Canyon Courier 011223

Evergreen’s Skate the Lake a New Year’s Eve hit

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Skate the Lake, Evergreen’s alcohol-free New Year’s Eve celebration, is an event that people attend for many reasons.

For locals, it’s a fun event close to home.

For others who come from down

the hill and beyond, it’s something to do with family and friends in a beautiful setting.

Still others come to skate on an outdoor rink — something that’s quite rare.

Meanwhile, others relive their childhoods of skating at Evergreen Lake as youngsters.

No matter what the reason, the Ev-

ergreen Park & Recreation District’s Skate the Lake, in its 27th year, was a success by all accounts. More than a thousand people came to the Lake House on Dec. 31 to skate, eat from the food trucks, fall a little, laugh a little, celebrate the end of 2022 and look forward to 2023.

Parents taught their children to skate, young and old skating nov-

Jumping into 2023

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

New Year’s Day was a great day to go jump in the lake — Evergreen Lake, that is.

Evergreen Lake Plunge participants lined up from the lake through the parking lot, waiting their turn to brave the frigid water to start 2023. is year, the plunge had the most participants in its 14-year history: 423. Compare that to last year’s 177 plungers.

As always, the event is a fundraiser for the Evergreen Park & Recreation District’s INSPIRE program for the special needs population. Plus Active4All, the plunge’s organizer that is EPRD’s foundation, helps pay fees for families who can’t a ord to use the rec district’s facilities.

SEE PLUNGE, P3

ices used the plastic skate trainers, and others played hockey on the 20 groomed rinks. Skates were ying o the shelves at the rental station inside the warming hut.

Brad Bredesen of New Braunfels, Texas, crouched next to a re pit by the food trucks to warm his hands.

A ‘life of adventure’

Conifer High remembers science teacher Brian Bunnell

BY MAYA DAWSON CONIFER HIGH SCHOOL

Conifer High School chemistry teacher Brian Bunnell was known by students for his booming laugh and love for the outdoors. He was the rst to volunteer at school pep assemblies and inspired many students to pursue careers in the science and medical elds.

Bunnell, 44, died in an avalanche on Berthoud Pass Dec. 26 while backcountry snowboarding with his three sons, who survived.

SEE BUNNELL, P2

Jumping through the air, Paul Faulkner of Evergreen participates in his first plunge at Evergreen Lake on New Year’s Day.

PHOTO BY SARA HERTWIG

Evergreen Lake Plunge was a cool success

BUNNELL

FROM

Bunnell grew up in Fargo, North Dakota, where he competed on the Fargo North High School swim and cross country teams. His father remembers a state swim race during this time.

“When he started to overtake his opponent, his teammates started yelling, ‘Go, Brian, go,’” dad Ron Bunnell said.

Soon, everyone at the swim meet had joined the chant: “Go, Brian, go! GO, BRIAN, GO!”

Brian won the race, but it was only the beginning of a lifelong love of adventure, many of which he shared with his family. Brian and his wife, Kelly, were high school sweethearts.

“We have been married for 20 years,” Kelly said. “He was the love of

my life. He was hilarious, he had the best laugh, and this is hard.”

Brian graduated from Duke University and taught chemistry and advanced placement chemistry at Conifer High School for seven years.

“I started my rst year of medical school in the fall, and I attribute that greatly to Mr. Bunnell,” Jessica Oudakker, CHS 2019 valedictorian, said.

She talked about how he sat down with her when she was rejected from Duke University and empowered her to continue pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor.

Other students spoke at a celebration of Bunnell’s life on Jan. 2, many wearing annel shirts like the ones Bunnell often wore to school.

“He was always very understanding, especially when I was struggling to learn online, and usually worked with me as my lab partner because I didn’t have many friends in the

class,” senior Gabi Book said.

Chemistry is a di cult subject, but Bunell went out of his way to make his class engaging.

“During nals week we tie-dyed shirts and held bubbles to light on re,” Reece Harrison, a 2021 Conifer graduate, said. “He taught me that science has a fun side, even though it can be easy to forget in the midst of molecule shapes and stoichiometry.”

Bunnell’s coworkers remember his sel essness. Fellow chemistry teacher Amy Anderson talked about how, after her mother died, Bunnell took over teaching her classes to give her time to be with her family.

“I taught next door to him this year, and he had the loudest laugh,” Anderson said. “His laugh would just erupt, and I would just get a big smile on my face because he was having fun teaching chemistry.”

Bunnell was invested in his stu-

dents, but he didn’t let his career keep him from the adventures he loved. He spent his winters on the mountain slopes and his summers boating, mountain biking and traveling with his family.

“Contrary to popular belief, teachers are people, too,” Conifer principal Greg Manier said. “A lot of times that is lost. It’s easy to see, when humans stand in front of a class (and are) grounded and happy with their life outside of school. Brian is the epitome of that.”

Bunnell’s legacy is one of adventure and a reminder to seize every opportunity to live in the moment.

“Each of us has a little piece of Brian’s spirit in our heart, and I want you to let that grow,” dad Ron Bunnell said. “I know how I’m going to let it grow in my heart. I’m going to get up, and I’m going to look into my heart, and say, ‘Go, Brian, go. GO, BRIAN, GO.’”

PHOTOS

Conifer High School chemistry teacher Brian Bunnell performs a titration demonstration for his chemistry class during the 2021-22 school year. Bunnell emphasized hands-on learning in his classes.

PLUNGE

FROM PAGE 1

Alan Gionet, Active4All’s vice president and the event’s emcee, gures the plunge with help from its sponsors including title sponsor Bu alo Park Dentistry raised about $30,000, also an all-time high.

“We had people from all over the metro area,” Gionet said about the high attendance. “ e crowd was great and having a great time. We aren’t sure what drove big numbers other than, we have fun. It’s outdoor

fun in a beautiful place, and people seem to want to just get away from their devices and go jump in a lake. We’re all about it.”

First in line were sisters Stephanie Suzanne and Kelley Graham of Denver. eir rst time plunging, the two attended church together in Evergreen before heading for the lake.

ey wore swimsuits and leggings under their church clothes, plus they brought warm clothes to change into after the plunge.

e two joked and laughed about what they were about to do, sug-

SEE PLUNGE, P6

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Stephanie Suzanne and Kelley Graham hit the freezing water of Evergreen Lake during their first lake plunge.

PHOTO BY SARA HERTWIG

FROM PAGE 1

After all, while it was in the low 40s Saturday afternoon in Evergreen, it was in the mid-60s in his hometown. Bredesen and much of his family are visiting, and he noted that he’s been here many times over the years.

Janelle Prage and her son, Levi, 11, of Littleton sat along the path to

the warming hut after purchasing their skating tickets. ey decided to attend Skate the Lake because Levi wanted to skate for the rst time on an outdoor rink.

Kerianne and Max Cole of Seattle brought their 9-month-old daughter, Jane, to Skate the Lake. ey were visiting Max’s parents, and Max said Skate the Lake was a fun winter activity.

“ ere’s nothing like skating outdoors in the mountains,” he added.

Ethan Skinner of Denver wanted to celebrate New Year’s Eve at Evergreen Lake, where he came to skate as a youngster. He and friend Katya Durocher found a quiet spot to have a picnic lunch between rounds of skating.

“I haven’t been here in a while,” Skinner said. “I like the atmosphere and the scenery. It’s the beauty of Colorado.”

A Longmont couple try to teach their daughter, Lila, 3, to skate at Skate the Lake.

PHOTOS BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

Many people take advantage of the 40-degree temperatures on New Year’s Eve during the annual Skate the Lake alcohol-free party at Evergreen Lake.

Skaters enjoy the beautiful weather during Skate the Lake.

Brad Bredesen of New Braunfels, Texas, warms his hands outside the food trucks at Skate the Lake. He is visiting family in Evergreen.

Kerianne and Max Cole prepared their daughter, Jane, 9 months, for her first experience skating on New Year’s Eve. The family lives is Seattle but is visiting family in Colorado.

Janelle Prage and her son Levi, 11, of Littleton put on their ice skating tags at Skate the Lake.

Burglary suspect’s preliminary hearing postponed e preliminary hearing for a Littleton man accused of burglarizing six businesses in Evergreen and Kittredge has been moved to March 21.

and defense before the preliminary hearing.

Je erson County Sheri ’s O ce investigators have been investigating almost 20 other commercial burglaries in unincorporated Je erson County dating back to Oct. 30, including Parkside Café and Evergreen Cleaners in Bergen Park, Mac Nation in Indian Hills and several in Clear Creek County including the Kum & Go in Idaho Springs, Dairy Queen in Empire and Pho Bay in Georgetown.

JCSO o cials have not determined whether Emilyon is responsible for the additional burglaries, but it is working with other jurisdictions to investigate all of them, JCSO spokeswoman Jenny Fulton has said.

Titus Emilyon COURTESY OF JEFFCO SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Titus Emilyon, 38, is facing six counts of second-degree burglary, six counts of thirddegree burglary, felony criminal mischief and misdemeanor theft. He is accused of burglarizing the Kittredge General Store, SaBella and Blackbird Café in Kittredge on Dec. 2 and Coal Mine Dragon, Bistro Del Lago and Everbean by the Lake in the Lakepoint Center in Evergreen on Nov. 2.

On Jan. 4, Emilyon’s public defender, Kate Crampton, asked Judge Jennifer Melton to postpone the preliminary hearing because of changes in the case, noting that a “big batch of discovery” documents would be coming and would need to be reviewed by both the prosecution

According to JCSO, Emilyon has a history of committing commercial burglaries and was on parole for a burglary conviction when he was arrested.

Tell EPRD what you think about facilities, programs

e Evergreen Park & Recreation District wants to hear from the community.

District o cials are embarking on a strategic planning process, deciding what projects will have the most bene t and be a ordable. ey want to complete the plan by July to determine whether to ask voters for a bond in November.

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Morrison may get speed-enforcement van

Trustees are interested in purchasing a speed-enforcement van, though a decision won’t be made until the board’s Jan. 17 meeting.

Police Chief Bill Vinelli said the van from Verra Mobility would perform speed enforcement by photographing the license plates of speeders and sending tickets. e town has the option to allow Verra to collect the ticket fees or to use another agency.

e van can be used in residential zones where the speed limit is less than 35 mph, near parks, in school zones and in construction zones, Vinelli said.

e cost for the van is $5,250 per month for two years, and then the town will own the van. A person must be sitting in the van while it is operating, and police o cers must verify the tickets that will be issued, he said. Signs must be placed notifying drivers that the van is there.

“In my estimation, right now it ts the criteria on Highway 8 and Summer Street by Morrison Park and on Bear Creek Avenue by the large parking lot,” Vinelli said at the Jan. 3 trustees meeting.

Board members asked about putting the van near Red Rocks Elementary School, too.

Trustee Katie Gill said a community survey showed residents’ No. 1 concern was pedestrian safety on Highway 8, so the van would aid in solving the problem.

