Canyon Courier Sample 032422

Helping where they’re needed

Local first responders answer the call for help at the Marshall Fire

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Three things became clear for Evergreen and Conifer first responders who deployed to the Marshall Fire in Boulder County.

First: Apocalypse doesn’t begin to describe what they saw in the fire in 100 mph winds that burned more than 1,000 homes in Superior, Louisville and unincorporated Boulder County on Dec. 30-31.

Second: Our firefighters made a difference in the subdivisions they protected, while one team of paramedics helped evacuate a patient from Good Samaritan Medical Center and another treated firefighters for minor injuries.

Third: Our first responders know that if they put out a call for help, that help will come swiftly just like the more than 100 first-responder organizations did for Boulder County.

Foothills, Inter-Canyon and Indian Hills fire departments sent firefighters and paramedics to the scene as

soon as the call for help went out on Thursday afternoon. They said while the scene was overwhelming, their training kicked in, and they

Why it’s important to support local news

did what they had to do.

SEE RESPONDERS, P4

LINDA SHAPLEY

Publisher

It doesn’t seem that long ago that community news could be found everywhere throughout metro Denver. There were two scrappy daily newspapers that had staffers dedicated to the suburbs. There were community newspapers stacked in businesses or sitting in residents’ mailboxes or driveways.

But as the economy changed, newspapers became a casualty of technological disruption, and, as newsrooms shrank or disappeared altogether, readership and advertising dwindled.

But while the model by which we fund our newspaper is changing,

Inter-Canyon paramedics Suzannah Epperson and Matt Araki stand in front of the ambulance they took to help evacuate patients from Good Samaritan Medical Center.

PHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

‘Epic proportions’

The first responders agreed it was a fire of epic proportions, and the scene was surreal and chaotic.

“We were standing up a hillside and looking at the chaos and the glowing and smoke plumes,” Indian Hills firefighter T.J. Foreman said. “It reminded me of a historical photo of the London Blitz. You didn’t know where (the fire) would catch you. It’s the craziest stuff I’ve ever seen.”

They called the devastation horrible, and their hearts go out to everyone who lost so much.

“My heart aches after seeing all the damage,” Foothills firefighter Erik Alpine said. “There were people who left for work that morning, never thinking they wouldn’t have a home to come back to.”

Inter-Canyon paramedics called

the scene “Armageddon,” noting that they saw flames 40-50 feet in the air.

Inter-Canyon paramedic Matt Araki called the fire’s massiveness hard to wrap your head around.

“It looked like a movie scene,” InterCanyon paramedic Suzannah Epperson added.

Helping at the Marshall Fire Firefighters lauded the incident command team who did a herculean job of organizing and deploying resources that came from every corner of the state to help.

The Foothills crew was paired with a team from Longmont Fire, and they just got to work.

“On this call, we really made a difference,” Alpine said. “We were able to save a bunch of houses.”

Foothills firefighter Randon Grimes explained that they made the best of the situation and the resources they had.

“A lot of people lost everything,” Foothills firefighter Mike Amdur

added. “To save one more home meant one more family had a home to return to.”

The Inter-Canyon ambulance transported a patient from Good Samaritan to a Longmont hospital, and Epperson said she was amazed at the long line of ambulances waiting to help. The ambulance team was sent home after delivering the patient to Longmont, with the paramedics noting it was disheartening that they could go home when there was so much to be done.

“It’s like survivor’s guilt,” InterCanyon paramedic Matt Araki said. “We are fully prepared, equipped and trained, and they say, `We don’t need you anymore.’”

The Indian Hills ambulance crew worked most of the weekend, acording to paramedic Bob Fager, available to aid firefighters with injuries. Luckily, injuries were minor, mostly firefighters getting something in their eyes thanks to the high winds.

The Indian Hills firefighters were stationed in a subdivision right off

of McCaslin Boulevard, paired with firefighters and a truck from Denver to protect as many of the 100 homes in the subdivision.

“Our job was to provide structure protection,” Indian Hills firefighter Ben Copithorn said. “One home was fully involved (in flames) when we got there, and we got to work right from there. It was a pretty surreal experience.”

In this kind of emergency, command structure doesn’t matter, and everyone knew their jobs and did them.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better team to be working with,” Indian Hills firefighter Tom Henery said. “We had no other thoughts but to save buildings.”

The Indian Hills firefighters figure while three homes burned in the subdivision they were in, they saved about 97. After a very long night, a man drove up and jumped out of his car. He gave them huge hugs, thanking them for saving his house.

With Home Prices So High, Many Foothills Homeowners Are Wondering If It’s Time to Cash Out

The run-up in home prices has been breathtaking, hasn’t it? It’s difficult to predict how much longer it will last, but Rita and I, like many other folks our age (in our 70s), have concluded that we should cash out — sell our home, invest the proceeds and move into a 55+ rental community, knowing we will outlive our money.

Social Security, Medicare and appropriate long-term care policies for each of us can provide additional peace of mind regarding our medical needs as we age.

The chart at right shows the run-up in prices in Evergreeen/Conifer over the last 14 months. The median sold price is up 26%, and the average home sold last month for 1% above its listing price, while the median days on the MLS dropped to half what is was in January 2021.

Electric

Our decision to move into a senior rental community relieved us of the biggest dilemma facing homeowners who want to capitalize on selling their current home — how to find a place to buy in a very difficult market for buyers.

While it’s nearly impossible and highly frustrating to buy in this crazed seller’s market, and while the renter’s market is also extremely tight and expensive, there are many 55+ communities like the one we chose that have units available. In addition, it’s the nature of these places that openings become available as other residents die or move into assisted living facilities. We had our choice of four 2bedroom apartments and chose a topfloor one with mountain views.

You’ll want a professional to help you evaluate the different 55-plus communi-

Vehicle Roundup Scheduled for April 2nd

Every April and October, Golden Real Estate hosts an electric vehicle roundup as part of Drive Electric Earth Day and National Drive Electric Week. Although we’ve moved our real estate office to downtown Golden, we still own our former location at 17695 S. Golden Road, and we’ll host the EV roundup in that parking lot, just like we did last April and October.

We’re seeking EV owners who would like to display their EVs from 3 to 6 pm on Saturday, April 2nd. We’d particularly like to see some of the new models, such as Rivian’s pickup truck, Ford’s Mustang Mach E, and Volvo’s XC40 Recharge. You can register

bringing your electric vehicle online at www.DriveElectricWeek.info. If you aren’t an EV owner and would like to talk to existing EV owners (like me) about their experience, you can register there as an attendee, or simply show up. We purposely schedule our EV roundups during the SuperCruise event which happens on the first Saturday of each month from April through October. That event attracts hundreds of gas-powered classic and other cars and thousands of spectators. Our parking lot is on that popular stretch of South Golden Road and exposes those owners and spectators to the future of transportation — electric vehicles.

Just Listed: 5-Bed/4-Bath Genesee Home

This south-facing home at 25924 Gateway Drive sits on a 0.4-acre lot. It is in walking distance of the Buffalo overlook and a short drive from the Mt. Vernon Canyon Club. You’ll like the quiet foothills location (no A/C needed!), the vaulted ceilings, the spacious deck with pergola, the mountain views, and the finished basement with 5th bedroom, bonus room, 3/4 bath, and an unfinished room perfect for gym / workshop / storage. Downtown Golden is 10 minutes away, downtown Denver 15 minutes further, and ski country less than an hour away. The updated kitchen features stainless steel appliances, slab granite countertops and a large eating area, open to the family room with its rock fireplace. A main-floor office is perfect for remote working. Large primary bedroom with oversized walk-in closet. View interior photos plus a narrated video tour at www.GeneseeCrossingHome.info. Open house Sat., Mar. 26th, 11am to 1pm

ties that exist and that are opening every year. Some, like the one we chose, are straight rentals, but others require a 6figure “buy-in” which can eat up the proceeds from the sale of your home. I suggest hiring Jenn Gomer, who is in the business of helping seniors find the community which is a right “fit” for their specific needs. You don’t pay Jenn for that service — she receives a fee from the community you select.

The strategy I recommend is to wait until you have signed a lease on your rental, then put your home on the market with a closing date 15 days after your lease begins. That way you have a reasonable amount of time to move into your rental (using Golden Real Estate’s free moving truck, free moving boxes and affordable laborers, if we list your current home). It also gives you time to dispose of your excess “stuff.”

It has been an interesting if exhausting process to let go of the family heirlooms, mementos, and other possessions that have slowly filled our unfinished basement over the years — stuff that we have lugged from one house to the next.

The Marshall Fire had a psychological impact on us, too. We imagined if our own home were to be consumed by fire unexpectedly and we had to start over, losing everything we enjoy daily as well as all that stuff in our basement that we

have been dragging along each time we bought a new home. Would we miss it? Of course, but we could live without it, couldn’t we?

There’s a freedom to be gained by releasing the past and living solely in the present. It felt good giving away things to Goodwill and other charities as well as to friends and relatives.

For example, since acquiring an electric bicycle several years ago, the three conventional bicycles we owned had been sitting unused in our basement and were never likely to see the light of day again. So I donated them, along with bicycle parts and accessories such as paniers and pumps, to the “Bicycle Recycle” program of the Golden Optimists Club, which refurbishes bicycles and gives them to low-income people. Making that donation felt great, on top of the feeling we got from clearing them and other stuff from our basement.

We thought about giving most of our furniture to victims of the Marshall Fire, but realized that an estate sale was more practical and then we could donate money instead. Except for a few pieces, we’ve decided to purchase all-new furniture for our 2-bedroom/2-bath apartment at Avenida Lakewood.

It’s amazing how many papers were in boxes in our basement. I found tax returns going back to the 1980s which needed to be shredded. We also had the closed transactions of Golden Real Estate going back well beyond the number of years we’re required to retain them, and we were able to move the more recent transactions to the company’s new office in downtown Golden.

We had carpet remnants for carpeting that no longer existed at home and office. Bye-bye! We took multiple carloads of nice things that we didn’t need to Goodwill, which thankfully accepted all of it.

Anyone want to buy our really sweet upright piano? We paid $5,500 for it last year, but will accept $3,500 for it. Come play it and you’ll buy it! 303-525-1851

Jim Smith

Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851

Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com

1214 Washington Ave., Golden 80401

Broker Associates:

JIM SWANSON, 303-929-2727

CHUCK BROWN, 303-885-7855

DAVID DLUGASCH, 303-908-4835

TY SCRABLE, 720-281-6783

ANAPAULA SCHOCK, 303-917-1749

KRISTEN

Welcome to the Canyon Courier

Hello! You received this special introductory edition of the Canyon Courier because we wanted to give you a taste of what we have to offer. We hope that once you get to know us, you’ll want to join our family of readers.

My name is Kristen Fiore, and I am proud to be the editor of the Canyon Courier, a lively weekly newspaper for the foothills covering the news, people, schools, sports and events in Pine, Conifer, Indian Hills, Evergreen, Kittredge, Morrison and beyond.

The Canyon Courier aims to cap-

FROM PAGE 1

that in no way means that newspapers are failing. Studies show that 81% of Coloradans read print or digital newspapers every month, and it’s still an important part of buyers’ decisions when they’re shopping.

Newspaper ownership in the U.S. has been rapidly consolidating over the last 15 years. Since 2018, the largest 25 newspaper owners held about one-third of all titles – and there’s been more consolidation since. About 1,800 titles have been shuttered in the process. The most powerfulnewspaper owners are now private capital holding companies, whose expectations for profit and return have strongly influenced local newsrooms’ size, quality and resources.

It’s a tenet of democracy that we ask questions of our leaders and of those people who are entrusted to keep our communities safe. So when there are fewer journalists in a market, there are fewer people around to hold government accountable, or to even just share the best of what communities had to offer.

That’s why I’m proud today to offer you this sampler of the Canyon Courier and tell you about Colorado Community Media, the group

ture the mountain charm of daily life in these communities while keeping readers informed about breaking news, local government and more. We take pride and ownership in what we put out from the first time the story idea is discussed to the time it is put on the page. Canyon Courier reporters spend a lot of time in the communities they cover, and we hope the passion for what we do shines through on each page of every edition.

A subscription to the Canyon Courier gets you full access to the Canyon Courier website, which is updated daily, as well as digital access to Colorado Community Media’s two dozen other local newspapers in the metro area. I hope you’ll join us by taking advantage of the special subscription offer elsewhere in the newspaper. Thanks for reading!

that runs the Courier, and our new owners, the Colorado News Conservancy.

When our former owners were looking to sell, the nonprofit National Trust for Local News worked to find organizations that could come together to keep a vital news source alive and thriving. They brought in the journalist-owned Colorado Sun –itself a product born from cuts that were happening at The Denver Post – and it created a new organization –the Colorado News Conservancy, to keep CCM in local hands.

As publisher of Colorado Community Media, I’m proud to lead the staff as we work hard to preserve local integrity and keep your community voices strong. We’re providing stories, information and government accountability that people in this community can’t get anywhere else — all while connecting businesses directly with readers.

That’s why we’d like you to take the time to read this sample copy of the Courier, and see the great news and information that you can get delivered to you weekly. I promise that it’s more than worth the price to subscribe at this great rate.

If you have interesting news and tips that we need to hear, need to promote a business or event, or even have some critiques about the work we’re doing, then reach out to us. We are ready to hear it andlook forward to being part of your community.

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL (RI) is a global network of service clubs with a long history and mission of serving others. The Rotary Club of Evergreen is our local club that – in addition to the many local projects we undertake - supports projects throughout the world through our International Service Committee (ISC). Amazing members right here in Evergreen who saw a need in the world are taking action. We champion many ongoing projects including sustainable agriculture, the drilling of freshwater wells and

The Centre of Love’s mission is to provide a safe place for children, youth, families and the underserved to access food, clean water to minimize the spread of disease, and learning and mentorship platforms that sustain dignity and self-su ciency as we serve with our community members. Some 4,650 people and schools have used our water connection and with Nairobi turning o the water supply, our 10,000-liter tank is sometimes the only water available.

the building of water distribution systems, sanitation and hygiene initiatives as well as the continued support of women and children’s education. We also aid in natural disaster relief initiatives, the distribution of medical and dental supplies and services, and refugee assistance.

EVERGREEN ROTARY CLUB’S PROJECTS:

Here are some of the projects we have supported recently:

• Kenya (Sasa Harambe) sustainable agriculture and education.

• Guatemala (MAIA) education and internship program for indigenous girls.

• Honduras (St Helene) clean water sourcing and distribution.

• Kenya, Nairobi (The Centre of Love) sanitation and hygiene facilities and education.

• Tanzania (The Plaster House) pre and post op medical facility for children.

• Peru (Peruvian Hearts) education program for Peruvian women and girls.

• Peace education and training and Afghan refugee assistance.

The Evergreen Rotarians come from diverse backgrounds and various careers. We strive to improve societies by utilizing the talents and experiences of our members.

Visit us at www.evergreenrotary.org. We invite you to join our club’s weekly meetings on Friday mornings. Please email info@evergreenrotary.org

Evergreen Rotary was the lead club in a project to drill the well and install the water system for The Plaster House, a pre- and post-op facility, which continues to serve thousands of children in northern Tanzania.

Service Above Self

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH:

• Cameroon (Rotary Club of Denver) water wells and facilities for two villages.

• Cambodia (Cambodian Dream Organization) water wells and facilities for preschools.

• Kenya, Kisii (Rotary Club of Denver) building of community health clubs.

• Haiti (Locally Haiti) disaster relief.

• Nepal (Rotary Club of Bozeman) children’s education support and school supplies.

• Uganda (Rotary Club of South Je Co) water wells and facilities for preschools.

Looking to make a move?

The stakes have never been higher when it comes to making important decisions regarding the purchase or sale of real estate.

Serving clients in the foothills for 12 years Linda has earned the designation of 5 Star 5280 Top Realtor.

For all your real estate needs give her a call 303.718.7945.

Saint Helene water infrastructure project. Thanks Evergreen Rotary!

Peruvian Hearts scholars sharing time together in Cusco in January 2022. (Left to right) Yenifer, who studies Geological Engineering at La Catolica University in Lima, Melani, who studies Business Administration at the National University in Cusco and Yoselin, who studies Communication Sciences at La Catolica University, are all in the process of nishing their university careers in order to help transform the futures of their families, communities, and the world we share.

EDUCATION - An endowment fund to provide university scholarships for deserving young Maya women in rural Guatemala in perpetuity.

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When Laura Shepard Churchley strapped herself in the Blue Origin rocket ship to travel into space in December, she says she felt right at home.

Maybe that’s because as the daughter of Alan Shepard, the first American to travel into space, space flight is in Laura’s blood.

“It felt like I had been doing it my whole life,” she said while sitting in the living room of her Evergreen home. “I knew I would go into space. I don’t know why.”

Laura, 74, flew aboard the New Shepard named in honor of her father. In 11 minutes, the spacecraft took her and five additional crew members 66 miles above the Earth, about half the distance her father went 60 years prior in the MercuryRedstone 3. Alan was the second man and the first American to travel into space.

In 1971, Alan commanded Apollo 14 and was the fifth person to walk on the moon, hitting two golf balls while there.

“She got to follow in her dad’s footsteps,” said Laura’s husband of 25 years, Fred Churchley. “Knowing how much she loved and respected her dad, this is a full-circle moment for her — for her dad and his legacy. Five years ago, even a year ago, I didn’t think it could happen.”

Laura’s daughter, Lark Stewart, said her mom had no doubt or fear about the space flight.

“That’s how we were raised, how she was raised,” Stewart said, calling her mom generous and someone who doesn’t sit still.

“Whatever she does, she does it with a big heart and a lot of energy,” Stewart said. “If she is awake, she is on.”

A child of a NASA astronaut

Laura remembers the moment her dad told the family in 1959 that he was going to be an astronaut for the newly created NASA, noting that no one in the family knew what that meant.

“I looked up `astronaut’ in the dictionary,” she said, “and the word wasn’t there.”

She knew, though, that her dad was very excited about the prospect of being among the first seven astronauts — known as the Mercury 7 — in the country.

When Alan left for his first flight into space in 1961, Laura told him to have a good trip — similar to what her grandchildren said as she was leaving for the Blue Origin flight.

Laura, an eighth grader in boarding school, was in the middle of an English test when her dad made his first voyage into space. She says she knew everything would go well, though she was mortified at being sent to the headmaster’s house to watch the flight with a room full of the school’s dignitaries. She was

talk to them.

After Alan’s flight ended, Laura said she was happy and a bit tearyeyed, not really caring anymore about the English test.

The Shepard family’s notoriety was something to get used to, and she’s been to the White House twice with her dad. There were tickertape parades, Life magazine photo spreads and people recognizing the Shepards everywhere they went.

She says NASA astronauts and their families share a special bond and keep in touch, like a huge extended family.

Laura’s move to Evergreen

Laura wound up in Evergreen thanks to astronaut Wally Schirra — “I was their second daughter” — who told her she should live here.

Laura moved in 1978 and opened a shoe store in downtown Evergreen called the “The Glass Slipper” that she operated for eight years.

However, she had been in Colorado many times before locating to Evergreen. The Shepards took two-week skiing trips each year, the only time

Laura remembers the entire family together because Alan was training all the time.

Over the years, she’s been a board member of the Evergreen Area

Chamber of Commerce, the Evergreen Arts Foundation, Hiwan Homeowners Association and the Montessori School of Evergreen.

11 minutes in history

Laura said she was well prepared for her 11-minute space flight after

16 hours of intense training at the Blue Origin launch site in Van Horn, Texas.

As she heard the countdown, her dad’s words were in her head: “Let’s light this candle.”

Laura Shepard Churchley holds a statue commemorating her dad, astronaut Alan Shepard, hitting golf balls on the moon during the Apollo 14 mission. Churchley took a space flight of her own in December aboard the Blue Orion ship the New Shepard.

PHOTOS BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

Laura Shepard Churchley points to some of the memorabilia on the walls of her home that commemorate the career of her dad, astronaut Alan Shepard.

Evergreen woman goes into space, following in the footsteps of her astronaut dad

For the love of skateboarding

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

They say if you do what you love, you never work a day in your life.

That is true for Jaxon Statzell, a 2004 Evergreen High School graduate who has designed more than 100 skate parks all over the world in his 12-year career. Better yet, he was the lead designer on the skate park for the inaugural skateboarding events at the summer Olympics in Toyko.

“It’s such a cool thing to be on that grand stage,” said Jaxon, 35. “It’s really fun to be at the table for skateboarding at the Olympics. It’s getting some of the legitimacy that it deserves.”

The skate park — with both park and street courses — is in the Ariake Urban Sports Park near the Olympic Village in Tokyo. Forty male and 40 female “skaters” — the term for someone who skateboards — are expected to compete July 23-Aug. 8, and plans call for the skate park to become a public venue after the Olympic games.

“In the Olympics, you have to design something that elevates anything that was done previously,” Jaxon explained. “The Olympic course has to be such that any skater can achieve their personal best.”

His parents, Gail Riley and Tom Statzell of Evergreen, are thrilled that he has found the perfect career path.

“I’m just proud of him in every respect,” Riley said. “I do slip (what he does for a living) into conversations because I’m so proud of him. I’m tickled with his happiness and that level of success.”

Starting on a skateboard

Jaxon learned to skateboard when he was about 10. Tom Statzell said Jaxon spent that entire summer learning to pop the board in the air, forsaking other sports for his new passion.

“On vacations, every single thing revolved around getting him to a

skate park,” Riley said.

After graduation, Jaxon studied architecture at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

“In college, skateboarding was my hobby, and architecture was something I found I could do as a potential career,” he said. “I didn’t know an industry existed for skate parks.”

While interning at a Denver architecture firm, he checked out a new skate park in Parker and was impressed with how progressive it was, not the typical gray, concrete, fenced enclosure.

“Whoever was doing this was trying to evolve these spaces …,” he said, “so I decided to look up who was responsible for it.”

Enter a small firm in the San

Diego area now called California Skateparks, and his career in the skate park-designing world began. The first skate park he designed was outside Tel Aviv, Israel, and since then, he has designed skate parks for cities large and small, for the X Games, Street League Skateboarding and more.

“The nice thing about skate parks,” Jaxon said, “is we do something totally different every time that is site specific. Somebody is going to show up on any given day for the first time, or someone is coming back for the thousandth time. You want it to be safe for the beginners with stepping stones for progression, so they can get better. For the person there for the thousandth time, you still want ways for them to be stimulated and challenged and keep working on their craft.”

the first time, or someone is coming

Tom Statzell added regarding Jaxon’s career: “I think (the company loves) the world stage and doing big events, but I think Jaxon gets a bigger kick working on the public skate parks because it brings younger people into the sport.”

A talent for skateboarding, details

There are two skateboarding disciplines: street skateboarding, which has stairs, rails, benches and more, and park skateboarding, which is like an empty swimming pool with different features that Jaxon said looked like “the surface of the moon,” and it’s skated free form.

skate park-designing world began.

Jaxon Statzell, a 2004 Evergreen High School graduate, is a skateboard enthusiast who also designs skateboard parks, including the park for the inaugural Olympics event. Here he is doing an ollie over the gator gap.

COURTESY PHOTO

Evergreen’s Jaxon Statzell designs parks, even for the Olympics

ASTRONAUT

FROM PAGE 10

She enjoyed blastoff because if reminded her of when she was a girl, and her dad drove his Corvette and floored it, pushing her back into the seat.

She said space was beautiful and she could see the curve of the Earth, the blackness of space and the blue atmosphere. Being weightless was fun, as she and her fellow crew members did flips and threw small footballs in honor of retired football player Michael Strahan, who was also on the flight.

“As Daddy said, `We came back to Earth safely,’” Laura explained.

She took items into space for her grandchildren because not many people can say their grandmother went into space.

“Daddy would have loved that I did this,” she said. “He would have said, `Go for it.’”

Furthering space flight

Laura said it didn’t dawn on her as a young woman to strive to become an astronaut because women weren’t allowed in the NASA astronaut program. However, she became involved with the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, which was started in 1984 by the original Mercury 7 astronauts.

As chair of the board of trustees, Laura is proud of the 60 scholarships given yearly to support scholars in STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — while commemorating the legacy of America’s pioneering astronauts.

“If I could influence young girls to go into space,” she said, “that is what I want to do.”

Laura enjoys making presentations about space flight to students, donning her father’s flight suit — even though he never wore it into space — and showing artifacts from his time at NASA. Now, she’s thinking about wearing her own flight suit because it — and she — have been in space.

Laura Shepard Churchley holds a photo of the crew she went into space with. The Apollo 14 pillow is a needlepoint her mother made.

PHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

Presented by

Thank You and Welcome

Welcome!

The Rotary Clubs of Evergreen and Conifer are so pleased to welcome you to our 15th Foothills Home, Garden and Lifestyle Show. We hope you will make the most of this opportunity to meet the folks doing business here in our mountain communities. Thanks to our show sponsors: Lifetime Windows and Siding, Mountain Hearth and Patio, Gravina’s Window Center of Littleton, L&L Systems, Valor Roo ng and Solar, Evergreen Design Center and Resolution Energyproceeds from this show are invested in multiple charitable causes through the two Rotary Clubs’ foundations. It takes a lot of work to produce this show and I am thankful to the many Rotarians from both clubs who put in volunteer hours to make it happen.

Take time to visit our many non-pro t booths scattered throughout the event to learn about the great works they are doing. Particularly of interest to most of us would be the Wild re Readiness booths and seminars. The show features a full slate of Seminars scheduled throughout the weekend that you won’t want to miss. We have experts who will help us prepare our homes for aging in place and to be wild re ready, teach us to make our own hammock and learn new paint techniques. Be

sure to check the schedule in this special section of the Canyon Courier.

Many talented people are amongst the array of home improvement/maintenance, outdoor living, health, wellness, design and build and artisan booths. With over 75 vendors you will want to give yourself enough time to visit them all.

All of this is available for the $5 price of admission or gain free entry by bringing 2 non-perishable food items for the Mountain Resource Center Food Pantry or granola bars or fruit and pudding cups for the 285 Backpack Project.

And come hungry! There will be baked goods for sale from the Conifer High School Interact Club (Young Rotary) and Slife’s Devil Dogs and Shave Ice truck will be here as well.

Thank you for supporting your community and local businesses, Janine Payton Conifer Rotary member and 2022 Show Director www.FoothillsHomeShow.com | foothillshomeshow@gmail.com

all year

Learn from Experts Seminar Schedule

All included in the price

Saturday, April 9th: 11:30

In Harm’s Way: Lessons Learned for our Mountain Community from the Paradise, CA Fire 12:30

Aging in Place: Adapt your home for the Long Run 1:00

Bear Paw Painters: Fun with Paint 1:30

Home Hardening & Defensible Space: Improve your home’s chance of surviving wild re 2:30

Evacuation Preparation: Learn how you can prepare your family for a wild re evacuation

of admission

Sunday, April 10th: 10:30

In Harm’s Way: Lessons Learned for our Mountain Community from the Paradise, CA Fire 11:30

Home Hardening & Defensible Space: Improve your home’s chance of surviving wild re 12:30

Aging in Place: Adapt your home for the Long Run 1:00

Bear Paw Painters: Fun with Paint 1:30

Evacuation Preparation: Learn how you can prepare your family for a wild re evacuation 2:00

A Relaxing Hobby: Making your own Hammock

5280 Exteriors transformed the exterior of our 1970’s home with stucco and stone. We’re very pleased with the results. Our neighbors have complimented the renewed appearance of our home, and give us thumbs up when walking by. All interactions with 5280 have been very positive - from the salesperson to the installers, and up to the president of the company.

ALTITUDE OF QUALITY

We started this company in 2006 after graduating from Colorado State University with degrees in Construction Management and Business. Since then, our company has grown through hard work, honesty, and unparalleled commitment to our customers. With roots in the mile-high city, we specialize in residential exteriors that stand up to the harshest climates. When we started out, we were installing windows ourselves - learning each and every product first-hand and understanding the intricacies of each type of product. We’ve grown our sales team, project managers, and installers with the same dedication to detail. Over the last 12 years, we’ve been fortunate enough to work on over 3,000 projects - including the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado.

JAMES HARDIE ELITE PREFERRED

The James Hardie Contractor Alliance Program is designed to match homeowners with professional contractors from around the country, who are trained and available to help meet your needs for siding projects. As an Elite Preferred Contractor, we’ve received the highest status of confidence from Hardie.

WINDOWS

Not all windows are effective in our harsh climate, which is why we only carry vinyl, wood-clad, and fiberglass windows that are designed to perform and last through the unique weather.

ANGI SEAL OF APPROVAL

Angi is a digital marketplace allowing homeowners to connect with service professionals to complete home projects. We’re a screened and approved Angi contractor with nearly 100 reviews and 4.5 star rating overall.

SIDING

As one of the only James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractors in Colorado, we know a thing or two about siding. Our products improve your home’s efficiency, reduces maintenance costs, withstands extreme climate conditions, and looks great - making you proud of your home.

Anne M.

Brook

Forest Soap Company

Beckie Covill - Owner

31644 Ponderosa Way

Evergreen, 80439 (720) 770-1620 brookforestsoap.com

Bu alo Mountain Apparel Company

Laura Bard - Owner 28235 Hwy 74 Evergreen, 80439 (303) 949-9803 bu alomountainapparel.com

Carrie Unthank - Coldwell Banker Realty, Evergreen

Carrie Unthank - Realtor 30810 Stagecoach Blvd. Suite 101 Evergreen, 80439 (913) 909-3072 carrieurealestate.com

Creating Space LLC

Jackie Smith - Owner/Operator

P. O. Box 1847 Idaho Springs, 80452 (720) 626-3593 creatingspacecolorado.com

Industry Home Mortgage LLC

Pamela Lumpkin - Senior Mortgage Broker

720 S Colorado Blvd, Penthouse North Tower Denver, 80246 (636) 795-1090 industryhmc.com

JWH Lifestyle Management

Jodi Holman - owner

Evergreen, 80439 (303) 618-8113 jwhlifestyle.com and www.Jodiholman.com

Kahane Coaching

Christine Kahane - President 30792 Southview Drive Suite 206 Evergreen, 80439 (303) 589-5456 kahanecoaching.com

Land Title Guarantee Company

Samantha Glenn - Technical Account Manager

3064 Whitman Drive Suite 201 Evergreen, 80215 (720) 544-5230 ltgc.com

Peak Cowork

Lachlan Phillips - Community Manager 1202 Bergen Parkway Suite 310 Evergreen, 80439 (720) 243-4546

T-Mobile

Gabby Vera - RSM 1153 Bergen Parkway A Evergreen, 80439 (305) 988-0302 t-mobile.com

Your Evergreen Chamber wants to hear about those women who have made an impact on our community. Each year, we host a Women in Business luncheon during which we induct a few women into the Mountain Area Women in Business Hall of Fame. Nominations are open for women in our community who have had a measurable impact through their work, their volunteerism and their willingness to adventure out for the bene t of others. Often these women do for others quietly, so we ask for your assistance in highlighting all that they have accomplished. Please email me at president@evergreenchamber.org to bring them to our attention.

“Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.” Booker T. Washington

Nancy Judge, President/CEO, Evergreen Chamber of Commerce

Tom

Both are part of the Olympics.

Jaxon excels at his profession because of his attention to detail.

“He will hammer out details until everyone else in the room wants to go home,” Tom Statzell said. “He is fortunate that he (works) for a firm that is as obsessive as he is.”

While creativity is important, “the nuts and bolts is that it’s a lot of grinding it out — making sure it can be built to the right specifications. I think he has a special talent for it,” Tom Statzell added.

Creating a skate park — especially for something as elite as the Olympics — means going into what Jaxon called “video game mode” where designers put themselves in the minds of the top athletes to create features, explaining that skateboarding has a mind of its own.

“It evolves constantly and changes,” he said. “(Skaters) keep advancing and do more and more. I don’t think (park designers) can dictate what (the sport) is going to do. We can help it and move with it because it moves really fast.”

Doing what he loves

Skateboarding is not just his job — Jaxon still gets to a skate park several times a week, and he was able to take a few runs on both Olympic courses, though he admits he doesn’t try death-defying tricks.

“I am pretty risk averse these days,” he said. “I can skate within

my means.”

Sometimes Jaxon can`t believe he’s working in the field that he loves.

“I think the 15-, 16-year-old me would high-5 me now and be like, “YES,” Jaxon said.

Skateboarding is seen by some as not requiring discipline, but he said there’s a lot of life lessons.

“It’s about getting back up after you fall and following the learning curve that is really steep,” he said, noting that having parents who were “open minded enough to allow me to be myself” was helpful. “I feel very grateful and lucky to be doing what I’m doing.”

Jaxon Statzell designed his favorite skatepark in San Diego that is “about 30,000 square feet of skate park with everything imaginable packed into it. It also features a pedestrian bridge soaring over the top for onlookers to check out all the action.” COURTESY PHOTO

Fundraising to help wildlife

$4,000 to pay for two sets of cans. She is nearly halfway there, and she hopes families who use the park will chip in to help make the park safer for wildlife and patrons alike.

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

An

Emily Nelson, who moved to Kittredge in 2020 with her husband, has started a GoFundMe page to raise

Nelson explained that when she started spending time at the park, she noticed during warm weather, the trash is consistently knocked over.

“I’ve seen (bear-resistant cans) in campgrounds and other places, but I haven’t seen them anywhere else here,” she said.

The Evergreen Park & Recreation

District, which manages the park, has not budgeted for bear-resistant cans, but Parks Operations Manager

Heart Cameron knows their importance.

Once bears figure out there’s a food source anywhere — in this case the park — they come through all the time for an easy meal. Then the trash strewn on the ground becomes an easy feast for other animals such as raccoons and crows. Plus, when the wind blows, the trash blows, creating a mess for neighbors.

According to Colorado Parks & Wildlife, in 20201, people reported 273 bear incidents in Area 1, which includes west Jefferson County plus

Park, Clear Creek and Gilpin counties. Of those, 113 were specifically bears getting into trash.

In 2020, 334 incidents were reported, with nearly half having to do with trash, and in 2019, 182 bear incidents were reported with 84 dealing with bears in trash.

Nelson said the money was being collected on the GoFundMe site by the Kittredge Civic Association, which will donate the money to EPRD to buy the trash cans once enough money is donated.

Barb Gertz, who heads up a local group called Bear Aware, said it was important to keep parks safe from bear/human conflict.

“Keeping bears out of parks keeps them from going further into residential areas to get into trash,” she said. “We should have (bearresistant trash cans) in all of our

parks because without them, it’s like a buffet for bears every day in the summertime.”

She noted that bear/human interactions needed to be brought under control, and it was up to the commu-

nity to do it.

“Our responsibility as a community to pitch in and do our part to keep our community and the bears safe,” she said.

A Kittredge woman is raising funds to replace the trash cans at Kittredge Park with bear-resistant ones.

PHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

Welcome to our new members:

Catalyst Nutrition LLC

Kelly Kading 12065 Evergreen Rd Conifer, CO 80433 http://catalystnutrition.health Kelly is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and certified lactation counselor (CLC). She provides nutrition counseling and support for people of all ages and works with a variety of conditions.

Dawn Zalfa Real Estate Inc

Dawn Zalfa 28027 Belle Vista Drive Conifer , CO 80433 http://DZsellsRE.com

I am a real estate adviser who finds the perfect homes & home buyers for my clients. My background as a civil litigation attorney with extensive real estate, contracts, negotiation & risk management experience

www.goconifer.com

gives me the tools to navigate the complicated real estate process for my clients when they sell & buy property.

Elemental Smoke Amazing Catering

Charles Elliott Conifer, CO 80433 http://www.elementalsmoke.com

Bu et caterer, diverse, flexible menu options. Service area 150 from Conifer.

Mountaintop

Bath Remodeling

Edward Fleming 11873 Springs Rd 135 Conifer, CO 80433 http://Www.mountaintopbath. com

Bath Remodeling company

Current Events:

Membership Drive – Sign up and become a Chamber member by March 30st and we’ll waive the $35 start up fee and you’ll get listed in the 285 Business Directory. Log on to our website or call the o ce.

Photo Contest – The Conifer Area Chamber of Commerce mails out a printed business directory along the 285 Corridor. We are looking for local photographers to submit photos that capture the beauty of our area. We are looking for photos that best represent the active lifestyle of our community and show people enjoying all our area has to o er (camping, mountain biking, hiking, horse back riding, etc). Please submit only local shots of images in and around the 285 corridor. The Contest Winner will be announced and awarded on April 1st. WINNER receives an article in the Canyon Courier, your photo and photo credit on the cover and bragging rights of your photo being in over 11,000+ home and businesses along the 285 Corridor!! If you have any questions or would like to participate, please reach out to Britni LeRoux at director@goconifer. com or call 303-838-5711 with questions.

Annual Awards- Each year the Conifer Chamber is thrilled to honor businesses,

organizations and individuals that have made a di erence in our chamber, our community and have worked to make living in the foothills even better. Winners will be announced at our April 8th meeting at Woodlands from 7:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m.

Elevation Celebration on Sutton Rd. in Aspen Park – July 30 & 31- Conifer’s signature summer festival focuses on celebrating the mountain lifestyle! Elevation Celebration is a free community street fair the last weekend in July. Join us for Conifer’s signature summer festival featuring the Elevation Run/Walk, live local music on two stages, a craft beer tent, beer garden and kid zone. Fun for all ages! Follow us on Facebook for all the latest updates.

We are now taking applications for craft and food vendor’s for this event. Log on to GoConifer.com for more details.

Take advantage of the many opportunities and business services the Chamber o ers. If you have any membership questions, or would like to find out more about becoming a member, do not hesitate to contact me, Britni LeRoux, Executive Director, director@goConifer.com, 303838-5711. Thank you for your continued support and thank you for shopping local!

Take advantage of the many opportunities and business services the Chamber o ers. If you have any membership questions, or would like to find out more about becoming a member, do not hesitate to contact the o ce at (303) 838-5711

director@goConifer.com, 303-838-5711. Thank you for your continued support and thank you for shopping local!

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS