Canyon Courier 022323

COURIER

Building a better

playground

Beaver Ranch wants to create ADA accessible play area for kids

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e folks at Beaver Ranch want all children to play on the park’s playground, and to do so, they need your help.

Bergen Meadow students commissioned to create abstract art

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A group of Evergreen artists has been commissioned to create art that will adorn the walls of a Denver law rm.

e artists are collaborating to create 12 canvases of abstract artwork that will hang in the Buchalter law rm’s main o ce area and conference room. e work — still in the creation phase — contains bright

SEE PAINTING, P2

Beaver Ranch Community Inc., the organization that oversees the park on Foxton Road in Conifer, wants to raise about $1 million to expand the size of the park’s playground and make it accessible to all children. It is hoping to obtain grants, has already saved $250,000 for the project, and it is looking for donations from residents and businesses to make it happen.

e playground that ultimately is built will depend on community wishes and what the organization can a ord. ere are renderings of three playground possibilities that range in price from $680,000 to $1 million, a survey and a link to donate at www.beaverranch.org. Ofcials hope to start construction in spring 2024.

SEE PLAYGROUND, P4

First graders, from left, Mackenzie Eisele, Shay Spungin, Ben Smith and Rhett Tolmacho collaborate on their art.

PHOTOS BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

Bergen Meadow first graders Mackenzie Eisele and Shay Spungin add details to a commissioned art piece that the first graders are making for a Denver law firm. The abstract art is in the style of professional artist Janet Skates.

PAINTING

colors accented by pastel crayon drawings.

e artists’ teacher is guiding them through the process, and sometimes it’s challenging to keep them focused, especially considering the artists are rst graders at Bergen Meadow Elementary School.

How does a group of rst graders become commissioned artists?

Enter Robert Hinckley Jr., who manages the Denver o ce for Buchalter.

“We needed art for our new o ce,” said Hinckley, whose daughter is

Celebrating 41Years

a rst grader at Bergen Meadow. “Rather than traditional art, we thought it would be kind of cool and fun to have kids draw or paint the art.”

Hinckley hoped students would experience what professional artists feel when they work on a commissioned art piece.

“We hoped it would be fun for them to do the art knowing it’s going someplace in a law rm downtown,” Hinckley said. “We felt like both sides got a lot out of it.”

On Feb. 13, art teacher Elisabeth Marcus worked with the student artists, explaining the next step in the process. e students in groups of four had already put the rst coat of paint on the canvases, and on

MEET LORETTA!

Monday, their job was to add lines, circles and other shapes to embellish the abstract colors. en students will be nger painting, layering the colors and shapes.

Marcus told students that professional artist Janet Skates, the artist the students are emulating, was inspired by music, owers, plants and other artists, and noted that abstract art was di erent than other art forms.

“In math, one plus one equals two,” she said. “In art, you know when you’re done when you feel the ooooooo.”

Every time Marcus showed the class a picture of Skates’ work, they responded quite loudly with ‘ooooooo.’”

First graders Mackenzie Eisele and Shay Spungin worked diligently on the project, saying the designs had to be crazy but not too crazy. Shay added rainbow patterns to part of the artwork.

Mackenzie explained that it was cool to be working on a commissioned artwork, adding, “It feels like you have to do really good (because it’s commissioned). We have to focus.”

Marcus hopes to have a reception in April for the artists, their families and the law rm, and Hinckley hopes the students can eventually visit the law o ce to see their work hanging on the walls.

First graders Rhett Tolmacho and Ben Smith use pastel crayons to embellish their artwork.

Art teacher Elisabeth Marcus shows techniques to first graders Anja Koprivica-Molloy and Valentin Davchev.

Art teacher Elisabeth Marcus shows students how to modify their paintings in the same style as professional artist Janet Skates. PHOTOS BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

First grader Valentin Davchev concentrates on improving his artwork.

Brooklyn Hebrew of Evergreen is the winner of the American History Essay Contest for 2022-23 sponsored by the Mountain Rendezvous Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Candidates were asked to imagine themselves as a delegate during the 1775-76 Second Continental Congress. e judges found Brooklyn’s essay to be a passionate portrayal of the colonists of Maryland. Her convincing arguments tied together historical events from the Stamp Act, the Quebec Act, taxation and religious suppression under British rule.

Brooklyn has been studying the

American Revolution as part of the family’s homeschool curriculum.

Her mother, Molly, commented, “Brooklyn has a love for our founding fathers, especially George Washington. She learned that she could, in fact, write a 600-word essay, and that writing can be really fun.”

As a fth grader, Brooklyn likes to play with her two dogs, Emma and Cash. She also enjoys swimming laps at Wulf Recreation Center and playing with her brothers, Finley and Barrett.

Brooklyn aspires to be a pediatrician. She wants to visit the East Coast someday to visit historical sites and travel the world.

Brooklyn Hebrew, center, is the winner of the American History Essay Contest sponsored by the Mountain Rendezvous Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She is with Chapter Regent Michelle Robbins, left, and Margaret Stapleton, American History chair.

COURTESY PHOTO

PLAYGROUND

“We have identi ed a need in our community for a playground,” said Ted Greene, Beaver Ranch’s park manager. “We are trying to bring a state-of-the-art big-time playground to serve all communities. One of the biggest drives is to make it inclusive and accessible.”

e current playground’s equipment is more than 20 years old and covers about 3,000 square feet of space. e proposed playground will be 12,000 square feet.

“When we started looking at this, we said, ‘Let’s shoot for the stars because there is no public playground here other than at Beaver Ranch,’” said Wyatt Yates, board president of Beaver Ranch Community Inc.

Yates said the Conifer Area Council’s yearly surveys have shown that the community wants a playground that is available all day. Area schools’ playgrounds cannot be used by the public while school is in session.

Je co Open Space, which owns the park, is working on improvements to Beaver Ranch, including more than doubling the number of trails and preparing to improve trailheads and more. JCOS will prepare the site for the new playground equipment.

e organization and JCOS have a huge emphasis on accessibility for adults and children throughout the park, Yates said, and JCOS has been very supportive of the playground initiative.

A lot of research has gone into preliminary designs for the playground.

Renee French, who serves on the playground committee, said it was the plan from the start to make sure the new playground would be ADA accessible. Beaver Ranch board members toured other playgrounds in the state to see what children were playing on and what they like, she explained.

“We also talked to groups that brought day-care kids to playgrounds,” French said. “ ey would travel miles to go to certain playgrounds, so we wanted to know what structures the kids liked and didn’t like.”

Yates emphasized the Beaver Ranch board’s desire to provide a great playground for the community.

“Our big thing is we think everybody should be able to enjoy the outdoors and not have limitations in terms of accessibility to the greatest extent possible,” Yates said.

This is one of three renderings of what the new Beaver Ranch ADA accessible playground could look like. The public is invited to provide feedback at beaverranch.org. COURTESY PHOTOS

This is the second of three renderings of the proposed playground. Beaver Ranch Community Inc. hopes to get community support for the playground e ort.

Asking for input

EPRD board working on a survey on facilities, programs

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

It’s not easy devising questions to learn what recreation wishes the Evergreen community has.

e Evergreen Park & Recreation District board spent nearly four hours on Feb. 16 poring over the questions for a survey it plans to send to district residents as it creates a ve-year strategic plan and considers asking voters for more money in November.

e timeline is tight if the board wants to ask for additional property tax dollars. It must decide by July 30, which is the date it must inform Je erson County that it wants to put something on the ballot.

e board has hired consultant BerryDunn to help facilitate the survey, and board members had their rst look at the questions. At the end of the meeting, the board created two committees to continue looking at the survey: one to examine the questions themselves to determine whether they provide important information to the decision-making process and the other to create a list of possible projects to gauge residents’ interest.

Ultimately, the board will decide what projects it wants to complete in the next three to ve years, what it can a ord and when it might be

able to partner with other entities to provide services. High on the list is tackling some of the deferred maintenance of its current facilities.

Discovery sessions

e EPRD board embarked on a month-long endeavor to get feedback from the community about what programs and facilities it wants and what the district’s future should look like. Six discovery sessions, plus feedback from groups, sta and

more were used to garner information, and 629 people provided input, according to Chris Dropinski with BerryDunn.

While the information is anecdotal, the board agreed it was a good starting point to help develop the survey.

e top ve facilities people listed were indoor tennis or pickleball courts, indoor space for sports activities in the winter, a dog park,

inclusive playground equipment and a kids bike park. ey also asked for more programs for children and seniors, and more outdoor recreation programs.

Long-term, people suggested expanding parking at Evergreen Lake, more aquatic amenities, increased trail connectivity, an indoor track, updating the pool area at the Wulf

The Evergreen Park & Recreation District is embarking on a strategic-planning process, with the first step to ask the community what the district needs. FILE PHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

Cupid visits Bergen Park King Soopers

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Cupid decided to ing chocolate rather than arrows at the Bergen Park King Soopers on Valentine’s Day.

Cupid, aka grocery foreman Cody Youngblood, dressed in costume with red heart balloons behind him, a basket of candy and a mock bow and arrow. His cell phone played harp music to add to the Valentine’s Day ambience as he stood inside the store’s doorway greeting customers.

And they were delighted.

A Facebook post and responses raved about how Youngblood made people smile and made their day better. Some took sel es with Cupid to commemorate the gesture of kindness.

Youngblood is no stranger to dressing for the holidays. He wore a turkey costume for anksgiving and was a snowman for Christmas.

He said the idea to dress as Cupid was a coworker’s idea, and an online search netted him the costume. He wore a shirt and pants under the costume to help him stay warmer by the door.

Why does Youngblood, who has worked at the Bergen Park King Soopers for two years, dress up as Cupid? at’s simple: To make people smile.

We pride ourselves on not being your typical heating & air company. Family-owned & operated, each customer is not simply a number on an invoice. We provide personalized attention, addressing your specific converns and circumstances, while staying efficient with your time and money.

Cupid, aka Cody Youngblood, handed out candy — and smiles — at the Bergen Park King Soopers on Valentine’s Day.

COURTESY PHOTO BY KIMBERLEE HILL

Home fire safety important this time of year

Ash and chimney fires are preventable

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Area re departments hope residents will be wiser this winter by taking care of their wood-burning replaces, woodstoves and chimneys, and by properly disposing of ashes.

In recent weeks, the departments have responded to calls for ashes that ignited and chimney res, one in Pine that substantially damaged the home, and more. ese incidents are preventable when residents follow some guidelines.

“It sounds funny to say it, but re is dangerous,” Einar Jensen, spokesman for Evergreen Fire/Rescue, said. “We need to remember we can help control whether heat and fuel come together. If we allow it, that’s when we get re.”

Disposing of ashes

Fireplace and woodstove ashes cannot simply be thrown into the trash, re department personnel said. It is essential to make sure the ashes are cold before disposal.

“Put replace ashes in a noncombustible container and place them outside on a noncombustible surface away from the house,” Jensen said.

Fire ghters tell stories about

people putting ashes, which turned out to be smoldering, in plastic bags, plastic buckets or trash bins. All of those led to res that re departments had to extinguish.

