BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
2022 has been a much more normal year for the foothills, with many fun events along with several issues from 2021 that are still unresolved.
From a new Marshdale Elementary School to a new mural near the Evergreen dam to hopes for a permanent Conifer library, 2022 has been an eventful year.
BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e Town of Morrison likely will get a retail marijuana shop.
e town’s Board of Trustees on Dec. 20 voted to allow LivWell, one of the largest cannabis operations in the nation, to construct a retail store on a one-acre parcel it owns behind the wastewater treatment plant. e property is on the northeast side of C-470 and Morrison Road, east of the hogback and far away from Morrison businesses and Red Rocks Elementary School, a concern of the board and residents as they discussed allowing retail marijuana for more than a year.
LivWell, which has 21 retail stores in Colorado, expects to provide the town with between $800,000 and $1.3 million each year in sales-tax revenue, plus it will pay the town $15,000 a month to lease the property.
Before the lease starts, LivWell has a three-month due-diligence period to examine the site to determine whether to move forward with the lease, Town Attorney Gerald Dahl explained at the Dec. 20 trustees
SEE POT SHOP, P5
We have highlighted some of the issues that appeared in the pages of the Canyon Courier this past year.
No dog park yet Evergreen continues to look for a location for an o -leash dog park. e Evergreen Park & Recreation District board put the brakes on a proposal to put an o -leash dog park on 36 acres east of Fillius Park while it considers other locations. at plan would include Je co Open Space o ering $1 million to purchase the private property and up to $200,000 for construction costs. e
plan was for EPRD to oversee the dog park with Friends of Evergreen Dog Park operating it.
e board also wanted time to include it in a strategic planning process, which the board is currently going through. e board hopes to complete the plan by July. Je co Open Space is interested in supplying the money for any location.
Evergreen hasn’t had an o -leash dog park for more than ve years when Je co Open Space closed the dog park on Stagecoach Boulevard. Friends of Evergreen Dog Park worked continuously during that time to get Evergreen a dog park in a new location.
Evergreen library will get a makeover in 2023, while the Je erson County Public Library board will look for a spot for a permanent library in Conifer.
e Evergreen library, which was built in 1993, is being redesigned with no additions, keeping a natural, traditional feel. e total cost for everything from design through construction is expected to be $4.22 million. With construction costs continuing to climb, the library board is getting a check on the price tag before continuing with the design.
e library board also put $2.5 million into its 2023 Capital Improvement Plan for what is named the “Conifer opportunity.” After a community-engagement e ort to nd out what residents want and need, library o cials hope to nd space “in an existing commercial
building for tenant nish or a building refurbish.”
e current 9,000-square-foot Conifer library has been housed at Conifer High School since the school opened in 1996 and is shared with high school students and sta . It is open to the public after school and on weekends during the school year.
One of the reasons to nd a new Conifer library location is because Je co Public Schools is changing school start times in fall 2023, so high schools will dismiss students later, making public library time even shorter.
No decision yet on Kittredge Park
e use of Bear Creek at Kittredge Park continues to remain in limbo after a new property owner who says she owns both sides of Bear Creek worked to stop people from trespassing.
Bear Creek at Kittredge Park has been a popular spot for families to play in the water for decades, and the new owner has been concerned about liability issues if someone were injured. Her decision caused outrage in the community.
Je co Open Space, which owns the Kittredge Park land, the Evergreen Park & Recreation District, which manages the park, plus the Kittredge Civic Association have been trying to nd a solution. Jefferson County believes it owns the land on the north edge of the creek.
e o cial outcome will wait until a judge decides in 2023 on Je erson County’s request for an injunction. In the meantime, a designated path has been created from the Kittredge Park playground to Bear Creek that the public can use.
After nearly two years, a proposal to put a downhill mountain bike park on 230 acres owned by the State Land Board two miles up Shadow Mountain Drive in Conifer still has not been formally sent to Je co Planning & Zoning.
e proposal by developers Phil Bouchard and Jason Evans has faced extensive backlash from neighbors since it was originally proposed in January 2021.
Evans and Bouchard propose a day-use bike park with a chairlift, the only one of its kind in Colorado, that would be open generally from March to October depending on the weather. It would have a parking lot for 300 cars, 16 miles of trails between 6 feet and 15 feet wide that cater to a wide range of abilities, a lodge for registration and a small shop.
Opponents of the proposed bike park plan hosted a meeting in October to talk about safety issues on Shadow Mountain Drive and what adding hundreds of cars on the two-lane road would mean. Tra c safety is one of several issues the opponents have in opposing the bike park.
Stay tuned: e development proposal may be to Je co Planning & Zoning in 2023.
New mountain bike track at EHS
Evergreen High School got a new mountain bike track.
e .7-mile track runs on the southwest part of the school property and west of the Wulf Recreation Center’s tennis courts. e track has a pump-track area, jumps, drops, tight turns — everything to keep it interesting for the riders.
e Evergreen mountain bike team, Je co Public Schools o cials, the Colorado Mountain Bike Association known as COMBA and the Evergreen Park & Recre-
ation District all had a hand in bringing the track to fruition.
Evergreen mountain bike team coach Andrew Speers, COMBA and EPRD have their sights set on expanding the track, hoping to talk with Denver Mountain Parks, which owns Cub Creek Park south of the rec center property to see if some of that land could be used for a track.
Speers envisions great things for the track, hoping to have some scrimmages with teams from other schools — all to ride mountain bikes and further the sport.
CAE to build addition, combine with Sculpture Evergreen Center for the Arts Evergreen has had a banner year, moving forward with a plan to put an addition on the gallery in Bergen Park and entering into an agreement to combine with Sculpture Evergreen.
CAE plans a 5,000-square-foot addition on the back of the building at 31880 Rocky Village Drive for a state-of-the-art ceramics studio, private artists’ studios, a common artists area, classroom space, community space for up to 200 people, sta o ces and a studio for an artistin-residence.
CAE has been in the former Bergen Park Church since 2017, and it houses a gallery, classroom space and sta o ces. An addition has always been part of the plan.
en, beginning Jan. 1, Sculpture Evergreen will be under the CAE umbrella. e Sculpture Evergreen’s annual Sculpture Walk will continue, and CAE will maintain the 44 permanent sculptures in the collection.
Discussions about the two nonpro ts merging have been going on for years, Lisa Nierenberg, CAE’s executive director, said.
“We want Sculpture Evergreen to stay alive and well,” she explained. “We are going to keep the legacy alive. What this volunteer organization has done in 25 years is unbelievable. As of Jan. 1, we will be one big happy family.”
Tricia Rosenthal, Sculpture Evergreen’s president, said an ongoing sculpture committee made up of most of the Sculpture Evergreen board will work with the CAE sta on events and displays, and help with the Sculpture Walk.
e Evergreen dam garden is now blooming year-round.
A mural has been painted on two sides of the building behind the dam garden with owers, insects and everything else that a blooming garden contains. at’s why it’s called “Evergreen Blooms at the Dam.”
e mural is a collaboration among the Evergreen Legacy Fund, the Evergreen High School Mural Club, the Evergreen Metro District, Evergreen Garden Club and professional muralist Bobby MaGee Lopez.
e resulting mural was lauded by family members, friends and community leaders at a ribbon cutting on Nov. 12. e mural is beautiful during daylight hours, but it’s even more stunning at night with lights, provided by EMD, shining on it.
e EHS Mural Club has already painted three murals at the school, and this was its rst foray into more public art.
Bergen Meadow to join with sister school
Bergen Meadow Elementary School, which houses students in pre-kindergarten through second grade, will combine with its sister school, Bergen Valley, in August 2024.
Bergen Meadow is one of 16 schools that Je co Public Schools is closing because of declining enrollment districtwide. While the parents in schools down the hill were upset about the pending closures, Ever-
green was less concerned since the two schools are going back to their roots.