Results of the town survey

Residents in the Town of Morrison

are invited to discuss the results of the town’s survey of residents and businesses with the Town Board at 5 p.m. Jan. 17 in the Town Hall.

e survey asked a wide range of questions, and board members want to look at the results to help them de ne what the town’s direction should be.

e survey results will be available before the meeting at morrisonco. us/agendacenter.

Paid parking continues

Parking fees will not increase in Morrison in 2023, and Morrison trustees are pleased that their share of parking revenue from June through part of November was nearly $84,000.

However, they noted a survey of residents and businesses showed business owners divided on whether the parking system helps their businesses.

In summer 2021, the town board authorized a trial parking program and in December 2021, it decided to continue the program with Interstate Parking Inc.

e system runs from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. e rst 30 minutes are free, with the next 30 minutes $1.

e second hour costs $1.50, third hour $2, fourth hour $3 and subsequent hours $5. A violation is $30 and doubles in 10 days for nonpayment.

After the system went into e ect, some smaller businesses thanked the (town) board, and one said their clientele increased signi cantly, trustee Katie Gill said at the Jan. 3 board meeting. Four smaller businesses are voicing strong support, while two larger businesses are

MORRISON BRIEFS

THEATRE CLASSES AT THE DCPA

PLUNGE

FROM PAGE 3

gesting that the hole to jump in was larger than in past years, so big that they could swim laps in it.

“ ey’re making it a challenge,” Suzanne said, laughing. “We can’t just jump in and jump out.” ey decided the plunge was the perfect way to start 2023, hoping for a great year.

Suzanne joked she would do a triple gainer as she entered the water, but instead the sisters jumped hand-in-hand to applause from the other plungers waiting their turn.

“It was cold but exhilarating,” Graham said afterward while wearing a bathrobe. “It was awesome. We made it.”

Paul Faulkner of Evergreen, who wore a bathrobe as he stood in line, removed the warm attire before executing a belly op as he entered Evergreen Lake.

Delain and Chris Mott of Evergreen jumped together. Before taking the plunge, Delain explained that she participated because, “I can do hard things. I hate cold water more than anything in the world, so after this, everything else is uphill.”

She even prepared for her plunge by taking cold showers to build up her endurance to cold water.

e mood was festive as the plungers and spectators watched the jumping, with Gionet adding commentary throughout the event. Volunteers grabbed the plungers’ clothes and shoes at the lakeshore and took them to tables, so plungers

could begin the warm-up process after they jumped. e Muddy Buck co ee kiosk in the Evergreen Lake House parking lot was doing a brisk business.

Evergreen Fire/Rescue provided EMTs and re ghters to ensure everyone got out of the water safely.

“ e rec district was a huge help, and we all had fun putting the event together,” Gionet said. “ e crowd was fantastic, patient and totally chill with the lines. We just talked to a couple who said half the fun was the party-like atmosphere in line.”

Some called the lake dip refreshing, while others were glad that the air temperature was in the high 30s rather than in the teens.

Emma Bebarta and Reza Behbakht, both of Greenwood Village, wore penguin costumes for the jump. ey said they wore elf costumes last year.

“It’s an adrenaline rush,” Bebarta said. “We love the positive atmosphere and how happy everyone is.”

Behbakht added that the plunge on New Year’s Day was a moment for rebirth.

Kate Molieri and Heather Linne, both of Bailey, wore costumes, claiming they were members of the band Foreigner because they knew they would be “Cold as Ice” after plunging into the water.

“( e plunge) starts the year with a bang and a jump,” Linne said. ey held their noses as they jumped in, and after they climbed out, Molieri responded to a question on whether the water really was as cold as ice: “ at and a little bit more.”

THEATRE EDUCATION CLASSES AT THE DCPA

by Robert and Judi Newman

Jenny Stein wraps Jessica Schipper in a towel after climbing out of the freezing Evergreen Lake.

Stephanie Suzanne and Kelley Graham remove their shoes before jumping into the lake at the Evergreen Lake Plunge.

Celebrating the start of 2023, people gathered on Evergreen Lake, jumping into the freezing water.

PHOTOS BY SARA HERTWIG

Delain Mott of Evergreen warms up while waiting with her husband Chris before they jump in the freezing water.

Evergreen Sustainability Alliance taking Christmas trees, Styrofoam

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Recycling Christmas trees and Styrofoam blocks is a passion for the Evergreen Sustainability Alliance.

For more than a dozen years, the organization hosts recycling locations the rst two weeks in January.

Area residents can get their trees turned into mulch by LAM Tree Service and their Styrofoam recycled, so it can be reused in di erent products.

It’s a win-win for residents, the organization and the environment.

Annie Loechell, a new ESA board member and a former science teacher, was happy to volunteer to unload trees and bag Styrofoam on Jan. 6. She said she’s passionate about sustainability, and the recycling event is one way to help.

is was the rst year that ESA hosted a recycling location on a weekday, and the line of cars was steady in the vacant lot across the street from the Evergreen King Soopers. Recyclers were happy to put a donation in the tub and they got rid of the trees and the Styrofoam. ey came in cars and trucks,

Recycling win

walked over from nearby shops, and volunteers said one woman walked there with a shopping cart lled with Styrofoam and a tree on top.

Sam Anderson of Evergreen stopped by to recycle Styrofoam and said he likes to see events of this type continue because it’s more likely that items really are being recycled rather than being thrown in land lls.

“Organizations like this take it seriously,” he said.

e Styrofoam is taken to Golden Real Estate, which sends it to EcoCycle, a Boulder company that processes it and turns it into large blocks that can be turned into other items.

ESA was formed in 2010 to improve recycling, composting, and the availability of local and organic foods in the foothills. Among its many accomplishments, it started and operates two community gardens, organized a composting pilot program, provides zero-waste services and a re ll station inside Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, and does community education and outreach.

ere’s still time to recycle trees and Styrofoam. ESA will have two locations available for recycling from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at Evergreen Lutheran Church, 5980 Highway 73, and at the vacant lot across from the Evergreen King Soopers.

Volunteer Jim Shelton adds Styrofoam to the pile that will be recycled. Evergreen Sustainability Alliance is recycling fresh Christmas trees and Styrofoam.

PHOTOS BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

From left, Evergreen Sustainability Alliance volunteers Wendy Neuman and Annie Loechell help Karen Strong remove her tree so it can be turned into mulch.

Jim Shelton and Annie Loechell with Evergreen Sustainability Alliance place Styrofoam into bags to take to be recycled.

Sam Anderson of Evergreen pulls branches from his truck to be recycled.

Wendy Neuman, Evergreen Sustainability Alliance’s director of programs and operations, removes a tree from a car so it can be turned into mulch by LAM Tree Service.

VOICES

Colorado GOP failed to close ranks, and lost

Iam reluctant to add to the many opinions regarding the current state of the Colorado Republican Party. My status as a former chair in a major county compels me to speak about the ongoing drama because of my vantage point regarding how the party should function.

A cascade of events exists to point to how the Colorado GOP got to its current state. What matters is concentrating on how the future can be shaped and how to rebuild.

One incident in 2022 shows precisely how di cult the road forward will be. According to lings on TRACER, the El Paso County Republican Central Committee had approximately $70,600 in its bank accounts as of Oct. 30, 2022. To compare and contrast, other GOP major-county parties throughout Colorado had balances of between $3,000 and $24,000 in their accounts on the same date.

e reason for this di erence is that those other county parties spent money to support and elect Republican candidates in their locales. e

JOE WEBB

speci cs are a matter of public record on TRACER.

Afriend sent me an article about an organization called “More in Common.” I checked out the organization. More in Common’s mission is to understand the forces driving us apart, to nd common ground and help to bring people together to tackle our shared challenges. e organization draws from groundbreaking research to test and nd solutions, working with partners that have the capacity to make a real difference at scale.

e research found that Republicans strongly view Democrats as brain-washed, hateful, racist and arrogant. Democrats feel the same way about Republicans, and the scores showed these feelings are overwhelmingly strong among both groups. Neither were willing to describe the other party as reasonable, honest, caring or humble. It is

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Columnist

I assure you that if the El Paso County GOP had spent $50,000 to elect Republican candidates, some of them would have been elected. ere would have a smaller margin of loss in El Paso County for those candidates who were defeated. But the El Paso GOP did not spend and support.

e restraint that the leadership in El Paso County showed in expenditures for candidate support is why going forward it is reasonable to presume that the Colorado GOP is dead. What they did in e ect was exercise a post-primary veto over GOP candidates. ey said that “those candidates are not good enough in our opinion, therefore we will not support them.”

e purpose of the Republican

Party is to elect Republican-a liated candidates. If you do not wish to support Republican-a liated candidates, then what is your purpose in existing?

If you do not wish to support Republican nominees that are chosen by voters, are you not a Republican in name only?

Some will object and mention a number of di erent reasons why GOP candidates should not be supported, like a lack of total delity to the platform. I have sympathy for those arguments, but once the nominee is chosen, then it is time to close ranks behind them.

ere are reasons for hope in terms of electing Republicans and conservatives. What I see happening is that people of means will look at the current situation in the Colorado GOP and decide to fund their own endeavors to elect candidates of their choosing who are in agreement with those people of means.

ey may or may not agree with the “grassroots” who lead the EL Paso County Republican Party cur-

We can do this

JIM ROHRER

interesting that an organization named “More in Common” is telling us that the two parties hate each other.

Here’s the thing… the research shows that in terms of issues like what will be taught in schools, how issues of our country’s past are handled, and views on religion, guns and even abortion, show very similar views exist among the majority of voters.

I am familiar with the comparable ndings of Dr. Morris Fiorina, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute. In his last book “Unstable Majorities,” Dr. Fiorina reports that his research shows that there is no more political divide among everyday Americans

than in 1976. en and now, 40% of voters identify themselves as moderates. He notes that the party regulars, who he calls hidden tribes, only constitute about 15% of voters. Both Dr. Morris and “More in Common” blame the cable media for the hate among the party regulars. e cable extremists remind me of professional wrestling. Everyone knows it’s rigged, but it is entertaining, you can easily tell the good guys from the bad guys and it’s a big money maker.

Two surveys taken since the midterm elections show that the voters are seeking a spirit of compromise instead of war in Washington. An NPR.PBS Newshour/Marist poll nds 74% want Congress to work together and a December 2022 Gallup poll puts Congress job approval at 22%.

It seems clear that Americans want teamwork, yet we seem not to have changed our approach to one an-

rently. ose people of means will act as they do because they care about Colorado and wish to have less government rather than more. ey want to persuade others that Republican-a liated candidates have the better agenda for Colorado’s future. ey will also travel down this path because, like many Coloradoans, they do not trust the leadership of the Colorado GOP.

What the current El Paso County leadership did in 2022 is far more consequential than most currently realize. If what I predicted comes to pass, then the consequences of their actions of non-support will be larger than is currently seen.

eir actions would amount to a betrayal by the “grassroots leadership” of the grassroots faithful. It would make the dreaded “Establishment” far more consequential than it is currently. No one within the Colorado GOP should desire that at all.

Joe Webb is the former chairman of the Je co Republican party.

other. I have a friend who is an expert in relationship building as he works as a mediation specialist. He has taught me that the basics of reaching agreement between protagonists are the following:

Don’t disrespect contrary opinions Honestly consider all opinions Focus on agreement, not disagreement

True compromise allows both to achieve some win, but doesn’t allow either to achieve all

We can do this. Let’s show Congress how. Happy new approach!

Jim Rohrer of Evergreen is a business consultant and author of the books “Improve Your Bottom Line … Develop MVPs Today” and “Never Lose Your Job … Become a More Valuable Player.” Jim’s belief is that common sense is becoming less common. Contact Jim at jim.rohrer2@gmail. com.

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Columnist

OBITUARIES

July 18, 1940 - December 3, 2022

Alan Falconer Ingram was a beloved brother, uncle, neighbor and friend. Born on July 18,1940, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Alan was the son of the late Osborne and Marjorie (McDiarmid) Ingram. He grew up in Cohasset, MA, and graduated from Cohasset High School in 1958 where he played football and made lifelong friends. He attended Harvard University (62’) on a NROTC scholarship. Upon graduation from Harvard, Alan served in the Navy for eight years and was an o cer aboard nuclear submarines achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

After his time in the Navy, Alan headed west and settled in Evergreen, Colorado, where he was a cherished neighbor and active member of the community. In addition to lifetime work as an electrical engineer at RMH Group, Alan volunteered for many years with Volunteers of America delivering Meals On Wheels. He also volunteered with the Senior Center in Evergreen driving people to their doctor appointments and treatments. Alan loved animals, particularly dogs, and always adopted shelter dogs from the Humane Society o ering a home to those who were older or needed extra care. He loved the outdoors, feeding the birds, watching Avalanche hockey, reading the paper, visiting family and friends, downhill

skiing and walking his dogs. He was a lifelong learner, voracious reader and loved to talk with others about history, philosophy and science. He was a kind and gentle soul, a generous host to visiting nieces and nephews and a compassionate friend to humans and animals alike.

Alan is survived by two sisters, Judith Hat eld (Douglas) in Concord, NH, and Martha Yates (Andrew) in Jamestown, RI. He has ve nieces and nephews: David Hat eld (Linda), Steven Hat eld (Julie), Janet Hat eld Legro (Je rey), Trevor Yates (Caitlin) and Bradford Yates (Chelsea Brown), as well as eight grand nieces and nephews. He was a very special uncle and grand uncle who took great interest in all the activities of his nieces and nephews. His kindness, generosity and compassion will always be remembered, and we deeply grieve his loss.

A celebration of Alan’s life was held in Evergreen, Colorado, on Saturday, December 17, 2022. A graveside service will be held at the Springbrook Cemetery in Mans eld, MA, in the spring. Donations in Alan’s memory may be made to Intermountain Humane Society, P.O. Box 528, Pine, CO 80470, EAPL, P.O. Box 2517, Evergreen, CO 80437, or Bird of Prey Foundation, 2290 S. 104th St., Broom eld, CO 80020.

Carmela (Lena) Realmonte Kuntz died December 24, 2022 at age 77. Lena passed away from natural causes at e Ridge Retirement Community in Lakewood, Colorado. She was a former resident of Evergreen, Colorado.

Lena was born February 18, 1945 in Marineo, Sicily. She was the daughter of the late Salvatore Realmonte and the late Rosalia Realmonte. Lena emigrated from Sicily to the United States at age 8, settling with her brothers, sister and parents in Lodi, New Jersey. She is preceded in death by her parents and brother Peter Realmonte.

She is survived by her husband of 29 years, Mel A. Kuntz; she was a loving mother of three children, Stacy Avenarius and her husband Jeremy, Robert Dicker and his wife Mandy, and Je rey Dicker; 2 stepsons, David Kuntz and his wife Kathleen, and Brian Kuntz and his wife Kelly; 1 grandson, Miles

Dicker, and 4 granddaughters, Addie Kuntz, Lila Kuntz, Ella Mae Kuntz and Charlotte Kuntz, and by her surviving siblings Ciro Realmonte and Sarina Realmonte Plati. Lena was also the loving aunt to many nieces and nephews in New Jersey and Arizona. She is also survived by her longtime friends, Donna Searcy and her husband Dan .

Lena will be remembered as a beautiful, caring, and loving spouse, mother, grandmother, and stepmother. She was cherished and will be truly missed by her family and friends.

Funeral services took place at Horan & McConathy on Saturday January 7, 2023, at 1:00pm.

In lieu of owers, memorial donations can be made to: St. Jude medical center, the Denver Rescue Mission, or the Limb Preservation Foundation.

Charles Edward “Ched” Snow died in the company of loved ones on Saturday, December 3, at Mountain Vista Senior Living Community in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. He was 86 years old.

David Nicholas Loomis October 4, 1945-December 26, 2022

After a fast and hard ght of Pancreatic cancer and stokes, Dave answered his call to Heaven from his home with his wife, Marcia, of 54 years, by his side.

Dave was preceded in death by his Father & Mother, Virgil & Frances Loomis of Braymer, MO and half-brother Charles, CO. Dave leaves behind wife, Marcia, 2 sons, Chris (Lori) CA, Eric (Nina) NM., brother, Sam (Jean) TX, 3 loving granddaughters along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Dave attended Braymer High School. He graduated

from William Jewell College with degree in Physics and Master’s in Systems Management, USC.

Dave spent his entire career in the aerospace & lethality industry. Up until his death, he was consulting for the DoD.

He was a lifetime & very active Methodist Church member, community supporter in Evergreen since 1981.

Dave will be missed by all who knew, loved and respected him. Celebration of Life will be held in the spring.

contributions welcomed: Mount Evans Hospice. MtEvans.org https://www.Joy International (tra cked children rescue)

July 13, 1947 - November 12, 2022

Terrence Brady, 75, passed away after a short but hard-fought battle with cancer. Known by all as “Terry,” he is survived by his wife of 52 years, Karen, and his sons Devin (Tara) and Ryan.

Terry was born in Queens, NY. He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1969, serving as a captain of the varsity lacrosse team. He later earned an MBA from the University of Utah. Terry ew C-130 transport aircraft in combat in Vietnam and Cambodia. His military career included 64 combat missions and a tour of duty as a C-130 Squadron Commander at Pope AFB. He retired at the rank of colonel and as vice wing commander at Little Rock AFB in 1991, having also served in Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

Terry was a pilot and ight instructor at United from 1992 to 2007. He ew almost

every aircraft United had to o er, capping his career as Captain on the 747. After retiring from United, he ew for NetJets and trained pilots for Boeing. In his military and civilian career, he accumulated 9,300 accidentfree ying hours, 5,000 of them as the pilot in command.

Having lived all over the world, Terry loved his home of Evergreen. Terry was a competitive tennis player and also loved golf, skiing, biking, shing, hiking, and lacrosse. He was the kind of friend everyone wants, one who would do anything for you and was always there for you. He was devoted to his family and missed by all who knew him.

Terry’s funeral will take place at 1pm on Friday, February 17, 2023, at the Memorial Pavilion at the USAFA cemetery.

Ched was born on April 17, 1936. He grew up in Englewood, Colorado, and graduated from Englewood High School. He met his rst wife, Martha Farnsworth, at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where they were both students. After they were married, Ched worked brie y with his father in the furniture business and then began his long career in banking.

Ched and Martha had three daughters: Karen, Beverly, and Rebecca. Sadly, Karen passed away at the age of two. e family moved to Texas, and then to New Mexico, where they lived until Martha’s untimely death from breast cancer.

Ched and his daughters returned to Colorado. In the mid-1970s, he married Wendy Holmes and had two more children,

Johanna and Charles. A devoted member of Rockland Church, he volunteered with and contributed to several nonpro ts.

Ched is survived by Wendy, his wife of 45 years; daughters Beverly (Mike Peterson), Rebecca (Vance Wagner), and Johanna, and son Charles Edward II; grandchildren Ashley (Sean), Vance (Kelly), Bradley (Anna), Shannon, and Trevor (Rhema); and great-grandchildren Bergen, Soren, Benjamin, Samuel, Mac, Scarlett, Sterling, and Shepherd.

Please join us for a celebration of Ched’s life at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 21, at Rockland Community Church (17 S. Mount Vernon Country Club Road, Golden, CO 80401). Reception to follow at Rockland.

Donations to Ched’s memory will be gratefully accepted by Mountain Vista Senior Living Community and Evergreen’s Mount Evans Home Health Care & Hospice.

Howard Spery died December 17, 2022. He was 82 years old.

Howard was born and raised in West Virginia, the son of Howard and Jo Spery. He served 4 years in the U.S. Air Force in the 873 Tactical Missile Squadron.

He graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1967.

While in college, he met and married Anne Allen, a nurse at University Hospital. Together they raised 3 sons: Eric (Sara) Spery, Brian (Kelly) Spery, and Zac Spery. ey were married for 55 years.

Howard worked for General Electric for 34

years, rst in the Northeast and was moved to Denver in 1984. He and Anne lived in Evergreen. He enjoyed camping, hunting, cross country skiing, studying about the Bible and Climatology, and weekly meetings of the Curmudgeons. He served on the Board of Directors of Brook Forest Water District for many years, several of those as president.

Howard is survived by his wife Anne, one brother Robert M. Spery of Salisbury, Maryland, his sons and their wives, ve grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Remembrances may be made to Je co Action Center or Sanctuary Denver. Services will be held at a later date.

Alan Falconer Ingram

KUNTZ

Carmela S. “Lean” (Realmonte) Kuntz February 19, 1945 - December 24, 2022

SNOW Charles Edward “Ched” Snow April 17, 1936 - December 3, 2022

LOOMIS David Nicholas “Dave” Loomis

October 4, 1945 - December 26, 2022

SPERY

Howard R Spery

November 30, 1940 - December 17, 2022

BRADY

Terry Brady

Northglenn celebrates Betty grace Gibson

For the late Betty grace Gibson, being a self-taught artist didn’t mean never taking an art class or workshop. As her daughter, Linda Drumm, recalls, being self-taught meant was taking things she learned in these kinds of educational environments and adding her own spin on them.

“She would take the techniques she learned and tweak them so they could be used her way,” Drumm said. “She just enjoyed what she was doing and was always exploring art all the time.”

Now Northglenn Arts is hosting an exhibition of Gibson’s work at the Parson eatre, 1 E. Memorial Parkway (inside the Northglenn Recreation Center). e free show runs through March.

Described by the city as one of Northglenn’s de ning artists and arts advocates, Gibson become one of the city’s rst homeowners in 1962 when she and her family moved in. According to provided information, she was a secretary at Malley Elementary School for 23 years and also served on the North Metro Arts Alliance Board for 15 years.

She was a longtime believer in the power of art and creativity and Drumm remembers her mother always encouraging her children to try di erent hands-on activities. When Gibson saw an ad in the newspaper for people who wanted to paint together, she and ve other women

Are

COMING ATTRACTIONS

joined what would eventually become the Paletteers Art Club. e organization is still active and Gibson was a member until her death in 2021 at the age of 95.

Over the course of her career, Gibson experimented with all kinds of styles and media, but watercolor and acrylic were her favorite. She started spending the summers in Taos, New Mexico, and her time there provided a constant source of inspiration, as did the students of all ages that she taught in various arts workshops.

“She instigated a lot of art projects around community,” Drumm said, remembering her mother’s time on the Northglenn Arts and Humanities Foundation Board of Directors. “Mother wasn’t afraid to do anything and she did so many projects around the city.”

Since Gibson loved Northglenn so much, it’s only tting the city celebrates her with an exhibition that highlights the reach of her creativity.

“At the opening reception a woman came up to me to tell me that she never met my mother, but she’d seen her artwork around for years,” Drumm said. “It means a lot that my mother was that well-known and I’m

assets

honored that Northglenn wanted to honor her with this exhibit.”

For more information, visit https://northglennarts.org/artexhibit/.

Joe Pera Talks With You at the Paramount Theatre

I think we can all agree there’s just not enough gentleness and kindness in the world these days. I know I personally could use more of these traits as we move into a new year. at’s why I’m going to see Joe Pera’s Comedy In Ice tour at the Paramount eatre, 1621 Glenarm Place in Denver, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 13.

If you’re not familiar with Pera, he is the star of one of the most delightful shows I’ve ever seen, “Joe Pera Talks With You,” which ran for three seasons on Adult Swim. It is quiet and thoughtful and, most importantly of all, extraordinarily human and kind.

For a warm hug of an evening, get tickets at www.ticketmaster.com.

Start the year with `A Hall Pass to the Galaxy’

What better time than the beginning of a new year to think about the future both near and far? At Stories on Stage’s rst production of 2023, audiences are invited to do just that at “A Hall Pass to the Galaxy.” In the show, performers Annie Barbour, Cajardo Lindsey and Ann Marie Nest

interpret a range of science ction stories.

e performance will be hosted in person at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 15 at Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive in Denver, and the virtual performance will be available for streaming at 7 p.m. on ursday, Jan. 19. Get all the details and tickets at www.storiesonstage.org.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Colter Wall at Mission Ballroom

To thrive in country music, it is all about the voice. Not just the one that comes from the singer’s throat, but the one that comes from their pen as well. Fortunately for Canada’s Colter Wall, he’s aces in both senses of the word. Just check out “Night Herding Song,” a track that features just a few guitar strums and Wall crooning away. It still gives me chills.

His take on country is perfect for this time of year, so you absolutely shouldn’t miss his two nights at the Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. in Denver. He’ll be performing at 9 p.m. on ursday, Jan. 19 and Friday, Jan. 20. Get tickets at www. ticketmaster.com.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail. com.

NEWS BRIEFS

FROM PAGE 5

ey are hosting discovery sessions on general and speci c topics at from mid-January through the beginning of February. Two are virtual meetings for those who can’t attend in person. e rest are at the district’s rec centers and the Evergreen Lake House.

e virtual sessions will be at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Jan. 19 via Zoom. e links will be posted on the strategic plan page at evergreenrecreation.com by Jan. 18.

Talk about parks and outdoor recreation at 6 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Wulf Recreation Center.

Provide input on the rec centers and indoor programs at 6 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Buchanan Park Recreation Center.

Special programs and topics will be discussed at 6 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Evergreen Lake House.

MORRISON

FROM PAGE 5

expressing strong opposition.

Retail marijuana shop moves forward

LivWell has signed the lease with the Town of Morrison to construct and operate a retail marijuana shop on the northeast corner of C-470 and Morrison Road behind the wastewater treatment plan.

LivWell, one of the largest canna-

e last discovery session at 6 p.m. Feb. 2 will look at programs the rec district can o er to serve di erent groups in the community. It will be at the Buchanan Park Recreation Center.

For more information, visit www. evergreenrecreation.com/334/Strategic-Plan-2022-23.

House fire extinguished in Pine

Elk Creek re crews with help from North Fork Fire extinguished a house re on Jan. 4 in the 15700 block of South Elk Creek Road not too far from the Bucksnort Saloon.

When re ghters arrived at about 11:30 p.m., the home was fully engulfed and several trees were on re, according to Elk Creek spokeswoman Sharon Trilk. CORE Electric came to remove power lines dropping into the road.

Fire ghters fought the re defensively, Trilk said, and neighbors on either side of the structure evacuated. e re was extinguished in about an hour.

bis operations in the nation, 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. In the meantime, LivWell and town o cials will talk with state ofcials about getting the business a state license.

We give families peace of mind by protecting their legacy

Clarke Reader

BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

For the past 20 years, talk of addressing mental health issues within the health care industry circled around without much emphasis. at’s beginning to change, and it’s starting with the ne arts.

At the Colorado Resiliency Arts Lab at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, a team of doctors, therapists and literary scholars are doing just that: exploring how the ne arts can help nurses, doctors, surgeons and other healthcare workers heal from trauma.

The numbers

e team found that creative arts therapy not only decreases anxiety, feelings of burnout and depression, but also helps keep medical workers in their eld.

e study, published in the American Journal of Medicine in 2022 found that anxiety, depression, total PTSD and emotional exhaustion measurement scores decreased by 27.8%, 35.5%, 25.8% and 11.6%, respectively.

Katherine Reed, an art therapist for the program, said that 12% saw a reduction in the desire to leave the profession.

“It’s amazing in how basic it really is, and yet it’s creating these incredible results,” Reed said.

The program

Dr. Marc Moss, a doctor who is part of the CORAL team, said the program received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts in 2019 to prove the value of the ne arts, after the National Endowment for the Arts requested proposals to show Congress that art was worth the money spent.

“It’s easy to say, ‘Wow, it’s great having a symphony’ or ‘It’s great having parks and etc.,’ but what’s the value of that?’” Moss said. “ ey wanted to have more scienti c evidence.”

From the results of the study, CORAL did just

that. e program o ers group art therapy cohorts to healthcare workers to help them process their day-to-day lives.

It’s a 12-week program with weekly 90-minute sessions with between eight to 15 participants. Each session is guided by a creative arts therapist.

CORAL o ers art, music, dance and writing therapy with hopes to add drama therapy in the near future.

Reed explained that art intrinsically creates community, helps the healing process and connects people. ose characteristics are key to helping people overcome their trauma.

She said a reason burnout remains prevalent is due to the way humans isolate themselves and avoid conversations and expressions about what happened. In the group sessions, participants can show each other they aren’t alone and validate each others’ experiences.

Historically, she said, art was the basis of expression and commu-

nication. Egyptian Hieroglyphics morphed into language.

Over the course of her 20-year career as an art therapist, Reed said she has a front-row seat to the limitations of language on expression, especially in children. Children — and adults — may lack the words or rhetoric to describe their experiences or their feelings, and music, painting, drama and other forms of art can act as a backdoor to expressing those feelings.

“(Children) can show you with sound and music what it feels like in their brain to remember the impact,” Reed said. “It’s a way of communicating that bypasses language. When we talk, we’re constantly ltering our words.”

It deepens the healing and clients don’t need to know how to draw, play an instrument or act out. It’s about interpreting your own symbols, song lyrics and paint color choices to nd meaning.

Common causes

Witnessing trauma like death, injury, illness and medical ethical dilemmas are all themes that come up in the workshops. In medical school, classes don’t necessarily exist to teach students

how to deal with it.

“You get into real-life medicine and suddenly (there are) personalities, narratives, stories and family members you’re not necessarily equipped to manage. You know how to transplant that heart, but do you know how to manage the mother’s panic or the father’s anger?” Reed said.

Another root cause can be the American healthcare system in general. Reed said doctors may need to see 20 patients in one day, which limits the time to actually talk with them since then they need to document those appointments.

at leads to longer hours and less time with loved ones, making it harder to nd a work-life balance.

A lack of emotional learning for healthcare workers also hints at a broader issue at hand in general. Many parallels exist between healthcare workers and students, who may not know how to express or manage their own feelings, Reed said.

rough art therapy and CORAL, healthcare workers can learn to manage those feelings. Not only for their own well-being, but also to be more successful in their day-

to-day job.

Economic value

A lack of those tools can lead to higher rates of turnover, and Moss said it makes the program all the more valuable.

“Turnover is expensive,” Moss said.

at piques interest in hospital administrators. Less burnout and turnover of employees is coste ective. Moss said the COVID-19 pandemic ampli ed the need for mental health resources for hospitals and administrators are looking for ways to do that.

So much so that the Children’s Hospital agreed to start a program outside of the grant. Once the grant from the National Endowment for the Arts nishes its 10year period, not only does Moss think more programs will exist in Colorado, but also all across the country.

He sees a larger multicenter study occurring at multiple different hospitals in di erent cities to expand the evidence on the e ciency.

“If a pill had the results that CORAL has, every single person would be taking it because it’s affordable and it works,” Reed said.

Healthcare workers engage in visual art making through the CORAL program that o ers art therapy to nurses, doctors and others within the medical profession.

Dance therapy is one form of art therapy the CORAL program provides.

SCREENSHOTS

Clear Creek School District 2022 recap

learning environments and other activities.

BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE OLOVE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Clear Creek School District saw exciting change in 2022, with the introduction of the four-day school week, movement toward district goals and emphasis on the learner pro le skills: leadership, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, adaptability and character.

Laura Johnson with Clear Creek Schools Foundation said all the improvements are about making students aware of their role in the community.

“At Clear Creek, learning is about having kids connected to their community, both inside and outside of the classroom,” she said.

COMPASS Day

In 2022, Clear Creek School District introduced the four-day school week with Fridays designated as “COMPASS Day,” a day for enrichment opportunities, di erent

Students in Clear Creek have options for how to spend their COMPASS Days, including spending time with family, participating in recreation activities, seeking extra help with school work or enjoying a district-sanctioned event put on by the recreation center, library or other community partners. e elementary school also o ers childcare on these days.

Clear Creek Graduation 2022

Clear Creek had 57 graduates in 2022. A total of 92 scholarships were received by Clear Creek graduates for a combined 1.5 million dollars in scholarship money.

Many of the graduates had plans to attend local schools like Colorado School of Mines or Red Rocks Community College, but some were going o to far-away schools like Columbia University or Montana University.

Community Partners e district teamed up with multiple community partners in 2022 to make programs work for students.  e Mountain Youth Network was one partner that helped the district with Compass Day, as well as the new cyclingSciences class. e

group also taught life skills, outdoor leadership and other courses for older students. Team Evergreen ful lled a grant for materials and equipment for the cyclingSciences class.

Loveland Ski Area is the sponsor for 2023’s new “snowSciences” program in the district. Johnson explained the course will be valuable for the Clear Creek Community.

