilize the newest and best tools will result in a dynamic and successful culture that has a positive impact on our clients business and our community. Our brand is one of the most trusted in our community. We’ve built this reputation by providing award-winning news coverage and by being engaged in our community at all levels. As a true marketer, we want you to bring your experience and expertise to develop the best advertising and audience programs for local advertisers needing to engage with the community to grow their business. We value teamwork. We embrace opinions, perspectives, cultures and backgrounds that energizes the company and fuels our passion to do what’s right for our readers, our advertisers and our employees. If you’ve got the drive and the passion, together we can take your career farther than you’ve ever imagined. We are building a sales team that will be the face of the changing media landscape. We are looking for people who are excited to represent our emerging brands and our trusted, traditional ones too. Join our team, working a mix in our Englewood, Evergreen or Brighton offices and remote. If you’re as passionate as we are about our mission to grow and engage our community, please apply. CCM offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision and paid holiday, vacation, sick and personal time. As an added bonus, you’ll office less than 90 minutes from the best Colorado has to offer in outdoor recreation.

eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Careers

Help Wanted

Conifer Business is seeking a Part time or a Full time Accountant and Part time clerical/office help. Please call 303.838.7719

SITE MANAGER Storage Facility, P/T position, flex schedule, Computer work and some exterior maintenance. Start at $17.00/hr. Apply Evergreen Self Storage; 303674-9911 or 303-888-0699

The Comfort Suites off of I-70 and Evergreen Parkway is looking for a Part-time to full time Night Auditor to assist guests with their overnight requests and balance accounts from the day shift. Shifts would be 10pm to 8am. 30 hours per week, with an additional 2pm to 10pm if desired. If you have a knack for customer service and already work in the hotel industry or would like to join the hotel industry, we’d like to meet you! Please send resume to information@goldenevergreenhotel. com or swing by to fill out an application.

Seeking volunteersfor new Retired & Senior Volunteer Program that will support food security in Park & Jefferson County. Volunteers must be 55 and better in age. Contact Leanne Mersmann in Jeffco: lmersmann@ sparkthechangecolorado.org Contact Natalie Gorak in Park: ngorak@sparkthechangecolorado. org Visit sparkthechange colorado.org/rsvp for more info.

Clear Creek County is hiring with new higher pay rates! Apply at: 403 Argentine Street in Georgetown.

Please apply by sending your letter of interest and resume to Erin Addenbrooke

VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Espanol

Medical

Attention oxygen therapy users! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587

Miscellaneous

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debrisblocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-6101936

Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800245-0398

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Down + Low Monthly Pmt Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage: 1-855-948-6176

Miscellaneous

FREE $10 Cash App Everyone! Yes It’s Real. Very Limited supply until we run out! Text “Real Cash” to 706761-1745

MobileHelp, America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! 1-888489-3936

Attention Homeowners! If you have water damage and need cleanup services, call us! We’ll get in & work with your insurance agency to get your home repaired and your life back to normal ASAP! 855-7677031

Vivint Smart security Professionally installed. 1 connected system for total peace of mind. Free professional installation! 4 free months of monitoring! Call to customize your system. 1-833-8410737

The Generac PWRcell solar plus battery storage system. Save money, reduce reliance on grid, prepare for outages & power your home. Full installation services. $0 down financing option. Request free no obligation quote. 1-877-539-0299

Christmas tree: 7’ foot Pre-lit tree that has never been out of its box. Price negotiable. 303979-9534 (please leave message if no answer)

DISH TV $64.99 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR included, Free Voice remote. Some Restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/21/23. 1-866-479-1516.

HughesNet– Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live. 25 Mbps just $59.99/mo! Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866-499-0141

Put on your TV Ears & hear TV w/ unmatched clarity. TV Ears Original - originally $129.95 - now w/this special offer only $59.95 w/code MCB59! 1-888-805-0840

Protect your home from pests safely and affordably. Pest, rodent, termite and mosquito control. Call for a quote or inspection today 844394-9278

Switch and save up to $250/yr on talk, text & data. No contract or hidden fees. Unlimited talk & text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based customer service. Limited time get $50 off any new account. Use code GIFT50. 1-855-903-3048

!!OLD GUITARS WANTED!! GIBSON, FENDER, MARTIN, etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. TOP DOLLAR PAID.

CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-433-8277

Become a published author. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author`s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads

Miscellaneous

Free high speed internet if qualified. Govt. pgm for recipients of select pgms incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet. Android tablet free w/one-time $20 copay. Free shipping. Call Maxsip Telecom! 1-833-758-3892

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service.

Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Financing available. 1-855-4171306

Wanted to Buy

SAFE STEP - WALK-IN TUB

Step. North Americas #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive Lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1,600 off for a limited time! Call Today! Financing available! Call Safe Step: 1-877-596-2899

CO PRESS ASSOCIATION NETWORK

Colorado Statewide Classified Advertising Network. To place a 25-word COSCAN Network ad in 91 Colorado newspapers for only $300, contact your local newspaper or email Colorado Press Association Network at rtoledo@colopress.net

a sensational musical celebration of the season and the promises it holds.