Bergen Elementary School, which was built in 1970, housed all elementary grades until Bergen Valley was built in 1997.
e school district will put an addition onto Bergen Valley to accommodate all students. When combined in fall 2024, the new school is projected to have about 500 students with a capacity for 640 students.
Most parents have approved of the consolidation, but they are most concerned about tra c in and out of Sugarbush Drive, and they have asked Je co Public Schools to mitigate the issue.
New building for Marshdale Elementary e students and sta at Marshdale Elementary moved into their new school in October.
Students were treated to a grand welcoming ceremony as they walked through the new school’s halls for the rst time. e new building is south of the old school, which will be torn down to make way for a new playground.
e new 50,000-square-foot building took about 19 months to build, and it is lled with many windows and touches to keep true to the school’s history. A mural painted on the wall across from the o ce reads: “It’s up to you how far you’ll go. If you don’t try, you’ll never know.”
Fire department consolidation still under consideration
ree 285 Corridor re departments continue to get closer to deciding whether they should consolidate into one large department.
A consultant recommended last year that Inter-Canyon, Elk Creek and North Fork re departments become one department spanning 400 square miles. Indian Hills Fire originally was part of the discussions, but it backed out.
e three departments are about to get the results of a survey of constituents to discern whether they favor such a project. e re chiefs have said they will abide by the survey results, but if constituents are in favor of the idea, it will be put to a vote in November 2023.
e impetus for the discussion is the national trend of dwindling volunteers who want to train to be re ghters. As volunteerism is declining, calls are increasing.
e re districts, which have roots as volunteer departments, can’t a ord all-paid re ghting sta s. While the chiefs agree they are not in a crisis with sta ng, they need to address the issue sooner rather than later. In addition, there’s cost savings when the three departments work together to train, buy equipment and share sta .
The year for trail building
is might be the year that the Evergreen Park & Recreation District will build the two-tier trail along Evergreen Lake.
When EPRD advertised for bids earlier this year, it received only one response, which came in well over the nearly $5 million budget the district has for the project. So, the district went back to the drawing board and eased up the timeline restrictions, and it has found more interest from contractors.
While four months of detours will make travel through downtown Evergreen tricky, downtown business owners say the trails, once completed, will be an asset to Evergreen.
e Evergreen Lake North Trail was built in 1987, and in 2016, a portion of the trail collapsed, closing it for 19 months. EPRD sta managed to shore up the supports under the trail to reopen it.
e trail will be paid for through grants, which must be spent soon, and district o cials say the trail keeps failing, so it needs to be rebuilt.
meeting.
Board members agreed that the additional revenue from the one store will provides a new, important source of income for the town, which has been searching for alternative revenue sources.
“ is is a dream come true,” Trustee Paul Sutton said. “We couldn’t have found a better opportunity.”
e agreement comes after Je erson County voters in November voted down allowing retail marijuana shops in unincorporated Je erson County. However, as trustees noted, retail marijuana sales have been declining throughout Colorado.
e lease will be for 10 years with an option to renew it for two additional ve-year increments.
LivWell will build the site improvements, including road access from Morrison Road, drainage and more, which will become the town’s property, plus build the retail marijuana store, putting at least $2 million into the building.
e Board of Trustees also voted to create a shared sales tax incentive program with LivWell, allowing the town to share up to 50% of the shop’s marijuana sales tax with an annual cap of $500,000 and an overall cap of $1 million. at money would reimburse LivWell for the improvements it makes to the property, not the building.
Morrison voters in April approved allowing one retail marijuana store east of the Dakota Hogback Formation, as well as a retail marijuana sales tax of 6.25%, not to exceed 11.25%.
Town o cials created a lottery system for the one marijuana business license that would be put on private property, but it did not receive any applications. O cials had expected to get several applications.
In September, trustees decided to allow a shop on town-owned property, so the town would have more control over the building and the
way the business operated. It suspended the lottery system in favor of only allowing a marijuana shop on its property.
“ ere were properties east of the hogback that had the opportunity to put in a marijuana shop,” Sutton said. “None of them wanted to use their property in such a manner, so we chose to go about it this way. is was an opportunity, but none of the property owners entertained the option.”
Town Manager Kara Winters said the election results in favor of a mar-
ijuana shop matched a recent survey the town conducted of residents.
“I think there will be more in favor (of the shop) when they hear the revenue estimate for the town,” Trustee John Leonard added.
Trustee Katie Gill said she thinks this is a good deal for the town.
“I’ve been con icted for a long time,” she explained. “We will bene t from the revenue from the lease, and we have control to choose a company that has the necessary capital and experience. In the end, this really is in the best interest for us to move ahead with this.”
Students at Evergreen Middle School want the school and everyone in it to be better.
An elective class called RISE Advise has embarked on a campaign called “Be a Better Person” to promote kindness throughout the school. It created a lesson on good behaviors that has been taught to the entire school.
RISE stands for responsibility, integrity, safety and engagement, which is used as the foundation for schoolwide/classroom expectations and climate and culture initiatives, according to Sara Hays, who teaches RISE Advise and is the school’s social
tities, working hard and be respectful, making choices that impact you and others in a positive way, to listen to each other and to be authentic and truthful.
e students said being a good person takes reaching out to those you feel could use a friend, standing up by telling others to stop unkind behaviors, smiling and saying hello to others in the hall even if you don’t know them well and expanding their friendship circle.
Being a good person, they noted, also includes not posting unkind things on social media, not being obnoxious to get attention, not laughing when others do something unkind, not spreading gossip and not harassing others.
kind, and their names are announced during morning announcements. Plus students are asked to make a goodperson chain listing positive activities that will hang in the school lobby.
RISE Advise students said their goal is to be good role models for the rest of the school and to help spread kindness, student Miller McKinney explained.
Students in the class said they hoped the Be a Good Person campaign encourages students, especially those who aren’t always nice to others, to incorporate better behaviors in their daily lives.
RISE Advise student Olivia Hillmann said she hoped the campaign would spread more kindness throughout the school, so more students would treat others with respect and stop bullying.
Student Anton Krembs hopes the campaign helps keep the peace among middle schoolers, something not always easy to do.
Because, student Zoe Yoho added, if students take positive action, there’s no room for hate or bullying.
e class agreed that, as student Grace Jones explained, they want to open (other students’) eyes to things that are not hurtful to them but are hurtful to others.
e RISE Advise students believe they can improve the school’s culture more than adults because as peers, they have an impact.
“Sometimes what teachers say is more of an obligation,” student Sloan Benson said. “If your friends say something, you’ll take it more into consideration because you listen to your friends. We can spread kind energy.”
Evergreen Middle School class asking fellow students to be kinder
An electrical issue caused the re in two downtown Evergreen businesses on Dec. 15, according to Evergreen Fire/Rescue. Arson has been ruled out.
“Something electrical in the back corner of Seasonally Yours caused the re,” said Stacee Martin, spokeswoman for Evergreen Fire/Rescue, adding that the re investigator couldn’t pinpoint a speci c decoration or other item in the back room that may have helped ignite the re.
Both Seasonally Yours and Sweetwater Boutique received extensive smoke damage and Seasonally Yours also sustained re damage. Both will be closed for an undetermined amount of time.
Martin said the investigator isn’t sure what caused the explosion that many in the area heard.
“ at has us scratching our heads,” she said. “Explosions in a re are very common.”
Martin stressed that residents and business owners should look at their holiday decorations to make sure they are not a re hazard, especially since most decorations are only brought out once a year.
“It can happen to anybody at any time,” she said. “Fire can happen inside or outside.”
Utility work on Highway 73
Highway 73 has been down to one lane for the past few weeks while Je erson County relocates utilities in anticipation of reconstructing the highway between Bu alo Park Road and Plettner Lane near downtown Evergreen. e work will stop during the holidays and start again on Jan. 3.