“Even if you can’t feel heat radiating o of the ashes, it’s still possible there are hot coals deep underneath the ash,” said Dan Hatlestad, battalion chief at Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District. “Ash acts as an insulator for the coals, helping them stay warm without burning themselves out. ese latent coals can be hot enough to ignite paper, wood or vegetation, and easily melt through plastics.”

Hatlestad also suggested removing ashes regularly from replaces and woodstoves because the ashes will

cool more quickly. Putting water on the ashes essential, he noted.

“ en, just like you would with a camp re, ensure the entire pile of ash is cool and remains wet before disposing of it,” he said.

Another concern, Jensen said, is residents who set hot ashes next to a house and/or right on a wood deck.

e hot ashes can eventually burn down to the deck, starting it on re, and that re moves to the house.

Chimney cleaning

Fire ghters advise that chimneys should be clean once a year by a licensed contractor.

“For me, when it comes to my safety and my family’s safety, I want to do it right with a licensed inspector,” Jensen said. “I want the work done by someone who knows what they’re doing.”

Chimneys lled with creosote can ignite, moving sometimes undetect-

ed to other parts of the house, and by the time people see smoke and ames, it’s too late.

Paying for a chimney cleaning and inspection will cost much less than the costs and hassles of dealing with the aftermath of a house re.

• Space heaters should have 3 feet of space around them while they are

• Blow out candles before you

• Never use extension cords with heat-producing items such as space heaters. Plug them directly into the wall.

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Evergreen firefighters check to make sure they have put out a chimney fire in Kittredge in early February. COURTESY PHOTO

COURTESY PHOTO

Antlers or horns: Need some pointers?

Soon, all of our elk and deer will start to look like females! Only a close inspection from a super-powered camera or a peek out of the living room window will reveal whether an animal is male by the presence of pedicles, the base of growth for the antlers.

ese will initially have the appearance of round wounds on the animal’s head and will heal before the antler growth process begins again. While some animals await antler buds, the horned wildlife can continue to hold their heads high on muscled necks because their head gear will not be detaching.

Although both antlers and horns consist of bone that grows from the skull, the structure of the horn has two layers. Covering the bony part of the horn is a  keratin sheath. e sheath and bone stay in place and in some species continue to grow during the life of the animal. Females also have horns but of a smaller size. Local horned wildlife include bison, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats. Members of the deer family such as elk, mule deer and moose grow antlers which are shed annually. A male-only club, bulls and bucks use antlers for protection from predators, to portray dominant status and to impress the ladies. As it turns out, their antlers impress everyone! But males pay a price for their proud displays. Bull elk have half the lifespan of female elk  due to reduced overall health resulting from the demands of antler growth.

Age, genetics, nutrition and overall

INSIDE THE OUTDOORS

Six people have died in avalanches in the United States since the snow started to y this fall. Every year, an average of 27 people —skiers, snowboarders, snowmobilers, snowshoers — die this way.

For people who don’t venture into the backcountry in winter, the thought of potentially dying in an avalanche seems crazy. Why put your life on the line for a few minutes of fun? But most of us who ride fresh powder don’t look at it that way: We don’t consider backcountry skiing a death-defying activity.

A couple of years ago, my friend Jenna Malone, who is an avalanche educator and physician assistant in Salt Lake City, told me, “I don’t know

Christie Greene

health in uence the size of antlers. Size matters, but there are more important considerations for breeding. Broken or misshapen antlers can be a sign of genetic weakness, injury or serious illness. For these reasons, elk cows have more interest in antler symmetry over size. Antler ornaments like holiday decorations or hammocks? Only the elk know if such décor adds to a bull’s appeal!

e antler growth cycle beings in the spring, triggered by increasing daylight and subsequent testosterone production. As they grow, antlers are covered by velvet which brings blood vessels and nerves to the underlying bone.

After the antlers have reached their full size, the velvet begins to dry. is process is called hardening o . Once the velvet dies, the animal rubs his head against trees or other surfaces. e velvet will come o in strings during which time the bull is “in tatters.” e antlers are then fully grown and ready to be brandished for mating and territorial displays.

As the hours of daylight shorten, testosterone production lessens which causes the connection between the antler and the skull to weaken. e antlers eventually break away from the pedicle after the rut season concludes.

Antler castings have a role to play besides being fashioned into furniture or cut into dog chews. Dozens of species nibble on shed antlers to gain calcium and other nutrients. Deer will occasionally eat antlers to gain the minerals they lost during the growth of their own antlers.

Find a shed antler?  Be sure to check the calendar before taking it home. In 2018, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission voted to protect winter habitat for wildlife by forbidding antler or horn collection found west of I-25 between Jan. 1 and April 30 each year.

When you see velvet antlers this spring, you can understand the toll it takes on bulls and bucks. Even though their antlers look soft and touchable, keep in mind that hard

bone is just under the surface, a fact which elk will be happy to show you if you get too close!

Backcountry adventurers know they’re taking chances

WRITERS ON

anyone who’s stood on the top of a slope and thought, ‘Well, this is going to kill me, but it’s going to be epic powder

“We believe that with training, plansion-making, and a solid ski partner who calls us on our blind spots, we can make it safer,” she added.

In 2009, Bruce Jamieson, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Calgary in Albert, Canada, took accident data collected

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in North America and Switzerland to come up with a risk-comparison chart. e data was presented in “millimorts,” or one death per million. One millimort is the chance an average 20-year-old male has of dying from any cause on any day.

Himalayan climbing turned out to be the riskiest activity Jamieson considered, with a one in 40 chance of dying on an 8,000-meter peak, or 12,000 millimorts. Riding a motorcycle eight hours a day earned 605 millimorts, while backcountry skiing in Canada, using usual risk-reduction practices, came in at four.

Of course, not all skiers try to minimize risk. Recently, I saw a group of ve riders swooping down a steep gully, hooting and hollering as they

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ew by. e avalanche hazard that day was moderate. Still, ve people skiing a  slope like that at one time is outside normal risk-reduction practices and could have easily ended in tragedy.

Jamieson’s data is now more than a decade old, but the likelihood of being killed in an avalanche probably hasn’t changed much. It may have even lessened, considering the growing number of backcountry users in avalanche terrain that are sharing the risk.

When I started skiing in the backcountry decades ago, we would see only a handful of other people. Today, SnowSports Industries America

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

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Deadline Wed. for the following week’s paper.

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Molly Absolon

Radon: the leading cause of cancer in people who don’t smoke

Being a lifelong health enthusiast, health educator and tness trainer — and married to a primary care physician — my family and I were blindsided by my Stage 3A lung cancer diagnosis in October of 2018. We were shocked as I had no respiratory symptoms and I have never smoked. My cancer was found incidentally while investigating what later turned out to be a benign ovarian cyst.

It wasn’t until my son, an environmental engineer, asked me if I had ever tested our home for radon when I learned that virtually anyone with lungs can get lung cancer and that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. It is the rst leading cause of lung cancer in people who don’t have a history of smoking.

Considering the risk for lung cancer is high, why aren’t people exposed to high radon levels eligible for lung cancer screening? e United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends people ages 50-80 with a 20-pack year history of smoking, or have quit in the past 15 years, get a low dose CT scan, which is painless and takes only a few minutes.

Based on the conversation with our son, we tested our home using methods recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency and discovered that the radon levels in our home were elevated above the threshold of 4 pico curies (pCi/L).

e EPA strongly advises that any radon level at or above 4 pCi/L should be reduced through a radon mitigation system. Radon mitigation needs to be done by professionally accredited operators and most health departments — including the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment — post lists of accredited mitigators.

ABSOLON

estimates that there are more than six million backcountry riders in the United States, which puts the American avalanche death rate at less than 0.5 per 100,000. Your risk of dying in an automobile accident is one in 107.

ese statistics may be why we don’t feel like we are gambling with our lives every time we head out to ski. And in general, backcountry users consider themselves responsible risk takers.

We take avalanche courses to learn how to identify dangerous snow conditions. Most of us carry safety equipment: avalanche transceivers, shovels, probes, and in some cases airbags to help improve our odds of survival in a slide. We consult the daily avalanche forecast for our area. We choose our partners carefully.  Still, people die. You can argue that statistically the odds are in our favor, but that doesn’t lessen the tragedy that occurs when a glorious day of powder skiing turns into a nightmare.

Two of this year’s fatalities involved fathers triggering slides that

Heidi Nafman Onda

Radon is an invisible and odorless radioactive gas that can be found in many homes. It comes from the decomposition of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. When inhaled, radon can cause serious health problems including lung cancer. About half of all homes in Colorado have radon levels above the recommended limit of 4 pCi/L.

While there is no way for me to know with certainty if radon caused my lung cancer, I want people to know it is one risk factor that can be tested for and reduced to safe levels very easily. I also want people to know that smoking and exposure to radon are not the only risk factors for lung cancer and that many people develop lung cancer despite having no known risk factors. Exposure to secondhand smoke, family history of lung cancer and air pollution are risk factors for lung cancer. Report any persistent symptoms you have to your doctor. Being young and having no known history of tobacco use does not make you immune to lung cancer, even if the risk is low.

Despite the well-known risks of radon, it concerns me that there isn’t more public health messaging about radon, especially given its high prevalence in Colorado and many other states. e EPA estimates that radon kills approximately 21,000 people in the U.S. every year and about 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked. ese numbers may be a low estimate, as I know my doctor never asked me

buried and killed their sons. It’s hard to imagine anything more painful for a family.

Avalanches have been called “wicked-learning environments,” a label popularized by psychologist Robin Hogarth in 2015. A wickedlearning environment is one where the rules are unclear and feedback is often inaccurate or nonexistent. at means you can’t learn, or may learn the wrong thing from your experiences. Mistakes in a wicked-learning environment can be fatal.

Venturing into winter backcountry is a classic wicked-learning environment. You can arm yourself with all the appropriate safety gear, do lots of prep work on snow conditions and terrain, and keep your eyes open for clues. Ultimately, though, most of the information about snow stability is hidden.

Every time you ski a slope without it avalanching, you are likely to believe you made a smart decision, when in reality you may have just been lucky. Most of us have been lucky.

Molly Absolon is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonpro t dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. She writes in Idaho.

FROM PAGE 8

A whole new immersive Disney world

Anyone who has fallen in love with a Disney animated lm knows one of the great joys of the studio’s work is getting lost in the astounding worlds that have been created. Now, fans of Disney can wander through many of their favorite worlds in a much more literal sense, thanks to Disney Animation: Immersive Experience.

“ is year is Disney’s 100th anniversary, so we wanted to do something that really honored all the animators,” explained J. Miles Dale, an Oscar-winning producer and creative director of the experience. “What we created is a little bit educational, a little bit entertaining, and provides access to things most wouldn’t be able to see. It all combines to give that magical experience people have come to expect from Disney.”

Created in partnership with Walt Disney Animation Studios and Lighthouse Immersive Studios, the Disney Animation: Immersive Experience is on display at Lighthouse ArtSpace, 3900 Elati St. in Denver.

As Dale explains it, a trip to the famous Disney archives provided a wealth of inspiration for the creative team as they put the exhibit together. Seeing the early pencil sketches of seminal moments like Cinderella’s

CANCER

FROM

if I knew the radon level of my home when I was diagnosed. In fact, only

COMING ATTRACTIONS

dress transformation was awe inspiring for the team.

“It was important for us to show how these characters and worlds were created. When you see how it was made and who made it, you appreciate the animation more,” he said. “I love hearing kids who are inspired to be animator after seeing the exhibit. ey feel the magic and see some of themselves in these characters.”

According to provided information, additional exhibit features include interactive features within the projection show that move with visitors, and custom bracelets that light up in sync with the projections and speci c movements. ere’s also the Gazillion Bubbles e ect, where 500,000 cubic feet of galleries are lled with bubbles. e cumulative e ect is to give visitors an experience like visiting one of Disney’s famous parks — one lled with wonder and escape.

“In a way, watching a movie is a passive experience, but this is very active. You are in the movies, immersed by them,” Dale said. “ e totality of

a small number of family physicians transmit radon information to their patients. Please consider testing your home for radon at least every two years as recommended by the EPA because levels can change due

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the experience makes it multigenerational. I can’t really think of anything my mother, me, my kids and their kids could all go to together like this.”

Visit lighthouseimmersive.com/ disney/Denver for details and tickets. disneyimmersive.com.

Sadeqa Johnson brings

‘The House of Eve’ to Tattered Cover

Sadeqa Johnson’s newest book, “ e House of Eve,” is a moving testament to an important truth — the more things change, the more they stay the same. An examination of racism and women’s rights in the preRoe era, Johnson blends both wit and powerful humanity to remind all of us how much work there still is to do.

In support of the book — which was selected as Hello Sunshine/Reese Witherspoon’s February book club pick — Johnson will be stopping by at the Tattered Cover Colfax, 2526 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver, at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25. She’ll be speaking with L. Alison Heller, a lawyer and author. e event is free and no registration is required. Find the details at www. tatteredcover.com/event.

BIFF celebrates power of story in 19th season e 19th annual Boulder Interna-

to movement of soil, or new cracks in the foundation. Even if you have a mitigation system, testing is still recommended. A mitigation system is like any other appliance, and it can malfunction or stop working.

tional Film Festival is back for another season of brilliant lmmaking, a chef competition and much more.

Running from ursday, March 2 through Sunday, March 5, the festival will be screening 66 lms from 20 countries, with 45 lmmakers and subjects in attendance. According to provided information, the event will also feature the return of the popular Adventure Film Pavilion, the CineCHEF food competition and a live recording of e Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast with Scott Feinberg.

For those who can’t attend the screenings held at the Boulder eater, 2032 14th St., some of the lms will be able to watch as part of the BIFF at Home! virtual program, running from Monday, March 6 to Sunday, March 19.

Find the full schedule, ticket options and more at bi 1.com.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — White Reaper at Summit Music Hall

My original pick here was going to be Bruce Springsteen and e E Street Band at Ball Arena, but since tickets sold out pretty much instantaneously

Learn more about radon and radon mitigation from the EPA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Heidi Nafman Onda is a cancer survivor and health educator

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Centura Health announces its breakup with others

AdventHealth, CommonSpirit to go alone

BY JOHN INGOLD THE COLORADO SUN

On Valentine’s Day, one of the largest hospital systems in Colorado announced that it is getting a divorce.

For more than a quarter-century, Centura Health has operated as a partnership between CommonSpirit Health and AdventHealth. Centura announced that CommonSpirit Health, which is Catholic-a liated, and AdventHealth, which is a liated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, will split, with each planning to manage their respective hospitals separately.

“CommonSpirit Health and AdventHealth have collaboratively agreed that they can best serve their communities and health care ministries without a partnership,” a news release announced.

Centura will continue to manage all 20 hospitals until the dissolution is nalized. e news release stated that there will not be any disruption to patient care, and the two divorcing systems said they are committed to their employees and patients during the transition.

READER

“CommonSpirit Health and AdventHealth maintain a strong relationship and are united in their commitment to the caregivers and ensuring the communities they serve have access to the best health care during and well beyond this transition,” the news release stated.

e release provided few details about the split, and contained no statements by executives explaining the decision. It did not provide a timeframe for how long it will take to unwind the partnership. A Centura spokeswoman would not even conrm if this announcement means that the Centura Health name will disappear.

“We will only be issuing the release at this time,” she wrote in a text message. Combined, Centura manages 20 hospitals in Colorado and Kansas, and it ranks as the second-largest hospital system in Colorado in terms of revenue. In 2020, Centura Health hospitals statewide brought in more than $3 billion in net patient revenue, according to a report by independent health care consultant Allan Baumgarten. at ranked it behind only UCHealth in terms of statewide net patient revenue. In the Centura Health marriage, CommonSpirit was the heavyweight,

owning 15 of the 20 hospitals. Once the partnership is dissolved, CommonSpirit will independently manage: Longmont United Hospital; OrthoColorado Hospital in Lakewood; Mercy Hospital in Durango; Penrose Hospital and St. Francis Hospital, both in Colorado Springs; St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood; St. Anthony North Hospital in Westminster; St. Anthony Summit Hospital in Frisco; St. Elizabeth Hospital in Fort Morgan; St. Mary-Corwin Hospital in Pueblo; and St. omas More Hospital in Cañon City. e chain will also manage three hospitals in Kansas — Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital in Ulysses; St. Catherine Hospital in Dodge City; and St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City — as well as a new hospital opening this summer in Colorado Springs.

AdventHealth owned the other ve hospitals currently part of Centura: Avista Adventist Hospital in Louisville; Castle Rock Adventist Hospital; Littleton Adventist Hospital; Parker Adventist Hospital; and Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver.

Baumgarten, the health care consultant, said the news reminded him of a similar breakup that happened in Illinois in 2021, when AdventHealth and the Catholic-a liated Ascension broke up a partnership they had

formed named Amita. In that divorce, Baumgarten said it was likely that the two sides disagreed about how to grow the joint company.

Centura has been around longer, though, Baumgarten said, and it was not immediately clear to him what might be driving the split. He mentioned possible tensions over Catholic health directives, especially in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. e Catholic hospitals in the Centura system do not perform abortions and will perform sterilization procedures only rarely — something that Centura had recently re-emphasized at Mercy Hospital in Durango.

“It’s also not unusual to have disputes about money,” he added. e news release contained no mention of what will happen with people employed directly by Centura Health, as opposed to an individual hospital. at includes CEO Peter Banko, who has led Centura since 2007. is story is from e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support e Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. e Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

(at exorbitant prices, no less), let’s instead turn our attention to another

great rock band that’ll be in townKentucky’s White Reaper. e group specializes in the kind of indie guitar rock that has unfortunately gone out of style in the last decade or so. ankfully, their latest album, “Asking for a Ride,” keeps that sonic palette going

strong.

www.livenation.com.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail. com. FROM PAGE 10

Why Do Kids Love Summer Camp in Evergreen?

Evergreen Park & Recreation District (EPRD) proudly announces that Summer Camp registration opens on March 11, 2023. EPRD prides itself on creating memorable experiences for all types of campers! Camps are designed to accommodate different ages, interests, and abilities. No matter what camp they participate in, campers will gain leadership, decisionmaking, and social skills. From boating instruction at the Lake House Camp to wacky experiments with Mad Science, there is something for every type of camper of every age range this summer:

Adventure Day Camps: Campers will enjoy games, crafts, hikes, gymnastics, outdoor field trips, and making new friends.

Gymnastics Camps: Gymnastics, Cheerleading, Circus, Diving, and Variety Campers will learn teamwork and new skills from our professionally trained coaches.

In support of the album, White Reaper will be performing at Summit Music Hall, 1902 Blake St. in Denver, at 7:30 p.m. on ursday, March 2. ey’ll be joined by openers Militarie Gun and Mamalarky. Get tickets at

INSPIRE Adventure Camp: Join our INSPIRE Camp if you have unique needs or disabilities. There are also opportunities to enroll in Therapeutic Horseback Riding, Breckenridge Outdoor Education Camp, and National Sports Center for the Disabled Camp!

The top benefits of enrolling in EPRD’s Summer Camps are socializing and friendship building, eliminating screen time, getting exercise, interacting with positive role models, providing opportunities for personal growth, learning new skills, and all around development.

Of all the reasons to come to an EPRD Summer Camp, we believe the most beneficial aspect for campers and counselors is making memories that will last a lifetime!

Science and Technology Camps: In an effort to provide even more camp opportunities for the community, EPRD has partnered with the following outside providers who will be providing science and technology camps this summer: Mad Science, Imagine Art Academy, Snapology, and Talk to the Camera.

Outdoor Camps: There are two opportunities for campers to enjoy rugged outdoor summer camp experiences, like at the new Lake House Camp and the Outdoor Climbing Camp.

Sports Camps: Campers will develop their skills at week-long camps in the following sports: Soccer, Flag Football, Basketball, Wiffle Ball, and Olympic Games. In addition, CHALLENGER SPORTS™ will also be returning with their unique soccer camp experience using their proven international tactics rooted in British training methodologies.

Please contact: CCrain@eprd.co or call 720-880-1213 if you have questions about our prerequisites for state-licensed camps (Adventure, Sports, INSPIRE Camps) or our payment plan opportunities.

If you are interested in working at an EPRD Summer Camp, please contact HFacer@eprd.co or search for job opportunities listed on our websitewww.evergreenrecreation.com.

“At EPRD, we believe that kids in our community deserve top-notch educational and recreational opportunities all summer long!”

Speed dating events in metro Denver o er alternatives to swiping

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On a ursday night in late January, dozens of people walked past displays of tarot cards and crystals towards a dim room at the back of Full Moon Books in Lakewood. A man at the room’s entrance asked them each to remove their shoes. e smell of burnt sage lled the air.

For a while, people mingled. e event was not to start until 7 p.m., and stragglers arrived until moments before the doors closed. When it was time, a woman wearing a pink velvet robe asked everyone to sit in a circle.

“For all the new people, this is where we’re all going to get naked,” the woman joked. Everyone laughed, and she continued, “ ere will be none of that. is is just a really fun, safe event.”

Danny Neifert, a facilitator of an event called Tantra Speed Date, was playing with the stereotypical understanding of the word “tantra.” For many people, the term brings sex to mind. Although tantra is a spiritual practice that includes sexuality, Neifert said it has more to do with connection.

“Tonight, for the sake of simplicity, we’re just going to swap out the word ‘tantra’ with ‘connection,’” she said to the group. “It’s about connecting to yourself, connecting to the person that’s standing in front of you, connecting to the room, connecting to the building, the soil, the snow, the stars — you ll in the blank in a way that makes sense to you.”

For the next several hours, the attendees took turns rotating from person to person, doing mindful activities with a new partner at each station. At one, a partner mirrored the others’ physical actions. Next, strangers gave each other back massages. Some stations involved speaking — about gratitude, letting go or joy — and at others, people danced.

is event is one of several forms of speed dating in the metro Denver area, where singles are stepping out of their comfort zones to nd hope,

chemistry — and maybe even love — beyond the screens and swiping of modern dating.

Paying attention

Guy Shahar is a founder of e Tantra Institute, a New York-based company that aims to help people become “better lovers” through sacred sexuality. e company teaches courses about sexuality, tantra and relationship skills, in addition to hosting events like Tantra Speed Date.

Since 2017, Tantra Speed Date has hosted over 550 events in 40 cities for attendees of all ages.

“Most of the stations are really just about (giving) people instructions that show them how to put their attention on each other,” Shahar said about the speed dating event.

In his eyes, lack of attention is the number one challenge people face in modern dating, partly because of technology and partly because of the number of potential partners.

“A hundred years ago, who could you date? e people from your neighborhood, the people around you,” he said. “Now you can date anybody in the world… You open up any of those dating apps and you could be swiping on a di erent person in less than a second.”

His speed dating event, he said, is designed to put people in situations where they must focus on each other.

“Like a mirroring exercise, right?” he said. “I’m watching you, and I’m responding to what you’re doing… My attention is on you… Getting people to bring their attentions to each other is a really beautiful way to fool them into connection and intimacy.”

Once people surrender to paying full attention, Shahar said it’s easier to tell if there is chemistry between them.

After the initial connection, Shahar said other things become important as a relationship continues.

“ at connection isn’t necessarily compatibility,” he said. “You might have an amazing connection, or let’s say amazing chemistry… but their habits might be totally not compatible with yours. If you want a sustaining relationship, then you need to nd some points of compatibility or you need to be able to work with habits.”

at being said, Shahar thinks having the opportunity to initially sense a

connection is a powerful way to see if there’s any potential with a person.

“(To) just start your relationship o with that kind of intimacy and connection just seems like a really great, really beautiful way to get yourself o on the right foot,” he said.

Is a few minutes enough?

For speed dating skeptics, it may seem improbable that a person could have any sense of real connection after an encounter that lasts only a matter of minutes.

Dr. Randi Smith, a practicing psychologist and psychology professor at Metro State University Denver, said a few minutes might not be enough to tell a lot about a potential partner –but it can show some things.

“ ere’s some really recent research that suggests that we’re able to pick up on somebody’s relationship anxiety, their attachment anxiety, in a very brief interaction,” she said. “So can we predict whether this relationship will have legs, whether it will have a future? Probably not, but we might be able to weed out some people whose anxiety might prevent them from

having a good relationship with us.”

In addition, Smith said quick interactions can give people a sense of physical attraction and even immediate emotional attraction based on how it feels to talk to a potential partner.

On a deeper psychological level, she said people at speed dating events are probably thinking about reciprocity of liking. is idea is that people tend to like those who like them.

“Speed dating is very strategic, right?” she said. “You have little time, you’ve got to gure out how to make these choices, and so our brains are going into high strategic, albeit

Rosenblum’s company co-hosted a speed dating event at Brewability Lab in Englewood on Feb. 2.

PHOTO BY HAN LOYD; HEPCAT PHOTOGRAPHY

SPEED DATING

unconscious, responses. And it doesn’t make a lot of sense for a person to invest energy and interest into somebody who’s not going to reciprocate that energy and interest.”

Alex Zaborenko, who attended the January Tantra Speed Date event, said reciprocity is important to him in terms of relationship goals as well, not only attraction. As someone who is looking for non-monogamous relationships, he said online dating pro les and open communication help him nd people who have the same goals in mind.

“I don’t want or need just one magic person to connect with me on every level that I might connect with a partner,” he said. “Once I reached the conclusion, then it just felt much better that I can communicate what I’m looking for honestly and they can choose what they want to do with that information.”

Are you worth my (client’s) time?

For Abby Rosenblum, investing time and energy in the right people is part of her business model.

Rosenblum is the founder and head matchmaker at e Social: Modern Matchmaking, a Colorado-based service that also hosts speed dating events.

Rosenblum’s services focus not only on helping her clients nd potential partners, but also on building their con dence and making dating enjoyable.

“ e sad part is I think we’re almost taught that dating should be di cult, should be frustrating and should be some kind of just negative thing in your life,” she said. “So a lot of the work I do is trying to teach people that dating can actually be fun, which is a crazy concept to almost everyone.”

When setting up dates, Rosenblum looks for people with values and physical appearances that t with what her clients are looking for.

“And then the other thing I look for too (is) like, is this person ready to date?” she said. “Are they in a good place? … Because you can meet the greatest person ever tomorrow, but if they’re like, ‘I just got red from my job and I hate everything,’ you might not connect with them in as good of a way.”

Rosenblum works mainly with singles in stable careers who are looking for serious, committed and monogamous relationships. As a matchmaker, she helps lter out potential partners who do not align with her clients’ stages of life so she can ensure they are investing their time and energy in relationships that could have a future.

Rosenblum, who works mainly with heterosexual clients, often collaborates with the head matchmaker at Denver’s Cupid, a matchmaking service that works with LGBTQ+ singles.

Like Smith, she doesn’t think speed dating events are a silver bullet for knowing if a relationship will work, but she said they can still be bene cial. Her company hosts speed dating at its events, including a single mingle that happened the rst week of February in Englewood.

In Rosenblum’s speed dating games, participants receive conversation prompts to help people learn something about their partners, from travel dreams to relationship goals.

“It’s like, ‘OK, am I curious to get to know them more?’ she said. “ at’s really the only thing you need to know after that ve minutes, because it’s hard to know anything else… What’s the harm in meeting again?”

A new hope for dating

Andrea Cunningham has been dating on and o for the past 10 years. She decided to attend the January Tantra Speed Date event when her housemate invited her because she thought it would introduce her to spiritually open minded people.

“He actually said, ‘Do you want to go to a woo-woo speed dating event?’ and my thought was ‘Oh, yeah, that might be my kind of people,’ because I’m not nding a lot of woo-woo folks on OkCupid,” she said.

At 58 years old, Cunningham is looking for someone who is compassionate, exible and open to “more heart-centered ideas,” she said.

Going into the speed dating event, Cunningham was feeling skeptical, she said. Mainly, she thought speed dating would be intimidating, but it wasn’t.

“I think maybe my whole idea about speed dating was wrong,” she said. “Maybe you’re not just awkwardly trying to talk with people 10 times in a row for ve minutes. Maybe there’s more to it than that… at was welldesigned.”

After her experience (and several dates that arose from the event), she said speed dating might be giving her new hope after taking a pause from dating for a while.

“I was trying to do a little online, I wasn’t getting anywhere, I stopped,” she said. “ en this came up — it may kick me into gear again.”

Renewing excitement about dating and personal connection is a goal of many speed dating events, especially in a world where fewer and fewer people feel connected to each other.

In Shahar’s speed dating events, re-connecting is the greatest bene t and goal.

“If you are tired of feeling disconnected from the world, and you want to have a moment of connection, this is a really great way to step into that,” he said. “Is it for everyone? No, I don’t think it’s for everyone. But it is for people that are like, ‘Hey, I want to create something magical within my relationship life and my dating life.’”

Danny Neifert and her demonstration partner show an activity where partners mirror each others’ actions at Tantra Speed Date.

PHOTO BY NINA JOSS

Attendees chat at the Single Mingle event, co-hosted by The Social: Modern Matchmaking at Brewability Lab in Englewood on Feb. 2.

PHOTO BY HAN LOYD; HEPCAT PHOTOGRAPHY

Full Moon Books is Lakewood is one of the Tantra Speed Date venues in Colorado.

PHOTO BY NINA JOSS

EVERGREEN AREA Chamber Of Commerce

The Stone House • 1524 Belford Court • Evergreen, CO (303)674-3412 | EvergreenChamber.org

Welcome New Members!

Ibon Media Sarah & Emilio Valenciano 7000 S Yosemite StCentennial, CO 80112 http://ibonmediaproductions.com

Bob McCarroll / LIV Sotheby’s International Realty

Bob McCarroll 31955 Castle Court, 1S Evergreen , CO 80439 http://www.bobmccarrollrealestate.com

The Colorado Creamery Rachel Ball 27905 Meadow Dr. Evergreen, CO 80439 http://www.thecoloradocreamery.com

Rocky Mountain Wraps Bill & Kate Bedortha 25997 Conifer Rd., Units A & B Conifer, CO 80433 http://www.rockymountainwraps.com

Zenith Home Loans Ocean Hageman 7400 E Crestline Cir, Ste 200 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 https://zenithhomeloans.com/ team-member/ocean-hageman/

FOOTHILLS ARCHITECTS LTD

Melissa Baker 3064 Whitman Drive Evergreen, CO 80439 http://www.foothillsarchitects.com

Tilted Lens Creations

Angela Campbell 784 Mockingbird Trail Bailey, CO 80421 TiltedLensCreations@gmail.com

Evergreen Excavating & Property Services

Je Anenson 260 Red Tail Trail Evergreen, CO 80439

http://www.evergreenproservice.com

Ice Sculptures for you to Enjoy

If you have not already enjoyed the ice sculptures in our community, please be sure to visit the cupid sponsored by Bergen Village, the gnome sponsored by Bear Creek Design, and the park at the bottom of the stairs on the south side of the Evergreen Dam has a heart sponsored by Anderson Insurance and Robert & Associates. A map of the three locations can be found at EvergreenChamber.org

March Madness is soon upon us and here at the Evergreen Chamber we will once again take the opportunity to have some fun while providing opportunities for our members to network with other businesses. This event is open to everyone at The Wild Game from 1:00 – 5:00pm on Friday, March 17. Come join us to watch some college basketball games, compete against other business owners in fun games of skill and luck, and bring some business cards!

We support living locally — Shop Local, Live Local, Evergreen! EvergreenChamber.org

Brought

Bad news: Inflation continues in Denver metro area

Good news: It’s slowing

BY SARAH MULHOLLAND COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO

ere is a little bit of good news for consumers who’ve watched prices for just about everything tick up dramatically — prices are now rising more slowly in Denver as federal regulators try to keep in ation in check.

An index that measures prices for everything from gasoline and groceries to airplane tickets and housing increased by 6.4 percent in January compared to 2022, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics. at’s down from an annual increase of 6.9 percent in November, the last time the rate was calculated. At this time last year, prices were surging more than 9 percent in Denver.  e trajectory mirrors the national trend, with U.S. prices up 6.5 percent in January. at’s good news for consumers that have watched the bills for everyday items grow unabated for more than a year. But still, in ation is stuck far higher than the government’s target rate of between 2 percent and 3 percent.

they’re not rising as fast as a year ago. For instance, fruits and vegetables cost almost 13 percent more than they did at the same time last year. And household energy bills are up more than 13 percent. On the ip side, used car prices have fallen more than 10 percent.

Since November, prices for food broadly speaking are up 2 percent and used car prices are down about 4 percent.

Newly released data on spending in the U.S. shows that retail sales jumped in January, meaning people remain largely undeterred by how expensive things are. While that’s good news for the overall economy, it’s not great news when it comes to putting the brakes on in ation.

e persistent price increases mean the Federal Reserve is likely to keep raising interest rates, making it more expensive to borrow money and slowing demand for large purchases that many people take out loans to buy. e central bank’s efforts have already slowed demand in the housing market. Home prices in Denver, Colorado’s largest housing market, are down about 1 percent since last year, after a record-setting run of double-digit gains during the pandemic.

Nancy

Judge,

President/CEO, Evergreen Chamber of Commerce

In the Denver region — which includes Adams, Arapahoe, Broomeld, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, Je erson and Park counties — prices for a lot of things remain stubbornly high, even if

is story is from CPR News, a nonpro t news source. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org.

With a look at the ins and outs of inflations, the Colorado Sun’s Tamara Chuang breaks down Colorado’s Q3 growth. SHUTTERSTOCK

Recreation Center and acquiring existing empty buildings to allow more o erings rather than building new facilities.

Board members said they were glad to have the feedback from community members, who made their voices heard despite the district not being able to be everything to everyone.

e survey

Originally, the consultant advised surveying about 7,000 households in the district, but the board has asked what the additional cost would be to survey all 9,000 homes in the district.

Board members realize that some community wants are not feasible, such as discounts for district residents for skating at Evergreen Lake because Denver owns the property, and such discounts can’t be offered based on the agreement with Denver.

e board debated whether to survey property owners or residents, taking into account renters, for example, and board members ultimately decided to survey residents since they can use district facilities, too, and property owners, while they pay property taxes, might not live in the district.

Only one person per household will be allowed to answer the survey, and board members are weighing the survey’s length against getting information they need to help make better decisions on the district’s future.

“If the survey is too detailed, they won’t answer; if it’s too high level, we don’t get data we need,” board

President Don Rosenthal said. e board hopes to mail postcards to households in early March with a QR code and passcode, so people can take the survey online. An option will be available to get a paper copy of the survey.

e bond question

Board members haven’t decided whether to ask voters for more money, and they have two options. One is to ask voters to continue paying the same amount of property taxes after a bond is paid o in 2025. at would provide the district with about $1 million a year that it could use for maintenance or new projects.

e bond that is almost paid o was approved by voters in 2000, and that money went to pay for land adjacent to Buchanan Park so the district wouldn’t lose it to development.

e other is to also ask for additional money, and according to Colorado law, the bond question must be speci c in delineating what projects the money would be used for. at’s why the district is embarking on a strategic-planning process.

Board member Betsy Hays said when she joined the board in May, one of the rst things she heard from Rosenthal was that the board needed to create a strategic plan, rather than talking about creating one. It was time for the board to take some action.

e last time voters passed an EPRD bond request was in 2005.

“Ultimately it is up to the ve of us to discern what is best, so the public will vote for it,” board member Peter Eggers said. “We have to agree based on public input and what we can actually do. e next question is, Do you ask for more? Will the mood (of the voters) allow us to do that?”

Our mission is to lower energy costs and provide the healthiest quality air possible. For anyone, business or residential, we will increase e ciency of your system by using the very latest techniques, the latest technologies and top of the line products. We will provide the highest quality of work possible. Our professional sta will assure a high level of professionalism that cannot be matched in our industry. We guarantee our products and services.

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.

FRIDAY

Land of Oz bene t gala: Mount Evans Home Health Care & Hospice will host the Land of Oz bene t gala starting at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at Mount Vernon Canyon Club in Genesee. Costumes are encouraged, and the event includes food, drinks, auctions and dancing to the music of Tunisia. Tickets are $100 per person and are available at mountevans. org/gala.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change”: Ovation West is performing the comedy “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” from Feb. 24-March 12 at Center Stage in Evergreen. Rated PG-13. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $32 for adults and $28 for seniors, and may be purchased at ovationwest.org.

TUESDAY

Navigating the Unhoused Crisis: e League of Women Voters of Je erson County and Je erson Unitarian Church Community Action Network will co-sponsor a virtual panel discussion Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 6-7:30 p.m. to explore what can be done in Je erson County to ease the plight of the unhoused.  e public is invited to join via Zoom.  ere is no charge to attend, but registration is required at https://bit.ly/3DRkhkW. For more information, visit LWVJeffco.org.

UPCOMING

Young Writers’ Conference: e Young Writers’ Conference will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. ursday, March 30, at Marshdale Elementary School. Register by Feb. 28. For registration and event questions, email kirstin. pulio @je co.k12.co.us.

Evergreen Area Republican Club: e Evergreen Area Republican Club will meet at 6 p.m. March 1 in the Evergreen Fire/Rescue Administration Building, 1802 Bergen Parkway. Guest speaker is Antonette Smith with Americans for Prosperity. Check the evergreenarearepublicanclub.org website for more information. Independents and una liated welcome.

Evergreen chamber monthly breakfast: e Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce will host its

monthly breakfast from 7:30-9 a.m. Wednesday, March 1, at Troutdale Tavern. For more information and to register, visit evergreenchamber.org.

Free legal clinic: A free legal clinic for people with no attorney will be from 2 to 5 p.m. ursday, March 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 303-235-5275 or visiting https://tinyurl.com/ ykzs2ej7.

e Kids Are Back art show: Shadow Mountain Gallery will again display artwork by local elementary school children. “ e Kids Are Back!” e display is in recognition of National Youth Art Month and includes artwork from six schools: Wilmot, Marshdale, KingMurphy, e Bergens and Parmalee. Open houses will be Friday, March 3, from 5- 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 5, from 2-5 p.m. e show will run from March 3-26. Shadow Mountain Gallery is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in downtown Evergreen between Java Groove and Beau Jo’s.

“Spirit of Love” show: Shadow Mountain Gallery in downtown Evergreen will have its “Spirit of Love” Valentine’s show and sale through March 4. All items are made by local artists e gallery, which is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, is next to Beau Jo’s Pizza.

285 TechConnect Radio Club:  e 285 TechConnect Radio Club for ham radio enthusiasts interested in its technical aspects, will hold its monthly meeting from 10 a.m. – noon Saturday, March 4, at e Bridge Church at Bear Creek, 3101 S. Kipling St. in Lakewood. For more information, visit https://na0tc.org/.

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 March 4 and April 1. For more information and to register, visit www.evergreenaudubon. org/events/snowshoe-hike-withgeorgetown-outdoor-discoveryjanuary-2023

Rockies Springtime art show: Shadow Mountain Gallery

Where to shop for clothes, gifts, furniture, window treatments,

will display artists’ renditions of springtime in a wide range of media – from March 5 through April 29. One-of-a-kind artwork will be priced for every budget. Shadow Mountain Gallery is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in downtown Evergreen between Java Groove and Beau Jo’s.

Evergreen chamber mixer: e Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce will host a mixer from 5-7 p.m. ursday, March 9, at Restoration 1 of West Denver in Wheat Ridge. In conjunction the showroom will have an open house, where the community can meet designers and tour the showroom.

receives $25, second place $20, third place $15.

Shadow Mountain Legacy:  e Conifer Historical Society is sponsoring a program called e Shadow Mountain Legacy at 2 p.m. March 26 at the Little White Schoolhouse, 26951 Barkley Road in Conifer. Tickets are $10-$12 and may be purchased at ConiferHistoricalSociety. org/tickets.

Foothills Home, Garden & Lifestyle Show: Foothills Home, Garden & Lifestyle Show will be April 1-2 at Evergreen High School. e show, sponsored by Evergreen and Conifer Rotary, will be from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. ere is no entry fee, though bringing two nonperishable food items for Evergreen Christian Outreach is encouraged. Net proceeds are distributed as grants for charitable causes through the Evergreen and Conifer Rotary Foundations. For more information, visit foothillshomeshow.com.

ONGOING

“Chapter Two:” Evergreen Players will perform “Chapter Two” by Neil Simon March 10-26. Friday and Saturday are at 7 p.m. and Sunday matinee performances are at 2 p.m. Shows are at Evergreen Players Black Box eatre, 27886 Meadow Drive, Unit B, Evergreen. Tickets are $30 and may be purchased online at www.evergreenplayers.org or by calling 720-515-1528.

Mountain Area Democrats: Mountain Area Democrats meet the fourth Saturday of each month at 9 a.m. through April at United Methodist Church of Evergreen, 3757 Ponderosa Drive, Evergreen. For more information, email MountainAreaDems@gmail. com.

LGBTQ+ teen book club: Resilience1220 is o ering a LGBTQ+ teen book club that meets from 4-6 p.m. the fourth Monday at the Resilience1220 o ce next to the Buchanan Park Recreation Center. e group’s rst book is “Hell Followed With Us.” For more information and to register, visit R1220.org.

Evergreen Audubon Explore

More: Registration is now open for Evergreen Audubon’s Explore More after-school programs starting the last week of March at Marshdale and Wilmot elementary schools and Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen. ese programs are for kids who love being outdoors and learning about nature and science. For more information and to register, visit www.EvergreenAudubon. org and click on Events.

Art of the Egg:  e 15th annual Art of the Egg decorating contest sponsored by Go Paint! is in full swing. Decorate your ceramic egg by March 19. Cost is $15, with a portion of the proceeds going to Resilience1220. Age groups are up to 8 years old, 9-13 and 14 and older. Voting will take place March 22-31, and winners will be noti ed April 1. First place

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 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

If you have recently moved, you probably have questions...we have the answers and a beautiful bag of gifts, gift certificates and community info for you.

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 the month for ages 14 and older. Join in-person or online. Suggest dona-

tion is $15. For location, visit R1220. org.

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.

Caregiver support groups: Mount Evans Home Health Care & Hospice o ers two monthly groups to provide

emotional support services for caregivers helping ill, disabled or elderly loved ones. An in-person support group meets every third Monday from 4-6 p.m. at 3081 Bergen Peak Road, Evergreen, and a virtual support group meets every rst Tuesday from 10 a.m.-noon via Zoom. Call 303-674-6400 to learn how to connect to the group virtual call. For more information visit mtevans.org/ services/emotional-support/.

Parkinson’s disease support group: A Parkinson’s disease support group meets the rst Friday of the month from 1-3 p.m. at Evergreen Christian Church, 27772 Iris Drive, Evergreen. For more information, email esears@parkinsonrockies.org.

Mountain Foothills Rotary meetings: Mountain Foothills Rotary meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays both

Dental Insurance

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.

Sub-versive sub-dued CONIFER – He was a new hire at the sandwich shop and probably just didn’t know that it’s not store policy – or a very good idea – to park razor-sharp knives in one’s pants pockets. Clued in to these facts on the morning of Jan. 27, he “lost his mind” and “threw sandwiches at the wall” and “stormed outside” and “acted like he was going to drive his car into the building.” He was gone by the time deputies arrived, but they soon caught up with him at a gas station in Morrison, on their way down the canyon learning that he was on parole, that he’d been fired from a Littleton Dairy Queen under similar circumstances, and that a warrant had been issued for his immediate arrest. Deputies took such steps as were warranted.

No accident

EVERGREEN – Dropping by Walgreens for bandaids and aspirin on the morning of Jan. 23, Jeep Grand Cherokee parked next to Mr. and Mrs. F350. Mrs. F350 wasted no time heaving open her ponderous door directly into Jeep’s shiny paint job. Jeep silently threw up his hands in the universal gesture for “What the (foie gras)?” Mrs. F350 responded with the universal gesture for “I’m Froot Loops,” which is storming

around Jeep’s vehicle screaming obscenities and pounding on his windows with her fists. Mr. F350 responded with the universal gesture for “Sorry, dude,” which is wrapping both arms around Mrs. F350 and wrestling her back into the pickup truck. In parting, Mrs. F350 threw open her door one more time with malice aforethought and unnecessary authority, leaving a 6-inch dent in Jeep’s defenseless flank. Jeep took the trouble to snap a photo of the F350s’ license plate, of course, and it wasn’t long before JCSO deputies were on their doorstep asking for particulars. Mrs. F350 “didn’t remember” going nuclear on Jeep’s jalopy. Officers refreshed her memory with Jeep’s official statement, that of a reliable eyewitness, and clean, sharp surveillance footage that couldn’t have captured the action better if John Huston had been directing. Deputies issued Mrs. F350 a summons for criminal mischief.

Taking noticed EVERGREEN – It probably seemed awkward coming back for his stuff after getting fired and all, so on Jan. 26 the former employee sent his buddy, instead. Buddy walked into the commercial garage and asked the boss to return Former Employee’s “anvil.” After scouting around the place for a

few minutes, Boss told Buddy he’d look for the anvil later and call Former Employee when he found it. That seemed to satisfy Buddy, who took his leave. A few minutes later, a non-fired employee asked Boss why Buddy “left with a welding helmet.” Boss didn’t know, and asked JCSO to find out. Confronted by deputies, Buddy said he took the welding helmet because it belonged to Former Employee, a story that didn’t stand up to even casual scrutiny. Knowing himself to be caught, Buddy thrust the welding helmet in the officers’ direction. “Take it,” he said. Deputies took it, but only in exchange for a theft summons.

Tag bagged

EVERGREEN – She was surprised to say the least. On Jan. 26 she received a bill for using a major metropolitan toll highway on Dec. 29 and Dec. 30, except that she hadn’t been on that road on those days, or on any other day. In trying to make sense of that puzzle, she was floored to find out that her vehicle’s rear license plate wasn’t actually hers. Indeed, deputies quickly determined that her rear plate was registered to a vehicle identical to her own that was reported stolen in Boulder on Dec. 26. Near as she could figure, the thieves had swapped out the plates while her car was parked in

the El Rancho Walmart parking lot on Dec. 28. Deputies took custody of the imposter and listed her own plate as pinched.

Shut the (beep) up!

EVERGREEN – On several recent occasions, she told deputies on Jan. 25, a “white, heavy-set male with long brown hair” parked his minivan in front of her house and blasted the horn for up to 15 minutes at a time. On that morning, however, the same vehicle began sounding off under the direction of a “white, heavy-set female with long dark hair,” who also briefly exited the van just long enough to test her gate. The complainant had no idea who the harassing honkers could be, much less the purpose of their troublesome tooting, but she hoped JCSO could muzzle the mysterious minivan. Deputies traced the wailing wagon to its registered address and promised to have a quiet word with its registered owner.

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

Loveland Ski Area

Dear Davis Schilken,

I just recently proposed to my girlfriend (now fiancée) and now her parents insist the two of us sign a prenup before we get married. How can I appease my in-laws while still protecting my rights? Sincerely, Perplexed by a Prenup

Dear Perplexed by a Prenup,

First off, let us congratulate your fiancée and you on your pending marriage. We hope your wedding day is as amazing as your life together will be!! Now, let’s get down to the business of nuptial agreements, which can either be done prior to or after marriage.

Marital agreements, both prenuptial and postnuptial, are a written contract executed between a couple to specify what will happen to the couple’s assets in the event of divorce or death.

Even if you build a happy, healthy marriage, one spouse will likely outlive the other. Marital agreements can give partners peace of mind about the financial future.

When you’re about to get married, divorce is the last thing on your mind. However, the reality is that between 40 and 50 percent of first marriages end in divorce. If you bring significant assets to your marriage or if your fiancée has significant debts, a pre-nuptial agreement is an important way to protect yourself financially. The attorneys at Davis Schilken, PC can draft a prenuptial agreement that details the assets and debts of both parties to be married and explain how property will be divided and support handled in the event of death or divorce. The agreement can encompass children’s and grandparents’ rights, if desired.

There are a few requirements that a nuptial agreement must meet before it becomes valid. These include the following conditions -

• The nuptial agreement must be written, signed, and notarized.

• The agreement must include valid disclosure of assets and financial obligations between both parties.

• Threats, force, or emotional duress must not have influenced the creation of the agreement.

• Terms of the agreement must not appear unethical or lacking fairness.

If nuptial agreements aren’t drafted correctly, they may do nothing but complicate things further. Unfortunately, just because you have created an agreement in writing doesn’t mean that it is presumed to be valid or enforceable. Therefore, it’s crucial that you have a nuptial agreement reviewed by a qualified lawyer to ensure everything is executed properly.

Contact the Davis Schilken, PC team with any of your Estate Planning needs (303) 670-9855. We offer no obligation in person or virtual meetings. We make estate planning simple!

Visit our comprehensive website for more tools www.dslawcolorado.com

Davis Schilken, PC – Let our deep experience meet your heartfelt goals!

BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE OLOVE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In true Colorado fashion, couples skied down the mountain at Loveland to get to their marriage ceremony, only accessible by ski or board.

On Feb. 14, 12 couples got married and 63 renewed their vows at the 32nd annual Mountaintop Matrimony mass wedding ceremony at Loveland Ski Area, hosted in the Forest Meadow run area.

Couples attending the ceremony came dressed to the nines, in top hats, veils, wedding dresses and kilts, with bouquets in hand.

Barbie and Ken Leach spend winters in Dillion and are celebrating their 50-year wedding anniversary in July. e couple came to renew their vows for what they said was the

fourth or fth time at Loveland.

Barbie and Ken have been skiing together for 55 years and show no signs of slowing down. ey are season pass holders at Loveland.

“We think it’s a really wonderful event,” Barbie said. “Everybody is so happy.”

Lena and John Benisch came to the ceremony to renew their vows as well. e couple has been married for 20 years, but this is their rst time at the Loveland wedding.

“It’s epic,” Lena said.  e couple met years ago in an exercise class, where they both immediately noticed each other and John asked Lena on a date. Skiing has always been a hallmark of their relationship.

75 couples say “I do” at

Barbie and Ken Leach have been married for 50 years in July. PHOTOS BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE

Elkstraction: Evergreen firefighters perform an ice-water rescue for a cow elk

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Ice rescues in Evergreen are not common, but they do happen, even to help an elk that has fallen through the ice.

On Feb. 17, Evergreen Fire/Rescue received a call about a cow elk who fell through the ice in a pond in Timbervale behind Hiwan Homestead Museum, and members of the department’s dive team successfully pulled her out unscathed.

e pond has an aeration system, and re ghters surmise that the elk wanted to drink some water. She walked out onto some thin ice and fell through.

“We’re skilled at this,” said EFR spokeswoman Stacee Martin. “ is is not our rst wild-animal rescue. We have rescued deer and elk before.”

Fire ghters Doug Matheny and Chris Pace donned water rescue suits and cut a channel through the ice so the elk could move as close to the shore as possible. But the elk was tired and cold, so she needed help

getting out.

Matheny and Pace grabbed her front legs and dragged her onto the ice. After a few minutes, she got up and turned to look at the re ghters, seemingly thanking them before wandering o .

“ is is one of those situations where everyone is happy that we rescued the elk, but with a wild animal, you never know what will happen,” Martin said.

Martin called Matheny the department’s animal-rescue hero since he rescued a deer who fell into Evergreen Lake and helped rescue a sleeping bear from under a deck in downtown Evergreen.

She said anyone who sees an animal, whether wild or domestic, fall through the ice should call 911 and leave the rescue to the professionals, who are trained and skilled in icewater rescues.

“We are on that edge where the ice is going to get thinner and thinner,” she said. “Please don’t try to rescue the animal yourself. Call us. We are glad to come out.”

Evergreen Fire/Rescue firefighters Chris Pace, left, and Doug Matheny work to get a cow elk out of a pond in Timbervale on Feb. 17. PHOTO COURTESY OF EVERGREEN FIRE/RESCUE

Couples said “I do” and shared a special moment together on the mountain.

others brought candy rings, and some just exchanged promises and kisses with their partner.

rst season working at Loveland, and her rst time taking part in putting together the wedding.

I DO“John taught me to telemark ski on our rst date,” Lena said. (Telemark skiing is a technique that uses toe-only bindings and combines elements of Alpine and Nordic skiing.)

After sta at Loveland facilitated a dance party with all the couples in Forest Meadow, the short and sweet ceremony was carried out. Some couples brought rings,

After the 75 couples said “I do” and sealed their love with a kiss, they donned their skis and boards and took to the mountain. An aprés ski party was waiting at the base of the mountain for the newlyweds and re-newlyweds.

At the party, sta at Loveland made individual wedding cakes for all the couples and had treats and sparkling cider to snack on.

Daisy Warner works at the deli and bakery at Loveland. is is her

Warner worked with a team to prepare the wedding cakes and treats for the special day.

“Each piece is like its own work of art, she has spent hours getting everything ready for today and a lot of love goes into it,” Warner said of her coworker who did the baking.

After enjoying some treats and music, the couples lined up and showed o their wedding day outts, with applause deciding who was best dressed.

e best-dressed couple was Barbie and Ken Leach, a popular couple all day. Barbie had donned her original wedding dress from 50 years ago, made for her by her mother. Ken had on a blazer, and the duo had matching red ower lapels.

e Leach couple won a honeymoon getaway in Georgetown, with a stay at Rose Street Bed and Breakfast and dinner at Coopers on the Creek, and their surprise and elation at the win was enough to warm the chilliest air on the mountain.

PHOTOS BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE Many couples donned their finest wedding attire for the event.

‘Trying to end the fallacy of being paid in powder:’

Loveland Ski Patrol take steps toward unionization

BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE OLOVE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Ski patrollers and paramedics at Loveland Ski Area submitted a petition on Feb. 14 for a representative election to vote on unionizing as the Loveland Ski Patrol Professional Union under CWA 7781, the Professional Ski Patrols of America.

Ski patrollers at the ski area have said they face dangerous working conditions every day, but according to six-year veteran patroller Anthony Potter, less than 7% of the patrollers are year-round employees who are eligible for health insurance through work.

Most of the employees are like Michael Earles, a seasonal employee who earns an hourly wage. He works as a river ranger in the o -season to make ends meet.

Earles is currently in his second season at Loveland, but said he’s someone the rookies are looking to for answers simply because the team can’t retain many patrollers for longer than a few years.

“I’m a second year, I shouldn’t be the guy with all the answers,” Earles said. “I want to see us be able to retain our experienced patrollers.”

Potter grew up in Idaho Springs and now lives in Silver Plume. He said retaining patrollers will make for a safer mountain, and the highly trained team should be compen-

sated fairly.

“Our job is pretty dangerous and stressful, and we’re just trying to end that fallacy of us being paid in powder,” Potter said.

Potter has been on Ski Patrol at Loveland for six years. He makes $24.75/hour, with Emergency Medical Training and Outdoor Emergency Care certi cations.

“My realm of specialization is in the avalanche side of things, and that honestly takes a lifetime to learn some of those skills,” Potter explained.

Potter leads avalanche mitigation e orts with explosives and ski guiding in Dry Gulch, and specializes in avalanche forecasting. Still, he faces the stigma that all ski patrollers do, that they are “ski bums” doing unskilled labor.

“I would argue that we are highly skilled, as EMTs, that’s no light duty right there,” he explained. Not to mention the safe transport of patients o expert terrain in unfavorable weather conditions.

As a second-year member of the patrol, Earles makes $21.25/hour with EMT certi cation. He said he knows of some lift operators who come away with a higher hourly wage than he and other patrollers.

“ ey aren’t expected to put their physical and mental health on the line every day,” Earles said.

e patrollers stressed that their

e orts towards organizing aren’t about greed, but earning a livable wage and being fairly compensated for a dangerous job.

“We’re not doing this out of malice, we have so much love for the mountain, Loveland, our team,” Potter said.

e petition was submitted with 70% support from members of the

patrol and paramedics at Loveland. e next steps will include discussions with management at Loveland as to when an election could take place.

Loveland Ski Area received the noti cation of the petition late Feb. 14 and did not have a comment at the time of publication.

Michael Earles and a team member on patrol at Loveland Ski Area. PROVIDED BY MICHAEL EARLES

It’s time for part 2 of wage transparency laws

Equal Pay measure made big changes

BY TAMARA CHUANG THE COLORADO SUN

“How much does the job pay?” is no longer much of a mystery for job seekers in Colorado, thanks to a state law passed in 2019 and enacted two years later.

Other states have followed suit in recent months, including California, Washington and soon, New York. But Colorado’s law wasn’t perfect. And now, the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act is poised for an update from some of the state lawmakers behind it.

“ ough the Equal Pay Act is working well, with these additions, it will better serve workers and employers across the state,” said Sen. Jessie Danielson, a Democrat from Wheat Ridge, who was one of the prime sponsors of the original wage transparency law.

Pushback came from out-of-state companies that didn’t ignore Colorado’s new law — they just excluded candidates from Colorado. A Commerce City engineer created a site to track violators (it’s now archived). But there was also confusion among local employers about employee promotions and whether they had to advertise the new role to outsiders.

“ e complexity of the law, the confusion amongst employers, the problem of not addressing remote

work situations, because they were not contemplated in 2019 when the original bill passed, needs to be addressed for the future of the workforce,” said Loren Furman, president and CEO of the Colorado Chamber. is bill aims to clear some of those things up. A draft shared with e Colorado Sun attempts to clarify the di erence between “career progression” for existing workers versus a “job opportunity.” e latter means a current or anticipated vacancy that needs to be lled. e former is a promotion as part of that type of job. Remote jobs are not addressed in the draft bill.

Danielson said she and other advocates, which include e Women’s Foundation of Colorado, have met with interested parties since spring to suss out their di erences. But their attempts to water down or remove protections for Coloradans who work remotely for out-of-state companies only threatens pay equity, especially for women.

“Excluding remote workers from the protections of the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act would negatively impact a valued and critical part of our workforce,” she said.

Impact of the Equal Pay law

When introduced four years ago, Colorado’s Equal Pay law sought to equalize pay for substantially similar work. It stemmed from data showing that women and people of color often earn much less than their white or male colleagues even in the same roles. In Colorado, women

earned 86 cents for every $1 earned by men, according to a 2018 analysis by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

e impact of these new policies isn’t yet known because the laws are young. It’s too soon. Existing research was deemed “not conclusive” by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

In an analysis of recent wage transparency studies, the organization found pay transparency laws help narrow the gender wage gap by reducing wage growth among top earners, who tend to be men. But,

the analysis found, these laws do not necessarily increase women’s earnings. Two studies conducted in university settings found the salaries of women faculty members increased following the pay-transparency intervention. “Pay-transparency policies tend to rely on individual workers advocating for pay increases based on newly available information,” the analysis said.

But another measure of Colorado’s Equal Pay law is the impact in the United States, said Louise Myrland,

vice president of programs at e Women’s Foundation of Colorado. New York City’s wage transparency law went into e ect in November. Several other states, including Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and South Carolina are considering legislation, according to the National Conference of State Legislators. Connecticut, Maryland, Nevada and Rhode Island have implemented laws similar to Colorado but they don’t require salaries to be listed.

“Colorado was the rst that made a big splash and got a lot of attention for requiring pay ranges and compensation information in job postings, we’re really leading the way,” Myrland said. “Today in 2023, because several other states have followed Colorado’s lead, about one in four workers nationwide now are covered by pay transparency laws.”

e Women’s Foundation worked on the original law and new bill with lawmakers and other organizations that included the Colorado Women’s Bar Association and 9to5 Colorado, an organization representing working women. Danielson is joined by two of the three prime sponsors of the original bill, including Sen. Janet Buckner, an Aurora Democrat and Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, a Denver Democrat. e fourth, Brittany Pettersen, is now a U.S. representative. Rep. Jennifer Bacon, also a Denver Democrat, is also a prime sponsor.

Equal pay stats: 631 complaints; Twitter, Lockheed fined Complaints about the existing wage transparency law are still coming in, though activity trailed o during the year, according to the state Department of Labor and Employment. e o ce that oversees it, the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics, received 631 complaints about violations, which included posts that shared no wages, didn’t include a description of bene ts or o ered too wide of a range (ranges must have a speci c bottom and top amount).

“Compared to the rst four months of 2022, the average number of monthly complaints in the last four months of 2022 decreased by almost 45%,” a labor department spokesperson said.

After giving the companies the chance to correct the issue, the vast majority did. e state wound up issuing citations for just four companies in 2022. ree were ned, including Lockheed Martin and Twitter. ose cases have not been publicly disclosed yet, but will be, according to the division.

e third, SpotOn Transact, a San Francisco-based payments company, paid a $16,000 ne in July based on violations related to 33 job postings that did not include compensation for jobs that could be performed in Colorado.

New labor-related proposals have popped up just weeks into the new legislative session.

An already contentious one is House Bill 1118, the Fair Workweek Employment Standards bill. It would require employers to post worker

schedules ahead of time and not penalize employees who say “no” to last-minute calls for help. And workers who do respond to last-minute schedule changes would receive a “predictability pay” bonus.

“When businesses provide workers with schedules 14 days in advance and provide at least 12 hours of rest time between shifts, it’s a win-win for employers and employees alike,” Nina DiSalvo, policy director at Towards Justice, said in an email. “Employees who can schedule child care, a second job or other responsibilities — plus know their income to budget to cover their bills — are happier, healthier, more productive and generate more pro t for the business.”

at puts a burden on employers, so there’s strong opposition to the bill already. What about weather disruptions, asked Furman, with the Colorado Chamber. Personal employee emergencies? e bill as proposed is too punitive, she said.

“An employer can be sued for changing the schedule (without) a two-week advance notice,” Furman said. “It doesn’t contemplate a snow bomb or act of God or even just an employee that has an emergency or unintended absence. … It’s just amazing to me that they haven’t contemplated the scenarios in a state like Colorado that has such weather variations.”

So… more work to be done on this bill. It’s been scheduled for a committee meeting on Feb. 16.

Do we need more laws?

As of Jan. 27, with 62 responses to the latest What’s Working reader poll

on what new laws interest you most, 37.1% support no new laws because we have too many. Another 22.6% are interested in laws related to retirement while 19.4% would perk up if there was a law that would raise their salary. Take the poll yourself at https://cosun.co/worklaws.

e clear winner in the latest What’s Working poll about what new laws we need was “None. We have too many laws.” But at 37.1% of the incoming votes, it’s not the majority. I’m going to let this poll go for at least another week because I got jammed up this week. But here’s one suggestion:

“I would love to see a bill that lets the public see how much big companies pay their shareholders while causing consumer prices to skyrocket and keeping workers’ pay low.”

We can nd out tidbits like this from publicly traded companies, which must report their pro ts. ere’s also the CEO pay ratio law, which reveals how wages of CEOs at public companies are often many times higher than their workers (here’s a searchable list). Two of the top three in Colorado — Liberty Latin America and Qurate Retail, where CEO-to-worker pay ratios are 1,055 to 1 and 686 to 1, respectively — are linked to retired cable TV mogul John Malone.

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

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.

DEER PARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Pastor Joyce Snapp, Sunday Worship 10 AM

Located one mile west of Pine Junction just o Rt. 285 966 Rim Rock Road, Bailey (303) 838-6759

All are welcome to our open/inclusive congregation!

EVERGREEN LUTHERAN CHURCH

5980 Highway 73 + 303-674-4654

Rev. Terry Schjang

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!

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

CROWSS UP DRO ELZZ

1. TELEVISION: Which cable TV series features a character named Don Draper?

2. MOVIES: What subject does Professor Minerva McGonagall teach at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?

3. HISTORY: Where was civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated?

4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president had a sign on his desk that read, “ e Buck Stops Here”?

5. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the world’s largest desert?

6. LITERATURE: What is the real name of the author Lemony Snicket?

7. FOOD & DRINK: What is the fruit that gives the liqueur creme de cassis its avor?

8. MUSIC: What inspired the Beatles’ song “Blackbird”?

9. CELEBRITIES: What is singer/ actress Judy Garland’s birth name?

10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What are squirrels’ nests called?

Answers

1. “Mad Men.”

2. Trans guration.

3. Memphis, Tennessee.

4. Harry Truman.

5. Antarctica.

6. Daniel Handler.

7. Black currants.

8. Civil rights unrest in Little Rock, Arkansas, according to Paul McCartney.

9. Frances Ethel Gumm.

10. Dreys.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

NOW HERE’S A TIP

* “Revive the look of indoor plant leaves by rubbing the leaves with mineral oil on a soft cloth. Just wipe nicely, and it makes a big di erence. rough the years, I have used this tip for both my real plants and plastic plants.” -- J.D. in Alabama

* Lime juice and vinegar both make good meat tenderizers. You can purchase tougher cuts of meat, season with spices and lime/vinegar and marinate for 10-15 minutes before cooking. It is a great way to ease your meat budget. Steaks are getting expensive!

* “To make onion rings easier to cut (less stinging eyes) and to have the layers separate better when making onion rings, I put my onions in the freezer for about 10 minutes before peeling. ey don’t freeze, but they do get nice and cold.” -- O.F. in Florida

* Looking for a more natural way to clean? Here’s two for

the bathroom: Clean chrome with baking soda on a soft, damp cloth. Follow up with vinegar for some shine. Spray lightly and wipe away with a clean cloth.

* “Men: Make your own after-shave. in a bottle of baby lotion with a little rubbing alcohol. Put in a hand lotion bottle, and use half a squirt. No sting, and soft, smooth skin.” -- T.G. in Illinois

* Add a single teaspoon of rice to the saltshaker in order to keep too many grains of salt from coming out at a time. Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Careers

Help Wanted

The Comfort Suites Golden West on Evergreen Pkwy is seeking a part-time breakfast attendant.

Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 5-days/week. Responsibilities include replenishing the breakfast bar as needed, breakfast food prep, clean up, and side-work. Starting pay $19.50 per hour. Please submit resume or letter of interest to: gm@ goldenevergreenhotel.com; or apply in person.

29300 U.S. Hwy 40, Evergreen, CO

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.

Clear Creek County is hiring with new higher pay rates!

Apply at: 403 Argentine Street in Georgetown.

Career Opportunites

Survey

Interviewers Needed!

As a Field Representative for the U.S. Census Bureau, You collect data for your community.

•People Person Job!

•Flexible Schedule, about 20 hours per week (day, evening, weekend)

•No Experience Needed, training and laptop provied

•Work from your home base driving to housing units to interview

•$16.14 - $17.88 Hourly in Denver area plus 65.5¢ per mile driven

Email Name, Phone, Address, County to: denver.fr.applications@census.gov

Career Opportunites

EVERGREEN

SEO &

Do you know and LOVE search engine optimization and content marketing? Do you have web development skills and know WordPress well? VERY reliable HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS are also welcome. No criminal records. Working from HOME may be possible.

Do you have experience as a content creator, writer, or author? Would you love to write about history, art, jewelry, coins, watches, and other interesting topics? If so, please contact us! We have an exciting and fun job to offer. Working from home is possible.

ADOPT a Shelter Pet

Market Place

Merchandise

Health & Beauty

VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS!

50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW!

888-445-5928 Hablamos Espanol

DENTAL INSURANCEPhysicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurancenot a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-855-526-1060 www.dental50plus.com/58 #6258.

Medical

Attention oxygen therapy users!

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

Miscellaneous

Safe Step. North America’s #1

Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service.

Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time!

Financing available. 1-855-4171306

Inflation is at 40 year highs

Interest rates are way up. Credit Cards. Medical Bills. Car Loans. Do you have $10k or more in debt? Call National Debt Relief to find out how to pay off your debt for significantly less than what you owe! Free quote:

1-877-592-3616

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

Miscellaneous

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

1-833-758-3892

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

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

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

Miscellaneous

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

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

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

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 1/31/24. 1-866-479-1516.

Miscellaneous

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

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

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

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debrisblocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-6101936

DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB Games! Choice Package $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.) No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405

email Colorado Press Association Network at rtoledo@colopress.net

Legals

Metropolitan Districts

PUBLIC NOTICE

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

§1-13.5-501, 1-13.5-1102(3), 32-1-905(2), C.R.S.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the Hidden Valley Water District of the county of Jefferson, Colorado.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held on May 2, 2023 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time three (3) directors will be elected to serve 4-year terms. Eligible electors of the Hidden Valley Water District interested in serving on the board of directors may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form from the Designated Election Official (DEO) at the address below. The office of the DEO is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Nicole L. Simonson, DEO 32045 Castle Court, Suite 103 Evergreen, Colorado, 80439

Telephone: 303- 674-3379

The deadline to submit a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form is close of business on Friday, February 24, 2023 (not less than 67 days prior to the regular election). Earlier submittal is encouraged as the deadline will not permit curing an insufficient form. If the DEO determines that a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form is not sufficient, the eligible elector who submitted the form may amend the form once, at any time, prior to 3:00 p.m. on Monday, February 27, 2023. Affidavit of Intent to be a Write-In-Candidate form must be submitted to the office of the Designated Election Official by the close of business on Monday, February 27, 2023 (the 64th day before the election).

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an application for an absentee ballot shall be filed with the DEO

Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Nicole L. Simonson, DEO 32045 Castle Court, Suite 103 Evergreen, Colorado, 80439

Telephone: 303- 674-3379

The deadline to submit a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form is close of business on Friday, February 24, 2023 (not less than 67 days prior to the regular election). Earlier submittal is encouraged as the deadline will not permit curing an insufficient form. If the DEO determines that a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form is not sufficient, the eligible elector who submitted the form may amend the form once, at any time, prior to 3:00 p.m. on Monday, February 27, 2023. Affidavit of Intent to be a Write-In-Candidate form must be submitted to the office of the Designated Election Official by the close of business on Monday, February 27, 2023 (the 64th day before the election).

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an application for an absentee ballot shall be filed with the DEO no later than the close of business on Tuesday preceding the election, April 25, 2023.

By: /s/ Nicole L. Simonson

The Chief Information Officer (CIO), under general direction of the County Manager, optimizes the use of technology in the County in order to fulfill the Board of County Commissioners’ (BoCC) priorities and goals. The CIO is responsible for the planning, organizing, and directing of information technology operations and implementing the County’s applicable policies and directives. The position evaluates and advises the County Manager and the BoCC on long range technology needs and opportunities and provides clear, succinct and accurate data for related fiscal decision making. The CIO ensures technology-related compliance with state and federal laws, establishes and maintains internal controls, and coordinates and manages the Information Technology budget process. The position currently provides leadership and direction to 2.0 budgeted FTE positions in the Division.

SCOPE OF SERVICES

The contractor shall perform all Services described in this section and all obligations set forth in the professional services agreement, attached to this RFB as Exhibit A.

The contractor will conduct a national recruitment (including attracting, interviewing, and hiring) of a Chief Information Officer and assist the County Manager in selecting a qualified candidate, including the following services:

1. Working with the County Manager and Leadership Team to develop characteristics and attributes of the successful candidate, selection criteria, and recruitment process;

C.R.S.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the South Evergreen Water District of the county of Jefferson, Colorado.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held on May 2, 2023 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time three (3) directors will be elected to serve 4-year terms. Eligible electors of the South Evergreen Water District interested in serving on the board of directors may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form from the Designated Election Official (DEO) at the address below. The office of the DEO is open

Clear

search and recruitment firms to conduct a national search leading to the selection of a new Chief Information Officer.

2. Developing recruitment strategies and timelines for approval by the County;

3. Developing an accurate and enticing job profile and a custom brochure describing the Chief Information Officer position, the County organization and the community, for approval by the County;

4.Conducting targeted recruitment of qualified and experienced individuals;

5. Marketing the position on a local, regional and national basis (including social media, online job listings, and other appropriate resources);

Treasurer’s Statement

6. Receiving and processing application materials;

7. Providing initial screening of all applications against the qualifications required in the job description and recommending potential semifinalists and documenting the reasons for not selecting applications;

8. Assisting the County Manager in the selection of semifinalists and finalists;

9. Comply with nondiscrimination provisions established by the EEOC;

10.Conducting credential verification and background referencing at the appropriate time;

11. Developing and coordinating a final selection process with the County Manager, including interviews with County Manager and staff, County tours, and interaction with employees and community members;

12. Conducting all background and reference checks on the final candidate(s); and,

13.Providing timely notification and any necessary follow up and feedback to all candidates not selected for the position.

To review the entire Request-for-Bid conditions and requirements, please visit our County website: •http://www.co.clear-creek.co.us/bids.aspx

Please address questions and submittals in writing to:

Brian Bosshardt County Manager’s Office 405 Argentine Street P.O. Box 2000 Georgetown, CO 80444 (303) 679-2490 bbosshardt@clearcreekcounty.us

The deadline for submittal is 12:00 p.m. local time, March 6, 2023.

Legal Notice No. CC1145

First Publication: February 23, 2023

Last Publication: February 23, 2023

PUC responds to Polis’ call for utility relief

Searching for answers

BY JOSHUA PERRY THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado’s Public Utilities Commission on Feb. 8 discussed addressing bill price hikes in response to Gov. Jared Polis’s utility cost-reduction directive, but it isn’t clear what the rst steps will be.

Chairman Eric Blank said that the PUC has been tasked with a wide range of objectives to ease an a ordability crisis that made consumers’ utility bills 52% higher on average in December. Some consumers saw their bills double or even triple.

“Among other things, the governor has asked us to identify ways to support customers in the most dire circumstances, improve access to and the capacity of the bill assistance program, nd ways to incentivize utilities to reduce customer costs, analyze approaches for limiting bill spikes, and to expand public engagement on these issues before the end PUC,” he said.

Blank said he didn’t know how the PUC would take action on this directive right now, but they would continue addressing a ordability in the coming weeks.

One way the PUC can make progress is driving down base rates, Commissioner Megan Gilman said. Under the current rules, a utility seeking to add new infrastructure, such as transmission lines or a power plant, must rst convince PUC regulators that it is necessary. If PUC agrees, it issues a certi cate of public convenience and necessity to approve the request.

Once the project is in operation, the cost of the investment is passed on to consumers through an increase in base utility rates. PUC also

vestment rate, which determines the pro t that utility companies get from these investments. at ROI rate can contribute to higher prices as well.

Base rates have been increasing for years. Higher base rates make periods of extreme price pressure — usually resulting from high fuel costs or unusually cold weather conditions — even worse. e PUC can’t control those factors, but they can drive base rates down in the long run by limiting unnecessary investments by utility companies, Gilman said.

“What are we doing to really try to ensure that rate-payers are protected in the long run and (ensure) that those utility investments that end up being repaid by rate-payers are really the best use of that money, and the best option available?” she said.

Public Notices

the time of final settlement for the work contracted to be done, is required to file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim to the Roxborough Water and Sanitation District, 6222 N. Roxborough Road, Littleton, CO 80125, at or before the time and date herein above shown. Failure on the part of any claimant to file such verified statement will release said Roxborough Water and Sanitation District, its Board of Directors, officers, agents, and employees, of and from any and all liability for such claim.

ROXBOROUGH WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT

By: Barbara J. Biggs, General Manager

rates will be part of the discussion on a ordability moving forward. Later at the meeting, the commission also approved updates to its policy for service disconnection reporting, which now will include data on areas with the highest proportions of disconnections in order to identify geographic disparities in access to utility services.

Additionally, they made plans to meet with assistance program coordinators and utility companies to improve the e ectiveness and accessibility of low-income quali ed programs.

Access to sources of assistance like the Percentage of Income Payment Program, which limits utility costs for low income families to up to 6% of their monthly income, must be improved, according to Gilman. e

to make its process open and easy to understand, she said, but there’s still much room for growth when it comes to working in a mode that engages the public on addressing longterm a ordability moving forward.

“ is is a massive issue, to take this agency and all of the sudden try to humanize, try to improve accessibility, try to improve language access, try to improve these opportunities,” Gilman said. “By no means do we have it all gured out.”

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

and Jefferson County, State of Colorado.

Any person, co-partnership, association of persons, company or corporation that has furnished labor, materials, provisions, or other supplies used or consumed by such Contractor or his subcontractors in or about the performance of the work contracted to be done and whose claim therefore has not been paid by the Contractor or his Subcontractor, at any time up to and including

Families are facing higher utility bills this year. Gov. Jared Polis is putting pressure on the state to find answers.

PHOTO BY TAYLER SHAW

Wrestling state championship

Evergreen senior Gabe Zimmerer waits before his Class 4A 165-pound state championship match against Windsor freshman Evan Perez on Feb. 18 at Ball Arena. Zimmerer came into the title bout with a 50-1 record, but couldn’t get much going against Perez in the final prep match of his career. Perez won 8-1.

Evergreen senior Gabe Zimmerer, left, locks up with Windsor freshman Evan Perez during the Class 4A 165-pound championship bout Feb. 18 at Ball Arena. Perez took an 8-1 victory as Zimmerer had to settle for a second-place finish in the final tournament of his prep career.

PHOTOS BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS