BY TEDDY JACOBSEN TJACOBSEN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
After the rst Evergreen Jazz Festival in 2001, organizers and musicians alike were not sure whether there would be a second. Now, 22 years and 19 festivals later, the event is stronger than ever.
BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e Je erson County Public Library board will hear recommendations for providing better services for Conifer when it meets on Aug. 17 after hearing feedback from the community on what it wants from its library.
Nearly 650 people participated in meetings, surveys and interviews in May, and their message was obvious, Ryan Wallace with consultant EUA told the library board on July 20.
Conifer library users want more materials to check out, a better location, better parking and the library to be open more hours, according to the survey results. People want a library with places for quiet reading and small meetings, a focus on the materials available for diverse user
SEE LIBRARY, P18
Annual event o ers something for everyone
e 20th anniversary Evergreen Jazz Festival July 28-30 hosted around 2,000 people, according to Jim Reiners, the festival’s marketing director. e music was endless from Friday to Sunday across ve venues in town with a mix of local and national bands.
Reiners is the last of the original seven event organizers. He said attendance and nances were the most signi cant issues for the rst event.
“ e rst one was a marvelous musical event and a nancial disaster,” Reiners said.
e seven organizers decided to take 2002 o to develop a fundraising and business plan. Since then, the festival has marched on yearly, only missing one more due to the pandemic.
Festival organizers also tout the high caliber of performers who participate in the festival each year. Reiners said that expectations started from the beginning with the founder of the event, Sterling Nelson, who died in 2020. Nelson selected which bands played each year.
Many of the musicians that performed this year had a long history with the event. Jon-Erik Kellso, trumpeter and leader of James Dapogny’s Chicago Jazz Band, said they performed at the rst festival in 2001.
“We’ve lost some of our key members and haven’t played here for nine years, but we decided to reunite for the 20th,” Kellso said.
Reiners said most jazz festivals
across the country are very well traveled with some people traveling from festival to festival to hear the music. Evergreen’s festival is unique because of the town’s scenery and the venues’ intimacy.
“ ere’s a wonderful rapport that gets going between the musicians and the audience,” Reiners said.
Tuba player Bill Clark, the leader of the Queen City Jazz Band with Wende Harston, said his band performed at the second festival in 2003. Clark also lives in the Evergreen area.
“I’m really pleased to see how many local people come out to the festival each year,” Clark said. “You don’t see that in too many other places.”
Hal Smith is another musician who performed at both this year’s festival and the rst one, but with two di erent bands. He played the drums for Capt. John Royen’s New Orleans Rhythm this year and was with the Roadrunners in 2001.
Smith said performing in Evergreen is much di erent from most of the other locations he performs at across the country.
“Evergreen is the only place I’ve ever been where a herd of elk interrupted our performance,” he said. “I guess they wanted to check out the music.”
Reiners said the festival is the perfect casual environment to meet some of the best jazz musicians in the country who have been performing for decades.
“ ese (musicians) are the real deal,” he said. “It’s so easy here to just go up and talk to them because they want to talk to you, too. I think that’s why everybody likes coming back.”
BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e Je erson County Sheri ’s O ce continues to look for an unarmed sexual predator targeting female hikers in Flying J Ranch Park in Conifer.
Anyone who was hiking in the park in the last month who saw anything unusual or suspicious should contact the sheri ’s o ce at 303-2710211, according to spokeswoman Karlyn Tilley. As of July 31, the person had not been apprehended.
“Even something they think might be nothing,” Tilley said. “If they got an uncomfortable feeling and remember seeing someone who ts the description in the park, we would like to know the day and time they saw this person.”
e suspect is described as a white male, 20-30 years old, t/athletic build with dark-colored hair. He has carried a dark-colored backpack in some cases. In each incident, the suspect has run o into the woods, avoiding capture.
Tilley said the department knows that discussions have cropped up on social media, and investigators want to hear from those people, too, especially since the man’s behavior has become more aggressive.
Deputies have taken seven reports so far, with six incidents in Flying J and one at Alderfer ree Sisters Park. e rst report involving this suspect occurred on April 3, when a naked man approached a female hiker and touched her buttocks, according to a press release. He ed the area and was not located by law enforcement.
On June 13, a naked man confronted a female victim and began masturbating. He contacted three women on July 18 in which he fondled two victims, masturbated and engaged in sexual conversation. On July 24, the man confronted a female hiker while masturbating, and then grabbed the victim and tried to rip o her clothing.
Tilley said extra patrols are in the area, and signs have been erected at trailheads to warn hikers about the potential danger.
“We are trying to do everything we can to keep our community safe,” Tilley said. “We want people to understand that it’s still happening, and he’s still at large.”
e Sheri ’s O ce suggests hiking with a friend or family member, not walking o trail, taking a phone with you, being aware of those around you and reporting anything suspicious immediately.
Momentum for new skate park
Skateboarding enthusiasts have asked the Evergreen Park & Recreation District board to put funding for a new skate park into Step 1 projects in the strategic plan.
Step 1 projects are those the board believes can be funded in the next ve to 10 years if voters approve extending a property tax set to expire in 2025. e board is in the nal stages of completing a strategic plan that will include lists of Step 1 and Step 2 projects.
Step 2 projects are those that could be completed if voters in 2024 or later approve additional money in a bond. e board has not o cially decided whether to ask voters to extend the property tax in November.
at decision is expected to be made at a special meeting on Sept. 5.
Matt Buzas, who has been spearheading the e ort to create a new skate park in Evergreen, told the EPRD board on July 25 that a skate park would be between 10,000 and 12,000 square feet, and cost between $500,000 and $900,000. Skaters — the term for those who ride skateboards — would prefer the park to be located in Buchanan Park.
Evergreen has a skate park behind the Wulf Recreation Center, which is
outdated, secluded and not conducive to being a gathering place for skaters, according to the Evergreen Skatepark Coalition, the organization Buzas and his family created.
“We don’t want (a new skate park) to be an eyesore,” Buzas said. “ is would not be a skate park just for us skaters but something where the community can gather. We believe it would integrate into the overall community.”
He said the Skatepark Coalition would help with fundraising and designing the facility.
“We would like to see it as a Step 1 priority,” Buzas said, “I know a big focus is repairing and maintenance of rec district facilities. I think another big focus is having parks that are highly visible and community gathering spaces where kids and adults can play. We ask for your support in making this a priority for the
community.”
Buchanan Rec Center to close for maintenance
e Buchanan Park Recreation Center will be closed Aug. 14-16 for maintenance, cleaning and repairs. e Buchanan pool will remain closed through Aug. 20. Wulf Recreation Center including
40% year, become revenues too. & July was budgeted. public not participate cause owned to 2023-24 mean their more
WHISKY
CLANS/GENEALOGY
CELTIC
VENDORS
BRITISH DOGS
POLO MATCH (SAT.)
BRITISH CARS (SUN.)
its pool will continue operating at normal hours. If you have questions, contact Bob Schmitz, facility operations manager, at bschmitz@eprd.co or 720-880-1113.
Lake House revenue increasing Revenue at the Evergreen Lake House is exceeding both last year’s revenue and 2023 budget projections.
Lake House Manager Krista Emrich said both ice skating revenues for the 2022-23 season and Lake House rentals in 2023 are up 40% this year compared with last year, and now that the weather has become more summer-like, boating revenues are beginning to increase, too.
Emrich told the Evergreen Park & Recreation District board on July 25 that ice skating revenue was $342,000 when $307,000 was budgeted. e board reminded the public that Evergreen residents cannot be given discounts to skate or participate in any lake activities because the Evergreen Lake property is owned by Denver.
Emrich said EPRD will have access to the entire warming hut in the 2023-24 skating season, which will mean more space for skaters to leave their shoes and other items, plus more inside seating. Last year, skat-
ers had access to half of the building.
In addition, the Lake House will be open Monday through ursday when an event is not scheduled to provide more space for people to warm up. ey won’t be able to wear skates in the Lake House.
Lake House rental revenue was $253,000 between January and June, when $182,000 was budgeted. Emrich said Saturdays between May and October 2024 already are booked.
To balance rentals with community events, EPRD has added bridge, senior disco, comedy nights, community boating, teen nights and
more.
Emrich said boating has kicked into high gear thanks to better weather. Revenue in the rst two weeks of July was more than May and June combined, and boating was open only 10 full days in June because of the rainy weather. Night boating will be available on Fridays until school starts, she said.
e summer concerts have been well attended, and attendees have seemed to like the local talent performing this year, she said.
War memorial
e Daughters of the American
Revolution and American Legion Post 2001 want to place a plaque commemorating those who died in the Revolutionary War at the war memorial in Buchanan Park.
Evergreen Park & Recreation District board members will check out the location for the plaque and its size to ensure that it is compatible with the existing plaques commemorating those whose lives were lost in other wars. Assuming it is compatible, the EPRD board endorsed its installation.
e organizations will pay for the 24-inch by 24-inch plaque and to have it installed.
Sam Gyllenhaal and his band are driving nearly 1,200 miles to Conifer from Nashville to perform at the fourth annual ConiferFest on Aug. 12, simply because a friend wanted him to.
Gyllenhaal, leader of the Sam Gyllenhaal Band, said he met songwriter John Cirillo, who split his time between Bailey and Nashville, around 10 years ago in Nashville. e band will visit Colorado for the rst time thanks to years of pushing from John, who died of brain cancer last September.
“He just always raved about how much he loved Colorado and would say, ‘You need to get yourself out here,’” Gyllenhaal said. “So, I’m nally getting the chance.”
John’s wife, Ruth Cirillo, said: “Two of the best decisions we ever made were moving to Nashville and getting a place up in Bailey.”
Suzanne Barkley, the Cirillos’ neighbor and co-founder of ConiferFest, said she met the couple around ve years ago, and they helped with the rst festival in 2020. Barkley said she met Gyllenhaal last November after he performed at John’s celebration of life in Nashville.
“We had to bring this Nashville talent here because people will love it,” Barkley said. “And it’s to honor John, really, in his contributions to music and the talent that he’s worked with.”
After a successful career as a business owner, Ruth said they retired to Nashville in 2011 to pursue John’s lifelong passion of writing songs. She said he found his niche in the industry through primarily writing with young singer/songwriters and mentoring them.
ConiferFest music festival is from 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Aug. 12 in the open space adjacent to Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church in Conifer. Tickets are $10 at the gate. Food from food trucks, beer, wine and margaritas will be available at an additional cost. Parking is free. For more information, visit coniferfest.com.
“He was a sort of father gure, brother gure and mentor gure all rolled into one for me,” Gyllenhaal said.
He said a common thing performers do in Nashville when they introduce a song is to say who they wrote it with.
“You would hear the phrase, ‘I wrote this one with John Cirillo’ just so often,” Gyllenhaal said.
Ruth said the custom brings a di erent level of value to a song because audiences can understand where it came from. She said John introduced the idea to Barkley and the other festival organizers.
“ e music lives on,” Ruth said. “And John has left such a legacy with his music.”
Four-band lineup
ConiferFest will feature four bands in total. Aside from the Sam Gyllenhaal Band, the other newcomer is Magoo the Band, a bluegrass band from Denver.
“Music festivals like ConiferFest have always served as a means to bring people together in support of great causes,” said Erik Hill, the guitarist of Magoo the Band. “We are super grateful to be able to share our music and help spread joy to the people of Conifer.”
Who’s omas, a band consisting of recent Conifer High School graduates, is returning, along with Captain Quirk from Peoria, Ill.
ConiferFest is a fundraising event for the Rotary Club of Conifer, which uses the proceeds to provide
grants to area nonpro ts and school groups. Gyllenhaal will perform at the beginning and end of the festival.
“ ere’s a killer lineup of talented musicians and great local sponsors,” Hill said. “So it ought to be an amazing fest.”
Alpine Music Exchange and Juniper Music
Rocky Mountain Music Exchange in Evergreen’s Canyon Commons has morphed into two businesses: Alpine Music Exchange, which o ers instruments and vinyl, and Juniper Acoustics, which o ers music lessons for all ages.
Tyler Hutchins, an audio engineer and musician, and Erin Rich, who was the Bergens’ music teacher, teamed up both personally and professionally to create this musical space. ey say they have learned a lot from Bill Davis, who started the Rocky Mountain Music Exchange almost 10 years ago and now is retiring.
Alpine Music Exchange is named after the couple’s husky, Alpine.
Rich said she started giving private lessons while teaching at the Bergens, and the demand for private violin, viola, ukulele and piano lessons continued to grow. Last summer, she wandered in the Rocky Mountain Music Exchange to look for a new
ukulele, rented a small room to give lessons and then learned Davis was retiring.
Hutchins was interested in running the music store, while Rich decided to make private lessons a full-time job.
She said having the Evergreen School of Music nextdoor was symbiotic, creating a hub for creativity, and there doesn’t seem to be a shortage of music students.
Alpine Music Exchange at 3997 Evergreen Parkway is open from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Rich at Juniper Acoustics, which is nextdoor, can be reached at erin@ juniperacoustics.com.
If you’re looking for sweets or gifts, Sugar Jones in Bergen Village might be just the place.
e shop, which opened in midApril near where HearthFire Books & Treats used to be, showcases Keith Meyers’ candies. Keith looks at himself as a candy maker – creating fudge, candy bars, marshmallows, nut clusters, brittles and bark.
e Pine resident, who worked in the board-game industry for 35 years, began dabbling in making candy about ve years ago when he came across a great fudge recipe and made it better. After ve years, he said, laughing, his wife Brenda was tired of him clogging up the home kitchen making candy.
So the couple decided to open a shop – focusing on candy and using Brenda’s retail skills to add a unique gift shop. ey named the shop Sugar Jones because they thought
it was a hip name, and as you walk into the shop, you will nd a gure personifying Sugar Jones as a sassy cowgirl.
Her gure friends help de ne the other vignettes in the shop for romantics, home/entertainment, a nature lover, creative soul and more. Near the gures are gifts for that type of person.
Ilove baseball. I have loved it since my Dad introduced the sport to me as a little kid. One of the proudest moments of my young life was making my very large high school’s baseball team. I remember the joy of telling my No. 1 fan, my dad, “I made the team.” I grew up near Cincinnati, so I experienced both disappointment during the Red’s struggling years and the overwhelming joy the “Big Red Machine” brought to their fans. Beating the hated Yankees in four in the 76 World Series was beyond great.
In the last few years, baseball has dropped in fan enthusiasm. Some question its title as the “national pastime.” e games are too long and some who are not familiar with all baseball’s nuances say games can be boring. But the game has reformed itself. It added time clocks like basketball’s shot clock. Pitchers have 15 seconds to throw the ball when no one is on base and 20 seconds when men are on base. Batters must be in the batter’s box with eight seconds on the clock. is strict timing has knocked 36 minutes o the
JIM ROHRER Columnist
average game time. at’s not all. e bases have been made 3 sq. inches larger, therefore they are slightly closer to each other. Big deal, you say. It is a big deal as now 80% of all base stealing is successful. is year’s base stealing is on target to be the highest ever. It’s an attempt to bring back a game like those days of Jackie Robinson and Maury Wills. Teams are no longer allowed to put more than two in elders on one side of second base. at change has allowed more hits and batting averages are up a whopping 16 points. More action and more excitement have brought fans back and attendance is up 5% so far this season. Good job, baseball. But more work needs to be done. Consider the famous quote in the movie/book “Moneyball.” “ ere are rich teams and poor teams, it’s not a fair game.” is is not because of ticket sales, but rather the TV and ra-
dio income generated by large markets over small markets. e Rockies attendance in a poor year was just under 1.6 million fans while the New York Yankees drew 2.1 million. What really makes the di erence is the mega millions large market teams draw from TV and radio revenues. Last year the Yankees made $143 million from their media deal while the Rockies made just about $20 million. As a result, the Rockies $178 million player payroll, which was about in the middle among all teams, was barely half the NY Mets $348 million payroll. More money means a team can a ord to keep the superstars whose competitive value is high like Nolan Arenado. e Rockies lost him as he signed a $260 million deal. He went to St. Louis which has a smaller population than Denver, but the Cardinals recently signed a $1 billion media deal because of the massive size of their fan network.
Major League Baseball is the only major sport without a salary cap. Football, basketball and hockey all restrict the amount teams can spend on player salaries. Baseball has a
provision to which owners agreed to ne teams whose total salaries are above the year’s agreed upon limit. e big markets with lots of cash just overspend and pay the luxury tax, which was $200 million last year. If my discussion of salary caps and such makes it seem that baseball is all about money, that’s not my intent. It may be this way to the owners, but to the fans and players, it is about the thrill of winning. Recently the lowly Rockies came from behind twice in the same game to defeat the mighty Yankees. ey won two of three here in Denver in front of sellout crowds. e celebration on the eld and in the stands looked like the Rockies had just won the world series. Maybe they will someday, but even if they don’t, I will continue to root, root, root for the home team.
Jim Rohrer of Evergreen is a business consultant and author of the books “Improve Your Bottom Line … Develop MVPs Today” and “Never Lose Your Job … Become a More Valuable Player.” Jim’s belief is that common sense is becoming less common. Contact Jim at jim.rohrer2@ gmail.com.
When we’re young, the art and entertainment we connect to can really take a hold and shape who we are and what we like. Usually, that art remains in our past — something we think of fondly occasionnaly. But every now and then it gets an update that turns it into something else.
at’s the case with “Avenue Q: e Musical,” the new production at Miners Alley Playhouse, 1224 Washington Ave. in Golden. e show is an adult modernization of the kind of puppet-driven storytelling that has been a part of growing up for years.
“So many of us have memories of these kinds of stories, but this is more about real life,” said director Warren Sherrill. “ e overall theme
COMING ATTRACTIONS
is that no matter how well we prepare ourselves in life, there are going to be curveballs, disappointments and unknowns that mess things up. ings get worse and then better.”
“Avenue Q” runs at Miners from Friday, Aug. 11 through Sunday, Sept. 17. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. ursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
According to provided information, the musical focuses on Princeton (David Otto), a recent college grad who has moved into a run-down New York City apart-
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MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com
ment on Avenue Q. As he meets neighbors and makes friends (with a cast that includes Ava Francis, Mike Martinkus, Keandra Hunt, Emily Gerhard, Carter Edward Smith and Corey Exline) they try to nd jobs, relationships and meaning in life. e production features music direction from Susan Draus, who has served as musical director for “ e Book of Mormon,” “Mamma Mia” and many more.
“ e show is a bit cartoonish because of the puppets, so I wanted to add more cute and funny sounds to the score,” Draus said. “I really want the music to match the show — when it’s funny, the music should be funny and when it’s tender, it should be tender.”
As if working with puppets, which were designed by Cory Gilstrap,
KRISTEN FIORE West Metro Editor kfiore@coloradocommunitymedia.com
DEB HURLEY BROBST Community Editor dbrobst@coloradocommunitymedia.com
wasn’t a big enough challenge, there were also the normal challenges of staging a musical in an intimate space. But Draus said it was great fun to be a part of the project.
“I love what they’re doing a Miners Alley,” she said. “ ey have such a wonderful sense of humor and a great kindness and lightness. e audience is going to have a blast.”
What makes the show unique isn’t the puppets — it’s the searchingly human way topics like racism and LGBTQIA+ issues are examined. And that deep humanity is what Sherrill hopes audiences take away from the production.
“ e puppets allow the meaning and messages to be more subtle, instead of right in your face. It allows
SEE READER, P9
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Slap schtick
CONIFER – Rory Roomer called JCSO on the morning of July 4 to report reworks between himself and Larry Landlord. According to Rory, Larry got mad because “I had a friend stay over last night.” Larry punctuated his pique by “slapping” Rory across the kisser. Before deciding on a charge, deputies asked Rory if the open-handed assault hurt much. “Nah,” shrugged Rory, trotting out a smartphone video of the actual assault. Not perceptibly sorry, Larry didn’t bother denying the deed but did ask o cers for advice on de-tenanting his domicile. Deputies provided Larry with eviction information and a ticket for harassment.
Catch and release
SEDALIA – Taking care of city business on the morning of July 8, the Denver Water employee was chagrined to spy a pair of kayaks upon the reservoir’s placid blue waters. When attempts to hail the forbidden
for boundaries to be broken,” he said. “ ere are important reminders in the show about taking life one day at a time. So much of what we worry about won’t even matter in a year.”
For information and tickets, visit https://minersalley.com/avenue-qthe-musical/.
Get thoughtful at Walker Fine Art’s Evocation exhibition
I think most of us imagine artmaking to be an extremely introspective pursuit and that is often the case, as Evocation, the latest exhibit at Walker Fine Art, 300 West 11th Ave., No. A, in Denver, beautifully explores.
On display through Saturday, Sept. 2, the exhibit features worksVirginia Steck,Matt Christie,Atticus Adams,Kim Ferrer,Peter Illig and Doug Haeussner. According to provided information, the artists use nature and landscape to work their way through memories. e resulting pieces come in a variety of mediums – painting, wall sculpture and mixed media – and invite the viewer to participate in their own introspective process.
All the details can be found atwww.walker neart.com/evocation.
Celebrate highland life at Colorado Scottish Festival
e Denver Polo Club is inviting people to get their Scottish on at the 59thAnnual Colorado Scottish Festival, which will be held at the club, 6359 Airport Road in Sedalia, on Saturday, Aug. 5 and Sunday, Aug. 6.
oaters failed, the employee loaded a JCSO deputy into the agency frigate and intercepted them at sea. Advised that they were sailing into trouble, the mysti ed mariners said they were not aware that kayaks were contraindicated. Advised that they’d had to carry their craft past a busy bank of signs proclaiming exactly that, they said they’d read the words “Attention Anglers” and promptly ignored the rest “because we’re not shing.” A department with a heart, Denver Water declined to press trespassing charges and the sheepish shipmates were released with a warning.
To beam, or not to beam
EL RANCHO – To materially signify their high regard for the blessings of liberty, the family of four gathered outside on the morning of July 3 to ignite “a small fountain rework.” eir gesture captured the attention of a reclusive neighbor, who immediately began “shining a green laser light” at the perplexed patriots. When the narrow spectrum annoy-
SEE SHERIFF’S CALLS, P10
Hosted by the St. Andrew Society of Colorado, the club celebrates all things Scottish — culture, tradition and history. e family-friendly event features a range of activities, including athletics, music and dance, Celtic merchandise, drinks and eats and much more. Spectators can check out the Scottish Games and traditional Irish Step Dancing by the Heritage Irish Stepdancers while sampling haggis, whisky and other delicacies.
Find all the details atwww.scottishgames.org.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — boygenius at Red Rocks
Musical super groups aren’t things we see very often anymore, which is a shame, because even if they’re not always good, they’re usually interesting. Fortunately, boygenius, the group made up of indie/alt-rockers Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus, are not just good, they’re great. e three women are among the sharpest tunesmiths around right now and together they explore the pitfalls of life and relationships with a novelist’s eye for nuance. eir debut full length, “the record” is one of the year’s best releases.
e group’s visit to Red Rocks, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway in Morrison, at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5, is one of the season’s most anticipated concerts. ey’ll be joined by arthouse rockers illuminati hotties, making this a don’t-miss performance. Secure tickets at www.ticketmaster.com.
Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail. com.
omas, a man known equally well by Tom, Tommy, and to his students at Evergreen High School, Mr. Lukich. Tommy was a xture in the Evergreen/ Kittridge area for nearly ve decades and held an even more constant place in our collective lives. And it’s with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our dear friend. Tommy asked us to remember him as lover of life and a true friend - these were his words. To his modest list, we add that Tom was a wonderful and dedicated teacher, a loyal friend, and a loving, dedicated uncle and godparent. omas was a world traveler who was as sophisticated as he was raucous and hilarious, equally at home on the beaches of Mexico as he was on the streets of Italy. Tom was an athlete, a scholar, and
a ghter. And for those who had the honor of knowing him well, he was a gentle, tough, but always accepting friend. Tom asked that his life and his passing be a time to remember him with happiness. And for you omas, we will honor your request. But many of us will also spend our next days in quiet re ection on his passing knowing that we cannot escape the sadness born of losing the man we had the privilege of knowing and loving. Happy trails Tommy, we love you and already miss you.
omas Lukich Memorial Service: Saturday August 19, 10:00 am at the Church of the Trans guration-Episcopal in Evergreen. Reception following at the Elks Lodge in Evergreen.
February 17, 1939 - July 22, 2023
Charles Edward “Hoot”
Wale (84) of Golden, CO passed away July 22nd, 2023 at Columbine Acres, Arvada, CO.
Charles was born on February, 17th, 1939 to Albert E. and Marie Branning Wale in Denver, CO. He graduated from Evergreen High School in Evergreen, CO in 1957.
He married Donna Lisman on Sept. 3rd, 1966 at Christ the King Church in Evergreen CO. He then moved to Georgetown, CO and managed the Red Ram for 2 years. He
became a Heavy Equipment Operator, and eventually went to work for Albert Frei and Sons for 30 years. - He loved his job. He is survived by his Wife, Donna (Golden), daughters Ann Huml and husband Kirk, (Hutchison, KS), Jennifer Duran and husband Vern, (Golden, CO), his friends Perry, Doug Dick, Vic and Sandy - He will be missed. Preceded in death by his parents and brother Al.
December 12, 1939 - July 16, 2023
Richard (Dick) Alexander Vickery, Jr. was born on December 12, 1939 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Elise (Marks) and Richard A. Vickery, the eldest of two children. Graduating from Hatboro-Horsham High School in 1957, Dick earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Dickerson College, Carlisle, PA (1961); a Bachelor of Sacred eology and a Doctor of eology degrees from Boston University School of eology, Boston, MA. (1965 & 1972)
Dick was married to Mary Ann Witt on August 23, 1965. To them were born three children: Mary Ann (Mollie), Christianna (Christie): and Richard Alexander Vickery III (deceased) and ve grandchildren.
Ordained a Deacon in the Philadelphia Annual Conference in 1962, Dick transferred to the Rocky Mountain Conference in 1965, ordained an Elder and admitted into full Conference membership. He served on the sta s of the Washington Park and Grace, Denver, Churches. He was appointed to the Je erson Avenue Church (Wheatridge, CO), University Park Church (Denver, CO), Hope Church (Greenwood Village, CO), Evergreen Church (Evergreen, CO) as interim at Burns Church (Aurora, CO) and in retirement to St. James Church (Central City, CO).
Dick served the Rocky Mountain Conference Council of the Board of Ministry,
Conference Secretary, member of the Conference Council Ministries, Conference Worship Chair, member of the Program & Arrangements Committee, the Rules Committee, Conference Session Petition Coordinator, Legislative Committee Chair, Editor of the Conference Journal and Psychological Assessment Coordinator for the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry.
In the communities he served, Dick was a member of the Salvation Army Service Extension Units and sang with the Evergreen Chorale, including performing in its Broadway musicals (2003 through 2013).
As a foster home, Dick served the Evergreen Protective Animal League (EPAL), rescuing over a hundred dogs, cats, goats and sheep as animal companions.
Dick died on July 16, 2023 at the age of 82. Services to be held on August 12, 2023 at 10:30 am at the University Park United Methodist Church 2180 University Blvd. Denver, CO.
Donations can be provided to; Evergreen Protective Animal League at EPAL.com or e Preservation Fund of St James Methodist Church (P.O. Box 42, Central City, CO. 80427)
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.
Classic movie night: Center Stage is hosting monthly classic movie nights with acclaimed lms from the silent era to the golden age of cinema. It will show “A Dog’s Life” (1918) starring Charlie Chaplin and “Sherlock, Jr.” (1924) starring Buster Keaton at 6:30 p.m. ursday, Aug. 3, at the theater, 27608 Fireweed Drive, Evergreen. Single tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for students. For more information and tickets, visit ovationwest.org.
Free legal clinic: A free legal clinic for people with no attorney will be from 2 to 5 p.m. ursday, Aug. 3. Volunteer attorneys will answer questions, help ll out forms, and explain the process and procedure for all areas of civil litigation. Preregistration for individual 15-minute appointments is available by calling 303-235-5275.
THURSDAY - SATURDAY
“Footloose the Musical”: Stagedoor eater will perform “Footloose the Musical” directed by Jo Gerlick July 28-Aug. 6 at the theater, 25797 Conifer Road, Conifer. Performances are at 7 p.m. Aug. 4-6, and at 2 p.m. July 30 and Aug. 6. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for seniors, educators and students. For more information and tickets, visit stagedoortheatre. org.
SATURDAY
Little White Schoolhouse anniversary: e Little White Schoolhouse in Conifer is celebrating its 100th anniversary starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, at the schoolhouse, 26951 Barkley Road. Rex Rideout & Friends will perform. Bring mementos or share memories for a time capsule. RSVP at ConiferHistoricalSociety.org.
Dam Ducky Derby: Downtown Evergreen’s Dam Ducky Derby will be from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, with the duck drop at 1 p.m. First place duck gets $1,500, second place $1,000 and third place $500. Purchase ducks at downtown businesses and get more information or purchase ducks online at downtownevergreen.com/events/damducky-derby.
Free co ee and doughnuts. Donations bene t Mount Evans Hospice.
SUNDAY
Evergreen Town Race: e Evergreen Town Race will be Aug. 6 in downtown Evergreen. Register for the 5K at Big R and register for the 10K near the Xcel building on Evergreen Parkway. e race is a fundraiser for the Alpine Rescue Team. Both the 5K and 10K courses wind gradually down Upper Bear Creek, with a nish near Evergreen Lake. For more information and to register, visit www.evergreentownrace.org/.
WEDNESDAY
EPRD summer concert series: e Evergreen Park & Recreation district has one concert remaining starting at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 9: Cass Clayton Band at Buchanan Park elds.
Grass on the Gulch: Grass on the Gulch Bluegrass Music Festival will be Aug. 11-13 at 28625 Kennedy Gulch Road in Conifer. For more information, visit grassonthegulch. com.
ConiferFest: ConiferFest music festival will be from 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Aug. 12 in the open space adjacent to Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church in Conifer. Tickets are $10 at the gate, and food from food trucks, and beer, wine and margaritas are an additional cost. Parking is free. For more information, visit coniferfest.com.
Corn Hole Tournament: e third annual Toss for a Cause Corn Hole Tournament will be from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, at the Buchanan ball elds. Up to 64 teams can be entered in the tournament. Proceeds bene t area kids’ programs.
Evergreen Audubon meeting: Evergreen Audubon will meet at 7 p.m. ursday, Aug. 3, at Church of the Trans guration, 27640 Highway 74 on the east end of downtown Evergreen and via Zoom. Evergreen resident Alan Murphy, an awardwinning professional bird and wildlife photographer, will present “Ingredients of a Great Bird Photograph.” More information is at www. EvergreenAudubon.org.
ance started feeling o ensive, Mom told Reclusive to “stop shining a laser at my kids.” Reclusive told Mom to “stay o my property or I will beat you down.” His belligerent response sparked a profane and public “yelling match,” and then a call from Mom to JCSO saying that while she didn’t know if Reclusive was dangerous or not, he was clearly a terrible citizen and an enemy to personal freedoms. Deputies didn’t disagree, but couldn’t nd a charge against him and extinguished the case.
Lights out
EVERGREEN – e supermarket’s sudden loss of electrical power on the night of July 4 opened a bright window of opportunity for one cagey customer who took advantage of
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, Aug. 5, at e Bridge Church at Bear Creek, 3101 S. Kipling St. in Lakewood. For more information, visit https://na0tc.org/.
Cars and Co ee: Cars and Coffee, a show for car enthusiasts, will be from 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays until Aug. 26 in front of Olde’s Garage on Evergreen Parkway. ere’s no registration fee. Bring your classic car or stop in to check out the vehicles.
the darkness to skulk away with “a 6-pack of Coors Light and two small cigars.” Store personnel couldn’t identify the thief by sight, but could tell deputies that he took a long moment to “light o reworks” in the parking lot before driving away in a Nissan Maxima with “music blaring” out of its open windows. O cers pulled the beer bandit over in Indian Hills and advised him that, although the grocery wasn’t pressing charges, he should consider himself permanently exiled from its aisles.
Crunch all you want
EVERGREEN – Young and in love, on Saturday morning Kylie and Travis bethought to drive up Bear Creek Canyon and spend a romantic preIndependence Day weekend at the family cabin. By Sunday night they were “running around on the deck” screaming cruelties at each other and disturbing the neighbors. Deputies called to size up the situation
UPCOMING
“Spirited Flight”: Shadow Mountain Gallery in downtown Evergreen next to Java Groove will host “Spirited Flight” with ight-related art until Aug. 12. e show features birds, insects and other ying creatures. e gallery is open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit www.shadowmountaingallery. com.
found Kylie inside feeling very drunk and “unhappy with the relationship.”
ey found Travis outside pounding down “a bag of Doritos” and feeling like Kylie would come around once she sobered up. Feeling like no crime had occurred, o cers wished them goodbye and good luck.
He’s just big boned
EVERGREEN – Client wanted Contractor charged with harassment. According to her report of July 8, she’d arranged with Contractor to perform some work on her house. On the morning of July 6, Contractor had dropped o “half of the materials” needed for the job, but never returned with the other half. When repeated attempts to reach Contractor regarding a revised delivery scheduled failed, Client informed him by text that she was taking him o of the project, but that she would pay him for the materials already delivered. Suddenly acces-
Yart sale: Shadow Mountain Gallery in downtown Evergreen is hosting a Yart sale on Saturdays, Aug. 12 and Aug. 19. Bring extra and unused art supplies to the gallery by Aug. 19, and they will be distributed to local elementary school programs along with a signi cant portion of the Yart sale proceeds. e gallery is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
Rocky Mountain summers showcase: Shadow Mountain Gallery in downtown Evergreen will host “Flower Power” landscapes from Aug. 13-Sept. 23. e gallery is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
Kids Triathlon: e Kids Triathlon for children 5- to 10-years old starts
SEE HAPPENINGS, P21
sible, Contractor sent Client a string of “nonsensical” messages saying, among other things, that “I will not be treated this way.” Finding his phrasing vaguely threatening, Client informed JCSO deputies, who asked Contractor what he’d been driving at. Contractor admitted to having “an issue” with Client, and said that if his messages to Client were less than perfectly polite it was only because her husband “called me a fat ( unkie).” Deputies found insufcient materials to support a harassment charge and close 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, including the writer’s name, which is a pseudonym. All individuals are innocent until proven guilty.
ADenver-based nonpro t music education organization is helping local rising stars showcase and enhance their musical talents, record music and learn podcasting for free.
Youth on Record, founded by local musician community organizer Flobots in 2008 works with people aged 14 to 24.
“Flotbots’ mission was to bring music to young people to improve academic success and youth outreach, and it grew into what is now known as Youth on Record,” said Haley Witt, a guitar musician and singer-songwriter who manages Youth on Record.
Youth on Record recently rocked at its ninth annual block party in support of youth in music with over 20 live music performances, teen activities and vendors at its o ce location near downtown Denver.
“We have a state-of-the-art recording studio soundboard and all sorts of instruments,” Witt said. “So young people can drop into our programs and learn about mixing, mastering songs and learn about songwriting and instrumentation.”
After school programs
e Youth on Record runs afterschool, out-of-school and in-school programming with Denver Public Schools and Aurora Public Schools middle and high schools.
“We partner with the schools to teach four-credit classes, and we hire local professional artists to teach those classes,” Witt said. “Our Youth on Record teaching artists come to the schools, and the young people are able to learn from them. It’s one way that you nd our Youth on Record programs through the schools.”
Youth on Record also has afterschool programs at the Youth on Record media studio space called the open lab on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and is available to young people from 14 to 24 years old.
“It’s self-guided so that they can explore their interests. ey come into the space with a passion for music, making songwriting production, and we teach them the skill set they need to accomplish the projects they’re passionate about,” Witt said.
Witt said Youth on Record also o er an internship and fellowship program and a fellowship program, both of which are paid programs by donors.
“Youth on Record is a nonpro t organization so donors fund our program,” Witt said.
Witt said Youth on Record has had a lot of talented program graduates.
Baily Elora from Hudson/ Keenesburg Colorado, featured in the Fort Lupton Press, went through the program and signed on with Sony Music Subsidiary e Orchard.
“We are proud of all of our program graduates and all of the various directions that they’re headed, it’s really important to us to connect with young people with economic opportunities, “ Witt said.
Witt said Youth on Records is a pillar of academic success, economic opportunity and community activation.
“Our economic opportunity pillar, it’s really important to us to connect young people to community careers and job opportunities,” Witt said.
Witt said they have young people who play gigs in the community and support booking those gigs and paid opportunities for young people to perform.
Youth on Record also places young people into community internships and fellowships.
“Our fellows will have the opportunity to have community internships with local partners as well. It’s important to us to connect young people to jobs in the industry and to connect them to opportunities in creative elds and show them that it’s possible,” Witt said.
ere also is an open mic every rst Friday, and it is open to the public, where the youth perform and gain experience in combination with all the First Fridays and art walks across the city, speci cally in collaboration with the Santa Fe Art Walk.
“ at’s a program run by our fellows and learn how to put together a music festival, run it, secure porta potties and design posters for the festival and how it ties in economic opportunity. e block party is a youth-led program,” Witt said.
David Ladon, Youth on Record audio arts innovation manager, teaches youth how to do podcast interviews. Ladon has been teaching podcasting for nine years and has worked with Youth on Record for three in a half years.
“We have a podcast show that comes out monthly called ‘Generation Collaboration’ that we produce in collaboration with Colorado young leaders,” Ladon said, adding that they just nished season one and that the podcast airs on KGNU.
“We have another monthly show called ‘Youth on Rewind,’ which is a segment-based show and the tagline podcast amplifying young people’s voices, stories and ideas,” Ladon said.
Ladon said the podcast features segments produced by interns, peer navigators and fellows, covering whatever interests them.
“Our third show is called ‘Underground of the Showcase’ as
the official podcast of the underground music showcase, which Youth and Record helps put on.”
The podcast is hosted and produced by youth interns from 16 to 24 years old.
Ladon said his love for the application of podcast work expanded beyond media production or journalism.
“It gets to the root of socialemotional learning and developing yourself because you’re learning to exercise your voice and get to practice hearing your voice, which is not something we’re all comfortable with,” Ladon said.
Oren Bregman, executive director of the Mobile Studio nonprofit music outreach program has partnered with Youth on Record.
Bregman’s program brings the mobile studio to Denver, Green Valley and Montebello pathway schools in Aurora.
“We focused on singing, rapping, and poetry so we bring our equipment and expertise so students can create music to express themselves and share it online with their family and friends,” Bregman said.
Bregman said Youth on Records helped Mobile Studio get their
first grant and gave them some instruments.
“We are happy to be part of the family,” Bregman said.
Witt said that the young people the programs serve are incredibly talented.
“It blows me away to see the ways that they’re able to cultivate their skills, and it’s inspiring to watch and build strong mentorship relationships with our staff and to feel connected to a sense of community through our programs,” Witt said.
For more information about Youth on Record, visit youthonrecord.org or call 303-993-5226.
Cost of living and housing affordability are the top concerns of Coloradans this year, according to a poll released by the Colorado Health Foundation.
In an open-ended question asking
participants what they thought the most important issue facing Colorado is right now, 16% answered cost of living and 15% answered housing a ordability. Other issues in the top ve were government and politics, public safety and crime, and homelessness.
About 10% of respondents said that homelessness was their top concern for Colorado, with 79% calling the problem “extremely serious” or “very serious.” e results from the 4th annual survey arrived as Denver’s new mayor, Mike Johnston, declared a state of emergency
around homelessness, during his rst full day in o ce.
Polling is conducted over one month through phone, email and text invitations, in English and Spanish. is year’s data includes 2,639 respondents across all ages, races and income brackets, with oversamples of Black/African American, Native American/Indigenous, Asian American and Pueblo County residents.
for policy advocacy communications, which is why the foundation takes larger samples of speci c populations. Montoya said that by sampling larger numbers of smaller populations, they are able to more accurately re ect the experiences of those populations. e data is later weighted to re ect Colorado’s population.
One of the cornerstones of CHF is to serve folks with historically less power or privilege, according to Austin Montoya, senior o cer
Sustainable Lands And Safer Homes. Allows residents to dispose of the wildfire fuel on their property, creating defensible space around their home.
Since the poll’s inception in 2020, the biggest drop in respondents’ top concern was, unsurprisingly, COVID-19, which was top of mind
Organic debris such as tree limbs and branches, known as slash, contributes to the high risk of fire danger in Jefferson County. All slash is composted.
Sustainable Lands And Safer Homes.
Sustainable Lands And Safer Homes. Allows residents to dispose of the wildfire fuel on their property, creating defensible space around their home.
Allows residents to dispose of the wildfire fuel on their property, creating defensible space around their home.
Organic debris such as tree limbs and pine needles, known as slash, contributes to the high risk of fire danger in Jefferson County. All slash is composted.
Organic debris such as tree limbs and branches, known as slash, contributes to the high risk of fire danger in Jefferson County. All slash is composted.
Woody debris
Tree bark
Pine cones Logs: -Max length: 8 feet
-Max diameter: 6 inches
Household trash
Metal of any kind
Tree stumps
Yard waste/grass clippings
For
Riley Coomes, a Conifer High School student, has a booth at Conifer’s Elevation Celebration. Coomes makes animals, guitar picks and more with is 3- D printer.
Conifer’s Elevation Celebration is fun for all ages.
With beer tents, food, music and a variety of vendor booths, the street fair July 29-30 along Sutton Road in Aspen Park had plenty to please adults. Kids had plenty of fun, too, as they played in bounce houses, got their faces painted, played in the Rocky Mountain Kids Zone and watched the Salida Circus. New this year, the Elk Creek Fire Department had fun activities for kids, while parents could learn from Rotary Wild re Ready about protecting themselves and their homes in case of wild re.
LISTEN LIVE:
e 10th annual Elevation Celebration is sponsored by the Conifer Area Chamber of Commerce. Each year, it begins with the Elevation Run/Walk bene ting CLUB — the Conifer Lobos Uni ed Boosters — with proceeds going to Conifer High School sports and improvements, and area trail improvements.
One of the youngest vendors at this year’s Elevation Celebration was Conifer High School student Riley Coomes. He has been creating items on his 3D printer since December and thought he might be able to sell some printer-created animals and guitar picks.
He said he lives near Sutton Road, so he usually helps with set-up, and this year, he brought a 3D printer
Conifer Rotary’s ConiferFest bands featured on a special Mountain Drive Live August 2nd to Aug. 5th
Conifer Podcast presents:
Jeanie Boymel with Altitude Financial Partners
Wednesday, August 9th at 5 pm on
MOUNTAIN CLASSIC ROCK
Click the listen live buttons
Recognizing: Debbie Wilkes Debeeze Honey
Our 25 for 285 who are building our community radio station.
to the fair, so people could watch it work. e sharks, snakes, lizards, octopuses and more were a hit with attendees.
Balloon artist Byl Garner created animals in front of the Coldwell Banker booth, while jugglers entertained families near the Salida Circus area.
Ginger Schi mayer of Evergreen was busy painting faces at the Butter ies and Moonbeams tent. Face painting is always a hit, and Eva Douros, 7, wanted to be a mermaid. Her mom, Lynsey, said attending the Elevation Celebration was a family tradition since they moved here in 2019.
Hannah Gershien of Conifer had her hands full as her three children checked out the re engine, tried on kids’ size re ghting gear and aimed a small re hose spraying water brought by Elk Creek Fire. It was important to the older children to wear re ghter helmets through the process.
Elk Creek Fire Academy recruit Katie Moser helped with the re hose, while other volunteers handed out goody bags and helped kids put on tiny bunker gear.
Hannah said the Elevation Celebration was a good family event.
“We’re having a lot of fun here,” she said.
BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
July 29 was a great day to see the work of artisans of all kinds, listen to great music, grab some tasty libations and greet friends.
ousands attended the 43rd annual Summerfest July 29-30, checking out more than 90 booths lled with everything from paintings and photography to jewelry, clothing, pottery and more. e artists and artisans come from near and far to participate in the annual fair at the Buchanan elds.
ere is something to t everyone’s taste and budget.
Attendees could also hang out
under a large tent listening to bands of all genres and grab food from any of the 10 food trucks.
As always, it’s a great way to be outdoors and have a great time.
Center for the Arts Evergreen sponsors the annual event, and it couldn’t take place without the hundreds of volunteers who keep everything running smoothly. Lisa Nierenberg, CAE’s executive director, was happy so many visitors were perusing the booths.
“ is event brings the mountain community together, and we love seeing people from Denver come up,” Nierenberg said.
“ is is the best Summerfest ever,” she added, though to be honest, she
says that every year.
Mike Combs of Morrison makes all sorts of creatures out of recycled metal, getting his inspiration from lmmaker Tim Burton’s dark creatures and cartoonist Gary Larson’s whimsical characters.
Combs, who retired in 2005, needed an outlet, so he started collecting scrap metal, noting that he has an outbuilding plus some racks lled with di erent pieces of metal. When he is scrap metal hunting, he takes a magnet because “if the magnet sticks, I can weld it.”
With local band Who’s omas performing, Ian Strom from Strom Studios in New Mexico explained his beautiful orbs of all sizes, saying they
are 100% glass. e colored layers of glass are trapped in clear layers, creating optical illusions.
With the 3eatles playing in the background, Shane Porter with Porter Pottery in Aurora showed o his birdhouses adorned with clay birds. He said the birds originally were created by accident when he threw down a wad of clay, decided it looked birdlike and turned it into a feathered friend.
Working with clay began as a hobby in 2001, he said, then into a full-time job by 2011.
“People ooo and aah and giggle (at my work),” he said.
“In our retail experience, we thought that was a pretty good way to help people shop,” Keith said. “For example, for Mother’s Day, a dad would come in with two little kids, and we could ask him to describe his wife. If they say she loves gardening, we point him to the nature area. Plus they can pick up candy as well.”
Hours are 10 am.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. For more information, visit sugarjones.net.
Plants galore at Spruce Creek Garden
It’s green and lush in Spruce Creek Garden in Marshdale.
e shop behind the Marshdale Burger Company has two rooms lled with greenery and eclectic pots, plus everything needed to build terrariums. e store is owned by Gail Mosey, who along with her daughter Megan, take care of plants and customers three days a week.
Mosey of Conifer said she started out creating terrariums, selling them at craft fairs and realizing how much she liked working with plants. So she decided to open her own shop.
She hopes eventually to o er classes on a variety of topics such as soap making and tea blending, and with a huge parking lot, she envisions sales and other fun uses.
In addition to the plants, Mosey scrounges yard sales and other shops to nd unusual plant pots, and interestingly, some people
come in to look for plants and leave with a pot instead.
“I want to present plants in an interesting way,” she said, noting that people come in asking for the perfect plant for a speci c spot in their homes.
“ is has been a passion all my life,” she said, adding that she wants
the shop to be a gathering place for the community, and she goes above and beyond with customer service.
Mosey can help with plant selection for special events, weddings, party favors, teacher gifts and more.
Spruce Creek Garden is open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. ursday and Friday, and from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
Evergreen law firm helps youth through divorce issues
Andersen Law PC, an Evergreen and Littleton law rm, has launched its new divorce resource, YouthOfDivorce.com.
Created to support children of divorce who are middle school age to early 20s, the website provides details on what youth can expect throughout the divorce process and after.
Topics covered on the website include the legal process and the child’s involvement, living somewhere new or with di erent arrangements, what to expect mentally and emotionally, and how to cope with the changes and challenges. e website is lled with tips and information based on attorney Beth Andersen’s experience in helping guide families through divorce plus other resources. e website can be shared with anyone.
needs, an appropriate children’s and teens area, and services that are accessible to all patrons, he said.
e community wants a place to be able to gather, have meetings and attend classes or programs.
“We feel this level of engagement completes the picture of what library service needs are,” said Julianne Rist, director of public services.
e library board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 17 in the Lakewood Library meeting room, 10200 W. 20th Ave., Lakewood. A Zoom option also is available.
e Conifer Area Council has been advocating for a library outside of the walls of Conifer High School for several years based on the feedback from a survey it conducts.
e Conifer library has been in CHS since 1996, and library users have complained about the lack of hours, little parking and the stairs to access the library. e 8,900-squarefoot library space is open to the public when school is not in session, and it has longer hours in the summers.
e library board began looking at meeting the needs of Conifer library users after Je co Public Schools changed start times for high schools beginning this month. Last school year, school ended at 3 p.m. Once school starts in August, school will end at 3:45 p.m.
e library board has budgeted $2.5 million this year for what it calls the “Conifer library opportunity.”
Rist said library o cials used the Conifer library service area to analyze needed services since it
The new children’s area of the Evergreen library will be named in honor of Cynthia and Bob Benson of Evergreen. That is because the Bensons are the first to make a donation to the Je erson County Library Foundation for the area after it is remodeled later this year. Their $10,000 donation to the foundation will help it fund and promote services in the library district.
The Bensons’ names will be on a plaque in the children’s area until 2033, according to the agreement approved by the Je erson County Public Library board on July 20.
is not a city. ey estimate 10,000 people live in the primarily rural area. e population is not expected to increase a lot in the next ve to 10 years, she said.
Rist said Conifer was a diverse community with diverse wants and needs, and it may be a challenge to satisfy all of the community’s library wants. While some respondents said they wanted the library to be moved out of CHS, she said some survey respondents said they wanted to keep it there out of concern for the impact a move would have on students.
She noted that the school is required to have a media center, so if the Conifer library moved from the school building, the district would need to create a library in that building.
Board member Charles Naumer said what he took away from Conifer residents’ responses was that they felt like they were encroaching on a high school library, and they didn’t
feel welcome in the space.
Wallace said the consultants heard loud and clear that the lack of daytime library hours was a huge concern, noting that if daytime
hours were available, a move likely wouldn’t be needed. Yet with increased security at schools, it would be di cult to allow the public into the library during the day.
for 26% of Coloradans in 2020, compared with 0% in 2023.
e second- and third-largest decreases in concern were political division, down 6 percentage points, and jobs and the economy, down 5. In the past year, Colorado’s job openings and unemployment reached something near equilibrium, so it tracks that anxiety over jobs has fallen since the 2020 polling, when uncertainty was rampant.
Homelessness had the largest increase as a top concern since last year, up 3 percentage points, while crime had the largest increase as a top concern over the past four years, up 8 percentage points. Both issues were a major focus for Denver’s mayoral election this year.
living, cost of housing and jobs — tended to decline in importance as income levels rose, the percentage of respondents most concerned by homelessness was consistent across income levels. e di erence between the lowest and highest income earners concerned with homelessness was only 3 percentage points.
while the Black/African American respondents had the largest increase in those worried, up 16 percentage points, to 47% from 31% last year.
Almost every household with an income below $150,000 was worried about their children being able to afford a home in Colorado.
Montoya wants the information gleaned from these polls to help inform policymakers’ priorities. He said the foundation’s primary audience is local lawmakers and legislators.
every proposed solution. e largest di erences between what the parties viewed as e ective solutions were requiring developers to build lowincome housing — 86% of Democrats thought this would be an e ective solution, while only 49% of Republicans agreed — and increasing government investments in programs that prevent people from becoming homeless — 87% of Democrats believed in its e ectiveness, while 46% of Republicans agreed.
While most concerns associated with costs — such as rising costs of
Having a home is one major concern; staying in it is another. At the time of polling, renters were signicantly more worried about not being able to make rent payments than homeowners were worried about their mortgages — at a rate of 49% compared with 19% of respondents. However, that number may ip as property owners come to terms with their new, exponentially high valuations, which were issued after the Pulse poll was conducted.
When presented with a number of policy solutions, respondents thought that the most e ective ways to mitigate housing cost challenges are to reduce property taxes for homeowners with low or xed incomes, and to ensure that landlords cannot raise rents on tenants too quickly.
e takeaway from this year’s data, Montoya said, was that it hasn’t changed much since last year. Montoya believes that Coloradans’ major concerns “skyrocketed” around COVID, and have continued to stay high ever since.
Respondents who identi ed as Native American/Indigenous showed the most concern over losing their homes, with 49% answering that they were worried in this year’s poll,
e biggest divisions around e ective policy solutions were between Republicans and Democrats in the state, with Independents falling squarely between the parties for
“ e majority of these worries have increased since 2020, but there hasn’t been much of a decline in any of them. ere is really just a plateau,” he said. “And a majority of folks are feeling concerned.”
Henderson has operated in Colorado since 1976 and is investing nearly $150 million into our operations to enable future production. We are committed to our employees and our community and are currently hiring new employees to join our 360 strong! Further, the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, recently announced more than $300,000 to Henderson Operations Social Investment Grant recipients in 2022. Learn more about the recipients below:
• Clear Creek County: Clear Creek County Health and Wellness Center – $100,000 (second payment of a $500,000 commitment) This will support the building and launch of the first collaborative care center in Clear Creek County.
Henderson has operated in Colorado since 1976 and is investing nearly $150 million into our operations to enable future production. We are committed to our employees and our community and are currently hiring new employees to join our 360 strong! Further, the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, recently announced more than $300,000 to Henderson Operations Social Investment Grant recipients in 2022. Learn more about the recipients below:
•Clear Creek County: DLD Sub-Area Planning Grant – $60,000 Funding supports a planning process to strategically identify enhanced community, land use and infrastructure proposals to provide new sustainable revenue streams and improved services.
Henderson has operated in Colorado since 1976 and is investing nearly $150 million into our operations to enable future production. We are committed to our employees and our community and are currently hiring new employees to join our 360 strong! Further, the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, recently announced more than $300,000 to Henderson Operations Social Investment Grant recipients in 2022. Learn more about the recipients below:
Henderson has operated in Colorado since 1976 and is investing nearly $150 million into our operations to enable future production. We are committed to our employees and our community and are currently hiring new employees to join our 360 strong! Further, the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, recently announced more than $300,000 to Henderson Operations Social Investment Grant recipients in 2022. Learn more about the recipients below:
• Clear Creek County: Clear Creek County Health and Wellness Center – $100,000 (second payment of a $500,000 commitment) This will support the building and launch of the first collaborative care center in Clear Creek County.
•Clear Creek County School District: Career-Connected Learning Project – $10,000 When combined with a $10,000 match of Henderson employee donations through Mile High United Way, it will support increasing opportunities for students to engage in career-connected experiential learning.
•Clear Creek County: Clear Creek County Health and Wellness Center – $100,000 (second payment of a $500,000 commitment) This will support the building and launch of the first collaborative care center in Clear Creek County.
• Clear Creek County: Clear Creek County Health and Wellness Center – $100,000 (second payment of a $500,000 commitment) This will support the building and launch of the first collaborative care center in Clear Creek County.
•Clear Creek County: DLD Sub-Area Planning Grant – $60,000 Funding supports a planning process to strategically identify enhanced community, land use and infrastructure proposals to provide new sustainable revenue streams and improved services.
•Grand County Rural Health Network: Grand County Multisector Resource Hub – $25,000 Funding will support a collaborative planning process around the development of a multisector resource hub that would provide a one-stop resource for marginalized community members of Grand County.
•Clear Creek County: DLD Sub-Area Planning Grant – $60,000 Funding supports a planning process to strategically identify enhanced community, land use and infrastructure proposals to provide new sustainable revenue streams and improved services.
• Clear Creek County: DLD Sub-Area Planning Grant – $60,000 Funding supports a planning process to strategically identify enhanced community, land use and infrastructure proposals to provide new sustainable revenue streams and improved services.
•Clear Creek County School District: Career-Connected Learning Project – $10,000 When combined with a $10,000 match of Henderson employee donations through Mile High United Way, it will support increasing opportunities for students to engage in career-connected experiential learning.
•Grand County Rural Health Network: Grand County Multisector Resource Hub – $25,000 Funding will support a collaborative planning process around the development of a multisector resource hub that would provide a one-stop resource for marginalized community members of Grand County.
•Clear Creek County School District: Career-Connected Learning Project – $10,000 When combined with a $10,000 match of Henderson employee donations through Mile High United Way, it will support increasing opportunities for students to engage in career-connected experiential learning.
•Clear Creek County School District: Career-Connected Learning Project – $10,000 When combined with a $10,000 match of Henderson employee donations through Mile High United Way, it will support increasing opportunities for students to engage in career-connected experiential learning.
•Grand County Search and Rescue: Mission Control Vehicle – $46,000 The vehicle will replace an inoperable multipurpose avalanche response, complex mission and command truck for Grand County.
•Grand County Rural Health Network: Grand County Multisector Resource Hub – $25,000 Funding will support a collaborative planning process around the development of a multisector resource hub that would provide a one-stop resource for marginalized community members of Grand County.
•Grand County Rural Health Network: Grand County Multisector Resource Hub – $25,000 Funding will support a collaborative planning process around the development of a multisector resource hub that would provide a one-stop resource for marginalized community members of Grand County.
•Grand County Search and Rescue: Mission Control Vehicle – $46,000 The vehicle will replace an inoperable multipurpose avalanche response, complex mission and command truck for Grand County.
•Middle Park Medical Foundation: Kremmling Wellness Center Gym – $75,000 Funding supports the development of a modern community recreation space with a goal of improving the overall health of the community by creating more opportunities to engage in recreational activities.
•Grand County Search and Rescue: Mission Control Vehicle – $46,000 The vehicle will replace an inoperable multipurpose avalanche response, complex mission and command truck for Grand County.
•Grand County Search and Rescue: Mission Control Vehicle – $46,000 The vehicle will replace an inoperable multipurpose avalanche response, complex mission and command truck for Grand County.
•Middle Park Medical Foundation: Kremmling Wellness Center Gym – $75,000 Funding supports the development of a modern community recreation space with a goal of improving the overall health of the community by creating more opportunities to engage in recreational activities.
•Middle Park Medical Foundation: Kremmling Wellness Center Gym – $75,000 Funding supports the development of a modern community recreation space with a goal of improving the overall health of the community by creating more opportunities to engage in recreational activities.
•Middle Park Medical Foundation: Kremmling Wellness Center Gym – $75,000 Funding supports the development of a modern community recreation space with a goal of improving the overall health of the community by creating more opportunities to engage in recreational activities.
Congratulations to the recipients!
Since 2012, more than $1.6 million has been invested through the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation in Clear Creek and Grand counties. The funds have been awarded to programs and projects that build community resilience and capacity.
Since 2012, more than $1.6 million has been invested through the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation in Clear Creek and Grand counties. The funds have been awarded to programs and projects that build community resilience and capacity.
Since 2012, more than $1.6 million has been invested through the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation in Clear Creek and Grand counties. The funds have been awarded to programs and projects that build community resilience and capacity.
For more information on hiring visit www.moly.jobs and for more information on community investment grants visit FreeportInMyCommunity.com
Since 2012, more than $1.6 million has been invested through the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation in Clear Creek and Grand counties. The funds have been awarded to programs and projects that build community resilience and capacity.
For more information on hiring visit www.moly.jobs and for more information on community investment grants visit FreeportInMyCommunity.com
For more information on hiring visit www.moly.jobs and for more information on community investment grants visit FreeportInMyCommunity.com
at 9 a.m. Aug. 13 at the Buchanan Park Recreation Center. Children swim in the Buchanan Park pool, ride their bike and run around the Buchanan ponds. Cost is $35. For more information and to register, visit evergreenrecreation.com.
Moonlight Soiree: e Moonlight Soiree sponsored by Mount Evans Home Health Care and Hospice will start at 5:30 p.m. ursday, Aug. 17, at the Evergreen Lake House. Black tie is optional. Tickets are $350 or $4,000 for a patron table seating eight. For more information and tickets, visit mtevans.org/supportmount-evans/moonlightsoiree.
Indian Hills Centennial Celebration: e Indian Hills Centennial Celebration will be Aug. 18-20. On Friday, starting at 6 p.m., there will be a movie and live music at Arrowhead Park with food for sale. From noon-4 p.m. Saturday will be the community center open house with local history speakers, a building plaque dedication and a time capsule sealing. From 2-6 p.m. Sunday, will be a barbecue at the community center.
Barbed wire removal: Wild Aware is sponsoring volunteer barbed wire removal days at DeDisse Park from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 19. For more information, visit wildaware.org.
Boogie at the Ranch: Boogie at the Ranch will be from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Nelson ranch. Proceeds bene t the Mountain Resource Center. For more information and tickets, visit boogieatthebarn. com.
ESA fundraiser: Evergreen Sustainability Alliance is hosting a fundraiser from 4 p.m. until close Aug. 24
at the Evergreen Bread and Cocktail Lounge. Ten percent of proceeds from that evening will be donated to support programs run by ESA. For more information, call 720-5360069.
Evergreen Fine Arts Festival: e Evergreen Fine Arts Festival will be from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 25-26 at the Buchanan Fields. is juried ne art show also has children’s activities, live music, food and drink, and free shuttle service.
EPiC performances: Evergreen Players presents EPiC, Evergreen Players Improv Comedy, Aug. 25-26 at Center Stage eatre, 27608 Fireweed Drive, Evergreen. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for student, and may be purchased online at www.evergreenplayers.org or by calling 720-515-1528.
Mountain Community Barefoot Mile: e Mountain Community Barefoot Mile will be Aug. 26 at the Marshdale elds. Registration opens at 9 a.m., with the walk starting at 10 a.m. Proceeds raised go to JOY International, which helps rescue children from child slavery. For more information, www.joy.org/ barefoot-mile-events.
Wildlife in Conifer: e Conifer Historical Society will sponsor a presentation on Wildlife in Conifer by Jacob Sonberg, wildlife o cer with Colorado Parks & Wildlife, at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27, at the Little White Schoolhouse 26951 Barkley Road. Cost is $10 for members and $12 for nonmembers. RSVP at ConiferHistoricalSociety.org.
ONGOING
Adult grief support group: Mount Evans Home Health Care & Hospice is o ering a seven-week in-person adult grief support group. e next group starts June 1 and runs every ursday through July 20, with no
session on July 6. e group will meet from 2-3 p.m. at the Mount Evans o ce, 3081 Bergen Peak Road, Evergreen. Reservations are required. Call 303-674-6400 to sign up.
Blue Spruce Habitat volunteers needed: Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteers. A variety of opportunities and exible schedules are available on new construction sites as well as for exterior minor home repairs. No previous construction experience needed. Contactvolunteer@bluesprucehabitat.org for information.
EChO needs volunteers: e Evergreen Christian Outreach ReSale Store and food pantry need volunteers. Proceeds from the EChO ReSale Store support the food pantry and programs and services provided by EChO. ere are many volunteer options from which to choose. For more information, call Mary at 720673-4369 or email mary@evergreenchristianoutreach.org.
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 summer hours: Hiwan Museum is open for tours from noon-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from noon-4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Outdoor self-guided tours are available at any time. Large groups are encouraged to call 720-497-7653 to make arrangements.
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 Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and the second Saturday of each month 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.
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 group: Mount Evans Home Health Care & Hospice o ers a monthly group 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. For more information, visit mtevans.org/services/ emotional-support/.
Parkinson’s disease support group: A Parkinson’s disease support group meets the rst Friday of the month from 1-3 p.m. at Evergreen Christian Church, 27772 Iris Drive, Evergreen. For more information, email esears@parkinsonrockies.org.
Mountain Foothills Rotary meetings: Mountain Foothills Rotary meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays both 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.
BY DAN ENGLAND THE COLORADO SUN
Chantelle Shoaee will have a question for you if you decide to visit her: “What kind of car do you drive?”
Unless you’re one of her buds, perhaps one of her Hypoxic Hikers, the reason she’s asking may shock you. Rough mountain roads, the kind that ummox those who don’t drive Subarus — and yes, there are a few — lead to the little base camp where she lives and runs Always Choose Adventures.
Shoaee lives at 10,000 feet in a rural spot above Idaho Springs. She also has hypoxia, a condition de ned by low levels of oxygen in the body.
Doctors tell hypoxic patients to move out of Colorado. At Denver’s elevation, around 5,280 feet, there’s 20% less oxygen than at sea level.
Whenever she’s walking around, Shoaee receives oxygen through a tube in her nose, called a cannula. She punctuates her sentences with pu s from her tank that sound like a gasp.
Oxygen is as much of a treasure to her as the gold from the long-closed mine on her land. And yet, she lives
at twice the elevation of Denver, a space so devoid of O2 that most atlanders have trouble sleeping. It seems like a mismatch, like a penguin wobbling through a des-
ert. And yet, Shoaee climbs 14ers at speeds that would smoke a weekend peakbagger. She wears a backpack comfortably and even helped design a pack be-
ing developed by Osprey, a Cortezbased gear company that specializes in hydration bladder vests and packs
for bikers, hikers and ultrarunners. Shoaee’s pack ts oxygen tanks. e innovation could be a boon for hikers tethered to a cannula: Most of them are anchored to heavy oxygen tanks or concentrators.
Shoaee loves the mountains, elevation be damned, and her strong body, balanced by a pair of powerful thighs, shakes with good-natured laughter when someone asks why the hell she lives so high.
“Look around,” she answers.
She doesn’t care that she lives in a small trailer, or that the property needs a lot of work, or that the roads that lead to it could overturn a Jeep. She’s immensely proud of where she lives, even though she knows, one day, she will have to leave.
Until then, Shoaee wants to run her organization, Always Choose Adventures, which helps people of all ages, backgrounds and, most importantly, physical abilities, experience the outdoors. She and her Hypoxic Homies, a group of hikers like her, all acknowledge their limitations the condition puts on them, but they don’t want to be limited by any kind of assumptions about their ability, or medical insurance, or misdiagnoses.
ere are more than you might think: Shoaee puts severe limits
on the money she makes so she can stay on Medicaid, which pays for her portable oxygen. Her place was a ordable because it was in poor condition, and because she sold her townhome, buoyed by the skyrocketing market. Quite frankly, it looks like a bargain, even if the land around it looks priceless.
“I live in poverty,” she says, “so I can breathe.”
On doctor’s orders, Shoaee’s parents kept her inside when she was a kid. She was born with tracheoesophageal stula, an abnormal connection between the esophagus and the trachea, and low-functioning lungs.
She felt a void that wasn’t lled until she founded Always Choose Adventures and sought treatment with National Jewish Hospital, where doctors told her her birth defects were never addressed properly: Her trachea collapses up to 90% of the time. ey put her on oxygen to use while adventuring and it’s made all the di erence.
She’s still hypoxic, but she believes many other Coloradans are, too, and don’t realize it. We all need oxygen, and without enough of it, we get confused, restless and anxious, and have bluish skin, a rapid heart rate and di culty breathing.
Breathing problems can cause hypoxia, but it isn’t limited to them. Shoaee tells story after story of visitors who come from sea level and don’t feel right. Colorado’s thin air
isn’t kind to those who are accustomed to drawing in gluttonous gulps of oxygen with every breath. Just the other day, she checked the oxygen levels of a visitor by using a nger sensor.
“She was hypoxic as f---,” Shoaee said, using one of her favorite phrases.
Many others with asthma struggle here, Shoaee said, and even those seemingly in good health may wonder why they’re anxious all the time and don’t sleep well. ey’re probably hypoxic, Shoaee said. Colorado is a hard place to live. e condition is more common now after the pandemic. One of Shoaee’s best friends, one of her Hypoxic Homies, is Audra Lilly, who works as a pediatric nurse practitioner. She was diagnosed with lupus in 2015 when she was living in Dallas. Exercise helped lube her joints: e more she did it, the better she felt. She moved to Littleton to be in a place where she could do outdoor activities all the time. She took up trail running and felt better than she had in years.
“I needed a place where I could be outdoors all the time and live a healthy lifestyle,” Lilly said. “Dallas wasn’t that.”
But her job left her susceptible to the pandemic, and sure enough, she got COVID-19 in November 2020. It ravaged her body, forcing her into the hospital for weeks. At one point, doctors asked her if life support was
OK. She refused, preferring to battle it on her own, as she did with lupus. Lupus can be as mean as COVID: Her joints sti ened in her hospital bed, so she dragged her huge oxygen tank behind her and walked around her room.
She now uses oxygen to hike and run, though not as much as she used to. She met Shoaee in a hypoxia support group on Facebook.
“When I asked for advice on hiking and running, people would tell me not to do it, especially doctors,” Lilly, 41, said, “but Chantelle was like, ‘I’ll go with you!’”
Yes, Lilly sees the irony in moving to a state because of health problems and now may need to leave it one day because of health problems. But she is determined to stay as long as she can.
“Honestly, when I put my oxygen in, it goes away,” Lilly said. “I’m getting back to where I was before this happened.”
Doctors at rst diagnosed Lilly with anxiety. It’s a common misdiagnosis among those with hypoxia, and an understandable one, given that the two are connected: Not being able to breathe causes anxiety. Anxiety can also cause breathing problems such as hyperventilation. at’s a problem because doctors have to write a prescription for oxygen, said Mike Goldblatt, 67, of Evergreen. Goldblatt is hypoxic and
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doctors don’t know why. He was an arborist and guided y- shing trips and hikes. He also coaches and chases around his grandkids and plays golf and music in a band.
Evergreen is at 7,400 feet and Goldblatt has no desire to move. Oxygen, which he uses when he’s active, makes his life far more normal than it would be otherwise.
“It feels a lot better,” Goldblatt said. But it irks him that oxygen is only available with a prescription. Patients also generally must choose between the portable tanks they use to hike and the large tanks that anchor many patients to their homes, Goldblatt said.
“We are staying active,” Goldblatt said, referring to the hypoxic hiking group, “but 90% or more pulling oxygen aren’t. ey don’t realize they can get out.”
Insurance, he said, tends to restrict patients from portable tanks or limit
them to a few per month, unless they ght. Medicaid doesn’t do this, at least for Shoaee, which is why she restricts her lifestyle to stay on it.
“Safety is what they call it,” Goldblatt said, “but it comes down to money.”
ese are things that won’t be solved soon. But there are issues Shoaee believes she can address now. Carrying oxygen is a problem. A couple years ago she began talking to Osprey about designing a backpack speci cally for oxygen carriers.
“ e kinking is the most annoying part,” Lilly said. “Chantelle, can you x my tube? I’ve already been kinked up twice today.”
Kinking, of course, restricts oxygen ow, and the tubes get tangled. Lilly has a story about her tubes getting tangled while on a ski lift.She eventually had to be carried down by ski patrol because she needed the oxygen boost at the high elevation.
“I was so embarrassed,” she said. Tanks are heavy, with the mobile tanks weighing up to 15 pounds. e tanks alone make a daypack weigh more than if it were stu ed with
overnight gear. e Osprey backpack, Shoaee said, solves both issues. ere are holes in the pack where hypoxic hikers can thread, and therefore secure, their tubes, and the bottom of the pack has more padding as well as straps to hold the tank in place and distribute the weight evenly. e nal version should be out by the end of the year. e pack is an a rmation that people are paying attention.
“It will be life-changing for people on oxygen,” Shoaee said. “We aren’t saying you have to hike a 14er. You can walk around the block now. is makes it possible. ere’s so much annoying stu about this illness. A backpack shouldn’t be one of them.”
Shoaee founded Always Choose Adventures because of her experiences, but the organization tries to break down barriers for all kinds of marginalized groups in the outdoors, not just the hypoxic. Gerry Roach, the mountain master and author of many guide books, including iconic versions for the 14ers, the Centennials, Rocky Mountain National Park and the Indian Peaks,
is the board president.
But she hopes to use her talents to raise awareness about hypoxia and maybe one day solve some of the other issues oxygen carriers must face when they venture outdoors.
“Could we do a hypoxic 14ers day?” she asks her group.
First, though, she wants to go on a little hike to a lake near her property. e path is steep — at one point she protests to her friends when they leave some distance between them and her — but eventually they do reach the top. She puts her hands on her knees.
It’s hard to live so high up, but the views are spectacular, and the air is fresh.
She straightens up and breathes it in.
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.
ASCENT CHURCH
“Real people pursuing a real God”
All are Welcome Sundays at 10am
In-person or Online www.ascentchurch.co
29823 Troutdale Scenic Drive, Evergreen
BERGEN PARK CHURCH
Bergen Park Church is a group of regular people who strive to improve ourselves and our community by studying the Bible and sharing our lives with each other. On Sunday mornings you can expect contemporary live music, Children’s Ministry that seeks to love and care for your kids, teaching from the Bible, and a community of real people who are imperfect, but seek to honor God in their lives. We hope to welcome you soon to either our 9:30AM or 11:00AM Sunday service. Search Bergen Park Church on YouTube for Livestream service at 9:30am 31919 Rocky Village Dr. 303-674-5484 info@bergenparkchurch.org / www.BergenParkChurch.org
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH SERVICES
28244 Harebell Lane
Sunday Service & Sunday School 10am
Wednesday Evening 7:30pm, Zoom options available
Contact: clerk@christianscienceevergreen.com for ZOOM link
Reading Room 4602 Pletner Lane, Unit 2E, Evergreen
OPEN TUE-SAT 12PM - 3PM
CHURCH OF THE CROSS
Please join us for Sunday worship at 28253 Meadow Drive, Evergreen or visit www.churchotc.com
8:30am Traditional Service
10:30am Contemporary Service
Communion is served every Sunday at both services. All are welcome! Visit our website at www.churchotc.com for info on church activities. 28253 Meadow Drive, Evergreen • 303-674-4130 • o ce@churchotc.com
CHURCH OF THE HILLS PRESBYTERIAN (USA)
Serving the mountain community from the heart of Evergreen Worship 10:00 a.m.
Reverend Richard Aylor
O ce Hours: Tu-Thur 9:00 - 4:00; Fri 9:00 - noon
Bu alo Park Road and Hwy 73 www.churchofthehills.com
CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION EPISCOPAL
In-Church: Sunday Communion Quiet Service 8:00 am & with Music 10:15 am 10:15 am only Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86017266569
In-Meadow: 2nd Sunday of the month at 9:30 a.m.
--June through September—
27640 Highway 74 – ¼ mile east of downtown Evergreen at the Historic Bell Tower www.transfigurationevergreen.org
CONGREGATION BETH EVERGREEN (SYNAGOGUE)
Reconstructionist Synagogue
Rabbi Jamie Arnold
www.BethEvergreen.org / (303) 670-4294
2981 Bergen Peak Drive (behind Life Care)
CONIFER CHURCH OF CHRIST
“Doing Bible Things in Bible Ways”
11825 U.S. Hwy. 285, Conifer, CO 80433
Sun: 9:00a.m. Bible Study-10:00a.m. Worship; Wed: Bible Study 7:00p.m.
EVERGREEN CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)
27772 Iris Drive, Evergreen - 303-674-3413
www.EvergreenChristianChurch.org - eccdoc01@gmail.com
Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m., with communion every Sunday
We are an inclusive faith community and welcome you to join us in our new ministry journey.
DEER PARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Pastor Joyce Snapp, Sunday Worship 10 AM
Located one mile west of Pine Junction just o Rt. 285 966 Rim Rock Road, Bailey (303) 838-6759
All are welcome to our open/inclusive congregation!
EVERGREEN LUTHERAN CHURCH
5980 Highway 73 + 303-674-4654
Rev. Terry Schjang
Join us for Virtual Worship on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/EvergreenLutheranChurch
Sunday Worship uploaded by 10am. www.evergreenlutheran.org + All Are Welcome!
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY CHURCH – EPC
1036 El Rancho Rd, Evergreen – (303) 526-9287 www.lomcc.org – o ce@lomcc.org
Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m., with communion every Sunday “Real Church In An UnReal World”
A community empowered by the Holy Spirit which seeks authentic relationships with God and others to share the good news of Jesus with Evergreen, the Front Range and the world. Come as you are, all are welcome!
MOUNTAIN REVIVAL CHURCH
“Baptizing the Mountains in Jesus Name”
Sundays 11:00 am & Wednesdays 7:00 pm
Location: Aspen Park Community Center 26215 Sutton Road, Conifer, CO 80433
(Additional parking at the Park & Ride next to Big O Tires) 720-770-0380 Call, Text, or Just Drop In www.mountainrevival.org
PLATTE CANYON COMMUNITY CHURCH
Located: 4954 County Road 64 in Bailey. O ce hours MWF 8am-1pm 303-838-4409, Worship & Children’s Church at 10am
Small group studies for all ages at 9am
Transitional Pastor: Mark Chadwick Youth Pastor: Jay Vonesh Other activities: Youth groups, Men’s/Women’s ministries, Bible studies, VBS, MOPS, Cub/Boy Scouts.
ROCKLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH
“Connecting all generations to Jesus” Please check our website, www.Rockland.church, for updated service times ¼ mile north of I-70 at exit 254 17 S Mt. Vernon Country Club Rd., Golden, CO 80401 303-526-0668
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF EVERGREEN
Rev. Sarah Clark • 303.674.4810 • www.evergreenumc.org 3757 Ponderosa Dr. across Hwy 74 from Safeway in Evergreen
Join us in person
2. MOVIES: What is Forrest’s hometown in the movie “Forrest Gump”?
3. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is the only vowel that isn’t on the top row of letters on a keyboard?
4. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What breed of dog is the TV star Lassie?
5. CHEMISTRY: What is a common name for nitrous oxide?
6. MUSIC: Which musical instrument does the singer Lizzo play?
7. LITERATURE: What is a bildungsroman?
8. U.S. STATES: Which two states share the most borders with other states?
9. TELEVISION: What decade is represented in the TV sitcom “ e Goldbergs”?
10. FOOD & DRINK: In which century was co ee introduced to Europe?
Answers
2. Greenbow, Alabama.
3. A.
4. Rough Collie.
5. Laughing gas.
6. Flute.
7. Novel that focuses on the moral and psychological growth of a protagonist from childhood to adult.
8. Tennessee and Missouri, with eight bordering states each.
9. e 1980s.
10. 16th.
(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Public Notice
The Mountain Water and Sanitation District has submitted the annual report for 2023 demonstrating proof of the value of the Radioactive Materials Management Financial Warranty. For further information regarding the Assurance Warranty, contact the MWSD staff at 303-838- 1800 or through the website mtwaterandsan.com.
Legal Notice No. CC 1304
First Publication: August 3, 2023
Last Publication: August 3, 2023
Publisher: Canyon Courier Bids and Settlements
Public Notice
NOTICE OF FINAL PAYMENT
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, August 16, 2023, to American West Construction, LLC for all work done by said Contractor on the Rampart Range Road Transmission Main Replacement contract, all of said construction located near the streets of Rampart Range Road, Village Circle East, Village Circle West, and Rampart Court in the community of Roxborough Park in Douglas County, State of Colorado.
Any person, co-partnership, association of per-
sons, 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. Roxborough Road, Littleton, CO 80125, at or before the time and date herein above shown. Failure on the part of any claimant to file such verified statement will release said Roxborough Water and Sanitation District, its Board of Directors, officers, agents, and employees, of and from any and all liability for such claim.
ROXBOROUGH WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT
By: Barbara J. Biggs, General ManagerLegal Notice No. CC 1306
First Publication: August 3, 2023
Last Publication: August 10, 2023
Publisher: Canyon Courier Public Notice
NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT
JEFFERSON COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO
Pursuant to C.R.S. Section 38-26-107, notice is hereby given that on the 22nd day of August 2023 final settlement will be made by the County of Jefferson, State of Colorado to:
COMPUTER SITES INC.
1225 S HURON ST. DENVER, CO 80223
hereinafter called the “Contractor”, for and on account of the contract for the Arvada Head Start Emergency Chiller Replacement project in Jefferson County, CO.
1. Any person, co-partnership, association or corporation who has an unpaid claim against the said project, for or on account of the furnishing of labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender or other supplies used or consumed by such Contractor or any of said work, may at any time up to and including said time of such final settlement, file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim.
2.All such claims shall be filed with Heather Frizzell, Director of Finance Jefferson County Colorado, 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden CO 80419-4560.
3.Failure on the part of a creditor to file such statement prior to such final settlement will relieve the County of Jefferson, State of Colorado, from any and all liability for such claim.
County of Jefferson, State of Colorado
Andy Kerr, Chairman Board of County Commissioners
Legal Notice No. CC 1309
First Publication: August 3, 2023
Last Publication: August 10, 2023
Publisher: Canyon Courier Public Notice
NOTICE OF FINAL PAYMENT
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, August 16, 2023, to Moltz Construction, Inc. for all work done by said Contractor on the Water Treatment Plant High Service Pump Addition Serving DWSD, Backwash Pond Phase 2, Sodium Hypochlorite Generator Addition, Pump Station Bathroom, and WTP Office Addition construction contract, all of
said construction located at the Roxborough Water and Sanitation District, Water Treatment Plant at 8383 Waterton Road, Littleton, Colorado, in Douglas 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. Roxborough Road, Littleton, CO 80125, at or before the time and date herein above shown. Failure on the part of any claimant to file such verified statement will release said Roxborough Water and Sanitation District, its Board of Directors, officers, agents, and employees, of and from any and all liability for such claim.
ROXBOROUGH WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT
By: Barbara J. Biggs, General Manager
Legal Notice No. CC 1307
First Publication: August 3, 2023
Last Publication: August 10, 2023
Publisher: Canyon Courier
Notice to Creditors
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of John S. Lyle, also known as John Lyle, and John Stuart Lyle, Deceased Case Number 2023PR30797
All persons having claims against the above
named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Jefferson County, Colorado on or before December 4, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.
David Lee Lyle, Personal Representative 2956 Broadlands Ct. Broomfield CO 80023
Legal Notice No. CC 1308
First Publication: August 3, 2023
Last Publication: August 17, 2023
Publisher: Canyon Courier
Name Changes
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Jän Charles Schultz, a/k/a Jan Charles Schultz, a/k/a Jan C. Schultz, a/k/a J. C. Schultz, Deceased Case Number: 23PR30206
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Douglas County, Colorado on or before October 20, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.
Jana Lynne Wagner Personal Representative P.O. Box 1094 Sagle, ID 83860
Legal Notice No. 945542
First Publication: June 8, 2023
Last Publication: June 22, 2023
Publisher: Douglas County News-Press ###