Bidding is expected to begin in early 2023 after the right-of-way has been acquired to expand the road to three lanes. Construction is expected to start in May and be completed by summer 2024.
e county says the underlying reason for improving the highway is to better facilitate evacuations in an emergency because the improved Highway 73 will be able to accommodate more cars. In addition, a tra c study shows that 16,000 vehicles travel on Highway 73 daily, indicating that the road is nearing capacity.
According to county documents, the design will widen a half-mile of the road to include a center left-turn lane in sections of the road, a southbound bike lane on the west side and a shared-use path on the east side. It also will provide four parking lots: angled parking across from the former church, parallel parking in front of the former church, angled parking across from Evergreen Fire/Rescue Station 1 and parallel parking south of the Highway 73/74 intersection.
e intersection of Highway 73 and Little Cub Creek Road also will be improved, and the left-turn lane for the second lane from Bu alo Park to Highway 73 will be lengthened to improve safety, county documents say.
e county has federal Transportation Improvement Program funding for the project.
Tra c has been backed up along Highway 73 as crews work to relocate utilities in anticipation of widening and improving the road from Bu alo Park Road to Plettner Lane.
BY DEB HURLEY BROBSTAlan Anderson, Foothills Fire/Rescue chief since November 2018, has resigned for personal reasons. His last day was Dec. 8.
Training Capt. Rod Cameron will serve as interim chief for three months, followed by Fire Marshal Randon Grimes for another three months or until the re department’s board can hire a new chief. Plans for the hiring process have not been nalized.
Foothills Fire covers 25 square miles with El Rancho to the west and moving east through Lookout Mountain, including Interstate 70.
Je co Public Schools wants to nd a new home for the Bu alo Park Schoolhouse, a historic one-room school that sits in front of Wilmot Elementary School.
e Je erson County Historical Commission and History Je co are working with the Evergreen Park & Recreation District to nd a new location. Once a location is found, fundraising will be done to pay for renovations and the move, according to the historical commission.
e log school was built in the 1870s by Selim Vezina and Antoine Roy, according to the Golden History Park and Museum. It has been called Evergreen’s rst school. Classes ended there in 1937 when the district consolidated with Evergreen.
“Caroline Vezina, in 1948, had the school moved log by log to her home on Evergreen Hill, and the Evergreen Women’s Club had it moved to its present site at Wilmot Elementary School,” the Golden History Park website said.
Evergreen library redesign moves forward
Plans to redesign the interior of Evergreen library are 30% complete, and Je erson County Public Library o cials have asked for pricing before moving forward.
e library board will share the initial designs with the public if the pricing ts with the $4.22 million the district has for the entire project from design through construction, according to information provided at the December library board meeting.
Priorities for the redesign, which will not enlarge the building, are to make the entrance more welcoming, create space for story times in the children’s area and enlarge the meeting room, while keeping the library’s mountain feel.
Levello Construction LLC Lee Lipniskis 6145 Broadway, Ste 43 Denver, CO 80216 http://www.levelloconstruction.com
Panorama Counseling & Play Therapy LLC Jillian Harbuz 30792 Southview Drive, Suite 207 Evergreen, CO 80439 http://PanoramaCPT.com
Blue Echo Digital Cade Hanson 29907 Carriage Loop Dr. Evergreen, CO 80439 http://www.BlueEchoDigital.com
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Luke Burns 1291 Bergen Pkwy Evergreen, CO 80439 http://www.naturalgrocers.com
Transworld Business Advisors - Colorado David Wechsler 5615 S. Hatch Drive Evergreen, CO 80439 https://www.tworld.com/locations/colorado/
It is time to accept our reality, foothills community….it is cold here in the winter. And in the dead of winter, it can be downright frigid! In the spirit of embracing and not complaining, your Evergreen Chamber is rolling out a day of fun for all on February 4, 2023, called Chill Out Winterfest. What could possibly be fun in the dead of winter, you ask? How about a Mushies Cup using large in atables, your team of two or four participants, and the frozen Evergreen Lake. We will leave the dogs at home and allow the adults to pull their kids or teenagers pulling their friends. All in the name of fun!
Have you ever watched The Amazing Race? How about trying the inaugural Evergreen Amazing Race meets Pub Crawl? Grab three of your friends and meet at the lake house for the start of the crawl which will include di erent challenges at each of the restaurants/bars who will be participating, consume a beer and receive your clue to the next location keeping in mind that on your team of four, one of you will be the designated driver.
Assuming Mother Nature works with us, the ice sculptures will be hidden around town for all to discover and enjoy. The theme of the ice sculptures this year will be “Love is in the Air”.
The day will end with a Glow-Skate at the Evergreen Lake. Yes, it will be cold, but bundle up and come out to enjoy the full moon, music, smores, and lots of laughter to shake us out of our winter doldrums! Look for details during January in the Everything Evergreen app or at evergreenchamber.org
Join us, Evergreen, and Chill Out!
nter lawn care for a wide variety of turfgrasses slightly di ers from that of spring, summer and fall. Your lawn is no longer in the active growing season. In fact, most warm season lawns go dormant around this time.
Wi
Lawn care in the winter is still just as important as other seasonal maintenance practices as your winter care will greatly determine how well your lawn comes out of dormancy in the spring.
Although you shouldn’t have to spend as much time maintaining your lawn during the active growing season, winter lawn maintenance is still a vital part of caring for your lawn.
It’s getting cooler outside and it’s obvious that you won’t need to mow as frequently as you have been all year. Our recommendation is to keep your grass a bit taller than normal.
When grass is too short, it doesn’t o er as much protection for the base of the grass blades and allows frost to get into the growing areas of your lawn. Keeping this area as protected as possible with slightly taller grass creates a barrier-like protection for the grass blades and stolons.
Be careful not to mow your lawn if there’s a lot of moisture from snow or ice as this may damage the grass blades. Make sure the lawn is dry and only mow when temperatures are about 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Now is an excellent time to service, or winterize, your lawn mower so that it’s fully operational and ready for the spring once mowing season resumes!
Irrigation maintenance practices during the winter aren’t usually as important in areas that receive rain or snow. In most areas, you will just need to water your lawn less than
GUEST COLUMN BY HOLLY G. HAYNESWhen I moved to Denver, I found an apartment o York Street and 13th Avenue. I was excited to be so close to all the happenings of the city — the Denver Botanic Gardens, parks, museums and countless restaurants.
I am a city gal, and the noise of the city merges easily with my daily
GUEST COLUMNthe active growing season.
temperatures, but it can still be done when applied properly.
Contact Us: 27972 Meadow Dr., #320
Evergreen, CO 80439 - 303-566-4100
Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110 Phone: 303-566-4100 Web: CanyonCourier.com To subscribe call 303-566-4100
Valerie SmithHowever, if you are in an area that receives a really dry winter, be sure to water your lawn enough so that the soil receives nourishment and keeps grass blades from drying out. Your lawn is dormant—this doesn’t mean it is dead and doesn’t still need water.
The best winter fertilizer for lawns Fertilization should generally take place during the active growing seasons such as the spring, summer and fall. ere is really not a need to apply fertilizer once temperatures consistently drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s similar to giving someone a pill while they are sleeping—it won’t be as e ective.
It’s best to prepare your lawn with the nutrients it needs to survive winter dormancy during the fall. Learn more in our blog, Fall Secrets to Achieve a Healthy Spring Lawn. However, when spring comes, it will be time to fertilize your lawn. Researching di erent fertilizers that match your lawn’s needs is something you can go ahead and start doing. e Lawni ®Spring Fertilizer Box is an easy-to-use liquid fertilizer program powered by Catalyst TechnologyTM to help plants better absorb nutrients with the use of less product.
Watch for winter weeds
Keep an eye out for winter grass weeds. Applying an herbicide during the winter isn’t always e ective since your lawn is dormant, which is why it’s best to apply products preventively in the fall.
Some research has shown that it’s safe to apply glyphosate, a nonselective herbicide, on dormant bermuda grass to kill o other weeds without damaging the bermuda grass. e e cacy of this is not as high as it would be in warmer
If you have a lot of weeds, make note to apply a pre-emergent herbicide in the fall next year to prevent them. Common winter weeds to look out for include: Purple Deadnettle, Chickweed, Annual bluegrass (Poa annua), and Henbit
Weed control products and other winter lawn treatments aren’t as e ective in the winter as other times of the year, which is why it’s best to apply these products preventively in the fall season before temperatures get too cold. Read and follow product labels thoroughly.
Most pests are going to be inactive at this time since it’s so cold outside. However, oftentimes insects and pests will burrow under objects in the lawn like lawn ornaments, toys that have been left out, weeds, rotted branches, etc.
A good way to keep them from overwintering in your lawn and causing damage in the spring again is by removing a lot of these objects from your lawn so that pests don’t have a place to take shelter from the cold.
Either hand-pull or apply a postemergent herbicide to keep any weeds that have survived cooler temperatures and consider relocating any lawn objects to your garage or outdoor shed.
You can also apply a broad-spectrum insect control product to treat any insects or bugs you may spot in the meantime.
Certain insects like grub worms, ants, eas, ticks, chinch bugs and spiders are sometimes known to survive during the colder parts of the year if they have places to take shelter.
Insect control products aren’t as e ective in the winter as other times
routine — the clattering of the trafc, the honking of horns and the laughter, or yelling, of a passerby. en, on a crisp autumn or winter day, the rst snowfall of the season blankets the city, and a hush follows. ese days, to me, are magical and I am reminded that we all need to slow down and enjoy a little quiet time. I like to take a leisurely stroll around the Denver Botanic Gardens,
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
a local park or in my neighborhood. Usually, there are few people out and many wonderful sights to take in. It’s really a walking meditation.
It has been more than a decade since I lived in that apartment o York and 13th, but I still appreciate the quietness that follows the snow, and now I have the good fortune of working at the Denver Botanic Gardens. So, when the snow begins, I
KRISTEN FIORE West Metro Editor kfiore@coloradocommunitymedia.com
DEB HURLEY BROBST Community Editor dbrobst@coloradocommunitymedia.com
RUTH DANIELS Classified Sales rdaniels@coloradocommunitymedia.com
of the year, which is why it’s best to apply these products preventively in the fall season before temperatures get too cold. Read and follow product labels thoroughly.
It’s pretty di cult to detect most lawn diseases during the winter season—especially if you have a warm season lawn that goes o -color and dormant as temperatures drop.
Oftentimes, symptoms of disease don’t begin making an appearancze until the spring as the lawn greens up and disease patterns are easier to distinguish.
It’s still a great idea to apply disease control products preventively during the fall to keep diseases from taking over during the winter season. You may still notice some lawn diseases like snow mold.
Disease control products aren’t as e ective in the winter as other times of the year, which is why it’s best to apply these products preventively in the fall season before temperatures get too cold. Read and follow product labels thoroughly.
Your grass is probably dormant, meaning it’s not going to put a lot of energy into restoring itself after heavy tra c. Taking as much care of your lawn as you can by reducing tra c while it is “asleep” is one of the best preventative maintenance practices you can perform.
It keeps your grass from having to spend a bunch of energy restoring itself when it comes out of dormancy. Instead, let your grass focus its energy on ourishing as it comes out of dormancy.
is article was written by Sod Solutions Content Strategist, Valerie Smith. For all media inquiries or for high-resolution photos, contact Cecilia Brown at cecilia@sodsolutions.com.
always venture out for a walk around the Denver Botanic Gardens or Cheesman Park to take in the beauty of our little slice of nature. ese snowy days highlight the beautiful textures and patterns of plants. From the stunning seed heads of perennials to the movement of the ornamental grasses or the architecture of
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
When Colorado passed its Red Flag law, called “Extreme Risk Protection Orders,” in 2019, El Paso County Sheri Bill Elder announced his opposition: “I am exploring all legal options and am vigorously challenging the constitutionality of this law.”
He wasn’t alone. Many county sheri s in Colorado said they believed the law didn’t allow enough due process or was unconstitutional.
But since then, some 20 of these so-called “sanctuary” counties have seen the light, implementing this sensible law so that weapons have been taken away from violent people. But it was not used in El Paso County’s Colorado Springs, where a man recently killed ve people and wounded many others at Club Q, an LGBTQ bar.
e shooter, who survived, never had to go to court to defend himself against the Red Flag law — even after law enforcement was called in a year ago to stop him from threatening his family with a bomb.
If anyone needed to be parted from weapons, it was the Club Q shooter. But sadly, in the wake of massacres like this, we frequently learn that no action was taken earlier by either law enforcement or family.
e El Paso County Sheri ’s o ce, in a statement to the Colorado Sun, admitted that it has never initiated an extreme risk protection order, the rst step in removing a rearm from someone under Colorado law.
e Red Flag law builds in due process, as only a judge can begin the process of removing someone’s guns. A second court appearance is necessary to extend a temporary protection order beyond two weeks. While a Red Flag law is now used in 19 other states, the Associated Press found that Colorado residents invoke the law less often than residents of other states.
Why not? A major reason is the anti-democratic ideology of county sheri s who choose what laws to enforce. Sheri s have bought into the peculiar notion that a county has ultimate legal authority to uphold the Constitution of the United States.
One result of this old “Posse Comitatus” approach is that local sheri s feel free to ignore state laws they don’t like. All they have to do is label them “unconstitutional.”
is attitude was on full display in several states when they issued emergency orders to curb the spread of Covid 19. Rural sheri s in Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and California resisted. ey de ed the orders of their state government
and refused to enforce public health measures.
e backbone of this county approach is best represented by the Constitutional Sheri and Peace O cer Association, a group based in Arizona and founded by Richard Mack, described by the Anti-Defamation League as an “anti-government extremist.” Mack is also credited as a founding member of the Oath Keepers, infamous for their involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
In my home state of Oregon, this rhetoric has made inroads. ough a contentious ballot measure restricting magazine capacity and implementing a new rearm permitting system recently passed, several county sheri s have joined lawsuits to prevent the reforms from going into e ect. Many more of Oregon’s 36 county sheri s have stated they will not enforce all or parts of the law.
While not all of these sheri s may view themselves as members of the Constitutional Sheri and Peace Ofcer Association, the in uence of its ideology is undeniable.
You would think it goes without saying, but the job of a county sheri has never been to interpret laws as they see t. Sheri s are elected ofcials entrusted by their community to apply laws fairly.Allowing sheri s to act as supreme legal arbiters is wrongheaded and dangerous. If the El Paso County sheri or the shooter’s family had implemented the Red Flag law, a massacre might have been prevented.
So called “Constitutional Sheri s” couch their rhetoric and ideology as a ght to preserve liberty and justice. It is almost as if they were living in a ctionalized version of the Wild West, where a lone sheri with a gun upholds civilization.
at is not the world we live in. Guns are not sacrosanct possessions, unstable and dangerous people should not be allowed to stockpile weapons, and activating the Red Flag law can save lives.
If our sheri s won’t uphold the laws, maybe it’s time to vote for someone who will.
Brian Sexton is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonpro t dedicated to spurring conversation about Western issues. He writes about wildlife and hunting in Oregon.
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.
Connie Ann (Young) Burt, 59, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2022 in Lakewood, CO. She was born on January 6, 1963 in Memphis, TN. She graduated from Southaven High School in 1981 and State Technical College in 1983. While working for the Commercial Appeal newspaper for 15 years, she met her husband, James (Jim) C. Burt. Together, they moved to Conifer, CO and were married in August 1996. In Colorado, she owned and operated Rocky Mountain Candy Bouquet and was an independent sales director for Mary Kay Cosmetics. As a mother, Connie was a passionate supporter of both her daughters??? activities as President of the Parker Valley Farms Pony Pal club, board member of the Colorado American Saddlebred Horse Association, President of the Evergreen High School Poms Booster club, and two-time squad mom of the year for the Junior Denver Broncos Cheerleaders.
Connie is survived by her husband Jim, daughters Allison Xie and Emily Ann Shija, parents Allen and Sidney Young, and brother Charles David Young. She is preceded in death by her brother, Robert Allen Young. She is a member of Colonial Hills Baptist Church in Southaven, MS.
Connie served as a constant reminder to live life to the fullest and love with all your heart. Her smile, warmth, and passion will be deeply missed, but her memory will live on forever.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, December 17 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at Evergreen Memorial Park.
A private service will also be held at Forest Hill-Midtown Memphis, TN where she will be buried at Forest Hill South on Holmes Road.
In lieu of owers, donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association in honor of her brother, Robert.
Gasper Joseph “Rocky” Graziano passed away surrounded by his family on November 15, 2022, in Denver. A mechanical engineer by profession, Rocky was known for his neverending quest for knowledge and problemsolving for others. A long-time resident of Evergreen, he was an active member of “ e Curmudgeons,” a group of retired professionals who were instrumental in bringing RTD transportation to the community and the construction of an accessible trail around Evergreen Lake, among other community improvements. As recently as this year, at the age of 95, he reached as far as e White House to propose HVAC solutions as a means to combating COVID spread in public buildings, even writing articles on the subject for an engineering publication.
Rocky was born March 14, 1927, in Jersey City, New Jersey, where he spent his childhood. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 17. After the Army, he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, then started a 30-year career with Johns-Manville. He married Phyllis Anne Graziano in 1955
and they had four daughters. In 1972 the family moved to Evergreen, where Phyllis and Gasper resided until they relocated to Denver to be closer to their daughters in 2015.
Rocky was preceded in death by his wife, who passed away in February 2020. He is survived by daughter Amy Graziano and husband Dick O’Connell; daughter Joanne Fukaye and husband Howard Fukaye; daughter Kathryn Graziano and husband Dan Gay; daughter Vanessa Graziano and husband Kevin O’Grady; four grandchildren, James Fukaye, Alyssa Fukaye, Nicholas Gay and Emily Gay; and two great-grandchildren, Kenji and Kimiko Fukaye Mosquera.
In lieu of owers, memorial gifts can be made to Seniors4Wellness, PO Box 361, Evergreen, CO 80437, or online: https:// www.seniors4wellness.org/
A celebration of Rocky’s life will be held at Wellshire Presbyterian Church, 2999 S. Colorado Blvd, Denver, on January 14, 2023, at 11:00 am.
Condolences can be sent to e Graziano Family, 881 South Gilpin St, Denver, CO 80209.
March 31, 1940 - December 1,
Neil was a devoted and loving father and grandfather, and we will miss him dearly. ough the world will not be the same without Neil, he will be lovingly remembered for his numerous acts of kindness, his dry wit and puns, his generosity as well as his receptive, compassionate ear. To the end, Neil touched the hearts of all those around him with his strong sense of character and his graceful bearing. Neil was a world traveler and an avid gardener and sherman as well as a joyful, playful cook.
Neil is preceded in death by his parents Neil
H. Knowlton, Sr. and Rebecca Hope Knowlton and his wife Margaret L. Knowlton as well as his twin, Robert Knowlton, who died at birth.
He is survived by his daughter Ginger Knowlton and her children Marsden, George, and Winslow, and son and daughter-in-law, Nick and Sarah Knowlton and their children Lauren, Libby, and Nash.
Neil’s life will be celebrated in a small, private gathering of family and friends.
In lieu of owers, contributions may be made in Neil’s honor at Growing Gardens: https://growinggardens.org/donate/
FROM PAGE 8
lyrata)
• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
• Blue grama grass (Bouteloua
gracilis)
• Little bluestem grass (Schizachyrium scoparium)
• Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra)
• Pinon pine (Pinus edulis)
Along with gorgeous textures and beautiful patterns, these plants provide many bene ts to wildlife. Because so many people are learning about these bene ts, there is a wonderful movement going on in the world of home gardening — people are starting to turn in their notice when it comes to doing fall
clean-up in their ornamental garden beds. Leaving your grasses and perennials up through mid-spring provides protection to many bene cial pollinators and their eggs, as well as valuable food for our songbirds during the colder months.
I am hoping that, by the time you read this, we have received our rst snowfall of the season and that this article will encourage you to take a few minutes to go for a quiet walk and see what mother nature has to o er. Take in the architecture of the
Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) or the playful pompom seedheads of the pale purple cone ower (Echinacea pallida) or the patterns in the New Mexico agave (Agave parryi ssp. neomexicana). May you open your eyes to the beauty of gardens at rest and be able to enjoy the quiet solitude of a snowy day.
Loveland Ski Area partnered with the Chris Anthony Youth Initiative Project to get f ifth-graders onto the ski slopes
BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE OLOVE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Coloradans can always look to the west and see the mountains in the distance, but for some who live in the inner cities of Colorado, actually getting to the mountains can be a bigger task.
irty- ve fth-graders hit the slopes in Loveland for the rst time on Dec. 13, some even experiencing the mountains for the rst time.
Students from Laredo Elementary School in Aurora came to Loveland Ski Area to ski with professional skier and Snow Sports Hall of Fame inductee Chris Anthony.
Anthony has been working with kids for many years and has hosted his youth program at Loveland for the past three.
e Chris Anthony Youth Initiative Project works to improve the lives of kids through educational enrichment. One of the ways the foundation does this is by busing classes of fth-graders out to Loveland ski area to spend a day learning to ski.
Anthony’s foundation pays for the bus, winter clothes, ski rentals and passes for the children to come experience the slopes. Most kids who come have never skied, and some have never spent time in the mountains despite living in Colorado.
Peter Zola is the teacher for the fth-graders at Laredo Elementary School.
“Every year we have at least two or three kids who have spent most of their life out on the plains in sight of the mountains but never in the mountains,” Zola said.
Zola has been taking his class to ski for eight years and said he always sees great behavior out of his students during this trip. He attributes that success to the active learning the kids get to see
and experience on the mountain.
Anthony sees kids get o the bus with a wide range of emotions, from excitement to nervousness for the day. After a day on the slopes, he sees a common thread between all of them.
“No matter what, at the end of the day, all of them, you can see a bright light ignited in the process,” Anthony said.
Some of the kids were star-struck upon seeing Anthony, one even asking the hall of famer to sign his lunchbox.
After donning their coats and dancing out the
morning jitters, the fth-graders were ready to go get tted for skis.
irty- ve fth-graders getting tted for boots, skis and helmets all at the same time was a bit chaotic, but the sta ers at Loveland have done this before. e kids buzzed with excitement and quickly learned about the cumbersome feeling of ski boots.
After getting their skis ready to go, the kids
FROM
headed out to the snow with the instructors. ey learned how to put on their skis and quickly learned how to get up after they inevitably fell down.
Dan Huston is the director of the ski and ride school at Loveland. He said one of the biggest barriers for people being able to ski is location/ transportation.
“ e mountains and ski areas usually aren’t very close to urban population centers. We’re unique in that we are 56 miles from Denver,” he said.
After working with the program for a few years, Huston knows the impact it has on kids.
“ ey’re gonna remember this for the rest of their lives,” he said.
Mailene Hernandez, one of the fth-graders on the trip, had a lot to say about the day. She said the bus ride to the ski area was full of mixed emotions, but mostly excitement.
“It was a little bit chaotic, but it was good,” Hernandez said. “I was
kinda feeling excited and nervous at the same time.”
Hernandez took to the sport easily and said the process of getting into her skis was pretty natural.
“While I was putting them on I guess I felt a little wobbly, but it was pretty easy,” she said.
Hernandez also had some advice for other kids who might be learning to ski for the rst time.
“It’s really a fun experience, but I do recommend having some ski clothes because of how cold it is, and because you’re going to fall,” she said.
She also went on to say how much of a blessing Chris Anthony was to her class and how happy she was that they even got the opportunity to come.
After lunch, the kids got their skis back on and some of them graduated from the Magic Carpet over to the ski lift. Skiing down the hill was a good opportunity to work on turns and pizza wedges for the fthgraders.
Anthony himself skied along with the kids throughout the day, helping to pick them up when they fell. His presence made the day even more
exciting for the kids, with high- ves all around.
Hernandez and other students
agreed that if they had the opportunity to ski again, they would denitely take it.
BY COLORADO SUN STAFF THE COLORADO SUN
Each week as part of SunLit — e Colorado Sun’s literature section — sta recommendations from book stores across Colorado are provided. is week, sta from BookBar in Denver recommend “ e Last Chairlift,” “Home Is Where the Eggs Are,” “Dad’s Girlfriend and Other Anxieties” and “ e Complete Brambly Hedge.”
From the publisher: In Aspen, Colorado, in 1941, Rachel Brewster is a slalom skier at the National Downhill and Slalom Championships. Little Ray, as she is called, nishes nowhere near the podium, but she manages to get pregnant. Back home, in New England, Little Ray becomes a ski instructor. Her son, Adam, grows up in a family that de es conventions and evades questions concerning the eventful past. Years later, looking for answers, Adam will go to Aspen. In the Hotel Jerome, where he was conceived, Adam will meet some ghosts. ey aren’t the rst or the last ghosts he sees.
From Marilyn Robbins, Children’s Program Coordinator: ere is nothing as satisfying as reading a long novel that you can really delve into and feel as though you’ve become part of the story. “ e Last Chairlift” is just such a story and is truly another Irving masterpiece. It’s lled with unconventional characters that might challenge you until you come to accept the life choices each character makes. It is a story of family, of love, of acceptance. e setting of Aspen, Colorado is an added bonus.
$32.50
From the publisher: is is a beautiful, intimate book full of food that’s best enjoyed in the comfort of sweatpants and third-day hair, by a beloved Food Network host and new mom living on a sugar beet farm in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. Molly Yeh’s cooking is built to t into life with her baby and the nap times, diaper changes, and wiggle time that come with having a young child, making them a breeze to t into any sort of schedule, no matter how busy. ey’re low-maintenance dishes that are satisfying to make for weeknight meals to celebrate empty to-do lists after long work days, cozy Sunday soups to simmer during the rst (or seventh!) snowfall of the year, and desserts that will keep happily under the cake dome for long enough that you will never feel pressure to share.
From Becky LeJeune, Event Buyer/ O ce Manager: I adore Molly Yeh! Her optimism and overall happy demeanor carry over into her dishes and are something I aspire to in my everyday life. And I think if I cook out of this book constantly, I might be able to make that happen! Cozy and comforting is rule of thumb in this book. And ease as well. Whether you’re making a hot dish or a halvaor tahini-tinged baked item or pasta, everything I’ve tried so far is amazing. is is de nitely another favorite and one that’ll be getting heavy use in my house!
From the publisher: Anxiety has always made Ava avoid the slightest risk, but plunging head rst into danger might be just what she needs. Dad hasn’t even been dating his new girlfriend that long, so Ava is sure that nothing has to change in her life. at is, until the day after sixth grade
ends, when Dad whisks her away on vacation to meet e Girlfriend and her daughter in terrifying Colorado, where even the squirrels can kill you! Managing her anxiety, avoiding altitude sickness, and surviving the mountains might take all of Ava’s strength, but at least this trip will only last two weeks. Right?
From Marilyn Robbins, Children’s Program Coordinator: I waited all year for my favorite middle grade novel, and this is it! “Dad’s Girlfriend and Other Anxieties” is the gem you’ve been looking for, perfect for the middle grade reader in your life (or you … it’s that good). You’ll laugh, you’ll cringe, you’ll cheer, and you will de nitely fall in love with Ava as she navigates her trip to Colorado to meet Dad’s new girlfriend. is book is delightful and full of heart.
By Jill Barklem HarperCollins Publishers $24.99
From the publisher: e mice of Brambly Hedge made their rst appearance in 1980 when the four seasonal stories were published. Ever since, readers have loved exploring
the miniature world of the hedgerow and meeting the families that live there. In this collection the mice have many adventures, but they always have time for fun and relaxation, too. Whatever the season, and whether they are by the sea, in the High Hills, or simply at home by the re, there is always someone ready to lend a helping hand.
From Moira Brownwolfe, Backlist Bookbuyer: e classic British children’s series is complete in this one volume. If you grew up with Redwall but your kids aren’t quite old enough for it, try this adorable slice of life about mice living in fully furnished tree homes. Packed with lovely illustrations, this collection is the perfect gift for a cozy holiday season. And if you like the books, also check out the delightful stop-motion television adaptations from 1996.
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.
photo pages celebrating the state’s amazing wildlife and parks.
Each page celebrated a di erent local animal or group of animals, including fun facts provided by CPW.
For December and the nal photo page of 2022, the mountain newspapers are celebrating Colorado’s state parks.
FUN FACTS ABOUT STATE PARKS:
• Colorado has 42 state parks, featuring more than 4,000 campsites and 58 cabins and yurts for campers to visit.
• Which state park was Colorado’s rst is somewhat debatable. Cherry Creek was founded in 1959 as the state’s rst recreation area. e rst location to open with the name state
park was Lathrop, which is east of Walsenberg, which was founded in 1962. In the ‘90s, Cherry Creek and other recreation areas became state parks.
• In 1949, the rst Colorado State Parks feasibility study suggested establishing Roxborough as one of the rst state parks. However, Roxborough wasn’t established as a state park until 1975.
• In 1959, the governor signed a 25-year lease with the Army Corps
of Engineers for the Cherry Creek Recreation Area. e new state park welcomed its rst o cial visitor on June 17, and 168,700 people visited it in its rst year.
• In 1960, the state purchased 200 acres in Gilpin County, which became the nucleus for Golden Gate Canyon State Park.
• Chat eld State Park was established in 1975.
• In 1977, after the state acquired a recreational lease for Barr Lake two years earlier, the new state park opened to the public.
• Eldorado Canyon’s owner threatened to sell the area for a rock quarry in 1978, and public outcry prompted the state to buy the canyon and create Eldorado Canyon State Park.
• Staunton State Park opened to the public in May 2013. e park, which is in Park and Je erson counties, was built from a parcel rst donated in 1986 by Frances Hornbrook Staunton. Subsequent parcels were acquired in the late 1990s and early 2000s. CPW purchased the nal parcel in 2006 to reach the current park’s 3,828-acre land base.
ank you to all the readers who’ve participated in our monthly wildlife photo pages throughout 2022. To review all the photo pages from elk in January to turkeys, bobcats, pikas and more in November, visit CanyonCourier.com or ClearCreekCourant.com.
The Christmas in Conifer was a huge success! Congratulations to Peak Academy of Dance, who won the $500 prize and the 1st place ribbon, and to Conifer Newcomers & Neighbors, who won the 2nd place $200 prize, and the 2nd place ribbon. I’ve included the winners in all the other categories below. We are so appreciative of all your hard work. It was all so impressive, and you are all HEROES to the Conifer Area Chamber of Commerce.
Thank you to Lifetime Windows and Siding for being our Title Sponsor this year and to all the sponsors who made the parade happen.
I wanted to thank everyone for all your hard work on the parade yesterday. We had over 39 vendors, 35 sponsors, 34 parade participants, and 68 volunteers to make it happen. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!
IT TAKES ALL OF US to make this event happen, and so grateful for the community of Conifer and the surrounding area that showed up to kick o the Holiday Season!
I want to send a BIG shout-out to all those who have worked endless hours, especially Melissa Baker, owner of Foothills Architects, and Events Chairperson, for all the leadership; it
would not all come together without her. The Board, Sta , and I appreciate your hard work and dedication to the Chamber.
Here are the results of the parade awards:
Best Decorated Vehicle
1st Je erson County Democratic Party
Take advantage of the many opportunities and business services the Chamber o ers. If you have any membership questions, or would like to find out more about becoming a member, do not hesitate to contact the o ce at (303) 838-5711
director@goconifer.com
Thank you for your continued support and thank you for shopping local!
We’d like to know about events or activities of interest to the community. Visit www.canyoncourier.com/calendar/ and post your event online for free. Email dbrobst@coloradocommunitymedia.com to get items in the print version of the paper. Items will appear in print on a space-available basis.
Skate the Lake: Evergreen’s annual Skate the Lake New Year’s Eve celebration will be from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 31 at Evergreen Lake. e $30 admission price includes skate rental, broomball, ice hockey, marshmallow roasting, a DJ and more. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.evergreenrecreation.com/310/Skate-theLake.
Two shows at Shadow Mountain Gallery: Shadow Mountain Gallery will host both its Holiday Treasures and Winter Poetry shows through Dec. 31. Holiday Treasures will showcase paintings, photography, ceramics, glass art, jewelry and gifts. Winter Poetry will showcase snowcovered peaks, winter wildlife and home décor. e gallery, which is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, is in downtown Evergreen near Java Groove.
cial needs. Cost to jump in the lake is $40, and costumes are encouraged. Sign up to participate at https:// a4aevergreen.org/.
Bootstraps scholarship applications: e Bootstraps Scholarship and Loan Round 1 application is open for graduating seniors from Clear Creek, Conifer, Evergreen and Platte Canyon high schools. Visit bootstrapsinc.org to access the application. e deadline is Jan. 12. Scholarships and loans are available for students planning to attend college, university, community college, trades programs, vocational programs and certi cation programs.
Support After Suicide Loss: Heartbeat and Resilience1220 o er Support After Suicide Loss from 5:30-7 p.m. the fourth ursday of the month for ages 14 and older. Join in-person or online. Suggest donation is $15. For location, email heather@resilience1220.org or call 720-480-6672.
Evergreen chamber meeting: e Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly meeting from 7:30-9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4, at Troutdale Tavern. e topic is how to make your business green. For more information and to register, visit evergreenchamber.org.
Free legal clinic: A free legal clinic for people with no attorney will be from 2 to 5 p.m. ursday, Jan. 5. By telephone or video, volunteer attorneys will answer questions, help ll out forms, and explain the process and procedure for all areas of civil litigation. Pre-registration for individual 15-minute appointments is available by calling 303-2355275 or visiting je colibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/search/ q=free%20legal%20clinic or call 303-235-5275.
Tree recycling: Recycle your Christmas tree two weekends in Evergreen: from 1-6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, or from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, in the vacant lot across from the Evergreen King Soopers or from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at Evergreen Lutheran Church, 5980 Highway 73. Tree recycling also will be available from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at both locations. For more information, visit http:// sustainevergreen.org.
Festival of One-Act Plays: e Festival of One-Act Plays will be performed Jan. 13-29 in the Black Box eatre, 27886 Meadow Drive, with performances at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for students. For tickets, visit www.evergreenplayers.org or call 720-515-1528.
ESA EverGREEN Re ll Station: EverGREEN Re ll Station (re ll your laundry detergent, lotions, soaps and more. We have many sustainable products available). e Re ll Station is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and Wednesdays from 1-4 p.m. It is located upstairs in the Habitat Restore in Bergen Park, 1232 Bergen Parkway.
Hiwan Museum winter hours: Hiwan Museum has shortened winter hours for tours, open ursday and Friday from noon to 4 p.m. and weekends from noon to 4:30 p.m. Private tours of large groups may be accommodated when the museum is closed by calling Erica Duvic at Hiwan Museum at 720-4977653.
History Happy Hour: e Evergreen Mountain Area Historical Society will host a History Happy Hour from 4:30-6:30 p.m. the second Friday of each month at Hiwan Museum. Join us in a round table discussion on any and all aspects of history with topics driven by the attendees.
Sensitive Collection: Resilience1220 o ers a monthly workshop for highly sensitive people to help them live healthy and empowered lives from 3:30-4:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month via Zoom. Visit r1220.org for more information.
Parkinson’s disease support group: A Parkinson’s disease support group meets the rst Friday of the month from 1-3 p.m. at Evergreen Christian Church, 27772 Iris Drive, Evergreen. For more information, email esears@parkinsonrockies.org.
Mountain Foothills Rotary meetings: Mountain Foothills Rotary meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays both in person at Mount Vernon Canyon Club at 24933 Club House Circle, Genesee, and via Zoom. Join the Zoom meeting at https://us02web. zoom.us/j/81389224272, meeting ID 813 8922 4272, phone 346-248-7799.
Evergreen Lake Plunge: e
Evergreen Lake Plunge will be from noon-2 p.m. Jan. 1 at the Evergreen Lake House. e plunge is a fundraiser by Active4All, the Evergreen Park & Recreation District’s foundation, with proceeds going to the INSPIRE program for those with spe-
Resiliency 2023: Resilience1220 is hosting Resiliency 2023 via Augmented Reality from 5-6 p.m. on eight Wednesdays beginning Jan. 11. Get into character and express yourself through Emotional eater. e program will be hosted on Zoom and is open to all youth. For more information, visit resilience1220.org.
Energy insecurity a ects more than 1 million Coloradans. By supporting Energy Outreach Colorado with a gift today, more of our neighbors in need will have a place to turn for help.
You can give the gift of warmth at www.energyoutreach.org/donate
Community Bible Study: Several community Bible study groups are available — women (in person and online), co-ed young adults, school age, preschool & babies. is year’s study covers six books of the Bible: Philemon 1, 2, 3, John, Jude and Revelation. In-person classes are ursday morning at Rockland Community Church in Genesee, Tuesday night at Bergan Park Church in Evergreen and Wednesday morning at Conifer Community Church in Conifer. More information is available at cbsclass. org/evergreengolden.
Beyond the Rainbow: Resilience1220 o ers Beyond the Rainbow, which is two support groups that meet from 7-8:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month. One is a safe group for those 12-20 and the other is group for parents and caregivers wanting support for raising an LGBTQ child. To RSVP, contact Lior Alon at lior@wisetreewellness.com.
Two ballot measures approved by voters in November will reduce the amount of money the legislature has to spend by about $750 million in each of the next three years, but two economic and tax revenue forecasts presented to state lawmakers Tuesday predicted the reduction won’t cut into Colorado’s budget. e forecasts also indicate Coloradans can continue to expect tax refunds — albeit smaller ones than they would have received had the two ballot measures failed.
Proposition 121, which reduced the income tax rate to 4.4% from 4.55%, is expected to reduce state tax revenues by $620 million in the current scal year — which ends June 30, 2023 — and by some $400 million in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 scal years. Proposition 123 sets aside up to 0.1% of taxable income each year for a ordable housing programs, which is estimated to be about $150 million in the current scal year and roughly $300 million in the 2023-24 and subsequent scal years.
Should there be a deep recession, however, nonpartisan Legislative Council Sta and the Governor’s O ce of State Planning and Budgeting warned budget cuts may be possible and taxpayer refunds would be erased. And both agencies said
the risk of an economic downturn remains high.
“Amidst this rapid monetary policy tightening, the housing correction and declining household balance
sheets, we believe that risks to the forecast remain elevated and weighted toward the downside,” Je Stupak, a monetary policy and in ation analyst for Legislative Council
Sta , told the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee, which writes Colorado’s budget.
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
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
For now, not a lot
TELEVISION: What is the name of the next-door neighbor on TV’s sitcom “Home Improvement”?
LITERATURE: Which war was the setting for Anthony Doerr’s novel “All the Light We Cannot See”?
MUSIC: Who wrote the song “All Along the Watchtower,” performed by Jimi Hendrix?
GEOGRAPHY: When is Earth Day celebrated each year?
HISTORY: Which two citystates fought the Peloponnesian War?
MEDICAL TERMS: What is a common name for the disorder called sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia?
ASTRONOMY: Where is the Oort Cloud in space?
GEOMETRY: How many sides does a nonagon have?
FOOD & DRINK: What’s another name for egg white?
10. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: How large is the Times Square ball that drops at midnight on New Year’s Eve? Answers 1. Wilson. 2. WWII. 3. Bob Dylan. 4. April 22. 5. Athens and Sparta. 6. Brain freeze. 7. The most distant region in our solar system, beyond the Kuiper Belt. 8. Nine. 9. Albumen. 10. 12 feet in diameter. (c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.
Turning Point Ranch
Beautiful Evergreen, Colorado private ranch looking for full time Stable manager to care for 5 Horses. Monday-Friday and managing weekend horse help.
Duties include feeding and turning out horses, cleaning stalls, riding horses, occasional lessons, ordering feed and supplies, scheduling vet and farrier. We have a large outdoor arena, large heated indoor arena, as well as beautiful riding trails on the property.
LAM Tree Service Apply www.lamtree.com 303-674-8733
Clear Creek County is hiring with new higher pay rates! Apply at: 403 Argentine Street in Georgetown.
career farther than you’ve ever imagined.
take
Looking for someone reliable with a good work ethic who will take great care of our horses.
are building a
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. Please
Contact: kris@tpranch.us 303-941-7224
LAM TREE SERVICE
30476 Bryant Drive 303.674.8733
DENTAL INSURANCE -
Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurancenot a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-855-526-1060 www.dental50plus.com/58 #6258.
VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS!
50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Espanol
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
Beltone Hearing Aids. Voted #1 hearing Care retailer. Rechargeable, weather & sweatproof. Easily connect music, audio & calls to your hearing aids. Starting at $799. Call today & get 25% off plus a free cleaning kit with purchase. Expires 3/31/2023. Call 1-866-625-4985
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800245-0398
!!OLD GUITARS WANTED!! GIBSON, FENDER, MARTIN, etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. TOP DOLLAR PAID.
CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-433-8277
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
FREE $20 Cash App Everyone! Yes It’s Real. Very Limited supply until we run out! Go to Free20Now. com
Caring for an aging loved one? Wondering about options like seniorliving communities and in-home care? Caring.com’s Family Advisors help take the guesswork out of senior care for your family. Free, noobligation consult: 1-855-759-1407
Oxygen Concentrator. May be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim
of Inogen One. Free Information Kit! Call: 844-823-0293
BUDGET
FROM
Greg Sobetski, chief economist for Legislative Council Sta , said “we think a recession is very possible.” e legislature isn’t allowed to spend all of the money the state collects in tax revenue because of Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights cap on government growth and spending, which is calculated by annual in ation and population rates. Any money collected by the state in excess of the cap must be refunded to taxpayers. Refunds are expected in each of the next three scal years. Legislative Council Sta forecast that tax revenue will be above the cap by $2.5 billion in the current scal year, $1.5 billion in the 202324 scal year and $1.4 billion in the 2024-25 scal year.
e tax revenue forecast from the governor’s o ce was less rosy. It predicted $2.4 billion in revenue above the TABOR cap in the current scal year, $469 million in the 202324 scal year and $736 million in the 2024-25 scal year.
Lauren Larson, who leads OSBP, said the reason for the discrepancy has to do with the agency’s expectation that there will be “a slight
downturn for a couple of quarters in late 2023.”
After $225 million in TABOR excess is refunded as property tax relief in the current scal year, thanks to a bill passed in 2022, the legislature is still expected by nonpartisan legislative sta and the governor’s o ce to have more than $2 billion to refund. e money can be refunded in a variety of ways. Earlier this year, the scal year 2021-22 TABOR excess was sent back to Coloradans via checks of $750 or $1,500 depending on whether they led their taxes individually or jointly.
e legislature will decide during the 2023 legislative session, which begins Jan. 9, how to refund the TABOR cap excess.
Digging into the numbers
Colorado’s job market remains strong, both OSPB and Legislative Council Sta told the JBC. ere are roughly two jobs available for every unemployed person in the state and Colorado’s unemployment rate was 3.5% in November.
“ e majority of sectors we’ve recovered all the jobs lost in the recession,” Supak said.
ere were exceptions in the mining, government, food services and real estate sectors. However, labor demands across the board continue
to outpace supply, according to OSPB.
Both OSPB and Legislative Council Sta said in ation continues to put pressure on Coloradans. And while the overall in ation rate in Denver is lower than the national rate, Denver’s housing in ation rate is 10% compared with the 7.1% national average.
Housing prices have caused the most signi cant contributors to ination across the U.S., according to Legislative Council Sta . However, those costs are falling nationally and in Denver as the market cools. Denver home prices are down 4.5% from their peak, though housing demand is still outpacing supply and rental prices are climbing.
Additionally, rising interest rates caused by the Federal Reserve’s hopes of cooling in ation have caused signi cant decreases in purchasing power for home buyers. Stupak said that someone who could a ord a $550,000 home with a 20% down payment in 2021 had a monthly mortgage payment of $1,900.
“ at same person, if they wanted to keep the same down payment and monthly payment, they would have gone down from being able to a ord a $550,000 home to a $413,500 home. So about a 25% decrease in
their purchasing power,” he said. e housing market uncertainty is part of the reason state economists are warning of a recession. Another indicator of a possible economic downturn are trends in consumer spending, which make up 70% of economic activity, according to the Legislative Council Sta .
“We’ve seen a falling savings rate, falling household balance sheets and kind of declining expectations from consumers for the economy in the future,” Stupak said.
e OSPB projects slow consumer demand and economic growth in the second half of 2023. “ e labor market and consumer spending are currently outpacing previous expectations for this year, but slower consumer demand and economic growth are expected in the second half of 2023,” said Bryce Cook, chief economist at OSPB.
Legislative Council Sta expects the annual in ation rate in Colorado to drop to about 4% in 2023 after hovering around 8% in 2022. 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.
Resolution Season is finally upon us. As we attempt to re-invent, re-invest, and re-charge our personal lives, let’s not forget what that means for our Estate Plans.
A New Year means a fresh start. A chance to make up ground on things we were hoping to do last time around the sun. Its extremely important to include your Estate Plans into those resolutions. Its likely this past year and the new year alike will bring change. New family members, loss of family members, financial success, financial woes, new acquisitions, and possibly a change in taxes. These changes can have a huge impact on your Estate Plans moving forward, so make sure YOU don’t leave them behind. These changes may include things like:
• Loss of a Loved One
• New Beneficiaries
• Loss of Beneficiaries
• Change in fiduciaries
• Sale or Purchase of Property
• Sale or Purchase of a Business
• Change in Ideals and Principles
Don’t let these changes negatively affect your Estate Plans. Let’s make sure we all remain on the same page. 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