She said the course will range from “understanding how to tune and repair skis to avalanche science.”

Freeport McMoRan was another community partner, funding the concurrent enrollment fund and shedding light on career opportunities in mining, engineering, vehicle maintenance, HVAC and more.

World A airs Challenge

Clear Creek High School Students earned rst place in the World Affairs Challenge Virtual Exchange in collaboration with their Iraqi peers. ey presented a solution for using solar panels for desalination, which is one the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.  e winning team was made up of members Maggie Go man, Joey Luppinaci, Noel Schultz and Donny Lamonica. Tina Barber-Matthew’s Human Geography class participated in the challenge and met

with their peers in Iraq and Morocco each week on a UNSDG. Students identi ed a problem, researched and presented a solution to judges.

King-Murphy preschool expansion

In 2022, interest emerged for another preschool class at King-Murphy Elementary. Director of Teaching and Learning Becky Dancer and Superintendent Karen Quanbeck began the process of expanding the preschool program.

“ ey were the ones who got the ball rolling last year with what preschool could look like at King-Murphy,” Heidi Lupinacci, early learning coordinator for CCSD, said.  e expansion was funded by the 2021 Capital Improvement and Bond Program.

e school hired another preschool teacher, Arlene Gutierrez, to accompany lead teacher Brooke Hu , to teach a second class of preschoolers.

e rst week of January 2023, King-Murphy cut the ribbon on the new classrooms for the two preschool classes; earlier this year the students had been learning in a different space.

“We just wanted to celebrate that that process was complete,” Lupinacci explained.

COMPASS Day activities often get students outside. PROVIDED BY LAURA JOHNSON

Preschoolers at King-Murphy Elementary School enjoy the new classrooms.

PROVIDED BY HEIDI LUPINACCI

By Cindy Lempke Special to Lifestyles

With the holiday season in the rear-view mirror, many consumers are now preparing for tax season. For some, this means buying an o -the-shelf tax so ware package or making an appointment with a storefront tax return prep service. For most, however, they realize that their tax returns can be more complex and standard so ware programs have limitations when important questions arise. at’s why working with a professional Certi ed Public Accounting rm like Robert & Associates can be a game-changer. Not only do they bring more than three decades of experience to preparing tax returns, but they also help identify tax strategies that clients can apply throughout the year to minimize their tax burdens.

A Partner for Small Business

If you own or are thinking about starting a business, Robert & Associates also o ers expert counsel for establishing your enterprise as well as hands-on accounting services to keep your books on track. An entrepreneur herself, Susanne Robert understands the challenges inherent in establishing and running a business. As treasurer of the Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and active member of Women of Evergreen Business, she keeps her nger on the pulse of the area business community.

“Owning a business can be extremely rewarding,” said Robert. “It also can be challenging to juggle all the

operational aspects of a business, and especially keeping it nancially viable. Our rm loves working with business owners to set a course for their nancial success.”

A Bene cial Partnership

Robert & Associates o ers their clients strategic tax planning and investment strategies through a collaborative partnership with Wambolt & Associates Wealth Management Partners. Clients bene t from working with these teams of experts who can help navigate the changing tax laws and minimize tax implications.

“We o er alternative investment strategies particularly for savvy clients who want to re-invest capital gains or participate in tax-friendly investments as part of their overall nancial plan,” said Cindy Alvarez, Wambolt Owner and Senior Wealth Management Advisor.

Robert & Associates, LLC, Certi ed Public Accountants

Wambolt & Associates Wealth Management Partners

“Depending on the interests and appetite of an investor, there are several alternative investment strategies which are tax neutral or tax-deferred.”

A 1031 Exchange: is option allows the seller of a rental property to defer capital gains by purchasing a fractional ownership in another rental property that can be consider a “like kind” replacement property under the IRS code. e Exchange property must be identi ed 45 days prior to the sale of the existing property and there is a 180-day window for the re-investment of capital gains.

Private placement investments are opportunities available to accredited investors (individuals with a net worth of $1M, excluding their primary residence, or individuals with minimum earnings of

$200,000/$300,000 with spouse or partner in each of two prior years). Here are some examples:

•Quali ed Opportunity Zones: Another strategy for deferring capital gains is to re-invest them into a Quali ed Opportunity Zone, a distressed area earmarked for improvement to foster economic development. Investors have 180 days to re-direct their capital gains which defers the capital gains tax for a period of time.

• Conservation Easements: An agreement to restrict use of land to preserve it from development. A landowner who donates a qualifying conservation easement is eligible for a federal charitable deduction equal to the value of the easement.

•Energy (Oil & Gas + Renewables):

Please see TEAM WORK , Page 4

Your Home Has A New Year’s Resolution Too!

have goals for

home in 2023? We will bring beauty, safety, and warmth to your family, all while saving you money!

can have it all

insert from Mountain Hearth & Patio! Here are 10 ways to rethink your hearth appliance: More heat! Today’s hearth appliances are designed to be more e cient than ever. is means they get more heat into your home with less fuel. Regardless of whether you want to burn wood, gas, or pellets; newer hearth appliances are much more e cient than outdated ones. Most of today’s models boast up to 80% e ciency, which means more heat for your home and savings on your heating bills. ese newer replaces, stoves, and inserts utilize special ceramic glass, which is designed for optimal heat transfer and doubles as a large re viewing window.

Do you want to change your fuel? Our most common project is to convert an outdated ine cient wood burning replace to gas. Many of our customers are switching to the convenience of a gas-fueled replace, stove, or insert. With the push of a button, the replace turns on or it can be thermostatically controlled to keep your room consistently comfortable. No more stooping to load rewood or turn on your replace from underneath.

You CAN update a masonry replace. Does your living room currently have a dra y, ine cient open wood burning replace? You can seal out the cold and bring heat into your home by updating it with an insert. You can have an insert that burns

wood, gas or pellets. If you’re happy with your replace but want to stop the dra , we can replace the conventional damper with a top-sealing damper. Also, we can help you design and install a new set of doors that will help retain heat, save money on energy bills, and update the look of your replace.

Improved safety: New EPA-Certi ed wood burning units burn e ciently and cleanly, reducing creosote buildup which is what burns in a hostile chimney re. Newer gas-fueled replaces, stoves, and inserts are also safer than older models because of Direct Vent technology, which means there is no chance of carbon monoxide or soot entering your home from these appliances.

Create a centerpiece for your home! Today’s hearth appliances have a much wider variety of design options to compliment any style. New gas replaces come in nearly any shape and size, with popular choices being a traditional full-view style or replaces that are longer than they are tall, the “linear” replace. Gas hearth appliances o er near endless options for customization, such as choices for log sets or glass bead burner media, traditional to contemporary rebox panels, and choices of front and metal nishes!

Save money on your heating bills. Gas is the most cost-e ective source of heat for your home. Having a new high-e ciency gas-fueled hearth appliance will pay for itself in the long-term by reducing the amount of fuel required to heat your home. If you access to a lot of cordwood, an updated high-e ciency EPA-Certi ed wood burning

replace, stove, or insert will heat your home without relying on your conventional electric baseboard heat.

Since hearth appliances are o en in living rooms or great rooms, you can use zone heating; heating only the area where you spend the most time. is means that the energy you use to heat your home is expended where it is needed and reduces the heat wasted in unused rooms, saving you money on your heating bills. Do you have an e cient heater in the room where you spend the most time? ink about upgrading or adding a hearth appliance to take advantage of zone heating!

Add a replace anywhere. Did you know you can even put a hearth appliance where there wasn’t one before? It is not as complex as you may think to add a new, highly e cient gas or wood burning replace to your home. If you want extra heat in your bedroom, TV room, basement, or addition, give us a call to discuss your project!

Improved air quality. Both wood burning and gas-fueled hearth appliances have bene ts to air quality! Gas appliances improve indoor air quality because they are a sealed system, called Direct Vent Technology. at technology brings combustion air in from the outside to fuel the ames, and exhaust combustion byproducts out a separate channel, so there is no intermixing into your living environment air. New wood burning appliances improve both indoor and outdoor air quality as well because of EPA restrictions on particulate matter in smoke. Another part of the EPA certi cation is combustion

air control, so signi cantly less air is being taken from your home to fuel the re. is also slows the burn of the wood, saving fuel. If your old wood burning appliance isn’t EPA-Certi ed, you are throwing money away on wasted wood and a dra y appliance.

Convenience! Do you wish your hearth appliance was easier to use and you could control it from the easy chair like you do your TV? en you will love the convenience that comes with a new gas replace, stove, or insert. Gas hearth appliances keep you warm with the ease of remote controls and thermostatic settings.

Protect your investment. If you already have your ideal hearth appliance, you can protect your hearth appliance and your home with proper annual maintenance. Our technicians are certi ed by the Chimney Safety Institute of America and the National Fireplace Institute. eir expertise can help you to make the most of your hearth appliance, and keep it running e ciently for years to come. We can also service your dryer vent with your hearth appliance!

For 2023, make your home’s beauty, safety, warmth, and cost savings a priority! We can help you achieve the New Year’s Resolution for your house with a new hearth appliance. Give us a call today at 303-6791601, email O ce@MtnHP.com, or visit our showroom at 7001 Highway 73, Evergreen. You can also learn more about our energy-saving products at www.MtnHP.com. Happy New Year from Mountain Hearth & Patio!

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TEAM WORK

From Page 2

ere is a signi cant write-o for each dollar invested against ordinary income in year one for oil and gas drilling. is strategy provides a quick return of capital as long as wells are producing. Renewable Energy, especially solar, provides an opportunity for investors. Every dollar invested in solar credits equals $1.30 on average in depreciation allowance.

Art: Investing into a fund representing 60-70 contemporary works with broad diversi cation that are sold to that are sold to auctioneers, private galleries, and collectors, with proceeds distributed to the investors.

An Integrated Approach to Wealth Management

•

Private REITs: Real estate investment trusts, open to accredited and institutional investors, typically yield higher returns than REITs on the public market. ey include multifamily real estate, storage units, hospitals, and hotels and resorts.

e Wambolt Approach

To best address the needs of their

clients, Wambolt & Associates founder Greg Wambolt fosters a multi-advisory or “family o ce” approach to advising. is model o ers a team of advisors

representing investment, nancial, planning, tax, legal and estate services all coordinated and accessible under one roof. is integrated approach to wealth management has been the norm for high wealth families for decades.

e Wambolt team is dedicated to helping clients manage their wealth to sustain them during their lifetimes and to creating security for future generations. Wambolt & Associates is a Registered Investment Advisor and designated duciary meaning that the rm does not o er any commission-based investment products to clients. Instead, the Wambolt team is solely motivated by achieving successful outcomes for their clients, to whom they are directly accountable.

e team’s expertise was recognized in 2022 when rm owners Greg Wambolt and Cindy Alvarez were both were named Five Star Professional Wealth Managers, a distinction given to 259 awardees out of 2,100 nominations.

Creating Better Tax Outcomes

When it comes to tax-related issues, Wambolt advisors educate their clients that “every nancial decision has a tax implication.” at’s where the partnership with Robert & Associates comes into play.

Wambolt provides high-level consultation on customized tax strategies and refers tax return preparation and tax projections to Robert & Associates -– a seamless transition designed to address clients’ tax needs in a comprehensive fashion.

e Robert & Associates analysis of a client’s tax projection provides valuable guidance for Wambolt to apply when designing investment strategies to o set that client’s taxable income. is model is particularly helpful to clients experiencing or anticipating a major nancial change due to the start-up or sale of their business, an inheritance, or a signi cant loss.

A “Win” for Clients

Both Robert and Wambolt are boutique rms that develop long-term relationships with their clients. eir professional alliance has elevated the level of customized service they provide. e synergistic partnership of wealth management and certi ed public accounting is designed to empower clients to make strategic nancial decisions for the bene t of their businesses and families for years to come. For more information, visit www.wamboltwealth. com or www.robert-associates.com

‘Owning a business can be extremely rewarding, It also can be challenging to juggle all the operational aspects of a business, and especially keeping it financially viable. Our firm loves working with business owners to set a course for their financial success.’

Susanne Robert, Robert and Associates

‘Depending on the interests and appetite of an investor, there are several alternative investment strategies which are tax neutral or tax-deferred.’

Cindy Alvarez, Wambolt & Associates

From the time a client walks through the door, the Robert & Associates team strives to provide timely, responsive and friendly service.

Wambolt & Associates welcomes clients at its main o ce in Littleton, CO, and connects with investors and stock market in uencers from across the country.

Wambolt & Associates Founder Greg Wambolt (Center) leads an experienced team that provides clients with a high level of tax, estate and investment services all under one roof.

Q&A: Outgoing Je erson County Clerk and Recorder George Stern

BY ANDREW FRAIELI AFRAIELI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Je co Clerk and Recorder George Stern, who was voted into o ce four years ago after winning against 20year incumbent Faye Gri n, will be leaving o ce this month. He sees his job as done, and time for someone new to come in. Colorado Community Media spoke with Stern to ask how he’s changed the o ce and what the future might hold for him.

Colorado Community Media: You were, as you’ve said, an outsider coming into the position of clerk and recorder. What does that mean and what di erence do you think it made?

George Stern: I had never worked in a clerk and recorder o ce before, I had never run a DMV or helped administer elections before, so I did not have any directly relevant experience and I think that gave some folks some loss when I showed interest in this o ce.

I think it turned out that, with the right team in place — which we have an awesome one — and the right mindset of leadership to put constituents rst and thinking about how we can be constantly improving, that relevant experience is not important. What is important is just running the o ce e ectively and making sure we’re always prioritizing the people we serve.

CCM: You’ve stated that you find politics to be broken. How so, and how within the context of the local o ce of Clerk and Recorder?

GS: I’m perfectly comfortable saying our politics are broken, I think we see that at every level. But, I think one of the things that I feel strongly about is that too many people today run for o ce to be someone, not to do something. And, as a result, make a lot of noise, do whatever they can to get coverage of that noise and end up driving us farther apart, making things more divisive, and not really having the government do good for people.

What I try and do in government is focus on doing something. I’m not holding onto the o ce, or running again for the o ce — I came into

this role to improve this o ce and I think, thanks to our team, we did a really great job with that, and now I’m moving on. I don’t need to keep holding o ce just because, I just want to move onto whatever is next.

CCM: You don’t see it as an option to stay for as long as your predecessor?

GS: If I felt like the work I promised the voters required another term or two, I’d be here for another term or two. But, we got done what we set out to get done, so it was time for me to move on.

CCM: How much of the successes you’ve had as Clerk and Recorder did you have in mind before you took the position?

GS: What I had was much less speci c and much more high level — it was a method of building a 21st-century Clerk and Recorder’s O ce. We run the DMV. e DMV is, in most people’s minds, the worst government agency that exists, and then you ask them why and it’s long lines, and long waits, and people just having to come in-person and stand around in a lobby and wait for an hour and a half and then be told you don’t have the right paperwork and be sent away and have to come back and do it all over again.

So that’s obviously broken — in the 21st century you should be able to do anything from your couch on a Sunday, watching a Broncos game.

And so, it was things like that, hearing from a lot of voters that Lakewood, a city of 150,000 people, only had one 24-hour election dropbox. I come in and start asking why, and it’s because we never used data to drive those decisions, we just put drop boxes wherever it was easy, not where the numbers suggested we should. Lakewood now has 10, because it’s a big city and it should.

It was more, ‘this o ce is in bad need of modernization, so let’s do it.’ Most of the things that we did were not my ideas, they were mostly frontline employee ideas. ey’ve been doing this for a long time, they’ve been saying this for a long time, they just didn’t have someone willing to listen to them and put it into place.

Je co Clerk and Recorder George Stern will be leaving o ce this month, having been Clerk and Recorder for four years. JON ROSE SEE STERN, P23

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Evergreen wrestling coach Luke Burrier believes three words sum up the program: e ort, attitude and aggression.

e squad of 37 wrestlers look to each other for encouragement and rivalry, especially senior grapplers Gabe Zimmerer and Alejandro Luna. Both are having great seasons, and they help shepherd underclassmen through the experience of high school wrestling.

Luna, who wrestles in the 126-pound weight class, is 14-0 this season, while Zimmerer, who wrestles at 165 pounds, is 13-1 this season and ranked third in 4A as of Jan. 4. ey agree that the team has grown into a strong family, and mental stamina is just as important as the physical demands of the sport.

Burrier is proud that the team raised funds to invest in its practice room, showing wrestlers that they and their sport matter. He attributes the team’s success in part to the assistant coaches, many of whom have college-level wrestling experience, who volunteer to help.

Family atmosphere

Luna, who began wrestling his freshman year, said his teammates are like his brothers and sisters. He

Wrestling to the top

likes the sibling rivalry, so when they wrestle each other during practice, they try to outdo each other.

“If forces you to grow,” he said. “We’re trying to become the best we can be. It’s ghting with friends, and it’s the best thing ever.”

Zimmerer and Luna always come to practice with a positive attitude because they want to be there, Burrier said.

“ ey are great leaders and they set a great precedent for the rest of the team,” said Burrier, who has been the Evergreen head wrestling coach since 2015.

Luna said being on the wrestling team helps with other sports because it teaches grapplers about body placement and being light on their feet. Luna also plays rugby and is involved in martial arts.

Zimmerer, who also plays football, agreed.

Mental stamina

While wrestling is a very physical sport, Luna said it was more a mental sport because the mind must overcome adversity and exhaustion.

“If you mentally grow, your body follows suit,” Luna explained.

On the walls of the wrestling team’s practice room is a slogan: “ e only easy day was yesterday.”

“It means that it will always be harder, but that makes you better,” Zimmerer said. “We are always trying to improve.”

e thing about wrestling that is di erent than many other sports is a grappler could be down many points in a match but ultimately win by pinning the opponent. at’s where the mental strength comes in.

“You can win matches you didn’t think you could,” Zimmerer said.

Zimmerer grew up wrestling because his dad was a coach.

“I always saw high schoolers doing hard work, so I was comfortable wrestling,” he said. “It’s a hard sport. It’s physically and mentally grueling.”

Zimmerer noted that the wrestling team’s culture is a lot di erent than the culture in other high school sports.

“Most kids don’t know we have a wrestling team,” he said. “We work hard all the time, and it’s tough. When you experience something tough together, you form a bond.”

Wrestlers Gabe Zimmerer, left, and Alejandro Luna are among Evergreen’s top grapplers this season. PHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

Evergreen wrestler Gabe Zimmerer works on top against Golden’s Luke Henderson during the opening round of the 165-pound bracket of the Frank Palmeri Invitational on Dec. 10 at Wheat Ridge High School. Zimmerer won the individual title at 165 pounds by pinning all four of the opponents he faced. The Cougars placed third in the team standings with 95 points.

PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Evergreen’s Zimmerer, Luna call their beloved sport grueling but fun

Thrifting into the new year

a second-hand shop operates.

2023 just started, but Gerhardus has already been getting inundated with donations.

“( ursday) we got slammed for donations and we weren’t even open for donations,” she said.

BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE OLOVE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e new year is a great time to clear clutter from your home or change up decor, and local thrift stores o er ways to do it on a budget.

e Queens Wardrobe rift Shoppe in Idaho Springs has already seen an in ux of donations in 2023 and the ReStore in Evergreen has been holding steady with donations and encourages thrifters to come by to check out rapidly changing inventory.

Cheyenne Gerhardus has only been the manager of Queens Wardrobe rift Shoppe for a month and a half, but she’s a self-proclaimed “thrift store queen,” meaning she’s familiar with the ins and outs of how

Queens Wardobe only accepts donations on Fridays and Saturdays.

So far, Gerhardus has seen some themes in the donations in the new year. Items including Christmas decor, holiday items, summer clothes and other hand-me-downs.

Luckily, Queens Wardrobe has a warehouse to store items that can’t go out on the shop oor, like seasonal items and merchandise that simply won’t t. at keeps Gerhardus from turning away donations, but some things, she said, shouldn’t be donated at all.

“We get a lot of items that I don’t want to put out,” she said.

ings like worn-out shoes, clothes with holes and broken items frequently are donated to the shop. is makes more work for the already few volunteers, who have to

were to go into a thrift store, is it something you would buy again?” Gerhardus said.

e Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Evergreen isn’t seeing the same in ux of donations, but the store isn’t exactly stagnant. Assistant manager Stephanie Wilhelm explains about the quickly turning merchandise the store holds. “We get donations on the hour, so we get things very quickly and they move out just as quick,” she said.

e ReStore sees many donations of larger furniture and appliances, especially when people are remodeling. It even accepts all types of metal for recycling.

Gerhardus had some tips for those looking to donate in the new year. She advised to spread out donations to multiple stores to avoid overwhelming small shops, to consider the lifespan of certain things and if you are looking to shop at a thrift store, evaluate your own closet and be willing to give a bag if you buy a

nd something speci c at ReStore, don’t be afraid to hop on the phone to ask about it.

“Just checking on a daily basis if they’re looking for a treasure or something speci c,” she said.

Queens Wardrobe rift Shoppe is celebrating 35 years of business in January with a 35% o everything in the store sale.

Queens Wardrobe rift Shoppe is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and only accepts donations on Friday and Saturday. e shop also is seeking volunteers, who receive a 50% o discount in the store after a trial period of volunteering.

Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity ReStore is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Small items may be donated only on these days, and large item donations must be scheduled.

The ReStore in Evergreen o ers a wide selection of furniture. PROVIDED BY STEPHANIE WILHELM

Queens Wardrobe Thrift Shoppe PROVIDED BY CHEYENNE GERHARDUS

January is Blood Donor Month, and donations are needed

BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE OLOVE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

According to the American Red Cross, the winter months are the most di cult months to collect blood donations, which is why January has been designated as National Blood Donor Month.

e American Red Cross, America’s Blood Centers and the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies are encouraging people to schedule appointments to donate blood in 2023.

Emily Kuper, a public health nurse in Clear Creek County, explained that the need for blood is constant and vital in the health care industry.

“Anyone can need blood at any time,” she said.

People need blood transfusions

Dream sequence

CONIFER – e way Homeowner remembered it, he hadn’t been pleased with Contractor’s work on his doors and requested a refund. Contractor had seemed agreeable to a discounted rate, and Homeowner thought no more about it until 1 a.m. on Dec. 12 when it all came rushing back to his groggy mind as he was startled awake by Contractor, who was standing on his front porch, pounding on his front windows and bellowing “You still owe me money!” Slogging downstairs to discuss the situation, Homeowner said he found himself a silent partner in a rather one-sided conversation highlighted by vaguely menacing statements like “I know the ins and outs of this house!” and “You’re a (girly man)!” and “I’ll be back for you!” e way Contractor told it, he’d made no such comments, nor paid Homeowner an early-morning call at all. With no hard evidence supporting either party, deputies slammed the door on the complaint.

Crime of fashion

EVERGREEN – In homage to his favorite bumbling NFL team, Steadfast

for a variety of medical conditions, including acute or chronic illnesses.

Kuper said long-term illnesses like cancer or sickle cell disease can require frequent transfusions, and people in accidents needing surgery can require emergent transfusions.

Kuper also explained there are di erent types of blood donations, including whole blood, power red, platelet and plasma donations.

Information on the di erent types of donations can be found on the American Red Cross’ website.

“Here is a New Year’s resolution we should all make: become a regular blood donor in 2023, and start now as we mark National Blood Donor Month,” said Debra BenAvram, chief executive o cer of AABB, in a press release.

Bronco Fan placed an assortment of orange and blue sports memorabilia in his driveway, hung an autographed “John Elway” football jersey on the fence in front of his house, and then went out of town. Returning a full week later, Steadfast was astonished to discover the semi-valuable article of apparel cut from the display roster. Fortunately, his security camera caught the theft in progress – a man in a gray hoodie sauntering casually up to the fence, calmly cadging the keepsake, and moseying away as cool as you please. Unfortunately, Steadfast didn’t recognize the thief, whom the camera’s date-stamp showed had actually pulled the job at two o’clock in the afternoon the day before he left town. Deputies told Steadfast they didn’t have very good eld position, but would try to get a few yards out of the security footage. Steadfast told deputies he’d let them know as soon as he gured out how to make the digital pictures portable.

How NAFTA works

SOUTH JEFFCO – Making a routine inquiry he would shortly regret, the deputy learned the pickup truck

parked on the shoulder had been reported stolen about two months earlier. e vehicle’s listed owner lived nearby, and the o cer dutifully looked him up to nd out why that might be. e owner turned out to be a nervous, dgety man who seemed more willing to cooperate in theory than in fact. He said he’d found the truck on a website, although which website he couldn’t quite remember, and thereby contacted the wife of the truck’s presumed owner, a surname-free fellow called “Dusty,” who put him in contact with Dusty’s presumed business partner in North Dakota, who put him in contact with Dusty himself, who instructed Mr. Fidget to meet him south of the border to close the deal. “About two weeks ago, or so,” said Mr. Fidget, he’d own to Arizona, rented a car in a border town he couldn’t recall, driven an unspeci ed distance into Mexico, and came to rest in a small Mexican town he couldn’t recall, which is where he met Dusty and came into possession of the truck. When the o cer expressed an interest in talking with Dusty, Mr. Fidget became positively twitchy, saying he had “a lot of paper-

work” that might have Dusty’s number in it somewhere, but that Dusty “has about 20 pay-as-you-go phones” and it just wouldn’t pay to look. Surprisingly enough, given that remarkably sketchy tale, Mr. Fidget seemed to be – at least temporarily – the vehicle’s legal owner. After a drug-sni ng canine cop gave the truck its personal seal of approval, the deputy bid Mr. Fidget good-day, but warned him that his purchase came with a shaky pedigree and a JCSO detective would probably be looking him up one day soon. Mr. Fidget said that no matter what happened, he could never be persuaded to take legal action against Dusty. Before parting ways in that little Mexican town, he explained, Dusty had made him sign a hand-written note “stating that I would not press any charges against Dusty at any time.”

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

A blood donor squeezes a stress ball during donation.

FILE PHOTO BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE

Or, in some cases, I was adopting best practices from other counties or other states, or from businesses. So no, I did not come in with most of these ideas, I just came in with a desire to bring things into the 21st century and I looked around and listened to my employees and other county, state and private sector people.

CCM: What do you see as the longterm impact of these changes? Are you hoping someone comes along and improves it even more?

GS: To the second part, totally. I hope that my successor makes things even better. I do not have all the ideas — I did what I said I was going to do, and now it’s time for someone else to come up with new ideas and to put those in place and keep it moving forward.

People’s expectations change, and the way that we can serve constituents changes, and we should keep improving on that. e crux of what we did was bring that everything had to be done in-person during business hours in one or two locations to everything can be done from anywhere. And that, I hope, will continue a long time. Given where people’s habits are, and what they

expect — before COVID, but especially during and after — of being able to do everything remotely, I hope will stay.

CCM: What are your plans for the future?

GS: I wish I knew, but I don’t. Most immediately, I’ve got a twoyear-old and a seven-month-old who I’m going to spend a lot more time with, and I’m going to start to gure out what’s next.

I have spent time in both the private and public sectors. I like both. I’m looking for work in a system where I can make an impact and solve programs and so on. I’ll be looking for whatever the next challenge is that lets me do that.

CCM: Anything else you want to tell the people of Je erson County?

GS: I’ve said it many times, but I always think it’s important to emphasize that the attention is on the elected o cial, but we’ve got 115 employees here who are awesome public servants, and nothing I’ve done in the last four years would be possible without them. And, most of them are going to stay on long after I’m gone which is a great thing for the county.

ey’re the ones doing this work, they’re the ones that helped to make all the improvements, and I have great con dence that they’re going to keep doing that good work.

OBITUARIES

SCHNEIDER

John Howard Schneider

May 16, 1938 - December 23, 2022

John Howard Schneider, 84, of Evergreen, Colorado, passed away suddenly on December 23, 2022. John was a Native of Colorado.

John is preceded in death by a sister Pat Walke. John is survived by his wife; Bonnie, children; Joe, Je Schneider, Jennifer Me oro and Erica Anderson Bubins Ki, brothers; Bill, Mike Schneider.

Please visit www.evergreenmemorialpark.com to leave a message for the family.

Timothy Gerald O’Neill, 62, passed away on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022, in Evergreen, Colo.

Timothy (“Tim”) was born on May 21, 1960, to parents Gerald omas O’Neill and JoAnn M. O’Neill.

Tim devoted his life to his family and an accomplished career in litigation. A managing partner of Snell & Wilmer’s Denver o ce and a member of the rm’s Executive Committee from 2000 to 2016, his national litigation practice focused on complex business litigation, commercial disputes, and major product liability tort litigation. A fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers since 2009, Tim joined the Colorado State Committee from 2014 to 2018 and the Jury Committee from 2018 to 2022. Earning many professional recognitions and awards throughout his career, Tim was also an active member of his community, serving the Advisory Board of the Colorado Civil Justice League, working with young lawyers through the Colorado Attorney Mentor Program and volunteering with the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver.

Tim spent his free time with his family and on the water, when possible. Harboring a

deep love of the ocean, Tim earned a skipper license and captained the family’s boat, Freedom, every chance he could.

Tim is survived by his loving wife, Monique O’Neill; children, Chelsea (Travis) Coe, Quinn O’Neill and Abigail O’Neill; grandson, Wyatt Coe; stepmother, Jane Kannell-O’Neill; sisters, Peggy (Larry) Brizgis, Anne (Joe) Miller, Mary O’Neill (Carl Erickson), Kathy (Paul) Paese and Amanda Reid O’Neill (Jerry Reid); brother, Christopher O’Neill; and many beloved nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents.

A memorial mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Evergreen (4291 Evergreen Pkwy.). A celebration of life will follow at 3 p.m. at Mount Vernon Canyon Club in Golden (24933 Club House Cir.).

In lieu of owers, the family of Timothy G. O’Neill request that donations be made to the American Heart Association and the Charles Keating C4 SEAL Foundation. Please note the gift in memory of Tim. For information, please contact Evergreen Memorial Park at (303) 674-7750.

O’NEILL

Timothy Gerald “Tim” O’Neill May 21, 1960 - December 19, 2022

Je co’s new climate action plan addresses

emissions, climate change impacts

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As Colorado becomes a hotter, drier place thanks to impacts from climate change, county o cials want to make Je erson County a more responsible, more resilient place.

e county plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next dozen years and ensure residents and business owners are prepared for the increased risk of oods and wild res.

On Dec. 20, the Board of County Commissioners approved Je co’s rst Climate Action Plan, which has been in the works since September 2020.

“We have a single mission: to protect and hand on the planet to the next generation,” Commissioner Andy Kerr said. “Today, I am excited we are nally putting the ‘action’ in the Climate Action Plan.”

Over the past year, county o cials have been collecting public input on the plan with community meetings and a survey, including a public comment period this November.

e Climate Action Plan outlines

reducing the county’s greenhouse gas emissions by 73% from 2015 levels by 2035. It also wants to reduce climate-related risks for everyone, prioritizing those experiencing the greatest disparities.

According to the county’s updated Hazard Mitigation Plan, wild res and oods are Je co’s two most frequent and devastating hazards. Both are exacerbated by rising global temperatures. e county states that, even under a moderate 2050 climate scenario, Je co could experience $880 million in annual ooding and re damage.

e Climate Action Plan is intended to address these risks by developing solutions to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to rising temperatures and to help the community become more resilient to the hazards and risks.

Plus, it will contribute to statewide e orts to address Colorado’s climate risks, county o cials explained.

“For us to succeed, all parties will need to be moving in a common direction,” Commissioner Tracy Kraftarp said. “ … I’m looking forward for our communities to pull together resources and expertise as we begin

Je co outlines 23 goals in its inaugural Climate Action Plan, which the Board of County Commissioners approved Dec. 20. The plan outlines goals for cutting greenhouse gas emissions and making Je co more resilient against climate-changerelated disasters, like floods and wildfires, over the next several years. COURTESY GRAPHIC

to move forward addressing this very important issue.”

e plan outlines six sectors where the county can look to reduce emissions and/or improve resiliency.

ey are: water; food and waste; ecosystems; transportation; energy supply; and buildings.

ere are 20 solutions outlined across the six sectors, and three that are described as “foundational” that are outside any individual sector. (Editor’s note: For a list of all 23 solutions, see the accompanying graphic.)

During the Dec. 20 presentation, sta said Je co won’t be able to achieve any of these goals alone. It will require collaboration among municipalities, special districts, nonpro ts, residents and other partners.

Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper agreed, adding, “A laser-like focus county-wide on sustainability is not only good for our community and public health … it’s good for our local economy and can help save taxpayer dollars.”

To view a draft of the Climate Action Plan or for summaries in English and Spanish, visit Je co. us/4410/Climate-Action-Plan.

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.

THURSDAY

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.

Evergreen chamber monthly mixer: e Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly mixer from 5-7 p.m. Jan. 12 at Echo Mountain and Tubing Hill. For more information and to register, visit evergreenchamber.org.

FRIDAY - SUNDAY 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.

SATURDAY

Tree, Styrofoam recycling: Recycle your holiday tree and block Styrofoam Jan. 14 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at 1246 Bergen Parkway and Evergreen Lutheran Church, 5980 Highway 73. Trees are mulched by LAM Tree Service for community use. Donations appreciated!

Lake House: special programs and topics; and 6 p.m. Feb. 2 at Buchanan Park Rec Center: serving the whole community.

Snowshoe hikes: Explore the beauty of Colorado’s winter wonderland on a guided snowshoe hike in Georgetown. Kimberly Knox of Georgetown Outdoor Discovery and Evergreen Audubon’s Emma Vasicek will lead hikes on Jan. 21, Feb. 11, March 4 and April 1. For more information and to register, visit www. evergreenaudubon.org/events/ snowshoe-hike-with-georgetownoutdoor-discovery-january-2023.

it’s like to be a pom. Email ehspomsbooster@gmail.com with any questions and to register.

Indian Hills Winterfest: Indian Hills will host its inaugural Winterfest from noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at Arrowhead Park. In addition to a youth art show, kids area, food trucks, a bon re and live music, there will be snowshoe races at 12:15 p.m., a tug-o-war at 1 p.m., egg toss at 1:30 p.m. and a lake plunge at 3:15 p.m. Proceeds bene t the Indian Hills Improvement Association and Indian Hills Fire/Rescue.

UPCOMING

EPRD discovery sessions: As part of its strategic planning process, the Evergreen Park & Recreation District board will host sessions to gather public input on what programs and facilities the district should have in the future. Sessions are: 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Jan. 19 via Zoom: Links will be posted on the strategic plan page at evergreenrecreation.com by Jan. 18; 6 p.m. Jan. 25 at Wulf Rec Center: parks and outdoor recreation; 6 p.m. Jan. 26 at Buchanan Park Rec Center: rec centers and indoor programs; 6 p.m. Jan. 31 at Evergreen

Evergreen chamber breakfast and bene ts: e Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce will host its virtual breakfast and bene ts meeting from 10-11 a.m. Jan. 26. For more information, to register and the Zoom link, visit evergreenchamber. org.

EHS Pom for a Day: e Evergreen High School varsity poms are hosting their annual Junior Poms Clinic from 4-8 p.m. Jan. 27 at EHS. e event includes includes dinner and a halftime performance. Boys and girls in kindergarten through fth grade are invited to learn what

Free legal clinic: A free legal clinic for people with no attorney will be from 2 to 5 p.m. ursday, Feb. 2. 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.

Chill Out Fest:  e Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce will host Chill Out Fest on Feb. 4. e Mushies cup obstacle course on Evergreen Lake will be at 10 a.m., Evergreen Amazing Race at 1 p.m. and a glow skate at 5:30 p.m.

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

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

TRIVIA

1. TELEVISION: Which TV game show features a “Daily Double” to increase potential winnings?

FOOD & DRINK: What kind of poisoned fruit does the fairy-tale character Snow White eat and fall into a deep sleep?

ADVERTISING: Which cereal features a character named Seadog?

U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president o cially named the executive mansion the White House?

MOVIES: What is the name of the most famous Wookiee in the “Star Wars” movies?

MONEY: What is the o cial currency of Nigeria?

ANIMAL KINGDOM: How many legs do shrimp have?

8. HISTORY: How many states did Alabama Gov. George Wallace win as a thirdparty candidate in the 1968 presidential primary? 9. MEDICAL: What is the common name for the human trachea? 10. GAMES: How many suspects are in the board game “Clue”? Answers 1. “Jeopardy.” 2. Apple. 3. Cap’n Crunch. 4. eodore Roosevelt. 5. Chewbacca. 6. e naira. 7. Ten. 8. Five. 9. Windpipe. 10. Six. (c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Wanted

DRIVER

Class B CDL propane delivery truck driver for Spring Valley Gas, Elizabeth. P/T & F/T positions; responsible for propane delivery and customer service.

HazMat/Tanker endorsement. Propane certification a plus. Insurance age requirement 26 with clean MVR. SVG is building a team, not just a job! Starting salary based on experience & qualifications. Call 303-660-8810.

RECEPTIONIST

Elk Meadow Animal Hospital is actively seeking a receptionist. We are looking for someone who is a team player and has excellent communication skills. Come join our pack! Contact info: 303-674-7400 elkmeaodwvet@gmail.com

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

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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.

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

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Internal investigation fails to find cause of December Je co-wide shelter-in-place order

BY ANDREW FRAIELI AFRAIELI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Last month Je erson County sent out an emergency shelter-in-place order meant for a small number of Je co residents. Instead, it was sent to most of the county, and the county still doesn’t know why.

According to a press release from Je com 911, Je co’s communication authority, human error was ruled out. Rave Mobile Safety, which provides the infrastructure for sending out the alerts, was unable to replicate the situation causing the alert being distributed too wide, according to the press release. e

internal investigation found that the lter meant to limit the amount of residents that received the alert was not applied, but again, for reasons unknown.

e press release continues that Je com 911 has transmitted 20 emergency alerts since the incident and has had no issues with any of

Je erson County nonprofits receive

them. It continues that, “Je com 911 has implemented additional administrative oversight measures when administering emergency noti cations as further precaution…”

Residents of Je co can sign up to receive these emergency alerts at Je com911.org.

in grants from Community First Foundation

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Nonpro ts across Je erson County are starting 2023 with a little more money in the bank.

Over the holiday season, Arvadabased Community First Foundation awarded 18 organizations $350,000 total in grants. e funds will go toward furthering art, science and culture-based projects that promote civic engagement.

Several recipients said the funds were a complete surprise.

Nathan Richie of Golden History Museum & Park said grants like this typically have a very involved application process. However, the museum didn’t apply for it. Instead, CFF reached out to the museum based on other grant applications.

“ is never happens in the grant world,” Center for the Arts Evergreen’s Lisa Nierenberg said.

Lakewood Arts Council’s Dorothy Lessem described how she and her colleagues “looked at each other and thought, ‘Is this real?’” when they rst heard about it.

Community First Foundation con rmed the grants ranged from $700 to $30,000. It partnered with the Scienti c and Cultural Facilities District to identify Je co nonpro ts actively working to increase inclusivity in the county. SCFD shared grant applications it’d received, and CFF worked quickly to award the grants before Jan. 1.

“ e information we needed was already in the grant applications nonpro ts submitted to SCFD,” Jaime Aguilar, program o cer for Community First Foundation, said

in a Dec. 23 press release. “ … Now, we can support civic engagement through diversity, equity and inclusion e orts in our community with-

The foregoing Ordinance was, on the 3rd day of January, 2023, ordered to be published by title only and penalty provision, if any, and to be posted in full within the Town and on the Town’s website by the Board of Trustees of the Town of Morrison, Colorado. This Ordinance will take effect January 27, 2023.

The full text of this of this Ordinance is available in electronic form on the Town’s website, www. town.morrison.co.us; copies of this Ordinance are also available in printed form from the Office of the Town Clerk at 321 Colorado Highway 8, Morrison, Colorado 80465.

Ariana Neverdahl, Town Clerk

Legal Notice No. CC 1087

First Publication: January 12, 2023

Bids

out the added burden for nonpro ts to submit a new grant application.”

For instance, the Golden History Museum received $26,000 toward its

Los Angeles CA, 90189

work with Indigenous communities. It recently completed an American

hereinafter called the “Contractor”, for and on account of the contract for the 2022 Elevator Modernizations project in Jefferson County, CO.

1. Any person, co-partnership, association, or corporation who has an unpaid claim against the said project, for or on account of the furnishing of labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender, or other supplies used or consumed by such Contractor or any of said work, may at any time up to and including said time of such final settlement, file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim.

CO 80419-4560.

3.Failure on the part of a creditor to file such statement prior to such final settlement will relieve the County of Jefferson, State of Colorado, from any and all liability for such claim.

County of Jefferson, State of Colorado Andy Kerr, Chairman Board of County Commissioners

Legal Notice No. CC 1088

First Publication: January 12, 2023

Last Publication: January 19, 2023

Publisher: Canyon Courier

of Jefferson, State of Colorado to:

2. All such claims shall be filed with Heather Frizzell, Director of Finance for Jefferson County Colorado, 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden

Sawyer Payne, Jake Oudakker, Layla Smith and Emily Canfield rehearse their lines for “Bye Bye Birdie” at The Venue Theatre in April 2018. The theater was among the 18 Je co nonprofits that received grants recently from Community First Foundation. FILE PHOTO BY SARA HERTWIG

Evergreen chamber mixer:  e Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce will host a mixer from 5-7 p.m. ursday, Feb. 9, at the Design Showroom, 3045 Whitman Drive, Evergreen. In conjunction the showroom will have an open house, where the community can meet designers and tour the showroom.

ONGOING

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.

Community Bible Study: Several community Bible study groups are

GRANTS

Indian Ethnography, mainly focused on Arapaho, Cheyenne and Ute peoples’ histories.

e museum wants to use the ethnography as a “sca old to build upon” and not a lone project, Richie stated. He hoped to use the grant to bring tribal leaders to Golden for a

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.

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.

Support After Suicide Loss: Heartbeat and Resilience1220 o er Support After Suicide Loss from 5:30-7 p.m. the fourth ursday of

site consultation visit and perhaps start an ethnobotanical garden.

“ is means a great deal to us,” Richie said of the funding. “It’s an investment to continue doing that work. … It’s a much larger commitment that we’re making in Golden to elevate Indigenous voices and communities.”

Meanwhile, the Lakewood Arts Council and Center for the Arts Evergreen both plan to use grant funds for educational programming. e

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.

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 Ever-

two received $13,000 and $30,000, respectively.

“It was the perfect way to end the year,” Nierenberg said.

Lessem felt similarly, describing how the Lakewood Arts Council just moved into the 40 West Arts hub, which is across the parking lot from its former location next to Casa Bonita. us, the grant will be a major boost as the organization tries to revamp its educational programming since the move, she described.

green 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.

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.

It’s hoping to partner with Denver and Je co teachers to provide art activities, supplies and training for students of all ages. e studio also o ers exhibit space for local students, and the grant will help continue that e ort, Lessem added.

“We’re thrilled to put (the funds) to good use,” she continued. “ … We’re hoping to reach out into the community and do some good.”