Canyon Courier 030223

Concrete barriers, guardrails coming to Crow Hill, Bailey

CDOT will make changes on U.S. 285 to help stop accidents, speeding

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Improvements will be made to U.S.

285 on Crow Hill and in Bailey this summer to help prevent tra c accidents and curtail excessive speed. e Colorado Department of Transportation will advertise in April for contractors to do the $2 million project, with work expected to take place between June and September, according to Shane Ferguson, CDOT’s Region 2 transportation director. Included are concrete barri-

ers in the median, bumble strips on the southbound side of the highway, a guardrail on the northbound side and other improvements.

State Rep. Julie McCluskie, state Sen. Mark Baisley and Park County commissioners along with CDOT representatives met with Bailey residents in early February to assure them that changes were coming after the many accidents along that

‘Little Shop of Horrors’

EHS musical provides creative outlet, unifies school

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

ink of the Evergreen High School theater and choir programs as the little engine that could. Despite the programs losing enrollment since the pandemic, they are collaborating to perform the comedy horror musical “Little Shop of Horrors” March 9-11.

For the students involved in the show, it’s a creative outlet. For Supporters of Evergreen eatre, which is the programs’ booster club, and the school administration, this is a chance to help breathe new life into the programs.

SEE MUSICAL, P2

stretch of highway, some ending with vehicles in the South Platte River or damaging Aspen Creek Cellars, and some fatalities.

CDOT o cials, in response to a question, said they would look into temporary barriers until the more permanent ones can be installed this summer.

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

It may be a couple years before the downtown Evergreen commercial building that burned in December will be rebuilt and ready for tenants. According to Je Bradley with the Ross-Lewis Trust, which owns the building that housed Seasonally Yours and Sweetwater Boutique, the current plan is to tear down the building and build a new one on that site. He gures it will take nearly two years to get it designed, get the necessary entitlements and permits,

SEE FIRE, P5

Luke McCord, who plays Seymour in “Little Shop of Horrors,” practices wearing a puppet of the plant known as Audrey II. He is aided by Lisca De Jager, the lead costumer.

PHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

Downtown Evergreen structure likely to be rebuilt after fire

MUSICAL

With a cast of 21 students, plus the student backstage, lighting and sound crews — and the school’s band performing the music — EHS has put together a fun show.

In addition, the school’s arts programs have gotten involved with ceramics classes creating their versions of the plant in the show and creating the poster advertising the performances.

“ ey really have just made me proud,” said Michal McDowell with Evergreen Players, who is directing the show. “ ey are so hard working and motivated and full-on into what they are doing. ey are committed, and they are very fun to work with.”

e play centers on a oral shop worker named Seymour who pines for coworker Audrey. Seymour discovers a sentient plant he names Audrey II that feeds on human blood, and the plant attracts a lot of business to the struggling shop. When Audrey’s boyfriend dies accidentally, Seymour feeds him to the plant. Seymour tries to destroy the plant and leave with Audrey.

EHS is using four puppets of varying size to portray Audrey II, and crew members have learned how to operate them. e puppets come from Cory Gilstrap, who is known as Denver’s premiere puppet builder.

e largest puppet is more than six feet tall and ve feet wide, and dominates the stage.

Choosing “Little Shop”

Choral music teacher Haelyn Bloxham said he chose “Little Shop of Horrors” because it requires an eightmember cast, though the chorus can be expanded depending on interest.

“We weren’t sure how many students would be interested in participating in the show,” Bloxham said. “If we only had eight people, we’d still have a great show.”

Principal Skyler Artes said she supports the performing arts, and despite dwindling enrollment numbers, intends to keep it.

“I think all large high schools need to have a theater program,” Artes said. “ e performing arts need to be in place. It’s too valuable for students and for the community. e programs might look di erent, but there are solutions.”

EHS is not the only school in the country facing declining enrollment the arts, and Artes said while the pandemic was part of the cause, she wonders if high school’s competing interests are partly to blame. Performing arts activities are competing for students’ time with Advanced Placement classes, college requirements, athletics, other electives and more.

Wendy McCord, co-chair of Supporters of Evergreen eatre, believes the pandemic had a tremendous negative e ect on participation in the performing arts.

She added that feeder programs from elementary to middle school to the high school are not as strong as they could be, so students may not be

The sirens, from left, Emma Roberts, Sylvia Brown and Ellie Smith sing during a rehearsal.

Luke McCord playing the role of Seymour and Maya Hyslop playing the role of Mr. Martin act out a scene at rehearsal.

Students in Matt Clagett’s ceramics classes created their own versions of the plant Audrey II that are in display cases at the school.

PHOTOS BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

Co-stage manager Megan Avery paints scenery for the show.

able to be involved in choir or theater programs before they get to high school.

“ eater is an accepting, open, safe place for (some) kids to nd their people,” McCord said. “ is is a welcoming space for them.”

A love of performing

For cast members, theatrical performances are in their blood.

Performing the part of Seymour is a dream role for senior Luke McCord, who has been involved with theater for years. McCord’s dad was in Ovation West’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors,” which makes EHS’ production even more special.

“ eater provides a family,” Luke said. “It’s an escape from everything. It’s a great support system.”

Sophomore Reid Barnes, who plays Audrey, has been involved in theater as long as she can remember. Barnes said she has embraced Audrey’s character, and called it freeing to sing and act on stage.

Senior Logan Marion helps operate the Audrey II puppets, noting that this is this rst time in a play. He heard about the opportunity to operate the puppets and decided to get involved.

Learning the new mechanical skills of operating the puppets gives him another skill, especially since he hopes to study mechanical engineering in college.

“I have friends in theater,” Marion said. “ e puppets and acting are cool, too.”

WANT TO GO?

“Little Shop of Horrors” will be performed March 9-11 in the Evergreen High School auditorium. Shows are at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students, and available at evergreenhstheatre.ticketleap.com.

Get a $1 discount on tickets by using the promo code Canyon.

Because domestic violence is referenced in the show, donations for concessions at the Saturday matinee will be donated to PeaceWorks.

All in this together

EHS art teacher Matt Clagett said the art teachers wanted to get involved with the show in their own disciplines, and he asked ceramics students to create their version of the Audrey II plant, and McDowell said she plans to use them in the performances.

“We wanted to help promote the show,” Clagett said. “We wanted to support them and build the program.”

e ceramics students added vines, appendages, sunglasses and hats to the plants, imbuing them with their own personalities, Clagett said.

Some drawing students in teacher Sarah Grundemann’s class created prototypes for posters advertising the show.

“We wanted to promote the show with di erent students not in theater,” Grundemann said. “We hoped it would generate more interest in trying out for the show.”

“Our state representatives heard us loud and clear about tra c issues in Bailey,” Robb Green, president of the Platte Canyon Area Chamber of Commerce, said as he introduced the speakers.

CDOT tra c engineer Jason

Nelson said the 36-inch-tall concrete median barriers, called Jersey barriers, would be installed on the approach to the bottom of Crow Hill and through most of downtown Bailey. A sign on the southbound side warning drivers of the steep, curvy hill ahead and other changes will make a big difference, Nelson noted.

A resident was concerned that the concrete barriers might not

make a big di erence if a vehicle is going too fast because it could roll over the barrier or hit the barrier and “bounce like a pinball.”

“It’s hard to control every situation,” Ferguson said. “For right now, this is the solution we have.”

In response to a question, Ferguson said a runaway truck ramp on the southbound side of U.S. 285 didn’t make sense because trucks wouldn’t build up speed

until they were past the ramp, so the ramp would serve no purpose.

In response to another question, Shane said a pedestrian bridge over U.S. 285 in Bailey was expensive and wouldn’t be considered at this time.

In addition, as part of CDOT’s 10-year project plan, U.S. 285 is expected to be repaved from Bailey to the Je erson County line in 2027.

CDOT has a map of the planned improvements to U.S. 285 on Crow Hill and in Bailey. COURTESY PHOTO

and rebuild what is known as the limestone building. Bradley said his son Ross is in charge of the project.

Nothng is decided yet since it depends on how Je erson County o cials react to any proposal to rebuild or repair the building. e Ross-Lewis Trust will need approvals from Je co before any major work can begin.

e structure sustained extensive damage in a Dec. 15 re. Evergreen Fire/Rescue determined it was an electrical re and ruled out arson. Both Seasonally Yours and Sweetwater Boutique received extensive smoke damage and Seasonally Yours also sustained re damage.

Chelsea Treinen, owner of Sweetwater Boutique, and Rachel Nicks, owner of Seasonally Yours, hope to reopen, though they are not sure whether they will wait for the new building or look for new space, preferably in downtown Evergreen.

Treinen said she was able to salvage some of the clothing, soaps and lotions in her store that have been donated to Evergreen Christian Outreach and to a women’s shelter in Denver. She doesn’t go to the store often because of the strong smoke smell, which has permeated everything in the building.

Instead, she has returned in a way to her rst career as an elementary school teacher, volunteering weekly in her children’s classrooms.

She hopes to reopen in downtown

Evergreen, especially because of her involvement in the Evergreen Downtown Business Association and her relationships with downtown business owners.

“I really miss the store, my employees and my customers,” Treinen said. “I think I’ve come to terms with (losing the store), and I’ve accepted that it’s going to take a long time until I can reopen. It was a harsh reminder of how everything can change in an instant. … I want my store back.”

The downtown Evergreen building that housed Sweetwater Boutique and Seasonally Yours won’t be ready for tenants for a few years. The Ross-Lewis Trust, which owns the property, plans to rebuild the structure after a fire in December damaged it. PHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

National Charity League chapter builds culture of giving

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e sounds of hamburger frying, water simmering and teenage girls chatting emanated from an Evergreen home’s kitchen on Feb. 20 as the group made several casseroles.

e girls’ moms were nearby, helping as needed so the group’s casseroles could head to the Loaves & Fishes food bank in Idaho Springs.

e casseroles are distributed to needy families in Clear Creek County.

e girls and their moms are members of the Colorado Foothills chapter of the National Charity League, an organization that provides philanthropic, leadership and cultural opportunities. You may see NCL members volunteering at the Evergreen Sustainability Alliance Christmas tree recycling, helping at Evergreen Park & Recreation District events, helping at fundraisers for the Evergreen Animal Protective League, working at Ovation West performances and more.

Marlo Naumer, this year’s chapter president, said NCL was similar to Girl Scouts because both organizations teach leadership skills and o er a variety of opportunities geared to what the girls like.

Mom Jodi Buckingham said it was important for her and her daughter to participate in something that gives back to the community.

Mom Nikki Johnson agreed.

“NCL helps establish a lifetime of giving that we can pass on to our kids,” Johnson said. “Everybody is super busy, so making time for philanthropy is important.”

Moms added that NCL expands the group of friends both for the girls and the adults as they attend meetings and volunteer at various events.

Members must volunteer 10-15 hours a year, though many girls exceed the expectation. ey attend chapter-wide meetings, and girls attend meetings by grade level to plan excursions and volunteer opportunities.

NCL history

NCL has its roots in a California group of women in 1925 who dedicated themselves to philanthropy work, and in 1936, it became a group for moms and daughters. It o cially became the National Charity League in 1947.

In NCL, moms are called patron-

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

National Charity League’s foothills chapter is hosting a meet and greet from 2:30-4 p.m. Sunday, April 2, at the Buchanan Rec Center. The chapter hopes to expand membership into Clear Creek and Park counties. For more information, email membershipcoloradofoothills@ nclonline.org.

esses and daughters are called ticktockers. Evergreen mom Deanna Baysinger explained that the girls were called ticktockers because in the organization’s infancy, girls tended to watch the clock while their moms planned philanthropic activities.

Colorado has eight chapters, and the foothills chapter has about 150 members, about 45 of them moms. Girls usually join at the end of sixth grade and continue through the organization through high school.

e Evergreen moms say they hear about NCL through word of mouth, and the Colorado Foothills chapter is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Expanding friendships, horizons

For the teens, NCL expands their friendships as they meet others who go to area schools.

Ashley Cortez, a sophomore at Evergreen High School, said NCL is

chapter does.

e group organizes trips to local art galleries and performances, and one culture activity included participating in Evergreen’s Sculpture Walk.

e girls also have attended seminars on car care, self defense and self care.

Jordyn Sullivan, a seventh grader

she enjoyed helping the community Evergreen Middle School, said her favorite activity was creating the casseroles for Loaves & Fishes.

“ is is a way to connect with friends and create memories,” she said of NCL.

National Charity League members, from left, Ashley Cortez, Jordyn Sullivan, Riley Cortez, Stella Johnson and Claire Naumer chat as they cook meals for the Loaves & Fishes food bank in Idaho Springs. PHOTOS BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

Claire Naumer puts pasta, hamburger and sauce into a pan. Once complete, it will be taken to the Loaves & Fishes food bank in Idaho Springs. PHOTOS BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

World Thinking Day teaches Girl Scouts about other countries

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Girls Scouts from around the metro area were thinking about the world on Feb. 25.

From Daisies to Ambassadors, about 250 Scouts from 26 troops operated tables representing 30 countries at World inking Day. It’s an annual event to teach them about di erent countries’ cultures and Scouts in all parts of the world.

Each table in the gymnasium at Red Rocks Elementary School in Morrison had a poster with information about the country, with some girls dressed in costume, and they handed out food or trinkets representing their countries.

Scouts moved from table to table to expand their worldly horizons, and each had a mock passport that was stamped at each table.

Troop leaders say that World inking Day gives the Scouts memories that will last a lifetime while teaching leadership and collaboration as the girls prepare for their presentations.

“It’s important for (Scouts) to learn about other countries,” said Jenny Kyle, a parent of a Red Rocks Elementary School student. “ ey get a better understanding of the many di erent people and cultures around the world.”

Lori Leugers, a leader for Troop 8090 at SkyView Academy in Highlands Ranch, agreed and added: “It taught them to research their country and to vote on the country

team building when they practiced dances, and it brought them together when they planned and put together their display.”

Michelle Kustes, leader of Troop

Community involvement plan interviews for the Clear Creek Superfund Site

Gilpin and Clear Creek County, Colorado

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the EPA are updating the Clear Creek Superfund Site’s Community Involvement Plan. A community involvement plan is a site-specific strategy to determine the best way to facilitate two-way communication between the agencies and the community throughout the Superfund cleanup process.

We are inviting community members and stakeholders to take part in interviews in March 2023 to help guide the plan. You can sign up for an interview at bit.ly/40K0rC1 or by contacting Shannon Bauman at shannon.bauman@state.co.us or 303.692.3421. We are offering virtual and in-person interviews as well as Spanish interpretation upon request. Interview responses will be pooled and not attributed to individuals.

Site background:

The Clear Creek Superfund Site was listed on the National Priorities List in 1983, making it a Superfund site. The Study Area encompasses the approximately 400 square mile Clear Creek watershed. The area has been impacted by heavy metals from historic mining operations, including impacts to aquatic life and potentially human health. Cleanup to date has been focused primarily on addressing the impacts to surface water and includes: treatment of point-source discharges and contaminated water; waste pile stabilization, capping, off-site disposal and diversion of run-on water; development of a repository to consolidate and manage mine waste rock and tailings; andother activities. Cleanup activities and investigations at the site are ongoing.

Site information is available at: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/central-city-clear-creek.

in Indian Hills, said World inking Day was more important this year after its absence thanks to the pandemic.

Among the countries represented

Brazil: Juniors in Troop 1104 taught fellow Scouts about the Amazon rainforest and interesting ani-

Parmalee Elementary School’s Troop 1104 researched and presented facts about Brazil at World Thinking Day. Working at the table are, from left, fourth grader Emma Kausch, fifth grader Ashland Crossman, fifth grader Amelia Vega and fourth grader Kaelyn Kelly.

PHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST SEE SCOUTS, P21

Op-ed: When development forecasts trouble, not progress

It’s been said nothing stays the same. In Conifer, Colorado, many of us who have lived here for decades have witnessed the changes.

Shopping centers, restaurants and businesses have grown along the U.S. 285 corridor to serve an increasing population, and 285 has been widened in areas to ease the tra c ow to and from the mountains. Cell phones and computers (for the most part) now enjoy internet access.

But the Conifer signature that endures, the reason we live here, is the incomparable natural beauty of the meadows and mountainsides we are graced with every day.

To be sure, our area has faced challenges inherent in many mountain communities, most prominent of which is the threat of devastating wild res.

e 1996 Bu alo Creek Fire in Pine burned 12,000 acres, taking ten homes and two lives, the Bailey High Meadow Fire in 2000 burned 10,800 acres and 51 structures, and the Hayman Fire of 2002 scarred four counties taking in Pine Junction and Bailey, and resulted in the loss of 138,000 acres, 600 structures and six deaths. All were human caused. Decades later the scars remain as a cautionary tale.

Necessarily, we Conifer homeowners have become vigilant and aware that re prevention is a shared

opment and wild re disaster risk intersect.

In January 2021, two young men decided that a Colorado State Land Board parcel on narrow, winding Shadow Mountain Drive in a residential neighborhood with homes dotting the hillsides would be an excellent location for a 273-acre chairlift-access, downhill commercial bike park, drawing more than 700 mountain bikers daily. An abundance of factual research shows that the proposed park presents an enormous risk for a catastrophic re. e parcel is in an EXTREME wild re risk area as designated by the Elk Creek Fire Protection District Community Wild re Protection Plan, and a bike park would add nearly 5000 additional human potential wild re ignition sources per week. e developers

submitted their application to the Je erson County Zoning and Planning Commission on January 23, 2023, and the design plan for the facility reveals that if a re occurs the ensuing evacuation on Shadow Mountain Drive would be mayhem.

e developers in their exuberance to build the park say they want to be good neighbors, but what they are proposing to accomplish is about as unneighborly as it gets.

Good neighbors do not increase the chances for a catastrophic wildre threatening the homes and lives of their neighbors. ey don’t bring a deluge of tra c on an already dangerous neighborhood road, almost certainly leading to an increase in car crashes, injury and even loss of life. ey don’t add the guaranteed injuries of downhill mountain biking to already overburdened area emergency response teams, not to mention waste disposal for 700 expected people daily that could easily pollute or deplete community water wells and devastate the wildlife population and ecosystem.

e developers like to talk about being transparent in their communications.

But when you look at the proposed bike park website you immediately encounter one of many misleading forward-looking statements posited as fact. e front page “Coming Soon” banner (previously “Coming

in 2023”) leads readers to conclude that the bike park is a done deal, and it most certainly is not.    e developers have often said we might want to welcome a bike park on Shadow Mountain Drive because the other scenarios for the parcel, such as a mining operation, would be more invasive. It’s a scare tactic that’s misleading because it falsely narrows the full scope of options that are available. ere are many additional and far more benign options for the parcel including not developing the land at all.   e truth is building a commercial bike park on Shadow Mountain Drive with its inescapably dangerous baggage is absolutely not compatible with responsible community behavior. And nothing anyone can conjure up to obscure the facts will make it right, or neighborly.

Barbara Moss Murphy is on the Board Of Directors of Stop the Bike Park, a non-pro t organization formed speci cally to prevent the Bike Park – with its fact-driven negative consequences to tra c, wild re risk, emergency response, air and water quality, and key wildlife habitat — from becoming a reality in its proposed location. She has lived on Shadow Mountain Drive for nearly 40 years and is committed to ghting for the community’s environmental health and safety.

Winter planning for your vegetable garden

There’s no better way to beat the winter blues than by dreaming of this season’s garden. Whether you just have a small garden or a backyard full of raised beds, it’s time to start planning what you will grow.

Before choosing your plants there are a few things to consider about your space, including size, location, soil and amount of daylight it receives. If your space is cool and shady, it’s not worth the agony of trying to grow peppers and tomatoes in Denver’s short growing season. Instead, stick with hearty greens like spinach and kale or roots like radishes and potatoes. If you have a sunny spot on a porch or a patio, you can grow a container variety of tomatoes where they’ll have a better chance.

Small gardens can produce more than you might think. Many seed packets and plant tags list the maximum amount of space a plant or

A publication of

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GUEST COLUMN

Katie Meyer

crop might need. If you take this route, think about putting your tallest plants on the north side of the bed so they don’t shade the others. is method is also easier if you’re transplanting so you don’t have to worry about the timing of getting seeds to sprout and grow before they get shaded out. Interplanting or companion planting is a great option for dense gardens. Try growing basil under tomatoes or transplant lettuces and then seed carrots around them. By the time the lettuce is ready to harvest, the carrots will be up and ready for the extra space. Herbs and edible owers add variety and attract bene cial pollinators to your garden. If you’re planting densely, particularly with heavy feeders like broccoli, corn or melons, you’ll want to make sure they have enough nutrients. Cover crops are a great way to keep your soil covered between crops, and

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

DONNA REARDON Marketing Consultant dreardon@coloradocommunitymedia.com

the leftover debris will boost your organic matter and feed the microorganisms that are so important to soil health. Including legumes like peas or beans in your cover crop will naturally add nitrogen to your soil. Adding compost is another way to give your soil a natural boost. Try using a natural mulch between rows or beds to retain moisture and exclude weeds.

If you have heavy clay or thin, rocky soils, you don’t want to try growing foot-long carrots. Try building raised beds or opting for a shorter variety. Where sandy soils drain water and lose nutrients quickly, clay soils retain water and hold nutrients much longer. Consider this when adding amendments and planning your garden watering. Smaller seeds like lettuce or carrots will germinate more evenly if they have consistent overhead water but beans, squash and tomatoes don’t like their leaves being wet because

KRISTEN FIORE West Metro Editor kfiore@coloradocommunitymedia.com

DEB HURLEY BROBST Community Editor dbrobst@coloradocommunitymedia.com

RUTH DANIELS Classified Sales rdaniels@coloradocommunitymedia.com

they are more susceptible to disease. Once your seeds are up or plants are in the ground, try setting up soaker hoses or drip irrigation so you’re only watering the soil and not the leaves.

Nutrient dense produce comes from plants grown in healthy soils in harmony with nature. Avoid spraying herbicides or pesticides as these will negatively a ect the soil and water, and therefore, you. Instead, encourage birds and predatory insects to control any pest problems, and pull weeds by hand.

Additionally, heirloom varieties tend to have more avor, ensure genetic diversity and have been bred to grow in speci c climates. Search for local seed companies to nd the best option for your area. Not only does this support a local farmer, but you’ll be also able to save your own seed.

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Courier.

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

Email letters to kfiore@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Deadline Wed. for the following week’s paper.

Katie Meyer is a grower at the Denver Botanic Gardens’ Chat eld Farms

Help wanted: referees to get back in the game

Visiting any business involves walking by a “Help Wanted” sign. Sports o ciating is facing the same human capital shortage across the United States. While sports o cials don’t wear Help Wanted signs at games, maybe we should. Nonetheless, we need sports o cials to o ciate games and keep our young people involved in high school athletics.

Without sports o cials, Friday night high school football and varsity basketball or soccer games could be in danger of slipping away.

Many things in our world are changing too fast. We need to keep educational-based athletics one thing the students, families and communities can depend on happening. Because of o ciating shortages, we are seeing what was a community xture of high school football, Friday Night Lights, become ursday Night Lights and Saturday Afternoon Sunlight to get the games covered by referees. Moreover, myself and other referees work high school games in New Mexico, Colorado and Utah to

GUEST COLUMN

ensure the studentsathletes can play.

e fraternity of sports o cials travel to games not because we get paid big money – we don’t – but because we aspire to facilitate an elusive perfect game. As a football o cial colleague states, sports o cials pursue perfection and excellence – life lessons that we can bring to our careers and our families. Great o cials share a commitment to the students-athletes, coaches and families. Furthermore, we serve a game that has likely been in our blood for years.

K. Kevin Aten

important lessons experienced by our young people who are building character and workplace skills. We take pride in knowing we o ered young people wholesome, educational-based athletics with memories that last a lifetime.

After all, without o cials, we are just runninga recess scrimmage!

We work every contest to ensure students-athletes realize lifelong learning and lessons that grow from grit, hope and tenacity. We also teach that fumbles and fouls in life happen, and we can succeed despite these momentary interruptions and obstacles. At all levels, o cials are arbiters of fair play and role models for hard work.

When my fellow o cials and I nish a game, we often speak of the

C. Richard Powell

April 25, 1931 - February 5, 2023

Dr. C. Richard Powell, who practiced dentistry for more than 50 years in Evergreen, Colorado, died February 5, 2023, in Minnesota. He was 91.

Known as Dick to his friends – and Baba to his children, grandchildren and most of their friends – his memories faded over the last few years as dementia took its toll. Blessedly, some things couldn’t be erased and always brought a spark of recognition and a smile. Foremost among them were his wife and love of his life, Helen, who predeceased him in 2015; his children, even if it was just recognizing their faces; and the Kansas Jayhawks.

A people person without peer, Baba found and made friends wherever he went. Whether it was in and around Evergreen, where he and Helen settled in 1961 and where he treated generations of patients at his o ce, rst on Main Street, and later on Bu alo Park Road. Or while visiting any of his children, from Montana to Kansas City, North Carolina to Minnesota. If we ever lost track of him (and trust us, we lost track of him a lot. In the neighborhood. At the grocery store. At the Mall of America.), we were sure to nd him deep in conversation with a new friend, most likely a fellow KU fan, breaking down that year’s team.

Dick Powell was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1931, the youngest son of Dr. John F. and Lois Cole Powell of Council Grove, Kansas. After graduating from Council Grove High School, he attended Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri, before enrolling at the University of Kansas in Lawrence at the start of his junior year. His KU years were the source of great memories, and stories. Living behind the old Dairy Queen (and being among the only people in town who could get DQ in the winter); leading his Air Force ROTC ight to parade; watching Clyde Lovellotte’s Jayhawks win a national championship in 1952. We heard them all.

In 1955, he married Helen Elizabeth

Sport o cials serve alongside a group of fellow o cials who read, study, watch and work out to be ready for the next challenging game assignment. We want to be ready for your son or daughter’s next big moment on the eld or the pitch, too. is basketball season marks my 38th year as a three-sports o cial, a combination of basketball, football and soccer. I have been fortunate to work multiple state championships. O ciating has opened numerous doors, personally and professionally. My other referee colleagues and I fear, with this acute shortage, we are on the verge of closing doors for our young people and our communities.

Let’s keep Friday Night Lights on Friday. Let’s ensure our communities and our children have competitive games and learn lifelong lessons.

OBITUARIES

SHERMACK

Dowell, concluding a lengthy courtship that began at Helen’s fth birthday party. After completing dental school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the two moved to Ankara, Turkey, where Dick served in the U.S. Air Force. While stationed in Turkey, Dick and Helen traveled extensively throughout the Middle East and Europe, sparking a love of travel, far-o places and international cuisine that they shared throughout their lives.

Once back stateside, the young family moved to Colorado, where Dick had nurtured his love of the outdoors as a camp counselor. He shared that passion with his three children, hunting and shing in Kansas and Colorado, camping in the Rockies, skiing at Crested Butte, riding horses at home in Evergreen, and playing golf just about anywhere.

roughout his 60 years in Evergreen, Dick was compelled to serve. Whether on the board of trustees for Kent Denver School, stepping in as a coach for baseball and soccer (despite a lack of experience in either!), or taking on volunteer leadership roles in Kiwanis, Mount Evans Hospice or the Colorado Dental Association, he saw each as an important opportunity to give back, as well as a great chance to be with old friends and make new ones.

Baba is survived by his children John Dowell (Becky), Ann Powell Ryan (Stephen), and Richard Cortland (Kristen); grandchildren Dale Elizabeth Powell, Noah Mason Ryan, Cecilia McIntosh Ryan, Charles Cole Powell and Carson Ann Powell; and greatgranddaughter Estella Rose Powell. A memorial and celebration of Dick’s life will take place at a later date.

Contributions to support senior care at e Rosemount, Dick’s home in Minnesota, may be made in his memory to Cassia Living, www.cassialife.org/giving. Please specify Greatest Need and e Rosemount in your contribution.

Becoming a sport o cial is easy and virtually free. Once you call a game or two, it gets in your blood. e smiles and the hard work of the young people will touch your heart. Your friendship, and the service with coaches and fellow o cials will also last a lifetime.

e Colorado High School Activities Association just launched a new #YouLookGoodinStripes campaign to recruit new o cials and the association will pay registration for the rst year. e link can be found onCHSAANow.com by clicking on the “Ofcials” tab at the top right of the page and following the “Sign-up” link.

K. Kevin Aten, Ed.D., is a Durango native and president of the Durango and Cortez Football O cials Association. Aten also assigns soccer o cials in Southwest Colorado. He can be reached atkkkevinaten@gmail.com.

NOTE: is guest column was previously published in the e Journal and e Durango Herald on Dec. 14, 2022.

Gail Shermack

February 4, 1950 - February 12, 2023

Gail Shermack, beloved sister of Susan Shermack and Anne S. Blair, predeceased by her parents, Joan H. Shermack and A. Paul Shermack. Fairmount Mortuary.

GROVES

John Taylor Groves

May 13, 1923 – February 20, 2023

John Groves was born in Nebraska, but lived most of his life in Downers Grove, Illinois, a southwestern suburb of Chicago, until he and his wife Connie moved to Evergreen in the early nineties. John was only a few months from turning 100, a feat he almost achieved after a long life of moderation. He spent the year 1943 in the U.S. Army in the 1st U.S. Infantry Division, attended Northern Illinois University and married his hometown sweetheart on Nov. 21, 1945. He worked for the Illinois State Employment Service and

volunteered for United Way for many years. In retirement, he and Connie enjoyed short trips with old friends, playing bridge and anything family related. e move to Evergreen allowed them to live closer to their sons Alan (Karen) and David (Carrie) and their four grandchildren: Trevor, Jessica, Daniel and Damon. ey were just as pleased to enjoy any chance to be with four great grandchildren: Oscar, Zya, Derek and Korvin. John was a quiet force in a noisy world. He will be missed. No service is planned.

NIEMEYER Louise (Corkran) Niemeyer

July 1, 1955 - February 17, 2023

Louise Corkran Niemeyer of Evergreen, Colorado answered her call to heaven on February 17, 2023. She left us far too early following a courageous battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). roughout the disease she maintained an incredibly positive attitude fueled by her reliance on Jesus Christ that was an inspiration to everyone around her.

Louise was the daughter of the late Dr. Herbert and Shirley Corkran. Dr. Corkran was a diplomat with the US State Department and later taught Political Science. Louise developed her love of learning and travel throughout her youth of diplomatic and professorial posts.

She earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Denver and MA from Southern Methodist University. She was also a graduate of Denver Seminary. Louise lived many places throughout the US and abroad during Air Force assignments with her husband Joe. She taught as a college psychology professor during these assignments.

She had an insatiable curiosity satis ed by pursuit of lifelong study and exploration across the globe. She was an adventurous spirit and enjoyed backpacking in our beautiful state of Colorado and trekking in Africa and South America. Louise was also an avid SCUBA diver and relished the undersea world in Indonesia, Fiji, and throughout the Caribbean. She used her seminary training to do counseling and teaching Bible studies. She loved volunteering with and supporting Evergreen Christian Outreach

Louise is survived by her husband of nearly 45 years, Colonel Joseph Niemeyer, their son Brian Niemeyer, and her brother Robert Corkran. She is interred at Crown Hill Cemetery in Wheat Ridge along with three past generations of her family. A Celebration of Life will be held in the coming weeks at Bergen Park Church. Her family asks that in lieu of owers, donations be made in her name to Evergreen Christian Outreach and the ALS Association.

POWELL

DriveSafe Scholarship applications available

BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE OLOVE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Applications for the DriveSafe Scholarship in Colorado are open to high school, undergrad and trade school students in Colorado through April 2, with winners announced on May 1.  e winner will be awarded a $1,500 scholarship. is year’s prompt is “How has learning to drive helped you in ways you didn’t expect?”

DriveSafe is accepting essay submissions of 250-500 words or video submissions uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo with the hashtag #DriveSafeScholarship.

DriveSafe is looking for submissions with originality, creativity, fresh points of view, emotional impact, “realness,” thoughtfulness and maturity.

DriveSafe is the largest driving school in Colorado according to its website, with locations all over the Denver metro.

To learn more about the scholarship and how to apply, check out the website at https://www.drivesafecolorado.com/scholarship.

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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

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

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

• Letters must be no longer than 400 words.

the fall in Georgetown. FILE PHOTO BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE

Scientists are studying the health of the South Platte’s aquatic life

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

There might be plenty of sh in the sea, but in the section of the South Platte River from the Denver Metro Water facility down to Fort Lupton, they’ve all but disappeared.  rough testing, Metro Water Recovery scientists discovered that aquatic life was not present in this part of the South Platte River due to low dissolved oxygen levels. Metro Water Recovery, in an agreement with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Colorado Health Department will address the issue.

Dissolved oxygen levels mean the river is too low for aquatic life. When they did the study, the scientists found that the South Platte River from the Denver Metro Water facility down to Fort Lupton had no sh habitat.

ey started a six-phase project on the South Platte River from 88th & Colorado Boulevard to Fort Lupton in 2018 to improve aquatic life that was disappearing from low dissolved oxygen.

“Many factors cause dissolved oxygen in a river, such as runo , nutrients and how highly managed the river is and owing slowly in some locations. In addition, algae grow when the river slows down and eats up oxygen at night,” said Senior Quality Manager for Metro Water Jim Dorsch.

“A number of factors were involved and since Metro Water created the river, it made sense for us to take the lead on trying to correct it,” Dorsch said.

Scientists are working daily on the South

Platte River collecting aquatic macroinvertebrates, which are bugs. Many of these types of organisms and microhabitats live in the river, under rocks or in woody debris in the river, Dorsch said, adding that they can also live inside rocks or live in boulders.

“ e objective is to sample the macroinvertebrate that lives at the bottom of the river to assess the invertebrate which is species without a backbone to test their diversity and abundance within the river channel and determine overall aquatic life health,” said Jordan Harman, a senior water quality scientist with Metro Water.

Harman said the macroinvertebrate data is used in Colorado as the primary indicator of aquatic life health in streams and rivers. ey collect samples in the fall, and the macroinvertebrates are picked out with tweezers and placed into collection jars

lled with isopropyl alcohol for preservation.

“We then send these preserved specimen samples to a taxonomic expert and they identify and count the macroinvertebrates and send the identi cation enumeration data back to us. is is simply identi cation of preserved specimens, they are not looking at live specimens,” Harman said. e scientists could get a general sense of overall water quality based on the type of invertebrates. Certain macroinvertebrates are sensitive to pollution, such as may ies, caddis ies and more. Bugs that are relatively tolerant of pollution include aquatic worms, midge larvae and more, according to Harman and Dorsch.

“When we observe a diverse group of

These are the macroinvertebrates, the tiniest species that tell scientists about the water quality and how many are present in the river. PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

The damselfly Jordan Harman captured to be seen under the microscope. PHOTO BY METRO WATER RECOVERY

Jordan Harman gathers the macroinvertebrate from the South Platte River for testing the water quality.

PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

RIVER

macroinvertebrates, including sensitive species, this indicates good water quality. Dissolved oxygen is just one important aspect of overall water quality,” Harman said.

Harman said these macroinvertebrates tell them what they do and a lot about water quality. If certain kinds of bugs are present, the water quality can sustain these macroinvertebrates, and they’re also an essential part of the food chain for the sh that consume these bugs.

“We amended that agreement and since then we built four di erent drop structure locations along the river to improve habitat and will select a fth spot to construct by fall. en when complete, we will go into phase six and continue ongoing monitoring of aquatic life forever at all these locations,” Dorsch said.

Dorsch said to improve the water quality, stirring it and building miniature waterfalls to put the oxygen back in the river over time, so it starts to get better. In addition, they will place large rocks that will provide protective cover for sh, create pools close to the bank of the fast-moving water—trees will be plants and shrubs for aquatic shade and creates a riparian zone, which is a vegetation area between land and river.

e Metro Water Recovery scientists will stock the river with Colorado native species, primarily minnows, they said.

“ ey are not very big, but we love our native species and want to protect them every chance we can,” Dorsch said. “We also target Johnny Darters and Iowa Darter which are the most sensitive species of minnows in the South Platte River.”

While Metro is working on the Platte River project, Dorsch said shing will still be allowed even when constructing ri es which are fast-moving sections of stream and other habitat improvements farther down the river. e scientist will continue to monitor the water quality daily and how much sediment is released during construction e orts.

“We don’t want that sediment going downstream and impacting

aquatic life. My sta and I are out here every day checking on what’s going on and what’s gone wrong. If there are problems, we will correct it,” Dorsch.

e Metro Water Recovery scientists’ work didn’t go unnoticed in saving the aquatic life on the river — they received the National Environmental Achievement Award from the National Associations of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) for the South Platte River Aquatic Life

Habitat Improvements Projects, according to a news release. is fall, the honorees will be recognized at the NACWA’s winter conference in Sonoma, CA.

“We love getting awards, (but) like most biologists — we come in do our job,” Dorsch said.

“It’s nice to get the award,” Harman added. “People aren’t aware of the work we do, so it’s kind of nice to get some recognition and people realize we’re out here in the river.”

Jordan Harman measures a white sucker fish.

PHOTO BY METRO WATER RECOVERY

Jordan Harman returns to shore to detach a container where the macroinvertebrates are captured.

PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

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.

WEDNESDAY

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.

ent: “Pinyon Jays: Natural History, Research and Opportunities for Citizen Science.” For program information, including location details or Zoom access, visit www.EvergreenAudubon.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 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.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change”: Ovation West is performing the comedy “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” through 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.

SATURDAY 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/.

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

SUNDAY

Rockies Springtime art show: Shadow Mountain Gallery will display artists’ renditions of springtime in a wide range of media from March 5 through April 29. One-of-akind 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.

UPCOMING

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.

THURSDAY

Evergreen Audubon meeting: Evergreen Audubon’s March 2 chapter meeting will be at 7 p.m. at Evergreen Christian Church or via Zoom. Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Amy Seglund, sensitive species coordinator, and Liza Rossi, bird conservation coordinator, will pres-

FRIDAY, SUNDAY

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, King-Murphy,

“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.

Snowshoe hikes: Explore the beauty of Colorado’s winter wonderland on a guided snowshoe hike

Parmalee Elementary carnival and auction: Parmalee Elementary, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, will host its annual carnival and auction from 4-8:30 p.m. Friday, March 10, at the school. For more information, visit parmalee.je copublicschools.org.

“Chapter Two:” Evergreen Play-

SEE HAPPENINGS, P19

In it to win it: Evergreen girls swimming attributes success to team’s family spirit

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Members of Evergreen’s swim and dive team know they are in it together.

e 32 swimmers and ve divers won the 3A state championship for the fth year in a row last month, continuing to show their dominance in the sport, and they want to continue that winning tradition. Of the entire team, 12 swimmers and three divers competed, and their combined total 422 points handily defeated second-place Discovery Canyon with 333 points.

Four swimmers and a diver the Canyon Courier interviewed said everyone — coaches, swimmers and divers — is all about being a team.

When they talk about their time swimming and diving for Evergreen, they don’t talk about their times or their records; they talk about their team family.

When you’re on a high school team, they said, you’re swimming for your school and for your team, not for yourself.

“At meets, we’re united,” senior Alyssa Cook said. “We want to help the team.”

Most of the swimmers started in the sport at a young age, and they say they quickly learned that swimming was an all-consuming sport with no room for additional sports or a lot of other activities.

For diver Julia Swanke, diving was an extension of the gymnastics she had done most of her life.

While practices can be di cult, the athletes continue because of the relationships they build among fellow athletes and with their coaches.

“It’s a very uplifting community,” said freshman Tally Riddle. “ ey’re fun to be around.”

e Cougars said that building team camaraderie starts with the seniors who are welcoming and encouraging to the younger athletes.

“When I was a freshman, they were super nice and welcoming,” junior Finley Anderson said. “ at is brought down to the younger swimmers. e seniors try hard to include us.”

Senior Lisca De Jager said time trials were nerve-wracking for new swimmers, but the upperclassmen encourage them to get through the process.

Advice to other swimmers, divers e athletes suggest that teammates should cherish the little moments.

“I think back to when I was little,” Anderson said. “I wanted to be in high school, and that time ies by. It gets pretty crazy in high school. It’s such an amazing experience and something I will never forget.”

Riddle suggested that swimmers put in the work, knowing there would be bad and good days.

“ ey will continue to grow, and it will work out in the end,” she said.

Swanke encouraged high school students to try something new like she did when she went out for the dive team.

De Jager called swimming a sport for people of all abilities, no matter whether they are fast and break records or swim for exercise.

Cook suggested that students try swimming because it’s a good sport both physically and mentally.

“I get a lot out of it, and my bests memories are of the team,” she said.

Coaches’ perspective

While the Cougar athletes talked about family, their coaches talked about their talent and putting the team rst.

First-year head coach Steve

Schneiter said he knew of Evergreen’s legacy when he took the coaching job, and he knew there were strong swimmers. What he didn’t know was just how strong they are.

“ e secret to their success is that success builds on success,” added Liz Hudd, who was the Cougars’ swim coach for 21 years before retiring in 2021. “We have a culture of belonging. e team is not just for the elite swimmers. We have swimmers at all levels, and they all feel welcome and supported and part of the team.”

Schneiter agreed, noting that building a welcoming team culture was a priority.

Hudd and last year’s head coach

Lisa

state meet to support the team.

Morrow attributed the team’s success to the swimmers’ work ethic and their understanding of what it takes to be champions.

“We build on character, con dence and camaraderie,” she said. “ e seniors are great leaders, and the team is all about encouraging each other to do their best.”

An outstanding future e Cougar athletes and coaches

foresee more strong seasons and maybe even more state championships in their future, saying the legacy has been built by their predecessors. Since many high school swimmers swim for the Evergreen Hurricanes club team, they see some of the middle school swimmers who will join them in the next few years.

“It will be an adjustment when the seniors go to college, but we will welcome new swimmers to the team,” Riddle said.

Morrow attended the

Evergreen High School’s swim and dive team members, from left, freshman Tally Riddle, senior Alyssa Cook, senior Julia Swanke, junior Finley Anderson and senior Lisca De Jager, were instrumental in Evergreen winning its fifth state championship last month. They stand in front of the school with one of the team’s five trophies.

PHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

Decisions, decisions...

PINE – Boyfriend’s been living in the house for many years, Girlfriend for only a few. e way Girlfriend told it to deputies on Jan. 1, Boyfriend has been acting “increasingly crazy” just lately, and that day he’d shaken her out of a sound sleep to demand she pack her things and hit the dusty trail. Perfectly aware that their relationship was on the skids, and presumably alarmed by Boyfriend’s erratic behavior, Girlfriend decided it was time she “got away” from the situation, only she didn’t have the scratch to set up housekeeping somewhere else. Boyfriend told her he was “tired of paying your bills” and would be happy to meet Girlfriend at his bank and withdraw whatever cash she thought she’d need to start life afresh without him, and it was on the way to the bank that Girlfriend decided to call the cops. After turning it over in her mind, she told deputies, she decided she’d like to stay in the house and make Boyfriend move out. Deputies explained to Girlfriend that Boyfriend enjoyed what could be thought of as senior residency rights,

and that in light of his willingness to bankroll her departure it made more sense that she bunk elsewhere. Deputies stood by as Girlfriend collected a few personal belongings, and as they left the house Boyfriend o ered Girlfriend a thick bundle of bills. “(Nuts to) you!” hissed Girlfriend, too proud to accept the alms. She proudly marched out to her car, proudly drove to the end of the driveway, and proudly stopped there until a deputy walked over to nd out if there was a problem. After brief consultation, the o cer walked back up to where Boyfriend stood and informed him that Girlfriend had decided to take the money after all.

The hardest word EVERGREEN – On Jan. 31, a problematic patron got sideways with the convenience store sta and was formally banished from the premises for ever and all time. On Feb. 1, she came back to the store and feigned “surprise” to discover that “all time” includes tomorrow. She left again, but not before snatching a handful of newspapers o of a rack near the

door and throwing them to the oor. Apparently believing that she might yet recover her mini-mart privileges by a timely show of contrition, she came back to the store a third time ostensibly “to apologize,” but was barred entry by an employee who gured three strikes was enough and called JCSO. She explained to responding deputies that while she couldn’t go inside the store and apologize, she saw no good reason the o cers couldn’t go inside and apologize on her behalf. Deputies were pleased to oblige so long as she understood that a second-hand sorry wasn’t going to win the hearts of the sta and get her back into the mini-mart, nor excuse her from appearing in court on trespassing charges.

About faces

EVERGREEN – Delilah said she was afraid of her neighbor, Dash. Delilah said Dash used to work for her until he got caught committing “fraud.” She said he accosted her while she was shoveling her driveway on Feb. 1 and called her “trash.” She said he told her to “stick

a shotgun in your mouth and pull the trigger.” Delilah said there were “issues” between them and she wanted him charged with harassment. She said Dash owns rearms and she wanted to le a restraining order against him. In the spirit of fair play, deputies o ered Dash a chance to answer Delilah’s accusations. Dash admitted there’s no love lost between their respective households, but denied stoking the res of the feud. at morning, Dash told deputies, Delilah had been deliberately “taunting” him by “making faces,” and he’d politely suggested that she “mind your own business.” Stuck fast between shesaid and he-said, deputies advised Delilah to query the civil courts regarding restraining orders and closed the case.

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

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.

Denver Jewish Film Festival returns for 27th year

Festival

includes screenings of more than 40 films from 14 countries

BY BRUCE GOLDBERG SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

e annual lm festival put on by Denver’s Jewish Community Center is for everyone.

is is something that Richard Cowden wants to stress. e Denver Jewish Film Festival is open to everybody, not just Jewish people.

“We want to attract more nonJews,” said Cowden, general manager of the Mizel Arts and Culture Center at the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center. “We’d love to have people from other cultures want to come in and see lms that are by Jewish people or about a topic from Jewish history or current a airs.”

e 27th annual Denver Jewish Film Festival takes place March 1119 at the JCC Mizel Arts and Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia St. in Denver. A streaming on demand option for the festival will be available from March 20-29.

Independent lms are growing. is year, the festival received more than 300 submissions and is presenting about 40 lms from 14 countries, including full-features, nine shorts and one TV mini-series.

“It makes you realize that the lm world we see is just the tip of the iceberg relative to the amount of content that’s being presented every year,” said Cowden, who’s in his third year of working on the festival. “Ours is but a sliver of the lms that are made.”

Films go through a rigorous screening process, watched by a pre-screening committee, then a lm selection committee. And they watch a ton of lms before choosing the festival lineup, with submissions from all over the world.

“It’s surprising, the growth of lms by people in Israel and internation-

IF YOU GO

The 27th annual Denver Jewish Film Festival at the JCC Mizel Arts and Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia St. in Denver, takes place March 11-19 in-person, and streaming on demand from March 20-29. Tickets are on sale now, and are available for individual screenings and all-access passes. For more information, visit jccdenver.org/film.

ally, the amount of attention that is paid to Jewish lms and stories,” Cowden said. “ ere’s a lot out there.”

Cowden mentioned a few of his favorites.

“Farewell Mr. Ha mann,” opens the festival at 8 p.m. on March 11. e lm is set in Paris in 1941 under German occupation. An employer, Mr. Ha mann, and his employee Francois “are forced to strike a deal which, over the following months, will upend the fate of all concerned,” states the printed program.

“Ha mann has been winning rave views and awards from festivals all around the world,” Cowden said.

Another is a Polish lm called “ e Wedding Day.” It takes place in contemporary times and involves the daughters of a meatpacking magnate. e lm splits into two realities, Cowden said. Some of it is present-day, some visits the dark past of this Polish village.

“ ere’s a lot of going back and a lot of ash forward. Eventually, they become one,” Cowden said. “If people are looking for something day, it’s really fascinating.”

Cowden also points out “ e Swimmer,” which takes place in a parallel reality, where a young Israeli competes for an Olympic spot.

“It’s very fascinating, especially in the category of gay lms,” Cowden said. “It’s an interesting lm because it’s not like a documentary about an Orthodox kid who realizes he’s gay. It’s got an ending that’s unforgettable.”

may force new

Bill would create new board

BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN

Fire chiefs fearing disaster from wild res where open space meets urban areas are joining lawmakers to push for a statewide board with power to de ne so-called wildlandurban interface danger zones and impose preventive building codes on local governments.

A bill for the mandatory codes board is set to be introduced this week by Sen. Lisa Cutter, a Littleton Democrat, but is already raising opposition from local-control advocates who are battling potential statewide impositions on multiple fronts, including a ordable housing. Democratic supporters abandoned a similar idea introduced late in the 2022 legislative session after Republican opponents to the policy threatened to block other measures in protest.

Fire o cials from Colorado Springs to Fairplay are lobbying hard for the uniform codes, citing the 2021 Marshall re in Boulder County, the East Troublesome re that swept through Grand County in 2020, and the 2012 Waldo Canyon re in Colorado Springs as dire wake-up calls to fast-growing communities on the edge of wild reprone landscape.

“Fires aren’t jurisdictional. ey

cross borders,” said Colorado Springs Fire Chief Randy Royal, who is also an o cer in the Colorado State Fire Chiefs.

Recent wild res destroying hundreds of homes in suburban and exurban areas of Colorado have spread through embers blowing o wooden shake roofs, or down into excessive roof venting, Royal said. Uniform preventive building codes could outlaw shake roofs and limit vents, protecting re ghters, residents and property from blazes that explode on

high winds.

“Wild res are a huge problem, and we have to come at them with every tool we have. I’m taking all my cues from the re chiefs,” said Cutter, lead sponsor of the bill that would create the “Wild re Resiliency Code Board.”

“We can harden our homes,” Cutter said. “We obviously continue to build in the WUI, and we need to be responsible about that.”

Local governments who want to retain control over building code

decisions will lobby hard against the bill, already registering their opposition and at the very least looking to soften the draft language.

“We have a number of concerns with what’s being proposed,” said Heather Stau er, legislative advocacy manager for the Colorado Municipal League, which lobbies at the Capitol for towns and cities.

“ e needs of a community on the Front Range may not be the needs

Castle Pines Colorado SHUTTERSTOCK

ers 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.

Evergreen chamber March Madness Mixer:  e Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce will host its March Madness Mixer from 5:30-7 p.m. Friday, March 17 at e Wild Game. For more information, visit evergreenchamber.com.

org/tickets.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Community Bible Study: Several community Bible study groups are available — women (in person and online), co-ed young adults, school age, preschool & babies. is year’s study covers six books of the Bible: Philemon 1, 2, 3, John, Jude and Revelation. In-person classes are ursday morning at Rockland Community Church in Genesee, Tuesday night at Bergan Park Church in Evergreen and Wednesday morning at Conifer Community Church in Conifer. More information is available at cbsclass. org/evergreengolden.

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.

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 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.

DriveSafe scholarship: DriveSafe is o ering a scholarship for students who are graduating from high school, or attending college or trade school. To apply, students must ll out an application form and write an essay or create a video answering the question: “How has learning to drive helped you in ways you didn’t expect?” Entries must be submitted by April 2, and winners will be announced on May 1.

ONGOING

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,

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

History Happy Hour: e Evergreen Mountain Area Historical

Mountain Foothills Rotary meetings: Mountain Foothills Rotary meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays both in person at Mount Vernon Canyon Club at 24933 Club House Circle, Genesee, and via Zoom. Join the Zoom meeting at https://us02web. zoom.us/j/81389224272, meeting ID 813 8922 4272, phone 346-248-7799. Beyond the Rainbow: Resilience1220 o ers Beyond the Rainbow, which is two support groups that meet from 7-8:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month. One is a safe group for those 12-20 and the other is group for parents and caregivers wanting support for raising an LGBTQ child. To RSVP, contact Lior Alon at lior@wisetreewellness.com.

mals. Scout Amelia Vega explained that she really likes Brazilian music.

Malta: e Scouts in Troop 68220 in Lakewood knew where the country was located, and they served a Maltese bean dip to other Scouts. Malta, they said, has the Malta Girl Guides, which is similar to Girl Scouts.

New Zealand: e Brownies in Troop 67377 from Red Rocks Elementary School in Morrison wore skirts and headbands, and talked about sheep, which are raised in the country. New Zealand was the rst country to give women the right to vote.

Japan: Troop 65499 Juniors from Bear Creek Elementary School knew about the Shiba Inu dog breed, Pokémon and more, and they sported beautiful fans.

Poland: Juniors in SkyView Academy’s Troop 8090 provided samples of sausages and cheese, plus kolaczkies, which they made from a recipe from a Scout’s grandmother. ey explained that modern makeup, cotton swabs, walkie-talkies and more came from Poland.

France: Scouts in Troop 68094 at

Ashland Crossman, a fifth grader at Parmalee Elementary School, stamps a mock passport that Girl Scouts used to go through all of the tables at World Thinking Day.

Stone Mountain Elementary School in Highlands Ranch learned French words and served croissants to fellow Scouts. At a prior meeting, they tried crepes.

“It’s important to learn about di erent cultures,” Brownie Fiona Whitney said while wearing her French beret.

Fellow Brownie Macy Mielke added: “And we’re having fun.”

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.

PHOTOS BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

CODES

of another community in the mountains,” Stau er said. “It’s appropriate for local governments to have input on these decisions.”

Gov. Jared Polis’ o ce indicated he could support the idea with some changes.

“ e Governor’s team is working with the sponsors and stakeholders to ensure legislation ts with his goals of making Colorado safer and reducing home prices,” Polis’ o ce said, in a statement on the draft language.

Local governments also worry statewide codes would create expensive standards for homeowners and homebuilders, exacerbating housing shortages. ey also complain the building code would represent an unfunded mandate on local authorities, who would have to inspect and enforce the rules.

Local o cials might consider supporting a statewide board creating model codes that cities and counties could choose to adopt, Stau er said. Negotiations have also oated the idea of a code board de ning a “menu” of tighter codes that local governments could mix and match to suit their conditions.

Cutter rejects that idea out of hand.

“ e menu idea won’t y,” she said. “ is is long overdue, to get on the same page.”

e other lead sponsors for the

mandatory codes bill include Sen. Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs, and Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs.

e code board legislation would:

First require the appointed board to set the geographic boundaries of wildland-urban interface zones across the state where new codes would apply.

Adopt minimum building and landscaping codes for local governments to pass, though cities and towns could make them tougher than the state minimum.

Establish a petition process for local governments to appeal and modify the codes.

Allow the governor to appoint 10 members of the board, the legislature to appoint 10 more members, and name three subject matter expert board members participating ex-o cio.

e codes would apply to new residential buildings; how much renovation of an existing home would trigger a mandatory code update is still to be negotiated.

e re chiefs’ association says members are ready to push back against local o cials’ arguments that they understand the wild re threat and will make changes.

“ en why haven’t you done something already? Really simple question,” said Garry Briese, executive director of the Colorado State Fire Chiefs. “As a result of the inaction of local jurisdictions we have a statewide problem that doesn’t respect political boundaries, that is incredibly destructive, and some-

1-877-328-1512

thing has to be done.”

e Marshall re at the end of 2021 burned nearly 1,100 homes and caused more than $2 billion in damage as it swept east from Marshall Mesa through Superior and Louisville. ough a report on the re’s origins is still pending, the wild re was fanned by 100 mph winds that pushed embers across grassland and into subdivisions bordering open space.

East Troublesome in the fall of 2020 burned close to 200,000 acres and 366 houses, with $543 million in damage. Winds whipped embers over the Continental Divide, burning large portions of Rocky Mountain National Park and forcing evacuation of Estes Park before it was stopped in Beaver Meadows.

e Waldo Canyon re destroyed about 350 homes and forced thousands to evacuate from western Colorado Springs, Woodland Park and Manitou Springs, causing $450 million in damage. It was followed the next year by the Black Forest re in more wildland-urban terrain northeast of Colorado Springs, resulting in nearly 500 lost homes.

Colorado Springs enacted tough building codes after Waldo Canyon, including banning shake roofs, lowering the number of roof vents, moving decorative grasses and other ammable shrubs away from buildings, and more.

Many re chiefs see the 2002 Hayman re, which swept up from Lake George toward the southwest Denver metro area, as a marker for a new era in preparing for wildland-urban

re ghting.

“If we had just started this after the Hayman re, we wouldn’t be having this discussion today,” Briese said. “We would have re resistant roofs, we’d have all sorts of other things. So here we are, 20 years after Hayman, trying to play catch up, because the residences in the WUI have exploded in the meantime. e problem has gotten geometrically bigger and more complicated by inaction.”

Uniform codes could help address other growing problems for Coloradans, including nding a ordable insurance — or even any insurance policy at all — for homes that insurance companies say are indefensible from re, bill advocates said.

Cutter cites studies showing that for every $1 spent on hardening homes and landscapes in the interface areas, between $4 and $8 in damage is prevented.

Slowing wild res from hopping from home to home and getting out of control in one part of the state makes a di erence hundreds of miles away, Cutter said, with implications not just for property damage but for air quality and other issues.

“If there’s a re in Glenwood Springs,” she said, “we can’t breathe in Denver.”

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.

Cities could allow ‘overdose prevention centers’ under bill

Democrats push measure

BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado cities could let “overdose prevention centers,” where people would be allowed to openly use illicit drugs under the supervision of health care workers or other trained sta , operate within their boundaries under a bill introduced in the state legislature by four Democrats.

House Bill 1202 is part of a yearslong debate around the centers, also sometimes called safe-use or supervised-injection sites. e centers would be designed to o er sterile drug-consumption paraphernalia and fentanyl test strips, as well as referrals to counseling.

e driving idea behind the measure is to provide a place where people could ingest drugs purchased illegally and be quickly revived if necessary with naloxone, a drug used to reverse opioid overdose.

e measure does not mandate that cities open the centers; it simply gives them the option to open them.

ere is no funding attached to the bill. Denver’s City Council in 2018 voted to allow a pilot safe-use site near the state Capitol, but without backing from the legislature the proposal zzled.

e lead sponsors of the bill are Reps. Elisabeth Epps of Denver and Jenny Willford of Northglenn, as well as Sens. Kevin Priola of Henderson and Julie Gonzales of Denver.

“Preventable drug overdoses are a public health crisis that impact every Colorado community and are a matter of both local and state concern,”

says the bill’s preamble, which is much longer than the policy itself. “For far too long, Colorado has disproportionately favored a crimi-

nal justice approach to substance use disorders instead of prioritizing

public health. … It is in the public interest and would serve Colorado’s goal of saving lives and preventing overdose deaths to a rm that overdose prevention centers are permissible under Colorado law.”

Epps, the top House sponsor of the measure, refuses to speak with e Colorado Sun. Priola is the No. 1 sponsor of the bill in the Senate.

“It will save lives,” Priola said of House Bill 1202. He said the measure will give municipalities a localcontrol option to decide for them-

selves whether they want to allow the centers.

In 2019, Priola worked on similar draft legislation with then-Sen. Brittany Pettersen, a Lakewood Democrat, but there was erce pushback from Republicans at the Capitol and the bill was never introduced.

Priola was a Republican in 2019. He switched his party a liation to Democrat last year. Pettersen is now a U.S. representative.

Gov. Jared Polis has expressed skepticism about safe-use sites and may veto the measure should it arrive on his desk. It’s unclear if there is even enough political support at the Capitol to pass House Bill 1202. e measure already has 26

cosponsors in the House and ve cosponsors in the Senate, all of them Democrats. However the list of cosponsors doesn’t include House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, nor Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder.

ere are 65 representatives in the House and 35 members of the Senate. Republicans, whose numbers are limited at the Capitol, are certain to ght the measure.

Priola said the large number of cosponsors and a better understanding about drug use means the measure is “highly likely” to pass.

e bill was assigned to the House Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services Committee, but

hasn’t been scheduled for its rst hearing.

ere are safe-use sites in New York City and e orts are underway to open similar centers in other parts of the U.S. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, vetoed a measure that would have allowed a trial run of safe-use sites in some of that state’s biggest cities.

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.

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1. GEOGRAPHY: Which river ows through the European capitals of Vienna and Budapest?

2. SCIENCE: At what temperature are Fahrenheit and Celsius equal?

3. TELEVISION: e comedy series “Frasier” is a spino of which sitcom?

4. LITERATURE: Which novel features a character named Katniss Everdeen?

5. FOOD & DRINK: What kind of beans are used in falafel?

6. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a beaver’s home called?

7. THEATER: Which musical features a character named Tracy Turnblad?

8. MOVIES: Which actress plays the young Wendy Darling in the movie “Hook”?

9. HISTORY: Who invented the game of lacrosse?

10. SCIENCE: What percentage of the world’s population has brown eyes?

Answers

1. e Danube River.

2. -40.

3. “Cheers.”

4. “ e Hunger Games.”

5. Chickpeas or fava beans.

6. A lodge, or a den.

7. “Hairspray.”

8. Gwyneth Paltrow.

9. Iroquois tribes in the eastern United States and Canada.

10. 70%-80%.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

NOW HERE’S A TIP

* If you have a plastic-bristle broom that is starting to get really ragged and it’s time to replace it, don’t get rid of it. Turn it into a scrub broom. Trim the bristles down to about an inch. You can even cut them at an angle. en you can use this broom to scrub stubborn spots. e bristles are nice and tight when they are so short.

* Check your windshield wiper blades. Are they smeary? Before you replace them, use a paper towel and rubbing alcohol to clean the blades. ey might have life left in them yet!

* Still re season in your neck of the woods? Most of us know not to burn magazine inserts or anything plastic, but did you know that you CAN add some spice to your re? Save the peel from your citrus fruits (oranges, tangerines, grapefruit -- even lemons and limes) to add to your re. ey burn well, and they smell great!

* “We had a piece of linoleum left over when we replaced the kitchen ooring. It was almost a perfect size to put over

our picnic table. We use it for crafts and whenever we don’t want anything to fall through the boards. It stores neatly against the wall behind our outdoor shelves when we aren’t using it!” -- R. in Minnesota

* If you have a light bulb that has broken o in the socket and you need to get it out to replace it, use needle-nose pliers to grab the metal ring and unscrew it. Be sure to turn the light o rst! If that doesn’t work, you might be able to use a bar of soap to grab any glass shards sticking out, and unscrew it that way.

* “When I put on my stockings, I put on my dish gloves rst. It sounds silly, but I do not have any snags in my stockings, and the grip of the gloves makes them easy to pull up and adjust for a perfect t.” -- W.M. in New York

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

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

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‘Speaking with Light: Contemporary Indigenous Photography’

Showing now through May 22 at the Denver Art Museum

BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

In 1977, writer and philosopher Susan Sontag said in her book, “On Photography,” that “to photograph people is to violate them, by seeing them as they never see themselves, by having knowledge of them that they can never have; it turns people into objects that can be symbolically possessed.”

Photography can tell a thousand stories. roughout the past several decades, visual anthropologists have studied Sontag’s work along with that of other writers, researchers and philosophers. Some anthropologists argue that the purest form of photography is that which is captured by the individual, documenting their own life and shining a light on selfhood, human behavior and even deep, personal struggle.

At the Denver Art Museum’s newest photography exhibition entitled “Speaking with Light: Contemporary Indigenous photography,” more than 30 Native photographers have come together to tell their own personal stories of struggle, erasure, anger and stereotyping. ey’ve also visually depicted their stories of humor, joy, perseverance and the Native spirit.

“As an exhibition, one of the aims of the artists is to reclaim and takeback the narrative about Indigenous people in North America. It is people who are given a voice and an opportunity to make pictures that address a lot of historical issues about stereotyping, invisibility, poverty and violence. But it isn’t all about that,” said Eric Paddock, curator of photography at the Denver Art Museum. “It isn’t all about blame or throwing the darker parts of our history into high relief. It does that, but there are also pictures that express the importance of family, and of community, and the value of memory in the everyday lives of Indigenous people. In those respects. ey’re not that di erent from the needs and hopes of other people.”

“Speaking with Light” is one of the rst major museum surveys to

IF YOU GO

The “Speaking with Light: Contemporary Indigenous Photography” is on display at the Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy. through May 22. The exhibition will be included in general admission, which is free for everyone 18 and under every day, as well as museum members. To learn more, visit denverartmuseum.org.

explore the practices of Indigenous photographers working over the past three decades. e exhibition was organized by the Amon Carter Museum of Art in Fort Worth, Texas, where it debuted before its presentation in Denver. It includes new commissions and recently acquired works from the Amon Carter Museum’s collection alongside loans from artists and other institutions.

e colorfully curated exhibit is divided into four sections. e exhibit takes visitors on a journey of the Native experience, beginning with depictions of Native people taken by White photographers, and ending with a story of resilience.

e rst section entitled Prologue: State to State features photographs made by White photographers when Indigenous leaders traveled to Washington, D.C. for treaty negotiations. ose leaders may not have been happy about what they heard from the U.S. government, but they projected strength, agency and dignity in the photography studios.

Indigenous photographer Will Wilson’s “Talking Tintype” portrait of Enoch Haney, former principal chief of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, vividly carries these early photographic encounters into the present day, tracing a through line to questions of identity, governance and sovereignty in the 21st century.

In the second section entitled Survivance: An Ongoing Process, Native photographers use humor, pathos, anger and declaration to defy erasure and stereotyping, and to demand recognition of Indigenous existence, rights and cultural commitment.

Section three is called Nation. In this section, photographs depict the relations Native individuals have to their communities and show that they are central to Indigenous identity. Artists delve into what it

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Roxborough Water and Sanitation District of Douglas and Jefferson County, Colorado, will make final payment at the offices of Roxborough Water and Sanitation District, 6222 N. Roxborough Road, Littleton, CO 80125, on or after 12:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 15, 2023, to Velocity Constructors, Inc. for all work done by said Contractor on the Roxborough Lift Station Pump P-201 Replacement contract, all of said construction located at the Roxborough Water and Sanitation District Lift Station at 11290

Rd., Littleton, Colorado, and at the Roxborough Water Sanitation District Transition Vault at 8160 S. Platte Canyon Rd., Littleton, Colorado,

in the counties of Douglas 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 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.

means to belong and question how dislocation, forced assimilation or disconnection impact the concept of nationality.

Indigenous Visualities is the title of section four. It depicts photographs that lift Indigenous voices, embracing spirit and a deep connection with the natural world. e works push back against colonial narratives to demonstrate that Indigenous voices are integral in the ever-evolving social landscape.

“Speaking withLight” concludes with an interactive touchscreen where visitors can explore the work of many more Indigenous photographers through the online database, Indigenous Photograph. roughout the exhibition, visitors will encounter short videos and hear insights about the work from artists themselves.

“ is is a pretty special thing that doesn’t come along every day,” said Paddock. “ e people of Denver should come see this exhibition because it shows that there is a huge

realm of photography that isn’t on everyone’s radar, that we haven’t been seeing in museums, or reading about in the art press until very recently.”

Cara Romero (Chemehuevi, b. 1977), “Water Memory,” 2015. This is one of the pieces on display part of the “Speaking with Light: Contemporary Indigenous Photography exhibit” at the Denver Art Museum. PHOTOS COURTESY

Zig Jackson (Mandan/Hidatsa/Arikara, b. 1957), “Indian Man on the Bus, Mission District, San Francisco, California,” 1994. This is one of the pieces on display part of the “Speaking with Light: Contemporary Indigenous Photography exhibit” at the Denver Art Museum.